Chapter Text
It was a bit of a downer of an evening for the Happiness Charge Pretty Cures. After a pretty fun day all things considered, what with teaming up with a fellow classmate, Iona Hikawa, to play soccer together. As well as successfully defending their town from the forces of the Phantom Empire, along with the mysterious and powerful, Cure Fortune.
However, as Megumi Aino, Hime Shirayuki, Yuko Omori, and Seji Sagara would soon learn, both of the people they worked with that day, were in fact one person. Yes, Iona and Cure Fortune were the same girl, yet even that paled in comparison to why they learned this fact.
Because the girl herself decided to reveal that to the group as a way for Megumi and Yuuko to team up with her. So that the three of them could work together to keep their town safe, become stronger, and eventually defeat the elusive Pretty Cure Hunter, Phantom.
The same man who Megumi and her friends failed to defeat before, surviving off the skin of their teeth. And the same man who they’d learned had imprisoned Iona’s sister, Maria Hikawa aka Cure Tender, within his Pretty Cure graveyard. It sounded like a dream..but of course to another on the team..this was naturally something very nightmarish.
Because, Hime aka Cure Princess was excluded from this offer..and she knew the reason why. Of course she did, it was blatant to her since she met Cure Fortune that she knew what she did. She knew what she caused. And she would never ever forgive her for it. And that was why..hearing Iona say why to her friends.
Revealing her dirty laundry when it came to her past and greatest sin, the secret she kept so close to her chest. The secret she KNEW would be the thing that had the chance to destroy her bond with Yuko and especially, Megumi. And Iona said it..without any hint of understanding to Hime’s feelings.
“The one who caused despair to spread across the world. The one who brought destruction to the Blue Sky Kingdom..is her.” Iona declared pointing to Hime as she crouched down, her own anxiety and stress building up in her. Till as the conversation went on..she exploded.
“But! But..I..” Hime would yell trying to talk with Megumi and Yuko. Trying to get them to see her side, her rationale..and yet the looks of shock and confusion on their face along with Iona’s declaration of never forgiving Hime..it broke her. It caused her to regress, to go back to the one thing she was good at. “I never thought things would turn out this way!” Hime yelled at the top of her lungs as she ran. She ran from them and Seji, she ran from Ribbon, and she ran away from Cure Fortune..from Iona.
Like she always did. After all the only things she was good at were spending time counting every little mistake and knowing it’s always easier to run. And so she did..ran as fast as her legs could carry her. And despite not being an athlete..she would soon ditch her friends and find herself inside a children’s playground slide.
The inner area makes for both a perfect place to hide her..and a perfect place to cry. Something else she was really good at..as pathetic as it was to think of even now for the poor girl.
Alone. Forgotten. Tired. And now..even hungry as she looked back to the empty bag of honey candy her friend Yuko had given her to calm her down when she and Iona began to fight. The empty bag was a reminder of how..empty her life would be now. Without Megumi and her cheerful happy personality. Her best friend..the one she loved like a sister..the one who helped her so much by becoming courageous and strong when with her. As well as..Yuko and her kind friendly personality.
The bright calming friend who while singing an annoying song, was always sweet to her like her namesake. In spite of her not deserving it…especially since..she harbored a secret toward Yuko which would likely cause her to distance from Hime even without the influence of Alexia. Yet now on top of what was just revealed, she’d never have the courage to say it now. Something that caused her even more so to feel sorry that she ate all the honey candy from Yuko. So much so she wished for one more..just one more to make this pain go away. And soon one appeared in her hands. As delight would soon trigger, before confusion and then realization when a voice spoke up.
“Found you Hime.” She heard as she darted her head toward the opening of the hole to find Yuko decked out in a cute looking detective outfit from their numerous card forms. A worried look on her face as she revealed she found Hime due to the wrappers she did not throw away properly. Yet being confronted by Yuko..it caused Hime to once more regress to her normal mindset. Immediately trying to make a break for it..before a soft hand touched her own. As Yuko’s kind voice echoed in the area.
“Why are you running away?” She asked in the softest kindest voice Hime ever heard as the girls paused as all of her pent up sadness, like a dam ready to burst, finally exploded out of her as she looked away from Yuko. “Because you know about Alexia! I was the cause of all this despair! And I kept it hidden from all of you. I’M THE WORST!!!” She says glaring down to the ground as tears well in her eyes. “I’m sure you two hate me now..it’s over for us, right? You’ll pick Cure Fortune over me!” She asked, yet the double meaning of it was cruelly intentional on the girl’s words due to the broken dam of emotions she was feeling right now. After all Iona was everything she wasn’t. She was like Megumi said, she was really smart, athletic, and quite famous. Why wouldn’t they pick her over the pathetic princess she was. The coward who ran the first chance she got. The weakling who probably without Megumi would’ve become such a failure that the Pretty Cure Hunter himself would just scoff at her and say she wasn’t worth capturing. “IT’S ALL OVER!” She yelled as tears flowened down her face and out of her eyes like sprinklers on a car.
Yet soon her wailing and pitiful voice would die out as a soft melodious voice spook up. “We won’t hate you.” She heard Yuko say as she didn’t even look at her, disbelief in what she was hearing. It’s not true..she had to hate her.
“I was also hiding something too. I never told you two about Cure Honey, right?” She questions her as Hime stopped her tears briefly as the thought of that short time ago rang in her head. “Did you think about not being my friend any more back then?” She heard her question with a knowing smile on her face. As Hime had to face Yuko to respond.
“No way!” She says as she faces her with complete certainty. Sure she had been shocked and maybe a bit angry to be kept in the dark..but she understood Yuko’s reasoning, and even more so..how could she hate someone so kind and..beautiful.
Yes..she had to internally admit in that still in that moment. Even in her saddest of moods, her feelings for Yuuko..had not changed. Megumi might be her best friend, and basically sister..but Yuko was something more. She was..the girl’s current crush. A crush she’d had for a bit, ever since seeing the pretty girl at school. Yet..grew only more and more with time especially with her as her teammate. Her wonderful, kind, gentle teammate who’s angelic voice and protective nature drew Hime in like a bee to honey. But..as she thought of this she frowned..she shouldn’t think of such things. Not after what she did. Not after how she lied. And not after she once more ran.
Yet like always Yuko shone down on her like the sun itself full of warmth and kindness in those kind eyes and gentle voice as she spoke once more. “Then I can tell you I feel the same. And I'm sure Megumi is thinking about the same thing.” She said as she smiled at Hime as the poor girl felt her heart beat increase. Her best friend..and her crush, they both didn’t wanna leave her. They wanted to stay friends? Was this..was this possible? Was she that blessed? Yet as she felt the warmth of Yuko’s smile for the first time since she ran away she felt a familiar feeling enter her heart. A feeling of happiness once more caused her heart to beat happily.
But soon this feeling was dashed..as of course now of all times another monster attack was occurring. Folks running away worried and scared as they screamed and ran past her little hideaway. As they did, Yuko stopped them and confirmed what was going on. And as she did Hime just curled up once more. After all..what could she do to help? She’d probably get in the way again. Like she always did.
Yet once more the sunlight that was Yuko looked down onto her. “Will this really be okay?” She questioned as her friend knelt down beside her and smiled as she took her hand into her own soft warm hand. “I forgot to tell you..I love you too, Hime.” She heard as she felt her own world crumble around her as she looked to Yuko who gave a soft expression as she smiled.
“Ahh Yuko..I LOVE YOU TOO!” She says as soon she realizes her mouth once more moved before her mind could interpret what she was gonna say. As she felt fear once more take over a bit before she felt that wash away as Yuko smiles. “Yes..I know. But I also know, you love me not like how Megumi does. Because, I love you..the same way I know you love me.” She says with a knowing smile as Hime’s heart went from cracked open like a dam, to reconstructed and bouncing around in her chest like a bouncy ball.
“I admit..at first I loved you like I love Megumi, as a dear friend. But I guess over time my feeling for you became more. I felt happiness around you, as much as I'd feel eating rice with my family. And I love you..even now in spite of all you feel is bad about you. Because the Hime I love, is truly courageous and happy. So common now..let’s show them that true version of you. Along with the power of our love..happiness..and everything in between along with Megumi.” She says happily before giggling. “And when we are done..i’ll make us all a nice meal together as a first date meal.” She says both playfully and kindly as Hime felt all of her worries vanish. While she couldn't say her feelings back..Yuko was just so loving that she could tell.
And knowing she felt the same..it caused Hime to feel that familiar feeling. Not just happiness, not just hope, no..she felt courage seeping back into her. Courage told her to stand tall with Yuko, and Megumi. Protect their world. Secure their wish. And be happy together once and for all. And that was enough to cause her to stand, and chant along with Yuuko those famous words they did anytime before a battle.
“Pretty Cure! Spinning Mirror Change!” They chanted before the two vanished as their cure alter egos took their place. “The Light of Life Flourishing on the Earth! Cure Honey!” Yuko spoke melodiously as Hime posed with her. “The Blue Wind Dancing in the Sky! Cure Princess!” She chanted as the two joined hands. “Injected with Happiness!” Yuko says as Hime smiles with her. “Charged with Bliss!” Hime says confidently as they jump together. “Happiness Charges Pretty Cure!” They shout as they take off together, hand in hand, ready to find Megumi and fight off whatever came their way.
Be it Cure Fortune, the Pretty Cure Hunter, the entire Phantom Empire or whatever else stood in the way of their happiness. A happiness Hime felt all over as she held tight the hand of Yuko, her now confirmed crush..who she now knew confidently loved her too.