Previously on Doerai: Dawn of the Darkness...

"Urgh..."

Doremi's eyes fluttered open as she got up, shivering.

"Hey... Guys...?"

Yuki got up as well, yawning. "Morning, Doremi-chan."

Akemi shook Nick and Utau. "Nick... Utau-chan... Urrr... Get up!"

"See what I mean?"

"Huh?" Yuki and Doremi looked up to see the girl again, her arms folded.

"Now look here, princess... We're not in Misora anymore. So... I'm gonna find a way back... And I warned you."

She turned heel and proceeded to walk out on them.

"H-Hey!!" Nick exclaimed, getting up. "Who do you think you are?!"

Torikki growled, but she lifted her hand.

"No business of yours."

And just like that, she was gone.

Akemi helped Nick up, and Utau groaned.

"Wow! She's more stubborn than ever... That..." she suddenly stopped, blushing like crazy. "I-I mean... she appears stubborn..."

Yuki and Doremi looked at each other.

"Still..." Yuki started. "She walked out on us. Who was she?"

Doremi shrugged.

Nick just shook his head.

"No... What we need to think about first..."

Akemi sighed, and her boyfriend's eyes gleamed.

"...is a way to get the heck out of here."

(Footage: As the opening begins, we can see a crystal-colored bird flying across the screen.)

Habata itara modoranai to ittte

(You say if you could fly, you would never come back)

(Footage: Nick and Akemi can be seen walking towards the beach, staring towards the sun.)

Mezashita no wa aoi, aoi ano sora

(You aimed for that blue, blue sky)

(Footage: Akemi smiles brightly, leading Nick to do the same. During the instrumental, we pan into the sky as the Doerai: Dawn of the Darkness logo appears on the screen.)

"Kanashimi" wa mada oboerarezu "setsunasa" wa ima tsukami hajimeta

(You've yet to remember "sadness", just now began to grasp "pain")

(Footage: Yuki and Doremi can be seen strolling down the city streets, just happy to be with each other.)

Anata e to daku kono kanjou mo ima "kotoba" ni kawatte iku

(Even the feelings I held onto for you are just now turning into words)

(Footage: Something knocks Doremi to the ground, and Yuki spins around, only to gasp in shock at what she sees.)

Michi naru sekai no yume kara mezamete

(As you awaken from the dream of an unknown world)

(Footage: A tanuki hops off of a nearby building, crossing great distances with very little effort, as if it's looking for someone...)

Kono hane wo hiroge tobitatsu

(Spread your wings and take off)

(Footage: The tanuki sees something and its face lights up. It charges forward, hopping into the arms of a girl. We can't see her features, as her upper half is obscured by the camera.)

Habata itara modoranai to ittte

(You say if you could fly, you would never come back)

(Footage: Nick and Akemi hop away from an energy attack, both holding each other's hands. They stare at each other for a second and nod.)

Mezashita no wa aoi, aoi ano sora

(You aimed for that blue, blue sky)

(Footage: A quick flash of the mysterious girl, then cut back to Nick and Akemi, both glowing with a powerful aura. After about a second, they thrust their hands forward and perform the Double Ojamajo Sparkle Screw, the silver beam of light blinding the screen.)

Tsukinuketara mitsukaru to shitte

(If you break through, you know you'll find it)

(Footage: Yuki pulls Doremi close to her to avoid a barrage of dark energy beams, nodding to the pink witch. The two join hands and begin chanting.)

Furikiru hodo aoi, aoi ano sora

(So try until you break free to that blue, blue sky)

(Footage: A quick flash of another mysterious girl, this one holding a microphone, then cut back to Yuki and Doremi, who thrust their hands into the sky to perform the Double Ojamajo Rewritten Masquerade, the massive collection of energy once again blinding the camera.)

Aoi, aoi ano sora

(That blue, blue sky)

(Footage: Quick flashes of the rest of the Ojamajos in spirit form.)

Aoi, aoi ano sora

(That blue, blue sky)

(Footage: A very familiar pair of blood-red eyes opens, the light covering the screen. When the light clears, we cut to Nick and Akemi at the beach, only this time, they're joined by Yuki and Doremi. Both couples are smiling brightly as the summer sun shines down on them.)

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(Even in the brightest light, there is always a little bit of darkness.)

YukiShinoya444 and S.P.D. Gold Ranger present:

Doerai: Dawn of the Darkness

Story Created: November 9th, 2008

Summary: AU. In the end, there is only a new beginning. The story continues as Nick and his friends go through another set of experiences... And what of the others?

On Today's Episode: As Nick and friends try to find a way out of the strange world they're in, they find more troubles, and more difficulties... And every so often, their thoughts would drift to the mysterious tanuki girl...

Authoress' Notes: This time, I will do the odds and Nick-kun will do the evens! Wai~

Disclaimer: ...Shouldn't it be obvious by now we don't own anything? (by S.P.D. Gold Ranger: EXACTLY, Yuki-chan.)

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Phase 4: As the Stars Vanish One by One (written by S.P.D. Gold Ranger)

As Nick and the girls continued to explore the mysterious locale they'd somehow found themselves in, things would only get more and more confusing.

"Why does it look like the apocalypse and Armageddon hit at the same time?" Yuki wondered, glancing to a collapsed building.

"For the hundredth time, Yuki-chan, I honestly have no idea," Nick answered. "But what REALLY bugs me is the dark energy I'm feeling in the air... it's very familiar, but that can't be possible..."

"What do you mean, Nick?" Akemi wondered, still latched onto Nick's arm.

"I'm more curious about that tanuki girl..." Doremi noted. "Just who the heck was she, anyway?"

"I want to know why that tanuki of hers hates humanity so much..." Nick stated. "It doesn't seem natural. The tales Saiki-kun always told said that tanukis were a kind and noble race..."

Nick didn't notice that Yuki flinched a bit at the mention of Saiki's name. The nightmare she'd had was apparently still having its effect on her...

"There's something about this whole scenario that just doesn't freaking add up," Nick continued. "And something's telling me that this story isn't over yet..."

"We'd best stay close," Akemi stated. "No telling what could happen here..."

"Akemi-chan, we've already been through hell and back... almost literally... in the past two months!" Yuki exclaimed. "Exactly HOW could it get any worse?"

As if to answer Yuki's inquiry, a massive stone hand came crashing down into the landscape just in front of them, which would have crushed the five teenagers had they not jumped away per Nick's orders.

"PLEASE don't say things like that again, Yuki-chan," Doremi stated, clinging to Yuki's arm.

After a few seconds, the owner of the massive stone hand came into view: a massive lava monster about four times the size of the tallest skyscraper they'd seen so far. The monster's right hand was the stone hand they'd seen earlier, but the rest of the creature was made of pure lava and rock.

"Could someone please tell me what that thing is?!" Yuki exclaimed, while Nick shifted into battle stance, ready to fight as always.

Utau, however, looked a little scared.

"No... not the Golem again..."

This left the others confused. "How do you know about that thing, Utau-chan?" Yuki asked.

"LOOK OUT!!!" Utau exclaimed as the Golem raised its left hand for another attack.

Nick simply stood his ground, ready for the Golem's attack.

Just before the giant hand could slam down on the green witch apprentice, Nick materialized Hanyou Hikari and thrust it straight upwards, piercing right through the Golem's hand and causing it to back off as it howled in agony.

"You'll get a LOT worse than just a hole in your hand if you don't back off," Nick stated, pointing Hanyou Hikari forward to emphasize his threat.

The Golem didn't seem to care, raising its wounded arm for one more attack.

"All right, then, buddy, you had your chance!!" Nick exclaimed, hopping into the air to dodge the Golem's attack. Letting gravity power him, Nick dove back to the ground, bringing Hanyou Hikari down and slicing the Golem's hand off in one fell stroke.

This wound was enough to get the Golem to retreat, its pain-filled howls fading with distance.

Nick let Hanyou Hikari rest on his shoulder in a triumphant way. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

Utau, meanwhile, was so stunned she could barely even speak.

"Oh, my god... I've never been able to make so much as a DENT in that freak, but you actually cut his hand off?!" Utau exclaimed. "Only my otou-san's EVER been able to do that kind of damage to the Golem!!"

"Your father must be really strong, then, huh?" Yuki noted.

At this particular comment, Nick took one more look at Utau...

...and all the pieces fell into place.

Nick smiled a little brightly. "You're my daughter, aren't you, Utau-chan?"

This drew a chorus of gasps from everyone else.

"Good guess, dad!!" Utau exclaimed, holding her microphone to her lips. "The name's Utau Suzuki, thirteen years old. My hobbies are singing, ballet, and kicking butt on the battlefield!!"

Akemi looked over at Nick, blushing quite profusely. So THAT'S why she thought I was Nick's wife earlier...

Suddenly, a rustle in the nearby bushes caught the group's attention.

"Hey!!" Nick exclaimed, brandishing his weapon. "Come on out and show yourself!!"

The person in the bushes stepped out, as per Nick's command. He looked to be about Nick's father's age, having short, spiky blonde hair and silver eyes. All of his other features were disguised by the cloak he was wearing. Nick could also see a falcon resting on the man's shoulder.

"Relax, young ones. I am on your side," the man stated. "My name is Hunter. I am the leader of the resistance movement that fights to repel the dark forces from this world. I am so glad to see that all of you are alive."

This only served to confuse Nick even more. "What?"

Hunter lifted his falcon onto his wrist. "Go. Tell the mistress that I have found them."

With that, the falcon rose up and flew off into the night.

"Okay, Hunter, I'm going to ask some real simple questions and I want some real simple answers," Nick demanded. "What in the hell is going on?!"

"A dark force has covered this land for three years," Hunter explained. "The city of Misora was its first target after you four disappeared that fateful day three years ago. Ever since, that evil has ruled the land unchallenged."

"But who could it be?" Yuki wondered.

However, before Hunter could answer that, a rumble shook the area.

Nick looked up, gasped, then ran forward and shoved Akemi to the ground...

...just in time to avoid what would have been a fatal blow from a giant stone hand.

Nick looked back into the sky; there was the Golem again, only this time, both of its hands were crafted out of stone (since Nick had cut off its other natural hand earlier).

"Well, well, well. Look who came back for soda and chips," Nick teased, bringing Hanyou Hikari into a fighting stance. "You want some more?"

The Golem roared in response to this, bringing both of its hands together and sending a powerful shockwave for the group.

Nick swung Hanyou Hikari vertically as the shockwave neared, easily cutting it in two. Nick responded to this by drawing his hand back and unleashing an Ojamajo Arrow of Light that struck the side of the Golem's head, causing the massive lava creature to stumble.

"The frost-covered determination of a shy girl, take this!! Ojamajo Crystal Cannon!!"

Akemi's special attack struck the Golem in the eye, causing it to freeze into a block of ice.

"Over to you, Doremi-chan!!" Akemi exclaimed as the pink witch drew her Star Bow.

Taking careful aim, Doremi set her sights on the Golem's frozen eye.

"I wanted to save this for a special occasion, but I guess this'll work!! Starstorm Arrow!!" Doremi exclaimed, firing her special arrow. The arrow shined like a supernova as it thundered forward and struck the Golem's frozen eye, shattering both the ice and the Golem's eye socket.

Once more, the Golem roared in agony at its wound.

"The bow and string of a determined boy, take this!! Ojamajo Arrow of Light!!"

Nick aimed his special attack right for the Golem's bleeding eye, causing even further damage.

"Ooh, that's GOT to hurt," Doremi noted, causing Yuki to giggle.

"When the world sparkles and the sun retreats to the horizons... Sekai no Hikari, bring forth your light!!"

Once Nick's weapon had transformed, he aimed straight for the Golem's head.

"RAINBOW WAVE!!!"Nick exclaimed, slamming Hanyou Hikari to the ground. This impact created a typhoon of rainbow energy that knocked the Golem to the ground, forcing it to retreat once more.

"They're making this too easy," Nick commented.

"Why don't I take you to Warfang?" Hunter offered. "I'll explain everything there."

"Sounds good to me," Nick responded. "Let's head out."

As the traveling teenagers made their way towards the city in the distance, Nick noticed something about a tower in the distance.

"Wait. Now I know why this dark aura feels so familiar..." Nick noted.

"What do you mean, Nick-kun?" Yuki wondered.

"It's Doerai," Nick stated. "He's returned, hasn't he?"

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Next time:

Phase 5: Countdown to the End of the Day

Hunter leads Nick and the girls to the city of Warfang, where they learn about the circumstances behind Doerai's return. But when Warfang comes under siege by the Golem, and Nick is wounded by the Golem, the others learn that you should never piss off Akemi Suzuki...