Last Time
"Kali?"
"Morthil?"
"What happened? Where's Circe?"
"Gone. Dead. Galvanax destroyed her."
~X~
Two weeks later
Morthil sat in the medics bay. It had been two weeks since his reappearance in Summer Cove. Two week since he had escaped Galvanax clutches, lost his partner, and returned to his home. Due to the severity of his wounds, Kali had ordered his body be taken to the closest medical bay which was at the Elemental Academy; she didn't think he would make it to Root core given his injuries.
For the last two weeks she had periodically checked on his recovery. Whether it be in person or a messenger. Within a week, he had healed physically, but his medic team said he had been damaged mentally and emotionally, too. He would need a little longer before he was at full capacity. Half way through his second week, Morthil had awoken, but visitors were still unable to call upon him. It seemed his time on the ship was fading, his memories a mess, like someone had tried to erase his mind, stopped, and left it at that. He could remember recent events, but nothing long term.
At least, not yet. The Elemental medics were hopeful that with time he would remember everything. Kali could only hope that was true, too. She wanted answers. Needed them, and with Circe gone - she prayed that wasn't true - Morthil was the only person that could give them to her.
Morthil had joined the Mystic Academy just after Xandred had been eliminated. He was a quick study and sped through all his tests and training. Within his first four months he was working at a Novice level that was reserved for the most advanced defenders, as opposed to the Initiate level the rest of his friends were at.
Within a year, he was already undergoing his undercover unit, assigned to the Woodland Realm with Circe Raynes as his commander in chief. He was doing well for himself, and if Circe's reports were anything to go buy then Kali should've been preparing for Morthil's graduation any day now. Except, she was here, pacing outside the Elemental's hospital wing waiting for confirmation that Morthil could speak with her.
"You're going to wear a Kali sized groove in the floor," said Nick, jumping up and catching his wife by the shoulders. "Stop worrying."
"I can't," said Kali. "Morthil is the only lead we have on why he went rogue. I don't want to believe he and Circe did this of their own accord." She knew Circe wouldn't do anything to jeopardise the two worlds, not after her undercover assignment as a bodyguard. She and Anabel still stayed connected through letters, but as far as Kali knew they hadn't seen one another in a while.
And while she didn't want to believe that Morthil would betray her or his world like this, she didn't know him as well as she did many of the master's already graduated from the academy. She had fought alongside many of them, like Circe; she trusted them. She didn't know Morthil enough to trust him.
The medical bay doors opened and head healer, Lopez, walked out. He was a tall man with shaggy brown hair, wired glasses, behind which were soulful blue eyes. He looked up from his notepad and met Kali's gaze. "He's still weak," he said in a deep voice. "But, against my advice, he wishes to see you."
Nick released Kali and followed her into the bay. Morthil was in the second to last bed on the right-hand side. If what Kali had said was true, he looked ten times better than he had done two weeks ago. Although he was still jittery and his gaze kept jumping to the exit every two minutes.
"Morthil," Kali said, stopping at the bottom of his bed.
He didn't respond. His gaze jumping from the door to the window and back again.
"Morthil," Kali repeated. "You're safe here." She leaned forward and touched his hand.
He flinched and pulled away. His gaze meeting her own. For a second it seemed like he didn't recognise her. Then, his gaze softened and he repeated what she had just said.
"Safe."
Kali nodded. "Safe," she said.
"Where am I?" Morthil asked.
"The Elemental Academy," said Nick. "You were brought here two weeks ago. Do you remember?"
Morthil looked thoughtful. He then nodded. He remembered finding Kali at Summer Cove park, he remembered delivering a message, although the words of said message escaped him. He had passed out not long after.
"Why here?" Morthil asked. "Why not Root core?"
"You wouldn't have made it," said Kali. "Bringing you here was the safest option."
"But -"
Kali shook her head. "The Healers here are just as good as home," she said. "You were too hurt to travel. Bringing you here meant the difference between life and death, and it was the only choice I had at the time."
Morthil looked like he wanted to argue but knew better. He slumped in his bed.
Silence hung for a few seconds. Kali exchanged a look with Nick and then turned back to Morthil. Something didn't feel right.
"What do you remember?" Kali asked.
Morthil shook his head. "Not much," he answered. "I remember running. Circe. Pain. Then more running," he said.
"How did you get out?" Nick asked. He could remember Brody, Redbot and Mick telling them how they had escaped, it hadn't been an easy task, and they'd barely survived it. They had also been separated. Could that have happened to Circe and Morthil? Maybe she wasn't dead. Maybe she was out there somewhere, lost and confused. Injured.
"What did Galvanax do to Circe?"
Morthil fell silent. His eyes glazed over with tears and he picked at the blanket covering his lower body. The nervousness that rolled off him was unpalatable, and Kali was scared for his answer. Scared to know the truth, scared to accept that a good warrior had been cut down, scared that she would need to take appropriate action. Scared of what problems that appropriate action could cause. She knew she had warned Allisara and Calanon of what would happen to the Woodland Realm if anything happened to the Mystic Realm or the two defenders aboard Galvanax's ship, but what did dismantling the Woodland Realm do for the rest of its inhabitants? Would it turn them against her? The alliance the rest of the Mystic Realm had with the Woodland Realm was dicey at best; many of the people living there still depended on Root core for its protection, but they were still subjected to the Devine ruling.
"She refused," Morthil answered. "Galvanax offered us a deal. Work for him or be destroyed. Circe refused. So he killed her. It was quick, but messy. Most of the blood on me was hers."
"So she wasn't with you when you escaped?"
Morthil shook his head. "When Galvanax was killing her, I took a shot at escaping. I could hear him shouting, ordering Kudabots to hunt me down and bring me back. I managed to get to the cargo bay and into a vacant ship. I didn't know what I was doing but I just pressed all the buttons and next thing I knew I was in space. I navigated as best I could and crashed onto this planet. Planet Onyx. The people there were not friendly, and I had to fight to get off. Again, I found a ship, and made it to Earth."
"So the wounds you sustained weren't all from Galvanax?" Nick asked. "They were from the people of Onyx?"
Morthil nodded. "The blood," he said. "Some of it was mine. Most of it was Circe's. Like I said, her death was messy."
Kali closed her eyes and swallowed hard. She could feel tears bubbling inside her but forced them back. From his description, there was no chance of Circe being alive.
"I'm sorry you had to endure all that, Morthil," said Kali, reopening her eyes. She met his gaze. "Truly, I am."
Nick glanced at his wife.
"We'll leave you to rest," said Kali.
Nick followed Kali from Morthil's bedside. They stopped near the doors and Kali looked back at her defender. He looked nothing more than a lost little boy sitting alone in his bed. She felt her heart break at the sight, but something inside didn't feel right, either.
"What is it?" Nick asked.
"I don't know," said Kali, shaking her head.
"You don't believe him?" Nick asked. "He seems genuinely shook up."
Kali nodded. That she believed. "If Circe is dead," she said. "Why haven't I seen her yet? She's not crossed over."
"Maybe she found a different way?"
"Not possible. I locked every other gate, remember? The Abyss was sealed before I faced Lothor. The Nighlok Haven was sealed with the exchange of Dayu for Xandred. The only way to access to the afterlife is through me, and Circe's been dead for two weeks, I would have seen her by now."
"Maybe she's sticking around?"
"But why?" Kali asked. "What would she have to stick around for? Mao kept coming back through the gate to help the Cubs, he stopped doing it after Casey refused to listen to him, and I sent him away."
"What about the Mountain of Lost Souls?" Nick suggested. "Could she have gone there?"
"Why is she lost?" Kali asked. "Souls only become lost when their deaths were unjust and brutal."
"Morthil did say she died brutally."
"Quick and messy," Kali corrected. "Brutally. But quickly. She has no unfinished business, and if she did, she would seek me out so I can fix it."
Nick furrowed his brow. "You're saying you don't believe him?" he asked.
"I believe he is genuinely distraught," said Kali. "But I don't believe it is because Circe is dead. The evidence doesn't match his story. Also, did you notice how he said, "Root core" and not "Home"?"
Nick nodded. He had picked up on that, actually. Root core wasn't home to any defender but them. Occasionally the other Mystic Force stayed at the tree, but more often than not they had their own homes and families to go to. Circe and Morthil's home was the Woodland Realm, had been since both were undercover there.
"You think he is lying?" Nick asked.
Kali glanced at Morthil. "I don't know," she said. "I just know something is off."
"What do you want to do?"
"For now we play it safe," said Kali. "At least until I can figure out what's actually happened to Circe. If she's not dead, why has he said she is? What does he get out of lying about her existence."
Nick pushed open the doors and left the medics bay. Kali followed him.
~X~
Nym let out an amused gasp as Tori and Dustin disappeared, leaving behind only their ninja outfits. She looked around, spying every corner of the training area for any signs of the two Sensei's. Today was another lesson with the Wind and Thunder Ninja's. It had been an ongoing lesson for the last two weeks, with Kali back and forth the Elemental Academy checking on Morthil's healing, Daggeron undergoing assignments in the Underworld, and Eithne holding down the fort at Root core, the only people actually left to handle training were the Ninjas.
Not that anyone was complaining. Learning from people that had actually experienced their lives on and off the battlefield, been taught from the basics to their positions now was something not everyone could help with.
Kali, while holding the title of 'Ninja Master,' didn't have the same background as the others. She was close with the whole Wind Ninja team but her background differed to theirs because of her magic. It was something that Brody liked to hold over her whenever it was mentioned.
"Not this move!" Preston whined, picking up the abandoned blue uniform.
"It's called a mime move," said Nym. She rolled her sword over in her hand.
Tori materialised above them. Fast falling towards the ground for a nearby tree. She struck Nym with her blade, cracking against her blade as the young pink ranger raised hers to block.
"Well done, Nym," Tori said. She rolled her sword ducking under the teenager's outstretched arm and lifted her foot, having every intention of kicking the youngster in the back.
Nym parried and raised her knee, blocking the older woman's foot and jumped backward.
Dustin, meanwhile, had materialised beneath Preston, dragging the young blue ranger down into the Earth. Nym could hear the two fighting it out below the surface and wondered if Preston knew how to escape.
"Whoa!" Preston echoed a few seconds later as he flew through the air. He landed in a crumpled mess a few feet away, and Nym rushed to cover him as Tori turned her attention.
Dustin appeared beside Tori and smiled at the two teenagers. "Not bad, Preston," he complimented. "We'll work on your landings, but I'd say you're not far from executing the Ninja Dirt Dive without complications. Just remember to focus."
"Nym's got the names memorised," said Tori. "We were about to see if she could execute the Mime move when Preston appeared."
"Sorry. That was my fault," said Dustin. He turned to Nym. "Go ahead."
Nym hesitated. She had completed the Ninja basic scarecrow move a while ago, but the idea of performing it in front of two Ninja masters, like she was on display or under the requirements of an exam, made her extremely nervous. What if she did it wrong? What if she messed up? Would the demote her? To what, she wasn't sure, but surely they had the power to do something to her?
"Nym," said Preston, his voice distant. She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see he was actually right beside her, his eyes soft and understanding. He smiled, reassuringly, and she took a deep breath feeling the nervousness ebb away.
"I'm okay," Nym murmured. Even her own voice sounded distant.
Tori and Dustin looked confused and concerned.
"She doesn't do well when on the spot," said Preston. "She has a Dragon's Bane. It's the dragon equivalent of a human panic attack."
Tori nodded. "I remember Kali saying about that," she said. She took in Nym's appearance. She hadn't started to change yet, but she didn't want to force the teenager to do so. No move was worth that. "It's okay. We'll try again next time. Maybe during a fight, that way it is a more natural command."
Nym hung her head as she nodded. She looked up again as she felt a heavy hand on her shoulder.
It was Dustin.
"Don't feel bad," said Dustin. "It took me a long time to master many of these moves. You'll get them when you're ready."
"Thank you," Nym murmured.
A crash echoed from the other side of the training grounds. Dustin, Tori, Preston, and Nym turned to see Brody and Calvin on the ground while Shane stood over them. The red ninja removed his hood and shook his head.
Nearby, fighting simultaneously, were Cam, Hunter, Hayley, and Aidan. Even they four stopped mid-fight and turned to see what the commotion was all about.
"What happened?" Shane asked, his voice carrying around the area.
Calvin shook his head. If the look on his face was anything to go by, he had hit his head as he went down. Brody, on the other hand, was rather lucid, and back on his feet, glaring at Shane with every ounce of anger and frustration he could feel.
"What happened?" Brody repeated, angrily. "What happened is you treating us like we're novices."
Shane remained impassive as Brody ranted about being treated like a beginner. As he started to run out of steam, Shane raised an eyebrow and folded his arms. "If you at any level higher than a novice," he said. "That attack would have been easy to block."
"I could've blocked you," Brody said. "And I said I wasn't a novice. Calvin's still learning, and given by the looks of it, he seems to have a concussion. You could've gone a little easier on him."
"If I had gone any easier then we wouldn't be training," said Shane. "Kali says you guys are advancing in your training better than any of the defenders she has trained at her own academy, but yet you're struggling with basic ninja training. How do you explain that one?"
Brody opened his mouth to argue but Aidan intervened before he had a chance to speak.
"What's going on?" Aidan asked. "Brody?"
"This guy is showing off," said Brody, waving his hand at Shane. "Making basic training moves more difficult than they need to be. But, also patronising me with basic moves."
"But we're all learning at a basic level," said Nym, wandering over. "They can't dumb the moves down any more than they already have for us."
"But I don't need them to be dumbed down!" said Brody. "Neither does Aidan. We have Ninja training under our belts already."
"The rest of us don't," said Nym. "It's not fair if they teach you and Aidan the more advanced moves and the rest of us the basics. It's like Kali said when she gave us the Elemental stars. We all start at level one and work our way up, that way the team isn't at a disadvantage."
Dustin placed a hand on Nym's shoulder. "Spoken like a true Ninja," he said.
Nym smiled. But the comment seemed to make Brody broodier.
A rift opened and Kali stepped through. She was wearing her ninja outfit, pulling on the gloves and hood when the tension in the area hit her. She paused and took in the scene - Calvin being supported by Preston while Hayley checked the back of his head, Nym and the other Ninjas facing Brody, while Aidan stood somewhere between them and his brother.
"What's going on?" Kali asked.
Shane raised an eyebrow at Brody. "Do you want to fill her in?" he asked.
"Whatever," said Brody. He stomped off through the portal, disappearing as it closed behind him.
Kali turned to the others and sighed. "What happened?" she asked.
"Brody thinks he is being treated unfairly because he has to rehearse basic Ninja moves like the rest of us," said Hayley.
"Course he does," said Kali. She removed her gloves and hood, squeezing them in her hand. She turned to her former team. "Thank you for filling in while I couldn't. But I think I can take it from here."
"You sure?" Tori asked. "We don't mind sticking around."
Kali nodded. "I'll call you if I need any more support. Again, thank you for taking the time to teach them the basics."
"Of course," said Cam. "Happy to pass on what we know to the next generation."
As the Ninja's filed out of the portal, Kali turned to the others. "Other than Brody, did you at least learn something?" she asked.
"Preston did a ninja dirt dive," said Nym. "Dustin says he needs to work on his landing, but it was one the best he has ever seen."
"Congratulations, Preston," said Kali. "I remember Dustin struggling to master it. Anyone else?"
"Hunter says I'd make a great Thunder ninja," said Aidan.
Kali smiled. "I'm surprised he didn't try and recruit you for the Thunder Ninja academy," she said.
"He did try."
Kali laughed and shook her head. She looked over at Hayley and Calvin. "Are you okay, Calvin?" she asked.
"I think so," said Calvin. The pain in his head was not as bad as originally planned. He didn't feel sick and his vision was as normal as ever.
"When we get to Root core, remind me to get you a healing potion," said Kali. "You probably are fine. But it's just procedure."
Calvin nodded.
"Did you speak with Morthil?" Aidan asked.
"I did," said Kali.
"And?"
Kali shook her head. "It's complicated," she replied. "I'll tell you about it later. First, let's get Calvin sorted out and then it's time for school. Don't you have a chocolate assignment due today?"
~X~
Swirling a strawberry in his chocolate mixture, Victor offered it to Nym as she stood nearby. She was stirring a pot of molten cocoa while Hayley and Aidan filter another into their pyramid mould.
"Something sweet for someone sweet?" Victor said.
Nym laughed but shook her head. "I can't eat chocolate," she said.
"Why not?" Victor asked, frowning.
"Allergic."
Perking up, Monty stuck his head out from behind Victor and stared at Nym. "Allergic to chocolate?" he asked. "That's not a thing."
"It's actually pretty common in the Mystic Realm," said Nym. "A lot of us there have the allergy."
"But most of them aren't human," said Monty. His eyes widened and he stared at Nym curiously. "Are you not human?"
Victor furrowed his brow as he looked between his best friend and Nym.
"Not exactly," said Nym, shaking her head.
"That's not an answer!" Monty pouted.
"Nope. But I look human and that's good enough," said Nym with a shrug.
Monty opened his mouth to argue but a call from Mrs Finch caused him to stop and withdraw. He disappeared around the sculpture that he and Victor had been working on and later returned with a bottle of -
"Glue?" Nym asked, glimpsing the name.
"Yeah, so?" Monty asked. "It's hot today and all the sculptures are melting. I mean, exhibit A." He pointed at the pyramid that Hayley and Aidan had tried to create.
Hayley sighed. "What are we doing wrong?" she whined, carefully scooping molten chocolate back onto the table.
"This," said Monty, indicating to the bottle in his hands, "will prevent that happening here. With this, our choc-o will be hard as rock-o."
"This chocolate is for a charity auction this afternoon," said Nym. "There will be kids there that have been promised they can eat the sculpture's at the end. They can't eat glue, it's poisonous!"
Monty scoffed. He liked Nym, as a friend, of course, but her goody-too-shoes attitude always put a dampener on his and Victor's plans, especially since Victor liked her and wanted to impress her. He had failed during the whole ribbon tree fiasco, but after much pleading she had decided to give him another chance.
"Maybe she's right, Monty," said Victor.
Nym looked pleased as she smiled at Victor. He, as well as the chocolate, melted.
Monty rolled his eyes.
"Hey, Nym, you finished that second batch?" Aidan asked.
Nym nodded and passed the bowl over. She turned back to Victor and Monty. "Good luck with your project," she said, before making her way toward her teammates. They were creating a second pyramid.
"What's happening with Victor and Monty?" Hayley asked. "How is their sculpture not melting in this heat?"
"It is," said Nym. "But not as fast as ours. You think it could be the mould?"
Aidan cocked his head. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"Well, the mould could be trapping heat inside and it's preventing the chocolate from solidifying."
"It's a thought," said Hayley. "But how do we fix it?"
"I could use my dragon breath," Nym suggested. "Dragon freeze should be enough to solidify the chocolate."
"But that's cheating," said Hayley.
"At least we're not using glue."
Hayley and Aidan looked confused.
Nym indicated over her shoulder. "Monty wants to use it to prevent his and Victor's sculpture from melting. It's not edible if they do that, at least my way it's still edible."
The bell rung loudly throughout the school.
"That's lunch!" Mrs Finch called.
Aidan set the bowl down and looked toward the mould. They hadn't given it enough time to set and he knew if he lifted it now, it would fall apart. Nym's freeze breath would do the trick in half the time it took to wait, but he also knew it was cheating. Using magic in front of and to fool non-mystics was against his mother's laws.
"We can't," said Aidan. "Remember what Mum says about being honest?"
Nym nodded. "Anything is better than lies and deceit," she recited. "It was just an idea."
"We know," said Hayley, winding an arm around Nym's shoulders. "But, we don't have to be like Victor and Monty."
"Oh, Victor said that Monty shouldn't use the glue," said Nym, shaking her head.
Hayley smiled sympathetically. "It's cute that you still believe he's willing to change," she said. "But believe me, Victor will do anything to succeed."
Nym frowned and glanced over her shoulder. Hayley was leading her out of the classroom, and she just managed to glimpse Monty adding the glue to his and Victor's chocolate, while Victor grinned gleefully in response.
She sighed. Maybe Hayley was right.
"Don't worry," said Aidan, popping up on her free side. "We'll come back after school and figure out where we went wrong. The auction doesn't take place until five, so we'll have plenty of time."
Nym met his gaze and smiled. Unlike Victor, she knew Aidan was genuine. If there was a will, there was a way, and he would find it.
~X~
"Root core said there was a monster around here," said Brody, searching the immediate area. "But all I see are Kudabots."
"And a lot of them," said Nym, mentally counting each foot soldier. She would lose count after a while, what with them all looking the same and swarming the area. She was sure she'd counted several twice.
Hayley pointed toward a commotion nearby. "What's he doing here?" she asked.
Morthil was fighting a small army. It was clear that he was struggling by the amount of times he failed to protect one or both of his flanks as Kudabots crept up on him from all sides.
"Trying to get himself killed," said Aidan. "Mum says he is no way near healed. I'll go help him. The rest of you okay here?"
Brody nodded and Aidan run off. He kicked off from the ground, jumping over Morthil, and attacking the Kudabots with several strands of lightning. He landed and fell back-to-back with the second defender.
"Kali send you?" Morthil asked.
"Not for you," said Aidan. "There's a monster around here."
Morthil nodded.
"Why are you out of bed?" Aidan asked, blocking a sword from another Kudabot. "Mum says you have a lot of healing to do before you're battle ready."
"I can't lay in a bed," said Morthil. "I need to be helping."
"Who are you helping by getting hurt?"
Morthil blocked a downward strike with his arms. He hissed as the blade cut into his skin, but it healed instantly and he grabbed the Kudabot by the shoulders, hauled it into the air and threw it as hard as he could toward a small crowd.
They all dropped like flies.
"I'd say I was healed enough," said Morthil.
Aidan's eyes widened at the downed foot soldiers. Morthil had always had the upper body strength, even when he had first joined the academy. Many speculated it was what helped him excel so far and fast while studying.
"You made your point," said Aidan. "But Mum will flip if she finds out you're not taking your healing seriously."
"I screwed up," said Morthil. "I want to help set things right."
Aidan shook his head and placed a hand on Morthil's shoulder. "What happened wasn't your fault," he said. "The Devine's manipulated you and Circe."
"But Circe -"
"Wouldn't want you blaming yourself. Go on, back to the Elemental Academy," said Aidan. "Mum will probably check up on you later."
Morthil sighed. "Just point me the way to Root core. I'll save her a trip," he said.
"Um, you don't -?" Aidan broke off. All Defenders knew the way to Root core. Whether they were travelling by trees or going through the entrance just outside of Briarwood. Others, like his mother, could just teleport straight there due to her abilities.
A scream caught their attention. Nym and Hayley were fighting nearby, the monster had finally appeared and seemed to catch the pair off guard. Aidan watched as Nym took a fist to the stomach and went flying backward into Preston who had come to help.
Aidan turned to Morthil. "Last I heard from Mum she was on her way to the academy," he said. "Meet her there and she'll take you to Root core."
Morthil shrugged. "Whatever," he clapped Aidan on the shoulder and took off into the town centre.
With Morthil heading off, Aidan turned back to the team. He saw the monster standing over Nym, hand out stretched as it glowed a faint gold. "No! Nym!" he called, racing toward her.
Aidan slid between the monster and Nym just as the ball of gold energy hit him in the chest. He gasped, whole body tense and fell to his knees.
"Aidan!" Nym shouted. She threw herself forward, crawling towards her friend as he demorphed. The pain on his face was excruciating. He was panting, and sweat had already started to form on his forehead.
Brody fell to his knees beside his brother. "What happened?" he asked, looking at Nym.
She shook her head. All she knew was that spell had been meant for her.
"I hit one, Madame Odius," said the monster.
Odius let out a scoff-like laugh as she looked down at Aidan. "He's tasted Toxitea's poison," she said, informing the others. "You can't save him. Unless you have the an-tea-dote!"
Nym drew her sword as she stood. "What's it going to cost?" she asked. Nothing ever came without a price tag, why would this be any different.
Odius grinned. "You're not as foolish as you look, pink ranger," she said. "But I'm afraid the exchange rate is something you cannot afford."
"Try us."
"You want the antidote for your friend?" Odius taunted. "Alright. All you have to give me is your Power stars."
Nym hesitated. Odius had been right. They couldn't afford to make the switch for the antidote.
Odius laughed. She didn't need to see Nym's face to confirm her conclusions. "Exactly, pink ranger," she said. "Whatever will you do?"
Nym tightened the grip on her sword.
"You have until sunset to decide," said Odius. She followed her arms and both she and Toxitea disappeared.
~X~
The room shook as Kali unleashed a feral roar. Books fell from the bookcases, empty potion vials rolled from the ingredients table and smashed against the stone floor, the computers flickered between static and normal, and even the crystal ball chimed, indicating an upsurge of black magic in the centre.
"That's not helping," scolded Eithne.
Kali glared at her. "Not helping?" she snapped. "Not helping! Galvanax and Odius have taken over our solar system, they held two defenders prisoner, killed one and severely hurt another, and now they've poisoned my son! It's either this or I'm going up there!"
"That's probably what they're expecting," said Calvin. "We can't give them that, can we?"
Udonna shook her head. She and Leanbow had returned the previous evening from their extended stay in the light dimension. They had taken a leave of absence from Root core, giving Nick and Kali to a chance to deal with arising situations and to see how they'd handle running things when she and Leanbow eventually retired. So far, they pair had done an immaculate job.
Aidan on a makeshift cot, panting as Mick checked his pulse and vitals. His body had convulsed twice already, and he was growing paler by the second.
"Odius is correct," said Mick. "The poison will destroy him as soon as sundown hits."
"Unless we give up our Power Stars," said Nym. She hadn't left Aidan's side, his hand clutched tightly in her own.
"That's not an option," said Brody.
Nym glared at him. She knew it wasn't a viable option, but what other choice did they have? Losing Aidan wasn't an option for her. If she lost him, she lost herself, too.
"Maybe we can do something clever?" Calvin asked.
"Like some kind of trick?" Hayley asked.
Preston shrugged. "Why not? We're in one of the most magical places on the planet," he said, gesturing around him. "There's got to be something here that can help us."
"We could try and find an antidote for the poison ourselves," said Mick.
"That would take too long," said Kali. She looked thoughtful. "But I may know someone who can help. Stay here, keep an eye on Aidan, and do not leave until I get back. Do I make myself clear? I'm not saving one kid to end up losing another."
She turned and left before anyone could protest.
Nym turned back to Aidan, lightly running her fingers through his hair. He parted his eyes and met her gaze, a small painful smile making its way onto his lips.
"Shh," said Nym, stopping him from speaking. "Just rest. We're going to fix this."
~X~
Jayden looked up as the gates to the Shiba house opened and Kali strolled in. He was in the process of putting away the training sticks and proceeded to finish doing so as Ji stepped out of the house. He watched as the two met one another in the courtyard and couldn't contain his curiosity as he crossed to listen to them.
"What did you find?" Kali asked.
Ji showed her a book. It was one from his private collection, and Jayden knew that the information inside were about ancient Nighlok from eons ago. Probably during the era of his great-grandparents.
"Odius is a fox-like Nighlok from a thousand years ago," said Ji. "She was banished by Xandred for trying to overthrow him. It may interest you to know that she and Serrator were partners once upon a time, her toxins were used for a variety of different methods, and Serrator was more than happy to capitalise on them."
Kali considered the book for herself. "It says here that her toxins were of her own creations," she said. "Not taken from plants and other various ingredients."
Ji nodded.
"I think we may have just found Rune's biological Nighlok parent," said Kali, remembering that when her little sister had been half-Nighlok the form had been that of a fox.
Jayden furrowed his brow at the mention of his girlfriend. She'd only just left him and Ji that past weekend, having spent her annual leave from duty with him. Her mother was on a mission in another dimension, and Charlie was still at the Thunder academy.
Mike, meanwhile, had gone to visit Emily.
"You're here about Rune?" Jayden asked. "She was fine when we saw her yesterday."
"And she's back on duty today," said Kali, nodding. "Rune's fine. I'm here about Aidan."
"You're son?"
Kali nodded. "He was poisoned by a Fox-like monster called Odius. Technically, he was poisoned by a monster known as Toxitea, but Odius is the one with the antidote, so I'm guessing she supplied the poison," she explained. "She's running with the bounty hunter Galvanax that is currently terrorising Summer Cove."
"That's the Warrior Dome champion that Rune was telling me about," said Jayden. "He's an alien, right?"
"Yep. I need a quick sure way to create the antidote that doesn't require multiple testing's," said Kali. "Aidan doesn't have that kind of time, and I was hoping Ji would have an idea."
Ji took back the book. "Without knowing the name of the poison, we can't know what the antidote that is needed. Do you have no way of testing for it?"
Kali sighed and shook her head.
"I'm surprised you haven't stormed the Warrior Dome yet," said Jayden. "It sounds like something you would do."
"Oh, trust me, it's on my list," said Kali. "But that's what Galvanax wants, and unfortunately, I can't give them that." She looked to Ji. "Do you know of anything or anyone else that can help me?"
Ji looked thoughtful.
"What about the Tengen Gate?" Jayden asked. "Daisuke was going to help me that time Octoroo poisoned me."
"But didn't Daisuke use dried mushrooms?" Kali asked. "Octoroo said that they wouldn't combat his toxins. If that were true, I don't think they would work here either. Besides, I can get dried mushrooms from home."
"Don't you have healers in the Mystic Realm?"
"None that deal in this sort of area, and not on such a time restriction," said Kali, shaking her head. "I only have until sunset."
Ji placed a hand on Kali's shoulder. "We're sorry we can't do more," he apologised.
Kali forced a smile. She knew he was being genuine, but she still felt like a failure. "Thank you," she said. "I should get back. I'll let you know how things turn out."
"Good luck!"
Kali nodded and stepped outside the protective barrier, disappearing in a puff of black smoke.
Jayden turned to Ji. He may not have been Kali's biggest fan once upon a time, but he had never seen her so dejected before. "She's going to be alright, right?" he asked.
"I don't know," Ji admitted. "It's one thing to lose a friend, another thing entirely to lose a child."
Jayden looked back to the gate. He had seen Kali in action, and she was a ferocious fighter. He had also heard stories about her from Rune, from Mike, even the from watching her in the media over the years, she always put her heart and soul into protecting her home. He didn't want to think what would happen if she lost Aidan by nightfall. Would she go dark side in revenge? How would the Mystic and Human realms survive if she did?
~X~
Nym quickly threw a cloth over the power stars as Monty fell into the room. He looked jittery and panicked, and it was strange seeing him without Victor in tow.
"I have looked everywhere!" Monty babbled. "Have you see Victor?"
Nym and Hayley shared a look. "Not since class this morning," she said.
Monty sighed in agitation. He turned to leave, but not before tossing them a curious look and glance at their work station. Nym had to admit, they did look pretty suspicious - six small bowls of molten chocolate, star shaped moulds, and her standing with a cloth over a small container.
"Let us know if you find Victor," said Hayley.
Monty left and Nym turned to her friend. "How do you lose a person?" she asked.
Hayley sniggered and shook her head. "Do you think this is going to work?" she asked, looking back at the moulds. "We never did figure out the melting issue."
"We don't need to," said Nym. She run to the door and checked outside, stepping back, and closing it behind her. She then returned to her station and turned to Hayley. "You may want to step back."
Despite being confused, Hayley did as requested. She watched, fascinated and a little terrified, as Nym transformed in front of her. Although the others had seen it before, this was the first time Hayley had seen Nym in her dragon form, and she was a lot smaller than expected.
Nym feasted her eyes on the chocolate moulds, reared back and breathed a spiral of white and blue energy at them. They crystallised, like ice, before returning to normal.
As Nym turned back to human form, Hayley checked the moulds. "They're frozen solid," she said, grinning. She turned to Nym. "That was awesome!"
Nym smiled at the praise and closed the box. "We should hurry," she said. "The longer we take then the less time Aidan has."
"You know, because you and Aidan are bonded, do you feel how much time he has left?" Hayley asked, following Nym from the room.
Nym nodded. "I do. Unfortunately, it doesn't work in reverse. If it did, I would be giving all the energy I could right now."
"Then let's get to the park," said Hayley.
"Yeah," Nym agreed.
~X~
Kali looked up as Nym and Hayley entered the park carrying a silver box. She furrowed her brow as they stopped a short distance away, and opened it, presenting six power stars to the heavens. Just what on earth did they think they were doing? Handing over the stars were not an option, and as hard as it was to make that decision, especially with her son on the table, it was the only one she could make. She loved Aidan, she wouldn't have adopted him if she didn't, and she was more than willing to tear down walls between dimensions to protect him. But she couldn't choose him over countless innocent people that lived in Summer Cove.
Just as she was about to intervene, Kali noticed a buzz cam followed closely a thrill of energy down her spine, and then Odius was there. Standing just a fair distance away, looking smug as she took the power stars from Hayley, and passed Nym the antidote.
"You made the right decision, Rangers," said Odius, laughing manically. She opened the case and held them up so the buzz cams could see. "I have the Power Stars for you, Champ."
As Odius presented the box, like it was the most precious thing in the world, which given the power it contained, it most definitely was Hayley and Nym bickered back and forth. Jogging over, Kali got within hearing distance, and caught the tail end of the disagreement.
"I can't leave you here!" Nym argued. "One Ranger against them? We'll save Aidan and lose you, and Kali will not be impressed. She's not going to be happy that we broke a direct order as it is."
"She's not impressed that you broke two direct orders," said Kali, startling the pair.
Nym and Hayley jumped as they turned to Kali.
"Please tell me I did not just see you had over the Power Stars?" Kali asked.
"It's not what you think," said Nym. She sounded scared.
Hayley nodded. "We have a plan," she said, her voice shaking with nerves.
"We had to do something," continued Nym. "Aidan is running out of time."
Kali looked from one teenager to the next. They were clearly more scared of her than they were of the ramifications of handing over the only things keeping Summer Cove safe. She held her hand out for the antidote. "I'll take this to Aidan. You stay here and see your plan through. It better work," she said.
Nym and Hayley nodded, both relaxing as Kali disappeared in a puff of black smoke. No sooner had she disappeared, did the others arrive⦠and they did not look happy.
"I can't believe it," said Brody. "You guys did take our Power Stars."
"We did, but -" Hayley started.
"How could you do that?" Preston interrupted.
Nym shook her head. "It's not what you think," she said, desperately.
"You didn't even tell me?" Calvin asked. His question was directed more at Hayley, given she was more than just his friend.
Hayley and Nym shared a desperate look. They couldn't tell their friends exactly what they had done, not with Odius and Toxitea standing nearby.
"What's happening?!" Odius suddenly howled.
Nym spun around just in time to see the red power star in Odius' hand melting.
"I thought you said your freeze breath is rock solid?" Hayley asked.
"It is!" Nym defended. "It's Aidan. Kali can't have got the antidote to him yet."
Hayley furrowed her brow. "You think she's in trouble?" she asked.
"I hope not."
At seeing the stars melting, the others turned back to the girls. "What did you do?" Preston asked.
"We made fake stars," said Nym, "and used them as bait. Did you honestly think we'd had over the planet to Galvanax?"
Hayley shook her head and passed Calvin and Preston their stars. Nym did the same to Brody and pocketed the spare gold one herself.
"Kali worked hard to build up the trust of the human and mystic worlds," said Nym. "We wouldn't damage that in one single afternoon. But we had to do what was needed to save Aidan."
"The antidote?" asked Brody.
"Kali's on her way to Root core with it now," said Nym. "The melting of those stars means she's not made it yet. With each last breath Aidan takes, our soul bond grows weaker. Meaning my powers have less push. If Aidan doesn't make it, it won't be long before I transform, too."
"Which is why you did what you did," said Preston.
Nym nodded. It sounded selfish in parts, but it also killed two birds with one stone.
"For your treachery, you will all be destroyed!" Odius vowed. She threw out her hand, hurling an energy ball at the team. It was deflected and fizzled out before it hit the ground as a shield appeared between the Rangers and her.
Toxitea gasped as a portal of darkness opened and Kali stepped out. She was fully morphed, and not alone.
"Messing with a Ninja is one thing," said Kali, she indicated over her shoulder, "and I know this lot take it damn personal when one of their own is attacked. But you didn't just try and kill a Ninja, you tried to kill my son, and for that alone you'll pay."
Odius growled and turned to Toxitea. "Stay here and finish this," she said, and without another world she turned tail and ran.
Kali disappeared in an instant.
"She's gone after Odius, hasn't she?" Brody asked.
Aidan nodded. "Yeah. Best leave her to it," he said, turning his attention to Toxitea. "Let's show this teapot what it's like to mess with a Ninja and lose."
"Yeah!" the others agreed.
Nym handed Aidan his power star. "I'm glad you're okay," she said, happily.
Aidan nudged her and grinned. They could reunite properly once Toxitea was gone.
"Ready?" Brody asked.
"Ready!"
"It's morphin' time! Power Stars!"
"Lock in! Ninja Spin!"
~X~
Nym shook her head with a smile as the others munched happily on their pieces of chocolate that had been displayed in the main hall of the high school. Rows of tables held different moulds arranging from a house to a snowman, and some even were ambitious enough to try for a dragon formation. Nym had called it a wyvern more than a dragon, but she still praised the ambition it took to create.
"Man, I love chocolate," said Brody, sucking the melted mess from his fingers. He reached for another piece when he caught Nym watching him. "Oh, sorry," he apologised.
Nym waved him off. She'd never had chocolate before, so wasn't even aware of what she was missing. It would've been different if she had tasted it and was purposely preventing herself from eating it now. But thankfully she didn't need any will power to turn it down, the fact that even one piece could've poisoned her was enough to keep her away.
"Calvin, you have to try this one," said Hayley, rushing over with a chunk of chocolate from another table. "It has a salted caramel centre."
Calvin moaned as he devoured the piece.
"Aren't you a little bit curious?" Brody asked Nym. He had been watching her watch them even before he had caught her gaze.
"Nope. I choose life."
Preston chuckled and reached for another slice of orange chocolate. "That's a good enough excuse," he said. "Besides, didn't we deal with enough poisonous plots today?"
Nym laughed.
"What's so funny?" Aidan asked, arriving at last with Kali in tow. She had taken him to a healer, to be checked over thoroughly for any remaining toxins that could've been lurking around inside him. Thankfully, he had been given a clean bill of health.
Nym turned and hugged him. They had already reunited after the defeat of Toxitea, but she was still thankful that he was here. Not just because she got to stay human, but also because she couldn't have imaged a life without him. Even in dragon form she would retain her human memories and would remember what had happened. Living in a world where Aidan didn't exist wasn't something she wished to fathom.
"Hey, I'm okay," said Aidan, hugging her firmly. "We're not going anywhere."
Nym smiled, eyes scrunching shut as Aidan pressed a kiss to her forehead. They separated as Monty rushed past, once again calling for Victor.
Hayley laughed as she met Nym's gaze.
"I ask again, how do you misplace a person?" Nym asked.
"I take it this is the Victor that you have conflicting feelings for?" Kali asked Nym.
Nym nodded. She did have feelings for Victor, she'd be lying if she said she didn't. But she was also unsure of whether she wanted to pursue them. Victor hadn't done anything worthy of her attention, save for treating her like a royalty at the school dance, but every other interaction they had together made her dislike him more and more.
He was so honest and genuine to her face, but behind her back he was deceitful and uncooperative. How could one distinguish between the two different personalities. Could she really date him because he was nice to her, and ignore the fact that he was a bully to everyone else?
"Kali, we owe you an apology," said Hayley, turning to the older woman. "You gave us a direct order to stay at Root core. We disobeyed that."
Sobering her thoughts, Nym turned and nodded. "We accept whatever punishment you deem necessary," she said. But please don't banish us, is what she wanted to add. Disobeying a direct order from the Hellhound usually resulted in banishment.
"You're lucky the plan worked," said Kali. "I wasn't joking when I said I couldn't afford to save one kid and then lose another, or two, in this case. And, while you may not believe it," she glanced at Brody and then away, "but the minute you took the Power Stars from the Prism, you became my family. Therefore my responsibility."
Nym and Hayley nodded as the others shared a look.
But Kali wasn't done. She had punished Aidan and Nym the last time they had disobeyed a direct order from her, and she had also punished Preston. She couldn't allow the two girls' off the hook just because they had managed to save Aidan with their plan.
"That being said, the two of you will report for training tomorrow evening. Nym, you'll be in the water dimension with Tori and Maddie, while Hayley, you'll report to the Earth dimension with Dustin and Xander," said Kali, she met both their gazes, "just don't expect them to take it easy on you."
The two nodded.
Mrs Finch's clapping drew everyone's attention. Kali turned to see the older woman calling for the attention of all kids present and saw both Aziva and Aviva sitting in the front row of the hall.
"Okay, I saved the best sculpture for last," said Mrs Finch. "Are we ready?"
A chorus of 'yes's echoed.
Kali smiled as Nick joined her at the back of the hall, his arm sliding around her waist and holding her to him as Mrs Finch pulled back the sheet, revealing a chocolate statue. It was definitely an ambitious project that had been executed perfectly.
"Victor!" Nym gasped.
The others turned quickly to her.
"What?" Hayley asked.
"It's Victor!" said Nym. "There must've been an accident this morning. He and Monty were adding glue to their chocolate mixture and it somehow must've ended up all over Victor. That's not a statue!"
Kali looked back to the front hall. Mrs Finch had called for the kids to come up and start eating their way through the chocolate. Aziva and Aviva in the front. Without communicating her next move, Kali darted forward and seized both her daughters, just as the chocolate statue exploded, raining chocolate debris all over the place, and Victor stumbled out.
His shirt was stained and he looked complete frazzled. But one look at the kids made him scream and sent him hurtling from the room.
Monty calling out his name as he followed.
~X~
Nursing her wounds, Odius appeared on Earth and followed the path to the outskirts of Summer Cove. She could feel the magical barrier protecting the Elemental Academy from her being and scoffed at the idea of it being protected. All she needed was little command and the entire academy would be at her mercy.
Thankfully, her target was not the academies. Not like the fool Lothor's had been. While every Ninja academy held true power and purpose in the magical and human worlds, she had no interest in confronting the Hellhound and her defenders until she was absolutely sure she would succeed.
"Apologies for the lateness," said a voice from behind. "Trying to evade the healers of this wretched place is like trying to horde cats. They're seemingly everywhere and always have an update they wish to share. If only they knew I didn't need it."
Odius waved away the excuse. "Just remember you're role and play nicely," she said. "It wouldn't do us well to forgo our hand just yet. If they suspect you're not being truly cooperative, they may alert the Hellhound too early, and all of this would've been for nothing."
The servant bowed his head. "Yes, my mistress," he said. "I shall do as you command."
"Now, while our plans to get the Power Stars may have failed this time," Odius continued. "We have made some progress. The Hellhound and the Rangers have your trust, it will make them easier to manipulate. Have you had much luck finding Root core, yet?"
"No," the servant said. "The Hellhound, while trusting of me, refuses to take me there. She says I need to heal a little more and requests that I stay at this place. But I will gain access, my mistress, you have my word."
"Make sure you see it through," said Odius. "Our whole plan rests on you making it into Root core and securing the Ninja Steel. It has to be there. I cannot think of another place in that world where it would be kept secret and safe. Surely by now the Hellhound knows how precious it is, she would want to keep something like that close."
The servant nodded.
Odius tilted his head with her finger. "You've done me proud, Morthil," she purred. "Keep up the good work, and you will have a place at my side when we take over this wretched planet."
"What of the Devine's?" Morthil asked.
Odius tilted her head. The maternal grandparents of the Hellhound had been more than gracious to her and her schemes, but she had no desire to share ownership over planet Earth with anyone. "They'll learn soon enough," she said. "For now, let them think they still have a hand to play in all this."
