Prologue:
Author's Note: This story is a cross between Wild Force and Dino Thunder.
3,000 Years Ago:
Life in the Kingdom of Animaria had always been peaceful. The powerful animals lived in peace with the humans they shared the land with. Princess Shayla ruled the land with kindness and grace. People of the kingdom danced and praised the mighty animals. Most of all, the land was well taken care of. There was no pollution, just beauty.
As was the norm, Merrick Baliton was with Princess Shayla. He was one of the six mighty protectors of Animaria should anything ever actually happen. If that were to happen, he was to protect the Princess. In the meantime, it gave him a good reason to spend time with the woman he realized he had deep feelings for without question. They were on their way to honor the noble deer. Every day he played the flute as Shayla sang to him. It kept him happy.
Elsewhere in the woods, Caelia Baliton, Merrick's little sister was singing to the mischievous Bear Brothers. Caelia liked spending time with the black and polar bears that, while total opposites, would do anything for each other. She thought they were a lot like herself and Merrick. He was duty-bound, would almost never break a rule, which was why he barely acted on his feelings towards Princess Shayla. Caelia, on the other hand, she was always testing her limits. She got away with a lot between Merrick being Princess Shayla's personal protector and the fact that she herself was Shayla's pupil and confidant. Princess Shayla had been teaching her more about music for a few years while she taught her more and more about the different animals and their personalities. If she wasn't with Shayla and Merrick had a little time, he had taught Caelia to fight. It wasn't really proper or allowed, but he wanted her to know on the off-chance something bad did happen one day in Animaria.
Leaving the Bear Brothers, Caelia started making her way to do her normal chores. She cleaned the home that she shared with Merrick as well as cooked the evening meal. It was something she had just started doing and it had become her routine. Merrick had always taken care of her. The spirits of the universe had seen fit to take their mother when Caelia was born. They had taken their father when she was only nine lunar years. Merrick had taken care of her mostly on his own since. Caelia believed Princess Shayla took her on as a student and confidant so Merrick didn't have to take care of Caelia alone.
As she entered their home, Caelia started making the evening meal, making more than enough for her and Merrick. Sometimes, he invited Princess Shayla over before leaving her for the night. If he didn't, they shared whatever they didn't eat with anyone who was hungry. It was just how things worked in Animaria. Everyone took care of each other.
A little while later, not long before the evening meal was ready, as Caelia finished cleaning, Merrick returned home with Princess Shayla.
"Princess Shayla," Caelia greeted her, bowing in respect, "as always, it is an honor to have you join us for our evening meal."
"How did things go with the Bear Brothers today, Caelia?" Shayla asked her, as she made her way over to hug her.
"Interesting, as always. I love spending time with them. I mean, I love all the animals here in Animaria, but I feel like I connect more with the Bear Brothers."
"You'll have to explain to me why during our next lesson. I'd love to hear why," Shayla replied, smiling as she looked between the Baliton siblings.
"Of course, Princess," Caelia smirked. "Excuse me for a moment."
Caelia went outside where Merrick kept a fresh supply of water. Pulling a ladle of water out, she poured it over her hands, removing the dust from them before going back inside. She removed the stew she had prepared from the fire, placing it on the stone floor. Retrieving bowls and spoons, setting them on the table, before getting goblets for the wine Merrick had for Shayla's visits, Caelia finally retrieved the large pot of stew itself.
"Our evening meal is served," she told Merrick and Shayla.
"It smells delicious, Caelia. As always, thank you for cooking this meal for us," Merrick, who never spoke much in general, said to his little sister, giving her a hug.
"This is wonderful, Caelia. Your meals are always a pleasant event for me," Princess Shayla said as Merrick held her seat for her and settled her down at the table.
"Thank you, Princess," Caelia said.
Merrick took the bottle of wine and poured it into all of the goblets. The night was an interesting one. When it was over, Merrick walked Princess Shayla back home. Things were quiet in the Kingdom of Animaria, just like the humans, the animals, and even the great Animus, a Megazord that seemed to rule over all the animals in Animaria, who were also zords, liked it.
Things didn't stay that way for long. People and even the animals started noticing toxic puddles starting to appear in the kingdom. It made some people sick. The animals tried to help as much as they could, but it kept getting worse. Understanding something big must be coming, the six warriors started training even harder. Plans were put in place as to what to do with Princess Shayla to protect her in case of an emergency. And, unknown to Merrick, Princess Shayla was making plans to keep Caelia safe.
"You realize things are getting bad, don't you, Caelia?" she asked her.
"I do, Princess. The toxins keep appearing. We can't find the source. Something is doing this to Animaria and eventually it will show its ugly face."
"You are right. I know they have a plan to keep me safe. Whether I like it or not, Merrick will have to carry out that plan," Shayla said, rubbing the necklace Merrick had given her. "Now, I want to protect you. I will not let Merrick lose you, like the two of you lost your parents. He is a warrior. Neither of us can stop him from fighting. We can give him peace of mind by keeping you safe. He worries so much for you Caelia. You are his world."
"Tell me what you need me to do, Princess."
They began planning. Shayla began teaching Caelia more advanced magic than what she had already taught her. She hoped Caelia would never have to use it, but she feared she would barely have the time to master it before she would need it.
A small attack happened. Things called Orgs attacked Animaria while Princess Shayla, Merrick, and Caelia were out with the deer. The five warriors that held the Crystal Daggers were able to fight them off, but now the people of Animaria knew what they were facing. Whatever had created the Orgs was behind the toxins.
Merrick began to worry. The attack wasn't far from the home he shared with his sister. According to the other warriors, these Orgs were quick, and some had dangerous powers. His duty was to the Princess, but he knew his sister was not one to flee a battle. He had taught her to fight and Princess Shayla had taught her magic. How could he carry out the duty he was sworn to do when his sister was in just as much danger?
Princess Shayla eased Merrick's mind by keeping Caelia close to her for her lessons instead of sending her off to study some of the animals independently. So the three of them were spending more time together. While they did, he realized that even though Caelia was Princess Shayla's confidant, when it was time for her lessons she paid very close attention to everything the Princess tried to instill in her. It made him proud to see that there were times that his little sister was serious.
Days had gone by in Animaria without another appearance from the Orgs. The pollution was still appearing in random places, making people sick, but no attacks. Princess Shayla had told Caelia to stay home to practice some important things she had taught her, which made Merrick suspicious since they had been staying close to each other and Caelia's lessons had never been a secret to him before. When Merrick returned home at the end of the day, he found Caelia outside, leaning on a tree, looking pale and very ill. He rushed to her.
"What happened to you, Caelia?"
"I came outside to get fresh water. I thought I heard an unfamiliar noise, not one of the animals, in the woods somewhere back here. When I came over to check, that was there," Caelia said, pointing.
Merrick looked where his sister was pointing. It was a puddle of the toxins. It was maybe thirty feet behind their home. The toxin was on Caelia's foot. Merrick ran to the fresh water they had, bringing some to wash it off her foot.
"I'll make sure you get better, Caelia. I promise."
He tried to pick her up but suddenly the Bear Brothers were on either side of Caelia. Merrick bowed to the bears and backed up. As he did, he bumped into Princess Shayla.
"Princess… I…" Merrick started.
"I got here as soon as the Bear Brothers told me what happened to Caelia. They want to help her, Merrick."
"Can they?" he asked.
"She looks bad, but they seem confident. We have nothing to lose by letting them try."
Merrick nodded. The Bear Brothers got up on their hind legs, making them taller than Caelia, who looked like she did not have much time left, slumped against the tree. Merrick couldn't understand all of the animals the way Princess Shayla or even his sister could, so he didn't know what was going on. After a minute, a bright yellow glow appeared between the two bears. A few minutes after that, Caelia looked like herself again. She could even stand up, and once she did, she hugged the Bear Brothers.
"Thank you guys," Caelia said to the bears. "I am really grateful you came to my aid."
Merrick observed silence between his sister and the bears.
"I promise, I will try to spend time with you soon."
The bears rubbed against her, nuzzling her, and then returned to the woods.
"Merrick, Caelia, I insist that you stay with me," Princess Shayla said suddenly.
"Princess, we can't," Merrick protested.
"I insist, Merrick. You are my protector, Caelia is my confidant and pupil. As things are obviously getting more dangerous, it is safer for you to be closer to me. And as for Caelia, as things get more dangerous, I want my confidant at my side," Shayla replied.
"Merrick, this is the Princess' decision that she insists we carry out, in part to keep her safe. How, as a knight and her sworn protector, can you try to deny her this request?" Caelia asked her brother.
Merrick looked between Shayla and Caelia. He knew he lost.
"Fine. Of course we will graciously accept your offer, Princess Shayla," he said, bowing to her.
Caelia hugged Shayla. "Thank you," she whispered in her ear.
"Anything for you two. I'm glad the Bear Brothers are so bonded to you that they came to me to help you," she whispered back before letting her go.
The three made their way back to Princess Shayla's castle, where she ensured they were comfortable before she herself went to sleep for the night. She didn't know that once he was sure the Princess would not leave her chamber, Merrick went to Caelia.
"Caelia, are you sure you're alright?" he asked, sitting next to his sister.
Caelia rolled over to look at her brother. She could see he was still scared of how he found her. He would never show that panic in front of Shayla, but Caelia could see it.
"Merrick," she said, as she pulled herself up to a sitting position and took her brother's hand, "I love you. And I know how much you love me. You've taken such good care of me since we've lost our father. I'm sorry I made you worry so much today. I didn't mean to. But please, don't worry about me so much now. The Bear Brothers are quite powerful and they healed me."
"You are so important to me, Caelia. If I had lost you today…" Merrick began.
Caelia hugged her brother.
"Hush, Merrick. You didn't lose me. I'm safe. It's you and me. We'll make it through all of this. Even if we get separated, we'll find each other after the battle."
"What do you mean, 'separated'?" Merrick asked, pulling away from Caelia so he could look her in the eyes.
"You don't want me on the field of battle with you, do you?"
"Of course not! I want you somewhere safe if these Orgs come back and things get worse than they've been."
"This is why I said, even if we get separated in battle, we will find each other again. I promise, Merrick."
Merrick hugged Caelia to him again. Internally he hoped that he would see her again if things did escalate into a great battle. At the same time, Caelia internally hoped Merrick would forgive her for the strategy she and the Princess had devised.
Princess Shayla began leaving the castle for shorter periods, only for a few hours a day, usually in the afternoon. In the mornings, Merrick would go train with the other warriors so they were prepared for any other Org attacks. While he was gone, Caelia and Shayla would work on the magic Caelia would need in case things got bad.
A few weeks past and the Orgs started attacking. Nothing major at first, things that Merrick and the five great warriors were able to handle with ease. But they were coming more frequently. Shayla and Caelia were spending more time in the castle so Merrick could fight without worrying over them.
"A greater battle will come soon, I'm afraid, Caelia," Shayla said to her as she looked out at the kingdom, which was under attack.
"I know. I can feel it and so can the animals. There's nothing that can be done to stop it. It will come."
"You should write Merrick a note, Caelia, to explain what you're going to do when that battle inevitably comes. When I am brought to the temple for safety, I will give it to him while you go do the spellwork."
Caelia nodded at the Princess. She sat down at a table with a piece of paper and a quill. It wasn't easy, but she started the letter to Merrick. When she was done, she rolled the letter tight and took the ring that had been on a string necklace from around her neck. It had been her mother's and she'd had it all her life. She wrapped the string around the letter with the ring dangling off of it. Merrick would know that this came directly from her because she'd never taken it off before. After explaining the meaning of the ring to Princess Shayla, she left the letter in her care, hoping that when this all ended all three would be reunited once more.
The time had come. Not only was there a major attack of powerful Orgs, but the most powerful Org of all, Master Org, attacked Animaria. They attacked everyone and everything in the kingdom. The five warriors with the Crystal Daggers held off the attack while Merrick, who had initially been fighting with them, left to find Princess Shayla. He found both the Princess and Caelia under attack by Orgs, with Caelia trying to protect Shayla. Merrick jumped in and saved them both, even though his sister had been doing a good job on her own.
"Caelia, get to safety! I have to take the Princess to the temple in the Valley of the Wild Zords!" Merrick shouted over the chaos that had erupted in the kingdom.
Caelia hugged her brother.
"I promise you, I will be safe, Merrick. The Princess will explain soon. I love you, Merrick," Caelia whispered in his ear before she kissed his cheek and ran off.
Merrick didn't notice that she had not been wearing their mother's ring around her neck when she left and he was confused by what she said. He shook his thoughts of Caelia off after a split second and focused on Princess Shayla. He grabbed her by the hand and started leading her towards the temple.
"We're putting you into an suspended sleep, until you and the Power Animals are needed again, Princess. The valley and temple will be lifted into the air where you will be safe from harm," Merrick explained as he tried to get her to lay down so he could leave, but Shayla stopped him.
"Merrick, wait! I need to give this to you! It's from Caelia."
Princess Shayla handed him Caelia's letter and he looked at it, recognizing the ring his sister had always worn around her neck, their mother's ring.
"Where did you get this ring, Princess?"
"Caelia used it when she sealed the letter so you would know she wrote it. Please, before you put me into this sleep and send me into the skies so you and the other warriors can fight without fear for my safety, read this."
Merrick untied his mother's ring from the letter and began to unroll it.
Meanwhile, Caelia had met up with the Bear Brothers deep in the woods already.
"Alright, Boys, show me the way to where I need to work this," she said to the bears.
The Black Bear insisted she get on his back and she did. The two bears started running away from Animaria. Caelia sent part of her spirit to comfort and protect Merrick, while her heart hurt that she was going to be so far from both her brother for the first time in her life. Still, she knew Merrick would be in her heart, especially until she would be back in his arms. Instead of focusing on the sadness of them being apart, Caelia returned her focus to the task at hand.
As Merrick got the letter unrolled he immediately recognized Caelia's writing. He began to read:
My Dear Brother Merrick,
This is the most difficult thing for me to write and it will be difficult for you to hear. Princess Shayla and I understand your duties as a knight of Animaria and as her royal protector. If you are reading this, Brother, then the attacks with the Orgs have gotten bad enough that the Princess is being brought to the Temple in the Valley of the Wild Zords for her protection. You know that Shayla, who I know you care deeply for, will be safe there. That leaves me, and that is why I am writing this letter to you, Merrick.
I do not want to burden your mind as you need to face these battles. You are a brave and fierce warrior, as fierce as any wolf. So, Shayla and I have come up with a plan to keep me safe. When you bring Shayla to the Temple, I will meet the Bear Brothers deep in the woods. They will take me somewhere safe and help me perform the most advanced magic I have ever performed. The Bear Brothers have agreed to be my guardian until I no longer need one or keep me hidden if they can no longer carry the duty out until you and I can be reunited.
I am in great hands with the Bear Brothers protecting me, Merrick. They are very loyal and protective of me, they won't let any harm come to me. So please, as you face this battle, do it with a clear mind that both Shayla and I are safe. I love you so much, Merrick, and I hope you can forgive me for doing this without telling you. Hopefully, when this is all over, Princess Shayla, yourself, and I can reunited and live peacefully in Animaria again. Until we are reunited again, my spirit will be with you and you will be in my heart.
With my Greatest Love, Brother,
Caelia
Merrick stared at the letter for another minute before looking at Princess Shayla.
"What is Caelia running off to do?" he asked her, ignoring the protocols of how to properly address her for the first time.
"She's safe, Merrick. I taught her how to enter a suspended sleep. The Bear Brothers will watch over her until it is safe for her to awaken, which will be when it is time for the two of you to be reunited."
"So my sister is being watched over by Wild Zords until I can find her? And you thought I shouldn't know this? I've taken care of her for almost half of her life."
"Merrick, she will be safe. I promise you that, otherwise I wouldn't have done this. I would have found another way to keep her safe. When this war is over, when you are free fighting these Orgs, Caelia will awaken and you will be reunited."
"Yes, Princess," Merrick said, as he gave her a still bow, turned and left.
Merrick returned to the other five warriors. Together, they cast the spells that lifted the Temple and the Valley of the Wild Zords into the air and that would put Princess into a suspended sleep until they were needed again. Once that was done, their sole focus was the battle with the Orgs and Master Orgs.
Caelia had felt like they had been running forever. When they finally stopped, she searched their new surroundings and found food for herself and the Bear Brothers. She fed them first, grateful for their help in the plan to keep her safe. After the three had eaten, Caelia prepared the supplies for the spells from her satchel. Once she was ready, the Bear Brothers came closer to her sides.
Back in Animaria, the battle waged fiercely on. The warriors and Merrick were handling the lesser Orgs with relative ease. However, the slightly more powerful Orgs, the ones that seemed to be leadership below Master Org, were harder to face. On top of that, Master Org seemed impossible to stop. So many had already been destroyed. It was impossible to keep track of where the Animal Zords were. Still, Merrick and the warriors pressed on. It was when Master Org destroyed Animus that Merrick knew that something drastic needed to be done.
As he ran to the Ancient City, he knew what he was risking, he knew there was a possibility it was all for a legend and if it wasn't, he'd be guaranteeing giving his life over to a powerful curse. But he was willing to risk the curse if it meant stopping Master Org and the other Orgs. So, knowing that the relic he was looking for, a cursed wolf mask with great power, was in the Ancient City, Merrick entered the city to search for it.
Deep in the Ancient City he found the den of Master Org's General, Nayszor… and the cursed wolf mask of Zen-Aku. Merrick was immediately drawn in by the power of the mask. General Nayzor showed up just as he was looking at the wolf mask, telling him he had made a mistake before he tried to attack him. Merrick dodged the attack and got out of the Ancient City.
When he was clear of the Ancient City, knowing that Princess Shayla and the five Power Animals were safe ion the Animarium, and trusting in Princess Shayla, the Bear Brothers, and his sister that Caelia was safe, he did what he had to do. He put on the mask of Zen-Aku, activating it, and letting the power run through him. With this new evil power, he received new Animal Zords.
Caelia finished her spells. She knew they had been done right because she could feel how exhausted she was suddenly, like she could sleep forever. Before she gave in to the feeling she rubbed the Bear Brothers' heads.
"Thank you, my friends. You will always mean the world to me. I hope we will still be able to be together when I am awake again," she said to them, before kissing each on their head.
The spells overwhelmed her then, and she fell to the ground, hitting her head on a rock as she did. Her injury would not be fatal, however, because she had already fallen into a suspended sleep. The Bear Brothers gently grabbed her shoulders in their jaws and moved her away from where the spell had been done. Then they curled up on either side of her, to make sure her body stayed warm.
Merrick called on his new zords, the Wolf, the Alligator, and the Hammerhead Shark Dark Wild Zords. Combined, they formed the Predazord, which he then used to face off against Master Org. Merrick used the powerful Predator Wave from the Predazord and it destroyed Master Org, but it was when Zen-Aku, the Wolf Duke Org whose spirit had been trapped in the mask, started to take control of his mind. Merrick knew he didn't have long before he lost the fight to keep control of himself to the Org.
Returning to the other warriors, the finished the battles. What Orgs they did not destroy went deep into hiding in fear of their lives. When it was over, he turned to his friends for help.
"Please, I used the Wolf Mask to destroy Master Org and now I can't remove it. It's turning me evil. You have to destroy me before it makes me destroy you," Merrick said, struggling to keep control of his mind and actions.
"No, we will not harm a friend," one of the warriors said, as Merrick collapsed into his arms.
"You don't understand. I can't control it much longer," Merrick explained, hoping they'd understand, as he struggled back to his feet.
He writhed in pain as he fought to keep Zen-Aku from taking complete control of him. He could feel Caelia's spirit around him and it was what had helped him fight off Zen-Aku for as long as he had. But Zen-Aku was even starting to prevent Merrick from feeling Caelia, making it harder to fight him without the resolve his free-spirited little sister always gave him. Finally, he stopped feeling Caelia, Zen-Aku completely blocked Merrick and her from each other, and Zen-Aku won the battle of control of Merrick's body… and attack the five warriors.
The five warriors had no choice. They had to defend themselves, even if it wasn't by choice. Merrick was their friend, but he was possessed by a dangerous evil that needed to be dealt with in some manner. They attacked him just enough to throw him off-balance. Then they plunged their Crystal Daggers into the ground, which created a glowing circular barrier around him.
"Forgive us, Friend. But your sacrifice has saved us all," one of the warriors said, as all five held their hands out, causing the circular barrier to turn to a flame barrier. "But we have no choice."
When the flames cleared, Merrick/Zen-Aku were sealed in a stone coffin, not dead, but in stasis.
"Sleep peacefully forever, Merrick," one of the warriors said, as chains wrapped around the coffin, which was then buried deep in the earth.
As he was being buried in the coffin, Merrick's thoughts broke past Zen-Aku. "I'm sorry, Caelia. Please forgive me for failing you and the Princess." Finally, everything was darkness around him, not even Zen-Aku's voice was in his head.