Chapter Summaries

Summary of Chapter 561: "Kamen Rider is Being the Villain in Pretty Cure"

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ash (Kamen Rider Zi-O) faces off against Narutaki (Otherworldly Decade), who has obtained the Otherworldly Rider Dial.
• Ash summons various Kamen Riders to aid him, but they are mindless constructs, not projections with their original will.
• The Pretty Cures are separated and face their own challenges, with each girl confronting a powerful enemy from the Phantom Empire.
• Ash uses his power-ups and Kamen Rider summons to fight Narutaki, but the latter proves to be a formidable opponent.

Character Developments

• Ash demonstrates his determination and skill as a Kamen Rider, using his powers and strategic thinking to combat Narutaki.
• The Pretty Cures show their individual strength and resolve as they face their respective enemies.
• Narutaki reveals he obtained the Otherworldly Rider Dial due to Ash's actions, adding a personal element to their battle.

Significant Themes

• The power of determination and resolve in the face of overwhelming odds.
• The consequences of one's actions and the ripple effects they can have on others.
• The importance of teamwork and unity, as each character fights alone but with the knowledge that their comrades are also battling.

Character Interactions

• Ash and Narutaki's battle highlights their contrasting personalities and fighting styles, with Ash using strategy and Kamen Rider powers, while Narutaki relies on brute force and the power of the Otherworldly Rider Dial.
• The Pretty Cures' individual battles showcase their unique abilities and personalities, as well as their determination to overcome their enemies.
• Ash's thoughts and actions are influenced by his bond with the Pretty Cures, particularly Aino Megumi, highlighting the importance of their friendship and trust.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Phantom Queen, the enemy leader, is disappointed to find Megumi alone and not the "god" she expected.
• Megumi tries to reason with the Phantom Queen, but she refuses to listen and attacks Megumi.
• Megumi transforms into Cure Lovely and engages the Phantom Queen in battle.
• The Phantom Queen reveals her past and the reason for her actions, blaming misfortune for her situation.
• Megumi argues that the Phantom Queen's choices led to her current state, not just misfortune.
• The Phantom Queen becomes enraged and attacks Megumi, who struggles to keep up.
• The Phantom Queen uses her power to show Megumi scenes of her past, overwhelming her with negative emotions.

Character Developments

• Megumi (Cure Lovely) shows growth in her determination and decisiveness, immediately engaging in battle when persuasion fails.
• The Phantom Queen reveals her tragic backstory and the reason behind her actions, showing her vulnerability and pain.
• Megumi demonstrates empathy and understanding towards the Phantom Queen's story but doesn't hold back in their battle.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between love and misfortune.
• The consequences of one's choices and actions.
• The power of determination and decisiveness in the face of adversity.

Character Interactions

• Megumi and the Phantom Queen have a tense and emotional confrontation, with Megumi trying to reason with the Phantom Queen while also engaging in battle.
• The Phantom Queen shows contempt for Megumi's beliefs in love and happiness, seeing them as foolish and laughable.
• Megumi argues that the Phantom Queen's choices led to her current state, not just misfortune, showing her understanding of the situation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Phantom Queen reveals that Ash has been using Aino Megumi and that he loves other Pretty Cures.
• Aino Megumi accepts her feelings for Ash and decides to help him despite the lack of reciprocation.
• Megumi and Tsumugi, captured by the Phantom Queen, decide to work together to convey Megumi's feelings to Ash.
• Ash, having lost his powers, is mocked by Another Decade, but he stands up to him.

Character Developments

• Aino Megumi (Cure Lovely): Megumi accepts her love for Ash and decides to help him, showing growth in her emotional understanding and strength.
• Orihara Tsumugi: Tsumugi apologizes for her past selfishness and decides to help Megumi, showing character development and a desire to make amends.
• Phantom Queen: The Queen's true nature is revealed; she is driven by her past misfortunes and seeks to spread them.
• Ash (Decade): Ash stands up to Another Decade despite being powerless, showing his determination and courage.

Significant Themes

• Love and Acceptance: Megumi's acceptance of her love for Ash and her decision to help him despite the lack of reciprocation is a central theme.
• Misfortune and Redemption: The Phantom Queen's past misfortunes and her desire to spread them, as well as Tsumugi's redemption, are significant themes.
• Strength and Courage: Ash's courage in standing up to Another Decade, despite being powerless, is a notable theme.

Character Interactions

• Megumi and Tsumugi: The two friends support each other and decide to work together to convey Megumi's feelings to Ash.
• Ash and Another Decade: Ash stands up to Another Decade, showing his determination and courage.
• Megumi and the Phantom Queen: Megumi's confrontation with the Phantom Queen leads to her acceptance of her feelings for Ash.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ash (Kamen Rider Decade) faces Another Decade (Narutaki), who wants to end Ash's journey.
• Ash transforms into a new form, Kamen Rider Decade: Complete Form - Pretty Cure Ver., using Precure cards.
• Ash fights against Game God Cronus, Kamen Rider Eternal, and Evolto with ease, using his new form's power and support from Precures.
• Ash and Precures purify and defeat their enemies, leaving only Another Decade.

Character Developments

• Ash: Embracing his connection with Precures, Ash gains new strength and confidence, accepting his role as a hero.
• Narutaki (Another Decade): Driven by jealousy and a desire to prove himself, Narutaki becomes more determined and aggressive.

Significant Themes

• Bonds and connections: Ash's journey has taught him the importance of forming bonds, which gives him strength and purpose.
• Overcoming the past: Ash accepts his past actions and grows from them, becoming a better hero.
• Power of friendship: The Precures' support and Ash's connection with them enhance his abilities and resolve.

Character Interactions

• Ash and Precures: United, they fight together, showcasing their bond and combined strength.
• Ash and Narutaki: Their rivalry deepens as Narutaki becomes more determined to end Ash's journey, while Ash accepts his role as a hero.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ash, the Kamen Rider, uses his final attack, "Final AttackRide De De De Decade," to defeat the Abnormal.
• Aino Megumi, as Cure Lovely, defeats the Phantom Queen using her new power, "Saintly Mode," and her ultimate attack, "Lovely Nova."

Character Developments

• Ash: Realizes the gap between him and Ash, leading to his defeat.
• Aino Megumi/Cure Lovely: Becomes stronger and more determined, surpassing her previous limits to defeat the Phantom Queen.

Significant Themes

• The power of love and happiness as a driving force for good.
• The consequences of abandoning one's true self and path, as seen in the Phantom Queen.
• The struggle between light and darkness, good and evil.

Character Interactions

• Ash and Ash: Their final confrontation highlights the difference in their powers and beliefs.
• Aino Megumi and the Phantom Queen: Their battle represents the clash between love and misfortune, with Megumi ultimately triumphing.
• Aino Megumi and Orihara Tsumugi: Tsumugi's support and prayers strengthen Megumi's power, emphasizing their friendship and bond.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Pretty Cures and their allies defeat the executives of the Phantom Queen's army, leading to the purification of the world.
• Megumi, using her "Love Power," repairs the world and saves everyone from the miasma.
• The Phantom Queen is spared by Megumi but is consumed by darkness and transformed into a monster by the Red God.
• Ash saves the Phantom Queen by disrupting her emotions and kissing her, stopping her transformation.

Character Developments

• Megumi shows growth in her understanding of love and forgiveness, sparing the Phantom Queen and using her power to heal the world.
• The Phantom Queen, despite her actions, is shown to have a capacity for regret and love, hinting at redemption.
• Ash demonstrates his understanding of Pretty Cures and their emotional nature, using this to save the Phantom Queen.

Significant Themes

• Love and forgiveness as a source of power and redemption.
• The consequences of one's actions and the possibility of redemption.
• The emotional nature of Pretty Cures and their unique abilities.

Character Interactions

• Ash and the Pretty Cures work together to defeat the executives and save the world.
• Megumi and the Phantom Queen have a tense but ultimately redemptive interaction.
• Ash and the Phantom Queen share a moment of connection and understanding, leading to her salvation.

• Ash is reprimanded by his friends for kissing the Phantom Queen, but he defends his actions as necessary to save her.
• Megumi, understanding Ash's actions, reassures him and expresses her happiness that he can pursue his own happiness.
• A red Bad Beast attacks, and Ash uses his "Jet Icarus" to rescue the girls and fly them to safety.
• Megumi confesses her feelings to Ash, and they share their first kiss, with Ash realizing the depth of his feelings for her.
• Ash and Megumi decide to help the Phantom Queen, and they continue to fly on "Jet Icarus," sharing a moment of happiness together.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Megumi, inspired by her love for Ash and her desire to save the Pretty Cures, decides to sing to the world to awaken everyone's hearts.
• Ash broadcasts Megumi's performance worldwide using Jet Icarus's systems.
• Megumi's song captivates everyone, including the controlled Pretty Cures, Sentai Rangers, and even the Bad Beasts, pausing the battle.
• The song's power begins to awaken the hearts of the controlled Pretty Cures.

Character Developments

• Megumi gains confidence in her singing and her ability to move others with her emotions.
• Ash is captivated by Megumi's performance, realizing her beauty and power.

Significant Themes

• The power of love and emotions to overcome darkness and control.
• The importance of self-confidence and belief in one's abilities.
• The impact of music and art on society and individuals.

Character Interactions

• Megumi and Ash: Megumi's singing moves Ash, and they share a tender moment after her performance.
• Megumi and the audience: Megumi's song captivates the worldwide audience, including the controlled Pretty Cures and Sentai Rangers.
• Ash and Megumi: Ash supports Megumi's decision to sing and is proud of her performance.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Blue Sky Kingdom is restored, and Princess Snow White reunites with her parents.
• Ash and the others are celebrated as world saviors.
• Megumi, now a famous idol, meets Ash to express her feelings.
• Ash acknowledges Megumi's growth and accepts her love.
• The group attends a performance, where Ash shares his past adventures with other Pretty Cures.
• Ash reveals he died in those worlds and must leave them.
• Megumi vows to protect Ash and keep him by her side.

Character Developments

• Megumi: Overcomes her jealousy and insecurities, accepts her feelings for Ash, and becomes more confident in her love for him.
• Ash: Accepts Megumi's love, shares his past adventures, and faces the reality of his situation.

Significant Themes

• Love and acceptance: Megumi accepts her feelings for Ash and Ash accepts her love.
• Sacrifice: Ash's past experiences and his current situation highlight the theme of sacrifice.
• Friendship: The group's bond strengthens as they celebrate their victory together.

Character Interactions

• Megumi and Ash: Their relationship deepens as they express their love for each other.
• Ash and the group: They celebrate their victory together, strengthening their bond.
• Megumi and Snow White: They express their gratitude and relief to each other after the reunion with Snow White's family.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ash is approached by a girl who mistakes him for someone else. He is later confronted by a figure identical to him, who introduces himself as "Dust" and reveals he is not Ash's parallel self but something else entirely.
• Ash and Dust engage in a fight, with neither gaining the upper hand due to their similar fighting styles and knowledge of each other's moves.
• Dust reveals that he knows about Ash's story and finds it both the best adventure story and the most nauseating.

Character Developments

• Ash: Shows concern for Megumi and his friends, and is determined to protect them. He is confused and angered by Dust's appearance and claims.
• Dust: Reveals a deep understanding of Ash's story and fighting style, but his true origins and motivations remain unclear.

Significant Themes

• Identity and self-discovery: Dust's appearance raises questions about identity, as he is similar to Ash yet claims not to be his parallel self.
• The burden of the past: Dust's comments about Ash's story suggest a critical perspective on Ash's adventures, implying a theme of the burden of one's past.

Character Interactions

• Ash and Megumi: Ash scolds Megumi for trying to interfere in his fight with Dust, showing a protective and stern side.
• Ash and Dust: The fight between Ash and Dust highlights their similarities, with neither able to gain the upper hand, and their conversation reveals a complex dynamic between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ash fights Dust, who reveals he has stolen Pretty Cure powers.
• Dust reveals he knows about Ash's memories and Dark Echoes collection.
• Megumi overhears Dust's revelations about the System's true intentions.

Character Developments

• Ash: Struggles with Dust's revelations about his past and the System's true intentions.
• Megumi: Becomes angry and determined after learning the System might be the cause of Ash's suffering.

Significant Themes

• Trust and betrayal: Ash struggles with trusting the System, while Megumi becomes determined to uncover the truth.
• Power and control: Dust's use of stolen Pretty Cure powers and his manipulation of Ash highlight the theme of power dynamics.

Character Interactions

• Ash and Dust: Engage in a physical and verbal battle, with Dust revealing secrets about Ash's past.
• Ash and Megumi: Megumi secretly observes Ash's fight with Dust, leading her to make a crucial decision based on what she hears.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The System, which manages Dark Echoes (negative entities from various worlds), fell in love with Ash and created clones (including Ash's clone) to help him bear the heavy karma.
• The System chose the world of Pretty Cure for Ash, planning to share the burden of Dark Echoes' karma through the bonds Ash forms with the Pretty Cures.
• Ash's clone, Dust, betrays the System and summons it to the real world, intending to use its power for his own goals.
• Aino Megumi, using the power of the Evil God Grimde Light Ring, attacks both Dust and the System, wounding Ash in the process.

Character Developments

• Ash: Struggles with the System's revelation and fears for the Pretty Cures' safety. Shows selflessness by protecting the System from Megumi's attack.
• Dust (Ash's clone): Reveals his betrayal and ambition, seeking to use the System's power for his own purposes.
• Aino Megumi: Experiences regret and panic after accidentally wounding Ash. Her actions are driven by her desire to protect Ash.

Significant Themes

• Love and sacrifice: The System's love for Ash leads to a plan to share the burden of Dark Echoes' karma through Ash's bonds with the Pretty Cures. Ash's selfless act of protecting the System also shows his love for the Pretty Cures.
• Betrayal and ambition: Dust's betrayal of the System highlights the theme of betrayal and the consequences of pursuing personal ambition.
• Consequences of actions: Megumi's accidental wounding of Ash serves as a reminder of the consequences of one's actions, particularly when driven by strong emotions.

Character Interactions

• Ash and the System: Their relationship is complex, with the System creating Ash and his clones to help him bear the burden of Dark Echoes' karma, but also planning to use the Pretty Cures to share that burden.
• Ash and Dust: Their interaction highlights the conflict between Ash, who wants to protect the Pretty Cures, and Dust, who seeks to use the System's power for his own goals.
• Megumi and Ash: Megumi's accidental wounding of Ash leads to a moment of intense regret and panic, highlighting the emotional bond between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ash, the Kamen Rider, is critically injured and hospitalized after a friendly fire incident involving Megumi.
• Dust, the enemy, provides a "perfect" device that can transfer life force, hinting at a possible solution to save Ash.
• Megumi, feeling guilty, confesses her love for Ash and decides to use the "perfect" to save him.

Character Developments

• Megumi: Struggles with guilt and self-doubt, ultimately decides to save Ash despite the risks.
• Ash: Falls into a coma after being severely injured, awakens to find Megumi's confession.
• Dust: Reveals a hint of admiration for Ash, provides the "perfect" device, and is expelled from the world.

Significant Themes

• Love and sacrifice: Megumi's love for Ash drives her to risk her own life to save him.
• Change and acceptance: Dust's words hint at the inevitability of change and the need to accept it.
• Guilt and redemption: Megumi feels guilty for injuring Ash and seeks redemption by saving him.

Character Interactions

• Megumi and Ash: Megumi confesses her love for Ash, and he awakens to hear it.
• Megumi and Dust: Dust provides Megumi with the "perfect" device, showing a hint of admiration for Ash.
• Megumi and the other Pretty Cures: The other Pretty Cures try to help Ash but are unable to, leaving Megumi by his side.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ash is accidentally "killed" by Megumi, but he doesn't die due to an unknown power.
• Ash discovers the System, his constant companion, is gone.
• Megumi confesses she destroyed the System to save Ash's life.
• Ash, enraged and hurt, expels Megumi from his life.

Character Developments

• Ash: Struggles with the loss of the System, feels betrayed by Megumi, and becomes increasingly isolated.
• Megumi: Realizes the consequences of her actions, feels guilty and desperate to make amends.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of good intentions.
• The struggle between personal happiness and the greater good.
• The pain of loss and betrayal.

Character Interactions

• Ash and Megumi: Their relationship deteriorates due to Megumi's actions and Ash's inability to forgive.
• Ash and the System: Ash mourns the loss of his constant companion and struggles to understand its motives.
• Ash and Dust (implied): Ash's thoughts about Dust's theories on happiness and suffering deepen.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ash, after a conversation with the System, decides to apologize to Megumi.
• Megumi is found crying outside the hospital, attracting a crowd.
• Ash learns from Phantom Queen about the Blue God's plan and her past.
• Phantom Queen asks Ash for a hug, signifying a shift in her perspective.
• Ash plans to confront the Red God and Toregier but decides to delay it due to the girls' wishes.

Character Developments

• Ash: Struggles with his feelings for Megumi and his duty as a hero. Decides to prioritize his relationships with the Pretty Cures.
• Phantom Queen: Reflects on her past and expresses remorse for her actions. Asks Ash for a hug, showing vulnerability and trust in him.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of one's actions and the path to redemption.
• The importance of communication and understanding in relationships.
• The struggle between duty and personal feelings.

Character Interactions

• Ash and Phantom Queen: Ash learns about her past and shows empathy, leading to a moment of connection between them.
• Ash and the Pretty Cures: The girls express their desire to spend more time with Ash, leading him to delay his plans for a decisive battle.
• Ash and Megumi: Ash decides to apologize to Megumi, but they haven't interacted yet in this chapter.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ash decides to leave, having found a precious treasure in this world.
• Kaito Daiki, revealed to be alive, is given an Ultraman suit by Ash for a favor.
• Ash provokes the Red God and Toregier, leading to an immediate attack by a Red Bad Beast.
• Ash fights alongside Miyuki (as Ultimate Happy Angel) against the Bad Beast.
• Ash decides not to use the Pretty Cure cards anymore, feeling like a 'monster' causing them pain.
• Megumi finds Ash, apologizing for an unknown offense and expressing her desire to see him.

Character Developments

• Ash: Struggles with his role in causing pain to the Pretty Cures, decides to stop using their cards, and considers himself a 'monster'.
• Megumi: Apologizes to Ash, shows concern for his well-being, and wants to maintain their friendship despite Ash's distance.

Significant Themes

• Love and sacrifice: The Pretty Cures' love for Ash leads them to take on his pain, which Ash struggles to accept.
• Guilt and responsibility: Ash feels guilty for causing the Pretty Cures pain and takes responsibility by deciding not to use their cards.
• Communication and understanding: Megumi's attempt to apologize and understand Ash's distance highlights the importance of open communication.

Character Interactions

• Ash and Miyuki: Ash struggles with his feelings for Miyuki and the pain he's caused her, leading him to decide not to use her card.
• Ash and Megumi: Megumi apologizes to Ash, expressing her desire to maintain their friendship despite his distance and recent behavior.
• Ash and Kaito Daiki: Ash asks Kaito for a favor, leading to Kaito's involvement in Ash's plan to provoke the Red God and Toregier.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Megumi invites Ash to her birthday party, but he declines, causing awkwardness.
• Megumi confesses her feelings for Ash and wants to know more about him, but Ash rejects her, leading to a heated argument.
• Ash takes away Megumi's Monster Light Ring and Light Transformation Mirror to prevent her from transforming and fighting, causing her to collapse.
• Ash leaves, telling Megumi not to get involved with him anymore.
• Megumi accuses Ash of resenting her for killing his System, and Ash confirms his hatred for her.
• Megumi offers her life to avenge Ash's System, but Ash refuses and decides to tell her about his past.

Character Developments

• Megumi (Cure Lovely): Megumi's feelings for Ash grow stronger, leading her to confess her love and desperation to protect their happy past. Her obsession with Ash and her role as Pretty Cure becomes unhealthy, leading to her breakdown.
• Ash (Kamen Rider): Ash's past with his System is revealed, showing his deep attachment and inability to grow beyond their shared history. His hatred for Megumi grows, but he still shows restraint in not taking her life.

Significant Themes

• Love and Obsession: Megumi's love for Ash turns into an unhealthy obsession, blinding her to his true feelings and leading to her breakdown.
• The Past and Change: Both Ash and Megumi are fixated on their past happiness, refusing to accept change or move forward, which ultimately leads to their conflict.
• Hatred and Revenge: Ash's hatred for Megumi grows due to her role in his System's fate, while Megumi offers her life to atone for her actions, highlighting the destructive nature of these emotions.

Character Interactions

• Ash and Megumi: Their relationship deteriorates as Megumi's obsession grows and Ash's hatred intensifies, leading to a heated argument and Megumi's breakdown.
• Ash and His System: Ash's deep attachment to his System is revealed, showing the profound impact it had on his life and his inability to grow beyond their shared history.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ash, now a villain, plans to confront the Red God and Toregier alone, despite Snow White and others' hesitation to join him.
• Ash reveals he must die to see "Him" again, and he can't ask Snow White or others to help him.
• Megumi is unwilling to accept Ash's decision and refuses to kill him, even when he asks her to.
• Ash gives Megumi a wooden comb as a gift, asking Snow White and Iona to deliver it to her.
• Ash leaves for his final battle in his fighter jet, Victory Swallow One, leaving the girls behind.

Character Developments

• Ash: Accepts his villain role, plans to confront his enemies alone, and is determined to die to meet "Him" again. He shows kindness towards Megumi by giving her a gift and asking others to deliver it.
• Megumi: Struggles with Ash's decision to leave and die, but ultimately refuses to kill him. She's overwhelmed by the attention and fame she receives on her birthday.
• Snow White and Iona: Try to convince Ash not to go alone, but ultimately fail. They're left behind, sad and angry at Ash's departure.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice: Ash is willing to sacrifice himself to meet "Him" again, while Megumi refuses to sacrifice Ash, even to save others.
• Fame and its consequences: Megumi struggles with her newfound fame and the expectations that come with it.
• Unity vs. Isolation: Ash chooses to face his enemies alone, while Snow White and Iona want to support him together.

Character Interactions

• Ash and Megumi: Their interaction is tense, with Ash pushing Megumi away and Megumi unwilling to accept Ash's decision.
• Ash and Snow White/Iona: They try to convince Ash not to go alone, but their efforts are futile. Ash asks them to deliver his gift to Megumi.
• Megumi and her guests: Megumi struggles to connect with her guests, feeling disconnected from the joy of her birthday celebration.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ash visits the Red God's planet, the Monster Planet, and crashes his fighter jet, the Victory Swallow.
• Tregear, possessing a human boy, confronts Ash on the Monster Planet.
• Ash summons the Super Sentai robot legions to fight against Toregier's monster legions, protecting Earth's peace.

Character Developments

• Ash demonstrates his resourcefulness and strategic thinking by preparing the Super Sentai robots to aid him in battle.
• Tregear, driven by personal grudge and hatred, seeks revenge against Ash.

Significant Themes

• The power of unity and teamwork, as seen in the combined efforts of the Super Sentai robots.
• The consequences of hatred and grudges, as shown through Tregear's actions.

Character Interactions

• Ash and Tregear face off, with Ash provoking Tregear and Tregear expressing his desire for revenge.
• Ash interacts with the Super Sentai robots, using them to fight against the monsters on the Monster Planet.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ash, piloting Daizyujin, faces Toregier, a dark giant.
• Daizyujin battles and temporarily defeats Toregier, but is then sent flying into space.
• Pretty Cure arrives to support Daizyujin, and Ash agrees to accept their help.

Character Developments

• Ash: Struggles with his feelings towards Megumi and the Pretty Cure, ultimately deciding to accept their help.
• Toregier: Reveals his desire to bring Taro to him every year, showing his obsession with Ash's father.

Significant Themes

• The power of bonds and friendship.
• The struggle between light and darkness within Ash.
• The importance of acceptance and belief in others.

Character Interactions

• Ash and Toregier: Engage in a heated battle, with Toregier trying to provoke Ash and Ash refusing to acknowledge Toregier's ideology.
• Ash and Pretty Cure: Initially, Ash is angry at their interference, but ultimately accepts their help, showing a willingness to believe in their intentions.
• Pretty Cure and Megumi: Not present in this chapter, but their influence is felt through Ash's thoughts and actions.