Adagio honestly didn’t even know why she was doing this.
Uva had been her enemy! And yet here she found herself on a canoe rowing not out to sea, but out to the middle of an otherwise barren fish tank with a small jar of Uva’s cells. Sonata was on one side of her, and Aria was on the other, with Yua right behind them, all three on surfboards. Hawaiian traditional funerals and all.
She knew they were looking at her in concern, she could feel their eyes boring into the back of her skull even as she paddled out to the center of the tank. It was no ocean, but it would do.
It wasn’t long before they reached the center, and Adagio took a deep breath. She wasn’t exactly a reverend, but it would have to do.
“Na ‘Aumakua mai ka la hiki a ka la kau!
Mai ka ho’oku’i a ka halawai
Na ‘Aumakua ia Kahinakua, ia Kahina’alo
Ia ka’a ‘akau i ka lani
‘O kiha i ka lani
‘Owe i ka lani
Nunulu i ka lani
Kaholo i ka lani
Eia na pulapula a ‘oukou ‘o ka po’e Hawai’i
E malama ‘oukou ia makou
E ulu i ka lani
E ulu i ka honua
E ulu i ka pae’aina o Hawai’i
“E ho mai i ka ‘ike
E ho mai i ka ikaika
E ho mai i ke akamai
E ho mai i ka maopopo pono
E ho mai i ka ‘ike papalua
E ho mai i ka mana.
‘Amama ua noa.”
As she spoke, she scattered the cell medals into the waters, and watched as they gently floated down into the sands below. From the seas they’d come, and from the seas they’d return. Taking a deep shuddering breath, the woman finally spoke again. “Okay, uh… I don’t even honestly know why I’m doing this. You were my enemy, the only times we knew each other were when we were trying to kill each other. I have to keep this short anyways, given I have to open the aquarium in an hour. But uh… I guess you deserve at least this, given you were used and abused by the other Greeed in your short lifetime, so having someone give you your last rites? It shows you at least someone’s willing to give you the respect you deserve. And I admit it, I did respect you. Didn’t have to like you, but I did respect you for your drive, and your determination. And maybe… one day soon? We’ll meet again, somewhere over the rainbow and not on a battlefield, but as equals and as friends. I’ll swear I’ll stop Kazari, and Ankh, and Starlight. You deserve at least that much. I’ll get your cores back, and give them a proper burial, put them in a place where nobody, not even me, will be able to touch them ever again. Till we meet again, Uva.”
And finally, Adagio felt like a great weight had been pulled off of her shoulders. Her time as OOOs wasn’t over yet, not by a long shot. She had a greeed to avenge.
In the Greeed’s home, tensions ran high. Mezool and Kazari could sense that Uva had left this mortal coil; most likely struck down by Adagio and Ankh. Mezool was trying her very best to stay calm about it, which was more than she could say about Kazari, who was just finishing disemboweling a table, leaving nothing but splinters in his wake as he shredded it with his bare claws, breathing heavily as he looked over the remains of his victimised piece of furniture.
“Kazari? Why’d you smash up the table?” Gamel asked, sauntering in from the corner onto the scene. “I liked that table. It’s where some of my finest works came to life, y’know. You totally owe me a new one.”
“Blame that witch,” Kazari said, plain and simple. “Her and that scum, Ankh.”
“Oh, don’t pretend you actually cared about Uva,” Mezool sighed. “You hated him like the rest of us.”
She cast a glance towards Gamel, who was desperately trying to restore even one of Uva’s cores to life, by dumping cell medal after cell medal on top of it. “Well, most of us anyways…”
“By the way? Has anyone seen Uva around anywhere?” Gamel asked, which caused Kazari to feel another shiver run up his spine. Gamel just watched as Kazari screamed, putting his hands to his head, then raced off and drove his claws through the walls, leaving scratch marks all the away along. “What? Was it something I said?”
“Gamel? Do you… not know what happened to Uva?” Mezool stood up and walked over to his side, laying a hand on his shoulder. “Oh, you poor, poor thing.”
“Oh well, I’m sure he’ll be back. I guess he needs time to think, he’ll come back to us eventually,” Gamel shrugged and looked around. “By the way, Kazari must be really mad about things, huh? I would be too, given the whole OOOs deal.”
He doesn’t seem to have any clue. Mezool pondered to herself as she watched Gamel eventually walk away from her and lounge against one of the walls that Kazari had so callously clawed up. Oh, Gamel. You sweet, innocent, little dumpling. If only you knew the truth. Then Adagio Dickweed would be six feet under by now.
“Right. I can’t take this anymore,” Kazari finally spoke up, attracting both pairs of eyes to his. “I’m going outside to blow off some steam. Maybe slice and dice some of these meatsacks up too. Depends.”
And with that, he left the room with the speed of a cheetah.
“Well, well, well… Whatever are we going to do about this?” Mezool asked, now that she and Gamel were alone. “Kamen Rider OOOs is simply far too much for us, isn’t he, sweetie?”
“No way. She just got lucky. That, and she’s got that meanie-pants Ankh on her side,” Gamel spat back. “We should all rush her at once! Maybe that’s what Kazari’s doing! Setting up a good place for us to ambush her and strike her down! We should go!”
“Patience, Gamel. Adagio Dazzle will get what is coming to her in due course,” Mezool pushed her fingers together. “We are already getting stronger with each medal we amass. It is only a matter of time before we finally achieve our dreams, and these human brats get swallowed by the raging waters of the sea,” She walked back over to the couch, lounging on it as any diva would. “Anyways, how is your newest pet coming along, dear?”
Gamel placed a cell into his head, and out from his body popped a rhino yummy.
“Good, that’s great of you sweetie! That’s sure to defeat Adagio!” Mezool praised before her thoughts turned darker. “But would it be enough to defeat Starlight? She’s truly who I’m worried about.”
A soft rap at the window caught her attention, and she wandered outside taking a long sigh.
“You’ve got balls coming here, you know that right?” she said, the aquatic animal greeed’s head not even turning to look at Ankh, who was perched atop the rooftop. “It’s really your own fault, you know.”
“Tell me, how’s Gamel taking it?” Ankh wondered.
“He doesn’t know. And for your partner’s sake, it would be best if he doesn’t know,” Mezool shook her head disapprovingly. “Why are you here, Ankh? You’re already branded a traitor to the Greeed. What’s stopping me from alerting every creature we have to you right now?”
“Not much, I admit,” Ankh said watching Mezool with a careful eye. “But I think you’re mistaken. Me and Adagio, we’re not partners anymore. Bitch ditched me.”
“Well, then that’s your own fault, isn’t it? That little rat is too pure of heart to be mingling with the likes of you,” Mezool turned her back to Ankh.
“Was that a compliment towards Adagio I heard?” Ankh asked, surprised.
“Don’t joke,” Mezool said. “Also? If you want Cell Medals, then I’m afraid we have none to spare. As for our alliance, don’t even bother trying. You had your chance and you blew it. Now, both sides are against you. All they need do is pull the trigger and your wings will be clipped, ‘old friend’.”
“Medals, medals, medals!” Ankh said before giving out another ‘tsk’ as he shook his head, jumping onto the balcony with her. “I bet I could give you every cell and every core in my body and it still wouldn’t be enough! You’d never be satisfied.”
“Touche. Your negotiation skills never were the best of the best, Ankh. But you always have a method behind your madness, don’t you? Whether you’re working with us or against us.” Mezool turned back to Ankh, transforming into her Greeed form. “Now, I’ll ask you again. Why are you here?”
“Oh, just to dispense some advice, really…” Ankh said looking out towards the city, he’d noticed how… resigned Mezool had sounded to her fate. “If you want my advice, give up the conquering. You can be killed now, all of you can. And I’m sure if one Rider can figure out how to kill a Greeed? The rest are sure to follow. Me, I’m starting to learn how to appreciate humanity.”
“Even if they don’t appreciate you?” Mezool asked. Ankh ignored her and continued speaking.
“Me, what I’d be doing right now? Probably doing what the humans call clubbing, or whatevs. Enjoying life. I’m done with collecting cores really. It’s gotten me nowhere, and burned -no pun intended- any friendships I might have had. So me? I’m just going to have some real fun. I’d suggest you’d follow my advice, actually!” the bird greeed laughed.
“Of course…” Mezool just smashed a glass window with her fist, sending shrapnels of glass directly into Ankh’s leg. If it weren’t for the fact that he was just an arm, that would have REALLY hurt. Too bad for the sucker he was controlling. “Just go, Ankh. I am one word away from bringing this whole place down on top of you. And you don’t wanna know when to take the hint.”
“Hmm, so much rage and so much anger,” Ankh said, perched atop the balcony rail. “It’s really not healthy. Of course, who am I to expect you to listen to me. Find, get yourselves killed. All of you! See what I care.”
“Or…?” Mezool questioned.
“Or actually make something of yourselves, you and Gamel. You want to figure me out, right?” Ankh pressed. “First, figure out what makes humanity tick. It’ll help, trust me. It’s a Friday night, I’m sure a nice woman like yourself can find something to do! Or die alone and miserable wondering what might have been, it’s your choice.”
And before Mezool could answer, he was off, leaping into the city streets below.
“Lousy bastard. I don’t know why the King even created him to be one of us,” Mezool muttered to herself as she wandered out of the room, off to the depths of the Greeed house. “...still, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, maybe he’s right. Wow, that felt weird to say. I need something to do.”
Taking a look outside, she noticed the decorations on every house. Ghosts, ghouls, and other monsters. She’d never understand humans, really! But… maybe she should try. Great, here she was, seriously considering Ankh’s offer! But, clearly living amongst the fleshlings had changed him. Maybe she should try to understand why, if only to figure out what to use against him.
A knock at the door caught her attention. She opened it, only to see some very small humans dressed in strange costumes.
“Trick or treat!” they called, with more of them apparently on the way.
With a sigh, she chose ‘treat’ and tossed some apples from the pantry at each of them before slamming the door shut. Greedy little brats. Maybe she should have just chosen ‘trick’ and scared them off in her monster form.
“Mezool?” Gamel asked, wandering in.
“Yes dear?” she asked her child.
“All of those small humans, they seem to be getting candy for free!” he said. “I want some!”
“Well, you wanted to understand humans…” Mezool mused to herself. “Let’s get some then. Gamel, grab your new yummy! We’re going shopping!”
With laughs, they both changed into their monster forms and took to the streets with the Rhino Yummy in tow. Little did they know that they weren’t the only monsters out tonight…
For in Denver tonight, in a seemingly-abandoned part of the road, there was a house. A rather eerie, haunted-mansion-like house that you would only see in a really cheesy theme park or in that of a horror movie. With peeling wood on the outside, large, skeleton-like trees with no leaves on them growing on the grass, and a number of gravestones risen from the ground, it was the perfect place for something dastardly to take up residence.
And sure enough, there was such a beast inside. One that had a fleshy structure, with two large loops on her shoulders. Her mouth was oozing with a bioluminescent bile, and every last inch of her was covered in fur. Another year, another harvest.
“This is Halloween, everybody screams! Won’t you please make way for one very special monster!” Giranbo said to herself as she brewed up her extra special candy. One rat tail, one hair of a virgin. The eye of a newt, and the slime of a wendigo. “Aaaaaaaaaaah, it’s so good to be back in the game! I’ve been trapped here for a year, and I’ve got only one night to feast before I go into hibernation for another year. Let’s make it a good harvest, eh?”
She’d had to abandon Japan, people had gotten wise to her. They’d said to stop trusting strangers, for they might be a baku in disguise. And of course, there were those damn Oni Riders. They’d tried to get rid of her, the nerve! She was simply just another animal, she needed to feed after all. It eventually got to the point where it simply wasn’t worth the risk. Now here in America though… That was another story! No Riders, and nobody to stop her.
Oooooh, her candy was done! Time to get a move on, she only had a couple of hours before midnight and the holiday was over!
Her form shifting, she took her favorite disguise. Well, she was a witch, so she might as well look the part. And on this night, with everyone in costume, a monster in disguise was only fitting.
Be warned, Denver. The original monster was on the prowl, she thought with a laugh.
Grabbing her lollipops, each dripping green slime, she shoved as many as she could fit inside two plastic pumpkins and took to the streets on a bicycle. It was lucky for her humans were such total suckers for suckers. Otherwise this job might have been harder!
And there, on the streets, were her first victims of the night. A pair of little kids, one boy and one girl. The boy was dressed up in a vampire outfit, while the girl was dressed up as a witch. Both of them held their hands as they walked down the street, trying to find a house they could hit. They both looked out for jack-o-lanterns on the steps, and eventually found one. Up they went to the house, to which they both knocked on the door. The two children waited as a woman opened the door wide and noticed both of them standing on her porch.
“Trick-or-Treat!” They both chorused together as the woman squatted down to their height; a tender smile on her face.
“Oh, well look at you two!” She grinned as she handed the children some candies, depositing them into their buckets. “You look really good, you know. Have a wonderful Halloween now, okay?”
“We will!” They both nodded. “Happy Halloween!”
They waved her off and scampered back down the stairs down to the road, candies acquired and their business done for this house.
As they came to the road, they then noticed a peculiar figure standing in the road, dressed up as a tall, slender witch. Both of the kids were enthralled by her appearance and went over to her legs.
“Wow, miss! You’re awesome!” The boy complimented.
“And you look super-spooky too!” The girl added.
“Why, thank you. Most children say that to me, but it’s still a pleasure to hear it coming from you.” She squatted down and tousled the hairs of both of the kids tenderly. “My, my. Is that all of the candy you’ve gotten from Halloween this year?” She looked into the buckets and saw that they were quite filled for their size.
“Mmhmm!” The girl nodded and showed the bucket off. “The candies at Halloween are so yummy! I can’t wait to get home and eat them all up!”
“Well, who am I to stop you, then? In fact, why don’t I offer you some of my own candy?” And like that, she procured them. Two of the devilish lollipops that she had been cooking up in her lair. “These lollipops are special. I only make them whenever Halloween comes around for good little boys and girls like you. Take them. My treat.”
And like that, she dropped the lollipops into the hands of the boy and girl.
The two children saw the lollipops there and then. They had no wrapping on them and the green colour was eerie and spooky-looking. Not that either of them minded that, since it was Halloween, after all. Tempted by the tantalising treats, the boy and girl wasted no more time. They brought the lollipops to their mouths and plopped them in. And that was when it all happened.
The lollipops glowed once they were inside the children’s mouths, and magic coiled all around their internal organs, wrapping itself around them like the web a spider would weave to ensnare its prey. On the outside, the children’s pupils grew and grew until they were as wide as the rest of their eyes. A small zombie-like groan escaped their lips as their bodies glowed with a dark shade of green. They were now under the spell of Gilanbo, and stood there waiting for her to strike.
“Excellent,” Giranbo thought, licking her lips. “My first harvests of the night! I’ll leave them to wander for a bit, I’ll call them when I need them. Besides, there’s plenty more where they came from!”
“I can’t believe I got talked into this,” Adagio muttered to herself, dressed as a witch. Tugging at her costume, she adjusted her hat and stuffed some of her curls under it. Groaning when that didn’t work, she had a taka candroid hold her hair back while she tied it into a ponytail. “I don’t even celebrate Halloween! I have work to do, and I’m too old for candy anyways!”
“And you need a break,” Yua said walking into the room. “You’ve been through a lot.”
“Yeah, so?” Adagio argued. “I’m not going to break down crying if that’s what you’re implying. I’m not a little girl.”
“Aquarium’s closed anyways,” Yua pointed out.
“So, I’ll re-open it, do a whole Creeps of the Deep thing for Halloween.” Adagio returned.
“Uh-huh, and you’ll be doing it all by yourself,” Yua pointed out. “Everyone else has got the night off.”
“I’ll just do their jobs myself then, I can handle things all by myself,” Adagio said with a sniff. “Puh-leeze, dressing up in costumes and getting free candy? That’s kids stuff. I’m a grown woman. And yeah, I know parties exist, but I’m simply not interested. That’s Aria and Sonata’s types of thing.”
“Speaking of which, how are your sisters doing, anyway?” Yua asked. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen much of them...”
“Is this your attempt at casual conversation?” Adagio asked. “You’re my bodyguard, which by the way I’m still on the fence about. I can take care of myself, because hello superhero here. But yeah, you’re not getting paid to speak.”
“Last I checked, I wasn’t getting paid, period. Least not by you,” Yua deadpanned. “You really need to loosen up, Adagio. You’re not like your Equestrian doppelganger, right? Surely, you’ve got some kind of fun aspects to you?”
“Yeah, and they all involve spending time with animals,” Adagio drawled. “I’m still sore about getting dragged to that concert by the way, that music wasn’t really my speed.”
“You sure you wouldn’t have been happier if your boyfriend wasn’t there?” Yua asked.
“...yeeeeeeeah, we’re so failing the Bechdel Test now aren’t we?” Adagio muttered.
“It’s an honest question!” Yua said.
“Well… no, yes! Maybe. I don’t know! It’s a moot point anyways, innit?” Adagio commented. “Considering Takeru’s back in Japan, and actually I’m not paying you to comment on my relationships. Get yourself a girlfriend, or a boyfriend if you’re really that desperate to know how love works.”
“You know, I’m starting to get the feeling that you didn’t have a good upbringing when you were a child, Adagio. You’re always so distant; not to mention, you can’t ever seem to find any fun in anything. It’s always about work with you, which I can respect, but…” Yua mused. “You need to find some time for yourself.”
“And I do,” Adagio said as they walked into the crowded streets. “It’s just that I happen to find enjoyment in my job. Is that so hard for you, or my sisters to understand? Speaking of… And I know I’m probably going to regret asking this, where is…?”
She soon got her answer.
“There are despots and dictators
Political manipulators…” came a voice belting out a boombox as Sonata slid up, dressed as who else but a female version of Kuzco. Adagio watched as her youngest sibling danced across the sidewalk in front of her, going into a moonwalk. Which, Adagio realized with no small amount of horror, Sonata had probably practiced in her room.
“Right on cue…” Yua chuckled.
“...and you know she probably waited for the perfect cue,” Aria said, a cigarette in her mouth as she walked up. Sonata swatted it out of her mouth.
“Bad Aria, no smoking in front of the kids!” Sonata said, gesturing to two giggling teenage girls. One Aria, recognized as Scootaloo but the other…? She hadn’t seen her before, though her frighteningly blond hair would definitely be stuck in her brain for a while.
“Oh right, forgot you were the designated chaperone…” Aria said with a sigh, having not even bothered to dress up. “Who’s the squirt’s friend?”
“Luster Dawn! Pleased to meet you!” the blonde said, sticking her hand out.
“...Oh, if only I could say the same,” Aria grumbled before sucking on a lollipop. If she couldn’t have her smoke…
“Wow, what’s with the sourpuss attitude?” Sonata remarked.
“I was going to enjoy Halloween in my own way, actually,” Aria commented. “Just a couple of bad horror movies, gallons of blood -totally metal- and some popcorn. But…”
“But! Let me guess,” Adagio joined in seeing a familiar woman walk up, dressed as of all things, a cute vampire. Her pink hair framed her face, two fake plastic fangs jutting out of her mouth. “Fluttershy dragged you out here.”
“...was it really that obvious?” Aria frowned.
“Mhmm, considering how whipped you are…” Adagio teased. “You’re not doing much to dissuade me from the notion that you two are dating…”
“Well, it’s a nice night,” Fluttershy said sweetly. “You can’t spend it all cooped up in your house!”
“Oh, and here I thought it was you couldn’t handle the blood!” Aria teased her back.
“Nonsense!” Fluttershy scoffed. “It’s not the amount of blood, well okay maybe it is! Nobody bleeds that much, nobody even has that much blood in their bodies!”
“Oh right, you’re a veterinarian. Now I remember…” Sonata nodded in remembrance.
“Oh, I bet you’re a joy to have on movie night!” Adagio laughed.
“She’s been banned!” Aria said, nodding. Fluttershy blushed sheepishly.
“Now this, I have to hear,” Adagio gave a little bit of a smirk as she leaned over towards Fluttershy. “You don’t seem like the kind of person who would get banned, Fluttershy. What happened?”
“I… I may have commented on how the SAW films have more blood than anyone has in their entire body at one point…?” Fluttershy laughed nervously, playing with a strand of her hair. “I may have made a bit of a, uh, scene about it on movie night. Kinda ruined the movie, apparently…”
Aria snorted while Adagio seemed to be a few facial twitches away from bursting out laughing completely.
“I know, I should be ashamed of myself.” Fluttershy said demurely.
Adagio couldn’t hold it in anymore and started to burst out laughing. Bending her body downward, she grabbed onto her knees and started sputtering out wheezes of laughter. “I’m, I’m sorry, it’s just that, of everything to get banned for, THAT’S the reason?”
“Apparently.” Fluttershy didn’t quite understand Adagio’s humour, so just shyly gave a nod. “But it’s true! There’s so much blood that it’s impossible! Twilight could definitely give you a more in-depth look at it!”
“That clown? Pah!” Aria tipped her hand. “It’s not like she’d ever be able to take away anything from the utter gorefest that is SAW, no matter how much she tries to go on about science and blood trajectory or some other Harvard-level shit…”
Fluttershy sent her roommate a dirty look, casting a glance towards Luster and Scootaloo.
“...Oh, riiiiiiiiiiight. Pretend you didn’t hear anything just now kids!” Aria said towards the two teenagers.
“See, what’d I say?” Adagio grinned. “Whipped.”
“Meh,” Scootaloo said. “I live on a military base remember? I’ve heard much worse!”
“Again, it’s so nice of you to do this while Rainbow’s out on deployment,” Fluttershy whispered towards Sonata.
“Hey, just because her mom’s away, doesn’t mean she doesn’t get to enjoy some fun!” Sonata whispered back.
“Also, what have I said about talking smack about my friends?” Fluttershy said in a warning tone towards her roomie.
“...to not to?” Aria asked nervously.
“Good, that’s better,” Fluttershy nodded before pointing forwards. “Now let’s go, we’ve got plenty of houses to hit!”
“...didn’t take you for the type to be so excited about Halloween, Ms. Fluttershy,” Yua said. “I thought, from what I’ve heard of you, that you’d be inside all night.”
“Oh no, that was years ago!” the woman elaborated with a laugh. “I’ve outgrown my fear of all things spooky! Besides, someone has to keep you all from getting into too much trouble!”
“Why do I think she means Aria?” Yua thought.
“Also, no offense, but I kinda agree with Yua. Not about you staying inside, not that part, but Halloween doesn’t really seem like your type of jam! I mean, I thought you’d be checking everyone’s candy for razor blades or something!” Adagio shrugged.
“Those are just rumors. There hasn’t been a single reported case of that ever happening. The correlation between candy and kids falling over because of something they ate is minimal at best. That being said, I will be watching your candy intake because I don’t want any of you to get upset tummies,” Fluttershy went on.
“Man, you’re lame!” Scootaloo groaned out.
“No, getting an upset stomach is ‘lame’,” Fluttershy said kindly. “Trust me, it isn’t very fun at all.”
“I mean, she does have a point, Scootaloo.” Luster Dawn lifted a finger toward Scootaloo. “If you have an upset tummy, that means you can’t eat anything until it settles. And on a night like Halloween, that’s the worst kind of feeling.”
“Lamer than the chance of having a razorblade in my belly?” Scootaloo lifted a brow.
“Oh, absolutely!” Luster Dawn nodded in concern for Scootaloo. “But like Fluttershy said, it’s just a rumor. There’s no recorded instances of that actually happening!”
“Meaning I get to eat whatever I want then, cool!”
“...you’re missing the point entirely,” Luster sighed and Adagio could have sworn she saw her face somewhere before. But where? “I’m just saying, your stomach is going to regret it in the morning...
“God, you’re such a funkiller!” Scootaloo said.
“Just looking out for you, that’s all.”
“Y’know what? I need something to eat.”
She picked out one of the candies in the bucket and while she did, she failed to notice exactly where she was going, accidently knocking herself into another trick or treater.
“yIqIm! puqloDna' jIHechtaHvIS, jIHvaD pong'e' 'e' vIpIHbej! QI'yaH!” the man roared at her, dressed as a Klingon and carrying what was probably a prop sword. Probably. At least she hoped it was a prop.
“Er… sorry? I don’t speak gigantic oaf!” Scootaloo said, not really phased by any of this. “Now would you kindly stand aside, I’ve got places to be!”
“...and here we go,” Luster muttered, slapping a hand to her face. “Just… let’s just get going okay?
“vaj yIpoSmoH. 'ej qa'lI' vISuch vIneH vaj Dayaj'a' qeylIS, qar'a'? mura'chugh ghot tIqDaj rurtaHvIS.” the Klingon said.
“...er, sorry? I don’t understand a word you’re saying!” Scootaloo said. “Is that even a real language?”
“net poS! tlhInganpu'! ghojwI' DaSov'a'?”
“...right, you’re still not making a lick of sense!” Scootaloo blinked. “Speak English!”
“Don’t bother,” said a gruff voice, and Sonata’s eyes lit up at the sight of her friend, Gilda muscling her way through the crowd. The brawny woman was dressed as a 50s Greaser type. “This idiot’s only going to take one thing for an answer. Allow me. va, vumnISlu' 'e' vISovbe'. jupwI' chopongqang'a'? I’m sure they’d love to know all about you threatening to beat up a teenage girl, asshole!”
The Klingon swallowed before scampering off.
“I didn’t even know you spoke Klingon!” Sonata gaped.
“Eh, it’s something my dorky brother made me learn. Didn’t ever think it’d ever come in handy though… I don’t normally frequent the big cons,” Gilda shrugged, her Spanish accent leaking through. “What’s that the French always say? C’est la vie?”
“The nerve of some people though…” Sonata grumbled.
“You shouldn’t worry about me, G!” Scootaloo said. “I coulda handled him!”
“Oh, I like her! She’s got fire, spunk!” Gilda laughed before she spotted something. A rhino, walking up the street accompanied by two more animal-men. “...huh, now those are some awesome costumes! I gotta ask where they got it…”
“That’s… that’s not a costume…” Adagio whispered in realization as she spotted the two people with it. Eyes narrowed, she walked up towards Mezool. “What are you two doing here? What’s your game?”
“Oh, no game, OOOs,” Mezool said. “It’s a night of fright, and these people deserve real monsters! Not these fakes!”
She gestured all around to her, to the many cheap costumes that didn’t even come close to the real deal.
“And so for Halloween, you’re going as yourself?” Adagio questioned, watching the passersby compliment the two Greeed and their Yummy minion on their ‘costumes’.
“Mhmm, basically!” Mezool grinned. “No plots, no plans. We just want to see what all of the fuss is about!”
“Oh, is that all? You want to live as humans for a change?” Adagio challenged and Mezool nodded. “Mhmm, sure. I’ll be keeping an eye on you. Both of you…”
“Ta-ta! Don’t let your paranoia get the better of you!” Mezool said giving a little wave before she, Gamel and the Rhino Yummy strutted off into the night.
“Friends of yours?” Gilda asked. “Man, you know everybody.”
“...Friends. Yeah, sure,” Adagio muttered. “I guess…”
“Is it so hard for you to believe that they’re not up to anything?” Sonata asked. “That they’re willing to change?”
Adagio gave her sister a flat look.
“It’s Mezool and Gamel. Yes, of course it’s hard for me to believe!”
“I dunno, you were pretty optimistic about Ankh…” Sonata said.
“Yeah, well, that was before…” Adagio trailed off. “That was then, and this is now.”
“Just saying,” Sonata reminded her. “Not all of the Greeed are like him.”
“Yeah, most of them are worse,” Adagio replied in bitter fashion before taking a deep breath, and letting it out. “Anyways, enough about my crap. Don’t we have candy to trick out of someone?”
“Oh, are you finally getting into the spirit of things?” Sonata beamed.
“...yeah, no, don’t mistake me for actually enjoying this,” Adagio scoffed. “No, this is only for the kids. That’s it!”
“Sure…” Sonata said, not really believing her for a moment.
Continuing on with Mezool and Gamel, the two of them and their Yummy eventually were wandering a seemingly abandoned street. Not a single child could be seen for miles around, despite the fact that the houses were still very much decorated for Halloween.
“I don’t understand Ankh, Gamel. I really don’t,” Mezool looked around for someone; anyone that she could understand this Halloween thing from. “First, he says that we’re doing nothing and staying cooped up inside, then when we do go out, everyone’s gone missing. What kind of game are these humans playing, exactly?”
“Maybe they’re going to jump out and say surprise?” Gamel wondered.
“If so, it’s an awfully unnerving surprise. And surely, there must have been someone that wasn’t wise to this little scheme…” Mezool surveyed the area once again, but still found no-one. “Why do I get the feeling that he told these humans we were coming, so ordered an evacuation of this part of the town? Just as his idea of a twisted joke?”
“I don’t like it. And neither does poor Winnie,” Gamel stroked the neck of his Rhino Yummy gently, as it rattled from side to side. “There, there, girl. It’ll be alright. You’ll be fine...”
And in came a witch, with a bucket of lollipops.
“Oh, it seems all of the kids are gone…” she mused. “Maybe I should close up shop for the night! No more kids to hand out my sweet treats to!”
“Who are you?” Mezool asked, taking a step forward. Then another. And then another, her legs hypnotically lured towards this new face.
“Nobody. Just a simple woman wanting to hand out candy to the kids!” the witch said.
“Candy?” Gamel tilted his head. “Can I see?”
“Yes! Sure!” the witch said, pulling a lolly out of her bucket.
“Ooh…” Gamel clapped his hands together like a preschooler. Quickly, he snatched up the candy and saw that it was unwrapped. “You even took the time to unwrap it for me beforehand. That’s awfully nice.”
As he brought it closer to his mouth, Winnie noticed something and made a small groan.
“Oh, it’ll be alright, Winnie,” Gamel stopped momentarily. “It’s just a piece of candy. What harm could it do me?”
And just like that, the candy went into Gamel’s mouth. Mezool saw it, even if the witch was pretending to be subtle about the whole ordeal. She was smirking. But it was too late for Gamel, as like with all of the other children before him, he had fallen prey to the hypnotic powers of the witch’s treats. He groaned as his body glowed an eerie shade of dark green and his pupils swallowed the rest of his eyes. The lollipop still stayed in his mouth and Winnie let out a small groan of horror at what her master had become.
“Gamel? Hello?” Mezool tried to get Gamel’s attention back. She waved a hand in front of his face, clicked her fingers, even tried to slap him across the face. But nothing would bring him to. She then turned towards the witch and her eyes narrowed.
“What did you do to him?!” She barked.
“Do what?” the witch asked, playing innocent and Mezool knew it.
“What did you do? What kind of spell did you put him under?” she demanded.
“Nothing you can stop now,” the witch said and suddenly Mezool realized.
“Giranbo…” she whispered. “I heard the King talk about you, he called you a plague upon the lands.”
“Oh, talk about flattery!” Giranbo said. “So you’re a Greeed. I suspected as much, seeing that monster of yours. But it’s nice to have it confirmed. But there’s naught you can do to stop me now. The harvest is coming, and you’re way too late to interfere…”
“We’ll see about that.” Mezool said, her hands crackling with electricity, calling on the Unagi medal’s powers.
“Oh, so we’re to have a witch’s duel?” Giranbo asked. “So be it!”
Tossing fire at Mezool, the two energies collided and an explosion shattered windows and created a massive smoke cloud. And then, from out of the smoke, charged the Rhino Yummy. ‘Winnie’ shoulder-charged Giranbo, only for the witch to sidestep and call down a thunderbolt striking him in the back.
“I could kill him, but…” Giranbo muttered. “I’ve got a better idea. Gamel’s mine now, and by the same coin…”
She snapped her fingers, and slowly but surely the Rhino Yummy turned to face Mezool, no emotion or light in its eyes.
“So’s his yummy,” she grinned. “Get her!”
Mezool honestly didn’t know if the power of a Yummy could kill a greeed. And personally, she didn’t want to find out, changing into a tidal wave and launching herself at her former partner’s henchman. Sweeping him off his feet, she changed into a bolt of water and slammed into Giranbo, knocking her to the ground as well.
Standing over the two of them, she smirked, summoning her version of the Ookamiuo spear. Twirling it behind her back, she charged it with electricity.
Spinning the weapon in her hands, she blocked lightning blasts from Giranbo, and even as the witch multiplied, swept away all of the clones with a wall of water.
“What, you think getting lots and lots of cells isn’t just to feed my greed?” Mezool asked, her ‘belt’ now glowing gold. “Oh no, I’ve been hard at work and now, my powers are complete!”
Thrusting the spear forwards, she launched a bolt of electricity at Giranbo, who teleported behind her. A wall of fire from an exploding car swept Mezool off of her feet, only for the whale woman to be grabbed by the Rhino Yummy and slammed into the side of a building.
“You were saying?” Giranbo asked, tilting her head.
“Oh shut up!” Mezool growled, turning into a pile of cells before the medals reformed directly in front of the witch. Gathering up a ball of water, she slammed it into the monster’s chest, grinding away at her.
The Rhino Yummy charged, only for Mezool to whip around, impale it in the chest with her spear before she went into a spin. Whirling around, she tossed the Yummy into the side of a building and blasted it full of electricity with the unagi medal’s power making the monster explode. His singular cell medal rolled back towards Mezool.
“I’m sorry my dear,” she said of Gamel. “I know you loved your child so.”
“Aren’t you going to swallow it up?” Giranbo said, stroking Gamel’s head and eyeing the cell medal “Isn’t that what you Greeed do? Take, take, take?”
“Give him back, now!” Mezool hissed holding up her hands and. summoning up water from the sewers. With a roar of rage, she launched it at the witch.
“Sorry, he’s mine now…” Giranbo grinned, before there was a bright flash of light and Mezool found herself on a rooftop. Letting out a scream of rage, she watched kids march through the streets, towards an old house on the edge of town…
“It’s gotten really quiet, have you noticed?” Luster commented. “Like, a few minutes ago, the streets were full of kids and now… Oh well! More candy for me I guess!”
“Hell yeah!” Scootaloo agreed.
“Should we be concerned?” Sonata whispered to her sister. “Like, what if this is some kind of greeed plot?”
“Now you’re coming around to my way of thinking…” Adagio mused.
“Damn, no service!” Yua muttered. “Cell towers must be down. Oh, of all the nights…”
“Right, well, let’s not tell the girls, just yet okay?” Fluttershy said. “I wouldn’t want them to panic.”
“Right…” Aria agreed. “Let’s just… keep our eyes peeled okay? If we see anything strange…”
“Besides the streets being empty on a Friday night?” Adagio deadpanned.
“Besides that,” Aria said in reply. “Oh… give me a Greeed or give me a Yummy. Just give me something to punch.”
“You have such a one track mind!” Fluttershy whispered, somewhat terrified of what might be going on. A million possibilities ran through her head. Not just a Greeed plot, but maybe a mass alien abduction. Or alligators from the sewers kidnapping people or maybe even a Shocker plot! “Oh, get ahold of yourself, girl! You watch way too many movies, and besides whatever’s going on, I’m sure Adagio can handle it! You’ve got your very own Kamen Rider right here with you!”
In most stories, Adagio knew after an earthshaking event such as what Ankh pulled, the protagonist would go through a crisis of faith. A temporary retirement. They’d hang up their sword and not wish to help anyone. But not her. As much as she wanted to give up the belt and her medals, she knew she couldn’t. At least… not yet. Not while the Greeed still existed. She had a promise to keep anyways.
“Candy?” said a witch, handing out strange looking green lollipops to both Luster and Scootaloo. “I’m sure you both will find it very delightful!”
“Ooooh, thank you!” Luster said, licking the lollipop.
“Alas, it seems most of my customers have vanished, but what can you do?” the witch sighed. “Ah well, at least I’ve got you two little rascals eh?”
“Shame on them!” Scootaloo said, licking the lolly. “This stuff is great!”
And that’s when Adagio noticed their eyes go blank.
As the witch walked off, waving goodbye, it was about then that Adagio also noticed the legions of children marching through the streets.
Including, now amongst their ranks, Luster and Scootaloo.
“...what the hell?” Aria wondered aloud, the others watching in transfixed horror. “...this is some real Pied Piper type shit!”
“And probably with just as horrible an outcome!” said Mezool, walking up and Adagio tensed going for her belt. “Woah, no need. I’m not behind it, it’s not me this time!”
“Why should we believe you?” Aria snarled, Fluttershy only just barely holding her back.
“Because…” Adagio realized seeing the look in the Greeed’s eyes. “Someone you care about is in that hoard isn’t it? Whoever’s done this, they’ve got Gamel under their sway. Am I right?”
“Yes…” Mezool whispered. “Whatever else you think of me, I care for Gamel. I’m not letting that witch, Giranbo have him!”
“Giranbo?” Sonata questioned.
“Giranbo…” Yua breathed as everyone looked at her. “...sorry, it’s just… Back in Japan, there was this dream demon that went by that name. I only heard it in passing but…”
“You know what she’s capable of,” Mezool said as they walked. “Go on, share with the class!”
“Every year, masses of children go missing. One night, just on the last vestiges of life, a child in Osaka, he said the name Giranbo. And then he…” Yua fought back a sob.
“She eats children?” Fluttershy whispered, horrified.
“We have to stop her, tonight. Before she goes back into hiding for another year,” Mezool snarled. “She’s got a house, it’s her only gateway between our dimension and hers. Destroy the house, you seal her away forever.”
“Oh, I’m going to do more than that,” Adagio said, slipping a cell medal into a nearby ToRide Vendor, making it transform into bike mode. “I’m going to help you kill her. No more. This ends tonight!”
Getting on the bike, she helped Mezool onto it.
“Why though? I’m your enemy.” the aquatic animal greed asked, surprised.
“If there is a hand reaching for help, and I don't reach out my hand when I can, the regret would make me wish I were dead... I reach out my hand, because I don't want that,” Adagio said slapping on her belt. “Plus.. Maybe I’m wrong, maybe you’re a terrible person deep down inside, but… I want to believe you can be better. Nobody who cares for someone else can be completely evil.”
“Thank you…” Mezool whispered, her voice going almost unheard. Almost.
Adagio gunned the engine, tires squealing against the pavement as she rode off into the night.
“So what, was that witch a servant of hers or something?” she asked her new partner.
“Not exactly. Giranbo can clone herself. I’m guessing the real one is up in her house, while the witch we saw…”
“Was just a copy,” Adagio realized before she felt medals slip into her pocket. Turning back towards Mezool, she asked: “...why?”
“Because you’re going to need all the help you can get,” Mezool replied. “I know, I hate doing it myself, but if it’s a choice between losing Gamel or swallowing my personal pride and helping you kill that bitch? It’s no choice at all!”
“Right…” Adagio said, perhaps less surprised than she ought to have been. “Henshin!”
“Ebi, Kani, Sasori: Bikaso, Bi-Ka-So!” the belt sang as Adagio changed into an orange and purple armored warrior, themed after aquatic arthropods.
Using a flatbed tow truck as a ramp, she sped into the house, smashing through a wall, splinters flying before planting her boot into the ground as the ToRide Vendor ground to a halt, tires squealing.
“...you’re… you’re crazy,” Mezool said as she stopped to catch her breath. She looked a little green around the gills honestly. “Oh, I think I’m going to be sick.”
As Mezool tossed her cookies, Adagio ducked to avoid a flying fireball.
“You come into my house,” said a nearly breathless Giranbo, shaking with rage. In her hand was a stirring spoon, the witch clutching it so tightly it snapped in half. “And you come smashing it to pieces, don’t you know that’s not neighborly?”
“I didn’t realize kidnapping kids was particularly neighborly either!” Adagio drawled before Giranbo assumed her monster form grabbing an axe off the wall, bringing it down.
Adagio spun to the left to avoid the axe blade, before bringing her boot down in an axe kick slicing the weapon in two. Drawing back her fist, she punched the monster in the face before grabbing Giranbo with one of her pincher gloves. Tossing the witch through a wall, the two ended up in the witch’s laboratory, Giranbo tossing potions at her opponent.
Sidestepping one potion, Adagio’s eyes widened as another came flying at her. She couldn’t move and her blood turned to ice, as Giranbo had frozen her solid. Then came another potion, busting her out of the ice in a powerful explosion. Adagio slammed up against a wall, vials of acid falling down on her from atop a shelf and beginning to eat through her armor.
“How do you like my precious poisons, siren?” Giranbo laughed.
“I can’t say I’m impressed,” Adagio grunted out in pain, gathering water in her pinchers, before she threw it at her opponent. “How about we drown us a witch!”
Giranbo was smashed through a wall as Adagio ran forwards and went into a jump. A poison stinger wrapped itself around her boot, the armor glowing bright purple. Falling into a diving kick, she watched Giranbo’s eyes widen before the witch fell to the floor, sliding along it. Adagio slammed into the wall, leaving an implant of her insignia before tentacles wrapped themselves around her. They’d come from a rune in the floor, and began dragging her down into the eldritch abyss.
“Have you seen any hentai anime, Dazzle?” Giranbo laughed, sitting in an armchair with a bucket of popcorn.
“Yeah, and funny that, this so ain’t my fetish,” Adagio said looking down though she immediately regretted it as below her was a gaping maw of razor sharp teeth. Inside that maw, a single unblinking eye. She had to think fast, otherwise…
Snipping herself free with the kani medal’s pinchers, she cut the tentacles to pieces. Slamming a fist into her open pincher, she marched forwards. “Now, be warned, the tides are as ever-changing as my own abilities. So, in short, this is the end for you.”
Together, she and Mezool fired off twin streams of water and blasted Giranbo through a wall. A fine mist crept into the room, engulfing them as it changed to fog. And into the graveyard of dreams the two crept...
Around them, as the fog began to clear somewhat, it was a ghost town. Silent streets were on every side, and an ill wind blew through dead trees. And if that wasn’t enough, in the playground in front of them were children, laying unmoving. Adagio felt like she was going to be sick and Mezool whispered: “She’s a monster…”
“I see you’ve found my graveyard of dreams!” came a voice, impossible to place it’s exact location. Rising from the children were thin wisps, floating into the sky above and rising higher and higher with each passing minute. “That’s the thing about children really, they waste their dreams. They always set out to do something good with their lives, they plan to accomplish so much. Maybe they’ll become a firefighter, or an astronaut or even a scientist. But that’s the thing, isn’t it? Nobody ever really achieves their dreams. They just waste them! And… Well, that’s where I come in. Better I take their dreams from them before they shame themselves by never really achieving anything. It’s better in the long run, really… Let no good food go to waste, I always say!”
Adagio finally placed the voice, and whirled around firing a blast of water through a wall and knocking Giranbo off her feet. “Bullshit! I achieved my dreams you know. Ever since I was a little girl, I always wanted to be a marine biologist, and now I am. Yeah, sure I’ll admit not everyone achieves their dreams, but they should still be given the chance to do so!”
There came a roar of rage, and Giranbo lunged out of the shadows from behind. Adagio didn’t have time to react, and Giranbo readied a spell. However, she was knocked into a street lamp via an electric blast, Mezool’s hands sparking.
“Oh no, we can’t have you interfering,” Giranbo said as she picked herself up. “Gamel darling!”
Then, to her shock, Mezool was grabbed from behind, Gamel holding her close in the world’s deadliest hug as he began crushing her.
“Gamel, please! I know you’re in there,” Mezool begged, tears coming to her eyes. “You’ve got to fight it!”
Adagio changed combos, and switched to SaRaMiUo form. Summoning the Ookamiuo spear, she tossed miniature whirlpools at Giranbo, the witch teleporting away each time. And then, the witch was in front of her, and firing a beam of magic. And the ground gave out from under Adagio, and she was plummeting to the earth.
Then, from out of nowhere, a savior. And a very unexpected one at that.
“Starlight?” Adagio breathed out, held in her enemy’s arms.
“Pffft, don’t think this makes us friends,” her fellow Rider said. “I’ve got a score to settle with that witch as well. We’re allies against a common foe.”
And suddenly, Adagio could see it. Luster and Starlight, they were mother and daughter.
“...wow, talk about being thrown for a loop…” Adagio said before Starlight tossed her at Giranbo, the Rider’s form rocketing towards the witch as she scanned her core medals.
“SCANNING CHARGE!” her belt cried out as she went into a flip before descending into a powerful diving kick.
Giranbo’s eyes widened, and she only managed to teleport away at the very last second as Adagio’s kick ripped up the ground, asphalt flying as the woman created a massive crater. Her chest insignia was stamped in the middle. Adagio leaped out of the ruins, spinning in mid-air as she transformed back into BiKaSo form. Scanning her medals once again, multiple poisonous tails erupted from her back striking and stabbing away at Giranbo, the witch barely dodging the various poison jabs.
However, she’d been lined up for another Rider Kick and Starlight slammed into her, before spinning away in mid-air as Giranbo crashed through a parking garage wall. Starlight took a moment to breath, confident her enemy destroyed.
And then, two hands clasped her face from behind and she let out a scream as her worst fear manifested. Adagio watched in shock as the mists above her worst enemy reformed into a gigantic hell-horse, with massive wings, a long lance-like horn and slitted eyes.
“Fine then…” Starlight said with a deep shuddering breath, kicking the Giranbo clone away. “I developed this form to kill you anyways. So, let’s kill the moon!”
And Starlight tossed several medals in Adagio's direction.
“And how do you know I won’t just take these?” the woman asked.
“Because I’ll be back for them,” Starlight said, blocking and absorbing a magical blast from the hell-horse, redirecting it back at her. “Count on it!”
Stroking the three green cores, Adagio’s eyes softened under her helm. “This one’s for you, Uva.”
Without another word, she scanned the medals. “Kuwagata, Kamakiri, Batta: Ga~ta-Gata-Gata-Kiri, Ba! Gatakiriba!”
And with green crackles of lightning, she created several clones of herself with Giranbo doing the same. Mezool had managed to free herself, and knock several medals free from Gamel, tossing them Adagio’s direction. The Rider knew what she had to do, and the air soon sang with a mish-mash of overlapping belt calls.
And then all chaos erupted as everyone fought one another, with one clone in Mukachiri combo chasing a Giranbo clone inside a parking garage. Summoning an arm shield, the honeycomb-shaped attachment opened, and a flurry of deadly japanese hornets flew out. The Giranbo clone had no defence, raked by a series of stinging, burning sensations. A scream burbled itself up in her throat, and it erupted.
The clone charged towards Giranbo, before flying into a leap and finishing the Giranbo copy with a roundhouse Rider Kick. The witch erupted into an explosion that could be seen several levels below, where another clone fought another Giranbo copy in SeiShiroGin combo. Freezing the very ground beneath her with polar bear claws, and skating towards the Giranbo copy with penguin ice-skates.
“So how is that one of Gamel’s combos?” Starlight asked Mezool, before dodging another blast from the dark horse she faced. “Isn’t it mainly aquatic animals?”
“Yeah, but a polar bear and a walrus?” Mezool said, blasting the dark horse away however reluctantly. This was the same woman who’d killed Uva after all. “Those are big animals!”
Calling upon the polar bear’s powers once again, the SeiShiroGin clone first scanned her core medals. Then, she froze the Giranbo copy solid before pulling back her fist. With one powerful blow, she shattered the ice leaving only shards in her wake.
Another Giranbo copy rose up to face the SeiShiroGin clone, but the Mukachiri clone was already on the case. Pulling the copy away with a whip spawned from her head, -resembling a centipede- the copy was pulled towards the clone, who scanned her medals. Lashing forth with a stinger weapon, the clone paralyzed the Giranbo copy with one singular stab. It was soon Rider Kicked out of existence, sent flying into a building with the clone’s chest insignia imprinted into the walls behind it
Tearing her attentions away from the Shauta Combo clone, which was lashing at another Giranbo copy with the unagi whips, Starlight flipped to the left to avoid another dark magical blast. Nightmare Moon, her worst enemy now here in this world.
It was only a copy, generated from her worst fears by Giranbo’s powers. She knew this. But all the same she couldn’t help but see it as the real deal. Punching through the monstrosity’s armor, she watched the dark horse turn into a smoky mist. Then, the mist came down atop her, reforming as a massive maw.
“Sorry, but I’m not into... “ Starlight started, flipping upwards to meet the deadly set of jaws in a Rider Kick. “VORE!”
Nightmare Moon was sent skywards, and Starlight leaped off several buildings before surging forwards in a Rider Punch. The skies darkened around her, and too late she realized. Trapped in a bubble of eternal black, monstrous demons and eldritch things lurked. And now they had their prey.
“Kill the moon, you say?” the Nightmare cackled. “That’s an impossibility. My reign shall be eternal, and the night shall last forever!”
It was the reason she’d fled her world, Starlight remembered. This madmare had made it impossible to live in it any longer. Everything was dying without her sun, and she didn’t want her daughter to grow up in a land of light. One day, Starlight mused, she’d return. With the entirety of Foundation X behind her. And then the Nightmare would fall.
“Your daughter’s cute,” the Nightmare sneered. “Maybe I should keep her. Train her, raise her as my student. And who knows… everyone needs a mate right?”
Starlight erupted, burning through it all. The eldritch things, the demons, the bubble of black surrounding her, all with a roar of motherly rage. “YOU WON’T LAY A HAND ON MY DAUGHTER!”
And then all went silent.
Down below, Giranbo watched her clones get destroyed one after the other. Growing to an impossible size, she finally declared: “I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!”
She now towered over everything, blocking out even the moon. The OOO clones converged, the main Adagio swallowing in fear as she looked up. “The bigger they are, the harder they fall, right?”
All scanned their medals, and all the belts belted out: “SCANNING CHARGE!”
The Gatakiriba clone came first, blasting the witch with lightning from her horns. Then came the Mukachiri, slashing into the being with her stinger before leaping away as the SeiShiroGin clone punched the dream demon, fists encased in ice.
That clone backflipped off and away from Giranbo as the Shauta combo clone latched onto Giranbo with whips of electricity pulling herself forwards. Drilling into the beast’s hide, she bored out the other side.
Then came clones in BiKaSo and SaRaMiUo, each Rider Kicking the dream demon with a combined force of 50 tons. And finally, the finale as a clone in TaJaDor form erupted forth, coated in flames burning Giranbo to ashes.
Landing on the ground, Adagio canceled out her transformation, limping from the usage of so many combos and feeling incredibly weak. She staggered, both Gamel and Mezool catching her as she fell, each wearing a grateful smile.
What none of them saw was Giranbo, still alive and limping towards Adagio, a blade erupting from her remaining arm. And then a gun shot rang out, before the demon fell forwards finally dead. Standing in the middle of the street was Yua, holding a smoking gun.
With a shared look, both Mezool and Gamel handed their sworn enemy off to the woman before heading to parts unknown.
“Come on…” Yua said as she led Adagio and the surviving children out of Giranbo’s already collapsing dimension. “Let’s get you to the hospital. All of you.”
And then… WHAM!
Starlight took advantage of her rival Rider’s weakened state, punching her across the face.
“But I…” Adagio whispered weakly watching Starlight gather up all of the medals, leaving only a single taka medal behind in mockery. “I helped you save your daughter.”
“That you did,” Starlight acknowledged. “But hello! Supervillain. I can’t just let a good opportunity pass me by! Till the next time… OOOs.”
Adagio eventually staggered out of the collapsing house, watching it crumble. Children were being reunited with their parents, and a weak smile came to Adagio’s face seeing Scootaloo embrace Sonata and Fluttershy. Then it faded, remembering how expertly she’d been burned.
“Don’t worry,” Yua reassured. “We’ll get your medals back.”
A strange glimmer flashed in Adagio’s eyes, going unseen, before she answered. “Yeah… we will.”