Maia is portrayed by Jennifer Lawrence
~Liam's POV~
My name is Liam. I constantly feel alone. I try to keep that fact hidden. I know I'm capable of these tremendous things and I always share those experiences with my friends, but I'm still lonely. It's like no one can understand...
My name is Liam. I'm not sure when I'll fall.
~Normal POV~
Liam Gregory flew across the half pipe on his Skateboard easily pulling off tricks and spins. The sun's glare had no effect on his vision nor his spirit. The crowds around him watched on intently as he went on with his routine that would most definitely win him First Place for the contest he was in.
Now spinning in the air, the boy took a moment to search the crowd... however a look of disappointment etched itself onto his face when he couldn't find any of his friends. This was enough to disrupt his focus, causing him to under spin and fall off his board.
The crowd gasped as Liam fell twenty feet toward the center of the Half Pipe. Of course, he was strong and graceful enough to orient himself and land on his feet.
As impressive as the save looked, it still meant that Liam had lost the competition through disqualification.
He suddenly remembered the words of his friends. Everyone had something to do that day and couldn't get to his contest. Liam shrugged it off as no big deal when really it meant the world to him. Picking up his board, he decided to blow off some steam in the mountains.
Riding his Legend Board around the mountain trails really helped his mood for a bit. Going a lot faster than he ever could on his skateboard, Liam enjoyed the wind whipping through his hair as the scenery rushed by him in colored blurs.
Suddenly, he sensed repeated pounding coming from the Earth. Stopping, he closed his eyes to listen once more. It was as if a giant was stomping in place. Curious, he decided to check it out. What he saw amazed him; a girl around his age was running away from something. Her golden hair flew behind her as she dashed away from a giant spider. She wore a sky blue shirt under a black vest. She also wore cargo pants and converse. Her lightly tanned skin was beaded with sweat which she constantly wiped away with her black gloved hands.
"I've got to help her!" Liam said to himself speeding forward on his board. Surprisingly enough, the girl ended up not needing his help. As soon as Liam came into view, the girl turned around and made her gray eyes shine green as the ground started to shake even more. A boulder twice the size of a school bus rose from the ground and fell on top of the Spider. One of its legs went flying off, but Liam materialized a boulder the size of an SUV and shot it forward to destroy it before it reached the girl.
"Are you okay?" Liam asked as he glided to her.
"I'm fine." She answered dusting off her pants.
"I'm Liam." The boy greeted almost too quickly holding out his hand.
"Maia." The mysterious girl answered, accepting his shake. "Wow, you can create Earth?"
"Yeah, I can. It's sort of my thing."
"That's pretty cool!" Maia commented with a small grin. That's when the two felt it - a familiar surge ran through them, making them both share a moment.
"I actually haven't met another Earth Magic user before." Liam admitted, crossing his arms.
"Same! This is so rad."
"So, what were you doing out here?"
"Oh, well... I'm basically a nomad. The world is so big, I just wanted to explore it."
"Well why not come with me?" Liam asked.
"Really? I mean, don't you have friends to be with?"
"They're a little busy right now. I can show you around."
"That'd be awesome!" Maia smiled.
As the two rode off on Liam's board, Slade watched from behind a tree. He grinned under his mask.
~Cue Opening~
"I've never ridden a skateboard before." Maia confessed. She was slowly and shakily riding down the sidewalk while Liam held her hand.
"It'll be fine, just relax."
"If you say so..." She breathed back nervously.
"Ready?" Liam asked as the two approached a small hill.
"As ready as I'll ever be." Maia sighed. Liam nodded and let go of her hand. As soon as she was free, Maia was rocketing down the pavement pretty fast. "Wooooooah!" She panicked trying to find her balance.
"You can do it, Maia!" Liam called out. Hearing his voice, Maia took a breath and kept her body steady. Now calm and focused, Maia masterfully rode down the hill, swerving with style. She hit a bump and was sent flying into the air screaming.
She closed her eyes but felt someone catch her. Opening them, she met Liam's eyes as he sailed through the air and to the ground.
"Thanks." Maia smiled. "But you know I could've handled it."
"I know." Liam answered simply. "I just didn't want to see you get hurt." Realizing what he had said, Liam turned away blushing. Maia looked away as well, her face flushed with a similar color.
Liam proceeded to showing Maia everything, much like how he did with his old Bount friend Luther. It was just something about Maia that pulled Liam to her.
"That's so cool!" Maia gushed as Liam told her of his adventures in fighting the Supernatural. The two sat on the Beach strip the Rangers would always go to. At that moment, they sat on two rocks overlooking the water.
Liam nodded with a smile. "I can't wait for you to meet the others. I want them to see what you can do!"
Maia looked down with genuine fear which caused the ground around them to shake. The boulder Liam was sitting on lifted off the ground and caused him to fall.
Panicking, Maia threw the boulder into the water. "I'm so sorry, Liam! I'm so stupid!"
"So you can't exactly control your power. Who cares?"
"Please, don't tell anyone. When I meet your friends, don't tell them I can't control my powers."
"Maia, I-"
"Please, Liam!"
"Ok, I promise. Until you showcase your powers, I'll help you get a grip on them."
"You would do that?" Maia asked with hope in her eyes.
"Yeah, of course."
Maia suddenly hugged Liam tightly. "Thank you for today. I had so much fun hanging out with you."
Liam's face was flushed with red as he hugged her back. "Of course, Maia." Liam whispered back.
The next day, the pair walked to Liam's usual solitary training spot: A clear field of grass.
"So, what now?" Maia asked.
"We're gonna practice together." With that, Liam backflipped into the air and rose a stone column out of the ground to which he gracefully landed on top of.
"Try and reach me."
Gulping, Maia rose a stone pillar from under her feet. She then felt a surge of energy explode inside her and fell.
"Maia!" Liam called out jumping after her. This time when he touched her, something went off in his head: A dreamlike memory.
Flashes of stone giants ranging from 7 feet to 50 feet went through his head. Humans dressed in green shaded clothes ran away in fear. All around, beautifully carved stone buildings fell to these giant invaders. Screams filled the air as laser beams shot overhead.
Next thing he knew, Liam was on the ground holding Maia.
"You okay?" He breathed to her. The boy could hear a faint yes come from Maia as the two helped each other up.
"Did you see it?" Maia asked Liam.
Eyes widening, Liam nodded. "Yeah, what was that about?"
Suddenly, Liam's wristband went off.
~Bayview Mines~
An underground excavation project was put to a halt by Slade, the remaining Twilights and a posse of Shadowlites.
Jared, Noah, Sonia, Alicia, Asher and Chris were already in the midst of fighting when Liam arrived.
"Stay here." He told Maia. "Spirit Legend, Awaken!"
"Legend Axe!" Liam announced as he jumped forward and sliced through numerous Shadowlites.
"Took you long enough, buddy." Noah commented patting Liam on the shoulder.
"Yeah, sorry." Liam stated, still a little sore over the absence of his friends.
Twilight Pink launched numerous arrows at the Rangers, but Liam quickly raised a green wall. Alicia flew over it and kicked her Twilight Counterpart into a steel beam. While they fought, Noah and Jared engaged their counterparts as well.
The remaining Rangers mowed down the Shadowlites and started to fight Slade. The mysterious man easily evaded all attacks.
"What're you after, Slade?!" Sonia demanded.
"What I seek does not concern you for now." He answered.
Chris dived in the air with his Zwei-Sword. "Then we'll force it out of you!"
"Right now!" Asher added, sending forward a wave of light.
Laughing with joy and mockery, Slade revealed a hand device to which he pressed his thumb on the screen. The ceiling of pure Earth exploded and debris fell on all the Rangers.
"Liam!" Maia yelled at the top of her lungs. Forcing her shaking legs to move, Maia sprinted toward the pile. Digging through, she found Liam and his friends under a green barrier that was cracking like crazy.
"Maia!" Liam struggled to say. "I can't move with this barrier up. You have to clear off the debris."
"I can't! I-"
"Maia! You have to!"
The girl shut her eyes in genuine fear. The overwhelming energy she felt terrified her.
"Please, Maia. I have complete faith in you!"
Taking a deep breath, Maia raised her hands and willed the rocks to clear.
"Don't lose it... don't lose it.. don't... lose it!" Maia's eyes glowed a brilliant green as the pile of boulders were sent flying in all directions, saving the Rangers underneath.
In the confusion, Slade had escaped looking rather satisfied. Leaving the mine, he found what he was looking for: an ovular shield that appeared to be made of stone. In the center was a faded emerald.
Liam demorphed and hugged Maia tightly.
"I did it." She whispered. "You told me I could do it and I did."
~Later on~
"Maia, right?" Jared asked. "Thanks for your help."
"It was my pleasure, really." Maia nodded back.
"Another Earth Magic User? Well this is pretty cool." Alicia commented with a smile.
Chris nodded and joked, "Another ally to our little army against evil."
~Outside~
"You handled yourself awesomely." Liam assured Maia. The two were sitting on the beach, letting the calm water wash up against their bare feet then retreat to the ocean.
"I just... I'm still scared of losing control."
"But, why?" Liam asked. "What's the problem?"
"Well... Earth is the power of destruction. You wanna know why I'm so nomadic?"
Liam eyed Maia intently then looked out at the horizon.
"I've done horrible things; earthquakes, mudslides... I've done so much, I'm afraid."
"But, Maia... that's not what Earth is all about. Sure it can be dangerous, but it's not just destruction. It's about support and balance. Most of all, it's the symbol of life and protection. The desire to guard everything; that's what Earth is."
Maia stared at Liam with genuine shock, curiosity and amusement. "I never thought of it like that."
"Yeah, I didn't either until a few months ago. Now let's go back inside HQ. My friends wanna show you something cool."
"Alright, go on ahead. I just need a minute."
Liam agreed and ran back to the command center.
Maia sighed and pulled out a cellular device. She pressed a red button in the middle and put it to her ears.
"I've done it... I've gained their trust." Maia informed after a short pause. Something was stopping her; trying to stop her rather.
"Good, apprentice. I have faith that you will proceed with your mission?" Answered a voice.
Looking down in the sand with regret, Maia answered, "Yes."
"Excellent. Good work."
Letting a single tear roll down her face, Maia replied, "Thank you, Master Slade."
