Disclaimer: I am not in any way associated with Power Rangers Mystic Force and I own nothing.

Pairing: Nick/Madison

Looking at the different CDs that she had put on display, The Blue Ranger sighed.

It had been two weeks since a certain Ranger had left. Two weeks of gloomy Nicklessness. Though she wouldn't admit it, she was worried about him.

A lot had happened in the past few months that would cause any normal person to breakdown. Of course, since when does a normal person transform into Power Rangers?

She missed him dearly, and any one could see that the others did too. Vida would look up from DJ-ing and start to say a name, but would stop realizing that the friend she wished to show her new mix to was absent. Chip had taken to wearing a red cape in honor of the leader who was off on his own adventure. Xander moped around the Rockporium even more than normal since he lost his pal who would go do stuff with.

Madison, on the other hand, put on a happy face anyone could see through. She retreated into herself, becoming the shy young woman she was before a certain guy who tends to wear red came into her life.

Walking away from the shelf of CDs, Maddie sauntered over to the main desk to talk to Toby.

"Hey Toby, its not very busy today, would you mind if I took the evening off?" asked the Blue Ranger in a slightly hopeful voice.

Toby, who wasn't paying attention, mumbled an affirmative from behind the latest BriarMusic magazine.

Waving to her sister she took off down the street, headed toward the forest. Lately she had been spending more and more time in the forest in a quiet place she had found. When her powers were growing, she found it frustrating to practice indoors where she often drenched things when she lost control. She got so vexed one day that she stormed off in a huff from a confused soaked Nick who had accidentally disrupted one of her spells.

While she walked off her anger, she found a little spring that dropped off a six or so foot cliff into a little pool that was fairly deep. The sound of the small waterfall mixed with the relaxing atmosphere instantly calmed her. She found that practicing spells here was easier. She had a copious amount of water to manipulate and being outdoors solved the problem of getting things (or people) wet.

Since the impending battle of against the Master she had increased her escapes to the peaceful place to prepare for battle and to soothe her nerves. Now that the final battle was over, she still found herself coming here. Sitting on a root of a tree near enough to the spring to put her bare feet into, Maddie leaned back against the trunk and relaxed.

She didn't know how long she had been there, but the sun had sunk farther down on the horizon when she heard the snap of a twig. Her instincts kicked in and she stayed still, pretending to still be in a daze, senses totally alert. The rustle of clothes alerted her to the fact that it was human, and she tensed prepared to act.