Chapter 26

"It's the master!" shouted Chip. They began fighting the monster. They changed into mystic titans, then the mystic lion and firebird. The master struck them with his dark magic and they all fell. They changed back to their regular forms and they stood and just when they were about to fight, the master took them into the darkness.

"Welcome to your new home," said the master in an evil and dark tone. "You won't get away with this!" Maddie shouted. "Oh, but I will," said the master. "Now fight!" he ordered, throwing the rangers on the floor. They transformed into the mystic lion and firebird again and they fought the master. The master grabbed them and threw them down. "He's too strong," said Vida. "What are we going to do?" said Xander. "We're going to fight," said Nick. "Yeah!" said Maddie. Vida nodded in agreement.

They stood and struck the master with a red colored light that was good magic. The master stumbled and they struck him with the sword. The master yelled in anger and on the third time they struck him, he grabbed the sword and broke it. They all fell and turned into their regular forms. "Hurry, in here!" shouted Xander. They saw a cave and they all ran into it. Maddie leaned against the stone wall. "We need to keep going. He's going to win, and we can't let that happen," said Vida. "Vida's right. We need to keep fighting," said Maddie in agreement. They were all tired, but all were willing… well, except Nick.

"What difference would it make? He's too strong. We're no match for him," said Nick. Maddie's eyes darkened to sadness. She shook her head and opened her mouth to say something, but Vida said something first. "So that's it? The great Nick, the brave red ranger is giving up?" she challenged. Nick didn't say anything and turned, but Xander grabbed his shoulder and turned him back around. "No, you answer her Nick. Are you giving up?" he asked. "Move Xander, get out of my way," said Nick. "No, you answer that, Nick," said Chip in a serious voice. "Yes, okay? Fine, I admit it. I'm giving up," he said. They all became silent. Maddie suddenly said, "Don't you say that." Everyone looked at her.

She walked up to Nick. "Don't you say that, not you. You have held us together through all of this! You will not give up! Listen to me! Giving up isn't an option for you! We are a team, and you are this team's leader! We go on, no matter what," she yelled at him. He looked at her, and their eyes met and they were lost in each other's eyes… until there was a massive shake in the cave and they were all struck and shocked with the master's dark magic. Maddie, Nick and the others fell and screamed in pain. Maddie closed her eyes shut and gasped in pain. Vida moaned and tried to get up, but couldn't.

Chip tried not to shout in pain while Xander held his arm. Nick fell and then from the floor, got to his hands and knees and looked at his friends. He saw Maddie and Vida moaning and Xander and Chip gritting their teeth in pain. He stood and took out his magi staff and his sword. "I call fourth all the magic in the world… and all of the magic left in my body, come to me now!" he shouted. The Master glared at him. "But you're only one," said the master darkly. "And unfortunately for you, the wrong one," he said and he fought the master alone.

Maddie looked on as Nick fought the master. "Nick!" she shouted, scared for him. He looked at her for only a moment and then struck the master's head and the master suddenly became a tiny bit weaker than he hand. He struck the master again and said, "Grab onto my hand!" he told the rangers. Maddie nodded and Xander grabbed onto Nick's hand and then Chip grabbed hold of Xander's hand and next was Madison and then Vida.

They all let out a scream when there was a bright flash and they all turned into their regular cloths and fell from the sky and onto the floor. The master appeared and then said, "I will return to the darkness and rest, but be prepared rangers, for I will be back."

"I'm afraid that isn't possible," said a voice. The rangers spun around to see who it was. It was Udonna, and Itasis and Necroali.

"And why is that, white witch?" snapped the master. "Your dark hole has been destroyed, and so have your followers," said Udonna. Necroali has revived Itasis since she was the only one that had showed Necroali any kindness.

The master then said, "There may not my hole to dwell in, but I will be back," he said and vanished. Maddie put a hand on Nick's shoulder. He didn't look at her. "Nick, are you okay?" she asked him. "Yeah," he murmured after a few moments. Vida came up and said to Nick, "I knew you wouldn't give up." Maddie smiled at him, but he just stared at the ground. "Nick?" she said. He still didn't look up.

Suddenly, the ground shook and they all stumbled. The master was back… so soon. Nick glared at the master, with such fury and anger in his eyes. "Nick?" she asked again, standing up. He didn't answer, but he began fighting the master. The others joined him, but the master was just too strong.

"He took our powers!" shouted Xander. Maddie tried to morph again, but she couldn't. "They're gone," she breathed. Nick looked at his hands and then up at the master, who had vanished again. He made his hands into fists. Maddie looked at him and walked up to him and was about to touch his shoulder, but he grabbed her hand, really hard. Maddie was shocked. "Nick, you're hurting me," she said. Nick's eyes suddenly turned back to normal, the hate and anger disappearing and he let her hand go.

She looked at him, a little scared, but mostly concerned. "Maddie, I'm… so sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to…" he trailed off. "I was just so angry," he said to her. Maddie nodded understandingly. "I know," she told him, rubbing her wrist. He winced and he took her hand and looked at it and then looked at her, his eyes telling her he was sorry beyond words.

"How can we defeat the master without magic?" asked Chip. "Yeah, how are we supposed to fight?" said Vida. "Without magic? One is never without magic. You just need to know where to find it" said a voice. It was the mystic mother, and suddenly, Clare appeared. "Clare, you have magic!" exclaimed Vida. "Yes, the mystic mother made me a full sorceress," she told them.

Maddie smiled and then the people of briarwood and the forest came. They told them about how they couldn't fear each other, but to unite as one and give the rangers some of their magic. They came together and joined hands and suddenly, the rangers got their powers back. "Yes!" exclaimed Nick. Maddie gave a jump of delight.

The master returned and said, "Give me your magic!" Maddie narrowed her eyes. "You got it!" they all shouted and gave all their magic to the master, and he devoured it, but it was all just too much for him. "Stop! I've taken in as much as I can. I'm going… to… explode!" the master shouted, and then, the master exploded and was destroyed forever.

They were all excited and Vida began jumping up and down in happiness while Xander and Chip took each others hands and danced in a circle. Maddie came up behind Nick and wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. He turned around and they looked into each other's eyes and they leaned in to kiss, but Chip ran up to them and stood in between them and said, "Guys, the master is destroyed! Briarwood is safe forever!"

Maddie smiled and giggled as Chip ran around with excitement. Nick looked at Chip and shook his head with a small laugh. Chip ran up to Udonna and hugged her and Xander and Vida hugged.

(Back at the Rock Porium/later)

Maddie has changed into a beautiful bright blue top and some cute jeans. She walked up to Nick who was working on his bike. "So… you're leaving," she said, her voice carrying a small note of sadness and disappointment. Nick looked up at her. "Yeah, I'm going to see my adopted parents. There's a lot to tell them," he said with a small laugh. "You're not coming back?" she said. "I didn't say that," he said. "You are coming back?" she said confused. "Uh, what I'm saying is, I'd like to come back of there was something or someone to come back for," he told her. She looked at him. "Well, there is. There's… Xander, Vida, Chip, Phineas, Toby, Leelee," she said, listing the people from the top of her head.

"And um…" she trailed off, trying to find the right words to say. "And… me," she said. Nick slowly looked at her. "I want you to come back for me," she told him, not really meeting his eyes. He smiled and took something out of his bag. "Can you hold onto this?" he asked her, handing her his baby blanket. She looked at it and then gently took it and said, "Sure." He smiled and then was going to put his helmet on, but then Maddie said, "Nick, wait!" He turned around to see what was the matter, but before he could ask, she hugged him tightly. He hugged her back. And for a moment, they were lost in one another's embraces.

When they broke apart, Nick smiled at her and she forced a smile back at him, even though she felt like crying. Then, he put on his helmet and started his bike. Maddie took a few steps back and he rode off…

"He'll be back," Maddie murmured, looking at the blanket. She held it close to her and then ran back to the Rock Porium.

THE END…