Previously on Doerai: Dawn of the Darkness...
"What's wrong?"
"Upset about the kid?" Torikki growled. "What I wouldn't give..."
Akemi gulped, her heart picking up the pace.
"What do you... know about Yuki-chan?"
"Huh? The princess was your friend, wasn't she?"
"Yes, but..."
"Don't be so stressed, crystal-hair." The tanuki barked, obviously annoyed.
"The princess is exactly who she is, and don't poke your head into someone else's business. I feel sorry for your loss..."
"Please don't..." Akemi whispered, backing away. "Please don't, Torikki-kun."
No reply.
The crystal witch shook her head, blushing even more than ever.
Stupid, stupid, STUPID!!
She spun around to Nick's wavering figure in the distance.
..!!!
Her eyes widened, her pupils shrinking in the bright light.
No... Oh... Oh, no...
(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 the group continues its journey, problems arise and more tragedies occur. Hitomi notices but makes her choice. Nick notices, and struggles with one of the most difficult choices he may ever have to make...
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 10: Leaving Sadness in the Starry Night (written by S.P.D. Gold Ranger)
Much of the next leg of the trip was silent as Nick, Hitomi, Utau, and Akemi continued their journey through the Burned Lands.
Every so often, Akemi would cast a glance at Nick, still very worried about her upset boyfriend. Momo-chan told me once that Nick's never easily been able to open up, even around her... I've gotta help him try. Maybe he'll feel better if he can tell me what's on his mind...
Akemi smiled a bit. If Momo-chan can't help him open up, I've gotta try. Nick needs me more than ever now.
Making up her mind, the crystal witch tapped Nick on the shoulder. "Nick? Could I talk to you for a second?"
Nick just nodded.
"Could you excuse us, girls?"
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"DAMN IT!!!"
"It seems the princess and her lover knew, Master Doerai. They knew of the power sealed within them. What shall we do now that we can't access that power?"
"This is only a minor setback, my apprentice. We will attain that power somehow. Make no mistake."
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"Something on your mind, Akemi?"
With that, Akemi just decided to take a chance. "I was hoping you could answer that question, Nick."
"Huh?"
"Momo-chan once told me that you've never been able to open up easily, even to her. It just pains me to see you like this..."
"It's tough, Akemi. Only Momoko's ever seen my sad side before..."
"Why don't you let it out? I'm sure you'll feel much better..."
Nick nodded, and with that, he couldn't take it anymore and just burst out crying. Akemi simply held him close to her as he continued to cry.
"There, there." There wasn't much else Akemi could bring herself to say.
After about fifteen minutes, Nick's crying had subsided somewhat. He was feeling much better, having purged a lot of torment in his tears.
"You feeling any better, Nick?" Akemi asked.
"Lots," Nick responded. "Thanks, Akemi."
The crystal witch giggled. "No problem. Now why don't you tell me what's on your mind?"
Seeing no more reason to hold anything back, Nick decided to say his piece. "I've always had my own special relationships with them. Doremi-chan had been my first friend since I was very young. It's really hard to let go of your first friendship like that. Even after I met Momoko and subsequently fell head over heels for her, I never let go of my friendship with Doremi-chan. She was my first true friend growing up, and there was no way in hell I'd just let it go like that."
"And Yuki-chan?"
"We all know she's had a rough childhood because of her dark powers. Saiki-kun was the first person who was able to touch her heart, and I was apparently the second. Saiki-kun and I were the first people she'd allowed to touch her heart like that. I'd always believed in her no matter what the circumstances were, especially after Saiki-kun was murdered and she said those hurtful things to me. I never gave up on her no matter what the circumstances were, and that's why I've always liked Yuki-chan in my own special way."
Akemi's smile had been growing this whole time. She was very proud of her boyfriend. "There, now was that so hard?"
"I guess not. Arigatou, Akemi."
Akemi leaned over and kissed Nick passionately. When she pulled back, she was smiling brightly. "Remember, Nick, if there's EVER anything you want to talk about, I'll be there to listen, okay?"
"No problem."
"Hey, otou-san!! You feeling any better?" Utau's unmistakable voice rang out.
"Yeah, I should be, Utau-chan. Akemi and I just talked for a while."
"You still upset about the princess?" Hitomi asked, having just walked onto the scene.
"A little," Nick responded. "It really helped talking with Akemi about it."
"Well, shall we continue on, then?"
"Good idea, Hiko-chan."
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"Say, dad, do you want to hear a song I wrote? It should make you feel a little better!!" Utau exclaimed, her microphone already out.
"If you think you can, go for it," Nick replied. Utau had already begun singing.
sora tooi sora
tsubuyaita koe
anata no yume wa ima hoshi no sharin wo mawasu
(Sky, far away sky
A murmured voice
Your dream now turns the wheel of the stars)
"Wow, she really IS a good singer!!" Akemi exclaimed.
"No kidding. I could have told you that," Hitomi giggled.
watashi itsumo doko ni mo inai
sou kanjiteta sono hitomi shiru made wa
(I felt like I would never be anywhere,
until I felt your eyes on me.)
Nick soon found himself lost in his future daughter's beautiful singing. She really CAN sing well...
mune no katasumi kaketa tsuki ga hitotsu aru dake
demo donna ni hosoi michi mo terasu you ni hikaru
(There is but one eclipsed moon in the corner of my heart...
May it shine enough to light up whatever narrow path you take.)
Hitomi giggled, but suddenly felt something strange in the air. "Wait a minute..."
sotto hoshi-tachi ga yubisashite-iru
anata no yuku saki wa suishou no mori ni naru
(Quietly, the stars point the way,
And the path before you becomes a forest of crystals.)
watashi itsuka kono te no hira de
anata no koto subete kara mamoritai
(Someday, I want to protect you from everything,
cradled in the palm of my hands.)
atatakai yoru mada chiisa na tsuki no sumu ie
demo anata ga nemuru toki wa yasashii akari tomosu no
(On a warm night as you sleep,
A gentle light lights up a house where a small moon still dwells)
Whoa... it's like all the stress is just draining out from me... Nick thought, still lost in the song.
Utau seemed to notice this. "That's the idea of Tsuki no Ie! It's meant to make all your troubles just float away!!"
Smiling brightly, Utau decided to finish up her song.
mune no katasumi kaketa tsuki ga hitotsu aru dake
demo donna ni hosoi michi mo terasu you ni hikaru
(There is but one eclipsed moon in the corner of my heart...
May it shine enough to light up whatever narrow path you take.)
By the time the song was over, Nick and the others were applauding loudly. Hitomi, however, was more concerned with the mysterious presence she felt.
"What was that?" Hitomi asked nobody in particular.
Then, almost as if to answer Hitomi's question, something destroyed a good chunk of the ground around them and popped up from the lava flows below.
"No... not him..." Hitomi stated, worry filling her voice. "Not the Dragoon..."
"What are you talking about, Hiko-chan?" Utau chimed in.
"You don't remember that thing, Utau-chan?" Hitomi responded.
"I never forgave that thing for what he did to okaa-sama," Utau growled.
However, before Akemi could ask what Utau meant by this, the Dragoon had already launched one of its long arms out and snatched Nick right off of the ground.
"NICK!!!!" Akemi exclaimed. "LET HIM GO, YOU LAVA FREAK!!!"
The Dragoon shook his head. "I don't think so. This boy is mine."
In response to this, the Dragoon's grip on Nick tightened, as if ready to squeeze the life out of him.
Nick, however, simply grinned and shut his eyes. The seven Majokai Crystals appeared around him.
"What?!" the Dragoon exclaimed, still tightening its grip on Nick, but it was not to be, as the instant Nick disappeared from sight in the Dragoon's fist, golden energy exploded outwards, crumbling the Dragoon's hand and showing that Nick had taken the opportunity to transform into his super form, his golden hair flowing in the aura surrounding him.
Not wasting a single second, Nick flew forward, surrounding himself with energy as he crashed straight through the Dragoon's chest, flying around to where the Dragoon couldn't reach him.
"You are beginning to annoy me, boy," the Dragoon stated.
"Yeah, yeah, tell it to someone who cares!!" Nick shot back, focusing his energy.
All of a sudden, back down on solid ground, Torikki hopped out of Hitomi's arms and rushed towards the Dragoon.
"Torikki-kun, WAIT!!!" Hitomi exclaimed, fearing for her tanuki's safety.
Torikki stopped just short of the lava flows the Dragoon had appeared from, glowing with a ruby red light.
"Torikki-kun?"
"Phoenix Ring!!!" Torikki exclaimed, a red ring of energy shooting towards the Dragoon and knocking it off balance.
"Go for it, kid!!" Torikki exclaimed. Nick nodded, taking this chance to fly forward and slam his knee into the Dragoon's face, causing it to stumble forward, dazed.
Akemi was REALLY surprised. "Did Torikki-kun really just do that?"
Hitomi nodded. "I didn't even know he could do that..."
"All right, time to end this!!" Nick exclaimed, charging up an Ojamajo Arrow of Light that would hopefully end the battle quickly.
However, before Nick could launch his attack, the Dragoon dipped his destroyed hand into the lava, thus reforming it, and reached out to grab both Akemi and Utau in its grasp.
Before Nick could make a move to stop the Dragoon, it only tightened its grip on the two girls.
"I want you to make a choice, kid. Which do I kill? Your daughter? Or your little lover?"
"YOU JERK!!!" Hitomi exclaimed, ready to shoot off a Phoenix Flare.
"Ah, ah. No tricks or I kill them both. So which one is it going to be?"
Nick could only float there, not sure what to do.
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Next time:
Phase 11: Emptiness of the Starry Skies
With an ultimatum that Nick can't possibly get around, how is he going to stop the Dragoon from killing the two people who mean the most to him? It's a mystery that Hitomi may be able to solve...