She pulled another yellow dress off the wall and watched as Ashley's nose crinkled in distaste. She rolled her eyes and hung the dress back on the rack while the other girl smiled and shrugged apologetically.

"We're never going to find a dress at this rate," Servia muttered. They had been looking for hours and every dress was either to short, to long, to low cut, the list of excuses went on and on.

She and Orian returned to KO-35 after a 23 day absence to find Kalic panicking. The Karovian council had been convinced of Ashley's place on the team and there was going to be a formal ball following a press conference two days after they arived. Servia had immediately offered to take Ashley out to get a dress and watched her boyfriend's face pale as he realized the Yellow Ranger did not have anything to wear.

The two girls snuck out early this morning, before Kalic could find anything else for them to do. They had been at it ever since.

"Can't we try something in a different color?"

Servia blinked.

"I just . . . I just mean, what about red?" Ashley asked with a slightly desperate look.

"Ash, you're the Yellow Astro Ranger."

"I know that!" Ashley and Servia both panicked as Ashley's hand hit a clothes rack and nearly knocked it over. Servia sent an apologetic look toward the giggling sales while she and Ashley straightened everything up.

"I know I'm the Yellow Ranger," Ashley repeated quietly while they worked. "But I'm wearing red right now and one's said anything."

"First, your scrunchii's yellow, don't think I didn't notice." Ashley reached up to her hair with a grimace and acknowledged the point. "Second, this gala is to formally introduce you as KO-35's Yellow Ranger, not Andros' girlfriend." Ashley looked away from her pointed look. "Now tell me what the real problem is Ash."

"I'm going to be the center of attention."

"Kind of the point." Ashley gave her a sharp look. "Sorry, continue."

Ashley's shoulders slumped in defeat. "I've been the center of attention a lot over the last year and a half. It was never a good thing."

Servia silently cursed the Turbo Rangers as she pulled Ashley into a hug. "That was Earth, Ash," she said after a few moments. "Their Rangers are morons." She smiled when Ashley giggled a little.

"Seriously though, Ash, we're with you all the way and if you honestly believe that the Karovian people aren't behind you as well then you haven't been paying as much attention to your surroundings as a Ranger should."

Ashley blinked and began to really take in her surroundings for the first time since entering the store. The clerks who had been giggling at them a moment before smiled brightly when they caught Ashley's eye then turned to whisper excitedly once they saw her turn away. Several older women gave her a soft smile and nodded in gratitude before returning to their shopping.

"They may not know everything," Servia whispered as Ashley's eyes returned to her's, "but they know enough. They know you and Divatox have some sort of conection." Ashley's shoulder's hunched as she looked away. Servia put a hand on her shoulder and waited until the brown eyes flicked up to meet hers once again. "And they know that you stood up for them even without the Power. Which looks like it's more important to them?"

The Yellow Ranger's eyes wandered the store a second time before falling closed as their owner took a deep breath. Her gaze met Servia's once again and Ashley gave her a small smile. "Let's find a yellow dress."

"How about this one?" Karone's voice came from behind them.

The Pink Ranger continued to smile as her teammate squealed and hugged their friend then began examining the dress Karone held. Her shoulders had not fully straightened and the shadows in Ashley Hammond's eyes would be there for a long time yet. But she was a Ranger now, with all privileges and responsibilities of the title. The people of KO-35 accepted her because of who she was, not in spite of her family. Servia smiled as Karone and Ashley went up to pay for two dresses and nodded to the awestruck cashier as she followed her friends outside.

It was a start.