Variations Of SPD
Chapter 10: Ring Around The Ape
By: Pink-Green-White-4ever
Last Revised: December 9, 2005
Summary: He'd seen plenty as a Ranger, but an Ape who acted like it was high on a caffeine rush wasn't one of them.
Rating: M, for adult-themed situations.
Disclaimer: I don't own PR, Disney does
"The greatest test of courage on the earth is to bear defeat without losing heart." --R.G. Ingersoll--
"It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else." --Erma Bombeck--
"Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly." --Robert F. Kennedy--
"You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today." --Abraham Lincoln--
--
He woke up with a splitting headache and wished he had some aspirin. "Get up! Get up! Time's a wasting!"
Squinting, he opened his eyes and stared up into the glowing red face of...a monkey.
"I am no monkey, Jack Landors."
He wasn't sure what to think. Maybe he'd hit his head harder than he thought, or maybe he was dreaming, but he could have swore that the monkey had just talked to him, had even read his mind.
"I said, I am no monkey."
Sitting up, Jack shook his head and stared at the animal before him – correction, a larger version of the primate he'd seen the day before. "You're..."
"Yes, I am the Red Ape, and a representation of Rocky DeSantos. Know where you are?"
Jack shook his head. He didn't have a clue, except that he knew his test for power would be taken here.
"You are correct in that assumption, you are on your journey to get your powers, but for now, might I suggest we get moving? Staying in this jungle too long gives me the heebie jeebies."
Blinking rapidly to dispel the confusion, Jack nodded and then stood up, following the hulking form of the Ape into the jungle. "And you can call me Ape!" the red colored figured said in a sing song voice that had Jack wondering why he got stuck with the spirit guide who was on a caffeine kick.
"I heard that!"
--
It felt like hours later when Jack and Ape finally sat down for their first break. Sighing, the former Red Ranger took a minute to think about something other than what he was doing.
The first thing that came to mind was Allison.
He had dreamt about her the night before. The dream had been so detailed that it had been scary at first, before he realized, all his dreams for the future had come true. She'd been in a room lit only by the soft orange glow of a nightlight, sitting in a rocking chair, a blue bundle cradled in her arms. She was feeding the baby, and rocking it to sleep.
He wanted a family, a career, a life outside of SPD. However, the way things were going, it would be a very long time before he got his wish, if ever. Every time it seemed that he and the others weren't needed anymore, they got drawn back to being Rangers. Not to mention, Ally had a long career ahead of her as Ranger, even if he didn't. That in and of itself presented some problems for the family he found he wanted with her.
"It happens to the best of them," Ape spoke up suddenly.
"Excuse me?"
Ape shook his head before cocking it to the side to stare at Jack's incredulous look. "I said it happens to the best Rangers, to be called back to a duty they thought they'd passed on. Only those who were the best of the best are ever called back for a second time in uniform."
"That means every Ranger on Earth shares that honor," Jack grinned.
"You are correct, and might I add, very few other teams outside of the Earth teams have ever been called back. However, back to your original thought. Have you stopped to think that now is not the time for those dreams to come true? What about wanting to be a better officer? What about passing your legacy onto the next generation?"
Jack pursed his lips for a moment, carefully deciding what he wanted to say. "Aaron and the others are great Rangers, and we've barely had to help them at all."
"True, but the coming war will not be kind to them, Jack. They haven't faced what you and your team have faced. You've taken out two of the most heinous villains in history; one who destroyed planets, star systems, who killed billions of beings, and the other who is one of the few people in the known universe to have killed Power Rangers."
The former Red Ranger felt his heart ache. The team's victory against Gruumm had come with many prices, but they had been lucky. The victory over Visvajita just months ago, well, that had been vastly different. They had learned some really hard lessons during the battles with the mad man, including the fact that even Power Rangers can die.
"Your dreams will come true in time, Jack, but remember this – they might not all turn out the way you had planned, and dreams change."
Nodding, Jack sighed. "I'm rested and ready to go, how about you?"
"I am as well. Come, we have a long journey ahead, and we still have someone we need to find."
"One of the others?" Jack asked hopefully.
"In a way, but not the way you're thinking!" Ape called over his shoulder as he waddled down the path, Jack following.
--
The second all hell broke loose on the path, Jack knew he'd never forget the sight of the mighty Red Ape making hissing sounds and trying to shake off half a dozen shadowy looking figures.
After a moment of confusion, Jack rushed forward and attempted to help, but found himself being tossed back by the shadows who seemed to find Ape a lot more interesting then him.
"Hang on!" Jack called and rushed forward again, this time using his genetic powers to phase through the figures when they threw punches his way, until he was at Ape's side and standing over the injured spirit guide. "Back off!" Jack hissed, putting his martial arts skills to the test.
Soon enough, the shadow warriors were retreating, not wanting to try and take on the former Red Ranger much more than they already had. "What the hell were those things?"
"Vampra's Shadow Warriors. You'll be seeing more of them, trust me," Ape muttered, attempting to stand.
Jack let out a startled chirp when the might Ape crashed back to the ground. Bending, he moved one of Ape's long arms around his shoulder and helped the spirit guide to the side of the path, just in case their friends came back. "Are you ok? Damn, I shouldn't have frozen like that! You're hurt!" Jack muttered, helping Ape sit down before kneeling before him and checking his wounds.
There were several long, deep gashes across Ape's legs and arms, and a few not so deep ones across his stomach, chest and back. Jack sighed in relief, thankfully there weren't any injuries to Ape's head.
"I'm sorry," Jack murmured, shaking his head.
"Jack Landors, what do you have to be sorry for? You came to my aide, you did not let me fight all on my own."
"You're hurt, it's my fault."
Shaking his head, Ape stared into Jack's face, glowing red eyes meet dark brown. "It was not your responsibility to keep me safe, Jack. It was my choice to help you, and my stubbornness to take the long route in seeking our companion, that led me to being injured."
"But..."
"No buts. You must remember, we have free wills, therefore we must accept responsibility for not only our actions, but the consequences of our actions, and the choices we make each and every day."
Jack could only nod. Cruger had taught him that early on in his Ranger career. Every action has a consequence, and you had to take your lumps when you made bad choices. It was the only way you'd learn from your mistakes. "Can you continue, or should I go by myself?"
"I will be fine, I've been through worse over the years, especially with Rocky as my bearer."
Laughter was Ape's only answer as Jack helped him to his feet and the pair continued down the path, albeit slower than before.
--
Jack and Ape struggled down the path for a few hours before they had to sit and rest again. Jack was seriously starting to worry about the amount of blood Ape had lost.
"This isn't healthy for you," Jack started. Ape gave him a look that said 'Oh really' and 'Continue'. "I mean, you're a spirit animal, you're not supposed to bleed, are you?"
Ape seemed to smile. "Where we are is one of the few places where Ninjetti Animal Spirits can take solid form, which is why I was so easily injured. That, and I'm weak, because I haven't been with Rocky as I should."
"I don't understand. Why are you helping me if being away from Rocky will hurt you?"
Ape looked at his hands, contemplating how to explain to Jack, in terms the former Ranger would understand, why he was here. "I'm here, because he who is my bearer asked me to come and guide you. My fellow animal spirits are with your friends for the same reason, the Falcon and the Crane the only two exceptions. Those two are always with the Dragon and the Phoenix."
Jack seemed to grasp Ape's words a lot easier than the animal spirit thought he would. "You mean, if they hadn't asked you, you wouldn't be with us?" Jack asked.
"Not in the capacity that we are now," Ape told him. "We'd have hidden in the shadows, only coming to you if you needed us; we certainly wouldn't have led you to those who can help you find the power, you'd have had to do that on your own."
"I see," Jack murmured, and then smiled. "You were pretty courageous out there, fighting those Shadow Warriors. Especially since you could have been killed because you're here."
Ape let out a series of chirps and grunts that made him sound like he was laughing. "In my limited experience, Jack, failure and courage go hand in hand."
Jack was about to respond when a loud whining sound could be heard not far from where they were sitting. Ape seemed to shrug his shoulders when Jack gave him a questioning look, and then the former Ranger stood up and moved cautiously back into the trees off the path.
What he found gave him a shock. Tangled there in the dense foliage of the jungle was a pure white horse, with what looked like large, feathered wings on its back.
"Easy boy," Jack murmured, inching closer to the struggling horse. Jack stared into the horse's frightened eyes and smiled reassuringly. "Give me a minute, and I'll get you free."
Jack was amazed at how calm the horse seemed once he'd stated his intentions. After about five minutes, he had the horse free and was carefully taking a few steps back, just in case the horse bolted.
"Long time no see, old friend," the horse finally spoke.
Jack was in shock, thinking the horse was talking to him, until he heard another voice reply, "Too long. I see you've met Jack." Turning, Jack saw Ape hobbling over, and rushed to help him. "That was courageous of you, Jack Landors, to rescue that old stick in the mud from those vines. Normally, he'd sooner eat his foreleg off then let someone help him."
The horse seemed to glare at Ape before looking to Jack. "He's right, you showed great courage. Thank you, Jack Landors."
"Who are you?" Jack blurted out, not stopping to acknowledge that thanks.
"I am Pegasus."
"Ok. How the heck did you get stuck in the vines?"
"I was trying to escape Vampra's Shadow Warriors, and I got stuck," Pegasus said, somewhat embarrassed. "Plus, I was coming to see if you two were ok. You hadn't made it to the designated point at the time we set."
Jack started to look like he was piecing the puzzle together. "You're the friend Ape said we're going to meet."
"Yes. Unfortunately, we're running out of time. Bear has already left this plane," Pegasus told Ape, who nodded.
"Wasn't the bear Z's guide?" Jack asked Ape, who, again, nodded.
"Yes, and if she's left this plane, it means Elizabeth has found her second guide and is awaiting your arrival. Jack, I know you're confused, but the rest of the journey, you must do with Pegasus."
For a moment, Jack looked stricken with the thought of leaving Ape. "But..."
"You'll be fine, Jack. As much as Pegasus and I butt heads, I'd trust him with my bearer any day. Now, you must go, and fast. You're friends are going to need you."
Jack took a deep breath, leaned down and hugged Ape. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. Remember, your dreams will come true, in time, even if they do change on you. Learn to let the others be responsible for their own actions, the world does not rest on your shoulders, and lastly, remember courage, failure, and faith go hand in hand, and it's ok to not always be courageous, failure is merely a lesson learned, and you must always keep faith."
Jack grinned and nodded before moving to Pegasus.
"I'm ready when you are."
"Then hop on," Pegasus seemed to grin. Once Jack was seated on the great winged horse's back, Pegasus gave a head bow to Ape, who was slowly disappearing, and took to the skies.
--
"Amazing!" Jack laughed as Pegasus soared over the dense jungle they'd just been standing in. In the distance, Jack could make out what looked like a building, and noticed they were heading for it.
When Pegasus dropped down, Jack looked around in awe, before spotting the three figures around the fire. "Z!"
"JACK!" Z scrambled up from her spot leaning on Tiger to throw her arms around her big brother. "You made it!"
"Was there any doubt?" Jack teased, hugging her tightly. "The others?"
"Still out there," Z told him, pulling back to look up into his eyes.
"Welcome, Jack Landors," the blonde woman called out.
Jack was surprised to see her. "Who are you? And where the heck are we? I know this jungle couldn't fit inside that tiny little cave."
"I am Dulcea, Master Warrior of the planet Phadoes, which is where you're at. These ruins the sacred temple of the Ninjetti," Dulcea responded, smiling. "Come, sit, eat, we still have to wait on the rest of your friends."
Jack wrapped his arm around Z's shoulders and let her lead him back to the fired, where Pegasus was now resting next to what looked like a Tiger. "A friend of yours?"
"Yes." Leaning close, Jack pecked a kiss to Z's temple. He could feel his little sister's fear, and it matched his own in intensity and scope. "They'll be ok, won't they Jack?"
Smiling, Jack nodded. "I have no doubt. If we made it, they will too. I trust the animal guides too much to believe they won't help the others get to us."
