Novi, Vida, and Maddie were working in the Rock Porium, preparing for its one-year anniversary. Novi was in the back working on her routine for the party as Toby had asked her to do a performance to commemorate the day.
"Hey V, is that new track ready, I need to so I can figure out the routine for tomorrow's party," asked Novi coming over to Vida.
"Yeah, I got it right here," said Vida offering her a disk
"You're the best, V,"
Novi walked past Maddie as she was serving a customer.
"Hey Maddie."
"Here you go, and don't forget tomorrow is our big one-year anniversary party. There is a special performance by NVi so don't be late," said Maddie handing a leaflet to the customer.
It was still a bit strange to hear herself being referred to by her stage name, NVi. She had been doing small street shows for several months now but nothing as big as this was looking to become. A flurry of butterflies fluttered in her stomach as she head out the back wanting to make sure her routine was prefect. She was filled with a mixture of nerves and excitement, NVi was already gathering fame as the videos Maddie had filmed and posted on-line had really started to take off, the views reaching into the thousands with more and more people showing up to the show she did around the city.
Just then the office door flung open as Toby stumbled out. A half-inflated balloon dangled limply from his mouth and orange streamers hung around his neck.
"Are you okay, Toby," Maddie asked.
"These balloons wont inflate! And the— I can't get the streamer to stream, and my poppers keep popping. This party is going to be a disaster," complained Toby as Vida and Novi came up and started to pull the streamers from his shoulders.
"Don't worry about a thing, Boss. We'll care take of it. Right sis?" asked Vida looking at Maddie.
"Absolutely. You just tell us what you want and um, it's done," said Maddie with a smile.
"Well, it has to be prefect. Big but not too big. And I want a cake."
"A cake you say?" said Maddie and she went behind the counter. Novi saw out of the corner of her eyes; Maddie pull out her Mystic Morpher and a cake appeared on the chair in front of her.
"Ta-da," said Maddie bring the cake over to Toby.
"It's perfect!" said Toby excitedly.
As he said that their morphers chimed. Maddie thrust the cake into Toby's hands as they moved out of sight and Maddie flipped open her phone
"The others need your help, there is dark magic in the forest," came Claire's voice
~~~xXx~~~
"There he is," said Nick pointing across the clearing as they reached the source of the dark magic. Before them stood a human-like being dressed it what Novi recognized as Samurai style armor.
"You dare stand before me, you will fall by my sword," the Samurai said.
"Let's get this over with," said Nick.
"Yes, let us do that."
The six teens and Daggeron charged at the samurai but before they could reach him, he leapt over their heads striking the ground where Daggeron had once stood. Vida and Chip tried a coordinated attacked on him, but the Samurai dodged Vida's blow and struck Chip across the chest and Chip was thrown to the side. Xander tried to use his ax to hit the samurai from behind, but he whirled around and expertly blocked his attack. Nick jumped in with his sword, but the samurai dropped to the ground rolling under the blow. Novi turned her Magi staff into its blade form and charged at the Samurai. She held her own for a while with neither landing a blow on the other, but the Samurai seemed to grow weary of this and blasted her with red electricity that he shot out of the end of his sword, which repelled Novi as she sailed backwards and landed on the ground. Maddie swung her staff at the samurai, but he struck her across her chest. Nick leapt into the air from behind Novi and aiming his blade at him but was met with a strike as the samurai again charged up his blade with the red energy and unleashed it on Nick.
"I know this beast," said Daggeron charging at the samurai.
Daggeron leapt into the air and fired shots from Jenji's lamp, but they bounced harmlessly of the samurai's tough armor. The samurai shot the red energy at Daggeron as the pair met in the air and Novi heard Daggeron's cries as the red energy crackled all over him and he fell onto the ground. The Samurai landed behind him and held his sword out in front of him.
"You are all weak compared to me," he jeered.
Vida and Chip both charged at the Samurai, but he kicked Vida and parried Chip's strike away. He turned his focus on Chip as charging up his blade and fired bolts of the red lightning at Chip. He tried to flip backwards to avoid them but wasn't fast enough as the blast hit him and knocking him throw the air and he landed with a heavy thud. The others ran over this his side.
"Chip!" said Xander kneeling beside him. "Can't we use Jenji and wish him away?" pleaded Xander.
It's not that easy, pull it together," said Daggeron.
Seeing Chip hurt, a growl tore from Novi's throat as she turned on the samurai. "I had just about enough of this," she said charging at him her weapon drawn.
A loud clang rang out as their blades crossed and Novi and the samurai circled each other. Novi jumped back as the samurai tried to kick her in the chest and she swung her blade at his head, but the samurai blocked it and pushed her back. She lunged forward and tried to kick the samurai but again he blocked it and used his sword to knock her back. She was about to charge again when he swung his blade in the air and a wave of pure dark magic collided with Novi. She cried out as she sailed through the air, as her suit sparked with the energy as she fell and hit the ground hard. She clutched her chest and tried to stand but the blast had sapped most of her strength. She groaned as Daggeron came over and helped her too her feet, her arm still wrapped around her chest as she winced in pain. From their vantage point Novi could see that the Samurai had grown large and Daggeron lead her a safe distance away resting her on a rock.
"You rest here while I go and help the others," he told her. Novi nodded then watched Daggeron disappear into the undergrowth. From her perch she watched as Vida turned into a ball and headed for the samurai, but he knocked her back into Maddie. Chip flew into the air and fired lightning bolts at him, but the samurai swung his blade and hit Chip with the same dark magic wave he had used on her. She felt the ground shake when he hit the ground. Nick charged but before he could even get close the samurai struck him with two more waves and he also went down.
"You call yourself fighters," said Warmax.
We aren't done yet," said Xander facing off with Warmax. "Now it's my turn," he said confidently as he strode forward at the samurai.
"You worthless Power Ranger," said Warmax.
"Who are you calling worthless?" Xander demanded raising his axe. He charged it up and sent a wave of green energy at Warmax and Novi heard the explosion as he fell. Daggeron and the others came to where she was sat, and Vida put and arm around her waist as the headed back to Rootcore.
~~~xXx~~~
The six teens and Daggeron entered Rootcore where Udonna had been watching the fight in the crystal ball.
"Novi are you alright?" she asked when she saw Novi leaning on Vida.
"Yeah, just a little banged up," said Novi as Vida lead her to the steps and Novi sat down, Udonna came and sat down beside her.
"I don't get it, we have this powerful genie, and we never ask him for help," Vida remarked angrily.
"It would make things easier," said Maddie.
The gong sounded as the crystal ball showed another source of dark magic had entered the human realm as Nick looked at Udonna who had risen to her feet.
"Well?" he asked.
Novi caught a look pass between Daggeron and Udonna before it was Daggeron who spoke.
"Jenji is not the answer, He said firmly. "Rest up Novi, we will need you. The rest of you follow me," he ordered.
The others looked from Udonna to Daggeron before they reluctantly followed. Novi watched in the crystal ball as a seal appeared behind the creature and it grew in size. The rangers powered up to Titan mode while Daggeron used the Solar streak Megazord. Vida turned into a ball as she bounced around the others charging up before Nick sent her flying at the creature. There was an explosion and when it cleared the creature seemed completely unharmed by their attack. Novi couldn't stand to sit on the side and watch as her friends getting hurt, she flamed out of Rootcore to the quarry.
~~~xXx~~~
She arrived at the quarry to see the others laying on the ground having been knocked out of titan mode as the creature stalked closer to them.
"Oh no you don't," Novi called out as she unleashed a column of flames at the creature. It cried out in pain before it leapt into the air avoiding the worst of her attack.
Novi landed in front of her fallen team as she turned to check on them.
"Did I miss much?" she teased before turning back to the creature.
Before she could attack again white cloth-like wings shot out and wrapped tightly around her she struggled to break free of the binds were around her arms so she couldn't even get to her weapon.
"Need a lift?" the creature jeered as it lifted her high into the air. "Take this ranger!" it said before its eyes flashed and Novi felt electricity run all over her body as she cried out in pain. The creature then proceeded to drop her on the ground Novi groaned as her suit continued to spark.
"Come one guys, get up," She heard Daggeron say to the others but seconds later they cried out as they were blasted again.
"Just thought I would dropped in," said Necrolai.
"Necrolai!" Daggeron shouted.
"I have magic now too," she commented pulling out a device similar to their own wands. She pointed it at the others as she blasted them with her own magic.
"Where did you come from witch?" the creature asked.
Novi pushed herself to her feet and turned to the creature.
"I'm going to show you how's it done, Scarlet Ranger style."
The creature shrieked sending shock waves in her direction, but Novi flipped to the side dodging them and she unleashed a wave of fire at the creature, and it cried out in pain. Novi dropped to one knee as she ran out of energy unable to hold her morphed state. She gritted her teeth and breathed heavily.
"Let's put our magic together," suggested Daggeron. "Fire as one!"
Novi watched as the blast struck the creature and it broke into several pieces. Vida and the others rushed over to her side and helped her to her feet.
"Novi! Are you okay?" asked Maddie.
"Did we win?"
"Yeah, but it would have been easier using Jenji," said Nick.
The others dropped Novi off at Rootcore to rest and recover while they headed back to the Rock Porium to close for the evening.
~~~xXx~~~
Udonna helped Novi settle onto the one of the many rooms in Rootcore and after checking she didn't have any serious injuries; Udonna gave her a sleep potion to drink and left her alone. Once she was gone, Novi set the un-drunk potion on the table next to her bed and propped up the pillows so she could rest in a seating position where she could focus and clear her mind. Her thoughts wandered and she found herself thinking about the conversation she had with Vida about a week ago. After a few weeks of awkwardness between them, Chip had set them up on a 'date' so they could finally discuss their feelings, if any, for each other and much to her surprise Vida felt the same way about her, so they decided to give whatever this was a try and see what happened. With everything out in the open, it blossomed into a relationship between the two of them and it wasn't long before they went public with it.
A smile played on Novi lips as she opened her eyes, she reached for the potion and was about to drink it when she heard hushed voices coming from the main room. She quietly pushed back her covers and crept into the small hallway to eavesdrop on the conversation.
"It's been confirmed the Barbarian Beast are back from the oblivion," said Daggeron.
"Yes, I know, We'll tell the Rangers when they return," said Udonna.
"We handled Warmax and Shrieka but not without cost."
"Why would they battle one at a time? They must have a greater plan."
"Great."
"The rangers are battle weary. I noticed lately they have been looking for the easy way out. Taking their magic for granted. It's a dangerous time in their development."
"Indeed, it is a dangerous time for all of us."
Novi was about to sneak back into her room when she heard Udonna mention her by name.
"I am also concerned about Novi."
"How so? She has been making great strides in her use of her elemental abilities including Fire, said Daggeron.
Novi felt herself blush at these words.
"I know and while I am very proud of her progress, she has been pushing her magic too far, too often and I fear it won't be long before she does something she won't walk away from."
"I assume you have told her about the dangers of doing this?"
"Yes but— "Udonna started but Daggeron cut her off.
"Then we can only hope she know what her limit is and that she won't go beyond it."
Novi quietly crept back to her room and tried to settle down to sleep, but it escaped her as dark thought plagued her mind. She reached for the potion beside her bed and drank it, she finally drifted into a fitful sleep.
~~~ Dream ~~~
The image of a quarry opened up as Novi found herself standing there waiting for someone to arrive. A pulsing purple and black stone hung around her neck. It didn't take long for them to show up a team of Rangers dressed in colorful suits similar to the ones that she currently wore but something was off as she spoke it become clear as what it was.
"About time you lot showed up. Let me guess, you are going to reach a shard of goodness you hope is still inside me…You are welcome to try…"
One of the ranger rushed at her meeting her in battle and he spoke to her.
"I of all people know what it's like to be under the influence of the darkness. I know its power and the rush of darkness, but you can fight it."
"Why do you assume I am under its control, just because you couldn't handle its power, doesn't mean I can't. You were just too weak! What you all fail to understand is I am now in control. The Novi you knew is gone buried so deep in my darkness she can never resurface."
"If you go down this road there is no coming back from it." The figure warned.
In a flash the scene changed this time she was fighting two other rangers.
"If you join me, I just might spare your son."
"Go to Hell,"
She reached out a hand and in a flash of fire he was gone only a pile of ash remained.
"NO!" the other cried out.
She could feel the joy as Solar continues to work her way through destroying other rangers on the team.
Solar walks among them and sings in a slow, haunting tone
"Ring a Ring of roses, Pocket full of posies, Ashes, Ashes we all fall…DOWN!"
The ground shakes as she stomp her foot and all but one ranger falls. Solar hones in on that rangers as she draws circles in her hand a tornado appears around the ranger who begins to gasp for air before collapsing.
"This has become too easy; the way you all are now I could finish you off with a mere flick of my wrist. I will give you 24 hours to rest and recover, use it wisely. I wouldn't advise wasting it on trying to find me because you won't unless I want you too. But remember, when the 24 hours is up, I will be back."
The scene changes again and now only two rangers remain as she stalks them silently through the forest. Solar mutters a spell under her breath as vines whip out from a tree and grabs the girl pulling her towards it. The boy tried to cut through the vines, but they are too tough he can only watch in horror as she is pulled inside the tree and is gone.
"NO! Someone shouts.
Novi awakens to someone shaking her and calling her name. She sits up unable to speak as she gasps for breath. For a fraction of a second, she doesn't recognize where she is as panic starts to set in. She grabs the blanket and wraps it tighter around her trying to calm down, but the dream has left her shaken she is about to leapt out of bed when a familiar voice speaks to her.
"Novi, are you alright? You were screaming in your sleep so I came in and try to wake you, but you wouldn't wake up," Claire explains.
Novi relaxes slightly realizing it was nothing more than a dream. She looks around the room to see Udonna standing behind Claire. She forces a smile rubbing a hand over her face, to brush the away the hair that clung to her damp face.
"Sorry," Novi whispered her voice still shaking. "It was just a nightmare."
"Must have been some nightmare," said Claire.
~~~xXx~~~
The next evening Novi was still at Rootcore, she felt much better, but Udonna insisted she stay in bed another day to make sure she was alright. Novi was bored when Vida came into her room.
"You still in bed?" She teased.
"Yeah, Udonna's orders, she said something about delayed side-effects of overusing my magic."
"Well, I did come to spring you. It's the one-year anniversary party at the Rock Porium Tonight and I have permission from Udonna that you can go as long as you are feeling up to it."
"I completely forgot about it. Yeah, I'm up for it. Anything to get me out of here," said Novi pushing the covers off. Let me just change into something a bit more appropriate really quick and grab my NVi gear, then I'm good to go."
Vida turned away to give Novi some privacy and when she was one the pair headed to the Rock Porium.
~~~xXx~~~
After her performance, Novi left the store, followed by the sounds of chanting.
"NVi…NVi…"
She slipped around the back of the store where Vida was stood propping open the back door.
"That was a great show, babe."
"Thanks, the CD you mixed was prefect. I couldn't do this without you," Novi replied, pulling off the blank mask she wore. "You go ahead and go back, I'm just gonna change out of this and be out to join you in a bit."
Once changed into her street clothes, Novi joined the others in the main store, spotting Toby as he danced and talk to people.
"I've never seen him so chatty," said Maddie.
"We could never had done it with a little magic," said Xander, whispering the last word.
"Everything is prefect. I wish everyday could be like this," said Chip.
"Aw," Xander and Vida said at the same thing, Vida playfully shoving Chip.
"Speech…Speech!" shouted the crowd, even Novi and the others joined in. The shouts turned to cheers as Toby got up on the DJ platform.
"Thanks everyone for coming out today to the Rock Porium!" Toby started as the crowd went wild.
"Two years ago, this place was nothing more than a dream. When I first bought this store, it was a run-down building. I build this place from the ground making it what it is today and here we stand celebrating its one-year anniversary and what a magical year it has been."
Novi had been listening to Toby speech when there was a familiar jingle as they morphers sounded.
"Rangers, there is trouble at the marina," came Udonna's voice.
"Ugh, again," Novi whined.
"We're on our way," Nick replied.
"We can't leave now," said Vida.
"We don't have much of a choice," said Nick.
~~xXx~~~
The six teens arrived at the marina to find a bulldog like monster waiting for them.
"Glad you could make it rangers," it said before blasting them with his staff. Daggeron was the only one to react quick enough to leap clear of the blast.
"Hold it right there, fiend!" he ordered pulling out the lamp blaster.
"I'm not afraid of you!" it replied.
"Laser Lamp!" Daggeron called out as he fired at the creature.
Novi watched as the blasts drew closer to the bulldog, but another creature reached out and grabbed the balls, crushing them in his enormous fist.
"50 Below, you got here just in time," said the one.
"Excellent," 50 Below said with a laugh.
"Rangers, get up," Daggeron ordered as he came back to join them.
Novi pushed herself to her feet and looked at the newcomer.
"Now that I am here, you will be defeated," 50 Below told them.
"Who are these guys?" asked Nick. "They are so much stronger."
"You got that right, ranger," said 50 Below. "We are from the oblivion."
"Try this," said Nick pulling out his Magi staff.
He charged towards the yeti but 50 Below easily deflected his attacks before he punched Nick in the chest, sending him flying and Nick landed several feet away from them.
"Magi Staff, Tornado power," Vida called out as she spun towards the creature but somehow, he reflected her power back at her, knocking Vida off her axis as she was thrown away.
"Vida!" Novi cried out. "Try this on for size."
Novi lunged for 50 Below drawing her Magi staff and unleashing a wave of dark magic, but once again, he deflected her magic back at her. Novi was thrown back slamming into a wall as she crumpled on the ground.
Novi heard the sounds of the other rangers attempts to attack the creature met with similar effects as her own as they slammed onto the ground around her.
"Ice attack!" 50 Below called out smashing his fist into the ground. Novi managed to roll out of the way just as a sheet of ice formed between them.
50 Below pulled out a hockey stick as he slid down the ice, hitting each one of them with the stick as he passed. Novi was thrown back and landed hard on the ground in a heap next to the others. Daggeron leapt in front of the to give them cover.
"Hurry, get up rangers," he said.
"Daggeron, do something," pleaded Xander.
"Use Jenji," said Nick. "We're exhausted."
"Please," Maddie begged.
Novi tried to push herself up a cry of pain escaping her lips as she collapsed back down.
"You are all worthless and weak," 50 Below taunted.
"I've got a bad feeling about this," said Daggeron charging up his attack. "Jenji Shining attack!"
Novi watched as Jenji was propelled towards 50 Below, but as he had done with their attacks, 50 Below knocked Jenji away and Novi's expression turned to one of horror as the bulldog-like creature waved his staff around and Jenji transformed into smoke and was gone.
"Got him," The bulldog laughed.
"What?" Nick asked.
"They caught Jenji…?" said Novi unsure of what she has just witnessed.
"You lose," said 50 Below as he dropped an ice puck on the ground and knocked it in their direction. It exploded on impact as it hit Daggeron, knocking him in the water.
"Daggeron!" Novi called out trying to get up.
The Bulldog and 50 Below laughed as a seal appeared beneath their feet and they were gone and so was Jenji.
"NO come back," Nick called out, but he was too late.
~~~xXx~~~
Back at Rootcore, the rangers relayed the whole story to Udonna and Claire as Daggeron stood behind her, his arms folded in disapproval.
"They captured him?" Udonna asked in shock.
"There was really nothing we could do," Nick explained.
"So, you relied on Jenji?" Udonna scolded. It was clear she wasn't happy with them.
"Hey, we had too, there was no other choice," said Xander.
"There is always another choice," Daggeron said.
"Now that they have captured him, they can wish for anything they'd like," said Maddie softly.
"I wonder what they are going to wish for," said Chip.
"I can tell you whatever it is, it isn't going to be good for us. That's for sure," said Novi.
"We must be prepared for the worst," Daggeron warned.
~~~xXx~~~
With our most recent success over the Power Rangers, I have fulfilled my plan. We now possess their most potent weapon. With my new generals Fightoe and 50 Below, we have succeeded!" said Imperious gleefully. "Today will mark their end," he added rubbing the lamp in his hand.
Smoke emitted from it, and it wasn't long before Jenji stood before them.
"This is exciting," said Necrolai.
"I am the great Jenji, I grant you one wish," Jenji recited. "Oh, I know I am going to regret this," he added.
"I wish there were never Mystic Force Power Rangers."
To be continued…