Before the Bearers cleansed Nightmare Moon, before Twilight met her friends, the defense of Equestria was the responsibility of SECT. They imprisoned the monsters locked in Tartarus. They stopped threats from the shadows before ponies even knew they existed. They fought a war so ponies could live in peace.
And then the Elements were reawoken, and SECT was abandoned, disavowed. All records destroyed. Heroes were cut loose. Not all of them handled the change of profession well.
Bon-Bon, formerly Agent Sweetie Drops of SECT, was one of the best of the best. Now she's leading a quiet life with her Best Friend and making the best candy in Ponyville. If the past just has the decency to stay buried, maybe that life can go on forever...
AU tag because while the lore about SMILE is only sort of secondary canon, this is definitely taking it in a different direction. It's one of those 'let's just slap an AU tag on it to avoid arguments'. No crossover tag because it might take elements from Kamen Rider, it's all in-universe. Themes and ideas instead of actual crossing over.
This is one of the (very) old fics I've dug out of my archive of unfinished works. The first draft of the first chapter dates back to 2014! I've got a few other older works I'm trying to polish up and finish.
Thank you to all my readers. I appreciate each and every one of you!
I was trying to wrack my brain on why SECT sounded so familiar. Duh, that was Kabuto (ZECT)!
Oh boy, poor Bon-Bon is gonna have a rough time.
Cool
Interesting read. Added to the read list. Looking forward to seeing more.
Ohh go on.
Tracked!
“And besides, we were never friends with the Griffon Occult Coalition. We wanted to keep things safe, you wanted to turn them into weapons.” I glared at him.
SCP reference?
She'd be a good influence on Disposition Matrix. Probably. And hey, what better time to think about moving to a colder climate than after getting boiled alive?
I think that's supposed to be hooves?
Ah, it wouldn't be a Rider series without the first monster being Spider themed.
It's got promise. I'm interested to see where this goes.
Welp. Time to go destroy the
ShagohadNightmare Shards.I'm in favor of this plan. Just saying.
Lotus cobra! Evil!
Brilliant work maintaining that secret identity, Bonbon.
Fascinating blend of tokusatsu and MGS. Looking forward to seeing where you go from here.
"My entire organization got shuttered because you six play hero on a constant basis."
"Wait, what?"
"Don't mind me. Confectioner inside joke."
More flagrant anti-unicorn discrimination by Town Hall. Rincewind Arcology Syndrome is a real condition and it deserves recognition.
It does seem like only a matter of time before Lyra brings in Twilight regardless of Bonbon's objections.
The SNP: Solving slightly more problems than it causes.
And yeah, the current monster of the week situation just isn't sustainable. Not least because Bonbon's armor is probably out of juice at this point. It's only a matter of time before this formula changes.
Toorisugari no kamen raida da. Obeteke!
Clarification; so Sweetie Drops is Kamen Rider G3 here? Without a source to recharge that is
I think I just heard Tsukasa yell about someone stealing his catchphrase.
That classic pragmatic Rider thought process. Causeax damage and punch/kick the shit out of it. And Bon Bon just might be out of Henshin power.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT TIME ON KAMEN RIDER BON BON?
Ah, never mind. Again.
Regardless of the story, your Lyra and Bonbon always have a fun dynamic.
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Or a divekick finisher. (Get bent Tendou)
Sadly, it'll probably take some tragic, preventable explosion before the local legislature even understands the need for the change, much less considers it.
There's the Strong Narrative Principle again.
I really like this justification for storms existing.
That doesn't answer the question. That only raises further questions.
Ah, the Frankenstein Method. Handy.
And... yeah, Bonbon, now is the time you say something. Though that recharged armor has me worried she won't bother. Still, she's not the one who can make amends here. Even Twilight isn't. This goes all the way to the top, and that's where a truly lasting solution can come from, assuming anything Celestia does at this point can assuage those years of abandonment and betrayal.
Hmm. Come to think of it, maybe Twilight can help. This does seem to fall in her wheelhouse. Heck, I'm surprised the Map hasn't picked up on this one. We'll see where it goes from here.
*nods* Kamen ponies.
The real-world chocolate industry is actually cutthroat enough that Wonka setting up four random children to die horribly isn't even that surprising.
Strong Narrative Principle. You can't fight the same monster twice.
Better than some of the names KR has come up with.
Again, not the dumbest weapon in KR history (looking at you high five axe).
...oh my God....is....is Lyra suggesting she dress up like a SHOCKER GRUNT???
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I am incredibly glad someone caught on that they were dressed like Shocker Combatmen
I kept expecting Ace to start quoting his grandmother. Nope, sacrificed on the altar of the Double Riders.
Okay, but they're definitely going to have to tell Twilight something at this point, right? There was a big to-do about the new guard contingent, and now they're getting chased out of town. Everypony is going to notice this one. And that's assuming the mercenaries, upon learning they're not getting paid, don't decide to pillage their paycheck instead. Happy as I am to see Lyra get in on the action, this will definitely have a lasting, noticeable impact.
Batman and Robin. Nice.
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That may be your only point of reference, but it's actually supposed to be something else entirely. Note the first image in particular, which matches Lyra's description of their armors' differences.
I really want to throw Twilight a bone. Have her or her friends find a Nightmare shard. Or at least have a decent interview with someone who saw somepony transform.
Calling it now, the whole Hero With Bad Publicity deal is going to lead to a Kamen Pony Phobia.
"This is Ponyville! We've been part of three musical numbers in the last moon!"
"Yeah, but I can't perform one on cue!"
Heh. Not quite Harpflank and Sweets.
I love how this is what sets her off. There isn't a single member of that class who will tolerate being compared to Trixie. Including Trixie.
And hiding this from Twilight has frankly gotten absurd. Why is Lyra even going along with it? This has definitely escalated to the point of national security, and the opportunity was right there. If nothing, tell her those guards were frauds. I know, I know, nature of the genre, but it's really pushing suspension of disbelief.
Okay, thanks to Ace's uncommon cunning, by MLP standards, Twilight and company are getting involved for real. Excellent character work. Bon-Bon and Twilight are both heroes, but other than that the way they operate is totally opposite. I wonder if Pinkie already knew about Bon-Bon's history?
There would actually be ponies that boring, wouldn't there? I mean, Mudbriar doesn't even need a relevant cutie mark...
After-chapter notes: Ace is getting a field execution, straight-up. Bon Bon won't even be punished for it because every part of this, including her being trained to kill and then burn noticed, is completely Celestia's fault. And Equestrian law probably has a lot of clemency with regards to things done in the name of true love, at least insofar as Equestria has laws in the first place. (Canonwise, that's not much of an extent)
What a depressing destiny... though I suppose they wouldn't get those marks if they didn't enjoy the work. Would they? Questions as old as the concept of the cutie mark there...
Oh hey, that's also my headcanon. Likewise with the Bearers. (She has to keep placing Pinkie's. This is what happens when your trackers are made of candy.)
Yeah, I really can't blame Twilight on this one. If Bonbon had involved her from the word go, or literally any point before this, Ace wouldn't have ever gotten the hoofhold he needed to execute this plan. Still, the princesses have been alerted to the situation, plural intended. If Twilight shared any details with Celestia, the diarchs know ponies are going after Nightmare Moon's remnants. This is excellent news. Sun or moon, roaches flee from the light. But while they spin up their response, Bonbon and her new sidekick have an extraction to perform.
....that's suspicious. Either we're looking at mass produced Rider tech (ala ZECT) or we've got combatants swarming Ponyville.
Called it!
...uh oh
...do you make Bruce Lee noises and have a disco Beyblade?
....do you hate shiitake mushrooms??? (Oh God, I'm a nerd someone help)
Eeeeeyyyy, our Secondary Rider!
It's the Kamen Rider law that you do a stupid pose. It's the beauty of Karate Bug Men!
ONOREEEEEE!!!!
Don't know how much longer they're gonna be able to pull the 'hide from the authorities' trick. Twilight's pretty smart...
Ugh, see Bon Bon, this is why Riders end up with some bad communication kills plots.
But time to confront these jerks with the power of Kamen Rider and friendship!
....so...I guess we're sending in Fourze?
As a fan of the Kamen Rider Series, I can't tell how much I love this story. I really want to see what's going to happen next.
Just reread this and it's just as good as I remember.