Power Rangers In Space, Heather Ray [lightest ebook reader txt] 📗

How can I say this enough? Thank you to everyone that has kept up with all my books! You all are awesome! When I started adapting my fanfiction to these books, I was just doing it in order to introduce the Power Rangers to a new generation and to also help reluctant young readers to find a new love for reading. But I have found out that with each new book there is resounding success! Thank you all so much!

Zhane and Astronema (along with the other characters in this fic)

belong to Saban Brands. Hey, someone has to write fics about them! They're adorable! This fic takes place pretty much right after "A Date With Danger"

, and includes flashbacks and references to that episode. If you didn't see it, keep your eyes out for it. Its one of my favorite episodes of PRiS to date.

In her chambers aboard the Dark Fortress, the Princess of Evil lay upon her long couch, absently fingering the gold charm necklace that hung around her neck. Although it retained very little value, it was in fact the only possession she really cared about. It was the only thing she had that wasn't evil. She cherished that necklace with a fondness that was against the norm for a servant of Dark Spectre. The wicked tyrant typically punished his allies whenever they displayed any of the weak emotions, such as love, compassion, or pity. So Astronema never told him about the necklace she wore, and what it meant.

It was her only link to her past... and to her humanity.

But suddenly, something new came into her life, that was awakening emotions the young sorceress didn't know she was capable of.

Her thoughts drifted to what happened this very day. She had sent a monster to Earth, as usual, to destroy the Power Rangers. This time, however, she elected to watch the battle from close up. This brought her face to face with the Silver Ranger, whose inflated ego brought him to challenge Astronema as well as all her Quantrons. Surprisingly, he managed to defend himself expertly against such overwhelming odds, and even tricked Astronema into firing a stray laser beam, which impacted with her monster. To Astronema's infinite horror, the monster turned on her, and would have finished her off... had the Silver Ranger not intervened.

Astronema had fallen into unconsciousness, but when she awoke, she found herself in a beautiful park, with birds singing and fresh green flora. It wasn't like the environments she was used to, of darkness and death. It was full of life, energy, and peace. And standing in the middle of it was the Silver Ranger.

Astronema realized her opportunity in an instant. Here she was, lying behind the mightiest Power Ranger in the galaxy, who was totally ignorant of her current state of lucidity. Her scepter wasn't far away, either. And the Silver Ranger was sans helmet... the only thing protecting the most precious and fragile part of his body.

She quickly lay her head down when he approached her. She didn't want to lose her advantage. Soon, he was looming above her, and lowered himself to his knees. She felt his proximity, and a surge of panic struck. What was he doing?

She jolted when she felt his gentle touch on her forehead. He moved back slightly when he noticed she was awake, worry painted on his face. It was in fact the first time Astronema really paid attention to his face. Handsome, playful... yet somehow innocent, as if unscarred by the trauma he no doubt suffered from the loss of his planet. He wasn't at all like Andros, the only other Kerolian she was acquainted with. Andros always seemed... dead inside. Zhane was very much the opposite.

"What do you think you're doing?" she asked, peering into his blue eyes threateningly.

He was silent for a moment, as if he was asking himself that same question.

"Here," he said finally, holding out a steaming cup, "try this. Its good for you."

Astronema was startled by his last sentence. Why would he care what was good for her? He was a Power Ranger! Ecliptor always told her that the Power Rangers destroyed her family. They pretend to fight for justice, just so they could establish themselves as the resident power in a solar system.

Hesitantly, Astronema rose the steaming cup to her mouth. The flavor of the liquid wasn't at all pleasant. "Yuck!" she retracted.

Zhane shrugged at her dramatic response, as if slightly humored by it. "Okay, so I'm not the best cook in the world," he decided, rising to his feet with the cup. He moved toward the campfire, and placed his spoon inside the steaming cauldron suspended above the flame. He slowly sipped the soup from the spoon. "Egh, definitely more salt!" he choked, wincing at the bitter taste.

While he was busy tending to the concoction, Astronema had quietly risen to her feet, and procured her scepter, which was left against a tree in perfect view. She pointed the sharp end of the staff at the Silver Ranger's neck, forcing him to turn around.

"I could kill you right now," she threatened, "You know that, don't you?"

"You could," he responded, gazing into her eyes, "but I don't think you will."

Astronema was dumfounded. Why wouldn't she? She was the princess of evil! She'd killed hundreds, if not thousands, of people; whether directly or by command. She'd brought planets to their knees. What would stop her from killing the Silver Ranger? Her enemy?

Whatever it was, it managed to stop her. She couldn't bring herself to attack him, vulnerable as he was.

"Lemme show you something," he said, sticking a soft, white object on the point of her staff. Astronema blinked in surprise as he pushed the staff's tip into the campfire.

"Hey!" she shrieked, "What do you think you're doing?!"

"Its called toasting marshmallows," he answered, raising the point of the staff to her, "Try it."

Astronema's glance turned from the Silver Ranger's expectant face to the white "marshmallow" atop her staff. He didn't seem at all intimidated by her. It was unbelievable. Even Ecliptor trembled at her wrath. Only Dark Specter himself didn't fear her. And here, the arrogant Silver Ranger was feeding her! Who did he think he was?

Still, Astronema took a small bite of the marshmallow. The warm, sweet substance melted in her mouth, and slid down her throat almost gracefully. She could feel an automatic smile tug at her lips as a reaction to the sensation. To her shock, a delighted giggle escaped her. She managed to stop it abruptly, but she couldn't take it back.

"Its good, huh?" he commented, as if satisfied he found something to her liking.

Astronema's smile quickly fell. He was manipulating her somehow! He had to be!

"Don't think I owe you anything!" she declared, raising her staff again to ward off the surprised ranger, "We're enemies, now and forever!"

Strangely enough, he seemed slightly upset by her declaration, as if he didn't want to be her enemy. Why would he react that way? What did he want from her, to keep her alive? What was his game?

Without understanding why, her expression softened into a gentle grin. It felt strange on her face, considering she could count the times she'd grinned without malevolence on one hand. "Thanks for saving me," she whispered, before vanishing from the park.

During her transport, she could hear his voice calling to her. "Astronema! Wait!!"

Part of her almost wanted to return to him. But she didn't.

The sweet taste of the marshmallow still lingered in her mouth. It was light and fluffy, warm, yet it melted in the mouth. It was a sensation that was far different from the bland nutrient squares she had been used to all her life for sustenance. She never knew the joys of eating flavorful foods. Sweet was something she was only familiar with in passing, until that day.

Strangely enough, sweet was the perfect word to describe the Silver Ranger too. She knew him as a stalwart warrior, yet after meeting him face to face, he was someone far different from what she expected. He was courteous and polite, funny and charming. There's no doubt he was handsome, too. And he saved her life.

What was this she was feeling? Why couldn't she stop staring out at the stars, just because they glinted with the same silvery light that reflected off his magnificent armor? And on the rare occasion that she saw a blue star twinkle in the sky, why did it automatically bring to mind his twinkling blue eyes? What was wrong with her?

"Lady Astronema," Ecliptor said quietly, hesitantly stepping into the room. Astronema dropped her necklace, letting it hang freely from her neck. She sat up on her couch, and threw back a stray lock of bleached blonde hair.

"Since when do we enter the chambers of the Princess of Evil without knocking?" she snapped, throwing her henchman a disapproving glare.

"I did knock, Princess, but I grew worried when you did not answer me," was his response. He remained