TB: *sighs with relief* After a month long hiatus and uploading a story, it's good to be back to my Super Hero Time.
KKD: Yea, but we did get a good amount of time working on other stuff in the meantime. But now we're refreshed and ready to continue.
TB: We start off with Melodyger and… things weren't looking too good last time.
KKD: Yea… deep stuff. But hey, we gotta dive right back in.
TB: We'll let the recap handle the rest. For now, here's the disclaimers.
Disclaimers: Neither TokuBrony nor KKD own Super Sentai or anything else other than this original concept and the characters within. Super Sentai and any music used in the story are owned by Toei and their respective singers.
*A galleon sails in with twelve figures atop it before the camera zooms in revealing Kamen Rider Buccaneer, the Sailor Spirits, & the Melodygers, the latter five all holding their respective instruments*
Green Melody, H-Mako, & Buccaneer: SUPER HERO TIME!
*Instruments then surround scenes of the upcoming Melodyger chapter*
Buccaneer: Mikoto is now an Akuma thanks to those bastards! KUSO! You gotta free her, Melodygers!
*With Hyouno flying around, she soon creates flames in the shape of leopards that run straight at the screen, showing scenes of Sailor Spirits*
Green Melody: Emi seems to be filling in for a friend who's in the hospital. That's nice of her to do… but can she pull through when it comes to saving her from Erio?
*Treasure keys appears around the next scene, showing off scenes from Kamen Rider Buccaneer*
H-Mako: A Gyojin hunter? Oh crap, he's getting ahold of Chibi! Yoshi-san! Gekka-kun! Hurry and save him!
*We then see the Melodygers, Sailor Spirits, and Buccaneer posing for the camera with Red Melody, H-Mako, and Buccaneer standing at the edge of the bow of the galleon*
H-Mako: Everything's set!
Melodygers: Let's start!
Buccaneer: SHOWTIME!
Previously on Musical Sentai Melodyger…
The Melodygers fought against another one of Contaro's onslaughts, Mikoto feeling more and more uneasy about the condor general's attacks towards her. However, during a big fight, they all found out about the mysterious rogue Akuma that have been mysteriously helping them, and about Mikoto's mother. This truth horrified Mikoto to find out that she was half human, half Akuma, and this revelation awakened Mikoto's Akuma half, forcing her transformation with the only one watching it so far to be her boyfriend, Neiji. And now, proceeding to the next movement…
Neiji looked on in horror and sadness as Mikoto kneeled to Ryu and his generals in her Akuma form.
"So this is what you wanted us to see?" D asked, realizing his plan.
"Yes, D. Akuma no Metal, behold my niece… Takara!" Contaro declared proudly as the Akuma Mikoto became stood back up and stretched her arms.
"Ooh, it's good to be out," she yawned, Mikoto's voice still recognizable to Neiji, which only made it more painful to him.
'Mikoto-san… no,' was all that went through his mind as he was mentally and emotionally distraught by what he's seen.
"Oh, hold on a second. I think I saw Green Melody right about…"
As she looked around, looking a bit as her black wings spread from her back before she levitated and flew really fast, Neiji trying to move out of the way. It was too late though as the newly dubbed Takara grabbed him by the neck, choking him before she flew back to the Akuma.
"Here," Takara grinned, dropping Neiji in the center of the circle, the Green Melodyger too frightened by what happened to his girlfriend to focus on what was gonna happen to him.
"What, too stunned to speak, Green Melody?" Contaro asked mockingly.
"I am new and improved, Neiji. What do you think?"
"I… I didn't want to believe it at first. But all evidence laid before me and the others pointed to this. The rogue Akuma helping us, the mysterious woman we saw before, trying to attack your grandmother and get a negative emotional reaction… it all adds up! You are half Akuma!" Neiji shouted.
"And I. Am. LOVING IT!" Takara laughed, jumping in excitement as some feathers flew around.
Soon, however, Mokami was tossed out of some bushes, who rolled back up to her feet just as the Melodygers barged through the bushes and were initially taken back by Takara's appearance.
"Hey, guys!"
"It's as we were all expecting… and fearing," Yellow admitted.
"That voice… it can't be. Miko-chan is an Akuma!?" Pink gasped as Takara smirked at them.
(Insert Theme: Immortals by Fall Out Boy)
*A Shakuhachi (Japanese flute) begins to play with some clapping as notes float across the screen, washing away the previous scene before we see the Melodygers, silhouetted before lights from above shine onto each one and they all pose as the instrumental begins and the titles were soon shaped from notes the Melodygers played their instruments*
Musical Sentai Melodyger
They say we are what we are, but we don't have to be
*We see Mikoto sitting on a chair, looking over her flute before looking towards the camera and waving as the background was replaced with a musical sheet, and Red Melody was shown in front of it, playing her flute before posing for battle*
I'm bad behavior, but I do it in the best way
*Afterwards we see Kazu, playing his saxophone before he looks at the camera and winks with Blue Melody appearing on music sheet background behind Kazu, aiming his Saxozooka*
I'll be the watcher (watcher) of the eternal flame
*We then see Neiji adjusting his drumset with Saburo tuning his guitar before they looked at the camera with a smile and an upward nod of acknowledgment, respectively, and then Green and Yellow Melodies appeared in between them on the music sheet background twirling the Drum Fighting Sticks and holding up the Rocker Axe over the shoulder, also respectively*
I'll be the guard dog of all your fever dreams
*We follow it up by seeing Jess, playing her Keytar happily with Pink Melody appearing behind her on the music sheet background, firing her Iruka Keytar before swinging it like a sword*
(Ooooooooh!) I am the sand in the bottom half of the hourglass (glass, glass)
*We finish up the roll call with Mayako working the DJ table and giving a smirk to the camera, Gold Melody appearing behind her firing and slashing her DJ MixMaster-ken*
(Ooooooooh!) I try to picture me without you, but I can't
*The three generals of the Akuma no Metal stood there ready to charge into battle with Ryu Chikara pulling out his 9 arm guitar and playing a deadly tune*
'Cause we could be Immortals, I-I-I, I-Immortals!
*The six teens then pull out their Melody Changers and activated them, transforming into the Melodygers*
Just not for long, for long
*The team then pull out their weapons*
And live with me forever now
We pull the blackout curtains down
*Both sides then stood ready for the battle before they started charging, and clashing with each other*
Just not for long, for long
*Red Melody then posed in her Dotai Mode, acting like she's conducting a masterpiece*
We could be Immooooooooor-, Immortals
*The Melodygers got the upper hand on the grunts before fighting the generals*
Immooooooooor-, Immortals
*We then see Red Melody attaching the Hiyoshidai to her changer, quickly turning into Dotai Mode and striking the foes down with the Dotai Rod*
Immooooooooor-, Immortals
*We then see Super Melody-Oh, posing with its spear before DJ Koumori flew by and quickly shifted into Mixmaster-Bat, Mixmaster-Bat Electro also being shown briefly in battle*
Immooooooooor-, Immortals
*We then see Ultimate Melody-Oh, posing powerfully with the Dotai Boomerang in hand before TyrannOrchestra ran and jumped in the air, shifting before it landed on the ground as Orchestra Rex*
Imm, I-I-I-Immortals
*As the song comes to a close, we see the five Melodygers in civilian form walking off into the sunset, all of them congratulating each other as their faded Melodyger forms appear in the sky above them, and then the title appears on screen*
Score 36: Let's Bring Back a Friend
"Takimoto Mikoto is dead! What you see standing before you is my niece, who I've been trying to reach out to and wake up for quite a while, Takara!" Contaro announced to the Melodygers as Takara grinned.
"Mikoto-san can't be gone forever. She just can't be!" Blue shouted.
"This is just… I-I can't even!" Gold snapped as two thin knives slid out of Takara's wrists before she began to twirl them casually.
"Leave these schmucks to me. I got this," Takara smirked to her fellow Akuma superiors before launching throwing one knife like a dart at them while another one popped out of her wrist.
Just before the fight could happen though, a being shining like a bright light deflected the knife back to Takara, who caught it in response. This bright light died down, revealing a figured in a white and gold cloak with musical notes and scores all over, a bass clef on either shoulder to make spikes, and his face having a g clef as a crest.
"Ongaku no Kami… it has been ages since we last properly encountered," Ryu smirked.
"I was hoping Mikoto-kun never had to face this side of her… but it is as I feared," Kami sighed.
"You… knew about this…?" Neiji gawked hoarsely, still in a tear-filled state of shock.
"All will be explained back at the shop. You harmed my friend, you took Mikoto-kun away from us and converted her to your cause with these mind games… you and Contaro will pay dearly."
"Poor poor Kami… wake up and smell the sulfur. You and my bitch of a sister have been keeping Takara away from us for far too long," Contaro scoffed with a chuckle as Takara cracked her neck, "The Akuma has been her true destiny, and you were denying her that."
"I've been trapped in the deepest parts of Mikoto's psyche thanks to that awful 'lullaby' she and her parents kept playing. Now it feels so good to stretch my limbs," Takara smiled, stretching a bit before pointing her knife at the Melodygers, "And I just can't wait to play with all of you guinea pigs."
"Unfortunately, you'll have to wait some more," Kami informed, slamming the end of his spear on the ground to cause a bright light and blind the Akuma.
When the light died down, Kami, Neiji, Kujagora, and the rest of the Melodygers, along with Mikoto's Melody Changer were all gone.
"Tch, it doesn't matter. Whatever they plan on doing won't matter in the long run," Contaro scoffed, "Now if you'll excuse us, I'd like to have some family bonding time with my niece."
The others either just nodded or sighed before Contaro and Takara smiled at each other and they walked off, D looking at the two with hints of malice and contempt.
Back at the Melodyger base, Hinata was already healed and clarifying everything to the group.
"So Kami knew about you leaving the Akuma, became friends with you, and that's how you knew Miko-chan's parents, therefore Miko-chan herself," Jess checked to Hinata.
"Basically the gist, yeah," Kami confirmed.
"I was the one who helped Mikoto out in a couple instances, but I've been keeping myself to the shadows," Hinata added, "I didn't want the idea I was still alive to catch on to the Akuma and for any of you to get caught."
"Pfft, a whole lot of good that turned out," Kazu scoffed.
"I was compromised. I wanted to tell you everything when I asked you all to meet up with me… but the Akuma had other ideas, and now my daughter is among them."
"...Neiji took it the hardest," Saburo noted, pointing to his friend further away with his hands in his hair.
"Granted, none of us are too happy with you keeping secrets from us Kami. Heck, one BIG secret," Mayako pointed out, referring to Hinata with the last statement.
"I apologize once again. But now, the fact that you all know is better," Kami countered.
"...I'll go talk to Neiji-kun," Hinata offered as she walked to him, "...Neiji-kun? Are you okay?"
"No… no, I am not okay," he muttered, clearly not wanting to look at Hinata, "I wish I could've done something instead of just watching it happen."
"I heard you love my daughter, yes?"
"Of course I do. She's the greatest person that ever came into my life… and now they turned her into a monster."
"I did do my best to seal her Akuma side because I didn't want her to live that kind of life of chaos and destruction. I wish I would've been a better parent and explained to her, but I have no idea how she would react to such news. I know you all must be pretty mad at me and Kami," Hinata sighed.
"You're right, I should be. But my anger is being overshadowed by this overwhelming fear for Mikoto-san," Neiji confessed while looking at his girlfriend's Melody Changer, Hinata placing her hand on his chin to let him look at her.
"We're going to get her back. I promise you… all of you, that you will see your friend again."
"How are we gonna do that?" Kazu inquired, Hinata thinking for a moment until the alarms went crazy, causing the group to look at the screen.
"It's Mikoto and Contaro!" Saburo shouted as they saw the two Akuma causing some mayhem and damage, "And they're heading this way!"
"Crap! We gotta move!"
"No… I'll do it," Hinata informed, standing up and walking out of the base, "All of you stay here and recover."
"So this is where the Melodygers' base of operations is?" Contaro checked with a grin as Takara nodded in response while looking at the outside of Subarashii Records, "Looks like a dump."
"It is rather deceiving, uncle. Best to destroy the whole building," Takara smirked before she saw the doors open, revealing Hinata stepping out against the two, "Oh, Mother… nice to see you."
"...My daughter… I didn't want you to face the truth this way," Hinata sighed as she looked to Takara and Contaro, "I can't believe you put Mikoto through so much tortures just to awaken her Akuma half."
"Oh dear sister… it could've gone easier if you just let my niece cut loose and explain everything before we left for that tour," Contaro replied, "Instead, you're idea of 'playing it safe' cost you seeing your daughter grow… and the life of your husband."
Hinata gazed down, clenching her fists tightly as birds flew away the surrounding area, feathers gathering up in a tornado around Hinata, and she transformed into Kujagora. After that, she pierced the ground with her hand before pulling out the Houou-Ken.
"You just sealed your fate… brother," she growled before rushing in and clashing blades with her family.
Contaro chuckled as he pulled the sword out of one guitar neck and clashed with his sister, the blades sparking with each clash, Takara getting involved with her thin short blades as she attempted to get at her mother's blind spots, but Kujagora was swifter and move away from the strikes. However, after about a minute with Takara trying to get at her blind spots and Contaro continuing to strike her from the front, Kujagora was eventually being overwhelmed by the two on one advantage and was quickly started doing more damage, knocking her back.
"I'm not done yet," Kujagora grunted as she struggled to get back up, Takara taking a step towards Kujagora and stabbing her with the knives, making the Akuma grunt in pain as she went for the blind spots she was aiming for.
Contaro cackled as he watched his sister get injured by her own daughter, Takara being ruthless against Kujagora before she was kicked to the ground out of her Akuma form, the bloody spots being very apparent and visible.
"A shame, dear sister. I was expecting a good fight… instead, your own daughter is kicking the crap out of you," Contaro mocked as Takara walked closer towards Hinata.
"Sorry to have to do this, Mother… but you just refuse to see things our way," Takara replied with a grin, knife ready to stab at a vital area, but she felt a sudden stop, "What?"
She looked at her arm, trying to move it, but it could only shake and pull back a little against her will.
"What's going on?"
"Takara, you can stop with the games now. Kill her already," Contaro informed.
"I'm trying to, but… my arm isn't moving! Why isn't my arm moving!?" Takara grunted, trying to move, but being unable to.
"It seems that Mikoto's consciousness is still alive within the body of her Akuma half. You may be the dominant force, but it is still Mikoto," Hinata informed as she smiled.
This hesitation then left her open when she saw Gold Melody land with a diving dropkick, making her stumble back.
"So Mikoto is still alive in there? That's all we need to know," Gold grinned underneath her helmet, Hinata surprised to see her followed by the other Melodygers joining by her side.
"I thought I told the rest of you to recove-"
"You think we're leaving Mikoto-san to you alone? I know you're her mother, but don't be stupid," Blue retorted as the team stood with their weapons.
"She is our friend, and we've been there for her ever since she first moved here. If she's in trouble, then we are always there to get her out of it," Pink added.
"Need I say anything else? You already know how I feel, Hinata-san," Green reminded, saying very little, but it was enough to convince Hinata otherwise.
"Tch… how persistent can you guys be? Mikoto is dead," Takara growled.
"Then why'd you hesitate?" Yellow inquired.
"Mikoto-san… I will save you no matter what, and then we'll go out for ice cream," Green assured as Takara scoffed and got into a fighting pose.
With that, Green ran towards Takara while the other four took a shot at Contaro, the battle turning intense as Green mostly avoided the strikes from Takara.
"Come on, Mikoto-san. I know the real you is in there somewhere," Green insisted as he kept backing up from the slashes.
"You're wasting your breath, Neiji. Mikoto is no more," Takara growled in annoyance, "Now shut up and fight me!"
Green just used his Beat Sticks to block against the knives, but he was still mainly on defense as he blocked attacks one after the other. The exchange appeared to keep going until Takara knocked the weapons out of his hands with her knives at his neck.
"Now what?"
"...I don't want to fight you. I want to free you," Green responded, "Come on, Mikoto-san. Snap yourself out of this and come back. It's ME! Neiji! Don't you remember me? I remember you every night when I go to sleep… because I love you."
Takara tilted her head at first Green demorphing so Neiji can give her a hug. Neiji smiled before he gasped, revealing Takara stabbed him in the thigh, the tip going out the back. Once she pulled it out, Neiji collapsed and screamed in pain, the Melodyger having a hard time moving.
"What's with all this bullcrap about love you're spewing? That's just stupid, why would I care about a human?!" Takara snapped, kicking Neiji over and over repeatedly, "You want to free me? I'M ALREADY FREED!"
"Neiji!" Yellow gasped before he ran over to his friend, soon glaring at Takara, "I can't believe you would do that!"
"Wait… don't hurt her," Neiji pleaded.
"Are you dense? If we have any chance to restore Mikoto, we gotta fight!"
"Fight me? Tch. Please, my own mother can't beat me and your dumb, lovestruck friend can't stand," Takara scoffed, Neiji still holding his leg in pain.
Takara smirked, reeling her hand back with her knives glowing like she was about to finish them. However, she saw a figure silhouetted by the light of the sun in the air with a sword, confusing her before said figure slammed his blade down onto her, revealing it was D out of the shadows and knocking her to the ground.
"What the hell!?" Yellow gawked.
"D?!" Blue, Pink, and Gold gasped, D slowly walking towards Takara with utter malice on his face.
"You dare deny me the greatest opponent I ever faced?" he muttered, his skull burning even more ferociously as he slashed rapidly, overwhelming Takara as he kept attacking and weakening her, "You would deny future great battles between me and Takimoto!? This is an OUTRAGE! A disgrace! I want TAKIMOTO!"
"D, what the hell are you doing!?" Contaro snapped, firing at D with his pistol before the general blocked it with his sword.
"And you… you're the one who deprived me of Takimoto, my greatest opponent yet. You used such underhanded, dishonorable tactics to get her to transform like this! You tried to murder my friend twelve years ago! And the biggest offense you have made: you have insulted me as a warrior of honor!"
Contaro scoffed at this before firing some more, D blocking all the bullets with his blade, one of which somehow managing to ricochet back at Contaro, hitting him in the shoulder and knocking him away.
"D, wait! Don't kill her, we need her alive if we are to restore her back," Hinata responded, getting between him and Takara.
"Step aside, Kujagora. Takimoto is too far gone thanks to that duplicitous bastard. I must finish her off and spare her any more torture," D insisted, aiming his blade at Takara.
"No… I can't let you!" Neiji shouted, trying to stand up only to collapse again due to his leg wound.
"You've had your chance already, Green Melody. But your attempts failed, resulting in your wounded leg. How can you say you wish to bring your love back and not even have the will to fight? You've just become a hopeless romantic with no sense of understanding!"
"That's enough, D!" Hinata snapped, about to smack him in the face before the Rider grabbed Hinata's wrist and pushed it back.
"You dare strike an Akuma all for your stupid sense of honor?" Contaro shouted, getting back up.
"I'll show him!" Takara assured, preparing her knives again, but just when it seemed like she would throw them, the knives… just fell from her hands, never actually being thrown, as if they were just dropped, "What? Th-This again?"
"See… she's still alive in there!" Neiji insisted, trying to move despite his injury.
'So Mikoto is still there… buried deep, but still in there,' Contaro realized in his head, but he just sighed and fired his pistol at everyone there before running over to Takara, "We'll deal with you asshats later."
Contaro then led the way for the Akuma to flee, black feathers surrounding them before they disappeared. When the others looked, they noticed D was missing, too.
"Where the hell did he go!?" Blue gawked.
"Does it matter now, we gotta get Neiji-kun back stat!" Gold insisted as they both took his arms and hoisted them on their shoulders to help him walk.
Meanwhile, in a bamboo forest, Contaro was smoking his pipe while Takara splashed her face with water and panted, trying to get control of herself.
"The hell's wrong with me?" she asked herself, the ripples in the water soon stopping, showing Mikoto's reflection instead of Takara's, making her splash it away.
"It seems that I've doubted Mikoto's will," Contaro noted to himself as he blew out a puff of smoke, "Tch, mendokuse na (how annoying)."
"How can I finally be rid of her? Everytime I'm close to killing those stupid Melodygers, she stops me! She's making me hesitate!"
"There must be a way to silence her influence. *thinks for a moment before puffing out some smoke* I got it… the old woman."
"...Mikoto's grandmother…"
"Precisely. If we get rid of her, then Mikoto will be silenced forever. She's still in the hospital, alive from what I found out," Contaro recalled.
"Trying to kill Neiji and Mother didn't work, what makes you think killing the old hag will?" Takara pointed out, "It's not like Mikoto won't make me hesitate."
"On the contrary. The elder woman has raised Mikoto since your father's demise at my hand. So she's one of the last remaining members of her family."
"If she dies, then Mikoto's soul would be struck with so much despair…"
"She disappears," they both responded, chuckling sinisterly as they smirked.
Back at the base, Neiji was getting his thigh bandaged up where he got stabbed, wincing in pain as he sat on the medical bed feeling ashamed.
"How could I think I could reach out to Mikoto-san without fighting?" Neiji asked before sighing in defeat, "D was right… maybe I am a helpless romantic."
"You kinda are, but in all honesty bro, I know you can bring Mikoto-san back to us," Kazu assured, "Who gives a crap what D said to you?"
Neiji just looked at his team and nodded in response.
"Thanks, Kazu-san."
"Now since Mikoto's soul is still inside Takara, I believe the lullaby may be able to weaken her or somehow pull Mikoto to the surface," Hinata figured.
"Probably. It may be enough," Kami agreed.
"The Akuma might also be thinking of a way to either prevent something like that, or to make Mikoto disappear for good," Saburo pointed out.
"No matter what they're doing, we'll always be there for Mikoto! Just like she was there for us!" Mayako assured.
"Yea! We got this guys! We got this by the throat!" Jess added, getting everyone else to cheer and pump each other up, Hinata smiling at the energy and determination her daughter's friends were emanating.
However, the alarms blared like crazy yet again, causing the entire group to look at the screen. What they saw was a big group of Imps and Ogres led by Contaro and Takara.
"It's them again, but look where they're heading," Saburo pointed out, the screen nearby showing a familiar hospital.
"That's the hospital where Yukiko-san is staying at!" Jess gasped in shock.
"They aren't gonna do a full-on raid, are they?" Mayako asked, clearly nervous.
"No… I think they're going after Yukiko-san herself," Kami realized.
"We're going out there now," Neiji responded, grabbing the Orchestra Hiyoshidai and getting back on his feet, only to find himself limping, wincing a bit as he hobbled towards the exit.
"Are you sure? You aren't a hundred percent," Hinata checked.
"I'm fine… I'm not holding back if I gotta save the person I love. Who's with me?"
"All the way, bro," Saburo responded, everyone else nodding as the joined him.
The six allies walked up and stood a good distance away from the hospital entrance, seeing Contaro and Takara walking with their own army of Imps and Ogres all ready to fight.
"You six just can't take a hint, can you?" Contaro chuckled as he prepared his pistol, Takara twirling her knives.
"Do we have to beat you to death for the hint to settle in?" Takara groaned before pointing to Neiji, "And you, why do you refuse to stay away and treat your leg?"
"Because I KNOW that my girlfriend is somewhere inside this monster! And deep down… you do too!" Neiji shouted.
"We're not giving up on our friend just because she's half Akuma! She's been through enough shit already!" Kazu insisted and informed.
"She's been there for us every time we've been down on our luck. Now, it's our turn to return the favor!" Mayako added.
"Everyone ready?!" Saburo checked, the Melodygers revealing their Tuners, Hiyoshidai, and DJ Phone while nodding.
"Melody Change!" the five shouted, quickly transforming, Green Melody even having the black Dotai vest appear on him as he prepared the Dotai Rod and his Beat Sticks.
"The Percussion Musician, Green Melody Dotai!"
"The Jazz Musician, Blue Melody!"
"The Rock Musician, Yellow Melody!"
"The Synth Musician, Pink Melody!"
"The Techno Musician... Gold Melody!"
"Our music will reach out to everyone in the world!"
"Musical Sentai…" Green began.
"Melodyger!" the five finished as they all posed.
"This will be interesting… ATTACK!" Contaro shouted as the grunts rushed in first.
"We are here to bring a score of peace… from the top!" Green declared as they all ran towards the monsters.
(Insert Song: The Phoenix by Fall Out Boy)
Pink started using her Keytar Cleaver to slash at the Ogres coming her way, sending some towards Yellow who played his Rocker Axe to disorient them before slashing them in half, causing the grunts to explode. Yellow them used his axe as a launch pad for Pink, sending her skyward before she played a solo on her keytar airborne.
"WOO~HOO~!" Pink hollered, diving down before slamming her Keytar Cleaver down on the ground, creating a shockwave to send every Imp and Ogre flying back.
Over with Blue and Gold, Blue fired off blasts from his Saxozooka, making the hordes of Imps go flying back from the impact while Gold scratched the record on her DJ Turntable KenJu to make the beat go slower and fire off huge blasts of her own. The blasts made the grunts explode before she turned her weapon back to sword mode and Blue summoned his Blues Spear.
"Back to back, Mayako-chan!" Blue shouted, Gold nodding as she did so with Blue and they all slashed at any Imps and Ogres coming their direction, the hordes being cut down quickly.
With Green, he used his Folk Hammer against some of the grunts on his own, smashing heads and making all of them fall unconscious.
"Ogres, with me!" Contaro ordered as four of the giant grunts followed him into the hospital.
"They're going after Yukiko! I'll handle them!" Hinata shouted to the group, quickly running after her brother.
"That just leaves me!" Takara smirked, jumping down to slash at Green, only for him to block with his Beat Sticks.
"I'm not going to be soft anymore for this one. Even if it's Mikoto-san, I'm going all out!" Green roared, smashing his Beat Sticks onto the Akuma and them continuing to clash.
Inside the hospital, Hinata was still chasing after the Ogres, said monsters scaring all the doctors, nurses and patients in their way as they tried to flee away.
"Hey, Ogres! Aren't you forgetting someone?" Hinata retorted as she quickly slid under them, tripping the massive grunts on their backs.
They growled as they got back up, slamming their fists down before running towards Hinata. Hinata just kicked the grunts in the arms and threw punches to their faces and stomachs. The grunts were quickly dealt with as Contaro smirked before revealing his sword. Hinata was quick though, transforming into Kujagora before blocking with her Houou-Ken.
"It's not enough that you hospitalized Yukiko, now you plan to kill her?" Kujagora snapped, clearly angry over her duplicitous brother.
"How could you deny your own daughter's heritage? She should embrace her destiny!" Contaro pointed out.
"What destiny!? To be a heartless monster under Ryu's command?! Mikoto should be free to make her own path, to be her own person, free to decide her own fate, regardless of being half human and half Akuma! Now, she is not your niece and you are not her uncle!"
"Pfft, what else could we possibly be? *chuckles*"
"With you, Mikoto is nothing more than a puppet, and you're her puppet master, pulling the strings!"
"Enough with the sanctimonious pretenses and FIGHT ME, BITCH!" Contaro shouted, firing his pistol at her point blank, but she vanished in a cloud of feathers before appearing behind him and hitting his head with the butt of her sword.
He growled in frustration before they kept clashing blades rapidly despite the tight corridors of the hospital that had been cleared of staff. As they kept clashing, they both notice the doctors trying to push the unconscious Yukiko already on her bed out of the hospital and away from the monsters. Contaro smirked and shoved Kujagora off to attempt to kill Yukiko, pushing the doctors and nurses away before raising his sword up. Suddenly, Contaro froze up when he heard a familiar tune, starting to clutch his head in pain as he fell to his knees.
"This tune… the lullaby!" Contaro realized, turning around and seeing Kujagora playing it on her flute, the tune itself played in a way that made him hurt, "I've always wanted to know… how can it hurt us!? That melody is supposed to make us stronger!"
"Simple, it's the instrumentation and intention of the user," Kujagora informed, the echoes of the lullaby still ringing in his head, "You and I both play it slow and soothing, yet you have an evil heart! When someone with pure intentions plays this tune, it can repel back those who are impure… like you!"
Contaro continued to groan in pain as he tried to reach to his sister to stop her, but she played the tune again on her flute, making Contaro scream in agony before he eventually disappeared, allowing Kujagora to stop as she panted. The doctors looked at her with fear and anxiety as she got back to her feet, turning back into Hinata as she walked towards Yukiko.
"It's alright, I'm not here to hurt anyone," Hinata assured the doctors, who were still uneasy, but stepped aside so Hinata could check her mother-in-law, "Yukiko? Are you okay?"
Yukiko groaned a bit in pain before finally opening her eyes, looking up to see Hinata, faintly gasping in surprise since she was still recovering.
"Hinata…? A-Am I dead? Or is this all a dream?" she asked, unsure what was going on.
"No, I am very much alive. All will be explained later, trust me," Hinata promised as she took Yukiko's hand into her own.
Meanwhile, Green was deflecting Takara's knives using his Beat Sticks, the clash soon stopping as he took the shortened Dotai Rod to connect his sticks together, turning it into the Beat Staff.
"Damn, your persistence is so annoying!" Takara growled, clearly not ready to back down, summoning more knives from her feathers and tossing them at Green, who twirled his staff to block all of them.
"Come on, Mikoto-san. You of all people should know that I never quit!" Green shouted, rushing towards Takara and clashing blade on staff.
"Stop calling me that!"
'Just hold on, Mikoto-san,' Green thought, using his staff to block her attacks until they both knocked each other back a bit.
They kept going at it, not slowing down a smidge until Green managed to trip her up and stomp on her stomach numerous times. Takara then tripped Green onto the floor with her, making him drop his staff for a moment. The two then continued to punch and block each other's attacks, the ground gaining craters from each blow before Green managed to kick her off, grabbing his staff, and aiming it at her head.
"Okay, you got me beat. Now kill me," Takara shouted, but Green stood still, "Well, what are you waiting for? You got me right where you want, so kill me! Hurry up and kill me already!"
"No… I'm not going to kill you," Green informed, seemingly lowering his weapon.
"I knew you'd be too soft."
Green just tapped his staff against the concrete, playing a small tune that vaguely sounded familiar to Takara, and then twirling his staff in a circle, launching several green energy slashes up in the air.
"Wha-What are you doing?" Takara inquired nervously before Green grabbed her and forced her into a hug.
"I'm not going to kill you, but I will make sure you don't suffer alone!" Green insisted at the top of his lungs.
"ARE YOU CRAZY!? Injuring both me and you?! THIS IS SUICIDAL! WHAT'S THE POINT OF KILLING US BOTH?!"
"Mikoto-san has been through so much trauma and heartbreak already! Now, I'm going to share the pain with you, Mikoto-san!"
"Let go of me right now!"
Takara screamed as the rain of energy slashes started falling down at a faster rate, landing on the two combatants, Green simply taking the pain while Takara screamed in agony, getting the attention of the other Melodygers while Hinata came out of the hospital.
"Neiji!" Yellow shouted.
"Neiji-kun?" Pink gasped as the smoke died down, Green having been knocked out of transformation while Takara just laid a couple feet away.
Neiji spat out some blood and grunted, crawling over to Takara, slowly trying to get up to his knees once he was in arms distance from her.
"What the hell was that…?" Takara coughed, struggling to bring herself up.
"I told you. I didn't want you to suffer alone. I thought that if we shared the same pain, then perhaps, I would reach out to you," Neiji figured, coughing a bit himself, Takara getting to her knees as well, now eye to eye with him.
"*sighs before coughing some more* You are annoyingly naive."
"What can I say? ...Maybe I am a hopeless romantic when it comes to you."
Takara just chuckled a bit, feeling that was dumb, Neiji chuckling along with her for a bit, even as Takara's expression shifted to one of contempt and killer instinct as she reached over and grabbed Neiji's neck, strangling him.
"You still persist with this love garbage. Why? Why can't you just give it up!?" Takara shouted, more frustrated while shaking Neiji's head.
"But… I truly love you… with all my heart… regardless of your Akuma blood… and I won't rest until you come back!" Neiji answered hoarsely.
"You've literally tried every trick in the book! What more could you possibly do, huh?"
Neiji didn't say a word, just closing his eyes, thinking what might've been his final thoughts. Then, whether out of instinct or pure determination, it was unclear how, but he managed to start whistling. It was slow, deliberate, a calming tune, but very familiar to those close to him and Mikoto. It pierced through the otherwise silent battlefield, making Takara wince in pain, but the few transformed Melodygers left on the field suddenly felt compelled to join in. They each began playing after each time it was sounded, starting with Pink on her Keytar, Blue on his Saxozooka, Yellow on his guitar, and Gold managing to play a looping beat on her Turntable. As the familiar lullaby played, Hinata managed to walk out the entrance of the hospital, bearing witness to this, the lullaby revitalizing her as Takara began to try and writhe out of Neiji's grasp, only for him to kiss her on the lips. Seeing this, Hinata felt just as compelled.
"I never thought I would need to utter the very lyrics to this song after so many years... but… I must," she whispered before approaching the Akuma that was her daughter, and then began to sing with the instrumentals set up by the Melodygers, "Hold onto hope, I'm home~ward bound. In the darkest of night, there's light~ to be found. From a spark will be born a fi~re~. Shine through the shadow of doubt~."
With these lyrics sounding out, Takara's eyes widened, flashing bright red as she somehow felt in pain as the song and lyrics were repeated.
'Th-... this song… these lyrics… why do they fill me with such… nostalgia!?' Takara wondered, getting back up on her feet and jerking herself violently while gripping her head in more pain.
Takara grunted, her entire body twitching as parts of her seemed to turn human, as if Mikoto was actually trying to break free.
"It's working! Keep playing!" Hinata called out, pausing in one of the repetitions before resuming her singing.
"Mikoto-san, take my hand!" Neiji pleaded, holding his hand out.
"Stop! I am Takara! I am Akuma! I'm not human!" Takara insisted, roaring in pain, but her eyes turned blue a moment as she found herself holding her hand out against her will, "No! Don't do it! If you can keep me from killing those you love, I can stop you from coming back!"
However, her body still twitched, human skin and Akuma self melding together in the middle of what looked like a seizure. Neiji grabbed her hand along with his fellow Melodygers, pulling to try and free their friend and leader from her torture. Takara actually pushed their hands away before screaming at the sky, as the glitching got so violent, the heroes could see Mikoto's arms and head trying to push themselves out of Takara before an explosion of light occured. They were blinded briefly before they saw Mikoto standing right next to Takara before they both fell to the ground.
"Mikoto!" Hinata gasped, running over with the others.
"Mikoto-san/Miko-chan!" Neiji and Jess added in shock, all surrounding her to see if she was alright.
"You okay, Mikoto-san? You okay?" Kazu asked, checking as Neiji held her, Mikoto's eyes opening, revealing her irises were grayed out and were otherwise just black.
"It's okay, Mikoto-san. It's over," Neiji assured, hugging his girlfriend closely, Mikoto trying to register what was going on as of now before returning the hug.
Back at the base, Mikoto was sitting on the medical bed with her legs crossed and her fingertips touching while staring into space.
"She seems to be in a state of shock and trauma," Saburo noted.
"But she's okay, right?" Jess asked with concern.
"I would hope so," Hinata sighed, tapping her daughter's shoulder, "Hello? Mikoto?"
She snapped her fingers in front of her face, even waved her hand to get her attention, but Mikoto's face still looked glazed over.
"Man, the shock of that whole reveal must've really done a number on her," Kazu figured.
"I think we should all be happy that Mikoto is back with us," Mayako pointed out.
"I am, but something feels… off," Neiji countered, Kami walking towards the group with a frightened expression on her face.
"Whoa! Are you okay?"
"No… no, I am not okay," Kami sighed.
"What happened?" Neiji asked.
"Well… I just finished scanning Mikoto's body to see if she was okay, and I discovered something."
"What's that?" Hinata inquired.
"Dudes… the lullaby didn't split Mikoto-kun and Takara apart," Kami informed.
"What!?" Saburo gawked.
"It, like, barely nudged them."
"Then what the hell DID split them up?" Kazu gawked.
"I'm… not entirely sure. My best guess is… Mikoto willingly split away from Takara because… she refused to accept the Akuma half of herself. It's almost as if half of her soul is missing, and because of how scared she is, she isn't responding to anything we say to her," Kami explained, making the others look concerned, "In short… Mikoto-kun literally shut herself down."
Everyone looked shocked by this as they looked at the prone Mikoto as she simply stared off into space with a lone tear dripping down her face.
(Insert Theme: Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day)
*As the song began, we see the place is grey and lonely as our focus goes from the ground and scrolls up to see Mikoto*
I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known
*She starts walking down said road with her hands in her jacket pocket*
Don't know where it goes, But it's home to me and I walk alone
*Her expression looks to be that of sorrow and pain as she walks*
I walk this empty street, on the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
*The place then lights up with color as she turns to see Kazu walking up to her along with Jess, both of them smiling at her and waving*
Where the city sleeps, and I'm the only one and I walk alone
*Neiji then leaps over with Saburo following behind him, both joining the other Melodygers and giving a peace greeting to Mikoto*
I walk alone, I walk alone…
*Mayako then ran up to the group and smiled at Mikoto. She looks at all of her new friends, who all smile at her and even give her a thumbs up*
I walk alone, I walk a…
*With that, Mikoto gives a smile and they all soon run off*
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
*They look to see the Akuma no Metal in the midst of invading their town*
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
*Ryu Chikara was seen standing atop his mountain on a throne while the three generals stand ready with an army of grunts*
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
*The six turned to see Ongeku no Kami appear and give them a nod, allowing them to plug their Tuners into their Changers and DJ Phone into DJ Changer*
'Til then I walk alone~
*As the instrumental ends, we see them change into Melodygers before charging into battle, taking out the imps and kaijin with Melody-Oh and MixMaster-Bat on standby*
Jikai, Musical Sentai Melodyger!
Takara: I'm… fading away?
Kami: If these two can't accept each other, they'll disappear.
Neiji: But why?!
Hinata: One can't exist without the other!
Contaro: Fine then, I'll see that all three of you die together!
Mikoto: I'm not… like them...
Score 37: Acceptance or Denial?
From Coda to the Top!
TB: ...Damn. That was intense.
KKD: I'll say.
TB: This whole chapter was awesome in the dramatic areas, action areas, and storytelling.
KKD: This sure was quite the tale. The battles, the drama, everything about it was just… wow.
TB: Some areas I took inspiration from Kyuuranger, which reminds me to catch up on that later, and I added a little more to the lullaby with lyrics from the Destiny 2 Rap by YouTuber JT Music.
KKD: And in case you're wondering, yes, the lullaby is that opening flute solo of that rap along with the chorus of said rap. That was probably one of the best ideas we've had, so if you want to know what that lullaby sounded like when we first brought it up… there you go.
TB: Favorite part?
KKD: That's gotta be that ending part where we made it seem like the lullaby was the thing to help Mikoto break away from Takara. Just the build up with Neiji whistling before being joined by his teammates and even Hinata was just… perfect.
TB: That was my favorite part too, the emotions of the scene shining through only to be capped off with the conflict that will be addressed in the next chapter. This whole arc has been amazing to write and I can't wait to see how it ends next time.
KKD: Yea, totally. But until then, we got another class to get to. Right?
TB: Yep. I'm the Lone Rider, TokuBrony…
KKD: I'm the Crossover King, KKD Silver… *Salutes* Jaa ne.
TB: SEIYAA!