Part XXXII
(Rated M to AO. There will be a very coarse amount of vulgar language and very graphic violence and injury with lots of bloodshed. You are advised to proceed with extreme caution, as this is what I have truly wished to do in my rewrite… for sure, this series is no longer as sweet and innocent as it was originally presented. Not even the original manga would go to these lengths.)
Things turn stormy up on the surface overnight and it persists into the morning. The girls, Taiki and his mother Sylvia are all inside overlooking the sea from the restaurant's windowed wall. Lucia is so worried about Kaito, but Hanon comes in and sets down some fruit drinks for everyone, including Hippo.
Hanon: Here, everyone, We should have some juice to quench our thirst. We might break down if we all keep wearing long faces like those, so let's lighten up now.
She even sets down a glass for Hippo, who is taken aback by the sudden kindness.
Hippo: Hanon-san, you have a glass for me, too?
Hanon: From now on, we have to work together to look for Gackto's lair. Hippo, if you also don't lighten up, it'll be troubling for me.
Taiki: Troubling for US ALL, you mean.
Hippo is moved by Hanon's compassion now. Outside, though, under the waves, the Black Beauty Sisters are about to execute their plan. They insert the pearls from Noel and Coco into their microphones and they become far more powerful and energized.
Sister Sheshe: Inhabitants of the deep, come gather before us!
Sister Mimi: Let's prepare for a lively show time!
They see many fish gather in the trench below them and then the Dark Lovers show up behind them.
Izul: We've finally found you, Black Beauty Sisters!
Yuuri: How dare you betray Gackto-sama like this!
Maria: I knew one day that you two would show your true colors.
Sister Sheshe: Oh my, you've figured it out, then?
Eril: Hey, you two! What on earth are you planning by betraying Gackto-sama?!
Sister Mimi: We are not like you four, all tied down by your loyalty.
Sister Sheshe: Didn't you know? There's a mysterious woman named Sara in the castle and she's bewitched Gackto. Now he no longer has the ambition to be ruler of the Panthalassa.
Sister Mimi: How true.
Maria: You're lying! How can there be such a woman?
Yuuri: Stop with your nonsense!
Eril: That's right! You have the gall to insult Gackto-sama?!
Izul: We will NOT be tricked by your weird excuses!
Sister Sheshe: You four sure are talking strangely. I don't have any reason to give you excuses.
Sister Mimi: How true. Especially with you bunch of dimwits and dumbbells.
Dark Lovers: (angered) WHAT DID YOU SAY?!
Sister Mimi: Oh, I know… let's have them help out on our plan to capture the Mermaid Princesses and the Surface Lineage, Sister Sheshe.
Sister Sheshe: You're right, Sister Mimi. It's not for Gackto, but for us.
She chuckles and the deep sea fish all come up in front of, behind and to the sides of the sisters.
Eril: W-What's going on here?
Yuuri: There's so many deep-sea fish here…!
Sisters: Deep Sea Flash!
Their attack triggers the fishes to all fire light bursts at the Dark Lovers and the energies with those lights encircle them.
Sister Sheshe: We've got two of the pearls here. Next, we capture the four Mermaid Princesses and that foolish Surface lineage's heir. This will just leave us with only one. We won't have depended on Gackto at all and yet we'll have gathered six of the pearls. That last pearl shouldn't take much effort to find.
The attacks stop and the Dark Lovers look worn down from it, with their eyes closer to being blank.
Sister Mimi: How true. We gather the seven princess pearls, seize the black one and we'll be unstoppable.
Sara just continues to stand and watch Tarou play the piano, taunting him just about the entire time, while above, the Sisters have emerged and spawned a deadly, huge tornado. It shows up on the breaking news on TV and then the pair cut in to only the princesses, Taiki and Sylvia with the use of frequencies that only they can hear.
Taiki: They must be calling us out for a showdown.
Sister Sheshe: Mermaid Princesses, you must be tired of running away by slipping onto land with your foolish Surface Lineage allies, right?
Sister Mimi: We, the Black Beauty Sisters, will draw you all out now.
Sister Sheshe: If you continue to ignore us, then high waves and tornadoes the likes of which have never been recorded will hit the coastline cities.
Sister Mimi: We are not threatening any of you. Rather, if all of you do not appear before noon, then we will massacre all of the people on land.
The pair laugh and their interrupting message ends and the TV then powers off suddenly.
Taiki: You…
The girls, his mother and Hippo now all feel pulsing of energy in tune with his increasing heartbeat.
Taiki: You aren't going to even damage a hair on anyone!
A burst of energy and light in red gives way from him and a pair of wakizashi swords manifest themselves from his spiritual energy at his sides, in matte black holsters.
Taiki: For your insolence, I am going to take your lives…
As he turns around and walks to get out of the room, the rest all fear for his disposition but follow after him as his walk turns into a run. As they all set out to face the Black Beauty Sisters, Kaito wakes up down in Gackto's palace.
Kaito: Where am I?
Gackto puts down the point of his staff just in front and to the left of Kaito's face, getting his attention and making him look up that way.
Kaito: Wh-Who are you?!
Gackto: I am Gackto. This is my castle… and you came to this place to seek power, didn't you. Yes, for the power to protect what's most precious to you… am I right?
He crouches down, extending his hand to hold his other self by the chin.
Gackto: If you become one with me, then you'll be able to obtain this enormous power.
Kaito pushes his arm away, saying "Let go of me!" to him.
Gackto: Oh, come now… Even if you haven't completely awakened yet, you should still have memories of THIS.
His bangs part and the mark of the Panthalassa shines into sight before Kaito.
Kaito: Th-That's…!
His own symbol enlightens as well.
Gackto: This is the proof of one that holds the power of the clan of Panthalassa.
Kaito: Panthalassa? What is that?
His symbol disappears and Kaito feels faint.
Gackto: Return to your true self and realize your destiny. Playtime is now over… my other self.
Kaito faints as everyone has departed and are heading towards the signatures on Hippo's Pearl Radar. When they stop to have a look, Sister Sheshe's voice gets their attention.
"I applaud you all for not running away and actually coming here."
She and Sister Mimi descend into sight before them and a second later the Dark Lovers also show up to the pair's sides. The girls, Taiki and his mother all transform as Legend of Mermaid starts in the background. Even Hippo transforms from penguin form to Hippocampus.
Sister Mimi: That is useless!
She snaps her fingers and deep sea fish gather in front of the group.
Taiki: Hey! What's with all of these deep sea fish?! Are you scared of us… of ME?!
Sister Sheshe: No. These fish are your fans.
Rina: Everyone, quickly! Let's Live Start!
But just as they are about to do so, the fish all blind them with light.
Taiki: AGH! I KNEW you would cheat! Have you no sense of honor at all?!
Sister Mimi: Right, right… there are always those fans who interfere with a live show when it's overly exhilarating!
Taiki: Oh, I'll SHOW YOU an interference…
His two glaive stars have already fused and the one star now expands in size behind the group, while he lowers his hands to his sides and grasps the handles of the wakizashi blades.
Taiki: …An interference in your GODDAMN HEARTBEATS!
Sister Sheshe: Dark Lovers, finish them!
Just as Taiki lunges out of the live stage, Maria fires an ice blast to freeze him and push him back into the live stage, whereupon the attack freezes it over as well. Yuuri hexes them and the stage to be spun fast in order to render them dizzy, Eril throws a wind blast at the stage and the final blow comes from Izul's water dragons. The live stage is shattered and Taiki's patience shatters after he bursts free from the ice, now getting swallowed up into rage.
Taiki: NEVER HAVE I SEEN SUCH COWARDICE!
Sister Sheshe: Oh, give it a rest, you fucking wannabe idol!
Sylvia IMMEDIATELY grasps ahold of her son tightly as he snaps at this insult…
Taiki: WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!
He starts to fight his way out of his mother's hold, making the girls have to help restrain him.
Taiki: I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!
With their plan to destroy Taiki's rational thinking ability working, Hippo makes his move to go after the Sisters, refusing to go after and fight Yuuri. Just as he is about to ram them, they disappear. They then catch him from a blind spot with a Heavy Ice Blast, knocking him senseless and down into the open fissure on the sea floor.
Taiki: YOU'RE MINE!
Now he is starting to budge the girls off of him.
Sister Sheshe: This guy talks tough and never shuts up, does he?
Sister Mimi: Yes, what a bother this is. Let's finish them with one blast, Sister Sheshe.
Both: Deep Sea Live! We call it "Live Snow Illusion!"
Taiki finally pushes the girls and his mother off of him, then heads to the sisters as fast as he can.
Taiki: DIE!
With his arms extended and the swords pointing forward, his intent is to run the sisters through and kill them; however, their power repulses him fiercely, shatters the wakizashi blades, makes his fused glaive star shrink down and come back to Sylvia's side and induces tremendous pain upon him as the others catch him. Then powder snow falls over the group and starts to encircle them.
Sylvia: What are those two doing now?
They all come together and encase the group in a similar ball of light that had once held Caren captive and the Sisters' song starts in the background.
Taiki: DAMMIT, WE'RE TRAPPED! THERE'S NO WAY EVEN I CAN GET US OUT OF HERE!
Sister Sheshe: How is it? We prepared these special box seats just for you. Hopefully it's to your liking.
Sister Mimi: We want to sing to our heart's content, so you'll have to stay there and listen attentively.
Taiki: What's given them all of this power…?!
The sister hold out their microphones and cast on their red live stage. Taiki sees as true what he hoped was not…
Taiki: NO! THEY HAVE THE PEARLS!
Sisters: It's Show Time!
They let loose with their song and the agony surpasses what was felt the first time around by Taiki, not to mention for everyone else. During this, they drag the incapacitated prince from the light bubble as well as his fused glaive star.
Sylvia: What are you DOING?! Leave my son alone!
As soon as the pair finish singing, Sister Mimi adds insult to the injury by mocking the group's line.
Sister Mimi: How about some black temptation?
The main bubble breaks apart into smaller ones.
Sister Sheshe: Now you will sleep in the dark depths, never to see light again. We'll take our time in claiming your pearls…
A piercing and sadistic stare is fixed on Taiki.
Sister Sheshe: …after we take this boy's pearl along with his life!
They send the Princesses and Sylvia hurtling down into another fissure to the sea floor. Sylvia screams out her son's name as she sees him starting to get ravaged by the sisters. Taiki's glaive is tossed to one side after they cut him down his chest with it. His yell is interrupted when they have Maria send her ice at the area of the cut, rapidly chilling his body temperature and leaving him further prone. The sisters both grab and throw him down to the rocky floor there, then jointly stomp on his chest, cracking the ice under his skin as well as several of his ribs, making him gasp and curl up to immobilize himself. As the sisters chuckle at what they've been doing, Hippo struggles up to his feet, willed on by his mission and duty, to hurtle after the Sisters once more.
Sister Mimi: Oh my, now this is unexpected. He's still alive.
Sister Sheshe: Dark Lovers, finish him off now.
They indeed surround him and he's hesitant to go against Yuuri. This hesitation is about to cost him. Over in the castle, Gackto has his right hand on Kaito's head.
Gackto: This place is my castle. It's yours, too. Now, let us become one. The world will belong to us alone when we become the rulers of the seven seas.
Kaito flashes back to his earliest meetings with his beloved mermaid.
Kaito: Lucia…
Gackto: Are you still charmed by that Mermaid Princess, even with you knowing that you are of the Panthalassa clan?
He stands up and turns to walk back to his throne.
Gackto: You should know that your feelings can never be truly returned. The feelings you have for that mermaid are undermined by what you are fated to do.
Kaito: You don't decide that!
Kaito stands up before him.
Gackto: Those feelings you have are not love.
The Dark Lovers unleash their Brilliant Combination attack on Hippo. It's so painful, he yells out to Yuuri for her to stop in the voice of this form. Getting no response, it repeats in a shrill when there's a burst of light and smoke and his normal voice now yells it to her, appearing before her as she remembers him and freeing her from being controlled by the Black Beauty Sisters. As soon as his voice stops, he blacks out and falls unconscious. Yuuri is in utter shock from this.
Yuuri: H-Hippo-sama! Why?!
Sister Mimi: Alright, then, it's the end of our opposition. They won't be bothering us anymore.
Just as they are about to turn back towards Taiki to go and finish him, both of them have their attention grabbed by the sight of the closeness between Yuuri and Hippo.
Sister Mimi: Oh my, you two have that kind of a relationship? (turns) This is a surprise, Sister Sheshe.
Sister Sheshe: I don't care about them. We have our aims, to make storms and ravage the land.
They see Yuuri with her head lowered, setting Hippo down next to Taiki.
Yuuri: I may not be able to be together with Hippo-sama… but, I will NOT let you destroy the land that recorded the beautiful memories of Hippo and myself!
Sister Sheshe: Don't make us laugh! We don't care about your reason!
Yuuri disappears in a fury and reappears right in front of them with the intent to hurt Sister Sheshe. The punch only grazes her cheek, then she and Mimi repel Yuuri with a silent Heavy Ice Blast; however, when they do so, Yuuri's scream brings the other three out of their trance. Izul catches Yuuri and things get interesting…
Sister Mimi: Seems they're back to normal.
Eril: You shouldn't have taken us so lightly!
Izul: We're not to be toyed with - we'll show you!
Maria: Now you've seriously angered us all!
Sister Sheshe: Even if you are angry, we aren't afraid of you one bit.
Sister Mimi: How true.
The Dark Lovers now throw out their attacks, but the Sisters easily avoid them and further taunt the foursome. After another, more powerful round of attacks is also dodged and the sisters get cocky in the process, they do not initially see Eril suddenly make a fast lunge at them. When they part and turn away from Eril, their microphone tails collide, making the two princess pearls fall out, but they don't notice it until the pearls have dropped by some distance. Still, their being attacked takes immediate priority. Thanks to this, they do not truly realize the direction in which the pearls are falling…
Taiki looks up just after Hippo comes back to consciousness right there next to him, whereupon both of them see the pearls. Taiki summons back his glaive to his left hand and Hippo also gets ahold of it, so they both hold it up above them…
Hippo + Taiki: (weakly) Aqua… Regina-sama…!
Those two pearls light up brightly after being drawn into their respective arms on the weapon. At this, everyone else's pearls — including Sara's, much to her shock — also shine. Power grips Taiki and pulls him over to the fissure from which everyone else is rising. The magic and light from Aqua Regina disperses the bubble prisons around them as well as completely heals Taiki's injuries while she addresses them all.
Aqua Regina: Mermaid Princesses and the lineage of the Surface… danger has come closer. A new melody has been born under the resonance of the seven Princess pearls and the three of the Surface. I shall bestow this song upon you.
The Princesses, Sylvia and Taiki all surge with new power. Taiki's spiritually-formed wakizashi blades reform for him in their holsters as his glaive comes to his hands. Back in the castle, Gackto addresses Kaito.
Gackto: I was looking forward to your arrival here.
He sits down on his throne and faces Kaito.
Gackto: In past battles, Aqua Regina was afraid of the Panthalassa's power. She sealed this power and thus we were split in two.
Kaito is standing in a position like he's ready to fight.
Gackto: Because of that, I was unable to use all of my powers. But from this moment on, it will be different. Remember your duty! You're my other self and the descendant of the honorable Panthalassa clan.
Kaito: You say… that I'm on your side…?
The Black Beauty Sisters combine their power and fiercely repulse the Dark Lovers.
Sister Sheshe: Hmph, you're all just talk.
Taiki yells a war cry; hearing him, the sisters turn that way. Taiki's emotions have turned to determination and courage as his own power surges. The Mermaid Princesses, Taiki and Sylvia all transform to their High Idol forms, including Caren now for the first time. Their power has jumped tremendously and the new song starts in the background…
Sister Sheshe: How did you all escape?!
Sister Mimi: Don't tell me… you broke through our balls of light?!
Taiki holds up his glaive and the two illuminated arms show the new power.
Taiki: The pearls sets us free!
Hanon: We won't let you do whatever you like!
Rina: We will save all of the mermaids who have been captured by Gackto!
Caren: Not just the seas…
Sylvia: …We will protect the peace on land!
Lucia: We sing for the happiness of everyone!
Taiki: And we'll never be silenced!
All: Pichi Pichi Voice Live Start!
The new song, KODOU, envelops the Black Beauty Sisters in severe pain and destroys the tornado they had created. They themselves get enveloped in an equally powerful maelstrom and Taiki's glaive moves itself over to them with its blades out and spinning at high speed, to make them pay for what they've done.
Sister Sheshe: What's this power?!
Her sister screams in agony.
On the Princesses' last sung line, the glaive starts spinning at top speed; whipped around by the spinning column of water, it severely lacerates the sisters.
All: Love Shower Pitch!
Both of them yell in the grasp of their agony and injury.
Lucia: Would you like an encore?
Sister Sheshe: He's going to kill us…! Gackto-sama!
Sister Mimi: Gackto-sama, save us!
Taiki momentarily slips into a sadistic state and blurs forward to slash them both down the front before grabbing their heads and smashing them together as blood is pouring out of them. Gackto, hearing the sisters' collective cries for help from inside his castle, looks in that direction.
Gackto: You're both so annoying… be silent!
A large ray of light and energy fires from his staff, out of his castle, right at them.
Sheshe + Mimi: NO! GACKTO-SAMAAAAA!
Taiki only just senses this energy flying towards there at the last second and turns to start swimming back to the others just as the energy collides with the pair and results in an explosion. The force from that throws him for a loop and pushes him to the hold of everyone else.
Hanon: Taiki, are you alright?
Taiki feels a very severe jolt and now realizes what is about to transpire. He looks to the girls, his mother and Hippo with widened eyes.
Sylvia: What? What is it?!
Taiki: EVERYONE, GET BACK TO SHORE, NOW!
They all swim after him as the angler fish that had been turned into the Black Beauty Sisters years ago swim away out to sea, whilst back in the castle, Kaito is at his breaking point.
Kaito: There's no way that I know you. I am Kaito Doumoto! I am the child of musician parents! I don't have any other identity!
Gackto's forehead insignia is enlightening.
Gackto: For the Panthalassa, your duty is to capture the Mermaid Princesses and steal their pearls and eliminate their Surface lineage ally, Taiki Yamada!
Kaito: WHAT?! I have to capture the mermaids… and kill Taiki?!
He grips his head.
Kaito: There is no way I can—!
Gackto: You cannot defy destiny. Why?
His insignia glows brighter and his eyes narrow.
Gackto: Because you, Kaito, are my younger brother!
Kaito yells in pain as his insignia violently shines forth. With this, the powers resonate and Gackto's castle rises up until it finally breaks the surface and towers above sea level.
Gackto: Come, step forth with me.
Kaito's screams stop after he finally opens his eyes, all but blank, then faints after Gackto's words from earlier repeat in his head while he disappears from the sight of his older brother.
Gackto: 'The world will belong to us alone when we become the rulers of the seven seas.'
Kaito is found shortly afterward situated onto a throne of his own and held there after his regal wear appears on him. Outside, the massive powers incite a frighteningly powerful tempest to surround the castle. After getting back to land and getting up to the eve outside the back of the Hotel, everyone is able to see the castle directly out from the hotel's location.
Taiki: There it is. Gackto's lair.
Caren: Our opponent has appeared before us on purpose.
Nicole: Taki-san…
Madame Taki: The time has finally arrived, hasn't it?
[Episode 50: Darkness of the Heart]
The Dark Lovers observe the sight of Kaito there and comment amongst themselves as he struggles to protect his memories from up on the surface, especially those of Lucia. Meanwhile, in his chamber, Gackto is with Sara.
Gackto: It's almost time, Sara. All of the pearls are within my sight, and the time to rule the land has now come.
Sara: Gackto, you can finally obtain the light of the land.
Gackto: Light, huh?
Sara: Scared?
Gackto: Never. Darkness is the other side of light and so both of them should belong to me.
Sara: You've been trapped in the darkness of the sea for a long time. The right is yours. Kaito is uninteresting with his human heart. I want you to dispose of him quickly.
Back onshore, everyone is gathered at where Madame Taki is seated.
Hanon: Hey, if they purposely appeared in front of us, does this mean they're luring us to them?
Rina: Seems like it.
Madame Taki: It seems our opponent is most serious this time.
Nicole: How should we deal with their actions?
There is a pause.
Taiki: We go and face them.
Caren: My sister Noel is trapped there.
The others nod.
Hippo: Sara-sama and Coco-sama must be there, too.
Hanon: And Tarou-chan as well.
Taiki: I'LL SEE GACKTO DIE FOR ALL HE'S DONE!
Lucia holds her hand to her chest.
Rina: Lucia, what's wrong?
Lucia: It's Kaito… I think I heard Kaito calling for me.
In the castle, Gackto is standing before Kaito, whom is in pain and holding his head.
Gackto: Is it painful, my other self? Rest assured; if you obtain the power of the Mermaid Princesses' pearls and destroy the Surface Lineage, that pain will disappear.
Kaito: The powers… of the pearls?
Gackto: Right. This time, a world without pain will be in our hands.
Kaito's eyes change color to purple and he stops struggling with his forehead insignia glowing. Back on the surface, Taiki, Sylvia and Hippo are with the princesses at the water's edge, ready to go to the castle. Taiki throws the fused glaive star out in front of him and expands it to its maximum size, preparing to step out onto the center.
Madame Taki: Everyone, take care. You must return.
Nicole: My stew will be waiting for you when you come back!
Hippo: We will definitely return with all seven Mermaid Princesses and the Surface Lineage.
The princesses all nod, but before they set off, a live stage softly glows from him and piano music is heard to a well-known hymn that the navies of the world know.
Taiki: Hear us, Aqua Regina… everyone, sing!
All: Aqua Regina, strong to save, whose arm has bound the restless wave,
Who bids the mighty ocean deep, its own appointed limits keep:
O hear us when we raise our plea for those in peril on the sea.
O Sea Goddess, whose mighty word the wind and waves submissive heard,
Who walked upon the foaming deep and calm among the rage did sleep:
O hear us when we raise our plea for those in peril on the sea.
O Sea Goddess, who times did fret about the oceans' chaos set
Who bids the angry tumult cease to bring about a calming peace:
O hear us when we raise our plea for those in peril on the sea.
O watchful ones of love and power, your children shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe, protect them wheresoever they go;
And then shall rise with voices free glad praise from air and land and sea.
Then the light disappears and Taiki has a stronger conviction than at any other time in his life. He steps onto the expanded glaive star and stops on the center.
Taiki: Let's go, everyone. Onward, to our victory!
The princesses all enter the water and swim to stay with the glaive as it cuts across the surface and through the waves.
In the castle, Sara is in her chamber, looking at the door to the room where Tarou is playing the piano entranced.
Sara: Mitsuki, it's happening… The Mermaid Princesses approach.
Outside, the group has all arrived at the front of the castle and Sylvia looks at her son above her on his weapon as a means of transport.
Lucia: How do we get into the castle?
As Taiki runs along one of the weapon's arms and jumps to the place into where the castle doors will go when they are opening, Hanon remarks at this.
Hanon: Talk about being inconsiderate! They should at least bid us welcome!
Taiki: Don't worry; I will rectify THAT mistake.
Taiki rears back for momentum and smashes on the doors with his fists as hard as he can to have the "knocking" travel all the way into the castle.
Taiki: GACKTO! OPEN UP NOW!
After several seconds of no response…
Taiki: FINE, THEN I'M BREAKING THROUGH THESE DOORS!
After delivering one last smash to the doors that leaves a large splitting crack in the left side, a dark wave of energy flings him back fast and hard to the ocean under the glaive and right onto his mother. The fused weapon shrinks to its normal size and returns to his person.
Lucia: Taiki, Sylvia, are you alright?!
Sylvia: Yeah, I'm fine.
Taiki: It seems somebody doesn't want to play fair.
Rina: Then we'd better look for another entrance.
But as soon as she says that, a square hole opens behind them and they all are dragged to the edge before falling down the rapidly-flowing waters into the hole. Inside, the Dark Lovers have come before Gackto upon his throne and he smirks and chuckles when he senses that the group has taken the plunge.
Yuuri: Gackto-sama, it's now that time.
Izul: The light of the seven Mermaid Princesses' colored pearls…
Eril: …is almost in your grasp.
Gackto: Come, let's invite the Mermaid Princesses and the Yamada family to the Mirror World.
Maria: Your wish is my command, Gackto-sama.
—