Disclaimer: Power Rangers does not belong to me, nor does the movie "Ever After" that inspired parts of this chapter.
Chapter 18: A Kiss 3,000 Years in the Making
Excusing himself from Dustin's company, Cole wandered off to look for Alyssa. Cole swore he heard Red Lion literally roar with laughter as he walked away. Red Lion had been partnered with him long enough to know who he was thinking about whenever he started stuttering and sweating… even if he didn't mention her name.
After checking the pond and the picnic area where most of the other team members were hanging out, Cole ventured farther back into the wooded groves of the Animarium to find Alyssa. The fertile, green forests grew denser the further he hiked, which concerned Cole greatly as he made his way upstream. The romantic woodland and cozy corners created by the rocks at the river's edge were the perfect place to hang out if you wanted to be alone. Or be alone with somebody.
Sure enough, Cole soon heard Alyssa's familiar, perky laugh that he loved so much. His heart grew cold though upon the confirmation of his hunch that Hunter was also with her. Despite knowing that it was wrong to spy, Cole couldn't help dropping back behind an overgrown bush to try and take in more of what was going on between the couple.
Cole thought Alyssa looked breath-taking with the wind coming off the river, lightly tussling her hair as she sat perched on a rock by the pool's edge. The whole scene would have been picture perfect to Cole… except for Hunter situated below her on a large stone nearby. Everything to Cole appeared perfect friendly between Hunter and Alyssa… except that Hunter's hand was resting on her knee in a not-so-friendly way.
Cole then heard Alyssa giggle cheerfully, cocking her head happily to the side as Hunter looked playfully indignant. It didn't surprise Cole that Alyssa seemed to be up to her usual, spirited teasing, which he adored about her. But what did shock the Red Ranger was when Hunter flirtatiously in response flicked a flash of water up to Alyssa face, leaving remnants of the Animarium river running down her cheeks. As Alyssa laughed whole-heartedly and started to wipe the water from her face, Hunter moved to help her before brushing back her damp bangs and cupping her face into a gentle kiss.
With his stomach churning, Cole's body upon sight of the two making out at once felt both frozen and yet on fire to run over to tear the two apart. Indeed, the Red Ranger had morphed green with envy. Yet as emotions of anger, jealousy and bitterness raged through him like a mad man, a conversation earlier in the day suddenly seized control of Cole's brain. Ironically now at that moment, Cole found it was Hunter running uncontrollably thorough his head.
"If Alyssa decides she's into you as more than a friend, then I'll deal," Cole recalled Hunter saying earlier. "But if she really wants to be with me, then I want you to back off. I mean, what we both really want more than her to be with us is for her to be happy. Right?"
And Alyssa certainly did appear very happy to Cole at that moment as Hunter scooted closer to her and lingered their lip lock. Cole couldn't possibly fathom how he would confess his feelings for Alyssa now, or if he even would. As strong as he cared for Alyssa, now realizing how much he did want her and want to be with her, the last thing Cole wished for was to loose Alyssa's friendship in the awkwardness of telling her how he felt when she clearly desired to be with someone else.
At that moment, Cole was jolted from his inner turmoil by a pair of people arguing loudly. And although Cole identify clearly the couple, it became immediately obvious to him that it wasn't Hunter and Alyssa, who Cole noticed sourly still had their tongues down each other's throats. Moving away from the scene that he found so obscene, Cole walked in the direction of the voices he had heard.
Yet as he moved closer, Cole was shocked to see that the two arguing were Merrick and Princess Shayla of all people. He knew Princess Shayla to always keep a cheerful tone to her speech, even when she was upset. More shocking was Merrick, who hardly ever raised his voice above a whisper. And that was if he even spoke at all.
Once again, curious Cole ducked behind a bush to stay within earshot of their conversation. Though were addressing each other so fervently that Cole actually found he didn't have much trouble overhearing this lover's quarrel between the longtime companions. Yet as he listened, it suddenly dawned upon Cole that this literally was a lover's quarrel.
"Princess, please don't send me away again," begged Merrick to the teary-eyed nymph. "Now that I've seen you again, I won't be able to find it in myself to leave."
"You can't say these things, Merrick," said Shayla, placing a finger over his lips to try and placate him. "You're human, and I'm, well, not. It would never work. It just isn't fair to you."
"What's not fair is you now not giving us the chance to," retorted Merrick desperately.
Behind the bush, Cole's eyes were wide with astonishment at the degree of candidness the couple was finally expressing. All the Wild Force Rangers, himself included, had always known Merrick and Princess Shayla had kept beneath the surface how deeply each cared for the other. Yet now seeing the two finally discussing the feelings they had held in for so long, well, Cole just felt it was a conversation they should have had all those thousands of years ago.
"I.. I have a mission to be with the Animarium," stammered Princess Shayla, her head clearly at odds with her heart. "You and I can't be together."
"I remember telling you that exact same thing," said Merrick, placing a hand gently on her shoulder. "I was wrong."
"But…" protested the Princess.
"You have to understand," implored Merrick. "I spent these past few months after the Orgs were defeated wandering world, searching for my purpose now in life. It didn't take me long to realize that it was to be with you."
"Please don't Merrick," begged Princess Shayla, tearing herself in tears away from him as she ran across grass. "I'm the Princess, and you're my protector. We're nothing more. Nothing more! If we were ever separated again, I don't think my heart could take…"
"I won't ever leave again, Shayla!" cried out Merrick. "For the past, and the things I said about it not being right for us to be together, I'm sorrier than you'll ever know!"
Cole saw Shayla skid to a stop in her sprint across the grass. As the wind rustled loudly through the trees, Cole watched the Princess's shoulders heave up and down heavily as she sobbed heavily. It was only when Princess Shayla turned around to face Merrick did Cole see she that she had been smiling through her tears.
"Say it again?" she asked Merrick sweetly.
"I'm sorry?" questioned Merrick, confused as to what she wanted.
"No," smiled Shayla as she slowly approached him. "The part where you said my name."
"Shayla," breathed Merrick as she came closer. "Shayla, Shayla, Shayla," he repeated his voice growing louder as he swept the Princess up his arms and swung her giddily around in a circle.
From behind the bush, Cole smiled broadly. Not only was this the first time he had ever heard Merrick laugh, but one of the first times he had ever seen the pair behave so openly affectionate toward one another. And with their emotional barriers and insecurities finally toppled, Cole knew it wouldn't be the last.
"Shayla," said Merrick, taking her hands in his own and kissing her fingertips. "I stand before you not as your protector, but as a man in love."
"Merrick," said Shayla as tears of happiness ran down her cheeks. "I would really feel like a Princess if you would consent to stay here with me after I take the Animarium back up into the sky."
"Do you even really have to ask," consented Merrick as he embraced her, pressing his cheek to the top of her head. "It was never really a question where I'd end up. You're the one, Shayla. My destiny has always been to be with you."
At that moment, a branch snapped behind Cole and broke his attention away from the couple. Turning around, Cole's heart raced when he saw the person who'd come up behind him.
"Alyssa," whispered Cole softly.
Final Chapter (19): A New Future -- Who will Alyssa choose: Cole or Hunter? Cast your final votes now! Thanks so much for reading everyone, and please stay tuned for the conclusion of "Wild Storm."