A/N: I know that the show didn't really give us a lot of detail on the Mystic Warriors who came before the Rangers, so I decided to delve a bit more into whom they were. Therefore, their names, personalities and some aspects of their powers are all mine. If you wish to use them, ask first. Thanks. Enjoy!

"…": characters talking to each other

'…': characters talking to themselves

(…): extra facts about something in the story

(Takes place after "Mystic Fate II")

Theme 59: Time

Rootcore, July 4, 2007, 1:30 am – Briarwood, CA, USA

Lienbow's POV

I am typically a light sleeper, so it does not surprise me anymore that I can be found wondering around Rootcore at all times of the night, ensuring that the security charms and spells put into place after Octomus's defeat are still holding strong. If not in Rootcore I visit with Fireheart who, according to the Rangers, was my pet once upon a time when the world was black and white. The dragon and I get along splendidly.

As I browse through the collection of tomes and potions that Udonna's gathered during my absence I sense two more magical signatures. Instantly on alert I summon my Wolf Sword and slip outside, senses expanded to look for the origin of the signatures. I relax slightly as I recognize them as the Green and Pink Rangers, dismissing my weapon in the process. Then, I realize that something is off: why in the world are they out here, together, at one thirty in the morning when they could be sleeping as Udonna, Clare, and the others are?

"Come on, V. One more race!"

"Xander, enough. I've beaten you four times, already. Give it up. I'm simply better on the Mystic Racers than you."

I halt the chuckle that threatens to escape. My spirits, but they do sound remarkably similar to my own Green and Pink Mystic Warriors. My memory slinks back through time as I remember my warriors before Infershia started her march of evil and destruction:

XxXxXxXxXx

Mystical Forest, August 30, 1986, 11:30 am – Briarwood, CA, USA

Addyre Edric's taupe eyes gleamed as he sped past his teammate Corwynt Rathtyen, hunter green cape flashing behind him. Lienbow, from his position a few feet behind Udonna smirked when he heard Corwynt unleash a string of nasty sounding Welsh and Gaelic curses, some of which had Addyre cringing.

From behind Lienbow Inir Abhainn laughed, his deep bellow only superseded by that of his wife Sulwen Fulger, which was more of a cackle. The six Mages had decided to take their brooms out for a test run and, of course, Addyre and Corwynt had ended up laying claim to the same new broom that had just hit the market that morning. Before another argument could start Lienbow had come up with a solution: a race between the two for ownership of the new broom.

His fiancée readily agreed eyes sparkling and when all six had mounted their old brooms (Sulwen, Inir, Lienbow and Udonna were the acting referees) a piece of white cloth had fallen and the two Mages were off. Addyre's broom was steadier and therefore less prone to shift in the volatile winds which blew that day. However, Corwynt's control over the air gave her a rather large advantage. Bright emerald eyes glowed as she drew closer to Addyre and, when she passed him seconds later she turned and made a rather rude gesture that had Sulwen chortling so much that Inir had to catch her so she didn't fall over.

"Och, so that's what ye be wantin', huh?" Addyre spat eyes narrowed. His shoulder-length black hair streamed behind him as he moved himself so that he lay flat against the wood of the broom, whispering a spell to the wood. With his control over any form of nature – once living wood included – it was a simple matter to manipulate the wood's molecules to change the broom's physical properties, streamlining it and thereby letting him increase his own speed. Corwynt glanced back and upon seeing Addyre's cocky grin as he gained on her growled. Closing her eyes she called on the winds of the Mystical Forest to increase her speed and slow Addyre down; she knew it worked when she heard Addyre's Gaelic curse fill the air behind her.

Inir could only sigh as he watched his friends argue as if they were apprentices. Moving so that he was beside Lienbow he asked, "Lie, how is it that those two do not recognize what their auras are telling them?" Besides having control over all forms of water, Inir also had the ability to sense magical auras. It was one reason that he knew that from the moment he and Sulwen met that they belonged together, as he did for Lienbow and Udonna. It was irritating that Addyre and Corwynt refused to see the truth.

Udonna pulled up beside her fiancé on her own room, smiling at Inir. "In time, Inir, they will figure it out. It is not our job to figure out how their romance works." Sulwen grabbed her husband's attention with her own grin as she flew up beside him, gray eyes glittering in agreement with the White Mage. Inir sighed and shrugged in agreement. Suddenly, they heard a chant of victory and, looking at each other hastened to the finish line at Rootcore, where Lienbow's two apprentices Daggeron and Calindor had kept watch.

"I won!" Corwynt chanted dancing around a miserable looking Addyre. Daggeron nodded in agreement with the Wind Mistress while Calindor shrugged not too interested in the contest. To him, it was stupid and a waste of time that could be better used to train and gain more power.

"Ay get it, Cor. Ye don' have to rub it in," Addyre protested his accent very thick. Corwynt, in reply, maturely stuck her tongue out at Addyre emerald eyes glinting, a strand of dirt-brown hair fluttering into her eyes.

"Congratulations," Sulwen declared landing swiftly. Inir, Lienbow and Udonna swiftly followed their brooms floating in the air behind them. Drawing out a shrunken package, she enlarged it with one word and handed it to Corwynt, who smirked. Then, looking at Addyre the Wind Mistress's smirk faded.

Sighing in disgust, Corwynt abruptly turned on her heel and, marching over to Addyre thrust the broom in his face, leading to the rapid blinking of taupe eyes. "Take it, ye babe. I'll be wantin' a ride on it, ye hear?"

Addyre didn't respond for a moment, but when he did a mischievous smirk appeared on his face. Taking the broom in his hands, he jumped to his feet and swept Corwynt into a tight hug, giving her a big kiss on the cheek. Cackling, the Master of Nature and Earth quickly snapped his fingers and ran up an earthen stairwell of his creation, a very upset Wind Mistress on his tail. Their friends were left behind to shake their heads.

"When will they learn?" Inir groaned burying his head in his hands.

"In time," Udonna soothed watching her friends' flirtations, "In time."

XxXxXxXxXx

Rootcore, July 4, 2007, 2:00 am – Briarwood, CA, USA

The sound of a chant snaps me out of my memories. I move closer to where the sound is coming from eyes narrowed. Once again, I contain my laughter as I catch sight of a scene that is almost out of time. A miserable looking Xander is currently seated on the earth, arms folded across his chest; prancing around him, with the air adding to the effect of her billowing cape, Vida is chanting her fifth win against her friend on the Mystic Racers.

"Stop being a sore loser, Xan," Vida chides voice full of glee. "So what if I'm better than you?"

"That's the thing, V." Xander protests jumping to his feet and facing the Sprite. "Xander the Great is not supposed to lose."

Vida smirks as she moves closer. "I don't see any Xander the Great here."

Growling, Xander's eyes flash the faintest of greens but I see it, and I begin to wonder. Just maybe, perhaps, this time will be the truth of what they mean to each other. I may have been Koragg for many years, but my memories of that time, though a bit blurred are still rather clear. In this case, Koragg had noticed the budding relationship between the two Mystic Force Rangers and reported it to Imperious. The mummy-that-was-once-Calindor had begun hatching a plan to use one of said Rangers to get to the others, but, fortunately, I had been cleansed of Octomus's essence before the plan had come to fruition.

"I'll show you," Xander mutters and moving swiftly captures the Sprite in a passionate kiss, both pairs of eyes fluttering shut at the movement. As I watch, honored to be part of such an occasion the trees and earth begin to move, forming a ring around the two Rangers. Vida's element soon joins the ring of earth and trees, the varying shades of wind gusts gleefully mixing with Xander's own elements.

When they break apart they look at each other, both wondering why it took them so much time to do this, to get to this point. Then, as I watch with baited breath they decide not to waste anymore time being apart and seal the tentative bond with another a kiss.

As their relationship explodes all around them I decide to make a tactical retreat, to leave them in peace to begin exploring what they have discovered. As I move to leave I chance one more glance back and smile sadly to see an image superimposed over the two: Addyre and Corwynt locked in a mad kiss, hell erupting all around them, clothes tattered and torn and each missing a limb with blood soaking their faces bodies and running down their faces. Yet, despite this, the love they had for each other is plain as day on their faces.

'I know that this time around, my friends, your chosen Warriors will have a much better future than you did. Rest in peace.' I then turn and quietly make my way back to Rootcore, only to say the same thing to the ghosts of Inir and Sulwen, who nod in understanding before fading back into their natural elements a small streak of lightning and a stream of water moving quickly past me.

As I crawl back into bed, Udonna wakes up and regards me with those wise and soulful eyes that had haunted me as Koragg for many, many years. "Where were you, husband?"

I pause before answering, but what comes out is simply, "Time traveling, my dear wife. Time traveling."