Of Anime, Poetry and Falling in Love: Mack and Rose

Disclaimer: Do I look like I have Mickey Mouse ears?

Challenge: Spellbound

Timeframe: Somewhere after Kick Into Overdrive

Summary: In which Rose does some strange things.

"Oh would you shut up already? No one cares about the fact that you can relate everything to the Baron's Betrayal," snapped Rose to Mack as she fought a group of lava lizards. She got in a swift kick to one of them, sending him flying and knocking down three more at the same time.

"Looks like the pink ranger needs to put some love in her life," cooed Moltor's current monster, Cupid's Chokehold. "Let's see what we can do about that."

Rose barely had time to ponder what the revolting pixie-like monster meant by her statement when a cloud of pink perfume-like substance came wafting towards her. Rose felt very strange indeed as the substance did its job and came into full effect.

"Mack!" cried Rose, dropping her Drive Geyser and skipping to the red ranger's side. "Oh sweetheart, I am so sorry I yelled at you. Do you forgive me, baby?"

Mack blinked behind the visor of his helmet. "What did you do to her?" he shouted at the girlish monster as Rose took his gloved hand in her own.

"I merely put her in touch with her emotions. They were simply buried under all that iciness she calls a heart. Have a happy ever after," sang the fairy. Mack frowned as the monster disappeared. He looked down at Rose, who was still holding his hand and giggling.

"What's with her?" questioned Will as he, Dax and Ronny joined the red and pink rangers. Mack shrugged.

"Some kind of spell. We'd better get her back to the base. Maybe Dad and Spencer will be able to find some kind of cure for her."

--

"Sorry guys, looks like the only way you'll be able to get Rose back to normal is to defeat Cupid's Chokehold," announced Andrew, gazing sadly at the results he'd gotten from the tests he'd run.

"So not only did the monster steal her name from that song, she totally messed up our friend," declared Dax, slumping into a chair.

"She didn't mess me up," chirped Rose, who was still cuddled up against Mack's side. Her head was resting on his shoulder and their fingers were intertwined. "Why does this have to be a problem?"

"Because, Rose, this isn't you," answered Mack. "And I for one prefer the old Rose."

"Oh baby, you're so silly," giggled Rose. The red ranger didn't mind that Rose was cuddling with him or that she was using pet names, but he did mind that she was only doing it because of what Moltor's goon had done to her. He wanted this affectionate Rose to do those things of her own accord, not because she was under a spell. He wanted his Rose back, the one who was always the voice of reason, the one who always had the right answer. This wasn't his Rose, not at all.

"In the mean time, you'll just have to deal with the effects," Andrew continued. "I'll keep looking for a solution."

Ronny, Will and Dax audibly groaned as they filed out of the Command Center, but Mack and Rose hung back a little. The red ranger stared at the elder Hartford.

"You know," Andrew said, "The two of you really make a cute couple."

Mack chose to ignore this comment, even though he personally agreed. "Come on Dad. Are you sure there's nothing that can be done? I don't like her like this. She's not the Rose that-"

"You know and love?" interrupted Andrew with a knowing smile. "I'm sorry Mack, but you'll have to take that up with Cupid."

"See sweetie? He doesn't think there's anything wrong with me. He thinks we're cute. How about we go talk to Spencer about packing us a picnic lunch?"

And with that, the pink ranger pulled Mack out of HQ.

--

"All right Rose, you have to focus on the mission. No laughing or freaking out about your nails or whatever…just fight," Mack told her on the way to the battle. He looked at her almost sternly, his mouth set.

"Oh honestly, you're so uptight," Rose complained. "It's like we switched personalities."

Mack decided he was going to have to be just as syrupy sweet as Rose in order for her cooperation. "Rosie, if you can just focus on the battle like the normal you would, I'll give you something that you'll like very much."

"What?" Rose asked coyly.

"A kiss," answered Mack. Rose smiled and nodded.

"OK, I'll fight Cupid with you, Mackie."

Mack winced at the nickname but didn't bother pursuing the matter. He stopped the Jeep and hopped out, joining his other teammates.

"Ready?"

"Ready! Overdrive Accelerate!"

And the blue, black, and yellow rangers charged towards the lava minions, leaving their red and pink counterparts to battle with Cupid's Chokehold.

"And how does my spell fare?" she asked, smirking. Neither answered, but took out their respective weapons and attacked.

After a quick Megazord skirmish with Cupid's Chokehold, the rangers returned to the ground. Rose sunk to her knees as the pink cloud removed itself from her. "Rose?" Mack asked softly as he knelt beside her. She murmured that she was fine, and then fell into his waiting arms.

--

"Hi," Rose said softly, entering the sitting room Mack was in. "Can we talk?"

"Of course." He put his book aside and patted the couch next to him. "What's up?"

"I'm just…I'm so sorry, Mack. I must have made you feel so uncomfortable, acting like that and smothering you."

"Rose, sweetheart, I don't want you to be sorry. It was kind of nice, being with you like that. Just…I prefer the real you. The one with the answers and the know-how, the one who tells me to get my head out of the clouds."

She bobbed her head. "I understand. I prefer that me, too." She still looked uncertain, but she took one glance into Mack's bright blue eyes and continued. "She didn't create those feelings Mack. They were there...she just brought them out." Her brown eyes were simply begging him to give her some sign that he had these same emotions that she did.

"I know. And Rose, believe me, it's not that I don't have those same kind of feelings for you, it's that I don't know if starting a relationship with you right now would be the best thing. It's not safe."

Rose looked as if she might cry. She tried to put on a brave front for the red ranger, but Mack could still see the hurt, crushed look in her eyes. She got up to leave. "Bye, Mack."

But he couldn't let her leave like that. "Hold on. I still owe you something." He grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him.

She knew what he was about to do. "Mack, you don't have to-" she protested, but the red ranger ignored her and brought his lips to hers.