Ch. 39 Let's go to Outer Space!
"Pi...ka...Pi...ka..." Jolt lifted the large, red, metal bar through the hallway past Rito's room. "Pi...ka..." He finally reached the iron cylinder caved into the wall. Jolt stood within the pod with the bar over his shoulder. "Pikachu."
*Warp!*
In a dazzling display of blue light, Jolt pixelated into a separate portion of the house. When he reappeared, he arrived in an empty room made of titanium walls, a rounded roof, and silver panel flooring. There were four separate doorways designed to open like shutters outwards and close inwards. Jolt immediately rushed to Rai and Lala who were making modified repairs to the last door. This particular door lead to the princess's room. He tapped Rai on the shoulder and held out the steel part. "Pika!" Rai turned to his partner.
"Cool," Rai appreciated. "Thanks buddy." He took the pole and handed it to Lala.
"Thank you!" Lala thanked him. She took out her almighty tool and started going to town with flying sparks and wrenching, metal noises. Rai simply tightened the loose gears with his wrench inside the wall through an open panel. In no time, Lala finished constructing the outer rim frame. She tapped the bulk for its durability. "It's done!" Lala was proud of the quick and easy work she accomplished, but noticed Rai struggling to get the last bolt in place. "Do you want to borrow my almighty tool?" She offered him the device.
"Thanks," Rai declined politely. "But, I think I'll stick to the old fashion way." Rai pushed with full force. The bolt finally turned right. "There!" Rai cleaned the sweat from his face. He closed the panel. "Jolt, time for a test run."
"Pika!" Jolt jumped and hit the small keypad next to the door.
Whish!
The doors closed.
"That should do it." Rai cleaned his hands.
"Now we have extra room for more guests!" Lala applauded. "Come on, let's go show Rito!"
"I believe he's cleaning the bathrooms downstairs," Peke replied. Rai, Lala, and Jolt each approached the teleporter and stood on a round pad in the center of the room.
"Three to the second floor," Rai requested. The lights glimmered and sent the three to the Yuuki house.
Rito picked up the bucket and brush. He left the bathroom completely cleaned and fresh like a new hotel room. He turned the corner toward the stairs.
"I wonder if Rai and Lala finished her new lab," he wondered. Rito turned and started walking up.
The three appeared in the same steel cylinder Jolt entered before. They reemerged in the hallway.
"Rito!" Lala cried. "You gotta see this!" She went running after him.
"Hey!" Rai warned her. "Your gonna trip; watch it!" Lala reached the top of the stairs.
Rito reached the top step.
"Rito!" Lala cheered.
"Lala?" Rito answered.
Boom!
Lala and Rito collided with each other. Rito released his hold on the hand rail as Lala pushed him back.
"GUAAAAA!" Rito screamed.
"I'll get—!" Rai reached out.
Bam! Pow! Thump!
"—them..."
"Pika..." Jolt sweat dropped. They landed at the bottom of the steps. Rito laid underneath Lala while she sat on his chest. Rai quickly ran downstairs to check on them.
"You guys okay?"
"I'm okay!" Lala assured.
"I'm not..." Rito mumbled. Rai lifted Lala and pulled Rito up after.
"You guys need to be careful," He lectured. "I know it's a habit, but you can actually get hurt."
"It's fine," Peke assured. "Lala-sama is very strong and can handle any situation if needed."
"Peke," Lala blushed. Rai scratched his head.
"I don't know about that..." Rai considered.
In the backyard, Kurumu and Mikan were busy doing the laundry. Mikan would hand Kurumu the clothes from the basket while Kurumu made sure to pin them on the clothes line. She stretched out Rai's work pants and noticed the ¥5,000 he left in his pocket. She quietly snuck it out and placed it in her shirt. Mikan caught Kurumu in the act.
"Isn't that Raimundo's?" Mikan asked.
"Oh, this?" Kurumu hesitated. "I just wanted to...make sure...it was dry before he got it back! Hehe."
"I don't think so." Mikan wasn't amused.
"ZEE…" The large plant wheezed with large bursts of breath. "ZEE…" Mikan viewed the tiring creature.
"Celine?" she asked. "What's wrong?"
"She doesn't look too good," Kurumu noted. Celine leaned against the house. Without any strength, she toppled over.
THUD!
The group heard the noise and ran to the backyard. Rai stopped near the front door. Rai turned and grabbed his scythe resting in the umbrella rack.
"Just in case." He rushed with the others to see Mikan comforting the large plant while Kurumu repaired the clothes line.
"Mikan!" Rito shouted.
"What happened to Celine?" Lala asked.
"I'm checking," Mikan assured. Rai went to Kurumu.
"You two saw what happened?" He investigated.
"I don't have a clue," Kurumu shrugged. "One minute the flower's huffing and puffing, then it just fell all over our clean clothes!" She whimpered over her hard work. Jolt walked to Celine and patted the flower's petals.
"Pikachu?" Jolt became worried.
"Zee..." The flower panted. "Zee..." Rai tried talking to the plant.
"Hey, Celine?" Rai asked. "What's wrong?" She didn't respond.
"She doesn't look well," Lala presumed. "Maybe she's sick!"
"Rito-san," a voice approached. "Let me examine her!" Everyone turned to the twins, Nana and Momo, coming from the side of the house.
"Momo!" Rito said with surprise. Momo kneeled down by Celine to check on her. She placed her head near the flowers stalk.
"What's wrong? Tell me."
"Momo…" Lala whispered.
"Oh yeah…" Mikan recalled. "She can talk to plants."
"The Plant Whisper, huh," Rai deduced.
"Well, what's she saying?" Kurumu pestered the girl. Momo closed her eyes reading Celine's mind.
"…She said…I'm fine." Momo listened. "I'm just tired, don't worry…"
"Pikachu…" Jolt's ears dropped.
"How can we not worry?" Mikan declared. "You can clearly tell she's suffering just by looking at her."
"You're right," Momo clarified. "This plant…may have contracted the sickness: Kare Kare..."
"Curry Curry?" Rai asked nauseatingly.
"Kare Kare…" Lala clarified.
"Yes…" Momo continued. "It's a common sickness for this type of plant. If it continues on, in a couple of days, she will shrivel up and die."
"T-This can't be!" Rito panicked.
"Momo!" Lala begged. "Isn't there any way to cure it?"
"There is only one way…" Momo pondered. "But it's very dangerous…"
"It doesn't matter!" Rito shouted. Rai stepped before Momo and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Momo…" Rai looked to her with a serious look. "We'll do whatever it takes to save the girl."
Rai-san…She blushed. His look is serious all of a sudden. "Erm…" Momo turned away.
"Uh…" Rai removed his hand quickly. "…Sorry."
"It's fine…" Momo looked up into the sky. "…Planet Mistletoe."
"Mistletoe?" Kurumu asked.
"It's three million light years from Earth, a very isolated planet. I've heard of a berry called the Luckberry that grows there, and it can cure Kare Kare."
"If we find this berry..." Rito asked. "Can we save Celine!?"
"Yes, but…Mistletoe is a very primitive and uncivilized planet. If we go there, we'll be risking our lives."
"According to my database," Peke stated, "Planet Mistletoe is classified as Level S in terms of danger!"
"So, that doesn't sound tough," Kurumu argued.
"That's like the hardest rank in existence," retorted Rai.
"Says who?"
"Sega's score system."
"It doesn't make a difference!" Rito shouted. "Celine is in trouble! So I'm going no matter what!"
"W-Wait, Rito!" Mikan disagreed. "I understand how you feel, but are you sure about this!? Going to such a place…"
"No problem!" Lala announced. I'll ensure Rito's safety!"
"Lala…" Rito was reluctant to have Lala be by his side.
"I'm going as well," Momo added. "I'm the one who can identify the Luckberry."
"Don't leave us out of the fun," Rai said with his scythe over his shoulder.
"Pika!" Jolt declared.
"Okay," interrupted Nana. "If Big Sis and Momo are going, I guess I'll go too."
"Alright!" Kurumu hailed. "Let's go grab ourselves a spaceship!"
"…Eh?" Lala tilted her head. "The ship I used when I ran away only holds one person."
"Ours is also for one passenger…" Momo added.
"Who else has a ship?" Rai asked curiously.
"Oh!" Rito remembered. "I know! We'll ask Zastin if we can borrow his!"
"Ah…" Nana mentioned. "Zastin is on Deviluke at the moment. He said he was invited to a friend's wedding."
He's completely useless… "Oh yeah! We'll use Mikado-sensei's Ship!"
"…The nurse has a spaceship?" Rai questioned.
"It was able to fit all of us that time when we were trapped on Okinawa," Lala explained.
"Well, that's convenient." (Unaware, she referred to the planet, not the island).
"Okay," Rito took off for the nurse, "I'm going to go call Sensei!" His right foot accidentally stepped on the rake lying around. He slid forward off the metal teeth. "Oops!"
Plush~!
Rito landed forward with great timing. A soft support stood ready to catch him. Unfortunately, that also led to a pair of underwear in front of his face. Yami wasn't too pleased about that.
"Yuuki Rito," Yami spoke with killer intent in her eyes. "I hope you did not do that on purpose…"
"Of course…not…" Rito replied nervously.
"I see…" The back of Yami's hair changed into a giant black boot.
STOMP!
She stepped onto Rito with tremendous force.
"Ya…Yami-san!" Mikan shouted.
"Hey, shrimp," Kurumu greeted her. "What brings you here?"
"I was walking through the neighborhood when I overheard your conversation," Yami explained as she removed the boot from Rito. "Don't die in vain, Yuuki Rito. The only reason you're alive is because I haven't decided to kill you yet. I do not approve of you going to a Level S planet where you'll no doubt be killed." Rito looked to her. His expression went unbroken.
"I don't care!" He demanded. "I'm going, no matter what! Celine is family! I can't just stay here doing nothing and abandon her!"
"Rito…" Lala blushed.
"Rito-san…" Momo blushed. Even though I have the ability to talk to plants, compared to someone like him…
"Pika…" Jolt blushed. Yami stood with wonder.
"This 'Family'…" she uttered. "I don't quite understand what you're talking about, but…since you sound so serious…I guess I will join you on this trip."
"Eh…" Rito said in surprise. "Are you serious!?"
"My ship can take all of you."
"Thank you, Yami-san!" Mikan cheered.
"Yay!" Lala added. Jolt jumped to Yami's shoulder.
"Pika!" Yami blushed.
"We really appreciate it, Yami," Rai acknowledged.
"Don't worry," Yami dictated. "If Yuuki Rito is on the brink of death, I'll come right away and cut off his head." Rito froze in fear. She pulled out her ship alarm. "Okay…I'll bring the ship."
Beep-Beep!
A small black dot started approaching above the Yuuki household. It was shaped like an oval with two short wings and a directing tail from behind. The front glass window had been shaped as a silver star. It hovered just above the kids.
"Waah!" Lala and the others stared in awe. "So that's Yami-chan's ship!"
"I guess the paint job gives it away," Kurumu sweat dropped. The ship was dark.
"Yes," Yami clarified. "The Lunatique…to me it's like an old friend, on several occasions helping me escape when I was on the verge of life and death."
"Okay, I leave Celine in your hands, Mikan," Rito ordered.
"Alright!" Mikan gave the thumbs up. "Be careful." Rai turned to Kurumu.
"Kurumu, can you stay with Mikan?" He requested.
"Aaaaaww~" Kurumu whined. "Why do I have to stay?"
"Because last time, you got stuck in an RPG with nothing but latex underwear. That..." Rai nodded. "...and I want you to try and help Celine." Kurumu realized what he meant.
"...I'll do what I can." Rai pointed his scythe to the sky.
"Alright guys, no time to waste!" The team lined up for departure. "It's off to Planet Mistletoe!"
"Oh," Yami added. "You're going to pay for fuel costs afterwards, Yuuki Rito."
"Eh!?" Rito's eye twitched.
"No worries," Rai jumped in to save him. He pulled out his wallet. "Now I'm assuming you take VISA…" Yami shook her head. "…Ah well, I tried." The ship's hull opened and revealed a green light reaching to Earth. The teleporter elevated the group into the space carrier. With everyone aboard, the ship aimed upward and shot straight into the sky. Kurumu and Mikan watched as the group vanished with a twinkle.
"Rito..." Mikan whispered. Kurumu held her close.
"They'll be fine," She assured the young girl. They should be...
Deep Space
The ship pursued on course at light speed. Yami and the crew entered the cockpit with windows that displayed the bright stars they passed. There were three separate terminals at each corner of the room. Yami walked to a computer monitor. Its surface had rigid teeth, lowered eyes, and an upside-down heart for a nose.
"Lunatique..." Yami requested. "How long will it be before we reach Planet Mistletoe?"
"Yes, Master!" The computer responded. "If we continue at warp-drive, it should take no more than 2 hours!"
"Awesome!" Lala was fascinated with Yami's computer. "Yami-chan's ship has A.I.!"
"But he has sort of a bad attitude when you look at him," Nana pointed out.
"What!?" The computer angrily replied. "I'll throw you into space, you flat-insolent brat!" Nana exploded in a fit of rage.
"W…WHO ARE YOU CALLING FLAT!?"
"Hey Nana," Momo tried to cool the flames. "Calm down." Momo turned her attention to Rito sitting at the steps to the exit. He tapped his foot impatiently looking only at the floor.
Celine…Rito held in his thoughts…Hold on…
"She's important, isn't she?" Rito looked up. "I mean Celine…"
"Momo…" She took a seat next to Rito.
"Is it because…she's family?"
"Haha…" Rito couldn't help but chuckle. "It's just because we've been together for so long. I care for her." Rai listened in on their conversation. He looked back over to Jolt who watched Nana argue with Yami's computer. He smiled. "Is it weird? To have that kind of feelings for a plant?"
"I don't think so…" Rai interrupted. "As long as you're with them and take care over time, it forms a bond that can last a lifetime." Rito was caught off guard by his words of advice.
"Plants and animals are the same as family if you live with them," Momo explained. "But…I didn't think there was a person who would risk his life for something like that." She twiddled her hair. "If Onee-sama seems unable to do it, then I wonder…if I should try…"
"Hmm…" Rai rubbed his chin.
"Eh?" Rito sweated.
"Anyway…" Momo smiled with pride. "I'm sure we'll save Celine-san."
"You got that right," Rai approved. From the other side of the ship, Yami watched the three discuss among themselves.
Family… she mumbled…Uhn…
Sainan City
Kurumu tried to water the drooling plant. Things didn't seem to be going well. She kept her head close to the ground.
"It's not working," Kurumu specified.
"What should we do?" Mikan asked.
Ding-Dong!
The doorbell rang.
"I'll get it." Kurumu entered the house and unlocked the front door.
"Hello!" a voice cheered.
"Uhn…?" To her surprise, it was Haruna with some classmates from school. "Hey, what's up?"
"Lala-san told us her new house was almost done and asked us to come over…" Haruna mentioned.
"I'm here too!" Oshizu popped out from behind.
"Oshizu!" The two jumped with joy at their meeting. Kurumu noticed another girl standing a little far from the others. "Kotegawa?"
"Yep! We brought her after meeting in front of the station!"
"It may not have looked like it, but I was very busy," Yui declared. "But they went through the trouble of inviting me."
"Is Lala-san home?" Haruna asked.
"Well," Kurumu scratched her head. "To be honest…"
…
"EHHHHH!?" Oshizu cried. "CELINE-SAN IS SICK!?" She paused. "…Who's Celine?"
"It's the big flower in the garden, Oshizu-chan," Haruna clarified.
"Uh…" Yui sweat dropped. "He named it Celine…"
"Hey!" Kurumu disagreed. "Celine is just a part of this household as we are!"
Kurumu showed her uniform from Yokai Academy compared to the other for Sainan High School.
"What do you think, Celine?" Kurumu asked. "Yokai or Sainan?" The plant contemplated the similar pattern.
"…Geeh!" She pointed to the Yokai uniform.
"I knew it! Thanks, Celine!" Kurumu waved her off and rushed to change for class.
…
Rito watered the plants in the late afternoon. Jolt was happy to be playing with Celine while Mikan prepared for dinner.
"Pi-ka!" Jolt settled on one of Celine's lower vines swinging back and forth. She seemed enjoyed having Jolt to keep her company.
"Hey!" Rito advised. "Be careful!"
…
Rai stared at the starry sky on the roof. Celine watched with him the bright and shimmering lights glittering in the heavens.
"This is a better view than where I lived, let me tell ya," he mentioned. "Back in my day, we couldn't devise interstellar communication with just a flip phone..."
"Geeh," Celine nodded.
"Oh no!" Lala cried. "I forgot I invited Haruna over to the house…!"
"Oh well," Nana shrugged at it. "It can't be helped in this situation. Mikan and Kurumu will explain the situation to her."
"Princess," Yami walked to her.
"Yes, Yami-chan?" Lala answered.
"The Planet Mistletoe has come into view." The group huddled over by the window. They witnessed the large globe covered in nothing but green, turquoise, and aqua areas all being shrouded in a white swirl of clouds.
"This is…" Rito spoke.
"Planet Mistletoe…?" Rai finished.
"Master!" The computer appeared on screen.
"What's wrong, Lunatique?" Yami asked.
"I'm worried about the effects it will have on the ship's hull. We will change orbit and enter from another location!"
"…Understood." The ship made a roundabout to the other side of the planet where the clouds were less present. Once the ship was close enough, the underside opened a circular gate. With the tractor beam, the ship lowered the group onto the land below. Everyone gazed upon the monstrous, jungle landscape. Tall trees were the size of buildings and roots jumbled and extending across the ground. The hazy fog blocked the view beyond their sight.
"Lunatique," Yami requested. "You'll stay high in the sky on alert."
"Understood, Master!" The A.I. answered from Yami's internal radio. The group perceived the area. Nana put her arms behind her head.
"So, this is an S-rank dangerous planet," she said casually.
"Wow, it's full of huge trees," Rito summed up.
"Chu…" Jolt jumped onto Rai's back.
"It kind of gives you the creeps…like in those desolate forests you see in the movies," Rai noted. He looked around. The noise of dripping water and zipping bugs came out of the empty wilderness. "We should stay together just to be safe." Momo was the one worried the most.
That's strange…Momo thought. I can't hear the voice of the trees…
BzZzZzZtTtT…
Lala's Deviluke uniform began phasing out. Thankfully, Peke replenished it in a flash.
"What's wrong, Peke?" Lala asked.
"For so…some reason, my body is tingling," Peke glitched. "This fog…at any rate, it seems to contain electromagnetic waves that effect machines. If it doesn't get any worse than this…"
"Hey Momo," Rai asked. "Where do you think that Luckberry is?"
Bzzzt!
Electricity sparked from underneath Rai's shirt.
"I don't know," Momo replied. "I've never Bzzzt kenkyū no rogu ni sorera Bzzzt than Bzzzt o mitekimashita. Karera wa hijō Bzzzt species." Rai shook his head.
"Say what?" He asked.
"Anyway, I'll ask the plants around here about it." Momo paused and listened intently to the plants.
"HI HI HI HI" A dark voice sent chills down Momo's spine. The plants' declarations were cold and eerie with malevolence behind their words.
"Food…" "*Giggle*" "Food is here…"
"Welcome…" "Hello there…"
The plants' voice…Momo shivered. What…evil intentions…!
"What's wrong, Momo?" Nana asked.
Ga-boo…
A large, round flower bloomed next to Lala.
"Eh?" Lala turned to the plant.
Pooooosh!
The large bud spat out a cloud of yellow dust. "Waaa!"
"Lala-sama!" Peke cried. Lala started coughing out the cloud.
"Pollen!?" Rito realized. A large vine stretched out from below the tree roots. Jolt caught a glimpse of it snaking around Rito's leg.
"Pika!" The vine launched Rito straight into the air.
"WAAAA!" Rito yelled. The vine held him over the edge of an abyss.
"Rito-san!" Momo cried.
"Jolt!" Rai ordered. "Thunderbolt, now!"
"Pika…CHUUUUUUUU!" Nothing happened. "Pika!?" The vine released its grip on Rito. However, this dropped him over the edge.
"Not this time!" Rai shouted. He reached for Rito, but he would have to jump over the cliff himself. "Fuck it!" Rai grabbed his arm. With a swift tug, he pulled around and tossed Rito back toward the others. "Grab him!" Momo grasped Rito by the arm and drew him in.
"He's falling!" Nana shouted.
"Raimundo!" Lala yelled. She shot straight from the tree and flew at Rai. She quickly latched to his back and tugged him upward.
My power…Lala hesitated. Isn't working…!?
"Lala!" Rai recommended. "You might want to pull up!"
"Big Sis!" Nana shouted.
"Pikachu!" Jolt cried.
"The pollen earlier…!" Momo assumed.
"Lala!" Rito shouted. Yami readied her wings for takeoff.
"Trans," she whispered.
Whish!
Her wings vanished.
"Waa!" Rito noticed the dense clouds. "The fog's getting thicker!"
Poof!
Peke vanished from Lala and took her robot form.
"Peke!" Lala shouted to her.
"It's no good," Peke spoke. "My functions…are…shu…tting…" The two were falling into the bottomless chasm within the jungle.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAA!" Lala screamed.
"SHIT!" Rai yelled.
"BIG SIS!" Nana cried. The two disappeared from view.
The dense forest echoed dripping water from the dew of a shoot. The buzzing reverberated off the trees back around the two sleeping on a large leaf. Rai could feel his consciousness returning. He slowly awoke to the sensation of something resting on his arm. When he opened his eyes, Lala was napping next to him.
"…Great," Rai shook his head. He tugged her by the shoulder. "Lala, wake up." Rai turned as Lala stirred from her slumber.
"Mmmm…" Lala rubbed her eyes. She looked at herself and noticed her clothes gone. "Ah!" She turned to her robot switched on shut down. "Peke!" She picked her up and held her. "Kare no kinō ga teishi shite iru..."
"Uh…Can you repeat that?" Rai couldn't understand her lyrics.
"Huh?" Lala turned to Rai. His expression didn't change. Lala observed Rai over and checked his necklace. The device was now gray and white. There was no red lighting or sound of springs turning. She pointed to it.
"My translator…? Oh! I get it!" Rai slapped his forehead. "The translator must be affected from the fog." He turned to Peke. "And it looks like your mini-com took it pretty rough." Lala reached for Peke's shirt and drew out her D-dial. She flipped the phone open and examined the screen. It remained blank.
"Watashitachiha, daiyara o shiyō suru koto wa dekimasen…" She repeated typing the keys. "Watashitachiha, Momo nado ni renraku suru koto wa dekimasen." Rai noticed Lala starting to worry. He stripped his shirt off and gave it to her.
"…Here," Rai offered. "It's a little big, but you gotta wear something."
"Raimundo?"
"We're gonna have to work together to get out of this, okay?" Lala smiled.
"…Arigatō." Rai tapped his foot on the large leaf.
"Good thing we landed on this." He pointed to the sky and gestured swirling until he pointed at the leaf. Lala looked at the entrance where they fell from. She pointed to a higher point above.
"Watashitachiha, nobotte hokanohito to au hitsuyō ga arimasu!" Rai saw his scythe planted into the dirt not too far away.
"Nowhere to go but up!" Rai rushed for his scythe and pulled it from the ground. "I'll Soul Break and get us back to the top."
"Eh?" Lala tilted her head. Rai raised his scythe upwards. He forced it downward.
"Soul Breaker!" …Nothing. "You can't be serious..." Lala still wasn't sure what was going on. "Well, looks like we're going to climb back." Rai marched forward. Lala tried to move her legs.
Thump!
Lala sat on the ground.
"Uhn?" Rai turned around.
"Everything alright, Lala?" Lala shook her head and smiled.
"I~e...Un...Nanrakano riyū de, watashi no tsuyo-sa no gōn..."
"Gone…? Uh oh. Did the fog start getting to you?" Lala didn't respond. "Let's see…" He saw the fog up ahead dense and thick. He pointed to it so Lala could make out what he said.
"Ā! Īe, watashi wa sō wa omowanai." She thought for a moment. "Sore wa kafundatta kamo shirenai."
A large, round flower bloomed next to Lala.
"Eh?" Lala turned to the plant.
Whooooosh!
The large bud spat out a cloud of yellow dust. "Waaa!"
"Lala-sama!" Peke cried. Lala started coughing out the cloud.
"Ā! Shikashi, watashi wa daijōbu yo!" Lala stood back up. "Sore wa watashi ga idō suru koto wa dekimasen yōde wanai! Soredewa, itte miyou!" Rai took Peke from Lala and placed the little machine in his tool belt. It was now slinging inside the pouch.
"I'll hold on to Peke. Try not to push yourself, alright?" Rai nodded. He held out his hand.
The dense forest provided a clustered scenery of vines and large lumber.
"Heey Big Sis!" Nana shouted behind a tree.
"Raimundo-san!" Momo called out.
"Lala!" Rito shouted into the fog.
"Pi Pi Pi!" Jolt searched over the large roots. From above, Nana hanged upside down from a large tree branch.
"It's no good!" Nana presumed. "She's not here!"
"I know," Momo added. "I wonder if they fell all the way to the bottom…"
"Pikachu…" Jolt frowned.
"Jolt!" Rai ordered. "Thunderbolt, now!"
"Pika…CHUUUUUUUU!" Nothing happened. "Pika!?"
Nana petted Jolt on his head.
"Don't worry," she assured. "We'll find them!" Jolt nodded. His courage returned and went back to searching.
"I'm worried though," Momo pondered.
"About Lala?" Rito asked. "Rai should be fine if he's with her."
"It's about the state that she's in at the moment."
"Momo," Nana flipped back around and landed on the ground. "What were you saying about the pollen?"
"The pollen that Onee-sama got covered in earlier was probably that of the Pawada Flower…"
"What does it do?" Rito asked.
"I have heard that it contains a chemical that, if you breathe in, will temporarily consume all of your physical strength…" Nana, Rito, and Jolt were in a panic.
"Then," Nana deduced. "Right now, Big Sis's strength is…"
"Probably less than an Earthling…" Yami finished.
"That's not good!" Rito stated. "We have to hurry and find them!" Yami turned around.
"It doesn't seem to be that easy." From out of the ground popped out monstrous bushes and large berries with snarling teeth and forked tongues. They crawled on their roots as they approached the group. The plants echoed their horrific cravings.
"Food!"
"Tender and yummy looking food!"
"What's with them!?" Rito noticed the killer shrubberies.
"Are they trying to eat us?" Momo reacted.
"Pi…ka…" Jolt held his throat tight. Yami wasn't going to wait for an answer. She drew out her right hand and summoned a sharp blade.
"Trans!" She called out.
Whish!
Yami's hand returned to normal. "!"
"What's wrong, Yami-san!?" Momo asked.
"My trans was cancelled…"
"Pika…?" Jolt noticed a large cabbage creeping behind Yami.
"It seems like the fog…is also affecting the Nano-machines inside me."
"Nano-machines?" Nana considered. The large cabbage jumped at Yami.
"Look Out!" Momo warned.
"Blaaaargghhh!" Jolt jumped from tree to tree at a fast pace.
"Pika!"
SLAM!
Jolt slammed his tail against the shrub; sending it into the sky. Jolt landed next to Yami ready for battle.
"…I see." Yami leapt at the shrub. "If I can't use my trans, then…" She flipped forward. "I'll just use basic martial arts."
*Kick!*
Yami launched the plant into a tree. It slid down to the base. A living Venus Flytrap lunged at Nana.
"Shit!" Nana declared.
Pow!
She elbowed the weed away. Rito noticed the swarms appearing from the fog.
"They're coming in groups!" He shouted.
"Stop it, you guys!" Momo ordered the plants. "We don't have time to be fighting you!" Three large vines went rushing in.
"Momo!" Rito cried. He shoved Momo aside and took the hit. The vines lifted him in the air and held him upside down. The extensions pulled in opposite directions.
"Rito-san!"
"Their moves are hard to read…" Yami analyzed the situation. "The fog's electromagnetic waves are dulling my senses…these plants are utilizing that and attacking me from my blind spots…"
Whappah!
A large vine wrapped itself around Nana's arm. The next cluster enveloped Nana's remaining appendages in lock. Three dandelions stretched about Nana's waist preparing for her everlasting torture.
"Hahahahahaha!" Nana couldn't stop laughing from the ticklish buds. "Kyahahahah…St…Stop it!"
"Nana!" Momo quickly turned around. "Uhn!? Yami-san!?" A large pod opened its mouth wide and revealed four slimy tongues. They shot out and bound themselves around Yami's arms and legs.
"It's a slimy…" Yami perceived the tentacle lacing itself around her thigh and up her skirt.
*Slip*
Yami began spacing out. Jolt retaliated from the onslaught of ravenous herbs.
"Pika!"
"Yami-san!" Momo shouted. "What's wrong!? Someone like you should be able to…" Yami felt uneasy.
"I hate…slimy rubbing things." Three more plants jumped at Momo.
"Kyaa!"
"Pi-ka!" Jolt tackled the first enemy. As the next one approached, He jumped on its head and bit off some leaves from the top. With his tail, Jolt whacked the plant into the other and pushed the enemy away. "Pika…Pika…" Jolt couldn't keep up much longer.
"Gyahahaha! I've got the blonde girl!"
"That girl is mine!
"Thief, give her to me!"
"At least give me the boy with the fresh meat~!"
"Pika…" Jolt readied for the next wave. A gust of breeze rose around him. "Pi?"
"No way!"
"Then those two meats are mine!"
"…Hey Garbage…" Momo spoke to the demon plants. Jolt looked at the girl with her new cold, insidious stare. "It seems like you guys need some training…"
"Pika…" Jolt shivered.
Rai continued escorting Lala through the wild jungle.
"Easy does it," Rai guided. Lala stepped forward.
*Slip*
"Waa!" Lala tripped on a root.
"Ten cuidado!"
"Mōshiwakearimasen, ē…" Lala laughed as she scratched her head. Rai examined the area ahead. He pointed up at the trees with shoots large enough to grab.
"Hmm, we might be able to climb from here." Rai pulled out his hammer. He latched the back end until it hooked the vines growing across the tree trunk. He tugged on the bark until it split apart. The bark now served as a stepping slope to the higher level. "You up for it?"
"Daijōbu!" The two moved onward. A dark being wiggled its way behind the unsuspecting party.
Jolt and Momo watched as the crowd of greens started taking over. Yami remained in her paralyzed state of slime, Rito was being pulled apart, while Nana…
"KYAHAHAHAHAHA!" she laughed. "ST-STOP!" One of the bushy meat-eaters approached Momo and Jolt.
"Hehehehe, Let's have some fun together!"
"Pi…" Jolt glared at the opponent.
*Snatch!*
Momo seized one of the plant's vines and chucked him overhead behind the two.
"…Pika…?"
CRUSH!
Momo plastered her shoe on top of him.
"L…Let me go! W-What are you doing!?"
Momo's reaction remained unchanged.
"Be quiet," Momo ordered.
Stab!
Momo jabbed a syringe into the plants body. In a matter of seconds, the plant laid down without any noise…his body motionless.
"Wh-What was that!?"
"What did you do to him?"
"This is a poison plant produce called Insulin Alpha…!" Momo held the needle for all the enemies to see. Her lips turned to a wretched grin with her teeth grinding in anticipation. "Before long, this child's body will start to decay from the roots."
"What did you say!?"
"So…who's next…?" The sinister stare caught everyone in a frozen terror. "If you come now, Then I'lL kInDlY lEt YoU dIe…AnD gO tO hEaVeN…3." Death reflected in her eyes.
"Gigi…"
They all looked at one another. They dropped their hostages.
"Ah! A Demon!" "She has scary eyes!" "RUN!"
The plants ran away. The group had all recovered from their restraints.
"Haaa…" Nana breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought I was a goner." Jolt fanned a large leaf on Yami.
"I'm in debt to you, Momo Velia Deviluke," Yami bowed.
"Just call me Momo," she suggested.
"Momo," Rito said surprised. "I didn't think you had such a drug."
"…I don't." Momo smiled. "It was only a bluff."
"Pi?" Jolt looked at the syringe. He cocked a strange look.
"This is nutrients used on plants that produces a sleeping effect. I coerced them a little because there was so many of them."
"Hee?" Nana sweat dropped.
"Haa…" Momo sighed with affection. "Nevertheless…those kids…becoming scared and running away were so cute~"
"Yep, she's scary."
"Pika…" Jolt nodded.
The surviving duo made their way deeper into the forest.
"How are you holding up?" Rai asked.
"Haa…Haa…" Lala let out large bursts of breaths trying to keep up with Rai. "Un...Shikashi, sore wa anata ga mattaku chikara ga nai toki ni noboru no wa muzukashī." Lala stepped forward. She immediately collapsed on the ground.
"Whoa!" Rai stopped and waited on her. "Slow down."
"Haa…Watashi wa…Watashi wa dekimasen…" Rai looked at her face. Lala had no strength left. Her breathing increased and her face was getting red. He decided to help.
"Up you go!"
"Waa!" Rai lifted Lala and carried her in his arms.
"Alright, let's keep moving." Rai moved forward. He pressed atop the branches and over the shrubbery.
"Hehehe," Lala giggled. "Watashi wa ōjo no yō hakoba bakari iru yōna, soreha kanjite iru!"
"I hope that was a complement." Rai smirked. Lala looked at the necklace around Rai's neck. She took the device and examined it thoroughly. She reached over and pulled Rai's screwdriver from his belt. She tweaked the back side of the pendant and adjusted the frequency. She placed the device next to Rai's ear.
"Do...es...th...at help?" Lala asked with a static voice just barely understandable.
"Kinda." Rai nodded. Lala managed to tune the translator to send in sound waves understandable to Rai. Due to the fog, Rai couldn't translate back.
"...Sorry, I guess I'm a burden on you." Lala frowned. Rai shook his head.
"Hmm." Rai tried using simple words. "Rito, uh...Berry, Celine." He smiled. "Thank you."
"...For some reason...this reminds me of something from my past." Rai looked intrigued. "When I was little, I sneaked away from the castle for the first time and went into the forest. And then...I became lost. It slowly got darker...and I became really scared. At that time, I didn't have Peke." Rai stopped in his tracks.
"What happened next?"
"Papa found me, and carried me back to his castle on his back!"
"Papa…? Your dad?"
"Yep, about ten years ago. During the Galaxy's Unification Wars, he used up so much of his power and ended up small." Rai seemed quizzical. He stood Lala upward and raised his right hand in front of his chest. "A little more." He lowered to his waist. Lala shook her head. He lowered to just above his knee caps. "Yep!"
The little princess was wandering in a small empty area with large trees. The dark night slumbered over as she saw eerie faces mocking her in the forest.
"*Sob* *sob*," the young princess cried with streams of tears running down her eyes. From the shadows came a taller figure with a large cape that ruffled around his collar. His black hair was unkempt and spikes blocking his eyes. His one fang appeared out from his upper lip.
"What…?" The man asked. "You don't like it here?" The man came closer. "What a waste of my time…you shrew woman!" The little girl cleaned her face. She blinked at the man she didn't expect to meet.
"…Papa…" The man lifted the girl and carried her home on his back.
"It's almost the same as that time." Lala smiled. Rai patted her head. He gave a thumb up and assured Lala he'll get her back with the others and find the plant they need. It didn't take long to reach a higher ledge past the entangled roots. Crossing over would place them back at the same level as when they started.
"Ready?" Lala nodded. She removed the device by his ear. Rai bent is upper body forward. He stared at the ground and pointed to his back.
"Watashi ga rikai shite." Lala climbed aboard Rai and readied for the reach. "Hooooootoooondoooo…"
Buzz…
A small insect zipped around the trees. The worst place it could have landed was on top of Rai's nose.
"Fooo!" Rai tried blowing the bug away. "Foooo!" The bug zipped around. "Shoo! Get out of-!"
*Gulp!*
Rai swallowed it. "Ack!" He toppled over.
"Kyaa!" Lala fell as well.
Boom!
Lala rested on top of Rai.
Buzz…
The small bug exited Rai's nostril.
"Thanks…" Rai approved of her antic.
"Hehe, sumimasen…" Lala apologized. "…!" Something caught Lala's attention. A hazy figure came running from a distance. Rai raised his head.
"Huh?" A large, turnip monster appeared.
Sainan City
"GIIIIIIIII!" Celine screamed in pain. "GIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!"
"What's with Celine!?" Kurumu cried.
"I'm not sure!" Mikan sweated. "Celine, why are you acting violently all of a sudden…?" The flower grazed its teeth back and forth. The color of its buds grew purple each passing second.
Wuppah! Whappah!
Celine thrashed its vines around the girls. Yui and Oshizu ducked to the ground. Pots and dirt flew around the yard as the vines attacked.
"Kyaaa!" Yui cried.
"She's gone mad!" Oshizu wailed. The extensions reached for Haruna.
Whack! Whack!
Kurumu deflected each strike with her tail and legs.
"You need to cool it!" Kurumu ordered.
"GIII!" Celine growled. Haruna suddenly noticed light shining off the flower.
"Ce-Celine!?" Haruna spoke. "She…She's glowing."
Planet Mistletoe
"GIIIIIIIII!" The onion beast opened its gapping mouth and revealed its razor teeth. Its under roots helped keep it running. Rai readied for the impact of the plant.
"Watch out!" Rai yelled.
Whoosh!
The onion plant ran past the two. "…Uh…" The onion lowered its speed almost to a crawl. Its body eventually deflated and passed out in front of Rai and Lala. "…Didn't see that coming."
"Sore ga jakutai-ka sa rete imasu ka?" Lala asked. Rai examined the dry eyes and the crusty lips.
"Oh boy, this one's in bad shape." Rai checked its other features. "And the X on the eyes; he might not last long." Rai picked the onion and lifted him like a large package in his arms. Lala watched as Rai carried the plant. He turned to her. "…You coming?"
"Wareware wa kare o issho ni totte iru? Kare wa kiken'na ikimono kamo shirenai nimokakawarazu?"
"Look, he might try to kill me, but I'd rather help him out than regret it later. Besides, Rito would probably want the same thing."
"Rito?" Rai marched ahead.
"I think we passed a lake awhile back." Lala smiled at his chivalry.
"Rito wa kare o tasukeru!" She hurried after him.
The two finally reached the large lake at the bottom of an old oak tree. On the right side were giant yellow mushrooms with red dots on the cap. Rai slowly lowered the onion into the water.
"Well, that's it." The roots dug inside the water and extended into the wet soil. The small leaves on its head twitched and grew until it became a large bush. The plant was now refreshed and lively again. "Whoa, it bushed out!"
"Kare wa mashida yōda!" Lala cheered.
"I say our work here is done." Rai stood up and walked with Lala. "Peace out."
"Baibai!"
"Giii…" The plant watched the two walk off.
*Shine!*
It noticed the red light glimmering off Rai's scythe.
*Bubble-Bubble!*
The water ruffled below the surface. Rai turned to the creature exiting the lake.
The water…? He peeked at his cutter. The scythe!? From out of the lake came a large, green monster draped in nothing but seaweed and brown mud. Its one eye glowed a darkened red behind the bundled algae and limped with its large hump on the right side of its body. "Not another one..." The creature raised its large vine. "Heads up!" Rai shoved Lala to the side.
"Kyaaa!" she screamed. Lala landed near the giant onion. The first extensions came crashing at him. Rai readied his weapon.
Slice! Slice!
The bushels chopped and fell to pieces.
"Time to trim the hedges." Rai moved on the enemy. He hopped over three more incoming arms.
Slice! Slice!
He tumbled forward and chopped off the next appendages. Another vine swerved from above. Rai leapt away in time, but his feet sunk deep into the muddy dirt "...Crap."
"GIIIIIIIII!" The plant shrieked. Its algae worked its way around Rai's body.
"This seems oddly familiar." The plant lifted Rai overhead. It opened its massive mouth filled with hundreds of sharp teeth that spiraled into a dark tunnel. "But the meat grinder is new."
"Rai!" Lala shouted. "Peke!" She went running for her friends. "Let them go!"
Whack!
"Kyaaa!" The large vine smacked Lala away.
"Lala, get out of here!" Rai ordered. Lala stood back up.
"If I had my power, I would..."
Tap-Tap
"Eh?" Lala looked at her shoulder. The onion creature pointed to the small tree on top of his head. "Wha...What is it?" The bush started to glisten. A small object grew before Lala's eyes. "This is...!"
"GRAAAAA!" The monster shoved Rai beside his mouth. He quickly opened his legs and pushed against the monster's lips trying to devour him.
"I'm not on the menu tonight!" Rai fought back.
*Kick!*
"Tyaaaa!" Lala launched a grand kick to the side of the swamp beast. The vines released their hold on Rai. He landed safely back on land.
"Now that's what I'm talking about!" Rai cheered. The beast turned its attention to the pink hair girl.
"GIIIIIIAAAAAAAAAA!" The creature howled. Letting loose a barrage of vines, it went to wrap Lala in a green cocoon.
Dash!
Lala reacted to one of the oncoming obstacles.
*Grab!*
Lala held on to the kelp.
"Yaaaaaaa!" Lala pulled the kelp back.
"!?" The bushel was surprised by the girl's strength.
From the higher trees approached the search team.
"Hey, over there!" Nana shouted.
"Pikachu!" Jolt pointed to Rai and Lala.
"Onee-sama!" Momo called out.
"Lala!" Rito shouted.
WHOOOSH!
Lala tossed the massive kelp creature into the sky. Rai watched as it disappeared into the distance. The rest of the crew rejoined.
"Princess…" Yami announced. Momo and the others trailed behind. Lala and Rai turned to the others.
"Hey," Rai waved to them. "About time you showed up!"
"Are you guys alright?" Momo asked.
"We're okay!" Lala assured.
"What was that thing?" Rito added.
"It might have been a habitant of this planet," Nana deduced.
"Pikapi!" Jolt was relieved to have his partner in one piece. He jumped on his shoulder.
"This is great!" Momo clapped her hands. "Raimundo-san and Onee-sama are okay…"
"Hehe..." Lala scratched her head. "But it seems Peke has stopped working though."
"But, why did Lala's power suddenly come back?" Rito wondered.
"That's right," Momo pondered herself. "It should have been three days for the Pawada Pollen to wear off."
"I ate the fruit the plant gave me…" Lala explained. She pulled the fruit from underneath Rai's shirt and showed the blue pear with bite marks. "Then, my body felt much better!"
"Tha—That's…!" Momo stuttered. She couldn't believe her eyes. "Luckberry!"
"Luckberry?" Rai listened in on their conversation. "You mean this thing is the tree we came here for?"
"Kii," the little union waved its vine. "Kiii!"
"Eh?" Momo listened. "He says we can have as many as we want since he owes us his life!" Momo plucked the small fruit from his top branches.
"Alright!" Rito smiled.
"We did it!" Nana hailed.
"Thank you, Mr. Luckberry!" Lala hugged the onion.
"Thank you!" Rito thanked.
"Kiii!" the plant responded.
"Pika!" Jolt lowered himself and pat the small bush.
"I guess there are ways for soft-hearted people to get through things…" Yami stated. Rai smiled.
I don't know what the hell they're saying. At least we got the fruit.
"Now," Nana pointed out. Jolt's ears twitched. "Let's hurry and get back to Earth! I'm worried about Celine!"
"Ohhhh!" Everyone remembered.
"Then let's—!" Momo stated.
SPLASH!
The massive, seaweed monster plummeted back into the large lake. The impact caused a splash that swept everyone in a raging tidal wave. When the water passed, everyone shook away the spill. Rito slowly regained his footing.
"What was that...?" he asked. When he turned to Lala, her shirt was now see through and massively oversized. The hole for the head had now stretched under her shoulders and partially covered her chest. "Waaaaaa!"
"Eh!?" Lala realized it. Nana caught Rito staring.
"Hey, you beast!" she ordered. "Quit peeking!" Rai shook his head and regained his footing.
"I should have known he'd be back," he suggested. The large seaweed creature returned and took his place in the center of the lake. His green outer layer was now dark and murky with gray kelp. His features grew bigger as he absorbed the water. The vines stretched farther and implanted into the depths below. They popped back out of the ground and surrounded the girls.
"It's back!?" Lala cried in confusion.
Wuppah! Wuppah!
The large vines coiled the girls in moist shells rendering them unmovable. Rai, Jolt, and Rito were the only ones far enough to avoid the snare.
"This creature isn't like the plants here," Yami noticed. She took note of Rai's scythe glowing with forceful red light. Rai regained the scythe in his right hand. He handed Rito Peke.
"I should have settled the score with him by now," Rai stood before the group. He readied himself for combat.
"Pika!" Jolt jumped next to Rai.
"What are you doing!?" Momo panicked. "It could be dangerous!"
"Momo Deviluke," Yami stopped her. "…Let him go."
"But!" Rai rushed around the group and swung away. Jolt went circling in the opposite direction.
Slice! Slice! Slice!
He chopped the kelp surrounding them. Some were growing beneath the dirt. Rai hurdled over the obstacles. Others were intertwining and aiming at the mouse. Jolt leapt and swerved around the oncoming arms as they drilled for him in different areas.
Slice!
Rai hacked away the arms; each dissolving into black smog. He went around and stopped at the water's edge. Jolt hopped on his shoulder. Rai pulled out his wire cutters.
"Here!" He tossed them at Rito. "Use them to get everyone out." Rai looked at the bulging creature. "I'm going for the source." More vines emanated out from the beast. All were now grouping and forming thickets of large green extensions. They locked on to the duo.
"Look out!" Rito shouted. Rai had his eyes focused to the large arms. He stared at the murky water.
"…That's it!" The vines went at him.
"Rai-san!" Momo cried.
KABOOM!
The vines dug deep into the ground. The beast's eye checked to see if he smashed his target. He missed.
"GIIIIIII!?"
"Keep trying, salad breath!" Rai called out. Everyone looked to Rai and Jolt running on the vines leading straight for the center of the lake.
"He's going for the enemy," Yami examined. With more vines sprouting, Rai and Jolt bounced back and forth elevating and descending as they followed the swampy, green road.
"I need one quick sweep and he's out," Rai aimed for the red eye. "Jolt! Cover me!"
"Pika!" Jolt went leaping off each vine quickly climbing toward the swamp beast. "Pikaaaaaaaa…Pika!"
SLAM!
Jolt rushed in and slammed into the beast head-first. The monster was thrown off balance and stumbled backward. Rai closed in for the kill.
"Now, let's—!"
Wuppah!
A large vine snapped onto Rai's leg. It pulled him around and stared at its captured prey. "Come on, show me what you got!" The monster snapped and tossed Rai at a thick tree trunk.
"He's gonna hit!" Nana screamed.
Is he? Yami stared intently. Rai extended his scythe and latched onto the tree. He dashed around the trunk while remaining latched onto the thick bark. The scythe left a deep trail as Rai dragged the cutter. He pushed off and went flying into a spinning summersault.
Slice-Slice-Slice!
As the vines reached for him, Rai hacked away the greens with his rotary technique. Once his speed decreased, he now hovered over the swamp beast.
"Jolt, go under!" Rai commanded.
"Pi?" Jolt looked at the water. "…Pika!" Jolt jumped off the vines and into the lake. He swam out from the kelp's reach until he was just below the underbelly. From the air, Rai grabbed a dangling branch just above the scenery.
"Let him have it!"
"Pika…CHUUUUUU!"
BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZTTTTTTTTTT!
The electric current flew from Jolt and vaporized the water until it was glowing yellow. The moss monster became electrocuted from the center all the way around to the end of his grown appendages. His body sizzled with burning plant tissue and roasted fellers. Rai released his hold on the branch and came falling to the battle below. He surfed on the now weakened vines back to the creature. He pulled his scythe over to finish the job.
"And he can have this!"
SLICE!
The blade slashed clean-through the body.
"GIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!" The creature screamed. It broke in half and dematerialized .
SPLASH!
Rai landed in the water.
"Rai!" Lala cried. Jolt and Rai popped their heads out of the murky lake. He spat out a stream from his mouth.
"I think he's gone now," Rai declared.
"Pika!" Jolt agreed.
Sainan City
The ship quickly came flying in from the sky toward the Yuuki residence. The ship's hull opened and executed the tractor beam at the front doorstep. With everyone lowering back down to Earth, they prepared to rush for Celine. Rito carried the Luckberry in his hands. Peke had recovered from the trip and returned Lala into her Deviluke attire. Rai's translator had been repaired on the flight home. Jolt hurried alongside Rito as Rai, Momo, Nana, and Yami followed behind. They all made their way to the back yard.
"Celine!" Rito called out. "We're back!" When they arrived, Mikan and Kurumu looked at them with grave expressions.
"Ri…Rito…" Mikan whispered.
"Rai," Kurumu stared at the ground. Her eyes were covered by her lowered hair. "…I tried everything…." Everyone turned to the now wretched plant. The stem was bent and twisted with a little stub with no petals remaining. The plant now withered and drooped towards the ground.
"Ce…Celine…" Rai whispered. Haruna stepped forward.
"When I noticed her starting to glow," she explained. "She suddenly became like this…"
"Awaaa!" Oshizu cried.
"Haruna-chan!" Lala said surprised. "Oshizu-chan!"
Plop!
Rito dropped the small fruit.
"No…" Rito frowned. He fell to his knees. "Are we…to late…?" Tears ran down his face.
"Yuuki-kun…" Yui said with sadness.
That's weird…Momo concurred. There's no way she should have dried up this fast; no matter how bad the Kare Kare disease is…Rai walked to Rito and placed his hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Rito…" Rai apologized.
This is…Momo stood frozen. It can't be…!?
"I know it looks bad, but it's…"
Crack!
A noise came from inside the pod.
Crack! Crack!
The outside started forming cracks. Everyone witnessed the pod split open.
Crash!
The front shell opened. The pieces revealed an opening within the stub. The whole crowd watched with eyes open wide and jaws dropping at the sight. A small child stood within the shell with a pink flower on her head and long green hair. Judging by her height, it looked to be a three-year old. It turned to everyone with those adorable, bubbly blue eyes. But, the one she looked at most was Rito.
"...Mama!" she cried with joy.
"…it's a girl…?" Rai finished.
One week later…
The front door opened to the Yuuki Household.
"I'm back!" Rai called out.
"Mauuu~!" Celine jumped when Rai entered the front door. From the doorway to the right came Kurumu and Mikan.
"Welcome home~!" Kurumu welcomed him.
"Welcome back, Rai-san," Mikan added.
"Yo!" Rai waved to them. Celine rushed to Rai and tugged on his leg.
"Mauuu~!" she squealed.
"Hey, Celine." Rai picked her up. "Have you been a good girl?"
"Hey!" Kurumu rushed in and took Celine from Rai. "You have to be more gentle with her!"
"What? I held her right!" Rito and Lala came in with Momo and Nana right behind.
"Geez," Nana huffed. "She's been clinging to Celine all week."
"She's acting more like a parent with a child," Lala smiled.
"Maybe a little too motherly," Rito sighed. Jolt walked into the room.
"Pika?" Celine immediately saw Jolt and jumped out of Kurumu's arms.
"Mauuu~!"
"Pika!" Jolt quickly dashed away. Celine went chasing after the mouse. Rai stood up and grabbed the tool belt dangling from the umbrella rack.
"So, we gonna finish this house or what?" Rai asked.
"Yeah!" Lala agreed. "Once we're done with my room, we can start on Nana's and Momo's." The twins both smiled from their welcome as the new guests at the Yuuki household.
"Here, Rito," Rai handed him a stack of cash.
"Eh?" Rito pondered. "What's this for?"
"We're gonna need to knock out a wall in your room for Jolt and Kurumu, so...just a little compensation." He pulled out his hammer and headed upstairs. "Don't worry; I've had some experience in remodeling."
"Hey—wait!" Rito went after him.
Zastin marched up the stairs to his Emperor's throne room. He kneeled before the mighty ruler of Deviluke along with his two bodyguards.
"…Your highness," Zastin greeted his overlord.
"Commander Zastin," Gid Lucione responded. "Have you discovered the cause of the incident?"
"I have not, my lord." Zastin revealed a small metallic orb from his pocket. He pressed the small button underneath.
PEW!
A blue, digital screen appeared before Gid's eyes with a green and luscious planet displayed on the monitor. "There was a report of strange activity appearing on Planet Mistletoe just recently." Gid became interested.
"…And what activity might that be?" Zastin clicked on the surveillance orb.
"This was taken just hours ago." The screen glitched and showed the planet once more. A dark, black shadow started engulfing the world. The lush green and turquoise atmosphere became a bitter dirt and groveled surface. The swirling fog and puffy clouds changed into cumulous and tarnished haze. Planet Mistletoe was soon swallowed and brattled to extinction. This caught the overlord's attention.
"...How big of a threat is this?"
"This might be a Crisis 98, sir."
"Crisis 98?" Maul whispered.
"We haven't had that since the Unification Wars!" Smutts noted.
"..." Gid remained silent. "…Have all my soldiers on standby." He looked sternly on Zastin. "Were there any survivors?"
"No sir," Zastin answered. "The planet is protected by a barrier. Nothing can get in...or out."
"No one can know of this. Rumors of a universal assault will cause a riot across the galaxy." He turned away from his commander. "You are not to tell anyone, especially Lala or my daughters."
"But, your highness..." Gid shot a glance at Zastin.
"That's an order!" Zastin could see how serious this situation was.
"...Understood."
12:36 a.m.
The Yuuki household remained in a slumber. Everyone was sleeping and resting in their warm beds. Rito fast asleep with Momo sliding in to join him. Nana and Kurumu each shared a single bed. Kurumu pushed Nana to the side for more room. Nana shoved back, but only growled at the bouncy recoil. Mikan snuggled peacefully while Celine enjoyed her comfy bed close by. Lala, Jolt, and Peke all curled on the same bed unaware of anything but their blissful dreams. The doors to Lala's bedroom opened. The dark figure tiptoed quietly over to the bed. He silently looked over the three sleeping peacefully. He examined the mouse about to fall over the edge. He carefully lifted him and scooted him back toward the middle. Lala's sheets were unraveled near her waist. He lifted the sheets and tucked it over her shoulder. Finally, Peke remained in a curled position next to the girl's head. The figure picked the robot by the head and carried him out of the room.
"Hmm…?" Peke shifted around. His eyes slowly opened. The first thing he noticed was the feeling of hovering and the grasp on her cranium. "W-What's happening?!" It felt her body dropped on a small cushion atop the couch. "Who's out there?"
Click!
A bright light shined above. Peke covered her eyes from the sudden burst.
"Rise and shine," Rai spoke.
"Raimundo-dono? What…What is the meaning of this!?" Rai folded his arms, keeping the light on Peke.
"Buddy...er, Missy, you and me are going to need to have a little talk." He turned over to the window. "Does the Unification Wars ring a bell?" Peke gulped.
"W-What do you mean?"
"What about the Celestial Reapers?"
"How do you…"
"I'm not sure if you remember, but I kind of got 'stuck' in your body a while back."
"You did!?" Rai scratched his head.
"Well, yeah." He sat on top of the coffee table. "Peke, I found some interesting things in your data storage. Your memories, functions," Rai stared straight at her. "…you're Encyclopedia of Intergalactic Antiquity." Peke remained quiet. "…If there's something you're not telling me…I need to know now."
"I'm not…sure how to explain it." Peke twiddled her index fingers. Rai sighed.
"…Alright." Rai stood up. "Looks like I'll have to ask Lala when she wakes up."
"You are!?" Peke became nervous.
"She might know something when she was a kid." Rai acted as though he was thinking up a plan. "Of course, there's also her dad who I recall was part of it."
"No! No! No!" Peke flailed her arms. "You mustn't!"
"I won't if you just answer my questions!" Rai sat hard on the couch next to her. "You know it's my job, don't you?"
"…Yes." Peke huffed. "Very well, I'll tell you everything I know."
-To Be Continued-
Momo: Mr. Writer.
What's up?
Momo: I wanted to ask if...um...
Nana: Quite playing innocent! When are you going to start getting to the good parts? Where's the action, excitement, the live performance?
...I'm a writer, not a miracle worker. Although, I do know a guy who's doing an ad for tuna sandwiches if you're interested.
Momo: Uh...never mind. All right's reserved and material used belong to their respective owner's. Be sure to leave a comment and review on our progress~!
Next Time on To Love Ru: There's no Business Like Show Business!
Nana: I'm not doing an ad for some fish!
Well, there's this other guy who does great in auto repair...
Momo: Maybe Rito might know someone in the business~.