//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: Kamen Rider Lux: Sins of the Parent // by Rixizu //------------------------------// “Another Kamen Rider?” Kabibinga said, stepping back with trepidation. A wave of unease rippled through the still-standing Combatponies. Only Inquisitor Doo remained resolute, a frown creasing her mouth.  “Call me Kamen Rider Protean!” Trixie said, entering a battle stance. The Kamen Rider’s armor was nothing like Twilight had ever seen, more organic than metal. Was it her imagination, or did Trixie’s suit ripple as she breathed? What had Shocker’s enhancement experiment done to her? But those questions needed to wait, and Twilight took advantage of her opponent’s momentary distraction.  With a click, her belt wrapped around her waist, Twilight entering a dramatic pose. “Henshin!” “And I’m Kamen Rider Lux.” It was a somewhat unnecessary introduction, but Twilight enjoyed the ripple of fear it sent through her enemies.  “Inquisitor?” Kabibinga looked towards her leader for guidance, knowing how badly their well-laid trap had gone pear-shaped. Not that Trixie gave them much chance to consider their situation. With a primal howl of fury, she charged toward the nearest Combatpony.  While not adhering to any fighting style Twilight had ever seen before, Trixie fought with ferocity and pure instinct. Whenever a Combatpony attacked her with a blade or hoof, Protean seemed elsewhere. With deft blows, her enemies crumpled under her hooves. Twilight joined her, mopping up anypony her fellow Kamen Rider had missed.  “Screw this. I’m not dying here!” With both hooves, Kabibinga scooped mold from her chest. The creature hurled it at her hated enemies when she thought them distracted.  “Woah!” Twilight’s heart almost beat out of her chest as the deadly substance flew inches from her helmet. It splattered against a nearby wall and spread across its length. It spewed a toxic stench that made Twilight retch. Trixie proved luckier, missing by a mile. Was it her imagination, or had the Rider’s body unnaturally bent out of the way? “Careful! That stuff can kill with a touch!” Twilight flipped away as more fungus flew toward her. Kabibinga kept her attacks coming, heedless of whom it might hurt. Combatponies died in droves, consumed by the deadly fungus. Twilight picked her steps, careful to avoid the substance even grazing her.  “You!” But the Shocker Inquisitor watched with an intent expression, willing to sacrifice anything to achieve her goals.  “Enough of this!” Photon energy gathered around Twilight’s hooves. A pile of mold flew towards her, too close to avoid. Twilight remained calm, however, confident in her abilities. An acrid smell filled the small room as photon energy burned the mold to a crisp.  “What?” Kabibinga said, panic filling her voice.  “Lux has the power of the sun! And what has greater cleansing power than sunlight?” Kabibinga howled in pain and staggered back as the photon-powered slashes drove her back.  “Nice trick, but let me show you what true power is!” Protean delivered her own attack, thrusting a powerful punch into the monster’s chest. “What power!” Twilight watched in amazement as the fungal monster’s backside collided with the street, thrown clear through the warehouse’s metal walls. A chill went down her spine as Trixie directed her baleful gaze toward her. It promised she’d be next. It only lasted a tense moment before Protean leaped through the hole she’d created.  Twilight hesitated. She didn’t want to fight the other Kamen Rider. Shouldn’t they be automatic friends, like the other alternate Trixies? Where had this intense animosity come from? Tense, she joined the fray. They still needed to defeat Kabibinga. She looked back and saw the Shocker Inquisitor had already vanished, no doubt reporting the situation to Doctor Shinigami.  “I’m not finished yet!” Kabibinga said, summoning her twin blades and slashing both toward Trixie’s midsection.  Sparks flew from the impact, but Trixie remained resolute. She dodged around the follow-up strike and blocked the next with the flat of her arm. The sword’s blade sliced deep into Protean’s armor, but something peculiar happened. The metal of Kabibinga’s sword started smoldering, her face illuminated in blue as Trixie’s body glowed. Kabibinga yelped back in surprise as her weapon dissolved before her eyes.  “Ability acquired,” Trixie said, her tone satisfied. Her body convulsed, wracked with pain. She extended an arm, and its flesh pulsed and vibrated. After a final howl of pain, a slimy shaft shot from her hoof. As the slime and blood dripped away from the object, its identity became clearer. It was a sword similar to Kabibinga’s weapon but made from bone, its edges serrated teeth. With another grimace of pain, Protean summoned another sword from her other hoof.  “What the?” Kabibinga said equal parts fear and revulsion.  Twilight realized her previous assessment of Protean was correct. Unlike Lux or Cupido, this Kamen Rider was 100 percent organic. She took power from some strange biotechnology Twilight couldn’t begin to fathom. How fascinating! Inwardly, her heart fluttered with excitement. She smelled a research paper coming! Or better yet, two or three! Kabibinga yelped in surprise as twin Protean’s bone blades slashed toward her face, blocking the blow with her own weapon. Metal clashed against bone. Kabibinga’s sword sizzled and blackened before its structure broke apart, snapping in two.  “No.” The remaining half of Kabibinga’s blade clattered to the ground, and sparks flew as Trixie slashed both swords across her chest. Not to be outdone, Twilight joined the fray. She leaped towards the monster, focusing photon energy into her punch. The shockwave flung Kabibinga back, pavement cracking from the impact.  “You’re finished.” Trixie threw aside her bone blades and leaped into the air.  “It’s over.” Twilight joined the other Kamen Rider, gathering photon energy for a devastating kick.  “Protean Spinning Rider Kick!” “Photonic Burning Rider Kick!” Both leaping kicks struck Kabibinga, the creature’s body sparking with unleashed energy. She collapsed to the ground moments later, exploding in a luminous fireball.  “Phew, that was a close one.” Twilight undid her transformation. Trixie, however, wasn’t listening, head scanning her surroundings. After some fruitless searching, Protean grunted in frustration and reverted into her pony form.  “She escaped,” Trixie said, grunting in frustration. “No matter. I have her precious thing. She’ll be back.” Precious thing? Twilight registered that odd remark for later. Twilight got into Trixie’s face, beaming like a foal on Hearth’s Warming Eve. “Oh my gosh, that was incredible! Your body is nothing like I’ve ever seen before! It’s like your entire cellular structure is malleable!” Her words came out in a rush, and she tapped her chin in thought. “The failed experiment must have changed the very fundamental nature of your magic! Overcharged it, maybe? Two unicorns were used to enhance your magic. Who knows what effect that might have! And you have wings like a pegasus! Can you fly? Do you have other pegasi abilities like cloudwalking? I have so many questions! I can barely contain myself!” Twilight paced, trying to organize her jumble of whirling thoughts. There was just too much to consider! “Can I get a tissue sample?” “Uh.” Trixie faltered under the rush of questions, unsure how to respond. Trixie quickly replaced it with her usual haughtiness as she regained her bearings. “No, you may not.”  The other Rider’s glare could remove paint, but Twilight was too excited to care. Besides the other Trixie breaking the dimension barrier between their two timelines, this was of the greatest scientific discoveries in Equestria history! Why wasn’t Trixie excited about this?  “You’re just like your mother,” Trixie said, scowling. Twilight faltered as the significance of these words sink in.  Mother. Right, she… “Trixie, I…”  “Save it!” Trixie said, her voice venomous. “Your mother did this to me, made me a freak! The heartless wretch!” Twilight yelped in surprise as a sudden push thrust her back. “And I see you’re no different. We’re all just playthings to you, aren’t we? To be used and discarded when we’re no longer useful.” “Trixie, I…” Twilight faltered, unsure how to respond.  She didn’t mean to be insensitive, and the horror of the other mare’s situation sunk in. Trixie was a failed experiment, twisted by unnatural magic. Who knew what she’d suffered in the interim? And Trixie was like her, wasn’t she? Her mother had also subjected her to that heartless experiment and almost lost several of Twilight’s dear friends.  Before Twilight could explain this, Trixie turned her back away from her. “Stay out of my way. You’re next once I’m finished with Doctor Shinigami.” With that, her wings extended wide, and she flew away.  “Trixie.” Twilight’s ears drooped. How had it come to this? She just wanted to be Trixie’s friend. “Twilight, darling! Thank Shocker you’re safe!” Rarity said, running up to her. Other than some scuff marks on her usually pristine white coat, she seemed unharmed otherwise.  “Are you alright, princess?” Rarity asked when she noticed Twilight’s glum expression. “Who was that who flew off? She looked familiar, but I can’t quite place her.” “It’s a long story. I’ll explain on our way back to the castle.” Twilight tried and failed to hide the pain behind her voice. A moment later, a car pulled up next to them. Rainbow Dash poked her head out the window. “Hurry, get in!” The mare said. “This place still might be crawling with Shocker creeps!” “I’ll be right behind you.” Twilight pulled her motorcycle from behind a nearby trash bin and followed behind her friends. Twilight allowed her cycle’s purring engines to ease her tensions. Vehicles always had that effect on her, helping her think. Cars zipped by, and her mind returned to Trixie. Her mother’s sins stained her deeply, and Twilight couldn’t fault the other Kamen Rider’s hatred. Her feelings about Twilight Velvet weren’t much better, the experiment returning in painful clarity.  Regardless, Twilight refused to be Trixie’s enemy. Somehow, she’d patch things between the two of them. With Zol and Shinigami still out there, Equestria would need the combined unity of two Kamen Riders.  --- “Damn, damn, damn.” Ditzy paced in her chamber, trying to think. Unlike her townhome bedroom, it was barren with stone walls, a bed, and little else. She didn’t dare make her temporary lodgings homey, fearing it might make it a permanent home. Her proper place was with her muffin in their house.  She replayed the battle with the two Kamen Riders against Kabibinga in her head. Ditzy had hidden in the shadows, allowing the fight to play out to learn of Protean’s capabilities. They were more frightening than Ditzy had anticipated. Heck, she might have greater ability than Lux. The last thing they needed was two Kamen Riders against their Shocker remnant.  “Um, sir.” A Combatpony said after a crisp Shocker salute. “Doctor Shinigami will see you now.” “Good. We have much to discuss.” The reports of the good doctor’s newest creation were positive, but this new threat might jeopardize everything.  “And, uh.” The Combatpony hesitated, obviously reluctant to give an inquisitor unwelcome news.  “What?” Ditzy said, not hiding her impatience.  “Ivory Scrolls has given his report about your daughter’s status.” “Yes, and? Have the other foals been bullying her?” If so, she’d need to send some Combatponies to them to set them straight. “Have her grades been suffering?” The Combatpony paused again, lost for words. Ditzy’s throat tightened, her motherly instincts screaming something was wrong.  “Your daughter has been foalnapped.” “What?” The Combatpony stepped back, fear evident in his suit’s eyeholes. The venom in the inquisitor’s voice could have melted steel. “For your sorry hide’s sake, you better explain.” “Three days ago, Dinky Doo disappeared after school without a trace.” The Combatpony said, his words jumbling together in a rush. “Your stepdaughter has searched everywhere to no avail. Our contact said the last pony to see your daughter was a weatherpony named Cloud Kicker. She says she saw your daughter speaking to an odd-cloaked mare with a blue coat.” “Blue coat!” No, it can’t be? Trixie?! The shock and fear for her daughter’s safety turned icy, and the Combatpony trembled against a nearby wall in sheer terror. “How could you allow this to happen?!” Her muffin, her baby, was in grave danger, and these idiots allowed it to happen? Somepony’s head would roll for this. “Ivory Scrolls is still searching. He says he wouldn’t leave a single stone unturned.” The Combatpony said, not giving the answer she’d asked for.  “Useless foals!” Ditzy stomped out of her room, the smoldering remains of the Combatpony filling her nostrils behind her. She wouldn’t be the first pony to die from this snafu. Combatponies trembled as she passed, too frightened to even salute. She ignored them. Once she finished her conversation with Doctor Shinigami, she’d give Ivory Scrolls a nice, friendly visit.  “Doctor!” Ditzy said, without preamble. It was rude and a breach of protocol, but she was beyond caring.  “Ah, Inquisitor.” Doctor Shinigami replied, unbothered by his underling’s terse greeting. “I’m glad you made it. I read your report about our newest pest. It seems Twilight Velvet has returned to haunt us again.” “Yes, Trixie, our Trixie. I overheard her saying she wants vengeance on everypony that wronged her in that failed experiment, including you.” Giving her a report helped calm Ditzy down. Her rage shimmered beneath the surface, ready to emerge when the time was ready. “And I hear she has your daughter.” The Shocker General said, making Ditzy jerk back in surprise. How did he know about that? “In some foalish attempt to use you to get to me.” Ditzy’s movements were jerky as she nodded her argument. “That was my conclusion, too. I wouldn’t let it happen, doctor. You’re too important to the Shocker cause! But…” She hesitated.  “But?” “I’ve seen Protean’s power for myself. If Lux teams up with her, we’ll be in trouble.” She suppressed a shudder, remembering Ursa Red and their fallen Great Leader. Trixies were nothing but trouble. Damn them all! “Fear not, our loyal inquisitor. Plans are already in place to destroy them. Once my experiment is complete, nothing will stop us!”  Doctor Shinigami gestured to the tank he was standing over. It contained some murky liquid, and Ditzy squinted to see further in. She jumped as something enormous slammed against the tank, moving so quickly that she hadn’t gotten a good look at it. Ditzy suppressed a shudder, uncertain she wished to know what monstrosity the good doctor was cooking up.  “Tell me. Why haven’t you gone through the reconstruction process?” The unexpected question made Ditzy start.  “I suppose I assumed it’s never been necessary.” No, she supposed that wasn’t true. It was because she feared losing her equity. She didn’t want her muffin to see her as a monster.  “Inquisitor Doo, in these troubled times, we can’t afford half measures. Too much is at stake.” Doctor Shinigami turned his back on her. “Besides, as you are, do you truly believe you have the power to protect your daughter?” “No.” Ditzy’s body sagged, knowing the general was speaking the truth. “I’ll do it, for Dinky’s sake!” She would rip apart that Trixie freak limb from limb. “Excellent.” “Doctor Shinigami!” A Combatpony said, rushing in.  “Yes, report.” The doctor replied.  “This better be important. We’re in the middle of an important conversation,” Ditzy said, her previous venom returning. It made the messenger swallow, cold sweat dripping down his forehead.  “It is. Coronal Zol has attacked Equestria!”  “What?!” How? This was too soon! Her spies had told her the attack was still months away.  “Unfortunately, we aren’t ready!” Real worry and fear crept onto Doctor Shinigami’s face, something Ditzy had always assumed was impossible.  “It gets worse, sir!” The messenger suddenly screamed and slumped to the ground, a crossbow bolt protruding from his chest  Newcomers welding weapons rushed onto the scene. The intruders wore costumes Ditzy had never seen before. Unlike the usual Combatpony fare, these grunts wore white patterns of scorpions woven into their costumes.  Zol’s Combatponies. She thought with distaste.  “Looks like we’ve found you, Doctor Shinigami.” Another figure walked into the scene. Somepony Ditzy recognized.  “Jigoku-Thunder! How dare you!” Ditzy snarled, her mechanical eye glowing a malevolent crimson. “Betray Shocker?” The antlion monster snored in derision. “It was dead the moment the Great Leader died. We have a new, greater master now! We are Destron, the new rulers of the planet!”