//------------------------------// // 12: Reflections // Story: Kamen Rider: What's Your Desire? // by The Bricklayer //------------------------------// It was late one night at Rainbow’s household at the base. Like every other night since the attack, Rainbow kept a close watch on the squirt. She shuddered as she thought of that… thing which had dived out of her mirror. She didn’t know what it was, or why it looked like a Kamen Rider but needless to say every hour or so until she was sure all was quiet she kept a close eye on Scootaloo. Privately, she wondered if smashing every reflective surface in her house just in case was a good idea. She wasn’t superstitious by any margin, but she still felt nervous whenever she looked into the mirror… almost as if she expected something to look back. Always, she seemed to swear something out of the corner of her eye seemed to move within each and every mirror she looked at. She wondered exactly just how many types of reflective surfaces that thing could possibly dive out of, or was it just mirrors? In any case, if she went around destroying things she’d probably have quite a bit of explaining to do to her bosses. If she said some monster was jumping in and out of mirrors to try and attack her and her family, the Captain would probably consider her crazy to say the least. Yes, monsters existed in their world, all kinds -a few years ago Rainbow would have called stained glass creatures a joke for example - but there was a distinct difference from things that very clearly existed in reality and things that just hopped out of mirrors. And yet, Rainbow mused as she looked at the bronze deck in her hands, clearly they did in some way. “Well, at least you’re not stupid,” Goldphoenix said in her head the bird sounding almost like he approved of her current demeanor. “I can think of quite a few users who would go by life despite knowing they could be attacked by a Mirror Rider or Mirror Monster at any moment, and not care.” “I’m sorry, did I ask you?” Rainbow retorted back to the generally useless creature. He, if rarely ever helped her on anything just expecting her to figure things for herself like how each and every card worked. He did explain to her that she had a Time Vent card, which could turn back time to a degree, even extreme ones if she so desired if things went catastrophically wrong for her. Rainbow at first had scoffed, but now that she thought about it it could come in handy. Briefly tempted as she was by it, Rainbow then realized why exactly Goldphoenix was offering how to explain it to her. He wasn’t doing it to be helpful by any means, he was just doing it to tempt her further into power. So, in defiance of Goldphoenix’s wishes, she had ripped it up. Rainbow smirked to herself slightly as she thought back to Goldphoenix’s enraged expression. “You did what!?!” the bird screeched, wings alight with flame in his anger. A look of pure hatred was being driven into her very soul behind piercing green eyes. “I said I ripped up that damn Time Vent card. That’s the kind of power nobody should have, nobody you hear?” Rainbow stated holding up the two halves of the card to Goldphoenix causing him to screech even louder. He took a swipe at Rainbow with one of his massive talons, causing Rainbow to jump back slightly in fear before she relaxed. This was her mindscape, the bird couldn’t do anything to her in here. Granted, she realized outside of her mindscape if she ever summoned him again he probably would if something else didn’t catch his attention first. “You idiot!” Goldphoenix hissed out. “While not a crucial part of my deck, what you just did was deprive yourself of a possible tactical advantage! And you of all people, a soldier should know how useful those are!” “Yes, I do,” Rainbow stated regaining her cool. “However, I also know power when I see it, and that kind of power as I said before should be in the hands of nobody. I would not be able to resist its usage given enough time. Let me tell you a story okay?” Rainbow lectured sitting down on a chair. “You ever heard the name Sunset Shimmer? I don’t care if you haven’t, you’re going to hear it anyways.” “Oh, I have heard the name…” Goldphoenix stated back grinning devilishly making Rainbow shudder. That kind of smile just looked… wrong on the bird. “Trust me, if I had a way I would have made sure my deck landed in her hands a long, long time ago…” “And it’s a good thing it never did,” Rainbow refuted. “I love Sunset like a sister, but even I know of what might happen if she were handed a little too much power for her own good. Yes, she’s changed since those days, but the kind of power you would offer her might be a little too much. It’s still in her, you know. That dark side. It would just need a way to break out.” “You’re a smart woman Rainbow Dash, if not a little too caring and loyal for your own good. If I had my way, then you’d be looking out for yourself and nothing but yourself. It’s the only way to survive in this world.” “It’s a good thing then, you’ll never have your way. I will never allow it,” Rainbow replied. “Anyways, since you claim to know so much about Sunset then you know her past.” “Oh yes, I do. Very much so,” Goldphoenix laughed. “Such an idiot she was for giving up that kind of power that ‘Element of Magic’ gave her. She would have probably been the best Ride-” “Yeah yeah, got that. I still fear to this day, given the proper incentive that side of her would emerge again. Maybe I’m being too worrisome, or paranoid, or something but that’s besides the point. It’s my job as one of her best friends to worry about her even now you understand?” “...Yes, yes… Element of Loyalty and all that…” Goldphoenix deadpanned not particularly caring. “You’re too nice for-” “My own good? Yeah yeah, got that. You’re like a record on repeat you know that?” Rainbow snarked back. “So unless you have anything useful to offer me, can you just shut your damn beak?” “Well, I will give you this, Rainbow Dash of Denver Colorado,” Goldphoenix chuckled approvingly. “You’ve got nerve, that’s nice. Haven’t know any users to actually have the gall to backsass me or defy my wishes. Then again, they’ve never had really much will to begin with. You… You, on the other hand, are something to keep an eye on. Very well then, play your game. And I’ll give you one piece of useful information. Survive.” Before Goldphoenix snapped her back to reality, Rainbow was wondering what the hell he possibly could have meant. Surely he didn’t mean survive as in just… survive right? No, she mused looking at the card depicting a phoenix. No… he was trying to give her a clue. But knowing him, he had a second hidden agenda. So for the time being, this card would go unused. Back in the present, Rainbow had finally felt safe and fell into the couch sinking into its folds with her eyelids growing heavy. Just as she was about to fall asleep completely, she heard something. A scream. Rainbow’s eyes widened and she jumped up grabbing the Deck on instinct before she was met with the sight of Ryuga standing over Scootaloo’s bed, a sword through Scootaloo’s chest. Blood stained the heavily matted sheets. Scootaloo’s blood. Rainbow let out a growl of fury after choking back a sob and launched herself at Ryuga with a howl knocking him through a wall. She began punching him over and over denting his faceplates before she heard a roar. Leaping out of the way just in time, she narrowly avoided being snatched up by Dragblacker before pulling out the Deck. She looked up, wiping away her tears to see Ryuga walking into the living room sword scraping the ground. A sword stained with the blood of her little sister. Wiping away her tears, she looked towards a vanity mirror in her bedroom -the one Ryuga probably had leaped out of- and shouted out “Hen… SHIN!” in a barely incomprehensible snarl of rage. Knuckles cracked at her armor covered her before a solid right punch sent Ryuga flying out through another wall. Rainbow followed and wordlessly summoned her swords. Above them, as blades causing sparks to fly met both Goldphoenix and Dragblacker fought for dominance. Talons and claws struck at each other, and beaks and jaws snapped. No words were exchanged, nor any needed to be. This wasn’t a battle to fight for justice of any sort. No, the die had been cast and this was revenge on Rainbow’s mind. Ryuga needed to die now. “Steal Vent.” Rainbow suddenly found herself in possession of Ryuga’s sword which she used alongside one of her own to continue striking at the dark Rider. Slashing across his chest, she smiled when she saw blood and the Rider staggering backwards. “Shoot Vent.” Ryuga avenged this slight by firing a blast of pure black flame at Rainbow and she rolled to the left and tossed her sword at Ryuga. He howled in pain as the weapon he once held was knocked from his grasp. And then to add insult to that injury, Rainbow was now in possession of it as well. Firing a pure blast of flame at Ryuga she knocked him backwards before running forwards grabbing her fallen sword and picking it up out of the ground. She’d tossed Ryuga’s weapon aside and struck fiercely with the force of a hurricane slashing Ryuga again and again as she howled in rage and in pain for the loss of her little sister. Behind her, Dragblacker was knocked into what remained of her already smoldering home by Goldphoenix, before being ripped apart by the massive bird. Ryuga roared in rage but didn’t have time to think about the loss of his pet as he heard two words. “Final Vent.” He looked upwards to see Rainbow clad in flame a kick aimed squarely at his skull before all went black. Rainbow awoke in a sweat, finding herself on the couch and out of her armor. She took a deep breath and looked around. No smashed walls, and she knew everything was just the way it should be. “Just the way it should be…” Rainbow thought and choked back a sob and rushed to the bathroom running water across her face. “So… That’s all it was… Just a dream. Just a dream…” she whispered to herself looking but looked back up at the mirror and quickly grabbed it. Pulling it off, she smashed to the ground with a mighty crash in a cold sweat, glass tinkling to the floor. She stood there for several long minutes, looking at what remained of the mirror. “No… No, I can’t let you rule me. You may have won tonight’s battle, but I promise you I will not be afraid of you.” she whispered. If Rainbow was listening, and maybe she was but refused to acknowledge it, she would have heard a low chuckle echo throughout the room. It would not have eased her fears in the slightest, to say the least. Breaking into a sprint small pieces of glass crunched underfoot Rainbow rushed towards Scootaloo’s bedroom almost afraid of what she might find. Throwing open the doors, she allowed herself to relax and reminded herself of what she saw was not real when she looked at Scootaloo sleeping softly in her bed. She hadn’t even been awoken by all the noise. Rainbow climbed into bed alongside her sister and hugged her tightly finally allowing herself to cry. Needless to say, she didn’t really get a whole lot of sleep that night. Daybreak came, and Rainbow rang up Fluttershy. She needed someone to talk to. Soarin’ would have done fine in any other instance, but no… this time she needed her best friend. With a shaky breath, she picked up her phone and dialed her number. “Come… Come on… Please pick up…” “Rainbow… you alright?” Scootaloo asked. “Y-Yeah, I’m fine squirt. You just eat your breakfast okay?” Rainbow asked. Scootaloo didn’t look convinced, given her older sister had tear stains running down her face and looked bleary-eyed. And every so often, she looked at the windows or anything else that might cast a reflection. “But-” Scootaloo started before Rainbow glared at her harshly. “...Okay.” Scootaloo whispered before she was pulled into a hug. “No, you’re right. I had a dream, a terrible dream squirt…” Rainbow whispered. “But I’ll be fine. It’s just a dream…” she whispered. A dream Rainbow swore that would never come true in any form. An hour or so passed, and Rainbow was at a local coffee place outside the base. Ordering a simple black coffee -Rainbow mentally screamed on how hard it was to get a simple beverage these days- she drank it in silence going over the dream from last night. “Maybe I shouldn’t have destroyed that Time Vent card so soon…” Rainbow muttered to herself going through the cards in her deck. “After all, what if I fail to keep that dream from not coming to pass…?” Shuddering at the thought and once more choking back a sob Rainbow was pulled away from her musings by the low rumble of a motorcycle’s engine. Looking upwards, she saw Fluttershy on the back of one very sexy dark blue bike driven by Aria. A Valkyrie Rune, if Rainbow remembered correctly. She was almost jealous. She snorted. She could totally whip that thing’s tailpipe in a race with her Hellcat if she so desired. Rainbow visibly groaned when she saw that Aria wasn’t wearing a helmet. Even if Fluttershy was, that sorta reckless behavior could rub off on her! Aria was punched in the gut by Rainbow as soon as the punk-dressed woman. Coughing, Aria shouted out: “What… What the hell was that for ya bitch!?!” “Really Rainbow…” Fluttershy sighed to herself rubbing her temples. “I’m just looking out for you Flutters. Next thing you know, you won’t be wearing a helmet on your next ride with her!” Rainbow shouted pointing directly at Aria. “Uh, a her who’s in the room right now? Seriously, you are so fuc-” Fluttershy glared at Aria before sighing. “Don’t speak for me Aria, I hate it when you do that,” she said before looking at Rainbow. “I was fine. The only reason Aria wasn’t wearing a helmet was simply because that she had to loan hers to me,” she stated. “...Oh,” Rainbow flushed feeling rather embarrassed. “Couldn’t… Couldn’t you have just taken that…” “My SUV? Yeah, I suppose but… You sounded like you needed me over here fast so Aria offered to take me on her bike,” Fluttershy answered. “So can you lay off her please?” “...Yeah, I suppose…” Rainbow muttered feeling rather ashamed of herself for assuming the worst of Aria especially when Fluttershy dropped everything to come and see her. “Rainbow… You alright?” Fluttershy asked noting her friend’s expression even as the threesome sat down. “I’m… I’m fine…” Rainbow said after taking a deep breath and another sip of her coffee. Aria didn’t believe her for a second. “Yeah, excuse me if I don’t take you at your word. First, you look like someone just died, and secondly, you called your oldest friend down here not saying exactly why but sounding terrified.” Aria deadpanned. “First off, my sympathies if someone did die but-” “Nobody… Nobody died!” Rainbow snapped causing a few people to look at her and a few whispers erupted from around her before a glare from Aria silenced her. She after all still looked and acted very much like her infamous Equestria double for better or for worse. Rainbow personally thought it a good thing right now, though she’d never admit it. She didn’t need any gossip making it back to her boss, or worse… Soarin’. “It’s just… It’s just a dream threw me for a bit of a loop that’s all…” “Must have been some dream,” Aria said as she went off to get a cappuccino. She did not function this early in the morning without some sort of beverage. She normally took beer, but Fluttershy had banned it from the household so she settled for the next best thing. Fluttershy stared at Aria for her seemingly uncaring and dismissive tone. She, of course, was ignored. “What, it’s just a dream innit? I don’t see why Rainbow needs to get so freaked out over it!” Aria exclaimed. Fluttershy sighed. “Ignore her. She’s grumpy this early in the day… Or, well… any time of the day really. I’ve been working to try and get her to be a little friendlier…” “Can’t say I blame her being such a grouch really,” Rainbow mused seeing all the ugly glares sent Aria’s way and hearing the murmurs. “She and her sisters… God above, they have it rough. Another reason for me to want to deck the other Adagio in the face I guess.” Fluttershy hid a smile. At least her friend was no longer hostile towards Aria. Or at least, this world’s Aria anyways. So that was a definite improvement. “So, about this dream of yours…” Fluttershy started. “It was about Scootaloo wasn’t it? Or one of us. Only thing that would get you this worked up about a dream was if it was either a nightmare or you dreaming about So-” “Shush you!” Rainbow whispered a blush gracing her cheeks before she sighed. “But yeah, you’re right. It was about Scootaloo. I saw… I saw…” she began before Fluttershy placed a hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay Rainbow. Take it slow,” Fluttershy said. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” she reassured. “No… I gotta speak with someone about this…” Rainbow muttered. “I saw Scootaloo being killed okay? By that monster I told you about, you know the one,” she said before Fluttershy nodded in response. Yeah, she knew exactly the one. Rainbow had texted her soon after the first attack on the base just to reassure her she was fine and when Fluttershy had demanded explanations Rainbow had given them as best she could. They were short but simple. She hadn’t stayed on the line long, given she was concerned about both Scootaloo and who might have been listening. “Geez…” Aria muttered her tone suddenly changing. She knew who Scootaloo was, or had at least a vague idea from Fluttershy’s conversations with her. “Can’t say I blame you with having a dream like that given all the monsters in this city lately. God knows I’m terrified for my sisters, Adagio included…” she muttered. “Wasn’t just any one of those yummies…” Rainbow shook her head. “Fuck… Wasn’t even a yummy or a Greeed at all. No, it was… something else. A dark Kamen Rider, from the world behind the mirrors…” “I’d say that sounds like crazy talk, but given what I heard about Gramercy Heights a few years back I’m inclined to actually believe you on this one…” Aria trailed off. “So how did… How did this start?” She didn’t like Rainbow, not by a long shot so why she was helping her Aria didn’t exactly know but if she had to guess she owed her a debt for saving her life back at that club. Sure, she created that yummy in the first place but Rainbow realized it and wanted to put a stop to it. So Aria couldn’t really be angry at her in the end for that. She was admittedly curious though about what Rainbow meant by a Zyuman being interested in the military. Ah well, not her business she supposed. (Aria would only later find out the answer to this when she saw an anthropomorphic cheetah dressed in marine corps garb a few weeks later.) And so Rainbow explained much to a slack-jawed Aria’s shock. Rainbow, a Kamen Rider using the power of what lurked from behind the mirrors, and now contracted to a really grumpy phoenix with a dark dragon Rider in pursuit? And this same dragon-themed dude was the reason for the attack on the air force base? Was definitely a lot to take in at once to say the least. “Wait, you mentioned you had this time vent thing?” Fluttershy asked immediately realizing why Rainbow was so scared. “Emphasis on had. Ripped it up, no one should have that kind of power…” Rainbow replied. “Though I’m now wondering if…” “If it was the best thing to do given last night’s dream?” Fluttershy asked. “...Yeah, I can see how that might be an issue…” “Hey, said it herself. Nobody should be able to change time, good intentions or not! That kinda power… it’s just not right!” Aria replied. “But what if… What if that dream does come to pass?” Rainbow asked. “What then? What if I had the power to stop it, and I got rid of it?” “You’re right, you do have the power to stop it, but you didn’t get rid of it,” Fluttershy said sternly looking at the Goldphoenix deck. “You still have the ability, right there. I believe in you. You’ve always been able to do anything you’ve set your mind to.” Wiping away her tears and not caring for once if anyone even Aria saw her crying, Rainbow whispered: “Thanks Flutters…” Fluttershy’s only response was to pull her best friend into a hug. Smiling happily, she happily talked with Rainbow, earlier worries forgotten as they began relaxing into less frightening lines of conversation. Eventually, Rainbow had to go back to base citing Spitfire would probably yell at her otherwise if she missed flight practice. Still smiling, Fluttershy watched Rainbow drive off the Hellcat roaring down the streets leaving chaos and tire smoke in its wake. The smile was soon to fade as Rainbow’s vehicle faded into the horizon. “...Showoff, I could soooo whip the shortstack’s ass if I wanted to. Seriously, Rune against Hellcat. I’d totally win each and every time,” Aria huffed before she noticed her friend’s expression. “...You like her, don’t you?” Aria wasn’t stupid. Nor was she surprised given how long both Rainbow and Fluttershy were friends. Love on either side was bound to pop up. And she had her suspicions confirmed each and every time she saw Fluttershy’s smile fade each and every time Rainbow talked about Soarin’. She hated seeing that smile fade. It looked beautiful on her. Personally, Rainbow probably didn’t know what she was missing. “...Yeah, I do. God knows when I started falling for her, but…” Fluttershy whispered. “With Soarin’ around I never had a chance did I?” Fluttershy laughed bitterly. She should have seen it coming really, given the two spent so much time around each other since flight school and how Soarin’ acted as an adoptive dad to Scootaloo. The cruel irony of it was, Fluttershy knew she had her chance, and could have acted on it after Rainbow tried asking Twilight out once but was rejected -Of course Twilight only had eyes for two things, her books and Sunset- but failed to do so as her fear caught up to her. Fluttershy knew she had her chance and she wasted it. “I… I just hope he makes her happy someday. That’s all I can hope for…” Fluttershy whispered sadly and Aria could only look upon her friend in pity before putting a hand on her shoulder. “Hey, as long as Rainbow’s happy, that’s the main thing. Now come on, I’ll go take you to the pet store or something. Maybe get you an ice cream, if not this one time. Seeing you not smiling?” Aria asked. “Just looks wrong really…” Later that day, after finishing off with flight practice Rainbow walked back to her house with Soarin’ in tow. “...Damn, you were on fire today!” Soarin’ remarked. “Like you felt the need for speed or something…” “Really? Top Gun references?” Rainbow asked arching an eyebrow. “Pretty sure every time we make a joke towards the film we have to pay a fine or something…” she teased. “...Yeah, pretty sure.” “Oh, so I can’t say “Great Balls of Fire!” anytime soon?” Soarin’ teased back. “That’s a song reference you doofus,” Rainbow remarked lightly punching her friend’s arm. “An outdated song reference to be sure, but still… a song reference. Doesn’t count even if it was said in the movie.” “Man… Can’t quote the greatest air force propaganda film ever made on an air force base?” Soarin’ sighed with Rainbow patting him on the back trying to hold back her laughter. “Whatever has the world come to?” “Oh, it’s a sad, sad situation,” Rainbow sung jokingly. “And it just keeps getting on more and more absurd!” “Now who’s going all waxing lyrical on us?” Soarin’ sniped back with Fleetfoot and Blaze bursting out in fits of giggles nearby. “And you call my song references tacky and outdated! I mean, Elton John? Really?” “Hey, could be worse. Could be singing “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” really. Oh god above…” Rainbow said with a roll of her eyes. “Hey, I like the Lion King!” Soarin’ replied. “What’s wrong with that?” “Oh, the movie’s fine. It’s just the song is so… so… sappy!” Rainbow replied faking a gag. “Original version was fine, till Elton got his hands all over it. He’s a good songwriter, but my god he ruined the song!” “Oh, so you’re saying you’d like to hear the original?” Fleetfoot teased. “Maybe on a date with Soarin’? Cause trust me, we can arrange that!” she cackled. Her cackles were only to increase when Rainbow muttered: “Oh shut it you…” Eventually, managing to get away from the idiots she had to share a flight squadron with, Rainbow hung up her flight gear -her helmet marked Golden Eagle- and changed into more casual wear. “Hey, you seemed… different earlier this morning,” Soarin’ replied. “Like… Terrified even. Something going on I should know about? I’m your wingman. I have a right to be concerned about you, ya know…” “It’s… It’s nothing. It’s something I can handle myself, and that’s that,” Rainbow said dismissively. “You don’t have to worry about me Soar. You just worry about showing off for the ladies Mr. Maverick wannabe.” “...Firstly, I only did that one time, back in technical school!” Soarin’ pointed out. “Secondly, as much as I respect you Rainbow, I’m still your friend and you seemed to be rather out of it earlier. So excuse me if I don’t stop trying to help you wherever I can…” he replied sternly before his voice softened. “...God, listen. I know balancing this job, and fighting the yummies has to be hard so I just want to lend you a hand wherever I can. I respect your abilities, but you can’t do everything at once. Don’t want you to burn yourself out.” Rainbow whirled on him with a rather nasty glare settled on her face. “Did you not hear me Soarin’? I said let me do things my way, let me handle my own problems understand?” Privately, Rainbow admitted she needed the help. She was barely holding herself together as it was to be perfectly honest, and although Soarin’ didn’t see it up in the air today Rainbow was actually quite terrified having got a momentary thought into her head about just how many reflective surfaces there actually were in Denver alone. She’d quickly pushed the thought out of her head and growled out how she wouldn’t let Ryuga win but there was the fact that he was still managing to play mind games -psychological warfare- with her even if he was never present. Rainbow was lucky her training kicked in at the last moment, as a split second error probably would have made her crash into Soarin’ or Misty Fly’s jets. She shouldn’t have been affected by Ryuga’s presence, but still, somehow she always managed to let her fear get the better of her at the worst possible times. She got off lucky this time. But simple luck never kept anyone alive forever… And Rainbow knew it. “...Okay,” Soarin’ sighed wisely deciding to back off. Truth be told, this would be far from the end of things really with him and Rainbow. He knew his friend all too well. She was often far too proud to admit when she needed help, even if and when it was obvious she did. She was just far too stubborn for her own good at times to actually accept that help. But he also knew pushing too hard with her would result in her lashing out at him and not getting anywhere. It was better he waited for Rainbow’s temper to cool and then attempt to help. “But this isn’t the end of this, understand?” he said sternly. “I’m just looking out for you Rainbow, you know that right?” “Yeah, I suppose I do…” Rainbow sighed to herself rubbing her face with a cold towel. “And I appreciate that, I do… It’s just there are some problems I want to solve by myself okay?” “That I can understand,” Soarin agreed. “It’s just… well, I don’t want to see you burn yourself out or get hurt trying to solve these problems, whatever they may be, when you could have accepted help.” Truth be told, Soarin had a very sneaking suspicion that these ‘problems’ were not in fact related to the Yummies and their Greeed masters but in fact related to what he saw on those security cameras that night. God knows he’d be terrified if it was his little sister that nearly got charbroiled by some big dragon thing. But what could he do to help Rainbow? This was way beyond him right now. And it made him sick to think that one of his best friends was forced to deal with these issues all alone simply because nobody else could help her aside from being probable moral support. Then again, he mused, being emotional support was sometimes all someone needed to face their problems and not crack under the pressure. So, for the time being, that’s what he’d be. That’s what he’d be as long as Rainbow needed him he thought with a sad sigh. Rainbow, as she returned to her home contacted Goldphoenix once again. “Oh, so you finally decide to talk to moi?” the bird asked in a mocking tone. “And here I thought you hated me and my advice…” “Still do, jackass,” Rainbow replied with narrowed eyebrows. “I just wanted to ask a question. Okay, maybe a few questions.” “Make it quick, because I’m trying to understand how I just detected Destwilder and Venosnaker’s powers in usage in Japan once again,” Goldphoenix murmured to himself in a confused tone. “...Shouldn’t really be possible given their contract holders are dead last I checked... Ah, a mystery to ponder for another time I suppose. Anyways, fire away!” he said resting himself on a giant tree in Rainbow’s mindscape. “Okay, it’s mainly about Ryuga,” Rainbow replied before taking a deep shuddering breath. “Just… Just how powerful is he?” “Fairly powerful I’d say. Not as powerful as you’d be if you chose to unlock your true potential, but still extremely dangerous,” Goldphoenix remarked. “Of course, I suspect you already know this given that dream of yours last night…” Rainbow glared at him. “Hey, not my fault you can’t keep your thoughts to yourself. There’s two of us in here now! Anyways, if you’re wondering, Ryuga would have to make a great effort to just dive out of any mirror given his timeline no longer technically exists.” Goldphoenix explained before setting about preening his metallic wings. “How is that... ?” Rainbow wondered looking directly at the massive bird knowing that if Ryuga’s timeline no longer existed then logically Goldphoenix shouldn’t be around either. “Agh, never mind. Probably more of a headache then I want to tackle right now.” “Probably yeah. Something a little bit more than your simple human mind can comprehend, alternate timelines and all…” Goldphoenix drawled. “You’re certainly no Albert Einstein or Neil deGrasse Tyson after all…” Rainbow decided not to ask how Goldphoenix even knew those names to begin with. “Okay, second question then. How did Ryuga even appear to begin with?” “Okay, to give a bit of background. His name isn’t even Ryuga really. It’s Shinji Kido. Or rather to be more accurate a mirror world version of a man named Shinji Kido. I’m not quite sure how he came about in the first place, but my best theory is that he was created from Shinji’s darker thoughts about the Rider War. I thought Dark Shinji and that lizard destroyed by their counterpart, but I guess he found a way to survive. As for why he’s alive and well now long after his timeline -and mine- were rendered destroyed for lack of a better term… Again, I can only guess.” Goldphoenix replied giving his version of a shrug. “You know, you’re ludicrously unhelpful when you want to be, you know that right? You’re offering up only theories. I’d rather want concrete facts.” Rainbow snapped. “Simmer down little bird,” Goldphoenix replied. “I can offer only theories, because I’m just as much in the dark about Dark Shinji as you are here. My best guess, and you can take this however you want, is something and it’d have to be something huge, -not something little like say, “Oh I ruined my breakfast this morning, shame the world!” or something similar- stirred up nasty little thoughts in the corner of Kido’s mind. Sometimes, as they say, all it takes is one bad day… You’d probably have to book a trip to Japan to figure out what happened. Probably talk to the man himself.” “...Yeah, I’ll do that whenever I get free time,” Rainbow replied sarcastically. Goldphoenix seemed to be immune to this or just didn’t care. Hard to tell with him really. “Oh, and while you’re there, care to find out why I detected Venosnaker and Destwilder alive and well again? Really nagging at the back of my…” he trailed off rubbing his beak with a talon. Rainbow then just tuned him out not particularly caring for Goldphoenix’s own troubles. She was as she stepped into the front hall kicking off her boots bombarded by a hug from Scootaloo. “Hey squirt,” Rainbow smiled while Goldphoenix mentally gagged. She, of course, ignored this as well. The bird could go stuff himself like a turkey for all she cared. “And how was your day?” “...Fine I suppose, but I’m worried about you Rainbow,” Scootaloo whispered. “You’re just not yourself lately.” “I know kid, I know…” Rainbow muttered. “God above, I know. I just keep on thinking about that damned black dragon and his ‘friend’. Starting to get to me more than I’d like.” “Yeah, I saw the smashed bathroom mirror,” Scootaloo deadpanned. “But you’ve got the power to deal with him, right? I mean, I saw you fighting him as Kamen Rider Odin…” “So you did, huh?” Rainbow chuckled mentally making a note to change her name. Far too pretentious, and Odin was a male god anyways. Bit of a dick. Maybe something more fitting like Kamen Rider Iðunn or Morrigan. “So you did… Always were a little too observant for your own good right…?” Rainbow then broke out into the first real smile she had all day as her sister curled up onto the couch alongside her and together the two watched an old movie. Rainbow chuckled to herself even as the opening title music blared. Yeah, this was what she was fighting for. Not the safety of the city or anything else, not to feed Goldphoenix, but fighting to protect those closest to her. She fought back a dark smile. Ryuga would have to be on his guard now...