Can't Let Go
Disclaimer: I do not own the Power Rangers.
Pinkrangerfan: Yeah I threw some happiness in there at the end, but don't worry, here's more drama! Lol!
JasonLeeScottFan: Yeah it's the remnants of Dark Specter. I jus thought it would be cool if it rained fire. Lol! I'll try to update No Man's Land just for you.
CJS: Yeah it was a little lovey dovey. Lol! I'm glad you're over it, but I was thinking about making a short story about Ashley and Zhane.
Chapter 20: The Hardest Thing
The Next Day
As the rangers expected, their happiness from the night before was cut off when they were awakened by a very familiar voice. The ranger's ran outside to see Astronema's face projected in the sky.
"People of Earth!" Astronema started. "Dark Specter has been destroyed. I come before you now as the new Queen of Evil. Bow before me, or die." He face disappeared as quickly as it appeared.
"That explains the fire last night." TJ commented.
"What do we do now?" Cassie asked.
"We have to go after Ecliptor." Carlos suggested. "Once he's gone, maybe the control he has over Karone will end with him."
"No." Andros spoke for the first time. "We have to go after Astronema."
"But Andros," Cassie started. "She's your sister."
"Do you think I want to kill my sister?" He snapped. "If we can't get her back, then there's no other choice."
The other's looked at Zhane and Ashley for some kind of rebuttal to Andros's argument, but the yellow and silver rangers obviously knew what Andros had been thinking before he spoke.
"You guys are going along with this?" TJ asked in shock.
"With Astronema gone, Evil will be in chaos." Ashley started. Though her heart wasn't in it, she continued. "They'll probably destroy each other trying to establish a new leader."
"Zhane, come on." Carlos pleaded.
"Andros is right." Silent tears ran down Zhane's face. "If we can't get Karone back, there's no other way." Zhane turned and walked back to the building, his heart breaking with every step.
That Night
The rangers spent all day trying to find an alternative to killing Astronema. But in the end, the decision remained the same. Cassie, Carlos, and TJ couldn't believe that after everything that had happened, Andros, Zhane, and Ashley were ready to just give up on Karone. Given the choice between trying to save one and losing the entire universe, the solution was simple, even if it hurt.
The truth was none of them were ready to give up on Karone, least of all Zhane. He had to find a way to get through to Karone, even if he died trying.
Zhane made his way out the back of the building and thought he had gotten away, until he saw two figures standing beside a wall right outside of the building.
"Did you really think you could sneak out of a building when there are two people inside that can read your mind?" Ashley spoke as she and Andros came out of the shadows.
Zhane sighed. "I forgot about that."
"Yeah." Andros started. "And if you had been paying attention, you would have noticed that Ashley and I were two steps ahead of you."
"What?" Zhane asked honestly confused.
"We can't give up on Karone without a fight." Ashley stated. "And we never planned to."
"But what about all the planning we did?" Zhane asked.
"Smoke and mirrors." Andros explained. "We needed the others to think that we had given up on Karone. If they knew what we were really planning, they would have tried to go with us. And if something goes wrong, the others will be Earth's last defense."
"I left them a note, saying where we're going." Ashley added.
"So we're really doing this?" Zhane asked. "You guys do realize that something will more than likely go very wrong?"
The newly engaged couple looked at each other. There was a chance they probably wouldn't see their wedding day. But they couldn't live with themselves not knowing if they did everything they could to save Karone. Andros looked at Zhane. "We're with you."
Dark Fortress
Zhane, Ashley, and Andros had spent the rest of the night planning, at day break they managed to sneak aboard the ship. It was agreed that they enter the Dark Fortress demorphed to prevent being detected too early. They would only morph when they needed too.
They crouched down in a narrow corridor outside of a much wider hallway. Ecliptor and a half dozen quantrons unknowingly moved passed them.
Zhane looked at the room the creatures had just come out of. "She's in there. I know she is."
Andros looked at him and nodded. "You go after her. Ashley and I will hold off Ecliptor and the quantrons."
"You're not going?" Zhane asked. He wanted to go after Karone, but Andros was her brother.
"We know that you have a stronger connection to Karone than either of us." Ashley answered for Andros. "If anyone can get through to her, it's you."
Zhane looked at Andros. "Are you sure?"
Andros pulled Zhane into a one armed hug. "Bring my sister back." He moved aside and let Ashley take his place.
"You can do this. I know how much you love her." She whispered to Zhane. "Be careful."
"Same goes to you two." Zhane stood with Andros and Ashley. "Let's Rocket!"
Angel Grove
Cassie, TJ, and Carlos found a strategy of their own. It had been a shock to wake up and find their friends gone, but they understood why. The quantrons had separated into small groups and were patrolling the area. The three remaining rangers found it much easier to take out a small group then move on to the next, but it wasn't going fast and didn't seem to be making a lot of difference.
"I have an idea." Carlos stated as they hid behind a building. "The velocifighters have scattered, Astronema doesn't think she needs them now."
"Yeah so?" TJ asked.
"I can get to the megaship and help take out a lot of those quantrons." He knew he was the weakest link right now and wanted to do something to compensate.
"That's a good idea." Cassie responded. Part of her knew it was a good idea, but the biggest part of her just wanted Carlos to be out of harm's way.
"Sound's good." TJ agreed.
"Alright." Carlos spoke into his communicator. "DECA, teleport one." He disappeared in a flash of black light.
Cassie looked at TJ. "Here goes everything."
With that, Cassie and TJ ran into the hoard of quantrons that held the people of Angel Grove captive.
Dark Fortress
"Destroy them!" Ecliptor ordered the quantrons when he saw the rangers.
"Star Slinger!" Ashley called and began firing on the quantrons.
"Spiral Saber, blaster mode!" Andros called. He spoke to Zhane without looking. "Hurry, this won't hold them off for long!"
"Right!" Zhane went through the door and sealed it behind him. He had to hurry. Andros and Ashley wouldn't last long. He frowned when he felt a different yet familiar presence in the room. "Zordon?"
"Zhane?" A voice called to him.
He hurried to the source of the voice and pulled back the drape covering the object. "Zordon, we've been searching everywhere for you."
"Hurry Zhane!" The being in the tube spoke. "You must destroy my energy tube. It's the only way. It will destroy all the evil in the universe."
"You want me to destroy you?"
"I will live on in everything that is good." Zordon assured him. "Please, Zhane. It is the only way to save the universe."
"Yes Zordon. I understand." Zhane called forth his silverizer then stopped. "What about Astronema? She's evil, but Karone isn't. What'll happen to her?"
For the first time since Zhane had known the being, Zordon hesitated. "I wish I knew Zhane."
"You can't ask me to do this. I can't risk hurting Karone." Zhane groaned in pain as someone fired at his back. He fell face down on the floor, demorphed.
"Stupid ranger." Astronema sneered. "You should have listened to the floating head." She kicked Zhane, turning him onto his back. The silver ranger watched helplessly as she pointed her staff at him. But she didn't fire.
Karone's breathing became erratic as she fought for control. "Zhane." Tears poured out of her eyes as she looked at him.
Zhane forced himself off of the ground and moved towards her, but she stepped back. "Karone please."
"Do what Zordon says." She whimpered. "I can't fight it."
"Yes you can." Zhane moved forward before she could move away and pulled her into a kiss. "I love you, Karone. Please come back to me." He was suddenly on the floor again looking up at the woman he loved.
Karone had pushed him away. She felt herself slipping away again and she couldn't let herself hurt him. "Zordon's right, it's the only way. And I'm so sorry." She watched his eyes widen as he realized what she was about to do. "I love you, Zhane."
"Karone, No!" He wanted to stop her, but it was too late.
With her last ounce of control, Karone smashed Zordon's energy tube.
(A/N: Hope you liked it! Only two chapters left. Let me know what you think.)