In the mansion's courtyard, all four Gem Witches gathered around the fountain with Thanatos appearing in the center.
"Aquamarine," he said calmly and sweetly, "Finally, you've done something right."
"Thank you, my lord," Aquamarine replied, "You shall be free soon enough."
"How soon?" he asked.
"The magic circle that holds the key will drain the brat of his life force slowly. The circle has twelve rings which will spin, like a combination lock. Once the ring locks into place, the seal keeping you trapped will weaken. Once all twelve rings are locked, you will be free and the Key will be dead."
"Excellent," said Thanatos, "Make sure those Zodiac Crusaders do not interfere."
************
"We can't let her succeed." said Jade.
"Agreed," said Topaz, "We need to make sure those Crusaders ruin Aquamarine's plan at just the right moment."
"And I know how." Jade said as she smiled.
************
In the Command Center, Kairi and Joichiro are trying to locate Toma and Aquamarine while Cosmo is trying to calm a frantic Daiki.
"Daiki," Cosmo called, "I know you're worried about Toma, but we need a plan if we're going to save him."
"I do have a plan," Daiki replied, "Find Aquamarine, take her down and anyone who gets in my way."
"And what if she's ready for you?" asked Cosmo, "What if she has some Dark Spell waiting for you, or some trap to catch you while you watch Toma being sacrificed to free Thanatos."
"Who is this Thanatos?" asked Kairi.
"In mythology, he's a god of death." answered Joichiro.
"What does Toma have to do with this death god?" asked Daiki.
Silence filled the Command Center as the question was asked. Everyone looked at each other but no answer came.
"Maybe Daisuke knows," suggested Cosmo, "He seems to know something about Aquamarine, maybe he might know Thanatos."
"Why can't we allow him in the Command Center?" asked Kairi.
"We still can't trust him," answered Cosmo, "We don't know who Daisuke really is."
"He said so himself," Joichiro said, "He doesn't know if we're friends or enemies."
"But you also said he could be our Great Ruler," Daiki added, "So far all he has done is help us."
"What if that was only to defeat Aquamarine?" asked Joichiro.
"Joichiro has a point," Cosmo added, "What if he's only helping us to defeat Aquamarine? Once she's out of the way, who's to say he won't turn against us after that?"
Kairi and Daiki looked as if they were told that everything they believed in was a lie. They both knew Daisuke as a person, and as the Star Ninja he always saved them. It was impossible for them to think that Daisuke would ever betray them. But the question still cast a shadow of doubt on what Daiki and Kairi believed was their friendship with Daisuke.
Was he truly a friend, or an enemy lying in wait?
************
Aquamarine appeared to check in on her progress with Toma. The spell had already unlocked five out of the twelve rings. A few seconds later, the sixth ring locked into place, and Toma cried out in pain as his life was being drained from him.
"Halfway there," Aquamarine smiled, "Now to ensure those brats won't ruin my plan. Come forth, Dark Spell, Ogre!"
Out of the shadows, a monstrous Ogre appeared and bowed to Aquamarine.
"Ogre," Aquamarine said, "Keep those annoying Zodiac Crusaders busy while I ensure the Key unlocks the gate"
Unbeknownst to Aquamarine, Jade looked on and grinned knowing that Aquamarine's plan would be ruined.
************
Daiki didn't know what to do. His best friend was being held hostage and some death god was about to be released to the world. He didn't even realize he had attacked Daisuke
"Tell me now," Daiki demanded, "What do you know about Aquamarine and Thanatos?! TELL ME!!"
Daisuke didn't fight back, he allowed himself to be pinned against the wall. Daisuke knew that Daiki was worried about his friend so he knew Daiki wasn't angry with him. Not truly.
"Daiki!" Kairi interjected, "Calm down. I know you're worried about Toma, but acting like this won't solve anything."
"It's ok, Kairi," said Daisuke, "I don't know anything about them. Just that they are my enemies. I swear to you, Daiki."
Daiki relented and it took everything in him to keep from crying.
"We'll find him," Kairi assured, "Joichiro is scrying for him or any dark energy from Aquamarine."
Joichiro emerged from the arcade and approached the group. "Aquamarine has sent another Dark Spell."
"Let's go!" said Daiki.
Hear me, Crusader Taurus, I am Jade, Dark Gem Witch of Earth. If you wish to save the Key, then meet me at Crystal Eye Park.
"Wait," Joichiro called, "I'm getting a message from another Gem Witch."
"Another one?" asked Kairi.
"How many are there?" asked Daiki.
"She told me that if we are going to save Aquamarine, then we have to meet her at Crystal Eye Park."
"Then let's go to the park!" suggested Daiki.
"This has to be a trap," pointed out Daisuke, "Why would Aquamarine summon a Dark Spell."
Joichiro then responded, "It might be a trap but we cannot ignore the Dark Spell. Besides, this Witch's name was Jade."
Daiki then decided a plan of action. "Joichiro, Kairi, you two go after the Dark Spell. Daisuke, come with me to meet this Jade.
All nodded in agreement and decided to transform. Daisuke willed the shadows to cover him completely, changing him to the Star Ninja.
"Scorpio Constellation Power!"
"Taurus Constellation Power!"
"Cancer Constellation Power!"
"Armor on!" all three called in unison.
Daiki, Joichiro, and Kairi transformed into Crusaders Scorpio, Taurus and Cancer.
"Our main objective is to save Toma and bring him back," said Scorpio, "Then we defeat the Dark Spell and Aquamarine once and for all."
As planned, Taurus and Cancer left for the warehouse district where Taurus sensed the Dark Spell and Scorpio and Ninja went to meet Jade at Crystal Eye Park.
************
Scorpio and Star Ninja arrived at Crystal Eye Park and saw that it was completely deserted, except for a woman in a green dress with flowing brown hair.
"Well, well, well," chimed Jade, "Not the Crusader I was expecting. And you brought a friend."
Scorpio took a defensive stance against Jade, prepared for a trap. "You said you're going to help us. Why should we trust you?"
"You shouldn't," answered Jade, "But we do share a common goal. And that is to ensure Aquamarine does not succeed in her plan."
"Why would you sabotage your comrade's plans?" asked Star Ninja.
"I have my reasons," answered Jade, "Now we could waste time and continue chatting, or you can allow me to help your friend." Jade waved her hand and opened a portal. "Through there, you'll find Aquamarine's lair. And remember, I never helped you. This conversation never happened." Jade stated her warning as she vanished into thin air.
"Ready Scorpio?" Ninja asked.
Scorpio said nothing. He just nodded, unsure whether he could trust Jade or not, unsure of what he will face on the other side. One thing he was certain, was that he would free Toma no matter the cost.
"Let's go!" Scorpio shouted as they both jumped into the portal.
Scorpio and the Star Ninja were transported to what appeared to be a grotto from a sea cave. If it weren't a lair of an evil Witch, the place would be quite beautiful.
The reverie was short lived however when Scorpio heard a scream he recognized. It was Toma. Scorpio and Ninja followed the sound of Toma's screams and saw him chained to a cross in the middle of a magic circle. The outer seven rings of the circle had stopped while the inner five were still spinning. Aquamarine was too busy concentrating on the spell to realize Scorpio and Star Ninja were in her lair.
"Just a few more levels and Lord Thanatos will be free." Aquamarine said with glee.
"We have to disrupt the spell somehow," Ninja suggested. "Maybe if you use your Harpoon Stinger to break those chains and set Toma free."
The eighth ring locked into place and Toma screamed again in pain as the spell was draining his life.
"Only four more levels to go." Aquamarine chimed.
"Stay out of sight," Ninja quietly ordered Scorpio, "I'll distract her long enough for you to free Toma."
"Lord Thanatos," Aquamarine called out, "You will be free soon."
"Not if I have anything to do about it," Star Ninja said to Aquamarine. "You will not free your master."
"You!" Aquamarine growled. "How did you get here?"
"A ninja never reveals his secrets," Ninja replied, "Now face me Witch!"
Aquamarine and Star Ninja faced off against each other while Scorpio positioned himself and charged his Bolt and aimed for Toma's chains.
"Scorpio Harpoon Stinger!" Scorpio threw his Stinger towards Toma and broke the chains binding his feet and the bolt changed trajectory and returned toward Scorpio after breaking the chains binding Toma's arms. With Toma free, Scorpio used the chain connected to his Bolt to pull Toma off the cross and towards him.
"No!" shouted Aquamarine as Toma escaped the circle and the remaining spinning rings disappeared, breaking the spell cast on Toma.
Toma landed in Scorpio's arms, and in that moment, something inside them both awakened. A sense of familiarity filled Scorpio and Toma. It felt as if this sort of thing had happened before.
Just then, a flash came into Ninja's mind but he couldn't quite make out the people involved or any surroundings. Almost like picturing a scene with eyes shut, only there was nothing but black and shadowy figures moving around and a voice in his head that he couldn't recognize.
Come, Your Highness, we must leave.
Ninja snapped out of it as Aquamarine made her way to Toma and Scorpio. Ninja threw his golden shuriken at her. Aquamarine dodged it allowing Scorpio and Toma to regain their senses and escape.
"Come on," Ninja shouted as he took hold of Scorpio and Toma and together they vanished into the shadows.
************
Taurus and Cancer arrived at the warehouse district to face off against the Dark Spell. Once there, they see an ogre rampaging, destroying buildings and vehicles in the district.
Taurus summons his weapon and unleashes his attack, "Taurus Glimmering Shield, Shine!" A beam of light hits Ogre but it is unaffected. "What?!"
Ogre laughs while Taurus charged at it, swinging his sword to attack it but Ogre caught Taurus's sword arm and lifted him off the ground.
"Put me down you big oaf!" Taurus shouted.
Ogre threw Taurus off to the side of a shipping container, leaving a huge dent where Taurus made impact. Ogre turned its attention to Cancer
"Ok, big, bad, and ugly," mocked Cancer, "Let's see how you like this. Cancer Water Spiral, Spin!" Cancer shot twin streams of water at Ogre but that too had no effect on it. "This is bad." Cancer said to himself as the Ogre came closer. Cancer threw his glaive at it only to bounce off upon impact.
Taurus jumped and kicked at Ogre, but Ogre swatted him like a fly and knocked him down.
From out of the shadows, a gold shuriken flew towards Ogre and injured its leg.
"Scorpio Harpoon Stinger!"
A harpoon bolt flew towards Ogre and struck it in the leg. The beast however did not melt or crumble. It did find itself unable to stand.
From the direction where the bolt, Star Ninja, Scorpio and Toma appeared.
"Scorpio!" shouted Taurus.
"You did it!" exclaimed Cancer.
"Ninja," Scorpio ordered, "Keep Toma safe."
Ninja nodded and took Toma away from the battle. Scorpio joined the other two Crusaders to finish off Ogre.
"Why didn't your attack work on this creep?" Taurus asked.
Cancer recalled the battle and remembered that their attacks were aiming toward Ogre's head. Ninja and Scorpio aimed for its legs. An idea hit him. "Taurus, when I give the signal, hit that thing on the head with your shield. Cancer Water Spiral, Spin!" Cancer concentrated his attack on Ogre's head, hoping his theory was correct. The pressurized streams of water kept hitting Ogre's head and it seemed Cancer was correct. Ogre's head began to erode away. "Now Taurus!"
Following Cancer's direction, Taurus charged the monster using his shield and hit the creature on the head, completely breaking it apart. Ogre's exposed head revealed a blood red jewel on Ogre's head. Scorpio knew that the jewel was the Dark Spell's weak spot.
"Scorpio Harpoon Stinger!" Scorpio charged and threw his bolt toward the jewel and it shattered on impact. As expected, Ogre began to melt into a black slimy ooze until the creature was nothing but a puddle.
"Good job, Cancer," Taurus complimented, "How did you figure it out?"
Cancer explained it all, "Well the monster had a hard head but a soft body. Just like body armor. Since its head was made of stone, I figured I could wear it down with water."
"Well we need to find Daisuke and Toma," Scorpio said. "We may have freed him from Aquamarine but she might come back for him."
************
In the mansion, Thanatos was angrily scolding Aquamarine, "Another fine plan ruined by your incompetence, Aquamarine."
"Forgive me, my lord." Aquamarine pleaded, "I don't know how Star Ninja or Crusader Scorpio entered my sacred space."
"Well maybe it wasn't well protected," said Jade, "You allowed the key to escape and now, your time is up."
"Im not done yet," Aquamarine added, "Besides, if anyone has failed to notice, Lord Thanatos's seal is weakened."
Thanatos materialized from the fountain, no longer an image in the water. He was now flesh and blood.
Topaz, Ruby and Jade were amazed.
"Excellent, Aquamarine," Thanatos complimented. "But I am still trapped in this cursed seal. Finish the spell, or lose my favor."
"At once my lord."
************
In the Command Center, Daiki, Toma, Daisuke, Joichiro and Kairi gathered around Cosmo.
"We must think of a way to keep Toma safe from the Witches," Cosmo stated, "Aquamarine knows what you look like so she may start searching schools and other popular hangouts for people your age."
"For tonight, Toma can stay with me," Daiki suggested, "We can keep a better watch for him at my house."
Toma felt that he was now a burden, not only to his best friend, but to his new friends too. He suddenly realized that he can never go home again. He suddenly understood why Daiki kept his identity as a superhero a secret from him.
"He can't stay with you forever," Joichiro added, "And it'd be a hassle for him to be bouncing around between homes."
"I may have an idea," Kairi chimed in, "Cosmo, we may need your help in this."
"What did you have in mind?" asked Cosmo.
Kairi grinned like a kid in a candy store next to a toy store. "The Magiboys are going on tour and Toma gets to tag along."
Everyone in the room just responded to Kairi's idea with a loud, "EHHH!!!"