Revelations
The Underworld…
Morticon growled, slamming his sword to the stone floor, letting loose a shockwave that echoed throughout the catacombs of darkness, toppling over several hidiacs who were standing on the edge of the several caves that opened onto the walls of the grand chamber of the Underworld.
"Patience, husband." He growled, turning at the familiar voice. Unlike the other denizens of the Underworld, she radiated colour and life, for she had what the rest of the forces of darkness will never have… a soul, though hers was pitch black as the night sky. She was clad in a black gown with matching gloves, her blond hair arranged into elaborate braids, framing an attractive face with dusky complexion.
"My queen, you're awake!" Necrolai dropped into a bow and the hidiacs across the chamber did the same. Even Koragg stooped to one knee, albiet slowly and reluctantly.
The lady rolled her eyes, smiling nonetheless.
"Arise, my vassals of the dark." She raised her arms, turning to Morticon as the minions stood up.
"My beautiful wife." The cyborg general said tenderly, reaching out to her. She took his hand and he pulled her to his arms. "You are awake…"
"Yes, husband." She said tearfully, melting in his embrace. "How long has it been?"
"Two decades." Morticon answered, turning his head away. "But the gates of the Underworld are open now."
"And what about my father?" She asked.
Morticon shook his head forlornly.
"Is he –"
"No, our master is still here…" He tilted his head at the ivory dome in the centre of the chamber.
She let go of him and made her way to the dome before stooping down and gently placing a hand on it. Almost instantaneously, the colour of the dome changed from blank white to red. She withdrew her hand just as the dome revealed a giant eye in its place seconds before it reverted.
"He is trapped!" She exclaimed.
"Yes, my love. He is alive, but buried deep in the Underworld." Morticon said, coming over and placing his hand on her shoulder. "But I promise you we will free him once we defeat the Mystic Force."
"The Mystic Force? They are still around?"
"Not the ones we fought. They are humans, new to the ways of magic but still persistent and resourceful as their predecessors." Necrolai informed.
"Why humans?" She peered at the queen of the dark vampires.
"Because there are no wizards left! We have decimated the Mystic Academy along with the Mystic Mother and the Snow Prince." Necrolai cackled gleefully.
"The Mystic Mother… Rita, she is gone?" She asked.
"Yes, my queen. We saw that personally. There was nothing of the Academy or anyone inside left after our attack."
"Good, my father would be pleased." She said, turning to Morticon. "However, how is it that my husband, the great general of Hell has been bested by mere humans?"
"I have not been able to face them in combat. Though there is a crack in the gates, they are still very much sealed shut. Necrolai, the hidiacs and Koragg could slip out but not my whole army or anyone of my power." The general told her sombrely.
"That's a shame but rest assured, I will best them in your stead." She pressed a kiss to his cold metallic lips.
"My queen, are you sure?" Necrolai asked, only to be silenced by Morticon snarling at her.
"Careful hag! Remember who you are speaking to!" The general thundered.
"Of course, my apologies, my queen." Necrolai said quickly.
She rolled her eyes. "Gather up some monsters and hidiacs, Necrolai. I want to see how these humans fare against true magic."
Neil woke up with a start. He looked around, his eyes wide, his heart beating fast. He couldn't remember anything of what he dreamt of except that it was bad. He rolled his eyes. He shouldn't think much of it considering he did spend all his spare time fighting monsters and grotesque creatures from the literal Underworld.
He put on his glasses and sprang up from his bed. He looked at the clock. Half past ten. Though it was his free day and he did not have to work today, he was surprised his mother had let him sleep so long.
He shrugged, heading over to the attached bathroom in his room. After taking a quick shower and brushing his teeth, he got dressed, wearing a white hoodie over a grey shit and denim jeans. He was not sure why it was so, but after becoming a ranger, he felt a compulsion to always wear something white and it was not just him. The others have also taken to wear their respective colours, and even Vida, who despised pink, had taken to wearing a black jacket trimmed with pink. He made it a point to ask Udonna the next time he was in Rootcore, which he really hoped was not going to be today.
Quickly placing both his phone and mystic morpher in his pocket, he walked out of his room to the living room of the apartment he lived in with his mom.
"Finally, you are up!" He turned around to see his mother leaning against the countertop, pouring another serving of coffee.
"Yeah, only because you didn't wake me up!" He retorted, pulling out a chair and sitting across his mother.
"I was just about to." She shrugged. "You should thank me. Once you go to college, I doubt you will get any time to sleep."
Neil bit his lips. In a couple of months, he was moving to Coral Harbour and starting a pre-med course. While that was what his parents had wanted for him ever since he was kid and he knew he was smart and had a natural aptitude, something felt off. Maybe it was the fact that he had to leave Briarwood and all his friends behind or maybe it was just everything that had happened the last few weeks with the monster attacks, he was second guessing his decision.
"Yeah." He nodded, not saying anything.
"Wait a minute." His mom said to him, turning around and pouring the entire contents of a milk carton to a bowl and then sprinkling some cereals over it. She passed the bowl over to him. "Here, too bad you don't like coffee."
"I like coffee, I am just not addicted to it like you are." He replied, digging into the bowl with a spoon.
"Ouch!"
"It's got to be your fifth cup this morning."
"Sixth. Unlike you, I have got to work today. I need all the caffeine I get." She told him.
He did not retort. His mom was a surgeon in Briarwood General Hospital and she had to report for work six days a week. Part of it was his fault since he knew college fees were going to be expensive and his mom had to arrange for that all alone since he didn't get any scholarship.
Times like these, he missed his dad. It had been four years since he passed away without any warning and left them all alone. The feeling of emptiness still lingered every moment in his mind, ready to spring up any moment.
He shook his head. He could not think sad thoughts today. He had his whole day fully planned out. In an hour, he was going to the book store with Madison and Chip and after that, when Xander, Vida and Nick got free, they were going to head over to the Youth Centre and get some snacks.
A familiar chime interrupted his thoughts.
He rolled his eyes. He flipped his morpher open and brought it to his ear, carefully dialling the volume to a minimum so that his mom couldn't overhear.
"There is an attack in the woods." Clare's voice came through.
"Coming." He told her. His mom looked at him curiously.
He quickly slurped all the milk from the bowl directly and then ran towards the door.
"Work emergency, mom! Toby called all of us to man the store. I'll be back soon!" He waved at her before running off.
The six mystics leapt from their broomsticks, landing in the area where Clare had informed them about the attack.
"Oh no…" Madison covered her face with her hands in horror.
Wooden huts and tree houses were all but wrecked as flames and smoke consumed the village.
"Step away from them!" Vida growled, seeing a squadron of hidiacs converge on a small group of fey folk, who huddled together in fear, their wings fluttering anxiously.
"So, you are the new Mystic Force." They looked sideways to see a lady in black robes approach them. She was flanked on each side by Koragg and Necrolai.
"And who are you supposed to be?" Nick raised an eyebrow.
"Silence, wizard!" Koragg warned. "You stand before the Queen of the Underworld, daughter of the Dark One, wife of the grand general Morticon, the dark mistress-"
"Yeah, that is all gibberish to me." Nick cut him off, rolling his eyes, pulling out his morpher. "Let's do this, guys! Ready?"
"Ready!"
"Magical Source, Mystic Force!" They raised their morphers, pressing the spell codes and magical spell circles surrounded them. The spectral images of the ancient emissaries of magical elements hovered over them as their armour manifested over them, completing their transformations.
"Strong as a tree, Green Mystic Ranger!"
"Ever changing as the wind, Pink Mystic Ranger!"
"Fluid as the sea, Blue Mystic Ranger!"
"Fast as lightning, Yellow Mystic Ranger!"
"Serene as the snow, White Mystic Ranger!"
"Forceful as fire, Red Mystic Ranger!"
"Power Rangers Mystic Force!" They announced proudly as they charged at their enemies.
Chip and Vida ran towards the army of hidiacs terrorising the villagers.
"Magi Staff, Crossbow Mode!" Chip called, turning his staff into a crossbow and shooting bolts of lightning at the hidiacs, pulverising them to ashes.
"Mystic Wings!" Vida raised her staff and jumped to the air, her cape transforming into a pair of giant glittery pink butterfly wings, which flapped back and forth, creating a strong gust of wind that made the remaining hidiacs loose their footing and blew them away from the villagers.
Her wings turned back to her cape as she landed on the ground. She and Chip approached the fey folk, who looked at them in amazement.
"All hail the mystic ones!" An elderly fairy told her as Vida helped her up.
"Go, get to safety!" Vida urged.
The fairies nodded, their wings fluttering as they took to the air, heading deeper into the forest.
Nick and Xander ran at Koragg.
"Insolent brats, you mock magic itself by standing against us!" The knight snarled, drawing his sword.
"We will see about that!" Nick scoffed, taking out his magi staff. "Magi Staff, Sword mode!"
"Magi Staff, Axe mode!"
Xander swung his axe at Koragg, which he blocked with his shield while Nick jumped at him with his sword.
Koragg pushed Xander away and met Nick's sword with his own.
"Two against one, where is your honour?" The knight asked.
"Big words coming from a man attacking innocent villagers!" Nick spat.
"No surface dweller is innocent in eyes of the Master!" Koragg snarled, kicking Nick back and bashing him headfirst with his shield. As Nick fell to the ground, Koragg kicked his arm, forcing him to drop his staff.
The knight pointed his sword at Nick's sword as he bent down to reach for the staff. "It will make a nice addition to my collection!"
Suddenly, thorned vines sprang up from the ground, cutting through his armour and pushing him back. Taking advantage of the distraction, Nick grabbed his staff and stood up.
"You alright, mate?" Xander asked, rushing over to him as he pointed his morpher at Koragg.
"Enough trickery!" The knight roared, cutting through the vines with his sword and charging at the two rangers.
"I will take it from here!" Nick said, pointing his staff at Koragg. "Phoenix Fire!"
A tornado of fire taking the form of a fiery phoenix erupted from his wand, diving at the purple knight, scorching his armour before picking him up with their talons and tossing his battered form to the ground.
Necrolai bared her fangs at the white and blue mystics. She thrusted their hands forward, sending bolts of purple energy at them, which they deflected with their staffs.
"Magi Staff, Trident mode!" Madison called, transforming her staff to a trident. She swung it in an arc, summoning a tidal wave from thin air, that splashed on top of the vampire queen, not only drenching her but also forcing her back.
"Flurry of snow!" He pointed his staff at the vampire queen, letting loose a torrent of ice shards at her. She shrieked as the shards of ice cut through her, forcing her to the ground.
The six rangers regrouped just as the lady in black clapped her hands.
"Impressive!" She smiled as Necrolai and Koragg staggered to her side.
"Ready to give up?" Nick sniped at her. "We have already taken care of your two minions."
Koragg growled and Necrolai bared her fangs at being deferred as minions but did not say anything, facing the ground, ashamed of their defeat.
The lady laughed, snapping her fingers and dark lightning coursed through both Koragg and Necrolai, forcing them to their knees.
"What are you doing?" Vida asked shocked. "You are attacking your own allies?"
"They are worthless!" She scoffed, making a fist with her hands and both the generals yelled in pain before they started to lose form.
"We have to stop her!" Neil yelled. The others nodded, pointing their staffs at her.
However, it was already too late as both Koragg and Necrolai crumbled to dust.
"Magi Staff, full power!" They yelled as six streams of coloured lights shot out from their wands, intertwining with each other to form a torrent of magic that slammed against her.
She started to laugh as the energies started to swirl around her instead of striking her. She smirked at them as the energies shot to the skies instead, dispersing to form a rainbow.
"Isn't that simply beautiful?" She cooed.
"What?" Chip asked shocked.
"Naïve little humans, you do not comprehend the power you wield." She looked at them with pity.
"Who are you?" Xander asked.
"I am the queen of the Underworld, dears. You can call me Bandora." She smiled at them. "I am afraid it's time to cut our introduction short. Surrender your wands to me and I will assure your survival when the darkness takes over."
"Never!" Nick yelled. "Rangers, now!"
"Power of the Phoenix!" He yelled, charging at her with his staff, turning into a fiery red tornado and slamming against Bandora, only for her to swat him aside with the back of her hand.
"Nick!" Madison yelled as the others ran over to him, helping him up.
"Give up, humans. You stand no chance!" She grinned at them.
"Rangers, retreat!" Udonna's frantic voice came through their helmets. "She is too strong!"
"You heard her guys." Nick said, raising their staffs and summoning their mystic racers. As they jumped up to climb on top of the racers, tendrils of dark energy struck them before wrapping around their waists and arms, restraining them. The rangers struggled against the tendrils, only for electricity to jolt across them.
"Did you really think you can escape from me?" Bandora smirked as the tendrils of darkness rammed them against the ground hard and then hoisting them up and holding them in place in front of Bandora.
"Let us go!" Xander demanded.
"I am afraid this is the end for you all!" The dark witch cackled.
The rangers looked at each other, still struggling against their bindings.
"Foolish humans. I don't know what-"
Just then, she was hit by a bolt of lightning that sent her hurtling back. Diagonal arcs of yellow energies slammed against the dark tendrils, cutting them free.
As they dropped to the ground, they looked around for their saviour.
"Who dares-" Bandora shrieked, her eyes glowing purple.
"Stay away from the children." A woman's voice cut her off.
They looked sideways to see an individual wearing armour like their own, walk towards them, holding a bow. Her suit was a darker shade of yellow, almost orange with bright yellow lines trimmed with black running through either side of her suit. A silhouette of what appeared to be an eagle flapping it's wings was imprinted on her helmet and she held a bow in her hand.
"You will pay!" The witch roared, thrusting her hands forward and bolts of dark energy thrusted themselves at the mysterious warrior like daggers.
She took to the air, gracefully dodging the attacks and flipping backwards. Midway, she took aim and drew the string of her bow and a yellow arrow manifested in place before she let go.
The arrow multiplicated itself in the air and transformed into bolts of lightning. Thunder cackled in the background as the lightning bolts rained down on top of the dark witch who tried to deflect them with her spells but the enchanted arrows cut through her enchanted forcefields and hit her, forcing her back.
"This is not over, not by a long shot! Uthay Zazure!" Bandora swore, before a purple spell circle appeared underneath her and sucked her inside.
"That was brilliant!" Chip exclaimed as the six ran over to the strange warrior.
"Thank you! You saved us!" Madison smiled at her.
"Who are you?" Nick asked.
"So, it is true. The Darkness has returned." She murmured softly.
She snapped her fingers and her armour dematerialised, revealing-
"Mom?" Neil gawked disbelievingly at the middle aged indian woman with long black hair, wearing a yellow salwar kameez (a yellow tunic with matching trousers) and orange dupatta (an orange scarf) with a white doctor's coat over it. "What-"
She looked at him sharply.
"I had my doubts but I need to talk with Udonna. What was she thinking bringing you children into all this?" She said sharply.
"Mom? What is going on? How-" Neil spluttered.
"Mrs Grey, what-" Madison asked.
"I will explain everything, once we get back to Rootcore." She said, snapping her fingers. "Lanuae Magicae!"
A golden spell circle appeared underneath them and sucked them inside.
They reappeared inside Rootcore. Udonna and Clare ran over to them concerned.
"Thank Hecate, you are all safe!" Udonna sighed with relief.
"They almost weren't." Mrs Grey snapped. "You chose children to be your champions, including my son! What were you thinking, Udonna?"
"Lena, what are you doing here? Your son?" Udonna asked confused.
"She is the one who saved us from Bandora." Neil cut in. "And she is my mom! And you two apparently know each other and-"
"Neil, maybe you should let your mom explain." Xander suggested, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Lena is one of your predecessors. She was the yellow mystic in the Great War twenty years ago." Udonna said slowly. "And Lena, believe me, I had no idea that Neil is your son."
"Regardless of that, you brought in kids!"
"I had no choice, Lena! The Mystic Academy and everyone in it, including Gale, Amaya and the Mystic Mother, was destroyed when the darkness broke free. I could not contact you and the only hope I had was trusting the prophecy." The white witch said defensively.
"The prophecy?"
"It appeared in the Xenotome. It said five warriors from the human world were the chosen ones who would defeat the Underworld." Udonna said.
"Why weren't you fighting with them? They would have died if I had not stepped in." Lena accused. "I would have lost my son!"
"I could not. The Knight Wolf stole my snow staff. Without it, I could not morph and your son had powerful snow magic. He was the obvious choice to succeed me." She sighed. "I had no idea that Bandora survived the last war."
Lena sighed frustratedly and turned to Neil. "Hand over your wand to Udonna now. She can find someone else to replace her."
"What- Why?"
"Is that not obvious? You almost died, Neil! That bitch would have killed all of you!" Lena yelled. "So we are moving out of Briarwood first thing tomorrow. Give up your wand and go home to pack your stuff."
"What? Mom, no!" Neil protested.
"Don't be stupid!" She admonished. "This is not our fight, haven't been for a long time. Besides, it is crystal clear you are not capable enough to fight against monsters, let alone use magic! This isn't one of your fantasy books, this is real life and here, a single mistake will get you killed!"
Tears brimmed to the surface of his eyes. "It was one fight."
"One fight is all it takes. Believe me, you don't belong here." Lena pressed.
"Udonna?" He turned towards the white witch.
"You should do whatever your mother thinks best." The elderly sorceress said reluctantly. "To be honest Lena, they have been learning magic for only a couple of weeks and what they have achieved is quite impressive."
"Weeks! We trained years before we were handed our wands Udonna! Weeks!" Lena pinched the bridge of her nose.
"She had no choice!" Clare defended.
Lena's eyes softened on seeing her. "I know but my son won't be risking his life anymore."
"Mom, my friends are all here. I can't leave-"
"You will. And your friends should not be fooling around either." She snapped. "This war isn't a joke!"
"I won't leave." Neil shouted. "This is what I have wanted my whole life! Magic is real-"
"This magic is different from what you fantasise about! Magic always has consequences! There is no true love's kiss that can solve all your problems. Don't be a child. We have work to do."
"You knew magic is real and you didn't tell me!"
"Of course, I didn't tell you!" She scoffed. "Your uncle, my brother died in the Great War!"
"I didn't even know I had an uncle!" He yelled. "What else are you hiding from me? Oh wait, just everything!"
"Neil, this isn't the time nor the place to do all this!" She snapped back.
"What about dad? Did he know about all this?" He asked. "Could magic have saved him?"
"Neil!" Lena yelled furiously. The other rangers and Clare looked at each other before stepping back, out of earshot. Udonna pursed her lips.
"Magic couldn't have healed him, Neil." Udonna told him softly. "Your parents came to the Mystic Academy for help. We tried but even Mystic Mother could not help. Magic can heal wounds and injuries but not cure diseases."
"Magic could not save him. Magic has laws as well. Magic cannot do miracles. It takes more than it gives and that is why I left this world behind. It is in your best interest to do the same." Lena said darkly.
"I am a superhero, mom!"
Lena started to laugh. "A superhero? Is that what you think you are? This is not a movie or a comic book. If today proved anything, you are not ready for this world. Stop wasting time and hand over your wand now."
Neil stepped back, tears falling out.
"No." He turned around and ran past the other rangers towards the exit.
"Neil, wait!" Xander called out.
He ignored them as he stepped out of Rootcore and touched the nearest tree, disappearing out of view. The other rangers and Clare looked at each other before following him through the tree.
Lena banged her fists on the table, fresh tears streaming down her cheeks. Udonna placed her hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry. He will come back when he is ready." She said, escorting her old friend towards a chair.
"He is not listening to me."
"He will. He is your son." Udonna said, taking a seat beside her.
"And that's exactly why he won't listen." Lena said. "He will think I am trying to control him or something but can you blame me? They almost today!"
"I know." Udonna sighed. "I am sorry."
"You didn't know."
"But if something had happened today with any of them, I wouldn't have been able to live with myself. Thank you for saving them."
Lena bit her lips. "They should not be here. They are children."
"I know. I had no choice. I was desperate." Udonna sighed. "Honestly, we could use your help, Lena."
"I don't want to come back to this world and I don't want my son to be a part of it either." She grimaced. "He is my everything. He is the reason I can keep on going after Dante died. This is not the life we wanted for him."
"I am sorry I wasn't there for you after Dante passed on." Udonna said. "You two were there for me after Leanbow and Bowen- and I couldn't support you-"
"That wasn't … We made a conscious decision to not be a part of the Mystic Realm anymore and besides, you had your hands full with Academy stuff and the usual madness of the realm." She said, "I am sorry for being so harsh, Udonna. I just…"
"I know. And I am ashamed that I did not recognise Neil. He looks so much like Dante."
"You haven't seen him since he was a baby." Lena told her with a smile. "I didn't think he would be a snow elemental though."
"My father was a fire elemental and my mother was metal. I turned out to be snow and Niella moon. We don't always take after our parents in our magic." Udonna told her softly. "Leanbow's entire family was full of fire mages though and Clare's a moon elemental."
"Clare looks so much like Niella." Lena smiled.
"Oh, she is exactly like her. Her magic is powerful but glitchy just like Niella." She smiled.
"I should have kept touch with you all." Lena sighed. "Gale and Amaya-"
"We should have tried harder too but you did what you thought was right. Neil is a wonderful young man and you should be proud of him." Udonna smiled at her.
"I know, I am. I don't know if he will ever forgive me after what I said and for giving up magic." She said, "I know I am being selfish."
"Stop. You are allowed to be selfish." Udonna told her. "You have already lost so much."
"You have lost more than I have and you are here."
"I have nothing left to lose except Clare and if I don't stop the darkness now, they will come after her one way or the other. I have no choice. The Underworld took everything from me and I won't let them take her too." Udonna said gravely.
"I want to be here… to help you. I do but-"
"I know." Udonna smiled at her. "It's okay."
The other rangers and Clare burst out of a tree in the middle of Briarwood Park.
"Where is he?" Nick asked.
"There." Clare pointed at a bench opposite the running lane where Neil was sitting alone.
"Maybe I should go alone and try to talk with them?" Madison asked. The others looked at each other before shrugging.
"Wait, I am coming with you." Xander insisted as they walked towards him.
"Hey there…" Madison said gently as they sat beside him on either side.
"Did you hear what she said?" Neil asked. "I am not meant for this and that I should give all this up!"
"You know she didn't mean it, Neil." Madison said gently. "She is just trying to protect you."
"I know but she lied to me my entire life!" He yelled furiously. "And my dad did too! She knew magic was real but never told it to me!"
"Can you honestly blame her, mate?" Xander asked. "I mean magic is real but so are monsters and the underworld!"
"Why are you guys on her side? Do you guys want me to leave?" He huffed.
"Of course not!" Xander shoved his shoulder playfully. "But she is your mom and you saw what she did to that weird lady, we definitely don't want to be on her bad side!"
"Yeah, she was amazing!" He smiled before frowning. "But I don't want up my magic or being a ranger. I don't want to leave you guys!"
"Maybe you don't have to." Madison suggested. "I mean you can give your mom some time to cool down and then try convincing her how much being a wizard means to you."
"Do you really think she will listen, Maddie?" He asked sceptically.
"You will never know if you don't try. Also, it must have been a shock for her too, seeing you as a ranger and getting almost killed." She told her.
"Yeah…" Neil shrugged, "It has… In all this, I almost forgot… We almost died, guys. That Bandora lady would have killed us if mom hadn't arrived just in time and sent her packing."
"Honestly, I had never been more terrified in my entire life." Xander agreed. Madison nodded.
"Hey, maybe we can ask your mom for some pointers on how to beat up bad guys?" Xander asked and Neil smirked. "Unlikely but I will definitely ask."
"Thanks, you guys." He smiled, putting his arms around both and pulling them close.
"Anytime, mate." Xander grinned at him.
"Ditto." Madison agreed.
Neil stood nervously in front of Lena and Udonna while the others waited in the far end of Rootcore.
"I am sorry that I shouted on you but I have decided to not give up my wand. Before you say anything mom, I love you but I cannot leave my friends and the world is kind of depending on me and it is the right thing to do." He blurted out. "I know you are scared for me and-"
"Neil, stop." Lena said. "I am sorry too. You are right, I was scared for you but that didn't justify what I did. I didn't mean what I said. I shouldn't have yelled at you."
"So, you are okay with me being a ranger?" He asked hopefully.
Lena grimaced. "I will never be okay with you being in danger but this is your choice and you are right, the world needs you and I am going to support you."
"Thank you!" Neil grinned at her, before pulling her to a hug.
Lena laughed, embracing him.
As she let go of him, he turned back to where the others were standing and showed them a thumbs up. The rangers and Clare broke into cheers as they headed over to the stairs where Neil, Udonna and Lena were standing.
"Thank you, Mrs. Grey!" Xander told her as he hugged Neil.
"Hey Udonna, I have a question though." Chip raised his hand. The elderly witch nodded.
"You said that the other mystic wands were destroyed and that Mrs Grey was the yellow mystic before me, so how come she still has this super cool ranger armour?"
"The wands gives your armour and unlimited access to the elements but with years of training, it is possible to forge a new wand, staff or a morpher by infusing your own inherent magic into a powerful talisman and using it to access the Grid." Udonna told them. "I presume that is what Lena did."
"Yes." Lena agreed. "Years ago, right after the Great Battle, when I was starting a family, I knew that there would always be a chance that some dark wizards would come after us for revenge. So, I decided to be prepared."
She placed her fingers on the necklace she was wearing with a golden chain connected to a carving of a garuda, made with pure topaz. "When I had been chosen to be the yellow mystic, my father gifted me this necklace. I imbued this with enough of my own magic to forge a connection to the Grid."
"So that's your morpher?" Chip asked.
"Yes." She smiled.
"Cool!" The yellow mystic exclaimed excitedly.
"I am curious about something too. If you didn't know for sure that I was a ranger till now and Udonna didn't call you, how did you know we were in danger?" Neil asked.
"Umm… So, when you were a child, I had placed a protection charm on you. If you were in any mortal danger, you would be teleported to me or if there was some magic preventing you from teleporting, I would be teleported to where you were." She explained.
"In other words, you placed a magical GPS on me?" Neil asked incredulously.
"That magical GPS saved your life so don't you dare complain, young man!" Lena told her son sternly. "And I am not removing it, especially since you are a ranger now."
"Mom!" He exclaimed.
"Nope, that's non-negotiable and if you are to continue as a ranger, there are some other things you all are to follow." She cleared her throat.
"Why us?" Vida complained.
"Because one, you are kids. Two, if you don't, I will inform your parents about all this and I doubt they'd be as understanding as me and three, if you are to do all this, you need to be trained." Lena told her firmly, leaving no room for argument.
"Udonna is already training us, mom." Neil shrugged.
"As wizards, not as warriors." Lena cut her off. "During the Great War, I was not only the yellow mage but also a knight of the realm and if you six are to survive what's coming, you must learn how to fight in addition to spellcasting."
"You were a knight?" Neil asked, eyes wide. "Of course, you are! Is there anything else you are, that you forgot to tell me? Are you a ninja or a treasure hunter on top of all this!"
"No, don't be ridiculous, Neil." She said briskly. "Now, you all must train with me twice, morning and evening to learn basic fighting styles and elemental weaponry. After that, we will move on to how you can compliment your fighting techniques with your magic."
"That sounds awesome! Oh, will we be knights too after this?" Chip asked eagerly.
"No, this is just the basics. To be declared a knight, you have to go through a ceremony and a spirit quest guided by a senior knight." Lena explained patiently. "It takes years of training to be even consider being knighted. For now, focus on learning the basics so that you can survive."
"Cool!" Chip nodded.
Udonna smiled softly as she watched her old friend tell the rangers about her plans on how she would train them. She had missed her so much and after losing Amaya and Gale, having Lena back in her life was nothing short of a blessing.