A/N: Amazing, isn't it? I've updated in less than a month this time! I am so excited that I haven't let you all wait for this next theme. I had a lot of fun with this one. Another contest between Xander and Vida; it would have been so fun to see something like this during the show. I hope you like it!
"…": characters talking to each other
'…': characters talking to themselves
(…): extra facts about something in the story
(Takes place after "Inner Strength")
Theme 14: Power
Rootcore, December 2, 2006, 4:00 PM – Briarwood, CA, USA
"That was awesome!" Chip said as he admired Xander's physique from his new spell code. "Although, don't you think that it's a little stereotypical?"
Xander shrugged as he powered down in the safety of Rootcore. "Not really. I am strong as a tree and as such having super-human strength comes with the territory."
"Way to be humble," Vida commented, brushing past the green and yellow rangers, taking a seat on the table next to her symbol. "You really know how to show gratefulness, don't ya?"
Chip ducked his head so that he didn't alert Xander to the fact that he was laughing. Xander, meanwhile, flushed in embarrassment and before he could stop himself said, "Yeah, well, why don't we see who's more powerful, huh?"
Vida cocked an eyebrow before getting an evil grin on her face that reminded Xander of when Necrolai had had her under her control. "Sure. Why not? What are the rules?"
Xander ran through his mind to try to find a suitable challenge, but it was Chip who came up with the answer. "How about an archery competition? First one to send their arrow through the target and into the tree behind it will win, and I can judge."
Vida glanced at Chip, who was very excited by his idea. Glancing at Xander she smirked and replied, "Sure, why not. Are we allowed to use spells to help?"
Chip pondered this for a moment before shaking his head and replying, "Sorry, V, but that'd give you an unfair advantage, what with you using the wind to enhance the speed and power of your arrow."
While Vida pouted, Xander was mentally damning Chip. He knew next to nothing about archery while Vida had practiced with Chip often when they were younger. That gave Vida an advantage. Then he smirked. He was more physically powerful than Vida, which gave him a huge advantage.
"Great, let's go," Xander said as he jogged out of Rootcore, a still pouting Vida and an excited Chip following in his wake.
Chip's Archery Field, December 2, 2006, 4:15 PM – Briarwood, CA, USA
Soon enough Xander and Vida were standing on Chip's archery field, each of their arrows tied with a ribbon representing their color. Chip was standing to the side, his own bow and quiver of arrows on the ground next to him. "Okay, before we start I'm going to review how to draw an arrow and shoot it." Chip glanced at Xander out of the corner of his eye as he said this, knowing that the Green Mystic Force Ranger didn't have much experience with archery.
Xander watched as Chip drew his arrow and let it fly smoothly, the 'twang' signifying that it had hit its target dead on. He gulped when he saw Vida grinning at him predatorily and as she stepped forward Xander promised himself that he'd win this little competition and show Vida that he was the most powerful.
Vida narrowed her eyes as she aimed at the target and, making sure not to draw on the wind to help her, however much she wanted to, let her arrow fly. She grinned when she saw it drill about halfway through the target. Chip whistled in appreciation.
"Good job, V, considering that you haven't done any archery in a few years, right?" On getting a nod from Vida Chip made a mark on a slip of paper and said, "Vida's arrow pierced through the target about three feet. Xander, if you want to win then your arrow has to either pierce through the target four feet or go the whole way through. Either way, you'll win, but if your arrow doesn't pierce the target enough then V'll win."
Chip's hazel eyes regarded Xander warily, not sure if he should hide for fear that Xander's arrow would go completely off course and hit him or stand on the sidelines and support his teammate. Deciding to be safe, Chip picked up his own archery equipment and backed up a few feet, noticing as he did so that Vida didn't move.
Xander glared at his friend, muttering, "Traitor."
He took a deep breath and, slowly taking an arrow out of his quiver, fitted it to the bow, ignoring Vida's snickering about his clumsiness. Xander then drew back the arrow, carefully aiming it at his target. Taking one more deep breath, he let the arrow fly, and as he watched the arrow fly he prayed that it'd hit the target. When it did, Chip ran over to the target and yelped in surprise. Xander ran over, concerned that he'd hit something. When he got to the target, however, he saw that there was a clean hole in the target and that his arrow was embedded in the tree, the green ribbon he'd tied to it fluttering weakly in the small breeze.
Vida ran over and upon seeing the arrow, scowled, knowing that she'd lost. She steeled herself for Xander's bragging that he was the best archer in the world, but nothing came. She turned to Xander and saw that he was flabbergasted, having not considered that his physical strength would send his arrow flying through the target and into the tree directly behind it. Deciding to be nice (for once) Vida knelt to examine the hole in the target and whistled in shock.
"I'm impressed, Xander. First time archer and already managed to pierce the target the whole way through," Vida commented, ignoring Chip's look that plainly said, 'What the hell are you saying, V?'
Xander blinked at his teammate, obviously shocked as well that she was complimenting him. After a minute though, he grinned and said, "Yeah, well, guess I'm more powerful than I thought."
Vida got to her feet and moved to gather her own archery supplies. As she began walking back to Rootcore she turned and, grinning, said, "Guess you are, Xander."