TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS ONE SHOTS
DAY ONE: 13TH DECEMBER.
WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION.
Merrick and Shayla.
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.
1003 B.c.
Animaria.
"Princess Shayla! Princess Shayla!"
Shayla turned towards the young girl calling her name and Merrick's eyes quickly settled on Luna, a young girl with pale hair and big brown eyes, rushing to them with a gap toothed grin and and armful of flowers. Merrick stood behind Shayla, allowing the small girl to bound up to her, and watched Luna babble and show Shayla all the flowers she had found. Luna impatiently tugged the Princess towards the crowds where the people were celebrating the Winter Solstice, dancing and talking around a large bonfire. Merrick followed two steps behind the Princess as she was pulled between throngs of people. The other guardians teased him about not taking a break but were on their guard as they always were anyway.
As the night wore and the celebrations began to ease, Shayla wandered away from the crowds and through the forest. She moved with ease until they reached a small cliff, where she sat down on a fallen tree. He approached and stood to her right.
"Merrick," She huffed slightly."There is no one here to tell us this is improper. Come sit by me please," Shayla asked and Merrick could not stop his legs from carrying him forward.
They sat staring at the stars quietly.
"Would you dance with me Princess?" Merrick asked, soft but hesitant. His worries were quickly replaced when Shayla beamed up at him a small smile on her lips. He took her hand and lifted her up, leading her in slow motions as they danced to sounds of the night.
They slowed until they were barely moving, holding each other in an embrace.
"I have grown to dislike the traditions of Animaria," She said after a while of silence.
He didn't say anything, sure she was not done.
"They are silly and old and do not account for true love. It hurts sometimes, having to stay away from you because tradition will not allow us together. My heart feels so full with my own affection sometimes that I feel like I might burst. I love the kingdom and the Wild Zords greatly, but I know what I feel for you cannot be sacrificed. I know I'd never find love again after you." She confessed and Merrick was lost for words.
"Shayla," He began, murmuring her name so only she could hear it. So it wouldn't get caught in the wind. "I believe in our bond. I know that the fates will try to pull us apart but we are bound. And no tradition will separate us. My love for you is too great." He said and they stayed there together, in this bubble of solitude where no one could protest the love between a Princess and her Protector.
That was the last winter they spent together.
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.
[A/N]
Greg: Thanks for reading! We'll be posting a one shot a day on the run up to Christmas to thank anyone who has been reading our SOAverse stories, to people who asked us to beta read (as it helps toward our Uni degrees!) And to apologise for our slow updates this year!
Sam is away for a few weeks so I have been left in charge of the account *evil cackle*. So I'm going to be answering PM's, posting, answering reviews and whatnot; however, Sam has written five of the oneshots, this first one being one of them, as have I.
Some of said one shots are A/U as they relate to ideas that Sam and I have talked about privately and discussed ideas for or they are SOAverse. I will specify this at the top of the one shot however.
Next to be posted is Dino Thunder! This is set in SOAverse (if you don't know what that is, don't sweat it, you don't need to know to enjoy it but if you would like details but don't have time to read through our previous stories, just PM us and I'll give you a run down).
Thanks for reading and hopefully see you tomorrow for the next one shot!
Remember to fave, follow and review, it really helps us out! And if you have questions or suggestions just leave it in a review or PM us.
Mwah x
Merry Christmas from Sam and Greg x