It was beautiful in Harukaze. Perfect for searching for the third precure!
Apparently Tupper was the only one who thought so.
"I'm so sorry, Tupper! I have homework I have to do," Ayame said as she bowed her head in shame.
"Ugh, you probably just don't want to do it, don't you? What about you Solstice? Feel like searching for the third precure?"
Kaori was hanging out in Ayame's room, raiding out her comic collection.
She stopped suddenly. "Wait, we had homework?!"
"Oh forget about it!"
The pink cat feeling ignored, set off by herself in pursuit of the third pretty cure.
'Hmph! Who needs those idiots anyway? I'm the damn spring princess, I'll be able to find the autumn precure and I'll find two more replacement cures while I'm at it!' While immersed in her very deep thoughts, Tupper ran into a very dire problem.
She could barely see the people she was supposed to be recruiting!
'Hmm.. how do I get a better view?.. Wait, that tree..'
And that's how Tupper got herself stuck in a tree. She thought about jumping down, but..
'It's such a long way down..!'
She was clearly terrified. Then when she thought it was hopeless..
"Akino-san, thank you so much for helping me with my homework!"
"No problem, Igarashi-senpai. Although, I think you really shouldn't be asking an underclassmen for this- huh?"
The girl with dirty blonde hair noticed a pink animal looking thing in the nearby tree. She couldn't quite tell what it was though.
"What is it, Akino?"
"No it's nothing."
After the supposed Igarashi had passed her, Etsu reached up to the tree and tried to figure out what it was. Unfortunately, it was a cat. But Etsu wasn't one to just leave business unfinished. Hands slightly shaking, she reached out her hands to the cat.
"Jump down! I'll catch you!"
Tupper did not want to put her hands in the life of some rando, but then again she also wanted to get out of that tree. So she jumped.
To her pleasant surprise, she did not die! Instead she landed in the shaking arms of the girl who saved her. The girl put her down.
"W-well I'll be off then!" And just like that her savior had left.
"I think I just found the newest pretty cure."
"So you found the newest pretty cure! That's great, Tupper!" Ayame said, as she got ready to finish her last stretch of homework.
'Yeah no thanks to you, Vernal.' But Tupper repressed these thoughts as she was just happy she found the third one.
"Of course I did," Tupper said, reclining on Ayame's bed.
"So uh.. Who's the new precure?"
The pink cat thought for a while. Then came across the second dire problem today.
"... You know I don't think I remember her name.."
"WHAT?!"
"I don't even know all your names," Tupper admitted to Ayame's dismay.
"My name's Ayame," the pinkette mumbled. "Do you know her Cure name at least?"
Then Tupper came to a realization.
Not only had she not remembered her savior's name, but she also had not seen the Autumn Rod react.
But if there was anything Tupper hated, it was being wrong.
"Hmph! I'll show you, Vernal. We're going to search for her with Solstice tomorrow."
"I have an essay due on Monday though.."
"Well then, you should not have slacked off!"
Ayame winced.
"Okay, okay! But can we search at 3 PM? I have to pull an all nighter to get this essay done,"
"Fine. You need all the beauty sleep you can get anyway," Tupper said, getting ready to nap.
Ayame gave the cat a deadpan look.
"Alright then."
"Woah, there's more of us!? Who is the lucky girl? Or boy? Or enby-" Kaori stopped when she noticed the depressing mood between Ayame and Tupper.
"Hey, what's wrong you guys?" Kaori asked in a worried tone.
Ayame looked at her, with bags under her eyes.
Kaori was startled by how dead Ayame looked.
"Woah! No offense, but Aya, you look terrible!"
"Yeah I know. Because Tupper insisted we search when I needed to finish that history essay."
It was Kaori's turn to be depressed.
"I didn't even start it," The strawberry blonde was close to tears.
'When will my pain end?' thought Tupper as she trotted behind them.
Then finally she spotted the third precure! Technically she was not a pretty cure yet, but nothing a confrontation with a kaijuu and an elaborate transformation scene couldn't fix!
"Hey, Vernal!" Tupper hissed at Ayame.
Ayame got down to Tupper's level.
"What is it, Tupper?"
"I found her, she's over there!" Tupper used her key-like tail to point to a very familiar girl. Too familiar.
"Oh no. She's gonna think I'm crazy and we don't even talk like at all-"
"What about that talk about becoming a new you?"
'That was when I was about to be killed!' Ayame was about to say, but didn't.
"W-well, those were different circumstances.."
"Hey, it's alright Aya-chan. I'll do all the talking," Kaori said, practically radiating confidence.
"So who do I need to talk to?"
"Her," Tupper said, pointing over to a girl with dirty blonde hair wearing a yellow cardigan. She was also walking some dogs? Ayame could have sworn they were not there before.
Kaori's face turned a bright shade of pink.
"OH, AKINO'S THE NEW PRE-" Tupper scratched her before she could finish.
"Ow! Aya-chan, your cat's so mean," Kaori said, rubbing her cheek in pain.
Ayame nodded. "Yeah, she is. I'm considering adoption."
"You two… We already lost her!"
And so began the search for 'the third pretty cure'.
Tupper and Co were searching the Harukaze District first.
"So, pink cat-chan-" Kaori started, but was interrupted.
"Tupper," the cat corrected.
"Oh, sorry! Tupper-chan, so uh.. Akino. So she's a precure?" Kaori asked, twiddling her thumbs.
"Not yet.. But I think she'll be a way better Precure than you lot. After all, she saved me,"
"From what?" Ayame interjected.
Then it flashbacked to Etsu rescuing Tupper from the tree from earlier.
Ayame had a blank expression on her face. 'That's it? Maybe she should've left you on that tree.'
Kaori on the other hand, had stars in her eyes. She put her hand on Ayame's shoulder. "Let's find Akino together!"
"Yeah sure," Ayame said. Although she was really thinking, 'She's not a pretty cure yet though...'
They had little to no luck catching Etsu.
First they saw her walking another pair of dogs.
"Akino-san!" Ayame said, but was drowned out by the barking of dogs. They then steered farther away, and suddenly Ayame couldn't catch up!
Second time they saw Etsu was when she was playing tennis. After the game, Kaori tried to speak with her, but got crushed by the crowd. It turned out that Etsu was scarily popular!
The third time she was seen helping out at a store. And then as soon as Ayame and Kaori walked in, Etsu was already gone!
Now the gang was planning their next move on the local Harukaze Park bench.
Tupper looked at the Autumn Rod around her neck.
"If only Regalia's stupid goons showed up.. Then we might end up finding a precure,"
"Who is Regalia?" The cures asked in unison.
Tupper averted her eyes to the side. "I'll tell you when the whole group's together."
"But there's not gonna be a whole group because we can't seem to catch her," Ayame sulked.
"That's because you lack exercise and social skills,"
"Hey!"
"Come on, Aya-chan! We'll have plenty of other chances to chat with Akino," Kaori said, attempting to cheer the pinkette up.
"Why not chat with me right now?"
Kaori and Ayame looked to see their classmate, Etsu Akino staring at them!
"Akino-san!?"
"The one and only. I saw you two trying to catch up to me, but I was a bit too busy," Etsu said before abruptly backing away.
"U-um Akino-san..? W-what's wrong?" questioned Ayame, a little startled by how far Etsu had backed up.
"Is there something on my face!?" Kaori began frantically checking her face.
"No! I was just a bit jumpy that's all!"
As soon as Tupper slightly moved, Etsu had moved about 6 inches back.
"Um, uh Akino-san? A-are you afraid of cats, perhaps?" Ayame started.
"B-Because the only scary thing about this one is her personality," Ayame said, gesturing to Tupper.
Tupper gave her another death stare.
Just then Etsu remembered something. "Oh! You're the cat from this morning! I'm Etsu Akino, nice to meet you,"
"Nice to meet ya, Autumn. I'm Princess Tulipa Laverne of the Spring Kingdom," Tupper said, holding out a pink paw.
Etsu then fainted.
"How was I supposed to know that people have that reaction when they learn a cat can talk!? I hate this form," Tupper lamented to Ayame, who had a blank stare the whole time.
"Well, I was very surprised too," Kaori responded.
"You also took too long to catch on, Solstice."
"Hey!"
Ayame then looked to see Etsu waking up.
"Akino-san! Everything you just saw was a hallucination!" was the only thing the pinkette blurted out.
Instead Etsu seemed worried about something else.
"Wait Mizuki, what time is it?"
"Uh, like 5-ish?"
"I have to leave immediately," Etsu said as she started running. And then she was gone yet again.
Tupper hopped down on the ground. "Welp, she's a lost cause. Let's go home, I'm hungry,"
'I'm a bit worried.. she looked like she could barely stand..' Ayame thought.
"H-hey Akino!"
And that's how Ayame and Kaori ended up babysitting at the Chiba's along with Etsu.
A certain siren and demon were practicing their apologies in the mirror. As they had both failed Regalia.
"Regalia-sama, I'm severely sorry for disappointing you.. You can take Kanten as a sacrifice!"
"Yeah! Wait what?! TSUMI, WHY ARE YOU OFFERING ME AS A SACRIFICE?!"
"Well,"
Suddenly a third voice spoke. "What's all this talk about sacrifice? Don't tell me you guys actually failed."
Out from the shadows came an elf? Faerie? Honestly, they weren't really sure what he was.
"Tatsumaki!?"
Tatsumaki sighed. "How'd you even manage to lose anyway?"
"BECAUSE OF CURE VERNAL! SHE THREW ROCKS AT ME!"
"CURE SOLSTICE THREW FIRE AT ME!"
"WHO THE HELL IS CURE SOLSTICE?!"
'There's a new Precure huh? Well I guess it's my time to shine.' Tatsumaki thought as he looked at the yellow crystal in his hand.
Ayame, Kaori, and Etsu were playing in the Chiba's backyard.
Kaori was playing soccer with Masato while Ayame was playing monkey in the middle with Mami and Miki.
"Hey Ayame, want to switch?" Etsu asked, noticing the fact that Ayame had been the monkey for a suspiciously long time.
"Y-yeah,"
They changed places.
"So I'm curious, Mizuki-san," Etsu said as she passed the ball to Miki. "What made you want to help me?"
"Uh.. well you kinda looked like you were about to pass out. I mean I would if I were running all over the place,"
"YOU WERE ABOUT TO PASS OUT!?" Miki said as she accidentally passed the ball to Etsu.
"Aha, no. It was just my afternoon rounds! And looks like you're the monkey now Miki,"
"Aw," Miki was now the monkey in the middle.
"Afternoon rounds? What exactly do you do during those?" The pinkette asked.
"Just some odd jobs here and there,"
While Kaori and Masato were in their soccer match, the ball rolled down somewhere. Kaori was about to get it, but was stopped.
"I'll get it!" Masato said, running after it. During which he scraped his knee.
"Ow," He tried not to cry, but tears started forming in his eyes anyway.
"It's alright to cry," an ominous voice said.
"Let it all out, and let your emotions overtake you," The suspicious figure then injected a crystal into the young boy's bruise.
"Heartache, come out!" The young boy was then merged with his soccer ball, creating a soccer ball heartache.
Kaori began to get worried. "Masato-kun hasn't come back yet," Then her keychain began to glow. "WHY IS IT GLOWING?!"
Ayame was interrupted too when her keychain started glowing too.
"Pretty! CAN I KEEP YOUR NECKLACE?!" Mami wailed.
"Mami!" Etsu scolded.
'Whenever a Heartache is created, the Spring Saber will glow.'
The pinkette remembered Tupper's words.
"I'm sorry, Akino-san! I have to go!" Ayame said, following the light of her keychain. She caught up with Kaori and pulled her by the arm.
Mami tugged on Etsu's dress. "Hey where's Onii-chan? I don't see him.."
"You're right, Mami.. Don't worry, we'll find Masato-kun together," Etsu promised, holding out her pinky finger. Mami and Etsu then made a pinky promise.
"We have to fight another Heartache!"
"ANOTHER ONE?!"
They then came face to face with someone neither of them were familiar with. Along with a soccer ball Heartache.
He noticed their familiar keychains. "So you must be the Precure. I'm Tatsumaki. Nice to meet you,"
"Oh! Uh, nice to meet you too?" Kaori said but was cut off by the Heartache rolling straight for her.
Tupper out of nowhere knocked her out of the way.
"Tupper!"
"Just transform already!"
Ayame and Kaori held up both the Spring Saber and the Summer Sword.
"Precure Nature Sync!"
"The birth of a blooming spring, Cure Vernal!"
"The dawn of a bright summer, Cure Solstice!"
The Precure were finally in action! This time both of them could actually fight the Heartache. Right?
The Heartache rolled towards the direction of Etsu and the Chiba kids. Vernal and Solstice jumped in front of the Heartache. Tatsumaki grabbed Vernal by the arm and swung her at Solstice. Both of them landed on pure concrete. Ouch.
"Where's onii-chan, Etsy-chan?"
"He went in this direction I'm pretty sure,"
"Did he get lost?"
"Nonsense. Masato-kun is a big boy. I'm sure that he knows his way around,"
Etsu then heard two familiar screams. "Miki, Mami. Wait here. I promise I'll find your brother."
Meanwhile Vernal and Solstice were having no luck fighting the soccer kaiju.
Solstice was getting slammed into the ground. She clutched onto her Summer Sword, using it to block Tatsumaki's constant strikes.
Vernal was trying not to get run over by the soccer ball. She jumped up in the air and summoned her Spring Saber.
"Precure Vernal Floret!"
She shot a bunch of zinnia at the incoming Heartache.
The Heartache rolled straight through the flowers and aimed for Vernal. Luckily for Vernal, Tupper pushed her out of the way.
"I'll distract this abomination! You try to purify it!"
"Alright!"
Etsu arrived at the scene. And she was completely confused. Then she saw Solstice thrown like a ragdoll. What she did not expect was for the orange clad magical girl to de-transform into Kaori.
"Natsumi-san?! What's going on here?!"
"Run away, Akino! It's too dangerous! Aya-chan and me will take care of this!"
"Absolutely not!"
"Nosy civilians. My favorite," Tatsumaki said, kicking Etsu in the gut.
Or at least attempting to.
"Whatever you are, I won't let you hurt Mizuki and Natsumi!" A bright yellow light surrounded the area, blinding the Heartache and Tatsumaki. This allowed Vernal to weaken it with the Vernal Floret.
Tupper threw the Autumn Rod at Etsu, who caught it with ease.
"Shout out 'Precure Nature Sync' like your life depends on it!'
"Precure Nature Sync!"
A yellow light surrounded Etsu, turning into leaves. The leaves swirled around Etsu, creating her brown and yellow top. They circled around her skirt, turning it into a pumpkin with a light brown cape attached to it. Her shoes changed from dull brown to an orange color complete with yellow socks. Her dirty blonde hair changed to a golden color as 3 leaves poofed into a cute little hair accessory. The Autumn rod turned into leaves that resided into a yellow pendant.
"The hallow of a colorful autumn, Cure Fall!"
The new Cure Fall was ready for battle! Jumping into the air she grabbed Tatsumaki by the hand and threw him a good distance.
The Heartache began to start moving again! Before it could hurt Ayame, it was blown away by a burst of wind!
Fall was surprised by this newfound power. And was totally fangirling inside. This was just like her favorite anime!
"Good job, Fall! When that cursed thing comes back down, shout Autumn Rod! Make sure to aim at the energy swirling in the middle,"
"Okay!"
The Heartache came crashing down, but luckily Vernal had enough strength to catch it and place it down gently.
"Autumn Rod!" Fall's pendant resonated with a sound. Her weapon came out and she gripped with her hand. Leaves twirled around her and she spun like a beyblade towards the summit of energy. She could vaguely see Masato.
"Precure Fall Twister!"
The leaf tornado collided with the Heartache, purifying the Heartache. As the Heartache burst into leaves, Cure Fall bowed. And immediately de-transformed from exhaustion.
"Akino-san!" Ayame ran to Etsu who had trouble standing and tried to help her regain balance.
"It's alright, Mizuki. I'm fine.."
"If you say so.."
Kaori got up from the ground. Somehow she wasn't hurt too badly.
"Akino is a precure? I can't believe it! We-Welcome to the team!"
"Finally my suffering is over! I found all you fools!" Tupper sunk to the ground and the three girls shared a laugh. Until Masato woke up.
"What happened?"
"Oh you uh kinda passed out while you were getting the ball," Kaori said on the spot, a lie.
"Miki and Mami have been worried sick, let's go back home,"
After they got back, it was already late out. They put the children to sleep and chatted in the living room.
"So I'm a precure? Is that like Sailor Moon?"
"I have no idea what that is," Tupper said bluntly.
"Now that I think about it, kinda," Ayame answered.
"Amazing," Etsu gushed. "Hey, Natsumi-san, you've been awfully quiet. Is something wrong?"
"Well I was wondering.. Can we call you Etsu?"
"Sure, Kaori."
Kaori almost had a heart attack.
"Just trying it out. Mizuki, do you want me to call you Ayame?"
"Uh, I guess,"
"Alright then! It's settled!"
"Hey, why didn't you ask me that?!"
Tupper: Well now that you guys are together, it's time for an exposition dump!
Ayame: Ew, exposition.
Kaori: I'm really sorry, but I have to help out at Natsumi Pastry! I won't be able to hear the exposition dump.
Etsu: I also have several errands I have to attend to. I'm afraid I won't be in the 4th episode either.
Tupper: *looks at Ayame with disgust* What's your excuse?
Ayame: I'm gonna be sleeping through the whole episode.
Tupper: You guys are gonna be hearing that exposition dump whether you like it or not! Next time on Nature Shift! Precure: Chapter Four: Now that we are all here..