The common room was quiet that afternoon as the warm weather had led everyone outside to enjoy a rare sunny day. Lauren was still inside slumped over a desk though, Ever since VK had joined the team, the team was gelling quite well, having woken up Lauren ran out the common room, to fond her teammates.
Eventually she found her targets in the park, "Hey Dayu", she called out, "could I have a word".
"Make it quick Shiba", she spat out and asked her friends to carry on without her. "Sorry about my tone,"
"Don't worry about it", Lauren waived away Dayu's comments, "We're on the same team now so let's start with a clean slate", the red ranger replied.
"Thanks Shiba", Dayu began, "Most girls wouldn't dare go outside in public with their hair in that state".
Outwardly Lauren wasn't usually bothered about her appearance but it was a slightly sensitive subject for her. She had been teased for most of her life about her wild hair, "Oh I didn't even notice", she said with a flustered tone, "anyway better go", she added and hurried in the other direction.
"Lauren I wasn't trying to be nasty", Dayu called out but the red ranger didn't hear her, "dang it", she cursed and ran a hand through her hair.
Lauren vaguely heard Dayu calling after her but she wanted to get to somewhere private as soon as possible. She turned a corner and was nearly tripped up by something on the floor. She looked down and saw a mirror with a bulky blue handle. Lauren looked around but couldn't see who had dropped it. She bent down and picked up the mirror, taking a quick look at her reflection in the process, "Lauren was right I do look a state", she sighed. Lauren lowered the mirror, "I wish I was as pretty as some of the other girls", she added and continued towards the tower. What she didn't see was the mirror glowing in her hand.
The following morning VK, Daniel and Kong were waiting outside for Lauren to arrive. "It's not like her to be late", VK said to the others as he looked at his watch.
The trio heard some hurried footsteps heading in their direction. The boys stared down the corridor, there was a woman heading their direction. She had straight blonde hair that swayed with each step. Her shirt was unbuttoned to her stomach, revealing a red top underneath. She was wearing a skirt that stopped mid thigh and a pair of black high heels. It took the boys a few moments to recognise the girl but when they did they got the shock of their lives, "Hello boys", Lauren flashed them half smile.
"Lauren", VK stammered, "you look different".
"Aww you're drooling", she said with a mocking tone. She took a couple of steps towards VK until her body was lightly touching his, "Play your cards right and you might get to see what's underneath". VK's eyes rolled into the back of his head and he dropped to the ground in a dead faint.
She looked Kong in the eyes and placed a hand on his cheek, "Don't wait up for me", she tapped the blue ranger's cheek and walked off down the corridor.
Moments later the group were joined by Dayu, "Was that Lauren?" she asked before noticing the unconscious VK, "What happened to him?"
"Puberty I think", Daniel began, "and yes that was Hermione".
"Blimey she scrubs up good doesn't she", Dayu whistled.
"Something is definitely wrong", Kong said, "let's head to the training room and get Tommy to meet us there. Maybe the others have come across something like this before". Half an hour later VK had been revived but he still had a far-away look in his eyes. The veteran rangers dotted around the room listened intently as the current Rangers explained what happened, "She's under a spell", all five announced simultaneously much to the surprise of the teens.
"I don't have a lot of experience dealing with your kind of magic", Karone added as the most experienced with magic. There was silence amongst the group for a few moments before Tommy spoke up, "Did you see Lauren with anything or anyone that you didn't recognise?" he asked.
"A mirror", Dayu snapped her fingers, "she had a weird mirror in her hand this morning", she turned to Daniel, "could you help me with a sketch". The pink ranger nodded and grabbed a loose sheet of parchment and a pencil. He drew a sketch of the mirror based on the nylok's teen's description before showing it to the group.
"I've seen this before", Maddison said and summoned a book to her hand, she thumbed through the pages, "ah ha, found you", she exclaimed.
"The Mirror of Dreams", VK read from the page, "whoever holds the mirror and makes a wish will see their wildest dreams come true".
"Doesn't sound like something Lauren would do", Dayu began, "unless she did it without realising".
"It gets worse", VK continued to read, "unless the spell is broken, the soul of the wisher will belong to the Gormal within 24 hours".
"And we have no idea when she found the mirror", Daniel shook his head, "where is she now?"
Ji activated the Map and scanned the city, "Earnie's froyo shop".
"We'd better get to her before she does something she'll regret", Dayu said to the others. She grabbed VK by the collar, "Come on lover boy, let's go", she dragged VK out of the training room, closely followed by everyone else.
When the group got to Earnie's, they came across Lauren and Troy Burrows in a state of embrace. Fortunately both of them were still clothed so they had got there in time, "Lauren stop, you're under a spell", Daniel called out.
"Yeah mine", Troy said with a smirk.
"Maybe you should leave us alone", VK said with a wave of his hand. The Megaforce Red ranger shone a deep shade of green before he slowly stumbled out the door, "Huh wasn't sure if that would work", he shrugged.
"Hey what's the big idea", Lauren shrieked, "I was having a good time until you lot showed up".
"Yeah we could see", VK grumbled, "you've been placed under a spell, its an old artefact".
"I'm so done with that", Lauren scoffed and took off her morpher,
"Doesn't work like that Lauren, your team needs you".
"Of course they do, who wouldn't want a beauty like me beside them", Lauren flipped her hair.
"But you already were that beauty Lauren", Dayu began, "if anything I'm envious of how confident you are with your appearance".
For a moment it looked like Lauren was faltering but she quickly shook her head, "I'm bored with this conversation", she said and made for the exit.
"Lauren wait", Dayu grabbed her arm but the red ranger twisted. She aimed a roundhouse kick at the older girl but Dayu was able to duck underneath it, "I should be annoyed but I'm jealous that you can do that in those heels and skirt".
"I'm just getting started sweetie", Lauren smiled and elbowed the yellow ranger in the ribs before once again heading for the door, putting in a Symbol powered burst of speed.
"Stop", Kong called and the red ranger stopped in her tracks. The blue ranger used his gravity power to prevent Lauren from moving. Dayu rummaged through Lauren's bag until she found the mirror. She threw it into the air and VK blasted it into pieces.
Lauren sunk to her knees and grabbed her head, "Urgh what happened to me", she then looked down at her outfit, "and why am I dressed like a stripper?"
"That is a long story", Dayu chuckled and began to relay the story to the red ranger.
"So destroying the mirror broke the spell?" Lauren asked once Dayu was finished.
"Usually works", Tommy replied, "it certainly did for Rita's spells anyway".
Lauren nodded and pinched the bridge of her nose, "Oh God I was kissing Troy Burrows, this is so embarrassing and I was really rude to all of you".
"Apology accepted", VK smiled.
"And I'm sorry too", Dayu added, "I didn't mean to make you feel bad about your appearance".
"I know", Lauren smiled and extended her hand, "friends?" Dayu smiled and shook her hand, "alright I need to go and take a shower, I feel really dirty". She took a couple of tentative steps but stumbled due to the heels, "How on earth did I walk in these things?"
She took another step and stumbled again, this time though Dayu was able to catch her, Lauren took off her shoes and handed them to Dayu, giving her a reassuring smile. Having your body taken over wasn't a pleasant experience but maybe some good did come out of it.