1.5: The Switch (SIDE B)

He had just appeared before them, completely out of the blue. He had arrived via a red telephone box of British design which appeared out of thin air. When it materialized, Shinichi recognized the sound it made being similar to the one the Doctor's TARDIS made. When Alan stepped out of the door, he appeared much older than the last time they had seen him. There was just something in his eyes that told him that he'd seen and experienced so much and now he wanted to share those experiences and sights with them.

"Come with me and see everything," Alan Smith had said to the couple.

With an invitation like that, how could Shinichi Banabara and Rena Ryuugu, 22 year old college students resist? As soon as they went inside the machine that Alan called the TARDIS, Rena was amazed at how bigger it looked on the inside compared as to the outside. Shinichi took it in stride, having experienced the same thing in the Doctor's TARDIS but noted the interior's design to be different and more befitting Alan's taste. Though, he had asked Alan why the TARDIS was red instead of green and Alan told him that his TARDIS just liked the color red more and Alan didn't want to argue with his time vessel.

Since that day they stepped aboard and became part of Alan's crew on the TARDIS, they had been to so many different places in the Multiverse. Not only did they visit alien worlds and periods of their native timeline, but also visited alternate realities, dimensions and parallel worlds with different realities. At one point they had visited a modern Japan which had never adopted any Western clothing and then they even came upon a Japan which had aliens coexisting with the locals like it was normal. They even visited realms of demons and spirits.

But they didn't just drop by for a visit. It would seem that every time they visited a new place, there was a crisis or disaster they needed to avert. They had made and defeated many enemies who they had dealt with by aiding Alan. He was really walking in the Doctor's footsteps only at a Multiversal scale. Wherever or whenever they landed, they would save the day.

And it had all started when Alan had said to them, "Come with me and see everything."

And that had been 8 weeks ago, for them at least. As the TARDIS was a time machine as well it would land them back and return them in mere moments to their own world. People wouldn't have noticed that they had ever gone anywhere. Even if nobody saw them for five minutes, the truth was that Shinichi and Rena would've been gone for weeks or months traveling with Alan aboard his TARDIS.

Speaking of our crew, they were just returning to Hinamizawa again for another pitstop. When the TARDIS materialized, it made its warping and whooshing noise as it appeared right next to the local phone booth of the village. As mentioned before, the TARDIS resembled a British telephone box, painted red, with tinted black windows and 'TELEPHONE' written above. The door opened and the occupants stepped out.

"Well, that was an interesting adventure," said Alan Smith, a young man in his late teens with short silver hair and violet eyes. He was dressed in a green jacket over a black shirt with blue jeans and brown shoes. He also had on a pair of horn-rimmed glasses.

"Too bad we couldn't stay any longer," sighed Rena. She was a young woman with short auburn hair styled in a bob-cut. She wore a white blouse with short sleeves and a red skirt that came down to her knees.

"Rena-chan, because they thought you slew the demon, they wanted you to stay as their Goddess and Queen," Shinichi deadpanned. He had indigo hair that was parted in the middle with a couple of strands that stuck out the top like antennae. His eyes were indigo as well. His clothes consisted of a blue shirt with a black open vest and black slacks with white sneakers. "You know why we couldn't stay."

"But the feast was fun," said Rena. Alan pulled a spear out of the side of the TARDIS.

"But not the angry mob as we were making our escape," Shinichi noted.

"Well, it's safe to say we won't be visiting that place in a long time," said Alan. "I'm starving."

"Come on, let's go see Kaa-chan," said Shinichi. "We shouldn't be far."

"And she must want to see photos," beamed Rena.

"Definitely," Shinichi said as he patted his bag which had his camera. He took pictures of all the places they had been. This last trip had lasted them about 6 weeks and they had seem so much this time around.

Alan snapped his fingers and the TARDIS door was locked. "Off we go then!" he said as he put his arms around his brother and future sister-in-law before they went on their merry way. As they were walking away, a shadow figure poked its head out from behind the TARDIS.

"You travel all around to see, but are you truly aware of the hidden darkness, of evil so great that it sees you but you can't see it? Or are you so blinded by the splendor of the many universes to even notice that evil has followed you and wants you destroyed? Oh, please be quick for time is running out. Notice it fast before your time runs out."

And with that said, the figure was gone.

By the time the trio arrived at Shiori's house, Shinichi and Rena both hugged her. They missed her so much.

"What's this for?" Shiori asked.

"We just missed you, Shiori-san," said Rena.

"But I just saw you an hour ago," Shiori blinked.

"We were just on another trip with the TARDIS," said Alan. "It's been like six weeks for them."

"Oh, I see," Shiori nodded. "Well, come on in and tell me everything."

"I got pictures of our adventures too," Shinichi said.

"Well, we'll look at them over some tea. Alan, would you like to stay for dinner?"

"I'd love to," Alan smiled.

"And this is when we visited that planet of insect people," said Shinichi as he showed Shiori another picture in their album over some tea.

"We helped to overthrow a tyrant and put the rightful king back on the throne, reuniting him with his beloved wife," smiled Rena. It was so romantic.

"And what happened to the tyrant?" asked Shiori.

"He tripped and fell into a pit, feeding the beast he fed his enemies and prisoners too," Alan remarked. "To be honest, he deserved it when he tore free from the guards and tried to attack us."

"He should've gone quietly," Shinichi shook his head.

Shiori pointed to another picture showing Shinichi inside some kind of flying machine. "And when was this taken?"

"The Rocket Grand Prix of 4532," Alan said. "That picture was taken on Mars."

"I had to [take] participate in the race while Alan and Rena were investigating some shady dealings," Shinichi said. "Long story. True story."

"An interesting story," said Rena.

Shiori couldn't help but feel envious. These kids were having all sorts of adventures. But still, she wouldn't trade away the life she had. She loved her son, his girlfriend and she also loved all the people they had met and befriended. They were like a large family of heroes. They had even saved this world a few times as well and were famous for it.

Sho-chan, Shiori's youngest son, looked up to and idolised his big brother. He might be young but he understood that Shinichi was a hero who'd done many amazing things. One day, he wanted to grow up to become just as amazing.

Rika and Hanyuu Furude, a pair of young girls whom Shiori had taken in and adopted, also returned after school. Shinichi and Rena went and hugged them, having missed them. From the couple's perspective, it had been ages since they saw the girls and Rena couldn't help but want to hug them. They were just so cute. Rika and Hanyuu just accepted the hugs.

By dinnertime, Tatsuyoshi Kasai, Shiori's second husband and Shinichi's stepfather, returned from work. He was a large man, with short hair, a stern expression and square jaw. He was dressed in black like a secret agent and even though he had a rough and tough exterior, he was a loving husband and father. When Sho-chan saw him, he ran up to him and Tatsuyoshi picked up his son and put him on his shoulders.

"Tadaima, Shiori," he greeted.

"Okaeri, Tatsuyoshi-kun," she said before kissing his cheek. "Dinner's almost ready. Oh, and Shinichi, Rena and Alan are joining us."

"I see," Kasai noted as he saw the three young people sitting on the couch in the living room.

Alan joined the diverse family at dinner and he told them about some of the odd and amazing things he, Shinichi and Rena had seen on their latest trip. He couldn't stay long, unfortunately. The Multiverse was a huge place and he still had places he could explore in time and space. He really was following in the Doctor's footsteps.

"Home sweet home," said Shinichi as he and Rena returned to their shared apartment in Shishibone City. It was where they lived ever since enrolling in Shishibone University together. It wasn't very far from Hinamizawa and many of their friends attended the same college as well.

"I can't wait to sleep in our own bed again," Rena smiled. Shinichi grinned and pulled her into a hug and a kiss.

"Me neither. And I can't wait to see what you bought from that lingerie store in 2135, USA," Shinichi said in anticipation.

"Well, just let me take a bath and you will," she teased and he released her. She just took a single step before black bars rose up around her. They reached from the floor way up to the ceiling, trapping her in place. She gasped in shock at the unexpected trap. It was a cage of shadows.

"Rena-chan!" Shinichi grabbed the bars and tried to break Rena out. However, he could not break the bars. What was going on?

"Shin-kun, get me out of here!" she screamed.

"I'm going to get you out!" he promised as he tried harder/

"Oh, I have no doubt about that, Shinichi Banabara," a mysterious voice spoke to them. Rena gasped and Shinichi glared around their apartment.

"Who are you!? Where are you!? Show yourself!?" Shinichi demanded.

"Hm, your manners need some work. Is that how you greet a guest?"

"You're not a guest, you're an intruder," Shinichi countered.

"Intruder...uninvited guest...who really cares about semantics?"

"What do you want?" Shinichi looked around.

"You're trying to find me. Well, you are actually looking in the right place and the wrong place at the same time."

"What?" Shinich cocked an eyebrow in confusion.

"I'm here, and not here, yet I am everywhere..."

"Start making sense, damn you!" Shinichi shouted.

"Temper, temper, young Rider. The life and freedom of your girlfriend is at stake. Is it really smart to provoke the one holding her hostage? Look at how easily I trapped her and you. My, if I wanted to, I could take away the air you breathe or even rip your life out of your bodies."

"You can't."

"Can't I? Are you sure? Can you really be absolutely, positively sure that I do not hold such power?" Shinichi was silent. "Good. Very good. You really are clever."

"What do you want?" Shinichi asked.

"I'm just bored so I wanted to challenge you; I want you to answer a riddle."

Shinichi was outraged. The voice had trapped Rena simply to ask him a riddle?

"So, what's the riddle?" Shinichi challenged. He was good at riddles and puzzles so this should be easy.

"My riddle is this: What is golden, goes around and around infinitely, and affects everything? We can't escape from it, we can't run from it, and we can't stop it. It starts but never ends and we must always obey it. What is it? You have only a minute to answer."

Shinichi's eyes widened. That was the riddle? What did it mean? What was the answer? He had only one minute? How was that fair?

"OK, think Shinichi," he mumbled to himself. "Think..."

"Tick-tock, goes the clock, Rider," the voice taunted. "Time's running out."

"Give me a minute!"

"You don't have a minute, and neither does she," the voice mocked. "You have less than 45 seconds remaining. Think hard and smart. What is it?"

"Shin-kun..." Rena said worriedly.

"I...I don't know..." Shinichi couldn't figure it out, much to his horror.

"And time's up," said the voice. "Sorry, but you lose. Now, here's the penalty."

Shinichi screamed as he was zapped by lightning and Rena screamed out in horror, "SHIN-KUN!"

Alan was in the TARDIS doing some maintenance when the warning bell rang. Something was wrong. He immediately tracked down the source of the disturbance and the screen showed him the coordinates. Immediately, he went to work and turned on the engine to take him to the source of trouble.

"Up, up and away!" Alan declared. The TARDIS shook as it began to move.

VWOORP! VWOORP! VWOORP!

Shinichi was lying on the floor and Rena was freed once the TARDIS began to materialize in their living room. The door opened and Alan came out, "What happened?"

Rena was about to explain when Shinichi came to and woke up with a start at the unfamiliar surroundings. He then jumped to his feet and looked at both Alan and Rena with wide eyes.

"Shin..." began Rena in relief.

"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!?" Shinichi shouted, pointing at Alan and Rena. Their eyes widened in shock.

"...This can't be good," uttered Alan.

KAMEN RIDER CHROME: And Shinichi freaks out at both Alan and Rena. He acts like he doesn't recognize them. What exactly is going on? The answer to that might surprise you or you might've suspected it from just reading "The Switch (Side A)". Also, have you figured out the answer to that riddle yet? I bet it's driving you nuts trying to figure out. Well, I had fun writing this and I hope you had fun reading this.