"Aquamarine." Thanatos called, "You must recapture the Key and finish the spell."
"I'm trying to locate him as we speak." Aquamarine answered.
"If you fail me this time, then you will no longer be worthy of our mission." Thanatos warned.
"I won't fail you this time, my lord."
************
"Those blasted Crusaders," cursed Aquamarine, "I must find a way to defeat them once and for all."
"Perhaps you need to face them yourself and not rely on a Dark Spell." said Jade as she emerged from the shadows.
"If I wanted your opinion Jade," she replied, "I'd ask you for it."
"I'm just trying to help you out dear sister," Jade answered, "Besides, I'm sure Lord Thanatos is already at his limit with your consistent failures to obtain the Key. I wouldn't want you to tarnish the name of the Gem Witches." Jade taunted Aquamarine as she laughed and faded into thin air.
"I'll show them," Aquamarine vowed, "I'll show them all."
************
"You guys are the Magiboys, too?!" Toma exclaimed.
"Yeah,"said Daiki, "I'm Alex, Joichiro is Justin, and Kairi is Trey."
"Wait a minute," said Toma, "So you gave me an autograph photo of yourself?"
"Yeah, said Daiki sheepishly, "I had to do that meet and greet that day and I couldn't tell you that I was Alex. Wait a sec. Daisuke, how did you know I was Alex?"
Daisuke just laughed and replied, "I saw you change from yourself to Alex, which is why I knew who you were."
Daiki suddenly felt like he blabbed out a personal secret to a whole crowd. Everyone else just laughed.
"So," Joichiro added, "How is this plan going to work Kairi?"
Cosmo and Kairi grinned as they had the whole thing planned. "Well, " Kairi started, "Cosmo is going to cast a spell on everyone we know, so they believe we are still there. We will go on tour, perform and handle everything as our Idol Identities."
"And Toma and Daisuke will join us as crew," Cosmo added, "That way we can protect Toma and Daisuke can help us if we come across any Dark Spells."
"Daiki's and Kairi's families are spelled so they won't notice we're gone," Joichiro stated, "My mother knows, so she doesn't need to be spelled."
"Good thing," Cosmo added, "She was easy to accept it, too difficult to spell but she seems trustworthy."
"Mother has had great power all my life, besides, she knows we're Zodiac Crusaders."
"And I have no family," added Daisuke, "So I have no one who will notice I'm gone."
"We would," Kairi added, "You may not be a Crusader, but you are one of us."
"Thanks Kairi," Daisuke said, "Thank you all as well. I will do what I can to help you."
"And thank you all, Toma added, "I'm sorry that I caused you all so much trouble."
"Don't be," Daiki said, "Even if we weren't superheroes, we would still protect you from those Witches."
Toma felt reassured that his best friend and new friends were willing to protect him. But it still bothered him as to why he was being targeted. He was no one special, he wasn't like the others who had powers.
************
Aquamarine had one last chance to destroy the Crusaders and retrieve the key. She knew her Dark Spells had failed her and she needed something stronger. She looked at her chalice and contemplated using it as a base for a new Spell. It was a gamble at best. If she wins, then everything will go as planned. The Crusaders would be dead and the Key would be hers again. If she loses however, then she would lose the power Thanatos gave her.
"Come forth, Dark Spell, Piscodemon!"
Her chalice began overflowing with a dark viscous liquid like tar or oil, the chalice completely disappeared and the liquid took shape into a hideous creature resembling a robed wizard with the head of an octopus and tentacles where its mouth should be.
"Piscodemon," Aquamarine said, "Track down the Key and kill those meddling Crusaders and Star Ninja as well."
Piscodemon bowed to Aquamarine and vanished into thin air, proceeding to its mission.
************
The group had just left Toma's home, after Cosmo spelled his family so they wouldn't notice his absence.
"That should be everyone." Cosmo said to the group.
"How long will we be gone?" asked Toma.
"Not too long," answered Kairi, "Just long enough to finish the tour and make sure Aquamarine is gone for good."
"So how are we going to go on tour?" asked Daiki.
"In that," Kairi answered, "I present to you, our tour bus."
Kairi pointed out an RV that looked pretty modern and inconspicuous.
"An RV?" asked Joichiro, "How did we get this?"
Kairi simply laughed and said, "It just cost me one month's allowance."
"That cost you one month's allowance?" Toma asked.
"My parents' salary for a month would rent that for a weekend." Daiki said.
"Rent?" replied Kairi, "No way, we own this thing."
"How much money do you have?" asked Joichiro.
Before Kairi could respond, Piscodemon and Aquamarine appeared before them.
"Now," Aquamarine said, "Let's finish this."
"Cosmo," Daiki ordered as he stepped in between Toma and the enemy, "Guard Toma. Guys, let's suit up."
"Scorpio Constellation Power, Armor On!"
"Taurus Constellation Power, Armor On!"
"Cancer Constellation Power, Armor On!"
With all three Crusaders suited up, they rushed forward to fight Piscodemon. Daisuke transformed into the Star Ninja and faced off against Aquamarine.
The Crusaders attacked Piscodemon but he would either dodge or block their attacks. Scorpio threw a punch only for Piscodemon to disappear and reappear behind him. Piscodemon hit Scorpio with its staff and knocked him back. Taurus slashed at Piscodemon with his sword but Piscodemon parried every move. Cancer threw his Glaive boomerang but Piscodemon dodged it. This continued on with Piscodemon winning the fight.
Star Ninja and Aquamarine were still evenly matched. Neither one was able to land a hit. Ninja however did manage to keep Aquamarine away from Toma.
"You will not win," said Aquamarine, "I will defeat you all and take my rightful place by Lord Thanatos's side."
Meanwhile, Piscodemon beat down all three Crusaders. The trio struggled to get up after the beating they took.
"We need to do something," Scorpio stated, "We can't let them get Toma."
"I have a plan," Cancer said, "Scorpio, Taurus, remember issue #6?"
Scorpio and Taurus both nodded understanding Cancer's plan.
"Let's go!" said Scorpio as all three rushed to attack Piscodemon. Once again beating them back on their backs.
"No!!" cried Toma.
Star Ninja and Aquamarine looked back to see the Crusaders were beaten.
"Piscodemon," ordered Aquamarine, "Get that brat and kill the old man."
Star ninja tried to intercept Piscodemon but Aquamarine kept him engaged.
Piscodemon turned his attention to Cosmo and Toma. Cosmo put himself between Toma and Piscodemon. With one wave of his hand, Piscodemon pushed Cosmo aside.
"Cosmo!" cried Toma, as he rushed to Cosmo's side.
"Piscodemon was only a few steps away from Toma.
When all seemed lost, Cancer shouted, "Now!"
"Scorpio Harpoon Stinger!"
"Taurus Glimmering Shield, Shine!"
"Cancer Water Spiral, Spin!"
All three Crusaders launched their attack simultaneously at Piscodemon. Before Piscodemon or Aquamarine could react, the combined attack hit Piscodemon which melted him into a tar-like substance.
Amidst the foul liquid was Aquamarine's Chalice which began to crack. The chalice shattered completely, much to Aquamarine's chagrin. This had an effect on Aquamarine. As soon as the Chalice was destroyed, her powers began to diminish.
"No," she cried out, "This can't be."
Star Ninja was able to beat her now. He landed a couple punches and kicked her away.
"This is far from over," Aquamarine shouted, "You will all pay for this."
Aquamarine vanished into thin air, finally retreating.
"Good job," Cosmo said, "Looks like we dealt her a considerable blow."
"It was all thanks to Mystic Hero, Black Mage," Cancer said, "Haruto faced an enemy that he couldn't defeat."
"So he pretended to be defeated,"Scorpio continued, "Then when the Dark Wizard dropped his guard…"
"Haruto attacked him by surprise," Taurus finished, "And destroyed his Magic Core."
"Not you too, Taurus." said Cosmo.
************
"Do we have everything?" asked Joichiro.
"We're all packed and ready to go." answered Kairi.
"Then we better head out," Daisuke stated, "Aquamarine may come back."
"First stop," Cosmo said, "Hamamatsu!"
"I guess we better think of our song line up," said Joichiro, "I was thinking of opening with Highway."
"I can help with rehearsals," Toma added, "And choreography as well."
The group discussed their plans for the tour as Cosmo drove the RV out of the city to their first stop on their tour. Daisuke looked out the window of the passenger seat and thought of what was to come. They defeated Aquamarine, but he and the others knew she wasn't the only enemy out there.
************
Aquamarine returned to the mansion, the other Witches grinning as if they knew her failure was guaranteed.
"Lord Thanatos," she pleaded, "Please allow me one more chance to obtain the Key."
"You dare ask me for another chance," Thanatos scolded, "Not only have you failed in obtaining the Key and killing the Zodiac Crusaders, you have also foolishly lost your Dark Tool. Now because of your incompetence, the Dark Chalice of Turmoil has been destroyed."
"Forgive me, my Lord," Aquamarine pleaded, "The Crusaders…"
"SILENCE," Thanatos shouted. "You are no longer fit to rule by my side and you are undeserving of the power I have given you. Aquamarine, you are no longer welcome in my presence. I hereby banish you to your grotto until further notice. Now leave my sight, you disgraceful excuse for a Witch."
"As you wish." Aquamarine bowed her head and began to cry as she left the mansion to begin her exile in her grotto.
The other three Witches giggled and waited for Thanatos to call for them.
"Jade," Thanatos called, "Come before me,"
Jade, the Witch in the green dress with flowing brown hair approached the fountain and bowed her head towards Thanatos.
"I am her, Lord Thanatos," she said, "How may I serve thee?"
"Jade, it is now your turn to lead in this mission. Release me from this prison and you will rule by my side."
"It will be my honor to serve you," said Jade, "Aquamarine was foolish and she wasted many Dark Spells to locate the Key. But I have another plan."
"Explain." commanded Thanatos.
"Instead of wasting our Dark Spells to obtain the Key, which is now guarded by the Zodiac Crusaders, we shall use our Dark Spells to break the seal upon you. Thanks to Aquamarine, she managed to weaken the seal placed upon you. Enough to where we can use a powerful Dark Spell to break it."
"And how do you intend to empower this Spell?"
Jade answered with an evil smile, "With the life force of a single human sacrifice. I shall commune with the earth and through the power of nature, I shall find a human blessed with one of Mother Earth's gifts. I shall use a Dark Spell on said human which will harness that gift's power and nurture it like a seed. Once the gift fully blossoms and matures, I will manifest the Dark Spell using the human's natural gift and their lifeforce which should be enough to break the seal."
"Excellent, Jade," said Thanatos, "Proceed with your plan."
************
In Aquamarine's grotto, sitting on a throne, Aquamarine vowed vengeance.
"I shall make them all pay," she said, "Those Zodiac Crusaders, Jade, Topaz, Ruby, and even Lord Thanatos"
She caresses a beaded bracelet, one of the beads, distinct from the others, was made out of the stone of her same name. A glowing gem of aquamarine.
"I will make them all pay for humiliating me like this, and I'll make Thanatos pay for his treatment of me."