Fictions Mentioned:
Episode 24
OP Song:
Aoi Kaze No HOPE [HISTORY OF TRUNKS ENDING]
Insert Song: Start
Yes! Precure 5 OST 1 Track10
PART 1
Approximately a hundred years into the past...
Ichigozaka.
It was a simple town located just near the mountain forest of Ichigoyama. On most days, the people were just simply going about their daily lives with smiles on their faces. This was a time before such things as digital electronic computers and other forms of advanced technology were in use; a time before the modern era.
And now...
"Run! Run for your lives!"
"Monsters!"
"Ahhhhhh!"
Many of the townspeople were running away. And they were terrified. But why? Because there were Darkroachi Undead that were causing said terror. One of the inhabitants, an old man wearing a dark blue kimono, slipped from the floor and was crawling for safety, his hands were moving forward as his back turn from the floor, seeing these Darkroachi Undead slowly gathering near him.
"H-Help me!" the man said in fear.
And of course, help did arrive as the young eleven-year-old George Kurai as Kamen Rider Zi-O, wearing Blade Armor, swoop in and used the Blay Rouzer to slash the nearby two Undead in the waist, killing them instantly.
"Run!" Zi-O said, exclaiming. The man of course complied with a nod as he begins to get up and run away while Zi-O begins to handle the Darkroachi Undead who were now noticing him, with angry ticking noises being muttered and their claws raised as they charged at the Kamen Rider.
Zi-O evaded them while simultaneously slashing them from the left and the right, sparks flying. One after another, they died swiftly, leaving an empty open road occupied only by Zi-O who slashed the remaining Darkroachi Undead by stabbing it in the torso, dispersing like green mist.
Zi-O becomes concerned about these types of Undead that have been popping up randomly throughout history, whether in his own world/timeline or other worlds/timelines. And that what was boggling him. They were random and clumsy. From what the SCP Foundation's scientists have been able to determine of the situation, they figured out that many of these Darkroachi Undead had come from different A.R. Worlds where the Undead ruled and Humanity as a species is either rendered extinct or were non-existent as a species, to begin with. Many of these Darkroachi Undead that Zi-O had currently dealt with were from one such A.R. World, unnaturally displaced through this specific time period.
He managed to take care of them just as he took care of the other Darkroachi Undead throughout the different time periods that they ended up randomly. But he still can't help but worry as this was an anachronistic phenomenon that shouldn't have happened. Nevertheless, he should probably make his leave. Since the Undead are taken care of at this specific moment, there was no need to worry for the time being.
"Who are you?"
Zi-O flinched for a moment. He heard a sound, glancing to the right to see a young woman with magenta-colored eyes and pastel pink hair; her age was somewhere around her late teens between sixteen and eighteen. She was looking at him with curiosity and a subtle form of caution which was understandable because of the power she felt from this young man. Despite an aura of the unknown, a mixture of light and dark, there was another part that she felt. And it was one of sadness; a shadow of guilt that one can never shake. She felt curious as this soul appeared young and old to her.
Zi-O's face would lower down for a bit as he detransformed back into his civilian form in order to reassure the young woman that he knew whose true identity was. A young man with black hair whose purplish golden brown eyes were sober and melancholic. His mouth was straight and grim. Wearing a blue jacket with white lines on his shoulders. Blue jeans and brown shoes.
"...No one," he simply said after a few moments of silence. And he intended to leave it at that as he was about to make his leave. But...
"Wait!" the young woman whose name was Cure Lumière raised her right hand, speaking in a tone of concern. She smiled for a moment, her tone shifting from curiosity to worry, feeling that this young man appeared to be burdened by something. His eyes were a dead giveaway so to speak. "Before you leave, would you like to come to my shop for a moment?"
She asked this question because she at least wanted to give the young man something for his journey. Sweets if you will which brightens up the mind and the heart. It was one of the main reasons why she became a Precure. The young man of course was very hesitant, a part of him thinking that he shouldn't stay here for too long. But he eventually acquiescent if only in a reluctant manner.
"Alright," he said softly.
George was simply seated on a bench. He was waiting for his delivery that was being baked by Lumière in the kitchen. He was presently looking around to find a large open space. Large models of sweets, pots with candy, and thick red curtains. Two large pillars standing in bell glasses support the ceiling. Spread through the room are several benches shaped like sweets where customers can sit to eat their purchases. At the front, there are tables with stools in front of the windows.
He was now inside the KIRAKIRA Patisserie. Now, this was where the ancient Precure Lumière would sell her sweets and provide smiles for everybody. But some time in the future, the KiraKira Precure A La Mode would take over this shop and continue her legacy.
Why did he come here again?
Perhaps it was based on that concerned expression that came from George himself. So ironically, this was all his fault for being in his predicament.
He looks to the right to find Lumière, with gentle copper-red eyes and short matching hair that covers her ears, wearing a light pink kimono with indigo lining the neck, white toe socks, pale beige sandals with dark pink toe straps, and frilly pearl blue apron, walking toward him with a smile. She was carrying a wooden basket that had full of sweet delicacies. Chocolate cream cakes for the journey that lay ahead. She gave it to him with a beaming smile.
"Here," she said, handing him the basket.
"Thank you," George bowed respectfully just as he stood up.
"If possible, please come again if you are able to," Lumière said with a concerned smile.
George was silent for a few moments. He was deliberating within his mind on whether or not to accept such a request. Some part of him was a little annoyed at the fact that he was encountering one Precure after another. He was a curse to them. He shouldn't be encountering them willy-nilly like this. But then, it appeared that fate, destiny, or whatever had decided to say otherwise.
George sighed heavily, nodding. "Of course."
And with that, George begins to walk away, stepping on the clock portal that he conjured, leaving Lumière to watch him with concern and worry.
And that was the first time George Kurai met with Lumière, the ancient Precure connected to the KiraKira Precure A La Mode. This was the beginning when George would sometimes stop by the pâtisserie from time to time in order to have some take-out of the finest sweets. But he would avoid the major events that take place such as the KiraKira Precure A La Mode coming from the future along with Pekorin and Bibury; and of course, he avoided any contact with Noir, the main villain that Cure Lumière and the KiraKira Precure A La Mode would fight in the future.
One simple encounter. That was how it started. And it blossomed into so much more. No matter how much George wants to avoid the Precure, he knew somewhere within his very own heart that he cannot be able to do so. One way or another, the Precure would come to him.
PART 2
A lot of people have now gathered in the medical room. 14th Legion Clone Paratroopers were guarding the door and the rest of the Paratroopers The four Precure Teams: Heartcatch Precure, HUGtto! Precure, Star Twinkle Precure, and Healin Good Precure were catching up with smiles on their faces. But there was also a hint of concern common to all of them. And it all leads back to Nodoka Hanadera who was sitting on a chair provided by one Clone Paratrooper. Kaoruko Hanasaki, having also been provided with a chair courtesy of Doctor Traum, was seated beside Nodoka to the left, comforting the latter with a smile of reassurance. Nodoka smiled, grateful for the company while curious about the revealed relationship that Kaoruko and George had. Rabirin, Nodoka's fairy partner, was beside her right shoulder, concerned for Nodoka and was curious about her relationship with George Kurai. Latte was sitting on Nodoka's lap, being petted on the head, also concerned for Nodoka.
Prime Minister Fuyuki Kaguya, having already fulfilled what is needed by bringing the two Precures to Sakura Base in accordance with Protocol: Blue Shade, begins to quietly take his leave, letting his daughter, Madoka Kaguya, know as he has other duties to attend too. Another reason for his quick-pace quiet leave was that he knew something personal was happening here and that he would rather not disturb this moment, letting the Precure present in the room handle the situation.
"My name is George Kurai. It's a pleasure to meet you all face to face," he introduced himself in a humble and professional tone, standing up from the chair near to the left of Nodoka's position, bowing respectfully towards the Star Twinkle Precure and the Healin Good Precure who are just meeting him now, Nodoka being an exception. And these Precure were curious of this young man who has the same name as the George Kurai that was once talked about whenever all of the Precure gather together.
"George Kurai?" Lala Hagoromo noted curiously. "Hmmm. When have I heard you before, lun?"
"Wait a minute," Madoka Kaguya was concerned, noting the name. She looks at her fellow HUGtto! Precure. "Isn't that the same name as the man that you had all fought? The one who leads the Criasu Corporation?"
"Yes, it is," Saaya Yakushiji nodded, confirming the guess of her fellow Precure.
"It's not a coincidence either," Hariham Harry slightly smiled, putting one left hand in the left pocket of his jeans. "This person really is George Kurai, the younger one to be exact, living in the same timeline as the rest of you."
"Eh?" many of the Precure from Star Twinkle and Healin Good were curious.
"Heeh, that's interesting," Hinata Hiramitsu was curious and interested, smiling with amusement, looking at George from multiple angles. "Quite the handsome fellow right here though to be a villain, really." And then, she had an epiphany. "Oh, by the way, my name is Hiramitsu Hinata, pleased to meet you," she said with a smile.
"I know who you are, Hinata-san, as am I familiar with the rest of you," George said in affirmation. The Star Twinkle Precure and most of the Healin Good Precure were curious. "I've known about all of the Precure for a long time, it's all a part of my official job."
"Job? What job would that be?" Chiyu Sawaizumi raised a curious expression.
"This," George simply said, grabbing his Zi-O Ridewatch and pressing the button at the center.
ZI-O! ZIKU-DRIVER!
''Eh?!'' the Star Twinkle Precure and most of the Healin Good Precure were shocked. First, they see the holographic image of the Zi-O faceplate coming out from the front of the Zi-O Ridewatch. Second, they see the iconic Ziku-Driver encircling George's waist.
Doctor Traum, Commander Ares Mars, and Private Coda were smiling knowingly. The HUGtto! Precure and the Heartcatch Precure, including Nodoka who was wiping her tears with a handkerchief, and Kaoruko, smiled knowingly. To further add, Nodoka was giggling a bit due to the surprise and bewildered faces of her Precure colleagues and mascots.
"Hmmmm," Nodoka giggled, raising her right clenched fist a few inches to her mouth.
"Nodoka?" Rabirin noticed the giggling from her partner, curious at this interesting reaction.
George begins to move a few meters away in order to cover more space. Then he places the Zi-O Ridewatch on the right slot and he tilts the belt by pressing the crown button. The stand-by clock was ticking which comes from the driver itself. A giant holographic clock formed behind him with several different gears around it turning and the clock hands spinning counterclockwise. And this shocked many of the Precure girls among Star Twinkle and Healin Good who recognized the stand-by transformation on sight.
"No way..." Chiyu muttered, shocked.
"Henshin!" George spoke seriously.
George raised his left hand, backhanding the driver as it spins 340° counterclockwise until it went back to its original position. His raised left hand was sporting a L-shape where only the thumb and index finger were open. The clock hand from the holographic clock spins together at the twelfth before splitting to the sides, the small hand landed on the ten and the big hand landed on the two. The pink katakana word spelled 'Rider' formed under the clock hand. The katakana pulsed outwards, launching them ahead of him as three holographic watch bands circle around him forming his armor. They dissipated a moment later as he was now officially in his armor.
DING! DONG!
RIDER TIME! KAMEN RIDER! ZI-O!
It consists of a jet-black suit with a silver band in the center with silver ornaments on the sides of his shoulder and chest armor with pink highlights, and pink highlights on the hips and forelegs. On his forearms are the Ridewatch holders carrying two blank watches on his right and one on his left, he had a silver Ridewatch that says 'Bike' in Japanese carried on his left holder. His hands are black with pink armor on his fingers and backhand. His helmet looks like a clock with a white clock piece with the symbol that spelled 'Kamen' on the forehead, and a black visor until the Katakana flew back and slammed into his visor as it shines brightly in pink.
There was silence for a few moments. And then...
"EEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" all of the Star Twinkle Precure and most of the Healin Good Precure were shocked.
"No way! An actual Kamen Rider! Kirayaba!" Hikaru Hoshina was excited, her eyes were like stars that spoke of excitement on higher levels.
"Yes," George confirmed. Then he automatically detransforms back into his civilian form.
At that moment, the Precure and the mascots from Star Twinkle and Healin Good were gathered around him. Multiple questions were being asked, one after another, starting with Hikaru. While the questions were taking place, George answered and clarified every single one of them to the best of their ability, Nodoka smiled as she giggled, using the handkerchief to wipe her face. feeling a bit better.
"Nodoka," Rabirin spoke to Nodoka, curious and concerned. "Are you alright, rabi?"
"Yes," Nodoka smiled, answering in a reassuring tone. "I'm alright, Rabirin. Don't worry."
"Nodoka, just what is your relationship with that person, rabi?" Rabirin asked, curious and concerned.
"Eh? Well..." Nodoka smiled sadly as she looked at George fondly. "He was...He was and still is my best friend."
"Interesting," Hana Nono smiled, sitting down to the right, occupying the seat where George left in order to be right by Nodoka's side. The rest of the HUGtto! Precure and the Heartcatch Precure all gathered closer. One might say that the more one looks at this scene, it represents a type of solidarity common for all Precure and their mascots. More like a family even. "George recently told me and the rest of us that you and he had one complicated adventure."
"(Sigh). Like you wouldn't believe, Hana-senpai," Nodoka smiled, sighing heavily. And then, her smile turns melancholy and reminiscent. "We spent one year in some kind of other world...And at that time, I slowly realized that I died somehow..."
"Eh?! Died?!" Rabirin said as she and Latte were in shock. The Heartcatch Precure were also in shock, recently learning of this revelation. "What do you mean, rabi?!" Rabirin asked, concerned for her partner, gently touching her right shoulder.
Nodoka shakes her head. "I don't know how to explain it. My memories are a bit fuzzy. I remember some things here like getting saved by George from rouge Dark A.R. Kamen Riders and I don't recall most of the others. I thought how impossible that was at the time. If that were true, how come I can still breathe or even feel anything? Well, that was also quite complicated and it had something to do with this other world that I and George ended up getting stuck with alongside Yurusen-sensei."
"Kamen Rider Ghost's phantasm assistant, you mean," Yuri Tsukikage said with a smile.
"That's right, Yuri-senpai," Nodoka nodded with a smile.
"And what concerns me greatly is the fact that you can at least recall your time with George," Doctor Traum spoke with concern. "Normally when one is to be neuralzyed by the spatio-temporal neuralyzer, the specific memories and experiences in the timeline are erased, both in the physical and temporal realm, and they couldn't be recalled as the events in particular no longer exist, in other words, they never truly happened as if it was always that way. However, you seem to be an exception to the rule, ojou-chan."
"Like erasing experiences to meaning that the correction of the time, I would have to assume? To put things in comparison, it was all about editing a few lines. This neuralyzer acts like an editor while history itself is the book." Yuri asked, curious and concerned.
"That's right," Doctor Traum nodded.
"Then again, sir, this isn't without precedent," Commander Ares Mars pointed out. "There are instances of individuals retaining their memories and experiences of erased timelines."
"True," Doctor Traum nodded. "But still, that only further concerns me. What were the main factors behind this?"
"Is it really that unnatural, Traum?" Ruru Amour made a curious expression.
"Yes, Ruru-chan," Doctor Traum nodded. "Usually speaking, if Nodoka-chan was capable of at least retaining some memory of her time when that time no longer exists, then there are a few factors of probability. Either the neuralyzer could not work on her specifically, she's an officially confirmed space-time sensitive that can somewhat recall timelines and worldlines depending on degree or affinity, or someone or a group of individuals from the outside managed to do something to add to this effect, or it could be a categorized phenomenon or anomaly. I'm more concerned with the last part as it seems to be the more likely case more than a few times."
"You're worried about the last part? Whatever for?" Itsuki Myoudouin asked, concerned.
"It really depends, my dear," Doctor Traum explained ominously. "Time is quite the complicated mistress after all."
The ominous response from Doctor Traum made all of the Precure worried. George, noticing the grave expressions on the faces of the girls, immediately walked in a solemn manner toward Nodoka who noticed him. Her eyes look to her old friend, her eyes that were once crying and were shining subtly. Nodoka smiled while George still looked guilty and concerned. And everyone else was watching with curiosity and concern as they see George crouch down a little before kneeling down. Rabirin looked at George with curiosity.
"Hello, you," Nodoka looked amused. There was also that sense of hurt that came forth from her heart. It wasn't one of betrayal. Far from it for Nodoka to feel that way, especially for the young man who was burdened with sins and responsibilities. "You had me waiting for quite a while."
"I'm sorry," George can only say with a contrite heart.
What more can he say?
He cannot and does not want to make any form of excuse. Yes, he had to erase Nodoka's memories and experiences, with him being a part of it, as it was the duty to uphold the proper order of history. As it was written, Nodoka Hanadera - Cure Grace was never supposed to meet George Kurai, never mind meeting him. And there was still that self-hatred that was like a poisonous venom that lay hidden. It was one ugly side of him to loath himself coupled with a serious sense of survivor's guilt and borderline PTSD.
"Oh, George," Kaoruko muttered with a sad smile.
"George," Hana muttered softly, concerned for George. She got up from the chair and crouch down, gently touching him by the right shoulder. From his left side, there was Hagumi Kurai, also concerned, both her and Hana supporting George. Many of the Precure and the mascots were concerned for George as well.
Nodoka smiled softly, shaking her head as she did not hesitate to grab George's hands gently. Latte had already left Nodoka's lap and was now on the floor, looking concerned for the young man.
"George, I'm not mad at you for doing what you needed to do. I'm just rather sad that it had to end that way. I'm only concerned that if there is the possibility that I would lose my memories of you once again," Nodoka spoke with a sad smile.
George shakes his head. "Not this time, no. History as it was had already come to the past for all of the Precure, including you, so no memory reset or erasure is needed. Plus, every one of the Precure must already know me by now, especially after the fiasco in Hagukumi City that happened yesterday."
"I see," Nodoka smiled brightly as her eyes close and tilted her head. She was relieved that she gets to keep what little memories of George that she had once again. "Well then, that's just that."
"Oh right, that invasion with all of those robots! It was all over the news!" Hinata expressed out of worry. In fact, it wasn't just her. They and every other Precure throughout Japan and the entire world were more than aware of the recent situation that had happened yesterday.
"...Yes, that one..."
George's expression turn grave and silent. His eyes narrowed for a bit as he recalled the incident. And he didn't speak for the next few moments which made every single Precure and mascot in the room worry. More than that, it was starting to scare them as his eyes slowly got dull and stared somewhere else. And as to where he was staring, it was almost as if he were staring into a distant memory. Or specifically, memories. Memories that continued to haunt him even to this very day.
He can still hear it. He can still hear the screams. He can still smell the stench of death in the air. He can still smell the smoke that arises from old abandoned buildings. He can still remember all of the people that he had failed to save.
One might find this line of thinking irrational considering that he was a child at that time, ten years old at the very least. And yet, some part of him asked himself how and why was he still alive while the rest had died. He was the only one who was spared. The Earth that he ended up with was now occupied with the stench of corpses and the chattering cold pragmatism of superior technological might.
Ah yes...that Earth which is now abandoned and no longer habitable by any human, plant, animal, or other biological organisms. No longer were there green trees and grass. No longer were there the blue skies that one could see. Now, that world was nothing but a barren wasteland. The upper atmosphere carried a red-orange tint. Nothing remained of the calm blue. Ruins were everywhere. Everywhere you'd look, you can only find destruction; remnants of a civilization that used to be. Now, everyone had died. No one survived. All he could hear were the sounds of rumbling thunder and the unnatural rain coming down on him.
Why...?
Why...?
Why...?
He always asked himself that question. Why did he survive when others did not? What was the point of having power when you couldn't save anyone? But that wasn't the end of his suffering. Sometime later, he will slowly discover an ugly side to him that he always wanted to run away from. He wanted nothing to do with it. And it took a while before he finally accepted the fact that he had such a dark side within him this whole time. A possible future that it may be.
"George?" Nodoka noticed something off about George's expression.
"..." Hana gasps her breath, widening her eyes, realizing immediately. Because of this, she decided to take action by squeezing George's right arm in order for him to not wander deeper into his line of thought. His left arm was also being squeezed by Hagumi, also realizing what was happening. Hagumi didn't want her father to do this to himself. She didn't want him to remember that time, the one that had been discussed most recently.
The day when Ultron had wiped out an entire planet of all life. And George had lived to see it. And he alone survived when others did not. And it was the first time when George unleashed his own dark side and did not stop until he decided to wipe every single Ultron Sentinel within his line of sight.
He turned off everything. An effective killing machine. George could numbly feel his hands trembling from Nodoka's hold.
George managed to notice the two holding onto him. He can see their expressions. They were worried for him. And he can see Nodoka, the other Precure, and the mascots also grew worried for him.
"George," Karouko smiled sadly in understanding, crouching down and patting George by the hair gently. "It's alright. Obaa-chan and everyone are here for you now."
As Kaoruko said this, Hikaru Hoshina would place her hands towards George's hands which were still being held by Nodoka. Her bright and cheerful attitude turned serious, one that was a rarity, the moment she saw something in George. She couldn't put her finger down on it but she had a feeling that she needed to help and support this person as he was clearly suffering something that she couldn't even imagine.
Aside from Hikaru, there was Tsubomi Hanasaki who would also place her hands on George's. Like her fellow Precure leads, she too was worried for the young man, the one who had been protecting her and her team.
No, even more than that. He had even been protecting her grandmother. He had been there watching out for the Hanasakis and everyone else, shadowing from afar and remaining mostly unacknowledged. And she was concerned for the state of this young man who had suffered far more than he should. Getting reminded of his future sins by his enemies no less, the wracking survivor's guilt, and a bundle of issues were ones that George Kurai had to struggle with since he was ten years old.
George Kurai.
The mysterious young man that her own grandmother considered to be an adoptive grandson, making him officially a part of the Hanasaki Family if in secret. Burdened with so many traumatic experiences and weighed down with sins that were never his very own.
Tsubomi Hanasaki couldn't stand to see this. Her heart breaks as she recalled it. Every line that her grandmother had said regarding George. The fact that the young man secretly wanted to die if there ever came a time when he may prove to be a danger to everyone and their own future. The main problem of George Kurai wasn't because of the future and the possible sins that he might commit. The main problem was that he cared far too much even at the cost of his own happiness.
And so, the four Precure leaders: Tsubomi Hanasaki, Hana Nono, Hikaru Hoshina, and Nodoka Hanadera; including Hagumi Kurai, were silent and smiling brightly out of support for George who they knew from one degree or another how there was that shadow of suffering and misfortune that he just could not shake.
George sighed heavily, calming down somewhat which managed to relieve the Precures of their justified worries.
Insert Song: End
ED Song:
Heartcatch PreCure || Heart Goes On [Eng/Rom]
New Characters:
Lumière/Cure Lumière - VA: Kiyono Yasuno
Lala Hagoromo/Cure Milky - VA: Konomi Kohara