Disclaimer: Power Rangers does not belong to me.
Chapter 9: Plan Xida
Vida took a deep breath, taking in the assorted smells of popcorn, farm animals and fried dough. It was finally Spring Fling Carnival; an event Vida waited for all year. Despite having always been dateless, Vida had many fond memories at the carnival with her friends -- from being scared in the funhouse when they'd attended their first fair back in junior high to last year when they'd thrown up on the Tilt-A-Whirl after eating too much Laughy Taffy.
And Vida could really enjoy the event now that things had gotten back to normal with Ms. Chief recently defeated. Nick and Madison had relapsed into shy smiles and stolen glances after almost confessing their feelings to each other during the Love Potion #9 debacle. Chip meanwhile had returned to his superhero worship while once again appearing oblivious to the world of boys and girls and that crazy little game called love. Then, there was…
"Have no fear!" Vida heard a boy with a thick, Australian accent call cheerily. "Xander is here! And I come bearing gifts."
Vida smiled despite herself as Xander tossed her a pink cotton candy cone and a blue one to Madison. Nick looked annoyed that he'd been forgotten until Xander pacified him by pulling out a red, candied apple. Vida had to give Xander credit. Since she'd unintentionally spilled how she really felt about him while she'd been under the effects of Love Potion #9, Xander really had made an effort to clean up his overly cocky and self-centered attitude.
He finally had started helping out with chores around Rock Porium, spending less time flirting with customers and more minutes actually helping them find their music. And it wasn't just that he'd offered to take her trash duty for the next week. Vida really felt like she and Xander were at the start of something new.
"You're all alone," observed Vida teasingly. "Couldn't get a date?"
"Please," snorted Xander indignantly. "I had lots of girls falling all over themselves to come to the carnival with me."
"Rightttttt," drawled Nick sarcastically, exchanging amused glances with Madison.
"So then, where are these girls?" asked Vida as she crossed her arms.
"Uhhhhh," hestisted Xander, employing his charming smile as he stalled for time. "Well, I just wanted to spend the night with my best buds instead."
"Awwwww," cooed the Rocco siblings simultaneously, though Vida's response lacked the sincerity of her older sister's.
"Where's Chip?" asked Xander.
"He's coming later," replied Nick. "Said something about having a game with some dragons in some dungeon and…"
"Of course," continued Xander before glancing over at Madison and Nick. "So, anyone know where I can get some ride tickets?"
"Oh, you can find them over…" began Madison.
"Thanks for volunteering, Maddie!" interrupted Xander quickly. "Here's a $20. Just buy me a pack, and you can keep the change, Doll."
"I, uhh, wha…." stuttered Madison unsurely.
"Oh, she looks confused," cut in Xander cheerily. "Which is kinda of odd considering you organized the whole carnival this year. Nick, buddy, why don't you go with Maddie to help find the ticket booth?"
"Wait, now, I, uhhh," stalled Nick, now his turn to stutter.
"Off you two go!" called Xander perkily, pushing the pair to starting walking.
"Way to be subtle, Xander," said Vida sarcastically once her sister and Nick were out of earshot.
"So those two all night have been…" began Xander, sighing impatiently.
"Still as chicken as ever," groaned Vida. "Possibly even more awkward since they still haven't talked about what happened between them during the whole battle against Ms. Chief. Man, I wonder if my sister will ever tell Nick that she likes him?"
"Or the other way around," mused Xander. "I think it's time for us step in to help resolve their unresolved feelings."
"Let me guess," said Vida, rolling her eyes. "Plan Xander? You know it never works, no matter the situation!"
"That's why I was thinking tonight we go with Plan Xida!" grinned Xander as he combined their two names into a course of action."
"Xander, for once I like the way you think!" said Vida as she put her arm happily around him. "Now," she began as she leaned in close. "Here is what I had in mind to help Nick and Maddie out… "
"The love boats?" repeated Nick, looking at Vida like she'd lost her mind. "You want us all to ride… the love boats?"
"Haha, yeah you know me!" replied Vida, appearing over-excited in her anxiousness. "Love those love boats. What a tough, scary ride! And being so tough and so scary myself, well it's just my favorite ride," she gushed.
"I thought your favorite ride was 'Twirl Till You Hurl?" asked Madison confused.
"Please," thought Vida to herself wryly. "That ride is nothing compared to the torture of floating around slowly in silly swan-shape boats inside a dark tunnel while listening to sappy love music. But if that's what it takes to get Nick and my sister together…"
"Come on guys, just get in line," urged Xander as he gave the operator tickets for the group. "It's a good ride for me to pick up chicks."
"CHICKS!" repeated Vida indignantly. "Oh I KNOW you so did not just go there! What about showing a little respect for the other half of the human sex?"
"Oh save me from your foolhardy feminist lecture," sighed Xander, blowing her a kiss to fuel her anger. "You know you women..."
"YOU what!" shouted Vida furiously. "Xander, you are the most chauvinistic, arrogant assho…"
"Woah there," urged Nick, trying to break up the two squabbling. "You know what? I'll take this ride just to get away from you two arguing. Maddie?" he asked, offering his hand.
"Thanks," said Madison shyly as she stepped into the swan boat beside him. "Wait, why aren't you two getting in behind us?" she exclaimed, noticing Xander and Vida still standing on the dock.
"I just remember I get seasick," grinned Xander.
"It's a mechanically operated boat ride that moves at less than a half mile per hour!" said Madison incredulously.
"See you guys later!" called Vida, waving to Nick and Madison as their boat pulled away.
"But…" began Madison, looking panicked back and forth from Nick to her sister.
"Hope two have fun," shouted Xander, winking at the couple. "Just let the music take you away to that special place in your hearts."
"Cheesy, Xander," remarked Vida, though still smiling.
"Couldn't help it," shrugged the green ranger. "Got carried away in all this love boat mush."
"That was really sweet of you to try and help them out," remarked Vida.
"What can I say?" said Xander. "I really want them both to be happy. And then there's the fact I just like to play Cupid."
"Think it will work?" asked Vida hopefully. "I don't think even I can take that much more of Nick and Madison beating around the bush with their feelings from one another."
"Let's hope one of them will have the guts to make a move in the tunnel of love," smiled Xander. "By the way, V, great fake fighting. It really fooled Nick and Maddie."
"But Xander, it's what we do best," teased Vida mockingly.
"I dunno, V," mused Xander. "I think we do a lot of great things together."
"Like setting our best friends up?" offered Vida. "Or saving them from love spell? Or just saving the world in general?"
Xander answered by putting his arm around Vida and kissing her on top of her black and green-streaked hair. No one had ever motivated him so fully to try and be a better person, and he loved Vida for it. Never again would he take for granted having such a special girl in his life. Despite the chaos Ms. Chief and her love spell had caused, Xander was thankful that the incident had helped bring him and Vida closer together.
"Come on," said Xander excitedly. "It's the Spring Fling Carnival. We can't let Nick and Madison have all the fun."
"Right," agreed Vida. "Let's go stuff ourselves with snow cones and then ride the Scrambler until we throw up."
A/N: I apologize this chapter took so long to get up. As much as I love writing PR fan fiction, it's not going to help get me into school. That said, I really will have to cut back this next month on writing until my entrance exams are over, but I will do my best to try and update this story in my free time. Thank y'all so much for understanding, and please send me good vibes as I prepare for this massively important test in September.
So, Madison and Nick are finally alone, but will they actually get together at last? Coming up…
Chapter 10: Stars Are Blind
Stay tuned!