Disclaimer: Power Rangers does not belong to me, nor does any of the music referenced in this chapter.
Chapter 7: Stop the Wedding!
Xander sprinted through the woods, looking for Vida with her lost backpack slung across his shoulder. He knew he had only a short time left to find Vida and show her the thing she truly loved most in the world in order to free her from the love spell she was under. Otherwise, Xander realized with amused dread, he might be standing in as the best man for Phineas's wedding to his best friend.
Knowing Vida rarely left home without her most precious treasure in the world, Xander was not surprised –yet still at the same time relieved – when he'd discovered it was inside the backpack she'd dropped earlier when she she'd gone chasing after her new love, Phineas. Xander had the object of Vida's affection in his possession, and now all he had to do was find the happy couple.
It didn't take Xander long at all, for he could hear Phineas in the distance belting out a love ballad to his beloved. Yet as terrible as Phineas's singing was, Xander became even more horrified when he saw what Vida was wearing. The normally funky and punky dresser had donned a pink wedding dress made of worn leather that stank like cow manure. Not only did Vida match the style – and smell – of the troblin she currently adored, but Phineas had even given her a long-tailed hat with tiny tassels at the end to complete her morph into a soon-to-be married woodland maiden.
Frozen in shock, Xander watched the disturbing scene unfold in front of him as Vida and her fiancée frolicked around the fire. Xander's jaw was practically on the ground as he saw Vida skip and prance in a ditzy, mindless manner that he would have never expected she had it in her to portray. Meanwhile, Phineas fiddled on his fiddle as he did a merry song and jig for his betrothed:
"Golly gee, I'm so happy with my bride to be.
'Cause she said she'll pick all the fleas of me.
We'll hunt for fungus every hour,
And never ever take a shower!
Forcing himself to take action to truncate this terrible tune, Xander waved to try and grab the attention of the twosome. It was to no avail. Vida clapped along like an infantile five-year-old as Phineas continued to sing:
"Oh, how my bride loves me so.
She said she'll even massage my big, rotting toe.
I marry her 'cause she'll make me moldy mushroom stew.
I hope we'll stay together through and through!"
At the mention molding mushrooms – and even worse, Phineas's big toe – Xander had taken just about enough.
"STOP THE WEDDING!" Xander shouted, running over to Vida and shaking her shoulders hard.
"Oh honey, our guests have arrived!" exclaimed Phineas giddily.
"Oh great," groaned Vida, not sharing her fiancée's enthusiasm.
"Vida, you have to snap out of it," begged Xander. "This is all just the effects of Love Potion #9! Vida, you're under a love spell!"
"Shuddup Xander and stop ruining my wedding," demanded Vida before going dreamy-eyed. "I'm about to become Mrs. Phineas Troblin. Mrs. Vida Phineas Troblin. Mrs. Vida Troblin-Rocco. Mrs. Troblin…"
"Uhhh, I don't mean to interrupt, but is there anything else we have to do before the wedding ceremony is over?" asked Phineas naively. "Or can we just get to the good part where you said we have a big feast, and you cook me fungus fritters?"
"We have to share a kiss before we can be officially married," said Vida excitedly.
"Euwww, yuck!" complained Phineas. "Human slobber! It's so germy."
"I'll make you cockroach cupcakes," offered Vida slyly.
"Well, OK!" agreed Phineas, puckering up. "Mwahhhhhh…."
As Vida smacked her lips together and leaned toward Phineas's face, Xander had to fight ever urge in his body to keep from screaming and running away. But he had made a promise to Udonna, Madison, and most importantly, himself that he would save Vida. Xander would not let Vida could plant the kiss on Phineas that he was sure would seal up Love Potion #9, making Vida under Phinea's spell forever.
Instead, Xander pulled out of Vida's backpack the thing he knew she truly loved most in the world. Xander then took his Mystic Morpher and tapped its tip to the thin, square-shaped item from Vida's backpack. With a swish and flick, Xander pointed the cell phone wand at Phineas's fiddle.
"Magika!" shouted Xander.
Immediately, the fiddle like a boom box began to blare out a beat that Xander knew everyone in his generation recognized by heart for better or worse.
"Oh baby, baby," belted out a sultry female voice. "How was I supposed to know, that something wasn't right here?"
The moment the new music started to play, Vida's eyes light up with love like she'd been struck with Cupid's arrow. Throwing off her cape dramatically, Vida lifted up her shirt and tied the front of it into a knot. The punk rocker then struck a provocative pose identical to a pop princess Xander knew Vida would never be caught dead imitating in public.
"My loneliness is killing meeeee," squealed Vida as she sang along adoringly to the Britney Spears. "And I confess, I still believe. Still believe!"
"Ooohhh, big finish!" cheered Phineas as he sang along with Vida. "Hit me baby one more time!"
The pair concluded the song with Vida shaking her hips raunchily from side to side; Phineas imitating her with not quite-as-sexy skill. Greatly amused by all he had witnessed, Xander began to whistle and applaud the couple heartily. Batting her eyelashes cutely, Vida curtsied and held her hands over her heart as she feigned gratitude to her throngs of admirers… or at least her one enthusiastic fan.
At that moment, a cloud-shaped heart poofed out from Vida's chest and popped above her head. Xander saw recognition slowly seep back into Vida's eyes, immediately changing into embarrassed horror when she realized what she had just done. Her panic grew as she looked down at the frilly lace and smelly leather wedding dress she was wearing.
"Ohmygosh…" said Vida, clearly sickened. "Did I just sing… I mean, this dress… what the… AHHHHHHHHH!" she screamed in fury.
"What's wrong my love?" asked Phineas sweetly, nuzzling his face against her arm.
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!" screamed Vida again as she started jumping up and down in panicked circles.
"Woah there, V!" soothed Xander. "You were under the spell of Love Potion #9, but you're going to be fine now."
"But I don't know which was worse," groaned Vida distraught as memory caught up to her. "Me almost marrying Phineas, or you catching me performing to Britney Spears!"
"I already did catch you once before," Xander reminded her. "When we were 14-year-old, and I walked into your room and saw you in a red, pleather bodysuit singing along to Britney's "Oops, I Did It Again."
"And just like last time, you're never going to let me live this performance down either, are you?" sulked Vida.
"Well…" drawled Xander, drawing out his charming, mischievous smile before Vida smacked him in the arm. "OWWWWW!"
"Xander, you tell anyone I'm in the 'Crazy' for Britney Spears Fan Club, and I'll rearrange your limbs!" threaded Vida, getting back to her usual self.
"I'm sorry, but I had to put it on to snap you out from Love Potion #9," said Xander. "The only way for the spell to be broken is for the bewitched person to see or hear the thing they love most in the world."
"I guess…" responded Vida, shuffling her feet sheepishly.
"And I know you dream of being on of Britney's backup dancers someday," sang Xander affectionately.
"How did you know…" gaped Vida embarrassed, turning pink.
"I remember you constantly asking me last year if my sister would consider giving you free lessons at her jazz studio," replied Xander. "Plus the way you always lingered around the pop section of Rock Porium, well, it was kinda obvious to me after awhile it wasn't all just punk in your heart."
"I didn't realize you were paying attention," said Vida surprised.
"I'm always looking out for you Vida, even when it might seem like I'm not," replied Xander firmly. "I care about you, so I want to know about what you're interested in."
"Xander…" was all Vida could say as a huge smile of genuine gratitude graced her face.
"I mean, I love Britney too," said Xander, sly grin gracing his face. "Looking at her I mean, not necessarily listening to her though. Honestly, I dunno whose music is worse– Britney's or Phineas's."
"Hey!" piped up Phineas. "Everyone's a critic," he grumbled.
"He apologizes Phineas for being so rude," said Vida pointedly, shoving Xander when she got no response from the ranger.
"OWWWW," yelped Xander. "Glad to know you're strength's come back to you," he sighed sarcastically. "But yeah, what Vida said, Phineas. I'm sorry."
"So does this mean no moldy mushroom stew?" Phineas asked Vida sadly. "We're not getting married anymore?"
"No, I'm afraid not," said Vida, smiling kindly at her friend. "But how about I make it up to you? I'll cook you moldy, mushroom stew anytime you want?"
"Oh goody goody geese droppings!" exclaimed Phineas ecstatically. "Now, that's better than any wedding present."
Xander and Vida laughed loudly until they noticed Claire approaching in the distance. The witch's apprentice carried a large, cumbersome object box. Xander and Vida exchanged curious glances.
"Vida!" called Claire as she approached. "Phineas! I brought you two my wedding present!"
"Uhhh, I'm sorry, Claire," said Vida sheepishly. "But the wedding got called off."
"Nooooo," pouted Claire. "But I conjured up for you this beautiful silverware set!"
"Ooo, bright, shiny things!" cooed Phineas. "Lemme look!"
"Alright," agreed Claire, happy that someone appreciated her magical hard work. "Come on out silverware, and cook Phineas a delicious dish!"
With the wave of Claire's wand, the silverware did come dancing to life… but did not proceed to get busy in the kitchen. The next moment, the four beheld forks, knives, spoons and spatulas start sticking themselves to Phineas's body. The troblin tried to shake the utensils off his figure, but the silverware continued to cover him like an outfit.
"Yoewwwwzyyy!" yelled out Phineas as spoon struck him in the butt.
"What are the forks and everything doing, Claire!" gasped Xander.
"All I said when I read the spell was 'give me silver that is a type of ware," sighed Claire, disappointed.
"Looks like Phineas definitely got silver to wear," chuckled Vida, seeing Phineas is his culinary, new silver suit.
"I hope he's not made at me," moaned Claire.
"This is the best gift ever!" the three heard to their surprise heard Phineas shout the next moment. "Come on little spoon! I bet you can't keep up with 'ole Phineas! Catch me if you can!"
Vida, Xander and Claire watched wide-eyed as Phineas backflipped off through the woods with the silverwear hopping after him.
"Well, I glad I gave him something he liked after all," said Claire, perking up. "Now, I guess you two better get going to help Madison out with Nick and Chip."
"Ohmygosh, I forgot!" exclaimed Vida. "They are under the spell of Love Potion #9, too."
"And worse, both boys have fallen in love with Leelee," Xander reminded her. "Madison is going to get Nick and Chip's favorite things to break the spell, but we need to go now and help her out in case the monster Ms. Chief shows up again."
"Good luck!" waved Claire as she started to walk back to Rootcore.
Yet before Xander could get going, he heard a Vida loudly clear her throat in the background.
"Xander," she began as she picked up her backpack. "Can I have back, you know, the…"
"Oh yeah, the CD!" grinned Xander mischievously. "Now, tell me. What I right to play 'Baby, One More Time' or should I have gone for something with more substance from that album like 'E-mail My Heart'?"
"Just give me back my CD!" snapped Vida, snatching up the album and replacing it in her backpack with utmost care. "Now let's go! I have a feeling Maddie is going to have a tougher time than she thinks with Nick and Chip."
Next Chapter (8): In Your Eyes
A/N: Those of you who have been waiting so patiently for more Maddick moments in the story, get ready! The rest of the chapters in "Under Your Spell" will primarily focus on them. Again, thank you SO MUCH to everyone who reads and likes this story! I am so thrilled that you are enjoying it!
Take care, and have a great weekend!