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It was the afternoon of January 27th as a group of girls walked down a walking trail in the park. The 5 girls had each distinctive hair colors and styles be it a slightly short girl with magenta hair and distinctive bangs, a taller girl with long blue hair, a similarly tall girl with a short blonde hair, as well as another tall girl with medium length purple hair with a pair of buns on the side of her head, and finally the shortest of the girls and the youngest of them with long honey orange hair. The 5 girls seemed to be happy enough despite the tense mood as no one seems to wanna talk. That is before the magenta haired girl decides to open her mouth.
“So umm Ruru were you able to pack last night before hanging with us today?” Hana questioned as her purple haired friend looked back at her and nodded. “I was able to pack all I needed to. Although I worry some of it might have gotten tossed around when Dr. Traum’s machine turned into an Oshimida.” Ruru says as Hana nods. “Still not calling him father yet?” Homare questions as Ruru sighs and nods. “After today’s experience I do not wish to call him such a name for a while. That will be his punishment.” Ruru says, slightly angered as the girls nodded.
“Ruru I think you can give him a pass on that, I do say. He was not trying to make an Oshimaida.” Emiru says to her taller friend as she sighs but nods. “Fortunately it wasn’t too much of a mess to defeat. Although that new Pretty Cure that showed up definitely helped.” Saaya says as Hana nods enthusiastically. “Yeah! I can’t believe a new Pretty Cure appeared so soon! Although I guess I did the same thing to Ichika and the others when they needed help during their last fight.” Hana says as Homare chuckles.
“Yeah but I think that Cure Star was a lot less over the top than you. If what Akira and Yukari have told me is true, that is.” Homare says as Hana sighs. “Mechokku.” Hana says as the group giggles at their friends except one girl who stares at Hana and the others sadly before turning her head back to the road. “I’m gonna miss that phrase..” Ruru says under her breath as the group continues to walk the trail. As they do though they see the familiar clearing of the Beauty Harry Building as well as the garish looking train that would soon be taking one of them very far away. As they do however they notice everyone standing outside the building looking bored but notice one man is absent. As they do a man with red hair wearing a jacket walks up to them.
“Yo how are you guys?” Harry asked as the girls said a variety of answers all being good except Ruru. She looked around confused. “Where's Doctor Traum?” She questions as Harry sighs. “Don’t know. He told us to be ready soon but then told me to wait as he went to run some calculations in his old lab. He seemed really stressed about it so I hope everythings okay with the old guy.” Harry says. “Oh I see.” Ruru says as a feeling of worry hits her gut. While she and her father did not have the best relationship currently and were still trying to work things out, she did know her father worked hard to try and fix his mistakes. His biggest fix was to send them back home as he had been working on the project since they defeated Crusher. If he was worried things could be bad for their trip to the Future.
“I think the old man just forgot something stupid and needed to grab it.” Bicine says as Harry glares at the young man. “Hey Bicine, you told me you were gonna be nicer. Especially to Dr. Traum since he was helping to get us back home.” Harry says. “Fine..” Bicine responds rolling his eyes as Listo sighs at Bicine’s attitude along with Harry. As they waited though the girls got to give Hugutan hugs and play around with her but Ruru wouldn’t do so. Not just because once in the future she would do that alot as the only one of Hugutan’s mothers left but also due to the worry growing in her.
Had her father gotten lost in his own ideas, had he gotten lost in general given his bad sense of direction as she noticed..or did he decide to run away from her again. This however, was one thing Ruru shook her head about. As she did though she soon saw the figure of the man she knew well walking down the long path to them. His head was hung low making it hard to see his face but she knew immediately something was wrong. As she noticed, so too had the others, be they the former members of Crusher or the other Pretty Cures. “Hey Doctor, there ya are. What took ya so long? Did you get lost?” Harry questions as the doctor looked up to the group with a sad look on his face. Her sensors also noticed something else on his face. Tears.
“Everyone..I need to discuss with you something terrible.” He says sadly as the group tenses as Ruru’s bad feeling reaches its apex. As the group of her, Hana, Saaya, Homare, Emiru, Hugutan, Harry, Listo, Bicine, Papple, Diagan, Charaleet, Gelos and her two helpers sat down on the couches Harry had left in his store due to them being bolted down and easy to transport, Dr. Traum stood in front of them with a sad expression. “Doctor, could you please explain what is going on?” Listo asked as the man nodded. “To be quick about it..I did some extra calculations due to a result I kept reaching with my Back to the Future Kun.” He says as the room sighs at his name as some tension is relieved.
“What is the problem?” Papple questions as the man sighs. “I kept running into a snag of getting it to go to the proper time and date that we left. Figuring it was a mistaken part of the process I continued to build and left to check my lab for the correct placement. Once I did, however, I found something distressing.” He says as everyone felt tense again as he looked at everyone giving Ruru a sad gaze before saying his discovery. “We cannot go back to the future.” He said as everyone in the room gasped. “How is that possible Doctor?” Listo questions. “When we first went back in time it was a simple matter with the technology available to us. Even now it still is. Yet now there is a flux in time.” He responds.
“How did that happen?” Homare questions. “Unfortunately it was due to my own mistakes as well as others. My mistake was making my machine which successfully froze time. That was already too much for time to handle, much less when Kurai’s machine did a similar thing for much longer. While we fortunately stopped his plan, that was the moment that our timeline and time travel was cut off to us for now. The effects of stopping time have a catastrophic effect on time itself. So if we were to travel back to the future now the results could end up either freezing time or..causing time to be so messed up that the world may end.” He stated as the room was in shock. “But Doctor, Couldn’t we use the power of Mother to return to our own time?” Harry questions as the man shakes his head. “I am afraid right now we cannot do anything. In the future after time has healed from the freezing we could return with Mother’s aid. But as of now it would be too risky.” He says as the group was still in shock.
“I am sorry everyone..” Dr. Traum says as everyone looked at the man as he was weeping as the group couldn’t help but feel the same. Except for one Android that is. She seemed to be in a state of uncertainty. But before she knew it she put a hand on her fathers back. “It’s okay..father. You did everything you could.” She says as the man looks to her and a slight nod is given as he begins to calm down as the group falls into a state of quiet. “Regardless of what happened, it's getting late. If we cannot go back home then we should use the time we have tonight to get my store back in shape.” Harry says as the people of the future nod as the Pretty Cures look at him. “Girls..I think you should go home. It’s getting late and we have a lot to think about now.” Harry says as the group looks and nods. As they do, Emiru looks to Ruru. “Ruru.” She says as the android faces her.
“Yes Emiru?” Ruru questions as Emiru gives her a sad look. “Will you be okay with your father tonight? Or do you want me to stay with you?” Emiru asks as Ruru shakes her head. “Tonight..I think I will stay with the others. But I will see you tomorrow.” Ruru says as Emriu nods. “Yeah and then we can help you guys tomorrow morning with all the cleaning up and stuff!!” Hana says, trying to be positive as the others nod as Harry gives them all a slight smile. “Thank you everyone..have a goodnight.” He says as they leave the store as the day of goodbye has turned out quite different then they all imagined. As the night progressed everyone was out of it be it Emiru who barely talked to anyone at home, Saaya or Homare who seemed normal but would stare at their windows at the night sky, or even Hana who sat at the balcony watching the same night sky but now looking at Ruru’s former room with a sad expression. As for the robot girl, she looked up at her ceiling in the spare room Beauty Harry. Not bothering to go outside, as instead her mind in a foggy mess of uncertainty as she begins to feel a familiar feeling in her heart, one that she soon tries to sleep off.
The next morning Ruru awoke and walked downstairs only to be greeted by the sounds of Harry and Hugtan as the young man seemed to be cooking breakfast. As she entered her stomach growled alerting the man as he gave her a smile. “Oh good morning Ruru, how are you?” Harry asked as the girl gave a small smile. “I am fine..how are you?” She asked although even she could tell it had a sad tone to it. “I am fine. Just getting ready for the day with Hugtan. I figured I would make you and your father breakfast though.” Harry says as Ruru looks and nods. “Thank you for your hospitality Harry.” Ruru says. “Hey anytime. I mean we're friends right?” Harry says as Ruru nods.
“Affirmative we are friends.” She says as she helps out a little with setting the table. As the two do so Harry decides to speak. “So umm Papple San contacted me today to inform you that she is currently working on her organization. Apparently they had to tell all their old sponsors last minute that they were not moving to another country and could stay with them. Although she said due to the issues that she is needing to sign contracts and make agreements again so you and Emiru probably won’t perform for a while.” He says as Ruru nods. “That makes sense.” She says but internally she looked conflicted but Harry didn’t notice. As they worked though they soon heard a knock on the door.
“Oh that must be Hana and the others.” Ruru says as she excuses herself from the kitchen and walks to the door as she opens it. As she does she is met by the faces of Hana and the others however she is also greeted by some familiar faces. “Uhh so..Ruru..guess who decided to come for a visit.” Hana says as a group of 7 girls and 3 boys laugh nervously as Ruru is shocked. “Ummm Harry we might need to make more room.” Ruru says as Harry looks out the kitchen with a shocked expression. “YES Pretty Cure 5?!!” Harry says shocked.
As the group sat at the table awkwardness was abundant as the newly invented Pretty Cure team and their fairy companions sat with the girls. As they did, Nozomi opened her mouth to speak. “So umm yeah sorry for coming out of nowhere.” Nozomi says as Hana looks at her and shakes her head. “Oh no don’t mind ya know..I mean we're all friends it’s only natural to come over from time to time for visits.” Hana says as Nozomi nods. “No but seriously we didn’t know what was going on with you guys.” Urara says as the girls face her. “I am just shocked you came now.” Saaya says.
“Well originally it was Nozomi’s idea to come.” Kruumi says throwing Nozomi under the bus. “Now Kurumi it was everyone’s choice to come here.” Coco says in his best teacher voice as Kurumi sighed. “But why did you come here?” Harry says as Nuts speaks up. “Nozomi and the others informed us that you successfully defeated Crusher and saved all of time from being frozen. So we had decided to come over and congratulate you. Although we didn’t know what had happened after that until we were already here.” Nuts says. “That’s fine. Honestly we're still getting over the shock of it.” Homare says while side eyeing Harry as he looked and then looked away a little.
“It makes sense after what you heard. I would like to ask the Doctor if he could use help from the other teams to fix the damage to time so you could return to your own time.” Karen says. “I do not think it would work out. If that was the case then he would have asked us for assistance from the other Pretty Cures and their allies for help.” Ruru says. “Kinda shocked to hear that. I figured he would still be a little mad at us for stopping his plan when he tried to freeze time.” Rin said as Ruru shook her head. “He doesn't have anything against us. All of his anger is due to his former actions.” Ruru defended as the Hugtto cures looked at Ruru, a little surprised by her words as Emiru nodded.
“Yes, Dr. Traum is a very caring man now who doesn’t hold any of us at fault for fighting him, especially since he made up with Ruru!.” Emiru says as the girls nod. “Yeah..” The girls said as awkward silence fell onto them again before Syrup opened his mouth as he took a bite of the pancake. “This is actually really good, Harry San.” Syrup says as Harry smiles. “Why thank you for that Syrup San.” Harry says as the Hugtto Cures all sighs. “Great you gave him a big head now that’s not good.” Saaya says with a little giggle. “Not too good since he has such a small mouse body.” Homare says as Harry growls. “For the last time I am not a MOUSE!” He yells as soon laughter filled the room as the Yes 5 Team smiled. As they did though and soon began having smaller talks one quiet member looked to Ruru with eyes that had a slight pity to them but also noticing Ruru’s eye having their pain at least one that Tanomi recognized.
When they finished up having breakfast the team went outside to enjoy the weather around the area of Beauty Harry as they did Ruru decided to stay back and do dishes. While her friends insisted and even Harry offered to do them the girl was quite sure she wanted to do this. Honestly this was the only thing she could do right now. The android girl was still reeling from the previous night's revelation and of her new found future. The possibilities were endless and she had the ability to keep all her relationships she made. All should be right with her and yet something was off.
A feeling she felt like hadn’t been there since she was first able to break from her programming and fought back against Crusher. When she had soon faced Hana’s mother and had to release her from the mind control she employed. The moment after a feeling was ticking away in her heart, which was soon healed by her newfound friendship and mission as a Pretty Cure as well as Hana’s mothers forgiveness but it was a feeling that remained. At the pit of her newfound soul to speak, Ruru felt hatred. At first she manifested this against Crusher, then her father and finally at Kurai but no now she knew where the hate was really directed..to herself. Ruru felt that no matter what she did to make up for her past actions she committed them non the less. She attacked Hana and the others numerous times.
She brainwashed Hana’s mother into thinking of her as someone she invited to live in their home. She attacked innocent children in a daycare during her battle with the Pretty Cures. Regardless of what actually was not in her control she still did such horrible things and regardless of saving the present and the future, the anger soon gave way to guilt which still hung true in her very soul even now. Guilt she hoped going back to the future away from those she manipulated and used were not in would end it. As painful as it would be to be alone without the others, a part of her would be glad to be unshackled from the grief which always existed in her. But now she was stuck in this world as the grief felt like it would build and build until the young girl exploded.
However, she was soon brought out of this state by a pair of hands grabbing a plate next to her and beginning to clean. Signing the android looked to her right expecting to see one of her teammates who had decided to help her regardless of her request and the guilt would get worse by being close to them. But what she was met by was odd. It was a girl she had seen with the Yes 5 team and one she had met before during both of the end of the world missions she and her team faced with the Pretty Cures but she seemed different. The girl she had seen in these brief moments had been strong willed and fought hard without talking or conversing as the others had meanwhile this girl looked at her with a gentle smile as she turned to face her. “Mind if I help?” She questions as Ruru nods if only to be polite but she doesn't say a word. As she continues to clean Ruru soon hears the girl sigh. “I’m not good at this but let me give it a shot.” She starts as Ruru turns her head to her.
“But from the look you have been giving today I am assuming you need the help like Setsuna told me you might need.” She says as Ruru stops and looks at the girl. Setsuna was a member of the Fresh Pretty Cures and was their fourth member, Cure Passion but aside from that she wasn’t sure who she was as a person. So hearing Setsuna wanted this girl in front of her to talk to was odd to say the least. “What about?” She questioned as the girl smiled. “Well it’s mainly to offer you a role in our group..but first I need to make sure. You were an enemy of the Pretty Cures before becoming one?” She questioned as Ruru dropped the plate she was holding as it felt like the pressure built up soon exploded as she lost her footing and fell onto the floor as her head played her past memories like a movie over and over as voices came into them.
The screams and the cries were too much to bear as the girl felt like she’d shut down before a pair of arms warped around her. “Ruru..RURU CHAN!” She heard as the girl from earlier looked to her as she felt slightly calmed mostly by a new feeling of confusion. As this girl was now tearing up as she brought Ruru into a warm hug. As she sat there hugging her that feeling seemed to grow weaker but still she was worried. A fellow Pretty Cure wanted to know if she had been an enemy. What if they wanted to add her to some hit list of past foes. Or put her on a trail for her actions? Would it reflect badly on her team..on Emiru? She questioned as the girl soon whispered in her ears. “Ruru I am so sorry..I wish I was as good as Nozomi with this but please I promise it’s nothing bad okay.” The girl spoke with sincerity as Ruru looked back up at her and saw she had slight tears in her eyes but also a kind look on her face. This helped to ease her pain as she opened her mouth. “I..was..once a villain..but I promise I..” She started as the girl next to her finished.
“You realized the error of your ways and will never do anything bad again?” The girl said as Ruru nodded but in her mind she was worried. If she was that used to the comment then wouldn’t she be here to take her in or finsinally give her the repercussion she believed she deserved. But soon she looked at the girl and saw the look she had on her face. It was one of happiness with a smile but also with an understanding look. As she smiled she spoke again. “Sorry if that was a little patronizing. Let me explain.” She says as she and Ruru stand up as she was worried but listened. “My name is Tanomi Yumehara..and I too was like you were once. I was once a villain as well.” She said as Ruru’s eyes opened wide. “But if you are a Yumehara then you must be related to Nozomi. How did you end up fighting your own sister?” Ruru questions as Tanomi sighs.
“Well you see I wasn’t born as her sister originally. I was actually kinda a dark reflection of her. My former master, Shadow, had created me and four others from the reflections of the Yes Pretty Cure 5 team. But during my battle with Nozomi I felt so lost and confused about my purpose and why she was how she was and when I lost instead of defeating me, Nozomi..she tried to save me. Tried to have me join the group and be free from Shadow only for them to kill me.” Tanomi said as Ruru’s eyes went wide. “But then how did you come back?” Ruru questioned as Tanomi looked down. “Well I had been resurrected by a new master one way worse. Joker.” Tanomi said as she started to shake. “The monster revived me and the others to use us against our counterparts while he did the same for these shadows of other Redemptives. At first I wanted to die again to avoid dealing with another master..but Nozomi…” Tanomi said as she smiled and stopped shaking.
“She saved me again. Help me realize I could fight back and that I could with the others help banish him away. And we did, me and another boy named Ira. We joined forces with the other Redemptives and together we managed to beat back Joker.” Tanomi says as Ruru looks at her as she gives her a kind smile. “So then after that I was reincarnated as Nozomi’s twin sister and with that I have started to live a happy new life as Tanomi Yumehara.” She says as Ruru looks impressed. “That’s an incredible story.” Ruru says. “It is but yours is just as good as what Nozomi and the others told me.” Tanomi says.
“You were once an android with the goal to freeze time and now look at you. You're a member of an idol group and you managed to become a Pretty Cure.” Tanomi says happily as Ruru blushes before giving her a serious look. “So these other Redemptives..are they just like us?” Ruru questions as Tanomi nods. “Yep they are. Honestly they are like my other family now. We all have come from darkness and yet with the power of the Pretty Cures we each have been given a chance to live newer happier lives kinda like you.” Tanomi says. “So then why did you want me to join you?” Ruru questions. “Well..I had a feeling you might wanna join to be with others like you.” Tanomi says as Ruru looks at her.
“The group is kinda a club where any former enemy of the Pretty Cures can join and make friends with those like them. It’s a way to start forgiving yourself as well as to be able to talk to others if you have any feelings of guilt from your time as a villain.” Tanomi says. “So what do you say? Would you like to join?” Tanomi questions as Ruru looks at her and then thinks before nodding. “I would love to join..honestly this is just what I need right now. Hopefully if I join this guilty feeling I have in my heart may go away.” Ruru says as Tanomi smiles. “You will eventually. I believe we all will. We just need a little time, each other and our friends of course.” Tanomi said before a yell was heard.
“HEY TANOMI!! RURU CHAN!!!” Nozomi called as the two girls looked out the window of the store. “Do you guys wanna come to the Hugama with us! We wanted to show the others all the stores there!” Hana says, continuing as both girls look at each other. “I guess you were right about the friends part.” Ruru says as Tanomi nods as the two smile and then giggle as they leave the store. As they do Ruru smiles a genuine happy smile to Tanomi and the others as hopefully by joining this group she can be happy and the feeling of guilt she hid away for so long can finally be erased in time as she took her first steps on her new path to the future.