AH/AY: Jeff, like Phantom, does not have a specific color. He wears the same kind of armor as Phantom, Gold Ranger, and Magna Defender though. I hope that helps you visualize.

Mz. Daydream: Well, there's not so much A/A-ness today as I thought there would be. See the Author's Note. Also, be sure to check your e-mail before you review this chapter, I'm just about to send you one that you need to read.

Arwennicole: I'm glad you liked it, sorry about the delay (see the Author's Note).

jenny: Well, at least your computer didn't blow up. I had a friend who had that happen and a few months later it happened to ours. On the up side we got a brand spanking new one that's way better than the old one. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Phantom Rogue: Okay, read the Author's Note, it has my apology. But don't worry, it'll happen tomorrow!

Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers, Masked Rider, or Beetleborgs. (Don't worry they're only here to make a point.)

Author's Note: Okay, I know I said that today people would find out why they hate the love potion cover, but if I showed you today then tomorrow's chapter would be super short. Thus, you all have to wait another day. Only two chapters left! I hope you enjoy!

Be Careful What You Wish For…

Chapter 12 - Freedom

"They really are free," Ashley said happily as they entered the room that night.

"Yes, Ecliptor sent me word today that the Pink, Blue, and Green Rangers have been freed. Pink and Green have become the Pink and Black Astro Rangers, which I admit I'm not very happy about."

"What about Justin, the Blue Ranger?"

"They cannot undo what the Machine Empire did to him and his circuitry is not compatible with the Power, or something like that."

"Is there anything else?" Ashley asked, hoping for news of her brother or T.J.

Galactus sighed and indicated that she should sit next to him. "Your brother believes that this is not how things are meant to be."

"You mean he's not thrilled that his little sister is love slave to an evil prince? How shocking."

"No, not just us, everything. He has said that reality was different before, that in another version of reality he made a wish and it changed things, a lot of things. He also says that before that reality there was another, in which I made the wish that changed things."

"That- is weird."

"Very."

"Do you think," Ashley began tentatively, "that we were happy before, in the other reality?"

"I don't know. Your brother knew we were Fet-na without being told."

"I never told him that I was having those dreams, I don't see how he would have even known I had a Fet-na."

"But why would I wish to change things if we were happy?"

"Maybe we weren't. Or maybe you didn't know we wouldn't be when things changed."

"What do you mean?"

"On Earth, we have a saying, 'Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.' It means that you don't really know what you have until it's gone and that sometimes what you think you wanted really turns out to be worse than what you had before."

"Maybe- maybe things never should have been changed."

"Or maybe they should have been, we have no way of knowing."

"What if we could be together, what if your friends had never been captured, what if you could have everything you ever wanted?"

Ashley shook her head as if to clear her thoughts. "I don't know; all I know is what we have now."

"Are you honestly content with that!"

"No, but no one ever said life would be easy!"

"But what if it could be?" Galactus sighed and turned away. "I'll be in Ecliptor's room."

"No, Dark Specter might find out," Ashley said gently. "You should stay here."

ooo

"It is done Divatox!" Porto yelled. "The Red Ranger has finally given in!"

"Wonderful!" the pirate screeched.

ooo

"We're almost to Earth," Karone said.

"Earth," Carlos sighed, "I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever see her again."

"I would say 'I know what you mean,'" Cassie said, "but I don't think I missed Earth that much."

"How do you think the others are doing?" Jeff asked. He was answered when Prince Dex's face appeared on the screen.

"Thank goodness you're back," he said.

"Ya," came a young girl's voice from the background, "I don't know how much longer our mom was gonna buy the whole 'we're vacationing with friends' alibi."

"Who is that?" Zhane asked.

"That's just Jo," Dex said. "She's one of the Beetleborgs. She and her brother migrated over here to help me out while the other one runs around the globe helping whoever needs help at the time."

"Then who's defending Charterville?" Justin asked.

The face of a young boy, about Justin's age, appeared where Dex had been. "The Astral Borgs, don't ask."

"We're gonna need your alibi to work a bit longer, Jo," Cassie said and the girl groaned in the background. "We're just in the area to save a friend."

"Who?" Dex was back.

"T.J.," Carlos said, "we got captured when Divatox destroyed the Power Chamber and each of us was given to one of Dark Specter's minions as a gift. It's taken us this long to escape."

"Well hurry up and save everybody else, Earth needs all the heroes it can get right now." Dex broke the connection.

"You heard what he said," Justin said, "let's get T.J."

ooo

Getting T.J. turned out to be a lot harder than anyone had originally thought. First, Ecliptor had had to change his armor so he wouldn't be recognized and the others couldn't help but laugh and the polka dots he now sported. Then, they had gotten into Divatox's ship (after hours of planning and crawling through air ducts) only to find T.J. kissing Divatox.

"Oh, Rangers," Divatox said, catching her breath. "Here to rescue your friend?"

"Obviously," Cassie said.

"Well you're too late. He's gone," Divatox said cheerfully.

"He's standing right there," Carlos pointed out. "I mean, it's obvious you put a love spell on him, but he's still-"

T.J. laughed, but his laugh was unlike any they had ever heard their friend utter. "I am not T.J.," he said in a booming voice, though it was no louder than theirs were. "I am Maligore, my wife has finally found a body suitable for me to take up residence in."

"Then where's T.J.?" Justin asked, his voice wavering slightly with fear; he had faced Maligore once and did not wish to repeat the experience.

"T.J. is dead," Divatox smirked. "Now, I am in such a good mood that I am willing to let you leave, but only if you do so immediately."

"We're-" Jeff began in a tone of defiance.

Karone laid a hand on his shoulder. "Let's go," she whispered.