Chapter 16 ~ Ashes and Moons

"Ambrianna? Ambrianna? MISS LOMPIRE!"

Bria jumped, jerking out of her reverie. "Yes, Mr. Doyle?" she asked sheepishly.

"Were you planning on joining us any time today?" A few in the class snickered.

She blushed. "Sorry."

The man sighed. "Can you repeat anything I've said during the past hour?" At Bria's guilty look, the man sighed again. "I'd like to see you after class please."

Bria nodded, embarrassed, and tried to avoid eye contact with the other students. When the bell rang a few minutes later, Bria crammed her notebook and pen in her bag, rising as she slung the backpack over her shoulder. The other students filed out as Bria made her way up to the front desk from her seat in the back.

Mr. Doyle motioned for her to take a desk in the front row. She did so, and he took the desk next to her. "Ambrianna, I'm concerned about your grades. You seem to be slipping lately. When you transferred here you were highly praised for your work and effort. I'm not seeing either."

Brian hung her head. "I'm sorry, Mr. Doyle."

He shook his head. "It's not me you really need to apologize to. You're hurting your future more than anything else."

Bria sighed. "I know, it's just...I have so much going on."

"Maybe you need to reevaluate your priorities."

She nodded. How could she tell him that being a Ranger was her top priority? But she couldn't be a Ranger forever...."I will, and I'll try to put more effort in my schoolwork."

He nodded, rising. "If you ever need anything, you know where to find me."

Bria smiled. "Thanks, Mr. Doyle." As she left the classroom, she noticed a boy from class waiting by the door. They were pretty good friends, and she smiled at him.

"He didn't fry you too bad, did he?" he asked, grinning.

"Nah, Bryan, he only grilled me."

Bryan laughed. "Detention?"

"No, nothing, actually."

"Lucky. I thought I might fill you in on what you missed. Doyle's pairing us up for a project."

"Really? What's the project?"

Bryan and Bria walked to lunch together, Bryan explaining the details of the project. Bria laughed when she heard what is was.

"Please tell me you're kidding? The last time I did that was like, seventh grade!"

Bryan shrugged. "That's what we all said, but Doyle said he didn't care, we were doing it again. 'Get in touch with our younger selves' or 'get to know your classmates' or something like that, was what Doyle said."

"Well, at least it's easy. Writing a paper on you shouldn't be too hard."

"I take offense at that."

Bria chuckled. "When's the paper due?"

"Friday."

"So we have a few days. That should work out well."

"Sounds good to me. You want to come over after school and work on it?" Bryan offered. "I have football practice 'til five, but maybe around six?"

"Sure, works for me."

*****

Bria got home late that night. She found Jess, Josh, and Kalli in the family room doing various things. Jess looked up as she walked in.

"Hey, Bria."

"Hey. Did you guys miss me?"

"Dream on," called Josh. Bria grinned at him.

"Did you get lots of work done?" Kalli asked.

"Yeah. I was wondering though, would you guys mind if Bryan came over tomorrow?"

They all looked at one another, then shrugged. "Sounds fine to me," Jess said. "We just have to make sure no alarms go off or whatever. Maybe we can ask Alpha to turn them off upstairs..." She trailed off, thinking.

Bria smiled, plopping down on the couch. "Great. Did I miss anything while I was gone?"

"Well, you missed walking in on Jess and Kyle," Josh stated.

Bria grimaced. "Thanks, I'll pass."

"That's OK, they were only kissing anyway." Jess aimed a punch at Josh, which he easily ducked. "Just catching her up on things!"

"Sometimes I wonder how old you really are, Josh," Kalli mused. He winked.

"Just keeping things light and cheery."

Bria laughed at that. "Um, right. You just keep thinking like that. I'm going to bed."

*****

Sphinxra knelt before Amenkotept. "It wasn't my fault! If it weren't for that stupid Ranger--"

"Silence! If you cannot dispose of any and all annoyances blocking my reign, you shall be disposed of. Do you understand this?"

"Yes, Amenkotept."

"Not only have you failed to clear the way for my reign, you have somehow in your naïveté managed to lose one of my strongest supporters, not to mention my heir. If you do not change your ways, I shall begin to question your loyalty."

"But Pharaoh--"

"I will monitor your progress, Sphinxra. Anubisi will be...assisting you from now on."

"What?!" Sphinxra could barely contain her rage. "Anubisi? He's not fit to--"

"I, as Pharaoh, will be the judge of that. Now be gone, before I execute you out of pity."

Sphinxra left, swearing vengeance on the Black and Red Rangers.

*****
 
Bria lay outside on the lawn a few nights later, looking up at the stars. They had always held a special wonder and interest for her. They were a guiding light and comfort when she needed them most. She wondered if Aaron could see them, wherever he was.

Suddenly Matt called outside for her. "Bria, phone for you!"

Rising, she walked inside, taking the phone from Matt. "Hello?"

"Hey."

The deep voice on the other end of the line made her break into a grin. "Aaron!"

He chuckled. "Yeah, that's me. How's it going, Red? You miss me yet?"

She laughed. "Do I ever! Things are so boring without you around to keep us on our toes. What about you? Where are you? How are you? Are you making progress?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, one question at a time there, Red. I'm doing fine. Don't worry about where I am. And you could say I'm making progress."

She frowned. "Well, as long as you're happy."

He sighed. "I'm getting there."

"I'm here to help, you know."

"Yeah. I know. Thanks."

Bria twirled the cord of the phone around her fingers. "Question...if you don't mind answering."

"Depends on what it is."

"Why is Sphinxra so ticked off at you leaving?"

Aaron took a deep breath. "Sphinxra is a little...possessive, shall we say."

"Oh." Bria was glad he couldn't see her blush. She hadn't thought...with Sphinxra...

As if reading her mind, he spoke again. "Not in an intimate way...well, not a real intimate way." He sighed. "Bluntly, she wants me, and I don't want her. That, for one thing, pisses her off."

"Can't say I blame her,"  Bria muttered under her breath, before her eyes widened as she realized what had just come out of her mouth. Thankfully, Aaron was silent. Maybe he hadn't noticed. "From your voice I'd guess there's more to this."

"...Yeah..." Aaron seemed reluctant to speak of it.

"Aaron, are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

She was silent for a moment. "Look...Aaron --"

Suddenly an alarm blared, and she swore.

"Go," said Aaron. "I'll call you later."

"OK...be careful, Aaron."

"I should be the one telling you that, Red. Get moving!"

"Yes, sir!" With a giggle, Bria hung up the phone and ran into the basement.

"Sphinxra must not be happy," Matt said.

"That's old news," Jess stated. "The question is, what is it this time...aside from the fact she hates us?"

"Aaron," Bria said simply. The others looked at her oddly. "She's upset because she lost him. He's not her Ranger anymore...meaning she won't have the opportunity to seduce him."

Matt raised an eyebrow. "You've got to feel bad for the guy when someone like that is on his tail."

"Can we worry about Aaron's love life later?" Kyle cut in, somewhat rudely. "We have a city to save...again."

"Let's go."

*****

The Red Ranger stood at the docks, looking at the odd creature in front of her. "And what might you be?" she asked disdainfully.

The creature roared. "I am Jackal!" it cried. Bria scrunched up her nose.

"Ugly one, aren't you?" The creature stood on two legs, but resembled a jackal. And it was ugly.

Bria slammed her hand into the creature's mid-section before jolting back, rubbing her hand. "It's like punching a wa-AL!" She ended in a surprised shout as the Jackal lifted her and threw her into a wall. "Speaking of which..." she mumbled, rising.

Jess threw a lighting bolt at the Jackal, but it dodged the attack, and Jess's bolt collided with Kalli, who was knocked backwards. As Matt helped Kalli up, the Jackal turned to attack.

Josh and Kyle attacked the monster's back at the same time. "Element Sword!" Both had a sword in their hand, and the swords sliced the monster's back at the same instant.

With a howl, the Jackal turned, sending Kyle and Josh flying. As they slammed into a nearby building, Bria winced. She and Kalli called upon their swords as well, moving to attack the monster, which merely grabbed the blades and flipped Kalli and Bria onto the ground.

The pavement cracked as vines shot up, wrapping around the monster's legs. Matt's vines crawled up the monster, wrapping around its neck. With another roar, the monster tore the vines away, attacking Matt in the process, while Kyle moved to help Matt.

Bria stepped out of the battle for a moment, looking around for anything of use. All civilians had deserted the docks when the monster showed up...the shipyard was silent...looking up, Bria grinned. Bingo!

"Hey! Big, bold, and ugly! I dare you to catch me!"

The Jackal turned to see the Red Ranger waving. Growling, he rushed towards her. Jess realized what her cousin wanted.

"You guys," Jess said, pointing up. They all nodded. Just as the Jackal reached Bria, the Rangers together fired at a rope above them on a crane, dropping a gigantic anchor on the Jackal, which crumbled into dust.

"From ashes to ashes," Josh said jokingly. The others laughed.

*****

Sphinxra stood over her looking-glass. "They won't be laughing soon," she said snidely. With a pinch of dust and a few words, they'd be crying...if they had enough life in their bodies.

*****

As a red-black cloud formed around the ashes, the Rangers turned. Kyle swore as the Jackal grew to huge height. Bria looked at the others. "Let's do it, folks."

Taking a deep breath, she internally called the Red Leopard. As the Zords charged onto the scene, Bria power-jumped inside the Leopard's head. "Let's do this, Red Leopard."

With a mighty roar, the Leopard tackled the Jackal. The dolphin, zebra, peacock, and buffalo pitched in as well, while Kyle was forced to sit this one out. When it became obvious that they weren't making much progress, Bria spoke to the Leopard. "You know how to do the Megazord thing?"

The Leopard roared, and a few moments later a Megazord stood shining in the sun. Bria grinned at the other Rangers, who were now standing, surprised, in the main chamber.

"Don't look so shocked, guys. They are Zords, after all. Now let's show this creep."

The others nodded, and the Megazord attacked, slashing at the Jackal with its great sword. In a few moment's time, the Jackal was once again reduced to a pile of ash.

"From dust to dust," Josh said solemnly. They all shot him a dirty look.

*****

"Bria."

She heard the whisper, and it sent shivers of pleasure down her spine. As his arms encircled her, she leaned into him, closing her eyes. She felt him tilt her head up, and she gasped slightly as his lips met hers, sending shocks through her system.

As she wrapped her arms around his neck, he placed his hands on her waist, gently caressing with his thumbs in tantalizing circles. He deepened the kiss, and Bria felt she was in heaven.

It wasn't until she realized she didn't know who this was that her eyes popped open.

*****

Bria's eyes popped open as she sat jolt upright in bed, gasping. "It was just a dream..."

She sat in bed for a few moments, catching her breath before going into the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face and wondering what that was all about. Sighing, she realized she wouldn't be getting any more sleep tonight.

Looking at the clock back in the room she shared with Jess, she sighed. It was going to be a long night. The she smiled. Perhaps not so long.

*****

Bria walked across the moonlit stone to where Princess Shayla sat in a wicker chair, her fountain nearby. The Wolf Zord lay curled at Shayla's feet, and the moon glinted off his silver back and Shayla's white gown. His head lifted and turned towards Bria as he felt her approach.

"The moon is beautiful tonight," Bria said softly, gently stroking the Wolf's great head. The Princess nodded.

"Yes, it is."

They watched the bright, full moon for a few moments in silence before Bria spoke. "Princess?"

"Yes, Bria?"

"Don't you ever get...lonely, up here?"

"I have the Zords to keep me company. And I am asleep much of the time, when I am not needed."

"No, I mean...don't you ever wish you had a human for company? Nothing against the Zords or anything," she added quickly.

Shayla was silent for a moment, before nodding slowly. "Yes. I enjoy human companionship as well. But...well, it is not possible for someone to stay on the Animarium all the time."

"Why not?"

"The only ones who would stay would be Rangers, and I cannot ask every group of Rangers I encounter to stay here. They would never be able to live their lives, never mind be Rangers."

Bria bit her lip before speaking. "What about Merrick?"

The Princess looked surprised. "Merrick?"

"Yes, Merrick. He was the Lunar Wolf Ranger, and your Protector. Wouldn't he stay here with you?"

"How do you know about Merrick?"

Bria smiled guiltily. "I got on my knees and begged someone to tell me about him."

Princess Shayla sighed. "I don't even know where he is...or if he would even come."

"I think he would."

"Yes, but...he's human, Bria, and deserves to live a real life."

"I doubt he thinks much of it without you," Bria muttered. The Wolf snorted, seemingly laughing. Shayla blushed prettily.

"Bria!"

"Yes?" Bria asked innocently.

Princess Shayla shook her head, her fingers unconsciously brushing against the blue-stoned necklace Merrick had given her so long ago. "Merrick is long gone, Bria."

"He was gone for three thousands years, but did that stop either of you?"

"Bria, please."

"If he did want to come, would you let him?"

"Of course!"

"Thought so." Bria looked at the Wolf Zord, who was look at Shayla out of one half-closed eye, his head on his paws. He had an amused and knowing air around him, and Bria couldn't help but grin. She could get to like this Wolf.

She sat for the rest of the night with the Princess and the Wolf Zord, talking occasionally with the Princess as they watched the moon cross the night sky.

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