Disclaimer: Power Rangers belong to Saban and Disney. Characters you recognize are not mine, but characters you don't recognize, the plot and the idea are mine!

A/N: well, yesterday I said that if you guys review and the reviews hit 100plus, I post this chapter today…. So here we go, the chapter you're all have been waiting for. Not sure if it was worth the waiting, but oh well! (Two more chapters to go plus an Epilogue to write.. that's scary!)

Star Fata: yes, he was:P Don't worry, he'll get it done… somehow.. scroll down;)

AH/AY: well, it's your fault! Sending Elores to bring you chocolates in the middle of the night. Andros and Ashley should kill you :P

SweetSas: Haven't seen that other Tal for a while now:(… but I'm alright, how are you? Scroll down :D

Phantom Rogue: next chapter, my friend, next chapter… :)

C.C.C.: well, it's Marieke's fault Elores had to appear! (and Zhane's fault. Why Zhane's fault? Well, Zhane's responsible for the starvation in the third world as well!) Oh and you're a mind reader! I was just telling Phantom Rogue yesterday how this is the best chapter in the whole story!

Slytherin-Angel44: It's not gonna break her heart; it's gonna annoy her greatly and then break her heart. Oh well, Andros is so gonna get it from her :D

puasluoma: lol, thanks:)

zeopurple: ;hands chapter; there ya go:)

This one's dedicated to Slytherin-Angel44 for submitting the 100th review! Yay!

In the Clearing of the Forest
by DarkHonda aka Tal

Chapter twelve

It was early in the morning, the sun's gentle rays slowly warmed her body, teased her, announce her it was morning- the time to be awake, the time to be with Coran. She slowly opened her eyes, hiding a yawn with her gentle palm and stretched.
'Morning,' she thought lazily, she already got used to her room; to the two big wood windows concealed by yellow silk curtains, the most enormous bed with delicate pale yellow canopies that shielded her from the buzz of unnecessary guests such as mosquitoes. Right now she was tucked under a heavy yellow blanket that indeed kept her warm in the chilly nights, she couldn't help but wonder how would her and Andros' room look like once they're married, would it still be yellow, her favorite color?

She yawned again and brushed a stray strand of hair from her eyes, then she jumped out of bed and approached the simple clayed jar and empty bowl. She slowly poured water into the bowl and washed her face gently, wiping the water with a soft yellow cloth, then she opened one of her boxes just to pull her riding habit; black breeches, brown boots and a white shirt underneath a yellow vest, she braided her hair quickly and descended the stairs to the kitchens, surprised to find TJ and Zhane sitting there.

"Good morning," she greeted them with a smile, both rose from their sits as she entered the kitchen, TJ was smiling to her broadly and Zhane looked rather sleepy.

"Good morning, Lady Ashley," TJ answered, Zhane nodded and yawned, Ashley giggled happily.

"My friends call me Ash," she corrected with a smile as Zhane put his head on the table, tiredly, "What's up with him?" she asked TJ with a smile. TJ laughed.

"Night duty, all Kadans are obligated with a night duty at least once a month," he said with a gentle smile toward Ashley's obvious confusion, "we guard the castle and the grounds," he added and Ashley nodded, finally understanding.

"Have you seen Coran?" she asked and Zhane shot up from the table, "he's on duty now, patrolling the lands, and he was late!" Zhane grumbled and TJ and Ashley laughed while she stroked his yellow hair fondly.

"Go to bed Zhane, I think it's best," she said quietly and turned to TJ, "So where is he guarding?" TJ eyed her eerily before looking at Zhane who nodded.

"North West from here, but don't ride too close to Angel Grove's Valley, behind it lays the forest of darkness and if something happens to you, Andros will tear me apart, understood?" he ask totally serious. Ashley nodded quietly and quickly exited the kitchen before TJ would get the chance to regret.

She walked quickly to the stables near the castle, throughout the Kadans' grounds were a lot of stables, but Sienna was here, close to her. She appreciated Andros for giving her Sienna, at least her. Yet her mind wasn't on Sienna but on Coran, she ran away from him yesterday night, quite stupidly, and she regretted doing it to Coran, after all he was always so gentle and patient with her. She knew she must apologize for her behavior.
Apologizing has always been a hard thing to do, especially to her, she was proud and obstinate and now, for the first time ever, she was going to apologize. She was quite confused and excited, as anyone would be if it's the first time he's apologizing and of course, she was regretful…

Sighing she located Coran from a distance, he was sitting on his horse and looking at the horizon, equipped with his sword on the saddle's scabbard and a crossbow hanged on one shoulder, unarmed. He looked so beautiful, so into his roll as protector… Ashley felt herself dissolving into a puddle, her warm feelings for him, made her swim in a sweet torture as she watched him for a while, in his relaxed guarding routine. His presence relaxed her too, and for a while, she just enjoyed the view…

After a few minutes of total serenity, Ashley remembered the reason for her coming, and shamefully ordered Sienna to ride ahead to him; the horse obeyed and Ashley took a long breath, knowing he might not want to see her ever again. Sienna approached quietly and Ashley held her breath, his back was turned to her and suddenly, he spoke, loud and clear enough for her to hear.

"Took you long enough to come here, did you enjoy the view?" he asked and turned to her. Ashley turned bright red, not knowing what to say or do, she just stared down, all flushed. She already knew though, that she was forgiven; he didn't keep anything against her in his heart and she was grateful for that.

"I did," she answered cheekily and raised a now teasing gaze into his hazel eyes. He chuckled and patted on his auburn horse's neck..

"Go on, Oz," he said quietly to the horse and he quickly walked near Sienna, allowing Ashley and Coran closeness. Just as they were about to kiss, their faces almost touching, Ashley was dazed with Coran's smell and his hazel eyes were staring into her soul, a loud huffing sound was heard from afar, Coran's head shot up immediately and he looked to the horizon, when he turned to look at her again, while drawing his sword and his crossbow, his hazel eyes looked into hers, cold with worry.

"Go back to the castle and tell my da-master Tiaren of this. Go. Now!" he commanded yet when she looked at the horizon noticing a group of mean looking men with their weapons drawn she shook her head.

"No way, Coran, I'm not leaving you alone with them, I'm staying here and fighting," she said and before she noticed Coran made his horse block Sienna.

"I said, GO!" he shouted, "Ashley, I swear, if you don't go now I'll make your life with Andros a living hell, NOW GO!" he shouted and she closed her eyes painfully and rode away, tears filling her eyes. She urged Sienna to hurry, and when she reached Kadan Castle she jumped off of the riding horse and ran to the Grand Reception Hall as fast as a tiger. She bumped into someone, almost falling, strong arms held her. Looking up she saw Tiaren.

"Ashley, why are you running as if a demon - -"

"Coran! Attacked! North west.. needs help.. alone.." was all she could say, Tiaren's eyes turned icily grey as he left her and ran to the stables, a few of his men after him and one of them running back to the dinning hall, to alert more warriors.
She stood there desperate, worrying for him, 'if something happens to him,' she told herself mentally, biting her bottom lip, frowning with concern and her eyes refilling with tears, their relationship couldn't end up like this, he couldn't just go and die on her, not when she cares for him that much, not when she...loves him that much.

'Hold on,' she told herself as a few tears were gliding their at her cheeks, 'I..love…him? Do I really love Coran?' she asked herself, suddenly twice as terrified. Love… was it really love? She asked herself, too absorbed with her feelings than to hear what Karone was telling her. The only thing she heard was the noise of upcoming horses to the Castle, she ran outside, wiping her tears away, looking as Coran rode toward her, jumping from his horse as he saw her. She noticed a bleeding cut across his cheek, it made him look so intimidating and in a way ugly too. She would have never come close to such a man with a burning cut, but now everything was different.

It was Coran whose face was braded with that ugly cut, and at that moment, she knew how much she loved him. She sighed happily as he walked straight to her, the great distance between them getting smaller with every step. Suddenly, Ashley heard the noise of quick pace, running, and she saw Karone running pass her to Coran, her face wet with tears.

"Andros! Are you alright?"

It happened in a millisecond, Ashley's face became tense, she was obviously shocked; she swallowed slowly, her eyes burning with anger and deceit, 'how could I let him do this to me?' she asked and with one furious look into the hazel eyes that tried to soothe her from afar, worrying for her, but she turned around and started to run.

A/N: NOT cliffy! ;) stay tuned, next chapter will be nice;D

Ps- requests, uncensored chapters, and for the kill marieke squad (she sent Elores down! Let's kill her :D ) please contact me… :P my aim is Tal Ranger and my mail is talrulez gmail .com