Chapter 4: The Duel Begins! The Shockers Ride

After spending six days in the Decade Void, North, Nemesis, and Vice exited the dimension and were in Maretime Bay.

They saw the Crystal Brighthouse and saw that the construction was done.

The outside was fully painted and plastered where the stain glass was set up.

Nemesis: Look at that. They finished everything while we were gone.

Vice: But what about the inside?

The trio entered the building and saw that, while bare, it looked great.

Nemesis: Guess that answers that.

Nemesis closed the door as they left and headed into town.

North actually ran off where Nemesis looked back and actually teleported back inside the Brighthouse and saw a stack of boxes.

Nemesis opened one of them and saw they were Argyle's and his old studies.

Nemesis: So Argyle worked his flank off on all this.

Nemesis rummaged through more of Argyle's things and saw something so scary….

Nemesis: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

North, who was with his mares in front of the smoothie cart, heard Nemesis. In fact, all of Maretime Bay heard it where Nemesis bolted out of the Crystal Brighthouse and in front of the five ponies.

Nemesis: Sunny….

Nemesis was seen holding an old green bell with a crack.

Sunny: I know that bell, my father was studying it.

Nemesis: How did he get it?

Sunny: I…I don't know actually.

Nemesis: This is Grogar's Bell!

Shadox: I'm sorry, what?

Shadox walked up with Vice where Nemesis showed them the bell which made them freak out.

Sunny: What's so scary about that bell?

Nemesis: This bell nearly destroyed Equestria over 1000 years ago!

All ponies who heard what Nemesis said, they're faces went pale.

North brought out a book from his satchel, and saw it.

North Star: Says here, a trio labeled the Mean 3, used that bell to steal all magic and transfer it into themselves.

Zipp: You're saying that bell can steal magic?!

Nemesis: And it can transfer it into another. For example…

Nemesis focused the bell at Sunny where it started to glow and absorbed Sunny of her magic.

Nemesis then transferred it into Vice who then sprouted pegasus wings and a unicorn horn.

Nemesis then absorbed the magic back into the bell and transferred it all back to Sunny.

Nemesis: Now I'm going to ask you again, where did Argyle find this?

Sunny: I swear I don't know.

Nemesis: Ah forget it. Shadox, me and you are going to destroy this thing.

Shadox: I agree. The idea of this thing even existing haunts me.

Nemesis, Vice, and Shadox left.

Nemesis: Let's find Nyx and the Taros, they can help.

As the trio left, all ponies were pale and frozen with fear.

Sunny: I can't believe something that dangerous was in my own house.

Pipp: And it almost helped destroy Equestria.

Izzy: Well look at it like this, now that Nemesis and Shadox have it, they intend on destroying it. So we don't have to worry about anything.

North Star: Yeah. You're right Izzy. We can trust them. No matter what they do.

As if on cue, in the far distance outside of Maretime Bay, a big explosion erupted and made a geyser of energy that shot upwards that pierced through the clouds and could be seen in space.

North Star: Yep. We can trust them.

Shadox, Nemesis, and Vice teleported back as they were covered in dust.

North Star: Is it gone?

Nemesis: Besides the remaining fragments Shadox is carrying on him, yes it is.

Zipp: Was that big explosion really necessary?

Vice: Princess, trust me, that bell is so dangerous, something like that is considered mild to the threat it brings.

North and Mares: (They're insane…)

North Star: So what now? My duel with Duke isn't until tomorrow.

Izzy used her telekinesis on North's scarf and pulled him over where mares just had smirks on their faces.

Izzy: We're in need of some private time with you.

North's face was red as a tomato where his tail frizzed as Izzy dragged him by the scarf as the mares followed and headed towards the Brighthouse.

Scene changes back at Duke's ship where Duke is seen laying back and looking outside down at Zephyr Heights.

Duke Venture: Tomorrow, I'm going to show that draconian pony who's the true hero of Equestria.

Eclipse walked up behind Duke where he just sighed.

Count Eclipse: You know, there's always enough room for more than one hero in Equestria. There were several heroes to form a big squad over 1000 years ago.

Duke got off his chair and faced Eclipse.

Duke Venture: You trained me to be Equestria's savier! Saying with the power my ancestor had is now mine to use and help the kingdom. You said I would restore magic and reunite all pony kind, only to find out it's already done!

Count Eclipse: Obviously the unexpected has happened. But North is a descendant of Starkiller, a legendary hero like your ancestor. And it seems he also had the same plan. One that didn't rely on any supernatural powers.

Duke Venture: Well he still ended up with most of the glory. Glory that I waited for around 20 years to achieve. He gets called the New Hero of Equestria, and the mares.

Count Eclipse: And what will beating him prove? That you're the better hero? That won't change anything to the ponies. They will still see him as the hero. You…just somepony with an unknown origin with powers that came out of nowhere.

Eclipse walked off leaving Duke alone.

The scene changes to somewhere hidden in Canterlogic where Sprout is seen finishing his own big project.

Sprout: Finally! It took time but now they're all finished! So…Equestria wants heroes, I'll give them heroes!

Sprout reveals six ponies with suits and helmets where one of the helmets' eyes glowed red.

The next day, everypony was in the canyon where North had his Driver on with his Zi-O Ridewatch ready.

Pipp and Sunny were dressed as cheerleaders shaking their pom-poms as Izzy and Zipp were dressed like sports fans where Izzy was waving a foam finger and waving a mini flag both with North's name on them.

Sunny: Whoo! Go North!

Zipp: You got this hon!

Izzy: Show him what for love!

Pipp: Win this for us all babe!

Obsidia: Let's go, Big Bro!

Desna: Go for the gold partner!

Blaze: Show your might, boss!

Haven: You better win, I want grand-foals!

Alphabittle: Just dance through this and we can all celebrate!

Saber: Prove you're the hero!

Duke just saw this and felt envious. North had all those friends supporting him where all he had was Eclipse, Crystal, and Blood.

Nemesis walked up to North and patted his back.

Nemesis: Just remember what I taught you, and if you feel nervous, or scared, use that as energy. Let your emotions fuel your power.

North Star: Thanks…Uncle Nemesis.

Nemesis: Uncle…besides Nyx, no one else called me that. Feels good.

Nemesis flew up to the others and faced the soon-to-be arena.

Shadox: You sure he's got this?

Nyx: Hey, he's dad's descendant.

Ryutaros: Never underestimate a dragon!

Urataros: You're one to talk. You said that because you're a Dragon Imajin.

Back with Duke, Eclipse was talking to him.

Count Eclipse: Remember, fight with heart, and honor.

Duke Venture: Yeah, yeah, I know. I got this.

Count Eclipse: I mean it! If you fight with such aggression like the way you've been acting, they will never show you respect. Let alone look at you.

Eclipse walked back to be with Crystal and Blood as he tapped the golden collar around his neck.

A gray tight suit surrounded Duke's body where a black cape also formed as a black bandit masked formed around his eyes.

The suit then hardened to that of personal body armor where a golden utility belt filled with gadgets formed around his waist as a symbol that had the initials C.S.

Colt Star: I am no longer Duke Venture, I am Colt Star!

North Star: Sounds like my name except it's Colt Star and not North Star.

North activates the Ridewatch.

Ridewatch: ZI-O

North then places the watch on the Driver and presses the button where a clock forms behind North.

North Star: HENSHIN!

North spun the Driver as he transformed.

Driver: RIDER TIME! KAMEN RIDER, ZI-O!

North Star: Time for the Big Freeze!

Nemesis: Remember! This fight is over when one passes out or until I say enough. Now, begin!

Colt Star charged towards North who ducked down and covered his entire right hoof in some golden yellow electricity and uppercutted him in the gut.

Duke was sent flying up where North jumped above and slammed him into the ground.

Duke got up and saw North flying above.

Duke Venture: How did you do that?

Nemesis smiled seeing how all of North's training was in effect.

Nyx: You took him to the Decade Void.

Nemesis: So what if I did.

Duke fired his laser vision where North's mouthpiece shifted revealing his mouth as he breathed out his ice breath, freezing the laser vision.

Duke Venture: How the heck-

North rammed into Duke like a rhino where he then headbutted the caped hero.

Duke used his own super breath to blow North back where he pulled out another Ridewatch and activated it.

Ridewatch: DOUBLE.

North landed and placed the watch one the other side of the Driver and activated it.

Driver: ARMOR TIME! CYCLONE! JOKER! DOUBLE!

North's visor had the kanji saying Double where his shoulder pads formed a giant green usb on his right and a giant black usb on his left where his helmet was split in the same colors on the same side.

North Star: Time to count up your sins!

Duke Venture: What sins?

North kicked Duke in the head and did a backflip to kick him upward.

Duke Venture: (How is he…so good?)

Duke recovered in midair and fired his laser vision down towards North who dodged it and flew up towards Duke with his right hoof ready to punch where it was covered in flames.

North Star: Here's the result of my training! Scarlet Overdrive!

North punched Duke in the gut so hard, the wind got knocked out of him.

Duke Venture: (What training?!)

North used his telekinesis to grab Duke where he spun him around and slammed the caped hero into the ground.

All of North's friends were whooping and cheering as they were watching him win.

Shadox: Kid really does got it.

Nemesis: Told you. And that training paid off. He's not even using his true power.

Duke got up where North was just above him.

Duke powered up his laser vision where his eyes started to glow red.

North Star: You asked for it.

North activated his Driver.

Driver: FINISH TIME!

The Rider Armor became two separate humanoids where they combined their RIder Kicks with North's.

Duke fired a powerful beam of his laser vision where North performed his finisher.

Driver: MAXIMUM TIME BREAK!

Both attacks collided where neither side showed any sign of weakness.

As both sides continued to fight, a barrage of explosive projectiles came out of nowhere and exploded in between the two causing both sides to get blown back.

Nemesis: The hell!? Who was that?!

Sprout: It was us!

Everypony looked behind and saw Sprout with SIX Kamen Riders with the same suit but with different scarves.

Desna: Sprout?!

Nemesis: Who in all of Equestria is that?

Desna: That's Sprout. He was once deputy of Maretime Bay but lost his job after he attempted to go to war and is also the one who destroyed Sunny's old home.

Nemesis: So he's the asshole who caused those problems.

Haven: Did you kiss your mother with that mouth?

Sprout: Well, allow me to explain. Behold! The Shocker Riders! After seeing the great power of those Kamen Rider powers of yours, I decided to make my own! But I knew I couldn't get those fancy belts, so Imade six separate robots!

The Shocker Riders all had black jumpsuits with yellow boots on their hooves and a green helmet with red eyes, and silver jaw mouth piece.

Each Shocker had a different colored scarf.

Yellow Scarf: Shocker Rider 1!

White Scarf: Shocker Rider 2!

Green Scarf: Shocker Rider 3!

Blue Scarf: Shocker Rider 4!

Purple Scarf: Shocker Rider 5!

Pink Scarf: Shocker Rider 6!

Sprout: I decided to go with six, just like those so-called Guardians of Harmony or whatever.

Nemesis: Watch yourself. Those guardians were my friends. Fluttershy was also my wife!

Obsidia: Wait, what?

Nyx: Oh yeah, forgot to mention, Nemesis married Fluttershy who represented Kindness.

Saber: You know, that would've been nice to know earlier.

Desna: Wait, I just realized something, how could Sprout get those things working like that. The powersource to pull that off is impossible. Even with all the tech in Equestria.

Sprout: Let me show you.

Sprout tapped Shocker 1's jaw where his head opened up to show a glowing stone of obsidian.

Sprout: I can't believe I found six of these! You know how lucky I was!

Shadox: Those stones…

Nemesis: Shadox, you said there are only six more pieces left so we can completely restore Amore, right?

Shadox: Yes.

Nemesis: Great. We know where the last pieces are, and that big pain in the flank has them.

Shocker 1's head closed as Sprout faced the crowd where North and Duke joined them.

North Star: Back off Sprout. And shut those robots down. You have no idea what you're doing.

Sprout: Oh yes I do. First, I'm going to make them beat you and all you other heroes up, then, I'm going to lead them and show Equestria we're the true heroes!

Sprout started to laugh at them where Shocker 1's scanners started to glow sinister green as all Shockers went through a reprogramming.

The Shockers' visors went back to red where Sprout turned to face them.

Sprout: Alright Shockers, attack!

The Shocker Riders didn't respond.

Sprout: Excuse me, I said atta-

Shocker 1 punched Sprout towards the crowd and knocked them all down like bowling pins.

Shocker 1: I am in charge of the Shocker Riders now. And what we're going to do is destroy you ponies, then show off our power to all of Equestria.

The Shockers activated their rocket hooves and took off.

As soon the Shockers were out of sight, Sprout tried to sneak off only to bump into Nemesis.

Sprout: Eh heh. So…how's it like to be over 1000 years old?

Nemesis punched Sprout so hard, he received a black eye and passed out.

Nemesis: Lock him up! I want you all to meet me at the Station! We got to destroy those Shocker Riders and get those stone fragments!