Chapter 11: THE HEART OF A QUEEN

The next day at Rootcore, Nick, Chip and Vida are studying. At that moment, Udonna enters the chamber. She was surprised to see that there were only 3 rangers attending.

"I see we are not complete. Where are the others?"

"I called Xander this morning, but he said he didn't feel good. Something about pain in his heart." Nick answered.

Chip looked frightened as he knew that Xander cancelled, because he felt betrayed that he took away the woman he love.

"What do you mean?"

"I have no idea. He didn't want to explain it to me." Nick turns to Vida and Chip. "Do you guys know anything about it?"

"I don't know and I don't care." Vida answered cold. She was still upset about the things Xander said last night to her at the Rock Porium.

Nick was surprised about the way Vida answered. Then he turns to Chip. "Oke. What about you Chip?"

"I guess…he's upset that he still didn't find a date for tonight." Chip had to lie. He couldn't just tell in front of Nick, Udonna and especially Vida that Xander was upset at him for taking the woman he loves to the dance.

"Oke, if you say so." Nick respond confused. He didn't understand it. Xander is one of the best-looking guys in Briarwood. He would have no problem with picking a date for the dance.

Udonna looked around and saw another team member was missing as well. "What about Madison?"

"She…uhm…she didn't feel so good as well."

"Is she alright?" Nick asked all worried.

"Oh, don't worry. My sis is gonna be fine. She just didn't feel to come right now."

"So, she's not going to the dance tonight?"

"Oh, she'll be there. She doesn't want to miss a thing of the party. Speaking about the dance, Udonna, is it alright if we leave earlier? We need to pick up our customs for the dance. Please."

Udonna smiles. "That is alright. But promise me that next time I want the team complete in here. We need to be prepared against Koragg and his army. They will take advantage of every weak moment."

"You got it. Shall we guys?"

"You guys go ahead. I gotta check something out."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. I'll catch up with you guys later."

"Alright, come on Chip. I wanna win that costume competition."

Vida and Chip left Rootcore in a hurry. Udonna smiled as she watched Vida pulling Chip with her out of Rootcore. Nick smiled as well. Suddenly he gets a headache.

"Red Ranger! Soon it will be time! Soon you will find out where your destiny lies. Soon Red Ranger! Very soon!"

The voice in his head stops. Udonna looked at Nick and saw him breathing in and out, meaning only one thing. "Nick, is everything alright?"

"Yeah, I'm alright."

"Was it Koragg again?"

Nick didn't want Udonna to be worried. "No, I was just thinking."

"Nick, I can see that something is bothering you. Why don't you tell me?"

"I can't stop thinking about what Koragg said during our last fight. I know it sounds a little weird, but I get the feeling that I've met him before."

"It's not that odd. You don't remember a lot of your childhood."

"Yeah, but why Koragg? Why does he say those things to me?"

"Things? What things?"

"Something about my destiny. I don't understand it."

"Nick, I want you to be honest with me. Koragg's voice in your head, did it happen a lot?"

Nick sighs. He can't lie to Udonna either. She is a sorceress. She would have find out anyway. "Well, lately...I hear him a lot."

"Why didn't you tell us before?"

"I didn't want you to be worried. Please, don't tell the others."

"Nick, they are your team members."

"I will tell them if I know more about this. I promise."

"Very well. But if he challenges you for a fight, I don't want you to go by yourself. It might be a trap. You'll never know."

Nick stood up, grabbed the book from the table and walked to the bookcase with it. "Don't worry about it. I won't get in trouble."

"Who's in trouble?"

Phineas was hanging the other way around on one of the branches inside the chamber. Nick yelled when Phineas scared him. "Phineas!"

"I know, I know...I'm sorry." Phineas jumped off the branch on his feet. Udonna smiles and walked over to him.

"Phineas, what a surprise. What brings you here?"

"Oh, nothing much. I was just curious how it went with our leader in love."

Nick was ashamed when Phineas revealed the truth about his feelings for Madison. "Phineas!" He quickly walked over to the table to avoid Udonna's look.

A smile appears on Udonna's face when she heard the news. "Is that true?"

"It's nothing."

"Nothing? Nick, it's love you're talking about. So tell me, who is this beauty you laid your eyes on?"

Before Nick could respond, Phineas came between them. "I know, I know. This beauty has a camera, is shy and beautiful like the ocean. Get it? Ocean."

"Thanks a lot Phineas. Why don't you tell Madison as well? Then we all know."

"Oh, could I?" Phineas asked all excited. Nick shot him a look. "On the other hand, I think you're the better man for the job."

"Madison doesn't know it yet?"

"Nobody knows. Nobody, except Phineas."

"Well, I have to admit that it wasn't a surprise to me either."

"You knew it as well? Ofcourse you do. You're a sorceress."

"Nick, I don't need my magic to see that something beautiful is going on between the 2 of you. I could see by the way the 2 of you were looking at each other that this was going to lead more than just friendship."

"Unfortunately, that's not gonna happen. She wants someone else now. He even takes her to the dance." Nick sighs.

Udonna could see that it really bothered Nick. "You really wanted to take her to that dance, don't you?"

"How come I didn't see it sooner? The whole time she was standing next to me and I have never noticed how much she means to me. Until now."

Phineas felt sorry for Nick and walked over to him. He comforted the Red Ranger. "Aw, poor Nick."

"Come over here Nick."

"Why?"

"I want to show you something. Take my hand. We are going for a little trip."

Nick slowly took Udonna's hand. "Ooh! Can I come as well? Please." Phineas begged. Udonna had to laugh when she saw Phineas begging. "Very well. Just hold my arm and don't let go." Phineas held her arm tight.

Nick was still confused what Udonna was up to. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see." Udonna snapped in her fingers and suddenly they stood outside the Rock Porium. Nick releases Udonna's hand and looked around.

"We're in Briarwood."

"Not just in Briarwood, Nick."

"What do you mean?"

"Look." Nick looked at the direction Udonna pointed him and saw a familiar youngman wearing a leather jacket standing in front of a tree. He was fixing his bike.

"That's Nick." Phineas yelled.

"Are you sure this was a good idea? I mean if I saw another me in front of me, I would freak."

"Don't worry. Nobody in here can see us."

Nick walked closer to the Nick, who was fixing his bike. Then he turns to Udonna. "Why did you take me here?"

"Just look."

"Hey there."

Nick turned around and saw a familiar face. He smiles when he saw her. "Maddie?"

"Hey."

"We sure could use your help back there."

"I don't think there's anything I could have done."

"So, while we're out in the world fighting evil, what are you gonna do?"

"Well, first I'm gonna fix my bike. Then I'll head to my grandparents and see if I can live there instead with my sister in Briarwood."

"No parents?"

"Ah, you're nosy." Madison blushed. Nick smiled when he saw her blushing. "Yes, I have parents. They're working overseas for a few years. I was living with my cousins for a while, then my uncle, and now my sister."

"Must be hard leaving friends all the time."

"Usually don't stay around long enough to have friends."

"You know you could...I mean...you could stay somewhere longer...you know, like here, maybe."

"I'd love to hang and talk to you all day, but I still got a lot of work to do on my bike and..."

"Oh yeah, I'm sorry. I just...I was...I was trying...uhm...I'm gonna leave you to it."

"Hey, look, I…I really appreciate what you're trying to do, trying to say, but I guess I'm just not cut out for this magic stuff like you guys. But goodluck."

"Yeah. You too."

Nick saw himself watching Madison leave and then returning to his bike.

"Aw, that was cute." Phineas responded after what he saw.

Udonna looked at Nick. "Do you remember that moment?"

"Ofcourse." Nick turns to Phineas and Udonna. "That was the first time we talk to each other. How could I forget? She was beautiful. Still is. And I was too blind to see that."

"Shall we?" Nick took Udonna's hand and Phineas held Udonna's arm tight. She snapped in her fingers and they suddenly stood on the beach. Nick looked around and saw the sun was shining bright and people and kids are playing on the beach.

"Where are we now?"

"Ooh…I love the beach." Phineas started to run to the sand and start playing with it.

"Do you remember this day, Nick?"

"It does look familiar to me." Nick started to walk closer so he could see the 3 teens playing on the beach. He could see himself wearing red trunks and Xander wearing Green trunks and Ofcourse Chip was wearing yellow trunks with superman printed shirt. They were playing frisbee together. Xander has the frisbee in his hand.

"It's comin' your way, Chip!"

Chip is running to catch the frisbee. "I got it! I got it! I got it!" But he missed catching it. Nick ran to get the frisbee. He ran back and smiled at Chip. "Better luck next time, Chip. Here ya go Xander!" He threw it to Xander and Xander caught it.

"Hey, is this what you girls are gonna do all day long? Just sitting here?"

Nick walked closer, so he could see who were sitting on the beach chairs. He saw Vida wearing a black and pink bathing suite and next to her sat Madison. She wore a blue tank top and jean shorts.

"You forgot ignoring you all day long." Vida answered.

"Funny, V."

That's typically Xander and Vida. Always arguing with each other. Then he saw him and Chip running towards their direction.

"Hey, what's taking so long?" Chip asked.

"I'm trying to convince the ladies to do something active for today."

"I will do something active. About 10 minutes. I'll be breaking your limbs if you're not getting out of my sun." Xander quickly moved away from Vida's sunlight.

"You sure you don't wanna join us, V?" Chip asked.

"No, thank you. I'm fine here."

"What about you Maddie?" Nick asked with a smile. "You wanna join us?"

Madison smiled when Nick asked. "Sure." Nick stretch out his hand to help her up. They almost bumped up to each other and they both started to blush. "You're alright?"

"I'm fine."

They stared in each other's eyes for a moment. But that moment was quickly disturbed.

"Hey!" Xander yelled. "Are we going to play or what?" Nick quickly grabbed the frisbee out of Xander's hands. "Hey!"

"Ladies first." He gave the frisbee to Madison. "Thank you."

They went to their places. Madison threw it to Nick. "Good throw, Maddie! Catch Chip!"

Nick throws it to Chip and he caught it this time. "Xander, catch!"

Xander ran to catch the frisbee. "I got it, I got it!" He was looking to the frisbee the whole time that he forgot that Vida was sitting on her chair behind him. He stumbles over her and Vida didn't look happy when it happened. She took off her sunglasses.

"Well, well, look, who's awake."

"Xander!"

"Now you're being active with us."

"Xander!"

"It was Chip's fault."

Vida stood up and started to run behind Xander. Nick, Madison and Chip were laughing when they saw them running, but Chip laughter became less when Xander came running towards his direction. "No, no, no, not this way!" Chip started to run away as well from Vida.

Nick and Madison walked back to the chairs and laughed when their friends are still running. Madison grabbed a bottle of water to drink. "Aw man. The guys are sorceresses. They could easily have used their powers. Plus it's more fun."

"You're right about that." Madison threw her water over Nick. She had to laugh when she saw Nick all wet.

"Hey!"

"You're right. It's much more fun like this."

Nick gave her an evil laugh. "So, Miss Rocca likes water."

Madison could see by his smile what he was up to. "Nick, no. Don't even think about it. Nick Russell, don't you even dare."

Nick was moving closer her way and Madison start running away. But she wasn't fast enough. So Nick lifted Madison up on his shoulder and ran towards the sea. Madison was yelling, but Nick dropped her in the water. They laughed and splashed each other with water.

Nick returned to Udonna and Phineas.

"I've seen so many moments of the 2 of you together. What is so special about this one?" Phineas asked.

Nick sighs and looked at himself playing with Madison in the water. "I knew it. I knew it, but I was so stupid to push it away."

"Push what away?" Phineas asked confused.

"That's the moment when I started falling for her. But I was too stubborn to admit my feelings, so I just ignore it. Just look at her. She's so beautiful."

"Come on Nick. There's still one place we need to go." Nick walked over to Udonna. She snapped in her fingers and then they suddenly appeared someone's hall.

Phineas looked around. "Looks like we're in someone's house."

"Question is whose house. But I think I get the idea who lives here."

"Why don't you enter that bedroom?" Nick slowly enters the bedroom and looked around. The wallpaper of the bedroom was ocean blue. He started to get the idea in whose bedroom he was standing. Then he saw Madison.

Nick turns to Udonna. "When was this?"

"This is what happens right now, Nick."

Nick turns back to Madison. He saw she was looking all sad staring to her costume. It was a beautiful blue dress.

"What is that?"

"You already forget your plans for tonight, Nick?"

"Vida's Dance. That's Maddie's custom? Wow. She's definitely going to win that competition."

"She'll be going as Queen Guinevere."

"And Ben is probably going as King Arthur."

"Well, what would a queen be without a king?"

"Just great." Nick scoffed. He started not to like Ben for taking his girl to the dance. On the other hand, she wasn't exactly his girl either.

Then Madison walked over to the stereo and turned on a song.

"What is she going to do now?"

"Just listen."

I never believed in dreaming

It never got me very far
I never believed that love could find me

Like an arrow through the heart
I never believed in miracles

Or building castles in the air
Not until that day I found you

Turned around and you were there


From the day you came

You gave me a whole new point of view
I've been touched by an angel

It's impossible but true

I believe in you
I swear that forever from today

No one will ever take your place
I believe in you
And I believe our love will last always

"Madison sure has a good taste in music." Phineas starts to dance on the music. Nick smiles when he saw Phineas dancing. "It's great, isn't it?"

"Not exactly what I hear in the forest everyday."

"When the gang invited me to hang out on my first day in town, they took me to this really neat club. After some time, the guys went dancing. I didn't wanna go, but Vida pushed me to the dance floor."

"Let me guess. Right in Madison's arms?" Phineas asked.

"They played this music when we danced. It was our first dance. I can't believe she remembered."

Madison walked to her window and stared outside. Nick moved closer to Madison and he could see a tear scrolling on her face. "Why are you crying, Maddie?"

"She can't hear you, Nick"

Nick stood up and walked over to Udonna. "Why is she crying? Why is Maddie so sad?"

"I don't know. Perhaps she's sad, because something's missing in her life."

"Something that probably carries the name Ben." Nick answered sarcastically.

"Are you sure about that?"

Nick looked at Udonna "What do you mean?"

"We must go now, Nick."

Phineas quickly walked to Udonna and held her arm tight. Nick walked to Udonna, but before he held her hand, he turns around to Madison.

"Uhm, Nick. You heard what the lady said. Let's go. Time to split."

"Just give me a second." Nick walked back to Madison, who was still staring out of her window and tears are still scrolling over her face. "Whatever happens, whoever you will choose, I will always love you Maddie. I promise." He moved his hand to her face and wanted to wipe a tear away. To his surprise, he could touch her face. With his hand he caressed her face and then quickly moved his hand. Madison touched the spot of her face where Nick caressed. She looked around, but she saw nobody.

"Nick, we have to go now."

Nick walked to Udonna and held her hand. Udonna snapped with her fingers and they were back in Rootcore. Phineas sobbed. Udonna looked at him. "What's wrong, Phineas?"

"That was the saddest moment I have ever seen. I'm going now. This is too much for a Troblin to handle." Phineas left in a hurry crying all loud. Udonna watched Phineas leaving the room. Then she walked over to Nick.

"Are you alright?"

"Do I look alright?"

"Don't lose hope Nick."

"What hope? I lost my chances with Madison for good. She goes to the dance with King Ben."

"Not every queen ends up happily ever after with the king. And Guinevere is one of them."

"I don't understand."

"Nick, a woman can love 2 men, but only one can win her heart. King Arthur may have everything. But he didn't have the love of his queen. Someone else did."

With that advice, Udonna left the room. Nick was thinking what she meant by that. Suddenly, his morpher went off. "Nick, here."

"Nick, are you still at Rootcore?" It was Vida who called him.

"Yeah, I…uhm…I was busy."

"You're always busy. Just don't forget the dance tonight. Or else."

Nick laughed. Typically Vida. "Don't worry about it. I won't forget."

"You better. Hey, Chip and I are still at the mall. Do you need anything?"

"Nah, I've got everything…" Nick stopped with his sentence.

"Hello? Nick? Are you still there?"

"Actually, I do need something there? Could you guys wait up for me there?"

"Alright, but hurry. I still need to go home and change."

"I'll be there in a second." Nick hung up and ran as left Rootcore as fast as he could. Why? He had a plan. He knew what Udonna meant by her last words. To win the heart of a queen, there's one thing you should never do. Give up. And that is exactly what Nick is planning to do. If it's not too late.

End Chapter 11.

Hey everyone...another update. Hope you like it. First of all...I'd like to thank everyone who voted for me at RB! Thanks to you this fanfic won 3rd place for fanfic of the month March! Thank you so much! I'm so glad a lot of people enjoy the fanfic!

Oke, back to the chapter...I hope you love the song that has been used in this fic. At Sorcerers Realm you can see my Nick & Madison Musicvideo that goes with this song. I just posted it. Hope you love that! So, we have Nick is going with LeeLee, Madison is going with Ben, Chip is going with Vida...but who Xander's date be? Tell me if you guys guess it right! LOL

In the next chapter...finally Vida's Magical Dance will start and you will see what costumes our heroes will wear, you'll be surprised! And also, you will find out who Xander's date will be!

But you guys know what I want before I post that chapter! Reviews, reviews...and...reviews! LOL