Faeland, a colorful land distant to the universe of humans!
Fairies, pixies, mermaids, elves and other creatures lived there!
Among them were legendary warriors, destined to save the land!
ONWARD! EPIC PRECURE!
CHAPTER 3
A Song for Your Heart!
あなたの心に贈る歌を!
キュアバード登場 !
Cure Bard Makes an Entrance!
INSIDE DUNGEON ISLAND, TENGOKU'S LAIR...
"Precures...
...to think that little Princess sealed me away like this." Tengoku scoffed and muttered to himself.
The Pirate rushed past the large halls that led to the crystallized chamber.
"Tengoku-sama!" The Pirate's voice shook with fury. "The Precures... they have taken the Fairy Energy I stole!
Please!" He begged, falling on his knees with his hands clasped together. "Give me one more Black Dice and I shall bring forth a stronger Dungeonborg to take them down!"
"Your plea is not necessary, Pirate." Tengoku's voice echoed. "I will have someone else use Dungeon Energy in your place."
"EH?!" He squeaked. "B-b-but Tengoku-sama!"
"You poor, pitiful Pirate. Why do you not go sail elsewhere instead?" Another individual said.
Walking towards the chamber was another of the Outlaws. In his hand he had a Black Dice of his own.
"Tengoku-sama, allow me to take the Princess' Fairy Energy." There was a tone of delight in his voice. "I heard that even the raw Fae Dust is enough to strengthen your power and break the seal, is that correct~?" He smirked confidently.
The Pirate clenched his teeth. "Why you, Jester?"
"I will accept." Tengoku responded. "Jester. Go to that world she is in, take her Fairy Energy..."
His eyes glowed crimson red.
"...and bring her to me."
The Jester bowed, a hand on his chest and another behind his back.
"It will be my utmost pleasure, Tengoku-sama!"
"Tch." The Pirate scoffed in jealousy as he watched the other Outlaw disappear in a dark portal.
"Pirate."
"...?!" The Outlaw sharply stared at his leader. "Tengoku-sama! Surely you jest... that fool is not as competent as me!"
"I do not." Tengoku responded boldly. "You have proven incompetent yourself. Unless you defeat Cure Paladin and bring the Princess to me, I will have you thrown into the deepest pit and feed my weakest Dungeonborgs."
The Pirate gulped.
"NO! You have my word, Tengoku-sama! I WILL defeat that lousy little knight! She does not stand a chance!"
"Then prove it." Furrowed eyebrows atop crimson eyes, Tengoku sharply glared at his underling with an unnerving expression, which unsettled the other even more.
"Y-yes, Tengoku-sama!"
The gloomy power swirled in the air and formed a new Black Dice, which was then given to the Pirate.
"Go. I do not wish to waste any more of my time with you."
And so, the Pirate disappeared into a portal as well.
...
Somewhere in Everspring Town, the serene sounds of a small harp filled a young lady's bedroom. She had been practicing all day.
BEEP BEEP!
"Oh!" Her watch alarm beeped, and she looked at the time. "Goodness! It's that time! Well, I might as well continue practicing after work."
Several months had passed since Everspring Collectibles Shop got its own expansion. More items were added, suppliers arrived, and Hotaru hired an employee!
That employee was the young musician.
Putting on her shoes by the entrance, the young lady opened the door and waved.
"Mom, I'm leaving now!"
Her mother's voice responded. "Have a good day, Yuko!"
She was not far from Central Everspring Avenue, walking her way to the shop with a confident smile.
AT PIXIE KINGDOM CASTLE, FAELAND...
"Say what -gogo?!" A surprised Ichigo exclaimed, then cleared her throat. "Are you sure about this, Your Majesty?"
"Yes." Queen Faelia nodded. "I heard the dulcet tones of a stringed instrument play as the Fae Portal to Earth opened.
It almost sounded familiar..."
"Huh?" Ichigo and Ringo blinked.
"Pixies..." The Queen continued. "...it is your duty to search for this musician, as well as the remaining Precures."
Floating above the Queen's hands were several items: four Treasure Pacts and four Treasure Keys.
The Queen frowned.
"I can feel Tengoku's power rising. If the Precures are not selected in time...
...Faeland will meet its demise."
The Pixies were handed the Pacts and Keys, and the Queen opened a Fae Portal to Earth.
"Find the Precures. Continue fulfilling your duty as the Royal Pixie Twins of Faeland."
"Yes -gogo!" Ichigo and Ringo nodded and bowed.
AT EVERSPRING COLLECTIBLES SHOP...
The shop's cracked, old bookshelves were no more, for in their place was an entire shelf in a wall with fine colors, and in them, a wide variety of collectibles and figurines!
There was plenty of empty spaces to fill with more items, which Hotaru set on a corner to start working.
"Wow!" Senki's smile was as big as a watermelon. Her eyes sparkly as diamonds! "Your shop looks lovely, Hotaru-san!"
The fairy princess turned to look at the newly arrived cosmetic section from the Pretty Holic Store. There were many nail polish colors, cute lip balms and eyeshadow palettes to choose from, among many more things!
The young saleswoman had fully recovered from the arm fracture and was seen lifting several boxes at once. Such was her strength.
"How did you get so strong?" Senki tilted her head.
"Oh! Heheh!" A nervous chuckle from Hotaru. "It's a long story. But I'll tell you after I finish work for the day."
"She is a possible descendant of the Vigor Clan." Matilda suddenly stepped in, starling the fairy princess.
"WAAAAAAH!" Her hair froze up before she turned to the knight. "Matilda-san, where did you come from?!"
"Sorry." A warm smile as she rested a hand on Senki's shoulder. "I could not help myself and overheard the conversation."
DING, DING!
"Excuse me!"
The bells of the shop rang when someone opened the door and stepped inside.
It was Yuko Kotone, young aspiring musician and the new employee of Everspring Collectibles Shop. She set her belongings in the locker area before approaching Hotaru.
Hotaru smiled and bowed. "Welcome, Kotone-san!"
Yuko greeted the other with a smile, also bowing. "Good day, Akabane-san. This is quite the lovely shop you have!
I cannot wait to begin working with you!
...huh?"
The young lady's eyes shifted towards Senki and Matilda. The fairy princess waved with a big smile.
"Hello!"
"Oh! Let me introduce you to my friends!" Hotaru gestured a hand to the two teenagers. "This is Senki Hanaoka, and this is Matilda Gouriki! They are visitors of Everspring Town!"
"It's nice to meet you." Yuko smiled, bowing again. "I'm Yuko Kotone, aspiring musician and the new worker of this shop."
"Aspiring musician?" Said Matilda. "How wonderful."
"Hey, hey!" Senki raised and waved her hand. "What is a musician?"
"It's a person who plays an instrument to make music." Yuko explained. "I also like to write songs of my own, songs that captivate the heart of its listeners. Once I'm done with work, I'll practice something and show you all."
"It would be an honor." Smiled Matilda.
"Alrighty then!" Hotaru clapped her hands. "Kotone-san, let's start with the basics!"
Yuko accompanied Hotaru, who showed her the basics of her work and how to use the cash register. Then, Yuko assisted with inventory and cleaning, and alongside Hotaru, she helped each customer get the items they desired.
Some time passed as the two worked. Senki and Matilda prepared lunch for them, and all shared succulent meals during lunch break.
It was shortly after Yuko continued her work, sweeping the floors of the shop, that she noticed two shimmering items on the opened locker in which her belongings were. The items were right by her harp, which was in its carrying case.
"Hey, what's this?"
She approached the locker to look at the items. They were a Treasure Pact and Treasure Key.
"What's what?" The curious Hotaru approached her and saw the items in the locker.
"Oh! That's a..."
The saleswoman was surprised. Hotaru knew about the Precures, the Pixie Twins and the Dungeonborgs that invaded Everspring Town.
"Kotone-san..." She spoke. "...could it be possible that you will be...?"
Yuko blinked. "Be... what?"
But Hotaru stopped herself, cleared her throat, and looked around. "I'll explain later. Customers are still around. Let's get back to work!"
The baffled Yuko blinked once more, watching as Hotaru left to continue her work.
"Huh."
Looking down at the items, Yuko smiled.
"These are really pretty. I wonder who they might belong to.
Hmm... I will hold onto them and seek the owner of these items after work."
She put the items in her purse and left to continue her work.
LATER THAT EVENING...
Senki and Matilda were preparing homemade cookies for dessert after a day's hard work as a nice treat. Matilda mixed the chocolate chips and the cookie dough while Senki was having a hard time shaping the cookies.
"WAAAAH! This shape is not right!" She was trying to make heart-shaped cookies.
"Oh my." Matilda approached her to take a look. "It looks like you need more practice, Princess."
Setting the bit of dough down on the table, Senki cried.
"WAAAAAAAAAH! My cookies do not look good at all!"
Her friend gasped at Senki's demeanor, and wiped her tears with a cloth, then tended to the poorly shaped cookie.
"Here."
Matilda assisted the princess by shaping the portion into a heart bit by bit. When it was done, the heart-shaped cookie was nearly perfect, it brought a big smile to the Princess.
"Wow! Epic epic!" She looked at Matilda. "As expected of Matilda-san!"
The knight smiled warmly. "Hehe! Thank you for the compliment, Princess."
Taking the tray into gloved hands, Matilda carefully set it in the oven, closing the lid.
"Now all it takes is to bake them at the right time and temperature!"
"Everyone."
Hotaru arrived, having finished her chores after work, and stared at the two seriously. "Can I discuss something with you?"
"Huh?" Senki and Matilda blinked twice.
...
The three sat near the table to eat the freshly baked heart-shaped cookies and drink a warm cup of tea, when Hotaru spoke.
"Everyone, Kotone-san has been chosen."
Matilda's eyes widened. "Huh?"
"EEEEEEH?!" Senki's jaw dropped. "KOTONE-SAN WILL BECOME A PRECURE?!"
Hotaru nodded. "She found a Treasure Pact and Key near her belongings. They are just like the ones the two of you own."
"If that is so, then we must discuss our mission with her promptly." Matilda put a hand on her chin. "This also means that the other Precures might come sooner than we expect."
"She is downstairs practicing and will leave soon, but she'll come back again this Monday, so we can talk during lunch break." Replied Hotaru. "It may sound a little hasty to explain all of this Precure stuff to her, but the sooner the better, right?"
"Right." Matilda nodded. "The sooner the Precures are assembled, the faster we can rescue the King. It is imperative that we act with such haste, for the sake of Faeland."
Senki's heart shrank at this. She remembered Matilda mentioning her mother and father, the Faelandian King and Queen. But the more she tried to remember them, the harder it was for her.
She could not remember them at all.
Standing from the chair, Senki bowed and left.
"Please excuse me."
"Senki-san?" Hotaru stared at her with a raised brow.
"Princess?"
Surprised by her suddenly changing demeanor, Matilda walked after her, but Senki raised a hand, signifying halt.
"Please. I want to be alone."
And so, Senki left Hotaru's house, pacing downstairs to the shop.
...
Downstairs, Yuko continued her practice with her small harp, sweet tones of C major playing together to compose a song.
It called Senki's attention as she stopped to listen. Something about the melody seemed to put her heart at ease.
"Huh?"
Yuko was focused, each string plucked rhythmically, before she stopped.
"What else can I add?" She thought before staring at Senki. "Oh! Senki Hanaoka, is it?"
"Yes." Senki nodded. "Matilda-san knows my name."
"You don't know who you are?" Yuko tilted her head.
Senki put a finger on her chin to think, and think, and think...
...nothing.
"I do not remember."
"Oh. That's not good at all." A frown from the other. "Well, I'm no doctor, and I don't know your situation, given we just met. But I think I can do something for you."
"You can?" Senki asked.
"Yes." Said Yuko as she held her harp. "I can play a song I've been practicing for months. It isn't named just yet.
Hmm..."
Yuko thought for a moment.
"Now that I think of it, I can end it just how it began, with a small arpeggio!"
Resting the small harp against her right shoulder, Yuko placed her fingers on the strings and began to play for Senki.
Her song had light, relaxing tones that Senki enjoyed. The feeling of not being able to remember was replaced with calmness and serenity. It was the prettiest thing Senki had ever heard.
Senki truly enjoyed the melody, closing her eyes and feeling her heartbeat. As Yuko continued playing, the fairy princess had a feeling that she heard it before.
But when?
She tried so hard to remember... but could not. Regardless, she continued to listen and enjoy.
"This song... it puts me at ease." Senki thought. "Every beat of my heart is calm like the soft breeze and serene like the ambience of the night. It is almost magical...
But why do I have the feeling I heard this song before?"
Then, Yuko ended the song just how it started, adding a gentle arpeggio to the melody, then put her palms on the strings to stop the sound.
"So..." Yuko spoke. "...how do you feel, Senki-san?
Senki-san?"
"Zzzzz..."
The fairy princess fell asleep while standing. Yuko set the instrument on the table and carefully held onto Senki, gently gripping her shoulders.
"Oh my... she fell asleep."
It was not long after that Matilda and Hotaru paced downstairs to meet with Senki and Yuko.
"Senki!"
Matilda hurried towards the princess, carrying her in her arms.
"Kotone-san, is she okay?" Matilda asked worriedly.
"Your friend fell asleep while listening to my song." Said Yuko. "It's the first time I see someone relaxed to this point. I have never achieved that before."
"Your song?" Matilda asked once more.
"I finally have a name for it." Yuko continued. "A Song for Your Heart! Senki-san just showed me how calm it makes a person feel. I figured I could help with her anxieties of not being able to remember things properly.
By the way, does your friend have amnesia?"
"Yes." Matilda frowned. "She has not been able to remember much since the day we came here."
Hotaru also frowned but remembered something. "Hey, her doctor said she'd have some appointments for tests, right? When was the date again?"
"Right! It is tomorrow." Matilda replied. "I will escort Senki to the hospital early to prepare her for the tests."
And so, Matilda set Senki down on the bed and let her sleep. Then, she and Hotaru went outside to say good night to Yuko.
The musician waved goodnight before leaving to return home.
THE NEXT DAY...
"GOOD MORNIIIIIIIIIIIING!"
Senki's loudness woke the girls up with a gasp. It was Saturday, and Hotaru was free for the day.
The fairy princess was jumping on her bed nonstop. She had lots of energy after such a nice sleep the previous night. Then, she hurried to shake Matilda's shoulders to wake her up, and did the same to Hotaru, who groaned.
"It is another epic epic day! Come on, girls! Get up, get up, get uuuuup!"
Senki's eyes sparkled, and with excitement, she yelled...
"I WANT TO DO ALL SORTS OF EPIC EPIC THINGS!"
"Senki-san!" An irritated Hotaru covered her face with the pillows and turned to lay on her side. "Ten minutes, please!"
Matilda sat up, stretching her arms.
"You seem to be full of energy today, Princess."
"Yes!" Senki smirked. "And it is thanks to the song the musician played last night!
Oh... what was her name again...? Uhh..."
Senki could not remember.
"Yuko Kotone." Said Matilda. "The aspiring musician. She told me you fell asleep while standing.
So, her song put you at ease, is that correct?"
Senki's eyes brightened. "It was epic epic! I could feel an intense calmness in my heart that I cannot explain!"
"I could tell." A warm smile, then she jumped out of bed to prepare for the day. "Princess, today is your appointment for your tests at the hospital. I will escort you there."
"Appointment?" Senki tilted her head.
"A scheduled date to see your doctor." Said Matilda. "We need to find a solution to your amnesia. If Max Power affected your memories, then there must be a way for you to remember everything."
"Remember..."
Senki just stood there, expression blank as a page as she, once more, tried her hardest to remember.
...
Hotaru stayed at home while Matilda accompanied Senki to the hospital. The Faelandian doctor tended to her, explaining the tests and then proceeding with them.
Before leaving, the doctor made sure to check on Senki's overall health before recommending a batch of magic berries.
Fruits shaped like hearts and intense red in color, they were the sweetest and most popular in all of Faeland.
"These are magic berries." The doctor explained. "They can boost your overall wellbeing and bring you happiness!
Eat one when needed, and you will feel much better in no time!"
"Thank you, Doctor!" Senki smiled.
...
Cars rushed by and people chattered here and there. It was a calm day, perfect for a walk.
"Well, it seems the tests have gone fairly well." Said Matilda.
The two walked down the sidewalks of the streets, getting some fresh air after leaving the hospital.
"Auuuuugh!" Senki held her head in her hands. "Matilda-san, that was terrible! Very, very terrible!"
"Do not say that, Princess." Matilda stepped ahead of her and stopped, looking down at her.
"Huh?" Senki blinked.
"Princess Senki, listen to me. You are being too hard on yourself." Matilda's eyes stared at Senki with such seriousness. "This is something you should give some time to. Unfortunately, it is not something that comes quickly.
You need to take it easy and rest while you are not able to remember things, otherwise you will exhaust yourself."
"But!" Senki exclaimed. "Matilda-san, who is my mother and father?! Where do I live?! What is my age?! What things do I like?!"
Tears formed in the princess' eyes.
"Why can I not remember anything?! This is NOT epic epic at all!"
Matilda gasped. She thought the sobbing princess' memory was improving, but it seemed her memory loss was worsening by the minute.
"Princess..." The knight rested her hands on Senki's shoulders. "...please try to stay calm."
She took something out of her purse. A magic berry.
"Here. Eat this."
Senki wiped her tears and looked down at the fruit, taking it in her hands.
"What is this?" She swallowed a sob.
"It is a magic berry." Matilda smiled gently. "The doctor recommended it to you.
Eat it, and you will feel much better."
Quietly, Senki ate the small fruit whole, taking her time to chew it before swallowing it.
". . ." She remained quiet for a few seconds, her sobbing subsiding entirely. A smile began to rise as she took in the sweet, gentle taste of the magic berry.
"How do you feel?" Matilda kept her eyes on the princess. "Better?"
"I feel... EPIC EPIC!"
Senki raised her hands to the air, laughing.
"This magic berry is delicious, too!"
"I am glad." Matilda's smile widened. "Well then, let us return to Hotaru-san."
"Okay!"
The two girls continued strolling around town. And unbeknownst to her, a floating individual observed them from above.
It was the Pirate, whose teeth clenched at the sight of the knight.
"Cure Paladin... I will defeat you this time for sure!
I swear to Tengoku-sama... your demise comes today!"
LATER...
"We are back!" Matilda and Senki said together as they entered Hotaru's house. There was another door on the back that had quick access to her home without entering the shop first.
"Welcome back!" Hotaru greeted them with a smile and a wave. "You are just in time for lunch!"
A succulent scent filled the entire spot, and Senki sniffled several times.
"Hey! What is that smell?"
Senki approached the table to look closely at what Hotaru prepared, mouth agape and eyes sparkling.
On the table were three plates with several slices of beef, nicely stacked one on top of the other. Next to them were nicely toasted bread slices. A bowl of salad and potatoes was set on the side of the table.
"Whoaaa! What a fancy meal!"
"I call this the Vigorous Plate!" Hotaru smiled with confidence, hands on her hips as she stood with pride. "I can't believe I finally cooked my family's traditional meal!"
"Vigorous Plate?" Matilda's hand rested upon her chin. "That only adds up to my suspicions about Hotaru-san..."
"It looks delicious!" Senki exclaimed, sparkles floating atop her head. "Let us eat!"
"Did somebody say 'eat' -gogo?" Pixie Ichigo and Pixie Ringo appeared, their stomachs also rumbling.
Hotaru giggled. "Come, you two! There's a plate for you as well."
Hotaru served a mini version of the Vigorous Plate on smaller dishes for the Pixie Twins, and all gathered at the table to eat.
"Thank you for the meal!" Everyone chanted together.
Senki took a portion of the stacked beef and tried it, humming in absolute delight.
"Mm~! Hotaru-san, this meat is delicious!"
"It is quite like the meals back at Faeland..." Matilda said before taking another bite.
"Absolutely scrumptious -gogo!" Ichigo chimed with sparkles in her eyes.
"You cooked this all by yourself -gogo?" Ringo asked, smiling big.
"Yep!" Hotaru replied, a sparkle floating just beside her. "It's a dish that's been passed down by my father's side of the family! Papa says this dish has been popular for many generations!"
"The Vigor Clan has a similar plate -gogo." Ringo muttered.
"That so?" Hotaru raised an eyebrow. "That's so cool! I'm curious to know Faelandian recipes and learn them!"
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
"Eh?" Everyone diverted their attention towards the noise.
"I'll go get it!" Hotaru stood to go and open the front door.
It was Yuko, who arrived with her purse and harp in hand.
"Kotone-san!" Hotaru smiled. "We're closed today, your shift starts early next Monday!"
"I didn't come here to discuss work, Akabane-san." Yuko said strictly. "I must talk to the Pixie Twins."
"H-huh?" Hotaru blinked.
"May I please come in?" Yuko insisted. "They said it's important."
"Oh!" Hotaru hastily opened the door for the other. "Yes, yes! Please come in!"
The young lady was at a loss of words as Yuko helped herself into the shop and upstairs to Hotaru's house to greet the pixies.
"Uh..."
...
"We are glad you are here -gogo!" Ringo smiled.
"So, have you decided yet -gogo?" Asked Ichigo, crossing her arms and raising a brow at Yuko.
"Decided?" Matilda and Senki tilted their heads.
"Yes -gogo!" Ichigo nodded. "We visited Yuko last night at her house and told her about the Treasure Pact and Key, and the mission of the Precures! Now she knows these items belong to her and not someone else -gogo!"
"So, Ichigo and Ringo did choose her after all." Hotaru muttered.
The musician held her Treasure Pact and Key in her hands, smiling.
"Yes." Yuko nodded. "I have heard rumors of Precures in Everspring Town and the monsters who oppose them. I don't know what their purpose is, but I'd be glad to contribute to your cause and fight by your side."
Yuko closed her eyes as she held the magical items close to her heart.
"Faeland... a distant world in need of its king. What a great honor it would be to bring forth a power of my own to help this colorful kingdom!
And it's a big honor to be in the presence of the Princess of Faeland herself!" She smiled at Senki. "I still cannot believe a real fairy is sitting here with us!"
"I had the same feeling when I met Senki-san and Matilda-san." Hotaru smiled. "It was truly unbelievable. I thought their cool outfits were actually costumes!"
"Ahem!" Ichigo sharply cleared her throat, crossing her arms again and pouting. "Do not forget about us -gogo."
Hotaru giggled. "Of course we won't, Ichigo. When I saw the two of you, I was speechless!"
Yuko stared down at her Pact and Key with a smile.
"I don't know what kind of Precure I would be... but I wish for my music to be put to great use against those monsters.
To purify and ease their hearts..."
"Queen Faelia heard your song -gogo!" Ichigo told Yuko with a smile. "That is why she assigned us to find you! You are an excellent candidate to become a Precure -gogo!
Yuko's smile grew. "Really?"
"Without a doubt -gogo!" Ichigo smirked.
RUMBLE RUMBLE...
"Waaah!" Senki jumped in her seat and shrieked. "What was that?!"
"What was what?" Asked Matilda.
"Oh." Hotaru was quick to notice, standing up to check the sky from her window. "The weather today...
Oh my... it's dark and gray outside. It seems a storm is headed this way."
"A storm?" Senki asked. "What is a storm?"
"When clouds turn dark and thunder starts rumbling, then rain comes down and lightning flashes..." Hotaru explained to the princess. "...that's a storm."
CRASH!
Thunder cracked and lightning flashed.
"WAAAH!" Senki hugged Matilda, she was trembling severely.
"Senki-san?" Hotaru stared at her with concern.
"She is scared of the lightning..." Matilda took note of Senki's trembling and gently patted her back to calm her. "...and possibly the noises of the thunder."
"Don't worry!" Said Hotaru. "As long as we prepare ourselves, there's nothing to fret about!"
"Prepare ourselves for what?" Matilda inquired.
"Possible power outages." Said Yuko. "Sometimes, when a storm is heavy, power outages happen. In order to prepare, we gather essentials for when you can't use electrical appliances."
Senki and Matilda listened curiously.
"I see. I trust you have all essentials at the ready, Hotaru-san?" Matilda turned to the saleswoman.
"Yep, yep! I bought ALL the possible essentials! Flashlights, canned foods, snacks, water, batteries, a first-aid kit... all of the sorts!"
"Hotaru-san is ever so prepared to face everything." A muffled mutter was heard from Senki as she still hugged Matilda.
"I concur." Matilda nodded in agreement.
"And!" Hotaru added, holding in her hands a pair of carton boxes. "Let's not forget about the board games!"
Excitedly, the young lady presented her collection of board and card games to her friends, opening each box one by one.
"Here we have...
Surgeons! *
The Last Card! *
Block Tower! *
And last but not least, Adventure Quest!" *
Senki's mind eased at the mention of the board games, slowly withdrawing from Matilda's embrace.
"What is a 'board game'?"
"It's a type of game that you play with friends gathered around a table!" Hotaru smiled. "I'm sure you'll love Adventure Quest, Senki-san! Do you wish to try?"
"Adventure Quest?" Senki blinked, and a long-awaited smile grew on her face. "How do you play this game, Hotaru-san?"
"I'll explain..." Hotaru held in her hands a D20 dice as well as other dice that had less numbers. "Adventure Quest is a role play storytelling type of game, meaning you play as one of the many characters in it. One of the players, the Quest Lord, takes the lead and explains the scene for the game, and then all the players create a party and go on fantastic adventures and quests, hence its name!"
Senki's eyes sparkled. "Adventure Quest sounds epic epic! Matilda-san, let us play this game together!"
Matilda nodded. "I do not see why not, Princess.
Well then, what are the characters in this game?"
"The characters are heavily just like you Precures, which is a big deal of a coincidence." Said Hotaru and continued. "There is a Fairy, Knight, Bard, Archer, Fighter, Sage and Archer, among other characters. There are also several quests with side characters who guide you!"
"I want to be the Fairy!" Senki raised her hand.
"I will be the Knight." Matilda smiled.
"I wish to be the Bard..." Yuko spoke. "...if that's okay with all of you."
"It is magnificent, Yuko-san!" Senki smiled. "What is a 'bard'?"
"Musicians who travel from one place to another to tell stories and play songs." Matilda explained briefly. "Actually, the Bard Clan in Faeland is working hard to keep all Faelandians joyful, given the current situation."
A frown as she thought...
"I hope the rest of the Precures are found sooner rather than later."
"Let's play!" Hotaru chimed, setting up the board and its pieces and cards for all to begin their own quests!
"Yes!" The girls cheered.
The girls played for what seemed like hours, creating endless adventures and epic quests to solve. Senki, at first, didn't quite understand it, but with Hotaru and the girls explaining everything, she got the hang of it and played along.
LATER THAT AFTERNOON...
The storm finally subsided, and the girls headed outside to get some fresh air, laughing along.
"Ah, finally! The storm stopped!" Hotaru put her hands behind her head. "And the best part? Everything went out just fine!"
"That was EPIC EPIC!" Senki smiled big, pumping a fist up to the air. "Everyone! Let us create more epic epic quests next time!"
"Yes! Playing as a Bard was so much fun!" Replied Yuko. "It has even inspired me to write more songs!"
"How splendid."
The Pirate appeared several feet in front of the girls. They stopped walking immediately upon seeing him.
"Pirate!" Matilda stood in a defensive position in front of Senki.
"You again?!" Hotaru exclaimed, annoyed.
"Yes. Me." The Pirate simply responded. "So, this is where you are, Precures."
"Who are you?" Yuko stepped forth. "What is your purpose?!"
"Y-Yuko-san..." Senki stayed behind Matilda, worried for Yuko as she was still a normal young lady.
"Oh? What is this?" The Pirate turned his gaze to Yuko. "It seems Queen Faelia fetched a new one.
Allow me to introduce myself, dear." The Outlaw held a hand to his chest, slightly bowing with a smirk. "I am the Pirate. The one Outlaw destined to defeat Cure Paladin and steal the legendary treasure of the Siren Society!"
"Siren Society?"
Senki's mind filled with lots of questions.
That, and a new image appeared in her mind...
Back when Senki took the memory tests at the hospital, she remembered seeing two cards with one same image. That image was an ocean wave.
Then, she saw another image of the vast oceans, bubbles around her as she saw herself sinking...
...and the shaded figures of mermaids as they swam down towards her.
"...!"
Gasping, Senki held her head. Matilda quickly noticed and turned to check on the princess.
"Princess!"
"Matilda-san... I saw something..."
Matilda gasped.
"Let us not entertain this conversation any further, shall we?"
The Pirate looked around for an object of interest, choosing a light pole on the sidewalk.
"That will do."
Holding the glimmering Black Dice, the Pirate summoned Dungeon Energy in his palm.
"Starting Point! Dungeon Energy, emerge!"
The Pirate then tossed the dice at the pole.
"Go, Dungeonborg!"
Encrusting itself into the object, the dark magic began surrounding it, turning it into a Dungeonborg.
"DUNGEONBORG!"
"...!"
Yuko's pupils shrank at the sight of the monster.
"Kotone-san, let's go."
Senki stepped forth while Hotaru escorted Yuko to safety. Matilda stood by her side.
"Let us go, Princess." She told Senki.
"Yes!" Senki nodded.
In a background of blue and pink, Matilda's and Senki's clothes turned into glowing gowns. Senki's headband disappeared in magical dust as well. The two held their Treasure Pacts and Treasure Keys in their hands.
"Treasure Pact, Unlock!"
Both Pacts were unlocked with the Keys, and the girls inserted their respective PreCoins in the slots.
First Matilda. "Paladin!"
And then Senki. "Venture!"
And together, while holding the Pacts, they chanted...
"Precure! Dice Roll Start!"
...and rolled the dice in the Pacts, the numbers 1 and 2 appearing in magical light.
Water covered Matilda's arms to create the gloves and then her feet to create the greaves.
Senki spun and skipped steps as her arms were covered in magic sparkles, making her gloves appear. Then the magic swirled around her feet and her shoes appeared.
"Flowing rings!"
Matilda rolled the dice once more, rings of water moving upward and creating her uniform piece by piece. A bubble created the golden brooch with the team's insignia on her chest bow.
"Sparkling magic!"
More swirling magic surrounded Senki, creating her uniform one piece at a time. The sparkles then created her chest bow and then the brooch with the team's insignia.
"Serene change!"
Rolling the dice again, Matilda's hair and eyes turned light blue as more bubbles created her delicate headband, earrings and necklace.
"Epic epic change!"
With one more roll of the dice, more sparkles flew out of the Pact. Senki spun and her hair grew in length, changing from brown to pink. Some strands of her hair weaved together in twin braids and little ribbons were tied at the tips. Then more sparkles created her circlet crown, earrings, ear cuff and necklace. Her eyes turned sparkling pink.
Their belts were created with magic sparkles and rings of water respectively, then Senki and Matilda placed the Treasure Pacts on their left waists, tapping them twice to cover them in pouches.
The girls then posed.
"Wave of calmness!" Matilda posed. "Cure Paladin!" Rings of water splashed outwards, and Cure Paladin pointed a finger forward.
"Bathe yourself in deep tranquility!"
"Spirit of adventure!" Senki posed. "Cure Venture!" Magic sparkles bursted outward, then Cure Venture extended her hand out in front of herself.
"Let the epic adventures begin!"
After the introduction, the girls posed once more, introducing themselves as a team.
"Onward! Epic Precure!"
A magical burst appeared again as the two stood firmly to face the enemy.
The magical background disappeared, and for a moment there was silence.
"EEEEH?! EPIC PRECURE?!" Senki yelled in surprise.
"Epic Precure?" Hotaru's and Yuko's eyes widened at the group's name.
"Epic Precure?" The Pirate scoffed. "Bah! Why am I even repeating what you said?! DUNGEONBORG, ATTACK!"
"Dungeonborg!"
The monster threw its head at the girls, who jumped out of the way swiftly.
"Fae Dust, grant me wings!" Senki chanted as she tossed some of the magical powder up to the air, allowing it to fall down onto herself to summon her wings.
A pair of beautiful fairy wings magically appeared on her back, opening with a strong FLAP! before Venture flew towards the enemy.
"Haaaaaa!"
Cure Venture attacked with a series of punches and kicks, then sending an even stronger side kick at the Dungeonborg, knocking it back to a distance.
"Borg!"
The fairy Precure landed on the soil with a backflip. "Now, Cure Paladin!" Venture called.
"Yes, Princess!"
Cure Paladin summoned her power of water to attack.
"Surge!
Precure Paladin Stream!"
The stream was powerful enough to knock the Dungeonborg off its feet and to a further distance before falling down.
"Boooorg..."
Landing safely, she turned to Venture.
"Purify it, Venture!"
"Yes!" Venture nodded.
Inserting the Venture PreCoin in the slot, Cure Venture chanted...
"Dice Roll! Venture!"
...then rolled the dice before it lit up a pink light and sparkles bursted out of it.
The magic swirled in Venture's palms as she spun, then extended her hands forward.
The Dungeonborg stood on its feet to fight.
"Fly forth!"
The magic in Venture's hands grew brighter.
"Precure! Epic Venture...
...Blast!"
Magic shot out of her palms and to the monster. Surprisingly, and shockingly to the girls, the Dungeonborg dodged Venture's attack by taking a big jump to the side.
"EEEEH?!" Venture froze. "What just happened?!"
The Pirate cackled. "Foolish girls!" Floating up next to the monster, he pointed his finger ahead at the girls.
"Use your special power, Dungeonborg!"
"DUNGEONBORG!"
The monster leaned its head towards the girls.
"What...?" Paladin blinked, and so did Venture.
But it was then when its head lit up, and the light was too bright and strong, their eyes could not endure it.
"Aaah!"
With their sight blocked, the Pirate took advantage of the situation.
"Now, Dungeonborg! Steal her Fairy Energy!"
"Dungeonborg!"
The Black Dice in its chest began to glow, and the dark magic engulfed Senki's body once more, lifting her up in the air.
"WAAAAH! PALADIN, HELP ME!"
"! ! !"
Paladin clenched her teeth. The Dungeonborg's attack was unexpected, and she was frustrated for letting her guard down.
"Cure Venture!"
The monster began stealing Senki's Fairy Energy, colorful magic sparkles flying out of her body and to the Black Dice in its chest.
"Aaaaaah!"
The princess felt her energy fading, and her sparkly wings disappeared.
"Heheheheh..." The Pirate grinned, staring down at Paladin with a sharp glare. "What will you do now, Cure Paladin?
Your Princess' Fairy Energy will be for Tengoku-sama to take. There is nothing you can do to stop his arrival!"
Balling her fists, Cure Paladin clenched her teeth.
"SHUT UP!"
Summoning a spear made of water, Cure Paladin tossed it at the Dungeonborg's head, destroying the light bulb and subsequently, making the strong light disappear.
"I will NOT allow you to continue doing this!" Paladin shrieked in anger.
"Hmm?" The Pirate raised an eyebrow.
Inserting the Paladin PreCoin in the slot, Paladin rolled the dice and chanted...
"Dice Roll! Paladin!"
The dice glowed a soothing blue light, and infinite droplets of water bursted magically out of the Pact. The droplets flew to her palms before preparing her magical strike. Extending her hands to her sides, all water droplets floated outward, freezing in place.
"Spread out!"
She raised a hand to attack.
"Precure Paladin Shower!"
Moving her hand forward, the raindrops were shot at the monster, striking the Black Dice but not completely breaking it. Rather than that, her attack made a visibly large dent in it.
It was successful in stopping the monster from further stealing more Fairy Energy, however, and the dark aura engulfing Venture's body disappeared. She then fell safely into the knight's arms.
"Princess..." Paladin shook her several times to wake her. "...Princess!"
"...h-huh?"
Senki's eyes slowly opened, her blurry sight clearing to a smiling Matilda.
"Your Fairy Energy needs to recharge. " She gently set her down on the ground. "Stay down. I will fight the Pirate myself."
"Dungeonbooooorg..."
The monster was weakened enough to simply flail its arms and feet while lying on the ground.
"Tch!" The Pirate stared down at the monster in disgust, then shot a sharp glare at his opponent. "WHY YOU, CURE PALADIN?!"
Her cape flowed to the side, piercing icy eyes squinting as her brows furrowed down.
"Let us settle this, Pirate!" Cure Paladin summoned a sword of water from her palms and stood in a firm battle stance.
"With pleasure..." The Pirate summoned a sword of his own using Dungeon Energy and lunged at Paladin with a battle cry.
"WITH YOUR DEFEAT, TENGOKU-SAMA WILL BE RELEASED!
GRAAAAAAAH!"
"Haaaaaa!"
Water clashed against darkness as a battle unraveled between the Pirate and the Precure of Water and Calmness.
CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!
With a strong kick, Cure Paladin pushed the Pirate back to a distance. The now annoyed Outlaw jumped up, summoning more Dungeon Energy to shoot blasts at the knight. But Matilda was swift, dodging each blast before shifting the sword of water into water droplets, attacking with a magical water surge.
"WHAT?!"
The oncoming blasts were destroyed by it, and the Pirate himself was soaked by the attack.
Then, a magical blast hit him. It was Senki, who stood on her feet, breathing heavily.
"It is over, Pirate!" Venture panted. "You lose!"
"Sh-shiver me timbers..." The Pirate shook.
"Cure Venture!" Paladin glanced at her companion. "Your Fairy Energy!"
Cure Venture smiled, showing Paladin the Fae Brace in her right wrist. "Do not worry! I have recharged it!
Now...
Dice Roll! Venture!"
Senki chanted as she inserted the Venture PreCoin in the slot.
Once more, magic swirled in her hands.
"Fly forth!
Precure! Epic Venture...
...Blast!"
Magic shot out of her hands, now successfully hitting the Black Dice in the Dungeonborg's chest. The monster was surrounded in a magical barrier.
"Finisher! Plus 100 Points!"
A number 100 magically appeared, and a magical blast of light ensued.
"Concluded..."
The Dungeonborg was purified, its form returning to a normal light pole, and the Black Dice was destroyed, revealing a teal-colored PreCoin, which bounced on the ground before Senki caught it in her hand.
"Session complete!"
"GRRRR!" The furious Pirate rolled balled his fists as he floated up to a black portal. "THIS IS NOT OVER YET!"
He then disappeared.
Cure Paladin's sword disappeared as she turned to Venture.
But before she could speak, the Precure of adventures herself rushed towards the other and hugged her.
"...?!" Paladin froze as Venture embraced her.
"Cure Paladin! Thank you for saving me!" Senki said with big, teary eyes and cried, an overly silly river of tears pouring out of her eyes. "WAAAAAAAAAH!"
Paladin chuckled, returning the hug. "It is my job to look after the Princess of Faeland."
Withdrawing from the hug, Venture sniffled, her eyes still big and teary as her cries turned into quiet sobs.
"Cure Venture! Cure Paladin!"
Hotaru and Yuko ran towards the two. The Precures turned to see them.
"Are you girls okay?" Hotaru asked.
"Yes." Paladin nodded. "I trust you are alright as well, yes?"
Hotaru nodded. "Yes!"
"Everyone, that was incredible!" Said Yuko. "To think I witnessed the power of the Precure with my own eyes!
Cure Venture. Cure Paladin."
The Precures smiled, and so did Yuko and Hotaru.
"Ah, yes. So wonderful~." A new voice spoke out loud.
"Huh?!"
Everyone turned their eyes up to the sky. Floating nearby was the Jester, whose hand was on his chin in thought as his other hand grasped the gloomy Black Dice.
"Hmm~? The Faelandian Princess and her Royal Knight are truly here, huh?" The Jester grinned.
"Who is THAT?!" Hotaru pointed up at the Jester.
Yuko frowned at the Jester. "Another of those Outlaw villains, huh?"
"Queen Faelia is doing a nice job recruiting new little Precure warriors! What a delight~!" The Jester chuckled. "This will undoubtedly be a lot of fun~.
Hmm... What to use against you, I wonder..."
With a sinister grin, the Jester looked around for an object of interest, until he laid his eyes upon a tall pair of speakerphones in the distance.
A group of people were practicing a dance performance, and the music was really loud.
At first, he covered his pointy ears due to how loud the music was for him, given he was from another world, but this made him cackle afterwards.
"A noisy device of unspeakable power?!" He grinned big. "It is wonderful~!"
He landed near the group, who instantly stopped their practice, gasping at the sight of the Jester.
"If you do not mind, I will borrow this for a while. Is that okay~?"
"Aaah!" The group scattered away in fear.
Tossing the Black Dice and catching it again in his hand, the Jester grinned.
"Let us have some fun, eh~?
Starting Point! Dungeon Energy, emerge!"
The dark energy engulfed the Black Dice before the Jester tossed it at the pair of speakers.
"Go, Dungeonborg!"
Encrusting itself in the middle of the speakers, the Black Dice transformed the items into a new Dungeonborg.
"DUNGEONBORG!"
"EEEEEH?!" Senki's eyes widened. "Another Dungeonborg?! That is NOT epic epic at all!"
"Cure Venture..." Cure Paladin stepped forth. "Let us fight, together."
Senki smiled and nodded. "Okay!"
"Haaaaa!"
The girls jumped to fight the monster, firm and strong fists engulfed in their respective magical powers.
"DUNGEONBOOOOOOOOOORG!"
But the monster retaliated with a sound attack, the speakers sending out several barriers of sound that pushed the girls back.
"Aaaaah!"
But they saved themselves from hitting the ground by flipping backwards and landing firmly on their feet.
"Paladin!" Cure Venture extended her hand for the other to grasp.
Cure Paladin nodded and held the other's hand.
The two struggled against the force of the sound barriers, which got stronger and louder each second. The soil breaking beneath their feet and building up behind their heels as they were slowly pushed back.
"Haaaaaaaaa!"
The girls braced themselves as to not be pushed away by the sound barriers. The Jester laughed.
"Whatever is the matter, little Precures?" The Jester spoke, he was floating near the Dungeonborg, but at a safe distance from its attack. "It is a lovely noise, am I right~?"
Ultimately, the sound barriers pushed the Precures back.
"Aaah!"
Both Senki and Matilda hit the ground, their forms returning to normal.
"Senki-san! Matilda-san!" Hotaru's pupils shrank.
Yuko gasped. "Girls!"
"Princess Senki! Matilda -gogo!"
The Pixie Twins arrived at the scene, gasping at what they saw. Senki and Matilda laid unconscious on the ground.
"Dungeonborg!" The monster stood triumphant.
"You see, my dearies, this is what happens if you are not careful~." The Jester said in a tone of warning, albeit mockingly. Pointing at the unconscious Cure Venture, he commanded the monster.
"Dungeonborg, be a dear and take the Princess' Fairy Energy, will you~?"
"Senki-san!"
"DUNGEONBORG!"
Hotaru was about to run to catch Senki, but she was too late as the dark magic of Dungeon Energy lifted her once more, and again, stole her Fairy Energy.
Yuko stood there, eyes widened in shock of it all.
She thought of the words she said to the girls.
"I don't know what kind of Precure I would be...
...but I wish for my music to be put to great use against those monsters."
Opening her eyes, Yuko decided to take a step and face the Jester herself, throwing a stone at the Dungeonborg's Black Dice.
"Stop that!" She yelled.
The Dungeonborg stopped taking Senki's Fairy Energy, but she remained in the air as its power continued taking hold of her.
"Borg?"
"Hm?" The Jester looked down at Yuko.
"Stop it! Taking the Princess' Fairy Energy...
...what atrocity is this?!"
Ichigo and Ringo gasped, their eyes were on Yuko.
"It is Yuko -gogo." Ringo whispered.
The young lady stepped forth to face the enemy, a hand rolled in a fist.
"Your malevolent plan ends here, Jester!"
With furrowed eyebrows and sharp eyes, Yuko glanced at the Jester.
"I will purify everyone's hearts with my music!"
In an instant, a light shone in her heart and her body was engulfed in a yellow aura. The Treasure Pact and Key floated in front of her.
"Huh? The Treasure Pact and Key..."
"NO WAY!" The Jester shouted, realizing something. "THE PRECURE OF MUSIC WILL AWAKEN?!"
Ichigo's pocket began to shine the same yellow light.
"Ichigo! Your purse -gogo!" Ringo pointed at the glowing purse.
"Yes! A new PreCoin is about to be made -gogo!" Ichigo smiled.
Together, the Pixie Twins stood hand in hand, their magic growing as a new PreCoin was crafted.
"Bard PreCoin, come out -gogo!"
Magic shot out of the purse and up to the sky, revealing a yellow token. The Bard PreCoin, which bounced on the ground with a ding and to Yuko's hand. It began to shine.
Bravely, Yuko confronted her opponent, first looking back at Senki and Matilda, who were helped by Hotaru and the Pixies.
"Cure Venture, Cure Paladin...
...hang in there!"
In a shiny yellow background, Yuko's clothes turned into a glowing gown, and her headband disappeared in magic sparkles.
"Treasure Pact, Unlock!"
Opening the Pact with the Key, she inserted the Bard PreCoin in the slot below the D20 dice.
"Bard!"
The dice then glowed a yellow light. Then, holding the Pact, Yuko chanted...
"Precure! Dice Roll Start!"
She then rolled the dice, a number 3 appearing in magical light.
Chains of tiny musical notes covered her arms to make the gloves, then surrounded her feet to create her shoes.
"Tuneful crescendo!"
Rolling the dice again, another chain of notes surrounded her, creating every piece of her Precure uniform. A singular quarter note created the golden brooch with the team's insignia.
"Melodious change!"
Rolling the dice yet again, her brown hair turned golden-yellow, and a hat appeared with a gentle pop!, settling down onto her head.
One more string of notes designed her belt. And lastly, she set the Treasure Pact on her left waist, tapping it twice to cover it in a pouch with a heart charm.
"Melody of the heart!" Yuko posed. "Cure Bard!" Sparks of magic accompanied by tiny musical notes bursted outwards. She would then hold a hand to her heart.
"Listen to the song of your spirit!"
The Jester held his urge to laugh, until it was inevitable.
"Hahahaha! Cure Bard?! How cute~!"
He wiped a tear off his eye and pointed a finger forward, his demeanor quickly changing from mock to fury.
"ATTACK, DUNGEONBORG!"
"DUNGEONBOOOOOOOORG!"
Cure Bard stood in front of the two girls, summoning her own power to attack.
"Resonate! Bard Rhapsody!"
Holding a hand forward, Cure Bard summoned a sound barrier of her own. One consisting of a harmonious glissando that was the complete opposite of the Dungeonborg's noisy barrier. And it was stronger than its own as well.
It was able to destroy the monster's barrier and attack with a strong blast, sending the monster flying back a wide distance.
"Borg!"
"WHAAT?!" The Jester watched in disbelief as his minion fell back.
Yuko took a moment to look down at her hands with big eyes and an equally big smile.
"My music... it's being put to great use!"
"GET UP, GET UP! ATTACK HER!" The Jester yelled, stomping his foot repeatedly as tiny, silly puffs of smoke appeared on top of his head.
"Dungeonborg!"
The monster jumped at Yuko with a fist, but Yuko attacked with a kick and several consecutive fists to the Black Dice in its chest, making several dents on it until it could not fight anymore.
"Haaaaaa!"
Then, she sent it flying with another kick. The Dungeonborg hit the ground, leaving a hole in it.
"Boooooorg!"
The Jester cried. "My precious minion~..."
Unlocking the Treasure Pact, Cure Bard inserted the Bard PreCoin in the slot and rolled the dice.
"Dice Roll! Bard!"
The dice glowed a yellow light. Then, tiny musical notes began appearing one after the other, creating a ring in front of her. Cure Bard then waved her hands in the same way a conductor would when performing at an orchestra.
"Play on!
Precure Bard Symphony!"
Pushing her hands forward, the ring of notes swiftly flew towards the Dungeonborg, striking the Black Dice and surrounding the monster in a much giant sound barrier.
"Finisher! Plus 100 Points!"
A number 100 appeared, and a blast ensued.
"Concluded..."
The Dungeonborg disappeared and the Black Dice was destroyed, revealing a new PreCoin. This one was gray in color, it bounced on the ground and to Yuko's hand.
"Session complete!"
"GYAAAAAHAHAAAAAH!" The Jester cried, but then cackled. "CURE BARD, MARK MY WORDS! I WILL RETURN!"
He soon disappeared in a dark portal.
EVEN LATER...
The girls made it back to Hotaru's house safely.
Senki opened her eyes to the sound of Yuko's harp. She was playing a song while everyone else waited for the princess to wake. Hotaru wrapped Matilda's wrist in bandages, she had sustained minor injuries in battle.
"Ah! Princess, you're awake!"
Yuko and the others approached Senki by her bedside, all eyes on her.
She gasped, sitting up with a jolt. "Did we get the Dungeonborgs?"
Matilda nodded, standing up after Hotaru was done tending to her injuries. "And we have a new Precure among us."
"Say hello to Cure Bard!" Hotaru pointed her hands towards Yuko, who chuckled and bowed.
"Princess Senki Hanaoka, I shall be at your service as part of the Epic Precure. It's an honor to become a part of your team."
Senki's smile widened and her eyes glimmered.
Hastily, she jumped out of the bed and held Yuko's hands. The young lady gasped.
"...eh?!"
"Yuko Kotone! Welcome to the Epic Precure!" She shook the other's hands rather quickly. "Let us do our best and be super mega ultra epic epic!"
"O-okay!" Yuko nodded shakily.
"Once again, Senki is full of energy today." Said a smiling Hotaru.
Everyone laughed!
The Faelandian Princess was ever so excited to recruit a new member to their team.
(*) Inspired by the Operation! game
(**) Inspired by the UNO game
(***) Inspired by the Jenga game
(****) And for obvious reasons I included D themes to this story!
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! :)