Sorry that this was a little late, I got EXTREMELY distracted, but, at least it's here.
Now, 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 knew he was still following me… but I ignored him.
Merrick was many things to me… but this? This was just seriously annoying.
Kinda made me wish I'd fallen into that lava.
With a sigh, I stepped inside the Roadhouse once I got there with Merrick following.
"Oh, great you guys are back." Willie let out and I raised a brow in confusion.
"That… doesn't sound good." I noted.
"Well… it's not." He reasoned before he motioned around, "Take a look around from when you guys were on that… camping trip."
For the first time since we left… I looked around and my heart froze.
The place was trashed, tables and chairs were everywhere…!
Even the Jukebox and stage were messed up!
"Robbed…" I whispered in realization.
He nodded, "Yeah…"
"How could this have happened?" Merrick gaped as he looked around.
I snorted softly, "How do you think? We were gone for like… 3 days. Bad things happen in three."
I heard Willie sigh.
"You know… I don't know if we can fix this…" He noted.
"Willie, we literally have nowhere else to go." I insisted before I realized something, "We can fix it!"
They blinked, "What?"
"We, Merrick and I, can fix this… we can buy all new equipment if we have to… but we are not shutting this place down." I explained, "We can't!"
Willie raised a brow, "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely." I nodded.
"Alright… I'll leave it up to you guys." He sighed.
"We won't let you down." I assured.
"Just… give us a second." Merrick grabbed my arm and pulled me over to the overturned pool-table, "Cadi, are you insane?!"
"Well, one of us had to step up!" I hissed, "And don't tell me you want this place to close."
"What can we do to stop that?" He reasoned.
"I don't know!" I groaned, "But we need to figure it out."
30 minutes later…
"Alright… I got everything we need to replace all that was stolen." I looked over the boxes just brought in with a proud smirk, "Now… to unpack them and get started."
"No need."
I slowly looked up… and my mouth dropped.
"What in Chantico's name did you do?!"
He blinked, "Who?"
"Aztec god of fire." I rolled my eyes, "Haven't I told you there's more than one god of fire/sun?"
"Yeah… but…" He shook his head, "Really… I got everything we could need."
"Seriously… what in Chantico's name did you do?" I repeated in shock.
"Well, I figured…" Merrick patted the musical instruments, "We needed to snazz up the place."
"Okay, for one thing, it's Jazz up the place," I corrected, "And for another… don't you think we should stay true to the Roadhouse roots?"
"Nope." He grinned, "This is gonna be amazing, I'm telling you, Cadi, there's no way we won't also be bringing in a ton of new customers."
"Isn't what we're doing right now supposed to just… fix everything?" I frowned.
"Why not fix everything… and make it better?" He grinned and walked away.
"But… I liked it better the original way…" I mumbled since he was outta earshot, "Men!"
Less than half an hour later…
The Entire Roadhouse was covered in old looking Animarium…. Things!
"What the… how the….?!" I looked around, gaping.
"You like?" Merrick grinned as he slid over to me.
I bit my tongue hard so I wouldn't actually try to give my real opinion.
"I know," His ego clearly kept him from seeing this, "It's amazing, isn't it?"
"…It sure is…. Something." I forced out.
"Great! I have the others bringing everything else we need to make this look exactly like the Animarium temple." He walked away.
"That's…..." My eyes went huge, "Wait… what?!"
"Yeah, the others think we need to make our own mark on this part of the city… plus, it'll make the roadhouse feel more like home." He replied, "Right?"
"Uh…" I couldn't really respond.
"I knew you'd see it my way." He patted my back, "Can you help me with the stage?"
I blinked, "Hang on… what?!"
"I need to get rid of the stage."
"Over my dead body maybe!" I got in front of him, "You can mess with the rest of this place, but the stage is never leaving, do I make myself clear?"
"Oh come….!"
"Do I make myself clear?" I gritted my teeth.
He rolled his eyes, "Crystal."
He walked to the other side of the room and I took in a soft breath as I felt my fingertips flame up a bit.
I clenched my fist and walked away.
15 minutes later…
It wasn't even a full hour… and I was already horrified at what the Roadhouse was becoming.
So, I decided to stay outside, chop some wood…
As I did that, Merrick decided to pull out a large, hideous carpet and I ended up coughing from how dusty it was.
"Sorry." He grumbled, "Had to bring this out here to wash it…"
"Why?" I groaned.
"Because I'm thinking of putting it in the main room… I can't cut it up and put it every room, that's sacrilege for what this rug is… so, I'm gonna clean it and put it in the main…" Merrick shrugged.
"Nobody likes rugs in a Roadhouse." I retorted.
"They don't get to chose." Merrick looked up at me, "So, do you wanna help or not?"
"Not!" I bit, "If you haven't noticed, I'm chopping wood."
"You don't have to do that for long."
I frowned, "And why's that?"
"If there's one good thing about the 21st century, it's that there's electricity. We'll switch the stoves and-"
"Whoa! Back up! We're not changing the kitchen!" I denied almost instantly.
"Willie already gave me the go-ahead."
"What were his words, exactly?"
"'I don't care as long as you and Cadinia do it together and everything matches up'."
I blinked before I slowly started laughing.
He blinked, "Why are you laughing?"
"Because…" I slowly caught up to my laughter and wiped my eyes of tears of joy, "Because he asked us to do it together…"
"And?"
"Like I'm gonna help you ruin the Roadhouse!" I scoffed, "This is now, officially, your problem. Not mine."
Right after I said that, there was another problem.
In the form of the Wind.
"Let's go." Merrick ran off.
I sighed, considered my options…
Then ran after him anyway.
Might as well get another laugh outta this.
5 minutes later…
When we got to the fight scene, I really didn't give a damn about what was about to happen, I just wanted to some heads.
The Org in front of us, a Clock themed one, laughed.
"Ah! It's good to be back!"
"Wasn't that one of the Mega–Orgs from the Spirit World?" I let out calmly.
"How did you escape?!" Cole called.
"Same as you, I just baited my time!" The Org declared.
"Well, you're time's come to an end!" Merrick replied.
The seven of us ran forward, ready to attack it.
The Org laughed, "Freeze blast!"
My eyes went wide and I leaped off the ground as a blast of chilling waves passed under me, and over to where the other Rangers were.
Max and Danny got caught in the blast, but the others seemed fine.
"Max! Danny!" We cried out.
They weren't 'frozen' frozen, not covered ice, but they seemed to be…"
"Frozen in time…" I whispered in realization before I growled and went to attack the Org, "What did you just do to our friends?!"
"Oh, don't worry! You won't know either!" The Clock Org opened its face, and a gust of wind started pulling me inside it…
But, I slid my sickle along the ground, causing sparks, before I threw the weapon at the monster.
This forced the Org to move back and, judging by the two gasping for breath, undid its power.
"Heh… nice try, Clock Org!" I let out before I raised my sickles higher.
I might not be able to access my Burned State… but, I was still strong enough to empower my sickles.
"Horse… Sickle-"
"Savage Slash!"
My eyes went wide as I turned to the others, "What?!"
Their attack hit dead on, but… it only moved the Monster back further.
"Ah! Alright! I gotta go! No time to waste!" The Org vanished as it got up.
"No!" I cried out in anger.
We demorphed and I all but stormed up to the rangers without being engulfed in flames.
"Why on Helios' Green Earth did you do that?!"
"Okay, when we get back, you're explaining every Fire God there is."
"Helios is a Greek Titan." I bit, "I had that freak where I wanted it!"
"You could've died!"
"It was ICE, I'm Fire! I could've killed that thing faster than you could charge up an attack!" I retorted sharply.
"We need to work as a-"
"I swear to Ra if you say 'Work as a team' so help me I am shoving my sickles right up you-"
"Okay, Cadi…" Merrick got in front of me, "Why don't you get back to the Roadhouse? I have a special Order coming in today."
I frowned, "What order?"
"You'll just have to wait and see." He grinned.
I took in a deep breath, "Fine… whatever."
As I walked away, I didn't even care that the soles of my shoes were melting into the gravel on the ground.
24 minutes later…
That special order?
Were basketballs and basketball hoops!
"That dumbass is turning into a Basket case!" I snarled as I signed the paperwork and threw it back into the man's chest before he walked away.
Merrick
I don't know what was going on with Cadi, but, hey, I finally got to decorate, and the Roadhouse into something that I like for a change.
I mean, sure, getting rid of the pool table is… very heartbreaking, but, it's worth it to get the Roadhouse to Animarian standards.
When I got inside, I saw that the stuff for some modern sports had arrived.
"Sweet. Animarian aspects with modern games." I nodded as I spoke my idea.
Funny thing was, I know the packages had to be signed… but Cadinia was nowhere in sight.
As I looked around, I heard strumming in our room.
"You can be amazing, you can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug. You can be the outcast, or be the backlash, of somebody's lack of love." I heard her sing to herself as I moved closer, "Or you can start speaking up… Nothing's gonna hurt you the way that words do. And they settle 'neath your skin. Kept on the inside and no sunlight. Sometimes a shadow wins. But I wonder what would happen if you say what you wanna say. And let the words fall out. Honestly, I wanna see you be brave! With what you want to say, and let the words fall out. Honestly, I wanna see you be brave!"
I frowned as I walked closer, "What's that?"
She jumped up and laid her guitar down, "Nothing… I was just… trying to think… music helps…"
"I put my flute out…" I motioned to my instrument.
"I can only play stringed instruments, Merrick."
I nodded, "Did you sign….?"
"Yeah, by the way, why would you get modern games if you're trying to stay Animarian?" She grabbed her journal and moved out, "It makes no sense."
"That's why Alyssa and Taylor are coming down to help, so are the guys." I pointed out, walking after her, "What are you doing, anyway?"
"Writing music?" She shrugged, "Better than nothing, and after getting passed up for a finishing blow, it's the only thing that can calm me down."
She pulled a table out from where I'd put them and sat down in a chair before she went back to writing.
"Why?" I stared at her, "We'll be very busy… take your anger out on something else."
"I'm not trying to take my anger out on anything or anyone." She denied as she kept writing, "Trying the opposite, actually. And if I ignore the problem, maybe it'll go away."
"Really?" I sighed.
She looked up at me, annoyed, "Well, it's clearly not working, so no."
I frowned before the door opened, and the other rangers walked in.
"Ah! Great, you made it!" I grinned.
"Yeah… so… Animarian chic is what you're going for?" Alyssa inquired.
"Uh…?"
"Animarian Style." Cadi translated.
"Oh… uh… yeah." I nodded.
"Then what's with the…?"
"I already asked, don't bother." Cadi continued to write, scratching things down.
"And what are you doing?"
She finally looked up, closing her book, "Hoping that ignorance was bliss… but it's clearly not… so…"
"So help us, we've got a few things that can help us out down here." Cole let out.
"Okay… I've already tried to get Merrick to see sense… now it's you guys… can't we just keep things as they were here?"
"Come on, don't you think Willie deserves more customers?" I frowned.
"Well… yeah… but… guys… Willie doesn't know about Animaria…" Cadi tried to insist.
"Trust us… it's a good idea." Taylor reasoned.
"But… guys… I don't think Willie will appreciate….!"
"You trust us right?"
"Yeah… but guys-"
"Then we know what we're doing."
I noticed flames curl onto her hands, "You idiots aren't even listening to me! What's the point of me being here if you're not gonna listen?!"
With that, she stormed out, taking her journal… and she clearly was too pissed to care about the scorch mark she left on a table.
I winced at the sight but didn't really care.
"Alright, we should start by moving these tables." I decided, "So we can put in stone benches…"
30 minutes later…
As we were dragging in the benches, I saw Cadi sitting by the bar, her back to us.
"Can't you use your…?"
"Fire destroys, doesn't mend. Even if I wanted to help, I'd probably just break that very expensive stone." She denied, "By the way, Merrick, you're blowing Willie's budget way outta the water."
"It'll be worth it in the long run." I reasoned before the Wind blew at me, "Damn…"
We started to rush out, but I noticed Cadi didn't follow.
So, I poked my head back in.
"Aren't you coming?"
She looked up, but then looked back at her journal, "Nope. You six are stronger and smarter than I am… you can handle it."
"Thank you." Max nodded before they continued out.
I frowned.
"Merrick, don't make me throw a fireball at you."
I bit my lip, then ran out with the others.
15 minutes later…
We were morphed as we got to the sight, where the Org was freezing everyone in time.
"Haha! This is so much fun!"
"We'll see about that, Org!" I retorted before the six of us raised our weapons and ran at it.
We struck at it, but the Clock Org easily shoved all of us backward, clearly more powerful.
"Ah! And I'm just one one of the weak ones!" The Clock Org commented, "I don't see what all the fuss is about!"
We jumped into the air and were about to strike down…
"Freeze!" The Clock Org froze all of us with a single blast from its face.
The next thing I know… the Org was getting blasted back, and we fell to the ground.
"Ah! Stupid ranger! Always ruining my fun!"
He ran off after that.
I growled as we got back up, "I don't get it!"
"Wait… if we were all frozen… who undid it?" Taylor looked over at me.
I frowned and looked to see Gisli of all people walking away, clearly fuming with anger.
I lied and said, "I don't know."
2 hours later…
"…How could that Clock Org have been so powerful?"
"It even commented it was a weak one…"
As we were discussing the Org, throwing some of the balls into the hoops to test them out, Cadi threw a shuriken at them.
We turned to her, gawking.
"Oops, sorry," She didn't sound sorry at all, "Slip of the wrist, you know?"
"What is your problem?" Taylor got in her face.
"Get out of my face or you won't be able to see my problem." She bit, "Or hear, or speak it." She gritted her teeth. "And there are some threats that I do follow through with."
I pulled her back, "Cadi-"
"Don't you dare tell me to calm down. I'm almost at my wit's end with anyone telling me that." She denied, "Look, we've got other things to worry about than crying over some Org that's got more confidence than all of you combined."
"Like what?"
She held up her phone and gave it to me, "I asked Circuit to do a little looking into the future in exchange for not turning him into Cyber wear… and… guys, if we keep doing this, the Roadhouse is gonna go out of business later this year."
"So what? We'll be gone by then."
"But Willie won't." She let out, "And he's the only father figure I have left… so…"
"While you're dealing with that, we've still gotta get everything finished." Danny commented.
"Danny's right… this is just a possible future, maybe everything works out."
"Yeah, and while we're at it, we should add some war-themed souvenirs around here." Taylor nodded.
"And some martial arts."
"Don't forget animals."
I nodded to all of those suggestions, "Yeah, I'll get those done right away."
1 hour later…
Not gonna lie… it looked like a mess in the main room, and even worse in the Inn when we were trying to match the other rooms to it.
"Okay, Circuit just told me how we can…."
I looked to see Cadi walking to the front… then going silent as she looked at our progress.
"What… the… Hel?"
"I know, not as impressive." Alyssa sighed.
"Maybe if we take down a few martial arts and put up some flowers."
"Or we add a few more statues…"
"Or animal plushies…"
"Or maybe a couple more model aircraft…."
With that, we got into a large argument.
"….Guys!" Cadi finally took in a deep breath, "This is your problem! You're not working together!"
"Yeah, because you're not-"
"No. Guys… you wanna make the Roadhouse into something it's not. You wanna make it a place for teens… Merrick, you wanna make it old-timey… but neither idea is gonna keep it from closing…" She let out, "Live alone defeat this Org."
We frowned, then looked around, "I guess you're right… but how do we fix it?"
"Let's just… go back to the way it was before." She decided, "With the Jukebox, the stage… the Pool table… the bar… everything… keep everything as it should be… the way Willie had it."
I nodded, "Yeah… let's do it."
"Great… alright… come on." Cadi motioned for me to start packing the stuff up.
"But… on one condition." I countered, "We work together… not separately."
Cadi nodded, smiling lightly, "Wouldn't have it any other way, Howler."
Of course, as we were starting the cleanup, I almost didn't catch her smile turning into a snarl.
"How else am I supposed to work with idiots….?"
I stared at her in shock, but she didn't notice.
4 hours later…
As Cadi and I were scrapping down the side of a table to give it at least a little bit of a fresh look, the wind blew at us, along with the Wolf's howl.
"…Will you come with us this time?" I looked down.
"No. Not yet." She denied, then gave me her three crystals, "I want you to only use these in your Laser Pool again. Do I make myself clear?"
I nodded, "Yes."
With that, I ran off.
1 hour later…
We got to the battle, and this time, I was ready.
"Ah! Come to freeze again I see!" The Org laughed.
"Think again!" I readied my weapon as the others did the same.
"Jungle Blaster!"
"Laser Pool!"
I put all six of the crystals I now had down, and the moment I put down Cadi's, the entire area sparked to life with flames.
"Savage Blast!" Cole called.
"Lunar Break!"
Both of our attacks hit the Org… but the flames around the field strengthened my attack, and destroyed the Org with almost perfect ease!
"Yes!" I grinned as we turned away, and I grabbed five of the six Crystals, while hers personal one flew off.
Of course, to my shock… the Org regrew like… like nothing! I didn't even see the seeds!"
"Ha! Your time's at an end, Rangers!"
We didn't waste a second.
The six of us combined our WildZords into the Isis Megazord: Predator Mode, and I was ready to fight.
"Let's get this done!" I growled softly.
We flew the Isis Megazord into the sky, and I took in a deep breath as we moved closer.
"Freeze!" The Org opened its face again.
But this time, we flew away from the blast.
"Not this time!" Max commented, "Hammerhead bite!"
My HammerheadZord easily bit off the face area of the Org, leaving the wiring right open.
"Thanks! I needed that!" The Clock Org commented, "Time for you to chill out!"
A Strong blast of ice blew at us, sending us flying back, pretty literally.
I tried to hold onto the sides of the control panel as we everyone tried to keep still.
Then, I looked at the two remaining crystals that I had…
While I did assure Cadi I wouldn't use them… we were in trouble… I have no choice.
"PenguinZord! TerrapinZord!" I called the two… but…
Nothing.
They didn't even respond.
Then, I felt something hit the wings of the Isis Megazord and we were thrown to the ground.
I groaned as we fell out of the Megazord.
"That's impossible!" I moaned in pain as we all demorphed after the fall.
"How could he have done that?!"
"He didn't."
We turned at the voice as Cadinia stepped forward.
"I did." She finished.
"Why?"
"That's none of your business." She denied, "I'm sick and tired of being the only one who can win a battle without whining. I don't just dream things to change. I make them change. I'm not saying that I'm better than you, but I'm tired of being the one that keeps getting pushed down. I've had it with my family and I will never let that happen to me again."
"You can't fight, even if you wanted to. You're just one person." Taylor bit.
Cadi nodded before, out of the blue, she punched Taylor in the eye, then kneed her in the gut and threw her to the ground.
"One person, who just knocked own an Air Force chick?" Cadi let out, "I've done it before. I've had to survive on my own without help from anyone. I've gotten beaten down, literally… and I have been in the brink of death from some of those fights… and by the way, I know you want me dead, don't worry. Your Zords are fine, so if this thing does kill me… well, at least I'll've weakened it for you. Like you all need."
"How are you gonna fight it? I tried calling your WildZords… and they wouldn't come."
"They're my WildZords. They won't listen to you. To any of you." Cadi let out, "Only me."
With that, she grabbed my Hammerhead and Alligator crystals from my pocket before she held them up.
"WildZords, descend!"
While I wasn't expecting it at all… my WildZords… came with hers!
"WildZords combine!"
As they combined, my mind was racing.
"…Am I no longer worthy, or something…?"
Third Person
Cadinia took in a soft breath as she jumped into, and looked around, the empty cockpit.
"Finally, some peace and quiet…" She mentally let out.
"Ha! You think that piece of machinery is gonna stop me?!" The Clock Org laughed at her.
"Like duh." She nodded before she moved the Megazord forward and struck it, "I'm the only one capable to defeat a low level like you… so… yeah, I think I can beat you."
The Org tried to freeze her, but the Gold Ranger simply raised her boomerang and cut it apart.
She moved forward again and struck the Clock Org with her Shield then stepped out of the way as the Boomerang struck it before going back to her hand.
"Let's finish this!" She growled, before she activated the final attack, "Heat Blast!"
The Megazord began to glow heavily before it sent a wall of fire at the Org, knocking it down.
"Your time's up." She growled.
The Org exploded a moment later.
"Finally…" She grumbled.
On the ground…
The rangers were gawking at the scene above them.
"…That's impossible." Taylor whispered.
"She took down that Org… all alone…" Danny gaped.
"Faster than even I did…" Merrick realized softly.
"…She's right."
They all looked over at Cole.
"What do you mean?" Max frowned.
"I mean, she's right… she doesn't need us, we need her." Cole let out, "We've been treating her like she's nothing… but… clearly, she's something."
"I don't need your words, Evans."
They turned to Cadinia as she stepped forward in her Ninja uniform.
"I need your actions." She finished, "You gotta show that you're capable. No more whining about anything, no more talk. Action. That's the only way we'll get anything done around here. You can't be all bark and no bite… that won't get you far in the real world… that'll most likely get you killed, or worse… and yeah, there are way worse things than death. I would know. I've spent the last few months dealing with it."
With that, she walked away.
Only, she turned back after a few feet. "Oh, and by the way, you're welcome."
With that, she went on.
3 hours later…
"Well… that's… everything…" Cadinia grumbled as they finally positioned the Pool table where it'd been before, only for her to freeze.
"What?" Merrick frowned, "Did we forget anything?"
"…How heavy is a pool table?"
"Probably ten, twenty pounds… why?"
She pointed down, "I think you moved it onto my foot…"
"Oh! Sorry! My bad!" He quickly picked it up.
Cadinia groaned as she moved her foot, then hopped a bit as she held it, "Brigid, that stings!"
Merrick opened his mouth, and Cadinia explained.
"Irish Goddess of Smithcraft/fire, and healing."
Merrick nodded before the door opened.
"Alright… you've had all day…" Willie walked in, covering his eyes.
Both teens grinned as they rushed in front of him and he opened them.
Blinking, the older man looked around.
"Huh… you know, it's funny, I expected one of you guys to try and change the entire Roadhouse." Willie scoffed, "Guess I should've put more faith in you."
He patted Merrick's back, causing Cadinia's eyes to widen in shock.
"Way to go, Merrick."
5 minutes later…
Cadinia and Merrick fell into one of their beds, completely exhausted from all their finished work.
"Alright…" He gasped out.
"We did it." Cadinia agreed, breathless.
Merrick looked over at her, seeing that Cadinia looked perfectly okay, no sweat on her face, or clothes.
He, on the other hand, was soaked.
And not just because it'd started raining outside when he was finishing fixing the sign.
"Who knew getting everything exactly the way it had been would be so tricky?" He let out.
Cadinia smirked and turned to him, "I know."
Merrick looked at their now very close proximity, then up at her eyes.
They seemed dull, as if any life that had been in them had been sucked away.
"You okay?" He brushed some hair from her face.
She nodded, "Yeah… just… tired."
Merrick frowned, then nodded, "Right…"
As he was getting up, his legs gave out and he fell back onto the bed with an 'Eek' from Cadinia.
"I… I guess my legs are too tired to move…"
"Oh, joy." She rolled her eyes and turned away, "Fine. I don't care anymore."
"But… it's your bed."
"What's mine is yours and what's yours is also yours." She bit, no longer caring, "I don't care anymore, Merrick. Do whatever you want."
He frowned, "Cadi… I…"
She curled closer to herself as he tried to touch her.
"Cadi, please…" He almost begged.
"What do you care?" She snapped, finally having it, "You've been rejecting everything I say and do… you act like I don't do crap anymore…!"
She got up, her fire waking up her body.
"You know what? I think some very late night training would do me some good… and this time, I'm locking the doors so you can't stop me."
Merrick watched her go, shocked.
As Cadinia walked out, she took in a weak breath.
"Don't cry… don't cry… don't cry…" She repeated.
As the rain came down, Cadinia forced herself to remain focused on what she was doing.
She raised her sickles up and started to move with them easily.
Except, as she did a spin kick… her foot landed on a puddle and she slipped.
She groaned in pain before she got right back up.
"Again." She hissed to herself.
She tried to repeat the move, but, the fall was too painful for her to just ignore.
Tears fell from Cadinia's eyes… but they mixed with the rain just enough to hide her pain before she dropped to her knees and just started crying.
1 hour later…
The rain was still falling as Merrick walked out and noticed Cadinia asleep under her own work table.
He gently moved her out from under it, covering her head with his chest before he picked her up and walked her inside, stroking her wet hair from her face.
She moaned softly as she nodded her head against his now soaked chest before she slowly opened her eyes, "…Howler? What are you…?"
"Shh…" He whispered before he walked into their room and laid her on his bed before he laid beside her, "Just go to sleep… I wasn't gonna let you get sick…"
She bit her lip, then shivered a bit.
He pulled a blanket over her, rubbing it down a bit.
"You need to sleep." He assured gently.
"I'm fine…" She reasoned softly.
He shook his head, brushing the hair from her head, "I don't care… you were outside in the rain… you could've gotten sick."
"Why should that matter? I'm nothing to the team."
"Don't say that, of course, you are."
She breathed a weak laugh before she rubbed some tears from her eyes, "You guys don't even listen to me anymore… nor do you take my advice… and you even said I wasn't a team player. You yourself, someone I thought was my best friend…."
She got up, sitting on the edge of his bed.
"I am your best friend!" He reasoned, quickly sitting beside her, "Cadi…."
"No. Don't you dare 'Cadi' me." She got up and glared at him, "Don't you think I deserve a little more than a second thought? That I… that I should be including in some decisions before you guys either jump headfirst without a plan or when the plan is already destined to go south?"
Merrick opened his mouth, but she wasn't done.
"No. You didn't. You never do. Not after Animus… and even before then, you guys rarely let me get a word in edgewise… it's like… like… like I don't matter! Like I never have!" She went on.
"No, don't say that!" He got up and took her hands, "Cadi, from day one, you've mattered to me. You've been there for me when I didn't want you… you've been there when I have… Cadi, don't say that you don't matter… cause you do."
"As what, Merrick? Your friend, your teammate, your coworker… what?" She glared.
"All of it?"
"Oh really?" She scoffed, "Not from what I've seen of you… not recently at least."
"Cadi, I've just been caught up with the Princess' kidnapping…" He replied.
She looked away, rolling her eyes.
"Okay, why is it every time I mention the Princess recently, you get like that?"
"I already snapped it." She stood up, "You guys are such children, you need her to handhold her through everything. That has never been the case with me. I didn't choose to be a Ranger. I am a ranger cause I've literally got nothing better to do with my time, and because I want to protect my city."
"It's not just your city."
"Out of everyone, my family has had the longest roots here, and I've lived here all my life… sans the two and three-quarters year that I was banished… my point is. This is my city. Not hers, not yours, and sure as Hel, not theirs. Mine. I care about every person here, even if I don't show it. That's who I am. That's what this city is. We're people… and everyone has a right to be different. To choose if they care about something or not. But I care to protect the people. Not the Animals, not the plants. The People."
"You think I don't care about the people? That's my job!"
"Oh really?" Cadinia called his bluff, "From what I remember hearing, and feeling, you only ever cared about 3,000 years ago!"
"I've changed!"
"No, you haven't!" She snapped, "You've never changed! You're still the exact same person who I first opened my door on!"
Tears gathered in her eyes before she turned away, wiping them off her face.
Merrick frowned and gently took her hand, "Cadinia… I… I'm so sorry… I… I never thought you would care so much over something like that…"
"I don't!" She bit, "I'm just sick and tired of not being noticed by my own team… and by my own friend…"
"We didn't ignore you today…"
"Yes, you did. You even called me out on not being a team player. Everything I've done since I've gotten here was for the team."
Merrick looked down before he hugged her, "I'm sorry, Cadi… I swear I'm sorry…"
"No, you're not."
Merrick pulled away and made her look at his eyes, which were now red from his silent crying.
"Believe me, I am." His voice cracked.
Cadinia bit her lip before she wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him close.
Merrick closed his eyes as he returned the hug.
As he did, he felt something change in his heart.
Cadinia was his best friend… something the Princess never was.
He cared for Cadinia more than he did the Princess…
He loved Cadinia… not his former lover…
As they pulled apart, Merrick looked at Cadinia's eyes.
They still looked dull, but he saw a small spark in them once more.
She raised a brow when she noticed him looking, "What are you staring at?"
He shook his head, "Nothing… nothing… come on, you wanna get some sleep?"
Cadinia nodded before she pulled away and walked over to her bed, laying down and covering up.
"Good night." She smiled softly, though Merrick knew it was clearly forced.
"Night." He nodded before he laid down, pulling his blankets over himself.
They looked at each other as they closed their eyes, the one through Merrick's mind was, "I love you…"
Whereas, Cadinia still felt anger towards him, so her final thought of the night was, "I hate you."
So? How'd you like the Megazord battle? Was it good?
The end, though, that had to have been my favorite part... even if I had to edit it severally a couple of time...
Please review, Favorite and Follow.
See ya next week!
