A/N: Sorry about the lapse in updates! I was on vacation and had limited time on a laptop… This theme was dying to be done, and the scene in question was absolutely perfect; a good way to see how far my favorite couple has come since the argument over the jeep. Enjoy!

"…": characters talking to each other

'…': characters talking to themselves

(…): extra facts about something in the story

(Takes place during "Mystic Fate II")

Theme 25: Dependence

Unknown, May 12, Unknown Year, 4:25 pm – Briarwood, CA, USA

Vida stumbled as The Master deposited her and her fellow Rangers to the ground, falling to her knees as she lost her balance.

'More like spit us out,' she angrily thought as she stumbled to her feet. She and her fellow Rangers were still grieving over the loss of not only Udonna, but Lienbow and Daggeron. Jenji's sacrificing himself for them didn't leave a nice taste in their mouths either.

'Why couldn't we do anything; anything at all? We're supposed to be these warriors of prophecy, and we failed!' You understand, Vida usually didn't doubt herself, but her Legend Mode powers had been taken away, the Fireheart hadn't made a scratch, Nick was wallowing in self-pity for allowing The Master to possess him, thereby allowing the evil being who, oddly enough resembled an octopus to make it to the surface world, and she, she felt so damn useless!

"What now?" Madison asked arms wrapped around herself hoping that she could somehow ward away the self-pity that seemed to encompass the entire team. Everyone looked at Nick who had, over the past year become their leader in not only Ranger color but also spirit. Hopes fell when Nick looked at them blankly and turned to examine the barren wasteland outside of the small cave they had found refuge in upon their arrival. Chip's eyes roved around the cave, landing on Xander, Vida and Madison before moving back to Nick, his usually jovial personality quite subdued.

"That's it!" Vida muttered ready to march over to her leader and knock some sense into his damn head, but before she could move she felt an arm encircling her and, reacting on instinct swung around, a fist raised only to halt before Xander's face.

"Xan! What the hell?"

Xander, to his credit didn't flinch at how close he had come to receiving a black eye from the irate Pink Sprite. He shook his head and, lifting a hand gently lowered Vida's fist looking into her eyes.

"Calm down, V. Everything will work out fine."

Vida attempted to back up but was unable to due to Xander's grip... which, now that she thought about it seemed a bit possessive... "Fine? You call us losing our Legend Mode powers, Nick's pity party and the death of three, no, four of our mentors fine? What the hell is wrong with you?"

Xander shook his head, not used to seeing the usually levelheaded Ranger lose control like this. "Vida, have faith. We wouldn't have been chosen if we had no chance of winning. We will win. You just have to believe it." He pulled her closer and hugged her, willing his strength of belief to seep into the Pink Ranger. He internally breathed a sigh of relief as the Pink Ranger's tenseness seemed to fade.

Vida had, initially, frozen when the Green Minotaur had hugged her. Xander, hug her? Don't make her laugh; that would never happen. Yet, when it had happened, she didn't feel awkward. In fact, it felt kind of, well, nice. How odd was that?

"You're sure, Xander?" Vida whispered not caring if her friends interpreted the gesture as something else. There were bigger things to worry about than Xander's and her status; if there was even one. Her hands slowly moved upwards to encompass Xander's shoulders, taking in the strength that he was offering her silently.

"Absolutely. We'll get through this. In fact," Xander paused and Vida could almost imagine the grin snaking its way across his face. "It looks like Maddie's getting through to Nick."

Vida chanced a glance over her shoulder and smirked at seeing her normally placid sister ripping into Nick, the Red Phoenix looking unusually subdued. Grinning, she turned back to Xander and, without thinking laid her head on his chest, ignoring the way that he suddenly stiffened. Xander was right, Vida thought, we will get through this in one piece. After all, how could she doubt him when he was her rock in all of this mass chaos?