Author's note: Tanis is a real wench in this. If you don't like cranky rangers, or dark stories, stopcreading now. If you feel you really need to read the disclaimer crap, go back to chapter one.

The New Girl
(Part IV: The Unstoppable Pink Ranger.)

Tanis and Trini sat across from each other at the table.

"Why are you glaring at me?" Trini demanded.

"Because I don't think we need a new White Ranger. Or a black or red one for that matter. The guys will be better soon." she insisted. Trini pulled out her morpher.

"You want to be leader? Is that it? Here." the other asian girl thrust the morpher across the table. Tanis pushed it away.

"It's not that I want to be leader, it's that I want Tommy back. And Adam, and Rocky. Three of the five people I love most in this world just happen to be lying in the medlabs, fading before my eyes! Don't you know what that can do to a person?!" she shouted. Trini shook her head.

"And you think it doesn't effect me?" Trini demanded.

"I know it affects you. But that just happens to be my best friend, my cousin, and my boyfriend in there! Rita made a big mistake by hurting them, and she'll be sorry." Tanis growled.

"And how are you going to stop her? I'm the leader, dammit! I'll have Zordon dismiss you for being unfit for duty!" Trini threatened.

"Dammit Trini! I've killed you once, and I can do it again! If you don't know what I mean, ask Billy." Tanis screamed. Then she teleported out.

Jason turned away from the viewing globe, and back to Zordon.

"I see what you mean. D'you think Trini's right? Should we pull her?" he asked. Zordon's head weaved from side to side, as if he were shaking his head.

"I DON'T THINK SO, JASON. TANIS IS VERY UPSET. IF WE WERE TO PULL HER OFF THE TEAM, SHE MAY DECIDE TO ALLY HERSELF WITH RITA UNTIL THE OTHERS ARE WELL. WE CANNOT RISK THAT." Zordon boomed.

"You're right Zordon. You can't risk it." Tanis said, stepping out of the shadows.

"What the.." Jason said, and backed up a pace.

"Relax Jason, I'm not going to hurt anyone. I'm here to tell you that until Tommy is well enough to command again, I am going to work alone." Tanis said boldly.

"IMPOSSIBLE. IF YOU INSIST ON THIS COURSE OF ACTION, I SHALL HAVE BILLY LOCK YOU OUT OF YOU ACCESS TO YOUR ZORD."Zordon threatened.

*Zordon, don't be such an arrogant bastard.* a jovial voice commented.

"Sylvan! I knew you wouldn't let him!!" she smiled.

"Who?" Jason asked.

"Jason, this is my Animal Spirit, Sylvan." she introduced.

*_I_ decide whether or not she can have access to her Zord or not. And in my opinion Kitten, Zordon is right.* He said apologetically. Tanis fell to her knees, and hung her head. "Why?" she whispered.

*Revenge is a dish best served cold. Wait until your friends are better. Then, when the time is right, you will bring the dark one down.* sylvan said.

"What if I go rouge? What will you do?" she aksed timidly.

*I'll stand with you, kitten, if you feel that is best. I won't like it though, and I don't advise it. That's exactly what Rita wants. The angrier you get, the blacker your soul becomes. Summon your staff, and see what I mean.* He advised. Tanis's staff appeaerd in her hand. She paled drastically. The staff was no longer the bright and cheerful pink, but a deep fuscia.

"Oh... I had no idea what I was doing... I was just so mad." she whispered. Her staff slowly returned to pink in her hands.

"Thanks Sylvan. You're the best." she said with a happy but tear-filled smile, and hugged him tightly.

*Easy Kitten, easy!! I love you too. Now, there are three boys in the back room who haven't heard a voice other than Billy's for days. Go talk to them, even if they can't hear.* the lion said gruffly, and vanished in a burst of pink. Tanis banished her weapon, and smiled at Zordon.

"Zordon, if you weren't a floating head in a jar, I'd kiss you." she joked. Zordon had the decency to blush. Then Tanis hugged Jason.

"Thanks Jason. I never really knew what a great guy you were before this. I think from now on, we just might be friends." she said. Jason turned as red as his ranger armor. Tanis laughed, and jogged into the medlabs, where she tackled Billy with another apologetic hug.

Trini and Zack were startled as the pink ranger appeared before them in the peaceful woods. Both dropped into defensive stances. The Pink Ranger laughed. She really did sound like Kim. Tuggung off her helmet, she smiled.

"Trini, I'm sorry about what I said to you, and about what I did to you guys on Phaedos, even if it wasn't real. I realize now that I could have been wrong then." she apologized.

"So does this mean you're not here to kill Trini?" Zack demanded. Tanis laughed.

"Hit the nail on the head, as Kat once said. Actually, I'm here to tell you this:" Tansi bowed low.

"From now on, I will accept your leadership and Jason's in all things. You guys were some of the first. You have to know what you're doing, or Zordon would have left you in Switzerland, or wherever you had been." she said formally.

"Load off my shoulders." Zack commented. Tanis hugged him, and then Trini.

"I'm sorry. When I was on Phaedos, the Illusion you said 'We'd make a great team.' I think she was right."

Adam moaned.

"Adam? Can you hear me? It's Aisha!" a voice said.

Blearily, he opened his eyes. Aisha..? Izat you?" he slurred. Then he coughed.

"Here. Drink this." a second female voice said. A cold glass was pressed to his lips, and he swallowed the water that trickled into his mouth. He looked at the cup-bearer.

"Tanis?" he asked, unsure.

"Nope. It's me, Trini. Zordon called us back to help fight. You guys have been down for almost three weeks." the asian said. Adam groaned.

"How are they?" he asked.

"Rocky's healing nicely now, and Tommy's walked around three times already." Tanis stated, joining htem from somewhere off to the right.

"Is that Adam I hear?" a male voice asked. Adam smiled a little.

"Yeah, that's me, Tommy! How are you?" he aksed in a scratchy voice.

"Better than you, froggy. 'Bout time you got up. These three have been doting on us every spare moment they've had." he said, slowly walking over.

"Sorry. And don't call me froggy. You know I hate that." Tanis scowled at him.

'Do not be ashamed of your guardian! One day, he may just save your life. I know mine has." she lectured. Then she kissed him lightly on the forehead.

"Gotta go check on Rocky. I'll come back soon cuz." she promised. He felt Aisha dighten her grip on his hand, and a smile passed between her and Tnais before his cousin walked away.

Billy sighed and squeezed past Tanis's chair. Over the past few days, Adam had managed to get out of bed and walk around. Tommy was almost fully healed. He would be going home tomorrow. Rocky had been stirring a lot lately, and Tanis refused to leave his side unless there was battle. However, when she fought, she was quick, deadly. She gave no mercy. If fights where a teammate was in trouble, she would simply throw her sword so quickly that the monsters never even had a chance. He was almost posetive that if Rocky didn't get better soon, Tanis's behavior was going to land her in a cot as well.

Tanis held Rocky's limp ahnd in her own.

*God I hope you wake up. Half-whispered words, and sleepy stirrings aren't enough to give me hope. I need you.* she thought to herself. Rocky didn't move, only the steady rise and fall of his bare chest and the steady beep of the heart monitor said he was alive. Tanis kissed him lightly on the lips, and rose from her seat to go to the bathroom.

Adam watched his cousin walk away from Rocky's comatose form.

"So what do you think of the pairing?" a now familiar voice asked. Adam grinned as Zack sat down beside him.

"I'm glad they're semi-together. Tanis is good for him, but not so great for herself. I'm worried that she's going to get hurt one day." he said. Zack nodded.

"I know. She's pretty intense." Zack added. They watched as Tanis returned, and made a through check on the systems that were monitering Rocky's lifesigns. Then they both looked away as she sat down and took his hand again.

Tanis jumped as Zordon's voice boomed into the room.

"RANGERS, THERE IS A MONSTER IN THE DOWN TOWN AREA OF THE CITY. HE'S CALLING HIMSELF CUTTER. YOU MUST BE VERY CAREFUL." Zordon said. Tanis frowned, and kissed Rocky's cheek.

"I'll be right back, Rocky." she said, and teleported away, morphing simultaneously.

The battle with Cutter took longer than expected. It even came down to using the MegaFalconZord, something they hadn't had to do since Rocky had gone missing. When the battle was over, Tanis returned immediatly to the medlab. And screamed.

End