Omarnosian10: After almost two years, I'm free! It's time to—

Omar: Dude, you've created and updated a story these past few months.

Omarnosian10: First off, way to ruin the meme. Secondly, I was talking about this story. Thirdly, when it's coming to PTT, I'm getting writer's block on the chapters post-Snivy catch.

Omar: Well, it's your fault for differing too much from the anime.

Omarnosian10: Maybe, but I don't regret it. Also, I believe a small preview of sorts is in order. These are the crossovers I have planned out for this multi-series project.

That's So Raven: Kuuga

The Suite Life (of Zack and Cody, and On Deck): Ryuki

Hannah Montana: Den-O

Wizards of Waverly Place: Wizard

Cory in the House: Agito

Sonny with a Chance: Fourze

Jonas (LA): Blade

I'm in the Band: Hibiki

Kingdom Hearts: Decade

Good Luck Charlie: Ghost

Shake It Up: OOO

Austin & Ally: Gaim

Jessie: Ex-Aid

ANT Farm: 555

Liv and Maddie: Kiva

I Didn't Do It: Kabuto

Girl Meets World: Drive

Omarnosian10: Yes, I know "I'm in a Band" is a Disney XD series, but they had a crossover with "The Suite Life on Deck" with their episode "Weasels on Deck". As far as I'm concerned, it's part of the Disneyverse.

Omar: But that doesn't mean the Marvel universe will coexist. The "Halloween Night at the Museum" episode in Ultimate Spider-Man won't happen in the Disneyverse… not completely anyway.

Omarnosian10: Skip to the next paragraph if you don't want a spoiler alert. The crossover with USM will occur, but it'd be more like the Heisei Generations Final movie, before the World of Build and the prime Riderverse combined in Build's finale. Except it'd be caused by magic, not tech like the Kaisers.

Omar: And the Kingdom Hearts one is part of Disney's Multiverse garden.

Omarnosian10: If you're confused, think of Paradox's explanation in "Ben 10 Omniverse" about the multiverse and in Creaturemaster's "We Are Monsters" story. In this case, the multiverses that Disney shows us, even in what-if episodes, and the fanfictions made from them, are in a forest. Although, it's not uncommon for forests to cross branches, like if people made fanfictions from two multiverses at once, as I did with Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network when I created the Ben 10Nicktoons: Globs of Doom story.

Omar: Therefore, Decade will not only travel to the prime Disney Rider world occasionally, but also the sets of worlds in the games with movies, some DCOMs, and the set that has co…

Omarnosian10: Shh, don't spoil it now!

Omar: …Did you just make a YGOTAS reference?

Omarnosian10: *ignores Omar* As you can see, W/Double, Build and Zi-O aren't among the crossovers planned, neither are Best Friends Whenever or KC Undercover, confirmed to be canon in "Monstober Spooktacular Weekend", mainly because no plans have been made for them, and a third series hasn't been chosen.

Omar: The Bionic Accel project doesn't completely count since it has a Secondary Rider as a protagonist, like the Gatack of Gamer's Guide Project.

Omarnosian10: It's a small multi-project I like to call DRXD, short for Disney Riders XD.

Omar: Isn't that almost the same acronym as Highschool D

*Cloaked figure covers Omar's mouth*

Cloaked figure #1: Don't mention that anime! You know how much he hates it!

Cloaked figure #2: That doesn't stop him from making plans for that along with two other Kamen Riders. *looks over plans* But sheesh, that's a LOT of bashing.

Cloaked figure #3: Can you blame him, considering the protagonist's personality and love interest?

Cloaked figure #2: Can't argue with that.

Omarnosian10: Enough rambling. We have an intro arc to sorta finish. ON WITH THE SHOW!

Disclaimer: I do not own Hannah Montana or Kamen Rider Den-O. All rights go to the Walt Disney Company and Shotaro Ishinomori respectively. I only own my OC(s), some OC Imagin designs, and most of Den-O's original forms that have yet to make an appearance.


Chapter 5: Sieg Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Favorites

"Honey, you're not actually meeting the Queen until Sunday." Robby reminded his daughter, standing in a throne room while watching his daughter apply make-up. "You look fine."

"Yeah, you're right." Hannah nods before glancing at Robby. "But you don't." She grimaced as she started applying the makeup to Robby.

"Okay, darling, that may work for the Backstreet Boys, but not quite my style." Robby chuckled, walking away. Sighing, Hannah shakes her head and puts away the make-up. Simon, the butler, enters from the other side of the room.

"Now, Ms. Montana," Simon called out, getting Hannah's attention as she walks over to him. "Prior to your performance on Sunday for the Queen's granddaughter, you will be introduced to her Royal Majesty," Simon informed, much to Hannah's joy.

"I'm gonna meet the Queen, whoo!" Hannah did a little victory dance. "I'm gonna meet the Queen, whoo!"

"Not if you do that, whoo!" Simon mocked Hannah, getting an eye roll from her. "Now, when cued, what you will do is the following." He directed her to the middle of the room to provide more space. "Right foot behind left heel, knees bent, curtsy and say, 'Hello, Your Majesty'."

Hannah did as instructed with a wave in the air. "Hello, Your Majesty."

Simon shakes his head. "No, no, no. Lower."

Hannah nods before deepening her voice. "Hello, Your Majesty."

"No, I meant get lower," Simon added while giving her a look like Omar's during game nights; the one he said he learned from Joshua's older brother. Omar only gives that look when… she gets his orders wrong.

"You're talking about the curtsy, aren't you?" Hannah asks bashfully.

"That is correct," Simon answered.

A ringing sound filled the room before Robby picked up his phone. "Hello? Hey, Ma." He walks across the room. "Yeah, look, we're right in the middle of rehearsing to meet the Queen. Can INo, no, no, no. Not Latifah!"

Hannah chuckles at that. "Hey, Simon." She pats his shoulder. "When I met that Queen, all I had to rehearse was, 'What's up, girlfriend?'" She makes a ridiculous pose. "You get it?"

Simon grimly nodded. "Yes, unfortunately, I did." Hannah steps away.

"Ma, I'm talking about the Queen of England." Robby pointed out. "YeahLook, I'm kind of busy right now so can we—" Robby sighs while rolling his eyes. "Yes, I know she didn't birth me." This earns an uncomfortable look from Simon.

"Mamaw means well." Hannah started explaining. "It's just when things don't go just the way she likes them, she can be… A royal pain."

Simon nods in understanding while Gwendolyn came into the room in a rush.

"The Queen's granddaughter would like her pony groomed and brought to her room," Gwendolyn explained, getting looks from the two before they resume their conversation.

"Trust me, there's no royal pain like the royal pain." Simon groaned in sympathy before turning to the woman. "Gwendolyn, I'll be needing a bucket of sudsies and my pony sponge," She nods before he followed her out.

Relieved that the conversation is over, Robby closes his phone. "He thinks he's got problems." He scoffs while walking to Hannah. "Your Mamaw says she's flying in from Tennessee, she's in a cab on the way to the house right now."

"Dad, don't panic," Hannah assures her father. "We only left Jackson home alone for an hour. How much damage could he do?"

No sooner had the words left her mouth did they facepalm, recalling who they were talking about.

"We gotta move."

(POV Change)

"Hadoken!" Jackson shouted as his character performed the special attack at point-blank range.

Currently, Jackson and I are at his house, playing Street Fighter III 3rd Strike: Fight for the Future on his Xbox, me being Ibuki, and him being Ryu.

I reacted too late as I watch my character fall.

KO

"Oh yeah!" Jackson fist-pumped before standing and doing a victory dance while I dropped the controller onto the table.

"Guess that'll teach ya to not pick a character based on their name alone." Momotaros snorted, referring to the fact that I only chose Ibuki because of the name sounding like a Kamen Rider from Hibiki.

"You're one to talk, sempai." Urataros retorted. "Last I recall, didn't you select Dan Hibiki for his last name, despite our warnings due to the rumors?"

"…URUSAI!"

I sigh at their argument. And to make things more annoying…

I am the champion, my friends,
And I'll keep on fighting 'til the end
I am the champion
I am the champion
No time for losers
'Cause I am the champion of the world

"Is the song really necessary?" I groaned, getting a smug smirk.

Before he could answer, Mr. Stewart entered through the front. "Listen, son, you've better—" Mr. Stewart stopped, surveying the house, and looked at us. "Sweet niblets, the house doesn't look like a toilet and a stink bomb had a baby, and that baby was adopted by a pig and skunk, who had—"

"Please don't give me images!" I grimaced, holding my ears.

Mr. Stewart chuckled. "Sorry."

"Is it safe to come in yet?!" Miley called out from the front porch.

"The coast is clear!" Mr. Stewart yelled back before Miley came in, pinching her nose.

Seeing that the place is clean, Miley releases her nose before noticing me. "Omar?" She blushes for some reason. "What are you doing here?"

"Jackson invited me," I answered, jabbing my thumb at him. "He wanted to have a match with me in Street Fighter."

"Which I won!" Jackson added, still in his victory dance.

'Cause I am the champion of the world

"OK, I get it; I suck at fighter games, you don't have to rub it in," I grumbled. Jackson smirks again before I look at the others. "Wait, what are you two doing here? Jackson told me you two had a dentist appointment."

Miley pales before Mr. Stewart answers. "It finished a few minutes ago, and we rushed here so we can wait for someone coming for the weekend."

"Wait?" I parroted. "Wait for who?"

"Tip? You want a tip?" A sassy voice is heard from the porch as clear as day. "If you are not gonna use deodorant, make sure your back window's rolled down." A closing door and revving engine are heard next.

"I—Is t-that…" I could practically feel Momotaros pale through the link. There's only one person who could get him this scared.

A push of the door answered him. "He~re's Mamaw!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH—!"

(POV Change)

Unknown to the Stewarts, they are being watched by an Imagin hidden in the trees close by.

The Imagin's body is mainly obsidian black with ruby red shoulder-guards, gauntlets, boots, torso armor, waistband, and helmet that covers the lower half of the face; the majority of the armor appears to be Roman. It also has a grey loincloth reaching to his boots, dark 'G's on it. The only facial features revealed are the narrowed green eyes.

This is the Gladiator Imagin, based on the tales of ancient Rome.

Seeing Mamaw enter the house, the Gladiator Imagin nodded to himself before feeling a presence behind him. "Who goes there?!" He, sounding like Michael Shannon with an English accent, exclaimed as he summoned a black Gladius and pointed it in front of him while turning around.

Surprisingly, an old mirror that belonged to the house's previous owner began to ripple before an Imagin emerged from it.

The Imagin appears to be made of glass, evident by its near-transparent state. The lower half of the body is a darker shade along the torso from the waist-widening to the shoulders, leaving a triangle and mimicking inverted overalls. On its shoulders are green theater masks outlined in gold acting as pads, the gold forming into lines that lead down the Imagin's arms and to the back of the hands. The Imagin's head is almost featureless save for the horns on the sides and… red eyes.

This is the Mirror Imagin, based on 'The Magic Mirror' from Snow White.

"Impressive that you managed to detect my presence." Clapping slowly, the Mirror Imagin walks towards the Gladiator Imagin. "I could use your services for a task I have in mind."

"Why should I work with you?" The Gladiator Imagin 'scoffs'. He recalls the sword, realizing that the Mirror Imagin is no threat… for now. "My Contract shall be completed by tomorrow."

"Not if the Kamen Rider has something to say about it." The Mirror Imagin retorted.

"Highly unlikely." The Gladiator Imagin shakes his head. "I've been completing this Contract for weeks, and not once has this Kamen Rider found out about it."

"That's only because the Kamen Rider had other business to settle." The Mirror Imagin folds his arms. "Four Imagin were present during your mission, and they are no moreAnd not one of them has successfully fled into the past."

The Gladiator Imagin narrowed his eyes as he looked away. As much as he hates to say it, Mirror Imagin is right.

"Which is why I'm here to offer you something to make sure you succeed." This piqued the Gladiator Imagin's interest. The Mirror Imagin steps away from the mirror, pointing an arm towards it. The mirror started rippling as a new figure came out of it. Eyes widening, he looked at the Mirror Imagin.

"We have a deal, fellow Imagin."


The train of time, Den-Liner. Will the next station be in the past or the future?

Jikan no nami we tsukamaete (Grab on to the waves of time)

Den-Liner drove through an opening in the canyon wall and drove across the bridge as the camera zooms out before seeing an hourglass in front of the mess.

Ima sugu ni yukou yakusoku no basho (Right now let's go to that place of promises)

We then see Den-O walk up to the Den-Bird in Den-Liner's engine before the scene changes to a bar stand with an hourglass, a smoothy, and a Den-Liner Pass sitting on it before Omar's hand reaches out to grab it. Once he picks it up, we see Omar looking at the pass before staring off in one direction before leaving Rico's Surf Shop with Oliver and Lilly looking on in confusion at where he was going while Miley prayed for his safety.

Genkai mugen iza tobikome. Climax JUMP (You have unlimited boundaries. In a pinch, jump over it) Ii Jan? Ii Jan? Sugee Jan? Ii Jan? Ii Jan? Sugee Jan? (Isn't it good? Isn't it good? Isn't it great? Isn't it good? Isn't it good? Isn't it great?)

The scene changes to Den-O hopping onto Den-Bird then inserted his Den-Liner Pass and started up the bike causing some of Den-Liner's cars to disconnect from some of the main cars as Den-O steered the train to the left allowing the train to enter a portal through time before the title appears.

Kanaitai yume ga aru nara (If you have a dream that you want to come true)

Burning calendar pieces began falling from the sky as we see images of Hannah's concerts as well. Some of the pieces fall at Omar's feet as he stared on at what happened around him with clenched fists.

Shinjinakacha negatta hibi wo (…then there were days when you believed it would come true)

We see Omar glaring off towards the camera before it switches to Hannah singing in a stage before seeing her face with some tears in her eyes.

Catch the wave!

A hand flips the hourglass back in Rico's Surf Shop upside down.

Mayoi sou na toki kanarasu (When you're lost…)

The scene changes to Omar holding the Pass while pointing his thumb into the distance before a zoomed out image shows holographic train tracks appear on either side of him

Omoi no tsuyosa ga michibiku (you're sure to be guided by the strength of your feelings)

We see glimpses of Den-O's armor from behind his helmet, then behind him at a shot of his hand before we see a shot of Hannah singing 'Best of Both Worlds' before the image shatters revealing Omar getting ready to execute his Henshin.

Kimi ga nozomu mirai sude ni in your hands (The future you wish for is already in your hands!)

We see Omar execute his Henshin before we catch a glimpse of Den-O's Sword Form helmet attach to his Plat Form face completing his Henshin into Sword Form. Then Den-O executes his 'I have arrived' pose before setting up his Full Charge sword.

Hajimari wa itsumo totsuzen (Beginnings are always sudden)

We see Den-O – Sword Form swinging his sword around using his charged up blade.

Unmei wo tsurete yuku time tripin' ride (…Bringing fate along on this time tripin ride)

We see Miley making happy expressions in the Stewarts' with Omar's back to her before it changes to the Hannah closet with Hannah doing something similar that Miley did with Den-O – Plat Form's back to her. The scene then changes to see Omar/Den-O's reactions to what the girls did before we see him split into his five Imagin possessed forms before a quick glimpse of Den-O's Axe, Wing, Gun, and Rod Forms appeared.

Dare yori takaku [Ii jan? Ii jan? Sugee jan?] Kinou yori takaku [Ii jan? Ii jan? Sugee jan?] (Higher than anyone else [Isn't it good? Isn't it good? Isn't it great?] Higher than Yesterday… [Isn't it good? Isn't it good? Isn't it great?])

With a quick split-screen shot of Momotaros, Urataros, Kintaros, Ryutaros, Sieg, Naomi in Den-Liner and Lilly, Oliver, Jackson, Robby Ray, Miley in the Stewarts', the scene changes to shots of Omar's Imagin possessed forms hanging out in Rico's Surf Shop with R-Omar tossing a pass to the original Omar before a shot of Den-O is seen of him getting ready to launch Den-Bird into the air.

Climax Jump! Ii jan? Ii jan? Sugee Jan? Ii jan? Ii jan? Sugee Jan? (Isn't it good? Isn't it good? Isn't it great? Isn't it good? Isn't it good? Isn't it great?)

Den-O makes the jump before we see Momotaros, Kintaros, Ryutaros Urataros in the four corners of the screen doing a dance, Sieg occasionally switching places, while Den-Liner leaves one time era, gets ready, and zooms off to another era.


Almost a week passed since the Lizard Imagin fiasco and there's been no sign of Paint Soldiers since then. Good thing too, since Mamaw, Miley, and Jackson's paternal grandmother came to visit. Speaking of Jackson, thanks to Urataros' hair-growth acceleration formula, his baldness has been replaced by a short buzz-cut, which will grow out completely in a few days or so. As for me, I left the Stewarts since I didn't want to interrupt their family-bonding time.

(POV Change)

"What do you think, Ma?" Robby proudly smiled, his children sitting at the dining table. "Your baby boy's got himself a beach house in Malibu."

"Well, my, I should say, you sure are living high on the hog," Mamaw commented before patting her son's stomach. "Quite a few hogs by the looks of it."

"So, how long you say you're staying?" Robby asked, smile twitching.

Mamaw adds a corncob to her grandchildrens' plates as she answered. "Oh, now, don't you worry, sweetie. I'm only here for the weekend. You can go back to taking food out of your children's mouths on Monday."

"Well, this is great, Mamaw." Miley smiled. "Now you get to come with us to meet the Queen."

"Well, that sounds like fun, sweetie," Mamaw replied stiffly.

Not noticing the tone, Miley continued. "Yeah, and I get to perform my new song for her"

Mamaw cuts her granddaughter off. "But the real reason that I am here is that Jackson has made it into the finals of a big LA volleyball tournament."

"Oh, yeah!" Jackson chuckled, getting a fake smile from his sister.

"That reminds me, I have got something for you." Jackson went over to Mamaw with glee in his steps as she puts her hands on his shoulders. "I have never been so proud of a grandchild in my whole life." She praised. Jackson smiles as his grandmother leads him to the couch.

"Did I mention I was meeting the Queen?" Miley meekly repeated, gazing at Jackson enviously.

"Now don't worry about it, baby doll. Mamaw's gonna have time to do both. Queen's in the morning and the tournament's not till afternoon." Robby assured his daughter.

"But, Daddy, she's doing it again. Every time she comes, she treats Jackson like he's an angel and I'm invisible." Miley explained. Robby bit into a chicken leg, getting

"Robbie Ray, put that down! How big do you wanna get?" Mamaw reprimanded.

"Trust me, honey. Sometimes being invisible has its advantages." Robby sighed, doing so.

"Now, way back in '64, when this old bag of bones was on the Olympic volleyball team, I wore my lucky wristband," Mamaw said, taking out said accessory from her purse and handing it to Jackson, who gushed over it.

"Oh, this is so cool! Thanks, Mamaw." He hugged his grandmother.

"Wow, that's so great of you to bring something so special for Jackson," Miley said sarcastically, sitting next to them.

"Oh, well, you don't think I forgot about you now, do you, sweetie?" Mamaw smiled at her granddaughter before searching her purse again. "Let me see. What have I got in here for you? Well, I know how much you love music, so I brought you airplane headphones!" She took out old, somewhat worn-out headphones and gave them to her.

"Wow I don't know what to say." Miley responded dryly, carefully taking it.

"You might wanna disinfect those. I took them off the old guy that was sitting next to me." Mamaw warned, disgusting her relatives. "You can make a candle with the earwax on those things."


"GGGGGRRRAAAAAHHHHH!"

"What was that?" Poking his head in, Momotaros sees Urataros in his lab, papers scattered across the ground. "And I thought I was the messy one."

"Nothing!" Urataros doesn't acknowledge his brother, slamming his hands on a table. "No rumors, no energy residue, no leaked photographs or videos, and more importantly, NO SOLDIERS!"

The red Imagin couldn't help but gawk at his brother throwing a fit. Out of all the Taros brothers (Sieg is a father, not a brother), Urataros is the most cool-headed, never losing his composure over anything. To see him this stressed out and frustrated… is kinda frightening.

"Kame, calm down!" Momotaros put a hand on his brother's shoulder, causing Urataros to whirl around, glaring. He tensed, expecting him to throw a punch, only for Urataros to take deep breaths, relieving him.

"I'm alright Sempai." Removing his brother's hand, Urataros walked out of the lab… or he would've if Sieg wasn't standing in the doorway. "Move aside, tousan." He glares at the swan-themed Imagin.

Sieg glares back. "Ura, as your legal guardian and adopted father, I refuse to let this behavior continue any longer." He raises a finger, preparing to shrink the blue Imagin

"GUYS!" Omar shouted, breaking their glare-off.

"What is happening Omar?" Sieg asked. A sword cutting through metal is heard in their link.

"Some spartan-looking Imagin is causing trouble at a junkyard I was passing by," Omar explained before they received a mental image of it.

"That's not a spartan. That's a gladiator." Urataros corrected.

"Does it matter? I'm not looking forward to being cut into pieces, so can anyone jump in?" Omar asked before cutting off the link, making the three Imagins look at each other.

(POV Change)

Hiding behind an old car in my emergency civilian attire, I look over the window to see the Gladiator Imagin searching through the junkyard we're in for me. Although I couldn't help but notice something weird when it passed vehicles with intact windows or mirrors. "No reflection…"

"About time for some action!" Momotaros laughed, cutting my thoughts as my vision tints red.

"Is it just me, or are you relieved to be here?" I noted, putting on the Belt.

"…Just shut up and fight." He retorted calmly. I pressed the red button… right as my cover gets cut, showing the Gladiator Imagin. "AND MAKE IT QUICK!" He swung his sword down at the same time I swipe the Pass.

"Henshin!"

=SWORD FORM=

The extra armor blocks the slash. The pixels formed my Plat armor before the Sword armor covers me.

~Battle Song: Double Action Sword Form~

"Listen here you kentōshi-yaro—" I blocked a slash with the Den-Gasher. "—From start to finish, I'm at a climax!"

The Gladiator Imagin remained silent as he and I continued clashing blades. While my strikes are wild and powerful, his strikes are faster and accurate, parrying all of mine. Weird thing is, whenever I struck, there was no sound, but I felt them.

He eventually pushed me back against a machine. Looking up, I see that it's a giant magnet.

Momotaros snickers at this."Let's see this tin can get out of this." He takes control of my arm, inching it towards the controls.

"Momotaros, wai—" Too late. Momotaros turned the magnet on, not attracting the Gladiator Imagin, but us!

"YOU PINK MORON!" I screamed as I ascended from the ground and got stuck to the magnet front-first.

~End Theme~

"A~nd it just got worse." I sighed, turning my helmet to see him nowhere in sight. "What I wouldn't give to have Jonny's invulnerability right about now…"


Meanwhile, Jackson and Mamaw are playing Dance Dance Revolution in the living room to work on Jackson's coordination skills for the championship. As for the score… he's getting his *** handed to him on a golden platter.

"Come on, you gotta do better than that if you're gonna be a volleyball champion. Your Mamaw can do better! Heck, your Mamaw is doing better!" Mamaw boasted, not looking the least bit tired unlike her grandson, who looks like he'll drop dead at any moment. Like now.

"Cramp in the leg. Cramp in the leg. Oh, I'm going down!" Jackson collapsed, his legs stiff. Mamaw paused the game, looking down at her grandson.

"Jackson! Oh, come on now, get up, baby." Mamaw said in concern. "If I stop now, at my age, I'm gonna lock up like a yarn barn at 9:00." Seeing him staying down, she sighed before grabbing his leg and stretching it. "Come on. I'll stretch you out."

"Aaahhh…"

"There you go. Embrace the pain. Yeah. You're gonna thank me for this later."

(POV Change)

"Hey, Miley, I got your message," Lilly told Miley, she and I approaching her porch, me walking with a slight limp.

Miley's eyes widened at the sight of me as she turns to Lilly. "What is he doing here and… what happened to you?" She noticed my condition.

"Thugs did a cheap crotch shot… but not before I paid back in full…" I lied. After the Butterfly incident, the Taros had me wear a jockstrap under my clothes in case it happens again. It did earlier when Urataros came over and turned off the magnet, leading to me falling in the splits. I'm lucky I wasn't paralyzed from the fall, otherwise, I'd also be… what was that word Urataros used… sterile?

"And for the first part, I called him here. I thought you'd hear an opinion from an expert in this." Lilly explained.

"Lilly, I'm not that much of an expert," I replied.

"Are you kidding?! You have four adoptive brothers, a father with a younger sister, and a grandpa that's rarely around! If anything, you're the perfect person for this!" Lilly countered. OK, when she puts it like that she has a point.

"…What did she tell you?" Miley asked me, giving Lilly a look for some reason.

"That apparently, your grandma hasn't stopped liking Jackson over you," I answered. Miley sighs in relief for some reason. Soon, I notice something on her lap. "Waxy airplane earphones? You're kidding, right?"

"With little gray hairs still stuck to them," Miley added. We sit by her. "I don't understand, guys. I'm always nice to her. And I even complimented her orthopedic shoes. Trust me, those are Frankenboots."

"Go on." I gestured.

"It's like I don't exist and she has him up on a pedestal," Miley sighed.

"No offense but isn't your dad the same with you?" I asked.

"No, he isn't." Miley denied. Lilly and I gave her a dry stare.

"Miley, last April Fools, your dad didn't give Jackson any ideas while he gave you plenty… and Jackson was the one who asked first…" I deadpanned.

"And if that's not enough, last Christmas, your dad just gave him 50 bucks while he got you new clothes… and you didn't even ask for anything while he did," Lilly added.

"…oh my god, what have I done?" Miley covered her face, reality sinking in.

"Nothing yet," I assured her. "But the important thing is you did the responsible thing and talked to someone about it. What you need to do is let Jackson and your grandma have their family bonding time. Heck, maybe you can join in… you'll never know when it's the elderly's time to pass on…" They noticed my tone.

"Talking from experience?" Lilly asked.

I nod before taking a deep breath. "When I was around 4… when I came home from school by bus… most of my family was there. I was just a little kid, coming home with no idea what happened… until I saw my maternal grandmother laying there on the floor… with a few medics that came by ambulance. They told my family that there was nothing they could do. That was when I saw it… a corpse for the first time… that very corpse being my own grandmother." The girls gasped. I clenched a fist. I would never forget it… my first brush with Death.

"Is that why you never went to school on a bus? Because you never got to say goodbye?" Miley asked. I nod, almost scowling. I know it's immature to blame the bus driver since he was only doing his job… but I was a little kid going through grief then. That was when I started becoming more independent. Lotta good that did the next two years…

"I'm sorry you had to go through something like that." Lilly almost sobbed, sister-hugging me.

I hugged back, looking at Miley. "Trust me, Miley. Don't let your grandma's favoritism stop you from bonding with her… Cherish the time you have with her… or you'll regret it later in life." She nods, shedding a few tears as she hugged us.

It's times like this that remind me why I became Den-O. To protect the memories of those that have yet to come. To keep people from suffering like I did. I'm not like some of my friends. I'm not a hero because I wanna do the right thing… but because I don't want anyone to go through what I did.


Meanwhile, at Saint John's Health Center, the Taros are investigating the Gladiator Imagin's attacks. Seeing as the victims aren't likely to answer to a bunch of kids, they possessed a few officers from the MPD. Urataros is possessing Captain Tucker, Kintaros is possessing Detective Simmons, and Ryutaros is possessing an intern named Caboose.

"Are you sure this is what he looks like?" U-Tucker asked as R-Caboose shows the victim an incredibly detailed drawing. Getting a nod, the two left the room. "Well?"

"Perfect match." R-Caboose took out more drawings, almost completely identical.

"Bout time you guys got here." They turn to see Momotaros being wheeled in by K-Simmons, the former noticing their hosts' IDs. "Are you serious?! You chose these guys to get me?!"

"Sh, not so loud." U-Tucker shushed. "And to answer your question, while surprising that these hosts share names with the characters from the web series, these are the only hosts with eligible schedules and were capable of visiting at this time."

Grumbling about how the universe has a weird sense of humor, Momotaros relented. "So you guys find out anything about the Imagin?"

"A few things actually," K-Simmons answered. "From what we gathered, the Imagin only attacked once a week. Interestingly enough, the victims are all participants of the volleyball tournament Jackson is taking part in."

"Wait, are you implying that Stewart Jr's the Contractor?" Momotaros realized. "Hate to break it to you, but I never caught a whiff on him, and I share most of my classes with the guy."

"And neither is Topher," UTucker added. "Perhaps it is similar to my encounter with the Crust Imagin. Perhaps the Contractor is a past participant desiring revenge for not winning the tournament."

"So a sore loser then? Why am I not surprised?" Momotaros deadpanned. "Well, whatcha waiting for, a warrant? Go find that loser and get that knockoff spartan—"

"Gladiator." U-Tucker corrected.

"Whatever! And show him what a real fight is like!" Momotaros ordered.

"Very well then." With a curt nod, U-Tucker and the others left Momotaros.

"That'll teach him," Momotaros smirked, watching the three enter an elevator before settlement kicked in. "WAIT, I DIDN'T MEAN WITHOUT ME!"


After the Taros' investigation, they all but dragged me into watching Jackson practice for the tournament and protect him from the Gladiator Imagin if he comes. I didn't want to come because volleyball isn't my thing. I'm more of a football kind of guy.

Speaking of sports, Oliver somehow became the announcer for the finals and is practicing it right now.

"Topher sets for Jackson. Jackson leaps and… right into the net!" Oliver sighs, using sound effects to make himself more dramatic.

"…" Jackson gives him a look.

"What?" Oliver asked. "If I'm gonna announce the tournament, I need to practice, too."

"If you're gonna announce for the tournament, you'll need to be alive!" Jackson threatened.

~O~H~

"Jackson takes the set from Topher and—" Oliver pushes another button once Jackson hits the net again.

~WH~EW BOOM!~

I facepalmed at his antics while Mamaw went over to him.

"Oliver… do you have the sound of a truck running over a microphone?" Mamaw asked 'sweetly'.

"…Nope, I don't have that one," Oliver answered.

"You will if you push another button," Mamaw warned, scaring Oliver while I snicker.

Whipped! And that's why my brothers aren't with me right now… except for Kintaros, he's just lazy.

"You, kiddo, you are doing great." Mamaw complimented her grandson. "You just need a little more knee bend." She then looks at Topher. "And you, sweetheart, you either get your head into this game or I'm gonna have a senior moment all over your keister." Scared, he nods before walking off, giving them family time.

"I'm sorry for screwing up." Jackson apologized, fiddling with the ball. Why do I feel like I almost made a joke Urataros would like? "I guess I'm just a little nervous."

"Well, you're supposed to be." Mamaw nods, understanding as she puts her hands on Jackson's shoulders. "But you are a Stewart. And Stewarts do not lose. Now, you want this, don't you?"

"I do." Jackson nods, determined.

"Of course, you do. So, stop your moping!" Mamaw smirked.

~WAH! WAH!~

"…" We look at Oliver, unamused.

"Finger slipped. My bad." Oliver announced. I glanced at my phone's clock. Half an hour and no action.

…Screw the practice, I'm ditching this joint!


After finishing practice, Jackson and his family headed over to the Queen of England's suite for Hannah's performance. Much to their slight frustration, only the Queen's granddaughter was present when they arrived. To pass the time, Hannah's been practicing.

(A/N: Think Elizabeth Debicki in her teens, mainly 13—14)

"One, two, three, four." Robby counted down before Hannah started singing.

The other side, the other side, the other side of me,
The other side, the other side, the other side of me

Once she finished, the witnesses applauded.

"That was great, honey."

"Indeed." The princess agreed with the father.

"For heaven's sake, that woman is over three hours late!" Mamaw roared, pacing. "Who does she think she is, the Queen of England?"

"Well, it's still no excuse!" Mamaw added, embarrassed.

"She's right, I got the biggest match of my life in an hour." Jackson agreed. "I shouldn't even be here!"

"Don't worry, son, it's all gonna work out," Robby assured.

"When? I'm starting to tighten up." Jackson whined, stretching.

"Not good. You want me to stretch you out again?" Mamaw asked.

"No, I'm fine!" Jackson lied.

"Rest assured that my grandmother's arriving as fast as she can. Undoubtedly, she'll be coming through that door any second now." The princess said, pointing at it. No sooner did she speak did it burst open, revealing

"Everyone on the ground now!" Paint Soldiers armed with long-range weapons barged in, shooting the ceiling. Panicky, everyone complied and got to their knees. Dark chuckling is heard as someone… or rather, something comes into the room.

The leader is a pale blue Imagin. He is wearing black robes with gold trimming reaching his feet. On his fingers and thumbs are a total of 10 silver rings, each with a different gemstone on it. His head resembles a snake with… pale yellow eyes.

This is the Serpent Imagin, based on the tale of the Thief and the Cobbler.

"Thisss isss a robbery! Hand over all your valuables if you know what'sss good for you!"


This is it… This is the moment I've been waiting for almost 10 years

"Popcorn?"

"Buttered," Momotaros answered.

"Nachos?"

"Cheesed." Ryutaros grinned.

"Drinks?"

"Filled," Urataros smirked.

…What? You thought I meant world peace or something like that? Sorry, but we're (everyone, including the Owner) actually in our living room, preparing to watch a purchased DVD of what could be the greatest movie after the upcoming Spider-Man 3 and Ben 10: Race Against Time.

Scooby-Doo 3: The Final Case.

Unlike my world, the third movie project was never canceled.

"Movie disc set?"

"Mmhm." Sieg turned on the TV and changed inputs before playing it.

*RING—RING—RING!*

"ALRIGHT, WHO FORGOT TO SET THEIR PHONE TO SILENT?!" Momotaros screamed. We looked around until our eyes landed… on the K-Taros.

"Uh-oh." Almost no one has the number on it; only my adopted family, good future Riders if it comes to it, and… Hannah. I picked it up. Before I could respond—

"Jewelsss in the bagsss if you know what'sss good for you!"

We stayed silent, listening.

"Apologies sir, but if you're here for the Queen, then she is running late." An English guy said.

"But the crown jewelsss aren't!" The enemy retorted. "If your preciousss Queen won't come in the next hour…" Electricity crackles. "Thisss ssskyssscraper will be a bodyssscraper!"

We hung up. Only two words come to mind.

"Oh, sheep/****!"

OK, more like one and a half.


*Commercial Break*


After that (maybe) secret call, Movie Day got canceled/delayed. Urataros traced the call to a hotel's royal suite.

Good thing I'm not Jonny, then. He's TERRIFIED of heights!

Anyway, I'm scoping out the place, on a rooftop nearby, and in Gun form. I had to restrain myself because…

"Come on! This is boring! Why can't we headshot Scaleface and be done with it?!"

That.

"Because Scaleface isn't alone, Dragonbreath! He's got about a dozen Soldiers with those stupid guns aimed at Hannah and the others!" I retorted.

"…Oops."

"I may have an idea… but you're gonna have to change forms," Urataros suggested.

"Why?"

(POV Change)

Inside, the Serpent Imagin paced around the room, arms in robe. The hostages remain, eyes mainly glued to the ground. Luckily, a certain family is together.

Hannah sighed. The last time she was a hostage, she was the only one. Now with at least two dozen (her family, the Queen's posse, the staff, etc,), she doubts Den-O could save her. In case she doesn't make it, she has something to say. "Jackson?"

"Hmm?" He hummed, between her and Mamaw.

"I wanna say sorry… for dragging you into this." Hannah apologized.

"What'd ya mean?" Jackson asked, happy/confused. His sister RARELY apologized to him.

"If I'd just called off my performance for the Queen, we would've been at your volleyball match instead and we wouldn't be stuck here," Hannah explained.

"You're not the one who ordered these guys to keep us here, did ya?" Jackson asked.

"No…" Before he says anything, she cuts him off. "But it's not just this. I'm sorry for hogging all the attention, I'm sorry for putting my stuff before yours, and most importantly… I'm sorry for not letting our family love you."

*SNIFF!*

"That's all I wanted to hear…" Jackson teared up. Screw his tough-guy look! He's not wasting the opportunity! "And Mamaw, thank you for looking out for me when our family couldn't… Thank you for tutoring me and helping me when you can…"

Robby winces. He hasn't been neglecting his son… right? Oh, who was he kidding, he never made any effort to do the same as Mamaw. When he saw Jackson's progress reports or report cards, he never offered to help, only chalked it up to a 'phase'.

'Could… could he have been slacking off to get my attention? Sweet niblets, what've I done?!'

"Not a problem, sweetie." Mamaw smiled. "I would've had the family do the same but you know how stubborn Stewarts can be."

Jackson chuckles. He knows all too well.

"And Miley…" Mamaw started. Hannah perks her head. "I am sorry if I made you think that I don't care. But the truth is, I love you very much and I am so proud of everything that you do… especially of you swallowing your pride and admitting when you're wrong. Just wished it didn't take being a hostage for that to happen." She apologized.

"Really?" Hannah smiled and nodded. "You've never said that to me before."

"Well, I guess I'm so busy making sure that Jackson gets some attention, there wasn't enough left for you," Mamaw said.

"Considering how practically everyone does the same for me like this…" Hannah gestures to her dress. "I think I deserved it."

Robby smiled, happy to see his family reconcile. "Y'know what? If we survive this and when it's over, how about a normal family weekend? No Hannah Montana, no concerts or performances, or anything like that?"

"I'd love that, son." Mamaw smiled, her grandchildren nodding.

*CHSHUUH!*

"Yesss?" The Serpent Imagin took a walkie-talkie out of his robe and spoke into it.

"Have you found them?"

"No Boss." He shook his head. "The Queen'sss very overprotective of her jewelsss. Ssshe hasss them on her perssson and will be in the suite unless ssshe wissshesss to sssee her daughter in piecesss." He laughed.

"YOU EXPOSED YOURSELF?!"

"GAH?!" He almost dropped the walkie-talkie in surprise. "Boss?"

"You better hope that she has the ones we're looking for. I do not tolerate insubordination." Despite the calm tone, anyone in earshot could sense that the person is anything but.

"Underssstood, Boss. Over and out." The Serpent Imagin hung up, unaware that the Stewart family heard everything.

"Sweet niblets, this is bad," Robby swore. Even if the Queen got here if she doesn't have whatever it is they're looking for

"Lee~roy~"

"Hmm?" The Serpent Imagin faced the window, hearing chanting. Just as he opens the curtains… he gets a knee to the face courtesy of Den-O — Rod Form.

"Jenkins!"

(POV Change)

I chuckled, wiping off the glass. Seeing the Soldiers dazed, I spun the Den-Gasher around, disarming them, destroying their weapons, and knocking them down in one fell swoop. "Everyone, get into my train and it'll bring you to the ground floor!" On cue, the Den-Liner drove and parked by the window. "GO!"

In a semi-orderly fashion, everyone got in line and rushed into the Liner, with me guiding them.

"That's strange…"

"What is it, Urataros?" I asked.

"For a brief moment, I sensed a Contract Holder's presence… but it's gone now."

"Really?" I looked at the Liner. "Tell the others to keep an eye out. Don't want any sneak attacks."

"Understood." The last person to get on was Hannah.

"Wait!" She grabs my hand. "There's something you should know."

"Oh my…"

"Don't ruin this for me!" I shouted. "Look, whatever it is, tell me later. I gotta deal with the trash and skin a snake." I lightly shoved her in. The Den-Liner closes and moves down.

"Ssskinning me, eh?" I turned to face the guy, but once I made eye contact… I froze.

"Omar…" No honorifics? Dang, it's serious. "This Serpent Imagin… He's as powerful as Leo!"

"WHAT?!" I couldn't believe it, but he never lies to me without honorifics. He's on the same level as a General?! Can't afford to hold back.

~Battle Song: Double Action Rod Form~

"Omae, boku ni tsuraretemiru?" I quoted, swinging the Den-Gasher at the Serpent Imagin. He calmly dodged the line in place repeatedly. Frustrated, I gave it another try.

"You misssed!" He laughed.

"Wasn't aiming at ya!" Before he could respond, the chair I'm pulling with the line tripped him to the ground. Super-jumping, I prepared to throw the Den-Gasher like a spear when—

"Blizzard!" He fired a few wisps at me. Midair, I was helpless as they hit me, launching me to the ceiling and turning into ice.

"C—C—Cold…" Urataros shivered, weak to the element.

Tapping into my superstrength, I broke an arm free and forced a finger to the blue button.

=DISENGAGE=

My vision turns normal once Urataros ejected.

"Giving up?"

"Hardly." I retorted, pressing a button before getting the Pass. "Just getting started."

=AXE FORM=

~Change Song: Double Action Axe Form~

The Form Change broke the ice (no pun intended), freeing me and my changed weapon.

"Ore no tsuyosa nii…" I grabbed the Den-Gasher, standing. "…omae ga naita."

"What?!"

I groaned. "Forget it!" I stalked toward him.

"Fire!" He slung a fireball at me, which I powered through. Hissing, he tried again. Nothing. While Kintaros' defense isn't Jonathan's density, it's a close second.

"You call those fireballs?" I taunted. "They're weak. Just like your ice!" I brought my axe down. The Serpent Imagin only jumps back and grins. Crackling is heard. Doesn't he have—

"Thunder!"

"OH, SHEEP!"

A blast of lightning struck me. With the most exposed metal, this happened…

"GGGGRRRRAAAAHHHH!" Kintaros screamed. I bit my lip, resisting doing the same. Laughing, the Serpent Imagin kept it up. No good. With lightning powers and my tank fighting style, Kintaros can't take much more.

"Sorry brother."

"Wait, why are you—"

=GUN FORM=

~Change Song: Double Action Gun Form~

Switching Forms, the lightning moved to the armor's orbs, being absorbed; a trick we learned months ago during a lightning storm.

"Omae—"

"Forget the catchphrase and fire!" I cut Ryutaros off, changing the Den-Gasher. Gun ready, I fired at the Serpent Imagin, pelting him with boosted energy blasts. He yells, launching into a wall.

"Impresssive…" He hissed, recovering. Other than his singed cloak, there's no damage. "However, there isss one thing you forgot."

"What's that?"

"I'M NOT ALONE!" On cue—

*BANG!*

"AGH!" A throne breaks over my head. Disoriented, I dropped the gun and did nothing while Soldiers (somehow doubled) ganged up on me.

"Sssee you!" In a flash of lightning, he vanishes.

"Oh come—" I stopped, blocking about a dozen random swings. "Ryutaros, think you can switch back with Kintaros?"

"Hai!"

=AXE FORM=

~Change Song: Double Action Axe Form~

The Form Change launched the Soldiers off me. Also…

"Cowards!" Some Soldiers were slashed by a black sword.

"What the—?!" I see the Gladiator Imagin stalking to my side.

…Is it just me, or is his sword on the wrong hand? And when can he talk?

"Behind you!" Focused, I heard two Soldiers run behind me. I sumo slapped them away, knocking a few more like bowling pins. Grabbing the Den-Gasher and changing it, I swung the axe down another Soldier, splitting it.

"Why are you helping me?" I asked the Gladiator Imagin, slamming a Soldier.

"You were outnumbered 28 to 1." He answered, cutting down one that had a chair leg.

"Is that true?"

"Excluding Serpent, yes," Sieg noted; our resident genius Urataros absent.

"Additionally, sneak attacks are dishonorable and frowned upon." The Gladiator Imagin added, not knowing my private talk.

"Disho—" I tanked a chop, throwing the Soldier down. "Nevermind." Remembering a trick from Ben 10; the greatest cartoon series of all time in all realities despite what my new and old friends say, I hoisted my axe, stretched my arms back till they're two feet apart (while wondering how the Hernandez brothers could be more flexible), and slammed my palms together. A sonic clap came out and knocked the Soldiers into a pile while the Gladiator Imagin dashed away after cutting an armed one down.

"Woohoo!" Momotaros cheered. "Nice! Too bad Kuma-yaro's in sleepy town after that shock."

Shrugging, I grab and lower the Pass.

=FULL CHARGE=

I tossed the Den-Gasher into the air, spinning before the Belt charged it with yellow energy. Focusing my strength into my legs, I super-leaped into the air to catch the weapon before coming down towards the Soldier pile blade first, slicing through it before they exploded.

"Dynamic Chop."

~End Theme~

Dropping my stance, I look around. "Thanks for the help…" The Gladiator Imagin's nowhere in sight.

Where'd he go?


After finding no clue about the Gladiator Imagin, I went to attend the volleyball tournament with Sieg and Naomi, us three being the only ones able to attend since the older Taros are in the Den-Liner infirmary (Urataros having frostbite, Kintaros concussed, and Momotaros paralyzed) and Ryutaros having to do his shift. Below us, closer to the bench is Miley and her dad. Last and least, Oliver and Lilly are at the soundboard.

"There is my future champion." Mamaw lowly giggled, walking over to Jackson before noticing his bag. "What are you doing?"

"I have to forfeit," Jackson explained in frustration.

"What?" Mamaw gasps in disbelief.

"Topher called, he's got the flu," Jackson added.

"Well, that's no excuse." Mamaw frowns, disappointed. "Heck, during the Olympic qualifiers, I got food poisoning. I blew chunks all over the court." I gagged at the mental image. "The other team was sliding all over the place. We won in a 'landslide'." Mamaw grins while putting a hand on Jackson's shoulder.

"Forget it, Mamaw. He's not coming." Jackson retorted sadly. "Can you believe it? I think I could have won this thing. And now I don't even get the chance to try."

"Oh, yes, you do, young man. I did not fly all the way out here from Tennessee just to watch you throw in the towel." Mamaw declared, glaring into her grandson's eyes.

"But I don't have a partner." Jackson sighs.

"Then have someone fill in for Gopher," Mamaw replied. I snicker.

"It's not that simple." Jackson sighs. "My partner needs to be someone in the same grade as me, and Cooper's visiting his grandparents for a couple of weeks."

"What about those two Taros boys?" Mamaw asked. "Bobo and Oorah?" I snicker at the trampled names. They're the only ones Mamaw got an issue with, so the rest of us are safe.

"Momo got in a demolition accident and is paralyzed for at least a week. And Ura's got frostbite from falling asleep in the Milk Dipper fridge working overtime." Jackson answered. Naomi and Sieg silently high-fived; responsible for the lie.

"You mean you didn't have a partner." A girl said, walking up to him.

"Nina?!" Jackson smiled, hugging the girl. "What're you doing here?"

Nina? Wasn't that the girl that screwed with Jackson's hair?

"Thought that I'd surprise you." She answered, hugging back.

"So you're the girl that gave Jackson this haircut?" Mamaw noted.

"Yes…" Nina gulped in fright.

"…You're lucky the game's starting soon, otherwise, I would've given you a good talking to."


Ladies and gentlemen, we have a last-minute substitution. Jackson Stewart will now be playing with his other half; Slamming Nina Bradley.

"Your last name's Bradley?" Jackson asked, watching his girlfriend walk in wearing sportswear.

"You never asked." Nina shrugged. Soon, the teams faced each other.

"You're kidding, right?" One of the rivals laughed.

"Don't underestimate me just because I'm a girl," Nina advised. The rivals ignored her, prepping. Soon, the match started and went like…

Jackson serves the ballIt's returned over the netJackson sets to NinaShe spikes it home!

"What was that?" A rival frowned. Jackson slings an arm over his girlfriend.

"Don't underestimate my girl, morons."

"Yeah." Nina nods, smirking. "It's on like Donkey Kong!"


True to Nina's words, her ferocity and Jackson's slick moves are crushing the rival team. It's already down to a minute left in the game and our school team only needs one point to win it all.

"S—T—I—N—G—R—A—Y—S! WHAT DOES THAT SPELL?! STINGRAYS! G~O STINGRAYS!"

"I thought the school mascot was Pirate Pete?" Mamaw asked, hearing our school cheerleaders.

"Pirate Pete's the middle school mascot; for the high school teams, it's the Stingray," I explained while a break is called.

This is it. Jackson Stewart serving for the gold. This is, without a doubt, the most important serve of young Stewart's life. If he blows this

"Son, you sound a whole lot better when no one can hear you." Mamaw threatened Oliver after disconnecting the soundboard. Oliver only nods while she goes to her grandson. "All right, sweetie, this is it. Just like in practice. Relax, the crowd is here for you." Mamaw assured her grandson while Nina's parents do the same to her by the side.

"Everybody is here for you," Miley added, she and Mr. Stewart joining.

Relaxed, Jackson started the serve, the ball sailing over the net. Hope for a quick victory was dashed when the visiting player struck it back.

"I got it!" Nina leaped toward the net, slamming the ball. The rivals charge toward the ball, intent on a return… only for it to miss them by an inch and touch the ground.

He did it! Jackson scored, and the Stingrays beat the Sharks! Seaview conquers these oceans!

A roar of applause and cheering went over the gym, a lot of people showing their support.

"That's my brother/(grand)son!" The Stewarts yelled over the audience.

"Nice work, Jackie!" Nina whooped, hugging the winner.

"'Jackie'?" He echoed.

"What's the matter?" Nina frowned. "You don't like it?"

"Nono, I do, but…" Jackson shook his head. "I don't have a pet name for you."

Nina giggles. "I can wait." Just as they were about to kiss…

"The Contract has been completed!" Entering the gym through the entrance is… the Gladiator Imagin?!

"What the—" At the sight of the monster, everyone began panicking, heading towards the exits.

"Freeze!" Two security guards follow, aiming guns at the Imagin. "Lay down your weapons!" While they try to reason with him, I used the chaos to run somewhere hidden to henshin.

Don't worry, everyone! I'll get there!

(POV Change)

"Why should I?" The Gladiator Imagin taunted. "It is foolish to face armed foes without such means."

"What is he talking about?"

"Forget it and shoot!" The guards debated before firing. To their surprise (but no one else's), the bullets bounced off his armor, harmlessly laying on the floor. Looking at them, the Gladiator Imagin shook his head pitifully.

"My turn." That was all he said before vanishing. Just as everyone remaining felt relief

"AAAHHH!" The guards fell unconscious, bleeding cuts on their chests. Behind them, the Gladiator Imagin dismissed his sword, turning to face the crowd. At his gaze, a bunch of civilians froze, letting others leave them behind.

That said bunch being the Stewarts, Lilly, and Oliver.

"Oh man, oh man, oh man…" Oliver ranted. Panic ensues as the Gladiator Imagin walks toward… Mamaw?!

"Get away from my mother, you relic!" Mr. Stewart roared, rushing at the creature… only to get the wind knocked out of him by a single punch to the stomach.

"Pathetic." Dropping the semi-unconscious body, the creature reached Mamaw before raising a palm, a line of light being emitted on her body.

"Not again…" Miley whispered, remembering when it happened to Oliver.

"Again?" She ignored the others, rushing toward the creature just as he opens the vortex. Before she could reach him, the Imagin then jumped into this vortex before Mamaw closed back up to normal and collapsed to her knees.

"OH NO!"

(POV Change)

"OH, MAN!" I — Plat Form ran back in and saw the familiar signs on Mamaw. "He flew off!"

"Flew? Where?"

Ignoring the others, I walked over to Mamaw with a black and red card in my hand. Once next to her, I held the card close to her forehead, which caused an image of the Gladiator Imagin to appear on it as well as a date in red numbers to appear in front of it with the year 1990 in a text size smaller than the month and day numbers of May (05) 19th. Why does this date look familiar?

"That was when Jackson was born." I see my civilian friends huddled behind me, Lilly being the one who spoke.

"What's going on?" Oliver asked nervously, the question in everyone's eyes.

"Remember when that frog creature opened a portal through your friend?" I asked Miley. She nods. "Well, in exchange for completing a Contract, they use their hosts' memories to fly to a certain point in time, mostly to a time related to the contract. Say, if the contract was to rob a bank, they would fly to the day the contractor would've either performed their first bank robbery or became bankrupt."

"…you mean that frog guy would've jumped to…" Oliver pales.

"Yeah."

"But why?" He asks.

"Well, it depends but the most common goal all Imagin have… is to change the past to change the present and future."


*05/19/1990*

Outside a hospital room in Nashville, a younger Robby Ray Stewart is pacing in place with Mamaw and Gilbert seated, the soon-to-be grandparents getting a new respect for their deceased parents for putting up with this.

(A/N: Think Bobby Russel, Vicki Lawrence's real-life husband before he died of coronary artery disease. Rest in peace sir.)

Before Gilbert could calm Robby down, a doctor came out of the hospital room. "They are ready to see you now."

The parent and grandparents follow the doctor into the room. There, they see Susan Stewart holding a green blanket with a baby inside.

"It's a boy." Robby identified, softly smiling as he sat by his wife.

"Well, I'll be darned." Gilbert chuckles in a Southern accent as he slings an arm over Mamaw's shoulder. "So, what did ya decide to name this little fella?"

Before Susan could reply, sand suddenly starts dripping from Mamaw's clothes before gathering behind the elderly couple. The humans watched in horror as it forms into the Gladiator Imagin. The clang of his sword caught their attention.

"Mission Start."


*Present*

"Are you pulling my leg, dude?" Oliver asked after everyone went to the roof to see no destruction happening, him and I being in front.

I shook my head. "The Imagin might be causing destruction around where Jackson was born, so maybe a hospital." It took a lot of effort for me to hide the disgust in my voice. I don't like lying to my friends, but it's superhero 101: Never tell anyone your identity.

Groans caught my attention. I turn around to see Miley almost falling if Lilly hadn't caught her.

"You alright Miley?" Lilly asked.

"Yeah… just felt woozy all of a sudden…" Miley groaned before raising her hand to rub her eyes, only to widen them as sand starts floating off her body. But that's not all…

"I don't feel so good…" Jackson groaned, falling to his knees, the same thing happening to him.

"Kids, are you—" Mr. Stewart fell unconscious, mirroring his kids.

"It's starting!" I realized. "Any damage the Imagin does to the past reflects onto the present." Scared, they crowded around the Stewarts while I summoned the Den-Bird and Den-Liner. Boarding the former, I rode it into the first card before sliding the Pass with the ticket in it into a slot on the dashboard of the bike before revving it up.

Nashville, Tennesee, here I come!


*05/19/1990*

The Gladiator Imagin walks out of the hospital, and the damage caused was already devastating. Curiously, no bodies are found in the rubble. Suddenly, a sound could be heard. Curious, he looks up to see the Den-Liner come out of a portal and pass by him before returning through another, leaving someone behind.

(POV Change)

"Going somewhere?" I asked Gladiator.

He only responded by firing an energy slash. I rolled away from it, pressing the red button.

=ERROR=

"Dang it…" I muttered. I tried the other buttons, getting the same message. Guess with how the others are, I'm on my own. Screaming, I ran at Gladiator, throwing a punch onto his head that knocked him through a fence. Unlike Ryotaros, I'm not defenseless without those four.

"Impressive." Gladiator got up, rubbing where I punched. Suddenly, he widens his stance, gripping his sword with both hands while it glowed red. I noticed something engraved onto the blade. "You have earned the right to bear witness to my ultimate technique."

"Ultimate… technique?" I growled. He was holding back?!

"Zantetsuken." was all he said before vanishing.

"Zante—what?" I questioned before feeling it. A surge of pain across my stomach and a force I haven't felt threw me across the meadows, a stop sign doing its namesake for me while I forcefully demorphed, in my emergency clothes.

"Stay down if you know what's good for you," Gladiator ordered before turning his back on me, walking away, and dismissing his sword.

Holding my pained side, I stood up, the pain going down a bit. If I wasn't in my armor, I'd be coughing up blood.

"Omar…" I heard Sieg. "Allow me to assist you in this battle."

"Really?" I rarely used that form since Sieg is the busiest of us.

"Yes, with the others out of commission, I am your only source of power," Sieg answered.

"You don't hear me complaining. Go for it." With my approval, Sieg possessed me, evident by the white tint in my vision.

"Gladiator!" I called out, getting his attention. "This match isn't over yet!" For emphasis, I took out my Belt and put it on.

Only it's different now, the strap's a darker black color and the buckle had a new cover, making it look like a golden buckle with two wing protrusions on the sides and the center glowing light blue, a melodic tone playing as it did.

A white aura forms from the belt and around me. I slowly brought my hand down my face dramatically.

"Hen… shin," I whispered as the Pass appeared in my hand before I swept it over the Buckle.

=WING FORM=

White feathers and shards form around me before forming into the Plat suit… only this time the black is replaced with gold, making it look more dramatic. The Armor formed in the same pattern as Sword Form, only in white, with the shoulder pads larger and resembling wings instead. A mask formed on the helmet in the shape of a swan with blue wings. As the mask grinds down the helmet, the head folds back in the helmet as the wings flatten and formed into eyes. A golden track forming along the back of the head, the new blue eyepieces with a fluttering wing shape with golden spikes along the bottom of the eyes are present.

"Korin…" I started pointing my hand up before slowly bringing it down dramatically. "Man O jishte."

~Battle Song: Double Action Wing Form~

Rain starts pouring on us as we gaze at each other. Gladiator summons his sword while I throw the Sword and Axe parts into the air before grabbing Grip and Gun. They soon start falling before connecting to the parts in my hands, becoming a hand-axe and a boomerang. Once thunder boomed, we started rushing at each other.

I caught Gladiator's sword with the Boomerang and slid my axe across it, slashing him. Pulling back, I cross-slashed his chest, only for him to tank it and slash me. I leaped away, gliding backward. The Wing armor is the lightest and it lets me stay in the air for a while, kind of like Batman with his cape.

Landing on a picket fence, I threw the boomerang. Gladiator not only blocked it with his sword but deflected it back at me. I caught it before he sent an energy slash at me. I jumped away, letting it cut through the fence like a knife through butter. I then glided towards Gladiator, clashing my axe with his sword.

As we enter a stalemate, I couldn't help but ask. "Why did you fight with me against those Soldiers earlier?" I mean, he could've helped them, but instead, he helped me. Anyone would be curious about that.

"Because such a tactic is cowardly and dishonorable." He answered simply.

"Honor?" I held a scoff. "Do you really think I believe that?"

"Do you see any bodies around you?" Gladiator retorted. Confused, I looked around, and… he isn't lying. Not a single person in sight. "Many people in that hospital were disabled and defenseless. I merely intimidated them once I began destroying the building."

Adding my boomerang into the mix, I thought over his words. Come to think of it, all the people he hospitalized told us that he only attacked once they grabbed something. And the witnesses… none were attacked.

Realization dawned on me. This guy isn't really evil… just someone that got the short end of the stick.

"Omar…" Sieg said as Gladiator pushes against us. "I understand your hesitance, but don't forget that he's still aiming to destroy the past…"

I sighed. He's right. I need to finish this.

Jumping away, I glide around, scoring a few hits and runs; something Sieg prefers instead of me. Gladiator predicted my next move, parrying my weapons before striking my chest. Grunting, I skid away, seeing him enter a stance. I quickly do the same.

Gladiator's sword starts glowing red while I swipe the Pass.

"This is your Final Judgment."

=FULL CHARGE=

White energy surged from the Buckle to the Den-Gasher's blades. At the same time, Gladiator's sword crackled with red energy. Once they were charged, we ran at each other.

"Zantetsuken!"

"Royal Smash."

*SLASH!*

Gladiator and I are back-to-back, facing away from each other. As I sheathe the Den-Gashers, Gladiator fell to his knees before exploding.

"Be on your guard," Sieg warned me. "The song hasn't ended yet, which means a Gigandeath will form."

Oh, how right he is.

Gladiator reforms as his spirit lets out a rising roar. Suddenly, replacing the Imagin is a massive Gigandeath. It resembled a massive bull with gorilla-like upper arms. The body was a solid black with various red parts to its back and torso. Its head was shaped like a fusion of a rhino and a bull with the horns a solid red. It had six red eyes.

That's the Gigandeath Hell.

However, instead of attacking instantly, it stayed stationary, its eyes trained on me.

It didn't take long for me to realize why. Somehow, the Gigandeath retained Gladiator's sanity and sense of honor. It's waiting for me to summon the Den-Liner so this could be a fair fight.

Good thing Station Master had one built for Sieg. Turning away from the Gigandeath, I look up to see a Den-Liner based on Wing Form as a mechanical swan head and neck came out of the opening between the wings, acting like a rapier.

That's the Den-Liner Odette… I'm the one who named it, after the queen from Sieg's story.

Getting in it, I relaxed onto the engine as the Gigandeath got into a battle stance. The Odette started by pecking at it. It responded by butting its horn with the head. This struggle went on until I slid past and struck its chest, making it grunt. Not stopping, I repeated the process a few times until the Gigandeath bit the neck. Two mechanical wings came from the underside of the Odette and struck the Gigandeath, making it release me. Deciding to finish it, I had the Odette fly around the Gigandeath, creating a white tornado that lifted it off the ground. The Odette passed it many times, slashing the Gigandeath with its wings before ending with a peck, making the Gigandeath explode.

~End Theme~

A sword falls from the explosion, stabbing the ground.

"It… survived?" I asked. Getting out of the Odette, I gently landed near the sword. I couldn't help but look at it. This is the first time a weapon survived a monster explosion. They usually just fade into dust when not on them.

"Perhaps this is a sign…" Sieg noted. I then realized what he meant. This could be Gladiator's way of acknowledging me as an honorable fighter and rewarding me.

As soon as I grasped the handle, the engraving I saw vanished into dust, leaving a blank blade. What was that about?


*Present*

Once the mess, time, and everything were cleared up, the Stewarts met by Robby's car in the lot.

"Jackson, I got something I want to say to you, and I'm glad I don't have that caterpillar on my lip, and that Den-O saved us." Their father smiled at the son. "I'm proud of you, son."

"Thanks."

"Jackson, I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused with that… thing." Mamaw apologized; her family had given her details about the city's Monster-of-the-Week.

"Don't worry Mamaw; you ain't the first Stewart to Contract one of those… Imagin." Jackson assured.

"How does he know?" Miley thought out loud, getting her family's attention. "That ticket Den-O had didn't have a location… Just a date."

"Miley, are you talking about when Den-O came to Nashville all those years ago?" Mamaw chimed; unlike Robby, she remembers the attack clear as day, most likely because she was the host.

"Which reminds me; when I see Den-O next time, I'm thanking him for keeping me existing," Jackson added. Miley nods, agreeing.

"Me too, but that's not the point," Miley said. "Did any of you tell him where we used to live?"

"Honey, this is the first time I met this hero, and I was out of it." Mamaw reminded.

"So was I," Robby added.

"Now that I think about it… it's lucky how fast he got to our school since the match wasn't live." Jackson nodded, frowning. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Sis?"

"I sure am. Den-O… might be someone from our school."


Omarnosian10: Plot twist!

Omar: Miley's gonna find out my secret identity?

Omarnosian10: She'll get close, but no.

Cloaked figure #1: Why am I getting ML&CN vibes from this?

Omarnosian10: I am not ashamed to admit I've been a fan of sorts… until Season 3 kept and worsened 'Lie—La'.

Omar: That beech… May I use a gym and…

Omarnosian10: Knock yourself out.

*Omar leaves, P5 Battle Hammer over his shoulder*

Cloaked figure #2: There's gonna be a lot of broken stuff, is there?

Omarnosian10: If you want someone to blame, do it to the writers of that season. SMOKEBOMB!


At a warehouse, the Serpent Imagin felt unneeded air escape his lungs as he is choked midair by an invisible force.

"You exposed yourself…" The Boss stood meters away, one arm raised.

"B—B—But I narrowed down a location!" The Serpent Imagin choked out. Curious, the Boss lowered his arm, the telekinetic hold vanishing. Landing, he coughed before continuing. "When I wasss up there, I felt a faint presssence a fair dissstance away from there."

"…You may have redeemed yourself… for now…" The Boss warned.

"Thank you, Boss!" The Serpent Imagin bowed. "I promise, my next plan will go off without a hitch, and Den-O won't stop usss!"

As one, the villains laughed, the two not noticing a cloaked figure hiding above them.

"Master…"