Disclaimer: PRMF isn't mine, Aria and her story line is mine...
Chapter 19: Heir Apparent pt. 1
-Woods-
Nick and Aria were in a heated match, their wrists tied to each other as they fought. Their wooden swords beat against each other as they danced around one another. Nick yanked his arm to try and make her loose her footing, but she kept her ground, smirking at his failed attempt. The others cheering on to keep the battle going. Aria spun Nick around, trying to dizzy him before sweeping his legs from underneath him and swing her sword down.
"Sorry there Nicky, next time I'll go easy on you" She grinned
"Don't even think about it" he replied with the same smirk and kicked her hand before rolling away. Aria was impressed. Nick charged again.
"Why don't they just use magic?" Xander asked
"In bound battle training only swords can be used, no magic" Daggeron explained "I was taught by the best, now the winner of this round will be beaten – I mean taught by the best as well"
"I see humility doesn't set in as one reaches, uh, middle age" Nick quipped
"Middle age?" Daggeron called out
"That's being generous sunshine" Aria added before charging after Nick again
"Nick's got this one wrapped up" Vida said confidently
"Thanks for the support V!"
Aria and Nick were locked. Aria threw her hands up and Nick's sword was tossed in the air before falling into the girl's hand. She quickly gave the sword back to him, he gave a nod in thanks and quickly went back to the fight.
"Aw! You had to give the sword back?!" Vida complained
Aria leapt over a low-hanging branch trapping Nick. She wrapped the rope around her to shorten the length, swept his legs from under him and aimed her weapon to his chest.
"Well done Aria!" Daggeron cheered as she helped her friend up "You fought well, and you fought with honor"
"Nice job Ri!" Nick exclaimed and gave her a high five and pat on the back.
"Nick, well done as well, your skill has gotten stronger. In fact, you have all improved."
"Thanks to you" Maddie said
"You were taught by the best, and so are we" Chip chimed in "Maybe one day we can be as good as Leanbow!"
Udonna, who was smiling to herself shot her head up and looked between Chip and Daggeron. The others looked at each other in confusion.
"I'm sorry Udonna. I told Chip about your husband. He promised not to say a word." Daggeron revealed
"Does someone wanna fill us in?" Aria asked
"Udonna, he was a great man, a hero" Daggeron said "Perhaps it's time they learned about him."
"Yes," Udonna sighed "It's time we told you the whole story"
-Rootcore Balcony-
"Before the Great War," She began "Leanbow and I lived happily with our children. Their names were Baya and Bowen."
Daggeron cut in, "Leanbow was my mentor. The forces of evil attacked, and we fought them on all fronts. Leanbow fought bravely, but Morticon and his troops were too strong, we needed a plan. So, Leanbow met with Niella, and me"
They told the rangers of how Leanbow willingly made the choice to go to the underworld and directly face the Master.
"He always did things his way" Udonna smiled at her friend
"I remember, and it was always the honorable way." Daggeron continued with the story "Niella and I prepared for the final battle, then we were joined by someone we thought was our friend."
"But I thought Calindor was your enemy?" Chip wondered
Udonna's eyes turned cold. "He is. And having once been a dear friend, it made the betrayal cut all the deeper. When the battle was taken to the surface world, I knew the forces of darkness would be after our children. Baya and Bowen, born of magical blood, would have the power and potential to stop their evil domination. To protect them further, we made sure to separate to two of them."
Udonna could remember vividly handing her children off to Daggeron and Calindor.
"As I left with Bowen, Baya was given to Calindor." Daggeron had tears in his eyes. "Calindor soon found me and attacked. Dark magic gave him more power than ever. In the end, our magics collided, and we were both cursed. As for Bowen, we now know Phineas found him and brought him to the safety of the human world."
"So, your son is alive?" Maddie asked "Somewhere…"
"Yes, somewhere" Udonna smiled "Leanbow led the fight and banished the armies of the Darkness to the Underworld. Then he continued the battle behind the gates…alone. Leanbow and Niella gave their lives to save us all."
"Their sacrifice will not be vain" Xander declared
"But what about Baya?" Aria wondered
Daggeron and Udonna looked to one another
"We do not know." He answered honestly "She could have been found the same way as Bowen, or…"
Both Nick and Aria doubled in pain before looking up at everyone "Koragg wants to fight" Nick announced.
"We're ready" Daggeron reassured
"No," Aria spoke "Not you, Daggeron. You have to meet Imperious…separately, to finish off an old battle."
"This is surely a trap" Udonna warned
"We're still going" the soft-spoken Maddie declared "I think it's time for payback."
"I don't know about you guys, but I'm ready for this." Nick said as he led his team out
Daggeron followed "As am I"
-Field-
All six rangers were morphed for battle. Upon arriving to the scene Koragg stood there brooding. "Welcome" he said
"What do you want?" Nick demanded
"Your legend warrior power"
"You must be joking" Xander scoffed
"No way!" Chip yelled
Nick stepped forward "We'll show you what the legend warrior power is for!"
"Nick…" Aria tried to warn but alas, they summoned their Legendary Power.
"Excellent." Koragg muttered "Your new magic is strong, that's why I must have it"
Then the battle begun. All six rangers surrounded Koragg and the fight was evenly matched. He'd strike one the other five would hit back. With him distracted Aria swung down for a final attack, pushing him back a few feet. Nick then rushed forward on a one-on-one with Koragg. Soon all six were on him again but the rangers were tired, their attacks losing power.
"Give me your legend warrior power!" Koragg demanded again "The master will grant you a place at his side"
"I'm calling bullshit" Aria declared, her team agreeing behind her.
"Bold words coming from you Black Ranger" he taunted "You will accept your place by his side"
"Never!"
"Come on guys!" Nick called his team "Let's show him rangers!"
Before either side could even attack a new monster appeared before them.
"What the fuck is that?" Aria asked in disgust. The creature had at least six different faces all over its body. Hell, even Koragg was taken back by its presence.
"Imperious, you've cast a forbidden spell"
"You're all mine rangers!" the creature announced
Nick used his Code 1 on the creature, but it merely shot it back at them. Before they could even get up the creature fired his own attack. While the rangers lay on the ground trying to stand again Koragg told the creature
"This isn't the way."
"Be quiet!" the creature demanded "Send them to the Underworld"
"…Very well"
"What's happening?"
"What the hell?"
"NO!"
-Underworld-
The second they hit the floor of the Underworld Hidiacs were on them like white on rice. There was no use in fighting, they were weakened from battle and they were extremely outnumbered.
"Welcome to my humble home, rangers." Imperious laughed "Of course you, black ranger should feel at home here" he taunted
Aria struggled against her bonds. The overwhelming Dark magic was triggering for her. She could feel the Child of Darkness crawl inside her as her eyes turned black.
"Wow, really nice to see you guys." Lee-Lee smiled
"Lee-Lee? They got you too?" Vida asked
"Don't worry. We'll get you out of this disgusting place" Chip promised
"Aw thank you" she said sweetly "I hate it here. It's always dark and damp. Not to mention getting turned into an insect at everyone's slightest whim"
"She lives here guys!" Aria shouted, Lee-Lee was too much like Kapri and Marah
"Complaining again, daughter?" Necrolai asked as she emerged from the shadows
"Told ya!"
"Can we keep them here mom?" Lee-Lee asked "They have things that zombies down here will never have, like…souls"
Necrolai had her hands around her daughter "Of course dear, once their power is gone, you can keep them as your pets for all eternity."
-Rootcore-
Udonna was getting worried. The rangers and Daggeron should have been back by now. She stood before the crystal ball and cast a spell to find them. The ball was taken over with black smoke.
"What does that mean?" Claire asked, "Did you find them?"
"They've been taken to the Underworld" Answered Udonna "I've got to help them."
Udonna grabbed a dusty book from the back of the bookshelf
"'The Book of Dark Spells'?" Claire read aloud. "You said no one was allowed to use this book – no one."
"There's no other way."
"But, Udonna, if you cast a spell from this book, you will lose all your magic."
"Claire, if I do not use any of these spells, the world will lose the power rangers. And Aria will completely transform into the Child of Darkness"
"Udonna-" Claire tried to argue again but Udonna looked at her niece
"There is no other way. Now, you can help or you can get out of my way."
With that Claire, sadly, agreed to help her mentor.
-Underworld-
All six rangers were placed on podiums surrounded by an invisible barrier as Imperious taunted them. "So nice of you to bring me the gifts of you Legend Powers and the Child of Darkness"
"You're not getting anything from us" Vida fired back
"Oh, it's not for me. It's for the Master."
Aria took a glance into the smoky hole in ground and stared into the eye of the Master. Her fists were taken over her inky black magic. Her head was pounding as her black eyes began to emit a red glow.
"Is everything alright there black ranger?" Imperious began "Don't fight it child, accept your place by his side and you will more power than you've ever dreamed."
"Fight it Ria!" Nick begged "Remember that's the thing Leanbow sacrificed himself to defeat!"
"Leanbow?" Koragg whispered
Imperious stepped in again "That name is not spoken here. Now you will give the Master the power to rise up and conquer. And you Child," he turned to Aria "will accept your place in his army."
With a flick of his fan their power was pulled from their chest while Aria was grabbed from her podium and dragged closer to the Master. She kicked and screamed, attacking any Hidiac that came too close to her, but they just kept coming.
"They cannot defend themselves, there is no honor in this defeat." Koragg argued
"Stop that foolish babbling! This is our day of victory!" Imperious cheered "This is the end of the Mystic Force!"
Suddenly Udonna came crashing in "STOP!"
All six rangers were freed, Chip came and supported Aria who was close to collapsing.
"We have to get out of here." Aria begged "I don't know how long I can keep it together."
"How touching" Imperious sneered "The Sorceress comes to save her little rangers. Now you'll feel the wrath of the Master." A tendril came out of the hole and shot her in the back.
"NO!"
"Behold her destruction!"
Aria collapsed to the ground, her eyes glowing a fiery red as she hunched her back in an inhumane fashion. She did everything in her power to keep sane. She began listing people: Mom, Dad, Hunter, Blake, Dustin, Tori, Lila, Desi, Nami, Cam, Shane. Her new team: Udonna, Nick, Claire, Daggeron, Vida, Chip, Xander, Maddie, Jenji. Her favorite memories came flooding as she willed to be stronger than the Master.
Koragg was also suddenly assaulted with a flurry of memories. A young smiling Udonna, his student Daggeron, and finally two smiling faces looking up at their father. He gasped. "Udonna!" he leapt over Imperious and cut the tendril killing Udonna. From the explosion created Leanbow appeared in his Ancient Mystic form.
"It can't be!" Imperious cried
The magic around him disappeared as he turned to face his fallen wife.
"Leanbow?"
A/N: thanks for reading 3 hope yall enjoyed. please review XOXOX