Interlude: Mystic Force

Rootcore

Nick banged his fists on the table as they watched the wolf demons overpower the veteran rangers.

"We should be out there." He grunted.

"I know mate." Xander agreed from where he was sitting in the couch with the other rangers. Clare was sitting in a chair beside the cot where Darien was resting, and the older mystics were discussing something amongst each other, while shuffling through the pages of Xenotome.

"I don't get it." Madison shook her head. "How are they able to keep on fighting, but not us? Our ranger powers are more stable than theirs…"

"Maybe." Ryan nodded from where he was standing beside the red ranger. "But maybe this isn't our fight."

"What do you mean?" Vida narrowed her eyes.

"Ever wonder why there are new ranger teams almost every year? And even if they stay the same, why their powers or zords change?" He asked them.

"Why?" Chip asked curiously.

"Because the threats they face are different. Different ranger team has different powers custom made to fight specific enemies." He stated. "Maybe our powers are not meant to fight the wolfblades. That is why these rangers suddenly popped out of nowhere. The Grid has chosen them for this fight, not us."

"Good wolf rangers versus bad wolf monsters!" Chip exclaimed. "It makes sense."

Nick rolled his eyes, turning back to observe the battle in the crystal ball.

Ryan placed his hand on his shoulders.

"It is going to be okay. Keep faith."

"How can you say that? Koragg is back and stronger than ever before." He muttered, shaking off the titanium ranger's hand.

"Don't you see it, Nick? We were on the brink of defeat and then suddenly, these new warriors come out of nowhere. This is not just happenstance. It is…"

"Destiny?" Nick quirked his eyebrows.

"You know I don't have blind faith in fate or magic. My life has taught me otherwise." He said firmly. "But there are laws that govern the universe. Balance that must be maintained lest the fabric of reality unravel. The Grid empowers us so that we can keep the balance. How can we lose when the most powerful force in existence is on our side?"

"You make it seem as if the Grid is alive. Like it is playing chess with our lives." Nick chuckled.

"What makes you so certain it isn't?" Ryan countered as they continued watching the battle.

He winced as he saw Billy get struck by an energy blast from Koragg's shield that sent him flying back in the middle of the monster army.

"That's it." Nick said firmly. "We can't sit here, knowing they are losing."

"Nick, please." Udonna sighed, walking down the staircase. "None of you are in any condition to fight. Your magical cores are drained and your bodies are exhausted. You need time to recover before you can rush off to a fight."

"I don't care." Nick shook his head. "They are risking their lives for our city, while we are sitting ducks here. There must be something we can do. Besides I am a phoenix, like you said. I cannot be killed, so you guys can sit here, but I am going to help them. Even if the best I can do is distract some monsters, it is better than doing nothing."

"Nick, just because you can't die, doesn't mean you can tempt fate." The white witch admonished. "Ryan was right. If the Grid has summoned them here, it is for good reason."

"I am sorry but I have to go." He said grimly.

"Then you are not going alone." Vida said, coming up to stand beside him. "You are not the only magical hotshot here."

"I am going as well then." Maddie sighed. "Where my sister goes, I go."

"I am always up for a perilous quest." Chip grinned, joining them.

Xander and Neil smiled at each other, walking up to their team.

"Someone's got to look over these guys, right?" Xander quipped.

Neil shook his head fondly, remembering the first time they had all unwittingly signed up to be rangers.

"I forgot how stubborn how you rangers can be." Ryan shook his head, joining the group.

"We are coming too." Clare said, as she and Darien walked up to them, the later walking with a slight limp.

"You sure about this?" Ryan asked the elf.

"Can't let the humans take all the glory." He countered with a smirk.

"Wait. As ill-advised as this plan is, I am not letting my son and his teenage friends walk headfirst into danger alone." Lena rolled her eyes.

"Wouldn't be very knight like, if I don't join." Daggeron smiled, impressed by the bravery of the mystics.

"I guess it is decided then." Udonna said forlornly. "You will all join this fight even after knowing that you are weakened and will most certainly be defeated."

"That is what you taught us, Udonna." Nick said.

"This is the way of the mystics." Daggeron agreed.

"And that of the rangers." Ryan added.

"Very well. I guess we are all going." Udonna smiled.

"Wait, what?" Clare blinked. "But you don't have your snow staff?"

"And all your magic is depleted. Even without my staff, it would not be incorrect to say right now, I am probably the only one who can hold my own in a fight. It is not a debate. I am joining you all." She said, taking out her wand.

"Fine. Let's go." Nick smiled at his team, as they headed for the door, when a burst of bright light appeared over their heads, causing them to shield their eyes.

The light subsided to reveal a projection of a dark expanse with several points of light littered in it, and a faint line of light joining them all.

"What's that?" Vida asked.

"It looks like a constellation." Neil observed.

"No." Lena shook her head. "It is no mere constellation. It is the power of the stars, yes, but cannot you all feel it? The raw cosmic power."

Strands of white energy sprang from the projection and wrapped around their bodies, transforming them into their armoured forms, including Udonna.

"How is this possible?" Udonna asked in shock. "A direct connection to the Magical Source!"

"It's the Morphin Grid…" Ryan said slowly.

"Somehow I don't feel tired anymore." Darien said, closing and opening his fists, feeling the raw magic reinvigorate his body.

"Same." Neil said, before looking at Udonna. "How are your powers back?"

"I honestly have no idea. Without my snow staff, it should be impossible. Not to mention the fact that the white wand is yours now." She said, perplexed.

"We are all healed and ready to fight." Lena said. "It is a miracle!"

Just then, an apparition appeared in front of the projection, a figure in a purple cloak wielding a scepter with a purple gem on its top.

"It is a gift for your bravery." The figure said.

"It's him… The being I met in the astral plane!" Clare pointed out.

Ryan's eyes widened behind his helmet, as he felt the waves of pure power emanating from this being, which put even the star power of Diabolico and the dark magic of the demon queen Bansheera to shame. He knew there was only a single order of beings in all of creation who could open a direct link to the Morphin Grid on a mere whim, but he had believed them to be legends crafted by ancient aliens and interdimensional beings, but one was standing right in front of them.

"You are one of them… A Morphin Master!" He gasped.

"Yes." The being nodded. "I am Master Purple."

"The Heavenly Saints…" Udonna murmured as Daggeron and Lena bowed their heads in reverence.

"You said you couldn't interfere." Clare said confused. "That's why you channeled my magic. You said help was coming."

"Help is on its way, I assure you, but even with their aid, I fear your friends might fall short." He said gravely.

"That's why you recharged us." Chip caught on. "Cool! A magical being giving us a boost!"

"Chip!" Lena scolded. "He is more than just a magical being. He is a heavenly saint… an entity equivalent to a god!"

"It is alright, Saffron Sentinel." Master Purple said with a laugh, before turning to look at Clare. "And yes, I am not supposed to involve myself in battles of the mortal plane, but I hope the disturbance in the Morphin Grid from the interdimensional portals you created will cloak my actions and prevent them from being discovered by my brethren."

"If the other saints don't approve of your actions, you are risking a lot by helping us." Daggeron assumed.

"I am." He said slowly. "When the alternative is to do nothing but watch as all worlds are blanketed by darkness, my actions are imperative, even if they come at a great personal cost."

"We won't let you down." Nick said firmly. "Thank you for helping us."

"I know." Master Purple said, as both him and the projection of the Grid started to fade. "Go now, Mystic Force, and fight with honour. May the Power protect you forevermore!"