Chapter 6 - Henshin!

The team exited the alley and quickly returned to Neil's home. "That was fucking lit!" Donna yelled in excitement.

"Bruh that's the power we have now? I felt like a super hero!" Aj yelled striking a pose.

"Guy's remember, we can't abuse this. Remember the rules." Brian said. Everyone's face turned serious as they recited the rules in unison.

"Never be the one to escalate a fight. Never use our powers for personal gain. Keep our identity secret." They said almost as if chanting.

"It's going to suck not telling them," Donna said.

"Wait, where are they!?" NC asked. Everyone stopped and looked at each other before running through the house to check.

"No one in the basement!" Neil called up.

"Upstairs is clear," Brian, Donna and Aj said.

"No one on the first floor either," NC and Katrina yelled.

"Aj, you think they could be at that garage?" Brian asked.

"Too far you know Arianna and Ren wouldn't true there like Hez would." Aj replied.

"Split up, we gotta find them." Brian said. Aj and Katrina hopping in Aj's truck while Donna and Brian took to his car. Neil and NC went in Neil's car and each drove in different directions.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hez backed himself up to the wall. His clothes were torn and blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. He looked on the the alley covered in rubble from the puttie he battled. He sighed deeply as he slid down on the wall, thankful the battle ended. "Never again will I underestimate how fast these things are." He dragged himself to his feet when he saw a figure at the end of the alley. Shit! He yelled as he stumbled forward. The blackened figure moved closer to him. As it came into the light it was an Asian man. His body almost seemed to glow as he stopped.

"You have fought well." The man said. "You're going to come into possession of a power you would have never dreamed of. When you do I want you to use this," the young man held out a card with a green diamond on the back.

"What is this?" Hez asked, confused as to what was going on.

"Something you must always keep with you. When you find our power you must find the others and destroy the Beetle Borges. They control these rock monsters called puttie." He explained. Hez looked less confused and more determined.

"the final and hardest step is killing the monster who controls them all. Lord Zed, that monstrous fiend killed my family and friends… and me," The being began to fade into a glistening light.

"What does this mean!?" Hez shouted as the being faded.

"Fight and keep fighting for you are… Chalice." Hez looked into the sky, unsure of what to do. He pocketed the card and pulled his hood over his head as he walked out of the alley. The sky was beginning to darken as he walked through the streets. He pulled his phone from his pocket and noticed it was dead. Thank God for Otterbox, he thought to himself. He continued his walk home as he came to a park. It was dark and quiet, against his better judgement, but it would help him clear his mind. As he walked through the grass he could hear the blades crunching behind him. He stopped in the open and slightly tilted his head over his shoulder.

"Sharp ears boy. You're a warrior, something lost to this planet in time. Come, let me reward you for your skill." A voice called out from behind him. Hez sighed and turned to face the dark figure. He was sore, tired and could barely muster the strength to raise his fists. He was scared inside.

If I'm going to die here, then I'll make sure he works for it! Hez thought as he charged the figure. It put up a guard before charging. Hez raised his hands and roared as he surged forward, launching a looping right hook. He missed as the figure leaned forward, ducking the punch and connecting with a straight punch to Hez's sternum. He slammed against the ground hard, void of breath and pain welling in his chest. His vision blurred as his eyes closed.

"As I said, a warrior. I grant you this gift, the gift of power. The gift of becoming a Joker!" He placed a black belt around Hez's waist with a silver buckle. On the buckle was a ruby heart lined in gold with a split going down the middle. "Rise Joker, rise and aid me in our conquest to destroy this world!" A green flash of flames covered Hez's body as he writhed in pain. He cried out as the flames intensified. They burned brighter as he twisted and turned. Hez's body stopped burning as he stood to his feet. A being of black skin, spines growing from the shoulders. There were large black horns sprouted from the right leg. As he turned to face them, they noticed he had two long antennae that draped over the back of his head and hung down his back. From his nose to the top of his head were covered in a green visor. His mouth was now silver and his razor sharp teeth bore as he parted his mouth, releasing more of the green flames. An orb on his chest shined green as his right forearm sprouted a large hooked blade. Before Hez could make a move shackles appeared around his wrists and ankles. Green spikes rose from his feet and short black blade manifested into his left hand.

What am I!? Why can't I move and what the hell is going on!? Hez thought to himself. He could see clearly and behind the dark figure were his two friends. Ren and Arianna had stumbled upon the two and stopped. Arianna gasped, gaining the attention to the being.

"Well well well, another warrior for me to add to the collection." The figure said. Ren stood defensively as it drew closer. Hez wanted to move, he wanted to rush that monster and fight but couldn't.

Move damn you, move! He thought, attempting to will his body to move. "I've got a better idea, Joker, subdue them both!" Hez could feel his body surge to life as it charged Ren.

"Shit!" Ren yelled as he ducked a hook and countered with a round kick. His leg felt more pain than Joker as his leg connected with the hard exoskeleton.

No… no no no! Hez yelled in his mind as he continued to watch his body battle Ren. Ren blocked and countered attacks but none of which phased the insectoid being. Joker spun on his heel and landed a spinning hook kick that dropped Ren. Arianna ran to his side to stand defensively but was swatted away by Joker as he stood over Ren.

"Excellent work Joker. You shall soon have a brother." The figured placed a belt onto Ren. His body writhed as a blue flame emitted from his body.

Ren! No, damn you! I won't let you win! Hez's thoughts broke through to his body and broke the chains. Joker cried in agony as agony card with agony green diamond formed in his right hand. Joker ran the edge of the card down the split in the belt buckle. "Henshin!" Joker yelled as he did so. The light faded and there stood Hez. His body now changed from a monster to armor. His chest plate was silver with a red marking. Shoulders covered with a thick black plate with red running around the rim and more golden markings on the top. His suit was black and skin tight almost like the rangers but had a gold marking on the from from the chest plate down to his mid quad area. His forearms had silver gauntlets and fist with silver plated padding his knuckles and the back of his fists. His shins were covered in the same silver plates that lead to his boots. His helmet had a red visor in the shape of a heart with two silver antennae facing backwards. His mouth plate was silver and the helmet black rimmed with gold. Around his waist was a belt. The buckle resembled a card with a ruby red heart. Hez tilted his head over his shoulder, slightly looking to his friends.

"What is this? You shouldn't be able to harness this power!" The figure said before fading. "I am not done with you." as the being faded, Ren stood as a Joker, snarling with his arms dangling about as his back stayed hunched.

"You have to fight it, don't let it consume you!" His words were met with a deafening roar. Ren charged Hez who side stepped his charge, letting him stumble past. "Stop this, it won't end well!" Hez tried to appeal to his human side but remembered he had no control. Ren flung his arms at Hez who blocked a parried until he lowered himself, shoving his left elbow into Ren's side, causing him to stumble. As Ren tried to gather himself Hez parried the next punch into his elbow then twisted his wrist, kicking the leg out from under him, causing his body to flip over.

"Stop this or I'll have to hurt you! Pull your shit together and fight it!" Hez cried out but Ren only stood, snarling as a Joker. "Then this is how it must be, I'm sorry." Hez said before raising his fists. Joker charged him and jumped into the air. Hez side stepped the lunge and slammed his elbow into its jaw before twisting to deliver a reverse elbow to the forehead. Joker stumbled backwards, giving Hez room to side kick him in the chest. Joker threw a punch that Hez slipped it the left. Hez slipped the second punch to the right and threw an overhand left that slammed into Joker's face. Joker stumbled again. Hez corkscrew through the air, wrapping his legs around Joker before flipping it over his body. As Joker landed, Hez looked at the belt buckle then to the deck of cards on the side of his belt. Joker struggled as Hez kept him pinned before sliding the card down the split on his belt. A light flashed, throwing Hez from Joker's body. As the light faded, Ren stood before Hez roaring to the sky. His chest plated armor was silver with a red diamond designed onto the chest. The bulky shoulder padding was also silver with the bottom lines in gold. The wrists were covered with gold bracelets and the forearms had silver plates. The body right suit was blue with two barbed rings rounding each upper thigh. He knees were covered with a silver plate that was ridged. The shins were covered by silver jagged plates similar to Hez's. The helmet resembled a beetle. A silver spike going from the chin up past the forehead. The eyes were crimson with a gold line running from the inner corners down to the outer chin. The mouth was designed to be rigid with fangs. His belt buckle was silver with a red box holding a golden spade. On the side of his belt sat a holster holding his sword that had his card deck connected to the hilt of the blade.

"Welcome to the world Ren." Hez said.

"My name… is Kamen Rider Blade." He replied.

"And I am Kamen Rider Chalice." Hez said as the two clasped hands.