Author: Heather Ray

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/> So, she did the only thing she could. She opened it.

The Green Dragon Coin fell into her waiting palm.

And suddenly, all the joy and sunshine faded... just a bit.

Tommy's back, good as new,

she reminded herself. I've only known him a few days, but I could tell how much it hurt him losing his powers.

But what she didn't realize, until that moment, was how much it hurt her that he had lost his powers.

And despite the fact that he'd been restored, the feeling wouldn't simply go away.

Tommy might be back, but the Green Ranger's gone,

she reflected. For some reason she couldn't explain, her eyes stung at the thought. Now... I'm all alone.

Why did it hurt so much? She'd never really served with the Green Ranger anyway! Just one short battle, and suddenly, his loss felt like a burning wound in her heart.

Could it possibly be Kreia's influence? No... it can't be! The Morpher buries her thoughts... keeps our minds separate. It must have something to do with the Power... an affinity for my teammate beyond simple friendship.

Whatever explanation she could give it, the ache didn't lessen.

"Alexis? You still here?"

The Purple Ranger startled, jumping off the sink and quickly glancing at her reflection. Great... I actually look like I've been crying!

She sighed in defeat. "I'm coming!"

She pulled open the bathroom door, bowing her head at the surprised expression on her new leader's face.

"What happened?"

She couldn't explain what had happened... what had unnerved her to such a degree. Instead, she held out her hand.

Tommy sighed as he stared at his erstwhile coin. "I'm sorry, Lex. I didn't realize-"

She interrupted him with a frustrated huff. "Of course you didn't realize. It doesn't make any damn sense. I have no reason to be upset... none at all."

She laughed ruefully. "Zordon should've told me up front that my Power Coin would drive me insane. First, I buy every purple outfit at the mall. Then, I learn I have to live off plums and grapeade. And now... now I see this coin... so lifeless... and... and I..."

She couldn't complete her sentence. She pursed her lips, mutely staring at the golden dragon's paw.

She felt Tommy's strong hands on her shoulders.

"It makes perfect sense," he said quietly, "I've been there."

She stared up at him, questions lurking in her dark green gaze.

He nodded. "Absolutely. I could feel something... off when I was the Green Ranger. I never felt like I was really part of the team. There wasn't any solid reason behind it... I mean, the guys always did their best to make me feel like one of the gang. But for some reason, no matter how close I got to any of the Rangers, on the battlefield I was always a loner."

He shrugged. "The nature of the coin, I think. The other five are the Core Rangers, designed to work as a team. You and I... we were a team within a team. The Dragon and the Eagle. And neither of us got to really experience that."

He sighed again. "I know this sounds crazy... but I really miss being the Green Ranger. I know I'm more powerful now, and Saba's a real help... but... you're not gonna believe this... I miss Dragonzord."

Alexis giggled, causing her leader to grin sheepishly. "I think of him all alone, at the bottom of the ocean, never to move again... and I feel sick."

He then shook off his discomfort. "But this isn't about me," he recalled, "I'll be fine. It's you I'm worried about."

The Purple Ranger folded her arms, attempting to suppress a shiver. "I... I know it's completely irrational, but I feel like Batman without Robin. Or worse... Robin without Batman."

"The Power Rangers work as a team. And you're an integral part of the team... shiny shield or no shiny shield. I've always known that intellectually, but you have to believe it now."

Tommy watched as a perplexing grin suddenly pulled his teammate's despondent face.

"What?" he wondered, stepping back slightly, "You're not laughing at me too, are you?"

She almost laughed at the panic in his voice. "No... it's just that Jason said the exact same thing earlier."

"And you'd rather hear it from him, right?"

She stared at him, eyes wide. "What is that

supposed to mean?" she demanded.

Tommy pointed his thumb to the bathroom mirror. "You're blushing."

Her jaw hanging open, Alexis pivoted. Her hands flew to her pink cheeks. "Damn this pasty skin!" she hissed.

"You know..." he continued, trying to sound casual, "Jase isn't seeing anyone. And there is

a Halloween Ball com-"

Alexis huffed, tossing a hand towel at her torturer. Tommy laughed as he caught the projectile effortlessly.

"You're definitely

gonna need to work on your throw," he joked.

Her hand continued feeling around the packed box, a haughty smirk pulling her lip as slender fingers wrapped around something hard. "Really?"

Tommy's hands flew up in defeat at the bottle of cologne that emerged from the box. "Lex, that's stuff's expensive!"

She stared at his horrified expression, and fell into peals of laughter. Tommy joined her merriment, but expertly maneuvered his hand to snatch the cologne before she changed her mind.

"I think this is everything," Tommy remarked. He carefully hid the bottle beneath some towels, and folded the flaps of the final cardboard box to close it.

"What about this?" Alexis asked, holding out the Dragon Coin.

Tommy gazed at it for a moment, then hefted the closed box. "I really don't have a use for it. You keep it."

She frowned at the coin, wondering what she'd do with it. Then, a small smile appeared. "Thanks. I know just where to keep it."

Tommy grinned back, and began walking. "The others are outside waiting. And then it's off for ice cream."

"You know, Kim wanted to throw you a surprise party," Alexis informed him, "But with the 'saving the world' stuff, we didn't have time to prepare one."

Tommy smiled at the very mention of the Pink Ranger's name. "I thought she would, but I'd settle for ice cream with six great friends any day!"

Alexis smirked mischievously, poking the new White Ranger with her elbow. "Just be sure not to order pistachio. Rushing you to the hospital is not what I'd call a fun evening."

"So, they told you about that."

"Uh-huh."

Tommy grinned. "Not to worry. Suddenly, I've got this incredible craving for... vanilla."

The End

To Be Continued in:

Streaks of Purple Saga Volume Four

Devil's Night

Excerpt From: Streaks of Purple Saga Volume Four: Devil's Night

Monday, October 30th

He heard it.

The extended tone continued to run, it's steady, shrill ring speaking utter finality.

So much was packed into that tone. Horror. Sorrow. Loss. Death...

A chill stung his heart at the thought that hers would never beat again. That chill spread throughout his body, causing him to leap from his bed.

He panted heavily, fists clenching the corner of his plaid blue sheets. "Mom..."

It always happened without warning. Once in a while, his peaceful slumber would be interrupted by the shrill tone of Rebecca Cranston's heart monitor going dead. The sound would always bring back the agony he suffered at the tender age of nine, when he and his father stood vigil over the dying patient. After days of struggling for her life after the horrific car accident, she simply couldn't fight the inevitable any longer.

He could still feel his father's cold hand gripping his arm as his high school sweetheart passed. He could still feel ice settle in his own heart, freezing it in time with the final beat of his mother's. He could still feel the cold wetness of tears streaking down his pale face.

No... as his fingers grazed his cheek, he realized the tears were fresh.

"Desist," he reprimanded, throwing off the bed sheets, "Such a morbid reverie is counter-productive."

Billy blindly reached for his glasses, which sat beside his digital clock in their usual location. Once the lenses were firmly in place, the vibrant red blur that was the time gave way to legible numbers.

The genius nearly squealed. "I'm tardy!"

He jumped from his bed, bounding across his room to where his custom-assembled laptop stood in wait. After a few keystrokes, an electronic calendar program booted.

He breathed a sigh of relief. "Thankfully I have no pertinent exams or activities scheduled. In fact, considering the special assembly on World Peace to be held this morning, this ought to be an academically-unchallenging day."

He then rose to his feet, and hurried to the bathroom.