Time: -Kyurangers: episode 46-
- Bridge -
"ALL STAR CRASH" The kyurangers launched a massive combined attack towards Don Quervo. After the massive explosion cleared his armored form evaporated and revealed the corvian's original form. Quervo got up and staggered forwards Tsurugi Ohtori the phoenix soldier with a mad look in his eyes "I hate you, unlike the others you pretended to be my friend, but you were just like them in the end" dark flames started to dance around his wounded body.
Seeing those dark flames shocked Tsurugi "everyone stay back!" he yelled "that fire will corrupt anything that touches it!"
"what are those flames?" Shou asked alarmed.
"They are Don Armage's most dangerous power, they amplify the negative feelings of anyone who comes into contact with it, anger can become blinding fury, doubt becomes despair and even the smallest tension between friends can be used to make allies turn on one another and once a person is filled with darkness Don Armage can control them. I thought and perhaps hoped that he lost that ability back when I defeated him, but it seems I was wrong"
"I didn't know back then, when I sacrificed my life to save yours, but Don Armage showed me the truth, so I will take back what I gave you, give me your life Tsurugi!" Quervo yelled as he slowly approached the phoenix soldier.
Tsurugi demorphed "stand back everyone, this is something I must do on my own" he sheathed his sword and reached inside his red jacket.
He pulled out a wooden amulet on a necklace which looked like it had been broken and carefully put back together again several times.
The corvian stopped when he saw the trinket, eye widened in shock.
-flashback- 300 years ago
The 88 heroes were sitting around several campfires resting for their upcoming fight against Armage. They had come from all around the universe and from all walks of life, scientists, warriors, kings and more.
Quervo felt very out of place among them, the corvians had no champion or legendary hero amongst them. He was just a peacekeeper who trained dutifully so that he could protect his people, wanting this madness to end and had ended up winning the tournament their system had set up to pick the most qualified amongst them, but this had been a cause for mockery amongst the heroes and legends that made up the vast majority of the chosen champions who had vastly superior accomplishments under their belt.
Quervo approached them and handed them each a carved wooden necklace with symbols sacred to his people, he told them the marks on them was supposed to bring protection and fortune according to his people, a gesture he hoped would win him some respect.
"What unscientific nonsense" a necklace was thrown into the fire by one of the heroes.
"I need no luck, for I am the strongest warrior in the universe" another necklace joined the first.
"This just proves how weak you are corvian if you need such means" a third necklace join the two first in the fire.
One by one the heroes threw their necklaces into the fire, some with a remark and others without a word.
The corvian turned away not daring to see his amulets being turned to ash, he walked away until he reached a tree not far from the campfire which he went behind.
He collapsed, tears threatening to fall any second. He had hoped his gesture would alleviate tension and perhaps earn him the respect of some of them. But they had thrown his gifts into the fire, an act among his people that was a sign of great disrespect or denouncement. Quervo knew they had little knowledge of his people, but it deeply hurt him nonetheless.
"Hey Tsurugi, aren't you gonna throw that worthless trinket away?" he suddenly heard from the campfire, had the phoenix really kept his, even as all the others had thrown theirs away?
Quervo wondered as he went to sleep if he had actually kept it or had just thrown it away while he wasn't looking. He reckoned that Tsurugi wouldn't have done that, he knew the phoenix to be of great moral character, at the very least he would have handed it back rather than burning it.
-Scene change- after Armages first "death"-
He was dying. Quervo risked everything to give Tsurugi a chance to defeat Don Armage. The phoenix had not disappointed as he had unleashed a massive attack that obliterated the evil sorcerer. As he felt life leave him he only regretted not being able to go back to his family.
He didn't notice a dark flame like wisp hover above him then entering his body, all his wounds healed rapidly, but the intense pain of it caused him to pass out.
What followed was like a living hell. Don Armage appeared as a spectre inside his mind and meticulously started to break his will.
"You actually think any of them cared for you?!" the spectre mocked as he tortured him, easily using the distressing memories of his comrades putting him down and mocking him to push him to the brink of madness, but somehow it wasn't enough.
Armage sensed the corvian resisting him by clinging unto hope in form of the phoenix. He pushed him over the edge by showing him images of Tsurugi burning his necklace as well, calling him a naive fool.
"No, it cant be true." Quervo whimpered as the images bombarded him severing his last desperate hope "Tsurugi....." he whispered "Tsurugi!" he yelled furiously.
Don Armage savored the fury that spilled out of the corvian and turned into black flames that surrounded Quervo. They grew larger and larger until Quervo was completely engulfed.
Suddenly a massive shock-wave extinguished them all and revealed the villain.
"I am reborn!" Armage declared then started laughing maniacally.
-Flashback end-
"Why? Why do you still have that?" Quervo whispered, the flames around him flickered violently. "That worthless amulet, why would you have kept something like that?"
Tsurugi shook his head "it may be true that the amulet itself holds little value, but to me it is priceless for one fact alone" he locked eyes with the frozen corvian "it was given to me by my friend"
Two metallic clangs rang out as Quervo dropped his sai-swords. The rangers looked on tensely as the corvian convulsed and wisps of black flames began zooming around him like agitated bees.
"NOW!" Tsurugi thought. He drew his sword channeling flames through it. He closed his eyes "I know my flame is burning out, but please, grant me that power just one more time" the flames covering the sword turned white. With a wide swing he unleashed a wave of the white flames that washed over Quervo, briefly battling then pushing the black flames away.
Quervo gasped as the black flames were forced away then he fell forwards. Rushing to his friend Tsurugi caught him before he hit the ground.
"Tsurugi" the wounded corvian whimpered "I...I am sorry" the ranger shook his head "it is not your fault, Armage controlled you just like he controlled the people of Getvio".
The incident on Getvio had been the first time the universe had witnessed Armage use his terrifying power at it's full potential. Tsurugi had desperately used his phoenix flames to purify people as they attempted to rip each other apart and yet he managed only to save a tiny portion of the completely affected population, the near extinction of Getvio's populous had been one of the main turning points that forced to the galaxy to unite against the sorcerer.
A laughter drew the rangers attention away from the corvian. They watched as the dark flames condensed, forming a figure like shape which slowly became more detailed, it's red piecing eyes stared at them unwaveringly "Don't think it is over just yet kyurangers, bwahahaha" the black flames surged towards the rangers.
"Shou!" Tsurugi threw Quervo to the commander and blocked the flames with his body "Tsurugi!" the rangers called out.
"ta-take him to safety, P-please!" he struggled to say under the intense pain. The dragon hesitated a moment seeing his comrade in pain then nodded "okyu!". Lucky summoned Caesar as a mount for the commander.
"I will fly ahead" Raptor called and zoomed towards their ship to prep their medbay.
Tsurugi struggled to hold back Armage. He saw his friend disappear on the back of the red lion mecha then the flames engulfed him entirely and Armage emerged in a new form with a red jacket and wings.
"I was aiming for the red one, but this is even better" a massive aura sprung up around Armage "the very power that opposed me for so long, now under my control" he cackled madly.
-With Shou-
Shou rode with Quervo on Caesar towards the Orion, when the lion reached the ship he jumped off with his charge and was met by Raptor with a stretcher. They hurried the wounded corvian into their medbay, he kept slipping in and out of consciousness.
They stood by his bedside as the commander put his hand on Raptor's shoulder "I will leave this to you". She nodded and he turned to leave, he needed to see how the others were faring, but he turned back shocked as he suddenly felt his wrist being gripped by the barely conscious corvian. Quervo leaned off the bed and forced something into Shou's palm with his other hand, he moved as to say something but he succumbed to his injuries and fell unconscious before he could.
Raptor hurriedly began going over Quervo's wounds as Shou a little bewildered opened his hand and saw Quervo had handed him the karasu Kyutama, the very same that Armage had used to put them in an illusion while he was possessing the corvian.
What was it Quervo wanted to tell him? It had to have been important as he had clearly been fighting through immense pain to stay conscious and give the orb to him. He headed to the bridge to check up on the others and found a call to unite Kyutamajin and quickly boarded his voyager alongside Raptor who had done all she could for Quervo and sped towards the battle.
-timeskip- Episode 48 -final battleground-
"argh!" Armage roared in pain as the planetium he had converted the universe inhabitants and absorbed began rebelling and spilling out, flowing out into the universe and reforming all the people on their planets again. Armage reverted to his incomplete form again.
"Give it up, your ambition ends here!" Lucky declared.
Armage responded by laughing "I will praise you for pushing me this far" he slowly got on his feet again "however" a thick dark flame engulfed his body, when it receded Don Armage's armor had turned jet black with intricate patterns of symbols donning the surface "with the power of the flame of corruption I am invincible."
"No way..." Spada whispered "he still won't go down?!" he voiced their collective disbelief.
"You have set me back long enough" a massive aura of black flames flared up around Armage "I will send you into an illusion that cannot be broken, you will suffer a fate worse than a thousand deaths" the rangers barely had time to scream before the flames rose up and flooded over them like a tsunami.
-With Shou-
The commander fearfully looked on as his comrades one by one disappeared in the flood of dark fire. He felt utterly helpless as he too was caught in the jet black tidal wave and found himself in an empty black space. He was utterly alone, snarling he clutched his hands hard. Surprised at something round digging into his palm he opened his hand and saw the karasu Kyutama he had been holding onto all this time. Was this what Quervo had been trying to warn about? If so, then maybe there was a way.
He held up the orb and it floated off his palm with a soft glow around it before speeding off into the darkness like a shooting star. The dragon hoped he had done the right thing.
-With Tsurugi-
After he opened his eyes Tsurugi found himself alone in a blank black space in his unmorphed state and without his weapons. He called out for the others, but all he heard was the echo of his voice bouncing back at him. He took of running in a random direction, but no matter how far he ran his surroundings stayed the same.
Tsurugi kept running till he fell to his knees in exhaustion. He screamed to the heavens in frustration and despair, nothing changed, no matter what he did.
A light caught his eye, it swirled around him then flew unto his right arm. He heard the click of it inserting itself into his sword, it made him realize it had all been yet another illusion. With a steady hand from countless hours of training he drew his invisible swords and activated it.
"Karasu Kyutama - Black Feather illusion" in a quick flash Tsurugi's weapons materialized. A storm of black feathers kicked up around him and out of the storm a figure appeared, he was greatly surprised when the figure got clearer and turned out to be Quervo. Their eyes met and they nodded to each other. Tsurugi could feel without doubt this was the friend he thought he had lost all those years ago. They took up fighting stances back to back as the storm progressively got more intense.
A large crack rung out as a large white scar formed in the darkness and it was soon followed by several more until it started to crumble apart revealing Lucky and the others before collapsing entirely bringing them to the real world again.
Don Armage looked at the group shocked "Impossible, no one can break out of the flames of darkness' illusions"
Tsurugi looked down at his sword holding the karasu Kyutama then to Quervo who briefly turned see-through every so often showing he was a manifestation of the real ones will imprinted unto the Kyutama. "We didn't" he claimed confusing the sorcerer.
"Using this" he raised his sword showing him the Kyutama "Quervo created an illusion on top of your own. Only this illusion is showing us the world as it really is"
Armage yelled in frustration at his former puppet using his own knowledge against him "I will send you into a illusion so deep that you will forget you forget you even exist!"
Seeing the villain gather his dark flames again, Tsurugi pointed his sword at him and the storm of feathers still surrounding the rangers flew at Armage like a barrage of arrows, their unexpectedly powerful impacts sent him to the ground, interrupting his spell. Several of the feathers showed to be deeply embedded in Armage armor as he scrambled to get up again.
He grunted as he pointed at them with his palm, yet nothing happened. He stared at his hand bewildered.
"I sealed the flames of corruption inside you, this time there will be no coming back Armage!" Tsurugi declared as the rangers prepared their final attack.
"INFINISH BLAST" Lucky and the others launched a huge united attack against Don Armage while Tsurugi and Quervo's will launched themselves high into the sky. The sorcerer desperately tried to counter the attack with one of his own, but it proved only mildly effective and he was forced to block the remainder of the attack to minimize the damage.
He snarled and prepared a counterattack but a battlecry from above made him look up just in time to see Quervo and Tsurugi diving towards him. Quervo landed first and slashed him in a x-pattern with his sai-swords then before he could retaliate Tsurugi struck with an overhead swing and both followed up with upwards strikes that threw Don Armage off his feet and flying backwards.
The sorcerer impacted the ground hard which kicked up a sizeable dust cloud. Don Armage was furious, while the rangers stood no chance against this form as he had received little actual damage from their attacks, being constantly smacked around because the darn phoenix and corvian had somehow sealed off most of his power was starting to tick him off something fierce. He was the emperor of the universe, all life was his to snuff out if he so wished, he would not be put low by this ragtag band of rebel mortals who dared to opposed him!
"Perish you lowlife scum!" Armage roared as he unleashed a massive burst of magic against Tsurugi and Quervo hoping to catch the two off guard by attacking from within the obstruction dust cloud. His plan did not pan out however as the pair leapt into the air again just in time to avoid the explosion.
Smirking Armage casually blocked the shots from the main force of the rangers by raising a shield with his left hand while he prepared another attack on the now airborne and therefore less mobile corvian and phoenix.
As the villain focused on the duo with immense power crackling in his hand something unexpected happened, the two suddenly turned to face him and their intent was blatantly clear, they were going to meet his attack head on. "how foolish" Armage thought as he fired a large beam from his hand.
Quervo's body rapidly became darker and darker resembling more and more a Silhouette, then his body burst into a huge cloud of black feathers. Meanwhile Tsurugi wound his sword arm back. His sword lit up in an intense blaze. With a battlecry Tsurugi swung his blade and unleashed a massive torrent of flame towards the incoming beam. The spiraling pillar of flame picked up the feathers Quervo left behind, they swirled chaotically amongst the fire and as the feathers began disappearing in the firestorm it transformed into a huge firebird.
"Impossible" Armage said in a state of shock as the fire manifestation collided with his attack which produced a massive explosion and emerged unscathed, it's white blazing eyes seemed to bore into his very essence as it descended faster and faster towards him. While only momentarily frozen in shock and fear it destroyed any chances for Armage to put up a proper defensive response.
The phoenix plowed through the thin shield Armage had managed to put up and through the villain himself which resulted in a massive explosion before it soared straight up seemingly flying into space shedding a shower of fiery feathers that softly rained from the sky.
The rangers looked at the majestic display in wonder.
"How beautiful" commented Hammie ecstatically
"Is it really over?" Naga wondered cautiously
No sooner had the words left the silver ranger's mouth before several massive dark tentacles sprouted from Armage's remains. The rangers looked on in terror as an eldritch figure began emerging from the ground, all of them felt utterly hopeless as the energy emanating from the creature drained them of their fighting spirit to the point that it forced them out of their transformations.
The creatures six purple voidlike eyes stared at them in rage as they fell to their knees like puppets that had their strings cut, while its multiple limbs whipped around the air.
"No, not yet" Lucky forced himself up "not until the universe is free" he said with gritted teeth
Tsurugi also forced himself up "I am not letting anyone down ever again!" he briefly glanced down at the karasu kyutama still embedded in his sword.
One by one the rangers forced themselves up, preparing to make their desperate last stand.
The monster made its move and shot its many limbs forwards to crush its opposition, but stopped abruptly as a piecing screech filled the air. Everyone directed their eyes up and saw the phoenix dive down straight towards the monster engulfed in a ball of flame. The dark creature struck towards the firebird. The two entities struggled as their powers surged brightly against each other, the phoenix's flaming halo shrunk as it pushed further towards the manifestation of evil. The monster gave off one last soul piercing howl before its limbs buckled and the phoenix collided with it.
The rangers shielded their eyes from the massive bright white explosion that followed.
"Is-is it over?" Champ asked nervously as the light dimmed "please tell me that thing is gone"
They were all on edge as they walked over to the massive crater. When they looked down all they could see was scorched earth, ash and embers.
Waiting a few moments for any possible signs of life, they then relaxed as the last wisps of the creatures malicious aura dissipated and it could not be felt anymore at all.
"WOO!" Spada cheered "it is finally over!" he exhaled dramatically and let himself fall backwards unto the ground exhausted.
The others agreed less enthusiastically than their friend, but no less relieved.
"Hey what is wrong?" Lucky asked Tsurugi as he stumblingly walked to him.
"I need to check on my friend" he said urgently
-On the orion a short while later-
Tsurugi sat outside the medbay with several other of the rangers all wearing varying amounts of bandage.
Tsurugi restlessly tapping his fingers together waiting to know if his friend would make it. He shot up as Raptor opened the door.
There was complete silence in the room until Raptor gave them a ok sign. Tsurugi let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding and took the pink android hands and incessantly thanked her which made her blush intensely.
-On the Orion- victory celebration-
The moderately bandaged Quervo sat a bit away from the main table observing the others in silence as they celebrated their hard fought victory while deep in thought.
"Something on your mind?" Tsurugi brought him a plate of food.
The corvian did not answer him at first.
"Should I really be here?" he asked quietly so that only Tsurugi could hear.
"we would not have made it without your help" The phoenix said with such conviction that his friend could not help but believe him.
They shared a few moments of silence.
"Relieved as I might be for my mission to be finally over, I find little joy in our victory." Quervo's eyes looked dejectedly at the floor "I could not keep my promise to my mate, I did not return to her. She has no doubt passed away years ago. I cannot even return to the home I swore to protect, my world will have changed so much from the one I knew." Tsurugi could do little more than put his hand comfortingly on his friend's shoulder. How he wished he could bend time in that moment.
"Will my family even have me back?" the corvian whispered.
"Of course they will" Quervo looked up and saw Lucky smiling at him "that is what family do."
The rangers gathered around the corvian supportingly as Lucky and Tsurugi helped him move to the main table and as he participated in the celebration the corvian was infected by the high spirits of his new friends and could not help but feel slightly more hopeful for his future.
-On the orion night after celebration-
Balance and Naga carefully snuck up to a door
"is he asleep?" Balance quietly asked
Naga peeked inside and nodded.
"Alright, operation: "help our new feathery friend" is a go" The golden android pulled out a light blue kyutama labeled 154 "Lucky really lucked out when he picked up that signal for the cache of kyutama that Armage had hidden away"
Naga nodded in agreement and pulled out a foggy white kyutama labeled 136 and put it in his seiza blaster "Yūrei kyutama" it announced. He pointed it inside the room where Quervo slept and fired a fine mist that condensed till it resembled an elegant ghostly Corvian female.
She looked longingly at the sleeping Corvian then back at the duo. "Yume kyutama" Balance's blaster announced, he pointed it at the ghost and they nodded at each other in understanding. Balanced pulled the trigger and fired a light blue spiraling ray that hit the Corvian ghost who was immediately absorbed causing the ray to turn white before it continued and hit the sleeping Quervo.
"Quin is it really you?" whispered Quervo in his sleep, a tear slid down his cheek.
Balance and Naga gave each other a small high five as they walked away letting Quervo and his mate have their shared dream together in private.
-On the orion a few days later flying through space-
Balance leaned against a wall hands folded together "I have no idea what you are talking about Tsurugi. I am very happy Quervo has his spark back, but I had no involve-"
"You were right, the kyutama we used a few nights ago is going to take at least a few days to replenish" Naga announced as he walked around the corner while Balance used exaggerated hand gestured signaling him to be quiet.
Naga tilted his head "it this a bad time?"
Balance sighed and deflated "Cat is out the bag I suppose?" he chuckled and scratched the back of his head.
"What made you do such a reckless thing? Using untested kyutama, you had no idea of the danger you put yourself in" Tsurugi asked confused.
"eh, what can I say. I am a sap for happy endings" the golden android shrugged "And I thought after all he had been through he would need some aid finding his"
An uncomfortable silence fell over the hallway as no one knew what to say, but didn't want to leave it at that.
"Guy I did it, I got a place I can build my restaurant!" Spada unknowingly broke the tension as he enthusiastically showing the deed he had bought to Naga and Tsurugi.
"You did? congratulations!" the green ranger Hammie declared as she ran around the corner and threw her arms around the yellow ranger.
"Indeed, you have taken quite the step towards fulfilling your dream" Quervo said as he, Shou and Lucky came over. While the others were distracted congratulating Spada the golden android snuck away.
Fortunately for Balance the phoenix soldier did not bring up the subject again, but he did give him some questioning glances once in a while. He did not mind the animosity from Tsurugi he had lived through far worse before and he knew he had done the right thing.
- 2 years later - Onboard the Orion
Scorpio, Raptor and Kotaro watched as a reporter on a news broadcast informed them of Spada's restaurant receiving a 9-star review only after a year of being open. It also informed them of a reunion that was to take place there.
"Let's go you guy. We don't want to be late eh?" Stinger said with a chuckle as he ran for his ship with his two companions following close behind.
-Spada's restaurant-
Spada was surrounded by his friends who celebrated his achievement of reaching a 9-star universal restaurant review.
Tsurugi was busy gobbling down food "man, you improved your incredible cooking, how much more legendary do you want it to be?"
"You are one to talk, President of the space federation" Naga pointed out
"Eh, what can I say. I think it makes the perfect epilogue to my legend. Heh, to end up were I started" Tsurugi smiled.
As the rangers caught up with what they had been doing Quervo sat down with Tsurugi.
"How has the restoration been going in the Karasu system?"
"It has been going great, in a few years the last of Jack Matter's influence will be gone completely"
"That is good to hear" Tsurugi smiled and took another mouthful food.
"You do still owe me that duel you promised me a year ago" the corvian pointed out.
Tsurugi nodded "We can have it after the reunion is over"
"Hey Quervo, how have you been doing?" Hammie called out drawing the corvian into the reminiscence.
Quervo quickly composed himself after being unexpectedly called out.
"I have been doing well thank you. Currently I am training up a new generation of protectors for our police force and I am also helping restoring corvian culture that was lost under Jack Matter's occupation" he told them.
"Sounds wonderful, how is the family?" Raptor asked
"Doing great. It took a while to connect with my sons again, it was needless to say a little awkward, but I fortunately had the support of their mates to loosen them up to the idea. Also have more grandchildren than I know what to do with." Quervo laughed merrily.
They continued reminiscing for a while till Champ called out "oi, where is Lucky and Garu? They will end up being late"
"Not a chance with that man's luck" Naga assuredly declared.
No sooner than he had finished his sentence a huge crash happened outside the restaurant. They all hurriedly got outside "Better not be a Jack Matter attack" Champ said concerned.
"Talk about lucky!!" Lucky got off the crashed space bike mostly unscathed while the others help Garu out who was a little more worse for wear than the King of Kaien.
Subtly Balance handed Naga a small purse of coins behind their backs "I swear you are getting psychic" Balance whispered a little annoyed at his friend's incredible power of prediction.
With all of them finally gathered they shared their stories while eating the legendary dishes that Spada had prepared for the occasion.
-an open field-
The Rangers watched as Tsurugi and Quervo circles each other looking for gaps in the other's defence. With blinding speed they lunged at each other. Sword clashed against sword, and sword clashed against shield.
"Come on, you need to do bet- Whoa" Tsurugi barely ducked the swing aimed for his head.
Quvero pushed him back further and further.
"You have gotten rusty Tsurugi" the corvian noted as they disengaged.
The phoenix panted "not at all, I have kept up with my training, you have simply gotten much stronger" he acknowledged.
The two dashed at each other and swung their blades as they passed. They stood still for a moment before Tsurugi demorphed and fell to the ground.
"And that is match!" Spada declared.
Quervo offered his hand and helped his friend up. Tsurugi open his hand has he had felt the corvian had used the opportunity to hand him something. It was a golden metal version of his wooden amulet.
The corvian smiled as his friend looked astonished at the intricate amulet "Your old one could not truly symbolize the strength of the bond we have come to share"
Tsurugi smiled gratefully as they made it over to the others.
The corvian to everyone's surprise handed out silver amulets to the rest of them to symbolize his gratitude for them liberating the universe and by extension his home-world from Jack Matter and the bond they had come to share. Everyone then said their farewells as they readied to return to their duties and lives again
"Remember to come visit" Quervo reminded his friend as he and Tsurugi shook hands. The president nodded.
When he had gotten far enough away from the others Tsurugi took out his phoenix kyutama and watched somberly as the last slivers of color and power drained from it. He held up the orb and it shot into the air at incredible speed towards someone new to host it's power.
Tsurugi smiled as the new amulet around his neck glistened in the sunlight "guess this would make for quite the legendary epilogue." he said to himself as he watched the ships of his friends fill the sky.
