Onyx knew it was going to be bad, but they didn't think it would be this bad. Somehow the two idiots had completely gone the wrong way and now Onyx didn't even know where they were. They had gone through town after town, Stinger and Champ searching for clues about Scorpio while Onyx stayed back. They ended up having to find a jacket and hide their identity with its hood. If anyone recognized them with the kyurangers it was game over for sure.

They also hadn't expected to basically be on babysitter duty either. Champ and Stinger were not getting on very well. Stinger was very cold and refused most of Champ's help or advice. Champ didn't take it very well. Onyx had to mediate more times than they could count at this point.

"Look. There's a town."

"Hmm... shall we go see what's up?"

"Might as well while we're here."

Onyx pulled up their hood again and off they went. It was a strange town. Felt far too empty as they entered.

"I hear commotion over there. Follow me." Onyx's ears picked up the sound of a lot of people.

"I don't hear anything." Champ replied.

Onyx whacked him. "I have better hearing than most. Kinda my system's thing, you know?"

"Oh. Where is the noise then?"

Onyx led them to a building. They entered in time to see a girl holding... an arm... out, poised to strike a man. Onyx could see the hesitation in her body. Did she not have the guts to end his life?

"What's wrong?" Stinger asked. He didn't seem to have noticed the girl yet.

"Save us! A monster is attacking us!" A woman grabbed him and pleaded, pointing to the girl.

The girl stood up and faced them.

"You mean her?" Stinger asked.

The girl lifted her arm across her body and glared at them. She seemed ready to attack.

"Let's go, partner." Champ said.

Champ and Stinger rushed to fight. Onyx watched. They didn't know if they should be fighting right now. That girl... didn't seem evil. There was a different kind of aura around her. There was more to this than her just trying to kill these people for fun.

Onyx had tried to stay out of the battle, but the girl turned on them as well. They dodged her fist and kicked her. She managed to avoid the blow and slammed her entire body into Onyx's chest.

They were thrown back and tumbled across the ground. The girl started to approach, intent to continue the fight. As Onyx pushed themself up, their hood fell down. The girl paused, her eyes traveling over their ears.

"She's not human."

"From that arm, she's from the Monoceros system."

Onyx glanced at Champ and Stinger. Was now really the time to be having that discussion of all things?

Onyx stood up. "What are you trying to do, kid? Why are you attacking everyone here?"

The girl regarded the question warily. "Don't get in my way."

"If you don't explain, I will keep getting in your way." Onyx took a step forward. "Why are you attacking these people?"

The girl went silent for a while and then finally replied, "I seek power. That is all."

Onyx scoffed at the answer. Before they could say more, the girl took off running. Great. There goes getting the actual answer.

Onyx pulled their hood back up and returned to stand by Stinger and Champ. Stinger seemed a bit out of it. Onyx placed a hand on his shoulder. That brought him back to present a bit more than he had been.

"Are you guys kyurangers?" The townsfolk gathered around them.

"Indeed. With justice, anything is possible." Champ replied.

"Please use your justice to protect our town. Exterminate that monster. You saw her arm, didn't you? That strange form... she's not human." One townsfolk said.

Not... human... a... monster...

"You monster! Why won't you just die?!"

"I can't believe someone like you can exist so happily! You're a freak! You demon!"

Onyx came back to reality to hear them discussing the girl must be a member of Jark Matter. That was enough for Champ to agree to help them. Onyx glanced at Stinger. He seemed uncertain about things as well.

The three of them took their leave from the building and took up camp in a small abandoned building elsewhere. Stinger was very quiet the entire walk. Onyx wasn't doing much better. Hearing those townsfolk talk about that girl like that just because she was different reminded them too much of their own past.

Champ was looking at a map again. "That woman might be at the moraimars I mentioned earlier. Let's go destroy it tomorrow."

Champ glanced at Stinger and Onyx as neither replied. "What's up with you two?"

"I was thinking about what those people said." Stinger replied. "It might have been a mistake to take their word at face value. I want to see that woman again... so I can check in person."

"And what of you, Akuma. Gah... Onyx."

Onyx glanced between the two of them. "Just... thinking about things..."

"You've never been so... resigned before." Stinger commented. "Did something happen?"

Onyx stared at the ground. "What they said... about her being a monster... reminded me of things I wish I could forget about."

"Eh?"

"I agree with you, Stinger. We can't trust what those people say. They don't understand anything. They just want someone to blame. They just want to believe that because someone is different, that they're evil..."

"Akuma?" Champ walked over. "What's with all of this? That woman works for Jark Matter. Is she not an enemy?"

"She's like me... isn't she?" Onyx looked up at him, their eyes full of pain. "She's joined them for revenge. She's doing this because she doesn't know what else to do. And someone has given her an option."

"Revenge..." Stinger repeated.

Before they could talk more, shots were fired at them. Stinger and Champ rushed into battle as indavers came into their base. Onyx stood back. If someone else from Jark Matter was here... they couldn't do anything.

Onyx managed to get close to Stinger during the fray. "Stinger. I'm retreating for now. I can't risk being seen aiding you two. I'll go search for the governor and see if I can question them for answers."

"Okyuu. I'll call you if something happens." Stinger nodded.

Onyx vanished and teleported out. They headed to the moraimars. Time to see who was manipulating that girl like Don Armage had manipulated them all those years ago.

...

Onyx arrived at the moraimars and walked in. "Hello?"

"Ah! Akuma-sama. What do I have the pleasure of you visiting for?" Thunderbird appeared to greet them.

"I was nearby and decided to see who was up here." Onyx lied. "So, what's your current plan?"

"I'm glad you asked." Thunderbird motioned for them to follow.

They ended up in a main room. That was where Thunderbird began to explain everything. How he had used the fear of Jark Matter to make those people afraid of the girl, who was apparently named Mika. Onyx was struggling to keep a blank face as the story went on.

"You've been playing dirty, I see. As expected." Onyx said after he finished. "I wonder how that will end for you."

"Hopefully with everything going as planned."

"You never know. Things never go as planned any more it seems like."

"Where are you off to now?"

Onyx shrugged. "Out and about. Keeping tabs on things. You know how it is."

"I see. Best of luck on your travels, Akuma-sama." Thunderbird bowed to them.

"Thank you. I hope you aren't dead when I come back. The kyurangers have a nack for killing anyone I interact with. Be warned."

Thunderbird laughed. "I don't fear them."

"Your funeral."

Onyx left the moraimars. No sooner had they, they got a call from Stinger.

"Onyx... please come to... where it all began here..." Stinger sounded very upset.

"Be right there." Onyx rushed over to the place.

When they entered, they froze in their step.

"Onyx..." Stinger looked at them, tears in his eyes. "She... she killed them all..."

Onyx stared out at the piles of dead bodies. Mika had... done it. Had gotten her revenge. Onyx could barely look at the sight. It was sending them back to when they had slaughtered their entire town as well.

"I... I can't... I..." Onyx rushed out of the building.

They stumbled into a wall and collapsed, bringing their knees to their chest and crying. Why...? Why was this happening...? They didn't want to remember those days. They had finally found a place to belong. They no longer were treated like an outcast. So why did they... still hurt...?

"Onyx?" "Akuma?"

Stinger and Champ had followed them. Onyx couldn't even bring themself to meet their gaze. They felt both of them sit beside them. Champ wrapped his arm around their shoulders.

"You okay?" He asked.

"Why...? Why does the world hate people like us...? I didn't ask to be born like this... Why did no one ever love me...?"

"You... see yourself in her, don't you?" Stinger asked.

"She's going down the exact same path I did. Seeing that scene... made me remember when I killed my entire village."

"You... killed your village?" Stinger repeated.

"My parents tried to murder me... so I killed them in self-defense. But the others heard and attacked me. I... I lashed out in anger. I... I spared no one."

"If you talk to her, maybe you can save her." Stinger stated.

Onyx lifted their head and met his gaze. "I can't, Stinger. Not with the governor here. If he sees me doing that... nothing good will come from it."

"You need to try." Stinger replied firmly. "You can transform and talk to her as a kyuranger. Please. We can save Mika if we try."

"I... I'll try." Onyx agreed.

"There we go." Champ patted them on the shoulder. "You couldn't stop her but, maybe we can change the rest of her fate."

"As I expected, the governor is manipulating her. He set this up. Made the townsfolk so afraid they attacked her."

"Great... hopefully we can get through to her." Champ said.

"For now..." Stinger glanced back at the building. "They deserve a proper burial."

"Will you be able to handle it... Onyx?" Champ questioned.

Onyx wiped away the tears still in their eyes and nodded. "I'll be fine."

The three of them stood up and began the long process of burying everyone. It was a tough thing to do both physically and mentally. Onyx kept seeing the faces of those from their village on these people. It hurt. But when they faltered, Stinger or Champ were there to help.

"I don't feel sorry for them." Onyx whispered as they stood with Stinger and Champ by the graves. "They had it coming. But... I pity them for not being able to open their eyes and see things in a different light. They let hatred consume their hearts."

"What do we do now?"

"We go and find Mika."

Onyx glanced up at the sky. Why were they given a second chance despite their wrongs? Why did they not let darkness consume them like it was everyone else...? Was it because they had someone who still saw good in them? Someone they never lost sight of protecting?

"Stinger. Champ." Onyx looked straight ahead now. "Let's go."

...

The three of them met Mika. They stood off.

"Kyurangers." Mika addressed them. "I will eliminate you for my master, Thunderbird-sama."

"Even if you fight us, your loneliness won't disappear." Stinger said. "Please don't. Mika."

"This doesn't have to be the way things end, Mika." Onyx said. "You don't need to keep suffering alone."

"The Mika you knew is dead." Mika stated. "I have finally become a governor. And I will kill all who threaten me."

"You don't have to do this." Onyx said. "I know what it's like, Mika. To be treated like an outcast. Hated for being different. And like you, I joined Jark Matter. But yet, here I am now. Because I have someone I love deeply. Because I have someone who believed in me despite the monster everyone else saw. I believe in you, Mika. You have a good heart. You don't have to let the hurt consume you like this."

Mika glared at them and then suddenly changed into a weird form. Onyx gulped. She wasn't listening.

"Her heart should still be human. Don't give up." Champ said.

"Mika..." Stinger looked her in the eyes. "I swear to return you to normal."

"I'm with you, partner!"

The three of them pulled out their kyutamas and transformed. They rushed into fight with Mika. She was getting the upper hand at the start. Onyx clashed with her.

"Mika... please... I don't want to see someone go down the path I did..." Onyx pleaded, only to be hit and knocked away.

They all continued to fight until finally the tides turned. They managed to beat back Mika for once.

"You're so strong... How are you so strong?" Mika questioned.

"It's because we want to save you, Mika."

Champ and Stinger unleashed their finishers onto Mika.

"Save... me?" Mika said.

Her transformation came undone and she returned to human. Unfortunately, the power was still coursing through her and causing problems.

"Mika!" Stinger and Champ rushed to her, also undoing their transformations.

Onyx stayed in theirs. They were suspicious of someone joining them soon.

"Please... kill me..."

Onyx noticed a presence. They narrowed their eyes and moved closer to the others. Just what was he planning? They watched out of the corner of their eye as Stinger slowly brought his tail up to Mika. What was he going to do? He wouldn't kill her, so was he hoping he could remove whatever was hurting her? Or was he going to put her out of her misery?

That was when Onyx noticed something being fired towards Mika. They didn't think at all before jumping forward and blocking Mika with their body. Their back took the force of the blast, sending pain coursing through their body.

"What?!" Champ cried out as Onyx was hit with the blast.

"Onyx!" Stinger cried out.

Onyx grunted and fell forward, their transformation coming undone. Champ quickly caught them. Onyx looked behind them with a lot of effort to see Thunderbird walking toward them.

"What's this? Why are you protecting that girl, Akuma-sama?" Thunderbird questioned. "And you're a kyuranger as well? Intriguing."

"You dare say a word to Don Armage... I'll rip you to shreds with my own two hands before I die." Onyx growled at him. "I'm not letting you kill her."

"Fine. I'll play your little game. Not like that girl can live long anyway." Thunderbird laughed and then jumped into his moraimars and left.

Onyx took in a sharp breath. "Mika... give me your hand."

They held out their hand. Mika stared at them, before she shakily placed her hand in theirs. Onyx closed their eyes and absorbed her power into their body. It hurt, but soon enough it settled into them. They opened their eyes. Mika looked fine now.

"You... saved me..." Mika whispered.

Onyx smiled. "Of course, kid. Like I said... I don't want to see you go down the same path I did."

"I... but what now? I... did such a horrible thing..."

"Join Rebellion. I'm sure they'd love to have you."

Mika nodded. "I... won't throw away this second chance you've given me."

"Good..." Onyx let out a pained gasp and gripped their side. "Fuck... that was a tough blow..."

"It would've killed her if you hadn't jumped in." Stinger stated.

"I know that..." Onyx shot back.

"Huh?"

"What?"

"The... kyutama..."

Onyx glanced at Stinger. One of the kyutamas he had was glowing. As if it was being filled with power. When it settled, it was the monoceros kyutama.

"Looks like we get a gift from Mika for the road." Onyx chuckled, before regretting that as pain shot through them again.

"Come on. We need to get you some first aid."

"Well, that's a new one, huh?" Onyx teased. "Normally it's the other way around."

"Somehow. Despite you constantly protecting us this is the first time you've gotten seriously hurt."

"I hope to keep it at one."

"I think we all hope that too."

...

That night, Onyx was feeling a bit better. There was a rough bruise on their back where they had taken the blow. It was feeling a little better since it had been treated. Mika had gone on her own to join Rebellion. It was back to the three of them now.

"Onyx?" Stinger said.

"Yeah?"

"Why do you refer to almost all of us as kid?"

Onyx chuckled at the question. "I'm what... like 400 years older than you. I think I can call ya a kid if I want to."

"Right... um, when you mentioned how you didn't lose yourself because you have someone you love deeply... who is that?"

"The old friend I told you about before."

"Oh..."

"Well." Champ joined in the conversation. "Where to next?"

"I'll guide you to where Scorpio is." Onyx stated.

Stinger and Champ stared at them.

"What?" Onyx asked. "I think you're ready. Let's face him."

"Aniki... here I come."