2121/Lights, Camera, Oresky!

Lights, Camera, Oresky!
Date of Scene:	30 November 2024
Location:	Plot Room 1
Synopsis:	Oresky tries to take over a film to make it about ruining love! Instead, the Star Drivers, with help from Yellow Pitch Melody, Puella Amy and Cure Daybreak manage to shut down the production and almost purify Oresky. Only for another threat to arrive and take him away.
Cast of Characters:	Phantom, Takuto Tsunashi, Mio Morita, Coco Kiumi, Amanda Faust, Wako Agemaki, Sugata Shindo

---

Phantom has posed:
The camera fades in on a world draped in muted colors, the air thick with an almost imperceptible hum of melancholy. Rolling hills stretch endlessly under a pale, gray sky, their vibrant greens dulled as though the essence of life itself is slowly ebbing away. At the crest of one of these hills stands a lone figure, cloaked in black, their silhouette sharp against the fading light of a dying sun. They hold a jagged shard of crimson crystal---the embodiment of love in its purest form. With every wave of their hand, another streak of color vanishes from the world below, the laughter of unseen lovers silenced in a heartbeat.

The voiceover begins, deep and resonant, carrying a weight of sorrow:

"In the beginning, love was the light that bound this world together. It flourished, it endured, and it healed. But where there is light, shadows rise... and where there is love, hatred seeks to destroy."

The figure turns, revealing their face, a mask carved with intricate, swirling patterns, obscuring any hint of humanity. Behind them, a legion of shadowy figures marches in unison, each wielding weapons forged to sever the ties that bind hearts together. This is the Order of the Unbound, relentless in their pursuit to extinguish love wherever it blooms.

Cut to a close-up of the crimson shard, now glowing faintly in the figure's hand. The glow flickers, as though fighting against the growing darkness. Then, in a voice cold and venomous, the figure speaks:

"Love is the lie we were sold, the chain that binds us to weakness. It is time to free this world from its grip."

As they raise the shard high, ready to shatter it and unleash a wave of despair, the scene cuts abruptly to a small, hidden sanctuary: a pocket of vivid color and light in an otherwise graying world. Inside, a group of unlikely heroes gathers.

A woman with wild, untamed hair holds a book with glowing runes, the words of ancient bonds etched into its pages. Beside her, a quiet man tunes a violin, its strings shimmering like threads of gold, ready to weave melodies that inspire defiance. In the corner of the room, a child-like figure hums softly to a flower clutched in their hands, the petals glowing brighter with each whispered word.

"Time is running out," the woman says, slamming the book shut. "If they shatter the Heart of Aglaios, love won't just fade. It will turn against itself. The world will tear itself apart."

The man tightens the bow on his violin. "Then we stop them. If they want to destroy love... they'll have to destroy us first."

The camera pans to the child, who looks up, determination burning in their eyes. "Love isn't just a feeling. It's a fight."

"CUT!" called out the director, as the film, and scene, desolve into the set where it's being shot. "Let's take it from the top, and this time, put a little more grit into it!"

The camera had just reset, the crew murmuring adjustments to lighting and sound as the actors prepared to dive back into their roles. A gust of wind swept through the soundstage, an unnatural breeze that sent scripts fluttering and the overhead lights flickering. Then, with a booming laugh, the room filled with a crimson glow as a tear in space ripped open at the edge of the set.

The director looked around, and called out, "I didn't say to start the special effects yet!"

From the rift stepped Oresky, resplendent in his overly dramatic military uniform. His hair flared as though caught in an eternal breeze, and his signature cape swirled behind him as he struck an extravagant pose. He pointed a finger toward the set, his voice reverberating with theatrical glee.

"BEHOLD! The great Oresky, General of the Phantom Empire, has arrived! I couldn't ignore the commotion about a movie where love is destroyed. Finally, humans with some sense!" He threw his head back, cackling. "But you're doing it all wrong! Love's destruction isn't just a story, it's an art! An Oresky-specialized masterpiece! And I, the great Oresky, will show you how it's done!"

The director, bewildered but thinking this was an elaborate prank, stepped forward with a forced chuckle. "Uh, sir, this is a closed set. If you could-"

"If you want to be part of the film, you should look the part!" Oresky called out as he pointed at the director, removed his medal and shouted, "Let the future in the mirror turn terrible!" The director is captured within one of the temporary mirror coffins, and in his place rose a Terribad clad in armor stitched together from clapboards and film reels, their eyes glowing with malice.

"And you actors! Pretending to destroy love, when you should be truly committed to the role! Allow me to help you achieve perfection!" He extended his arms, a swirling mass of dark energy engulfing the soundstage. One by one, the crew and cast were struck by the energy, the staff workers captured and turned into Kindabads reflecting their roles---grips with coiled cable whips, lighting techs wielding blinding spotlights, and actors and actresses being chased to be captured as they desperately fled.

Oresky leaped onto the director's chair, now twisted and darkened by his aura, and struck another pose, his fists on his hips and his chin held high.

"This film is no longer about mere storytelling! It's a declaration of Oresky's greatness! Forget Shadows of the Heart! I shall call this masterpiece: The Fall of Love, Directed by ME!"

As his laughter filled the set, the glow of his power surged, warping the backdrop into a shadowy landscape of twisted hearts and shattered bonds. Oresky gestured to his new Kindabad crew.

"Now, minions! Let's show this world what true despair looks like. Lights! Camera! DESTRUCTION!"

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
Somewhere in the middle of all the civilians fleeing Oresky and his Terribad and crew of Kindabads, Takuto's yelling, "WAKO-CHAN! Barrier please this equipment is so expensive--"

And then he's yelling louder still, "APPRIVOISER!"

A lightshow and beautifully choreographed dance of a henshin sequence later, and "Dazzling the STAGE! Ginga Bishounen!" and the redheaded boy has a big star of gold in his hair, and is wearing a much classier glitzy white-and-red-and-gold military outfit than Oresky's, and he's flying with his booted feet surrounded by a bright white-and-blue nimbus of energy, and he goes from his finishing henshin pose immediately to arming himself!

"Star Swordo! EMERAUDE!" he yells and slams his fist against his chest, pulling out a big green energy sword.

"Star Swordo! SAPHIR!" he yells and slams his other fist against his chest, pulling out a big blue energy sword.

"You have no right to come in here and terrify some awesome movie crew and actors just to aggrandize yourself! If you really want to shine, put the work in to excelling!" he yells at Oresky, and then he skates forward and yells louder, "Flair! GALACTIC CROSS SLASH!" and spins to try and cut a big one-two X right through Oresky!

Mio Morita has posed:
On the other side of the City, Mio Morita is doing what she does on the weekends. She is feeding the hungry. She has a few people helping her today and thats probably a good thing. Pin is with her as well, pretending to be a plush fairy. She happens to be laying on top of Mio's head as she hands out sandwiches to people who likely haven't eaten in a few days.

As Mio hands out a pair of sandwiches, She feels something on her head. "You guys take over. I got a phone call!" She states to her helpers for the day." They agree and fill in while Mio steps away with her phone. "Whats up, Pin?" She holds the phone to her head.

Pin speaks up softly, trying her best not to draw attention to herself. "Mio, I feel something really dark in the city! I think the Phantom Empire is attacking."

Mio frowns. She puts her phone in her pocket and turns to look at her helpers. "I need to go. There is a something important that just came up I will be back as soon as I can." With that she walks away from the crowd. A few of the people present try to stop her and thank her. She of course is polite and gives some 'you're welcome's and breaks away as soon as she can. A few moments later she makes her way down a back alley. Orange light flashes as Mio transforms into Cure Daybreak. Her back bow turns into wings and she takes off. Pin flies along with her, not wanting to miss anything.

After a few minutes of flying across Tokyo, Cure Daybreak and Pin arrive on set! Daybreak comes to a landing not far from Takuto and anyone else who may have arrived to fight. "Hey thanks for waiting!" She comments with a smile. Her attention goes to Oresky. "Oresky, you have a really bad sense of time. You know there are things going on that are more important than you, right?" She knows what she did. She turns to look up at the terribad and shakes her head. "Was this really necessary?" She quickly turns the dial on her prebrace and calls out, "MORNING SUN BEAM!" She throws her hands forwards and an Energy beam goes flying at the Terribad.

Coco Kiumi has posed:
Coco is laying against a wall in the back when the actor with the crystal starts reciting the opening monologue, arms crossed as the speech unfolds and reaches its conclusion. It certainly was an effective speech, causing in the young mermaid a feeling of aversion towards the character on screen. Order of the Unbound? She sure hopes it does get unbound by the end of the movie.

She is there as a singing extra, so she has a lot of time to watch the action unfold, just waiting for when it is her cue. A smirk appears on the mermaid's face when the child actor declares love a fight, a memory resurfacing in her mind of when she had told that herself to Lucia. They certainly got that part right. It is nice to see it being understood.

The opening of the rift is felt before it is seen, an unpleasant sensation crawling on the back of her head. Oresky, was it? He certainly hadn't understood love, or even the point of the movie. "Yellow Pearl Voice!" she declares, the pearl in her shell locket responding to her and starting to shine with a yellow light. A kaleidoscope of colours covers Coco's clothes as those change into her yellow gloves and boots with flowy extensions, as well as a yellow blouse with a yellow skirt, while her pearl expands into her trusty E-Pitch microphone, its blue shape settling comfily into her hand, the yellow jewel nestled safely in the head's center.

"You know nothing about love, Oresky", the Mermaid Princess steps forward, the Live Stage forming around her. "Let me show you what love really means, about how It can soar above even sadness and your darkness. Birth of Love: Pichi Pichi Voice, Live Start!", she says, bringing her E-Pitch microphone to her face, a serene melody that lifts the hearts and seeks to scatter the darkness filling the area, the antithesis of the dark energy that keeps a hold on Oresky.

Love and dreams will become one

Because I'll turn the sad "now" into stardust for you,
Believe in yourself...

Hold pride to the fact that you were born.
Don't cloud up the strongly shining, angelic gaze towards you.

For the sake of this dream, if you
can lend me your strength, I want to be born.
I want to become love...

I'm always gazing at you from your side.
Don't fear journeys. You can go forth in them with your dazzling courage...

In order to light up the dark galaxy,
I'll pass the meaning of the bourne light of life to you.

For the sake of love, if you use that power,
then even the map written out

for you in the future can be changed.

For the sake of this dream, if you

can end all sorrow, I want to be born.

I want to become love...

Amanda Faust has posed:
    It all started when Amy was just on patrol.

    She heard there was a movie being filmed here! Near where she lived! She got curious, and saw people moving around outside the studio and going in and out of doors and realized---

    She could go in and take just a peek, right? No one will remember her if she's spotted trespassing. And she can walk right in when some folks in costume go in one of the back employee entrances...

    A set of misunderstandings later and people assuming she's an extra or double on some production or another have left her awkwardly finding her way to one of the filming studios where she just sort of. Stands in the back while the focus is on the production. Watching movie magic get made and trying not to squee or interfere or get in the way.

    The director calls CUT and she lets out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. She relaxes a little, no longer holding stock still afraid that a slight movement or sound might mess things up. Imagine if she knocked something over and the noise ruined a take, she'd have been mortified!

    But just as she starts to relax, she feels it: real dark magic, and a portal opens, and... Oh no it's that guy!

    She's frozen staring for a moment, pondering how to get people out of here, and then Oresky makes a speech and turns people into monsters, and--

    People start henshining and atatcks break out and--

    "You're right." A lighting tech kindabad moves a spotlight to reveal the Puella Magi, who honestly looks like she might fit into some space fantasy film, as she strides closer to the stage and has stopped, pointing at Oresky. "It's an art. To tell the story of love's destruction, as much as any other!"

    Amy holds out both hands and makes a sweeping gesture at the terribad and kindabads. "But this?! You just show up and magic it, turn people into monsters in an instant?! How many pages-- I mean, how much film do you think that's gonna make?! Who's gonna watch this? I don't care about the characters yet! I don't see their struggle with love's fall!"

    She adjusts her stance and her cape flourishes as she half-turns, her body in a line with the arm now pointing once again at Oresky. "This is a travesty, not just of love but of storytelling! And I won't stand for it!"

    And then she flashes a smile and wave to the other mahous that have showed up, and as she hears Coco's song starting up.

    "Now, let's have those special effects! Pyrotechnics, ready!" And now that a barrier has gone up in the meantime, she just. Materializes her shoulder launcher and fires an explosive round at the Terribad!

Wako Agemaki has posed:
"--every time, I swear," Wako is complaining to no one in particular as all hell breaks loose.

Honestly, it wasn't like they'd expected trouble. It had just been an interesting opportunity to sit in on filming, and perhaps rack up a minor film credit as extras. But after all, this is Tokyo - where anything can happen, and usually does.

The Y-shaped mark is already glowing on her chest when Takuto calls out to her for a barrier. "Apprivoiser!"

At once she's silhouetted by glittering pink light, manifesting her own set of military-style white-anmd-gold bling. "ZERO TIME!"

Energy rushes out from the vague shape she defines with her hands. The landscape created by Oresky's power doesn't change - but it does gain a different sky, a starscape in spangled rainbow colors. The villain and his minion crew remain, but any human bystanders vanish, shifted away by the extradimensional barrier.

"Careful!" she cries out to Cure Daybreak. "Don't hit Takuto-kun with those beams!"

Sugata Shindo has posed:
There's money and there's money, and Sugata has the latter. That would be why he'd shamelessly bought the three of them roles as extras, solely because 'being an actor in a movie sounds cool' had been the general mood.

The director had been happy to take an extra cash infusion. Takuto, Wakox, and Sugata had been happy enough to wander the set when the cameras weren't on and play their parts as background members. Everything had been going pretty well.

Key word, had been.

"Apprivoiser!"

Ginga Kingu appears in a burst of light and color, the navy blue coat and golden epaulets replacing his civilian clothing in an instant. As Takuto draws his dual swords, Sugata does the same, slamming a fist to his chest and withdrawing -

"Star Swordo - Diamante!"

A glowing sword of energy, as he launches himself after the Director Terribad. The Red Puella has a speech set about the importance of storytelling and characters. Ginga Kingu has a plan to tear the monster apart.

"Do be mindful of that," he calls to Daybreak. "If you manager to do more damage than the enemy, I'll take it out of your hide."

Phantom has posed:
Oresky barely flinches as the dazzling lightshow unfolded before him, though he does raise an eyebrow when Takuto's gleaming new outfit put his own to shame. He crossed his arms, cape billowing dramatically even though there was no wind, and scoffed as the redheaded hero made his grand speech.

"Pfft! A little sparkle, some flashy swords, and a fancy outfit? Is that supposed to impress me, the great Oresky?" He strikes a mocking pose, pointing his thumb at his own chest. "I invented flair, kid! You're just a cheap knockoff!"

But as Takuto charged forward with his Galactic Cross Slash, Oresky's expression shifts to mild concern. He leaps backward with an unnecessarily showy flip, his boots crackling with dark energy as they hit the ground. The swords narrowly missed, carving an "X" into the stage floor that sent sparks flying.

"ENOUGH of this nonsense! Kindabads, ATTACK!" he bellows, his voice echoing across the soundstage. "Show this sparkly show-off what happens when you dare to upstage the great Oresky!"

The Kindabads surge forward in a chaotic wave, their misshapen, exaggerated sunglass-wearing forms stumbling and clattering as they charged. One armed with a boom mic swung it like a massive club, while another rolled toward Takuto on wheels made of twisted film reels. A Kindabad clad in warped camera lenses hurled flashes of light like blinding projectiles, and another wielded a clapboard as a sharp-edged blade.

"Go, my beautiful minions! Surround him! Overwhelm him!" Oresky shouts, as he leaps onto a nearby scaffold for a better vantage point. He strikes a triumphant pose, arms crossed and cape flowing as he watched his Kindabads descend on Takuto.

"And while you're at it," Oresky added with a smug grin, "make sure you keep him too busy to scratch my fabulous outfit! This cape is custom-made!"

As Daybreak arrived to launch into a tirade of words and an attack, the Morning Sun Beam striking its target with precision, sending it stumbling backward in a shower of sparks. Oresky clutched his head in frustration, pacing dramatically.

"Ugh! Was this really necessary, Daybreak? I mean, come on! I was just about to show this wannabe starboy how true brilliance shines, and now you're making me look like the bad guy for caring about your well-being!"

He spun back toward her, gesturing wildly. "And what's with the timing comment? I have excellent timing! Perfect timing, even! It's not my fault the world doesn't always keep up with my schedule!" He crosses his arms with a huff but then softened slightly, his voice quieter. "But, uh... seriously. Are you okay? You're not pushing yourself too hard, right? Because, you know, you're always going on about the importance of teamwork and taking care of each other, and, well... I'd hate to see you get hurt."

Then, as if realizing he'd broken character, Oresky quickly threw his cape over one shoulder and turned his back to her, trying to regain his bravado. "Not that I care or anything! I'm still going to destroy love and prove my superiority, but, uh... just don't overdo it, okay?"

He barked at the Kindabads without looking back. "You! Cover the Terribad while it regroups! And no one touch Cure Daybreak unless she insists on interfering!" His tone softened once more as he muttered under his breath, "Seriously, you're going to give me a headache..."

As the serene melody filled the air, Oresky freezes mid-pose, his usual over-the-top theatrics faltering. He covers his ears with an exaggerated grimace, but the purity of the song seemed to slip past his defenses, resonating somewhere deep within him. His shadowy energy flickers, the vibrant darkness dimming ever so slightly.

"'Love soaring above sadness'? Don't make me laugh!" he scoffs, though his voice lacks its usual confidence. "Love is a trap! A weakness that leaves people open to pain and betrayal! Your pretty little song doesn't change that!"

But as her melody continued, weaving through the chaos, the Kindabads falter in their movements, some even slowing to a stop as the darkness binding them began to waver. Oresky's cape swirls as he turned sharply, glaring at them.

"Hey! What are you doing?! Stop standing around like statues! You're Kindabads, not... concert groupies!" His voice grew more frantic as the melody intensified, the warmth of the Mermaid Princess's song pushing back against the dark energy in the air.

Oresky throws his head back, laughing as Amy's critique reached him. "A travesty of storytelling?!" he repeated, his voice drips with mockery. "Ha! As if I, the great Oresky, need your approval for my artistic choices! I am the story! I am the spectacle! Who needs a 'struggle' or 'character development' when you have me?"

He strikes a dramatic pose, one hand on his hip and the other gesturing grandly toward the Terribad and Kindabads. "Do you see these masterpieces of villainy? I create tension, conflict, and sheer drama in the blink of an eye! That's called efficiency! Who has time for your long-winded 'development arcs' when I'm here to dazzle and destroy?"

But as Amy's shoulder launcher materialized and the explosive round roared toward the Terribad, Oresky's confidence wavered. "Special effects?! What kind of amateur relies on cheap explosions?!" he shouted, leaping to the side in a flurry of dramatic cape flapping.

The Terribad took the brunt of the blast, stumbling back with a bellowing roar as sparks and smoke erupted around it. Oresky shielded his face from the fallout, coughing dramatically before glaring at Amy.

"You think you're clever, don't you?" he snapped, pointing an accusatory finger at her. "But you're just another overdramatic hero with a penchant for theatrics! And let's not even talk about that cape! Clearly, someone is trying to outshine me, and I won't stand for it!"

He turns to his Kindabads, who seemed momentarily distracted by Coco's song. "Hey! Focus! We're in the middle of my climactic scene, and I won't have you slacking off! Kindabads, prepare the counterattack! Show them what real special effects look like!"

He snapped his fingers, and the Kindabads began throwing out dark energy blasts, some shaped like jagged hearts and others crackling with distorted light. Oresky stood back, arms crossed and smirking again. "Let's see how your 'pyrotechnics' hold up against my artistry, little miss critic! And if you want storytelling? Fine! I'll give you a tragedy so grand, it'll be remembered forever-with me as the shining star, of course!"

Oresky turns back to her, pointing an accusatory finger. "You think this song can scatter my darkness? Ha! The great Oresky isn't so easily defeated! Your silly Legend of Mermaid is nothing compared to my brilliance!" But even as he spoke, there was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, almost as if some small part of him was listening.

And it is in that faltering moment that Wako erects her barrier. As the starscape of rainbow colors shimmers into existence, Oresky's barrier flickered and pulsed, reacting violently to the sudden shift in energy. The jagged edges of the dark heart-shaped shield warped, struggling to hold its form against the intrusion of the dazzling light. Oresky stumbles, his cape billowing as he tried to steady himself, glaring up at the swirling, colorful sky.

"What is this nonsense?!" he bellows, spinning toward the source of the energy shift. His voice carried both anger and confusion. "Who dares tamper with my masterpiece?! This isn't artistic collaboration! It's sabotage!"

He extends his hand toward the barrier, his dark energy lashing out in an attempt to reclaim control of the landscape. But his power seemed to slide off the vibrant starscape, unable to dispel the rainbow hues. The humans who had been caught in his spell vanished, leaving only him, the Terribad, and the Kindabads within the altered space.

Despite his bluster, the strain on his barrier was evident, the dark energy crackling like glass under pressure. The starscape reflected in Oresky's own eyes, a hint of unease flickering beneath his exaggerated bravado. Which brings us to the Terribad...

The Director Terribad stands motionless for a moment as if considering the challenge presented by the heroes. Its projector lens dims slightly, and the spinning film reels on its chest slowing before surging to life again, crackling with renewed dark energy. It raises its clapperboard arm, the motion slow and deliberate, before slamming it down onto the ground, sending jagged shockwaves rippling outward.

Its massive frame shifts, dark energy coalescing around it like a swirling vortex. The Terribad turned its gaze toward the heroes, the light from its projector lens pulsing rhythmically, as if mocking their attempts to bring it down. The lens glowed brighter, projecting distorted, flickering images of the heroes themselves---twisted, exaggerated versions meant to unnerve and disorient them.

Without a sound, the Terribad charges forward with astonishing speed for its size, its clapperboard arm swinging in a wide arc, aiming to slam into the ground near Ginga Kingu and Red Puella with earth-shaking force. Film-strip energy lashed out like whips, slicing through the air toward Daybreak with relentless precision.

It stood tall once more, the lens on its head flaring with a flash of searing light that filled the area, a silent declaration of its unwavering dominance.

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
"Yessss--" Takuto starts as the Kindabads swarm him, eyes flashing, bright energy sword in heach hand, and then he stumbles and gets whanged in the side by the boom mic because "WANNABE STARBOY?" he yells, aggrieved.

He doesn't get hit by that Kindabad again-- he takes the arm with the boom mic club right off with one slash, then kicks the rattley-rolling film canister Kindabad backwards into its legs, which gives him plenty of space to take the kindabad's head, as well.

Well, plenty of space between the light projectiles that are coming at him while he's ducking a clapboard blade. It's the camera lenses guy that goes next, because the guy with the swordboard has a limited number of moves and no move can be used on Takuto twice-- nonetheless, occasionally one of Takuto's swirling blades will block a swing. But the camera guy...

Takuto blasts off the floor and trails comet light over the lens-covered monster and yells, "Flair! GALACTIC CROSS SLASH!" after kicking him into the wielder of the swordboard. He comes at their tangled forms with his attack, pressing it from above with crossed blades for a second before one-two slashing them through.

For emphasis, as punctuation, as the pieces of the monsters slide apart, he jams a sword down into the rolling one.

Then he steps back and looks around until he catches sight of Wako and Sugata, and stabs the rolling kindabad one more time.

Mio Morita has posed:
As Daybreak blasts the living daylights out of the Terribad, she looks at the Star Drivers. "The Terribad is the target. If you take out the Terribad, the General will go away!" She calls out to the sword wielders. I Fight these guys all the time!"

Daybreak gets ready to fight back but then... Oresky tells the Kindabads not to mess with her? This confuses the Pretty Cure. "Say What Now?" She moves to fight but she doesn't. "What gives Oresky?" She asks before she starts moving towards the General. "You know, If you are not wanting to do this, you can release the person in the mirror. You don't have to do this. We could just go out and get some boba tea or something." She smiles. Its not the greatest attempt but it is a hole in the fight and this was definitely a chance to maybe get through to him.

She isn't a complete fool. She knows things can turn against her and in a hurry. This leads Daybreak to pay attention to the Kindabads and most importantly the Terribad. She doesn't attack right now though. She's being patient and not moving to attack anyone just yet. "Oresky, you don't need to use this set to make a movie. I mean you have the resources to make a movie on your own. Your Kindabads and such could help you make your dream come to life." She smiles as she tries to end this without more violence.

Wako Agemaki has posed:
Here's where Ginga Otome checks herself, looking from Daybreak to Takuto and back. Oh. Oh.

She makes a rather chagrined face. "--sorry!" she calls back to Cure Daybreak, even as she rises into the air in a sphere of translucent pink light. "I thought you were aiming for the big windbag."

She almost immediately shoots Sugata a Look, because with the main target singled out she knows, she knows what his next step is going to be. This is not - yet - a King's Pillar situation.

She hopes.

Instead, homing in on the dark copies projected by the Terribad, she throws out both hands to unleash a shower of bullets of rosy light. "Cascade de Soleil!" Takuto has already gone ham on the little mooks - she'll see about getting these shadows out of their way.

Sugata Shindo has posed:
There's a moment where Ginga Kingu lifts his head to the sky, eyes flicking to the heavens where a King's Pillar would form in the sky and fall upon the Director Terribad and the kindabads, likely killing them instantly and at least moderately damaging the rest of their allies but that's fine -

Wako is giving him a Look.

Well, fine then.

Instead of launching the orbital finisher from hell, Ginga Kingu launches his sword, turning with a quick shift of momentum and launching Diamante through the air, propelled by a stream of blue-white energy.

"Star Crash!"

The sword is heading straight for the Terribad's head, aiming to pierce through one end and out the other.

"Didn't he get those kindabads from the people here?" he asks Daybreak dryly. "Maybe he should see about hiring people for his pathetic projects instead."

Coco Kiumi has posed:
There is that distorted copy of her that Oresky has conjured, an illusion that makes Coco nod wistfully. She wonders if she would have ever gone down that path by some reason or another, if she had ever let what happened to Sara overwhelm her, going down the same path as her.

Seeing it in front of her would have been unsettling when she first got free, but she still has that convinction within herself no matter what, one that has not actually changed. She knows that path would have never been for her.

"Why is it you think that, Oresky?", Coco replies to the dark general, her golden eyes gazing into his crimson ones. "If anything, you are letting yourself be bound by your focus on yourself. But there is more for you than that", she says, having noticed the concern he had shown for Daybreak, the darkness faltering.

"Care, love, trust, they are all buried deep within you. And I won't ever stop trying to bring them out!", she shouts determined, the Live Stage shining even brighter. "Super Love Songs: Pichi Pichi Voice, Live Start!", she announces, reinforcing the purifying melody and lifting everyone's spirits and easing fatigue.

Star Light!
If you gather more light,
you can surely change this world.

Even the depths of the dark seas lie in the wind
ahead, but
if you never... let go of my hand

Our dreams can begin in a super live concert!
On a stage of light and shadows.
With our super songs, we"ll convey our love
and give everyone a little bit of courage... in this song of love.

Star Light!
If you believe in yourself more
You should surely be able to change your future.

In this frozen world, despite being alone at dawn
and having a small body, you won't lose.

Love in your right hand can be felt in the super live concert!
On the stage of tears and sweat.
Just continue singing, super girls!
And the world will become connected with your feelings.
Even the depths of the dark seas lie in the wind ahead, but
if you never... let go of my hand

Our dreams can begin in a super live concert!
On a stage of light and shadows.

With our super songs, we'll convey our love

and give everyone a little bit of courage... in this song of love

Love in your right hand can be felt in the super live concert!
On the stage of tears and sweat.
Just continue singing, super girls!
And the world will become connected with your feelings.

Amanda Faust has posed:
    "It's not about the explosions!" Amy retorts, balling her fist and stamping a foot. "I told you, it's not the special effects that make the story!"

    "Nah, I don't think I'm clever--" Amy starts to reply, but is distracted by the Terribad's distorted projection of herself, overly made up and aping fasion trends almost to tackiness, looking like she's struggling to think of something and then holding her fingers to her head and sticking her tongue out in an 'oops, silly me!' gesture. "That's not what I meant!" Amy, mortified, tries to break up the image by waving her hand through it, and gets mobbed by kindabads in her distraction!

    "Get off me! You think... grrh!" She's throwing kindabads off her, punching and kicking her way free, "...spectacle is all that matters? That that's what makes a story?!" Finally free of the mob, Amy shakes her head, and makes a horizontal chopping motion as she turns toward Oresky.

    "Stories live in peoples' heads and peoples' hearts! They make the audience feel, make them connect! That's what makes it so that when people hear you made another story, they get excited! They get hype!"

    Amy shakes her head and repeats the gesture. She didn't say she was perfect at speeches! But also the chop takes out a kindabad that was leaping for her. "If an author can make me care about the characters," she gestures emphatically as if milking the spotlight and a giant cow, and her elbow sends the head of a kindabad that was doing a diving tackle, into the ground,

    "Make me curious how they'll develop, what will happen," she throws her hand out to her side, catching the face of an approaching kindabad, "how they'll feel," she holds the kindabad close in front of her as it takes a bunch of dark energy shots and lets it fall to the floor, "what they'll do, I'll even read hundreds of pages of some vampire story if that's what makes the author's passion shine! And I'm not the only one!"

    Amy steps forward, her boot keeping down a kindabad that was about to get back up, and points at Oresky, "I don't need a cape to outshine you!" She ducks under a volley of dark energy shots as she dramatically tosses her cloak aside, where it lands on the heads of a couple of kindabads who promptly blindly run into others, "You're not a shining star, you're a flash in the pan!"

    The Directorribad projects a new image, of Bad Future Amy grown into a dark general lady, in form-fitting black with red accents, carrying a demonic-looking longarm and sneering down (mostly due to the heels) at her present self.

    Amy makes a moderately disgusted face, and then makes a sort of 'voila' gesture at the image while looking back to Oresky. "See? See? Even that, how did I turn into that, that's a better story than the one you're telling!"

    And she casually conjures her gyrojet pistol in her off-hand, holding it up and off to the side without really looking and firing homing-rocket-propelled-bullets at one of its projectors.

Phantom has posed:
The Kindabad with the boom mic stumbles backward as Takuto's blade slices cleanly through its arm, dark energy sputtering from the severed limb. It lets out a guttural hiss, staggering before collapsing into a heap of flickering shadows, dissipating into the air.

The rattling film canister Kindabad rolls chaotically after being kicked, its wheels squealing as it crashes into another, only to be silenced by Takuto's finishing blow. Its form crumbles, dark shards scattering before fading entirely.

The camera lens Kindabad reacts with an eerie, mechanical screech, its lens-covered body shimmering with dark energy as it hurls blinding flashes at Takuto. But before it can release another burst, it's slammed into the swordboard-wielding Kindabad, both of them sprawling into a tangle of limbs and dark energy.

The swordboard Kindabad raises its jagged blade in desperation, but it's too slow. Takuto's Galactic Cross Slash cuts through them both in a single, brilliant strike. The tangled Kindabads freeze in place, their forms splitting apart with an echoing crack before they dissolve into motes of dark energy that fade into nothingness.

The rolling Kindabad, struggling to reassemble itself, wobbles weakly as Takuto drives his sword down into it with decisive force. Its rattling stops as its form collapses into fragments, flickering away into the ether.

As Takuto steps back, scanning the battlefield, the remnants of the Kindabads leave behind an eerie stillness, the once chaotic swarm now reduced to nothing more than faint, fading wisps of darkness.

Oresky glances at the Terribad, which still crackles with dark energy, and then at the Kindabads, who seem confused by his earlier command not to interfere.

He points dramatically at Daybreak, but his usual bravado sounds just a bit forced. "Do you think flattery and tea will distract me from my glorious purpose? I am the great Oresky, destroyer of love! I don't need your pity or your... ridiculous beverage suggestions!"

Yet, even as he speaks, there's a faint flicker of uncertainty in his expression. His hand falls to his side, and for a split second, his gaze drifts toward the mirror holding the trapped civilian.

With a huff, he snaps his fingers, signaling the Kindabads to stand down further. "If you think your little peace offering will stop me, then you're more naive than I thought, Cure Daybreak!" He glances away, avoiding her eyes. "But... I suppose someone has to keep these Kindabads in line while I contemplate your ridiculous idea! Ever since that girl took Phantom away, I won't be the next to fall for your wiles!"

The Director Terribad reacted instantly to the incoming Cascade de Soleil, its projector lens flaring with harsh, flickering light. The dark copies it had projected scattered like shards of broken glass, reforming briefly before being obliterated by the radiant bullets.

The Terribad twisted its clapperboard arm upward, blocking some of the incoming light, but the relentless assault forced it to retreat a step, dark energy rippling across its frame. Its spinning film reels whirred faster, and it raised its arm to slam down a shockwave of jagged, shadowy film strips in retaliation, attempting to disrupt the precision of the light attack.

Despite the damage, the Terribad remained an imposing force, the flickering lens projecting a new wave of distorted shadows that swirled menacingly around it like a shield, preparing for its next counter. And that is when Ginga Kingu comes in with the Star Crash hurtled toward its head, the blade glowing with destructive energy. At the last possible moment, it twisted its massive projector head, the blade grazing the side instead of piercing through completely. Sparks flew, and a chunk of its projector lens shattered, but the Terribad remained standing, albeit with a deep, jagged gash across its face.

It staggered backward, dark energy pouring from the wound like black smoke, but the spinning film reels on its chest roared to life, generating a surge of crackling power. The Terribad slammed its clapperboard arm into the ground with a thunderous CRACK, sending jagged, dark energy spikes racing across the battlefield toward Ginga Kingu and Daybreak.

The lens on its head, though cracked, flared with defiant light, projecting a distorted version of Ginga Kingu wielding an oversized, dark parody of his sword. The shadowy copy charged forward, aiming to clash with the real hero.

Oresky froze, his usual flamboyant confidence cracking for just a moment as Coco's words struck him. His crimson eyes narrowed, but there was no mistaking the flicker of something; uncertainty? Conflict?, within their depths.

"Tch!" he scoffed, turning sharply, his cape swirling dramatically behind him. "What nonsense are you spouting, Princess? Care? Love? Trust? Those are nothing but chains, holding people back, making them weak!" His voice wavered ever so slightly, and he quickly raised it to cover the hesitation.

"I am not bound by anything! The great Oresky is free, unshackled, and perfect just as I am!" He gestured grandly, but his movements lacked their usual precision, betraying the doubt creeping into his mind. His gaze shifted briefly toward Daybreak, then darted back to Coco.

"And you... you're wasting your time! You'll never 'bring out' anything! My focus is on me, and that's all I need!" But even as he said it, his eyes didn't quite meet hers, his bravado feeling more like a shield than a truth.

Oresky's face twists in frustration as Amy's words cut deep, her relentless critique striking at his fragile ego. He waved his arm dramatically, as if trying to brush away her taunts.

"You dare call me a flash in the pan?!" he shouts, his voice cracking with indignation. "I am the great Oresky! My brilliance burns eternal, unmatched, and undeniable!" But his gestures lacked their usual flair, his confidence clearly rattled as Amy's defiance and her effortless handling of his Kindabads made a mockery of his theatrics.

The Director Terribad, meanwhile, was in shambles. Its projector lens sputtered and sparked, chunks of its once-imposing form missing or fractured. The dark energy that once pulsed through its body now flickered weakly, its movements sluggish and erratic. The homing-rocket-propelled bullets struck one of its projectors dead-on, shattering it in a fiery explosion. The shadowy image of "Bad Future Amy" warped and dissolved, leaving the Terribad reeling as it tried to maintain its footing.

Oresky glances toward his faltering creation, his expression shifting briefly to one of panic before he masked it with a forced sneer. "Hmph! So what if my Terribad is a little... battle-worn?" He stepped forward, striking a pose with far less conviction than before. "It's still a masterpiece! A true work of villainous art!"

But as another piece of the Terribad's clapperboard arm cracked and fell to the ground with a heavy thud, Oresky's bravado falters. He points a finger at Amy and the others, his voice tinged with desperation.

"Fine! Finish your little act, then! Let's see if you have what it takes to outshine the great Oresky in the final scene!" Despite his words, his gaze darted nervously between the heroes and his crumbling Terribad, knowing it was only a matter of time before his "masterpiece" was undone.

Mio Morita has posed:
"Oresky, You don't need to do this. You're better than you know." She speaks kindly to Oresky trying to encourage him to do better. "The person in that Mirror doesn't deserve that sort of fate. No one does. Besides, Boba tea is really yummy! There are some good places around here that you'd really like."

Now Daybreak had been paying attention to the Kindabads and the Terribad. She has a big heart, full of hope, but she isn't a complete fool. So when the dark energy attack from the terribad is unleashed, She takes flight. She flies off the ground and gets out of the way from the dark energy. Before she makes a move, her gaze goes to Oresky. There is disappointment in her eyes. That gaze says a lot. Mostly, that he could do better and that she is ashamed of him.

She turns to face the terribad. With a quick motion she turns the dial on her prebrace. "LIGHT OF HOPE BECOME SACRED POWER!" She quickly strikes a pose. "PRETTY CURE! FIRST LIGHT SHOOT!" A sun frops in front of her and she punches it sending it flying at the terribad.

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
"The problem with attacking the terribad until the general goes away is that then the general gets away," sighs the Ginga Bishounen, one corner of his mouth pursed. And then he sees the dark energy attack rolling out and blasts himself off the floor again, dropping his swords into nothingness at his sides and bringing his hands together in fists in front of him. He hovers there, a charge building around his fists, a charge of bright blue-white that matches the blue-white energy under his feet-- and he orients on the Terribad and calls out, "TAU GALAXY BEAM!"

A neon cyan force beam lances out toward the Terribad, homing in on it, chasing it if it moves.

Wako Agemaki has posed:
The dark energy blasts out and Ginga Otome bobs higher into the air to escape the lashing strips of shadow-film. Takuto's complaint has her sighing a little; she glances around, taking in the field of battle, the other magical fighters, the general.

"All right, then," she says, "take it out already. Everybody else had better take cover, though--"

Saying this, she lifts both hands upward, swinging herself through the air to where Takuto is already hovering. She doesn't seem to be concerned with the Terribad any more. Rather, back to back with the Ginga Bishounen, she expands the curve of her shield of light upward and outward, until it's broad enough to encompass the two of them, Coco, the Red Puella, and Cure Daybreak under its luminous span.

What is she expecting to come down on them from above?

Amanda Faust has posed:
    (At Oresky's comment about wiles, the projection of Amy turns and blows a kiss to Oresky, much to Amy's horror before Cascade de Soleil shatters the projection. Among the projections used as a shield is a male version of Amy in a sentai outfit, who looks appropriately shocked just before Ginga Kingu hits the projector, and finally 'Bad Future Amy' appears to sneer at her original before she shoots out the light.)

    A masterpiece, is it? Amy looks at it, and holds a hand to her chin. "Perhaps. I always did love tropes about alternate versions of characters." She shakes her head and looks to Oresky. "Maybe that will be enough to make this stand out in our memories, your fifteen seconds of fame. After all..."

    "Fifteen seconds is all it will take us to finish this!"

    Amy turns towards the Terribad, grinning, with Dark Amy's weapon in her hands. A dark longarm with jagged decorations and a segmented 'tail' chain on the back like Epyon's heat rod or something. She spins it around with a heavy 'whooshing' sound effect, before bracing herself to fire in a typical stance for her, the weapon now held like an over-the-shoulder launcher -- which it grows into, becoming a three-tubed monstrosity in the process.

    The Puella Magi shifts her grip and adjusts her stance a little and fires, all three barrels firing a trio of small anti-tank rounds as flame spews out the back.

    And then she looks at Ginga Otome, "Huh? What are... he's doing the thing?!" She tosses the weapon asside, where it dissipates into pink sparkles, as she sprints over to take cover under the shield with the others!

Sugata Shindo has posed:
Diamante flew through the air, cratered the head of Terribad even with a glancing blow, and promptly - dissipated into nothingness, leaving Ginga Kingu unarmed.

That might seem like a problem - it might even seem like the sort of thing that Kingu ought to be worried about, especially with the copy of Ginga Kingu on the attack, oversized dark-sword in hand, but the original just smirks, pulls Diamante from his chest - and beheads him in a single swift blow.

The copy's head and body dissipating to either side of the CLAMP Noodle in Blue as he looks towards the remainder of the threats. Most of the Kindabads have been taken care of by Takuto, while the Terribad is on it's last legs, but as Takuto just mentioned -

When you focus on the monster, you let the Dark General get away.

"And here I thought you didn't want me to do that... changing your mind, I see. However is a king to keep up with your whims?" Ginga Kingu delivers the line with mock sorrow, all the drama he'd bring to a stage roll in his voice as he dramatically gestures to the heavens. "But your wish is my command, as ever, Wako-chan -"

This little play has entirely been to give everyone time to get under Wako's barrier. He doesn't bother with that, of course. No, given the staging, the setting, and the situation, it seems perfectly fitting to stand in the midst as he breaks the sky.

"King's Pillar!"

And the sky does indeed crash down around them - as light and power down from the heavens themselves, crushing everything in their path - scenery, objects, enemies, all of it - in a circle of damnation otherwise known as on orbital strike laser.

This is one of the larger King's Pillars, with a thirty-meter circumference circle of doom.

When it ends, all of the cameras, the equipment, the stage scenery - all of it has either been crushed to a thin centimeter of material or outright vaporized.

For those who were under Wako's barrier, it was like standing in the center of a pillar of light, watching it curve away from the barrier, watching it destroy everything unprotected.

Coco Kiumi has posed:
"That's not going to change anything, Oresky", Coco shakes her head. "Deny it as you want, but my duty is to bring peace, and if you have good in yourself, then I am always going to believe it can be drawn out, no matter", she states again, even if she knows it can't do much more than reassert her intention.

"Your focus is on you now, but it wasn't earlier, when you willingly gave it away, and once we have saved the people here it won't be on you again, willingly or not. You will only be left with an arid heart, no bind nor connection."

The mermaid princess raises her arm up high as the bracelet on her wrist releases a gentle white light as a halo of yellow light descends, unlocking the everpresent current of hope that is Aqua Regina's gift, making her clothes even richer and turning her microphone into a headset that goes to rest gently on her head. The brilliance of the Live Stage shines intensely, joining in on everyone's light.

"Heartbeat ~Perfect Harmony~: Pichi Pichi Voice, Live Start!", she announces her last song, a melody of a speedy heartbeat that breaks out with the power of all, casting a reflection in a mirror that no longer has any clouds, a purifying balm that hurts dark energy and removes fatigue, a hot, perfect harmony.

Phantom has posed:
Oresky flinched as Daybreak's kind words struck him harder than any attack. His usual flamboyant pose faltered, and for a moment, he looked almost... uncertain. His crimson eyes flicked between her hopeful gaze and the Terribad. The mention of boba tea lingered in his mind, though he wouldn't dare admit it.

"Better than I know?" he muttered under his breath, almost too quiet to hear. But when her gaze turned to disappointment: sharp, cutting, and silent, he recoiled as though struck.

"Tch!" he snapped, trying to recover, though his voice wavered. "Don't look at me like that! I don't need your pity! I'm Oresky, the destroyer of love! I-" His voice broke slightly, and he turned away, glaring at the Terribad instead.

"Terribad! Finish them off! Show them the true power of my brilliance!"

The Director Terribad, battered and sparking, roared with distorted defiance as it unleashed a wave of dark energy, the ground trembling beneath the force of its attack. Its damaged projector lens flickered erratically, and its spinning film reels sputtered but continued to churn out shadowy power.

As Daybreak's sun of radiant energy hurtled toward it, the Terribad raised its cracked clapperboard arm in a last-ditch effort to block. The golden sphere collided with the shadowy barrier it projected, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield. The Terribad staggered back under the force, its frame fracturing further as the radiant light pierced through its darkness.

The blow didn't finish the Terribad, but it left it barely standing, its form flickering like a damaged reel of film. It lashed out weakly, sending jagged strips of dark energy whipping through the air, but the attacks lacked their earlier force, desperation evident in its movements.

The Director Terribad screeched as the Tau Galaxy Beam lanced toward it, the cyan energy crackling with overwhelming force. It staggered back, raising its damaged clapperboard arm to intercept the attack. The dark energy surrounding its arm surged as it attempted to deflect the beam, but the relentless force of the attack pierced through, driving into its chest with explosive impact.

The Terribad stumbled, its spinning film reels grinding to a halt and its projector lens flickering wildly. It let out a guttural roar, thrashing its remaining arm as the beam continued to chase it, forcing the monster into retreat. Its once-imposing form now sparked and cracked with each desperate motion, shards of its dark frame breaking off and dissolving into shadow.

In a last-ditch effort, the Terribad slammed its remaining arm into the ground, sending a wave of jagged, shadowy film strips outward in a chaotic pattern, hoping to disrupt the beam's path. But the cracks along its body deepened, and its movements grew sluggish, signaling that the end was near.

Oresky tilts his head upward, his crimson eyes widening as he took in the luminous shield expanding above the heroes. His usual smugness faltered, replaced with genuine confusion and growing unease.

"What is this?!" he mutters, stepping back instinctively as the radiant barrier swelled to encompass the heroes. His gaze darted from the shield to Amy, then to her dark longarm, the jagged weapon a sinister mirror of her resolve. His breath hitched as she spun it with an audible whoosh, the sound carrying an ominous weight.

When Amy braced the massive launcher and fired, the fiery anti-tank rounds hurtling toward the Terribad, Oresky's confidence cracks entirely. He takes another step back, pointing dramatically but without his usual flair.

"No... no, wait! You're all hiding behind that shield?! What's coming from above?! This is my stage!" His voice rose, betraying a note of panic as he craned his neck to search the skies, his cape flaring with the sudden motion. "What are you expecting?! What's going to---"

The Director Terribad roared in defiance as the King's Pillar descended from the heavens, its jagged, shadowy form thrashing against the overwhelming light. The sky-splitting beam engulfed its surroundings, erasing everything outside the protective barrier in an instant.

The Terribad raised its battered clapperboard arm to shield itself, dark energy crackling furiously as it tried to resist the crushing force of the strike. Its projector lens flared one last time, desperately attempting to project an illusion of strength, but the light proved relentless. The beam ripped through its defenses, shattering its arm and slicing through the fragile remains of its film-reel core.

The Terribad collapsed to its knees, its monstrous frame flickering as its dark energy sputtered and began to fade. It let out a low, guttural growl: whether in anger, despair, or stubborn defiance, it was impossible to tell. The last remnants of its projector lens cracked and shattered, the flickering image of its dark creations vanishing into the light.

As the King's Pillar finally subsided, the Terribad's battered, weakened form slumped forward, still sparking and smoldering. Though barely holding together, it stubbornly refused to dissolve completely, as if clinging to its master's will. Its lens flickered weakly, a final, distorted image of Oresky projected onto the ground in silent defiance.

As the King's Pillar tore through the battlefield, Oresky had barely managed to dive toward the edge of Wako's shimmering shield. The protective barrier curved above him, shielding him from utter annihilation, but he wasn't unscathed. He clutched his side, his usually pristine outfit torn and scorched, crimson energy leaking faintly from a deep wound.

His once-proud cape was frayed, trailing along the ground as he staggered to his feet, leaning heavily against the shimmering edge of the barrier. His usual bravado was nowhere to be seen, replaced by gritted teeth and labored breathing. Yet, even in his weakened state, his eyes burned with a mix of frustration and wounded pride.

He looked toward the remains of the Director Terribad, the smoldering, flickering monster still refusing to fully collapse. Oresky's hand trembled as he reached toward it, as though willing it to rise once more, but his strength faltered, and he lowered his arm in defeat.

"So much for... my masterpiece," he muttered bitterly under his breath, his voice lacking its usual flair. He glanced toward Wako and the others huddled under the shield, his crimson eyes narrowing with a mixture of resentment and... something else. Shame, perhaps, though he'd never admit it.

Oresky pressed his back against the barrier, sliding down to a seated position. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, his chest rising and falling unevenly as he tried to mask his vulnerability. "Don't think this means... I've lost," he said weakly, though even he didn't seem convinced by his own words.

Oresky grimaced as he leaned heavily against the barrier, his strength waning. He clutched his side, glaring at the heroes under the luminous shield with as much defiance as he could muster. But his usual bravado was gone, replaced by exhaustion and frustration. He turned his head slightly, just enough to catch sight of Coco as her song filled the battlefield, a pure, resonant melody that made the dark energy within him waver.

The corners of his mouth twisted, his voice breaking as he muttered, "That song... it's so annoying..." Yet, despite his words, he couldn't tear his eyes away from her. The melody tugged at something deep inside him, something buried beneath years of pride and darkness. His crimson eyes flickered, the deep hue softening as the darkness around him began to dissolve.

"No... no!" he rasped, trying to resist. "I am General Oresky! I... I don't need..."

Phantom has posed:
Before he could finish, a sharp ripple of energy shattered the moment. A dark portal tore through the air behind him, and out steps what appears to be a Pretty Cure. She has short purple hair and a bow on her head. Her outfit is primarily black with purple and gold accents, resembling butterfly wings. Her dress flares out with a layered, petal-like design, and she wears thigh-high boots with butterfly emblems. Her presence, however, is cold and commanding, her eyes locked on the battlefield. The remnants of Oresky's Terribad crumbled completely at her arrival purified to the last, and the air seemed to grow heavier.

"Enough," she says, her voice calm but laced with authority. She strode forward with precision, the dark energy radiating off her form like a shield. "Queen Mirage has given her orders. You will not take him."

Oresky blinked, his expression shifting from defiance to disbelief. "Dark Tender?" he breathed, his voice faint. He tried to push himself up, but his strength failed him, and he slumped back against the barrier.

Cure Dark Tender moved swiftly, her hand glowing with dark energy as she reached out to grab Oresky's arm. She pulled him to his feet with ease, her expression unchanging as she glanced briefly at Coco and the others.

"This one still serves the Phantom Empire," she said coldly. "And he's not yours to purify."

Oresky, still stunned by her sudden arrival, managed a weak smirk. "Looks like... you're stuck with me a little longer," he said, though his usual bravado was dulled by his clear exhaustion.

With a sharp gesture, Cure Dark Tender opened another portal, the swirling darkness threatening to engulf them both.

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
They're all under it, and Takuto reaches up to touch the shimmering inside of it, Wako's shield bubble. That's what he's doing when Oresky slides under almost in time, and then he drops his hand, blinking down at the Dark General as King's Pillar continues to rain down on them-- then watching as Coco's song smacks him around some, and as he starts to get purified...

Takuto looks very interested. But then Cure Dark Tender shows up and he squints at her, then leans toward Wako and says under his breath, "Keito."

Amanda Faust has posed:
    Amy watches with mild amusement as Oresky, too, shelters beneath the barried, and his heart doesn't seem to be in it anymore vis-a-vis shouting how great and evil he is anymore. "You know." Amy says, softly. "You don't have to hurt people, even if such stories are your passion. I don't know how you know Daybreak, but it seems like you could find friendship and community outside of the Phantom Empire."

    And then a butterfly(?)-themed Dark Pretty Cure shows up, Oresky is shocked to see her, and she's dragging him away through a portal.

    Amy stares, gobsmacked. "See, this is how you do spectacle! Who the heck is she?! Why is there a dark Pretty Cure, and you apparently know her?!" No longer bitter and biting, she's... honestly, curious but confused? "I totally wanna turn the page and find out..."

    And her tone is now that of friendly advice, rather than trying to cut him down as the redhead calls a last bit of literary critique out to Oresky: "But there'd better be an actual answer! Substance! Not just ooh-here's-the-mystery-character-we'll-never-reveal-what-her-deal-is!"

    After they're gone, she wonders, "Did he say 'Cure Dark Tender'? All I can think of is the car behind a steam engine that holds the coal, or chicken tenders. Does anyone know who that is?"

Mio Morita has posed:
"Hope, return to the heavens." Daybreak states as she finishes off the finisher attack. She looks towards Oresky, the look in her eyes wasn't judgement. It wasn't shame. It wasn't anything like that. It was compassion. She honestly wanted to help him today. Not help him to cause trouble but help him to find a way out of it.

After a long moment, she turns her attention to Cure Dark Tender. "That is not for you to decide. It is for him to choose. You have no say in any of this." She sighs and turns away. "Just another day when dealing with the Phantom Empire." She sighs again and just steps away.

A closer look at her shows she is actually near tears. She starts walking. Not flying. Not Running. Walking. Its the slow, painful walk of a person who feels they have failed. Quietly she walks her way to a chair and takes a seat. "I was so close..."

Sugata Shindo has posed:
When the enemy himself takes shelter under Wako's shield, Sugata is, honestly, a little annoyed. Smug, sure, that the arrogant director had to go running for shelter, but what's the point of overkill if you don't actually kill, huh?

He's about to suggest that Wako consider bubbling the man and trying her beam spam ability when a portal opens, and a Pretty Cure with a dark color scheme and butterfly imagery emerges to retrieve the man.

"Wako can purify anyone she wants," he points out, "Not that I was aiming for that; those two might have been, but my thoughts were in line with what the Americans say: if he dies, he dies."

The those two are Cure Daybreak and Yellow Pearl Voice, indicated with a casual wave of his hand. Sugata doesn't have any proper ill-will towards the man, but if he's willing to stomp about engaging in villainy, surely he's ready to die like a dog for it too.

Phantom has posed:
"It is not my decision. It is Queen Mirage's." Dark Tender responds to Daybreak. She's ignoring the stares at her, instead keeping a solid hold on Oresky to pull him out of the battle. "And her decision is to bring Oresky back to recover."

"As for me? You will see me again soon. The Phantom Empire is done being quiet. But for me? Today is not the day for battle." That is her response to Amy as she hefts Oresky with one hand through the portal and then follows him on the way through.

There's a glance of Kingu. And as she steps through, she nods. "Until we meet again, then."

And with that, they're gone.

Wako Agemaki has posed:
Nothing prevents Oresky from sheltering under the shield with the others as the King's Pillar pours down, engulfing everything in blinding blue-white light. Wako is occupied with maintaining the shield against the hammer-blow of energy, but Amy's words to the general prompt a tilt of her head, as though in agreement.

And then the Dark Cure appears. Takuto and Sugata can see it, if no one else can - the moment she almost reaches out to try to catch Oresky in a shield bubble, to pull him away from Dark Tender.

It's Daybreak's reply that stops her. It is for him to choose. She hesitates, instead, and meets Takuto's eyes before glancing toward Dark Tender again.

Amy's question has her making a really wry face. "--I don't know either," she admits, "but now all I can think of is chicken, too."

As if on cue, her stomach growls.

Wako flushes a little, but she has more important things to pay attention to at the moment than how hungry she is. "Are you okay?" she asks Cure Daybreak. "It seemed like you and that guy knew each other..."

Amanda Faust has posed:
    "First Scorn gets scary, and now 'The Phantom Empire is done being quiet'?" Amy slumps her shoulders. "I'm almost a little bit worried about where this is going. Is this gonna turn out to be another someone's brainwashed sister?"

    She mutters, "How can he be so bad at telling villain stories when he's living in one...?"

    Oh damn, today... hit Cure Daybreak hard, it seems. Enough thought for Oresky, Amy's concern turns to Mio, and shows on her face.

    The redhead approaches the orangette, "Hey, uh... You know him?"

    She takes a seat next to Daybreak, and tries to gently, tenderly (aha!) put her hand on Mio's. "You were my first friend in this life. I know we haven't seen eachother much lately, but if there's anything I can do to help..."

Mio Morita has posed:
Daybreak sighs and turns her attention to Wako. She takes a deep breath. "About as well as a pair of combatants know each other. I've been fighting the Phantom Empire since I became a Pretty Cure." She frowns. "Today, He showed a side I didn't expect. He showed Kindness. I thought that maybe, just maybe he could make a change."

She stands up and just frowns. "I think, its time to change the game. They are going to be attacking more. Cure Dark Tender made that clear today." She sighs. "We've got to start remembering that the Generals are people. They are trapped too. We can save them!"

She turns her attention to Amy and shakes her head. "I didn't know him before I became a Precure. I just saw something today. For a moment, I saw the person behind the general. I wanted to save him. He needs saving just as much as anyone thats been mirrored. Same goes for the other generals. We've gotta look at the big picture.

Amanda Faust has posed:
    Mio wanted to save him. Not because he was her friend, but because she saw kindness. Saw a person. A person who is trapped.

    Amy nods in sympathy. She turns in her chair and leans over with her arms out to offer a hug, if Mio wants. "I don't... know how to save him. But you're right. We should if we can. Thank you, for reminding us of that."

Sugata Shindo has posed:
Save the Dark Generals? Mmmm, that's not really in his skillset. Also, not really something he's interested in.

"Well, while you're saving him, I'll be destroying his monsters," he says blandly, quite possibly destroying this tender moment of good will. In a vain effort to cancel out Wako or Takuto elbowing him, he adds, "Since this lot won't be up to filming anyone soon, we might as well go have some chicken. Karaage, anyone?"

Look, he's being so nice.

Wako Agemaki has posed:
Wako nods slowly, understanding coming over her face. "I get it," she says. "It really seemed like he was concerned about you. Which means... chances are, he's not all that bad?"

And then, of course, Sugata kind of ruins it a little. Immediately she's moving to grab his arm, looking to Takuto, but of course it's too late. At least he didn't declare an intention to kill Oresky. This, perhaps, is progress.

"We probably should get out of here," she agrees. "Besides, I'm hungry."

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
Takuto meets Wako's gaze, then eyes Sugata. They're going to have to sit on him later and remind him of things like 'sometimes real people make bad decisions and don't be one of them' and like 'you can win without killing'...

For now, though, there's an open offer of karaage, so Takuto immediately drops his henshin and punches the air. "Yes okay! Going--" he says, arm through Wako's other arm.

Mio Morita has posed:
Daybreak smiles to Amy. She reaches out and hugs her. "With hope." SHe smiles. "Thats how we are going to save them." She looks at the others and smiles to them. "Thank you. I just didn't think this would be so hard to grasp with. You know? Its like for a brief moment, I could see the man behind the monster." She smiles. "In that moment I felt different. Like the first time I saw someone get Mirrored." She sighs, "I need to get back to my Mundane life. There were a lot of people still there."