Pretty Cure All Stars: The Lake and the Moon Chapter 1, a pretty cure fanfic

Long ago from the ancient times, there is an unknown world between great continents that was envelope with dark aura. The environment is brimming with a natural depression. An endless wailing inside the aboriginal forest can be heard from a certain distance. Unknown creatures have been discovered living from within. Those who passed by near that area claimed to have seen those strange animal like creatures running on and off the road, then quickly hid themselves behind the bushes whenever they were spotted. Near villagers confirmed that these creatures appeared to be nocturnal since they can only be seen during midnight. They believed these animals might be just a badger or a bandicoot, but many disbelieve their analysis. Some claimed it to be some kind of a dog, since every full moon, they hear countless howling from that forest. No one knows how deep that region that cloaked in shadows. It was so dark that even the light from the sun couldn't get through due to its thick dim clouds atmosphere. Its surroundings become more horrendous as the night falls. Adventurers challenge themselves of exploring what lies inside the world of menace and beyond, but none of them were able to return. And so, people that time believed that that world is full of evil.

"This story is hard to believe y'know!" Akane said while holding the book on her hand. Doubted like there is actually some kind of a world like that exists. Miyuki contradicted her and cited about the existence of Märchenland. She agreed and nodded.

Miyuki and her friends are currently in the middle of their group study. Yayoi shown them a mysterious book that she found while walking at the alley. The book pertain the power of the moon. No author's name written on it. It's kind of worn. Some of the notes have faded and few of its pages have been torn.

"You're might be right Akane-san. Although, dogs do howls at night, and the most well-known from the canine family are the wolves who howls under the moon. Such stories usually connected with werewolves and they stalked at night to devour human." Reika said.

Reika is pertaining to a myth about the shapeshifter that can transfer uncontrollably from human form to wolf form. Hence, they are called werewolves. These fearsome and powerful creatures are driven to kill anyone at anything they encounter, regardless of their relationship as humans. Yayoi is all hyped up with her story.

"But the book said nothing about the werewolves, Reika." Nao commented. Reika thought about it, too. Candy wasn't sure about the origin of the story either, so the question left hanging in air.

"That thing is just another story y'know! I think we should take a little air. We've been doin' studyin' for hours! Why won't we all take a little walk outside?" Akane recline herself to the floor, stretching her arms and legs.

"That's a great idea! What do you think guys? Reika-chan?" Miyuki's persuasiveness pushes Reika to end their studying, and later she agrees. They pack their notes and belongings, and headed outside the house. They've decided to go to the grocery store to buy some snacks.

On their way, while in the middle of their conversation, they felt a sudden movement from the ground. They're searching at the source of the tremor. Suddenly, a giant silvery creature appears standing in all four that looks like an ancient Chinese lion, looking on them. Its liquified substance body make it a formidable foe. The creature roared up in the air. The sky gradually turned gray, the grasses and plants slowly withered, and an excitement build up in the wind causes a sudden change in the weather. The creature's eyes gleamed in dark reddish orange color and cast a glance at them. "Precure, Smile Charge!" They yelled. In seconds, the team transformed. "Let's go guys!" Cure Happy lead her team. Candy hid herself to safety.

The silvery creature swayed and slashes its right front and hits the ground, thrashing the dirt all over. It shoves its paw to the ground and sends up high that the rocks started to rain all over. The Precures scattered to avoid the monster's rampage. They've engaged a counterattack by hitting it with a punch and kick simultaneously. The creature was pushed back with their strike. Their melee combat seemed not to work on it.

"That monster is a real troublesome, lemme' get him. Precure, Sunny Fire!" A blazing flame hit the creature. Its body reacted as if it was melting apart. Their hope for the creatures defeat was far from what they have expected. The creature returned to its original form and turned. They jumped off to evade its tail. "Let me try!" Cure Peace called. Cure Beauty insists Cure Peace to not to use her power against the monster. She concluded that the structure of the creature's body is made out of silver in a liquid substance. Her basis, after Cure Sunny hits it with fire power. This type of metal has the highest electrical and thermal conductivity. It needs high temperature to dissolve a metal.

"But how can we defeat that one?" Cure Peace asked.

"Let me search for its weaknesses. For now, let's take this monster somewhere else safe for battle."

The Precures runs and jumps off away from the city. The silvery creature followed them. The entire place look so gloomy from above and all the people were frozen. While finding a safe place for battles, they ended up choosing the beach eventually. They landed at the shore, and the silvery creature followed them, pound itself to the sand, causing the ground to shake. The sound from the roaring sea breaks the commotion for a moment. The creature is standing in front of them, watching them carefully.

"What are we going to do?" Cure March asked.

"I'll try to freeze that thing using the water from the sea. I need everyone's help to do this." Cure Beauty said.

Everyone agrees. Cure Happy and Cure Peace distracted the silvery creature by luring it closer to the sea. Cure Sunny and Cure March went behind the creature's back. They kicked the creature's hind legs, making it to fall to the sand. Cure Happy and Cure Peace punch the side of the creature, sending it to the water. Cure Beauty used Beauty Blizzard and she aimed the glittering beam of ice onto the water, freezing the area where the creature is immersed.

"I'm not sure how long the ice can hold it and I still can't find its weaknesses. But, I am ascertaining that this monster can be only defeated by fire in highest temperature. It needs to exceed the melting point to melt it completely. And..." While Cure Beauty explains the properties of the silver, the others wonder off in space.

"We're not talking about science here, ain't ya?" Cure Sunny concerned. Cure Beauty wink and realized she completely got carried away by her own analysis.

Cure Peace stared at the frozen creature. She focused her vision on its face until something shiny stone like ornament attached to its chest caught her eyes. She called their attention and told them to look at the monster. They are trying to identify at the ornament, but the creature is all covered with thick ice. It looks like a gem or some sort. It would be difficult to know the shiny stone on its chest that way. If they are going to defrost it, the creature will be freed.

Suddenly, the girls got bothered by a strange and disturbing howling sound that is coming from afar. It doesn't seem to belong from the frozen creature. It was totally immobilized. They're tracking the sound as possible.

"Aka! Look over there!" Cure Sunny pointed her finger up in the sky. Something is heading towards them. In a blink of an eye, the unknown thing crashes to the frozen silvery creature. The impact spattered the water everywhere mix with shattered ice. The silvery creature was released from being frozen. What a terrible turn of events. The Smile Precure now is in dilemma after seeing two creatures standing in front of them. The other creature has the same characteristics just like the other one, but in much darker appearance.

"Hey guys! We're sorry about that! Things happened unexpectedly, you see!" Someone yelled out. The Smile Precure turned around and they saw their friends coming at them. "Cure Heart!" Cure Happy cried. Dokidoki Precure was after the other silvery creature in darker shade, taking a shape of an ancient dog. Cure Sword hit the silvery creature so hard that it was sent up flying in the sky. "Don't they look like the same?" Cure Sunny wondered.

The two silvery creature fused together making it bigger and fiercer. It sends its liquid like tentacles and it aims to the Precures. The Precures were able to evade the attack, except for Cure Happy and Cure Heart, caught up by surprise. Both of them got wrapped up with the creature's tentacles. It rashly pulls them over and gradually they are being absorbed by its liquified metallic body. Cure Happy and Cure Heart struggles for their life, but they can't do anything to its malleable capability. In seconds, they both disappeared. As for the other Precures tried to retrieve them back, the silvery creature escaped from the battle by burying itself to the ground. Their friends now worry about their safety. The disappearance of the silvery creature along with Cure Happy and Cure Heart made them frantic.

The earth became lively again and everything returned back to normal. All the people are unaware with what is happening at that time. They are clueless about the creatures' origin and what are they going to do with the captured Precures. The news spread among all of the Precures. The same incident happened to their friends as well, except to the first generations. They haven't heard any news from them. They recall all the remaining Precures and course a plan to save their friends.

Tsubomi woke up on the ground writhing in pain. Her side feels excruciating, but she manage to get up somehow. She finds herself lying at the mossy ground. She has no idea where in the part of the world she could be. As she observes the surroundings, she had a conclusion that she might be inside of a forest. A gloomy, misty, messy and creepy forest. The sounds coming from the tiny insects chirp all over. There's a pond but it was tainted by a dark looking moss. Despite of the existence of the water, all the trees looks withered. None holds a single leaf on every branch, except those loosely vines hanging in every twigs.

She couldn't find Shypre and the others around. Tsubomi yells out to know if there is any other person around aside her, but no one replied. Rather, her voice just echoes to the empty space back to her. She's about to lose hope and her loneliness and sadness starts to grow, until someone yell back in a crackly voice. A man reveals himself behind a hollowed tree that made Tsubomi got surprised by his sudden appearance.

"Guess ya lost, I is right?" A little man looks old, have round freckled face covered with long gray beard that touches his chest, pointy ears, gradually thick curved eyebrows, short limbs and wears an old tunic. He's holding a machete on his right hand and a rack sack on his left.

"Yes! But, uhmm...who are you?"

"Think I is elf or sort. Come! Others wait ya."

"Who? Hey! Wait for me!"

Not knowing what to do, Tsubomi followed the little man all the way to the misty forest. The little man kept silent the whole time. Tsubomi wanted to talk to him, but could find a way to start a conversation. He just keeps moving forward, not even bother turning back to check on her. The little man is walking too fast that Tsubomi is getting way behind. She was having difficulty passing every path crowded with logs, grasses and vines on the ground. It's a bit wild due to the exposed roots from the withered trees. The little man stopped walking and turned to check on her. He smirks and continued to walk. She tries to catch up.

After a tiring long walk, they finally reach their destination. A small house underneath the tall tree and it is made out of rocks. Smoke coming out from the chimney and there's a light inside. As they reached the house, the little man hold the door knob, face her, and gave her a sullen look as he welcome her.

"Yelp! Here ya all! Juz' try not mess around, ya hear? This house ain't big for the bunch of ya." The little man grunt. As he opened the door, Tsubomi saw Nozomi and Megumi inside the house eating fruits.

"What is that you are eating?" Ask Tsubomi.

"It looks like a mango to me." Nozomi said while munching the fruit.

"This things smells but the taste isn't bad at all." Megumi said.

"What is that?" Tsubomi asks full of curiosity.

"Ya holding mangopy. Ya one peachopus."

They were glad to see each other. Tsubomi sat on the table and ate some fruits. The little man asked them where they are from. As Megumi explain about the world where they live, the little man wonder about the existence of the said planet. He had never heard a place called Earth.

"This world I is know. This me home. I live here since me birth. I have others' lives here, now they gone years ago, think I."

"So, you have friends before?" Nozomi asked.

"Ya! Long, long years."

"By the way, what's your name? You haven't told us yet. And what is this fruit?" Megumi ask while eating a fruit looks like a banana.

"They name me Shortagranger. That is springnana." He snorted.

"Uhmm...well, you are short." Nozomi blurted.

"Nozomi-chan!" Tsubomi exclaimed. Nozomi tongue out.

"No. She right. I is little. But am no weak. Me fight bullies!" The little man growled.

"Fighting is bad." Tsubomi stated.

"I think you got the wrong idea Tsubomi-chan. By the way, Shortagranger, What does granger means?" Megumi asks.

"Ya all ask too many. Just shut ya piehole and gulp up those and all ya get lost." He grunted. The little man stomp his feet as he approach the door, slammed the door and left the house. They watch him as he left wondering about his huffing. The girls then open up a discussion about the creature they fought before ended up in unknown world. It all happens that they have the same incident at the same day. The question is do all the Precures have been sent to the dark forest? They wish to see the others if only they know where to find them.

The little man walks through the dense forest carrying his machete on his back. Taking the path is quite difficult for the others to pass especially for the newbie's, but not for someone like him. He has been living for almost a lifetime, so he's used to this kind of environment.

He reaches the center of the forest. Within that place lies a wide lake and it seems untouched. It's so pure and the water is crystal clear despite of the impurity of the surroundings. The luminous moon bathed the water and shine like a pearl and it glows so mysteriously. This is the only area where the moon's reflection can be seen beautifully. But ever since the dark forest was created, it has never been touch by sun rays.

A four eyed black bird perch on the branch of the tree. It stares the little man in depth. The little man looked at it as well. The eyes of the bird shine in bright red. The bird spreads its four wings and a dark aura emits the entire body. The little man talked to it in sharp crackle voice.

"Me got goods. Ya release all them! Promise ya did!" The little man demanded.

NOT UNTIL I SEE THEM. HOW MANY OF DID YOU CAPTURED?

"Got drei. Now! Ya promise!"

HMM... YOU STILL GOT A LONG WAY TO GO. ONCE YOU GAVE THEM ALL TO ME, ALL THE TREASURE WILL BE YOURS. HAVE YOU SEEN THE REST OF THEM?

"Tell ya not! Me not want dough! Need I is kind! Me give ya vow. Where are they?"

PERSISTENT FOOL, AREN'T YOU? THEN BRING THEM ALL TO THE SKULL CAVE. YOUR PRIZE AWAITS THERE. IF YOU EVER BETRAY ME, YOU KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

The black bird flew away to the direction of the moon. The little man is trembling with fear and anger. He knows well what will happen if he disobey his nemesis. He really wished he could tell the girls the cause of this phenomenon. He raised his right arm holding the machete. The large heavy knife glows to the moon's light, then everything turns bright.

Back to the house, the girls wondering where did that little man went. They decided to look for him. There is a possibility that the others might be in the same forest as them. They need to search for the others as soon as possible. They could be in danger.

The floor of the house start shaking and the furniture sways along to the tremor. That shaking is bit unusual, quite different to an ordinary earthquake. They head outside and the silvery creature reappear again in a form of a bull. They escaped going through the back of the house. The creature followed them. Before they could get away, the creature already reached, standing in front of them, watching with intimidating eyes.

"What should we do?" Tsubomi is quivering.

"Don't worry! We can do this! Let's fight that thing if that's what it wants." Nozomi gave them an energetic pitch, stretch her arms and made a fist.

"But without Shypre, I can't turn into Precure."

"Then leave this thing to us. Just hide somewhere safe Tsubomi-chan. Nozomi-chan and I will fight him."

"Alright! It's decided."

Nozomi and Megumi transformed into Precure. The silvery creature raises its foot and smashes the large paws to the ground. The bout has been engage between them.

Somewhere in another part of the dark forest, Hibiki, together with Mana and Haruka, is somewhat having a trouble finding their way out of the jumbled place as usual. They keep calling out the names of their friends everywhere they go. They waited for any response until they are out of earshot. They could only hear nothing but the chirping sound coming from the insects. They continue walking until they reached the edge of a cliff. They have no any idea that they are walking on the mountain the whole time.

"Are we in the mountain? Or maybe we're standing at the hill." Haruka doubted.

Down there is so deep and scary. Haruka dropped a rock and it goes all the way down. They peered down and waited to rock to hit the ground, or maybe a splash from the water. But they didn't hear a single sound.

"I guess it's an endless pit. Well, we won't know if we don't go and check it out. Should we go down there?" Hibiki asks.

"It is gonna be a long way down there if we jump from up here." Mana's speculation as she's overlooking all around to the depthless base of the mountain.

"Eeeh! Do we really have to do that?" Haruka quivers.

"Of course not! Just relax. Let's find another way where we can climb down. I'm sure if there's a way in, definitely there's a way out. I'll bet my pride as a woman."

Mana saw stones bulging at the wall side of the cliff. She thought they could use those as a stair to step down the mountain. It's quite long going down before they could reach the base, and Haruka isn't confident enough to do mountain climbing. Hibiki and Mana is about to give it a try, Haruka made another option. "H-How about we transform into Precure. I-It'll be easier that way so we don't have to climb down."

"Hmm... that looks pretty hard to do instead of slowly climbing down the mountain. But then...you're right! Never thought about that. That's a great idea. But..."

"As you can see, I can't transform without Kanade..."

"And without Sharuru, I can't transform as well."

"Maybe you could give us a ramp ride?"

"Hehe! I prefer calling it a back ride Hibiki-chan. You can do it Haruka-chan!"

"Mou! Why did I ever suggest that?"

Haruka transformed into Cure Flora. Hibiki and Mana hold onto her firmly, and they jump off the cliff. Just hope they are still alive after hitting the bottom of the mountain.

In another side of the forest, Miyuki got her right foot stuck between the roots and vines. Love and Mirai have tried everything to remove the roots, but nothing works. If only they have an axe with them or anything to cut the roots, it should be easier to remove Miyuki from being tangled.

They heard something moving behind the trees. The crackle from the footsteps, stomping every twigs sounded like a creepy creaking wheel sound. A little man shows himself to them. His holding a machete on his left hand and he wears an old wood cutter's clothe. He has a long gray beard touching his chest, wearing an old English boots, a rope wrap around his left shoulder, and holding a sack to his right hand.

"Is ye stuck up, kiddo? Am give ye rump a lift." The little man cut the root and helped Miyuki out from being clamped by the roots.

"Thanks for the help, but who are you?"

"Am Choppistrunk. Yat called by am fambly. Ye galz outta here very quick. Ye ain't know what is in here." The little man chuckle. They couldn't get what he says. He may look scary but he seemed kind and friendly.

"How can we get out of this creepy place? We've been walking around here for hours. It's like we're walking in circle." Love concerned.

"Is there a way out here?" Mirai asked.

"Am betcha know ye is loosing ye beans but there's no way out. Am been here forever. Am no seen exire yet."

"Do you mean an exit?" Miyuki said.

"If ye'll what ye call it kiddo. You is follow am. Am know safe place."

Still confused by his words, they followed him all the way through the dark forest. After a few minutes, they have reached an old nipa house that was covered with tendrils. The little man welcomed them and he offered them the fruits that only exist at the misty garden inside the dark forest. The fruits seems like it has been harvested for days. It smelled of the rotten fruit reeks in the house. The shapes, looks and sizes are quite different than they usually knew.

"Is this strawberry?" Miyuki holds the cube with black spots pink fruit.

"Yat is dice-o-berry kiddo. Ye is eat it, not play it. It tastes good. Gobble some."

"How about to this one?" Mirai holding the stem attached to the oval shaped red fruit.

"Watch ye kiddo. Yat thing quite is dangerous to play, but save to eat. Yat is grenadocherry. Juz' try not throw it. Yat baby booms hard."

"Wah! Y-You don't say!" Mirai

The little man introduces all the fruits displayed at the table. They suddenly felt hungry after seeing all the fruits. The looks and smells of the food didn't matter; they just eat everything with their hearts delight.

"So, where is this misty garden you were talking about?" Love asked.

"Ye is want me to tell ye? Alrighty! Ye is follow Choppistrunk. Am show you the way."

Cure Dream and Cure Lovely continues battling with the silvery creature. Just like before, their attack doesn't have any effect to its liquified substance body. It keeps absorbing their attack. Tsubomi is watching them from behind.

Cure Lovely used her Rising Sword and cut the creature in half. It may stop its movement but that alone is not enough to defeat the wight. It recombined and grows more vicious than before. The creature gored Cure Lovely and tossed her onto the trees. It came after her and pummeled her down to the ground. Cure Dream aided Cure Lovely and she kicked the creature out away from her. The silvery creature got cast away from them. It shook its head and came back to its senses. At that time, it spotted Tsubomi, who is hiding behind the withered tree. She gasped after seeing the silvery creature is looking at her way. In a split second, it dashes towards her.

"Hold it right there!" Cure Dream and Cure Lovely yelled. They protected Tsubomi by punching the side chest of the silvery creature. "Thank you very much guys!" Tsubomi said in relief. The creature stood up, opened its mouth wide and charges a blazing bluish flame beam like energy. It breathes out a massive energy beam onto them. Cure Lovely block it with her Lovely Shield to give time for Cure Dream to take Tsubomi to a safe place. As Cure Lovely endures the heat emitting beam from the silvery creature, Cure Dream helped her out by attacking the creature with her Shooting Star attack. The silvery creature got thrown to the withered trees. The creature rose up once again, but it withdraws from the battle.

"What was that, just now?" Cure Lovely said. The three wondered why the creature suddenly left even though they haven't done anything to weaken it.

The little man named Choppistrunk had shown the girls his garden where he cultivates the crops. The girls were amazed with awe after seeing all the crops looks lively despite of not getting enough sunshine. The garden is more like a farm. But Choppistrunk prefer calling the place as a garden. They wander the garden by walking through the dirt path. There are so many plants with unusual looks and unusual sizes, including the withered trees that surrounds the garden is kind of odd as well. The trees can bare fruits without any leaves.

"Is that even possible?" Tsubomi wondered.

"Ye is seeing right. Here is everything possible. Am is thankful for the blessings from Dieu."

"Dew?" Miyuki is imagining a water droplet hanging on a leaf.

"I believe it's Dieu, it means God." Mirai said.

"Whaddya ever ye call that. Am is receive make am truly thankful. Am lived with am fambly. am work with granger friends."

"You have friends before?" Love asks.

"Ye betcha! Am have good friend. His name Shortagranger. The old bean sow seeds here for years. When he disappears, Am left caring the garden."

"So, where is this friend of yours now?" Mirai asks.

"Not know. Am got separated for decades. But am reckon he is still here. Am feeling his presence. But he is no show."

"Then let's all go and look for him." Miyuki said.

"Bite sniffing shoe! This dark forest is huge kiddo. Ye'll get lost if ye'll is not know where to go."

"Don't worry. I'm sure some of our friends are somewhere near. I believe some of them already met your friend. Let's not lose hope without even trying."

"Miyuki-chan is right. Let's all look for them and get our happiness back. It's all-or-nothing. Right Mirai-chan!"

"Right!"

"Ye kiddos are weird, but am like ye guts. Ye cannot walk without scorgere. Am give you hand."

The girls together with Choppistrunk left the house after packing things they might think is useful while traveling the dark forest. The question is, how long before they could meet their friends? Inside the dark forest is like a maze. Once trapped inside, the chances of surviving is uncertain.

Back on earth, their friends still have not figured out about the disappearance of the silvery creature, along with their friends, and the other group of Precure is no show. Everyone had had their life twisted in a wicked ambience. Can they beat someone at their own game?