Into The Woods
Part One: Animal I Have Become
Note: I do not own Power Rangers Wild Force, just the ideas. If the characters are out of character, I apologize. I prefer to give them more of a human appeal that goes deeper than the show. The song belongs to Three Days Grace from their new album, One X.
Timeline: A couple years after Wild Force ended, just the beginning of the Dino Thunder season. That will come into play in later parts.
Rating: T (Or higher)
I can't escape this hell,
So many times I've tried,
But I'm still caged inside,
Somebody get me through this nightmare,
I can't control myself.
Two years have passed since my destiny as the White Wild Force Ranger has ended. No longer the Nobel Tiger, I am just a small town elementary school teacher. Living on the edge of the forest that surrounds Turtle Cove, just the thought of entering the woods have begun to haunt my dreams. As I sleep the days of old return, the horror that the forest can held and the secrets of my past as an Ancient Warrior.
"Little girls shouldn't walk in the forest alone", Toxica's words echo all around me as I walk deeper into the forest. "The forest is mine" Zen Aku warned, his words make me shiver. Suddenly he appears before me, his eyes are glowing a reddish yellow and his flute is at his mouth. The melody fills the forest and fear creeps through me, even though I have faced many evils, he was the one that I feared the most. The thing that made it so, was the fact that he was housing a man within him.
"You think your destiny is over because your powers are gone. You don't even know the truth of who you were." He tells me as we come face to face.
"What do you mean?" I ask, his laughter is dark and cold; it stings my ears as his eyes begin to glow brighter.
"You will learn soon enough." He states and then raises his sword, as the blade glitters as he raises it and plunges it down, directly into my chest.
I awoke, covered in a cold sweat. Panting, I try to catch my breath as I glance to my alarm clock. Its 2 AM on a Saturday morning, with a groan I fall back amongst my pillows and stare at my ceiling. This is the third time I've had this dream this week. I would talk to the others about this dream but they have all moved away and moved on, leaving me here alone. I try to drift back to sleep and now I can't, usually a cup of tea helps me sleep and since I was thirsty and not getting back to sleep anytime soon I climb out of bed and head to the kitchen.
As I put the kettle on the stove I hear a wolf's howl in the distance. I've been hearing it periodically for a month, but since I live near the woods I haven't given it a second thought. Then I hear a second sound and realize that maybe I should have. A flute melody fills the air, it's soft but it's there. I know who is it, but it cannot be.
"Zen Aku." I murmur, I had heard the same song when I had gone looking for my stolen Elephant Zord. We had destroyed him, twice in fact. There was no way he could still be around, I tell myself, feeling it was safer to be in denial. I had no powers, though even when I did, I still couldn't face him on my own. When Merrick was within, he did have a moment of remorse when he bandaged me up after I had been thrown down a steep hill in the forest and smashed into the rocks. But Merrick wasn't there anymore; this was a soulless Org that cared about nothing except for joining Merrick once more. As the flute music continues, I try to tell myself that this cannot be happening and the rational voice in my head tells me that I'm dead wrong.
Against my better judgment I remove my teakettle from the stove, grab my coat, a flashlight and a knife from my drawer, at least I had something to defend myself, though it wasn't much. Taking a deep breath, I slide open my backdoor and walk across my patio and head for the woods. If Zen Aku is still around I have to warn the others or at least the newest generations of Rangers, hopefully someone can finally put him to his end.
So what if you can see,
The darkest side of me,
No one will ever change this animal I have become.
Help me believe it's not the real me.
Somebody help me tame this animal
As I continue to follow the flute deeper into the woods, I want to smack myself for not checking the batteries in my flashlight. The light is dimming with each passing second; soon I'll be forced to use my cell phone as a flashlight. Then the music stops and my flashlight flickers. Crap. I hear something moving in the darkness, my heart begins to race. Why in the hell did I do this? I'm most likely going to die out here and it'll take them a week to find me and by that time with this weather they'll have to use dental records to identify me. Serves you right for being stupid the voice in my head says, usually its rational, now its annoying. Shut up I tell it, that wasn't what I need to be telling myself. As the noise gets closer and I'm ready to drop from a heart attack the wolf I had heard howling was standing in front of me. Oh great, now all they'll find are my bones, way to fail Alyssa, stupid inner voice. Instead of attacking or even growling it approaches and lightly takes a hold of my sleeve and begins to tug at me, urging me to go with it. Feeling helpless I have no choice but to follow it because if I run it will most likely eat me.
As I follow close to the wolf I realize it's much bigger than any wolf I'd ever seen in my life. It's the size of a small pony and if I wanted I could probably ride it. The fur is hard to make out since my flashlight finally bit the big one and I'm following it with the light of my cell phone. It seems to be a combination of gray and brown, so I can't tell if it's a Gray Timber wolf or a regular brown wolf. As we round a bend I see a fire crackling and no one is around. That's really weird since the fire is contained and there are no sign of human life anywhere. Slightly perturbed I move closer to the fire, I didn't realize how cold it was out in the woods at night. Sitting down in front of it, the wolf sits beside me. It looks at me and for some reason it looks happy. Seriously it's rather creepy since it not only has a smile in its eyes but I swear it's grinning. I think I'm over tired and imagining things because I didn't realize that I was so sleepy until I sat down. Then I close my eyes for a second and the last thing I see is the fire blurring, then nothing.
I awoke the next morning, a blanket is covering my body and a coat is pillowing my head, then I realize its my coat and sit up with a shout. Someone had taken my coat off me in my sleep; Lord knows what else happened to me after I passed out.
"Easy." A voice says from behind me and I turn around to see Merrick staring at me. His hair was longer but other than that he hadn't changed, I'm so confused I don't know where to begin. I know he can tell and he simply gives a small grin and walks over, sitting on the ground next to me. "Good morning." He starts.
"Good morning." I echo back, confusion lines my words; I rub my eyes and begin to adjust myself. "What's going on?" I ask.
"I should as, you the same thing. Following a wolf into the woods at night? You should be thankful I'm out here, you don't know what are is in this forest." He tells me, his face stoic. He doesn't elaborate how he knows but continues. "You must have heard me playing last night, that's probably why you were out here in the first place." He murmurs.
"You that was you? Merrick that is the same song Zen Aku played." I told him, he smiled at me, and it was slightly creepy since it was rare to see him smile.
"We shared one body and one mind for over 3,000 years. Anything I know he knows and vice versa. I figured you would have realized that." He says, and yeah I probably should have realized it. "The wolf you followed was me. Because Zen Aku and I were bonded for 3,000 years his DNA altered mine. During the full moon I can turn into a wolf and you've known that my senses were heightened but I didn't realize I could change until a few months ago. I saw you wandering and I had to protect you, there have been strangers in my forest. Rapists and such, they like to bring their victims here because they know they cannot be found. I've already taken care of two; there is a third out there still. I cannot believe you were so dumb that you decided to come out here at night. I don't know what I would have done if I returned later and found your corpse out here."
"Wow. You know how to brighten a persons day and to make them feel smart, well done." I snap, he suddenly frowns and he looks confused and sad.
"Sorry." He says and it sounds like he means it, I forgive him because I know he's not a people person.
"Its ok," I tell him, and offer a smile. He smiles back and we're on good terms again. Yay!
I can't escape myself, (I cant escape myself)
So many times I've lied, (so many times I've lied)
But there's still rage inside,
Somebody get me through this nightmare,
I can't control myself.
Time passes and we are sharing what we've been up to. I've been teaching and he's been traveling. Wow, that took about 5 minutes to cover. I heard a growl and for a moment I thought it was his stomach but it was my stomach. He laughs quietly and stands up, he offers his hands to me and pulls me up.
"Lets get you some food." He says, for a moment I go completely blonde, which is hard because I'm a dark brunette.
"You're not going to hunt me a rabbit are you?" I ask, he snorts with laughter and shakes his head.
"No. We're going to raid your fridge." He tells me.
"Wonderful, thanks for including me in that plan."
"Anytime." As we walk from the camp he had set up, I can't feel but like we are being watched as we go.
We wander through my backyard and he stops and smiles, I look to him and he just continues to smile.
"What?" I ask, it's weird seeing him in such a lighthearted mood. This wasn't the Merrick I remember. "What is it Merrick?" he shrugs his broad shoulders and looks to me, squinting in the sunlight.
"Nothing, I like your backyard. Very cozy. Make me want to roll in the grass." He smiles, I laugh and shake my head at him.
"Inner wolf coming out?" I ask, he nods at me then pauses and just stares at me, his eyes locking mine, refusing to let go.
"It's not just that. Your energy and everything about you makes me happy. Always have." He tells me. I like seeing this side of Merrick; maybe he has decided to change his "Lone Wolf" persona, I hope it's for the better. I reach the backdoor and place my hand on the sliding glass door, looking in at my empty home.
"Come on Merrick." I tell him, suddenly realizing what kind of a lonely life I had been living. It was like a cold smack, with my friends gone I was isolated like Merrick, that was his choice, and it certainly wasn't mine. I don't like being alone, I don't know how Merrick does it, I don't know why anyone would push away companionship. He walks over as I slide open the door and we walk in. I inhale deeply and then head for the fridge, unable to deny my hunger any longer. "How does bacon and eggs sound?" I ask, which was the usual thing I made for breakfast and was quick for me to make; besides I already had bacon cooked.
"Devine. Better than…" he pauses and makes a face. "You don't want to know." He smiles instead now, "Mind if I shower?" he asks, I nod and he bounds off in search of the bathroom. Minutes later I heard the shower start. I begin to make breakfast for the two of us. This is something I miss, I love cooking, I cook for myself but it isn't the same. I love to cook for people, another draw back of the end of the Wild Force Rangers; I wasn't cooking for the group any longer.
"Breakfast is done!" I call about 15 minutes later and simply stare as Merrick comes bounding back into the kitchen wearing only a towel. "Next time put some pants on." I tell him as he sits at the table across from me. He gives me a wolfish grin as he leans down to take a bite.
"I'll think about it." He says as he digs in and begins to eat. I can't help but smile and know that my life is about to change and I don't know if it's for the better. Though I would rather have someone with me, I don't know why Merrick would choose to be alone.
So what if you can see,
The darkest side of me,
No one will ever change this animal I have become.
Help me believe it's not the real me.
Somebody help me tame this animal I have become.
Help me believe it's not the real me,
Somebody help me tame this animal.
Somebody help me through this nightmare,
I can't control myself.
Somebody wake me from this nightmare,
I can't escape this hell.
A week has passed since Merrick has pretty much moved himself into my home. And still he refuses to wear pants or any article of clothing to the breakfast table or lunch or dinner. He's not big on clothes most of the time. It's the animal instinct or he's practicing to be a nudist. I haven't figured it out yet, though I don't mind, he's got the body for it. I'm just happy that when someone comes to the door he doesn't try to answer it since most times he's still stark naked. My house is big enough for a small family and since it's been only me up to this point, I like sharing. Coming home to someone each day is nice, and Merrick's always happy to see me. Probably because I cook him all his meals and he's not sleeping outside, not that he cared apparently. At first he had been sleeping in the guest room but for the last couple of days, he's made his way into my bed. The first night I awoke to have him in wolf form sleeping at the end of my bed, the next day he was laying next to me, human form and that's where he's been now. I thought it was weird at first glance but I didn't feel that way, I was comforted having him there. I don't know why but being with Merrick, having him here seems natural. Even in my dreams I believe he's begun to creep in.
Since he's arrived I've been getting bits and pieces of memories in my dreams from when we were Warriors of the Animarium. The one thing that's bothering me is that I haven't had a complete memory return, I've seen glimpses of having a lover, another Warrior but something has always blocked his identity. The memory is too blurred and fragmented to even begin to try. I've wanted to discuss this with Merrick because out of the Rangers, since he was entombed when he was still a Warrior he has his memories from that time. Because we were reborn, we lost them, he never was he was alive, alive and buried.
Those were my thoughts as I began to drift off to sleep last night, now as I wake; he is next to me, sleeping soundly. I still feel watched, since Merrick has left his camp I've known we're being watched, it's starting to creep me out. I smile as I stare at Merrick's sleeping form; he looks so content so I slowly begin to creep out of the bed, trying not to wake him.
I head to the kitchen to begin to make breakfast as I usually do and as I walk past the patio there is a large wolf, no, I realize it's a mix after close inspection, sitting on the patio staring into the house. It seems like the same one that Zen Aku had been attached to when he had been released from his tomb. Since I have no clue if the mixed wolf/dog is dangerous I simply continue to the kitchen and as I glance back, it remains there, waiting. Getting out eggs and different kinds of meats and vegetables to put into an omelet, I glance to see the wolf/dog still there. Now its mouth is hanging open, its tongue lolling out of its mouth, which looks rather adorable. I smile and shake my head as I grab a knife and start to chop some ham. After a few moments I feel two arms around me and I'm pulled close to a warm body. Merrick rests his chin atop of my head and cuddles me in his arms for a moment, which he'd never done before. I was taken off guard, and I dropped the knife onto the counter and leaned into his touch. It felt good to be held, Merrick doesn't say a word but before he lets go he gives me a quick squeeze.
"There's a wolf/dog on the patio." I tell him after he lets go; he looks at me, face beaming before bounding over to the sliding glass door, which happened in mere seconds. He slid open the door and the wolf/dog tackled him and began to lap at his face. Merrick's laughter brought a smile to my face, seeing them reunited, the joy it brought Merrick was something I was glad to witness. "Merrick, do it have a name?" I ask, I don't even know the gender and I don't want to look.
"He doesn't have one, he is simply my friend." Merrick says petting it, the wolf/dog looks thrilled, and actually it looks like it's smiling.
"Well, can we give him one? It's going to get on my nerves saying wolf/dog." Merrick looks over grinning; I swear it's the same grin the wolf/dog has.
"Loki." Merrick says studying him for a moment and I'm thinking of Kevin Smith's Dogma.
"Why not." I tell him, it's not my choice. Now I can call him Loki in my inner monologue. Joy unbound. Merrick shoos him outside and Loki gives a deep bark before bounding off towards the woods. "Why'd you do that?" I asked, and resumed my chopping.
"Its not my home." He told me and for a fleeting moment a thought crossed my mind. It could be and I have no idea where that came from. "I told him to go to his family. He has one now, he's the alpha of his own pack, he needs to provide for the pack." Merrick said and gets up, heading back towards me. My mind is a whirl right now, feelings I never knew I felt for the man in front of me began to spark and memories blurred that I couldn't decipher. "What's the matter Alyssa?" he asks.
"Merrick, why did you come back here? You have no family, I'm the only friend left with the exception of Willy and that's it. There is nothing. Why?" I ask, setting down my things, and I close my eyes. I don't want to see the look on his face. There is silence for a few moments and I open my eyes to see him in front of me, his eyes boring into mine. His hands take my wrists and back me up against the counter. From there he lifts his hands and holds my face, keeping me from looking away.
"I came back to find my mate. It's an instinct, pure and simple. It's the only reason why I'm here." He said, finding my voice I spoke up my voice trembling.
"You haven't looked for one." His eyes continue to lock mine in their gaze.
"I don't have to." He stated, whoa, I did not expect that.
"What? Why?" I ask, oh my God, oh my God, oh my God. "You are in love with Princess Shayla." I insist, there is a weird smile that forms on his lips.
"That's true but you don't understand. My love for her is powerful and I can't control it and you couldn't either. You know you love her as much as I did, she meant so much to all of us. She and I know that nothing could happen between us because our destinies do not meet. I still think in the old ways I can't help that I was entombed for three thousand years remember? Anyways I know I feel something for you, something much more than my feelings for her. After she left and I left Turtle Cove I realized that you did mean a lot to me and I never showed it, I can't show it now, something is preventing me from feelings and memories I know I shared something with you once. I know I did. I need you." He tells me. I had the same realization after he returned to my life. Then his lips are on mine and I'm kissing him back, his hands leave my face and wrap around my waist, pulling me closer to him.
My hands wrap around his neck, combing my fingers into his hair I pull him closer. As we break the kiss we pant for air before he slams his lips to mine once more. If this keeps up we're probably going to end up going at it right here and I couldn't do that.
"Merrick, stop for a moment please," I manage to gasp out as his lips travel down my neck. He pauses and looks at me.
"Sorry." He immediately says and lets go, my eyes grow wide and I pull him into a hug.
"Not that! No, that was…damn. You're one hell of a kisser." He smirks.
"You're the first person I've kissed." He tells me, damn! If he's that good at kissing…my mind travels right to the gutter and I cling to him, his arms circle around me.
"I stopped you because we're not going at it in my kitchen." Yet.
"Oh." He says and smirks, he instantly lifts me into his arms like I weigh nothing. "Well you do have a bedroom." He smiles. Dirty pervert. I'm so confused right now, this feels right but I can't help but feel lost right now. This is happening too fast, more memories blur across my mind making me dizzy.
"Merrick, wait, there is so much I need to know. This is so fast, I want to be with you and I didn't regret making out with you just now but I'm so confused. You remember the past from the Animarium, you made that clear. Did I have a lover?" I ask, he begins to think about it and then his face falls and his eyebrows knit together. He looks as confused as I feel.
"I-I-can't remember. What the hell?" he murmurs and looks at me, he carries me into the living room where he sits down on the couch, me still in his arms. "I can remember almost everything so clearly but I can't remember that. I can't remember you. I remember Princess Shayla and that's about it, its like my memory is blocked to certain things." He says, ok good. At least it's not just me.
"I'm the same way I get glimpse but it's all too jumbled to even make out." I tell him, we think for a moment, he rests by head on his shoulder and sets me in his lap.
"What does this all mean?" he whispers aloud, that is when we heard dark laughter from behinds us. We bolt up to see Zen Aku standing by the patio door, his eyes are not glowing in the daylight but I get into my fighting stance. Oh crap, this is not good. Merrick shoots me a look and lowers my arms.
"He's not going to hurt you. He's seeking redemption for is sins as am I. But we realize that it is more than it seems. He has allowed me to come here to get close to you once again, I needed to be near you and he understood that." He tells me that makes Zen Aku laugh again, this time it send shivers up my spine.
"You two don't even know how close you were once. Your memories have been repressed by a spell that is stronger than the both of you. There is one person and one person alone who can break it, the spellcaster herself." He said, Merrick and I exchange looks.
"Princess Shayla?" we murmur in unison.
"Yes." Zen Aku states simply, continuing to stare at us.
"Should wouldn't do that!" I say, Merrick nods his head in agreement.
"Are you two forgetting who you were? You were her Warriors chosen by her father before his death to defend her and the land of the Animarium. She would do that to have what she wanted, the one that was her guardian." Zen Aku said, then a sigh sounded from him. "That is all I know. If you want the truth and the break the spell that is preventing you from even remembering what you had once, that's preventing you from feeling the love you did, I would return to the Animarium."
"That's impossible." Merrick growled, his face full of anger and confusion as he looked to his dark half, which actually wasn't so dark now that he was settling down on the couch we were occupying moments ago.
"As long as there are Power Rangers, nothing is impossible." Zen Aku reminded us and fell silent, he had told us all he would. Now we have to find the newest generation and pray that they can help us. As I look to Merrick, I long to touch him from instinct, though I hold no emotion with it. That's what's been bothering us both, we feel the instinct of what we want to do but there is no emotion. I sigh and Merrick pulls me close, I bury my face into his chest.
"What are we going to do now?" I ask no one in particular.
"Find Rangers. Get to Shayla. Learn the truth. Break the spell. I can't bear this any longer." Merrick says and I agree silently.
"Sounds like a plan." I tell him, I glance up to see him looking at Zen Aku.
"You in?" he asks, I can feel his heartbeat; his heart slows as he calms down.
"Yes. You'll need all the help you can get." I suspect Zen Aku is making fun of us while being a bit sarcastic.
"Oh thanks." Merrick snaps sarcastically as he glares at the Org sitting on my couch.
"You're welcome." Zen Aku says and I swear there is a smile in his voice.
"Oh Lord." I groan into Merrick's shirt and he just shakes his head and holds me tighter.
