Demashitaa! Powerpuff Girls Z:
Suteki da ne?
The entire city seemed frozen. Even the whistling wind fell silent once the dark figure spoke. With another low chuckle, he hovered to the ground and began to approach them. He took long strides, shoulders back, hands folded behind him. The grin never left his face; his eyes never left Blossom's.
"M-Master! You needn't concern yourself with them, I was just about to-" Kare trailed off. The dark figure, the Master, came to a halt, mere feet from Tokyo City's teenage protectors. Blossom trembled, standing up straight, tilting her head back trying to keep eye contact.
He was tall, even taller than Kare; taller than Professor Utonium. His skin was darker than the night, the deepest black she'd ever seen. Flames rose from his big, red, unblinking eyes. Four horns rose up from his head, like antlers, while two pointed ears, atop his head, perked up, hearing the way her breath caught in her throat. His beard was like fire and his teeth were like fangs, gleaming in the now dark afternoon. The master was cloaked in a black robe with pointed shoulders, pulled over an ancient looking green and red shirt.
He sneered down his nose at Blossom, asking, "Do you know who I am, little hero?"
"Kare's dark master!" Blossom shot back, taking a step toward him, defiantly, "An ancient, terrible evil, whose power was so great he was sealed away deep beneath Tokyo City centuries ago by a powerful spirit of purity and righteousness, wielded by some amazing hero history has long forgotten!" She explained, smirking, satisfied with herself. Buttercup slapped her forehead and groaned, while Bubbles sighed and lowered her head.
"Momoko-san," she whispered, "Now isn't the time to get carried away with your imagination,"
The master blinked, the smirk falling from his face. He cleared his throat, cocking his head curiously, "That...is correct. Truly, you know of my legacy, the great, unspeakable evil I wrought across the land long ago?"
Blossom crossed her arms, taking yet another defiant step toward the monster, "That's not all! I know how you escaped too, monster!" Now she had Buttercup and Bubbles' attention as well as the Master's, "The tree in the center of Tokyo City! It was actually a mystic relic placed there to safeguard the spell that kept you sealed away! But, Kare's mischief a year ago damaged the tree, causing it to slowly die and release the spell holding you! That's why the monsters attacking now are different, they're coming from you, as part of your plan to take your revenge!" she smirked and put her hands on her hips, "Isn't that right?"
The Master took an involuntary step backward, eyes wide. Who was this child, who knew so much about the ancient past long forgotten by the world of man? "Truly remarkable..." the grin reappeared on his face, and he threw his head back, laughing, "That's correct, hero! I am the King of Evil, the Lord of Devastation, Aspect of Chaos..." He swung his hand to the side, summoning a massive torrent of black energy around him. Blossom snapped out of her deductive high and jumped back, in awe of his simple display.
With a mere gesture, his black aura had surpassed even Kare's.
"I am Akuma Daimao. Long ago, I wrought great destruction upon this world. Now, I have returned to finish what I started..." the monster, Akuma, bellowed. Buttercup, taking a deep breath and drawing on a new surge of strength, raised her hammer and stepped up beside Blossom.
"What you started?" she asked.
Akuma grinned, "The end of this, and every other world," he laughed, his great power still growing. With a snort, he held his hand out to the girls, "Fear not, children, this is to be your finest hour! You've triumphed over odds unthinkable and driven back the first gale of the storm. But, tomorrow has come, and now, tomorrow's winds blow. You will be the first to fall in the reclamation of my throne. Be thankful! For you shall be the first to gaze into the abyss and witness the end of all things!"
"Not on your life, monster! Megaton Dunk!" Buttercup launched herself at Akuma, swinging her giant hammer with her new-found might. She grunted, eyes wide. Akuma held back the attack with a single hand, the wicked grin never leaving his face, "N-No way! Graviton Drive!" Buttercup jumped back and swung again, this time striking the ground and sending a shockwave flying directly at Akuma. Without hesitation, he walked into the explosion, stepping through it unhindered.
"That's impossible...he...he is just ignoring Buttercup's attacks!" Bubbles gasped. Whatever excitement she'd built up, Blossom realized it was long gone. As attack after attack flew from Buttercup, to no avail against the advancing monster. She noticed, in the distance, even Kare was in awe of his own master's might.
"Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!" Buttercup screamed, dropping her hammer and flying at Akuma, throwing her mightiest punch straight at him. Like a viper, his hand shot out, snatching her fist and holding it still. Panting, Buttercup threw another punch; this one was caught just as easily as the first. She clenched her eyes shut and struggled, with all her amazing power, against him. Akuma leaned closer to her, until his nose was touching hers.
"You are nothing, child. Perhaps, amongst insects you may be a giant, but beside me, you are a mere candle in the wind," He laughed, throwing her aside effortlessly. Akuma clenched his fists and growled. His dark power concentrated around him, creating sparks of electricity and flashes of light in the very air surrounding him.
"Ah...yes..." he chuckled, "This should be sufficient. Come, Powerpuff Girls Z, come into the cold embrace of death itself!" He thrust his hands out, arms stretching, claws spread wide.
"Blossom move!" Bubbles quickly shoved Blossom out of the way, only to take the full brunt of the attack herself. She screamed, thrown back and yanked into the air. Akuma tossed her up and caught her by the leg, slamming her into the ground.
"Bubbles!" Blossom cried, scrambling to her feet. Akuma was now advancing on her, clenching and relaxing his hands. The dark power around him seemed never-ending.
"You, who defeated not one, but two of my aspects. You have proven yourself a noble foe...but rest-assured, girl. You cannot hope to defeat Akuma," he taunted with a wicked grin. Blossom narrowed her eyes, backing away slowly. She noticed Buttercup climbing to her feet behind Akuma and took a deep breath.
"Maybe, but you said it yourself didn't you...even if you're above me now, it's a world where tomorrow brings tomorrow's winds!" Blossom yelled, launching herself at him. He laughed, preparing to block her attack. Blossom dodged his own blow at the last second and spun around..
"Jawbreaker Spin!" She spun around, firing a rocket-powered kick at him. Akuma took the blow with only a grunt and swung at her. Blossom dodged throwing another Jawbreaker Spin kick at him. This time, Akuma growled and snatched her leg. He pulled his free arm back and opened his palm wide.
"I will not be undone so easily, girl! Crushing Tempora-" Before Akuma could finish, Blossom shoved her other foot in his face.
"Let GO!" She fired her jet as hard as she could, tearing herself free from his grip, just enough to get away. Akuma snarled, swatting her out of the air and sending her crashing into, and through, a bus stop bench. Blossom screamed breathlessly, a stream of blood spraying from her mouth. When she hit the ground, she collapsed on her arms and knees, struggling to breathe.
"Blossom! Bubble Popper II!" Bubbles screamed, flying to her feet and swinging her wand down viciously, putting as much power as she could into the attack. The bubbles shot through the air, smashing the concrete where they hit. When they reached Akuma, he snarled, putting up his arm and blocking the full force of the attack. The street nearby exploded, Buttercup throwing herself at Akuma. She managed to knock him off his feet, but as soon as they were in the air, his entire body began to change.
"Foolish girl, witness my might! CHANGE NOW!" Akuma roared and his body suddenly expanded and shifted, becoming a massive, muscle-bound demon gorilla. With a roar, he smashed his feet into the ground, stopping her charge, and threw his hand down, slapping her into the concrete. He picked her up and backhanded her, sending her crashing into Bubbles.
"Buttercup! Get up! Hurry!" Bubbles insisted, crawling to her knees and struggling to lift Buttercup. Akuma stomped toward them, snorting and growling. He began to pick up speed, going faster and faster, until...
"CHANGE NOW!" His body exploded, transforming into a black stag, with massive, crooked antlers. He roared, stampeding toward them at full speed.
"I can't dodge him...not with her," Bubbles moaned. She heard a zipping sound and saw a streak of pink come flying through the air.
"Candy Crush Kick!" Blossom rocketed herself at Akuma, hitting him with enough force to stop his charge, but also knock herself back, skidding to a halt in front of Bubbles.
"Fools! You think this is a game?! You truly believe you are a match for me? CHANGE NOW!" Akuma transformed again, becoming a great feral cat with giant, sharp teeth.
"Bubble Boing!" Bubbles swung her wand, just in time to create a massive bubble that blocked the monster's deadly leap. He roared, tearing through the bubble. Though it hadn't stopped him, it was enough to buy Buttercup time to get back up.
"Swing Sonic II!" She yelled, swinging her hammer with her remaining strength. Blossom slammed her elbows into the ground and brought both feet up, between herself and Akuma. Clenching her eyes shut, she braced herself.
"Bubblegum Rocket Blast!" She yelled, firing her jets at full power. Bubbles shot forward, catching Blossom and steadying her. The two attacks collided with Akuma's belly and threw him back through the air, landing several yards away. The girls gasped, now completely drained. As they struggled to their knees, they heard Akuma roar and a cyclone of black power rise up.
"CHANGE NOW!" he bellowed, once more in his original form. His eyes were glowing red, their flames blazing out of control, "Pitiful little heroes! Taste the full might of Akuma Daimao!" Akuma pulled both arms back, palms open wide. All of the dark power that had been billowing around him suddenly condensed into his hands.
"Crushing Temporal Strike!" He roared, thrusting his arms forward. The colossal wave of darkness that erupted from him sucked away all sound around it, drew in all light and smashed it into itself like a black hole, careening toward them impossibly fast. It tore the street open, shattered nearby windows, and vaporized everything in its path.
"I'll...block it...I just..." Buttercup tried to lift her hammer, struggling to use her Smash Block. She fell back to her knees as soon as she got to her feet. Bubbles quickly wrapped her arms tightly around Blossom and turned so that her feet were pressed against Buttercup's chest. The green-eyed heroine looked down in confusion.
"I'm sorry, Buttercup. This may hurt...if it works..." Clenching her eyes shut, Bubbles flew backward as hard as she could, dragging Blossom with her, and blasting Buttercup in the other direction. The blast shot across where they'd been only moments before, sucking away the air around them. A silent shock wave hit them, throwing them back further.
Akuma's arms dropped to his sides, his dark power flickering and vanishing around him. He was gasping, panting. His eye flames had dwindled to embers; his eyelids felt heavy.
"Clever girls...somehow...you have survived this day." He took a deep breath and stood up straight, folding his hands behind his back. Though he seemed calm, his eyes were wide, the corners of his mouth twitching, "This is not the end, Powerpuff Girls Z, these are the end of days, and you cannot stop the coming tide of darkness!" With a roar, he vanished into a cloud of shadows, slipping back into the crater from which it came.
Kare sneered, looking at Powerpuff Girls Z, then to the crater where his master had gone. He took a step toward the girls, who had been knocked unconscious by the force of his master's attack, but heard a dark voice echo in his head, beckoning him to return.
"Dammit..." he cursed, disappearing in a cloud of black particles.
XxXxX
"Akuma Daimao," Professor Utonium repeated, watching a video of Powerpuff Girls Z's latest battle for the fourth time. The girls were sprawled out across the lab, still recovering several hours later. The monster, Akuma Daimao, didn't seem to appear in any historical document he could find, not even in Kennai Hiraga's notes. He scratched his head and turned to look at Momoko, who was sipping a milkshake and laying on the couch in a daze. His curiosity, at last, got the best of him.
"Momoko-chan," he asked. Momoko looked up. He also caught Miyako and Kaoru's attention, "I've been meaning to ask. How did you hear of the monster? Akuma Daimao...I can't find anything about him, and yet you knew his history?"
Momoko giggled and sighed, laying her head back on her pillow, "Well..." the others all leaned in closer, "Actually, I made that all up. I was just guessing because it made sense," Ken fell out of his chair, Peach landing on top of him. Kaoru groaned and buried her head in her arms, while Miyako sighed and shook her head.
"Momoko-san...what can we do with you?" despite the tone of her voice, she flashed Momoko a bright smile. Momoko smiled and went back to sipping on her milkshake. Kaoru waved her hand from the table, where she was lounging.
"Hey, Hero Maniac. I was wondering...what you said to Akuma. The thing about tomorrow's wind. That was really cool, how did you come up with that?" she asked. Miyako nodded, beaming at Momoko.
"I agree, Kaoru-san. That was very inspirational, Momoko-san," she chirped. Momoko blushed and looked away, still sipping on her milkshake. She sighed and giggled sheepishly.
"Actually, I was just quoting the lyrics to a song," she admitted. Kaoru groaned and fell backward, toppling her chair. Miyako shook her head, covering her mouth to hold back her giggles. Momoko just shrugged and gave her a wink.
XxXxX
"Unthinkable..." Akuma muttered, collapsed in his throne, barely able to keep his eyes open. In one fell swoop, he'd undone all the work Doudouhara and Dokioushi had accomplished. A single attack, and his power was spent. Groaning, he sat forward, glaring in the direction of Kare, who's doll body was lying across the cavern.
"Kare..." Akuma called. Dark seeds filled the cavern and solidified in the form of Kare in front of him. Akuma, grunting and wide-eyed with anger, slammed his hand feebly on the arm of his throne, "This will not do. As I lie here, Powerpuff Girls Z already spread more hope and light through the city above. I cannot recover like this, not with them in my way," In the back of his mind, Akuma was nervous. The leader, she'd known so much about him, though he was certain history had forgotten him. He snarled and glared further at Kare.
"The girl, Hyper Blossom, you never mentioned her clairvoyance! How did such a young child know of me?!" he roared. He snarled, waving his hand, "The others, they are powerful, no doubt, but in my weakened state, how am I to contend with one possessing such potent psychic powers?"
"Ahem...Master, you are over-thinking things. Ah, ah, ah...please relax," Kare cooed, floating to Akuma's side, "But...if you are worried about Blossom, I think I know of a way to not only destroy her, but make her the very catalyst for your ascension!"
Akuma blinked, laying back in his throne and stroking his beard, "Speak of this plan,"
Kare giggled, his body melting away. His black seeds became a screen, showing Akuma a memory from Kare's past. When Kare had possessed a young boy, making him pretend to be romantically interested in Momoko, and then attempted to break her heart.
"Blossom, Akatsutsumi Momoko, she is the easiest one to break...all you need to do is find your way into her fragile, lonely heart..." the image flickered to show Momoko embarrassed and crying, "And smash it into tiny, little pieces," Kare reformed and cackled wildly.
"Into her heart...yes...but how? Surely with her psychic abilities, she'll uncover my bluff," he pointed out. Kare's grin became almost manic, he merged with his body once again and appeared beside his master, a book in hand. Akuma took the book, "What is this?" Kare leaned close to his master's perked ear.
"One of the blueprints to her heart, my Master," he whispered. Akuma frowned, flipping to the first page of the manga in his hand.