This chapter is respectfully dedicated to Kiyoyuki Yanada (1965-2022)

In order to conquer the multiverse, Kugai Kudo, founder of the Black Bohdi Tree pulled miscellaneous heroes from across the multiverse and placed them in randomised teams in order to maximise their combat data that could be recorded and defeat their allies once his invasion began. But his 10th and final experiment lineup proved far too much of a wildcard in the end, with Kugai's ambitions being thwarted before they could begin. All the people he had abducted were returned to their normal lives, all memory of their adventures in his world vanquished from their minds. We will now tell a few of these stories, to ensure that they are not forgotten.

This exploit will focus on Team 9, whom you may know as Fractured Infinity, currently consisting of Yakumo Kato/AoNinger of Shuriken Sentai Ninninger, Shinya Hiraga/Riser Gant of the Genseishin Justirisers, the Go-On Wings, consisting of Hiroto Suto/Go-On Gold and his sister Miu/Go-On Silver, Choriki Sentai Ohranger's Momo Maruo/OhPink and Mirai Sentai Timeranger's Naoto Takizawa/TimeFire. Facing them is the group known as Dark Guild, currently consisting of Ariake no Kata of the Kibaoni Youkai Army, Dr. Zora of the Daruga Empire's Hades Army and Kaiser Buldont and Empress Malthiua of the Machine Empire Baranoia. While Kaito Kumon/Kamen Rider Baron, Prime Minister Yogosmacritein of the Banki Clan Gaiark and Captain Ryuya of the Temporal Defence Bureau had been parts of both teams, they had either left, died or been cast out by the time this tale takes place.

It had been a few days since the Go-On Wings had defeated Yogosmacritein in a close battle. And now, Momo was joining the two in a sojourn to the copy of Yggdrasil Tower that had served as Black Bohdi's central headquarters. "So, are you on your way back home?", Momo asked. "I mean, you've achieved what you were in this world to do."

"What are you talking about?", Miu asked. "What gave you the idea we'd be leaving after we'd defeated the Gaiark presence in this world?"

"Especially since both the rest of Dark Guild and Kaito are still in this world.", Hiroto added. "Besides, we need at least 4 of us to make the trip back home, or the reverse function of the transport machine won't work."

Momo was relieved. "And here I thought you were leaving without saying goodbye. But then, why are we here?"

"Because of this." Hiroto held up a piece of paper. "Tsukasa dropped by recently with this list of dangerous items in Kugai's inventory. He wants us to make sure that all of them are neutralised, which he recommended was a three person job, since the collection was in three pieces." He then took out two more pieces of paper. "So I'm assigning each of us to a section each. I'll be tackling robotic technology."

"And I'm going for alien technology.", Miu clarified. "And Momo? What about you?"

Momo looked at the sheet of paper she had received. "Magical artefacts.", she replied. "Well, I might as well get on with it." She then turned and walked into the he vault without waiting for another word.

"Ani…", Miu began to say.

"Let's leave her to it.", Hiroto insisted. "Whatever she's going through, I don't think we can offer much help."

Within the Magical Artefacts section of the vault, Momo was internally annoyed. She had come here hoping to see two of her allies go home, something she would jump at the chance to do, given the context that their enemy had been defeated. If she'd known they only brought her along to help do inventory, she probably wouldn't have come. The fact was, she missed her own world, having been away from it for so long. Though time didn't pass in this universe, Mom had counted the days they had been stuck here. Relative to the day she had been taken from, it would almost be Christmas about now. But Momo tried to focus on the task at hand, diagnosing some kind of crystal as not dangerous, before moving onto a gold medallion.

"Ah, I see.", the medallion suddenly spoke. "Oh don't be too surprised. You were aware that these artefacts would be magical."

Momo was taken aback. "H-how did you know what I was thinking?"

"It's all part of my power, my dear Momo.", the medallion answered. "I can grant people whatever they want the most out of their life, kind of like the stories of a djinn."

"Oh, so that's it.", Momo realised, striding across the room, back and forth. "Oh, how I wish the world around me was like a fairy tale sometimes."

"Is that so?", the medallion asked. "Then your wish is my command." It then vanished from in front of her, laughing in a sinister manner.

"No, wait!", Momo cried out too late to take back her casual wish. She then saw the room around her begin to warp, as it began to change into something else. She made it out in time for the distortions to stop. Only now, what she saw no longer resembled a modern Japanese city, or even a traditional one. It now had more of a medieval European appearance to it. Even the building she had left had become a more gothic tower. But she could see the amulet in her hand, so she thought she could get out of it. "Hey, djinn. I'd like to get out of here now. Please."

But the next words she heard weren't that of the djinn, though the voice behind them was familiar. "Momo-chan!" She turned around to see Hiroto and Miu, only now they were dressed in regency styled fashions, complete with face makeup and powdered wigs. "Honestly girl, what shall we do with you?", Hiroto asked. "We deign to allow you to attend us on our visit to the Dark Tower, a break from your drearily life as a servant girl, and you left to wander off." Momo was confused, until she realised that her skin had become dirty, and her clothes changed to a dress, that was discoloured and barely holding together. Her hair was more messy as well.

"And now we find you outside, after we last saw you on the top of the structure.", Miu added. "How did you end up out here?"

"I-I don't recall.", Momo chose to answer. "What is this Dark Tower?"

"I don't know why we bother sharing anything with you, if you won't remember it.", Miu sighed. "The Dark Tower was the fortress of the Great Demon King who ruled over this land with his vast armies, before being overthrown."

"She's just not used to being somewhere other than our house.", Hiroto assured his sister. "Perhaps we should take her back home and have Mother deal with her insolence, right Imoto?"

"Indeed, Aniki.", Miu nodded. "Mother will show her more discipline than either of us could provide."

"'Mother'?", Momo whispered with some worry, as the two grabbed her by the arms, dragging her back home.

Elsewhere, Ariake no Kata and Mangetsu Kibaoni woke up, sighting a man in black standing outside their door, which had become a jail cell. "Ah, so you're awake.", he commented. "The two of you are certainly an interesting anomaly."

"Hey, who are you?", Mangetsu growled. "What are you doing in our lair?"

"With the changes that have been made to this reality, it isn't your lair anymore.", the man answered them. Sure enough, the pair finally noticed that the room had become what looked like the dungeon of a castle. "And your allies have been changed with it, becoming part of this world. They will not recognise you, but they may aid you." He then opened the door. "I suppose I should show you for myself."

"Why thank you.", Ariake said as she stepped out of the cell. "Though I'd leave my son behind in here."

"What the-?", Mangetsu growled. His mother had always coddled him before this. Why was she leaving him behind?

"I think he's been waiting for a chance to beat up Buldont, and whatever you've done to him, he'll likely take the chance to do so.", Ariake explained. "I think I should try to make a good first impression on them in this new world, Mr.-?"

"Call me 'Jin'.", the man clarified as he lead her to a pair of ornate doors. "The roles are massively similar to what your used to, though there will be some changes." He then opened the door, revealing the other three members of Dark Guild. But they were greatly changed. Buldont and Malthiua had become humans while Dr. Zora was now dressed in a cloak. "Your Esteemed Hignesses, Baba Zora, I present to you, the visitor from another world."

"How interesting.", the alt-Malthiua commented. "She seems familiar somehow…"

"Regardless, she seems like someone with the bearing of a noblewoman.", Buldont noted. "And you say she came through from a dimensional warp spell?"

"Right.", Jin nodded. "And it centred around someone from the area of the Dark Tower. Someone I think I can find easily."

Meanwhile, Momo had been dragged back to a building that, in spite of the altered decor, was easily recognisable by the location and the rough distance the carriage they had taken had covered. "The Urobuchi Estate! It's changed.", she blurted out, before realising what she had said.

"You must've hit your head in the Tower.", Miu lamented. "You poor girl. You've forgotten that Maruo House has belonged to our family since Mother married your father."

"And after he died, it became Mother's property in name." Hiroto continued. "And to save costs on upkeep, the staff was limited to just you." Momo realised the way this story was playing out, and she felt the need to get out before it got too tough to easily do so. But she felt like playing out until the opportunity to solve things with minimal opposition came up. So she simply nodded, as the three walked into the house.

Once they entered the great hall, or what Momo assumed was the great hall in this world, an older woman in a fancier dress than the two siblings were wearing, along with a more restrained wig, walked forward. Momo recognised her as Annabelle-Marie, but said nothing. "I hear that you've been acting out, you little minx.", the woman said to Momo. "My children are most disappointed."

Momo was shocked by this revelation, but said nothing. After all, someone had to fill the Wicked Stepmother role in this new reality, and the head of the large house seemed a likely candidate for it. So she decided to stay in character. "I'm sorry, Madam.", she bowed her head. "I think the outside air might've affected my head."

"Is that so?", the stepmother asked. "In that case, I suggest you spend time locked in your room, thinking about your behaviour. I have an important matter to discuss with my children." She then gestured upstairs. "I trust you'll have no trouble finding that now, will you?"

"No, madam.", Momo shook her head before proceeding upstairs. Sure enough, her room was clearly labelled, and when she entered, it was as bare as she would expect a Cinderella copy to be, with the only inhabitants being a pair of mice crawling over the bed. "Oh, how cute.", she blurted out, going over to stroke the two mice, both of whom were in jackets, one black, one navy with red accents. "You remind me of Shinya and Naoto. I suppose I'll be using you as my horses once the ball comes around. Hopefully, that shouldn't be long away now."

It was then that Miu burst into the room. "How did you know?", she asked.

Momo was confused. "What?"

"Mother has just announced a ball will be held in which suitable maidens will compete for the hand of the King's son.", Miu explained. "Did you hear about it while you wandered away?"

"I-I think I did.", Momo answered. "I also managed to find this, not long before everything became confusing." She presented the medallion she had found in the vault. "It was somewhere in the vault."

"But the Dark Tower doesn't have a…", Miu began to stutter over her words. "Yes, the Tower did, but then it didn't. I see us going in to investigate it, but I don't remember going there for that reason. It's like someone walked over my grave." She put her hand to her forehead.

"I'll help you through it.", Momo assured the woman who was her friend in another life. "Either the strange vision, or the preparations for the ball."

And in the castle that had been Dark Guild's base, Ariake was talking with Dr. Zora's equivalent. "So, you're a powerful witch who your king relies up, Doc - er, Baba Zora?", Ariake asked.

"Indeed.", Zora answered her. "I came into his majesty's services recently, offering my great powers to his command. But I regret, I cannot send you back from whence you came. Yet."

"Oh? What's the hold up?", Ariake asked. "Surely a sorcerer of your power should be able to get this over with."

"I'm afraid I have other matters at hand.", Zora shook her head. "Aside from your arrival occurring at the same time as a dimensional distortion, the king has other matters for all of us to attend to."

Before Ariake could ask what these matters were, the man named Jin entered the room. "The king has requested everyone prepare for the ball being held tonight for his son." Zora nodded and moved into another room connected by a second door.

"That's odd.", Ariake noted. "There was no son when I was in the throne room before. What could this all be about?" Jin eyed her with a suspicious face, before leaving.

Back at the Suto house, Momo was helping Miu into her corset, while recounting her history with the girl's counterpart. They were now in what Momo could surmise was the twins' room, given the presence of a chicken, a white tiger and a large whale model on the ceiling. "And then, with your musical performance, Kaito had time to investigate, and unravel the way the opponents were cheating.", Momo concluded as she finished trying the elastic.

"How fascinating.", Miu said, smiling. "Mother always said I was musically gifted." Momo then took out a frame for the skirt of the dress, putting it over the other woman. "Now then, how exactly did you come to know of this experience?"

"Well that's a long story, actually.", Momo began, before the matriarch of the family entered. "Oh, madam. I was just doing Miu-sama's dress for tonight's festivities."

"Ah, taking the initiative.", the stepmother surprisingly smiled. "Looks like you're finally settling into this place, girl. In fact, I may consider allowing you to accompany us to the ball."

Momo was surprised by this, she was sure it wasn't in the book. "Eh, really?"

The stepmother came closer to her adoptive daughter, allowing her smile to turn into a straight face. "No." She then slapped Momo, knocking her down. "Now get back to work. Once you've tailored Miu, I want you to work on my own dress."

"Y-yes, Madam.", Momo nodded.

And later, after the job of dressing both ladies had been completed, and the three had set off for the ball, Momo was sitting alone in her room, with the two mice. "I suppose this is the point the fairy godmother appears in order to help me go to the ball." She then spoke to the medallion. "I mean, that is what you intended for me when you interpreted my offhand wish this way."

"It's not that easy." Momo looked up to see the figure of Yakumo, who was transparent and suspended in air. "The thing that granted your wish used the opportunity to free itself from the seal that was holding it within. Unless the wish is reverted within 24 hours, then this will become permanent and Hiroto, Miu, Shinya and Naoto will be stuck in their current states forever."

"Yakumo!", Moro gasped with joy. "I can't believe you're still you." She ran forward to hug him, but went right through him.

"I've been removed from this reality altogether.", Yakumo explained. "Those with magic within them cannot be rewritten with reality by his magic. I was forced into the role of the fairy godmother, preventing me from helping you until now."

"So how do I fix all this by myself?", Momo asked. "Do I just ask you to wish everything back to normal?"

"Unfortunately, my power is too limited to do that.", Yakumo shook his head. "But if you find him and renounce your wish, then you can restore things to normal. And from what I've been able to glean from spying on him, he'll spring whatever his plan is at the ball."

"In that case, you'll have to make me up for the event.", Momo stated. "And presumably you'll turn these mice into people who can help me."

"Indeed.", Yakumo nodded, before pointing his wand at Momo. "Rena Ni Mehi!" A wave of magical energy washed over Momo, giving her an elegant ball gown and tiara, with silver slippers. "And as for giving you some help on this mission." He turned to the two mice. "Rena ni Gennin!"

In a flash of light, the two mice were turned into figures that Momo recognised. "Shinya! Naoto! You're…!"

"Ready to help you get to the ball, my lady.", Shinya nodded.

"And as it happens, we know a quick way there." Naoto led the party out of the room, out of the house, and eventually down the road.

"Good luck, everyone.", Yakumo wished them.

At the ball, a large crowd of women in various degrees of fancy dresses had all gathered. But instead of any dancing, all of them were standing around, with nary a male in sight other than Hiroto. "This is most unusual behaviour.", the stepmother noted.

"Indeed.", another woman, who the trio recognised as one Lady Reika, commented. "I served under the previous Great Demon King and he would never leave his subjects to wait like this."

It was then that a man in a black military uniform, a domino mask and a French military hat entered the room. "Ladies, I'm sure you are all tired of waiting for the main event to start. But worry not, it's about to begin right now." As the girls started to cheer, he held up a black rose, absorbing energy from everyone in the room, causing them to collapse. His plan having succeeded, Jin removed his mask and hat, laughing. "Now, I have enough energy to fully make this world my own.", he declared. "All I have to do is wait for the 24 hours to have fully passed."

"I knew it." He turned around to see Ariake enter the room with Mangetsu. "You were up to something all along. I checked on the others and they were drained of energy like these people here."

Jin scowled. "I should've known you were going to be a problem.", he hissed. He then clicked his fingers, summoning a group of masked, brown-robed figures with sword that had a secondary handle on the blade. Ariake recognised these as the soldiers used by that Gorgon woman. "Now then, Zobils! Attack!" He clicked his fingers, signalling his troops to run forward and attack.

"You forget, we also have our own soldiers.", Mangetsu announced, summoning a horde of Jyukkarage. "Get them." The two groups of grunts proceeded to do battle with each other, with Mangetsu also joining the fray and managing to cut down several Zobils.

"My Lord, grant me your power!", Ariake announced as she aimed the Gangataikaku at Jin. "Garyu-do: Asura!"

But Jin dodged this attack, and leapt down to knock her down with a forceful blow from his palm. "Give it up. Your powers won't do anything to harm me." It was then that Momo, Shinya and Naoto arrived in the building. "Ah, if it isn't the lady who made all of this possible." He leapt over to Momo and kissed her hand. "Enchante to meet you at last."

"You!", Momo realised. "You're…"

"Hades Beastman Majin Krampus!", Jin announced, as he shifted into his monster form, which had a humanoid face with some blemishes, and spikes covering his body and head. "I was sealed inside that medallion by a Heavenly Saint for using my wish granting powers to cause mischief. I would only be free once I had granted a wish based on a pure desire. Which you unintentionally provided."

Momo had a realisation. "My desire to get out of this place!"

"Exactly.", Krampus nodded. "The sheer scope of such a wish allowed me to create the ideal world for me to conquer." He then clicked his finger, causing the assembled guests, their skin glowing blue, to rise up and attack his foes, with Mangetsu, Shinya and Naoto trying and failing to hold the line. "It's no use. I've rewritten the histories of the people of his world to the point where I can take control of their bodies. And you'll never allow yourself to hurt them."

It was then that a red figure blurred into view, before cutting through several of the thralls, causing them to fall. "I no longer have a history for you to change.", Ryuya announced. "And I don't have the same qualms as these guys." As if to demonstrate this, he used his Chrono Saber to cut through one of the zombies, causing her to fall dead to the floor.

"Ryuya!", Ariake gasped. "But Malthiua said that you'd perished helping Fractured Infinity defeat that monster."

"She was lying.", Ryuya insisted. "She and her husband both tried to get rid of me. But I lived." He then threw one of his swords to Momo. "Hey, OhPink. You're the only one who can fix this. So I suggest you do it now by breaking that coin."

Momo raised the sword, while also dropping the medallion. "No, stop!", Krampus announced. "I'll give you whatever you want. I'll end you back to your world, so you can celebrate the Christmas you're currently missing. I've even taken care of your enemies for you."

Yakumo then appeared again. "Momo! Don't listen to him." But he was bombarded by energy from Krampus before he could continue.

"It's true I miss my own world.", Momo admitted. "But as Hiroto and Miu said, saving this world from the evil attacking it comes first. And right now, that includes you. Krampus." She brought the sword down on the medallion. "And I… renounce my wish!"

"No!", Krampus called out as light filled the entire room.

When Momo came too, everything was as it was before she had cast the wish. Only now, Yakumo and Krampus were both there. "Looks like I was more linked to you than I intended with that spell.", Yakumo commented.

"That's good.", Krampus growled. "Because I still have the energy I gathered from those humans, even if they've been restored by the reset." He generated a large ball of energy. "And I'll use it to destroy you, and then your friends." He launched the ball at the pair.

"Shuriken Henge!/Choriki Henshin!" Both Yakumo and Momo leapt out of the explosion, having donned their suits. The pair then launched a lick at Krampus, causing him to fall out of the window, landing in the plaza below. As he recovered, they fired their respective sidearms at him. "GamaGama-Gun!/King Blaster!"

After he was buffeted by these blasts, Yakumo took out the Gekiatsutou, inserting his Goton NinShuriken. Kaen no Jutsu! "Shuriken Ninpo!" He then pressed the first button on the sword. The Gekiatsu! "Gekiatsu Kaen Abare Giri!" He spun the Shuriken twice, before slashing his foe. Cho Gekiatsu! "Alright, now let's go for a combi." He then placed his personal Shuriken on the sword, pressing the second button. The Gekiwaza! Momo prepared her usual Miracle Hikkoudan while Yakumo prepared his own attack. "Gekiatsu…"

"Choriki…"

"Nin-Retsu-Zan!" Momo fired her blast to stun Krampus, before Yakumo moved to slash him. Ninja Issen! The attacks caused an energy discharge, blowing up Krampus.

However, he emerged from the flames unscathed. "I hoped I wouldn't have to use the last of my energy for this, but…" He then proceeded to grow to giant size. "I can now squash you like the bugs you are!"

"Revolver Missile!" Krampus was knocked back as V-Rex, Riseross and SeikuuOh all appeared. "Something told us you two would be in danger.", Naoto commented.

"It was me.", Hiroto clarified. "We saw you engaging that guy and called for some help."

"Momo, what did you find in the magical artefacts vault?", Miu asked with some annoyance.

"It's a long story.", Momo answered. "I'm just glad you're here." She then stepped forward and spoke into her Corresponder. "Red Puncher, launch!"

Yakumo then transformed into his Chozetsu form. Chozetsu Ninja! "Shokan no Jutsu!" He placed a NinShuriken on his Ichibantou, spinning it. Lion Ha-Oh Fortress!

As the two robots appeared, Krampus growled. "It doesn't matter how many of you there are. I shall still triumph!" He launched lightning from his fingertips, which buffeted all of them.

But then Shinya took the chance to call for help. "Genseijuu, Kouki! Summon!" His Genseijuu appeared, launching its Turtle Thunder attack at Krampus to stop him. "Alright, let's go full power against him." Kouki proceeded to combine with Riseross. "Genseishin, JuuRiser!"

"Lion Henge!" Yakumo spun his Shuriken again, transforming Lion Ha-Oh into his humanoid form. Lion Ha-Oh! "Dai Shuriken Crash!" He launched his two Shurikens at Krampus to buffet him.

"Puncher Gatling!" Momo leapt forward delivering a flurry of punches, that Krampus was unable to properly defend from, before falling down.

"Chigenhou: Riser Buster!"

"Reverse Formation: V-Rex! Rex Laser!"

"Go-Roader Attack!"

The other three launched their own attacks at Krampus, which were enough to mortally wound him. "I almost had my perfect world!", he cried out. "But then you had to come on out and ruin it." And with that, he fell down and died.

"I think we've had our fill with people wanting perfect worlds.", Yakumo commented.

"Just what exactly's been going on?", Miu asked.

Momo sighed. "This is going to be a long story."

In the abandoned shipping yard that had once served as Dark Guild's base, Ryuya continued his work on the damaged robots. "Now Fractured Infinity and Ariake will be aware that I'm on my own.", he thought to himself. He then took the capsule containing Yorou and placed him in the decompression machine. "I'm going to have to move up my timetable."

Back in Dark Guild's current base, Ariake decided to speak with Malthiua. "Malthi-chan, are you sure that Ryuya-kun died aiding the heroes?"

Malthiua was suspicious. "Why do you ask, Aria-kun?"

"I-I had a dream.", Ariake decided to explain. "In it, he appeared and told me that you and Buldont betrayed him."

"That would seem more logical.", Dr. Zora chimed in as she appeared. "After all, Ryuya may have had the suit of a Super Sentai hero, but that didn't automatically make him one."

"Both of you, this conversation is meaningless.", Malthiua insisted. "Regardless of what happened to Ryuya, the fact remains that he is dead to our cause. Now leave." Both of them nodded and turned to leave, as Buldont appeared in the corner of the room. "Bulpie, I think they're getting wise to our deception."

"It doesn't matter.", Buldont said in response. "Once one of them fails with their scheme, we'll simply eliminate the other and then proceed with our conquest, Malpie. And not even Fractured Infinity will stand in the way."

Back at the Urobuchi Institute, Momo found that the lights were off in the dining room, despite it normally being around the time everyone ate. When she went to investigate, the lights turned on, revealing that not only had the room been decorated for Christmas, but everyone was waiting there, to surprise her. "Everyone!"

"Yakumo told us that you were feeling homesick and you felt ready to celebrate Christmas.", Shinya explained. "So, with the help of the staff, we were able to set up this for your benefit."

"Besides, we've all felt the same way as you.", Yakumo added. "That longing to go back home and get on with our lives. I felt his was worth doing to help relieve you."

"Oh, I'm over that.", Momo assured them. "After all, defeating Dark Guild comes first, right Hiroto?"

"Dark Guild and Kaito.", Hiroto corrected her. "After all, there's no telling where he got to, or what he's planning."

"We can deal with that later.", Miu assured him. "For now, let's eat."

And so, the members of Fractured Infinity all sat down to eat, not noticing a familiar figure in a burgundy collared shirt, a grey waistcoat and a black overcoat look down on them, before turning and leaving.

Next time on Before the Fractures: Which team will it be?