//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Games, Riders, and Bears, oh my! // Story: MLP: Chaos is Evolution // by Garebel //------------------------------// -Unknown location- “Where is Trixie at…?” She said, looking around. It looked like a lush paradise that is also dying. A set of crude stone archways formed a circle around two beings and an odd cube. Trixie soon ran up to them, and was about to ask a question, when one of the beings spoke up. “-zrt- -zrt- -zrt- -zrt- -zrt- you-zrt- -zrt-, -zrt-?” it spoke in a colt-like voice, but Trixie couldn’t make heads or tails of what it said. “-zrt- -zrt- -zrt- -zrt- too late -zrt- -zrt- -zrt- -zrt-, -zrt- that-zrt -zrt- -zrt- -zrt- -zrt- -zrt- -zrt- do -zrt- same -zrt- -zrt-, -zrt-!” the other being spoke in a female voice, almost like a princess or something. The mare revealed a sword, before slashing at an odd place. The colt reacted in pain. “YOU-zrt-!” The colt yelled out in anger, seeing a device split into two on the ground. “-zrt-…-zrt- -zrt- you –zrt-!?” the odd cube had been split into six sides which were floating around the colt. “-zrt- -zrt- -zrt- no -zrt- -zrt-!” The colt yelled before the sides slammed back into the cube, effectively sealing the being in it. Trixie yelled in pain, almost feeling like she was sealed into the cube instead of the colt… -Ponyville Hospital- “Argh” Trixie yelled out startled awake. She breathed heavily, starting to calm down. “Are yah alright?” a mare’s voice spoke out beside her, turning around to see one of the mares she had embarrassed, Applejack, during her show. Trixie nodded, allowing Applejack to sigh. “Thank Celestia…yah were unconscious for a whole week.” Trixie’s eyes widened. That meant… “Ah’m going to tell the doctor yah are awake.” Applejack said, before moving to leave the room. “Wait…” Trixie said, stopping Applejack. “Wha’ is it?” She asked. “In Trixie’s Carriage, under the desk, there’s a turn dial safe, turn it to 2-1-5-4-3-9-3-7. There should be a file inside. Give to the doctor responsible for Trixie, please?” Trixie asked Applejack who nodded. “Medical File?” Applejack asked back, Trixie gave a soft laugh. “Trixie guesses you could say that…” She replied, causing Applejack to raise an eyebrow. Trixie was not telling her something… “Will it be ah danger to everypony?” Applejack questioned Trixie who stiffened, before sighing. “Trixie wants to answer that, but Honestly, Trixie doesn’t know even now, though that rest did give Trixie a possible clue…” She admitted to a frowning Applejack, who could tell she wasn’t lying, period. “All’h right. Yah said the code was 2-1-5-4-3-9-3-7?” Applejack asked Trixie, who nodded. “Right, then ah’ll get yer Medical File, then.” She said, before leaving. Trixie soon laid back down, falling asleep with the hopes of finding more clues in her dreams. -Ponyvile Square, by Trixie’s carriage- “You two are going to be leaving soon?” Twilight asked Shantae & Risky, who nodded. “To be honest, his Actual ‘Herd’…” Shantae spoke, trying, but failing to use air qoutes, as a way of saying something completely different, but used the local version instead. “Asked us to find him, when he disappeared. Garebel’s an adventurer at heart; so, he does tend to go off on his own a lot. Even so, He does pay attention to all of them equally. Anyway, if we stay around any longer, they’ll start to worry. Tell Pinkie the party last week to welcome us & Garebel was awesome.” She added, tossing the deck Garebel lent to her to Twilight, who did catch it with her magic, before walking into a odd portal. Risky was about to follow Shantae, when she remembered something. “Here…” Risky tossed both Garebel's loaned deck & an odd object to Twilight, who caught both before examining the odd object. She couldn’t figure out what it is, though. It was somewhat rectangular in shape with a button on one of the shorter sides, a dial close to it on one the longer sides, and a slightly traphazod black button that is parallel to the longer sides. The longer side facing her had a sort of label on it. Twilight looked at Risky in confusion. “What is this?” She asked. Risky shrugged. “Don’t know, matey, but it was made by a scurvy dog named Kuroto Dan for Garebel. I was meaning to bestow that thing to him, but I have been forgetting to do so. Can ye do it for me, please?” She asked Twilight who nodded. “Thank ye…” She let out a sigh before joining Shantae though the portal. Twilight sighed, moving to her home/library, when she saw Applejack walking towards Trixie’s carriage. “I thought you were going to keep an eye on Trixie, today?” She asked Applejack who stopped before turning to Twilight. “Trixie just woke up, and asked me to get her ah Medical File.” Applejack explained to Twilight who blinked at this. “Weird… Few ponies, if any, can say they have such a thing. Do you know why she does?” Twilight asked Applejack, who frowned. “Ah don’t know, and honestly…Ah don’t think she does either.” She admitted to Twilight, who recoiled in shock. “No way…as soon as she’s out of there, let me know, please? I might be able to figure out what it is, if the doctors don’t.” Twilight asked Applejack who nodded, before they split off. Applejack went to get the file, while Twilight went to refresh her memory on scanning spells. -Later, Ponyvile Hospital…- Applejack almost bowled over the doctor in charge of Trixie when entering Trixie’s room. “…And I really don’t see the point of you staying in…” A colt spoke, in a emotionless tone. Applejack recognized the voice instantly. She cursed mentally, before entering. “Ah think Ah can answer that, Doctor Falthric...” Applejack spoke upon entering the room. “Applejack? I was wondering why you or any of the others weren’t here. What is it?” Dr. Falthric asked, but was giving a folder from Applejack. “Why do you give me this?” He questioned Applejack, never losing the emotionless tone. Applejack shivered but answered anyway. “Ah think it’s Trixie’s medical file.” Dr. Falthric blinked at the answer, but shrugged anyway. He began to flip though the file. His eyes widen in shock for the first time Applejack saw since he came here. He turned to Trixie. “Is this all true!? He asked in complete confusion to Trixie, who nodded. “Every letter.” She reaffirmed. Dr. Falthric took one look at the folder before stowing it. “Right, Ya’ll know about the SCP Foundation?” He asked, to Trixie’s confusion. Applejack nodded. “Not much, but Ah do know they deal with Aliens and Dangerous objects not of Equestia.” She said, to which Dr. Falthric nodded. “Right! I’m one of the Leading Researchers in it, so I’m allowed to do more advanced tests, then what is suggested in the Medical File. Plus, This also like sounds my field of expertise, so, with any luck, we might be able to get some answers!” He stated, causing both hope & worry to bloom in Trixie’s eyes. “I also have all the Equipment I need here, so we can do it now, if you want to.” He said to Trixie. “Yes! Do it!” Trixie all but yelled out. Dr. Falthric nodded. “Good, cause with any luck…” He said, looking at Trixie seriously, before saying one sentence that shocked Applejack greatly. “We might be able to figure out why you look like this at only 10 years old…” -Ponyvile Library- Garebel sighed; both of his plans are ruined. He lost track of both Shantae and Risky, so they must have left, and his plan for preparing the ponies to defend against that was already ruined, when he was told that getting metal is next to impossible. With this in mind, he decided to write down some of the Duel Monster rules as an outlet, when he froze realizing something. ‘Wait a second…I didn’t use any Duel Disk or magic to bring the cards to life, and yet…I doubt it was that cursed seal, either since Hermos banished it, and the Knights & Geh still maintained their forms…maybe that step was unnecessary…’ He thought before beginning to write down the rules, before he heard a ringing sound. “Burroughs, what is it?” He asked, the AI in question appeared in front of him in a image. “The DM Rules were just updated, and Lady Orihime sent you a new deck.” She explained to Garebel, who blinked. “Ok then…I’ll see the new rules first then…” He said, before a hologram showed an image displaying the new rules. Moving the image to see more of the rules, his eyes twitched upon fully comprehending the rules. “Well, that’s a problem…” he muttered, the rules shutting down a good deal of his decks. Garebel blinked, when he realized something. “Wait, she sent me a new deck…?” He asked Burroughs. “Yes, I have already loaded the data, so you can have a look at it. If you like to, that is?” She answered, to which Garebel nodded. “Done!” Burroughs replied. Garebel smiled. “Good, now let’s see…” Garebel stopped himself upon seeing the first card of his new deck, a horrified expression now clear on his face. The main door opened, letting Twilight into the library. “Ok, first things first…Hey, Garebel!” She shouted, trying to get to his attention, only to panic when she saw his expression. “Hey! Are you ok!?” Twilight yelled out, shaking Garebel furiously. “Huh-who-what-where!” Garebel sputtered, before realizing what’s going on. “I’m fine,” he said, calming down Twilight, before frowning. Twilight blinked when she saw Garebel’s expression turn into a face that can only described as rage. “Burroughs…can you contact her & ask what the *BLEEP* *BLEEP* of all *BLEEP* *BLEEP* is she thinking giving me this kind of *BLEEP* deck!!?” He growled out, surprising Twilight with the amount of anger in his voice. “O-O-O-OK…” Burroughs stammered out wondering what was going on, until she took a closer look at the deck data, and realizing why Garebel was acting-like this. “Now, I want to give her a few words of my own…” She muttered, before the image disappeared. Twilight started to be afraid at this, sending a blast at Garebel. Blinking, he wanted to yell at Twilight, before realizing he couldn’t bring up any anger at all. “Twilight, why did you…?” he started to ask when he saw Twilight’s expression. Realizing what had just happened, and thinking a good bit clearly, he sighed. “Sorry, Twilight…” He apologized, trying, and failing, to be angry with himself. Garebel blinked when he realized Twilight had walked up to him, put her hoof on his shoulder. “What happened…?” She asked him. He took a few moments, before sighing. “An…incident occurred in my past, destroy my first home and family…” He explained, his eyes started to feel wet. “I got away fine, along with my wife & daughter, but the aftermath…my home was gone, and our daughter is missing. My wife went to find our daughter, but I haven’t been in contact since then…” Garebel stopped himself from talking any further, already crying. Twilight’s eyes widened. Garebel was trying to lashing out because of the trauma he had from that incident. She shivered, not wanting to know how long he was carrying this burden. She stayed by his side, already thinking of several books with spells that might help with mental trauma. The furthest thing Twilight even could think of was giving Garebel the device Risky wanted to him to have, and refreshing her memory on scanning spells. -Hours later, Everfree Forest- Snips and Snails ran though the forest, hoping that the Ursa Major they found will be vanquished by Trixie, hearing that she woke up in the hospital today. It wasn't long until they entered Ponyvile, and the Ursa roaring out upon emerging. -Ponyvile Library- The roar echoed into the library, shocking both Twilight, Spike, who had just got back, & Garebel, causing all three to jump into the air. "No way that's normal!" Garebel yelled out in shock, knowing that roars like that is not even close to rare. "Ohnowhatdowe..." Spike started to yammer out before a voice echoed. "ERROR!!" The trio froze, wondering where that voice came from. "We need to deal with what is likely Ursa first!" Twilight said, getting back to her hooves, jiggling her pouches that she forgot to put away. "ERROR!!" The voice suddenly spoke again, echoing from Twilight's pouches. Sharing a look with Spike & Garebel, Twilight dug into her pouch before pulling out the two decks that Shantae & Risky wanted to return to Garebel, and the odd object. Using her magic, Twilight moved the decks over the object. "ERROR!!" The object repeated. Twilight sighed, before starting to get her mind in overdrive to figure out a plan, when Garebel interrupted. "Where did you get that?" Garebel asked, shock on his face. Twilight frowned, before explaining. "Risky gave this to me to give to you, and said a 'Kuroto Dan' made it." She explained to Garebel, who blinked, before grabbing the object with his own magic, along with a neon green & pink object he pulled out. "I think I have an answer..." He said before running out, with Twilight & Spike following after him. -Ponyvile Square- The Trio soon saw Snips and Snails running around with what is indeed an Ursa chasing them. Snips and Snails seemed to be running Trixie's cart. Realizing what the Duo were trying to do, they shared a look & nodded. Twilight and Spike ran to Snips and Snails, Twilight casting a barrier, while the Ursa started to pound on it. Garebel soon put the green & pink device on his middle, creating a sort of belt to keep the object attached, before moving to standing on two hooves. Twilight grunted as she hold the barrier while Spike gets Snips & Snails to safety before the barrier breaks. Before the Ursa could punch though the shield, several new waves, each a different color, suddenly traveled the ground, and a voice soon echoed. "RIDER ARCHIVES!!" Turning around, both Twilight and the Ursa saw Garebel standing at the exact spot where the waves were spreading out. Garebel smiled, before putting the object into green & pink device. "DUAL GASCHET!!" Sensing a new threat, the Ursa switched from Twilight to Garebel. "Standing by, R-E-A-D-Y, YES SIR!!!" Garebel put his front left hoof on his middle like trying to buck someone, and his front right leg crossed over his front at a diagonal angle. The Ursa was almost upon him, when he spoke. "Unfied...HENSHIN!!" and pushed the pink part to the side. "GACHAN!! OPEN UP!!" An odd image appeared, knocking the Ursa away, before spliting into five, one in each side of Garebel, and one over him. "THE TIME IS NOW!! UNFIY ALL KAMEN RIDERS INTO ONE!! NOW, THE RIDER ARCHIVES WILL BE IN NO ONE'S HANDS!!" As the voice spoke, the image at Garebel's side converged on him, making his head the only part that's not glowing white. Lighting emerged from the one over him, before slamming down on him, covering him in light grey armor, with purple highlights. He changed form from looking like a pony to something akin to Izanagi & Orpheus. a cloth cape hung near his 'back' legs sporting the same colors as the armor, but the purple forming complex patterns, while his 'front legs' had two spikes emerging from the pads at the shoulder area. Bright green painted-on large Eyes stared froward, while the mane spikes in front looked more akin to an open book than a mane. 'Garebel' rolled his head and flex his new body almost experimentally. "Alright!" He spoke before pointing at the Ursa. "Hope you are ready for a one-on-one fight with Kamen Rider Akashi, now!?" The newly renamed Akashi spoke out. The duo stared at the other for a bit before they charged at each other. Much to Twilight's Surprise, Akashi was able to match the Ursa's power, blow to blow. The duo then jump away from each other, before running towards the Everfree Forest. "Twilight! Are ya ok!?" Applejack's voice rang out, snapping Twilight out of her stupor to see the rest of the Mane 6 coming towards her along with Spike. "Yeah, I'm fine...Garebel and the Ursa went near the Everfree!" Twilight spoke, surprising them. "How did he do that!?" Rainbow Dash asked, amazed that somepony would chase after an Ursa. "M-m-more im-im-importantly, why is there an U-U-U-Ursa h-h-h-here?" Fluttershy stammered out. "Snips and Snails wanted to validate Trixie's claims of vanquishing an Ursa Major...Dummies!" Spike spat out, facepalming. "Come on, we got to try and help him!" Rarity spoke, grunts of agreement coming from everypony, Twilight dispelling her shield before running off. -Clearing inside the Everfree- Akashi & the Ursa jumped away from the other, panting. Although tired, if anyone could see it, they were both smiling and having fun. Giving a brief sniff at the air, The Ursa soon frowned, his mother was coming closer. Deciding to end this now, Dark Energy surrounded his foot. Realizing what the Ursa was doing, Akashi moved the pink part, as if it close it. "Gotchon...KAMIWAZA!!" Under the helmet, Akashi's eye twitched, before moving the pink part as if to open. "GACHAN!!" The voice shouted before Akashi bent and cross his arms in front of his chest. At this moment, the Mother Ursa, the Mane 6, and Spike all arrived at the same time. "RIDER CRITCAL CREWS-AID!!" At this, Akashi and the Ursa jumped up before aiming a Kick at the other. The kicks both met head on, and Lighting surged out, striking random places. The Mane 6 and Spike managed to avoid it, but the Mother Ursa got struck got the chest and roared out. Fluttershy, hearing the pained roar, rushed out to the source, getting scratched by shrapnel in the process. She patched up the Mother Ursa, not realizing who her patient was. Fluttershy didn't get the chance to look before the power the duo were using hit a critical point, an explosion pushed the duo away, the Ursa into a tree, out cold, while Akashi dug a small trench in the ground. Almost instantly, Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Spike, and Fluttershy raced over to the Ursa to help it out, While Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash rushed over to Akashi to help him. When Akashi got his bearing straight, Pinkie and Dash tried to ask him several questions, but... "Argh!" Akashi yelled out in pain, Sparks flying of his armor. He barely had a chance to close the device and removed the object, making the armor disappear and restoring him to Garebel the pony before he, too, fell into unconsciousness. The last thing Garebel thought was "Where did that came from? Not a bug or glitch, but an outside influence?" before he only saw darkness.