Well, got it here, and this was a pretty good chapter to write... and believe me, there's a lot in this short chapter...
So, for the disclaimer:
Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers, or any songs in this story, all I own is Cadinia and her family.
Cadinia
I sighed as I walked to my room the next morning.
I couldn't sleep, so I stayed up practicing Pool the whole night…
Let's just say, I've got several bruises where I know I shouldn't.
I was about to grab the handle when it opened and I saw Merrick behind it…. Rubbing his eyes?
"You okay Merrick?" I stifled a yawn.
He jumped and blinked at me, "Cadinia… you're awake?"
"I… couldn't sleep." Was all I was willing to say on that, "Have you… have you been crying?"
"Me? Crying? No way." He denied.
"Merrick, if this is about what I said last night… I'm still standing by it." I informed him, "You're a good person… but sometimes people can use that to their advantage in a bad way… I speak from way too many personal experiences…"
Merrick frowned before he nodded softly.
I sighed and hugged him lightly, "It'd be great if you actually talked to me."
He nodded, "I know… I've just… been thinking."
I breathed a laugh as I pulled away, "That's not a good sign."
"Very funny." He smiled, "I mean, I've been thinking about what you said yesterday… and… I don't know how to forgive myself… after everything…"
I nodded as we sat in the room, "You know… humans are many things… some can be cowardly, others brave, some can be book smart, others, street smart… but what's amazing is we all have one thing that's always the same. No matter the color of our skin, our beliefs, or our heritage, we all know how… to forgive."
"But how can we forgive ourselves?" Merrick wondered.
"Sometimes that's the hardest person to forgive." I relented, "You know, people think they face their enemy in a fist fight… but in truth, sometimes their worst enemy? It's themselves. And it's hardest to forgive your worst enemy…. But never impossible."
"How do you know that?" He frowned.
I bit my lip before I finally sighed, "When my mom died… I wasn't even old enough to know up from down… and when I found out about her death… I didn't know who did it… but I knew that if I was alive… I'd spend the rest of it, knowing that I could never have a full true family… and I could never be a normal person… I used to stare at my reflection for long stretches of times… thinking how stupid I was… but then, I was taught… that holding a grudge, be it against someone else or myself, isn't always easy to get rid of… but… it's possible. Not easy, but possible."
"How'd you do it?"
I shrugged, "I finally just… stopped worrying about why it happened… and just… got over it… I forgave myself for something that I couldn't have stopped even if I wanted to, and instead, focused on how I could take that, and make myself a better person."
"You make it sound so easy…" He sighed, "I wouldn't know where to start…"
"That's where you talk to me." I put my hand in his, "Merrick, sometimes people have to talk to actually figure things out."
Merrick looked at me before sighing, "I don't know why I should forgive myself… I mean… sure I was an idiot with not realizing Animus basically sent us a death wish when he told the WildZords…"
"Keep going…" I nodded.
"And he was my most trusted friend, even when he did that, and I get why… I mean.. he was my friend 3,000 years ago…"
"Almost there." I nodded.
"And that's the past, and time changes people…" Merrick went on then blinked, "I'm a total idiot! I trust him, and he could've very well gotten us killed!"
"And, you're there." I decided.
"How come I didn't realize this sooner?" He sighed.
I shrugged, "Sometimes, things aren't as easy to figure out as they seem."
He looked over at me, "Thank you."
"Pleasure." I smiled lightly.
He breathed a soft, sad, laugh and looked down, "I'm an idiot… aren't I?"
"No." I shook my head, "Just someone who's heart didn't know how to handle reality."
I stifled a yawn and Merrick blinked.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah…" I coughed another yawn down, "Yeah. I'm fine. Honest."
"Cadinia?" He folded his arms.
I sighed a yawn, "I couldn't sleep, so I've been up all night, trying to teach myself how to play pool like you… not the best idea."
Merrick frowned and rolled up one of my sleeves to see a large bruise on my arm. "Cadi…"
"I can't play pool, alright?" I rolled my eyes then had to put my hand behind me to keep me up.
"Woah… okay… you need to sleep." He decided.
"Thank you, Sherlock…" I grumbled.
He smiled lightly before he helped me into his bed and I laid down. "Go on, get some sleep."
I smiled lightly back, "Thanks… again."
He smiled a little more, "Pleasure."
He walked out of the room and I turned on my side before I closed my eyes and let my fatigue finally out so I'd fall asleep.
3 hours later…
I heard Merrick outside the room, which woke me up.
"Okay… flowers… sugar cookies… Orange slices… strawberry waffles… perfect…" He opened the door as softly as he could and I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. "Now just to put this by the bed si…. Hi… Cadi…." He stopped walking when he saw me.
I laughed softly, "Morning, Merrick."
"Did I wake you?"
"Yeah… ya kinda did." I nodded.
"Sorry." He smiled lightly, "I was just hoping I could give you…." He threw the flower into the trash can. "Give you this when you woke up."
I smiled softly as he put the tray in my lap, "Thanks."
"Welcome." He assured, "And I made this all from scratch so… I really hope you like it."
I took a bite of one of the sugar cookies and moaned at the flavor.
"This is really good."
"Oh thank goodness." He breathed out.
I raised a brow, "Come on, you're a good chef…. Once in a while."
He rolled his eyes then bit his lip, "Well… I… should be going… it's almost time to… play for the deer…"
I nodded softly, "It's okay. I'll see you later."
He nodded and walked out of the room, leaving me to eat the meal he'd made me.
1 hour later…
I was in the woods, strumming my guitar, trying to see if I could strum softly without messing up a string.
Sounds a lot easier than it is when you're only an armature.
Finally, I groaned and sat it down, closing my eyes and rubbing my face a bit.
I could feel myself itching to burn something, but I kept resisting it… and it hurt… a lot.
I forced the feeling down even more before I opened my eyes at the sound of someone coming closer.
I grabbed one of my hidden sickles from where I hid it by the tree and looked around.
"Someone there?" I frowned.
Whoever it was walked closer and I readied my weapon.
Right as I was about to strike, they came into the light and I breathed out with relief, putting my weapon back where I'd had it. "Taylor don't scare me like that!"
She didn't say anything, just… stared.
"Taylor?" I frowned.
Again, she didn't say anything.
"Okay… I'm… gonna go back to my strumming…" I slowly backed to my guitar.
She followed with each step.
Ultimately, I changed my course and lunged for my weapon… which is when she went for the attack.
I round kicked her back and grabbed my sickle before I held it at the ready.
"Who are you? Really." I questioned.
She smirked and shook her head.
I took a step to the side and she followed.
This continued a few more times before I just ran through the woods with her doing the same a few feet in front of me.
She grabbed a sword and held it out as I went to strike her with my sickle.
She held us there and I grunted as I tried to keep my weapon from moving in my direction.
I heard the Savage Cycles close by and I chanced a glance to see five of the six rangers -No Merrick- running up to us.
"Woah! Taylor that's…!"
"No way…" The Yellow ranger whispered.
"Glad to know it's not you!" I smirked before I kicked this faker back.
I grabbed the sword and threw it to the side while I held my sickle at the ready again as the others got up to me.
The fake Taylor laughed before it shimmered into a broken mirror like monster.
It was covered with shining mirrors from the top to it's… feet.
The only way I could tell it actually had a head was the dark orbs for eyes on the top with a cutout mouth below it.
"Well… you won't get past this!" It shinned its mirrors at us, causing us to cover our faces since it was so bright.
When it stopped, we looked to see that the monster had gotten away.
"Darn it!" We all hissed.
5 minutes later…
"Where were you?" I growled softly as I walked to the back of the Roadhouse where Merrick was working on that… thing he wouldn't tell me about.
He jumped and hid… whatever it was, behind his back.
"For what?"
"There was an…" I looked around before I hissed, "Org attack!"
He blinked before his eyes went wide, "What?"
"Seriously?" I growled softly, "How couldn't you have known? I nearly got my butt kicked!"
"The wind didn't tell me." He shrugged.
I took a deep breath to keep from lighting him on fire.
He was right, he only came to help the Rangers when the wind told him…
But come on!
"Doesn't a civilian nearly getting killed count as something the wind would warn you about?!" I snarled.
"Possibly…" He nodded, "I'm sorry…"
I took another deep breath before I let out calmly, "I'm going for a run… don't follow me…"
19 minutes later…
I groaned as I finally came to a stop beside the large oak and sat down.
My wrist burned a bit and I rubbed it in pain, feeling the fire rising inside me.
I bit my lip and forced it back down, trying to relax.
After everything, I don't know why I try to force it down. But I can't help it. I still care about protecting people, and if I let loose my fire… I could level the whole town!
So I'm not risking it… I'll never risk hurting people.
"Well."
I jumped and turned at the voice.
"If it isn't the former Gold Ranger." That Mirror Org mocked me.
I reached for my Solar Cell but froze.
"Oh… forget already?" It continued to mock before it flashed its mirrors and I could barely see.
I groaned as it struck me down before I felt Putrids grab me and pull me back up.
My mouth fell open when I saw that… I was standing where the Mirror Org once stood.
"Now… to deal with those pesky rangers. Putrids, lock her away!"
I struggled, but they held me firm, and I could do nothing as they pulled me away.
Merrick
I scrapped at the box again as I thought about Cadi's recent anger…
It wasn't directed at me like usual…. Heck, she was more understanding of me than usual, it was like… it was directed at everyone close.
Sure, she tries to play it off… but… sometimes, when I can't sleep… I'd hear her crying and whimpering in her dreams… and it hurts so much that I can't help her.
"Merrick?"
I hid the box behind me before I rolled my eyes when I saw Cole, "Don't do that! I thought you were Cadi!"
"That's… who I was coming to look for… where is she?"
"I don't know." I shook my head, "Probably in the woods… she hasn't come to talk to me in half an hour."
He nodded, "Still content on remaining-"
"A normal teenager, yeah." I cut him off, "Don't call her a civilian… I'm trying to change her mind… but she won't budge."
"Why are you trying to change her mind if it doesn't want to be changed?"
"Because she's my best friend!" I snapped, "And I… I care about her… but if she's not willing to be a Ranger… then fine. We can't force her to be one."
He blinked then nodded, "Okay…"
With that, Cole walked away, leaving me alone.
I took a deep breath before I turned back to the box and continued to put it together.
5 minutes later…
I was back in the main room, sweeping the floors silently as I tried to think.
Cadi wasn't back… probably taking Willie's offer of a full day off… and I felt this… pit in my gut.
"Merrick? You hungry?" Willie got my attention.
I glanced over at him then shook my head, "No thanks."
"Really?" He blinked, "You and Nia are usually wanting to scarf these down."
I looked down, "I know…"
"What's been up with you two lately? You've been at each other's throats more than two Turkey Vultures fighting for the last piece of meat." He noted.
I shrugged, "I don't know…"
"Don't care."
We looked over and I couldn't help but feel relieved when I saw Cadi walked into the room.
"Cadi…" I breathed out softly.
"Yeah?" She shrugged and walked past me.
I dropped the broom and grabbed her hand before she could completely go, "Cadi… we should talk…"
"Or you could let my hand go so I don't burn it off." She hissed softly.
"Burn it as much as you want, I don't care. We need to talk." I hissed back.
"We don't need to talk. I need to get my things." She growled softly.
"You're not leaving."
"You're not stopping me."
"Cadi!" I took in a deep breath, "Listen to me, when I say, you can't leave… helping the team or not, you can't leave."
"And why the heck not?" She growled, "I've got no real home anyway. My family probably wants me deader than anyone right now… I might as well leave town."
"Because we need you." I let out, "I need you… please."
"You can talk all you want, my answer remains the same as it was before. I'm leaving. I've got no ties here." She walked to the Rooms.
I bit my lip before I looked at Willie, who waved for me to follow her.
I sighed and quickly rushed into Cadi's room.
"Cadi… wait… please." I grabbed her shoulder.
The fire that sprang from her hand and grab mine almost made me wanna let go… but I didn't.
"As I said, burn my hand as much as you want… but I won't let go. Not now. We need to talk… so… please… let's just talk." I begged.
"There's nothing to talk about."
"There's a lot to talk about." I reasoned, "Like… where you plan on going."
"A little known place called 'Anywhere but here'." She replied sharply, letting my hand go as she walked into the room.
"Cadi… please." I stepped after her, "Please… we… you can't… I need you here."
"You don't need me." She denied, "You and the others can fight Orgs all on your own."
"That's not true." I reasoned, "If it hadn't been for you-"
"The only good thing I've done is the one time my powers were used to heal, not burn." She shook her head, "I can't let that affect me."
"Cadi… please." I grabbed her arm lightly.
Right as I was about to continue, the window blew open and I felt the wind and heard the WolfZord howl.
"Go." She sighed.
"Not without you." I adjusted my grip, "Please?"
She groaned softly, "Man… I'm gonna regret this… come on!"
She pulled me out of the room with her freaky strength.
15 minutes later…
"Stay here." I instructed as we were close to the battle.
"Yeah… no argument from me." She nodded.
I nodded softly before I hurried over to the battle, pulling out my morpher. "Wild Access!"
I grabbed my Lunar Cue, and changed it, "Lunar Cue! Saber Mode!"
Within seconds, I easily cut down several Putrids and got up to the others.
"Cadinia….?"
"Not helping… not now." I denied.
"Not for you anyway!" Toxica's voice caused all of us to look at where she was with Jindrax, "Oh, Cadinia!"
"What?!" We all hissed before my best friend stepped out of nowhere.
"Hey, guys." Was she smirking?!
"Looks like your former friend sold you out to be with the real winners!" Toxica laughed.
"There's no way Cadi would sell us out." I growled.
"You don't know me at all." She retorted.
"There's one way to tell." Taylor noted, "Merrick… you have to attack her."
"Are you-"
"Just trust me." She growled.
I bit my lip, then nodded, "Okay…"
I stepped forward and looked at her eyes, "Cadi… what did you tell me, about your Mom?"
"She's a wonderful person, who loves everything."
"You're not Cadi." I breathed out, shaking in anger, "She told me her mother died quite a while ago. I promised I'd never bring it up for her sake… you're not her!"
Cadi growled before she changed into the Mirror Org.
Third Person
The real Cadinia growled as she struggled against her new restraints.
A fire burned inside her, but she forced it back down.
"I'm not hurting anyone… not ever." She hissed to herself, but groaned in pain after a second, "Then again… a little fire never hurt anyone…"
She groaned softly as her hands burned to life.
She grabbed her restraints and they instantly burned to ash and dust.
Taking a deep breath as she rubbed her wrists, Cadinia broke into a Ninja Run as soon as she could.
Back at the battle…
"You rangers think you're so smart…" The Mirror Org commented before it changed to look like Cole in his Ranger Form.
"But I can change into any one of you." He noted then changed to Merrick in his Ranger form.
"And know each of your tactics."
It switched back to the Org form.
"What about Ninja Tactics?"
A strip of Golden light came at The Orgs before landing before them.
Cadinia stood up straight, glaring at the Mirror Org as she spun her Sickles in her hands.
"You can't play a fool." Cadinia finished.
"Cadinia?"
She turned to face the Rangers, nodding.
"Yeah… it's really me." She assured, "Trust me."
Merrick looked at her and nodded, "It is."
"You shouldn't be here… without Animus protecting you-"
"Animus was the reason I threw away my crystal to begin with." Cadinia cut Cole off, "Guys, he played us like a fiddle… he made a liar out of me… and messed up my powers…"
As she was speaking, the Orgs were getting back up, readying a strike.
"Cadi behind you!"
She glanced behind her and saw the Mirror Org.
"Not today!" She snarled and struck it back with her sickles, "Animus was wrong about humans… but that doesn't mean I won't fight with every breath in my body till you freaks of nature are all gone and I can get out of this literal godforsaken town!"
A bright flash of light zoomed past everyone and Cadinia grabbed it out of the air before it wrapped around her wrist… then grabbed the head off.
"Wild Access!" She shouted.
Once she was morphed, her suit with its burnt orange accents, she pulled out her sickles and jumped into the air and cut the Mirror Org down.
"Wait!" Merrick held up a hand as the other five were about to create their Jungle Sword, "I don't think she'll need our help for this…."
And he was right.
Cadinia jumped a bit backward and sliced across the air, "Flaming Sickle Blow!"
The strike went through the air and up to the Org, effectively destroying it.
"Whoa…" Everyone whispered.
Cadinia breathed heavily as she stood up straight.
Toxica gulped as she came out of hiding, holding her staff.
The Solar Ranger scuffed, "Go ahead… he'll still be going down in five minutes, tops!"
"Evil Spirits of Toil and Strife! Give this fallen Org new life!" The Duchess Org took the challenge.
Within moments, the Mirror Org was three times its original size.
"WildZord Descend!" Cadinia held up her Crystal Dagger easily.
The HorseZord came down and struck the Mirror Org back easily.
Before Cadinia could call anything else, Merrick grabbed her.
"Cadi… we need to work together." He let out.
"Let me go right now, Howler!" She growled, her hands slowly flaming through the gloves of her uniform.
"No… Cadi, come on. I know you're angry… heck, I know you hate us more than anything right now… but we have to work together…"
"No."
"At least let me help you." He begged.
Cadinia sighed, "Fine. Whatever."
"That's all I ask." Merrick nodded before he created his Laser Pool, "WildZords Descend!"
Once the three Zords came to the battle, Cadinia and Merrick crossed weapons.
"WildZords combine!"
The two quickly jumped into the Steed-Predazord.
"Steed-Predazord, Awaken!" They called as they placed their weapons in the control panels.
"You think you can still stop me?!" The Mirror Org changed to the Blue Moon Form of the Predazord.
"What's that?" Cadinia hissed.
"Not a good sign." Merrick let out.
"Blue Moon Wave!" Merrick's voice came from the opposing Megazord and struck the Steed-Predazord back.
Cadinia groaned as she was nearly knocked off her feet, but held herself up.
"You okay?"
"Just great." She growled, "Can we just beat this freak and get out of here?"
"But how? Blue Moon Mode is the Predazord's strongest Mode…"
"The Predazord's strongest." Cadinia noted, "Not the Steed-Predazord's…. Besides, I've got a crazy idea that just might work."
She took the HorseZord's Crystal out of the holster of her Dagger and put the PenguinZord's in its place.
"I get it." Merrick nodded.
"PenguinZord, combine!" The two called.
The HammerheadZord detached from the main Megazord and the PenguinZord took its place.
"Predazord; Fire and Snow Formation!" The two let out.
"Like that's gonna scare me!"
"It should!" Cadinia smirked, "Snowblower Strike!"
The PenguinZord arm lifted up and opened, sending the cold crystals at the Org, freezing it.
"Wolf Punch!" Merrick continued.
The WolfZord arm punched the frozen Org once, forcing it out of its casing, and destroying the Blue Moon Mode, leaving just the Original Org.
"Ready?" Merrick looked at Cadinia.
"Heck yeah!" She nodded, "Horse Heat Burst!"
"Penguin Blizzard!"
The two Zords belonging to the Gold Ranger lifted up and sent the respective final attacks at the Mirror Org.
"I'm all cracked up!" It complained before it exploded.
"We did it." Cadinia breathed out, feeling exhausted from all adrenaline that was leaving her system.
Merrick grinned to himself as he looked over at her, "Yeah… you did."
1 hour later…
"Where is it?" Cadinia whispered as she looked around, "Come on… where is it?"
"Looking for this?"
She jumped and turned to Merrick, who was holding her guitar out.
"Yeah." She smiled and slowly walked up to him.
"Found it… washed up by the creak." He added as he walked closer and held it out for her, "I knew it was yours since it also had C.L.D. on it."
Cadinia smiled lightly and hugged him before she took it, "Thank you."
He smiled and nodded, "Pleasure… anything I can do for you."
She frowned, "You okay?"
"Of course… just… I'm sorry." He let out, "For… pretty much everything that's happened the last few days…"
Cadinia put her guitar down and folded her arms, "Keep talking."
"Cadi, you're my best friend… I didn't mean to hurt you… at all… ever… in any way…" Merrick sighed before he looked at her, with tears slowly coming down his face, "Please… forgive me?"
Cadinia frowned before she pulled him into a hug, "How can I still hate you after that?"
"Easily." He relented softly, "Not that I don't deserve it."
"Well… that's fair." Cadinia agreed, "But… a human is allowed mistakes."
"I made a huge one…"
"…Remember when I nearly let it slip I was Ninja?"
"Yeah?"
"To a Solar Ninja… that's a huge mistake." Cadinia informed him, "So's being in the Ocean to surf…"
"Then why'd you do it?"
"Because I didn't wanna keep secrets from you." She replied, "Howler… you made a huge mistake when you became Zen-Aku… but I…. Amazingly, forgive you. Because that's what I do… that's what friends do. Besides, you found my guitar… so I think we're even."
"I don't think we'll ever be even." Merrick relented.
Cadinia smiled lightly, "But this is a start."
Wow, I got a lot packed into this chapter that I really loved.
Oh, but this was pretty much the last of the chapters that I don't hate writing... so... there's that...
At least Cadinia and Merrick have made up, which is good.
Please review, Favorite and Follow.
See ya next week!