A/N: I cannot promise I will follow the canon of how the shows went after PRiS, and that's why this will be considered an AU. I'm just writing for fun and to help develop skills for telling a full story to completion. I hope you all enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own power rangers franchise. I'm just a fan continuing on their stories.
Chapter 1:
Ashley stood in the doorway leading to the backyard of the home she shared with Andros.
Her attention was fixed on her entire world: their daughter, Annie.
The child's five-year-old little laugh filled the air as she ran about playing a 'game' with KO-35's version of what Ashley would describe as a butterfly.
It was fluttering around and around in circles with Annie in toe doing the same.
Ashley wasn't sure if the critter was unaware he had the upper hand and could fly off to avoid being chased by the little girl or if he was actually enjoying their dance around the yard together. She wanted to believe it was the latter. Annie was too sweet for anything — not even a butterfly — to avoid playing with her.
"Mommy, look!" squealed Annie in delight, as she continued to run in a circle chasing the butterfly around.
"I see, sweetheart."
Ashley couldn't help her lips curling upwards into a bright smile from pure joy.
After all the darkness she'd experienced from being a Power Ranger, nothing was greater than seeing the sight before her.
Her little girl playing with the freedom to do so and without a care in the world.
Annie didn't fear monsters or bad guys or anything of the sort.
It left Ashley believing the work she and the other Rangers accomplished throughout the universe by fighting the good fight wasn't in vain.
This sight before her was a reminder: There was hope and assurance that no matter how dark things often became, good would always prevail if one kept on running the race.
"You've got yourself a new friend."
Ashley's head rested against the door frame, and she released a sigh filled with happiness and peace at the thought and the sight.
She cherished every moment like this. Because whilst her daughter didn't have to worry about the darkness lurking about the stars, this wasn't always the side of life Ashley experienced. Even though Dark Specter had long been defeated, the universe was full of danger. And whilst the Space Rangers weren't the active Earth Rangers any longer, they did continue to do their part.
Ashley, Andros, Zhane, and even Karone, after returning from her time spent with the Galaxy Rangers, (the latter two were recently engaged), were the acting Rangers of the A47 Galaxy and were the official leaders of KO-35's Space Warriors Division.
KO-35 was once an entire colony of Space Warriors, but after the fall and rebuild, it was decided for the sake of their people, their heritage, and continuing on for generations to come, they would take on a more earthly approach to military rather than acting as one consecutive militia. Ashley and the other earth Space Rangers helped in influencing this just after Dark Specter's demise.
After returning home to earth for a short time when the final battle against Dark Specter came to an end, the Rangers later returned to KO-35 to give aid.
Once their time on KO-35 came to an end, the Space Rangers — other than Ashley, Andros, and Zhane — retired to return home permanently. Carlos married and had children. TJ and Cassie married each other, but the pair remained in the "Reserves", (for lack of a better term), acting as liaisons between The Milky Way and A47. Though all of them — even Carlos and Justin, at times — picked up their Morphers every now and then when needed.
'Once a Ranger, always a ranger,' wasn't just a saying — especially when it came to life beyond earth. Every corner of the universe could use all the help it could get.
Zordon's sacrifice left a big impact on the lives of all the Rangers (past and present). Not to mention, it changed the way they viewed life and service – even for the ones who did retire.
However, it was very different than it had been when Zordon was still alive.
After all those years, the danger Ashley and Andros formerly fought and still did, they had found peace here.
On KO-35.
Because of the need for rebuilding — not to mention, Andros' desire to be on the counsel of the new government representing his planet — and the work to be done as Rangers on this side of the universe — it was decided that the pair of them (along with Zhane. Karone, at the time, was off with the Galaxy Rangers) would remain on his planet and build their life here.
It was hard for Ashley to accept at first.
Leaving Earth.
However, her love for Andros was far greater than any place she could live. After almost losing him when he went up to the Dark Fortress to get through to Karone in hopes of saving Zordon and again when he left the Megaship to join his people after the final battle, Ashley vowed to never let him leave without her beside him.
They were a team.
It was something Andros even understood and embraced now. She knew he would do the same for her now if the roles were reversed.
And, if being a Power Ranger taught her anything over the years it was: laying down one's life in the service of others is the greatest honour and privilege and brings far more reward than living for oneself.
She couldn't say it was an easy lesson to learn — nor was it something she learnt and practised right away. But through the years, and especially after the final battle to destroy Dark Specter, and following Zordon's example to sacrifice himself to live on in the heart of all the past, present, and future Rangers, Ashley understood and embraced the importance of its significance.
Not to say she was sacrificing her life to move to KO-35, but it was the underlying principle of living for others and not for herself which she had taken from being a Ranger, and she did her best now to live by that code.
Though, she had dreams on earth, once upon a time, and it would've been easier to retire. But this life was far more exciting and adventurous — despite the pain and struggles that often came with it — than any mere earth-dream could've provided.
And, honestly, Ashley couldn't imagine her life without Andros and Annie either.
The pair of them meant more to her than any planet or dream ever could.
The two were married in Angel Grove just before their official move to KO-35, allowing Ashley's family to celebrate with her on their happy day.
It was a few years after their move to KO-35 when they had Annie. They wanted to allow time for the tensions of the rebuild to settle before starting a family.
And now. . . they were expecting another. Though, Ashley hadn't shared the news with Andros yet.
She'd only just found out, and the hope was to tell him tonight.
They had plans to celebrate their Anniversary — which Ashley always deemed was the day Andros finally — with her help by all-but asking him out — gained the courage to ask her to go and see Halley's Comet with him. She made sure to plan their wedding on the same day, making it their official anniversary as well.
Karone and Zhane would be coming over that evening to watch Annie whilst Ashley and Andros went out for the night. The five of them were really close, and Annie adored her Aunt and Uncle. It was nice to see Karone and Andros restore and repair their relationship after years of being separated and unable to do so.
Ashley didn't know exactly what Andros had planned for the evening, but she didn't care. ( Well, except for knowing the basics of what they were doing because she, of course, needed to know what to wear!) But all-in-all as long as she was with him that's all that mattered. . . especially with the exciting news she had to share.
She couldn't believe they were having another child.
Ashley's grin remained spread across her lips but softened at the reminder.
Her hand instinctively came up to rest on her belly and she rubbed the flat area with her thumb that would soon swell with their child.
Though, it was the feeling of Andros' strong arms wrapping around her middle from behind and pulling her up against him that brought Ashley out of her thoughts and back to reality.
"Hey," Andros whispered in her ear.
Ashley laid her head back against him, turning her attention just enough to rest her forehead against his temple.
"Hey," her voice whispered out.
The sound of Annie's giggles returned to her ears. The little girl was still running around chasing the butterfly. It amazed Ashley the things that could keep a child's attention.
"How was—?" Ashley began but her words were cut off by the most adorable interruption.
"Daddy, hi!" said Annie through several giggles. "I've got a new friend!"
Andros kissed Ashley's temple. She closed her eyes for a moment and allowed her lips to curl into that grin once again.
She could sense Andros' smile widen by the sound of his voice as he replied to Annie.
"You do?"
"Uh-huh!" replied Annie, stopping her from chasing the butterfly long enough to look at Andros and nod her head up and down.
Another kiss was left against Ashley's temple before Andros pulled himself away. She watched as he went to join their daughter in the yard.
Ashley would've been sad about losing the touch of his warm body against her own, but the fact that he was going over to indulge their daughter in her current fascination made up for any disappointment she might have felt.
"-And I'm calling him Zhane—" Annie continued, "-cos he has silver wings like Uncle Zhane's suit!"
Whilst Annie was explaining her reasoning behind the name, Ashley watched as 'Zhane' took it as an opportunity to escape. He spread his little wings and flew away.
"Oh,no!" Annie cried, looking at Andros. "He's getting away, Daddy!"
Andros looked from Annie to Ashley, who smirked and shrugged, like 'show us what you're gonna do about it, Daddy,' flashing him a playful wink when she did, before his eyes went back to the butterfly who was now long gone.
Annie was tearing up. Her head lowered and she was sniffling.
Ashley's expression fell from playfulness to heartbreak in an instant. Her heart sank in her chest and she stepped forward to intervene. But it seemed at the same time Andros too didn't want their little girl hurting, and he scooped their daughter up in his arms. She knew Andros would've normally called for his Galaxy Glider so he fly off to go and find the butterfly, but the critter was long gone at that point and it would be no use.
She watched as Andros' lips curled into a smile — one that could melt her heart at the sight every time — before beginning to tickle Annie, who immediately squealed and giggled.
"Bet ya can't cry and laugh at the same time," Andros challenged.
"Daddy!" Annie squealed through another fit of giggles. "Okay! Okay! Stop!"
Andros kept tickling her. Ashley beamed with pride, watching the two.
"Mommy. . . save me!" Annie managed out between another fit of giggles.
Ashley proudly took that as her cue to step in and 'save the day'.
"I've got you!" She came up behind Andros and began tickling his sides. Her eyes caught Annie's attention. "Double team him!"
"Okay!" Annie giggled and did as Ashley instructed, tickling Andros.
"Hey, hey!" Andros squirmed and laughed beneath Ashley and Annie's tickling fingers. "Okay, okay!" he said through another bout of squirms, holding up his hands in surrender as he did.
Ashley looked to Annie. She stopped tickling Andros now and winked at their daughter.
"I need another man in this house to help even the score."
Ashley's entire body warmed to the point she could feel the heat in her cheeks. She hoped they hadn't turned red and given anything away. It was the excitement of the secret news she carried and planned to reveal that evening rising up within her. She practically had to hold herself back from giving hints. She couldn't help but allow her lips to curl upwards into one of her big grins, secretly praying that they would have a little boy to perfectly complete their family. Though she would be totally okay with either a boy or a girl, she knew how much it meant to Andros to have a son as well.
She leaned in and left a kiss against Andros' shoulder, keeping herself from losing her composure to the growing excitement she now felt.
Ashley turned her attention to Annie.
"Let's get you cleaned up and ready for Karone and Zhane tonight, hmm?"
"Yay!" Annie jumped down from Andros' hold and ran into the house shouting, "AUNTIE KARONE AND UNCLE ZHANE!"
Ashley slid her arm around Andros' back, and the two locked eyes with one another, laughing in clear amusement at their daughter.
After his comment, Ashley couldn't wait to share with Andros the news about the pregnancy. She kept her eyes on him and that smile wide as he led them towards the door. There was even a little skip in her step on her way inside the house to get herself ready for their date.
To be continued. . .