With Daggeron return the rangers training had intensified and Novi welcomed the challenge as it pushed her to tap more into the darker side of her magic with Daggeron guidance and she soon found herself flourishing under his teachings. Today's training was in a miniature arena that Daggeron created. Their goal was to use their magic to retrieve their broom out of the air. The brooms were color-coded to match their ranger colors. Novi quickly found her broom amongst the others, and it only took her a couple of attempt to hit her target as her broom shuddered before floating down to her waiting hands. Novi turned to see all but Xander had also succeeded in capturing their brooms.
"Guys uh, just wait a minute," said Xander still trying to hit his broom down.
Daggeron congratulated them on completing the exercise meanwhile Xander was trying to capture his broom, but all his spells were missing the broom.
"Get down here!" Xander commanded still trying to get the spell right. "It's not working!" he moaned as Daggeron placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Give it here," he said quietly
"Okay, said Xander handing his magi staff to Daggeron.
"It's like this," Daggeron said as he held up Xander's staff and a green light shot out of the top, it gave chase to the broom before hitting it as it fluttered back down. "Didn't you practice for this assignment?"
"He had a date last night," Nick informed him.
"The others found time to practice, you have to work harder," Daggeron said thrusting his staff back into Xander's hand. "Training is over," said Daggeron as the exited the training room. Xander stood a bit ahead of the group sulking as Daggeron walked past him. "I expected better from you," he scolded.
~~~xXx~~~
Later that day Daggeron took the six teens out into the forest on another training exercise and all, but Xander were excited by the idea.
"You will be running an obstacle of sorts. Your objective is to find and retrieve six flags. The course had been designed to challenge each of your magical strengths," said Daggeron turning to Xander. "Let's hope you do better than you did in the broom training."
"Let's hope you do better than you did in the broom training," Xander mocked folding his arms across his chest defiantly. "This guy is really getting on my nerves."
"What's your problem with him anyway?" asked Nick.
"Why does he think he can come in here and tell us what to do. He just showed up out of nowhere," Xander moaned.
"So, Udonna wants him to train us," said Maddie.
"It's not just me, Chip doesn't like him either," said Xander.
"What are you talking about, I think he's great," Chip gushed.
"You're just mad because he embarrassed you, get over yourself," said Novi sharply.
The rangers walked for a while before they came to a large body of water and in the middle or the raging water hung a blue flag.
"That flag has my name on it," said Maddie.
She pulled out her staff as she skipped across the surface of the water snatching the flag. The scene suddenly changed, and they found themselves deep in a forest when Vida spotted her pink flag fluttering high in the air.
"This one is mine!" said Vida as she used her tornado power to fly up and grab the flag.
The scene changed again, and they found themselves in a dark cave and in front of them was a huge pile of boulders.
"Hey, does anyone see a flag?" asked Nick.
"There's mine," said Chip as he spotted the end of a yellow flag buried underneath the boulders. "Magi staff, Lightning power!" Chip called out raising his staff. A bolt shot down and the pile of boulders exploded as chip raced over, dug through the rubble, and proudly lifted his flag in the air.
"Just add light and voila!"
The rangers then found themselves confronted with a large boulder but there was no flag in sight. A voice behind Novi made her jump.
"To get the flag you must find a way to crack open the boulder," he said in her ear.
"Well, that's easy," said Novi pulling out her staff.
She hoisted the boulder high into the air and let it crash back down but when the dust cleared the rock was still intact. Novi frowned as she stared at the rock. Daggeron wouldn't make it impossible for her to get her flag as that would be unfair so there must be a way.
"Think, Novi think. Daggeron said this was to test our magical strengths, but my powers don't necessarily exists purely because of magic so…" her thoughts trailed off as she realized what she had to do.
"That's it!" she cried. "In order to break the rock, I have to use more than one element to weaken its structure so it will break."
She raised her Magi staff and a column of flame shot out enveloping the rock and she waited until the rock glowed red before she switched to water to quickly cool the rock down. Creating a pocket of wind Novi lifted the rock into the air before crashing it down again and this time it shattered into several pieces and there amongst the rubble laid a scarlet flag.
"Well done, Novi," said Daggeron.
Novi shivered as they were now in a vast valley covered in snow and ice. Nick looked up to see his flag encased in a solid block of ice.
Come to papa," said Nick as he used his fire power to melt the ice, his red flag floating down to his and he snatched it out of the air.
"You're up Xander, we are almost out of time," said Nick.
A forest appeared once again, and the green flag was suspended over high in the air across a boggy river.
"Doesn't look too hard," said Xander casually. "Magi staff vine power," he called out as a thin vine wrapped itself around the trunk of a tree the end appearing in his hand. Before he could use it Daggeron appeared once again and held a hand out to stop him.
"Hold on, you sure this vine is strong enough to hold any member for you team?" he asked.
"Um sure, I guess so," said Xander. His grabbed the vine tighter and was able to swing over when Daggeron stopped his again and took the vine from his hands.
Daggeron leapt up holding the vine as he started to swing across and for a moment it looked like he would make it but then there was aloud snap as the vine broke under Daggeron weight and he feel down several feet, landing in the muddy water.
"Oh no," said Xander as he and the others powered down and they hurried down the cliff to help Daggeron.
"Nice one Xander," Novi whispered as she pushed past him.
As the reached Daggeron he stood up spitting out the water from his mouth and even from behind it was clear he was not impressed as Nick helped clean the weeds from around his neck.
"Oops," said Xander.
"Your lack of practice could place your teammates in danger," Daggeron said.
"We're just training," Defended Xander.
"Well next time it could be the real thing. Without practice your magic will grow weak," Daggeron warned him. He held up a small seed and placed it in Xander palm. "You are to stay here and grow this acorn into a tree."
"No worries," said Xander confidently as he reached for his wand.
"Without your wand," said Daggeron taking it from him. "You have all the strength you need inside you."
"That could take all night," Xander moaned. "And I have a hot date."
"Not anymore," said Daggeron and he nodded to the others to follow him back to Rootcore leaving Xander alone.
~~~xXx~~~
While the others were working, they noticed Xander was fast asleep in his 'supervising chair' he mouth hung open as a loud rumble emitted from it. The five teens surrounded him watching him sleep.
"Xander's learned a new spell code: Sonic Disruption," said Chip making them laugh.
"Time for a little payback," said Vida looking down at the crate in her hands.
Novi and Maddie barely had time to cover their ears before she dropped it on the ground right next to Xander. It had the desired effect as the sound startled Xander and he leapt up from the chair taking a defensive stance before he realized what had happened which made them all laugh.
"You, okay?" asked Chip.
"Yeah, I've just been up all night," said Xander rubbing his eyes. "Guys you have to agree Daggeron has to go. And I know what it is, he singled me out because of my good looks. He's probably just jealous because he can't get a date of his own." Novi smirked as she noticed that Daggeron was coming up behind Xander as she covered her mouth trying to hide her grin. The others shifted nervously as they also notice his arrival. "He is overbearing, he's petty, he's standing right behind me, isn't he?" said Xander seeing the looks on their faces. Novi nodded and Xander turned around to face him, expecting to be scolded.
"You're all coming with me on a very special assignment," said Daggeron ignoring Xander's harsh words. "We're going on a field trip," he said turning away from them.
A white portal opened up in front of him, and through it they could see a train station and an approaching train. All but Xander raced through the portal excitedly.
"All board!" said Chip with a grin. "I've always wanted to say that."
The train had a very lavish interior of white leather seats as the rangers went into the first compartment.
"This thing's classic," said Nick admiring the furnishings.
"Ooh I wonder where we are going?" said Maddie looking out the window of the train as the others joined her.
"I'm sure where ever it is, it's terrible," scoffed Xander.
Novi rolled her eyes but chose to ignore his negative attitude. The train lurched as it began to pull out of the station.
"Here we go," said Chip barely containing his excitement.
"I never actually been on a train before," said Novi.
"What never?" asked Vida.
"Nope,"
"I think this is going to be a blast," said Vida as Maddie rested on her shoulder.
"I think I'd rather be back at work," moaned Xander.
"Quit whining already," snapped Novi.
Novi turned her attention back to the window looking out to see nothing just a black sky as they seemed to be travelling through a long tunnel of something suddenly, she spotted a bright light ahead of them. They burst through as the train landed on a planet and slowed to a stop. Novi and the other quickly exited the train while Xander trailed behind them.
As they exited the train, they noticed their clothes changed and Novi found herself dressed in high leg boots and a reddish-brown halter style dress, matching wrist gloves and her black hair hung in two long braids down her back.
"Cool costumes," said Maddie as they approached Daggeron and Jenji.
"Works for me," said Vida admiring her new outfit.
"I'll never get tired of inter-dimensional travel," said Chip.
"This is the magical dimension of Shalifar. You need appropriate clothing as you will be staying here awhile," Daggeron started but Xander cut him off.
"You're gonna leave us here like this," scoffed Xander looking down at his clothes.
"How long you are here it up to you. This is your way out," said Daggeron holding up a ticket to show them. He then flung it into the air, and it flew away.
"Whoa, good throw," noted Jenji.
"You must find the ticket. It will summon the train and bring you back home," said Daggeron. Once he finished explained he started to walk toward the train.
"This is ridiculous," said Xander.
"Whoa Daggeron, you sure about this?" asked Jenji.
"If you don't like it all you have to do is find the ticket," said Daggeron turning to face them.
"You can't leave them here," protested Jenji. "What will they eat? More to the point what will eat them?"
"Good luck rangers. Oh, and one more thing," said Daggeron turning back to them. I'll take your morpher," he said holding out a hand.
"Figures," scoffed Xander as they handed over their morphers.
"But— wait a minute— hold on…" Jenji protested again looking between the rangers and Daggeron. "I'm not staying," he said quickly following after Daggeron not wanting to be left behind.
~~~xXx~~~
The left the area the train had dropped them off in and soon found themselves in a forest as Vida and Novi played a game hopping from grass mound to grass mound when Vida noticed a seed pod on the ground, and she picked it up giving it a shake. She grinned as the seed rattled inside of it.
"Hey look, Natures maracas," said Vida bending down to pick up a second one. She rolled her tongue making a trilling sound as she shook the maracas and her hips.
"Shake it baby, Shake it," cheered Novi but her eyes where fixated on Vida's ass watching as she shook it.
Everyone apart from Xander picked up a set of pods and started trilling and dancing as Novi and Vida bumped their hips together locking eyes for a moment before looking away. Nick turned to a nearby tree and hit his pods against the trunk making more noise as they five teens laughing having a fun time.
"Lighten up, Xander," said Chip tossing one of the makeshift maracas at him.
"Why should I? We are stuck out here for no good reason," he complained throwing the maraca away. "Daggeron is just punishing us."
There was a thunk then a loud roar echoed through the forest from where Xander had tossed the maraca halting their fun in its tracks. They tossed their pods aside and raced back through the forest. Novi tripped over a root and rolled down the side of the small mountain as the others joined her at the bottom and Vida helped her to her feet.
"Well, that was fun," said Nick.
"Fun? asked Novi. "Sure, if you call running for our lives fun," Novi panted.
"Did anyone catch a glimpse of that it was?" asked Xander taking the lead.
"No clue," said Vida.
"Sounded like some kind of giant beast," said Nick.
"Whatever it was…" Maddie started but Novi didn't hear what she said as a giant hand grabbed her and dropped her into a sack where she saw Vida and Nick inside. There was a scream as Maddie then Chip were also added to the sack.
"Novi! Vida!" Nick!" They heard Xander call out.
"Xander help he is taking us away," said Vida as the sack swung hitting the creature against its leg.
The bag continued to swing as the giant walked before it upended the bag dumping them and its contents onto the ground. Before they had a chance to run, the giant snatched them up and tied them together before it sat down and build a fire. It left for a while and came back carrying a large stick which it proceeded to sharpen with a stone.
"What is he doing?" Vida whispered.
"Looks like he's craving some kind of roasting stick to cook us over that fire," said Nick.
"That's weird because all the books I've read about Giants say they biol their dinner," said Chip matter-of-factually.
They screamed as the giant pointed the stick in their faces as it laughed at their fear.
"Which shows you can't always believe what you read huh?" said Chip.
Novi watched as the giant broke open a fruit of some kind and it looks repulsed as a foul smell filled the cave, it threw the fruit on the ground right in front of them and growled making Novi and Vida scream again.
From the corner of her eye Novi noticed Xander stumble into the cave ducking behind a rock to avoid being seen as the giant threw down another piece of rotten fruit. Novi saw him grab one of the seeds inside before he ran back out of the cave.
"Xander," she hissed quietly but he was already gone.
The giant picked up the end of the rope and started to drag them closer to him and the fire as they screamed. Suddenly Xander rushed back inside carrying a large fruit in his arms. He looked around it calling to the giant.
"Whoa, hold your horse. The names Xander and you don't want to eat them. Think of all the cholesterol. Not when I have a nice big, bad juice, healthy piece of fruit," he said offered it to the giant.
The giant grinned taking it from him he pried it open and smiled taking a bit out of it.
"Mmmm," Novi and the others encouraged.
"Where'd you get this? We haven't had fruit this good in years," said the giant.
"Wait he talks?" said Novi surprised.
"Of course. You are confusing giants with cyclops and ogres," explained Chip.
"Hey big guy," said Xander waving his arms to get the giant attention. "There is so much more where that come from, follow me," said Xander and he shot out of the cave. The giant followed still holding the rope, so Novi and the others were almost dragged out behind him.
Once outside the cave Xander took a big cup and tossed the contents into the clearing he slowly waved his hands and cast a spell as the area filled with dozens of trees laden with more of the fruit.
"How's that for service?" he asked proudly.
"I sorry for all this, I've been starving for months. I'm actually a vegetarian," he told them.
"What?" Novi demanded.
"Your friends may go," said the giant dropping the rope that he used to tie the together.
Xander came over and helped free them from the heavy rope.
"Now let's find that ticket and get out of here," said Xander clapping Nick's hand.
"Is this what you are looking for?" asked the giant as he held something out to them.
The six teens laughed as Xander reach up and took the ticket off the giant.
"Thanks," said Xander.
Let's get home," said Novi happily.
With the ticket in their hands, they heard the shrill whistle as tracks appeared beside them and the train rumbled down towards them. They climbed aboard as the train pulled away. Novi looked out of the window and waved to the giant as the train rose into the air. A portal similar to the one that had entered through appeared and the train flew through the black sky again before it reached the other side. The train descended and slowed to a stop. As the six teens stepped off the train, they realized they were back in Briarwood.
~~~xXx~~~
"Welcome back. Congratulations on finding the ticket." said Daggeron snapping his fingers, as he did their morphers appeared in their hands.
Xander moved a step closer to Daggeron. "You weren't being a bad teacher; I was being a bad student. I know that now."
"And I knew you had the inner strength to overcome the obstacles on Shalifar, that's why I sent you there," Daggeron explained.
Xander's phone chimed, and he flipped it open to reveal a new spell code.
"New spell code," Xander said with a grin.
"Way to go, Xander," cheered Vida.
"You've earned it," said Daggeron patting Xander's shoulder. "Ranger up," he added turning to them as the monster he had been fighting rose to its feet.
Xander activated his new code growing huge muscles as he lifted them all up on his shoulders and threw them at the monster, each hitting him with a punch and knocking him to the ground. The five them picked up the creature and threw it back towards Xander who leapt into the air and punched it full force knocking it into a wall. The monster was about to explode when the familiar purple seal appeared beneath its feet, and it grew to giant size.
The rangers were about to transform into the Titan mode when Daggeron called to them.
"I got this, Rangers."
They stood back and watched at the train Daggeron had used to send them to the other dimension appeared and transformed into its own Megazord. The Megazord Battle didn't last long as Daggeron quickly dispatched the creature before he and the teens returned to Rootcore.