All I gotta say is it was one of my trickiest ones to make sure I got right...
Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers... if I did, Merrick and Alyssa would've gotten together for sure!-
Alyssa walked into the magic shop, then looked around.
"Excuse me." She walked up to a worker, "Do you know where a set of five rings would be? Doesn't matter about the color…"
"Oh… for the five golden rings thing?" The worker raised a brow, "Right this way."
She walked with the worker till they came to a small area with one pack of medium silver rings… as it was the only one left.
"Your lucky you got here when you did… a lot of people have been paying ahead of time for this one." He relented as she took it.
"Yeah… these are perfect." She nodded softly as she looked them over, "How much are they?"
Merrick was walking Deeg, still deep in thought about how he was gonna impress a ranger… either on his team or of Time Force.
But… then again, he also wanted to give Alyssa something… for her kind-heart and bringing joy to him like she was every day this past week.
It was then that he froze, coming up with an idea.
Deeg barked, getting his attention.
"What?" Merrick frowned before he looked to see Alyssa walking out of a magic shop with a bag in hand.
"Alyssa! ….Whoa!"
Deeg ran up to the White Ranger, causing Merrick to be dragged with him.
Alyssa tried not to giggle at the sight, but she put her hand to her face either way before Merrick stood up straight again.
"Hey, Alyssa." He breathed out softly, "What's that you got there?"
"Just a gift for a friend." Was all Alyssa was willing to say, "How's your search for that Special Friend?"
"So far, I've narrowed it down to our team and Time Force." He relented as they walked beside each other.
"So… there's Katie, Taylor, Princess Shayla, and myself." Alyssa counted easily.
"I still think it's the Princess… or Taylor at least." Merrick figured simply, "I'm sorry, Alyssa… but I really don't really don't think it's you."
Alyssa nodded softly, "It's okay…. it's not me."
Merrick nodded back before he stopped her, "Hey… you know the actual Twelve days of Christmas starts in two days… if it's early."
Alyssa sighed and looked ahead, "Yeah…?"
"Would you wanna…. See a movie with me or something by then?" Merrick asked kindly.
"I'll be a little busy." Alyssa denied with a shake of her head, "Sorry, Merrick…"
"What about the 14th? Will you be busy-"
"I'll be busy for the next 18 days." Alyssa cut him off, "Especially now…. I gotta go."
With that, she ran off.
Merrick could only watch her go as Deeg whimpered softly as she did.
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Alyssa felt horrible for blowing Merrick off like that… but she was still hurt from his lack of believing it was her that was the Special Friend.
But, she needed to get the present packed before anyone else on the Animarium knew it was her giving Merrick these gifts…
And besides… he's right.
She can't love him… he loves the Princess… Taylor even said so.
"I just wish he'd see how much I loved him now…" She whispered as she wrote her letter, trying not to cry.
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Merrick waited patiently for his present as he was playing some pool.
As he did, he felt horrible for denying it was Alyssa being his special friend… but she was too busy to buy him those gifts anyway… and she didn't love him.
Sure, they were close enough to call each other friends… but not close enough for either of them to love each other like that.
With a shake of his head, he heard the familiar knock and walked up to the door before opening it, revealing a large bag with 5 written on it with an envelope attached.
He picked both of them up and walked over to the Pool table to continue playing his game as he looked at today's gift.
As he did, he noticed the letter was covered in a bunch of tears… which made him frown in confusion.
He opened the letter first and looked it over.
Dear Merrick Baliton, five golden rings couldn't be found… but you're not about gold are you? You're about silver.
So, I put a little magic in the sack to make them special for you.
Signed, A Special Friend.
P.S. Don't try to figure who I am out… you wouldn't like it if you did.
Merrick frowned as he read over the last bit.
"I'd love to know who you are." He whispered softly before he shook his head quickly and pulled out his gift daily either way.
Sure enough, right inside was a five silver ring magic kit that looked pretty fun to mess with.
"Seems the special friend has a sense of humor." He smiled lightly as he looked it over before he looked at his pup, "What's say we have a little fun?"
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Alyssa remained in her depressed mood for a lot longer than she even expected.
She didn't want to go up to the Roadhouse to check on Merrick… she didn't even wanna see him…
But, she gathered up the courage and did it anyway.
As she walked into the tavern/inn, she saw Merrick trying to work with the silver rings, trying to pull four interlocked ones apart as Deeg chased the other one.
"Everything okay?" She smiled lightly.
Merrick's head snapped up to look at her… causing him to lose focus on what he was doing… and the rings to pull apart around him.
He winced as they all landed about him before he actually answered the question.
"Doing great, Alyssa… what do you want?"
"I… just came by to see how you were doing… and if you got your gift yet." She relented slowly, "Now that I see that you have… I'll be going now…"
Merrick frowned before he quickly hurried up to her, "Alyssa… wait." He put his hand over hers on the door handle. "I'm sorry I'd said you definitely not my Special Friend… but you're way too busy to get any of this stuff… besides, you have Cole."
Alyssa frowned, "Cole? It's… we're not…."
"You don't have to say it." Merrick raised his other hand, "I can see it… the way you guys act… it's just like how I was with the Princess….. it's okay to be with him…"
"Merrick, I-"
"Don't worry, I won't tell the others or Willie." He assured simply, not really listening.
Alyssa could feel tears coming to her eyes, but she turned away and quickly left, "I'll see you tomorrow."
She ran as fast as she could away from him.
Merrick frowned as he watched her go.
"What'd I say wrong?"
Deeg barked, gaining his attention.
He turned back to his pup, who was carrying the picture frame from the previous day in his mouth.
"Careful with that!" He gently took the frame and looked it over.
The image of him and Alyssa was prominent, and he found himself pulling out his own picture of him and Alyssa from his pocket.
He looked at them both, then held them close to his chest softly.
"I'll make it up to you, Alyssa… I promise." He whispered as he finally came up with an idea for the first day of Christmas.
And he now knew exactly who he was gonna give it to.
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Alyssa didn't even try to look up gifts for Six Geese a-laying for the next day.
She laid in her bed, trying not to cry with her back to everyone else.
Taylor tried everything, but Alyssa wouldn't budge, nor did she when Cole had tried to get her out.
So, the five others were stuck with simply enjoying dinner since she wasn't hungry either.
And none of them even asked why.
Merrick wrote a text like Alyssa had taught him to the White Ranger, wanting to apologize a little more… but he quickly erased everything he tried to write.
Finally, all he could do was leave her a voicemail… one that he could only hope she'd hear by the first Day of Christmas by that Friday.
He never meant to upset her… or ruin her spirit… he loved it when she was happy… it brought him joy…
He could only hope she'd understand that…
"Alyssa…" He started the voicemail after fifteen tries, "I… I'm so sorry I upset you… I promise… I won't worry about that Special Friend thing anymore… I'll find out in time if anything….. Alyssa, I'm sorry… and I really hope that you can-"
Before he could finish, the line beeped out.
He closed his Lunar Caller and held it close to his heart.
"…Please… forgive me…"
Alyssa's really upset over this one small thing, sure... but it's the principle of why she's upset, which goes back further than this...
Question is, can she get over it?
Find out tomorrow.
In the meantime, please review... and please no hate!