The Twins
By: Brooke

Identical twins Ashley and Christine Sirch were sitting at a table in the juice bar, devouring a plate of French fries and looking through books.

"I wish we had never been forced to move to California," Christine grumbled, grabbing a fry.

"I know what you mean. We had to leave everybody and everything we knew behind, although I won't entirely miss the freezing winters where we froze our behinds off walking to school," Ashley agreed, setting down the book. Christine set down her own book and sighed. "Let me guess; you miss David, right?" Christine looked over at her twin sister.

"You're good, I'll give you that," she admitted, tucking the brownish-blonde-coloured hair she and Ashley shared behind one ear.

"Hey, you don't even know for sure that he liked you. Besides, I'll bet that we met some really cute guys at school tomorrow that'd be glad to help us poor new girls learn our way around the school," Ashley said with a grin. Christine grinned back.

Two tables away, six teens were sitting around a table, talking.

"Mondo has got to lay off with the monsters. I'm exhausted," Kat said, resting her hand on the back of one hand.

"Tell me about it. If a breeze came in my direction, I think I'd fall right off my chair," Rocky agreed. Tanya nudged him with her shoulder. Rocky tipped on his chair, but stayed upright. He glared at her and she laughed weakly.

"Keep it down, would'ja? How's a guy supposed to get any sleep around here," Adam complained sleepily, his head resting on his arms on the table. Tommy was snoring quietly and Jason was barely able to keep his own eyes open.

"This isn't doing any of us any good," Jason commented, standing up. "I'm going home. See you guys tomorrow in class." He left the youth centre. The others soon followed suit.

Christine whistled quietly to herself. Ashley looked in the same direction as her sister. She saw six teens getting up from a nearby table and leaving.

"Did you see the one in the black shirt with the black jeans?" Christine said quietly.

"Who cares about him? Look at the one in the green shirt and blue jeans. I think I'm going to like California," Ashley replied. The two watched them go.

"Hey, do you think we might end up in their classes?" Christine asked suddenly.

"It's entirely possible," Ashley replied, hoping that the possible would become reality.

The next day, Ashley and Christine arrived at their new school early so they could get their schedules, locker numbers and combinations and get settled before first period. They went into the office and stood at the front desk.

"Can I help you?" the secretary asked.

"We're new students here and we've come to pick up our schedules and locker numbers," Ashley replied politely.

"Go in and see Mister Kaplan. He'll give you everything you need," the secretary said, gesturing towards a door. Ashley and Christine went over and knocked on it lightly. They were told to come in, so they went inside. A man with graying hair sat behind a desk in a navy blue suit.

"What can I do for you?" he asked.

"Um, my name's Christine Sirch, and this is my sister Ashley. We're new students at Angel Grove High and we need our schedules," Christine answered nervously.

"Oh yes, the twin sisters from Canada," Mister Kaplan said. He rifled through his desk and produced four pieces of paper. He handed them to Ashley, who gave two to Christine. "I hope you'll like your new school." With that, Ashley and Christine thanked Mister Kaplan and left the office, nodding to the secretary on the way out. They stood leaning against a wall outside the office, looking over their schedules and locker numbers.

"I can't believe this! My locker is so far away from yours!" Christine exclaimed. Her locker number was 733, Ashley's was 1150.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine. Besides, we've got five out of eight classes together," Ashley pointed out.

"Always the optimist," Christine teased. The once empty hallways were starting to fill up as students came into the building.

"We'd better get to our lockers. I'll see you in...English," Ashley said, consulting her schedule. Christine watched her sister wave and depart, then she went to her own locker.

When Ashley got to her locker, she immediately opened it and threw her Jean jacket into it. Then she proceeded to tape up pictures of all of the friends she had left behind at her old school and she also stuck up her mirror and a copy of her schedule. Then she went in search of room 114.

When Christine got to her locker, she too opened it and threw her own Jean jacket into it. Then she taped up the pictures of her friends from her old school, her own mirror and her own schedule. She went to find 114 after she had finished.

The two sisters met up outside the classroom. Students were milling around and the hallways were very crowded now compared to earlier that morning.

"Chris!" Ashley called, spotting her sister about to enter the room. Chris paused, looked around, spotted Ashley and smiled. She waited until Ashley had caught up with her and the two girls entered the room. There they found a short, round woman talking with six students. The three turned when they heard the door open. Much to Chris and Ashley's surprise, two of the male students were the same ones they had seen at the youth centre the day before. Ashley recognized the other four as their friends. Chris and Ashley walked over to the teacher's desk and introduced themselves.

"My name is Mrs. Appleby. I'll be teaching you English, History and Math. This is Tommy Oliver, Jason Scott, Adam Park, Rocky DeSantos, Tanya Sloan and Katherine Hillard. They're all in at least one of your classes and they'll take you on the grand tour and tell you everything you need to know about Angel Grove High," Mrs. Appleby said.

"Yeah, and then some," Rocky added with a grin. Chris and Ashley laughed.

"You girls can sit beside Tanya and Kat," Mrs. Appleby said. The six teens led Chris and Ashley to their seats.

"So, what do you think of Angel Grove so far?" Tanya asked as they all sat down.

"I like it. Warm, sunny, close to a lake, everything I look for in a town I move to," Ashley replied.

"How are you gonna tell you guys apart? You both look so much alike," Rocky commented. Ashley and Chris looked at one another and laughed. The others looked at them questioningly.

"We're not laughing at you, Rocky. It's just that we can see the differences easily in each other. Trust me, when you get to know us better, you'll be able to tell us apart at a glance," Chris assured him.

"But in the meantime...." Tommy trailed off.

"Let's see. Physically, Ashley's about two inches taller than I am, she's got curlier hair and I've got basically straight, layered hair. Ashley wears the same things I do, so that won't be much of a help. What else?" Chris said thoughtfully.

"Let me think for a second," Ashley replied.

"Don't hurt yourself now," Chris said sarcastically, but with a smile on her face.

"OK, there's the easiest way to tell us apart. Chris has a more adult sense of humour, she can turn just about anything into a really bad joke or pun-"

"They aren't all bad," Chris protested.

"...And she tends to speak her mind about just about everything," Ashley finished.

"Like you don't?" Chris asked pointedly. Ashley glared playfully at her sister. The others laughed.

"And one other thing; Chris wears a lot of black and dark blue, but I tend to be more of a green and white person," Ashley added.

"OK, that's helpful. Now we stand a chance of telling you guys apart," Rocky commented. Just then, the bell rang and the class filled up with students. Hmm....I wonder what kind of things we'll have to do? thought Chris.

After the class had finished filling up Mrs. Appleby stood up.

"Class, today we have two new students. I'd like you all to meet Christine and Ashley Sirch from Canada." she said motioning for the girls to stand up and come to the front.

"Why don't you tell us a little about yourselves?" she asked.

"I'm Ashley and this is Chris. We're twins and we used to live in Toronto."

"Do you have snow all year round or just most of the time?" asked a kid from the back of the class. Both girls laughed.

"We only have snow from the end of November to the beginning of February if we're lucky," replied Chris.

"And before anyone asks, we don't, nor have we ever lived in igloos. And we don't have Huskies, we share a blue-purple Honda," Ashley proclaimed. The class chuckled and the girls sat down.

The rest of class went virtually undisturbed, except when Tommy fell asleep and Kat's answer was interrupted by his snoring. Rocky and Tanya promptly shook him and he woke up.

When class was over Chris and Ashley waited outside for the six teens who were supposed to be helping them came out.

"Do any of you have Drafting next?" asked Chris, somewhat helplessly. To her joy, Jason, the guy in the black pants and shirt, replied that yes, he had that class and that he would be happy to escort her there.

Just before they left Ashley whispered, "You go girl!" and Chris punched her lightly in the side.

Ashley had French next but unfortunately none of the rangers took French so she was out of luck. Ashley's class was so far behind that it wasn't even funny. She even had one up on the teacher, which was scary.

Chris had always liked Drafting and the fact that she was taking the class with Jason was even better. Now she had a day to look forward to, and most of her subjects were taken with him.

"So what are you making?" she asked him as he pulled out a piece of plywood from the storage racks reserved for that particular class. She opened her bag and carefully lifted out a strange looking object wrapped in bubble paper.

"I'm finishing up a birdhouse. What's that?" He seemed interested so she unwrapped it and showed him.

"It's a wooden carving I started at my old school. I'm almost done and I figured I could probably finish it here." She showed him a smooth tyrannosaurus rex-shaped wooden carving that stood about 10 inches high. It was made out of pine wood and Chris was very proud of it. Jason's heart was beating so hard he thought it would leap out of his chest. She couldn't possibly know....could she? he wondered, momentarily speechless. No, how could she?

"That's amazing!" said Jason, his eyes wide open.

"Nah, Ashley likes this kind of thing more than I do," said Chris, shrugging her shoulders as if it was no big deal.

Ashley had been forced to sit through twenty minutes of verbs that she had learned way back in grade five. She had now resorted to sketching the teacher's back view which proved to be more interesting than the French she was being "taught".

"Ashley, are you with us?" asked the teacher in her best French accent.

"Je m'excuse madame mais je l'ai deja appris. J'ai appris quand j'etais en cinquieme annee," replied Ashley in French.

"Excuse me?" asked the teacher, confused.

"I learned it all in grade five," repeated Ashley.

"Oh," said the teacher. "I was testing you." Ashley nodded and turned back to her sketch.

"Sure you were," she muttered under her breath.

The very last period that the girls had was Phys. Ed.

"Ohhhh....I feel like I'm gonna' faint!" complained Kat as she the other girls jogged around the track.

"I know how you feel." said Chris, yawning.

"I have got to have the worst case of jet lag ever recorded!" exclaimed Ashley.

"It's so nice not to be cold when you're jogging eh Ashley?" commented Chris.

"Tell me about it! I can't wait to go to the beach!" she yawned. "But maybe I better wait a while," she muttered.

Jason, Rocky, Tommy and Adam were sitting on the bleachers. Well, more like lying on the bleachers.

"I'm so tired!" exclaimed Tommy.

"At least you have the capacity to nod off anywhere you want! I have to be in a bed," said Rocky irritably. Adam had already fallen asleep and Jason was staring off into space. Wow! She must have the most toned legs I've ever seen! Jason thought to himself as he watched Chris jog around the track. Her tan is amazing, considering where she used to live!

"Hey Jase....bro, you with us?" Tommy asked, suddenly aware that Jason wasn't paying attention.

"What? Huh? Sorry, I'm kind of out of it," Jason replied distractedly.

"No kidding!" replied Rocky. A pause, then, "How can he do that?" he asked, pointing to Adam who had fallen to sleep.

"Beats me!"

"No clue."

"Maybe Somnabot got to him again."

"Man, that was one wicked day!" said Chris as she and Ashley got into their beds in their apartment.

"Are you kidding! Wait until you meet the French teacher!" said Ashley, walking over to her bag and yanking out her binder. She flipped to her sketch and showed it to Chris. "That's what I did in class today. Sketched the back end of my French teacher! We learned this stuff in grade five, Chris!" she complained.

"Ashley Michelle Sirch, don't whine! It makes you sound younger," said Chris, doing her best impression of their mother, who was living with their father in an apartment a few floors down in the same building.

"Shut up! And don't you dare tell anyone my middle name or I'll kill you!" she said playfully. "And what's more, I'll tell that cute guy what your middle name is. Christine Haley Sirch."

"Don't even think about it!" retorted Chris. She yawned. "'Night Ashley," she said, crawling into bed.

"Whatever," said Ashley, already half asleep.

"I can't believe I dragged myself out of bed this early in the morning just so I could practice!" grumbled Chris as she and Ashley stumbled into the youth center the next morning at six.

"You want to get better don't you?" Ashley asked, tying her black belt around her waist, making sure to double it at the base of her spine.

"Yeah, of course. I want to teach the kids again."

"Ah yes, I forgot how much you enjoy hearing the scamper of little feet and the little voices calling out 'Onagishimas, Sensei' when they need you," replied Ashley with a smile. Chris laughed.

"Exactly. Come on, let's warm up," she replied, moving out onto the mats. Ashley was sitting down on the mats a few feet away from Chris, stretching out her leg. Chris, was also in the middle of stretching out her legs, when somebody knelt down in front of her foot. Chris looked up, for her face had been pressed against her knee and saw Jason kneeling in front of her. She reddened and brought her leg back in closer to her body.

"Hi," she said, getting to her feet. Jason also stood up.

"Hi. You're into karate?" he asked. Chris nodded.

"Yep, brown belt, third level," she replied, a trifle proudly.

"Are you going to take your black belt test when it comes around?"

"Yeah, I want to anyway. My sister's helping me get ready for it. She's a first dan black belt." Chris pointed her thumb in Ashley's general direction. She glanced over her shoulder and saw that Adam had come into the youth centre with Jason and he was now talking with Ashley.

"Not that I'm trying to insult Ashley or anything, but I'm a fourth dan black belt. Maybe I could help you a little more than she could." Chris looked back at Jason, surprised he had offered. She saw now that he had on a black gi, and his black belt with the four small golden stripes to indicate his achieved level was tied around his waist.

"I'd better ask Ashley. I'll be right back," Chris said, and she hurried over to Ashley, who herself was coming over and met Chris halfway.

"Ashley, I'm going to train with Jason today," Chris told her sister.

"Chris, I'm going to train with Adam today," Ashley said at the same time. The girls looked at each other and burst out laughing. Then they hurried back to their respective partners, stretched some more and began their warm up exercises.

Some time later, Ashley and Adam were sparring. Ashley went at Adam, but he dodged her punch and caught her arm, then threw her to the mats and drove his fist forwards until it was inches above Ashley's face. He then proceeded to help her up and explain to her what she had done wrong. Then, they squared off and started all over again. Chris turned to watch her sister and sighed.

"I wish I could be that good," she said quietly to herself.

"You can be, if you stop comparing yourself to your sister and concentrate," came Jason's voice from behind her. Chris jumped and whirled. She hadn't been aware that he had been standing behind her.

"Maybe eventually, but Ashley learns it all so quickly. I'm just not that coordinated," Chris argued.

"Sure you are, you just don't know it yet. You have to think positively; with a positive attitude, you can move that mountain," Jason told her. Chris smiled.

"You think so?" she asked.

"Yeah. Come on, we'll go through that last kata together, and I'll help you with the weak spots," Jason said. He led Chris over to the edge of the mats and stood parallel to her. He counted from three, then they began. They were halfway through, coming up on a move Chris had always had trouble with; a round kick followed by a jumping crescent kick. She made it through the round kick all right and she thought she had her balance dead on. However, when she jumped into the air for the crescent kick, she knew she had taken off wrong and she was right; Chris landed hard on the mats. Jason stopped in mid-punch and came over to help her to her feet.

"Are you OK?" he asked, extending his hand. Chris gratefully accepted it and started to pull herself to her feet. When her hand touched his, she felt a jolt of something indescribable, but it was gone as soon as she let go. She looked up at Jason, who also had a puzzled look on his face, but neither of them said anything about it. Weird, Chris thought as she got back into position beside Jason. He proceeded to tell her and show her how she could ensure a better take off just by moving her right foot a little forward and to the right. Chris tried it three times, and all three times she failed miserably. The third time she landed on the mats, she raised a fist and hit the mat she had landed on hard in frustration.

"I can't do it," she said miserably, hanging her head. Jason came over and knelt beside her.

"Sure you can, you're just not focused now. Everybody hits a boulder in the road sometimes. You just have to keep at it until you've reduced it to gravel," he said quietly.

"I guess if I managed to get through this, it would make me a chip off the ol' block, huh?" Chris said, smiling slightly. She glanced up at Jason, who chuckled.

"Exactly. Come on, you've got to keep trying." Jason stood back up and waited for Chris expectantly. Chris sighed and got to her feet reluctantly. She stood beside Jason and positioned her feet and body just as he had told her to do.

"Ok, let's try this one more time," Chris said, staring determinately at the far wall. Jason counted from three and they started the kata again. This time, when Chris got to the round kick-crescent kick combination, she nailed it. They finished the kata, and when Chris and Jason bowed to one another, Chris was grinning from ear to ear.

"I can't believe it! I did it!" she said happily, going over to the bench where she had put her gym bag and she retrieved her towel from within. Jason got his own and they mopped at their faces.

"I told you that you could do it," he said, tossing his towel back into his bag.

"I'll remember never to doubt you in the future," Chris said with a grin, putting her own towel into her bag.

"Come on, I'll buy you a fruit shake at the juice bar," Jason said. He picked his wallet out of his bag and with Chris in tow, he walked over to the counter. They ordered shakes and Jason payed. Then they went and sat down at a table.

"Thanks for helping me nail that move," Chris said shyly, sipping her shake.

"It was no problem. If you want any more help with anything, just give me a call," Jason replied.

"Thanks, I'd appreciate that." Just then, Ashley and Adam came over and joined the two.

"Remind me never to spar with you again, would you Adam? I'm beat!" Ashley exclaimed, sitting down heavily in a chair beside Chris. Adam sat down next to her and sighed.

"You're pretty good, though. You almost had me that second time," Adam told her. Ashley might have blushed, but it was hard to tell since her face was already red from her workout.

"We should do this again sometime, it was really helpful for all of us," Adam said.

"Sure. Next weekend maybe?" Chris asked. There were nods around the table.

"Chris, we should be getting home. We've got tons of unpacking to do still," Ashley said. Chris and Ashley reluctantly stood up.

"I guess we'll see you guys at school tomorrow," Chris said, walking off towards her bag with Ashley close behind. They retrieved their things and left. Jason and Adam watched them go.

"I think I'm beginning to like Angel Grove," Chris commented as the sisters walked home together. "I mean, we start school one day and there's a P.A. day the next! Wasn't like this up in Toronto."

"Tell me about it! Y'know, I don't think this move was such a bad idea after all," Ashley agreed. They turned down their street.

"Hey, we should probably practice before we do anything else today. It's been a week," Chris commented.

"Yeah I know, but something a little more fun than practicing the clarinet always seems to interrupt us," Ashley replied.

"Speak for yourself, I like playing," Chris retorted.

"That's because the flute is easier to play than the clarinet!" Ashley told her.

"You have a point there," Chris admitted. "But don't rub it in, or I'll knock ya one!"

"Oh yeah, like you could, right?" Ashley challenged. Chris laughed.

"Let's not start that again. Last time we got so competitive that we nearly killed each other," she said. Ashley laughed, remembering. She and Chris had been fighting about something that now escaped both of them. They had gone out into the backyard and had used their karate on each other until their parents had called them inside. By the time they finally went inside, they were both covered from head to toe in dirt and bruises. Ashley chuckled.

"I think you may have something there," she said.

When the girls arrived at their apartment, the first thing they both did was have a shower. While Ashley was taking up the hot water, Chris dug around in some boxes and found her flute case and Ashley's clarinet case and she put them pointedly on the living room couch. Then she dug out the music and the two compact stands and put them by the couch as well. When Ashley came out of the shower, she had her hair wrapped up in a turban and she had her terry cloth robe tied at her waist. She took one look at the music, stands and instruments and groaned.

"Chris, I can't believe you were serious," she complained, collapsing on the overstuffed chair beside the window.

"Come on Ashley, we sound good together," Chris coaxed. "Besides, it doesn't sound good playing a duo with only one person." Chris went over and tugged her sister's arm to make her stand. Ashley got to her feet reluctantly.

"OK, OK, we can practice as soon as I get dressed, all right?" Without waiting for an answer, Ashley shuffled off to the bedroom and closed the door behind her. Chris went into the kitchen and started preparing some pizza for herself. She didn't know what Ashley wanted so she walked to the bathroom.

"Lee, what do you want?" she called.

"Whatever you're having," replied Ashley from the other side of the door. "I'll be there in a sec."

After eating the girls walked into the living room and yet again, Ashley groaned. She pulled a reed out of it's case and stuck it in her mouth.

"What do you want to play first?" asked Chris.

"Firft lit n a chspy," mumbled Ashley around the reed.

"First light on a Cheesecake?" asked Chris, as she assembled her flute. When the girls had first seen this piece of music Ashley had read it wrong and said "Cheesecake" instead of "Chesapea" so now they always called it Cheesecake.

"Uh huh," replied Ashley.

The girls sat down and started to play. Ashley smiled inside. Chris was right, she thought, I forgot how good we sound together. She started to play a very high note and stopped.

"Ashley? What is it?" asked Chris.

"I don't know, I just got this feeling," replied Ashley. She shrugged it off and the girls continued to play.

The next day Chris had music first period and she walked into the class confidently. The teacher asked whether or not she played an instrument and Chris replied by lifting her flute case up so the teacher could see it. The class became one of Chris's favorites as soon as the teacher gave her the music. The class played beautifully and Chris was put down as a first flute. After class the teacher asked Chris to stay and talk.

"Would you be interested in joining the band?" asked the teacher.

"Band? Sure!" said Chris excitedly.

"We practice Tuesday mornings at half past seven, sharp. See you there."

Chris left the room with a smile on her face that could light up the hallway.

Ashley had Art first period and right away she was given a project. She was to draw a life-like picture of a butterfly sitting on a flower. She set to work right away and was so engrossed on her work that she didn't even notice the Rocky and Adam were sitting at the next table. After class, Adam walked up with Rocky in tow.

"Hello? Did you see us or are you mad at me?" he asked.

"Huh?" replied Ashley, confused.

"We're in your Art class," said Rocky.

"Oh. You are?" she said.

"You must really like Art," said Adam.

"Why, just because I didn't notice you?" teased Ashley.

"What do you have next?" asked Rocky, changing the subject as the trio walked down the hall.

"Math," she replied.

"Too bad. We'll see you later?" said Adam.

"See ya!" called Ashley as they parted. She walked towards Mrs. Appleby's class and met up with Chris.

"I'm in Heaven!" they said simultaneously. The twins burst out laughing and entered the class still giggling.

That day after school Chris was walking home by herself (Ashley had gone to pick something up at the video store) and she heard a crash in a nearby alley. She rushed over to see what it was and gasped when somebody landed on her. She fell to the ground, ready to spring back up, first chance she got. Chris looked up at her attacker and laughed. Christine Haley Sirch you idiot! she thought. It's a cat! Chris picked up the orange tabby and placed him on the ground. She brushed herself off and started home.

When she reached the apartment complex she decided that she'd go for a walk through the park instead and dropped her things off before heading for Angel Grove Park.

She was strolled leisurely along a path, lost in thought. Suddenly, she realized that it had started to get dark. Chris checked her watch, and to her shock it was 5:30! Ashley's gonna kill me! she thought, taking off at a jog for home.

At 6 on the dot, Chris burst through the door to the apartment she shared with her sister.

"Chris, where were you?" Ashley cried, rushing over to Chris, who had closed the door and collapsed on the couch from her long run.

"I went to the park and....lost track of time...sorry," Chris puffed.

"No problem. Hey, I ordered a pizza. Didn't feel like cooking," Ashley said, going back into the kitchen. Chris got up and followed the scent of melted cheese, tomato sauce and pepperoni to its source. Chris grabbed a plate from the cupboard, snatched a few slices from the box that was sitting in front of Ashley and went into the living room and sat on the couch. The two finished eating, and went to bed early for Ashley was dragging Chris out of bed at 6 the next morning to practice.

"You do realize that if I don't pass my black belt test, I'm going to have to kill you," Chris said with a yawn.

"Like to see you try. 'Night Chris," Ashley retorted softly, turning out the light.

The alarm went off, and the twins jumped. Chris groaned, rolled over and slapped at the night table until the alarm shut up. With another groan, Chris tossed back the covers and flung her feet out of bed.

"Get up Ashley," she ordered sleepily, slapping her sister's legs as she went by to get to the bathroom.

"I'm up, I'm up," came the reply from somewhere under the sheets. Chris took a quick shower, dried her hair and went back to put on her gi. Ashley went and confiscated the shower for the next seventeen minutes, then got dressed in her own gi and went to find Chris sitting in the kitchen with a plate of pizza in front of her.

"Healthy breakfast," Ashley said with a grin, stealing one of Chris's slices. Chris scowled at her.

"Oh yeah, like you're so perfect," she retorted good-naturedly.

Half an hour later, the girls had their denim jackets on and their gym bags slung over their shoulders and they were walking towards the youth centre.

"Hey, isn't that Jason up ahead?" Chris asked. Ashley squinted.

"Yeah, and Adam," she replied. The two jogged up silently behind the two guys.

"Boo," Chris said playfully, coming up beside Jason.

"Hi," Ashley said simply, falling into step beside Adam. The two guys jumped.>BR>
"Hi Chris," Jason said, a small smile appearing on his face.

"Hey Ashley," Adam replied, also smiling.

"Do you guys do this every morning?" Chris asked, holding back a yawn.

"Not every morning, just during the week," Jason explained.

"Yeah, on weekends we get to sleep until nine before we drag ourselves out of bed," Adam joked. Ashley and Chris laughed.

"You must be really determined to get your black belt if you're getting up at 6 in the morning to practice," Jason commented as he and Chris entered the youth centre behind Ashley and Adam.

"Either really determined, or really out of my mind," Chris replied with a grin. The foursome went into the main area of the youth centre and started dragging out the mats and warming up. Ashley and Adam started sparring again, while Chris and Jason went through the kata Chris had nailed the other day. This time, Chris got it on the first try.

"Good work," Jason commented as they finished the kata.

"Thanks. I have a great teacher," Chris replied, smiling. Jason smiled back.

"OK, you want to try something harder?" he asked.

"I hate to break this up, but shouldn't we all get home so we can get ready for school?" Chris asked, checked her watch.

"You're not just trying to get out of practicing, are you?" Ashley asked, wiping her face with a towel. Chris shook her head and extended her wrist.

"Damn, she's right! We'll see you guys in first period, OK?" Adam exclaimed, rushing over to pick up his bag. Jason did the same, and they left the youth centre. Ashley and Chris soon followed.

During second period, Ashley, Chris, Tanya and Kat had Phys. Ed. They were running along the track, complaining about how they shouldn't be made to run outside in the heat like this, even though the temperature was perfect, maybe even a bit cool. The guys were also running around the track, for they shared a period with the girls. Ashley stopped to walk a few paces, because of a cramp in her left side.

"Tired already?" Adam teased, jogging up beside her.

"No, I have a cramp," Ashley explained.

"I think you're lying," Adam disagreed. "You're tired." Ashley's cramp had receded sufficiently, and she started running again. Adam ran ahead of her, but Ashley caught up and ran beside him, then past him. When they had all finished running, Ashley was waiting for Adam at the finish line.

"Tired already?" she teased as he collapsed onto the bleachers. He looked up at her as she stood over him and glared at her.

They went through the rest of the day without anything eventful happening, except for when Ashley almost got caught sketching Adam. The teacher was walking down the aisles and Ashley, who had already finished the assigned homework, had been busy trying to sketch Adam from memory. When the teacher had passed, Ashley had quickly flipped a few pages to where the homework was and she dug the white-out from her pencil case and pretended to white-out a word. When the teacher had passed, Ashley put the white-out away and breathed a silent sigh of relief, then went back to her sketching.

After classes, Chris was walking along the grass on the school campus when she heard someone call her name. She turned, and saw Jason coming towards her. Chris waited for him to catch up, then they started walking again.

"I was thinking; how close is your black belt test?" Jason asked.

"Um, I think I'm taking in two weeks, why?" Chris replied.

"You want to go practice again? There's some things you need to work on," Jason advised.

"Yeah sure, but I'll have to go home and change. How about if I meet you at the youth centre in an hour?" Chris suggested.

"OK, see you then," Jason said. The two went their separate ways. Chris felt like she was walking a few inches off the ground. When she got home, she found Ashley already there.

"Spill it Chris, what'd he say to you?" Ashley demanded when she saw the look on Chris's face.

"He wants me to practice with him again in 45 minutes," Chris replied, dumping her bag on the couch and going into the bedroom to change. Ashley followed her.

"Tonight?" she asked sharply.

"Yeah."

"Sounds like he's really into you."

"M'be," came the muffled reply as Chris lifted her shirt over her head and threw it into the hamper.

"Not maybe, he is," Ashley insisted.

"Don't you have homework to go do?" Chris asked, shooting Ashley a mock-glare.

"OK, OK. I'm going. Sheesh, some people can be so uptight about their boyfriends," Ashley replied, and she was out the door before Chris could retort. Chris rolled her eyes and finished changing.

A few minutes later, Chris was on the path heading for the youth centre. She arrived a few moments ahead of Jason. They practiced everything that Chris would be tested on, and then some.

Chris was walking through the park after practicing with Jason for two straight hours. She couldn't wait to get home and take a long, hot bath. Tired, she plopped down under a tree and closed her eyes. A few minutes later, she was grabbed roughly by the arms and hauled to her feet.

"Hey!" she cried, struggling with all her might, but her arms were pinned to her sides and she had been lifted off the ground. Suddenly, she wasn't in the park anymore, she was in the middle of what seemed to be a throne room with machines all around her. Androids? Oh, this it too weird, she thought It's like something out of a Star Trek novel. She was released, and the largest machine came to stand in front of her.

"It's too bad we weren't able to get her sister, but she'll do for now," it said in a masculine voice.

"You leave my sister alone!" Chris shouted. She tried to jump the machine, but she was restrained and she stopped straining and was released again.

"Where is that idiot, Determinator?" the machine asked irritably. A thin machine came clanking into the room.

"Here sire," it said.

"Ah yes, good. Take her to the lab and begin the tests. I want to know why she exhibits so much energy and how I can control it," the first machine said. The second one bowed, and motioned at the machines that had brought Chris to this place. Chris was grabbed by the arms and led from the throne room and down a dark hallway.

A minute later, she was hauled into a small room that was almost entirely dark and laid across a table. Her arms and legs were restrained and her head was held in place by a harness that slipped under her jaw, barely allowing her enough room to breathe and speak.

"Cogs, leave us. I don't want you getting in my way while I'm testing this pitiful human," Determinator ordered. The cogs left at once, and Determinator turned to some panels just beyond Chris's range of sight. Lights were turned on, machines started humming and buzzing and Determinator chuckled to himself.

"Perfect," he said. That one single word sent shivers up Chris's spine. She closed her eyes and started counting backwards from one thousand.

"What is your name?" Determinator asked. Chris remained silent and kept counting. She felt something slap across the skin on her legs and she barely managed to keep from crying out in pain. "I asked you a question, and I expect it answered. What is your name?" Again, Chris said nothing. She felt the same stinging pain across her legs two more times. "This is on the lightest setting. I can make you experience pain like you've never felt before if you choose not to co-operate, although I would hate to disappoint King Mondo by destroying you before I can discover the source of your incredible energy." Chris gulped silently. "Now, we shall try this one more time before I turn up the setting. What is your name?"

"Christine Haley Sirch," Chris choked out, never opening her eyes out of fear for what she might see.

"I'm glad you've decided to co-operate. Where do you come from?"

"I was born in Toronto, Ontario, up in Canada."

"Good. Now, tell me everything you know about the Power Rangers."

"I...I don't know much. I know that they fight evil like you," Chris said, and she spat in Determinator's face. He recoiled, then laughed evilly.

"You shall regret that," he said. Chris felt a pain, worse than before, across her legs and her stomach. She let out a small cry. Ashley, help me, she said mentally

At home, Ashley was sitting on the couch, reading a Star Trek magazine when suddenly, she felt a flash of pain and fear rip through her body. She sat bolt upright and looked around, the magazine dropping to the floor. Ashley, help me. The voice echoed throughout her head like a gong. That...that's Chris! she realized suddenly. She jumped to her feet. I've got to find her, she's in trouble. Ashley pulled on her shoes and bolted from the house, slamming the door behind her. She ran down the streets, searching desperately for her sister whom she knew was in terrible danger, but she couldn't find her anywhere. OK, I've got to calm down, Ashley thought, stopping for breath. Chris said she was going to practice with Jason at the youth centre, then she was going to come straight home. Maybe she got held up or lost track of time and I'm over-reacting, Ashley thought. But after a moment, she knew it wasn't true. No, Chris is in danger, and I've got to find her!

Ashley ran for the youth centre. Inside, she scanned the place quickly and soon caught sight of Jason and Adam sparring while the others looked on. Ashley ran over and called Jason's name. Both Jason and Adam stopped cold from the sound of the fear in Ashley's voice from that one word.

"What's wrong Ashley?" Adam asked anxiously.

"It's...it's Chris. I can't find her, and I know she's in terrible danger but I don't know what to do and I need help," Ashley stammered. By now, the others had risen from their seats and had come over to see what was the matter.

"Ashley, calm down. Now, what's wrong with Chris? What kind of danger is she in?" Jason asked calmly, although he felt a knot of fear growing in the pit of his stomach. Ashley shook her head, unable to calm down.

"I don't know. I don't know where she is, but I know something bad's happening to her, and she can't do anything to stop whoever's causing it. I've got to find the Power Rangers. Maybe they can help me track Chris down and help her," Ashley replied. The six exchanged glances.

"Ashley, wait here. We'll find the Power Rangers and tell them what's happening. Don't worry, they'll find your sister," Jason said determinately. He and the others practically ran from the youth centre, leaving Ashley standing alone in the middle of the floor. On a hunch, Ashley followed the six out into the park. She stayed low and crouched behind a bush when they stopped and looked around. Tommy and the others raised their wrists and pressed a button on their watches. Then they all disappeared in flashed of multicoloured light. Ashley gasped. They're...they're the Power Rangers! she thought, unable to grasp what she had just seen.

At the Power Chamber, the six rangers materialized and quickly explained the situation to Billy and asked him to locate Chris.

"Guys, I've got bad news. Mondo took her up to the moon and he's holding her there," Billy reported moments later.

"What would Mondo want with Chris?" Jason demanded.

"Apparently, he has noticed the abnormal amount of energy she exhibits," Zordon replied. The six turned and looked up.

"What?" Rocky asked bluntly.

"Chris has a remarkable amount of energy stored within her that she doesn't use. It's the same kind of energy that you rangers had before you were made rangers," Zordon explained.

"What a minute. You're telling us that Chris is a Power Ranger?" Rocky asked.

"I cannot make a decision at this time. I would have to have her go through some tests before I could be certain of my hypothesis," Zordon admitted.

"Great, so we have to go rescue Chris from Mondo's fortress and bring her back safely to the Power Chamber so we can prove she's a Power Ranger," Rocky said with a sigh.

"That's the gist of it, I'm afraid," Billy said.

"Then let's get to it. It's morphin time!"

"Zeo Ranger One, Pink!"
"Zeo Ranger Two, Yellow!"
"Zeo Ranger Three, Blue!"
"Zeo Ranger Four, Green!"
"Zeo Ranger Five, Red!"
"Gold Ranger Power!"

The six teleported out to the spot where Chris had last been before she had been taken to the moon. Tommy had just been about to call Billy to ask what next when Jason, who had been scanning the area, noticed a flash of white appear, then vanish behind a clump of bushes. He ran over and parted the bushes.

"You guys! Get over here quick! I've found Chris!" he shouted, kneeling beside her body. Her black gi was shredded from the middle of her thighs down, all on her arms and some on her stomach. There were bruises, scrapes and tears all over her body and face, and her left arm hung at an odd angle. Jason carefully lifted Chris's unconscious form into his arms as the others approached. Then they all teleported back to the Power Chamber. Billy and Alpha were waiting for them and Jason carried Chris over to a table and gently laid her down.

"Billy, is she going to be all right?" Jason asked anxiously. Billy ran a scanner over Chris's limp form and nodded.

"Yeah, she'll be fine, although her arm was broken pretty badly."

"But you can fix it, right?"

"I should be able to," Billy replied. He picked up a took and started working on Chris. Jason went back over and joined the others, who had kept their distance.

"Zordon, I think we should bring Ashley here so she can be with Chris when she wakes up," Adam said suddenly.

"That will mean revealing your true identities to both of them. Are you sure that it is a risk you are all willing to take?" Zordon asked them. Adam looked back at the others, who nodded after a second's hesitation. Zordon looked down at Alpha, who pressed some controls on the computer console. A flash of white illuminated the chamber, then it died away, leaving Ashley in its wake.

"What...where am I?" she asked, nervous and disoriented. She looked around and her gaze settled on the rangers. "The Power Rangers! Have you found my sister?"

"Yes Ashley, we did. Billy's fixing her up right now. She's going to be fine," Jason told her. Ashley breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh, thank you so much," she said. She paused for a minute. "Hey, you sound familiar. Do I know you?" In truth, Ashley was lying through her teeth; she already knew who's faces were under the helmets that the rangers wore, but she figured that she may as well act as though she knew nothing. I might arouse suspicion if I act normal, Ashley thought.

"Before we answer that question, you must swear you will never tell a soul who we really are, or the Power Rangers will be finished and the Machine Empire will take over the world and probably come after Chris again. Do you understand?" Tommy asked. Ashley nodded. Tommy looked at the others, then reached up to unlatch his helmet. Ashley barely dared to breathe, even though she knew what she would see, as they all took off their helmets and put them at their sides.

"Oh my gosh...you guys are the Power Rangers? This in incredible!" Ashley exclaimed, coming closer. Hey, that even sounded believable, she thought, happy at her preformace. Adam smiled down at Ashley.

"Hey guys. Chris is OK now, I've patched her wounds and...who's that?" Billy asked, interrupting himself in mid-sentence.

"Billy, this is Ashley, Chris's twin sister," Adam said.

"Can I go see Chris now?" Ashley asked anxiously, nodding to acknowledge Billy's existence. Billy nodded, and Ashley ran past him to where Chris was laying. She gripped her sister's hand tightly and whispered Chris's name.

"Oh my head...Ashley?" Chris said weakly, her voice barely above a whisper. Ashley nodded through the tears that welled up in her eyes.

"Yeah Chris, it's me," she replied happily. Chris smiled weakly and Ashley's eyes brimmed over with tears. She started to sniffle and softly cry. Ashley couldn't believe that someone as strong and brilliant as her sister could be reduced to such a weak little girl.

"Ashley, it's okay. She's back now; what's wrong?" asked Adam, approaching her.


Ashley didn't answer. She merely turned around, a look of pure anger on her face that Adam had never seen before. The pain and fury in her eyes was overwhelming. Her normally bright green eyes had gone dark, almost black and her eyebrows came together, practically in a "V" on her forehead. Her breathing had become ragged and her anger level rose quickly. Adam couldn't do anything but watch. Her eyes narrowed and she spun on her heels, running out the door.

"Ashley's energy level just sky rocketed. You'd better go get her before she does something she'll regret," Zordon advised. Adam nodded, and teleported out after Ashley.

Ashley was storming through the park, scanning for the monster that had hurt Chris. Suddenly, there was a flash of light and the object of Ashley's search appeared. Her lips twisted into a grim smile, but the anger never receded from her eyes.

"Perfect, she's alone!" the monster crowed. "Cogs attack!" The cogs at its side moved towards Ashley. Ashley was surrounded and outnumbered, but that didn't matter to her. She growled low in her throat and narrowed her eyes. The cogs closed in, but Ashley was fueled by anger and adrenaline and she managed to destroy four of the cogs before one of them grabbed her left arm. Ashley side-kicked it in the stomach and it let go, stumbling backwards and tripping. Ashley bounded off its stomach and did a flying kick into another cog. That was the last of them. They disappeared, leaving Ashley alone with the monster.

"You're the one who harmed my sister," Ashley growled, advancing slowly on the monster.

"You're well-informed. Good. You can use that information to the advantage of the Machine Empire," the monster said, laughing.

"I don't think so," came a voice from behind them. Ashley whirled and saw Adam standing there, backed up by the other rangers. The monster ran at Ashley, who still had her back turned. Using its momentum to her advantage, Ashley crouched low and when the monster was within grabbing distance, she did just that, grabbing the monster by the midsection and throwing it into the lake, where it disappeared.

"These monsters are no challenge," she muttered, dusting herself off. The rangers came running over to her.

"Ashley, are you OK?" Adam asked. Ashley nodded.

"Yeah, I'm fine. That was pretty easy," she replied, nonchalantly.

"Easy. We have trouble with the cogs, and she finds Mondo's monsters easy," Rocky muttered to himself. Just then, bolts of energy came lashing from the sky and the rangers and Ashley hit the dirt.

"What the...?" Ashley asked, getting to her knees.

"So, defeating me was easy, was it? Well, maybe if I had some more cogs, it would be more of a challenge for you," boomed a voice. The rangers and Ashley turned and saw that the monster had come out of the lake and was standing, dripping, on the path a few feet away. The cogs appeared, and they attacked. The rangers charged, but Adam held back, putting himself between Ashley and the cogs. He and Ashley stood back to back, beating the cogs back as they came as much as they could. However, one of the cogs managed to kick Adam backwards into Ashley, and the two went tumbling to the ground. They stood up, and they both fell into the waiting arms of the cogs, who grabbed Ashley and dragged her over to where the monster was standing.

"Adam!" she screamed. Adam tried to run over to Ashley, but he was grabbed by the cogs and held back. The other rangers saw what had happened and tried to get to Ashley, but the monster, the cogs and Ashley were gone before they got the chance.

"No!" Adam yelled, stumbling forwards as he was released abruptly. "Damn it!"

"We'll get her back, Adam, I promise," Jason said. Adam looked over at his friend through his helmet. Had Jason been able to see Adam's eyes, he would have been taken aback at the sorrow that lay in them.

"I hope you're right," Adam replied quietly.

The rangers materialized in the Power Chamber and found Chris waiting for them anxiously.

"Chris, we've got a slight problem," Jason began, taking off his helmet and approaching her.

"I know Jason, I saw the whole thing," Chris interrupted. "I think I can get Ashley back. Just give me a minute. Stay absolutely silent so I can concentrate, OK?" The rangers nodded, and for a full five minutes, they all barely breathed as Chris sat down cross-legged on the floor in the middle of the Power Chamber, closed her eyes and furrowed her brow. Suddenly, she gasped and arched her back, her head tilting backwards. Jason started towards her, concerned, but Tommy stopped her.

"We don't want to get in her way," he advised, upon seeing the concern in his friend's eyes. Jason stayed still, but his concern was mounting every minute. Finally, there was a flash of white light so bright it would have blinded everyone had they not been looking at Chris, who was once again surrounded by an erie black glow. The white light disappeared, and Ashley was laying on the floor on her back, her arms spread out at her sides. Chris went limp and collapsed on the ground, unconscious. Jason rushed over to her side and held her body in his arms. Adam did the same for Ashley.

"Billy, are they going to be OK?" Rocky asked anxiously. Billy ran a small scanner over the twin sisters.

"Yeah, they should recover just perfectly. We should probably get them someplace more comfortable, though," Billy advised.

"We'll take them back to their apartment," Adam said, looking over at Jason, who nodded. Ashley and Chris were lifted into Adam and Jason's arms, then teleported home.

Ashley was walking around in a brightly lit forest that looked strangely familiar to the one in Angel Grove park. She heard a noise behind her, and she turned, startled. Something rustled, and Ashley turned and fled. She kept running until she tripped over a protruding root that was almost impossible to see until you were right on top of it. Ashley cried out as she twisted her ankle and fell heavily on the soft dirt ground. She turned to face whoever or whatever had been chasing her. Instead of seeing a person, all she saw was a form surrounded in black. Ashley couldn't make out the features, but the figure seemed familiar.

Chris was in the middle of a clearing in a forest. Angel Grove park, she realized. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of something bright white. She turned, but the light moved so quickly she wasn't able to identify it. The light flashed on the other side of Chris, and she turned again. This kept on for 5 minutes, until Chris realized that the light was growing bigger each time. Not bigger, closer, she realized. Chris's heart started beating double time, and she fled from the clearing as fast as she could. The light followed her. Chris ran up against an impenetrable wall of trees and thorny bushes. Chris turned, hoping to have enough time to backtrack, but the light was too close. Chris froze, and the light came closer. Chris could vaguely make out a figure in the centre of the light, but no details on the face could be seen. Don't I know you? Chris thought. The light came closer...

Suddenly, Ashley was standing next to Chris in the middle of a huge chamber. Both sisters were standing in a bright white spotlight.

"Chris? Where are we? Why are we here?" Ashley asked.

"I...I don't know Lee. It seems familiar though," Chris replied.

"You are here because you need to remember everything that has happened to you in the past," a voice said, echoing off the unseen walls of the chamber, presuming it had any walls.

"Who are you?" Ashley demanded.

"That is not important right now. When it becomes important, then you shall know. Right now, all you need to know is that you are blessed with a power beyond your imagination," the voice replied.

"What kind of power?" Chris asked curiously.

"You, Christine, have the power to deplace people and objects. You must use these powers wisely, otherwise they will be removed from you and you will never get them back," the voice answered.

"What about me?" Ashley asked.

"You, Ashley, have the power to heal even the most serious wounds," the voice replied.

"That's it?" Ashley muttered.

"This is a great honour, Ashley. If you do not wish is bestowed upon you, I can find someone else who is capable to hold the power," the voice said.

"No. I want the power, thank you," Ashley replied quickly.

"I am glad to hear you say that. You both also have the power to read each other's minds," the voice told them.

"Cool," Chris murmured, grinning.

"Is there anything else we should know?" Ashley asked.

"Yes, there is much to explain, and very little time. I must ask that you listen closely," the voice told them. Ashley glanced over at Chris.

"We certainly will. Please, begin," Ashley replied.

"How long are they going to be out?" Adam asked anxiously, pacing beside Ashley's bed. Ashley lay, pale as the sheets that covered her, tiny beads of sweat breaking out on her forehead, and she moaned from time to time.

"I don't know, man, but if they don't recover soon, we'd better get them to a hospital," Jason replied. He was sitting in a chair beside Chris's bed, where she lay in the same condition as Ashley. Jason was holding her hand firmly, and occasionally he gently pushed her hair back from her face. He looked down at Chris's visage and felt a pain in his heart. Come on Chris, you've got to pull through, he thought. Just then, his communicator beeped, startling both him and Adam.

"Jason, we've got a big problem. Mondo sent his monster out of the abandoned section of Angel Grove in economy size. You guys have to meet us down there with your zords," Tommy reported.

"But what about Chris and Ashley?" Adam asked.

"Billy'll watch over them until we send this monster back to the dumpster. We'll meet you there," Tommy said, and he signed off before either Jason or Adam could reply. Jason stood and reluctantly let go of Chris's hand.

"It's morphin time!" he called.

"Zeo Ranger Four, Green!"
"Gold Ranger Power!"

Jason and Adam teleported to the industrial centre, where the others were already waiting for them.

"We need Zeo Zord power now!" Zeo Rangers One through Five called.

"I call on the power of Pyramidas!" Jason shouted. The six zords appeared from the holding bay, and they approached the monster.

"Let's trash this thing!" Tommy exclaimed.

"You think it'll be that easy?" the monster laughed. The rangers charged it, only to be repelled by a powerful force field. They tried firing on the monster, but their energy was directed back at them. They fell to the ground, neither zord able to get to its feet.

"We're in trouble," Adam murmured as the monster came and stood over them.

"I can't believe this!" Ashley exclaimed when the voice had finished explaining everything to the twins. Tell me about it! I mean, we can read each other's minds! Chris said to her sister mentally. Chris and Ashley broke up into laughter.

"I am glad that you are pleased with what you have inherited, but your friends need your help now," the voice told them. A part of the darkness disappeared, and the girls saw the Zeo zord and Pyramidas on the ground, helpless.

"What are we going to do? That monster is huge!" Chris exclaimed.

"Call upon the power of the Dark Zords. You will know what to do from there," the voice advised. Suddenly, the twins found themselves standing just outside of the battle between the rangers and the monster. Chris and Ashley looked at one another, then stood straight and looked straight ahead.

"Dark Ranger One, Black!" Chris shouted. Her arms moved away from her sides until they were at a 30 degree angle. Two bracelets, not too dissimilar to those that appeared on the wrists of the Zeo Rangers, appeared. Chris brought her left arm up and her right wrist, and the bracelet attached to it, touched her left wrist, and the bracelet attached to it. Black boots with white trim appeared on her feet, followed by a black form-fitting suit and completed by a black helmet.

"Dark Ranger Two, White!" Ashley shouted, mimicking the gesture her sister had preformed seconds earlier. White boots with black trim materialized on her feet. Her white body-hugging suit followed and her helmet appeared last, completing the ensemble.

"Sugeeguu," Chris breathed, which means Awesome in Japanese.

"You're right. I call on the power of the Black Dark Zord!" Chris called, throwing her hand up into the air. Seconds later, a gigantic black robot appeared. It looked much the same as Chris in costume, only in a bigger size.

"All right! I call forth the White Dark Zord!" Ashley shouted, throwing her own hand up into the air. Moments passed, then suddenly her own zord appeared. The twins teleported up into the cockpits of their zords and took the controls for the very first time.

"OK Ashley, we have about three seconds to get used to these things before we have to help the others," Chris said through the zord-to-zord intercom.

"I'm with ya Chris, lead on," came Ashley's voice. The two started forwards. "This is like second nature to me."

"You're dead on there. One hell of a shakedown cruise, eh?" Chris answered, grinning under her helmet.

"Well, I would have liked to take a run around the block," Ashley admitted.

"In these things, we can clear a block in one step," Chris reminded her sister as they came up to where the Zeo zords were laying on the ground and the monster was towering over them.

"Let's show this thing what we're made of," Ashley said, switching her left hand to a set of controls. Chris did the same in her zord. Good thing we're ambidextrous, she thought wryly. You're damn right, Ashley thought back. Chris was momentarily startled. Ashley laughed out loud in her cockpit.

"Gotcha," she crowed. Chris scowled.

"Just keep your mind on what's going on, OK?" she asked dryly. By now, the monster had seen the girls coming.

"Good, more little rangers to destroy!" it cackled.

"I don't see that happened any time soon and in case you haven't noticed, we're not so little anymore," Chris retorted.

"Who are they?" Tommy asked from the cockpit of the Zeo Megazord.

"I don't know, but I hope they do better than we did," Adam replied in awe. Chris charged the monster. It met her halfway. She kicked. It blocked. It kicked. She blocked. It punched. Chris went tumbling backwards, but Ashley stepped in before the monster could get Chris while she was down. Ashley went in punching, but she too soon landed on the ground beside Chris, who was only now getting her zord to its feet. The monster came and kicked Chris in the mechanical ribs and she went down hard again.

"I don't understand why nothing's working!" Ashley called frantically, trying to get her zord to respond. Suddenly, the sisters were back in the blackened room, standing in the same spotlights as before.

"Please, you've got to help us! We don't know what to do!" Chris exclaimed as soon as she realized where she was.

"Calm down, Christine. Your zord holds the power of a great sword. When you go back to battle, call upon the power of the Dark One Power Sword. You will know what to do from there," the voice replied.

"What about me?" Ashley demanded.

"Your zord, Ashley, is the keeper of the power staff. Go back into battle and call upon the power of the Dark Two Power Staff. Once you have these items, you will be able to defeat this evil," the voice answered and before the twins knew what had happened or had time to respond, they were back in their zords. The monster had turned its back to the Dark zords. Ashley and Chris got their zords to their feet.

"You're going down!" Chris shouted. The monster turned.

"You honestly think you can defeat me? I have already beaten your zords in battle once, and I would welcome the chance to do it again," it replied.

"Well that chance ain't coming. I call upon the power the Dark One Power Sword!" Chris yelled. There was a flash of lightening, and a sword descended from the sky and landed in the ground at Chris's feet. She wrapped the zord's right hand around the handle of the sword and picked it from the ground, testing its weight in her hand.

"Dark Two Power Staff, come forth!" Ashley cried. Another flash of lightening, and a long, metal staff came down from the sky and landed in Ashley's hand. It was made out of a silver metal, and was rounded at each end. It had grips in it where the hands of Ashley's zord were supposed to be. The two girls circled the monster. With her staff, Ashley shoved the monster away from the Zeo rangers so it wouldn't hurt them in fear. Then Chris put herself between the monster and the rangers.

"Are you guys OK down there?" she asked, not taking her eyes from the monster.

"Chris? Is that you?" Jason asked.

"Yeah Jason, it's me," Chris replied, smiling.

"You have no idea how glad we are to see you both," Adam said. Ashley blushed, catching the secret meaning in Adam's words.

"Glad we could help. Think you can still fight?" Chris asked, covering for her sister's lack of speech.

"Yeah, just give us a minute to get things back in order over here," Tommy answered.

"OK, we'll hold that thing off until you're ready," Chris told him.

"Thanks," was Tommy's reply.

"All right Ashley, you heard him. Let's keep this thing busy until the cavalry arrives," Chris said.

"I always thought I should have been born in the wild west era," Ashley joked. Chris laughed. She raised her sword and charged the monster. She managed to get a few good slashes in, but the monster stepped backwards and released a bolt of energy that sent Chris and her zord reeling. Ashley stepped in front of Chris's zord and brought up her staff. The monster had called for its own sword. The monster tried to bring it down on Ashley, but she brought up her staff and blocked it, then kicked the monster in the stomach, sending it stumbling backwards. It recovered, and let go with the same energy on her as it had with Chris. Suddenly, the sun was blocked out. Chris and Ashley looked up from the cockpits of their zords and saw the Zeo Ultrazord standing in front of them, blocking the monster. The girls brought their own zords to their feet.

"I was always shorter than everyone else in school, but this really takes the cake," Chris said softly, in awe, for her zord was a head and shoulders shorter than the Zeo Ultrazord, as was Ashley's.

"Now I know how you felt, Chris," Ashley replied, equally as taken aback as her sister.

The Zeo Ultrazord called on the Power Sword. The immense robot took the two swords in it's hands and brought them together. The swords joined together and formed one huge sword which slid through the monster like a hot knife through butter. The monster burst in flames and the Ultrazord seemed to pose for an unseen camera.

Ashley and Chris jumped out of their zords (which conveniently disappeared) and walked up to the other rangers.

"How did you get those powers?" asked Kat incredulously.

"Sugeeguu, aren't they?" asked Chris with a smile on her face. She looked at Jason and grinned but he was too busy admiring her splendid spandex uniform to care.

"Uh....Jason?" Tanya asked, waving her hand in front of Jason's eyes. "I think you should take off your helmet before you drown in drool." She laughed.

"Ha. Ha," said Jason sarcastically. He turned back to Chris.

"I don't know where these came from but aren't they cool?" said Chris.

"That's for sure," said Adam a goofy grin on his face. Ashley blushed.

"Why don't we go back to the Power Chamber and discuss this," Rocky commented suddenly. The others agreed and they all teleported there.

"So that's what the source of the energy was!" exclaimed Billy, rushing over to scan the twins. Ashley and Chris waited patiently for Billy to finish.

"They've got powers similar to ours. . . yours; powers that are a part of they're genes!" said Billy. "They were born with them."

"Really?" said Tommy thoughtfully.

"But how is that possible?" Kat asked.

"I think I'd have to do-"

"No wait, let me guess. More tests, right?" Chris interrupted. Billy turned to her and nodded regretfully.

"Yeah, I'm afraid so," he answered. Chris and Ashley groaned in unison.

"How long will it take before we know anything?" Adam asked, glancing at Ashley.

"I'm not sure exactly, but I wouldn't expect anything sooner than," Billy checked his watch. "Sooner than seven." Chris checked her own wrist.

"This is gonna take an hour?" she asked skeptically. It was already 6. Billy nodded. Wonderful, Chris thought to herself. Ashley glanced over at her sister. Remember, I can hear you, Ashley thought with a grin. Chris almost burst out laughing, but managed to contain it and it came out as a muffled cough. The others looked at her and she reddened.

"Hey, you guys wanna go play some volleyball while we wait? You know, to take our minds off of things," Rocky suggested.

"Yeah, OK. It's not like we have anything better to do," Adam replied.

"But isn't it kind of late? I mean, won't it get dark soon?" Chris asked.

"Nah. It won't get dark until around sevenish," Rocky replied. The group parted and agreed to join up at the beach in a half hour.

Ashley and Chris were looking through their things and Ashley sighed.

"What do you think the tests will say?" she asked worriedly. Ashley pulled out her white bikini that didn't leave much to the imagination. Chris had a similar black one (also small), which she had put on under her clothes.

"We're going to play volleyball. Right now there is nothing else worth thinking about," she replied.

"Easy for you to say," mumbled Ashley .

When the twins arrived at Ernie's beach club, the others had already gathered at a table. There wasn't enough room at the table so Chris plopped down in Jason's lap. He blushed.

"Nice to see you too Chris," said Tommy, smiling.

"Hello," she said casually. Ashley preferred not to draw attention to herself so she pulled up a chair.

"So are you guys going to order anything or are we going to play?" asked Jason, who had by now recovered from Chris' entrance.

"I'm fine, Ashley?"

"Great," replied Ashley, jumping up and rubbing her hands together eagerly. Man she's hyper sometimes, thought Adam.

The group got up and took position on a volleyball court on the sand down on the beach.

The teams consisted of: Jason, Chris, Tanya and Rocky on Team One and Adam, Ashley, Kat and Tommy on Team Two.

They started playing and Chris' team was ahead 20 to 15 when Kat had an idea.

"Hey guys. Why don't we go swimming?" The group agreed and they all dumped their clothing on the beach (They had their bathing suits on underneath their clothes).

Kat had on a pink and purple one-piece suit, Tanya had a Yellow two-piece sporty suit and the boys had various colour trunks. When Chris and Ashley dropped their clothing onto the sand, the boys stared.

"A little more material and they'd have a headband," grumbled Kat to Tanya, who then proceeded to walk over to Tommy and quietly reminded him that he was no longer single. He nodded an turned around before he went numb. Rocky, however, was another story. Adam was startled out of his daydream by his wrist communicator.

"Guys I have the results," Billy told them. The group ran behind a rock and teleported before realizing they hadn't put their clothes back on. When they materialized, Billy stood there, gaping.

"You guys look like a swim suit issue!" he exclaimed, shaking his head.

"Hey Billy. Quit staring and give us the results," Adam whispered in Billy's ear. Billy shook his head.

"Uh, right. Anyway, I found out that the powers Chris and Ashley possess weren't a part of them until fairly recently," Billy reported.

"But how did they get the powers?" Kat asked.

"Um, I think we can begin to explain that one, although not in any scientific terms," Chris said, stepping forwards. Ashley went and stood beside her. The others looked at them expectantly.

"See, remember how Chris and I blacked out for a while a few days ago?" Ashley began. The others nodded. "Well, while we were unconscious, Chris and I each had...well, I guess you could call it a vision."

"Right. We both started out alone in our visions, but eventually we were brought into the same place," Chris agreed.

"How?" Rocky asked. The twins looked at each other and shrugged.

"We don't really know how," Chris answered.

"What did you see in your visions?" Tommy asked.

"I don't know exactly what Chris saw, but I was in a forest when suddenly I heard a noise behind me. I started running, but tripped and fell," Ashley explained.

"With me, I was also in the middle of a forest, but in a clearing. I saw this bright, white light, and a figure was in the middle of the light. That was it until we ended up in this chamber that was all dark except we were standing in these really bright spotlights," Chris added.

"Then there was this voice that explained to each of us that we had different powers," Ashley put in.

"Were you told how you received the powers?" Jason asked.

"Not in so many words. I guess that whoever the keeper of our powers was until now was looking for a set of twin sisters who studied the martial arts and we just happened to get lucky," Chris replied.

"Not necessarily," Billy said. Everybody turned to look at him.

"What do you mean?" Chris asked.

"Well, remember how I said that you might have been born with the powers?" Ashley and Chris nodded. "Well, I don't think I was off by that much. Obviously, you would have had to have sort of powers to emit such strong energy even before you were given the full extent of your powers when you were unconscious."

"Uh huh. Obviously," Rocky muttered sarcastically. Chris smiled briefly and glanced at him from the corner of her eye before focusing on Billy again.

"So what are you saying exactly?" she asked. Billy started to speak, but Chris held up a hand. "Shall we take bets on if he's going to say that we need more tests or not?" Ashley laughed. Chris lowered her hand.

"You took the words right out of my mouth," he confessed. Ashley growled.

"It's a good thing we're such patient people," Chris muttered. You, patient? That's a laugh, Ashley thought to her sister, who glared back at Ashley.

"Shut up and let the man do his job," she said aloud.

"Huh?" said Tommy.

"That's another thing we forgot to tell you about," said Ashley.

"We can talk telepathically," finished Chris. Thank you motor mouth, thought Ashley.

"Shut up!" yelled Chris, getting annoyed. Save me Adam! thought Ashley, grinning. Chris burst out laughing. The rangers looked confused.

"Would you stop with the mental stuff?!" said Jason.

"We're perfectly healthy thank you," Chris joked. Jason scowled. "What's wrong?" asked Chris, throwing her arms around his neck. He reddened.

"Sorry, I just don't like not being able to hear what you're saying."

"Oh."

"Look, it's getting late. Shouldn't we do these tests another time?" Ashley asked.

"That might be a good idea. Tomorrow after school all right with you?" Billy asked, looking at the twins. Chris and Ashley exchanged glances. We may as well get this over with, Ashley thought. OK, fine, but if any of these tests involve injections, I think I'm better of not knowing, Chris replied.

"We'll see you guys tomorrow, first period," Chris said.

"That's if we don't get our molecules scrambled when Chris teleports us," Ashley grumbled. Just then, Chris disappeared, leaving Ashley alone with the other rangers in the Power Chamber. I was only joking! Ashley cried mentally. Suddenly, she disappeared as well. The other rangers and Billy exchanged glances.

"I'm not getting used to THAT any time soon," Rocky muttered.

The next morning, during second period, Chris was running around the track when suddenly, she felt dizzy. She stopped running and started to walk. Ashley came up beside her and matched Chris's pace.

"You OK?" Ashley asked.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Guess I didn't get much sleep last night," Chris replied.

"I don't blame you, neither did I. This is all so weird, don't you think?" Ashley asked.

"I'll say. I mean, I can move things and people and time and stuff and you're never going to get hurt again. Man, I bet there's a scientist out there somewhere who would love to get his hands on us."

"You can say that again." Just then, their gym teacher blew her whistle and the girls jogged over to her.

After lunch, Chris had Drafting with Jason. She had almost finished her wooden carving, having received special permission to finish it when the bell rang, signaling the end of the period. "Guess I'll have to finish this after school," she thought as she wrapped up the carving and stuck it in her bag.

She went over and explained her situation to her teacher, who told her that she could come in after school as long as there was somebody else who would accompany her. Chris looked around and spotted Jason. Quickly, she went over and asked him if he'd come in with her. He agreed and they left together.

After school, Chris went by and waited for Jason at his locker. He dumped his things into his locker and they went to the Drafting room.

Chris dug out her carving and set it down by the band saw. Jason walked over and picked it up gingerly. It has to be a coincidence, he thought as he set the tyrannosaurus carving back down. He went over and sat down at a table. Chris came back over, safety goggles in hand. She put them over her face and went over to the band saw.

With her knee, Chris turned the machine on and the whirring filled the room. Carefully, Chris edged her carving towards the vibrating blade. Just as she was taking off a particularly rough corner, Chris felt a wave of dizziness similar to the one she had experienced during Gym class. Then her fingers started to go numb. The numbness crept up her arms and Chris lost control of the carving. The saw blade went right through the T-rex carving and it sliced part of Chris's arm. Before the pain registered in Chris's brain, she brought her knee up and turned off the saw before it could go right through the bone of her arm.

Dark red blood had already started collecting in a small puddle at Chris's feet. Jason had jumped up as soon as he had seen the carving get sliced in half. He was Chris's side in a second. Chris clutched her right arm and screamed as the pain finally registered. Jason looked around frantically, searching for something that would stop the flow of the blood coming from Chris's arm. Desperately, he ripped off the sleeve on his black long-sleeved shirt and wrapped it around the wound. It became soaked in blood within seconds. She must have hit an artery, he thought, eyes growing wide.

"You're gonna be OK Chris. I'm going to take you to the nurse's office and call an ambulance," Jason told her.

"Get...Ashley," Chris said through gritted teeth.

"Can't you call her in your mind?" Jason asked. The idea hadn't occurred to Chris, but now she tried. Ashley, I've got a bit of a problem here. Get down to room 131 NOW! Chris thought desperately. She felt herself growing weak from the loss of blood, and her knees gave out of her.

Chris was dimly aware of Jason catching her before she could hit the cold, concrete floor. Jason lowered Chris gently to the floor and held her upper body in his arms, not caring about the blood that was soaking every part of his body. Carefully, he lifted Chris's arm to that the wound was above her heart level. That should at least slow down the flow of the blood, he thought, hoping against hope that whoever was watching from above would see to it that Chris came through all of this OK.

Ashley had been talking with Adam at her locker when she suddenly felt something cold rip through her body, a mixture of pain an fear that was almost overwhelming. She heard Chris calling her name, and Ashley knew that something was horribly wrong. Ashley whirled, slammed her locker shut and started sprinting down the hallway with Adam behind her. Ashley almost ran into the double doors at the end of the hallway, opening them just enough to get through. She burst into the Drafting room only to see Jason and Chris sitting in a pool of blood that has growing by the minute as Chris' arm continued to bleed profusely. Jason's blue jeans had turned deep red and his shirt was gone; wrapped around Chris' arm.

Ashley rushed to her sister's side, kneeled down, ignoring the blood that soaked into her jeans and grabbed Chris's arm. She held on and closed her eyes, she concentrated as hard as she could and slowly the bleeding stopped and Chris's wound began to heal. Chris, who had been unconscious, opened her eyes and looked at Ashley.

"Damn it, Lee, no...." she whispered weakly. Ashley gave her one final look, then her eyes rolled back into her head and she collapsed in the pool of blood, unconscious. The dark red liquid soaked into her sandy blond hair, turning it a deep red.

"We've got to get her to the hospital," whispered Chris, horrified. Adam lifted Ashley into his arms and started running down the hallway to the nurse's office. Chris and Jason ran ahead and reached the nurse before Adam did. They burst into the room and Chris dove for the phone and dialed. She explained the situation to the dispatcher, who said he'd send an ambulance right away. Chris thanked him, then hung up. Adam arrived just then, carrying Ashley, who had turned extremely pale. The four of them went outside and waited for the ambulance, which arrived minutes later.

"How are we going to explain all of the blood?" Chris whispered to Jason and Adam as the three watched Ashley be loaded into the ambulance. The two guys shook their heads. Chris went over and got into the back of the ambulance. Jason and Adam ran for the student parking lot and got into Jason's van and followed the ambulance all the way to the hospital.

Inside the ambulance, Chris clutched Ashley's hand and desperately tried to contact her sister telepathically. Come on Ashley, say something, Chris pleaded, tears springing to her eyes. Ashley's mind and mouth remained silent while she turned deathly pale and her skin started to chill.

The ambulance stopped and Chris jumped from the back of it so she wouldn't be in the way of the paramedics, who rushed Ashley into the emergency room. Chris was forced to go to the waiting room to do just that, wait. Jason and Adam came through the doors a moment later, both wearing concerned looks on their faces.

"Chris, is Ashley going to be OK?" Adam asked anxiously, going over to the lone twin. Chris shook her head.

"I don't know. Nobody knows," she managed to choke out. Jason sat down beside her and put an arm around her shoulders. Chris leaned against him and started to cry, her whole body shaking as she was racked with sobs. Adam sat down on the other side of Chris and held his head in his hands. He didn't say anything, but stayed lost in thought.

"We should probably go get cleaned up," Jason said suddenly. Chris looked down at her hands and clothing and realized that he was right. The three of them were covered from head to toe in blood and Jason wasn't even wearing a shirt. The trio stood up and headed for the nearest restrooms.

They washed as much of Chris's blood off of their clothing, hair and skin as they could, then reconveined in the waiting room. There, they waited until a doctor came and asked for them. The three of them went over to the doctor, who had a clipboard with some sheets of paper in his hands.

"My sister...is she going to be all right?" Chris asked anxiously. The doctor hesitated before answering.

"I wish I didn't have to tell you this, but Ashley's fallen into a coma," he said. Chris's hands flew up to her mouth, and she fainted. Jason caught her and carried over to an empty bed in the hallway and gently laid her down. The doctor checked Chris's pulse to confirm that she had indeed only fainted.

"Doctor, is Ashley going to come out of the coma any time soon?" Adam asked.

"It's too soon to tell anything of that sort right now," the doctor replied.

"What do you know?" Jason pressed.

"We know that Ashley's vital signs are fluctuating right now, but they're staying inside healthy parameters. She hasn't suffered any brain or other organ damage and there appears to be no sign of any external injuries. I'd sure like to know what put her into this coma," the doctor admitted. Jason and Adam exchanged glances.

"Thank you," Jason said. The doctor nodded.

"I'm really sorry about your friend," he said before he walked back the way he had come.

"I don't believe this," Adam murmured. Chris groaned softly and her eyelids fluttered open.

"Chris, are you OK?" Jason asked. Chris nodded and sat upright.

"Yeah, I think so. How's Ashley?" she replied.

"The doctor said she hasn't suffered any brain or internal and external damage, but he said that her vital signs were fluctuating," Jason told her. Chris gasped. "But the doctor also said that her vital signs were within normal parameters, so it's nothing to be overly concerned about.

"Nothing to be overly concerned about? Hello! My twin sister, my only sibling, is laying in a hospital bed in a coma!" Chris shouted. Other people had turned to look at her, but she didn't care.

"Chris, calm down," Jason said quietly. Chris looked at him, then did as she had been told and stopped speaking. Jason and Adam helped her down from the hospital bed.

"Can I see her?" Chris asked dully, her voice void of any emotion whatsoever.

"The doctor didn't say. It would probably be a good idea for you to wait," Adam told her gently.

"Could you take me home, then please?" Chris asked.

"Sure Chris. I'm going to drop Adam off at his place first, though," Jason said.

"OK," Chris replied simply. She started walking ahead of them towards the parking lot. Jason and Adam walked behind her, talking quietly.

"Do you think we should leave her alone all night?" Adam asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Jason looked from Chris, to Adam and back again.

"No. She might try something. I'll call Tanya and explain everything to her. I'm sure she'd be willing to stay at Chris's place tonight," he answered.

"Good idea."

Out in the parking lot, Chris got into the back seat of Jason's van while Adam got into the front passanger seat and Jason got in the driver's seat. The engine came to life as Jason turned the key and he turned out of the parking lot. Chris glanced back at the hospital only once as they left it behind for the day. She tried one more time to reach Ashley, but there was no response.

Jason stopped in front of Adam's house and turned in his seat.

"Chris?" he said gently. Chris, who had been lost in her own thoughts, turned and focused on Jason.

"Um hum?" she asked.

"Would you mind if Adam called Tanya and asked her to stay with you at your apartment tonight?" Jason asked.

"Why?" Chris inquired.

"We just don't think it'd be a good idea for you to be alone tonight. At least if Tanya was with you, you'd have someone to talk to, if you wanted," Adam answered. Chris thought for a moment, then shrugged her shoulders.

"Sure. She can sleep in my bed, if she wants," she said.

"Your bed?" Adam asked, confused.

"Yeah. I think I'm going to sleep in Ashley's bed tonight. You know, so I can feel closer to her," Chris explained.

"Don't worry, Chris. She's going to be OK," Adam assured Chris as he got out of the van. Chris nodded.

"I know. Thanks Adam," she replied. Adam shut the door and started up the front walk to his house.

Jason drove over to Tanya's house next and found her already waiting for them to come. When she saw the van, she stood up from the porch steps and walked down to the vehicle, carrying two duffel bags with her. Jason got out and took her bags from her and put them in the van.

"Hi Chris," Tanya said softly, getting into the van where Adam had been sitting a few minutes earlier.

"Hi Tanya," Chris answered. Jason got back into the driver's seat and started driving towards Chris's apartment complex.

When they got there, Jason parked the van and helped Tanya with her bags. The three rode an elevator in silence up to Chris's floor. Chris dug out her key from her pocket and unlocked the door on her apartment. The door swung open with a quiet whoosh and she went in, followed by Tanya and Jason, who closed the door behind him.

"You can put your bags in the bedroom. Last door on the right," Chris said to Tanya, who said nothing but went and put her bags down, then came back. Jason cleared his throat.

"I should probably get going. Chris, I'm really sorry about. . . what's happened. I'll swing by tomorrow and see how you're doing, OK?" he said.

"OK Jason. I'll call the hospital later and see how Ashley's doing. If I can go visit her tomorrow, would you drive me back to the hospital?"

"Of course," Jason told her. A ghost of a smile appeared on Chris's face.

"Thanks. For everything," she said to him. He smiled at her, then left. Chris turned and went into the living room.

"Make yourself at home, Tanya. My humble chateau," Chris joked weakly, sitting down on the chair facing the window. She heard Tanya take off her shoes and place them on the mat, then come and sit on the couch near Chris.

"Chris?" Tanya asked after a moment.

"Yeah?"

"Um, if you don't want to tell me, it's OK, but how did all of this happen?"

"See, I've got this carving that I had started at my old school up in Toronto. I needed to use the band saw in Drafting today, but I ran out of time, so I went after school with Jason.

"This morning in gym, I felt kind of dizzy when I was running the track, but I thought it was just exhaustion from all of the recent events.

"When I was using the band saw on my carving, I felt dizzy again. Before I had the chance to turn off the machine, I had sliced clean through the middle of my T-rex and, since my arms were going numb, I lost control and sliced up part of my arm," Chris began. She heard Tanya inhale sharply at the last part.

"But there's not a scratch on you now," Tanya said, confused.

"I managed to turn off the machine before I had totally severed off my arm and I called Ashley mentally. She came and healed me, but it cost her. I tried to tell her not to, but she wouldn't listen to me, and now-" Chris broke off as everything hit her like an avalance. She brought her knees up close to her chest, rested her arms on her knees and buried her face in her arms, sobbing uncontrollably. She was dimly aware of Tanya getting up off the couch and coming over to kneel beside her. Tanya grabbed a box of kleenex from the table beside the couch and handed it to Chris, who took a handful gratefully and wiped at her eyes, but she kept on crying so it didn't help any.

When Chris finally managed to control her emotions, Tanya was still kneeling beside her, wearing a concerned look on her face. Chris took another kleenex and wiped her face dry.

"I'm sorry, I don't usually lose it like that," Chris apologized.

"You shouldn't be apologising, Chris. What happened wasn't your fault, and feeling worried is normal," Tanya replied. Chris almost smiled again.

"Thanks for coming to stay here with me tonight. The truth is, I was really scared about being alone. I'm glad I don't have to be," she said.

"Chris, trust me when I say this. Now that you've met us, you'll never be alone again," Tanya assured her. Suddenly, Chris's stomach rumbled. The two laughed.

"Hmm...I wonder if we have anything decent around?" Chris asked, getting up from her chair and wandering into the kitchen. She opened the fridge and peered inside. "You feel like ordering out?"

"It doesn't matter to me," Tanya called back. Chris shut the fridge and went over to the phone.

"What do you feel like?" she asked, placing a hand on the reciever. Tanya shrugged.

"I don't know. . . ribs work for you?" she asked.

"Right about now, I'd eat bascially anything," Chris replied. She picked up the phone and, after fishing the phone number out of the table drawer, dialed and ordered. Chris hung up the phone. "Half an hour until dinner is served."

"What do you feel like doing until then?" Tanya asked. Now it was Chris's turn to shrug.

"Beats me. T.V.?" she replied.

"Sure, there has to be something good on. I mean, it's a Friday night," Tanya agreed. Chris looked around for the remote, but couldn't find it. Her brow furrowed as she thought about where she might have left it.

"Under the couch cushions?" Tanya suggested. They checked.

"Well, I found a buck fifty in change, but no remote," Chris reported.

"Beats my nail scissors," Tanya replied, holding upa pair of shiny, silver scissors.

"Hey, I was looking for those last week. I thought Ashley had hidden them on me or something," Chris commented. She almost burst into tears again, but took deep, calming breaths and controlled herself. Suddenly, she snapped her fingers. "I know where it is!"

Chris hurried from the room down towards the bedroom and reappeared a moment later, holding out the remote for the T.V. "I was carrying it around with me this morning and I must have put it on my table to get dressed." Chris flicked hit the power button and the little black box flickered to life. Tanya flicked through the channels while Chris searched through the T.V. guide. She sighed and threw down the magazine.

"Problem?" Tanya asked.

"It's official. There is absolutely nothing on until late night starts," Chris proclaimed. Just then, the buzzer sounded and both girls jumped. Chris went out into the small hallway and pressed the receive button. Tanya heard Chris and someone else exchange words, then Chris came back a moment later.

"Tell me that was the delivery guy," Tanya asked.

"It was him," Chris told her.

"Come on, let's go down and pick it up before I faint from starvation," Tanya said. As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she regretted them. "Oh Chris, I'm sorry."

"Don't worry Tanya. I was going to say the same thing," Chris replied. Chris picked up her wallet, but Tanya stopped her.

"I'll get it," she said.

"Tanya, you don't need to do this for me," Chris told her.

"I know, but I want to," Tanya assured her. Chris shrugged.

"OK. It's your twenty," she said. The two went downstairs and found the delivery guy waiting for them.

"Don't they come to your door here?" Tanya whispered to Chris as they crossed the lobby.

"I sorta forgot to give them the apartment number," Chris replied sheepishly. The girls took the food, paid the delivery guy and went back up to Chris's apartment.

The two ate in relative silence, only talking to ask for napkins and condiments. After they were finished, they washed their hands and cleaned up. Chris yawned.

"I'll finish up here," Tanya offered. "You should get come sleep."

"Maybe you're right. Today has been a bit hectic," Chris admitted. She put down the plate she had been loading into the dishwasher and went into the bedroom. She changed, brushed her teeth and crawled into bed. Almost instantly, she fell asleep.

"Chris," whispered a familiar voice. Chris groaned and opened her eyes.

"What?" she asked groggily. Chris gasped as she saw a familiar figure surrounded by a white aura. "Ashley?"

"Yes Chris, it's me," the figure replied, moving towards Chris's bed. Chris sat bold upright.

"No. . . you can't be Ashley. She's in a coma, at the hospital," she stuttered. The figure in the white glow that claimed be Chris's sister kept coming closer to Chris. Chris jumped out of the bed and landed with a thud on the floor.

"Chris, you've got to believe me. It's Ashley, your twin sister," the figured replied. Chris shook her head in disbelief.

"You're lying. You're not my sister. Who are you?" she demanded.

"Chris, would you stop being a skeptic already?" the figure demanded, hands on hips. "I'm your sister, votre soeur. Now would you stop and listen for a second?"

"Ashley. . . but how can that be?" Chris asked. The figure sighed in exasperation.

"Stop looking for a reason, Chris! You've always said that you had an open mind, now use it!"

"OK, for argument's sake, let's say that you are my sister and that you really aren't in the hospital, you're in our bedroom, brought here by some unknown force. Why?"

"To let you know that you shouldn't be worrying about me; I'm going to be just fine."

"Really?"

"Really."

"So what you're saying is that Ashley has created a mental projection?" asked Billy as Chris and Tanya rushed into the command center.

"Yeah, I guess so," replied Chris uncertainly.

"This is wonderful!" said Billy tapping madly on a control panel.

"My sister's in a coma and he's acting like a kid with candy!" Chris shook her head and sat down on the floor. The other rangers were standing around in their pajamas because they hadn't had time to change. Jason looks gorgeous in that pair of boxer shorts! thought Chris.

"Hey guys! What's up?" called Ashley, who was sitting in front of Billy (on top of the control panel). Every person in the Power Chamber jumped, including Alpha.

"Thanks Billy. It's hard to convey a message when nobody can see you," she said, smiling happily.

"Billy what did you do?" asked Chris.

"Well I adjusted the mo-"

"In plain English, please."

"I lit her up and gave her a microphone. More or less."

Adam walked up to Ashley's form and tried to touch her hand but his hands passed right through her.

"This'll take some getting used to," mumbled Kat.

"We won't need to get used to it. You're coming back right now," said Chris firmly.

"It's not that simple. My body has to heal first. Oh yeah and could you please get rid of the perverted nurse who keeps sticking his head into my room. He sits here and tells me his problems and it's really starting to get on my nerves," complained Ashley.

"So you're still in your body?" asked Rocky curiously.

"Yup. My mind's just kinda going on a field trip while my body is in the penalty box," replied Ashley cheerfully. "Where to first?" she asked.

"This is weird," declaired Tommy.

"It's three in the morning I don't think we should go anywhere right now," said Jason with a yawn.

"You're right. Let's go home," said Billy. They all left and Ashley shook her head.

"Wimps," she muttered. I heard that, came Chris's voice in Ashley's mind. Ashley almost jumped out of her aura.

The next day, which was Saturday, Chris and Tanya slept late. When Chris awoke, she found that it was already after noon. With a yawn, Chris crawled out of bed and into the shower. The sound of the running water woke Tanya up. Tanya padded into the living room and fell onto the couch, still clad in only her yellow boxer shorts and matching top.

Chris emerged from the shower about 20 minutes later with a towel tied around her wet hair.

"Morning," she said cheerily. Tanya groaned.

"Isn't it illegal to be that perky at this hour?" she asked with a yawn.

"'At this hour'?" Chris laughed. "Tanya, it's quarter past twelve."

"What's your point?" Tanya replied, a grin appearing on her face. Chris laughed again and went into the kitchen.

"You want anything?" she called.

"Coffee?" Tanya called back.

"That's do-able." Tanya heard Chris moving around in the kitchen and five minutes later, there was a summons from the kitchen. Tanya got up of the couch and went and sat at the table.

"Milk or sugar?" Chris asked.

"Both, please," Tanya replied. Chris grinned.

"All righty then," she said, doing her flawless Jim Carey impression. Tanya chuckled and shook her head.

"I guess Ashley's appearance last night didn't bother you that much," she commented as Chris set a mug down in front of her. Chris had a mug of her own and sat across from Tanya.

"Not really. I mean, sure it was a shock last night, but after the intial fear, concern and other emotions that come from having your sister, who's supposedly in a coma, come visit you, I was OK," Chris replied.

"You want to go do anything today?" Tanya asked.

"Well, I want to go visit Ashley in the hospital and see if I can bring her out of her coma. Then I think I'm going to go out to Angel Grove Bluffs and think," Chris replied.

"Do you want us to come with you to the hospital?"

"It might be a good idea, just in case something happens, but I want to go to the Bluffs by myself."

"That's OK, I understand. I'm sure that the others will too."

"I didn't doubt it." Chris stood up and put her empty mug in the sink. "I'm going to go get dressed and make myself look presentable. If you want the bathroom, feel free."

"I just might take you up on that offer," Tanya said, standing and mirroring Chris's actions.

Later on that day, Tanya, Chris and the others had all piled into Jason's van and Adam's car and they all drove up to the hospital. When they got there, they all boarded an elevator and went up to Ashley's room. Before going in, Chris took a deep breath to steady herself. Then she pushed the door open and entered with the others close behind her. Ashley was laying in her bed in a hospital nightgown, covered only by a thin blue blanket. She had tubes going in and out of her arms and nose, for oxygen and other substances. The room was brightly lit by the window, where the drapes had been pulled away so that if Ashley had been awake, she would have had an unobstructed view of Angel Grove's commercial district. Chris went and stood beside her sister's bed and clutched Ashley's hand in her own. Ashley? Chris thought. She didn't get an answer. Chris stared down at Ashley's face and tried again. Ashley, it's Chris. Please, let me in. I want to help you. Without Chris being aware of it, the world around her darkened until everything was pitch black except a small circle of light that encompassed herself and Ashley in her bed. Suddenly, Ashley's eyes opened and she looked up at her sister.

"Chris?" she asked groggily, squinting at the bright light. Chris didn't quite manage to hold back a sob of relief at the sound of Ashley's voice.

"Ashley, you're back!" she exclaimed happily, tears springing uncontrollably to her eyes.

"I never really left," Ashley said.

"What happened to you? Why did you collapse after you healed me?" Chris asked anxiously.

"I guess that my powers are only just developping 'cause after I healed you, I was completely drained," Ashley replied.

"Well, I'm glad you're back to normal now," Chris commented, smiling even as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I'll never be normal, you know that," Ashley kidded. Chris laughed and Ashley joined her weakly.

"You know what I mean," Chris told her sister.

"I do," Ashley relied, sobering. "But you were wrong; I'm not back to normal yet." Chris looked down at Ashley, confused.

"What do you mean? You're awake, aren't you?" she asked, growing concerned.

"Only in my mind. My body still needs time to heal and right now, my body's needs are more powerful that those of my mind," Ashley explained.

"What are you saying?" Chris asked, dreading the answer.

"I'm saying that I'm not really awake, Chris. The only reason you can communicate with me is because we're telepathically linked. The others only saw me last night because I used up all of the energy I had gained from my little sleep to visit you all and let you know I was going to be all right in the end."

"So when are you going to wake up?" Chris asked. Ashley shook her head sadly.

"I don't know," she replied. Suddenly, Ashley's frame started to go blurry around the edges, and the colour started to drain away.

"What's...what's happening?" Chris cried, desperately clutching Ashley's hand, not wanting to let go, not yet.

"I'm too tired. I've got to go rest now," Ashley replied. Her body blurred even more, and the colour was almost gone from under the spotlight that shone on the twins.

"No, don't leave me, not yet!" Chris pleaded, but it was in vain. Her sister was gone, back into the deep sleep she had taken herself down into.

"Chris?" Jason asked uncertainley. Chris didn't reply out loud, but her lips were moving in a silent speech.

"What's going on?" Tommy wondered. Jason moved closer to Chris and laid a hand on her arm, but Chris didn't seem to notice. Chris was gripping her sister's unmoving hand tightly, so tightly that her knuckles were turning pale.

"Chris?" Jason said again, a little more forcefully. Tanya moved over to Chris's other side and took a look in Chris's eyes.

"Guys, she's crying," Tanya whispered as she and the others watched small, salty droplets of water trickle down Chris face and splatter silently on the cold tile of the hospital room.

"Do you think she made a telepathic link with Ashley?" Adam asked, speaking quietly as though saying anything over a whisper would disturb the sisters. In truth, the fire alarm could have gone off and Chris would have stayed linked with Ashley.

"Maybe we should try to break them apart," Kat suggested.

"If we do that, there's no telling what might happen to either of them. Chris might fall into a coma smiliar to Ashley's...or worse," Tommy argued. So the six rangers stood there and watched silently as Chris's lips moved but no sound came out.

A few minutes later, Chris's body heaved a huge shudder and she let go of Ashley's hand, which fell limply to the bedspread. Chris stumbled backwards, but Jason caught her and kept her from tripping completely and falling.

"Chris, what happened?" he asked, helping her over to a chair on the opposite side of the room.

"It's Ashley...her mind's...her thoughts are in there," Chris stuttered.

"What's she talking about?" Rocky whispered. The others ignored his comment and stayed focussed on Chris.

"Ashley's mind is intact, but she told me that her body still needs time to heal itself, which is why she isn't awake yet," Chris elaborated.

"Is she going to come out of it anytime soon?" Adam asked, somewhat anxiously.

"Ashley doesn't know. It's probably not going to be for a while, though. She said that it was pretty exhausting, healing me and all," Chris replied.

"Which means that she could be in that coma for weeks," Tommy commented.

"Or longer," Chris whispered, dropping her eyes to the floor.

"Don't worry, Chris. I'm sure that, if Ashley has anything to do about it, she'll be up and walking again before we know it," Kat assured her.

"And until that happens, we'll be here to help you," Tanya added.

This is so incredible, Chris thought as the others stood around her, offering words of consolment. I've never had friends like this before.

"Thanks guys. I appreciate everything you've already done for me," Chris said.

"You don't need to thank us, Chris. We're your friends, and we'd do anything to help you and your sister out," Tommy replied. He glanced over his shoulder at the bed, where Ashley was laying. "Maybe we'd better go. If Ashley can hear us, it might make her want to contact us again and she'll lose the energy she's already gained."

"Yeah, OK," Chris answered, standing up. They all filed out of the room, Chris last of all. She took a long look at her sister before exiting the room, closing the door behind her.

After visiting the hospital, Jason droped the others off at their homes, then drove Chris out to the bluffs. He turned the key and the engine fell silent. Chris got out without a word and walked over to the rock barrier that kept the small cliff from eroding into the ocean. In the back of her mind, Chris heard the driver's side door shut as Jason got out of the van and came to stand beside her, but she didn't show any sign of a reaction. She simply stared out at the vast ocean, barely moving. The breeze blew her hair around, but Chris made no move to rearrange it.

"I wish none of this had ever happened," she whispered, not actually speaking to Jason, but to the water. "I wish that we had never discovered these stupid powers. They've been nothing trouble since we started using them."

"You know that's not true, Chris. Think of all the people you've helped save from Mondo's monsters. Think about the fact that you and Ashley saved the legendary Power Rangers when they couldn't even help themselves," Jason countered gently.

"That's true, but now my sister is in a coma because of the powers. And what if she doesn't come out of it? What if she dies, all because she used her powers to save me from the problems that my powers caused me?" Chris retorted.

"It's not gonna happen, Chris. Ashley's going to recover and she'll be fine...all because of her powers," Jason told her. Chris looked over at him, and there were tears rolling down her face.

"How do you know?" she demanded.

"Well, I don't" Jason admitted. "But you talked to her, didn't you?" Chris nodded. "And didn't she tell you that she was going to be OK?" Chris nodded again.

"Yeah, she did," she replied. "I just hope that she was right." Suddenly, the cool wind sent a shiver through Chris, who was dressed only in jeans and a black tank top, which provided little cover from the elements. Chris turned back out and stared at the water, which was reflecting the pink and orange sun set. Suddenly, Chris felt something drape across her shoudlers. She looked over and saw that Jason had moved closer and put his arm around her shoulders.

"Thanks," she murmured, not wanting to speak too loudly in case Jason would take it as a sign that she wanted him to take his arm back, which she didn't. He didn't reply.

The two stood there until the sun had set and darkness had fallen. They broke apart without a word and climbed back into the van, which had a room temperature that was about the same and the outside, which was about 10 degrees celscius. They sat there in the chilly air until the heater on Jason's van kicked in and started bringing warmth.

"You want to go home, I guess," Jason said.

"Yeah, kinda," Chris replied. "But if you want to go home right away, I can walk or something."

"Don't be ridiculous. I can't let you walk home. Angel Grove might be safe from monsters, but there are still some crazy people out there," Jason argued.

"Thanks Jason, I really appreciate it. To be honest, I wasn't relishing walking home alone in the dark...call it an irrational fear, but I've never liked going out after dark by myself," Chris admitted.

"That's not irrational, that's a sound idea," Jason told her.

"Thanks," Chris replied, smiling slightly. Jason returned her smile, then put the van in reverse and backed away from the bluffs. He then drove Chris all the way to her apartment and pulled up into the circular driveway out front. He put the van in neutral. Chris undid her seatbelt and looked over at Jason.

"Do you want some company for a while?" he asked.

"No, I think I'll be OK. Thanks for offering, though. I guess I'll see you tomorrow at school," Chris replied.

"Well, OK. Hey, are you going to go to the youth center tomorrow morning to practise?" Jason asked.

"I don't know. I don't want to go by myself," Cheis said doubtfully, hoping that the subtle hint she had droped would be picked up. Fortunately, it was.

"Well, I'll be there with Adam, so if you want to join us..." Jason trailed off. Chris smiled again.

"Thanks, Jason. I'll be there," she promised. Then Chris got out of the van, shut the door behind her and went into her building. Jason waiting until she was inside before shifting gears and driving away.

When Chris got up to her apartment, she locked the door once she was inside. Then she went immediately to bed, feeling incredibly drained of all her energy.

The next day, Sunday, Chris slept late and when she finally did wake up, she showered, dried her hair and went over to the nearest mall. She bought a few books, a newspaper and then headed home for a quiet day of reflection and thinking.

The next morning, when Chris woke up and looked at her clock, she saw that it was already 5 minutes to 6.

"Oh damn," Chris muttered. She jumped out of bed and raced into the shower. She proceeded to take the shortest, coldest shower in the history of mankind, stuffed a towel and water bottle in her duffel bag, put on her gi and raced out of her apartment, remembering halfway down the hall to lock the door. Then she got in the elevator, which took her to the ground floor. Chris ran out of the building, and some of the other tenants stared after her. Chris sprinted all the way to the youth center, and made it there by quarter after. She went over to the benches closest to where Adam and Jason were sparring and collapsed. They came over to her, concerned.

"Chris, are you OK?" Jason asked.

"Just fine," Chris got out between breaths. "But I ran all the way from my building."

"But that has to be about 4 miles from here," Adam said.

"Seems like forty when you're late," Chris replied.

"You know, you didn't have to come," Jason told her.

"What, and miss stretching until my muscles feel like they're going to rip? And miss falling onto those mats and bruising myself to no end? Never!" Chris exclaimed, grinning. The others chuckled.

"Why don't you go out and stretch, then we'll go through what we practised last time," Jason suggested. Chris groaned, but the grin was still in place.

"Does he ever show any mercy?" she asked Adam, who grinned back wearily.

"Nope," he replied.

"Hey, you're the one who told me not to hold back," Jason retorted, also grinning.

Chris chose that moment to make her exit as the two friends continued arguing. She went out onto the mats and started stretching.

A few minutes later, Jason came over to her. Chris stood up and the two moved tto the edge of the mats. Jason went through the kata he had begun to teach Chris last week, before all of this had ever happened. This time, Chris actually managed to get through the first little bit before she fouled up and they started over again. Adam hadn't taken this opportunity to slack off; he was lying on his back, bench pressing his weight in iron.

When Chris looked at her watch between moves, she noticed that it was getting on in the morning.

"We should break this up and get ready for school," she commented. Jason looked up at the clock over the doorway in the youth center.

"You're right," he agreed. He called Adam over, who set down the weights nd came over to the pair. Then they split up and went their separate ways. This time, Chris didn't run the whole way home. She walked, lost in thought. I wonder what I'm going to tell Mrs. Appleby if she asks why Ashley's not in school? Chris thought, going up into hr building. Oh well, I'll figure something out. Chris went up to her apartment, took another short shower, let her hair air dry as she ate breakfast, then changed, dried her hair and got her bookbag and left the building once more.

At school, Chris headed for her locker and found the rangers standing there, obviously waiting for her.

"Hey guys!" she called as she walked up to her locker, dialed in her combination and opened it.

"Hey Chris," Tommy replied.

"How're you feeling?" Kat asked sympathetically.

"Me? Oh, I'm fine," Chris replied, pulling some books from a shelf she was installed in her locker.

"You are?" Tanya asked, confused.

"Yeah. I mean, sure it's upsetting that Ashley's in a coma, but she said so herself that she was going to get better eventually, so I'm not worried. I know that Ashley always keeps her promises," Chris explained.

"Well, I'm glad that you're feeling better," Tanya said. Chris smiled and closed her locker.

"Thanks, Tanya," she answered.

"Guys, we'd better get to class. We've got a quiz today, remember?" Kat broke in. They all groaned.

"I totally forgot," Tommy groaned.

"That's no surprise," Rocky teased.

"What's it on, anyway?" Chris asked.

"Um, I think that it's on the first act of the play we started just before you came to Angel Grove," Kat replied.

"Oh, it's good to know I stand a fighting chance," Chris joked as she and the others arrived in class, seconds before the bell rang.

"Good morning, class. I hope you're all prepared for your quiz today," Mrs. Appleby said. There were groans from everybody in the classroom. "But before I hand out the papers, I'm going to do the attendance."

Good, Chris thought. I have the chance to study. She pulled her book from her bag and started skimming the first act. With one ear, Chris listened as the teacher called out names, skipping the people she already knew were in the classroom.

"Bulkmeyer?"

"Yeah."

"DeSantos?"

"Huh?"

"Fox?"

"Here."

"Hilliard?"

"Present."

"Kay?"

"Here."

"Mang?"

"Yo."

"Oliver?"

"Uh, here." "Park?"

"Here."

"Scott?"

"Here."
"Ashley Sirch?" Then there was a silence. Chris's heart leapt up into her throat as she anticipated what she knew was coming.

"Christine, is your sister sick?" Mrs. Appleby asked. Chris quickly hid her book and looked up front.

"Um, yes ma'am," she replied. Mrs. Appleby didn't press the matter ,just marked it down and continued.

"Skullovich?" A snore drifted from the back of the class. Bulk hit Skull in the arm, and woke Skull.

"Uh, yeah?" Skull asked.

"Never mind. Sloan?

"Here."

Mrs. Appleby continued until everybody had been marked either there or away. Then Mrs. Appleby stood up and passed the papers out. There was s shuffle as everybody dug out pens, pencils and things, then it was quiet.

"You can take as much time as you need. When you're finished the quiz, hand it in. Then take out your texts and read act two," the teacher instructed.

And let the games begin, Chris thought wryly, writing her name at the top of the page.

After school that day, everybody met up in the youth center at their usual table. Everybody, that is, except Adam.

"Hey, did anybody have a class with Adam last period?" Chris asked.

"Good point. Where is he, anyway?" Rocky wondered. There were shaking heads around the table.

Adam had gone straight to his locker after school, had retrieved his books for his homework, then went to the student parking lot and started up his car. He left the school grounds and headed for the hospital.

There, he parked in the garage and went into the building. He found Ashley's room and, after taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open and went in. He found her laying there, still as death. Only the beeping of the heart monitor reassured him that she was alive. The room was brightly lit by the sunlight that was coming through the lone window. Adam closed the door behind him, then went over and stood beside Ashley's bed for a moment before taking her pale hand in his.

"I know that you probably can't hear me, Ashley, but I don't care," he said softly. "We're all really worried about you, Ashley. We need you to pull through thisI; need you to pull through this." For a brief second, Adam thought he felt Ashley's hand quiver, but it was gone before he could be sure. "I know that you need to rest and gather up your energy so that you can be well again, but I had to come and see you on my own." With that, he bent down and gently kissed Ashley's forehead. He pulled away, then let go of her hand and placed it at her side. Then, with a final glance at Ashley's slender, pale figure covered in a simple, blue blanket, Adam started for the door. Suddenly, he heard Ashley groan. He whirled and was immediately back at her side, cluitching her hand.

"Ashley?" he asked anxiously. Her eyelids twitched, but they didn't open to reveal her green eyes. She groaned softly once more, then all movement and sound, save that of the monitor's, stopped. Adam let out a moan of his own. Come on Ashley, you're almost there, he coaxed, hoping that by some small miracle she would come out of it, but she didn't. Adam let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding in disappointment. He let go of her hand once more, and this time he left the room; and the hospital.

At the youth center, the seven teens were still sitting around the table when Adam came in and grabbed a chair from another table, then sat down.

"Hey man, where were you?" Rocky asked.

"I, uh, I had to do something," Adam replied evasively.

"Want to tell us about it?" Tanya asked.

"No, it's nothing," Adam answered.

"If you say so," Tommy said uncertainley

The eight teens stayed for a while longer at the youth center until they all decided that it was probably time for all of them to be heading home. They said their goodbyes, and headed their separate ways. Chris, Jason, Adam and Kat got into their cars or vans as the case may be, and drove away. Kat drove Tanya home, Adam did the same for Rocky and Jason for Tommy. Only Chris drove home alone. Actually, she didn't go straight home. Instead, she went to the hospital to check on her sister.

After locking up the van, Chris went into the building and up to Ashley's room.

"Hey Lee," she said, closing the door behind her. "I don't know if you can hear me when I talk out loud, but there's no way I'm going to link with you again until you're conscious, which had better be soon." Chris pulled a chair up beside the bed. "Everybody's really worried about you, although nobody as much as me...and probably Adam. He tries not to show it, but I think he's really concerned about you. I'm sure that if you could hear me, you'd make up some retort." Chris chuckled. "I guess there is one advantage to having you unable to talk. But, if you want the truth, I'd rather have you awake and talking back than this quiet. It's so disconcerting." Chris waited a second for her voice to steady before she continued. "Lee, you know that I usually joke around a lot when I;m sick and during other serious situations, but I'm not joking now. Please get better soon; I need you too much to have you leave on me. And I'm not the only one who needs you. Believe it or not, the rangers need you; Angel Grove needs you. Hell, the world needs you." Chris paused. "Isn't it nice to be needed? Well, I should go, you need your rest. I'll come back later though, OK?" Chris stood up and left the room without a backward glance. That night, Chris didn't sleep well. Her dreams were haunted with the accident that had caused this whole thing to happen. Chris was suddenly in the hospital, watching from the back of the room as 5 or 6 doctors worked furiously over Ashley's body. One of them broke away from the crowd and approached Chris.

"I'm sorry," he said as the heart monitor's sound changed from beeping to a high-pitched whine.

"No!" Chris shouted, sitting bolt upright in bed. Her heart was pounding, and she was covered in a light sheen of cold sweat. It was only a dream, she thought to herself. It didn't really happen. Ashley's not going to die, she's going to be fine. Chris got out of bed and went into the bathroom, squinting at the bright light from the overhead bulbs. She ran some warm water into the sink and washed her face. May as well have a shower, Chris thought, feeling the dampness on her back. She turned on the shower, got out of her nightgown and stepped under the coursing water. Closing her eyes, Chris let the warm water wash away all thoughts of th disturbing dream that had awakened her a few minutes ago. Instead, she concentrated on her karate and the test that was rapidly approaching.

After she got out of the shower, it was beginning to be light outside. Maybe I'l go for a jog, she thought to herself as she opened up the closet she shared with Ashley and pulled out her black jogging pants, a black T-shirt and the matching jacket. Then she got dressed and, after stuffing her key in her zippered pocket, she went out of her apartment and to the elevators. She found a couple, dressed in sweats and it was obvious from the way that they looked that they came out and jogged every morning. Good for them, Chris thought with a small smile. They greet her, and she them in return. Then they got into the elevator and went down to the ground level. There they went their different ways. Chris headed for the park. She figured that she'd run until about a quarter to six, it being five at the time. Then she'd go back to her apartment, change into her gi and meet the guys to practise.

Chris ran about two and a half miles in the half an hour she had allowed herself before she turned back. She went to her apartment, changed, then jogged to the youth center. To her surprise, she got there even before Ernie, who opened the place at 5 to six every morning. She waited patiently as Enire drove up and unlocked the door.

"Morning, Ernie," Chris said.

"Hey Chris," he replied, pushing the door open. "You're here awfully early. Usually only Jason and Adam show up this early."

"Actually, they're helping me train for my black belt test that's coming up. I guess I beat them here this morning," Chris explained. She went over and startd warming up after throwing her bag onto the bleachers. A few minutes later, Jason and Adam came into the youth center. They were surprised to find Chris already there. They said as much.

"Well, I didn't sleep well, so I went out for a jog," Chris told them, standing up.

The guys put their duffel bags with Chris's, then stretched out and split up with Adam going off alone while Jason helped Chris.

Later on, they left the youth center and got ready for school, then met up again at Chris's locker.

"This is beginning to become a regular town hall," Chris joked as she saw the others waiting for her.

Chris dug her books from her locker, then closed it and hung around with the other girls. Tommy, Jason and Billy had Science at on end of the school while Rocky and Adam had shop at the other. The girls were lucky; they had Geography very close to where Chris's locker was situated.

Chris and the other girls were sitting in their Geography class, with Chris staring at the empty seat beside her that was Ashley's. The teacher, Mrs. Benet, was talking about earthquake faults when suddenly, Chris felt something stab at her brain. She put a hand to her head as the pain persisted. Well, this is fun, she thought, giving the teacher only half of her attention. A piece of paper flew onto her desk from her left. Chris glanced over and saw Tanya gesturing subtley at her to read the note. Chris took the note and, without taking her one hand from her head, unfolded it and read it.
Are you OK?
Pretending to take notes on Benet's speech, Chris got out a pen and wrote back.
Not really. My head hurts like crazy.
She folded up the paper and tossed it back to Tanya, who wrote.
Maybe you should go see the nurse.
Nah, I'll be fine.
Chris threw the paper back onto Tanya's desk without taking her eyes from the teacher.
I don't know, Chris. You like really pale. Are you sure you're OK?
Chris read the paper and replied:
Yeah, it's just a headache. Nothing really bad.
The paper flew back onto Tanya's desk.
It came flying back a second later.
If you're sure =).

Chris tucked the note into her bag and capped her pen. The teacher had moved from earthquake faults to how the Rocky Mountains had been formed. Didn't I learn this in grade 9 or 10? Chris asked herself.

During the class, the pain in Chris's head began to throb. When the bell rang to signify the end of class, Chris groaned as the loud sound hit her head like a brick. She put her things into her bag and stod up, but a wave of dizziness hit her and made her stumble backwards. Kat caught her arm and held her upright.

"Chris, what's wrong?" she asked worriedly.

"I...I don't know. I thought it was just a headache, but now I'm not so sure," she replied shakily.

"Come on, you're going down to the nurse's office," Tanya said, steering Chris towards the door. Just then, the pain vanished as quickly as it had come.

"Guys, it's OK. It's gone," Chris said, amazement in her voice.

"Are you sure?" Tanya asked suspiciously. Chris nodded, and that was good enough for the others.

"Well, I'm glad that's over. Now we'd better get to class before the bell goes," Kat said. The three hurried from their upstairs class, went down the stairs as quickly as they dared and stepped through the threshold of their History class just as the bell rang.

"And I thought I cut it close," Rocky joked as Tanya and the others sat down in their seats. Mrs. Appleby told them all to open up their texts and read the chapter on the aboriginal people for the next forty-five minutes while she graded and passed out a test that the steudents had taken before the twins had arrived at Angel Grove High. Chris got out her book, opened it, and started reading.

She was reading an interesting passage when the pain she had experienced in Geography came back. This time, it was worse than ever. A small moan passed through Chris's lips as she buried her head in her arms. She felt a warm hand on her arm, but she didn't raise her head because of the pain.

"Chris?" came Mrs. Appleby's voice from beside her.

"Chris, what's wrong?" Kat asked softly in Chris's other ear.

"I don't know, but it hurts so much," Chris replied. By now, the rangers had gotten out of their seats and were crowding around Chris.

"Do you think something's happening in Ashley's mind, and it's affecting Chris?" Tommy asked Billy.

"It's possible, although I can't imagine what would cause her to be in so much pain," Billy whispered back.

"Mrs. Appleby, can I take her to the nurse's office?" Jason asked.

"It's a good idea. Tanya, why don't you go with him?" the teacher suggested. Tanya nodded, and stood from her kneeling position beside Chris. She moved to Chris's right side and put a hand on Chris's upper arm. Then she and Jason helped Chris stand up. Chris kept her eyes closed as she was led from the classroom. The teacher told the others to sit down and go back to their books.

"Uh, Mrs. Appleby? Maybe I should take Chris's things to her?" Rocky asked.

"All right, Rocky," Mrs. Appleby consented. Rocky gathered up Chris's things and put them into her bag, then left the classrom and went after Jason and Tanya, who weren't far down the hallway.

"I've got her bag," he said as he came closer.

"Not so loud," Chris said in a weak voice.

"Sorry," Rocky whispered.

The three helped Chris into the nurse's office. The nurse, who had been sitting at her desk, stood up as Chris was brought in.

"What happened to her?" she asked.

"We're not really sure, but she says that her head really hurts," Tanya reported. The nurse led them all into a small room with a couch. Jason and Tanya laid Chris down on it while Rocky drew the curtains.

"Do you know the number for her parents' workplace?" the nurse asked. They all shook their heads. "Then I guess we'll have to leave her here until school ends. Are you going to come for her then?"

"I will," Jason offered.

"OK, Jason. Now you'd all better get back to class," the nurse agreed.

"Wait," Chris said in a raspy voice. The three teens and the nurse went back over to her side.

"Chris, what is it?" Rocky asked.

"Get the others and...and take me to the hospital," she said.

"Why? What's happening?" Tanya demanded.

"I don't know. I just know that I need to get there," Chris admitted.

"Please, we've got to get her to the hospital. Her sister's in a coma there, and I think that they need to be together," Jason said.

"I'm not supposed to let any of you off school grounds," the nurse said. At the pleading looks on the teens faces, she caved. "OK, get her to the hospital."

"Thanks," Tanya called as she and Jason fairly lifted Chris from the couch and bascially carried her out to Jason's van. Tanya went back into the class and informed Mrs. Appleby what was happening and that Chris had requested that Kat, Adam, Tommy and Billy come with her to the hospital.

"I'm sorry, Tanya, but I can't allow you all to go off the school grounds before 3:15," Mrs. Appleby replied. Tanya started to argue, but knew it would be pointless.

Out in the parking lot, Jason and Rocky were waiting anxiously for Tanya to return with the others with Chris laying on the folded down backseats of the van, moaning occasionally.

"We can't wait any longer, we've got to get Chrs to the hospital," Rocky said finally.

"You're right, let's go," Jason agreed. He and Rocky climbed into the van and drove off just as Mr. Appleby, Mr. Caplan, Tanya, Tommy, Billy, Adam and Kat came running out of the school. They were all waving at the van, but Jason ignored them and kept driving.

"I'll go after them," Mrs. Appleby said. Mr. Caplan agreed to cover her class for the remainder of the day. When Mrs. Appleby hurried to her car, so did the other teens. Mr. Caplan called after them, but they didn't answer. They all piled into Adam's car and drove off after the van, only a few seconds ahead of Mrs. Appleby.

"Hey Jason, Adam's right behind us and...woah, so's Mrs. Appleby," Rocky reported, glancing at the rearview mirror.

"We don't have time for this," Jason said in frustration.

"When we get to the hospital, I'll tell Tommy to stall Mrs. Appleby and give us time to get Chris up to Ashley's room," Rocky said.

"Good idea," Jason replied, accelerating as much as he dared.

At the hospital, Jason parked and took the keys from the ignition. Then he jumped out of the van and slammed the door behind him. Rocky did the same on the passenger's side, then ran around to Jason's side of the van. Jason rolled open the sliding door and Rocky slipped his shoulder under Chris's right arm and lifted her from the van. Jason got under her left side and the two managed to get Chris out of the van without putting her in too much more pain. Jason closed the door and they went into the hospital without bothering to lock the van.

Adam pulled up a second later and saw Rocky and Jason hauling Chris into the hospital.

"We're going to have to stall Mrs. Appleby until Jason and Rocky can get Chris up to her sister," Tommy said.

"You all realise that we're probably going to get suspended for this," Adam said grimly.

"I'd rather have the twins come through this OK than worry about my record," Tommy replied. Adam shut up after that and the five of them got out of the car half a second ahead of Mrs. Appleby. They ran over to her car as she locked the door.

"All of you, come with me so I can get Jason and Rocky. Then we're all going to go back to school and have a long talk with Mr. Caplan," she said.

"Mrs. Appleby, you can't go in there and get Jason and Rocky," Tommy said, stepping in front of his teacher.

"Excuse me?" she asked, unused to having one of her best students disagree with her.

"Ma'am, they're helping Chris and Ashley get better. We don't really know how, but we know that once they're together, everything's going to be OK for both of them," Kat said quickly.

"Hey Adam, why don't you go in and be with them?" Billy whispered in Adam's ear. Adam looked at his friend, nodded and started running for the hospital doors.

"Adam, come back here!" Mrs. Appleby called, but Adam didn't even turn back.

"Mrs. Appleby, I know that this is highly unusual, but you've got to trust us on this one. I can assure you that we're not joking around; Chris and Ashley's lives depend on what we're doing," Billy said.

"What's wrong with them?" Mrs. Appleby demanded.

"Nobody really knows what's wrong with them, but we know that when they're together, they're fine," Tommy said. Mrs. Appleby regared the teens for a moment.

"OK, you can go. But I want to see you all Wednesday after school in the principal's office," she said finally.

"We'll be there," Kat promised. Then they all took off towards the building.

"Thank you," Tanya called over her shoulder.

Thanks to the distraction that the others had made, Rocky and Jason had managed to get a wheelchair and had wheeled Chris up to Ashley's room.

"Get her onto the other bed," Jason ordered. He and Rocky lifted the almost unconscious Chris from the wheelchair up onto the bed, then managed to push the bed so that it was side-by-side with Ashley's.

Just then, Adam and the others came rushing into the room. Tommy closed the door behind them.

"How are they?" Adam asked, moving over to Ashley's side.

"I don't know," Jason admitted. "Hopefully, their being together will have some affect on what's happening to Chris." They all stood around the twins and watched and waited.

Though her eyes were closed, Chris could faintly make out some of what the others were saying, but it took a lot of effort to have it all make sense. So instead, she succumbed to the darkness that, until now, had been hovering around the edges of her mind.

When the black fog that had been surrounding, almost suffocating her, dissipated, Chris was standing in the hospital room with Ashley as the only other occupant.

"Ashley?" Chris asked, barely daring to hope.

"Yeah Chris, it's me," Ashley replied, smiling.

"How did I get here?" Chris questioned.

"I brought you here because I need your help to regain consciousness. I've got all of the energy I need to wake up, but for some reason there's this mental block that I can't get through. I think that if we both went at it, we'd be able to get past it, and we'd both wake up," Ashley explained.

"How did you find out about all of this?"

"It's amazing what you can learn when you have nothing better to do than lay around all day and all night, exploring the inner regions of your mind."

"There's an experience I think I can do without."

"Never mind...pardon the pun. We can talk about all of this later, once we wake up. Right now we need to concentrate on bringing down the blockade."

"And how do you propose we do that, sister dear?"

"Just close your eyes and concentrate on waking up, I guess."

"You have no idea, do you?"

"Um, I guess no isn't the right answer here, huh?"

"It's a good thing you're my sister or I'd knock your spiritual head of your spiritual shoulders." The twins laughed. "Well, here goes." With that, Chris and Ashley closed their eyes and started to concentrate as hard as they could on waking up.

"Hey guys, something's happening!" Billy exclaimed, bringing the others from their assorted places and positions around the room right back to the twins' sides. And something was happening. Chris and Ashley's extremities were twitching irregularly as were their eyelids.

Come on, wake up, Jason thought as he watched the struggle on the faces of the twins take place.

"Do you think that Ashley somehow brought Chris to the hospital so that Chris could help Ashley awaken?" Kat asked.

"It's entirely possible," Billy commented.

"I just hope that they can manage whatever they're trying," Tommy added, though nobody took their eyes from the twins. Everybody was so engrosse in the twins that nobody noticed the space between the blips on Ashley's heart rate monitor decreasing.

"Come on, Chris! We're getting somwhere!" Ashley called over the noise that was coming from some unknown source. "Don't give up."

"I wouldn't dream of it!" Chris called back. A bright, yellow-white light was starting to penetrate the twins' eyelids. What the hell is causing all of this? Chris wondered. Then she forgot all about her question and steered her mind back to the task on hand.

"What's going on?" Tanya asked, seeing that a thin film of perpiration had broken out on the faces of both girls.

"Whatever it is, I think it's working," Rocky replied.

"What do you mean?" Kat asked.

"Take a look at them. They're moving, aren't they?"

"I hope that that's a good sign."

Unknown to the teens, the blips continued to come closer and closer together.

"We're almost there, Lee! I can feel it!" Chris shouted. The noise and the light had become almost unbearable.

"So can I! Just a little longer, and we'll be through!" Ashley yelled back.

In the hospital room, the teens had fallen silent as they watched the girls struggle for consciousness.

"What's that noise?" Kat asked upon hearing the beeps of the heart monitor.

"Hey, that's the heart monitor that's hooked up to Ashley," Billy said.

"Geez, it's going really fast," Rocky commented.

"It's almost too fast," Billy supplied.

"What are you talking about?" Jason asked, dreading the answer.

"Her heart is beating wildly. It's having to work at almost twice it's normal strength. If it stays like this for too long, her heart could burst," Billy replied grimly. Jason and Adam were both taken aback.

"Does that mean the same thing is happening to Chris?" Jason managed to choke out. Billy went over and placed two fingers against Chris's neck, then looked back and nodded.

"We should call a doctor," Adam said.

"If we do that, we're risking having to expose the twins, and therefore our, secret identies. We can't let that happen," Tommy argued.

"But if we leave them alone, we risk losing them. They're too valuable for us to lose. We need them," Jason retorted.

"Look, I know how much that Chris and Ashley mean to you guys, but we can't risk two lives against Angel Grove's, and the world's," Tommy said calmly. The two guys stared at their leader, then loked away, sullen and angry. The beeps continued to grow closer together until it was almost a solid sound. Just when Tommy and the others were preparing to say their goodbyes, the heart monitor returned to normal. They all looked up in shock. The twins gasped loudly, shuddered, then went limp. Jason went to Chris's side, and Adam to Ashley's. The guys were clutching the hands of the girls when Chris and Ashley opened their eyes at the same instant.

"That was some ride," were Chris's first words. Ashley stared at her twin, then laughed. The others joined in. There wasn't a dry eye, or unhappy face, in the room.

"Hey Chris? Next time, use a hacksaw, would you?" Ashley asked.

"Sure Ashley. I'll just slice off my finger next time," Chris retorted good-naturedly.

"What happened to you guys?" Tommy asked.

"Ashley had a mental block," Chris said with a laugh.

"I think you've gone hysterical," Ashley told her sister.

"It's your fault if I did; I was perfectly sane until you brought me here to help you regain consciousness," Chris replied.

"That was sanity? What's insanity then?" Ashley asked.

"Are they delirious?" Tanya whispered to no one in particular.

"Nah, we're fine" Chris assured her. "We're always like this when we're in good moods."

"Which, I'm warning you all, is frequent," Ashley added.

"So consider yourself duly warned," Chris finished.

"Hey, is there a doctor in the house? I want to let them know I'm awake so I can go home," Ashley said suddenly.

"Shouldn't you be taking it easy?" Adam asked.

"I will...as soon as I'm home in my own bed and my own clothes," Ashley replied.

That afternoon, the doctors came and checked Ashley out. They told her that she would be allowed to go back home tomorrow afternoon. The teens all left so that Ashley could get her rest. Jason and Adam drove everyone back to the school so they could pick up their appropriate vehicles, then they all went home.

The next day, they all met up outside of the principal's office.

"Is everybody ready to be chewed out?" Chris asked with mock-brightness.

"Do you think that they'll actually suspend us?" Adam asked seriously.

"It's possible. I mean, we did sorta run out when we were told not to," Tommy replied.

"Oh well, we're all in this together, right?" Chris asked.

"Yeah," Tanay agreed. They went and and were told that Mr. Caplan was already waiting for them in his office. They all went back further and into the principal's office. Chris took a seat, Jason sat down beside her and Adam on Chris's other side. The other's were forced to stand or lean against the walls. Mrs. Appleby was also in the office, sitting with the principal.

"Now, would somebody like to explain to me what happened yesterday?" Mr. Kaplan asked.

"You see, sir, I had a bit of a headache in first period, but it went away, and I thought that was alright. But in second period, my headache came back with a vengenance. It felt like a migrane, but more intense. I think I must have blacked out for a while, because the next thing I remember is..." Chris caught herself just before she said, "talking with Ashley".

"Is...?" Mr. Kaplan prompted.

"Is waking up in the hospital with my sister out of her coma and all of my friends by our sides," Chris finished.

"Would anybody like to explain what happened during the time that Chris was unconscious?" Mrs. Appleby asked.

"Well, you know that Rocky, Tanya adnI helped Chris from your class," Jason began. The teacher and principal nodded, so he continued. "Well, we went to the nurse and Chris was laying on the couch. We turned to leave when she called us back and told us that she had to get to the hospital right away."

"We figured that Chris knew what was best for her well-being, so we went along with her request. We snuck her past the nurse and took her out to the parking lot. That's when I came back and tried to get you to let us go with her, but you refused," Tanya said, addressing her teacher.

"But we knew that it would help Chris and Ashley if we were there for them when they needed us, so we went anyways," Kat said, somewhat sheepishly.

"When we got to the hospital, we took Chris up to her room, put her in the other bed and put the twins side-by-side, hoping that that would somehow help them to recover quicker," Rocky continued.

"When we got there, the twins were both unconscious, but their arms and legs were twitching, and their heart were pounding faster and faster. I guess that somehow, the twins were linked for a few moments in order for them to help heal one another," Tommy joined in.

"It must have worked, because they woke up a few minutes later. Both of them claimed to be fine, and Ashley's being released from the hospital after school. The doctors said that she suffered no ill effects whatsoever," Billy added. There was a silence as the rangers finished telling their story. Then they were sent out into the main office to wait for whatever punishment the teacher and principal would give them.

It was getting close to the start of classes when Mrs. Appleby finally came out and told the teens to come back into the office again. They all took their original positions again, and collectively held their breath.

"We've decided that you all don't deserve to be punished since you probably helped save the lives of two of our students,," Mr. Caplan said. There were exclamations of joy all around the room.

"Thank you, sir," Chris said for all of them. Then they all left the office and went to their lockers. Then they went to their class, which happened to be English, which they all had together. They went in and sat down before everyone else.

"It's really good to have you back, Lee. Now I have someone to pass notes to during class," Chris said.

"Gee, it's good to know I was missed," Ashley said sarcastically.

The End?