Okay, not as big a vent as last time, but I do have to remind readers of something. I'm bad at writing fight scenes. I can only hope you guys can fill in the blanks, but unless I have a decent guide I really cannot do a fight justice. Regardless, it's time to end the second arc. Disclaimer: I don't own Super Sentai, Kamen Rider, Metal Hero, or Fairy Tail.
Chapter 4: The Secret of Daybreak
Everlue growled at Natsu after picking himself up, having been pulled out of the wall. "You vermin... That book belongs to me, therefore the secret inside is mine! So what is it? Some secret treasure map, perhaps?" "Do you really think this Zaleon guy would be so petty?," Natsu retorted, "Not everyone's you, after all. Most of us actually have our heads on straight." Everlue blanched at this. "How dare you assume I am insane! I am the very epitome of culture!" He dove back under the ground again.
"I think I know what's going on with his little digging shtick," Natsu said, "It's some sort of earth-based magic, Diver Magic from the looks of it. But it's really only good for maneuverability. Once he shows his face I'll roast him!" Everlue, however, proved to be just fast enough to keep ahead of Natsu, if only just enough to keep away from his attacks. "What's the big deal about this story, anyway?," Natsu wondered, "You've admitted it's crap so why not just give it up and let us take it?"
"I'll grant you the story is absolute garbage," Everlue admitted, "And to think it was written by the great Kemu Zaleon. How inexcusable!" "You blackmailed him into writing this!," Lucy retorted. "And what's the big deal about that?," Everlue asked, "He just needed extra encouragement to take the job." "Whatever happened to, 'you get what you pay for'?," Happy snarked, "Didn't you think he would spite you for blackmailing him by writing a crappy story?"
"Whatever your reasons," Natsu called out, "It's clear they were rotten. Whatever you may think of yourself, the rest of the world thinks the opposite." "And you even had the audacity to keep him in solitary confinement for three whole years!," Lucy demanded, "Do you even know how hard that is!? Not to mention your form of blackmail was to threaten to strip his family of their citizenship!" Happy gasped. "He can do that!?" "I'm liking you less and less the more I hear about you!," Natsu called out, "You think yourself so superior and cultured, yet you had to stoop to these levels just to get a single story that isn't even any good!?"
He threw a huge punch that managed to connect with Everlue's face as he came out of the ground. Rubbing his cheek, he seemed more annoyed at Lucy than mad at Natsu. "Tell me, young lady. Just how exactly did you find out about all this?" Lucy held up the Daybreak. "It's all right in here, in black and white. Though you probably never realized it, because you don't know. Zaleon wasn't just a world-renowned author... He was a world-renowned wizard!"
Everlue gasped. "I never heard about that. Just what did he do with that book?" Lucy smirked. "After he finished writing the book, he gathered his remaining strength and cast a spell on it that altered the words. The original writing was altered as a result. But here's the real kicker. Only a small portion of the original story is about you. There's more to this story, but it's true secret is something a man like you would never understand, greedy and self-centered as you are. I'll tell something about it though." She held up the key for Cancer. "This book was never truly yours to begin with! Open! Gate of the Giant Crab! Cancer!"
The key opened a giant hole, through which emerged a tanned man wearing barber's clothes and sunglasses, his hair styled like crab legs and actual crab legs coming out of his back. He carried two pairs of scissors that were styled after crab claws. "Good to see you again, Lucy," Cancer said, "Need a trim, baby?" Natsu facefaulted. "He's an actual barber!?" "How do you think I keep my hair looking this good?," Lucy asked, "But that's not what I need today. Cancer, take care of that fat creep over there!"
"I hope he'll do more than just style Everlue's hair," Happy muttered. Everlue himself was trembling in rage. "Crimers! I need assistance!" He then brought out a golden key of his own. "Open! Gate of the Maiden! Virgo!" The others looked shocked at seeing him use a Celestial Key. As the gate opened, numerous Crimers appeared and swarmed the sewers. To make matters worse, the giant maid from before burst through the ground. "So that giant maid is a Celestial Spirit!?," Lucy asked in shock.
There was good news, however, as clinging to Virgo were the six Gokaigers. "What the heck!?," Everlue called out, not believing what he was seeing, "What is the meaning of this!? And you, the silver one! Didn't the Vanish Brothers deal with you!?" Gai chuckled. "Guess this is your first time encountering high-level wizards. I guess all the other ones you disposed of were simpler wizards thinking this job would be easy. But those of us in Fairy Tail are of a higher caliber."
Everlue growled. "Virgo! Crimers! Clean up this rubbish!" The Gokaigers leapt off Virgo's back as she tried to swat them off. "Gai, can you get Everlue?," Marvelous said, "We'll deal with the maid and the Crimers." "Got it," Gai said. As it happened, he was still wearing his Anchor Key armor. The other Gokaigers got out a new set of keys. "Gokai Change!" "JAKQ!" The Crimers got the shock of their lives as the Gokaigers changed into a set of suits with helmets modeled after card suits, except for Luka who changed into a pure white suit with a cane. "JAKQ... Dengekitai!"
Marvelous as Spade Ace, Joe as Dia Jack, Ahim as Heart Queen, and Doc as Clover King, did a quick stomp before leaping into the air, aiming a flying kick as Virgo. "Blitzkrieg Kick!" The attack sent Virgo sprawling. Landing, the Gokaigers then grabbed each other's wrist in a square formation and started spinning. "JAKQ Hurricane!" The whirling attack launched numerous Crimers against the walls, causing them to vanish in a surge of electricity.
As Virgo got up, Luka, as Big One, swung her cane around. "Big One Finish!" A flash of light surrounded the cane, the energy striking Virgo and sending her reeling back. Meanwhile, Gai and Natsu sent Everlue sailing into the air. "Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Lucy got out a large bull whip and wrapped Everlue up in it. "Cancer! Finish it!" In a flurry and strikes, Cancer lashed out with his scissors, landing on his feet as Everlue fell on his back. "All done, baby." Gai and Natsu laughed as Everlue was now completely bald.
"Time to finish this once and for all," Luka said, "Let's go with... Big Bomber!" Marvelous nodded. "Big Bomber!" "Big Bomber!," the other three parroted. "Big Bomber?," Lucy and Natsu asked in confusion. Joe, Doc, and Ahim spun around, Joe and Doc suddenly carrying giant wheels while Ahim had a V-shaped object. One by one they leapt into the air. "Set One!" "Set Two!" "Set Three!" The three pieces were assembled, the V-shape proving to be the frame for a cannon of some kind, which Marvelous got out the barrel for. "Let's combine!"
He leapt over and installed the barrel. "Set Four!" Getting up, he snapped his fingers. "Big One!" Luka came flying in, carrying a missile that looked designed to fit into the barrel of the cannon. "JAKQ's finishing weapon!" She loaded in the missile, then held out her cane. "Big Bomber!" The missile fired out, aimed right at Virgo. Before it hit, it transformed into a giant steel wall that slammed into Virgo, knocking her out once and for all and causing her to disappear, leaving only her key behind.
"Not bad at all," Natsu said. Just then, a rumbling was heard. "Looks like Everlue was so busy tunneling through the foundation of his mansion," Marvelous noted, "He wound up compromising it. Someone grab him. The key too." Natsu grabbed Everlue while Lucy grabbed the key. Once outside, Natsu quipped, "At least we can blame all the damage on someone else. That outta keep the Magic Council off our backs." "I think that's the end of the Crimers, too," Gai noted, "If they were using Everlue as their boss, they might have all moved in there."
Deep inside an ancient cave, an unusual creature roared in frustration. On closer inspection, it seemed to be made up of all the different Combatants that had made their into Earthland. "What troubles you, Combined Combatant?," called out a deep, ancient voice. "One of our parts has been destroyed!," Combined Combatant complained, "The Crimers are no more! That means the Super Sentai have followed us here!" A giant pair of eyes narrowed in the darkness. "That... Is troubling..."
As the group returned to Kaby, Natsu asked, "Hey Lucy. How did you know there's a spell on the book?" "Well," Lucy explained, "When I read it, I couldn't believe it was something written by Kamu Zaleon. I realized it had to be a spell." Kaby was very surprised to be handed the book. "I can understand why you think this has to be destroyed," Lucy noted, "After all, you want to protect your father's legacy, don't you?" Marvelous chuckled. "I thought there was something familiar about Kamu's name. It's a pen name, isn't it? Which means Kaby here is actually his son."
Lucy nodded. "Kaby, have you ever read this book?" "No," Kaby said, "I couldn't bring myself to read it. My father told me it was complete garbage." "That's what your father said," Gai noted, "But how can you know for sure without actually reading it? After all, your father cast a spell on that book to change the writing." Kaby looked surprised to hear that. "But... How... But this book has brought too much heartache to my family. Thirty-one years ago, my father came home after having been missing for three years. He immediately got out a large cord, wrapped it around his arm tightly, and then..."
He couldn't bring himself to finish, but the group understood. Kamu had decided to cut off his writing hand. "He said it was just for the money..." "Well, he lied," Lucy said, "The real reason he wrote for Everlue can be found in that book. And by my estimate, the proof should be revealing itself very soon." Sure enough, the book began to glow, and in an instant the letters began to change. "This is the spell cast by Kamu Zaleon," Lucy noted, "Or rather, Zakua Melon."
The letters on the cover rearranged themselves, changing from Daybreak to Dear Kaby. "This book is actually a letter from your father to you," Lucy said, "The words rearranged so no one else could read it." In that instant, the pages of the book burst open, magical letters flowing like ribbons through the air. Marvelous smiled. "This is the real reason Zakua stopped writing, because he finished his masterpiece... A long list of everything he wanted to say to his beloved son. All cleverly disguised as a disgusting story defaming Everlue."
The spell finished and landed in Kaby's hands. Slowly he turned through each page, each word bringing him closer to tears. "So... The real reason Father was doing all this... I can't believe I wanted this wonderful work destroyed... I almost made a big mistake..." Natsu sighed. "I guess we won't be getting a reward for this." "Huh?," Lucy asked. "Makes sense," Joe said, "The job was to destroy the book, but it looks like Kaby doesn't want it destroyed anymore."
"I'm sorry to put you through such trouble," Kaby said, "If you like, I can still offer a reward for your effort. It's the least I can do." Marvelous considered. "Tempting, but we're pirates, not liars. We can't accept payment for a job we didn't complete." "There's other jobs back with the guild," Luka reasoned, "We can just do one of those to pick up the slack." Lucy sighed in defeat. "If even they think we shouldn't get paid, then we won't be getting anything." "Well then," Natsu said, "We should be getting home. That includes you, Mr. Melon." Lucy looked at Natsu in surprise.
As the Gokai Galleon made its way back to Magnolia, Lucy asked, "Hey Natsu, how did you know Kaby didn't really live at that mansion?" "Well," Natsu said, "He and his wife smelled different from the rest of the mansion." "Not to say he didn't have the money to pay for the job," Gai noted, "You can't lie about the reward you put on the contract, and he was able to rent out the mansion. He probably had some inheritance from his father but lived by simpler means to avoid burglars."
"I guess he rented the mansion to make it seem more plausible that he had the money," Lucy said, "Of course, I would have taken the job anyway. So long as he could pay it wouldn't matter to me where he lived." "That reminds me," Natsu said, "Back at your place Gai asked if you were trying to be a writer after he looked at that stack of papers." Lucy whimpered. "Could you guys promise not to tell anyone? I'm actually a horrible writer, and if anyone saw my work as is, I would just die!"
"Marvelous!," Navi called out, "Smoke signal off the port!" Marvelous looked out. "If they're trying to get our attention, they must be Fairy Tail. Bring her in, lads and lasses!" The Galleon was positioned over where the signal was coming from, and the group rappelled down. Sure enough, standing there near a campfire was Gray, once again stripped down to his boxers. "I thought I recognized your ship," he said, "Sticks out like a sore thumb."
"Why'd you signal for us?," Happy asked. "I was on my way back from a job," Gray explained, "These woods are a quick way back to Magnolia. But when I saw your ship I figured I could get back even quicker." "What's the hurry?," Natsu asked. Gray sighed. "Erza's coming back..." Natsu suddenly freaked out. "That's the other Requip Mage Makarov mentioned," Ahim realized. "Yeah she's the strongest female mage in the Fairy Tail guild," Lucy noted.
"Well," Happy said, "She hasn't fought the Gokaigers yet, so we don't know if that still holds up. She's definitely stronger than Gray or Natsu, though. And really scary..." Before the group could get back on the ship, a sudden explosion occurred, leaving the group buried in sand. Or at least, most of them. "Hey," Natsu said, "What happened to Happy?" They quickly dug themselves out of the sand and hurried to find Happy.
They soon found Happy trussed up over the makings of a fire pit by five strange people, a grey-skinned midget, a pair of twins, a giant humanoid chicken, and some depressed man holding a crystal ball. The Gokaigers quickly blasted the group with their Gokai Guns. "So desperate for meat you'll even stoop to cooking sentient creatures?," Marvelous asked, anger in his voice, "There should be plenty of creatures in this forest that don't talk back to you."
"You're about to pay for trying to roast our friend," Natsu declared, cracking his knuckles. "You guys are wizards, right?," Gray noted, "So what guild are you with?" The grey-skinned man sneered. "Like I'll tell you. Get them, boys." Quickly the Gokaigers got out their keys. "Gokai Change!' "Gokaiger!" As the Fairy Tail team leapt into action, the grey-skinned man hit the ground, causing a magic circle to appear. "Sand Bomb!" Luka quickly changed up her key. "Gokai Change!" "Hurricanger!"
Using the Ninpu power of HurricaneYellow, Luka dove underground to avoid the attack, coming up from the below the sand wizard to uppercut him, catching him off-guard. Meanwhile, the chicken man tried to attack Lucy, only for Gray and Joe to come in and knock him to the ground with a couple strong attacks. "So who's next?," Gray asked. The man with the crystal ball started building up something, but then suddenly said, "You will both see someone special..."
He looked to Gray. "But you will have troubles with water and women." He then turned to Joe. "And you will have to prevent a dark raven from abusing a fiery woman." Gray and Joe sweat-dropped. "So he's just a fortune teller," Joe noted. Gray nodded, and elbowed the guy in the face. Meanwhile, Gai had managed to take out the two twins rather easily. After tying up the group, Happy sighed in relief. "Looks like I'm off the menu..."
"Now, I'll ask again," Gray told them, "What guild are you from? And while we're at it, why are you even out here?" The grey-skinned man muttered, "Lulla... By..." Before Gray could get them to elaborate, a mysterious shadow rushed into the area, knocking the group off their feet and grabbing the rogue wizards, dragging them away at high speeds. "Damn," Luka said, "Whoever it is, they're already long gone. I can't even see a trace of them." "Lullaby," Lucy repeated, "What could they have meant by that?" Gray sighed. "Can I still get that ride?" "Sure," Marvelous said, "But clothes are mandatory." Gray gasped when he learned he had managed to lose his clothes during the melee.
Back in Magnolia, the city folk looked on in shock and amazement as a young woman with long red hair and dressed in armor carried a giant monster horn several times her size over her head with one hand, and was still walking. It seemed almost effortless. She stopped only when she heard the sound of the Gokai Galleon passing overhead. "Looks those are the new recruits I've heard about," she said, "Perfect timing. I could use some additional help."
To be continued...
This arc is done, but it segues into the next, so stay tuned. Read and review.