Hi, fellow readers and writers!
I hoped that you all enjoyed the first episode and will enjoy this one :3
I am open to comments and constructive critiques.
Pretty Cure belongs to Toei Animation
This series and all its characters are mine to torment
The rich morning light peered out from behind the curtains and into the room, shining upon the sleeping girl's face. But even as the bright gleam hit her eyes, Koei's slumber continued undisturbed. She continued dreaming within her peaceful sleep. The small cat-wolf hybrid that she had taken in the evening before remained snuggled safely by her side.
The peaceful moment was interrupted, however, by the obnoxious beeping of an alarm clock seated on the bedside table. Koei's arm shot out from beneath the covers in aggravation and immediately pushed the button down to silence the annoying object. Once somewhat awake, Koei scooted herself up from her lying position only to find Spirit right beside her. The girl scavenged through memories of the previous evening, knowing everything that had happened and that the creature beside her would forever be her reminder of that for the time being.
Koei sighed, stroking the sleeping power animal's soft fur. "I guess it really wasn't a dream."
Episode Two: "The Mystery of Me"
Koei ruffled her short, black hair as she made her way over to the closet to select a skirt, blouse, ribbon, and school jacket.
"Good morning, Koei, risu~," Spirit cheerfully greeted her.
"Good morning, Spirit."
Underneath her drowsy state, Koei could barely comprehend that she was talking to a what-should-have-been-invisible-to-the-ordinary-human's-eye creature. Less than a day ago, she had just begun her new-partially normal-life. But after the evening before, she could no longer recognize what "normal" was.
"Koei, what are you doing?" Spirit asked curiously.
"Getting ready for school," Koei replied, walking over to the window to close the blinds before preparing to change into her mint-condition school uniform.
"School, risu~? I wanna go, risu~!"
"What? You can't. Somebody will see you-"
But as Koei turned to reject the small creature's request, her words were stopped as she met Spirit's pleading orbs.
"Please, risu~," Spirit asked sweetly, kneading at her feet.
Koei put all off her effort into not succumbing to the power animal's overwhelming cuteness, but between Spirit's smallness and the soft feel of his paws on her bare feet, resistance proved to be absolutely impossible.
She reluctantly gave in. "Fine, but you have to stay in my bag."
Koei changed out of her pajamas and into her uniform. Over her white blouse she wore a gray sweater with a purple bow and grey skirt. She blushed at seeing her appearance in the full-length mirror.
"I wonder what Onee-san will think?" She mused to herself.
Almost been a week had passed since she had stopped attending her old school in Tokyo to begin a new start. So much stress had been exerted in the events leading up to the day before the present.
"It had to happen," Koei said to herself. "Destiny gave this chance to me for a reason. I can't let another gift go in vain."
Once both socks were on, Koei opened up her school bag for Spirit. "All right, Spirit, get in."
Spirit cheered, racing for and finally jumping into the satchel. Once the small animal nestled himself at the bottom of the case, Koei looked down and spotted beside him the magical brooch that had been gifted to her the night before. Even with her level of faith, it was so hard to come to the realization that the evening before was not simply a vision. And even then, she would have to confirm the event with her higher self.
Spirit must have noticed her change in feelings. He popped up slightly towards her and asked, "What's wrong, risu~?"
Koei shook away her troubled state and smiled down at him. "Nothing, let's go."
Footsteps echoed through the dark corridor as a demented presence traveled from beyond the shadows. Leviathan strolled across the hellish path, pondering wickedly through his thoughts to the particular one that reminded him of that special little doll.
That child. He could still envision the look of pure terror unveiled within those blue eyes. Next to his ability to sense her pain, those shining orbs were a peephole that revealed every emotion and thought that swam throughout her mysterious consciousness.
It was during the evening prior, at the very moment when the child had begun to sense him following her through the trees, he had experienced for the first time looking into those eyes that appeared to embody the world within their depths. They encouraged him to seek just what the powerful child could do.
"Oh, how I will enjoy clipping this fledgling's delicate wings," Leviathan murmured smugly to himself, cutting off his own train of thought as he approached the door to Azazel's throneroom.
Azazel's voice called from behind the large door. "Enter, Leviathan."
The entrance opened before the dark being, leaving nothing to barricade between he and his master's daily communication. He strolled across the rich marble floor towards his lord's throne, stopping before Azazel to bow respectfully.
Azazel looked down at him at him with deep cobalt eyes. "What took you so long, Leviathan?"
"My apologies, my lord. After my mission, I decided to see if the lower world had any information that could later be of use," Leviathan replied with his head bowed.
"Research on the threat of the subject's true state?" Leviathan nodded in response. "Hmm, I see. So how was your mission? Have you retrieved the girl?"
Apologetically, Leviathan replied, "I'm afraid that I was unsuccessful, my lord, The girl proved to possess a stronger soul than imagined. Shall I show you? Behemoth, give sight upon your lord."
A small, eerie-looking creature jumped out from the shadows and crawled towards Azazel. Once upon the lord's armrest, the Behemoth held still while its master gripped its head and closed his eyes.
The Behemoth slowly dissolved. Its particles that entered the dark lord's skin allowed visions of Leviathan's quest to obtain the sacred child to flash through Azazel's mind. He payed no mind to the small details, such as Leviathan's arrival into the area or the child's meaningless activity. The sullen lord began to grow bored with the mental screening, at least until the girl entered the forest and the main course was soon to be delivered.
Leviathan had predictably followed her into the dense woods, as to more easily obtain her without too much of a hassle. The girl, even as powerful as she was, did not seem to notice to notice the dark servant approaching her. That was until Leviathan had decided to add his own taste of entertainment and test the child's reaction, purposely allowing her to slightly sense him.
With caution, the girl had continued forward until reaching the field at the center of the woods. It was fascinating how just a mere child could so willingly become one with her surroundings.
Azazel watched, intrigued as the girl's spirit flowed into a state of peace within her inner psyche.
Not far away from where her physical body sat, Leviathan allowed part of his soul to enter her mind in a deadly dust form. His wicked manifestation circled the girl's form, looking for a weak point at which to enter until spotting a fault in the invisible spiritual barrier guarding the crown of her head. Even the strong had their weaknesses.
The fragment of Leviathan's soul slithered his way through the crevice and into the child's innermost psyche. The once relaxed expression on the girl's face changed into shock, then confusion, and then finally fear.
Life returned to her eyes as she shot up from the ground and raced to escape from the woods. In less than a moment, Leviathan appeared within the air ready to hunt her down.
The girl ran from him, the intensity of the situation slowly consuming her ability to think logically, shown during the last second before Leviathan's sphere of darkness struck her. She was blown forward but even then attempted to escape, only to be caught by the dark servant. In overwhelming fear, the child mindlessly slapped Leviathan across the face.
With a smirk across his wicked face, Leviathan released his next plot to trap her. It only took a bit of taunting and a small brawl between the girl and the beast, before she was finally trapped before Leviathan.
But as the dark servant began to tempt her, the child seemed to regain a piece of herself and became surrounded in pure light. Only a few moments later, she reappeared with strength intact, then transformed into her becoming self.
Even without a breath of her presence, Azazel could practically feel as though the marvelous, awakened being had manifested herself right before him. The luminous warrior's attacks seemed close to real life instead of merely the flashback they really were. And it was that power-that even if only for the slightest moment- fought on par against Leviathan.
After defeating Leviathan's beast, the girl fainted from exhaustion with a smile. Even in sleep, the universe was still with and protected the child through her guardian familiar as Leviathan reached to capture her. And with that, the dark subordinate vanished.
The rest of the vision flew to the back of Azazel's mind. He had seen all that he needed to. He turned his attention back towards Leviathan, who remained bowed, waiting for the next command.
"So, you let her go?" After a moment of silence he continued, "You and I both know that you could have easily destroyed the child's guardian and brought her back with you. So what's your reasoning, Leviathan?"
"My reasoning, my lord, is because of the sudden turn of events which took place. With her awakening, I believe that there is much more to be observed, and if possible, there may also be a solution of how to taint the world's spirit.
"Through the spirit itself."
An intrigued expression forged itself upon Azazel's face. "How fascinating. Very well, Leviathan, you shall put aside this plan in place of your own to see how well this turns out."
"Thank you, my lord."
Slouching back on his throne, Azazel let out a long sigh of pondering thought. Though his attention was on Leviathan, his gaze dwindles into empty space with interest that sparked numerous questions. "So...the child has awakened?"
"Ever so slightly, my lord, and showing the potential to become a likely threat."
Azazel's amused expression turned to annoyance. "Could there have been a way to have prevented this occurrence?"
"Negative. There were no events whatsoever that could have allowed any of us to realize beforehand that her awakening was nearing."
"It just doesn't make sense," Azazel cringed to himself. "She lacked confidence. She lacked complete faith. What is it that could have brought out the spirit in her?"
The dark lord focused back on his servant. "Leviathan, I want you to go to the world where purity remains, and observe if this is all true."
Leviathan rose, a cheshire's sneer growing across his face. "As you wish, my lord."
As Azazel watched Leviathan slip away from his vision in an instant, he could not help but allow curiosity and interest to continue to ponder his wandering mind. "What odd subjects."
Clicks of appliances and bubbling of cooking food filled the third-floor dorm kitchen. Koei rushed from the rice cooker to the eggs sizzling on the stove. Spirit could only watch, intrigued at his new partner's busy activities.
Koei soon finished and walked over to the table with a plate of breakfast. The cuisine on the dish truly impressed Spirit though. "What's that, risu~?"
"A vegetable omelette and rice," Koei replied, placing the plate on the table. "Go ahead, have some."
Joy filled Spirit's twinkling eyes as he yipped in thanks and took a large bite out of the omelette.
Koei sat without much appetite, staring at the power animal. "So, what exactly happened yesterday?"
Spirit looked up at her with a questioning expression on his now rice covered face. After a moment of thinking, he finally replied, "Let's see, I played in a river, chased some bugs, took a nap in the sun-"
"Not that," Koei interrupted. "I'm talking about what happened in the field yesterday."
"Oh yeah," Spirit replied, finally remembering. "That mean manifestation attacked you. But when you fought back, the universe granted you power."
Koei leaned forward in interest. "Is there anything else that you know about the situation?"
Spirit thought for a moment then innocently stated, "Nope."
Koei's head dropped in disbelief.
"Ah!" Spirit suddenly gasped in remembrance. "But I think that your higher self might know what to do! After all, they're the only one who-"
"Suzuki-san," a voice called from behind the door.
Koei jumped in surprise. She did not know how someone would react if they saw Spirit.
The door opened to reveal Kai Yamazora, dressed and ready for class. "Good morning, Suzuki-san. I'm sorry to interrupt you- Oh, did you fix that all by yourself?" She referenced to the breakfast on the table.
"Good-good morning, Yamazora-san," Koei replied carefully. She noticed that Kai was unable to see Spirit and internally sighed in relief. "Yes, I did."
"Wow, that's great! I had no idea you could cook."
Koei let herself relax. "A little. My cousin and mother taught me and I've learned on my own."
"If I may ask though, why didn't you eat in the cafeteria this morning?"
Koei blushed. "Well, um, the truth is that I kind of wanted the morning to myself to get centered for my first day. Is that...weird?"
Kai giggled at her. "Not at all. I understand. Anyway, your breakfast looks marvelous," Kai said with a smile.
"Would you like to try some?"
"May I?"
"Of course."
Kai took a bite of the omelette and after a moment had her face light up suddenly. "This is amazing, Suzuki-san!"
"Thank you," Koei replied humbly, "I still have a long way to go."
"Don't be silly, it's very good. Also, did Motoko-sensei let you know what class you're in?"
"I think the headmistress said that it was 3-C with Yoko-Sensei."
"Too bad that we're not in the same class. But I can walk you to meet Yoko-sensei."
Koei smiled in gratitude. "Thanks so much, Yamazora-san. Well, I guess we should be heading off to class."
Soon, the two headed out of the dorm and on their way to first period. They exchanged casual conversation along their walk and soon began talking to each other about their times before coming to the academy. Before they realized how long they had been talking, Koei and Kai found themselves outside the teachers' office.
"Let me introduce you to Yoko-sensei. He'll give you all the information that you need to know," Kai said as she opened the door. The dark-haired girl bowed slightly while addressing teachers, "I'm sorry to intrude."
A few of the teachers greeted her, while a tall male teacher stood up to approach her and returned the greeting, "Good morning, Yamazora. Do you need something?"
"Good morning, Yoko-sensei, I am here to introduce you to your new student, Suzuki Koei," Kai responded, indicating to Koei who was standing behind her.
"Nice to meet you, Suzuki, I was meaning to see where you were. I'll be your homeroom teacher, Yoko Saburo."
Koei bowed in respect. "Nice to meet you, Yoko-sensei. I'm sorry that I did not meet with you sooner. School was out by the time my train got here yesterday."
"It's all good," Yoko shook off the apology. "Besides, you had good timing this morning, I was just about to head over to class. Would you care to walk with me?"
"That's very kind of you, sir."
Koei turned around to look at Kai in appreciation, "Thank you, Yamazora-san."
"It's been my pleasure. I'll see you later." Koei nodded and the two went their separate ways.
Saburo and Koei soon arrived at the door to Room 3-C. The teacher turned to her and instructed for her to wait before he entered the classroom.
Koei could hear him greet the class and call attendance. Even though her time alone was short, Koei felt that she was able to relax. Though she was already kind of tense when arriving to Chuunaidei because of her anxiety of being in a new town, that incident in the forest caused her muscles to clench. If only for a moment, she could take her mind off of that occurrence, the factor of her new life, and the raging whirl of emotions she encountered through it all.
"Suzuki, you can come in now," Saburo finally called through the door.
Koei took a steady breath and stepped forward into her new life. Although her rest had been cut short, the black-haired teenager appreciated that small peace that had been granted to her, as it bestowed the renewed confidence to be herself. "Let's show 'em some psyche."
She slid open the door and entered towards the front of the chalkboard, hearing the eager murmurs that passed around the room. Koei looked over at Saburo who gestured for her to provide a self-introduce. Her hand glided across the board with the chalk to write out her name, prepared to face the gazes drilling holes in the back of her head.
And finally, she pivoted to face the classroom of students and interjected, "Nice to meet you. My name is Suzuki Koei. I have just transferred here from Tokyo and still do not really know my way around, so I ask that you all to please help me around in any way that you can. I look forward to working with you all."
The class gave a round of applause for her courageous introduction. It looked like things would not be too difficult.
"Alright, Suzuki, there's a seat next to Uchune in the row closest to the window. If you'd please."
Koei nodded and made her way towards the empty desk. All the way there, the students' gazes continued to follow her. But there was nothing about it that seemed nosy, only compassionate and welcoming.
The student referred to as Uchune turned to a now seated Koei and said, "Hi, Suzuki-san. I'm Uchune Yuuki, nice to meet you. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
She was immediately drawn to Yuuki's brown short hair with colored beads braided in the front. "Thank you, Uchune-san," Koei whispered back.
"Okay, class, back to business," Saburo continued his teaching. He went over all matters that needed to be discussed until homeroom was over where he switched out with the first period teacher. During break times, a few students would come over to greet Koei before the next period started. And then came physical education.
Everyone in the class was assigned to run at on track, boys heading down one way, girls going up the other. Koei felt perfectly content with the activity. Closing her mind off from the world, Koei took off in a run down the girls' path. The breeze felt so good. It was like she could grant her worries off to recycling goodness and allow her weightless feet to carry her to the ends of the earth. And she would have continued, if not for noticing the stunned faces gawking at her.
She came to a stop slowly. "What's wrong?"
Yuuki came over to her in excitement. "Suzuki-san, you actually managed to keep up with Honda-san!"
Koei was extremely shocked. "What?"
The girl known as Honda had stopped and looked back at Koei as in shock as well. Honda smiled at her and held out her hand. "Good job. Keep up the good work."
Koei shook her hand and nodded.
The event surprised Koei the most. She had always enjoyed running, but had just been made aware that she could actually be good at it.
After that, all the students gathered in the cafeteria for lunch. Koei settled down at a table to make an attempt at peace, only to be interrupted by her new classmates.
"You were amazing, Suzuki-san! Would you join the soccer club?"
"Is it true that you came from Tokyo?"
"Of all places, why here?"
"Alright, alright," a new, pleasant voice interrupted. "Give Suzuki-san some space. This is only her first day." Koei looked over with a questioning expression, not knowing who this new speaker was. "Please forgive my rudeness. I'm Seiku Ami, and welcome to Reimura Academy."
Koei replied in thanks. "But it's no problem for them to ask me. In fact, why don't we all eat lunch together?"
Koei and the other girls made their way up to the roof to eat lunch and get to know each other. An unexpected smile crossed her face. She had not felt such easy, well-formed bonds with fellow classmates in such a long time. The joyfulness of it all allowed for a good amount of remaining stress to slide right off of her shoulders.
When school let out, Koei immediately made a beeline for the door.
"Suzuki-san," Yuuki called, "The others and I are heading over to the courtyard. Wanna come?"
As much as Koei wanted to, she had to reply, "Sorry, I still have a lot of unpacking to do."
Yuuki frowned at her response, but cheerfully said before leaving with the others, "Well, then tomorrow it is."
Koei watched them depart, happy that the others' bright energy could give her the will to do what she needed to do. Her gaze then changed towards the window, zeroing past the school's walkways and into the forest where everything had changed the day before. She knew that she had to face and accept it in order to become stronger, even if there were only two sources to find out what she had to know: her higher self and the evil manifestation. She immediately chose the first, remembering the immense terror that Leviathan had instilled within her.
She leisurely strolled down the familiar trail that held the very key to knowing what the universe was telling her. Although unsettled by the mystery of all that could be uncovered, Koei felt a sense of peace in the atmosphere. All was quiet besides nature's calls: the cicada's teaching cries, the bustling breeze, even the rattling tree branches which gleamed against the sun's touch. It was a tranquil melody all in its own.
That moment could have been a time of vast thought and mental awareness, but Koei only obeyed her heart's command to leave behind her musings and breath if only for a moment. Such occasions represented a time of hope. The soul's photosynthesis was only something for meditation. It was then that she knew though that her place as a leaf on the tree of life could be lived even out of the lotus position.
Her thumping heart followed her mind's rejuvenating ease. Though as difficult as relaxation always was, Koei inhaled her hesitation without thought and exhaled. Carbon dioxide laced with renewed confidence drew from her mouth like a prayer, fading into the atmosphere to inspire its next seeker. But as for Koei, she was ready to tread towards what she must, even though it was still unknown.
Scattered energy forged a miraculous mural of bright colors representing the life around her. While mindlessly listening for a sign, a slight breeze pushed her forward. Koei stumbled slightly only to catch herself as her hand found the surface of a tree trunk to help regain balance. Koei released herself to the vision.
A tingling sensation began from her hands and spread throughout her body before finally reaching her feet. In her state of ecstasy, she imagined roots growing from the bottoms of her feet into the ground and connecting with the tree's. This was the woodland being's way of thanking her for saving them the day before.
A smiled glistened in Koei's heart.
There was a slight meow before a puff of soft fur tickled at the side of her leg. She looked down to identify a white cat who strangely more visible than all else around her. The cat scrambled ahead along the trail. It looked back with gentle eyes that reminded her of Spirit, except more life-experienced, and scaled a nearby tree.
She followed behind, stopping in front of the tree and gazing up at the branches, looking to where the little cat had gone. The green leaves which shimmered from beneath the sun's energetic yet soothing warmth instantly severed her attention, though. Their very appearance gleamed in a soothing light. And even to Koei's ecstatic mind, they seemed to radiate the universe's essence at a far greater rate than the day before.
A message spoke from the depths of the once lost girl's psyche, resurrecting loosely forgotten memories to her heart's surface.
"That's what your power's are capable of, risu~."
The surprise of Spirit's voice thrusted Koei from the spiritual plain and caused her to jump suddenly. She was back to where she was before the vision. Her gaze shot back to where she had entered through trees. "Spirit, don't do that! You surprised me," she lightly scolded, making her way towards the power animal.
"I'm sorry, risu~." The small creature jumped onto her shoulder. "I sensed a fluctuation in the surrounding force, risu~."
Koei instantly calmed down and realized that she had noticed it, too. "You're right. Everything is just so light."
"That's not what I was talking about, risu~." Koei was caught off guard by his statement as Spirit met her gaze. "It was your spirit that I felt a change in, risu~.
"I saw that while you were examining the spiritual plain, your soul surfaced almost half as much as when you transformed, risu~. You looked so strong and peaceful, just like back then, risu~. And even more so than all those years ago, risu~."
"All those years ago?" In an instant, memories of her powerful childhood being spiralled within her heart in memorization.
"Yes, risu~, if only you could see how strong you've gotten. How much you've come to resemble her, risu!~"
Koei's mind instantly weaved together memories of the evening before. She knew how close she was to her higher self, but just could not understand everything that was occurring.
"Spirit," Koei began, "Do you think my higher self would know anything about what happened?"
"Of course, risu~," Spirit replied. "The heart's inner most being knows anything and everything that happens in the universe, risu~. And considering how connected you've already become, she should be able to teach you more of what you want to know, risu~."
This made Koei smile happily. "Really? Well then, let's go."
"I cannot allow you to do that."
Before Koei and Spirit could identify the mysterious voice, a fearsome gust of wind cut through the atmosphere. Koei, struggling to hold her ground with Spirit, pushed her gaze past the rushing gale and spotted the shadow of a familiar being high in the sky. "You!" She hissed.
The powerful wind ceased, revealing Leviathan within clear view.
"What are you doing here, risu?~" Spirit asked
Leviathan sneered. "And I thought you would've been so pleased to see me."
Impatiently, Koei snapped, "Didn't you cause enough problems yesterday?
Leviathan stared at her with an eerily calm, silent gaze. "My mission is not yet complete. At least not before you are brought before my lord." Koei immediately went into a defensive stance. "Calm yourself, young one, for that mission has been placed on hold. My only task is to rupture the spirit."
"As if we'd let that happen! Koei, transform, risu!~" The small creature quickly dug into Koei's school bag and tossed the Conscious Lock up to Koei, only to receive a confused expression once it was caught. She was disoriented. "What are you doing, risu?~ Hurry!"
But before either one of them could do anything, Leviathan snapped his fingers and summoned forth a tire-like Ijimeru that had been waiting in the shadows. Immediately, the vile creature struck Spirit with its disk-like appendages, sending the small power animal flying.
"Spirit!" Koei was about to run for her injured companion, but was halted in her tracks by the Ijimeru speeding before her. Despite her growing anxiety, she analyzed the area.
If she attempted to run around the monster, there was a good chance that it could leave her open to an attack from Leviathan. And she was unsure whether she could outrun the monster or not. There was no way out.
"Why would you concern yourself with the well being of such a worthless creature?" Leviathan asked coldly.
"Why wouldn't I? No life is meaningless!" She clenched the Conscious Lock and prepared to transform. But within the last moment her will to stay strong, along with her confidence, shattered at a single glance at the powerful object.
How could her consciousness have failed her then? She had felt so strong, so centered. She had not even been affected by Leviathan's dark aura as it polluted the air. But it had all happened so quickly. And in that moment in which her will was progressing towards its height, Koei doubted herself. Her gaze scanned over the Conscious Lock's form. How could she be so doubtful?
"What brings you to hesitate?" Leviathan's cruel voice broke through the atmosphere, causing Koei to unwillingly return her gaze to the foul being. His sharp golden eyes mocked her determined being, yet drew her in just as they had the day before. "Have you finally come to realize how little the world's psyche has to offer? Or could it be…"
Leviathan disappeared from her sight instantly. Koei had not even a moment to think before freezing at the feeling of luke-warm breath on the back of her neck as the dark being spoke, "That you have simply grown tired of the universe continuously calling you a coward?"
Koei spun around and jumped away from Leviathan suddenly.
"What's your game?" Koei scowled.
Leviathan snickered. "I seek nothing more than to know what connections your kind hold to the universe and why."
"'Why' what?"
"Why you fight without a purpose like a fool."
Koei could have been slapped across the face, the force of Leviathan's words was so agonizing. In only a second, her confidence was further disrupted. "That's…"
"Or is it that you have your purpose, but have yet to know that the universe's lies may be involved, that there's nothing within the galaxy that can help-"
"That's not true, risu~" Spirit struggled to rise from his wounded state. "Koei…Koei knows not to give up, risu~... and she won't fall to your pathetic words-"
But before he could finish, Spirit was hit by one of Leviathan's dark orbs.
Koei's first instinct was to jump into action to save Spirit, but her courage to fight had disappeared. "This is all because I'm a coward."
She had to fight. She always had to. Just like all those years ago.
There were so many times that Koei would overthink situations and loose complete comprehension of the situation.
What would she do? How would she save Spirit? How would she escape such an evil being?
A burst of wind then cut through the air. Nothing else remained disturbed by its gust. It appeared as if only for her. Unlike Leviathan's gale, it was something heartfelt and soothing that moved like fingers on a harp. Mesmerized by the zephyr's sudden appearance, Koei unconsciously stumbled forward at a slight increase in the current. She wanted to take the easy way out and imagine that she did not know what to do when all that was needed was clear her mind and search for what felt right. Her mind became one with the wind and her thoughts slid away to a place where she could find the truth of what to do.
Spirit struggled in his attempt to rise with the critical injuries that had been obtained. His gaze laid sharply on Leviathan and the Ijimeru, precautious of what they were capable of. But it was the dark being's returning gaze that seemed to add a hundred times more pressure upon his injured little body.
"I won't let you...have Koei…" Leviathan sent another slashing wind at Spirit, knocking him to the ground for good.
"Was it not already explained that my mission no longer involves taking her? Unless that would bring some type of joy to you?" A slight chuckle escaped from Leviathan at the sight of Spirit's frightened expression.
"My orders were to keep the girl unharmed, but there would surely be nothing wrong with eliminating you." The Ijimeru came up from behind Leviathan. The creature's slitted red eyes gleaming with evil intent towards Spirit. "Farewell, familiar. Tell the Upper World to gather its subordinates. And if possible...perhaps ones of greater worth."
At Leviathan's command, the Ijimeru rose and brought down its enormous arm to crush Spirit. The small power animal had no means of escape.
But right as the monster was about to finish off Spirit, Koei sped in front of her partner and brought the Conscious Lock out from behind her. At the slightest move towards the pair, the Ijimeru was stunned instantly by the Conscious Lock's holy presence.
While his monster stumbled backwards, Leviathan caught sight of the girl. She stood tall with a type of reborn confidence, ready to defend her little familiar. Her spiritual energy practically radiated from her body. But there was also a vicious tension from within the girl's energy that began to rise.
"So you managed to regain yourself from the depths of despair?"
"Of course she would, risu~," Spirit hissed. "Koei would never fall for your tricks."
Leviathan shot a hateful gaze in Spirit's direction. "I would keep that mouth if I were you, familiar. Remember who has the upper hand."
But his gaze shifted upwards as Koei took a heavy step in front of her power animal. He attempted to read her eyes in order to understand what sort of emotion led to her actions. Loyalty? Fear? A sudden wave of courage? The orbs were unreadable though as the girl's dark bangs shadowed her eyes, hiding them from the world.
"Spirit isn't a part of this," Koei stated, "This is my fight."
"Only a moment ago, you would have considered that varmint a part of your soul, or have you forgotten?"
"Stop this, risu~!"
"Leave him out of this!" With that, an overwhelming purple aura tore free from Koei fiercely. Her once hidden features revealed freedom and strength and absolute unwavering determination.
Leviathan gazed in dark interest at the young warrior cloaked in the wretched vibrant energy. "So that is what stirred within that little psyche of yours? How long did you think that you could hide such a force?"
"Just long enough to know how to stop you."
This partially surprised the dark being. "What are you…"
Koei turned slightly to look Spirit in the eye. "Spirit, I'm sorry for getting you hurt, and I'm not willing to let that happen again."
"Koei…" Appreciation shimmered within the spiritual creature's purple eyes.
"You represent the me that will never hesitate, so I'll follow your influence and ask you: Will you lend me your power to fight?"
Tears of joy filled Spirit's eyes, but were blinked away as soon as they came. With a nod, the power animal rose and allowed the charm on his collar to shoot off, becoming a key within Koei's hand.
Ready to fight, Koei faced forward. "Now let's go, Spirit, and show them the psyche of their lives.
"Awaken! Pretty Cure, Ecstasy Petition!"
The purple aura flooded in abundance and engulfed her suddenly. Weaving to and fro from her as if she were a leaf on the tree of life itself, the energy bonded unbreakably to her. It was like performing a ritual dance; Koei felt so free! Though the transformation had already happened once before, to the girl the act was still so new and beautiful and seemingly unnatural. But it was also the rebirth of herself, a self known as-
"The awakening psyche! The soul's inspiring tune! Cure Echo!"
It was then that it truly occurred to her that everything that had happened to her was real. "It happened again," Echo quietly acknowledged to herself.
After eyeing the child's powerful moment, Leviathan spoke with a fanged sneer, "So you finally arise…"
The Ijimeru raced into battle Koei. Though unprepared, the warrior stood ready to fight and dodged the first attack. She took full advantage of the monster's surprised state, grabbed the Ijimeru's arm, and pulled it forward. Before the monster could attack again, it was struck by both of Echo's feet, sending it flying.
Echo was incredibly amazed by her own new power. She was overrun by a strength that she never knew her two hands could actually bear. But there was a power that also kept her brave-faced and able to carry an unbeatable will to fight.
"Echo," Spirit called to her attention, "We should fight somewhere else, risu~. All of this intensity could put the other students in danger, risu~."
Echo agreed but soon found hesitance in that decision. The only way by running was through the forest, which provided little protection against Leviathan or the Ijimeru. What else was there?
A sparkling breeze took her thoughts like a current to silt suddenly. Memories of a better time flooded back peacefully. A feeling so serene that it could have so easily kept her entranced for years on end. But the only thing was that these feelings were from a different time, and they were only to be used as inspiration of wisdom and strength.
As she held one arm out, her muse winded up her arm, over her shoulders, and down her spine. She smiled in amazement as her chakras aligned under the influence of the nostalgic force. And it was then, Echo knew what to do.
As light as a feather, Echo threaded through the air towards the Ijimeru. She stopped abruptly before it, sliding her foot out to knock the monster off its feet. Quick like lightning, Echo somersaulted up its side and allowed her entire body to grasp the spirit bonds invisible to the ordinary eye. About a foot above the top of the Ijimeru, Echo's feet hooked mid-air like stirrups, holding up to the intensity of her rising power.
A wild cry was set free from her as she heaved the monster into the air. She then pushed off on the balls of her feet and sent her fist straight into the Ijimeru, sending it flying into the sky.
Following at top speed, Echo caught up and kicked the Ijimeru with full force into the forest clearing. Dust and debris erupted on impact. Echo looked into the wreck, her spirit analyzing for any recovery of the monster. The signal was weak. This was her chance.
Like a skater on ice, Echo zipped through the air, the sky as her arena and the wind as her skates. Even in utter concentration, she could not help but smile at the child-like feeling that filled her. She could let herself go, let the wind be her eternal flapping wings, and not have to worry, not think about the battle that was to come.
"Watch out, risu~!"
Her glory was shattered at the split second realization of Spirit's voice. In only a moment after coming back to reality she knew something was coming and spun around in a round-house kick to fend off the fiend after her.
What awaited her was Leviathan, easily guarding against her attack with a single arm. His eyes were like carbon aiming to suffocate her fire. "Were you really foolish enough to forget I was here?"
"As if!"
Echo spun and flipped up, kicking down to try and strike Leviathan. He dodged with hardly any effort and the two continued their relentless assault on one another. Echo would attack and Leviathan would counter. Leviathan would attack and Echo would attempt to dodge.
She brought back her fist and punched. But Leviathan simply brushed away the attack and reached for her throat. In panic, Echo recklessly brought up her arm to guard, only to have her forearm grasped by the dark being and pulled to the side. Though her mind told her not to, her eyes met the amber orbs of Leviathan that seemed to freeze her in place.
"Do you not think that perhaps you should keep your attention on what's in front of you?"
Echo could not focus. That presence. Those eyes. That being. Just the sight stole life from the warrior's breath. Leviathan's eyes flashed for the slightest moment, and another time came to Echo; A time that lived only in a millisecond, carved in like a deja vu, like hell itself.
But the vision crumbled away suddenly as a powerful force wrapped around her waist from behind and yanked hard. In only a split second, she looked through the speeding atmosphere and saw Leviathan staring out at her, a knowing look planted on his smug face.
Echo was slammed against the tough surface of the Ijimeru, the acceleration built up from being pulled through the air at rapid speed adding to the impact. She was released after the hit and fell to the ground below.
She struggled onto her forearms, but that was the farthest her will could bring her off of the ground. Dizziness managed to fade. Her eyes met the ground and she began to relive the vision. The imagery never rose, only the cryptic feeling from the frozen moment that had painfully laced itself through her consciousness.
"Echo! Echo!"
Her attention reverted to Spirit, who raced towards her in distress. This gave her enough strength to shakingly wobble up. No matter what else she knew that she had to focus on, however, Echo could not shake the fierce anxiety that the vision had given her. It felt so familiar. But the feeling was hidden so deep, almost calling to her. For the first time in a long time, she could not distinguish a feeling. She felt so lost. So weak. Again.
"What is wrong, child?" Leviathan's voice penetrated her ears like a snake bite. Out of shock, Echo stumbled back, her vision shooting forward, though she never realized how reckless her decision was until eyeing Leviathan who had instantly appeared before her. Rationality still clouded from whirling emotions, she was paralyzed to the bone. Even in such a powerful form, she felt helpless against the being before her. All Echo could do was stand there while Leviathan took a step forward and curled his slim, masculine fingers under her chin in mock affection and purred, "You seem troubled."
Echo was pushed to the side by a plushy, yet powerful force to her chest which turned out to be Spirit. She slid about ten feet before losing her footing and falling backwards. Spirit climbed up on her to look her in the eye.
"Spirit, what are you doing?"
"Snap out of it, risu~," he snapped.
Echo looked at the power animal in surprise. She had not known there to be a serious bone in Spirit's entire being. Nervously she replied, "Spirit, I'm fine-"
"No you're not, risu~!"
His outburst was shocking to Echo. She knew that there was some depressing feeling lurking throughout her soul, but she just could not figure it out.
"You're denying yourself again, and it's not right, risu~," Spirit said a bit more calmly, "If you're not sure what to do, ask me, or the spirit. It knows you better than you know yourself, risu~."
"Spirit…"
"And if you have the strength to fear, turn that fear back into strength to fight as who you are, risu~!"
Those words went through Echo like an electric current. She was stunned but knew of the powerful message which Spirit was attempting to convey. Her mind struggled to find a response to show her partner that she was willing to fight. But she was cut short as she watched Leviathan observe her and Spirit.
And again, she was lost on actions, let alone words. Not waiting for her, Spirit ran up onto her knees to glare back at Leviathan defiantly.
"That yipping grew tiresome long ago," the dark being stated bluntly, making his way towards the two.
Spirit prepared to launch himself at the enemy, but was stopped as Echo reached forward and pulled him close to her chest. He looked at her in confusion. The small animal peaked to know what Echo was possibly thinking and expected her to try and avoid eye contact, but instead met the blue orbs that held one hundred percent of the warrior's acceptance of her own overwhelming feelings.
"Spirit, I'm so sorry for being such a coward. I know I can't make excuses, but I just don't know what happened. I can't let that stop me though." Still clutching Spirit, Echo shakingly rose to her feet. With renewed strength, she resisted slouching over from the pain, stood as straight and brave as she could, and looked Leviathan right in the eye.
"And as for you, when I said that Spirit wasn't apart of this, that wasn't a warning." Leviathan stopped in his tracks just a few feet before her. "I meant that. And I won't let you do as you please."
Echo clicked her heels. "Harmonize, echo of the mind!" She spun once and caught the burst up from beneath her boot. The instinct of battle filled her as she raced forward to face Leviathan. The wisdom from the depths of her soul soothed the tension that threatened to build up, because she was no longer the single being that for so long she thought she was. She was a sage in battle.
"Clash!" Her call towards freedom was like the sigh that released old air and welcomed new life. Echo snapped her fingers, severing the cylinder of light in half. Each side was drawn to its assigned hand like a magnet. When she grasped them tightly in each hand, light shattered from the solid forms to reveal the same matching daggers from the last brawl. "Musing Strikers."
Her stance remained strong yet abundant in grace. Keeping her attention squared on her opponent, Echo told her power animal, "Spirit, watch your back. But don't worry...I'll end this in an instant."
And just as she said that, Echo tapped to ground, recalling the forces of wind and soaring towards the Ijimeru. The monster was brought under confusion as she appeared to have missed it, landing sharply behind. But that supposed error proved to be part of the warrior's plot. She threw one dagger beside the Ijimeru. The Ijimeru prepared to attack, but was immediately stunned as the dagger moved on its own to form a circle around it. Echo drew the dagger back into her hand, causing the monster to be sent swirling into the wind by a tornado that came up from the circle around it. Through her supernatural sight, Echo spotted the spirits within the earth encouraging her to be strong.
Now was her chance to defeat the Ijimeru. But there was still one thing that she had to do.
Echo turned towards Leviathan and threw her daggers into the ground. She thundered towards him, fist drawn back, Leviathan easily brought up his arm to match Echo's strike.
He merely sneered at her. "If that was meant to serve as revenge, you have a lot to learn." Darkness threaded into a sphere at the fingertips of his spare hand. Leviathan brought his arm around viciously at the young warrior in a flash.
"Deliver!" In an instant, Echo brought her hand up to her left left ear and snapped, causing her earing to transform just as it had the day before. Before Leviathan's dark attack could show its destruction, Echo sliced through it with the heart-shaped object.
She then leaped into the air above him. Leviathan prepared to attack but paused at the silent presence that darted towards him. He moved forward slightly, eyeing Echo's dagger that had almost struck him. Then to his other side another dagger came forth. He brought up his hand to grab it. But right as the dagger was within half a foot from his hand, it quickly reversed its direction. Leviathan watched its movement carefully only to find it return quickly to Echo. As the warrior's arm extended forward with the heart charm that had become a hand-sized decorative tube, each dagger buried their ends.
"Spark Illusion Sword!"
Echo viciously brought down the blade towards Leviathan, ready to finish him off. But at the very last second, Leviathan's eyes flashed, causing shadows to burst from the earth between the two. To Echo that was not possible.
"Who are you?" She asked intently, continuing to bring strength upon her blade.
"Did I not already tell you? But I suppose that is why you refuse to call me by my name," he said mockingly from behind the dark, translucent barrier.
"That's not what I asked! What are you?"
Leviathan watched the girl for a moment. The universe's influence was just barely leveling out her temperament. One wrong move could just as easily tip the balance. But he would not take his chances then. He would at least see what the child would do.
"Perhaps now is not the time for you to know. But is there not another of whom you should mean to question?" He then brought up a hand and reached through the barrier. But before Echo was within his grasp, she jumped away quickly. She landed before the Ijimeru, blade ready.
"Pretty Cure..." Echo plunged one of her blades into the earth just long enough for Ijimeru's shadows to exit towards her. With a twirl, the darkness barely missed her. Her vision flashed towards the trapped spirit within it. She may have been confused, but she knew that she had to help it. She flipped her sword to get a grip on the other hilt and slashed the air before the Ijimeru. "Measure Blessing!"
The monster screeched in agony as the blade penetrated through its possessing shadows. Echo then turned suddenly, twirling her weapon within her hands. She tore the daggers from one another and brought them to her sides. The Ijimeru shattered into nothing left except a lone tire and shards of darkness that forged together to make a stone which flew into the decorated tube.
As the tube transformed back into the heart charm on the side of her head, Echo let out a gentle sigh of relief. But she knew that it was not over. Leviathan, the evil and mysterious being that she knew hardly anything about, stood a fair distance behind her.
"Interesting, even without the aid of your higher self, you still managed to defeat my Ijimeru," Leviathan stated.
Echo took a moment to relax. She felt fear peaking out from the hidden depths within her mind just from the sound of Leviathan's voice. It horrified her, bringing back the feeling received from merely looking into his eyes; A feeling so familiar, but lost to her physical being.
But she could not tremble before him again. To show weakness from his threats would only serve to fulfill his intentions. That is was they ever were: Threats. As Echo realized that, she turned to face him with all the spiritual strength of which she could muster.
"I am never without her," Echo replied, "and it's about time you realize that." Leviathan scowled. "I may not know what this is or why this is happening, but…" A new sense of courage led Echo to look Leviathan in the eye and challenge his arrogance. She stood tall and pointed directly at the enemy before her. "You have no reason to involve me or other living beings through your mockery!"
After a second of facing the blow of her words, Leviathan spoke in arrogance, "You are too naive. Well, allow me to educate you: From the moment you became aware of the ties to the being within you, my dear, you were thrown onto the frontlines of this war."
Echo did not say anything. Something from deep within told her not to ask for a meaning. And what started to scare her the most was that she knew what he was talking about.
"I bid you adieu. And as for you, familiar," Leviathan stopped mid-sentence and glanced over to Spirit. "You would be wise to heed my previous message. You alone are no match for what lies ahead."
A dark portal appeared behind him suddenly. Echo sharpened her stance just in case. She watched as he stepped up backwards into the edge of the portal and with one last sneer vanished.
Hesitantly, Echo relaxed but still pondered on the fiend's words.
"Spirit, what did he mean?"
It was as if Spirit hesitated to answer. But still so nonchalantly he replied. "I'm not really sure, risu~. Your higher self might know!"
Koei soon untransformed and she and Spirit were sitting close together within the clearing meditating. Past the stress and confusion, she managed to locate a place of stillness within the world. Not even a dream could have felt so nice. If she was asleep, she would have hardly been in control enough to move and feel as freely as she did right then. This was bliss.
The embrace of her higher self curled up and around her shoulders. It was a hug that could make a parent's loving clutch seem hesitant. Koei rested into it, knowing that she was safe.
"I wanted to come sooner," Koei sighed.
"I understand," her higher self whispered. The being let go and walked out from behind to her side. A shining arm reached out to Koei. "Come, let us relax and talk."
Koei took hold of the being's hand and followed into the ecstasy of a world that very few actually possessed the courage to enter.
Tada!~~~
Comments, favs, and critiques are always welcome!~
You can check out artwork for the series on my DeviantArt account :3