Pastel*Rangers

Chapter 52 - Bushido in the Brain

Eve wakes up, not knowing where she is. She takes a look around and doesn't see much else aside from outer space.

"Where am I?" Eve asks, out loud. Upon hearing her voice, the shadow from earlier forms in front of her. It begins to shape itself like Eve and summons Eve's sword.

"Why do you have my sword?" Eve asks.

This sword is not fit for someone who strays from the path of bushido.

"What?" Eve says, shocked. "I... Lost my path?"

Eve's surroundings begin to transform. She finds herself inside the school gym. Eve's Inverse begins changing shape. It grows an extra pair of arms, and a T-shaped horn appears on its head.

"Takako-chan?" Eve says, summoning her wooden sword.

Remember how you felt.

The Inverse summons three more swords and dashes towards Eve. Remembering what happened last time, Eve dodges instead of trying to block or parry. She tries to swing at the beetle's back, but her sword bounces off its thick chitin armor.

"I must get stronger..."

Eve tries to swing again, but is unable to harm the Inverse.

Wrong.

The world around them begins to change again, this time, appearing inside the aquarium. The inverse melts into a puddle of darkness and splits up into two. It divides itself into two again. Then again. Soon enough, Eve is surrounded by small pools of darkness. Each pool turns into a small Negative.

Eve summons her wooden sword and begins attacking the Negatives, defeating them instantly. More appear, but Eve keeps defeating them.

Wrong.

The Negatives reform into one and take the form of Eve. The world around them changes again. The sky becomes a weird shade of pink/purple, and the floor, taking the appearance of the floor from their studio, stretches out into what looks like forever.

"What is this place?"

A giant hat appears between Eve and the Inverse. Eve tries to cut it, but is unable to.

Wrong.

The giant hat disappears and they find themselves back in the space looking place.

You strayed off the path.

"What do you mean?" Eve asks.

Let me show you.

Four Negatives appear behind the Inverse. They begin to change shape, their heads vaguely resembling the hairstyles of everyone else in Pastel*Palettes. The Inverse summons Eve's sword. It lunges forward at Eve. Eve parries, creating an opening. Before she can strike, a thin projectile of darkness flies past her, narrowly avoiding hitting her.

Let me show you the path of the bushido.

The Negative with hair resembling Chisato's hair points towards Eve. Eve finds herself unable to move. The Hina-looking Negative and the Inverse jump up. The last two Negatives fire at them, powering up their weapons, and they both strike downwards at Eve. Eve breaks free at the last second and raises her practice sword. The Inverse's combo attack narrowly misses, but Eve gets knocked back pretty far. Her practice sword flies out of reach.

"I can't lose... My friends need me..."

The four Negatives turn back into their regular shape and surround Eve. The Inverse points the tip of Eve's sword at Eve. The four Negatives melt and surround Eve, completely covering her in darkness.

Meanwhile, back in the gym, Chisato has been using her wand to clear away the dark miasma that radiates from Eve's body.

"I wish there was something more we could do" Aya says.

"Maya, is there anything you remember about your inverse that might be able to help?" Chisato asks.

"Yeah" Maya answers. "By the time I fought mine, Hina had already helped me figure out what was bothering me."

"What does that have to do with this?" Aya asks.

"The fight with my Inverse wasn't a test of strength or anything" Maya answers. "It showed me things like my own self doubt and insecurities, and I had to overcome all of that."

"So Saki-chan had to go through her own insecurities...?" Chisato thinks out loud.

"You were able to hear us back then, right?" Hina asks. "Can't we just cheer on Eve to help her out like we did with you?"

"I don't think so" Maya answers. "I wasn't able to hear anything until near the end, when I was swarmed by Negatives. Also, you all just happened to say the right things that helped me realize I belonged in Pastel*Palettes."

"So we just need to give Eve the right reassurance?" Aya asks.

"But we don't know what caused her to create her Inverse" Maya asks. "Is there anyone who might know?"

"I haven't seen her act any differently" Hina says.

"I think I know" Aya says. "Eve has been training a lot more ever since what happened at the well. She said she felt so helpless, not being able to even land a hit. She also mentioned how Lynn's sword always glows, but ours only glow some times."

"So she feels jealous?" Hina asks.

"I don't think it's that" Chisato answers. "Eve isn't the type of person who gets jealous."

"So what she must be feeling is..." Maya says, contemplatively.

"Frustration!" Hina finishes the thought.

"Eve... Why..." Aya begins to tear up. "When you first got your powers, you said everything would be ok, as long as we were all together..."

"So Wakamiya-senpai strayed off her path, huh?"

Everyone looks up towards the girl who had just walked up from behind the stage in the gymnasium. Aya and Chisato stare in surprise when they realize it was Takako.

"Who are you?" Hina asks.

"I'm Takako, a fellow member of the kendo club" Takako answers. "You're all her bandmates, right?"

"We are, but, how long have you been standing here?" Maya asks.

"Just enough to figure out that Wakamiya-senpai is at least ok" Takako answers, looking towards Eve's body.

"What are you doing here?" Chisato asks with a hint of panic in her voice.

"Wakamiya-senpai has been acting strange during practice" Takako answers. "Sensei noticed too. She sensed something was bothering Wakamiya-senpai the same way I was bothered by my jealousy of her. As for why I'm here now, I was continuing my own practice. I hid behind the stage when I heard you all walk in."

"Oh, is this the girl who transformed into the beetle that you guys fought without us?" Hina asks.

"Hina!" Chisato glares at her.

"Oops. I forgot we're supposed to keep our powers a secret~" Hina says.

"So that wasn't just a dream" Takako says. "I knew something was wrong when all of my jealousy towards Wakamiya-senpai disappeared overnight. I remember dreaming about seeing her in a weird outfit. Shirasagi-san, Maruyama-san, you were there too, wearing the same clothes you're wearing now."

Aya looks around and confirms that they're all wearing their Pastel*Rangers outfits.

"Hold on, so the people who transform remember their everything?" Chisato's eyes widen in a horrible realization.

"Not really" Takako answers. "It's more like... Hazy memories. I just have fuzzy visions of you three, as well as Wakamiya-senpai's comforting words. I didn't even know I transformed into a beetle, but somehow I'm not doubting that."

"Please keep our powers a secret" Chisato says.

"Of course" Takako says. "I owe you three for helping me out, so there's no way I'd do something so terrible." Takako looks at Eve. "Wakamiya-senpai. You helped me when I strayed from my own path. I think it's time I return the favor." Takako goes in for a hug.