Too Little Too Late (Not a song fic)
Disclaimer
I do not own the Power Rangers or even this idea. BellaVision asked me to write this and I complied. I do not own the whole idea of the morpher's returning after a ranger dies I don't know who did I just hope I'm not stealing anything from that person. Please read and review.
Chapter 1
Andros tossed and turned in his bed, his hair and clothing were all sticky from the sweat as he was having one of the worst dreams in his life. Ashley. They were always about her. He loved her… but she never knew it. And now it's too late to do anything about it. Now that she's gone. Flashes of her face, battles they went through, his own jealousy when Zhane came back and stole her attention away from him raced through his mind. He tried to stop the tears that fell from his eyes into his ears but he couldn't. He never could.
That day was a bad day from the start and he couldn't handle the bickering from his beloved and her best friend and of all the things to bicker about … chores!
His mind raced as he remembered that day in perfect detail.
(Flashback)
The say started out normally. Andros and Ashley were finishing eating breakfast; Cassie who finished early was doing her chores for the day. She was sweeping around the jump tubes.
"So were still on for practice right?" he asked his beloved looking into her eyes.
"Mmm" she mumbled, with a mouthful of food, nodding, "Of course."
"Well," he said standing up while she finished, "I'll see you at the Simudeck then."
She nodded again. Cassie started sweeping closer to her. "Oh! Hey Cassie. Have you washed my sheets yet?" Ashley asked as Cassie swept near her. Cassie scoffed, "I've been a little busy." She said putting her arms up in the air. "Okay then." Ashley muttered, she got up taking a bunch of eggs in her hand with her.
"Hey. Hey," said Cassie watching Ash leave with eggs in her mouth, "You know I just cleaned this table before you sat down and messed it up?"
Ashley looked down at her hands and snapped, "Sorry," she put her eggs back on her plate and started pushing the food on the ground.
"Hey!" said Cassie looking at what Ashley was doing, "I just mopped the floor!"
"So what? That means it can never get dirty again?"
"You can at least wait until it dries you know."
"We clean it gets dirty. We clean again that's what happens." Said Ashley.
"We clean? I don't see you with a mop. You and your acrylic nails! Ha. I'm always the one cleaning!"
"Always. No I don't think so," Said Ashley as Carlos and TJ started walking to the dining room. Ashley continued, "I cleaned three weeks ago."
"That's three years ago!" said Cassie throwing around the broom.
The boys entered the doorway just watching as the girls fought with each other.
"Look! This week is my duty to check the systems and I'm done for the day." She pointed at Cassie, "Your not. Too bad!"
Carlos had enough. He walked in the room, "What is going on here!"
Cassie pointed to Ashley, "She's a pig!"
Ashley pointed back to Cassie, "Ms. Thing here doesn't like her duties."
The girls glared at each other.
TJ walked in next to Carlos and spoke, "We all agreed to divide the duties."
Cassie glared at Ashley as Ashley was giving the 'I told ya so' look. "Well I guess I changed my mind." She snapped walking to the boys. She handed the broom to TJ, "You clean." She walked away. They all watched her retreating figure.
(End of flashback)
Andros turned and his eyes snapped open. He missed her so much and his team with nothing with out her. Cassie felt needlessly guilty for not saying sorry to her and wishes it were her that didn't make it out of that explosion. He sat up slowly and put his head in his hands. 'Cassie was just having a bad day that day. That's why she lashed out. And that's what I can't get her to see. Ashley would all want us to be happy.' "And that includes me." Andros mumbled.
He remembered losing her during that attack. The girls still hadn't made up but Cassie was being beaten and wouldn't let anyone help her and I know that that hurt Ashley more than the explosion. He just wished he could take that day back. All of it.
(Flashback)
The boys were in the bridge and so was a furious Cassie. She was dusting the consoles.
"Oh, Cassie, will you check the hyper rush converters?" Andros asked not knowing what he was getting into.
Cassie slumped and stopped dusting completely, "Checking the functions systems was Ashley's job this week." She turned around and snapped at Andros. "Do you see this floor?" Carlos who was next to Andros looked down at the floor as Andros did, "You see this floor. Do you see how clean it is?" She whispered. The boys looked back up. "That was my job." Andros looked at her then the ground then back at her. Cassie huffed and turned around. Andros looked at Carlos with confusion written all over his face. Cassie stalked off to another side of the room and kept dusting. TJ walked in with a very pissed off looking Ashley. He brought her over to Cassie. "Sit down." He said gently pushing Ashley in a chair. "You too." He said to Cassie. Carlos and Andros walked over. Cassie sat down and the girls looked at each other before turning they're chairs back to back not looking at each other with they're arms crossed over they're chests.
"Now listen," TJ took control, "Neither one of you is getting up until we talk this out." Ashley glared at TJ. "Well?" TJ asked.
"Well I've been cleaning this ship-" Cassie started. "We all had to clean," interrupted Ashley. "So that gives you the right to just mess it up?"
"We live here! It gets dirty."
"Yeah we live here! Were not—"
"QUIET!" said TJ the girls shut up. "Both of you are acting like two year olds. Your best friends."
"Yeah right." Said Ashley moving her chair again.
"I don't think so." Said Cassie turning her chair back.
TJ looked like he was going to throttle the girls to make them see reason.
"We've all been on this ship for a long time. We're all a little tired. But—" he got interrupted by a beeping. He glared at DECA.
"What is it DECA?" Asked Andros.
"The Pink Psycho Ranger is in Angel Grove." DECA responded in her cool voice.
"Lets go!" Andros said the boys started running. TJ turned back and jogged to the girls and grabbed they're arms. "Come on." The girls jumped up and ran with them.
(End of flashback)
Andros chuckled at the looks TJ was getting from the girls and was pretty glad that he didn't get those looks at least from the girl he loved more than the entire galaxy. Especially when Cassie was going on and on about the floor. That always cracked him up. 'I think she finally cracked that day. To bad it wasn't at a monster. She could have used that anger for good.' He sighed thinking about the fight that ensued and the reason why he was missing her like crazy. He wished something would happen to him in a fight then anything. 'But I've been through just about anything. Why should this be any different?' he didn't feel like this when Karone got kidnapped, when his parents died, when Zhane was almost destroyed in battle, or even when Karone got brainwashed into evil again. Why now? 'Because you loved her. You loved her like no other.' A voice inside of him answered. 'Yeah? Well how is that going to help me now?' he asked that stupid voice. The voice didn't answer. He sighed again reliving the memory in agonizing detail.
(Flashback)
The rangers, fully morphed, were running. An explosion made them jump back a step. Psycho Pink zapped in with Quantrons. "Psycho Pink!" Cassie said.
"That would be me. Now its time to capture a ranger," she looked at the Quantrons, "GET THEM!" she pointed at the rangers. The Quantrons ran to the rangers. The fighting ensued all the rangers were surrounded by Quantrons fighting they're way out. While Cassie was fighting Psycho Pink tackled her. "Is that all you got?" Cassie asked getting up. "You can't handle what I've got… hyaaa..." Psycho Pink charged. Cassie flipped over her and continued fighting.
Psycho Yellow stood up at a building and mumbled something, "She wears them down and I have easy picking." She walked away.
Psycho Pink had Cassie down with her arms covering her head and was about to strike when Ashley kicked her chest and pushed her away. TJ and Ashley surrounded Cassie. "Star Slinger! Hya!" She zapped Psycho Pink. Psycho Pink dogged it and aimed a zap at Ashley. TJ took it for her. Ashley walked up to him, "TJ are you okay?"
"I'll be alright." TJ managed. "This is all my fault." Cassie muttered. Psycho Pink sent a zap at Cassie, which engulfed her in blue lightning. Cassie flew to the ground; Ashley and TJ flew to her. "Cassie!" said Ash. "Are you alright?" Asked TJ.
Cassie pushed them away, "No! Get away. Its me she wants." She stood up.
"Cassie no!" said TJ.
"You two don't know what it takes to help her!" Said Psycho Pink.
"Oh yeah?" asked TJ
"Lets find out! Hya!" Ashley jumped up in the air trying to get out her blade arm and Psycho Pink grabbed her arm and started kneeing her in the stomach. Ashley landed on the ground and Psycho Pink stepped on her stomach. TJ went after Psycho Pink and he got backhanded away.
"I thought this would be more difficult." Said Psycho Pink looking at Ashley.
"What's happening!" asked an older lady walking down stairs. Psycho Pink zapped her. "Ahhh!" the lady yelled and landed on her stomach. Ashley pushed Psycho Pink's foot off of her and ran to the lady.
"Its alright ma'am. Are you okay?" Ashley asked leaning over the lady. The lady moved in a flash of light and Ashley was touching the ground. The lady was a couple feet away, laughing. The lady flung her bag on the ground and looked at Ashley. She pointed her finger at Ashley and shackles made they're way around her wrists. "What are you doing? I'm here to help you?" She asked faintly. She looked up as the lady transformed into Psycho Yellow, "You're the one who needs help." She flashed behind Ashley and grabbed her. "Gotcha!" she whispered in Ashley's ear. "Wait!" Psycho Pink said.
"Why? I have us a prisoner." Said Psycho Yellow. Ashley's arms went to Psycho Yellow's arms trying to pry them off.
"But you promised it would be pink!"
"I lied." She laughed sinking into the ground. Ashley cried out and lifted her arms to the sky.
Cassie watched as Ashley slowly disappeared. "Ashley no!" Ashley still had her arms up and Cassie flew to them trying to catch them before they disappeared with her. But she was too late. "Ashley! I'll find you." TJ looked at Cassie who was sprawled on the ground looking at the spot Ashley vanished on. Andros finished off his Quantrons. "Cassie!" he ran to her. Carlos was finishing off his. "Hang on!" he ran also.
"I've got to hurry." Said Psycho Pink running to Cassie but she was too late as well. The boys surrounded her and went into they're fighting positions. "She's mine!"
"I don't think so!" said Andros knowing that he couldn't lose someone else. He jumped up and pushed one on his battlizer and punched her twice. She fell to the ground. "I'll be back for her Power Rangers." She popped out.
"Cassie." He ran back to her. She was still looking at the ground with her hands shaking. "Ashley. I'm so sorry. All those horrible things I said to you. Ugh and now you're gone! It's all my fault." She clenched her fists and put them against her helmet.
Andros leaned down, "You're being too hard on yourself." Andros said with a steady voice, "There's no way you could have known that this was going to happen." He placed a hand on her shoulder, keeping his own shaking and sobs inside where they would stay until the night. "Lets get to the ship." He said.
"But what about Ashley?" Cassie asked looking up. Andros helped her up.
"We can't help her here." He said.
((((((((((((((((
Ashley, still shackled landed on her side in a cell, like a prisoner. Psycho Yellow advanced, "Alright. It's time I take the rest of your powers."
"Not if I can help it!" Ashley got up and tried to fight but was losing terribly. She fell to the ground again. "Don't waist my time. With those shackles on you haven't got a chance against me."
Ashley looked at the shackles and they beeped and changed colors, "She's right." She mumbled.
"Time to finish the brain drain." Psycho Yellow said putting her arms out and laying her palm on Ashley's helmet. Ashley's hands circled her wrists trying to get her hand off of her head but it proved useless. She cried out while Psycho Yellow was laughing. "No!" Ashley said. But Psycho Yellow didn't listen and laughed harder and louder. A blue arrow pierced her armor. "Hold it right there." Said Psycho Pink popping in with a bow.
"What are you doing?" Psycho Yellow yelled. "Me? The question is what are you doing? I thought the plan was that we would steal they're powers not just you." Psycho Pink yelled back. "Certainly you don't think I'd double cross you?" she asked. "You would double cross your own mother. That is … if you had one." Psycho Pink said.
"Hey," Psycho Yellow hit her, "No need to get personal. Just because I have the brains to pull this off." She pointed to her head. "Why you…" Psycho Pink attacked her. Then moved to Ashley, pulled her up by her neck and held her in a head lock as she moved behind her. Ashley lifted her arms up to try to pry her hands away so she could breathe better. "Why me?" she muttered. "Hold it right there!" Psycho Pink yelled. Psycho Yellow stopped in her tracks, "Huh?"
"Unless you want me to destroy her right now, lets renegotionate this deal."
"HUH!" Ashley said.
"No way." Said Psycho Yellow
"Then I'm taking her to Astronama."
"I don't think so." She flung blue lightning from her hand at Psycho Pink.
Psycho Pink threw Ashley away like a rag doll. "My energy shield has been compromised!" she said covering an eye.
"Now is my chance." Ashley said running, she flew out of a opening and fell down a long ways away.
"We've got to go after her!" Psycho Pink said, "Come on!"
(End of flashback)
He remembered searching mercilessly for her for hours and feeling frustrated not being able to find a single thing. He had all of the rangers working they're hardest to find her. He wished with all his might that during that day that it was him that got kidnapped. The rangers understood for a while until they just started not to even care. They all became cold just like he was in the beginning even Zhane. Zhane wouldn't even make funny, stupid, jokes anymore. He wished that they had searched harder. If only they had more help to find her.
(Flashback)
The group was searching frantically through different systems and on Earth.
TJ walked to Andros who held a clipboard. "Expanding parallel to 38.5," he said.
Andros took a deep breath before answering, "Change scanning sensitivity to 10 microns." He walked away. "Ay ay ay! That could take some time." Said Alpha. "Scanning to parallel to 21.2." said Carlos.
TJ looked at Cassie who was staring at nothing while clutching Ashley's chair.
He walked over to her, "Cassie? You okay?"
She looked at him and contemplated her answer for a couple seconds, "She's my best friend. I can't believe I got so mad at her," she scoffed, "over cleaning."
"We could use your help finding her." TJ said softly.
"Yeah." She said moving to touch some controls, "Okay DECA can you get me a scanning directive?"
"Beginning parallel 42.0." said DECA.
"Okay," Cassie whispered, "42.0." she sighed, stopped for a moment to look up then continued.
(((((((((((((((((((
Ashley was running around wildly trying to find her way out.
"I've got to find a way out of here!" she said leaning against a wall.
The Psychos were chasing after her. She looked up to see Psycho Yellow running overhead and to her side to see Psycho Pink running down a staircase. " Huh?" she said and continued running.
"I know you're around here somewhere." Said Psycho Pink and continued running down the stairs.
Ashley ran into an empty warehouse. She crept against walls. "There's got to be a way out," she muttered.
She turned her back. "Quit your running!" Psycho Yellow said spotting her.
"HUH?"
"It'll all be over soon."
"Oh no!" Ashley said stepping backwards.
Psycho Yellow crossed her arms and popped down to where Ashley was and started foreword with her arm outstretched, "This will go easier for you if you'd stop fighting me."
Ashley crouched on the ground and held up her arms to cover her head.
A blue light surged forward and spun around Psycho Yellow. Psycho Yellow jumped away and rolled on the ground. Psycho Pink showed up in smoke, "You just don't seem to understand? Do you?" she snarled.
"You're becoming much more trouble than your worth."
"Then lets end this." Psycho Pink ran forward and attacked Psycho Yellow.
Ashley stood up and looked around, "I've got to find something that's…" she spotted barrels that said DANGER in big red letters, "That ought to do the trick." She ran to the barrels and rolled over the top to land on the floor behind them.
"She's getting away!" said Psycho Pink.
Ashley popped up, "Listen up you Psycho's! I'll never give into you. NEVER!"
"Then you'll be destroyed!" said Psycho Pink.
"NO! She's mine." Said Psycho Yellow.
Psycho Pink blew up the barrels. "Ahhh!" Ashley said stuck in the flames. She hit the ground and the warehouse started filling with smoke.
The Psycho's got flung backwards.
Psycho Yellow flew out of the building, "There's no way she could have survived. Good bye Yellow Ranger," Psycho Yellow said into the flames.
Ashley's cries for help got fainter and fainter as her life was slowly seeping from her body.
((((((((
Cassie yelled out, "Guys! I've found Ashley. She's…"
Andros doubled over in pain, "Something's wrong! DECA put the coordinates on the viewing screen." He gasped out.
Zhane walked next to his best friend and helped him walk to the screen.
The team watched as the warehouse Ashley was in blew up.
"NO!" Cassie shouted falling to her knees, "No no no no no no… this should've happened to her!"
Andros fell slightly; Zhane caught him and helped him to a chair. Zhane lightly pushed Andros into the chair. Zhane kneeled next to the chair looking at Andros, "We don't know she's gone. Her morpher hasn't returned," Zhane said loudly, "TJ, Carlos go to the warehouse and find Ashley. She'll need help."
Carlos and TJ nodded, TJ lifted Cassie and brought her over to Zhane.
"Go now." Zhane said. Carlos and TJ ran to the jump tubes.
Zhane looked down at Cassie, who was sobbing, and brought her head to his chest. She leaned her head in and cried harder, clutching his jacket for support.
Zhane looked at Andros. Andros had silent tears streaming down his face, ashamed to have his best friend seem him vulnerable, he turned his head and quickly wiped the tears off of his face.
"Zhane is right," Andros cleared his throat and continued, "The morpher would have returned. It's the only way it would. If the ranger who had it died."
Cassie nodded, slowly understanding. "I just hope they get there in time to help her." she whispered.
Andros closed his eyes, "So do I."
(((((((((((((((((((((((
Ashley was moaning on the ground, still morphed trying her hardest to get out of there so she could call the others to save her life. She got up and stumbled a bit, then fell down, demorphing. She was still shackled. "UGH!" she kicked a barrel and cussed, "I shouldnt've done that." She muttered. Psycho Pink found her and laughed. "You just aren't strong enough are you now? Something I knew the moment I laid eyes on you. I knew you would be the first to go." She laughed some more. Ashley closed her eyes fearing her death. Psycho Pink raised her arm and got blasted away. "ASHLEY!" Carlos said. "Guys." She said faintly, "I love you all. Cass I'll be alright. Andros I'm sorry I never got to say this out loud but I truly love you." She said to no one. The boys fought Psycho Pink as Ashley closed her eyes and her breathing started slowing down.
Psycho Pink looked at Ashley who's left wrist was glowing, "You're already too late. You'll never be able to save her in time." She popped out. TJ and Carlos ran to Ashley.
Carlos started to shake her and yelled over and over, "Come on Ashley wake up. You've got to wake up. Please for us. For Cassie." Her limp body kept moving but her chest didn't.
TJ felt for a pulse and didn't get one. He looked down fighting tears. Carlos spotted her left wrist. "Teej. Look."
They watched as her morpher disappeared from her wrist. They both started crying quietly. TJ looked at her wrists still held together by the shackles. He started shaking. "She shouldnt've died shackled like a prisoner. I'm going to kill them for you. You will be avenged." TJ said. He pulled out his Astro Axe and cut the shackles off. "What are we going to do with her?" asked Carlos. "I don't know." He said.
Carlos lifted his wrist, "Zhane."
"Yeah, Carlos." Zhane answered.
"Are you alone?" TJ asked.
"Just tell us. We'll hear eventually." Said Andros angrily.
"Ashley… she – she didn't make it. She's gone." TJ stammered out.
"Get her back here." Andros said.
"Bu-"
"NOW!" he said.
They teleported to the Megaship with Ashley's body.
"Put her in the Hospital Wing. I'll think of something later." Said Andros.
Zhane was busy consoling Cassie who was sobbing violently. "Ashley I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry." She kept muttering.
TJ and Carlos took her to the Hospital Wing, placed her on a table and put a sheet over her body.
"Power Down." They muttered and both demorphed.
TJ placed a hand on Ashley's arm. "I will get them for you."
Carlos placed a hand on TJ's shoulder, "We all will."
Zhane walked in the room. TJ turned, "Where is Cassie?"
"We had to sedate her. Come on guys leave her be." Zhane held the door open for the boys. They reluctantly left. Zhane looked at Ashley and said, "I wish I could have helped you guys. But I will now. I will be strong for everyone but I will miss you terribly." He then left to go sit with Cassie's sleeping form.
Andros snuck into the hospital wing. He had been crying for a while, there was tear streaks on his face. He walked up to Ashley. "I have yet to find your morpher. The Psycho's haven't attacked so we should be good for now. I don't know what I'm going to do without you. I'm lost. I need you here to help me see straight. Why did this happen to you? Why Ashley?" He pulled a chair to him and sat next to Ashley's body.
He held onto her cooling hand. "I miss you. I never got to tell you I loved you. And I never will." He sobbed. Zhane watched from the doorway with tears sparkling in his eyes. He had Ashley's morpher in his hands he found it in Andros's room.
(End flashback)
Andros was crying thinking of lying with Ashley for hours until Zhane had told him that they had to do something with her body. Turning her body into the police station and telling them she was a casualty of a Ranger fight was the second hardest thing for him to do. The first was her funeral and seeing her parents and grandma that tried so hard to get her beloved granddaughter married. He was holding on to Zhane during the funeral and when they put her in the hole to get buried. He squeezed the life out of Zhane's arm. He looked over at Cassie and she was with TJ he was lightly rubbing her arm as she was crying into a tissue. They had a lot of problems with continuing fighting. But not with the Psycho's they got destroyed very fast thanks to they're rage. Psycho Pink and Yellow were the first to go. Since they didn't have Ashley they couldn't form the Mega Voyager, so every time a bad guy would grow 30 ft they had to risk they're house.
He closed his eyes. 'I just cant give your morpher away. Bring someone here to help us. We need it.' He thought to her. He didn't realize she was listening to him. Ashley's ghost flicked her wrist and was in the Bridge. She wrote down the words "Alternate Universe" on a piece of paper, hoping that he would figure out her message.
Ashley's ghost popped up at a house. She flicked her wrist over someone's head and Kimberly Hart suddenly got a thought. 'Maybe Joey would like to visit.' Ashley smiled and looked at the heavens and disappeared. She knew what was going to happen and was happy with the results.
Please Review I want to know what you think.
~Winter