“Now Guardian Neptune, what to do with you.” Nightmare Rose said disinterestedly.
“How dare you treat our friends like this!” A voice called out.
The dark magical girls looked behind them in disbelief as the rest of the Soar Guardians and Death Riot, stood there, ready to fight. Bong-cha, the punk rock vampire, materialized beside Solar Guardian Sun, Setepenre, the mummified punk, stood resolute, her bandages shimmering with ancient magic.
Even Luca, his werewolf form ready to pounce.
“Impossible! How did they get past the shell stone?!” Sorrow Orchid questioned.
“That trinket, kiyu? It may be impossible to defy for everyone in this dimension, but for my people, it’s nothing more than a lock, and we’re quite the locksmiths, kiyu!” Pokoyo answered.
The arrival of her former teammates only served to fuel her newfound darkness.
"Lilith, what have you done?" Sun cried out, her voice laced with disbelief.
A cruel smile twisted Lilith's lips. "Done? I've embraced my true potential. This power...it feels amazing."
Nightmare Rose, the leader of the Dark Garden, emerged from the shadows, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips. Sorrow Orchid, her flail held menacingly, and Void Dandelion, her shadowy arms twitching with anticipation, flanked her.
The battle commenced in a whirlwind of dark magic and dazzling displays of light. Guardian Mercury, zipped around the warehouse at superhuman speed, trying to flank Nightmare Rose. Guardian Mars, clashed her flaming swords against Sorrow Orchid's flail, sparks showering the floor. Melissa, the empathic Guardian Venus, struggled against Void Dandelion's touch, the deranged girl's darkness threatening to consume her.
Meanwhile, Sun unleashed a wave of pure solar energy at Lilith, but the dark princess effortlessly absorbed it, her power seemingly growing with each attack. Bong-cha launched sharp projectiles that rained down on Lilith, but they deflected harmlessly off her dark aura.
Just as hope began to dwindle, Tess, her own magical girl form glowing brightly, had been released from her bonds by Mercury, tackled Lilith in a desperate hug. "Lilith, please fight it! We're your friends, we can help you through this!"
Tears welled up in Lilith's eyes, a flicker of her former self battling against the consuming darkness. But Nightmare Rose's voice, dripping with malicious intent, slithered into her ear.
"Don't listen to them, Pluto. They only hold you back. Embrace the darkness, and together we can remake this world!"
Lilith swayed, her resolve wavering. But then, a memory surfaced – a memory of laughter shared with Tess on the beach, of the grueling training they all endured together. A single tear escaped her eye, tracing a luminous path down her cheek.
The warehouse seemed to brighten as the other Solar Guardians rallied behind Tess. Their combined light, fueled by love and friendship, pulsed with an intensity that rivaled even Lilith's dark aura.
The sight pierced through the shroud of darkness clouding Lilith's mind. With a cry that shook the very foundation of the facility, she ripped free from the Dark Princess Pluto’s influence. The black and purple dress dissolved, replaced by her familiar purple and white sailor uniform.
The tide of the battle turned. Reunited with her friends, Lilith fought with renewed vigor. Their combined magical power pushed back the Dark Garden, forcing them to retreat once more. But before the battle could continue, Pokoyo transported them away from the Normal HQ.
As the dust settled, Lilith collapsed into Tess's arms, drained but free. She knew that the darkness that had consumed her was still there, she steeled her resolve and vowed to keep her powers under control.
“That was amazing cat! With that kind of power we could help Misery and the wizards fight the Normal!” Setepenre announced.
The pink cat’s expression became more stern and he spoke in a tone so unlike his normal cheery and cute voice. “No. This was a desperate situation, I have no intention of helping in another war. My only concern is for the Soar Guardians and our fight.”
Then a sound broke the tension. The sounds of marching footsteps shook the beach. Everyone turned to see Jolie. She was carrying her stinger missile launcher and leading a small army of undead soldiers.
“Alright! It took some time but I’ve got us an army! Now let’s go rescue Lilith!” The pale girl announced.
“Uh…we already did that, you didn’t show up so we left without you.” Bong-cha said shaking her head.
“B-but you said we’d need an army. So I got us one!” The necromancer replied.
“Well, Pokoyo was able to get us past the shell stone so…” Setepenre added.
“Oh. Okay then.” Jolie said and turned to her assembled army, “alright fellas, looks like I didn’t need you after all…off you go, back to your graves and worms!”
The undead army stood there. Jolie blushed and turned back to the group.
“I don’t think they got the message. Maybe we can use them for training dummies or something.” The white haired girl whispered.
They were silent until Lilith broke out in laughter. The others smiled and they all headed back to the beach house.