Chapter 17: Defeating an old Enemy

Andros was sitting by the lake looking straight into the water. His thoughts going back to what Zhane said to him all that time ago. When Zhane called him a coward was what lingered in his mind. Andros realized that what Zhane said was true. He was a coward, but he wasn't running away to protect her, he was running away because he was afraid to lose her. He was afraid to fall under Balavan's control like how Balavan's father did it to him. Andros placed his head in his hands in disbelief. "What have I done?" He whispered. Just then, Cassie can over to him.

"ANDROS!" She shouted.

Andros looked up and stood up when Cassie ran over to him. "What's going on?" He asked. Cassie had a worried look on her face.

"Andros…it's Ashley, she's been kidnapped," Cassie replied.

Andros was in shock. "Kidnapped? How?" He asked.

"She was going to Onyx to get information on Balavan's next attack, not knowing that one of his spies were there. Since Ashley was such a wreak, she was captured easily," she replied.

"Why did you let her go?" He demanded.

"We didn't know she was gone until it was too late."

Andros was upset with what he was wearing and kicked the nearest rock close to him. "Andros, you have to save her, if she's even alive," she insisted. Andros looked at Cassie totally confused.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"Ever since you left, she's been miserable. Andros, the Ashley we know and love is gone. That girl left when you left us."

Andros sat down again in disbelief. "Zhane was right," he murmured. Cassie kneeled in front of him.

"There's a chance she can be saved. You have to do it though," she insisted.

"How can I do that without powers?" He asked.

Cassie smiled as she held out her PDA. "I knew you'd be asking that," she replied. Andros took his PDA into his hand and looked at Cassie.

"Thanks," he told her.

"Please bring her back," she begged.

Andros nodded and held his PDA up. "NEMEAN LION MYTH RANGER POWER UP!" He shouted. Andros morphed and he looked at Cassie. "Tell the others that I've gone after Ashley and tell them that I'm back," he informed. Cassie nodded and got onto her Galaxy Glider to head back to the Megaship. "GALAXY GLIDER HANG TEN!" Andros shouted. Andros jumped onto his Galaxy Glider. "You'll regret this, Balavan," he hissed.

(Balavan's Castle)

Ashley was hanging by her arms in Balavan's throne room when Balavan entered. "Ah! My prize," he sneered. Ashley lifted her head and Balavan's eyes widened. "There is no light in your eyes," he mumbled. He looked at his henchman. "What did you do to her?" He demanded.

"I did nothing, my lord," the henchman replied.

Balavan grabbed Ashley's face. "She'll do though, she'll do just fine," he laughed. Ashley glared and spat in his face. Balavan stepped back and wiped his face.

"There's still some fight in you. Well, that will change," he laughed.

Ashley lowered her head again feeling pain go through her arms.

(Outside the Castle)

Andros jumped off his Galaxy Glider and hid behind a wall. "T. J., I'm here. I'm heading into the throne room," Andros informed. He ducked down as he waited for the perfect moment. Andros grabbed one of the soldiers from behind and pulled on his cloak. He followed the other soldiers towards the throne room, hoping that Ashley would be there.

(Throne Room)

Ashley was beginning to give up. Everyday during the past few months, she was dying so slowly that it hurt. She missed Andros, she wanted him back. She wanted to get out of the mess she got herself into. Tears fell down her face as she waited for her fate, a fate she didn't want to happen. All Ashley wanted was to see Andros's face again.

Once Andros reached the throne room, Andros used his sword and fought off the rest of the soldiers. He hid them away and hurried into the throne room.

Ashley looked up when a "soldier" came into the throne room. "Who are you?" She asked. Her eyes widened when Andros removed his hood. "Andros?" She asked. Andros smiled behind his helmet.

"I'm here, Ashley," he assured her.

Andros pulled out his sword and used his powers to cut the chain. Ashley almost hit the floor, but Andros caught her. "I'm here, Ashley," he murmured. Tears fell down her face as she reached up and touched his helmet.

"I knew you'd come back," she whispered.

"Come on, I have to get you home," he insisted.

"How sentimental," Balavan laughed.

Andros held Ashley in a carrying position still and looked at Balavan. "You're too late, Red Ranger. As you can see, your precious Ashley is dying. You did that yourself. Just like how you killed her sister," he taunted.

Andros felt the anger go through him as he heard Aiko's screams go through his head once again. "You couldn't save her. Now you won't be able to save your precious Ashley. Astronema will be mine again and you'll be dead," Balavan laughed. Andros walked over towards a safe spot of the throne room and placed Ashley on the floor.

"I'll be back, I promise," Andros assured her.

"Be careful," Ashley murmured.

Andros nodded and stood up. Balavan pulled out his sword and Andros went to face his biggest fear. "I won't allow you to destroy my life. Your father may have succeeded, but you won't," Andros snapped.

"Big words for a weakling like you," Balavan taunted

"NEMEAN LION SWORD!" Andros shouted.

Andros swung out his sword, did a front flip over Balavan's head, and the fight started. Balavan turned around and blocked the sword of Andros. Andros swung at Balavan's front with a glare. "I learned that the ones who are weak are the ones who run. I'm tired of running. You're going to stop terrorizing me and my family," Andros snapped. Balavan continued to fight him. He was on the offensive. He used his sword and jabbed it towards Andros' chest. Andros back flipped before hitting the floor and tried a sweep kick. Balavan jumped into the air.

"FIRE BLAST!" Balavan shouted as fire shot out of his sword and headed straight towards Andros. "ANDROS!" Ashley yelled.

Andros jumped out of the way and then he raised his sword. "LION SHIELD!" He shouted and a shield that had the shape of a lion blocked Balavan's fire attack. Balavan jumped down from where he was standing. He ran towards Andros full force. Andros got into a fighting stance and jumped over his head. Balavan stopped and looked around. Andros was able to climb up onto the edge of beams in the throne room. "Your father was the coward, Balavan. Your father used me to do his dirty work. You're just like your father," Andros taunted.

"I'm nothing like my father," Balavan started, "you are the coward for running."

"I ran because I thought it would keep my family safe. I see that you'll destroy my family without a second thought."

Andros then jumped down with his sword in hand and started attacking Balavan only to have him block his attacks.

(Pheona's Temple)

Pheona smiled when she saw Andros fighting as hard as he could against Balavan. The hardest he ever fought before. However, because of the dark powers pulsing through Balavan's veins, only one thing could surely defeat Balavan and Pheona knew what that was.

(Throne Room)

Andros did a sweep kick and Balavan tried stabbing Andros in the chest. Andros blocked his attacks. Andros hit the floor, but rolled out of the way. Balavan sighed. He looked over at Ashley. "Looks like your girlfriend isnt doing to well," he cackled. Ashley was trying her best not to fall unconscious, she didn't want Andros to worry about her. Andros looked over at Ashley with fear going through his heart.

"Ashley, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he whispered.

"Just finish him off," she answered quietly.

Andros looked at Balavan. "You destroyed my life," he snapped. Balavan took this chance and lunged at Andros. Andros jumped out of the way, but then Pheona contacted him.

"Andros, you can't defeat Balavan with mere weapons. You have to fight with more," she informed.

"What else can I fight with?" He asked.

"You and your friends hold the powers of your mythical animals. I'll have them send all the power they have to you and that will defeat Balavan."

Balavan stared at Andros with confusion showing on his face. Andros nodded and lowered his head. For the first time, the Nemean Lion tattoo on his chest started to glow red. Soon, along with the other Rangers, their tattoos started to glow and they sent their powers to Andros. Balavan's eyes widened as Andros first glowed Red, then Yellow, Blue, Black, Pink, and Purple. Andros opened his eyes and glared at Balavan. "I CALL ON THE POWER OF THE MYTHICAL MAGIC ANIMALS!" Andros shouted. Andros then raised his sword into the air. "NEMEAN LION!" Andros shouted.

"FAERIE!" Ashley shouted.

"HIPPOGRIFF!" Carlos shouted.

"PEGASUS!" Karone shouted.

"CERBERUS!" Zhane shouted.

"UNICORN!" Cassie shouted.

"GRIFFEN!" T. J. shouted.

Balavan backed away in disbelief. Andros then raised his sword. "Tell your dad I said hi," Andros sneered. Balavan froze at his words.

"I will haunt you till you die. Don't forget that," Balavan threatened.

"I don't think so. Aiko and our friends will make sure that won't happen," Andros answered.

Andros then spun around and threw his sword at Balavan with all the powers on the tip. "NO!" Balavan shouted. However, the sword hit him in the stomach. Just then, dark magic burst when the sword hit Balavan. Andros de-morphed and suddenly, the castle shook. He looked over at Ashley and ran over to her. Ashley had fallen unconscious and he had to get her out before the castle fell on them. Andros quickly picked her up and ran out of the castle with her in his arms. Ashley placed her head on his chest, knowing that she was safe now.

When Andros came outside, he kept Ashley in his arms while calling for his Galaxy Glider. He then jumped on his Galaxy Glider and went back to the Megaship.

(Megaship)

Andros entered the Megaship. He bypassed his friends and went to the infirmary. He placed Ashley on the bed and looked at her. Fear was eating at him and his worse fear was taking over again. He reached over and stroked her cheek. "Please don't leave me, I love you," he whispered. Ashley groaned a bit.

"Andros…" she trailed off.

Andros touched her face. "Rest, everything's okay," he assured her. Then Ashley closed her eyes and

Andros sat there, hoping that everything would be okay. He just hoped that Ashley would be strong again.

Thank You: Thank you my good friend, scifinutalways1999 for helping me out with the fighting scene. Without your help, this chapter would be nothing but boring.