MARI UMI KINEKO
The Journey of Mari Umi Kineko
Story by Zoey Baugher. You can find the original PDF on Google Drive.
Chapter 1: Sapphire Ocean
"Sometimes, life gives us a hand we don't want, but in reality, we should accept our strength and the destiny given to us by those above us." a mysterious being told another. "That's a kind of bleak outlook, isn't it?" the other being responded with a sad face. "It is not our place to fight the will of those who put us on this world. Perhaps I shall demonstrate what I mean?" the being told them.
One day, waking up out of a bed, there was a girl with long, blue hair, and ocean blue eyes. She went to get dressed. She looked for pants, hoodies, jeans, anything, but not one was found. Just skirts, dresses, and shirts. "This wardrobe isn't me at all, now is it? Here, we have pink, light blue, bright yellow, light green, white. When did I get these clothes anyways?" the girl asked. "Mari! Hurry and come down here before your food gets cold!" someone shouted towards her room. "Who's that? I feel like I should know her, but it doesn't really ring a bell to me." the girl, Mari told herself. She then got dressed with an annoyed face, and went downstairs. She then ate the breakfast that was made for her, eggs and toast. "Look at you! Finally eating something besides instant ramen and junk now!" the woman told her. Mari then thought to herself, "Is this my mother? She doesn't look like me at all. What is this place?" "Is something wrong?" the woman asked her. At that moment, Mari's memories started rushing back."No, mom, there isn't. I'm going to go now." She then took a bookbag and left.
She opened the door, and as she walked out, she saw a pink haired girl, with pink eyes that shine like a beautiful gem. "Hello my friend! My amazing wonderful Mari! I love love LOVE being around you! Let's go walk to school together! You and me! Best of friends!" she told her excitedly. "You're annoying." Mari responded. She then started walking on her own, but the pink haired girl followed her. "Aw, c'mon! What's got you down this morning, my friend! Is there something I can do to help? Please! I love you Mari! Please let me help you! We're the best of best of best of friends!" she whined to Mari. "I don't even know you." Mari told her with a frustrated look. "You really don't remember me, Airi, your lovely best of friends? We have the rings to show it, see?!" the pink haired girl told her before holding her hand close to her. Mari had a silver ring with a blue heart on it while Airi had a silver ring with a pink heart on it, something showing memories of their past. Airi then leaped on Mari and told her, "See? We match! My lovely friend, Mari! Let's go, my amazing friend! We don't want to be late to spread love love throughout the entire school, do we, do we?!" "Are you out of you-" Mari began to say before Airi grabbed her hand and dashed, carrying Mari with her to the school. "Record time! Airi and her best friend wins again!" Airi exclaimed. Mari then walked forward, and away from Airi. "Why is this happening to me? All I'm trying to do is be nice and happy and spread my love! Mari, wait for me!" Airi shouted before dashing at her.
When she got in class, Mari started to do her work. Airi, however, went up to Mari and started whispering in her ear. She told her. "Hey, my lovely friend! How is your day going? I'm great! ...C'mon, talk to me! I love you, please Mar-" before she got cut off by a green haired girl with emerald eyes. "Please leave miss Umineko alone so she can concentrate. You're annoying her." the green haired girl told Airi. "Miri, you're a livesaver!" Mari told her. Airi then shouted, "Aw man! Mari hates meeee! Whyyyy-" before the teacher shouted to Airi, "Into the hall, now, miss Kirainu!" "Aw man..." Airi cried to herself as she went into the hall.
Later, after the school day had ended, a blonde haired girl with star-like yellow eyes walked up to Mari. "How come you get to wear that to school and never get in trouble, but every time I wear my dress to school, they send me home?!" she asked her. "Airi kind of, got all lovey dovey with my uniform and ripped it, and then proceeded to jump out the window screaming afterwards with it. Ever since then, I don't like hanging around her, and I still can't afford a new uniform, let alone clothes for myself. I sort of envy how you can get all the things you want, Kiri." Mari told her. "Oh, Airi. She's a special one all right. Even after these three years since we first met, she hasn't changed a bit, has she?" Kiri responded, with a feeling of nostalgia in her eyes. "Only now, she's a high school student, and is still more annoying than a kid from elementary school." Mari added. "Care if we walk home together?" Kiri asked her. "That would be great, just make sure to watch for Airi in case she decides to sneak up for us." Mari told her.
Mari and Kiri then went out, but as they walked home, they saw shadow-like figures dashing through the trees. "Are those, REAL ninjas?! That's so cool! I've always wanted to be one!" Mari exclaimed. "Are you sure we weren't just seeing things? I mean, it's not exactly common to see ninjas in this area, especially in the 21st century." Kiri told her. "But, it's what I've always dreamed of being! Ever since I was a young girl, I would watch these anime about ninjas, and I always wanted to be able to be as amazing as them, with their ninjutsu, chakra, and other amazing powers!" Mari told her. "...You do realize that real ninjas aren't like that, right?" Kiri reminded her. "Maybe not, but a girl can dream, can't she?" Mari responded. Kiri then grabbed and held up Mari's hand and held up her own. Her ring was like Mari's, but with a yellow heart. "What about these rings? I mean, we already have powers, don't we?" she asked Mari. "Maybe, but I don't know if we'll ever be as great as him!" Mari told her. "Maybe not. He is an anime character, after all." Kiri responded.
"But, there is soon to be an event. An event that may change the heart of our young heroine. Will she accept her fate, or will she take the path that will only bring her pain?" the mysterious being said, watching Mari and Kiri from places unknown.
As Mari and Kiri continued their walk home, they saw a cat with shiny golden fur with red eyes. "Aw, it's so cute! Come here, kitty kitty!" Kiri told it as she walked towards it, but then, the cat grew massive, until it was larger than the size of a six story building, and the cat gave them an evil grin. "Oh great. Just as I thought I had finally gotten away from this embarrassing garb, I have to do this again. Let's just get this over with." Mari thought to herself. Kiri and Mari then held down on their rings. "Magical Love Scream!" they shouted. Mari was then doused in waves that washed away her original clothing, replacing them with a highly frilly blue dress with white accents, and a pair of blue cat ears on her head, and her hair turned bright blue. Similarly, Kiri's clothes turned into glitter as she began to shine, with a yellow and orange frilly dress replacing her outfit, with fox ears appearing on her head, and her hair turning a shining yellow. "Bringing happiness and hope, I am Golden Sparkle!" Kiri shouted. "Bringing blah blah blah, Sapphire Ocean... Yeah, whatever. Let's get this over with." Blue aura then appeared in Mari's hands, and she said in a monotone voice, "Peace Wave." A huge wave then appeared from Mari's hands and headed towards the cat, but the cat then locked eyes with Mari, and as it's red eyes shone into hers, Mari collapsed onto the ground.
The place Mari appeared in was red and black, and the only thing not those colors was Mari herself. "What is this place, and why does it look some much like the one anime I watched?" she asked herself. Before she knew it, black pillars were raining from the sky, impaling her. Her dress then turned into ribbons, and her hair turned to normal. She then woke up again, this time, in the nude, without her ring. "So, it really is like that, is it?" Mari stated. Black pillars then rained down on Mari, and impaled her again. She then woke up again, and again, getting impaled each time, until eventually, she began to dodge them. Much to her dismay though, it only continued until the inevitable conclusion of her getting pierced by one of the pillars. It continued, and continued. Seemingly hours would pass, which turned into days, which turned into weeks. "Give in, Mari Umineko." a voice then told her. "...Never!" Mari shouted. She was then brought down by the pillars again. Over time, Mari concentrated energy into her hands, and eventually, she visualized something with her mind. She then breathed a bright yellow flame onto the pillars, and ended up burning them to ash. The pillars continued, and eventually, Mari ran out of firepower and was ended again. She then continued, and before long, she lasted longer and longer, and before she knew it, she felt someone slap her. "Mari! My lovely friend! Wake up, please!" they told her. She was then freed at long last.
"Impressive. I didn't think she'd manage to pull something like that off. I wonder what sort of feats she'll pull off as time goes on. I guess all we can do is watch and see." one of the mysterious beings said.
Mari then woke up, and before her was a girl with bright pink hair, a frilly pink dress with white accents, and dog ears on her head. It was Airi. "Ai-, I mean, Pink Strawberry. For once, you actually helped." Mari told her. "I always help! That's what being part of the Strawberry Five is about, my lovely, amazing friend! I love you so much Mari! My lovely friend!" Airi responded. Mari then got up, and saw the giant yellow cat was on a rampage. While it felt like she was in that state for weeks, it had really only been minutes to everyone else. Mari then ran toward the cat at high speed, distributing her energy with her hands, and said, "Flame Breath Jutsu!" before breathing fire at the cat, engulfing it in flames, and eventually, the cat shrunk back down to normal size. "No transformation needed." Mari told herself. The cat then walked away, looking at Mari as it went. Mari then took off her ring. "I won't be needing this anymore. Still, I'll keep it to prevent others from getting their filthy hands on it." Mari stated as she put the ring in her bag. She then jumped down. Before long, Airi had caught up with Mari. "My wonderful friend friend! We did it! We took down that monster! I love love you sooooooo much! My friend!" Airi shouted in joy. She then looked at Mari's hands. "...Your ring? Where's your ring?" Airi asked her with a confused look. "I don't need it anymore." Mari told her. "But what about the competition we have against the top five ninjas in the country next week?" Airi asked her, starting to sound sad. "The what?!" Mari asked in shock.
Chapter 2: Mari Umineko's New Path
"You remember, don't you, friend? The top five masters in ninjutsu plan on challenging us to see who are the better fighters, and without you, we wouldn't be the Strawberry Five anymore. Without you, we'd be incomplete." Airi told her with a sad face. "The Strawberry Five were a group of middle schoolers who fought monsters and wore cute dresses while doing so. We're high schoolers now, Airi, and I've found my own path. Farewell, miss Kirainu." Mari then jumped away, dashing like a bright colored shadow on the rooftops. "Mari... Why is this happening...? We've been together for longer than I can remember. I just wanted to always be by your side. You're more than just a friend to me. You're my lovely, amazing, wonderful best friend. No, that's not right. To me, you're even more than that, so ...why? Mari, I just want to be with you..." Airi said into the sky, as tears began to roll down her face. "I love you..." Airi cried, but no one was there to hear her, except for the small, yellow cat.
"So, she has decided to go on her own path after all. This could get interesting." a mysterious being told the other.
On the way home, Mari saw a girl with pale skin, short brown hair and green eyes, wearing a red hoodie and black sweatpants who was being cornered by a group of thugs. "Hey, girlie! How about you let us feel these?" one of the men said as he tried to go for her breasts. "Fat chance, pervert!" the girl shouted. She then pulled out a bunch of flamethrowers, and using her energy, set all the thugs on fire, and when they fell over, she walked on them like they were nothing but trash. She then looked up and saw Mari. "Is that...?!" she exclaimed before Mari dashed off. "Wait, I have questions, miss ninja! I want to know more about you!" she exclaimed as she ran for her. Mari then arrived home and entered her house. "I'm back. Sorry that I forgot who you were this morning. I've just been having weird dreams." Mari told her mom. Her mom had black hair and brown eyes, and did not even resemble Mari in the slightest. As she waited for dinner, she looked out the window and saw the brown haired girl looking in.
"What are you doing here?!" Mari whispered to her. "Please teach me your ways, great ninja!" the woman requested her. "I'm not really a ninja, but I'm happy someone thinks I am. Please call me Mari though." Mari then told her. "Then, please teach me your ways, great Mari!" the woman requested, fixing her sentence. "OK. Lesson one, don't be watching people through their windows." Mari told her, before closing the curtains. After she ate, she then went upstairs. She turned the light on, and there was the girl again. "What are you doing in here?!" Mari asked her. "My name is Yeoz! I have come from across the ocean to learn the ways of your kind, great Mari!" the girl told her. "Do you have a passport?" Mari asked her. "Those actually exist? I've never needed them to cross to other states!" Yeoz responded. Mari then sighed and told her, "Well, I'm going to have to tell the police to have you sent back to the country where you belong." Mari told her. "Please don't! I swam all the way here just to meet your kind!" Yeoz begged. Mari then concentrated her energy. "Lightning Strike Jutsu." Mari said as she zapped Yeoz out the window, resulting in her falling to the ground. "Ow." Yeoz said to herself at the bottom. Mari then closed the curtains and laid down. "I think her and Airi would get along great. They're both so annoying that I want to puke. I wonder how this week is going to go beyond that though." Mari wondered.
Meanwhile, at another house, there was banging on a window. "...What's that?" a certain pink haired girl, Airi asked. She looked and saw a shadow outside her window. She then opened it and saw Yeoz. "Please teach me your ways, great ninja!" Yeoz begged her. "Are you a friend?" Airi asked. "I'm Yeoz!" she responded. "I'm not a ninja, but maybe we can help each other! I'm Airi Kirainu! Nice to meet you!" Airi told her. "Great Kirainu!" Yeoz exclaimed. "You can just call me Airi, and you don't need 'great'!" Airi told her. "Airi!" Yeoz responded happily.
The next morning, Mari went to school, and something was different. A familiar face, Yeoz walked into the classroom and stood in front of the class. The teacher then told them, in excitement, "Today, we have a new transfer student! Everyone, meet Yeoz Baugher!" "What?! That's impossible! She's a foreigner without any documentation!" Mari thought to herself. Yeoz then walked past Mari, and flashed the documentation briefly. It was all forged, but very well done, and even said that her mother lives and was born in the city they were in, and it was the name of Airi's very own mother, Miyuki Kirainu. "Great Airi is letting me stay with her!" Yeoz whispered to her. "You..." Mari then thought to herself. Yeoz then took the seat right behind Airi. After school, Miri began walking with Mari. "Did something happen between you and miss Kirainu?" Miri asked her. "I just realized my true path, that's all." Mari responded. "I hear that you, miss Kirainu, and miss Raitsune got into a fight with a giant cat yesterday. I'm sorry I couldn't be there. I was a bit busy then." Miri told her. The yellow cat then walked towards them, and faced in a direction, almost as if it was telling them to go that way. "I wonder what's going on here. Maybe we should check it out, miss Umineko." Miri told her.
They then followed the yellow cat, and after a while, they ended up at a large building. The building had a giant sign that stated, "THIS WEEK: The Strawberry Five Vs. The Five Best Ninjas!" The yellow cat then faced towards a sign that shows the competitors, saying "Pink Strawberry, Golden Sparkle, Emerald Breeze, Ruby Flame, and Yeoz Baugher Vs. Ramen, Miyasuki, and Kineko" "Please tell me someone didn't name their kid 'Ramen'!" Mari exclaimed. Miri then explained to her, "That name is only a nickname. No one knows the true identity of the ninja known as Ramen. Unlike other ninjas who wear blue or black, Ramen wears a golden garb and a black headband. There is argument about whether he should even be considered a ninja, but his abilities are so great and terrifying, no one even knows if he's actually human. As such, Ramen was selected as the ninja's trump card, or so I hear." "What about the other ninjas?!" Mari asked. "They dropped out." a voice told them. "Where did that voice come from?" Miri asked. "Down here." the voice told them. They then looked down at the yellow cat. "Nice to meet you. My name is Kineko, the Cat Ninja." the cat told them.
"A talking cat! It's just like out of an anime or something!" Mari exclaimed. "Well, it's not exclusive to anime, but I'm getting sidetracked. Mari, after observing your power in the previous battle I had with you, how would you like to compete in place of one of the two ninjas that dropped out? I mean, it's only fair after you ditched the Strawberry Five. It would be the perfect opportunity to get back at Kirainu and Yeoz, wouldn't it?" Kineko asked Mari. "That's not even a question! I've always dreamed of fighting alongside shinobi! Count me in!" Mari responded in joy. "But that would mean..." Miri began to say, but didn't finish. "Yes. That would mean that the two of you would be competing against each other. It would be a fair four on four." Kineko told Miri. "How do you know about me, and why did you say four on four? What about miss Baugher?" Miri asked. "I've been watching you since around the time you got those rings, so I know what to expect. I believe that Airi and Kiri got to know a bit about me as well. It's only fair, after all. Also, I know that Yeoz has no special abilities or training as far as I know, so I don't really count her." Kineko explained to them. "Don't worry! It's only a competition Miri!" Mari then added. "That's true." Miri responded. "Be prepared for three days from now Mari, and no matter what, don't use the Sapphire Ring that's inside your bag." Kineko then told Mari. "I won't need it." she responded. "Good. Make sure you remember what was said here today. Until the competition, farewell." Kineko told them before jumping away like a yellow blur. "Are we still friends, miss Umineko?" Miri asked her. "Of course. Nothing can change that. Not Airi, not Kineko, and most certainly not this competition." Mari reassured her.
Before they knew it, three days had passed. The nine competitors entered into the building. On the side of the Strawberry Five, was Airi, Kiri, Miri, Yeoz, and a red haired girl with flaming orange eyes and wolf ears. Airi, known as Pink Strawberry, with the power of light, she takes down evil wherever she goes. Kiri, known as Golden Sparkle, fights with the power of electricity, and zaps her enemies until their completely numb. Miri, known as Emerald Breeze, fights with the power of wind, and blows her enemies away and heals the wounds of her allies. The red haired girl with wolf ears who is a year younger than the other members, Ari, known as Ruby Flame, fights with the power of fire, burning her enemies with her hot flames. And then there's Yeoz, an ordinary but clever American girl who's lucky she hasn't been deported yet, at least, that's what anyone besides Mari would think. In reality, the part about her being ordinary isn't true at all. She has some hidden telekinetic abilities, but only Mari and an group of burned up thugs have ever gotten to see them. On the side of the ninjas, was Ramen, Miyasuki, Kineko, and Mari. The legendary Ramen is a ninja filled with mystery with incredible power so great, that some people question whether he's real, or just an urban legend. Miyasuki is a ninja talented in speed and usage of his arsenal, and, while not being as incredible as the others in terms of special abilities, he makes up for it with his skill, and is the most true ninja out of all of the team. Kineko is a talking cat who happens to also be a ninja, that has the amazing agility beyond that of an ordinary cat, and the ability to create illusions using his eyes, usually to intimidate or tear down the enemies' defenses and sanity so he can take them out without them being able to protect themselves, making him one of the most deadly ninjas alive. Finally, there's Mari, formerly known as Sapphire Ocean, now aiming to be the best ninja, she has already learned the ability to use her aura to use fire and lightning "jutsus", as she calls them.
Chapter 3: Ninjas Vs. Magical Girls
"Hello, Strawberry Five, as well as the greatest ninjas the world has ever known. ...Oh, and welcome as well, Umineko and Yeoz." a man said at the entrance. "Dumped in the same boat as Yeoz..." Mari said with a groan. "I mean, you're not exactly a master ninja, now are you?" Yeoz asked, taunting Mari. "And you're not exactly a magical girl yourself." Mari fired back at her. "Save that talk for the competition, will you?" Kineko told the two. "Now, will the two teams enter the designated rooms?" the man told the competitors. They followed the signs, Mari entering with the three ninjas that she is on a team with. Mari put on a ninja headband for the very first time, as well as the modern black ninja garb that was waiting for her. In there, she saw a tall blonde haired man with a yellow suit and a headband, as well as a man that was completely covered in traditional blue ninja garb. "So, that's Ramen and Miyasuki. Ramen looks almost like the main character of the show I watched when I was little. The one that made me want to become one of the greatest ninjas. ...And for that dream, it all starts here!" Mari thought to herself as Kineko was looking at her. "That girl. I don't think I've ever seen someone so determined to become a ninja in a very long time. I guess being alive for as long as I have has its perks." Kineko told himself.
Before long, the two teams walked into the arena, and before them was a maze. "What is this?" Mari asked the others. "That's called an advantage for us, you know!" Ramen told them. "Exactly. We shouldn't underestimate our opponents though. With the exception of Yeoz, they're not exactly ordinary people. You know this better than even I do, Mari." Kineko told them. They then heard a voice on the speaker. "Here's your first challenge! Throughout this maze, you will find water buckets! With these water buckets, you must dump water on an opponent to eliminate them from this round! Once one of the teams is eliminated or time runs out, the round will end, and the last team standing or the team with the most opponents eliminated will be the winners! You will have thirty minutes! Now, let round one commence!" the announcer shouted on the speaker.
The four ninjas split up and went on different paths through the mazes. Within a minute, the announcer exclaimed, "Yeoz Baugher has been eliminated by Ramen!" "That isn't much of a surprise, honestly." Mari told herself. She then found a bucket. "Perfect!" She then ran around the maze, careful not to spill the bucket. "Miyasuki has been eliminated by Golden Sparkle!" the announcer shouted. Mari then found Miri, who had bright green hair, a green frilly dress with white accents, and mouse ears. "I'm sorry, Miri." Mari then dunked the bucket on Miri from behind a wall. "Emerald Breeze has been eliminated by Mari Umineko!" Emerald Breeze was then pulled up by a crane. She continued to look for a bucket, and heard the announcer say, "Ramen has been eliminated by Pink Strawberry!" "What?!" Mari exclaimed in a whisper. Soon, she found another bucket, and she continued to walk. "Kineko has been eliminated by Pink Strawberry!" she heard not long after. "So, now it's just me. That's great." Mari then said. She saw the red dressed, red haired Ari, who had a bucket as well, who was about to toss it, but Mari, using her agility, tossed her bucket on Ruby Flame first. "Ruby Flame has been eliminated by Mari Umineko!" the announcer exclaimed. Mari then took Ari's bucket and went on. She then found a bucket at the same time as Kiri, but took it before Kiri could, and splashed it on her. "Golden Sparkle has been eliminated by Mari Umineko! Only Pink Strawberry and Mari Umineko remain!" the announcer shouted. Mari soon found another bucket, and not long after, found Pink Strawberry with a bucket. "Airi." Mari thought to herself, as Airi thought, "Mari." Then, at the exact same moment as each other, they tossed their buckets at each other, and they both got drenched. "Pink Strawberry and Mari Umineko have eliminated each other! Both teams have been eliminated! This round is a tie!" the announcer exclaimed.
Afterwards, the teams went back into their rooms. Ramen pulled out a cup of instant ramen, a bottle of water, and a metal cup from his bag. Ramen poured the water into the metal cup, and with his own hands, he made the water boil. He then poured the boiling water into the ramen cup and held it closed for three minutes. Afterwards, he gave the cup of ramen to Mari with a pair of chopsticks. "Ramen!" he told her. "Thank you." Mari responded. "No need to thank me! You did really well out there, you know!" Ramen told Mari. "It's nice to see that Ramen's still his usual self." Kineko thought to himself. As they waited, Mari ate the cup of ramen. "It's funny, you know, for the greatest ninja to be named after his favorite food. He's known as Ramen because during his first public appearance, he made instant ramen for everyone using his powers, and said the phrase 'Ramen!' to them as they all ate it. Ever since, everyone has refered to him as Ramen, as there really is no other name known of him, not even among other ninjas." Kineko then thought.
Meanwhile, in the other room, Airi was complaining to her other teammates, "I can't believe we looked like fools out there! This is sad! My friends, have we really lost this much of our skill?" "We did manage to eliminate the other team though, miss Kirainu." Miri reminded her. Yeoz then directed heat towards her other team members, drying those who were still wet off. "Yeoz? How did you... do that?" Airi asked her. "It's my secret!" she responded. Meanwhile, back in the ninja's room. Mari told something to her other teammates. "I don't think it's wise to underestimate Yeoz." she told them. "Is there something about her that we don't know yet?" Kineko asked her. "It's just that, Yeoz was able to hold up multiple flamethrowers in midair without using her body to hold them." Mari told them. "That's quite an unusual ability. We'll have to look out for that one." Kineko responded.
Afterwards, the two teams walked outside, and saw a track. "A race! I like this!" Mari told her team. "I don't know whether this is an advantage or a disadvantage for us." Kineko then told the others. They then got on the track. "Three, two, one, and, go!" the announcer shouted. The nine competitors then began running, and already, Yeoz was dead last. As they ran, Pink Strawberry and Ramen were in the lead. "Of course Airi would be in the lead. I can't let my team down!" Mari told herself. She then faced backwards, and breathed fire towards the ground at an angle that would propel her forward. Eventually, Pink Strawberry would get ahead of Ramen, but so would Mari. Eventually, Mari and Pink Strawberry were really close to each other. "I won't let you win, Mari!" Pink Strawberry shouted to her. "Same to you, Airi!" Mari shouted back. Before long, Airi started running much faster, and in what seemed like an instant, the announcer was shouting, "Pink Strawberry has crossed the finish line in first place!" "I see I have quite a way ahead of me to catch up to her, but I'll do it! I'll beat Airi one of these days!" Mari shouted as she blasted full speed ahead. In a few seconds, the announcer exclaimed, "Mari Umineko has crossed the finish line in second place!" Not long afterwards, the announcer would be shouting, "Ramen has crossed the finish line and is in third place!" and soon after, "Crossing the finish line in fourth place is Golden Sparkle!" When the race had ended, Kineko was in fifth place, Emerald Breeze was in sixth, Ruby Flame was in seventh, Miyasuki was in eighth, and far behind Miyasuki was Yeoz in last. "This was a close one, but the winners of this round are Team Strawberry Five with 24 points, beating Team Ninja by just one point! And no, Yeoz was not one of those points!" the announcer exclaimed. They saw the points. On Team Strawberry Five, Airi had 13 points, Kiri had 6 points, Miri had 3 points, Ari had 2 points, and Yeoz had 0 Points, while on Team Ninja, Mari had 10 points, Ramen had 8 points, Kineko had 4 points, and Miyasuki had 1 point.
When they went back into their rooms, Kineko told the team, "I sort of expected this to happen with Pink Strawberry's incredible speed, but the fact that she beat Ramen so easily is still quite the surprise. Though, it's even more surprising that Mari got ahead of Ramen as well. Still, in order for us to win this, we have to win the next round, and then win in tie breaking event." Ramen then told the team, "I believe that whatever comes next, we'll be able to handle it, you know!" "I wonder what the next event is going to be?" Mari wondered to herself. They then took their break, preparing for the next round, while in the other room, Kiri asked a glum looking Airi, "You seem upset, Airi! Are you worried about the next round?" "Not really, friend. It's just..." Airi started to say but got too sad to complete her sentence. "It's Mari, isn't it?" Kiri asked her. Airi then put her head in Kiri's arms and began crying. "Why...? Why does Mari... hate me?" she asked with tears flowing out of her eyes. "It's ok, Airi. We're here for you." Airi then continued crying.
By the time the break was over, the two teams had walked out, but one of the members in Strawberry Five's team was missing. "Here's our teams... Hey, where's Pink Strawberry?!" the announcer asked in shocked. Someone then went up to the announcer and told him something. "Oh! I have just recieved word that Pink Strawberry will be sitting this round out!" the announcer then exclaimed. After a brief pause, the announcer then continued, "With this change in mind, we have reorganized the competitors that will be in this round! The final round will be a battle! The first battle will be Golden Sparkle Vs. Ramen! Next, the second battle will be Yeoz Baugher Vs. Miyasuki! And finally, if the two teams tie, the final battle will be Ruby Flame Vs. Mari Umineko! Will Golden Sparkle and Ramen now get into the arena?" Kiri and Ramen then walked up onto the giant arena, and the annoucer told everyone, "If you fall out of the ring or are knocked out, you lose! Magic, ninjutsu, and weapons are allowed! Now, let the first battle commence!"
Ramen then began running around the arena so fast that it looked like there were copies of himself to almost everyone else, with the exception of Mari, Kineko, and the members of the Strawberry Five team, including Kiri and excluding Yeoz. Despite Ramen's attempt to fool Kiri, she managed to land a hit on him. "Not bad! Now it's time that I get serious!" Ramen told her. Ramen then created copies of himself using the air around him. They didn't look like him, but they hit Kiri with force, cutting her skin. Kiri then tried to get them off by shouting, "Hope Lightning!", and managed to get rid of the clones, but not Ramen himself. They then began trading blows, but Mari noticed what was really going on. "Kiri put a lot of power into that attack. Right now, she's at a disadvantage." Mari thought to herself. Soon enough, Ramen fired a wave of heat at her, and with the force of his attack, caused Kiri's outfit to flash and turn her appearance back to normal. "He just undid her transformation!" Mari exclaimed. With one more swift and final blow from Ramen, Kiri was sent flying out of the ring, to land hard outside of the ring. "KIRI!" Mari shouted after it sounded like she hit the ground. She then looked, and Kiri was being held up in the air by an invisible force, and was gently let down. "Don't worry, miss Umineko. She's still alive, just unconscious. I cushioned miss Raitsune's fall." Miri told her. "A ninja having a soft spot for her enemy. I wonder if Mari's really fit for the job?" Kineko asked himself. Then, the announcer shouted, "Golden Sparkle has been knocked out! Ramen of Team Ninja is the winner!"
Afterwards, Ramen went to the sidelines and Kiri was carried to the room of team Strawberry Five. The announcer then asked, "Now, will miss Baugher and Miyasuki get into the arena?" the two walked up into the arena. "Now, let the battle between Yeoz Baugher and the ninja Miyasuki commence!" the announcer declared. Miyasuki then started running at Yeoz with a blade at incredible speed, but an invisible force then came from Yeoz and pushed Miyasuki back. Miyasuki then ran and threw shurikens at her, but Yeoz stopped them in midair, and then sent them flying back at Miyasuki with an invisible push, cutting his skin up, but not causing serious damage. Yeoz then floated up in the air and began standing on the air as if it were solid ground. "Wait, Yeoz is levitating and deflected Miyasuki's attacks! Could it be that Yeoz was holding back this entire time?!" the announcer then shouted. Yeoz then pulled out what appeared to be one hundred guns and held them all in the air at once, and all the guns fired at Miyasuki at once, but instead of bullets, it was lightning that came out of these guns. Afterwards, Miyasuki had been rendered unconscious. "This seems inconcievable even to me, but Miyasuki has been knocked out, making Yeoz Baugher of Team Strawberry Five the winner! As such, the third battle will be happening!" the announcer exclaimed. "That Yeoz is one tough girl. She might as well be a real member of the Strawberry Five." Kineko told Mari. Yeoz then walked to the sidelines, and Ramen carried Miyasuki to the ninja team's room.
"Now, will Ruby Flame and Mari Umineko walk into the arena?" the announcer asked. "It's your turn." Kineko told Mari. "Yes it is." Mari responded. She then walked into the arena. "It's been a long time, Ari!" Mari told her opponent. "You are to call me Ruby Flame." Ari then responded. "Let the battle begin!" the announcer then shouted. Mari and Ari started dashing at each other. Mari shouted "Flame Breath Jutsu!" as Ari shouted "Passion Flame!" The two's attack then met, and they pushed against each other until they cancelled each other out. They then continued running at each other and began to exchange flaming punches. "You know you can't win without your ring, Sapphire Ocean!" Ari shouted. "First off, I don't need my ring to beat you, and second off, don't call me that name! I am Mari, just as I always have been! Sapphire Ocean no longer exists!" Mari responded in anger before she landed a final punch, knocking Ari down and undoing her transformation. Ari's hair was a dark red afterwards, and she still weakly continued punching Mari, but the punches were no longer having any effect. "I won't give up, Sapphire Ocean! I won't...!" Ari told her as she kept punching. Mari then pushed Ari out of the arena. "I'm sorry, Ari, but this is who I am now. I am Mari, the shinobi." Mari finished. "You realize you're not even a real ninja yet, right?" Kineko thought out loud. "Ruby Flame has fallen outside of the ring! The winner is Mari Umineko, giving this round to Team Ninja! After this, we will have a tie breaking round to determine who the winner is!" the announcer declared.
After a very short break, the announcer then got some information. He then announced, "It turns out that the last round will be a battle between Kineko and none other than Pink Strawberry!" "...We're in trouble now." Kineko then stated. "Will Kineko now enter the ring?" the announcer asked. "Wish me luck, team. I'm going to need it." Kineko told them as he walked up to the ring. Not long afterwards, Airi walked out of the room, and onto the field, and then into the arena. Finally, the announcer shouted, "Let the final battle begin!" Kineko then used his eyes to make it appear to Airi that he has copies surrounding her from all directions, while she wasn't able to see the real Kineko. She tried to attack them, but nothing happened when she attacked them. Soon after, Kineko made eye contact with Airi, locking her in a trance. In the red and black space, Kineko fired a seemingly endless barrage of shurikens, but Airi was dodging them all. "So, this is what it's really like to fight a magical girl. Airi is just as impressive as I've seen." Kineko thought to himself. He then sent down acid rain, which Airi created a pink forcefield around her body to protect her from. Then, swords began raining down on her as well, but they just bounced off her forcefield. Kineko then appeared before her. "I haven't had to do this in a long time. Goodbye, Airi. You won't survive this." Kineko then was surrounded in shining light, and began going at Airi at unimaginable speed, but despite this, Airi grabbed him. "...That's impossible!" Kineko exclaimed. "Strawberry Love Explosion!" Airi shouted, as a giant pink explosion came out from her. Afterwards, she was freed from the illusion, and Kineko was out cold. "I have no idea what happened during that long staredown, but Kineko is knocked out! The winner is Pink Strawberry, making Team Strawberry Five the winners of the Strawberry Five Vs. The Five Best Ninjas events! Girls, be sure to hang your Strawberry Five posters loud and proud, as we now can see that magical girls are indeed better than ninjas!" the announcer shouted. "...You mean Pink Strawberry is stronger than most of us. I don't think that having Kineko fighting her was really fair on their part." Ramen commented.
Chapter 4: Mari Kineko & The Ninja World!
Later, after they left the stadium, Miyasuki dashed off, and by this time, Kineko had woken back up. Before Kineko and Ramen could leave, Mari made a request. "Hey, do you think that I could join you?" she asked the two ninjas. "Sure. Me and Ramen come from the same village. However, it isn't a decision to make lightly." Kineko responded. "What do you mean?" Mari asked. Kineko then told her, "The truth is, me and Ramen are from a different world. We are from the world that you know as the 'Ninja World'. That's why we are so different from the ninjas of this world. We are able to come here through a gateway, but you must remember. If you come with us, it may be a very long time before you are able to see your friends and family again, if ever. Knowing this, do you still wish to come along with us into the world of the ninjas?" "I still want to join you! Even knowing the risks, it is my dream to be the best ninja I can be! Please let me go with you, Kineko!" Mari decided. Kineko then told Mari, "If that is your decision, then follow us. Just remember that from now on, you are no longer Mari Umineko the magical girl, but rather, you are the shinobi known as Mari Kineko." "I accept that!" Mari told him. She then followed them, saying farewell to the giant city that Mari had lived in for all these years so she could go live in the world of the ninjas.
While this was happening, there was someone following them without their knowledge. "The world of the ninjas? I might have just hit the jackpot! Maybe I can finally be the ninja I've always dreamed of being!" they thought to themselves. The one following them was none other than Yeoz. Someone then grabbed Yeoz's hand. "Airi!" she whispered. "If you're going, I'm going too. That's what friends are for, right?" she asked. "Sure, now let's get going before we're left behind." Yeoz told her. Airi then held Yeoz in her arms and began chasing Kineko, Mari, and Ramen to where they were going. "This is going to be fun!" Airi told herself. Later, Mari, Kineko, and Ramen approached an old wooden building, and Kineko opened the door with his eyes. "Here we go, Mari. There's no going back now, you got that?" Kineko told her. "Of course!" Mari responded. The three then entered the door, the door that would lead them to the world of the ninjas, with Yeoz and Airi right behind them.
"So, she's finally taken her leap forward into trying to change her fate. Let's see what this shall bring our heroine." one of the mysterious beings said.
After zooming through a white tunnel, they appeared in front of a large shrine, and before them was a massive forest. "Let's go!" Ramen told the other two. They then leaped into the trees. Not long after, Airi and Yeoz appeared before the shrine, but when they got there, the others were already gone. "...Where did they go?" Airi asked. "I don't know." Yeoz responded. "Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to walk around a bit, now would it, my wonderful friend?" Airi stated. They then walked down the stairs of the shrine and soon got to a dark forest with no road. "Brr... This place gives me the chills." Airi told Yeoz. "It's ok! We've just got to tough this out! No pain, no gain, is the saying I've been told!" Yeoz told her. "Yes! For my lovely Mari!" Airi responded. "For the chance at becoming a ninja!" Yeoz added. Soon, they got out of the forest, but they got surrounded by men in plated armor with katanas pointed at the two girls. "These are samurais, and they're clearly not on our side!" Airi exclaimed. "This never happened in America!" Yeoz then shouted. "It didn't happen to us in Tokyo either!" Airi added. Little did the world know, that this moment would spark Airi's quest to rid corruption from this world, and become one of the most fearsome people that the world of the ninjas has ever seen, and Yeoz would tag along with her, clueless of what that actually means.
Meanwhile, after jumping in the tree, they reached a village. "Here we are, the village of the trees." Kineko told Mari. "This is own home, you know!" Ramen added. "The place where my dream can finally become a reality!" Mari told them excitedly. They jumped down into the village, where Mari would learn the ins and outs of what it means to be a ninja. She would learn to be more stealthy, use her abilities more effeciently, and increase her stamina. Finally, Mari decided to do this all in a yellow jacket with orange accents, against Kineko's judgment, but despite that, still managed to earn the title of ninja, even if she is still starting her way at the bottom. One day, Mari went with Kineko to get a mission, and they recieved an odd one. "We don't usually don't get many requests to take out an individual like this." Kineko told her. "What do you mean?" Mari asked him. "Take a look." Kineko responded. The paper told them to eliminate a girl with pink hair and a pink dress due to her being a nusiance. "That could describe a lot of girls here in the ninja world. No wonder it's so low ranked. This seems like a good job for you to do, in your position." Kineko told Mari. "It does seem like a pretty easy, though tedious, mission." she responded. They then left the building. They had missed a very important detail on what had been said on that paper. "This individual has been taking down officials with ease, and should be considered a serious threat. Don't let her weak appearance decieve you!"
Meanwhile, in the building of one of the most influential shoguns in the samurai part of the ninja world, the doors were blasted through like they weren't even there to begin with. It was Airi in her transformed state, along with Yeoz wearing a blue handmade dress with white stars, of which she made sure had exactly fifty. "Bringing love and friendship, I am Pink Strawberry!" Airi began. "Bringing liberty and justice, I am Star Yeoz!" Yeoz continued. "A message to all evil beings across the land, we will cleanse the hatred in your hearts! We are the Strawberry Duo!" Airi finished. The samurai then began charging at them, but Yeoz repelled them all back, knocking them out. They then walked until they reached the shogun of the building. Airi then charged at him and shouted, "Strawberry Love Explosion!" There was then a massive pink explosion, which while not damaging any property itself, had sent the shogun flying through the wall to hit a tree, which also got knocked down due to the sheer power of Airi's attack. "I warn you now, Mari, you should have never left the Strawberry Five! I will hunt you down to the ends of the Earth, and I will show you my love!" Airi declared.
"I thought we were bringing democracy to this world since I can't be a ninja." Yeoz told Airi with a groan. "Democracy? What a joke! Neither of us have ever known a true democracy! Our world may already be too far gone to root the corruption out, but this world still has a chance! I will make this world the lovely and beautiful utopia that our world could never be!" Airi told her. "So, that's how it is." Yeoz responded. Yeoz then began to walk away. "Where do you think you're going?! You think I'm going to let you walk away too?!" Airi asked in anger. "You're not the Airi I know anymore. I don't know what you are, but you don't deserve any friends. Airi, you are not the bringer of love and friendship. You are the bringer of despair and oppression, and you actually have the power to do it. You are the worst human... no, the worst thing I have ever seen. I'm done with you. Goodbye, scumbag." Yeoz told her before walking away. Airi tried to fire a beam at her, but she bounced it back, and then, Yeoz finally left. When she was outside, she thought to herself. "You've lived in a good world all your life, Airi. Both of our countries, my United States of America, and your Japan, as well as many others are relatively peaceful countries, without barely any war within our lands, and, to add, your country was even more peaceful than mine is, even still. Airi, I don't know what's happened to you, if you really hate our worlds so much, or you're really just that upset about losing Mari, but this will only bring you, as well as the world, nothing but pain and despair beyond anything your mind could ever imagine."
Meanwhile, Mari and Kineko are out searching, when Ramen catches up to them and stops them. "We must return to the village at once! There's an emergency, you know!" Ramen tells them. "This doesn't happen very often Mari. We must head back with haste!" Kineko told Mari. They then dashed back to the village. When they got there, Ramen got in front of the entire village. "There is a grave emergency ahead of us! One of the four remaining ninja villages, as well as the officials outside of the ninja villages has been taken over by a terrifying force beyond anything we have ever faced before! The enemy before us is someone that the samurai world has come to know in a very short time as Emperor Kirainu! If us, and the other two ninja villages don't stand up to the threat of her and the samurai she has taken under her control, it could be the end of our world as we know it!" Ramen told them. After that, Ramen added one last thing. "And, if this is the last battle I ever fight in, it's time that you know that my name is Kazeru Raitsune!" he told the entire village. "...That's the same last name as Kiri!" Mari said in surprise. The ninjas of the two other villages then arrived. There was the ninjas of the village of the valleys, and the ninjas of the village of the snow, and along with them, someone else arrived. The pale skin, brown hair, and green eyes and the starry dress that would stick out in any village like this. "Yeoz?!" Kineko shouted in surprise. "What is she doing here?!' Mari asked. "Her being here could only mean one thing..." Kineko told her. "Then that Emperor Kirainu is...!" Mari then added. "I have a feeling that the Emperor Kirainu we are about to fight a war against might be the one you knew in the world you came from as Airi Kirainu, also known as the magical girl, Pink Strawberry, and if that's the case, this might be the most dangerous battle that we in the world of the ninjas have ever faced. I hope you got enough training while you were here, Mari, because with how it's looking, you're going to need every bit of it, and possibly more. I don't know what makes the rings so powerful, especially the Love Ring, but regardless, we're going to have to be more powerful than the power those rings can ever grant their wearers." Kineko told Mari.
Final Chapter: Mari Kineko & Airi Kirainu
The ninjas began rushing through the forest and before long, they had found a massive army of samurai waiting for them in the field. "Trying to put us at a disadvantage, are they?!" Ramen muttered to himself. "I know you're there, ninjas!" they heard someone shouting. It was the one leading the army, Airi. "Bringing love and friendship, I am Pink Strawberry! A message to all evil beings across the land, we will cleanse the hatred in your hearts! We are the Strawberry Army!" she declared. "There's no point of hiding! Her reflexes are too good for that! It's time to attack!" Ramen told the other ninjas. The ninjas, led by the legendary ninja Kazeru Raitsune, known more commonly as Ramen, and the samurai, led by Airi Kirainu, more commonly known as Pink Strawberry in the modern world, and as Emperor Kirainu in the ninja world, charged at each other. The war that would decide the fate of the world of the ninjas was unfolding now, and at a greater scale, the fate of the modern world as well.
As the ninjas attacked the samurai, their weapons weren't doing as much damage as usual. "They're being protected by Airi's forcefields!" Kineko told them. "Then it's time I did this, you know!" Ramen then said before creating an army of wind clones to attack the samurai. They managed to break some of the forcefields, but in the process, the wind clones were destroyed. Kineko then tried to get Airi in a trance, but when he succeeded, he could not protect himself for what was next. Before he knew it, he was unable to keep the illusion, and his vision was fading. Finally, he collapsed to the ground, and within seconds of realizing what had happened, his brain has stopped functioning. A samurai managed to cut Kineko's head off while he was defenseless. "KINEKO!" Mari shouted.
"It looks like this is the end, Mari. I hope that during my time here, I taught you well. I'm sorry I couldn't be here for you longer, but such is the world that we live in. Remember, Mari, I'll always be looking out for you. Just remember, no matter what, don't use the Sapphire Ring that's inside your bag. Farewell, Mari." Kineko's spirit told Mari before he disappeared.
The battle continued. In the hours it had been since it had began, about half of the ninja army and a quarter of the samurai army had been slain. In the heat of it all, Ramen, Mari, and Yeoz still fought against Airi and her army. Then, at that moment, the words that those who knew, feared, were spoken, as Airi shouted, "Strawberry Love Explosion!" Within what seemed like an instant, the entire ninja army and samurai army were engulfed in an explosion. It seemed like the end for Mari, being caught in the explosion, but from her bag, a blue light shone, and in her eyes, a yellow light shone. When the explosion was over, the remaining unshielded samurai were wiped out, but the ninjas survived the blast, and were protected by a blue forcefield, and Mari shone in a yellow light. "Wait, I didn't do that!" she exclaimed. "I can sense Kineko's energy still, but it's mixed with Mari's! Is the whole world under some sort of illusion, you know?!" Ramen shouted in disbelief. "How cute! Even without you wearing it, the Sapphire Ring still chose to protect you and your allies! It's too bad the one who carries it can't even use it!" Airi said to Mari mockingly. When Mari looked in her bag, the Sapphire Ring was gone. "What just happened?!" Mari asked herself. Airi then charged at Mari. "You're wide open! This is the end, Mari!" Airi shouted. Mari then responded, "Yes it is, Airi. Golden Peace Wave Jutsu." From the hands of Mari, a massive golden wave flooded the samurai army, wiping them out with the flood, and zapping them to the point the entire army besides Airi was rendered unconscious. "Mixing water with lightning! Nice move, you know!" Ramen told Mari. Airi then walked towards Mari, and started to shout, "Strawberry Love Explo-" before she was grabbed by Mari, who told her, "That's enough, Airi. You've done enough, and it's time for you to rest now. I might regret doing this later, but this may be the only chance I have of saving our worlds, and you as well. All I have left to say is, Magical Love Scream!" The instant after she said that, the entire world flashed yellow, and afterwards, Mari and Airi were gone.
Afterwards, Mari appeared in a rainbow, starry place, and was wearing an yellow and blue robe. "...Where am I?" Mari asked. Before her, two beings approached her. One was a short, bright blonde haired person with a boyish appearance and red eyes wearing a golden hoodie and gray sweatpants, and the other was a brown, long haired girl with hazel eyes with a flowing blue dress. "This is the realm of the Ultra Gods. I'm Zoey, and the other one with me is Goldy." the girl told her. "We have been watching you ever since you came into existance in the lower realm. Though, I never figured that you would manage to make it here. I didn't think the power of the ring, the power of your soul, and the aura given to you by Kineko would end up being so powerful that you ascended here just by transforming." Goldy told her. "What does this all mean?" Mari asked them. "Well, it means that you're an Ultra God now, obviously! You can't exactly enter if you're from the lower realm unless you ascend here!" Zoey responded. "In more specific terms, you're what some misinformed people would refer to as 'eleventh dimensional'. Sounds dumb to me though, so I just use Ultra God." Goldy added. "But, what about Airi? What about the others?!" Mari asked. "Of course, we can create new human body for you just like your previous one and you'll still be able to retain your powers, but your original body is here in the upper realm now, and will stay here." Goldy told her. "...Can I go back?" Mari asked Goldy. "Sure." they responded. They then snapped their fingers and Mari's prescence left the upper realm. "First, it was Sapphire with Zen and Jesu, and now it's Mari with Airi and Ramen, and that's not even getting into Zekk Catson. Does no one actually want to be an Ultra God?" Goldy asked. "You've got to admit, it does get kind of boring up here." Zoey stated. "That is true." Goldy responded.
Afterwards, Mari appeared before Airi in a golden space, in a long, silky, and flowing, blue dress with orange accents, with Airi being in the nude. "...Is that you, Mari?" Airi asked Mari. "Yes, it is." Mari told her. "But, don't you hate me?" Airi asked her. "No, not really." Mari responded. "...Say, does that mean we can be the Strawberry Five again, just like old times?" Airi asked. Mari then responded, "I cannot. I can't be a ninja anymore either. ...At least, not in this form. Not as Sapphire Ocean. In this form, there is only one thing I can be, and I don't want to be that. I will send us home, and I will fix some things, and after that, I will live with you as Mari Umineko, fight alongside you as a part of the Strawberry Five, and exist as a shinobi in the world of the ninjas at the same time and fight alongside them as Mari Kineko, while also existing in the upper realm, as the goddess, Mari Umi Kineko." Mari told her. "But, you'll be stretching yourself thin!" Airi exclaimed. "Maybe, but that's the least I can do, for the friend I've neglected for so long, for you, Airi. Now, it's time for us to go, and for you to head back to the modern world." Mari told Airi. Afterwards, Airi disappeared back to the modern world.
Mari Umi Kineko then shone her light. First, she revived Kineko into the world of the ninjas, as well as all the ninjas and samurai who were killed in that battle, and the others that Airi killed, and all the ninja and samurai had forgotten the battle they were just fighting not long ago. All, except for Kineko, Yeoz, and Ramen, of course. Then, Mari shone her light again, and placed herself in the world of the ninjas in the village of the trees, and placed herself in the modern world in Tokyo, where she could resume her life in both worlds. Then, Mari floated up, back into the upper realm, where she would watch timelines of past, present, and future, as well as realities beyond.
In the world of the ninjas, Mari Kineko would continue her training under Kineko, and would eventually become one of the higher up ninjas in the village of the trees. Eventually, she would form a relationship with Yeoz, who had also become a ninja, and continued to prove herself as one of the best ninjas in that world. Yeoz, on the other hand, wasn't as good at being a ninja as Mari, but her unexpected abilities still let her shine regardless. In the modern world, Mari Umineko would continue school with Airi, and would continue to fight the occasional evil alongside Miri, Kiri, and Ari as Sapphire Ocean. She and Airi began to grow closer to each other and Airi wasn't as annoying as she was before the war due to her retaining her memories. Eventually, Mari and Airi got together, and after they graduated, managed to get married outside of the country, with the help of Yeoz's parents, and Airi's new name was Airi Umineko. Finally, in the upper realm, goddess Mari Umi Kineko's destiny would still be written, as that story does not yet, and may not ever have a true ending. Regardless, this marks the end of the beginning of the story of Mari Umi Kineko.
The End
Side Story: Mari Umi Kineko Goes to Momu
Story by the Catscape System, you can find the original on Google Drive.
“What in the world are you up to?” asked a pink haired girl with red eyes and a frilly outfit, Airi, to Mari, who had blue hair, blue eyes, and wore an orange jacket. They were at a park in the city that the two lived. “Nothing much. I’m just going to do something interesting with my powers as an Ultra God.” Mari responded. “What could that be?” Airi asked. “I’m going to the Posi-Verse, of course, in Timeline 3!” Mari told her. “Timeline 3? What’s that?” Airi asked in bewilderment. “You wouldn’t know about timelines, after all, being a mere mortal such as yourself! I still love you though.” Mari responded, unsurprised by Airi’s answer. Mari then disappeared in a yellow flash. Mari reappeared in a starry realm, greeted by a cat with white fur and eyes as blue as the sky. “Back again, are you? Going to another timeline, I suppose?” the cat asked. “You already know it. You really are perceptive, Zekk.” Mari told him. “Timeline 2 is very popular, you know! Are you headed there?” Zekk asked the girl. “No, I’m headed to Timeline 3.” Mari responded. “Timeline 3? Why? All the epic stuff happened in Timeline 2, like, the war between the Momuians and the Ozzians!” Zekk exclaimed. “Who cares about some deadly war like that? That stuff’s depressing, man! And plus, what do I do if I run into that Noipazez guy?” Mari told him. “Eh, don’t knock it ‘til you try it!” Zekk responded. Mari then sighed, and told Zekk, “Well, I’m off. Don’t go trying to seduce human girls again!” before she disappeared in a flash. “She knows about that?” Zekk asked himself in bewilderment.
Mari reappeared in an open plain, seemingly endless in vastness, except for a few trees, some streams, and a town that was in the distance. “Let’s see, slightly chilly, gravity twice that of Earth. This fits the bill!” Mari told herself before dashing to the town. She stopped at the city walls, and whispered, “Now, for a disguise!” She held up her Sapphire Ring, and its magic flowed through her body. She shrunk down to a 40-some lbs. cat, or, at least, a being that heavily resembled a cat, with teal fur and ocean blue eyes. “And, there goes my jacket, and the rest of my clothes, for that matter, not that I would have any use for them.” she told herself. With her smaller, more agile body, the gravity had less of an impact on her, but she had to be careful, because unlike her body in her god form, any transformation of this nature has the same limits as a mortal. She entered the town, and it was filled with cats of a similar size as Mari’s new body, many of which were flying in the air, and needlessly huge houses that would appear marvelous to an Earthling, and Mari, originally being an Earthling herself, couldn’t help but be amazed at the size of the town she was in. One of the cats, this one having green fur and yellow eyes, flew up to her and asked, “You’re not from around here, are you?” “How can you tell so easily?” Mari asked the cat. “Because you’re not flying, and you were gasping at the houses here. What, are you from our territories on Earth or something?” the cat asked. “Uh, something like that.” Mari responded to the cat. “Then, what’s your name?” the cat asked her, with an accusing look. Mari had to think of something fast. This planet didn’t use naming conventions that one would typically find for humans on Earth. “Um, Yellow? No, that wouldn’t make sense. Sea? Water? That’s it! I’ll name myself Seawater!” Mari thought to herself. “I’m Seawater!” Mari said with confidence. “Seawater, huh? What a dumb name. You must be one of those southerners.” the cat responded. “Yes, at least I managed to pass off as one of their species!” Mari thought to herself. “Well, Seawater, my name is Stem. This is Castle Town, the capital of the Momuian Empire. Many Momuians don’t get to be here much, so you’re lucky.” the green cat told her. “Thank you, Stem!” Mari told the cat gratefully, bowing. “Uh, why are you bowing? Is that another thing southerners do? How weird.” Mari got flustered, but managed to hide it, as she walked away. “So, Momuians don’t bow. Weird planet.” She told herself.
Mari, as she was walking, figured out how to fly, as the concept of this timeline’s aura wasn’t too foreign to what she was used to from her own, though, she was never taught how to fly in her timeline, as her teacher, Kineko, couldn’t himself fly. She flew north and saw a gigantic castle, which she flew to, and entered. She was greeted very quickly by a tuxedo cat with yellow eyes. “Did you really just fly right in here?” the cat asked. “Hi, I’m Seawater Yellowcat!” Mari told him. “Yeah, we’ll see about that. You don’t look like a Seawater Yellowcat. I’m Loki Catson, a member of the Momuian royal family, and you are very clearly not from this area, or this planet, for that matter. Let’s go.” The cat, Loki, told her before dragging her off towards one of the thrones, where there was a large pink and red cat with deep blue eyes and a crown of diamond. “Loki, you really have found a strange cat. You were right to bring them to me. I’m doing an aura scan now, you can go back to your lab.” the cat said in a serious tone. “Seawater, if that’s really your name, we’re going to find out just who, and what you are.” Loki told Mari before flying away. The pink and red cat then used her eyes, and an aura appeared around Mari, analyzing not only her body, but her soul. “Name, Mari Kineko, most other information unknown.” the cat told her. “You figured out my name just by looking at me?” Mari asked in shock. “I’m a psychic and the daughter of Nilrem himself, not to mention the empress of the Momuian Empire. I’m not dumb. I’m Samithia Catson. Any Momuian would know that. You are not a Momuian.” the cat told her, clearly annoyed. “The beings of this timeline sure aren’t very nice. Maybe I should have listened to Zekk.” Mari thought to herself. “You realize I can read your thoughts too, and I am somehow not surprised that Zekk knows you. My grandson seems to know a lot of weirdos.” Samithia told Mari. “Zekk’s your grandson?” Mari asked. “Only Zekk would go to some island on a less advanced planet and befriend a girl there, Earthling. Also, you know that the alliance that your country is a part of forbids associating with Momu. You really betrayed your country to come here?” Samithia asked. “Wait, what is Momu’s relationship with Earth?” Mari asked. “Thanks to that Orange, we ended up swindling land from the US, and they found out about that, so our military has been defending that land, specifically so our top legion of our military, the Zuper Team, can keep existing on Earth. As such, most countries that are allies with the US try to sanction Momu, but, of course, the only one their hurting is themselves, as we rule more than half of the universe. Why don’t you know this? Your country has a 99% conviction rate, it’s basically suicide to walk right into the Momuian Castle, Mari! Also, why can you turn into a cat?” Samithia asked. Mari finally got fed up and told her, “Have you considered that I might not even be from this universe, or timeline, at all?” “But that means-!” Samithia exclaimed before cutting herself off. “...So that’s why there was no data about you. What are you?” she continued. “Someone who clearly came to the wrong planet, at the wrong time.” Mari responded.
Eventually, Mari was able to get out of the Momuian Castle, after which she flew higher and higher, until she eventually left Momu’s atmosphere. “What is wrong with this timeline? Maybe Zekk was right, maybe Timeline 2 would have been better than coming here to Timeline 3.” she told herself. She continued flying, aimlessly. “What are the chances? Maybe I should give up and go back to my timeline, and go eat some ramen. Ramen sounds good right about now. What do beings in this universe eat anyways?” Mari asked, looking at the vastness of space before her, far from anything she knows. A flash then occurred and Zekk appeared before her once more, and talking. “Hi Mari! I see you didn’t listen to me! I should’ve warned you that in this timeline, although bearing similarities to Timeline 2, has its differences too! For one, relations between Momu and Earth are in the dumps, and some of the gods here are different!” he told her. “Now you tell me.” Mari said, annoyed. “Hey, hey, I didn’t know you would actually go to Timeline 3! I thought you would take my advice and go to Timeline 2 instead!” Zekk responded in defense. “So, now what? Will I even be safe on Earth? What is Earth looking like?” Mari asked. “Well, it’s at the brink of war! Almost all of the countries on Earth are planning to use weapons of mass destruction on the Momuians!” Zekk told her. “But Earth would be destroyed! Isn’t there something we can do?!” Mari exclaimed, grabbing Zekk. “Well, I really shouldn’t do this, but I have an idea!” the white cat told Mari, before disappearing in a flash. Not long after, he reappeared with Airi, who was surrounded by a pink barrier. “You didn’t warn me that you were sending me into the vacuum of space! Who even are you?!” Airi panicked. “I didn’t bring the others because I figured that they would be dead weight! The Momuians are really, really strong! And then there’s these guys named Sam and Zane! ...You don’t want to have to fight Sam and Zane.” Zekk told Mari, completely ignoring Airi’s complaints. “Well then, what are we waiting for? Let’s go to Earth!” Mari told the cat. “Alright, hold on, Airi! Mari, follow me!” Zekk called before flying off at a speed that would put even the fastest spaceships in the universe to shame, and Mari followed close behind. Within a matter of hours, they had reached the small blue sphere on the opposite side of the universe from Momu, Earth.
The strange team of Mari, still in her cat form, Zekk, and Airi began descending onto Earth. “Where are we landing? Will we be able to speak the language?” Airi asked in concern. “It doesn’t matter! With aura, such things as language barriers are non-existant!” Zekk told her. They then landed in a city that neither Mari or Airi recognized. “Here we are! We’re within the Momuian occupied territory that was taken from the US! I think this city was called Pittsburgh or something like that!” Zekk told them. “Won’t I look foreign?” Airi asked her. “Girl, natural pink hair isn’t normal anywhere on Earth! You’re probably fine, so long as you can use aura!” Zekk told her with a laugh. “What’s aura?” Airi asked Zekk in confusion. Zekk looked at Airi, dumbfounded, and told her “I’m going to hope that your Love Ring has a translator, or we might be in trouble.” “Oh, it has that!” Airi told him. “Thank Zezapion!” Zekk exclaimed. “What’s Zezapion?” Airi asked. “We’re doomed.” Zekk groaned. “So, where should we go from here, Zekk?” Mari asks, which Zekk responds, “Well, first, it would help if you turned back into a human. I don’t need to though because they think I’m royalty!” “Alright then!” Mari told him, as she used her Sapphire Ring once more to turn into her modern day human form. Zekk took a look at Mari, and told her “Alright, it’s not the most fashionable outfit in the world, but it should be good enough! Now, let’s head to New York!” “Which way is that?” Airi asked Zekk. “We’re walking rather than flying, because if we fly there, we’ll draw attention to ourselves!” Zekk told the girls, completely ignoring Airi. They began walking, getting stares as they went. “We really are doomed. We don’t even look the part.” Zekk once again told himself.
A few days later, after some trial and error on Zekk’s part, they arrived in New York, and something was very wrong. “This, can’t be. This is New York?!” Zekk exclaimed, as staring at him were buildings that had signs that one would not expect to see, including one big one saying “REHGUAB IS SUPREME!”. “We have to do something, this shouldn’t be happening!” Zekk complained. “What about this big scary red building with an antenna at the top? Might that have something to do with this?” Airi asked Zekk. “Okay, maybe you are smarter than I gave you credit for!” he responded, heading towards the building. As they approached, some people walked at them like zombies, but Mari just breathed fire on them and kept going. “They’re very clearly brainwashed. Something’s definitely funny about this building, Airi.” Mari told them. They entered the building, and what greeted them was nothing they could have ever prepared for.
When they walked in, they saw a girl with bright green hair, cat-like yellow eyes, a green shirt with a yellow triangle design, and beautiful skin. “Oh, hey Mari! What brings you here?” she asked them. “Are you... Cat?!” Mari asked her in shock. “What, are you surprised? I got bored, so I decided to pretend to be working for Enaz! It’s a great joke! It’s even got the Americans wanting to blow up the Momuians! How’s that for funny?” Cat told them. “That’s not funny. You’re the reason why this timeline is such a mess! Ultra Gods aren’t supposed to do this! This is cruel, and you should feel ashamed!” Mari shouted. “You wouldn’t dare fight me! I’ve been an Ultra God longer than both of you, Mari and Zekk! Quite frankly, I have the edge over both of you!” Cat exclaimed, proceeding to laugh. Zekk then began glowing in a bright aura and his fur turned a grayish-purple, with an infinity symbol that one could see the universe in through his fur, a form known as Infinity Zekk. Mari used her Sapphire Ring to transform into Sapphire Ocean. “I don’t think I’ll be any help here. These three are out of my league! I may as well try though!” Airi told herself before using the Love Ring to turn into Pink Strawberry. “Peace Wave!” Mari shouted as a giant wave formed, and Infinity Zekk surrounded himself in a flame and shouted “Lion Strike!” and both attacks went towards Cat, hitting her, but not really doing much in the way of harming her. “Strawberry Love Explosion!” Airi shouted as she created an explosion which destroyed the building, and the brainwashing device on top. “Reality Bla-” Cat was about to say, before she looked, and asked “You destroyed my brainwashing device, didn’t you?” “That was me!” Airi exclaimed. “And to imagine that I lost to a mere mortal. Oh well! I’m going back to the Ultra God realm now! Bye bye!” Cat told them, before she disappeared with a flash. “Seriously, that was it? How boring!” Zekk told the others. “We just stopped a catastrophic war! Isn’t that great enough?!” Mari asked the cat. “This is boring! I’m going to bed! See you later, fish-eyed fools!” Zekk responded with a yawn, before also disappearing with a flash of light. “I will never understand that cat.” Mari complained. “Did we just save the world?” Airi asked.
About a week later, Mari and Airi appeared before Samithia in the Momuian Castle, and with them was Loki Catson. The empress told them, “First, I would like to apologize for the way I treated you when you were last here, miss Kineko. And now, more importantly, we must thank you two, for you have saved our universe from the evil waves of that strange tower set up Enaz Rehguab, one of our greatest enemies. How would you like to be a part of the Zuper Team?” Mari declined, telling her, “Thank you, empress, but we have a home to return to in our own universe. We have friends and family that would miss us very much if we didn’t return.” “Yeah, and I still have to lead the Strawberry Five! I don’t have time for the Zuper Team too!” Airi added. “Very well, but bring this with you.” Samithia told Mari before handing her something. Mari and Airi then walked off towards the castle’s exit, and yelled, “Farewell, Momuians!” After they got outside, Mari simply told Airi, “Hold on, my love!” and Airi held on, and the two disappeared in a flash of light. The two had brought temporary peace, and Timeline 3 would be, for the most part, be left alone the troublemakers that are among the Ultra Gods, and would never be devastated by the war that destroyed Timeline 2. The Momuians would always remember the deed done by Mari and Airi, and it would eventually become something of a legend, that while not everyone would believe in them, they would always remember. “Those two were amazing. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Ultra Gods. It reminds me that how out there, in other timelines, there are still things that are a mystery even to me.” the Supreme God of Timeline 3, Merlin the Kitano, told himself, while starring off into Planet Kero’s sky.
Not long after leaving Timeline 3, Mari and Airi arrived in their own timeline, being Timeline 86, and took out what Samithia sent them. The two then brought Miri, Kiri, Ari, and Yeoz together, and they showed them. It was a powdery, sparkly substance, “...What’s this?” Yeoz asked the two. “It’s looks like glitter!” Kiri exclaimed. Mari looked dumbfounded, and found a note, which said, “This is Sparkle Dust, the currency of the Momuian Empire. With this, you should have enough to live on for the rest of your lives, and even buy a mansion or anything you could dream of. Thank you once again for saving us, Mari Kineko and Airi Kirainu. Sincerely, Empress Samithia Catson of the Momuian Empire.” “Uh...” Ari uttered, staring. “This is...” Miri began to say before the words left her. “Worthless. This is worthless!” Mari exclaimed. “It’s very pretty though!” Airi responded. Mari ended up keeping the Sparkle Dust, which was worth nothing in her country’s yen, and went home. “Next time, I’m going to a different timeline.” Mari told herself. Thus, ends one of Mari Kineko’s stranger adventures during her time as an Ultra God.
The End
Mari Umi Kineko II: Ultra
Story by the Catscape System, you can find the original on Google Drive.
Chapter 1: Mari's Return
Mari had entered the realm of the Ultra Gods from her timeline once more, and she was greeted by the yellow cat with red eyes, Sunela. “Back so soon? I’ve been made aware of you and Zekk’s antics in another timeline, where you and Cat put someone from your timeline as well as Timeline 3 at risk of destruction. That was very irresponsible of you, Mari Umi Kineko.” they told her in a stern voice. Zekk flew in, and begged to Sunela, “Please have mercy on Mari! It was my doing! I shouldn’t have let her go to Timeline 3 in the first place!” “Zekk Catson, you are no saint yourself. I still remember that time you corrupted an entire timeline in order to fight Noipazez, and crossed me in the process.” Sunela responded smugly. “That was a long time ago, Sunela!” Zekk shouted. Sunela then declared, “The Auragirl111 may be forgiving, but my forgiveness ends here, you two! You are too much trouble! I hereby strip your status as Ultra Gods and banish you to Timeline 86!” “That’s no fair! There isn’t even a Planet Momu there! I’ll have nothing! I might not even be able to turn Super Momu!” Zekk pleaded. “You should have thought of that before you crossed me, Sunela! I will also be undoing Mari’s effects on Timeline 86 as an Ultra God, and you will be sent to the modern day, Mari, and so will Yeoz!” Sunela shouted. “But what about my love for Airi and Yeoz?” Mari cried. Sunela then let out a maniacal laugh, and responded, “Do you think I care about that? There’s a reason why my name, Sunela Goldencat, is feared! I hope you enjoy the city you call home, Mari, because unless you can prove your worth, you’re not leaving that timeline!” “Oh no! I can’t be in Japan! I’ve lived in the US or Momu all my life! I’ll be stranded, without a home!” Zekk cried, realizing his desperate situation. “Now, begone, both of you!” Sunela shouted before hitting them with a red blast. “I’m sorry Samantha, Bobby, and my sons, this is goodbye!” Zekk cried. The two then disappeared from the Ultra God realm. “Heh, wait until I tell Cat and Yolo about this! They’ll totally flip out!” Sunela laughed.
Mari woke up in her bed in the modern day, with her memories still intact, but no longer was she an Ultra God. She didn’t keep her outfit as an Ultra God either, and was once again in her schoolgirl outfit, as if it was all a dream. She was once again mortal, with only her knowledge of jutsus and her Sapphire Ring to give her powers. “Was it all just a dream?” she asked herself. Beside her was a white house cat, with eyes as blue as the sky. “Mrrow? MEOW! Meow mow mrrow!” the cat cried before running down the stairs. “Wait, hold up!” Mari yelled as she chased the cat downstairs. The cat then ran up to Mari’s mother and looked at her with pleading eyes, and rubbed up against her. “When did this cat get in? He seems nice. I think we’ll keep him!” she told the family. “Thank you, Mom!” Mari told her, before running out the door, and the cat followed. “I hope I’m not running late!” she thought to herself as she was running, and there was the girl with pink hair and pink eyes, Airi Kirainu. “Hi, Mari! I love love love you!” she exclaimed as she ran at Mari, before the white cat jumped at her. For some reason, Airi still remembered her love for Mari, despite everything. Airi then looked at the cat, and shock appeared on her face. “This cat, no way, it couldn’t be!” she exclaimed. The cat then started jumping up in the air, and falling back down to the ground, and growled in irritation. The cat then looked at a bird, and fired lasers out of its eyes. “What in the-?!” Mari exclaimed. The lasers missed the bird, and the cat had a look of confusion. “I have an idea, Airi.” Mari told the girl. Mari touched the cat with the Sapphire Ring, and kept it on the cat’s fur.
“Mari! Mari, can you hear me! It’s Zekk! Why can’t you-” the cat cried before realizing that the girls could suddenly understand him. “So you are here, Zekk. Then that means-” Mari began to say, realizing that everything that had happened prior was not a dream. “That’s right! This is real life right now, and I can’t translate my speech or fly by myself! This universe is too different from the one I’m from!” Zekk told them. “Hey, we’re going to be late for school, Mari.” Airi muttered. “School? You two go to school?” Zekk asked the two. “Please tell me you went to school...” Mari groaned. “School? I was raised by the forest, girls!” Zekk exclaimed. “Let’s go.” Mari told Airi as she removed the ring from Zekk, cutting him off, and began walking forward. Zekk had a feline screech and ran towards the girls. Mari and Airi met up with Miri, Kiri, and Airi on the way, and went to school. Zekk tried to enter, but a teacher kicked him off the property. “What am I supposed to do now? I feel as pathetic as a domesticated house cat!” Zekk thought to himself. He walked on, and saw a girl with pale skin, short hair, and green eyes, Yeoz. She was wearing her red hoodie and black sweatpants, trying not to stick out anymore than she already does. “Why, hello there!” Yeoz said to Zekk, which Zekk responded, “Hi girl, I’m Zekk!” “Weird, all I heard was meows, but my mind told me that he said ‘Hi girl, I’m Zekk!’” Yeoz told herself. “That’s what I said! I’m glad someone can understand me!” Zekk told her. “I can’t understand your words, but I can understand your thoughts. That’s how I’m able to survive somewhere so far from where I came from.” Yeoz responded. “Are you from another timeline too?” Zekk asked her. “Don’t be ridiculous! I’m from the US!” Yeoz told him with a laugh. “So, what does Mari do in school?” Zekk asked her. “She learns, and she talks to her friends. I guess cats like you don’t have school, so you probably couldn’t understand. I haven’t been able to go to school in a long time, because I don’t want to out myself as a foreigner.” she responded. “Your skin would do that for you, Yeoz!” Zekk told her with a laugh. “Well, I’ll be, I never thought I would meet a cat as snarky as you!” Yeoz exclaimed. Zekk then looked towards the sky. “I wonder if this universe has a Sam? Probably not, that would be wishful thinking.” Zekk thought to himself. “You really are a strange cat.” Yeoz told Zekk.
Later on, Mari, Airi, and their friends were walking home from school, when the sky suddenly turned red. “What’s going on?!” Mari shouted. Red cat-eyes suddenly opened in the sky. “Magical Love Scream!” Airi shouted, and using the power of her Love Ring, transformed into Pink Strawberry. “Any attempt you may have to harm me is futile, miss Kirainu. I am only interested in Mari and Zekk.” a voice then told them from the sky. Airi then shouted in retaliation, “Anyone who wants to hurt Mari will have to go through me! Strawberry Love Explosion!” before she fired an attack towards the sky, which went flying and never hit anything. “I don’t think anyone’s actually there, miss Kirainu.” Miri told Airi. “Miri is correct. I am not actually present, but I do have a message for Mari Umi Kineko and Zekk Catson.” the voice told them. Zekk and Yeoz arrived where the others were and went running towards them. “Meow! Mrrooowwww!” Zekk shouted, disregarding that only Yeoz could understand him. “’Run! It’s Sunela Goldencat!’ is what this cat is shouting. Do you know anything about this, Mari?” Yeoz asked the others. Sunela then told them, “Trying to warn them is useless. I wanted to tell you that it is only when you eliminate all the great evil of the world that you may return, Mari and Zekk. Consider this retribution for your sins. If you fail, you’ll be stuck in this timeline forever.” The eyes in the sky then closed, and the sky went back to normal. “What was that? I couldn’t even even do anything!” Airi complained. She then reverted to her normal form. Zekk then jumped up and started floating slightly, before falling back to the ground. “Mrrow!” he exclaimed, which Yeoz translated as, “That’s progress!”
A tuxedo cat was walking by on the streets later on as Zekk was walking. Zekk had left when Mari wasn’t looking in order to hunt for food so he could satisfy his cat instincts. “Is that you, Sam?” Zekk asked the tuxedo cat in cat language. The cat looked at him, and then morphed into a body identical to Zekk. “Woah, I don’t like where this is going!” Zekk exclaimed. The now white cat then ran away. “I’m running to Mari right away! That cat gives me the creeps!” he told himself as he ran in the direction of Mari’s house. The shapeshifting cat found Airi’s house and jumped in her window. “Hi Zekk!” Airi told the cat. The cat then looked at Airi and morphed into Pink Strawberry. “Hey, you can’t just do that, you know!” Airi shouted. The shapeshifter then looked at her and laughed. “This is my big chance! I’m going to trick the world!” they announced, before once again jumping out Airi’s window. “I’m going to do something about this!” Airi muttered before transforming into Pink Strawberry and following in pursuit of her imposter. The shapeshifter began jumping from rooftop to rooftop until they eventually came across the building of a big business. “Boom!” the being shouted, before making the building explode, before jumping off, laughing, making sure the cameras can see them. “That’s right! The Strawberry Five has turned to evil!” they shouted. “I’m too late.” Airi cried.
Later, Airi got home and looked at the news, and gasped at what she saw. “The Strawberry Five Turns Criminal” and “Pink Strawberry Destroys Large Business” were among the things she heard. “It’s that shapeshifter!” Airi gasped. She got on her phone and texted Mari immediately. “That girl in the news wasn’t me! That was an impostor!” Airi texted. “Are you sure? I wouldn’t put it past you, Airi.” Mari replied. Airi sent similar texts to Miri, Kiri, Ari, and Yeoz, but none of them believed her. “What will I do? My life’s over! I’ll be arrested, or worse yet, executed! I have to prove I’m innocent!” Airi cried. A cat then jumped in the window, and walked up to Airi, nudging her. It was Zekk. He jumped up and touched Airi’s Love Ring. “I know you’re innocent, Airi! I saw the impersonator! He turned into me earlier, and must have did the same to you!” he told her. “What can I do?” Airi asked him. “Does anyone know that you’re Pink Strawberry?” Zekk asked. “Mostly other members of the Strawberry Five, and Yeoz.” Airi responded. “There might be hope then.” Zekk told her with a sigh of relief.
The next day, Mari was walking to school, and Airi wasn’t there. “That’s strange. Airi usually meets me really early on. Might she feel guilty for destroying that building?” she asked herself. Zekk then ran up to her and meowed in protest. “You seem upset, Zekk. What’s got you angry?” Mari asked him. Zekk managed to float up just enough to touch her Sapphire Ring. “Airi’s innocent! There’s a shapeshifter on the loose!” he managed to get out before falling to the ground. “A shapeshifter? Is there a rogue ninja on the loose again?” Mari asked. Zekk shook his head to disagree. “You don’t think it’s a ninja? This must be a different kind of enemy then!” Mari told him. They then continued walking to school, and Mari met with the other girls, and Zekk went to find Yeoz. “I never thought miss Kirainu would turn to a path of darkness.” Miri told them. “Well, there’s still the four of us!” Kiri responded. Mari then told them what she knows to be true, “Airi is innocent. There is a shapeshifter on the loose. Zekk told me.” Yeoz then walked towards the school. “Where is Airi?” she demanded. “Yeoz? I’ve never seen you here before. Are you finally planning to enroll?” Kiri asked her nervously. Yeoz quickly concluded, “Airi isn’t here.” Mari approached Yeoz, and shouted “Lightning Strike Jutsu!” before attacking her with lightning. She then transformed into a tall biped black fox with golden eyes. “You saw right through me! Now that you have seen my true form, you must die!” the strange fox shouted. “That is one weird looking fox.” Mari told herself. “Magical Love Scream!” shouted Kiri, Miri, and Ari, before they became Golden Sparkle, Emerald Breeze, and Ruby Flame, respectively. Zekk then ran towards them. “This is it for you!” Zekk told the fox. “Woah, I can actually understand him when I’m transformed.” Ari told them.
The five prepared to attack, and the fox shouted “Boom!” and attempted to create an explosion, which Miri blew away with her wind. “Hope Lighting!” Kiri shouted as she attacked, hitting the fox. “Is that the best you can do? That hurt, but that’s not good enough!” Zekk fired eye lasers at the fox before being slapped aside like a ragdoll. Zekk muttered “I’m not strong enough yet...” before falling unconscious. “How horrible!” Miri exclaimed. “Golden Peace Wave Jutsu!” Mari shouted before sending a massive golden wave at the fox, washing the fox back until it hit a wall and collapsed. “I didn’t know Sapphire Ocean was this strong...!” the fox uttered in shock. “That’s Mari Umi Kineko to you!” Mari shouted. “Passion Flame!” Ari shouted before firing a red flame at the fox, causing the fox to disintegrate. “Horray! We won!” Kiri exclaimed. “That enemy was really strong. Where did he come from?” Mari pondered. Other than Airi, this fox was one of the first enemies to be able to not be immediately defeated by Golden Peace Wave Jutsu, her strongest jutsu. Zekk woke up and whined, “Oww! I haven’t took a beating like that in a while! I’m still hurting from that!” “Well, you are a cat.” Ari reminded him. “Well, we did win, and we know now that Airi was innocent, but now I wonder, just where is she?” Kiri asked. “Oh no! I completely forgot about that!” Zekk cried.
“They hate me, I’m done for. What can I do? My amazing friends won’t want to be around me anymore...” Airi told herself as she walked alone near a park. Yeoz saw this, and walked to her. “Airi, your friends know that you are innocent, and I do as well. They even defeated the fox monster who pretended to be you.” she told her. “They know? I’m saved.” Airi told her with a sigh of relief. “Also, Airi, I have a feeling that the rest of the world might be in danger. Call it a hunch, but I have a terrifying track record of being correct about things like this. Even Mari struggled against her new foe. There must be an even greater evil that’s behind all this.” Yeoz also explained to her. “That would be horrible! I’ve never had an enemy this dangerous before!” Airi cried. “You should know, since Mari even defeated you without even transforming.” Yeoz added. Airi responded, shouting, “Don’t remind me!” “I wonder if Mari will ever transform again, or is she still sticking by that rule Kineko set for her?” Yeoz asked. Airi gazed off into the sky, and Yeoz added another question, “Just how strong is the new Sapphire Ocean?”
That evening, a visitor arrived at the Umineko household, home of Mari Kineko, and now, Zekk Catson as well. “Coming!” Mari shouted. She opened the door and saw Airi and Yeoz. “Hey Mari, I found this pink haired girl who decided to skip school.” Yeoz explained. “You don’t need to say it so bluntly, Yeoz...!” Airi whined in response. “Actions have consequences, miss Kirainu.” Yeoz told her in a serious tone. “Even the foreigner is chewing you out!” Mari laughed. “But she hasn’t even been to school in a long time!” Airi cried out. “Just because they’re worried about the consequences of deporting me doesn’t mean they want me to attend school with you. For one, we wouldn’t even be able to understand each other if it wasn’t for my telepathic abilities.” Yeoz explained. “On a more serious note, Mari, we need to talk to you.” Airi told Mari.
The three went to Mari’s room, where Zekk also was, and Airi held her Love Ring to Zekk. “Oh, I get to talk too! Sweet!” Zekk cheered. Yeoz then began, “Now, about these new enemies...”
Chapter 2: Diamond Sky
Yeoz started her discussion with Mari, Airi, and Zekk by saying “Now, about these new enemies... Their strength seems like it’s from another world than most of us. I would say that most of us, except for Mari and Airi don’t really stand a chance, as grim as that may sound.” “No way! I believe in my lovely amazing friends! We’re the Strawberry Five! We’ve been together since middle school, when we first got the ability to transform and protect our city!” Airi complained. Zekk then added, “I, for one, never plan on giving up either! Just because I’ve been facing a setback doesn’t mean I plan to quit right here! I still have access to some of my abilities, and I’m starting to learn how to fly here! Please, believe in me! I can get stronger!” “You can get stronger? Is that something we can safely rely on? Most of us barely even know you, even if you do seem to be ancient judging by your vast memory. Having a long life doesn’t mean you know everything, Zekk. You need to learn that some problems can’t be overcome by you trying to become stronger. That would simply take too long, and we would all be doomed by then.” Yeoz explained to Zekk. “This girl really is a psychic.” Zekk thought to himself. “So, do you think I should train the others in the ways of ninjutsu?” Mari asked Yeoz. Airi complained, “No way! I’m not some old ninja! I’m the magical girl, Pink Strawberry! There has to be another way than doing what you did, Mari!” “Yeah, I was wondering about that! I wonder if it’s possible for someone to transform in this world without a ring!” Zekk added. “How did you transform back where you came from?” Mari asked. “I thought of myself with golden fur, of course!” Zekk replied, thinking about how smart he thought he was. “That doesn’t work here. That’s just entirely absurd to think it would, Zekk!” Yeoz swiftly responded.
As they continued talking, Zekk told Airi, “I’ll meet with you later. I know how to use abilities that aren’t ninjutsu.” “Will that work?” Yeoz asked. “You’re coming too! And so is Kiri, Miri, and Ari!” Zekk told her. “I guess I might as well show up as well. Who knows what kind of thing you have planned.” Mari decided. Zekk then declared, “It’s a date!” “Please don’t call it that.” Mari told Zekk.
The next day, after school, Zekk led Mari, as well as Airi, Kiri, Miri, and Ari, who were transformed, and Yeoz to somewhere a good distance from civilization. They were in a forest that was a far cry from the city that they were used to. Zekk then pressed up against Mari’s Sapphire Ring, and announced, “Now that’s more like it! This almost feels like my old home! Plus, we can’t hurt anyone here! This is where we’ll be doing our training!” “I think I would have preferred the term ‘date’ after all.” Airi responded nervously. “No complaining! Yeoz told me the entire world is at stake!” Zekk shouted back. Zekk then looked at an insect flying by, and fired eye lasers at it, disintegrating it. “I want you to practice by doing that.” Zekk explained. “Mister Catson, I don’t quite understand how you were able to do that just now.” Miri told him. Zekk then panicked, and looked around, asking “What about the rest of you?” Everyone else besides Mari shook their heads to show that they didn’t know either. Zekk then explained, “So, here’s what you do. You concentrate your aura, or soul energy, towards your eyes, look at what you want to attack, and blink with your aura, not your body.” Mari then looked at a bird, and tried it. Lasers came flying out of Mari’s eyes, and toasted the bird. “That was surprisingly easy.” Mari told Zekk, but the other girls looked at Mari dumbfounded. “...I think the others might beg to disagree, unfortunately.” Zekk told her. Zekk then looked at the other girls, and told them, “This is one of the most basic aura abilities there is. Being able to control your aura is key to learning many abilities. If you master aura, you’ll be able to fly, manipulate the elements, create solid objects or explosives with just your aura, and you’ll even survive in space and understand alien languages. The greatest masters can even transform their bodies using the power of their soul.” “This seems a lot like ninjutsu, but far simpler.” Mari responded. Zekk then told her, with a laugh, “Why do you think my species managed to be more advanced than you Earthlings? They teach this much in school!” “Is mister Catson an extraterrestrial?” Miri asked. “Well, yes, but it’s a bit more complicated than just that.” Mari explained.
They practiced for the evening, all in their normal forms. Yeoz was the first one other than Mari to learn it, then Ari, Kiri, and finally, Airi. Miri was not able to figure it out. Zekk proudly told them, “See, some of you are naturals! It must have been all that fighting while in a transformed state that made you able to grasp my teachings so quickly!” “Why couldn’t I do it, mister Catson?” Miri asked the white cat. Zekk told her, “That would have to do with your gentler nature, miss... What is your last name?” “Kazedori.” Miri told him. “These girls really do have unique last names. Still, I’m surprised to see no animal theming in her last name.” Zekk thought to himself. “My last name is Baugher.” Yeoz told Zekk through telepathy. “Ah! That’s a last name I’m used to seeing!” Zekk exclaimed telepathically. “...What are they doing? They’re just staring at each other.” Ari asked the others. “Telepathy, if I had to guess!” Airi told her. Zekk finally started talking again, and told the girls, “Alright, go home, you five!” “Alright Zekk, see you later!” Mari responded. Everyone besides Zekk and Yeoz then left the forest. “Yeoz, do you know how to fly?” Zekk asked her. “I can fly a bit, and I can walk on water.” Yeoz told him. “Walk on water?! That’s not one I hear very often! You know, psychic abilities and aura abilities are heavily related! Your brain seem to be able to use soul energy in a way that would be difficult for even most hardcore masters of aura!” Zekk responded. Zekk then started floating up again. This time, Zekk was able to move around a bit more without falling. “Aw sweet! I can fly again!” Zekk then rose up more and more, high up into the sky, where the tall trees almost began to look like small bushes, before he fell. “This isn’t good!” Zekk shouted as he fell. He fell into the forest far below, and Yeoz caught him. Yeoz then told him, “Please be more careful, you had me scared there for a moment!”
Mari returned home and went to her room. She sat on her bed, and asked herself, “I wonder, what would happen now if I actually transformed with my Sapphire Ring?” The Sapphire Ring shined, almost as if it acknowledged her question. Mari eventually ended up going to bed, and Zekk did not return home. Instead, Miri ended up with a surprise visitor, as Zekk climbed in her window. “What bring you here, mister Catson?” Miri asked Zekk. She looked, and Zekk had a ring with a sky blue gem in his mouth. “Wait, is that what I think it is? But, it’s different. Have you tried putting it on?” Miri asked. Zekk attempted to put it on his paw, and it flashed in a brilliant light. Suddenly, Zekk had transformed into a human body with long white hair, the same blue eyes, with an outfit that was mostly all white with some blue accents. The ring was on one of his fingers in this form. “Well, I didn’t expect that one!” Zekk told her in surprise. “Um, would you mind looking at yourself, mister Catson?” Miri asked, giggling. “Sure, where’s a mirror?” Zekk asked before he eventually found one, and when he looked, he saw something that surprised him. “I’m a girl now?! Oh no! What am I going to tell my mate Samantha?! Plus, now my sons will laugh at me!” Zekk exclaimed in panic. No matter what Zekk tried, he couldn’t take the ring off. “It seems like that ring has chosen you, miss Catson.” Miri told Zekk. “What kind of ring is this?!” Zekk cried out loud.
The next day, before Airi could even have a chance to meet Mari at the door, Zekk was there in the new body the ring ended up trapping him in. “Who are you?” Mari asked. “It’s me, Zekk Catson! I put on a strange ring, and well, now look at me!” he cried. “A strange ring, huh?” Mari asked. Then, at that moment, Airi came running up, shouting, “Hi, my lovely Mari, I love love love you, my beloved-” before stopping to ask, “Who’s that?” “It’s me, Zekk!” Zekk told her. “He put on a strange ring and now he’s a she.” Mari explained. Airi took a look at the ring, and her face immediately turned into that of complete and utter disbelief. “That ring looks like the same type that me, you, and the others have, Mari! Where did you find that, Zekk?” she exclaimed. “I caught it while I was in the sky.” Zekk told her. “Somehow, Zekk, nothing seems to surprise me with you anymore.” Mari responded. The three then walked to school, and for some reason, Zekk followed as they met with the others. “Hmm, I’m curious how they’ll react now that I’m a human, and a young one at that!” Zekk thought to himself. He walked in, and one of the teachers made the comment, “Hey, you don’t look like one of our students.” “Is it possible for me to enroll?” Zekk asked. “If you pass the test, and you don’t seem to be anyone strange, maybe, but don’t count on it.” the teacher told him. “That’s not a no!” Zekk thought to himself. At this moment, Zekk would begin one of his more unique trials.
Zekk first had to create an identity for himself. “Let’s see, if I say Zekk Catson, they’ll definitely figure out I’m an alien.” Zekk eventually crafted the identity of Tsubasa Nekoshiro. The obviously made up name somehow flew past the radar, and he managed to pass the test, though, he barely managed to do so, not doing very well to hide that English was his first language. “I don’t think I would’ve passed that if my son didn’t teach me various languages. Thank you, Samuel.” He thought to himself. He recalled a time where his son got injured and his aura accidentally translated his words to Japanese instead of keeping them in English. It was a very difficult trial for Zekk to face, but since then, he’s been able to pick up on other languages easier. Later that day, Zekk came out with the girl’s uniform for that school they went to, and he met with Mari, Airi, and the others. “I got in!” Zekk told them. “If it was this easy, why hasn’t Yeoz tried to enroll yet? Apparently, they even let aliens attend here now.” Mari asked herself. Airi looked and saw the name Zekk had enrolled under. “Tsubasa Nekoshiro? That’s not even subtle!” Airi exclaimed. “It’s like miss Catson just mashed some words together hoping it would work.” Miri stated. “That’s exactly what I did! I used some words my son taught me and made my name with them.” Zekk explained.
As they left, someone was watching. It was a girl with light green hair and yellow cat like eyes in a green dress. It was Cat. “I can’t believe that Sunela is forcing me to do this in a mortal form! They should have more respect for a goddess like me!” she complained. She then emitted a red aura, and from her, a gigantic green cat monster appeared. “Attack, my child, so I may be free from the realm of mortals!” Cat ordered. The monster then charged towards the school, and made a massive meow like roar, leveling the building. The girls saw this, and Airi, Ari, Miri, and Kiri shouted “Magical Love Scream!”, transforming into Pink Strawberry, Ruby Flame, Emerald Breeze, and Golden Sparkle. They began to charge at the cat, and the cat slapped them, sending them flying, causing them to fall unconscious and turn back to normal. “They didn’t even get to attack!” Mari told Zekk, the only other one still standing. Something then spoke to Zekk. “I am the Sky Ring. Shout Magical Love Scream, and I shall grant you the power needed to overcome evil.” Zekk had a confused look for a second, before shouting, “Magical Love Scream!” His body then transformed into a form with light blue frilly clothes with purple accents, his hair turned a light blue, and white cat ears appeared on his head, and a white cat tail also appeared. “Bringing peace with the tranquility of the sky, I am Diamond Sky!” he shouted. He then pondered, “Why did I just say that? Was that the ring as well?” The giant cat then growled at him, and pounced.
Mari defended Zekk by punching the monster, while telling Zekk, “Let the ring tell you what to do! This is our only chance! We’re the only ones who can stand up to this beast!” “Alright! Diamond Slash!” Zekk shouted as his arms formed a giant white cat claw with its aura, and he slashed the beast, cutting it in half, causing it to disappear. “That’s it?” Zekk asked in disappointment. “Because of your previous training, your transformed state is far stronger than the others, Diamond Sky.” Mari explained. “Ah, so like a super transformation! That makes sense!” Zekk responded. Airi then woke up, and saw Diamond Sky. She got up and muttered, “Are you... Zekk?” “I’m Diamond Sky in this form!” he told her. Airi smiled, “I guess that makes us the Strawberry Six now, doesn’t it?” she told him. Mari ran to Airi’s side and told her, “Take it easy, we’ll talk more once you’re doing better. Let’s meet in the forest, alright?” “Let’s do that, Sapphire Ocean.” Airi responded. “I’m not even transformed right now.” Mari reminded her. Meanwhile, behind the walls, Cat told herself “I underestimated those two. Oh well, that wasn’t the best I had! I’ll defeat them next time!” Cat then walked towards the destroyed school after they left, and shone a green light, and in that instant, the school was repaired. “I might have my moments, but I’m not that evil.” she whispered.
The next day, the, now renamed by Airi, Strawberry Six, arrived in the forest, with Yeoz as well. “Are you sure you’re still the leader, Airi?” Yeoz teased her. “Hey now!” Airi yelled. “I’m kidding!” Yeoz told her. Zekk, now back in his girl form, still unable to turn back into a cat, started floating. “This is your next lesson!” Zekk explained, before flying around. “This body is much easier to fly in! I guess human bodies are easier to use aura in than an Earthling cat’s body!” Zekk thought as he flew. Zekk then landed. “For that ability, you want your aura to be concentrate around your feet, and then let your soul float you up. Eventually, you’ll be able to fly with faster speed and more percision than a bird!” he explained to them. Yeoz then demonstrated as well. “I’m able to do it too.” Yeoz told them. “No, no, no, you’re doing it wrong! You’re using your brain rather than your soul! That’s why your flight is so limited!” Zekk scolded. “I see.” Yeoz responded. Yeoz tried again, with her soul this time, and she flew, and didn’t get tired, before eventually landing safely. Afterwards, Mari tried it and learned it easily, and soon, Miri and Kiri learned it too, and then Airi, and Ari. Mari and Yeoz could fly the fastest, followed by Zekk, Airi, Kiri, Miri, and then lastly, Ari. “I just taught them that and those two already bested me. Those two look like superheroes out of a comic book flying like that!” Zekk thought as he looked at Mari and Yeoz flying at speeds that would make even the fastest of birds gasp.
Cat was following nearby in the forest, and she gasped, and exclaimed “They’re flying now?! But I thought there never was regular aura in this timeline, unless...” It then hit her what had happened. “It’s Zekk, isn’t it? He’s spreading his Momuian knowledge to these girls, isn’t he? He’s changing the entire way this timeline is supposed to work! What does he think these girls are, the Zuper Team?!” she told herself. Her anger then escalated, and she then created another cat, this one was a large black cat with green eyes. “Heh, it’s time I put my new plan into motion! Your name is supposed to be Samantha Catson, and I have given you the knowledge to fulfill your duty! Now go, my daughter!” Cat told her creation. “Yes ma’am!” the cat responded before flying in the direction of the girls.
The cat flew towards Zekk, and told him, “Hello, Zekk. I could tell it was you from your aura. What are you doing here with these human girls?” “Samantha?! How did you find me?!” Zekk asked in utter shock. Mari and Yeoz flew to where the two were, with Kiri, Miri, and Airi following. “Samantha? That’s your mate?!” Mari shouted, completely astounded. “You, you abandoned me! You dumped me to be with a harem of teenaged human girls, you sick unloyal fool!” the cat cried at Zekk. “It’s not what it looks like! These are my friends! I still love you, Samantha!” Zekk cried back. “Liar! Hope Star!” the cat shouted, firing a giant yellow star of aura at Zekk, knocking him down. Yeoz then warned the others, “This cat has a malicious heart!” “So, she’s probably a fake then.” Mari concluded. “I am not a fake, I am the real Samantha Catson!” the cat screamed. Airi, Miri, and Kiri proceeded to transform. Meanwhile, on the ground, Zekk told himself, “Samantha would never attack me like that! This must be a fake! Magical Love Scream!” before transforming into Diamond Sky and flying back up into the air.
The fake Samantha kept attacking with Hope Star and flying around at high speeds, though this was not enough to do much damage to the Strawberry Six. “This cat appears to be weaker than we thought.” Kiri concluded. “Flame Breath Jutsu!” Mari shouted before breathing fire at the cat, which it almost dodged, but the cat’s tail ended up scorched. “Ow! How could you do that to me? I’m just a girl!” the cat cried. “We’re girls too!” Mari told the cat. As Diamond Sky was flying up, he heard “Strawberry Love Explosion!” being shouted by Airi, and an explosion appeared around the fake Samantha, disintegrating the fake cat. When Zekk finally got up there, Airi explained, “Don’t worry, Diamond Sky, that was just a regular cat-shaped monster! That wasn’t your real mate!” “I think I figured out that much. The real Samantha wouldn’t have gone down that easily either. She’s gentle towards me, but she’s terrifyingly fierce towards her foes.” Zekk responded.
“I can’t believe they bested me twice! Sunela’s probably laughing at me right about now! I have to think of something better, something stronger! I must show them that I can be a true Ultra Goddess of Destruction!” Cat exclaimed, though only the forest heard her ramblings. Meanwhile, the lives of the girls and Zekk go on, and Zekk is about to face a new challenge.
Chapter 3: Mari's New Transformation
After the girls went home, Zekk went back to the city after them. “Where do I go now? Mari’s parents accepted me when I was a cat, but now that I’ve transformed into a human girl, where do I go?” Zekk thought to himself. When he put on the Sky Ring, he was transformed into a teenage girl with long white hair and blue eyes, and he had crafted a new identity in this form, named Tsubasa Nekoshiro. However, while this new transformation has allowed Zekk to better control his powers, and he is now able to attend the same school as Mari, he now has a new problem, and that is, he has no home to go to. “So, Zekk, or should I say, Tsubasa? You seem to be in the same boat as me.” a voice said from next to him. Zekk looked, startled, and Yeoz was there. “Sorry, I couldn’t help but overhear your thoughts. I followed you because I was bored. I was staying at Airi’s house for a while, but they kicked me out for being a freeloader and a foreigner.” she told him. “Foreign? At least you’re from this planet, I don’t even have that going for me.” Zekk complained. “That may be true, but as far as anyone should be able to tell, you’re just an ordinary girl with a weird hairdo. In your current form, there’s no way they should be able to tell that you’re an alien.” Yeoz told him. Zekk wondered to himself, “Where is home? Even back when I literally lived in a hole under a rock in the forest with my mentor, Tom, at least that was a home.”
Meanwhile, watching Zekk was the ever so sneaky Cat. “I know what to do!” she whispered to herself. She then surrounded herself with an emerald light, and her hair turned black, and her eyes turned brown. Afterwards, she waited until Yeoz and Zekk departed, and went towards Zekk. Cat then walked up to Zekk and told him, “Hello! I’m Inethercat, but you can call me Ineth!” “You’re not slick, Catherine.” Zekk responded. Cat then reverted to her normal form. “You saw right through me! What gave it away?” she asked. “You just flipped the syllables of your name, and it turned into something nonsensical, Cat.” Zekk responded. “Anyways, how would you like a home?” Cat asked him. “What kind of home do you have in mind?” Zekk asked, curiously. “This!” Cat exclaimed as green aura began to surround Zekk, and suddenly, Zekk was trapped in an emerald cage. “Try to get out of that one, fool!” Cat shouted before running off, laughing manically. Zekk fired lasers out of his eyes and melted the bars, freeing himself from the trap. “That was a cheap trick, Catherine!” Zekk exclaimed. Zekk continued to wander, eventually getting exhausted. “I can’t keep moving, I’m hungry and I’m tired. This body can’t take much more...” Zekk cried, before eventually collapsing on the ground.
When Zekk woke up, he was in a bed somewhere. Immediately, he recognized the room he was in. It was Mari’s room. “Mari’s house? How?” Zekk asked. Mari came up the stairs and explained to Zekk what had happened while he was asleep. “I told my parents the situation and they let you stay here. Also, here.” Mari told him before handing him a bowl of rice. “It’s not much, but-” Mari began to say, before Zekk told her, crying, “I don’t mind, I’m just glad to finally be able to eat something!” before thanking her and chowing down. “Even as a human, some of his eating mannerisms are cat-like. We’ll have to work on that. Also, imagine if they knew that this girl was actually a male cat.” Mari thought to herself.
That night, Zekk was dreaming. He was back in one of his previous homes, an old house where he, two of his sons, and some humans he knew lived. “Hi father!” a tuxedo cat told Zekk. “Wait, is that our father, Sam?” a large gray tabby cat asked. “What do you mean, Ozzy?” Sam asked the tabby in confusion. “Well, that’s very clearly a human girl. That can’t be our father.” Ozzy responded. Someone overheard the conversation, and a brown haired boy with green eyes told Zekk, “Get out. You don’t belong here.” “You too, Mark?!” Zekk cried. The faces of many more Zekk knew appeared, telling Zekk to get out, and that he wasn’t welcome, before Samantha walked up to Zekk. “Samantha! It’s me, Zekk! Won’t you believe me?!” he cried. “You are not Zekk Catson, you are Tsubasa Nekoshiro. Get lost, weirdo. Hope Star!” Samantha told him before firing an attack at Zekk, after which, Zekk woke up in Mari’s room. Zekk began to cry, “I’m Zekk Catson, I’m telling you...” Mari looked at Zekk, and thought to herself, “I can’t imagine what Zekk is going through right now. I really hope that we’ll be able to get him to be able to return to his home.”
The next day, Zekk and Mari went downstairs, and Zekk was clearly affected by the dream that he had. After they left, Airi greeted them at the door, yelling “Hi, my lovely lovely Mari and my amazing friend Tsubasa!” “Hi Sparkl-, I mean, hi Airi.” Zekk responded, looking exhausted. “Sparkle? No, you silly! I’m Airi, not Kiri!” Airi told him with a laugh. Cat then sneaked up on them, and thought to herself, “That’s perfect! I can toy with Zekk even more this way!” She then jumped out and shouted, “Airi Kirainu, turn into a cat!”, before firing a red beam at Airi, but the Love Ring protected Airi, deflecting it, turning Cat into a pink and yellow cat with sparkly fur and bright yellow eyes. “It backfired! Run!” Cat cried, running off. “What was that?” Airi asked. “That, was one of our foes. I’ll tell you more after school.” Zekk explained to her.
Another day went by, and the girls had to do a test, which they passed with flying colors, but Zekk looked tired throughout the day. A teacher noticed this, and asked “Miss Nekoshiro, did you get a proper night of sleep last night?” “I had a bad dream, but other than that, I’m alright.” Zekk told them. “Well, be careful, okay?” the teacher told him. “I will.” Zekk responded. Later on, lunch arrived, and Zekk ate what Mari had packed him, which was about the same thing as she brought. Being human, Zekk now got to enjoy foods that were off limits for him as a cat, and since he was in a country with a different cuisine than he was used to, the food he was eating was very different than what he was used to. Thankfully, Zekk isn’t picky about food, and enjoys just about anything, but his favorite foods are usually types of seafood, something of even greater abundance where he is now. After eating, he was somewhat refreshed, though he was still clearly exhausted. Despite this, he managed to get through the rest of his school day.
After school, Zekk met up with the girls, but he was acting rather unusual due to exhaustion. “Hi Mari, would you happen to have a megaphone?” Zekk asked, before immediately dropping to the ground. He once again fell into a dream, and there was a girl with long green hair, green eyes, and light skin, in a marble landscape. “Hi miss Kazedori, would you happen to have a megaphone?” Zekk asked the girl. “Miss Kazedori? Who’s that? I’m Gagagia Sani.” the girl replied. “Oh, I’m finally home!” Zekk cried out in joy. The girl then ripped off her head and revealed the head of Sunela Goldencat. “You wish! You’ll never see Gagagia again, just like you’ll never see your sons or your mates ever again! Zekk will be gone forever, and you will forever be trapped in that body, as Tsubasa Nekoshiro!” Sunela told him, before breaking out into a demonic laughter, turning the land red before a hole formed beneath Zekk, where he would fall and fall, until he heard, “Please wake up, miss Nekoshiro.” Zekk woke up and saw before him, Miri. “Gagagia?” Zekk asked. “What’s a Gagagia? I’m Miri Kazedori.” she told Zekk, confused. Yeoz then walked up to them, and told them, “I think Zekk has been having nightmares. If I had to guess, recent events must have been taking a heavy toll on him.”
Meanwhile, Cat had finally managed to return herself to normal. “Those rings are a real pain! I know now that I can’t just turn them into things!” Cat told herself. She then closed her eyes in order to see her surroundings in a different way. Cat can use an extra sense, where she can see the souls or aura of those around her. She examined her surrounding, and made a discovery. Each of the rings appear to have their own aura, different from the people who are wearing them. “That’s peculiar! Are those rings alive or something?” Cat thought to herself. She then noticed something else. “That short haired foreigner that hangs out with them doesn’t have a ring!” she exclaimed before opening her eyes again. “All I have to do is get her by herself and brainwash her, and victory will be in the bag for me!” Cat thought. Yeoz then walked up to her, and told her, “I’m not falling for that.” The others followed behind Yeoz, and Zekk told them, “There’s no time to explain! We must attack! Magical Love Scream!” Zekk shouted before transforming into Diamond Sky. “Oh! So you think you can take me on directly, Zekk Catson? You should know that I’ve always been just a notch above you!” Cat told him in a mocking tone. Zekk charged at Cat, and fired powered up eye lasers. Cat dodged and shouted, “Not good enough! I can sense your fatigue!” Cat then used her aura, and shouted “Emerald Rain!”, causing a hail of emeralds to bombard Zekk, causing him to collapse to the ground and revert back to his girl form. Airi, Miri, Kiri, and Ari then proceeded to transform into Pink Strawberry, Emerald Breeze, Golden Sparkle, and Ruby Flame, before Cat shouted, “Emerald Blade!” In Cat’s hands appeared a green broadsword made of aura. She then dashed at them at incredible speeds, and slashed at them, knocking out Miri, Kiri, Ari, and Yeoz, and knocking Airi back. “What is that power?! Wait, I know, that’s Cat! That’s the girl we fought in New York when we were in Timeline 3, isn’t it?!” Airi exclaimed. “She seems a bit different this time, though.” Mari told her. “It’s totally not like I lost my immortality to that Sunela or anything! Regardless, even as a mortal, I should be enough to defeat you!” Cat shouted. “Yeah, she seems more desperate this time.” Mari concluded.
“Strawberry Love Explosion!” Airi shouted, while Mari shouted “Lightning Strike Jutsu!”, and an explosion and lightning both went flying in Cat’s direction. She slashed the attacks with her Emerald Blade, causing them to miss her entirely. “What can we do?” Airi asked Mari. Mari told her, “It seems like there’s only one way I can defeat her. I’m sorry once again, Kineko, but I’ll have to disobey your orders once more. Magical Love Scream!” Mari then went through a transformation, though it was somewhat different than the last time she transformed. The frilly blue dress with white accents and the blue cat ears still appeared, but around Mari also appeared yellow ribbons, her hair turned an even brighter, glowing blue, and a shuriken appeared in her hair. “Bringing truth and defying unjust destiny, I am Ultra Sapphire Ocean!” she ended up shouting. “Ultra?! Haha, that’s a nice joke!” Cat laughed nervously. “I don’t think that was a joke.” Airi muttered. “Peace Wave Shuriken!” Mari shouting before firing blue shurikens at Cat, slicing at her. “Owww ow ow ow ow! It hurts! Waahhhhh!” Cat cried. Mari then created storm clouds with her power, and shouted, “Super Sapphire Flood!” before a huge mass of watery aura swept away Cat, causing the strange woman to fall to the ground. “I failed. Please forgive me, Sunela.” Cat cried. A flash then occured and Cat disappeared. Mari then returned to her normal form. “You defeated her so effortlessly...!” Airi commented.
Later, the others awoke, and Airi told them what happened. “Mari’s still that strong?!” Zekk asked. “We’ve all become a bit stronger thanks to you, miss Nekoshiro.” Miri reminded him. “I don’t think my training had anything to do with Mari though.” Zekk replied. “Zekk’s right. I already had intense training as a ninja under Kineko. What Zekk taught me were new abilities, but nothing that was any greater than what I already knew, with the exception of flight.” Mari told them. “Oh, that’s right. Miss Umineko is a ninja, isn’t she?” Miri told the others. “But, she just used the Sapphire Ring, like she’s still one of us.” Kiri commented. “This is confusing! I don’t understand this!” Ari compained. Zekk then replied, “I used to be a paladin at one point!” “What else do I need to know?!” Ari shouted before crying. “Geez, look at what these recent event have done to us. Everything might seem a bit new and unusual, but we’re still a team. I’m a ninja, I’m a magical girl, and Zekk is not a paladin.” Mari told them. Zekk then added, “I said used to be! I stopped once someone defeated me because it only limited my abilities!” “Your input was not needed there, Zekk.” Mari told him, sternly.
Meanwhile, Cat had returned to the Ultra God realm, where she saw Sunela. “Why did you spare me, Sunela?” she asked. “I spared you because you have learned your lesson. Steer clear of Mari and Zekk in this timeline from now on, and I shall allow you to be an Ultra God again. Decline, and your life shall meet its end.” Sunela told her. “Fine! I’ll leave them alone!” Cat shouted. “That’s a good girl.” Sunela responded with a smile, before shining a golden light on Cat, restoring her status as an Ultra God. Sunela then looked at a list of Ultra Gods, and contemplated, “Cat has been defeated, and Auragirl111 is too powerful to get to do my bidding. What about... Hmm, this one has no tact, so not him, this one is too innocent, and this one... Crys Tal? Now that’s an Ultra God I haven’t seen in a while! Maybe I can use that to my advantage!” Sunela laughed, and went to find this Crys that they were referring to.
In Timeline 47, there was a girl with light brown hair, hazel eyes, glasses, who wielded a light blue katana. She walked towards a castle made of amethyst, in the center of a large city. “It’s time for my reunion with Mark and the others! I hear he’s the emperor now!” She told herself. As she walked, she was stopped by a handsome, thin, bright blonde haired boy with fair skin, a red hoodie, gray sweatpants, and red eyes. “No way, that couldn’t be!” the girl exclaimed. The boy walked up to her and grabbed her, saying “Hey babe? How would you like to go on a date?” “Ew, no, why would I want to go on a date with you?!” the girl shouted. “Who said you’re going on a date with me?” the boy responded. The boy then shapeshifted into the yellow cat, Sunela. “I hereby strip you of your status of Ultra God and banish you to Timeline 86, where your date is with Mari Umi Kineko and Zekk Catson! Kill them and the Strawberry Six or die!” they shouted, before firing a red flash at the girl, causing her to disappear. “Sorry Emperor Mark, but it seems Crys had a more important date to go to!” Sunela announced with a laugh, before disappearing from that timeline with a flash.
Crys reappeared in the forest where Zekk trains Mari and her allies. “Where am I now? Please tell me that I’m still near Moonopolis!” she cried. She walked towards the city. When she reached it, she knew something was wrong. “Hey, Icefox Blade, I don’t think we’re in Maryland anymore.” she announced, looking at her sword. Crys wandered aimlessly, and eventually decided to shop at a ramen stand, but payment didn’t go as well as she expected. “Now what exactly is this?” the irritated shop owner asked her. “It’s Sparkle Dust! It’s the currency of the Momuian Empire!” Crys told him. The shop owner then slammed the counter and shouted, “That’s glitter!” “My currency is useless here, Icefox Blade! Run!” Crys yelled before she ran as fast as she could to get away. “Get back here!” The shop owner shouted before chasing after Crys. While she was running, she dropped her bag of Sparkle Dust, but she didn’t notice and kept on running.
Later on, Yeoz was walking by and happened to find the bag that was dropped, and she opened it. “This looks like that glitter Mari brought us that one time. Something’s definitely strange here!” Yeoz thought to herself. She took the bag with her, and headed to Mari’s house.
Mari heard Yeoz at the door, and went to open it. “I need to show you something.” Yeoz told her. The two went up to Mari’s room, where Yeoz was about to tell Mari and Zekk what she found. “Let me show you what’s in this bag.” Yeoz told them before opening the bag, and what the two saw made their mouths gape. “It’s Sparkle Dust!” Zekk exclaimed. “Sparkle Dust isn’t native to this world. Something odd is definitely going on here.” Yeoz told them. Mari remembered that the last time she saw Sparkle Dust, it after her time in Timeline 3, where she opened a gift given to her. After pondering for a while, Yeoz left.
The next day was a Sunday, so Mari, Zekk, and the others used their free time to go to the forest to train. That day, something interesting happened. Airi fired pink rays of aura and ended up destroying a tree. “Woah, careful on the forest, Airi!” Zekk exclaimed. “Airi, did you just learn a new ability?” Mari asked. “Learned? I made it up, my love! I call that Strawberry Love Ray!” Airi responded. “That, is a long name for an ability that you used when you’re not even transformed.” Yeoz told her. Yeoz then looked at Mari, and told her telepathically, “You know, if she ever learned how to use Strawberry Love Explosion, she might even rival you, Mari!” “That’s a good one!” Mari responded. “No, I’m actually serious.” Yeoz told her. Ari then shouted, “Fire Breath!” and ended up causing a fire. “Did she seriously just copy my ability?” Mari asked. “That hardly matters, miss Umineko, the forest is on fire!” Miri cried. “Alright, everyone, get behind me!” Mari shouted. They listened, and Mari shouted “Golden Peace Wave Jutsu!”, and a powerful golden wave put out the forest fire that Ari had inadvertently created. “Wow, Airi and Ari are getting quite a bit stronger! I’m betting that Pink Strawberry and Ruby Flame will be stronger now too!” Zekk told them.
Little did the seven know that someone was watching them. “I bet Cat can’t create a monster like this.” Crys told herself, watching from the trees. Suddenly, as they were training, snow began to fall upon the forest, despite it nearly being summer. “Hey, doesn’t this weather seem out of season?” Kiri commented. The snow then intensified into a blizzard. “This is dangerous, everyone! We need to fly away from here!” Yeoz shouted. They began trying to fly, but the intensity of the blizzard blew them back down. “This is no ordinary blizzard!” Zekk warned. The blizzard intensified until the girls and Zekk were buried. “We’re doomed. What can we do?!” Zekk thought to himself. Zekk then heard a shout from Ari, and it was unmistakable. It was, “Magical Love Scream!”
Chapter 4: The War of Mari Umi Kineko
A inescapable blizzard caused by something of Crys’s creation had suddenly started as Mari, Zekk, Airi, Miri, Kiri, Ari, and Yeoz were training, burying the seven. “Magical Love Scream!” is what they heard Ari shout as they were buried in snow. Transforming under the snow, Ari became Ruby Flame, and using the new Fire Breath ability she had just learned, melted the snow around her. The red haired girl with wolf ears and her flaming orange eyes was about to be put to the test in this battle of fire versus ice. “It’s so cold...” Zekk cried before falling unconscious. “Oh no, it’s already taking a toll on the others! I have to hurry!” Ari panicked. She continued to use her fire breath, but it was all she could do with that ability to prevent herself from getting buried again. “I guess I’ll have to go all out. I hope this doesn’t hurt the others too much. Passion Flame!” Ari shouted, as a huge mass of flame came out, melting away the snow that had the others buried. Everyone else besides Zekk appeared to still be conscious, although, cold and shivering. Ari could also now see a large monster made of ice with scythe-like arms slashing away at the air. “That monster must be creating the blizzard!” Kiri exclaimed. Ari began running towards it, and used a Passion Flame on the monster, melting its arms. “Yes! Now it can’t create blizzards anymore!” Ari cheered. The monster then charged towards Ari, but it was now defenseless against Ari’s flames, and slowly, the monster had melted away to nothing, and the snow it had created disappeared from the forest, as if it had never fallen in the first place.
“It didn’t work?! This must be why Sunela called me then!” Crys told herself with a gasp. At that moment, Crys could have sworn she felt someone watching her from the trees. “Is it just me, or?” Crys asked before looking around, but no matter how hard she looked, she couldn’t find anything. “That’s weird! I think I’m getting out of this forest, it’s giving me the creeps!” Crys whined in a panic. She then proceeded to run away. From the trees, a figure became visible that previously wasn’t. It was a cat with shiny golden fur and red eyes, though it was not Sunela. This was Kineko. “Who was that? She almost looked to be some type of samurai, though, she also looked like she must be an amateur. Regardless, I have to find Mari!” he told himself. He continued jumping from tree to tree, in search of Mari.
Meanwhile, Sunela observed this from the realm of the Ultra Gods. “Ah, so my lookalike has managed to get to Mari’s time, even though I had sealed off the link between Mari’s time and the time of the ninjas? There must be someone at work who must be defying my will!” Sunela shouted. Someone went up to Sunela. “What’s wrong, Goldy?” the person asked. “It’s not Goldy anymore, it’s Sunela! I changed my name, and you know it!” Sunela screamed at them. It was a man with dark skin, dyed curly golden hair, sunglasses, wearing a suit and a golden chain covered in diamonds. “Yo, you really think you can get away with treating the swagmaster like this?!” he told them. “Yolo, you ain’t got no swag! I banish you to Timeline 31 until you can behave!” Sunela shouted before shining a red light at him, which Yolo dodged. “How about I banish you to Timeline 86 instead, fool?” Yolo responded, before firing a red laser from a gun, stripping Sunela’s Ultra God status and sending them to Mari’s timeline. Cat was watching this, and commented, “I think things just got more interesting!”
Appearing in Timeline 86 was Sunela, though, they was a great distance away from Mari. Sunela looked around. The city looked very modern, but it was far different than where Mari lives. Sunela could read the signs still, and concluded, “A dictatorship. This isn’t even the same country as Mari is in. Even without my Ultra God status, I’m still powerful!” Sunela declared, before turning into their boy form. “For now though, this form will suit my purposes better!” they told themselves. Someone then approached him. It was a woman with long, wavy black hair, red eyes, and a militaristic looking outfit. “So you think you’re powerful?” she asked Sunela with a serious tone. “Yes! I am far stronger than Mari Kineko!” Sunela exclaimed. “But are you more powerful than us?” the girl asked. “What kind of question is that?!” Sunela shouted. The girl then held Sunela in a choke hold and asked in frustration, “It’s a yes or no question. I am a high ranking government official, and if you don’t answer, I’ll have you disappeared. Now, let me ask again, are you more powerful than us?” Sunela tried to shapeshift again to escape, but some powerful force was stopping them. “Impossible...! She must not be kidding!” Sunela thought to themselves. “Good, I can see it in your eyes. You know who the more powerful of us is.” she told Sunela before slamming them to the ground. “Now, tell me who this ‘Mari Kineko’ person is that you claim is so powerful and where I can find them, and I might let you leave Beijing alive.” the woman ordered. “I guess there’s no reason in resisting. Mari is somewhere in Tokyo, Japan.” Sunela told her. “Of course, she would be in that country. It seems I’ve got a journey ahead of me, and possibly a battle too.” the girl told them. She then put Sunela in a choke hold again, and told them, “Now, don’t you forget this. My name is Panda to lowly men like you! Now, begone!” she shouted, before tossing Sunela and sending them flying. Sunela kept flying west until they landed somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean.
Meanwhile, life goes on for Mari, Airi, Zekk, and the others, and even Crys, not yet knowing about the terrifying new foe that has their eyes set on them, though Yeoz could sense something was different. “I have a gut feeling that all of us, as well as this country, are all in grave danger right now. I really hope that I’m wrong about this...” Yeoz thought to herself. Kineko then arrived at where they were. “Sunela?!” Zekk cried. “Sunela? I’m Kineko, also, who is that white haired girl, Mari?” Kineko responded. “That would be Tsubasa Nekoshiro as she’s known in that form, but in actuality, he’s a male cat named Zekk Catson. He’s been stuck as a girl ever since he put on a ring similar to me.” Mari explained. “So, the one who brought me here was correct. You see, this Sunela that miss Nekoshiro referred to ended up sealing up the passage between my time and your time. I was sent here by a mysterious cat who called himself ‘Kitano’.” Kineko told them. “Kitano? I swear I’ve heard that name before.” Zekk muttered. Kineko then added, “Also, this Kitano told me to send Zekk Catson his regards, for protecting his, timeline, I think he told me. It seems difficult for me to believe that one.” “It really is him, the legendary cat who transcends timelines, Merlin the Kitano!” Zekk exclaimed.
“So, what can we do about the passage between us being blocked?” Mari asked Kineko. “I was told that if we were to defeat Sunela, the aura that is preventing time travel would be dispelled.” Kineko explained to her. Kineko also added, “I also wanted to tell you that you have transcended beyond what I can teach you, and to please be careful about using the Sapphire Ring. Relying on it too much may make your base strength weaker.” “Oh, I think Zekk taught that to us too!” Airi told them. “It seems that miss Nekoshiro is wiser than I thought, even if she is lacking in the department of common sense.” Kineko told them. “Hey, where did you hear that last part from?” Zekk asked. “Hold on a second.” Kineko told Zekk. He then threw a shuriken towards the trees, striking Crys. “You can’t outsmart a ninja like that, girl! Come out here!” Kineko shouted. Crys then came walking out into the open, pulling the shuriken out of her jacket before dropping it on the ground. “Oh, that’s a big sword! Are you sure you know how to use that?” Kineko asked Crys. “I’ll show you, Ice-” Crys started before she ended up paralyzed in her steps by Kineko’s stare. Within about a minute, she collapsed. “What happened?” Kiri asked. “Probably what Kineko did to me a while back. That girl probably wasn’t able to endure it.” Mari told her. “I’ll be taking that sword!” Kineko announced before grabbing the blade right out of Crys’s hands. The blade had “Icefox” engraved into it. “It’s a nice katana, indeed, but the sword is only as good as the person who wields it. A girl with her lack of experience was never meant to be using a blade this large. Only a true master can get good use out of a sword like this.” Kineko explained.
Crys then got up, and looked at her hands, before looking up at the others. “That’s my Icefox Blade...!” she cried, weakly. Kineko then walked up to her and told her, “You are not worthy of your blade.” Crys then crawled towards them, and Mari gave Crys a look of pity. Kineko looked at the blade, and determined, “This blade has magical properties, doesn’t it? The very blade itself seems to give off an icy aura.” “So, that sword is probably what created that blizzard monster then?” Ari asked. “It definitely would be powerful enough to do that much.” Kineko responded, confirming Ari’s suspicions. Crys then got up and tried to run at them, but Mari punched her and knocked her down. “Without your sword, you appear to be powerless. You’re just an ordinary girl.” Mari told her. “That’s why she couldn’t use it properly. The blade itself was extraordinary, but the person wielding the sword was ordinary.” Kineko emphasized, making sure Crys understood what he was saying to her. Zekk then took a long look at Crys, and announced, “That appears to be Crys, the Ultra God, though judging from how easily she lost, she must not be one anymore.” Mari then had a realization, which she told to everyone, “Of course! She was so used to being almighty, that once she was turned into a regular human girl, she wasn’t able to adjust! She must have tried to come after us immediately after becoming mortal! Zekk was also very weak when he lost his Ultra God status as well, except unlike Crys, he actually trained himself!” After the others talked for a while, Crys realized something else. “Wait, why am I still here?” she asked. “That’s right! Cat disappeared when Mari defeated her! Why didn’t the same thing happen here?” Airi asked.
Sunela was swimming in the Atlantic Ocean before they got an idea. “I’ve got it!” they announced. They then turned into a shark and began swimming. “Now I don’t have to worry about drowning out here! That Panda person was really strong though!” Sunela thought to themselves. Eventually, they neared dry land, and turned back into their human form. It was a beach. “Jackpot! Now all I need to do is board a plane, and then I’m set!” Sunela shouted. Sunela found out soon enough that they made land in the US state of Florida, even further away from their goal than they were before. “Ah well, I guess I could have ended up somewhere worse!” Sunela told themselves. They ended up deciding to go to an amusement park, and there, they chatted with a brown haired girl with blue eyes, wearing a shiny blue dress. “Hello, Sunela, my name is Alice.” she introduced herself. They ate some of the expensive food they served there, and Sunela explained, “I actually ended up in the area because I got stranded at sea.” “I’m glad you managed to get to safety. I’ve been looking across the country for a girl named Yeoz Baugher who ran away from her home in Maryland. The word is, she’s a dangerous psychic!” she told Sunela. “Yeoz Baugher? I think I’ve heard that name somewhere before.” Sunela told her. “Really?! Where is she?!” Alice asked with such excitement, that it nearly caused a commotion. “Tokyo.” Sunela told her. Alice gasped, and responded, “Tokyo? How would Yeoz have managed to get that far? She would have had to cross the ocean!” “I hear that’s exactly what she did.” Sunela explained to her. “I have to get my passport and go check! If I find her, they’ll give me a huge raise!” Alice excitedly told them. “Would you like to go on a ride with me first?” Sunela asked. “Sure!” Alice gleefully responded.
Yeoz suddenly got a strange feeling. “I have a sense that someone else has targeted me. I bet it’s another of those officers from my home country. I doubt they’ll be able to find me, as long as I keep lying low like I have been.” she thought to herself. “Yeoz? You seem like you’ve been out of it this afternoon. Did something happen?” Airi asked her with concern. “I seem to have a bad gut feeling, but that seems to be all.” Yeoz responded. Zekk sensed the tension in the air, and exclaimed, “I have a feeling too! My feeling is takoyaki!” The others looked at him dumbfounded, though some couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, let’s go home for now.” Kiri told the others, who agreed. They all went home for the evening, except for Yeoz and Crys. “I wonder if something happened to Sunela.” Crys asked herself. “Wait, I didn’t even think of that!” Yeoz exclaimed.
Mari’s mother looked at the news that evening, and saw an odd speech on the TV. It was a a new speech from the leader of the government Panda works for, saying “It is time we expand our influence over all of Asia! With our new ultimate weapon, which we have named Panda, no one will be able to rival us! As we speak, our ultimate weapon is headed towards Tokyo, and once she brings Japan to its knees, the west will have no choice but to tremble beneath our might, and soon, we will eliminate US imperialism across the globe!” The headlines were equally terrifying, talking about the start of World War III, and saying that China had declared war on Japan. Of course, as any mother would, she ran upstairs and told Mari and Zekk what she had just saw. Meanwhile, on a different side of the globe, Alice had also saw the news. “What?! World War III, now of all times?! I wanted a raise, not for the US to get dragged into another overseas war! How am I supposed to go to Tokyo now?!” she complained. Sunela, of course, also saw the news. “You know, I’m actually feeling bad for Mari right about now. Panda’s going to end up defeating her before I ever get a chance to face her myself.” they told themselves. They then got up, and shouted, “Panda defeating Mari my foot! I’ll get over there first and defeat Mari, and then this time, I’ll face Panda myself and show her what fear really is!” Sunela proceeded to shapeshift into a cheetah in order to reach an airport. “I don’t have time! I apologize!” Sunela shouted before turning into an elephant to trample everyone, into an ant to enter a plane, into a gorilla to clobber everyone and get to the front of the plane, and back into a human in order to hijack the plane. “Well, I’ve never flown a plane before, but I guess there’s a first time for everything!” Sunela shouted.
The next morning, school was canceled due to fears of a weapon of mass destruction. Mari and Zekk, as well as the others, still managed to sneak out by transforming, and they met together. “Good morning, my lovely amazing friends! Good morning to you too, miss Crys!” Airi told them with a half-baked version of her usual cheer. “I hear they’re sending the men to war.” Yeoz told the others. “War?! You mean that wasn’t just a nightmare I had?!” Zekk asked in shock. Zekk in particular was familiar with war, having died in a war scaling an entire timeline at one point before becoming an Ultra God. Kineko jumped out from a tree. “Mari, it seems like war follows you wherever you go.” Kineko told her. Another golden cat then came running out, shouting “You! I’ve found you, Mari and Zekk!” “Kineko, when did you multiply? I guess ninjas can do that, can’t they?” Kiri asked. The other cat shouted, “I’m Sunela Goldencat, you fool!” Crys then started running joyfully towards Sunela, before they turned to a bear and attempted to maul her. “Lightning Strike Jutsu!” Mari shouted, directly hitting Sunela and sending them flying back, freeing Crys. Crys gasped and whispered “You saved me...!” to Mari. Mari then told her quietly, “You’re a good person, just don’t go getting used again, alright?” Crys nodded her head before Mari charged at Sunela, while Miri came forward to protect Crys.
Sunela got furious and screamed, “You think you, lowly Mari, can defeat me, Sunela? I’ll show you!” Mari could only watch as Sunela grew and grew, gaining reptile features before eventually transforming into a massive golden T-Rex with red eyes, letting out a massive roar. “Just another day here, am I right?” Yeoz joked. Mari charged up and shouted, “Golden Peace Wave Jutsu!” before Sunela opened their mouth and chomped forward, eating Mari and her attack. “That huge dinosaur ate Mari! Magical Love Scream!” Zekk shouted, transforming into Diamond Sky. The others proceeded to transform as well and charged at the now towering figure of Sunela’s dinosaur form. Meanwhile, from inside, Mari shouted “Magical Love Scream!” to turn into Ultra Sapphire Ocean. From there, she flew up to get back to Sunela’s mouth. “Peace Wave Shuriken!” Mari shouted before firing blue shurikens at Sunela’s teeth, knocking some of them out and causing Sunela to roar out in incredible pain. Mari used this opportunity to escape from the mouth of the beast. Once Mari got out, she heard Airi shout “Strawberry Love Explosion!” sending an explosion towards Sunela that knocked them off their feet. Zekk, as Diamond Sky, had prepared a new attack, and his body became surrounded in blue flames. “What’s this?” Mari asked. Zekk charged at Sunela with incredible speed, shouting “Ultra Diamond Lion Strike!” before hitting them with incredible force, engulfing them in a blue flame and knocking them out, causing them to revert back to their cat form.
Afterwards, Sunela woke up, but wasn’t able to stand up due to the injuries they sustained in their legs. “I can’t believe it. Mari and Zekk, you defeated me?” they asked in disbelief. Zekk responded with a request, “That’s right! Can you turn us back into Ultra Gods now so we can stop World War III?” Sunela then muttered, “I can’t do that.” “What?! Why?!” Mari asked furiously. “Well, that would be because, I myself, have been stripped of my Ultra God status. I’m just as mortal as you are now.” Sunela responded weakly. “Then why? Why did you fight us?!” Mari cried. “I wanted to see who between us was stronger, Mari. If Zekk hadn’t defeated me, you would have finished me off. You’ve won my test. If it were up to me, you would both be Ultra Gods again.” Sunela told her. “But now...” Mari started, getting on her knees. “I’m sorry, Mari Umi Kineko, and I’m sorry to you as well, Zekk Catson...” Sunela whispered before falling unconscious. Crys then picked up Sunela and told the others, “I’ll go take care of them. As for the rest of you, I wish you luck.” before she ran off to find safety. One part of the battle had been won, but suddenly, that all seemed trivial with a greater threat that now leaves the world hanging in the balance.
Final Chapter: The Ultimate Enemy, Panda
It had been a month since Sunela’s defeat at the hands of Zekk and Mari, and since the world was plunged into a terrible war under the threat of the ultimate weapon, the woman known simply as Panda. During this time, the entire continent of Asia had broken out into major battles, but the most intense of these battles were in Japan, who was at this point, the primary target of the Chinese military, and fighting against them were the forces of NATO, and, living through this infernal nightmare was Mari, Zekk, Airi, Kiri, Miri, Ari, their loved ones, Yeoz, Crys, and Sunela, never knowing when Panda is going to strike them directly, but knowing one thing, that the forest they had made their training ground is their friend, and getting stronger was their only hope to defeating this enemy that is unlike what any of them, with the exception of Zekk, have faced before. “Strawberry Love Explosion!” Airi shouted in her normal form, now being able to perform her ultimate attack in her normal form, causing an explosion in the air, which destroyed a helicopter. “Oops! I didn’t mean to!” Airi cried. “Don’t worry, Airi, that one was Chinese.” Mari reassured her. Similarly, Ari and Kiri were also able to perform their ultimate attacks in their normal form now. At this point, Zekk had also been able to use Lion Strike without being transformed, and Miri had developed healing abilities. Yeoz and Kineko’s power had also become more powerful. At this moment, with her mind alone, Yeoz had been able to lift up a giant boulder with her mind, and send it flying. The forest was turning into a mess, but not nearly as big of a mess as battle raging in their city was. Kineko had also picked up on some of Zekk’s abilities on top of his ninjutsu, including eye lasers and flight, and Mari had learned how to duplicate herself to a greater extent. Crys and Sunela, however, were not in the forest.
Crys was slashing away at foes, while Sunela was rampaging as a T-Rex, and they proved to be formidable enemies to fight. That is, formidable to most, but not to all. Approaching Sunela and Crys was a face that Sunela immediately recognized, with a voice that rang fear into their heart, “Hello again, pitiful shapeshifter.” The black haired woman with red eyes, in her usual military outfit, Panda, told Sunela. Another familiar face was also fighting with Sunela, this one having brown hair and blue eyes, now wearing a bullet-proof vest, but still unmistakably Alice. “Who’s that, Sunela?” Alice asked her. “Run, Alice! It’s Panda!” Sunela shouted. “Panda? Now’s not the time for-” Alice began to say before being slammed to the ground by Panda’s raw strength. “Still think I’m a joke, American swine?” Panda asked Alice as she stood above her. Sunela tried to use this opportunity to swallow Panda, but she noticed this and created a giant yellow hammer of aura, and smashed Sunela on the head with it, defeating them instantly. “Sunela!” Alice screamed. “Hmph. You don’t even deserve to face my hammer.” Panda spat towards Alice’s direction. Alice created a starry barrier around herself. “I was originally saving my aura to capture Yeoz, but if I don’t fight now, I don’t think I’ll ever get to have that chance!” Alice thought to herself. She then created a bunch of white stars from her aura and had them surround Panda in a constantly moving formation, and shouted, “Dancing Supernova!” as the stars exploded onto Panda. When the explosions cleared, Panda, who was unscathed, had an annoyed look on her face, and scathingly asked Alice, “Are you done with your light show yet?” “No way! That was my strongest attack! I’m done for!” Alice thought to herself. Panda then created a giant sickle in her hands and slashed at Alice’s barrier, slicing right through it and taking Alice down, ending her life. Crys looked at Panda, absolutely terrified, grabbed Sunela while Panda wasn’t looking, and ran away.
Soon, the regular soldiers became aware of Panda’s presence in the area, but they had become aware of her too late, as Panda made quick work of every soldier in the area. She walked further into the city. “So, this is the home of the enemy. It’s exactly what I expected, capitalism everywhere. Disgusting.” Panda told herself has she walked through what was, as far as she was concerned with her unrivaled power, a defenseless Tokyo. Everyone could only watch indoors as China’s ultimate weapon was casually walking down their streets. Panda then looked at Tokyo Tower, and created the giant sickle in her hand, slashing the tower down like a weed, leaving it to collapse. Not many people were in the tower at the time, but Panda did this for one purpose, and that was to send the message that she had already won. As she continued to look, she began to get agitated, and finally shouted, “Where is Mari Kineko?!” This shout was so loud, that Yeoz could hear it from the forest. “Where is Mari Kineko?” Yeoz asked, as the others were in the forest. “What do you mean, Yeoz? I’m right here.” Mari reminded her. “...I heard someone shout that from Tokyo. I didn’t recognize their voice though.” Yeoz explained. “Shouting for me?” Mari asked, confused. Crys then arrived at where they were, with Sunela still unconscious in her hands. “Panda reached Tokyo! Sunela tried to stop her, and, well, look at them!” Crys cried. Miri then ran up to Sunela and whispered, “Emerald Healing.”, and healed Sunela’s injuries.
Meanwhile, Panda decided find Mari with a different method. After some digging, she had found the address of the Umineko household. “This must be where Mari Kineko lives!” Panda concluded before walking there. When she arrived, she busted the door down with her giant hammer, and she quickly found Mari’s mother and pinned her to the wall. “Where is Mari Kineko?!” Panda demanded. “I’ll never sell my daughter out to the enemy! Kill me if you want, but I’ll never tell you where my daughter is hiding!” Mari’s mother told her. Panda then let her go, telling her, “You’re not even worth killing. I’ll tell you what though, if you tell me where your daughter is, I’ll let you have a seat in our government. Think of all the power you could have! Your life would be made for you, and the common people wouldn’t even be able to touch you! All I ask is that you tell me where your daughter is, and I’ll make you recognized as a hero across all of China!” “That’s horrible! You’re a monster! I’ll never abandon my daughter or my country to join the likes of you!” she responded, before spitting on Panda. “You...! How dare you, you lowlife capitalist scum! No one spits on me and gets away with it!” Panda shouted. Mari’s mother laughed before Panda sent a swift kick towards her, sending her through the wall and through anything else blocks over. “What a waste of my time.” Panda told herself.
Little did Panda know, however, that while she was going after Mari’s mother, that Mari, Airi, Zekk, Kiri, Miri, Ari, and Yeoz had returned to their city, a city that was in ruin. They walked towards Mari’s house and saw, on the street, Mari’s mangled mother and the path of destruction that Panda created when she kicked her. Miri attempted to heal her, but began crying, and told the others, “It’s not working.” “It’s not working?!” Mari shouted with tears in her eyes, not wanting to come to terms with what this meant. Miri’s healing abilities have only one limitation, they cannot bring the dead back to life, and Mari knew this. A woman then walked up to Mari, furious, and screamed, “Where is Mari Kineko?!” Panda was now face to face with Mari, and didn’t even know it yet. “I’m Mari Umi Kineko! Are you the one who killed my mother?!” Mari screamed back. “Oh, her? I slaughtered her, just like I plan to do to all other capitalist swine! You shall refer to me as Panda in the last moments that remain for you!” Panda declared. “Magical Love Scream!” Mari shouted, transforming into Ultra Sapphire Ocean. Airi transformed afterwards, gaining ribbons and lighter pink hair than her previous transformations, with a heart appearing in her hair. “Fighting relentlessly for the hope of the world, I am Ultra Pink Strawberry!” Airi shouted. Zekk’s transformation gained glowing white hair, blue lion ears, wings, and an infinity symbol in his hair. “Shining a brilliant light across all evil across eternity, I am Ultra Diamond Sky!” Zekk shouted. Burning a bright passion across the world, Ari’s transformation had brighter red hair, ribbons, and a torch in her hair, becoming Ultra Ruby Flame. Shining justice radiantly across the universe, Kiri has brighter yellow hair, ribbons, and a star in her hair, becoming Ultra Golden Sparkle. Finally, blowing evil away from the world, Miri has brighter green hair, ribbons, and a flower in her hair, becoming Ultra Emerald Breeze. “Just what I needed, another group of showoffs. I’ll show you what happened to the last one who messed with me like this!” Panda shouted.
Panda went at them with her hammer and went to hit Mari, but Mari punched the hammer back with her fists. “Radiant Hope Lightning!” Kiri shouted, firing blinding electricity at Panda’s hammer, destroying it. “What?!” Panda shouted with disbelief. “Blazing Passion Inferno!” Ari shouted as she sent a huge blaze towards Panda, who tried to slice it with her giant sickle, but the fire melted it with its intense heat, and Panda ended up burned. “That’s it! I didn’t think it would come down to this, but now I shall bring my ultimate power!” Panda shouted. She then surrounded herself in a crimson red light, and her body began transforming. Panda’s hair turned a crimson red, her eyes turned yellow, and her outfit was replaced with a red Chinese style dress, and on her head appeared panda ears. “I am the destroyer of democracy and the enemy to capitalists everywhere! I am Crimson Panda!” Panda shouted. “But, she doesn’t have a ring...!” Airi uttered in shock. “So that’s what makes her an ultimate weapon!” Mari realized. “Red Star Barrage!” Panda shouted, firing a storm of red stars at the others. They were able to knock some of them back, but others made their mark. Airi then shouted, “Strawberry Hope Explosion!”, sending a huge explosion towards Panda.
The explosion made its mark, and Panda had received some injuries from the attack. “I can do that too, Pink Strawberry! Crimson Red Explosion!” Panda shouted, before sending a similar, red explosion towards Airi. “I can’t dodge it!” Airi cried. Yeoz then got in front of the blast. She tried to hold it back with her psychic abilities, but it ended up exploding anyways, but Airi wasn’t as damaged by the blast as she would have been otherwise. Yeoz, however, ended up collapsing. Miri ran towards Yeoz to heal her, but Panda stopped her and hit her with a barrage of kicks, before giving Miri an uppercut and knocking her out, causing Miri to return to normal. Kiri shouted, “Ultra Radiant Storm!” before firing a barrage of lightning bolts at Panda, which hit her, and getting annoying, Panda created a hammer more massive than she could before and attacked Kiri with it, knocking her down. Ari tried to use Blazing Passion Inferno again, but Panda attacked with her sickle, taking down Ari and causing her to return to normal. “No way! You won’t defeat us!” Kiri shouted before Panda shouted, “Order Wave!”, sending a yellow wave at Kiri, knocking her down. “Now where have I seen that one before?” Mari asked, sarcastically.
“I know your tricks, Panda! You’re a copycat!” Zekk shouted. “Tiger Strike!” Panda shouted as she charged at Zekk with red flames, but Zekk responded with, “Infinity Pride Strike!” as rainbow flames surrounded him, and the two slammed into each other. Panda’s attack was canceled out, and Zekk’s flames ended up burning her legs severely, causing her to drop to the ground. “Oh no!” Panda told them in a fake cry, before flying up. “I can still defeat you even without my legs!” she declared. “You’re a fool!” Zekk exclaimed. Airi then shouted, “Love & Hope Supernova!” before creating a blinding explosion greater than any she had created before, leaving Panda in tatters and without use of one of her arms. “I haven’t lost yet!” Panda panted, before creating a giant sickle in the hand she could still use. She slashed at Airi, who dodged her and hit her in her other arm, causing Panda’s sickle to disappear. “I can’t fight anymore.” Panda told them. She then began glowing. “What’s happening now?” Mari asked. “I recognize this type of attack! Get away!” Zekk warned. Panda then began glowing a brighter and brighter red, causing the Earth to shake around her, and suddenly, Panda’s body was producing an explosion that was unlike anything man was ready for.
The explosion quickly expanded, as the three tried to hold it back, but they kept getting blown back. All at once, Zekk used Infinity Pride Strike, Airi used Love & Hope Supernova, and Mari shouted, “Ultra Sapphire Flood!” creating an even more powerful flood of aura than Super Sapphire Flood, and the power from the three attacks were enough to push back the explosion, and Mari then shouted, “Golden Peace Wave Jutsu!” and the additional power finally was enough to put out the explosion, preventing what would have been the deadliest explosion in human history. The crater that was left by what did happen was minimal, and the others were still alive, except for Panda, whose body was destroyed immediately when it produce the explosion. The war still continued, but the ultimate weapon was no more. The girls and Zekk would go to rest for the day in the forest, and come up with their next plan of action.
The next day, everyone had fully recovered. “It’s time for us to end this and bring peace to the world!” Mari announced. Then, all six of the ones who could transform shouted, “Magical Love Scream!”, turning into their ultra forms. They flew up into the air, and began flying, flying across land and sea to get to their destination. The Strawberry Six then made their landing within less than a minute, in the city of Beijing. They walked to where the leader of the country was, and none of their military stood a chance against them anymore. Eventually, they backed the dictator into a corner, and Mari told him, “It’s time for you to end this war. If you don’t, the six of us will use all of our might to bring your regime to the ground!” Within a very short period of time, the leader made an appearance with Mari, and told the world, “We unconditionally surrender.” Mari had successfully brought peace to the world.
Meanwhile, in the Ultra God realm, Cat had been watching the events unfold. “Man, I wish I could do something!” she complained. A voice then told her, “There’s nothing stopping you from helping Cat. There’s still something you can do as an Ultra God.” “I understand!” she responded, before disappearing with a flash. In an instant, Cat had appeared where Mari’s mother’s body was. “So, Miss Umineko! I’m about to bring you back to life!” Cat told her, before shining a green light on her. Mari’s mother was alive again, and Cat had disappeared before she could even say thanks. Over time, Cat restored many lives that were lost, including Alice’s, and repaired most of the damage done to Tokyo, though there were some she could not bring back to life in time. There was one other order of business she had to do, however.
Cat had appeared before Mari, Zekk, Airi, Kiri, Miri, Ari, Yeoz, Kineko, Crys, and Sunela when they were all together. “Hi! I’ve come back to restore those of you who lost your Ultra God status!” she told them. Just then, Alice came out of the forest. “First, I’ll start with you, Crys!” Cat started. She was about to return Crys to being an Ultra God, when Alice got in the way. Without realizing what had just happened, Alice shouted, “I’ve finally found you, Yeoz! Now I’m going to turn you in!” She then created an amount of stars of which she had never created before, more stars than there were in the sky. “Cat, I think you accidentally made Alice become an Ultra God.” Cat then responded, “So she wants Yeoz? I can solve that problem!” She then shone a light on Yeoz and told her, “You’re an Ultra God now too, Yeoz!” “This is not how you solve your problems, Catherine!” Sunela shouted. “And Mari, you’re an Ultra God, and Crys is an Ultra God, Zekk is an Ultra God, Sunela is an Ultra God, you’re an Ultra God, I’m an Ultra God, we’re all Ultra Gods!” Cat shouted with a maniacal laughter. Indeed, Mari, Zekk, Crys, and Sunela had regained their Ultra God status, while Alice and Yeoz had become the two newest Ultra Gods, but there was a problem. These two Ultra Gods were about to fight each other. Sunela then told everyone, “Bye for now!” before sending themself and the other Ultra Gods to the Ultra God realm. “I wonder what being an Ultra God is like?” Airi asked herself. “If I had to guess, you don’t even need to be one to be truly incredible. I’ve met someone who is seemingly just as great as one, without the need for such a title.” Kineko told her. “Oh? I wonder who that is?” Airi pondered, while wondering when Mari would return.
In the starry Ultra God realm, Alice was dumbstruck. “Wait, what happened? Why am I so much more powerful?” she asked. “Me too, what happened to us?” Yeoz asked. “I may have ended up turning you two into Ultra Gods!” Cat told them while making a silly face. “How can you be so calm during all this?! Don’t you realize what you’ve caused?!” Sunela shouted. Soon, an all out brawl would occur between Yeoz, Alice, Cat, and Sunela, with Mari and Crys joining in too. This kept going until a voice shouted, “Enough!” A girl with long brown hair, hazel eyes, and pink glasses ended up descending down, wearing a pink shirt and a pink skirt. “Who’s that?” Yeoz asked. “What do you mean, who’s that?!” Sunela gasped. “No, it’s alright, Alice and Yeoz are new here.” the girl told them. “Who are you?” Alice asked. The girl them told them, “I am Zoey, though some refer to me as the Auragirl111. I’m the creator of the reality all of the timelines are a part of, and I am the creator of the Ultra God realm.” “In other words, she’s the most powerful Ultra God there is.” Mari explained. “Of course, I have restored what Sunela had reversed in terms of Mari’s timeline. It would appear Airi’s love for you transcended even Sunela’s power.” Zoey told them. “Nonsense. You used your power to make sure some of the people in Mari’s timeline kept their memory, didn’t you?” Sunela asked. “Oops! Busted! Though, I can’t say the same for Airi. She’s actually powerful enough to defy fate itself if she so chose to, at this point, and was doing just that. She might just give some of you a run for your money in the future!” Zoey replied. “As if Noipazez alone wasn’t enough.” Sunela complained in response. Yeoz then remembered something. “Wait, you’re my girlfriend, Mari! The memories from our time in the ninja village are coming back to me!” she told Mari. “Of course, there are things that have inevitably changed in your timeline because of Ultra God influence. I’m looking at you, Sunela. That being said, your marriage with Airi still happened the same way as it did prior. That would have happened even if you weren’t an Ultra God though. Airi’s love for you is one of the strongest across all the timelines.” Zoey told her. Alice then asked Zoey a question, which was, “What about Panda?” “What about Panda? That, Alice, is a secret! Just kidding, she’s an Ultra God too! She became one before you did!” Zoey responded. “How did that happen?!” Mari asked furiously. Cat, Sunela, Crys, Mari, and Zekk realized very quickly what happened. “Yolo!” they all shouted. “Oops, maybe I shouldn’t have pointed the gold laser at Panda, dawg!” Yolo told himself. Everyone in the Ultra God realm ended up chasing Yolo down, while Panda in another timeline, away from Mari’s. Peace would continue in Mari’s timeline, and she would continue her duties as being an Ultra God, and being a partner to Yeoz and Airi, and being a ninja and a member of the Strawberry Six, which Zekk would also continue being a part of. What happens with Alice, Panda, and Yeoz after this, however, is yet to be seen.
The End
Bonus: Overview of Mari Umi Kineko Lore
Mari Umi Kineko (Mari Umineko/Mari Kineko)
Mari was a girl with an ordinary girl who disliked girly clothes even though that all her parents bought her. Mari watches a lot of anime when she has free time. She was the second of the Strawberry Five to get a ring, obtaining the Sapphire Ring, though she never really did have any interest in being a magical girl. Mari is also a descendant of the Sapphire Ring's first wielder from times long gone. The "Umi" in her name means Ocean, and "Kineko" is supposed to mean "Yellow Cat". Likewise, Umineko is supposed to mean "Ocean Cat". The name "Mari" is based on her name in the dream that inspired the story.
Airi Kirainu (Pink Strawberry)
Airi was a lonely girl for most of her life until middle school, as thanks to the rings uniting them, she finally had friends. She was the first of the Strawberry Five to get a ring, obtaining the pink Love Ring. In high school, however, it had been a while since they had fought, and Airi tried as hard as she could to stay close to her friends, though she just ended up infuriating them instead. On top of that, she realized that she had romantic feelings for Mari, which made her attached to her in particular. When Mari finally told her that she was going to leave the Strawberry Five, Airi couldn't take it. To her, the only one that she ever had feelings for had just walked away and said goodbye forever. To be fair, that was Mari's intention at the time. The "Ai" in her name comes from the word for love. "Kirainu" is supposed to be a combination of "Kirakira" and also "Inu", the word for dog. The best translation in this case would be "Shining Dog". The "ri" in her name originates from Mari's name.
Kiri Raitsune (Golden Sparkle)
Descendant of the legendary ninja known as Ramen, Kiri comes from an upper class family that still goes to the same school as the other girls by choice. Unlike some other parents in their positions, Kiri's parents are very lenient towards her. How did her family get so rich? By creating a famous brand of instant ramen, of course! As for Kiri, she recieved her ring third out of the Strawberry Five, the Golden Ring, right after Airi and Mari got theirs. The "Ki" in her name comes from the word for yellow. Her last name is supposed to be a combination of "Rai", meaning lightning, and "Kitsune", meaning fox. This combines to "Lightning Fox". The "ri" in her name originates from Mari's name.
Miri (Emerald Breeze)
Miri is a girl who loves to draw manga, and when she's focused, it's hard to get her unfocused. Miri is a very kind and caring individual, except towards Airi, who she's gotten quite sick of. She was the fourth of the Strawberry Five to get her ring, the Emerald Ring. The "Mi" in her name comes from "Midori", the word for green. The "ri" in her name originates from Mari's name.
Ari (Ruby Flame)
Ari is a girl who tends to play sports when she's not busy with school or fighting. She is a year younger than the other members of the Strawberry Five, and the last one to get her ring, the Ruby Ring. The "A" in her name comes from "Aka", the word for red. The "ri" in her name originates from Mari's name.
The Rings (Love Ring/Sapphire Ring)
The five rings originally fell down to Earth during the age of the "ninja world". Since the land was at war with itself, and there was constant fighting and killing with the samurai and the ninja, who both had the power to use aura, a man wanted to stop it, an ancestor of Airi. He found a crater one day, and in there, he found what is known in the modern era as the Love Ring, but on the other end of things, one of the ninjas had managed to find the Sapphire Ring. Soon, the man with the Love Ring used the power that he got from the ring to become a monster that eliminates all the ninjas who try to attack other people, as well as rival leaders. Before long, the leader of the village of the snow, wielder of the Sapphire Ring, had called the other villages as well as his own to war against the army of the Love Ring's wielder. The battle began, and the Sapphire Ring wielder used its power to reinforce the weapons and aura of his allies, and also used to to wash away his enemies, while the Love Ring wielder used his ring to rain pink lasers of death upon his enemies, and when that wasn't enough, he wiped them out with a massive explosion, killing the Sapphire Ring wielder in the process. Afterwards, the Love Ring rejected the man and disintegrated his body. Afterwards, the rings flew up into space, where humanity would not be able to reach them for a long time. After centuries, the rings decided to return to Earth, but now, instead of just letting anyone pick them up, it would only allow girls who are not old enough to have been corrupted by the world yet to wield them, and no man would ever wield the rings again. However, there was one who broke the ring's wishes despite this, but this time, there was a being without corruption fighting against her, so the slaughter of long ago couldn't happen again.
Strawberry Five
The rings chose five middle school girls bring peace to the world instead of men after the events that happened centuries ago. The Love Ring chose Airi, who became Pink Strawberry, and the Sapphire Ring chose Mari, who became Sapphire Ocean. Likewise, the Golden Ring chose Kiri to become Golden Sparkle, the Emerald Ring chose Miri to become Emerald Breeze, and the Ruby Ring chose Ari to become Ruby Flame. Together, they fought monsters and evildoers that appeared throughout Tokyo, many of which came from the gateway between the modern world and the ninja world. After about a few months, the amount of threats in Tokyo had died down, and before long, the Strawberry Five weren't needed anymore except on rare occasions.
Downfall of the Ninjas
After the war between the Love Ring wielder and the Sapphire Ring wielder had ended, the people across Japan began viewing those with aura abilities as demons. As such, they killed those they discovered to have such abilities. Before long, the only ones with these powers who survived were the ones who hide their power, the incredibly lucky ones who hadn't been caught, and the few that somehow managed to leave to become the problem of another land. One of the people descended from one of the people that had escaped was Yeoz, which is why she has special powers.
Yeoz Baugher (Star Yeoz)
Born in the American state of Maryland, Yeoz was a girl that had been able to use her telekinetic abilities since she was a young child, and was shunned by the people around her as such. Through a lot of her life, she had went from home to home, and had practiced with her telekinetic abilities until she was able to escape the United States. She had the ability to make barriers, hold objects in the air, and make it so she doesn't lose as energy as she runs by pushing herself slightly above the group. She also has the ability to levitate, has limited flight, and can walk on water. Yeoz literally walked all the way from the US to Japan, but no one would believe her if she told them that. Yeoz is Zoey spelled backwards
Ramen (Kazeru Raitsune)
Ramen is a ninja who had lost both his parents before he could remember, so he could not remember his own name. Despite this, he managed to find a way to survive, and eventually, became one of the best ninjas the world had ever seen. Not long after he passed, the war between the two ring wielding men would tear the land, something that wouldn't have happened so easily if he were still alive at that time. His actual name is Kazeru Raitsune. The "Kaze" in his name comes from the word for wind.
Kineko (The Cat Ninja)
Kineko is a cat who has lived in Japan before it was even Japan. Back when no people lived on the island, Kineko was a guardian of the forest. Much later on, the people who would become the ninjas would take note from Kineko's speed, accuracy, illusion-making, terror, and lethality. Kineko was killed by the Love Ring wielder during the war. His name means "Yellow Cat".
No comments:
Post a Comment