Chapter Text
Chip watched as an arrow flew past and missed its target. He turned his head back at Nick who lowered his bow.
"Your elbow is too high, Nick. Lower it to shoulder level and try again," He said.
He heard Nick groan softly.
"Come on. You're doing much better than before," He said.
"But me getting better isn't good enough for dad," Nick said with a groan.
"You run circles around him in sword fighting."
"That's sword fighting. This is archery. He will be highly disappointed if I'm not up to par."
He looked around briefly to make sure neither Daggeron nor Leanbow was around.
"Let me in on a little secret. Leanbow isn't as good as archery as everyone believes. Daggeron had to cover for him a few times from their teacher. Just say…you didn't hear it from me," He said with a chuckle.
"Really now? Thanks, that's good to know," Nick said with a grin.
"Let's pack this stuff up and head back."
He wandered over to pick up some of Nick's arrows on the ground. He could hear Nick wandering around beside him.
"Speaking of sword fighting…How did you learn that move?" Nick said.
"Uhh…Sentinel Knight moment…"
He has been having a lot of those lately. Sentinel Knight Moments as he called them. Today, it was a weird sword fighty thing he did against Daggeron. It just came to him. He really didn't want to hurt Daggeron. He really hoped that Daggeron's head was okay. Yesterday, it was a book he picked up at Rootcore in a language he had never even seen before. Sure enough, he was reading it like he knew it all of his life.
The Rock Porium was a disaster. Vida was still mad at him. Xander tried to make him work…even if he doesn't work there anymore. Maddie was sweet and tried to help him out. Then…he had one of SK moments, picked up Xander's guitar and started to play. He didn't even know the song he was playing. He just…did it. After he was finished, he looked up to have everyone staring at him. Some people started to clap then others followed suit. He glanced over at his friends…their shock expressions on their faces…. He knew he needed to get out of there. He bolted and didn't look back.
It was strange. He always wanted to go on adventures. Now…after returning from one, he just wanted things to get back to semi-normal. Not going to happen. Now, he wondered where in the world did the Sentinel Knight learn how to play guitar?
"They must come in handy," Nick said as he walked beside him.
"Not really…they just sort of…pop up. Most of the time, I don't realize what I'm doing until I'm already doing it," He said as they headed back toward the archery stands.
"You figure it out."
"I hope so…"
"You're still doing Maddie's interview today?"
"Yes…" He said with a sigh.
He hasn't talked to any of his friends since he bolted from the Rock Porium. Oh, he knew they called because his mom told him. He tried to call them back…to talk. The only thing he did was hang up the phone.
He didn't know what to say.
He was at a complete loss for words.
And he hated it.
"Well…good luck with that," Nick said.
Yes, he had a feeling he was going to need it.
-MF—
"Would you sit still, Chip?" Madison said as she adjusted the light. She watched Chip's eyes dart around the room and his fingers were tapping the table. She can't remember the last time she saw Chip this nervous.
The answer was never.
"I can't," He said.
"We can do this another time if you want," She said with a frown.
"No…No. I promise you that interview and I'm going to do it," He said as he shook his head. His eyes looked at her for a moment before he looked away from her.
She sighed softly. She knew she shouldn't have reacted as badly as she did three days ago. She was just surprised. She tried calling Chip several times but he was always out doing something with his family. She was surprised that he showed up for the interview. She's glad that he did. She was almost happy to see that Xander and Vida went to lunch early. No interruptions.
"First…I'm sorry…I react really badly."
"Maddie….don't feel bad…I didn't react any better…I'm sorry I bolted like that. It was a shock to see everyone staring at me…then the guitar. You know…I'm still wondering where the Sentinel Knight learned how to play guitar."
She giggled a little.
"Maybe…you can ask him later?"
"Maybe…Hey, Maddie…why are we having the interview in the stock room?"
"It's the quietest place in the whole shop. No interruptions from employees or customers. Good thing about seniority, huh?" She said with a grin.
He laughed.
"Makes sense…Normally, I don't have a bright light on me in a dark room. I feel like I'm in a Law and Order episode."
"What? Have you been a bad boy?"
He blinked at her for a moment before he laughed again.
"For a moment, I thought you were V."
"She is my sister. I suppose some things have rubbed off on me."
She reached over to turn on the camera.
"Okay…let's start…my first question is..."
-MF-
"Then Dax hit the ball and whacked poor Tyzonn in the head. It nearly knocks him out. He did have a bruise the size of a golf ball. It was safe to say that Dax wasn't allowed to teach us how to play pool anymore," He said with a grin.
She laughed. She couldn't help herself. The images of Chip trying to play pool were hilarious. Her favorite story is when Ronny took Tyzonn and Chip trick or treating. He said that their reaction to cartoon characters was hilarious. Some of his stories were like that…funny. Other times, his stories were quite sad like Tyzonn getting turned into a monster because he refused to work for Mortar. Mack turned out to be a robot which was a shocker as well. It has got to be a first. But like those…they turned into happy endings…Mack is human. Tyzonn returned to normal.
Most of all, they won against evil.
But when she asked questions about the Sentinel Knight, his eyes glazed over. He stared out into a distant…unseen space. Sometimes, his eyes were so sad…
"He was willing to bind himself to the crown…Maddie. It was all for protecting countless universes and people. In exchange for immortality, he watched his family, his friends, his brothers...his entire order…die….fade away. He mourned for so long…he has been alone for so long…I don't how he could do it. I don't know if I could do it…." His voice trailed off into silence.
"Chip….he knows…that he isn't alone…He has the Overdrive team…he has you…and us…every ranger team past, present, and future." She said softly.
"You're right…I think we would like that."
That word again…We. It was kind of disconnected to her to hear him referring to himself as we…their…or us. Sometimes, she wondered if they were still connected.
"Chip…Do you know where the crow…"
A loud knocking interrupted her next question. She glanced over at her watch. Wow…they have been talking for over an hour now.
"Unlike some people, we are trying to work," Xander's voice shouted from the other side of the door.
Quickly, she moved over to the camera and turned it off.
"Work….Did he learn that while I was away?" He mumbled.
She started to laugh.
"CHIP!"
He grinned at her.
"Thanks, Chip. I'm sure I have more than enough,"she said.
"It was no problem…I'm glad to help…." He said in the middle sentence.
"Chip?"
"I think he would like this. Me telling his story…."
"So…you would go for round two?"
"Only if it isn't in the stock room."
-MF—
Xander watched as Chip and Maddie exited the stockroom. Maddie smiled and waved good-bye to Chip before she headed back to the cash register. Chip glanced over at V who is busy with a customer. Chip sighed and headed over to the comic books. He felt for the guy. Vida and Chip have a friendship that he didn't quite understand sometimes. And trying to talk to V about it and she always gave him cool looks.
OF course, he wasn't the greatest friend either.
He was a little jealous of the fact that Chip can play guitar now. A little mad at himself for not knowing his friend was the Sentinel Knight. He racked his brain about it. He should have known his best friend was there. He knew the Sentinel Knight was quite formal. He would always call him the green magician. Nothing else…Wait a minute…before he left…Sentinel Knight called him Xander. Perhaps….maybe…that was a sign…or something. Now, he is a little mad at Chip for not telling him that he was the Sentinel Knight.
He sighed softly. Most of all, he is plain confused.
That's why he banged on the stock room's door.
Chip wasn't exactly Chip anymore. It wasn't like Chip was a totally different person. No…No… he is still the same happy, go-lucky guy he remembered. It just…he seemed…quieter. He didn't bounce around the store as much. There are moments he just stared out into space. It was strange.
It wasn't Chip.
He had no clue what he thought about it. Slowly, he approached Chip who was reading a comic book.
"Hey, mate," He said.
Chip looked up from his comic book and smiled at him.
"Hey, Xander. How are you?"
"Good…Good…How did the whole interview thing go?"
"Good. She was very thorough."
He laughed.
"She did the same thing with me when I returned from the Overdrive thing. It felt like I was getting third degree from a date."
"I said it was a Law and Order episode."
"That works too."
They laughed together. Slowly, the laughter died away and silence fell between them.
"That was a pretty neat thing you did with the guitar."
Chip sighed as he set the comic book on his lap.
"Sentinel Knight is the one who knows…not really me."
"How did he know how to do it then?" He said curiously.
"Not quite ... .sure…Wait…," Chip said before he phrased. He frowned for a moment.
"Yes, one of his brothers taught him. That was a very long time ago."
"Hmmm…I keep that in mind. So…when is my favorite employee coming back to work for me?"
Chip snorted and smiled slightly.
"You have plenty of new employees now, Xander. You don't really need me."
"Of course, I do. You know more about comics than anyone in the store."
Chip's smile slowly dimmed.
"I don't think…I can. Daggeron wants me to work with some new students. Mom wants me closer to home. I'm going to be restarting school in the fall. I…" Chip said.
"Once a week." He said. He didn't want to hear it. He didn't want his friends to shatter into the wind. He was going to try his hardest to keep his friends together.
"Excuse me?"
"Can you work once a week?"
"Sure…I can."
"Good…it settled. Thanks, mate" He said as he hit Chip's shoulder.
"I don't know how you talk me into this stuff, Xander." Chip said.
"My good looks and charm."
Chip snored and started to laugh.
"More like one of my best friends who needs some help."
"Alright…alright…you win. One more thing…how about a guitar duet? The girls would love it."
Chip's horrified expression told him everything. His friend may have changed but underneath it all, he is still Chip.
-MF—
"Please….watch the tape, V."
"No."
"Why not?"
"…"
Madison sighed softly and set the tape on Vida's bed.
"When you have time….just watch it…okay?" Madison said before she left her room. Vide sighed as she turned back to her tables. Her hand moved to the on switch but it stopped. She tilted her head toward the tape. She knew what was on the tape. She knew all about the interview. She didn't want to hear it. She wasn't mad….per say. She was…she was…hell, she didn't know how she felt. Her hand reached for the switch but stopped.
"Screw this. I'm going to watch it."
She stepped away from her equipment and walked over her bed. She picked up the tape and put it into her VCR. She set everything up then took a seat on her bed. She picked up the remote and pressed play.
-MF—
Long after the tape was over and done with, she sat there and stared at the tv. She sighed softly. Great…now…she doesn't know what she thought? It was hard on her…when he disappeared. The note was simple. He had some ranger business to attend too and he will be back as soon as he can. No one knew what that ranger business was. She talked to everyone. She cast spell after spell. Nothing…her best friend has vanished off the face of the planet.
And it scared her. It scared her so bad.
She hates being scared.
She picked her pillow and threw it against the wall.
"BASTARD!"
"Well…that is good to know. Was the wall supposed to be me?"
Her head twisted to see Chip sitting on her window's ledge. He grinned oddly at her.
"How did you get in here?" She shouted.
"Been doing since I was 11, I kind of mastered it by now."
"Without me hearing you!"
He shrugged his shoulders. Her anger just boiled over.
"DON"T YOU SHRUG YOUR SHOULDERS AT ME, CHARLIE THORN!"
She got up from the bed and poked his chest hard.
He blinked a little and opened his mouth.
"V…."
"Don't V me!'
She told him exactly why he shouldn't call her V. Then she told him exactly how she felt when he disappeared. She called him every name in the book and made up a few too. She poked and hit him. She was too angry to figure out why he was so quiet or why he didn't stop her. She could see flashes of hurt in his eyes when she said something. She couldn't remember what it was. She ignored it. She wanted him to feel what she felt all of those months.
"Bastard…you…you," She panted softly as she banged on his chest softly.
She was so tired of this. She leaned her head against his shoulder in exhaustion. She felt his arms wrap around her. She wasn't going to cry. She wasn't.
"I'm not done yet," She said softly.
"Uh huh…," He said.
"I am not…"
She felt his fingers lift up her chin. She looked up to see him with a somber expression on his face.
"V…I'm very sorry. I really am. You know me better than anyone. Just don't know if you would have believed me in this. And humoring me doesn't count either."
She thought that. Would have she believed him if he told her? Honestly, she doesn't know. She wished she could say yes.
"I don't know, Chip…I really can't answer that…," She said with a sigh.
He sighed softly.
"I missed you."
"You couldn't even remember me."
"Sometimes…I did. It came in flashes then I would forget again"
She blinked in surprise.
"You did?"
He nodded his head.
"Well…tell Mr. Sentinel Knight that he ever wanted to take you away again. Me and him are going to have a very very long talk before that happens." She said sharply.
"I don't think…."
She gave him a look.
"Okay…I'll tell Sassy that."
"Sassy, huh?"
"He won't answer anything else!"
She laughed.
"I keep that in mind," She said.
"So…you forgive me?" He said hopefully. She almost smirked to herself.
"Well…I guess I coulddd."
She giggled as he picked her up and hugged her.
"Thanks, V. You're the greatest friend ever." He said with a grin.
"And don't you forget it either but I want some compensation."
"Anything."
"Me and you are going to the mall tomorrow."
She almost wanted to laugh at his grim expression on his face.
"And we're going to Hot Topic."
"And…."
"I'm going to pick a little something for myself. And for you."
His eyes widened.
"But…But…V…I don't need another 70's band t-shirt. The last one you picked out…I had no clue who they were."
She laughed.
"It was the 80's. Don't worry. It won't be too bad….I promise."
"Okay…"
She smiled and then hugged him.
"Chip?"
"Yes?"
"I miss you too"
-MF-
Chip sighed as he slipped into his room. He was so tired…but so happy. He and V were friends again…even if it was a trip to Hot Topic. He kicked off his shoes and threw him onto his bed. He smiled as he stared out his window. The stars were so pretty today. His thoughts drifted to Sentinel Knight. He wondered how he was doing.
Out of the corner of his eyes, he caught something on his dresser. Slowly, he sat up to see a shiny green gem there. He got up from the bed and walked over to the dresser. There was a note beside it. He picked up the note first and opened it.
Thank You.
He blinked softly.
"Well, that was short and to the point." He said with a grin.
He picked up the green gem. It wasn't very big. It fit comfortably in the size of his hand. He stared at it a little more. Suddenly, it started to glow. As soon as it started to glow…it stopped.
"Weird…."
He set the gem on his dresser again. He glanced up at the mirror. His eyes widened and he stumbled back.
"HOLY SHIT!"
It wasn't him in the mirror. It was the Sentinel Knight.
"WILL YOU STOP DOING THAT?" He shouted at the mirror.
"I am quite sorry. I didn't mean to scare you," Sentinel Knight said.
"You're going to give me a heart attack before I'm 25, Sassy…Why are you here?" He said as he tried to catch his breath.
"I….Uhh…How do I say this?"
"Splitting it out would help," He said as he stared at the mirror.
"I am sorry. I wish to thank you…before I leave."
"You're welcome. Even though I thought you left already," He said with a grin. His heart ached a little. He would miss the guy…even if he had a few bad habits.
"No…I had to take care of a few things."
"Ahh…Probably the crown and the jewels, right?"
Sassy blinked in surprise then nodded his head. For a brief moment, he wondered why.
"Yes…It's time for me to go home."
"You probably miss it."
"Very."
"Good…..bye."
"Good bye, Sassy."
"…"
He watched as the Sentinel Knight laughed.
"Must you call me that name?"
"Yup!" He said with a grin. Sassy snored and started to laugh. Suddenly, he bowed to him. He bowed back with respect.
"Live well, my young friend."
"You too, Sassy…You too."
He watched the Sentinel Knight vanish from his mirror. Carefully, he set the gem down on the dresser.
It was really over.
It was a remarkable adventure.
He threw himself back onto his bed. He got himself comfortable and under the blankets. He closed his eyes a little but they snapped back open.
Wait a minute….Nah…he could have sworn he saw the Sentinel Knight laying in his bed.
Boy…He needed to get more sleep.
End.