(Back to the mysterious place, Ryota is done examining Sean's backpack)
Ryota: Done.
Sean: What did you find out?
Ryota: This fanfic...(displays it in a dramatic way)...is probably cursed.
Jason: Cursed?!
Alex: I—what?
Sean: ...really?
Ryota: Yes. We were never exposed to it before. But someone found a way to make a powerful curse, and transport it to us. Why? I don't know. But I feel some demonic energies coming out of it.
I was able to catch some glimpses of the actual contents, but not enough...I don't know what would really happen if we all read it too long.
Sean: Insanity, screaming, wishing for death? I'm sorry, but I have a hard time understanding how...
Ryota: The world's always mysterious, my friend.
(all of a sudden, the backpack glows, and a dark beam of light shoots out from the sky)
Jason: What on...?
Alex: Whoa!
Sean: The fu—?!
(a monster pops out, ready to fight
◊, his sword pointed at the four actors)
Ryota: Who are you?
(...and on that cliffhanger note, in Rika's room, she recovers)
Rika: Welcome back!
Previously, we got a glimpse of whatever kind of clusterfuck we're in for. I can't hold back, so I gotta finish this shit.
So let's go on with...
We actually get our backstory, the inspiration Arnold had while writing this story. Ready? Get a stiff drink, 'cause here we go!
In the past, the Super Sentai franchise aired in the Phillippines, the author's home country, where he lived until he moved to the States when he was 18 years old. However, in the '90s, the Power Rangers series also aired...and then this happened.
- "When Wild Force aired on Cartoon Network's Philippine feed, things got worse. From then on, Sentai was never heard from again in the country in any way except the loyalists."
How worse, you may ask? Well, it got to the point where some people would confuse any unadapted Sentai series, like Gorenger or, for a random-ass example, Kyoryuger. In front of Arnold. Who would be quick to say it's not.
And this finishes it.
- "Some people would accept the truth, others won't. Thus, my story serves as a middle finger to the Power Rangers Franchise which ruined Sentai's chances to coming back to the Philippines."
...yes. You guessed it. You're witnessing the behaviors of a "Sentai Snob".
For those who don't know what the hell this term is, a Sentai Snob is someone who believes that Super Sentai is all perfect, and can't really mess up, and whatever Power Rangers does, it's always inferior. In other words, this is one of two special types of Fan Dumb back in the day.
The other type of Fan Dumb, by the way? An Anti-Sentite, where it's the opposite.
Now, this is not going to pick apart all the Sentai Snobs and Anti-Sentities. Hate fics can be written well, but it has to take incredible feat. It can be witty. It can be clever. But this?!
And I'm not going to lie, this entire story reminds me of Scanranger, which also served, for a time, to be another author's middle finger to everything Power Rangers. But do you know the difference with that story? Namely, the author's hatred died out.
...that, and it was mainly boring as hell, instead of being so ridiculously stupid like this one, and rage-inducing.
...
Damn, I'm no much better at the "hypocritical rant" thing.
(...while Rika takes a break, back to the mysterious monster, he's ready to face the actors)
Ryota: Who are you?
???: Who am I? I'm the Hate Master!
Sean: How were you even revived in the first place? Weren't you destroyed before?
Hate Master: How do you know? Did you know there were other ways to spread hate?
(all four actors are confused as to what it meant...)
You see, I secretly planted a spell on anything that would cause deep hatred...I worked with a master who feeds off hatred. And then I found it!
Sean: You planted a spell...on a terrible fanfic. When it's read, you're revived?
Hate Master: You would be correct!
Sean: ...
That makes no sense whatsoever.
Hate Master: Well, you'll see soon! TAKE THIS!
(The Hate Master shoots a beam at Sean, but Ryota tackles the man onto the ground, taking the shot)
Ryota: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!
Sean: W-w-what the hell?
(...then Ryota seems to grow stiff...then he looks up, his eyes glowing. The Hate Master laughs as Sean, in fear and shock, stares at the monster)
What did you do to him?!
Hate Master: Simple! Struck him with hatred! And when I'm done with all of you, you will hate everyone, and destroy them!
Alex: Guys...this is really serious. I'm not sure if it's real or fiction, we gotta stop him at all costs!
(Jason and Sean nod, and the three prepare to fight)
Hate Master: Oh...so even though you know you don't have any powers...even though the three of you are just human...you're still willing to fight?
Alex: Yeah. Once a Ranger, always a Ranger.
Jason: We'll bring Ryota back to normal!
Sean (in a matter-of-fact tone, even if it's slightly shaking a bit): I don't know how this all makes any sense, but one thing's for sure—you are not going to take over the damn world.
Hate Master: Well then! Let's go!
(the four fight, but it's rather lopsided...despite the Ranger actors' best efforts, the Hate Master barely gets a scratch on him)
Jason: What? How...?
Hate Master: I almost forgot...I planted the spell so that whoever reads the story, I grow even stronger. So I'm synchronized with it...and my master's synchronized by the hatred, the spells I cast. It's a pretty effective trade-off.
Sean: Am I convinced this guy's just making it up as he goes along? I mean, it feels like a list of typical cliches for a—
Hate Master: Cliches?! (he then blasts, only for the beam to hit Alex, and he, too, turns evil...) Who said I was even cliche?
Jason: ...(he tugs on Sean's shoulder, whispers to his ear, and the man nods)
Hate Master: Well...two down, two to go. What do you say, gentlemen?
Jason: I say this—you want us, you come after us!
(Jason and Sean make a break for it, causing the Hate Master to chase after them. This causes a long chase, only for the men to hide elsewhere)
Hate Master: Where did they go?! Oh, well...at least I'll grow strong enough to destroy the world.
(The Hate Master disappears, and Sean and Jason jump down from their hiding places, the rooftops)
Jason: That was close! We should check up on Ryota and Alex.
(Sean nods, and the men run to Ryota and Alex, and the other two actors stare each other down)
Ryota: So, pretty boy, you think you're better?
Alex: I don't think, I know I'm better! What did you do with your life after becoming a Sentai actor?!
Ryota: It's none of your business. I know of a mission: to destroy you! And your friends!
(The two men fight, and Jason and Sean don't know what to do)
Sean: Jason? I think it's time to think of a plan. To stop this madman and help our f-allies.
Jason: ...you were about to call us your friends.
Sean: Dammit, there's no time! We have to hurry up, before Ryota and Alex kill each other!
(Jason then realizes that the situation has grown serious, and the two head elsewhere to think of a way to free their allies...)
(...all while the fanfic still glows, whispering its demonic language)
(Meanwhile...Rika has finally recovered)
Rika: So, where were we? Oh, yes!
We begin this chapter with Odaiba being its usual, bustling self. Then, in one area, this happens.
- "Until a pack of Gormin came in the area, but luckily, no one was there but the Gormin."
...you know, it would just be easy to say "until a pack of Gormin came in the area", or "a pack of Gormin arrived". Just sayin'.
Then, Gokai Red shows up, fights the enemies single-handedly. So far, completely run-of-the-mill stuff, right? Something that makes you think it would just be better, and that the first chapter and rant was just a fluke?
(Rika bursts out laughing) Oh, God, do I wish.
Because someone laughs at Gokai Red. Who is it? Spoilers: It starts with "Red" and ends with "Samurai Ranger".
Jayden calls himself the Gokaigers' "best enemy ever", but what does it mean? Is he working with the Zangyack? Nope. Because he doesn't know what they are, of course!
...then he asks Captain Marvelous if he's a Power Ranger. As you can imagine, this sets an argument. And yes, they call each other liars, that they don't believe one another, blah blah blah.
Jayden reveals himself in his morphed form, and in his Mega Mode, at that. Marvelous confuses the newbie as Shinken Red, but Jayden reveals that, yes, he's the Red Samurai Ranger...aaaaaand calls Marvelous an "impostor".
Really.
And instead of just talking it out and discussing all the intriguing ways their world works, like, you know, normal people, Marvelous accuses Jayden of being "evil than Basco ta Jolokia".
I'm being serious. Jayden, whose only crime is being so blatantly out-of-character, is considered worse than Basco. WHAT?!
Then Jayden takes out his Mega Blade, and yes, they fight. And yes, half of Jayden's entire dialogue is either him saying "Hyah!" or any variation, or calling Marvelous a fake, impostor, whatever. And no matter what, Marvelous just hates him, so far because of the way Jayden speaks.
It's like...Arnold is twisting Jayden to be a negative mouthpiece, to demonize him. And even though I'm not a fucking fan of Samurai, by any means of the imagination, it's still horrible. I mean...it's just as bad as when the Prayer Warriors demonized anyone who agreed with the author!
Anyway, the fight draws to an end, when it rains. Marvelous and Jayden strike with their finishing moves, but then, the Red Samurai Ranger's Mega Slash overpowers Gokai Red's Gokai Scramble. And just before Jayden finishes him off...
...Marvelous wakes up. It was all a dream.
...
.......................
.....................................................................
...this is really gonna suck, isn't it?
Ahim, Gokai Pink, notices Marvelous awake, and they talk about the dream. She's confused by the whole thing, and she's worried that he's not feeling well at all.
At least, she seems rather in-character. For now.
Marvelous doesn't know what a Power Ranger is, and Ahim says that maybe Gai knows the answer. I can only imagine that it's just going to get worse.
The chapter ends with Marvelous swearing revenge on Jayden. Despite never really meeting him before.
So, two chapters down...two, sort of, to go.
(...and as she closes her laptop and leaves, the same demonic whispers echo in her room)
Will Rika gather her bravery to finish the horrible story? Does she know the evil she's unintentionally unleashing? And will Sean and Jason find a means to cure Ryota and Alex in time before it's too late?
Emergency Signal; Now, Forward! To the next liveblogging of Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger vs. Power Rangers Samurai!!
Comments
