"Guys, I know you think you need to do this," said Vida pacing inside the circle Chip had redrawn once they got Vida to Rootcore. "But I'm alright. Please let me out," she pleaded.
"We are going to help you V. I promise," said Chip.
Novi chewed nervously on her fingernail. Despite what the others had told her, she still felt at least partly responsible for what had happened to Vida.
"Maybe you should let her out," said Claire joining them. She got closer to Vida but shrieked when Vida lunged at her only held back by the blue force field. "And maybe you shouldn't," she squeaked backing away and hiding behind Udonna.
"If Flytrap was destroyed Vida should be fine. She must be under the spell of another vampire," said Maddie as they walked away from where Vida was contained.
"Maybe it was Necrolai," offered Chip.
"Koragg would know that," said Xander.
"Nick, Koragg seems to be able to contact you whenever he likes, have you ever tried to contact him?" Novi asked.
"No, I can try," said Nick. He put his fingers on the side of his head and closed his eyes but he opened them again after just a few seconds. "I guess it doesn't work like…" Nick trailed off he voice slurring slightly then he grabbed his head and cried out in pain. "Next time Novi, you can call him yourself. He is in the glenn," said Nick panting heavily.
"While you go after Koragg there is something I need to do," said Udonna then she hurried into a back room. Novi frowned and quietly followed Udonna.
It wasn't long until Udonna realized she was being followed and called out to her.
"I know you are following me."
Novi uncloaked herself and looked at Udonna with a bashful grin.
"I am guessing this has something to do with what you say the other day. That you had heard of this before."
"Yes, child and since you are already here you can come and help me gather supplies. But you must not ask any questions, it will be revealed in time.
"Okay, Udonna."
Udonna led her deeper into the forest and even though Novi was curious about what Udonna was doing she kept her word and didn't ask any questions about what they were gathering or what it was for.
They returned a short while later to find the others standing around the Xenotome.
"…It says how to make one, but it takes time and ingredients I don't know if we can get," came Chip's voice as she and Udonna entered Rootcore.
"You can't, but Novi and I did. We must hurry, there is not much time. We must make the crystal before…" Udonna trailed off.
"Before what? Before it's too late? Is that what you were going to say?" asked Maddie her voice shaking.
"Make no mistake rangers, we are in danger of losing one of our own," said Udonna turning to face the others.
"That's not going to happen," said Nick trying to reassure her.
Novi heart wrenched as she watched a single tear roll down Maddie's cheek.
"I will do everything in my power to save Vida," Novi promised her.
"Udonna, you make the Dawn Crystal, we'll find Vida," said Nick.
"No, I'm staying to make the crystal, I owe Vida that," said Novi firmly.
Nick nodded to her then he and the others grabbed their Mystic Racers and headed out into the city to search for Vida.
"Purified flakes from the first snow, hair from a bat's wing, blood from a ghostvine plant," said Novi as she added the ingredients onto a bubbling cauldron. Plumes of smoke billowed from its mew and floated down pooling around her feet. "I really feel like a sorceress now," said Novi with a laugh.
"Novi, you are a sorceress, now stir," she ordered.
Novi took the handle of the large spoon and stirred the mixture slowly first anti-clockwise and then clockwise. Once the mixture had come to a boil she added in a fang from some creature and carefully poured out a spoonful of a red liquid, dropping in a cube of sulfur, a sticky red liquid that smelled foul, and some powdered eye of newt. She jumped back as yellow sparks emitted from the cauldron and she could see something glowing behind the smoke that poured out.
"It's almost Dawn. You must hurry and set out these on the table matching the colors to the circles on that table," said Udonna handing her a small pile of crystal in assorted sizes and Novi noticed that they matched their ranger colors.
She did as Udonna and told her then checked the Xenotome and set up several mirrors so the first rays of the morning sun would hit the mirrors just as the sun peeked over the horizon. She watched as the light bounced off the first mirror and split to hit the crystal she had laid out, then reflected off the other mirrors and she had to duck as it hit the last mirror and the beam hit inside the cauldron. Udonna handed her a set of long-handled tongs and nodded.
"Whoa," she breathed as she carefully lifted the dawn crystal out and handed it to Udonna.
"Well done, Novi," Udonna said taking the crystal.
"You won't be needing it," called Nick.
Novi and Udonna looked up to see the others including Vida coming into the base.
"V!" Novi cried out rushing over and hugging her. Vida squealed as Novi lifted her and spun her around. Novi realized what she was doing and quickly set Vida down. "Are you alright?" Vida smiled and nodded.
"Is she alright?" repeated Nick jumping up to sit on a table. "She defeated Necrolai all by herself."
"Why didn't you call us, we could have helped," said Novi concerned.
"I know but it was my problem. You know me," said Vida tilting her head.
"Defeating Necrolai by yourself? That must have been quite a battle," said Udonna still holding the dawn crystal.
"We were a little suspicious before, but she walked all the way home in broad daylight. Not many vampires can do that," Xander told them.
"Hail Vida, Vampire Slayer," said Novi using Vida's 'V' pose. She stared at Vida who looked confused and didn't return the gesture. She got the feeling something wasn't quite right, but she didn't want to say anything in case she was wrong.
"Vampire slayer and gift giver," Vida said pulled a red apple out of the bag she had been holding. "I picked you all a little something," She proceeded to pass them around to the others. "A gift from me to all of you to my best friends in the entire world."
Novi took the apple Vida had offered but still wasn't sure. She continued to watch as Vida walked past her and handed one to Udonna as well.
"To the rangers!" she called out lifting her apple into the air. The others barring Novi and Udonna copied her.
"Wait something is wrong. She couldn't have picked these apples, they're not grown in Briarwood," said Novi.
"Picked? I meant picked up at the store," Vida explained.
"And what about the pose," said Novi holding her fingers in the sideways 'V' next to her head. "You didn't even recognize it."
"I recognized it; I've just moved on from it. You know me, I never stick with anything for very long," Vida said, and the others chuckled. "Now I'm going to get a complex if none of you eat me gifts," she said taking a big bite of her apple.
The others went to take bites of their apples, but Novi couldn't ignore her feelings any longer. She leapt towards them knocking the apples out of their hands.
"I'm telling you this is not Vida!" said Novi more firmly.
"Now you've gone and ruined perfectly good apple," said Maddie bending down to pick it up off the floor but before she could grab it the apple turned black and melted into a pool of foul-smelling sludge.
"Talk about your rotten apples," said Xander.
"She's gone!" said Nick leaping off the table.
Nick rushed out of Rootcore followed closely by the others.
~~~xXx~~~
They followed her trail and caught up with her just before she reached the plaza.
"There is nowhere else to run," said Nick as she ran into the center of the plaza.
"You are so right," said Vida as she stopped and whirled around to face them.
Necrolai appeared behind her and placed her hand on Vida's head.
"Good servant, very good servant, now get them," she Ordered.
"Yes Mistress," Vida replied but her voice was deeper and hard she silently morphed at walked towards them.
"No Vida," Maddie called out, but it was to no avail as Vida pulled out her magi staff and charged at them.
"Don't hurt her. I'm going after Necrolai," said Chip.
"You guys try and hold Vida back and I will help Chip," said Novi.
The pair morphed and jumped over Vida as she continued to charge towards them, and they lunged at Necrolai. Chip kicked Necrolai and Novi followed it up with a punch to her gut which made her stumble backward and Chip tried to kick her, but she met him with a kick of her own. Chip tried to hit her but Necrolai grabbed his arm and twisted it so he couldn't reach her. Novi saw an opening and pulled out her magi staff and aimed a blast at her before Novi could fire Necrolai threw Chip in her direction. He crashed into her and knocked her to the ground.
"It that all rangers," Necrolai jeered.
"No, it's not. Here Chip use this with your crossbow and finish her," said Novi pulling it out and handing it to him.
"I'm just getting warmed up," said Chip and he rolled up onto his feet. He held the crystal out in front of him.
"What's that?" Necrolai demanded.
"Oh, just your run-of-the-mill dawn crystal," said Chip attaching it to the tip of an arrow. yellow electricity crackled and arched around the crystal as he raised it into the air before taking aim at Necrolai.
"Sorry to spoil your plan," said Necrolai as she turned and snapped her fingers. Vida slashed at the others before flipping and landing in front of Necrolai blocking Chips' view.
"I will not let you harm my Queen," said Vida throwing her arms out to protect Necrolai.
"Come on get out of the way V," said Chip.
Vida continued to stand in his way but then Chip noticed that her focus was on him and Novi from her position had a clear shot of Necrolai.
"Hey Novi catch!" he called out and tossed his crossbow in her direction. Vida turned to watch as it sailed in the air, and she jumped to try and intercept it, but Novi was there quicker as she caught the crossbow. Vida turned and growled at Novi raising her staff she charged at her.
"Whoa," Novi cried out as she barely dodged a swipe from Vida.
Vida took another swipe and Novi used the crossbow to blow it, the curved edge of Vida's staff catching on the bow.
"Vida it's me," she said trying to get through to her but to no avail, Vida just freed her magi staff and kicked out at her knocking her back.
Vida strode forward and launched a series of attacks on Novi and all she could do was tried and defend herself, but Vida was relentless in her attacks and soon she broke through Novi defense and landed blow after blow on her.
"V stop," Novi pleaded as she was forced down to her knees.
Vidas flipped herself backward and Novi rose to her feet, but Vida aimed her magi staff at her and fired several blasts. Unable to dodge or block them they landed hitting him in the chest and sides as she cried out in pain. When the blast stopped Novi fell on down on her knees to legs too weak to hold her upright, the crossbow falling uselessly from her hands and clattering on the ground next to her.
"How could you do this to me Vida?" she asked her voice filled with sorrow.
"You will have to blast your friend to get to me, but your heart won't let you, will it?" Necrolai jeered at her.
"No, I can't," said Novi more to herself than to Necrolai.
Suddenly she remembered something Vida had said when Novi had jumped in to protect her from Flytrap instead of going after Necrolai. "Novi, next time don't save me," Vida scolded. "Sometimes you to have to sacrifice the one in order to save everyone else.
"Your right, there is no other way," said Novi rising to her feet. "I will always remember you." She said her voice getting louder as she charged at Vida and Necrolai.
She jumped in the air and was about to take aim at Necrolai when Vida also leapt into the air slashed her across the stomach with her magi staff. Novi fell out of the air and landed hard on the ground. Before she could get back on her feet Vida was on her again and she had to roll out of the way to avoid being hit. She used the momentum of the roll to then get up just in time to block an incoming strike, but Vida brought her magi staff back up dragging it up from her stomach to her chest and she sailed backwards crashing to the ground. Vida was again on her before she could get back up and she stepped on her wrist making her lost her grip on the crossbow.
"You're done," Vida growled brandishing her magi staff in her face.
"Vida please don't do this. Come back to me. I love you, please V please," Novi begged.
"You waste your breath. She is no longer human," said Necrolai.
"VIDA!" Novi called out.
"What?" asked Vida shaking her head. She looked down and lifted her foot off Novi's wrist and took a step back. "Where am I? What's going on?" she asked confused and frightened.
"V? Are you there? Do you remember me?" Novi asked with a hint of hope in her voice. "V, Take me a hand," she said extending her hand out to Vida.
She watched as Vida's finger twitched and she slowly raised her hand and was about to take her when she suddenly slapped her hand away.
"NO!" she cried out kicking Novi in the chest and knocking her back watching as she landed far away. "Pitiful," she mocked as Necrolai came behind her.
"Excellent," said Necrolai.
"I am no longer one of you, my duty is to protect my queen," said Vida.
"Yes, that's right protect me. Even if it means you are destroyed in the process," said Necrolai caressing Vida's helmet.
"Yes, my Queen," said Vida turning to face Novi and brought her fingers to the side of her head in a sideways 'V'.
"V?" Novi whispered when she saw the pose
"I dare you," warned Vida bringing up her magi staff in front of her and pointing it at Novi.
"For the good of all," said Novi playing along with Vida's plan. She raised the crossbow and aimed it directly at Vida's chest. "Dawn Crystal power up!" she called out and yellow and scarlet lightning crackled and arched around the crystal as it powered up fused with both her and Chip's energy.
"Novi you can't, It's Vida," Xander cried out as he and the others came to where the three of them were standing.
"Don't do it Novi," pleaded Maddie.
"Put it down now!" Nick ordered but Novi ignored their pleas, and she gripped the crossbow tighter.
"I believe in you V. Fire!"
The arrow tipped with the dawn crystal went sailing through the air directly at Vida as she stood in front of Necrolai her arms spread out to protect Necrolai and Novi watched as the arrow got closer until it was inches away from Vida. To Necrolai's surprise, Vida suddenly dropped down, rolling out of the way and the dawn crystal struck her in the chest.
"Nooo," she roared as the crystal penetrated her chest as sparks flew in every direction.
"V is for Victory," called Novi as she put her fingers to the side of her head in a sideways 'V'. Vida showed me her sign, even though she said she wasn't with us anymore I knew she was," Novi explained as the others came over to her side.
"You tricked me Pink Witch," said Necrolai turning her fury on Vida. She snapped her fingers and blue electricity crackled all over Vida's body as she cried out in pain and powered down.
Vida glared at Necrolai before turning to Novi.
"You have to stop her," she panted wincing slightly too weak to stand up.
"You got it," said Novi handing chip back his magi staff and taking out her own. "Do it for V, guys."
Right!"
They raised their magi staffs and held them in the air together. The five staffs dropped and began to spin in a colorful circle which got faster and faster.
"Full Power!" the five teens called out before the other dropped and Novi launched the spinning energy at Necrolai.
AHH!" she cried out as the blast hit her. "This can't be happening!"
Vida winced as Necrolai exploded and the others raced over to her side. Novi pulled Vida to her feet and pulled her into a tight hug.
"V, you alright?"
"Yes. I can feel my powers surging into my body," said Vida a grin spreading across her face.
"You're back!" said Maddie cheerfully.
"Yes," said Vida once again putting her hand to the side of her head in a sideway 'V'.
As they were celebrating Koragg, who unbeknown to them had been watching the fight with Necrolai and had seen the rangers destroy her.
"You six wizards have shown great power and cunning to defeat Necrolai. This is what I have waited for."
"Ethe Major Catastros, Sumbol unithos equestras"
Vida morphed and the six teens activated their Titan form and combined to form the Titan Megazord.
"Let's show him," said Nick once they were inside the cockpit.
"Ancient power, Mystic spell seal!"
The Megazord slowly spun its saber in a circle as the spell seal appeared and once it was complete the swing the saber to send it at Koragg, but it met with a dark spell seal and Koragg's magic broke through hitting them in the chest and the meagzord fell back. Inside the cockpit it sparked, and the rangers stumbled as it shook.
"He is stronger than us. What are we going to do?" asked Maddie
"I said we fight back. We don't give up," said Novi putting a hand on Maddie's shoulder.
"Novi is right. We fight back, we never give up," said Vida.
"Count me in," agreed Xander.
"One for all," said Nick.
"And all for one," finished Novi as her podium moved to the middle next to Nick's.
From above them, a bright light glowed, and they raised their magi staffs into the which made symbols on top of the glow.
What's going on?" asked Novi.
"Your belief in me gave us a new spell, said Vida happily.
"Battle me," commanded Koragg.
"Ready?" asked Novi to the others.
"Ready!" the others replied.
The six teens held their hands over their podiums which began to glow as and on the Megazord wings unfolded.
"You have new magic?" Koragg asked in surprise.
"Titan Megazord take flight!" the ranger called out and a spell seal appeared in the sky above the. The Megazord leapt into the air and flew through the seal.
"Impossible," Koragg cried as the Megazord flew higher into the air.
"Spirit of the ancient titans, attack!"
Several figures appeared around the Zord before flying at Koragg and another spell seal appeared before them which they sent at Koragg the force knocked Koragg back and he exploded.
"Yes!" "Alright!" "We got him" The ranger cheered but their cheers didn't last long as once the smoke cleared they saw Koragg was still alive, although no longer in his Megazord formation, as he stood up in front of them.
Impressive. You grow more powerful by the day, but so do I. Our next battle will have a different outcome," He said and with that, he was gone.
~~~xXx~~
"I'll clear things up with Leelee," said Vida once they were back at the store. It was late and nearly time for closing so the other nodded and when about clearing up the store while Vida when over to Leelee.
"Leelee, you know that vampire thing in the store the other day? I was just playing a joke on the guys."
"Yeah, I know that," said Leelee laughing nervously. "You didn't think I really thought you were a vampire, did you?"
"Of course not."
"I'll gotta run," said Leelee hurriedly and she pretty much ran out of the store.
Novi and the others came over to Vida once Leelee was gone and laughed. It was clear she had thought Vida was a vampire. Maddie linked her arm through Vida's happy to have her sister truly back to normal. Novi glanced over at her but looked away, her cheeks turning red, when Vida looked in her direction.