Chapter 16 – Making Your Parents Proud
"Where are Ashley and Carlos?" Zhane asks out of the blue. Andros and Karone lift their heads and look at their fellow ranger.
"Yeah where are they?" Karone wonders. She looks over at Cassie and TJ, who were busy fixing their blasters as they sat in the hanger bay.
Cassie looks at her and says "They must be practicing". Andros's eyebrows shoot up in confusion. "I didn't order any practice today"
TJ shakes his head. "They're not practicing on their fighting"
"Then what are they practicing?" asks Zhane. Cassie and TJ motion them to follow. Within minutes they arrive at the Stimulation deck. The Rangers make it inside the room to see that setting was not turned on and that there is music playing.
Ashley is dancing elegantly, bends backwards, and Carlos catches her when she falls. In sync with the music Carlos throws her in the air and she spins gracefully. The three Kervoan rangers gap at them while the Earth Rangers just stare proudly.
Ashley and Carlos finish and finally take notice their viewers. Ash can't help but blush and hides behind Carlos.
Cassie makes her voice known "That was amazing. You guys will do great at the Charity event next weekend."
Karone finally asks the question that is echoing through Andros's head.
"Dancing? Since when do you two dance?"
Ashley steps out from behind Carlos and rubs the back of her neck awkwardly.
"Well, Carlos and I have danced together for years. But, we stopped when we became Rangers. Every once in a while my mom will hold a charity and we will perform to help raise money. She's doing one for orphans next weekend and I knew we needed to help out. I hope this isn't against the rules, are you okay with this Andros? Because if not we can practice down on Earth."
Andros shakes his head clear and clears his throat, "No it's fine. I'm just a little… shocked that you can dance so… elegantly."
"Why thank you Andros, you're so sweet."
Ashley and Andros blush a little and the other Rangers just stand there with huge smiles on their faces.
Carlos asks "Will you guys watch us run through the routine a few times to see if it's good enough?"
Everyone nods and Ashley and Carlos start their routine off again. The Rangers watch as they go through the routine three times before sitting down breathing heavy.
Cassie jumps up and down excited "That is amazing! It's so different and more dangerous than the others."
Ashley smiles, bows, and the Rangers laugh at her.
As days pass the event gets closer, before Ashley and Carlos know it, it is the day before the charity event and Carlos, TJ, Zhane, and Justin are on Earth playing basketball.
Carlos is dodging back and forth trying to confuse TJ and jumps to the left and spins as he jumps up and shoots the ball into the hoop and makes it in. He bends his knees to lands but instead of landing on the ground softly, he lands on the base of the basketball hoop and falls to the ground clutching his leg.
"Carlos!" Justin shouts and runs over to his fallen friend, TJ and Zhane runs over as well.
Zhane bends down and pokes as Carlos's ankle, Carlos screams out in pain. Zhane apologies and looks up at him worried.
"We need to get you back to the medical bay, I'm pretty sure you fractured it."
The boys help Carlos up and make their way to an alley and teleport up to the medical bay. They get Carlos onto the bed, Zhane grabs the scanner, and begins to work on Carlos's ankle.
Zhane puts the scanner back in the cabinet and grabs a wrap and some tape. After wrapping Carlos's foot Zhane looks up at Carlos.
"Well, it's not fractured or broken, just really badly sprained. I'm going to get some crutches from the closet and you'll need to use them for about a month until you're healed."
Carlos sighs and nods as Zhane walks off to get his new death traps. TJ and Justin stand next to the bed and continue talking to Carlos about the game, arguing about how they won.
Zhane walks back in the room with the crutches and a scared look on his face. Ashley marches into the room with the other girls and Andros behind her.
"Carlos what happened?" Ashley questions Carlos who looks at her head.
"I landed wrong while we were playing basketball." Carlos replies softly, like he doesn't want her to hear.
Ashley sighs and rubs her hands on her face. "I told you to be careful. We were supposed to perform tomorrow!"
Carlos bows his head in shame and whispers an apology.
Ashley exhales deeply, walks over to him and wraps her arms around his shoulder being careful of his foot.
"It's okay, you didn't purposely get hurt, and it just sucks. You say in bed and get better." Ashley backs away from him and starts walking out of the room. Carlos grabs the crutches from Zhane quickly and races after her, lucky he was familiar with crutches.
"Ashley! Wait! Where are you going?"
Ashley turns around and looks Carlos in the eyes with a small smile on her face. The other Rangers have gathered behind Carlos watching what was happening.
"I have to go call my mother. You go rest, I'll bring you up some dinner later."
Ashley walks away and Carlos leans against the wall defeated. He looks over at the others and admits "I just screwed up guys."
TJ shrugs, "She's not pissed. That's a good sign."
Andros shakes his head and begins walking in the direction Ashley went in when Cassie calls out to him.
"Where are you going?"
"I want to make sure Ashley is okay." Andros races off, not letting the others respond. They just forget it and help Carlos to his room.
Andros walks down the hall and finally comes to a fork in the hallway.
"DECA where did Ashley go off too?"
"Ashley is currently in the Stimulation deck."
"Thanks DECA!" Andros walks towards the deck and walks into the room to see the setting was on, and it displayed a beautiful garden Andros doesn't recognize. Ashley is sitting in the middle of the grass, her arms wrapped around her knees and her head resting on her knees. Andros could hear her soft sobs as he walks closer.
Andros kneels next to her and places a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm fine." Ashley mutters.
Andros shakes his head and takes a seat next to Ashley. "I don't believe that."
Ashley lifts her head a little to look at Andros, he moves his hand to wipe away some of her tears.
"Tell me what is wrong."
Ashley sighs and meets her eyes to Andros's. "My Mom and Dad have been upset that I haven't been on Earth, making a name for myself. Since they are big time people in the music business and Jeff is popular in the racing they expect me to be as well. They know my job as a Ranger, but they've been wanting me to quit and I just won't, this is me I won't give this up. To get them off my backs I was going to perform tomorrow and there were going to be big time reporters and with my parents and our routine we would have definitely been in magazines, which in my parents eyes is making a name for myself. That is mostly why Carlos was helping me. Now, I feel like I've failed my family again."
Andros nods and takes in what he has been told. He closes his eyes and speaks, "That sounds like my parents."
Ashley looks at him confused.
"My parents are strict to traditions. In my family line, the traditions is the next generation being Rangers if they are good enough. For the KO-35, my home planet, the main tradition revolves around the Arts. We don't celebrate birthdays but when the daughters turn fifteen and the sons turn seventeen they all have to perform in a big celebration for the whole planet. That is the most recognition you get with your birth. Karone, Zhane, and I grew up with a lot of Ranger training, Medical Classes, and a bunch of Arts surrounding us. Karone did hers two years ago, and Zhane had to fly back a month before we found you. Mine was supposed to be two weeks before Zhane's but we were busy and I've kind of been putting it off with Ranger excuses. I might be able to fight monsters and protect my planet, but standing up alone in front of the people who made me a Ranger, it… terrifies me. But, if I don't do it soon before I turn eighteen, I will have a lot of people thinking ill of me."
Ashley sits still, taking every word Andros spoke, it is so rare for him to talk about himself, she is not about to interrupt.
"I understand the want to make you parents happy, it kills me every day. I guess that is why I push myself and you guys harder." Andros bows his head in shame and Ashley jumps to her knees and wraps her arms around his shoulders.
" I understand." She whispers gently into his ear. Ashley releases him and they continue to sit in silence, until Andros looks at Ashley and asks "Could you teach me?"
"What?"
"Could you teach me the dance for tomorrow? I can dance with you, I've taken a bunch of classes." Andros blushes a little at the huge smiles that appears on Ashley's face.
"Are you serious? I mean are you okay with that? I thought you were afraid of getting in front of people…" Ashley trails off topic.
Andros places his hand on her, "I am nervous, but it not like they know who I am, or that I'm a Ranger. Also my parents aren't going to be there. I want to do this for you, please."
Ashley smiles and drags him to the control panel and switches the setting to a gymnastics practice hall with mats all over the floor. She looks at him and smiles, "I know for a fact, you will drop me. I want to be prepared, let's see if you learn fast we only have all night."
Andros laughs and shrugs at her comment.
"DECA could you tell Cassie to bring Carlos dinner, tell her I'm busy."
"Yes Miss Ashley, shall I tell her what you're doing?"
Ashley thinks about it for a second but shakes her head at the camera. "No, let them find out themselves."
The blinking light disappears and the two Rangers get to work.
Finally Andros walks back into the room with an ice pack and lays it on Ashley's head. "I'm sorry, it looked easier when you and Carlos did it."
Ashley waves him off and stands back up without a problem. "Carlos did the same thing when we learned, now let's see if you can beats his record and only hit my head on the mat six times."
Andros and Ashley burst out laughing and they continue to practice until three in the morning.
They both sit down on the mats both loss of breath.
"I think we're ready." Ashley happily says.
Andros smiles at her and helps her to her feet.
The Rangers make their way to their rooms and fall asleep.
The next morning the other Rangers met for breakfast in the hanger bay, at nine. Half pass, Ashley runs into the room and grabs some breakfast while sitting down next to Cassie.
"What's got you in a hurry?" Cassie laughs.
"I have to get to the charity event a few hours before it starts to help set up. The shows starts at six, I would appreciate it if you come." Ashley speaks between her breakfast.
TJ nods his head "Yeah, we'll be down there with Justin, Tommy, Kat, and the others as well. Are you still performing? I mean Carlos isn't fit to dance…"
Ashley glares up at TJ "I am perfectly aware that the boy is unable to dance on a sprained ankle, and I wouldn't let him lean on it let alone make him dance!"
TJ holds his hands up in surrender; everyone seems to be surprised by Ashley's outburst.
Ashley sighs and rubs her face with her hands. "Sorry, I went to bed late last night, I was practicing."
Carlos looks at her confused "You made a new dance in one night? I took you weeks to make the one we had."
"No not exactly, a friend is helping me out with it. Look I love you all but my Mom is going to disown me if I'm late. I have to go, see you later!" Ashley takes her plates and places them back where they belong and runs out of the hanger bay.
The Rangers look at each other and shrug.
Half past Five the same day
All the Rangers, current and past arrive at the hotel that Mrs. Hammond is hosting her event. They all give the bouncer their tickets that Ashley had left for them and make their way to their ways to a huge section reserved for them by Ashley. They all receive drinks and snacks by the waiters, and then Ashley walks up behind TJ and cover his eyes with her hands.
"Guess who?"
"Um, Celine Dion?" Ashley gasps and smacks TJ upside the head as the others laugh.
TJ turns around and hugs her close and she willingly hugs back.
"How is everyone here?" Ashley asks.
Everyone nods and expresses that it is great so far.
"Good I had to spend two hours on a twelve foot ladder, I almost fell of twice, but I was being drilled by my Sergeant."
Carlos laughs but suddenly stops and looks behind Ashley.
Ashley sighs and asks "She's behind me, isn't she?"
They all nod and Ashley turns around and hugs her Mom saying she loves her, they laughs at her sucking up.
Carrie looks at the Rangers and asks "I hope you have a good time, I personally can't wait for Ashley's and Carlos's performance."
Ashley looks at her Mom "I told you earlier I have someone else accompanying me on stage, Carlos hurt himself, and he can't dance tonight."
Carrie nods her head and bids them a good night.
Ashley sighs "She's upsets because she thinks I may get up with someone she doesn't think is good enough, the press is here and she doesn't want me to receive and bad labels. Which I don't care, I wish she didn't." Ashley gasps "The press, pictures! I forgot about that!"
Andros looks at Ashley and asks "Are you okay?"
Ashley nods "Yeah I just forgot that there are pictures going to be taken and… I don't know if my new partner is okay with that. They may end up in or on magazines or on the internet."
Andros nods his head and smiles "I'm sure they will be fine with it, if you ask."
Ashley sighs; she knows that this is Andros's way of telling her he is okay with the press.
The lights begin to dim and Ashley points to a door and tells her friends that that is where she will be if they need her. They all smile and wish her good-luck.
The show begins; many small acts get on the huge stage, there was singing and magic tricks, etc. Andros excuses himself somewhere in the middle and makes his was back stage in finds Ashley waiting for him with a big smile on her face. Andros could feel his face heat up at the outfit she is wearing, it a small shirt with a leotard underneath.
"I didn't give them your name because I don't want the press to try to look you up and find nothing." Ashley explains. He nods as he takes off his shoes and socks and places his hair in a ponytail. Then he takes the tights Ashley holds out for him and goes behind a wall and puts them on.
Once he reappears at Ashley's side you could hear the host announce the next act.
"Next we have a beautiful dance performance that will definitely keep you on your toes. This was choreographed by Ashley Hammond and also is performed by her as well, and sadly her partner injured himself so someone else will be filling his place. There name is not on this card, so let's welcome them to the stage.
The stage had a coat pole with a single jacket hanging on it; also there was a single chair. Ashley walks onto the stage in sits on the chair, nodding to the DJ. The music begins to play and Ashley immediately throws herself into the dance, the stage is dimed so Andros isn't seen as he sneaks onto the stage, then he suddenly appears to catch her.
The group of Ranger gasps as they see their leader on the stage performing the dance the Carlos and Ashley were performing for them just days ago. It is almost hypnotizing to them, they couldn't look away. Andros must have only been taught this in a few hours, they were honestly afraid that he might drop her.
(The dance is found at watch?v=LqiLERMPx54 skip to 3:11 for the dance. I would recommend watching the video to see the beautiful performance that Ashley and Andros go through. Hope you enjoy it like I did! 3 AshlenH)
They gasp at all the dangerous things put into this dance. Andros and Ashley seems to move in sync that was different from the way Carlos and Ashley danced and Carlos knew that. All the girls were bursting with happiness for their two fellow Rangers.
The dance ends flawlessly and the crowd claps wildly as they exit the stage. Andros and Ashley make their ways to the table and they are attacked with hugs and congratulations.
Andros and Ashley were getting closer with each passing day, and everyone but the two knows.