Stage 3: Gathering the Victims; Who is the Star Ninja?

"Another failure, Aquamarine." said Thanatos, "You promised that Crusader Scorpio would not interfere again."

"Forgive me, my lord," pleaded Aquamarine, "He seems to be more formidable than I thought. But, thanks to Blob's failure, I have a new strategy. If my spells consume human victims, then their life energy will strengthen my Spell."

"GET IT DONE!!" Thanatos yelled so angrily that the mansion shook.

"My, my, my," said the Witch in green, "Seems to me that Lord Thanatos is running out of patience, Aquamarine."

"Leave me alone, Jade," Aquamarine said, "I will be the one to release Thanatos and I will rule by his side."

"Do you hear how delusional she is, Topaz?" said the Witch in Red.

"I do, Ruby," said Topaz. "But it seems she is all talk."

The other three Witches continue their ridicule as they disappear in the shadows.

"You will all see," Aquamarine grumbled, "My new Spell has already begun gathering victims"

************

A young woman is jogging as she usually does every morning down a nature trail. As she stops to take a break, she notices a pair of glowing blood red eyes and a shadowy figure in the distance. Its guttural groan fills the jogger with fear and she runs away screaming.

She runs to a clearing and she sees another pair of glowing blood red eyes. Only these eyes are from a little girl. A little girl who looked like a walking corpse, with sunken skin and skeletal features. She approached the jogger much like a zombie from a horror movie. The jogger tried to move away but saw two other zombies coming her way. A high school boy to her left and a middle aged man behind her.

As the jogger thought about her escape plan, the ground beneath her rumbled and caved in. She sank as if she were in quicksand and saw that she was being eaten by a giant worm. The worm closed its mouth with the jogger inside and returned underground.

A few moments later, the newly zombified jogger emerged from the ground and joined her fellow zombies.

************

"Perfect, Alex," said the photographer as he was taking photos, "Ok, now let's try a different pose."

Cosmo was looking around and trying to see if any other Zodiac Crusaders were around. Sadly, none were detected.

"Mr. Cosmo," called one of the photographers, "Thank you so much for your time. With all the campaigns endorsed here, Alex has got quite a career ahead of him."

"Oh, thank you."

Ok," said the last photographer, "That's a wrap. Thank you Mr. Sasori."

"Alex, please," Said Daiki, "You may call me Alex."

After he said that, many of the female photographers and fans began to squeal, "Oh my, he's so modest." "He's so nice to people." He's sweet" was all they had to say about Alex Sasori.

"Alex," Cosmo called, "We have an interview with 728 Magazine and then a ribbon cutting this afternoon."

"Ok," As Alex began to pack his belongings, he flashes his smile and winks at his fans, causing them to scream loudly in admiration. "Great work, everyone. Can't wait to work with you all again."

Cosmo and Alex left the studio and once they were alone, Daiki had switched to Civilian Mode and was once again in his school uniform and normal black hair. Cosmo had put a spell on Daiki's class, including Toma, so they wouldn't notice he was gone. As far as everyone was concerned, Daiki was in class like every other day. He has been an Idol and a Zodiac Crusader for about three weeks and no other Crusaders had been found. But his popularity as Alex Sasori had skyrocketed as soon as he made his debut. Although everyone kept asking him and Cosmo when other MagiBoys would make their debut. The official story was they were waiting for the finalists to win.

"Nothing?" Daiki asked Cosmo.

Cosmo shook his head confirming there were no Zodiac Crusaders found. They had been looking for the others but no luck.

"Where else can we look for the others?" asked Daiki.

"I'll think about that later," he answered, "For now, let's get something to eat."

"What about Toma? Maybe he's a Crusader." Daiki said hopefully.

Cosmo shook his head and said, "No, I checked and Toma isn't one."

"Shame," Daiki said, "It would be awesome if he was. We could fight together and I wouldn't have to lie to him."

"I understand how you feel, Daiki," Cosmo said sympathetically, "But we cannot risk anyone knowing who you are."

"I know," said Daiki, disappointment clear in his voice. "Toma would be put in more danger if he knew. It was just a suggestion." Daiki remembered another possible candidate. "What about Daisuke?"

"Yes, him," Cosmo said, "There is something about him. Especially if he can see through your Idol Mode. I'm still trying to figure that out."

Cosmo and Daiki stopped by a noodle cart and began to order when Daiki saw a classmate of his, Ayumi. She's the only girl that Toma and Daiki compete over. Every year on Valentine's day, Ayumi would give them both chocolate which would cause them to fight all the way until White day. Ayumi would smile and receive both Toma's and Daiki's gifts, but she would not tell which one she liked more.

Now was Daiki's chance to impress Ayumi without Toma to interfere. As he approached, he noticed that Ayumi was crying and holding a missing flier.

"Hello Ayumi," Daiki called out, "Is everything ok?"

Ayumi looked up and said, "Oh, Daiki, what are you doing here?"

"I'm having lunch with my grandfather." Daiki motioned to Cosmo who was waving for Daiki to come over.

"Oh, that's sweet of you. I'm passing out fliers, hoping someone has seen my sister. She's been missing for several days now."

"That's terrible," Daiki replied, "I'm sorry to hear about it."

"My parents went to the police but it looks like she's not the only one."

"What do you mean?" asked Daiki.

"Over the last couple of weeks there have been people disappearing. No one knows what is going on or who is behind it."

Daiki suddenly felt that Aquamarine may be the culprit behind these disappearances.

"Don't worry, Ayumi," Daiki said, "I'm sure your sister will be found and she'll come back safe and sound." Daiki flashed an assuring smile towards Ayumi.

"Thank you, Daiki." said Ayumi as she patted his shoulder and handed him a flier. "I have to go, I will see you in class."

************

"Do you believe that Aquamarine is behind this?" asked Cosmo.

"I know it is." Answered Daiki, "There have been seven missing persons reported and no ransom demands, no witnesses, it's almost as if they just vanished."

"And where do we start looking?"

"According to Ayumi's poster, her sister was last seen going for a jog at this park. Also, two of the missing persons were last seen here."

"Well, well," said Cosmo, "When did you become a detective?"

"I've been watching Luke Futago, Ace Detective lately."

"Se-seriously?!" Cosmo asked surprised, "You've been watching a crime drama?"

"It's really good." Daiki defended his statement. "You could learn a lot from it."

Cosmo slapped his own forehead and shook his head.

A scream sounded in the distance which caused the pair to run in its direction. Together they run into a clearing where they see a group of zombies surrounding an elementary school boy.

"Somebody,"cried the little boy, "Help me!!!"

"Scorpio Constellation Power, Armor On!" Daiki transformed into Crusader Scorpio and rushed in to save the boy. As soon as he caught the boy and got him to safety, Scorpio saw a worm-like maw swallow the ground where the boy was.

"That was close." Scorpio said, "Go somewhere safe, ok?" he said to the boy, who began to run away from the scene.

The zombies growl and begin to shamble to Scorpio's direction. "When did this become a horror movie?" Scorpio prepared to fight the zombies when he noticed one of the zombies was Ayumi's sister.

"They're all the missing people." said Scorpio, "I can't fight them."

Just then, the ground beneath him crumbled and Scorpio sank as if he were in quicksand. The worm's mouth emerged and was about to swallow Scorpio when a shadow leaped in and whisked Scorpio away safely.

"You should be more aware of your enemy, Scorpio." said the Star Ninja.

"Thanks again, Ninja" Scorpio said, "How can I defeat this enemy if he has an army of hostages protecting him?" 

"I suggest a retreat for now." said Ninja as he put his hands on Scorpio's shoulders and together they melded with the shadows and soon found themselves in another location.

"Wh-where are we?" Scorpio asked.

"Somewhere safe." was all Ninja said.

Scorpio looked around and saw they were in an underground tunnel.

"I have to find a way to save those people." Scorpio said.

"As you said," answered Ninja, "This enemy is using its victims as a human shield. If they were not around, then the enemy has no choice but to face you."

Scorpio began to doubt himself and wonder what he should do. "What if I can't stop this monster without hurting them?"

Ninja cornered Scorpio and punched the wall behind him. "If anyone can save those people and destroy that monster, it's you. Believe in yourself, like I do."

Scorpio's heart started to flutter at this and saw something behind Ninja that gave him an idea. "I think I know how to do this."

"There it is," said Ninja, "The light inside you to banish the darkness." Ninja pointed to a ladder and said, "That will take you to the surface. Good luck Crusader Scorpio." He merged with the shadows and once again, he was gone.

"Wait, not again." Scorpio said. "Thank you again." Scorpio then climbed the ladder and proceeded to the surface. Once he saw it was safe, he undid his transformation and reverted back to Daiki. "Now to go back to the park."

He saw he was near the arcade and proceeded to run towards the park. In the midst of his run, he bumped into Daisuke.

"Oh, sorry," Daiki said, "Oh Daisuke."

"Why do we keep running into each other like this?" Daisuke asked jokingly.

"Sorry," Daiki said, "I was in a rush." Daiki then noticed that Daisuke had a bandage wrapping on his right hand and wrist. "What happened to your hand?" It was also the same hand Ninja used to punch the wall behind him.

"Oh, this?" Daisuke answered, "I was helping a friend move a crate and I smashed my hand with it. It's no big deal."

"Right." Daiki asked. Could it be that Daisuke is the Star Ninja? Daiki asked in his mind.

"Oh," Daisuke added, "Don't you have somewhere to be?"

"Oh yes," Daiki remembered, "I'll see you later ok?" Daiki waved goodbye and ran to the park.

************

"Where have you been?." Cosmo angrily asked Daiki. "Do you know how worried I was?"

"We'll talk about it later." Daiki answered, "I have a plan to lure out the enemy."

"Great, what is it?" asked Cosmo.

************

"Why did I agree to this?" asked Cosmo as he was walking along a nature trail, close to where Scorpio faced the zombies before. "Oh what a lovely day for a walk, ALL ALONE."

Meanwhile in the distance, Scorpio was hidden and observing Cosmo as he was walking the trail. "Ugh, don't make it so obvious, old man."

After a few moments, zombies started to pursue Cosmo. "Oh no, monsters," Cosmo said, obviously acting like he was playing a part. "I better run."

The zombies chased after Cosmo and they led him to the same clearing. They had surrounded him as if they were corralling him into the spot where the monster would claim Cosmo. "Just a little more" And right on time, the ground caved in and the monster's mouth emerged to swallow Cosmo.

"Now!" Scorpio said as he charged his weapon, Scorpio Harpoon Stinger!" He threw the stinger bolt at Cosmo, who stepped aside and caught the bolt. Scorpio pulled the bolt back with Cosmo in tow while the mouth swallowed nothing but dirt once again.

"Phew," said Cosmo as he landed safely in front of Scorpio. "Don't cut it so close, next time!" he scolded.

The zombies then began to pursue the pair, until Scorpio threw the bolt again, this time he willed the bolt to move around the zombies, encircling them like a lasso. Once the zombies were encircled, Scorpio rounded them up and bound them with the chain attached to the bolt and hurled the zombies away. "Cosmo, now!"

Cosmo waved his hands and a net formed amidst the trees, which caught and held the zombies like a spiderweb. "Great job, Crusader Scorpio. But how did you think of this?"

Scorpio explained that the idea came to him when he saw insects trapped in a spider's web when the Start Ninja took him to the tunnel. "Now that there are no more zombies to get in the way, it has no choice but to face me."

Just then seven worm-like creatures emerged from the ground. "There were seven of them?" But then an eighth and much larger worm appeared.

"No," Cosmo said, "It's just one, the others are copies made from the victims."

The worms tried to devour Scorpio who dodged them with some difficulty. One came close but he dodged it just in time. "Which one is the original?" he asked aloud. Just then, he noticed something. The copies do not have a diamond shaped mark on top of its head. "There you are. Scorpio Harpoon Stinger!" Scorpio threw his weapon at the main worm's diamond shaped mark which exploded in a flash of bright light, leaving nothing behind. As for the copies, they fell to the ground, lifeless and crumbling to dust.

The zombies began to wake up and look like ordinary people again. Cosmo lowered the people down and erased their memories.

"How dare you defeat my spell!" shouted Aquamarine, "One day you will regret crossing me." She said as she disappeared into thin air.

************

After the interview, Daiki rushed over to school to walk home with Toma. After the day he had, he was ready for a nap. He waited by the school gate thinking about Daisuke being the Star Ninja. It made sense due to the circumstances. He knew Daiki's Idol Identity, they always seem to run into each other, and his hand was injured today.

"Thinking about the math test?" asked Toma, waking Daiki up from his train of thought.

"Oh, Toma," Daiki said, "How'd you do on it?"

"I don't want to think about it. Ow!" he yelped in pain.

Daiki noticed that Toma's right hand was also injured. "What happened to your hand?"

"Oh this?" He replied, "I hurt my wrist playing volleyball in gym class."

"We had gym class today?" asked Daiki.

"Uh," Toma said suspiciously, "Hey, why don't we go to Castle, they have a new game there." He grabbed Daiki's arm and they ran to the arcade.

New suspicions rose to Daiki's mind. Could Toma, his best friend, be the Star Ninja? Or could he be Daisuke? Both of them seemed like perfect candidates to be Ninja, but which one was he?

************

Meanwhile in Tamoya Shrine, a young man and his mother move into their new home. The young man sets his box down in what is going to be his room and takes off his baseball cap. He runs his fingers through his chocolate brown hair and sits on his new bed. He opens his box and pulls out a crystal ball. He puts it on a bedside table and he looks into it.

"Something evil is coming here." he says as he gazes into the crystal ball. Fearful of what is to come.