VIII. Power Rangers In Retrograde - Mystic Force – Fire Heart

(Based from summaries from .com)

A older man walks down the street looking at a parchment as he talks on his cell phone, "Yes professor I have the map. It's more fascinating then we ever dreamed. I'm on my way."

Closing his cellphone he looks around, hailing a near cab and slips into the back seat, "Metropolitan Museum, and hurry!"

The driver turns around, a faceless black shadow creature, causing the man to immediately panic and run from the cab, forgetting the map behind.

At the Rock Porium, Xander wheels around in a chair, directing the others as Toby comes in, "Nice work Xander, I like how you got the others..working."

Vida gives Toby an odd look, Blecker coming in through the front door as Toby brings out a cardboard cut out of metal legend Jake Bonebreaker.

"Whose the old guy boss?" Xander wonders.

"Old guy?" Toby says insulted, "Jake Bonebreaker, the man who put metal in metal head. Lead guitar and vocal on metal mega classic Harry Hatchet."

Xander shakes his head.

"Ok, your lesson: play it, like it, class dismissed." Toby explains before returning to his office.

"Hey guys," Xander shouts, "Who wants to take care of the king of metal?"

No one shows any interest.

"Fine I'll do it myself," Xander shouts, turning back around to the cutout, "With a little help from some magic."

Flipping open his Mystic Morpher with a "Vivessi Inacti."

The cutout comes to life becoming a live person who immediately throws up his arms and announces "Hello Cincinnati."

"Oops, just a slight magical malfunction."

Vida and Blecker chuckle just as Udonna calls Xander on his Mystic Morpher, her voice on speaker, "Rangers theirs a very strong dark magic presence in your area."

"We can't all split on Toby," Nick suggests "V and I will check it out. You guys help with...heavy metal boy."

Nick and Vida run for the door quickly.

"Are you guys ready for some metal?" Jake exclaims, Maddie scrunching her noise in distaste. "Well I want...some prunes..."

Xander looks away in disgust.

In a parking structure the cab comes to a stop as Necrolai reaches into the back and removes the map, examining it, "Excellent Koragg and Morticon will be most grateful!" Pausing to look at the map she adds excitedly, "Indeed."

Nick and Vida run down a ramp about to change into their Mystic Clothes as they pass a concrete pillar when LeeLee appears in front of them, grabbing Nick by the arm, "I've been looking all over for you, come on I have the shops all picked out."

"We're kinda busy," Vida interjects.

"And Nikki's been dodging me for a week, not this time, you can call one of your other friends, this is my time to spend with Nikki."

"It's Nikolai," Blecker protests even as she is dragged off.

Sighing Vida solders on, changing into her Mystic Clothes as she comes upon.

"Nothing here but a Taxi."

The Cab turning as large fangs appear in the grill and it transforms to it's monstrous form.

"Whoa!"

Vida kicks the monster, turning it around before spinning and drawing her Mystic Morphers, transforming.

Necrolai landing in front of her monster, "Who else?" She says cockily. "Are do I have you all to myself..."

"And this one, and this, oh your going to look so cute in this," LeeLee preens as he layers another dress into Blecker's arms.

"LeeLee you know I can't afford all this."

She blows her and shoves her into toward the dressing rooms, "Oh don't worry I've got my girl's back."

Blecker takes a seat and sighs, look down at herself, hands shaking slightly.

Surprisingly LeeLee stops and sits down next to her, "Hey, what's wrong."

"You wouldn't get it."

"Try me," Blecker stands up shifting to her beastman form, this catches the eyes of some civilians who go running leaving them alone in the store as Blecker roars, "No you wouldn't! I don't even understand it, so how on earth can you!"

Surprisingly LeeLee just smiles, "I knew there was something different about you, I could sense it the moment we met!"

And then just as surprisingly LeeLee transforms into a form similar to Necrolai. Blecker stumbles back her pats dropping as she falls on her ass scrambling for her Morpher.

"Necrolai!"

LeeLee scowls, "No! She just..." her demeanor shifts from confident to forlorn, "...just my mother. So I know what it means to have some big secret in your life you don't fully understand….Silver Ranger..."

Blecker stops panicking and starts to break down into tears, "None of this makes sense. You're a vampire and I'm a furry, I keep being changed into thing, and now I've lost more then half my weight overnight..."

LeeLee interrupts, "And you look great as a result."

"But it's not my choice, I didn't work out and loose the weight I was caught is some side effect of magic and was given this body. Some force decided this is how I should look, not my own agency."

LeeLee smiles and changes back to her human form and she helps Blecker to her feet, "All the more reason for you to dress up, a new wardrobe, a new look on life. Come on I'll help you."

Blecker moves to a seat and sits, still crying, "Udonna says I'm a Zyuuman, some sort of alien from another parallel world. I want to just run away, run to Zyuuland, find my family. And ask so many questions."

"Then do it."

"I can't the Rangers…"

"Will be fine without you, you have to spend some time on yourself our your just going to crack like an egg." LeeLee sighs again, "Believe me I know, all mom wants to do is teach me how to be 'Princess of the Vampires' and to 'Serve the Master Will' I mean don't get me wrong some of her ideas are fun but I'm not living in that smelly, dank, underworld and bowing to that blowhard Morticon."

Blecker start to calm down as LeeLee drapes a coat over her head to hide her features.

"Come on let's get you some new clothes then start off on this grand adventure to discover who you are."

"O...Okay..." Slowly Blecker calms down, drying her tears, starting to smile, "T-Thank LeeLee"

She smiles back, "Anytime, Nikki."

At the Rock Porium Jake is loudly playing air guitar, a couple costumers leaving quickly as Xander quickly jobs over, "Mate can you dial it down a tenth please? We don't want to bring in Toby."

Speak of the devil, Toby runs out of his office excited, "Jake Bonebreaker! In my record shop!" he exclaims, "I need a camera...camera...camera." turning around and hurrying back into his office.

The other Ranger's Mystic Morphers going off as Vida informs them she could use a hand, the trio rushing for the doors.

"Wait," Madison exclaims stopping, "What about Jake?"

"One more try," Xander says drawing his Mystic Morpher, "Vivessi Inacti." which turns Jake back into a cardboard cutout.

Toby emerges from his office with a camera in hand, "Such an honor," he fangasming as he approaches, "...your...cardboard." disheartened he looks around, "I must be loosing it." Before regaining his vigor and posing enthusiastically with the cutout and taking a picture."

As the other three Rangers arrive Necrolai whistles the monster turning back into a cab as she makes a hasty retreat, the Ranger try to pursue the cab only for Necrolai to block them from behind, "thats nothing compared to what I'll soon have." And flees before the Rangers can get their second wind.

"We have another problem," Yellow says dourly.

Blue points to a security camera and jokes, "Smile."

Shortly back at Rootcore the Ranger slips the camera footage they recovered into their systems and power down. But before they can do anything all eyes turn to Blecker, entering with LeeLee.

"We can explain," Chip injects quickly.

"She knows."

"I know."

"Look I know this is sudden," Blecker starts and Alexis and Phineas arrive. "But LeeLee and I are headed for Zyuuland. I...I need to find out about my mother, her side of the family."

"Now is not a good time Nick."

"It will never be a good time," LeeLee glowers and puts her foot down, "But Nikki needs this, a real friend would understand that."

"Go," Xander says softly, "I'll explain it to Toby, just go. I know what it's like to be the new guy in a strange land, I can understand the reverse, needing to find your roots. So go."

"Xander, she's can't just."

"You're all strong enough on your own," Alexis cuts in, "And I'll be with them to protect them."

LeeLee hisses, "We really don't need a tag along."

Alexis steels her gaze and glares back, "I'm insisting. Besides only I know the spell that can open the gate to Zyuuland without the aid of a Champion Cube."

"A what?" Blecker looks confused.

"I suppose that will be one of the thing you will learn about in your journey," Alexis smirks.

LeeLee seethes.

Blecker laughs, holding back tears of joy, "Thanks, everyone."

LeeLee pauses as she points to the footage on the monitor, "What's that mo...Necrolai is holding."

Madison points her wand at the screen and creates a copy of the image, of the map, laying it out for the group.

"Necrolai is after the Fire Heart deep in the Cimmerian Forest." Udonna explains, "a vary dangerous artifact."

A resolve firms in Blecker's eyes as she straightens herself up, "How dangerous is this Fire Heart," she says looking to Udonna.

"It could tip the scale of the war, I am not sure what it is but it was only spoken of in hushed whispers, the ancients consider it that important."

Blecker clenches her fists, "then you need every able bodies wand to retrieve it."

LeeLee protests, "But our road trip!"

"Your going to need time to pack and get supplies ready, meet back here when your done and we'll see you three off," Xander explains as Alexis and Phineas follow after.

"This isn't...so bad." Nick quips as the seven of them walk though the woods, slowly as they approach a sign affixed to a tree, 'GO BACK! Cimmerian Forest Ahead.'

"I am not looking forward to this," Maddie says uneasily.

"I am," Xander says confidently, "I'll take the lead on this. I know how to read maps pretty well."

Nick looks unsure, "Are you sure?"

"Like Toby said...I'm a born leader."

"Ok," Nick says with a sigh, handing over the map, "It's all yours."

"Ok, Team Xander, Onward."

The group press on the woods making all sorts of weird noises as they go, Maddie dropping back to Blecker to check on her, watching as she presses buttons manically on her Training Morpher, only to be rewarded with her hair growing out several inches, "Maybe you should stop playing with that."

Blecker shakes slightly, "I know that, b-but my brain can't stop my fingers."

"This really has you strsssed out doesn't it?" Vida says cautiously.

"I spontaneously changed genders, find out I'm, a furry from Narnia, and I'm not even a consistant color when I'm a Ranger, wouldn't that stress you out?!"

As Phineas appears, hanging upside down from a branch in front of them the team take a startled gasp, Blecker let's out a girlie shriek, her heart racing a mile a minute.

"Phineas!" Nick exclaims, "Don't do that."

"Don't do what," Phineas jokes.

Phineas flips and lands on his feet behind the group, "I'll can lead you through the forest."

"Maybe we should let Phineas lead," Nick says looking to Xander, "sounds like he knows the place."

Vida agrees with Nicks sentiment.

"I like her, sounds like she knows what she's talking about," Phineas jokes, "I know this forest like the back of my han-," he say looking at his hand, "Oh lucky me...new wart!"

Xander shakes his head confidently, "Don't need any help, I know exact-"

"We are going with the troblin!" Blecker shrieks, making everyone jump with a start.

Looking at the girl a bit uneasily Xander capitulates, "O...Ok Blecker. W-We'll go with the Phineas." adding under his breath, "Even if I could get us there faster."

Falling in line with Phineas the group presses on.

Elsewhere in the forest Necrolai leads a group of Hidiacs and Styxoids, as she consults her map, "Fools! The Master will reward me when I bring him the secret of the Fire Heart!"

Her monologue is interrupted as a couple of the Styxoids are caught in a web and pulled up into a massive floating web, a huge spider descending toward them.

"Release them!" She demands, attempting to blast them with an energy attack only for nothing to happen, she gasps, "My powers...they're useless." Casually looking back toward her goal she presses on, "And so are you two...leave them!" and presses onward, "We must hurry!"

"After you," Phineas waves toward a visual break in the foliage, "You are now officially out of the Cimmerian Forest."

"I could have done that," Xander grouses as they stand at the edge of the tree line.

"Thank you Phineas," Maddison say giving a small peck on his cheek, "You have no idea how much good you have done."

"Yeah thanks Phineas!" Vida says giving him another peck.

Blecker hesitates then gives her own, Phineas flusters, hovering around Blecker, "Awe shucks ladies, it was my pleasure."

Xander slipping next to Blecker, looking smug, Blecker glares death at him, "You even think of making that comment and I'll pour hot sauce into your drinks for the next week."

"Hey does that mean your staying!" Chip injects cheerfully.

Blecker falls silent.

Xander smirks, "Got you there." before looking to Blecker to answer her earlier statement, "Besides babe, I never do that in a million years," He says smarmy.

Blecker fumes and they continue on.

"You know your cute when your angry Nicole."

"That's it!" Blecker says making a lunge for Xander the other girls holding her back until she looks over at Alexis, "Come on your the master witch can't you turn into a frog or something."

Alexis looks seriously at Xander, "Maybe not a frog."

The group come to a cliff overlooking a small basin and look across, "Long way down." Vida comments.

"Come on lets just get this over with." Blecker says looking around for a path of some sort."

Finding a path the group quickly make their way to the other side, Nick's eyes catching the light of some glowing, shimmering rock, "Over there!" he points and he picks up his pace and hurries toward it."

Chip steps up next to Alexis as he draws his Mystic Morpher, "What do you think, between the two of us?"

Alexis nods and with a blast of lightning and fire the rocks explode in a shower of dust and rubble exposing a metal object embedded in a stone.

"Yes!" Vida exclaims excitedly. Rushing over to the object she tries t pull it free to no avail. patting Nick's back as she backs up next to her, "You're up."

Nick draws her Mystic Morpher and with a blast of wind shatters the rock exposing the cylinder. Alexis walks over, drawing out the cylinder just as Blecker calls out, "Look out!"

The group turn quickly to see Necrolai, the Taxi Monster, and the foot soldiers have arrived, the other Rangers quickly morphing, The Future Ranger quickly moving next to Blecker to hand off the Cylinder, "I think now is the time to try out that new morph Nicole!"

Blecker tenses at the name but nods, "Magical Source! Mystic Force!"

She once more transforms into a familiar ranger form, but unlike Vida her colors are darker, a sort of rose color.

"What is this?" Necrolai says in disbelief, "Two Pink Rangers? That's impossible."

"Believe it!" The new Ranger sings then looks over at the others, "Ready?"

Blecker leads the group as they form a line up, "Rock you like a hurricane, Rose Mystic Ranger!"

"Fast as lightning, Yellow Mystic Ranger!"

"Fluid as the sea! Blue Mystic Ranger!"

"Furious as fire, Red Mystic Ranger!"

"Everchanging as the wind! Pink Mystic Ranger!"

"Strong as a tree! Green Mystic Ranger!"

"Ferocious as a Volcano, Crimson Mystic Ranger!"

"Power Ranger! Mystic Force!"

With an explosion of their signature colors behind them them the Ranger charge toward Necrolai and her forces, The Red Ranger summoning his Mystic Racer to mow down Hidiacs and Styxoids with his bike's lasers. The others attacking with martial arts and their elements.

Necrolai growls, "Damn Mystic Force, I'll destroy you next time." She says as she retreats, giving the Rangers very little time to react as the Taxi Monster grows to giant size. All the Rangers, save Blecker growing to match.

"Nicole get the treasure back to Rootcore!" The Crimson Ranger orders as she and the Titan Megazord engage the monster.

"R-Right!" she says unsure a number of foot soldiers still on the ground, "Out of my way!" as she transforms into her tornado forms and bowls right through them making a beeline for the woods before summoning a Mystic Speeder and racing off.

The Ranger come back into Rootcore laughing, "I can't believe you rode that giant cab Phineas," Vida laughs, "That was priceless."

"Yeah well it seemed like a good idea at the time."

The group immediately tense up as they see LeeLee sitting at a table, from the distance they can't tell if she smiling or glaring.

"Lee-LeeLee," Maddie says hesitantly.

"Just finish your little magic pow wow so we can get going already."

Picking up the pace the Rangers gather around, "So what was in the canister?" Chip wonders aloud.

Blecker rolls out the parchment, "Another map." Opening up a seat next to her she invites Udonna over, "Udonna this looks familiar?"

"Mound Fuego! Great work Nicholas! This is a great victory for our side, the Fire Heart is practically ours!"

"This is great guys, we really stepped up our game this time," Xander says as he adjusting the position of the Jake Bonebreaker cutout just as the real McCoy comes though the door.

"Hey my van broke down, figured I'd spend some time in here while it's getting fixed," he moves over to his cutout and begins shadow boxing, "Hey! Hansom lad ain't it?"

"You have got to meet out boss, he's your biggest fan!" Vida says excitedly.

"Toby, guess who's here," Nick exclaims, "Jake Bonebreaker!"

Toby pokes his head out of his office skeptically, looking directly at his employees and not off to the side, "I'm not falling for that again." Pointing at his phone he turns back to his office, "Got work to do."

Morticon fumes almost cleaving Necrolai in half, "You failed. Not just failed but you let the Rangers get away with the map! Give me one reason why I shouldn't destroy you here and now!" He swings his sword in a wide arc to indicate everyone, "Useless, all of you!"

Necrolai ducks, pleading her case, "Please Morticon, just one more try, I have a plan that can not fail, a plan that will not only cripple the Rangers but make us stronger by comparison!"

Morticon steams, howling at the sky, "It had better Necrolai, or your done for!"