This is Part II of the New Years Special. Last time, Spyro, Cynder, Faiz, and Delta started out on their mission to stop the Arc Orphnoch, but ultimately things did not go well, as the Arc Orphnoch ambushed them, transformed Faiz into a variant of the Wolf Orphnoch he already is that's completely under the Arc Orphnoch's control, and kidnapped Spyro after he went completely dark trying to kill the Arc Orphnoch after he nearly killed Cynder. And just when things seem their bleakest, Kaixa finally decided to show up. So, how is this story going to end? Read on to discover...
(Our story resumes in what looks like another warehouse, where Cynder is unconscious still on a few crates, next to Faiz's equipment while Kaixa, now in his civilian gear of a suit and tie, starts discussing what just happened with Delta)
Kaixa: So Takumi got himself mind controlled by an Orphnoch, and got the most powerful being in this realm kidnapped. This is indeed a dire situation.
Delta: (Looking over at Cynder) You think she'll be okay?
Kaixa: At this point, even I'm not sure.
(And of course, just as Kaixa says this, Cynder regains consciousness, and immediately remembers what happened, and starts freaking out. As this happens, Delta rushes in to calm her down, while Kaixa pulls out an old-school rotating cover phone, the same one in his belt in Rider form, and starts recording this. After a few moments, Delta manages to get Cynder to stop freaking out, just as Kaxia stops recording)
Delta: (Seeing what Kaixa was doing) You were recording all of that?
Kaixa: To present it to a doctor. You might want to get these seizure-like awakenings looked into.
Delta: It looked more like panic than anything.
Kaixa: Ah, then a psychologist. That much panic is not normal.
Cynder: (Finally noticing Kaixa in the room) Who... who are you?
Kaixa: Ah. Forgive me for not introducing myself. Yuji Kiba, Kamen Rider Kaixa.
Cynder: That was you?
Kaixa: No need to thank me. In fact, I should be thanking you.
Cynder: For nearly dying?
Kaixa: For giving me another chance to rid the world of Orphnochs. Specifically the one that got away.
Cynder: Wait, Faiz was always like that?
Kaixa: It surprised all of us. But we stayed on the same side through it all. Sadly though, I fear I will have to eliminate him.
Cynder: There's no need for that to happen.
Kaixa: And why is that?
Cynder: I know what happened to Faiz better than you'd think. And from experience, it can be undone.
Kaixa: Becoming an Orphnoch is permanent.
Cynder: Not the part about becoming an Orphnoch. What I'm saying it we can get him to turn back to Faiz.
Kaixa: You'll forgive me for not seeing it.
Cynder: Just trust me on this one.
Delta: I trust you.
Kaixa: As do I. But I do have a backup plan in case we need it.
(With that, Kaixa removes a sheet on a nearby crate, revealing what looks like a motorcycle trunk box with a circular central component with a keypad, which itself has a grip in the middle of it)
Delta: (Astonished) The Faiz Blaster?!
Kaixa: Yep. And with the Faiz Phone, we should be able to activate it.
Cynder: At least give us a chance before you use that thing.
Kaixa: (Picking up the Faiz Blaster) You have one chance. Otherwise, I will begrudgingly be forced to take action.
Cynder: Deal.
(With a deal set, Cynder and Delta leave the warehouse, with Cynder secretly grabbing Faiz's belt, leaving Kaixa to wait until they can't save Faiz.)
Delta: So, what's your plan?
Cynder: Truth be told, I don't have one.
Delta: Thank goodness you got Kiba then. If it were Kusaka under that mask, we'd all be dead with no plan.
Cynder: Well, okay. There's a rough one. We find Spyro and Faiz, restore Faiz before Kaixa desides to kill him, then rescue Spyro and end the Arc Orphnoch.
Delta: Do you have any idea on how to find them at all?
Cynder: You're the expert Orphnoch trackers. I had a feeling if anyone could find them, it's you guys.
Delta: Now that I think about it, good point. Enhanced by whatever the heck that energy was or not, their still Orphnochs. That genetic breakdown leaves a pretty recognizable energy signature. Let me see what I can find.
(With that, Delta activates the enhanced sight his helmet, setting it for the unique energy signature Orphnochs give off and looking around. As we see from his viewpoint, there aren't many results, until he gets a look at a trail of what looks like blue flame heading south from their location)
Delta: Got them! Looks like they're hiding in the sewers.
Cynder: Then let's get moving!
(As Delta and Cynder head off, we transition to a location within Warfang's sewers, where the Arc Orphnoch is observing Spyro, strapped down to some sort of surgical gurney turned examination table, and struggling to get out as the Arc Orphnoch prepares what looks like surgical tools)
Arc Orphnoch: Don't even bother trying to break those restraints. They were created specifically to hold you down.
Spyro: You had best release me, unless you want to die that is.
(And just as Spyro makes that threat, we finally see that Faiz, still as the Wolf Orphnoch, is standing over the restrained Spyro)
Arc Orphnoch: Looks like you forgot about your former friend here. You even try that, and he'll kill you.
Spyro: What are you planning, demon?
Arc Orphnoch: (Taking up what looks like a scalpel) Right now, just getting ready for surgery.
Spyro: Surgery?
Arc Orphnoch: Something within you holds that power that fascinated me. And I will pry it from you, even if it kills you.
(Just as the Arc Orphnoch is about to cut in, the sound of a manhole cover opening and the sound of feet descending a latter can be heard)
Arc Orphnoch: I cannot have interruptions during this procedure! (To the Wolf Orphnoch) Go see what that was.
(As the Wolf Orphnoch leaves to investigate the disturbance, the Arc Orphnoch turns back to Spyro)
Arc Orphnoch: Now then, where were we?
(With that, we transition to the source of the noise, which we see is Cynder and Delta, still on the Orphnochs' trail.)
Delta: Why do evil people always hide out in sewers?!
Cynder: Under normal circumstances, nobody enters them. Low risk of discovery.
Delta: That... actually makes sense.
Cynder: Not really my cup of tea, but I can see it.
Delta: (After a moment of silence) So, what is your plan to restore Takumi exactly?
Cynder: (Taking out Faiz's belt) This, and a bit of my own energy should hopefully undo this process.
Delta: You swiped Faiz's stuff out from under Kiba's nose? Nice.
(As Delta and Cynder progress, a two extra sets of footsteps can be heard, and just as Cynder and Delta can get into defensive positions, the Wolf Orphnoch attacks. Not wanting to hurt their friend, Cynder and Delta keep diving out of the way of the Wolf Orphnoch's blows. But eventually Delta is pinned down and Cynder readies herself to attack.)
Delta: Now would really be a good time to act on that plan of yours!
Cynder: (Examining the scene) I can't get the belt around his waist at this angle!
(At this point the second set of footsteps grows louder, as Kaixa joins the party, carrying the Faiz Blaster.)
Kaixa: Good call on taking the Faiz Gear so I wouldn't be tempted to use it.
Cynder: Kaixa?!
Kaixa: Looks like you could use a bit of help.
(With that, Kaixa puts on his belt from last chapter, complete with x-looking gun, and pulls out his phone from earlier and enters the code 9-1-3 onto the keypad before swiveling the phone shut.)
Kaixa Phone: Standing By.
Kaixa: (As he places the phone into the belt, but not enough to activate it) Henshin!
(With his battle cry known, Kaixa slams the phone down into the belt, initiating the transformation)
Kaixa Phone: Complete.
(As Kaixa initiates the transformation, golden lines of energy form across his body, consolidating into the familiar Kaixa suit. With the suit formed, Kaixa slides the emblem on his phone that resembles his head off of it, revealing it to be a sort of key-like device. Kaixa then removes the x-looking gun from his belt and places the key into one of the arms, causing a yellow light blade to emerge from the bottom of it.)
Kaixa Blaygun: Ready.
(Now armed and ready, Kaixa rushes forward and slashes the Wolf Orphnoch, enough to move him out of the way while Cynder readies the Faiz Gear, by activating the Faiz Phone with the classic code 5-5-5 before slotting the phone into the belt just like Kaixa did.)
Faiz Phone: Standing By.
Kaixa: Ready when you are.
Cynder: Whatever you're going to do, do it now.
Kaixa: Gladly.
(With that, Kaixa opens the phone on his belt, and hits one of the buttons)
Kaixa Phone: Exceed Charge.
(Kaixa then pulls back an arm of the Kaixa Blaygun, before firing a shot at the Wolf Orphnoch, encasing him in a net of yellow energy. Cynder, seeing her opportunity, rushes in and slams the belt onto the Wolf Orphnoch's waist and just as Kaixa rushes forward behind a golden X and slashes through the Wolf Orphnoch. But just as blue flames erupt from the Wolf Orphnoch, Cynder hits him with a stream of Dark Aether, that not only stops the blue flames but forces the Faiz Phone down into the belt completely, and the combination of this somehow manages to restore the Wolf Orphnoch to being Faiz, as he normally was, suit and all)
Faiz Phone: Complete.
(As Faiz hits the ground, still fully in his Rider suit, Delta catches him and helps him to his feet as Faiz regains consciousness)
Faiz: (Weakly) Shuji? Cynder? (Sees Kaixa) Kusaka?
Kaixa: Not quite, Takumi.
Faiz: (Puts it together) Ah, it's you Kiba.
Cynder: Good to have you back, Faiz.
Faiz: How did you even do that?
Cynder: There are some things in this world that just can't be explained. One of them being how that actually ended up working.
Delta: It was a downright miraculous move.
Kaixa: Yet one worth playing.
Faiz: Thanks for that, Cynder.
Cynder: Not a problem.
Faiz: (Standing himself up) Now that that little issue is resolved, we've got to hurry. Spyro's about to be sliced open like a fish.
Cynder: Based on the screams we heard coming in here, it sounds like he already was.
Faiz: We haven't a second to lose then. Let's go.
Kaixa: Hold it, Takumi.
Faiz: Kiba, I know you're going to say I need to recover from those injuries first, but we don't have time.
Kaixa: I know. That's not what I was going to say. (Handing over the Faiz Blaster) I was going to say you're going to need this.
Faiz: (Taking the Faiz Blaster) Good call. Now let's get that bastard.
(With that, the quartet take off through the tunnels towards Spyro's location, where we see the Arc Orphnoch is about to make his first incision into Spyro)
Arc Orphnoch: Now do hold still, I need a clean incision to be able to stitch it back up. Unless you want to die of an infection down here.
(And just as the Arc Orphnoch is about to cut in, Cynder, Faiz, Kaixa, and Delta arrive)
Delta: Looks like you're about to get a malpractice suit!
Cynder: That's really the best you could come up with?
Kaixa: I thought it was kind of funny.
Arc Orphnoch: (Seeing Faiz is back to normal) Impossible! How did you undo my transformation!
Faiz: Frankly even I don't know. But if it makes you feel better, here's a transformation you're sure to love.
(With that, Faiz removes the Faiz Phone from his belt, and inserts it into a slot on the top of the Faiz Blaster)
Faiz Blaster: Awakening.
(Upon inserting the Faiz Phone, Faiz immediately turns his attention to a keypad around the Faiz Blaster's circular central component, and inputs his transformation code, 5-5-5 and pressing the button marked "Enter")
Faiz Blaster: Standing By.
(At this point a beam of red energy shoots down into Faiz, breaking the red lines that formed his armor, turning the very suit red, and altering the chest armor slightly to include what looks like a small jetpack on the back, before turning Faiz's eyes a solid yellow, and replacing the red lines with black ones.)
Faiz: It's on now.
(With this, Faiz, Kaixa, and Delta begin to battle the Arc Orphnoch while Cynder undoes Spyro's straps, rescuing him from this vile operation.)
Spyro: Thanks Cynder. (Seeing Faiz in battle) How'd you get him back to normal?
Cynder: One of those strange mysteries lost in Aether.
Spyro: That's all I need to know.
(With their reunion out of the way, Spyro and Cynder join the battle against the Arc Orphnoch, and this time things appear to be going smoothly, but ultimately the Arc Orphnoch starts to overwhelm)
Arc Orphnoch: You fools! The three of you couldn't beat me last time, and you certainly won't this time!
Cynder: Last time they didn't have us.
(And with that, almost as if on cue, Kaixa takes what looks like a pair of binoculars of the left side of his belt, slides the key from the Kaixa Blaygun into them, causing the front to fold forward slightly, and sticks them in a port on his leg)
Kaixa Pointer: Ready.
(With the Kaixa Pointer in place, Kaixa runs forward and kicks the Arc Orphnoch in the chest before opening his phone and pressing the "Enter" button)
Kaixa Phone: Exceed Charge.
(Getting the idea, Delta assembles his gun then slides the emblem of his face off the belt and into the top of the gun, causing the barrel to extend before activating the microphone on the Delta Phone)
Delta: Check.
Delta Phone: Exceed Charge.
(As Delta shoots his gun at the Arc Orphnoch, Faiz takes up the Faiz Blaster and inputs the code 5-5-3-2 into it, followed by the "Enter" button)
Faiz Blaster: Exceed Charge!
(As the simultaneous activation concludes, the Arc Orphnoch is surrounded by a trio of energy cones: one red, one gold, one blue; each matching the Riders who created them. With their energy cones formed, Faiz, Kaixa and Delta leap into the air, Faiz assisted by the jetpack on his back, and each enter their respective energy cones, Faiz and Delta with one foot, Kaixa with both feet. And while the energy cones begin to rotate as they hit their mark, Spyro and Cynder fire beams of Aether and Dark Aether into the Arc Orphnoch. After a few seconds of impact, Faiz, Kaixa, and Delta phase to the opposite side of their kick, causing the Arch Orphnoch to erupt into blue flames as the energy cones dissipate. As the flames grow, the Mark of Malefor glows upon the Arc Orphnoch's crest)
Arc Orphnoch: Master... I have failed you...
(And with that, the blue flames consume the Arc Orphnoch, and as he dissolves into dust, he leaves behind a silver Ridewatch with a black rim and Faiz's face on it, which Spyro picks up as the Riders return to their civilian states)
Spyro: Another one bites the dust. Or rather, becomes dust.
Faiz: And another enemy returns to the grave.
Kaixa: Let us hope it's for good.
Delta: Agreed.
Faiz: Good, now let's get out of here. This place stinks.
(With that, the quintet leaves the sewers the same way they entered, and before we know it, we're back at the Dragon Temple, where Spyro and Cynder add the Faiz Ridewatch to their growing collection, just as Woz enters the room.)
Cynder: Six down, 13 to go.
Woz: A moment worth celebrating! (Opens his book) Rejoice! Another of the Malefic Villains has fallen! Lord Spyro and Lady Cynder have claimed their newest Rider allies: Kamen Riders Faiz, Kaixa, and Delta! May their alliance last beyond all evolution! (Closes his book)
Faiz: Even with the Arc Orphnoch defeated, his projects still remain out there.
Kaixa: Then we shall hunt them down.
Delta: Hopefully.
Spyro: We're ready to join you if you need us.
Delta: We might just take you up on that offer at some point.
Kaixa: But, you guys have a lot of other maniacs in front of you.
Faiz: You need to focus on that. Leave the remnants of this one to us.
(And with that, Faiz, Kaixa, and Delta all walk out of the Temple, ready to go hunting.)
Cynder: You know, as dysfunctional as those guys can be, their teamwork is admirable.
Spyro: It really is. Now that that craziness is over, I'm really thinking I need to wash up, you know, having been dragged through a sewer)
Cynder: Agreed. Both of us should get on that.
(As Spyro and Cynder walk off, we see in the background, a translucent figure of a man with red hair and clad in a very colorful garb of black and pink almost floral designs on one side with straight black fabric on the others, as well as black pants and a red belt)
Ghost: I never would have guessed he was that powerful. Now I see why Hibiki called me in. Better keep a closer eye on Spyro.
(And as the translucent figure disappears, our tale ends for today)
That concludes Part II of the New Years Special. For Part III, head on over to Fall of the Morphing Grid. And now the Faiz Arc is finished. But next time, and next year, we begin with the last Kamen Rider who's adventures I saw front to back. That being Takeru Tenkuji, Kamen Rider Ghost. So, what awaits in the Ghost Arc? And why has Hibiki told Ghost to keep an eye on Spyro? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!