Chapter 10: End of it All

Karone watched in horror when the explosion took not only Trakeena, but Leo too. "LEO!" She shouted. Her heart snapped in two and she slowly fell to her knees. "No…" she muttered with tears falling down her face. "He died protecting the colony," she said sadly. Maya placed her hands on Karone's shoulders.

"Karone look!" Maya gasped.

Karone looked up and she saw Leo standing up from the rubble. "He's alive!" She exclaimed. Leo smiled weakly and hugged Karone when she reached him. "I'm so glad you're okay," she murmured.

"You're not the only one," he answered.

Just then, Terra Venture started to collapse. "We have to get out of here," he insisted. They nodded and they abandoned Terra Venture, going back to Miranoi.

(Miranoi)

Karone bit her lip as she walked up to the stones with her friends and she put the Quasar Saber back into the stone. She looked down at herself to see that she was back in her normal clothes. Leo smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "We did it," he commented. She nodded with a smile. She looked up when a bright light appeared in front of them. They saw someone walking out and they stood there in shock.

"Kendrix!" Maya gasped.

Maya ran over and hugged the former Pink Ranger. Karone stood there with a smile as the other Rangers welcomed Kendrix back. Kendrix smiled and she looked over at Karone. "Hey, thanks," she told her. Karone smiled.

"I wouldn't have missed it for the world," she answered.

Kendrix smiled and she hugged Karone.

Later that night, Karone was sitting out on a hill, playing with the bracelet on her wrist. "What are you thinking about?" Leo asked. He walked over and he sat next to her. Karone smiled slightly and she pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

"That I'll be going back to Earth soon," she replied.

Leo's smile faded and he stared at the ground. "You don't have to you know," he commented.

"Leo, you know that I have to," she answered.

"Why? Why do you have to leave?"

"Because of my kids."

She sighed as she drew her knees up to her chest. "I promised Zhane…" she started.

"Zhane," he muttered.

Karone closed her eyes. "Leo, don't do that," she answered. Leo stood up.

"Do you still love the guy?" He asked.

She stayed silent. "Well do you?" He asked.

"I don't know anymore," she replied.

She stood up and she looked at Leo. "Nolan and Gwen need both of their parents," she added. Leo stood there listening to her. "I don't know who I love anymore," she murmured. She wiped the tears that were on her face away and she turned to walk away when he grabbed her hand.

"Karone…" he started.

He had her look at him, before he could say anything he heard the sound of a ship flying over head. Karone looked up. "I know that ship…" she trailed off. She let his hand go and she ran down the hill.

She ran to the landing site and she saw Zhane getting off the ship. "Zhane! What are you doing here?" She asked. She ran over and hugged him. Zhae smiled as he hugged her back, lifting her off the ground slightly.

"Came to see you of course. I heard you guys could use a little more help since Trakeena trashed Terra Venture," he commented.

"We could use some more help," Leo answered walking up.

"You must be Leo. I heard a lot about you."

Leo nodded and he shook Zhane's hand. "So were you taking care of Karone for me?" He asked wrapping his arm around Karone. Leo looked at Karone before answering.

"Yea, real good care of her," Leo replied.

Karone smiled slightly. "Hey, Karone, Nolan and Gwen want to see you," Zhane informed.

"You brought the babies!" She gasped.

"Yep."

Karone ran out of Zhane's arms and onto the ship. Leo cleared his throat and Zhane looked over at him. "Hey, thanks for helping Karone get over the whole Astronema thing too," he added. Leo shrugged his shoulders.

"All I did was watch as she fought her evil self," Leo answered.

"She's done nothing but compliment you," Zhane pointed out.

Leo smiled slightly and he watched as Karone came off the ship with the babies in her arms. "They have gotten so big," she commented. Zhane smiled.

"Yep," he answered.

Leo suddenly felt his heart break in two when Zhane kissed Karone's cheek and took baby Nolan into his arms. "I'll see you later," he informed. He turned and walked away.

(Two Days Later)

Everyone was in the new club when Zhane had everyone stop. "Okay, everyone, listen up," he called. The former Galaxy Rangers looked up as Zhane held onto Karone's hand. "Hopefully you all know what Karone and I have been through to get this far," he started. Karone bit her lip slightly and she looked at Zhane. "Okay, I know I've asked you like four times now, but each time you tell me you weren't ready. It's been almost four months. What do you say?" He asked. He held up a box and revealed the ring inside. "Will you marry me Karone?" He asked. Karone bit her lip and she looked over and saw Leo leave. She let out a deep breath and she looked at Zhane.

"Yes…" she replied.

She felt her own heart shatter and Zhane placed the ring on her hand with a smile. She forced herself to smile as the others congratulated her.

Leo was sitting out by a river throwing rocks into the water. "Leo," Karone called. Leo looked up and he stood up form the ground.

"I guess congratulations are in order," he commented.

She bit her lip. "You don't love him," he told her.

"You tell me that often, but…" she trailed off.

"It's the truth! If you don't love him why the hell are you marrying him?"

"You haven't given me any other reason why I shouldn't."

Leo grabbed her arms. "I love you Karone!" He exclaimed. She stared at the ground, not wanting to face him. "You look me in the eye and tell me that you don't love me," he told her. Karone lifted her head and she looked up into his eyes. Her knees went weak and he heart was thumping hard against her chest.

"I love you…" she trailed off.

She bit her lip and she pulled back. "But I just can't be with you," she added. Then she ran off.