[Tokusatsu Themes]
Darkness.
Deep darkness.
That's what surrounded Saeko and Yumeko once they opened their eyes once more. This... This was supposed to be what it was like to be inside Mikai..?
"This... How could she live like this?" Saeko muttered as she looked around. Darkness as far as the eye could see. Absolutely nothing stood out. And the darkness just stretched on for what looked like miles. What was she supposed to do? How was she supposed to find Mikai like this?
Yumeko put her hand on her chest. Slowly breathing. It really had gotten this bad again. "We just... We just have to find her. Use the needle. It'll home in on her. Those feelings will want to reach her, no matter what."
Saeko stared at the needle in her hand, watching as it pointed into the darkness. It was not much, but it was better than aimlessly wandering. All they had to do was follow that needle, right?
At least, that's what they thought. Right before the needle started shining even brighter, clearing away some of the darkness... revealing a set of thick bars in front of them. They weren't actually going to go anywhere... Especially not as a growl echoed behind them.
"YOU... YOU! YOOOOOUUUUU!"
Yumeko's eyes widened as she saw a wild shadow jump towards her, only for that shadow to be stopped in its tracks thanks to Saeko quickly moving in front of her and blocking the attack with the needle. And in the process, it illuminated the one that had tried to attack them.
Neither of them truly recognized her. But it was Chimera, the one that had been with Mikai this entire time. Her eyes had turned pure gold as she growled and hissed like a wolf and a lion at the same time. This... This was her prison. And they had managed to force themselves this far into her...
"What are you!? And how do you recognize us?!" Saeko shouted, gritting her teeth a little as she was forced back. She was still hurting from trying to fight using the PAWN System... Wait... Where... Where was her armor?
"SPIIIIDEEEEERRR! YOUUUUUU!"
Chimera's howl made Saeko's eyes widen more, as she quickly looked at herself. And then she realized it. She was... She was General Spider once again. Was this how Mikai saw her? Was this beast... Was this beast supposed to be Mikai?
Either way, the fact she was back to her empowered state meant that she could fight, prompting her to quickly whip her hand forward and send out strings to slam the wild animal back. "Yumeko! Is this Mikai!?"
"It's not!" Yumeko shouted, keeping herself behind Saeko so she didn't get into more danger. "She's... She's important to her. I know that much!" And yet the more she looked at her, the more she felt insecure. Who was this creature, really..?
"SPIDEEEERR!" Chimera roared like the wild animal she was, her wings spreading out as muscles started to bulge along her form. All while she broke into a charge, intending on ramming straight into the Golden Freedom General. She had hurt Mikai so much. She had to pay!
Spider could feel the world slowing down. If this creature was important to Mikai... If this creature was somebody that she held near and dear, then...
She gripped her needle tight, and just as Chimera was about to pounce again, she thrust her hand forward. Slamming the needle deep into the beast's chest, hoping that those feelings would pierce through. Even if they weren't meant for Mikai, they might just help!
Chimera couldn't dodge. She was too enraged to try and dodge. And as the needle pierced her chest, she howled in pain. Howling and writhing as she was forced back, thrashing around as her body grew more and more wild. Fur spreading across her entire form, as she started to roar straight to the skies...
Right before the tears started to roll. And she calmed down. Bit by bit. "These... These feelings..." She muttered, as her form gradually regressed. Her wings faded away. Her claws retracted. Her muscles shrank. Leaving behind Chimera as she had always been. A protective predator from an age long gone... "What... What have I been doing..? How long have I been..."
Spider collapsed onto her knees, gasping and panting. Using her powers felt so weird. And the more she used this needle, the more she felt her own feelings being sucked into it. Just how much had Saki done to try and make this thing perfect..? She couldn't tell for sure...
Yumeko slowly stared at the now-sane creature, slowly taking a few steps forward. It was... It was safe now. "...You are... Chimera... right?" It was a shot in the dark. This creature... She was not something she had encountered before...
"I am." Chimera said, taking a good look at the girl she towered over. "And you're Yumeko." She concluded, smiling as she patted her on the head. "Mikai's said a lot of nice things about you. I'm happy you... Wait, how did you get in here?" The ancient predator muttered in confusion, before taking another look at Spider. "And why are YOU here? Didn't you betray Mikai's trust?!"
Spider solemnly nodded. "Yeah. I did." She couldn't lie about it. It was nothing but the truth. So she slowly got onto her feet and shook her head, trying to make sure she could look presentable. "I am General Spider. I am the reason why Mikai can transform... And the reason why she became like this." She admitted her faults, bowing her head in shame. "But even so... I want to save her. I want her to know how I really feel."
Yumeko gazed towards Spider, then back towards Chimera. "...She's been working really hard to make up for her mistakes. Trust her, just this once. We all want Mikai to be alright, don't we?" She smiled. Hopefully... Hopefully this creature was agreeable.
Chimera narrowed her eyes, before just crossing her arms and nodding. "Fine. I'll give you this chance. But even so... It's not like we're going to be able to reach Mikai. Not after that bitch locked me in here." Just thinking about Kimiko was enough to make her anger rise once again. That's right, that bitch that claimed to be Mikai... She had shut her in here..!
That was true. But Yumeko didn't stop smiling. "Are you really sure you're shut in here, Chimera?" She said, walking towards the bars for a second. She put her hand on them, and they definitely seemed to be sturdy... But at the same time, she knew that they could be broken. "They're part of Mikai. And if you're part of her, then you should know how to break them."
"Did Mikai ever tell you how cryptic you could be?" Chimera snarked, before shaking her head and letting her wings spread out once more. "Fine. Let's see if this works. And if it doesn't, then I'm sorry you have to spend the rest of your life here with me." She breathed deep. Letting her wild side out once more, bulking out as she prepared herself...
"MIKAI! OPEN YOUR EYES! WE'RE COMING TO SAVE YOU!"
Her roar was filled with determination, and the will to protect the one she saw as a little sister. And despite how much she had tried to break the bars before, this time... This time they shattered. A sight that stunned Chimera, before she started to laugh. Well damn. Yumeko was right...
"These bars..." Yumeko said, as she stepped out onto the other side, as a faint light started to form a path in front of them. "They were made from Mikai's feelings. Kimiko manipulated them to shut you in here. Because she didn't feel like she was worth your protection. Just like she made that armor through her own despair." She said, turning towards Chimera and Spider. "Both of you, get going. Mikai's waiting for you. I'll be right behind you."
Chimera nodded and spread her wings, taking flight as she followed the light that led far into the darkness. She was going to find and save Mikai, and then destroy Kimiko for making the girl think she wasn't worth her love!
Spider started to walk down the same path, before stopping and glancing towards Yumeko. "...I've been wondering, Yumeko. You've been trying your best to help her, and yet you haven't said anything to her face. Why... Why is that?" It was a honest question. Why wasn't she? She loved Mikai, didn't she?
"...I've seen this all play out before, Saeko." Yumeko muttered, taking a single step forward. A single tear running down her cheek. "And she got through it. Through the help of the people around her. But I didn't want to interfere too much. I just wanted to push everyone in the right direction. So she could recover and be the Mikai I love. It's not fair to see her fall, not after I went through all the trouble of coming back here."
Spider's eyes widened in shock as everything clicked into place. "...You... You're from the future? How is that even possible? Why is that possible!?" She really didn't need to know this right now. She had to save Mikai, after all. Why did she just drop this bombshell!? "Why didn't you just tell her?! She would've..."
"Would she?" Yumeko said, putting her finger up to her lips. "I came back to give another Mikai a good life. It might've been a terrible idea, but I'm happy to be with her again. And... Telling her outright would've just made her ask too many questions. So, keep this secret for me. Alright?"
"No." Spider muttered. Instantly. Though Yumeko's expression didn't sour. She saw this coming. "...Once we're done with this, you're going to tell her. And you're going to apologize for being so obtuse. Because if you had actually told her, everything wouldn't have happened..."
"I will. Now go. I don't have the same powers you do, Saeko. You'll have to be the one to break her free." Yumeko said, bowing her head. She placed all of her hopes in her friend. In the same girl that had once endangered her... Hoping that she could make things right.
Spider let out a frustrated yell, before running straight down this path. It didn't matter that Yumeko had finally told her the truth. It didn't change what was important to her.
She was going to save Mikai, with her true feelings..!
---
"RAKETEKLINGEN!"
Helheim watched as the serpentine Jõtaider launched towards him. She had used her explosive effect by stabbing her tail and her hair into the ground, before using her venom's detonation to give her both propulsion and rotation, as both bladed tips started spinning alongside her. She was like a flying buzzsaw...
"APOCALYPSE X!" But he would meet her attack with one of his own. Slashing with both his bladed arms and forming a X that started to fly straight towards her, only to slash with his wings as well, letting another X clash into the original, tripling its impact as it spun like a drill, straight into the flying saw.
Both his projectile and the sawing Jõtaider slammed against each other, with the purple predator slamming against the ground. And yet despite the damage done to her, she very quickly got back up, her tails carving into the ground below her as her anger grew more and more potent.
"You fight well, Jõtaider! But why do you fight?!" He shouted, as he swapped his hard light blades out for a pair of cannons, each charging as he pointed them into the air. "FOR WHAT PURPOSE DO YOU SEEK COMBAT!?"
"TO CONSUME!" Ouroboros shouted, as she kept her distance. That big Overlord bastard had done his best to hold her at bay. So this time, she was going to make sure that she could get in before she went on the offensive. It was the only way to win...
Though she wasn't the only one that answered. "Listen to him, Ouroboros! You don't just fight to eat! You've fought him for more reasons than that!" Minami's voice echoed, causing the Jõtaider to stagger slightly. "I told you earlier, there's more to you than that instinct. WHY DO YOU KEEP TRYING TO PROTECT ME, IF ALL YOU WANT TO DO IS EAT?!"
"Hah! I knew there was more to why you fought" Helheim laughed. "A Prime can't operate on pure instinct. As much as we're connected to the Darkness, we're more than mere monsters. We act on our desires, and there is more to desire than mere consumption! So tell me once again, Jõtaider! Why do you fight?!" The overgrown lizard shouted, before thrusting his arms further into the air. "ACEPOCALYPSE RAIN!"
His cannons fired a beam into the sky above, only for that beam to fragment and spread out into rain-like shards that came down all around him. It was a good thing that his 'daughter' had seemingly disappeared, he would've hated to hit her with this. But it was going to force the Jõtaider to attack on her own. Otherwise, she'd be swallowed by the continued assault.
Ouroboros let out a roar as she let her tail and her hair hang. "FINE! I ADMIT IT! I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE HURT, MINAMI! I FIGHT TO PROTECT YOU! NOW JUST SHUT UP AND LET ME FEED ON HIM TOO!" She shouted, breaking into a sprint on all fours, to close the gap before the beams came raining down on her too far.
Just as she was about to be hit straight on by a beam, her body jerked out of the way. "Then if you want to protect me, I'll protect you as well. I can't just borrow your power and fight without giving you something back!" The serpent's host cried out, as she took control and suddenly spun around, dragging her tail across the ground and lighting it all up using her venom. "RAGNAROK!"
The venom exploded and launched her far into the air, zipping her straight past the beams... Right up to the point where the beam was splitting apart. Allowing her to kick that point and send the beam straight back down at the Overlord!
Helheim broke his beam right before it slammed down against him, shielding himself with his wings and laughing as they shattered and reformed a second later. "Good, good! NOW THIS IS THE KIND OF FIGHT I HAD BEEN HOPING FOR! THEN COME, JÕTAIDER! COME, HUMAN! TONIGHT, WE FIGHT FOR EVERYTHING WE DESIRE!"
Ouroboros... No, Minami took a stance, as she finally reached a proper accord with the Prime inside her heart.
It was time to pay her back for protecting her.
---
"What's the matter, Hayahaya? You're starting to look so tired."
N-Eroheim taunted as she spun her scythe, deflecting yet another blast from the boy that had grown so boring. Even if he started to appear a little playful thanks to his trick with the ink, that didn't mean that he had really proven himself to be that worthwhile...
Hayato grit his teeth. It was really hard to break through to her. Even if he used the Inkster medal to sink into the paint and pop out on another side of her, she had become aware of her surroundings. So she could probably just cut into the paint and cut him off. All he could rely on was his own strength.
His... Own strength. The same strength that had failed him before. As he thought about it, the grip on his guns started to falter. He... Could he really beat her with just his own power? She was so much stronger than he was. And not to mention, if he really did manage to beat her, he'd be hurting Ero too, wouldn't he..?
N-Eroheim narrowed her eyes. He was just so boring. He thought way too hard. The way forward, and the way to maximize one's fun... Was to just throw caution to the wind and fight as much as you liked. That was what she had learned from Daddy. If she had to beat it into him before he'd be converted into one of Daddy's minions, then that's just how it was going to be.
"You bore me, Hayahaya." The draconic ganguro said as she spun her scythe once more, dragging it through the paint before slashing and splashing it across her opponent to blind him. "This ends now, blue-baller!" She cried out, taking the chance to rush forward...
Only to get shot straight in the ankle, sending her rolling into the colorful ink below, painting her all sorts of colors. All while Hayato grit his teeth and wiped away the stuff that had gotten onto him.
"I don't care if I'm blue balling you! You're not my Ero! And this time... This time, I'm not going to hesitate!" He shouted, having made up his mind. All while he grasped ahold of his Hopper Medal, which was currently glowing in his hand. "I WILL MAKE YOU LET GO OF ERO, WITH MY OWN POWER!"
As if resonating with his newfound resolution, the medal in his hand shifted. Instead of displaying Lady Hopper's helmet, it now displayed the Kanji for Pride. His personal pride, which he slammed straight back into his Hopper System, causing a burst of power to blow out from his body.
"DESIRE UP!" He shouted, as both of his pistols turned into a pair of chainguns hanging by his hips. "PRIDE!" This was his power. Not Hopper's. Not Ero's. Not anybody else's. HIS. And with his power...
This time, he'd get through to Ero, and make her open her eyes!
---
"PASSION DUST!"
Yuuki shouted as she punched straight ahead, sending a massive burst of powder-like ice towards the minions that stood in her way. All while her flaming PASSION continued to consume her scarf and her hair.
The attack didn't meet the mark, as it was blocked yet again by the two Shades that served as True Hero's defenders. They were a nuisance. A real pain in the neck. Especially as their efforts meant that she still had so far to go before she'd actually break through to Tsubasa.
"You will not succeed with such meager attacks!" True Hero cried out, as she brought her blade far into the sky. "YOU WILL FALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED TRANSGRESSION-"
"PASSION PHANTOM!"
Just as True Hero was about to fire off another sword beam, the ice that was still firing towards her erupted into several punch-shaped beams that went all over the place. While most of them were launched towards random directions because they weren't oriented correctly, one punch was aimed just right..!
The punch launched straight into the masked Agatha's face, causing her to grow limp. All while the mask cracked bit by bit. And a fury started to overwhelm her. A PASSIONate fury..!
"What did you do!? WHAT DID YOU DO!?" True Hero shouted, as she ran towards the icy girl. She wasn't going to take this glory away from her.
At least, that was what she tried. Then she tripped, slamming her bespectacled face straight into the floor in such a humiliating fashion. All while she could hear the sound of a mask shattering...
"THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT FOR, YUUKI!?" Agatha shouted, her mask ripped clean off. Even if she was still clad in the goop that made her look like a Shade, she had regained control. And though she felt shameful for this tight bunny suit pressing against her, it wasn't going to stop her from doing what was right. "WHATEVER, WE'LL DEAL WITH THIS LATER!"
Yuuki grinned. It was a long shot. But the PASSION Phantom was a technique that Genbu had taught her. It essentially let her turn her flaming PASSION into a projectile that could be used as a boost as well. And in this case, it was just enough to break Agatha free.
"You know how to use those powers of yours, Agatha!?" Yuuki shouted, quickly dodging to the side as she barely got singed by a massive flaming beam. "BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO NEED ALL THE POWER WE CAN GET TO BREAK TSUBASA FREE!"
"LIKE HELL I DO!" Agatha shouted, as she stomped into the ground and made several roots suddenly shoot out. It was like she could generate nature, even where there should be none. "I'LL FIGURE IT ALL OUT AS WE GO!" She continued, as she turned her attention towards the icy Shade that had stopped her before...
The masked Kazutora stared towards Agatha, the lips sculpted into the mask seeming ever smug. And despite everything she had done, Agatha wasn't going to let her just get converted. She hated her too much to let her get off easy like that.
Now that she had been freed from her own mask... She was going to free her Mother. And then she was going to tell her exactly how she fucked up, so she'd understand that there was more nuance to the relationship she had broken!
True Hero screamed to the skies as she forced herself back up, flames welling up from within her armor as it consumed her face. Now the flames were her face, as she pointed that blade at Yuuki once more. "YOU WILL BURN FOR DEFYING ME!" For all of her attempts to seem heroic, now she looked just like another villain...
Yuuki grinned, as her PASSION burned even brighter. One down, two to go..!
---
"DIE! DIE DIE DIE DIE!"
True Mimoto was raging. No, she wasn't just raging. She was beyond mad. She wanted to just make all of this come to an end. She wanted to make sure that she was never going to see this horrendous girl again. Not after she had proven that she could come back from the brink and actually learn from her mistakes. Not after she had humiliated her by saving Yumeko!
And yet Kanzei just kept on defending against the attacks that came her way. Using her canes to call upon more barriers. Using her chains to briefly incapacitate the enemy. All while keeping a cool head, and a heart full of hope...
"For somebody that did everything to make this city collapse, you're starting to fall apart yourself!" Kanzei shouted, slamming the butt of her cane against the ground as her Divine Bind became active once again, the chains seeking out True Mimoto to snap around her and bind her to the ground. "How's it feel!? How's it feel to see it all burn up!?"
"YOU DON'T GET TO SAY THAT! YOU'RE THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR HER FALLING THIS FAR!" True Mimoto screamed as she tore the chains to shred the instant they were wrapped around her, as she raised her hand to the air. "DESPAIR DRIVE: ERUPTION!" She screamed, letting her flames burst forth from the palm of her hand. Trying to take down the golden Jõtaider with all of her energy all at once...
Only for that energy to be absorbed into the Jõtaider, her armor cracking with every bit that she managed to absorb. All while exposing Saki's smirk as her helmet shattered enough to reveal half of her face. "I MAY BE! BUT I'VE STARTED TO SEE WHAT IT TRULY MEANS TO BE A HERO! I WAS A FOOL, AND NOW I'M GOING TO PAY HER BACK FOR MY MISTAKE!" She shouted, as she absorbed more and more of that energy. Her hammer resounding loud and proud as she tempered all of that rampaging willpower!
"YOU'RE NO HERO! YOU DON'T GET TO SAY THAT! YOU DON'T! YOU DON'T YOU DON'T YOU DON'T YOU DON'T!" True Mimoto was screaming like a petulant child... And her will reflected that. This wasn't the will of a girl that had lost everything. No, this was the will of a scared child lashing out because she had been rejected...
It didn't give her the right to rampage, however. So as Kanzei shattered the connection between her and True Mimoto, she let her hammer ring out once more as it transformed her blade into the Divine Slayer. Kamikumo would have to do, until the armor around Dark Dragon shattered!
She bet everything on the bonds in that ring. Saeko had to pull through..!
---
"PAAAAAWN!"
Dark Dragon roared as her blade came crashing down on the shield in front of her. She recognized Hiro, though she didn't truly distinguish her from what she had been before. According to Dark Dragon, no matter what Hiro looked like... She was still the PAWN that she had been let down by. The PAWN that she refused to trust, because of her own inadequacies.
KING was unfazed. Though her shield started to crack from the blade being smashed into it, she could still fight. Especially as the Dark Dragon roared again, allowing her a moment to breathe. And at that moment...
The white Jõtaider vanished, only for the sound of the Knight Blaster to click behind Dark Dragon's head. Before she had the chance to react, she was shot. Straight in the back of the head. The shot was strong too, as it served to shatter part of that armor...
But it wasn't enough. The armor soon regenerated, and Dark Dragon got back up on her feet as she roared once more. It seemed like she wasn't going to go down just from damage. As expected. This wasn't a fight where the winning condition was to defeat the enemy. No, they needed to free the girl within. And Hiro's objective...
"Desperado." Hiro muttered as the KING armor resonated, glowing bright green. Compared to the prior system, Desperado was no longer a dangerous move. It increased her parameters for a time before she had to vent out the excess energy.
Dark Dragon roared as she raised her arms into the air, her hands snapping together as a towering blade formed from the draconic heads that were her hands. And then she slammed it straight down onto KING, roaring like a wild animal. An animal that still had a wound in its heart, given the one part of her armor that still hadn't healed.
"Desperado Finger." Hiro met the blade with her crushing hand, slamming the green palm straight up into the blade as she felt the ground underneath her crack. Systems all green. Body still functioning. As long as she could keep her busy...
With her free hand, Hiro slammed her hip and drew another KNIGHT Blaster, letting the barrel spin rapidly as she kept firing at the joints controlling Dark Dragon's hands. All for the sake of knocking her off balance. A single good shot would break the stability of the blade..!
Dark Dragon roared as one bullet slammed into her helmet's eye, and then into the eyes on her gauntlets. They also roared, bringing an end to the blade... And in the process, leaving her open.
In that second, KING dashed forward. With her Desperado Finger still active, she grabbed ahold of Dark Dragon and slammed her head straight into the pavement below, cracking it even further before tossing her into the air and letting her chestplate split open to reveal the BISHOP Buster.
"Desperado Buster."
All of the excess energy running through her turned into a massive blast from her chest, slamming straight into Dark Dragon. It was going to make her even angrier, but it would pile the damage onto her. Her assault would be nowhere near as vicious if she kept this up, because she wouldn't be able to output the same kind of damage...
KING's armor lost its green luster, as she flipped out both of her ROOK Blades. All for the sake of keeping her busy..!
---
Spider kept running through Mikai's darkness, panting. How long had she been running? It was hard to tell. But it didn't seem like they were getting any closer. It seemed like they were just... Just running in circles, really.
"Keep up, otherwise I'll leave you behind!" Chimera cried out, hovering some distance from Spider. Honestly, she wanted to leave her behind. But she respected Yumeko's wishes. So she kept an eye on her. Though it was also because if Spider got lost in there, she'd be spending the rest of her life with her as a headmate. And that... That was just terrifying to think of.
"Easy for you to say, you've got wings!" Spider cried out, before she noticed a light in the distance. "T-There... There! There's Mikai!" They had done it. They had finally made it to her...
The light blew up, forming a stained glass floor depicting Mikai with all of her friends. A floor that seemed to stretch out into infinity, with the darkness turning into a somber sunset as soon as Chimera and Spider properly arrived. And on the other side of this stained mural...
Was Mikai. Sitting down, head on her knees. Sobbing. Still kept captive by her despair. She... She was miserable. Just looking at her was enough to make both Chimera and Spider's hearts ache.
"Mikai! Mikai, it's okay! We're here now!" Chimera shouted, as she ran towards the girl. She wanted to hug her. She wanted to comfort her. She wanted to make her smile once again!
"Chimera! Watch out!"
Before she had the chance to get too close, Spider launched her string out and grabbed the oversized predator by the wings, preventing her from reaching her. And she wasn't a moment too soon, because the sobbing girl slowly stood up after that, her body getting coated in a dark kind of armor. But this wasn't Dark Dragon...
It was Lunatic Liger. Kimiko's... Armor..!
"I don't know how you two got in here, but I'm sick of it! I'M SICK OF PEOPLE GETTING IN MY WAY! WHETHER IT'S YOU, WHETHER IT'S YUMEKO, WHETHER IT'S SAKI, WHETHER IT'S ANYBODY!" Kimiko screamed, currently controlling Mikai's body through her armor. "I'M NOT GOING TO LET ANY OF YOU LIVE! I'LL DESTROY THIS DAMN WORLD IF IT MEANS MAMA'LL FINALLY LOOK AT ME!" Her rage resonated with the version still outside, as the flames of her despair roared louder and louder.
Chimera grit her teeth as she landed by Spider, She knew better than to go straight at the enemy. Especially now that she had her sanity. "Spider. That needle. That can break through to Mikai, just like it broke through to me. Right?"
"I'd think." Spider said, before looking at the needle. It had cracked severely... It seemed as if the Jötai that served as its base was about to break completely. Which meant... They had one shot. All they had to do was land a direct hit-
"NO! NO MORE OF THAT!"
The needle suddenly shattered as Kimiko roared. All because of her emotions seeping into it as well. It left Chimera and Spider in a tough spot. If they couldn't use the needle, then...
Spider looked at the powder that once was the needle, currently resting on the palm of her hands. She... What was she supposed to do now?! She had screwed up at the last moment, just when it mattered most. Just like when she turned Mikai in the first place! What in the world could she do?!
"THIS ENDS NOW!" Kimiko screamed as she leapt into the air, flames consuming her completely as her form was less like Mikai covered in armor, and more like a massive flame of hate reaching across the sunset. "DESPAIR DRIVE!" The flame consumed the beautiful sunset, turning it into the same shattered sky that led to the Darkness. "DESPAIR!" And those shards snapped onto her flaming figure, shaping two wings made of glass as she flew straight down towards the girls that she saw as threats...
And she hit. Straight in the stomach, she hit Chimera. Her foot trying to reach further and kick through Spider as well. But Chimera held on. Grasping that leg that was sticking through her...
"Chimera!" Spider cried out, tears running down her cheeks. She couldn't believe it. She was going to hurt Mikai even more, just because of her failure...
Blood ran down Chimera. But she stood tall. And with her wings spread far, she held back the kick that would annihilate them both. Even though it hurt. Because she knew Mikai was in there.
"SPIDER... No... SAEKO!" Chimera roared, as golden sparks started to pour from her body. "OUR FEELINGS... THE FEELINGS WE ALL HAVE IN OUR HEARTS, THE ONES THAT MIKAI NEED TO HEAR... THEY DON'T DEPEND ON THAT NEEDLE! SHE JUST NEEDS TO HEAR IT ALL! SHE JUST NEEDS TO OPEN HER EARS AND LISTEN FOR ONCE!"
It was true. The needle was just a conduit. So... If she could just hear them, then...
Saeko grabbed her hat and tossed it to the sky, causing it to shine bright. "EVERYONE! PLEASE! LET HER HEAR! LET HER HEAR YOUR FEELINGS! IT'S THE ONLY WAY!" She knew that it could backfire. But she had to put her trust in all the others.
Mikai needed to hear them. And with the Jõtai energy in her hat, her desire to make everyone heard would be granted!
---
A pulse resonated through Mimoto. And those that have already reached out to her started to reach into the air. As a golden glow started to fill the air above...
"This light..." Cepha muttered, stopping her assault on D'Or for just a moment. "It's... Such a kind light..." She said, a soft smile on her cheeks. It reminded her of when Luna was still with her...
D'Or had tossed aside her fur coat a long time ago. Her hat still remained on, and her body had only seen a few scrapes. But no matter how much she ripped the eldritch abomination apart, no matter how many tentacles wriggled around... She just regenerated further and further.
The light that washed over her, the light that blanketed the sky... It was one that brought her to smile as well. "It's the Light of Love. And it doesn't belong to you. You're going to disappear, before you get the chance to feast upon that light." D'Or said, as she began glowing even more golden than before.
Cepha ignored her, her tentacles starting to stretch into the sky. With this light, she could make Luna come back. She just needed it in her hands..!
But she wouldn't get that far. Not before she felt a heel jamming against her throat, and her body grounded and bound by several golden rings. Courtesy of the Golden Freedom leader on top of her, currently reaching her hands into the sky as well.
"Mikai..." D'Or said, her smile growing. "Even if I deceived you, I still want to see you! Open your eyes, Mikai!"
Golden light left her hands, as she added her hope to the golden desire above...
---
"IMPOSSIBLE... IMPOSSIBLE! THERE'S NO WAY THAT YOU TWO COULD BEAT A HERO!"
True Hero's armor had started to shatter. Her blade was flickering. Her armor was cracking. And despite her attempts to slash straight ahead and send another beam at Yuuki, it just wasn't enough. Murakumo was weakened, and so was she...
Yuuki grasped her scarf and tossed it to the air, letting it burn up from the heat of her PASSION. "I CAN, AND I WILL! NOW OPEN YOUR EYES AND FACE REALITY, TSUBASA!" She cried out, letting those PASSIONATE flames cover her arms as she clasped her hands together and pointed them in front of her. Her arms were like a cannon, and her PASSION was the ammo!
"PASSION EXECUTION!" And with her arms acting like a guide, the PASSION shot forth. A massive beam, pouring straight from her body. The flames trapped within her ice, finally freed and used for good!
True Hero tried to slash through the beam of PASSION with her Murakumo... But all that happened was Murakumo being knocked from her hands, and the beam slamming straight through her. She could feel the PASSION. She could feel... Yuuki... senpai...
The PASSION burned away the corruption that had claimed Tsubasa, leading the boy to collapse onto his knees as the feminized features washed away. Returning him to normal, albeit now clad in a rather delicate looking armor bikini once the full armor had been shattered. All he could do was blink as his mind was in a haze. "What... What's... Yuuki... Senpai..?" He was utterly confused. And rather hot too, given the thick blush on his cheeks.
Yuuki grinned as she came over, grasping his hand and helping him onto his feet. "Don't worry about it. We'll deal with it later. But trust me, you're going be beyond embarrassed." She said, idly jabbing his chest to emphasize what he was wearing. "Oi! Kouhai! How're you holding up?"
Murakumo slowly got up, before the darkness that had converted her washed from her body as well. She weakly gave a thumb up, before then collapsing. It seemed as if she couldn't handle that much PASSION... or maybe it was because she had been wielded so aggressively by Tsubasa, given the hearts that were in her spiraling eyes.
As for Agatha...
"OPEN YOUR EYES ALREADY, YOU IDIOT!"
Well, to say that she overpowered her Mother would be an understatement. Using her own power, not the magical powers that had allowed Yuuki to turn the tables and get the chance to burn Tsubasa free using her PASSION, she slammed her fist straight into the mask that covered Kazutora's face...
And it shattered. Kazutora didn't get sent flying, because Agatha had managed to control her strength just enough to only shatter the mask. And with her sanity and control restored, the Oyabun couldn't help but smile a little. "Well well. Like Mother like Daughter." Kazutora muttered, collapsing onto her knees. "To think you'd save me, just as she had done so long ago."
"I didn't do it for you." Agatha muttered, turning away from her horrid Mother. "I did it because it's what a Hero would do." She declared, as she walked over towards Yuuki and Tsubasa. Leaving her Mother behind once again, satisfied with her actions.
Kazutora watched and sighed, crossing her legs as she watched her daughter depart. She had grown strong without her. Just as she expected she would. "If only you could see her now, Minerva." She muttered... Right before the strain of being transformed into a Shade consumed her, and she closed her eyes. Passing out, unable to continue on...
"Y'know, I expected you to use those powers more." Yuuki chuckled as Agatha came over, a little blush on her face. "You might wanna change out of that outfit too. Isn't it a bit too tight?"
"It is, but I had to punch my Mother's lights out. We'll deal with the costume later!" Agatha shouted, prompting Yuuki to laugh further. Then she turned her attention to Tsubasa. "We sure screwed up, didn't we." She muttered, acknowledging her failure.
"We did." Tsubasa had to admit as well, the haze over his mind clearing. "But... We can still help. I know we can. I can see it outside..."
Indeed, the three turned to watch the light outside. The golden light that beckoned for them to help. To cry out and raise their hands to the sky, so Mikai could hear them.
"Mikai! You better open your eyes! You're my hero, alright!? GET UP!" Agatha screamed, the golden glow leaving the palm of her hand.
"Mikai! You're inspiring! You're... I want to play games with you again, and show you what I've made! Please, Mikai!" Tsubasa cried as well, his hand taking on the same glow.
"Mikai! Let this PASSION reach you, so yours can roar as well!" Yuuki shouted, her flames pouring from the palm of her hand alongside the golden glow.
The Light of Love would grow even stronger, blanketing the sky ever more...
---
"This light..."
Luna muttered as she looked to the sky above, while her blade was locked between HopperShadow's. The light was... Warm. Warmer than anything she had ever felt before. And yet she knew who it was meant for...
"It's a light meant for the girl you once saved." HopperShadow said, as she suddenly split in three. Two to hold the blades that were locked against Luna's own, and one to raise her hand into the air. "And the Light that will bring this invasion to an end."
Luna swung her blade, shattering the two clones that were nowhere near as strong as the genuine article that had been fighting her for so long. All while she felt the pain in her heart growing stronger. "So... This light will make Mama disappear?" She muttered, gazing up towards it...
And as her helmet vanished, her eyes widened. Why was she holding up a hand as well..? She couldn't understand. Even if she tried to pull it down, it wouldn't budge...
HopperShadow smiled. No words were necessary. All she had to do now was hope in the light that those kids had lit.
That girl would wake up soon. And then... Everything would be alright...
---
Ouroboros was on her knees. And yet she wasn't dissatisfied. Because across from her was her prey. The one that she had fought so hard against... "What's the matter, Overlord..? I thought you were made of sterner stuff..."
"Heh. It doesn't matter if I end up breaking a little. What matters is that I keep coming back, so I can keep hounding you for another great fight." Helheim said, currently missing one of his arms, both of his legs and his wings. He had gotten what he wanted. A great fight that satisfied the hunger within him. "And what about you, Ouroboros? Are you satisfied?"
"No." Ouroboros said, growling like the serpentine tsundere it was. "I didn't get to consume you. Of course I'm not satisfied." It said. Though it trailed off and muttered just a mere moment later. "At least Minami's safe..."
Minami herself panted as she took off her helmet, all of her body aching. Using Ouroboros' power took a really great toll on her. So all she could do was look to the sky, covered in that golden glow. "That's..."
"Ahaha... I've seen this before!" Helheim laughed, as he raised his hand to the sky. "The beacon of hope that would save a world. It saved a world from Lumiel once before... This was why he wanted me all the way out here!" He said, as an energy started to charge at the tip of his fingers. "And now..!"
Minami's eyes widened in shock... Only for her to gasp a second later, as that energy turned golden and glittery. Almost like a Jõtai's.... "What are you..."
"Undermining him. And undermining Lady Cepha as well, for that matter." Helheim said, laughing from the depths of his heart. "He's been plotting too much lately, and I want to teach him a lesson. As for her... She took too much from me, back when we were still enemies. And I don't want her to take away the greatest challenges I've ever faced. Now come, Jõtaider! Raise your hand to the sky, and light the beacon with your hopes!"
The white-haired girl watched, and ultimately ended up laughing before she raised her hand to the air as well. This Overlord was a character alright. "Mikai... Maybe when this is all over, we can talk about why we fight? Pierce through that darkness that's keeping you down, so we can see eye to eye again!"
The Prime and the artificial Prime both aided the Light of Love above, as it continued to grow brighter and brighter...
---
"Really? You made it sound so serious, and you still haven't taken me out? Come on, Hayahaya!"
Hayato grit his teeth. His body was covered in slashes. Even though he had been pumping out all of his energy in massive bursts to try and nail N-Eroheim down, he still hadn't knocked her off. She was still controlling Ero. There was very little that he could still do.
"What do I do... What do I do..?" Hayato muttered... "I don't want to lose Ero to her. I don't want to lose anybody again. I don't!" He shouted, as he grasped hold of his pistols again. The energy that they had used to transform into chainguns had been expended. But he still had more fuel in the tank. He could still fight!
N-Eroheim rolled her eyes as she stepped closer. The shots that he fired just plinked off her armor. "You're boring, Hayahaya! You're so boring! I'm going to finish you off now, and then I'm going to tell Daddy that we should just glass this whole world!" She shouted, as she raised her scythe into the air...
Only for her body to lock up.
"What did you say, Hayato?"
Ero's voice echoed out. Making both N-Eroheim and Hayato's eyes widen in shock. The former thought that she had locked her away by merging with her like this. And Hayato... Hayato thought that he couldn't get through to her.
"Ero! I-" Hayato could feel the tears running down his cheeks. But he knew that he didn't have enough time. So instead, he slammed his Pride medal into his Hopper System once again, letting out a howl as his body started to release every little last speck of power still within him.
"RELEASE MY DESIRE - HAYATO!" Hayato shouted, instead of Ero's voice echoing from the Hopper System. All while several firearms spouted from his limbs. Guns, railguns, miniguns, so many kinds of firearms that each stuck out from him as each started to wind up. All while he aimed both of his guns straight at N-Eroheim...
"MY DESIRE! IS TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN, ERO! I WOULDN'T GO A DAY WITHOUT YOUR TEASING OR WITHOUT YOUR PERVERTED SENSIBILITIES!" Hayato shouted, right before clutching the trigger. "PRIDE! FULL BURST!"
Her body locked up by Ero reawakening within her made it impossible for N-Eroheim to endure the firepower unleashed on her. No matter how tough she was, there was simply too much. All of her defenses were shot to bits, and the parts of her body that had snapped onto Ero were forced off her. One by one, snapping back together into the form of that draconic girl..!
"LET'S BECOME ONE AGAIN, ERO!" Hayato shouted as soon as he saw all of Neoheim being forced off his partner, as every single one of his firearms locked up in response to his changing desire. He raised his hand to the air, and let the Hopper System shine bright.
"Let's!"
In that instant, Ero's body separated. That ganguro girl turning into more armor that quickly flew towards the longcoat-wearing boy, the sound of Ero moaning echoing through his ears. Normally, he would've been bothered by the inherent eroticism of their combination. But right now, the moans were music to his ears...
And by the time Neoheim was able to move once again, her AI having synched back up with her reunified body, all she could see was Hayato clad in deep tanned armor that made him look like... A mess and a half. Docking with Ero like this made it look like he was wearing a Ganguro as armor, and yet... She knew just from looking at them that she had lost.
"Mmmph... God, it feels so good to breathe again." Ero chimed, her voice echoing through Hayato's ears. "Honestly, she's so wrong. You're so much fun, Hayahaya. Especially when you boil over." She was so cheerful. And so quick to ruin the mood, considering how she had just been freed.
"Fun's subjective." Hayato snarked, before grinning slightly. "Happy to have you back, Ero." The gratitude, despite his prior mood, was genuine. Especially as he smiled at the girl currently attached to him.
"Happy to be back. Now let's cancel this paint dimension, we've got a girl to save, don't we?" Ero chimed, as a golden pulse poured from her body. "Conceal Your Desire!"
In an instant, the colorful world around them vanished. Replaced by the city currently in chaos, blanketed by the golden light above. And though she could run, Neoheim just stood there. Watching the two that had been reunited...
"What's the matter?" Ero giggled as she detached from her partner, reforming into the Ganguro that everyone knew and loved. "Jealous?" She chimed, blowing a single kiss towards the draconic girl. Making sure that she could see her winking just the same.
Neoheim fumed slightly, before simply spreading her wings and taking off. It was not worth it. It was not... It was not worth looking at those two. they frustrated her... Frustrated her lots!
Hayato sighed deeply as he looked up to the light above. This was... The one good thing that Jõtai were meant for. The guiding light that Lady Hopper had told her about. So he raised his hand to the sky, Ero doing the same.
"Mikai. I want to start over. I'm sorry for what I've done! I want to see the girl from back then! Please, I promised to save you!" He cried out, as his hand was consumed by gold...
Ero's was as well, as she simply giggled and winked. "Mikaaaai! We were starting to be real good besties! So let's try again, alright?" She was a lot less serious about it... But it was just the kind of girl that she was.
And with the Killers' hopes adding to the light, it had nearly stretched out across the sky completely...
---
"STOP! STOP TRYING TO STOP ME!"
True Mimoto was howling to the skies above as the divine chains that Kanzei called upon bound her once again, the golden Jõtaider gasping and panting as she sucked in more and more of her will. All while the darkness spread across her.
She could feel all the rage. She could feel all the sorrow. The isolation. The abuse. If this was what the girl went through, then there was no wonder that she was going to go this far. And yet it still excused none of it. She would temper these, until she could get through to her..!
"YOU NEED TO BE STOPPED! NOT JUST FOR HER SAKE, BUT FOR YOURS AS WELL!" Kanzei shouted as more and more of the armor that made up True Mimoto's form was turned into darkness that she sucked in. She could take it. She could take it..!
Kimiko's eyes were revealed underneath the armor, both turning bright yellow and filled with rage as she heard that. "MINE?! MY SAKE!? SHUT UP! SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!" The furious Luna cried out as she shattered the chains before vanishing in an instant. "I'LL KILL YOU!"
Kanzei tried to prepare herself, only to feel a single tinge of pain shoot through her. The darkness... She had taken in too much of it. It was on the verge of consuming her. And that moment of hesitation, that moment of weakness brought on by the pain. It was all that Kimiko needed..!
The sound of her armor shattering, and the sound of flesh being pierced straight through echoed out. She could feel the warmth of her body leave her. All while she stared straight into the raging eyes of the girl that had used her...
"DIE! DIE! DISAPPEAR! YOU'RE ALL RUINING EVERYTHING!" Kimiko shouted as she forced that hand deeper through the chest of the golden Jõtaider. She was going to win. She was going to end it all. End it, so Mama would have no choice but to look at her..!
But as she tried to squeeze her hand shut around the heart now in her hand, the divine chains that Kanzei called upon once again shot out. This time binding them together, as the Jötaider grabbed ahold of the arm inside her.
"WHAT!? LET GO OF ME! LET GO!" Kimiko screamed as she tried to rip herself free. But the chains were even stronger than before. How?! HOW!?
Saki grit her teeth as her helmet faded away, one hand tightly grasping the arm inside her. "I'm not letting you get away..!" She said, as she gazed to the sky above and held her hand high. "Mikai! Open your eyes! I'm sorry for what I've done! I shouldn't have been so selfish!"
Kimiko's eyes widened in sheer horror as she tried to force her arm out of the worthless girl in front of her. But her grip remained tight. "DAMNIT! LET GO OF ME! STOP! YOU CAN'T DO THIS! STOP! STOOOOP!"
The girl's rampaging emotions howled helplessly, as the golden Jõtaider's hopes were added to the light...
---
"Hiro, I advise to cease your assault."
Huanglong's voice echoed through her ears, and KING stared straight ahead at the violent Jõtaider that she had been trying to subdue. Why would he encourage her to stop fighting? If she did, wouldn't...
Her eyes started to widen, as Dark Dragon had ceased to move. She was certainly trying, but it was like her muscles had seized up. And the hole that Saeko and Yumeko had made... It was shining bright gold. Drawing the light from the skies closer to it... Drawing it deeper, yet deeper...
"...That light..." KING said as she gazed to the skies above. It was a light that filled her with warmth. Warmth that was currently absent from her body. "...Huanglong, is that..."
"Based on what Hopper sent me, it's our final resort. The entire city's will, manifested into a brilliant light. She called it a Light of Love." Huanglong explained, his tone turning dire for a second. "I'm... Not sure if you can still experience that emotion, after what Qilin did."
"I can." The white-armored Jõtaider said, as she reached her hand to the sky as well. She could feel that warmth. "Just barely. But I still feel it. I feel everyone's love for Mikai..." She muttered, her eyes shining behind the visor that was part of her helmet. If everyone was doing their part, then...
Her armor started to glow bright green, before that green took on a golden glow instead, all of her will surging into her hand. She had to aid as well. "MIKAI! COME BACK TO US!" With this surge of emotion, bursting forth from her heart, she added whatever light she still could harness.
For the sake of giving the girl the chance she deserved..!
---
One by one. The lights had been added to the Light of Love. And one by one, each of them resonated with the golden glow deep inside of the armored girl. The glow grew brighter and brighter, until it swallowed up the broken sky above Saeko and Chimera..!
"WHAT?! WHAT IS THIS?! HOW CAN THEY REACH HER!? IT SHOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE!" Kimiko screamed, as she tried to force her leg through the injured Predator. "STOP! STOP IT! STOP IT NOW!"
Saeko took a deep breath. Everyone had responded to her call. Now she had to try as well. "Saki can do it... Mikai can do it... So why... Why shouldn't I be able to?" She muttered. "Chimera, blow her back, now!"
"ANCIENT APEX METEOR!" Chimera howled as she used those massive wings of hers to blow Kimiko out of her. Though she was currently saddled with a hole in her body to compensate, she was able to blow her further and further back, pelting her with her feathers. Even though she was forced onto her knees, her attack fading soon after. "MAKE IT COUNT, SAEKO!"
"STOOOP IIIIIIIT!" Kimiko screamed as she tried to charge back towards the duet. She couldn't let this happen.
But the golden glow burst open and wrapped around Saeko, synchronizing with her... Synchronizing with Mikai..!
"SYNCHRONIZE! MIKAI!"
The golden glow swallowed Saeko whole in an instant, as the collective hopes of everyone Mikai had ever touched allowed her to reforge the connection that she had broken. And through that connection, a familiar form was brought forth. Not General Spider. No, this form was burning red, burning bright in response to all the hopes she shouldered.
Saeko had become Mimoto. Not the fake that claimed to be the real deal. She had donned Mikai's Flame Lion..!
She gazed upon her hands, as she felt the warmth pour through her. Yes... She could do it. She'd carry everyone's hopes. She'd reach through. And she'd tell her how she really felt. "Thanks, Chimera."
"Enough about me, get her out of there..." Chimera muttered, as she collapsed on the ground and faded away. Leaving only one obstacle in the path of their victory. One cruel girl that had manipulated them all..!
"You... You can't be serious! YOU DON'T DESERVE TO USE THAT FORM! THAT'S HERS! THAT'S MINE! GIVE IT BACK!" Kimiko screamed as her flames intensified. "DESPAIR DRIVE! FLAME!"
As she cried out for her finishing move, Mimoto had already jumped into the air. And with the golden glow forming a bright red scarf, symbolizing the bonds of everyone Mikai had met and befriended, she let the flames consume her as well. Crying out with pride!
"KING'S FLAME!"
Both Mimoto clashed against one another. The King's Flame against the Despair Drive. Mikai's bonds, against her abandoned feelings. And even now, her abandoned feelings were strong. Saeko could feel her armor trying to tear itself apart. Those bonds were fragile. And yet she didn't give up.
"MIKAI! I LOVE YOU! I WANT TO BE WITH YOU!"
Just as Yuuki had told her. Saeko let her feelings be known. And with those feelings, the flames of her passion, the flames of everyone's feelings... They all burst into an intense inferno, one in the shape of Mikai herself..!
Kimiko could only scream as her body shattered. The armor that she was, bursting into nothing more than shadowed specks that were completely and utterly swallowed by the flames that had kicked into her. And just as quickly as they were swallowed, the flames were extinguished. Because they were not meant to harm the girl that was stuck inside...
Mikai opened her eyes for the first time in a long while, and the first thing she saw was Saeko. "S...S...Saeko..?" She muttered, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Why... Why are you..?"
Saeko didn't answer. She just hugged the girl. She hugged her as tight as she possibly could. Squeezing her, as she started to audibly sob. "I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry. I didn't realize it, Mikai. I really, really didn't realize a thing... I'm so sorry..!"
As she held her close, the golden glow that she had bonded with to synchronize with Mikai slowly sank into Mikai. And in an instant, she felt the warmth of everyone fill her. She felt their true feelings, the ones that she had shut herself away from.
The tears rolling down MIkai's cheeks grew even stronger, as she started sobbing as well. "I... I'm... Everyone..." Slowly but surely, a smile worked its way onto her cheeks. "Saeko... You did all of this... For me..?" She couldn't believe it. Everyone had done their best to try and get through to her. She had been such a fool for thinking they hated her or wanted to betray her..!
"Anybody would. Hiro would. Saki would. Tsubasa, Agatha, Yuuki, especially Yumeko! All of us would, and all of us did." Saeko said, as she pulled back with tears streaming down her face. "Mikai. We all love you. So please. Please smile. And please don't run away anymore..." She couldn't help but grow quiet as she spoke. Because the thought of losing her again... It was too much to bear.
Mikai smiled. And she gave Saeko a kiss on the lips, before slowly letting go of her. "I'll never leave you again. Not you, not anybody..!"
With her declaration, the world inside of her turned into a clear blue sky. The darkness that had been lingering within her for so long... It was finally gone. And now...
She reached into the sky. To reach that light that hung up above..!
---
Dark Dragon trembled. Dark Dragon twitched. The light in her chest was growing brighter and brighter, lighting the path forward...
And right then, the girls that had forced themselves inside were launched out, KING acting quickly to catch both Saeko and Yumeko. Had they done it? "Is she..."
Yumeko nodded, and Saeko sighed in relief as the tears kept rolling down her cheeks. They had done it. Now all they could do was watch...
Dark Dragon looked to the skies above. And she reached upward, as her armor started to crack. The light immediately responded to her call, shooting from the sky, straight down onto her..!
"No! NO! STOP! STOP IT!"
Kimiko's inert cries went ignored as the light slammed straight onto Dark Dragon, consuming the Jõtaider in an instant. And once the light faded, the girl was gone. She had... She had vanished?
The darkened emotions tried to catch sight of her former self, only to notice a golden glow right before it was too late. And then the kick hit her, launching her away. Launching her in such a manner that the damage she had done to Saki was mostly undone, barring the bleeding...
There she stood. Mikai Fushimi. Jõtaider Mimoto. The girl who had fought to protect this city, brought back by the hopes of all the hearts she had touched..!
Saki gazed upon the girl in front of her. And for once, she finally felt happy to see her. "Mikai... I..." She muttered, coughing as she still had a hole through her. Even if her heart was back in the right place.
Mikai turned around and smiled, as she put her hand on Saki's chest. A light left her hand, and in an instant, the hole was healed. Leaving behind nothing but a kind and loving warmth. "I heard, Saki-senpai. Thanks for everything." She said, not even holding a single inch of a grudge. With her healed, she could focus on the problem in front of her, that still hadn't been dealt with.
"No... No no no no no! NO!" Kimiko screamed. "YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE STUCK WALLOWING IN DESPAIR! IT'S NOT FAIR! IT'S NOT FAIR AT ALL!" The detached and rampaging emotions screamed, as her armor shattered and revealed her true form. The Luna that she was at heart, tentacles sprouting from her arms and her skirt as she assumed a form not unlike her Mama's. "IT'S NOT FAIR!"
"It's not! I agree!"
Kimiko paused, shock on her face. What..?
The girl she had tormented stepped forward, holding a single light in her hand. The light that served as her power... And then she held another hand out, the darkness that was her despair. Despair that quickly started to swallow her whole, returning her to Dark Dragon. And yet there was no malice. There was just acceptance. "This... This is you, isn't it, Kimiko?"
"No... No! It's not me! It's you! SHUT UP! STOP TALKING!" Kimiko screamed. She would use her plan against her?! SHE WOULD DARE IMPLY THAT SHE WAS LIKE HER, WHEN SHE WAS THE ONE THAT HAD STOLEN HER LIFE AWAY FROM HER!?
Mimoto used that light, holding it to the sky. "Chimera! I'm sorry for ignoring you, but I need you now!" She cried out, hoping that the predator inside her would respond to her light...
And she did, as that light was swept from her hand, manifesting in the form of an oversized silhouette behind her. Chimera making her presence known in the real world, as she roared loud and proud. Even though she had been wounded, she would always be there when Mikai needed her.
"TOGETHER, MIKAI!" Her voice echoed through Mikai's mind. She was happy to be back. And more than happy to help her!
"TOGETHER!" Mimoto shouted in turn, as she posed as she had always done. To reach a power never seen before!
"DAI HENSHIN!"
Chimera's silhouette clamped down on her, as the external parts of Dark Dragon were consumed by the light. Leaving her in nothing but an undersuit. Not that it would last for long, as she roared from within the silhouetted cocoon that Chimera formed on top of her.
She spread her right arm out, and the armor from Blast Eagle snapped onto it, wing attached to her forearm. She thrust her left arm out, and the flames of Flame Lion took shape on that arm. She stomped into the ground with her left leg, and the power cracked forth to allow Earth Ursa to manifest on her leg. And with a single kick, the icy power of Frost Wolf covered her right leg. With both sides of her hips and her shoulders adorned with the masks of each of her other forms.
The light of her own power burst forth from her torso, letting the white armor stretch across her black undersuit. And as she got to her chest, a line pointed in the direction of each of her four limbs. Each colored according to the power within. With pink gathering up the middle, replacing the dark hues of the dragon that had once consumed her, as each of her four main forms were represented as horns sprouting from the dragon chestplate.
From her back, a single pegasus wing sprouted, the same colors as Light Unicorn. And on the same side, Dark Dragon's wing burst forth as well, showing that she did not abandon her Despair just because she had accepted it. Her helmet snapped together, now serving as a mixture between her Flame Lion and Light Unicorn forms to represent the bond with the one inside her...
And finally, a bright red scarf burst forth from her neck, wrapping around her as it stretched far and wide. The scarf of a hero, like the one that had saved her in the past..!
"MIMOTO CHIMERA!" Mikai's voice boomed as the energy of her transformation was off the charts. She was so much stronger than before. Was this something she always could've done, or was this all achieved thanks to the realization of her bonds..!?
Kimiko shrieked as she went on the offensive. Dashing towards the girl in front of her, hoping to beat her down with her tentacles and drill them through her. So she could get the last laugh! SO SHE COULD WIN!
"King's Thrust!" Mikai cried out, her left arm lighting up with flame. "And! Apex Meteor!" She cried out in turn, as the wing on her right arm spread far and wide. "Strike through!"
One moment, she was there. And the next, Kimiko couldn't see anything except flaming feathers bursting at her like a storm of meteors. She tried to block them, but her guard was shattered seconds later, as the impact of the King's Thrust slammed straight through her.
The screams of pain brought on by that assault were well warranted, though Kimiko wasn't done. "No! NO! YOU WON'T GET RID OF ME THAT EASILY!" She screamed, as she tried to whip around. But at that point, it was already too late. She could feel the chill around her, and hear the cracks underneath her.
"Alpha Edge." Mikai's chilling voice echoed through Kimiko's ears, as she wrapped her arms around her waist. "And! Major! IMPACT!" She screamed, bending over in an instant and slamming the tentacular mess of emotions straight into the shattered ground below. Cratering her and preventing her from making an escape...
"NO! NO NO NO NO! NOOOOO! IT'S NOT FAIR! NO! NOOOOOO!" Kimiko's body was beyond damaged. And the more damaged she became, the more her body barely held itself together, as her screams became more and more distorted. "I'LL BE WITH YOU! ALWAYS! YOU CAN'T JUST MAKE ME DISAPPEAR!" She screamed, as she tried to reach out towards the girl...
"I don't plan on making you disappear."
Kimiko's vaguely defined eyes widened yet again in shock. Despite everything, she... She was showing her... mercy..?
Mikai let her helmet fade away, smiling as she drew the Unicorn Blade from her belt buckle. "This is a new beginning for you and I, Kimiko." She said, light consuming her blade as she raised it to the sky. The golden light, or rather what remained of it, sinking into the blade... "Unicorn Beginning."
Her rampaging emotions was brought to silence, as all she could do was stare towards that golden glow. It was... Warm...
Then the blade came crashing down towards her. But it didn't meet its mark. No. It was stopped short at the last second. By yet another blade. A dark blade that Mikai grimaced upon seeing.
"Are you hurt, Young One..?"
Just in the nick of time, Luna had arrived. The corrupted form of Tsukiko... Saving Mikai yet again. Even if that Mikai was the emotions that now served as her 'sister'. Just seeing her like this was enough to make Mikai smile in a sad way. In some other world, this could've been her, couldn't it..?
Kimiko remained quiet. Beyond stunned at what happened. All while Luna tried and failed to push back the blade in front of her. She... She wouldn't let the Young One get hurt..!
"Go."
Luna's eyes widened as Mikai made her blade disappear. She was winning. And yet... She didn't kill either of them. She just stopped, with a smile on her face. A somber smile that made her heart hurt. Why... Why did it...
"Come on. Go. I'm sure she'll be leaving soon too." Mikai said, looking up to the sky above. It had started to clear up. The shattered sky mending itself back together. "Come on. You're her hero, aren't you? Shouldn't you be saving her?" It hurt to tell her that. When she was the one that had saved her so long ago.
"...Don't think I'll let you off the hook for this." Luna muttered, as the darkness started to swallow both her and Kimiko whole. Even as her heart hurt just from saying that. She didn't understand. Not for a second...
Slowly but surely, the winter weather returned. Snow slowly drifting down to the ground. This cursed Christmas had come to a close. And the late present that Mimoto received... Was the return of the girl they all held near and dear to their hearts.
Mikai smiled. It was good to be back...
---
"I'll be damned. She actually came back."
Atlas' voice echoed through D'Or's ears, as she watched the hole in the sky slowly repair itself. Partly thanks to the Saints being able to put it back together with their powers, and partly thanks to the Light of Love.
"Are you saying you didn't believe in her, runt?" D'Or mused, quietly walking over to her fur coat so she could put it back on. All while her Jõtai rings vanished, to be called upon at a moment's notice.
"Of course I believed in her, hag." Atlas scoffed. "I just didn't expect her to come back and show off like that. Seriously, is there a script for these kinds of events?" He muttered. While conveniently ignoring the shows that had similar events happen that he had been a part of publishing...
D'Or just chuckled. "Our partnership is at an end, Atlas Grimwald. When New Years rolls around, we will be against you once again. Until then, enjoy the break." She said, offering true respect. Because despite his prior actions, he had done what he needed to. Otherwise, the world would've met its end.
"I will. And you enjoy it as well, Charlotta D'Or." He said, putting a bit of respect into his voice. She upheld her end of the bargain. As much of a pain as she was, he had to offer her that kind of respect. Then, his voice finally vanished, as his powers no longer held any sway over her.
All D'Or could do now was look to the sky above, and wonder. Was that creature truly fighting as hard as she could, or had her need for her daughter overwhelmed her..?
Whichever the case was, it was clear that they weren't truly free from the Darkness' influence. But for now... They could know peace...
---
"Well then, Lumiel! It seems as if your plan went belly up!"
Helheim, already having fully repaired himself thanks to his advanced nanomachines, laughed as the Magician appeared beside him, the latter fuming beyond belief. And why wouldn't he? Everything had almost gone right. Almost.
"You live and learn." Lumiel said, though his expression betrayed the calm acceptance he tried to wear. "It's not like it's the only plan I have cooking. As much as I expected Lady Cepha to perform her role, it seems like she's growing rather... troubling, over these last few years. Truly a tiring ordeal..."
"Yeah, yeah, just keep making excuses." Helheim said, stretching a little. "We'll be back at it again soon. But let's give these heroes the chance to rest. They've earned it." He said, being a good sport about it."
All Lumiel could do in response was huff, as he disappeared back into the reaches of Darkness. It was no use talking to an idiot like him.
Helheim crossed his arms, before noticing Neoheim approaching out of the corner of his eye. "Ah, Neoheim. Good, you're back. And yet I see that you've undocked with the girl. You lost?"
"I did." Neoheim muttered. All while blushing. As she had flown here, she had let the feelings inside her slowly cook. And now... She wasn't sure what to think. "...Father. Can we... Can we fight them again?" For now, she chalked it up to a desire to want to fight them again. Even if she had a faint grasp of what it might actually be.
"Hah! Of course, my dear! Of course! Let your growing love fill you and satiate your lust for battle!" Helheim knew exactly what she was dealing with. Ah, to be young!
Neoheim was swallowed by her blush, as her Father saw through it. L-Love..? Love, of all things?
For Hayato..!?
---
Little by little, the ones that were close to Mikai came to see her. And not many words were shared, as all of them still needed to recover after everything was said and done.
The first to leave was Saki. Though she had been healed, she had come to an obvious conclusion. That Mikai was still a Hero. And she had earned the right to protect the city.
"We'll see each other again, Mikai." She had said. "But while we will fight on opposite sides, I no longer see you as a mistake. You are who you are. A Hero. And I'm happy to be your Senpai, even if we had to come to blows."
She left. To join Golden Freedom once again. Because she resonated with their cause. Even if it was too much, she thought that it would ultimately protect them all...
Hayato stopped by next. And though she smiled at his arrival, he didn't wish to stay long. All he wanted to do before leaving was hand over the medals that they had taken. Because they didn't belong to him.
"...Even if Lady Hopper wants to eliminate both Jõtai and Monsters, somebody has to keep an eye on her. I'll try and find a way to neutralize the former. Without hurting the latter. And... If you see Yuuki... Tell her to stop calling me at one in the morning. I'm going to be better from now on."
Their meeting as childhood friends would have to wait. He was too tired to truly reconnect with her at the moment.
Minami didn't show up. Though she did tell Hayato to leave Mikai a message.
"I'll be gone for a bit. Ouroboros had been trying to protect me the entire time, even if she was really... violent about it. So I'll try and find out how to make her nice. But, if you need my help, you can just let your smell flare up. She'll find a way to hunt you down and prey on you, ehe."
With her gone as well, there were very few that remained. It was Mikai, Hiro, Yumeko and Saeko. Their friends had all decided to go home, despite how happy they were for Mikai's return. Because they were beyond exhausted, considering what a terrible Christmas it had been.
"What's with the hair, Hiro?" Mikai asked, like nothing was wrong. "Did you get it colored or something?" She tilted her head, grinning like she always would.
Hiro looked at the arm that was kept trapped within the new KING System, before solemnly shaking her head. "It's the side effect of what Qilin did to make the KING System compatible with me. She needed to fill me with just enough darkness to hit a threshold, before it could bond and get shut away by the System. As a result... My emotions have gone numb." She explained. All while keeping her expression straight and unmoving...
"Darn." Mikai said, pouting a little. Great, now she wasn't going to see the sides of Hiro she really liked. "But we'll find a way to fix it. I know we will." She concluded, beaming brightly.
"Indeed." Hiro tried to smile. But it was clear that it was merely a gesture. "I'll be back home. See you then." She said, taking her leave. Which left only Mikai with the two girls now closest to her.
Yumeko cleared her throat as she looked to Saeko. "Sooooo... What was that about loving Mikai, Saeko?" She chimed, a small shadow growing across her face. Oh, she wasn't going to let her avoid the consequences of her actions.
"A...Ahaha..." Saeko muttered, a bit of sweat running down her cheek. "I... I meant it. I... I'm not sure if it's really that kind of love. But... If it is, then I want to figure out more about it. Together with Mikai. That's... That's why I'm not going back to Charlotta and Rose. They've taken good care of me, but right now... Right now, I just need to be with Mikai."
Mikai let the thought of Saeko's love dwell on her mind for a moment, before tilting her head slightly again. "Soooo... You're going to give me a Jõtai ring and propose, so we can start from the beginning?" She said, giggling as Saeko turned bright red. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding! I love you too, Saeko, don't worry!" She laughed, treating the matter a lot less seriously.
Yumeko sighed and smiled. Ah, to return to peaceful days. She had done the right thing to come back here after all...
"Oh yeah, Yumeko!" Mikai lit up as she suddenly grabbed her friend by the shoulders, shaking her back and forth. "You were a time traveler this entire time!? Why didn't you tell me! Tell me about the future! Am I cool!? Am I super cool like Hiro!? Huh? Huh?! Tell me, Yumeko!"
Her heart sank, as this was exactly what she had feared would happen. But she did her best to put on a brave face, smiling in such a strained manner. "You... You were the girl I fell in love with, Mikai. And you're still the girl I fell in love with. Does that answer your question?"
"Noooo!" Mikai cried out, completely ignoring the obvious confession as she pouted and steam poured out of her ears. She wanted to hear about how cool she was.
Truly, things had returned to normal. All thanks to the efforts of all her friends, bringing her back from the brink. And as she hugged the girls that loved her, Mikai couldn't help but smile. Because she really did love them. And more importantly...
She had finally opened her eyes, and greeted the world with a smile once again...
---
Once, there was darkness. Deep, expansive darkness.
Now, within the depths of her heart, Mikai gazed upon the blue skies.
She was empty. But was that truly the case? What was empty, if not full of room for all the love others had for her?
The young girl smiled. And she let the Light of Love, eternally embedded within her after everything they had done, wash upon her.
She was their hero. And they were hers...