The trees passed by him like nothing, familiar, but strangely intimidating even though he had taken this path many many times. It felt like behind every tree another shadow was ready to jump at him the moment he let his guard down. Every tree-trunk felt new, different, unfamiliar and a little bit scary, even though he knew nothing would happen, or at least he hoped that.
The roar of his bike echoed through the woods bouncing off the wood like nothing he had ever heard while still sounding like normal. Still, there was this foreboding sound mixed in with it, like it was taunting him, mocking him. With every bit of the way he had behind him the fear and pressure only grew more and more, threatening to devour him.
The relatively short way through the woods felt like an eternity, time seemingly slowing down to a crawl and at the same time passing faster than ever. He felt he was trapped in a dream, one that went by like nothing and still stretched out. He knew he was fast, he knew he couldn’t make it any faster, he knew all of that, but still, he couldn’t accept it. There was far too much on the line for him to just accept this, to just believe he was already at the limits he could fulfill. With a loud roar, he pulled the handle of his bike, letting the machine revved up, even more, bursting through the trees like a madman, a madman no one could hear.
Finally, the homely clearing opened up in front of him, still just as peaceful like he had left it, no sign of any struggle or danger. Still, he didn’t trust the supposed peace for a second. He knew this was all just to lull him into a falls sense of security, make him believe everything would be ok and then strike. Yes, Shadow Gold was monster enough to do precisely that. He had already infected her with a seemingly incurable illness once so directly attacking her would be easy and in a way tame for him.
Without as much as a second thought, he jumped off his bike, throwing his helmet to the wayside as it landed on the forest floor. He almost tore the door out of its hinges as he slammed against it, stumbling into the living room. Nothing, everything was precisely there where he had left it, even the kitchen had been cleaned up already and the dishes painstakingly cleaned. But there was no sign of Emerald, and he was unsure if that was indeed a good sign.
“Emerald! Emerald, where are you?” He screamed out of the top of his lungs, every word echoing through the small house. Nothing. No answer, not even a sound like someone moving, just silence beyond his own exhausted breath. A look of panic flushed over his face, overtaking the exhaustion within seconds as he stormed up the stairs, every step sounds like the house was threatening to fall in on itself all around him.
Bursting through the door to Emeralds room he once again screamed from the depths of his lungs: “Emerald?” But to his dismay, nothing. This room was also empty, minus Emerald's bed that had been left exactly like she had left it this morning. Notes were scattered all across the floor and desk, but that was nothing noteworthy. What however was unusual was the cellphone on the desk. While the connection was atrocious here, she usually still kept the thing on her for the entirety of the day, for the small chance of actually leaving the forest, but letting it laying around? That didn’t sit right with him.
Once again he dashed through the house, stomping down the stairs and out of the door. Once back outside on the clearing, the sun shining down on them it only took him a moment before turning around and running toward the only place she could be, no she had to be. The wood that closed of the cave did almost not withstand the assault of Pinecone as he pushed the door open with all his force, the wood groaning under the pressure.
He could see the torches and candles illuminating the path, someone was already here. It just had to be her, no one else could or would have done this. “Emerald!” he screamed once again, the sounds of his voice bouncing off the walls back at him, but no response.
That was the moment his brain could no longer hold his emotions in check, unbridled fear overtaking every fiber of his being. He refuses to even acknowledge the idea that something might have happened to Emerald. The notion was just absurd, right?
Just moments had passed until the steps of the heavy armor echoed through the cave, drawing ever closer and closer to the end. Blood was rushing through his head as he stormed forward, almost tripping several times as he went further and further. Then it happened, or at least he thought it did, a voice. A voice was calling out for him. The voice was confused and mixed in with a little bit of fear and uncertainty. Then he heard it again, but this time much clearer. She was calling out to him, and not too far off, getting ever louder and more precise. Once again he screamed the name of his sister and this time he actually received an answer.
“Pinecone? Pinecone what is going on?”
This was all he received, but it was unmistakable, it was Emerald. It was as if a large boulder had fallen from his heart that had previously threatened to crush it. With newfound ease, he rushed towards the origin of the voice. All the worries and fears melting away with every step he made. It was almost like he had been moving through a blizzard and was finally beginning to warm up. As he passed the last corner, he almost ran right into her, only coming to a halt right in front of her, Emerald looking at him in a mixture of shock, fear, and confusion.
“What in Gaia’s name is going on? Did something happen? Pinecone, say something?” She said, looking at him like he was out of his mind. He, however, remained silent, looking at her with an expression of calm and peacefulness that was strangely out of place in the whole situation. Still, not like she could actually see him behind his helmet.
“Are you ok?” Was all he asked, the red eyes staring at her, hiding the true expression he wore behind them.
She looked at him for a moment before she shook her head and returned: “Yeah, I’m fine, but what gives? Did something happen? Speak to me, and I mean actually speak to me, face to face, not behind your helmet. I prefer to actually see what you think instead of looking into these eyes, the kind gives me the heebie-jeebies,” she finishes with a slight shudder as she looked at him with a certain look of uncertainty.
Pinecone stared back before sighing and removing the Driver from his waist, returning him to his normal form. “So, happy now?” He said with a low growl, one Emerald didn’t entirely buy into.
“Yeah, better, but now tell me, what in Gaia's name has gotten into you? You look like she actually appeared in front of you and told you to move a mountain or something. So, come on, don’t hide it from me, I want to know,” she returned with the faintest ghost of a smile, something strangely soothing for Pinecone.
“I… You… I just had to come back. It doesn’t matter why I just had to. Got that? Now get back home and don’t ask me again,” he said, his eyes avoiding the gaze of Emeralds.
She just looked at him, like he had gone insane. “Are you kidding me? You really think I would just listen to you like this? No further questions, no, just accept what you say? Really? I’m not you little servant you can just boss around! I want to know what got you so spooked and nothing besides the truth will satisfy me! You always keep everything from me! Never tell me, just expect that I follow orders. No rhyme or reason, just tradition, and responsibility! I’ve had enough! Either you learn to let me make my own decisions, or I’ve had enough!” She growled, her eyes piercing through his soul, like a burning dagger. “If you can’t give me a good explanation I’m out! And don’t even think that I won’t go through with it! This is long overdone! Either you treat me like a fucking adult, or I’m gone!”
Thoughts, dozens upon dozens of thoughts surged through his mind, some of which told him to tell her the truth, that she was right, they were weak at first but grew louder with every word she threw at him. But then were the others, the worried ones, the ones that knew she couldn’t handle it, couldn’t bear the fear and terror, the danger she was in, all because he wanted to play hero. These voices slowly grow stronger again, turning from a mumbling into a loud screaming, louder and louder until they completely drowned out the other voices.
“I can’t! I just can’t…” he said in a defeated tone, his arms hanging by his side like wet towels. His eyes were staring at the dimly lit ground beneath him, as far away from her gaze as possible.
“What do you mean you can’t? I’m an adult! I can make my own decisions! I’m not some precious little flour that can’t take care of herself! You hear me? I’m capable of living my own life! And if there is something that might affect me I have every right to know! But if you can’t accept that…” she huffed, letting her foot stomp on the ground, snapping Pinecone out of his own thoughts as she passed by him, straight towards the door. “Goodbye!”
The voice was cold, but at the same time filled with a burning hatred that seeped through every bit of it. For a moment he could only look in shock as she passed by him, taking step after step, further and further away from him. After she had made a few steps something clicked inside his head, his hand shooting towards her and clasping firmly shut around her wrist. “No!” Pinecone sounded determined, unshakable, but his hand, his hand was shaking.
“What do you mean no?” emerald shouted back at him, trying desperately to free her arm from his grasp. “You can’t decide that! I’m walking my own path! Just like Phoenix! He is a better man than you will ever be, he actually understands me!”
These words were like daggers in his heart, piercing, burning and agonizing. He felt the gripü on her loss, his resolve crumbles like an old ruin as the thoughts clouded his judgment. Thoughts of doubt, disappointment, and betrayals. But they were quickly brushed aside by what he knew was the truth, the danger, the responsibility, the duty, all of it couldn't allow this, even if she didn’t understand, this was for the best. It was, right?
“No! You will listen! You are going back into your room and stay there until I say otherwise! And that is the end of that! Did I make myself clear?” He said, trying his hardest to prevent his voice from cracking.
“No! You can’t make me!” Emerald tried once again to free herself, but her efforts were all for not. “You only care for yourself! Let me live my own life damn it!”
That was the moment they heard another voice interrupt them, a voice Pinecone didn’t want to hear right now at all. Phoenix! “Hey, Pinecone? Are you in here? We wanted to talk to you!”
Before he could scream something back in return Emerald interrupted him and just screamed: “Help!”
Within moment Phoenix screamed back, worry clearly audible in his voice: “I’ll be right there!” What followed were the sounds of echoing footsteps as he dashed through the narrow corridors of the shrine, almost stumbling over his own two feet, until he finally passed around the next corner. What he saw took him by surprise, Pinecone tightly holding onto Emerald's arm, all while she was desperately struggling to get loss.
“What in all Tartarus is even going on here?” He said, just continuing to stare at him. Just moments later Ocean joined him, dashing around the corner as well, staring at him with the same look.
“This is none of your business. Get back to your city, you have a maniac to catch, so don’t bother me,” Pinecone grumbled back, tugging on Emerald's wrist, before starting to walk towards them, or more precisely around them.
“Oh no, I want to know what is going on here. And no such thing like ‘family traditions’, or something similarly idiotic will stop me from finding out. Emerald screamed for help, something has to be up. Are you even who you claim to be? Maybe you are a shapeshifting Corrupted?” He shot back, stepping in between Pinecone and his exit.
Before Pinecone could bark something else at him, Emerald finally regained her composure: “Help! He has completely lost it and won’t let go of me!” The terror in her voice let a cold shiver run down Phoenix spine, just starting t him in disbelief.
“Excuse me? Pinecone, what are you doing?”
“Doesn’t concern you in the slightest. This is the burden of my family, and I don’t need a second-grade hero for that. I can deal with this on my own! You go back to the city, wouldn’t want Gold starting anything after we almost caught him,” he said, the coldness in his voice sounding even more aggressive than usual like he was playing it up. “My responsibilities are here, yours are down in the city. And believe me, you wouldn’t want that to happen. So leave us alone, we don’t need your help!”
Phoenix just stared at him. What was his deal? This was so unlike him, or at least to an extent, sure he could be unpleasant, but this? This was a whole nother level. Something was definitely off. “Pinecone, if you don’t let go of your sister this instant…” he hissed, staring daggers at him.
“Then what? You are on my land, my home, my responsibility and if you endanger it I have every right to throw you two out, with force if I have to,” the man returned, his eyes burning with anger.
That anger was slowly starting to spark something in Phoenix, he knew he shouldn’t, but the urge of screaming back at him was slowly rising, and he probably would have done precisely that if Ocean wouldn’t have spoken up. “Enough! We aren’t some kind of thugs that solve everything with screaming and violence! Phoenix, don’t do anything you would regret later.” He just huffed and gazed down towards the floor, trying to avoid Pinecone as bets as possible. “And you Pinecone! Please, just tell us what the problem is. Did something happen in the warehouse? We want to help you and if you don’t tell us everything you know we can’t. And in all honesty, we can’t just let you take emerald without at least knowing what you have planned,” she finished with a surprisingly somber tone and worried expression she gave Emerald, one that calmed her down a bit.
“I… I can’t,” he returned, his voice weak and frail, taking Phoenix by surprise as well as ocean and Emerald.
“Pinecone, you can tell us. We want to help you, but you have to talk to us,” she continued, Pinecone still trying his best to avoid her gaze. “Has it something to do with your sister?” This let him step back, glaring at her in a mixture of anger and shook, something Emerald noticed as well. “I knew it. That look is one I know well enough, I have seen him on Phoenix a few times already and trust me, I know how it feels when something like this involves your family or the people you care most about, so please just talk with us. We just want to help.” With that, she extended her hand out towards him, and towards his shoulder.
But before she could put her open hand on it, he stepped back, glaring at her. “Ok, fine, if you really want it, you can have it! But everything that follows is one you!” His voice was filled with anger. “It’s Chrysopoeia! He threatened both Emerald and the shrine! Happy now! Now she knows and is utterly terrified about it. I could have simply protected her here, and everything would have been fine, but no, you just had to-“
That was as far as he got before he was rudely interrupted by A sudden pain in his cheek, one that knocked him to the ground, only getting worse by the second. Over him stood Phoenix, it was like fire was burning in his eyes as he stared down at him, his expression twisted into a mask of pure anger. “What the actual fuck?” His voice was low but filled with pure fury. “Who the hell do you think you are? She has a damn right to know this! She is a damn adult!”
“Phoenix,” she stuttered, still taken aback by the whole development.
“Who I think I am?” Pinecone hissed as he held his cheek. “I’m the guardian of this forest, the Knight of Gaia Everfree and most importantly I’m her brother! I do this to protect my family and its legacy, you have no right to criticize me! You have no idea what it really means to uphold a family tradition like this, you never gave a rats ass about yours. You are pathetic, pretending to be responsible for her, she is my responsibility! I have entertained you long enough, fought by your side, but now I can’t. If I have to choose between the city and the protection of the forest, there is only one right answer!” He barked back, pushing himself off the ground and grabbing ahold of Phoenix jacket, both just centimeters apart from each other, their furious eyes staring at each other with an intensity that was just uncomfortable. “And if you think I will just abandon that duty like you did yours you are sorely mistaken. I will protect Emerald and this shrine! Emerald! We are leaving!”
He pushed Phoenix back, the Rider almost falling onto his back as he stumbled backward, only Ocean managing to catch him. However, after the first two steps, he turned around, staring at his sister who hadn’t moved an inch. “Emerald!” That was all he could manage before the sound of a loud slap echoed through the shrine.
She had slapped him, tears running down her cheeks. “No,” she said, her voice week and sobbing. “No!” This time far more determined. “No, I won’t go with you! Phoenix is right! This is my choice, mine! You hear that I have a right to know! I’m not a damn child anymore Pinecone! I can and want to make my own decisions and if you can’t accept that then… Then… Then that is it,” she finished, another tear running down her cheek. “Phoenix, would… would you protect me from Chrysopoeia.”
Silence filled the shrine for a few moments, everyone just staring at Emerald, most of all Pinecone, unable to process what had happened right now.
“Ok.” That was all he said, all he could say. “I’ll do it.”
Pinecone turned around and was about to grab Phoenix by his jacket as Emerald once again raised her voice. “Stop!” Before she continued, she had to take another breath. “This isn’t his fault, it’s yours. If you really wanted to protect me, then you should have told me. When you actually realize that this wasn’t ok, I’ll be open for an apology, but until then… We are finished!” She said the last word with such determination and finality that Pinecone visibly deflated, his anger disappearing in seconds.
“Emerald…”
“No! I don’t want to see you right now,” she returned, trying desperately to not start crying once again before she rushed past them and toward the exit. Pinecone could just look after her, every step he could hear like a hammer shattering his hearth.
Phoenix and Ocean did loom after her as well, at least for a moment before sharing a quick look and nodded soberly. “We’ll be leaving. Hope you get to your sense eventually,” Phoenix said dismissively. “Thought you had finally started to grow a little but seems I was wrong.” With that, he started to walk after her, not without giving him a very disappointed look before he passed the next corner.
“Don’t worry, we’ll take care of her for you,” Ocean said before she also left him.
Here he was, alone, abandoned in the cave. He could hear the door to the shrine shut close from afar, the ultimate sign that they had left. He had no drive to stand back up again, why should he? The floor felt good, not like there was any reason for him to do right now anyway.
He didn’t know how long he had spent in the shrine, time just seemed entirely out of whack. He just knew that over the time he had spend down in the shrine the weather had changed, a heavy rain now falling down upon the forest ground.
“Well, that didn’t go so well, did it?”
Within an instant, his hazy mind cleared of the fog that had clouded it. He knew that voice, he knew the voice oh so well. He could feel how the anger pushed his body forward, off the ground and directly towards the origin of the sound, that oh so familiar voice.
“Oh, happy to see me or what?” The man said, his smugness just using out of every word he spoke as he stepped out of the shadow. “Or just need someone to beat up because of your failures?”
Pinecones blood was boiling, glaring at the man in his lab coat, stepping through the sanctuary he was tasked with protecting like he owned it. Shadow Gold, how much his face was gasoline for his anger. Around his waist, the Driver had already been placed.
“As much as I hate to do that, I offer you the chance to leave this forest and this sanctuary. If you do so, you have the blessing of Gaia Everfree. She does consider fighting inside her sanctuary. But, by Gaia I hope you decline,” he growled, the pain and sadness quickly being turned into anger. It was his fault, all his fault and if he was lucky, he would finally get his revenge.
“Tsk, oh do I now? How laughable, I can clearly see that you just wait for the time to kill me, or at least try to. I can see it in your eyes, the shimmer of revenge. Really, if you would have just stayed out of this, we wouldn’t have a problem. You don’t like Alchemy as well but still chose to fight with him. Why exactly? I don’t have any business with you, so why pull this all on yourself?”
With a low growl, Pinecone returned: “Because you people came to me. You tried to steal what belongs to my family, I just protect this forest and my legacy, so I had to become preemptive.”
“Oh, believe me when I tell you, I never cared much for your Driver or this forest. You know, I would have left you alone, if not for the fact that you are an unknown variable.” And with that he pulled out his Philosopher Stone and placed it into the Driver, Pinecone following suit and activating his own.
\ PHILOSOPHER STONE DETECTED! /
“Henshin!”
\ EUREKA! /
\ UNLEASHE THE MONSTER! /
“Henshin!”
\ AWAKEN: CHIMERA! /
>-------<A>-------<
The silence, the silence was the worst. One could drop a pin, and you hear it on the other side of the room, even if it was filled with five people, no one dared to speak a single word. Emerald sat in one of Ocean’s office chair. She looked awful, her eyes bloodshot, but at least she had stopped crying. Her eyes were fixated on the floor.
“I’m sorry.” That were the words that broke the silence. They were spoken with a low voice, one filled with regret, no anger, no malice, just regret. All the eyes in the room instantly shifted towards Phoenix who was leaning against the wall between some of the bookshelves. “I shouldn’t have exploded like that.”
Emerald looked at him with a shocked expression, before weakly shaking her head, a single tear traveling down her cheek. “No. You shouldn’t be. You were right, everything you said. I’m an adult, and I made the decision myself, and not a single one of you is at fault here. I’m the one to blame.”
“No, you did nothing wrong. I definitely did. There was no reason to punch him, I just couldn’t keep my emotions in check, that is all,” he weakly returned. “What if I had done that with my armor? I… No, this isn’t important right now. You are hurting, not me.”
“Phoenix…” Ocean weakly said to herself.
“I... I… Thank you,” Emerald returned, wiping away one of the tears that had started to run down her face.
“So, what are you gonna do now? You can’t really go back now, can you? At least not right now,” Shining said, looking at them with a worried look. “And with the fact that you are the sister of a Kamen Rider, that paints a target on your back.”
Ocean just sighed before stepping closer towards Emerald and laying her hand on her shoulder before stating with a soothing voice: “Don’t worry, we’ll figure something out. You can just stay a bit at my house, Phoenix just has to stay at home for a while, I’m sure he would be ok with that, right?”
Phoenix looked at her for a moment before chuckling: “Sure, not like I have much of a choice anyway. If Ocean decides something, she is set in her path anyway.”
“You know me too well Phoenix,” she returned with a slight smirk. “But only if you want Emerald.”
The girl looked at them, tears in her eyes and a bright smile on her lips “Thank you, thank you so much. By Gaia, I never knew people could be so nice." Without any kind of warning, she shoots forward and swings her arms around a quite startled Ocean. “Thank you, thank you! I hope I won’t annoy you for too long until Pinecone comes to his senses.”
“I don’t want to sound pessimistic, but are you sure he will? I mean he always goes on about his forest and the fact that he basically said we should protect the city ourself doesn’t make him realize he is an idiot more likely,” Phoenix said, raising an eyebrow.
Ocean shoots him a quick glance, but before she could actually say anything, she was interrupted by Emerald. “Because I know he will miss it. He hasn’t been happier in ages. As much as he wants to deny it, he enjoys protecting people. I know him, and he grew to love it. A shame he couldn’t actually admit it and accept that he might have made a mistake.”
“Huh, the old grump actually enjoying helping people? That does sound ridiculous actually, but not unwelcome.” He was about to add something as another sound rudely interrupted him, the sound of clapping.
“Bravo, bravo. Such a beautiful story, so heartbreaking, really,” an oh so familiar voice said. All eyes in the room were on him within seconds, Checkbook! The monster, clad in his metallic armor and the skeletal head with its horn glaring at them. He looked relaxed, two other figures standing next to him. The first one was the corrupted from before, keeping an eye on Emerald, something that both Riders noticed immediately. And the second component he had brought along, Alkahest, clad in his strongest armor, spear, and shield in hand. “Too bad, it won’t have a happy ending.” He merely pointed at them, the Corrupted dashing forward right towards Emerald.
Ocean was the first to react, sprinting towards their friend in a mad dash, tackling her to the ground mere moments before the vicious claws of the Corrupted could cleave into her. The wind was rushing past her as the claws missed them by mere centimeters. Then she heard the glass behind her shattering and the terrifying howls of the Corrupted as it plummeted to its death.
Or at least that was what she thought. She had jumped up from Emerald, Shining already next to the girl and calming her down as she rushed next to Phoenix who had pulled out his Driver. Both were about to activate their respective belts as right in front of them a red portal appeared and moments later, the Corrupted jumping out, his claws ready to tear them apart.
They each jumped to the side, barely avoiding the surprise attack, the cOrrupted coming to a screeching halt just mere centimeters from the window and gave off a vicious roar.
\ PHILOSOPHER STONE DETECTED! /
\ SCANNING CHARGE! /
“Henshin!”
\ HEUREKA! /
\ 100, 150, 200! OVER CHARGE! /
Without waiting even a second, she swung her gun towards the wall and with one shoot obliterated it, opening a path to the next room. “Shining, Light Bulb, get Emerald out of here!” Both looked at her dumbfounded for a moment, Light Bulb more scared than anything, before nodding and pushing Emerald towards the new opening. “And you don’t even get ideas!” She spat out before dashing towards and slamming the rear end of her gun into the chest of the Corrupted.
Meanwhile, Phoenix had attacked Checkbook, slamming his fist into the armor of the Corrupted. Or at least, that was what he had tried to do, his fist having been caught in the metallic claws of his opponent. “Oh, that was all? I thought you would be a bit tougher,” he chuckled, trying to hide the apparent strain in his voice. “But one thing that doesn’t surprise me is the fact that you left yourself wide open.”
Seemingly out of nowhere a black figure appeared behind him and brought its spear down on him, sparks flying off his back as agonizing pain filled his body. What was even worse was that in between his pained screams he felt Checkbook push him back, right into the spear of Alkahest. At first, it was nothing more than the pressure, the immense and inhuman pressure as his body was pressed against the tip of the spear, only his armor shielding him from any further damage. This, however, was not to last as he could hear the armor arching and bending under the newfound pressure. Then he felt it, the sharp pain of the spear, the pressure and sharpness digging into his skin, at least a little bit. He screamed like he had never before screamed in his life. This spear was some of the worst pain in his entire life, slowly digging further and further into his body.
But before the invader could dig further into him the presser from the front suddenly disappeared, the Rider being shoved forward and almost landing on his stomach. After finally catching himself he turned around, only to immediately pull his hands above his head, catching Alkahest’s spear in between his arms he had crossed over his head. Acting on pure instinct, he pushed the weapon back and dashed immediately after him, slamming his fist into the stomach of Alkahest, who stumbled backward, almost dropping his own weapons.
He was about to follow his attack again, only for the sharp pain in his back to return, letting him stop dead in his tracks. But unlike before he didn’t feel any pressure, just the pain, small drops of blood landing beneath him on the floor. In the corner of his eyes, he could see Checkbook getting back on his feet, clutching a burned part of his armor. Apparently, Ocean had managed to shoot him of Alchemy, he had to thank her later for that, but right now, he had other things to worry about. While Alkahest was regaining his composure, he ripped the Magic Disc from his Driver and activated it.
\ Philosopher Stone Attack Mode! /
\ Magnum Opus! /
With the weapon now formed in his hands, he felt a part of his pain subsiding, all thanks to the fact that he could somewhat relieve his back by leaning on the spear. His hand shook as he reached up to punch several buttons in, all while Alkahest had started to dash at him.
\ WATER! /
\ WIND! /
\ WATER! /
\ FREINDSHIP! /
Alchemy managed to hit the last button just right before Alkahest could strick him once again, and instead dodged out of the way, all while green energy started to surround him. Within seconds the pain had vanished and just right in time before Alkahest brought his weapon down on him, Phoenix easily able to deflect the attack and send the Dark Rider staggering back, right next to his two comrades.
“Oh, now it’s on!” He hissed, Ocean having stepped next to him, aiming her gun at the three opponents, all while Alchemy firmly gripped his spear.
>-------<A>-------<
With a loud crash, a white mass burst through the entrance of the shrine, the wooden door being utterly demolished by the mass and power of it. Out of the debris and dust, two shapes rose from the ground, Monster, and Chrysopoeia. Both had scratch marks all over their body and were glaring daggers at each other. Both were breathing heavily only for Monster to dash forward in the blink of an eye.
Chrysopoeia grabbed the spear that had fallen next to him and managed to jam it between the claws of the Rider and himself. Sparks flew everywhere as he was pushed back, Monster continuing his assault with a loud roar and a mad rush forward. The claw almost connected, slashing across his chest if not for the fact that Chrysopoeia turned his spear around and swung it in the direction of his opponent. Both the claw and the weapon clashed, the rainy forest illuminated by the bright light the sparks gave of as they clashed. Each of them was forced backward, almost toppling over as they tried to regain their footing.
Chrysopoeia was the first to regain any sort of balance, by slamming his spear into the ground beside him and using it as a launching point to deliver a quick kick to Monster’s stomach, the Rider staggering back even more while growling in pain. But the Dark Rider wasn’t finished, continuing his attack with another swing of his spear that cleanly slashed across the Rider’s chest, followed up by yet another strike.
Pinecones chest had meanwhile felt like he had been used as a chew toy for a giant monster. His breath grew more and more irregular, his vision becoming more and more blurry with every passing second and his legs were on the verge of surrendering altogether. This couldn’t be the end, right?
No! He wouldn’t just lay down and die here, he would fight till the last breath had left his lungs. Just as Chrysopoeia was about to ram his weapon into his chest he let out anear bursting roar, his helmet glowing in a bright green and every raindrop around them was pushed to the side. In an instant, his vision was restored, and the pain subsided, slipping in the background, joining the fall of the rain as background noise. He could just see Chrysopoeia being flung off his feet and smashed into a nearby tree that collapsed on top of him. New energy flowed through his veins, the thoughts slowly draining from his mind as he felt his muscles filling with the newfound power.
Opening his claws, he raced forward, jumping towards Chrysopoeia who could only watch in shock as the Rider swung his claws, throwing the spear out of his hands and clasp one of them firmly around his neck. He felt himself being lifted off the ground, only the glowing red eyes and the low breath of his opponent in his mind, desperately struggling to get loss. With every passing second, the claws dug deeper and deeper into his neck, the sound of cracking armor accompanying his slow loss of breath.
Monster was just about to stab his claws into the chest of his opponent as Chrysopoeia finally managed to order his thoughts, kicking the other Rider firmly into his chest, sending him flying. His landing, however, was not as comfortable as he had wished, landing instead roughly on the wet dirt below him, coughing and gasping for air.
The sound of Monster crawling back up just a few meters away was also clearly audible, the sound of a wild beast clawing for solid ground, intersected with growls and grunts from him. Chrysopoeia stared at him as he heard himself of the earth, his hands covered in mud, but this did not in any way impede him, the fire in his eyes clearly directed at him. What Monster, however, had not noticed was the seal on his chest, white, almost disappearing under the armor if not for the mudstains it had already been covered in. As the Rider dashed towards him with an bursting scream he held out his hand, a sadistic glee taken over his lips, covered by his helmet.
Within seconds the seal burst into a cocoon of ice, one that consumed the Rider quicker than he could react, turning him into a perfect little ice statue, the rain around him freezing solid at the same time. He had done it, not that there was ever any doubt that he wouldn’t. Monster was frozen solid, right in front of him, as helpless as a puppy. Finally, he could get rid of him, and after that, eventually bring down Alchemy, down to the depths of Tartarus he deserved. With a mad shimmer in his eyes, he staggered forward towards his spear. “Now, feel my wrath. If you had just stood by, this wouldn’t have happened!” He hissed, in between pushing one of the gems on the weapon.
\ THUNDER! /
The weapon was sparking with immense energy, every raindrop that dared to come too close was quickly turned to steam, the Dark Rider holding the weapon ready to strike. A precisely that he did letting an arc of a lightning shot towards his opponent, one that consumed the icy prison in bright light, several rouge bolts actually hitting several trees around him, letting them collapse like broken toothpicks.
The sound of a body hitting the dirt was like music to his ears, casually walking towards his victim. “Well, that was it then. Shame that your family legacy ends here,” he chuckled.
Lifting the spear up, he was about to strike it through the hearth of Pinecone as the seemingly unconcise armor sprung back to life, wings sprouting from its back and the Rider dashing towards him. Completely take of guard he felt the full weight of the Rider as he was slammed against tree after tree only for the sensation to be overshadowed by the sudden surge of lightning that was passing through him and his Driver. Shadow’s pain filled screams filled the air, echoing through the tree. With one final scream, he brought his elbow down on his opponent, both of them quickly losing altitude and crashing into the ground below.
Two pairs of red eyes stared at each other, partially covered in dirt, only a few meters apart. Neither of them was finished yet, and no one was willing to surrender. With new screams the once again dashed towards each other.
>-------<A>-------<
The fight had progressed rather nicely, the two Riders not relenting even a little bit. They had managed to knock back every attempt their three opponents had made, and while it seemed that Checkbook and Platinum were not really worse for wear, the Corrupted had taken a few good hits. He wasn’t as much as an energy bundle like before, but still, he was quite creative. Whether they thought they finish him off, he just slipped out of their reach. But what seemed somewhat odd was the fact that he was still here, even though he was already partially limping.
Phoenix was right now wrestling with Checkbook, his weapon thrown to the side. Both of them seemed equally matched and were struggling to not lose the upper hand. All while Ocean was preoccupied with the Corrupted, trying to hit it with her gun, but even when the thing was injured, it was still fast enough to escape her attacks. And every time she tried to help Alchemy, the thing just got in the way, primarily through cheap attacks to her back.
They had been at this for far too long, Ocean clearly feeling the exhaustion sinking into her with every passing second. They had to finish this sooner rather than later. She pressed the trigger once again, her gun unleashing a fury of shots that headed straight for the Corrupted, finally looking like she was to hit him. Then she noticed he folly. The monster grinned, and a portal opened up under his feet, swallowing whole. And then it just came worse, a second portal open just where he had stood, and it didn’t take long for her own attack to be swallowed up by it.
The next moments were agonizing, she knew precisely what the Corrupted had planned for her, but no idea from where he would attack. Every little bit of movement freaked her out, and in the end, it didn’t even make a difference when she felt the burning pain in her back, knocking her off her feet, weapon falling to the side. Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see the Corrupted falling from the ceiling and dash towards her with a mad grin.
Alchemy, however, was far more occupied with his own opponent, who was still holding strong against him, not having budged an inch. If this kept on, he would be exhausted before he could deliver the finishing blow. “Alkahest! Now!” Checkbook shouted in between their struggle.
However, even after a few seconds nothing, no attack, no sign of the Dark Rider, just nothing. “Alkahest? Where in the name of Tartarus are you?” He barked out, but once again, nothing. This was it, this was the moment he had been waiting for, within a split second Alchemy had pushed back the Corrupted, who was still in some sort of shock state. Through this newfound opportunity, he managed to win the upper hand and follow up with a switch kick that sent Checkbook flying right out of the window.
He was about to dash after him when he noticed the situation Ocean had found herself in. The Corrupted had already reached her and kicked the downed Rider across the room, luckily enough, right next to her gun. Before the monster could strike once again, Phoenix rushed across the room with his super speed and delivered a punch right to his stomach, a punch that was only enhanced by the speed of his opponent. “Get him! Now!” That was all he screamed at Ocean who quickly grabbed ahold of her gun and aimed, all while Phoenix flicked with his fingers once again, turning the seal he had left on the Corrupted chest into a new cocoon of ice that turned him into a statue.
\ Maximum Charge! /
The Corrupted could only look at them in horror as the energy blast hit him, shattering the ice in the process and punching through several walls until the room was consumed in a massive explosion, leaving the unconfessed man behind, a pair of red and blue scissors next to him. “Well, that was that. But where did Alkahest go?” Phoenix sighed after deactivating his Driver.
Ocean was about to respond as another voice interrupted them, Shining. “Ocean, Phoenix! We have readings coming from the forest! It’s Chrysopoeia!” Within seconds their relaxing expressions turned into pure terror.
“So that was what they tried to do here! Fuck!” Ocean hissed before shouting over to Shining: “Take care of our little criminal here!” All while already rushing past him.
>-------<A>-------<
Meanwhile, the fight had waged on, the clearing around Pinecones house was almost unrecognizable. Toppled trees littered the area, broken pieces of rocks were scattered all over, and the ground had been decimated and left in shambles, craters everywhere. And amidst all this chaos Monster and Chrysopoeia were staring at each other. Their armors were battered and bruised, cracks and dents covering them like they had been shot at with one thousand cannonballs.
Both were staring each other down, Chrysopoeia’s spear having been impaled in one of the nearby trees, each one was breathing heavily, their arms hanging limply at their side. Still, there was not a single sign that any of them would give up. This fight wasn’t over just yet. “Why don’t you just give up and die already?” Gold said, completely out of breath.
“Because I don’t have the permission to die yet!” Monster hissed back, clearly just as exhausted as his opponent. “And because I won’t entrust this burden onto someone who doesn’t deserve it!”
“Oh, sweet Celestia, can you stop it with this damn bullshit already! What do I care about this, about the opinion of someone else? The only person that counts is me!” With a loud roar, he dashed forward, his fist ready for another round. Monster just growled and ran ahead as well.
When both their fists clashed the following shockwave pushed the rain around them away purely through the immense strength of the attacks, only for Chrysopoeia to be thrown back once again, the armor around his arms cracking even further.
While Monster had barely managed to remain standing, he was not prepared for what followed next. Once again, electricity surged through his body, traveling up his arm from the point where Chrysopoeia had hit him. With an agonizing scream, he sunk to his knees, all while his breath got heavier and heavier.
With a loud grunt, Chrysopoeia pushed himself off the ground and staggered towards his weapon. With an exhausting pull, he freed it from its imprisonment, the spear quickly turning back into the Philosopher Stone. He placed the Disc back into his Driver, his hand shaking like never before. What he however completely missed was the fact that his Driver had started to once again spar a little bit.
Monster meanwhile had pushed through the pain, staring directly at his opponent. Both Riders activated their Drivers once again, ready to finish this here and now.
\ Philosopher Stone Maximum Power! /
\ ROAR: CHIMERA! /
Monster and Chrysopoeia both jumped into the air, all of Monster’s beasts gathering into him as well as Chrysopoeia performing a version of Alchemy’s finisher, just with black wings and black lines instead of golden ones. They rocketed towards each other, the impact like nothing they had ever felt. Their feet felt like they were about to be crushed, but none of them was willing to surrender. With every passing second, the energy gathered more and more around there feet until…
The entire forest was consumed by a bright light, followed by one of the loudest explosions any of the two had ever heard. His body was immediately struck by energy, surging through him like he wasn’t even there before Pinecone was thrown back and landed roughly on the ground. He could feel his armor shatter around him, the pain all over his body only now setting in. He felt like he had been cooked alive and with every second it just got worse. He couldn’t see, he could only feel the pain that had taken over his body, all while every other sense was slowly fading.
Shadow Gold hadn’t faired any better, actually even worse. His stomach was plastered with small little metal shards from his Driver which had fallen of his waist after it had exploded. His Magic Discs laying around him. He could feel the warm blood soaking his clothing.
Before everything, however, could settle in they were both caught off guard by loud clapping. “Bravo, bravo! Finally! After so long I have finally won!” The voice was one Shadow Gold immediately recognized, Platinum.
“He… Help me…” He managed to stammer while desperately trying to hold his blood inside of his body.
“Help you?” He chuckled before starting to laugh like he had heard the funniest joke ever. “Why should I help you bastard? I’m finally rid of you!” He said with such glee it let Pinecones hairs stand up and even ignore the pain for one moment, only for it to return immediately after, and this time from inside of his stomach, his bloody scream echoing through the whole forest.
The new arrival had stepped closer towards Shadow Gold and was about to kneel down beside him as he heard the scream of the second Rider. “I would say I’m sorry that it had to come this way, but I don’t want to lie. I have lied far too long already, to myself and everyone around me. I, however, want to thank you Pinecone. Without you, this would have never been possible. Only because of you and your tenacity did the Driver reach the limit I had build into it. If you hadn’t fought so hard, my trap would have never snapped. Because of that, I thank you, from the bottom of my heart. It ‘s a bit sad that you have to pay with your life for it, but this had to be done. Don’t worry, the magic that destroyed your body won’t take long to claim your life, I give you about two more minutes, so you can be glad that you don’t have to suffer for too long,” Platinum finished with a calmness that drove the fear and terror even deeper into Pinecone’s hearth.
Did he tell the truth? Would he really die here? Was there really no hope? And if he truly told the truth who would take care of… That was when another surge of pain took hold of him, his eyes slowly losing the limited sight they had regained after all of this and the taste of blood in his mouth. With every passing second, he could feel the warmth slip further and further out of his body.
“Why…?” Gold croaked, desperately trying to grab ahold of Platinum’s leg.
The Dark rider just threw him a look of utter disgust and without as much as a second though slammed his foot into his stomach, driving the metal shards even deeper into the body, followed by Gold spitting blood. “Why? You ask why? You know why!” He screamed. “I’m no longer your slave you slimy bastard! I’m finally free of you and your insane revenge. Something my mom never could be thanks to you! I can finally decide my own path. Good riddance to you!” With that, he grabbed hold of the Philosopher Stone next to Gold, and within seconds the rest of the Disc started to hover towards him and into his hand. “May your last moments be the most painful on this earth.”
And with that, he started to walk away. He hadn't even walked a few meters when the life drifted out of Shadow Gold’s eyes, leaving nothing more than a bloody corpse behind, his eyes dead and filled with fear and shock, accompanied by the shattering of the purple necklaces around his neck. He couldn’t say he cared much, well at least for Shadow Gold and not at all when he felt the life slowly leaving him. He tried to convince his body that he couldn’t die just yet, but it was a losing battle. His last thoughts were not ones of anger over his defeat, worry about his responsibility or fear. No, they were only directed at Emerald and the regret he now felt. “I’m… I’m sorry…” With these last words, his world turned black, the feeling in his body subsiding, surprisingly welcome after the pain he had suffered. The last thing he felt was the soft touch of the raindrops on his face before everything was no more…
>-------<A>-------<
Their bikes echoed through the woods as they raced towards the house. The wet mud under their wheels didn’t make it any easier. They had already nearly slipped two times, but time was of the essence. Whatever Shadow gold had planned he would succeed if they were too slow. Then it ultimately appeared through the rows of trees, the house. What they, however, saw when they came closer was not what they had wished for, it was far worse than their worst nightmares. The house itself was ruined, walls filled with holes and most windows had been shattered, but everything around it was even worse. Trees had been toppled, stones crushed and the ground demolished.
And in the midst of all oft, two bodies. Phoenix blood froze within his veins. He recognized both of them. Without any regard to his bike, he threw it to the side and dashed over towards them, an expression of utter shock etched onto his face. Ocean followed right after him, a similar expression to his.
With every step, they came closer their blood froze more and more until it was almost impossible to breathe. Ocean passed him and immediately rushed towards Shad… Ivory. Her expression hurt to look at, the utter terror was unmistakably carved into every fiber of her being as she taped onto his neck. Nothing, absolutely nothing besides the wet, cold body. Phoenix just sunk to the ground next to Pinecone and repeated what Ocean had just done, nothing, just as cold as Ivory.
He hadn’t even noticed the tears that were running down his face until they had reached his cheeks. His heart felt like it was about to explode every moment from now, only interrupted by his sobs. He still couldn’t really grasp what had happened, it felt so unreal. Just gone, like nothing.
Before he could think any more about this, his thoughts were interrupted by the loud sobs of Ocean. He looked up from the remains of his friend and over to her, her head buried in Ivory’s chest. He sighed before turning around one last time and whispered: “I’m so sorry my friend,” before closing the yes of Pinecone.
Every step felt heavy and sluggish like all energy had suddenly left his body. When he kneeled down next to Ocean, it felt like a relive in a way. He hesitated for a moment before laying his arm around her, she winced for a moment before she calmed down once again. With a loud cry, she pretty much threw herself into his chest, warm tears soaking his already wet shirt. He just tightened his embrace even more. “Let it out, just let it out,” his own tears joined hers soon after.