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Summer break is finally here. The temperature is high – maybe too high for some people. Everyone is spending their free time outside in the park or in sight of an ice cream shop. The students of the elementary and high school are also spending their summer break here – forming small groups to chat or have a picnic. Everyone trying to be here early to get a shady place.
Honoka and Nagisa arrive at the park around 3pm, not too early to have the high noon sun burning down on them, but also not too late to have the sun disappear on them. Honoka wearing her cute summer dress again and carrying a sun umbrella to shield her from the sun even more, because she gets sunburn quickly. Nagisa wearing a top and shorts and carrying a picnic basket she bought shortly before agreeing to this. They wander around the park to find a little shady place a bit away from other people to get some privacy.
They get lucky and get a spot under a birch tree from a couple that was just leaving. Nagisa puts the basket down and pulls a checkered pink and blue blanket out. Putting it on the grass and stretching it so it lays flat is easier said than done. A soft gust of wind came at just the right time to ruin her work and turns half the blanket over. Of course, she gets annoyed at this intervention from a higher being (or the author) and pouts.
But Honoka is there to help. She straightens the one corner that was flipped over and puts the basket on it. The other corner gets weighed down by her sun umbrella.
“That should do it”, she says satisfied.
“Smart”, Nagisa compliments.
Both sit on the blanket, and finally out of the sun. The blanket isn’t the biggest so both could get to the basket, that holds all the food and cold drinks. Well, as cold as the bottles could stay in like 30-degree weather.
They pulled out all the food Nagisa prepared at home this morning and yesterday. She doesn’t want to admit to Honoka, that she spend the past two days making all the food; cutting some fruit in cute shapes, baking a few different flavored tiny cakes and making different salads with fitting dressing.
She quickly notices, she made way too much food to fit on this blanket. With the bowls of fruit, many different cake slices and muffins, healthy garden salads with like four different dressings, small baguettes with mozzarella and tomato filling, way too much bread with garlic dip, and some mini quiche with spinach or ham filling, there was barely any room for them to sit. They compromise and put some of the drinks and plates on the grass. Just have to keep an eye on them for ants.
Every time Nagisa pull out another bowl or plate with food Honoka gets more amused. She didn’t think Nagisa would prepare so much, when she told her she didn’t need to worry about anything. Now it was her turn to do something nice for her friend, Nagisa thinks.
So, she kind of panicked and overcompensated.
Honoka let out a low chuckle making her blush a bit.
“Sorry, I know it’s a lot”, Nagisa say embarrassed almost getting the urge to put some things back in the basket.
“No, no it’s fine. I just feel bad for making you do so much. I could have helped.”
“No”, she says a bit too forceful, catching Honoka off guard. “I said, I would take care of everything. And it wasn’t that bad. I actually had fun doing it.”
“I’m glad. I would feel so guilty otherwise”, Honoka smiles. “And if you had that much fun... We can bake something together next time?”
She feels her face heating up.
“Yeah, of course. I would love to uh... bake something. Together. With you”, she hopes the nervousness is not too strong in her words.
To ease her nerves – like come on it’s only baking – Nagisa gives her one of the drinks. A strawberry soda she likes so much. She visited four different stores to find this specific kind of soda. It was sold out everywhere else.
Honoka almost squeaked in delight, when she sees the beverage. A barrage of ‘thank you’ came out of her mouth as she takes the – still cold – drink.
She takes her own drink and open it. Just a normal apple juice. Something simple.
And then both just start eating all the nice and delicious food.
Of course, Honoka goes straight for the baguettes and spinach quiche, like Nagisa knew she would. She herself starts light with a bit of fruit and bread with garlic dip. Even though her fingers itch to start with the cakes, she stops herself. That's the dessert, Nagisa tells herself.
When another strong gust of wind rustles the leaves above them, the sun manages to shine directly on them. Honoka takes that moment to close her eyes and look towards the sun. She makes a content hum.
Nagisa would have done the same, if she wasn’t so mesmerized by her. Long dark hair wave with the wind; many loose strands of hair falling in her face. It would annoy her, if her eyes aren’t closed. The sunlight hitting stray hairs, making them glow like a halo. And her face looking content. Her closed eyes with delicate long lashes and her soft pink lips turned to a smile. She is so pretty.
But all that only lasts for a moment.
The leaves sway back into place, hiding the direct sunlight again. Honoka opens her eyes again and blinks a few times before resuming eating the quiche. As if nothing happened.
She notices Nagisa stopped eating and looks at her confused.
“Nothing”, Nagisa quickly says, biting into the piece of lemon.
She hopes the way her face contorts because of the sour taste can hide her embarrassment.
Honoka lets it go – not wanting to pry any information out her friend is not willing to share.
........
They can’t believe they managed to eat most of the food. Only a few lettuce pieces drowning in dressing – none of them would like to touch – the rest of the garlic dip, a few pieces of fruit, and exactly on slice of lemon cake is left over.
With most of the bowls and plates empty, Nagisa stacked them together and put them in the basket. Now they have much more room on the blanket to stretch their legs fully and feel the warm grass on their feet.
“Sometimes you have great ideas”, Honoka breaks the silence.
“Only sometimes? My ideas are great all the time”, Nagisa says smiling and looking over to see her reaction.
She catches her rolling her eyes and trying to suppress a laugh.
“Yeah? Like what? Making our way to school while transformed, so we – you – can sleep longer?”
“Don’t tell me this isn’t a great plan. We can jump over buildings and run so fast, no one can catch us”, she argues, thinking about the amount of sleep she could add.
“You don’t remember the two girls, that impersonated us that one time? This is how we get more of them”, Honoka remembers the two girls wearing cosplay and pretending to be Cure Black and White to a bunch of children.
Nagisa stays silent and thinks through every scenario. This plan could still work, she thinks. She just has to refine it. Maybe doing it in the early morning, so it would be too dark to see them? No, no. The whole idea is, that they can sleep longer. Maybe they could look at a map to figure out the best way-
“Please, stop. I know you’re thinking about this”, Honoka cuts of her friends great plan-making.
Honoka could clearly see the way her face scrunches when she thinks really hard. Her eyebrows furrow and she wrinkles her nose. It’s honestly really cute to look at, Honoka thinks.
Honoka could just squish her cheeks in, like a small animal. She always gets strong cuteness aggression. But nowadays also towards her best friend.
Nagisa looks offended and pouts. But knows she’s right. She always is.
Conversations with her flow so easily. As they should between... friends.
.
.
.
No.
This is stupid. “Friends” Really?
How long would she hold onto this idea. Of course they were friends. They hang out together, have sleepovers, and save the world as Pretty Cure. All friends do that, naturally.
But Nagisa can stop pretending that it hadn’t evolved. That she feels more towards her than just friendship. But that thought scares her. What if she doesn’t think the same? Feel the same way?
She won’t know unless she tries. But would this ruin their friendship?
“You’re overthinking something again”, Honoka pulls her back from her thoughts again. “What is it?”
She stays silent for a moment. Thinking about the best way to approach this situation.
“So, we are friends, right?”
Honoka agrees hesitantly, intrigued where this will go.
“And friends can tell each other everything, right?”
She agrees again.
“So, I can tell you everything. Like... secrets?”
Honoka agrees. Again. Now she is very curious, what she’s on about, but doesn’t pry. She knows she will tell her – if not now then sometime in the future.
“So, do you have a secret?”, Honoka asks after a moment of silence.
“... yeah, you could say that... We have known each other for like a year now. I mean we go to the same school, so, I saw you earlier than that. But. Known known for only a year. And I value you as a friend. A best friend even for all that time. But...”, Nagisa couldn’t stop the words spilling out.
But then she is interrupted by a strong gust of wind out of nowhere. It startles them both.
Only then they look around and see the sun gone; hiding behind the clouds. The whole blue sky is being covered in dark grey clouds. It looks like it's going to rain. But the weather forecast said it would be sunny all week.
Nagisa can see the other people, that were previously occupying the grass area with their picnics and grilling, are packing things away and fleeing en masse. Afraid they would get rained on.
They both stand up to do the same. Well, they try to at least. Another strong wind almost pushed Nagisa over. She stumbles but catches herself after a few steps. Instinctively looking in the direction where the wind came from.
The park is empty. The clouds darken. The wind grows stronger.
“Something’s wrong”, Nagisa says, scanning the area.
“I can’t explain it, but this doesn’t seem like a normal storm”, she continue while crouching down next to the basket, attempting to pull Mepple out.
Both were sleeping in the basket hidden under all the bowls and plates. Probably uncomfortable, but oh well. They will get an ear full, if they hear how they are being treated.
She opens the “phone” and find Mepple still sleeping. Honoka does the same.
“Mepple, wake up! Something’s wrong here!”, she tries to shout over the wind getting stronger.
“Huh? What? -mepo?”, he startles awake clearly disorientated.
But before either of them could answer they hear a faint sound they know all too well. They both turn around to see... a big TV on legs?
It stuns both.
“This looks... unusual”, Honoka says.
Somehow it can hear her from so far away and turns around to face them. The TV displays the weather channel, that has a ‘Extreme Rain and Thunder’ forecast for only Japan. The big antenna on the TV has electricity running through it and creates mini lightning shocks around itself. The top of this antenna is being covered by a black top hat. The long robotic legs make their steps towards them. Somehow this thing is wearing a bow tie.
This was enough staring at this unusual Zakenna.
“No one is here anymore. We can transform”, Nagisa says to Honoka, who is still taken aback by this thing.
And they do just that. Swiping the card, saying the line, and holding hands. It’s always a weird feeling. The only thing she sees is a bright light, but Nagisa doesn’t have to squint, that then turns into colours mixing like in a kaleidoscope. She feels her clothes disappearing and a warmth enclosing her body. The new clothes being dragged across her skin, feeling like satin. A soft wind blowing her short hair upwards. Every time she wishes she could hold Honoka's hand, but she only touches her finger during this. And every time there a tingling feeling – like ants moving across the skin – in Nagisa’s body towards her arm and then disappearing into Honoka.
She hopes it feels this nice for her too.
And it was all over in a moment. They are standing on the grass again, looking at the TV-Man coming closer.
“So, you two are Precure? Not very impressive”, a female voice with no source rings out.
They look around to find that person – temporarily ignoring the TV-Man, who makes its way surprisingly slowly over to them. Then Nagisa spots her sitting on a floating throne in midair.
A woman with her legs crossed and her head resting on the left hand on the armrest. Her clothes are definitely strange. A big dark purple cloak around her shoulders fastened over her chest with a golden brooch with an unknown symbol on it. Her chest covered by a corset and a white blouse. Tight black pants and black heels complete the outfit. A big leather belt around her waist holding a leather sheath for a non-existing sword. The most interesting thing about her was her “hair” and face.
Her face was unnatural pink with white freckle-like spots matching her white eyes with no pupil or iris. Her “hair” - if you can call it that – looks like its from the same material as her skin. It is like a pink flowing mass with the consistency of slime.
She was kinda mesmerizing. Less human than all the other villains before her. Wait. Was she even a villain?
“Hey, Lady! What do you want here?!”, Nagisa shouts towards her.
“What a rude question. I have a name, and you will use it. You will call me Alice, Lord of Ashes. I am here to finally defeat you two. The legendary warriors Pretty Cure. You will fall today”, she says not bothering to get up.
They could barely hear her, because she was speaking at a normal volume.
But their attention has been away from the Zakenna long enough, for it to get close. It uses its big metallic legs to try and stomp on them. She hears Honoka shouting her name and gets pulled away; just moments before it steps on them.
“You okay?”, she asks concerned.
“Yeah. We should finish this thing off quickly. It’s ruining our picnic”, Nagisa says with a voice full of conviction.
“Lead the way!”, Honoka smiles full of determination.
Her friend nods and start running. They run around this thing giving it a wide berth to try and get to the backside. They already know it’s slow, but judging by the big crater it made, while trying to step on them, very strong.
After a few moments they arrive on the other side of it. Nagisa and Honoka both look up to it and what they see stuns them: There is a big power button.
Nagisa glance at her friend, who seems to find this situation hilarious.
“Reminds me of a game I played recently”, she says while giggling.
“Well, this was easier than I thought”, Nagisa shrugs.
They prepare to jump on the TV-Man to get that button pressed, but Lord Alice has a different idea.
“Don’t you dare!”, she screams uncrossing her legs and stretches her free arm towards them.
Some kind of Black Magic shoots out – something they have never seen before. Nagisa stumbles backwards, when it hits just a metre in front of them; creating a hole in the dirt. Just standing at this hole – now filled with a black liquid – makes her shiver. They can feel the cold radiating off it and make a mental note to not get hit by that.
She nods to Honoka, indicating she wants to end the TV-Man quickly before Lord Alice gets in the way. Unfortunately, she is getting in the way. Shooting another piece of Black Magic towards them, making both jump away from it and each other. They realise they’re too far away to use the Marble Screw.
The Zakenna has turned around and is facing the Cures again. It still displays the weather channel, but the forecast has changed: ‘Heavy Rainfall with flood warning. Tsunami warning!’
“But this is not how a tsunami is made”, Honoka complains.
“I don’t think it cares about this!”, Nagisa yells to her friend.
This is bad. They have to do something. Now!
So, Nagisa listens to her instinct and hopes Honoka knows what she has to do. She turns towards Lord Alice, who crossed her legs again. She prepares to jump, but not towards the Zakenna. And then she jumps directly to Lord Alice – catching her off guard. No one would think anyone would do something so risky and stupid. Unfortunately, Nagisa is not anyone.
She is Cure Black.
And she never lets herself get discouraged by a “risky and stupid” maneuver.
But she quickly admits she hasn’t thought this through. Where will Nagisa land? Directly on her. But it’s less “landing” and more “crashing into her at full inhuman speed”.
She lets out an “uff” sound and scrambles to get off of her. Lord Alice grabs both of her hands in hers and looks at her fuming.
“What do you think you are doing, insolent child?”
“Uh... sorry?”, Nagisa really doesn’t know what to say.
That probably wasn’t what she wants to hear. Her hands grab Nagisa’s harder, almost painful. Their faces inches from each other, one with a furious look on it. Nagisa tries to get away – now knowing this was a bad idea. She doesn’t let her.
Nagisa can feel Lord Alice’s hands getting colder and realise what she wants to do. Her eyes widen in horror. Nagisa wants to protest and apologize, but before she can even get any words out, something white appears in her vision.
It was Honoka jumping towards them and landing with one hand stretched out directly on Lord Alice’s face. Nagisa looks at her in awe. She did the exact same thing she did. This startles Lord Alice, who then loosens her hands to get Honoka off her face. But Honoka lands – unlike her friend – with grace on one of the armsrests, puts one arm around her, and drags her off the enemy herself to jump back to the ground.
“You didn’t need to help me. You should’ve dealt with the Zakenna", she says out of breath.
“Oh, don’t worry. I took care of that, too”, Honoka says with a hand wave.
Nagisa looks over to the TV-Man, that is now just lying on the ground – motionless.
“Wow. You’re fast”, she compliments her.
“Oh, it was nothing. I just pressed the big power button.”
Enough talk. They still have one enemy left.
They look up to her. She stood up from her throne and is now floating in midair – cloak swaying heavy in the wind, that has picked up. They can’t explain it, but a dark force is surrounding Lord Alice in this moment. Shadows begin to appear around her, dancing in the wind.
“Now or never”, Nagisa whisper.
She grabs Honoka’s hand and raises her other one to the dark sky. Honoka tightens the grip and also raises her free hand to the sky.
“Black Thunder!”
“White Thunder!”
They can her a deep thunder rumbling through the dark clouds. It sounds different to the thunder that has been happening the whole time – more electrifying. Then two lightning shoot out from the dark clouds and hitting them both. Nagisa feels the same warmth again, she felt during the transformation.
“Our beautiful souls...”
“... shall crush your evil heart!”
“Pretty Cure Marble Screw!”
The big black and white energy blasts appear in front of their stretched out hands. They shoot towards Lord Alice and spiraling together to form one blast.
But she was prepared. Holding both her hands out to create more Black Magic to form a shield against the swirling energy blast. An immovable object being hit by a unmovable force.
“Heh. Is that everything you got? You have to try a little harder to defeat me!”, she says in a normal voice the Cures shouldn’t be able to hear.
The enemy isn’t budging. But they aren’t either. They need to make this energy blast stronger somehow. So, Nagisa takes a moment to remember the past, when the Marble Screw grew stronger, and what they did to make it that way.
It was Hope and Determination, that made it stronger.
... but what if they try something else?
“It’s really fun being Pretty Cure with you, ya know?”, she starts, drawing Honoka’s attention to her.
“Huh? Where did this come from? I don’t think this is the right-”, but she interrupts her.
“I should’ve said something a while ago. But I am a coward, I guess. Transforming and defeating evil guys seems like our calling. And honestly? I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.”
“Nagisa...”
“I know this sounds so cheesy. And maybe it is, but I couldn’t imagine doing this with someone else. This is really important to me. I am so happy, that it’s us that got to be Pretty Cure. And yes, maybe you’re right and this is the worst time to talk about this. It’s just like you said, my ideas aren’t great sometimes. But I do think this IS the best idea I’ve ever had.”
She tightens her grip on Honokas hand and gives her the most genuine smile, she thinks she ever had. Honoka returns a beautiful smile and her eyes water slightly, with the Marble Screw reflected in them.
They both don’t realise that their faces get closer – too lost in the moment. Nagisa always thought Honokas eyes were beautiful. Much prettier than her own, even if Honoka is rebutting that anytime she says it. She refuses to let these negative thoughts get to her.
But in this moment, there are no thoughts. Nagisa lets her body move on its own. But she doesn’t get far, because Honoka takes matters in her own hands.
They finally kiss.
It feels so much better than either of them could have hoped. Nagisa needs just a moment to kiss her back. But when she does: it feels right – like it’s always supposed to be like this. She could kick herself for not doing this sooner. If she knew they felt the same way.
Both have already closed their eyes, when their lips connected, but they can feel something changing. Both hands still stretched out – the parts of the Marble Screw shooting from it. But it feels different?
It is that tingling feeling again, like during the transformation. Their fingertips turning numb and they both feel a shudder ripping through.
The Marble Screw is changing.
Pink streaks appear in the black part and blue streaks in the white part of it. They make their way to the end, where Lord Alice is still easily holding her own magic against it. And when it hits, the Black Magic Shield she was using is starting to dissolve into thin air.
“No, no, no! What are you doing?! Stop this!”, she screams in panic.
But it’s hard to hear anything over the deafening sound of the Marble Screw and the blood rushing through their ears.
“You can’t do this! This isn’t how it’s supposed to end! I am stronger than you!”
As much as she tries to pour more and more magic into the shield to keep it from dissolving further, deep down she knows it’s futile. She underestimated her enemies and is now paying the price.
“This won’t be the last you’ve seen of me! I will come back! Curse you, Pretty Cure!!!”
The last words rip through all the noise, when the shield finally breaks. She is directly hit by the blast, with no time to escape. Her body is swallowed by a bright light, before everything is over.
The Marble Screw gets weaker and separates itself, before completely dissolving. The wind has stopped and the grey clouds turn white again. No rain is pouring from them anymore and they part themself for the bright sunshine to get through. The birds have started singing again. The calm after the storm sets in.
The kiss ends the same way it started, suddenly and without much planning. They both open their eyes again and instinctively smile at each other.
“You’re right. Sometimes your ideas are great.”