Ugh... off the movie and onto the show itself again. I'm really glad to be finished with the whole of Super Hero All-Stars because I'm not the best at it as you all could probably see. (chuckles nervously) Though if y'all do have good ideas for the Zodiac Senshi movie, let me know, okay? I'm dying to hear your suggestions! But anyway, back to the series actual in which a journalist tries to uncover the group's identity. Sounds about typical, but Kaoru is better than that, right? Well, let's see! (draws a camera out and snaps a picture, the flash bringing out the Disclaimers)
Disclaimers: I don't own Pretty Cure, as all the rights go exclusively to Toei for that brand. This is a fanmade series for entertainment purposes only.
Within the darkened Milky Way Kingdom, Eclipse was thinking over the Cure's latest victory against the joint operation of his group and Foundation X. "Hmm... Even if the girls had themselves, they still believed in friendship and hope... Frustrating, yet definitely intriguing..." (A/N: For those of you who don't understand this opening bit, read Super Hero All-Stars: Space's Ultimate Friendship and Hope)
Hydra had taken some notes on the battle as well and was looking through them silently, his curiosity being stimulated by the observations.
Lacerta walked in and saw both of them in deep thought, tilting her head. "Hm? Could it be that you two are actually planning?"
The magenta-colored individual looked up at her, scoffing lightly. "Well, since our previous battles have been going about the same as any thus far, I thought it might be a good idea to study some features of what makes the Cures tick. Their strengths and weaknesses, so to speak."
She scoffed lightly as she listened. "Strategy is good and everything, but sometimes you need a more subtle approach to beating your enemies, much like my illusions and camouflage. I might not be a chameleon, but I am good at deception."
Hydra suddenly started to think, getting an idea. "Deception..." He smiled and nodded, tossing a Kurohoshi card to her.
She caught it out of surprise, looking at Hydra in confusion. "What's this about?"
He looked at her and closed his journal. "I think infiltrating the girls' school would be a good use of your abilities. You could be their ally, their friend, but also report to us. Sort of like a double agent, per se."
She smiled, understanding the gist of what he was saying. "I see. Well then, allow me to be on my way." She teleported away in her usual fashion.
(Cue theme: 3-2-1! Zodiac Warrior Pretty Cure)
3, 2, 1, let's blast off!
Let's-la-soar into the sky!
Straight into the cosmos
Zodiac Warrior Pretty Cure!
When you look at the stars,
What do you see?
Will there be a sign of hope
Or a sign of despair?
Even if we're stuck within a pinch
(Stuck within a pinch)
Keep your hope alive!
It's time to go go go!
Fire your ignition!
Race up to the stars!
Grant us the strength of the constellations!
With our hearts burning
We will fight on!
All of our hopes are one!
(Go-go-go!)
3, 2, 1, let's blast off!
Let's-la-soar into the sky!
Straight into the cosmos
Zodiac Warrior Pretty Cure!
Chapter 7: Big Scoop! Who are our heroes?
At Ryuuseizaka, the heroines and allies were chatting together, speaking about their latest victory.
"Smile, everyone!" A male voice suddenly caught the team off guard as they looked over and were met by a bright light, yelping in surprise.
Airi shook her head, recovering quickly as she looked at who had spoken before smiling brightly. "Oh, Michiko!"
The boy standing in front of her, Michiko Masuko, was grinning brightly, his brown eyes shining through a pair of round spectacles. he sat down next to her, his uniform looking as sharp as a blade as his short brown hair floated in the wind. "It's been a while, Hoshinako-senpai! Seen anything exciting as of late?"
Airi shook her head. "Can't say I have. Why do you ask?"
Michiko chuckled lightly as he adjusted his glasses. "Well, I just caught a whiff of a fantastic story circling around town! You know those monsters that everyone has been seeing, yet the ones who were victims don't remember what had happened?"
Harumi froze up, remembering that she had been the very first victim of the Kurohoshi attacks.
Kaoru saw her freeze up and quickly covered for her. "Oh, uh, what do you mean by that, Masuko-san?"
Michiko looked at Kaoru with eager eyes. "Well, I've been asking around about the incidents, and each time I've heard the same thing from witnesses all around: A group of pretty soldiers fighting off those giant monsters and protecting everyone! I mean, this is the scoop of the century! Can you believe it?!"
Kaoru nodded, continuing to cover for the group. "You know, if you're such a fan of these girls, I think I know just which club you should join to support them: The Pretty Cure Club. Airi's the president, and since opening it up, we've already gained over a dozen other members. Some publicity for the girls might be good too."
Michiko chuckled lightly. "Oh, I'm not just going to support them, I'm gonna reveal who they are outside of their uniforms so others can support them too!" He chuckled brightly. "This is gonna be awesome!" He jumped up and dashed away quickly, leaving seven very stunned individuals watching him go.
Tsukasa gained a tick mark on her forehead as she jerkily turned to Kaoru and took a deep breath. "Kaoru, I know you're trying to help and keep our secret safe." She smiled sincerely before she got angry and towered over her comically, her face resembling a pissed off shark. "BUT WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING, INVITING HIM TO JOIN THE CLUB?!"
The other five backed away fearfully, speaking in unison. "Definitely a ticked off princess!"
Kaoru rubbed her ears slightly. "Ah, come on! I figured if Michiko joined the club to support us, maybe there'd be a good amount of publicity in order to keep hope alive within the townsfolk themselves!"
Tsukasa huffed angrily, puffs of steam coming out of her nose. "Yes, but he also said he wanted to quote-unquote 'reveal who they are outside of their uniforms'! What good is that gonna do when one of the generals attack, huh?!"
Airi blinked in bemusement. "Uhh... That s a good point. My mom already lost my dad. I don't think she'd want to lose me too."
Kaoru groaned lightly. "Alright, alright. I'll tone down the Pretty Cure talk around him. Yeesh."
Harumi frowned worriedly, looking at Airi. "Airi, I was the first victim before I became a Pretty Cure. Do you think he'll question me?"
Airi looked at her with a concerned expression. "I don't know, but I will try to keep you safe."
Harumi nodded with a smile. "Thanks." She looked over at Michiko, frowning silently as she saw him darting around like a squirrel.
Eye-catch: Airi, Harumi, Kaoru, Tsukasa, and Orion are seen spinning around as Lepus and Vulpeculos jump by their feet before the four heroes change into their respective forms.
Later that day, the girls were in the club room setting everything up for the meeting.
"Everyone!" A flash caught their attention as they saw Michiko in the doorway, looking around at everything. "Whoa, this looks awesome! Reminiscent of everything the Pretty Cure stands for and their theme!"
Airi smiled at him. "Thanks, Michiko! Tsukasa and the others had been helping me set it up since we started the club!"
He smiled back before noticing Harumi behind Kaoru. "Oh, that reminds me! I never got to interview Aoki-san!"
Harumi took a deep breath to calm her frozen-over state before she smiled kindly at him. "Okay, Masuko-san. The meeting doesn't start for another hour at least, so I can answer whatever questions you may have." She pulled out some seats for the two of them and sat down in one while he sat down in the other, pulling out his recorder.
Orion leaned towards Kaoru and whispered quietly to her. "Still think it was a good idea to invite him?"
Kaoru nodded and whispered back. "Of course it was! I know Michiko better than you, Tsukasa, or the fairies and he is not one to unleash trouble when he sees fit!"
Michiko started asking Harumi questions about what had happened before and after she became a victim, and she explained quite a bit of what had happened, leaving out the identities of the now five-hero team.
Orion and Tsukasa were surprised at how well Harumi was taking everything, even the fairies peeked out from behind the two to watch the interview.
Airi and Kaoru simply smiled as they watch Harumi cover for them at every twist and turn: The trio of girls had been friends for so long that they knew Harumi was the best person to lie for them if anything would ever happen.
Michiko soon wrapped up his interview and nodded to Harumi in gratitude. "Thank you, Aoki-san. Hopefully, this will bring me a little closer to my big scoop."
Harumi smiled at him. "Glad I could help, Masuko-san."
He got up and walked out of the room, waving to the team as they waved back before he walked around the corridors of the school, sighing softly as he walked outside. "Well, I certainly didn't learn their identities, but that doesn't mean I should just give up, right? A good reporter, journalist, or anyone in that field is always motivated, no matter what the odds! I will learn who you are, Pretty Cure!"
Suddenly, he heard a female voice behind him. "Oh, interested in learning about the identities of the Cures, are we?"
He spun around and saw Lacerta standing there with a broad smile on her face as he jumped back in surprise. "Ah! You're that lizard lady Harumi-san told me about!"
Lacerta made a weirded out face at that. "Lizard lady? Never heard people call me that before." She pulled out a card and looked at Michiko's Crystal Star, noticing a small amount of despair in one corner. "Oh? Seems you're having a bit of despair despite your determination. I will admit that determination is good, but it's not enough all the time. Working from the depths of your despair is better than just using your determination to push it aside."
He made a face at that last line. "What could you possibly know about that?"
She smirked lightly and held up the card. "Let me show you." She flung it at him and it stuck on his chest, causing him to scream as his Star was filled with despair.
"Let your heart be filled with despair! Go, Kurohoshi!" She flung out her hand in a flamboyant fashion and a black aura surrounded Michiko, pulling his Crystal Star out of his body and transforming it into a black camera-shaped monster, red eyes opening below the black star which was now upside down. "KUROHOSHI!"
In the classroom, Lepus's ears twitched. "Kurohoshi attack!"
The others looked up and ran to the courtyard, seeing the Kurohoshi flash its light and turn people to stone.
"A camera? Don't tell me...!" Airi was surprised by the Kurohoshi.
Kaoru saw the prone Michiko's body laying on the ground. "No way... Michiko...?"
Harumi frowned as she looked at Michiko's body before glaring up at Lacerta. "How dare you! Using Masuko-san's despair to your pleasure... turning him into a monster..."
Kaoru glared with her friend. "Something like that is..."
The two spoke in unison. "Definitely unforgivable!" They pulled out their Zodiac Wands, as did Airi and Tsukasa while Orion got his transformation ready.
(Cue Color Charge Instrumental)
"Zodiac Wand! Pretty Cure, Let's Blast Off!" The quartet of girls transformed in their respective ways before posing.
"The virgin's pure heart! Cure Virgo!"
"The lion's pride! Cure Leo!"
"The water bearer's tranquility! Cure Aquarius!"
"The bull's strength! Cure Taurus!"
The quartet clapped their hands in unison, spinning around together. "Saviors of Earth's Hope!" They jumped apart and landed before they posed as one team. "Zodiac Senshi Pretty Cure!"
(End Instrumental, cue Tuxedo Kamen style music)
Orion placed the petal of a rose to his lips, seeming to kiss it before he flicked it away, his body becoming covered in a starry void as he floated upwards.
His torso was surrounded by a group of stars that exploded into mini fireworks style and pinged his navy blue and amethyst suit into place before doing the same thing with his boots.
He snapped his fingers as white gloves appeared on his hands and a few rose petals flew past, his face showing with a silver visor over his eyes and his hair now being white.
He twirled around slightly and threw his arm out to the side, a black cape appearing on him as the background changed into one with a rose behind him.
(End music)
The five landed in front of the Kurohoshi, staring bravely up at it.
"KURO!" It punched at them, leaving a dark crater where it almost hit them before they jumped up to evade it.
Virgo flew around the area, holding Taurus and Orion on her wings and positioning herself over it. "GO!"
The duo jumped off and flew down at the monster, aiming for where its lens would be, but it blocked and knocked them aside like flies.
"SAY CHEESE!" It flashed its light at them and turned them into statues before they even hit the ground, causing them to fall with heavy thunks.
"Taurus! Orion!" Virgo looked in shock.
"No way!" Leo was stunned.
Aquarius frowned silently. "It can freeze their opponents by taking pictures?"
The Yellow and Blue Cures were so distracted that they didn't notice the Kurohoshi coming up behind them until they saw the shadow and looked behind themselves.
"SAY CHEESE." It poised its hand on the button and pressed it.
Both girls braced themselves to become statues but didn't feel anything. "Oh?" "Huh?" They looked up to see a frozen Virgo, who had defended them just in time by sacrificing herself. "VIRGO!"
Lacerta laughed from above, looking at the girls. "Three heroes down two to go. Oh, how will I ever prevent them from stopping me?" She laughed mirthlessly.
Leo growled angrily as her fists lit up in flames. "Why you ungrateful little faux alligator PURSE!" She jumped up and roared as she punched the Kurohoshi back.
Aquarius flew up on her water stream, equally as angry. "First you turn Michiko into a Kurohoshi and then you turn our friends into statues!" She kicked the monster in the face, joining Leo in jumping sky high. "That is something...!"
"We definitely won't...!" Leo continued as they joined hands.
"EVER FORGIVE!" The duo chimed together as they flew down.
"Kuro..." The Kurohoshi got up and looked at them, its eyes widening. "Kuro!"
"DOUBLE PRETTY CURE DRILL PUNCH!" The girls spun around and rammed into the Kurohoshi, breaking its flasher and lens as they backflipped to the ground and nodded to each other.
The star on Leo's chest lit up with fire as she stood ready. "Pretty Cure!" She made a fireball in her hands and sent it up before jumping after it. "Leo Burning Spike!" She spiked the fireball like a volleyball and sent it flying down to strike the Kurohoshi with a yellow light.
Aquarius's star shone brightly as she gathered a bunch of water into her hands. "Pretty Cure!" She formed a harp with her water and strummed it, a soothing tune coming from the strings. "Aquarius Tranquil Pulsar!" She made a blue wave fly at the Kurohoshi and envelope it in a blue light that mixed with the yellow light quite well.
"Beautiful…" The Kurohoshi exploded in yellow and blue smoke and the purified star was revealed, flying back to Michiko and returning to him as he woke up.
Lacerta scoffed lightly as she looked at them. "Maybe you two aren't that incompetent. I guess I'll have to watch myself around a duo like yourselves." She teleported away as the courtyard was restored to normal, including the frozen people.
Virgo relaxed as she looked at the other girls with a smile. "Leo! Aquarius!" She ran to join them with Taurus, Orion, and the fairies following her. "By the stars, I can't believe you two actually beat the Kurohoshi all by yourselves!"
Michiko moaned softly as he tried sitting up.
"Ah! Michiko-san!" Virgo ran over to help him up, as did the others. "Are you okay, Michiko-san?"
Michiko nodded a little before he got a good look at his rescuers. "Pretty... Cure?"
Aquarius nodded as she smiled serenely. "You should never give up on a good story, Masuko-san. Who knows what it could bring to the table?"
Leo nodded. "Yep. And even though we don't usually hang around for long, just know we're always there to protect everyone's hope."
Virgo and the others nodded at those words.
Michiko thought it over before nodding with a kind smile as well. "Thanks, everyone. Even if I don't know who you are, I'll still be supporting you wherever I can, finding Crystals for you or cheering you on as you fight the bad guys."
The team smiled at those words, grateful to have another ally on their side.
Not a few feet away from the group, Lacerta was watching them with a restrained expression. "Hmph. They truly don't know about anything. Well, I suppose it's time I..." She changed her appearance to become a fifteen-year-old girl with dark green hair that reached down to her lower back, green luminous eyes reminiscent of a cat, slightly pale skin, and a uniform similar to the other girls, but with a green ascot instead of the traditional tie. "... educate them a little bit."
(Cue End Theme: Go Zodiacs! Let's Pretty Cure!)
Preview:
Airi: That's great that you want to fit in more, Orion!
Tsukasa: Yes, but I worry about that boy's group...
Kaoru: What?! They're making him choose between us and them?!
Harumi: He has to decide his own loyalties.
Orion: Uhhh...
Zodiac Senshi Pretty Cure! Test of Loyalty! Orion's Choice! By the stars, this will be epic!
(stares in shock) Wow. Uh... that just happened. I got a chapter done in an entire day. Usually, it takes a couple of weeks for one chapter. I guess all that pent up imagination really came out today due to being quarantined because of the Coronavirus. That's... actually a little depressing. I'm, uh... just... gonna go get some chocolate milk... read and review, guys...