Disclaimer:  I don't own Power Rangers.  Someone else does.  I don't know who because it keeps changing.  Please don't get offended if I insult your favorite character.  Some pairings are easy to write a story for while others are really tough.  So please realize that some of my stories will be better than others.  Hi to all my fellow AFPR's including my fellow female Psychos :).  And I really appreciate the reviews :).

     I'm back from a short hiatus from all things Power Ranger.  This is the first of my next group of non-requested stories.  Well, I'm not too crazy about this one, but I won't allow myself to write the next story until I finished this one.  Don't ask why, that's just how I am. 

Tanya and Tori

By

Eileen (Psycho Tangerine)

     "Ok, girls, thank you for coming."  Tanya looked up from her clipboard to gaze at the group of worn out pre-teens who had just tried out for a position on one of the six teams in the Angel Grove Junior Softball League.  "We will be posting the results by Friday.  I think you should all go home and get some rest."

     The girls just stood there, staring at her imploringly.

     Tanya forced a smile.  "You all did very well.  But you all need to go now so I can start deciding who gets to be on which team."

     The girls began to mumble among themselves, still hesitant to leave.

     "IF YOU DON'T ALL GO HOME NOW I WILL FILL ALL OF THE TEAMS WITH PRESCHOOLERS!!!!"  Tanya eyes were now blazing; her nostrils were practically breathing fire.

     The kids as well as the other coaches disappeared in a flash.

     Tanya smiled to herself.  "Works every time.  No way I'm ever going to let Adam talk me into getting a nose job."

     "Ahem." 

     Tanya looked down and saw an unfamiliar girl standing in front of her. 

     "Hi!  I'm Tori and I want to try out for a softball team."  The girl was very chipper.

     Tanya sighed.  "I'm sorry, but tryouts were at ten a.m.  You'd better start getting your butt out of bed or no one will hire you.  Then you'll just end up as an embittered housewife-slave rather than a powerful and important business woman."

     Tori stared at the older girl blankly.  "Actually, I didn't know about the tryouts until a half hour ago.  I had to beg my mom to drive me all the way here."

     Tanya frowned.  "Notices were sent to all Angel Grove girls in the fifth, sixth, and seventh grades.  Don't blame us if…"

     "Oh, that's probably the problem.  I'm from Blue Bay Harbor."

     Tanya sighed and sat on a bench.  "Well then, why don't you try out for softball there?"

    "Are you kidding?" exclaimed the eleven-year old.  "All that dumb place has is motor biking, skateboarding, and …yecch… surfing." 

     Tanya looked at her.  "You mean no one in your town plays any normal sports like baseball, football, or basketball?" 

     "Nope."

     "Heh, I bet you guys don't even have a martial arts program."  Tanya smirked at even the thought of Blue Bay Harbor ever having its own Rangers.

     "Nope…" began Tori.

     "I thought so," interrupted Tanya.

     Tori grinned.  "But I hear that they have a secret Ninja Academy."

     Tanya was deflated for a moment.  "Wait a second.  If it's a secret, how did you hear about it?"

     "Well, I know this girl in math who knows this girl in art who has a next door neighbor who said his cousin overheard these two older kids talking about how they met this other geeky kid who kept bragging about his dad running some secret Ninja Academy…"

     "So?"

     Tori continued as if Tanya hadn't interrupted.  "And that when those two kids tried to beat up that geeky kid, he just used some great karate-like moves on them and they ended up in traction for a month."

     Tanya frowned at this.  If either Jason or Tommy heard of such a misuse of the martial arts they would completely freak out.  "Well, never mind all that.  Look, I'm late for an…uh…appointment.  So let's get this over with."

     Tori crossed her arms.  "An appointment, huh?  What, he prefers doing it in the daytime?"

     Tanya blushed.  "No, he prefers nights, but that's not it.  I really do have an appointment.  Guess I'm getting a little cold."  She coughed unconvincingly.

     Tori nodded knowingly.  "Oh, I see.  Better get him and any others tested as well.  You really should be more careful about that kind of thing."

     Tanya glared at her.  "No, it's not…wait a second…how do you know all this stuff?  You're only ten."

     "Eleven, thank you very much.  Anyway, it just so happens that I know this girl who knows this guy who knows this other guy who…"

     Tanya put a hand to her forehead and groaned.  "Enough."  She picked up a bat and flung it towards the young girl who barely caught it.  "As I said, I'm in a hurry.  Let's see how well you bat."

     "Ok," Tori gleefully took a stance and held out the bat.   Three seconds later, the ball hit her in the back.  "Owwww!"

     "How about you try facing the pitcher this time?" 

     Tori blushed.  "Oh, yeah.  I kind of forgot about that."  She turned around and held the bat again. 

     Tanya groaned.  "And maybe you should hold the other end of the bat?"

     "Whoopsie," Tori let go of the fat end of the bat and turned it around.

     "Ok, now I'm going to toss you an easy one."  Tanya lobbed the ball across the plate.

     "Air ball!" screeched Tori as she dropped the bat and picked up the ball.  She then punted it straight into third base and began jumping around.  "Touch down!  Touch down!"

     Tanya stared at her in disbelief.  "Let me guess, you never watch sports."

     Tori grimaced.  "The only things they allow on TV at Blue Bay Harbor are skateboarding, motor crossing, and surfing contests."

     Tanya continued to stare in disbelief.  "What?  No one there has cable or satellite dishes?"

     Tori looked blankly at her.  "You mean like the china dishes my grandma has?"

     "Ahhh!  Forget it!"  Tanya fumed.  "I can't believe I wasted my time giving a tryout to someone who doesn't know the right end of a baseball bat and futhermoe…"

     "April Fool!"  Tori began to laugh uncontrollably. 

     "WHAT????!!!!!"

     "Oh, I…I…can't…" Tori gasped between each word as she tried to calm herself.  "I can't believe you fell for it!"

     "April Fools Day was over a week ago!"

     Tori ignored this bit of logic.  "When my cousin said you were completely idiotic and overbearing as a coach, I just didn't believe her.  But I guess she was right."  She had calmed herself to just snickering.

     "WHAT????!!!!"  Tanya approached the younger girl menacingly with the bat.

     "Are you crazy?"  Tori asked as she saw Tanya's threatening position.  "Do you want Zordon to kick you off the team?"

     Tanya went white and dropped the bat.  "But, but, but…how…. how…how..."

     "Oh, easy.  I have another cousin who knows this guy who has an uncle who knows this lady whose daughter is best friends with another girl whose little sister has this teacher who is dating this man whose second cousin twice removed…"

     Tanya, still a bit perturbed, nodded.  "Enough already!  I can't take it!"  She filed this problem away in her mind.  Maybe she could convince Zordon that this kid was dangerous enough for him to just zap away.  "So, I guess you do know how to play softball?" she asked just to change the subject

     "Of course.  I used to play it all the time."

     Tanya sighed.  "Well, I guess I can spare a few more minutes.  Why don't you grab the bat again and we can try…"

     "No way!"  Tori called as she ran towards a minivan.  "Who wants to play on a sweaty ball field when they can cool off while surfing?"

     As Tori rode away, Tanya sat on the grass and slowly began to bop herself on the head with the wooden bat.