Disclaimer: I don't own anything that doesn't belong to me.
"Forgotten God Cerberus!" Sphinx bellowed, magic amplifying her voice and seeming to carry it to every corner of the underworld. "With the passing of N Ma and the rest of our pantheon, I am the acting ruler of Infershia! I hereby command you to stand down and surrender my niece at once!"
The eyes on the canine heads over the gate lit up and the sculptures started talking. "While I recognize your authority, sister, our master granted dominion over the Vaults of Tartarus to me and me alone. As you are not the Absolute God of Infershia, merely a Wise Goddess, I technically outrank you, and so I must respectfully refuse."
"Wait, is that how it works?" Asked a confused Kai.
"It's a little complicated," Sphinx murmured. "Cerberus had the rank of Ultimate God before he was reassigned to guard the pit. While Dagon was our leader despite being a Wise God himself, technically the Ultimate Gods could challenge him, had N Ma not commanded them to obey him as they would himself. And since N Ma is no longer around to tell my brother otherwise, Cerberus has the right to question my authority to lead."
"I have no intention of usurping your title from you, sister," Cerberus continued. "You have done well leading Infershia so far, and my duty takes priority over all else. However, I will not allow you to set foot in my domain."
"You realize that your actions constitute a declaration of war against Magitopia and Infershia?" Sphinx pressed.
"I do, and I regret that it came to this," Cerberus confessed. "And I would not have done this if I had felt there were any other way… But regrettably, I saw no other option.
"However, we need not come to blows. I have every intention of returning my niece to her family once I have ascertained that the threat specified by the prophecy has been nullified. I am already in the process of doing so, but there is one thing I require, one thing that, if you give it to me, will allow me to complete my task and return Ariel to you within the hour."
"And what thing is that?" Sphinx demanded.
"I require Nushi Cheng."
The leaders of the unified Army stirred and exclaimed their outrage. "Absolutely not!" Miyuki protested.
"You will not have her!" Osamu bellowed.
"You already took Ariel from us, now you want to take her girlfriend too-" Hikaru started.
"Wait."
All eyes turned to Nushi as she stepped forward. "What do you need me for?"
"The prophecy states that the love between you and Ariel will bring forth a disaster. Therefore, if that love were no longer to exist, the crisis would be averted," Cerberus explained. "Ideally, however, I require both of you for this to work. If I didn't get both of you at once, there is a chance that one of you might still retain love for the other, and move heaven and earth to try and fix things, which might indeed trigger the great disaster."
"You're right," Nushi conceded. "We would do that."
"Thus proving my point," Cerberus asserted. "Which is I must respectfully ask for you to surrender yourself, and this will be over quickly."
"And why should I do that?" Nushi demanded.
"Because there will be a war if you do not, and I do not think that is something a hero such as yourself would desire, especially if there were a more peaceful solution," Cerberus pointed out. "I assure you that my plan will cause neither view any harm. You will both retain your capacity for love, you will simply be unable to love each other. You shall be friends, good friends, but that's all. Is that truly such a high price to pay for peace?"
"The fact that you asked that question," Urara snarled. "Shows that you know nothing of love!"
"I'll do it."
Everyone stared at Nushi in alarm. "What?!" Kai cried.
"Nushi, are you certain?" Sphinx demanded.
"You promise that neither Ariel nor myself will be harmed?" Nushi inquired, ignoring the others. "And that once you're finished, the both of us will be returned safe and sound?"
"But of course. You have my word," Cerberus assured her. "And I promise that I will never bother any of you again."
"And Floragel?" She pushed.
"The same goes for her. And if she defies me…" A low growl came from all three heads. "Well. She will experience a little Divine Punishment of her own. If she thought what Magiel did to her was bad…"
"Nushi, you don't need to do this-" Hikaru started.
Nushi glanced up at Sphinx. "Sphinx? Can I trust him?"
The goddess hesitated, then reluctantly nodded. "Yes. My brother's word is his bond."
"Then I'll do it," Nushi declared, looking the sculpture in the eyes. "I'll go quietly."
"But… But why?!" A horrified Tsubasa demanded. "You love Ariel!"
"I do," Nushi said gravely. "But I am also a scientist, who worships at the altar of reason. If my love for her truly will cause the end of the world… Then… Then perhaps it is for the best." She sniffed, clearly crying under her mask. "At least… At least we will still be friends."
"… You are a brave girl, Nushi," Makito said finally.
"You really are perfect for Ariel," Houka wailed.
"Nushi. Even if… even if this means that you and Ariel aren't a couple anymore… You're still family, okay?" Kai insisted. "What you're doing, what you're willing to give up… As far as I'm concerned, you're an honorary member of this family."
"I am Mandora Man," Mandora Man moaned.
Nushi smiled faintly up at them. "Thank you for that."
Turning back to the gate, she asked, "May I take Coccinella with me?"
"Your familiar? If you wish, but know that your powers will be sealed the moment you pass into my domain," Cerberus warned her. "You will be unable to transform."
"You don't trust me?"
"Forgive me for erring on the side of caution," the god growled.
Nushi nodded in acknowledgment. "Fair enough."
She glanced back at the rest of the Army. "I've got it from here. Thank you for coming together like this, it really shows just how much Ariel means to everyone. Don't worry, I promise I'll bring her back. And please don't start anything while I'm gone, okay?"
"We won't," Hikaru promised.
"Unless they start something first," Urara growled.
The gates shook and, with a great metallic groan which echoed throughout the cavern, opened just enough for a single person to pass through. The flaming River crackled, and then some of the fire parted as a stone bridge rose up to provide passage across. "Enter. My servants will escort you to my keep, and remember, you will be powerless once in Tartarus, so don't get any clever ideas," Cerberus warned Nushi.
"I won't," Nushi replied, offering her allies a brief nod before heading towards the bridge.
Due to the size of the cavern, it took her several minutes to reach the banks of the river, cross over the bridge, and head up the slope on the other side towards the gate. The tension grew by the second as both armies watched her advance, and each other, just waiting for someone to break this uneasy truce and trigger the battle so many of them desperately craved deep down.
Nobody was willing to make the first move, of course. Not yet. Not without just cause.
Cerberus's hordes eyed Nushi warily as she approached, but parted ways at a growl from their master. Some of the Zobils rattled their spears and some of the more vicious Beasts and Beastmen snarled or made threatening gestures, but Nushi ignored them. She knew they were just posturing.
Finally, she reached the foot of the gate. She paused, staring up at the massive doors, which looked to be at least as tall as Queen Apista's palace. They looked much bigger up close.
"Enter," Cerberus growled.
Nushi passed through the gate.
The minute both feet were on the other side, she gasped and clutched herself, dark purple chains giving off black smoke briefly wrapping around her form and converging on Coccinella, who cried out as a dark magic seal appeared on her back and her brighter elements promptly dimmed. In a flash of light, Nushi's suit vanished, and she stood there for a moment, shuddering and trying to catch her breath.
"Probably should've changed back before going through the door," she gasped. "Are you okay, Coccinella?"
"I… I've been better," the mechanical ladybug whimpered, blue eyes dimmed and pained.
"I did warn you," Cerberus, who had a set of sculptures on this side of the gate as well, pointed out, not unkindly, as a small group of Zobils approached her. "This escort will bring you to me. If you are planning something, I would advise otherwise, for while I need you alive, and preferably unharmed, they will not hesitate to punish you if…"
He trailed off. He sniffed a few times. "Wait… Something is… Off. Why do I smell… A spider…"
His eyes widened, and he roared in fury, the gate immediately slamming shut, but not before Aranea, her shroud of invisibility torn from her and her transformation canceled by the Forgotten God's magic, could pass through. "TREACHERY!"
Nushi winced as, through the thick metal of the doors, she thought she could hear screams of rage and ecstasy as the two armies immediately began to clash against each other. "Well, there goes that idea," she muttered.
"It seems we will have to resort to Plan B," Aranea declared as she drew Widow's Bite, her cloak dramatically billowing behind her and making her look like an incredibly sexy badass.
"Fight our way to Cerberus?"
"Precisely," Aranea agreed with a savage grin.
"GET THEM!" Cerberus bellowed. "Bring the human to me alive… The spider, do with her as you please! Make her pay for this deception!"
The undead monsters roared and rushed towards the duo.
Aranea tutted in pity. "Those poor things. They believe that just because I can't transform, I'm not a threat. Nushi, stay back while I teach them otherwise-"
Nushi raced past her towards the monsters.
"Or you could do that," Aranea cursed, chasing after her.
The Zobils faltered as Nushi approached, remembering their orders not to harm her. This would prove to be their downfall as Nushi lowered her body and slid across the ground, knocking one of the Zobil's legs out from under it and knocking it to the floor, then snatched an ax from one of its startled comrades and buried it in its face. It shrieked in pain and surprise as Nushi ripped it back out, tearing apart its mask in the process and revealing its rotting skull, and was silenced for good as she crushed its throat with a jab from her free hand before flinging the ax over her shoulder and into the back of the Zobil she'd knocked down just as it was starting to get up, putting it down for good. "So, are you going to just stand there and let me kill you? Because if you did, that would make things a whole lot easier."
The Zobils snarled and raised their weapons, realizing they needed to take her more seriously.
They also, however, needed to remember Aranea was there, as the spider, hanging from the ceiling, fired a string of webbing from each of her free appendages, snaring a Zobil with each web and pulling it into the air. As they wriggled, helpless, as she fixed the strands to the ceiling, she stabbed each of them with Widow's Bite before dropping down, twirling about as she fired globs of webbing at the undead below, enveloping many of them in thick sticky cocoons.
Nushi grabbed a fallen spear and rushed through the cocoons, stabbing each one as she got to it to quell the struggling Zobil within. One especially strong Zobil managed to burst out of its prison before she could kill it and grabbed the spear by the shaft, shrieking furiously at her as it pulled itself free from the remnants of the webbing.
Nushi screamed right back, causing it to flinch, then punched it in the face hard enough to crack its mask, wincing slightly as she felt her knuckles split. She kicked it hard in the chest, causing it to slice his hand open on the tip of the spear as it was pushed back, and howled as suddenly a very sharp sword penetrated it from behind.
"I had that one!" Nushi protested.
"I know," Aranea replied, ripping her sword free, tossing the Zobil aside, and then hurling Widow's Bite over Nushi's shoulder, burying it in the skull of the Zobil that had been about to strike her from behind. Nushi backhanded the undead in the face, spun around, grabbing its axe in the process, and sliced through its throat. Aranea flicked her wrist, the nearly invisible thread attached to the handle of her sword pulling it back from the dying monster's head and into her hand.
Half a dozen Zobils hissed and started spitting slime globs at the two women. Nushi began cartwheeling and backflipping around the globules, while Aranea quickly wove a large web shield into being, the acid splattering against it and only managing to partially eat through the mass.
Aranea popped briefly over the top of her shield and hurled her sword like a harpoon, embedding it in the chest of one of the Zobils, then quickly drew it back, taking the monster with it. She grabbed the Zobil and started charging forwards, using the hapless monster as a shield to protect her from the acid.
Nushi, on the other hand, masterfully danced around the projectiles like some kind of ballerina, deflecting any slime blasts that got too close to her with her stolen axe, and by the time it finally took too much damage and the blade melted away, she had gotten close enough to thrust what remained into one of the Zobils eyes, picking up its spear as it died and engaging one of the others in close range combat.
Aranea tossed her acid-riddled no longer living shield aside, stabbed the closest Zobil to death, then threw her sword once again, manipulating the string attached to it so that instead of flying in a straight line, it looped around the confused undead before embedding itself in a nearby wall. Aranea pulled the string taut, and it promptly constricted around the hapless Zobils necks, snapping them.
As Aranea called her sword back to her once more, Nushi brought her spear down in a powerful chop which shattered both it and her opponent's, thrust the splintered remains into its chest, and headbutted it hard enough to crack its mask and make stars explode in her vision.
"You need to be more careful," Coccinella rasped weakly. "Remember, you don't have a nearly indestructible suit to protect you."
"I don't need it," Nushi winced as she rubbed her head, trying to make it stop pounding through sheer force of will. "Not against guys like these."
Without warning, a whip lashed out at her. Without even looking, Nushi's hand shot out and caught its tip. As the attacking High Zobil stared in disbelief, she yanked on it hard, pulling it towards her, and she kicked a discarded ax off the ground and into her hand, burying it in its stomach as it stumbled past her. The undead gurgled, collapsed to the ground, and exploded.
"Case in point."
Aranea's eyes widened in arousal. "… Oh my…" She murmured.
"Heavenly Saints you're making me wish I had another set of pants right now," Ariel gushed.
"Good to see all the training you've been doing is paying off," Mibojin noted in mild approval.
"How… How is that possible?!" A shocked Cerberus exclaimed. "I sealed your powers! You're merely human!"
Nushi burst into mocking laughter. "Human? I haven't been something as pedestrian as that for a while. Ever since I became a Bugranger, I've been upgrading myself with cybernetic enhancements, bio-augmentation, and even a few spells from Ariel to further my metamorphosis into a true member of the Hive. I aspire to be more than human, and when I'm done, I hope to help the rest of humanity metamorphose as well."
"Only if they wish it," Apista warned her.
"But of course."
"Most impressive," Cerberus admitted with grudging respect. "I can see why my niece is so enamored by you… However, will your enhancements allow you to handle the full force of Tartarus?"
There was a clatter of boots on stone as dozens of Zobils, High Zobils, and a number of Hades Beasts charged into the cavern through numerous tunnels.
"With my help, she might," Aranea bragged. "Especially with reinforcements!"
Aranea fired several strands of webbing at the ground, twisting her fingers and extra limbs to manipulate the thread as it built up and up until, in a flash of light, several dozen copies of Nushi and Aranea were standing in the cave. The forces of the underworld looked over the doppelgängers in bewilderment, clearly unable to tell who was the real one.
"That… That's not possible," a startled Cerberus stammered. "I sealed your power as well! Your magic shouldn't work!"
"You've weakened my magic," Aranea boasted, forming a complex weave between her hands. "But you are not the only divine power at work here, Cerberus. I am descended from a Pantheon as well, one far older and stronger than your own, which once ruled the universe and shall do so again!"
"You claim to have power greater than my master, the Absolute God N Ma?!" Cerberus snarled. "We shall see about that, little spider! Subdue them, my servants! Bring them to me!"
Nushi chuckled. "Yeah, that's going to be easier said than done."
All of the Nushis and Araneas started making a break for it, each pair rushing for different tunnel entrance. Startled, the minions of Cerberus split up to try and intercept them…
Unaware that the real Nushi and Aranea had managed to sneak away in the confusion, using Aranea's webbing to zip up into a higher tunnel entrance. "That won't hold them for long," Aranea murmured as they rushed down the tunnel and away from the gate room, applying some healing strands to Nushi's minor wounds.
"It'll keep them occupied long enough for us to get a head start, though," Nushi pointed out. "Think you'll be able to pull something like that off again?"
"If necessary. My magic has been weakened, but so long as we're careful we should be able to make it, at least until I can find a way to break the seal on our full power," Aranea replied.
"I am already working on it," Arachne spoke up, voice rasping a little. "I have a great deal of familiarity with dark magic. Given enough time, I think I can break the spell."
"The sooner… The better… Please," Coccinella gasped.
"Likewise," Lepidoptera added weakly.
"Just hang in there a little longer, my sweet butterfly," Coccinella murmured, causing Lepidoptera's spirits to rise slightly. "We'll be there soon."
"Okay, guys, you've made my uncle pretty upset, which is actually a good thing!" Ariel spoke up. "He's getting out a real-time magical map of the Vault of Tartarus to direct his minions about."
"And, since you're with him, we'll be able to see where he is stationing his forces, know what to avoid, and what the fastest path to get to his castle is," Nushi realized.
"Won't he grow suspicious if you just so happen to avoid every single one of his patrols and take every right path?" Shin asked skeptically.
"We could 'accidentally' stumble upon some of his forces occasionally," Aranea volunteered after this information was relayed to her.
"Alternatively, I'll just tell him it's part of your magic, he'll probably believe it," Ariel offered. "Given he's also trying to keep the united armies of Magitopia and Infershia from breaking down his front door, I think all three of his brains will be too busy to think very hard about that."
"That is also plausible," Aranea acknowledged after this was relayed to her. "Antares, how are things going in your pursuit?"
"Goro and I are closing in on either Floragel or the Doppelgänger," the Scorpioni warrior replied. "And I believe we are considerably closer to catching her than the other team."
"Nushi, is Antares badmouthing us? I get the strangest impression from Goro that he's badmouthing us," Shin complained.
"Well…"
"We are hot on the trail of our prey as well," Mibojin stated. "We should apprehend her shortly – wait. What was that?"
Explosions rocked the city.
Terrified people ran screaming through the streets.
A Fungal Beast and about a dozen or so Funghoul were wreaking havoc, attacking civilians and smashing cars and buildings. "That's right! Run! You cannot hope to survive against Pure Weevil!" Parasitica cackled through the mouthparts of her newest monster of the week, a large humanoid pitch black weevil covered in luminescent fungus with several holes riddling its body, all six of its limbs massive and ending in huge claws, and a massive snout at least half as long as its body which occasionally released tremendous torrents of fire, setting the streets ablaze.
Shin and Mibojin stared, dumbfounded. "Are you serious?!" Shin yelled. "It's not even Saturday yet! You're way too early!"
"Also, that pun doesn't really work translated into Japanese," Mibojin added.
"I'll attack whenever I wish! And I don't care whether or not it's funny, all that matters is whether or not it KILLS YOU!" Parasitica roared.
"Well, I can tell you now it certainly won't be doing that," Shin retorted.
Mibojin shook her head in frustration. "We don't have time for this…"
"Agreed," Goro concurred. "Drones are already inbound to set up a perimeter. Shin, can you keep them occupied until I can get there? Antares will continue chasing after Floragel or Fuku, and Mibojin can go after whichever one you've been chasing."
"Sure thing, chief," Shin agreed readily.
Mibojin nodded. "Right. I'll leave them in your hands."
"Wait, where are you going?" A confused Parasitica asked as Mibojin turned to leave. "Aren't you going to fight?"
"As hard as it may be for you to believe, right now, you aren't our top priority," Mibojin said dismissively.
"Excuse me?!" Parasitica shrieked, livid. "I'm your archenemy! I'm trying to destroy your world! What could be more important than me?!"
"Ariel's been kidnapped, and we're trying to prevent her captors from getting their hands on a magical artifact with the power to destroy love, which they intend to use to break Ariel and Nushi up," Shin replied.
Pure Weevil stared at them, incredulous. "… Seriously?! You think THAT'S more important then-"
"Somebody's trying to break up Nushi and Ariel?!" Vespi suddenly shrieked through the mouthparts of the Fungal Beast.
"Sweetie, not now, I'm in the middle of something-" Parasitica interjected.
"Why would anyone possibly want to break them up?! Their love is so beautiful!" Vespi cried. "They're one of my favorite OTPs!"
"I know, right?" Philia squealed.
"Is this actually happening?" Apista murmured, reaching for her liquor.
"Is this actually happening?" Parasitica murmured, wishing she could get drunk.
"Who could possibly be evil enough to do such a thing?" Vespi demanded. "And why?!"
"There is apparently this prophecy that Nushi and Ariel's love will somehow cause the end of the world, so Ariel's uncle – who we never even knew existed before today – and her evil ex-girlfriend are trying to break them up to stop that from happening," Shin explained.
Vespi gasped. "That's so tragically romantic!"
"It is?" A baffled Parasitica muttered. "Wait, shouldn't you be trying to help them, then? I mean, I thought you Sentai were supposed to be about saving the world and all that, so… Trying to stop an attempt to subvert a prophecy of destruction seems rather off-brand."
"The source of the prophecy is infallible," Mibojin explained. "It is believed that the prophecy will come to pass no matter what anyone does, but trying to prevent it will only make things worse, so we are more or less allowing things to play out to see how events unfold, hopefully in such a way that we can shape them to avoid too much damage.."
"That's stupid," Parasitica complained.
"It's beautiful!" Vespi argued. "Have you no romance in your soul, mother?"
"No," Parasitica replied bluntly. "Anyway, it sounds like this is the perfect opportunity for me to-"
"Offer our services in stopping this nefarious scheme!" Vespi exclaimed.
"What?!" Parasitica shrieked.
"What?!" All the Bugrangers cried.
"WHAT?!" The entirety of the Buzzing yelled.
Apista started drinking directly from the bottle.
"We have to help them, mom!" Vespi insisted. "Nushi and Ariel are one of my favorite couples! And if their love is destroyed, what hope do I ever have of finding a special someone?"
"I… Don't think you're ever going to get one anyway?" The confused Parasitica spluttered. "I mean, once we rule the universe, there won't really be anyone left but undead slaves, so it's not like the dating pool will be all that promising-"
Vespi gasped. "Are you… Are you saying you don't think I'll ever find love?!"
"Er… Yes?" Parasitica replied, baffled.
Vespi burst into tears.
"… What is happening," Mibojin said flatly.
"Whatever it is, it's amazing," Shin whispered giddily.
"Can you… Can you hold on one second? I need to deal with this," the harried Parasitica told the two Bugrangers.
A moment later, Pure Weevil and all the Funghouls stopped moving completely as Parasitica turned her attention to trying to console her daughter.
Shin and Mibojin stared.
Slowly, Mibojin started to raise one of her blades, only for Shin to push it back down. "Wait, I want to see where this is going."
"You aren't the only ones," what had to be half the Buzzing agreed.
After a few awkward minutes, Prime Weevil started moving again as Parasitica once again focused her will on it. "All right, I have decided, seeing as how I am trying to destroy the world as well, it would be in my best interests to help you, so that this prophecy of doom will be fulfilled and, hopefully, you will all die while I can watch from safety in orbit and laugh at your foolishness."
"And also because you made me cry and you're very sorry," Vespi added.
"Stay off the line!" Parasitica hissed to her daughter.
"Wait. You… You're actually offering to help?!" Mibojin asked in disbelief.
"Yes. Just this once! Don't make a big deal out of it," Parasitica said defensively.
"There's… There's no way-" Goro stammered.
"Do it," Nushi interrupted.
"WHAT?!" Everyone yelled at her.
"We don't have time to deal with her. If she's offering to help, let her, we have other things to worry about right now," Nushi pointed out tersely.
"But she's probably going to backstab us first chance she gets!" Shin protested.
"And you'll deal with it when that happens. Right now, finding the Flower of Heaven and stopping Floragel takes priority," Nushi insisted.
"For what it's worth, I think she's going to be on the level," Ariel offered. "Her daughter is clearly a big fan of us, and if Parasitica is anything like her sister, she'd rather die than make her daughter unhappy."
"Another thing we have in common. Weird," Philia muttered.
"Your Majesty? Are you okay with this?" Goro asked dubiously.
"Fuck it," Apista slurred, already slightly drunk. "It's pretty clear I have no control over my life anymore. Do whatever."
With that ringing endorsement, Shin declared, "Okay, we accept your generous offer of support."
"Yes!" Vespi cheered.
"Yay," Parasitica grumbled.
"But! No doublecrossing us and trying to take the love-destroying MacGuffin for yourself, no infecting anyone or trying to spread your influence here on Earth, and when we're done here you have to destroy Prime Weevil and all your little goons and not bother us until next week," Shin added, following Nushi and Goro's prompts.
"WHAT?! There's no way I'll ever agree to-"
"Deal!" Vespi shouted.
"DAMMIT VESPI!"
"Great! I'd shake your hand, but I really don't want to," Shin said cheerfully.
"The feeling is mutual," Parasitica growled.
Mibojin shook her head slowly. "I cannot believe that just happened."
"Join the club," Apista groaned as she downed drink after drink.
"Mom, I think you've had enough," Philia said in concern.
"I AM THE QUEEN, AND I'VE HAD ENOUGH WHEN I SAY I'VE HAD ENOUGH!"