Chapter 5: Royal Rider! The Great Crystal Heist!
North and Des were shocked by what Zipp was showing.
An actual Driver here in Zephyr Heights. And it looked brand new.
Desna: First Maretime Bay, now Zephyr Heights? Is Bridlewood going to have Drivers?
North Star: How did you make that?
Zipp: My mom actually found blueprints to make these in a hidden safe. But for some reason she stopped the idea of using these.
North Star: How did you get yours then?
Zipp: I can be quite sneaky. But it seems you know what it is. Why?
North took out his and Des' Drivers and showed them.
Zipp: How?
North Star: My ancestor and his friends made these. I think those blueprints were made by them and were intended to be used to help others.
Desna: Maybe that's how the Earth Ponies got theirs. And now I feel the same for Bridlewood.
North tossed Des his as they put their Drivers on.
Zipp: Hmmm. I want to see how good you are. How about we do a practice round.
North Star: You mean a sparring match? Sounds like fun. Plus I want to see what kind of Kamen Rider you'll become.
Zipp: Kamen Rider. So that's what they're called. Alright, let me see what you got.
Zipp placed on her Driver and flipped the red switches on the modules.
Zipp's Driver: 3, 2, 1!
Zipp grabbed the handle on the right side of the Driver and pushed it and pulled it back.
A giant ring formed around Zipp as it moved up formed a tube that covered her where her turned her body humanoid as steam exhaust blew out where the tube vanished showing her Rider form.
The sides of the suit were white where there was silver on the shoulders were also silver where there were orange outlines separating the white from the silver.
On the right wrist was an orange circle, left wrist, a black square, on the right leg, a blue x, and on the left leg, a yellow triangle.
The helmet was in the form of a rocket ship where there was a black ring around the cone as there was one big black visor with dark orange eyes with twin silver antennas.
Izzy: That was amazing!
North Star: So…what do we call you?
Zipp: If I remember, I saw the blueprints, they called the suit, Fourze.
North Star: Well then, from here on out, you're Kamen Rider Fourze!
Zipp: Well, show me yours then.
North used his senses to scan the area.
North Star: (Area is small and IDK what she's capable of. I need the Batta legs for sure. But I need stronger punches, and probably stronger echolocation. Luckily, I have just the thing.)
North brought out three Core Medals. One was blue, one was white, and the other was green.
North placed the Core Medals in the order, blue, white, and green where he took out the O Scanner and scanned it.
North Star: HENSHIN!
North's Driver: SHACHI! GORILLA! BATTA!
North became humanoid with the same black jumpsuit he had the same green grasshopper armor around his legs except the chest had a gorilla insignia with bigger white shoulder pads with big white gauntlets on the arms working as fists where the the top was a blue orca as the helmet had blue fins with twin white stripes on the side of the head where the visor eyes were yellow.
North's Driver: SHAGORIBA! SHAGORIBA!
Izzy: Woah…!
Sunny: It's different. Why?
Desna: As you know, there are multiple wild animals, and as OOO, North can use the many powers of the animal kingdom. Not just the one you saw back in Maretime Bay. Hmmm. Orca for stronger echolocation, gorilla for the stronger punches, and keeping the grasshopper to move around in this small space. Clever.
North beat his chest with the gauntlets like a gorilla where he got into a boxing stance.
Zipp: Well, let's see what you got.
Zipp charged towards North who jumped high and jumped off the ceiling and jumped around the room where he landed behind her.
North Star: Maybe you shouldn't charge directly at your opponent. Easy to predict.
Zipp: Yeah. I've kept this a secret from my family and everypony else. So I never got the chance to try a lot of this thing.
North Star: Well, back where I come from, it's me, Des, my little sister, and a close family friend.
Zipp: Sounds like you got practice.
North Star: You got anything else to use?
Zipp: Well…
Zipp pressed the switch on the very right.
Zipp's Driver: ROCKET ON!
Zipp's entire right hand turned into a large orange rocket where the thrusters ignited and she took off.
Zipp: Better?
North's enhanced echolocation activated when he jumped out of the way from a flying Zipp.
Zipp flew around where she charged towards North.
Zipp: Have a rocket powered punch!
North stepped back where he threw out a punch as both sides clashed.
North uppercutted Zipp where he jumped up and jumped off the ceiling and struck Zipp again where he started to ricochet around the room and started to punch Zipp as he jumped around.
Zipp activated the middle left module.
Zipp's Driver: DRILL ON!
Zipp's left leg became a yellow drill where he kicked North with a drill kick as he fell to the ground where he jumped back up.
Zipp flew towards North with a drill kick where he jumped high into the air to dodge only for Zipp to redirect herself and punch North where he fell to the ground and skidded off the platform.
Zipp: Oh no!
Sunny: North!
Zipp flew after North who saw the situation he was in where he removed the Core Medals and put them away where he brought out three red Core Medals and placed them into his Driver as he brought out his O Scanner.
Zipp flew around the clouds and couldn't fins him.
Zipp: What have I done?
As Zipp started to form guilt, a red blur zoomed up past her to reveal North.
His helmet was the same red one back in Maretime Bay except the visor eyes were red and the wings were more spread out where the entire chest insignia looked like a phoenix.
The body armor had red shoulder armor that looked like wings where he had red armor around the elbows as a disc shaped launcher was on his left armor.
The leg armor was red below the knees with small golden spikes on the toes and two big ones arched up on the back of his heels.
Zipp: Oh, you're okay.
North Star: Wasn't planning on using this form so earlier on the journey. But, desperate times call for desperate measures. Come on.
North and Zipp flew back up to the station.
Back in the station, Izzy and Sunny were seen all worried about North as Des was calm.
Sunny: You know you can act at least a bit worried. You're best friend fell off a mountain!
Desna: 3, 2, 1…
As if on cue, North and Zipp flew back into the station where Izzy and Sunny were in awe of the pure red form.
Sunny: You can also fly?!
North Star: Tajadol. One of my strongest forms. Didn't expect to call upon this power so early.
Izzy: You look like a big ruby!
North Star: Well, just to avoid any accidents like that one, I think it's best we stop. Plus this area is small so we can't do much.
Desna: I agree. So let's turn our focus on how we'll get the crystal.
North undid their transformations as they returned back to normal as the group started to think on what to do.
Sunny: So, what do we do?
Zipp: I got it! Pipp's performing at tonight's royal celebration. All eyes will be on her, especially my mom's. She'll be distracted.
Desna: But won't she notice her crown will be missing? Even if we place it back, she will still notice the crystal will be gone.
North Star: I got it, we just make a fake crown, to swap with the real one.
Izzy: Ooh, I can craft a decoy! But I will need a box of macaroni, a tube of glue, 14 gooey bunnies and three jellybeans…
Desna: Gooey bunnies? Jellybeans?
North Star: Just let her.
Izzy: Oh, and glitter. Lots of glitter.
Zipp: Okay, so here's what we do…
MONTAGE TIME!
Zipp: I'll get the supplies.
Zipp is seen standing in front of a shop called Mac-A-Poni with the supplies.
Zipp: I'll pass them off to Sunny and then she will get them to you.
Zipp drops the bag to Sunny who catches it and gives it to Izzy who makes the decoy crown.
Zipp: Once you produce the decoy, get your flanks to the palace. Everypony who's anypony will be there, so security will be tight.
Zipp is seen walking out the elevator where she walks towards the palace with reporters flashing cameras and asking questions.
Zipp: I'll distract them, so you can sneak in.
Izzy: Maximum sneaky.
Sunny, Izzy, North, and Des sneak around the guards and paparazzi as they make it inside.
Zipp: You'll need to be stealthy. Carefully make your way to the Grand Hall, but watch out for the guards.
The group sneak their way in where they hide and move under a table cart.
Zipp: I will open the door to the back stage of the Throne Room.
Zipp puts her hoof on a hoof scanner and opens the back stage doors to the Throne Room where the others sneak in.
Zipp: And once Pipp starts singing, mom will be so caught up, that swapping the crowns will be easy-breezy.
Sunny: Easy-breezy. Sure.
Des sneaks a peek out from behind the throne and sees all of Zephyr Heights gathered.
Desna: I hope this works.
North Star: We got this far. It will work. Now if Zipp is right, all eyes, including Haven's, will be on Pipp.
Above the Throne Room, Haven was seen powdering her face while Zipp looked down into the crowd.
Haven: I hear you paid our guests a visit. She even told me that bizarre creature knows of our secret
Zipp: Pipp told you?
Haven: Oh, you know she tells me everything. I wish you would tell me more. You're going to be queen one day. You'll wear this crown. And trust me, it is heavier than it looks.
Zipp: Actually, there is something I wanted to tell you. The unicorns don't have any magic. I think it's tied to why we can't fly.
Haven puts down her powder and faces her daughter.
Haven: Zephyrina! I don't know what silly ideas those unicorns put into your head, but we have a duty to protect our citizens. Pegasi are happy enough that we royals can fly. Why would you want to disrupt things?
Zipp: Because it's a lie.
Haven: It makes them feel safe. Oh, one day you'll understand. Your sister does.
Pipp is seen being carried by cables to make it look like she was flying.
Haven: Oh, and here she is now.
Pipp: Me-me-me!
Haven: Showtime!
In a hidden place, a group of pegasi were monitoring everything as they were ready to make the royal family fly.
The lights went out where music started to play as the crowd cheered as the royal family were lowered and acted to fly.
Haven: Remember to smile!
Zipp: Ugh.
Haven and Zipp "land" and sit on their thrones where Pipp "flies" around like she's dancing as she sings.
Pipp: We got the light! We're coming in stronger. We're in it together. If you want it, it's all inside your mind! We got the light! We won't wait any long, we'll get it together. If you want it, then you can paint the sky!
Behind Haven's throne, Sunny is seen standing on top of Izzy as North was standing on top of Izzy.
Desna: *Whispers* Hurry up! This hurts!
Sunny is about to peek over the throne where North pulls her down to dodge a spotlight.
Sunny peeks over again with the fake crown as she gets close enough to make the switch.
Zipp watched where Sunny made the swap while being unnoticed where Zipp smiled to the success.
Sunny: Got it.
Sunny and North got off of Izzy and Des as they made a snuck away only for Cloudpuff's ears to perk up and then turned his attention to something else.
The group reached a door where Sunny opened it only to close it after noticing a guard on the other side.
The group turned around to see the dog sit in front of them then growl which caused the group to panic and run where the dog chased after them.
Desna: If we fail and get caught because of a small dog with wings, I'm going to feel humiliated.
The group reached the main exit where Sunny opens it only to see Hitch in disguise with fake wings and a fake mustache.
Hitch: Sunny Starscout, you are under arrest…
Sunny closed the door where the dog came running towards them barking where it jumped off Des' tail, over Izzy, and reached into Sunny's bag and took the crown.
Sunny: No!
Desna: Are you kidding me?!
The group chase after the dog where Hitch runs through the door where he catches eye of Pipp and listens to her singing where he nearly starts to dance where he focuses and looks around for his suspects.
As the ponies tried to chase Cloudpuff, North stopped them where they saw Zoom and Thunder walk by as they hid.
Sunny peaks out and sees Cloudpuff running towards Zipp and Haven with the crown.
Cloudpuff was in front of the thrones and sat down in front of Haven where Zipp sees the dog with the crown and hurries to it and tries to take the crown away.
Zipp pulled back where the crown and crystal split.
Zipp drops the crown and chases after Cloudpuff who runs into the crowd with the crystal.
The group who was hiding kept a look out where Hitch spots them and approaches where the ponies back away behind a curtain.
North Star: Did that sheriff actually follow us?!
Desna: What does it look like?!
The group slowly looked behind them to see the pegasus working on Pipp's flight where he panicked.
Worker: Oh! It's the prisoners! And the monster!
North's ears just flopped down as the pegasus still panicked.
Sunny and Izzy try to calm him down where Zipp is seen still chasing Cloudpuff only to get stuck in the crowd where the dog bumps into a pony's leg.
The dog looked up and saw it was Hitch who was confused by the dog who smiled at him.
Back in the hiding spot, North and Des kept guard as Sunny and Izzy tried to calm down the pegasus.
Sunny: It's OK - don't be scared.
Izzy: I'm not going to fry your brain, OK?
The pegasus still panicked where he leaned back on the control module behind him which causes the spotlight to go on and off and cut out the music.
Pipp: What the…?
Everypony was confused on what was going on where the spotlight pointed at Hitch where the music continued.
Hitch started to sing though he sounded like he was talking instead where everypony just watched where North's ears picked up on it and made him cringe.
North Star: Bad singing!
North fell and covered his ears.
Des then got an idea and headed toward the module where North's echolocation was aware of everything and knew what his friend was planning.
North Star: Des, no!
Des pushed the pegasus out of the way and messed with the module where he pushed a lever up which made the wires carrying Pipp go out of control as she was spinning through the air screaming.
Everypony caught sight of this and gasped where Zipp snuck by and took the crystal.
Des continued messing with the module as the pegasus ran out.
North Star: Desna, that's enough!
North pulled Des off the module.
North Star: That was uncalled for!
Desna: Hey, I don't see you doing anything to get us out of this!
Sunny: Stop it you two!
The group peaked their heads out of the curtain where Zipp ran up to them with the crystal.
Zipp: I got it!
Sunny: Yes!
Zipp: Let's go!
The group ran towards the door where Hitch spotted them.
Hitch: Freeze!
The group stopped where the pegasi turned their attention to them.
Pegasus Mare: It's the prisoners!
As the pegasi starts to panic, Pipp is flung over Hitch which knocks off this disguise.
Pegasus Mare 2: Another earth pony!
Hitch ran off after his cover was blown where Pipp was still being dragged around by the wires where it stopped where she then fell and was left dangling above the crowd where the spotlight was pointed at her.
Pegasus Stallion: She'a a fake!
Pegasus Mare 3: Fake!
Pegasus Stallion 2: The royals can't fly either?!
The paparazzi started taking pictures
North's echolocation and emotion reading saw Pipp's situation and how in shock and fear she was feeling when he started to slow down and then stopped.
Sunny: North!
North Star: Go! I'll catch up!
The others went off without North where he located the crystal and put it in his bag.
North Star: Just remain calm North. You got this.
North started running towards the crowd as he placed the Red Core Medals into his Driver and scanned them with the O Scanner and entered his TaJaDol form again.
Pegasus Stallion: It's the monster!
The pegasi started to panic where North jumped and pulled Pipp down where he ran towards Haven and grabbed her.
Haven: Put me down you tyrant!
North Star: Trust me, you'll thank me later.
North saw a window and came up with a crazy idea.
North Star: I know you don't trust but just this once!
Pipp: Wait, what?!
Haven: Excuse me?!
North jumped and kicked the window where the glass shattered as he fell out of the tall castle.
Pipp and Haven started to panic as they gripped onto North who formed his red wings and started to fly.
Haven: Wait a minute, how can you fly?!
North Star: You can thank this form and its powers.
As North flew down into the city, he saw Zipp fly on to them as Fourze with the Rocket Arm.
North Star: What are you doing here?!
Zipp: Coming to help you!
North Star: Well as you can see, I'm fine/
Pipp: I know that voice. Zipp?!
Haven: Zephyrina?!
Zipp: You can ask me questions and yell at me later.
North Star: She's right, we gotta bail.
Zipp: Follow me.
Zipp guided North as he flew down carrying Pipp and Haven where she led them to an alley where Sunny, Izzy, Des and Hitch were waiting for them.
As they were flying, Pipp tapped North on the helmet.
Pipp: Hey, thanks for getting me out of the spotlight back there. Despite everything.
North Star: It's cool. Besides, I can't let what happened in the past stop me from doing the right thing.
Haven: But I had you locked up.
North Star: So what? You and your daughter were in trouble, and I helped.
Haven: (What a strange pony.)
Pipp: I'm Pipp by the way. As you already know.
North Star: The name is North Star. North for short.
North and Zipp landed as the former placed Pipp and Haven down as he and Zipp turned back to normal.
Sunny: You're okay.
North Star: Of course I am. Was there any doubt?
A jumbotron nearby turned on with Dazzle Feather on screen.
Dazzle: Breaking story, Zephyr Heights is in turmoil tonight after the shocking revelation that the royals cannot fly.
The scene changes to two fillies talking into a mic.
Filly: Pipp used to be my favorite
The scene changes to a mare.
Mare: If we can't trust our own royalty, who can we trust?
Pipp felt sad after hearing all that where North felt guilty for what happened where a stallion took the mic.
Stallion: I would blame the unicorns and earth ponies because they ruin everything but the one I think we have to blame is that monster.
North just didn't know how much he could take being called a monster.
North Star: Just because I'm different, doesn't mean I'm bad.
Dazzle: This just in. Queen Haven and her daughters are wanted for being phony ponies full of baloney.
Hitch: What kind of crime is that?
North Star: Don't know. But you Des…
North walked up to Des where he slammed him against a wall.
North Star: What was that back there?! It was not necessary!
Desna: Oh, and you cringing on the floor because of the sheriff's bad singing works?!
Hitch: What?
North Star: I got strong hearing so my ears can be sensitive at times.
Des threw North's hooves off and faced him.
Desna: You think that everything is so peachy and good that we can just walk in there without trouble. But no! We can't expect any pony to treat us with respect! We almost got captured in Maretime Bay just because everypony had no spine and believed stupid lies! We literally walked into Zephyr Heights as prisoners for no reason and were thrown in prison just because the queen lied about not having magic! And look where it got her and her family!
North Star: Because it was you who exposed them by using Pipp!
Sure we were in a jam but we could've still figured something out!
Desna: Oh really? You think improvising is going to help us in those problems?
North Star: Well at least I got the crystal.
North brought out the crystal where Pipp snatched it and faced them.
Desna: Hey!
Pipp: Somepony seriously needs to explain why this thing was so important that you had to ruin my whole show over it.
Zipp walked up to her sister.
Zipp: Trust me, it was.
Zipp tried to reach for the crystal only for Pipp to pull it back.
Pipp: You left me hanging there in the spotlight. If it wasn't for North, I would still be hanging there! And now everypony knows we can't fly.
Haven: Zephyrina Storm, you better have a good explanation young lady.
Pipp's phone goes off where she brings it out and turns it on to see the news.
Dazzle: A warrant is out for the arrest of the royal family.
Pipp: What?! This isn't happening. This is so not happening!
Haven: Maybe we can lie again? But wait, how can we?! We might end up homeless!
Zipp: Pipp! Mom! Forget about all that. We think we can bring back magic, but we need that crystal.
Pipp: Have you lost your mind?
Haven: Zephyrina!
Zipp: Please. This might be our only chance.
Pipp was thinking where she gave in.
Pipp: Oh, fine! I know a way out. Come on.
Desna: Before we go, I went over the map and while it's a bit of a detour, it…leads somewhere.
North Star: And what is, "where"?
Desna: ...Home…
Haven: Home?
North Star: Our home…Harmonia…
Pipp led the others out of Zephyr Heights where North stopped Des.
North Star: Our conversation, it's far from over.
Desna: Say what you think, I prevented us from getting sent to the dungeon again.
North and Des followed where Hitch was in shock by this.
Hitch: What? Wait! You can't just…But I'm a sheriff!
North Star: Not here you're not.
Hitch just sighed in defeat.
Back at Maretime Bay in the Canterlogic warehouse, earth ponies were hard at work. Unloading parts and assembling them to make whatever Sprout had planned.
Sparks flew, cranes moved, and measurements were made.
One unfortunate worker was stuck on a tube hanging on a wire as he was swinging around nearly hitting some of his colleagues.
Sprout was seen coming down the elevator where exited while drinking a smoothie as he was wearing a vest with a golden badge in the middle.
Sprout walked out the elevator as he gave his smoothie to Sweets who gave it to a worker.
Sprout: Why aren't you finished yet?
Stallion: We're working as fast as we can, but we've run out of rivets.
Sprout: Riveting story.
Sprout laughed it off as he sighs.
Sprout: Just make it work, OK? Oh, and our Drivers?
Sweets: Still busy on them.
The ponies got back to work where Phyllis walked up to her son.
Phyllis: Sugar cube, I know your little top-secret project is important and all, but when do you think my workers can get back to making Canterlogic products?
A stallion came yelling down as he fell and hit the ground.
Sprout: Back to work, Glitter Cupcake.
Sprout and Phyllis then take a walk.
Phyllis: It is my factory after all, dear.
Sprout: It's my town, mommy. Your son's Emperor of Maretime Bay.
Phyllis: Emperor?! But yesterday you were only the sheriff.
Sprout then stopped his mother as he faced her.
Sprout: Well, see how fast I'm climbing the ranks? This defense factory is going on offense, and it's all thanks to your love and encouragement. And pretty soon, that monster will be no more. Break's over, Bubblegum McGinty! Besides, I need your help with something very important…
Behind Phyllis and Sprout, was a tarp where the light made by the sparks showed some giant machine that was being built.