Novi was curled up in a chair at Rootcore, it was her day off and she was studying a book that she had kept from her days at the Elemental Academy. Even though she was no longer a student, Udonna had encouraged her to continue her studies as much as possible to help her learn how to control her powers and avoid situations like the ones that lead to her being kicked out of the academy. Since she had no place, she could safely practice her powers, she had to settle for theoretical learning instead of practical. This particular book was on controlling fire as that was the one, she struggled with the most. This was due partly to the nature of fire itself; you could never truly control fire and partly due to her fear which often channeled into her power and made them even more unpredictable. She sighed as put the book aside rubbing her eyes and stretching, stifling a yawn. She looked up to see Claire kneeling in front of the dragon's egg again, watching for any signs of it hatching.

"Hatch!" she commanded.

"The Fireheart will hatch when the time is right, Claire," Udonna told her.

"But I have never seen a baby dragon before," Claire whined.

"Well, you must be patient. Haven't you ever heard the phrase; A watched pot never boils," said Udonna.

"Ooh that reminds me," said Claire scrambling to her feet. She rushed over to a cauldron and adding in another ingredient to the potion she had been working on all morning.

"By the smell of it, that potion is stronger enough to ward off Morticon himself," said Udonna.

"This isn't a potion, this is our dinner," Claire exclaimed. "Oh, and I've been practicing my invisibility spell, watch." She brought her hands up and back down to reveal that only her legs had become invisible. "Oh, why do I even try. At this rate, I'll never become a sorceress." She moaned.

"Magic isn't all about potions and wands, Claire. It's about tapping the potential deep within yourself," Udonna explained to her.

"And you think that I have potential?"

"My dear apprentice, I am certain of it."

"Then I'll keep working," said Claire a little more cheerful.

"Good," said Udonna as Claire headed into the back area.

Udonna looked over at Novi and she smiled before returning to her books. Claire was such a sweet and gentle girl and Novi adored her. And she couldn't help but laugh to herself. Her thoughts were interrupted as the others came running into Rootcore. Novi set down the book she was reading and joined them as they approached Udonna.

"Udonna, something weird is going on," said Maddie.

"We just had a close encounter with Necrolai," said Xander.

"She was looking for someone called the Gatekeeper," said Chip.

At that name, Novi saw Udonna stiffen for a moment.

"Do you have any clue who is it talking about?" asked Nick.

Udonna turned to face them.

"The Gatekeeper was a powerful sorceress named Niella, she was my sister. During the great battle, Niella cast a spell that sealed the gate and banished Morticon to the underworld. But the spell was so strong it depleted all of her life force. When the gate was lowered to the depths, Niella was gone."

A silence filled the room as the Novi and the others just looked at Udonna. It must have been so hard to lose her sister and to have to talk about it now. Novi felt a tear run down her cheek as she knew loss as well.

"But her spirit lives on in my heart and through the legacy of her heir," Udonna finished.

"She had a child?" Maddie asked.

"Yes, and I fear that is who Necrolai is seeking."

"So, we have to find the child first and protect them," said Novi.

"You won't have to look far," Udonna told them. "Niella's daughter and the heir to the Gatekeeper's power… is Claire."

Claire whimpered as her invisibility spell wore off and she appeared to the side of them. She looked scared and also hurt by this news and before Udonna could explain she ran out of Rootcore. Novi who had been standing near the back of the group ducked out the back entrance and quietly followed Claire as she ran deeper into the forest. Thankfully, Claire wasn't as perceptive as Udonna, so she didn't pick up that she was being followed as she soon arrived at one of Phineas camps in the forest and she sank down onto one of the logs next to the abandoned campfire. Novi kept herself hidden in the forest but close enough that should any danger approach she was close enough to intervene if necessary.

She watched her for a while and suddenly there was a glow beside her and Udonna appeared startling Claire.

"Thank goodness I found you. What are you doing out here alone?" Udonna asked.

"Nothing," Claire snapped angrily.

"I don't blame you for being upset with me."

"It's just not fair Udonna. Being the Gatekeeper is my legacy. You can't keep that power from me forever."

"Claire, there are things you just don't understand."

"I understand," said Claire her voice breaking. "You don't think I can handle it because I'm incompetent and bumbling and clumsy and…"

"Exactly as your mother was," said Udonna, smiling. "You are so much like her."

"But I thought she was a great sorceress," Claire said surprised.

"Oh, she was, but not at first. In fact, she blew up our cottage quite a few times trying to get her spells right.

"Then why can't— "

I promised her to always keep you from harm. I've tried my best to keep that promise."

"And you have," said Claire smiling as she brushed tears from her cheeks. "I couldn't have asked for a better protector…or better aunt."

"Someday you'll be ready to take on your mother's legacy, but not today."

Novi turned to leave the pair alone to talk and reconnect as a family when there was a crack of thunder and she turned to see Koragg standing in front of the pair.

"We meet again sorceress!" He said.

"Stand back Claire" Udonna warned standing up and putting herself between Koragg and Claire. Novi came from her hiding place and joined Udonna. Udonna gave her a thankful smile before turning back to Koragg. "Leave the child alone, wizard."

"What use would I have for that silly girl? I've come for you!" said Koragg.

Udonna tried to cast a spell, but Koragg batted it away as if it was nothing.

"Your magic is weak without the power of your snow staff," he jeered.

"How about mine?" said Novi moving so she was standing between Udonna and Koragg before she blasted him with her firepower.

Koragg stumbled back slightly as the fire surrounded him. When he recovered from her blast, he pulled out his sword and laid it across his shield. "Wolf attack!" he called out. The heads hit Novi directly in the chest and being unmorphed she had no protection from the blasts as she fell to the ground. She tied to get up and winced clutching her stomach as she collapsed back down helplessly as she watched Koragg cast a spell that encased Udonna in a golden bubble that shrunk down and drifted over to his hand.

"With all the protectors of the human realm now in our grasp, surely now the Gatekeeper will step forward," he said.

Claire jumped over the log and grabbed Udonna's discarded wand.

"Let her go," she pleaded and tried to use the wand against Koragg. The tip glowed for a second then it faded as nothing happened.

"Nice try apprentice," Koragg laughed, and then he was gone.

Claire rushed over to Novi's side and put an arm under hers to help her to her feet. Novi bit back a cry as she stood up still holding her arm across her stomach. She wrapped her free arm around Claire's neck for support and the pair slowly headed back to Rootcore.

~~~xXx~~~

Rootcore was empty by the time they made it back and Claire helped Novi down onto a chair and she started calling out for the others.

"Ranger? Help Udonna's been captured," she said looking down to see something in the crystal ball. "Oh no!"

"What's wrong Claire?" Novi asked her voice full of concern.

"It the other Rangers, they are in a fight with Necrolai, but something is different, and they are hurt," Claire told her.

Novi pushed herself up and limped over to the crystal ball and watched as Nick rose to his feet. He charged at Necrolai, and Novi could see as Claire had said that Necrolai seemed to have more power than before as she fired beams at Nick. He was able to block them with his sword and he tried to swing at her, but she easily dodged it and fired another beam directly at him which sent him flying backward. He landed hard on the ground near the others. He and the others tried to get up but were unable to.

"I have to go help them," said Novi as she started to walk away but her knees collapsed under her, and Claire had to run to catch her, and she sat her back down on a chair closer to the crystal ball.

"You are in no position to go and fight. If you go out there, you wouldn't last two seconds," said Claire. She turned to watch the globe again. "I don't know what to do," she whimpered as she looked up.

Novi followed her eye line and saw a silver circlet hovering over a box inside one of the cabinets and she could only assume it had been Niella's. Claire rushed over and pulled open the doors and took the circlet out holding it in her hands.

"No Claire. This is exactly what they want you to do. If you do this you would be playing into their hands," Novi warned.

"And if I don't the others will be destroyed," said Claire firmly and she headed out of Rootcore. Novi started to get up to follow her but as much as she hated to admit it, Claire was right, she was too badly hurt to be able to help, all she could do was watch the scene unfold.

~~~xXx~~~

"You're beaten and no one has come to save you. Maybe there is no other Gatekeeper," Necrolai jeered suddenly she was hit by something from the side.

"Wrong Necrolai, my mother's spirit lives inside me," said Claire. She took the circlet in her hands and placed it on her head. "Power of the Shining Moon. Behold the Gatekeeper!" as she spoke the words a purple cloth appeared under the circlet and robes fluttered down covering Claire into the Luna Warrior.

"The oracle was right," Necrolai said. So, there is another and my plan to draw you out has worked perfectly."

"You are going to regret ever meeting me witch," said Claire promised but her voice was different more forceful, and confident.

She held out her hand and a staff appeared in it. She twirled the staff and held it beside her. Necrolai sneered as she fired at Claire. Claire however was unfazed and held the staff out in front of her creating a shield that Blocked Necrolai's' attack. Claire then swung the staff again as her eyes glowed blue and she pointed it at Necrolai. A purple web-like substance shot out and surrounded Necrolai as she cried out in pain and when it was finished Necrolai weakly rose to her feet.

"My new powers, they've gone," she said looking at herself.

Novi watched as the rangers now recovered joined Claire and she breathed a sigh of relief seeing they were okay she pushed herself up and flamed in to join them.

"Novi are you okay? Asked Maddie seeing her holding an arm around her stomach.

"I'm fine," Novi said before she morphed and fell into line with the others.

"Let's give her a hand," said Nick, and the others shouted in agreement. In unison, they leapt into the air and kicked Necrolai knocking her back. She stumbled holding her arm as she looked up at them.

"You will still lose rangers," Necrolai said as she leapt into the air, she called back to them as she flew away. "I'll return!"

They ran over to congratulate Claire, but their victory was short-lived.

"There is no time for that, Udonna has been captured," she told them

Suddenly Nick grabbed his head and cried out in pain.

"Nick, what is it?" asked Vida.

"He wants to fight you, alone," said Nick walking over to Claire.

"I accept." Said Claire.

"No way!" said Novi. "I am not letting you face Koragg alone. You saw what he did to me in the forest. There is no way you can stand up to Koragg alone. None of us can." She protested but Claire was adamant.

~~~xXx~~~

Back at Rootcore Novi paced around the room unable to stand still.

"We shouldn't have let Claire go on her own," she said.

"You saw how she sent Necrolai running," said Vida.

"Yeah, but Necrolai is one thing, Koragg is much stronger than she is. It's not that I don't think Claire can't manage herself, I'm sure she can but even we struggled to battle him, and we are the Power Rangers," said Novi as she walked over to the crystal ball activating it so they could watch Claire.

"So, it was you all along," said Koragg as she approached.

Claire responded by turning the Luna staff in her hands and firing at Koragg. The blast hit all around him, but he held his ground.

"But now you have real power," he said laughing.

"I want Udonna back…NOW! She demanded.

"Not until I get to see the legendary magic of the Gatekeeper."

"As you wish."

Claire rushed at Koragg, and he fired several blasts at her, but they missed as she continued to barrel towards him. Claire managed to get a few hits on him but nothing that did any real damage. She kicked him back from her and he was pushed back but didn't lose his footing.

She is strong," he whispered slightly impressed.

Claire spun her staff and launched the same attack she had used on Necrolai that drained her of her power. Koragg stumbled backward as the blast knocked him back.

Claire then fired a crescent moon attack at him, but he simply absorbed the power with his shield.

"Impossible," whispered Claire.

Koragg laid his sword across his shield as the eye opened. "Wolf Attack!"

Novi gripped the edge of the table as she watched the blast slammed into a shield Claire created but the attack broke through and knocked her to the ground.

"I'm through playing," said Claire getting to her feet. She raised her staff into the air and transformed into what must have been her mother's mystic battle mode and grew to an enormous size.

For a while, it looked like Claire might actually defeat Koragg, but he unleashed a dark magic spell seal at her, and Claire was unable to protect herself against it. The seal collided with her and knocked her not only to normal size but out of the battle mode as well. Koragg disengaged from Catastros and landed on the ground as he stalked towards her, his sword drawn.

"It's over," he said as he moved closer. "You are all mine. You will open the gates and the underworld will rise!"

"Never!" said Claire defiantly.

Koragg now stood over her and raised his sword ready to strike. "I said do it," he warned and was about to strike.

"That's enough. I won't stand here and watch him destroy her," said Novi and with that she was gone.

A loud clang rang out as Novi appeared between Claire and Koragg blocking his strike with her blade. Novi strained to hold him back and was relieved to hear Chips Voices.

"Koragg!" he called out as he fired his crossbow at him.

Vida then fired a blast at him which knocked him back away from her and Claire.

"Do not interfere," warned Koragg.

"Too late for that," said Novi as Nick arrived behind them and jumped up supported by Xander and Chip. They launched him into the air as he called for the mystic force fighter.

"Spin Attack!" he called out spinning towards Koragg and knocking him back and to the ground.

Novi heard Claire cry out and turned to see her in Necrolai's clutches.

"Claire!" she called out getting the attention of the others and they raced forward to help but Koragg blocked their path.

"Let her go," Nick demanded.

Necrolai wrenched Claire's head back to face the sky.

"By the power of the Gatekeeper," Claire screamed in pain as the circlet started to glow and a beam was fired into the sky. "Let the gate rise up," finished Necrolai tossing Claire aside.

The rangers watched as the sky grew dark, thunder rumbled and the ground shook beneath them. They turned to see a huge black wall with a gate in the middle of it rise up out of the depths of the earth.

"Oh no," whispered Claire.

"Now what?" said Nick as they stared at the gate that now stood in the center of Briarwood.

To be continued…