[Tokusatsu Themes, Minionization]
The depths of darkness. The very foundation that would swallow light itself. A source of fear, and yet a source of warmth for some. Because this darkness wasn't the kind of darkness that would harm anybody. No, this was the darkness that allowed people to be introspective. The kind of darkness that was all too familiar to one young girl...
It was Mikai Fushimi's darkness. The darkness of her mind. While it had once been the darkness that had kept her in such a miserable state, it was now a source of comfort. Because it was when her mind remained perfectly calm and allowed her to think about the world at large. It allowed her to think about her place in the world... And the friends that she had made thus far.
"You're awfully quiet tonight." And most importantly, it allowed her to communicate with the predator hanging around inside her head. "Something bothering you, Mikai? And for that matter, are you sure you're alright?"
Chimera, the ancient predator that had awoken Mikai from a long proverbial slumber as she took form inside her mind, was once again trying to look out for the short girl. And it was rewarded by the sandy-blonde looking up at her with a soft smile, all while she remained laying down on the ground. "Yeah. I'm alright, Chimera. I don't feel bad or anything, I'm just thinking."
"That's a new one." Chimera chuckled, and Mikai chuckled in turn. "What's on your mind? Does it have to do with those twins that tricked Hiro, or is it something else?" She asked, sitting down right besides the girl that she had grown so close to. "You know you can tell me if something's wrong. I won't peer into your thoughts or anything, even if that was something I could do."
Mikai stretched a little as she sat up, wrapping her arms around her knees. "It's... Kinda about them. But more about all the Cosmos Queens in general. Why do they have to keep fighting us? None of them, except for the Geminis, seem to really be bad people. Just driven by that Empress Andromeda girl. Can't we just deal with her and then befriend them?"
"If it was that easy, I'm sure you would've figured out a way to do it already." Chimera said, patting her host on the head and softly ruffling her hair. "But I don't think that's the solution. Those two just proved that even if she was dealt with, we'd still have problems. And we still haven't seen them all. We've met Virgo, Cancer, Capricorn, Sagittarius, Libra, Aries, Leo and Gemini thus far. And while you've been able to talk down half of them, the other half is still at large. And that's not counting the other five we're still missing..."
"Wait, there's five missing?" Mikai asked, slowly counting on her fingertips. "Wait, what are they themed after again? Are they themed after something?" Like the adorable girl she was, she hadn't even realized there was a pattern.
Chimera laughed as she patted Mikai a little more on the head, before clearing her throat and nodding. "If they're following the Zodiacs, you've got another five to meet. You need to meet Taurus, Pisces, Aquarius, Scorpio and Ophiuchus." She explained, before narrowing her eyes. "If you had paid attention while playing against your Mom, you would've realized that these kinds of characters follow that kind of themeing."
"Well how was I supposed to pay attention to that when Mom always beats me?!" Mikai pouted and shouted, huffing and puffing as she crossed her arms. "Still, five more, and three of those girls still want to hurt me. And that one boy too. That's not great. And we don't even know where that Andromeda is. Hmmmm..."
Chimera nodded and slowly stretched a bit herself before standing up. "If there's anybody that'll be able to figure something out, it's you. I know that, Mikai. You know it too. Just make sure you don't get turned, because I couldn't get through to you while you were under Leo's control. And if any of them manage to control you like that... There's no guarantee that Hiro'll be able to get through to you either."
Mikai nodded as much as she could. "I will. I promise! There's no way I'll lose to them again!" She cried out, all while the darkness around her started to fade. She didn't need it anymore. Not when she knew what she had to do.
And it involved the girl that was currently snoozing away on the floor at the foot of her bed. The girl that had controlled her and stuffed her into an ornate golden suit of armor. The girl that hadn't yet been turned to her side, and yet had been abandoned by her allies...
The Cosmos Queen, Legendary Leo. Who was currently wearing a set of extremely unfitting pajamas, because it wasn't like she was going to sleep in the nude. She just had to deal with the clothes that either of the two humans had to offer, and this was the only set that fit her. It completely contrasted her aesthetic, and yet she managed to sleep without any worry.
Despite the fact that she was about the same size as Mikai, even just looking at her made her feel a lot bigger. It was like her aura made her feel like she was fit to rule. Like she was the kind of king that a lion should be...
"You know." Mikai muttered to herself as she looked at her. "When she's like this, she's actually kinda cute." She remained as quiet as she could be, before slowly climbing out of her bed and attempting to sneak towards the door...
Only for Leo to grab her ankle and glare at her. "I've been awake the entire time." She said, but the lack of bags underneath her eyes made it clear that she had been asleep. She was clearly just incredibly sensitive to sound. It was the only way to explain her reflexes. "Where do you think you're going, Mimoto?"
"Uh..." Mikai blinked a little. "I wanted to get some milk because I'm thirsty and it's really early in the morning?" Better to be honest around an enemy. Well, sorta-enemy. Despite the fact that she had been the one to forcibly trap her in a suit of armor, she didn't seem willing to fight her at the moment. She had even accepted asylum at her house for the time being.
Leo glared at her, before slowly getting up. "Very well. But we'll have a talk once you're done." She said, crossing her arms as she let go of Mimoto...
Only for Mikai to grab her wrist in turn, with a big grin on her face. "How about we just have the chat when we're downstairs?" She said, quickly dragging her along before Leo had a chance to struggle against her.
"Unhand me this instant, you don't deserve to hold me!" Leo cried out, but by the time her words had left her lips, she was already forcibly tugged downstairs. And she even ended up in her enemy's arms, something that forced her to blush as she was let go...
Mikai giggled a little, and Leo just growled as she was this close to just... Well, finishing what she had started before. Why should she not just finish her off and then find Empress Andromeda..?
"Oh, Mikai. Do you and your friend want any breakfast?" Mikai's Mom, Kaoru, was sitting at the dinner table with a cup of coffee. Taking a sip every few moments, while letting the warmth of her beverage keep her comfortable. Honestly, she needed it. It was only a few days ago that she had been forcibly made aware of Mikai's double life, all because of what Hiro did to try and save her. It was overwhelming to say the least but she was able to adjust. If only because she was aware that Mikai did all of this to try and keep people safe. And because it was something truly drove her. What kind of Mom would try to stop her after learning that?
Leo grit her teeth. "I am not her friend. I am-" She tried to speak up, but a simple look at the black-haired matron made her heart skip a beat. It made her pause and quietly look at the floor. "...I would like a meal to start the day, yes." She didn't know why she felt this way. It was the same kind of feeling she felt when she looked at her Empress. But she definitely couldn't be her. So why..?
"Sorry about Leo, Mom!" Mikai giggled as she took a seat at the dinner table, resting her arms on it as she kicked her legs back and forth. "We had to fight before, but she's fine now. And I wanna learn more about her. So, uh... Could you go play a game once we've got our breakfast?"
Kaoru chuckled a little. "That's awfully mature of you, Mikai. But yes, I'll try and perfect one of my records. Just make sure that if you try and do something, you'll do it outside. Alright?" She chimed, all while getting up after finishing her cup of coffee. So that her dear daughter and her friend could have the privacy that they needed.
Leo slowly got up from the floor as she took a seat across from Mimoto. She didn't want to sit beside her. Not yet. Sitting beside her made her feel dirty. As if she had failed her Empress. As if she had failed everything that she had set out to do. And even now, sitting in front of her like this... She didn't like it.
"...Why did you save me from Gemini, Mimoto?" That was the burning question on her mind right now. As much as she hated Mimoto, as much as she hated the heroine that stood in the way of her Empress' plan, she needed to understand why she would save her. Especially after she had been stuck inside one of her armors. "Why do you think that we can be friends, when you ultimately stand against everything that my Empress wants?"
Mikai tapped her fingers against the table in response to that question. Before smiling. "Because you're talking to me right now, Leo." She chimed, as she slowly reached out with her hand. "I reached out and helped you escape from the Geminis. Not just because I thought we could be friends and figure out a solution, but because I thought it was right to try and help you. Even if you stuffed me in one of those cramped armors." She explained, before grimacing a little. "By the way, that stuff was way too tight. Can't you make armor that fits me properly?"
"It's not supposed to be comfortable. It's supposed to leave you an obedient weapon. Just like I am for my Empress." Leo said, clenching her fist as the blood inside her started to boil. "And there's no way that we can be friends. You stand in the path of drowning this world in Darkness, Mimoto! The only way that I will feel satisfied having you as an ally will be when you're shut inside one of my armors, loyally following my orders as we blanket this world!" Her fury rose. And in turn, her hair puffed out as it looked even more like a lion's mane. Even if it made her look outright ridiculous.
Mikai watched, and yet she didn't stop holding out her hand. "Do you really have to do that? Why do you have to drown this world in Darkness?" Even if she didn't completely understand the implications, she understood that the act itself wasn't a good thing. And that much she could try to challenge at the very least. That way, she could maybe make the Cosmos Queen see some sort of reason...
"Of course I do! She has given me everything! She is the very reason I still sit here, the reason I am able to challenge you! If I disappoint her, if I back down then not only will I disappoint her, I will shame myself. No matter what, we will have to fight, Mimoto. Your words will not sway me." Leo's anger only grew as she gave her justification, her eyes flaring bright gold as she slammed her fist against the table. "The only reason I agreed to stay here was to prepare for our fight. All of my wounds have healed. I will fight you. Right here, right now!"
Just as Mikai was about to reply, her Mom did it for her. By putting a plate of toast down in front of both girls, a soft smile on her face. "I know you wanted some privacy, but please remember what I just said earlier." Kaoru said, her eyes opening ever slightly as she glared at Leo. "If you want to fight against my sweet Mikai, do it outside. And before that, finish your meal. You both need to be fully nourished before you're able to throw hands. I'm sure neither of you will be able to accept your loss if you're not at your peak."
Both Mikai and Leo felt the sheer pressure that the older woman exerted. If there was one thing that Mikai didn't want to do, it was make her Mom mad. And Leo shared the sentiment, unsure of why her heart relented when that woman started to threaten her like this. She didn't understand, but she just knew she had to listen. Just this once she would have to obey somebody that wasn't her Empress.
The near-identical girls each ate their respective meals, not looking at one another while Kaoru returned to her seat by the couch. Neither was prepared for the kind of terror that she could inflict, but it had certainly stopped their little argument. It had snuffed out their passionate flame for a few moments.
But once they were done eating, then their fight would begin in earnest...
---
Their meal took longer than they expected. But both of them were ready. Both girls now stood in the street outside of the Fushimi Residence, each of them taking deep breaths as they prepared themselves for the inevitable clash.
"Is there really no other way?" Mikai asked, as flames slowly started to cover her body. Even though she didn't want to fight, she wasn't about to back down. If Leo wanted to fight, then she would bring the fight to her. If only to try and punch the bad beliefs out of her and see her smile just like the other Cosmos Queens that had come to her side already...
"No other." Leo said as she clenched her fist, her entire body getting covered in a nebula, consuming her very form in the process. "We are destined to fight, Mimoto! You and I will not be able to stand on the same side as one another without one having fallen first. And you will fall before me just as when I fought with Aries' assistance!" She cried out as she slammed that fist against her palm. "PREPARE YOURSELF THE FIGHT OF YOUR LIFE, JÕTAIDER MIMOTO!"
Mikai nodded and thrust her arm outward. "Henshin!" Before letting the flames consume her as she cried out, letting them form the lion-themed armor that had served her so well thus far. Even when she was forced to fight against somebody she had started to bond with, this armor had done a lot of good work.
"For my Empress!" Leo cried out as her armor solidified into the golden lionic armor that she had been clad in before, helmet shutting around her head as the power of the stars swirled around her. "Cosmos Queen, Legendary Leo! On my Empress' honor, I will strike you down, Jõtaider Mimoto! You will kneel before me like before, as I trap you within one of my armors and leave you as one of my loyal pawns!"
"Jõtaider Mimoto!" Mimoto announced her own title by crying out as she stomped, letting the flames on her body rise higher. "I won't let you beat me, Leo! I'll reach out and show you that there's more to life than obeying some crummy Empress that doesn't know a thing about the world she's trying to drown! And then... And then I'll be your friend as you try to talk some sense into her too!"
Leo's body immediately pulsed with energy as the constellation of Leo started to shine across her armor. And just like that, she vanished in the blink of an eye. Already employing that lightning fast speed that she had beaten Mimoto with prior. "DO NOT SPEAK SO ILL OF HER, AND DO NOT IMPLY THAT I WILL ACT ON YOUR BEHALF!" She was furious, and yet she was still striking with all the precise power that she had used prior!
The thunder-infused fist slammed against Mimoto's back, but that didn't stop her. No, Mimoto would keep standing. She would keep fighting. This time she wouldn't just give in when she was faced with an overwhelming sense of power. "I'm not saying you'll act for me! I'm saying that I'll be there to help you, because you'll realize what she's doing is wrong!" Mimoto cried out, all while the flames from her body started to pour into her fist, all while she struggled to keep track of the enemy zipping across the battlefield.
"YOU ARE IMPLYING THAT SHE IS IN THE WRONG! YOU ARE TREATING HER LIKE SHE HAS DONE ANYTHING WRONG! SHE HAS BEEN THERE FOR ME EVER SINCE SHE PLUCKED ME FROM THE WORLD THAT HAD DEEMED ME AS NOTHING MORE THAN A FAILURE, AND THIS IS HOW YOU THINK YOU'LL BE ABLE TO CONVINCE ME!?" Leo's violent ranting echoed out as she suddenly appeared right before Mimoto, with her fist seemingly already having slammed into the heroine's face.
"KING'S ERUPTION!" Only for Mimoto to meet her head on. It didn't matter that her helmet cracked the instant that Leo's fist slammed against it. She was just within range to feel the intensity of all the eruptive power that Mimoto had at her command!
Leo grit her teeth underneath her helmet as she tried to jump away upon being struck like that, though it wasn't hard to tell that a tiny crack had formed in her helmet as some of the golden color had started to fade away. "You've grown stronger!? You've barely fought since you were under my control!"
"My bonds are my power, Leo!" Mimoto cried out as she moved her hand across her face, the flames pouring from the cracks in her armor suddenly freezing solid as they shattered and let her transform into Frost Wolf, with barely a 'chou henshin' uttered in a hushed tone. "And I've made a bond with you, even if you deny it!"
"YOU THINK THAT COUNTS AS A BOND! I HATE YOU AND EVERYTHING YOU STAND FOR!" Leo shouted as electricity started to pour across her form. "ATOMIC ROAR!" She let out a howling roar as all of that electricity burst out, pouring down the streets as it tried to tear the road apart alongside her enemy!
But just like before, Mimoto took it head on. Slamming her body against the lightning that tore across the ground, before freezing it. Lightning was essentially just one flashy heat source. And since she could freeze it, she could get closer...!
This time, however, Leo wasn't going to let her get close enough to deliver a dangerous blow. No, another golden-armored individual suddenly slammed down and brought some distance between the two. Not just one either, three of them...
Leo let out a laugh as her minions' helmets retracted, revealing Mikai's friends. Yumeko, Tsubasa and Agatha. All of them golden-eyed, all of them currently controlled by the Cosmos Queen. "You really think you're the only one who grew stronger, MIMOTO!? And do you really think you'll be able to fight against your friends, just like your ally fought to save you!?"
Mimoto let out a gasp as she was forced back, her eyes darting between the three fully armored minions. All while she trembled a bit. She definitely felt the pressure building. She could feel her willpower waning. Partly because of the hits that she had endured to try and get an advantage. And partly by seeing them like this...
But she wouldn't give up. She knew that they wouldn't allow her to give up. And not only that, she could feel the support of those that she had helped slowly pour through her. She could even feel Hiro and Chimera's hands on her shoulders, as if they were giving her their blessing...
"Chou Henshin!" Mimoto shouted as the winds of her raging heart burst open her armor, letting her spread her wings. But she didn't take to the skies. Far from it. Instead, she just gathered those winds inside her palms, letting the wind concentrate as much as possible...
Leo glared at the heroine. Persistent. Far too persistent. She had to put a stop to her before she got out of hand. Because if she didn't, there was a chance that she could actually suffer a defeat. "Leonis! Attack!" She cried out, giving her minions a command that poured right through them, forcing them to obey her words even if their minds would try to resist.
The helmets snapped shut on all three minions once more, leaving them completely identical as they all started to spark and procure a simple looking blade. All while running towards their friend, hoping to follow the orders that had been given to them. They were durable enough, even one of her finishers shouldn't be able to stop them.
Mimoto's body glowed gold for a second as her wings spread out even further than before, all while she sent out the winds that had compressed in between her palms. "APEX STREAAAAAAM!" She cried out and flapped those massive golden wings, letting the winds kick up even harder than before. Winds that would consume her enemies completely!
None of the Leonis stood a chance. All of them were swept away, the armor that had covered their bodies forced off them as they were very quickly returned to normal. Although there was still the matter of how much danger they were in, what with how close they were to the fight itself... How close they were to being turned into minions once more, should Leo try to turn tail and use them as a demotivational tool once again...
Leo grit her teeth as she stood her ground, her body trembling bit by bit. This wind was even stronger... No, it wasn't stronger. That wasn't why she felt like she was about to be swept away. It was... It had the same kind of power as her own strikes. That didn't make any sense. The only way that she would be able to access the same kind of power was if she was a Cosmos Queen. That power was theirs and theirs alone!
"What are you doing... WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO USE THAT POWER?!" Leo cried out as the electricity started to pour across her body once more. Concentrating just like Mimoto's own winds had, with all of it gathering at the tip of her fist. She wasn't about to let her get away with trouncing her. She wasn't about to let her get away with any of this. SHE WAS GOING TO FALL!
Mimoto trembled a bit as her wings shattered from all the power she had poured into it. She didn't know how she was able to do that, but... It had seemingly worked. And now there was another predicament. She was about to face another attack. And if it was anything like the Atomic Roar, it would hurt like hell. She needed something. But she was running out of options...
"Chou Henshin!" Mimoto cried out as her shattered armor hardened and turned brown, transforming her into Earth Ursa as she stood her ground. She needed as much protection as she could possibly afford. All while she concentrated as much as possible. She just needed to endure enough, then she could turn the tables. All she...
Her eyes widened underneath her helmet. No, she knew what she could do. So instead of worrying about damage she would endure, she instead decided to let her power pour over her leg...
"COSMIC ETERNITY!" Leo cried out as the power gathered at the tip of her fist crystalized into a set of fangs, before she punched straight ahead. "ATOMIC FANGS!" Her roar once again resounded, but this time it didn't take the form of a massive explosion of electricity around her. No, this time it was aimed in a much more refined yet still haphazard manner.
Her energy now took the form of beams that shot out randomly from her fist. Each of them bouncing off air itself as they rebounded rapidly, getting closer and closer to Mimoto with every bounce. Like the fangs of a predator clamping down on its prey.
Mimoto was ready. This would hurt, but it would hurt a lot less than if she didn't do it. "MAJOR LAUNCH!" She cried out as the power gathered in her leg and she stomped as hard as she possibly could, sending shocks through the ground underneath.
Despite the name, neither of them were launched into the air, and Leo just laughed. Only for her eyes to widen underneath her helmet as the earth around her was launched. Which drastically reduced the space which her move was allowed to traverse through... And at the same time, shutting her away from any potential escape!
Mimoto grit her teeth as the parts of the Atomic Fangs attack that did reach her slammed right into her body and made the armor crack once again. She was barely holding on at this point. She could hardly even see straight. And yet she kept standing tall. She kept standing against the girl that had defeated her once before. Because she wasn't going to lose this time. She wasn't going to lose to the girl that was on this terrible path...
"How?! HOW?! HOW DO YOU USE THAT POWER?! HOW DO YOU STAND?! ANSWER ME, MIMOTO!" Leo cried out as she started gathering her power once again. She would finish her off this time. She had more than enough banked up. And this time she would ensure that she was prepared for another confrontation after she finished her off. In case some of her inane allies would try and save her!
Mimoto clenched her fist tight as her armor shattered completely, revealing Mikai underneath once more. But she didn't seem to be done. Far from it. "I told you already, Leo! It's because of you! It's our bond!" She understood. The stars in her eyes were the same sort of stars that filled out Leo's armor. "Not just ours either! Virgo! Cancer! Capricorn! Sagittarius! I've bonded with all of them! And it's because of them that I'm able to fight like this! It's because of what you've all shown me!"
"WHAT?! YOU'RE OUR ENEMY, WHAT CAN YOU POSSIBLY GAIN FROM A BOND WITH YOUR ENEMY?!" Leo's mind was reeling from this revelation, especially as she started to inch her arm backward. This time, she wouldn't just finish her. She would leave nothing behind. If she would keep prattling on about bonds, she wouldn't even bother turning her into a minion!
MIkai grinned. And she slowly opened her hand, revealing a golden star resting on her palm. "I'll try it your way, Leo! COSMIC ETERNITY!" She shouted as she clamped her hand shut once more, crushing the star as her body started to turn into a nebula just like Leo's had. And just like when Leo let out a roar to activate her attacks, another resounded as Mikai let a single word echo out.
"HENSHIN!"
The nebula solidified just as it had for Leo. But unlike her Legendary armor, Mikai's brand new armor was themed after her original Flame Lion armor. The main difference between the two versions came in the form of her chestplate, which was replaced with a wheel depicting all the Cosmic Queen's symbols, each of the ones that Mikai had managed to bond with having their symbols lit up within the wheel. Combine that with stars decorating the undersuit part of her armor, making her look like a Cosmos Queen in a more literal sense, and she had successfully made their power her own.
"Jõtaider Mimoto, Golden Cosmo!" She cried out, before suddenly disappearing just as quickly as Leo had. With the exact same shocking speed that had once overpowered her!
Leo's eyes widened underneath the helmet, that brief moment being her downfall. As it was more than enough time for Mimoto to carry out her new finisher, a finisher that she took straight from her...
"COSMO KING'S ROAAAAAAAR!"
Mimoto appeared for one brief moment right in front of Leo as she let out the same howl that had sent out so much potent lightning, The same howl that she had been hit by twice before, but powered up by her own inner strength combined with the power from her bond with the Cosmos Queens..!
Leo wanted to block. She really did. But she was already far too committed to her own attack. Resulting in her tanking every little bit of the electricity that streamed forth, letting out a violently painful howl as her armor shattered and she was forced onto her knees, sheer shock on her face as she never expected to be so thoroughly trounced...
"I... My power... I... I... Empress Andromeda... I..." Leo looked outright broken, not able to comprehend her loss. What was she supposed to do now? What was she ever supposed to do?
She didn't get an answer. But she did get some support. As Mikai let the golden armor shatter off her body, and she quietly gave her the hug that she needed. A soft, supporting hug. From one friend to another.
And for the first time in Leo's legendary life... She sobbed and she cried on another person's shoulder, and let her sadness finally pour forth...