Another day, another fight. They were currently dealing with three enlarged enemies. Onyx had finally decided to take their voyager for a spin while the rest worked with KyutamaJin. Their voyager was a brown fox.

Onyx watched as the Kyurangers seemed to be struggling. As if someone wasn't doing what they needed to do. The movements were frantic.

A call came through to them from Tsurugi. "Onyx, can you switch places with Naga?"

"O-Okay." Onyx was concerned, but agreed.

"Naga, you're benched."

Onyx would have to ask later about what had happened. For now, they combined in the place where Naga had been on the leg.

"Let's go!"

They worked together and brought down the three enemies before long. It was a very strange feeling for Onyx. They had never done something like this before. Working as a group in this way was very strange, but it was fun. But the concern over what had happened with Naga made this feel off.

...

Everyone gathered back at the ship once the enemies were taken care of. Tsurugi began to set up a plot for when they traveled into the past. Balance was working on building a machine that would make it possible to do so with the kyutama.

"Let's go over the operation to travel into the past." Tsurugi called everyone's attention to him.

However, when everyone gathered around the table, one person didn't. Naga. He remained seated on the steps.

"What were you doing, Naga? Get your act together!" Garu walked over to him and started scolding him for earlier.

Onyx sighed and stepped in between them. "Hey, back off. Give him space."

"I'm sorry." Naga said.

"It's okay. Everyone has their off days." Onyx replied, "Do you want to talk about what's on your mind?"

Naga stood up and looked around the room. "I have been here for quite some time. But... I haven't obtained any emotions!"

"Irritation because of your problems." The commander commented, "That's an emotion too."

"Yeah." Balance chimed in. "Just learn about emotions at your own pace. You'll be fine. Let's take our time~"

"Balance..." Naga said quietly.

"So, what's our current status?" Tsurugi directed the conversation back to business.

Onyx ignored what they were discussion and focused on Naga. They placed a hand on his shoulder.

"It must be frustrating to not be able to gain emotions as fast as you had hoped. But, I'm sure we can find a way to speed up the process. Even if it's just us two that work on it, we can do it together." Onyx said to him.

"How can you help me?"

"I'm not sure." Onyx replied. "But, I can brainstorm some ideas if you give me a bit. I'm sure we can find some ways to do this faster. Though... I'm not the best person for the job honestly... I don't really understand emotions either even if I can feel them all."

Naga nodded. He was agreeing to their help. Onyx had no idea if they could do much, but by god they were going to try.

They tuned back in to the other conversation. Somehow they had ended up discussing having a barbecue? Well, a break would be nice before the chaos they were going to end up in.

...

Onyx wasn't too social. Even if they had befriended all the Kyurangers by now, they weren't the best with social events like this. It was easier to talk to them when it had to do with business than just casual things. Onyx was mostly keeping to themself as the gathering went on. They sat under a tree, closed their eyes, and enjoyed the sounds of nature around them.

They weren't paying much attention to the conversations floating about. They'd only care if their name was called. For now, they enjoyed the peace alone. It had been a while since they got to be out in nature like this.

But of course, good things could never last. There were suddenly shouts of panic. Onyx opened their eyes and glanced toward the source of the noise. They quickly jumped to their feet at the sight of Akyanba. They had a suspicion she would be one of the others chosen to try and kill them.

"Are you all having fun? I'm Akyanba from Jark Matter." Akyanba started talking.

"So you're the second vice-shogun that Don Armage is sending to kill us?" Onyx stated as they joined back with the group.

"She's also changed from the past." Tsurugi commented to Onyx, who just nodded at his words.

"You've all felt pent up about something before, haven't you? Bring forth the no-good human within you!" Akyanba slammed her staff down and waves of purple radiated out of it.

After it hit the people around, they all became very angry and fought each other. That was not good at all.

Akyanba was very happy about the results. "You can do it if you try!"

"They've all become emotional!"

"Emotional..." Naga repeated quietly.

"Evacuate everyone!" Lucky said.

"OKyuu!"

Lucky, Tsurugi, Naga, Hammie, Spada, and Onyx remained to fight while the rest went off to get the civilians out of the way. The six of them quickly transformed.

"Star Change!"

"Super Star! Shishi Red!"

"Silent Star! Hebitsukai Silver!"

"Shinobi Star! Chamaeleon Green!"

"Food Meistar! Kajiki Yellow!"

"Space Bustar! Houou Soldier!"

"Deadly Star. Shi Black."

"The ultimate saviors! Uchu Sentai... Kyuranger!"

The began their attack on Akyanba and the two tsuyuindavers that were with her. This wasn't going to be an easy fight. Onyx was certain of that. It had taken them a while to finally beat Tecchu, so it was likely that Akyanba would be similar. They had a long battle ahead of them then, didn't they?

Akyanba shot everyone. It knocked them all down, but they got back up. Onyx and Tsurugi clashed with Akyanba together.

"My word. You really have grown stronger." Tsurugi said.

They made an opening for her to be shot, but Naga missed. Perhaps they should've taken someone else on the offensive team instead of him. With his inner turmoil, he was distracted from the fight.

"Take care of them!" Akyanba shoved Onyx and Tsurugi away and into one of the tsuyuindavers.

Onyx growled in annoyance. "Let's get rid of these guys already."

"Should be easy enough." Tsurugi replied.

It didn't take much with their numbers to take down the tsuyuindavers. That was when they all turned their attention back to Akyanba. She was with Naga and Naga wasn't fighting at all.

Onyx narrowed their eyes. Just what was she playing at here? She was obviously talking to him.

Everyone rushed forward and shot at Akyanba. They began to attack her once more. Onyx ignored her for the moment and walked up to Naga.

"Are you okay? Did she hurt you?" They questioned.

"Later!" Akyanba called out. "Come to me if you ever want your emotions released! I'm sure you'll find a new side to yourself!"

So that was what she was playing at? Onyx growled.

"A new... me..." Naga whispered.

Onyx glanced back at him. "Don't listen to her. She won't help you."

Naga didn't respond. Everyone undid their transformations. The mood was tense in the air.

...

A little while later, Onyx found Naga standing on a bridge, staring into the water below. They approached him.

"Naga."

Naga glanced over at them, before continuing to look at the water.

"You're thinking of asking her to unleash your emotions, right?" Onyx guessed. "I know it must seem enticing but, she's only going to use you for her own gain. None of this will benefit you. Please. I know how badly you want to feel things like everyone else but this isn't the way to do it."

"I... want emotions. I want to cry and laugh with everyone." Naga said.

"All she'll do is awaken those feelings of hatred and anger inside of you just like those people earlier. She won't give you the emotions you want!" Onyx argued. "And... Naga, don't you want to celebrate gaining your emotions with everyone? If you do this... you're going alone. We won't be there."

"Hammie told me to think for myself." Naga stated.

"And you should. But this isn't thinking for yourself. This is being blinded by your desires and not thinking clearly. Akyanba is an enemy! Why would she help you, Naga?! Get that through your head!" Onyx yelled in frustration. "I just don't want to see you get hurt. Please. Think this through, Naga."

Naga pushed them aside. "If I go to Akyanba, I can gain emotions."

"Naga!" Onyx tried to grab him, but he pushed them back again.

"Leave me alone."

Onyx sighed. "Naga... fine. But don't say I didn't warn you when things go wrong. I'll save your ass from whatever you get yourself into, but I'm not going to be happy about it, kid."

They stared at each other for a few seconds, before Naga broke away and ran off. Onyx sighed. He really didn't know what he was getting himself into. Unfortunately it seemed the only way to learn this fact was to let him go and do it. Not the way they wanted him to learn his lesson, but it looked to be the only thing they could do now.

They pulled their blaster up to call the others. "Hey... Naga's ran off. He's heading for Akyanba."

"Got it! We'll search for him!" Lucky replied.

"He won't listen to you. He's dead set on doing this. Be prepared." Onyx warned.

"This is bad." The commander said. "The emotions Akyanba released in those people is making them rampage."

"What? Why now?" Champ said.

"To distract us and keep us away from Naga." Onyx stated. "I'll meet up with you guys along the way. Let's go."

...

Onyx found the Naga search group before long–Lucky, Tsurugi, Spada, Stinger, and Hammie. They were all running through the forest, desperately searching for Naga.

"Do you think... it'll be too late when we find him?" Hammie asked in worry.

"Probably." Onyx saw no reason to bother being hopeful. Naga wanted this desperately. He would get it if he wanted it.

They continued searching through the forest. They'd have to stumble upon him before long. He couldn't have gotten that far away. Especially if Akyanba was going to use him against them.

Suddenly, Akyanba came into sight, Naga at her side. "Oh, everyone is here. Are you here to celebrate the return of emotions to this boy?"

"Don't be fooled by her!" Lucky yelled at Naga. "If you do that... you will no longer be you!"

"It's too late, Lucky. She's already done it." Onyx stated. The look in Naga's eyes was too different to ignore.

"Oh. Looks like your friends don't want you to gain emotions." Akyanba said to Naga.

"That's bullshit and you know it!" Onyx shouted, "We just don't want you being the one giving him emotions!"

"If I retrieve my emotions... Balance will be happy for me." Naga stated.

"No one wants that!" Hammie said.

"Hammie... you told me to think for myself."

Onyx sighed and then yelled again, "This isn't thinking for yourself, Naga!"

"If you go with her... we will have to defeat you." Tsurugi stated. "Are you okay with that?"

"I... will retrieve my emotions. I won't let anyone get in my way." Naga replied. "I'm staying with Akyanba!"

"Looks like we're formally a combi then!" Akyanba said, before throwing some weird purple smoke onto Naga.

It consumed him in a cloud. When the cloud finally disappeared, Naga stood there with a new outfit on. How did that smoke give him a new outfit? Onyx figured it was best to not question things too deeply about any of this. There were more pressing matters at hand anyway. Naga had joined the enemy. They had to put a stop to that as soon as possible.

"Naga..." Hammie said.

Naga held out his kyutama. The same purple cloud surrounded it and suddenly it changed. The hell? It was able to do that? Just what was going on? To make things even more confusing, his seiza blaster also ended up changing to look more evil, to put it into easy words.

"How do you feel?" Akyanba asked him.

"Happy. I'm happy!" Naga replied. "I can clearly feel it. There is emotion in me. It feels great."

Naga activated his kyutama and put it in his blaster. Everyone was on edge as they watched. They were going to have to fight Naga. There was no more room to try and talk this through.

"Dark Change."

Naga transformed. His suit stayed mostly the same, but now he wore a scarf and had a cape.

"Hebitsukai Metal." Naga said. Even his transformation name had changed.

"This is the worst-case scenario." Tsurugi said.

"Things are about to get ugly." Onyx added on, "Looks like talking isn't going to get us anywhere at this point. He's lost it."

"How dare you try to get in the way of my quest for emotions!" Naga yelled at them all, before firing off a shot from his blaster.

The Kyurangers all dodged. This was bad. Naga was attacking them already. They were going to have to fight back. Hurt a comrade.

"Can't be helped." Tsurugi stated, moving to transform. "Let's go."

They all stood back up and began to transform. All of them did so with a heavy heart. No one wanted to have to do this at all.

"Star Change!"

Naga rushed at them. Everyone mostly went of the defensive, trying to talk Naga into stopping rather than fighting back. Naga didn't seem to care for their words and kept shoving them away as they tried to grab him and make him stop.

"Open your eyes, Naga." Tsurugi said.

"It's the other way." Naga replied, "My eyes are open."

His suit shot out a giant lazer beam. It struck them all and knocked them all down. They all struggled on the ground.

"Naga, why?!" Lucky questioned.

"You looked down on me!" Naga responded.

"Since when?" Onyx shot back, "Everyone on the team has treated you as family since the start! Everyone's always been looking out for you and helping you! Open your eyes and see that!"

Naga responded by firing off an attack at Onyx.

"Stop it!" Lucky tackled Naga.

The shot missed its mark and hit a tree, slicing it down.

"Where are you looking?" Naga grabbed Lucky with his scarf and unleashed an onslaught of attacks on him, before throwing him into a tree.

Everyone rushed to Lucky's side, worried about him. Naga took that opportunity to fire off another attack, hitting them all. Everyone was knocked to the ground once more.

"Let's go." Akyanba walked up to Naga.

"Yeah." Naga placed a hand on her shoulder. "If I stay with Akyanba, I bet I'll gain even more emotions."

"I'll leave the rest to you." Akyanba and Naga started walking away.

"Naga, wait!"

As they all tried to follow, the two tsuyuindavers that had been with Akyanba got in their way. They had no choice but to deal with the current enemies before being able to pursue Naga. They quickly unleashed their finishers on the enemy and defeated them with ease.

Now they had other things to worry about.

"What are we going to say to Balance?" Hammie questioned.

Nobody had a very good answer. Everyone remained silent. How were they going to break the news to Balance that Naga had been manipulated and joined the enemy?

...

When they finally did get back to the ship and break the news to Balance, he obviously took it hard. His best friend was in the enemy's hands right now and there was nothing they could do about it.

"Naga..." Balance whispered.

"I'm sorry." Lucky said. "Even though we were with him..."

Onyx kept their head low and avoided looking at anyone. They couldn't help but blame themself for what happened. If they had stopped Naga no matter what, this wouldn't have happened. If they hadn't let him go and walk away, they could've prevented this.

"I'm sorry... It's because I said something to Naga that I shouldn't have..." Hammie mumbled.

"It's not your fault." Onyx spoke up.

"But... because I-"

Onyx cut her off. "I'm the one to blame, if anything. I... let him go. I didn't stop him from going after her... It's my fault for not being more forceful."

"It's not your fault. Worry not!" Balance said, "Tokei kyutama's all plugged in! Yay yay!"

"Balance..." The commander said, "You don't have to force yourself."

Balance turned away and leaned against the railing. "Then... mind if I ask for one selfish thing. Mind if I don't go to the past with you?"

"You..."

"You want to save Naga all by yourself?" Garu said.

"Naga is... I have to take Naga back." Balance replied.

"Look like we can't all afford to go to the past." Shou said.

"I will remain." Lucky stated, "Balance and I will save Naga."

"Me too." Hammie stepped forward. "I can't just leave Naga behind."

"We will definitely take Naga back." Garu added.

Kotaro also stepped forward. Part of Onyx wanted to stay and fix this as well, but they couldn't leave Tsurugi alone. They needed to be with him for this.

"Leave the past to me." Tsurugi stated, "Right, Spada?"

Spada glanced at Tsurugi before looking at the team remaining. "Guys... Be sure to get Naga back."

"Partner." Champ said.

"Yeah." Stinger walked over to Champ. "We are also going to the past."

"I have to pilot the Orion-gou, so I'm going to the past." Raptor said.

"I can't leave you alone for this, kid. I'm going to the past as well." Onyx stated, looking at Tsurugi.

"Alright. It's decided then." The commander said. "Lucky, Hammie, Balance, Garu, and Kotaro remain in the present time to rescue Naga."

"Okyuu." Those five replied.

"Going to the past are Tsurugi-kun, Onyx, Stinger, Champ, Spada, Raptor, and myself." Shou continued.

"Okyuu." The rest replied, Onyx unwillingly doing so as well.

"Everyone. Even apart, our hearts are one." Shou said, "Do not forget that."

Everyone agreed. And so, the plan changed. Once everyone had what they needed, they dropped the present crew off and then began the journey into the past. It was time to see if they were going to figure out the truth about Don Armage and how he managed to survive.