Happy New Year's Eve, everyone.
Just two more chapters after this one...
But now, Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers... if I did, Merrick and Alyssa would've gotten together for sure!-
When the next morning came, Merrick was sure to get out of bed silently to play for the Deer… though, at the moment, he wanted to do anything but that.
But, as the Princess practically gave him no choice, he pulled on his shoes, then his jacket, then grabbed his flute… all before he headed out.
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Alyssa woke up, hearing the faint humming of Animaria's song.
When she got up to start her morning, she noticed the song coming to an end, so she figured Merrick would be back fairly soon.
Which meant, she needed to leave and get to the Animarium before the others fully woke up.
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Merrick practically bolted for the exit when he finished playing the song.
Of course, this was stopped by Danny and Cole.
"Guys… I kinda need to leave… now." He growled.
"No, you don't. You should talk to the Princess. Not avoid her." Cole reasoned.
"You don't understand." Merrick shook his head, "I can't love the Princess… and even if I could… I don't love her anymore."
"Why not?" Cole frowned.
"Let's just say, I've found love in someone else." Merrick bit out before he started walking to the exit.
Right as Alyssa walked in.
They both blinked before they walked around each other, Merrick leaving and Alyssa walking further in.
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Alyssa blinked as Cole and Danny gawked at the exit.
"What?" She frowned, "What happened?"
"How can he not love the Princess?"
"I thought that's what Taylor had said?"
"Technically… she said Princess Shayla liked Merrick… not the other way around." Alyssa corrected.
"But it's clear they like each other… right?"
Alyssa got really uncomfortable at the question and left the area almost instantly.
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Merrick sighed as he walked away from the entrance, rubbing his face in exasperation.
For more than just what he'd said to Cole and Danny.
He needed to get Eleven Pipers Pipping out of the way so he can set up Twelve Drummers Drumming.
But how was he gonna do Pipers pipping when he only had one kind of flute?!
"Ugh!" He groaned, before hearing an echo.
"Ugh!" It came back.
He blinked before he moved forward.
"Hello?" He called.
"Hello!" The echo returned.
Merrick blinked before he suddenly got an idea.
"That's it!"
"That's it!"
Merrick rolled his eyes, and started whispering his idea to himself as he walked away.
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Alyssa felt a hand on her shoulder and looked over it to see Taylor behind her.
"Someone just dropped this off for you." She held out an envelope.
Alyssa blinked and gently took it, "Do you know who?"
"No." She shook her head, "It was just outside… no return address or anything."
The White Ranger frowned before she opened the letter, feeling nervous and confused.
All there was thirteen words written.
Dear Alyssa,
Come to the woods by sunset tonight.
Signed,
Your Secret Admirer.
"Sunset?" Alyssa frowned.
"Huh… that's weird." Taylor noted.
"You're telling me." Alyssa nodded, "By the way… isn't tonight meant to be a full moon?"
"Yeah… probably why the sunset in the woods." Taylor figured, "The shadows from the trees can keep the Admirer's identity hidden."
Alyssa sighed, "Alright…. Could you cover for me with the others while I'm gone then?"
"Sure thing." She agreed.
"Thanks… I owe you one." Alyssa let out.
"Call us even…. Just enjoy tonight."
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Merrick looked over some music sheets, biting his lip in worry as he did.
He'd only ever needed to know how to play Ode to Nature, the DeerZord's song…. But, he wanted to impress Alyssa.
"Why did I think this was gonna be a good idea?!" He complained softly as he looked it over.
When he'd first started to play the DeerZord's song, 3,000 years ago, it was just a melody he'd made up…
But now… he had to learn an already made song, and make sure it was perfect for the white ranger.
"The things I do for the one I love…" He whispered before he started to practice.
He only had until Sundown to get it right.
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As Alyssa walked to the Woods, she considered who her Secret Admirer could be.
It really couldn't be Cole… he was barely around when she got the gifts, sure… but she also never noticed him interested in the things her Admirer has.
Same with Max, as well as Danny.
With a defeated sigh, she walked into the woods.
As she did, she heard an echoing Melody throughout the trees, close to a valley.
The tiger ranger rushed up to the valley and listened to the melody happily.
It was The Christmas Waltz…
Her favorite song.
She swayed a bit to the music, smiling at the wonderful sound that was becoming from it.
The Valley echoed the notes, making it even stronger and sounding like Eleven Pipers Pipping, and causing her to grin so happily.
And, she was beginning to get an idea for who her Secret Admirer was… except, she still had one problem with that…
She didn't know if any of the previous team, Time Force, could play the flute…
Which put her back to square one…
But, the music was so wonderful, she didn't even care.
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Merrick was terrified to mess up a note.
He knew Alyssa loved this song… and he was afraid of what would happen if he messed up a single note.
"Just think about tomorrow… tomorrow you can tell her…" He mentally reminded himself.
As he finally finished playing, he heard Alyssa clapping.
This made him smile and nearly made him reveal himself… but he shook his head out of those thoughts.
He couldn't reveal himself… not yet.
But, he also couldn't wait till tomorrow when she'd be crazy busy to give her day 12…
Which left Merrick to come up with an idea.
He'll just have her come later tonight, close to midnight, and that should do it…
Besides, as he's heard recently, no one can sleep on the night of Christmas Eve.
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Alyssa sighed as she finished getting everything set up for Christmas the next day.
"There…. Now all I have to do is wait for Santa to get here…" She smiled lightly.
Of course, as she was about to go lay down, she got a text message from an unknown number.
There's a special surprise waiting for you in the woods, by an old fall, go check it out before midnight… and you just might see something truly surprising to greet you.
Alyssa raised a brow as she read it… an unknown number wanted her to go to the woods?
While everything inside her told her not to leave the Animarium… she couldn't help herself.
She got up from where she was and walked off the floating island.
"Maybe it's my secret admirer?"
Can it really be that simple?
Find out Tomorrow.
In the meantime, please review... and please no hate!