Spydey woke up in her bedroom, wearing a black silk shirt with images of a Dragrealma band on it, along with a skirt that looked like red spider silk. She rubbed her eyes, looking around. "What time is it…?" She wondered, checking her clock. "...oh. Morning. Makes sense." She giggled, getting out of bed, stumbling as her stomach growled.
"...to the kitchen it is!" She said dramatically, getting up and attempting to rush off, only to fall onto the ground as her stomach growled louder.
"...ok, could take a bit slower…" She muttered, getting up and walking at a normal pace out of her bedroom.
…
Spydey ate some of her breakfast, moaning in bliss as she finally filled her stomach.
"Oh."
Spydey looked and saw Scorpia staring at her. "O-oh, Scorpia, uh…w-what're you doing here?"
"I-I thought I'd get some breakfast, Weava keeps insisting on it." Scorpia said. "...uh…you look…" She cleared her throat, blushing. "You look good."
Spydey blushed. "Y-you too."
"Thanks…" Scorpia blushed, picking at her food. She herself was wearing a black and purple training top with black pants and socks with patterns based on legends of past scorpions.
"S-so uh…I see you got done with training for the day." Spydey eyed her abs, trying desperately to focus.
"Oh you noticed? Thanks, It's been tough." Scorpia says innocently.
"I can imagine…" Spydey blushed, eyes sparkling as she raked her eyes over her crush.
"What's the plan today?"
Spydey snapped out of her ogling. "Oh! Right! Right! Uh…I think in a few hours, we're gonna send out the newest monster or something."
"Cool!" Scorpia said, shifting.
The two stood in awkward silence.
"...so uh…" Spydey finished her breakfast. "You want a drink…?"
"Yeah! L-let me get some for us!" Scorpia went off to get drinks.
Spydey watched her go, face red as she slid down against the counter. "...fuck I'm useless…" She muttered, putting her face in her hands.
"Wow, that was painful to watch." Weava states suddenly behind Spidey.
Spydey yelped, falling on her back. "When did you get here!?"
"I've been here, I was just watching you two fall apart." Weava said with amusement.
"..." Spydey deadpanned, getting up. "...so uh, just to be clear…is there anyone else behind the corner watching us fail not to be awkward around each other?"
"Nahhhh just me~"
"Oh good." Spydey sighed in relief. "So…did you just come here to watch us be a romcom couple or you want some breakfast?"
"I came here to eat, I just didn't have the heart to interrupt."
Spydey sweat dropped. "Right…" She put her face in her hands. "...so uh…Weava…"
"Yesss dear?" Weava batted her eyelashes.
"..." Spydey took a deep breath. "...I'm…" She took a step back, doing a dogeza. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry for our break up, I'm sorry for just blindly doing as Owlio asked, I'm sorry I made you feel like I didn't love you, I'm sorry I'm just such a stupid baka, I'm sorry you ever had to date someone as stupid as me, I-"
"Woah woah woah, slow down, hun." Weava hugged her.
Spydey blushed in surprise, hugging back. "...was that too much?"
"No I just… You don't need to apologize, I wasn't doing a great job as your girlfriend either."
"You were perfect!" Spydey said incredulously. "You were always nice, always considerate, you kept me from making bad decisions, you made me happy every day, you took me out on the best dates, you…you were perfect and I screwed up by listening to Owlio. He just kept telling me relationships distract from duties and I wouldn't live up to mom and dad that way…"
"Owlio is overprotective and overbearing, I'm sorry too, hon. For letting you listen to him." Weava hugged Spydey.
Spydey hugged her close. "...I…I just didn't know the right way to apologize to you, because you're perfect and you deserve something perfect and I…I didn't wanna screw up."
"I'm not perfect, I just do my best, like I know you do." Weava cupped her cheek, Spydey leaning into it.
"...so…we're…we're cool?" Spydey asked hopefully.
"We're fine Spydey."
Spydey sighed in relief. "...thank you."
"No problem." Weava smiled.
"...so…what do we do now?"
"Take things one step at a time."
"...ok." Spydey nodded. "...wow, I…" She laughed. "...I feel so much better now."
"Glad to hear it."
"You uh…want me to make you something?"
"Like what?"
"...uh…" Spydey blinked. "...you still like doffles?"
"Sure!"
Spydey smiled as she went to get to work.
"While you're preparing that, I'm gonna go see how the new monster's doing." Weava told her. "I'll be right back!"
"Ok!" Spydey grinned.
"Back!" Scorpia came in with some drinks. "You good?"
"Oh, yeah!" Spydey grinned.
"You seem happy."
"I…finally managed to apologize to Weava."
"That's great!" Scorpia smiled.
"Yeah…" Spydey nodded. "Thanks for uh…helping me with that."
"No problem!" Scorpia smiles.
Spydey took a drink, sipping it. "Ooh! Blossom flavor!" She sipped it more with a blissful look on her face.
"..." Scorpia smiled at her, staring.
"..." Spydey blinked. "What?"
"..." Scorpia blushed, rubbing her arm. "I just…like seeing you happy."
"..." Spydey blushed, looking away bashfully. "Thanks. I-I like seeing you happy too…"
"Well… Uhhh… w-we should ge-get ready…" Scorpia said quickly.
"Y-yeah! For sure." Spydey blushed, the two going to get dressed.
Spydey walked into the meeting room, seeing a worried sick Weava, looking quite disheveled, fear in her eyes. "Huh? Weava, what's wrong?"
"It's Sealifea! I can't find her!" Weava told her, panicking. "She, she was waiting for her turn, I went to go eat and-and now she's vanished!"
"WHAT?! Crap… Where could she be…"
"...it's Owlio…" Weava said. "He must've known about our investigation and now he's punishing us, he's trying to take another person away from me…"
"Whoa whoa whoa, let's not jump to any conclusions!" Spydey told her. "It could be anything, maybe she just went out on a walk or something."
"Who went out on a walk or something?" The gravely tone of Owlio's voice suddenly butted into the conversation.
"Oh, hi, Owlio!" Spydey said cheerfully. "Oh we uh, think Sealifea might've gone for a walk or something. We're just trying to find her!"
"Mphf yes, don't worry about her. I gave her a slightly different assignment this time." Owlio says mysteriously and trudges off.
"..." Weava and Spydey glanced at each other. "So then…what now? Shall I whip up another monster for this week?"
"Take the week off, I'm trying something more… covert this week. Apologies for being cryptic but the less you know the better for now." Owlio says with a small chuckle.
"..." Weava and Spydey nodded at each other, walking off. "Well, Spydey, how bout you and I get a drink with Scorpia then?" The seamstress suggested.
"Sounds like fun! Scorpia?"
"Huh?" Scorpia, who'd just arrived and was at the doorway, perked up.
"C'mon!" Spydey and Weava grabbed her by the arms, hugging them and dragging her away, the knight blushing as two very pretty women dragged her to who knows where.
…
"Uh not that I don't enjoy this-I MEAN being with you-I MEAN hanging out with you two," Scorpia stammered. "But uh…what're we doing?"
"Getting drinks. Y'know like work colleagues do?" Weava pointed out.
"...R-right, just uh…you two got me thinking…nevermind…"
"Whattt? What were you thinking?" Weava gave a teasing, half lidded gaze.
"W-with you two…hugging arms, dragging me away to somewhere private…" Scorpia blushed harder.
Spydey blinked, oblivious. "...Weava, do you know what she's talking about?"
Weava snickered, holding her laughter.
"...uh, what? No one answered my question."
Weava giggled.
"...you dated her, how are you this innocent?" Scorpia muttered, facepalming.
"She's always been adorable~" Weava smiled, Spydey blushing, bashfully looking away from her.
"You seem in a much better mood." Scorpia noted.
"I'll admit I might've been a bit… stressed. I still don't trust him, but I'd know if Sealifea was dead."
"Right, your connection to the monsters." Scorpia nodded. "So any ideas on what he's doing with her?"
"Nope. Only person who could ask and get more than a "You don't need to know" Is Spydey." Weava answered.
"...I dunno, I…" Spydey hugged herself. "I trust he wouldn't hurt me, but…I dunno how good of a liar I am."
"So right now… Everything Owlio's ever done has either protected Spydey or furthered our cause. We just gotta trust that, even if we worry about his methods." Weava spoke.
"True…but still…the things he's done…" Scorpia crossed her arms. "...how do we know for sure Sealifea's fine?"
"I've worked with Owlio a while… Usually when he says "Don't worry" you have to take it as… "I don't actually know what's happened but nothing's blown up, I will handle it" and move on." Weava chuckled.
"...so he's as in the dark as we are." Scorpia sweat dropped.
"He probably knows either where she went or who took her, if he knew both he'd have been wayyyy more defensive."
"Right. So…what do we do now?"
"I say we go to where she might've last been." Spydey said suddenly. "Look for any clues, maybe then go to the library."
"Alrighty, lead the way." Weava said, the trio going off to search.
"...also, to be clear, was the drinks thing an excuse to get out or-" Scorpia questioned.
Weava pulled her close. "We'll get drinks later."
Scorpia blushed. "Yes ma'am…"
"Away we goooo!" Spydey cheered.
In the library, the three flipped through some books.
What they had found wasn't much, but it was something.
Some remnants of…ice.
Signs of a struggle.
Kidnapping.
Plus some…sparks. Lightning.
There were a few groups of people in Dragrealma who could do cryokinesis, and others electrokinesis…
Weava noted something in the book she was reading. "Huh. That's interesting."
"What? Did you find something?" Scorpia asked.
"There's a book about some mysterious mantis ninja…"
"... Like a fantasy book?" Spydey tilted her head.
Weava giggled. "No, you silly. A legendary warrior in the mantis tribe."
"... I don't know, sounds like one of those 'They totally existed' people. Like the 300 Warriors."
"Some legends are true." Weava told her. "This one, Lunatsuki, was known to wield cryokinesis."
"Lunatsuki…" Spydey repeated, her and Scorpia going over to Weava. "Sounds familiar…"
"Oh, cool, Did she also wield lightning?" Scorpia asked.
"As a matter of fact, yes." Weava answered. "She was also a champion of Chrysogladia. While RyuMantises tend to be more lightning focused, I have seen records of a few -albeit a VERY few- who have also had ice based abilities…at least in their power up forms."
"Okay… When was the last person like her?"
"...Around nine or so thousand years ago." Weava noted, reading a page.
"Didn't the Yuki Onna on that team also get reported MIA?" Scorpia asked.
"...holy Areina…" Weava's eyes widened.
"Figure something out?"
"..." She looked to the others. "...the current Ryumushingers wear covert suits, obviously to keep their identities hidden." She told them. "...do either of you recall if our lieutenant mantis' body was ever found…?"
"Reports found like, pieces of carapace and antennae I think." Spydey responds. "Whyyyy?"
"...think. Our attackers apparently have ice and lightning powers. There have been Ryumantises with both of those. One of our own was allegedly killed, and another of our own was MIA…both of whom would have abilities matching our criteria. And our security is very tight. So our attacker or attackers would have to know how to get in."
"..." Scorpia's eyes widened. "...oh shit, you don't think?"
"I do." Weava told her. "...I think our current RyuMantis is our lost lieutenant."
"...That's…. We need more evidence. But that seems logical."
"You think she'd attack us? Why?" Spydey asked her, confused. "You think she…also stumbled upon something she shouldn't have?"
"It's very possible." Weava said. "Again, that is if we're correct in this. But even if she's RyuMantis, doesn't make her our attacker. After all…" She looked at the picture of Lunatsuki. "Wouldn't be the first time someone resurrected someone they shouldn't…"
"... Any grave sites we should be checking for signs of tampering?" Spydey asked.
"We'll have to see where her grave was." Weava answered. "I should be able to detect SOME sign when we get there."
"Well that sounds like the next step."
Weava nodded. "Alright, so, together?"
Spydey nodded. "Spider friends, go for it!"
…
Weava giggled, Scorpia blinking.
"..." Spydey slumped. "You didn't get it."
"Uh…let's just go!" Scorpia stammered, walking off.
Weava smirked. "She gets it."
"I DO NOT!"
"That's not the response of someone who doesn't~"
"SHUT UP!"
Weava giggled. "Let's go, Spider Friends!" She walked off, Scorpia groaning, Spydey giggling.
At the sight of the attack on Radar…
The Ryumushingers in their covert suits were looking around the area, Amy in her own, which was similar to theirs, but was a deep red on one half and deep blue on the other with some more padding and emphasized shoulder guard on her left shoulder.
"Ice…" Azu noted the frozen area.
"These also look like…lightning marks…" Ziga observed.
"That's… That's really unusual…" Andah comments.
"Any you recognize that might use that, Ziga?" Azu asked.
…
Ziga was staring off into space.
"..." Azu frowned. "Ziga?" She snapped her fingers in front of her face.
Andah took hold of one of Ziga's hands. "Z?"
"AH!" Ziga snapped out of it. "W-what was the question?"
"Asking if you know anyone that uses Ice and Lightning together."
"...just a legend…" Ziga answered.
"Ziga…" Azu piped up. "Any lead will help."
"...Lunatsuki."
"Lunatsuki?" Andah asked.
"She was…my predecessor." Ziga informed them. "Champion of Chrysogladia and an ice goddess."
"Sounds powerful."
"So, someone back from the dead?" Azu asked.
"Or imitating her."
"Ok, that gives us an idea!" Azu nodded. "Any clue as to where the founder might be?"
"I… Even if it's just an imitation it looks like they froze him. Would have to have taken him somewhere extremely cold to not get detected on our radars or satellites." Ziga surmised.
"Would explain why I'm not getting anything." Azu noted. "Zea's not picking up anything. Maybe if we had a little more time…"
"Same here." Andah said.
"We have to assume he's just been captured. We'll find him." Nazu said calmly.
"So, how cold would this place have to be?" Azu asked Ziga.
"Mountaintop. Greenland. Anywhere that's almost constantly below freezing."
"Ok so that leaves a couple countries, continents, and several mountains." Azu noted, rubbing her face. "Ok, there any secret mystical lands we know about? Do the…Magirangers or something have somewhere as cold as that?"
"Well there's the… Ice Prince? Was that their name?" Andah asked.
"Snowgel!" Slavi piped up. "Snowgel, the Ice Princess."
"An…ice…princess…?" Azu tilted her head.
"Yeah she lives in an ice dimension, and she helped the Magirangers." Andah grinned.
"..." Slavi looked off.
"Don't. Start." Azu deadpanned.
"I didn't even say anything!" Slavi said defensively.
"You were thinking it."
"Thinking what?" Andah asked.
"The kind of thing you two think of whenever a powerful or pretty woman comes up."
"Jealous?~" Slavi teased.
"AM NOT!" Azu snapped, puffing her cheeks out, blushing.
"Hmmm I dunno, boss lady. Sounds pretty jealous~" Andah teased.
"Oh shut up!"
"Okay. Maybe someone other than the step-on-me girls goes to talk to the Ice Princess." Nazu suggested.
"Yeah. We could also try contacting others at Magiitopia and see if they know anything." Ziga said.
"Okay. Let's establish who's going where." Azu suggested. "Me and the Hopper von Horny here will head to the Sword of Logos bases to see if they know anything."
"I'll take Slavi to Magiitopia then." Nazu said.
Azu nodded. "Everyone good with that?"
"Sure thing, I'll seek out some contacts while you guys are out." Ziga said.
"Alright." Azu looked to Amy. "What about you?"
"I'll get in contact with other group leaders, see what they know."
"Alright…you gonna be ok?"
"I'll… I'll be fine…"
"...ok." Azu put a hand on her shoulder before looking to the team, nodding. "Let's go, everyone."
The team nodded before going off to their respective tasks.
Elsewhere…
In a Japanese rural home, an older woman in a black kimono with silver feather patterns along it, white socks, and hair in a bun was sipping some tea as she played some chess with seemingly no one. The curtains of a nearby window fluttered gently and she paused mid-sip.
She glanced about the room, moving another piece. "Check."
She stood up, her avian-like features squinting into a narrow gaze as she scanned her house. "Whoever you are, you will not succeed in whatever you wish to accomplish here."
She heard a faint, ghost-like whisper through the wind, the woman grabbing a fan from inside her long robes. She unfurled it, swinging around and sending gusts of wind at a few shards of ice sent flying at her.
"Hah, you're good."
"I take it you're as fragile as these ice fragments, given your penchant for hiding." The woman deduced.
"I wouldn't say that. But I know when I'm facing someone above my normal level."
"So why even bother? What is your goal here?"
"Can't tell you, can't risk you getting any secret messages out."
"So I'm not dealing with an idiot. Good." The woman smirked. "Makes this more interesting."
"Glad to be entertaining."
"So how shall we play this game?"
"One attack at a time, whoever restrains the other wins?"
"Sounds good to me."
"I believe it's my move then." Streaks of cold lightning rushed the woman.
The woman twirled, moving the cold lightning with her fan, doing a mini dance before sending it to the ground in one swift motion away from her.
"My turn then."
She closed her fan before unfurling it, sending a powerful gust of wind toward where the lightning came from. She saw a shadowy figure get knocked into the wall before dropping back into hiding.
She got into a stance, keeping her eyes and ears focused. Lightning and ice exploded towards her.
She twirled her fan around, spinning in a dance, forming a mini tornado which exploded into a display of shocks and snowflakes.
"Impressive."
"I put on a show when I can." The woman smiled.
"Very interesting…"
"Allow me to show you something more interesting." The woman smirked, glowing before transforming…
Into a dark red humanoid bird woman, with a red vest-dress combo, with her dress skirt open at the front and revealing tight black pants, the vest having silver feathers for a collar, with talon mark highlights along her vest and skirt, silver bracers and anklets, with black gloves and socks with silver geta sandals, her gloves being fingerless to show off her talons, her hair waist length, silver and feathery, her face having a beak, silver wings flowing from her back, with silver and red metallic bird head shoulder pads, and a shining jewel in the center of her torso surrounded by silver shining wings.
The Tengu Phantom's wings glowed, and she began dancing, twirling her wings about before some feathers dislodged, swirling about her, glowing brightly before she struck a pose, sending them flying at where she last sensed her attacker. This time the attacker darted out of the way and back onto hiding.
Tengu bowed, gesturing for the attacker to take their turn. More ice and lightning came out in unison attempting to block off dodge routes.
Tengu grinned eagerly, using her fan to catch some of the ice and lightning, spinning on her feet to make a small cyclone of the elements before returning them to sender.
She smiled as she caught the attacker dodging, only to get stuck. "Got you now."
She dashed over to the attacker, and …a second too late, sensed a grin.
"Gotcha."
She was struck in the back, knocking her to the floor. "No hard feelings, pretty bird." The attacker whispered before encapsulating her in Ice.
Tengu's eyes widened as she faded away into unconsciousness. 'It…can't be…'
Back at HENSHIN HQ, Ziga walked through the halls, her mind on…a lot of things.
Lunatsuki.
Her predecessor a few generations -team wise anyway- ago.
The ice lightning mantis had become legendary for a reason, many, actually…
It wasn't impossible that someone would try to bring her back…
But how would they do that…
The only thing that could possibly do that was…
…
She frowned, the image of a mask flashing through her mind.
…A mask given to her by a dear friend…
Her thoughts were interrupted as she bumped into someone.
"Oh, shit, sorry!" Both women said, looking and seeing each other.
Amy.
"Oh, Amy, uh…whatcha doing?" Ziga asked.
"We've… got another Founder offline…"
"What!?" Ziga's eye widened. "H-how…what!?"
"She was at home."
"Dammit…which one was it?"
"Tenaga."
"...Shit…" Ziga rubbed her head. "...any ice lightning patterns?"
"All over the place. She put up a fight."
"Well that's good...but if our attacker was even able to take Tenaga…"
"We have to be very careful to take them in."
"Yeah…I just can't help but wonder…" Ziga leaned against a wall. "Part…part of me hopes it's Lunatsuki, then we have an easy answer to this mystery. But…other part of me can't help but wonder why…why would she do this, she was one of my predecessors…"
"... The possibility isn't entirely out of the question. But more likely is a copy cat."
"Yeah…" Ziga nodded. "You got any ideas at least…?"
"Not yet. Gonna try and call in the rest of the founders."
"Alright…lemme know if ya find anything."
"I will, do you have any ideas?"
"None that I can think of…"
"What about that group of worshippers?"
"...could be a lead." Ziga nodded. "I'll check it out."
"Alright. Be safe out there."
"You too…" Ziga began walking off. "..." She seemed to pause for a moment before shaking her head.
"Ziga?"
"Nothing it's…it's nothing."
"Ziga…"
"Huh?" Ziga looked back to her.
"...you wanna come inside?" Amy gestured towards her office.
"..."
"You don't have to, I just figured…well, you seem like you have something on your mind." Amy said.
"Y-yeah sorry I wouldn't mind."
Amy led Ziga into her office, taking a seat behind her desk, Ziga sitting in front of it.
"So…what's on your mind, Ziga?" Amy asked.
"...her." Ziga admitted. "...all these cold places…" She snorted, smiling sadly. "She would've loved this."
"..." Amy took one of Ziga's hands in her own, squeezing it.
Ziga smiled, squeezing back. "...I…" She sniffed, rubbing her eye. "Sorry, I'm in the middle of a mission and I can't help reminiscing…"
Amy frowned, squeezing. "It's ok. It's not a crime to grieve."
"..." Ziga looked down, taking comfort in her friend's hold.
"..." Amy paused for a second, as if considering her next words. "Ziga…"
"Yeah…?"
"...wasn't… she a fan of Lunatsuki?" Amy asked uncertainly.
Ziga winced. "She would've hated someone using Lunatsuki like this…"
"..." Amy opened her mouth to say something before deciding against it to reconsider her words, pausing before speaking. "...Ziga…you know in our line of work…some…impossible things can happen a lot…right?"
"... She would've… come see me…right?" Ziga asked, trembling slightly.
"...sometimes…people come back, not as you last saw them…" Amy said gently.
"I… I always wondered if she'd approve of who I've become…"
"From what you've told me…I think she would've." Amy smiled softly. "You said she tried to help you evacuate people from that building before your team blew it up, right? I think she'd be proud you're still trying to help people."
Ziga nods silently, still trembling.
"You need a minute?" Amy asked.
Ziga exhaled heavily. "No… No, I gotta keep working."
"Ziga…it's ok to take a minute when you need it."
"I… Yeah. Sorry."
"You have nothing to apologize for." Amy told her, bringing Ziga's hand into both of hers.
"Thanks Amy…"
Amy smiled warmly. "Anytime." She brought her hand closer. "I mean it."
Ziga blushed, nodding.
Amy looked, noticing their position and blushed. She looked to Ziga, as if silently asking if she was uncomfortable like this. Ziga leaned in, sighing deeply.
Amy smiled a little, leaning in herself, resting her head against Ziga's.
"Thanks… I really should get going…"
"Just remember…you can come in anytime. You can come to me." Amy smiled reassuringly.
Ziga nodded, standing up, walking off, the two slowly letting go of each other's hands till they couldn't touch anymore, Ziga exiting.
Right outside the Sword of Logos' Northern Base, a castle-like structure in the North Pole, Azu and Andah waited in their covert suits.
"Sophia is taking a while…" Azu noted, crossing her arms.
"Ah don't be such a worry wart~" Andah said, leaning against a wall.
Azu sighed, waiting.
"...sooooo, you and Slavi…" Andah started, barely hiding a coy smirk.
"NOTHING IS HAPPENING!" Azu shreeled.
"... Wow, that was so sudden. Also I don't believe you."
Azu blushed, puffing her cheeks out in annoyance, even more so when Andah d'awwwed.
"Oh c'mon, Not even a littttttllleeee thing?"
"...l-like what?"
"Like the hand holding when you think no one's looking or the cuddles when you think the door is locked?"
"YOU WERE LOOKIN-I mean, I have no idea what you're talking about!"
Andah chuckles a bit, earning a glare from her Red Ranger. "Ohhh relax, I'm not gonna tell."
"...promise?"
"Of course Azu."
"...fine."
"Thankyouuu~"
Azu rolled her eyes, blushing.
Suddenly, the doors opened, a beautiful brunette in a white dress coming out. "My apologies, come in!"
"No problem, I like the upgrades." Andah says walking in.
Indeed, the base seemed a bit more high tech, with mystical symbols lining the walls flashing every so often, some comfy leather chairs surrounding the center table, along with some new wallpaper and a revamped Sword of Logos symbol on the ground and ceiling.
It looked overall relatively the same, but with some notable improvements.
"Thank you. We've shored up defenses, so I don't need to be here twenty-four-seven to keep the shields up."
"Sounds…boring…" Azu narrowed her eyes in concern.
"You have no idea." Sophia told her hauntedly.
Andah starts to open her mouth and Azu immediately slaps her hand over her mouth.
"Don't. Start."
"Party pooper." Andah rolled her eyes, though her words were muffled under Azu's hand.
"What?" Sophia blinked.
"Nothing, my comrade is just…being her. Anyways, we're dealing with a case involving ice lightning powers. We think our mysterious attacker may be holed up in some cold area."
"Hrmm. Well sadly there's a lot of those… Especially when you start factoring in different dimensions…"
"Thought so. Have you detected any anomalies or such in any you know of?"
"Let me take a look."
Sophia started typing on a keyboard, Azu learning against a wall with her arms crossed and noticing Andah taking a look at some books. "What, ya like books?" Azu asked.
"No, I have a boyfriend who works here… Well I do like books but that's why I'm looking around."
"...your boyfriend works at the Sword of Logos?"
"Yeah I met him out on business, you see-"
"Found something!" Sophia announced.
The two gynoids went over to the computer, seeing a 3D holographic view of a mountainous region, a signal emanating from a cave.
"How far away?" Azu asked.
"Somewhere in Nepal."
"The one with the weird flag!" Andah grinned.
"..." Azu blinked.
"...that youtuber, y'know, with the…"
"...why are you like this…" Azu asked flatly.
Andah giggled.
"Anyways, thanks, Lady Sophia." Azu told the Northern Base leader before heading out.
"See you later Lady Sophia~" Andah waved as she left after her leader. Sophia blushed at the flirtatious tone, waving back.
"Are you EVER uninterested?" Azu asked flatly.
"Sure, when I get told no."
"I hate you. So much."
"Liar liar, pants on fire~"
"Shut up."
Slavi and Nazu waited at the entrance to Snowgel's domain, this entrance being a snow covered region of a mystic forest, a flowing ice filled waterfall surrounded by stones marking the entrance.
"So…the Magirangers'...friend, right?" Nazu asked.
"Yup, She's the Mystic Mother's…. Daughter? Apprentice? Relationship unclear. So many theories by fans."
"Right. So…what's she like from what you know? We gonna get into any…complications?"
"A very… straightforward person, very rules oriented, still nice enough though."
"Alright, good. So, is it as cold here as it was at the mountain?"
"Probably even worse, Snow Princess is made entirely of… Well it's in the name."
"Ah." Nazu nodded. "...so, we should probably henshin just in case, right?"
"Yeah, probably."
The two henshined.
Soon enough, a swirling ice portal opened.
"Alright, let's go!" Nazu said, the two jumping inside.
The freezing temperatures were only matched by how…grand and gorgeous everything looked.
Before them was a gigantic palace seemingly made out of ice-crystals, mainly colored various shades of blue, but also reflecting the colors of the Northern Lights shining above, causing the walls and whatnot to depict various events of Snowgel's life, from her past, to when the Magirangers met her, to the final battle against N Ma, to everything that came after.
The skies were also a brilliant turquoise to contrast against the Lights, stars sparkling all across it as it illuminated not just the castle, but the surrounding town and inhabitants, such as yetis, foxes, penguins…
"Woah this place is livelier than I expected." Nazu stated.
"It's so prettyyyyyyyyy!" Slavi gushed.
"I appreciate your compliments, friends."
The two looked forward, and in a flash of light shaped like a snowflake, a blue crystalline woman appeared, though a bit different from how she looked in the images displayed on the castle. She still wore a crown made of ice crystals, but it looked a little bit more elaborate, with a snowflake gem in the center. Along with that, she wore a cross between an armored suit and a dress, the armor that was along her torso and back, and also her gauntlets and greaves a blue metallic color, and the silky dress made of various blues as a gradient, with the Lights shining off of them as highlights, with Magiitopian characters embroidered along the clothing.
"OhhhhMG Snowgel! Hiii!" Slavi waved smiling.
"Hello, young one." Snowgel chuckled. "I was informed you had some questions for me?"
"Yeah, thanks for meeting with us." Nazu said.
"So, what can I help you with?" Snowgel smiled, the two rangers yelping as the snow underneath them rose up and formed chairs.
Nazu took a seat. "We're on the trail of a mysterious attacker using ice lightning. We were wondering if you might have heard anything about some disturbances or anomalies or something."
"Ice and lightning? Well that's a fun combination." Snowgel noted, rubbing her chin. "There's a temple I've felt disturbances from in Nepal."
"Nepal? Interesting, anything else you can tell us?"
"There were many people there at one point."
"Really? That's strange… So far the evidence shows a solo culprit…" Nazu muttered.
"Really? Probably a lone agent separated from the pack, or the group is unrelated."
"Well we gotta investigate it regardless. Thanks for the tip."
"My pleasure. Don't be strangers!"
"We won't! Oh but before we leave." Slavi pulled out a notebook and an extravagant pen. "Can I… have your autograph?"
Snowgel looked in surprise. "Oh! I've never been asked that before! Usually it's the Magirangers. Of course!" She took the notebook and pen, signing it.
"... I keep forgetting you're a Sentai Nut." Nazu chuckled amusedly.
Slavi giggled in excitement as Snowgel returned the book and pen after signing.
"I have enjoyed this meeting." Snowgel smiled.
"So have I, thankyou so much!" Slavi took the notebook back and waved excitedly as they left, the Snow Princess waving back.
As the two exited the portal, Slavi had a look of…rapture on her face. "I think I just fangasmed…"
Nazu stared blankly at her.
"What? It's not literally an orgasm."
"Ah." Nazu chuckled. "Ya happy now?"
"Ohhh very much so." Slavi nodded with a bright smile.
"Well glad to see you're doing better." Nazu noted. "I'd expect that kind of excitement out of you if Azu asked you out."
"Ohhh if that happened I'd probably shatter glass."
"I do not doubt that." Nazu laughed. "How are you two, by the way?"
"We're… okay. She's still shaken up by the betrayal…"
"I can imagine…still, it seems like she's not doing as bad as she could've." Nazu smiled softly. "Thanks to you, I reckon."
"I've been helping her work through it as best I can."
"That's good. Not everyone gets someone like that…"
"What about you and your wife, the new guest going well?~"
Nazu blushed. "We're settling in good. Shiro…was nervous and worried she wouldn't look good after a few kids."
"I'm sure you were able to settle that worry~"
Nazu chuckled. "Oh yeah…Matti was especially happy to do that."
"I'm glad it's going well."
"Yeah. Kids are a bit weirded out, though."
"Why?"
"They're not against it, it's just…well, it's just kinda weird. They know only their two parents all their lives, they just got their dad back after being absent, and then a couple months later, suddenly the parents' girlfriend is dating them again and living with them."
"Yeah I can see that taking some getting used to."
"Yeah. They like Matti enough, it's just a…strange situation."
"Well it'll get better as you guys get used to it."
Nazu nodded. "Yeah…and hey." He put a hand on Slavi's shoulder. "It'll get better for you and Azu."
"Thanks, Nazu. Let's head back." Slavi nodded, the two heading off.
Elsewhere, at the South Pole, Ziga arrived at some mountains, having gotten there through first teleporting to the Sword of Logos' southern base.
She walked forward, finding an entrance after searching for a bit. She raised her fist, knocking in a specific pattern.
Soon, a pretty woman, almost snow white skin with pearl-esque hair in ritualistic ice colored robes came out, eyes widening upon Ziga. "Ziga…?"
Ziga raised a hand. "Hey-" She yelped as the woman hugged her close, lifting her off the ground.
"Ziga! It's been agesss!"
Ziga blushed. "It has, Tessa." She hugged back as best she could. "How uh…how've you been?"
"Can't complain, you?"
"I'm ok…I need some help."
"Oh? Whatcha need?"
"I think one of your own might've attacked some HENSHIN founders."
"One of ours? Why would they do that?"
"I dunno, but I've seen lightning ice patterns, so this is the best lead I've got."
"Really? Well c'mon, tell me about it." Tessa led Ziga into the temple.
"We think it's either Lunatsuki, or someone impersonating her." Ziga told her as they walked through the halls, pictures and paintings of various events or moments of a particular mantis woman's life decorating the place, doors leading to various different rooms, each marked with special characters, the whole place glimmering and shining like crystals. "More likely the latter, since if it is Lunatsuki, we haven't figured out a motivation for her to do this."
"Woahhh… Well I'll do my best to help!" Tessa grinned.
"You know anyone who's acted suspicious or disappeared?" Ziga asked.
"No, in fact we've been cooped up for a few weeks." Tessa shrugged.
"And everyone's been accounted for? Everyone…?" Ziga asked.
"I mean you're always free to double check me, Z."
"Ok…is everyone alright-"
"Hey is that Ziga?" A voice asked. The two turned to look at some people, members of the temple who had looked to her upon someone speaking there.
Then in the next second, everyone was on her, smiling and talking over each other, hugging her and telling her how much they missed her, the surprised Ziga almost overwhelmed.
"Woah I uhhh… I wasn't expecting all of you to just rush me…"
"We missed you, why wouldn't we?" Tessa giggled.
"Well yeah but… you were the ones that chose to leave. I just thought you'd have reached out by now."
"We left on good terms." Tessa shrugged. "We've just been busy ourselves. We've been dealing with artifacts and some ancient texts. Takes a while to decipher."
"Alright well… Yeah, it looks like everyone's here…"
Tessa nodded. "Yeah. Told you. Anything else we can do for you?"
"I… I guess not…"
"...something wrong?" Tessa asked, tilting her head.
"It's ummm it's… nothing…"
"Z," Tessa said firmly. "What's up?"
"I… It's nothing you'd care about…"
"Nonsense, it's troubling you. I care."
Ziga looks around nervously "You sure?"
Tessa smiled, sitting on a couch, patting next to her.
After a moment of silence Ziga sits next to her. "...you uh…know how I was…in the Hoshuka military before HENSHIN…right?"
Tessa gestured towards some of the members, said members soon coming back with tea, Tessa pouring a cup. "Yes, why?"
"I had a team…friends, actually." Ziga started, Tessa leaning in as she listened intently.
"Our last mission together, they…" Ziga froze up, flashbacks playing in her mind. Tessa placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Ziga took a deep breath after snapping out of it. "...they uh…left me for dead…"
"Oh my… I'm so sorry Ziga…"
"...they planned to blow up a building with everyone inside…" Ziga muttered. "We never agreed to this…I never agreed to this…they said we didn't have time to evacuate everyone…I tried anyway…they didn't…they just…left me."
Tessa hugs Ziga as she goes through the hard memories.
"...there was one…she…she was the only one who tried to help…" Ziga sniffled. "...and I…I don't know if she made it out…"
"Did you find any evidence she didn't?"
"She never attempted contact, nor have I heard of anyone matching her description on any missions after I joined the resistance. If she did make it out, I don't know…"
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Not your fault, I…" Ziga put her face in her hands. "I just…I miss her…I miss her so much…"
"I know, I wish I could do more to help"
"And now, I…Amy…a few months ago, my green ranger helped me realize my true feelings for her and…I can't bring myself to talk about it with her…"
"Why? What's stopping you?"
"...I was a lieutenant of the empire we're fighting…I hurt so many people…and…with Suba…I…" She sighed. "...I'm…scared…I…it's been years and…the best recent experience I have is just becoming…I dunno, I guess friends with benefits with my green, but that's not romantic, I…I just dunno what to do…I dunno if I'm good at this or…or if I really deserve it…"
"Ziga… No one deserves love, it's a gift we receive, not a reward for some arbitrary good deeds done." Tessa explained.
"But…how could she, how could anyone like me like that?" Ziga asked, frowning.
"You're beautiful, strong, caring, and quick to help. Lots of people like that."
"There's plenty others like that at HENSHIN."
"Are any of them you?"
"..." Ziga thought for a few moments. "You think…she might really…feel that way?"
"Of course I do."
"..." Ziga paused. "...what…should I do about Amy and me?'
"Talk to her, the worst case is she says no."
"...so…all of you, think this?" Ziga asked.
The show of hands by every single one of the people in the room gave her her answer.
"We believe in you two."
"...ok. Will do. As soon as I work up the courage-"
"Nopes. Go. Do it."
"R-right now? We're in the middle of a mission-" Ziga stammered.
"Go before you put it off for another month."
"...ok."
"Goooo." Tessa pushed gently.
"Ok ok!" Ziga laughed as Tessa pushed her towards the exit. "Uh…if it's ok…wanna…hang out sometime…?"
"Of course, Don't be a stranger, Ziga."
"...thanks."
…
Ziga headed out of the temple, thinking about Tessa's words.
She thought about Atlia…From the moment Amy introduced her after bringing her to her home…to all the fond memories…
She brought out a holographic picture of the three of them…when everyone was happy…
With a determined look Ziga made up her mind about what Tessa said, and headed back to base.
Sealifea groaned, waking on a stone slab.
Sealifea was a blue reptilian woman with sea blue lined, light blue membraned fins along her head, back, tail, and limbs, her eyes similar colors.
She had coral colored highlights along her body which were designed to unleash different types of sea-life based attacks, hence her name.
She also had darker patches of blue along her body which could harden into armor, with her nails being able to unsheathe into claws almost like mixes of crocodile and shark teeth.
From the lower jaw down to her stomach, she had a lighter, softer blue coloring.
She also had coral colored flowers around her neck, along her torso, and around her hips, wrists, and ankles.
"What…where…where am I…?" She asked, looking around, blinking. The room she was in looked like the heart of some kind of temple. Standing above an ice block with a beautiful Tengu woman trapped inside was the woman who had been collecting the founders of HENSHIN all day. She turned to look at Sealifa, atleast Sealifa thought she was looking at her, the numerous lenses and "eyes" on the mask made it hard for the monster to tell.
"Ah… You're awake, Sealifa."
"H-how…how do you know my name?" Sealifa asked. "And…what is this place? Where is Lady Weava?"
"My name is not relevant. After your creation was finalized Owlio lent you to me for a plan."
"Oh." That made sense. Strange how she wasn't informed, but who was she to question the big boss? "Wh-what's the plan?"
"If you… cooperate, lend your power, as well as operate as security should I need it, I will let you go back to your mistress. If not…well I don't care what happens to you. The rangers could destroy you or capture you. Though I think you'd prefer it if I succeeded."
"A-and why is that?" Sealifa asked, nervous.
"Well because if I succeed then neither of us are destroyed and I'll be in a good mood, if I'm in a good mood well, you may get rewarded before I send you back to the spider. However if we fail and somehow escape the Rangers… Well you can ask them what happens when I'm in a bad mood." Sealifa looked around the room, seeing more powerful looking beings in blocks of ice.
Sealifa blinked, terrified, yet fascinated. "Wh-who're they?"
"The Founders of our enemy, HENSHIN, and before you ask why they're not dead, I'm not THAT strong. Their guards were down and even then I'm walking away with new scars, while they'll be walking away with wounded pride."
"Whoa…w-what's your name?"
"I just told you it's not relevant."
"R-right, just…wow…" Sealifa was impressed. Her captor was able to accomplish all this?
Oh wait till her mistress heard of this…
"Do you wanna hear about why I need you?"
"Y-yeah, that'd be nice."
"Alright, so, most every being puts out power in some way. It's how very strong beings can tell eachother apart. By freezing them I've also frozen some of this power. We need to remove the portion of ice containing it without accidentally freeing any of them."
"Ah. So, how can I help?"
"You're a Hydrokinetic yes?"
"Yeah?"
"Your job will be removing the portion of ice containing their power.
"O-ok! When do we start?"
"Now is good."
Sealifa got off of the slab, stretching. "So, uh…you want me to do the tengu or the guy first?"
"The guy, the Tengu is fresher and may react more violently."
Sealifa nodded, going over to the block of ice containing a seemingly human male, putting her hand over the ice and concentrating. The water that rose to the surface glowed like a car's head-lamps.
Soon enough, an ethereal ball of water containing a light began forming.
"Wonderful! While you drain him I'll get the rest of what we need."
"Yes ma'am!" Sealifa nodded. The strange masked woman departed in a puff of smoke.
END