Can't Let Go

Disclaimer: I do not own the Power Rangers.

sunflowerlily: Thanks again! Lol! The break up is explained a little in chapter 4 and in this chapter. You'll really understand in chapter 11 though.

JasonLeeScottFan: Ashley and Andros having it out? That would be interesting. And since Andros is being an idiot, who knows how he'll take it. (I do. Lol!) You'll find out in this chapter.

Chapter 7: Changing Sides

Dark Fortress – Orbiting Earth

Astronema finally came out of her room and onto the bridge of her ship. She tried to forget about what the two rangers told her, but she couldn't. And the silver ranger, there was something about him she couldn't shake. She knew he was being sincere because she could feel him in her head. She could feel the yellow ranger too, but not as strongly. She needed answers, which brought her to the bridge where Ecliptor waited with Darkonda.

"My princess, are you alright?" Ecliptor asked.

She barely heard him. She couldn't take her attention off of Darkonda. She never really cared for him, but now there was something about him that unnerved her that she hadn't noticed before. "I'll be fine as soon as I get some answers." She faced Ecliptor. "How did you find me?"

Ecliptor seemed taken aback by her question. "I've told you. Dark Specter spared you from the red ranger and gave you to me."

"Having doubts Astronema?" Darkonda teased.

She didn't like it one bit. "Shut up, Darkonda."

The monster only laughed at her.

She gasped. That laugh, it was haunting. How could she not have noticed before? It explained so much. Why she never liked Darkonda, and why Ecliptor hated him. "It was you." She said pointing to Darkonda. She remembered.

"What's wrong princess?" Ecliptor asked, though he knew the answer.

"You kidnapped me." She ignored Ecliptor and spoke to Darkonda. "You took my from my parents, from my brother."

"Astronema please…" Ecliptor begged.

"And you lied to me." She said to Ecliptor. "The red ranger is my brother isn't he?"

"Yes." Ecliptor lowered his head in defeat.

"You trained me to kill the rangers. You trained me to kill my brother!"

"Forgive me."

"I don't know if I can, Ecliptor. I trusted you." She moved away from him. "Goodbye." She raised her staff and disappeared from the ship.

If monsters could cry, Ecliptor would have been.

"Get over it already." Darkonda scolded. He had enjoyed watching Ecliptor suffer. "She was going to find out sooner or later."

"This is because of you!" Ecliptor swung at Darkonda with his sword, but Darkonda had been expecting that and easily blocked it.

"Stop this foolishness. We can get her back."

"How do you suggest that? She wasn't born evil."

Darkonda sighed. "Just listen to me, follow my lead and you will have your precious princess back."

Ecliptor agreed. He would do anything to get Astronema back.

Megaship

"Andros." The AI voice filled the bridge. "Astronema is on Earth."

He stood from his seat at the console. He had been scanning for Zordon again. "She's alone?"

"Yes. Would you like me to alert the others?"

"No. I'll call for back up if I need it."

"Affirmative."

"Teleport me to her coordinate." Andros disappeared in a flash of red light.

Angel Grove

Astronema had managed to teleport to an abandoned warehouse. She paced back and forward trying to figure out her next move. The only family she ever really had was Ecliptor and he had betrayed her.

"Astronema!"

It was the second time she'd heard that voice say her name today. It was the voice of her brother. "Red ranger." She turned to face him. He was fully morphed, but she knew there would be hatred in his eyes.

"What are you doing here?" He glared at her from behind his visor.

He couldn't know who she was. Or maybe he did he just couldn't forgive all the things she had done. "I don't wanna fight you."

"That's just too damn bad." The anger he felt kept him from feeling anything else. "Spiral Saber!" His weapon appeared in his hands. "I will destroy you. Once and for all." He raised his sword, prepared to bring it down on Astronema.

She braced herself for the blow she knew she deserved.

Megaship

Zhane was feeling anxious and he didn't know why, but something told him it wasn't his anxiety he was feeling. He sought out Ashley.

He didn't have to look for long. She was looking for him too. "Do you feel that? "Ashley asked him.

"So it's not you?" He paused. "You don't think…"

"Maybe." She turned to DECA's flashing red eye. "Is Astronema on Earth?"

"Yes. I just sent Andros there." DECA responded.

"Oh shit." Ashley sighed.

"My thoughts exactly."

"We have to get down there. Now."

"Right." Zhane nodded. "Let's rocket!"

Angel Grove

Astronema was more than surprise to see the yellow ranger appear out nowhere and block the red ranger from striking.

Zhane grabbed Andros after Ashley blocked him. "Cool it Andros."

"What are you doing?" He shouted. "We're supposed to be stopping Astronema not saving her."

"If you would calm down we could explain." Ashley called. She stood protectively in front of Astronema. Ashley powered down, along with Zhane.

Andros angrily powered down. "What could possibly explain this?" He scowled at Ashley.

Astronema watched as Zhane put himself between her and Ashley and Andros. They were protecting her, but she couldn't understand why. They didn't owe her anything.

Zhane didn't know what else to do so he just blurted it out. "Astronema is your sister. She's Karone."

All color drained from Andros's face. His sister? "No. I would know if she was Karone. I would feel it."

"We feel it." Ashley commented. "That's how we knew she was in trouble. And since you're calmer now, you should be able to feel her too."

Andros closed his eyes. As he calmed down more he was able to feel the new presence in his mind. A presence he hadn't felt since he was a child. It was his sister. He opened his eyes and stared past Zhane and Ashley.

Zhane moved out of Andros's way reaching out and bringing Ashley with him. They watched the siblings truly came face to face for the first time in years.

"Karone?"

She nodded. "I didn't know. I thought my brother was dead. That's what Ecliptor told me." She looked at him silently pleading for understanding. "He told me that you killed my family." She stepped closer to him. "Can you ever forgive me?"

Andros pulled his sister into his arms. "It wasn't your fault Karone. There's nothing to forgive." He couldn't believe he had almost killed his sister. If he hadn't been so pig headed, he would have sensed her when he arrived here.

"Let's get back to the Megaship." Zhane suggested. "You two can catch up there." They all agreed. "DECA teleport four to the Megaship."

Megaship

Cassie wondered through the ship looking for her boyfriend. She was so intent on finding him, that she nearly ran over Carlos.

"Whoa. What's the rush?" He asked amused.

"Have you seen Andros?" She asked pointedly.

The amusement in Carlos's eyes faded. He hated seeing Cassie like this, especially over Andros. "No I haven't seen your boyfriend." He turned to walk away but Cassie stopped him.

"What's your problem?" She stared at him strangely.

"I don't have a problem." He snapped.

"Yeah I believe that." She stated sarcastically.

"Why don't you leave me alone and go find Andros?"

"Since when do you not like Andros?"

Since he started dating you. He thought, but he couldn't say it. It's not like she would care. "I never said I didn't like Andros."

She had never seen Carlos like this, if she had to guess she would say that he was jealous, but that couldn't be it.

"Carlos, Cassie." Ashley called as she walked down the hall holding hands with Zhane. TJ was right behind them staring at their interlocked hands. "We were looking for you guys."

Carlos didn't seem to notice that Ashley had spoken to him. He was too busy looking at her hand in Zhane's. "When the hell did this happen?"

"I've been trying to figure that one out to." TJ shook his head. "Does Andros know?"

"Yes." Ashley, Zhane and Cassie answered.

"Wait. You knew?" Carlos asked pointing at Cassie.

"You guys, there are bigger things going on than who's dating who." Ashley snapped. "We need to go to the bridge."

"Yeah." Zhane agreed. "But brace yourselves. You're in for quite a surprise."

Bridge

"Astronema?!" Cassie shouted as she and the others entered the bridge.

"What's she doing here?" Carlos asked astonished.

Andros, sensing his sister's discomfort, quickly wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"Calm down." Ashley said patiently.

"There's a perfectly good explanation." Zhane added.

"And that would be?" TJ asked.

Andros finally spoke. "Guys, this is Karone, my sister."

(A/N: So this chapter was a little corny, but it needed to be told. Let me know what you think.)