Disclaimer: This is the second to last chapter in my story. Sob

Chapter 16

By: BeautyandYue

Astronema waited while the Quantrons cut down a tree to ram in the door.

So it's time to take some action boys!

It's time---to---fol---low---me!

Through the mist, through the woods,

through the darkness and the shadows.

It's a nightmare but it one exciting ride.

Say a prayer, then we're there,

at the drawbridge of a castle,

and there's something truly terrible inside.

It's a beast, he's got fangs razor sharp ones.

Massive paws, killer claws for the feed.

Hear him roar, see him foam,

but we're not coming home,

'till he's dead, good and dead. Kill the beast!

After the tree came several of the strongest Quantrons came up and hefted up the trunk and Astronema marched on.

"I knew it! It was foolish to get our hopes up!" TJ said. He and the others had started arguing about Karone.

"Maybe it would have been better if she's never come here at all!" Andros said crossing his arms angrily.

Red Hassock hearing something bounded up to the window as rain started pouring down. "Could it be?" Andros asked hopeful.

"Is it she?" Cassie wondered. They all looked out the window.

"No! Invaders!" Andros cried.

"Astronema and her cronies!" Cassie exclaimed.

"Alright, if it's a fight they want then we'll be ready for them. Who's with me?" TJ said still watching out the window. The door banged behind the others startling TJ. "Ah!" he exclaimed jumping around.

"Take whatever booty you can find but remember the Beast is mine!" cried Astronema pointing at the castle doors.

The enchanted objects raced down the grand staircase.

Find a place, stand aside, we go marching into battle,

Unafraid of all the things you just decreed.

Wardrobe, Red Hassock, coat-Stand, mops, dressers, and much more raced down to the door to block it.

The trunk was rammed into the oak door with a resounding thud. "Again!" Astronema yelled.

"Pardon me master." Cassie said into the darkened room of the West Wing.

Zhane-Beast had changed back into his usual outfit of black pants, cape, and silver shirt. "Leave me in peace." He said gloomily staring out the rain-spattered window.

"But sir the castle is under attack!" Cassie exclaimed.

The objects downstairs braced themselves on the pounding outside the doors. "This isn't working!" Andros exclaimed.

"Oh Andros we must do something!" Ashley called out.

"Wait I know!" Andros said bolting up right as an idea struck him.

The pounding continued. "What should we do master?" Cassie cried.

"It doesn't matter now. Just let them come!" Zhane-Beast said looking straight a head.

Astronema and the Quantrons finally got through the door. It was dark inside and nothing moved. She and the Quantrons cautiously stepped in. a lot of things were lined up on the sides. Ecliptor made the mistake of grabbing the only thing that gave off light at the moment. Andros. "Now!" Andros cried. Lights flared on as the previously thought inanimate objects suddenly attacked from all sides. Coat-Stand wearing his now familiar green hat boxed a Quantron. A mop attacked another crony. While two dressers attacked as one on a Quantron. At the same time, a blue and yellow frying pan and a red pot beat the brains out of another. One Quantron got rolled up in a red rug and was eaten by a black chest. Astronema ducked and swerved her way up the stairs.

Carlos hopped onto a console in the prison control room. He caught sight of the big laser gun once again. 'Yeah.' He thought and hopped onto the red button. While it started to slowly to spin around Carlos hopped on as a red pinpoint of light appeared at the tip.

'What on earth?' Karone wondered seeing the laser start to spin. Then she saw the red light. 'I'd better take cover.' She thought dropping to the floor, just as the laser fired out destroying the room but opening Karone's cell at the same time. Karone peeked up from the floor to find Carlos hanging dizzily from the now inactive laser. "You have got to try this thing." He said. Karone chuckled and picked up Carlos then finding the teleportation she hit it. She and Carlos disappeared in a flash of light.

The fight back at the castle was going well. "Up here you scurvy scum!" Cassie shouted at a Quantron. It looked up "Now!" she cried and her and four other cups poured hot water on the Quantron. It screamed in agony. Wardrobe flew from a balcony with a resounding yell landing on an unsuspecting Quantron.

Astronema kicked open another door and pointed her staff only to find it empty. She glared and went on.

Wardrobe whacked Quantrons, left and right. The brush and comb flew from her drawers pulling one of the Quantrons in. when it popped out again it was dressed in a orange wig, a green skirt, a purple shell bikini top, and green high heeled shoes. It took one look at itself, screamed in this high-pitched sound and bolted. Ecliptor had cornered Andros with a torch, chuckling evilly. Andros was literally dripping wax there was no way out! TJ appeared at the top of the grand staircase with a triumphant yell. He was decked out in a blue captain's hat and carrying a pair of scissors. He caught sight of the trapped Andros and Ecliptor. TJ jumped onto the banister and slide down, pointing the sharp end of the scissors straight at Ecliptor's unwary behind.

POINK!

"Yeow!" Ecliptor yelled shooting directly up in the air clutching his punctured behind.

Karone ran through streams from melting snow. As she raced towards the castle she hopped that it was not to late.

One of the Quantrons had grabbed Ashley and was ripping out her feathers. "Ow! Ow!" She shrieked. Andros saw her and came up behind the Quantron. He drew in a deep breath and sent a huge stream of fire at the creature's buttocks. The Quantron jumped and dropped Ashley. Andros was there to catch her. She smiled up at him as Andros smiled dashingly.

Red Hassock had taken one of the Quantron's weapons and now had Ecliptor and a whole bunch of the Quantrons chasing him. He bolted into the kitchen and was backed up against the counters growling. Ecliptor and the others closed in. suddenly the drawers' popped open and some very sharp looking knives stood at attention. Then Kai poofed up fire and smoke, letting out a spine chilling laugh and grin. Ecliptor and cronies turned tail with a yell and bolted. With Ecliptor running away the rest of the Quantrons followed him. They won! Everyone cheered and celebrated. TJ called out to the retreating figures "And stay out!" Andros grabbed TJ in a big hug.

Finally Astronema found the right room. Pointing her staff at the beast she waited. Zhane-Beast looked mournfully at her then back out the rain drenched window. Astronema sent out a purple shaped blast in the shape of an arrow and hit him. Zhane-Beast let out a strangle like gasp and tried to get the glittering arrow out of his back. Astronema proceeded to shove him through the window. Zhane-Beast landed on the balcony outside. Astronema laughed evilly, throwing down her staff, she jumped through the broken window. She kicked Zhane-Beast who struggled to get up. Up and over the balcony he went coming to a stop at the edge of a small flat place on the rain-slicked roof. Astronema went after his scaling down the roof tiles to land where he lay. "Get up Beast!" she kicked him again in her high-heeled black leather boots. Zhane-Beast just lay there. "What's the matter Beast? To king and gentle to fight back?" Astronema sneered at him, laughing at the pitiful mass of fur before her. Zhane-Beast just looked at her and laid his head down again. 'Fine, if he's going to be that way.' She thought looking for something to use as a weapon to finish him off. Astronema spotted a fixture on the side of the roof to use. Bracing her foot on it, Astronema broke it off. The thing was almost as good as a club. She stood behind Zhane-Beast and raised it high.

"NO!" came the cry.

Zhane-Beast opened his eyes to see Karone looking on in horror as Astronema prepared for the final blow. "Karone." He whispered in disbelief.

"No! Astronema! Don't!" Karone called.

Astronema didn't listen and brought the club down at bone crushing speed. But a clawed paw grabbed it before it could hit its mark and forced it back to Astronema. Zhane-Beast growling shoved Astronema back and across the roof, ending up on a turret while lightening flashed and thunder rolled. Karone picked up her skirts and ran into the castle.

Astronema scrambled to get away from the newly revived, now ferocious Zhane-Beast. They slid to another landing on the roof, bigger this time, and Astronema managed to kick Zhane-Beast off into a bunch of grotesque statues that was in shadows where she lost sight of him. Zhane-Beast blended well with the statues. Astronema picked up the club she had dropped when Zhane-Beast had pushed her to the roof floor. Astronema smashed the head off the first statue. "Come out and fight!" Astronema yelled going forward cautiously. "Were you in love with her Beast? What made you possibly think she would want you?" Astronema walked past more statues. When she had past by some more of the statues one of them turned its head and growled softly. "When she probably has someone even better to see then you!"

Karone ran up the stairs leading to the West Wing.

Zhane-Beast came up behind Astronema, a towering figure. Astronema's eyes widened when she realized that Zhane-Beast was behind her. She swung around with the club hoping to make contact. Zhane-Beast dodged and came quickly around in front of her. Astronema swung with the club again. "It's over Beast! Karone is mine to destroy!" she screamed. Zhane-Beast finally snapped and hateful rage filled his steel blue eyes. He threw Astronema roughly against the side of the roof, growling and grabbed her by the neck suspending her over the edge of the roof into open space. "Let me go! Please let me go! I'll do anything! Anything!" Astronema cried clawing at his paw, rain running in rivets down her pale terror filled face.

Zhane-Beast just glared at her not intending to let her live. But then a small tearful voice made him hesitate. ("Oh, isn't there anything I can do?" "There's nothing you can do." "Take me instead.") His face softened and he dragged Astronema back onto the rooftop. "Get out." He growled into her face and harshly pushed her away.

"Zhane!" Karone cried coming to a stop on the balcony where it al began.

"Karone." Zhane-Beast said turning around, face lighting up, Astronema all forgotten. He started up the roof to the balcony. Going for Karone's outstretched hand, he pulled himself up in front of her. "You came back." He said in disbelief. Zhane-Beast ran his paw through her blonde hair. Karone closed her eyes and smiled in relief that she had gotten there. Suddenly Zhane-Beast roared in pain. Astronema had snuck up behind him and had stabbed him with a dagger she had hidden in her boot. Grinning evilly she raised the dagger to finish Zhane-Beast off. But Zhane-Beast reared back in pain but Astronema lost her grip on the roof. Zhane-Beast almost lost his grip too but Karone grabbed him by his brooch and pulled him back towards her. Astronema flailed wildly, losing her dagger and with an earth shattering scream fell off and fell to the ground below. Astronema's scream was cut off by a splash as she hit the waters from the waterfall next to the castle.

Karone helped Zhane-Beast over the railing. Andros, Ashley, Carlos, Cassie, and TJ came racing in only to stop and gasp at the site before them. Karone eased Zhane-Beast to the ground. Zhane-Beast opened his eyes to find Karone trying very hard not to cry. "You…you came back…" he said coughing softly.

"Of course I came back." Karone said, "I couldn't let them…" she saw that he was fading fast. "Oh, this is all my fault. If only I had gotten here sooner." Karone said hugging him.

"Maybe…maybe it's…its better this way…" Zhane-Beast faintly said.

Karone told him tearfully "Don't talk like that. You'll be all right. We're together now. Everything will be fine you'll see."

Zhane-Beast coughed again and raised his paw to Karone's face. "at least…at least…I got to see you…one last time…"

Karone put her hands to where his paw was on her cheek closing her eyes as tears began to fall mingling with the rain. Karone felt his paw start to slide. Karone opened her tear bright eyes to look at him. Zhane-Beast's steel-blue eyes rolled up into his head as he fell back and breathed his last, paw falling limply to his side. Karone put her hands to her mouth in anguish. "No, no please, please don't leave me." Karone cried into his chest.

"I love you." Karone sobbed.

The last petal fell. The rose lost its sparkle and the soft pink glow faded away. All that was left was the stem and the rose petals underneath it. Andros, Carlos, Cassie, Ashley, and TJ watched it fall. They would never be human again. Ashley put her head on Andros' shoulder and he put his arms around her. TJ placed his hand comfortingly on Cassie as Karone cried.

All of a sudden a multicolored beam of light shot to the ground, shattering with a musical like sound and scattering like hail. Karone, too caught up in her grief, didn't notice. Another and another, hail type piece shot, only to shatter on the ground. Finally Karone lifted her head in surprise. The ground was covered in multicolored hail type things glittered oddly. At that moment Zhane-Beast's body started to slowly rise from the ground. Karone looked down in astonished surprise, pulling back. Andros, Carlos, TJ, Ashley, and Cassie grouped together in wonderment as their jaws dropped. Zhane-Beast's body was turned upright and slowly spun. His black cape wrapped around him, Karone backed up even more startled and astonished. Zhane-Beast began to shift and his paw was stretched out, in a burst of light turned back into a pale human hand, light radiating from the fingertips. Karone stared in shock as both his hind feet turned back into human feet, light shining from his toes. At long last his drooping head was engulfed in light and his fur around his head ruffled furiously, shrunk until in a burst of light Zhane's pale head was thrown back, human again as well. The magic slowly lowered Zhane back down to the balcony ground in the now useless black cape, setting him gently down where he lay motionless. Karone stepped forward hand outstretched, when abruptly Zhane moved and Karone shot back startled. Zhane levered himself up, his back to Karone, looked at his hands and the rest of him, and turned around. Karone stared in disbelief, hands covering her mouth. "Karone it's me." Zhane grabbed her hands in his.

Karone looked at him. In the weeks he had been a beast his hair was almost as long as Andros'. She hesitantly touched his white-blonde hair, running her finger through it. Karone then looked at his face, into his eyes. They were still the same clear steel-blue eyes.

"it is you!" Karone happily said as Zhane ran his hand through her hair. They drew closer and closer until they crushed their lips together in a passion filled kiss. Magic swirled around them and a purple colored strand shot into the sky exploding like fireworks and erasing the dark sky, showering the castle, turning the once dark and mysterious castle into a bright and cheery place. Andros and the others came bounding up when Andros, in a twirl of purple light changed back.

"Andros!" Zhane and Karone said. The TJ and Cassie in a whirl of magic. "TJ! Cassie!" Zhane exclaimed too happy for words "Look at us!" Zhane swept them into a hug just as Ashley and Carlos announced their arrival. Karone laughed and smiled as she and Zhane greeted their friends and teammates.

Back inside the castle, other objects were changing back as well. Wardrobe turned back into Kimberly Hart, Coat-Stand wearing the green hat, changed back into Tommy Oliver. Red Hassock, Cole Evens, Stove into Kai, the blue and yellow frying pans, Katie and Lucas Kendall, and the red pot which had work together when Astronema struck was Jason. The two dressers that worked together in the battle changed back into Eric Myers and Wes Collins. The black chest that ate a Quantron, Adam, and many others Astronema had captured before capturing Andros and the others. (Some of them don't have a last name because I couldn't find a last name. Sorry if I confused people!)

"Oh my goodness!" Cassie exclaimed as TJ grabbed her in a hug and planted a quick kiss before setting her down.

Karone smiled as the castle melted beneath their feet and they were left in the woods next to the waterfall. Those Astronema hadn't created. The other power rangers took off saying their thanks and left.

Karone looked at her friends smiling faces and said into her communicator that had reappeared on her wrist. " Alpha? Take us home."

To Be Continued…

Ok now only one more chapter to do and I'm done. But I was wondering if you guys would like to read a PWRIS fanfic about the B&B: Magical Christmas? Maybe? Maybe not depending on the reviews I get and the suggestions! You've all been a big help to me and I appreciate it!

So until the next time…See you!

-BeautyandYue