"Trust is the key to any team. In order to truly trust each other, you must be willing to put your safety in the hands of the team." said Udonna addressing the others as the stood in two lines with Maddie in the middle.

Novi watched from the side as Nick was making sure her eyes were completed covered by the blindfold as he snapped his fingers in front of her eyes, when he was sure she couldn't see, Nick stepped back in line opposite Chip and Vida.

"Are you ready Madison?" Udonna asked.

"I think so."

"Slowly fall forward trust that your team will catch you."

Maddie slowly leaned forward allowing her body to fall as she felt hand gently catch her and push her back up. Claire walked past carrying Fireheart swaddled in a blanket which caught the attention of the others and the rushed over to coo over him. Novi winced as Maddie unaware her team was no longer there, feel backwards and landed on the ground. Novi rushed over and helped her up as Maddie pushed the blindfold off.

"Oh, that's trust for you," Maddie said winded slightly.

Suddenly there was a gong and as Novi looked over to the globe was filled with a black swirling mist which meant only one thing. She and the others rushed over for a closer look.

"Dark magical energy is emitting from the Forest," Udonna told them.

"We'll go check it out," said Nick.

~~~xXx~~~

Once they reached the location of the dark energy, they looked around for any signs of disturbance but found none.

"It's quiet," said Nick

"Almost too quiet," added Chip sounding serious. "Sorry I always wanted to say that." He said with a laugh as the others looked over at him.

Novi didn't join in with their laughing as she slowed her pace looking around her. She could feel Solar reacting to nearby dark magic, but she couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from.

"Something isn't right. I get the feeling…" She started as the energy got stronger and she heard rustling behind them.

"Who goes there?" it asked.

"That we are being watched." Novi whirling around to face whoever had spoken.

"What brings you children into these dangerous woods," it asked.

"Give us a second and we'll show you," said Nick walking to stand beside Novi.

Nick led the charge as they raced forward to attack this creature. Nick kicked out at it, but his attack was blocked as the creature caught his foot and pushed him back. Novi tried to punch it, but it weaved dodging her attack as well as a strike from Vida. The six teens surrounded the creature, but they weren't able to land a hit as it knocked them away. Nick tried again to kick him, but it grabbed him and threw him back towards Novi and Xander. It kicked out at them but the jumped back to avoid it and reached their Morphers when they heard Udonna's voice behind them.

"Wait!"

"Watch out, he's evil," said Nick pointing at the being in front of them.

"No, he's not. He's an old friend," said Udonna walking between them to greet the being.

As they watched it shifted into a man wearing what looked like black training gear with red accents, he had sandy blond hair.

"Udonna," he said as Udonna approached him.

"Calindor," said Udonna greeting him warmly "You haven't aged a day."

I'll explain later," he said

"These are the Mystic Rangers," said Udonna turning to them and Calindor bowed to them.

"The forest will forever being in your debt," Calindor said.

"Who is this guy?" Maddie asked confused.

"A great warrior," said Udonna embracing him.

"And an old friend," he said.

Novi frowned in confusion. She could still feel the dark energy coming from somewhere and it felt like it was coming from Calindor but if he was Udonna's friend that just didn't make sense. She looked up to see him staring at her over Udonna's shoulder and a shudder when down her spine as behind his smile there was something dark that lurked beneath his kind eyes.

"Hey I'm Nick." He said approaching Calindor.

"Vida."

The others continued to introduce themselves, but Novi hung back until him finally turned to her.

"And you are?" he asked offering a hand.

"Novi," she replied but she didn't shake his hand. He held it there for a few moments before he let it drop and turned his attention back to Udonna and began to speak with her as they started to head in the direction of Rootcore. Novi lagged behind the others as she tried to focus her mind on the dark magic she could still feel even as they got closer to Rootcore which didn't make any sense unless it was truly coming for Calindor but surely that was impossible.

"Why the long face?" asked Vida dropping back to join her.

"Huh?" Sorry I was just— "she trailed off. She didn't want to say anything to anyone yet in case she was wrong.

"Just what?" Vida asked.

"It's nothing." said Novi shaking her head but it was clear from the look on Vida's face, she didn't believe her. "Really."

~~~xXx~~~

"The seal has been broken, dark magic is among us," Udonna continued as the entered Rootcore.

"I know," said Calindor.

"There is a creepy creature attacking people at the plaza," said Claire as she stared into the crystal.

"Fight with Honor," said Calindor as the six teens quickly rushed past the pair and pulled out their Morphers.

"Magical Source, Mystic Force!"

Once morphed the teens grabbed their brooms from where they were stored and stepping into the individual lifts that took them to the exit at the top of the tree. The brooms hovered in the air before transforming into the Mystic racers as the hopped on and flew into the city.

~~~xXx~~~

As they arrived at the plaza, they could see the creature Claire had told them about. He was bouncing around terrorizing people.

Get him," said Nick as he jumped down from his racer and the others followed him.

"Hee-hee! Its wrecking time," said the creature as it sliced through a car oblivious to their arrival

"The bad guys are always so obvious," said Vida as she pulled out her Magi staff and leapt into the air towards the creature.

She fired at him but before the shots could land, he sunk into the ground. She raced over to where it had just been standing and looked at the ground.

"Where'd he go?" she asked as the others joined her.

"He was right here," said Nick kneeling down and patting the ground to check it was solid. Novi heard the slap as his hand hit against it.

"Yoo-hoo," it called out as it popped out of the ground behind them. "Jokes on you!" he jeered.

They turned to face him, but Novi noticed something else had caught Maddie's attention and as followed her eye line to see a couple hanging from the railings several feet off the ground. The monster also saw this as he moved over so to block them from line of sight of the couple.

"Now what are you gonna do?" he mocked.

Behind him the pair continued to scream as they clung to the railing for dear life. Nick nodded at Maddie as they raced towards the creature together but Maddie being the fastest slipped past the creature and leapt into the air just as the couple lost their grip of the rail and had started to fall. She grabbed them out of the air and landed down safety.

"You spoiled my fun," the creature pouted stamping his foot before he ran off.

"That is how you catch someone," Maddie teased.

"We've got to find that freak," said Chip.

"Yeah," the others agreed as they headed in the direction the creature had gone.

When they caught up to him, he had just stood, and Novi noticed a strange red symbol on the ground behind him.

"Stop," ordered Nick.

"Not you again," it moaned holding the pen still in its hand.

"You're in trouble now," said Nick throwing his hands out to the side as the red and gold gloves appeared on his hands. He slammed them together before dropping into a boxing stance. He lunged at the creature with one of the gloves but as he got close the creature disappeared as his hand smashed into some explosive barrels that exploded in his face.

"Nick, you alright?" asked Chip as he got to his feet.

"Yeah," said Nick.

The creature reappeared landing on Nick's shoulders it then flipped off and kicked Nick in the chest, knocking him to the ground.

"That was a good one," it said before it dived back into the ground.

They searched around trying to see where he would pop up next when they heard his voice behind them.

"Coming through," he said as he crashed into them, still half in the ground. They flew in different directions before they had time to recover, he was back and hit them all with his hammer knocking them to the ground again. He did a flip and landed several feet behind them.

"You can't stop me; I'm Jester the Pester. I'd love to stay and chat, but I have work to do. Catch you on the flip side," he said stretching his arm out to grab a distance building as his arm retracted pulling him away.

"He drew something on the ground," said Novi pointing to the symbol on the ground.

She and the others ran over to have a closer look. Novi frowned as the symbol looked familiar, she had seen it before and recently, but she couldn't remember where. Xander checked his watch.

"Ugh guys, we better get to work we were due to start ten minutes ago, we better hurry before Toby begins to get suspicious," said Xander.

"It's my day off and I want to look into this symbol, we need to figure out what Jester the Pester is up to before it too late," said Novi. I'm going to head to Rootcore, I'll let you know if I find anything."

~~~xXx~~~

As Novi entered Rootcore she heard Udonna and Calindor voices and Claire was nowhere to be found. She could still feel the dark magic was close by but pushed that thought aside.

"I was cursed stuck in a cave for years not aging," said Calindor.

"Cursed?"

"This is going to be hard to hear but I was attacked and cursed by…Daggeron."

"Daggeron?" said Udonna shocked at this news.

"He betrayed us, Udonna. I fear he succumb to the dark magic."

"I can't believe Daggeron betrayed us. I trusted him…I trusted him with everything," said Udonna her voice breaking slightly as she spoke.

"Well imagine my surprise, one minute we are brethren fighting the encroaching hideacs the next he's attacking me. It was unexpected to say the least."

"And he was all alone, when he turned on you?"

"Yes, as I recall."

"Why didn't the Xenotome tell me?" Udonna wondered.

"The Xenotome?" asked Calindor.

"This is our most powerful ally. The Rangers powers are bestowed from this book. It is all-knowing," Udonna explained.

"There is much I need to know if I am to help you."

"You're right, I'll make us some tea, Novi would you like some?" asked Udonna.

"Ooh yes please," Novi called back.

"Please allow me," said Calindor.

Calindor returned a few minutes later and set one cup down beside Novi, before taking the other over to Udonna.

Novi eyed his suspiciously as she pretended to take a sip of her tea but kept her lips tightly pressed together.

"Thank you," said Udonna reaching for one of the cups, but he pulled it away.

"Oh no, I put some honey in this one, Just the way you like it," he said Offering her a cup.

Udonna raised the cup to his lip and as she was about to take a sip Claire burst into the room. Her eyes widened as she called out to Udonna.

"NO!"

She ran forward and leapt onto Calindor back as he thrashed around trying to get her off.

"What's gotten into you?" Udonna demanded.

"He's a liar, he's the one who betrayed the Mystics," said Claire.

Udonna, she is out of her head," said Calindor still trying to dismount Claire.

Novi leapt out of her chair at Claire's words. As she got close to them, she stumbled as a wave of dark magic washed over her, but she pushed forward.

Calindor swung around trying to get Claire off his back and her foot hit the cup in Udonna's hand and the cup and contents spilled over a book as the liquid started to bubble and gave off a sour smell. Udonna gasped as he flung Claire off his back and glared at them.

"I knew it! I could sense dark magic when we met you in the forest, but when Udonna said she knew you I put it down to me being wrong as I don't yet have full control over my powers, but I was right!" Novi said as she placed herself between Udonna and Claire shielding them from him. "Udonna, get away from him. He might have been Calindor once but that is Imperious."

"Guess the game is over," he said flinging the cup aside. He crossed his arms across his chest as he glowed and revealed his true from. "Surprised?

From behind her Novi heard Udonna gasped.

"Your mine!" "Imperious said with a laugh as he pointed his fan in their direction, Udonna pushed Novi aside and raised her own hand to counter his magic.

"You can't overpower me, without your snow staff Udonna," Imperious told her.

"I can't hold on much longer, Claire quick." She pleaded.

Claire come out from her hiding place and raised her own hands.

"Malorium Orvis!" she said and Imperious was gone.

"Who's bumbling now?" said Claire

"You are," said Imperious appearing behind her. He grabbed her shoulder and threw her towards Udonna and Novi.

"Be still," he ordered casting a spell that held them in place. "You always were a pain, Udonna. Without the Xenotome the rangers will be helpless at last," he reached out to touch the book but pulled back as an electrical charge hit him. "I should have known, a protection spell." He started to utter the words to a counter spell to try and break the one on the Xenotome.

"Dereus Malorium."

Novi stiffened as she stared at the book her lips moving as she began to chant another spell in hopes of at least slowing his progress.

"Clever girl," Imperious said turning to her. "but your little counter spell wouldn't stop me," he said looking over at her. Novi just tilted her head raising an eyebrow as she continued to chant.

Novi could feel her magic getting weak and it started to waver as Imperious continued to fight against her counter spell as the protection spell on the Xenotome flickered as Novi felt the last of her magic drain, she breathed heavily as the spell on the Xenotome finally broke.

"The Xenotome is mine," he cheered but before he could destroy it, he was blasted from behind.

The spell holding them in place fell and Novi dropped to her knees. Novi looked where the blast had come from and was relieved to see the others standing there as well as a man dressed in brown robes, and it was him who had fired the shot.

"We meet again Calindor," he said holding a defensive stance.

"Daggeron?" said Udonna in surprise.

"I am now called Imperious; this is not the place. We will meet again, next time I will finish you off," he promised as he disappeared.

Udonna embraced Daggeron as Vida and the others helped Novi to her feet and led her to one of the chairs.

"What happened?" Nick asked.

"Imperious was trying to destroy the Xenotome but Udonna had placed a protection spell on it, so he cast a spell to break it, but I had seen a spell when doing my research about the symbol so countered his spell. Thankfully, my magic held long enough for you to arrive," Novi explained.

"That's twice now you have pushed your magic too far. I'm beginning to think you have a death wish," Vida teased which made the others laugh.