Disclaimer: Power Rangers belongs to Saban.
Listen With Your Heart
Time Frame: After episode, Mean Wheels Mantis.
Long after the race was over and Leo was declared the victor, he and Maya went out for a late night chat with the lion galactabeast.
It growled softly. "Well," Maya asked, "what did he say?"
Leo closed his eyes. He could almost feel the animal's confidence in him. "I think he said, 'I knew you could do it,' "
Maya stared at him in awe. "You really do understand, don't you?"
Leo smiled at her. "I had a good teacher." The lion stamped his foot. "I think he agrees."
"Thank you, both of you. But you really deserve all the credit. You really listened with your heart."
"Still, I couldn't have done it without you. You and Kendrix being turned into trophies really motivated me to do it."
Maya laughed. "I didn't plan on that, but, whatever works."
Leo looked at her seriously. "I'm glad you're okay. I mean, both of you."
Maya nodded. "Right, I know."
"I could never be as good as you," he continued. "Animals trust you. They can tell you anything. They know that you care about them and want to help them. The same thing with people." Leo slowly put his arm around her. "Sometimes, I wonder if a lot of the other people on Mirinoi were like you. But I doubt it. Nobody can be like you." He drew her closer and kissed her gently. Maya pulled back and ran away.
* * * * * *
She ran as fast as she could, back to the apartment she shared with Kendrix. She nudged her sleeping friend. "Kendrix, wake up."
Kendrix opened her eyes and yawned. "What's going on?"
"I need to talk to you."
She jumped out of her bed and put on her glasses on. "What's wrong?"
"It's about Leo." Maya paused. "You don't mind, do you?"
Kendrix shook her head, understanding her meaning. "No. I admit I had a crush on him when we first met, but we're just friends now. So, what happened?"
"Well, we went out to see the galactabeasts. I wanted to see if he could really communicate with them. He started talking, which was weird because of the subject: Me. And then he kissed me."
"So? What's the problem? Don't you like him?"
"Yeah," Maya admitted, "I do. But I didn't know what to do, so I ran away. Boys here are different then they are on Mirinoi. I don't know how to act with them. What am I going to do?"
"What would Shandra and your other friends tell you if they were here?"
Maya thought for a moment. "They'd tell me to listen to my heart, and it would guide me."
Kendrix put her arm around her. "And what's it telling you?"
"It's telling me to go find Leo. That we belong together."
Kendrix smiled. "Then you know what you have to do."
Maya nodded, and left as quickly as she could.
* * * * * *
Leo sighed. "Do you think I shouldn't have done it?"
The galactibeast snorted.
"No? Then why'd she run away?" It grunted in reply. "You think she was just surprised? I don't know. But it seemed like something I had to do. All that's happened made me realize how much she means to me. I love her."
"I love you, too," said a voice behind him.
"Maya! I didn't know you were there.'
"I'm sorry. I was just scared, I guess."
"It's all right. But, you...?"
She nodded. "Of course."
"I... I..." She silenced him with a kiss. He held her tight. "I wish I'd realized it sooner."
Maya put her head on his shoulder. "I guess we both had a lot to learn. About listening with our hearts, and to them."
The End.