1. So, mean people, you decided to quit reading this story because it'll update every other week? I'm doing almost 70 weekly hours, not including extra hours, weekend hours and very frequent business trip, on which I have no access to a computer!

2. So, how will I update regularly if I'm gone so often? A friend will update for me. It means regular updates, but I won't reply to reviews or email so often (delay may be up to 2 weeks).

3. I'm not sure if I said it already, so I'll say it anyhow. There are two changes in the prologue. For one thing, it ends with Oshra still alive. The second: the sentence that read: "You will know the time comes when Earth will be threatened, the Line of Shadows crossed, the Hunter will reclaim his thrown", now reads "You will know the time comes when Earth will be threatened, the Line of Shadows crossed, the Hunter will reclaim his thrown and the Path of the Rainbow shall be opened". I don't expect any more changes.

4. One more thing: call this story an AU due to the following (minor, in my opinion) changes: (1) Ashley and Carlos are childhood friends, (2) Zhane returned from the Rebels before Andros realized Astronema's identity, (3) Darkonda has 5 more lives to go, (4) The status of Andros's parents (dead/alive) is known, (5) Andros are Karone are twins.

Stick with me guys, the story is only now taking off…

3. Change

"And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts? Hot ashes for trees?

Hot air for a cool breeze? Cold comfort for change?

And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?"

"Wish you were here", Pink Floyd.

The sky was gray, and the air smelled like it was going to be a fine spring day in Angel Grove. Carlos walked in the sand. He gave up trying to keep his hair away from his face: the soft sea breeze just blew it back. Not a single cloud, he thought, some sunrise we're going to have today.

He sped up lightly when the water break came into view. Shiera was nowhere in sight. Maybe she's not here yet, maybe she's gone down to the water. He stepped onto the water break. Shiera's things weren't there, and neither was Shiera. Carlos set down his things and begun some warm-ups. It's freezing here. Why didn't any of us think about it? He bent to his bag to fetch his sweatshirt, and his heart froze. He could see footprints all over the thin layer of sand: footprints that weren't his. They had to be fresh, too, or they would've been erased by the breeze. He left the sweatshirt and got on his knees, examining the footprints closely. He could make out marks of bare feet small enough to be Shiera's. Those, however, where almost lost in a mess of larger footprints. So many of them, he thought, enough for two dozens men, only I don't think they're any man's. They definitely weren't made by shoes, they're too even for that, and they don't look like bare feet either.

"Shiera!" he called, "Shiera!"

No one answered.

He examined the water break thoroughly, looking for any other clues, but to no good: the wind erased all the finer traces. Even the footprints where almost gone. It must have happened just before I got here. My timing sucks. Remembering the incident with Cassie and the Lizwizard, all too fresh in his mind, he winced. I suck.

"Shiera!" he cried again. Desperation was all too clear in his voice.

He looked at the gold and orange light shimmering across the ocean's surface, wondering what to do. The most obvious thing was turning to his fellow Rangers for help, but… I don't feel like talking to them at all. I don't want TJ's lectures or Cassie's well intentions, I don't want Zhane's so-called humor and I certainly don't want anything from Andros. As for Ashley… Once she noticed my every mood, now she didn't even notice how I slipped from her life. She doesn't care. No, I'm all alone in this.

"These are the best fried potatoes I ever had!" declared TJ.

"I have similar sentiments for the dressing," answered Cassie.

"Stop complimenting each other!" demanded Zhane.

"It's not their fault you can't cook," retorted Ashley.

"I can cook, I just never learned to!"

"I fail to see the effective difference here," remarked Andros.

"What gives you the right to talk? You're an even worse cook than I am."

"Stop the banter and pass me the ketchup," interrupted Ashley.

TJ checked his watch. "I never thought Carlos would be so late for a meal."

"Oh, I totally forgot, he said he just discovered he has a huge history exam tomorrow."

"When were you going to tell us?"

"I told you, I forgot."

"The whereabouts of another Ranger is not something you just forget."

"He's got a point, Ashley," said Andros quietly. This stopped Ashley from speaking up.

"His lose, anyway," said Cassie, "Wait until you see the surprise dessert."

"What kind of a surprise is it if he already knows what it is?" demanded Zhane, pointing at Andros.

"He happened to walk into the kitchen when I was working," said Cassie.

"And I spent all morning trying to break in there," complained Zhane.

"You didn't really lock the kitchen, did you?" asked TJ, turning to Andros. The only reply he received was a grin.

"Zhane is a very bad influence on you. The two of you are returning to childhood fast."

Zhane pulled an expression of indignation and hurt feelings that made everyone burst out laughing. Zhane maintained the expression for a few more moments and then, certain that his act had the desired results, joined in.

Cassie caught TJ sometime later at Surf Spot'd arcade. "We need to talk," she said.

"You look worried."

"The world is coming to an end."

For a wild moment he thought that she was talking about some new horrible monster, but then he realized that Cassie would never speak of anything to do with their powers in the middle of the crowded arcade.

"Should we be running for cover?"

"Carlos lied."

He stared at her. "What?"

"He lied," she repeated.

"I heard it the first time. What did he lie about and to whom?"

"He lied to Ashley. There was no quiz."

"Are you sure about this?"

"Positive. I know a girl from his history class. I asked her how's she ready for the test, and she had no idea what I was talking about."

"Carlos is the most honest guy on earth." TJ looked befuddled, "Why would he possibly lie?"

"Your guess is as good as mine."

"I've only got one idea, and it's ugly."

"He's trying to shunt us to the side."

"I was hoping you wouldn't say that."

"Too bad, but that's the truth."

"Is there really no other explanation you can think of?"

"Only if he's under some kind of spell or mind control."

"I'd rather have him bewitched than angry."

"It's not likely that he's under a spell. This situation has been developing for a while now."

"And we did nothing to stop it."

"Yes we did. It just didn't work. All we achieved was delay the inevitable."

"You go talk to Ashley, I'll go talk to Andros." He looked at her face. "It's a bad idea, uh?"

"Very." She looked ever so serious. A suspicion crept into his heart.

"Did something happen between you and Andros that I should know about?"

"Not really. He just… let slip something he didn't intend to. It's nothing harmful, just… personal." The sadness in her eyes stopped any further questioning.

"We still need to do something."

"Talking to Carlos is an even worse idea, if that what you were thinking."

"We can't go on like this."

"There's nothing we can do about it, either."

"We went through those lines a week ago, only then I had an idea."

"Maybe the situation will resolve itself."

"Damn right it will. When Astronema realizes the error of her evil ways and join forces with us to defeat Dark Specter."

The princess of Evil was tired as she hasn't been in a long time. Qualified sorceress as she was, the spell she performed that morning was a very complicated one, and it taxed heavily on her. It required several hours of probing into Shiera's mind, learning her passions and hatreds, plus the hour-and-a-half-long ritual itself. No ritual she had ever performed before required more than three-quarters of an hour. What more, the spell itself was not the only heavy task she performed during the last day: there was the Ring.

Astronema glanced at the shining object on the bedside closet. A single green stone, embedded into a frame made of a rare, pearly-looking dark mineral. Symbols of power were curved into the ring in very fine lines, barely visible. To the casual observer, the Ring was but jewel, though a majestic one. Astronema smiled proudly. This was no mere adornment: this Ring was an object of power, such as only the greatest of sorcerers could create. It was this ring that would transform the unconscious human girl, recovering from the powerful spell cast on her, into a mighty warrior.

Shiera stirred, and Astronema set upright, her weariness gone. Shiera inhaled deeply. She was coming about. Astronema couldn't deny her anxiety. Confident as she was in her skill, only Shiera's behavior upon waking could truly prove that the spell had succeeded.

Shiera opened her eyes. First there was puzzlement in her look, but then her eyes fell on the waiting princess of Evil, and recognition dawned on her faced.

"My princess," she said quietly.

Astronema held back a triumphant smile. The final test was yet to be conducted.

"Are you well, my warrior?" she inquired, her voice just as quiet.

Shiera turned cautiously on her elbow, and feeling no discomfort she pushed herself to a sitting position. "I am most well." Her eyes met with Astronema's again, calm and steady, and she bowed her head, not breaking the eye contact. "What does my princess wish of me?"

She's got both nerve and manners, admitted Astronema to herself as she picked the Ring. She held it in her open palm. "This should be yours, to grant you the power you have earned with your skill". She tried her best not to hold her breath. This was it. Should Shiera take the Ring, she would accept Astronema as her lady by will, thus completing the spell.

Shiera took the Ring without the tiniest hesitation and slid it on the middle finger of her right hand. She inhaled sharply and closed her eyes as the magic penetrated her, changing her body. Astronema used those seconds to grin widely. When Shiera opened her eyes, however, the princess was just as composed as ever.

"I am ready," said Shiera. "Your orders?"

"Ecliptor shall brief you with all the information you require. You will return to Earth after the debrief, as it will take up to 24 hours for your body to fully adjust to the power. I shall summon you tomorrow."

"As you wish, my princess." With that, she got to her feet. "I will take leave of you now, so I may be briefed as you commanded."

"You may leave."

Shiera bowed and exit the room.

Astronema smiled yet again. Power Rangers, beware, she thought, tomorrow you shall finally meet your match.

In a city far from Angel Grove, a man was summoned to the phone by one of his co-workers.

"Your girlfriend wanna have a word with you!"

"Coming!"

He cleaned his greasy hands with an available towel and went over to the phone. He thanked the other guy and picked the receiver.

"Hello?"

"Hi," came her voice. It sounded very small.

"What wrong, darling?"

"It's probably nothing, I just… I wanted to make sure you're all right."

"Of course I am. What could possibly happen?"

"I know, but… I had this feeling, all of the sudden. As if something is terribly wrong."

He lowered his voice. "Not a feeling like… back than, right?"

There was silence. When she spoke again, her voice was almost trembling.

"You felt it too, then?"

"Some fifteen minutes ago."

"So did I. I wasn't sure it was real. It took me some time to decide to call you."

"I convinced myself I was only imagining it. I thought it was over."

"Well it's not, and you weren't."

"I realize that."

"We should to something."

"Like what?"

"I don't know."

"We don't even know what alerted us. We don't know where it happened."

"We know something happened. We should at least tell the others."

"You do it than. I won't know how to explain."

"I'll do my best. Take Care, won't you?"

"Of course I will. Do me a favor, though."

"What?"

"Look after yourself, and get that fear out of your voice. I can't hear you like that. That's not my woman."

"I'll do me best."

"That's better already."

"I have my man caring for me, why should I be afraid?"

"I love you."

"I love you too. Call me if you'll feel anything more, ok? Your senses are sharper than mine."

"I promise."

"Good. Bye, love."

"Bye."

He put down the receiver and frowned at it. Just my luck, he thought bitterly. It always happens when I least expect for it. What did I ask for, a normal life? Face it, man; you're never going to get that wish. You did get anything else you could ask for though, so don't complain. He forced his mind back to the matter at hand. While he was relieved that his girlfriend agreed to spread the warning, there was one person he wanted to talk to himself. Because if I don't talk to him, I'll freak myself out with worry. Not ever am I going to let her know how worried I am, not when she's got that tone in her voice. He picked up the receiver and dialed a number. Let us be wrong, he prayed, waiting for his friend to answer, Let us be wrong.

Next time: "Where have you been? You've been gone for hours. You look a mess. We've been worried sick about you"