(Author's Note)

Hey guys, it's me! Merry Christmas! Or belated Christmas I guess, it's about an hour or 2 before it's boxing day so I figure I'll drop this here now as a last minute gift to you all.

I'll be honest, this -5 chapter is... a bit short compared to some of the earlier ones. None of it takes place from the first person perspective I've normally kept to during the main chapters, instead taking a small break to focus on some other players and characters behind the scenes, mainly focusing around the events of the Another Den-O battle and the lead up to chapter 10.

Now, Chapter 10 is almost done, have a bit left to iron out but it's coming along nicely so far, so you shouldn't have to wait too much longer for that either.

That said, on with the reviews from last chapter!

To TheTwoMind: There's some specifics I need to get into in regard to rider powers and inheriting the that I probably haven't really got around to explaining yet. So in this case, think the current powers that have made use of other characters to function as outliers for the time being and not be the norm. I have a proper explanation, but I'd rather explain it through the story than in a blurb like this that not everyone reads.

To Ultraman Aegis: Zero One and Saber's catchphrases are honestly gold, so you're not alone in thinking that.

To Christopher Rodd: Yes, well, not right away, but it's coming. We had a sneak peek at it during "The Stray" chapters, but our resident Comedian and Assisstant won't be showing up until it would make sense for them in the timeline of the show. For a hint, think of who they've interacted with so far and go from there.

To Taiman215: While the Sclash Driver functions differently from the Build Driver, they are still a subset of Cross-Z's power and was made accordingly in the timeline of events for build. Now, that's not to say that some forms wouldn't still work if it utilizes a different driver, think 001 from the Reiwa: The First Generation movie, but powers or drivers that are tied to a rider that are made after the fact would be unable to function, which in this example would be the Sclash driver. Of course there are other way to bend the rules of Ride Watches, but I'll save those tidbits for later when they become relevant.

With all that out of the way, happy holidays and enjoy the chapter!

(Note, there will be no Christmas Twist this season, we apologize for the lack of traumitization)

"Enough talk, I'm taking you down!" Geiz said, readying his axe at Bryce.

"Not so fast!" I shouted, slowing to a stop in front of Geiz in a flurry of petals, quickly spinning Crescent Rose in an arc in front of me, forcing him back. Made it!

"Bryce, we'll take care of this guy! You handle Ryotaro!" I said, sparing a glance over my shoulder at Bryce. Weiss, Blake and Yang all ran up beside me, weapons drawn as we stared down Geiz.

"I don't want to fight you four." Geiz said, lowering his axe slightly. "Stand down or else."

"Tough break pal, I've been itching for a fight!" Yang said, slamming her fist into her palm.

"We aren't just going to let you can kill our friend." Blake said, glaring at Geiz.

"Blake's right. We aren't going to stand idly by when lives are at stake." I said, glaring at Geiz.

"Hm, I knew you'd say that, unfortunately." Geiz said. "Either way, it should be interesting. It has been a long, long time since I've gotten the chance to spar with any of you… I guess now none of us will be holding back this time."

"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" Weiss asked.

Geiz didn't answer, pulling his axe up and pressing a button on the side. And ooh, the axe split down the middle and folded out! Is that a bow configuration? What ammunition does it use? Wait, not now Ruby, defeat bag guy, then geek out!

[YOU! ME!]

Agh, even the announcements are cool…!

Focus, Ruby!

"Weiss, Yang!" I shouted, spinning my scythe around into its rifle mode as I started firing rounds at the rider.

"I. Hope. You're. Hungry!" Yang shouted, running ahead, throwing a punch with each word out of her mouth.

"Not for what you're serving." Geiz said, ducking a weaving through most of Yang's attacks before leveling what I assumed was the barrel of his weapon at Yang's stomach. "Pro tip, your future self was less prone to anger, I'd recommend trying that out."

I didn't see him draw back the bow before the blast sent Yang flying back. "Yang! You okay?" I asked, running over to her.

"He packs a punch." Yang said, rubbing her stomach as I helped her up.

I turned my head to watch as the rider from the future ducked his head to the side and avoided each of Weiss' strikes.

[OH NO!]

"He's good…" I noted, watching as he easily pushed Weiss back with a strong strike to the stomach with his axe.

"He's reading us like a book." Blake noted, before rushing past us.

"Wait up!" Yang said, standing up and rushing after her partner.

"Well, your reflexes haven't changed much." Geiz said, changing to the offensive as he swung at Blake, swinging through one of her shadow clones before rolling to the side to avoid Yang.

"Weiss, can you freeze him down?" I asked, working something up in my head as I transformed Crescent Rose into its scythe configuration.

"If I can get a clear shot." Said Weiss, running up beside me.

Geiz pushed Yang back, before quickly slotting his Ride Watch into his weapon.

"He can do that too!?" I asked, my excitement taking over for a brief moment.

[FINISH TIME!]

He swung, creating a wave of energy around him as Blake and Yang converged.

{GEIZ!}

[ZAKKURI CUTTING!]

"Guys!" I shouted, looking over at Yang and Blake as they rolled up beside me.

"What the-!?" Geiz asked, drawing my attention as I looked back to see his feet frozen to the ground.

"Ruby!" Weiss shouted.

I narrowed my eyes, taking a step back as Geiz pulled the Ride Watch out of his weapon and slotted it back onto his belt, pressing down on its activation button once it was connected.

[FINISH TIME!]

Geiz slammed his hand on the release button before placing his hands on either side of his driver, throwing his arms out to the side as his finisher activated.

I ignored how cool the action looked as I surged forwards, swinging my scythe as I met Geiz's punch head on.

"Go Petal Burst!" I shouted.

[TIME BURST!]

I surged past Geiz, sliding to a stop as I looked behind me, watching as Geiz sparked rapidly from his suit as rose petals fell around him. After a few moments, the sparks ceased and his transformation disengaged, leaving the hooded figure kneeling on the ground.

"...I just beat a Kamen Rider…" I said, a hint of awe in my voice as I looked down at myself. "I just beat a Kamen Rider!"

"You… always were the one who gave me the most trouble…" Geiz said, stumbling to a stand as he turned back to look at me. "And to think this is when you're a first year… you really were holding back during training."

"Eh?" I stood up. Training? When did I ever…?

The hooded man stood up, pulling his Ride Watch off his belt as he looked over his shoulder. "I'd continue this, but I think it's time I left."

He pushed down on the activation button three times, before what sounded like a train sped past, suddenly passing by and obscuring him from view.

[TIME MAZINE!]

"Wait!" I shouted, running towards him before the train finally picked off the ground and disappeared, leaving the four of us alone.

"I will take this moment to ask the two of you to stay out of things." Woz said, stepping in front of Sougo and Uhr, who were standing on top of a rooftop of a nearby building, looking down on the fight below.

"I don't take orders from you." Uhr said, narrowing his eyes at Woz.

"Now, now. This whole thing didn't go to plan anyways." Sougo said, shrugging. "Didn't even get a full day out of this one."

"You're giving up? This was your idea to make him Another Den-O!" Uhr said, turning to Sougo.

Sougo shrugged. "Look, what do you want from me? With him being the Another Rider I thought it would've taken more for them to get the Ride Watch to beat him! But evidently not…"

"I take it that means you're leaving?" Woz asked.

"Not much else to do here. We can't exactly set up Another Riders in the past at the moment, since Ohma Zi-O put the whole thing on lockdown after we traveled back to create Another Ex-Aid." Sougo said, placing his hands in his pockets. "I reckon it's so he can keep things in this loop he's been trying to set up."

Uhr sighed. "Another dead end then… Let's go, no point sticking around any longer. We'd just be delaying things now." The Time Jacker said, quickly retreating as Sougo stared Woz down.

"...If I ordered you to stand down and let me interfere, would you?" Sougo asked.

"No, I don't take orders from you." Woz said, narrowing his eyes.

"Figured as much." Sougo shrugged, sitting down on the roof.

Woz turned around and walked off the roof, leaving Sougo on his own. The Time Jacker stood up, walking over to the ledge as the group left the area, leaving the broken remains of the Another Watch on the ground. "And now I can step in." He said, jumping down. He walked over and picked up the pieces. "Then I do this…"

He waved his hand over the pieces, his body glowing a pink light as a glitching gold holographic clock appeared over the broken pieces of the Another Watch. He twisted the wrist of his off hand as the clock hands spun backwards, as the pieces began to pull themselves back together, until finally the Another Den-O Ride Watch sat in his hand in one piece. "And that's… Number 4."

"You already have another candidate?" Asked Hora.

Swartz nodded, taking a sip from the wine glass in his hand before passing an Another Watch to the girl. "His name is Shintaro Goto. He's the captain of the Kougami Foundation's Ride Vendor 1st motorcycle brigade."

"The Kougami Foundation's… Then why are you considering him?" Uhr asked, leaning back from his seat.

"It was actually a recommendation from Sougo, if you must know." Swartz said, taking another sip from his glass. Uhr and Hora gleaned at each other, scowls present on their faces.

"Great, him…" Uhr said, glaring at the wall. "He's the reason our last candidate didn't work out."

"And why am I being sent to do this if he was the one to recommend him?" Asked Hora, looking at Swartz.

"He's currently preoccupied at the moment, taking some time to connect with some… business partners on my behalf." Swartz said, placing his glass down. "As for why Goto… His character was described to me as simply 'Hero-Complex'."

Swartz picked up his glass, swirling the red liquid around as he stared at his reflection floating on the top of the wine. "He will no doubt jump at the chance to gain power that will help him 'Save the World'." Swartz said, taking a sip from his glass before standing up, moving towards the door. "And what better target for a man like that than the most reviled, demonic overlord of all time?"

Outside the city of Vale, there was a sudden shuddering as a Train pulled to a stop in a forest. Red and gold lined the train, dents and scratches littered the sides as the door opened up. A figure in white stepped out, their head covered by a red hood that seemed to have been hastily connected from the rest of her attire, held in place by torn fabric that was wrapped around her neck like a scarf.

"I'm here…" The girl spoke up, lifting up a Ziku Driver in her right hand, looking down at the belt. It's left slot was heavily damaged, as large cracks and exposed wires danced across the armour time slot. "Your Majesty… I'll be with you soon."

"Just wait a bit longer."