Nick peered over Kali's shoulder and then reached around her, pressing his hand to her forehead. She yelped in surprise and jumped away, glaring at Nick while he laughed. "Easy, tiger, I was just checking to make sure you aren't running a fever," he teased.
"Why would I be running a fever?" Kali asked, pressing a hand to her chest and slowing her breathing. "Do I look sick?"
"No, but you're reading something that isn't a music magazine," said Nick. "The only other time I've seen you do that is when we were trying to figure out the Fireheart."
Kali rolled her eyes and snatched the book from the breakfast table. She and Nick were still at his sister's apartment, she had been waiting for Nick to get ready before they both headed into work. Rachel had left over an hour ago, considering she had a small commute to make.
"What you reading, anyway?" Nick asked.
"I'm trying to figure out why I can sense when something bad is about to happen," said Kali. "I've always had a sort of sixth sense - I mean, remember when Carrie-Anne had that epileptic seizure in gym class, and I knew it was going to happen before it did?"
Nick nodded. "Yeah, that was weird," he said.
"And that time Coach Wayward almost crashed his car," said Kali.
"He was having a heart attack behind the wheel when you run in front of him," said Nick. "We always put those down to coincidences."
"What if they weren't?" Kali asked. "What if that sixth sense was my magic? I just didn't consider it because I didn't believe?"
Nick looked considerate. The theory had some depth to it, but without proof, it was just an idea. "I still don't get what the book is for," he said.
Kali tossed him the book she had borrowed from Root core. "Udonna said it had all the stories of the Ancient Mystics," she said. "Including the black ranger - she could sense things, too, and not only bad things. She could sense when any kind of magic was being used."
"Okay..." said Nick, still confused.
"She was an elf, Nick," said Kali. "She was an elf with the power of a Hellhound. Two magical creatures that can sense when something is about to happen. What if my ability to sense dark magic is linked to my Hellhound? That could be why I was chosen as the Black Ranger."
Nick scrolled through the pages and then looked up at his best friend. "Have you spoken to Udonna about any of this?" he asked.
"Not yet," said Kali, shaking her head and taking back the book.
"It's a good theory," said Nick. "But, I wouldn't put much faith in it until you can get all the facts. I don't want you to be disappointed."
Kali smiled and nodded, glancing down at the book in her hands. On the front cover was the symbol of the Mystic Force. She run her fingers lightly over the shield, acutely aware that Nick was watching her. She was glad that he believed her, but also knew that he had a point about needing to speak with Udonna.
The silence was broken by the chime of their morphers. Nick opened his and Chip's voice filled the kitchen.
"Guys, we have a problem! Toby was just abducted... and you're not going to believe by whom."
"Spare us the drumroll, Chip," said Kali.
"It was Necrolai."
Nick and Kali shared a startled look as the others chimed in. They all sounded surprised.
"Necrolai? But how?" Vida asked. "We destroyed her with the dawn crystal."
"Well it didn't work," said Xander. "Chip, do you know where she took Toby?"
"No."
Nick looked at Kali. "Can you -?" he started.
"I can try," said Kali.
~X~
Although she still had no idea how her abilities worked, Kali still managed to track down Necrolai's dark signature. She and Nick morphed and, using Nick's mystic speeder, raced to the scene where Toby had been taken. They arrived just ahead of the others and intercepted Necrolai from attack Toby by cutting between the two.
Hooking her feet underneath her, Kali flipped backward off the bike and kicked Necrolai, sending the witch stumbling. Kali landed as Nick swerved his bike around and fired several blasters at the hag.
"Back off, Rangers!" Necrolai yelled, getting back to her feet. She snarled as the others arrived.
"If you haven't learned by now, Necrolai, that we don't take orders from you, then you're never going to learn," said Kali, clenching her hands into fists.
Necrolai hissed and rushed the rangers. They returned fire by splitting up and then surrounding the hag. But Necrolai was too fast for any of them, dying and coming back to life had weakened her, but had been weeks since the Rangers had last fought her, she had had time to recover and get stronger.
As she blocked punch after punch from Kali, Necrolai finally knocked the black ranger down by taking her out by the ankles. Kali groaned and rolled away to avoid being trampled by the witch.
Spotting movement, Necrolai looked around and saw Toby hiding. "Come back!" she yelled at him.
"Stop!" Nick yelled, blocking Necrolai's path to Toby.
"Out of my way!" Necrolai growled.
"What do you want with him?" Nick demanded to know.
"The gatekeeper will be mine," said Necrolai.
"Gatekeeper?" Nick repeated.
"He possesses more power than all of you put together," Necrolai said, pointing at each ranger. "I'll be back!" she warned, before taking off into the air.
Kali struggled to her feet and hurried over to Toby, ready to protect him should Necrolai try and take him from above. When the witch didn't return, she sighed and turned to the store owner. "Are you okay?" she asked, helping him stand.
"I think so," said Toby. "Did that just happen?"
Kali patted his shoulder. "Come on, we'll take you back to the city," she said.
Toby nodded and glanced towards the sky as Kali led him over to the others.
~X~
"Udonna," Maddie called, racing into Root core. The others were hot on her heels. "Something weird is going on."
"We just had a close encounter with Necrolai," said Xander. "Although, we're confused on how that is possible when we destroyed her."
"But that's not why we're here," said Kali. "Necrolai abducted our boss Toby this morning. She said that she had reasons to believe he was someone she knew as the Gatekeeper."
Udonna tensed.
"But we don't even know who that is," said Vida. "We just know that it isn't Toby. He can be a complete fruit loop at times, but he's harmless."
Udonna took a deep breath and turned to the Rangers. She looked solemn and a flicker of despair flashed in her eyes, but it disappeared immediately.
"Do you have any clue who she is talking about?" Nick asked.
"The gatekeeper was a powerful sorceress named Niella," said Udonna. "She was my sister."
Kali folded her arms across her stomach as Udonna left her work at the potions table and paced towards the Xenotome. The white sorceress looked fine on the surface, but Kali could feel the hurt that lay beneath.
"If you don't mind me asking," said Kali, her voice low and comforting. "What happened to Niella?"
Udonna sighed heavily. "During the great battle, Niella cast a spell that sealed the gate and banished Morticon and his armies to the underworld. But the spell was so strong that it depleted Niella of her life force. When the gate was lowered to the depths, Niella was already gone."
Silence followed the story.
"Sorry I asked," Kali apologised.
"Don't apologise, child," said Udonna, surprisingly smiling. "I knew that one day you would need to know about Niella. I just didn't think it would be so soon."
Kali forced a weak smile. She still felt guilty for asking Udonna to relieve a hard memory.
"But her spirit lives on in my heart," Udonna continued. "And through the legacy of her heir."
"She had a child?" Maddie asked.
"Yes, and I fear that is who Necrolai is seeking," said Udonna.
"So, we have to find the child first and protect them," said Vida.
"You won't have to look far," said Udonna. "Neilla's daughter and the heir to the Gatekeeper's power... is Claire."
Claire whimpered nervously as her invisibility spell wore off, and she appeared before the Rangers.
~X~
While the others returned to Briarwood, Kali stayed behind with Udonna to try and find Claire. After the young apprentice had learned the news of her birth, she had taken off in a fit of fear and possibly anger.
"Something is troubling you, Kali," said Udonna.
Kali considered replying but merely shook her head. "It can wait," she said. "Finding and protecting Claire is more important right now."
"Maybe so," said Udonna. "But I sense this is important to you. Did you find the book on the Ancient Mystic's interesting?"
Kali nodded. "Yes. Reading about their battles was enlightening," she said. "It made me consider what the generations to come will think about the battles my friends and I have fought. Will they think us great; like we do the ancients, or will they just think us foolish to battle such dark forces?"
"The next generation of Mystics will learn the same way you have," said Udonna, smiling. "They will conjure their theories and opinions, just like you. But, that is not what is troubling you, is it?"
"No." Kali swallowed and looked to Udonna. "You spoke of Niella's fate the day of the Great Battle. I guess I was just wondering what happened to the Ancient Mystics? Did they survive, or did they die, too?"
"Many of them survived," said Udonna, nodding. "Some of them didn't. Niella wasn't the only casualty of war. The Red Mystic and his knights also fell."
"Knights?"
"Solaris Knight, he controlled the sun," said Udonna. "His name was Daggeron. He was a good friend. There are no records of him ever surviving the Great Battle, and he never came home once peace had returned. I can only guess that he gave his life to save us."
Kali sighed and looked away. "I'm sorry, Udonna, my quest for answers is bringing you unnecessary pain," she said, shaking her head. "We don't have to continue to talk about it. I'm sure I can find answers in the many books that Root core has to offer."
Udonna chuckled and stopped walking. Kali turned to her, confused.
"I assure you, Kali, your questions bring me no pain at all," said Udonna. "I have grieved for many years, and I will continue to grieve regardless of what you're seeking. But, you and your friends have brought me great hope. You are everything the Ancient Mystics would look for in replacements."
Kali smiled. "Thank you, Udonna," she said. "But, if it's all right, I would like to come find you when this is all over. Right now, I think we should focus on finding Claire. Necrolai and Koragg aren't going to stop searching for her, and I fear the worst if they find her before us."
Udonna nodded and the pair continued their search. They soon found Claire, alone, in the middle of the forest between Root core and Phineas' camp. She had stopped to rest on an overturned log and looked severely upset.
Claire jumped as Udonna and Kali appeared beside her.
"Thank goodness we found you," said Udonna, taking a seat next to her apprentice. "What are you doing out here alone?"
"Nothing," Claire answered, looking away.
Kali knelt beside the apprentice and placed a comforting hand on over hers. "Hey, it's okay if you're afraid," she said. "Learning that you have this important destiny is a big deal."
"It's not that," said Claire, shaking her head.
"I don't blame you for being upset with me," said Udonna.
"It's just not fair, Udonna," Claire interrupted. "Being the Gatekeeper is my legacy. You can't keep that power from me forever."
"Claire, there are things that you just don't understand," Udonna said, soothingly.
"I understand. You don't think I can handle it because... I'm incompetent and bumbling and clumsy," Claire said, listing the worst qualities that she could think of.
"Exactly as your mother was," said Udonna, smiling. "You are so much like her."
"But I thought she was a great sorceress," said Claire, surprised and shocked.
"Oh, she was, but not at first," said Udonna. "She blew up our cottage quite a few times trying to get her spells right."
Kali smiled faintly.
"Then why -" Claire started.
"I promised her to always keep you from harm," said Udonna. "I've tried my best to keep that promise."
"And you have," said Claire, smiling through her tears. "I couldn't have asked for a better protector... or a better aunt."
Udonna brushed aside a lock of hair from Claire's face. "Someday you'll be ready to take on your mother's legacy, but not today," she said, gently.
"Nothing is going to happen to you, Claire," Kali said, squeezing the apprentice's hand. "You'll be okay."
"Thanks for coming to find me, Kali," said Claire. "I saw the lengths you were willing to go to save Vida, and then help the others when Vida wanted to hurt them while being controlled."
Kali smiled. "It's not just the Rangers that are my family, Claire, it's you and Udonna, too," she said. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe. You have my word."
Claire wiped away her tears and nodded. She paused, as she felt Kali stiffen and looked to the black ranger, expectantly. "What is it?" she asked.
"Koragg," said Kali, releasing Claire's hand and standing. She turned her back on Udonna and Claire and clenched her hands into fists as the Wolf Warrior appeared through a dark seal.
"We meet again, Sorceress," said Koragg, staring directly at Udonna.
"Stand back, Claire," said Udonna, standing beside Kali. "Leave the child alone, wizard."
"What use would I have for that silly girl?" Koragg asked. "I've come for you."
Kali took a step in front of Udonna and unclipped her Morpher. "You want her, you're going to have to go through me," she challenged. "Magical Source, Mystic Force!"
Koragg laughed and unsheathed his sword. "So be it," he said. "Wolf attack!"
Kali unclipped her Magi staff from her belt and crossed her arms. The black hellhound on top of the wand glinted in the sunlight. "Hells firewall!" Kali commanded, waving the wand between her and Koragg, and a wall of fire erupted between them, absorbing the wolf attack.
As the wall melted away, Kali rushed at Koragg. She ducked to the side and aimed a high-kick to his shoulder, he blocked and slashed at her with his sword. Kali flipped over backwards and transformed her Magi Staff into its sword mode. The two blades clashed until Koragg shoved his up and exposed Kali's torso.
Koragg growled and kicked Kali in the stomach, sending her crashing back onto the floor.
Kali clutched her chest and stomach as she struggled to sit up. A cough rattled her ribs and she looked up a Koragg as he turned his attention back to Udonna.
Udonna held up her wand and fired an icicle at Koragg. He caught it in his fist and it shattered. "Your magic is weak without the power of your snow staff," he said. He held out his hand and trapped Udonna in a magical sphere.
"Udonna!" Kali yelled, trying to stand.
As the sphere shrank, Koragg summoned it to him. "With all the protectors of the human world in our grasp, surely the Gatekeeper will step forward."
"Let her go!" Claire demanded, snatching up Udonna's wand. She pointed the snowflake at Koragg, but nothing happened.
"Nice try, apprentice," said Koragg. He laughed as a dark spell seal appeared beneath him, and he disappeared back to the Underworld.
Kali groaned as she demorphed. This was not good.
~X~
"You're beaten, and no one has come to save you," said Necrolai, standing over the Rangers. She was aware that she was only facing five out of six rangers, but she would hunt down the black ranger once she had finished off her friends. One ranger alone was no trouble. "Maybe there is no other Gatekeeper."
"Wrong, Necrolai!" Kali shouted, firing off a spell or two from her Magi Staff.
The hag growled in pain and anger as she looked up and found the Black Ranger standing not that far away, next to a young girl holding a silver headdress. "What?" she snarled.
"The Gatekeeper's spirit lives on," said Kali. "But if you want her, you're going to have to go through me."
Necrolai scoffed.
Clutching the silver headdress, Claire slipped it onto her head and felt the power it possessed engulf her entire body. She had never felt such power. It transformed her apprentice appearance into that of a Luna warrior, complete with a moon staff at her side.
"Power of the Shining Moon!" said Claire. "Behold - the Gatekeeper!"
"So there is another," said Necrolai. "And my plan to draw you out has worked perfectly."
"You're going to regret ever meeting me, witch!" Claire promised.
Necrolai laughed and unleashed a flurry of energy attacks at Claire and Kali. They were blocked as Claire created a shield using her newfound powers.
"No!" Necrolai cried, horrified.
Twirling her staff between her hands, Claire aimed it at Necrolai and unleashed a full attack. The magic surrounded the hag, causing her to cry out in pain, she fell to her knees as her new powers disappeared.
Kali shared a look with Claire. The apprentice nodded and Kali looked across the plaza to the other Rangers. "You guys ready, or do you want me to do this alone?" she asked.
"We're with you," said Nick, getting back to his feet. The others followed him and they hurried to Kali's side. Jumping into the air, the six rangers flipped over and slammed into Necrolai, knocking her back and onto the ground.
As they landed, Kali returned to Claire's side.
"You will still lose, Rangers," Necrolai growled, getting back to her feet. She was severely weakened from the combined attacks she had sustained from both the Rangers and the Gatekeeper. She hissed and then disappeared into the skies.
Kali sighed but didn't relax. "Guys," she called to the others, waving them over. "We may have beat Necrolai, but we have another problem."
"Udonna has been captured by Koragg," said Claire.
"What? How?" Vida asked. "When?"
"Not that long ago," said Kali. "I tried to hold him off, but he's too strong for one of us alone."
"We have to find -" Nick started. He broke off as he grabbed his head, crying out in pain.
"Nick, what is it?" Vida asked.
Breathing heavy, Nick turned to Claire. "He wants to fight you - alone," he told her.
"I accept," said Claire.
~X~
Despite how much she protested, Kali still couldn't get Claire to reconsider facing Koragg alone. The apprentice was determined to face the wolf warrior and exact revenge on him for taking Udonna.
"You don't have to keep a constant eye on me," Kali said, throwing Xander a dark look. They had returned to Root core, and the others were watching Kali closely to make sure she didn't run off and intercept the fight between Koragg and Claire.
"We do," said Nick. "You've run off before after someone told you no, and we weren't even Rangers then."
Kali rolled her eyes and bit her tongue. She turned her back on her friends and stared into the crystal ball, it had been magically tuned to play the battle between Claire and Koragg, just so the Rangers to could keep an eye on the situation.
"I agree with Kali," said Maddie. "We shouldn't have let her go alone."
"You saw how she sent Necrolai running," said Vida. It was obvious that she was impressed with Claire's abilities as the Gatekeeper. It was a total contrast to her usual bumbling and clumsy self.
"Yeah, but Koragg is an entirely different story," said Nick.
Kali turned to her best friend. "You agree with me, but you still won't let me go?" she asked.
"Claire wanted to do this," said Nick. "As much as we don't want her too, she deserves to at least try."
The crystal ball showed a clear image of Claire arriving at Koragg's battlefield. The Wolf warrior was already there, waiting.
"So, it was you all along," Koragg called.
Without missing a beat, Claire raised her staff into the air and unleashed a barrage of Luna attacks on the warrior.
They hit all around him, but Koragg remained standing without injury. He laughed darkly as the dust settled. "But now you have real power," he said.
"I want Udonna back - now!" Claire demanded.
"Not until I get to see the legendary magic of the Gatekeeper," said Koragg, taking a step forward.
"As you wish," said Claire.
The battle began.
Kali couldn't deny that Claire knew her way around the battlefield. She used her skill of the magic she had learned from Udonna, and the magic of the Gatekeeper alongside her skills as a warrior to keep Koragg at bay.
Twisting her staff between her hands, Claire unleashed the same attack she had used on Necrolai, onto Koragg, and while she managed to knock him back, he still didn't fall.
"She is strong," Koragg mused.
Thrusting her staff into the air, Claire slashed it down and unleashed a half-phased moon spell at the wolf warrior. It struck him dead in the chest, but Koragg merely absorbed it into his shield.
"Impossible!" Claire murmured.
"Quite impressive, I must confess." Koragg held up his shield and the red-eye glinted. "Wolf attack!"
Claire raised her staff and summoned her shield. She managed to hold the wolves at bay, but the attack intensified as Koragg unleashed another barrage of wolves. The shield broke and Claire was thrown back.
"No!" Kali yelled. "Get up, Claire!"
"I'm through playing," said Claire, getting back to her feet. "Magic of the shining moon warrior!"
The rangers shared a look as Claire transformed into, what they could only guess, was her mother's ancient mystic battle mode and grew to monumental heights. Koragg laughed and quickly followed her, combing with Catastros to give him that extra bit of edge that he needed.
It wasn't long before Koragg had eliminated Claire, returning her to her normal human size. He laughed darkly and disengaged from Catastros, before landing before the apprentice and holding his sword to her throat.
Pushing away from the table, Kali headed for the exit. "That's it," she said, over her shoulder. "I'm not watching this anymore. Koragg got what he wanted, he got to fight Claire. I'm not going to stand here and watch him destroy her."
"Wait for us!" Nick called, chasing after her.
~X~
Raising his sword to deliver the final blow, Koragg was blasted aside as Chip and Kali jumped over Claire and attacked him with their magic. The wolf warrior stumbled and growled at the pair, before noticing the others behind them, surrounding the Gatekeeper.
"Rangers!" Claire called.
"Do not interfere," Koragg snarled.
"Why don't you pick on someone your size?" Kali yelled, as Nick jumped over her and summoned the Mystic Force Fighter to his aid. He bounced off of Chip and Kali's shoulders, shot into the air and spun rapidly in a circle, colliding with Koragg as his fire magic surrounded him.
Koragg slid across the ground but didn't fall. He growled and looked up at the Rangers, blocking his path to the Gatekeeper. He should've guessed they wouldn't leave her alone for long.
"No, Claire!"
Kali, Chip and Nick turned to see Necrolai attack Xander, Vida and Maddie, knocking the three of them away from Claire. The apprentice stared, terrified up at the old hag as she dug her claws into Claire's hair and tugged her head back.
Kali gasped and run towards them. She stopped as Koragg crossed her path, blocking her way. "Let her go!" she snapped.
Koragg laughed. "I have a better idea," he said. "Watch and see what you're little friend is capable of."
Holding Claire in her arms, Necrolai forced her head up towards the sky. "By the power of the Gatekeeper, let the gate rise!" the old witch howled.
Claire cringed as the lunar stone in her headdress glowed a pale purple and shot off a pulse of energy into the skies. The clouds overhead turned grey and black, and Kali felt a shiver tingle up and down her spine.
With her job complete, Necrolai tossed Claire aside.
As Kali helped Claire up off the ground, she cradled the young apprentice close and turned her attention skyward. Darkness loomed and the ground shook as massive quakes rolled out to the four corners of Briarwood, and a huge stone gate erupted in the middle of the city.
"This is not going to be good," said Kali.
To Be Continued...