プロローグ: HISTORYのはじまり
Prologue: Verge of History
"Chrom, we have to do SOMETHING." That was the first thing James heard, it was a woman's voice. Upon hearing it, he began to open his eyes. There were two people, a woman and man it looked like, it was hard to tell at the moment.
"What do you propose we do?" another voice, a man's said.
"I... I dunno…" the woman responded. At this time James's eyes opened completely and he could properly see the people in front of him. One was a woman with blond hair and large pigtails. The other was a man with blue hair and eyes who looked very familiar. At that moment, the two noticed that he was awake.
"I see you're awake now." the blue haired man said
"Hey there." The girl said
" There're better places to take a nap than on the ground, you know." The blue haired man reached out his hand. "Give me your hand." James took as the blue haired man helped him. As he did James noticed some sort of mark on his hand; It was purple, resembling the outline of a reptile's head with six eyes. "You alright?" he asked.
"Yeah, Thanks Chrom." that was the moment when James realized why the man was so familiar, he was the man from his dream.
"Ah, then you know who I am?" Chrom asked
"No, actually. I heard her call you that when I was waking up." James said pointing to the girl with the pigtails.
"Tell me then, what's your name? What brings you here?" Chrom asked
"My name is… It's... ugh" James said as he held his head. He shook his head. "My head hurts to much to think." he then looked around and realized something "I'm sorry, but where am I, exactly?" James asked confused, he was in the middle of an open field.
"Hey, I've heard of this! It's called amnesia!" The girl with pigtails exclaimed.
"It's called a loud of pegasus dung." said a heavily armored man that James hadn't noticed before. "We are to believe that you don't remember how you got here, when there is no sign that you arrived anyway other than simply walking here from the nearest town?"
"It's the truth!" James protested.
"...What if it IS true, Frederick? We can't just leave him here, alone and confused. What sort of Shepherds would we be then?" Chrom added
"Just the same, milord. I must emphasize caution. 'Twould not do to let a wolf into our flock." the armored man-Frederick said firmly in a way that actually reminded James of how Yume could be at times.
"Right then—we'll take him back to town and sort this out there." Chrom stated
"Do I have a say in this?" James asked calmly
"Peace, friend—I promise we'll hear all you have to say back in town. Now come." Chrom assured. After that they got moving and as they walked Chrom noticed the look of concern on James's face. "You'll be free to go once we establish that you're no enemy of Ylisse." Chrom said.
"Is that where we are? Ylisse?" James inquired, now he was curious, he had never heard of this country and given Frederick's medieval armor; James was starting to suspect that wasn't in Kansas anymore, so to speak.
"You've never heard of the halidom? Ha! Someone pay this actor. He plays quite the fool! The furrowed brow is especially convincing." Frederick remarked.
"Frederick, please." Chrom asked "This land is known as the Halidom of Ylisse. Our ruler, Emmeryn, is called the exalt. I suppose proper introductions are in order... My name is Chrom—but then, you already knew that. The delicate one here is my little sister, Lissa." Chrom said gesturing to the girl with pigtails. She didn't seem to like his comment.
"I am NOT delicate! …Hmph! Ignore my brother, please. He can be a bit thick sometimes. But you're lucky the Shepherds found you. Brigands would've been a rude awakening!" Lissa cut in.
"Anyway, This is Frederick the Wary." Chrom continued, pointing to Frederick.
"A title I shall wear with pride. Gods forbid one of us keeps an appropriate level of caution. I have every wish to trust you, stranger, but my station mandates otherwise." Frederick explained.
"I understand, My name is James by the way, I was too concerned with my headache to bring it up earlier." James answered
"James? Is that foreign? Ah, well… we can discuss once we-" Chrom started.
"Chrom, look! the town!" Lissa interrupted, pointing to the town they were heading towards, in flames.
"Damn it! The town is ablaze! Those blasted brigands, no doubt... Frederick, Lissa! Quickly!" Chrom swore as he started to run.
"What about him?" Frederick asked, gesturing to James.
"Unless he's on fire as well, it can wait!" Chrom shouted back.
"Aptly put, milord." Frederick responded before chasing after Chrom, Lissa soon following.
Now that he was alone, James took inventory of his belongings. Most of his gashats were gone, save for Mighty Action X and the proto version. He also had the Gamer Driver, which felt heavier for some reason. As he considered his next action, he accidently pressed a button a gashat.
Mighty Action X!
Once the Shepherds arrived in town, they could see the supposed leader of the bandits shouting orders as he tossed a terrified woman aside. "Chrom, we have to stop them!" Liss pleaded.
"Don't worry, after today these bandits won't be bothering anyone anymore." Chrom Assured her.
As Chrom and Frederick Readied their weapons, they were interrupted by James arriving next to them. "James! You followed us! Why?" Chrom asked.
"I Think I have a way to help." James said as he reached for his Gamer Driver.
"Of course—strength in numbers. Just stay close!" Chrom ordered.
"Remember, James, we face practiced thieves and murderers. They will grant us no quarter. It's kill or be killed." Frederick warned
"Okay, moment of truth." James psyched himself up as held the Gamer Driver next to his waist, causing a belt to appear and fasten the Driver to his waist.
"What manner of sorcery is this!?" Frederick Demanded as he and the other panicked somewhat.
"You haven't seen the half of it." James proclaimed as he lifted the Gashat next to his head, and pressed the button.
Mighty Action X!
A disembodied voice called out as a game screen appeared behind him as brown blocks appeared throughout the surrounding area. James smiled as held the gashat over the slot. "Henshin!" he called as he inserted the gashat.
"Gashatto! Let's Game! Metcha Game! Mutcha Game! What's your name?!
A spinning ring of icons appeared around James, once they slowed down he pressed the one directly in front of him, causing him to transform.
I'm a Kamen Rider!
James was covered in light for just a moment. Once it dissipated, Chrom and the others work shocked to see his new form. His helmet had determined orange eyes, left facing spiked pink 'hair'. His head was as wide his body and was embedded in his torso, meaning that, in order look around he had to move his entire body.
His chest plate had four colored button and a gauge that stretched from the buttons to the other side of chest. He was wearing generally white armor. He also had a chin guard resembling a mouth.
"W-What sort of creature are you!?" Frederick shouted in a panic, drawing the attention of a bandit swordsman. He aimed an attack at Lissa, which Chrom blocked. Chrom managed to cut his arm, but it didn't stop him;
Gashacon Breaker!
That is until James hit him upside the jaw with a hammer. James turned back to the group. "I'm Kamen Rider Ex-Aid, and this my Action Gamer Lv.1 form." The newly christened Ex-Aid explained.
"That hammer is amazing!" Lissa gawked at the gashacon breaker, before noticing something strange. "What are those buttons for?"
"The A button allows me to change the weapon's mode. The B button allows me to perform more powerful attacks." Ex-Aid Explained before turning back to the battle.
Frederick shook himself out of his state of shock and engaged an ax-user, skewering him on his lance. "I suggest you focus on the task at hand." He called back at them. Ex-Aid nodded, granted in his form it was more like bowing.
Meanwhile as Chrom took out another axe-user. A bandit in a pointy hat that Ex-Aid figured might be some sort of magic user flung a fireball towards Chrom. Seeing this, Ex-Aid sprinted as fast as he could, 13.15 meters per second. He managed to block the fireball, lowering the gauge on his chest by a small amount.
"Thanks." said Chrom.
"Your welcome." Ex-Aid said before bringing his hand up to try to scratch the back of his head, when he found a button on his visor that he was pretty sure wasn't there on the show. He pressed the button and his view changed. There was a dark filter over his vision, with the words 'Scanning Mode' at the top of his field of vision. As he was looking around, the bandit mage came into view.
He saw a variety of values representing things like speed and strength, as well as the magic he had at the moment. Chrom noticed how distracted he seemed. "Still with us, James?" he asked concerned.
"Hmm… It's strange. With this visor, I can… Well, I can "see" things." Ex-Aid explained
"What kind of things?" Chrom questioned.
"The enemy's strength, their weaponry, the flow of battle." Ex-Aid elaborated.
"So, you can size them up a glance." Chrom concluded.
"Yeah, and probably more, if I try. By the way, that mage wouldn't stand much of a chance if you take him on now." Ex-Aid responded.
As Chrom rushed the mage, Lissa ran up to Ex-Aid carrying a staff. "Here you go, I may not be able to attack like Chrom, but when you get injured? I'LL be the one stitching your bones back together, care of my trusty staff!" she held up her staff, which produced a light green light. The light washed over Ex-Aid as the gauge on his chest filled in.
After all the bandits in the square were taken out, the group came together at the bridge across from where they saw the bandit leader. After making sure they were all fully healed they started to cross the bridge.
"Here, sheepy sheepy! Come to the slaughter!" The bandit leader shouted as he saw the group. "Get 'em boys!" he yelled as the last of his men charged.
"Heh, looks it's time to go all out." Ex-Aid remarked as he reached for the lever on the Gamer Driver.
"What's he doing?" Frederick wondered
"Dai Henshin!" Ex-Aid called out as he opened the lever.
Gachan! Level Up! Mighty Jump! Mighty Kick! Mighty, Mighty Action X!
A rectangular image Ex-Aid with more normal body proportions appeared. Ex-Aid then quickly ran through it, causing his body to break apart and scatter, leaving his head in place. "By the gods, what is this man?" Frederick called out in shock.
However, a new body sprouted from the head, with it acting as a backpack. His suit was pink with neon green accents and on his body was several sets of lines that went from his torso, which sported the same chest plate, to his sides and down his legs. His helmet was mostly the same just adjusted to fit a normal person's head.
Ex-Aid scratched where his nose would be before calling out. "This is Action Gamer Lv.2!" he said holding up two fingers. "Let's go!" he called to his new allies, shaking them out of his state of shock.
"Frederick, you and Lissa will stay behind and handle these brigands while Chrom and I handle their leader!" Ex-Aid offered, to which Chrom nodded.
Ex-Aid and Chrom charged past the bandits on the bridge to confront their leader. "Gwa ha ha! Do you really think that some castle born welp can beat me." The leader boasted before throwing his ax at Ex-Aid, reducing his gauge by about a quarter.
"Chrom, let's do this!" Ex-Aid proclaimed.
Gashacon Breaker!
Ex-Aid Pressed the A button.
Ja Kīn!
A sword blade with a resemblance to his hair unfolded from the hammer. Chrom the rushed the bandit leader, however his attack was blocked, holding both combatant's weapons in place. Ex-Aid ran in, pressing the B button, when he struck he pulled a trigger on the handle and the sword was surrounded by energy.
"Gwarrgh!" The leader shouted in pain as he stumbled but didn't fall yet.
"Chrom." Ex-Aid said getting his attention. "I'm gonna finish this, stand back." Chrom did so as Ex-Aid tossed the gashacon breaker aside and removed the gashat from the driver. He held it to his mouth and blew on it before placing in the slot on his side and pressed the button twice.
"Kimewaza! Mighty Critical Strike!"
He leg overflowed with power as he ran at the bandit leader who tried to block with his ax, only to have it snap on contact with his leg. Ex-Aid delivered a series of high powered kicks. He then stepped back and leap into the air and delivered a drop kick to the bandit's chest, killing him.
"Kaishin no Ippatsu!
From there it wasn't long until the remaining bandits were dealt with. And Ex-Aid closed the driver without putting the gashat back in, returning him to his civilian form.
"Well that's the end of that." James remarked as he made his way back to the others.
"Lucky for the town, we were close by. But holy wow, James! You were incredible! Those powers, that hammer, AND tactics! Is there anything you can't do?" Lissa cheered.
"You're certainly no helpless victim, that much is for sure." Chrom remarked
"Indeed. Perhaps you might even be capable of an explanation for how you came here?" Frederick commented.
"I understand your skepticism, Sir Frederick." James said. "Though I fear you may not believe me when I tell that I come from another world." Chrom and Lissa's eyes widened. "As for how, I don't know."
"I find that unlikely." Frederick said as he reached for his spear.
Chrom put out his hand to stop him as he looked at James. "You fought to save Ylissean lives. My heart says that's enough."
"And your mind, milord? Will you now heed its council as well?" Frederick interjected.
"Frederick, the Shepherds could use someone with James's talents. We've brigands and unruly neighbors, all looking to bloody our soil. Would you really have us lose such an able tactician? Besides, I believe his story, odd as it might be." Chrom stated firmly
"Thanks Chrom." James Thanked
"So how about it? Will you join us, James" Chrom asked
James thought for a moment, he had no idea how to get home, and these guys might help him find his friends. "Yes, I'll do it." He answered with a smile.
"One thing first, I think I should go get some new clothes." James said, looking at his t-shirt and jeans.
"Alright meet us back here once you're done." Chrom responded.
After about an hour of looking not only did find some clothes he liked, but the shopkeeper was willing to customize it for free. It was mostly black with a gold trim. The old man had added a purple pattern similar to the lines on Ex-Aid Lv.2. He also got a pair of boots that would last longer and pair of leather fingerless gloves, figuring that there was a reason that a lot showa riders wore them.
After his shopping trip, which do to him being the town's hero and all was free, this fortunate because he didn't have any money. Anyway, once he met up with the rest of the Shepherds, Frederick was saying something to Chrom.
"Did you notice, milord? The brigands spoke with a Plegian accent." he reported
"Plegian?" James inquired
"Plegia is Ylisse's westerly neighbor. They send small bands into our territory, hoping to instigate a war." Chrom explained.
"I see." James responded
"And it's the poor townsfolk who suffer! Totally innocent, and totally helpless…" Lissa added
"They do have us, milady: Shepherds to protect the sheep. Do not be swept up in your anger. It will cloud your judgment." Frederick reassured her.
"I know, I know... Don't worry. I'll get used to all this." Lissa sighed. Just then an old man from town came to meet us.
"Milord, please! You must stay the night! We are simple folk of simple means, but we would gladly toast your valor with a feast!" the old man offered happily.
"A most generous offer, sir, and no doubt your hospitality would be grand... But I'm afraid we must hurry back to Ylisstol." Frederick politely declined the man's offer.
"Dark meat only for me, medium well, and no salt in the soup. I simply—" Lissa started before realizing what Frederick said. "Wait, what?! We're not staying?! But, Frederick, it's nearly dark!" She complained.
"When night falls, we'll camp. Eat off the land, make our bed of twigs and the like... I believe you mentioned you would be "getting used to this"?" Frederick countered.
"Frederick? Sometimes I hate you." Lissa deadpanned
"That's a stern lieutenant you've there." James remarked
"Yeah, well, "stern" is one name for it. I can think of a few others!" Lissa continued to complain.
"Frederick only smiles when he's about to bring down the axe."Chrom warned
"Noted." James answered
"*Ahem* You do realize I AM still present?" Frederick commented
"Oh, we realize."Chrom said in a joking tone.
"Heh heh" James chuckled
"Milord remains as amusing as ever. Now then, shall we be going?" Frederick suggested
"All right, all right." Chrom conceded "Ready to go, James? The capital isn't far." James nodded and the group was on their way.
Alright, here's the second chapter of Ex-Aid's awakening. I really wanted to get this out yesterday but just didn't have time. Also that thing with the visor was an idea I had to help the riders feel distinct from their show counterparts. So anyway I think you'll like the next chapter, which introduce some new characters. This is Time-Space lord Eon saying
see you next game.
EDIT: fixed a typo.