Chapter 36: Liars

Ashley sighed as she walked up to her parents' house with Adiran in her arm and was holding Selena's hand. She opened the door and went inside. "Mom?" She called. Selena was beaming when she saw Donna walked down the stairs.

"GAMA!" She shouted.

Donna smiled and walked down the stairs. "Look at you!" She gasped, lifting the young girl up. Selena smiled and hugged Donna tight. She looked over at Ashley to see her with an infant.

"Mom…this is Adiran," she informed.

Donna walked over and looked at the infant. "Oh he's so precious," she whispered. Ashley smiled and placed the baby into her mother's arms.

"I need you to take care of them for awhile. Something's come up and I don't want them in danger because of me," Ashley explained.

Donna nodded her head slowly, knowing all too well what was going on in her daughter's life. "You found him didn't you? Selena's father?" She asked. Ashley nodded.

"Yes, I did," she answered.

Ashley kissed Selena's forehead and Adiran's cheek before hurrying out of the house.

(Desert Planet)

Ashley had snuck off the ship once she got back onto a desert planet. She had her blaster with her and was walking cautiously around the desert. "FENIX! I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME! COME OUT AND FIGHT ME!" She shouted. She looked around, her heart was beating hard and fast. "FENIX! YOU WANTED ME! COME AND GET ME!" She shouted.

"Knew you would come around," A voice commented.

Ashley spun around to see Fenix there. She raised her blaster. "Return Andros to us," she ordered.

"Ah, knew there was a trick to this. You're still hoping that your precious Andros is still alive," he commented.

"He is alive, you have him trapped," she answered.

Fenix laughed evilly, sending chills down the young woman's back. "Hate to break your heart little miss princess, but Andros is dead," he told her.

"You're a liar," she answered.

"Nope, I killed him myself. Had to because we are…actually were sharing the same body," he told her.

Ashley shook her head. "You're a liar, Andros is still alive," she told him.

"What? You can feel that he's still alive?" Fenix asked.

"Yes," she answered.

"That's because his body still exists," he commented.

Tears pressed hard against her eyes. "He fought hard, he fought bravely," he added.

"Andros isn't dead, he can't be dead," she insisted.

"He's dead, my dear," he answered.

Before she could blink, he was in front of her and he grabbed her around her throat. "I was tired of sharing a body with a hero. I had my servant, Ecliptor build me a machine," he told her. Ashley clawed at his hand, trying to get him to let her go. "With this machine, I separated Andros from me, became two different beings," he added.

"Liar," she choked out.

He lifted her off the ground. "Because he was so weak, I dueled him anyways. After I killed him, I left his body on the nearest planet so you could never find him," he cackled. Tears fell down Ashley's face. "Don't worry, his death was swift and painless, just like yours," He told her, throwing her to the ground. Ashley gasped for air, holding her throat. "Now, dear sweet girl, you either join me or join your lover in the afterlife," he told her. Ashley spit in his face as her answer. Fenix wiped his face and glared at her. "Fine, have it your way," he muttered. He stood up and pulled his sword out. Ashley's eyes widened as she looked around for her blaster, but it was far out of her reach. Fenix raised the sword and went to bring it down. Ashley went to cover herself from the blow, but it never came. She opened her eyes and a cloaked figure stood in front of her.

"Leave her alone, Fenix, your fight is with me," the person told her.

He removed his cloak and Ashley smiled when she saw that it was Andros. "Impossible!" Fenix hissed.

"You think you're the only one who has friends in high places?" Andros asked.

"You were dead!" Fenix hissed.

Andros glared at him and pulled out his own sword that was hanging by his side. The two were engaged in a duel and Ashley just stared in disbelief. Andros did a roundhouse kick, but Fenix grabbed his leg, flipping him onto his back. Andros hit the ground but blocked Fenix's blow with his sword. Andros jumped back to his feet and went to slash Fenix's side when his evil clone back flipped out of the way. Fenix threw his sword at Andros, but the Red Ranger blocked his attack, not knowing it was a trap. Fenix used his super speed and had Andros around the throat. "ANDROS!" She shouted. Andros gasped for air, holding onto Fenix's wrist.

"I should've made sure you were dead, but I won't make the same mistake twice," he sneered.

Ashley ran over and did a jump side kick, hitting Fenix in the side. Fenix dropped Andros and went to punch the young woman when she ducked and did a sweep kick. Fenix fell to the ground and Andros went to do an axe kick, when he grabbed Andros' ankle, throwing him onto his back. He jumped back up and Ashley kicked him in the back, grabbing her blaster, and pointed it in his face. "You will never go near me or my family again," she told him.

"I don't think you can stop me," he told her.

She pulled the trigger to her blaster, but Fenix disappeared laughing. Ashley let out a frustrated sigh and threw her blaster down. She looked over to see Andros there and ran over to hug him. Andros took Ashley into his arms, hugging her tight. "I thought I was never going to see you again," she told him, tears in her eyes. Andros held her close, running his hand over her back.

"I wouldn't have let that happen again," he answered.

"But he said…" she started.

Andros pulled back and pressed his forehead to hers. "He thought I was dead and he left me to die in the middle of a jungle planet. I woke up to an old friend taking care of me," he murmured. She placed her hands on his face and he kissed her softly. "I wasn't going to leave you, Ash, I promise," he added. Ashley let out a sob and Andros hugged her tight again. "I love you, so much," he murmured.

"I love you too," she answered.

He pulled back and held her hand and Ashley raised her wrist. "DECA, two to teleport," she instructed. They teleported back to the ship.

(Megaship)

Carlos looked up when the doors opened and Ashley came in. "Ashley, where were you?" He asked.

"Are you okay?" Karone asked.

"Well…" she started.

Everyone stood there in shock as Andros walked onto the bridge in full uniform again. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, how do we know this is the real Andros and not another trap?" TJ asked.

"We are receiving a transmission from the Megaship," DECA informed.

"Main viewing screen," Andros instructed.

Fenix appeared on the screen. "You Rangers think you're able to win, but just wait. My army will take over the universe and everything will be mine. You better keep that girl of yours close, Andros, because once this war is over, she will be my queen," he threatened. The screen went blank and Andros placed his hands on Ashley's shoulders.

"We will see," Andros answered.