Ok, I managed to calm down Toothless, and Stitch is playing with Happy, so hopefully I can go the day without babysitting the both of them. But I finally found the Kyuranger soundtrack in all its glory, so that should keep me going for awhile.
Meanwhile, I'm ready to give you the second half of this little two-parter, with an extraordinary debut!
Thank you for your time, and let's get going!
Uchuu Sentai Kyuuranger
Amagawa Prism
Shou Lonpou. Commander. Dragon and resident of the Ryuu system. And also, a forgotten Kyuuranger. Ryuu Violet.
He had long since abandoned this power, solely focusing on finding the saviors of legend, destined to free the universe from tyranny. But while he never expected things to turn out the way they had, Shou was more than willing to step in if it meant protecting his crew. Which is what he was doing now, charging headfirst into battle against two of Jack Matter's most renowned assassins and his old foes, Ikaagen and Madakko.
His crew, which had been more than unsuccessful fighting the two previously, was currently watching the battle between the three unfold, some in awe, some in confusion, and even some with regret.
"Yosha Lucky!" Lucy tiredly cheered, the others starting to stand alongside him. "If we fight together, maybe this time we'll win."
But before the outsider could argue otherwise, the new Kyuuranger beat her to the punch.
"They're not that simple to defeat!" Shou yelled while attempting to keep the two enemies at bay. "Grab Stinger's group and run! There's no time!"
"No time?" Spada wondered, trying to understand what the commander meant.
However, Karone and Hammy shook him out of his thoughts, Lucky and Kingston taking charge.
"For now we'll rescue the others and head back," Lucky began, starting to sprint back to where they had entered.
"One rescue op comin up, let's go!" Kingston called over her shoulder.
"Spada, I'm sorry, but it's our best bet right now," Karone eased, Alice and Hammy nodding in agreement as they ran to follow.
And so, reluctantly, the chef straightened his cap and came up to the rear, looking back to the fight as he ran with regret.
"Shirei, we'll be right back!" Lucky called, all of them sprinting back to the remaining hostages to finish their mission.
Meanwhile, the two assassins seemed to be regaining their footing, Madakko twirling her mace in amusement. "You seem desperate. What's the big hurry? Let's take our time and enjoy this!"
Ikaagen was enjoying their little game as well, picking up the tease as the two locked weapons. "I'm not surprised. After all, if I recall, you have a short fuse to burn, correct?"
Indeed, looking at his cane where the kyuutama lodged, energy was starting to fizzle out, almost as if the assassins had timed it.
"Please keep working," Shou prayed under his breath. But the distraction was all Ikaagen needed, breaking the lock and managing to start causing some damage to the purple ranger.
Meanwhile, Kingston's group had managed to free the others, Lucky and Kingston supporting Stinger, to his quiet behest, Spada and Karone kept Garu awake, while Alice and Hammy woke up Raptor. Other than the significant injuries, even Lucky's as long as he took time to rest, as long as they received proper treatment, all of them would come out ok.
"Guys! Get in!" Lucky called, summoning his Shishi Voyager to scoop them all up to safety.
However, Spada and, by proxy, Kingston, saw this and, when the giant red mecha swooped down, the two of them ducked, staying on the surface. Spada seemed a little surprised that Kingston was able to anticipate his actions, but the outsider just shook her head, her sea blue eyes silently pleading.
"Spada, don't," she begged, slowly coming closer.
"I'm sorry," Spada sighed, and as he grabbed his cap, he ran back to the fight, intent on protecting Shou.
"No Spada don't-AHH!" the outsider cried, clutching her head and curling her hair into her fists. Her headache had come back, and once again the outsider couldn't figure out why. But as Kingston looked in Spada's direction, she knew that time was running out, and fast. So pushing her pain aside, Kingston booked it as fast as she could, desperate to stop the yellow swordfish from making a fatal mistake.
Back with Shou Lonpou, his battle was steadily losing his favor as he dropped to his knees. And at about the same time Kingston began to feel pain, the energy leaking out of the cane started crackling, electrocuting Shou as he felt the pain spread throughout and the transformation shatter, revealing the dragon commander once more.
"And time's up!" Madakko announced, looking to be sizing up their kill. "Tch is this one tako our only prey?"
"Too bad for you," Shou panted, showing no fear of his fate.
"No, maybe it's not," Ikaagen mused, noticing something coming their way.
And turning around, Spada had indeed returned to help the commander, kneeling by his side. "Shirei, are you alright?!"
"Why didn't you run away?!"
"I couldn't just leave you. What you said before, that form has a time limit, doesn't it?"
Just as he asked this, the outside came around the corner, finally catching up. However, she had arrived at precisely the wrong moment, as she watched in horror as Madakko's tentacle wrapped itself around Spada's torso and sent him flying her way.
"Spada!" the two cried, Shou standing as Kingston began to sprint in some hope of helping.
Madakko held the chef by his jacket as Ikaagen's gun slammed into his stomach, knocking him out cold. "We'll be taking this."
"Get your filthy tentacles off of him!" Kingston screamed, her super speed kicking in as she bolted as fast as she could, leaping for Spada as Shou tried in vain to follow. But the two only laughed at their efforts, Madakko calling the two takos as she sprayed an ink cloud, teleporting them away just as Kingston lunged for her teammate. She managed to save herself and tumble into a crouch, but her headache once again returned, though not as strong as before.
As Shishi Voyager was coming back around to pick them up, Shou was growling in anger at Spada's kidnapping, and the outsider felt something new and looked in her hands. She had been too late to save Spada, but she had managed to knock off his checkered flat cap, now crumpled in her fists. When Shou registered the white ranger addressing him, tears were stinging her eyes as she stared at him with genuine sincerity and regret.
"Shirei, I never meant for this to happen, I was trying to prevent this-"
"Don't, Kingston. Don't take the blame for this."
Neither of them spoke a word, but as the red lion mecha swooped down and scooped them up, the outsider tried one more time to make amends.
"I'm sorry."
Episode 9: The Dragon Ma-Star Arrives!
"Spada got captured?!" came Champ's gruff voice over the monitor. The remainder of the crew had returned to Orion-Gou to lick their wounds and plan their next move, Kingston still holding onto Spada's cap as the two customs were resting in their kyuutamas.
Meanwhile, in the underground tunnels of planet Jiishakk in the Pyxis system, the search crew was relaying their progress in the mission as well as catching up with the others. Although, they had more than their fair share of injuries as well. Naaga was sporting a few scrapes and cuts on his features, while Balance and Champ covered their little aesthetic malfunctions in bandages in their upper regions, Champ holding his horns together and Balance one of his earrings with gauze.
"Jeez, you guys look like you took a beating!" Hammy observed, her tail stretching as she went over the med kit.
"But thanks to that, we found the Rashinban Kyuutama," Naaga replied, holding the dark yellow kyuutama between his fingers.
"It was a fun treasure hunt," Champ sarcastically added, rubbing one of his bandages. "Balance is quite something."
"Agepoyo! No need to compliment me that much."
"It wasn't a compliment!" the bull snapped, smacking the golden thief's chest plate.
"More importantly, what is this about Shirei being a Kyuuranger?" Naaga started, focusing back on topic.
"Right. Stinger. Do you know anything about Shirei?" Lucky inquired, leaning on the railing near his perch on the stairway.
"No. Shirei told me nothing," Stinger replied, sullen as usual.
"Na, Kingston, you've been awful quiet since we got back. Did you know about this, grr?" Garu voiced, causing the outsider to wince and sag slightly, fists closing around the cap.
"It...it is how I know so much about Ikaagen and Madakko, yes."
"And you never thought to tell us about something as important as this?!" Lucky started, the others staring at her for a response as well.
"Ok, first of all, it wasn't relevant up until this point! Yes, we may have had some bumps in the road, but we were handling ourselves just fine until now. Shirei stepping in as he did wasn't necessary for our survival up until this point. And second, you all know my policy by now; I don't tell stories that aren't mine to tell! So whatever might've happened in Shirei's past, including the fact that he may or may not be a Kyuuranger, is his business and his only. The only way you would've learned about this is through him, not by a snitching proxy!"
"Ok ok, Kingston, take a deep breath, its ok," Hammy soothed, the younger girl trying to calm down as the two humanoids sat by the pool table, the ninja rubbing her back and speaking quietly. "We're not blaming you, or ganging up on you. We're all just a little shaken after everything that's happened today. None of this is your fault, alright?"
"Sorry, Kingston," Garu mumbled, guilt showing in his from as Raptor bandaged his paw. "Didn't mean to fire you up like that."
"No, it's ok Alpha. I'm sorry guys, didn't mean to jump on you all like that. Guess this is just digging up older times for me. That's no excuse, though, that was my bad."
"Hey, on the bright side, at least you're finally sticking up for yourself. Who knows, you might even have enough spunk to lift my weights when I get back!" Champ teased, the outsider laughing as she wiped her tears, smiling and silently thanking the bull for the small attempt at comfort.
Just then, the auto door near Stinger slid open, and the commander in question was being haggled by the young boy in the light blue vest, begging him to let him join the Rebellion and the Kyuurangers.
"Kingston is that-"
"Yep, it's Kotaro. Don't worry Hammy; I made sure he doesn't call you old again," Kingston chuckled.
"I told you. If you beat me, I'll let you join," Shou stated, leading the boy aside as the Earthling gained new determination, ready to battle.
"Se, no:"
"Jan-Kyuu-Pon!"
It was, of course, a game of Janken (rock paper scissors), with Kotaro choosing scissors and Shou winning with Kyuu, or globe.
"Ahh, I lost again," Kotaro moaned, slumping over. "You're too good at this, Ojii-san."
"Its 100 years too soon for you to beat me," Shou answered, patting the boy's head.
"Ah, I don't know about that. All you have to do is learn how Shirei plays," Kingston advised, catching the boy's attention.
Kotaro immediately lit up, happy to see another familiar face. "Nee-chan!" he cheered, jumping down the ladder and throwing himself into a hug, which Kingston happily accepted. "Its so good to see you! How are you feeling?"
"Much better, thank you. Man, I missed you buddy. How are you?"
"Doing good. I've been looking for you all though."
"Hehe, so I hear. How's Jiro?"
"Oh don't worry, he's safe. Jiro's staying with our uncle while I'm gone. He's in good hands."
"That's what I like to hear."
"Oh, and um, I'm sorry about your friend," the boy added softly, his features saddening.
However, the outsider gave him a kind smile and another hug. "Thank you, Kotaro. And don't you worry, we'll get him back, you'll see."
"Which brings us to another point that we need to address, Shirei," Lucky stated, pulling the dragon in front of them all with a rare look of seriousness. "Are you a Kyuuranger?"
Shou sagged, looking to his crew with trepidation. "Do I have to answer?"
"Yes," Raptor insisted, she and Hammy coming to join Garu and Stinger around the pool table.
"No secrets between nakama, Shirei," the wolfman added.
Shou sighed, his red eyes falling on the outsider. "How much have you told them?"
"Nothing that's not my place to say. All yours."
The commander took that as his cue, straightening himself and striding to his chair as the others lent an ear.
"You are all true Kyuurangers. That means I...Well, I'm no Kyuuranger.
'It was back when Rebellion formed, and we were scrambling to find the Kyuurangers. I had created a different method of fighting while we were searching. You all use Change Kyuutamas to perform your henshin. But I had developed a system in my cane that uses a Skill Kyuutama and forces a transformation. I was supposed to be the hope that would take the galaxy back from Jack Matter. And at times, that felt achievable when I would win battles from time to time. But the system was imperfect."
"How do you mean?" Raptor asked.
"Skill Kyuutamas aren't meant to allow transformations. At least, not by normal means. The way the system forces the transformation makes the henshin unstable, causing the energy flow to backlash on the user over time. Put simply, he has a time limit on how long he can fight, with the results always coming back on him," Kingston explained.
"Wait a minute; you said that you force a Skill kyuutama to change, and it backfires. But Kingston did the same thing, twice even, and her's have turned out alright. Why can't we try to do what she did?" Lucky argued.
"Lucky, even I never expected Karone and Alice to transform into Change Kyuutamas. And also if I had, my kyuutamas are customs. They follow entirely different energy sources and limits altogether. The Ryuu kyuutama is an original, so it follows the same rules that apply to yours. But I can only alter kyuutamas based on an original concept; I can't transmute originals into what they're not. The way it is now, there's no way Ryuu Violet will be a stable fighting method."
"I'm afraid she's right," Shou picked. "So, despite the risks, I kept fighting with my imperfect system. But all that did was cause Jack Matter to view the Rebellion as a threat. They sent assassins to drive us to destruction."
"And they were Ikaagen and Madakko," Naaga realized.
"I'm afraid so. When the duo invaded our base, I rushed headfirst into battle, believing I would stand a chance. But my henshin timed out, right in front of them, reducing me to only a man. I wasn't able to do a thing. As a result, many of my comrades died. As one of the survivors, I had no choice but to search for our last salvation. The Kyuurangers. But I swore when I escaped death by their hands to never become Ryu Violet again. So, I met all of you, and then here we are."
"I had no idea about your past, Shirei," Lucky mused, the other Kyuurangers turning somber in their looks.
"Well, I appreciate the privacy Kingston gave me. I'm sorry for the trouble it must've caused you for staying quiet."
"Eh, I've dealt with worse," the outsider shrugged.
Suddenly, the monitor crackled and fizzed, changing into a broadcast meant directly for them. Ikaagen and Madakko were strolling in the background, but Spada was dead center, wrists chained in an eagle pose and on his knees. The resolution was a bit fuzzy, but even from there Kingston could tell that he had been through the ringer, his face covered in even more scrapes, his dirty orange hair mussed and matted, and of course, without his cap. The most unsettling sight was the fear the chef possessed, although that was understandable given the circumstances.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the Kyuurangers," Ikaagen pronounced, pacing behind his prisoner while Madakko held him at gunpoint. "If you want to save your friend, all of you better come. Ah, and leave the imposter behind."
"And you better hurry," Madakko growled, "before I get a hankering for a new necklace."
Most of the girls gasped in horror, while Spada seemed to panic and started squirming against his chains. "Minna-!"
But as their comrade screamed, the transmission cut out, the away team reappearing and having heard the message as well. Shirei didn't say anything at first. That is until Lucky spoke up.
"Shirei, we're all on board."
As Shou looked around, the lucky lion's words were right, as everyone stared at the dragon with determined eyes. And with everyone in agreement, the dragon resigned to his fate.
"I guess I can't stop you. Very well. Tomorrow morning, we'll commence an operation to rescue Spada."
"Hitakore! This time we'll win for sure!" Hammy cheered, side hugging Raptor and Garu as all of them heartily agreed. But Lucky and Kingston happened to notice Shou looked distant like his mind was elsewhere.
"We're going too!" Champ pronounced, starting to stand.
"Whoa whoa, sagepoyo. We wouldn't make it in time," Balance reasoned, holding the bull back from charging off.
"Moo, why now?!"
"Let us believe," Naaga resolved. "Our nakama will succeed."
"Thanks, buddy," Kingston smiled. "And Champ, don't you worry, I'll make sure to smash the biggest guy in your honor. How's that sound?"
"Tch, well, better than nothing I guess. Alright, alright, but we'll be back as soon as can be. And don't hog all the fun, ya hear?"
"Deal. See you soon, guys."
Morning soon came, the dawn just beginning to peek over the horizon on the surface, as Shou Lonpou strode towards his target with a purpose. By himself.
"I knew you'd be here. Yosha Lucky!" Lucky cheered while stepping out from his perch and standing in the commander's way.
"Guys! She's gone!"
Karone and Alice bolted through the auto doors, throwing on their jackets. The remaining Kyuurangers came out from side doors, also with similar news.
"Shirei's gone!" Hammy cried.
"So's Lucky!" Raptor moaned.
"They snuck off without us, grr," Garu growled, slamming his non injured paw on the railing.
"Let's get moving," Stinger voiced, and all six of them began sprinting to the Voyager decks.
"Eh?! I'm watching the base again?!" Kotaro cried as he slipped on his vest.
However, none of them answered as they scrambled to the surface.
"Lucky, you were like me when I was younger," Shou mused, Lucky's features twisting in surprise.
"I had power, so I ignored orders and ran off on my own. When the base was under attack, I wanted to fight back. My commanding officer, Sou Shirei Big Bear, didn't allow me to fight since the system was still incomplete. But I couldn't ignore those in need, so I fought anyway. I disobeyed Sou Shirei Big Bear, leading to the Rebellion's destruction."
"Is Big Bear still our Sou Shirei?" Lucky asked.
"He's dead. He died saving me.'
'After my henshin canceled out in front of the assassins, they had me at their mercy. Ikaagen held a gun to my head and said our only fate against Jack Matter was to be powerless. I knew I wouldn't survive. But right before he shot, Sou Shirei managed to intervene and hold them back, yelling at me to run for it. I watched as the two of them stabbed clean through him. But even then he still kept them back and told me to find the Kyuurangers, our last hope for the galaxy. He activated a bomb and died in a suicide attack to take Ikaagen and Madakko with him. To help me escape, Sou Shirei sacrificed his life. I was so full of regret."
Lucky then remembered what Kingston had told them before their rescue mission, about how one act of disobedience could lead to the downfall of an organization.
"That transmission you gave the others. You were talking about yourself," Lucky realized. "But don't worry, I'm different from that. I am the luckiest man in the galaxy, after all."
The dragon seemed resigned, before an idea popped in his head. "In that case, let's play Jan Kyuu Pon. If you win, you can go with me."
"Alright, sounds good!"
"Jan Kyuu Pon!"
This time, Lucky won with paper and Shou with Kyuu.
But his victory was short lived as Shou's closed fist thrust forward, socking the humanoid right in the gut.
"What are you doing..." Lucky grunted, collapsing on the pavement and passing out.
"Sou Shirei Big Bear put his hope in all of you. I can't lose a single Kyuuranger."
And with that, the dragon commander began his assault, the small pack of Indavers charging straight for him.
"Don't underestimate me!" Shou yelled as he began tearing house, not showing an ounce of fear.
But when two of the small fry tried to corner him, the dragon then heard a new contender step him, slashing through half of the pack with one swing of her sword.
"Well, that was a thing," Kingston panted, smirking as she blew stray hair out of her eyes.
"What are you doing here?!" Shou yelled as the two continued holding off the Indavers.
"I knew you'd pull something like this, so I went with Lucky and snuck in while you two were talking. No sign of Spada yet, but I should have better luck with you here."
"Grr, you shouldn't be here, Kingston. Saving Spada is my fight!"
"Shirei, you are not the only one who blames himself for Spada getting caught. And I already know about Big Bear, so don't try to talk me out of it with that. Now look, I don't care what you say about who is or isn't qualified as a Kyuuranger, because the fact is, you're still the one that brought us together as Kyuurangers! You're the one who taught us to act like a team; just because you're the commander doesn't mean you get a pass from that!
'I could go on and on, but quite frankly, we don't have time to argue, and you don't have time to knock me out. Spada needs us, and I am not about to abandon my crew to the mercy of the psychotic cephalopods!... But now that you know I'm here, I can't do anything without your call, or else its insubordination. So are we going or not?!"
Shou growled again as he locked two soldiers with his cane., the outsider staring at him expectantly. And charging a war cry, he slashed the two in front of him before cutting down three more near Kingston.
"If you're coming, then keep up!"
The girl's grin turned feral, swinging her keys as the two charged onward.
Eventually, the two made it to the back of the abandoned complex, when Kingston noticed a very familiar flash of yellow down a hallway. The one in question was still conscious, fear pouring off of him in waves, not looking to have slept despite his injuries and fatigue.
"Spada!" she cried, bolting towards him as Shirei came up from behind her, firing the Kyu Shot he had brought and shooting the manacles, freeing Spada as he collapsed in exhaustion. Kingston slid down next to him, catching him in a hug, tears forming in her eyes.
"Mou, make me worry why don't you," she sighed in relief and exasperation, pulling out his cap from her pocket and placing it on his head.
"Are you alright?" Shou asked in worry as he knelt down, checking for any significant injuries.
"Shirei, Kingston. I'm sorry," Spada whispered, his head down in shame.
But it was then that Kingston remembered the next events and caught a flash of movement in the corner of her eye. "Hit the deck!" she screamed, shoving the boys down and swinging her keys up in defense just as Madakko swung her mace, catching her in a lock and pushing her back.
"Shoot!" Shou yelled, Spada firing his blaster and knicking the octo assassin back some, allowing Kingston some breathing room.
"Thanks, but can we please go now?" the girl moaned, looping an arm around Spada in support.
"Let's move!" the dragon ordered, watching over the two as they limped towards daylight as fast they could, taking care to avoid worsening Spada's injuries.
Unfortunately, just when the end was finally in sight, the trio was then met by nine other than Ikaagen, his smug form in place as his gaze met them.
"I'm afraid I can't let you run off with our hostage," the squid drawled, Madakko coming up behind them as Spada's eyes widened, fear radiating off of him.
Kingston's gaze darkened, shielding Spada protectively and growling like an attack dog, her teeth glinting like fangs. But Shou shoved the two of them back, clearing the way for him to transform.
Ryuu Kyuutama! SAY! THE CHANGE! "Wish Upon a Star!"
"Shirei, on your right!" Kingston warned as Ikaagen was coming in fast.
"You want to die?" the squid drawled, his sword to Shou's neck.
"I'd rather stick around! But I'll gladly give my life if it means saving Spada!" Shou shouted, locking the two assassins with his cane and turning to the white and yellow rangers. "Spada, Kingston, run for it! I can only fight for so long, so hurry!"
"Were you even listening to me not ten minutes ago?!" Kingston screamed, stamping her foot. "We are not leaving you to die!"
"She's right! When a restaurant is full, you get more chefs. So in that case;"
Kajiki/Amagawa Kyuutama! SAY! THE CHANGE!
"We should cook together!"
And blasting the star right in front, the two managed to make the assassins lose their balance, falling back as the two bolted through their henshin. "Star Change!"
"Fine," Shou sighed as the two helped him stand. "Then here's my order."
"Hai/Yeah?"
"You better not die."
"Okyu."
With both opponents on either side, the time for battle had arrived.
"Let's go!"
"Si." "Whoo!"
Both sides were relentless, but the tension was thick enough to cut with their swords, as all of them knew time was of the essence.
"Isn't it almost time?" Ikaagen wondered as the energy began seeping out of Shou's cane once again.
But Prism, noticing this, took a chance and bolted from her battle with Madakko, latching onto the dragon's cane just as the time limit gave out. But instead of backlashing onto Shou, the energy bolted through Prism instead, the meteor ranger gritting her teeth as she felt the currents run up her arms. But when she let go, the electric energy didn't give her pain, but instead rejuvenated her, if only slightly. Not to mention that Shou's transformation was still holding, much to his and Ikaagen's surprise.
"Whoo, can't believe that worked!"
"Kingston, how did you-?!"
"Long story, but that's only gonna give you a few more minutes! Use it!"
And use it he did, managing to throw Ikaagen off balance once again and start to gain an edge. But the time Prism had given him didn't last for long, as the cane began crackling and fizzing, and before he knew it, the violet suit canceled out as Shou kneeled in exhaustion, Ikaagen aiming his pistol right for his head.
"Seeya."
"Shirei!" Spada screamed, shoving back Madakko and leaping for the commander, managing to push him out of the bullet's path right in the nick of time. Neither assassin deterred, Madakko slashing Kingston back a few feet and joining her partner, the both of them opening fire on the original crewmembers. Spada knew they couldn't dodge in time, so he spread his arms and took the full brunt of the damage, crumpling to the concrete demorphed.
Almost simultaneously, the white ranger's headache came back in full force, and at the worse possible time with her crew as sitting ducks.
"No nononono, not now, not now," Prism fretted, zipping their way and locking her kyuutama in her blade.
GALAXY! "Haley's Impact!"
Desperately slashing her keys in an X, Ikaagen and Madakko were ground back by a few feet, even taking some damage, but Prism demorphed from exhaustion as well, kneeling in front of the boys and panting, still gripping her two swords.
"Tch, nice try you tako," Madakko scoffed, the two aiming their sights. "But do you think you can survive for the both of them?"
The humanoid merely swung her keys in defense, death staring the both of them dead in the eye. "Bring it on, bitch."
Both Jack Matter aliens seemed cocky, ready to finish off their opponents once and for all. But Kingston, catching movement in the corner of her eye, gave a faint smirk as her eyes turned devilish.
Just as she did, the two felt a blast that shocked their hands, dropping their guns. Turning to the source, Spada and Kingston lit up at seeing seven brightly colored teammates of theirs, firing away and knocking the assassins down as they rushed to help them.
"Thanks for the save guys," Kingston smirked as Alice helped her up, only to be whacked on the back of the head by Hammy's tail for running off alone. "Ow! Ok, I deserved that one."
"Why are you here?!" Shou gaped as Raptor lifted Spada up.
"We're here to beat them, of course!" Lucky yelled, closing his fists in anger.
"How many times must I tell you?!"
"It doesn't matter!"
Lucky whirled around, grabbing Shou by his collar and pulling him to his feet, a fire burning in his brown eyes. "How long do you plan to fight alone?!"
"W-what?"
"You might've been the Rebellion's first warrior in the past, but it's different now! You have all of us! There's twelve of us already! And with you, that's thirteen! That's even more awesome than some legend!"
The dragon looked around, and every one of his crew agreed, Kingston even flashing her trademark grin. "Face it Shirei. You're kinda stuck with us."
"Shirei, let's surpass the legend together!"
A flash of red light came from Lucky's pocket, followed by blue, green, yellow, and all of the original kyuutamas floating in the air, glowing as if lit by the fire in Lucky's passion.
"Guys, shield your eyes!" Kingston warned, and right on cue, all of them shot a bright beam of light into the air. From the atmosphere, three more lights of black, silver, and gold beamed down, until finally, Shou's clear kyuutama shined bright, all of the beams zooming into it. And right when Ikaagen and Madakko recovered, a flash of purple energy shot out, taking the form of a dragon spirit, speeding straight into the assassins and sending them flying back before launching into the air.
The sky turned pitch black, lit up with the twinkling stars of the constellations, and from the brightest star of the Ryuu constellation, a giant purple dragon twisted into a figure eight emerged, his green eyes staring them down.
"A giant dragon!" Raptor gawked, all of them awestruck.
"Awesome!" Lucky grinned.
"Cool! Our own Shen Rom!" Kingston cheered.
"Shou Lonpou, what do you wish to achieve?"
"My wish?" Shou echoed, staring at his kyuutama clasped in his claws.
"Well go on then," the outsider smiled, all of them nodding in agreement.
"I...I wish to fight alongside the legendary saviors. I wish to liberate the galaxy from Jack Matter's control," he announced, holding his kyuutama to the heavens.
The dragon spirit seemed pleased with his answer, nodding as a golden helmet materialized over his muzzle, and with a mighty roar, he flew into the small globe.
As the sky returned to normal, the kyuutama was now a bright purple, the dragon picture better blending into the globe's design. The Ryuu Kyuutama had transformed. Now it was its master's turn.
"I can do it now," Shou realized."
"Then what the hell are you waiting for?!" the outsider laughed.
"Walking the path of the dragon. I pursue the dragon's path! If I don't do it, who will?! MawaSlide!"
Ryuu Kyuutama! SAY! THE CHANGE! "Ryou Tensei!"
The dragon's cane slammed into the ground, a much brighter purple star appearing under him as the dragon constellation passed through him. And much like his kyuutama, Ryuu Violet transformed, becoming more powerful than ever before.
His appearance drastically changed as well. The helmet and chest armor were still the same, but the shield now extended, growing into a cape that reached his knees. The boots and wrist guards had also turned purple, and his belt turned into a gold version of the standard Kyuurangers. Best of all, the star sphere on his chest broke the cloudy outside, now showing a picture of the Ryuu symbol.
Ryuu Violet was no more. Now, Shou Lonpou had become Ryuu Commander.
"This is Shirei's new form?" Spada gasped, all of them staring in awe.
"Yosha Lucky!" Lucky cheered, Alice and Kingston squealing with glee.
Ikaagen and Madakko, however, were not pleased with the new development, though Kingston chuckled at their poorly thrown insults. "Karma's a bitch," she laughed as Shou stepped forward.
"I'm not fighting alone anymore," Shou resolved. "From now on, I fight with the Kyuurangers!"
"That's more like it!" Lucky agreed. "Let's do it!"
SAY! THE CHANGE! "Star Change!"
10 Kyuurangers stood side by side, ready to take the fight to their enemies.
Shou, spinning his cane and thrusting it forward: "Dragon Ma-Star! Ryuu Commander!"
Alice, curtseying and raising a hand as if to show off her gloves: "Magic Star! Alicorn Amethyst!"
Karone, firing flames from her palms and flourishing her hands: "Blazing Star! Kitsune Crimson!"
Kingston, flourishing her cape and jumping in place, ending in a boxing pose: "Shooting Star! Amagawa Prism!"
Spada, mimicking a cutting motion: "Food Mei-Star! Kajiki Yellow!"
Raptor, spreading her arms and spinning, with her hands together: "Speed Star! Washi Pink!"
Hammy, crouching down and ending in a chamaeleon battle pose: "Shinobi Star! Chamaeleon Green!"
Garu, kicking up dirt and posing and crouching with his claws poised: "Beast Star! Okami Blue!"
Stinger, flicking his tail with his arm stretched and adjusting his blaster: "Poison Star! Sasori Orange!"
Lucky swinging his arms and flashing a thumbs up: "Super Star! Shishi Red!"
"The ultimate saviors!"
"Uchuu Sentai!"
"KYUURANGER!"
"Yosh. Let's test your luck!"
The assassins were not pleased with this, Madakko summoning two poorly named and heavily armored Daikaan to assist in battle.
"Minna. Let's go!"
With weapons drawn, the fight began anew, and Shou once again taking the two cephalopods singlehanded.
"Don't think you're so tough when all you've done is change your appearance!" Madakko growled.
"Oh really?" Shou chuckled before blocking one of Ikaagen's swings.
The two Daikaan were childsplay, really, especially against nine opponents at once. Lucky and Karone were double teaming one with swordplay, while Raptor, Garu, and Prism took over the long range from different angles, Garu climbing onto one of the fenced off windows above. Hammy, Stinger, and Alice were also using melee for their Daikaan, with Spada acting as the driving force.
Shou had become a force to be reckoned with, easily able to manage to fend off the cephalopods with style and grace, sending the two flying back with his cane one-handed.
"Do you still think its just my appearance that's changed?" Shou challenged, his cane poised at the ready.
"You've gotten tougher," Ikaagen coughed, the two pulling out their guns and firing away. But Shou's newfound speed was put to good use and was able to dodge both bullets effortlessly. And when they tried again, he clicked the handle of his cane down, turning it into a sniper rifle and aiming effortlessly, shattering clean through both bullets. Now in the clear, the violet ranger turned to offensive, opening fire and dealing massive damage to both opponents.
"Way to go Shirei!" Lucky cheered. "But we won't lose to that! Right everyone?!"
"Of course," Stinger replied, stabbing one of the monsters with his spear in the gut.
"Damn right we're not!" Prism laughed. "I did promise Champ I'd smash the big one for him, and I always keep my promises!"
"Kono tako!" Madakko screamed, charging with her mace bared. Closing his cane into staff mode, Shou was able to seamlessly transition into melee mode, fending off the octo alien with renewed ability. But when the two had locked weapons, he happened to notice Ikaagen hiding behind a pillar, aiming down his sights. So, mid-battle, he clicked the handle down and fired backward, sniping dead on and knocking the squid alien out for the match.
Meanwhile, the two Daikaans were cornered, back to back and surrounded.
"Let's end this!"
GALAXY! "All-Star Crash!"
And with a fully charged blast, both fodder Daikaans exploded in defeat. "And they're outta here!"
Madakko was having similar luck, Ryuu Commander dealing substantial damage to her, almost toying with her in a way.
"What's the hurry? Let's take the time to enjoy this," Shou teased, leaning on his cane.
"Don't tell me your time limit..." Madakko gasped.
And with a nod and a flurry of his cape, the dragon casually replied, "Gone, it seems."
"Bullshit, Kono tako!" she screamed, releasing a barrage of bullets that Shou was quickly able to deflect by twirling his cane as a shield, before zipping straight through the aftermath and stabbing her right in her stomach, sending her flying out into daylight.
"I'll start with you," Shou pronounced, clicking the handle down and closing the dragon's mouth on the kyuutama, activating the finisher.
GALAXY!
The rifle began to pulse energy through its systems, forming more and more towards the barrel.
"Drago Crush! Fire!"
With a pull of the trigger, a stream of the dragon's energy sang through the air, piercing clean through Madakko in a gaping hole.
"I can't believe this tako beat me!" she screamed as the energy crackled around her.
"I'm Ryuu Commander. You're the tako."
"Who are you calling a tako?!" she screamed. And in a massive explosion, Madakko was finally no more, much to Ikaagen's shock.
"And you're next!" Shou announced as the rest of the Kyuurangers joined him.
"Guess that's it for today. You can take care of the rest," Ikaagen shrugged. And turning around, the heroes were met with the two Daikaans growing giant, and proving to be a new obstacle for them. As he grabbed a remnant of Madakko, a lone tentacle, he huffed and retreated, the Kyuurangers only stopped by the enemy fire from above.
"Leave them to me," Shou resolved.
"But Shirei, you don't have a Voyager," Garu reasoned.
"No, he does," Prism sighed, "he just wants to be dramatic about it."
"You don't seem all that excited about it," the violet ranger commented. "Is it not as cool as me?"
"No I like it, I just want one too," the meteor girl pouted, with Stinger rolling his eyes behind his helmet.
"Well then, let's see what this new cutie will look like," Shou teased, closing the dragon mouth again and aiming it forward.
SAY! THE GO!
"Come on out!"
And with a pull of the trigger, the Ryuu constellation shined as the sky darkened, and what emerged from the earth was a massive new Voyager with a mighty roar. In fact, it was identical to the dragon from before, bright purple with silver and gold accents, and wearing a golden mask.
"Ok, I'm better now, that thing is fucking awesome!" Prism squealed as the others watched the massive serpent twist through the air, roaring for its master.
"Here I go!" Shou geared up as he fired his rifle, forming the cockpit around him as it flew through the air, landing nearby as the dragon picked him up in its golden claws, twisting and slithering under the darkened sky.
Both of the Daikaans attempted to shoot the dragon down, but in classic Stormtrooper fashion, missed every shot. In response, Shou pushed a lever, and the dragon's mouth rained fire down on them, cleaning house before charging straight through them. Shou was even able to dislodge from his zord, whacking one monster with his tail while constricting the other, destroying him for good in his vice grip before reconnecting.
"What shocking power," Shou mused as his dragon flew to the atmosphere, with the other monster in his sights. "But I suppose its time I finished this."
GALAXY!
"Dragon Break!"
Once again charging straight through, the energy kickback managed to destroy the other Daikaan, leaving Shou victorious. But before he could celebrate, a Moraimaaz Robo showed up from behind another building.
"Whoops. It looks like there's still more."
"Don't you worry, Shirei," came Prism's voice over the cockpit. "Leave him to us!"
On cue, Kyuurenn-Oh came behind the dragon, ready to assist, alongside Kitsune, Alicorn, and Garu in his Okami Voyager, all of which began tearing the robot to shreds.
"Shirei, let's finish him together."
"Oui, chef."
"Let's go!"
Super GALAXY!
"Dragon Meteor Break!"
And as the two beams of energy pierced through the robot, the sky lit up once again with the day won in their favor, Kitsune and Okami Voyagers howling in victory.
"The Kyuurangers and I will take back the galaxy."
Once the crew returned to Orion-Gou (and its lone guardian), Kotaro was surprisingly interactive for their return, relieved to see that Kingston was right and that Spada was safe.
"Thanks to you all, I've gained power I never thought possible," Shou mused, his gaze falling to every member of his crew.
"We can't take all the credit," Lucky interjected, his ever-present grin firmly in place. "Its because you worked all this time, Shirei. That's why we have this power."
"I see. But you better not disobey orders in the future."
"Hai, hai," Kingston chuckled while Spada and a few others gave sheepish grins. "But I hope you don't mind if I give you a little surprise."
As she leaned over the railing, the outsider held out her arm and uncurled her fist, revealing yet another bracelet made for the dragon, with alternating purple and gold beads and a dragon charm.
"Why, thank you very much, my little shooting star, its lovely," Shou chuckled, slipping on the present almost immediately. "Oh, and I meant to ask. How did you manage to extend my time limit like that?"
"Oh, that? Alice taught me a little trick on how to absorb lightning and energy based attacks. After the whole Chou Taisen thing, I thought it would be best to take some extra precautions."
"Well, it was quite a shock that you did," Shou joked, earning a few chuckles here and there as he examined his new bracelet in the light.
Just as he did, however, the auto doors slid open to reveal the away team was finally returning and still covered in bandages and scrapes.
"We finally get back and its already over," Champ groaned as Balance leaned on the railing. "Oi, Kingston, you keep your promise?"
"Two heavily armored, and poorly named, Daikaan out of the way, as promised."
"Atta girl," Champ laughed as she gave him and Naaga a hug, who came in behind the mechanical beings, giving a faint smile to the outsider for his return.
"Shirei, agepoyo. One Rashinban Kyuutama," Balance commented, tossing the dark yellow kyuutama to the commander.
"Well done," Shou commented. "Alright. Now that you're all here, I have a new order for you. With our lovely young ladies and myself joining the ranks, I believe we should change our name to Uchuu Sentai Jyuuranger."
"Yeah, no, sorry Shirei," Kingston chuckled, "but we're keeping Kyuuranger. Besides, that name for a Sentai's claimed."
"Ehh?!" the dragon gaped, dropping into his chair brokenhearted. "I thought it was a good name too..."
"So when I join, it'll still be Kyuuranger?" Kotaro asked, coming up to Shou with an eager grin. "So let me join! At least in recruiting for Rebellion!"
"Kotaro, don't ask the impossible," Stinger scolded, rolling his eyes and dragging the boy back by his arms.
"Why not? At least let me prove myself!" Kotaro begged, squirming in the orange ranger's hold.
"Don't be so selfish!" Hammy scolded.
"You stay out of this Obaa-san."
"Ohh boy," Kingston chuckled, barely able to contain her laughter as the ninja's eyes widened.
"You promised not to call me that again! Why I outta-"
"Kotaro, run for it!" Kingston yelled from the railing, the boy ducking from Hammy's swing and sprinting around the room, taunting Hammy as he ran.
As all of this went on, Shou turned to the window and stared out at the constellations, catching the glow of Ursa Major in the distance.
"Sou Shirei Big Bear. I'll make good use of this life you gave me. Please keep watching over us."
"Incoming!"
"This way Obaa-san!" Kotaro called as he zoomed past Shou, the dragon spinning in surprise before Hammy repeated the process, Shou having to lean on the central console to regain his balance.
"Hey! Let me have my stylish ending!"
Later on, after Hammy calmed down and Kotaro apologized for his behavior, Spada made his way over to the med bay to check over any of the more significant injuries Madakko had dealt him. He had already received a few bandages here and there as soon as he had returned home, but it was a sort of unspoken rule to have at least two med checks after the ordeal of capture. Better safe than sorry and all that.
But what he wasn't expecting was to see the young outsider waiting for him, fiddling with something in her pocket before her gaze met his with a smile. "Hey, there you are, Chef. I was wondering when you'd come."
"Kingston, what are you doing here?"
"Raptor still needs to fix some of her injuries, and I figured I couldn't let Mama's nursing lessons go to waste. Besides, couldn't leave you hanging twice after all," she replied with a guilty smile. "Come on, let's get started. And this goes without saying, but doctor/patient confidentiality is always guaranteed with me, just to let you know."
Spada laughed at her easygoing humor and gave a nod of thanks, easing onto the hospital bed while Kingston began to look over Raptor's previous handiwork.
"Now then, first things first, do any of your bandages need changing?"
"Umm, no, they're still pretty fresh, and the scrapes should heal pretty quickly."
"Fair enough. Ok, any specific areas that hurt? I noticed you were protecting your stomach when we were escaping. Any bruises or scrapes there?"
"Yes on the bruises. Madakko wanted me alive, but she didn't care in what condition as long as I was awake," Spada sighed, shuddering at the memory.
"Conniving little bitch. Good riddance," Kingston scowled. "Alright, then is it ok if you take off the turtleneck so I can patch you up?"
He nodded but seemed a bit nervous as he unzipped his jacket, placing his cap on the pillow as he worked while the girl crawled over, so his back was to her. It was then that Kingston noticed something. Now that his hair wasn't quite as matted and dirty, she was able to see the fine details in his course locks, but it wasn't quite the hair itself that caught her eye. No, it was what peeked out from it.
She decided to look from a better vantage point, and as she climbed onto her knees, Kingston's blue eyes widened when she came up close, the chef turning to face her from behind as he watched her reaction. Spada had two navy fins jutting from his hairline, just short enough that his cap hid them without being too conspicuous.
"Its ok if you think it's strange, I know Earthlings don't see things like this very often," he voiced, the girl jolting back to reality and scrambling back as her cheeks burned.
"No no, not at all, Spada. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare, I don't think its strange at all, I like them."
"Grazie," he smiled.
"But, do they have anything to do with why you're nervous to show me your back?"
"*Sigh* I suppose you could say that."
By now he had already taken off his jacket, and as he pulled off his turtleneck, the outsider involuntarily gasped in shock.
Beautiful glistening yellow-golden scales lined Spada's back, intermingling down his arms up to a little short of his elbow, and his neck had gills, well hidden by his collar.
"Oh wow," Kingston awed. "Spada they're not strange in the slightest. In fact, I think they're stunning."
The chef gave her a sad smile as her eyes met his tired ones. "Jack Matter has the same opinion."
The girl's eyes widened again at his words, this time in realization, as the taunts and threats the assassins had sent them started to make sense.
"Madakko. She was threatening to-"
"Yeah. I usually keep long sleeves on hand. Better safe than sorry. I never want to even think about that possibility again."
"Wait. Again?"
"My, um...my mother was a cook. She taught me everything I know about cooking. She even inspired me, told me I would become the best chef in the galaxy."
Kingston smiled at first, interested in hearing about things she didn't know about her crewmates before her mind pieced together the implications.
"Oh Spada," she gasped, wrapping her arms around him in a hug, which he ultimately accepted as his shuddering breath warmed her shoulder.
But instead of showing guilt or pity towards the chef, a look of determination and, oddly, resignment swirled in her irises, almost like she was debating to reveal something of her own.
Finally, the outsider pulled in a deep breath, closing her eyes and whispering, "If it makes you feel any better, you're not the only one with something to hide."
Turning her back to him, Kingston pulled off her hoodie, revealing her Goonies T-shirt that was at least two sizes too large; and pulling up the back, it was Spada's turn to feel shocked at the sight.
Scars of all sizes littered Kingston's pale backside. They didn't look too deep into her skin, but the look of shame and fear that Kingston radiated indicated that her injuries brought unpleasant memories.
"Che cavolo, Kingston, what happened?"
"It...it was an accident. A few years back, there was this guy; he tried mugging me. My friends were there with me, and they all fought to help, but he took a bat and just went to town on them. All of them wound up in the hospital, left bedridden for weeks. After that, the guy threw me against a wall. I landed on top of a bunch of broken glass. Woke up in a daze, covered in bandages with my mom passed out in a chair.
'To be honest, I haven't told anyone that story. I never even talked to my parents about it."
"I see," the chef replied as he turned back around and allowed the girl to bandage his wounds. "If I may ask, why did you show me those if you've never talked to anyone about them?"
"Couple reasons I guess. Everybody on this ship has their pasts and secrets to keep. The thing is, I already know about a lot of them, but I realized all of you hardly know a thing about me. So I figured its only fair I let go of some of my secrets. You know, even the playing field a little."
"Hehe, fair enough. And you said there was another reason?"
"Oh yeah, um, that one's a bit silly if I'm honest."
"Its ok, I won't judge. But if it's that uncomfortable for you to talk about-"
"No no, it's not that. It's just that, well, I've always been self-conscious about myself, and I always feel like I'm overstepping boundaries or saying what I shouldn't. Talking about personal stuff like this is a little new for me."
"Hmmm, I see. Well, this also goes without saying, but chef/sou chef confidentiality is also a part of my beliefs as well."
Kingston burst out laughing, nearly dropping the role of gauze she was using to cover Spada's bruises. It took her a few minutes to calm down and resume her work, but the way Spada seemed to allow her to open up gave her a bit more confidence, enough that she decided to continue her explanation.
"I've been terrified of the world around me all my life. No matter what I did to make myself worthwhile, it always felt like something went wrong, that I wasn't worth anything and that the world would never accept me for what I was. Thankfully, I found some friends that pulled me from that edge, but the feeling of dread, of bone-deep fear, stayed with me.
'But ever since I found myself here and met all of you, it feels like a switch just flipped on in my mind. I have so much more confidence in myself, my abilities; I feel better, healthier even. And most of all, even with everything going on with Jack Matter, the fear is just, gone. And instead, now there's a feeling inside me I've never felt before, it's indescribable. It's almost like a part of me was missing, and it left this hole in my heart. But when I met all of you, over time, with all of the adventures and memories, you all filled that hole and gave me back what I didn't even realize I'd lost. So even though I hadn't planned on showing up like I did, becoming a Kyuuranger with all of you is a choice I will never regret."
The chef didn't want to interrupt, just listening to this young girl, who so much wisdom and experience, but also pain and heartache, beyond her years. People say that the friends you make come and go, but family is forever. But now, with Kingston and all of the other crewmembers aboard the Orion-Gou, Spada knew that both were the same. In the short amount of time of a few months, this crazy crew of misfits had become something of a family to one another. Spada knew it, and from the way she spoke of everyone in such high praise regarding bonding, he knew Kingston did as well.
"Yosh. That should do it," she voiced over his shoulder, snapping him out of his thoughts. "It's not too tight is it?"
"Not at all. You do excellent work," Spada commented as he started pulling on his turtleneck.
"Grazie, Chef," she chuckled. "Ok, and is there anything else that hurts that I should take a look at?"
"Nope, that's everything."
"Perfect," she smiled, a hand in her pocket as her eyes lit up.
"Now, you've been a very patient boy and an excellent patient, so I think you deserve a little treat," she joked, the practiced 'nurse voice' that her mother used in pediatrics in full effect as Spada laughed. "I'm afraid I don't have any candies in stock, but will this suffice?"
Pulling out her fist and flourishing her palm, Spada was given a bracelet with bright yellow beads, and a smiling swordfish charm with its nose pointed high.
"Grazie, Kingston, I love it," Spada smiled, slipping it over his wrist. "I've been meaning to ask though, where did you find the time to make these?"
"Are you kidding? After what happened with Eridrone, I had nothing but time on my hands. I had to find something to keep me from cabin fever. I even made some for a couple of friends of mine on Earth. I need to find the right time for a visit, but you know hospitals can be with their timelines, you never what's coming next."
Spada laughed again as he stood, the young girl joining him on his way out. "Well then, shall we try making a little celebratory meal for Shirei's new power?"
"We shall. Oh, and I need to make a little spicy something on the side for Karone. Heaven knows she's earned it after all this."
"Of course. Anything else?"
"Hmmm, to make, no. But there is one thing I need to do before we get started."
But instead of a verbal answer, Spada found himself tackled in another hug, Kingston looped around his neck as she looked him in the eye.
"Welcome home."
Sweet, two chapters within a week! That's a first for me!
Speaking of, I think its someone else's first time for the outro. Spada! If you please.
Spada: Grazie! Please read and review, and thanks so much for your time!
See you soon everybody!
JAA NA!