Disclaimer: Power Rangers belongs to Saban.

Second Chance

Zhane heard footsteps coming down the passageway to his room. It wasn't much, only a sleeping bag in a cavern. That didn't matter to him though. He gazed longingly at the picture of the girl that changed his life forever, the girl he was in love with. Astronema, the Princess of Darkness.

"Zhane," he heard a voice say.

He looked up. It was Tykwa, one of his oldest and best friends from K-O-35.

"Hey," he replied.

"Well," she said, looking slightly uncomfortable. "We're just about settled. You should be able to go home this afternoon."

Home. Zhane supposed that was the Astro Megaship, the place he had lived before he came to help the rebels. The place where his friends were: Andros, Ashley and the others.

"Kin-Wan said he has something to give you before you leave," she continued.

"That's nice," Zhane replied, not really listening.

Tykwa shook her head when she noticed the photograph in his hand. She and Kin-Wan were the only ones who knew about his feelings for Astronema. Sometimes she wished Zhane hadn't told her. She just couldn't understand how he could love someone so evil.

"Um, Tykwa," Zhane spoke up. "I'm kind of tired."

"Oh," Tykwa turned and left the room.

Zhane took one last look at the photo. Maybe someday they would get a second chance. But for now he could only hope.

* * * * * *

Karone gazed out the window of her new bedroom. A star twinkled in the distance. She closed her eyes. "Starlight, starbright, first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, have this wish I wish tonight." Karone had always hated that poem, but it seemed today it seemed to fit. "I wish..., I wish to get a second chance."

Karone opened her eyes. She pulled a photograph from under her pillow. So far, she'd gotten part of it off to a good start, being an honorary Power Ranger and all. But she still needed to work on the rest. And that rest was her relationship with Zhane. She sighed. Just then there was a knock on her door. Karone quickly hid the photo. It was Andros.

"We're all going to see a movie on Earth. Wanna come?" he asked.

"Sure," she replied. "It's not like I have anything else to do. I'll meet you on the bridge in a couple minutes, okay?"

"Okay." Andros turned and left the room.

Karone sighed again. She didn't really want to go, but might as well. After all, she needed all the friends she could get and wasn't about to pass up time to spend with the ones she had. Maybe this was just the thing to cheer her up. And forget the Silver Ranger. She thought to herself. Little did she know, that was not going to happen easily, or at all.

* * * * * *

Kin-Wan and Tykwa led Zhane to where they were temporarily keeping their spacecrafts.

"This is the Mega-Winger." Kin-Wan told him, pointing to a large zord. "Oh, but I couldn't." Zhane said. "You might need it."

"I insist. If it weren't for you and your friends, we would never have made it this far."

"Thank you. Thank you very much."

"It was our pleasure." Kin-Wan replied.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay?" Tykwa asked. "It's dangerous going out there all alone."

"Yeah, I'm sure. I want to be with my friends and." Zhane paused.

"With Astronema." Tykwa finished.

Zhane nodded. "I know you don't like her, but she's not what she seems."

"I still don't understand, but I trust your judgment. Take care of yourself."

"I will," he promised. He gave her a hug.

"Well, I guess this is it. I'll come back though. I promise." Zhane took out his digimorpher. "Let's rocket."

In an instant he was transformed into the Silver Ranger. He got into the Mega-Winger and took off. Tykwa and Kin-Wan waved until he was out of sight.

* * * * * *

Karone and the rest of the Power Rangers went to the work bay for dinner after they went to the movies. The Syntatron wasn't the best cook, at least in Karone's eyes, but the Rangers assured her she'd get used to it. On the way home, Karone was strangely silent. Ashley and Cassie walked behind her the whole time, watching her every move. Finally Ashley decided to get to the bottom of it.

"Did you enjoy the movie?" she asked.

"It was okay," Karone replied.

"You didn't seem to be paying much attention," Cassie told her. Karone just shrugged. Ashley and Cassie exchanged a look, but they gave up. The 6 teens got their meals and sat around the table. They were just about finished when D.E.C.A. spoke up.

"Unidentified spacecraft approaching." The Rangers raced to the Bridge. Karone, not quite sure what to do with herself, followed.

"D.E.C.A., can you get a visual?" Andros asked. The Mega-Winger appeared on screen.

"What's it doing?" T.J. asked.

"I think it's docking." Carlos replied. The Rangers looked at eachother nervously. Karone shrunk into a corner of the room.

"Listen." Andros told them. The Rangers cocked their heads and listened. The door opened and someone walked in.

"I'm home." Zhane called. The 5 Power Rangers ran over to him. They were so excited Zhane was back, that they didn't hear Karone fall to the floor in a faint.

* * * * * *

The Rangers crowded around Zhane. Andros gave him a hug.

"You won't believe what has happened." Andros said. "I found Karone."

"What? You're kidding. That's great." Zhane exclaimed.

"Yeah," Andros began. He slowly turned around. "Karone!" he screamed, running over to where his sister lay. They brought her to the medical bay where Alpha checked her out.

"She's all right." The robot said. "She fainted."

"But why?" Andros asked, bewildered.

"How did it happen? How did you find her?" Asked Zhane excitedly. Ashley pulled him aside.

"Before I say anything, I want you to know that she has a good heart and is on our side now. She took a deep breath. "Karone is Astronema, I mean was Astronema. Darkonda kidnapped her and Ecliptor raised her. That's how she became evil. They told her we destroyed her family."

"Wow. That sure explains a lot. No wonder why she fainted when she saw me." Zhane thought aloud.

Andros looked up. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, um, nothing." Zhane stammered nervously.

"It strikes me a bit odd that Karone fainted as soon as you came into the room."

"Well, I..." Zhane felt trapped. Before he could think of a good excuse, Karone began to stir. Andros went over to her. The other rangers followed. Karone opened her eyes and sat up. She looked around the room. Zhane thought she grimaced when she saw him. That was not a good sign at all.

"Are you all right?" Andros asked, concerned.

"Fine. Just peachy." She replied, sarcastically.

If Andros noticed the sarcasm in her voice he didn't show it. "You remember Zhane, don't you?"

"Of course, how could I forget." The expression on her face was clearly disgust.

Karone stood up. "If you don't mind, I'm going to bed." She walked off without waiting for a reply.

* * * * * *

Karone paced around her room. What was I thinking? She asked herself. I'm I losing my mind? She was so busy brooding that she barely heard the knock on her door.

"Come in." She called.

The door opened. But the person she expected wasn't there. It was Zhane.

"Oh, uh, hi." Inside she was kicking herself. Idiot, idiot, idiot, little voice in her head was saying over and over.

"Can we talk?" Zhane asked, nervously.

"Sure," she replied, not sure at all. Zhane sat down next to her. There was a long pause.

"I'm sorry," she said, finally.

"What?" Zhane looked taken aback.

"I'm sorry," she repeated. "I shouldn't have accused you of lying to me. If I could take it back I would. But it's probably too late now."

"I'm sorry, too." Zhane said unexpectedly.

"You are? Why? You didn't do anything wrong." Karone said truthfully.

Zhane shrugged. "Well, I felt like apologizing anyway." He summoned all his courage.

"I love you," he said rather boldly.

"I, I..." Karone paused, too nervous to speak.

"I love you, too." She finally said. Zhane leaned in to kiss her, but she stopped him.

"One thing, though." She said matter-of-factly. "I'm not the same person you fell in love with. You know that, don't you?"

Zhane nodded. "I know. But I still love you." Both of them were silent for a moment.

Karone giggled. "Okay, no you can kiss me."

Zhane laughed and did just that. They had gotten their second chance, after all.

The End.