Author's note: Okay, I know this is my first posted fanfic, but I've had them in my head many times in the past, and have written many original stories that supposedly aren't bad, so I'm giving it a try. Sorry for the lengthiness of my work, but I write long, it's in my nature. There is nothing I can do about it. If you don't like it, well, that's your problem. Don't worry, I think you'll know if it's to your liking not too far into it. And, unlike works of my friends (and collaborations between them and myself, and even maybe some of my own works in the future) which may not be very - shall we say, serious? - this one is not intended as humor, so don't let my reputation (or what will be my reputation soon, undoubtedly) of tangerine-based comedy stand in your way. Enjoy, and please, review. I've never been reviewed on this stuff by anyone besides the people I see every day...

This is sort of a sequel to Stephen King's The Stand. disclaimerness I do not own The Stand, nor do I own any of Mr. Stephen King's works. I do, however, own any and all characters that are...well, that are not featured in the book Duh.... Please read, and I hope you enjoy it, and I look forward to hearing your responses. On with the show! Er...fanfic. Right. On with the fanfic, that's what I meant. -nervous laugh- -sees tangerine in the distance runs- -off to go get it-

Random announcing voice from nowhere (RAVFN): Finally, she's gone. Now we can actually begin. Until she catches that citrus fruit, anyway.

Warning: The author is not a normal person. She is slightly insane and loves all things citrus. She may reappear before other chapters, as well. You have been warned.

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"Crystal?" Lilly asked, sounding distraught.

"What?" Crystal asked, sounding slightly irritated. She was sick of her twin sister's questions. She knew what they had to do, and Lilly didn't, because she didn't have to. End of story, case closed. At least, that was how Crystal saw it.

"How long 'till we're in the desert? I'm freezing!" Crystal looked over at her sister, and started to laugh at the sight of the 5'7" eighteen-year-old girl with the perfect waist-length brown hair, narrow waist, and deep blue eyes standing there in a mini skirt, short-sleeved shirt and sneakers, turned slightly blue from standing in the ankle-deep Colorado snow.

"That's because you decided to wear clothes like that while we were back in Georgia," Crystal teased. "Although I don't understand it. Who's gonna see you done up like that, anyway? Sure, it's been around twenty years since the epidemic, but the population is still pretty thin. Almost none of the cities are inhabited yet, except for the scattered few, like Atlanta, where we're from. And we should be there in several weeks, maybe a month, give or take a few days. I'm not sure. I've never walked to Nevada before."

"Well, all you said was 'wake up, you idiot, we're going.' You never said where we were going. Why the heck are we going to Las Vegas, anyway? We already know it's gone!"

"Because I need to find out why, find out what really happened, not just what happened in the stories people tell about it. I need to find out what really happened to him." Crystal's eyes were cold all of a sudden, colder than usual. The girls were nearly identical, but not quite. Crystal's hair was a coppery blonde, and her eyes were paler, holding either angry fire or uncaring ice, depending on her mood, but never the warm depth her sister's did. She had the same basic joyfulness, sometimes to the extent of seeming perky, but there was something about her that had always made Lilly very nervous. Even stranger was the fact that she seemed unaffected by temperatures, cold or hot, and every day wore a tee-shirt and jeans, though before this trip, she'd gotten a hold of a denim jacket and exchanged her normal sandals for boots that made an overly-audible 'click' on hard surfaces. Something was strange about her sister, Lilly knew that now more than ever, when a glimpse of Crystal out of the corner of her eye would make her heart leap in fear.

"We know what happened. It was a nuclear bomb. They destroy everything, there'll be nothing left to investigate! You can't find anything out from a site like that. All we're gonna manage to do is get ourselves killed by radiation!" Lilly objected.

"We won't get hurt, and I will find what I'm looking for," Crystal said, blankly. "I know it."

"How could you know it?"

"He told me." She smiled at her sister. To the random onlooker, she would've appeared happy, but to look deeper was to see something wrong in her eyes, something that wasn't meant to be there.

"But, Crystal!" Lilly objected. She was on the verge of tears. "That can't be! He died over a year before we were born!"

"Time is no more than trivial numbers. It shan't lead me astray from what I've been told since our travels began."

"Oh, Crystal," Lilly sighed, her voice quavering. Tears began to fall softly down her cheeks. "If anyone finds out, they'll...they'll kill you. You'll be murdered if anyone hears about this."

"No one will hear. I'll be sure of that." She fingered a small gold disc on a short chain around her neck absent-mindedly. "We'll stop in the next town we find, and trade in that look of yours for something a little more travel-friendly. I'll take my precautionary measures just before then, okay?"

- - - - -

That night, as the sisters slept, the next wave of messages reached them. For Crystal, it was normal, but for Lilly, these were the kinds of things that only happened in the stories from before she was born.

Crystal was looking out over destruction, the earth scorched. In a blink, the ghost of the bright city that had one been there stood before her.

"All of this was mine," a voice said, seemingly from behind her, but she knew that if she turned to look, noone would be there. Noone ever was there. He was gone, along with his city.

"I know this isn't real. Vegas is destroyed, and you're dead. It isn't real," she said, sadly. Oh, how she wished it was real, that it truly stood before her, and that when she turned around, a man would stand there. But it was a hopeless wish. It was just a dream, it was always just a dream.

"Yes, but you're real. You live. But you don't live as you could. You could have everything. You could have power. I've told you that before, I remember, but you don't seem to understand. If anyone can avenge the destruction they brought here for the sake of their precious Free Zone, it's you."

"But I can't do anything like that! I'm not good at plotting that kind of stuff," Crystal objected. "And that goody-two-shoes prick they call my sister isn't gonna make it any easier. When we were little, she used to dream of being a hero in that old story. She was always trying to convince me that she'd had dreams about the Free Zone and a 'new dark force rising,' and then she'd beg me to go with her so we could stop it. All I did was mention to her where we were going and why, and she started sobbing. There's no way I'd get away with it, she'd tell someone!"

"First of all, I'll continue to guide you until you're on the right path. You know that." Crystal felt a presence, like a reassuring hand on her shoulder, but she looked there, and once again saw nothing. "And as for Lilly..." He muttered under his breath after speaking her name, and Crystal knew he couldn't have said anything good about her. She laughed lightly. "Let's just say I've learned a few new tricks since my time ended. You'll know what to do when you have to do it. You can channel the power through that pendant, though you won't be as strong as you could be until you get the other one." Crystal just nodded, agreeing to everything that had been said, and just hoping she'd figure out what it all meant later. She didn't want to risk appearing ignorant. And with that, it ended, and she was back in the shelter of a broken-down car that noone had found the time to dispose of yet. Without thinking, she placed her left hand on her right shoulder, as if expecting to feel something there, but still, there was nothing. A somewhat disappointed sounding sigh escaped, as she wished that same wish once again. She looked to her sister, who was still fast asleep.

Lilly was walking through the streets of a city she shouldn't know, but for some unknown reason, she knew where to go. She continued on, many people smiling at her as she walked by. It seemed like a nice place, with very friendly people, and the sun was shining. But it was still cold.

She finally reached the place she was looking for. One of the houses, not seeming any different from the others, stood before her, but for some reason, she felt that she had to be there.

The door opened, and she found herself drawn inside. By what, she wasn't sure. It was a nice place, with a free-standing fireplace and one wall taken up entirely by a window, but there was something about it that made her feel uneasy. It felt like some cross between fear, suspense, and just a tinge of sorrow. For a moment, she considered leaving, but somehow couldn't bring herself to do it. A nervous laugh escaped her lips. Now, why would I leave this place just because I get a strange vibe from it? she though, almost amused with the notion. I get strange vibes from everything!

She attempted to shake the feeling, but it still wasn't entirely gone. She began to look around curiously, and stopped in front of a door. But a door to what? Lilly sighed. Probably just a basement, and why should she be bothered to go down there? She turned to leave, not seeing any reason for her to be in there, when there was a sound from the direction she'd been facing previously. She looked back to see the open door - it had been to a basement from the looks of things - and found herself facing a black-haired man not much older than herself, by the looks of it.

"I...I'm s-sorry," Lilly stammered, nervously. "I...I didn't r-realize anyone was...was here. I guess I...I'll be going, now, and leave you alone..." It wasn't so much that he himself scared her, as there didn't seem to be a threatening thing about him. It was the fact that she'd been found somewhere she maybe wasn't supposed to be, and she'd always hated being in any sort of trouble. Trouble was Crystal's business, not hers.

"It's okay," he said, and smiled at her. "You were supposed to come here."

"I was? Okay..." she said, trailing off at the end, somewhat in disbelief. "Er...Why?"

"I needed to talk to you about something. You don't mind, do you?" he asked. Lilly just shook her head 'no,' that she didn't mind. "Alright, then I guess I'll get straight to the point. Something is coming. Something a lot of people won't like, and didn't like before."

"Him..." Lilly said, to herself more than to the man in front of her. Then, she thought, Oh, my gosh. This is one of those dreams, like in the stories. That fact frightened her, as well.

"Actually, this time it seems to be more of a...more of a her. But the concept is pretty much the same. This new one coming, though...She's got different power, the kind that there's no way to learn in this world you live in. She's got help from someone who's seen both sides."

"Both sides of what?"

"Both sides of being: life and death. There's not much more I know now to tell you, except for the fact that you are of great importance in the fight to end it again, hopefully for the last time." Lilly gasped at the what he said. She had help, guidance, it seemed, from someone who'd seen both life and death. He told me. Time is no more than trivial numbers. It shan't lead me astray from what I've been told since our travels began. That was what Crystal had told her.

"Well, I don't know what I can do for now, without more information, so just...keep me updated," she requested. He nodded in reply. Lilly smiled. There was something she liked about this man, but she wasn't sure what it was...Maybe just the fact that he tolerated her more than most people. "Maybe we can talk in real life sometime about something less...evil?"

"I'm sorry, Lilly, but that can't happen. Even if you would've come almost twenty years ago, when I was here, 'talking' wouldn't have been the word for the conversation...In fact, you should enjoy that gift while you can." At this, Lilly was completely confused. "Hm. 'Real life.' I remember that..."he said, in a nostalgic sort of tone.

All of a sudden, Lilly's surroundings whirled about, and she was unable to distinguish one thing from another. When it stopped, she was horrified. She stood in the same spot, but the house around her was obliterated. Everything was rubble and ashes, and that man was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, she was all too sure where she was, and who she'd been talking to.

She awakened with a jolt, to find that her sister was already awake, and watching her.

"Are you alright?" Lilly asked, noticing how Crystal held her shoulder so awkwardly.

"Yes, of course," she said, and hurriedly folded her arms across her chest. "But I'm not so sure if you are." Lilly then felt something on her cheek. She ran her hand over it, to find water. At some point in that dream, she'd begun to cry, though she wasn't sure if it was for her sister and the danger that the situation put them both in, or for the somewhat charming Nick Andros and his untimely death.

- - - - -

When they climbed out of the car and looked in the direction they were headed, the sisters could see a city not too far away.

"We'll be able to make it by this afternoon if the weather holds up," Crystal said, as she started on her way. Lilly hurried to catch up.

"Why are we on foot, anyway? We're old enough to drive, and most of the roads have been cleared enough to get through without much trouble."

"I do things as I'm told, without questioning," Crystal replied. "Now is the time to make sure no one will hear of this from you, Lilly." The way to do so suddenly flooded into her head, just as had been promised. She gave her sister that dangerous look again, and a dreadful thought entered Lilly's mind.

"You're not going to...going to kill me, are you?" she asked, feeling the tears in her eyes again.

"Nothing of the sort," Crystal said, with false sympathy. She wrapped one hand firmly around the pendant of her necklace, and proceeded to place the other over her sister's mouth. Lilly screamed, not caring that there was no one around to hear her.

By the time Crystal let her go, Lilly's scream had faded away to oblivion, though she wasn't sure why. She opened her mouth to ask what had been done, but not a sound came out. She tried again, and failed once more. She placed a hand across her throat, giving her sister a look between confusion and terror. You should enjoy that gift while you can...

"And now you can't let anything slip, now can you?" Crystal asked. "Come on, we've gotta get into that city before you die of hypothermia." She began to walk again, the silenced Lilly close behind.

Before too long, they'd reached the sign at the entrance to the city. Crystal said out loud as she read, with a slightly panicked tone in her voice, "Boulder." She swallowed hard. She'd heard of that place.

- - - - -

After a lot of pleading and 'Hey, you promised,' looks from Lilly, Crystal finally gave in, and entered the city. Almost immediately, they were stopped for questioning or identification. People didn't just randomly walk into cities like these two did, at least not anymore, so noone could be too careful.

"What is your business here in Boulder?" a man asked.

"Well, you see, I...Well, I've spent my whole life in the east, and was planning on checking out the west," Crystal said, which was pretty much true. She's spent her whole life in the east, and was going to check out something in the west, so she didn't so much think of it as a lie. "My sister, though...Well, she's not used to this sort of weather, so I promised her we'd stop in the next town we found and find her an outfit with a little more substance before we went any farther in this giant snowflake they call Colorado."

Lilly opened her mouth, about to say something to the effect of, "I can speak for myself," but then shut it, remembering that she no longer could.

"Alright. Seems reasonable. Might I ask what your names are?"

"I'm Crystal Thomas, and this is my twin sister, Lilly." At the strange look the man gave her, she explained, "I have to do the talking, sir. You see, Lilly has no voice to answer with."

"Is that so?" he asked, slowly, looking as though he was in thought over something, and then said, "I'll be back in just one minute."

The man hurried off into a nearby store of some kind or another, and returned only moments later with a spiral notebook and a pen. He explained, "Now you won't have to let your sister answer everything for you," and handed the items to Lilly. It was a brilliant idea, really. Why hadn't she thought of it before?

She opened it to the first page, and wrote quickly. She was lucky, she supposed, that she'd always been a fast writer. She showed it to the man with a smile. 'Thanks. This should come in really handy! I was starting to get sick of listening to Crystal talk.' The man laughed, and nodded his, 'You're welcome.'

Just then, a woman rushed over. "We have company!" she announced, excitedly.

"No, really? I hadn't noticed anyone unfamiliar around," Crystal said, sarcastically.

"Oh, hello. I'm sorry, but you're not who I was talking about. You're certainly new, though. Maybe we can talk sometime. Guess which renowned travelers have finally come back for another visit?" She'd suddenly shifted to talking with the local man.

"No way!" he said, sounding as excited as the woman had. Two people, seemingly having come in on a different road then the one where the girls stood, could be seen walking closer to where they were. "Come on, you two, you should meet them," he said to the Thomas twins, and headed toward the others. A group of people was starting to form out of the woodwork of the city, all approaching the same point. Lilly wrote as she walked.

"Hello. I don't believe we've met," Crystal said, with that strange smile again, to the other visitors, who appeared to be a good bit older than she and her sister. The quiet sister handed over a paper reading, 'I'm Lilly. That's my sister, Crystal. We're just passing through. I figured I'd give you this before my sister took it upon herself to speak for me again. In case you're wondering, I don't talk because I can't.' It was probably a lot to take in, but she might as well say it now and get it over with.

The man read it, and showed it to the woman beside him. They smiled, though somewhat sadly, at Lilly's note. "I'm Stu, and this is Frannie," was all he had time to say before a crowd of old friends gathered to ask about what was going on in the rest of the country. As the girls walked away, over the crowd, he shouted, "If you get the chance, you should talk to Tom."

"Well, that was pointless," Crystal said, jokingly, once they were out of ear-shot. "Why does everyone think we should meet people?"

Lilly wrote a note and handed it to her sister. 'It's probably a good idea. After all, I've heard of those two and of Tom in the stories. I'd like to meet him, if you aren't in too big a hurry.'

"Well, just how do you suppose we should go about finding him?" Crystal asked. Lilly smiled brightly at her sister's somewhat agreement to her request.

'I've heard of the house. I'll know it when I see it.'

And with that, the two girls set off. Each one knew for sure only of her own calling. The two of them walked side by side on different roads.

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RAVFN: Nice chapter, huh? Future ones will undoubtedly be longer.Not bad for the author being new at this...and insane...Very, very insane...

Author: Aw, how sweet of you. You noticed. -gnaws caught tangerine-

RAVFN: How could I not? You chase fruit!

Author: -smugly- And if it ever becomes an Olympic event, I'll win the gold medal, since I'll have had practice.

RAVFN: Anyway, despite the author's questionable mentality, she'd still like you to review!

Author: If you don't, I'll beat you with a grapefruit!

RAVFN: Right...You do that...-mutters- Citrus-loving freak...

Author: -blushing- Thank you!

Author: To me, that qualified as a compliment.

RAVFN: Okay, now you're scaring me BIG time...

Author: You're welcome!