Variations Of SPD
Chapter 14: Phoenix Rising
By: Pink-Green-White-4ever
Last Revised: July 2, 2006
Summary: Her mothers were agile and graceful, her fathers just and able, but what had the Phoenix seen in her when it had chosen her to be its bearer?
Rating: M, for adult-themed situations.
Disclaimer: I don't own PR, Disney does
AN: Muwhahahaha! grins Yeah, I'm on a roll. Three chapters in like 3 days, nice huh? Thanks for the wonderful response, all of you! I know, more times than not, it seems the Pink Rangers have been the heart and soul of the team, though there have been some exceptions (Dustin and Chip coming to mind). I'm torn in this thought regarding SPD. During the show, I'd have to agree that Bridge was the heart and soul of the SPD team, but for this story, and the AR timeline I've given the end of the show, Sydney is living up to the Pink Ranger theory.- grins -
Dedication: I dedicated this chapter to those who've been through so much, no matter what that is, and have still managed to rise from the ashes.
"My mind tells me to give up, but my heart won't let me." -- Unknown --
"You have to enable and empower people to make decisions independent of you. As I've learned, each person on a team is an extension of your leadership; if they feel empowered by you they will magnify your power to lead." -- Tom Ridge --
"Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish."
-- John Quincy Adams --
"The important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become."
-- Charles Dubois --
--
She felt like she was floating. It reminded her of when she use to cuddle with her mother and day dream. With a sigh, she stretched and opened her eyes. What met her was complete darkness. "That can't be good," she muttered, searching for light but finding none.
"That depends on your definition of good," a voice announced.
Sydney turned her attention to the direction it sounded like the voice was coming from. Surprisingly enough, the dark was soon lit by a soft pink glow that only intensified as the figure it was emanating from approached the former Pink Ranger. When she saw it was a crane, Syd's eyes filled with tears. "Mama."
"Not quite, little one," the beautiful pink crane told her. "I am merely your birth mother's sacred animal spirit, and the honorary guardian of your adopted mother."
The former Pink Ranger nodded and swiped at the tears that found their way down her cheeks. "So, now what?"
"Are you ready to face your journey of self discovery?" Crane asked, her eyes locked with Sydney's.
"Yes."
"Then come, and be careful, the path isn't always clear." Together they set off, Crane's pink glow lighting the way for Sydney through the dense jungle.
--
For an entire hour, Sydney's thoughts were on her parents, her brother, and Sky. The bird flying above her was the embodiment of the woman who'd given birth to her, of the woman who'd given up her own hopes and dreams to save not only Sydney's, but Syd's life. The beautiful bird was also an honorary guardian of the woman who had raised her – the only mother she'd ever really known. Her heart was torn in two over it, just as it had been for weeks now over the situation between Brian and Sky.
"Those you love can often bruise your heart worse than any of your enemies," Crane spoke from a branch above Syd's head where she was perched. "Sit and rest, little one. Tell me why your heart is so hurt."
Sydney groped around in the darkness and found a rock to lean against. She drew her knees to her chest and thought of Crane's question. "I've been so lost," she breathed, her mind focusing on her answer. "Between my parents, both sets, and Brian and Sky, I don't know what to do. It's like, choosing one or the other in either case makes me feel traitor to the other."
"Your heart is unsettled," Crane spoke, seeing the turmoil inside her young charge. "Do you think your parents will love you less if they know you loved them all equally?"
"I'm not sure what I think anymore," Sydney murmured.
Crane nodded. "Little one, she who was my bearer, and he who was the bearer of the Falcon, chose your adopted parents to care for you because they knew they would love you regardless of your heritage. Your adopted parents understand that there's enough love in your heart for them and the two who birthed you. If they all can accept, why can you not?"
"I don't know," Syd whispered.
"You must also remember this, she who was my bearer also chose your mother to take her place on her team, chose her to wield my power. In choosing both that, and for her to take care of you, she must have known in her heart you were in good hands." Syd could only nod. "As far as the Dragon, and your soul's twin, they must come to terms on their own; there is nothing you can do for them but love them both without reservation. If your heart is not intact, you may face even greater peril during this war."
"I know, it just feels like I'm being pulled in a million different directions and I can't take a step back to clear my head."
"Trust your heart, little one, it'll never steer your wrong." Sydney nodded again, her thoughts still on what Crane had said. "Are you ready to continue?"
"Yes," Sydney responded. The Crane bobbed her head once and took flight, Sydney not far behind on the path below.
--
"How much further?" Syd called out, panting as they stopped.
"Not much. Do you need a rest?"
Sydney sighed. "AS much as I hate to say it, yes, I do."
"Then we will rest," Crane announced, winging down from the branch she was on to sit on the path with her charge. Both had noticed the sky was lightening as they moved down the path.
"Does that have to do with the journey or is it natural?" Sydney asked, gesturing to the sky.
Crane looked startled, or at least as startled as a bird could, that Sydney would think to ask that. It was a sign to Crane that the former Pink Ranger was growing and maturing. "It has to do withy our journey. Each of you is being tested, and as you pass, the sky will lighten."
"I see."
"Your surprise me, little one."
Sydney didn't know whether to be happy or insulted. "How so?"
"You have grown much since you became a Ranger. You are steadily growing into the role you were always meant to play."
"And what role would that be?"
Crane cocked her head at Sydney and seemed to open her beak in what appeared to be a smile. "Your fathers were two of the most well known leaders of the Power Rangers, your mothers the most compassionate and gifted of the Rangers. Just because you were gifted with pink does not mean you were not meant to lead. Your time will come."
"A leader? Me? You've got to be joking," Syd laughed, shaking her head. "I'm no leader, that's Sky and Jack, or even Z and Bridge, not me. I'm just the Pink Ranger."
"As I said, just because you were gifted with Pink does not mean you were not meant to lead. The mother of your soul's twin was Pink, and she still led her team, did she not?"
Sydney blinked. Crane was right, Jen had led the Time Force team until Wes had been given the Red Ranger mantle, and then she basically co-led the team with him. "I'm not my aunt."
"Nor are you either of your mothers, you are yourself. Your mothers were the heart and soul of their teams," Crane told her, cocking her head back and forth while flapping her wings slightly to punctuate her points. "During the last few months, you have proven you are the heart and soul of your team. Sometimes, it is best to lead with your heart, not your mind."
The former Pink Ranger thought about Crane's words, carefully weighing them against the experiences she'd had in the months leading up to this moment. She had grown, she had matured, as a Ranger, as a woman, but more importantly, as a person. In some ways, she had also steadily grown as a leader, maybe not as a Ranger leader, but a leader just the same.
She had put the welfare of her team and the people of Earth over her own life, and even the life of the child she and Sky had created. What was it her father had often told her as a child? The needs of many out weighed the needs of the few. It was one of the Rangers' mottos. How many times had she read in her Ranger History text about the teams sacrificing themselves for the greater good? Too many to count, and each time, the teams were ultimately rewarded, but there had been casualties, some so great it had splintered some teams too far to be repaired.
"Point taken," Syd murmured, watching Crane nod.
"Good. Now, we must continue. We still have someone to meet, and I have the feeling we might run into some disturbance before we reach our destination."
Sighing, Syd pushed up from the ground and followed after Crane, never once realizing that the sky was growing lighter in color since they'd sat down.
--
Sydney's eyes widened in shock as she and Crane stopped nearly an hour or so later when fire seemed to erupt further up the path from where they were. "What the hell is that?" Syd asked, fear growing in her stomach that they'd just walked into a fire in the jungle.
"I believe our friend is in need of help. Are you ready?" Crane asked.
Shaking herself from her stupor, Sydney nodded. Regardless of her fear, she knew she was born to help. "Let's go!" Syd called, the pair flying down the path, one on wings the other on legs, toward the fountain of fire.
When they got to the source, they saw half a dozen shadows attempting to fight with a large ball of flames. "Sydney, be careful!" Crane called seconds before she dove into the fray.
Sydney stood transfixed, her eyes glued to the figure in the center of the flames. It was a phoenix. Her phoenix. "NO!" Sydney's voice ripped from her throat. Without really realizing it, the former Pink Ranger had let a wave of pulsing pink power out of her body.
Both Crane and Phoenix reared their heads up when Syd's wave of power rendered the shadows powerless. "She does carry the power," Phoenix seemed to grin, causing Crane to shake her head.
"The magic is there, it just needs to be honed," Crane bobbed her head, watching as Phoenix moved to land on the path before Sydney, who was now on her knees, her breathing labored.
"What the hell was that?"
"One of the truest magic in the universe; you're already partially in touch with the great power," Crane told her.
Sydney nodded and grinned. "If that is only one of the many, I'd like to see some of the others," Syd joked.
"You already have," Phoenix told her in a snappy voice. "Do you not feel it each and every time you are with your soul's twin or with your parents and the Dragon?"
The former Pink Ranger stared at her spirit animal, an eyebrow arched. "Sarcastic much?" she asked, shaking her head at her guardian. "Of course I've felt that magic; I even know its name - it's called love."
Phoenix bowed her head before her charge before regally bringing it back up. "Then there is hope for you yet."
Sydney shook her head at the sarcasm displayed by the mythological bird. Who'd have thought her guardian would be so sarcastic? She always figured that would be Z or Sky's department. When the two birds began to laugh, well it's the only way Syd could describe the sound, she blushed. "What?"
"She who is my bearer, are you ready to continue your journey? Crane is in need of rest, and your friends are waiting for you," Phoenix spoke.
Sydney's eyes flew to Crane, who seemed to be wavering between staying and going. Crystal blue eyes filled with tears even as the former Ranger knelt next to the guardian of her mothers. "Thank you."
"You are most welcome. Remember always, that she who is my bearer, and he who was the bearer of my soulmate have always and will always be proud of you," Crane spoke, her body starting to disappear. "And little one, do not forget what you have learned; the lessons will serve you well." With those parting words, Crane disappeared completely, leaving Sydney in tears while Phoenix guarded her charge.
"Mama, Papa," Sydney whispered, eyes closing as she struggled to keep the tears at bay.
"Come, we must continue," Phoenix spoke. Sydney nodded and wiped the tears away before she opened her eyes to an astonishing sight. Phoenix tripled in size, standing nearly as tall as Sky.
"Wow."
Phoenix bowed. "Climb on, the rest of the journey we must continue by air."
Sydney did as told, gently climbing onto Phoenix's back and then gasping in surprise when the great bird took to the skies.
--
"Where are we?" Sydney asked when a large mountain came into view. The sky had lightened enough for her to see the horizon. What she saw looked like the ruins of a building.
"Welcome to what was once the home of an ancient race known as the Ninjetti," Phoenix spoke, landing on the plateau.
Sydney squealed in delight when she saw the five animals and the six figures waiting for her. "GUYS!"
"SYD!" five voices rang out. Seconds after Phoenix had landed, Sydney was being pulled into a hug by her brother. Leaning down, Sydney kissed his cheek and then threw her arms around Jack, Z and Bridge, who had pulled her into a four way hug. Finally, Sydney found herself standing face to face with Sky.
"Hi," Sky grinned at her, reaching out to take her hand. Before Sky had a chance to react, Sydney was rushing headlong into his arms, her face buried against his chest and her arms around his waist. Sky held her close, soothing her by running his hands up and down her back. Sydney pulled back once she was a little calmer and then leaned up and kissed him softly. "Miss me?"
"Always," Syd breathed, settling her head under his chin, her eyes taking in the scantily clad figure watching them. "Who's that?"
"Welcome Sydney," the woman spoke. "I am Dulcea, Master Warrior of Phadoes."
Syd looked a little skeptical. "Are you going to help us?"
Dulcea grinned. "Of course, but we must first wait until nightfall. For now, why don't you rest and get something to eat."
The former Pink Ranger nodded, staying close to Sky even as the others led her to the fire to feed her and tell her about their journeys.
Back away from the fire, the six animals rested together. Phoenix had shrunken back to her original size and was perched on the shoulder of Sphinx, who rested next to Dragon. On the other side of Sphinx, Panda and Tiger sat side by side, while Pegasus sat on the other side of Tiger, his legs folded under him and his wings tucked at his sides. They watched the seven humans chat quietly near the fire, knowing that time was now of the essence, but also knowing that the six young ones needed to rest and regroup.