April 5, 1975: The first Zolder is struck down by Akarenger.

April 9, 1977: The first Crimer is struck down by Spade Ace.

February 3, 1979: The first Cutman is struck down by Battle Japan.

February 2, 1980: The first Dustler is struck down by DenziRed.

February 7, 1981: The first Machineman is struck down by Vul Eagle.

February 6, 1982: The first Spotman is struck down by GoggleRed.

February 5, 1983: The first One-Tail is struck down by DynaRed.

February 4, 1984: The first Mechaclone is struck down by Red1.

February 2, 1985: The first Hidrer is struck down by ChangeDragon.

March 1, 1986: The first Zoloh is struck down by Red Flash.

February 28, 1987: The first Ungler is struck down by Red Mask.

February 27, 1988: The first Jimmer is struck down by Red Falcon.

March 4, 1989: The first Wular is struck down by Red Turbo.

March 2, 1990: The first Batzler is struck down by FiveRed.

February 15, 1991: The first Grinam is struck down by Red Hawk.

February 21, 1992: The first Golem is struck down by TyrannoRanger.

February 19, 1993: The first Cotpotro is struck down by RyuuRanger.

February 18, 1994: The first Dorodoro is struck down by NinjaRed.

March 3, 1995: The first Barlo is struck down by OhRed.

March 1, 1996: The first Wumper is struck down by Red Racer.

February 14, 1997: The first Kunekune is struck down by MegaRed.

February 22, 1998: The first Yartot is struck down by GingaRed.

February 21, 1999: The first Imp is struck down by GoRed.

February 13, 2000: The first Zenitt is struck down by TimeRed.

February 18, 2001: The first Orgette is struck down by GaoRed.

February 17, 2002: The first Magerappa is struck down by HurricaneRed.

February 16, 2003: The first Barmia is struck down by AbaRed.

February 15, 2004: The first Anaroid is struck down by DekaRed.

February 13, 2005: The first Zobil is struck down by MagiRed.

February 19, 2006: The first Karth is struck down by Bouken Red.

February 18, 2007: The first Rinshi is struck down by GekiRed.

February 17, 2008: The first Ugatz is struck down by Go-On Red.

February 15, 2009: The first Nanashi is struck down by Shinken Red.

February 14, 2010: The first Bibi is struck down by Gosei Red.

February 13, 2011: The first Gormin is struck down by Gokai Red.

February 26, 2012: The first Buglar is struck down by Red Buster.

February 17, 2013: The first Zorima is struck down by Kyoryu Red.

February 16, 2014: The first Kuro is struck down by ToQ 1gou.

February 22, 2015: The first Hitokarage is struck down by AkaNinger.

February 16, 2016: The first Moeba is struck down by Zyuoh Eagle.

February 12, 2017: The first Indaver is struck down by Shishi Red.

February 11, 2018: The first Porderman is struck down by Lupin Red and Patren 1gou.

March 17, 2019: The first Drunn is struck down by Ryusoul Red.

March 8, 2020: The first Bechat is struck down by Kiramai Red.

March 7, 2021: The first Kudakk is struck down by Zenkai Juran.

~~~~~~~~

In Halkeginia. Roman, Kanade and Neo had just finished waking up the last of the revived Combatants from the portal Louise made in class. Kudakk gave a few coughs as he looked around, spotting the other Combatants.

"Welcome back to the living world, ya ingrates," Roman said, "I am Roman Torchwick, that's Kanade Otonokoji and this is Neo Politan. My boss, Louise de la Vallière, is gonna let you join our army."

Kudakk was helped to his feet by Yartot.

"Somehow we've been given the memories and combined strength of our entire unit," Yartot explained, "The evil forces we served all ultimately lost to the Super Sentai."

"So the worlds stolen by Tojitendo..." Kudakk realized.

"All released," Kanade finished, "For centuries now. Evil forces still fight Super Sentai and Kamen Riders, but you are not part of that. Instead, Louise would like to make you an offer. To join ranks with Team Nocturne as a vanguard force. It would not be the same as the conquests or attempts at destruction you're used to. We are a band of misfits that simply seeks to have fun and make profit, which might involve murder and acts of wanton destruction."

Crimer looked interested, having grown disillusioned with CRIME's attempts at becoming a global invasion force (though the murder and destruction could bring nostalgia). Zolder stepped forward.

"We're willing, but at the same time we're just grunts. Even with our power boost I doubt we could fight the Super Sentai."

"You won't have to," Roman assured him, "You would be sent largely to deal with police forces as a vanguard, while we deal with the heroes."

~~~~~~~~

As she predicted, Louise found no sign of the one who had controlled the golem, and all signs of the object Ramiel so feared being reduced to a molten slag.

Now laying in bed, Ramiel and her familiars, now 45 stronger, quietly stood and rotated (with Kuro freaking out at how spacious the room is) next to her, she once again reflected on how Founder-damned weird it was to have what was quite possibly a literal God as a Familiar, no matter how highly heretical the entire concept was. Fortunately, her ability to give a damn had taken a nosedive, otherwise she was quite certain she'd have hyperventilated herself to death or at the very least insanity by now.

Did having a God as your familiar make you a God too? Heresy! And yet, didn't it make sense? How she had gained all the elements after gaining Ramiel, albeit wrapped in pure destruction - would that not make her a fledgling god in her own right? Heresy, heresy, heresy, heresy!

One thing Louise was sure of, despite her crisis of religion. Her mother was going to kill her. For being a heretic. She was sure.

Louise groaned and flopped over. This was too exhausting to ponder over. She just needed some sleep-

There was a quiet knock on the door. Oh for fuck's sake. Grumbling, she got out of bed and yanked the door open. "What?"

There was a hooded figure at the door. They raised their hands in a frantic motion. "Not so loud, Louise Françoise! May I come in?"

Louise Françoise? There was only one person who called her- Louise dropped onto one knee immediately. "Your highness! Thousand apologies - my door is always open for you!" She scrambled out of the way. The Princess? Visiting her in the middle of the night? What an honour! Oh no. Note to self: no mention of heresy or of the fact that she has a horde of weirdos for familiars to the Princess!

The hooded figure let her hood down, indeed revealing herself to be Princess Henrietta, her laugh sounding like wind chimes. Louise found herself blushing. She'd always liked the Princess' laugh.

"Oh Louise Françoise," laughed the Princess, "How many times have I told you - you don't have to call me 'your highness'! We were childhood friends - you can call me Henrietta, you know."

Louise blushed even more. "O-of course, your, I mean, Henrietta! What, ah, brings you to my room - in the middle of the night - alone - o-oh..." Was this happening this couldn't be happening oh Founder this was happening - "A-are you here to seduce me?"

Louise drew herself up. "Your - I mean - Henrietta, I am perfectly w-willing to be s-seduced by you-"

She found a finger at her lips and a clear windchime laugh in her ears. "Oh, Louise Françoise! Can't a childhood friend simply catch up with a childhood friend, just like the old times? We could swap stories... Giggle over secrets..."

"P-practice kissing." Louise muttered, face aflame. She was rewarded with another tinkling laugh.

"Or get drunk and dizzy." Kuro added.

"Louise Françoise!" giggled the Princess. "My, my, were you serious about the seduction joke?"

Okay, this got awkward fast. Change the topic, change the topic - aha! Louise gestured grandly behind her. "O-oh, Pr- I mean- Henrietta, I wanted to introduce you to my familiars!" She turned. "This is Ramiel, Vathek, Archibald Snatcher, Hibiki and Kanade Otonokoji, Aria Grundel, Roman Torchwick, Neo Politan, Grimes, Tenko Shimura, Kim Seong-Ah, Carlito Rossi, Tomoko Itenbyoki, Derek Rowe, Kenji Hikiishi, Shuichi Iguchi, Sako Atsushiro, Jin Bubarigawa, Motoko Kaito, Eyvind Bjorklund, Hiyake Yagami, Franz Weinberg, Jon Davis, Wally Jacobs, AI Choroi, Mustard, Ark, Tsumugi Shirogane, Sho Minamimoto, Coco Atarashi, Jason Voorhees, Rui, Stocking Anarchy, Taylor Lee, Albert Krueger and the Combatants. Say hello to the Princess, everyone!"

They all bowed (or at least tried to in Grimes' case) while Ramiel hovered over quietly, shifting its form a few times before settling on a six sided cuboid. It pulsed gently, humming as if trying to figure out what to say.

C O L O R F U L

Ramiel's response was short and to the point, as always, tinged with excess meaning and weight- in this case, a hefty amount of admiration for…. Henrietta's hair color?

The Princess giggled, extending her hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you, all."

Louise palmed her face. "P- that is- Henrietta, I don't think some of my familiars are capable of kissing your hand-"

Another tinkling laugh. "No, no, Louise Françoise!" The Princess shook her head. "I meant - may I touch...them?"

Louise shrugged helplessly. "I don't know. Can she?"

A F F I R M A T I V E

Ramiel spun around once more, smoothing out and shifting back to its octahedral form, presenting a face to Henrietta without hesitation.

The Princess stroked the smooth crystalline surface, letting out a giggle. "She's warm, Louise Françoise! Does she warm your bed at night while I'm not around?"

Louise spazzed. "P-princess! T-that is completely improper and entirely Zerbstlike! D-don't say things like that!"

Curse that musical laugh of the Princess! S-seducing her with her wiles- NO MUSTN'T THINK ABOUT THAT NO! NOPE! NAY! She shook her head rapidly to clear out the cobwebs. What had she done to piss off Brimir to suffer punishments like these? What heresy had she committed in a past life - what heresy was she committing in THIS life! A-aside from thinking herself a God earlier- no!

Desperate for any change in topic, Louise took a deep breath. "W-why did you really s-seek me out in the middle of the night, H-Henrietta?"

The Princess grew somber. "Oh, Louise Françoise. I have a terrible mistake I need to correct. I couldn't possibly ask you to help me, but I knew my heart would not rest if I didn't even try to."

Louise's eyes widened and she dropped on one knee once again. "Whatever it is, Henrietta, if it's in my power, I shall do it."

Unexpectedly, she found herself in a hug. "Oh, Louise Françoise! I will forever be grateful to you!" Henrietta pulled herself away - Louise would rather she'd never let go, really - and smiled at her - Louise's stomach did flipflops -

"Good. Your mission is to go to Albion, to my cousin Prince Wales, and retrieve a letter I once so foolishly wrote to him, long ago. I will give you my ring, it will be to show him that your intentions are genuine. I will send a Griffin Knight to assist you. You shall leave in the morning."

Riding in the high of the Princess' unexpected closeness, Louise could only nod happily. The Princess smiled at her. "Oh, thank you, Louise Françoise. Now, why don't you get some sleep? You'll need that, I expect."

Silent as the wind, she was gone. Louise fell back on the bed, a silly grin on her face. A secret mission from the Princess herself! Eeeeeeee!

"Welp, brush off your weapons everyone, we're doing a political job." Kuro said. "Just like old times, except we won't be infighting, the victory belongs to all of us."

~~~~~~~~

Ramiel spun quietly in place as Louise slept. It felt…troubled, in some strange way. A secret mission was not its forte- how was one to be subtle when they were a gleaming, polished crystal whose primary attack power was measured in the mountain destroying range?

But no, that was the least of its worries. Ramiel was all but indestructible to approximately everything this world had shown so far. Louise… was not. And given its tiny Master's fragility, Ramiel felt…worried.

After all, one wrong move could result in the death of Louise- either from a stray shot or from not being there to intercept an attack.

The thought of Louise dying made Ramiel's core shudder with both fear and rage.

Silently spinning in place, Ramiel pledged that should anything come even close to hurting Louise, it would end that thing with all its might and power.

So mote it be.