Welcome back to Prophecy of Masks! Last time, all parties involved set off on their missions. Spyro, Specter, and Necrom set out to find and kill the Perfect Ganmaizer, while Cynder and Ghost try to communicate with the living somehow, notably planning to use Woz. But then the Perfect Ganmaizer itself was attempting... something... with Cynder's corpse. What is going to happen? Read on to discover...
(Our story resumes on a lonely stretch of Warfang's streets, where a depressed Woz is walking through town, eyes still red from tearing up at the museum. His gait alone shows how lost and without purpose he's become since Cynder died and Spyro set out for bloody revenge against her killer, let alone once you add in the fact he's just looking at the ground, not even caring where he's going. But as he strolls the streets, Cynder and Ghost materialize behind him)
Ghost: You're sure Woz here is the one that can talk sense into Spyro?
Cynder: Not exactly. I'm more hoping he'll be able to convey the message I want to send to Spyro. To let him know what's going on.
Ghost: Huh. Clever.
(As Ghost and Cynder continue to follow Woz, Cynder appears to have something on her mind, which Ghost picks up on.)
Ghost: You've got something else on your mind, don't you?
Cynder: It's not important.
Ghost: No reason not to ask.
Cynder: Well there is another reason. It might seem kind of rude.
Ghost: No need to worry about offending me. Ask away.
Cynder: (Sighs) Okay. How exactly did you die?
Ghost: Truth be told, I'm actually not dead at this point. This sort of ghostly nature comes with the power set. But I have been dead, like I said earlier.
Cynder: That's... interesting...
Ghost: Trust me, you learn to get used to the weirdness of being a ghost. But seeing everyone you care about mourning you, that's the hard part.
(Immediately after saying that, Ghost realizes it's not exactly doing the best to get Cynder's hopes up that this will work. So he changes his tactic, but Cynder notices it, and stops him from saying something)
Cynder: I know you're trying to keep my spirits up, no pun intended. And I appreciate it, but right now I need to focus everything I can into making sure this works.
Ghost: I get that feeling. (Waits a second) So what is your plan exactly?
Cynder: First we need to get Woz's attention. Then we get at that book.
Ghost: His book?
Cynder: Yep. That's what we'll use to get the message across.
Ghost: Well then, I leave the plan in your hands.
Cynder: Let's just hope this works.
(At that point, Cynder becomes fully invisible again, with Ghost following suit. And just as they do, we see Woz has stopped walking, and is actually trying to figure out where he is.)
Woz: (Not recognizing where he is) Great. Now I'm as literally lost as I feel. Can anything go right today?!
(With that, Cynder, still invisible, starts nudging Woz's book. And even in his depressed state, he can tell something is off)
Woz: What the...?
(And just as Woz notices something is up, Cynder causes the book to fall to the ground, somehow opening the clasp while she flips to a blank page)
Ghost: Your plan is to write the message? Do you have a pen or something?
Cynder: (Flaring her wings to reveal their blades) I have a plan. At least, I hope I have a working plan.
(With that, Cynder pricks her ghostly finger and, somehow, blood starts to flow from it)
Cynder: Looks like it works.
(Now, in her own blood, Cynder writes a message to Woz in the mortal world, which he can somehow see. It reads in this fashion: "Do not lose hope, Woz")
Woz: What the... wait a second... (Reads the message, particularly analyzing the handwriting, then falling to his knees as he realizes who's it is.) It cannot be!
(Seeing Woz's disbelief, Cynder writes another message: "It is.")
Woz: L...L...Lady Cynder?! (As hope starts to flush back into him) You have reached out to me from beyond the grave! But... why? You know what? Never mind why! I don't even care! I finally feel I have a purpose!
(Seeing Woz elated again certainly lifts Cynder's spirit, but she knows that time is of the essence and writes another message: "I'm glad to hear that. But we have no time to waste. You have to get to Spyro. He has to know there's a way to bring me back to life.")
Woz: There's a way to revive you?! (Realizes it) You found Ghost, didn't you!
(At this point, Ghost decides to get in on the act, and pricks his finger on Cynder's other wing blade before writing the following message: "More like we found each other.")
Woz: Of course, now I see it! The Great Eye! But we need a monolith for that to work, as well as the 15 Heroic Eyecons.
(Seeing Woz's point, Ghost scrawls the following message after turning the page in Woz's book: "The Perfect Ganmaizer has the Eyecons. As for a monolith, I have a plan, but we'll cover that once we get there.")
Woz: Ah. I understand. Worry not, my lady. I will make sure this plan is carried out!
(With the assurance that everything is going to plan, Cynder writes one final message: "Thank you, Woz. Now hurry, we must make haste!" Upon writing this message, Cynder closes the book, leaving Woz completely stunned but focused.)
Woz: (Snapping to reality) Why am I sitting around here?! I have to find Lord Spyro! He has to know the good news!
(As Woz runs off, book in hand, Cynder and Ghost materialize, watching Woz run off like a madman.)
Ghost: Okay, I've got to ask. What was with the blood writing?
Cynder: Handwriting can be forged, but that detail is so Spyro knows it's me.
Ghost: Do you always write each other in your own blood?
Cynder: No. It's a peculiarity saved for desperate situations that he knows is unique to me.
Ghost: I don't even want to know how that works with you being a ghost.
Cynder: Frankly, neither do I. But we don't have time to debate the logistics now. We have to catch up to Woz, he's our key to finding Spyro and your comrades.
Ghost: Agreed. Let's get going.
(As Ghost and Cynder fade to invisibility again, we transition over to within the quarry Spyro and company were last seen at, where the trio of Spyro, Specter, and Necrom stares down an approaching opponent. After a few seconds, the approaching adversary is revealed, the Perfect Ganmaizer has returned, and is carrying a bag of some sort)
Specter: Just as expected.
Perfect Ganmaizer: (As it stops walking into the scene) You three are foolish to challenge me.
Necrom: Adel, you have to stop this!
Perfect Ganmaizer: Adel is dead, Alain.
Specter: Wait, if you're not Adel, who are you?!
Perfect Ganmaizer: I am the Ganmaizers made whole. Truly deserving of the "perfect" moniker, free of that weakling Adel's influence.
Spyro: No wonder you're so heartless. You have no soul!
Perfect Ganmaizer: The soul is a pointless commodity. It only serves to breed distrust and conflict.
Necrom: I see you still believe in the Demia Project.
Perfect Ganmaizer: Lord Malefor entrusted me with the project's data upon my revival. And I will see it completed, bringing all of this world together under his banner.
Spyro: Not while we stand here you won't.
Perfect Ganmaizer: I had anticipated your participation in this battle, purple whelp. Hence why I brought along a little surprise.
(With that, the Perfect Ganmaizer snaps it's fingers, and a shadow appears over its shoulders before attacking Specter and Necrom briefly, to land in front of Spyro, revealing it's Cynder's corpse, reanimated, much to Spyro's shock and disgust)
Spyro: What have you done, you monster!?
Perfect Ganmaizer: (As Cynder's corpse repeats every word) Prevented your interference in my plans. (Pouring out the contents of the bag it's carrying, revealing 15 eye-like devices, similar to the ones Ghost and Specter use to transform.) And yours as well, Alain, Makoto Fukami.
Necrom: He's got the Eyecons?!
Perfect Ganmaizer: (As Cynder's corpse repeats every word) A few trinkets taken off your friend, Takeru Tenkuji, upon his defeat.
Specter: So that's your plan?! Wish the Demia Project to work on this realm?!
Perfect Ganmaizer: (As Cynder's corpse repeats every word) And then destroy the Eyecons, so the wish is irreversible.
Spyro: You'll never get away with this. I vowed that by any means necessary I would kill you!
Perfect Ganmaizer: (As Cynder's corpse repeats every word) Look at the predicament in which you stand. If you wish to get at me, you will have to fight your lover. And even then your anger blinds you to just how powerful I truly am. (Summons forth it's spider-hammer.) Now then, purple whelp, the choice is yours. Tear through your beloved only to realize you are outclassed, or surrender now.
(The air is choked with the tension of this scene, Specter and Necrom stand ready to fight, just waiting on Spyro to make the first move. But as time elapses, Spyro's hesitation becomes clearer and clearer. Ultimately though, he steels his resolve and looks dead on at his opponent)
Spyro: So be it then. Have at you!
Perfect Ganmaizer: (As Cynder's corpse repeats every word) You have chosen poorly. So I shall gladly put you in your grave.
(The battle is just about to begin, but that's when Woz runs in, having finally caught up to everyone)
Woz: Lord Spyro! I come with great news!
Spyro: Woz, what the hell are you doing here?! You're going to get yourself killed!
Woz: If I must die to deliver this message, then I shall.
Spyro: Message? From whom?
Woz: From... (Seeing Cynder's reanimated corpse) Lady Cynder?!
Spyro: Cynder...? Impossible, she's dead. And that monster is using her corpse as a puppet!
Woz: No, no, not from that! Her spirit sent me to contact you. With Ghost as backup no less!
Specter: Wait, Takeru sent you?
Woz: Takeru Tenkuji was a secondary player, I was sent by Lady Cynder primarily.
Spyro: Woz, you must be delusional.
Woz: I have proof, my lord. Here, in this book, urgent messages from Lady Cynder! Look!
(With that, Woz opens his book to the pages Cynder wrote in in ghost blood, a trademark Spyro recognizes)
Spyro: Wait... is that...
Woz: Written in blood, yes. A little macabre, but very fitting for the circumstances. She's not entirely gone, Lord Spyro
Spyro: Then... you aren't pulling my leg...
Cynder: (Still invisible) I'd never leave you like this, my beloved...
(As soon as Spyro realizes this, Ghost fades fully into reality, right between Specter and Necrom, catching both of them by surprise.)
Ghost: Allow me to put the final nail in your doubt's coffin.
(Seeing his opportunity, Ghost pulls out what looks like a blue lantern, and shines it right next to Spyro, causing Cynder's translucent figure walking towards him, filling him with delight)
Spyro: CYNDER!
(In sheer joy, Spyro runs up to embrace Cynder, but ends up falling through her as he does, given she's still incorporeal.)
Spyro: Probably should have seen that coming. (Getting back up) But I don't care. It's good to have you back, Cynder.
Cynder: I'm not back yet. We need to get those Eyecons to make that happen. Or at least that's what Takeru's been telling me.
Ghost: She's not wrong.
Necrom: We're going to need a monolith to work that out.
Ghost: For now, let's just focus on stopping this creep. Again.
Specter: Gladly.
Perfect Ganmaizer: (As Cynder's corpse repeats every word) Then all of you choose to join her in death.
(As Woz watches on and records the battle in his book, the battle finally kicks off. Everyone is trying to get at the Perfect Ganmaizer, only for Cynder's corpse to get in the way and deflect the blows. This continues for a few minutes until Spyro gets tired of this puppeteer act)
Spyro: I have had enough of you using Cynder's corpse as your puppet, monster!
Perfect Ganmaizer: (As Cynder's corpse repeats every word) You chose to proceed into battle. If you wish to hit me, you will have to leave your lover with no body to return to!
(At this point, dark energy starts to boil over, turning Spyro briefly dark, and getting Ghost worried)
Ghost: It's exactly like Hibiki said...
(Just as Ghost makes his plan, Spyro goes dark again and lets loose a surge of Dark Aether, moving so fast Cynder's corpse can't stop the blow to the Perfect Ganmaizer, as bolt after bolt of Dark Aether flies at it)
Dark Spyro: You were saying?
Cynder: (Seeing Spyro's gone dark again) Not again. I've got to do something!
(As all of this goes on, the Perfect Ganmaizer moves Cynder's corpse into position to actually block one of Spyro's Dark Aether bolts, and just as the shot hits, Cynder briefly possesses her own body, freeing it from the Perfect Ganmaizer's control, but not before she gets hit, causing Spyro to return to normal in shock)
Spyro: By the ancestors! Cynder!
(With that, Spyro rushes over to Cynder's repossessed corpse and holds it one last time, as it fades away from the blow.)
Spyro: No... not again... I can't lose the one dragon I love twice!
(And just as Spyro is on the verge of tears, Cynder lays a spectral paw upon his shoulder, getting his attention)
Cynder: You haven't. I always said I'd never leave you. In life or death. I love you too much to do that.
(In that moment, despite Cynder being incorporeal, the two embrace, leading Ghost, observing it all, to a simple conclusion.)
Ghost: Looks like Hibiki was half right. They both keep each other together.
(With that, Spyro and Cynder break off their embrace and prepare to battle the Perfect Ganmaizer again)
Perfect Ganmaizer: You may have defeated my puppet, but I am too powerful for you to match!
Ghost: (Pulling out an Eyecon with what looks like infinity on a stick on it.) Then why don't we up the power quotient a bit?
Specter: (Pulling out the most evil looking Eyecon in existence) Agreed.
(Their gear ready, Ghost and Specter activate their new Eyecons before removing their personal Eyecons from their Ghost Drivers, with Ghost's creating some sort of angelic choir effect as it is activated, before both place their new Eyecons into their Ghost Drivers)
Deep Specter Eyecon: Dive Too Deep!
Ghost's Ghost Driver: Mugen Shinka! Eye! (In a choral fashion) Batchirimina! Batchrimina!
Specter's Ghost Driver: Eye! Girroto Miro! Girroto Miro!
(Just as with previous transformations, two parka like ghosts emerge from the Ghost Drivers while these chants begin. One white and long with shoulder pads, the other purple and dark looking with spikes projecting at key points. As well, Ghost and Specter's default states have changed, Ghost takes on a white armor with almost rainbow like bits on the arms and legs, while Specter's is silver and pointier. And just as before, the Riders activate their transformations with a quick pull and push of the lever on the sides of their drivers)
Ghost's Ghost Driver: Chou Kaigan Mugen! Keep Going! Go, Go, Go! Go, Go, Go! Go, Go, Go! Got to Ghost!
Specter's Ghost Driver: Gen Kaigan! Deep Specter! Get! Go! Kakugo! Giza Giza Ghost!
(With these invocations, the parka like ghosts settle onto their respective Riders, with Ghost gaining the white cloak and a glittering helm with a rainbow horn atop orange eyes, while Specter's face remains almost unchanged, despite the black eye patterns now being on silver with two massive branching horns on his forehead and similar structures attached to his shoulders. With their transformations concluded, Necrom rejoins the team as the three Riders charge into the battle against the Perfect Ganmaizer, joined swiftly by Spyro and Cynder. After a few minutes of this, Ghost and Specter activate a finisher function on their Ghost Drivers as Necrom does the same thing with his Mega Uloader, pressing the button on the side before activating the dropper)
Ghost's Ghost Driver: Dai Kaigan! Mugen! God Omega Drive!
Specter's Ghost Driver: Dai Kaigan! Deep Specter! Giga Omega Drive!
Mega Uloader: Destroy! Dai Tengan! Necrom! Omega Uload!
(With battle cries made known, the three Riders leap into the air and execute flying kicks straight at the Perfect Ganmaizer. As they land, Spyro fires a beam of Aether into the mix, which Cynder follows suit with a beam of Dark Aether, despite being a ghost. This combined amount of energy pierces the Perfect Ganmaizer as surely as an arrow)
Perfect Ganmaizer: (As the Mark of Malefor glows upon it's neck petals) I have... failed...?
(And just like that, the Perfect Ganmaizer is destroyed, fading into ash as it leaves behind the 15 Eyecons it stole, as well as a black and orange Ridewatch, with Ghost's face on it, which Spyro picks up)
Spyro: Vengeance is sweet.
Ghost: Now that he's handled, I think we have other matters to attend to.
Cynder: Good point. You said you had the monolith situation sorted out, whatever that means?
Ghost: One second.
(With that, Ghost throws forward his hand, two fingers extended, then forms a circle in the air using the extended hand, creating a portal into a serene looking garden/basement laboratory with a large black stone bearing an eye symbol in the center)
Ghost: There we go. Let's get the Eyecons and we'll get right to it.
Necrom: Hold on. We don't necessarily need to go through. Just keep the portal open and it should work.
Specter: You would be the authority on this sort of thing.
Necrom: Trust me, it'll work.
(And just as Necrom says that, the Eyecons float into the air and circle the portal, enveloping Ghost in a golden light. We don't get to hear what Ghost says exactly, but after a few seconds, the light fades and the Eyecons fall to the ground, with each Rider picking up theirs as Ghost closes the portal.)
Ghost: That should do it.
(Then, as if by magic, but really by Ghost's wish, Cynder's spectral form slowly but surely turns physical. And within a few minutes, Cynder is alive again. Both her and Spyro are beyond words, and simply share one long embrace as Woz finally makes himself known again)
Woz: Rejoice! Another of the Malefic villains has fallen! And Lord Spyro and Lady Cynder have claimed their newest Rider allies, Kamen Riders Ghost, Specter, and Necrom! May their alliance last until all are equalized in the world beyond, in their due time. (Closes his book, contentedly)
Specter: Looks like everything worked out for the best.
(As Spyro and Cynder continue their embrace, Spyro realizes something, and as the embrace breaks off, he realizes if he doesn't do this now, he'll never get another chance.)
Spyro: Cynder, there's something I need to tell you.
Cynder: (Confused) That being...?
Spyro: If there's one thing I've learned during all of this, it's... life's too short to not live every moment to the fullest. I can't hold this back any longer, so I'm just going to ask. (Pulls out the box last seen during the Double Arc, and opens it, revealing a ring) Will you...?
Cynder: (Cutting him off) You don't even have to ask.
Woz: Then it is settled! Rejoice! Lord Spyro and Lady Cynder are to be married!
(With that, Ghost, Specter, and Necrom just burst out into applause as we cut from the quarry to a dark alley where a brown-haired man with a black jacket and four strange cards in one of the pockets stands, looking around for someone.)
Blade: Tachibana, Hajime, Mutsuki, where have you gone?
(As this mysterious figure looks for his allies, our tale ends for today)
And that looks like a good spot to end for now. So, Cynder is back to life, the Perfect Ganmaizer is dead, and our favorite dragons are now engaged. Quite a nice wrap up to the Ghost Arc. But next time, a brand new story begins, with a new Rider behind it. Kazuma Kenzaki, Kamen Rider Blade, is next, and it looks like the other three Blade Riders are missing. So, what's going to happen? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!