Hope you like it!
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Inside the Rock Porium, the Rangers minus Xander is stocking inventory. "Alrighty." Xander said with a smile going down the aisle while sitting in a rolling chair. "Work the beat, work the beat. Stocking doesn't have to be boring."
"I'm about ready to turn you into a pine tree." China threatened.
Xander grins, turning back around. "Ah!" He cried, jumping startled when a cardboard cutout of a rock star is to close, only for Toby to move the clipboard. "Oh, it's just you, boss." He breathed, recovering from his shock.
"Nice work Xander." Toby said as the Australian gets out of the rolling chair. "I like the way you've got everyone working. You are a born leader."
Xander grins, turning around to face his friends. "Hear that guys? Born leader. China turns to look at Nick, who shrugged while they all looked disapproving at. What Toby had said. "Who's the old guy, boss?" Xander asked, turning back around.
Toby looked insulted. "'Who's the old guy?'" He repeated. "Guys, Jake Bonebreaker, the man who put 'metal' in 'metalhead'. Lead guitar and vocal on metal mega classic 'Harry Hatchet'." He explained.
Xander just shook his head, so Toby tried a different approach. "Ok, our lesson … play it, like it. Class dismissed." He gave them all looks before going back to his office.
"Guys, who wants to take care of the king of metal?" Xander asked, looking for volunteers.
"Not me." Nick shook his head.
"Me either. He's older then my dad." Maddie's stated, making her sister laugh.
"I got things to do." The pink Ranger commented.
"Sorry. Heavy metal makes my nose bleed." Chip said.
"Mine too." China nods, shuttering.
"Fine. I'll do it myself." Xander turns around to face the clipboard. "Like everything else around here … with a little help from magic." He pulls out his Morpher and aims it at the clipboard. "Vivacim Erectu."
The clipboard comes to life. "Hello Cincinnati!"
"Nick, can I please turn Xander into a tree?" China begged, turning to him, he shook his head.
"You keep turning him into a potted fern."
"Oops!" Xander's eyes grow as he steps backwards. "There's a slight magical malfunction.
China turns back to Nick. "Please, Nick!" She begs.
He opened his mouth, but the chime of their morphers went off, Nick pulls out his Morpher and flips it open.
"Rangers, there's a very strong dark magic presence in your area." Udonna tells them.
"We can't all split on Toby." Nick said. "V and I will check it out. You guys help with, uh, heavy-metal boy." With that he and Vida rush out of the store, leaving the others alone with the live cutout.
"Do you want some metal?!" The cutout asked, moving around the store.
"Nice going, tree boy." China gives Xander a look.
"Well, I want some … prunes." The cutout places his hands on his stomach, and Xander turns to his friends.
The cutout started to rock around and everyone was giving him looks. "I'm outta here." China said, moving to the door.
"China! Where are you going?" Xander asked.
"Anywhere but here for the time being." With that she walked out of the store.
Chip slung his arm around his friend's shoulders. "I don't think this is the best solution to get to China's heart."
"Who's trying?" Xander asked. "Not me." He moved towards the cutout. "Can you dial it down a tad, please?" The Australian asked, never noticing Toby peering through his office blinds. "We don't want to bring in Toby." No sooner had he said that, Toby rushes out of the office.
"Jake Bonebreaker in my record store!" Toby cried, awed and shocked. "I need a camera … need a camera! Camera!" He rushes back into his office, just as the morphers chime.
"Nick and Vida are in trouble." Chip said, the teens started to run out the door, Maddie realized something.
"Ooh, wait. What about Jake?" She asked, pointing at the cutout.
"Uh, one more try." Xander pulls out his Morpher and aims it at the cutout. "Vivacim Erectu." The cutout returns to normal and the teens take off, just as Toby comes out of his office with a camera. "It is such an honor that." He trails off when he looks up to see the cutout had become a cardboard once again. "You're … cardboard. I must be losing it." He takes the picture anyway.
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Full morphed, China, Chip, Xander and Maddie arrive at an underground garage. "There they are!" Chip exclaimed, spotting a morphed Vida and Nick fighting a monster.
"Time to end this party!" Necrolai decided once the Rangers were now gathered together. She whistled loudly and the monster transformed into a taxi. "Deliver the map!" She orders, and the Taxi Monster sped off.
"That's just crazy!" Vida groaned as she felt the beating she and Nick took. The Rangers took chase after the monster, unfortunately they had turned their backs on Necrolai, who blasted them with dark energy, slamming them into the ground.
"Note to self, never turn your back on Necrolai." China groaned.
"That's nothing compared to the power I'll soon have!" Necrolai said the Rangers groaned and tried to get back to their feet. With a shriek, the vampire flew off.
"More power?" Vida asked, horrified of the thought.
"Let's go after her!" Nick yelled, instantly on his feet and took a step forward, only for Xander to grab him and pull him back.
"Wait! We've got another problem." He points to a security camera, that was filming them.
"Uhhh …. oh." China gulped.
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The Rangers stood with Udonna at Rootcore as they watched the footage. "You need to protect your identities at all cost." Udonna scolded Nick and Vida as they watched the footage of the two fighting Necrolai before morphing. "This tape could put us all in danger."
"Wait, what was that?" Maddie asked, moving forward and flipped open her Morpher, she used her magic to zoom in on Necrolai, who was holding a piece of of battered paper.
"It looks like some kind of map." Nick frowns.
"That's no ordinary map." Udonna breathed as she stepped closer. "It's been written by the Ancients."
"Hmm." Maddie raised her morpher again. "Let's take a closer look." She cast a spell to replicate the map, and it appeared in from the console. Udonna lifted it up to look at it more closely.
"Oh my … I thought this was lost." The snow Witch breathed. "It's the map to the Fireheart!"
"The Fireheart? No way!" Chip exclaimed, making everyone look at him. "What's the Fireheart?" He asked.
"The Ancients believed it to be a tremendous source of power." Udonna answered.
"Then wee need to get to it before Necrolai gets her vampire claws on it." China said, not liking the fact that the enemy a step ahead of them.
"It's not going to be easy." Udonna warns. "You must go through the Cimmerian Forest."
"That's alright, we like forests, don't we guys?" Xander grins, the Rangers laughed.
"This one is unlike any you know." Udonna did not look pleased. "Imagine your worst nightmares."
China shuttered, stepping closer to Xander.
"That's easy." Chip said with a big grin. "My mom puts my morpher in the dryer, and the next time I morph, my uniform is really tiny." The Rangers broke into laughter, but Udonna glared.
"Enough!" She scolded sharply, making the Rangers shut up. "You are about to begin the most dangerous journey you have ever undertaken." She said gravely. "Your path will be filled with unimaginable danger. Evil creatures, ravenous demons. Now go." She holds the map towards Nick, who slowly took it. "Remember, returning with the Fireheart will not be your success. Your success, will be to return at all."
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The team walked towards the entrance for the Cimmerian Forest. "This isn't … so bad." Chip said as a bird cawed and a sign read 'Go Back!' Anther sign read 'Cimmerian Forest'.
"I'm not looking forward to this." Maddie said.
"Me either." Nick agreed.
"Definitely feeling a nightmarish vibe." China agreed.
"I am!" Xander announced, walking forward. "I'll take the lead on this one." He looks at Nick. "I know how to read maps pretty well."
"Are you sure?" Nick asked.
"Like Toby said, I'm a born leader." Xander says, puffing his chest out and looking confident.
"Ok. It's all yours." Nick gives him the map.
"Ok, Team Xander, onward." Xander looked at the map, before entering the forest, followed by the others.
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As the Rangers walked through the forest. Maddie clung to Vida as they walked. "Can we go home now?" China asked.
"Not without the Fireheart." Nick commented.
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As they continued to walk, China looked up towards the sky, which was complexly covered by the thick trees.
All the Rangers jolted when they heard of tree branch snap that seemed to echo.
"What was that?" Maddie asked, her voice shaken in fright.
"Just keep moving." Nick said. None of them ever noticed that Phineas was watching them in the shadows as he was following them.
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"Whoa!" Xander suddenly called, stopping as he raised his hand, but the others walked into him and the team stumbled forward.
"Next time, just say 'stop'." Vida growls at him. "'Whoa' is for horses. I don't see any horses here. Do you?"
Xander nodded quickly as he managed a smile. "Ok. I got it." He said, looking at the map. Another noise echoed around, making the Rangers look around in alarm as they turn around quickly as they all gathered even closer.
"What was that?" China asked, hugging Xander's left arm.
"I've got a feeling that something has been following us since we started." Chip said nervously, his friends looked at him.
"Why didn't you warn us?" China asked, continuing to hug Xander's arm in fright, he didn't seem to mind at all.
"I didn't want to say anything, cause I always think someone's following us." He admits. A figure suddenly appears in front of them, hanging upside down from a tree. The Rangers screamed, clinging to each other more, before they quickly realize who it is.
"It's only Phineas." Nick breathed as the Troblin grinned. Phineas jumps down from the tree.
"Oh, it's only the Rangers." The Troblin folds his arms and rolls his eyes, the Rangers had to laugh in relief.
"Phineas, you scared the hell out of us." China breathed.
"Sorry Phineas, we're on an important mission." Xander grinned, once they were all relaxed a little more. "Don't have time for a visit." He moves on, pulling China with him as she's still hugging his arm.
Phineas swung out of the tree, flipping in the air before landing on his feet, the Rangers grinned, impressed.
"Tell you what." Phineas smiled brightly. "Seeing as you asked so nicely, I'll take you through the forest." He offers, the Rangers all glanced at Nick.
"Maybe we should let Phineas lead." Nick suggest to Xander. "Sounds like he knows the place."
"Yeah." Maddie agreed.
"I like him. He knows what he's talking about." Phineas said. "I know this forest like the, uh, back of my … oh." He looks at the back of his hand, before adding. "Lucky me … new wart."
"Look, don't need any help." Xander said, smiling at his friends. "I know exactly where I'm going!" He said confidently, he looked down at the map for a moment. "This way team." He began moving.
Maddie was quick to grab Nick's arm as they all hesitantly followed Xander.
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For more hours, the Rangers continued to walk through the woods. Nick and Vida shooting Xander irritated looks. Finally Nick had enough.
"Hey, hold us. Excuse me, leader." He broke the silence as he walked over to the green Ranger, whose confident smile is now long gone. "We're going around in circles. We've passed that tree like three times. Admit it … we're lost."
"Lost?" China squeaked, going pale.
"We are not lost." The earth Wizard denied, shaking his head.
"We are too."
"Are not."
"We are … sinking!" Chip cried, he and the others were standing in quick sand.
"Swamp sand!" Maddie cried. The sand was already up to their knees as they all continued to struggle, but unable to get free.
"Everybody, Ranger up!" Nick calls. The team pulls out their morphers.
"Magical Source, Mystic Force!"
Nothing.
"Oh great. The morphers don't work out here." Chip groaned, they started to look around for something to grab. Nick reach for a large thick branch and looked at his friends.
"Guys! Grab ahold!" He yelled, reaching out and grabbing China's arm. Each of them grabbing a hold of their arms and hoisting out of the swamp sand. Nick turns and jumps to grab Xander as he's almost submerged. The two collapse on the edge. All the Rangers are covered in mud as they catch their breaths.
Nick was the first to recover first. "Let's re—evaluate." The red Ranger turned to Xander as did the others. "Take out the map."
Xander pats himself down, before looking back at the swamp as he quickly realized he didn't have it anymore, they all see it sinking into the muddy swamp sand.
"Oh no."
"Oh, great." Nick sighs.
"Oh, perfect!" China sighs. "Where are we gonna get a new map now? We're lost!"
"Map … who needs a map?" Xander asked, turning to look at his friends. "I've looked at that thing a million times." He then points at his head. "It's all up here."
"And that's suppose to make us feel better?" Vida demanded.
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Later, Xander continued to lead the way, still covered in swamp sand and making heir mystic uniforms uncomfortable. The team was hungry and exhausted, all of them giving irritated looks at Xander now.
"Nick, can we please turn him into Christmas ham?" China asked, regarding Xander.
"For the hundredth time, no."
The Rangers came up to a fork in the path, and they all sighed heavily. Xander paused, scratching his head in confusion as Nick walked up to him.
"Now where?" The red Ranger demanded, his temper boiling and about to explode.
The Australian remained quiet as he looked down one path, then the other, then he finally focused on one. "It's that way." The green Ranger pointed in a direction, just as Phineas pops in, scaring Xander.
"Hello." Phineas greeted as he hung upside down from a branch. "I wouldn't go that way." He did another flip and came back down from the branch. "Only took me a couple of years to realize that landing on my feet was easier then landing on my face."
"Maybe now is a good time to ask Phineas for his help?" Maddie asked, hopefully, Xander just huffed.
"We don't need help." Xander argued. "We're fine."
"Oh, he's right." Phineas said. "You don't need any help, because very soon, you're gonna be eaten by a boar beast." He explained like it an everyday conversation.
"A … boar beast?" China squeaked as she once again paled, grabbing Nick's arm tightly.
"But, hey, once again, have a nice day." The Troblin started to leave, while the Rangers looked alarmed.
"Phineas, wait!" China cried, completely spooked and panicked.
"China, he's just trying to scare us!" Xander told her, but it was working as he too looked spooked and panicked.
"And doing a damn good job at it!" China cried, stopping their friend and he walked back to them.
"W-wait! Wait a minute." Nick turns to his friends. "I'm going with Phineas." He walks over to the Troblin and folds his arms.
"Me too." Vida nodded, following and turns around. "Sis? Guys?"
Maddie looked at her sister, then back at Xander. "Sorry Xander." She moves to join her sister.
China and Chip look at each other, before they give an apologetic look at Xander and the two started to join their friends.
"Guys! I'm know where I'm going." Xander insisted. "Ok, then, ok. I'll cover your shifts for two weekends at Rock Porium if you stick with me."
"Against my better judgement." China started. "I'm gonna hold that to you Bly." She said, making Xander smile and rush up to her, hugging her tightly. Pulling away the green Ranger turns to Chip.
"Chip?"
"Deal." Chip nods. "I always wanted to see a boar beast anyway."
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"It's not further." Xander told his remaining friends who stayed with him and where trailing behind him. Suddenly loud shriek rang out of the forest, the boys froze, China rushed out, pausing Xander.
"China! Wait!" He calls out before he and Chip run after her.
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After some time, China and the boys found themselves even more lost then before. "Guys, look. I think we made it." Xander said as they reached a small clearing. "See gang?" He wrapped his left arm around China, then used his right hand to clamp Chip on the shoulder. "Team Xander comes through safe and sound."
Suddenly a spider screeches, causing the three to look up to see a huge spider and the creature shoots sticky web at them, pinning them to the grassy ground. The giant creature comes towards them, hungry.
"Xander, what exactly is you definition of 'safe and sound?'" Chip asked.
"Which one of you boys have any ideas?" China asked nervously as the three struggling with the sticky webbing.
"Aside from screaming." Chip said. "No."
"Guys, it's all my fault." Xander finally confesses as the three struggled with the web.
"Can we have that in writing?" China asked.
"Well, as least you can volunteer to be eaten first." Chip pokes Xander in the back.
"If that's what you want." Xander said. "I just thought I knew everything. I should've listened to Phineas."
The Troblin suddenly appeared. "It's never too late for that." His voice made China let out a scream in fright.
Phineas then fights off the huge spider and defeats it, then hurries over to the three Rangers, freeing them.
Xander and Chip stumble to their feet, then they help China to her feet. "Phineas, will you lead us?" Xander asked, pulling the sticky web out of his hair.
Phineas smiles, a big sharp tooth smile. "Sure Xander! It would be my honor."
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After making it out of the forest. China knew she should've helped the others. But she was too exhausted and hungry and veery way too dirty.
She is currently in the bathroom of her home, soaking in the bathtub with a lot of bubbles.
"China!" Paige calls from the hallway and there's a knock on the door. "There's a very handsome young man in the living room, waiting to meet you."
Groaning, China climbs out of the bathtub. "Fine." She lets the water out of the tub and pulls on her pajamas.
She walks out and walks into the living room, finding Xander sitting on the couch. He quickly jumps up.
"Hey."
"Hi." She folds her arms. "What are you doing here?"
"China, he's our guest." Paige scolded gently. "Don't be rude."
"It's ok." Xander assured, holding something behind his back now. "I deserve it." He walks over to China to pull out a lily. "I'm sorry." He apologizes as she took the lily and smells it gently. "I let what Toby said, fuel my ego."
She nods. "Accepted." She smiles.
Paige smiles brightly at the two. "Xander, we were just about to order a pizza. Why don't you join us?" She offers.
"I don't want to impose."
"Nonsense." Paige smiled. "We'd love you have you join us."
"Free pizza on your part." China teased, looking at Xander.
He nods. "Ok then."