Disclaimer: Am rushed. Am lazy. Not mine. Owned by same person/company that owns Power Rangers.

Author's Note: Yeah, okay, sorry about the wait. But, I'm stuck. And I want to write more of "Forever Light". But, enjoy anyway!


Same Time, Same Place, Different Person

Andros watched the friends comfort each other. Then… Ashley lifted her eyes and caught his. Confusion swam in her expression for a moment, then her eyes widened and she stepped back abruptly. Cassie looked up and spun around horror filling her face before a scowl darkened her face and she narrowed her eyes at Andros.

"You."

"No."

The two whispers filled with emotion spoken at the same time, made Andros drop his shoulders and scuff the floor with his shoe. After a few moments of straining, unbearable silence, it was shattered by Ashley's sob of loneliness. Cassie immediately whirled around to face her friend, wrapping her into a hug. Cassie glared at Andros, as Ashley cried. Suddenly, Ashley wrenched herself from Cassie's comforting hug and ran out the door, slowing for a moment near Andros to gaze up at him through tear-filled eyes, but she left quickly and ran to the next room. Wrenching open the door, she accused the slightly bewildered people, "You know, didn't you." She left before they could say anything and ran into the bathroom, collapsing on the rug, sobbing her heart out.

More Self-Beating In The Same Suspenseful Situation Which We're Going To Draw Out As Long As Possible

Andros mentally hit himself as he recalled the tear-stained cheeks and look of betrayal reflected in Ashley's eyes as she ran out the room. Maybe I should look into running away and faking my death, he thought upsettingly. It would be so much easier than facing the wrath of a protective Cassie and the lonely sadness of his love. Did I just… Oh great, I did. I can't believe I still love her after all this time… actually I can. He groaned slightly and turned to face Karone, standing beside him, shaking her head slightly. He turned to Cassie, still standing there, glaring and looking very much like she was about to run him over. She opened her mouth to speak, and Andros winced slightly, in preparation for the tongue-lashing he expected.

Same Situation, Which We're Still Going To Draw Out

"How could you!" Cassie accused her former friend. "How could you just walk in here, totally unexpected, and just break her like that." Actually, she reflected almost immediately. Ashley and I did think we saw him at the concert, but… to surprise her like this?

"That was cruel, Andros, cruel." His name felt strange on her tongue, new and unfamiliar.

Sighing, he looked up, his eyes weary and sad. "I know, but how else was I supposed to let her know?"

Cassie stared in disbelief. Was he really that oblivious? Sad, sad, sad. "For starters," Cassie said slowly, as if talking to a four-year old. "You could have started years ago, by not breaking up with herand just telling her where you were going and explain that you had to go! I mean, she had to find out from Zhane and Karone, don't you think that broke her trust in you?"

"But she would have been in danger!" Andros interjected. "I couldn't do that to her!"

"Andros, you idiot!" Cassie yelled, frustrated with Skunk-Boy. "Don't you think that she can take care of herself! And it's not like she was totally helpless, and she even knew of you being a ranger, heck, she was one! Don't you trust her? Don't you trust her!" Cassie was crying by now, tears of pity for her heart-broken friend and pity for this stupid, rash boy in front of her. Letting out a frustrated cry of impatience, Cassie stormed out to grieve with Ashley and comfort her.

Guess Which Situation This (STILL!) Is

Karone watched the scene of betrayal and arguments unfolding before her without making a single move to stop it. This was between them and them only. Although…

Purple sparksflashed around her hand for a moment and Cassie froze in the hallway before a wind that could only affect her pulled her back.

In the bathroom, tears dried up on Ashley's cheeks and she looked up, touching her face gently. Her head bowed for a moment before snapping up and she frowned, walking back to the room she had left just minutes ago.

Andros stopped his mental screams and shifted, lifting his face to see Cassie being pushed back into the room by a hand… Or magical wind. He looked to his sister for a moment and was only a little surprised to see the glow surrounding her hands. Looking back at the door, he saw Ashley walk in, her eyes half blank… half hypnotized.

"A-A-Ashley? Ca-Cassie?" Andros stammered, swinging his gaze from the growling, struggling girl in pink to the confused, bewildered one in yellow.

"Karone, let me go!" Cassie yelled, quite unlike herself, at the calm girl in purple.

Karone simply smirked and flashed her hand ever so slightly, breaking her spell on Ashley, but not Cassie. While Cassie yelled and struggled against the wind that held her back, Ashley snapped her head to one side and her eyes widened in shock. She sighed softly and her shoulders drooped, her legs giving out as she crumpled to the ground in a faint. Karone gasped softly and Cassie stopped her thrashing for a moment to stare in disbelief at her friend, before realizing that she was free from the magic bonds Karone had placed.

"Darn," Karone muttered under her breath, saying the next part loud enough for the others who had come and were crowding the doorway to hear. "The magic must have been too much of a shock to her vulnerable state, she should be fine, just a little dazed."

"Ashley, Ashley, come on, get up." Cassie begged her friend, shaking the unconscious girl. Cautiously, Andros approached Ashley and Cassie. As he reached out a hand to touch her, Cassie's head snapped up and she glared at him… before reluctantly drawing back and letting him attempt waking her.

"Ashley, wake up, please." Andros gently shook her hand; Ashley sighed slightly and his eyes widened.

"A-Ashley."

"Andros?"


Author's Note 2: Ooh. Cliffhanger. Fun. But, anyway, I want to warn everyone to not expect the eleventh chapter out for a little while, don't worry, it will get out sometime, I promise.

RR! Gobball, now you see the reactions. But, there's more. So stay tuned! Ashley Hammond/ Astro Yellow, who isn't review addicted. Sorry, didn't want to sound rude, but, thanks for the review. Glad to see you staying with this story through the long wait periods and such. Hope you liked it. Skimmboardergurl, don't worry, I have plans for Cassie's love life. She will find happiness, but that's near the end. In the menatime, she's going to play overprotective best friend. Thanks for the review!