silence
Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers.
Chapter Three
It's a cold, dark night. Unusually cold for the time of year, but the castle was still warm. She walks towards the window, seeing the kingdom between the trees. She sighs, placing a hand on the window. It had been weeks since she had left the castle, and it had started to get to her. Sure, when she did leave the castle before, she was always accompanied by at least three guards. But that was better than being cooped up in the castle for almost a month straight.
She doesn't know how long she was standing there for, but it must have been long enough for Jason to finish his shower. She doesn't even hear the bathroom door open, or the shower stop. "What are you doing?"
He grabs her shoulders, gently steering her away from the window. "You shouldn't be standing in the window."
She takes a seat on the bed, and he sighs, kneeling in front of her. "I know. I just… I haven't left the castle since this all started, and I-"
She looks towards the window, only for him to touch her cheek. He gently turns her head to look at him. "I understand, but you have to understand that this is all for your protection."
"I understand that, but…I just want this to end." She touches his own cheek, leaning in. "For more than one reason."
"Princess-" whatever he's about to say next is interrupted by her kissing him. He soon relaxes into it, kissing her back. He pulls her closer, moaning into her mouth. Then he suddenly pulls away, both of them breathing heavy. She tries to kiss him again, but he moves his head. "We should stop."
His voice is husky, and he audibly swallows, but it doesn't help much when he does start speaking again. "I thought you were enjoying it."
"I was. And that's the problem. I'm supposed to protect you, that is the whole reason the queen wanted us to marry. And in order to do that, I can't be distracted. And you… are very distracting, princess."
She takes notice of the bulge in his boxers, her cheeks suddenly warm. "Oh."
She gets up from the bed. "I'm just going to get ready for bed. You should get comfortable."
She wakes up to the sound of horses coming from outside. She sits up, while Jason somehow manages to sleep through the noise. Easing out of bed, she walks over to the window, recognizing some of the guards with horses. They pass her window, the noise passing with it.
"What are they doing?" She mumbles to herself, and she doesn't expect anyone to answer. Were they training? She didn't know if horse riding was part of the extensive training it took to become a guard.
"I can't believe I forgot about this." Jason suddenly says, causing her to jump. She expected him to be upset about her not heeding his warning about the window, instead he joins her. Standing just behind her, looking out the window in himself.
"What did you forget?"
"Every year, some of the guards get together and race horses." He laughs. "You think this is lame, I know."
"No no. It sounds… fun. You should get down there." He opens his mouth, surely to protest. "And I could come with you."
"No. You know you shouldn't leave the castle."
"I'll still be on castle grounds, and you'll be there. And by the looks of it, a third of the guards."
"The queen would raise Hell if she ever found out."
"And she won't."
He sighs heavily. "Fine. But we're going to have to be careful if we don't want the queen to know."
She walks towards the stands, which were currently occupied by Kat and Tanya. The two guards were currently immersed in conversation, only being alerted by her presence because of her heels. Kat is the first one to speak. "Princess, what are you doing here?"
"I just needed to get out of the castle for a little while."
Both of them make a face, exchanging a look. "What?"
"Nothing." Both say in time.
Something tells her otherwise, but she doesn't question them, taking a seat next to them. Tanya suddenly asks, "So tell me, how did you convince Jason to race?"
"I just said that we should go."
Kat and Tanya exchange another look. Before she can question them, the horses ride past them, the next group starting. Adam comes into the stands, Tanya handing him a water bottle. "Do either of you know if Tommy's coming?"
Tanya responds quickly, saying that she didn't know. Kat, however, does not respond when first asked. Kimberly takes note of how her demeanor has changed at the mere mention of Tommy. Adam looks at Kat, saying her name.
"W-why are you asking me?"
Tanya interjects, "it might have something to do with the fact that you've been visiting him everyday in the infirmary, and didn't answer the first time."
"He said he didn't want to come if he couldn't compete." Kat finally answers.
"You two came." Adam points out.
"Yes dear, but the reason we aren't competing isn't because we're in the infirmary. It's because you are all sore losers." Tanya says, smiling by the end.
"Hey! What are you talking about?"
"I think she is referring to the fact that you are upset we beat you last year." The three girls share a laugh, and Adam opens his mouth to protest. But then there's noises from behind him, as the group behind them finishes.
Adam leaves the stands, not before kissing Tanya's cheek.
Her cloak flows behind her in the wind, as she rushes through the trees. The only thing that can be seen through the cloak is her long brown hair, and tan hands. This was all intentional, she couldn't be identified just yet. She finally reaches her destination, a cave deep in the trees. (This part of the kingdom had been long forgotten about, and for now at least, that was exactly how they wanted it to stay.) She enters the cave, a green light shining brighter the further she walks.
A voice begins to speak, the hoarse voice not too dissimilar from that of a smoker's. "Bianca."
"Master, the plan is taking much longer than first thought. The princess has left the castle, but is still on castle grounds, and surrounded by guards." Bianca puts her hands out in front of her, an image appearing just above her palms. Kimberly, Kat and Tanya watching the race, smiling and laughing in the stands.
"Hmmm," the voice hums, "I think we should send them a warning."
Bianca smirks behind her cloak. "What did you have in mind, master?"
There are footsteps, a man slowly stepping in front of her. From what can be seen in the darkness, the man's skin appears to be covered in scars. Scars that never healed properly from the looks of it. The image fades from Bianca's hands, replaced by a small green ball. "This should work just fine. But it will only work after the sun goes down, so you will have to wait until nightfall."