Chapter 2: Why are things Screwy?

Master Ji walked into the game room moments later. Jayden was the first one up, the others following.

Master Ji stopped the questions before they started.

"Anya is fine. The scare and over exhaustion just caused her to get a little sick. She will be fine after some rest." He told them. Jayden sighed, sinking back down with the rest.

"Told you it wasn't bad." Mike said to Jayden. Jayden rolled his eyes. Ji smiled, then frowned.

"There is something else." He said softly, sinking down on the couch. They looked at him.

"Since becoming a sorceress, her powers have been a little. . .how you say. . .screwy? They've been making her sick too. We can't let her use up her powers." He explained.

"Or what?" Emily asked. Master looked to the ground. They all looked up with wide eyes.

"It can kill her. If she uses too much or gets tired too quickly you have to make her calm down, or she can get hurt. Or worse." He finished. Jayden looked at him.

"So basically she's sick?" Kevin asked. Ji nodded.

"That's horrible." Mia whispered, pushing her hair from her face. Jayden stood up. No one looked at him as he walked out of the game room. He grabbed his sword from the armory and headed to practice outside. As he walked, he passed by Anya's room. Stopping by her open doorway, he looked at her. She lay on her side, asleep, a smile plastered across her face as her arm draped over the side of her purple covered bed. Jayden's lips twitched, before it became a smile. She looked so peaceful. She groaned, shifting in the bed. Jayden shook from his dream and went back into reality. How was he going to keep her from fighting?

-Days Later-

"That's unfair!" Anya looked up from her sketch-pad as she heard the yell through her ear-buds. Master Ji had given them the day off and they were enjoying a day off in the park. Emily was throwing the disc around with Mike and Kevin, Mia was setting up the picnic they brought, and Jayden was off for a jog for a bit. Anya sat against a tree, listening to her ipod as she sketched in her sketch-pad. Her foot and pencil tapped to the beat.

"Pretty, pretty please? Don't you ever, ever feel? Like you're less than, less than perfect. Pretty, pretty please? If you ever, ever feel, like you're nothing. You're perfect to me." Anya sang softly, her eyes closed. She opened them back up as she started to draw her friends. She was very good at drawing, and every once in a while she would try and draw the ones that meant the most to her. She already had one of Mike playing pool, and Kevin training. She was working on Emily as she leaned against the tree while the two guys played against each other. She smiled as it came better than expected. After she shaded in the last part, she looked up to see Jayden standing there, breathing heavily and wiping sweat from his brow, tossing it near her.

"Eww. You're sick Jay!" She exclaimed, pulling her ear buds out of her ear. Jayden laughed, flinging sweat on her again. Anya shrieked, jumping up. She pushed him backwards, even though he didn't move. Anya sighed, crossing her arms across her chest. Jayden rolled his eyes.

"Come on. Let's go eat." He suggested. Anya closed her sketch-pad, rolled the chord around her ipod and went over to the picnic.

-Hours Later-

Anya popped a grape in her mouth after throwing one into Jayden's mouth. The others had already gone home but Jayden and Anya had stayed behind, watching the lake as the sun began to set. Anya yawned, popping another into her mouth as she messed with the songs on her ipod. Jayden turned over on his back. They sat in complete silence, enjoying the comfortable breeze and warm weather. Jayden watched as Anya's hair blew back from the wind, making it flow like a river. She looked at him, smiling.

"What?" She asked, giggling.

"Nothing." Was all Jayden said, turning his eyes away. He couldn't admit to her that she was beautiful in his perspective. Not the almighty red ranger. Anya laughed, pushing her hair behind her ears. He smiled, then sat up.

"Awh Jayden look!" Anya whispered, pointing to a trash can. A fuzzy dog was rooting through the garbage for food.

"Come here girl!" Anya called to the dog. The dog looked at her, raising its ears.

"Anya I don't think that's a good idea. . ."Jayden started. Anya shushed him, holding her hand out with a couple of grapes. The dog walked up to her, sniffing the grapes. She began eating them.

"Awh. Look she's so sweet." Anya exclaimed, petting the dog, which wagged its tail. Jayden slowly reached for the dog, scratching it behind the ears. The dog barked, causing Jayden to jump back. Anya laughed.

"She likes you." She said, laughing as the dog sniffed her face. Jayden shook his head.

"I wonder if Master Ji will let us keep her. She could be our mascot." She offered. Jayden raised an eyebrow.

"Mascot? A dog?" He said. Anya glared at him. Jayden shrugged.

"I think I'll call you. . .Terra. Come on girl, let's go home and see if Master Ji will let us keep you." She said, standing up. Jayden laughed at his friend's seriousness on the dog. Terra barked, and started to follow her.

"You coming slowpoke?" Anya yelled back at Jayden. Jayden nodded, jogging up to her.

Sanzu River…

Dayu walked up to Master Xandred.

"Master. Everyday the sorceress's powers grow stronger. And Master Ji has found some help for it. What are we going to do?" She asked. Master Xandred smiled.

"I know what I am doing Dayu. If she uses her powers too much, she becomes sick. Plus love is playing a way into this plan. Soon I will be victorious. And maybe I'll have that pretty little sorceress in my clutches." Xandred explained. Soon he will be victorious.

….. Headquarters. Anya's room…

Anya smiled at the sleeping Terra on her bed beside her. Ji allowed them to keep the dog, and everyone loved her. Terra was attached to Anya's side though. Anya smiled as she looked up into her dark room. Her walls were a dark purple, along with her bedding. Her floor was a light brown shaggy carpet. A desk was to one side near her balcony.

Anya sighed, looking at her new deeply drawn sketch of Jayden. It was really good, her pencil bringing out every line in him. She smiled, blushing a little by the light of her little desk lamp. She didn't know why she was always thinking of him, of his safety and well- being. She didn't know why she dreamed of him. What was wrong with her?

Still, she did like it. She had been wanting him so much, and in different ways. She wanted him to hold her, to tell her when she felt horrible that everything would be okay. That was the other problem. Her powers were off also. They weren't working right, and when they did they left her utterly exhausted and sick. She wanted to know why. Pushing her bangs from her face, she crossed her legs, looking in her mirror. She smiled at her pajamas. A pair of black capris with purple stars and a purple tank top. Laying back on the pillows, she scratched Terra.

"What am I going to do Terra?" She asked her. Terra whined, laying beside Anya as she fell into a dreamless sleep.