Chapter 2:
Maddie's eyes widened. "Nick! Move," she shouted and pushed the teenager out of the way. But, instead of the blades cutting Nick, they cut Madison's arm. Blood oozed from the gash on her shoulder and she shrieked in pain. Nick quickly helped Maddie up.
"Are you crazy?" he asked. Maddie didn't answer, but held her shoulder, trying to stop the blood from escaping the deep wound. "Sis!" Vida yelled worriedly. "I-I'm okay," Maddie assured her sister. Chip grabbed Vida's arm and pulled her away from some more blades that the zombie's were throwing. "Come on… in here!" yelled Nick, and beckoned towards the eerie looking cave.
They all backed into the mouth of the cave, and suddenly, the mouth closed once they were inside. It was pitch black and dark…
"W-where are we?" Maddie asked, still holding her arm. Nick winced when he saw blood coming down her arm. Hesitantly, he asked, "Maddie, are you okay?" Madison was shocked. He never, ever called her by her first name, let alone her nickname. She forced a weak smile. "Yeah, I'm good," she assured him, but had spoken too soon. Just then, she collapsed.
"Maddie!" screamed Chip, kneeling down beside his friend. Xander's eyes widened. "What's wrong with her?" asked Xander. Vida was shaking her sister worriedly. Nick looked down at Madison. She looked so innocent, sweet… loving and yet studious and strong at the same time.
"Don't worry, Vida. Let's get her up here," he said, beckoning to a table in the cave. He picked Maddie up in his arms and laid her down on the table, but just then, the lights flickered on. Nick looked around with awe. "Does someone live here?" he asked.
"Yes," said a voice. Everyone spun around to see a beautiful woman in a white dress. "My name is Udonna," said the woman. "And you… are the power rangers," she said. "What? What the heck are power rangers?" asked Xander. "I will explain everything, but first, I should help Madison," Udonna said. "How do you know her name's Madison?" Vida asked.
Udonna smiled gently. "I have been watching you," she said, and then turned into the old man, and then back. "Oh my gosh! How did you do that?" asked Chip, obviously amazed. Nick looked down at Maddie. "Can you help her?" he asked, beckoning with his head to an unconscious Maddie. "She's lost a lot of blood from that wound on her arm, but once my apprentice casts a spell on her, she should be fine," Udonna said.
Just then, a young teen girl with long, wavy blond hair came rushing into the room. "May I, Udonna?" she asked. "Yes, you may," approved Udonna. "I'm Clare," the girl said before she said some magical words and healed Maddie's wounds. Then, Maddie started coughing feebly, but then she woke. She was still coughing, but tried to sit up. "Easy, child," Udonna said, gently pressing Maddie back down.
"Where am I?" she asked. "You are all in Rootcore," Udonna said. She then explained the history of the mystic rangers. "Now it is your turn to defeat the darkness and become the mystic force power rangers," Udonna informed after a long story. "Whoa. Now that was a long story," said Chip. Maddie nodded. "So, we are expected to protect Briarwood?" she asked. Udonna nodded.
She then took out some wands and gave each of them one. Nick got red, Maddie got blue, Chip got yellow, Xander got green, and Vida… unfortunately got pink. "Pink?" she muttered. "It's not that bad," laughed Maddie. Nick smiled. "How's your shoulder?" he asked. "Why do you care?" she retorted hotly. Udonna noticed the anger and rage between the two and stiffened.
Nick glared at her. "I don't," he snapped. "Well then keep your mouth shut!" she spat, her brown eyes full of fury. "That's enough," said Udonna calmly. "If you are going to be power rangers, you two need to get along. You will fight side by side, and if you are rivals, then your powers will not come," warned Udonna. "Then maybe I wasn't meant to be a power ranger," Nick muttered loud enough for everyone to hear.
He turned around and stalked away, dropping the wand on the floor. Maddie muttered something beneath her breath. "Come on, Maddie. It's not the time to fight right now," Vida said to her sister. Maddie winced. 'I didn't mean-" she began, but trailed off when her eyes narrowed. "Why should he even be a power ranger? What has he ever done to help anyone," she snarled, her voice releasing a hint of hurt and sadness.
Vida put her hand on her sister's shoulder. "Sis, he hasn't done anything," she whispered. "Exactly, he's never done anything… anything to help anyone or make someone feel good about themselves," she spat, but instantly looked down. "I'm sorry, Vida. I shouldn't have raised my voice," she breathed. Vida nodded. "It's okay," she whispered.
Udonna looked curious. "Why are you two such enemies? Don't you go to the same school?" inquired Udonna. "Yeah, but he's definitely no friend," Maddie the murmured. "And why not?" asked Udonna. "Because…" Maddie trailed off when she realized that she didn't really know the answer. "He's… so popular and hangs out with those jerks. And he teased me about hiding behind my camera," she muttered, not knowing if that was a good enough excuse.
"Mmm," Udonna murmured quietly. Maddie looked down. "I just don't like him," she said, standing up from the table. Chip looked unconvinced, but didn't object. "But Nick is really a nice guy," said Xander. "He's not like those jocks and jerks," Chip added. "Tell me one time he's been nice to someone like me," Maddie challenged.
Xander narrowed his eyes. "Well, there was this one time when the populars were making fun of you, and they were all going to try to make you trip so your food would fall on you, but Nick talked them out of it because he thought that it would be too harsh," Xander announced. Chip nodded. "And he also defended your friend, Jessica, and helped one of your classmates with her books," Chip told Maddie.
Maddie's eyes widened. "He did that?" she asked quietly. Chip and Xander nodded. Vida looked just as surprised. "But… I never knew," she began, but shook her head. "That doesn't mean he's nice to everyone. He still hates me," she said, and then, a sound came from outside.
"There is trouble," Udonna said hoarsely. Chip's eyes widened with excitement. "Yes! This could be our first chance to use our new powers!" exclaimed Chip. Xander nodded eagerly. Maddie's rebel sister narrowed her eyes, ready for the challenge.
The four raced outside, and somehow had gotten into different clothes, each person wearing the color of their mystic ranger power. "Neat outfits!" exclaimed Xander, but before anyone could agree, Udonna handed them their wands, but she transformed them into cell phone morphers. "Wow, cool," said Vida.
Suddenly, more of those zombie creatures hopped out from the bushes. Then, it was as if the four of them knew the exact words to say. "Magical Source! Mystic Force!" they all called out and then they changed once again.
The zombie's charged at them, and the four of them fought back. Maddie kicked out at one of the zombies and dropped to the floor and tripped three more. But then one grabbed her. She took the arm of the zombie and twisted it, making the zombie do a flip and fall heavily to the ground.
Vida threw punches and kicked. She saw Maddie fighting and was amazed, but continues to fight alongside the others.
Suddenly, Maddie felt the zombie's lash at her with their big hands and swords. There were too many. They were attacking Vida and Chip too. Xander pulled some off of them and they went back to fighting, but there were still too many. Within moments, the four of them collapsed onto the forest floor, tired and weak. "There's too many of them," said Maddie, trying to pull herself up, but couldn't.