**Foreword**

A few things to know for this story:

*Here, mermaids can freely reveal their true identities to humans without worrying about turning to sea foam, just to make some things less complicated.

** Because of this, Nagisa and Masahiro know their girlfriends are mermaids.

*Caren, Noel, and Coco have been down-aged to 16 for the first two, and 17 for the latter.

A New Beginning

In the city, the Mermaid Princesses were leaving a karaoke bar.

"Ah, that was fun." Lucia said.

"So, where should we go now?" Noel asked.

Then, Hanon saw an advertisement from Stark Industries. "Whoa! Is that a new phone model from Stark Industries? I would like one, but it being so top-quality and all, I'll never be able to afford it."

"It's amazing that even though Stark Industries is America-based, it has subsidiaries all over the world, including here in Japan." Seira said.

"Not only that, the head, Tony Stark, is also the superhero Iron Man, one of the Avengers." Lucia said.

"It would have been nice to have some heroes helping us back in our previous battles, but unfortunately, they somehow managed to escape the heroes' radar." Rina said.

Then, the sky suddenly darkened as dark clouds formed.

"What the?" Coco asked.

Then, many specter-like beings descended from the clouds and headed down toward the city.

As the specters spread throughout the city, panic ensued.

"What are those things?" Hanon asked.

"I don't know, but it's weird." Noel said.

"How?" Caren asked.

"Look around. Those ghosts aren't causing any harm, they're just floating around." Noel said.

"Yeah, you're right." Rina said.

"That said, we can't let them cause panic in the city." Noel added.

"Yeah! We better chase them off." Lucia said.

"Pink Pearl Voice!"

"Aqua Pearl Voice!"

"Green Pearl Voice!"

"Purple Pearl Voice!"

"Indigo Pearl Voice!"

"Yellow Pearl Voice!"

"Orange Pearl Voice!"

After changing into their Super forms, the Mermaid Princesses were ready to use their voices against the specters, but before the Mermaid Princesses could even sing, the specters suddenly stopped in place.

"They stopped," Hanon said.

Then, the specters suddenly started leaving the area, headed toward the sea.

"They're heading toward the sea!" Caren said.

"After them! Maybe we can find out where those things came from!" Rina said.

The Mermaid Princesses chased the specters to the sea and noticed a strange man recalling the specters when he noticed the company.

"Ah, the Mermaid Princesses. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Imperious." the mysterious individual known as Imperious introduced himself.

"Why did you send those ghosts into the city?" Lucia asked.

"Because I thought that would be the quickest way to get an audience with you all," Imperious replied bluntly.

"What are you plotting?" Rina asked, having judged by the way he introduced himself and his method of getting their attention that Imperious was not trustworthy.

"What I want is the power of your seven pearls," Imperious answered, but the Mermaid Princesses already expected that kind of answer. "And of course, I plan on forcibly taking them."

"You think we'll just let you do that?!" Caren asked.

"That's right! We'll send you back empty-handed, ya creep!" Coco said.

"Pichi Pichi Voice, Live Start!" The Mermaid Princesses announced as they began to sing.

As the Mermaid Princesses sang, Imperious was struck by pain, but a grin on his face suggested he wanted things to go this way. "Excellent, now I can spring my trap!" Imperious revealed seven crystal shards, that he sent into the air above the Mermaid Princesses, zapping them.

"When you sing, that's when your powers are at your peak, so I merely waited for that right moment to do this." Imperious said.

Then, the crystal shards finished absorbing all the pearls' power, the pearls themselves lost their color and turned gray, with Imperious's crystals taking their colors.

The Mermaid Princesses fainted from the energy drain and fell into the sea as they lost their transformations.

The crystal shards then combined into a single prism. "Yes! My work here is done."

Imperious laughed triumphantly as he teleported away as the Mermaid Princesses laid passed out on the ocean floor.

Sometime later, the mermaids recovered.

"What happened? The last thing I remember, we were fighting that Imperious guy when we got zapped and everything after's a blur!" Hanon said.

"Same for us," Rina said.

"What was that about?" Lucia asked.

"Don't tell me…" Caren opened up her pendant for her pearl and saw the gray pearl. "I can't feel any energy from my pearl. Like it's dead or something."

The others checked their pearls as well and found them to be in the same state.

"He got what he wanted. The power of the seven pearls." Noel said. "He never needed the pearls themselves, he had a trick to drain their power."

"What do we do now?" Coco asked.

"I don't know, but for now, let's head back to Pearl Piari. There's no use staying here." Noel replied.

Later, at Pearl Piari, the Mermaid Princesses were glooming over their loss. Then, Hippo, Nikora, and Madame Taki came over to try and cheer them up.

"Um, you shouldn't worry yourselves. You didn't know that guy had such power." Hippo said.

"Even so, it's because we went after Imperious that he was able to lead us into a trap. If we just ignored it, then we wouldn't have encountered him." Rina said.

Then, Kaito, Nagisa, and Masahiro came into the hotel where they were informed of the situation.

"I can't believe it!' Nagisa said.

"What fiend!" Masahiro said.

"I'm sorry, you guys. I should've been there." Kaito said.

"I wish we could ask Lady Aqua Regina for advice, but with our pearls drained, that's impossible." Lucia said.

The Mermaid Princesses then held out their pearls, but then, the pearls suddenly started glowing, regaining their color.

"Our pearls, are they back to normal?" Coco asked. Then the light of the pearls summoned the sea goddess Aqua Regina.

"Lady Aqua Regina?" The mermaids all said.

"Mermaid Princesses. I am aware of recent events." Aqua Regina said solemnly.

"But isn't it okay now? Our pearls are restored." Caren asked.

"I'm sorry, but that is only temporary. It was the feeling in your hearts that summoned me." Aqua Regina replied, and the Mermaid Princesses became dejected. "Do not despair, Mermaid Princesses. There is still a way."

The last bit gave the Mermaid Princesses a slimmer of hope as they listened.

"Using my power, I can locate the essence of the seven pearls and where Imperious will appear. In addition, I also have the ability to send you there this moment." Aqua Regina said.

"That way we can find Imperious and get our powers back from him." Hanon said.

"But how will we get them back?" Seira asked.

"Don't know. But I won't just sit back like a coward." Caren said.

"I'm with Caren. It's our mission as Mermaid Princesses." Noel said.

"And it's my mission to be your guardian. I would like help." Hippo declared.

"Me too." Kaito joined in.

"I wish I could help, but I'm just a regular guy." Masahiro said, dismayed.

"Unfortunately, so am I." Nagisa said.

Then, it was decided that the Mermaid Princesses, Hippo, and Kaito would go.

"Be careful, all of you." Nikora said.

"I wish for the best of luck." Madame Taki said.

"Rina, come back safe." Masahiro said.

"Hanon, I know you can do it." Nagisa said.

"I should let you know, but I won't be able to be summoned until your pearls have been restored, so please stay safe." Aqua Regina said. Then, with a flash of light from Aqua Regina's staff, the Mermaid Princesses, Hippo, and Kaito disappeared.

At somewhere that appeared to be a large island man-made structure, a flash of light appeared and so did the Mermaid Princesses, Hippo, and Kaito.

"Our pearls…" Lucia said, noting that their pearls were once again gray.

"Where are we?" Hanon asked.

"Hey, look down there." Rina said as she pointed toward a news broadcast.

"This is Rosetta Riley at maximum-security prison, the Raft, where Tony Stark will be unveiling his newest breakthrough. Here at this unveiling party, we have many other big-time guests such as celebrities and even many superheroes."

"So Imperious is here?" Lucia asked.

"I'm afraid to say, but there's a good reason why he would be here. With all the villains locked up in here, imagine what could happen if he set them all loose." Noel said.

"But could he really set them all loose? If they're keeping the world's worst villains locked up, I imagine the security would be really tight!" Kaito said.

Meanwhile, in one of the cells, the villain King Cobra spoke with a masked man, Tim Gilliam.

"The DISKs?" King Cobra asked.

"A top-secret known by only a few," Tim replied.

"And you're one of them?" King Cobra asked, looking up at the security camera.

"Yes. And thanks to the fake security footage I had set up, we can talk more freely." Tim said, and in the security room, all they saw was King Cobra lying on the bed.

"And you say you can get me out of here with that DISK?" King Cobra asked.

"Yes. But the condition is you'll have to work with me." Tim said as he took out a DISK- a gray, Reuleaux triangle-shaped device with a circular screen in the middle. "So, do we have a deal?"

"Figures. I'll do it." King Cobra said after a brief hesitation.

"Good. Now hold still." Then, King Cobra was enveloped by light and was sucked into the DISK, changing it from gray to yellow with his image in the center.

"Excellent. I'm such a genius, that it scares me sometimes." Tim said as he glanced at the DISK.

Back at the unveiling, Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man came flying in from the sky and made a landing on the stage.

"It's party time!" Tony announced, gathering a lot of cheers.

Among those watching were some of his Avenger teammates, Wasp and Hulk.

"Look at that, awing the crowd with a snappy entrance line. Maybe we should come up with some too." Wasp said.

"Hmm, 'Face-Smashing Time!'" Hulk suggested.

"You're the Hulk. Not gonna argue." Wasp said.

"'Cause it's good," Hulk said.

Back with Tony, he took to the podium. "Allow me to present an invention that'll change law enforcement forever." Then holographic images of a DISK popped up for all to see. "The Digital Identity Securement Kit. Also known as DISKs. The DISKs will be a new stepping stone in the world of crime fighting. And now, let me introduce you to some of those crime fighters. Behold, the man who needs no introductions. Though he could use some fashion sense. The walking Star-spangled banner, Captain America!"

The curtains behind Tony opened up to reveal not only Captain America, but other heroes like Iron Fist, War Machine, and Doctor Strange.

"Just look at that, folks! War Machine, Doctor Strange, Iron Fist. And even Cyclops and Beast from the X-Men!" Rosetta announced.

Back with the Mermaid Princesses, Kaito, and Hippo, they were amazed by the sight.

"Whoa," Kaito said. "So many heroes."

"I wonder how those DISKs will help with crime fighting," Seira said.

"Well, he said 'Securement' so maybe with catching bad guys?" Lucia suggested.

Back on stage, Tony and Cap were having a small chat.

"Just so you know, the polls say I'm more with the young people." Tony said.

"Young like babies who like bright, shiny things?" Cap retorted.

"Speech?" Tony said.

"Of course," Cap said.

But then, the sky darkened as a bolt of lightning came down.

And where the lightning struck, there was Thor Odinson of Asgard as many people watched in awe.

"Hey Thor, are you mad that we didn't invite you? I'm sorry but it's not like we can just send mail to Asgard." Tony greeted.

"I come bearing a warning. A great scourge is about to be unleashed on this world." Thor warned.

"Sorry, what?" Tony asked.

"My, is that what you think of me? O' great Thor Odinson?" Imperious asked as he suddenly appeared. "Although, to your credit, you're not wrong."

"Alright, who's that?" Tony asked.

"I only know his name and not much more. Imperious." Thor replied. "But I can say that he is on the side of evil."

Back with the Mermaid Princesses, Kaito, and Hippo, they were surprised to see Imperious.

"It's him. Imperious." Hanon said.

"So that's Imperious. So he is here." Hippo said.

Both the superheroes from the stage, and the Mermaid Princesses and their two allies nearby gazed upon this relatively new villain.

A/N: I bet some of you were expecting to see Loki, but instead, you got an OC named Imperious. Well, when I was first planning this story many months ago, I thought about having my own hero team rather than the Avengers as the main characters with Imperious as their main enemy rather than Loki. In the end, I decided to stick with the Avengers but kept Imperious. And don't worry, I haven't written Loki out, he'll get his time much later. Also, in case anyone was wondering, Imperious has nothing to do with Imperius Rex.

I am planning on adding more heroes and villains that were not in the original Marvel DISK Wars, from official Marvel characters, my own OCs, or characters borrowed from other franchises.

For the seven Mermaid Princesses, there will be seven Avengers- the original five members, along with two that never appeared in the original Marvel DISK Wars, but they will be a secret until the next chapter.