Chapter 16: Please Come Back

A couple of months went by and Ashley missed Andros terribly. She never slept in her own room anymore, she always stayed in Andros's room and would cry herself to sleep every night.

One morning, Ashley was doing her best to try and navigate when Karone came in to check the systems. "Ash, are you okay?" She asked. Ashley didn't answer, she just tried to keep her concentration on her work. Karone sighed and sat beside Ashley. "I know you miss him," she told her.

"And what you dong?" Ashley asked.

"I didn't say that," Karone replied.

Ashley stood up. "Of course I miss him, Karone. He just got up and left in the middle of the night. All he left was a note that practically said "I'm going to die so forget about me," the Andros I knew wouldn't have abandoned us like that," Ashley snapped. Zhane, who had overheard everything, walked over and grabbed Ashley's shoulders.

"He left because he thinks he's protecting you, protecting us. Andros wouldn't have left the team without a reason," Zhane insisted.

Ashley sat down and wrapped her arms around herself. Zhane looked into the girl's eyes and saw something that nearly broke his heart, the light in Ashley's eyes was gone. Ever since Andros left, Ashley's once joyous self became isolated, like she had when Andros was kidnapped. Ashley lowered her head and tears fell down her face. "I can't live without him. I can't," she whispered. Both Zhane and Karone hugged her trying to comfort the sobbing girl. Just then, DECA's alarms went off.

"What's going on, DECA?" T. J. asked when he and the other Rangers came in.

"Balavan is attacking the planet, Coran," DECA replied.

Ashley wiped her tears away and stood up. "Let's go," she insisted. The Rangers nodded and they went down towards the planet, Coran.

Balavan cackled when the Rangers arrived. "Welcome, Rangers," he laughed. He raised his blaster and fired. The Rangers dodged his blasts and Ashley pulled out her sais.

"FAERIE SAIS!" She shouted.

She ran as fast as she could towards Balavan. "ASHLEY, NO!" Carlos shouted. Balavan laughed as he fought against Ashley.

"You're weak, just like your precious Red Ranger, wherever he's hiding," he cackled.

"You monster, you took Andros away from me," Ashley hissed.

She then kicked Balavan in the stomach and got back in a guarding stance with her sais in hand. "You will leave us alone," Ashley snapped. Balavan laughed again and brought out his sword.

"FIGHT ME RANGERS!" He shouted.

"Gladly," T. J. snapped.

"CERBERUS CLAW!" Zhane shouted.

"PEGASUS DAGGERS!" Karone shouted.

"UNICORN BATON!" Cassie shouted.

"HIPPOGRIFF STAFF!" Carlos shouted.

"GRIFFIN BOOMERANG/DAGGER!" T. J. shouted.

Then they fought against Balavan, but they were losing without Andros's help.

(Megaship)

Alpha was trying everything to help the Rangers. "Alpha, we need more firepower," Zhane informed.

"I'm trying, Rangers," Alpha answered.

(Coran)

Ashley cried out in pain when Balavan struck her stomach with his sword. "Ashley!" Cassie gasped. She went to help her friend when henchmen appeared.

"ASHLEY!" T. J. shouted.

Ashley was holding her stomach when Balavan towered over her. "This is it for you, you're coming with me," he snapped.

"NO!" The Rangers shouted.

Ashley watched as Balavan was about to take Ashley back to his ship when something struck his arm. Ashley looked up and her eyes lit up. A familiar Nemean Lion Ranger stood there. "Andros," she whispered. Andros pulled out his sword.

"So, you do stand by your precious Yellow Ranger's side," he cackled.

Andros glared at him. "I came to stop you," he snapped. Andros then fought as hard as he could against Balavan. Cassie ran over and helped Ashley stand up. Balavan glared at Andros.

"I will be back, you can be sure of that," he snapped.

Then he once again disappeared. Andros looked at them and then he powered down. He walked over to Zhane and handed him his PDA. "Andros, why don't you stay with us?" Zhane asked.

"I only came back to help you," Andros replied.

Ashley wasn't going to let Andros out of her life again and she ran after him. "ANDROS!" She shouted. Andros stalled and looked over his shoulder when Ashley ran towards him. "If you came back to help us, then you must know that we can't fight without you," she insisted.

"I can't stay, Ashley," he repeated.

"You can stay, you're letting your past take over your life, Andros, let go of your past and come back to the Megaship. Become our leader again, please, we can't fight without you," Ashley begged.

Andros went to walk away when Ashley grabbed his arm. "Please Andros, if you won't stay for the team, stay for me," she begged. Andros sighed as he looked at her. His eyes softening a bit.

"I'm sorry, Ashley, I can't stay," he repeated.

Andros held onto her hand and looked into her eyes. "I will be back…once Balavan's gone forever, we'll be together forever," he vowed. Tears fell down her face.

"Please don't leave me," she whispered.

Andros sighed as he wiped away her tears. "We will see each other again, just not now. I won't let you die like your sister," he persisted.

"I am dying, Andros. I'm dying without you. Every time you run away, you're taking my heart and soul with you. I don't even know if you'll ever return every time you run away. Please, just stay with me, please," she insisted.

Andros looked into her eyes. He let her hand go and touched her face. "I will be back for you, I promise. Right now, I need to figure things out on my own," he informed.

"And when will that be? You could be walking out of my life right now, Andros. This could be the last time I see you," she told him.

Andros lowered his head. "I came back to help you, Ashley, just because I came back to help, doesn't mean I came back to stay," he informed. He lifted his head up and lifted her chin up. "I love you, remember that," he told her.

"I love you too, but please don't leave us like this," she answered.

Andros kissed her and stroked her cheek. "I will see you again," he vowed. Then he turned and walked away, leaving a heartbroken Ashley there.

(Three Weeks Later)

Zhane arrived on the planet that Andros was staying on and found Andros sitting by the lake. "So, this is what the great Andros of KO-35 does when he runs away," Zhane told him. Andros stood up and looked at Zhane.

"What are you doing here?" He asked.

"Simple, I came to tell you that you're making a terrible mistake," Zhane replied.

"No, I'm making a very wise choice."

"Breaking Ashley's heart is a wise choice?"

"Yes."

Zhane got angry with Andros's answer. "Andros, you should see Ashley. She is a wreak. She won't sleep. You think you're saving her life by staying away, but you're killing her," Zhane snapped.

"You wouldn't know what it's like, Zhane. MY OLD ENEMY IS THREATENING OUR LIVES!"

"YOU'RE THREATENING HER LIFE!"

"I'M SAVING IT!"

Zhane walked over and grabbed Andros's arm. "Andros, listen to me. If Balavan doesn't kill Ashley, you will," Zhane hissed. Andros ripped his arm away from Zhane's grasp. "Karone knows what its like to regret everything. She was raised evil, you were evil for what, a year? Karone was evil her whole life," Zhane snapped.

"Karone was kidnapped," Andros snapped back.
"SO WERE YOU!"

"I WAS A FOOL! I KILLED ALL MY FRIENDS AND AIKO! I ALMOSTK ILLED YOU!"

"BUT YOU DIDN'T! NOW STOP ACTING LIKE AN IDIOT AND COME HOME!"

"NO! I'M NOT GOING BACK, BECAUSE ASHLEY WILL DIE!"

Zhane glared at him. "FINE! Andros, if you're going to sit here and feel sorry for yourself, fine, but I refuse to let Ashley die from a broken heart because you can't let go of the past," Zhane snapped. Andros tightened his fist. "Aiko's lucky, she's lucky she doesn't have to see what you're doing now. If she were alive, she would see you as I see you right now, you're a coward, Andros," Zhane snapped. Before Zhane could blink, he stumbled backwards when Andros punched him in the face.

"Don't you ever call me a coward," Andros snapped.

"You are a coward, Andros."

Zhane wiped the blood way from his lip and stood up from the ground. "Until you get your act together and realize what you're doing to Ashley. Fine, sit here and pity yourself," Zhane snapped. Andros watched as Zhane walked back onto his ship and went back to the Megaship.