Variations Of SPD
Chapter 12: Follow The Frog
By: Pink-Green-White-4ever
Last Revised: June 30, 2006
Summary: Of all the animal spirits that could have been assigned to guide him, he found himself following …………a frog!
Rating: M, for adult-themed situations.
Disclaimer: I don't own PR, Disney does
"Our ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide how anybody or anything outside ourselves will affect us." -Stephen Covey-
"Never doubted my ability, but when you hear all your life you're inferior, it makes you wonder if the other guys have something you've never seen before. If they do, I'm still looking for it." -Hank Aaron-
"Jealousy is a tiger that tears not only its prey but also its own raging heart" -Unknown-"To fall in love is easy, even to remain in it is not difficult; our human loneliness is cause enough. But it is a hard quest worth making to find a comrade through whose steady presence one becomes steadily the person one desires to be." -Anna Louise Strong-
AN: I apologize for the long wait between chapters. Between other projects, graduation, and life in general, this story got pushed to the side. I do promise another chapter soon though, because as soon as I post this, work begins on the next.
--
The first thing Bridge noticed was the headache pounding just behind his eyes. The second thing was that wherever he was, it wasn't where he'd been. The last thing he remembered was Jack ordering them to stay together, and now he was faced with utter silence.
"Your arrival has startled the creatures here."
The voice sounded familiar. Taking a deep breath, Bridge opened his eyes. All he saw were dark shapes, everything was bathed in darkness. "Where am I?" he muttered, sitting up. He was startled to feel the ground under his hands, when he knew he'd been wearing gloves at the onset of this journey.
"You won't need them here, I promise." Looking around, Bridge tried to see who the voice was coming from. There was nothing and no one around that he could see. "Guess again, Bridge."
Bridge's eyes widened when he saw a halo of white light flash around a small spot near the pond he was obviously sitting next to. For a split second, he was surprised he hadn't smelt the water, but that surprise grew when the light revealed a black…toad?
"I'm a frog, thank you very much."
Bridge grinned. "You're my guide. Well, I mean, you're actually Adam's spirit animal, but you're my journey guide right now. I mean, you're here to lead me to my new powers…" Bridge started rambling. Mentally, he smacked himself. The only times these days he really rambled was when he was nervous, and this entire situation, he acknowledged, made him nervous.
"Calm down, Bridge. Yes, for now, I am your guide, just as Adam asked me to be. Are you ready to begin or do you need a few moments to compose yourself?"
The former Green Ranger nodded. "I'm ready."
"Very well, follow me."
--
"Can we rest?" Bridge asked the small black amphibian he was carrying. Frog wasn't much bigger than the palm of his hand, at least right now. They'd been talking, as they walked, about the abilities the spirit animals had to change size, according to whatever situation they found themselves in, as well as the depth of their other powers.
"Of course," Frog replied. He jumped down off Bridge's hand once the former Green Ranger was sitting, and transformed himself to the size of a basketball.
"Amazing," Bridge muttered, stretching his sore and tired muscles. Once he was done, he sat with his arms resting on his legs, his attention focused on the skin of his hands. Rarely did he go without his gloves; that usually only happened in the shower or when he slept with Z, and even then he sometimes had to shield himself.
For the first time in a long time, Bridge felt the anger and jealousy boil up in his throat. He hated being different from the others, hated not being able to touch people, to interact with them, without the protection of his gloves. Jack had no problem with that. He could hold, and kiss, and touch Ally with no problem. And Sky, Bridge knew, had been a lot more involved with Sydney than just kissing, touching and holding her. Bridge wrinkled his nose at that. He really didn't want to think about Sky and Syd together like that. They were his brother and sister in every way save one.
"A natural feeling, Bridge," Frog spoke, suddenly bringing Bridge from his thoughts.
"What?" Bridge asked, confused.
"What you're feeling, in regards to your friends, and the way their relationships differ from your own. It's natural. You are only human."
Bridge narrowed his blue eyes at the small black amphibian he could barely see due to the lack of light. If he could only really believe that; having super powers made him feel more like an alien then some of the aliens on Earth. He couldn't really do anything without his gloves, and sometimes, that made him so angry. He wanted to be able to feel the grass, to touch a door knob, but worst of all, he wanted to touch Z's skin and not feel any residual feelings from anyone but himself. Granted, he didn't mind feeling what Z felt, as he knew he could deal with her feelings and his own, but sometimes, the feelings went so deep he felt like he was intruding on her life.
"Bridge, even people without psychic powers feel that, especially when they know the one they love better than anyone else."
"It's not fair," Bridge whispered.
"Life is hardly ever fair. As a Ranger, that's one of the first lessons you learned, is it not?" Bridge nodded. "If life was fair, the Dragon and the Phoenix's bearers would not be without their parents, and those who've died in the attacks on Earth would still be alive."
"I know."
"It is only natural, Bridge, to be jealous. You must accept that, or the negative feelings you have will grow and fester, and before you know it, they will be so out of control you'll never be able to get rid of them. Don't you think your friends envy you for things?"
Bridge looked startled. He'd never thought of that before. Did his friends really envy him things? "I don't understand?"
"Take Jack for instance. You grew up with a loving family; you had everything you needed, and most of what you wanted. They encouraged you to follow your dreams. Jack grew up on the streets after his parents died. He had to scrounge for even the bare essentials over the years."
The blue eyed young man looked hurt by that knowledge, even though it wasn't new to him. "You're right."
"And what about Sky? You grew up the son of scientists; he grew up the son of billionaires. You were able to come and go as you please, he's been shut off from the outside world, from making friends, because he didn't know who he could trust to want to be friends with him for him, or because of who his parents were. You've had freedom you've never known about, while both your closest male friends, the ones you envy, haven't."
Frog made a face when Bridge suddenly looked shell-shocked. "I never...I never thought of that."
"And now you have. Do not dwell on it, but do remember the lesson it's taught you."
Bridge nodded. "I'm ready to get going when you are."
"Good. I'm ready as well," Frog said, before morphing himself into a small, hand sized version of what he had been. Bridge picked him up and the pair moved hesitantly down the trail, only one of them readily noticing that the sky was lightening.
--
Bridge let out a heavy sigh when they flopped down for a rest about two hours later. Frog hadn't said much of anything since they'd last stopped, and Bridge had found himself, for the first time in his life, with nothing to say. Usually, he filled every minute with chatter about this or that, but on this test of self discovery, he found himself enjoying the silence for the very first time. He also found that for the first time in a long time, he felt the loneliness that he'd fought off for so long return.
"When was the last time you felt it this strongly?"
Frog's question didn't surprise Bridge, the former Green Ranger having realized that the sacred animal spirit of the black Ninja could read his thoughts. Bridge closed his eyes and focused on the question, searching back to when he'd last felt this lost, this lonely. "The day before I met Sky."
The black frog seemed to smile, knowing how true Bridge's answer was. "And why is that?"
Now a smile bloomed on Bridge's own face. "Because I think I knew even then, that'd I'd found someone who cared about me, someone who sorta understood me. Sky and I were different, as different as night and day – we still are - but that wasn't just it; we both had powers we couldn't control, ones we didn't ask for."
"You'd found a kindred soul."
"Yes. And when Syd joined us, I remember feeling almost complete. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew there had to be others out there, that we weren't the only ones with powers. But the day I met Sky was the day all of it changed."
"Bridge, everything around you may change, but the relationships you've created with your teammates are ones that will sustain you in your darkest, loneliest moments," Frog began, his eyes boring into Bridge's now open ones. "Never forget that while they may not be with you in a physical body, their spirits are always with you, always connected to yours."
The former Green Ranger nodded, his bangs falling into his face. He swiped at them in irritation, and then felt the tears start to prick his eyes. Normally, whenever that happened these days, Z and Syd were usually there, brushing them back from his eyes before he could even react, while Jack and Sky teased him about getting babied by the girls. It was hard, swallowing the lump of emotion in his throat; he missed, but more importantly, needed and wanted, his friends by his side. Reaching into his pocket, he brushed the earrings that rested there, and his mind and heart centered on their owner. With Z in his life, he knew he'd never feel that loneliness again; she wouldn't let it swallow him the way it had when he was a kid.
"I thought I'd find the two of you here," a new voice rang out, startling Bridge and making Frog croak in greeting.
"Welcome Panda," Frog spoke, hoping over to the hulking figure that was emerging from the bushes across the path. Bridge stared in shock, his eyes blinking rapidly as the two animals exchanged words in low tones that he couldn't really make out. "Panda, meet Bridge."
The giant bear studied the former Green Ranger carefully and then smiled. "He has kind eyes, and a heart that can be trusted."
Bridge's eyebrows shot up at that while Frog seemed to snicker. "That he does. What brings you here, Panda? I thought we were to meet at the designated spot?"
"The shadows have invaded the jungle," Panda spoke, before a hissing sound alerted all three to the fact that they were no longer alone.
"What was that?"
"Vampra's Shadow Warriors," Frog responded, allowing his body to triple in size. He was now as big as a St. Bernard. "Bridge, it may get ugly, are you up to a fight?"
The former Green Ranger had the nerve to look insulted by Frog's words. "I may not have my Ranger powers, but through and through, if there's one thing I've learned, it's that no matter what, I'll always be a Ranger. I'm ready for any battle."
Frog and Panda shared looks. "You have great confidence," Panda spoke.
"No, I don't. I'm terrified at the moment, but I also know that nothing worth fighting for is going to be easy to reach, and I know what I'm capable of. Besides, friends don't leave friends to fight battles on their own."
"Too true," Frog murmured, seconds before the shadows burst through the foliage and began to attack the trio.
They fought gracefully, experience shining through. They each covered the others' backs, making sure no one took a hit from a blind side. Before long, the Shadows had been beaten back, and were disappearing, leaving the trio of fighters panting.
"Well, that was interesting," Bridge griped. "Are we going to have to face more of them?"
The two animal spirits heaved deep breaths, before Frog spoke up. "Not now. You're almost halfway finished with your journey. When you get home, more than likely Vampra will send more after you. Just remember, the light in your soul shines brighter than any other."
"We should go, just in case," Panda spoke. Frog nodded.
"Bridge, I have to leave you now, but Panda will take care of you."
The former Green Ranger looked startled, like he wanted to protest, but held his tongue. It only took Bridge a few seconds to realize that if he wanted to find the others, he needed to go with Panda. "Thank you, Frog, for being there for me."
Frog smiled. "Think nothing of it Bridge, just remember what you've learned, for the lessons you've been taught will serve you well."
When Frog disappeared, Bridge turned to Panda and smiled. "Ready."
"Then follow me," Panda grinned and the pair lumbered off down the path.
--
"Oh wow!" Bridge gasped when he and Panda walked into the ruins of the temple.
"BRIDGE!"
The former Green Ranger's eyes lit up when he saw Z, Jack and Brian coming at him full tilt. Z reached him first, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him soundly. Bridge returned the embrace with as much love as it was being given with. Z let him go a few seconds later, just long enough for him to hug Jack and Brian.
"Welcome, Bridge," Dulcea called.
"Wow!" Bridge chirped. "Who are you?"
"I am Dulcea, Master Warrior of the planet Phadoes. Welcome to the ruins of the Ninjetti temple."
"Thank you," Bridge murmured, his arm going around Z's waist. "I take it the others haven't shown up yet?" Bridge asked Z, his eyes taking in Dragon, Tiger and Pegasus.
"Not yet. It's a waiting game for now," Z told him, her voice trembling slightly. "I'm scared for them, Bridge. Of all of us, they've got the most turmoil going on right now in their lives."
Bridge simply nodded and pecked a comforting kiss to Z's temple. "They'll be fine. Syd and Sky are two of the strongest people I know. If anyone can make it through this, it's them."