Author's Notes: One more protagonist and time to start interacting properly with our antagonists.
Episode 3
The morning after was surprisingly normal, news of the strange events spreading throughout the town but not slowing business down. Shop owners still opened stall, salarymen drove to work and students walked towards school in their usual group, chatting and gossiping as they went. Kenta and Ayame were together under the sun that day, an unusual but soft spike in temperature providing the morning a pleasant protection from the occasional gentle breeze. Both teens were still hyped up from the previous day's battle and were talking animatedly about the various aspects of their new lives. In particular, their current topic was the identity of their newest ally…
"He's pretty mysterious isn't he?" Ayame said somewhat wistfully, admittedly a little bit taken by the romanticism of the lone-hero archetypes from novels that she'd read as a child.
"He's a jerk," Kenta said flatly in response, more used to Haru's sensible distaste for emotionally distant pricks than Ayame's obvious interest. "We need his sword like he needs our shield and batons, that's it. I wouldn't get too worked up about him or his identity."
"Kenta-kun!" Ayame admonished, "We should always try to know our allies."
"I'll give him the same chance that he gives us. As far as I'm concerned, he needs to prove himself to me if he expects me to prove myself to him. Or he could be less of a jerk, that works too."
Ayame looked like she wanted to object to that but she was cut off by a shouting voice from behind them, "Ayame-Chan, Kenta-Kun! Wait up!"
The two turned to see Haru running towards them with a dark skinned boy wearing both glasses and a seashell necklace at her side. The bubbly girl wrapped her arms tightly around Kenta and Ayame in a tight hug, pulling them both down so that their chins were leaning on her shoulders and restricting their airways.
"You two were missing all yesterday and you didn't call once! How rude!"
"Air… air…" Kenta muttered breathlessly, causing Haru to release them with a slightly sheepish look.
"Sorry, got a little nervous there. Still, you shouldn't be dragging Ayame-Chan off on her second day to skip school. Give her a week at least," Haru teased, causing Kenta to scoff and Ayame to blush a light shade of pink.
"Oi, aren't you going to introduce me," the dark skinned boy interjected, standing a full head taller than Haru when he laid his arms over her shoulders in a familiar way.
"Oh, yeah," Haru suddenly gushed, her arms gesturing between the various people involved as their names came up. "Ayame-Chan, this is Jousuke Gakuya, a third year in our school. Jousuke-kun, this is Tamashii Ayame, she's the transfer student I was telling you about."
"Oh, the one who wants to join the photography club," Jousuke-kun said in response, getting a shy nod from Ayame in response. "Well, Tamashii-san, you should drop by after school today to join up. I'm the president there and I can vouch that the guys and girls in the club are really kind to new members. You'll really enjoy it."
"Okay… Jousuke-San," Ayame responded shyly.
Kenta gave Jousuke a teasing shove, both boys grinning as they needled at one another over how long it had been since they'd seen one another. Haru just giggled at the sight as the group made their way towards the school for the day.
Beneath Getomachi's church, in its twisted clone that seemed to tower over the ethereal caverns below, a green haired woman guided her minion Imps with a sadistic glee on her features. Her tongue lapped out over her lips periodically as Caina tapped her finger against her chin. The Imps were gathered around a dusty, metallic box that was being carefully brought before their mistress.
"Careful now, we don't want to upset our guest," Caina teased as the Imps placed the box down and backed away cautiously. "Now then, rise, my old friend."
The indistinct box gave a sharp shudder as it shook fiercely, scattering those gathered around it like frightened insects before a thin line carved itself into the box's front from the ether. Without further warning, the box began to creak forward as the line formed a makeshift door to expose the contents within to the shadowy light of Astaroth's domain.
A hand gloved in tanned leather reached forward to grip the outside edge, flexing slightly before pulling the rest of the body into view. A brown hat sat atop his head, complimented by a long coat that dropped to his ankles, its every flutter revealing what appeared to be a pair of holsters hidden under obscured limbs. At first glance, the stranger appeared to be an ordinary human that had simply seen too many westerns but the glimpse of unnaturally blackened skin resembling charred marble and pupilless white eyes sitting atop a lower face covered in bandages guaranteed his demonic roots.
Stretching slightly to relieve his body of its lengthy lethargy, the figure reached up to remove the hat from atop his head and placed it against his chest in a surreally gentlemanly show of respect.
"Dearest sister Caina, it has been too long," his voice was deep and gravelly, as if something had once clawed through his throat and left the underlying chords raw as a result.
"Big brother, how long has it been?" Caina wondered absently before stepping forward to pat his chest approvingly. "I see you have retained your impressive physique even after all these years wandering by yourself, Scarmiglione."
"Travel has done me good, though I have spent the past two decades sleeping in that box to rejuvenate myself," he answered politely, an obvious stiffness in his every slightest movement. "I do wonder why you had me brought back to Japan, though. Has something happened?"
Caina paced around to her brother's back, her smirk deepening. "The Meteo Rangers are reappearing once again."
Her brother stiffened instantly, his eyes widening in unknowable emotion.
"If you hurry…" Caina began, turning only to find that her brother had already left, only she and the imps remaining. Her sharpened teeth were bared as she licked her upper lips in delight. "Scarmiglione… my greatest ally and more than a match for any Meteo Ranger. Interesting enough, Master Astaroth?"
The demon with the spiky brown hair materialised before her, his smirk mirroring her own as he complimented, "You've really outdone yourself this time," before letting out a peel of maniacal laughter.
Kenta was busily running his hands under the tap in the bathroom sink and grumbling about the scolding Todo-Sensei had given him earlier in the day when he heard the noise. It was a low chattering sound that floated in through the bathroom window and floated against the old, grimy walls.
Curious, Kenta took a few steps forward and gripped onto the window ledge, pulling himself up to peer through the tiny rectangular pane of glass. He gasped at the sight of an Imp wandering past, keeping close to the shadows to avoid the students.
"What the hell is that thing doing here?!" Kenta thought before glaring at the creature's back harshly. "Doesn't matter. It's gonna wish it hadn't picked today to show up."
With the merry thought of relieving his frustrations on the lone soldier, Kenta dropped back to his feet and rushed for the school's nearest exit. Pushing outside, he raced to the corner where he'd last seen the Imp, one or two students yelling at him for accidently bumping them in his rush. The warming spring breeze passed by him as he looked for any sign of the Imp, groaning at the realisation that he was the only one there…
"So, you are the first of Raphael's pieces. The Knight, if memory serves."
… or not. The raw voice sent a chill down his spine, startling him into turning around to face the strangely attired man. Throwing his arm into the air, Kenta shouted, "Meteo Shift!" and was swiftly embraced by his costume as Scarmiglione watched on with interest.
Seemingly pleased, Scarmiglione's eyes curved ever so slightly, "Hopefully you can live up to that suit's history."
"Let's see!" Kenta challenged, rushing forward and gripping Scarmiglione's waist. Twisting his own body sideways, Kenta flung the marble-skinned creature off of its feet and against the stone school wall.
Scarmiglione easily shifted to plant the flat of his boots against the solid surface and leaped forward like a hungry predator. His shoulder made direct contact with Kenta and shoved the tall boy backwards, Meteo Blue barely retaining his footing from the impact.
"Hasty," Scarmiglione commented with one eye more open than the other. "So different from the last Meteo Blue."
"What a shame," Kenta said sharply, annoyed at his previous failure.
Charging again, Meteo Blue was easily dodged, a revolver seeming to appear from a burst of darkness in Scarmiglione's hand and making direct contact with the back of Meteo Blue's helmet. Stumbling slightly, Meteo Blue collapsed partially to his knees and found his attempts to regain footing frustrated by the butt of the spinning revolver striking his face. Meteo Blue was knocked onto his back but he quickly forced himself to his feet, snarling all the while as he dragged his shield from the white ether. Scarmiglione responded by materialising a second revolver in his free hand.
The two clashed in a flurry of movement, the revolvers being used as a pair of blunt melee weapons when Meteo Blue was too close to shoot at. Meteo Blue missed an overhead swing and found both revolvers placed against his waist, both guns unloading into him at the same time, the release of the gun's mechanism blowing him painfully onto his backside. Meteo Blue clutched at his stomach gingerly while brandishing his defensive weapon in Scarmiglione's direction.
The Demon Forces warrior tilted his head to the side, measuring his opponent carefully. "You're not the one I seek but your spirit is strong."
"You're not my type either," Kenta responded cheekily as he threw his free arm away from his wound to show that he could keep going on.
The gunslinger fired rapidly at Meteo Blue, who quickly raised the shield to block the shells. Absorbing the impacts, Meteo Blue pushed forward with a yell, each gunshot bouncing off the weapon with bone-shaking clangs. Scarmiglione tried to take a swing but Meteo Blue pushed through, the force spinning Scarmiglione around and leaving him vulnerable to Meteo Blue's forward strike that made direct contact with his chest. The attack sent his feet skidding against the dirt, Scarmiglione wincing from the blow.
Meteo Blue stood back to his full height, obviously smirking behind his helmet as he motioned for Scarmiglione to approach with his fingers. The gunslinging demon chuckled lowly, shaking his head at the sight.
"How cocky you are after just one strike. How amusing."
The battle would have continued but a high-pitched yell cut through the air and distracted them. Haru was moving towards them with a hand outstretched, "Please don't fight!"
"Don't fight," Kenta said embarrassedly at his friend's behaviour. "How lame can you be," he muttered resignedly.
"What a strange thing to suggest," Scarmiglione offered with a tilted head. "What else would we do?"
Amidst their incredulous behaviour, one of Scarmiglione's Imps took the initiative to jump at the unprotected young girl. Haru screamed at the approaching monster's features as Kenta gave his own angered yell as he prepared to rush to the girl's aid. Before either could move, a gunshot was heard and the shell embedded itself into the Imp's head, knocking it to the ground and quickly causing it to dissolve into thin air. Meteo Blue turned to Scarmiglione with a look of shock, only earning a brief sideways glance in response.
"You should make sure she's alright," he responded dryly.
"Y-yeah," Kenta said as he ran to Haru's side, grasping her shoulder comfortingly. "Are you alright?"
"I-I'm fine. Just so long as no one's fighting anymore," she responded with an obviously shaken sigh. "Fighting won't help anybody. But I really should thank you for protecting me."
"Don't mention it," Meteo Blue responded embarrassedly.
"But I have to thank strangers who protect me," Haru insisted.
"Then maybe you should thank… the Demon!" Meteo Blue's attention was quickly on the vanished Scarmiglione. "Crap, he escaped!"
From atop a nearby roof, Scarmiglione stared down at the two with crossed arms. "He might not be my rival but I do enjoy fighting him. He's a worthy Meteo Ranger."
With that Scarmiglione retreated into what appeared to be a haze of heat, vanishing amidst what others would probably mistake for simple hot air.
"What, he was in the school?!" Ayame shouted nervously, ducking away from the curious glances in her direction from her fellow students in the canteen. She whispered quickly, "Could he still be here?"
"No," Kenta answered calmly, his hand on his chin. "It's weird though, it's almost like he… wasn't evil."
"What do you mean? He was a Demon, right?" Ayame cocked her head to the side, eyes widening behind her glasses.
"Yeah but he did save Haru, I owe him for that," Kenta said with his head resting on his chin.
Ayame hummed, struggling for something to say while finding nothing. Thankfully, Haru came to break the awkward silence, Jousuke coming just behind her with both carrying trays of food in their arms.
"Why are you guys looking so serious? Kenta-Kun just ask you on a date?" Haru teased, laughing when Ayame sputtered out a red-faced denial. "Geez, you are too easy Ayame-Chan. Anyway, anyone see the monster around the school today?" she finished as if talking about the weather.
"I still think that it's a bit of a stretch. Just cause there were monsters in town doesn't mean that they're in the school," Jousuke responded while chewing through his sandwich.
"Don't talk with food in your mouth, it's gross," Kenta admonished, "and I do believe her. So spill."
Ayame offered a confused look and received a subtle wink in response, quickly catching onto his intent.
"He can't let her know that he's Meteo Blue."
"This guy in blue spandex was fighting some guy from one of those American Westerns, you know the ones with the long brown coats and cowboy hats. I tried to break up the fight but something with a Tiki mask for a face jumped me," Haru shivered before smiling brightly. "Then the guy with the gun shot the other monster and saved me. And that blue guy rushed over to make sure I was okay. It was weird, he seemed familiar."
"Wonder why," Ayame said offhandedly as Kenta began shoving bread into his mouth to avoid talking.
"Well, it doesn't matter, he ran off pretty quickly, so I guess I must have annoyed him," Haru complained with a pout before sighing. "Oh, well."
"If he didn't like you, then screw him," Kenta said protectively.
Ayame giggled at the response while Jousuke burst out into laughter. Haru could only shake her head, her lips curving upwards as her eyes shut gratefully.
"Thanks, Kenta-Kun," Haru said as the lunch continued peacefully, the group embracing their day.
"So, this is the clubroom," Jousuke said, making a sweeping motion with his arm for Ayame's benefit. "What do you think?"
Ayame leaned her head in, glancing at the scattered bits of camera parts and photos laid out by the surprisingly messy clubroom. Several people raised their heads at the sound of a new arrival, various greetings offered before people went back about their business. The club's newest member gave a shy nod to Jousuke before adjusting her glasses atop the bridge of her nose and moving towards a free table. Sighing at her shyness, Jousuke rubbed a hand through the back of his fluffy hair, taking the place next to her and pulling his camera out of his bag.
"So, do you have any photos on you?" he asked, getting a nod from Ayame in response.
"I brought these along just in case," Ayame said as she laid a book of photos onto the table, the same one she'd been examining the day before.
Jousuke flicked through, his hand coming to rest on his chin as he moved through it, occasionally offering a smile or a frown.
"Not too bad," he said casually, flicking the page off-handedly before coming to a sudden halt. "What's this?"
His finger was resting on the photo of a red suited warrior from when she'd first come into contact with Meteo Red and his world.
Ayame's cheeks tinged pink as she squeaked out "Meteo Red," wondering privately if maybe the photo wasn't such a good idea to leave in the album. Maybe it made her look like a stalker…
"You already got a photo of one of the guys fighting monsters in town?! Guys, check this out!"
Jousuke's shout brought the rest of the club's thirteen members to the table to see the newcomer's apparently prized photo.
"When did you take this?" "Two days ago."
"How?" "He rescued me from monsters."
"Really?! Lucky~ Bet it was fun playing princess, neh?" "Huh?"
"Ignore her, she's nuts." "Oi!" "Huh?"
Despite her shy demeanour struggling under the attention, Ayame did feel a small amount of pride swelling in her chest. All these people admiring something she'd achieved. It was kind of a nice feeling, actually.
"Maybe Mother was right after all."
Ayame and Jousuke moved along together, the older male keeping his hands in his pocket as Ayame followed behind. The two were moving towards the school's auditorium, the large(ish) room sitting at the end of a long but short archway which allowed one to glance at the school's garden, consisting of just one oak tree and a few flowers scattered around it in a relatively enclosed space.
"Thanks for walking me over to get my brother but you really don't have to do this," Ayame said nervously. "I'll be fine…"
"I know," Jousuke responded simply. "I was thinking we could meet up with Haru and Kenta after we drop him home."
"I don't have to drop him home… just check up on him," Ayame explained with a hopeful smile. "I'd love to head out with you guys." She flinched, afraid to seem overeager but Jousuke didn't seem to notice.
"Alright then, let's get this… over with…"
Jousuke froze at the sight of a boy with Ayame's same tiny nose and brown eyes standing on the stage in a sleeveless brown jacket and a pair of green camo pants, a guitar in his hands as he sang a cover version of some heavy metal song with a small band behind him. His voice was a little high pitched and his frame didn't quite fit the metal look (too thin to be manly, too full to be violently anorexic) but between the forceful movements of his body and the fierce look in his eyes, he somehow pulled it off reasonably well. Despite incredibly similar physical looks that were only separated by a shorter haircut and the lack of a pair of glasses, the boy in first year didn't look like Ayame's younger brother.
"That's your brother?" Jousuke asked in disbelief, his finger pointing at the stage as he looked over his shoulder with a twitch in his eye. "Seriously?"
"He's so embarrassing," Ayame confessed while burying her face in her hands, causing Jousuke to quickly backtrack.
"I didn't mean that, he's just so… not you, that it's weird."
"We might share the same blood but that's about all we have in common," Ayame confided, wincing when her brother's voice happened to crack before being amplified by the speakers. "Couldn't he at least sing something better?"
"He likes what he likes, though I'm more of a surf rock kinda guy, you know," Jousuke said with a laugh. "I admire his guts though."
"What do you mean?" Ayame tilted her head quizzically.
"He gets up on stage and performs like that without even the slightest hint he's nervous. Either he's really calm or he just holds together well under pressure. Either way, he's got my respect," Jousuke responded with a nostalgic gleam in his eye.
Ayame giggled at his comment before patting his shoulder. "Remember that when you meet him personally. You are going to laugh, so hard."
Jousuke made a confused grunt of sorts as the song wound down, its dying notes beckoning the two older teens forward. Jousuke started clapping, giving a little woo of excitement.
"That was good. You been doing this long?"
Ayame's bandmates either blushed or smiled brightly, ready to soak up any praise offered but they were cut off by their frontman. "This is a closed practice, man. If you want to listen in, you have to get permission or have a pretty face. So, you definitely need permission."
"Harsh… and kinda lame but I suppose that's fair. I'm only here with your sister anyway," Jousuke responded easily.
"Sister?" the younger male said with a cocked eyebrow before catching sight of a very miffed teenage girl walking behind the Photography Club President. "Crap…"
"You shouldn't talk that way to people."
"What do you care?! I'll talk any way I want."
"Don't take that tone with me."
"What are you, our mom?"
"You need to show respect to your senpai," Ayame said as she ascended the stairs onto the stage, stopping right in front of him with her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "Seriously, Shuuji, someone's going to hurt you if you keep that up."
"I can take 'em. I already got a band together during my first week here. I'm obviously going to be very popular," Shuuji responded smugly as he flicked the fringe of his shoulder-length hair. Turning to his bandmates for support, his smirk only grew wider, "Right guys! ... guys?
Ayame gave a snort when Shuuji caught sight of his three bandmates gathered around Jousuke with excited looks on their faces.
"You're Jousuke-Senpai, the Photography Club President! I love your stuff."
"Who cares about that? He's the second best surfer in the region and he goes to our school! How cool is that?!"
"Are you free after this?"
"Yes, it's pretty cool for me too and sorry, I've got to meet up with some friends," Jousuke answered with a laugh and his infectious grin. "Seriously though, how long have you guys been playing, you're good!"
Shuuji was pouting at the sight as his sister patted his head condescendingly, "There, there, Shuuji. They're just in awe of Jousuke-kun, they'll remember you soon."
"At least people notice me," he bit back sharply, the words cutting surprisingly deep.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ayame's voice was tight, controlled, the emotion locked just below the surface and ready to burst out.
"What I said," Shuuji's smug smirk returned after the taunt, his eyes missing the clenching of his sister's fists.
"You little-"
The sounds of someone screaming about a monster outside drew the group's attention away, interrupting the surprisingly profane words reaching for Ayame's lips. Jousuke and Shuuji both raced for the door, the band's eyes so transfixed on them that they never noticed Ayame slipping through a side door.
Several of the Tiki creatures chased students who were slow to flee around the campus as an overweight, grey insectoid creature trundled forwards on two feet, its hands both taking the form of long black stingers. Its head was coated in a yellowish, mucus-like helmet that framed its massive, ruby-like eyes and covered its mouth beneath a guard. Most disturbing was the tail floating over its head, a white stinger that dwarfed the two at the end of its arms sitting at its end and drifting through the air in an eerily hungry manner.
One particular boy tripped over the doorway into the school's main building in his haste and could only turn in horror as the insect Demon stood over him. In an instant, it was over, the stinger plunging downwards into his chest and pulsating for a moment as it sucked something from his body. The boy grew increasingly pale as the monster chuckled, prepared to drain him completely.
His efforts were foiled when a green baton made contact with his bulbous stomach painfully, causing him to double over and fall prey to his legs being swept out just at the top of the stone steps. His trip down them, allowed his massive number of eyes to glimpse his attacker, a white sleeveless jacket and a green skirt catching his attention before the telltale green helmet of his nemesis.
"Meteo Green, what a fun first snack, gyahahaha!" the creature laughed menacingly before lashing out with its tail, Meteo Green narrowly avoiding the attack by rolling away.
"You'll have to be faster than that," Meteo Green taunted before she took off running, the Demon quickly taking up pursuit.
"Have to lead it away from all these people before anyone else can hurt!"
Unbeknownst to Meteo Green, someone else was already trailing behind her with these thoughts running through her mind, "I can't let them out of my sight this time!"
Shekhinah ran a hand through her hair as she flicked through the religious text sitting upon their alter, her male companions' absences leaving her feeling rather bored.
"What I wouldn't give for some excitement right now," she muttered with her usual bright grin still on her face, her empty eyes the only sign that she wasn't having the time of her life.
The angel's prayers were answered by a pink glow radiating out from the altar's hidden compartment. Flipping the altar's top (unnoticingly knocking the religious text to the ground); Shekhinah reached in and removed a white watch strap with a luminescent pink stone embedded in it.
"You've picked an owner? The enemy's forces must be increasing in strength faster than normal if you've started showing initiative." Despite her worrying statement, Shekhinah took one glance around the empty church before holding the new Meteo-Bracer close to her chest with an obvious glee in her (almost) unmoving expression. "Well, who am I to argue with such a caring mind," Shekhinah muttered with her unchanging expression before running out the church's doors, her robes flowing about her ankles as the stone guided her towards its chosen owner.
Meteo Green's run drew the Imps after her as well, the group pursuing her down the hill and into Getomachi's streets. People soon abandoned the area, leaving nought but an empty road as she came to a halt and turned on her enemy.
The creature's entire form rippled as it ran, its weight becoming increasingly obvious with each step. Its gait slowed its progress enough for Imps to overtake it, the masked creatures practically salivating as they darted directly for the lone Meteo Ranger.
Meteo Green braced herself, sidestepping the spears and bashing her batons against their stomach before swinging her arms around to crack the top of their skulls. The two Imps evaporated into black smoke, causing Meteo Green to smirk beneath her helmet. Glancing upwards from her victory, Meteo Green barely saw the incoming stinger attack in time to dodge it, the head Demon's tail striking the ground before recoiling and floating about in its predatory way.
"None escape the stomach of the hungry Marak," the Demon practically hissed before chuckling, its gut bulging under the motion. "You're going to be my next meal."
Meteo Green backed a step away from him, uncertain of how to proceed, the surrounding Imps gathered around their leader letting out what seemed to be a twisted chuckle as a minor to Marak's major. The sword slit the skin…
Marak fell backwards, gripping his sparking stomach as Meteo Red used his forward momentum to spin on his heel and come to a halt at Meteo Green's side.
"Disgusting creature," Meteo Red commented aloofly as he positioned his sword horizontal to his head. "Die quickly."
"You got here quick," Meteo Green complimented, her red companion huffing slightly in response.
"Meteo Blue's dealing with the Imps still at the school, so it's just the two of us for now." Meteo Red's voice took on a harsher tone, "Don't hold me back."
Ayame's eyes grew wider beneath her visor before her eyes fell downwards, her words coming out in a small voice, "I won't."
The two Meteo Rangers held that position for a moment, causing their foes to become impatient and charge. The battle would have been a sight to behold for any passing spectators.
The girl with the pink streak in her hair covered her mouth in awe as she watched the battle unfold, the strangers in spandex doing battle with the monsters with an incredible tenacity.
The one in red was the more aggressive of the two, slicing through them en masse while pushing forwards and never breaking stride. Haru assumed he was the more experienced of the two, especially when she noted the confidence and ease with which he held the blade, reminding her of a professional display of swordwork she'd seen on a field trip as a kid.
His green companion was more methodical, allowing her opponents to come to her and generally sticking to counter attacks. Her footwork was slightly unsure, the balance hardly perfect. By only using counter attacks, her weaknesses were compensated, making her appear more clever than experienced.
Haru wanted to make the fighting stop, to make sure the violence couldn't continue, a young girl's voice ringing in her ears, "Why won't she move?! What's wrong with her?!"
Her reverie was broken by a pained grunt as Meteo Red clutched at his arm painfully, the slight darkening of his arm's fabric making it appear that he was cut through the cloth. Honestly, Haru was surprised it didn't break but her worry quickly overcame those thoughts and she prepared to race forwards, at least, that was her intention until a voice with a heavenly lilt spoke from behind her.
"So, it picked you. How cute."
Turning to see the blond haired woman's nose almost touching her own left Haru using all of her willpower not to let out a surprised screech.
Meteo Red swung his sword, catching the mucus-based helmet with the attack. His arm was brought to a halt, leaving him vulnerable to Marak's tail as its side crashed into his stomach and left him lying at the feet of a Meteo Green who had just finished taking care of the Imps. She leant down to help him up, having to drop the attempt in order to deflect Marak's stinger with one of her green batons.
"This guy's tough," Meteo Green commented tiredly as she tried to bat away a few more strikes, Meteo Red rolling out of the way as the giant opponent continued his shrill laugh.
Neither of the rangers could keep up as the repeated onslaught knocked Meteo Green from her feet onto her back. The overweight grey monster repeatedly attempted to stab her as she scrambled back to her feet in a mad move to evade the opponent, her foot twisting uncomfortably on a dodge just as the attack was coming straight down. A blue bulk landed in front of her, the tail crashing harshly into against the shield in a scrape of metal before pulling away. Green was quickly back on her feet, patting him thankfully on the back as Meteo Blue nodded stoically in response.
"Sorry I took so long," he responded with a small amount of guilt. He deflected another swing of the tail just as Marak pushed forward and swung his bulky arm towards Blue's head. The slow arc gave him plenty of time to duck and shove his shield forward in a bashing attack. The fat in the creature's stomach rumbled under the attack, vibrations following along his entire being while simultaneously pushing the most aggressive of the Meteo Rangers away.
"You'll pay for that, you little punk," Marak wheezed while his eyes hungrily focused onto Meteo Blue. "You'll be my first meal."
LINE BREAK
"I don't understand, why did the stone choose me?" Haru asked, half in shock as the tale of Angels and Demons was absorbed by her brain. "I don't even like fighting."
"The previous Meteo Pink was the same. He detested violence and longed for peace," Shekhinah responded, her smile quirking upwards as she trailed a finger along her chin while still holding out the Pink Meteo-Bracer. "Maybe that's why the stone picked you?"
"It needs to pick someone else. I don't want to fight," Haru explained nervously, pushing the offered morpher away. "I can't…"
"If you don't, they may not make it. The game escalates like this every time," Shekhinah said with a nostalgic smile on her face.
"Game…? How can you call it that when people's lives are on the line?" Haru objected with horror.
Shekhinah's eyes were slightly guarded as she turned her attention back to the ongoing brawl, "My bad habit, sorry."
The side of Meteo Blue's shield crashed into the bug creature's fat neck, the two meeting in a fierce clash of wills. Their eyes met challengingly through Meteo Blue's visor, Marak's fist stinger reared back while Meteo Blue's free hand curled into a fist and did likewise. The fist gloved in white made contact with bug face first, startling the larger creature but not stopping his attack. Marak's stinger struck Meteo Blue's stomach, the suit absorbing the blow in a series of painful sparks as Kenta's alter ego was lifted into the air by the force of the strike. He managed to land back on his feet, barely, collapsing to his knees rather than falling prone as his shield lay abandoned beside Marak, his grip on it having been broken in the clash.
Marak let out another squeal of laughter as he handily batted away Meteo Green's attempt at a surprise attack using his left arm, the girl going head over heels as she painfully landed next to her blue compatriot.
"You can't win, just give up and be consumed!" Marak screeched.
Haru barely restrained her instinct to race in between the two groups when she noticed Meteo Blue's fist frustratedly clenching in a way that was almost painfully familiar…
"Shut up, you stupid bug," Meteo Blue spat breathily. "I have too much to do to lose to someone like you."
"Too many people are important to us," Meteo Green concurred as she pulled herself to her feet by using Meteo Blue's shoulder as a crutch.
Stepping in front of the other two, Meteo Red made one quick slash through the air with his sword before holding it in front of his face. "I can't allow my pride to be sullied by a loss to you. Your death is the only way I will allow this battle to end."
"How arrogant!" Marak wheezed, making one final attempt to end the battle.
His stinger was blocked by Meteo Red's sword, sparks flying from the point of impact as both his hands tightly gripped the sword hilt and his legs bent down to maximise his strength in the struggle. "Attack now!" he shouted, both of his partners barely hesitating before rushing past Marak's main weapon.
Meteo Green pulled ahead, Marak's fist/stinger coming trying pointlessly to block her as she kicked forward and rolled below the swing. Without losing momentum, she came to her knees directly behind Marak, gripping a familiar indigo shield.
"Blue!" she shouted as she flung the object past Marak, the Demon reacting with shock as he saw the weapon pass his stomach.
He reached forward to grip the shield, only for Meteo Blue's arm to slide inside of its straps in the same moment. Ducking to avoid the hand, Meteo Blue sprung upwards, meeting the stomach once again. This time, the two met and the jiggling stomach failed to repel the blow as Meteo Blue yelled and shoved through, his force knocking Marak off-balance and leaving his arms thrown open in abject agony.
The useless position left Marak completely vulnerable as Meteo Red used Meteo Blue's now kneeling form to leap forward and through Marak's form, a trail of white light sliding behind the blade. Landing past the Demon, Meteo Red allowed his sword to rest at his side as Marak fell backwards and exploding, providing an awesome backdrop for Meteo Red's heroic pose.
Haru left out a screech of celebration, her earlier nerves evaporating at the sight of the team's successful victory. Turning on the angel, she offered an apologetic smile as she confidently clapped the other woman's back.
"Looks like they won't need my help as a fighter after all. I can work to end things peacefully."
Shekhinah's lips quirked upwards as a shadow seemed to fall over her expression, "Maybe you should look again."
Haru blinked in confusion, unsure of where she was meant to be gazing until the ever dangerous tail still attached to the undestroyed body of Marak's twitched behind the Meteo Rangers' backs.
"Look out!" she screamed as it made the desperate lunge towards Meteo Green's neck, like a dying wolf's final revenge. The ranger and her companions were off-guard and failed to react properly, their evasion and interceptions unable to prevent the attempted strike.
The monster's tail spun off to the side as a bullet exploded into Marak's head, the creature going completely dead as a gunshot rang through the hollow air. All present could only stop and stare as the figure in the brown coat gazed back at them, his eyes sitting above the bandages glinting with a hint of warning.
"I won't save you next time…"
Haru could only stare as the man vanished into a haze of heat, a strange feeling overtaking her in stark contrast to his momentarily cold eyes. "Is he the key to stopping the violence?"
Author's Notes: Sorry it took so long to get this out. Hope it was worth the wait.
