//------------------------------// // Rise of the Guardians // Story: A Passing Through Kamen Rider // by thunderclap //------------------------------// Celestia sat in her personal chariot, closing in on Ponyville. She figured that Wyatt and Spike were exhausted from their training. She had known Flash Fire for a few years and she wouldn’t take things easy on them even if they were rookies. In fact, she would probably use that as an excuse to work them even harder. Her mood shifted, when she spotted the Rich manor’s newly acquired gaping hole. Though they looked like ants, she could tell there were construction ponies milling about and repairing the damage. Her mind was somewhat eased by the knowledge that nopony had been injured. At least, she hoped so. The chariot swerved in the air, making a beeline for Golden Oaks Library. A few minutes later, the chariot landed and Celestia strode towards the library door. Raising her hand to knock, she paused at the sound of voices. Flicking her ears, she tuned in as best she could. “Do we have to move this to the basement?” Wyatt’s muffled voice asked, followed by a grunt of exertion. “It’s turning into a collyer mansion down there.” “If you keep complaining, we’ll be here longer,” a monotone voice replied curtly. “Jeez, how in the hell is she so strong outside of rider form? She might as well be freaking She-Hulk,” Wyatt grumbled, his voice trailing off towards the end. “That’s what a lifetime on a rock farm and vassal training does for a mare!” Pinkie Pie's voice replied, coming in clear through the door. “Even I had a six pack before becoming a baker!” Suddenly, the brown wood of the door was replaced with Pinkie’s smiling face. “Hi, Princess!” Pinkie chirped, squishing her nose against Celestia’s. Celestia smiled, appreciating the mare’s energy. “Hello, Pinkie, could you get my student and Wyatt for me?” Sucking in more air than she should be able to, Pinkie whirled around to face the direction she had come from. “Everypony!!!! The princess is here!!!!” The shout seemed to shake the library walls for a few moments as Twilight zipped over to Pinkie’s side. “Princess Celestia, I wasn’t expecting you today!” She wore a strained smile, trying not to glance at the equipment that took up most of the library. “We were just doing some moving!” A grey mare Celestia didn’t recognize emerged from the basement steps. Celestia’s eyes scanned over the mare, zeroing in on the golden Kuuga symbol that stood out from the mare’s plain frock. “I see you have some company,” Celestia said, focusing on the grey mare. “How do you do?” She flashed the mare a smile. “If I may hazard a guess, you belong to Holder Cobblestone’s family, correct?” The mare nodded. “That’s right, my name is Maud Pie and I am a descendant of Holder Cobblestone. My sister Pinkie and I make Kamen Rider W.” Celestia blinked, looking between the sisters. “This is genuinely one of those times where even I’m surprised.” Clearing her throat, she turned to Twilight. “Twilight, if you wouldn’t mind collecting Spike and Wyatt,  I would like to get caught up. I don’t think I’m too far off base in assuming that the new hole in Rich manor and this ‘Kamen Rider W’ are related.” Twilight chuckled weakly, going downstairs and returning with the riders in question. Spike and Wyatt looked tired, sweat pouring off both of them with giant wet spots on their clothes. “Here they are, Princess!” Twilight introduced, using her magic to straighten their postures. “I’m sorry to catch you in the middle of something important,” Celestia apologized, taking a seat on the couch. “But I was curious about the incident at the Rich Manor.” Spike flinched, averting his gaze. “I was delighted to hear that Spike had found another branch of his family, however, the look on your face tells me that something went wrong.” Spike rubbed the back of his neck, an uncomfortable look on his face. “I don’t know how comfortable I am talking about it. The main thing is, medals were involved and Pinkie and Maud helped us deal with the problem.” “Yeah!” Pinkie added, grabbing Maud’s shoulders. “We took on that meanie with everything we had! Maud was so cool, she was all! Pew and whoosh!” Pinkie swung her arms around, acting out Maud’s actions in the battle. Celestia nodded, turning her focus to Spike. “I can understand your reluctance towards going into further detail. I would just like to ask if there were any injuries.” A sense of relief filled her when Spike shook his head. “Good then. Now, this visit is more business than I would like it to be. I’ve come to collect Equestria’s brave riders for the conference.” Offering Wyatt a sad smile, she continued. “Sadly, I’m also here to collect Kuuga’s laptop, the G-project is having more tro-” “No,” Maud said flatly, crossing her arms. “No?” Wyatt questioned, eyeing the mare oddly. “Maud, the laptop isn’t yours.” “No it isn’t, it’s Kuuga’s,” Maud acknowledged. “And as his vassal, it is my duty to safeguard his belongings. I am sorry Princess, but I can’t let you have it.” “Maud, don’t you think that Kuuga would want to do whatever he could to help Celestia...” Wyatt let his sentence trail off as Celestia raised her hand. “It puts me in a tight spot, Ms. Pie, but I won’t challenge you over this.” Celestia rose up, brushing her dress off. “I would like to ask, how you’ve become a rider, Maud. Your methods could be a great boon to the G-Project.” Maud nodded, her posture relaxing. “The Pie family has been attempting to recreate Kuuga’s abilities for generations.” She gestured to the equipment. “We’ve had to create new technologies to facilitate this.” If Celestia had blinked, she’d have missed the shift in Maud’s posture. ”Mine is the first successful system, utilizing the planet’s very memories.” Celestia nodded, tapping her fingers on her leg. “Could I have a copy of your notes and blueprints of your technology? That would help my researchers just as much as the computer.” “Of course,” came Maud’s curt reply. “Thank you very much.” Celestia smiled and bowed her head to the mare. She smoothed her dress again, a habit if there ever was one and glanced around the group. “Now, seeing as I wasn’t prepared for so many travellers, I will send my chariot ahead to Manehattan and inform Cadance of the change in plans.” Her smile grew. “How does first class tickets on the train and the dining car my treat sound?” “That's great, Princess,” Spike replied, scratching his neck. “Would it be alright if Filthy Rich and Diamond Tiara come along? We came up with an idea we think you'll like.” Celestia giggled, nodding her head. “As if I would turn away your newfound family members. Of course they may join us.” Filthy sat in his office, looking over a set of documents that bore the royal seal. His wife stood a few feet away from him, shifting on her hooves like a foal who had just been caught disobeying their parents. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye, unsure whether her guilt came from her actions or simply being caught. “If you have something to say, Spoiled Milk, you best say it now,” Filthy spoke, making sure she knew exactly where they stood. “Otherwise, it’ll be unsaid for the rest of our lives.” Spoiled flinched from the use of her original name, trying to gather her wits. “Sorry can’t even begin to erase what I tried to do,” she started, trembling with each word. “I let my hatred overtake me and became a true monster. I even lost sight of my feelings for Diamond Tiara.” “Yes, hatred.” Filthy grunted, looking up from the paperwork. “Hatred that you let fester inside you like a disease. I’ve let it slide for far too long, Spoiled,” he said, his expression hardening. “Even before the influence of the medals, you decided to steal them for one reason or another. I can’t trust you anymore, I can’t even look at you.” “I… I understand,” Spoiled spoke, her voice cracking at the end. She didn’t know what to say, her thoughts swirling in her mind like a raging cyclone. “I doubt explaining myself will make you change your mind.” “No, I don’t think it would,” Filthy agreed, holding out a document to her. “I just didn’t want things to end with things left unsaid. This is it; our marriage has been officially annulled. This states that what is yours will be given to you, along with a modest stipend. It’s nowhere near what you had here, but, if you spend it wisely, you should be able to live comfortably.” Spoiled took the document and glanced at the text. She had to swallow her guilt as the wording filled her with a sense of finality. “I take it you have full custody of our daughter?” she asked softly, though it came it more like a statement. “Spoiled, you told her you were going to kill her, do you really think you should be anywhere near her?” Filthy stood from his seat, fixing his tie. “Still, you are her mother. If you can prove you’ve made a positive change, I will extend visitation rights, if Diamond wishes to see you.” Spoiled lowered her head and gripped the document tightly. She trembled as she fought the flow of her tears. She strode towards the door, not bothering to look at her former husband. “I best get started on packing my things.” Once she crossed the threshold of the doorway, she let her tears fall and stopped dead in her tracks. “I can’t believe I’m losing another child,” she muttered, tears falling onto the document. She could still picture him in her mind, no more than two with deep red scales and orange frills. He looked up at her with tear filled eyes as she turned away and left him in the middle of nowhere. Spoiled choked back a sob, recalling his pitiful cries for her as her family airship took to the sky. Somehow, she had found her way to her bedroom, collapsing onto the bed face first and letting out muffled wails. “I-I’m so sorry,” she said, picturing the spectre of her lost child looming over her. “I-I wish I had been stronger. I never wanted to abandon you!” She curled up on the bed, berating herself for what she had let herself become. At some point, her tears had ran dry and she managed to pull herself out of bed to pack her belongings dejectedly. ‘I’m such a failure. How did I let myself turn into a monster?’ she asked herself as she carried the first of many boxes out of the manor. ‘I deserve every punishment Faust deems fit to inflict on me.’ The hours slowly passed and Spoiled continued to sink into her bitter self-flagellation. Eventually, she placed the last box out onto a moving carriage and she had to derail her train of thought in order to plan where she would live. ‘I have to make this right. Turning towards the Badlands, a bit of confidence grew in her heart. ‘I’ll find you, Fireheart, no matter how long I have to search.’ A plan was forming in her head, selling what little valuables she had left and hiring a team to help her with her search. Her heart pounded, a small glimmer of hope in her eyes. ‘Please, wait for me just a bit longer, my Precious Ruby.’ She clutched her chest, taking a seat in the carriage and telling the driver where she wanted to go. The stallion asked her if she was completely sure, but one look into her eyes instantly settled the matter. Settling into her seat, she closed her eyes, letting her exhaustion lull her to sleep. The lab had always been her home, her happy place, her nirvana. Nothing happened here she wasn’t aware of; this was her domain and she was a precise goddess. The young woman in question looked like she had just come in from high school, her purple hair tied back in a messy bun. Typing away at her computer, her glasses reflecting her blazing pace. She paused only to take a sip from her large coffee mug. She knew she was going to be pulling an all-nighter, her new project promising to yield exciting results. “Hey, boss lady!” Lemon Zest’s voice called from the door. “The serial killer’s here to see you!” “Lemon, you shouldn’t be calling her that,” the young lady chided, not looking away from her screen. “I’m not going to intervene if she decides to stab you for the slight. Let her in.” “Yeah, yeah,” Lemon dismissed, giving a mock salute. “I’ll be careful around Captain Crazy.” She dipped out of the room, opening a door for a faded pink mare. “Come on in, boss is all yours.” Once the mare was inside, she slipped back out and closed the door. The young woman, didn’t move in the slightest, using the reflection of her computer screen to keep track of the mare. “Pinkamena, what brings you to my lab today? Here to nag me about your belt? Can’t imagine you’re happy seeing that new rider.” “On the contrary,” Pinkamena replied, an unnerving smile on her face. “This gives me an excuse to re-live a very happy memory all over again.” Stepping closer, she put a hand on the woman's shoulder. “I’m here because even though you hide away in here, you’re still one of the head honchos around here.” “My position is one of research and development,” the young woman curtly replied, gently removing Pinkamena’s hand. “You want a few questionable experiments ran or a gun built that makes a bigger boom, I’m your lady. I’ll leave the actual directing of the organization to the rest of you.” “Even so, Somber wants us all up to date with current events,” Pinkamena responded, crossing her arms. “Recruitment’s going as planned, don’t think Poseidon is going to take the bait; he’s too narrow minded.” The young woman sighed, spinning around in her chair and adjusting her thick, square glasses to give the mare her full attention. “I predicted as much, based on the data our spies gathered, there was an eighty-five percent chance he’d refuse the invitation.” “Got a hook into Ooze though,” Pinkamena elaborated, gesturing with her hand. “I actually kinda like him. He’s got that sharp sense of humor I oh so love~” she let her hand fall. “You were right about that Storm idiot, he outright refused.” The young woman let out a quick snort of a laugh, pulling a few loose strands of hair out of her face. “I didn’t even have to run the numbers on him to predict that; he’s a dangerous mix of a megalomaniac and outright buffoon. If it weren’t for that commander at his side, he wouldn’t be able to invade a playground. Even with that magic-proof metal he has access to. That mare though, she could be of use to us.” “Oh? Sounds like you’d like to run an experiment or two on her,” Pinkamena replied, a knowing smirk on her face. “My sexuality is no business of yours,” the woman huffed. “Though, I imagine yours is akin to a praying mantis.” Pinkamena chuckled, patting the knife that bulged at her side. “Nah, I don’t mix my two pleasures. Blood stains are impossible to get out of bed sheets and mattresses. But, the idea has been tempting,” she admitted with a dark chuckle. “And what would you know about sex anyway? Aren’t you still a virgin?” The young woman grit her teeth, turning around to resume her work. “Like my sexuality, my sex life is not of your concern. So, is there any other news besides recruitment efforts?” Pinkamena shrugged, letting her hair cover her eye. “Somber’s nestled in like a fat tick. I don’t think any of them have noticed anything. Don’t know how he handles it but, having that blue haired blowhard’s memories does come in handy.” The woman nodded, tapping out several lines of code. “I expected as much. Barring some extreme circumstances, the infiltration plan is a guaranteed success. Much better than other versions of that event.” Pinkamena quirked a brow, giving the woman a hardened look. “And what kind of extreme circumstances are we talking about here?” The woman snorted. “Highly improbable scenarios that have less than a one percent chance of occurring. Something like a changeling coming forward and outing Somber as an imposter.” She waved a hand dismissively. “As if that would ever happen, changelings hate Equestria.” “Right...” Pinkamena grunted, motioning towards the woman’s work table. “Any progress on your little pet project? Apollo and I have a bet going on how long you’ll last in the training room. I say about a day.” “Then prepare to lose some serious bits,” the woman retorted, more than a little incensed at the question. “The gamer system is loaded with combat data. I’ll have the skills of an expert. Besides, I recorded all the Shadowbolts’ combat data.” Pinkamena grinned, a dark chuckle passing through her lips. “Then I’ll look forward to seeing you in action.” The woman opened her mouth to reply, her words turning into an almost feral growl when a male voice carried from the door. “Get out of my way, green hair girl! I want to talk to the game lady! I’m bored!” The door burst open to reveal what appeared to be a young man in his mid-twenties. He had long black hair that reached his neck.  Clad in a black leather jacket, he wore plain black shirt beneath it and black jeans. Slamming her hands on her desk, the woman turned to level a glare at him.“Rook, I know I’ve told you not to call me that. My name is Midnight, and I have more important things to do than make you games.” Pinkamena looked between the pair, a wicked grin split her face. “Now, now, Midnight, I think I have a game that Rook can play.” She held a hand up, motioning for Rook to follow her. Stepping over to a bank of monitors, she tapped the one labeled ‘Manehatten’. “SunAss is going to be holding a rally today, going on about how awesome her kamen riders are. Wouldn’t it be fun to crash it?” This seemed to catch Rook’s attention, his eyes glued to the monitor. “That does sound fun. What should the rules of the game be?” Pinkamena leaned on the counter, tapping her chin. “How about seeing how many times you can knock those idiot riders down? If it takes under ten to keep them from getting back up, you win.” A grin spread across Rook’s face, picturing the fun he’d have. “Yes, that sounds like a good game. Riders should keep it from being boring!” Punching his fist, he hurried out of the lab. “I won't stop until I win!” Midnight sighed in relief, sinking back into her chair. “Well, Pinkamena, it seems I owe you my thanks. You know, I think those upgrades you wanted aren’t going to take as long as I thought. Sugarcoat’s estimates must have been wrong. I’ve told her she needs to double check her work.” Pinkamena smiled, waving her hand modestly. “Think nothing of it. I just know how to speak that idiot’s language. Just do me another small favor and give me a copy of Rook’s rampage. Something tells me it’ll be fun to watch no matter what happens.” “Of course.” Midnight waved off, already reabsorbed back into her work. “Tell Lemon Zest if anything else comes up.” Pinkamena nodded, turning on her heel. “Can do, Specs. I’ll take my leave; good luck with your research.” She smirked to herself, a giddy rush running through her at having played both Rook and the shut-in like fiddles. She knew telling Rook about Midnight’s work would cause him to run to her for his insipid games. It was just a matter of timing to get him out of her hair and earn herself a favor from the researcher. “Like sprinkles on cupcakes,” she mused to herself, vanishing down on of the buildings long corridors. Wyatt stood awkwardly by the refreshments table as important looking ponies milled about. Luckily, Celestia had prepared a press pass for him so his presence wouldn’t rouse suspicion. Which, technically wasn’t a lie considering his occupation. He had his camera around his neck while his bowtie slowly tried to choke him. At the moment he and over a hundred other guests were in a large ballroom of Manehattan’s city hall. One of the walls was dominated by a row of windows that showed off a view of the bustling streets. The room itself was grand with warm yellow walls and a large chandelier illuminating it. At various points the ceiling was being supported by white, marble pillars. “Excuse me,” a soft feminine voice spoke up. He turned to see a rather pretty mare in a blue business suit approaching him with a smile. Stopping in front of him, she offered him her hand. “Are you Wyatt Matthews?” Wyatt took the mare’s hand and gave it a shake. “Yes, that would be me. How may I help you, ma’am?” The mare’s mane was an interesting swirl of black and white while her aqua colored eyes had a good natured twinkle to them. Beneath her suit, her red fur stuck out quite strikingly with a matching red tie around her neck. “Yes, you can,” she said, retracting her hand with a smile. “I have to say, I was very impressed by those photos of the Kamen Rider you managed to snag. My name is Ink Well, I’m the editor-in-chief of the Manehattan Chronicle.” “I’ve heard good things about your paper, Ms. Ink Well,” Wyatt replied. “It’s the number one sold paper in Manehattan. Are you... interested in some rider photos yourself?” he lifted his camera up, pretending to snap a picture of her. “I wouldn’t be opposed to that kind of scoop,” Ink admitted, chuckling at his antics. “But I’ve kept up with your work since those photos. I actually have a tamer interview job for you if you’re interested in joining my paper. I’m sure it would be worth your while.” She pulled out a pen and a scrap of paper from her pocket. She quickly jotted down something and displayed it for him. Wyatt’s eyes bulged at the starting salary she was offering him. “T-that’s a lot of bits...” Ink Well chuckled, putting away the slip of paper. “Well, Mr. Matthews, I didn’t get to where I’m at for nothing. I’ve developed an eye for talent, and your photos certainly caught my eye.” She tapped at the corner of her right eye with a finger. “Consider this interview job your interview. Do well, and I think you’ll be a great member of my paper.” Wyatt stared at the mare for a moment, waiting for her to reveal that the offer was just a cruel prank. When the silence started to become awkward, he spoke. “That certainly is an interesting offer. Who would I be interviewing? Is this supposed to be a hit piece?” He frowned slightly. “Because I have to say, I’m not a fan of muckraking or mudslinging; even if the money’s good.” “None of that, I promise,” Ink Well assured, shaking her head. “We’d like you to interview a very well known philanthropist, June Bug. She ‘ll be in town today, and we’ve managed to schedule an interview with her.” Wyatt relaxed, his smile slowly returning. “Okay, I think I can do that.” He held his hand out to her. “Consider your offer, accepted.” “Perfect!” Ink Well shook his hand. Peering behind him, she pulled her hand back. “Here, my card.” Pulling said card from her pocket, she offered it to him. “The interview is tomorrow, at noon. Please be on time. Until then, Mr. Matthews.” Without further word, she turned away and quickly disappeared into the crowd. Wyatt grinned eagerly, scrutinizing every inch of the card. “I’d better write some good questions down for tomorrow,” he muttered to himself, barely containing his excitement at the prospect of working at a renowned paper. “So,” another voice spoke, snapping him out of his moment. Turning around, he was greeted by a drop dead gorgeous pink alicorn. She was wearing a baby blue dress that hugged her frame perfectly. The dress went down to her ankles with a slit in the right side that showed off her leg. “You’re the human that's got Twilight all flustered.” Wyatt stared blankly for a moment, his mind struggling to recall how to form words into a sentence. He managed to snap out of his sudden daze, adjusting his bowtie as he processed what she said. “Um, I’m not sure what you’re talking about.” ‘Real smooth. Idiot.’ He winced at his response. The alicorn giggled; a pleasant sound that eased his worry slightly. “You know, I was waiting for the day Twily would write to me for stallion advice.” Giving him a warm smile, she held out her hand. “I’m Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, but please just call me Cadance.” Wyatt flashed her a strained smile as soon as he heard her name and gave her hand a shake. “Oh, you’re Cadance. I believe I’ve met your fiance.” “Please, Wyatt, you don’t have to put on any shows for me,” Cadance spoke, letting go of his hand. “I’m not that kind of princess.” Wyatt chuckled, letting his hand drift to his camera strap. “I don’t think Equestria has any princesses that are that kind of princess.” Shifting a little, he leaned in closer. “Are you uh... informed?” “What, you think my aunt would invite me without giving me the big scoop?” Cadance retorted, shooting him a look of mock offense and quivering her lip. Dropping it after a moment, she nodded to him. “Let me turn that back on you; how much do you know about Auntie’s plan?” “She’s trying to develop her own rider tech,” he whispered. “Along with any other countermeasures against the current threat.” Wearing a knowing smile, Cadance locked her arm around his and guided him to a more secluded room. Leading Wyatt into the currently unoccupied mayor’s office, Cadance shut the door. The office was dominated by a large desk towards the back, its surface covered in various papers. The carpet of the room was blue with the seal of Manehattan at its center. There were two black couches as well with a coffee table separating them. “I’m not surprised Auntie didn’t go into detail with you.” Cadance took a seat motioning for him to do the same. “She’s always played her hand close to her chest. As you are aware, she’s going to make kamen riders like you an official part of the military.” Wyatt took a seat, tapping his fingers against his arm. “I do remember that being mentioned before, yes. Though what that entailed might’ve been glossed over.” “A new department is being made just for you; the Guardians of Harmony or G.O.H for short,” Cadance elaborated, making herself comfy. “Which will encompass the riders, the G-project and all the necessary support staff.” “But no pressure,” Wyatt replied, frowning. The only experience he had with the military was his grandfather’s stories from his time in the Navy. “So... a ton of people are going to know who I am, yeah?” “Well, they’ll know your rider form,” she assured, waving her hand. “Your identity as the rider will remain confidential to only select members of the force.” Crossing her legs, she smiled. “But~ Let’s leave that for the official statement. What I want to talk about is a certain purple unicorn~” Wyatt froze, the ceiling suddenly becoming very interesting as he adjusted his bow tie. “Oh? Curious about how Twilight’s been since she moved to Ponyville. Well, she hasn’t had a neurotic fit since the time loop thing so she’s doing well.” “Wyatt, please. I’m the Princess of Love.” Cadance smiled, reaching over and taking his hand. “I wasn’t joking about Twilight asking me for advice. I want to help you both see if this is a thing that can work.” Wyatt rubbed his neck, grumbling something about magic as he looked away from the ceiling. “I’m kinda curious what she asked about, but that’s confidential, isn’t it?” “I wouldn’t be a very good friend if it wasn’t.” Cadance nodded, giving his hand a squeeze. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t help. Have you tried talking to her about all of this?” Wyatt sighed, glancing down at his lap. “Only about a dozen times. But every time she finds some excuse to rush away. We’re adults, I don’t know why we can’t just talk about it.” Cadance giggled, patting Wyatt’s hand. “Well, think of it this way, Wyatt. Twilight was sent to Ponyville to learn about friendship. What do you think the chances are that she’s had much experience in the romance department?” “I just feel like we’re dragging out the awkwardness,” Wyatt replied,  lifting his gaze to meet hers. “What should I do? Lock us in a room until we talk it out?” “Wyatt, she can teleport,” Cadance pointed out, giggling. “The best thing you can do is be patient and let her work out her nerves. I’m just glad one of you recognizes your mutual attraction. You wouldn’t believe how dense ponies can be.” Wyatt chuckled weakly. “Twi doesn’t exactly give off the subtlest of signals. The only way she could be more obvious is if she starts wearing a shirt that says, “I like Wyatt” on it.” A blush spread across his face and he looked away. “I uh... caught her staring a few days ago when I walked out of the shower...” Cadance winced, an uncomfortable look on her face. “Seems Twilight still needs to learn some social graces. I’ll have to nudge her in the right direction when I see her.”  Clearing her throat, she brightened up. “We’ll be in Manehatten for a few days, how about we spend one of them together?” Wyatt nodded, a small smile spreading across his face. “I’m not opposed to that idea, but I can’t do tomorrow. I have an important career proposition with the Manehattan Chronicle.” Pointing to himself with his thumb, he let a hint of pride fill his voice. “I got an interview with June Bug.” Cadance smiled, patting his shoulder. “Good luck then. June Bug is well known for her kindness so you shouldn’t be nervous.” “Am I interrupting a lover’s tryst?” Daring’s voice called from the door. They looked over, said mare leaning on the door frame. “Oh, don’t stop on my account, this just gives me more material. I think I’ll call my next book: Daring Do and the Harem of Humanity.” Wyatt blushed for a moment and started to move away from Cadance. An obvious opening stuck out to Cadance, flashing the other mare a cocky grin. “Putting yourself in the title? Is that your way of saying you want in on said harem?” Daring made a face and adjusted her glasses. “No way, the only other human I’ve seen is my dad. Be too weird. Not like Pink-Boy could land someone like me.” “He’s caught the eye of my aunt’s personal student who is also the element of magic,” Cadance countered. “Even you aren’t more illustrious than that, Miss Do. Besides, I always shipped you with Ahuizotl anyway.” Daring groaned, rubbing at her temples. “Ugh, why does everypony say that?” She closed her eyes and started to grumble, “You drain a couple of bottles of wine and go into way too much detail about his muscles and suddenly your P.O. box gets flooded with fan art.” “So...” Wyatt cleared his throat, feeling more than a little uncomfortable. “Have you seen your dad yet? Any sign of him at all?” Daring sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. “Nothing yet. I haven’t even gotten any whispers from my usual sources about him. He might have been in the wilderness all this time. In any case, when he sees those pictures of Kuuga, he’s gonna be pissed.” “That was sort of the idea,” Wyatt replied, smiling weakly and scratching his cheek. “Just hoping you can keep him from kicking my ass or something.” Daring smiled, waving him off. “Don’t worry kid, I’ll make sure he doesn’t rough you up too bad. But I’m not quick enough to stop him from getting one good punch in. Rider powers are a bitch like that.” Wyatt sighed, not looking forward to his first meeting with Agito. “Good thing I’m no stranger to taking a punch while out of rider form.” He shot a look at Daring. Daring huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m not gonna hear the end of that, am I? Not my fault events conspire to hit you in the face.” “You conspired to hit me in the face,” Wyatt countered. “It wasn’t Fate’s fist that broke my nose.” Wyatt subconsciously rubbed at his nose. “Or clocked me in the jaw.” Daring chuckled weakly, putting her hands behind her head. “Maybe it was Fate guiding me? It does work in mysterious ways after all. Could be that Faust herself thinks you have a punchable face.” Wyatt rolled his eyes, suddenly feeling a headache coming on. “Very funny. So, was there any reason besides making me the butt of your jokes that you popped in?” “Yeah, Purple Smart wants you to get ready. Princess Celestia’s getting ready to go on.” Daring pushed away from the door frame, adjusting her glasses. “I better get back out there, I need to peruse the crowd again.” Wyatt summoned his Driver, putting it on his waist. “Probably could’ve mentioned that sooner.” He pulled out his Decade card, staring at it for a moment before an idea struck him. “But~ Now I know how to make my entrance.” Celestia stood in front of the Mayor’s podium, staring out at the crowd. The excitement in the room was palpable. She could tell that several ponies wanted to whisper amongst themselves, but remained quiet out of respect for her. The stage made up the back of the room, though a red curtain did hide a backstage area. The assembled reporters and their chairs took up the lion’s share of the room which without them it would be a simple rectangular shape. There were a couple exits on either side of the room, both nestled between marble pillars that supported the ceiling. “Greetings my little ponies,” she started, craning her head around the crowd. “I’m very glad that all of you accepted my invitation to this conference. I’m sure all of you are painfully aware of the increasing number of monster attacks. They began in the small town of Ponville, which itself is no stranger to disasters.” Gazing out at the crowd, she took a breath. “The recent attack on Baltimare has only shown that these monsters are not content with harassing small town ponies. Things will escalate and we must be prepared. Luckily, we are not alone in our efforts to defend ourselves from this threat. I’d like to welcome someone to the stage: Kamen Rider Decade.” She glanced back to the curtain behind her as it rose, only for no one to be standing there. The crowd muttered, a few cameras going off. Just as a reporter stood up to say something, the air next to the podium shifted and Wyatt appeared in a relaxed pose, a grin beneath his helmet. “Thank you for the glowing introduction, Princess,” he said, looking up at her. Turning to the crowd, he gave a salute. Celestia smiled, motioning towards Wyatt. “Decade here has been an invaluable resource in defeating these monsters. Which is why I’m proud to honor him here today. He is not the first Kamen Rider to ever grace our world, only the latest in a long line of heroes that have strove to protect those who could not protect themselves. Which is why I would also like to introduce riders OOO and W.” Spike and Maud appeared from the area behind the curtain, taking positions next to Wyatt. Celestia nodded, sweeping her hand towards the trio. “These three are selflessly putting themselves at risk for everypony’s sake. Though they have sought no reward for their deeds, I do have something I’d like to give them; ranks in Equestria’s newest military branch, The Guardians of Harmony. Of course, for security reasons, their identities are being kept on a need to know basis.” She returned her hand to the podium, looking between the members of the crowd. “I’d like to open the conference up to questions. You there, in the back.” “How many members will be in the Guardians?” the reporter asked, a notepad in front of her. “Three ponies can’t be expected to protect all of Equestria.” “The riders will be supported by a group of researchers who are looking into developing means of defending against these monsters. There will also be a combat force personally chosen by my sister and myself to be trained in using these new weapons and countermeasures,” Celestia answered, determination ringing through her every word. ‘Celestia really knows how to give a speech,’ Wyatt thought, watching the crowd give their full attention to the princess. ‘All she needs is a few historical catchphrases and she’s up there with Kennedy and Churchill.’ He then quickly hoped that Celestia didn’t have any scandals brewing like the former figure. He was pulled out of his thoughts by the door to the building opening. His eyebrow quirked, a dark stallion in a leather jacket striding into the room. Shifting a bit, he glanced at Spike and Maud, motioning to the stallion. Their attention shifted to the stallion, noting the manic look on his face. “Riders!” the stallion shouted, his voice booming through the building. “I want to play!” His skin discolored, taking on the appearance of stained glass. His body morphed, growing larger and bulkier. His face became leonine, his mane curly and looking like it was carved out of marble. On his shoulders were two angelic faces blowing on trumpets. His chest piece was styled like a castle tower and stained glass pattern adorned his body. His legs were wrapped in vines with pitch black leaves peppered along them. In his hand was a hefty staff with a mace head at each end. “I am Rook of Checkmate Four, and I am bored!!!” The crowd instantly erupted into a panic, doing their best to get away from Rook. Wyatt cursed under his breath, looking at Spike and Maud. “W, OOO, you two help the crowd evacuate, I’ll take Rook somewhere he can’t do as much harm.” Jumping off the stage, Wyatt summoned the Ride Booker, shifting it into sword mode. “I’m right here, Rook, come get me.” Rook let out a long laugh, charging at Wyatt with his staff raised at chest level. Wyatt’s eyes widened and he quickly rolled out of the way as Rook swung his staff. Wyatt winced, noticing a large hole in the floor where the fangire had struck. “I get that you want to fight me, but do you have to break everything?” Rook pulled his club out of the floor, locking eyes with Wyatt. “I have to swing my staff hard or else you won’t get knocked down.” “Okay...?” Wyatt blinked, leveling his sword at Rook. “So, a game huh? What’s the rules? I wouldn’t want to break any of them, now would I?” “Simple, I hit you until you stop getting up,” Rook replied. “If you’re able to stand up more than ten times than I lose.” “Okay then, sounds simple enough...” Wyatt wracked his brain for a moment, going over his possibilities. Inspiration struck him and he pulled out two cards from his booker. He slotted in the first one, pressing the handles on his driver together. “Kamen Ride: Kiva!” Wyatt’s armor shifted, it’s main color becoming a deep crimson. His shoulder pads turned silver, resembling folded bat wings. The majority of the arms and legs were comprised of black leather. The right leg had a bulky greave that went up to the knee that was bound by chains. The helmet’s eyes were yellow and had angular points that made it seem like it was giving off a glare. The mouth area was silver and had raised portions that resembled fangs while the top of the helmet had a crest between the eyes in the shape of a bat’s head. “Is changing your shape going to help you play the game?” Rook asked, resting his staff on his shoulder. “I hope it makes you harder to knock down.” Cracking his neck, Rook rushed forward, swinging his mace at Wyatt’s chest. Wyatt slid between Rook’s legs, feeling the wind from Rook’s attack. While he was sliding, he put the second card into his driver. “Form Ride: Dogga Hammer!” He quickly jumped to his feet as the top of his armor changed. The chest plate was replaced by heavy purple armor, the pectoral area looking like two fists. He now had bulky purple gauntlets made up of interlocking plates. Even his helmet had changed slightly, the eyes turning purple. The air shimmered in front of Wyatt’s hand for a moment and a large hammer appeared. It was nearly as tall as Wyatt himself and the head was shaped into a large, purple fist. Rook whirled around, swinging his mace again, only for it to collide with Wyatt’s hammer. “Now this game is getting fun!” Wyatt didn’t say anything, trying to form the next part of his plan. His newfound defense would help him survive the devastating attacks Rook was showing off, but it came at the cost of mobility. Fancy footwork wasn’t going to win this fight. And considering how quickly Rook could swing his staff, brute force wasn’t the answer either. “Fist on!” a synthetic, choppy voice called out before Rook was struck in the back by several projectiles. Wyatt didn’t bother trying to look for where the voice had come from, seizing the opening. While Rook was still recovering, he hefted his hammer and swung it with all his might at Rook’s chest. The hit pushed Rook back a few feet, but didn’t seem to otherwise injure him. Wyatt grit his teeth, charging forward the best he could and swinging the hammer into Rook’s side. Rook grunted, reaching down and grabbing Wyatt’s head. “The game isn’t to knock me down, it’s to knock you down!” he demonstrated by lifting Wyatt into the air and hurling him at the stage. Wyatt groaned, slightly dazed but not injured aside from a headache. He pulled himself to his feet and gripped his hammer. “That’s one, Rook. Only nine more times and you’ll have to do your punishment game.” “There will be no games.” Wyatt turned his head to the side, taking in the Knight’s Templar inspired form of Kamen Rider Ixa. “Fangires like this are an affront to Lady Faust, and as such  they will be dealt with.” Brandishing a sword/gun hybrid weapon, Ixa leveled it at Rook. “Now, give the life you’ve stolen back to Faust.”, Wyatt couldn’t help but notice the feminine voice coming from Ixa. Nor the horn sticking out of her helmet. Not only that, but Ixa’s visor was closed, meaning whoever was in the armor wasn’t using it to its full potential. “More riders?” Rook questioned, delight clear in his tone. “Today is my lucky day!” “If by lucky you mean the worst day of your life, sure.” Ixa squeezed the trigger of her weapon, peppering Rook with another cluster of shots. “You won’t leave here alive, Fangire scum.” Wyatt pulled out a final card, slotting it into his driver. “Ixa, keep him pinned with covering fire. I’ve got something that might finish him off.” Wyatt pushed the handles of his driver together. “Final Attack Ride: K-k-Kiva!” The room darkened while purple lightning surrounded Wyatt. He let the shaft of the hammer rest on the ground, pointing the fist at Rook. He pulled a handle at the back of the hammer, the fist opening to reveal a red eye on the palm of the hand. A purple wave of energy erupted from the eye, striking Rook and causing his skin to take on a stained glass appearance. Wyatt’s eyes flashed for a moment and a large, purple projection of a fist rose above the weapon. Wyatt lifted his hammer above his head, spinning it so it could gain momentum. The fist followed the weapon, luckily not crashing into any walls or support pillars. When Wyatt couldn’t spin the hammer any faster, he swung it straight down. The fist followed, slamming into Rook’s head. Rook tumbled away, laying still for a moment. Grunting, he pulled himself to his feet as his body returned to normal. “That’s not the game!” he growled, sending a hateful glare at Wyatt. Wyatt tsked, his Kiva armor dissipating and leaving him in his Decade form. “Should’ve known you were too thick headed for that to finish you off.” Getting to his feet, Rook unleashed a billowing roar. “Now, I’m angry!!!” Hefting his mace over his head, he charged at Wyatt. The attack never connected, as the world itself rippled and Rook vanished into thin air. Wyatt rushed up to the ripple, trying to pass through it, only for it to vanish as suddenly as it had arrived. “Damn it,” Wyatt grumbled. He looked around the room, sighing in relief at seeing that everyone had made it out. “Well, at least there’s one good thing about this.” “Hardly,” Ixa responded, watching him closely. “The freak got away.” “But the crowd is safe,” Wyatt offered. “That’s the most important thing. We can finish off Rook another time. I have a pretty good idea who took him like that.” Wyatt jumped back as Ixa fired a few shots at his feet. “There is no ‘we’,” Ixa stated, her weapon trained on his head. “I have no intention of becoming one of Celestia’s pet riders.” Wyatt frowned beneath his helmet, resting one of his hands at the side of his driver. “So you’re going to try and play the lone wolf? You don’t even know how to unlock your Ixa system’s full potential. At your current level, the other three of the Checkmate Four would drain you of your life force before you could even throw a punch.” “And what would you know?” Ixa demanded, finger on the trigger. “Who do you think has been keeping Equestria safe while high and mighty Celestia sits on her flank, stuffing her face with cake? Now, I’m going to walk away, and you’re not going to follow me.” “Fine, go right ahead,” Wyatt waved her off. “Equestria doesn’t need a rider that thinks eliminating monsters is more important than protecting people. But ask the people behind your system about Ixa Rising.” Ixa scoffed, backing up towards the exit. “Please, as if you know anything about it.” Lighting her horn up, she unleashed what Wyatt would call fireworks and using the distraction to slip away.