Chapter Four: Curses, Prophecies and Secrets

"Xander?" A voice whispered. Xander slowly opened his eyes, blinked for a second, and turned his head slightly to his right, to see who it was. Sitting by his bedside, was Clare, who was wiping his forehead with a flannel. He rapidly sat up and was about to get out of bed, when he felt sore, he yelled in pain. "You need to rest." Clare said, as she stood up and gently placed him in a resting position on the bed. "Clare," Xander spoke faintly, "What happened?"

"You were unconscious when Leanbow and Daggeron found you," she replied, as she placed a blanket on him. Suddenly, Nick came in, just as Xander slowly sat up. "Hey man, you feeling okay?" Nick asked.

"Just a bit sore, but I'll be okay." Xander replied, just as Nick grabbed a chair and sat on it, Xander said, "I thought you were going to see your adopted parents."

"I was, but while on my way there, I had a vision about the others being in trouble, so I had to come back."

"I'm glad you did. How are the others doing?"

"They're still in shock, Maddie's still in a state. Do you think I should stay? I mean with Maddie…and with you being…you know…"

"If that's what you want, I personally think Maddie's needs you right now."

"Thanks." As Nick shook Xander's hand, he stood up and continued to speak, "I better check on the others, are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine." Xander replied.

"I'll stay here and keep Xander company." Clare said. As Nick left the room, Xander lied back on his bed, trying to forget the aches in his body. Clare sat down next to him. "Are you okay?" She asked.

"Yeah," Xander replied as he rubbed his right eye, "I just need to sleep for a while." So Xander slowly closed his eyes, and went into a slumber. While he was asleep, Clare started stroking his forehead and kissed his right cheek. Clare always had feeling for Xander, ever since he first arrived at Rootcore over a year ago, but she never told him. Suddenly, Xander gasped and placed his hand on his chest. Clare moved away from for a second, then she slowly moved her hand to touch his. She moved his hand away from his chest slowly, so she wouldn't wake him up. Then, she unbuttoned his shirt and opened it to see, on his chest, where he was hurting. When she did, she saw something that worried her. "Clare?" A voice behind her spoke, when Clare turned round, she saw Daggeron standing outside the door, as Daggeron went up to her, he asked, "Clare, what's the matter?" Clare stared at Xander's chest again. Daggeron turned as white as a ghost, as he looked at an unfamiliar spell seal on Xander's chest.

Moments later, Daggeron ran towards the bookshelf, filled with books of spells and potion-making. He reached for the big, black book, which said 'Curses and Dark Spells'. As he flicked through the book, Clare ran down the stairs and asked, "Daggeron, what are you looking for?"

"This." Daggeron replied, as he found the page he was looking for, and pointed at it to Clare. As she looked at the page, she said, "Wait, isn't that…?"

"Yes," Daggeron interrupted. "This is an Ominous Spell Seal. According to the Xenatome:

The Ominous Spell Seal can only be used by a chosen witch from the depths of the Underworld, to curse a young warrior and even his descendants. The curse can be harmful, if there is a great number of loved ones around him. The only way to prevent the curse, is to have a small number of his loved ones to protect him from the witch, who cast an Ill-omened Incantation, or the curse will turn the one who carries the curse, into a terror that will destroy everyone and everything around him."

Suddenly, Leanbow entered the room, "Daggeron, why are you up so late?"

"Clare, get the others." Daggeron told Clare.

"What about Xander?" Clare asked.

"Wake him up, he needs to know." As Clare ran off to get the others, Leanbow asked, "Needs to know what? Daggeron, what's going on?"

"Xander's in trouble." Daggeron replied.

Meanwhile, Jack and Bridge were still standing in front of the Snow Prince, "I wonder how we got here." Jack said to Bridge.

"Maybe we're having a collective dream and we're still sleeping." Bridge replied.

"You're not dreaming." The Snow Prince interrupted.

"Why have you brought us here?" Jack asked.

"I have brought you both here, because your help." As Jack and Bridge looked at each other, the Snow Prince explained, "Years ago, a young warrior in the name of Xander Bly was cursed by an evil witch named Morgana…"

"Wait a minute," Bridge interrupted, "Are you talking about the same Morgana who tried to annihilate us?"

"If you mean Morgana from the Troobian Empire," The Snow Prince replied, "yes I am. He was cursed by an Ominous Spell Seal, that only a chosen witch can cast."

"So what's that got to do with us?" Jack asked.

"A few decades ago, she cast the curse on his great grandfather, Alexander Bly, one of the greatest warriors in the Mystic Realm, was destroyed after the curse had been cast. He had two best friends, who he was very close to him, named Marcus Carson and Vincent Landors." Jack and Bridge looked at each other, then they faced Snow Prince. "You mean…they were…we…?" Bridge stuttered. Snow Prince nodded, he continued to explain, "You're great grandfathers were Mystic Guardians, who sworn to protect Alexander, but their life-forces were depleted when Morgana attacked them."

"Okay, so how about explaining to us about how we gained these new powers." Jack said.

"Your powers were hidden until a descendant of Alexander needed your help. Unfortunately, you two were only children when Xander was cursed."

"So this Xander Bly," Jack said, "was he by any chance a Mystic?"

"Yes, he was the green Mystic Ranger. I need you two to back to the year 2006, and protect him."

"Will you be taking us there?" Bridge asked.

"No, this is what you must do on your own." Snow Prince replied. "I'll go with you to your dimension. I'll explain it all to your Commander. ANCIENT SPELL SEAL!" Suddenly, the spell seal opened up, "Follow me." The Snow Prince said, as he walked through the seal. Jack and Bridge looked at each other and followed the Snow Prince into the seal. As they walked through, the seal closed.