Billy and Kimberly had been chosen as Angel Grove's representatives
to the Peacemaking 2000 Youth Conference in Washington, D.C. Zordon had
chosen Richie and Katarina as temporary replacement Blue and Pink Rangers
for the five months that Billy and Kimberly would be gone.
The day before they were supposed to leave, Billy and Christina were taking
a walk. A thunder shower had caught them by surprise and by the time they
got back to Billy's house, they were both soaked to the skin. Inside, Billy
handed Christina a towel. "Do you mind if I take a quick shower before
I take you back?" he asked her.
"No, go right ahead," she replied, trying to dry her hair. Billy
stepped into the shower and turned on the water. He didn't hear the bathroom
door opening. All of a sudden, he felt arms encircling his waist, breasts
pressed against his back, and a head resting on his shoulder. Turning around,
he saw Christina wearing a shy smile and nothing else.
"Mind if I
join you?" she asked quietly, her arms sliding over his shoulders
to around his neck. He shook his head and she pressed her body to his.
Slowly, their lips met and they soon forgot about everything except each
other. Christina slid her hands through Billy's wet hair and moaned as
his soap slick hands caressed her back.
The water poured over the two of
them, but did nothing to quench the fires raging inside them. When they
left the shower, Billy swept Christina into his arms and carried her down
to his room. She entangled her fingers in his hair, hungrily pulling his
lips to hers. Gently, he lowered her to the bed, covering her damp body
with his own. Locking her arms around him, she clung to him as if he was
her only link to sanity. The fires grew within them, threatening to consume
them in their heat. At the height of their passion, Christina lost her
controls on her powers, increasing all of Billy's capabilities, including
his latent telepathy. She opened her eyes and gazed into his, opening her
mind to him. Their souls merged and they shared a closeness unknown to
either of them to be possible.
Hours later, when they broke apart, they
continued to hold each other close, caught up in the heightened experience.
Christina prodded herself to move first. "I should get back. If I
miss curfew, I'll be confined to campus for a month," she murmured,
snuggling closer to him. They kissed deeply and through the psychic bond
created that night, he saw how much she loved him and how much she would
miss him. Dragging themselves out of bed, she picked up her favorite shirt
of his and asked him if she could take it with her. Nodding, Billy pulled
Christina close for one last soul shattering kiss. After slipping his shirt
on, she transported back to her dorm room.
The next morning at the youth center, Christina and Katarina were sitting,
waiting for Jamie. Katarina was trying to get details from Christina, but
all Christina was saying was a very breathy "Whoa." Jamie came
in, and gave Christina a quizzical glance.
"What's with her?" Jamie asked Katarina.
"I don’t know. She’s been like this ever since she got in last night,"
Katarina replied.
"Christina? Hel-lo! Christina? Earth to Christina!" Jamie waved
a hand in front of Christina's eyes, gaining no reaction. "What would
make her so dazed?" Suddenly, Christina perked up. Jamie followed
Christina's gaze. "Well, that would explain it," Jamie grinned
as Christina went to greet Billy.
An entire conversation passed between Billy and Christina in the space
of a few seconds. She twined her fingers with his and they sat down at
a separate table, away from everyone else. Billy picked up on Christina's
radiating sadness at his imminent departure and responded by broadcasting
reassurance that he would be back with her soon and that he loved her deeply.
She broadcasted her love back to him, wishing that he didn't have to leave.
They sat communicating that way, heart to heart, until it was time for
him to leave. Christina accompanied Billy to the airport, where she held
him tightly, kissing him, immersing herself in their unique bond one last
time before he left. He reminded her that he would be back, that the five
months would fly by. He boarded the plane with Kimberly and Christina watched
the plane until it was merely a speck in the sky.
A few days later, Christina was replenishing Tommy's powers after the
last battle. "I got a letter from Kim the other day," Tommy said,
to break the silence.
"Really?" Christina asked disinterestedly. "What did she
have to say?"
"That the conferences are going well, and she's having lot of fun
meeting other people from across the country. She also said that she misses
everybody, and she's sure Katarina and Richie are fitting in fine."
"Mmm." It was obvious that Christina wasn't really listening.
Tommy wondered if mentioning the letter had been a bad idea. Everyone knew
that Christina hadn't received any written word from Billy.
"Christina, I think my powers are up now," he told her. She released
his arms and they left his house. "Christina, are you okay? You've
been awfully quiet since Billy left."
"I'm fine. I just miss him a lot."
"I know how you feel. I miss Kim a lot, too." They walked in
silence for a while, surreptitiously looking at each other every now and
again. They had grown a little closer and Tommy decided to take the first
step. "Christina, there's a dance on Friday. Would you like to go?
As friends, I mean," he asked her. She looked at him curiously. What
was that in her gaze? Was it surprise, worry, or just a little gladness
touched with longing?
"Sure. As friends," she replied, smiling a little.
Two weeks had passed. Tommy and Christina had grown much closer. At
the dance, they had danced nearly every slow dance together and at the
youth center, usually managed to sit next to one another. She constantly
came to his aid in battle and he constantly came to hers. Zedd, watching
from his stronghold, began to form an idea. "So, the White Ranger
and the Green Ranger are becoming fond of each other. Hmm, what irony it
would be if I could lure the child of Light to the dark side. It would
be only fair. Zordon has taken my daughter from me; it would be only fitting
for me to take away his. But how shall I do it? I can not use a spell,
she is impervious to them. There is too much good in her for her to come
willingly, so that option is out. Wait! She is not, however, immune to
other forms of mind control. Goldar! Ready the hypnosis room! Soon, it
shall be occupied!" Zedd cackled with laughter that echoed throughout
the throne room.
At that moment, Christina and Tommy were walking through the park. Tommy
had been teaching Christina some simple martial arts moves, and they had
been practicing in the park. "Christina, you're picking these up pretty
fast," he complimented her.
"Thanks. I wish I knew a way to repay you."
"Don't worry about it. We're friends. Friends don't need repayment."
They sat under a large tree and Christina found herself thinking about
how deep and warm Tommy's eyes were. She quickly banished the thought,
feeling guilty for thinking that way about someone other than Billy. Tommy
was having similar problems. He kept watching the filtered sunlight play
on Christina's hair, changing the highlights from burnished copper to a
tawny gold. The memory of the time he had kissed her surfaced in his mind
and caught up in the spell of the sunlight, he leaned over and gently,
softly, pressed his lips to hers. Christina was a little surprised, but
the gentle pressure awakened unknown feelings in her. She responded with
an instinct older than time, leaning closer to him, slipping her hands
behind his neck. The gentle kiss deepened, became seeking. Tommy's hand
went up to gently stroke Christina's hair, marveling at the softness. Minutes
and an eternity passed. When they reluctantly ended the kiss, they just
sat there, gazing into each other's eyes. "Wow," Christina breathed,
pressing her fingertips to her lips.
"Wow," Tommy agreed. They began to gravitate together for another
kiss when out of nowhere, Goldar appeared. The spell broken, Tommy and
Christina leapt to their feet.
"White Ranger, you are to come with me!" Goldar stated and before
either Tommy or Christina could react, Goldar had grabbed Christina and
disappeared with her.
"I've got to tell Zordon about this," Tommy said as he transported
out.
Christina awoke in a strange room filled with swirling patterns and
flashing lights. "Oh," she groaned, "where am I?" She
looked down, and found herself garbed in a strange black dress with a plunging
neckline. "If I breathe wrong, I could fall out of this! I don't even
want to know why I'm wearing this."
"Greetings, White Ranger, child of Light," Zedd's voice echoed.
"What do you want with me? Why am I here?" Christina called out.
She tried to no avail to hold together the two sides of the neckline.
"Have you noticed the lights and patterns in the room, my dear? Quite
mesmerizing, aren't they? Soon, your controls will break down and I shall
be your lord. You will receive much power as my adopted daughter and your
chosen shall be my heir. Soon, he shall be here to rescue you and then
I shall have him in my power as well."
"How does Billy know I'm here?"
"Not the Blue Ranger, my poor, misguided creature. The Green Ranger.
He is quite taken with you."
"No. Tommy wouldn't take that risk." Christina sank to the floor
and closed her eyes against the swirling patterns. The lights flashed hypnotic
designs on her closed eyelids and she could feel herself unwillingly slipping
into a lethargy.
In the command center, Tommy was pacing back and forth like a restless
panther. The scene in the park had upset him, the kiss throwing him off
balance more than Christina's kidnapping. "Zordon, I can't just sit
here! I have to go after her!" he exclaimed, slamming his hands on
the top of a console.
"Patience, Tommy. We do not yet know what Lord Zedd has planned,"
Zordon replied calmly.
"I can't wait any longer. I'm going up there." Before Zordon
could protest, Tommy had transported to the stronghold throne room.
"Ah, Green Ranger, you have arrived. You are just in time to witness
the final step in the subversion of the child of Light," Zedd gloated.
Tommy saw Christina standing in the center of the throne room, a glazed,
vacant look on her face where earlier had been wonder.
"Christina!" Tommy cried. "What have you done to her?"
"No more than what I am going to do to you. Child of Light, this is
your mission: you shall follow my commands completely, beginning with this.
When the Green Ranger is dark again, you shall be joined with him."
"Yes, my lord," came the hoarse reply. The glazed look left her
eyes, to be replaced with a dark, feral, lustful gaze.
"Now for you, Green Ranger!" Zedd pointed his staff at Tommy.
Tommy reached for his pendant and found it to be gone. The beam of energy
hit him and the red glow filled his eyes once more.
"I am yours to command, mighty Lord Zedd."
In the command center, Zordon was aware of what had happened to Tommy
and Christina. "Alpha, we shall need to call Billy and Kimberly back
from Washington. Monitor them, and when they are away from other people,
transport them here," Zordon instructed.
"Monitoring now." Alpha studied the monitors intently. "They
are now alone. Commencing transport." Pressing a button, Alpha transported
Billy and Kimberly to the command center.
"Alpha? What are we doing back here?" Kimberly asked.
"Observe the viewing globe," Zordon instructed. "Both Christina
and Tommy have been captured by Lord Zedd and placed under his control."
"How? Christina's immune to Zedd's spells," Billy asked.
"Lord Zedd has her under a hypnotic suggestion."
"Zordon, what's going on up there? Why are they dressed like that?"
Kimberly asked. On the viewglobe, Christina in the black dress and Tommy
in Roman armor were standing with clasped hands. Zedd seemed to be performing
some sort of ceremony over them.
"Lord Zedd is performing a traditional Zarakin joining ceremony. He
has declared Christina his new daughter and by joining her to Tommy, enforces
that Tommy shall be his heir."
"Didn't Zedd try this with Jamie?"
"Yes. When that did not work, he set his sights on the child of Light--
Christina. This is also his revenge on me for making Jamie a Power Ranger.
He feels that since I stole his daughter from him, he can steal my daughter
from me."
"Christina's your daughter?" Billy was stunned.
"Yes, she is, in a way. I will explain all later. Now, I must send
the two of you to the stronghold. Good luck." Alpha pressed a button
and transported Billy and Kimberly to the stronghold.
"They were in the throne room. Let's go," Billy said, taking
off in that direction, Kimberly on his heels. When they reached the throne
room, it was completely empty, devoid of any indication that people had
ever been there. Kimberly walked over to a small table.
"I don't get it. Here's their communicators and their morphers,"
she said, picking them up. "Where are they?"
"I think we may be too late."
"What do you mean, too late?" Kimberly's eyes narrowed suspiciously
into tiny slits.
"They were in the middle of the ceremony when we saw them. Obviously,
the ceremony is over. We're going to have to search for them." They
looked through the stronghold for a long time. Finally, there was only
one door left.
Cautiously, they opened the door, prepared for anything, or so they thought.
The sight that greeted them left them speechless. The only sounds were
the creaking of the bedsprings combined with Christina's small gasps and
Tommy's low moans of pleasure. Christina's arms were wrapped around Tommy's
tanned, muscular back and her long legs were coiled around his lean hips.
Her delicate hands were tangled in his long, dark hair and he was lavishing
kisses along her slender neck. The pristine white sheets were wound around
them and they were oblivious to everything except each other.
Billy could feel a white hot fury building inside him. A primal scream
ripped from the back of his throat and tore through the air. He leapt across
the room, plucked Tommy off the bed, and flung him against the wall. "Stay
away from my girlfriend!" Billy snarled.
Very calmly, Tommy stood up. "Your girlfriend? I believe you're talking
about my wife." At that, another snarl tore from Billy's throat and
he punched Tommy in the stomach with all his might. Tommy doubled over,
but straightened up with help from an uppercut to his jaw. Kimberly, meanwhile,
was trying to defend herself from Christina, who was fighting like an enraged
wild beast. Kimberly had a huge gash across her left cheek from Christina
attempting to gouge out her eye. Billy was still pummeling Tommy, and by
now had knocked him unconscious. Christina had been somewhat subdued, and
was huddled over Tommy protectively, glaring at Billy and Kimberly.
"How are we going to get through her hypnosis?" Kimberly asked.
"I think I know a way." Billy grabbed the top sheet off the bed,
but when he approached Christina, she began to snarl and attempted to protect
Tommy. Quickly, Billy wrapped the sheet around Christina, effectively trapping
her arms. Pulling her to him, he kissed her, opening the bond between them.
She fought him for a few minutes, but as the bond hit her mind, the hypnosis
control broke. She pulled her arms free and wrapped them around Billy,
returning the kiss.
They broke apart reluctantly and Christina, realizing what had happened,
moaned, "Oh, no, I feel just awful. Billy, can you ever forgive me?"
"You couldn't help it; Zedd had you under hypnosis. Can you break
the spell on Tommy so we can get out of here?"
"Sure." Christina gathered the sheet a little closer to her,
and placed her hands on Tommy's chest. "Um, Billy?"
"What is it?"
"There's no spell on him."
"What do you mean, there's no spell on him?" The cold fury began
to seep into Billy's eyes again.
"Just that. There's no spell on him. It must have been broken when
we..." Christina flushed. "I must have lost my controls again."
She quickly healed Tommy, who began to stir and groan.
"Christina? What happened? I feel like a wall that's been sandblasted,"
Tommy groaned. Christina helped him to sit up, and handed him the other
sheet to wrap around himself.
"You made Billy mad," she gently explained.
"Remind me never to get him mad at me again." Billy handed Christina
and Tommy their morphers and communicators. They transported back to the
command center, where they found Jamie and Jason waiting for them.
Jamie raised one eyebrow when she took in Christina and Tommy's state of
dishabille, but wisely kept her mouth shut.
"Billy and Kimberly, I must return the two of you to Washington now.
Billy, this printout will explain Christina's heredity. Thank you for your
help in this," Zordon said. Billy picked up the printout and Christina
gave him one last kiss.
"I really am sorry," she whispered.
Billy smiled a sad smile. "Don't worry about it. It wasn't your fault,"
he told her. They exchanged a final farewell kiss and Zordon transported
Billy and Kimberly back to Washington.
Jamie finally blurted out the question she had been holding in. "What
on earth happened up there?"
Christina smiled a wry smile. "Your father decided that since you
weren't being cooperative, he was going to adopt a new daughter. Guess
who he chose."
"You're kidding. Wait a minute, I forgot; you can't kid. Go on."
"Then, he decided that he still wanted Tommy as an heir, so he married
us."
"No way."
"Mm hmm."
"Zordon, is their joining valid?" Jason asked.
"Zarakin marriage laws do not have a coercion clause, so yes, their
joining is valid," Zordon replied.
"Well, we know how to perform the divorce," Jamie said. "Just
do what Tommy and I had to do."
"It is not that simple. What you and Tommy performed was an annulment,
not a divorce. The Zarakin divorce is much more complicated."
"Why can't they just annul the joining?" Tommy and Christina
exchanged a nervous glance. "You didn't," Jamie said. She saw
the way they looked at each other. "You did. Oh, boy."
"What does a Zarakin divorce entail?" Jason asked.
"First of all, the rings must be destroyed."
"Easy enough," Tommy said. He and Christina removed their rings
and Christina destroyed them with a psychic bolt.
"Usually in Zarakin divorces, the wife receives half of the husband's
belongings, but that does not need to be done. However, the next step in
the divorce is a vital one. Christina, you must strike Tommy across the
face."
"What?!?" they chorused, stunned.
"This shows the wife's displeasure in her husband. If you want this
divorce to happen, you must strike him."
"I'm sorry, Tommy," Christina whispered. She drew her hand back
and struck him so hard he nearly dropped his sheet.
"The final step is to show that although you may no longer be husband
and wife, you are still friends. You must exchange a kiss of peace."
Tommy and Christina looked at each other worriedly. Tumbling through their
minds were replayed scenes of their kiss in the park and fears of what
would have happened if Goldar had not shown up.
"Do you really think that's a good idea?" Tommy asked.
"If it is not done, then you and Christina will remain married."
They looked at each other, and this time, Christina took the initiative.
Closing the distance between them, she tentatively pressed her lips to
his. Unknown to her, while they were in Zedd's stronghold a psychic bond
had formed between her and Tommy. When she kissed him, the bond showed
her his feelings for her and responded with her feelings for him. The kiss,
which had started out gentle, deepened. Tommy and Christina found themselves
with their arms around one another, reluctant to let go.
The kiss ended by Jamie pulling the two of them apart. "Jeez, you
two! A little more heat, and you would have melted the console!" Jamie
exclaimed. Christina kept her eyes on Tommy's. They were having trouble
reconciling what the bond had revealed. Christina couldn't believe that
she loved two people so completely, and Tommy couldn't believe that their
love would have to be suppressed.
"I, um, I should get back to my dorm room. I kinda need some clothes,"
Christina stuttered. She transported out.
"I'd better get home, too," Tommy said. He transported out, leaving
a confused Jamie and Jason looking at each other.
The next day, Jamie was sitting in the juice bar when Christina came
in. Christina looked like she hadn't slept the night before, and her eyes
were puffy, as if she'd been crying. "Jamie? Can I talk to you for
a minute?" Christina asked, sliding into a chair.
"I wasn't anywhere near that subway that exploded last night!"
Jamie said defensively. Christina looked at her strangely and decided not
to follow up on that statement.
"No, I kinda need to talk to you about something personal."
"Oh. Shoot." Jamie had a bit of an idea what this conversation
would be about.
"Yesterday, when Tommy and I...you know, I kinda lost control of my
powers. The only other time that happened was with Billy the night before
he had to leave."
"Yeah. So?"
"So, when I lost control both times, I had a kind of mind merge with
them that created a psychic bond. Then yesterday, during the divorce when
Tommy and I kissed, we could see our feelings for each other." Christina
seemed to pause.
"And..." Jamie prodded her.
"And...I love him. But I still love Billy as much as ever."
"What did you see from him?"
"The same. He loves me, but he also loves Kimberly. Jamie, what am
I going to do? I never thought I could love anyone as much as I love Billy,
but here I am, admitting that I love Tommy, and my feelings for him are
as strong as my feelings for Billy." Christina put her head down on
the table. Jamie recognized the feeling immediately. She leaned over and
patted Christina's back.
"I understand what you're going through."
"You do?"
"Remember when we thought Jason was dead?" At a nod from Christina,
Jamie continued. "Tommy came over, and we talked for a long time.
I finally told him that I loved him, but it was different than what I felt
for Jason. If it hadn't been for the thunderstorm, it would have stopped
at that."
"How did you deal with it?"
"Well, when we found out that Jason and Kimberly were still alive,
we just agreed it didn't happen. You know that."
"No, I mean how did you deal with your feelings for Tommy?"
"I loved Jason more. I still loved Tommy, but more as a background
love. What I feel for Jason is a more active, more passionate love. Trust
me, Chris, when the time comes, you'll know what to do."
"I hope you're right, Jamie. I sincerely hope you're right."
Christina looked over to where Tommy was sitting with Jason, and sighed.
At that moment, Tommy was having a similar conversation with Jason. "I
just don't know what I'm going to do," Tommy was saying. "I mean,
this really isn't fair to Kimberly. I'd never want to hurt her, but all
I could think about last night was Christina, and how it felt to hold her.
Kim and Billy don't know this, but when they stopped us, it wasn't the
first time. We'd already done it once before they came in. The funny thing
was, I could feel the spell breaking the first time, but what we were doing
didn't feel wrong. It felt so right, like it had been our destiny. I just
couldn't help myself the second time. She just felt so good; it was like
we had been made for each other. Then, when Billy threw me across the room..."
"Billy threw you across the room?" Jason asked, incredulous.
"Yes, Billy threw me across the room. When he did, I could see how
mad he was, but all I could think was, You left, she married me. She's
not your girlfriend anymore. And then, during the divorce, that kiss!
I don't know what happened, but somehow, I just knew that she loved me,
and that I loved her. Man, I'm just so confused! I don't want to hurt Kim,
but I don't want to deny my feelings for Chris! I never thought relationships
would be so confusing."
Jason placed a hand on Tommy's shoulder. "Tommy, you have about four
months before Kim's back for good. I suggest you talk with Christina and
work everything out before Kimberly and Billy get back."
"You're right, Jase." Tommy stood up and walked over to Christina's
table. "Um, Christina?" Christina looked up, and as her eyes
met Tommy's, a jolt of pure feeling passed through her.
"Yes, Tommy?"
"I was wondering if you'd like to go to a movie with me on Saturday,"
he asked her. Christina noticed that he left off the "as friends,"
that had been there the last time.
"I'd love to go to a movie with you," she said, standing up.
"Great! Well, um, would you like to practice those katas I'd been
teaching you?"
"Sure. Meet you in the park in five minutes?"
"Five minutes. Bye." Tommy grinned, and left the youth center.
"Chris! What about those conflicting emotions?" Jamie asked her.
"I have four months before Billy comes back. By spending time with
Tommy, I may be able to sort them out. Now, I have to go. I have to be
at the park in five minutes." Christina nearly flew out of the youth
center. Jamie just shook her head and sighed.
THE END
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