After the girls successful retrieval of the Destiny Casket back at the Heart of Dreams, the girls returned home and were currently in Sensaina's bedroom with all eyes on the golden Casket. In Jonetsu and Haruko's hands were their findings at the field in the Heart of Dreams.
"A Casket's pretty much a box right?" Jonetsu asked.
"I guess.." Sensaina responded.
"So then if it's a box.." Jonetsu picked up the Casket and placed it into her lap," Shouldn't it open?" The red head clasped her hands onto the Casket, expecting she would be able to open it with ease. But no, after a few minutes of straining herself with the Casket not even opening the slightest, she gave up.
"I want to try something-kore!" Doki shouted. She hopped in front of the box which Jonetsu placed back down.
"Open sesame-kore!" Doki shouted.
"It didn't work.." Sensaina observed.
"Maybe it's because she got that from a movie.." Jonetsu said impatiently," Oh come on, you're from the Heart of Dreams, shouldn't you have some idea why the Casket's not opening?"
"I'll have you know-kore...!" Doki and Jonetsu began to do what they were best at together, argue. As the two argue, Haruko noticed something on the Casket. She showed it to Toki and to everyone else.
"There's a keyhole!" Haruko said, pointing it out to everyone.
"Haruko, try using the key you found!" Sensaina exclaimed. Haruko dug the key out from her pocket and placed the key into the lock. Suddenly the lock spat out the key violently.
"What the heck?!" Jonetsu shouted.
"Maybe, there's a spring stuck in the lock," Sensaina suggested.
"A spring wouldn't shoot a key back.." Haruko stated.
"Then.." Sensaina searched her brain for a decent reason why the key would be rejected.
"Maybe...because it was found by the wrong person." Jonetsu stated.
"What?"
"Well, this has been on my mind lately..who ever said Sensaina should be the leader?'' Jonetsu asked.
"Um, Doki did? And besides I was the first one to become Pretty Cure!" Sensaina defended.
"Are you trying to say we're not as strong as you?" Haruko asked.
"Well I'm not saying you're better than me!" Sensaina shouted," Doki, I'm a great leader, aren't I?"
"Well-kore-"
"Why listen to her opinion?!" Jonetsu barked.
"Because she's as much a part of the team as you guys!" Sensaina responded.
"So then you're more a part of the team than, me, Jonetsu, and Doki?" Haruko asked.
"Don't forget Toki," Jonetsu said.
Sensaina rubbed her temples in frustration unsure if she could say anything without it becoming a biased rude response. She instead took a deep breath.
"Why are you choosing now to flip out?" Sensaina asked.
"Because the Destiny Casket's not working!" Jonetsu yelled.
"So why blame it on me?" Sensaina shouted.
"Because you're the leader!" Jonetsu screamed," And not a good at that.."
"Well then, if you hate my leadership skills so much, then why don't you be leader?" Sensaina asked.
"I have a better idea.." Jonetsu said," Why don't we disband?"
"What, at a time like this? We have the Destiny Casket we're so close to victory, we can all taste it!" Sensaina held out the Casket desperately.
"But's what's so great about a victory..if you have to share it with a pathetic leader?" Jonetsu asked cynically.
"Pathetic...leader..?" Sensaina repeated. Jonetsu began to walk out of Sensaina's room.
"They were right! You're really nothing but a chunk of stone cold ice!" Sensaina yelled with tears in her eyes. She turned herself to Haruko.
"Haruko, you won't leave right?" Sensaina asked desperately.
"You..said you were better than us.." Haruko pointed out.
"I-I didn't mean that, you know I'm not that kind of person!" It was evident Sensaina was bordering on hysteria. As she sniffled she threw on a very fake smile.
"We both need some time alone.." Haruko concluded and she left Sensaina's room.
"Does that mean.." Sensaina sobbed in solitude,"..We've really disbanded..?"
Sensaina began to cry on her bed and Doki did her best to comfort her, though it was unlikely her best was enough to lift Sensaina's mood.
"How could this happen-kore?" Doki asked herself. Sensaina couldn't have possibly heard her statement, the sound of her own crying filled her ears. Suddenly, she heard heard the door downstairs open, and the only practical reason left was MiMi and their mom were back from a photoshoot. Sensaina buried her face in her pillow, making sure her crying wouldn't be heard by rest of her family. Because if they did catch her crying how was she going to explain herself? My friends and I were arguing that I'm not a good Pretty Cure leader and now we've disbanded?
Come to think of it, the only reason Sensaina, Jonetsu and Haruko were friends were because they all had that one thing in common; they were a Pretty Cure team. Sensaina reminisced how the three of them were before they became Pretty Cure. Jonetsu was a rude, mean grouch to Sensaina on the first day and she was the reason she screwed up her introduction. Plus, the only reason she shouted Jonetsu's name out the day Jonetsu became a Pretty Cure was because that was the only name she remembered. If Jonetsu never became a Pretty Cure, the two would probably still be at each other's throats or better, not even speaking to each other. Then there was Haruko. Before she became a Pretty Cure, Haruko and Jonetsu were the worst of twos. It was already such a surprise Haruko and Jonetsu's relationship made such a turnaround. And today, it seemed like she sided with Jonetsu. It felt like everyone was against her.
"Maybe..it'll get better from here.." Sensaina sobbed in denial.
A few hours later, nightfall came and Sensaina, still a mess from today's events, glanced to her calendar. Today was Sunday. She groaned loudly and violently threw one of her stuffed animals towards the calendar. She shook her head and another set of tears sprung from her tearducts. Suddenly, a bone-chilling breeze came across her. She shuddered and looked towards where it came from. Her window was wide open even though it was mid-October.
"You might want to shut your window-kore." Doki said as she attempted to warm herself up.
"No, I'll just leave it open all night, that way I can get sick, so then I won't have to go to school!" Sensaina sobbed.
"The course during a strong friendship never does run smoothly-kore. There are preferences, differences, opinions, but strong friendships can overcome anything-kore. That's why you girls are.." Doki explained.
"Dream high Pretty Cure." Sensaina finished. She walked over to shut the window.
"I guess I'll go tomorrow.." Sensaina concluded," But..only for Hideki."
"There's no helping you is there-kore?" Doki asked.
The two went to sleep. Sensaina dreamt of the fight the girls had today but only she watching in a third person point of view.
Sensaina woke up, everything from yesterday became a regretful memory. She hazily tumbled out of bed, nearly falling on Doki. Fortunately she ran in time before before anything fatal occurred. She remained in that awkward position for another five minutes then she finally got dressed and decent for the public.
She walked to school, hoping she would encounter Hideki but it seemed he actually woke up early today. She decided today, she'd sit beside someone who wasn't Jonetsu today in class. She got into class, only a few kids inside. Kintsuki was there and so Sensaina decided to sit with her. Jonetsu was also already in class.
"Hi Kintsuki!" Sensaina greeted cheerfully. Jonetsu was already suspicious. Then Meihime walked into the classroom.
Jonetsu was about to call her but it seemed Kintsuki beat her to it.
Jonetsu 'hmphed' without notice and turned her head to the nearby window. Sure, she was a little strict and relentless yesterday but that was just who she was. No controlling that.
Soon, class started. During class, Sensaina actually paid attention and listened to the teacher intently. Most likely why was to take her mind off of the Pretty Cure disband.
Lunch arrived quickly and Sensaina chose to have lunch outside. She took out her lunch box and left the class, with Jonetsu quietly following her.
As she arrived outside she sat on the grass and almost opened her lunch box, until a certain red-head called her out.
"Why didn't you talk things out with me before class?" Jonetsu asked.
"You called me a pathetic leader, do you think I want to talk to you right now?" Sensaina asked skeptically.
"You might as well talk to me now, otherwise you're just running away from your problems," Jonetsu stated.
"Running away from my problems?" Sensaina repeated," Why should've I have come to you first? What else do I have to say to you?"
"Because a good leader works things out immediately like a level-headed person." Jonetsu said.
"Do you think I'd let myself talk to you after you called me pathetic yesterday?" Sensaina asked loudly.
"Yes, because you're supposed to be the typical golden-hearted leader that's all perservering and cheerful." Jonetsu stated.
"Wait, so now according to you I'm pathetic..and I'm supposed to be the leader you want to be?" Sensaina asked. Hit with realization of what she just said, she wished she could rewind this moment, this entire day.
"The leader I want to be?" Jonetsu repeated frustratedly.
"Yeah! You'd loved to be leader but you know that you just can't do it!" Sensaina shouted.
"Well, at least I know the leader I'd rather have would a much better leader than yourself!" Jonetsu shouted as she walked away.
More tears cascaded down Sensaina's cheeks. She ran the opposite direction in desperate need of a place to be alone. But of course she bumped into her favourite green-eyed guy.
"Hey, Sensaina! Whoa, is something wrong?" Hideki asked as he took quickly notice of Sensaina puffy red eyes and tears.
"I'm ok..." She was about to run away but he took a firm hold of her wrist.
"You're not ok." Hideki declared. The two spent the lunch hour talking about Sensaina's fight with the girls, of course leaving out the detail Pretty Cure was disbanded.
"And so, I guess we're not friends anymore.." Sensaina sobbed.
"I don't think you guys will be 'not friends' for long." Hideki stated.
"Why is that?" Sensaina said as she rubbed tears from her eyes.
"It's only natural for people to argue but Sensaina you're a good-hearted person. Knowing you, you'll fix this in no time." Hideki beamed.
"Well, I was going to fix this during lunch today, but then Jonetsu came to me and then we started fighting again." Sensaina said.
"Try and keep your head up." Hideki said," I have to get to class so I'll see you later!"
"See ya." Sensaina said quietly. Soon, Hideki was out of earshot and so Sensaina groaned loudly. Why was everyone telling she was a good person when she was feeling her worst? She shouldn't be forced to be good-hearted and cheerful twenty-four seven. Nobody should be forced to. With the few minutes she had left, she looked at her dreamstone idly. Not a crack in sight, thankfully. Being a Pretty Cure was stressful, but that didn't mean she felt the need to quit. She would just have to keep trying harder, no matter how stronger the enemy gets, or in this case, how many team mates she'd lose.
She went back to the classroom. Jonetsu glared to her as she sat back beside Kintsuki and Meihime.
"So class, today will be studying the string theory.." Ms. Kimura began to teach.
Jonetsu rolled her eyes, she already heard about the string theory. This class she spent her time replaying the argument the girls had this lunch. Jonetsu didn't think herself to be wrong, that was for sure. But Sensaina said Jonetsu couldn't be leader. That one statement echoed in her brain. The only reason she wasn't leader was because Sensaina was discovered to a Pretty Cure first. She wasn't any better than Jonetsu or Haruko. In fact, Jonetsu was the smartest and the most athletic of the three. She was gifted, but then if that was true..why didn't she find the Destiny Casket?
Jonetsu angrily doodled the Casket. In a way, this was all the Casket's fault. All of this happened only because it didn't open. She scratched out the Casket doodle and gave her attention to Ms. Kimura.
Eventually, the end of the day arrived. Haruko stood outside of the school wondering if Sensaina and Jonetsu made up. She didn't like the idea of disbanding too much. Not as long as that Kagekaze guy was still around. She then saw Jonetsu and Sensaina walking in different directions.
"If avoiding Jonetsu means taking the long way around so be it!" Sensaina thought.
"Why isn't she walking with me? I know I'm no good at apologizing but that doesn't she shouldn't a chance to say sorry!" Jonetsu thought.
"Wh..what should I do?" Haruko asked as Toki crept out from her bag. Soon, the two, would have to cross paths.
"Just let them be-desu?" Toki said unsurely. Haruko shrugged and went her own way.
Thanks to wrong turns and missteps, Sensaina wounded up at the nearby, and apparently empty, park. The park was usually empty because not many people knew it was here. Suddenly she heard a loud crying. Then turned around, finding a girl who seemed about ten years old bawling under the nearby tree.
"Is there something wrong?" Sensaina asked.
"Mom said she would meet me here, but it's been an hour since I got here!" She bawled.
"That's cruel.."Sensaina said.
"And not only that, she said she would take me out for ice-cream!" She wailed.
Sensaina began, "Don't worry we'll-"
"Suddenly the girl dropped to the ground unconscious with a familiar dark cage around her.
"Her dreamstone was taken?"Sensaina asked.
"With almost no witnesses." A familiar voice smirked from behind them.
"Pretty Cure, Dream On!" Sensaina shouted.
"Singing the everlasting melody, Cure Songstress!" Songstress announced.
"What, only the one?" Kagekaze playfully asked.
"One is more than enough to go up against you!" Songstress said, as she threw punches towards the shadow man.
Kagekaze dodged and dodged while questioning Songstress and her fighting spirit. Songstress tuned him out completely and in a matter of minutes, she was exhausted.
"And now for the main event." Kagekaze held out the girl's dreamstone, pointing to the park's slide.
"Escape, Malvoid!" Kagekaze shouted.
Songstress was already tired out, what good could she do now?
Reluctantly, she jumped in front of the slide Malvoid and placed her arm in front of it," Pretty Cure, Melody of Madness!"
She only did slight damage to the Malvoid, her reluctant attack in vain.
The Malvoid grabbed Songstress and squeezed it's grip onto her.
"See? You're even more useless without your sidekicks," Kagekaze jeered.
Songstress fought her way out of the Malvoid's grip.
"They're not my sidekicks!" She shouted diving a kick down to Kagekaze. He suddenly disappeared and Songstress fell onto her back.
"They're just as strong as I am!" She shouted.
"Being strong together is being in unity, and so if you Pretty Cure are so united, why are you here by yourself?" Kagekaze asked as he reappeared.
"Go reek havoc on the city." Kagekaze said to the Malvoid," There's nothing here."
"Wait right there!" A familiar voice called out.
"Cure Garden!" Songstress shouted," Where's Jonetsu?"
Garden darted towards the Malvoid and began to fight.
"Beats me. I sent out Toki to find her." Garden said as she fought against the Malvoid.
"I'll go find her." Songstress declared.
"And leave me here bored?" Kagekaze asked blocking her only way out.
Songstress clenched her jaw and then reluctantly began to fight Kagekaze.
"Songstress can handle Malevolent just fine without me, she's got Toki, Doki.." Jonetsu said aloud carelessly,"Even if I do say sorry, she wouldn't except my apology."
"Jonetsu-desu! Jonetsu-desu!" Toki shouted desperately.
"Hm?"
"Jonetsu-desu!" Toki said as she came across Jonetsu,"Kagekaze's attacking, we need your help!"
"No you don't Songstress is fine on her own.." Jonetsu said quietly.
"That's what you think-desu! But even you know deep down Songstress needs you as much as you need her-desu!" Toki said.
Jonetsu wanted to think thoroughly about her Pretty Cure resignation, but even she knew this was no time for thinking.
"Where are they?" Jonetsu asked.
Toki grinned and led the way.
"You're different from the other Majors, they usually just sit around and watch.." Songstress panted.
"Well, what fun is there in sitting and watching?" Kagekaze asked.
Enraged, Songstress threw one last punch to the unscathed Kagekaze. As expected, Kagekaze evaded the punch.
"Don't you think I should get a turn?" He asked maliciously as he grabbed her neck.
"Songstress!" Garden cried as she fought hopelessly against the Malvoid.
"Pretty Cure impacting kick!" Matchmaker shouted.
"What?" Kagekaze asked. He turned himself into Songstress' shadow and Matchmaker stepped onto the shadow.
Kagekaze returned to his regular form.
"But how did you-?"
"I'm not the top of my class for no reason," Matchmaker grinned.
"Matchmaker that was amazing!" Songstress beamed.
"It doesn't matter, this Malvoid is stronger than any other!" Kagekaze spat," Want to know why? Because it's filled with my malevolent intent!"
"We don't mind. We're all together..we're equally strong and that's why...we'll defeat Malevolent!" Songstress shouted.
"The Destiny Casket-kore.." Doki said as the Casket began to glow from Songstress' bag.
Doki handed the Casket to Songstress.
"What's happening?" Songstress asked.
"Garden, use the key-desu!" Toki instructed. Garden used the key and suddenly the items fell into every Cures' hands.
"What are these?" Matchmaker asked. In her hand was a ring in the shape of a heart.
"Beats me." Garden said as she glazed her eyes on the two baton-like items in her hands.
"I think..I know what to do, but.." Songstress looked at her clueless friends.
"Cure Songstress if you know what to do then do it." Matchmaker said.
"Are you sure, because a good leader would-"
"-Take one for the team?" Matchmaker finished. Those weren't the words Songstress had in mind but she went through with them.
She smiled to her friends, then she turned to the Malvoid, clutching the scepter in her hand. She spun around and the atmosphere around was a shade of dark and light purple.
"Lyrics and vocals, the power of a song!" Songstress chanted.
"Pretty Cure, Music Heaven!" Songstress cried. Music notes and bars came smothering the Malvoid. She threw the scepter up into the air. While it was up in midair, Songstress clapped and as she caught it, she held it out and winked.
"Awake!" She shouted, cleansing the Malvoid.
"You'll regret today more than anything, Pretty Cure." Kagekaze warned before leaving.
"So what's this?" Songstress said as she gazed at the scepter in her hands.
"The Lyrical Scepter-kore!" Doki said.
"Songstress, that was so cool!" Garden said as she hugged her.
"Thanks..and I'm sorry." Songstress said.
"For what?" Matchmaker snickered.
"I don't know." Songstress confessed.
"Well then, how about this? I'm sorry for calling you a pathetic leader." Matchmaker apologized.
"Apology accepted." Songstress beamed.
The next day, things were back to normal and it was now after school. The girls plus Hideki were dismissed from class and walked together.
"Oh, come on!" Sensaina groaned as she gawked at a paper in her hands.
"Let me see.." Jonetsu said as she snatched the paper from Sensaina's hands.
"A fifty-nine percent?!" Jonetsu shrieked," Sensaina, I thought you studied for this one!"
"I thought I did too.." Sensaina said sheepishly.
"Maybe you should get Hideki to tutor you!" Haruko suggested. Sensaina looked up to Hideki defenselessly.
"Please Hideki! Please make me smart!" Sensaina begged as she hugged his right arm.
"What makes you think I'm any smart?" Hideki asked as he shook off Sensaina.
"Y-you're not?" Sensaina sniffled.
Hideki took out a test sheet from his bag and held it out to the girls.
"A fifty-four percent?!" Sensaina shouted.
"That's worse than Sensaina!" Haruko cackled.
"Well I gotta head home," Hideki said.
"Aw stay a little bit longer!" Haruko pleaded as she tugged on his arm. The girls had club activities they needed to get to but those could wait.
"Sorry.." Hideki said as he attempted to break free from Haruko's clutch.
"Please, big brother!" Haruko begged.
"I'm not your damn brother!" Hideki said.
"Haruko! Leave Hideki alone.." Jonetsu and Sensaina pulled on Haruko. Haruko fell to the ground as she lost grip. Thankfully, she was still conscious.
"Bye!" The girls shouted.
"Later." Hideki grinned.
Hideki walked home in deep thought about something.
"Those girls made up very quickly.." He said aloud," Do they even have dreamstones?"
He arrived at his house and waiting for him at the doorway was a man who was of Malevolent.
"Good afternoon, Hideki.." Hirutaro grinned.
Hideki went through some sort of quick transformation with his eyes turning pastel green, sharp, upperclass clothes and silverish white hair with one blue streak.
"Or should I say Hatred?" Hirutaro asked.