(This takes place 15 years later after the events of Power Rangers Ancient Age. 2038. Also if you guys get confused by these random ranger teams it is because of it is part of our universe that we wish to animate in the future.)
VISIONS OF FROST 1/4
The night was cold, no matter how many layers of covers the girl was buried beneath, nothing could match the radiating warmth of the heater. It was so tempting and welcoming, upon getting closer to the heat that's when the dream started.
The scene was dark, the girl found herself standing alone in the void. When suddenly all around her a myriad of banners unfurled around. The first five were in the colors of red, blue, green, yellow, and pink. Each was marked with a different symbol and associated with a foundational element. Beyond them, other banners unfurled, each with their own symbol and color all of which seemed to stem from the first five.
The image shifted, appearing before the girl was the iridescent glow of light. It drew closer to the girl calling her name.
"Vivian, Vivian." The voice of the light was familiar, it sounded remarkably similar to the tone of her father.
"Vivian." The light called out.
Vivian, responding to the beckoning of the light extended her hand. As expected the feeling she received was that of warmth. It washed over her beating back the chilling sensation. This warmth seemed to emanate from a basis of love filling her to the brim with ecstasy.
Vivan's father was in for quite a shock. When he left her the night before she was in bed like a normal teenage girl. To his befuddlement, his daughter's legs were pressed resting against the window, her head and arms dangling off the edge of the bed, and her hand mere inches from the small space heater in the room. At some point, it seems as though Vivian decided to play a game of twister in her sleep. Though the position appeared rather uncomfortable, the girl was sound asleep.
With one step into the room, Vivian's father felt a sudden decrease in temperature. This perplexed him because it seemed as though the space heater wasn't even on. The subtle hum of the heater implicated that it was active, yet frigid and nippy air said otherwise. This was a definite concern to look into another time but for now, it was time to wake the sleeping giantess.
"Rise and shine," the rings of the curtains collide as they are opened, permitting the natural light to flow into the room.
"Ugggggghhhhhhh," Vivian groaned with the sunlight touching her face. She opens her eyes for an instant only to cover her face again.
"I don't know what that means, but I assume it means good morning," Nick said. The morning sun illuminated the blue-green eyes of Vivian. Not wanting her sleep to end just yet, she shielded her face from the light. Her father, Nick, wasn't going to let her go passively. He approached her head and yanked the comforter away. He pulled it all of her blankets down toward the foot of the bed. Vivian sat up unhappy but awake.
"Sleep well?" He asked, "It looks like you did, since I found you sprawled all over the place. You're 15 years old and you sleep like a 10-year-old."
Taking a strand of hair out of her mouth Vivian stretches, but winces from the strain of her back, "So that's why my back hurts? Ugh, so this is what it's like to be your age."
"My age?" Nick stands up picking up a throw pillow that has fallen to the floor. With a light weighted toss, the pillow deflects off Vivian's face and falls to the bed. "Get up, the bus will be here in 45 minutes."
Vivian lays back on the bed groaning, "ugggggghhhhhhhh, I don't want to take the bus. Can't I just ride with you guys?"
"Not today, your mother and I have an important meeting this morning. It shouldn't take long, we'll meet you at the site."
"Well then I'll go with guys to the meeting and we could all arrive at school together." She pleaded.
"Heh, no," He scorned.
Vivian sighs again, "alright, I'll be ready in 10."
"Dad." She called.
Her father turns and just for an instant time seemed to stop. Before Vivian could say anything she paused, a blank stare came over her beautiful eyes, fragmented images flashing in her head.
"Viv?" Nick's eyes widened. The look of pain ran across his daughter's face as she started to slump forward. He caught her before she could fall and she snapped out of her daze with a confused look on her face. "Do nightmares give you headaches?" She inquired.
"Or maybe it could be from being too close to the heater," Nick replied, now sitting on the bed with her.
"No it's not that, I saw something in my dream. Colors, a light, I think I heard your voice coming from the light. It was weird." Vivian said trying to relive the visage.
The morning light danced off of Vivian's polychromatic iris. One eye was a pulcher blue and the other a pool of blue and green with a tiny island of brown. Never had Nick seen a genetic abnormality render such a beautiful result. Nick comforted her, "Well it was just a dream, it probably doesn't mean anything."
"Yeah you're right, I should probably go back to sleep and see if I can dream it again." Vivian went to reach for her blankets but Nick stopped her.
"Nope you're getting up, come on." Nick slapped her thigh when she refused, then smiled as he approached her bodice, tickling her ribs before leaving.
Nick came downstairs, his mind puzzled by what he saw. 15 years ago his daughter was born under rather unnatural circumstances, it was obvious to everyone that she would possess strong magic. This would unequivocally attract dangerous enemies who would want that power for themselves. Moving to Crystal River seemed like the only logical means of avoiding questionable characters since the town itself had a rather low magic base.
If Vivian's magic had developed this much in the short 15 years, it won't be long before threats start knocking on the door again. As Nick reached the bottom of the stairs, his wife Madison had just finished preparing breakfast.
"The room was cold again," Nick said to his wife Madison. Madison's lip became upturned, her heart sank three feet deeper, concern, and interest in her eyes.
"She said she had a dream, and I was in it."
"You were in it?" Madison asked surprised.
"Well she didn't specifically say me but she said she heard my voice coming from a light," Nick implied which stole the words from Madison's mouth. The sound of footsteps quickly silenced the conversation. Vivian appeared dressed in her red hoodie and jeans. Her dark brown hair was pulled back into a tight french braid and her olive skin was freshly moisturized. When Vivian stepped into the dining area, she was put off by how intently her parents were staring at her.
"Hi, sweetie." Madison broke the awkward silence, she left the table to grab the prepared plate she made for Vivian.
"Hi mom," Vivian said as she finished setting up the last part of her braid. She took her seat at the table and as Madison placed her food in front of her.
"Are these blueberry pancakes?" Vivian gasped.
"Yes, and chocolate syrup," Madison said.
Vivian's green eyes sparkled. She squeezed a healthy portion of the syrup all over her pancakes, her mouth already moist in angst. "OHHH I love you, mom!"
She sliced and diced her mouth nearly filled to the brim with griddle cakes. The syrup was getting all over her lips but Vivian did not seem to care, she only wanted to eat more.
"Ew," Nick blanched, shivery from the nasty combination, "What's next, gummy bears and sour worms?"
"Mm," Vivian said with her mouth stuffed. " I should try that."
"You've been hanging out with your Uncle Chip too often," Nick said.
"He has some good ideas," Vivian swallowed, "That chicken, pepperoni, cheese, chocolate marshmallow pizza was awesome."
"Yuck and you ate that?" Madison asked.
"Mhmm, it's better than allowance cookies that's for sure," Vivian said.
"Allowance cookies?" Madison looks at Nick who shrugs as he took a sip of his cup of coffee.
Vivian piles her plate high with pancakes again. She again demolishes them in an instant hardly leaving time to breathe.
"Hey relax." Madison chimed handed her daughter a napkin.
"I'm sorry," Vivian swallows, "It's just, it's not every day that you make this."
"And there's a reason for that," Nick asserted.
"Thanks, mom, you're the best," Vivian used the napkin to clean her face and gulped down two glasses of orange juice.
"She won't be the best when she sees how hyper you get. Even at 15," Nick remarked when suddenly Vivian, a blank stair imparted her face.
The vision that came across Vivian's mind was that of her mother laying flat on her back. The dark strands of her hair spread behind her head. Beside her, a woman in white was holding a newborn child. The last thing Vivian heard was, "I'm sorry."
"Vivian. Vivian?" Madison called out.
Vivian found herself seated on the couch, both of her parents were looking right at her. Her mother was seated beside her, while her father was squatted in front of her. Vivian stood, the room started to spin before she was caught by her father.
"Hey take it easy," Nick said. He guided his daughter back on the couch and into Madison's embrace.
"What happened? Why am I here?" She asked.
"You were about to faint," Madison said. She looked to Nick who averted his gaze knowingly, "Maybe..maybe you should stay home?" Madison suggested.
"What no," Vivian said standing to her feet the fatigue she felt quickly dissipated, "It was nothing, I swear. Just a mild headache."
"Headaches don't cause you to faint," Nick stated, his face flushed as the bus horn honked.
"I'll be fine I swear. If anything, Brandon would be on the bus...orrr you guys can take me." Her eyebrows went up and down but her parents stood silent.
"Please! I really wanna go on the trip, it's like it's calling to me." She pleaded the horn honks again.
"Okay, well see you later then. Be careful please." Madison prompted, though his face appeared relatively calm his eyes said otherwise. There was a fragment of Nick that wanted to hold on to Vivian a little while longer, to keep her from going out of the door.
When Vivian left Madison remained situated, she watched from the window as her daughter stepped on the transit. Nick rose to his feet unsteadily and eased himself onto the couch beside his wife.
"How do you feel?" She placed her hand on his forehead which was cooler than normal. This prospect disquieted Madison.
"I'm okay, I didn't expect it to take that much. Now that she's older, it's getting worse." Nick flinched.
The front door to their modern rectangular square brick home was closed shut. That was just like Vivian, bringing up a vexatious concern and then rolling out to dodge her dilemma. She was really captivated by the mountain it was an amazing vantage point. The origins of this peak churned a knot in Nick's stomach.
"I know this is tough for you Nick," Said Vivian's mother her innocent eyes went across the coffee table. Her black long hair was styled into wavy layers as she wore a baby blue knit sweater over a white collared shirt.
"It's because of me that her powers are the way they are. I never expected them to grow this adequately."
"Maddie, this is not your fault. If anyone is to blame it's the Midnight Circle but let's be honest with ourselves, the curse wouldn't have been possible if I wasn't there...whatever I need to sacrifice in order to ensure that she has a normal life, I'll do it without question."
Madison gawked at him her tongue unable to form coherent sentences. A period of silence settled for two incredibly slow seconds.
"Well, we got 10 minutes before the Morphin Union meeting. I wonder what the debate will be about this time. I find it ironic how we formed this thing to better help the public yet at times it's like we spend more time arguing than acting." Nick said as he got up.
The bus screeched to a halt on the edge of Vivian's street. The yellow transportation vehicle might as well be a one-way trip to hell. Vivan looked up to the sky, she pleaded with the heavens that a certain someone was inexplicably absent. The doors squeaked open, granting the young Russel access. The sounds of chattering students aged 14 to 19, were ramshackle about the leather seats. Wads of paper soared overhead and the conversation amongst students was loud and incoherent. Vivian stared down the populated aisle, while a majority of onlookers paid her no mind there was one irrefutable voice that had to speak out.
"Hey look! The bastard's arrived!"
Somehow, it was discovered Vivian was conceived before her parents were married, and ever since there was one idiot who made a point of reminding her. The perpetrator rallied the other occupants into berating Vivian who sat silently at the front seat.
"Leave Viv alone, Noel!" Brandon shouted, rising to his feet.
"Ooooh! Her boyfriend is coming to save her again! I'm so scared," When it came to spoiled children Noel was the living incarnation. Noelmacked hid lips arrogantly and put on his malicious Cheshire grin.
"I mean it, Noel stop it." The other boy pressed boring daggers into Noel's soul. Still fueled by his hubris, Noel shrugged off the boy's threat.
"Or what?" Noel stood up, looking eyes with Brandon, "she doesn't need you, that loner has a dysfunctional family. Her mother, anyone could handle that, and her father, what much is there to say about him. He's an unwanted bastard just as she is."
That was the straw that broke the camel's back. It was one thing to torment Vivian herself, but to come after her parents were another matter. To refer to her mother as a 'that' rather than a 'she' was a low blow and then to call her father an 'unwanted bastard' meant he was asking for trouble. Vivian exploded out of her seat her eyes lit with rage. The movement of the bus did nothing to interrupt her pace.
Brandon grabbed her arm, "Hey calm down, he's not worth it." Vivian shook herself loose and continued on her way.
"You better not touch me, you weirdo." Noel wasn't finished taunting the girl, "I'll tell my dad and he'll press charges. He'll make sure that all of your Dad's stupid auto shops are closed down, He'll, he'll-"
With absolutely no remorse Vivian's fingers were gripped tight in Noel's dark brown hair. She yanked down hard and Noel's face crashed into the bus seat in front of him. The bully threw his head back pinching the bridge of his nose, streams of blood trickled from his nostrils. The laughter of the students then transitioned to Noel. Cameras appeared all around, with the intent to record the aftermath of the altercation.
For once Vivian prayed she broke his nose, everyone knew he deserved it. The driver of the bus looked back in his mirrors but continued driving silently. Brandon slid in the seat next to Vivan, she crossed her arms and sighed. She had expected to be left alone, but she knew Brandon wouldn't allow that.
"You didn't have to do that you know," Vivian told the golden brown-headed boy.
"Why shouldn't I, he needed to be taught a lesson. Just because his Dad is the sheriff doesn't mean he has the right to bully anyone, especially you," Brandon said.
"I already got that covered." She looked forward as he chortled a laugh, "You got that right."
Brandon glanced a few rows behind him, someone had offered Noel some tissues which he stuffed into his nostrils. The noise level had gone down significantly after Vivian slammed Noel's face.
"You know the weird thing is, I'm not really feeling this trip," Brandon said his attention once again focused on the girl beside him.
"Why?" She asked inquisitively.
"This mountain brings back those vivid memories of what happened when I was 4, I told you the story once. While on a ski trip with my family, my brother and I were swept up in an avalanche. We were buried for almost 9 hours under 7 feet of snow. We held on for as long as we could, but by the time they found us my brother had already died of hypothermia and I was not far behind."
"Oh, yeah..." Vivian remembered her voice trailed silently. Shivers raced up her spine just like the first time Brandon shared this story. She knew this was a sore spot for him and rubbed his back to soothe his pain. "Today marks the 13th anniversary doesn't it?"
He nods, "Yeah." Brandon said dabs of tears welled in his eyes but he urged them not to fall.
"He's resting now Brandon, I'm sure he'll be proud if you conquered your fear and climbed that mountain." Said Vivian.
"If I don't slip into it." Brandon sighed, "My parents are coming too, they're kind of freaked out themselves so they're coming to make sure I'm alright. I just hope they arrive on time, We're supposed to start climbing at 9:30." Brandon chuckled as another memory pulled at the back of his mind, "Before my brother died, we use to always have to set our clocks back 15 minutes just so we could leave on time, of course, we still somehow got to where we were going late."
"UH..Oh..." Vivian gasped as the palm of her hand struck her forehead.
"What?" Brandon asked alert.
"We're climbing at 9:30? I told my parents 10:30!"
"Really? Mr. and Mrs. Russell are coming?!" Brandon gleamed.
"Well, they won't if I don't tell them the correct time." She became irritated, "I don't have a phone because my charger broke and my Dad refuses to buy me a new one until my birthday. I've been using theirs but I forgot to plug it up."
"Aren't you guys like loaded? Since your mom is a producer, and your dad basically runs an auto industry."
"That doesn't mean my Dad won't find ways to be cheap. I needed to charge my phone once and he said 'who do I need to call? Everyone is right here."
Brandon laughed heartily, "That is very clever."
"Tell me about it, I wish I could just contact him with a telepathic ability or send a messenger bird, but that's not possible. I'm going to fail if they don't come." Vivian complained.
"Just call them at school." Brandon shrugged.
"You really think the teacher will let me?" Vivian asked.
"I think allowing your parents to know where to go counts as necessary," Brandon commented.
"I hope so," Vivian said as the bus was pulled to a stop.
The meeting of Rangers started promptly at 8 am, many were gathered in person but a vast majority opted to communicate via intercom. After establishing their communication link, Nick and Madison were greeted by the virtual likeness of many of their fellow rangers. Most notably the red Slayer Ranger, Kenji, SPD commander, Sky Tate in his uniform, Wesly Collins, Matthew the Ancient Age Black Ranger, and the Pai Zhua tiger master Casey.
"Nick, Madison, glad you could join us," Wes chimed.
"We can't stay long, our daughter has a field trip today," Nick said indignantly.
"This meeting won't be long, we just wanted to bring up some unusual energies we have detected in your region." Sky declared activating a holographic map of Crystal River.
"We've been keeping our eyes out since we moved here, so far nothing has triggered our senses," Madison acknowledged.
"I wouldn't be too lackadaisical about this. Since we have unified, our enemies are getting stronger," Kenji dared.
Sky then began to further explain the map, transitioning to depict a familiar-looking peak."Our intelligence department has narrowed that the source of the energy is centered around a large body of mass, it looks to be a mountain of sorts."
"Who knows, but something tells me new rangers are on the horizon," The voice of the black Ancient Age ranger Matthew responded.
"New Rangers?" Madison quizzed.
"Didn't we just induct the Steam grinders? Shouldn't we wait a little longer before we bring anyone else in." Nick said.
"We're not recruiting new rangers at the moment, more like there's ranger energy found in a certain radius near your home," Casey warned.
"The mountain? Our daughter is on a field trip there, we are supposed to be climbing it today." Nick fretted.
"Well good, might as well do something useful for a change. The walk shouldn't be too tiring, make sure to dress warmly when you're up there." Kenji smirked.
"Jeez, thanks for the reminder. I didn't know that when it's cold you dress warmly," Nick peeped.
Kenji then deflected back, focusing his attention directly into the lens, "believe me I wouldn't be telling a veteran this but since the mystics weren't able to inform you of the dilemma someone had to get the job done. Make sure you have your morphers on you and if you need help, don't be afraid to call. You can reach me personally by using the spell code 666 if you didn't already know." Madson became flustered, raking her fingers through her hair and trying to appear more presentable. She nodded in agreement her face becoming red as a tomato as Nick griped at his wife's sudden rush of embarrassment.
"As for your daughter, if you're worried just use this." Kenji tapped the side of his head hinting at the psychic link Nick shared with Vivian, "It's really useful in a time like this if her phone wasn't already dead."
Nick's head jerked back in shock so many questions swirling.
"And how do you know her phone's dead?" Nick answered there was a heavy presence of bitterness on his face.
"I don't, but every time I tried to reach either of you, I could never get in touch. I just assumed it runs in the family." Kenji retorted. The other rangers listening to the call stifled their laughter, it was always the exchange between these two that made dreadful meetings more tolerable. Before things got too hot, Wes interjected.
"Any questions?" He asked clearing his throat.
Madison raised her hand, "Yeah um you say there's ranger energy, any type in particular?"
"We sent a team to investigate our findings, our sensors started to go haywire the closer we got to the peak. By the time we reached the top our tech was completely useless, it was as if the energy was pulled right out of them." Sky narrated.
"Do any of the Knights know?" Nick vacillated.
"Mr. Marlon was a part of the initial team we sent to investigate, whatever magic is present there predates him. From where I'm standing, it's not a god either. The power is strong but not Khepri strong if ya know what I mean." said Matthew.
"So that's where you two come in. We noticed a gradual increase in power, the furthest we can trace is 15 years ago." The map shifted to display a graph, the jagged red line increased at a steady rate. "The only magical event that happened 15 years ago was the midnight circle. Your daughter didn't deserve this but this is just a hunch, maybe there's something out there that can help her. In my category usually, good things are found out of something evil, if Drachen where here he'll tell as well. Hopefully, it'll be the key to breaking your daughter's curse. As a safety measure, we motioned to prevent any non-magic-based ranger to explore. We'll keep it open to the public for the time being until we know for sure what is up there," Kenji proclaimed.
"Thank you so much, sir, you don't how much we appreciate this finding. If only we knew sooner that it was practically in our backyard," Madison enunciated.
Wes then intervened, "Well, you couldn't have years ago. Correct me if I'm wrong but eclipses are powerful times of magic, they happen almost every year, it's been a long time since one was directly over Crystal River. During that moon catastrophe, the only places on the planet that noticed a detectable difference were Briarwood of course and Crystal River. I'm telling you this because I saw it...I wish I could tell you more but you know that-"
"Yes, yes, because it could alter time, we get it," Nick intercalated interrupting Wes.
"Alright our time is up, do what you need to and inform us of any activity. The sooner the better, it would allow us to understand if this is a job for the legacies or the mystics. Hopefully, you can shed some LIGHT on the situation, Bowen, the fire isn't going to ignite itself." Kenji instructed terminating the communication before Nick could respond.
"How come I'm not called sir?" Matthew complained as the transmission went off.
"Okay that guy's a prick," Nick says pointing at the screen when the conference ended.
"Hmm, he reminds me of someone," Madison insinuated.
"Who?" Nick asked.
"Let's just say I have a type."
"Are you talking about me?" Nick pursed his lips, "I don't care what authority that guy holds, whether it's a city, a country, or the Morphin Union. He's got a mouth only a mother would love."
"Well, he does manufacture great clothing, especially a few pieces a certain someone loves," Madison hinted slapping Nick's knee.
"You like him?" Nick guessed.
"Oh noooo, why would I call a hot stud sir." Madison laughed.
"Hot stud?" Nick rose an eyebrow as Mrs. Russell caught a glimpse of the wall clock. "Oh look at the time, Vivian must be waiting."
"Wait, uh uh, what do you mean hot stud?" Followed Madison into their dressing room, "That's a hot jerk if you ask me. Do you see me calling a 'hot mama' ma'am?"
"Actually no, I don't, since you don't flirt with anyone."
"What is this, pick on Nick day?"
"Relax hun, I was just joking...No, I don't think he's cute."
"But you think he's hot," Nick conceded.
"Well yeah, he's a hot mess. Mayor of a major city and not to mention one of the founders of the Morphin Union. I say he has a lot on his plate but so do we." Madison hinted at bigger manners, like their daughter as she put her arms through her white coat.
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot about that since my head was so wrapped around my wife having the hots for another man," Nick said sarcastically, "but yeah I see your point. I just find it kind of strange that we didn't know about this sooner. They say whatever's out there is messing with their technology, yet our magic never read it."
"We'll if it predates Mr. Marlon and he had to get up and close with it, that only means that it's something beyond what we know. I think it's also safe to say that this source is also reaching out to Vivian. I'm sure that there's no coincidence that she's been having trouble sleeping as of late, right?"
"The dreams." Nick concluded, "That could be what Vivian is getting her dreams from. Our magic can't detect it but hers can. Being the reincarnation of magic I wouldn't doubt that was the reason she could feel it instead of us. When I went to Briarwood to meet my parents I had visions representing my past but in an instant, I would just forget about them. Until Koragg decided to meddle with my mind."
"That could be why the Morphin Union was able to discover the energy because it's ranger energy," Madison said giving Nick the indication of an idea.
"I know what you're thinking and No," Nick said.
"But this ranger energy could probably cure her, you heard what Kenji said," Madison whined.
"They need to stick to their own gimmick and let us stick to ours." He continued, "If we let her fall into the same steps we took then our whole move up here was pointless. We came up here to protect her from the Order of Lacuna. Those cultists wanted to steal her magic while she was still young, now you're saying that mountain is calling her to be a ranger?"
Madison stood quiet and then nodded, "You're right, I can't believe I thought the answer would just come freely to us...I-I just want to be near her Nick, more often than just a few days."
"I know.." He sighed.
"You don't know how much I want to get rid of my magic. But then I think of you. You can't do this alone, defending Vivian when danger always comes."
"Madison, I told you if you needed I'd sell my soul if I have to, just to make you happy."
"You are already burning yourself out, Nick." Madison began to fret, "my magic has the potential to cool her but I can't control how much she takes from me because of the stupid fire blood curse. If I'm near her for too long she could go into shock. I just wish the solution will come already." Mrs. Russell pouted.
Nick gripped his wife's hands, rubbing his thumbs over her knuckles, "...Now I know I'm not the best at these kinds of things, I'm not a good flirt..." Madison smiled at that comment as he continued, "but just know I love you Madison. However, we have to keep trying. Who knows maybe the solution is on the mountain and-and hopefully, it does not include her becoming a ranger. Don't think yourself low, Vivian needs you to be strong."
"You're right." She agreed.
Nick scoffed, "I'm always right, when have I ever been wrong."
"Now don't get too arrogant." Madison smiled lightly pushing his chest.
"I'm not arrogant." His face went stern at that insult when his phone buzzed, a new text message rolled across the screen.
"It's Dr. Angel, he says the climb time has been forward to 9:30.."
"Oh no, it's 9;15.." Madison gasped as they both scurried to their vehicle.
The moment the bus doors opened Noel and some of his lackeys scurried off. His nose still throbbed with pain but he managed to get the bleeding under control. Vengeance was in his eyes, he wasn't going to let Vivian live this down. At the entrance of the school was the familiar presence of the principal Dr. Angel.
A wicked grin parted Noel's face, he approached the administrator with his head cocked back. He smeared some of his dried blood around his nose to make the wound look fresh. Fake tears welled in his eyes all to sell his story. While he recounted the travesty of events that befell him on the bus, his friends constantly jabbed their fingers in the direction of Vivian and Brandon who had just stepped off.
Dr. Angel sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose beneath his black-framed glasses. Vivian and Brandon proceeded to the entrance cautiously. The young Russell scrunched her face at the prospect of trouble. For some reason, her parents and Dr. Angel knew each other from a while ago. Vivian knew that if she got in trouble here, more than likely she'll be punished later.
"I'll deal with her Noel, you should just get to the nurse. Keep your head tilted forward, we don't need you vomiting before the trip."
Noel ducked into the school snickering, he presumed that his story would at least guarantee that Vivian would be barred from the trip, or with luck totally expelled. His laughter burst maniacal in nature, his head snapped back his chest and abdomen pulsed in the rhythm of his triumph. In a short manner, he began gaging almost to the point of throwing up.
"I warned him." Dr. Angel said his fingers brushing his eyebrow. Vivian kept her head down as she and Brandon hasten their pace to get across the threshold. Dr. Angel reached out his hand preventing them entry.
"Not so fast you two." Dr. Angel was a fair but strict administrator. He was in the early noonday of his youth, his age falling between the mid to late thirties. He gestured for Vivian and Brandon to come away from the school entrance. To her annoyance, Vivian cursed repeatedly under her breath. The next time she saw Noel a busted nose would be the least of his problems.
"Good Morning Dr. Angel," Vivian smiled trying to placate hers and Dr. Angel's fury, "You know I would love to stay and chat, but I got this whole ritual thing I always do before class. It's a girl thing, nothing you have to worry about but it's very important."
Vivian tried to leave but Dr. Angel halted her again.
"Noel came out and had a bruised nose. His friends claim you caused it. Do you have anything to say for yourself?" The principal asked.
Vivian paused, she spun her imaginary wheel of excuses to decide an answer. "He deserved it." She said flatly.
"Viv!" Brandon said in surprise to Vivian's bluntness.
Dr. Angel struck his forehead "Then I suppose, your parents and I will have to have a talk about how to express your anger."
"Alright...Oh," she remembered as Dr. Angel raised an eyebrow, "speaking of them, I need to call them to tell them what time to be there. I accidentally passed them the wrong information, we don't want them getting there late now do we now." Vivian told the teacher as Brandon made a face to Vivian's coldness.
"I've already reached out to them, come with me to the office. Brandon go help your classmates pack up the climbing gear." Dr. Angel ordered.
"Yes Sir," Brandon said as he walked away. He and Vivian locked eyes for a second. Brandon shrugged his shoulders silently communicating that his hands were tied.
Vivian grumbled as she followed the principal through the halls of Crystal River High. As they passed by the nurses' office Noel was seated on the recovery couch with a bandaid stretched across the bridge of his nose. Seeing Vivian in the halls with the principal he smiled, it appears his work was complete. The pinkness of his tongue flashed Vivian followed by the rude gesture of his middle finger. Vivian stared intently at the bully and swiftly drew a line across her neck. Vivian sat down in one of the two chairs in front of the wooden desk while Dr. Angel took his seat.
"So, what did Noel do this time?" Dr. Angel asked, he always got straight to the point which Vivian liked.
"Oh, you know the usual, he called me a bastard, got all the other kids to do the same."
"So you hit him?"
"Not initially, I was going to let him slide. It wasn't until he called my mom a 'that', and referred to my dad as an 'unwanted bastard' that I slammed his face into the seat. You ask for one, he gets one right?" Vivian shrugged.
"Not with that vocabulary," Dr. Angel deemed, "I have received several complaints about Noel's antagonization from students and teachers alike. You were bound to be pushed over the edge eventually. By my standards, it appears to be self-defense. I won't mark this against you, but don't make a habit of 'defending yourself' over every single conflict. Understand?"
"Tha-thank you, Sir," Vivian said as she stood to leave. That was strange. It was a shock to see Dr. Angel so nice and calm. Why everyone was afraid of him was beyond her. He was always so nice to her.
In the vacant depths of the cavernous mystic underworld, three ethereal apparitions congeal in the darkness. Their misty eyes blinded to the world around them. Their schizophrenic speech pattern rebounded off the walls of the surrounding hollow.
"Powers... gone... memories... shattered... those... colors... they stole from me... I-I-will... I need... the power... magic... runes... they were not enough, not enough...I need something more... something more... ancient... something they... cannot defend from..." the specter in white levitated around vast emptiness. Images flashed the mind of the white apparition.
A series of colored banners unfurled in the mental scape of the specter. First Red, then Blue followed by Black, Green, Pink, and Yellow. The specter gripped its astral head screaming, the images so potent and familiar, yet it could not recall them. A second voice filled the cavern, speaking in the same incoherent pattern as the white specter.
"Powers... gone... power took the power... what... what power took from us? Us...?" This specter glowed pink as they hovered across the floor muttering.
"Yes... us..." the white specter realized, "we were... stolen from..."
"Power...Colors...What... does it mean?" The second specter asked.
"Rangers..." A third voice echoed.
The two specters looked and there appearing in translucent blue light was a third and final specter, their eyes blank as the moon's light.
"Mystic... Ancient... Rangers... what is gone? All I know are... names? Oukora... Qelore... Emeveus... the Midnight... Circle... who? Who are they?" The blue specter rambled.
"Names...Names...don't know...don't know...circle?." The first specter shook its head, trying to regain its memory.
"Midnight...circle...Us?." The second one gasped. Their memories corroded in the 15 years since their demise.
"And who are you then?" The third spirit implored the white specter
"We... do not know..." The first one said. It lowered itself in fear of the blue soul's might
"I do not think... we are... enemies..." The second one in opposition to the blue one's hostility.
In unison, the three animas were driven to their phantasmal knees, their hands pressed tightly on the frames of their head. The vision hit like a sudden quake.
The voice of the blue ka called out in pain. Images flashed through her mind. From a distant time, the surface world was shrouded in sheets of ice. At the center of this frozen world, a great palace made of ice was built. From the peak of this structure rainbow lights danced in the sky above. The visage changed to depict a large mountain and the mouth of a cave. The skylights danced within the stone opening.
"What are you!" The blue spirit shouted, "Come out from the cave!"
"Cave? You see something?" The first spirit questioned, "What do you see?"
"A mountain... glowing with five lights... do you speak from the lights?" The third specter spoke cryptically. Their sight still showed the mountain yet when they reached toward it the vision faded.
"Impossible, I moved...I was free of this place...yet I still remain here?" The blue spirit said.
"You... did not move, yet you saw places...places distant from where we are. You...you...you must be a... you are a seer!" The pink specter accused.
The blue specter; the Seer touched its face and realized the truth.
"Yes...I saw...I must go..." the blue specter said.
The first specter then puts its hand on the seer's shoulder.
"No...you must stay in the dark...the light...the shinning...dangerous. Do not fear seer, we will protect you." The white ghost said.
"Th... thank you." The seer said.
The voice of the pink astral called out.
"Creatures...strange creatures...warriors without faces...soldiers. Words...summoning words...Sakren Dafleekis Seretom."
"What?" The white specter questioned.
"Sakren Dafleekis Seretom!" The pink specter repeated.
At that moment footsteps filled the cavern to the sound of marching. Dots of light appeared around the trio of souls. The creatures were comprised of flame and stone. They resembled human-like appearances but did not have the image or likeness of man.
"Faceless..." the pink specter muttered
"You... are a summoner!" The white specter grimaced. "You called on the faceless ones... they are OUR army!"
"What should we do?" The blue soul asked.
"The lights in the cave...our memories...we cannot retrieve, but they can. We must send them but how? The pink specter asked.
"Pigaíno Excindo!" The white apparition spouted, the words burned into their mind. Black mist shrouded the faceless in an instant they had vanished.
"It appears that I am a caster," the white spirit chuckled.
NEXT CHAPTER -