Being a ranger under Julius' command means that the rangers also work for him at Timeless Meals. Four of them seem to be fine with it and rather enjoy working there. There's just one that doesn't seem to.
"Noelle, these go to table four." Finral said as he passed some of the food to her.
"So go take it to them." Noelle said as she refused to work.
"Noelle, come on. You have to work while you're here." Finral said, but Noelle didn't seem like the idea of working.
"This is beneath me." Noelle said. "I mean, a person like me shouldn't be working in a place like this."
"You brag about this, but you act like we're suppose to know who you are." Vanessa said. "How about you tell us a little more about who you are and where did you come from?" They wanted to know where this superior attitude Noelle has comes from, but it doesn't seem like she's talking. That was right when Mimosa came in and she looked rather worried about something.
"Noelle, there's something I need to warn you about." Mimosa said.
"What is it?" Noelle questioned.
"I'm sorry. They're coming, they heard that you are working here." Mimosa said. The others didn't know who she was talking about, but Noelle sure did and she seemed rather scared.
"Well, well. I just had to come and see it for myself." All of them looked to the entrance and saw three people with silver hair that looked very similar to each other. "Noelle, you actually are working in a dump like this. How fitting for you."
"It's not that surprising. For someone of the Silva family, you've always been such a disgrace." The woman said.
"Solid... Nebra..." Noelle said. She looked behind them and kept her eyes on the last one as that one she seemed worried about the most. "What are all of you doing here?"
"We had to see it with our own eyes." Solid claimed. "Our little sister is actually working. Figures you had to since you're practically ejected from our family. Working in a place like this? Must you always embarrass us."
"Of course she does." Nebra said. "It's really the only thing you can do right. You are such a disgrace at everything else you do."
"Hey! Who do you think you people are?!" Asta said as he and the others didn't like the way Noelle was being talked to. "You people say she's your family. Does that mean she's your sister or something?"
"Is this little rat actually talking to us?" Solid said. "Do you not know who we are, filthy peasant. We are the siblings of the Silva family."
"Wait. Silva?" Finral said as he couldn't believe it. "Noelle, your last name is Silva?! The Silvas are among the richest family in the whole town! No wonder she acts like she's such a big shot!"
"More like was. She's nothing, but an embarrassment to the whole family." Nebra said. "Even when we practically disowned her, she still continues with the humiliation. No self-respecting Silva would even be caught dead in a dump like this."
"It's not like..." Noelle wanted to explain the situation, but she knew she couldn't reveal being a ranger.
"We don't need to hear excuses." The third one claimed as he finally spoke.
"Nozel..." Noelle said.
"Wasn't what happened to our mother because of you enough?" Nozel said. "Why must you continue to humiliate the rest of us?" Noelle couldn't take it. All those words hit hard. Noelle just took off and ran off.
"Noelle, wait!" Asta called.
"Just leave me alone, commoner trash!" Noelle shouted as she just kept running and didn't stop for anything. None of them have seen Noelle like that before. Seeing that her own siblings talked to her like that, Asta just glared right at them. He was about to go right at them, but Mimosa stopped him from doing anything.
"We should probably go. We have to save our image. It will be smudged if too many people see us in this dump. I just wish I poured a drink on her head." Solid said as the three of them were on their way out.
"What the heck was all that about?!" Asta said. "Why did they treat Noelle like that when those people are his siblings?"
"It's always been like that." Mimosa said. All of them looked to her hoping to get some answers from her since Mimosa is Noelle's cousin. "Noelle is the youngest sibling of the Silvas. Nozel is the oldest, followed by Nebra, and finally Solid. They do have a lot of money, just like my family does. Although, they do act a little obnoxious."
"That explains why Noelle acts that way." Vanessa said.
"She acts that way in hopes of being accepted." Mimosa said as she entered a hard subject. "Noelle's mother had some kind of problem when Noelle was born. She didn't make it, and they all blame Noelle for that. Noelle tries her best to prove she's worthy of the family name, but all the ridicule she faces from her siblings is hurting her. All she wants is to be accepted by her family." None of them knew that Noelle was going through something like that. They just wish they could help her.
...
The Underground Castle
Noelle is having a hard time, but it's only going to get worst because of the Dark Triad. They already put their next plan of attack into motion. A new devil showed himself. He looked like a cross between a white squid and a human, but had horns coming out of his head.
"Dante, I have a new devil to help us." Zenon said.
"The name is Crackgen! You want me to wrap my tentacles around some humans? No problem. These rangers are going to get all tied up."
"Good, Zenon. The more devils we sent to attack, the more terror and fear is spread." Dante said. Zenon was all on board with the plan until he noticed someone was missing.
"Where's Vanica?" Zenon questioned.
"She got impatient and decided to have some fun. Who was I to stop her?" Dante said.
"You know what she's like." Zenon said.
"Exactly." Dante said as it was just what he wanted.
...
The Rangers' Base
All of them felt bad for Noelle after what they heard. Sounds like she has to deal with a lot because of her family, and she only acted tough and superior because she came from a wealthy family and to hide her own insecurities.
"I feel so bad for Noelle. I'm trying to get a hold of her, but she isn't answering." Vanessa said. "Being rich and wealthy isn't all it's cracked up to be. Everyone just thinks they live a glamorous life, but don't think of the pressures they must feel."
"But they blame Noelle for what happened to her mother? That isn't fair!" Asta said as he couldn't stand it. "None of that is Noelle's fault! She was just a newborn! They can't really blame her for that."
"They can and obviously do." Finral said.
"I could go and fight with them. Do you think that would make Noelle feel better?" Luck questioned.
"You're just looking for an excuse to fight, and it won't make things better." Vanessa said. "Julius, what do you think?"
"Noelle has obviously been through a lot." Julius said. "In fact, when she first came around here, she just got ridiculed by her siblings again. However, I can tell that Noelle isn't like her siblings. What she needs is for people like us to be there for her and care for her. If you want to help her, make her feel safe here." That was something they all can certainly do for a friend. Just then, their crystal ball was going off and alerting them of danger. They all took a look and saw Crackgen has already arrived and is attacking the city.
"Did someone order calamary?" Finral said.
"We're going to need Noelle. I'm worried about how she's feeling." Asta said. "Finral, can you get me to her or something?"
"My magic doesn't work like that." Finral said. "I don't know where Noelle is and I can only teleport to places I've been to before."
"Asta, go and find her. The rest of you go and serve this squid." Julius said. Knowing what they need to do, the four of them moved as fast as they could.
...
Clover Meadows
Crackgen caused mayhem through the city. He was causing much destruction. He was even able to shoot out acid ink that was burning through. As he launched more attacks at some people, three of the rangers stepped in the way and blocked the attack.
"Rangers! I'm glad I get to squeeze my tentacles around you!" Crackgen said.
"I'm in the mood for a nice charred squid. Luck, care to cook this one up for us?" Vanessa said.
"Gladly." Luck said as he channeled lightning through his blade and unleashed an electrical blast and managed to hit Crackgen with it.
"Let's wrap this up!" Crackgen said as he stretched out some tentacles at the three of them and caused an energy surge to blasted them. "Just so you know, I'm not a squid. I'm a kraken, and you humans are the prey to us."
...
Noelle
Noelle went off into the woods after all the taunting her siblings gave her. All the memories she had with them were echoing in her head and she make it stop. She remembers all the torments, painful taunts, and every horrible way they ever treated her. The one that hits the most is how they blame her for what happened to their mother and how they wished it was her instead. All she wants is to be accepted and it seems like she can't have that.
"Hello, Blue Ranger." Noelle's troubles just got worse when she saw that Vanica was able to find her. "Wanna play?"
"Who are you?" Noelle questioned.
"Don't you see the family resemblance? I am Vanica of the Dark Triad." Knowing she was an enemy now, Noelle readied herself for a fight.
"Really? I should warn you that I'm not in the best mood because of my siblings." Noelle said.
"A little family drama? It looks like they did a number on you mentally, but I'm going to do worse physically." Vanica said. Noelle was not in the best state of mind, but she's willing to fight her. Maybe beating someone like her will help her.
"Take your best shot." Noelle said as she reached for her morpher. "Mana Morpher! Magic Calling!" She morphed and had her sword ready for a fight
"Ooh. I have a nice outfit too." Vanica said as she changed forms. She was given a red helmet that looked like a beast's with yellow eyes and horns with the visor inside the mouth. She grew wings, one red and one black, with black armor around chest. She also gained a red claw around her hand. "Come on!"
"Gladly!" Noelle said as she charged right at her. She attacked with her sword, but Vanica was able to block each attack and was able to avoid each one.
"Is that all you got?" Vanica said. She slashed her claw against her and knocked her back. "Your movements are easier to read than a preschool book." Noelle was getting mad. She jumped in the air and tried attacking her, but Vanica moved out of the way and kicked her back with Noelle hitting a tree.
"Now I'm mad!" Noelle said as she kept trying to attack, but Vanica jumped in the air. Vanica flew around and slashed her claw against her. Vanica kicked off a tree and attacked her again with Noelle getting knocked down. To add the finishing touch, Vanica unleashed a long-range attack and blasted Noelle with her taking much damage. It was too much that Noelle couldn't stay morph and dropped to the ground. Vanica removed her armor as she walked right over to her.
"Get up." Vanica said as she forced Noelle up. "Power Ranger? What a joke? I don't know what Zenon and Dante were talking about." Noelle still had some fight as she smashed her fist against her head, but Vanica didn't even felt it. "Spunky, but it won't do any good. Your world is doomed and there's nothing weaklings like you can do about it."
"Why do you want to destroy our world? What do you think will be left if you unleash monsters on it?" Noelle questioned.
"The strong, of course. Strong opponents for us to fight." Vanica said.
"You mean you're willing to destroy our world just so you can find strong opponents to fight? Are you insane?" Noelle said.
"We prefer ambitious." Vanica said. "Obviously, you're not what we're looking for." That only made how Noelle felt worse.
"Back off!" Just when it seemed bad, Asta showed up and knocked Vanica away from Noelle. "Come on!" He said as he grabbed Noelle and they both ran for it. Vanica didn't like being hit like that and she wasn't going to let it go so easily. Asta and Noelle kept on moving until they thought they were far enough from Vanica. "You okay?"
"Yeah. Let go!" Noelle said as she forced her arm free. "Watch who your touching."
"The tough act again? Noelle, you don't have to hide how you really feel from us." Asta said. "The way your siblings just treated you was cruel."
"You don't know anything!" Noelle said. "I am an heir of House Silva. The Silvas have a lot to hold up to, and I clearly can't do it. I've tried, but I failed at every turn. Academics, athletics, and arts are all what we should excel in. On top of that, we lost our mother, a marvelous woman, because she brought me into this world. You have no idea what it was like. I...I really am a failure." Noelle tries so hard to do something great at, but she just got thrashed by the enemy. She's starting to believe they were all right about her.
"Well, I think you're amazing." Asta said, not what she was expecting. "We may not have known each other for long, but I think you're an amazing person. You perceiver so much, try your best to be accepted, and you keep on going. They might think you're a failure, but I don't. I know none of the others do either. What we see is a nice girl who is being punished for something that was never her fault."
"Nice? Me? After how I acted?" Noelle questioned.
"I know you have a good heart, Noelle. You wouldn't be a ranger if you didn't." Asta said. "That's also you have over your siblings, even if you can't tell them. I know that one day, you'll prove them wrong about you, and you don't have to do it alone. You're not alone because you have us."
"No one has really ever said that about me before." Noelle said as she was actually touched by what Asta is saying.
"Well, we don't care about where you came from. We care about who you are." Asta said. Noelle didn't really know what to say. "The others might need our help. We better get going."
"Uh... Yeah..." Noelle said, still amazed at what Asta said about her, as the two of them got going.
...
Clover Meadows
The other three rangers tried their best to fight off Crackgen, but he was a tough one. The three of them tried attacking him together, but they weren't doing so well. When all three of them tried attacking him together, but he jumped out of the way. Once he did that, he stretched out his tentacles and smashed them against the three and knocked them down.
"Guys! We're here!" Asta called as he and Noelle arrived in time and were ready to join the fight. "Are you all okay?"
"Yeah, but this is one mean squid." Finral said as they all got back up.
"All five of you rangers are here." Crackgen said. "Saves me the time of eliminating all of you."
"Not happening." Noelle said as she readied herself, but Asta noticed something coming right at her.
"Noelle, move!" Asta said as he pushed her out of the way just as Vanica came in and smashed her claw against him.
"Asta!" Noelle called in concern.
"Did you really think you could escape from me?" Vanica said. "No one gets the drop on me like you did. Will finish them before I finish you?" She ordered Crackgen.
"No problem!" Crackgen said as he shot more of his acid ink at them.
"Watch out!" Vanessa said as she stood in the way of Noelle, but she and the boys took that ink and they could feel it burning against their suits. Vanica added in as she launched her own attack and all of them got blasted. Noelle couldn't stand her anymore, especially since she saw how her friends took a hit for her. "Had enough?"
"I've had enough of you!" Noelle said as she got back up. Seeing how there were people willing to take some hits for her made her more determined to beat this enemy. "Are you guys all okay?"
"Yeah. Nothing we can't handle." Asta said as they all managed to stand back up.
"Oh please. You can't win." Vanica said. "I'm not even getting the least bit amused. I'm so disappointed."
"You're not the first person I've disappointed, but I'm not gonna let that stop me anymore! Not when I have people that actually do care about me!" Noelle claimed.
"Whatever. Get them!" Vanica ordered.
"Right! They'll be swimming with the fishes!" Crackgen said as he charged right at them, but Noelle was ready this time.
"Magic Saber!" Noelle started store her magic power around the blade of her sword. "Tidal Wave Slash!" She swung her sword and unleashed a powerful attack with an intense wave of water behind it. It smashed right against Crackgen and had intense power behind it that the attack went right through him, destroyed him, and continued towards Vanica. However, she jumped in the air and was able to avoid the attack.
"Hahaha! What makes you think you could ever beat me?!" Vanica taunted.
"Unlike you, I have friends." Noelle said. That was when Vanica noticed the other rangers got above her. When she reached them, all of them struck her with theirs swords and knocked her out of the air. Noelle added in as she jumped up and gave Vanica a powerful slash that caused her to crash into the ground. The rangers landed down and stood over like they had her beat. "Still think we're not so tough?"
"Anyone can get lucky, but perhaps you're not as pathetic as I thought. Especially you, Blue Ranger. I'll see you around." Vanica said as she made a retreat, but she'll be back one day. Noelle will be ready for her next time.
...
Timeless Meals
Now that the fight was over, Noelle feels like her troubles aren't as severe. What her siblings said earlier still bothers her, but she is dealing with it. She's even helping out more at Timeless Meals.
"Hey." Mimosa said as she came in. "Look at you, actually working and helping out."
"Well, I figured a place like this could use someone of my class." Noelle said as she was still a little full of myself. "What are you doing here anyway?"
"I was worried about you after what happened with your family." Mimosa said. "We're family, too. The way that acted wasn't right." Noelle didn't notice that before, but she did have Mimosa that was real nice to her. She looked around and was grateful to have people that really do care about her more than her own family shows.
"Hey." Asta said. "You still doing okay."
"Yeah." Noelle claimed. "Don't expect this again, but...thank you. No one has ever spoken so highly of me before."
"I meant every word of it." Asta said as he went back to work. Noelle greatly appreciated what Asta did. She can see the friends she has now, but Asta seems to have a stronger affect on her from just looking at him. "Wait. Why is my heart beating so fast? Why does my face feel warm?" That can only mean one thing, and she's freaking out because of it.