Chapter 322

Chapter Fifty-Three: Disqualified Hero

“Why are you still thinking about what that man said, about Timons being darkness from another world?” asked Lei.

Erika leaned against the railing, enjoying the cool river breeze. Despite her usual carefree facade, her eyes were calm yet contemplative.

“Well, it doesn’t matter what anyone says—the Pretty Cures are beautiful and kind; even heaven likes us. Nothing can make us lose, whether it’s the Desert Apostle or Timons. We’ll just—BANG! BANG!—defeat them all!”

Lei gazed at the tranquil water in the river and shook her head. “No. I’m thinking about something else.”

“Something else?”

“That Mr. Eddie said he wanted to become a hero because he admires an idol who is a hero. I get it now.” Lei reflected on what Lily had told them before, which remained vividly etched in her mind. “I think we’re no different; we’ve seen the Moonlight Angel in our dreams, so we want Lily’s recognition and proof…”

“Lei.” Erika caught her friend’s attention, gently pulling her closer until their eyes met—one sea blue, one cherry pink.

“Do you remember why we first transformed into Pretty Cure and fought for the very first time?” asked Erika.

“It was because…the Desert Apostle’s Scorpion Lena was chasing after Cifrey and the others,” Lei responded, tapping her chin as she recalled the memory through her glasses, her eyes looking distant. “At that time, Erika had her Heart Flower taken away and became a Desert Beast.”

Lei remembered.

Even though she had been scared, she had run away during the first battle…. But wanting to help Cifrey and Erika, she ultimately used all her strength to purify the Desert Beast.

Thinking back now, even though she was already strong, everything seemed so surreal.

“The memory from then was hazy,” Erika said, for once not cracking any jokes but instead looking genuinely gentle, almost unrecognizable as her usual self, causing Lei to feel surprised, staring at her. “But I remember being so terrified. When I needed a hero to save me, it was CureBlossom—a hero—who came and saved me—by you, Lei!”

“To me, Lei is my hero! I will never waver, and Lei doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone!”

Knowing her friend needed only a little encouragement beneath her timid exterior, Erika smiled warmly, only for Lei to turn her gaze away with a slight blush.

“Thank you, Erika.”

To be able to move here, to Hope Flower City, and to become friends like this—how wonderful!

But Erika’s words, praising her own prowess… they made Lei feel quite shy…

As she adjusted her glasses slightly to hide her embarrassment, a familiar form walked past them from behind.

That figure looked utterly exhausted.

“Why…”

His head bowed low, as if needing support like the elderly did. With no care for being recognized, Eddie wandered aimlessly down the path.

He thought he was sprinting towards justice, overcoming lack of talent and guidance by putting more effort and courage into vanquishing evil, solving problems.

But after Ash pulled back the curtain on his façade, he realized he had underestimated the hero’s journey.

First, he couldn’t match up to Timons, not in power, skill, or moral core.

Second, if truth be known, he was merely emulating someone he admired.

Without validation of being a hero, nobody would take him seriously; moreover, his reckless actions, stealing powers without considering consequences, would tarnish his commander and adoptive father’s reputation.

If this unilateral action ends in failure, then the woman who believes in him and loves him—he’d lose her trust too!

Having bared his true nature, he could not admit his own depravity.

Yet if he retains a last shred of dignity as an SCSO member, his humanity intact, he has to confess:

“I…cannot be a hero.”

Stripped of all strength, Eddie sat down by the riverbank, a dragon strike blade devoid of willpower lying beside him.

What then would be his role?

Nothing, right?

“Oh, oh, a rather listless child.”

The playful female voice startled Eddie from his introspection. Scorpion Lena saw the wilted Heart Flower in his spirit despite some differences in appearance, as any Desert Apostle could exploit spiritual decay.

“Wh-What are you doing?”

Eddie hastily picked up the sword and reached for his key holder from his waist, albeit too late.

“Heart Flower, come forth!”

“Ahhh—!”

The magic key fell to the grass, and Eddie had suffered two failures in a day.

Dropping Eddie from the crystal orb, where he trembled anxiously, the nearly withered Heart Flower inside had become perfect material for a Desert Beast.

“Hmm? What’s that?”

Seeing the fallen dragon strike blade, Scorpion Lena remembered he’d originally intended something with it.

Never mind. It wouldn’t change anything, might as well use it.

“Desert Beast (Desertlien), appear!”

The dragon strike blade fused with the flower, forming a gigantic flying dragon-type Desert Beast standing tall on the ground.

“Ah!”

Following out of curiosity, the two managed to witness this spectacle.

“Lei, Erika, we’re in trouble!” Cifrey carried the crystal orb rolling on the ground, shocked by the sight inside, the sealed Eddie. “Mr. Eddie’s Heart Flower was stolen…”

The girls exchanged a worried glance, recognizing they had no time for discussion; now was the crucial moment to rescue Eddie.

“Precure, Open My Heart!”

With lightning flashing from its left hand, ice jets from its right, and flames from its mouth, the residents nearby scattered in terror, but some were too slow.

“Oh, baby!”

A mother hurried to catch her nearly falling child, but the action was too late, cloaked in the sinister shadow of fear.

“Not good!” Just in passing, Lily went to aid, but a hand stopped her.

“Don’t rush, look.”

Seizing the moment before the Beast raised its arm, the two Pretty Cures, Lei and Erika, performed a powerful roundhouse kick to its face, toppling it.

“You’ve blossomed anew with beauty from two flowers inherited; I commend you,” Ash said, patting Lily on the shoulder affirmatively.

“I know you still have reservations over them being Pretty Cures, but trust me, give more credit to the young members.”