Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters. Saban does.
Summery: Ashley must say goodbye to her friends just as a new villain arrives in Angel Grove.
Return of a Friend 7
Ashley's Sad Goodbye
Ashley buried her face in her pillow; her sobs racked her body. She still couldn't believe what her parents had just told her.
During dinner that night her parents had revealed some shocking news.
"As you know your father went for a check up today." Mrs. Hammond said.
Ashley nodded "Yeah I know."
"Well while I was there I told him about the headaches I keep getting." Mr. Hammond said "So he did a CAT scan and…." He looked at his wife then back at his daughter "And he told me that I have a form of brain cancer."
Ashley dropped her fork onto her plate "What? You have what?"
"Brain cancer." Mr. Hammond said "And he told me that one of the only hospital where I can get the most advanced treatment is in Boston, Massachusetts."
"We have to move!" Ashley exclaimed.
"I'm sorry honey but we have to." Her mother said "We're going to Boston this week to look for a place and as soon as we find a place we're moving there so your father can start treatment."
So not only was her father sick but they had to move. She was glad Cassie was spending the night on the Mega Ship because she didn't want her best friend to see her like this. She had made up her mind to tell the other rangers in the morning.
***
"So Astronema failed huh." A woman sat in front of a view screen in her room.
Darkonda nodded "Yes."
"And you want me to replace her." She said, "Why would you ask me? Aren't there plenty of others? Such as yourself. Why do you need me?"
"Because I can't destroy the Power Rangers by myself." Darkonda said.
"The Power Rangers? Are you telling me you can't get rid of a couple of teenagers?" She asked.
"Other then Astronema you're the most powerful person in this universe." Darkonda said.
"Hmm. I'll contact you when I've made up my mind." Before Darkonda could respond she closed the link.
She sat back in her chair and clasped her hands together. She was Empress Markella from the planet Tyrac. She was the most powerful in the entire universe, she had also been taught by Darkonda.
"I always knew Astronema would fail him." She said. She stood up from her seat "Maybe I should go." She smiled wickedly "Then I can destroy Astronema as well."
Markella opened a link to the Dark Fortress.
"Have you thought about it?" Darkonda asked.
She nodded "Yes I have thought about it and yes I'll come and destroy the Power Rangers."
"You sound very confident Markella." Darkonda said, "I wouldn't be so confident if I were you."
"Astronema was weak. I'm not." She said "And you're not me."
"When will you be arriving?" Darkonda asked.
"I'll be there tomorrow." She said then closed the link.
***
Ashley sat at her desk staring at the front of the room; she wasn't hearing a word her teacher was saying. She was too occupied with figuring out how to tell her friends she had to leave.
"Ashley." She turned her head to see Carlos standing next to her "Come on."
"What?" She asked.
"Ash come on TJ and Cassie are waiting for us. We're going over Kim's house." Carlos said.
She looked around the room and saw that it was empty except her, Carlos and their teacher, she had been so occupied with her thoughts that she hadn't heard the final bell of the day "Oh right." She gathered her books and stood up.
"What's wrong with you today? You've been so far away." Carlos said as they left the room.
Ashley shook her head "Nothing."
"Are you sure?" Carlos asked as they walked up to TJ and Cassie.
"What's wrong?" Cassie asked.
Carlos shrugged "She says nothing."
TJ put a hand on Ashley's shoulder "Ash is everything ok?"
She nodded "Yeah of course. Come on Kim and the others are waiting for us." They got their things from their lockers and took TJ's car over to Kim's house.
"Hey guys." Billy said when they walked in "How was school?"
"The usual." Carlos said "The teachers tell us what to do and we do it."
Zhane laughed "Geez I'm glad I'm not from earth."
"Yeah or else we'd have to go to school." Karone said.
"Didn't you guys go to school on KO-35?" Cassie asked.
"Sorta." Andros said "We had mentors who taught us in our homes."
"Like home schooling?" Carlos asked.
"I guess you could call it that." Zhane said.
Kim came into the room from the hall "Hi guys." She noticed Ashley's somber expression and sat down next to her on the couch "Ash what's wrong?"
Ashley looked down at her feet then up at her friends "Well I suppose this is as good a time as any to tell you guys."
"Tell us what?" Billy asked.
She took a deep breath "Well last night while we were eating dinner my parent's told me that my dad." She paused for a moment "Has brain cancer."
"Oh my god." Cassie said putting her hand to her mouth "That's awful."
"That's not all." Ashley said.
"There's more?" Zhane asked.
She nodded as her eyes welled up with tears "Yeah. Not only does my dad have cancer but we have to move."
"Move?" Andros asked "Where?"
Ashley looked up at her friends "Massachusetts."
"That's all the way on the other side of the country." Cassie said "How long are you gonna be there?"
She shook her head "I have no idea."
"When are you leaving?" Billy asked.
She shook her head again "I don't know. I do know that it's soon though. My dad has to start treatment as soon as possible. My parents are going this week to look for a place and as soon as they find one we're moving."
"This sucks." Cassie said "Where am I gonna live?"
Ashley shook her head "I'm really sorry Cass."
"You could always move in with me." Kim suggested.
Cassie smiled "Thanks Kim."
"What are you gonna do about being the yellow ranger?" Zhane asked.
"I guess Kim could have my powers." She said shrugging.
"What about Karone? I mean wouldn't she be the yellow ranger anyways if she hadn't been kidnapped by Darkonda?" Billy asked.
Andros nodded "Yeah she would."
Ashley started removing her communicator "Not yet." Karone said, "You're still the yellow ranger as long as you're here."
***
Markella entered the bridge of the Dark Fortress, her black cape draped over her shoulders, her high-heeled boots echoing on the metal floor.
"I see you have arrived." Darkonda said when he noticed her in the archway.
"So this is the Dark Fortress? It's rather dull." Markella said examining the room "Astronema wasn't much of a decorator was she."
"Empress Markella may I show you to your room?" Ecliptor asked.
She turned to face him "As long as it isn't the room Astronema occupied."
Ecliptor shook his head "It's a different room."
"Good." She said following Ecliptor down a short corridor. He led her to a room furnished in black and dark purple velvets.
"I hope this is to your liking." Darkonda said.
She inspected the room before turning to face Ecliptor "I suppose this will have to do." She turned around and noticed Darkonda and Ecliptor standing in the doorway "What are you idiots staring at?"
"Well what would you like us to do Empress Markella?" Ecliptor asked.
Markella let out a frustrated sigh and pushed past Ecliptor and Darkonda then turned back to face them "The first thing I want you to do is send some Quantrons down to Angel Grove to distract the rangers."
"Then what do you want to do?" Darkonda asked.
"Then I'll think of a plan to destroy them." She said, "Now don't stand there like morons go do as I said!"
Ecliptor bowed to her then walked down the hall to the bridge.
Darkonda took a step forward.
"Yes Darkonda can I help you?" She asked.
He stared her straight in the face "I don't care if you are the most powerful person in the universe but no one tells Darkonda what to do. Do you understand Markella?"
Markella stared at him before starting to laugh, she laughed for a few minutes then stopped suddenly "Listen to me Darkonda things are going to change around here starting with you doing anything I say." She turned on her heel and marched down the hall to the deck.
***
The rangers were still at Kim's apartment when Andros' communicator went off. He raised his wrist "Is something wrong Alpha?"
"Quantrons are in the park." Alpha said.
"Does Darkonda think he can get rid of us with Quantrons?" TJ asked.
Zhane put his hand on Ashley's shoulder "Do you wanna stay here?"
Ashley shook her head and stood up "I'm fine. I'm a power ranger and I have to go with you."
"Come on guys lets go." Andros said. The rangers morphed and teleported to the park while the others went to the Mega Ship.
When the rangers got to the park the Quantrons were waiting for them.
"What are you Quantrons waiting for?" Carlos asked "Us to send you back to the Dark Fortress?" The rangers and Quantrons fought for a while before a shard of lightning split the sky blinding the rangers.
When they were able to see again they saw a woman with long curly black hair clad in a black leather body suit, a black cape draped over her shoulders "Rangers prepare to be destroyed!" She lifted the long jewel studded golden staff at her side.
***
"What just happened?" Kim asked as a bright light flooded the viewing screen, Kim, Billy and Karone were watching the rangers fight the Quantrons when a shard of lightning split the sky.
"Who is that women?" Billy asked as the bright light faded and they saw a women clad in black leather with long curly black hair.
The women seemed oddly familiar to Karone "No it can't be."
"Karone what is it?" Kim asked, "Do you know her?"
"They have to get out of there." Karone said "She could destroy them without even flinching."
"Karone who is she?" Billy asked.
"That's Empress Markella! She's the most powerful person in the whole universe." Karone said "Billy you have to tell them to get out of there now."
Billy didn't try to argue "Andros."
Andros's voice came over the communicator "Billy we're kinda busy."
"Karone says you guys should get out of there right now." Billy said.
"What? Why?" Andros asked not understanding why they should abandon this fight.
"Andros trust me." Karone said.
"Alright but I want you to explain this all to me when we get back." He said. Kim, Billy and Karone watched over the viewing screen as the rangers teleported away from the park. Soon after Markella also teleported away.
***
"OK Karone explain to me why we had to surrender a fight?" Andros asked as him and the rangers walked onto the bridge.
"That women is Empress Markella and she's not like any evil you guys have fought before." Karone said, "She's the most powerful villianess in the whole Universe."
"And how do you know her?" Zhane asked.
"We were both taught by Darkonda and she hates me." Karone said.
"Why does she hate you?" Kim asked.
"She hates me because Darkonda picked me over her to try to conquer earth." She said, "She always thought she could do a better job then me. When Darkonda chose me she swore she'd get her revenge."
"Revenge?" Andros asked, "Because you were chosen over her?"
"If she's so powerful why didn't she try to get her revenge when you were Astronema?" Cassie asked.
"Well she was an heiress and when she went back to Tyrac she became the Empress." Karone said.
"Wait for her to become Empress if she were an heiress someone would have had to die." Billy said.
Karone nodded "When she went back to Tyrac her mother, the current Empress, suddenly became deathly ill."
"So she killed her mother?" Ashley asked.
"No one questioned the family." Karone "They assumed she died of natural causes."
"Well how are we supposed to defeat her?" Andros asked.
"I think we should concern ourselves with trying to find out if she has any weaknesses." Billy said.
Zhane nodded "Billy's right that would be the wisest thing to do right now."
"That's the problem she doesn't have any weaknesses." Karone said, "She's more powerful then Rita, Zedd, Divatox, Darkonda and myself when I was Astronema combined."
"That's bad." Kim said.
Billy nodded "Definitely." He pondered for a moment "Excuse me I must do some research."
"Mind if I join you?" Cassie asked.
"Of course not come on." Billy said. The two headed to the work bay.
***
Markella leaned back in the large cushioned chair in her room "Damn Astronema." She corrected herself "Karone! Little brat should have kept her mouth shut. I'll have to dispose of her first. She's probably telling the rangers everything right now including the mystery over my mother's death. She should learn when to keep her nose out of other people's business."
"Is everything alright Empress?" She turned to see Ecliptor standing in the doorway.
"Oh yes everything's fine." She said rising from her seat "I was about to get rid of those rangers when KARONE called them back to their ship! But I'm just fine. Now is there a reason you're here?"
Ecliptor stood straight in the doorway "I came to ask if there is anything we can do?"
Markella thought for a second "Monitor the rangers. No wait monitor Karone. Tell me the moment she is alone."
"Yes Empress." Ecliptor said leaving the room.
She walked over to one of the many large bay windows in the room and stared down at Earth "Once I get rid of Karone it will be a piece of cake destroying the Power Rangers." An evil smile spread across her face.
***
Karone lay on her stomach on Ashley's bed, she watched the teenaged girl pace around her room.
"Ashley would you mind sitting down? You're starting to make me dizzy." Karone said sitting up Indian style.
Ashley stopped pacing and collapsed onto the blue bean bag chair across from her bed "I'm sorry Karone. I'm just so worried about my father."
"Ash your dad is going to be ok." Karone said getting off the bed and kneeling down next to Ashley "I know you're very worried but Billy said the brain surgeons in Boston are the best brain surgeons in the whole country."
Ashley smiled "Thanks Karone."
"You're welcome." She said smiling "Wanna go meet the others at the Surf Spot?"
She nodded and stood up "Yeah. I need to be around my friends."
Karone got up and the two girls left the room and went to meet their friends.
***
"Empress, Karone is in the park with the yellow ranger." Ecliptor said as Markella walked onto the bridge.
She smiled "Looks as I'm going to get rid of Karone sooner then I'd thought." She turned to Ecliptor "Send some Quantrons down to distract them until I'm ready."
Ecliptor nodded "Yes Empress.
"But what if they call the other rangers for backup?" Elgar asked.
"They won't have time to do that." Markella said then left the room.
***
As Karone and Ashley reached the middle of the park a dozen or so Quantrons appeared.
"Didn't this already happen today?" Ashley asked as Markella appeared right after the Quantrons "Yup this already happened." She lifted her wrist "I'll call the other rangers."
Before she was able to utter another word she was hit with a blast of light from Markella's staff which caused her to fall to the ground, she was still conscious but it was as if her whole body were paralyzed.
"Ashley!" Karone exclaimed as Markella advanced towards her.
"Don't concern yourself with that human." Markella said "You should concern yourself with the fact that you're going to die and I'm the one who's gonna kill you."
Karone started shaking with fear since her and Markella were now inches apart "T…the power rangers will be here a…any minute ya know."
Markella smiled "I know. But they won't be here soon enough to save your pitiful life." She shot her arm out and struck Karone in the side of the neck with her hand causing the smaller girl to fall to the ground gasping for air, she then reached down and grabbed a handful of Karone's light blond hair, then positioned her staff with the pointed end right against Karone's temple "Don't worry Karone this won't hurt at all."
"Let my sister go!" Karone's heart almost shot out of her chest when she heard Andros "Carlos see to Ashley. We'll help Karone."
Carlos knelt down in front of Ashley "Ash are you ok? Cane you get up?"
She tried to shake her head but she was still paralyzed "I…. can't." she managed to say.
"I'm gonna take her back to the mega ship." Carlos told the other three rangers "I'll be back." Carlos and Ashley teleported from the park. The moment they left TJ and Cassie were ambushed by the Quantrons.
"Now like I said before let go of my sister!" Andros said.
Markella still had her staff pointed at Karone's head "I am the most powerful person in the universe. Do you think I'm going to listen to some teenage clowns?" she smiled "Now say bye, bye to Karone."
Karone squeezed her eyes closed, her breathing was shallow "Andros please."
"Karone hold on." Andros said starting to advance towards her and Markella.
Markella removed the staff from Karone's head and pointed it at Andros; he froze in his spot "If you make one more move I'll kill you too."
Karone opened her eyes, they were moving franticly from Markella to everything else behind her. Her eyes stopped on something moving behind Markella, she soon realized that it wasn't something but someone. Her eyes became wide with hope as she realized who was behind them. Carlos was positioned behind them hauling a large ray gun onto his shoulder.
Markella looked down at Karone "What are you looking at?" Markella turned around and saw Carlos. Before she had a chance to raise her staff towards him Karone pulled her right leg from under her body and brought it around sweeping Markella off her feet causing her to let go of Karone's hair.
Andros dropped down at Karone's side "Are you ok?"
She nodded "Yeah I think so." She threw her arms around Andros' shoulders in a tight hug "I thought I was gonna die."
He smoothed her hair with his hand "It's ok now."
Karone let go of her brother "Lets go kick her butt."
Andros smiled under his helmet "Good idea." By the time Andros and Karone stood up Markella was already standing with her staff pointed at the rangers.
Andros, Karone, Cassie and TJ all stood in a line each in a fighting stance while Carlos stood on the other side of Markella with the ray gun poised on his shoulder ready to fire if he needed to.
"You stupid, stupid children you can't get rid of me that easy." Markella said.
"I think you'll change your mind." Carlos said pulling the trigger of the ray gun, a bright flash of light shot out of it and hit Markella in the midsection causing her to stumble back.
Markella glared at the rangers "Believe me you haven't seen the last of me." With that she teleported back to the Dark Fortress.
"I thought she wasn't gonna give up." TJ said.
Karone smiled "Markella is all talk." She suddenly remembered Ashley "Carlos how's Ashley?"
"I didn't have time to stick around and find out but Billy's with her." Carlos said "In the med bay."
Cassie looked around at her friends "We should get back and see then." The rangers teleported back to the Mega Ship.
***
They found Ashley lying on a bed in the med bay with Billy, Alpha and Kim around her.
"Kim how is she?" Andros asked.
"She'll be fine." Kim said.
"She was hit with a beam that caused her whole body to be paralyzed." Billy said, "The good news is that it's only temporary and it's already starting to wear off."
"That's great news." TJ said.
Karone went and stood next to the med bed "Ashley I'm so sorry about this."
Ashley shook her head "Karone you don't have to apologize."
"If it weren't for me Markella wouldn't even be here." Karone said.
TJ put a comforting hand on Karone's shoulder "You couldn't control who Darkonda enrolled to try to get rid of us."
Ashley nodded "Really Karone it's not your fault." She attempted to sit up on the med bed but still couldn't lift her body.
Zhane and Carlos each slipped their hands under Ashley's shoulders and lifted her into a sitting position, Zhane kept his hands a few inched from her back incase she fell backwards.
"You have to learn not to blame yourself after something happens." She said, "You can't control everything that happens."
"No matter how much we wish we could." Kim said.
Karone smiled "You're right. I have to stop doubting myself."
Ashley smiled and lifted her arms, the two girls hugged.
***
Markella stormed onto the bridge of the Dark Fortress.
"Next time will be better." Ecliptor said.
"Next time will be for real." Markella said, "I just wanted to find out their weaknesses."
Ecliptor nodded "I see your highness."
"I'll be in my room. See that no one disturbs me!" she turned on her heel and marched down the hall "Next time Karone is dead."
***
"So this is it huh." Cassie said, her and the rest of the rangers were in the Surf Spot hanging out before Ashley had to leave for the airport. It had been almost three weeks since Markella had shown up and they hadn't heard much from her since then.
Ashley sighed "Yeah I guess it is."
Carlos glanced at his watch "Maybe we should head to the airport now."
Ashley looked at her own watch "Yeah I guess we should." They split into two cars and headed to the airport where Ashley's parents would be waiting for her.
When they reached the airport they met her parents near the gate their flight would be leaving from.
"It's not gonna be the same without you." Carlos said.
Kim nodded "He's right. I know I've only known you a few months but it seems like longer."
"Same here." Karone said as Zhane and Billy nodded.
"Oh before I forget." Ashley said pulling her communicator from her jacket pocket "This is yours now." She took Karone's hand and folded the device in the new yellow ranger's hand.
Karone smiled "I'll make you proud."
Ashley smiled back "I know you will."
"Honey come on." Ashley's mother called as they announced their flight number over the loud speaker.
"Be right there mom." Ashley turned back to her friends as tears clouded her vision "I'm gonna miss you guys so much."
"We're gonna miss you too." TJ said as he hugged her. Ashley hugged each of her friends. As she hugged Karone she handed her the morpher she would need to become the yellow ranger.
"Almost forgot to give you this." She said, "It's the most important thing."
"Thanks." Karone said, "Come back soon."
Ashley nodded "I will. You can be sure of that."
As they watched her disappear through the gate Andros wrapped his arm around Kim's shoulders.
"She was a good ranger." He said.
"And a great person." Cassie said. They waited until the plane had left before they themselves left the airport.
They would keep Ashley and her family in their prayers.
The End