Chapter 51: Darkness Rises

The ship was quiet, the worst thing that could possibly happen, happened. Dark Specter tricked Karone to believe she was the only way to save Earth and she was turned back into the evil Astronema. Ashley was walking through the halls, her hand running alongside it as she reached Andros's quarters.

Opening the door, she looked inside and saw her boyfriend fully clothed laying on his bunk with his back facing the door. "Andros?" she called gently. When he didn't answer, she moved to leave the room.

"Don't go," he called to her, his voice wavering.

Ashley turned back around. "DECA, don't let anyone disturb us," she instructed to the AI.

"Acknowledged," DECA replied.

Ashley walked over to the bunk and Andros turned over onto his other side and she saw his red-rimmed eyes. "I shouldn't have let her go," he told her. She knelt by the bed, her fingers moving through his hair as she removed it from the ponytail. "How could I have let her go?" he asked. Ashley hushed him softly as a tear slid from the corner of his eye.

"She would've gone whether you let her or not," she replied, "This was NOT your fault."

"I'm her brother, I should've protected her," he insisted.

"You did what you could," she answered.

"It wasn't enough; he still took her away…AGAIN."

Ashley stroked his cheek lightly and he closed his eyes. "You should leave while you still have the chance, Dark Specter will come after you next," he muttered.

"Stop it," she answered.

Andros let out a deep breath and she continued to scratch his head gently. "Nothing is going to happen to me," she insisted.

"You can't promise that," he replied.

"I can promise that as long as I breathe I'm not leaving you," she told him.

Andros closed his eyes. "I love you, I have always loved you," she added. She kissed his temple. "And I would say 'forever' but forever isn't long enough," she whispered. Ashley suddenly gripped him a little tighter. "And if you just lay down here because of what Dark Specter had done, then we already lost this war," she insisted, "Karone needs you to get up."

Opening his eyes, he looked at her. "I need you to get up," she added, "I'm not going to lose you because of that monster, because that's what he wants. Of course he would take Karone again, because he knows that you won't fight your own sister."

"I'm not going to kill my own sister," he answered.

"I'm not telling you to kill her, I'm telling you to show that monster what you are really made of and you will do what it takes to protect your family. I'm willing to do what it takes to protect my family, and that includes YOU," she explained.

Andros was silent again. "You are it for me, you know that?" she asked him. His eyes stared into hers again. "I want it all but I only want it with you. There's no one else, Andros," she insisted, "And if you let Dark Specter win and he destroys everything, that dream is gone." Ashley's lower lip trembled a little. "He already took Karone, don't let him take our dreams with her," she practically begged.

Seeing the sadness and desperation in her eyes, Andros slowly started to sit up. He winced since his body was stiff from laying there all day. Ashley pushed the hair from his face, she grabbed his hands and pulled him up. She started taking off his jacket. "We're going to clean you up and we're going to plan what to do next," she informed him. Andros let out a breath and he leaned forward, resting his forehead against hers.

"I love you," he murmured.

Ashley wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you, more than anything," she answered. Andros let out a breath before Ashley grasped his hands and pulled him into the bathroom.

Later, the team had gone down to Earth for a little bit of a break. Ashley was sitting next to her boyfriend, her fingers entwining with his and her thumb moving along his knuckles. Andros looked at their clasped hands and let out a breath. "You doing alright?" TJ asked.

"I'll be fine," Andros replied as he released Ashley's hand.

Everything wasn't so awkward since the team finally knew about their relationship. If anything knowing Andros was more relaxed and even with Karone gone again, Ashley was literally the only person who could get through to him. Ashley leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. Andros gave her a smile and Adelle walked over with their food. "I thought you guys fell off the face of the Earth," she commented as she set the trays down.

Immediately everyone grabbed a plate like their life depended on it. "Wherever you have been, you sure brought an appetite," she commented. She went to take the trays away when Carlos quickly grabbed the plate of fries off the last tray.

"Thank you," he said with a full mouth.

"Well, listen up. Since you kids are back in town, I wanted to let you know I'm having a little party here in a few days. A little 'first day of Spring' kind of deal," Adelle informed them.

"That sounds like fun," Cassie commented.

Suddenly, a hand touched Carlos's shoulder and he looked up. "Hey, you didn't tell me you were back," Mia commented.

"Hey," Carlos answered as he stood up, embracing his girlfriend.

Mia hugged him back with a smile and he kissed her happily. "Want to join us?" Carlos asked.

"Of course! As long as it's not any trouble?" Mia asked the group.

"Not at all, have a seat," Cassie replied.

Ashley nodded with a bright smile and Carlos pulled the remaining chair out for her. "Young love," Adelle commented before walking away.

"So where have you guys been?" Mia asked.

"Oh you know, here and there," TJ replied.

"A little of everywhere," Ashley signed.

"Well, I'm glad you guys are back, with prom coming up we have an amazing party planned," Mia explained.

Andros saw his girlfriend's face drop. "Prom?" Andros asked. Mia raised her brow.

"They don't have prom from where you're from?" she asked confused.

"We're a small community," Andros replied with a shrug.

Mia just grinned. "Prom is a formal dance, everyone dresses up really nice pictures, flowers, and they go to this big venue where there's dancing and music," Cassie explained.

"You have some…interesting traditions," Andros answered.

"Didn't your school have anything like that?" Mia asked taking a sip from Carlos's soda.

"We were a more formal Academy," Andros replied, "We didn't really have anything like that."

"Well, tickets are going to be up for sale in two weeks. The cheerleading squad have gone all out for it. They're calling it 'A Starry Night'," Mia explained.

"How appropriate," TJ commented, earning an elbow from Cassie.

Ashley just shrugged her shoulders, taking a drink from her milkshake and Andros looked over at her with a slightly furrowed brow. Before he could say anything, Carlos stood up. "Hey, I could use a refill," he commented, picking up his empty drink cup.

"I'll go," Cassie answered as she stood up and they went over to the drink bar.

Their little break was cut short when there were Power Ranger imposters that were beginning to attack civilians. Only to find out that Astronema had created demonic clones of them called the 'Psycho Rangers'.

After their first fight, Ashley had gotten out of the shower and she was sitting on the edge of the bed in a towel brushing her hair and noticing the bruises forming on her shoulder from Psycho Yellow's attack. They found out quickly that not only could they read their minds and know their every move, but their communicators were now rendered useless as the Psychos could track them. Andros walked in the room and noticed her state of undress. He closed the door behind him immediately. "You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," she replied, "She knew my every move."

Andros nodded, knowing exactly how she felt. He knelt down in front of her and she rested her forehead against his. "At least Zhane was okay," she murmured. Andros nodded in agreement. "We'll find a way to get Karone back, okay?" she said gently.

"I know," he answered, "But I can't lose you in the process either."

Ashley pulled back and she cupped his cheek in her hand. "You won't," she assured him, "Forever right?"

"Forever isn't long enough," he replied.

He moved further up on his knees and he kissed her. Ashley kissed him back and he moved so he was on top of her on the bed.