As the group raced to help the next member of the Smile Precure team, now with the company of Cure Happy, there were lots of thoughts racing through everyone's heads about what's happened so far.
"Still can't believe Black is trying to conquer the rest of the Color-Verse. You'd think he'd learn by now." Hope said.
"This isn't his first time trying?" Cure Happy asked.
"Nope. He's done it twice before. The first time was when he was controlling my younger sister Cindrey. Back then, David, Sectonia and I teamed up to force him out of her body." Hope explained.
"Yeah. I think I almost scared him a bit as Sectonia and I laid the smackdown on him." David said.
"And to think back then was when you were still a rookie. You were already kicking the butts of gods way before you had a lot more to your name." Vashyron noted.
"Yep, though, I thought I was in way over my head during that time." David said.
"It's understandable. Pretty much everyone feels that way at first." Cheetah said.
"Yeah, fighting you in our second trip to your dimension, as well as the IG-3, it proved that I still had a lot to learn. Even now, I still feel that way." David said. "Anyways, some time later we ran into him again in the Spirit Realm as we were helping out Korra. It was just a sheer coincidence since there were spirits of light and dark in there."
"Has he ever gotten any kind of punishment after you guys fought him the first two times?" Ajna said.
"Aside from being blasted to high hell to recuperate, no. Then again, he is a god, so we can't exactly kill him through conventional means anyway." David said. "Plus, there is that lifelink, so beating him within an inch of his life was the best we could do."
"And you haven't thought of a way to sever that?" Valfor asked.
"If we did, we would've done so already, but that would mean the Darkness Universe gets destroyed unless someone takes his place." Takeshi said.
"Honestly that seems like a fitting punishment, having his Color God status removed." Razmi said.
"I know that he's a scumbag, but that's just cruel. And it's not something that can be done on a whim." Glacius said. "It has to occur when said Color God is no longer able to properly function."
"So even if you wanted to kill Black, you couldn't." Thronè said.
"But are Color Gods even allowed to interfere in Universes that aren't theirs?" Klonoa asked.
"Not physically. But they do help us out with their own brand of hints from time to time." Bow said.
"Yet Black is in this universe interfering in this world himself." Mari said.
"Oh yeah, there was also the time we were in Etheria, and hoo… We all got a hoot out of that. Cheetah especially." David said.
"I… I…remember that quite well too." Catra said in embarrassment. "Clearly not my best moment."
"What happened exactly?" Noel asked.
"To put it in simple terms, I… kinda overdid it." Catra said. "You know that cult Black mentioned? They were a group he was using called the Anarchy Kings. They were searching for a non-existent force Black made up called the "Anti-Gods". But what they were actually looking for was this really strong Color Fighter. His name was Void, and he had a Color Fightight Style which could let him destroy entire worlds. Black was able to let him out, but… I kinda messed up his whole plan."
"Catra got a little Overzealous when we were still working with the Horde. She tried using a portal device that Entrapta made to bring more of the Horde to Etheria, and completely ignored the fact that it would cause an overload of energy that would rip the planet apart." Scorpia said.
"In short, Catra's mishap threatened to destroy all of reality itself." Sachiko said.
"Yeah, because all that excess energy that I made when the portal malfunctioned? It went into Void." Catra said. "I messed up Black's plan accidentally, but I almost ended up destroying the entire Multiverse at the time. If it wasn't for Jexi beating him up and making him see the light, we may not be alive today."
"What happened to Void?" Mai asked.
"Honestly, we don't know. He just walked off on his own, and no one has seen him since." Captain Cold said.
"Void's power though, it would certainly make Leventhan's look tame." Baril said. "But that is a story for another time. Though I can tell you it is quite an interesting tale."
"Thanks Baril. For now, we should focus on our efforts to save the girls and stop Black here and now." Hope said.
"Speaking of, how close are we to our next girl's position?" Connor said.
"The volleyball court shouldn't be too far away. It should be around this corner, and-!" Cure Happy said as they rounded a corner in the school's hallway and found themselves outside at the school's volleyball court. Just like with how Cure Happy was imprisoned, the terrain was heavily altered, as there were spots around the court that had pools of flames inside them.
"Black sure knows how to redecorate…" Lei K said.
"This isn't permanent, that's for sure. But this will only end and go back to normal once Black is out." Hope said.
"Right, but first we have to free my friends. So where's-?" Cure Happy started.
"Over here, Miyuki!" a voice called as trapped inside another cage over a large pit of fire was another girl around Cure Happy's age. Unlike her though, her hair color was orange. She wore a loose orange long-sleeve top with pastel yellow stripes and red pockets, worn over a dark red tank-top, blue pants and dark red flats.
"Akane! You're alright!" Cure Happy said in relief.
"Yeah, but I dunno for how much longer though. That Black guy hung me over this huge fire, and I'm not sure how long I can stay here without getting cooked like okonomyaki." Akane H. said.
"Where's the Akanbe?" Cure Starlight asked.
"Don't see it. Maybe Black didn't post one here?" Peacock asked.
"Nah, it's never that easy." Hitomi said.
"Are you guys with Miyuki here to help? If you are, maybe you could help me out right now?" Akane H. asked.
"Don't have to ask twice! Hang on, we'll be right there!" Flamberge said, running down to the court to grab the heroine.
"Flamberge, wait-!" Hope warned too late, as just as Flamberge reached the court filled with fire pits, something slammed down in front of her was another giant clown-looking monster, only this one had the body of a giant volleyball.
"Akanbe!" it roared.
"Oh…so that's why Akira hoped we'd know how to play volleyball." Flamberge sweated.
"Told ya so." Cure Starlight deadpanned. "Jamblasted."
"Well, not to take it literally, but Esmeralda and I reached the Beach Volleyball finals of the Tokyo Games…only to lose to Kohaku and Emiya. So, I'm not sure how much help we can be, but we'll do our best." Glacius said.
"And the deluge of dumb continues…" Mark sighed.
"Hey, you don't hear me complaining." David said.
"Because you aren't the one stuck with these things as your enemies! You get gods! How is that fair?!" Mark said.
"Uh… You know these guys don't HAVE to be YOUR enemies, right?" David asked.
"Just be cool for 4 more fights Mark, and then you can take up a complaint with Black for sticking these things as guards. Preferably with a fist in his smug face." Hope said.
"Besides, the girls seem to be handling them just fine. If you are that discontent with facing them, you can just let them handle it." David said.
"Oh, by the way, Mark? There's one other thing I need to mention about the Selfish Kingdom… Does the name Ira, Mammo, Bel, Levi and Gula ring any bells?" Cure Starlight asked.
"...Yes." Mark nodded.
"Yeah… those are the generals of the Selfish Kingdom based on those sins. And after Smile Pretty Cure, Doki Doki Pretty Cure are fighting them, along with Regina who'll be their enemy."
"Uh, I know this sounds kind of important, but… Maybe save it for AFTER we defeat this thing?" Esmeralda asked.
"Esmeralda's right, guys! A little help?!" Flamberge asked as she was jumping around all over the palace to avoid the Volleyball Akanbe literally trying to crush her to death by bouncing all over
"Don't worry, we're on it!" Glacius said as she and Esmeralda rushed in to assist.
"Cure Happy, we're preparing a combination finisher. Let them weaken the Akanbe first before we make our move." Cure Starlight said.
"Okay, I'll follow your lead!" Cure Happy nodded as she began focusing her energy while Cure Starlight moved her hand forward while rotating her PreBrace with her other hand.
Flamberge continued to jump around to avoid the Akanbe smashing her flat as it bounced all over the place.
"I almost got crushed to death by a giant piranha plant. I'm not gonna go out the same way to an oversized volleyball!" Flamberge said as she avoided the latest smash.
"Is it too much for you, Berge?" Esmerelda asked.
"We'll lend a hand!" Glacius said.
"Thanks! Give this thing a little demonstration of the skills that won you guys a Silver medal in Tokyo!" Flamberge thanked.
"Way ahead of you. Come on, Glacius!" Esmeralda said.
"Don't have to tell me twice!" Glacius said.
"Akanbe!" it cried out as it plowed through the two and sent them crashing into the walls.
"What the?" Flamberge said as it stood over her. "Don't suppose we can call for a break?"
"Akanbe!" it said about to crush her before being knocked into the air as Zan stood there.
"Mind if big sister takes over for a bit?" Zan asked.
"Uh…you don't hear me complaining." Flamberge said.
Zan smiled as she raised her spear as she dashed around the court and rapidly knocked the monster around the court with ease.
"And once more..." Zan said, knocking it into the air as it crashed into the ceiling. "I think we're about ready for a cleansing ceremony, don't you think?"
"Yeah, I hear you!" Cure Starlight replied with her hand conjuring up a large energy sphere. "Cure Happy, ready?"
"Ready when you are, Cure Starlight!" Cure Happy replied back.
"Pretty Cure! Final Starlight Shoot!" Cure Starlight then launched the sphere right onto the Akanbe.
"Pretty Cure! Happy Shower!" Cure Happy then followed up with a powerful shower of light from her hands.
The Volleyball Akanbe saw this coming, and dodged out of the way.
"Oh no, I'm going to miss just like before!" Cure Happy gasped.
"Oh no you won't!" Mark yelled, as he used Instant Transmission to get in the Akanbe's path. "Get the hell…back in LINE!" he yelled, punching the monster straight back into the path of the Cures' attacks.
"Hey, clown face!" Flamberge called, making the Akanbe look and see Flamberge in her face. "This is for almost pancaking me!" she said,slashing the volleyball monster with her sword and pushing them right into Starlight and Happy's final attacks, both scoring a hit at the same time.
"Akanbe…!" it cried as it was purified from the force of both attacks, fading away into nothing.
"Game set and match, Hero Team!" Zan said.
"You two okay?" Francisca asked Esmeralda and Glacius as she healed them.
"We…couldn't do anything…" Esmeralda said.
"Well, I did say I didn't know how much help we could be, but at least we tried, right?" Glacius asked.
"That's right. And we all know it's gonna take more than something like this to get you both down. You were assassins, remember? You're built way tougher than that." David said.
"You're right, David. Although it is a bit embarrassing that we were just knocked over by a giant volleyball." Glacius said.
"Eh… Weirder stuff has happened." David said.
"Maybe we should've launched our attacks at close range, or at least, stun him first." Cure Starlight remarked.
"Yeah, I think so too." Cure Happy agreed.
"I-I said it's fine…!" Glacius said in slight embarrassment.
"...Why are you embarrassed?" Cure Starlight sweatdropped.
"Don't worry about it. It's just a little Beastman pride they have, is all." David said. "Anyway, that makes two down, right?"
"Yup. 3 to go." Hope said as the cage holding Akane H. vanished.
"Yes, finally!" Akane H. said in relief, before realizing she was still over the giant fire pit. "Uh oh…!"
"I gotcha!" Flamberge said, catching her before she dropped into the flames and getting her to safety.
"Whew… thanks a lot. So, you guys are here to take down that guy who trapped us right?" Akane H. asked.
"That's right. His name's Black, and you can no doubt tell that for a god, he's kind of a jerk." Flamberge said. "He's trying to take over the universe you guys live in by conquering your world first."
"Well…he's gonna have a tough time." Akane said, looking for her Smile Pact.
Cure Starlight then picked up Akane's Smile Pact that was dropped from the purified Akanbe. "Here, I think this is yours." She offered. "Now transform and fight with us. We've got more of your friends to save."
"Right!" she said, opening her Smile Pact. "Pretty Cure! Smile Charge!" she called out as she soon started to transform with the powder puff before standing there as Cure Sunny.
"The brilliant sun, hot-blooded power! Cure Sunny!"
"Welcome to the party, Cure Sunny!" Cure Starlight smiled, offering a fist-bump.
"Glad to be here!" Sunny said as she returned it. "We'd better go find the others, and then we'll find Black."
"Alright. Who's next on this adventure?" Jexi asked.
"Yayoi Kise aka Cure Peace." Madoka said.
"I think she was taken to the art room when we got captured." Cure Sunny said.
"Oh right, Yayoi's a manga artist." Zi-O recalled. "...Oh boy, we're gonna fight a Akanbe that's like a manga, aren't we?"
"Hey, it's like David said, weirder stuff has happened." Hope said.
"Look, as long as we're not fighting an actual, alive manga with a face on it, I'll be cool with whatever it is." Mark said.
"Wow, these Akanbe's are really getting to you, huh?" Weiss said.
"This world deserves better than some idiot from another world messing things up for it." Mark replied.
"Wait, I thought it was the monsters you were angry about." Ethox pointed out.
"...So, art room, right?" Mark said after some silence, heading back towards the school building. "C'mon, let's keep this moving."
"Sooner we get this done, the sooner we can stick it to Black for doing this." Hope said as they headed off to the Art Room to rescue the next member of the Smile Precure team.
As the team moved on, Geiz couldn't help but notice Mark's sudden attitude. "(Mark… is there something bothering with you lately? Hmm…)"