Danielle ran and ran, ignoring the ringing of her phone and her morpher, she ninja streaked all the way to her old home all the way in Reefside. Tired and out of breath she cried on the doorstep. After a few moments she walked into the home she left behind 8 months ago, walked into the kitchen where she was blasted with memories, memories of her mother in the kitchen, her mother teaching her gymnastics, and how to fight combat, memories of her father and uncle watching and yelling over sports, with Hunter, Blake, Conner, and Trent, her father mentoring her former team. Dani went to her room, just as she left it, bed freshly made, the prom dress hanging over the door that her mom picked out, her makeup in color and size order, her pictures from over the years, she went to her closet to retrieve a box of memories of her and…nick. Tickets of their sports games, concerts, carnival prizes that he won her…the promise ring he gave her on their anniversary, she loved Nick so much, he was everything she could ever want, and she ruined it, she couldn't trust him with her deepest darkest secret. She placed the ring around the neckless that her mother gave her on her 16th birthday, the day her parents told her about the power rangers, the day she found her destiny. Now she didn't know what her life has become, her biological parents are alive, she had just met her biological father, seeing the love and hope and relief in his eyes when he found her.
"I can't have another family, I can't have another team, why are you doing this to me, haven't I suffered enough" Dani cried as she took another deep breath gathered her box, and went back down. She was about to leave when she saw the dinosaur head that lead to her fathers lab. She placed the box on the table and pulled the jaw and went downstairs. Seeing her old uniform, the computer system, the dvd of her parents history, everything. Seeing all this Dani lost it she started throwing equipment, throwing anything she could find. After about a half hour she collected herself and packed everything she needed so that she would never return back she couldn't.
~…~
"What have I done I pushed her away" Daggeron sighed to Leanbow
"Daggeron its been so many years, as painful as this is for you, from what Snow Prince has shared with us, its painful for her as well for reasons we do not yet understand, but we must not rush her, she seems emotionally fragile and the best thing we can do for her is settle her in slowly" Leanbow tried to comfort his best friend
"If you and Udonna had not seen your child, thinking he was dead for 18 years would you take it slowly, would you not want to hold your child and comfort your child" Daggeron said slamming his hand on the table and standing up
"Of course we would, but Daggeron, according to the Prince she is very fragile right now, and there must be a reason for that" Udonna said
"Daggeron!" Electra cried out as she ran into his arms with tears. "Is it true, my baby is alive she's here, our daughter is alive"
"She is, but darling she's not…emotionally ready for this" Daggeron said holding his wife and looking over at Leanbow who nodded
"What, what do you mean is she alright, whats happened" Electra asked
"We don't know yet, she ran off the moment I told her I knew she was my daughter" Daggeron sighed
~…~
Back in Briarwood Danielle sat on a branch on her and Nicks tree as she went through their memory box, as Nick came riding through and spotted her
"Do you realize I've tried looking for you for hours" Nick said in his worried tone
"I just needed some space, some time to process everything" Dani sighed
"I know its a lot to take in, but we'll help you, I'll help you" Nick said
"No!…Nick I can't do this, you don't know whats happened, you don't know why" Dani said
"Then explain it to me, don't hold it in Dani, this isn't you, and I know the real you, I fell in love with the real you, please come down" Nick pleaded as Dani looked at him with tears, but came down. "Is that…"
"Our memory box, yea" Dani sighed as they sat on the ground and looked through it together
"You kept these" Nick said in surprise as he saw the pictures, ticket stubs, the prizes
"Remember this" Dani said as she showed him the promise ring
"Of course I do, I gave it to you the night I told you I loved you, the night I realized you were the love of my life" Nick said
"I think you should have it back" Dani said giving him the ring
"What…no… Dani, I can't, I know we're in a damaged place but I still feel that way for you" Nick said refusing
"Nick, I never stopped loving you, but how can I give you my whole heart, if I cant accept who I am, keep it safe for me until, you and I both feel the way we did when you first gave it to me" Dani said as she kissed his cheek
"Dani in order for you to accept you are, don't you think you should give Daggeron and Electra a chance, Ive known them my whole life and I always knew something was missing between them, no one would talk about it, but it was you. Dani they're good people, strong people who would give their lives for anyone in need. Come back to Rootcore with me." Nick asked as Dani nodded as they drove back on their motorcycles
~…~
"Bowen, where did you run off to you missed training" Udonna asked in surprise
"Is Daggeron still here, theres someone here to see him" Nick said as Dani walked in
"Ath…Danielle its good to see you again, we didn't mean to startle you before, as you saw and felt it was a great surprise and shock to everyone" Udonna said
"No its alright, I should have had better control over my emotions, it sometimes gets the best of me, I surely didn't mean to upset him" Dani said in reference to Daggeron
"Its me who should apologize, I didn't mean to startle, especially right after you had been injured, its just I spent the last 18 years thinking you were dead, and to see you as this grown up, strong, beautiful woman, you're mother and I always imagined you'd become" Daggeron said softly coming into the room with Electra who had tears in her eyes and a hand over her mouth, but kept her distance
"I'm sorry, I cant imagine what that must have felt like for both of you, and I know you always expected this emotional reunion and that everything would be ok, but for me it isn't, and I'm sorry, my journey here hasn't been easy, and I lost my self, my true self" Dani explained looking towards Nick as she continued towards her biological parents. "I know Snow Prince hasn't told you everything, thats something I have to do on my own, and I'm afraid to, I'm afraid to heal, I'm afraid to move forward in fear that this will happen again and I don't know if I can go through this again." Dani said as tears flowed as Electra despite being held back by Daggeron ran towards her daughter and held her.
"Let us help you, please I cant lose you again, we can't lose you again" Electra cried
"And I cant go through this again I'm not strong enough to be part of another family, in fear that I'm going to lose them again" Dani yelled as she surprised everyone "My parents are Dead, they were killed because of me, they died because I wasn't strong enough to protect them." Dani cried out as everyone including Nick stood shocked as Snow Prince arrived
"Danielle, you're not emotionally ready to reveal…" Snow Prince warned
"I Never Will Be, you asked me why I left you…" Danielle turned to Nick. "Its because you're my greatest weakness, I loved you more than I ever loved anyone, and I knew you would he held against me, that all my enemies would find you and hurt you to get to me and I couldn't live with myself if they did, Nick leaving you was the most painful thing I've ever done, no amount of physical pain or injury could be worse. I couldn't lose you the way I lost them, so when they died I finished my battle, and I left, leaving behind everyone thats ever loved me in hopes that no one else would ever die because of me." Dani cried as she collapsed in an emotional mess, as Nick ran to her and held her.
"Dani, I'm not going anywhere, and I'm sorry for treating you the way I did when I saw you again, or believing that you left because you didn't love me. Dani every reason you gave me for leaving, was every reason why I couldn't tell you who I really was. Every moment that we spent together were the best times of my life, but the fear that my life would put you in danger, I was selfish, I was more concerned with being with you then protecting you, but you were always the stronger one. Dani I love you, and I know I cant make all the pain go away, and I can't say that it'll get easier, but being alone, is just making you more vulnerable and a target. You cant live in fear Dani, I know its hard, and as painful as it is to accept you have all these people who love you, Dani you have me, and I'm not letting you go again. I love you" Nick said as more tears ran down Dani face as she realized she wasn't alone and she had to be strong and face it
"I'm sorry, I just held this in for so long and to let it out for someone to listen" Dani said as Nick kissed her
"I'm always here, I never want you to feel like this again I want you to come to me and lean on me, and know you have a whole army of people who will stand by you and help you get through this." Nick said resting his head against hers as he helped her up
"I'm sorry, Snow Prince, I'm not as strong as you thought I was" Dani sighed leaning against Nick still emotionally drained
"I would have to disagree, you faced your demons in that house, you've exposed your vulnerable side and allowed someone to take care of you for once, but this isn't the true story, you need to trust them, you need to open yourself up again, this was only the beginning, you have a long, painful journey, and for that I'am truly sorry" Snow Prince said "Danielle, accept this" Snow Prince said handing her the neckless that Daggeron had, originally gave her but she had refused it. "Dont be afraid young one, that everyone is going to leave you, learn to be you again, learn to accept help and guidance from your mentors, accept this new family you've been given" Snow Prince placed the neckless on her as it glowed and lit up the room. "This is who you are, everything you've ever faced, every obstacle, every hardship has led you to them, open up to them, allow them to help you" The prince said in reference to Daggeron and Electra. "I must leave you now child, for now you have a new mentor. You and your father share the same element, allow him to teach you the ways of the Solaris, just as I did him many years ago." He then turned to Daggeron, "Teach her well, for you will see that she is much like you when it comes to training. I wish you both luck, and may the power be with, and my dear golden child, I'am never far, learn to love, learn to accept, it is only then you will truly be yourself again" Snow Prince left in a swirl of snow
"Are you alright" Daggeron asked after a few moments of silence
"I will be, it was just so much emotion in a small amount of time, I need to catch my breath" Dani sighed
"We are all here for you, whatever you need" Electra said softly
"I know and thank you and I'm sorry this isn't the reunion you've always wanted" Dani said
"The most important thing to us is that you're here, you're alive, we don't want to rush you, or push you away" Electra said holding her hand out carefully in hopes that Dani would take it and allow her to comfort her. Dani slowly and carefully went to Electra and hugged her, feeling the tears from Electras eyes fall onto her shoulder as she felt Daggeron hug both his wife and daughter something he hadn't done in 18 years