Magical❀Girl: Pretty Rose

4: Enter Shine

After school Aoi and I made our way to the garden, where we had planned to meet new member, Kouta for our meeting. 

As we walked in, Kouta ran over to us. "Aoi, Kanna! Look! The flowers...they're...they are dead!" She cried. 

"What!?" I asked in a panic. I looked ahead, Kouta was right all the flowers and plants had withered. Even the Petunia's Kouta and Aoi planted earlier were dying.

"I can't paint dying flowers, it'll look depressing." Kouta added. 

"Kanna..." Aoi said, looking at me. I nodded. I knew what she was thinking. It must've been the dark realm. 

We heard a man laughing from the shade of the trees. 

All three of us turned in that direction and saw a man appraoching. 

"Well well well....look what we have here. A couple of witnesses eh?" 

I didn't regognize this man...but his aura...he was definatly with the Dead Realm. 

"Who are you?" I demanded, Aoi standing beside me. 

"Who am I? Why I'm Aito Hanazama from the Dark Realm." he said with a chuckle. 

"Aoi, Kanna! We've got trouble! Transform!" Mei-chan called, hopping out quickly from the bushes. 
"Mei!" I called, looking at the rabbit. 

Kouta looked confused. "W-what...a talking rabbit? And...this guy...is the cause of the dying flowers? What did you do to the plants?!" Kouta looked really upset. 

Aoi and I looked at Kouta then each other. We needed to transform and protect Kouta from Aito. 

"Life Force Emerald! Awaken our powers!" We called togther. 

Kouta's eyes widened when we both transformed right before her eyes. "H-holy...crap..." 

"At long last we meet, Crystal Warriors. You may have been able to get the best of Felix, but do not underestimate me!" Aito held up his orb, throwing a beam of much more aggressive energy at Aoi and I. 

"Rain look out!" I called, pushing her out of the way. The power went over us and hit the shed, causign some wooden planks to fall off the side. 

I stood up and helped up Aoi, glaring at Aito. He was going to be more of a challenge. 

"Girls work together to take him down!" Mei-chan yelled, staying by Kouta. 

The smaller girl was still confused...what was happening. All she knew was that strange man had caused the flowers she was going to paint to die and that made her really upset. 

"C'mon Rain, we'll combine our powers for a stronger attack." I said. 

Aoi nodded and we put our hands together. 

"Flower Tsunami!"

"Spring Shower!" 

Our powers mixed into a gust of flowery wind and rain.

Aito doged but our combined attack was too fast and hit him in the back as he tried to dodge, pushing him forcefully into the tree behind him. "Gugh..." He huffed as he stood up after impact. "Combining your powers huh? I'll admit that was clever, but never more, you still don't have as much fighting experiance as I do." 

I stood my ground, as Aoi did the same. 

Aito laughed harshly and threw an attack, a quicker one. 

It was coming right for me, but I dodged. Aoi didn't get out of the way in time as she fired up an attack. The beam hit her in the chest. 

"AOI!" I cried, running over to her. That was a hard impact...

"Are you okay?" I asked before glaring at Aito. "How dare you hurt her like that!" 

"Tch...and not too long ago you hurt me!" He spat. 

"Rose! Rain!" Mei-chan called to us, worried. 

"You hurt them..." Kouta said lowly. 

"Kouta-chan?" Mei asked, looking over at the girl, whose orange pupils were glowing filled with an angry passion. "You hurt my friends!" She yelled out. 

Mei was shocked. This girl...was the last warrior! 

"Kouta listen to me! You can use that passion you're feeling and fight! You can fight with Rose and Rain! Take this ring." The rabbit said. 

Kouta calmed down slightly, looking at Mei before taking the ring. "What...do I do with it?" 

"Put it on your finger. Don't worry you'll know exactly how to help."

The smaller girl nodded and put it on her index finger, the power immidiatly corresponding with her soul. She had a sense of determination. 

"Life Force Emerald! Awaken my powers! Ignite my heart!" 

Kouta transformed! A yellow cropped top and a skirt with a short train back. 

"Protecting Life. The Shimmering Sun that nurishes all living things! Crystal Shine!" She called out determinedly. 

"Crystal Shine!" I called with an excited gasp. "Three warriors!" 

"Tch. Great just what I needed another pesty girl." Aito growled. 

"Fine, you want to have a go CRYSTAL SHINE? Be my guest! But I won't hold back!" 

Kouta just glared at the man. "Soleli Serenade!" She yelled, holding both hands out forcefully. 

A blinding array of light emerged from her hands, bring and hot like the flames of the sun. 

"I can't see! Get that out of my face!" Aito powered up his orb but without being able to see he couldn't figure out where to aim his attack. 

"Crystal Rose! Now! While he's blinded!" Kouta said. 

"R-right!." I stood up and took a breath. "Petal Perache!" I shot my attack of vines out and took the orb from Aito's grap, pulling back to my like a lasso. "Aha! Got it!" 

Aito just clenched his jaw "You brat give me that!" He ran towards Rose, only for Shine to tackle him agressivly, bonking him on the head with her fist. "I don't think so pal!" 

I smiled before smashing the orb on the ground, the sphere crashing into a million tiny pieces and fading like ashes. 

"NO! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!" Aito was furious..he had failed just as Felix had. "Gah curse you! I swear I will avenge both Felix and myself for this!" He quickly retreated, having lost his source of power. 

"Crystal Shine! You're so freakin' Awesome!" I cheered happily, hugging her. 

"H-hey! Not a hugger! Get your hands off me." She groaned.

I just smiled and let her go. "Ok ok, whatever you say." 

"Welcome to the team." Aoi smiled softly.

"You're the last warrior. We've finally done it, girls." Mei-chan said. "From here on out we will focus on defeating Jayde and putting an end to this cycle. 

"Look! The flowers!" Kouta said suddenly. The plants had regained their strength and color. "I can paint them now!" 

Mei-chan sighed. "Did you guys hear a single word I said?" 

"Ooo! So pretty!" I said, looking at the plants with Kouta. 

Mei-chan sighed, Aoi chuckled softly. "Don't worry, Mei. I herd you." 

"I do worry though, Aoi. I really do."