Author's note: Lots of exposition here. Sorry, folks, but it's a necessary evil in this story. There won't be much after this chapter, though.

Unexpected Ally Chapter 4: Explanations

Later that night Tara woke up very thirsty.

Shayla had come back, a little after Merrick's departure, to apologize on his behalf and offer hospitality for the night. Cole put it another way, once Shayla was gone.

"We want to figure this thing out, and it'd be easier if you were here." he said bluntly. Seeing the look on her face, he added, "You don't have to stay. But Merrick's our friend and this has really upset him. We want to figure it out."

"I understand. But, Cole…" she absently touched the side of her face. "Today is Friday. I have work on Monday." Cole nodded quietly.

"Were you…really there? In Animaria?"

"I've been a lot of places over the years. And yes, Animaria was one of them."

"Three thousand years ago?"

"Yes." She'd refused to say anything else then.

Now she slipped out of 'her' room, searching for something to drink. The fountain in the center of the courtyard was gurgling softly, but after a long look at it she turned away.

"Tara." She turned to see Shayla sitting near the fountain.

"Princess."

"Is something wrong?"

"I'm thirsty, Princess." Shayla rose to her feet and left briefly, returning with a jug and cup.

"Thank you." Tara accepted the jug, pouring a cup and draining it quickly.

"May I ask something?" Shayla asked hesitantly.

"Certainly."

"Why is Merrick so angry with you? What could you possibly have done for him to hate you so?"

"It's not what I did, Princess, it's what I didn't do." She glanced up at a faint sound and saw Cole standing just inside the clearing, leaning against the temple wall. Turning her attention back to Shayla, she went on, "I was there when Animaria fell. And Merrick thinks that, had I tried, I could have helped prevent it."

"How?" Shayla asked.

"I…am not without resources. And I did what I could, Princess."

"What…kind of resources?" Tara looked around for a moment, then she rose to her feet and moved to stand next to a large boulder. Holding up one hand, she closed it into a fist.

And the boulder exploded.

Shayla jumped, gripping the arms of her chair. Cole straightened, unfolding his arms. A moment later Taylor appeared, brushing past him and crossing to kneel beside Shayla. The other Rangers spilled out of their rooms, but they didn't come past the doorway where Cole stood.

"Princess—" Taylor said hesitantly, "Are you all right?"

Tara relaxed her hand, slowly. And the boulder pulled back together, melding with no trace of cracks. Shayla looked questioningly at her, and she shrugged slightly.

"This is the Animarium. Everything here has a place and a purpose, I will not disrupt that—but you needed to see." She was swaying slightly as she spoke.

"Are you all right?" Cole asked sharply.

"It…tires me. And it's worse, here."

"In the Animarium?" Alyssa asked.

"We aren't really on Earth, here. And I draw my strength from Earth." She hesitated briefly and then knelt in front of Shayla. Taylor rose and backed away a little.

"I lived in Animaria for some months, Princess, and I loved it there. Your people were good and brave and kind to a stranger in need. And for them I did what I could. But Animaria had to fall. Sometimes the light has to fail so it can shine all the brighter when it returns." Shayla was crying softly. "Animaria lives, Princess. In you, in Merrick—in them." She gestured at the Rangers, still standing silent.

"Is Merrick right?" Cole asked. Tara tilted her head questioningly, and he went on, "Could you have stopped it?"

"No. Not forever."

"Not forever." Max repeated.

"I could have saved Animaria in that one fight. Kept the walls standing, held the Orgs back…but the war wouldn't have ended. And with each new battle I would have had to pour a little more of—of me into it. And very soon, I would have been gone." She glanced around before continuing. Her voice rose as she spoke, becoming sing-song. "If Animaria were winning, Princess, you would have awoken. Animaria would have fallen, and you with it; and there would be no one then to care for the Wildzords, or to stand against the Orgs now. All unchecked would they rise, and Earth would fall to them." Swaying, she slid sideways to sit on the floor rather than kneeling.

"What was that?" Danny asked.

"I'm sorry." Tara murmured. "That happens, sometimes—I'm sorry I upset you, Princess." Shayla rose to her feet and moved to the edge of the clearing, keeping her back to the Rangers.

"What was all that?" Alyssa asked.

"It's…what could have been." Tara answered.

Shayla turned back to face her. "Who are you?" she demanded.

"Now, or then?"

"Both!" Tara nodded, considering what to say.

"Once I was Thariin. Merrick will know the name. When I was Thariin, I was a princess. But my country is long gone to dust, so that even its' name is forgotten.

"I fought in a great war, as great as the one you now fight. And in that war, I was injured and close to death. Separated from my companions, alone in unfriendly territory.

"My brother the prince had a friend. A great, powerful wizard. He found me, and for love of my brother he saved me. But I was so far gone that the only thing he could do for me was to give me strength—strength he pulled directly from the Earth."

Shayla inhaled sharply. "I've never heard of that being done."

"It wasn't something he did lightly." Tara agreed. "But it is done, and it falls to me to ensure each day his trust was not in vain."

"Princess?" Taylor asked. Shayla turned to the Rangers.

"Thariin—Tara—is…as I am to the Wildzords, she is to the Earth. Mostly; it goes a little further…" Shayla trailed off and Tara picked it up.

"I can, if I wish, control earth and water and rock. Wood, if I must; air, with effort. Fire, with a lot of effort...I don't like to even try that unless I have to."

"Why those?" Max asked.

"Earth elements. I am Earth, basically."

"Earth?" Taylor repeated.

"Not…" Tara gestured and a stream of soil flew up to hover between them. "Not earth. The Earth."

"Gaia." Alyssa said suddenly, and Tara looked over at her, smiling.

"You could say that. It's not quite the same."

"Who?" Shayla asked.

"Gaia was the personification of Earth, in several myths. It's not quite what I am."

"What are you?" Cole asked softly.

"Tired." she said with a faint smile. Turning back to Shayla, she bowed deeply. "I am sorry that I have hurt Merrick. And I'm sorry I upset you. Remember, Princess. Animaria lives." Turning, she went back to her room in silence.

"Animaria…" Shayla murmured.