Variations Of SPD
Chapter 9: Boogying With The Bear
By: Pink-Green-White-4ever
Last Revised: December 1, 2005
Summary: She spent countless years alone before she and Jack befriended one another, so why was she suddenly creeped out by being alone with a glowing yellow bear?
Rating: M, for adult-themed situations.
Disclaimer: I don't own PR, Disney does
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear." -- Ambrose Redmoon --
"Love is the force that ignites the spirit and binds teams together." -- Phil Jackson, Sacred Hoops --
"When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid." -- Audre Lorde --
"No more duty can be urged upon those who are entering the great theater of life than simple loyalty to their best convictions." -- Edwin Hubbell Chapin --
AN: Special Note – BV! Remember the quote for Bridge's chapter I showed you! Think about it as you read this, and remember the tiger!
AN2: Um, I'm not sure if all of you realize this, but Z's animal spirit ISN'T the bear! That's just her guide to where she's going. Just thought I'd clear that up from a previous chapter. Those animal spirits are their guides, not their actual animal spirits.
--
Her first instinct was to go on the defensive. She'd been with the others when they'd stepped through the door into the cave, and Jack had been saying something about sticking together because of the darkness and the next thing she knew, she was by herself, in the dark, and there were strange noises sounding from every direction, some echoing some not.
If there was one thing Z hadn't ever told anyone, not even Jack, Syd or Bridge, it was that she hated being in the dark, had been deathly afraid of it since she was a child. Of course, over the years, she'd gotten use to it, and it wasn't so bad when she wasn't alone in a dark room, but now she was in the middle of nowhere, with no one familiar, and it was pitch black out.
"You only fear the unknown, and yet, you shouldn't, because what is unknown only stays that way for a time."
The voice was deep, but definitely female, and for some reason, while Z knew she should be questioning why the voice was talking to her, she wasn't. "Who's there?" Z demanded, or tried to sound demanding. Her voice wasn't cooperating.
"Do not worry, Elizabeth, I would not harm you, color sister to she who bears my mark."
Z's mouth dropped open at the voice's words, and a tiny squeak came out when a soft, yellow light appeared in front of her. As the light grew, it began to outline the form of…a large bear.
"OH MY GOD!" Z gasped, back pedaling on the ground as the bear stood before her, staring at her with what looked like mild amusement on her face. "What are you? Who are you?"
The bear seemed to smile as it moved closer to Z, nudging her leg in greeting. "I am the Yellow Bear, Ninjetti Spirit Animal to the one known as Aisha Campbell DeSantos, and your guide for this portion of your test."
Z looked shocked. This bear was definitely different than the one who Ninjor had introduced to her before. The one the day before was the size of a bear cub, this one was a full grown bear. "Ok."
"Do you understand what's before you, Elizabeth?" the bear asked softly, sitting down on it's haunches before Z.
The former Yellow Ranger could only shake her head. "Ninjor said we had a test to pass, before we could get what we coveted. I'm assuming that's why I'm here."
"The road to being Ninjetti is a path of self-discovery, Elizabeth. Some are granted the power instantly and forced to follow the path and learn as they go, and others, they are forced to learn before they receive the power. You have much to learn before you receive what you need to save your home."
Z looked angry. "We don't have time for games! Earth's in danger, and so are my friends! I won't waste what little precious time I have left to save them."
"Then come, we'll leave now." The bear stood and then lumbered away, Z left in her spot, spitting and sputtering before she stood and chased after it.
--
Z found herself jumping at every little noise that bounced out at her as she followed the brightly colored bear before her. There were no lights, anywhere; save for the slight glow that was cast off the Yellow Bear. "Where are we going?" Z asked, her senses kicking into over drive.
"To meet a friend, who can help you," Bear told her, looking over her should for a moment before continuing forward.
There was a rustling in the foliage next to where Z was walking, which made her stop in mid step. Gulping, Z shook her head and looked to her right. Nothing. Turning back around, the former Yellow Ranger began walking again, only to hear the rustling, this time much closer to the path she was on.
Before Z had time to blink, Bear let out a snarl and half a dozen shadowy figures popped out of the brush before her, attacking Bear at once. Z was frozen in place for a moment before the natural act of defense snapped her out of her stupor. The former Yellow Ranger rushed forward, intending to help, when she found her way blocked by a large, ferocious looking creature.
"AH!" Z screamed, falling backwards to avoid the large beast.
"I don't think you want to get in the middle of that fight," the beast snarled.
Z was as startled to hear this animal, which she now could readily identify as a Bengal Tiger, speak as she had been to hear Bear's voice. "I need to help her!"
"You need not interfere, little one."
The sassy side of Z lashed out. "LITTLE ONE?" she yelled, watching the tiger pace back and forth in front of her. "Who the hell do you think you are? That's my friend, and I will be damned if you keep me from helping her!"
"Fearless are we?"
"No, but you can't let fear rule you, or you'll be running for the rest of your life," Z shot back.
"A lesson you best keep in mind, Elizabeth. The Bear knows what she's doing, she doesn't need your help," the tiger snarled, before rushing back into the bush. Z turned her head, forgetting about the disappearing tiger, and taking in Bear's form. The shadows were gone, and Bear was heaving.
"Elizabeth?"
"I'm ok!" Z called, jumping to her feet and rushing forward, her hands sliding over Bear's strong shoulders in search of any injuries. "How about you?"
"Nothing I haven't handled before," Bear snorted, making Z smile. "Come, we have a long way to go yet."
"Bear?"
"Yes, Elizabeth?"
"I'm not afraid, whatever lies ahead can't be any worse than what I've already faced."
The bear turned her head and stared deep into Z's eyes. "We shall see."
--
It seemed like they had been walking forever when Z finally felt she couldn't take another step. "Can we rest?"
"Of course," Bear replied, the pair sitting down. Taking a deep breath, Z closed her eyes for a few moments before opening them back up and taking in her surroundings. She was startled to see that the sky was lightening just a tad. "Tell me, Elizabeth, about the young man known as Bridge?"
Z cracked a smile at Bear and unconsciously reached up to touch the heart shaped pendant around her neck. It was a constant reminder to Z that she no longer was alone; she had Bridge beside her as long as she wanted him there.
"What do you want to know?"
"Just from what I've been told, and what I saw briefly yesterday in the Temple, he appears very important to you."
Z smiled. "He is."
"Tell me."
The former Yellow Ranger nodded and swallowed, choosing her words carefully. "He's so gentle," she started, closing her eyes as tears pricked at their backs. "He was my first real friend besides Jack, and definitely my first friend at SPD. After I was assigned to B Squad, he didn't look at me as a thief getting a free ride, he looked at me like a girl who needed redemption, and he was right to do so."
"He knew of your past?"
"Yeah, well, he knew what Cruger had on record for him to know. During those early days, when we were struggling to gel as a team, I knew I could count on him to brighten my day, no matter what. He never made rash judgments, especially if I screwed up, and he was always willing to work with me on my faults, even the ones I wouldn't acknowledge."
The smile on Z's face said more than her words ever could. "Is he the first you've ever loved?"
Bear's question startled Z, who opened her eyes and blinked away the tears. She had loved others, hadn't she? Wracking her brain, she thought about her time on the streets of New Tech City, and realized that before Bridge, heck before even Jack, there had been no one she had loved as much or as intensely. Gasping softly, she shook her head. "Yes, he is. I had thought, you know, maybe the guys I had had crushes on, that I loved one of them, but no. Jack's always been my brother, I've never thought of him any other way, but Bridge…"
The gentle giant seemed to smile at Z, who looked surprised. "Does he love you?"
"Yes." Z grinned broadly, not even hesitating to answer that.
"How do you know?"
"It's in all the little things he does," Z ducked her head, thinking about her boyfriend. "It's not so much him telling me, but the smiles he gives, the encouragement, the patience. He shows me things no one's ever shown me."
Bear nodded when Z looked up and continued. "Like if I'm having a bad day, he'll either crack jokes to make me smile or he'll sit in silence with me; he gives me back rubs after training really hard, or he'll come in the bathroom with me when I'm soaking in the tub and he'll light candles and wash my hair for me."
"You are very lucky," Bear told her, cocking her head to the side to stare at Z. "Very few find their soul's twin, but it seems you have, in Bridge. It is even rarer, because very few Rangers find their other half."
"Why is that?" Z asked, curious.
"Being a Power Ranger is a life long commitment, and very few non Rangers can understand that. Most Rangers end up pairing with other Rangers, though there have been some exceptions. Just remember, the greatest three things you'll ever possess are Faith, Hope, and Love. The first two are interchangeable, but love is the one that sustains you in your darkest hours."
Z nodded in understanding, her fingers clutching her necklace. "Are we ready to start again?"
"Yes, come, my friend should be waiting for us."
The two stood and tromped off down the path again, neither noticing that the sky had become a little lighter since they had sat down.
--
"I'm so tired," Z murmured as she and Bear trudged along the path. It had been hours since their talk about Bridge and neither had said another word since. "This is pointless, we're walking through a deserted jungle."
"Patience, Elizabeth."
Z shot a glare at Bear's back and heard the large animal almost chuckle. "Patience? My friend's back home are, more than likely, in trouble, and you're telling me to be patient?"
"Do you believe your friends so weak that they need you every step of the way?" Bear finally asked, turning to stare into Z's eyes.
"No."
"Do you believe yourself so powerful that you can solve any problem?"
"No."
Bear nodded, and then turned to started forward once more. "Inner strength is as important as outer strength, Elizabeth."
"I know that!" Z argued.
"And yet, you act as if your friends have no inner strength, or outer strength. Or is it that you do not possess the inner strength to be away from them?"
Z's eyes filled with tears. "I spent more years alone, on my own, than you will ever know. I only had myself to depend on, and then Jack. I hated being alone, hated it with a passion. So excuse the hell out of me if I don't want to see the only family I've ever known torn apart when I know I can do something to stop it!"
Bear stopped, a hidden smile on her face, before she turned to face Z once more, her face neutral. "Is that so?"
The former Yellow Ranger seemed to shimmer with anger, as she glared at her guide. "You have no clue what I went through this last year!" Z nearly screamed, her face turning redder by the second. "First Gruumm, and then I damn near lost Sydney to Visvajita! AND NOW THIS! I WILL NOT LOOSE WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE YOU THINK I HAVE THINGS THAT I NEED TO LEARN!"
Bear merely let Z scream and cry at her. "I know what you went through, this last year, Elizabeth, or have you forgotten so soon the link shared between the Ninjetti?" Z continued to heave, breath after breath, while she stared at Bear, who suddenly looked so much wearier than she had their entire trip. "The Falcon was my brother, the Crane my sister, in power, spirit, mind, heart, soul – everything but blood, just as their chosen ones were that for the one who my chosen is."
Z suddenly felt ill. Of course Aisha's spirit animal would feel the deaths of the Falcon and Crane, as closely and as intensely as Aisha had felt Tommy and Kim's deaths. "I'm sorry."
"As I said, Elizabeth, inner strength is as important as outer strength. I have grieved for those I have lost, but I do not let that grief swallow me whole, for if I do, then their sacrifices were for nothing. If I loose myself, they died for nothing; it wasn't only the Dragon and the Phoenix they forfeited their lives for, they did it for all of us."
"I'm sorry."
"Apology accepted, now come, we're almost there," Bear spoke, turning, and was suddenly assaulted again by the shadow warriors. "ELIZABETH! RUN!" Bear howled fiercely, taking on the six shadows with a fierceness Z hadn't ever seen.
Z moved to run back the direction they had just come from when she saw what was happening just past Bear – the tiger she had fought with earlier was being attacked by the same shadows as Bear, only the tiger seemed to be losing. Shaking her head, Z ignored Bear's command and rushed forward.
"BACK OFF!" Z yelled, her fist smashing into the face of the shadow that was hanging on the back of the tiger, choking it. Belatedly, Z realized her fist was going to go right through the shadow until she actually connected with something solid.
Wailing in pain, the shadow figure released the tiger and fell off. It was just enough distraction for the tiger to get it's footing again and begin attacking. However, Z found herself at a loss. Without her morpher, she was pretty defenseless against these things that seemed to give even a Ninjetti Animal Spirit a hard time.
"When in doubt," Z muttered, closed her eyes, and replicated herself, so that instead of just her, there were three warriors, all of which launched themselves at the shadow.
The battle raged on, the tiger and Bear taking on the majority of the shadows while Z managed to take on one or two of them and seriously beat them to a bloody pulp. After a good twenty minutes, the shadows were all laying on the ground, each starting to disappear slowly, while Z, Bear and the tiger we're trying to catch their breath.
"You fight well, little one," the tiger grumbled, sitting down on it's haunches, Bear and Z following suit.
"Thanks," Z mumbled back, leaning against Bear.
"I thought you were supposed to stay put after last time?" Bear questioned the tiger.
"I caught them heading into the jungle, and knew they were coming for you two. I couldn't just let them attack you, not again."
"Tiger, I admire your loyalty," Bear grinned and settled down, her eyes shifting to Z who was watching Tiger closely.
"Loyalty had nothing to do with it."
"Yes, it did. You're as loyal as your bearer, to not only your fellow animal spirits, but to those you deem worthy of your protection. Thank you."
Tiger merely brushed off Bear's gratitude and focused on the very tired looking Z. "Are you alright, little one?"
Z nodded. "I have a lot on my mind," the former Yellow Ranger informed them.
"And so you should. Bear, it's time."
Z watched in horror as Bear stood, rubbed noses with Tiger and then turned to her. It was as if Z knew that she was being left in the care of this new ally. "Elizabeth, I have guided you as far as I can, I leave you to Tiger's care."
"But!" Z gasped, tears springing to her eyes.
Bear leaned forward and nuzzled her nose against Z's cheek, effectively wiping away Z's tears. "Worry not, Tiger will let know harm come to you. Just remember what you've learned, for it will serve you well on this last leg of your journey."
"Which is what?" Z asked, watching as Bear started to fade away.
"Do not let fear rule you. Love is a gift, cherish it. Strength comes from within as much as without. Loyalty to those you care for is important, but do not let it blind you. And lastly, have faith. All will work out in the end."
Z nodded as Bear disappeared, leaving her sitting there with Tiger. "Shall we go little one? The sooner we reach our destination, the sooner you'll find your friends, and what you're looking for."
Standing quickly, Z followed Tiger into the jungle, never noticing that the sky was lightening even more.
--
"What is this place?" Z asked in wonder as Tiger led her up into the mountains into what looked like the ancient ruins of a building.
"These are the ancient ruins of the Ninjetti Temple."
"Oh wow!" Z gasped, looking out what was once a wall of windows to the jungle they had just emerged from. "It's beautiful, but how did we get here? I remember being at Ninjor's temple, then the darkness of the jungle."
"The gateway you stepped through is a portal to this place. You are no longer in the cave, but on another planet, one called Phadoes," a new voice rang out, causing Z to turn sharply. Standing before her was a blonde haired green eyed woman in an earthy looking bikini and thigh high boots, carrying a large staff. "Welcome, Elizabeth Delgado, Yellow Ranger."
Z looked confused and surprised before she managed to gather her wits. "Who are you?"
"I am Dulcea, Master Warrior of the planet Phadoes, and I bid you welcome."
--
Ohhhh! -- grins -- well, that was unexpected, wasn't it -- winks-- Stay tuned for the next chapter, coming sometime next week!