Chapter 5: Heartache

Andros let out a sigh. "Are you sure, Carlos? Are you sure she's not there?" He asked. Carlos nodded his head.

"She hasn't been seen in Angel Grove for the past four months," Carlos replied.

Andros rubbed his temple. "Thanks, Carlos. If you see her, tell her I'm sorry and that I still love her?" Andros asked. Carlos nodded.

"Sure thing," Carlos replied.

Then the transmission was cut. Andros rubbed the back of his neck and looked up when the doors to the bridge open and Andraya came on the ship. "Andros there you are," she announced. Andros rolled his eyes and walked over to the computers.

"Computer, scan California for Ashley Hammond," Andros instructed.

"Acknowledged," the computer answered.

Andraya looked at her son. "What are you doing?" She asked. Andros didn't answer for a minute.

"What does it look like I'm doing, mother? I'm finding Ashley," he replied.

"Computer cancel search," Andraya instructed.

Andros looked at his mother with a glare. "You will not find this girl," she snapped. Andros just glared at his mother for a minute before looking back at the computer.

"Computer, restart search," Andros instructed.

Andraya grabbed her son's shoulder but Andros grabbed her wrist. "You may be my mother, but if you touch me again I'll break your wrist," Andros snapped.

"You will not find this girl," she snapped.

"Watch me."

"If you find her, she will just leave again, because you two are not allowed to get married or have children."

Andros threw his data pad and looked at his mother. "Why? What is so wrong with Ashley that I can't have my future with her? What is so wrong that I love her and not a Karovan girl?" Andros demanded.

"Earth blood will taint our bloodline, Andros. You of all people should know how that bloodline is sacred in the royal family," she reminded.

Andros just stared at her. "That is the sorriest excuse I have ever heard in my life," he mumbled. Andros looked up when the computers beeped.

"No sign of Ashley Hammond in California," the computer informed.

The former Red Astro Ranger sat down and let out a heavy sigh. He's searched all over the place for her during the past four months. She wasn't seen on Miranoi or anyplace else. It just seemed like she just disappeared. Andraya walked over and went to put her hand on her son's shoulder when he pulled away from her. "It's obvious she doesn't want to be found," she pointed out. Andros stood up with a glare.

"Do you know why she doesn't want to be found? Because you and father both had to act like a couple of nutcases and say things about forcing her to have an abortion when we got married and had our children. Ashley is full out against abortion. Just stay away from me mother and never come near me ever again. Make sure to tell father that one too," he snapped.

Andros stormed out of the bridge and went back home.

When Andros returned to the palace, he went straight for his room bypassing everybody that stood in his way. He went into his room, closed, and locked the door behind him. He removed his jacket and boots lying down on the bed falling into a deep depression.

(Four Weeks Later)

Andros wasn't seen for the past four weeks. It worried everyone, but with his door locked, neither Caspar or Andraya could get through to their son. However, they knew of one person they knew who could get through to him. They called Karone.

Karone came off the ship and she embraced her parents. "What's wrong with Andros?" She asked worriedly.

"I don't know, ever since that Ashley girl left him and he's done was mope around and now he hasn't even come out of his room," Andraya replied.

Karone went towards Andros's room and knocked on the door. "Andros, it's me, Karone," she informed. Andros used his telekinesis to unlock the door for his sister. Karone came in and was met with darkness.

"Close and lock the door behind you," Andros instructed.

Karone closed and locked the door behind her. "Andros, can I just turn on some lights in here?" She asked.

"No," he replied.

She sighed and kneeled by her brother's bedside. She didn't need light to see the tears that were on Andros's face or the pain in his eyes. "Andros, what happened?" She asked. She stroked her brother's hair when she heard a sob escape his lips.

"She left me…Ashley left me…I tried to look for her I really did try, but she seemed to have disappeared. It was their fault, it's their fault, they don't want me to marry Ashley," he babbled.

"Sh, sh, sh," Karone hushed trying to get her older brother to calm down.

Karone had never seen Andros like this before and it scared her. "Who doesn't want you to marry Ashley?" She asked.

"Father and mother. T--They said if I married Ashley without their permission and she got pregnant that they would have the baby aborted willingly or forcefully," Andros replied, his voice cracking.

Karone felt the anger rise in her from what he said. "I can't live without her, Karone. I need her. I want her more than anything. I want to marry her, I want to spend the rest of my life with her," he told Karone. She sighed and kissed her brother's forehead.

"I know you do, Andros. I know," she whispered.

She pressed her forehead against his attempting to try to calm him down again and soon she heard his steady breathing, telling her that he had fallen asleep. She slowly got off the floor and left the room. She closed and locked the door behind her.

Andraya and Caspar looked up when their daughter came out of the room with the anger showing on her face. "How could you do that to him?" She demanded.

"Whatever do you mean?" Andraya asked innocently.

"You know well of what I mean, mother. Andros has fallen into a depression because you pushed Ashley away from him," Karone snapped.

"We did what we thought was right," Caspar answered.

Karone shook her head furiously at her parents. "You tell that to Andros, who can't even get out of bed because the woman he loves more than his life ran away because of what you threatened to do. I'm ashamed to call you my parents. You sneaky selfish…" she was suddenly interrupted. A smack could be heard through the halls and Leo, who came with Karone, stood there in shock and the anger showing in his face. Karone's head jerked to one side when Caspar smacked her across the face, knocking her off balance and she fell against the wall. Leo hurried over to her.

"Karone," he murmured.

"I'm okay," she assured him.

Karone placed a hand on the side of her face that her father hit and she glared at Caspar. "Will you send Leo away because he's from Earth?" She demanded with the tears from the pain in her eyes.

"If Andros dies from this depression, yes because you'd be next in line," Caspar answered.

Karone shook her head. "I wouldn't do it," she snapped. She held Leo's hand. "I'm no longer your daughter," she hissed angrily.

"Fine then," Caspar answered.

Karone rubbed the sore spot on her face. Leo helped Karone off the floor. "I'll be back to see my brother," Karone informed. She then turned and left with Leo.