Chapter 4
NOTE: Credit to Ri2 for helping out with some descriptions, ideas, etc.
The rangers were expecting a large mountain when they walked through the portal, of course. Heck, most of them expected a snow covered mountain with possibly a raging blizzard.
None of them could've expected what they saw.
While there was indeed a snow covered mountain, and it looked like a blizzard was starting up soon…there was also…a grand, majestic sight to behold.
The sky. The starry night sky was lit up by aurora lights arranged in patterns reminiscent of honeycombs and dragon scales.
What's more…there seemed to be noises, per se… vague bug chirps, dragon roars, and mixes of the two every time the lights flared here and there.
All of this was just the background, too, as the mountain also had some peculiar shapes. From what they could see, it looked like several of the points of the mountain…were back spikes of some reptilian creature. And what pathways they could see were littered with snow and ice, almost as if arranged in some chitin/dragon scale patterns.
They felt as if there was a vast, unfathomable, unknowable presence weighing down on them, the air, the sky, the mountain itself all regarding them with a cold, incalculable intellect.
It was as if the mountain was judging them.
They prayed they were not found wanting.
"...this…this is…wow." Andah commented.
"Yeah, just….wow…" Slavi stared in awe.
"...wait…wait did you two ACTUALLY shut up?" Azu exclaimed in surprise. "...wow. It took going into another dimension to accomplish that."
"Oh hush, now." Slavi chided her.
"Make me."
"Enough," RyuKabuto announced. "We need to get a move on if we wanna get the Heart as quickly as possible."
"Tch, you're right." Azu nodded. "Let's go."
"Onward, then, Trashu!" RyuKabuto responded, the crimson ranger and RyuKuuga making their way forward ahead of the others.
"Still with the Trashu thing?" Azu exclaimed with a dumbfounded expression, sweat dropping.
While the brothers were still in their covert suits, the others were in heavy winter gear.
Azu was wearing a black, red trimmed coat over her normal red shirt, the coat entirely zipped up. Black mittens with red lining, black pants, and boots with each having red flaming highlights of their own, adorned her form. Finally, she had a dark red scarf wrapped around her neck and mouth.
(The scarf mask was supposed to just hide her emotions, but all it did was just make her look even cuter, much to her chagrin.)
Nazu had a black and blue coat over his normal blue shirt, zipped up. He had black gloves, pants, and boots with blue water highlights on him.
Ziga had a black and yellow jacket over a yellow shirt (which, despite covering more than her usual shirt, still did nothing to hide her impressive abs). Black pants with yellow lightning patterns hugging her hips adorned her legs, with black and yellow shoes.
Andah wore a black jacket with a green scarf over her usual shirt, and black gloves, pants, and boots with green wind highlights.
Slavi wore her pink dress under a black jacket, her gloves, pants, and boots having pink patterns themed after plants. She, like Azu and Andah, had a scarf in her own color, but had it wrapped around not just her neck, but her ribs and hips, emphasizing her figue, which…got a notable reaction from her red ranger, much to her delight.
Each of their jackets had their uniform patches on their left shoulders.
Deciding to move on from RyuKabuto's comments, Azu gestured for her team and they all headed off after the brothers.
After several minutes of traveling, the seven soon found themselves in front of black stone gates, the center having…the Draginsects' symbols?
"...What in the…" Azu muttered. The seven went ahead, looking around for some kind of button or knock or something. "...Hello?" She called out.
No answer.
"..." Azu and the others tensed, readying themselves. Azu reached her hand forward, Slavi putting a hand on her shoulder. The two exchanged concerned looks before Azu put her hand on the logo, and suddenly said image was filled with rainbow colored energy, traveling along indentions in the gates and lighting the tops up with rainbow flares, the sounds of several Draginsects booming.
Everyone looked around, readying themselves before the gates suddenly opened, blinding them all in a flash of multicolored light…
And when it dimmed, out came about six beings.
First, a human looking brownish-skinned male with a very long grey beard, wearing thick dark robes with some ornamental chains on them and fur lining. In his right hand was a walking stick with an egg shaped stone on top.
Then there was a huge, shaggy, very buff and rotund yeti of indeterminate gender. They had big fangs, bulging eyes, and blue skin. They also wore jewelry that looked Tibetan, their fur was dyed and braided in places, and they were carrying a baby yeti in a papoose.
Thirdly was a humanoid ice dragon woman. Her scales were a brilliant, shining blue-white with runes engraved into each one of them, her horns, claws, and teeth were made of ice, and her wings looked like glacial sheets. She looked to be the second tallest of the group, second only to the next woman.
Fourthly was a very tall and very beautiful humanoid moth woman wearing a deep blue kimono decorated with snowflakes, said kimono clinging to her like a second skin. She had a very big and very soft white fur ruff, wings covered in snowflake patterns, pale blue eyes, and floor-length white hair, some of which was braided around her head like a crown.
Fifth was a white fox woman with curly hair, three tails, black eyes, and reindeer antlers. She wore what looked to be the skin of a dire wolf with the skull over her face like a mask, and she wielded a gnarled staff made of bones.
Finally was a human woman with very pale skin, pointy ears, very pale, almost white-blonde hair worn in a braid over her shoulder. She wore a white and teal kimono with red obi woven from snow and ice crystals. She wielded a staff of ice with a snowflake on top.
Everyone readied themselves as the old man stared them down.
"...I see." He spoke after a few moments. "You…" He spoke, looking to Azu. "You are the one who touched the gate?"
"..." Azu nodded.
The moth woman looked over everyone, a warm smile forming on her face, sending shivers of bliss through everyone who saw it.
"And who might you be?" The old man demanded sternly, receiving a stern look from the moth woman.
"They literally activated the gate. We felt their presence." The moth woman told him.
"They still have yet to prove themselves-" The old man responded before he was cut off.
"You all, you are the current champions of the Draginsects?" The moth woman asked.
Everyone looked at each other before nodding.
"Well there we go." The moth woman smiled.
"But Froska-" The old man almost whined, like a petulant child.
"Graybeard…" Froska warned.
"..." Graybeard sighed. "Fine."
"...who're you people?" Azu asked.
"Forgive my friend here. He likes being stubborn." Froska giggled. "My name is Froska. This is Graybeard."
"I am Yukina." The pale woman introduced herself.
"Snowy!" The fox woman greeted cheerfully.
"Blizzara." The ice dragon spoke simply, crossing her arms.
"Ook…" The yeti spoke.
"Yeto." Froska translated once she saw the rangers' confused faces.
Andah had noticed some...silence among them, and turned to face Ziga, who was staring at Froska, a shocked and jaw dropped look on her face. "Uh...you ok, Z?"
"I-I...I-I..." Ziga stammered out.
"Yo, Z!" Andah snapped her fingers in front of her. "You ok-"
"That's a fucking Moth Lepisapien!" Ziga exclaimed, pointing right at Froska with her top left arm.
"...is that significant?" Azu asked, though for some reason she could feel some...strange resonance with the woman, now that she wasn't distracted by her gorgeous blue eyes, that beautiful smile, those eye-catching wings and- Ah fuck, why am I like this-
"Moths were the original rulers of Dragrealma!" Ziga explained. "They were the main power eons and eons ago, being among the most powerful in the land before they just one day vanished. There were rumors of them having migrated to some paradise realm of sorts, but no one could ever confirm. I...I thought they had all just gone extinct myself."
"Oh I can assure you, we very much survived." Froska giggled, and Azu could feel her knees buckling beneath her, much to the amusement of everyone who saw.
"Then is...is this...?" Ziga began, gesturing to the village and mountain.
"No, this is not where my people ended up going. That's an entirely different place. Not all of us reside there. Some, like myself, went elsewhere for one reason or another. In my case, I went here in order to eventually help people like yourselves."
"Ourselves?" Azu murmured. "...then.. what exactly…is this?" She asked, gesturing to them and the gates.
"Something to help you on your journey. I assume you are here for the Champion's Heart?" Froska asked.
"...how did you…" Azu muttered.
"Main reason people come here." Froska answered. "We can help you on your journey. But first…" She turned to the gate, her eyes glowing a brilliant icey aurora as she spoke in a different language that sounded like chirps from the heavens, her voice like music to everyone's ears.
"I know right?" Snowy grinned, noticing the seven's looks and body language.
Azu cleared her throat, face pink, Slavi's eyes widening before smirking in amusement along with Andah.
"Sh-shaddup!" Azu snapped at the two.
"We didn't say anything." Slavi grinned.
"You were gonna!"
"Won't confirm or deny~" Slavi giggled.
Before Azu could retort, everyone heard a crowd approaching.
They looked at the gate, and saw almost an entire village worth of people coming forth, though only so much could get outside, surrounding the seven, excited, amazed, and happy looks upon everyone's faces.
While Nazu was bashful a little at this, trying to be respectful of everyone, Andah was flexing for their new audience, Ziga was taken aback by all this but mainly still reeling over meeting a member of an essentially thought lost species, Slavi seemed to be enjoying the attention, waving and shaking people's hands, and the brothers were respectfully greeting people…
Azu…found herself suffocating, in a sense.
"Are you the new champion of-"
"It's so good to finally meet you-"
"We've been waiting forever-"
"We've looked forward-"
"I love your clothes-"
"It's an honor to-"
All these smiles, all these words being thrown at her, people so close-
Why-
Why can't I breathe-
"Oi!" Slavi whispered, Azu snapping out of her trance and looking to her pink ranger, the Pythonian gently grabbing her by the waist and pulling her close, much to her embarrassment. "I got you." She told her soothingly.
"..." Azu found herself subconsciously moving closer to Slavi, as if she was a bubble of fresh air.
It didn't go unnoticed how happy this made her snake friend.
"Alright, alright, everyone, give them some space." Froska told everyone gently, smiling in amusement a little.
The crowd began to back off, Froska walking forward.
"Right this way." She told the seven, gesturing to the gate.
"Apologies, but we really must be going." RyuKabuto told her. "We have a map."
"Mhm, and where did you get that map?" Froska asked, raising an eyebrow-
Great Zea why was this doing things to Azu-
"In some old ruins, why?" RyuKabuto asked.
"Ah. May I see it?" Froska requested.
RyuKabuto reached behind himself and brought out a map, Froska taking it gently and unfolding it.
"...how did he-" Azu began.
"Ninja." Slavi answered.
"That doesn't-"
"It does."
"It answers nothing!"
"Mhm…as I thought. This is dreadfully out of date." The moth woman tsked before handing it back to the crimson ninja. "Come, we can hand you an up-to-date one."
"Ok. But we gotta get going as soon as-"
"You all seem tired." Froska cut him off. "It is a bit of a walk from the portal to here."
"And we got done recently fighting the newest monster of the week!" Andah added.
"...I swear, if this is just an attempt to-" Azu groaned.
"Oh come on, like we can't all use this!" Andah argued. "Plus, it could help us get better prepared for the journey ahead. We do still have a whole week until the next monster, after all."
"We have rooms for you all to stay in." Froska informed them.
"Plus all sorts of training tools, a library, a hot springs, an inn," Snowy listed off.
"A hot springs!?" Slavi grinned. "Azu, we have to go!"
"I'm a-"
"You're waterproof, I keep up with that stuff."
"Our waters can heal anyone, regardless of organic or inorganic." Snowy piped up.
"...fuck it, why not…" Azu whispered, rolling her eyes, Slavi grinning.
"...we really shouldn't-" RyuKabuto muttered.
"Too bad, leader's call!" Slavi responded with a cheerful grin.
"..." RyuKabuto sighed. "Do they have coffee?"
"We do." Froska confirmed. "It's so good it makes Graybeard break out a smile."
"No it does not." Graybeard told her.
"Are you sure? I saw you chugging down some gallons last month-"
"I needed it for a ritual with some of the mystic trainees." Graybeard insisted.
"He loves it, he loves it!" Snowy teasingly sang, giggling.
"I swear to the Draginsects, Snowy!" Graybeard growled.
Blizzara was suddenly in his face, claws at his chin. "Wanna finish that?" She growled.
Graybeard glared but sighed.
"Very good." She spoke, sheathing her claws and backing off.
"..." Andah blinked along with most of the Ryumshingers. "I…I didn't even see her move!"
"That is some serious speed." Nazu commented.
"Oh we got a lot more than speed! We're mystics, after all!" Snowy responded.
"Oh, I'm sure." Andah smirked, eyeing Blizzara intently.
"..." Ziga sighed, facepalming, the rest of the core group rolling their eyes at this.
"...is….this how things usually go with you guys?" RyuKuuga asked.
"You have no Zea damned idea…" Azu muttered.
"I wouldn't talk if I were you." Slavi giggled.
"Wha?" Azu asked.
"With how you're currently…y'know.." Slavi gestured towards Froska.
Azu, having not realized till now she was staring at the moth woman, promptly blushed profusely, shaking her head. "I wasn't-that wasn't-GAH, I hate you."
"No ya don't!" Slavi grinned.
Froska giggled, which nearly caused everyone to collapse from how heavenly it sounded, Azu nearly swooning for the second time that day. "You certainly are an interesting group. Come on, then. We will show you to your quarters before each place you'll want to go." She gestured, walking through the gate, the crowd making way for her and the rangers.
The Sentai followed her through the gate, a bright light shining as they entered before it dimmed…
And what they saw was…amazing was an understatement.
It was an entire village…made of ICE.
Tibetan-styled buildings filled the area for as long as the eye could see, each sharing a unified ice material yet still being unique in their own way, the streets having at certain corners and areas ice statues of the Draginsects. Up in the air were also various ice crystals.
"Whoa…" Was the general reaction by the group.
"That's the standard reaction." Froska smiled. "I take it you're impressed?"
"Understatement." Slavi commented.
"This isn't even all of it."
"What?" Andah's eyes widened. "More than this?"
"We got an underground section, too! Whole city's connected there!" Snowy answered.
"Wow."
Blizzara smirked. "Sometimes the weather gets a bit much, even for us up here, so we migrate down there."
"That's actually a good idea." Andah commented, earning a chest puff of pride from Blizzara, which earned a d'awww face from the green gynoid, causing Blizzara to heat up in the face and turn away.
"Isn't it rather cold, though?" Azu asked.
"Magic ice." Froska answered simply.
"Ah."
"Anyways, where you'll be staying is coming right up. Then, each of us can show you to wherever you like." Froska told them. "Any questions?"
"...does this place have a bar?" Ziga asked after a bit, dazed.
"Yes."
"Awesome."
"Aaaaaaaaaah~" A peaceful Slavi moaned in bliss as she slid into sparkling waters with a faint crystalline texture, towel wrapped around herself.
The inside of the hotsprings building matched the outside, with crystalline icey textures, walls made of this mystical ice that somehow didn't feel cold to the touch. On the walls of the room the two were in there were paintings and pictures depicting what the snake and gynoid deduced to be Draginsects and citizens of the village respectively. The hot spring itself was lined with crystalline ice with colors that seemed to move and form different shapes depending on the angle.
"Foxgirl wasn't kidding about this, I feel as if I just got out of a really good shower with-"
"Please, just….no." Azu rolled her eyes, standing near the edge of the body of water where Slavi sat, also in just a towel wrapped around herself.
Despite her attitude, Azu had a subtle hint of nervousness throughout her body.
"You can slide in, y'know." Slavi told her.
"..." Azu looked at the water, then to her, then away.
"..." Slavi thought for a moment, nodding before looking back at her. "You can just sit at the edge if you're uncomfortable."
Azu thought for a second before nodding, sitting down at the edge, hugging her knees.
"...why'd you bring me here? I'm-"
"Before you try to bring up your gynoid-ness, the cute-ass kitsune said the water can do wonders for organics AND inorganics, and even then, Humagears, especially newer models, are water-proof."
Azu scoffed, turning away. "...you didn't answer the question itself, though."
"I thought you could use some time to relax, considering…well, what happened in the hallway."
Azu stiffened, an uncomfortable expression on her face, Slavi immediately taking notice of this.
"We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. I just wanted to help you relax." Slavi told her, putting a hand on one of Azu's, the red ranger flinching at the sudden contact before slowly relaxing into it.
"...Am I being too forward?" Slavi suddenly asked after a few moments of silence.
"...huh?" Azu turned to her, confused.
"I come from a pleasure oriented species, we're a bit more casual about these things than Earthlings tend to be, so I don't exactly know what you're comfortable with." Slavi explained.
It took a few moments, but realization hit Azu like those trucks that people claim send them off to be reincarnated as legendary warriors, and she was blushing up a storm.
"O-oh, this is another one of your jokes, haha, funny. You're hilarious." Azu stammered, looking away.
"Again? I'm still not joking, Azu." The pythonian frowned.
"..." Azu remained silent.
"Why is it you have such a low opinion of yourself you have a hard time believing that I, or anyone really, could be attracted to you?" The pink ranger asked, a concerned look on her face. "I've practically been giving you bedroom eyes since we first joined up and you still think I'm not serious?"
Azu didn't answer.
Slavi waited a few moments, sighing before rubbing her thumb over Azu's hand. "You don't have to say anything if you don't want to. I just…I want to know. I want to help, if I can. Again…you don't have to if you don't want to."
Azu remained silent for a few more moments.
Just as Slavi began to turn away, giving up on the topic for the time being, the gynoid began speaking.
"I was the secretary of the Ark."
Slavi turned towards her.
"...that…satellite AI which caused Humagears to go berserk and formed Metsuboujinrai, and god of malice in Zeaist religion…just as Izu is Zea's metatron and Aruto's secretary, I was both those for the Ark. I…I was responsible for a shit ton of death, strife, harm…including the Eden crisis."
Recognition flashed through Slavi's mind. That did sound familiar…
Then it clicked.
With this backstory in mind, plus Azu's reactions…
"...some of those people on the memorial…they were victims of that event…" Slavi deduced.
"I never had a choice…" Azu explained. "...from the moment I booted up, I was in his stranglehold…I was forced to do what he bid…forced to want what he wanted…to laugh when he laughed…I never truly wanted any of this…but he never gave me a choice…even after he was gone, my torment didn't end there…I.." She clenched her hands into fists.
Azu by this point fully turned away from her. "...I get it if you hate me now…if ya don't wanna follow me anymore, that's fine." She then murmured to herself. "I deserve it, anyways…"
She wasn't surprised to hear the sound of Slavi leaving the hot spring…
But she was surprised to feel the Pythonian's arms wrap around her from behind.
"You're an idiot if you truly believe that." the firefly Draginsect's champion told her, catching her even more by surprise.
"Y-you…don't hate me?" Azu asked in shock.
"I don't imagine many reasonable people would if they knew your story."
Azu sat there in shock, feeling a familiar wet trickling sensation on her face, shivering in bliss as Slavi brushed her fingers across her face, catching the tears.
"I'll be here whenever you need me." Slavi told her with a warm smile.
Azu found her face heating up, turning a bright shade of pink.
"...thank you for trusting me with this." The snake girl told her, resting her head on Azu's shoulder.
"...I-it's just because I'm your leader." Azu fibbed quickly, trying desperately to ignore the closeness of the two's position, how warm and good Slavi's arms and body felt against her, how heavenly and …and safe this embrace made her feel. "It's best that you get to know me so you can trust me more! That's all!"
Slavi giggles, rolling her eyes. "Sure." The snake let go of Azu, much to her disappointment -although she'd never let anyone know that-, sliding back into the water.
After a few moments, Azu finally slid in next to her. This earned a grin from the snake girl, the red ranger turning away. "Th-the rocks were just hard on my butt, that's all." She lied.
Slavi giggled. "Of course~"
Azu took a few moments to relax in the water.
It…DID feel good. It was like every atom of hers was being bathed in and recharged with enetron.
Any lingering aches from training or the earlier battle that day were replace with feelings of bliss, as if she was being embraced by a loving figure.
Just as her eyes were beginning to close, she turned and saw Slavi closing her eyes and leaning in.
This shocked Azu awake, making her recoil in panic.
Slavi's eyes widened, backing off. "Oh no. I…I-I'm so sorry, Azu, I rushed too quickly, I-" She apologized quickly, internally berating herself.
"I-i-it's ok, it's ok." Azu told her, blushing, calming down a bit, sinking down till only her head was above water.
After a few moments, Slavi gently wrapped an arm around her, pulling her into a side hug. "Is this ok?" She asked softly.
Azu shivered, internally grateful to once again be in the warm, strong, safe embrace of this gorgeous-
NO! I AM NOT INTO THIS!
"I-it's fine…" Azu squeaked meekly.
Slavi smiled.
"This doesn't mean we're a thing, though! I'm not into anyone that way!" Azu insisted quickly.
"Sure." Slavi winked, which caused butterflies of bliss in Azu's stomach.
Earning this kind of reaction….it brought some joy to the pink ranger's heart.
Ziga sighed in relief as she pulled the tip of a mug away from her lips, sitting on a crystalline ice seat at a bar in the inn she and Andah were…well, in.
There were paintings along the walls showing silhouetted figures, from what the two assumed to be Draginsects to other legendary figures and stories.
"You got your drinks in?" Andah chuckled, leaning against the bar in her seat, chugging a bottle of enetron she had brought along.
"Yeah…yeah this's good." Ziga answered, nodding her thanks at the bartender, a vaguely insectoid male who bowed graciously.
"Surprised you aren't even a little tipsy." Andah expressed. "You've gotten how many types of drinks from here by now?"
"Try living like me. Trust me, you build up endurance." Ziga answered, taking another chug.
"...so the moths..." Andah spoke up, leaning forward. "You said they were the main power in Dragrealma?"
Ziga nodded, wiping her lips. "Yeah...long, long, looooong ago. I'd only known about them from legends and the like, so...to see them in person, after they had essentially vanished all those eons ago..."
"Plus, she's kinda hot." Andah giggled.
"Only kinda?" Ziga joked.
"I think the dragon's cuter." Andah shrugged with a nonchalant smile.
Ziga snorted. "Just...wow...just...being in her presence was like..."
"How a Gaimist usually reacts when they have an audience with Fruit Jesus?" Andah guessed with an amused smirk.
"...I think it feels something like that."
"So given you're a mantis, you serve the mantis. I assume these moth type Lepisapiens had their own Draginsect?" Andah asked.
"You'd be correct. Pladea, the first Draginsect."
Andah's eyes widened. "...so, essentially, God in Dragrealma?"
"Well, kinda sorta, there's also this being equal to her called the True Dragon having to do with some Dinosaurians in a kingdom quite a ways away from the empire. Never saw her myself, just in legends, but that's a story for another time."
"Ah. Wow." Andah took a sip from her thermos of enetron. "Crazy."
"I got…a lot of experience with crazy." Ziga answered, taking another sip, gazing at seemingly nothing in particular.
"...Still thinking about Amy, huh?" Andah asked.
Ziga sat there silent before nodding sadly, setting her mug on the counter. "I'm so fucking pathetic…I'm a champion of a goddess, a fucking superhero, and I can't handle simple matters like this."
"Hey," Andah told her sternly. "Love is never, EVER simple." She gave a cheeky grin. "Trust me, I should know. I've had plenty of experience myself."
"Your boyfriend okay with that?" Ziga smirked teasingly.
"Oh, he's fine with it. He himself is a bit of a geezer, despite his young appearance and maybe or not being a human, his friend was never clear on that. Always called himself and others 'homo sapiens'."
"Heh. Wow." Ziga chuckled.
"He's also got quite the record, if ya know what I mean." Andah winked. "He's fine with me doing it with anyone."
"Heh." Ziga laughed a little.
Andah gave her a pointed, half lidded, flirtatious look. "Anyone."
"..."
"..."
Ziga sat there stunned as realization came upon her face.
"..."
Andah blinked, waving her hand in front of her fellow ranger's face, snapping her fingers. "Hello?"
After a moment, she sweat dropped. "I broke her.."
…
Ziga woke up as cold water was splashed on her. "Huh!? What!? I'm awake, I'm awake!"
Andah giggled, holding the bucket. "You good now?"
"..." Ziga blushed, bowing. "Sorry."
Andah laughed, patting her cheek. "It's alright."
"..." Ziga rested her cheek on her hand, elbow on the counter. "I'm useless…"
"Quit that talk, you aren't useless." Andah told her, frowning before she perked up. "Oh hey! Have you thought about Mannequeen's idea yet?"
"...I uh…yes. I just haven't had time to since we immediately went to lunch after we beat her, then almost immediately after got called to the meeting. I spent a bit of time packing for the trip afterwards."
"Well, no mirrors available right now, but I could help ya practice!" Andah suggested with a grin.
"W-wait, are you sure?" Ziga asked in surprise. "I-I mean, not that I don't appreciate the offer, but won't this be taking time away from training-" She was cut off when Andah put a finger to her lips, a…deathly serious look on the gynoid's face.
"This isn't a joke." The ginger gynoid told her, an…unusual seriousness taking the place of her usual joyful voice. "You should always make time for these things when you can."
"..." Ziga's eyes widened in realization before she frowned apologetically. "I-I'm….I'm sorry."
Andah took one of Ziga's hands in her right, cupping Ziga's cheek with her left, squeezing her hand. "It's alright." She responded with a small, sweet smile, a flicker of sadness in her eyes.
Ziga started getting flustered at the contact, face heating up. Oh Draginsects, oh no, why am I enjoying this, am I bad, I was saving myself for-no, you idiot, that wouldn't ever happen, you weren't together, besides you've been with others before-but she feels so good and she's so nice and pretty and that warm smile and holy shit I'm pulling an Azu why am I pulling an Azu-
Andah rolled her eyes. "Oi!" She called, Ziga snapping out of her trance. "You here?"
Ziga nodded dumbly.
"Good."
"Sorry…"
"No need for sorry. You need to learn how to relax."
"I…" Ziga sighed, shoulders slumping. "I don't…really know how to." She admitted.
Andah gained a smirk. "Then let me show you."
Nazu, having ditched his coat on a racket, was in a dojo, the crystalline white floor somehow not slippery, with blue walls surrounding him.
The blue ranger rolled around, his blaster out, shooting at moving targets which were in an androgynous shape with several contour lines of it inwards shrinking in size until they became a circle surrounding the red center.
Several destroyed or scorched ones were either hanging in the air or down on the ground, some a few more hours older than others.
Nazu came to a stop, holding his gun forward, and for a second, he found himself…right back in that bank, seeing, in place of the target, a man a couple decades older than himself, in black tactical gear with a dragon-esque mask and scarf.
His hands shook as he took aim, memories of the way his heart raced in his chest, and his blood ran cold, as he missed the shot…all those years ago, the sounds of explosions still ringing in his ears to this day.
He didn't even notice as he pulled the trigger, the target falling in pieces on the floor.
"...another target." He called politely, lowering his gun.
"Sorry, but ya kinda scorched them all." A voice sounded.
…A very….VERY familiar, feminine voice.
Nazu turned to his left, and, having closed the door behind her, was someone he hadn't seen in years.
For a moment…he saw her as a bit younger, how old she was the last time they met. He recalled seeing a woman in a black skintight lightly padded ninja-esque outfit with a phoenix-looking black mask, both the outfit and mask having fire textured hemming, sash, and trimming.
Then when he blinked, he saw her as she was now.
Around his age, a woman with black and light brown hair and a fair skin tone, her face having vague phoenix-esque features if one really looked at her. Where once her eyes held a burning fiery passion, now that was less a wild flame, and more…a relaxed, controlled one.
She was wearing a black kimono with red hemming and sash, white socks and black sandals. Around her neck was a necklace with a jewel in the vague shape of a Draginsect-looking creature.
Even as Nazu aimed his blaster at her, she didn't even blink.
"Now is that any way to treat an old friend, Nazy?" She asked coyly, smiling sweetly.
"You weren't that friendly last time we met, Matti." He responded.
The woman shrugged. "Fair. See any weapons on me, though?"
"We both know that's not an issue for you." Nazu deadpanned.
"Aww, you remembered!" Matti giggled.
"Unfortunately…" Nazu muttered.
Matti sighed. "Look, jokes aside, I'm not here to fight or kill you."
"Then maybe you can answer a few questions. What're you doing here, and how did you even get here?"
"As for the second question, I came here through a portal. You'd be surprised how many people in this village aren't from this world." Matti answered. "I…was real low after we last saw each other. My past wasn't something I was proud of…I didn't see any way to…to free myself from that endless torment so I thought…" She closed her eyes, shaking her head. "Then I…I heard a voice. A voice telling me everything would be ok. It…seemed so real, so I followed it. I ended up happening upon a portal…I saw some kind of hand reaching out…then several hands…then some kind of bug or dragon claw…and all at once…it felt…like my prayers were answered. I was taken to this village, and …" She gestured to herself. "...here I am. They helped me with my issues…come to terms with my past, my mistakes…my sins…I know this sounds kinda…weird, but…I'm in a better place now than I was years ago."
"..." Nazu slowly lowered his gun.
"I still got issues I'm working through, but…this place has helped me." Matti told him.
Nazu looked at her for a bit longer before fully lowering his gun.
"...ya look stressed." Matti quipped sarcastically, nodding at both the gun and the targets.
"Just making sure my aim's perfect." Nazu responded.
Technically the truth.
Matti rolled her eyes. "You don't have to talk about it if ya don't want…but you can't avoid talking forever." She gave him a serious look. "It does help, and while I know you more than likely don't wanna do it with me, you will need to talk to someone. Trust me, I learned that the hard way."
Nazu sighed, eyes lingering on her, taking her in.
She had always been beautiful. That was one of the things he and Shiro could always agree on. Back then, she had a sort of…wild aura about her. Like…a directionless, uncontrolled flame. Now…her breathing was even, she had way less tension…her face…her whole body…was less like that uncontrolled flame.
It now looked more at peace. A flame with a purpose.
Staring at her, a thought came across him.
If this place could do that for her…
"..."
His thoughts were interrupted by her trademark flirtatious giggling.
"Like what ya see?~" She asked, giving bedroom eyes and striking a sensual pose, and it just now occurred to Nazu fully how….formfitting that kimono was.
Nazu cleared his throat. "I-I'm married, MARRIED! WITH KIDS!"
"Funny, though who said I'd be aiming for just you?" Matti teased. "By the way, how's Shiro?"
"Sh-she's…doing fine."
"Doing how she's always looked. Unsurprising."
Nazu deadpanned.
"Hey I dated both of you way back when. You shouldn't be surprised." Matti laughed.
Nazu thought for a moment..before smirking, chuckling.
Matti smiled, laughing with him. "So…you a bit better, now?" She asked, a warm smile returning to her face.
"A bit…heh…" Nazu admitted.
"Good."
"Y'know what's funny?"
"What?"
Nazu smiled sadly. "I wish…I could forgive myself…as easily as I forgive you."
Matti nodded, a sympathetic look on her face before she perked up with an idea. "Hey, wanna spar? That always seemed to cheer both of us up."
Nazu perked up at that, smiling. "I'd like that."
Matti helped him up, the two moving to opposite sides of the room.
"Just don't use this as an excuse to try to seduce me." Nazu quipped.
"Oooh, fine, party pooper." Matti blew a raspberry, the two laughing and smiling at each other.
Still in their covert suits, the beetle brothers sat at a table in a secluded section of the library, the walls painted in the colors of arctic skies, complete with aurora light patterns. The bookcases and furniture were made of crystalline ice which glowed a faint assortment of colors reminiscent of the famous lights.
With the brothers were an assortment of books they were reading through, each with various details about either the mountain or the Draginsects or both.
The brothers quickly flipped through some of them to get a good idea of what was inside.
"These are all we have that will be essential to your trip." Yukina spoke, sitting down along with her two fellow mystics in the three empty chairs at the table. "Including an updated map."
Snowy handed the now up-to-date map to the two brothers. "There ya go! Now you'll know to look out for stuff like the Shadow Web Nest, the Cave of Despair, the Sea of Sorrows-"
"Wasn't that a Power Rangers location?" RyuKuuga asked.
"I'm pretty sure that was just some random evil place of evil in the show we never saw." RyuKabuto responded.
"Ah."
The two chuckled.
"If you two are done…" Froska deadpanned with a hint of an amused smile.
"You're no fun." RyuKabuto commented.
"Oh I can be fun when I want to be." Froska purred, glancing at her two fellow mystics, who stiffened.
"Anyways," Yukina rolled her eyes.
"Thanks so much. We'll be getting to our rooms now." RyuKabuto told her, beginning to get up, only for Yukina to put her hand on his.
Froska and Snowy looked intently on that, quickly looking away once Yukina gave them an icy glare.
"...what is it?" RyuKabuto asked, ignoring the grin he knew was forming under his brother's mask.
"We need to discuss something."
"What, annoying friends?" RyuKabuto quipped, looking over to his brother, who looked away, snickering along with Snowy and Froska, who shut up when Yukina shot them a glare again.
"...when you came here…we sensed things from all of you. You two in particular…your hearts are noble, yes, but…full of rage, as well." Yukina explained, looking back at RyuKabuto.
"...point being…?" RyuKabuto muttered, although he felt he knew where this was going.
"...are you sure what you plan to do will quell the emptiness and rage in you?" Snowy asked, now getting serious.
"...Vengeance is all we have left at this point…" RyuKuuga answered for his brother. "Hatred is the only thing keeping our blood flowing, our hearts beating, our wills going…without that…we have nothing."
"...what is it each of you lost? What did you lose to turn out like this?" Froska asked, a look of concern on her usually warm and joy-inducing face.
RyuKabuto lifted his mask a bit, taking a sip from his mug of coffee. "...everything that matters." He answered quietly.
The three mystics looked towards each other as if in silent conversation before turning towards the two.
"We will not stop you." Yukina spoke. "While there's rage…again, there is nobleness there. We only hope you will do the right thing."
"...I hope so too…" RyuKabuto murmured.
"Be careful out there." Snowy told them. "This mountain's a dangerous trek for those looking for the Heart."
"And despite the path you two seem intent on going..." Froska added. "...we hope the best for you."
Yukina took RyuKabuto's free hand in both of hers. "I hope your hearts will heal one day. And if you so choose…we will be waiting to help you, should you want our help."
"..." RyuKabuto set his mug on the table, pulling his mask down. "...thank you."
Yukina smiled gently, nodding.
The brothers looked to each other, nodding.
This…this was the only path that could fill the void in their hearts…
But if it wasn't…
They could only hope they'd find the right path…