It was around lunchtime and the Rock Porium was quiet, so Chip took the opportunity to study the piece of the Fireheart scroll they had managed to obtain about a week ago. It was proving to be nearly impossible to solve, none of the books in Rootcore offered any clues so they were completely alone in trying to discover its meaning. Vida stood at the front of the store checking her sales receipts as she and Xander had made a bet earlier that morning with the person who sold the least having to buy the other's lunch.
"Hey Chip, any luck with you know what?" Novi called out to Chip as he walked past her.
"Nah," Chip responded still studying the parchment.
"Ha, I have outsold you by $12.50. I win the bet, you owe me lunch," said Vida.
"Not so fast, Xander the Great still has four minutes to go," Xander replied tucking a vinyl back in its sleeve.
Novi found herself absentmindedly sorting out a rack of vinyl, but her gaze was drawn to Vida. Neither one of them had really spoken since the events of the previous day and they certainly hadn't discussed the kiss or her proclamation of love in her efforts to bring Vida back. There was no denying that there was something more than just simple friendship, it had grown beyond that, but Novi had no idea where Vida stood on that front. Suddenly Vida looked up and for a brief moment their eyes met, and, in that moment, time seemed to stand still, Vida smiled at her, and Novi felt a flurry of butterflies swarm in her stomach, then the moment was gone as Vida looked to the doorway, Novi followed her gaze as Leelee walked in.
"Can somebody help me here?" she called out.
"Afternoon Leelee, you look like a Zeppelin fan," said Xander pushing Vida aside in his bid to outsell her. "Can I interest you in something?"
"Nice zit...Rudolf," she mocked.
"Zit?" Xander questioned with a laugh.
"Xander the Great big pimple," Vida jeered laughing at Xander.
Novi come over to see what the commotion was and saw that on the tip of Xanders' nose was a massive red, angry spot.
"Whoa, it totally ruins my perfect profile. This zit is like having an extra nose," he complained looking in the mirror at his reflection. Xander wasn't necessarily vain, but he did take a lot of pride in his appearance.
"That's it!" cried Chip joining them. "Maybe the scroll to the Fireheart is like two halves of the same face, minus the zit of course."
"YES success!" shouted Toby from the office. He had been in there for the last hour trying to solve some new puzzle he had purchased and from the sounds of his screams it was clear he had completed it. He burst out of the office still wearing a strange looking pair of glasses.
"I finished this entire crytomagnetic puzzle in just under 40 minutes," He declared proudly. "I should work for the CIA or the FBI. Or better still the Power Rangers!"
Vida and the others drew a breath and looked around nervously. If only he knew the identity of the rangers, or worse what if he tried to find out.
"What, what did I say?" he asked seeing the looks on their faces.
"Nothing," said Vida hurriedly
"Yeah, that's a great idea," said Chip.
"You should...ah," started Vida but she was unsure what to say.
"Give them a call," finished Chip.
"Give them a call? Give them a call!" said Toby and he went back into the office. Novi heaved a sigh of relief, which could have been a close one.
~~~xXx~~~
At lunchtime, the teens went to Rootcore as Chip wanted to finish explaining what he was figured out without the risk of anyone overhearing the conversation or risk revealing their identities to Toby especially.
"Yeah, and then it hit me, the mirror was the key. So, while Xander was staring at himself and I was staring at Xander, the answer was staring at me," He went over and took the mirror from Xander and brought it over to the table. He set down the half of the scroll and laid the mirror beside it, reflecting the reverse image that was on it. "What does that mountain look like?" He asked.
"Mt. Fuego!" they all cried out.
"Wow, Chip I can't believe you managed to solve it," Novi said clapping him on the back.
"It worked!" Claire exclaimed excitedly. "I finally did something right!"
"What did you do?" asked Xander.
"It's a potion I concocted to make sad, dull looking flowers become perfectly gorgeous!" said Claire.
"It's a perfection potion," breathed Xander.
"Right lets go, Fireheart is waiting. We'll have to split up to cover that much territory," said Nick. "Chip, Maddie and I will cover the east side. Novi, you Xander, and Vida cover the west. Call us if you either find anything or run into trouble."
~~~xXx~~~
The six teens walked to the mountain together then split up leaving Novi, Vida and Xander. Novi trailed behind slightly feeling a bit uncomfortable about the groups, but she wasn't about to say anything as that would lead to questions she didn't know how to answer. They started the long hike up the west side of Mt. Fuego and they were near the top when Xander suddenly called out to them.
"Novi, V, come quick!"
"What? Did you find it?" asked Vida as she and Novi raced up to join him.
"What? No, but look." He turned his face sideways, and Vida groaned, and Novi shook her head. "My perfect profile has been restored. I'm back, Xander's back"
"This mountain isn't big enough for the four of us, Xander. Novi, you, me, and your ego. Now let's go," Vida snapped.
She stopped short after just a few more paces and pointed to a rock formation just ahead of them.
"Whoa look at that."
The three of them raced to where she had pointed and carved into one of the rocks was a familiar symbol.
"That's definitely the symbol," said Xander.
Next to the rack was a large cave and the three rangers ventured inside. The cave was empty apart from two stone doors side by side and once they got close, they could see a riddle written in the language of the ancients this had to be the right place.
"Be ready for anything," Vida warned them as they approached the doors.
There was a loud click and Xander suddenly leapt to his side calling out a warning to them.
"AH watch out," but his warning came too late as slime poured down from a hole in the ceiling and covered Vida.
"Cave slime, nasty," said Vida.
"Look," said Xander pointing at some writing between the two doors.
"The Fireheart is close at hand, those who find it shall rule the land but take good care for there is no clue. Is it door number one or door number two?" Novi read aloud.
While she and Xander were trying to decide Vida rushed forward and pulled open the first door. Novi jumped back in case it was wrong but breathed a sigh of relief to see a golden chest resting inside.
"Yes, that's got to be it," she said triumphantly.
"You always have been lucky," said Xander.
Let's get it outside," said Novi.
"No hold on, I want to see what's behind door number two," said Xander as he started to pull open the door.
"Xander!" Vida warned but he pulled it but quickly closed it again when he spied what was lurking inside.
"I, on the other hand, am not so lucky," he said as he closed the door.
Whatever was behind the door roared and the stone door feel to reveal a creature. It lunged at them.
"Alright lets ranger up and show him who is boss," said Novi.
She pulled out her cell phone firing off a quick message to Nick before she also morphed. They all charged at the creature, but it knocked them and sent them hurtling out of the cave where they rolled down a small grassy embankment. The creature followed them out and roared again before charging at them again. Xander tried to punch it, but the creature just knocked him back like he was a ragdoll, Novi aimed at kick at him, but he grabbed her leg and threw her to the ground next to Xander.
"You guys, okay?" Vida asked.
"Could be better," said Xander giving her a thumbs up. Vida pulled out her magi staff.
"Tornado power!" she called out and spun in place the tornado she created lifted the creature high into the air before he slammed back down and exploded.
Power down," Novi and Xander said once the monster was destroyed, and Vida also powered down and offered them a hand up.
"Let's get the Fireheart," she said before racing back into the cave Novi followed her in and the pair carried the box outside where Xander was waiting, and they started to carry it down the mountain. It wasn't long before the others joined them. Vida and Novi set the box down on the ground. Vida and Chip tried to open it, but the lid wouldn't budge. Maddie pulled the small scroll that was tied to the front, and they heard a click as a timer started counting down.
"This ancient puzzle is your task at hand. Solve it quickly to receive what's grand, but if you fail this timely chore the Fireheart will be no more." Chip read.
"Oh, great another riddle." He moaned rolling up the scroll.
Suddenly shot were fired at them knocking them to the ground around the chest.
"Hand over the chest!" a voice said from behind them.
They looked behind them to see a hideac standing behind them but this was different to the ones they normally saw. Several more popped up from the ground surrounding them. The six teens stood up and pulled out their morphers.
"Magical Source, Mystic Force!"
"Galwit Mysto Ranger"
Novi charged at the first hideac she saw tackling it to the ground and pulling out her magi staff she used it like an ax to slash the hideac, she rolled out of the way as another tried to kick her and got back to her feet, she turned it into a whip and used to grab one of the hideacs and flicked it throwing him away from her. Then just as quickly as they appeared they were gone again.
"That was close," said Nick.
They picked the chest back up and continued to make their way back to Rootcore before anything else found them or came after the chest.
~~~xXx~~
Back at Rootcore, they were able to take a closer look at the markings and various buttons on the chest but not even Chip was able to make any sense of it. They had tried pressing a few buttons and even tried magic, but nothing seemed to work.
"Ugh, it's still counting down," Maddie said with a sigh.
"Sorry guys, I've never seen a puzzle like this. I don't even know where to begin," said Chip walking around the box on the floor.
"None of us do," said Maddie. "And we've already lost almost half an hour."
"You still have leaves stuck in your hair from the battle," said Nick going over to Xander.
"Ow!" Xander cried out in pain which made Novi turn to see what was wrong.
Whoa!" said Nick.
"It's nothing," said Xander turning away. He sighed and turned back around to face this. "I'm just having a little issue," he confessed holding out his arms. Novi gasped as his arms were covered in bark with new little buds coming out of them.
At first it there was just the odd snicker then they started laughing and the more they saw of Xanders' 'issue' even Novi couldn't hold back her laughter.
"Is this funny to you guys?" asked Xander hurtfully.
Novi laughed until she saw the hurt in her eyes, and she pinched her lips closed to stop herself from laughing.
"Come on Xander, you laugh at Claire when she turns herself into funny stuff," said Vida choking out the last words as she doubled over in laughter again.
"I'm sure it's just a side effect of your organic powers, it will go away," said Maddie trying to be reassuring. "Knock on wood," she said added.
Novi couldn't contain her laughter anymore at Maddie's joke.
"Yeah, we're all rooting for you," said Novi grabbing her stomach as she and the others continued to laugh.
"Guys, guys come enough," said Nick clearing his throat and the laughter died down. "leaf Xander alone." They started to laugh again, and Novi wiped a tear from her eye.
"Come on guys, can we focus on something more important, like opening the chest, we are running out of time," said Xander.
Novi squatted back down to get a better look at the chest as did Maddie. Novi flicked a glance over at Vida and for a second their eyes met but Novi quickly looked away pretending to be interesting in something on the box.
"I've got it," said Chip.
"What? You solved the puzzle?" Vida asked hopeful.
"No, but I think I know who can," Chip told them.
~~~xXx~~~
Toby stared at the chest Chip and Vida had placed in front of him. He walked all around it looked at the different markings and buttons. A frown furrowed his brow.
"Hardest puzzle in the world, huh?" he asked.
"Next to impossible," Chip responded. "Can you beat the clock?" he added as almost a challenge.
"I can solve it in less than an hour," said Toby confidently and he carried the chest to his office.
"This better work," said Vida with a sigh.
"It will work as soon as he figures it out, we'll create a diversion and slip away with the chest before he has a chance to see what's inside. Simple," said Chip.
"Famous last words?" Novi said raising an eyebrow.
Novi turned her attention to a customer that had come in and when she was finished, she noticed it was just her and Chip in the store.
"Where did Vida go?" she asked Chip.
"I sure she said something about needing to find Xander then she left, something wrong?" said Chip.
"No, I just wondered is all."
A silence fell between them as they busied themselves around the store re-organizing the racks again before it got busy.
"You're in love with her, aren't you? Chip asked suddenly breaking the silence.
"What? Who?" Novi asked slightly caught off guard.
"Vida."
"No!"
"Don't try and lie to me. I've seen the way you look at her."
"I have no idea what you are talking about," Novi denied but the reddening on her cheeks proved otherwise.
Chip glared at her, and Novi tried to avoid his gaze.
"If you don't then why won't you even look at me," Chip asked teasingly.
"Fine, yes I am, but you can't say anything to anyone about it. I don't think she feels the same way. We— we kissed when we had gone back to the club to find Flytrap, but she hasn't mentioned it since she changed back."
"Well, why don't you ask her?"
"Because what if she really doesn't feel the same way, or what if we try it and things don't work out? I don't want to lose her friendship. I've already lost friends because of what I am. I don't want to lose any more."
"It sounds to me like you are over-thinking it. You should just tell her how you feel, you never know, she might feel the same way about you."
Before Novi could respond Maddie and Nick came back to check on how Toby was getting on with the chest, so Chip dropped the subject. They peered through the office window to see Toby furiously writing notes down before looking back at the chest.
"I think he is getting close," said Chip.
"How do you know?" asked Nick.
"He is starting to drool," said Chip with a laugh.
Just there their morphers chimed. They stepped into a corner and Nick flipped his open.
"Rangers, there is dark energy heading your way," Udonna warned them.
"We've got to stop it before it gets here," said Nick snapping the phone shut. "Come on!"
~~~xXx~~~
The four of them reached the plaza which is where the reading was coming from to find a creature attacking the civilians that were gathered there.
" We better make this quick," said Chip. As soon as those words left his mouth a bunch of Hideacs joined the creature.
"O—kay, Phase 2," said Nick and he pulled out his morpher.
"Magical Source, Mystic Force!"
"Galwit Mysto Ranger"
Novi charged at the nearest group of hideacs and heard the sounds of Nick of the others doing the same. She kicked one of them and it tumbled backwards into another one and the pair landed on the ground. One tried to punch her, but she grabbed it hand tucking it under her arm just as she spotted Vida and Xander arrive.
"You're just in time," said Nick. "That bonehead is going after the Fireheart," Nick told them, nodding his head in the direction of the creature.
"Don't worry, I've got him," said Xander giving chase while Vida joined them in dealing with the hideacs.
It didn't take them long to deal with the remaining hideacs and they joined Xander just as he finished off the creature.
"Knockout," said Xander.
"Yeah, you did it," cheered Vida.
Xander kissed the boxing gloves he was now wearing. "Got a new spell code," he told them. Just then the gloves faded, and their phones chimed. Chip pulled his out to see a new code reveal itself.
"Whoa, we all got it. I guess we can use it too."
~~~xXx~~~
Back at the Rock Porium Toby still hadn't solved the riddle to the chest and Novi checked her watch, they only have seconds left to go, and she looked nervously at the others.
19
18
17
16
15
"Wait! I think I've got it!" Toby suddenly shouted and they all ran in to join him.
"Did you solve it?" asked Chip excitedly.
"Yes, Yes. It's a—a mathematical conundrum. You see each of these buttons correspond to a number that when dividing it by pi gives a series of integers that all point towards this button," Toby explained pointing to one of the buttons.
Vida was closest to the chest, and she looked nervously at the others and Nick nodded subtly and Vida pushed the button Toby had indicated. The timer stopped with one second remaining there was a 'ting' followed by a click. Vida breathed a sigh of relief and smiled back at them.
"I'm the greatest puzzle-solver on the face of the planet," Toby exclaimed.
"Thanks a lot, Toby," said Chip and Maddie in unison as they picked up the chest and started to carry it out of his office.
Vida patted Toby on the shoulder as the rest of them filed out of the office and headed for the door.
"Wait, wait, wait...what's inside? You've got to tell me," Toby pleaded.
Xander stopped him.
"If a tree makes a mistake in the forest and a friend comes to help, does the tree learn its lesson?"
Toby looked confused for a moment then he smiled. "Oh, a riddle—a riddle. I'll get right on that," he said, and he dashed back in his office.
"Nice one, Xander," said Novi.
~~~xXx~~~
"Here we go," said Nick as he lifted the top of the chest back.
Nestled inside was a red and gold with small round blue flecks all over it. Novi gasped on seeing it.
"An egg? The Fireheart is an egg?" said Chip confused.
"I thought they no longer existed," Novi said looking over at Udonna for confirmation of what she was seeing.
"No ordinary egg Chip, this is the last dragon egg," Udonna told them.
"No way," breathed Vida.
They looked down at the box at their feet unable to comprehend what they were seeing.