//------------------------------// // 4: Justice in My Heart // Story: Kamen Rider: What's Your Desire? // by The Bricklayer //------------------------------// “Got to… Got to get away…” one Ham Hocked panted out as he sprinted away from his place of business, sweating bullets as he rounded a corner, something in pursuit of him. It’d been a normal night for him really, and he was just about to close up and head home when this… thing smashed in through the front window of his shop. It almost looked like a man. Almost. Trouble was, the man had his eyes seemingly sewed or stitched shut and bore two antennae coming out of the top of his head. Growling and frothing at the mouth, the creature had approached him, one arm outstretched bearing vicious-looking claws. “Justice…” it had growled out in a guttural tone. “Stay… Stay away!” Ham Hocked had shouted, grabbing a large cutting knife and swinging it wildly at the grasshopper man. Drawing blood -at least he thought it was blood, it couldn’t have been what he thought it was… right?- he ran towards the storeroom, with the monster in pursuit. Shoving a pig on a hook in the monster’s face, Ham then ran out the back door and into the alleyway behind his shop. He wheezed, his legs burning from the exertion.  Unfortunately, he wasn’t exactly in the best of shape -probably ate one too many pork sandwiches himself- so it was fairly easy for the Hopper Man to catch up. “Justice…” the Hopper Man growled out, leaping in front of him, and knocking Ham to the ground with blasts of green electricity from his antennae. “Justice...” it repeated, making a series of clicking noises. “What are you?” Ham asked as he tried to scramble away before the Hopper Man grabbed him by his flabby neck and shoved him against a dumpster. He let out a grunt of pain, the lid of the dumpster digging into his back. “Justice!” the creature declared, before flinging him into the ground once more. It clicked again, it’s antenna twitching frantically. Just as he was about to slam a fist through Ham’s gut, the young man managed to find a burst of speed. Scrambling away from the monster, Ham let adrenaline take over his actions; running as fast as he could. He dove behind a crate clamping a hand over his mouth. Ham’s heart pounded in his chest, faster than he ever expected. The fear of a heart attack shot through him like a bullet wound. Sadly, said crate was picked up and tossed aside by the Hopper Man. Ham ran again, blood pumping through his veins as he ran out into the streets, car horns screeching out warnings. Weaving through traffic, Ham ran into another alleyway that bordered a parking garage. People screamed as they saw the Hopper Man leap across the street and over the cars in a flipping motion, and land in front of Ham. “What do you want? And don’t give me any of that justice shit!” Ham bellowed, spittle flying out of his mouth. “This… This isn’t justice! This is… This is stalking and harassment!” The Hopper Man tilted his head, before asking. “And you call treating that zyuman like you did justice?” “That’s… That’s what this is about?” Ham asked even as he continued running down the alleyway. “I gave that creature what he deserved, a wake-up call! A dose of reality!” The Hopper Man leaped in front of him again. “No, you kicked him out on the street!” the creature growled, slamming a fist into Ham’s gut making him fly back into a collection of barrels. “So? It’s nothing anyone else would have done, right?” Ham asked. “Let’s face it, those freaks have their own world, their own culture! Why are they trying to push it on us?” Suddenly, a voice sang out through the night. “Same, Kujira, Ookamiuo: Sa-Ra-Mi-Uo! Sa! Ra! Mi-Uo!” “Because they have a right to live here as much as we do,” Adagio commented, even as she flung a whirlpool in the Hopper Man’s direction. “Who… who are you?” Ham demanded. “And why are you here? Are you that thing’s master?” “No, I’m just someone who saves people… Even if they don’t necessarily deserve it.” Adagio commented, socking the Hopper Man across the jaw drawing Cell Medals. Ham’s eyes widened. So he was right, he wasn’t seeing things. Those were coins, not blood! The Hopper Man managed to land a roundhouse kick to Adagio’s chest, making her stagger, and then went for another, only for Adagio to grab him by the leg and toss him through a wall. “Yes, he is a despicable little homunculus, isn’t he?” Ankh commented, resting on a nearby streetlamp. Adagio, as she caught one of the Yummy’s punches, looked up at him. “Are we sure we’re not talking about him… or you? Because quite frankly, I can’t see a difference. Both of you need to learn some basic decency.” “Tch. Just finish the damn thing off, already will you? I want my medals!” Ankh demanded. “What do you think I’ve been trying to do? Slack off?” Adagio remarked, blocking a blow from the Yummy with her spear. “Besides, I’m trying to put that guy first, the human. Not the Medals!” “I thought you didn’t like him?” Ankh remarked. “...Bit of an oxymoron, isn’t it? You saving a bigot who probably deserves everything that this Yummy was going to inflict on him. This saving people thing of yours… It’s going to get quite troublesome.” Of course, said saving people thing became a moot point when the Yummy picked up Ham Hock by the neck, and with a sickening crack, his body fell limp to the floor. “See, there wasn’t a point to it anyways,” Ankh remarked as Adagio watched in horror, letting out a shout and briefly, -if only briefly- reaching towards the Batta Yummy. “He was dead meat. Whoever this Yummy’s Parent is, I’d personally think he’s doing the world a good thing. Getting rid of the trash.” Adagio, fighting back the urge to send a whirlpool or two Ankh’s way, continued to step forwards. “Ankh, you said it yourself. These desires, they escalate and spiral out of control. Sure, it’s scum at first, yes, but what next? Just petty crooks? People just breaking minor laws like noise levels? Ask yourself, what then?” “I’d still say the Yummy is just following the desire of its parent. In this case, punishing evil. Or what it perceives as evil anyways. But if you really want to defeat this… thing, and me for to get my medals… Catch!” Tossing a red and then a green medal towards Adagio as she backflipped in mid-air to avoid a swing from the Batta Yummy, she scanned this new combo. “Taka, Kujira, Batta!” “Ugh, and I thought the beached whale look was bad…” Adagio grimaced, the red, blue and green color combo doing her no favors in her mind. But all the same, she ran her gold scanning device across her belt even as the battle progressed into the parking garage itself. Scanning Charge! Leaping skywards, she then aimed a kick downwards towards the Yummy, but he only tossed a car towards her letting it take the kick as he made his escape. Cursing under her breath, Adagio canceled the transformation and watched as the Batta Yummy leaped off into the night. Morning came, and despite a search that lasted a good hour or so, Adagio couldn’t find any trace of the latest Yummy. It seemed for the time being, at least, she’d have to wait for it to show its face again. And when it did, she’d have to hope that when she found it it was in time. High above the city, in his office, Eiji had received a call. From Russia of all places. Seems an old friend of his, Kohtaro had tangled with a Greeed of sorts all the way over there. He and another Rider -Zangetsu, was it?- would have been stranded there had they not found their way to the nearest town. From there, they received transportation back to Japan from a musician in the area, a woman going by the name of Sunset Shimmer. “Hmhm, yes, I see…” Eiji murmured from his side of the phone call. “Stay safe, okay? And be on the lookout for those ‘items’ I requested, they might come in handy sooner now than later.” He placed the phone back in his pocket and sighed. “So, Shocker made themselves a Greeed before they were destroyed. It’s only a matter of time before this Greeed gains sentence and joins up with its fellows, if it hasn’t already. OOOs, she’ll need a bit more help.” Eiji frowned, yes that was true Adagio would need help -especially considering one of her only allies was another Greeed- but the trouble was he wasn’t sure if her body could stand the strain of the Core Medals. Presuming if she gathered enough, she’d be able to form a full combo. But that in itself had inherit problems. The Core Medals were made from desire, so if Adagio wasn’t careful she herself could eventually become a Greeed of sorts. For a moment, Eiji wondered what if that was how Shocker’s Greeed was created, a member of Shocker getting their hands on a Core Set and succumbing to their desires. Eiji was then drawn from his thoughts when he heard tapping on his office window, like a small beak. Opening it, an orange bird-like creature being propelled by a fan carried in a green grasshopper robot. Dropping it, the Peacock Candroid then replied what the Hopper Candroid had captured. Eiji watched the footage of the fight against the Batta Yummy and sighed when he saw Ham’s death, and Adagio’s shock and horror as she reached out a hand to try and grab the yummy. For a moment, just a moment in place of his office and Adagio he saw the ruins of a village and a young girl, crying out for someone to save her before a barrage of missiles hit and a wall of fire erupted in front of his eyes. Jerking backwards up against a wall, Eiji went for his pockets and used a small cloth to wipe the sweat from his face as he panted hard, his hands shaking and nearly dropping the cloth. “If… If she’s anything like me... “ Eiji whispered as he went for the door leading out of his office. “She’ll blame herself. I just hope she’s not.” But even as he looked back one more time at the footage, Eiji honestly doubted the truth to that statement. Back at her apartment, Adagio switched off the early morning news detailing all of the incident with the Batta Yummy, and going over details of the victim’s life. Of course, then the entire topic shifted towards her. Or at least, her other life. “So, what do you think of this new hero? Kamen Rider OOOs, as she calls herself?” one Vignette Valance asked one of the locals, a guy named Flash Sentry. Personally, Adagio was never one for watching Vignette, as she always liked to run stories that would get her the biggest viewing figures no matter how true they were, but she’d been the first to hear about this story apparently. Someone with a camcorder had managed to record the whole fight -thankfully missing Adagio’s transformation- and had sent it to the local news station where Vignette had been the first one to see it. As for why Adagio found herself watching that woman with one too many botox jobs and possibly a little too much breastwork, she admitted if only to herself she was curious as to what exactly the public at large thought of her. Self-imagery, she thought. Probably stemming from the fact that most people in Denver of Rainbow’s generation knew her as this all-conquering siren bitch queen. “Look, I don’t know Vignette,” Flash said, as he rubbed the back of his head. “Look, I’m all for Denver gaining this new superhero or something, but really shouldn’t we wait a little to start judging her? OOO is new at this, cut her some slack.” Adagio smiled a little at that, this Sentry guy seemed to have a good head on his shoulders. “But that’s just the thing, she said she saves people. Hell, she calls herself a Kamen Rider. And from what rumor and legend tell us about Kamen Riders, they fight for justice and peace on Earth. So why I ask you, did this new Rider fail to save that man, and stop that monster?” “...Look, uh, not everyone succeeds all the time Vignette. I’m sorry that man had to die, but-” “So you’re saying that death was a necessary evil?” Vignette pressed. In the background of the shot, Adagio had noticed a small portrait frame of Ham Hocked had been set up, with people contributing flowers and such -There was even a small stuffed little pig there of all things- in memoriam. News traveled fast, it seemed. “No, ma’am, I’m not!” Flash stated, quickly backtracking. “We don’t get to judge who gets to live and who gets to die, that would make us monsters. I’m just saying, it’s not always possible to save everyone all the time.” “Tch!” Ankh said, as he wrenched the remote control out of Adagio’s hands and shut off the TV. “I don’t even know why you’re watching this garbage. Besides, I doubt this Flash dipshit -or anyone else for that matter- would be mourning Ham if they knew what he was really like. Honestly, flowers and everything!” he said, throwing up his hands up in the air in disbelief. “Sadly, a lot of people are still on the fence about ZyuEarth merging with ours, so they wouldn’t care anyways. It’s not just fear of things being different, it’s population concerns,” Adagio commented, not entirely sure why she was letting Ankh even stay with her. She reasoned if he went anywhere else, he’d be a bother to someone else. Plus, he had the Core Medals and was one of the only people who knew about her double life. And she wouldn’t go trust him not to spill secrets given the chance. So it wasn’t as if she actually cared for him. “Earth’s already barely managing to hold all of us as it is. So imagine a whole other planet’s population suddenly having to be dealt with.” “So you’re saying the Zyumans have to go as well?” Ankh asked, raising an eyebrow. “No, I’m simply being pragmatic, and considering both sides of the equation,” Adagio answered. “Don’t you have anything better to do, like go bother someone else or steal some candy from a baby? Or… here’s a thought, find that Yummy!” “Meh,” Ankh remarked slouching in a nearby chair. Red, of course. “I won’t be able to find the Yummy unless it acts on the desires that created it. And I don’t know when that’ll be. Besides, I sent those little cube things of yours out looking. That leopard and that condor. Not a fan of cats, but I think I can make room in my heart for the bird. ...Even if I don’t like the color.” “Wait, what?” Adagio asked in surprise. “Oh, didn’t you notice?” Ankh remarked, with a raising of the eyebrow. “After you saved your prismatic friend, that leopard in her possession tagged along with you back here. Seems he was all a-flutter about meeting his fellow Zyuoh Cube again. Or something of that ilk. Like I care, honestly.” he muttered shrugging his shoulders and unwrapping this ice pop he’d grabbed from the fridge. “...I’ll never understand you,” Adagio muttered to herself. Ankh only rolled his eyes before hopping up off the chair and walking towards the window. He opened it, and stepped out onto the windowsill itself. For a moment, Adagio thought the man was going to jump, and she leaped up out of her chair to try and stop him but no such thing occurred. Instead, Ankh just sat on the windowsill, staring at the sky. Adagio studied him, watching his every movement. She caught a glimpse of Ankh’s face, and the look captured in his eyes. For a moment, just a moment Adagio could have sworn he looked sorrowful, longing even. A soft knock at the door interrupted that moment, and Ankh crawled out of the windowsill and walked off still nibbling at his ice pop. Adagio meanwhile opened the door and blinked in surprise when she saw Eiji step in. “...Well, you could have least asked for my number or taken me out on a date before you invited yourself in…” Adagio teased. Eiji flushed but quickly regained his composure. “I apologize for dropping by so early in the day Ms. Dazzle,” Eiji said with a small bow. “I… I just wanted to see how you were holding up, that’s all.” Adagio’s smile dropped. “You… You saw the news I presume?” Eiji held up the grasshopper candroid before pocketing it. “I… I suppose you could say that. Been keeping an eye on you Adagio Dazzle.” “Uh… Thanks, I guess?” Adagio murmured, not sure how to take being spied on. “I just want you to understand this. No matter how hard it burns in your heart, that pain whenever you fail to save someone -even if that person never deserved it in the first place- you are not alone. You are never alone, and do you know what you do with that pain?” Eiji asked with Adagio shaking her head in a confused manner. Eiji elaborated, firmly putting a hand on Adagio’s shoulder. “You hold it tight. You grasp out with it, and you say no more. You say this should never happen to anyone. You keep that person’s memory alive in your mind, and you say no more. Their pain becomes your pain, spurring you onwards. It helps you pave a path to tomorrow, to the next battle and how you’ll win it. How you’ll reach out a hand, and save the next person. Do you understand this?” “I… I think I do,” Adagio whispered. “And… And I think me being a Kamen Rider will work out.” Meanwhile, unaware of what exactly her desires had caused, Rainbow continued life as normal. After graduating High School she went straight to the military surprising everyone. Or perhaps not, given Rainbow’s strong sense of justice and love of flight. So when she finished basic training, and got planted in Buckley Air Force Base she found herself right at home. Mind you, she wasn’t exactly having the greatest time of her life right about now. Sure she was well-liked amongst her fellow flight squadmates -she had noticed this airman, going by the name of Soarin’ Skies giving her the eyes or at least that’s what she liked to think- and the job did give her fairly good housing for her and her little sister. But that didn’t mean everything was perfect. No, it wasn’t her commander being a hardass at times that irritated her, that was part of the job really but it was what she’d heard about a specific part of Denver. Namely, the northeast end of Capitol Hill which was about where she grew up. Groaning as she saw once again there’d been another gang-related shooting, she balled up the morning paper and threw it into the trash. “Something bothering you, Crash?” Soarin’ asked, referring to the nickname she’d been given during Technical Training referring to her at times klutziness. “Yeah… I suppose,” Rainbow muttered rubbing her temples. “My old neighborhood, been experiencing a few issues lately. Like crackhead related issues. Some asshole gang’s been running the place, trying to get their next fix. Police can’t even find out where they’re holed up at, seems to change weekly.” “Damn…” Soarin’ sighed as he sat down next to her. “That is something. Wait, didn’t you say that there was this Kamen Rider OOO going about, dispensing justice? So why isn’t she dealing with them?” “Seems to stick with monsters, like the kind you’d get out of a horror tv show like Supernatural or something, not real monsters like junkies,” Rainbow muttered. “Believe me, if I could get in contact with her, I’d smack her upside the head and politely ask for her to deal with the city’s real problems, not just… well, whatever these Yummy things are. I mean, being a hero endows you with a certain amount of responsibility right?” “Let’s be fair here, this is for the police to deal with. Besides, I heard Captain Shining Armor’s going for a crackdown these guys. Brother of mine, he’s on the force. Been giving me the latest updates. Let OOO stick with her niche, and the police with theirs, right?” “I suppose…” Rainbow sighed to herself, balling up a fist and having to fight back the urge to punch something. “It’s just, you’d think a superhero would do her part to clean up the city, not just deal with whatever she feels like. Take Superman, he fights villains like Luthor and the like, but he always looks out for the little guy.” “...The little guy?” one of Rainbow’s squadmates sniggered in the background. Sounded like Fleetfoot. A quick glare in that direction from Soarin’ silenced the snigger. “Who’s to say she’s not thinking about doing something about it?” Soarin’ asked, and Rainbow looked at her wingman. “...Well, there is that I suppose. It’s just… It’s just…” Rainbow sighed. “Me and one of my best friends, Gilda… Well, we grew up there together. I managed to get out of there fairly quickly, but Gilda stayed as times went on. Never really had enough money to finish school so she just stayed there in the neighborhood.” Clenching her fists, Rainbow continued. “It’s… Well, I’m always worried that one day I’ll get a phone call from Gilda’s mom or someone like that saying Gilda got put into the hospital by one of those crackheads or worse, killed in a shootout being gangs fighting over a turf and I couldn’t do a fucking thing about it!” she yelled, having punched a wall and by now she had attracted quite a bit of attention with a few of her fellow squadmates staring at her from the other side of the room. “Crash, maybe you need a cooldown. Some time away from the base,” one of her squadmates -Fleetfoot- suggested. “You know, before you break something. Or punch someone. Just a set of friendly advice.” “Yeah… Yeah, might take you up on that. I have some downtime coming up anyways. Few unused vacation days,” Rainbow muttered. “Personally, I think Fleetfoot’s right,” Soarin’ added. “You need to take your mind off this whole thing. Look, I get you, I really do, but-” “You… You get me?” Rainbow snarled, whirling on Soarin’ with an unexpected ferocity in her eyes. “How the Hell can you do that? You didn’t grow up in a neighborhood like I did, far as I know! So how the hell can you get me and my situation?” “Rainbow, look,” Soarin’ stated calmly while wisely taking a few steps back. “That’s true, I didn’t grow up where you did, or anywhere like it. But I’d know exactly how you feel if one of my friends was stuck in a dead end neighborhood with gangs living practically next door. I’d be worried sick, out of my mind. But you shouldn’t let your fear control you. If anything, growing up where she is, Gilda’s probably a tough girl. She’d probably learn to handle herself.” “I know, it’s just…” Rainbow muttered. “I worry about her Soar. Sure, she can handle herself but what if… Just what if one day she gets into the situation that she can’t handle? What then?” Soarin’ placed a firm hand on Rainbow’s shoulder. “Listen, we can’t worry about what-ifs or maybes. We can’t control the future, we can only control what’s around us. Our lives, not the lives of others. First thing I learned in basic training, Hell the first thing you learned was not to let fear control you. Fear controls you, it controls your life. Starts making it unravel until eventually…” he sucked in a breath. “Listen, all I’m saying is you need something to get your mind off this. How about dinner tonight? Say, around 7:00?” “Like… Like a date?” Rainbow asked raising an eyebrow. “I don’t do ‘dates’. Just shooting the shit with people.” “It can be that sure,” Soarin’ replied. “If that’s what you want.” Rainbow smiled and shook her friend’s hand. “Then tonight then.” Oddly, Rainbow was in a rather cheery mood as she walked off base later. She wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was because she hadn’t actually been off-base to do something with any of her friends aside from Fluttershy in ages. The burdens of military life and all. Walking to the base parking lot, she smiled when she eyed her car. Her car. A bright furious red, black racing stripes with four lights on the grill. Looked aggressive, downright frightening even. And that suited Rainbow just fine. Took her a bit to work up the money to buy it on her salary but it was completely worth it in her mind. As Rainbow fiddled with finding her keys, she had her back briefly turned to the car, and somehow failed to see the shadow of a massive bird in the reflection of the door windows. Equally, she somehow failed to hear the screech that accompanied it. However, what she did hear was the sound of another vehicle’s engine idling and looked up to see Aria getting out of Fluttershy’s SUV. “...Okay, you gotta be kidding me. Seriously, you’re just stalking me by this point aren’t you?” Rainbow muttered looking skywards briefly. “Look, I know I’m awesome, but really? Really? You just following me to my place of work?” “Contrary to popular belief, my life doesn’t solely revolve around you. Fluttershy just wanted to drop by and say hi, that’s all.” Aria deadpanned before she eyed Rainbow’s choice of transportation. “So, a Hellcat huh hun? Says a lot really.” she deadpanned with a small chuckle. “What's that supposed to mean?” Rainbow demanded looking Aria straight in the eye. She wasn’t in the mood to deal with Aria’s particular line of bullshit, and honestly, she doubted the woman’s claims that she was this world’s counterpart. She certainly had the attitude problems of the Aria Rainbow was used to, that was for sure. “Oh nothing… just maybe, just maybe you're overcompensating for something huh shortstack…” Aria trailed off eying Rainbow's chest. “Oh, really? We’re going there?” Rainbow asked. “Well, you’re not really all that gifted yourself Blaze!” “Oh for the last time…” Aria growled. “It’s Dazzle! Dazzle!” she hissed out. “Look, I don’t know what my counterpart did to you to get you all so huffy, but maybe you should… I don’t know, grow up?” Rainbow let out a sound like a cat hissing before both she and Aria were smacked over the head by Fluttershy, holding a green slipper. “I don’t care what problems you two have with each other, but can you save it for another time?” Fluttershy ‘requested’ looking them both straight in the eyes causing both women to shudder. “...Yeesh, she’s even scarier than Captain Spitfire whenever she whips out that look of hers.” “I just wanted to stop by, see how things were going and hopefully get you to socialize more, work out a few of your issues.” “...Yeah, like that’ll happen at this rate.” both Aria and Rainbow muttered before Rainbow sighed. “I’m sorry Flutters, I really am, but I just-” “Have bad memories of Aria’s counterpart? Look, I know it’s weird seeing someone wearing her face walking about and believe me I had trouble accepting her as well at first but I managed to do so. So why can’t you?” Fluttershy asked with a stern note in her voice. “I’ll try, but no guarantees on that…” Rainbow muttered. “I’m sorry Flutters, all this is just a lot to take in at once. First Adagio’s counterpart, and now Aria’s. The only thing that would make it more difficult if I met Sonata’s counterpart as well!” “And if Dash here stops acting like such a bitch, maybe I’ll be nice to her as well,” Aria added before looking at Rainbow once more. “And trust me, I can arrange you and Sonata meeting. How much do you enjoy bees though, I gotta ask first.” “Bees?” Rainbow asked. “She works with bees?” she repeated slowly. “Yeah, bees. Make all the Wonder Woman jokes you want,” Aria replied. “Go on, I know you’ve got a few in you.” “Nah, too easy!” Rainbow laughed waving a hand dismissively. “But seriously, Sonata works as a beekeeper?” In the background, Fluttershy smiled. Guess it wasn’t so hard for these two to get along if only for a minute or so once they got all the issues out their systems. ...At least, that’s what she hoped would happen. Aria was a totally different beast from her sister after all, and Rainbow… Well, she was Rainbow. “Huh, didn’t know you had such quite an odd circle of friends, Crash,” Soarin’ commented as he walked up. “We’re not… we’re not friends,” Rainbow murmured wondering exactly how much Soarin’ had heard, or if she even wanted to know for that matter. “Well, me and she aren’t anyways,” she commented looking at Aria. “Shame, I wanted to get to know her a bit more. See who you hang with in your off time. Fluttershy I knew about, given you talked about her endlessly in Technical but the Joan Jett wannabe?” Soarin’ asked in confusion and surprise, Aria beaming a little at the last part of his remark. “We just met.” Rainbow deadpanned. “Ooh, he your boyfriend?” Aria asked licking her lips. “Cause if not, I’d be all to happy to take him on a night of the town. Gotta love a military man!” Fluttershy facepalmed as Rainbow stammered out a reply considerably flustered. “He’s not… we’re not...  We’re just squadmates! That’s the end of it.” “So, what’s behind the Crash nickname?” Aria asked. “Some sort of juicy gossip I’m missing here?” “Trust me, I can tell you all about it. But me and Rainbow do have a dinner appointment… uh, appointed.” “So you are dating!” Aria laughed. “No, we’re just going out, grabbing a few beers, that’s all.” Rainbow stressed. “Fine then, you won’t mind if I tag along. Booze? Count me in!” Aria laughed. “Sure, the more the merrier!” Soarin’ commented, knowing Rainbow having a few friends to talk to would definitely get her mind off her previous worries. Rainbow meanwhile wanted to scream. Later that night, as Rainbow and Soarin went on their ‘totally not a date’ thing with Aria in tow, the Batta Yummy struck again. It was at an apartment block in Capitol Hill, one that had long fallen into disuse and would probably have been torn down long ago had the demolition companies not been busy at the time. The paint was peeling, vines were creeping up alongside the building walls and there was a bit of water damage here and there. And if that wasn’t enough, the whole place smelled of crack and other drugs really. Not exactly inviting to the common man. Of course, this did sway off unwanted trespassers which may have been entirely the point. It would have been the perfect hideout for any villains bent on world domination. Trouble was, it had been taken up residence by another group first. Namely, the local gang Rainbow had been so worried about. Watching from behind some bushes was Uva in his human guise. His fellow Greeed had taken up guises of their own. Kazari, the bleached blond punk. Mezool, this human teenager and Gamel a guy with a military buzz cut and a leather jacket. “Really Uva, this place is so below my standards -all of our standards- that I’m so tempted to just find my own place,” Mezool remarked even as she watched a certain Grasshopper-themed being leap off a rooftop to one of the apartment’s balconies. “You sure about a place like this? It’s so… so… Well, ugly doesn’t even begin to cover it.” “Ugly it may be, but it suits our purposes. The humans won’t go out of their way to look for us here, and it can be improved little by little,” Uva remarked. In the background, Gamel played with a paddle ball toy, his eyes widening in glee each time he managed to hit the paddle. Uva shook his head and sighed at this. Such a simple-minded creature. Easy to manipulate, it would be something he would have to keep in mind if an opportunity and a need presented itself. “For the time being, we have to keep our heads down. At least until we find our Core Medals, and then we can strike and reduce this world to dust.” “And your new Yummy, aside from getting us a place to call house and home,” Mezool questioned as screams erupted from the apartment, along with the sounds of gunfire. “You believe it can do that?” Uva smirked as he turned his head and as if on cue a body was tossed out a window hitting the pavement with a loud crack, blood pooling out onto the ground. Gamel, being who he was just ran over to the pool, and placed a bit of blood on his finger before tasting it. He gagged. Uva once more shook his head, and smirked. “See, on the job house cleaning. Besides, the woman this Yummy was created from? Although she doesn’t know it, she has a strong desire for justice. Possibly one of the more dangerous human desires to keep in check, if you were to ask me. Drives humans to do things they would otherwise normally deem insane. This makes it ideal for us. I believe this Yummy of mine is what the humans would call a two for one deal. Once he gets strong enough, he can kill Kamen Rider OOO and retrieve our missing Cores and right now he’s found us a residence.” “Alright, I’ll let you work your plans… for now,” Mezool sighed before holding up a finger. “But if for any reason I think this Yummy is failing to deliver on what you promise, I’m stepping in. I’m sure I can find a human with a nice sufficient desire. And who knows, maybe I’ll help my children in taking down OOO. Mother and child outings are so much fun, don’t you think?” “Can… Can I…?” Gamel begged, and Mezool smiled stroking his hair. “Of course you can dear, I’ll even let you get half of the Cells I would collect.” “Thank you Mezool…” Gamel replied graciously, hugging her leg. “...Now that’s just creepy.” Kazari muttered. It was fairly telling that Uva didn’t bother to disagree with the feline monster. He looked around the area making sure Gamel and Mezool were still preoccupied with… well, whatever you could call their relationship before leaning in towards Uva in a conspiratorial manner. “So… this new Yummy of yours, you think you could share the medals it collects with a lowly cat such as I? Like say, splitting the cache up fifty-fifty?” “Not in the slightest furball. Seventy-thirty is the highest I’m willing to go.” Uva huffed. “That’s highway robbery!” Kazari hissed out before he tried again. “...sixty-forty?” “I swear cat, you’re trying to work my last nerve…” Uva chittered out, his blades bared and ready to strike. “Boys, boys... “ Mezool put in using a motherly tone. “No need to fight. We’ll all get our fair share in the end. Look, why don’t we call it all even and we all get 25% of all medals collected each time we create a Yummy? That seems fair doesn’t it?” she asked with a sweet smile. “NOt ON YOUR LIFE, YOU SCHEMING FLOUNDER!” Both Uva and Kazari roared changing into their monster forms and a fight between the three broke out with blasts of wind, water, and lightning being sent every which way. Gamel tried to intervene before he shrugged and opened a bag of chips to watch the show. The Church Nightclub: “You know, when you said a night out, I wasn’t exactly sure this was what you meant!” Rainbow shouted over the pounding beats of the bass as she and Soarin’ walked up to the bar. “Seriously, this is so not my scene! I like loud music as much as the next person, but this loud? I’d prefer my eardrums blown out at a live concert, not at a club!” “Hey Rainbow, just relax!” Aria shouted over the beats, even as she busted out a few moves on the dancefloor, wearing nothing but jeans and a halter top. “You wanted a night away from it all right? Well, I’d say this counts right? Whoo! Never thought a church would provide this much fun!” That much she was correct about at least, the nightclub wasn’t named as such without good reason. It had once been a church, first constructed back in the 1800s before being recently renovated as a nightclub/dance hall. Flashing lights, -enough to give someone elipsy- pounding beats, and enough beer to give you one hell of a headache in the morning had definitely given this church a whole new set of worshippers. And Rainbow hated every moment of it. Okay, well not every moment of it. It was just every moment spent with Aria. Rainbow wished Fluttershy had come along, even if nightclubbing wasn’t her thing she would have at least given Rainbow someone to talk to girl wise aside from Aria. Rainbow rolled her eyes as she saw the probably drunken siren grind herself up against another one of the clubgoers in shameless fashion. “...Why me Lord?” Rainbow muttered as she slammed her head against the bar top. Soarin’ patted his friend on the back. “Least you’re enjoying yourself in some format right?” Soarin asked. “...Right?” “I suppose, I mean the drinks aren’t bad,” Rainbow shrugged taking a shot and then slamming it on the bartop crying for another. “Sure, the Captain will probably kill us both in the morning but the drinks? Totally worth it!” she exclaimed raising her glass skywards. “See, that’s the spirit!” Aria laughed as she let out another yell of exclamation raising her fist skywards before walking up to the bar. “Man oh man, I’m tellin’ you! You military brats, you really need to loosen up. Just a tad. I mean, you… you Rainbow, I thought you were supposed to be the fun one of your little circle of friends. Fluttershy told me as much. And then you went off and joined the military. Kudos for that, I mean that takes balls but I think it sucked some of the funsies right out of you.” “Go home Aria, you’re drunk,” Soarin’ stated trying to warn Aria away before things got a bit too ugly and someone had to call the cops. He’d seen the little spat Aria and Rainbow had gotten into back at base, and he was fairly certain there was a story there that he was missing. But add in a few emotional impairments, and things could probably get ugly… fast. He was rapidly beginning to rethink this whole idea, honestly. “Why, and miss all the real fun? Whoo!” Aria said, beginning to grind herself up against one very uncomfortable Soarin’, who was blushing and looking towards anyone for a bit of help in wrangling Aria off him. Thankfully, he got it. Rainbow grabbed Aria by the shoulder and pulled her away. “Hey, if you want to go whore yourself out, do it to another man. Hands off my wingman.” Rainbow growled out protectively. “Ooh, that’s rich. Your wingman…” Aria slurred out. “And here I thought he was something else to you! Deny it all you like, but man oh man can I see attraction when I see it!” she continued, poking Rainbow in the chest. “Like Soarin’ said. Go home Aria, you’re drunk,” Rainbow stated. “Why oh why Soarin’ let you tag along here with him is beyond me, but you’re starting to wear out your welcome.” “But the fun’s just begun... “ Aria whined sounding almost like a spoiled child before Rainbow grabbed her by the ear. “And now it’s endin-” she started before Aria shoved her away. “You’re such a drag, you know that right?” Aria replied, having gotten tired of Rainbow’s demeanor as well. Soarin’ just watched the two nervously, knowing there were some fights he should stay out of. A wise man never got into a bitching match between two women, especially two women who could probably kick his ass if they were so inclined. “And you’re a right bitch, just like your counterpart,” Rainbow hissed out. “Honestly, why Fluttershy’s dating you, is beyond me!” “I told you, we’re not dating!” Aria screeched, before tackling Rainbow to the floor with one of her fists drawn back ready to punch Rainbow. “We’re not even close to that! You… you just assume that just because I look like my Equestrian counterpart, I’m exactly like her!” “Well, you’re not doing much to dispel that notion!” Rainbow shouted, shoving Aria off her. “Seriously, you really need to work on your attitude problems. Try that, and maybe I’ll start believing you!” “Me, work on my attitude problems?” Aria scoffed. “Now that’s rich, coming from you! You’ve been nothing but a bitch to me ever since we first met!” Quite a few cameras were flashing right about now, and maybe a few videos were being recorded. “Yeah, because I’m trying to protect my friends -my friends- from you!” Rainbow pointed out. “You’re faking it, I know it! Lying to save your own skin. There’s no such thing as a human counterpart for you! You’re just saying that to get close to my friends, and ruin everything all over again, just like you did all those years ago!” “Go home Rainbow, you’re drunk,” Aria said, looking a little bit hurt that Rainbow would even assume that she was exactly like the Aria from Equestria and that all she wanted to do was hurt people. Just like everyone else in her life. “Seriously, go home,” she warned, trying to fight back tears. Rainbow curled up her fists and looked about ready to punch Aria in the face before a loud crashing sound was heard and Aria was tackled to the floor by this big green mass. “What the Hell…?” Rainbow whispered before the grasshopper man got off Aria and walked towards Rainbow, bowing when he reached her. “I live to protect those close to you milady, and dispense justice on those you deem fit,” he stated. “Wai… Wait, what?” Rainbow stammered out, having seen the news lately and having seen this guy snapping Ham Hock’s neck while OOOs had tried to fight him off. “Dispense justice?” Her eyes widened as she flashed back to the day before. “...Not like it would have mattered. And you’re right, there’s no justice in it at all, but what can you do? The humans, they’re too set in their mindset. Even Zyuoh The World, this guy named Misao marrying another Zyuman -Named Lillian- hasn’t changed things. ...At least here in America.” he sighed sadly. “Well, it damn well should have!” Rainbow snarled before a man wearing this green jacket and sporting slicked back hair like a greaser stepped out of the shadows. “Yes, you’re quite right Rainbow,” Uva commented as a coin slot appeared in Rainbow’s forehead, and he tossed a medal into it. “But now, you’re going to be able to change all that. Fight for justice… Just like a Kamen Rider.” he smirked and walked off as a mummy-like creature began to form… “You… No, you’re not justice. Not in the slightest,” Rainbow whispered, a horrific realization hitting her as she figured out what had happened. A punch and the Batta Yummy was sent sprawling to the floor. “You’re just my inner desires, twisted and diluted. Nobody has the right to dispense justice however they see fit. Nobody decides who lives and who dies. That’d make us monsters. And that’s what you are. A monster.” Rainbow charged at the Batta Yummy, even as people screamed and it fired green bolts of lightning at Rainbow. Lights shattered, glass tinkling onto the floor as the bolts went wild. Rainbow managed to block the Batta Yummy’s kicks with her arms, before she grabbed the monster and tossed it into the bartop. In the background, Soarin’ was helping everyone evacuate. Rainbow meanwhile shouted at the Batta Yummy to follow her and leaped down onto a lower level performing a roll as she hit the ground to avoid breaking any bones. The Batta Yummy was soon following after her firing off blasts of green electricity and the two continued to exchange punches and kicks on the dance floor before Rainbow roundhouse kicked the creature in the stomach. “I thought this was what you wanted!” the Batta Yummy laughed, even as he leaped back up towards… “Aria.” Rainbow breathed out and began clambering up back towards the Yummy. Amazingly, she managed to make it up towards the Yummy. “She’s your enemy, isn’t she?” the Batta Yummy taunted. “She’s been causing nothing but trouble for you, she’s taken your best friend away and she’s- Rainbow shut him up with a punch across the jaw. “Maybe. Maybe not. I haven’t figured it out yet. But that doesn’t give you the right to dispense justice as you see fit!” “...No different from a Kamen Rider isn’t it?” the Batta Yummy sneered, grabbing a suddenly terrified Aria by the neck and rendering Rainbow speechless. He probably would have killed Aria if not for one thing, namely a small purple condor striking him and sending him sprawling into the floor. “Same, Kujira, Cheetah!” the OOO driver sang out as flashes of color lit up the area. Small medals circling around a feminine form and then forming armor. “Yeah, except one thing. Kamen Riders don’t kill human beings.” Adagio said, before blitzing the Batta Yummy with the cheetah’s speed knocking him around a bit, and just when the Yummy thought he got a chance at relief another supersonic punch or kick hit him. The final one managed to send him flying through a wall and into a storeroom. Adagio walked over to Rainbow and Aria. “You two alright?” “...Well, as alright as can be I suppose, when you find out your desire for justice was warped and twisted enough to create a monster,” Rainbow murmured. “And Aria, I’m sorry for all this. I really am.” “Hey, you tried to save my ass, even if I’ve been a complete bitch to you ever since we met.” “Hey, I didn’t help the situation any, did I?” Rainbow remarked and Adagio chuckled under her breath, before her eyes widened as she heard a distinctive chittering sound and her head whipped to the left only to see the Batta Yummy picking himself up off the ground. Despite bleeding cell medals by the truckload, he still looked quite ready to fight. “This time, you’re not getting away,” Adagio muttered before switching medals. “One thing you need to learn about me and my new powers? The tides are as ever-changing as my own abilities, so, therefore, you should never underestimate the powers of the seas!” “Same, Kujira, Ookamiuo: Sa-Ra-Mi-Uo! Sa! Ra! Mi-Uo!” Running towards the monster, she ran the scanner across her belt before sliding across the floor. “SCANNING CHARGE!” the belt sang out even as Adagio somehow managed to create a miniature tidal wave behind her. Kicking the Batta Yummy in the chest, the tidal wave washed over it and made it explode into a pile of about several hundred cell medals. “Tch,” Adagio remarked before canceling out her transformation and hugging her sister tight. “You alright, Aria?” “Yeah… Yeah, I think I’ll be fine,” she whispered. As for Rainbow, she took her leave knowing there were some moments she shouldn’t intrude on. However, Adagio had other ideas. “Oh no, you don’t!” she said, grabbing Rainbow by the shoulder. “Yeah, and here comes the lecture. Look, I’m sorry for creating such a monster alright? ...If… If I had known what I’d created I would have-” “No, it’s fine. What matters is you realized what you created in the end, and you protected my sister till I got here. For that, you’ll have my gratitude.” “Er… Thanks, I guess. Not sure what to say about that, or what to think when Adagio Dazzle is in your debt…” “Just try to keep yourself out of trouble, okay?” Adagio asked. “I don’t want to come and have to save your ass again alright?” Rainbow laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind. But right now, I’ve got something else to do. I wonder, how would a zyuman feel about the military?” she wondered aloud as she walked towards the exit leaving behind two very confused sisters in her wake.