Disclaimer: the usual……………..

CHAPTER 9

Turbo Time

Lina sighed as she slipped her bracelet on. She missed Billy already but knew it had just been a phase because there was no way she would be able to see any of the rangers again, no matter how close she got to them. She just appreciated the memories she had.

"Are you okay?" asked a familiar voice. Lina glanced up to Zeek standing over her.

"I will be. So what's the scoop right now?" Lina asked.

"You are in the second team of Turbo Rangers. What's going on right now is a Christmas ball in a way," Zeek explained.

"And me with nothing to wear," Lina said sarcastically. Zeek smirked.

"I double as a kind of fairy godfather figure too ya know," he said before waving his staff a little. A light engulfed Lina's body and disappeared to reveal a beautiful red dress trimmed in green and a matching eye mask.

"Are we seriously going for the Cinderella effect here?" Lina asked, laughing a little.

"Just see how it goes and try to have a little bit of fun," Zeek instructed. Lina gave him a playful glare.

"You make me sound like an insecure introvert," she said. Zeek just smiled and disappeared. Lina looked over her dress, a little excited to be dressed up for once. She took a deep breath and looked at the entrance way.

"Here we go," she whispered to herself. Meanwhile, inside, Carlos stood off to the side looking a little bored as he sipped on his punch. Ashley was dancing with Justin while T.J. and Cassie were dancing together. He knew none of them were hooking up but he couldn't help but wonder if he'd ever meet his "princess".

"Hey Carlos, why aren't you out there dancing, man?" TJ asked as he and Cassie came over to get some punch.

"I'm not really into it right now," Carlos said.

"Well if you do, feel free to cut in…oh TJ, come on, I love this song," Cassie said as she pulled her friend and fellow ranger back out onto the dance floor. Carlos just smirked and went to get some more punch. He sighed again before glancing at the doorway. He had to do a double take when he saw Lina in the entrance way. He had never seen her before but whoever she was, she absolutely beautiful. His heart fluttered for the first time in ages when it came to a girl and his throat felt tight. Lina glanced at the refreshment stand and saw Carlos staring at her. She smirked and walked around the wall, observing the people in the room. Carlos wasn't sure what was moving him, but he found himself following her, not realizing that he came right up on her.

"Um, excuse me," he said. Lina turned around and smiled at him.

"Yes?" she asked. Carlos swallowed, becoming more nervous at the sight of her smile.

"Would you like to dance?" he asked, surprised he got the words out. Lina smiled again.

"I'd love to," she said. Carlos smiled and took her hand, leading her out onto the dance floor.

"Hey, who's that Carlos is dancing with?" Justin asked. Ashley smirked as she watched her friend dance with a stranger.

"Not sure, but I think he likes her," she said. Carlos and Lina danced for several songs until they came upon another slow song.

"Do you go to Angel Grove High?" Carlos asked. Lina had to keep herself from laughing.

"No," she said. Carlos just smiled.

"Then where did you come from? I've never seen you around here before," he said.

"I come and go," Lina said right as the music stopped. Carlos noticed that she was fanning herself.

"Do you want to go out and get some air?" he asked. Lina happily accepted the offer and slid her arm over his. The two walked right outside and stood under the archway right outside the Youth Center. The chilly night air mixed with Lina's spaghetti strap dress caused her to become cold very fast. She shivered and Carlos immediately responded.

"Here," he said as he slid off his jacket. He wrapped it around her, causing the two of them to get closer together. Lina couldn't believe this. This was going a whole lot faster than her relationship with Billy, of course, she shouldn't compare Carlos and Billy. Two completely different ranger, two completely different teams. She glanced passed Carlos and chuckled at what she saw.

"What?" Carlos asked. Lina motioned above his head. Carlos looked up and saw a mistletoe. He swallowed a little and looked down at Lina.

"Ever kissed a complete stranger?" he asked. Lina smirked, knowing he wasn't EXACTLY a stranger.

"There's a first time for everything," she replied. Carlos leaned in and softly pressed his lips to hers. Lina immediately felt sparks, causing her to deepen the kiss. Suddenly, a familiar beep went off. However, it went off with both of their communicators.

"Uh…I…have…," Carlos said, trying to find the words to leave safely without ruining the moment. Lina decided not to beat around the bush with this realm.

"Go morph," Lina said. Carlos was immediately stunned.

"What did you just say?" he asked.

"I know you're the Green Turbo Ranger. I'm not going to tell anyone, just go!" she cried. Carlos stumbled a little but ran off to meet his friends.

"Is there a method to your madness?" Zeek asked. Lina didn't even care where he came from.

"As much as I would like to have a butt load of new friends, the sooner I can get home, the less painful this whole process will be," Lina explained, trying to hold back tears.

"Then I suggest you go help them and don't think that it will always be painful," Zeek said before disappearing into thin air. Lina thought about what he said for a minute before going to work.

"STORM CALLERS, GO! POWER OF THE INFERNO!"

Fire engulfed her entire body and transported her to the Turbo Rangers fight with the piranatrons. She saw that they were struggling by the amount they were fighting, not to mention the fact that Elgar was involved in the fight.

"Haha rangers, you can't win," he taunted. Lina snuck up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Excuse me," she said calmly. Just as Elgar turned around, she created a fireball in her hand and punched him right in the face, launching him back forty feet.

"What was that?" Ashley asked.

"More like WHO was that?" TJ asked, noticing the new fighter on the field.

"The heat is on, fish freaks!" Lina declared sarcastically, taking her position to begin and finish the fight as quickly as possible.