"So you're telling me it's been…7 or so weeks since then…and you STILL haven't talked to her!?" Andah asked incredulously, blocking a sword from an Antroid -as Andah and Slavi had dubbed the foot soldiers-.
The team had been sent to deal with this week's monster, each of them spread out around a fountain which had some rumors running around about a 'witch' taking baths in it occasionally.
"I KNOW!" Ziga wailed, ducking an Antroid's strike. "We just keep trying, and trying, but neither of us can get a damn word out! I keep opening my mouth, trying to speak, but I can't figure out what to say!"
"Well," The monster they had been fighting this week, a woman with mannequin toned skin in a black sundress, heels, and sunhat with yellow sun patterns on each of them, started. "Perhaps you could try practicing in front of a mirror, maybe writing down ideas of what to say, saying them in front of said mirror as if you're talking to her, and crossing out any that might not work?" She suggested, dodging a shot from Nazu. This monster's name was Mannequeen.
"Yeah, that!" Andah grinned, red eye of her visor winking at Mannequeen in thanks, the monster blowing a kiss back as she twirled in her dress to dodge another shot from Nazu, Andah giggling.
"...are you ever satiable?" Ziga muttered, cracking an Antroid in the back on her knee. Andah laughs as she jumps over two Antroids, grabbing them both and tossing them into a group of their allies.
"I am still very much surprised by how…nice these monsters are…" Azu muttered, stabbing an Antroid behind her with her sword, Mannequeen blowing her a kiss as she threw out sunny spheres at the group.
Azu blushed, taken aback by the gesture which, unfortunately, distracted her long enough for her to get hit in the face and sent into a wall. "...did…anyone get the number on that star?" She groaned out, eyes rolling around.
"546-67801Heart01." Mannequeen answered with a sweet smile.
"Thank you." Azu responded in a daze, Slavi and Andah giggling, Azu shaking herself from her daze and growling, rushing Mannequeen.
Mannequeen dodged out of the way of a stab, pulling Azu into a dip, winking at her, Azu's cheeks pinkening before yelping as she was spun towards Slavi, the pink ranger catching her into a near identical dip.
"You're enjoying this way too much." Azu said flatly, blushing even harder.
"Hey, if I'm not enjoying, I'm stressing."
Azu looked away bashfully.
"And speaking of surprises," Slavi began.
"Hm?"
"I'm still surprised YOU HAD US SKIP THE ROLL CALL! AGAIN!"
"Oh for fuck's sake, it's a waste of time!"
"It's never a waste of time! We have to look cool! It's Sentai tradition!"
"FUCK YOUR TRADITIONS!"
"Ah, young love…" Mannequeen sighed, a nostalgic look in her eyes.
"...I hate her with every fiber of my being." Azu groaned.
"Your blushing says otherwise~" Andah singsonged.
"SHADDUP!"
Mannequeen giggled. "Oh, if we didn't have to fight…" She sighed in bliss at the thoughts before charging more sun beams, yelping as she was suddenly struck in the back by blue energy shots.
She looked to Nazu, who…wait, he hadn't even moved behind her.
"Oooooh!" She realized. "Your shots home in! Just like my wonderful Homira…" She giggled. "Very impressive, blue ranger. Unfortunately…" She grabbed the bottom of her dress.
Azu's eyes widened, face turning beat red. OH FUCK OH FUCK OH FUCK IS SHE ACTUALLY-
Mannequeen pulled the dress over her head, a bright flash of light covering her body before anyone could see anything. When the light dimmed down, she was wearing water blue colored clothing with wave textures and pink silhouetted sea life patterns.
"Fucking tease, am I right?" Slavi joked to Azu…who was still blushing beat red. "...Red?"
Azu snapped out of it, shaking her head. "Wh-what?"
"Monster stripped, blinded us briefly to prevent you from having a figurative nosebleed, and now she's in new duds." Slavi recapped.
"..." Azu blinked, Slavi noticing the more heavy breathing going on with her object of affection.
Slavi smirked, filing this away for later, turning her attention to the monster. "So, lemme guess, you change your powers depending on your clothes?"
"Correct!" Mannequeen grinned, rings of water forming around her. "Uh…is your friend, ok?"
Slavi chuckled. "She's fine, right, Red?"
Azu nodded dumbly.
Mannequeen winked at her, nearly causing Azu to swoon before she sent the rings of water at the two like disks.
Shaking her head, she grabbed her sword, Azu rushing under the disks. Sliding on the ground, she pressed a trigger on the hilt, the laser blade being surrounded in a blazing aura before she slashed at Mannequeen's leg.
The monster gasped, steam rising from the cut before she sent a giant blast of water towards Azu.
The red ranger took off into the sky to avoid the blast before zooming down in a flying kick, her wings lighting up with flames at the edges, Mannequeen hydro-pumping her way into the air, spinning Azu around as she passed by quickly.
"Whoaaaaaaaa!" Azu tried to right herself. "Steady steady steady-"
She was sent into the ground by a torrent of water twice the size of her, followed by pink energy silhouettes of sea creatures, landing on her back in a crater.
"...ow…" She groaned. She then felt someone straddle her, looking up and blushing, seeing Mannequeen there, Azu's cheeks on her face and helmet pinkening, unable to focus on trying to counter attack, too focused on the expression she was giving her.
"You okay, little Red?" Mannequeen beamed, smiling.
"Ahf-uh-uh-" Azu's words failed her, face heating up. "P-pretty-ocean-lady-you." She managed to stammer out, her brain not registering what she just said completely. Mannequeen just smiled more and picked the red ranger up, twirling while holding Azu.
"Why thank you~"
…
Meanwhile, two figures watched from the shadows with…dumbfounded looks on their faces.
"...these…are who we're gonna…" One of them commented.
"...I…certainly did not expect this…" The other one added.
...
"..." Andah blinked. "Ok I know we should probably be helping her, but I can't help but find this adorable. Anyone else?" The green ranger asked.
"You're not alone." Slavi giggled.
"I mean… How long till she has a melt down?" Nazu asked.
"Well given our time together so far," Andah began. "Plus, how…into it she seems, I give it five minutes."
"I'll wager 10." Slavi added.
"You're on."
"..." Nazu looked to Ziga. "...you sure this isn't the weirdest team you've ever worked with?"
"Somehow…yeah." Ziga muttered, sweat dropping. "YO RED, YOU DONE?"
Azu giggled deliriously, and Slavi could swear she saw her eyes replaced with hearts through her helmet's visor.
"...Ok as adorable as this is, we should probably stop it." Slavi giggled.
Mannequeen pouted. "Oh fine." She kissed Azu on the mouthplate before spinning her towards Slavi, who caught her in a dance dip.
"You ok?" Slavi asked.
"Heheheh…" Azu giggled, still out of it.
"She's…gonna need a bit." Slavi sweat dropped.
"...did I go overboard?" Mannequeen asked, frowning, chuckling nervously.
"Maybe but I think we can agree she needed it, ye?" Andah says.
"Indeed." Mannequeen giggled. "I'll go and give her a minute to dry off. You all still up for fighting?"
Nazu stepped forward, crossbow and sidearm in hand. "I can keep ya busy till she's back to 100%."
"..."
"..."
"You uh…wanna take a minute to rephrase that?" Mannequeen asked, an amused smirk on her face.
"Nope. I'd rather use that minute to kick your ass!" Nazu exclaimed, taking a stance.
"Wow, nice recovery." Mannequeen clapped softly with a genuine smile before twirling around, swirling waves of water being sent out to the others, Andah grabbing Azu in a bridal carry before leaping up to a nearby rooftop.
Andah looked to Azu, who still had the heart eyed, delirious smile on her face. "Yeah…gonna be out for quite a bit." She laughed, setting her down before leaping up. "VIRI-YOYO!"
A black yoyo with green highlights appeared in her hand, the energy string wrapped around her left hand middle finger. She sent it out at Mannequeen, who leapt out of the way, only for the yoyo to wrap around her ankle. "Oh shit-"
Andah cackles, tugging the Yo-Yo, making Mannequeen face-plant.
"PHOTINUS KNUCKLES!" Slavi called out. Triangular black knuckles with pink highlights appeared over her gloves, the pink ranger lunging and punching at Mannequeen as the monster attempted to get up, sending her flying directly at Nazu, who grins.
"Bang." He called out, pressing the trigger on his crossbow, the tips of that and his sidearm glowing.
[EMPEROR'S ROARING BLAST!]
"Oh shit-" Mannequeen was blasted by those two shots, getting sent into the air where-
"GAH!" The shots she thought she dodged earlier came back and exploded against her back, sending her into the ground in a small explosion of blue energy.
"Nice shot!" Andah grinned, patting Nazu on the shoulder.
"Heh, thanks."
Mannequeen groaned, smoke rising from her now tattered dress.
"...really glad Red's not seeing this." Andah giggled. "This would make her overheat for sure."
Ziga rolled her eyes.
"Well then…I suppose I need to get…" She smirked. "Down and dirty."
She grabbed the straps of her dress and pulled them down, everyone covering their eyes as Mannequeen glowed.
When the light dimmed, she was wearing a stone grey dress with green floral patterns across it.
"...OOOOH that was a pun!" Nazu realized, facepalming.
"Of course, I'm not just a pretty face." Mannequeen holds her arm out and vines lash out from the ground at the group, save the still recovering Azu.
Everyone moved out of the way, maneuvering out of the way of the vines before hiding behind the fountain.
"Ok, game plan, anyone?" Nazu asked.
"I can try going in myself while you all spread out." Ziga suggested.
"No, Yellow, you can't!" Slavi told her. "You're an electric type, those aren't very effective against grass types!"
"Correct!" Andah added. "I'm a flying type, so I'll be most effective until Red can come in with some fire!"
"...you do realize this isn't Pokemon, right?" Ziga deadpanned.
"We know." Slavi giggled.
"We just like to have fun." Andah smirked.
Ziga rolled her eyes. "Ok, since Red's out being love drunk,"
"Oh, like how you are around Boss lady?" Andah teased.
"I swear to the Great Draginsects, Green-"
"Enough." Nazu cut in. "I think I've got enough element training to go splash some water on Red, at least. I'll see if that can wake her up, then we can try burning away Mannequeen's vines."
"Right." Ziga nodded. "Green, think you can create some literal wind blades?"
"Yep!" Andah nodded. "I think I got that down by now."
"Good. You and Pink cut through her vines, I'll wait for an opening and use my tonfas when I can get in close. When I give the clear, Green, you wrap your yoyo around her. We'll unleash finishers on her. Hopefully that'll take her out, but if not, it'll at least tire her out enough for the Roaryal Buzzsword. Everyone got it?"
"GOT IT!"
Nazu flew up to the rooftop Andah left Azu on, while Andah and Slavi jumped out from behind the fountain, cutting at the vines, Ziga slinking away.
"Ok…" Nazu muttered, aiming his crossbow at Azu, water surrounding the tip. "Here goes…" He blasted a huge burst of water at Azu.
"GAH, PRETTY, DRESS, I'M NOT INTO HER I SWEAR!" Azu gasped, sitting up, blinking before looking around. "...uh…" She blinked before looking at Nazu. "Where was I the past few minutes?"
"Sitting there having a gay panic attack." Nazu responds matter of factly.
"..." Azu put her face in her hands, groaning in frustration. "Zea dammit, I am useless…"
"No you're not. C'mon, she switched to a plant dress. We need you to burn the vines."
"Got it..uh…" She blushed. "It's not too revealing, is it?"
"Not anymore than the other stuff she's worn so far. Just try to look away if it looks like she's gonna be flirting with you."
"G-got…got it." Azu jumped up, the two of them flying downwards.
Andah and Slavi meanwhile were cutting through the vines as best they could, though with every vine they cut, two more took its place.
"Dammit, she's good." Andah cursed. "This isn't getting us anywhere."
"C'mon, Red…" Slavi whispered to herself before-
FWOOOOOSH!
The vines suddenly caught on fire.
Andah and Slavi cheered, seeing Azu back on her feet.
"Good job, Red!" Slavi grinned, hugging Azu.
"...th-thanks…" Azu blushed, the side of her face pressed into Slavi's chest.
"Well well," Mannequeen let out a "tch". "Looks like the gang's back together. Did you enjoy your nap?"
"...uh…uh…" Azu slapped herself. "NO! I AM FOCUSED!"
"Good! Let's go, then!" Mannequeen starts growing a wall of trees.
"Ok, so, did y'all have a plan before now, or…?" Azu asked.
"We did, but we think that's out now." Ziga cursed.
"Ok, I think I got something." Azu nodded. "I'm gonna set these things on fire, you go around and keep her busy. I'm gonna tear her dress-"
Andah snorted.
"SHUT UP!" Azu snapped, cheeks pink. "I'm gonna tear and burn her dress, then we incapacitate her before she can switch to the next one, then we do the Roaryal Buzzsword."
"So…pretty much similar to my plan." Ziga said.
"Oh."
"Not bad, great minds think alike!" Ziga grinned, Azu blushing.
"Oh so you admit you're not an idiot!" Andah grinned.
"Oh, bite me." Ziga told her.
"Later, it's difficult with the ranger suit on."
"..." Ziga blushed hard.
"..." Azu blinked, blushing. "...let's just…let's just go…" Azu lit her sword up with fire before swinging it, the trees quickly catching fire.
The wall of trees soon became a wall of fire, everyone scurrying through once the trees weakened enough.
Mannequeen sent vines to attack each of them, the rangers stabbing, slashing, shooting, and punching at them, the flames of the trees slowly being absorbed into Azu's blade.
"HELVIA TONFAS!" Ziga yelled out, black tonfas with yellow highlights forming before she sent lightning enhanced strikes to the rangers' foe.
Azu flew into the air, wings burning like an angel of fire as all the flames gathered up into her sword.
Mannequeen couldn't help but begin to feel a little toasty, looking up and seeing Azu zooming at her. "...oh fuck that's hot-"
SHNK/FWOOSH!
Azu landed on her knees behind Mannequeen…
Before the monster's clothes tore in a few places with flames lightning up.
As Mannequeen tried to pat out the fires before attempting to pull at her dress, Slavi punched the ground with her knuckles, pink vines grabbing onto Mannequeen's limbs.
"Plants..are my thing." Slavi grinned.
"Well you certainly are as gorgeous as one." Mannequeen winked, Slavi giggling.
"ROARYAL BUZZSWORD! NOW!" Azu groaned, everyone gathering up.
Azu held her blade vertically, Andah pressing her yoyo to the bottom to form a pommel. Nazu put his crossbow into Azu's hilt. Ziga pressed her tonfas' grips to the blade of Nazu's crossbow, yellow energy blades lighting up. Slavi combined her knuckles and put them on the tip of Nazu's crossbow, a pink blade unsheathing.
This was their team weapon…the Roaryal Buzzsword.
Azu gripped the hilt, Nazu grabbing her left shoulder, Ziga her right. Slavi grabbed Nazu's shoulder, with Andah grabbing Ziga's. "Roaryal!" The red ranger yelled.
"BUZZING!" The other four continued.
"SLASH!" All five yelled out, the blade lighting up before they swung at Mannequeen, a giant multicolored energy dragon forming from the energy slash and biting down at their foe.
Mannequeen started sparking. "Heh…you did good on round one…" She smiled. "Let's see how you do when I decide to get fit for more…big girl clothes~" She fell forward, the vines letting her go before she exploded, the rest of them backing up as she grew and grew.
"You know, we should really try to find a way to prevent those seeds from getting to the monsters when they're down." Azu commented.
"Oh come on, first the roll call, now this!?" Slavi pouted.
"It's either that or I get another gay panic attack from the fact I CAN SEE UP HER FUCKING SKIRT RIGHT NOW!" Azu screeched, turning a bright shade of pink.
Nazu was already looking away. "Let's just uh…summon the Draginsects, alright?"
Slavi and Andah wolf whistled at Mannequeen before shaking their heads, everyone nodding, pressing their sidearms together.
"SIGNALLING ZEA!"
The portal opened up, Mannequeen jumping out of the way to avoid getting tackled by the Draginsects. "Amazing! I mean, I've seen footage, but being up close is…magical."
The mantis Draginsect seemed to puff its chest out in pride over this, the grasshopper one taking a bit of amusement over her fellow zord's reaction.
"Everyone in!" Azu called out, everyone jumping into their respective cockpits.
"Ok, so which am I facing first? Are you gonna skip straight to your combo, or do we get more action with each of you solo? I find it disappointing most Sentai here seem to just do the former mostly."
"I know right!?" Slavi called out.
"We're gonna stay uncombined until you knock one or all of us on our butt, then go combo." Andah answered.
"WHICH IS STILL INEFFICIENT!" Azu called out.
"More efficient than getting into a love spell over our opponent?" Nazu teased.
"OH SHUT THE FUCK UP!"
Mannequeen smirked. "Well, dearest Red, what do you think of my new clothes?" She asked, posing sexily, wearing a deep cut and backless silk dress-toga cross that seemed to be made from swirls of her ground fight dresses, glass slippers with patterns modeled after all the elements used in the ground fight, a sun hat tilted to only cover one eye, also lookin like it was made from swirls of her outfits.
"..."
Slavi looked and saw the red Draginsect motionless.
"...oh for…" Slavi giggled, the firefly Draginsect patting the butterfly one's head.
"Oh for…fuh wha…" Azu droned out.
The firefly draginsect bonked its leader on the head.
"WHAT! WHA, I'M BACK!" Azu called out, shaking her head.
"Good." Slavi giggled. "You alright?"
"Yeah uh…I think so."
"Good!"
"Ya alright there, Red?" Mannequeen called out, giggling.
"Fuh-fuh-fine! I'M FINE!" Azu insisted, face pink beneath her helmet.
"Then let's get her!"
Azu nodded. "Pink, lay down covering fire, Blue, strike at her blind spots. Yellow, Green, when you see an opening, get her."
"ON IT, BOSS!" They call, moving their Zords in.
Azu perched her zord on a building as Slavi's hovered in the air, firing at Mannequeen, Nazu's striking in every so often on their foe's back.
…
"Not a bad plan…" One of the shadowed figures observed.
"We'll see how they do adapting on the fly. I get the feeling that new dress isn't just for show."
"With how Red's been acting all fight, it could be and it'd be just as effective."
"HA!"
…
Ziga's zord went in for a slash, her bladed upper appendages being blocked by a giant beanstalk, Andah's zord rearing its hind legs back and kicking Mannequeen into the air.
Mannequeen sent gusts of wind at the team, Andah's zord flapping its wings to send green energy wind strikes at her, Ziga's Draginsect digging its blades into Mannequeen's shoulders.
Mannequeen shouts in pain and tries to slam Ziga into one of her team-mates. Nazu flew by and grabbed Ziga, who took their foe with her into the sky.
Mannequeen threw a few sunballs into the sky, which glew brightly before sending homing lasers at her foes and, to everyone's brief surprise, seemed to be avoiding any buildings.
"...how…so nice…?" Azu muttered.
"To paraphrase my comrade weeks ago, we're soldiers, not ruffians." Mannequeen grinned, the lasers forcing Ziga to drop her, a giant beanstalk cushioning her fall. "Well, I'm a seamstress, but still."
"..." Slavi took a moment to glance at Azu. "You still with us?"
Azu blushed. "I'M KEEPING WATCH OF THE BATTLE BEFORE I CAN STRIKE!"
"Mhm. Sure~"
"Oh fuck you."
"Later."
As Azu blushed harder and let out unintelligible screams of frustration and embarrassment, Mannequeen raised an eyebrow, turning to the other three rangers. "Is it…always like this with the two of them?""
"Pretty much yeah. I think it's worse cause Red's crushing on you and not her right now." Andah says.
"I'M NOT CRUSHING ON ANYBODY!"
"So those weren't heart eyes I saw through your visor while gorgeous over here was twirling you around in her arms?" Andah teased, giggling.
"GREEN, I SWEAR I AM GONNA FUCKING KILL YOU IF YOU DON'T SHUT UP!"
"Awww, she's so cute when she's mad!~" Mannequeen and Slavi say in unison.
Azu nearly fainted onto her console at that.
"...you think you guys are being a bit mean or…just going overboard with this?" Nazu asked.
"But Blue, she's so cute like this~" Andah argued.
"But she can't fight."
"Oh, fine." Andah rolled her eyes playfully. "Yo, Pink, it's time to stop teasing Red."
"But Greeeeeen!"
"Now."
Slavi sighed. "Alright. Red, ya with us?"
Azu smacked her head, trying to focus. Focus on the battle, not the teasing. Focus on the battle, not the lady in the sexy dress. Focus on the battle, not the woman with those gorgeous piercing eyes and that…heart race-inducing smile… She slapped herself. "I'M HERE!" She opened her Draginsect's mouth and breathed fire onto Mannequeen, who leapt out of the way.
"Good! Let's do this properly!" Mannequeen states.
"R-right, let's!" Azu agreed, nodding before she took to the sky, flapping her wings and sending red energy waves at her objection of affection-I mean-opponent. Totally just mean that.
Slavi rushes in under the energy waves to do a melee attack, slashing with her claws, leaving pink glowing claw marks on Mannequeen's legs, the seamstress grunting before kicking the firefly Draginsect up and stomping on her, pinning her to the ground. Ziga rushes in, slashing her mantis blades at Mannequeen's back. Mannequeen groaned, a hydro pump blasting Ziga away, Nazu zooming by and grabbing her before throwing her at their foe.
"Think it's time to combine forces?!" Nazu called out.
"Definitely!" Azu called out. "Everybody ready!?"
"READY!"
"RYUMUSHI GATTAI!"
…
One awesome transformation sequence later, Ryumushi-Ohi stood ready and prepared for battle, her sword raised and glistening in the sunlight before she pointed it at her foe.
"..." Slavi blinked. "Oh come on!"
"Why would we say that? We know it's complete, our enemy knows it's complete, we don't have to shout 'COMPLETE, RYUMUSHI-OHI' every single damn time." Azu pointed out.
"Other Sentai do it!"
"We're not other Sentai."
"You're no fun."
"This isn't fun!"
"What, you don't have fun kicking ass as superheroes fighting alongside sexy ass allies and unleashing cool finishing moves at supervillains?"
"THAT'S BESIDES THE POINT!"
"That's not a no~"
"Wait, sexy ass allies?" Nazu asked.
"What, your wife never tell you ya got something good? If not, she should." Slavi answered.
"Oh…thank you!" Nazu chuckled.
"WE ARE NOT DOING THAT STUPID POST-TRANSFORMATION STATEMENT AND THAT IS FINAL!" Azu declared.
"Awww." Slavi pouted behind her mask.
"...you're pouting aren't you?"
"Is it working?"
"I hate you."
"No ya don't!"
"It sure is nice of Mannequeen to just stand here while you have a lovers' quarrel." Andah commented, nodding to Mannequeen who was, indeed, waiting patiently.
"Oh don't mind me, this is most entertaining." Mannequeen smiled.
"Gahhh will you shut up and fight if we do it?"
"Really?" Slavi asked, eyes sparkling.
"YES NOW STOP BEING CUTE!"
Beat.
"..."
"...So did you…mean for that to come out, or…?" Andah smirked.
"I SAID NOTHING! YOU ALL HEARD NOTHING!" Azu squeaked.
"Sure." Nazu snickered.
"OH SHUT THE FUCK UP!"
"Okay, let's do it!"
"Complete, Ryumushi-Ohi!" Everyone shouted, except for Azu, who just delivered it with a deadpan voice.
"There, can we go now?" Azu asked.
"Yeah! Let's do it!"
Ryumushi-Ohi rushed forward, attempting a stab at Mannequeen, who twirled out of the way, the Megazord spinning around quickly and slashing at her dress, getting a few cuts into it.
"My, my, Red, I didn't know you were that-"
"STOP IT!" Azu screeched, slashing again. "JUST!" Slash. "STOP!" Slash. "TALKING!" With a five colored energy blaze surrounding the weapon, Ryumushi-Ohi leaped with its grasshopper Draginsect leg and slashed down at Mannequeen, who just barely managed to avoid any significant damage.
"Awww did I strike a nerve?~"
"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Azu, face burning a bright pink through her helmet, kept on slashing at Mannequeen.
"..." Slavi blinked. "Uh…w-wow…"
"She's pretty fast, we're only hitting cloth." Andah says
"I know, but…" Slavi gestured towards Azu. "...she's…wow…" Her cheeks began coloring red.
"Ok, love, let's focus on the battle at hand and your battle to win her heart later." Andah giggled.
"Right!"
"Yo, Red, any ideas?" Nazu asked. "...Red?"
Red panted heavily.
"...Red!"
Azu snapped out of it.
"You ok?" Nazu asked.
"...Peachy…."
"We're only hitting cloth. Any ideas?"
Azu paused for a moment. "Bring the dragonfly, mantis, and grasshopper wings onto Ryumushi-Ohi's back. That should increase our speed enough to match her."
"Got it!" Everyone chorused.
The blue, yellow, and green wings detached from the sword before going onto the Megazord's back.
"And with the wings of your comrades, the red and pink lovers swing their blade." Mannequeen poeticized before sighing dreamily. "How romantic."
Azu was turning a bright pink from head to toe, steam coming out of her ears through her helmet. "You're DEAD!" She screamed, the giant mecha goddess lashing out at blinding speed, Mannequeen seemingly dodging out of the way.
"Ha, it appears-"
RIP!
The portion of her dress covering her stomach fell off, leaving behind a red and pink glowing scar.
"Ah. Damn that stings, good hit."
Azu had a smug smile on her face. Good. Maybe that would finally shut her up-
"Though if you wanted to strip me, you could've taken me to dinner first."
"...you're dead. You're deader than dead. YOU ARE SO DEAD THAT NOT EVEN HADES WOULD TAKE YOU! YOU ARE DEAD!" Azu screeched, Ryumushi-Ohi sending a whirlwind of lightning-fast slashes at the seamstress, Azu growing a brighter pink by the second.
"Uh…I think she's overheating…" Andah said in concern.
"...ok I think we may have gone a bit too far in the teasing…" Slavi murmured. "Hey, Red!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH-"
"Red."
"DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE YOU STUPID-"
"RED!"
"WHAT!?" Azu snapped.
Slavi pulled her into an embrace, Azu's head against her chest. "Guys, take the wheel here while I calm this one down."
"LET GO OF ME, LET GO-LEMME AT HER, LEMME AT HER!" Azu screamed incredulously, flailing angrily.
The other 3 rangers sweatdropped nervously before turning their attention back to Mannequeen, continuing the assault, though it was far less…intense.
Slavi pats Azu's head, holding her away from the controls.
"LEMME AT HER, LEMME-"
"Calm down, ssssh…." Slavi told her, rubbing her back, which, much to Azu's chagrin, was actually quite soothing-
"NO! SHE MUST PAY!"
"For making you a blushing mess?" Slavi raised an eyebrow as Mannequeen was barely dodging Ryumushi-Ohi's attacks, though more and more hits were landing. "Is that really worth going berserk over?"
"B-but-"
"Sssshhhh…" Slavi held her close.
Azu blushed, anger slowly subsiding and cooling down.
"That's much better, right?"
"...I guess…" Azu puffed her cheek under her helmet.
"C'mon, she's just teasing."
"She's distracting me!"
"That is kinda the point right? If you're distracted it makes fighting you easier."
"But does it have to be so…." She blushed through her helmet. "F-flirtatious?"
"Some people are flirts."
"But why did she have to be so…so…p-pretty and good at it &..." Azu groaned into Slavi's chest.
"That's very much an opinion Azu~"
"Sh-shaddup…"
"She's a very pretty dress maker. As for being good at flirting, you are just very easy to fluster~"
As Ryummushi-Ohi did a somersault slash down Mannequeen's back, Azu blushed. "Oh fuck's sake…" She murmured, burying her face in Slavi's chest.
"Woaahh, okay, that's even got me flustered."
"Not so funny now, is it?" Azu deadpanned.
"Oh no, it still is."
"I hate you."
"No ya don't!"
Azu groaned as Ryumushi-Ohi slashed through Mannequeen's water, wind, sun, and vine blades.
"Not bad, kiddies!"
"Not so bad yourself!" Andah winked. "...I just realized you couldn't see that wink because I'm in a giant robot."
"Also wearing a helmet~""
"True."
"Is Red calm now?"
Slavi looked to Azu. "You good now?"
Azu perked up. "Buh-huh?"
"Enjoy your rest?~" Slavi giggled.
Azu remembered where she was and blushed, nodding meekly.
"I can do this!"
"Good!" Slavi let her go, Azu having a slight air of disappointment at this before she shook her head, going back to her console along with Slavi.
"I'm here!" Azu announced.
"Welcome back! Uh…sorry I went overboard."
"I'm uh…sorry for going a bit crazy on you."
"Apology accepted, shall we continue?"
"Y-yeah." The Megazord flies back into battle.
Mannequeen surrounded herself in water, pink energy constructs of sea life swirling around her as she was raised in the air, said constructs shooting out fast at Ryumushi-Ohi as it flew around the seamstress.
"I think we can break her defenses with our biggest attack."
"OOOH!" Slavi grinned. "Can we say the finisher name? Can we can we can we!?"
Azu looked to her, Slavi giving the biggest puppy eyes through her visor.
"..." Azu rolled her eyes. "Fine."
"WHOO HOO!" Slavi grinned, hugging Azu before returning to her console, Azu blushing up a storm.
"READY!?"
"READY!"
The 3 wings left Ryumushi-Ohi's back, then went back onto the sword, the blade starting to glow in the rangers' five colors.
"Huh?" Mannequeen blinked as the mecha goddess leapt up with her grasshopper leg, raising the blade into the air.
"FIVE COLOR CHITIN BLADE!" The team yelled out, the blade extending into a large energy version of itself in the five colors, reforming into silhouettes of each Draginsect overlaid on each other, opening their jaws wide open as they headed for Mannequeen.
"Oh crud-"
They bit down on her, causing the water to explode everywhere, Ryumushi-Ohi standing with its back to hers.
"Heh…well this was fun." Mannequeen grinned. "Red…" She began as she crackled with energy.
"H-huh?" Azu asked.
"When I get out, whether I escape or you let me go…" She turned and winked towards the Megazord. "I'd be happy to take you to dinner."
Azu blushed as the others either chuckled or grinned widely at this.
Mannequeen blew a kiss as she fell to the ground, exploding.
As everyone cheered, Azu stood silent, face pink.
"Congrats on your date, Red!~" Andah teased.
"Oh fuck off." Azu groaned.
"Ah c'mon, enjoy the win, guys."
Slavi hugged Azu. "You were great out there."
"I was a useless mess…"
"Only for half of it." Ziga says.
"Still…"
Slavi picked up Azu bridal style, causing the gynoid to yelp. "So, what do y'all say we head back home? I am STARVING!"
"Yes. Lunch. I literally just sat down for lunch when this call came, like I'm so fricking hungry." Nazu says, his stomach growling.
"Then to the cafeteria we go!"
Sometime later, the rangers had arrived back at base, back in their standard uniforms.
Turns out Nazu and Slavi weren't the only ones starving, as Ziga was wolfing down pancakes and waffles like a starving beast, Andah eagerly gulping down a thermos of Enetron.
Azu meanwhile was sitting by herself at a nearby table, sipping her own cup of Enetron.
Slavi noticed this, frowning, picking up her plate of donuts.
Azu didn't even notice the Pythonian walking over until she spoke.
"This seat taken?" Slavi asked with a playful smile.
Azu remained silent before shaking her head meekly, Slavi sitting down next to her.
"You've been sitting alone a lot."
"...I like to be alone…"
"Mmmm, now I don't know if I believe that."
"...why not…? Why do you even care?"
"You may not believe it but some people don't need a reason to care. Or at least not a major one."
"..." Azu stayed silent, blushing, eyes widening as she felt Slavi rest her pinky on top of hers. "...the others are right over there…"
"And what if I wanna sit with you?" Slavi asked.
"..." Azu was silent. "...the others okay?"
"Yeah, they're all fine. Well, Nazu's a bit grumpy his coffee got cold but you get what I mean."
"..." Azu blushed harder as Slavi wrapped her pinky around hers. "...I'm only letting you get away with this because I'm not in the mood." She fibbed.
"But of course~" Slavi smiles gently.
"...I'm fine. You can go join them." Azu told her, face heating up more as Slavi pressed herself against her. "...you're enjoying this."
"A little bit. But I also can tell you're not fine."
"...my chest feels funny…warm…ever since Mannequeen started….what she was doing." Azu admitted.
"You like her huh?"
Azu's eyes bulged, the gynoid spluttering, face pink. "Bw-what-no-NO! OF COURSE NOT!"
"Why not?"
"Better question is why would you even think that!?"
"Your general attitude and behavior."
"Sh-she just caught me off guard! That's all!" Azu insisted, cheeks puffed out, Slavi unconvinced.
"That feeling in your chest is what humans usually call a crush."
"Wh-what!?"
"C'mon is it really that surprising?"
"What do you mean?"
"You haven't really had much time to explore yourself and she was… pretty and very polite."
"..." Azu had to admit, Slavi was right on that. "...i-is…that what it really was…?" She muttered, rubbing her own cheek, feelings of bliss running through her as she recalled the rangers' opponent that week.
"That's how it starts, seems it hit you pretty hard. Which I'm obviously jealous of."
"Oh har har."
"I'm not joking?"
Azu's eyes widened, and she somehow turned pinker, pulling up her jacket to hide her face.
"Oh c'mon I have not been subtle."
"I-I…I thought…you were just…playing…"
"I wasn't."
"...I…I'm gonna go to bed." She pulled her jacket down, walking off, trying to hide her very pink face. Slavi sighs, slumping in her cafeteria seat and picking at her food.
"No luck, huh?" Andah asked, walking up to her, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"She thought I was just playing around…" Slavi slumps more, pouting.
Andah shook her head in pity. "For what it's worth, I think you do have a shot."
"I… I don't know, she seems really into Mannequeen…"
"Well, can ya blame her?" Andah giggled.
"No but… Maybe I should back off…"
"Do you honestly not notice how she behaves around you?" Andah raised an eyebrow. "Girl, if she really wasn't into you, she would've pushed you away in the first team meeting weeks ago."
"It's just… she thinks I'm not serious…"
"That's not really your fault. She's still exploring herself, plus…well, she's got issues to work out."
"Do you…know about those issues?" Slavi asked. "Not trying to pry or anything."
"Yeah. Long story short, she's…troubled. Not my place to say what exactly her problems are, of course, but I get around." Andah gave her a side hug. "It'll work out in time."
"Thanks… I won't give up."
Andah pecked her cheek. "That's the spirit!"
Slavi nods. "What about you, any updates with Boss-lady and Ziga?"
Andah sighs. "No luck. Though hopefully Ziga takes Mannequeen's suggestion to practice."
Slavi nods. "Hey, you'll get them to confess. You're great at this."
"Heh. Thanks. You're great, too."
"No problemo. Welp, I better keep at it!"
Andah winks before walking off, giving a teasing sway to her hips for Slavi and giggling. Slavi chuckled.
…
Stupid, stupid, stupid…just…STUPID! Azu groaned to herself as she hurriedly made her way to her room, face in her hands. I'm so fucking useless, first with Izu, then with Slavi, now with this, I JUST-GAH! She groaned, hands sliding down her face. Just…just go to bed…maybe call Izu. Izu…Izu'll know what to do. Oh wait, she's probably busy. No, she said she's always willing to talk, but…gah…
"Hey."
Azu jumped at a voice behind her, turning to see Slavi. "...h-hi…"
"...I noticed your Enetron cup wasn't that empty so…" Slavi held up the cup.
"..." Azu gently took it from her. "Th-thanks…"
Slavi smiled. "Are you ok?"
"..." Azu nodded.
"Good. You uh…still going to bed?"
"...I-I wanna call Izu first…"
"You trust her a lot, don't you?"
"...y-yeah…"
"...you don't have to, but…I can always listen, too. If she's ever unavailable…"
"..." Azu nodded meekly, shifting, cheeks pink. "...th-thank you…"
"No problem. And I mean it, okay?"
"O-ok…" Azu nodded. Slavi smiled and brushed some hair strands behind Azu's ear, earning a pink face from the gynoid.
"Alright well, I'll let you make your call."
Azu nodded nervously.
Just when they were about to go their separate ways, however, their communicators beeped.
"Rangers, announcement. Meeting room. We got something big." Amy's voice sounded before the message ended.
Slavi looked to Azu and saw disappointment. "Hey…you can go to your room. I can tell the others you need rest."
Azu hesitated before shaking her head. "No…this…this might be important."
Slavi looked at her for a moment before nodding. "Alright. C'mon, let's go."
Back in the meeting room, Azu and Slavi arrived along with the others.
"Thank you for coming, everyone." Amy told them. "Sorry this is on such short notice, but we just got this news recently."
"What news?" Azu asked.
"Something to help turn the tide in this war." Amy answered. "The location of an item called the Champion's Heart."
"Champion's…Heart?" Azu repeated.
Amy nodded, gesturing for people to sit down.
Everyone sat at their usual seats…with Azu hesitating before deciding to take her then usual place in Slavi's lap.
Slavi looked surprised at this before smiling, hugging her gently.
J-just because I might as well…Azu tried to convince herself.
The screen in front of them shifted to show a depiction of a sort of heart/orb shaped object that also looked like a cocoon.
"The Champion's Heart is an artifact from Draginsect legend." Amy exposited. "With it, we can more easily and safely gain access to-"
"Ooh ooh! The team power ups!?" Slavi guessed excitedly.
"...how did you-"
"So I was right?" Slavi asked.
"...yes."
Slavi squealed like the fangirl she was.
"Ummm, the what now?" Azu asks.
"You know how Kamen Riders get power up forms for each individual rider?" Slavi asked.
"Yeah."
"Sentai usually get a unified team power up. That, and/or red gets a battlizer."
"A…what?"
"Another time, but red exclusive power up to simplify. Which you'll most likely get."
"...wha?"
"You got a lot to learn about Sentai."
Azu rolled her eyes.
Amy cleared her throat. "Yes, the team power up. Contacts have confirmed its location to be in another dimension at the top of a mountain."
"I don't suppose we'll be able to just skip right to the top?" Nazu asked.
"Sadly not. The top's surrounded by some sort of field that messes with teleportation, through both science and magical means. We're gonna have to start at the bottom."
"Joy…" Azu deadpanned.
"Well, at least it means team bonding!" Andah piped up.
"And with something like that…we're most likely gonna encounter obstacles along the way, so not a peaceful trek up a mountain." Ziga quipped.
"Thankfully, we have two new members here to help." Amy told the five. She turned to a pair of doors next to the screen, pressing a button on the edge, and they opened, two men walking in.
Both were wearing black bodysuits that covered them head to toe, black gloves, boots, and face masks. Both had light armor plating on the chests, back, elbows, knees, and shoulders that looked vaguely ninja-esque. Their suits also had neon piping and trimming, as well as lines on their visors. The ones on the left man were in crimson, the ones on the right man in navy blue.
"These are your new fellow rangers." Amy introduced. "RyuKabuto and RyuKuuga."
"Oooh!" Andah grinned. "Eight weeks in?"
"Well, this is a pretty important mission." RyuKuuga, the one in navy, answered.
"Can't have you freshies stumbling into something too dangerous for you." RyuKabuto teases.
Andah shrugged. He had a point.
Ziga smiled, shaking both their hands. "It's good to see you two again."
"It's good to be back." Ryukabuto answered, and everyone could just hear the smile in his voice. "I see you're doing well."
"Best I can." Ziga nodded.
"Good." RyuKabuto nodded back, the two clasping hands before letting go.
"Still haven't talked to Amy, huh?" RyuKuuga whispered with a hand up to the side of his face. Ziga didn't need to see his face to know he was giving a shit eating grin.
"Yes, yes, you're hilarious." Ziga rolled her eyes, blushing, playfully elbowing him, a gesture he fondly returned.
Amy blushed, having heard that, clearing her throat. "These are old members of HENSHIN. They've been working on perfecting their morphers the past several weeks, hence why they've haven't shown up till now."
"A pleasure to meet ya!" Andah greeted, flashing a V sign, something RyuKuuga returned, to her delight.
"Ooooh this is just like the Gouraigers!" Slavi fangirled, sparkles in her eyes.
RyuKabuto scoffed. "Please, we're much cooler than those two."
"I dunno, I got some stories that would say otherwise." Ziga giggled.
"Traitor…" RyuKabuto crossed his arms with a glare.
"Be thankful I'm not telling them about the Hot Spices Incident."
"Don't you dare!" RyuKuuga snapped.
Ziga laughed.
"Uh…hi, I guess." Azu greeted, Slavi elbowing her, giving her a look. "..." Azu cleared her throat. "Hi. My name's Azu."
RyuKabuto looked at her, and Azu could feel…something cold as he stared at her. "So we finally meet…Trashu."
"..."
Azu stared blankly before getting a dumbfounded look on her face. "T-Trashu…?"
"My name's Nazu." Nazu extended his hand.
RyuKuuga shook his hand. "Blue ranger, got it."
".."
"..."
"...nice and warm welcome." Nazu stepped back, sweat dropping.
"Sorry, they're like this with every newbie." Ziga chuckled.
"Anyways," RyuKabuto started. "The Champion's Heart. We found out its location some time ago on one of our covert ops. The dimension tends to swing around, of sorts. We've managed to get a lock on it and keep the gateway stabilized, so it shouldn't be moving anymore. At least, not for a few days."
"That was a long ass weekend…" RyuKuuga muttered.
"Do I even wanna know?" Azu asked in concern.
"You really don't." The two muttered, exasperated.
"So…how long will this trip take?" Azu asked.
"Mountain's really big, so we reckon a few days. Thankfully, since you just beat your most recent monster, you got plenty of time to get back for next week's." RyuKabuto informed her.
Azu paused a bit before nodding. …just a few days…just a few days…
"Unfortunately, communications and signals are a bit iffy. We have people working on it, but due to the nature of this dimension, we're not gonna be able to have backup most likely. So I suggest you pack everything ya might need." The crimson ninja told everyone.
"Alright then." Andah stands. "I guess we can say this'll be quite a …cool adventure."
Everyone groaned except for Slavi.
"Just…just go pack." RyuKabuto muttered.
With that, everyone set out to their rooms.
"It's real good to have you back, guys." Amy told the two with a warm smile. "Have you been well?"
"Eh, can't complain too much." RyuKabuto shrugged.
"A few scuffles here and there, but aside from that…" RyuKuuga shrugged with his brother.
"That's good." Amy nodded. "Been a long time."
"We've…been busy." RyuKabuto said. "But we're back, that's what matters."
"Indeed. Good luck on your trip." Amy smiled.
"Though, question about the red." RyuKabuto began.
"Shoot."
"... You really trust her for this?"
"I trust her as much as anyone else on the team."
"Alright, I guess."
"...are you sure you've been ok? Nothing you want to share with us?"
"We're fine. Thank you." RyuKabuto nodded.
"...if you're sure." Amy nodded back.
The two brothers turned and walked off, seeming concerned by something but not sharing.
Ziga and Amy share a concerned glance.
"...if anything comes up, I'll help em." Ziga told amy.
"Thanks, Ziga."
Ziga nodded, the two standing in silence for a bit.
"..."
"..."
Ziga opened her mouth to try and speak a few times, Amy doing the same before they both eventually sighed.
Some other time.
Sulking slightly, Ziga walked off, both women sharing a look of disappointment and frustration with themselves.