OH DEAR, THANK YOU SO MUCH 'Royal Lovely Pink Rose' I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY

Op: 'Halloween Night' by Aya Ikeda

Episode 15: AAH! Rescuing Zeta and Wisp!

''My, my, We have guests. How delightful''

Blood wondered how such a soft voice could sound so booming, it hurt her ears but before she could put her hands over her ears she noticed she couldn't move her arms at all.

Instantly becoming nervous, Blood eyes shot open and could almost feel herself shrinking when she saw how huge the room was.

Apparently it was a throne-room, evident by the colorful throne which was, not surprisingly, decorated with roses, vines and thorns, sitting on said throne was a single woman, dressed in a dark red kimono, her curly red hair somehow looked like vines in itself.

Only now Blood dared to look down on what was holding her, surprisingly it weren't vines but shining golden chains coming from the ceiling held her arms and legs together like some sort of marionette.

She saw Wolf and Witch hanging next to her in similar positions, with the latter looking very uncomfortable, the chain was holding the hand with the Witch Staff behind her back, twisting her arm in a frighteningly unnatural angle.

''Welcome Pretty Cure. To my world'' Onibara said, standing up from her throne and slowly approaching the three, helpless girls.

''Onibara, I persume?'' Blood spoke, trying to sound calm but she wasn't at all, her heart was pounding, she was sweating as she bit her lip but immediately regretted it due her sharp teeth.

Onibara simply nodded while her red-lips curved into a smile, coming closer to Cure Blood started biting her lip again, causing some blood to appear on her lips.

''Now, Little Vampire Cure, where is the Treat Key?'' She asked with a quite sweet voice with an incredibly demanding undertone, she stared straight into Blood's eyes, Onibara's red eyes felt so piercing Blood couldn't utter any word.

Her face looked somewhat familiar.
But they had never seen Onibara before this, right?

''We don't have it'' Witch suddenly rasped, still looking uncomfortable but managed to give a wry grin towards Blood.

Where were Orlok, Jacky and Larry actually?

Were they still hidden under Witch's hat?
Hopefully they were.

''Well then, Witchy, where is it?'' Another voice asked, somewhat painfully Blood turned around and noticed a slender man standing behind them, he was holding the chains which restricted them in his pale, ring-filled hands.

The man was dressed in a simple black suit, with equally, short black hair, he was wearing quite some jewelries such as rings and necklaces, all just as gold as the chains holding them.

Blood looked upwards only the ceiling was so high it was complete darkness, yet somehow the man behind them was holding them, his eyes were close and a wide smile was plastered on his face.

''It's destroyed...somewhere in that Magiville-city-town-thing...'' Witch closed her eyes and stared down, Blood wasn't even sure If she was lying.
She really needed to join the drama club when they get back.
If they get back.

No.
Magical Girls would always defeat the Bad guys!
Good always triumphs over evil!
At least that's what Miku would've said.
Pretty Stupid actually.
As if it was so easy.

''Oh...'' Onibara looked quite skeptical, she exchanged some glances with the man

''Karasu'' She called and made one quick movement with her hand towards Wolf, who flinched.

The man, Karasu, softly giggled in delight, then from above some more chains appeared, wrapping around Wolf's neck, starting to suffocate the Cure, who panicked and started to struggle violently, trying to somehow get out of the chains.

''Now, It would be such a shame If your little friend here dies a suffering, slow d-''

''STOP'' Blood cried, like Wolf, she was starting to panic and tried to use her teeth to bite the chains, which didn't work.

''If you want me to stop, then...Where is the key?'' Onibara repeated, smile growing by the minute.

''WE DON'T KNOW, NOW LET HER GO! STOP IT YOU...YOU...!'' Witch cursed who desperately commanded her Staff to do something, she couldn't stand this.
She didn't want Wakaba to suffer!
She didn't want anyone to suffer!

Total panic broke out, Wolf started to become pale while struggling even more violently making some weak noises while both Blood and Witch started to scream that they didn't have the key and Onibara just calm repeated the same words over and over again.

''Give me the key''

''We don't have it!''

''The key''

''Let Wolf go!''

''The key''

''We're not lying, it's not here!''

''The key, girls''

But then it was enough.

''ONIHAG!''

Suddenly Larry revealed himself from under Witch's hat and jumped on Onibara's face, immediately starting to scratch her delicate face aggressively, quite impressive for someone his size.

Confirming Blood's relief about Orlok, Jacky and Larry hiding in Witch's hat, Orlok and Jacky followed, Orlok threw Jacky in Karasu's face, startling him and causing him to let go of the chains.
With a soft thud all the three Cures landed on the ground, Wolf started breathing heavily while holding her chest and neck, Witch immediately rushed to her side and helped her up.

Cure Blood quickly caught Jacky, who Karasu had thrown back in Orlok's direction, Orlok hid behind Blood and showed her Treat Key in his little paws, he sat down on Blood's shoulder with Jacky.

Karasu, still with eyes closed, dashed towards Blood trying to hit her with his fist but was met with a small wolf in his face, thrown by Onibara.

''Larry! Orlok! And little Jacky too! Long time no see, are you here to see your buddies?'' Karasu spoke mockingly, holding Larry by his tail.

Onibara calmly sat down on the throne, Witch pointed her staff towards the demon but nothing happening.

''How frightening'' The demon mocked and still sat on the throne. Her throne.

''Witch! Remember when Wolf was turned into an Okinakuchi?'' Blood rushed to aid her friend while pressed her hand on the Staff.

''Friendship conquers all, right?'' Blood followed grinning and winking.

''...We'll h-help you'' Wolf said, suddenly understanding Blood and also held on the staff.

''Hehe, alright!''

''WITCH CU-''

But before the three could finish yelling the attack the Staff already glowed and in the blink of an eye everything around them turned grey and stopped. It just stopped.
Except themselves.

''...What?'' Witch uttered confused, slowly Blood and Wolf let go of the Staff and looked around.

''Did...you just stopped time?'' Wolf asked, still looking somewhat pale.

''We stopped time!'' Witch cheered and kissed her Staff, regretting how she though it was useless.
It was a great weapon.

''That's super!'' Jacky smiled and hopped from Blood's shoulder to her partner's.

''But Larry...'' Orlok pointed at Karasu still holding Larry by his tail, both were frozen in time.

Impulsively Wolf grabbed the small wolf and took it from the man's hands, when Wolf pressed her partner against her chest he slowly started moving.

'' GRRGRGaAA...eh..'' Larry was just as confused as they had just been moments ago.

The group started running to a nearby door which was on the left side of the room, again entering a long hall with paintings.

Since they didn't know how long the spell would work, the Cures ran as fast as they could, the fairies guiding them through the castle, they quickly hurried through the halls and more halls and some stairs, followed by even more halls and finally, the dungeon.

Luckily time was still frozen since arriving at the dungeon since there were quite a few guards standing around in the dungeon, which was, again, just a hall but with many glass coffins, most were empty...or broken.
But the last two at the end of the dungeon weren't.

''Zeta! Wisp!'' Orlok cried when he saw the coffins, pressing himself against the glass.

Witch used her staff to break the class coffin, in the first was some small...creature she had never seen before, it looked somewhat humanoid in appearance yet it... didn't. It had such a big, round head with its uptight pointed ears and long arms but Witch did notice a familiar necklace lying next to the creature, a Hollow Changer, a green one.

Cautiously she picked the little critter up, like Larry, it immediately regained its colors, its whole body was some strange, greenish color.
And then it opened its eyes, big, bug-like eyes stared into her soul.

What a creepy thing.

''Who?'' It spoke with a surprisingly normal voice.

''Zeta! Zeta!'' Jacky started crying and leaned against the little critter, which looked around confused.

''What's going on...? Why are humans here?'' Zeta asked warily and pressed his long arms around his body while he looked around uncomfortably, he hopped out of Witch's hand and landed on the ground, while he was small, he was probably a head-taller than Orlok.

Witch broke the next coffin, again a Hollow Changer was inside, a blue one this time.
In the coffin was some kind of orb, slowly touching it, it sprung to live and regained it's blue colors and, to surprise and horror of Witch, a face with pale, staring eyes.

''Oh my, we're free? Oh, thank you, sweet witch'' The orb giggled in a sweet voice while it started to fly around the group and pressed it body against Witch's cheek, the orb felt quite cold against her skin.

''Oh! Orlok!'' The orb pressed its body against the bat, who seemed genuinely happy.

''Is the King...'' Orlok began, looking at his two friends, hoping they would know something.
But they both kept quiet.

''Sorry, Orlok, we don't know...'' Zeta looked down, Wisp landed on the ground next to Zeta, looking sad.

Wolf picked up the two Hollow Changers, studying it, she turned to Blood, who was standing a few feet away looking at the still-frozen-in-time guards.

Blood was quite worried, any moment time would start going again, those guards would see them and that definitely wouldn't be good.

''Let's go back, don't we have to find two new Cures?'' She said quite loudly and became impatient, she was really growing nervous now.

She didn't have to say that twice, because Witch removed her hat, inviting the fairies to hide once again under it.

''Come on in!''

''Hey Ze, Andromeda is waiting for you in the Human World'' Larry said tapping the critter on the shoulder, hoping to somehow cheer him up while they both jumped on Witch's head, quickly followed by Orlok, Jacky and Wisp.

''Andro...meda?'' Zeta grabbed Larry and pulled him closer while looking at his friend with questioning eyes, ''Is she safe!?''

''Oh, yeah...She escaped together with some wizard'' Larry answered before Witch pressed her hat over her head.

The three cures wasted no time to rush back through those seemingly endless halls, luckily time was still frozen but now Witch started to notice that she once again became tired but still had strength enough to run.

Time started going again at the worst time.

When they rushed through the throne-room again, just when they had passed Karasu, who immediately turned around and followed them, even Onibara stood up from her throne as she floated after them at a dangerously fast speed.

Running through the hall they entered the castle, vines were coming from all angles trying to grab the three and when one of them was caught, then Blood would bite the vine or Wolf slash it using her claws.

When they had arrived outside, Karasu and Onibara were seemingly gone or just left behind.

Wolf was still holding the other two Hollow Changer, didn't Orlok say that the Cures were able to travel between worlds?
Maybe they could use it to teleport?

But maybe not since they couldn't be used but maybe...just maybe...

''Girls! Let's try teleporting!'' She suggested, growing tired of running, her legs started to hurt so much.

Her two comrades, who were just as tired..maybe even more, immediately agreed as the three quickly stood in a circle while holding their own as well the Blue and Green Hollow Changers.

''Pretty Cure! Teleport!''

That after they had yelled that a big light appeared next to say was quite shocking for the three, neither of them hadn't actually though it would work but it was a pleasant surprise to see it did.

Blood couldn't help but smile, still holding the key, clenching it.
Maybe the good guys win after all.

Before they could even take a step towards the portal which had appeared, in a quick flash the Key was taken from her hands by an incredibly fast crow, who transformed in Karasu and landed in the grass.

''Thank you, Cure Blood''

Directly Onibara appeared behind Karasu, grinning, she was still floating in the air ready to get the key from her henchman.

Wolf dashed in between them, grabbing the key but was attacked by some crow which Karasu had summoned, instinctively she threw the key away however Blood couldn't catch it and it landed in the portal, disappearing.

''No'' Onibara whispered, eyes wide.

The Cures jumped into the portal, Onibara managed to grab Cure Wolf with one hand and grabbed Karasu, causing all of them to go into the bright portal before it closed.

Bright colors appeared around them, like some sort of disco, with flashing lights, strange noises and nauseous feelings.

Blood hated it, traveling through the gate had felt much better, this was making her sick, it was like she was stuck in a tornado, turning and turning forever.

She saw her friends, who looked just as sick as she felt, Wolf was making swaying motions as If she was swimming while Witch was desperately holding onto her hat, pressing it over her face.

Onibara and Karasu seemed quite calm as they were holding each other close.

When Blood saw this she stretched her hands out to her friends, pulling them close, Blood directly felt somewhat safer this way.

Then it all came to a standstill.
And darkness was back again.

But luckily Blood still had her friends close.

''Blood! Cure Blood!''

The voice sounded so far away.

''Yuina!''

But this one sounded closer.

Blood opened her eyes and jerked her head up, She was met with Witch and Wolf's worried...no, frightened faces.

Soon her ears were filled with strange music which reminded her of some sort of Circus.

Looking around, Onibara and Karasu were nowhere to be found nor was the Key.
Blood saw the familiar shopping mall behind Wolf's head, but something wasn't right.

Ten big Okinakuchis were rampaging through the streets.

ED: 'Delusion Disco!' - Yoshino Nanjo (Yuina Akagawa), Emiri Kato (Miku Sumire) & Kazusa Murai (Wakaba Tsukino)