Desparaia

Desparaia is usually seen as an old woman concealed behind a strange mask to hide her aged features. She remains seated deep within the Nightmare headquarters, speaking to her subordinates only through monitors. In her final form, after using the Dream Collet, she returns to the form of a beautiful woman with long olive-colored hair and pale skin, dressed in a purple kimono-style outfit.

Desparaia is fundamentally cold, cruel, and unyielding, not hesitating to use any means to reach her goals and instilling fear in her subordinates. Despite this, she shows a subtle sensitivity to the loss of her loyal followers, hinting at underlying loneliness. She is deeply afraid of her own weakness and aging, believing that spreading despair to others can bring her comfort. When confronted with the unwavering hope of Nozomi Yumehara and her friends, Desparaia begins to doubt her own ideals and develops a desire to understand hope.

As the empress of the Nightmare organization, Desparaia is the architect behind the destruction of Palmier Kingdom. Her main aim is to use the Dream Collet to become immortal and conquer the world through despair. She is the first female leader and shadowy mastermind to serve as the final boss in the Yes! PreCure 5 TV series.

She customarily remains hidden in the president's office at Nightmare headquarters, interacting with others only via monitors. The only subordinate permitted to visit her in person is the loyal Kawarino, who has never seen her true face.

Desparaia wields tremendous power—capable of creating countless shadow clones and using them to attack her enemies. She possesses the ability to see into others’ hearts and manipulate their emotions, converting hope into despair for brainwashing. Her overwhelming aura is enough to blast even the transformed Kawarino away. Her true abilities are mostly left mysterious, but she is said to have enough strength to plunge worlds into despair and wipe them out.

• Kawarino: Her most trusted and loyal servant, he is the only one allowed to meet with Desparaia directly.
• Yes! PreCure 5: Initially dismissing their importance, she grows wary after witnessing their hope prevail within the depths of despair.
• Coco and Natts: Victims of her schemes, but ultimately they become recipients of her repentance.

The Reign of Nightmare

Desparaia rules from the deepest chamber of the Nightmare headquarters. She is obsessed with collecting the Dream Collet, believing it will grant her immortality and allow her to dominate the world with the power of despair. In the early episodes, she cares for nothing but the Dream Collet and pays little heed to the threat posed by Yes! PreCure 5.

Confrontation with Hope

In Episode 24, after witnessing the hope radiating from Nozomi Yumehara and her friends within the darkness of despair, Desparaia begins to feel unease for the first time. By Episode 39, she personally tests the PreCure's strength, becomes alarmed by their unexpected power, and urgently orders Kawarino to steal the Dream Collet as quickly as possible.

The Final Showdown and Transformation

During the final episodes, Desparaia obtains the Dream Collet and becomes immortal, revealing her rejuvenated and beautiful face. Despite gaining eternal life, she finds no solace in her heart. When confronted by the PreCure, she is shaken by their refusal to give in to despair.

Her struggle becomes clear when she confides her fear and confusion, saying, “I do not know what to say in times like this. I am sorry...” For the first time, she openly seeks to understand hope, inspired by Nozomi’s plea to learn what it truly means to hold onto hope.

Downfall and Redemption

Despite finally feeling the stirrings of hope, Desparaia rejects Kawarino’s loyalty to despair and casts him into the darkness, losing her last supporter. Overcome with grief and loneliness, she loses control of her powers, causing despair to spiral out of control and threaten the very world she wished to rule.

Realizing the consequences, Desparaia pleads with the PreCure to seal her away along with the Nightmare realm to prevent total destruction. She repents, apologizes to Coco and Natts, and returns the now-empty Dream Collet. Surrounded by a gentle smile, Desparaia is sealed away along with Nightmare HQ, ending the story on a note of forgiveness and reconciliation.

“My only wish is this: to become immortal with the power of the Dream Collet, and to rule the world with despair.”

“I do not know what to say in times like this. I am sorry...”

• Desparaia is the first female final boss and mastermind to appear in the Precure franchise.
• She is unique among Precure villains for attaining a form of “redemption” and being sealed instead of destroyed.
• Even Kawarino, her most loyal servant, had never seen her true face until her transformation.
• In the film “Pretty Cure All Stars: Singing with Everyone Miraculous Magic!” she is the only final boss who does not appear as an illusion created by Sorciere.