Hello sooooo hi ;p. It's been a long while. So for the ungodly long update. I was busy with exams and I got a new job so I've been really busy with all that new stress and didn't have the extra time to write. But now the next episode is out! Yay! Fireworks! Explosions! I also got to 11k reads so that's freaking awesome :3. Thanks again to Cold-heart-Angel23, MonoTheMonochrome, and wueydh12 for reviewing the last chapter. I really, really, really, really hope this episode was worth the wait :D
*please excuse all spelling and grammar errors
OP: Your Story Fairytale Pretty Cure! – written by SAYkokoro
ED: DREAM! DREAM! DREAM! ~Waking Up Your Future~
Episode 28: |A Father's Wish! My Rainbow!|
Once upon a time, a young girl lost her smile.
She was a beautiful girl with long blonde hair and light green-coloured eyes. The only thing that rivaled her beauty was her kind heart. Even so, she couldn't find a reason to smile anymore. She had received word from her father that, as the heiress of the Ōmitsu Household, she would be given away to the eldest son of the Taiki Household. It was decided and their wedding date had been finalized. And so the young girl lay alone on the grass on the outskirts of her household crying softly to herself.
Through her tears, she thought it was selfish of her, but she didn't want to get married, at least, not to a complete stranger. Someone she wasn't in love with and whom didn't love her in return. But, this was the will of the Ōmitsu and Taiki Household. She had no control over this decision to combine the two powerful families.
The girl looked up to the bright blue sky and cloud-filled air. She wished she could hop onto one of those fluffy white clouds and just fly away. Fly away forever. Fly away from all her responsibilities as her family's heiress. But, she was trapped on the ground.
"Maybe marriage won't be so bad," she murmurs to herself, half-heartedly believing her own words. "Maybe Hisayasu-sama will be a nice man. Father made him sound nice anyhow. Maybe we could fall for each other…maybe. Maybe. Maybe. I'm really starting to hate that word right now—!"
Suddenly, the clouds in the sky broke apart and a ball of yellow-coloured light fell from the air.
The girl gasped as she scrambled to her feet. "Is the sun falling?!"
No, this ball of light was barely her own size and wasn't rushing to the earth. It was floating down with a strong sense of grace. Small white-coloured specks of sparkle speckling off the orb of light and flutter to the ground and as they land, small daisies bloom in their touch.
Once the ball of light hit the ground, it melted away, the sparkles disappearing into the sky. In place of it was a…man? But, not like any man the young girl had ever seen in her life. He was a fair-skinned man with eye-catching light-green hair and bizarre elf-looking ears that stuck out the sides. The man also possessed handsome turquoise eyes. He wore a white cloak with a single bright green stripe going down, a golden chain in front adored with turquoise-coloured jewels, and a grey-blue tunic underneath that reminded the girl of a man's traditional kimono.
The man surrounded by twinkling light was mesmerizing. The girl stood there completely bewitched by him. She practically tripped over nothing and stumbled forward, catching the man's attention. His eyes widen, catch off guard by her presents.
"For the love of light magic who is this enchantress?"
Those were the first words that flew out of the boy's mouth and laughter soon burst out of the girl's. She quickly cupped her mouth to silence then, but to no effect as she giggled so hard that her sides started to ache. "W-what?"
The man anxiously blinked his eyes and grabbed at his cloak. "Uh, um, I mean…h-how's it hanging? Y-you…you come here o-often?"
"Well this is my backyard," chuckled the girl. "Now, are you going to explain how the heck you just came down from the sky in a ball of light? I mean, what are you, a fairy or something?"
The boy's face turned bright red. "A fairy?! I am not one of the stuffed animals!"—the man looks up at the sky—"n-no offence, Your Majesty."
"Y-you're so weird!" laughed the girl breathlessly.
"And you were crying," said the boy, sheepishly scratching the back of his neck. "Y-you're eyes are puffy and red and y-your cheeks look wet."
The small smile slipped off the girl's face and she dejectedly tucked a lock of her blonde hair behind one ear. "Life. Just…life is not really going so well right now." A fresh tear fell down her face and she frantically brushed it away, but a new one simply replayed it. "Ha. Sorry. The last thing I need to do is cry in front of an elf-man stranger. Haha."
The man took a step closer to the girl. "I-it's okay to cry. Y-you know, t-they say tears flow through the soul and cleanse the heart." He fidgeted with his golden chain. "And s-since you're crying and all, I'm going to over look you calling me an elf-man so…you're welcome."
The girl let out another laugh, but the tears still bubble over.
The boy took another step closer to the girl and pulled something out from his cloak sleeve. A long white…stick? No. Sticks don't glow with sparkles blooming out of the end. It like a…wand. Like magic wand. The man nervously looked up at the girl before pointing the wand into the sky and murmured a strange incantation that the girl didn't recognize.
Suddenly, the clouds in the air started to swirl together and floated down towards the girl. She blinked in amazement as the fluffy clouds started to morph and transform into shapes of animals. One a fawn, one a bunny, one a baby bird, and one a frog. They all danced around the girl and she broke into a bright smile. The tears stopped as the animal-clouds sing out to her with their chirps and ribbits. The girl giggled and twirled around with them as the spin with her.
The man looked on at the girl and smiled. The girl looked past the animal-shaped clouds and smiled vividly at him, making his heart soar.
"Who…who are you?" she asked with sparkling eyes.
The boy anxiously scratches at his bangs. "Just your local wizard passing by on his way to work." He bowed before the young lady with an anxious smile on his face. "Haha. Hikaru. My name is Hikaru. It's an honour to meet you, young maiden."
"The honour is mine, Hikaru the Wizard," giggled the girl as she playfully curtseyed. "My name is Juri. It's read as 'glass pearl' and I'm the heiress of the Ōmitsu Household. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Juri," hummed the man, letting her name roll of his tongue like a prayer. "Believe me, the pleasure is all mine, Juri."
It was a moment, one small moment, but Juri forgot about all her troubles when she looked on at the man with elf ears and green hair standing before her. With the clouds dancing around them, their hearts began beating in time with each other. Neither of them realized it, but truelove had brought the two of them together, connecting their worlds, their two paths and would never let them part.
Once upon a time, a young heiress lost her smile, but a powerful wizard helped her find it again.
I was only 5-years-old when I lost Dad so I don't remember him very well. But, I have pictures so I never forget what he looked like. I don't remember too much, I mean, I was so little. But, there is one memory I manage to bear inside my heart and protect throughout my life.
I remember a drumhead thumbing like a heartbeat. I remember the jingles of cymbals. Rattling. The sound of a tambourine. There was hardly any rhythm to it. No sense of beat or pattern. I remember a hand shaking the tambourine. I think it was mine. Must have been. 5-year-old Nijiko thrashing around the tambourine. I was overzealous for sure. If I took a guess, I think Little Me was trying to clap hands with it.
I was sitting on Dad's lap so I couldn't see his face all too well, but I could hear him. He was laughing. A light-hearted laugh and I know he was smiling down at me with all his heart. We were both sitting on the carpet together. I loved lying down on that carpet. It was so soft.
Across from us was Mom. I remember her best because of her flowing blonde hair and beaming smile. She was strumming away on her old guitar as she sang to me like she didn't have a care in the world. Maybe, in that moment, she really didn't.
"My precious rainbow
How your colours flood my mind
Oh, my precious rainbow
How your smile lifts my spirits
My dear precious rainbow
I wish you could see your beauty too
When the clouds part
And the rain and sun become one
You will shine across this endless sky"
I remember that song. My family's special song. Every night before I would go to bed, Mom and Dad would sing this special song to me. When I grew bigger, I would begin to try singing along with Mom and Dad. When I grew older, I memorized the song. I learned it backward and forwards. When I grew wiser, I started playing the tambourine alongside Mom on her guitar.
But, this day was extra special. It was my 5th birthday. A half-eaten homemade chocolate cake was still sitting on the kitchen table and wrapping paper was scattered all over the ground. I'm pretty sure I spend the rest of my birthday sprinting around the house with my new toys and burning off my chocolate cake sugar rush.
Eventually, poor little Nijiko crashed on the living room carpet and was scooped up into her dad's arms.
"So, what did you wish for, my rainbow?" Hikaru asks his daughter. "I sure hope you remembered to make a wish when you blew out your candles."
"I did!" announces Nijiko with a wide grin. "But, I'm not telling!"
Hikaru blinks. "Why not?"
Juri winks at her husband. "Your silly daddy doesn't understand the importance of a little lady's candle wish, my rainbow."
Nijiko pouts. "But, Mom, I'm not a little lady. I'm a little girl."
Both Hikaru and Juri burst into laughter and Nijiko confusedly tips her head to her side.
"Yes, Nijiko-chan," smiles Juri as she wipes a tear from her eye. "You are a little girl. Our precious rainbow."
"That's right," nods Nijiko. "And don't you forget it!"
"Never," her mom laughs.
"You know, my rainbow," Hikaru muses as he props her up on his knee. "Wishes are one of the most important things in the world, y'know."
"Really?" blinks Nijiko curiously. "Why? It was just a wish."
Hikaru shakes his head. "It might seem like a tiny wish. But, one day, those wishes will get bigger and bigger until they turn into powerful dreams."
"Dreams?" echoes Nijiko with shimmering eyes.
Hikaru smiles down at his little daughter. "Dreams are the most important thing in this world, my rainbow. Dreams ignite your heart with determination and scared away all your fears. Dreams are stronger than anything"—Hikaru reaches out a grabs his wife's hand in his own—"even magic."
I remember Mom's smile was full of love as she looks on at Dad. Because she was in love. Yep. Once upon a time. Once upon a long, long time life was perfect. So long ago that I barely remember it. It's funny, I guess, but I've been replaying that memory over and over again ever since I became a Pretty Cure. It makes me see this memory in a different light than I had before. Not as the last memory of Dad, but the first memory I have of my real Dad. The side of Dad I never knew about. The Hikaru from Fanciful Kingdom. The Royal Wizard of Fanciful Kingdom. The Hikaru who mentored Kuroizado.
Not only that, but it was also the first memory of how dreams easily trump magic. How my own dad told me that dreams are stronger than magic, more important than magic. That's how it would always be.
The Pretty Cure of Dreams would always be better than the Pretty Cure of Magic.
Imari Suzukawa would always be better than Nijiko Ōmitsu.
That's what that memory tells me now.
"ARE YOU AN IDIOT~KURU?!"
Whack!
"First, you attack a human boy~kuru!"
Whack!
"Then you get caught by Tomoka's butler~kuru!"
Whack!
"And then instead of playing it off, you talk to both of them, spilling all the beans, and then continue chasing the first guy~kuru! Are you kidding me~kuru?!"
Whack! Whack!
"Ow, ow, OW~buku!" gasps Bukku as Kuiru continues to smack his little brother in the head with a paper fan. "Alright, alright already, Kuiru. Take it easy~buku!"
"I WILL WHEN YOU STOP BEING A COMPLETE IDIOT~KURU!" snaps Kuiru with fire blazing in his eyes.
Whack! Whack! Whack!
"Ow, ow, OUCH~buku!" yelps Bukku. "Stop it~buku! Can't you just erase their memories with magic or something~buku?"
"No~kuru!" barks Kuiru. "That's strictly dark magic territory~kuru! And I am not given up my magic morals to dig you out of your hole of stupidity~kuru!"
Whack! Whack! WHACK!
"Okay, girls, tea's ready," hollers Tomoka as she carries a tray of tea out of the kitchen to her friends, walking straight past the raging fairy brothers without a second glance.
"Thanks, Tomoka," beams Imari as her friend set down the tea on Nijiko's coffee table.
Nijiko grins. "And what delicious tea do you have for us to try today?"
Tomoka's blue-coloured eyes immediately light up. "This one of called hojicha! It has a rich toasty flavour to it! I think you guys will love it!"
"Cool," nods Nijiko as she holds her tea up to her lips. She gives it a careful blow before taking a small sip. Nijiko makes the point to loudly smack her lips. "Taste good to me."
"I second that!" chimes in Imari as she plops a sugar cube into her cup. That wouldn't gonna be the last one.
"Great!" smiles Tomoka as she takes a seat next to her friends.
Nijiko playfully rolls her eyes. "You're just a tea nerd."
Tomoka blushes and covers her face with her teacup. "N-no I'm not! Well…m-maybe just a little bit. B-but only a tiny bit!"
"Whatever you say, nerd," Nijiko snickers as she swirls her drink around amusingly.
"—and now we have two humans who know about us, you idiot~kuru!" barks Kuiru.
Whack!
"Geez, enough already, Kuiru!" squeaks Bukku. "I'm sorry, alright~buku! How many times do I have to say it~buku?! Now stop it~buku! You're gonna bust my crown~buku!"
"You little—"
Whack!
Nijiko points over to the fighting princes. "Uh, should we do something about that?"
Tomoka simply shrugs her shoulders. "Whenever my brothers fought, my father and mother would just lock them in their bedrooms until they sorted it out."
"Your parents are very wise," nods Nijiko. "Apple doesn't fall far from the tree it seems."
Tomoka giggles. "I guess not."
Imari claps her hands together. "Oh! That reminds me! How is Tomokazu settling in?"
Tomoka waves this off. "It's not like that, Imari. He's just staying until his concert is over. Though…it has been really nice." She tips her head to the side. "Kind of like old times."
"And how's…your dad?" Imari asks a bit hesitantly.
But, she's relief to see her friend smile. "Actually, really great! As a matter of fact, he's going out with Tomokazu today to get him a new violin for his concert." She sticks out her tongue. "You know, since his old one transformed into one of the Fairytale Instruments and all."
"He's really trying," smiles Imari. "That's great!"
Tomoka nods her head eagerly. "I guess when it comes to family, in the end, we learn to understand each other's feelings and forgive each other."
Nijiko rolls her eyes. "I don't know about that."
Imari and Tomoka exchange a look. "What was that, Nijiko?"
"Nothing," mutters Nijiko as she gets up from her seat.
"Where are you going then?" asks Tomoka.
Nijiko snorts at her friend's concerned expression. "Relax. I'm just need to listen to my messages or whatever."
Her friends go back to chatting as she walks into her kitchenette where her home phone sits and sees the flashing light of a missed message. She quickly presses the play button and leans up against the fridge.
"You have one new message," states in the messenger's voice. Nijiko rolls her eyes, quickly recognizing the number at the beginning of the message.
"Bonjour, mon amour!" chimes in a boy's voice.
It immediately catches Imari and Tomoka's attention and they bolt their heads up from their seat, their fingers both curled across the top of the couch as they eye down the phone like homing missiles.
"Boy?" asks Imari.
"Boy," nods Tomoka.
"Nijiko got a call from a boy," they say in union.
The back of the Nijiko's neck start to sweat. "Okay. You guys are being really weird right now. I mean, weirder than usual."
The voice on the phone chuckles. "It's your Suru, if you hadn't figured that out yet. Haha."
Suddenly, Bukku's head pops up from over Imari's shoulder. "His name's Suru?"
Kuiru appears beside him and nods. "Suru is his name."
"SERIOUSLY?! THIS IS WHAT'S STOPPING YOU TWO FROM FIGHTING?!" scoffs Nijiko is disbelief and a reddened face.
"I haven't heard from you in a while, mon amour," continues the boy. "But, I'm sure your going fine. You always are. Haha. I'm just getting to the airport. I hope you remembered, mon amour. Then again, you haven't called me back yet. Haha. Anyways, can't wait to see you. Au revoir, mon amour!"
"Au revoir?" echoes Imari puzzled.
"It's French," explains Tomoka.
"Why is Nijiko getting a call from a French boy~buku?" wonders Bukku.
"No, no, no~kuru," says Kuiru. "He's not French~kuru. No accent~kuru."
"Then who's Suru?"
All of them eye down Nijiko. "Who. Is. Suru. Nijiko?"
Nijiko rolls her eyes for the millionth time that day and deletes the message. "He's no one. Geez, you guys are obsessed."
Tomoka nods her head and turns back to Imari. "Oh, that reminds me. Kazu-oniisan invited us to watch his concert. Would you guys want to go?"
"How did a mysterious French boy remind you about your brother's concert~buku?" asks Bukku with a deadpan expression.
"Of course!" beams Imari, pushing Bukku's comment to the backburner. "That would be awesome! I would love to hear Tomokazu play when we're not, you know, getting attacked by an Endingu."
"I know right," laughs Tomoka.
Kuiru flies up into the air. "But, yes, that does sound like an excellent idea, Cure Mythical." He props himself down onto the coffee table. "If we're going to continue our quest to reunite all four of the Fairytale Instruments, the best way for us is to do that is to engulf ourselves in music~kuru. Something like a concert would definitely attract a Fairytale Instrusment~kuru."
Nijiko pushes herself off the fridge. "Um…do you mind, Tomoka? I mean, if we can see the Sapphire Violin again?"
"Not at all," grins Tomoka as she reaches down and grabs her book bag from her feet. She pulls her PreHeartBook out and opens it up. "Could I see my Sapphire Violin for a moment please?"
Like the PreHeartBook could hear Tomoka's request, the open pages illuminate a soft blue glow and her Fairytale Instrument floats up from the pages and finds its home in Tomoka's arms.
Tomoka smiles breathlessly at the beautiful violin. "I-it's hard to believe that Kazu-oniisan's old violin was a Fairytale Instrument this whole time! Ever since I was little girl. It's kind of surreal, you know? That, even back then, magic was already on my path."
Kuiru nods his head. "Well, you know what they say, there is no such thing as coincidences~kuru." He soars over to the Sapphire Violin and brushes his paw gently along its side. "Hikaru and…Kuroizado taught me that it was believed that, like the PreHeartBooks, the Fairytale Instruments have a mind of their own~kuru." He looks up and smiles at Tomoka. "That's why I truly believe that the Sapphire Violin knew that you were destined to become the Pretty Cure of Wisdom and found its way to you through your brother~kuru."
Tomoka's eyes soften and she gently hugs the Sapphire Violin. "Then, I hope it can sense my gratitude for finding me and protecting my family." The small blue gems let off a light dazzle.
Kuiru grins. "You know, Cure Mythical, I think it does~kuru."
Imari narrows her eyes and points at the violin. "Hold on a miniute…um…what's that?" Everyone looks down at what Imari's is looking at. "Is that a…lock?"
Imari was right. At the center of the Sapphire Violin, is a lock. Bigger than an ordinary door lock, but imbedded as a part of the instrument that someone could easily overlook.
"I don't…" Tomoka murmurs confusedly. "I don't remember the violin coming with a key?"
"Kuiru, you're the Pretty Cure expert~buku. What is this~buku?" says Bukku.
Kuiru shakes his head. "I-I don't know I…the stories never mentioned anything about having to find a key~kuru!"
"Oh boy," huffs Nijiko. "So are you telling me we have four magical keys now to find?"
"I…um…I-I don't know," admits Kuiru.
Nijiko rolls her eyes. "Whatever." She leans up at the back of the cough and gazes down at the Sapphire Violin over Tomoka's shoulder. "Then I guess I need to find my Fairytale Instrument then, right?"
"Most likely~kuru," nods Kuiru, not taking his eyes off the Sapphire Violin.
Nijiko snorts at this. "Most likely? Are you kidding me right now? Imari can't transform anymore so finding her Fairytale Instrument would be pointless! We haven't even found our fourth member yet so what good would it do if we found her Fairytale Instrument when we have no one who can use it! I'm the only opinion here!"
Kuiru sighs. "I understand your frustration, Cure Enchant. Believe me, I do~kuru. We're two warriors down and I can feel Kuroizado growing in power~kuru. But, we must not get discouraged~kuru. We have people depending on us~kuru."
"I know," murmurs Nijiko as she glances over at Imari.
To her surprise, her friend gives her a bright smile. "It's okay, Nijiko. We gotta look on the positive side! You two are really strong warriors together and Tomoka found one of the Fairytale Instruments! That sounds like progress to me!"
Normally, a bright smile like that would make anyone feel more at ease. But, this only made Nijiko's temper rise, almost clawing at her skin as her fists tighten.
"Well, I think what we need right now is for me to step up as leader," claims Nijiko, folding her arms in front of her chest.
"Leader?" blinks Tomoka as Nijiko proudly puts her hands on her hips.
"Naturally," states Nijiko. "Imari can't transform anymore so what good's a leader who lost the ability to fight?"
"Um…I-I guess that makes sense," murmurs Tomoka as she grabs at her ringlets. "But…"
"Huh?! I was the leader?!" gushes Imari in disbelief.
This causes Nijiko to nearly fall right over and smack her face on the floor. "WHAT?! YOU MEAN YOU'VE BEEN THE PINK CURE THIS WHOLE TIME AND HAD NO IDEA THAT YOU WERE THE LEADER?! I COULD HAVE BEEN LEADER THIS WHOLE FLIPPING TIME?!"
"I mean…I never said I was the leader," points out Imari. "Besides, I don't think I would be much of a leader."
"Clearly!" exclaims Nijiko. "You've been leader this whole time and didn't even know it!"
Imari sheepishly scratches the back of her head. "Haha. Yeah, I guess that 'bout sums it up."
"I agree with Cure Enchant," speaks Kuiru after pondering quietly to himself. "This is a problem we had yet to address~kuru. Since Imari is…out of commission, perhaps a new leader is our best option right now in order to become stronger~kuru."
Bukku gives the group a concerned expression. "And you really think Nijiko is our best option for a new leader~buku?"
Nijiko practically climbs right over the couch and comes face-to-face with the small fairy prince with blazing eyes. "What's that suppose to mean?"
Bukku folds his arms, shoving his face into Nijiko's. "I'm just saying, maybe your big-headedness is not what we need right now in terms of a new leader~buku."
"Geez, aren't you the one to talk," glares Nijiko, shoving her face back at the fairy prince. "Don't act like you're not stubborn and hot-tempered! What do you know about being a leader?"
Just then, Imari grabs the two of them by the back of their heads. "Hey, no fighting!" She starts pushes their faces together, smushing their cheeks together more and more until it starts to hurt. "Nijiko will make a great leader! She's strong-willed, fearless, and super awesome! So don't sweat it!"
Bukku attempts to nod his head. "O-okay~buku. Fine~buku. Nijiko's the new leader~buku. She has Prince Bukku's stamp of approval~buku. So…could you let go of us then~buku."
"Gladly!" beams Imari as she releases both of their heads. The two nearly fall over as they quickly break apart.
Tomoka lets out a well needed sigh. "Glad that's settled."
Nijiko leans back beside her friend satisfied. "Don't worry about a thing, Tomoka. I'll find my Fairytale Instrument and Kuroizado and those stupid Dark Charm Knights won't know what hit 'em."
Tomoka smiles. "I have no doubt." She politely gets up from her seat and pulls out her cell phone. "I'll call Kazu-oniisan to be sure he saves us some seats!" She leans and a grins mischievously. "And then you're gonna spill the beans about that mysterious French boy."
Nijiko pokes Tomoka in the nose. "Shut up."
"Hey, isn't this gonna be our second time to a concert?" realizes Tomoka as the group gets to the concert hall.
"Oh yeah," gasps Imari. "We came here for Juno Light's concert. I remember now."
Nijiko rolls her eyes. "Yeah, I also recall that my mom was turned into an Endingu and ruined everything. Good times, good times."
"Oh god," groans Tomoka has she face palms. "That cannot happen again."
Nijiko raises an eyebrow. "Are we really that lucky?"
Tomoka sighs. "Then, make sure you have your PreHeartBook close to you. Just in case."
"Agreed," huffs Nijiko as she looks on ahead. "By the way, Tomoka. Did your brother say what kind of concert this was? Like a band or something?"
Tomoka suddenly stops in her tracks and Nijiko nearly knocks into her. Tomoka slowly turns her head around like a rusty screw and she gives her friend a guilty grin. "Okay so…don't be mad…"
Nijiko raises an eyebrow. "What are you hiding?"
Tomoka twiddles her thumbs, "…But Kazu-oniisan said he's was going to be playing backup for his number one idol of all time and the only music idol he's ever blabbed about was…your…mom…yeaaah."
"Of course," huffs Nijiko as she takes in a deep breath and irritably rubs at her temper.
Nijiko quickens her pace with Tomoka and Imari hurrying behind her. They turn the corner and Nijiko looks up at the concert building. Sure enough, there were giant banners of Juno Light decorating the concert walls.
"B-but I mean…who isn't a super fan of Juno Light, am I right? Haha," Tomoka tries to joke as she steps in line with her friend. "T-the chance to stand beside his idol, how could my brother refuse?!"
"…"
"I-I mean, Juno-sama was a huge inspiration to him! S-she was the heiress of the Ōmitsu Family, but went against her family's wishes to pursue her dream! W-what am I saying, she's your mother, o-of course you know all about that! Haha!"
"… …"
"Juno-sama's is starting a world tour! I-it's a big opportunity for my brother! Um…w-what was it called again…uh—"
"—My Rainbow World Tour."
A rainbow-coloured banner designs ones the top of the building and falls down at the sides with Juno Light posing in a shimmering white dress with a rainbow-coloured skirt flowing down. Above her head in gorgeous cursive writing is MY RAINBOW WORLD TOUR.
Tomoka nods her head. "Yeah, yeah, yeah! That's what it's called!"
"Rainbow? Hey, isn't that what your name means, Nijiko?" smiles Imari.
Nijiko tights her hands into fists. "My…rainbow…"
My rainbow.
So, what did you wish for, my rainbow?
Our precious rainbow.
"But h-hey, it's really not that big of a deal," stammers Tomoka. "We don't really need a repeat of last time so let's just have a good time and enjoy—and she's gone."
Nijiko takes off towards the main doors of the concert building where Tomoka's brother is waiting at the entrance.
Tomokazu smiles. "Hey there, you must be Moka-chan's friend. It's very nice to meet you—!" Nijiko storms right past him and barrels through the front doors. Tomoka and Imari hurry right behind her. "Um, hey Moka-chan. What was all that about—?!"
Tomoka grabs her brother's hand and drags him inside with them. "No time to talk!"
Imari speeds past them. "Congratulations, by the way, Tomokazu!"
"Thanks!" Tomokazu calls back.
"WHAT DID I JUST SAY?"
In her dressing room, Juri Ōmitsu is putting the finishing touches on her dress for the first song of the concert, a simple pearl white-coloured dress with a sweetheart neckline and rainbow-coloured jewels sparkling around the flowing bias cut hemline. She leans over and gives herself an onceover in the mirror and applies a light coat of shimmering pink lip gloss on.
"Mm-mm-mm…colours flood my mind~," sings Juri quietly to herself as she tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. "Mm-mm-mm…your smile lifts my spirits…my precious rainbow—!"
Suddenly, this moment of bliss is shattered when the door to her dressing room slams open. Juri nearly falls right over in alarm with her hair comically shooting up at all edges.
"Oh my goodness!" blinks Juri. "Did someone open a window?"
Nijiko storms into the dressing room. "Nope. Guess again, Mom."
Juri's eyes immediately light up. "Oh, My Rainbow~! What a pleasant second surprise and so soon after the first pleasant surprise~."
A sweat drop appears on the side of Juri's head when she's sees flames blazing out of her daughter's eyes. She sighs. "Oh dear, what did I do this time~?"
"Nijiko! Don't run so far ahead!" calls Tomoka as she and Imari and her brother manage to race into the dressing room after their friend.
Imari is panting heavily with dizzy eyes. "My good, no wonder you use to be an athletic, you're crazy fast!"
"Oh~! It's your friends again~," grins Juri. "Nice to see you two again so soon~."
"O-Oh! Y-you too, Juno-sama," stammers Tomoka with a flustered bow. "Sorry about the intrusion. So embarrassing."
"Not at all~," waves off Juri. "Nijiko has always been the type to storm the castle first and ask questions later~." Juri breaks into a bright smile when she spots Tomokazu behind his sister. "Oh, and good day to you too, Tomokazu-san."
Tomokazu stands up straight and nervously combs his fingers through his hair. "T-trust me, the honour is all mine, Juno-sama."
"OH FOR THE LOVE OF—WOULD YOU GUYS STOP GETTING STARSTRUCK AND GET BACK TO THE TOPIC AT HAND!" snaps Nijiko with blazing eyes.
"My, my, My Rainbow," blinks Juri. "What has you reeling so badly?"
"My Rainbow World Tour?!" states Nijiko. "You're doing a world tour about me?!"
"Of course~," beams Juri as she sets a box down on her dressing room table, "You're My Rainbow~. I want the whole world to know how precious you are to me. I tried calling you about it earlier, but it kept going straight to voice mail." Juri perks up. "Which reminds me, you should really get back to Yasuharu-kun. He's being trying to get in touch with you for months! You know he's hoping too—!"
"Quit trying to change the subject!" snaps Nijiko as hands clench into fists. "And stop calling me Your Rainbow! You don't get to call me that! Only Dad gets to call me that!" Nijiko kicks at the ground. "Did you even know Dad? Who he was? Who he use to be? Anything?"
Juri's eyes widen and the air around them goes cold. Imari, Tomoka, and Tomokazu stand awkwardly by the doorway.
"Geez, am I the only one without parent problems?" asks Imari.
"Clam it, Imari," shushes Tomoka.
Juri closes her eyes and lets out a long sigh as she short through the box on the table. "Nijiko, it's okay~."
Nijiko stumbles back in surprise. "E-excuse me?"
"I don't know what's been wrong with you recently," murmurs Juri. "First you drop out of all your sports teams, then you quit being friends with Rio-chan, you quit talking to Yasuharu-kun, and now this. I don't know where all of this is coming from. I thought…I thought this tour would help you."
Nijiko's eyes burn with anger. "How would singing personal songs about me be helpful?! Please explain the logic to me! Why did you stop singing for Dad!"
Nijiko grips at her jeans with her fingers so hard that her knuckles turn white. "You always sang for Dad, he's the reason you sing at all! But, now…you stopped singing for him! Did you just forget about him? Don't you love him anymore?"
Nijiko felt a ping a guilt stab at her chest when she sees the hurt in her mom's eyes. "Nijiko…" Juri looks at the box and pulls something out from it. "My Rainbow…"
Nijiko's eyes widen. There in her Mom's hands was her Dad's old tambourine. The one he played with when she was little. The one he let her play. It looks warn out over the years and all the cymbals are dent and didn't even make a sound under her Mom's gentle touch.
"W-where did you get that?" demands Nijiko.
Juri's eyes soft as she looks down at the old tambourine. "I've always held on to this. It's one of my prize possessions. And I thought…I thought I might play it for my first performance." She smiles brightly. "Like a good luck charm~."
"B-but that's Dad's!" presses Nijiko. "You…you have no right to play that!"
Before any could move a muscle, Nijiko lungs forward and snatches her Dad's tambourine right out of her mother's hands and bolts from the dressing room.
"N-Nijiko! Wait!" calls Imari as she takes off after her friend.
As she bolts from the door, Juri collapses to the ground and bursts into tears. Tomoka and Tomokazu quickly race to her aid. Tomoka doesn't even hesitate as she throws her arms around the sobbing mom.
"I-it's okay, Juno-sama," tries to say Tomoka, rubbing Juri's back in a circular motion.
"I-I'm so s-s-stupid," hiccups Juri through her tears.
"S-she just doesn't understand," says Tomoka. "But, you can't give up on getting your true feelings across. I-I promise."
"Okay~buku. Now I'm really getting a sense of déjà vu here~buku," says Bukku as she pokes out from Imari's book bag.
"Please not now, Bukku," grunts Kuiru, rubbing irritably at his temper.
"Just making an observation~buku," shrugs the fairy prince.
"Would the two of you please be quiet!" demands Imari. "Sorry, but you guys need to stay hidden."
"Whatever~buku," snorts Bukku as he pops his head back into her book bag, but the eldest brother looks up at Imari.
"Cure Fable," murmurs Kuiru. "Please don't be mad at Cure Enchant. She's just confused~kuru."
"What do you mean?" asks Imari, tipping her head to the side.
Kuiru sighs. "I can't speak for Nijiko, but if anyone can help mend these broken hearts, it's you, Cure Fable."
Imari's narrows her eyes puzzled. "Me? What can I do? I mean, I'm nothing special. I'm not even Cure Fable anymore. I don't know why you bother to keep calling me that."
Kuiru smiles softly. "You don't see what I see, Cure Fable. In my eyes, you are more powerful then you could ever imagine~kuru."
Imari's pink-coloured eyes flutter in confusion at the comment. However, she quickly shakes her head when she spots her friend's green-coloured hair curled up on the floor.
"Nijiko," says Imari, but her friend doesn't acknowledge her. "Nijiko, you can't just run away like that."
"I didn't run away!" snaps Nijiko, her head shooting up to glare at Imari. "You don't know anything, Imari!"
"Then please explain it to me!"
Nijiko huffs in frustration and barely her face into her knees.
Frowning, Imari plops herself down right beside her friend, "Geez, you and Tomoka held onto to so much animosity to your parents."
Nijiko stays silent.
Imari sighs. "But, it's not like I don't understand why. I mean, with Tomoka, her father was either his way or the highway, but I don't get why you're so frustrated with your mom. Do you even know?"
"Stop saying that you get it, Imari. 'Cause you really don't," murmurs Nijiko. "It was so easy for you to become a PreCure. You got to become the Pink Cure. But when I became a PreCure, it was like my whole world was flipped upside down."
Nijiko looks down at the tambourine in her hands and glides her finger across the cymbals, letting them chime softly under her touch. "Learning that my Dad was a wizard from another world, knowing that I'm not entirely human, realizing how I know so little about who I am and who my family was. For the first time in my life I was lost.
"The only thing that was the truth was that I was the Pretty Cure of Magic. But, what does that even mean? That I have to save my father's world, one I never knew I had a connection too? Save this world that I don't even recognize anymore? I just don't understand!"
Nijiko grips at her head with her hands and buries her face into her knees again, letting her Dad's tambourine fall to the ground at Imari's feet.
Imari narrows her eyes and Kuiru pokes his head out from Imari's book bag, "Cure Fable, I know you're mad but—!"
Imari silently grabs at the old tambourine and stands straight up. "OOOOH! If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands~!" Nijiko and Kuiru both look up in surprise as Imari chimes the tambourine. "If you're happy and you know it, stomp your feet~!" Imari stomps her feet twice. "If you're happy and you know it, shout 'Hurray!'~!"
"H-hurray~kuru?" Kuiru echoes. Nijiko looks at him with a raised eyebrow.
"If you're happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it~! If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands~!" sings Imari as she plays with tambourine.
Nijiko can't hold back anymore and bursts out laughing. "What. The. Heck. Was. That?"
"I don't know!" announces Imari with a wide smile. "But, I felt like it had to be down to get you out of your funk."
Imari points down at her friend. "You are Nijiko Ōmitsu, that's all you need to know! You are awesome and brave and smart and super gorgeous!"
"Um…thanks?" blinks Nijiko.
"For what it's worth, I think it's great that you know that your dad was a wizard from another world," says Imari. "Because even after he's gone, you're still learning new things about him and learning new things are yourself too!"
Nijiko's breathe hitches and her eyes light up.
"And y'know, I don't what it means to be a Pink Cure," Imari tells her friend, putting her hands on her hips. "To me, it doesn't matter if I'm pink, green, purple, or leopard-print! I'm still gonna protect the things I care about, and so should you!"
Nijiko smiles up at Imari. "You really are one of a kind, Imari. Y'know that."
"Huh?" hums Imari as she tips her head to the side.
"ENDINGU!" A scream rings out in the theatre that makes both girls nearly jump out of their skin.
Nijiko immediately leaps to her feet. "God, I'm an idiot." The two girls quickly take off running down the hallway leading back to the dressing rooms and backstage.
"Wow, these Dark Charm Knights are sooo original~buku," snorts Bukku with a roll of his eyes as he pops his head out from Imari's book bag. "Going to the same place to create an Endingu~buku."
"They're probably trying to look for the Fairytale Instruments too~kuru," states Kuiru as he flies out of the book bag and soars alongside his partner. "I told you, the Fairytale Instruments would most likely be located in a place surrounded by music~kuru. What better place to go then here~kuru?"
As the two girls race through the empty hallways, Nijiko looks down at her Dad's tambourine still in Imari's hand.
"Endingu!"
Nijiko and Imari stop in their tracks as a monster smashes through the walls of the corridor inches from both of their faces with Cure Mythical's fist sucker punched right in its face.
"Okay!" gulps Imari. "I just had a triple heart attack!"
"Anytime now, Nijiko!" snaps Cure Mythical as she shoots her Cyan Rocket at the Endingu.
"Okay, okay, sheesh I'm on it," snaps Nijiko. "So, what are we dealing with here?"
The monster with its beaming red eyes was dressed in a white ball gown with blonde hair wrapped up on a high bun adorned with a tiara and is wearing two beautiful glass slippers.
"Cinderella," realizes Kuiru. "Cure Mythical, Cure Enchant, you must be extremely careful with this one. This is one of the most powerful Fairytale Puppets that Kuroizado has in his possession~kuru."
Nijiko rolls her eyes. "It's just a monster in high heels, how hard can it be—!"
"Endingu!" The Cinderella monster jabs Cure Mythical right in the gut and tends her crumbling to the ground.
"For the love of god would you transform already, Nijiko!" barks Cure Mythical as she pushes the monster away with a blast of her Mythical Stream.
"You don't need to tell me twice," states Nijiko as she pulls out her PreHeartBook.
"What are you talking about?! I ALREADY HAVE!"
Nijiko opens up her PreHeartBook and glides her fingers softly against the empty pages. She leans in close like a secret prayer. "Please give me strength, Dad…" The PreHeartBook hears her pleads and lets off a soft glow of green-coloured light. "Pretty Cure…Unlock My Story!"
As Nijiko is enveloped in chartreuse-coloured light, the pages of the PreHeartBook fly out of its hinges and swirl around her like a vivid green constellation of stars. Her chin-length light green hair turns a light tomato red and grows into a long braid that flows all the way down to her waist. Golden-coloured star-shaped earring pop onto her ears and a pair of wings sprout out from either side of her head in a spark of white light. The pages of the PreHeartBook kiss her entire body and dress her in a green tube top with a yellow-and-green coloured sailor collar and green miniskirt. In a pop of emerald green light, royal green high heels appear on her feet and her arms are armoured with green and yellow handless arm gloves.
"The Story of Magic…Cure Enchant!"
"Ahhh, much better," grins Cure Enchant as she stretches her arms to the sky. "Now then, Princess Prissy Pants, why don't you try this on for size? Trickery Hammer!"
A bright green oversized translucent hammer appears in Cure Enchant's hands and she delivers a powerful strike to the Endingu's stomach. However, the Cinderella Endingu manages to grab the end of the hammer and picks Cure Enchant right up from the ground.
"Uh…nice catch?" gulps Cure Enchant.
"Endingu!" The monster swings the Green PreCure across the parking lot of the theatre.
"Kya!" cries the green warrior.
"Enchant!" calls Cure Mythical as she bolts up and manages to catch her teammate before she hits the ground.
"T-thanks," stammers Cure Enchant, giving her head a quick shake.
"Let me use my Sapphire Violin and just finished off this Endingu," suggests Cure Mythical as she grabs for her blue PreHeartBook, but she's stopped by Cure Enchant grabbing her wrist.
"No. I have to do this," states Cure Enchant. "I have to unlock my Fairytale Instrument."
"What?" blinks the Pretty Cure of Wisdom. "Enchant, this isn't a pride contest. Let's just work together and defeat the Endingu together and I promise I'll help you find your Fairytale Instrument. We'll find it together."
"No, I can do this!" snaps Cure Enchant. "I know what I have to do. Don't get in my way and I can defeat this Endingu on my own."
Cure Mythical opens her mouth to protests, but claims it shut. "Fine." With that the blue PreCure takes a big step back and detransforms in a spark of pale blue light.
"Just stand back and watch the magic," Cure Enchant smirks as she cracks her knuckles. "This will all be over in a second."
The green warrior races over to Imari and holds out her hand. "Imari, give me my dad's tambourine!"
Imari blinks. "What? Why?"
Cure Enchant grins. "'Cause isn't it oblivious? My dad's tambourine has got to be my Fairytale Instrument!"
Imari's eyes light up. "Oh! Of course!"
She quickly hands the old tambourine to the Green PreCure who flashes a confident smile. "With this, I should be able to defeat this stupid Endingu in just one strike!"
Cure Enchant opens up her PreHeartBook. "Let's go, Swan Queen!" The pages of her PreHeartBook glow a snow-white colour as a small doll floats right out. The Fairytale Puppet is a sweet-looking queen with rosy cheeks and a gorgeous, fluffy white dress with a pair of swan wings blooming out from her back. "I need some assistance! Swan Queen Wings!"
The puppet curtsies for the Pretty Cure of Magic as her pure-white swan wings detach from her doll body and grow to the size of Cure Enchant and sprout out from behind her back. And as the Swan Queen Fairytale Puppet disappears back inside of the PreHeartBook, Cure Enchant takes to the sky with her powers ready to wield.
"Bring it on, Endingu! Enchanted Blade!"
Cure Enchant summons her sword of bright green light and charges at the Cinderella Endingu. The monster charges up for a strike, ready to smash down the legendary warrior with its huge fist, but Cure Enchant easily manages to somersault over of the way and attacks the Cinderella Endingu right in the forearm. The monster cries and tries to crush the PreCure with its opposing hand, but Cure Enchant rockets overtop of the hand and stabs her sword right down through the center of the monster's palm.
"Magical Strike!" calls out Cure Enchant as light illuminates from her fists as she hammerfists the monster right on the back of its head, causing the Cinderella Endingu's face to smash into the parking lot concrete.
"Alright Cure Enchant!" cheers Imari as she fist pumps the air.
"How can you just stand there and cheer her on?" asks Tomoka as she crosses her arms in annoyance.
"Huh?" blinks Imari. "What do you mean, Tomoka? She's doing great."
Tomoka sighs. "Pride goeth before a fall. From King James. You ever heard of that saying?"
"Um, I-I think so," thinks Imari for a moment. "But, what does King Kong James Bond gotta do with anything?"
Tomoka drops her head, drowning in depression lines. "Nevermind."
"Imari," hums Bukku. "I want you to know that you're an idiot~buku."
"What did I do?!" squeaks Imari angrily.
"It's what you didn't do, you dumb-dumb~buku."
"Endingu!" The Cinderella Endingu screams out as it tries to get back on its feet, but its glass slippers couldn't grip the ground and its one hand was still being pinned down by the green warrior's sword of light.
"Nice try Endingu, but I'm not gonna let you escape," smirks Cure Enchant. "Emerald Flash!"
Cure Enchant shoots down a spark of lime green light that slams the monster down harder into the ground that the concrete underneath it cracks.
"Time to end this," Cure Enchant smirks confidently as she holds out her dad's old tambourine. "Alright, Fairytale Instrument, do you're thing." She points it straight at the monster. "Fairytale Instrument Power!"
"…"
"… …"
"… … …"
Cure Enchant wavers. "Fairytale Instrument Power!"
Nothing.
"F-Fairytale Instrument P-Power!"
Nothing…
"FAIRYTALE INSTRUMENT POWER!"
But, the old tambourine doesn't even chime with any form of power. Silent under Cure Enchant's touch.
"C-come on! Why won't you work!" demands Cure Enchant, trying to hide the shrill in her voice. "Work! Work! Work!"
"Cure Enchant," murmurs Kuiru.
"Fairytale Instrument Power!" calls the Green PreCure again, thrusting the tambourine out in front of her. "Fairytale Power! Fairytale Power! FAIRYTALE POWER!"
But, nothing happens.
Under her grasp, Cure Enchant's hand trembles with anger. "Y-you…You stupid—you stupid tambourine!"
Full of rage, Cure Enchant throws the old tambourine to the ground. The cymbals ring out a broken sound as her dad's tambourine breaks to pieces under the Pretty Cure of Magic.
As the fury melts away, Cure Enchant blinks for a moment, realizing what she has done and clasps both hands to her mouth.
"No…no, no, no, no, NO!" cries out Cure Enchant as the wings on her back dissolve and she collapses to the floor.
The green warrior crawls over to the damaged tambourine. "I'm sorry! I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean it…I didn't mean it!" But, as soon she tries picking it up, the old tambourine falls to pieces under her touch, each cymbal making a weak 'tink' sound as they tumble dented to the ground.
Tears burn at the corners of the eyes. "D-Dad…Dad, I'm sorry." The green warrior lets the rest of the broken tambourine falls out of her hands as she clings at herself with tears pouring out of her bright green eyes. "I'm sorry, Dad. I'm so sorry."
"ENDINGU!"
The Cinderella Endingu thrashes out of its hinges, taking chunks of the ground with it and crumbling around its beastly body. Its eyes flash blood red as it necks twists around and spots Cure Enchant. On all fours, the monster charges at the green warrior with claws unsheathed and teeth sharpened. The Endingu leaps at the Green PreCure and strikes.
But suddenly, the Cinderella Endingu is knocked off its pursuit as a blizzard of cyan-coloured cherry blossoms whisks it off its legs and causes it to tumble to the ground in a heap. The monster lets out a furious hiss as its crimson red eyes follow the dance of petals to the sky where the Pretty Cure of Wisdom soars overhead with her Sapphire Violin in hand.
With focus in her brilliant blue eyes, Cure Mythical plays the soft melody of magic, letting the bow harmonize with her fingers that waltz over the shimmering silver strings. The flurry of aqua-coloured cherry blossom petals burst with beautiful fragments of sapphire gems and begin to swirl around the Endingu. As the Blue PreCure quickens the pace of her gentle song, the petals and jewels begins to spin faster and faster around the monster.
"Melodia di Saggezza!"
The petals and sapphires twist up the Cinderella Endingu until all you could see through the storm with its red eyes growing dimmer and dimmer. "Ending…"
In a bright burst of every shade of blue from snow blue to indigo, the Endingu disappears and the cherry blossoms and jewels vanish in a pop of pearl-coloured sparkles as each floats to the ground.
Cure Mythical lands gracefully to the floor and lets the magic around her restore the parking lot and falls of the theatre back to it formal glory as she walks over to where the Endingu sound stood and picks up the purified Fairytale Puppet of Cinderella. Now the small doll it smiling peacefully with her petite glass slipper on her feet adore with small hearts.
Without a word, Cure Mythical gentling places the puppet into her PreHeartBook and allows herself to transform once again back to Tomoka Fukumoto.
Everyone is silent as Tomoka walks over to Nijiko who is still kneeling on the floor in front of the broken tambourine.
Standing over Nijiko, Tomoka speaks up. "I thought we were over this." Nijiko doesn't reply, just stares quietly at the ground. "I thought we were over you trying to show-off. Like you had to prove yourself."
"You don't get it alright, Tomoka!" cries Nijiko, smashing her fist down on the ground making over friends jump. "It should have been me! I should have become the Pink Cure! I…I…"
Nijiko digs her nails into the ground, her bare skin scrapping the cement until it hurt. "I'm supposed to be the most powerful, I'm supposed to be the leader, the Pink Cure—I'm…I'm…"
"I think it suits you!" states Imari.
Nijiko snaps her head up with confused wide eyes. "W-what?"
Imari kneels down in front of her friend and lets softly. "Back when we first met…back at Daydream Gardens…you said your favourite flower was the daffodil. You…you told me it means new beginnings. And…and we promised each other that when we met again, I would tell you if I thought that suited you."
Nijiko blinks. "Y-You remember all that?"
"Of course," smiles Imari. "I…I never forgot. But, I didn't know how to bring it up till now." Imari reaches out and cups her friend's hands with her own. "But, I really do think it suits you. New beginnings."
Imari takes her injured hand and carefully picks up one of the broken cymbals from the tambourine. "To me, new beginning is a lot like looking forward to the future. To forget about what's all gone and see all the things that are still here." Imari eyes soften. "I know…I know your dad is gone…that's he's never coming back, but your mom is still here."
Nijiko looks down at her hands and lets a tear escape.
"I think…I think you two can start a new beginning." Imari places the broken cymbal inside Nijiko's hand and closes it tenderly close. "Together."
"Imari," mumbles Nijiko as she lets all her tears flow down her face. "Imari you big, dumb, beautiful idiot!"
Nijiko pulls Imari into a huge hug as she weeps senselessly into her shoulder.
Imari blinks in surprise, but soon lightens up and returns the hug, wrapping her arms around her friend. "You can be sad, Nijiko. You can be frustrated. You can even be jealous, but you don't have to be what you wished you could have been. Just be the best version of you that you can be."
"We're here for you, Nijiko," says Tomoka as she pulls the two of them into a tight embrace. "Because you two…you two are my best friends!"
Together, the third girls share a warm smile.
Bukku rolls his eyes. "Geez, all this sappy garbage is gonna make my teeth rot~buku."
"Shut up, Bukku! You're ruining the moment!" Nijiko barks.
"Nijiko," says Imari, pulling away from her friend. "You know what you have to do now, right?"
Nijiko sighs, but nods her head, "Yeah."
Nijiko finds her mom outside the theatre. They were told that the entire theatre was evacuated when the Endingu attacked and she was sitting off to the side with two bodyguards on either side of her and takes small sips of water from water bottle. Judging back her shaky hand, it was like it was the only thing she could not to lose her nerve.
With her friends by her side, Nijiko takes a brave breath and approaches her mother. "Um…M-Mom, I-I—!"
Her mom leaps up from where she was sitting and throws her arms around her daughter. "—Nijiko! Oh thank goodness!"
Nijiko tenses up in surprise as her mom squeezes her tighter, almost desperately like she was going to just disappear if she didn't.
"You ran off and then the Endingu attacked!" gasps Juri with short breaths. "I-I tried to go and find you, but the security took me away and I-I-I didn't know if you were safe, or hurt, or worse. Oh! I'm so grateful you're safe!"
"M-Mom?" blinks Nijiko as she pulls away. "A-are you crying? Y-you're gonna ruin all you're makeup!"
"Forget the stupid makeup!" states Juri. "They can just do it again! All I care about is you!"
Nijiko's eyes darken as she steps away. "E-even Dad?" She half-expected her mom to get mad, but she just looks on tenderly at her daughter without a fleck of anger to be found. "Y-you…you stopped singing for Dad. D-Do…do you not love him anymore? I-I need to know."
Juri's pale green eyes soften as she gentle nods her head. "You're right. I don't sing for your dad anymore." Juri reaches out and tucks Nijiko's braid behind her ear. "Back then, I wrote all those songs to say 'goodbye' to Hikaru. That loved him, that I would never forget him or stop loving him, and to tell him…'thank you'. For loving me and helping me find my happiness."
Juri places a hand to her heart. "But, now, I found something new to sing for. You." Nijiko looks up at her mom with trembling eyes. "I began to sing for your future, hoping that you will find love and happiness just as I did with Hikaru. I love him, nothing will ever stop me from loving him, but I love you too, my precious rainbow. You are the most important thing in this world."
"Mom," murmurs Nijiko with a trembling lip. Juri pulls her daughter into a loving hug and the two share tears. "I love you too. Please, can I move back in with you?"
"Of course~," hums Juri as she kissing her daughter on the top of her head. "Hey, Nijiko-chan? You know what?"
Nijiko shakes her head. "W-what?"
Juri grins mischievously and giggles. "I never told your dad this, but when I first met him, I thought he was in Warcraft cosplay. He looked so silly with those elf ears and wizard cloak. He almost looked like a Jedi master~."
Nijiko lets out a snort before bursting into laughter alongside her mom.
Y'know, I think you were right, Dad, grins Nijiko through her tears. Dreams are the most powerful thing in this world. Not magic. Magic is second best. And maybe…maybe that's okay. Whoever said I had to be the best anyway. If you ask me, being the best is overrated! I might not be the Pink Cure, but being the Green Cure is pretty darn good too! And if you ask me, being the Pink Cure is overacted too!
Imari, Tomoka, Bukku, and Kuiru look on from afar and smile to themselves.
"I'm glad they managed to sort things out," says Imari out loud to her friends. "Much more important than finding some silly Fairytale Instrument."
"Yes~buku," nods Bukku. "Much better mending fences than finding an all-power magic item that can help save yours and our worlds obviously—"
Kuiru pulls out his paper fan with a twinkle. Whack!
"Ow~buku!"
"I really gotta get me one of those Bukku-repellant paper fans," states Imari, putting her hand on her hips. "It sure it pretty effective."
Somone taps Imari on the shoulder. "Um…excusez-moi, mademoiselle?"
Imari and Tomoka nearly jump out of their skins as Bukku and Kuiru quickly dart behind them to hide from the stranger. The two girls stiffly turn around with unnatural false-natural expresses.
In front of them was boy, about their age, maybe one year their senior judging by his tall-figure. He has short, light blonde hair split to the left side with his opposing side bangs swept elegantly across the side. He has sharp light brown eyes that were practically gold. He. Is. Super. Handome.
" has stopped working!" blabs Tomoka, completely scatterbrained, with her arms to the sides like a robot. "Error! Error!"
"W-what?" asks Imari. "Do you need help? Uh, duh, I course you need help, 'cause you're trying to get our attention. I-I'm not acting weird! You're acting weird—how can we help you?"
The boy blinks. "Actually, I'm looking for Juri Ōmitsu. I was told she would be performing here this belle soirée."
Imari tips her head to the side. "…Huh?"
"Yasuharu-kun~!" Juri rushes over to the young man and pulls him into a warm hug which only causes Imari and Tomoka's brains to start swarming with question marks. "You made it~. How was your flight~?"
"Parfait," winks the boy with a snap of his finger. "I slept like a bébé the whole trip."
"That's fantastic, Yasuharu-kun~!" chirps Juri. "And what marvellous timing~! Nijiko-chan is here~!"
At the sound of Nijiko's name, the boy's eye light up. "Mon amour is here! That is fantastique to hear! I've been trying to get a hold of her for months!"
"Tomoka," whispers Imari to her friend. "What alien language is this boy speaking? I was zero clue what the heck he's saying."
"I…I think it's French," murmurs Tomoka.
Imari's eyes widen. "Wait! D-did you say French? L-like that telephone guy?"
Tomoka's eye widen equal to Imari. "Y-yeah! T-that's right! Do…do you think they're the same person?"
Imari nods her head. "Have to be."
"Mon amour!" sings the boy as he spots Nijiko. He races over to her. Imari and Tomoka nearly faint when the boy plants a petite kiss on Nijiko's cheek. "It's so fantastique to see your belle face."
Nijiko swats the boy away. "Yeah, I'm afraid the feeling isn't mutual, Yasuharu."
The boy sticks out his bottom lip. "Quelle? Yasuharu? Whatever happened to Suru?"
Nijiko crosses her arms. "Come on, Yasuharu, I outgrew that nickname ages ago."
"Oh, don't say that, mon amour," winks the boy. "Just admit it, you missed moi."
"I can't say that Yasuharu 'cause then that would be a lie," snorts Nijiko with a roll of her eyes.
The boy grips at his chest and stumbles back. "Oh! You wound me, mon amour!"
"And would you quit it with the French!" snaps Nijiko. "You've only been there for five months."
"Five incroyable months," winks the boy. "And I'll be heading straight back in a week, but I wanted to see you, mon amour!"
"Greeeeat," huffs Nijiko sarcastically with another eye roll.
"Um, excuse me," chimes in Imari. "I'd hate to butt-in but…WHO THE HECK ARE YOU?!"
Nijiko sighs. "Right. Introductions." She points to her friends. "Yasuharu, these are my best friends Imari Suzukawa and Tomoka Fukumoto." She points half-heartedly at the boy. "And girls, this is Yasuharu Taiki...my fiancé."
"Ooooh," nods Imari. "Is that all. I thought he was—wait—HE'S YOUR WHAT?!"
Next Time on Fairytale Pretty Cure!
Imari: You have a fiancé! Since when did you have a fiancé?
Nijiko: Chill out, Imari. It's an arranged marriage.
Imari: People still do that?
Nijiko: Yeah, our households are pretty old-fashioned.
Imari: So, are you two in luuuv?
Nijiko: No.
Imari: Do you luuuuv Yasuharu?
Nijiko: Still no.
Imari: Yep. You luuuuuuv him. Hehe.
Nijiko: Again. No.
Imari: Nijiko's Fiancé?! Lumière Magique!
