Disclaimer: This song is not mine it is Loreena McKennitt's and the characters
except for Shana are not mine. DON'T SUE ME!
Bonfires dot the rolling hillsides
Figures dance around and around
To drUMs that pulse out echoes of darkness
Moving to the pagan sound
Tommy and Kim watched as the other Rangers joined the New Years Eve celebration. Kim laughed as Zack started
to do one of his funky dances. She still couldn't believe that they were celebrating their second year as Rangers
together. She smiled at Tommy who was yelling for Zack to get down. Tommy smiled at her and let his mind drift a
bit. He started to think of the New Years Eve two years ago. In the back of his mind he felt as if he needed to give
something a sign to show that he will remembered it. He grew somber as he remembered what it was. Kim
turned to him suddenly sensing his mood change.
"What's wrong Tommy?" Kim asked, a little concerned.
"It's nothing big," Tommy sighed. "I'm just thinking of all the people I knew. Sometimes it brings me down.
Especially when I think of this one person. She died a while ago."
"Some times it helps to talk about it." Kim suggested. "Did you love her?"
"Yeah I loved her like a sister." Tommy smiled in remembrance. "I knew her since Kindergarten. We were the best
of friends till it happened."
"What happened?" Kim asked.
"Some bastard attacked us." Tommy sighed as he sat down. "It was on New Years Eve. We were in the town square
with this big bonfire going. Her parents came her from Scotland and she told me of a Pagan tradition. On New
Years Ever there would be these big bonfires for the souls of the dead relatives. They called it All Soul's
Night."
Kim squeezed his arm as tears welled up in his eyes.
"After she told me I threw a stick of wood into the fire and we started to dance to the music that was playing. Some
guy who was passing through wanted to dance with her. She said no and he started to force her. I started to help her
when he pulled a gun out. But I got shot instead, she fell into the fire and was burned alive."
Tommy broke down and started to cry. Kim moved so that she could hug him in his time of need. The other
Rangers saw something was wrong and walked over to Tommy and Kim. Since Tommy was to choked up to tell
them Kim told them what happened.
Somewhere in a hidden memory
Images float before my eyes
Of fragment nights of straw
And of bonfires and dancing
Til the next sunrise
Later that night Tommy was in his bed thinking of her. He looked over on his dresser to the picture taken of them a
three years ago before it happened. They were both smiling at the camera. Her dark brown almost black hair and
blue-green eyes were a contrast to the light purple shorts and T-shirt. Tommy was dressed in all green and his hair
was flowing down his shoulders. They had their arms draped over each other's shoulders and giving the camera the
peace signs. Tommy sighed as he took the picture and held it to his chest letting some tears flow. When he opened
his eyes moments later he could almost see her face in the darkness. A light in the window caught his eyes as a
familiar voice whispered his name.
"Shana?" Tommy whispered as he looked out the window.
I can see lights in the distance
Trembling in the dark cloak of night
Candles and lanterns are dancing,
Dancing a waltz on All Souls Night
Tommy ran through the woods towards the light that seemed to be a bonfire. He stopped short at the edge the
woods to see a big bonfire blazing in the middle of a clearing. It looked real but it seemed to be a ghost fire. Just to
make sure Tommy looked around to see if anyone was tending to the fire. When he saw no one around he turned to
leave. He was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to see a figure of a familiar girl in front of him.
She had dark brown almost black hair, blue-green eyes and burned light purple clothes, the only thing really strange
about her was that she was translucent and she seemed two years older than when he knew her. Tommy backed up
a bit in fright just to trip over a root.
"Shana!" Tommy gasped.
"You klutz," The figure laughed as she walked closer to him and helped him up. "I see you are still tripping over
your own two feet."
Figures of cornstalks bend in the shadows
Held up tall as the flames leap high
TThe green knight holds the holly bush
To mark where the old year passes by
Tommy and Shana walked through a corn field hand in hand. Tommy noticed that the bonfire he say in the clearing
seemed to follow them around. Tommy kept looking forward as he said to himself in his mind that it was just a
dream. Finally Shana looked at him and smiled.
"It's not a dream Tommy." Shana chuckled. "I'm as real as you are at the moment. You did tell Kim but you did try
to save me."
"I tried to Shana but I didn't." Tommy sighed trying to keep the tears in. "I got shot in the shoulder as I threw you
out of the way but you fell into the fire. I lived, you didn't."
"Tommy it was my time." Shana smiled. "It's not your fault I died. I couldn't stay with you forever. Even if you are
my best friend."
"But I miss you so much," Tommy sobbed. "We never got to finish our dance. We never got to do all the things we
promised we would do."
"No we didn't get to do all the things we wanted to." Shana said as she walked back to the bonfire. "But we can
finish the dance. And our souls can be free." She walked over to Tommy and pointed to the fire. "What can you see
in the distance? What can you hear?"
"I can see us." Tommy whispered. "I can hear Celtic music, I can hear our song."
"Let's dance." Shana laughed.
I can see lights in the distance
TRrembling in the dark cloak of night
Candles and lanterns are dancing,
Dancing a waltz on All Souls Night
Tommy laughed as he joined Shana in the dance, they held hands as the drums beat louder. He felt whole and happy
again. He felt safe with his best friend. Tommy closed his eyes as he let out a whoop of joy. When he opened them
he saw a real bonfire where the ghostly one once was. He still felt Shana's presence with him but yet she wasn't
there.
He looked around and saw that the Rangers were with him and he had Kim in his arms. She laughed at the look on
his face. "You were sleepwalking Tommy!" Kim laughed.
"Yeah bro." Jason said. "We found you dancing in this grove and decided to make a fire and dance with you."
"I walked over to see why you were whooping and you grabbed me." Kim smiled.
"So I just started dancing with you." Tommy looked around again and saw a figure at the edge of the woods
watching him. When he saw her she smiled and started to leave. "Shana wait!" Tommy yelled as he ran over to
her.
Bonfires dot the rolling hillsides
Figures dance around and around
To drUMs that pulse out echoes of darkness
Moving to the pagan sound
Shana kept walking as Tommy chased her. She stopped on a small bridge that went over a small river. Tommy
caught his breath and looked at her. She smiled and walked up to him. "Don't go Shana." Tommy gasped. "I need
you."
"I will always be with you Tommy. As will all the other souls that love you." Shana smiled. "Look."
Shana pointed to the river and Tommy looked at all the little boats that held a candle. One seemed to glow brighter
than the rest as if it was a bonfire on a small boat Shana bent down and picked it up. "The Japanese would put small
boats with candles to represent a dead loved on a river and let it drift out to see." Shana whispered. "I think it was so
it could join all the other souls. Tommy set me free. I will always be with you. Kiss me good-bye?"
Tommy nodded and lightly brushed his lips across her and then moved away. When he opened his eyes Shana was
gone but he still held the boat that had the candle. Kim walked up to him.
"Was that her?" Kim asked.
"You saw her?" Tommy asked in surprise.
"Yes." Kim smiled. "Was that her?"
"Yeah." Tommy smiled. "That was Shana."
Standing on the bridge that crosses
The river that goes out to the sea
The wind is full of a thousand voices
They pass by the bridge and me
Tommy bent down and let the boat go. It started to drift away on the current. Kim took Tommy's hand in her own as
they watched the light drift off into the distance. Tommy smiled as he felt the presence of Shana in his heart and
soul.
"Come on you two the fun is just starting!" The other Rangers yelled.
Billy took out his boom box and put his Celtic CD on. When Tommy heard the drums he turned to Kim and smiled
as he held out his hand. "May I have the pleasure of this dance?" Tommy asked.
"Of course." Kim smiled as she took his hand.
I can see lights in the distance
TRrembling in the dark cloak of night
Candles and lanterns are dancing,
Dancing a waltz on All Souls Night
Tommy smiled as he and Kim started dancing to the same music he and Shana danced to. Soon the other Rangers
joined in. They didn't know what had told them what was the right move and the proper dance to this kind of music
they just knew what to do. From the distance bonfire a light shined as a female figure danced in the fire and
laughed. Tommy smiled as he saw the fire. Kim looked at him and kissed him on the cheek.
"What was that for?" Tommy asked.
"For being yourself." Kim smiled. "Happy All Souls Night."
"You too Kim. You too."
Tommy smiled as he looked into the flames and saw Shana dancing with all the souls of the Rangers, even his own.
"Happy All Souls Night Shana." Tommy whispered. "And thank you."
I can see lights in the distance
Trembling in the dark cloak of night
Candles and lanterns are dancing,
Dancing a waltz on All Souls Night
