This one is a first for me - I hate writing Whispering Voices. I don't like the episode at all.
So I decided to make some big changes to make it more fun. At least for me!
Hope you like it!
Chapter 5: Whispering Voices
What little of the sky that was visible through the thick foliage of the trees around Rootcore was cloudy as ever, and it left Carvallain with a faint frown on his fair features as usual. He stepped over a large root that threatened to trip him up, deep in thought as he made his way back to the temporary home that he had at Rootcore.
As the tree came into view, he angled his head just a little, and let out a quiet sigh as he was pulled from his thoughts. The unhappy look on his face grew.
"Titania, are you trying to startle me again?" Carvallain asked, stopping under the tree that the Black Ranger was currently perched in. On a protruding branch high above, Titania sat with her legs swinging freely. She grinned, looking down at him with the carefree expression that Carvallain couldn't help but envy.
"If I was trying, I'd succeed," the Fae pointed out. Carvallain couldn't argue with that - even with his sharp hearing, Titania was crafty enough to have been able to sneak up on him many times in the years they had known one another. "I was just thinking. About that Vampire, Necrolai," she said, having gone outside to get some quiet to think. With the addition of five new Rangers, Rootcore could get loud quickly.
"She's a powerful foe. As the Queen of the Vampires, I'm not too surprised," Carvallain admitted as he folded his arms and leaned against the thick tree trunk. Titania hummed her agreement.
"She also knows a lot about Faeries," Titania reminded him. Carvallain was quiet, having noticed the same from their last interaction with the Vampire who worked for the Master. "Hermes said that Vampires normally stick to their own kind, when they're not…you know…" she put a hand to her neck, and a shudder passed through the Elf.
"It could be because of the former Mystics," Carvallain said quietly, almost sympathetic in his words. "Not only does she have a lot of knowledge about your kind, but she certainly seems to hold a grudge against Fae. Either way, you'll need to be careful," he warned his teammate. Titania cocked her head, her sharp, dark eyes on him.
"Careful. It almost sounds as if you care," Titania warned, and suddenly tipped forwards. If it had been anyone else, Carvallain might have jumped as the Black Ranger fell. However, a rainbow light shimmered around her feet, and she lightly stepped down towards the ground. When she landed on solid ground a small distance from Carvallain, she turned to him. "But we both know you don't like to show people that you do," Titania said simply. She saw the tips of Carvallain's delicately pointed ears turn red - a telltale sign that she'd gotten under his skin.
"You're being ridiculous," he said shortly, pushing off the tree trunk. He started walking towards Rootcore, and Titania rolled her eyes.
"No I'm not," she followed him, wondering just how she was going to be able to convince him that it wasn't wrong to show compassion to the people who were supposed to trust him.
The two walked in silence towards Rootcore, stepping through the massive enchanted dragon head-shaped root as it opened up when they got close. There was laughter and chatter inside, and Carvallain suppressed a huff at the sound. Titania, on the other hand, smiled at the sounds, and they walked into view of the other Rangers.
"Hey guys!" Vida waved from where she was sitting, a book in front of her that she had been ignoring in favour of chatting with the others.
"Where'd you wander off to?" Maddie asked Titania, having been wanting to ask her some questions.
"Just needed some air," Titania answered, walking over to them. "You guys make it hard to hear myself think sometimes," she said, nudging Vida. The Pink Ranger's grin widened, and she nudged her back.
"It's all Xander," Vida told her, nodding her head towards where Xander was sitting on the steps, looking far too relaxed for someone who was supposed to be studying.
"I'm not surprised," Titania giggled.
"Hey! I'm not making all the noise by myself," he complained. When Vida arched an eyebrow at him in a challenging look, Xander swallowed. "Chip's been playing Knights again," he quickly directed the attention elsewhere, instead of throwing the blame back at Vida.
"Playing Knights?" Carvallain repeated, confused. Titania laughed, having experienced Chip's role-playing antics in Rock Porium. The Silver Ranger turned in the direction that he heard Chip bouncing around, and his dark eyes went wide.
"Hyah! Fearsome enemies, you shall perish at my blade!" Chip declared, completely immersed in his own world as he swung the sword in his hands at imaginary foes. He moved strangely, copying what he'd seen on TV and in video games, not even realising when the sword hit the ground.
"Enough!" the Yellow Ranger was taken by surprise, as were the others watching, when Carvallain suddenly grabbed his arm roughly and wrenched the sword from his grasp. "How dare you touch this! Do you have any idea what you're messing with?" the normally quiet, brooding Elf was furious as he glared at Chip. "Trust a human to-"
"Hey!" Nick had charged over and forced Carvallain to release the bruising hold he had on Chip's arm. The Yellow Ranger was forced backwards as the other Rangers rushed over to stop their furious teammates. "You need to cool off," Nick warned as Carvallain turned a furious look on him.
"Unhand me!" Carvallain snarled, yanking his wrist free. "That fool had no right touching this. None of you have the right to," he glared at Nick, making it clear that he hadn't forgotten when the Red Ranger had borrowed it in their first fight.
"Carvallain, stop!" Titania pleaded with the irate Silver Ranger, but he ignored her as he continued to glare at Nick.
"You need to back off. Cool your damn head. It's just a sword," Nick warned him. Carvallain made a noise that was almost a scoff.
"You may be the leader of this team, but even you have no authority to tell me what to do," the Elf told him. Nick glared back, a headache still prickling behind his eyes and his own frustration over Carvallain's attitude clear.
"You need to get off your high horse. You're a part of our team," Nick warned him, his voice low as the temperature in the room seemed to rise. "You act high and mighty, but we're your equals," he gestured to the Rangers standing behind him, watching worriedly.
"Equal?" Carvallain repeated, sneering at him. "If you truly believe yourself my equal, then you are far more delusional than I first believed," he spat the cold words, surprising Nick long enough that he turned on his heel and stalked off back to his room. They heard the slam of the door, and a silence descended over the remaining six.
"What the hell was that about?" Xander wondered, breaking the stunned quiet.
"He's lucky I didn't break his legs for talking like that," Vida growled. Maddie was holding her sister's hand, trying to ground the fiery Pink Ranger who had been ready to tackle Carvallain the moment he had grabbed Chip.
"Are you okay?" Titania asked Chip, who was still rubbing his arm.
"Of course!" the red-haired young man exclaimed, puffing out his chest. "It takes more than that to hurt the mighty Yellow Ranger!" he told her, only to yelp a protest when Xander poked his arm.
"Don't lie to the girl who can't lie," he warned lightly as Titania's eyebrows furrowed.
"Humans…" she complained under her breath, dragging Chip over to a seat before starting to root around in the potion collection that Udonna kept on hand. Chip rolled up his sleeve, revealing the bruises that were already starting to form where he'd been grabbed.
"What the hell is Carvallain's problem?" Vida demanded, her anger only building as she saw the bruises. "He flipped out over a sword," she shook her head.
"He did before too," Nick reminded them, and they thought about how he'd almost lost his cool before Udonna stopped him.
"It's not just a sword to Carvallain," they turned to Titania as she spoke softly, smearing a salve over the bruises on Chip's arm. His nose wrinkled at the smell, but he could already feel the pain starting to fade. "It belonged to his father," she told them without looking up.
"His father?" Nick frowned, walking over as Titania corked the bottle and returned it to a shelf. "Why is he so protective over his dad's sword?" he asked her. Titania paused, her back to them.
"He died. During the Great War," she said quietly, and a hush fell over the rest of the team. "Carvallain was just old enough to remember him, and that sword is all he has to remind him of his father," Titania said. "That's all I can tell you about it," she turned back to them, a pained smile on her face.
"I'd be pretty messed up if my dad died," Chip allowed, sniffing at the dark, swamp green coloured paste on his arm. Instantly he wrinkled his nose and turned his head again. "If someone messed with the only thing that reminded me of him, I'd be mad too," he admitted.
"We wouldn't mess with it if he just talked to us," Vida growled, still angry. Maddie squeezed her hand.
"Give him time. He'll learn how to open up once he gets used to you," Titania told them confidently. There was still some pain in her gaze, and not for the first time it hit the team that Titania too had lost people to the Great War that happened 18 years ago.
"While he cools off, we should probably try and learn something before Udonna gets back," Maddie suggested, gesturing to their abandoned books.
"Of course you'd suggest that, sis," Vida levelled a droll stare at her sister, who smiled back at her.
"I'd rather the books than another run," Xander said, patting Titania on the head. She managed a smile back, turning to them.
"I know, I'll teach you a levitation spell," she suggested. Chip's eyes lit up with excitement.
"You guys go ahead. I need some air," Nick told them as he rubbed his temples. They nodded, not stopping him as he left Rootcore.
"That headache's been bothering him since our shift earlier," Maddie noted, worried about their leader. "Getting all worked up with Carvallain won't help," she added. Vida nudged her with her elbow, walking away from the Blue Ranger.
"Don't fuss. He'll be fine. Probably just the stress of getting used to being a Ranger," she said, much less worried.
"He'll be fine after he gets some rest. With all this Mystic training, working and fighting, we're all a bit worn out," Xander pointed out. Maddie nodded, knowing he was right. They were all still getting used to their new activities, and she was sleeping much more than she used to.
"About that levitation spell," Chip said to Titania, who giggled.
Carvallain's blood was still boiling a little while later, and he slipped out of Rootcore while the others learned a levitation spell from Titania. His hand remained firmly on the hilt of the sword by his side, comforted by its presence.
"I never should have left it there. Those foolish humans always end up messing with things that don't belong to them," he hissed under his breath as even the cool outdoor air couldn't soothe him.
A more logical part of Carvallain's mind told him that it wasn't Chip's fault. The new Lightning Mystic didn't know how important the sword was. He didn't know the legacy behind the weapon that had been all his father had left him. However, the hotheaded part of Carvallain was still angry, and thinking of his argument with Nick only amplified that anger.
"That temper of yours, my dear nephew, is proof entirely that you are not ready. Let us hope that your time with Udonna will help quell that raging inferno," the voice echoed in Carvallain's memories, and finally his footsteps slowed and stopped. Closing his eyes, the Elf took in a deep breath, and finally his anger began to fade.
"What the-" the distant, confused voice caught Carvallain's attention. It was Nick, and he sounded odd. Not moving, the Silver Ranger opened his eyes and angled his head in the direction that he heard Nick; his sharp ears picking up his voice from a distance. "Stop…what-" Nick gave a cry of pain, and as he did, a shiver ran down Carvallain's spine at the cold sensation that pricked his senses.
Dark magic, and it was coming from Nick's direction.
"What is he doing?" Carvallain whispered, but the moment he turned fully in the direction that he could hear Nick, the feeling of dark magic suddenly grew stronger, and the purple light of a Dark Spell Seal materialised in front of him. Carvallain hissed, drawing his sword as Hidiacs rose from the summoning Seal, shrieking and growling at him.
Not waiting to question what was going on, Carvallain charged forwards towards the creatures born of pure darkness; the byproduct of the Master's power. Swinging the sword in his hands with well-practised strikes, Carvallain fought off the Hidiacs with ease. "Filthy creatures, you will regret coming here!" he told them, cutting through another and causing it to vanish in a cloud of darkness.
"Such bravado from someone so young," he turned quickly as Koragg appeared from another Spell Seal, drawing his sword. Carvallain's dark eyes narrowed, and he finished off the last of the Hidiacs before turning to Koragg.
"What's your plan, Koragg? To pick me off when I'm alone?" he challenged the dark knight who stood opposite him.
"To dispose of one Mystic would be a blow to good magic. To dispose of you would be far greater blow to more than just the side of good," Koragg's words made Carvallain bristle. He returned his sword to his side, and grabbed his Mystic Morpher.
"That will never happen. There is too much at stake for me to ever consider losing to you," Carvallain declared, flipping open the Morpher. "MAGICAL SOURCE, MYSTIC FORCE!" he shouted as he charged Koragg, Morphing into his Silver suit. "Magi Staff, Spear Mode!" Carvallain swung the weapon he'd drawn, changing its form to a much longer weapon that collided with Koragg's sword. The power behind their strikes caused both to bounce back.
"You have power, but not the ability to wield it effectively yet," Koragg warned him as he recovered faster than Carvallain. He pushed forwards, slamming his shield against Carvallain's chest. The Silver Ranger gave a shout as he was pushed backwards, barely staying on his feet, and he pushed to the side to avoid Koragg's follow-up strike.
"You constantly underestimate me, dark knight," Carvallain warned as he breathed heavily through the pain of the strike. "That will be your downfall," he vowed, charging in again.
"I estimate you correctly, Elfling," the words only angered Carvallain again, and he gave a shout as he jabbed at Koragg with his Magi Staff. The powerful wizard knocked the spear away, and slashed down Carvallain's front. Sparks showered from where his Mystic suit tried to protect him from what could have been a lethal blow, and he crashed backwards. "In time, you may become strong, boy. But right now, you have no chance to defeat me," Koragg warned him, lowering his sword as Carvallain glared up at him.
"I will never stop fighting you," he said, pushing himself up, only to fall to one knee as pain ached through his chest and stole his breath. Koragg stood over him, making no move to finish him off. "None of us will," Carvallain said, lifting his head to glare through his visor at his enemy.
"Ah yes, the Fae girl and your human companions," Koragg said, his sword still lowered. "Can you truly trust such a team? The Fae are notorious tricksters, and humans…they lack honour. So easily corrupted," his words made Carvallain frown.
"What are you-" before Carvallain could ask, a blast of yellow coloured magic came from between the trees and exploded against Koragg's armour. The knight staggered away from Carvallain, who turned in surprise.
"Carvallain!" Titania called out as she ran into view with Vida, Maddie, Xander and Chip, who was carrying his crossbow. "Are you alright?" she asked as they reached the Silver Ranger's side.
"I'm fine," Carvallain answered with a slow nod, and they helped him to his feet.
"Back off, Koragg!" Vida snarled as they raised their weapons, ready to fight.
"You are not worth the effort," Koragg shook his head, returning his sword to its sheath behind his shield. "I waste my time with you all," with a burst of magical power, he vanished into another Spell Seal.
"He's gone!" Xander frowned.
"But for how long?" Maddie wondered. They demorphed, turning to each other, and Carvallain rubbed his chest. "Are you okay?" Maddie asked him, and he almost looked surprised by her concern.
"I'm alright," he said, somewhat stiffly. "Thank you, for coming to my aid," he bowed his head.
"Hey, we're a team," Xander grinned easily at him.
"Even if you don't really accept that," Vida muttered. Maddie elbowed her sister quickly, and Titania didn't bother to hide her amused look as Carvallain dropped his gaze to the ground.
"Right," he nodded slowly.
"I'm sorry, for messing with your sword," he was surprised when Chip suddenly blurted out the apology. "Titania told us why it's important to you. I'm sorry," he apologised again, and Carvallain instantly shot a glare at Titania. The Black Ranger raised her hands quickly.
"I only told them that it belonged to your father," she defended.
"Which she only did because you don't tell us anything," Xander spoke up, putting a hand on the small Fae's shoulder. Carvallain looked at the protective action, his angry look slowly fading.
"I was out of order, shouting at you as I did," he instead turned back to Chip, who didn't hide his own surprise that Carvallain was apologising to him. He bowed to the Yellow Ranger. "I apologise. It won't happen again," he vowed.
"And I won't mess with your stuff again," Chip promised, his smile so easy that Carvallain couldn't help but envy the Yellow Ranger, who got on so well with Titania, thanks to their easygoing natures. His eyebrows then furrowed just a little.
"Where is Nick?" Carvallain realised that they were still missing their Red Ranger, turning in the direction that he'd heard the confused mutterings before.
"No idea. He's had a bad headache all day, so he went for a walk," Maddie answered.
"Probably too far away to hear the fight," Vida shrugged. Carvallain was silent as he thought over the strange mutterings he'd heard from their Red Ranger.
"And humans…they lack honour. So easily corrupted," Koragg's almost ominous words echoed in Carvallain's mind. They were so similar to what he'd heard from others over the years; especially those who felt the losses they'd suffered in the attempt to prevent the Great War from spreading to the Human Realm were unnecessary.
"We should get back," Xander suggested, casting a look around quickly as if expecting Koragg to return with more monsters.
"Yeah! I still have to finish learning that levitation spell!" Chip exclaimed, still excited as Titania laughed. They started to walk back, and Carvallain remained quiet, still thinking about the feeling of dark magic that had come from Nick's direction.
"It can't be…can it?" he wondered to himself, keeping quiet for now as suspicion laced his every thought.
Carvallain's suspicions only grew when Nick didn't rejoin the team. After they had finished up in Rootcore, the team had returned to Rock Porium for another shift, and Nick had barely said a word to them as he remained outside to work on his bike.
"What do you think of the book?" Chip asked Carvallain, who was sitting trying to read as they served customers and tidied up the shop. Chip had been almost pestering the Elf in what seemed like innocent attempts to get to know him, while avoiding setting off his temper.
"It's…" Carvallain hedged, looking at the book that Chip had lent him. "Interesting," he admitted, lifting the book to hide his face as he coloured red from his confession. It was a murder mystery, and despite the terrible things that humans seemed willing to do to one another in fiction, he had been fascinated, eagerly looking forward to finding out who the killer was.
"I knew you'd like it!" Chip grinned, ignoring the exasperated looks from the team as he floated by the DJ stage where Vida was playing. With it being a quiet day, there were few enough customers that Chip felt it was okay to practice the new spell he'd learned, and hadn't touched the floor since.
"If his headphones were off, you'd see the tips of his ears going red," Titania whispered to Xander, who was sitting playing a ukulele as he claimed to be supervising. Not missing either her words or Xander's laugh, Carvallain turned a glare on the two of them. Xander stifled his laughter with a cough, and Titania quickly turned her gaze to the ceiling in what she seemed to think was an innocent look.
"I heard Nick in the forest, not long before I was attacked," they sobered at Carvallain's quiet words. Even Chip paused, still levitating off the ground. "And I'm confident that I felt dark magic from that direction before I was attacked," Carvallain told them, knowing that now was the best time to broach the subject, while Nick was outside.
"Nick said he didn't hear anything," Maddie spoke up, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked at her sister. Vida was frowning, but stayed quiet.
"You talked to him when we got back here, didn't you?" Titania asked the Blue Ranger, having seen her step outside to approach Nick as he worked on his bike. "Nothing attacked him, so I wonder what you sensed," she said as she turned back to Carvallain. He looked unhappy.
"It's not like Nick has your crazy hearing. And he's been acting off all day," Vida shrugged, wondering where Carvallain was going with his words.
"Something just feels odd," Carvallain said, looking at the book in his hands. "Nick was muttering to himself. And…" he trailed off, making the others exchange looks.
"What is it?" Xander asked. Carvallain let out a quiet breath.
"Something that Koragg said was strange. He said that humans were 'easily corrupted'," he said, and instantly Vida scowled, insulted by the comment. "If this is how he truly views our team, then it will be his downfall. But I still feel that the manner of his words seems…strange," Carvallain said, well aware that Vida was ready to explode.
"Maybe you should talk to Nick?" Maddie suggested gently. "Especially after earlier. You two should clear the air," her words made Carvallain frown, before he sighed and rose to his feet.
"You're right. I should talk with him," he agreed.
"I don't think Nick could be corrupted to evil," Maddie said as Carvallain headed for the door. "It just doesn't seem like him," she shook her head.
"I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation," Titania said, still perched on the arm of Xander's chair. "Of everyone, you all know him the best. If you don't believe he could be swayed to dark magic, then…" she trailed off, seeing the look that passed between the four humans around her. "What is it?" she asked.
"We…we don't know him that well," Chip admitted, swaying in the air as he fought to remain upright. "He'd only just arrived in town. We met him when we volunteered to go into the forest," he confessed, and the others nodded.
"He's a pretty private guy," Xander added, leaning back in his chair as he looked thoughtful. "Don't know much about him at all," Vida nodded in agreement. Even Maddie was quiet.
"I see," Titania's words were quiet as well as an uncertain look crossed her face.
Outside, Carvallain was hesitating just by the doors of Rock Porium, watching as Nick worked with expertise on his bike. Whatever he was doing, Carvallain had no idea, but he couldn't bring himself to cross the road and approach the Red Ranger.
"If you truly believe yourself my equal, then you are far more delusional than I first believed," he winced as he recalled his sneering words to the Red Ranger. Carvallain had already apologised to Chip, and he knew he needed to apologise to Nick as well. It wasn't their fault that they didn't know anything about him. Not that he knew much about them either - especially Nick.
The quiet groan of pain was followed by the muffled thud of Nick dropping his wrench in the grass as he put his hand to his head. Carvallain looked up quickly, and moved his headphones just enough to hear everything clearly. The noise of traffic and other every day sounds made him wince, but he heard Nick's whispering words.
"Stop…shut up…" he groaned, eyes squeezed shut in pain. Again, Carvallain felt the faint presence of dark magic like ice running down his spine, and it seemed to come from Nick. Then it vanished as quickly as it appeared, and Nick was able to take a breath.
"What in the name of the Goddesses was that?" the Red Ranger looked up quickly, still on his knees beside his bike. Carvallain had stormed over, his expression even more stormy than when he'd caught Chip messing with his sword. Instantly Nick turned guarded.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he said, voice flat. "Unless you're here to apologise, leave me alone," Nick warned him as he lifted the fallen wrench to continue working on his bike.
"Apologise?" Carvallain repeated, incredulous. "You expect me to apologise to someone like you, after what I just felt? After what I just heard?" he demanded.
"Like I said, I don't know what you're talking about," Nick repeated, getting to his feet to glare at him.
"What's going on?" they looked around as the others hurried over to them, having gone to check when Carvallain hadn't returned.
"Nothing," Nick ground the word out, clutching the wrench in his hand tightly.
"I felt that dark magic again," Carvallain's words were cold as he didn't take his eyes off Nick. His hand twitched towards where his sword usually lay, but it was in his room at Rootcore. "It was coming from you, Nick. Right as I heard you muttering to yourself. Just like I heard before, just as I was ambushed by Koragg and his Hidiacs," Carvallain took a single step towards Nick as the others held their breaths. "What is happening to you?" he demanded. Nick's gaze hardened.
"Nothing. It's just a headache. You're imagining things," his dismissive words did nothing to help him, but he refused to drop his guard. Especially to the confrontational Elf who was glaring at him as if he were an enemy.
"Then I can only suspect the worst. You are working with Koragg," he accused, and Nick's eyes widened.
"That's crazy!" he snapped, louder than he intended. "Why would I work with the creep who has tried to kill us?" Nick demanded, glaring back at Carvallain. "It's just a headache," he repeated.
"How can they trust you, when they don't know you? When you don't know yourself?" the cold, dark words he'd heard repeated in the back of his mind when the headaches were at their worst earlier in the forest, and it made him close up.
"Koragg told me that humans were easily corrupted. Perhaps he was hinting that he'd already corrupted one of you. Perhaps when you fought him alone, while we faced Clawbster," the others looked stunned at Carvallain's accusation. Nick looked just as stunned.
"You really think I'm evil?" he demanded, and looked at the others. They looked uncertain, keeping quiet, and it seemed to seal the accusation for the Red Ranger. His shoulders slumped. "Right. I get it, I'm the new guy. I can't be trusted. I charmed my way into your lives, just so I can destroy you from within, is that it?" Nick demanded, pulling his gloves on as he sat on his bike.
"If Carvallain sensed dark magic from you…then something is wrong," Titania shifted on her feet, sounding uncertain.
"Elves are really in tune with magic. No way he could just…be confused," Chip hedged at the end as he realised what he was saying. Nick sighed, unable to hide the hurt on his face.
"Right," he agreed with a nod. "And I thought you guys were my friends," Nick gave a quiet scoff, and looked up at Carvallain. His anger grew. "Though I don't know why I'm the one you're giving a hard time about trust, when you're the one who refuses to be around the rest of your so-called team," Carvallain's eyes widened and he flinched like Nick had physically hit him. Not acknowledging the reaction, Nick pulled his helmet on. "Nice knowing you," he muttered, and with that he took off, the rumbling of his bike engine fading into the distance.
"Maybe we made a mistake," Maddie said as she watched him go.
"He just took off. He didn't even deny it," Xander pointed out, hands shoved into his pockets as even he felt uneasy about what had happened.
"But he seemed…sad…that we didn't believe him," Titania considered, shifting her weight from one leg to the other. "Carvallain?" she turned to the Silver Ranger, whose hands were clenched into tight fists by his sides.
"Excuse me," he murmured quietly, striding to the tree nearby. He pressed his hand to it, and vanished in a flash.
"Are we really a team?" Vida muttered. "Cause we just seem like a mess to me," she admitted. Nobody denied it.
The mood over the remaining five Rangers hadn't improved as they walked into Rootcore, hoping to find answers about Nick's strange behaviour. He wasn't answering his phone, even when Maddie called him.
"I've seen happier faces on Trolls," the familiar voice made them look up, and they saw Taliesin standing with Udonna. "And they're miserable creatures," the Satyr commented, earning an almost exasperated look from Udonna.
"Carvallain and Nick were fighting again," Titania was the one to explain as they sat at one of the tables. "Carvallain accused Nick of being a spy," she explained, and even Taliesin had a rare surprised look on his face.
"I know that boy has a temper fiercer than an Orc, but that seems rather extreme," he said. Udonna had to agree, walking down towards her team of Rangers.
"We weren't much better. We didn't even try to defend Nick or work out the truth," Maddie sighed, miserable as she sank lower in her seat. "Carvallain sensed dark magic from Nick, and he's been acting strange all day," she explained to Udonna when the sorceress went to ask.
"Don't forget how Carvallain was attacked by Koragg right after hearing Nick in the forest earlier," Vida piped up.
"That is very concerning," Udonna admitted.
"You have to admit, it's kind of easy to catch Carvallain alone," Chip piped up, unable to keep his thoughts to himself. "He only really hangs out with us when there's a fight," he pointed out, and the others nodded their agreement. Titania lowered her head, keeping quiet.
"There is a reason for that boy's stubborn heart," Udonna spoke up with a sad smile. "But I assure you, I would not have allowed him to assume the mantel of Moon Mystic if I did not believe his heart was in the right place, as it is for all of you," she said, and they all managed faint smiles back.
"But why is he so…" Vida trailed off, biting her tongue.
"As his mentor, I believe I should be the one to explain that much," Taliesin decided. He walked down to them, his hooves echoing against the stone floor. "Carvallain has lost so many of those he has cared for in his life, that he remains constantly afraid to get close to anyone else, in fear that he will lose them too," he explained.
"His dad died during the Great War, didn't he?" Xander remembered what Titania had said earlier that day. Taliesin nodded.
"Indeed. His mother perished in an attack on their home, Miramalos, and his father died in battle only a few months later," he explained, grim. "Many lost loved ones during those days. Years may have passed, but wounds of these kinds don't truly heal," Taliesin mused.
"My parents died during the battle too, so I can understand Carvallain's reluctance to let anyone get close," Titania said softly, confirming the unspoken thoughts they'd had. "I don't remember them, but I know their legacy," she lifted her head and smiled softly. "They were part of the former Mystic Force," that confession took them by surprise.
"What?" Vida breathed, stunned.
"The Red and Pink Mystic Force Rangers, Dusk and Nimble," Taliesin put a comforting hand on Titania's shoulder as the young Fae took a shuddering breath. "True heroes, and some of the only Faeries who took part in our battle to save our realm. We never found out what happened to them; their Morphers simply appeared here, sent away by Nimble's magic," he told the stunned Rangers. Vida lifted her Morpher to stare at it as suddenly the weight of what she'd been given hit her.
"I am sure that there is more to Nick's story that we know," Udonna told them, keeping calm as always. "First we must find him, and talk to him," she said, turning to the glowing crystal ball.
"What about Carvallain?" Maddie asked.
"He'll be fine. He just needs to cool off for a little while," Taliesin soothed, knowing his student well enough by now. They nodded, knowing that Udonna was right. They had to find Nick, and figure out what was going on.
"I don't know why I'm the one you're giving a hard time about trust, when you're the one who refuses to be around the rest of your so-called team," Nick's frustrated words, spat at Carvallain, haunted the Silver Ranger's steps as he walked through the forests near Rootcore.
He knew what he felt. The dark magic was coming from Nick, reacting when his headaches seemed to get worse. Something was wrong with the Red Ranger, and he had just been defensive and run off when accused.
Carvallain sighed and ran a hand down his face as he realised that once again he had let his temper best him. He had jumped straight into an accusation against Nick, who was supposed to be part of their team.
"Seems it's a bad day for everyone," Phineas said cheerfully, making the Elf jump and let out a startled sound.
"Phineas!" he turned a glower on the Troblin that he'd met a few times over the years. Phineas bowed to him, and instantly discomfort prickled at him. "Don't, please," Carvallain requested, raising his hands as he stepped away.
"As you wish!" Phineas said, as cheerful as before. Carvallain put a hand to his heart as it calmed from the sudden appearance of the hapless creature. "Lose your temper again?" he guessed, and Carvallain's face twisted.
"How'd you guess?" he asked.
"You usually get all stompy around these parts when you get mad," Phineas said, so straightforward that Carvallain blushed. He sighed, and took a seat on a nearby rock.
"I'm just…so unprepared to work with a team. I've been training for years to become a Mystic, but I never thought about the teamwork aspect," he confessed as Phineas took a seat beside him. "Especially with humans," Carvallain added.
"Humans are confusing creatures," Phineas said, and the Elf almost laughed. For such a thing to come from the Troblin was truly entertaining. "You never know what they're going to do. And they don't know a thing about us. It's nice to meet new friends who you get to learn about," he said, making Carvallain look down at his hands. "Like how Nick's headaches are so bad he passed out," Phineas said. Carvallain's head snapped up.
"You were with Nick earlier?" he asked, and Phineas nodded.
"Sure was! He was having a bad day too. He mentioned fighting with you," Phineas nudged him, but Carvallain barely reacted.
"And he almost passed out from a headache?" he asked. Phineas nodded again. "Did you feel dark magic when he did?" he pressed, trying to work out just what was wrong with him.
"Sure did," the confirmation almost made Carvallain jump to his feet. "Was all around him like some creepy cloud," Phineas said, and he stilled.
"Around him? Not from him?" Carvallain knew he was bombarding the Troblin with questions, but he needed to know. Phineas nodded, and Carvallain sucked in a breath. "What in Lux's name is happening to him…is he hearing a voice?" he wondered, before shaking his breath. "Impossible. He's a Mystic. Even untrained, someone couldn't break through the magical barriers that our Ranger powers give us," Carvallain spoke aloud as he tried to work it out.
"Unless they used something belonging to a Ranger?" Phineas once again made Carvallain go still.
"Like Udonna's Snow Staff," he leapt to his feet. "I'm a fool. Koragg's been manipulating us from the start. I must find Nick and warn him," Carvallain realised, dread making his heart race. "Thank you for all your help, Phineas," he bowed to the Troblin before running off, determined to help his teammate.
"Good luck!" Phineas waved after him.
'I won't let Nick suffer alone anymore. I will correct my mistake and stop Koragg,' Carvallain vowed.
By the time Carvallain reached the beach with the use of a tracking spell, Nick was already locked in fierce combat with Koragg. To the Elf's eyes, it was a lot less one-sided than he had worried it would be, but Koragg was still the more experienced fighter.
"Hey!" when Nick crashed to the ground, his sword clattering on the rocks they were fighting on, Carvallain let out a shout. Both looked up quickly, just in time for the Silver Ranger to fire a blast of Moon magic that hit like a laser, slamming into Koragg. Caught by surprise, the wolf warrior was lifted off his feet and carried a small distance away from Nick.
"Whoa…" Nick breathed as Carvallain landed beside him, Morphed and ready to help. "What are you doing here? I thought I couldn't be trusted," despite everything, Nick couldn't help but spit the words out. He was still angry and hurt.
"I was wrong," Carvallain angled his head enough to look at Nick, while keeping Koragg in his peripheral. "I'm sorry, Nick. I let my pride blind me," he apologised, surprising Nick enough that he stayed quiet. "It finally dawned on me that Koragg was using Udonna's stolen Snow Staff to bypass your mental defences, and I realised I'd fallen for his trap. He wanted you isolated, and thanks to my foolishness, he succeeded," the Silver Ranger said, having been berating himself the entire way to the beach.
"As much as I'm enjoying listening to you beat yourself up," Nick chuckled as he got back to his feet, lifting his sword. "I was wrong too. And you got here in time to help me out. I appreciate it," he told the Silver Ranger, who nodded slowly. "Now let's finish what this creep has started," Nick said, turning to Koragg. He'd gotten back up too, his armour dented but otherwise he seemed unharmed.
"Admirable that you of all of them would be the first to come to his defence," Koragg commented, addressing Carvallain. The Elf stayed silent, staring him down. "But it doesn't matter. I will destroy you both, and the rest of your team will follow," Koragg vowed. Nick hissed an angry breath as Carvallain's eyes narrowed.
"Never going to happen," Nick promised.
"Your powers are weak. You have not learned to harness your magic. Your defeat will be swift," Koragg said, unimpressed. "As a human, you have far much more to learn. And the Elf is just as untrained compared to his predecessors," he dismissed Carvallain as well.
"I'm not as weak you think, pal," Nick spat angrily. "Watch this! Power of the Phoenix!" at his yell, Nick burst into flames so hot that a wall of heat slammed into both Koragg and Carvallain.
"What?!" Koragg growled, caught off guard by the sudden burst of power from the Red Ranger.
"His elemental form is already manifesting? Incredible," Carvallain breathed, standing back and watching as Nick swung an arm and sent the magical flames barrelling into Koragg. The warrior let out a yell as the power slammed him backwards, hard enough to create a small crater in the cliff he collided with.
"It's on now!" Nick declared as he charged in.
"You are more powerful than I expected," Koragg admitted as he managed to free himself from the rocks and got back to his feet. As Nick got close, Koragg raised his shield and let his own magic rise in power. "Wolf Attack!" he fired a blast of dark magic.
"Magi Staff!" before it could hit Nick, Carvallain sent another burst of Moon magic at Koragg. The two energies collided and exploded, sending all three backwards. Nick and Carvallain cried out as they landed amongst the pebbles of the beach, feeling the pain that their Ranger suits had been unable to prevent.
"Pathetic," Koragg recovered faster, on his feet and standing over them as they got back to their feet. Their fighting continued, but Koragg was far more powerful than either of the Rangers, and continued to throw them around. "You will be defeated today, that I promise you!" he taunted Nick as their swords clashed. He pushed Nick's blade up, and brought his own back down faster than the Red Ranger could react.
As Nick crashed to the ground, Carvallain charged back in and ignored his own pains to jab his Magi Staff at Koragg. With a sharp swing downwards, Koragg knocked it enough to throw Carvallian's aim off, and he staggered right into Koragg's next strike. "You should not have interfered, Elfling," he told the Silver Ranger as he crashed to the ground, barely remaining Morphed as he gasped through the pain.
For a moment, Koragg just watched Carvallain, almost seeming disappointed. "You will die too, but first…" Koragg turned back to Nick, who was struggling with everything he had to get up. "Now, young Ranger, you will meet your destiny!" Koragg raised his sword over his head to deliver a final blow.
"No!" Nick yelled, only for a burst of magic to explode against Koragg's armour, throwing him off just enough to save the Red Ranger.
"Hang on buddy!" the two looked up to see the rest of their team racing towards them. With a yell, Xander launched forwards with his Magi Staff Axe, slamming it down to create a powerful burst of Earth magic that pulsed through the ground. It exploded under Koragg's feet, once again throwing him aside.
"Nick!"
"Carvallain!"
"Are you alright?" the Rangers asked as they helped Nick and Carvallain back to their feet. They nodded, unable to stop themselves from wincing in pain.
"We're really sorry for earlier, Nick," Xander turned to the Red Ranger, who looked at him in surprise. "We should have trusted you and tried to understand what was going on," Xander told him.
"We're sorry we jumped to conclusions," Vida apologised.
"It was Xander's fault," Chip grinned, earning a glare from the Green Ranger.
"We let our imaginations run away with us. It was all of our faults," Maddie corrected, and Nick rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, it was," he said bluntly as he turned to them properly. "Maybe you should have thought about that before!" Nick scolded his team, but it lacked true anger.
"And you!" Carvallain let out a yelp when Titania punched his shoulder. "Why'd you run off alone? For a moment we thought you were going after Nick for another fight," she scolded the Elf, who rubbed his arm.
"Carvallain saved me," Nick interjected, and the shock coming from the other Rangers was enough to make Carvallain blush.
"Enough of this," he sighed, pointing past Nick's shoulder. "We have something to finish here," Carvallain warned as Koragg stalked towards them again.
"Now that you are all here, I shall finish this," he declared. Their eyes widened as dark magic pulsed from the warrior, and a massive dark Spell Seal materialised as he grew much bigger, and summoned Catastros.
"That's what he used to defeat Udonna!" Maddie warned Nick, who hadn't seen Koragg's transformation until now.
"Looks like it's time to Zord up!" Xander shouted.
"Couldn't have said it better myself," Carvallain agreed. They grabbed their Mystic Morphers and flicked them open, entering the spell code to activate their magic and transform into their Titans, before all but Nick combined to form their Dragon Formation.
"Fire!" they yelled, shooting a burst of flames at Koragg. It died out against his armour, and the centaur-like being slammed his sword against Nick's.
"You will never defeat me!" Koragg vowed, and the two pushed back.
"Full power!" Nick shouted as the Dragon flew through the air and dodged Koragg's ranged attacks. With both his own fire magic and the power of the dragon, they sent down an even more powerful jet of flames that exploded against Koragg. "We've got you right where we want you!" the Red Ranger warned, flying in when it seemed Koragg was on the ropes.
"Now I have new power…" to their surprise, Koragg used another spell to change his form, creating a Megazord that had combined with Catastros.
"No!" Nick gasped in horror.
"The time has come to take this fight to the next level," Koragg decided, chanting another spell as he held out a hand. Nick cried out as the dragon crashed to the ground heavily, the Rangers finding their energy fading rapidly as a ball of light flew from them and went straight into Koragg's hand.
"What happened?!" Nick shouted as he pushed himself up. "Guys?!" he pleaded with the fallen dragon as realisation dawned on him. He could feel power missing. "We can't combine…" he realised with a hiss.
"I shall use your own magical powers against you, as I summon the evil Morticon from the Underworld," Koragg announced, which made Nick frown. He'd never heard the name before. "Rise, Morticon, rise!" he used the stolen power to create a spell seal, and there was a loud laugh as a powerful monster rose from it.
"Free at last!" Morticon cackled as he raised his sword into the air. "Now that I am released from that evil cell, I shall run this dimension as the most powerful warrior of all time!" his arrogant words of assumed victory echoed for miles as Nick swallowed. Koragg was already beating them, and Morticon looked just as powerful. "Let's finish this, Koragg," Morticon turned to his ally, who gave a single nod. "Destroy them!" he roared as he charged at Nick and the dragon.
Nick blocked Morticon's first strike, but flinched from the power behind it. Not only was he worn out from his battle with Koragg, Morticon was truly powerful. His sword was forced out of his hand, and with a punch, the monster knocked him from the dragon's back. Morticon then grabbed the dragon by the neck, and with a powerful swing, he swung them through the air.
"Dark Magic Spell Seal," the cold feeling of dark magic filled the air as Koragg channelled his magic, using it to deliver a powerful strike to both Nick and the dragon. The Rangers cried out as the dragon was split apart, and the Titan forms of the Rangers scattered around the battlefield.
"He's so strong!" Maddie cried in horror as she pushed herself back up.
"We can't give up!" Vida shook her head. Titania gave a shout as she charged at Morticon, who laughed and grabbed her Kitsune form, hauling her into the air.
"I will kill you, just like I did the last Time Mystic!" Morticon's vow made Carvallain go cold, stopping in his tracks. "That Elven King was so full of pride, but he died like a fool!" his laughter rang in the air as he threw Titania aside. She landed on her side as horror seeped through her.
"He killed one of the last Mystics?" Chip breathed aloud as the implications of what the monster said sank in for them all.
"You bastard!" the scream of fury was followed by Carvallain launching himself at Morticon.
"Carvallain, stop!" Chip shouted as the Luna Lepus Titan hurtled towards Morticon, who only laughed and swung down with his sword. Carvallain let out a roar of pain, thrown aside to land at Koragg's feet. Other than his dark spell seal that had split the Rangers from their dragon formation, he seemed content to watch Morticon fighting.
"How does it feel, Mystic Ranger?" the monster resumed beating up Nick, who refused to stop fighting even as the others collapsed. Morticon punched him several times, before grabbing him in a headlock to press his sword to Nick's neck. "This will be my finest hour. The day I destroy the leader of the Mystic Rangers!" he declared, lifting his gaze to Koragg. "Join me for the final strike," he offered, but Koragg shook his head slightly.
"My work is done. The Master will be pleased," he declared. Morticon scoffed.
"Have it your way, Koragg," he dismissed, happy to claim the kill for himself. However, before he could kill Nick, the Red Ranger broke free of his hold.
"Red Mystic Ranger!" Nick yelled as his eyes lit up green for a moment. His Titan form was suddenly encompassed in flames, powering him up enough to launch into the air.
"What?" Koragg breathed, baffled that the young man could still have enough power to fight.
"What's happening?!" Morticon couldn't understand it either, looking up at the flaming bird overhead.
"Counterspell!" Nick threw his magic down, and it collided with Morticon before the monster could avoid it. He let out a roar of fury as he felt it overpowering the magic that had allowed him to escape his prison to begin with.
"Do something!" Morticon shouted at Koragg, but it was too late.
"That's impossible…" Koragg breathed. "How could he counter my spell?" he wondered, unable to do anything but watch as Morticon vanished once again. Nick landed gently, breathing heavily as most of his power was spent. "I don't know how you did that, Mystic Ranger, but I have your Megazord power now," Koragg warned as Nick fell to one knee.
"No!" Nick shouted, now the one unable to do anything as he escaped, leaving them alone. As he did, Carvallain let out an angry yell, loaded with emotion as he vowed to destroy Morticon.
"So not only did Koragg manage to steal your combination magic, but he also used it to summon Morticon from the underworld…that is truly concerning," Taliesin admitted as he summed up what had happened in their fight.
"Morticon…a name I wish I never had to hear again," Penelope breathed as she tended to their cuts and bruises. "I had hoped he was destroyed when the Gate was sealed," she admitted, casting Udonna an apologetic look. The Snow Sorceress simply gave a sad smile in response.
"And now you know the truth," Taliesin addressed Carvallain, who hadn't spoken since his scream of anguish on the battlefield. The others had all been curious, but hadn't dared to say anything. The Silver Ranger closed his eyes, and took a deep breath before rising to his feet.
"As you know, my father was killed in the Great War," Carvallain said, addressing his team. He swallowed, refusing to drop his gaze. "He was the former Time Mystic, King Aegis Ajax Hythlodaeus Clurichaun," his fists clenched tightly as tears he couldn't fight stung at his eyes.
"King?" Xander repeated, eyes wide. "You mean…" understanding had hit them all like a brick wall.
"My true name is Carvallain Aegis Thalin Clurichaun, Crown Prince of Miramalos," Carvallain put a hand to his chest and bowed to them.
"Whoa," Chip's jaw hung open.
"You're a Prince?" Maddie breathed.
"That explains the attitude," Vida smirked, and Nick snorted as the tips of Carvallain's ears went pink. Maddie elbowed her sister as Titania covered her mouth to hide her smile.
"Sorry about her," Maddie apologised for her sister, who just rolled her eyes.
"No, she's right," Carvallain ran a hand through his hair, pushing it out of his face. "I have treated you all unfairly from the moment we met, and I'm truly sorry for that. It is…difficult…for me to get close to anyone. From now on, I will do my best to treat you as my allies…and friends," he gave an awkward smile.
"About time," Nick snorted, standing to clap him on the shoulder roughly. Carvallain barely managed to hide the wince.
"And Nick, I'm sorry for turning on you as I did," he apologised to the Red Ranger, who immediately looked uncomfortable.
"Me too," Xander spoke up. "I'm sorry for not believing in you," he apologised to their leader.
"We're your friends, Nick, and you deserved better," Maddie spoke next, still feeling guilty for their reluctance to back him up.
"No more jumping to conclusions. For any of us," Vida eyed Carvallain, who blushed harder and nodded. Chip nodded, grinning.
"It was Xander's fault," he said, making them giggle. Xander shot him another glare, which only made them giggle more.
"We have your back, Nick. Now and forever," Titania told their leader as even he couldn't help but smile.
"Thanks, guys," Nick nodded as he sobered. "And I owe you an apology too. I should have come to you when I started hearing Koragg's voice. So…I guess we've all learned our lesson about trust and friendship?" he said, and Carvallain once again found himself the focus of their looks.
"Indeed," he confirmed.
"No more secrets between us," Xander nodded.
"Well this is nice, but we're late for work," Maddie reminded them. Instantly Vida let out a groan.
"Not work," she whined, letting her sister pull her away as Maddie giggled.
"Come on, your majesty," Xander grinned, elbowing Carvallain in the ribs as he walked past the Elf. "Someone needs to entertain Titania while we work," he teased.
"Please don't call me that," Carvallain requested.
"And I don't need entertaining!" Titania was offended as she jogged after the grinning Green Ranger. "Nor do you ever seem to do any real work!" she added. Instantly the two began bickering as Carvallain shook his head.
"No more secrets," his sharp ears barely caught Nick's whisper under his breath, and Carvallain didn't miss the weight in the words. For a moment, he slowed, before shaking his head.
'I trust him. No matter what it is,' he told himself, smiling faintly.
Hope you liked the changes, and the revelations!
Please review!