There exists a Netherworld known as Gate World, which seems to enjoy invading other worlds, not to rule them but to lay them to waste. Two hundred years ago, the frightful inhabitants of that world, the CIMA, attempted to invade the Netherworld where Evil Academy and its students resided. However, although no movement could be seen from the Overlord or his men, the residents of the world were not about to lay down and die. By combining their skills, the Demons of this world were able to expel the invaders, and return to their normal lives.
But the war had taught many of the world's denizens about their own shortcomings. Some learned that they lacked the strength to truly take care of their own problems. Others had seen family members die, and realized how powerless they truly were. To seek power, old and young Demons alike who had previously avoided enrolling in school decided to begin their careers at Evil Academy.
Among these souls was Ark, a lad desiring strength in honor of his dead father. He formed the Guardian Club, its sole purpose to lead those who wanted power to it. One day, however, his club was turned upside down, as Prince Mao's attendant, Geoffry, decided to transform the members into the prince's own private army.
Like Beast Warriors, the characters here age 10 times slower than humans. However, because of the nature of their Netherworld gathering Demons from all around for school, there are different aging patterns among non-Vassals that won't come up in the story but are being noted for clarification. This section lists the fourteen main warriors, and the two kids who hang around them. While there will be spoilers for CIMA, seeing as backstory was not a major part of the game for most characters (it was originally intended to be a trilogy, so some of that might have been left for the sequel) a lot of the backstory for these characters is pure BS. Oh, and the spoilers for Ivy's backstory in CIMA won't even show up till the second movie...and even that had to be elaborated on!
Name: Ark
Age: 1518
Hair: Red
Class: Ronin
Weapon: Sword
Magic Used: None
Position: President of the Guardian Club
Bio: Having lost his father in the CIMA wars, Ark decided to enroll in Evil Academy in order to be just as strong a Samurai as he was and become a member of the Royal Guard. Considering his love for his father in comparison to Mao's, it's easy to see how there can be some rivalry between the prince and his current Head Vassal. However, Ark tends not to want to get into arguments with his employer; he already has enough fighting with his vice president instead. Though the Guardian Club's purpose eventually became to help everyone find the strength they desired, while avoiding class as much as possible, in truth it was originally formed so Ark could have something to do when he skipped class.
Original Universe Data: Ark's pretty much a dead ringer for his in-game self, being more justice obsessed than a normal Demon, but less than Flonne, thus the choice of Ronin as his class. His original self, being the main character and one of two Gate Guardians protecting the team, made him the perfect choice for Head Vassal, as well as President of the Guardian Club. The first male lead in the Vassals series.
Name: Ivy
Age: 1517
Hair: Long and Blue
Class: Gunslinger
Weapon: Gun
Magic Used: None
Position: VP of the Guardian Club
Bio: During the war, Ivy was brutalized and left for dead, only to be saved from a CIMA by a Sophomore named Jester. With his help, due to her lack of parents or guardians, she was able to transfer into Evil Academy and start her studies. Although she desires knowledge, she isn't about to become a delinquent for it; if she decides to skip class, she'll just make sure to go to that one next semester...though she will forgo the non-battle classes entirely. Has a hobby of going to classes late so she can attend yet still cause a ruckus, and tends to sign her test papers with a bullet hole. It was her suggestion that led to the Guardian Club's creation, so Ark made her the vice president by default, although their differences in opinion causes problems between them on numerous occasions. Oh, and don't even suggest to her that she and Ark are dating...
Original Universe Data: It's Ivy...as a Demon. She retains her argumentative fighting with Ark, as well as her skill with a gun. Like with CIMA, her backstory is brushed aside at first, only to turn into an important plot point later on (as in, during the second movie), though it has more expansion than in the game itself. As his partner and fellow Gate Guardian in the original game, it was only right that she become his second-in-command here.
Name: Vanrose
Age: 1731
Hair: Brown
Class: Ninja
Weapon: Sword
Magic Used: None
Position: Assassin
Bio: A resident of an outlying village in Mao's Netherworld, he hadn't even known about Evil Academy until the war. Realizing it was a way to enhance his abilities, Vanrose dragged his three closest friends along for the ride and enrolled. He trusts nobody except himself, and to a lesser extent his friends, and considers Ark to be unfit as their leader. The only reason he so much as tolerates the situation is that it was Ark who founded the club, and he finds it a very good excuse to train and get out of class.
Original Universe Data: He shares the lack of trust in Ark with his CIMA counterpart, though he is a bit more pushy towards the others (it didn't seem he dragged them out to the frontier in the original, but rather they agreed to come along). But just like CIMA, much of his character development is spent A) learning to trust others and B) forging his relationship with Shelley.
Name: Shelley
Age: 1727
Hair: Blond Ponytail
Class: Kunoichi
Weapon: Gun
Magic Used: None
Position: Assassin
Bio: Vanrose's partner and childhood friend, she was the easiest to convince to come along (i.e. involved the least strong-arming). Although she is usually calm, cool and collected, certain pressing situations can set her off (if someone's actions are endangering the team as a whole, or someone, usually Vanrose or Diana, is being unreasonable). Extremely intelligent, she could probably pass out of several classes without trying, however she tends to purposefully get easy answers wrong to show that she's not a delinquent. Kind of a big sister figure to the younger members of the group.
Original Universe Data: Though her temper does flare a little more than in CIMA, she's the same girl at her core. And her temper flaring covers the same issues as before, just that they come up more often over a longer series. Her interaction with Vanrose, Ark and Ivy is more fleshed out as well.
Name: Claude
Age: 2337
Hair: Black
Class: Martial Artist
Weapon: Fists
Magic Used: None
Position: Bouncer
Bio: During the war, he was able to beat many CIMA up, however realized he was far from as strong as he thought he was. Usually a silent man, when he does talk he usually gets along with the rest of the team. However, he tends to go off on his own in order to train.
Original Universe Data: Since he has such limited development in CIMA, there is little to tell about him here. He does get more screentime, and interacts more with the others, but is still a bit player whose only real goal is to gain strength, since he has no personality quirks to work off of.
Name: Doug
Age: 3368
Hair: White, balding on top
Class: Heavy Knight
Weapon: Axes
Magic Used: None
Position: Blacksmith
Bio: Having lost his daughter during the war, Doug decided to re-enroll in the academy he'd dropped out of so long ago in order to get stronger. He dislikes the Royal Guard, seeing as they were unable to get to his village in time to protect Elizabeth, so he is somewhat short with Ark due to wanting to join them. However, he refuses to let anyone younger than him die, which includes the entire Vassals cast.
Original Universe Data: Pretty much the same things that drive his original self, drive Doug here. Of course, Ark's situation is a bit different, plus they've been a group for years and years, so that in turn results in changes in their relationship (Doug is still short with him, but is a tad bit more trustful than he was at the start of CIMA). This was the closest I could get to him being the same as in CIMA, battle-wise, though the speed thing is right on the money.
Name: Ileyda
Age: 3362
Hair: Grayish-Silver, shoulder length
Class: Magic Knight
Weapon: Sword
Magic Used: Fire/Wind/Ice
Position: Multi-purpose
Bio: Doug's wife and constant moral support, she tries her best to help her husband reopen his heart following their daughter's death. Although she too harbors feelings of anger and regret, she is much better at keeping them in than her husband. The kindly, grandmother figure to the rest of the group, she is someone they can go to for advice...and chocolate chip cookies!
Original Universe Data: First two sentences are spot on for her in-game self, the last more me trying to add to her character. As one of the last four to be rescued, she was shafted a bit in character development, though not as much as Claude or Telmia. So a few additions that fit her personality, and lead to interesting scenes (like the time she, Telmia and Mr. Champloo decided to go have a big cookie bake off in Mao's room).
Name: Philis
Age: 1516
Hair: Blond, shoulder length
Class: Mage
Weapon: Staff
Magic Used: Elements
Position: Magic Assault
Bio: Ark's No. 1 Fangirl! During the early days of the Guardian Club, before she was able to develop good magic attack range, he rescued her in combat after she wandered too close to the action to cast a spell. Ever since, she's had feelings for the president, but he's just too dense to notice. It doesn't help that he's usually around Ivy, and Philis is uncomfortable being too forward around a girl she perceives as her rival. Probably the closest thing the Guardian Club has to a Delinquent, going to class quite often and bringing them back the notes, but she still skips class enough to not be considered one.
Original Universe Data: She's got a crush on Ark...and can't say how she feels. The Trust Conversations in CIMA allow her to gain more courage, but she only gets to say that she "likes" him, and then walks off without clarifying due to her nerves. Trying to write her as a Demon was a challenge, because she's just too much of a good girl; though her attempts to act more like an Honor Student are used for humor.
Name: Telmia
Age: 2238
Hair: Blond shoulder length
Class: Archer
Weapon: Bow
Magic Used: Healing
Position: Sniper Unit
Bio: Having lost her husband in the war, and noticing her daughter's sorrow over the event, Telmia enrolled in Evil Academy in order to find peers that would help Phillis overcome her grief and help her act like a true Demon. But she herself found lots of comfort in learning to fight as well, and she's become quite an accomplished sniper. Somehow, she's able to understand all of Mr. Champloo's food metaphors with great ease...
Original Universe Data: Pretty much another shafted character in the game, however we do know that she's a widow who cares greatly about her only daughter. And both she and Philis are cooks, thus giving her an angle related to the school's resident chef. Heck, it helped to put her more in the story with less forced craziness.
Name: Rick
Age: 1728
Hair: Brown
Class: Skull
Weapon: Staff
Magic Used: Elements
Position: Magic Assault
Bio: One of Vanrose's friends from his hometown, Rick is quite an accomplished magician. Or...he would be if he wasn't such a coward! Despite the best efforts of Vanrose and Shelley to coax him into being brave, or Diana's constant threats, Rick would simply prefer to hide in the back of the team and avoid monsters. Unsurprisingly, Diana tends to drag him along by the scruff of his neck, wondering why she ever decided to hook up with him in the first place!
Original Universe Data: Everybody's favorite cowardly magician! Rick has earned his place in the (tiny) CIMA fandom's hearts by just being his adorable yet terrified self. Here, he's pretty much the same except there's a lot more force due to Diana taking her level in badass thanks to being a Demon. Oh, and keeping with his "uniquely" colored special attack in CIMA as well as his personality...all of his magic spells are a pretty pink color!
Name: Diana
Age: 1726
Hair: Long and Pink
Class: Fist Fighter
Weapon: Fists
Magic Used: None
Position: Assault Unit
Bio: The final of Vanrose's friends who came to Evil Academy with him, and also Rick's fiancee. Although she really cares about Rick, she is constantly annoyed with his cowardice, knowing him to be capable of so much more. She spends lots of time pulling stunts to get Rick to shape up, and karate chopping his desk in half whenever she's annoyed with him. One of her favorite techniques is going to any class teaching battle tactics (when it's half over, hey, she isn't a Delinquent) with both Rick and a bag full of cinder blocks, then chopping them in half throughout the rest of the session...it annoys the Delinquents, entertains the Honor Students and forces Rick to pay attention to tune it out!
Original Universe Data: Diana was scary enough at times as a human...it's only intensified as a Demon. As Rick's fiancee, she was annoyed with A) Rick's cowardice, B) having left the city for the uncivilized frontier and C) being trapped in a dungeon. All she does in-game is a large setup to get Rick to be braver, and it works like a charm in the end. She has a lot more trouble here, but that's only cuz there's more episodes to work with.
Name: Yurald
Age: 2345
Hair: Brown
Class: Ranger
Weapon: Bow
Magic Used: Healing & Star
Position: Sniper Unit
Bio: A sharpshooter who dabbles a little in the holiest of powers found in an accursed world like theirs and is perhaps the team's best source of advice when they're feeling down. It's rumored that he's a Fallen Angel, but he insists that he's just an archer who is out to better himself. However, he is still the best bowman on the team, using tactics that seem like they came from a professional army...
Original Universe Data: Since Yurald's profession in CIMA was a priest, albeit one of the non-healer type, it was hard to put him as a Demon at first. By capitalizing on both his original job and his personality in-game (he's practically Rick and Diana's marriage counselor), he was set as a character with a rumor filled backstory. It's never resolved in the show itself, since that would eliminate the mystery, but by the end all the characters practically believe the rumor and just don't discuss it since Yurald will never tell. The only reason he's a Ranger and not a Priest is that there was someone who fit the Priest class a lot better than he...
Name: Jean
Age: 2237
Hair: Black
Class: Priest
Weapon: Staff
Magic Used: Healing, Fire, Star
Position: Clinic
Bio: As a medic in one of the outlying villages, Jean saw his share of war casualties. Realizing that a little schooling would help him to better use his powers, he enrolled along with his wife, and both his children were born during their time in Evil Academy. Usually calm, cool and collected, he is generally a voice of reason when some of the more hotheaded characters are arguing, and would do anything to protect his family.
Original Universe Data: As a doctor looking to make a clinic on the frontier, Jean was a shoe in for the Priest role in the show. Most of his scenarios are used to capitalize on his family relationships, or his medical background, which is pretty much what he did in CIMA. At least he had more development there than some of the other late-game arrivals...
Name: Eberle
Age: 2234
Hair: Green, shoulder length
Class: Cleric
Weapon: Staff
Magic Used: Healing, Wind, Ice
Position: Clinic
Bio: Jean's wife and the assistant in his clinic. She too decided to better herself at Evil Academy, and enrolled at the same time he did. Joining Guardian Club in order to help their members keep healthy, she is a kind, motherly figure to all of them. Though she tends to worry a lot about Halley and Emmy; the two of them are too eager to go into real battle...
Original Universe Data: Really not much of a difference between CIMA's resident nurse and her Demon counterpart. Though she also has a frying pan o' doom outside of combat that the original Eberle never had, mainly for when a little tough love is required. And heaven help you if you threaten her children in any way...she now has the power to do something about it and the Demonic attitude to go through with it!
Name: Halley
Age: 102
Hair: Black & Spiked
Class: Masked Hero (pretend)
Weapon: Gun (slingshot actually)
Magic Used: None
Position: Child
Bio: Ark's personal fanboy, he goes around carrying a slingshot and an imitation Masked Hero costume in order to act like a big, strong warrior. Desiring to grow up much faster than he has, he wishes to sneak onto the battlefield to help Mao's group out. He is also extremely protective of his younger sister, Emmy, and would never let any harm come to her.
Original Universe Data: Not much of a change here. The original Halley was Ark's fanboy and desired to do anything to help out. Since Emmy initially didn't have a weapon but Halley did, and they were required to be put in danger for a few puzzles, he tended to be her only protection despite being not so powerful himself. The two of them tend to be played for the adorable value, especially in the first movie.
Name: Emmy
Age: 81
Hair: Green Ponytail
Class: Cheerleader (pretend)
Weapon: Spear (arrowhead on a stick)
Magic Used: Buffing
Position: Child
Bio: Like Halley is Ark's fanboy, Emmy is Ivy's fangirl, stemming from an incident where the older girl helped to bring out her inner courage and protected her from monsters. Since then, Emmy has worked her hardest to improve, becoming much braver than she initially was (though she was never as much a coward as Rick). Like her brother, she tries sneaking onto the battlefield in her imitation Cheerleader costume (a variant that covers a lot more skin) and fake spear, though Halley still insists on protecting her.
Original Universe Data: Pretty much what would happen if you gave a weapon to Emmy in CIMA. However, she overcame her fears before the story took place, it only being shown in a flashback, and is already Ivy's fangirl at the start. Like her brother, she's used for her adorable factor, however hers seems to be used a bit more than his since she's younger and a girl.
Allies that the Guardian Club can call on in a pinch.
Name: Jester
Age: 1825
Hair: Gray-Brown
Class: Ronin (albeit the top tier class)
Weapon: Sword
Magic Used: None
Position: Ark and Ivy's Mentor
Bio: Jester was a Sophomore during the Great War 200 years ago. One day, after he killed an enemy soldier, he discovered the wounded Ivy and brought her to safety. Some time later, Jester became a Junior, and currently acts as their Class Leader. Not only that, but he is a source of wisdom for Ark, the one person the younger boy actually cares to listen to. He spends much of the game trying to find the secret behind the Seniors' odd behavior, while giving advice to the prince and his vassals.
Original Universe Data: Jester was Ark and Ivy's mentor in the ways of being a Gate Guardian, as well as being one of the Six Stars, the most powerful in their organization. Sadly, he lost his life to Pike Nighttrap during the first dungeon while trying to buy time for the others to escape. Fate's a lot kinder to him here, though, since he's a mentor in a different sense. He was given his weapon and class to make him a more fitting mentor to Ark, but in all honesty his actual fighting style in CIMA is unknown.
Name: Sephiria
Age: 1825
Hair: Long Blond
Class: Exorcist (albeit the top tier class)
Weapon: Sword
Magic Used: None
Position: Junior
Bio: A young lady who is one of Jester's most valued allies in his class. Like Mao and Beryl, they've known each other since they were young. She gained most of her battle experience during the war, although she is even better at gathering information than she is at combat. Sephiria appears to sell information to the Guardian Club, generally related to whatever task they had at hand.
Original Universe Data: I created Sephiria to be another of the Six Stars for my fanfic universe. The youngest person to have joined their ranks, at the age of 15 which was around the time Jester first joined the Gate Guardians, she had an alliance with a CIMA named Rana who was going against the way her society hurt humans and provided important information to help the Gate Guardians. Here, with no real way to put Rana in the story, Sephiria is simply an informant without the extra help.
Name: Majesty
Age: 53
Hair: Pale brown fur
Class: Saber Kitty
Weapon: Fish
Magic Used: None
Position: Halley and Emmy's pet
Bio: An adorable cat that Jean adopted for his kids. Though childlike and curious, she is also very loyal to her owners. Tends to follow them around, trying to help out whenever the children go join the battlefield.
Original Universe Data: Majesties were simply the jewels you used in Item Creation, and were found by defeating CIMA. More or less named as an in-universe reference.
Name: Bomb A & Bomb B
Age: 1000
Hair: None...purplish-blue feathers
Class: Pvt. Prinny
Weapon: Knives and Bombs
Magic Used: None
Position: The Guardian Club's Punching Bags
Bio: Twin brothers who were notorious killers in their human lives, they were executed at the same time and both ended up as Prinnies in Mao's Netherworld. Although they started their sentences as slaves in the Overlord's kitchen, Geoffry pawned them off on Mao's new vassals the second he hired them. Their position, and unique physiology, has made it popular for one of the group to punt them at the enemy...or even across the room when they're annoyed with someone else. They have real names, it's just that everyone refers to them by their positions instead.
Original Universe Data: There really were a pair of items named Bomb A and Bomb B in CIMA. Seeing as Prinnies explode when thrown, this joke was too good not to make.
Ark and Ivy are having a heated discussion about one another's battle abilities, when suddenly they hear a scream. Both run outside to see Halley and Emmy beside a tree, the former is trying to console the latter. Halley explains that their tree-fort has gone missing, and they don't know where it is. Ivy goes to take Emmy over to find her parents, while Halley follows Ark to the clubhouse.
There, they find Philis hanging out, looking depressed. When Ark asks her what's wrong she suddenly jumps out of her seat, embarrassed, and tries to act like it is nothing. However, her thoughts tell a different story...she's worried that her feelings for Ark are missing; she knows she's supposed to like him, yet she doesn't feel the longing that she usually does.
Mao then comes barging in, yelling that they have new orders. Someone has been staging a thieving spree around campus, including something he will only refer to as "THAT." They are to go find Master Big Star, to see if he has any more information on that. Ark wonders if the theft of the children's tree fort has anything to do with it, as Philis thinks it might be why she isn't able to feel the same way about Ark.
They track down Master Big Star, who has also been hit by the thief and lost the "a" and space in his name; he had to purchase an "e" to replace it, so he is now called Master Bigster. Mao and the others beat him into submission, but he is unable to give them much more help than that. And unfortunately, Sephiria is out so they cannot rely on her information. Instead, the team decides to look for the only other informant they know...Salvatore.
Salvatore has also become a victim of the thief, losing her feminine side as a result. After a battle to test their resolve, she gives them her information, telling the team it is the work of the Legendary Overlord. Immediately, everyone tries to figure out which of the powerful Overlords throughout the universe it might be, but are unable to come up with anything more than guesses. They return to the clubhouse to think, only to find that Sephiria is back, having been out looking for information on the thief who stole her spy gear. Without all her supplies, all she can tell them is that the enemy's other victims are coming to this Netherworld, the nexus of the crimes, in order to look for their stolen loot.
The scene shifts to several days later, now with Prism Red, Marona, Axel and Asagi in tow. New information from Sephiria has come in, saying that a strange presence has been felt from the halls of Mao's palace. Everyone rushes to get there, where they find Laharl and his ladies. The two Overlords decide to blame each other for being the thief, and say that the loser of a duel will be the one who did it. Vassals on both sides think it's kinda stupid, so they watch Mao and Laharl duke it out instead. But suddenly, a female Priest and a male Gunner that didn't look at all like one from Mao's world appear.
They introduce themselves as Vincent and Virginia, the royal Prince and Queen of the Shamanic Tribe and allies of Laharl's. A report has come in from their spy team, with the location of the real culprit...Tyrant Overlord Baal. Both combatants put aside their personal differences, deciding instead to go fight their enemy, since Laharl and both girls have lost things as well, while Vincent and Virginia go back to their home.
Once the group finally locates Baal, they find he has taken the form of an Erynga, disguising himself in order to hide and heal his injuries. Nobody can believe he is the Legendary Overlord until they actually check his level, though Champloo is more wary than the rest. Although he says he doesn't remember stealing all that, Baal decides to fight them anyway. A fierce battle ensues, with the alliance of pissed of victims winning in the end.
However, after the fight, Baal acts cryptic, saying what was lost has now been returned to them, and that they have gained important things on their quest. Master Bigster and Salvatore remember how their group was separated, but brought back together to deal with this threat, and the outsiders either decide their thing wasn't important or realize they've gained it back just by fighting alongside everyone else; although Flonne still wants to look for her DVDs. Baal laughs a bit about how he's made it all more heartwarming, then runs off.
As Mao's group begins talking amongst themselves, Ark and Ivy try to console Halley and Emmy, who still don't know what happened to their fort. Meanwhile, Philis is finding herself falling in love with Ark all over again, having seen his efforts in the fight with Baal, and decides she just needed something to remind her of why she had a crush on him in the first place. Mao orders everyone to head on back to the school, wanting to go back home and sulk over not finding his missing thing.
Back at the school, Halley and Emmy go outside, looking rather dejected themselves, only to discover that Majesty and the Prinnies have built them a new tree fort, better than before. The two kids cheer over their good fortune, and go run to play immediately. Meanwhile, on the ground, the three monsters exchange sighs of relief, just happy that they were able to finish replacing the missing fort before everyone returned from their search. It all ends with the sound of Mao screaming that he will punish the thief the next time he catches up to him.
Sapphire and Almaz are taking a walk in the garden outside of campus one evening. But just as they are about to kiss, they hear a moan coming from the nearby river and rush to see what it was. There, they find a Nekomata, injured yet trying to pull herself towards the school. She faints, and the couple decides to take her inside to get help.
The scene then shifts to Jean's clinic the next morning, Mao and all his vassals present, where the creature is finally waking up. She introduces herself as Xiaomu (pronounced Shaomu), and tells them that she came to warn them of the pending invasion. It seems that CIMA has discovered their Netherworld is under new management, and wants to go attack them in their weakened state.
Mao knows next to nothing about CIMA or the past war, seeing as he was still in a fragile mindset after his father's death and being confined by Geoffery, and so the others fill him in. CIMA had taken advantage of the Overlord's "strange silence" in order to invade, though some in the team believe they already knew of his death. However, the citizens and students banded together in order to drive them back, showing great resolve in the process. Now, having a new Overlord and a restored Royal Guard, CIMA probably thinks that the people won't be as ready to help, so they wish to try again. Mao dares them to even try so he can flatten them all, just as a report of enemies encroaching on their border come in.
A CIMA general named Falcken is leading them, and Doug recognizes him as the murderer of his daughter. While the team fights valiantly, Falcken is using a special device to shield him from all attacks, and they are quickly knocked back. As he moves in for the kill, Ivy suddenly begins to glow with a red light, and she announces that she will not allow any harm to come to her friends. Her body is engulfed in flames, and she is transformed into a nine-tailed fox creature that suddenly obliterates all of Falcken's troops. The CIMA retreats, as Ivy blacks out.
Everyone wonders what happened, and realize that Ivy must be a CIMA; after all, they know nothing about her past before Jester rescued her. However, before they can doubt her too much, Ark speaks up, telling them that Ivy has done nothing to prevent them from trusting her, and in fact reveals her true self in order to save them. He picks her up in his arms, and carries her back to the school. The others think about his words, realizing the truth in them and deciding to trust Ivy.
Ivy wakes up to find herself being cradled in Ark's arms. He tells her that it's okay, that everyone believes in her. The others add in their own words of encouragement, causing Ivy to break down and cry with happiness. She thanks them for believing in her, and says that coming to this Netherworld was the happiest thing in her life.
We are then treated to a flashback of Ivy's past as she narrates. In her world, Humanoids are born into either the high, middle or low tier classes of strength. High Tiers become generals and leaders, Middle Tiers become field commanders and the most numerous Low Tiers become foot soldiers; there was no escape from being in the army in that world. All members of their race were infused with power from Monster Class creatures, allowing them to transform into menacing beasts in combat. Ivy herself was a Low Tier and found herself being driven to near death by a hardened taskmaster of a commander. Then, 200 years ago, the war against Mao's Netherworld began and she found herself being forced into combat along with the rest of her world. However, during her first battle, she had been wounded by a Ranger's gun shot, and was near death. Her commander decided to have fun gloating over her dying body, causing Jester to mistake the scene for a CIMA hurting a citizen of Mao's world. That mistake saved her life, and helped rescue her from her war-torn world to bring her to a better place...the place she found all her irreplaceable friends.
At that moment, the four generals of Pike Nighttrap (Genox, Elvira, Falcken and Sawma) appeared to attack the school. Mao divided his men into four teams: Ark/Vanrose/Shelley/Claude, Doug/Ileyda/Philis/Telmia, Ivy/Rick/Diana/Yurald and Jean/Eberle/Sapphire/Almaz. Team 1 took on Genox, Team 2 took on Falcken, Team 3 took on Elvira and Team 4 took on Sawma, while Mao and Beryl stayed back to prepare the castle defenses in case the enemy broke through. Meanwhile, Halley and Emmy stood in the doorway...wondering if there was any way they could help.
The battle rages on between the four generals and the elite groups, using a special device that neutralizes their shields, as the others that serve Mao fight their minions. Among the highlights...Doug finally getting his revenge on Falcken for his daughter's death, Genox driving the members of Team 1 crazy before being defeated, Rick running around in fear as Ivy and Diana fight Elvira yet still saving the day in the end, Sapphire and Almaz double teaming Sawma. After several lengthy scenes, all four are defeated and the group heads on to face the leader of the CIMA invasion...Pike Nighttrap of the Crimson Nine.
Pike laughs at the group for trying to attack him, letting Ark get a strike in to prove that their shield neutralizing device does not work on him. All hope seems lost as he blasts the team backwards, but then Ivy stands up, vowing never to let her friends down. Ark, moved by her determination to protect the things dear to her, finds the strength to get up as well, and they agree to fight together. The two hold hands as Ivy's body begins to glow once more, transforming into a blade with the power to strike through Pike's shield. While the CIMA does not believe such a bond could exist between one of his race and their prey, he decides not to play around and instead summons a large battlesuit to fight them with. However, despite the lengthy fight where Ark has to neutralize all of his weapons before going after Pike himself, the CIMA loses and all of his remaining men decide to retreat.
The Guardian Club members, along with Sapphire and Almaz, head over to Ark, who is cradling Ivy's wounded body in his arms. Jean remarks that her injuries are severe, however she can still be saved if they get her back to the clinic in time. Ark nods, and everyone heads home in order to perform the life saving procedures on Ivy. Time moves forward fifteen days to when she finally wakes up, jumping on Ark and giving him a hug much to his surprise. She tells him that the only reason she was able to take that form in order to fight Pike was because he always believed in her; it was his Trust that granted her that power. For once, the two acknowledge each other's abilities without insults, although they quickly go back to yelling about one another's bad points once Halley embarrasses them by asking if they're gonna kiss. However, Almaz's narration at the end of the movie suggests that they eventually did get the fuss out of their systems and got married.
Will be updated once cameos of this cast appear in Vassals 4...
The creation of the Guardian Club is a parody of the creation of the SOS Brigade in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Ark was bored like Haruhi and couldn't find an interesting way to get out of class, Ivy pulled a Kyon and told him to go create a club or something, Ark then pulls her along with him to help start the thing. Of course, the result is much different than what Haruhi decided to make.
Sephiria, Jester's good friend, gets her name from the Anime Black Cat. Mostly because both women are high ranking officials in a government agency who tend to rely on intelligence rather than brute strength. In CIMA fanfiction, where characters go by their first name and last initial, her name was written as Sephiria A, since Black Cat's Sephiria's last name was Arks (although seeing as CIMA's main character is named Ark, the full last name isn't shared...a moot point when only initials are used).
Xiaomu, the Nekomata in the second movie, got her name from the female lead in Namco x Capcom. That Xiaomu was a fox spirit in human form, and while a Nekomata was named for an entirely different mythological creature, and they look nothing alike, it's the closest ref I could get when I was trying to name my Nekomata. Furthermore, Ivy's official beast name is Mystic Fox, a title given to Xiaomu, although her words suggest she is of lower rank than the nine-tailed fox (her hair seems to have six fox tails in it, I believe) and Ivy's coloration is closer to Saya's than Xiaomu's.