Disclaimer: The Rangers belong to Saban. Disney owns Reflection (I think). Wow, two big TV conglomerates in the same disclaimer!! (Okay way too much business class) Then there is little old me. Email me with any comments, questions...etc. I LOVE E-MAIL!!
Look at me
You may think you see
who I really am
But you'll never know me
Karone closed her eyes as the song washed over her. The guilt at what she had done to the city of Angel Grove, and had almost done to her own brother, haunted her dreams at night. {Andros doesn't know about this. He would be so worried if he knew I wasn't sleeping. He isn't going to find out from me either.} She opened her eyes and finished getting ready.
Now I see
If I wear a mask
I can fool the world
But I cannot fool
my heart
Andros looked up as his sister walked through the halls of the Megaship. For a minute he thought he almost saw a flicker of heartache beyond his imagination in his sister's face before the now familiar cheerful, serene expression settled over her face.
Karone gave her brother a small smile as she walked up to him. There was so much to say. So much to learn. Andros shouldn't be burdened with her problems. He had his own demons to chase. Hers were best left to when she was by alone in her quarters. "Where is everybody?" She asked, forcing a smile into her voice.
"They're down on Earth. I told Ashley that I wanted to wait for you. Are you sure you're up to this?"
Karone nodded, burying the flash of fear that threatened to destroy the mask she was wearing. She couldn't look at Andros' concerned expression so she dropped her eyes to the floor.
Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
Andros took his sister's hand and together they readied themselves for what was to come. This was going to be their first trip to Earth as their new home. Andros had found he couldn't think about living without Ashley and the others, and Karone had willingly followed. She couldn't forget the thinly veiled disgusted looks when the other colonists had watched her walk around free. She knew that if it hadn't been for Andros and Zhane's continued support of her, she probably wouldn't have lasted a day on the colony. There were simply too many people that remembered her as Astronema.
I am now
In a world where I have to
hide my heart
And what I believe in
But somehow
I will show the world
What's inside my heart
And be loved for who I am
Karone kept her eyes focused on the floor as they made their way to the jump tubes. {The others still aren't sure about me. They want to, they really do, but they can't help but remember all the things I did as Astronema. I guess I can't blame them. If I can't forgive myself, how can I expect them to forgive me?}
There's a heart that must
be free to fly
That burns with a need
to know the reason why
She said a silent prayer to whoever was listening that she could make it through this day. She didn't want to go to Earth. What she wanted more than anything else was to curl up in a corner and hide from all the guilt and pain that threatened to throw her over the brink of sanity. {What did I do to deserve Andros? Or Zhane? Especially Zhane. He's been so supportive of my need to be alone. He's always there to make me laugh or let me cry on his shoulder. He deserves something more than I can give him. Why can't I believe what Andros and the others tell me? That I am worthy of their love and support.}
Why must we all conceal
What we think
How we feel?
Must there be a secret me
I'm forced to hide?
Andros watched his sister. He wanted to believe that she was okay with her decision to join him. He knew of the looks and whispers that swirled around her like mist. Whispers that it was just a matter of time before she turned back into Astronema. That she couldn't just throw off that much time being evil like a cloak. That all of this was one huge plan to gain the confidence of the Red and Silver Rangers and then destroy them and take the throne.
Deep down he knew she had come with him because she couldn't continue to live on KO-35. Karone needed people that trusted her. That believed in her, and in the fact that she would never be evil again. With Zhane and Andros, her two strongest supporters, her only Kerovan supporters, leaving for Earth, she didn't have much of a choice.
Karone felt her brother's searching gaze, and she forced herself to meet his eyes. She smiled again, but this it didn't quite make it. Nor was it as carefree and cheerful as she wanted it to be. She saw the sympathy in her brother's brown eyes and she tried hard not to lose her composure in front of him. {How can you trust me? I don't trust myself. I can't. I've done so many evil things to you and your friends. I'm not worthy of your love or your support. Why do you keep believing in me?}
I won't pretend that I'm
Someone else
For all time
"Karone...if you don't want to go they'll understand." Andros said softly still searching her face.
That simple statement broke through her carefully constructed mask and the tears fell before she even realized she was crying. She felt her brother's strong arms around her and she cried harder into his shoulder. "I-I'm j-just not r-ready t-to face them yet. I'm sorry Andros. I'm so sorry."
Andros held his sister and rocked her as her tears continued. He wished he had the words to comfort her, to tell her that it was going to be all right. He knew she could get through this. She needed to stop hiding from herself, and from him. "It'll be all right, Karone. I know it's hard, but you have to believe that it'll be all right. You can get through this; I have faith in you, you just need faith in yourself."
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
The End
