AN: sorry for the delay in posting, I struggled with how I was going to do this, and while personally, I like how it turned out (I don't usually have control over how stories end up, they grow organically, lol) I understand that some may not, and I respect that. Now, onto the story.
Toxica wordlessly followed him, her thoughts were a tangled mass of confusion.
The Mystic Mother was the overseer of all good magic, what could she want with a dark sorceress Org like her?
The prince lead her to a vast throne room where there she sat in all her spendor upon a golden throne.
"Ahhh thank you, Snow Prince, you may now leave us." She said.
The prince bowed deeply to her and vanished in a flurry of snow.
"You're hurt, let's take care of that first before we talk, shall we?" She said with a benevolent smile as she waved her hand with her palm facing Toxica in a broad sweeping motion.
Toxica felt a warmth spread over her as her entire body was bathed in a soothing golden light.
"There! Good as new!"
Realization suddenly hit Toxica like a train.
"YOU! You saved me! But... Why? I'm a dark sorceress and an Org, why would you waste your energy on me?"
"Origins matter not, only one who is pure of heart will willingly sacrifice themselves for another."
The memory of when Jindrax practically jumped in between her and Master Org, willing to take the blast that was meant for her floated into her mind.
Was she talking about both of them?
As soon as the thought about her soulmate however panic suddenly washed over her.
"Oh no, Jindrax! Is he okay?! If I am here, what happened to him?!" She said, her hand flying to clutch her chest as she thought about their bond and what Russell had said.
Mystic Mother waved her concerns off.
"Don't worry, he's fine, which is another reason why I intervened. Two hearts who choose to turn their backs on their evil ways and walk the path of good because of their love for one another do not deserve to endure an eternity of suffering in the Org spirit world." She said.
"So ... Can I go back?" Toxica said hopefully.
"Yes ... But it wont be without consequence."
"Consequence? What do you mean?" She asked worriedly.
" I can send you back, but you will have to pass through the barrier between this world and yours, and in the process you will be purged of all darkness. "
"Purged ...?" Toxica asked nervously.
"Purified." Mystic Mother clarified.
Toxica's gaze dropped to the misty white ground between them. She had so many questions rattling around in her head...
Would she remember anything about her life before?
How would it change her?
Would she still feel the same way about Jindrax?
That last question caused a deep ache to erupt in her chest.
"Speak my dear, I can tell that you have questions, don't be shy, ask them. "
"Will I remember anything about my life before? How will it change me? And will I... will I... still love my soulmate?" She said, the lump that formed in her throat at that last question nearly choking her.
Mystic Mother smiled at Toxica.
"Yes, you will still remember, as for how it will change you, that I am not sure of since everyone is different. As for still loving your soulmate, absolutely you will! Love conquers all, you know! However you will no longer be connected, which means one will be able to exist without the other. " She said.
"And if I choose not to pass through?" Toxica said
Mystic Mother's expression became somber .
"Then I will have no choice but to move you on to the afterlife, you can't exist in a suspended state between life and death forever. And yes, your beloved will join you there, your life force will cease to exist, so too will his." She said.
Toxica clutched a hand to her chest and panic rose up within her.
"I do not mean to rush you, but you must decide soon, the longer you stay here, the weaker you will become until you will no longer have a choice because your life force will be too weak to withstand the passage through the barrier."
Making up her mind, Toxica raised her chin high.
"Then ... then I choose to go back!" She said with conviction.
Mystic Mother smiled at her as she waved her hand and a pair of large golden doors appeared in front of her.
"Go." She commanded gently.
Toxica gave her a final nod as she threw open the doors and walked through them.
"She chose to go back!" The Snow Prince said in astonishment as he watched her disappear into the blinding white light beyond the doors.
"Love is a powerful emotion, my dear Prince." She replied with a wry smile.
"Jindrax, we've been combing this forest all night, she's just not here ." Shane said as he leaned against a tree, looking positively exhausted.
Jindrax felt a sudden pang of guilt.
In his desperation to find Toxica, he had plain forgotten that humans needed to rest... oops.
"You five go back to your base or whatever you call it and rest, I'm gonna continue looking. " he said.
Shane hesitated, clearly worried for the former villain whom he now considered a friend.
"Okay, but as soon as we get some sleep, we'll be back out here, helping you look, and that's a promise!" He said. The others, even though they were also exhausted, nodded in agreement.
"Thanks ... for all your help." Jindrax said
Hunter put a hand on his shoulder.
"That's what friends are for." He said, then in a flash of ninja powers, they were gone.
Jindrax put a hand to his chest.
"Friends..." he repeated, that word stirred new and strange feelings within him.
Even though he and Toxica had given their race quite a lot of trouble over the years, humans had still found it in their hearts to forgive them, and were even willing to considered them friends.
It made him feel ashamed for remaining on the Org's side for so long.
Oh well, what was it that the humans said? Hindsight was twenty twenty.
"Great work, Villyana! The rangers and that witch didn't even know what hit them!" Lothor guffawed as he clapped Villyana heartily on the shoulder.
"I appreciate the praise, Lothor, but my job isn't done yet. Not until they and the rangers are destroyed." She said, her eyes glowing menacingly.
"My old friend, I should've called on you a long time ago! It would've saved me a lot of trouble !" He declared.
She smirked at him.
"Yes, yes you should have rather than depend on the ... INCOMPETENCE of some." She said as she looked pointedly at Zurgane.
"I am a general in Lothor's army, and a veteran of many fierce battles! I am FAR from incompetent! " He said indignantly.
"Hmm ..." She sneered at him.
"And yet, you still failed, and failed, and failed some more." She added.
"You forget that YOU haven't succeeded, either! The rangers, and that witch's partner still live!" He countered.
"Vengeance isn't something you rush, and besides, I'm closer than you could ever Dream of getting!"
"Insolent, despicable witch!" He roared as he drew his swords and charged at her.
She sent him flying into his back with a powerful blast from her scepter.
"I already don't like you, just GIVE me a reason to destroy you!" She said as she pointed the scepter at him, the tip was so close to his masked face that he was almost touching it.
"Alright, alright! That's enough! I won't have squabbling amongst my ranks! Zurgane! Make yourself useful! Go and do reconnaissance on the power rangers and their friends!"
Zurgane got to his feet and bowed.
"Yes, sir!" He said as he dematerialized, but not before giving one final murderous look at Villyana.
Lothor shook his finger at her.
"You too never did get along."
She shrugged.
"He hates sorceresses, kind of hard to get along with someone like that." She replied.
"Because your kind attacked his planet!" Capri interjected.
Villyana shrugged again.
"But I was not involved in THAT." She quipped.
"Yeah ... Cause you were off doing OTHER icky things. Even by evil space ninja standards." Maura said before she could stop herself.
In an instant, Villyana's face was inches from Maura's. She smiled wickedly as she slowly traces her scepter along Maura's cheek. Maura could only manage a whimper as her eyes filled with terrified tears.
"You know that I've killed creatures for less, right?" She said as she grinned widely, revealing four rows of gleaming sharp, pointed teeth.
"But, regrettably, you're Lothor's family, and I did vow never to harm you. BUT ..." She trailed off as she sent poor Maura flying backwards with a vicious blow to the face from her scepter.
" ... That doesn't mean I can't rough you up a little." She sneered as she rested her scepter on her shoulder as with a wink, she dematerialized before Lothor or anyone else could react.
"Uncle! Why did you bring her here !" Capri whined
"Because! She is my best bet for defeating the power rangers! Your petty squabbles aren't of importance to me! Now get out of my sight!" He bellowed
"Ugh I hate her so much!" Maura sobbed as she gingerly touched the side of her face where Villyana had struck her, she could already feel it swelling, that was going to leave a mark for sure.
Capri gently helped her to her feet, her arm around her shoulders.
"I know, I hate her too, but I think it would be best if we just keep our mouths shut and make ourselves scarce as long as she's around. We're NO match for her in a fight, that much is certain." She said as she helped Maura limp to their room.
Jindrax leaned miserably against a tree, he had searched the forest tirelessly until the sun had risen well into the sky and he still had nothing to show for it.
Even his energy had begun to wane as he looked around at the surrounding wall of trees.
"Oh, Toxica, what HAPPENED to you? I ... Can't feel your presence or hear your thoughts anymore!" He said as he collapsed into a sitting position on the ground and cradled his head in his hands.
Suddenly a blinding white light erupted from somewhere in the forest engulfing everything and forcing him to shield his eyes.
Then, as soon as it appeared, it was gone. Jindrax slowly uncovered his eyes and his breath caught in his throat.
He wouldn't have been able to describe the scene before him if someone had asked him what had happened; a figure appeared before him, she wore a long, flowing white dress similar to the one that Princess Shayla had worn. She slowly floated down to the ground directly in front of him.
"Are ... Are you a spirit? Am I dead?" Jindrax asked dumbly.
The female laughed, lifting her hand, with its long silver nails saintly to her face.
That laugh ... Something about it was familiar, and it stirred some very intense feelings within him.
Then, the realization of just who this WAS hit him harder than one of the rangers zords.
"T ... Toxica ...?" He said, then, he promptly fainted.