Omarnosian10: Hello, loyal readers.
*angry mob with pitchforks and torches comes out of nowhere*
Random dude: Get him!
*Mob began throwing pitchforks and torches at Omarnosian10, who dodges them all quickly*
Omarnosian10: WAIT! Let me explain!
Random dude: Explain what?! That you haven't updated any of your stories for MONTHS because of writer's block?!
Omarnosian10: YOU TRY WRITING 12 STORIES AS FAST AS SONIC!
Random dude: You're just as bad as Theboblinator!
Theboblinator: Hey, I take offense to that!
*Mob stops attacking and looks at Theboblinator, who is standing a bit far from the mob*
Omarnosian10: What the? How long were you standing there?!
Theboblinator: I just got here to discuss the adoption of one of my stories and then I see this! *motions to mob* And what is this about you as being as bad as me on something?
Random dude: You don't update your stories!
Theboblinator: Hey! At least I make new stories practically every month!
Random dude: You're treating us like Pokémon!
Theboblinator: How about I treating you guys like that?
Random dude: Does the term 'gonna catch them all' sound familiar?
Theboblinator: Yeah. OH SH*T!
Random dude: KILL THEM!
*Mob starts chasing Omarnosian10 and Theboblinator out of the place*
Omarnosian10: People who were patient, I hope you enjoy this new chapter! ON WITH THE SHOW!
Chapter 9: The Ghost Rider
(Niagara Falls)
"And when Oliver and I shoved Brain Matter into the dry ice, he shrunk to an action figure and we put him back into the Mighty Med Refrigerator." concluded Kaz as he, Skylar, Ben, Kevin, Chase, Jack and Kim are sitting around a campfire. A couple days are left for Spring Break, so Ben suggested a group activity for team bonding. Everyone had different ideas though; Ben suggested playing Sumo Slammers, Kaz suggested working at Mighty Med, Chase suggested going to a museum, Jack suggested an ancient temple, and Kim suggested camping. They put their ideas on a paper strip before putting them in a hat and randomly pulling an idea and putting it back in; whatever idea was pulled out most wins. Kim won and suggested to bring Skylar and Bree along for some girl time, but the latter denied, not wanting to dirty her clothes. Typical Bree. Ben asked Gwen and Kevin through the phone if they like to join. Gwen remained to study since Spring Break is coming to a close, and Kevin accepted, wanting to hang out like old times. That, and tease Ben about whatever girl from a pod crashes by since that's what happened the last time the Alien Force went out. The other reason Kim wanted to go camping is to forget the 'incident' at the Academy. Currently, they're wearing plain T-shirts of their signature colors (Kevin's black and Skylar's magenta) and camo cargo shorts, along with plain sneakers. They're telling each other scary stories of their adventures, Kaz and Skylar starting first.
"Man, a smart guy who can turn into a purple mutant with super strength. He might've been like a Hulk or something." chuckled Ben.
(In another Universe)
"ACHOO!" sneezed Hulk in a random direction before rubbing his nose.
"You okay, Hulk?" asked A-Bomb.
"Yeah, it feels like... someone's talking about me." answered Hulk dramatically.
"People talking about you? Get real!" laughed Red Hulk before being punched by Hulk as they began their usual fight.
"Here we go again." sighed She-Hulk.
(Back in this Universe)
"Maybe. Alright, who's next?" asked Skylar eagerly.
"My turn. Two years ago, during Bree's first sleepover, Mr. Davenport made Leo the 'scientific liaison'. When Leo annoyed Davenport enough, Davenport made Leo watch a 5-hour long download. Thanks to his impatience, he accidentally corrupted Eddy and turned him into a virus called Teddy. Davenport got trapped in my capsule, and Teddy was dropping pellets on him. (everyone looks disgusted) Not those pellets. (everyone becomes relieved) After Tasha sent us down to the lab, Teddy activated the laser security system. Thanks to playing Mental Chaos, we defeated Teddy, but not after he stunned me and Adam." told Chase as everyone clapped and laughed kindheartedly.
"Did the corruption change his looks?" asked Ben curiously. Chase nodded before taking out his phone and showing a picture of Teddy.
"Looks like Ghost Rider." commented Kevin as the others look at him confused.
"Ghost Rider?" asked Skylar.
"Oh, you haven't heard? (light shines under his face) Long ago, the demon Zarathos began building a tremendous power base for himself. His penchant for human souls led him into conflicts with foes such as the Blood cult and the vile Mephisto, who saw Zarathos as a rival. Mephisto ultimately tricked and enslaved Zarathos, rendering the demon amnesiac and trapping him in various mortal forms over many years. This torture eventually dovetailed with another pastime of Mephisto's - the search for the Medallion of Power, a mystical artifact crafted by the Blood that housed the essence of the original Spirits of Vengeance. The medallion had been broken into shards and embedded into the spiritual bloodline of two families. One of these bloodlines, the Kales, attracted Mephisto's attention in the 18th century when Noble Kale's shard of the Medallion transformed him into a Spirit of Vengeance, the Ghost Rider. Mephisto failed to corrupt Noble at this time, but he kept track of the Kale clan from then on, watching as Noble manifested in the firstborn of every generation. Legends say that every 100 years, the Ghost Rider rises from Hades and punishes those who have done wrong. He could be recognized by his flaming skull and his haunted flaming motorcycle, like THIS!" yelled Kevin as he quickly absorbed wood from the log and put his hand in the fire while forming a skull.
"AAAAHHHH!" shrieked Kim as she pulled a Scooby on Jack. Kevin laughed wildly as he put his other hand (now revealed to be holding a flashlight) on his stomach.
"That wasn't funny Levin!" shouted Skylar as she put a hand over her heart area.
"Come on Sky. It was a little funny. (Skylar elbows him in the rib) OW!" cried Kevin as the others laughed. Ben looked up to to stars and enjoyed the sight; seven friends hanging out in the woods, having fun. Suddenly, everyone heard a motorcycle engine running from behind Kevin.
"Ha-ha, very funny." laughed Kim dryly as Kevin's hand turns back to normal before he looked back.
"Um, that wasn't me." gulped Kevin as everyone noticed a glow coming from the bushes.
"Chase, can you see anything?" asked Ben uncertain as Chase's eyes glowed blue before widening in horror.
"Chase, what did you see?" asked Jack concerned. Before Chase could respond, a flaming motorcycle jumped over them and skidded a few feet away from the set tents, revealing...
"GHOST RIDER!" screamed Kaz as he pulled a Scooby on Skylar while Kim pulled a Scooby on Jack.
"Guys, let's calm down. Even if he is real, he can't fight all of us at once, and we never committed a crime. (glances at Skylar and Kevin) Most of us, anyway." suggested Ben uncertain as the Ghost Rider glares at them with his fiery eye sockets.
"Kevin Ethan Levin, I have come for you." growled Ghost Rider as Kevin looks embarrassed/scared.
'Ethan? So he's Kevin E. Levin?' thought the others but Ben. They would've laughed at realization if the situation wasn't serious.
"Time to fight fire with fire!" commanded Ben as he and the Galactic Defenders activated their Matrices before standing in front of Skylar and Kevin. As Ghost Rider got off his motorcycle, a multi-colored flash took hold.
~Split Screen Transformation~
(Ben's transformation scene)
The background changed to a volcano with a meteor shower above. Ben slammed his palm on the ground while kneeling and outstretching his other arm back. Suddenly, a lava geyser consumed Ben. As the lava geyser disappeared, Ben appears to be turned to magma stone. Suddenly, yellow cracks began seeping from his hand on the ground before rising around his body. The cracks then began emitting fire, surrounding Ben's skull and enlarging his hands. He stood up straight before raising his downed hand to the sky before a stream of fire emitted from it.
"Heatblast" cried the Pyronite.
(Kaz's transformation scene)
Kaz's right fist became surrounded by fire as he nears it to his heart area. Suddenly, a spiral of flames surrounded Kaz as the sun rises behind him. Orange/yellow/red armor levitated around the vortex before tackling into it. A red cape cut the vortex away as it revealed Kaz wearing the armor and black spandex under it.
"The Blazing Warrior, Elemental HERO Nova Master" cried the FIRE Fusion monster as he let his cape flow behind him.
(Chase's transformation scene)
A suit of samurai armor appeared in front of Chase as a stray meteorite struck it from behind and transformed it into lava before surrounding Chase and turned into orange/red samurai-like armor. A platform rose from the ground as a red helmet with yellow blade horns materialized on it. Chase grabbed it by the horns and put it on his head as the rest of his body became covered by crimson metal. A yellow spinning blur flew by before Chase jumped high as it connected to his back, revealing itself to be a gigantic ninja star.
"Krakix" cried the Pyrus Bakugan as he took out a fire sword and slashed mid-air.
(Jack's transformation scene)
A silver sword stuck to the ground appeared in front of Jack. Jack took the blade out of the ground as fire spiraled from the sword to his heart. Suddenly, Jack's entire body (save for his clothing) became fire before his clothes turned into light-blue knight armor containing his flames. Jack's faceless head looked up as he raised his sword.
"Ignitor" cried the FIRE Skylander as he slashed downward.
(Kim's transformation scene)
The Statue of Liberty in human-size rose in front of Kim. Kim sprinted towards it before turning into an embodiment of fire and tackling the back of the statue, entering it. Suddenly, the statue turned black as it began to slightly change it's appearance. Kim opened her eye sockets and took out a flaming whip.
"Smolderdash" cried the FIRE Skylander as she whipped her weapon against the air.
(Niagara Falls)
The Galactic Defenders got in a fighting stance as they prepared themselves; Heatblast cracking his knuckles, Nova Master heated up his fists, Krakix twirled his fire swords, Ignitor lit up his sword and Smolderdash whipped the ground.
"Five against one. Horrible odds." chuckled Ghost Rider before Skylar generated plasma around her hands and took a fighting stance.
"Six." corrected Skylar as Kevin absorbed Ignitor's armor, covering himself in light-blue metal before enlarging his knuckles.
"Seven." corrected Kevin.
"Skylar Storm and Kevin Levin? It's like killing two birds with one stone. (raises a hand) Time to call for some backup. HIDIACS RISE!" called out Ghost Rider with a snap of his fingers before foot-soldiers of the Mystic Rangers' enemies rose from the ground.
"DEFENDERS ATTACK!" cried Heatblast as his FIRE allies charge. Heatblast stomped on the ground as a boulder came out and became surrounded by fire.
"Nice, who doesn't love soccer?! Let's have some kicks!" exclaimed Heatblast as he kicked the boulder at the rest of them, a good amount of the undead warriors down. Heatblast stopped the boulder in mid-air before snapping his fingers as it shattered into mini-meteors and destroyed the rest of the Hidiacs in front of him.
"Can't stand a nova, (cape becomes surrounded by fire) stay away from the master!" quipped Nova Master as he twirled his burning cape around while shooting fireballs at the Hidiacs around him, surrounding him in a fiery explosion and destroying the Hidiacs.
"Time to crack some fireworks." quipped Krakix as the Hidiacs blasted at the Pyrus Bakugan, but he managed to evade the blasts before hitting the Hidiacs with some strong strikes of his fire swords. Krakix's moves were definitely samurai-like before flipping over the Hidiacs, and taking them down. Krakix took everything the Hidiacs dished out and gave more.
"Taste my blade!" cried Ignitor as he continuously swung at the Hidiacs left to right. Ignitor's moves are knight-like as the Hidiacs blast behind him, his fire spirit came out through the helmet and flew by them, leaving explosions and burn marks.
"Beware the Flare!" cried Smolderdash as she used her whip to tie up the Hidiacs before aiming her palm at them while a stream of fire emits from it and destroyed the Hidiacs. The remaining Hidiacs stumbled together in a large huddle.
"Let's finish them off!" cried Heatblast as his teammates stood beside him and nod.
"Galactic Nova Burst!" cried the Galactic Defenders as Krakix and Ignitor slashed the air and created a fiery X heading towards the Hidiacs. Heatblast and Nova Master blasted fire at it as it went faster and became hotter. Smolderdash dashed and whipped horizontally as it created a fiery star before it hid the Hidiacs and destroyed them in a large fiery explosion while the Galactic Defenders turn away dramatically. Skylar and Kevin got back-to-back while Ghost Rider rides his motorcycle in circles around them and lassoing his chains before entangling the duo with his chain.
"Aw it burns!" hissed Kevin before he and Skylar are dragged by Ghost Rider heading to a red portal, much hotter than the Null Void.
"I don't think so!" proclaimed Smolderdash as she entangled her whip around Ghost Rider's wheel, stopping the bike as the portal vanishes.
"Why do you want Kevin and Sky anyway? Kevin's been redeeming himself for over a year and Skylar's powers were contaminated when she turned evil." asked Nova Master.
"Tell me. Have any of you heard about the Rooters?" asked Ghost Rider with his arms folded and standing.
"The Rooters are the secret Black Ops wing of the Null Void Plumbers and a splinter faction of the organization as a whole." explained Krakix.
"There are Plumbers in the Null Void too?" asked Heatblast surprised at this info.
"Correct Chase Davenport, and you're looking at a former member." waved Ghost Rider to Kevin, causing the girls to gasp in surprise.
"Since when?" asked Ignitor before a ring of fire surrounded the group.
(Mindscape)
The Galactic Defenders, Kevin and Skylar (all back to normal) are currently in a dark void with Ghost Rider's skull lighting it.
"Where are we?" asked Jack confused.
"We're in a mindscape, like the time I evolved into Delta Dragonoid." answered Chase before the void changed to the Null Void and a 12-year-old Kevin wondering around a rock.
"This must be what happened during Kevin's time in the Null Void." guessed Skylar as Kevin nodded before a red Vulpimancer pounced onto his younger self, who slid under it before absorbing a nearby rock and gaining grayish-red rock armor and throwing the Vulpimancer on the other side. The Vulpimancer shook his head before pouncing again, only for a red energy net to catch it. Young Kevin turned to see 3 Rooters in helmets walking towards him.
"Wait a minute! I don't remember this!" confessed Kevin with his eyes wide.
"Maybe you got mind-wiped?" guessed Skylar before the Rooters led Kevin to their Plumber HQ as the door opened, revealing Servantis in his human form looking down at the Osmosian.
"Who's Baldy?" asked Kaz confused.
"No idea." breathed Kevin.
"That's Servantis, leader of the Rooters." informed Ghost Rider before the scene changed into inside the HQ with 2 Rooters carrying Kevin through the prison section, seeing 4 familiar faces.
"The Plumber Kids?" asked Kim confused to see her acquaintances in separate cells.
"Why am I not surprised that Argit is here?" face-palmed Ben as everyone noticed Argit when he was younger.
"~AW~" awed the girls as they see Argit's adorably large eyes.
"You gotta be kidding me." shook Kevin before the scene changed to a laboratory with younger Kevin hooked to a machine between a Cerebrocrustacean and Servantis.
"Something tells me the machine is bad news." warned Jack as red electricity surrounded the Cerebrocrustacean and transferred to Kevin before going into Servantis. The scene changed to Argit taking the Cerebrocrustacean's place and Pierce taking Servantis' place before Servantis in his hybrid form hooked the machine to Kevin.
"What the heck happened to him?" asked Skylar while pointing at Servantis.
"The machine must be a genetic fusion splicer." informed Chase as everyone looked at Kevin.
"But... how is that possible? I don't remember any of that happening." widened Kevin before the scene switched to Servantis blasting the Plumber Kids' foreheads with red electricity before they escaped.
"That must be how. Cerebrocrustaceans have Mnemokinesis, the ability to manipulate minds." answered Chase.
"How'd you know what Brainstorm can do?" asked Kaz curiously.
"I read the Alien Life-Form Database during our trips." shrugged Chase before a light consumed them.
(Niagara Falls)
The Galactic Defenders (now in their previous forms) and Skylar are standing while Kevin is on his knees and Ghost Rider is glaring down at Kevin.
"Kevin Ethan Levin. You are responsible for taking away 4 innocent childrens' humanities as well as robberies for the Rooters." announced Ghost Rider before something unexpected happened. Purple cracks began forming around Kevin starting from the heart.
"WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?!" yelled Nova Master.
"A test." simply answered Ghost Rider.
"WHAT KIND OF TEST IS THIS?!" cried Krakix before bringing out his fire swords.
"One that you won't interfere." glared Ghost Rider as he threw a bunch of gems on the ground before they turned into Dustards armed with swords.
"Ninjas? I already fought a mechanical one like it was nothing. This will be a piece of cake." scoffed Krakix before everyone reverted.
"You just had to jinx us, didn't you?" groaned Kim before the Dustards began to run at them.
"Skylar, (dodges a Dustard's sword) take care of Ghost Rider while we handle these guys." ordered Ben before sweep-kicking a Dustard.
"You sure?" asked Skylar while plasma blasting a Dustard.
"Don't worry about us. JUST GO!" yelled Kaz before ducking from a sword swing as Skylar engages Ghost Rider in combat, everyone unaware of a white figure slowly walking towards Kevin before the moonlight shined through the leaves, revealing Kamen Rider Apollo (Fourze).
"I was afraid of this." sighed Apollo before taking out an Apollo Underworld Ring and putting it on Kevin's finger. Kevin is in too much despair to notice, however. Apollo put the ring finger on the Radar Switch.
SWITCH: ON!
~UNDERWORLD, PLEASE!~
A neon-blue Wizard circle with Apollo's logo on it appeared above them. Apollo took a running start and jumped into the seal before it vanished, once again unnoticed by the fighters.
(Kevin's Underworld)
Apollo dropped through a tunnel of purple energy and magic circles before arriving at a light. Landing softly, Apollo looked around to see a train-yard on the day Ben re-gained the Omnitrix and became the first official Galactic Defender.
"Wonder why this place is his hope?" wondered Apollo with folded arms before hearing a groan as he turns to see Magister Labrid, Gwen and Ben a year younger standing in front of Kevin, who has energy cuffs around his wrists.
"Energy cuffs, I'd like to see you escape from that. Got nothing there for you to absorb." dared Labrid.
"You still got some of that stuff in your hair." pointed out Ben for his cousin, but Gwen couldn't find where Ben was referring to.
"Others side." informed Kevin.
"Eww." cringed Gwen as she ran her hand over a large portion of her hair still covered in alien residue. Suddenly, purple cracks formed by the scene before a Gigantes Phantom burst through it.
"A GIGANTES?! Well it does make sense since Kevin uses his hands to absorb." nodded Apollo before the Gigantes Phantom shot chains at him. Apollo barely dodged them matrix-style. Apollo recovered and pressed the Launcher Switch.
LAUNCHER: ON!
The Launcher Module formed on Apollo's right leg as it fired missiles at the chains, destroying them before Apollo noticed Gigantes' absence through the smokescreen.
"Where did he go?" questioned Apollo before a chain suddenly wrapped around the Launcher Module as Apollo got flipped and looked up to see Gigantes' slowly bringing the chain up by wrapping it around his arm.
"Oh no you don't!" cried Apollo before twisting the Drill Switch.
DRILL: ON!
The Drill Module formed on Apollo's left leg as it came in contact with the chain before it span at high speeds, retracting the chain around it. Gigantes' roared in anger as Apollo began moving upwards before the space-themed Rider delivered an upward drill kick, destroying the chains around Apollo before he realized his mistake. HE DRILLED TOO HIGH ABOVE GIGANTES!
"Gah! Hope this saves me!" hoped Apollo as he pressed the Rocket Switch while free-falling.
ROCKET: ON!
The Rocket Module formed on Apollo's right arm as it slowed his descent.
"Gotta lose the extra weight." said Apollo as he pulled the Launcher Switch, deactivating it while the Launcher Module de-formed. Gigantes roared as it flew towards him.
"Time to finish this." nodded Apollo before he pulled the lever on the side of the Apollo Driver.
ROCKET-DRILL: LIMIT BREAK!
"RIDER ROCKET DRILL KICK!" cried Apollo with the Rocket Module pulled back and the Drill Module span twice as fast while Apollo drill-kicked Gigantes, destroying it in an explosion. As Apollo landed on the ground, he continued spinning due to the stuck Drill Module until it eventually stopped.
"I did a good job for my first Phantom fight if I do say so myself." chuckled Apollo as the cracks turned golden and healed before the scene resumed.
"You're going to tell me what in the world this level 5 technology is doing here on earth. This in the hands of humans could be catastrophic. These shouldn't even be on this planet." apprehended Labrid.
"So? How is that my problem?" said a defiant Kevin.
"The Forever Knights took a crate full of them while we were fighting, whatever they do with them is on your head." pointed out Ben.
"You set up the deal, you're going to tell me where they are." demanded Labrid, getting in Kevin's face. Kevin looked away, annoyed that this Plumber was ordering him around. A petite hand on his shoulder got his attention again.
"Kevin. People could be hurt." warned Gwen softly as Apollo shook his head at the scene.
"So his hope isn't a what, but a who. Makes more sense. I wonder how the Galactic Defenders are doing." pondered Apollo as he twisted the Drill Switch before the Drill Module de-formed.
(During the start of Apollo's battle)
"Chase?"
"Yeah?"
"Remember what you said before these guys appeared?"
"That this would be a piece of cake?"
"Yeah, well, HOW IS THIS A PIECE OF CAKE?!" panicked Ben as he motioned to various tree stumps sliced clean in half before a Dustard kicked his gut and forcing Ben to barrel roll towards Chase.
"How was I supposed to know that he had other reinforcements?!" argued Chase before he summoned his force field and blocked a Dustard's sword.
"GANGWAY!" yelled Kaz as he runs toward a tree with 2 Dustards following him. Using the momentum of his speed, Kaz ran up the tree and back-flipped just as the Dustards slashed the tree and got their blades stuck, not putting enough power to slice it like the others. Unfortunately, Kaz landed on his knee and a bone-cracking sound was heard.
"OH GOD MY KNEE!" cried Kaz as he cradled his knee while staying on his butt, rolling away from stray slashes. Jack and Kim are currently fighting back-to-back coordinately.
"Kim, (ducks from a slash before backhanding the Dustard) you thinking what I'm thinking?" asked Jack as he caught a blade and palm-struck the flat side away from him.
"Oh yeah!" smirked Kim before they turned around and leaned in towards each other, as if they were going to kiss... that is until Jack grabbed Kim by the waist and twirled her around bridal-style as she lifted her feet, kicking the surrounding Dustards to the ground.
"We haven't pulled that off for 2 years." chuckled Jack as Kim giggled before kissing his cheek, making Jack blush and distracting them from one of the fallen Dustards' sweep kick, forcing them to trip to the ground while the other Dustards hold them down.
"GAH!" yelped Chase when one of the Dustards sneaked behind him and slashed his back, tearing his shirt and deactivating his force field.
"GUYS!" yelled Skylar worriedly before Ghost Rider lassoed a chain around her arms to her waist, dragging her to the re-opened portal.
"Now, where were we?" chuckled Ghost Rider as Skylar grits her teeth in pain. Ben is now on his knees after failing to re-activate the Ultimatrix, processing the situation in his mind.
Kevin is somehow dying.
Their Matrices are useless at the moment.
Two Defenders and Skylar are restrained.
The other two are heavily injured.
And there's nothing he can do about it.
Ben clenched his fist as he glared at the Dustards.
NO!
Ben Tennyson is not one to give up so easily!
Ben will save his friends!
Ben will defeat Ghost Rider and the Dustards!
BEN! WILL! WIN!
The Ultimatrix re-activated itself and set an alien form on it's own. Not paying attention to the form, Ben stood up, noticed by Ghost Rider, and ran in front of the portal. He slammed the Ultimatrix dial just as Ghost Rider threw a fireball, seemingly hitting Ben and covering him in an explosion.
"BEN!" cried the Galactic Defenders and Skylar in worry as Ghost Rider sighed.
"Too bad. He would've made a good executioner." shook Ghost Rider as he went towards the smoke, only to be punched out by a red fist, forcing his chain to release Skylar.
"THIS ISN'T OVER UNTIL I SAY IT'S OVER! YOU GOT THAT?!" roared a voice as an alien that looks like Fury from Power Rangers Dino Charge came out of the smoke, except the antlers are horns, the eyes are green, the loincloth is green instead of yellow, and the blades on his arms and shoulders resemble flames. The Galactic Defenders instantly knew who it was thanks to the Ultimatrix symbol replacing Fury's chest mask.
"What kind of alien is that?" asked Kaz in awe while using a tree to support himself up.
"That's a Dogoldan (DLBot2016's idea for the name, not mine), they're a race that are always blunt when they speak, often use their blades as weapons, and very loud." informed Skylar while waving her arms to cool down the heat.
"Awesome!" grinned Kaz before grimacing again.
"YOU BETTER RELEASE THEM, GHOST RIDER!" demanded Ben while said person got off his motorcycle and prepared his chains.
"Or what?" taunted Ghost Rider as Ben reared his claws and brandished his blades.
"OR YOU'LL GET A TASTE OF LEOBLADES' CLAWS OF FURY!" roared Ben, now known as Leoblades, as he pounced at Ghost Rider.
"Dustard, shield me!" ordered Ghost Rider as a Dustard ran towards Leoblades and brought out his sword and prepared to stab him, only for Leoblades to grab it with a single claw. Leoblades grinned while bringing up the sword.
"IT'S GONNA TAKE MORE THAN ONE SWORD TO BEAT UP THIS CAT!" roared Leoblades while throwing away the sword and using his arm blades to slash the Dustard in half, resulting in the halves turning to sparkling dust and disappearing. Suddenly, Ghost Rider's chains wrapped around Leoblades' upper body, restricting him.
"Then how about some fiery chains?" asked Ghost Rider while riding away with the chains tied to the motorcycle.
"NO!" screamed the Defenders while Skylar gave a sympathetic look to... Ghost Rider?
"You're making me angry. (Ghost Rider's motorcycle roughly stops, forcing occupant to look at Leoblades with his head down before glaring up) YOU WOULDN'T LIKE ME WHEN I'M ANGRY!" roared Leoblades while breaking out of the chains, shocking Ghost Rider.
'He broke out of my chains?!' thought Ghost Rider surprised while Leoblades emits a fiery aura.
"Did I forget to tell you that anger, either from himself or others around him, strengthens Dogoldans?" admitted Skylar sheepishly while the other Defenders nod, making Skylar giggle nervously. Back to the fight, Leoblades grabs the chain singlehandedly and pulls it, forcing Ghost Rider off the motorcycle.
"Dustards, forget the others and attack Tennyson!" ordered Ghost Rider. The Dustards, pausing their assault earlier to pay attention to the fight, snapped out of their stupor and charged at Leoblades. The Dogoldan smirked and held the chain while twirling it around, using it as a ball-and-chain and sweeping some Dustards off their feet. The other Dustards either slid under or jumped over the improvised weapon before one decided to slice the chain with it's sword, resulting in the motorcycle being thrown off course... and heading straight for Ghost Rider!
"Uh-oh!" winced Ghost Rider before the motorcycle's wheel smashed into his skull, resulting in a tire mark on his skull and knocking him unconscious onto the ground with the motorcycle lying on it's side and the ground somehow not burning from the skull's fire. The others blinked while staring at Ghost Rider.
"Did the Ghost Rider just got knocked out... by his own motorcycle?" wondered Chase as the others dumbly nod.
"I'm not gonna lie. That was very anti-climatic." admitted Kaz bluntly while trying to stand up, only to wince repeatedly as his knee pain kicked in again.
"YOU DUSTARDS HAVE TO BE THE WORST FOOT-SOLDIERS I'VE EVER MET IF YOU KNOCKED OUT YOUR OWN BOSS!" roared Leoblades bluntly as the Dustards jumped away, emotionless, and threw shurikens at the Dogoldan, much to the others' surprise, since the Dustards only used their swords so far. As the shurikens hit the Dogoldan, they clinked and dropped to the ground. Somehow gulping, the Dustards look up to see Leoblades' furious grin as he took out his sword from the sheath on his back, which resembles Fury's seven-branched sword, except it is somewhat shaped like flames.
"YOU BETTER RUN! (Dustards turn and prepare to scram) TOO LATE!" roared Leoblades as fiery aura surrounds the sword before he swung it in an arc, creating an energy slash that came in contact with the remaining Dustards before they exploded, turning into stardust afterwards.
"Looks like that's all of them." observed Chase while getting up and walking towards Leoblades, wincing from the back pain.
"Now the only one left is... (looks at Ghost Rider's position, only to see nothing but burnt grass) He vanished?!" gawked Skylar.
"Guess he isn't called Ghost Rider for nothing. (chuckles before slapping injured knee) Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Bad idea. (looks around) Can someone help me up?" asked Kaz while wincing before Kim and Jack came over to him and grabbed his hands.
"We'll worry about that later. (helps Kaz up before blinking) Is it just me, or are we forgetting someone?" wondered Kim aloud as Jack supports Kaz as Leoblades reverts to Ben. Suddenly, their eyes widened in realization.
"KEVIN!"
(After Apollo's battle)
Apollo jumped out of the magic circle as the purple cracks around Kevin disappeared.
"Mission complete. (stretches limbs while looking around) Now it's time to take my leave." noted Apollo as he presses the Rocket Switch.
ROCKET: ON!
The Rocket Module materialized on his arm as Apollo got into running position.
"Did you guys hear that?" asked Kaz's voice, causing Apollo to run frantically away from the voice.
'Oh crud! I knew I should've activated it farther from here!' thought Apollo before punching the Rocket Module forward, activating it as it pulls Apollo away from the scene, leaving nothing but smoke.
"(coughs twice) Did Ghost Rider ride through here?" coughed Ben as he and the others exit the smoke-screen.
"(sniffs) I don't smell anything burning, so that's a no." answered Chase while rubbing his nose.
"Guys, look at Kevin!" pointed Kaz as everyone looks to see Kevin lying forward on the ground.
"He's not cracking purple anymore. (kneels beside Kevin before rolling him over, showing dirt from the ground on some spots of his clothes before checking pulse) He's just exhausted. Whatever happened must've drained him to this extent." observed Chase with a curled index finger and thumb under his chin.
"How did it stop in the first place?" asked Jack curiously.
"Maybe it has something to do with this? (scoops up orange gem shards and metal pieces) Whatever this was, it must've been a one-time thing." guessed Skylar.
"So someone saved him while we were fighting? (shakes head) Talk about doing ninja-work." muttered Kaz.
"Let's keep that. It might lead us to our mysterious savior with Gwen's help." suggested Ben as Skylar nodded before putting the pieces in her pocket.
"Guys? (gains others' attention) Do you think what we saw in the mindscape was just an illusion, or... " trailed off Kim uneasily as the others look down sadly.
"Normally, I would deny it to the grave, but after gaining these powers, confirming the existence of magic, and seeing Ghost Rider face-to-skull, I would believe anything at this point." sighed Chase before standing up.
"Then what are we standing around for? We gotta report to the Plumbers!" declared Kaz determined.
"That won't work." shook Jack, gaining a glare from Kaz.
"Are you saying you don't want to reveal the truth to the others?!" screamed Kaz.
"I do! It's just that (puts free hand in pocket) we have no physical evidence to prove what we saw. (Kaz is about to say something) And the pieces don't prove anything but what Kevin went through. Besides, even if the Plumbers do believe us, Servantis will just wipe our memories so we could go on with our lives as if nothing happened." explained Jack as everyone nods in agreement.
"Jack's right, guys. But there's a piece missing from the puzzle. (others look at him confused) The motive; why did he turn the Plumber Kids into half aliens in the first place, what did he need the specific aliens and humans for, and what if the Plumber Kids weren't the only ones that have been spliced?" frowned Ben thoughtfully as the others look down, realizing that Ben's right.
'Someday, I'll find out what you're up to, Servantis. And I promise that my team and I will stop you. (punches palm) Once and for all.' thought Ben determined.
Omarnosian10: Are they gone?
*Omarnosian10 and Theboblinator are behind a bush, hiding from the mob. Theboblinator lifts his head and looks*
Theboblinator: The coast is clear, for now anyway.
Omarnosian10: Phew! Good to know! Sorry about dragging you into this, by the way!
Theboblinator: It's not your fault, dude. I was just at the right place at the wrong time.
Omarnosian10: Thanks! Now if you excuse me. *takes out laptop from out of nowhere and starts typing*
Theboblinator: How did you do that?!
Omarnosian10: I've learned of this ability when I worked on 'Chase's Magical Misbelief'. It comes in handy when I have to write on the road.
Theboblinator: Wait, so I can do that, too?!
Omarnosian10: Yeah. You didn't know?
Theboblinator: I mostly do my work at home and when I visit family members.
Omarnosian10: Seriously?! You should do more work on the road!
Theboblinator: I'll keep note of that when the heat dies down.
Omarnosian10: Alright. Until the heat dies down, Defenders, out!