Author's Note

Showcasing a bit of Cure Shine and our next cure. For some reason, I am enjoying writing this new Yume. I actually noticed I screwed up something when I was like 70% done. So I decide to leave it in.

From this point on, there will be more serious talk and Aikatsu with less precure fighting and etc from this point. At least for like 10 chapters or so.

Chapter 22: Cure Shine's Plan, Floral Event!

After Yume's live performance, the girls talk about it while heading back to the academy.

Rola "That song and stage… was that really Yume?"

Hime "Rola, I know how you feel but that's the Yume right now."

Rola then says "Good thing everyone else is busy. Especially Koharu, if she sees the Yume right now…"

Hibiki then says "Don't worry, we'll definitely bring Yume back."

While everyone is trying to smile and think up a plan to bring back Yume, a familiar voice calls out to Hime

"Hime!"

Hime turns around and sees Aria running towards her.

"Aria! Did you came to see Yume's stage?"

Aria nods with a bright smile "Yes, Yume started a new brand so I had to. However, she seems a bit different. Hmm? Hime, who are they?"

Hime then introduces Hibiki and others "Ah, Aria. These girls here just started their Aikatsu not too long ago. She is Hojo Hibiki, and the one beside her is Minamono Kanade. Then the two here are Kurokawa Ellen and Shirabe Ako."

Aria then introduce herself "Yes! And I'm Futaba Aria! Hmm…"

She then walks over to Hibiki and gives her a flower "Here!"

The girls take a look and Kanade says "That… is that an Edelweiss? Uhmm… what does it mean again?"

Aria answers "Devotion and courage. When I see Hibiki, it feels like she is the kind of girl who would try anything and stick to the end."

Kanade laughs a little "That's… exactly how Hibiki is."

Hibiki then looks at Kanade "Then what kind of flower would be for you?"

Aria then gives Kanade one as well "This!"

Aria shows them a Dahila while explaining "Dahila, it means grace and dignity."

Ellen gets more excited "How about me?"

Aria looks at Ellen and thinks for a second "Maybe this?"

Aria shows them a Bramble "It means… Envy and remorse."

Upon hearing that, everyone but Hime is surprised.

Ako then comments "Amazing."

Hime then asks "Aria, you saw Yume's stage right? What do you think?"

Aria looks a bit down from the question "Yume is… a little scary. "

The girls look at each other.

Hibiki then breaks the silence "Ah… by the way, what kind of flower what on Yume's dress?"

Aria turns to Hibiki "That is… Plumeria. It means perfection and a new beginning."

Then a voice from behind Hibiki "And that performance is definitely perfect."

Hime looks over and sees Elza and Rei "Elza, but you know what is wrong."

Elza closes her eyes then opens it as she looks at the stadium "Of course. Yume is shining in the wrong way. She is like me during that time. No, maybe much worst."

Rei then says "But deep down, you still cared about us. However…"

Elza nods and looks at everyone "Yume is trying to become the only idol."

"And is that wrong?"

Everyone looks over and sees Yume standing a little further away.

Rei looks at Yume with shocked eyes "That's Yume? Just what is that presence?"

Rola agrees "Yeah, that's not the Yume I know."

Aria then run towards Yume "Yume! I… I have something to say!"

Yume makes a soft dark smile "I see."

Aria nods and she closes in on Yume "Yes, Yume, can you…"

Yume cuts off Aria by putting her index finger over her mouth. Everyone becomes cautious with Yume.

Hime shout "Aria! Come here, hurry!"

As Aria turns around, Yume says "Noren, do it!"

Noren shows up and immediately injects Aria with dark energy.

Noren then says "Pointless Effort! Break, Negadol!"

Then as if Aria herself shatters like broken glass, she turns into a Negadol. At the same time, Yume transforms as well.

She holds up a black Live Module "Precure, Solo Modulation! Sole Star of the world, Cure Shine."

Everyone except Elza, Rei, and Rola quickly transforms as well.

Cure Center then declares "Cure Shine, I wouldn't let you destroy Aria's idol self."

Shine answers "Jees, destroy is the wrong way to put it. But let's see, I'll give you girls a chance. I won't do anything to Aria for 5 minutes. If she turns back, I'll let her go."

Melody then says "That's crazy. She really is like a different person."

Shine nods "I think so too. I'm a little surprised that I was able to say something like that."

Rhythm "Shine, do you think this is right?"

Shine looks up and thinks for a bit before looking at Rhythm "Maybe not, but I want to see what this path leads to. Now, let's fight!"

The Negadol then dashes in and attacks Melody and Rhythm at the same time. Both of them barely able to withstand the hit. Beat and Center then tries to go in and attack. The Negadol then jumps and spin kicks both of them as they close in. Both of them are knocked back from the kick.

Shine "Oh Aria, amazing!"

Muse shows up behind them as they fall.

Muse shouts "Precure, Sparkling Shower!"

Shine then jumps in front of the Negadol "Precure, Shining Shield!"

A shield of light is formed from her hand and she quickly counter-attack "Shining sword!"

A bright golden color sword formed from her hand and throws it at Muse. Melody and Rhythm kick the sword and right before it hits Muse. The girls look at Shine with disbelieve.

Center asks "Why are you…"

She answers "I never said I won't fight you girls."

Center "Shine, is this really the path you have chosen to take?"

Shine nods with a smile "I definitely want to see where this path takes me. It may be wrong, but we never know until we try. Negadol!"

The girls then resume the fight as Elza and Rei watch from a distance.

Rei says "Elza, let's move back. It's dangerous."

Elza doesn't move and looks at Cure Shine "No need. Yume Nijino… how similar."

Rei questions "Eh? Elza, what do you mean?"

Elza's eyes turn to Rei for a moment "It is like watching myself during the Final Tournament. No, perhaps it is worst. Also, because of that, Aria..." Elza looks at the Negadol.

Rei looks at it too "There is nothing we can do."

Elza then takes out her Live Module and looks at it "Maybe… and maybe not. However, there is no way I'll run when one of my students is in danger."

Elza grips onto the Live Module and it slowly shines. Both Elza and Rei looks at it with surprise.

Elza "This is… I see, so that's how it works."

Rei "Elza, so you are going aren't you?"

Elza nods with a smile and says "Of course." and starts walking towards the battle.

When she gets close, everyone stops and looks at Elza.

Elza decares "Yume Nijino, no Cure Shine. I won't let you take away Aria's Aikatsu!"

Shine looks at her and notices the Live Module glowing "As expected, Elza is the next precure."

Elza then puts the Live Module in front of her "Of course! Precure, Live Modulation!"

Her precure outfit share semblance with her brand as well. It is a red dress with several gold embroidery. Some resemble a flower while others make the dress fitting for her brand, Perfect Queen.

She finishes transforming "Perform with perfection, Cure Perfect"

While Melody and others are surprised by it, Center and Shine expected it.

Rola frustratingly mumbles "Elza too… Yume, Hime, and Elza… I…"

Rei notices Rola's frustration and tries to comfort her. However, Shine speaks out before anything.

Shine asks "So now there are six of you."

Melody "That's right!"

She jumps in and attacks Shine with Rhythm follows through. Meanwhile Beat uses her Beat Sonic.

Muse then turns around "Center! Perfect! Take care of the Negadol!"

As soon as she finishes saying that, she joins the fight against Shine.

Center says "Perfect…"

Perfect answers before she gets to say more "I know!"

Perfect and Negadol dashes in at each other at the same time. While Negadol tries to kick Perfect, it was avoided elegantly. Perfect then grabs the Negadol's leg and toss it at Center.

Center apologizes before the attack "Sorry, Aria. Precure, Full Moon Shot!"

Perfect then follows with her own "Precure, Perfect Strike!"

She lunches a beam attack with a punching motion. The Negadol is caught in between and cause a large explosion.

Center jumps over to Perfect "Alright, that stops it from moving. I'll purify it, you…"

As Center is holding up her Live Module, Perfect stops Center.

"No, I'll do it. If anyone is to save her, it would be me."

"But…"

Perfect grabs her Live Module "Don't worry, I am Perfect! I will finish anything with perfection!"

Her live module shines and gives her Precure Cards. She looks at it and it is a Red Dress with some dark purple ruffled cloths covering the neck and upper chest. There is a similar style over the side skirt. The usual gold lines and embroid are there too.

Center looks at it "You really live up to the name of being perfect. I'll leave this to you."

Perfect nods "Of course! Aikatsu Mode!"

She starts transforming and begins her performance for the Negadol. She starts singing Forever Dream. The Negadol, Aria's memories start to form and she remembers the fun time of her Aikatsu. The aura disappears and Perfect immediately seizes the chance. She takes out her Live Module and a transparent card shows up. Perfect line up the Negadol within the card and soon a small red sphere is formed within the card.

Perfect then says as she snaps her finger "Precure, Passionate..."

The sphere becomes bigger and envelopes the Negadol. The same sphere then starts to form around the Negadol and traps it inside.

Perfect then closes her Live Module and her eyes while finishing her attack "Sanction!"

The Negadol slowly turns back into Aria while Melody and others are still fighting against Shine. As the purification finishes, Shine sees Aria turning back and leaps back to gain distance. Perfect and Center groups up with Melody, Rhythm, Beat, and Muse.

Shine then says "Good good, so you two saved Aria."

Rola who had been standing on the side gets happy that Shine doesn't look like she really wanted to hurt Aria.

Rola takes a step forward and asks "Does that mean, this was a joke? Haha, this is too much."

Shine looks at Rola "Ah, no no. I'm going to run a big event soon and I will need all the top idols to get qualified."

Shine then undoes her transformation and continues to talk as Yume "And in order to get qualified, you need to become a Floral Idol."

Rola asks "Floral Idol?"

Rei makes a guess "Most likely the special dress that Yume obtained on stage."

Yume nods and answers while the cures undo their transformation one by one "Yep! That's it. It's very similar to the Star Premium Dress. It will be granted to an idol that fits a certain flower. Once there are enough Floral Idols, the Floral Tournament will start."

Hime then leans forward and asks "Yume, do you plan on using the tournament to…"

Yume immediately answers with excitement "Yep! I knew Hime would understand. I am going to use the tournament to show the world I am the brightest and the only star this world needs."

As Yume finishes explaining, a limo stops by with the door opening for Yume.

Yume "More details will be released tomorrow. I'll take my leave now, bye bye."

Yume immediately gets into the car and leaves, not giving the girls a chance to stop her.

Elza then says "We must obtain the Floral Premium Dress and become Floral Idol as soon as possible."

Hibiki asks "As soon as possible?"

Hibiki looks at Elza, but she ignores her and closes her eyes.

Rei then answers her questions while looking to the side, at some girls that are leaving the stadium "Listen."

They begin to listen to their two girl's conversation.

A ponytail girl "Yume's live, that was amazing."

A short hair girl "Right? To be honest, I wanted to be like Yume and signed up for an idol school, but…"

Ponytail girl nods "I know, it feels impossible to even compete."

Short hair girl makes a wry laugh "Haha… I think I'll just stay as a fan. Even if I did become an idol, I won't be popular anyways."

Ponytail girl then smiles "Yeah, let's just do that."

Rola looks at the two girls with disbelieve "Lies, there is no way Yume's stage would make people give up being an idol."

Ellen "But… That's happening right now."

Hibiki questions "Then what about us? Even after watching her stage, none of us are affected."

Hime answers "That is most likely due to our resolution of being an idol. Also, most of us are precure. Perhaps we were protected because of it. But first..."

Hime goes to help Aria and Elza immediately looks at Rei. Rei starts the make a phone call.

Elza then says "Everyone, come to my ship tonight. To save Yume, no. To save Aikatsu from being taken away, we should work together."

Hime then giggles a bit "Elza, you really have changed."

Rei who just finished her call looks at Elza "I agree."

Elza looks away "I just don't like it when the one who showed me another side of Aikatsu end up abandoning it."

Hibiki then cuts into the conversation "So we meet at Neo Venus Ark tonight?"

Everyone looks at Hibiki.

Kanade sighs "Hibiki…"

Hibiki raises her hands in front of her in defense "Well, I just thought maybe we can make it a pajama party while at it."

Elza is surprised from the suggestion "Pajama party? Well, I guess that's fine."

Hime nods "Pajama party, it's been a long time since I had one."

Kanade complains "Jees, Hibiki…"

Rei then looks at Kanade "Well, let's just enjoy ourselves a bit while at it. It seems like it would be a long night after all."

Kanade reluctantly agrees "That's true, with this many people."

Hibiki then shouts "Alright, then we'll have a pajama party at Neo Venus Ark tonight! Ohh!"

After a short moment, everyone except Elza shouts right after Hibiki "Ohh!"