The silence stretched, thick enough that every sound in the chamber seemed amplified—the faint hum of the runes, the rustle of shifting clothes, the uneven breathing of five unsettled youths.
Finally, Nick broke it with a sharp laugh, though there was no humor in it."Fate? Prophecies? That's a load of crap. I don't buy into that mystical destiny garbage. People make their own choices. I sure as hell make mine."
His voice carried a defiance that masked the unease beneath it. He wanted this to be a joke, wanted a door to open so he could walk away and forget he'd ever heard the word destiny. But the intensity in Udonna's eyes told him no such escape was coming.
Udonna did not scold him. She only inclined her head slightly, as though acknowledging his resistance."I once said those very words," she admitted quietly. "That destiny was nothing more than a chain meant to bind the free. I thought my choices alone could shape the world."
Her gaze hardened, though her voice stayed calm. "And then I watched an entire army of wizards slaughtered before my eyes. I watched friends sacrifice themselves to weave the Great Seal. I realized that some burdens are not chosen… they are inherited."
Her words hit like stones. None of them spoke. Even Vida, who had her arms crossed stubbornly, shifted uncomfortably at the gravity behind them.
Madison finally whispered, "So… if you and the others sealed it once, why can't you just… do it again? Why us?"
Udonna's face softened. For the first time, the calm mask wavered, revealing the exhaustion behind her eyes."Because I cannot," she said, voice low. "The seal demands sacrifice. Those who wove it gave their very lives to bind the darkness. I am the last of them. If I gave myself now, there would be no one left to guide you. No one left to teach. The darkness would break free again, unchallenged."
The weight of her admission settled in their stomachs like lead.
"So…" Xander cleared his throat, forcing a half-smile though his voice wavered. "You're saying we're supposed to… what? Take up wands and start shooting fireballs at evil shadows?"
Chip lit up, eyes wide. "Yes! Exactly that! Can you imagine? Fireball spells, teleportation, shapeshifting—"
"Chip," Vida snapped, "shut up."
He winced but couldn't hide the grin tugging at his lips.
Udonna lifted her wand and traced a slow circle in the air. Tiny sparks of frost trailed from its tip, floating like snowflakes before dissolving."You will learn," she said, her voice unwavering. "But first, you must understand why. The darkness you face is not a monster to be struck down in one battle. It is ancient. It is cunning. It will test you in ways you cannot imagine. It will find your fears and amplify them. It will seek to divide you, to break you, to turn you against one another."
Her words lingered in the cold air. Madison shivered, and even Vida's sharpness faltered, replaced by a flicker of unease.
"The seal is weakening," Udonna continued. "Already, shadows seep through the cracks. Strange creatures stir in forgotten places. Whispers spread through the air, carried by winds no one feels. If the seal breaks entirely, the darkness will rise again—and this world will not survive."
The youths exchanged glances. Nick's scowl remained, but his jaw tightened as her words settled. Madison bit her lip. Xander tried to look composed but shifted restlessly. Vida's fists clenched. Chip's grin faltered, replaced by awe.
Udonna's tone deepened, heavy with finality."This is why you were brought here. Not because I wished it, but because it is written. You are not ordinary youths. You are the ones the seal itself has whispered of, the ones whose souls resonate with the power of magic. You are the destined bearers of the Mystic Force."
There was a pause—like the room itself had inhaled and was holding its breath.
Nick blinked. "Wait. Hold on. Back up. Are you saying… what I think you're saying?"
Vida arched a brow, skeptical but intrigued. "She's saying we're… wizards? Or… going to be?"
Xander ran a hand through his hair and gave a strained chuckle. "Well, that explains why we're all trapped in a magical snow globe."
Chip, unable to contain himself any longer, practically bounced where he sat. "You mean we're going to be rangers, right? Magic rangers! Oh man, oh man, this is literally the best day of my life!"
Madison frowned, staring at the runes beneath her feet. "But… why us? Out of everyone in the world… why us?"
Udonna regarded them quietly for a long moment before answering."Because your spirits carry the marks of the elements. Fire. Water. Air. Earth. And Lightning. These elements are more than symbols—they are the building blocks of magic itself. Together, you are the only ones who can awaken the ancient powers. Together, you are the ones who can wield the Mystic Arts to stand against the darkness."
Her gaze swept over each of them in turn, and though none wanted to admit it, they felt something stir deep within them—a faint resonance, a warmth in their core that responded to her words.
Nick felt heat pulse in his chest, a stubborn flame that mirrored his defiance.Madison felt a cool wave settle through her, steady and calm despite her fear.Vida sensed the rush of wind in her veins, restless and sharp. Xander felt the weight of stone beneath him, grounding his nervous humor. Chip felt sparks of light dance at the edge of his vision, filling him with childlike wonder.
Udonna's voice softened, almost like a mother speaking to children."You may not believe it now. You may deny it, resist it, even hate it. But the power within you is real. And soon… very soon… it will awaken."
The chamber grew silent again, but it was a different silence than before. Not one of disbelief or denial, but of weight. Of realization.
Nick clenched his fists, frustration warring with the fire in his chest."So what—you're just gonna train us to fight your war? Throw us at this darkness like sacrifices?"
Udonna shook her head firmly. "Not sacrifices. Protectors. Chosen not because you are expendable, but because you are capable. You have within you the strength this world needs. You will not fight alone. You will fight as one. That is what it means to be rangers."
The word lingered in the air—rangers.
It carried with it every image they'd seen on television, every story of heroes in armor facing impossible odds. And now, impossibly, it was being placed on their shoulders.
Chip whispered it reverently. "Rangers…"
Vida's brow furrowed, her tone sharp to hide her unease. "This is insane. We're just kids. We've never… we don't know how to…"
Udonna interrupted gently, "Neither did those before you. Every ranger begins as someone ordinary. What makes them extraordinary is not their power, but their choice to rise when the world needs them."
The words hung heavy, striking something deep in each of them.
For the first time since they'd arrived, Nick said nothing. His glare remained, but there was hesitation now—doubt not in her words, but in himself.
Madison hugged her knees, her eyes distant. Vida stared stubbornly at the ground. Xander exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. Chip's grin crept back, though softer this time, tempered by awe.
Udonna stood, her robes flowing as if stirred by an unseen wind. Snowflakes drifted from the air, landing gently on the shoulders of the destined five.
"Your journey begins now," she said, her voice carrying finality. "Whether you accept it or not, the darkness stirs. And when it awakens… only you will have the power to stand against it."
Her eyes glimmered like ice, piercing yet gentle.
"Will you accept this… as the Mystic Force Rangers?"
--- ✦ ---
So guys, this is the last side story, we are going to focus on the main plot and Zayne from now on. Thanks for the never ending support guys. Love you all ❤️