Chapter 9: Merge! The Spider Rider emerges!

A/N: Enjoy!

Summary: In the last chapter, Apollo Geist further improves his plan to take over Dai Shocker using Project B, Project D's predecessor. But does Project B show any signs of life? Project D has also shown that his knowledge of Equestria has grown after he started talking to Celestia and Luna in proper sentences. Meanwhile, the princesses's father, King Solaris, gambled with his life as he transformed into a Kamen rider, Zangetsu. Will he continue his path down destruction or will he give up his destiny?

Disclaimer: I do not own Kamen rider or My little Pony: Friendship is magic. But of course, I do own my OC for the story.

As Solaris reached his campsite, he looked around for any signs of his Royal Guards.

Nothing...

"Guards! Where are you all hiding?!" Solaris trotted towards his tent where he had last been before he was taken by the Inves. What he found made him jumped. All around him, limbs of what was left of the Royal Guards were scattered around the area, blood trickling down the body parts as he approached them cautiously.

"What in Equestria happened here?!"

Rustlings of the leaves were heard behind him and Solaris immediately turned.

In front of him, a cluster of bushes shook violently. Solaris steadied himself as he anticipated the being behind the bushes. Then, a Unicorn Royal Guard emerged from it, fully covered in blood. His eyes showed signs of trauma as he stumbled towards the Alicorn."I...I couldn't stop them. They were...too strong."

Solaris gave him an assuring smile and his horn glowed, coating the Unicorn in an aura."It's alright. You did what you could. There's no turning back now."

"But your Majesty, I...I failed to protect my comrades. I don't deserve to be treated well like this. Just leave me here to die!"

Anger within Solaris's body rose. He knew that magic was useless against the Inves. Nothing but pure strength can overpower the creatures. It was his only only his duty to keep the ponies of Everfree safe from them as he is the only one who wields the power to defeat them.

He gave one quick look at his Melon Lockseed and then placed a Sleeping Spell on the guard, putting the Unicorn to sleep as he was placed on the Alicorn's back."My path is decided. I will destroy this monsters if it's the last thing I do!"

From afar, Helheim had a smile on his face,"Good. This one is looking good so far. I wonder how the other one will do." In his hoof, a hologram of Project D sitting down at the edge of a lake was projected. Behind him, a Komori Inves gave a growl before taking off into the air, knowing who its prey is.

"M-mother?" Luna stuttered.

Queen Aurora groaned slightly as she slowly got up from Luna's bed with a hoof rubbing her forehead."Where am I?"

"You're in my room, mother. How are you feeling?" Luna asked.

Aurora's eyes widen as she looked around frantically,"Where is it? Where's the monster?" She got off the bed and looked towards Luna, who was currently whimpering at the sight of her mother acting strangely."Luna, how did I get here?"

Luna swallowed."Well, you were...you were brought here by him, the same monster you tried to kill." She felt her body getting pulled towards her mother and she closed her eyes, awaiting for some kind of punishment or questioning.

"Why did it bring me back here instead of killing me?" Aurora asked.

"He never wanted to harm you, mother. All he wanted was to reason out with you but you attacked him. But you provoked him using that monster of yours. So he had to defend himself! Besides, he brought you back here safely. He even told me and Celestia that he was sorry that he almost tried to kill you! The least you could do is forgive him."

Aurora shook her head,"I'm afraid I can't, Luna."

"Why not?!"

"Because..." Aurora started off as she placed Luna on her bed while she sat down next to the filly."Before your father and I were married, I...I encountered this kind of thing before. In the past, I, too, helped a monster. Only to be betrayed by it. And to be saved by a hero."

Flashback,

"Please! Stop this at once!" Aurora begged as tears rolled down her cheeks.

In front of her, a pitch-black creature with silver armor clad onto its body. Around its chest, the number '029' was embedded. It's white head shone under the moonlight with its cobra-like features glaring at Aurora as it screeched.

Then, a blast of energy erupted from the creature, colliding with Aurora.

To her, she felt as if time had slowed down. Aurora looked up, only to see the creature staring into her eyes. It gave a chuckle as it stroked a finger across her chin,"Thank you, little filly. Thanks to you, I was able to regain my strength. Now, I will let you watch as your parents slowly die before you. Please, make yourself comfortable." A cackle escaped his mouth as he casually walked towards Aurora's father first, who was also slowly turning his head due to the effects of the energy that was released.

CRACK!

Aurora gasped. Before she knew it, the creature had snapped her father's neck cleanly and the golden Alicorn fell motionlessly to the floor within seconds. The creature cracked his knuckles as he approached Aurora's mother next.

"Please...stop this...I beg of you!" Aurora pleaded but to no avail.

The creature merely laughed as he gripped the azure Alicorn neck. But then...

BEEP! BEEP!

Structures of flat land with railings and lamps materialized around the creature as was assaulted by three different colored objects. The first, was an orange colored object that burst into flames as it circled around the creature while the green object fired spikes at the creature, destroying its impenetrable armor and the last purple object projected multiple copies of itself before crashing into the creature.

The creature fell onto his back, releasing Aurora's mother and returning time to its usual speed.

"You cur! Who are you!"

Aurora and her mother embraced each other as tears flowed down their faces, tears of joy to be exact. Then, they looked back to see their savior. But there was nobody there.

Footsteps were then heard as a figure emerged from the shadows with its glowing white eyes. As it stood in the moonlight, it revealed that it was a humanoid being clad in red armor that protected a black bodysuit while a tire rested around its body in a diagonal way.

"It can't be! Are you a...Kamen rider?!" The creature questioned.

The being kept quiet. Instead, it advanced towards the creature with its fists clenched tightly. The creature stumbled backwards as he tried to get away from the newcomer. He turned, only to be grabbed by the neck by the being. Then, the being raised him into the air and tossed him out of the hole on the castle wall.

The creature fell onto the ground with a thud.

"Who are you?" Aurora asked.

Again, the being kept silent as it leaped down and landed on his feet while the creature got up and snarled."I don't know what you are, but no one stands in my way!" He threw a fist but it was caught by the being, who countered it with its own fist.

Sparks flew off the creature's armor as he fell on his back. The being flicked its wrist as it kicked the creature onto his front. Then, the being slammed a foot onto the creature before turning the lever on its belt and tapping the button on its brace and pushing the object on its brace down once,

- Hissastu! Full Throttle: Speed! -

Then, the being lifted the creature up and tossed him.

As he got up again, four spinning tires materialized around him before they slowly moved closer to him while a roaring noise was heard as a strange machine appeared and circled the being, creating a wall of flashing red light. As the tires fully closed in on the creature, he was shot towards the being as it jumped at the wall of red light being it before it started bouncing around aimlessly, dealing damage to the creature as it did as if they both were in a pinball machine.

With one final kick, the creature was then launched towards the castle, only to be stopped by the machine while the being slide across the floor before it halt with a screech. Before they both knew it, the creature exploded into flames, leaving behind a floating projection of the number '029' that flew off in a hurry.

Both Aurora and her mother then came out of the castle to greet the mysterious armored hero.

"Thank you, strange hero. We are in your debt." Aurora's mother spoke. Before the being could finally speak, a blast was heard and it quickly ran in front of the two with its arms spread opened before sparks appeared around its body.

Purple projectiles were being fired at them and most of it collided with the being's armor until one of it slipped passed and hit Aurora's mother.

Aurora gasped in shock at what she was seeing. Before this, her father was killed. Now, it was her mother. She fell beside her mother's motionless body and sobbed before she heard a scream. She turned and saw that the being who had protected her was running towards the source of the shooter. Then, a portal appeared and the being ran into it without a second thought.

"Who was it that saved you?" Luna asked.

"I do not know, Luna. For it was too late for me to ask when those shots were fired. Those shots were the cause of my sorrowful years, Luna. My parents were killed before me and I was forced to watch them die. But thanks to that hero, I was alive and afterwards, I became queen of my kingdom before I met your father and became queen of Everfree. Til this day, Luna, I am trying to find the hero who saved me. So that I could thank it, whoever or whatever it might be."

Then, the door opened.

A guard walked in and gasped,"Your Highness! How did you get here?"

Aurora sighed,"It's a long story, guard. Is King Solaris back?"

The guard nodded,"Yes, he is. He came back with only one guard, your Highness. He said that he rest of the guards were killed by the creatures who inhabit the forest that had emerged. King Solaris instructed me to bring both his daughters to the Throne Room for a 'family discussion' as he would say. He is also waiting for you as well."

Nodding, Aurora spoke,"Thank you. You may take your leave now. Luna, come. We must meet your father." Luna gave a nod before they both got up and made their way towards their destination.

Why? Why did I even thought about killing her?

Project D stared at his reflection in the water of the lake as he wondered about what he had done. He regretted it. He regret that he almost killed the mother of two of his friends. Surely he would not hear the end of it. There was no way that they would ever forgive him for what he had almost accomplished.

Beside him, the Inves that he had fought when it was under the Queen's control was standing next to him. In Project D's hand was the Lockseed that the Queen had dropped before he had sent her back to the castle where she belonged.

"She was able to control you, huh? I guess I messed with a powerful family then." The Inves nodded which made Project D chuckled.

He took out his Spider Memory and gazed at it. How will he be able to use the Memory's true power? That question ran through his mind, removing everything else as he tried to find an answer to his question.

"Why do you even bother, master?"

Project D turned to see Bat walking up to him. He turned back to the water and replied,"It's because I care for those two. They're my friends and I wouldn't dare to hurt anyone close to them. Now I'm sure that they won't forgive me after what I almost did."

Bat scoffed,"Those two are nothing more then distraction, master. What's more important is that you find out how did their mother even get her hooves on this Kaiju. It seems a bit suspicious that these harmless and defenseless creatures suddenly got their hands on creatures of mass destruction. I suggest you investigate this at once, master."

A sigh escaped Project D's mouth and he handed the Lockseed to Bat before getting up,"My reason of living is to keep those two safe. I do not investigate things like this. Isn't there anyone else who can do that?"

Before Bat could reply, the Inves tackled Project D to the ground. Bat dropped the Lockseed as she brought out her dagger. Then, vines sprouted from the ground and wrapped around her legs, tripping her. Now, Bat was left with no other choice than to watch her master battle the Inves head on.

"What's gotten into you?!" Project D cried as he pushed the Inves off of him.

The Inves screeched as it knocked its head a few times before it charged at Project D, who's blade had extended out to block the Inves's attack."What ever's going on, I guess there's no choice but to destroy this creature if this continues."

Seeing that he had a free hand, Project D grabbed the Inves by its neck, lifting it up as it struggled to break free. Then, Project D raised his blade towards the Inves's neck. For a moment, Project D was prepared to finish off the Inves, but a second opinion appeared in his mind. Why kill something that's living?

The Inves took this time to its advantage as it broke free from Project D's grip and it kicked Project D in his stomach, knocking the Kaiju down onto the ground.

"Master!" Bat cried as she tried to break free but to no avail.

Growling, the Shika Inves brought its foot down and started to stomp on Project D's body, sending sparks in every direction.

Just then, feathers appeared everywhere and those around the Inves exploded, throwing the Inves into the water.

Project D stared in amazement as he got up. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned his head, only to see a female Kaiju cloaked with a feather-like dress. The same one that had appeared when Solaris had been attacked.

The Shika Inves screeched as it leaped out of the water and charged towards them.

The newcomer, however, raised her hand and a blast of energy was released, knocking down the Shika Inves before she turned towards Project D."Be warned. If you continue down this path, there will be no turning back. Will you fight? Or will you give up? The choice is yours, Project D. Your choice will be your destiny."

Project D eyed the newcomer with interest as his blade sheathed itself into his wrist."My destiny?"

Nodding, the newcomer pointed towards his belt,"You hold the power to change the course of fate. Will you use it for good or evil?"

"I..."

"There will be no turning back once you decide, Project D. No matter what, nothing can be changed once it is done."

Once again, the Shika Inves got up.

Project D turned his attention to the Inves and advanced towards it with his belt's gem glowing."Henshin!" A glow engulfed the Kaiju as he soon emerged as Crusader.

He took out his gun and switched it into its Saber Mode.

- Crusade Saber! Stand by! -

The Inves attacked first with a swing of its fist, only to be blocked by Project D's blade.

A strong breeze appeared as leaves from the ground flew into the air and swirled around Project D, the Shika Inves and the new Kaiju, leaving Bat out of the battle as she was still trying to free herself.

"The fate that I seek..."

Project D shoved the Inves back as he swung his sword, landing a blow on the Inves's armor. Then, he threw a fist towards the Shika Inves and it fell onto the ground with a thud.

"I seek the path to protect."

The female Kaiju shook her head,"No. That's not what you desire. You are not following the path of your heart. Instead, you're following the path that you see with your eyes. Listen to your heart, Project D. Because it holds the path that you seek."

Project D froze in place. Listen to his heart? What did that meant? How was he even going to listen to it anyway? Then, he felt it. A hand pressed against his shoulder and he saw the female Kaiju smiling. At that moment, something within his chest sparked and he felt a flame being ignited within him. He clutched his Crusade Saber tightly as he threw it aside.

He gave a cry as his Crusader armor faded away, returning him back into a Kaiju while the blue gem glowed.

Once he had stopped, he faced the female Kaiju,"The path I seek...is to vanquish evil from this place! To protect those I care for, I will do whatever I can to destroy the evil! No matter how tough, no matter how intimidating they might be, I will not give up on my true path!"

Then, the Spider Memory in his hand flashed for a second.

Project D raised it up and a voice entered his head,"Well done, Project D. It seems you have finally found something that you are determine to accomplish. I, Kumo, will grant you my strength to achieve what you desire! Use my powers as you see fit, Project D. For we are one."

As the blue gem stopped glowing, it changed into a Lost Driver. Project D tuned to the Spider Memory and tapped its button.

- Spider! -

Next, he inserted the Memory into the Memory Slot of the Lost Driver and turned it into a diagonal position.

- Spider! -

Soon, the familiar brownish-black shards materialized as they spiraled around his body and merged onto him. An armor was soon formed as four pairs of spider legs appeared on Project D's back while a small mechanical spider materialized on his wrist. Then, his pair of red glowing visors appeared as golden lines traced down his body, completing the transformation.

Project D gazed at his new armor."Hmm...this armor is new compared to the Kumo armor I had previously. Perhaps Crusader had an additional power I didn't know of."

Less talking, more fighting!

He smirked at the voice belonging to Kumo. With a flick of his wrist, he charged at the Shika Inves, who also charged back as they both clashed.

They both threw punches at each other, which looked as if they both were on even grounds as their speeds were equal. Then, Project D blocked one of the Inves's attack and he gave the Inves an uppercut that sent the Inves into the air. Project D raised his hand and aimed the mechanical spider at the Inves before tapping it, releasing needle-like projectiles that protruded the Inves's thick armor.

It screamed in pain as it crashed onto the ground.

Quick! Memory Break!

Project D gave a nod as he removed the Spider Memory from the Memory Slot and inserted it into the belt's right Memory Slot.

- Spider! Maximum Drive! -

"Rider Arachnid Assault!"

Web-strings were fired from the mechanical spider as it wrapped the Inves in a cocoon-like structure. Then, Project D ran up to the Inves as his spider legs were sparking with electricity. When he was close to the Inves, he stopped and waited for the Inves to drop towards him. And once it did, the spider legs sprung into action, dealing a synchronized strike on the Inves, destroying it after a moment of silence passed.

Project D gave a sigh as the explosion cleared away. He turned back to face the female Kaiju and said,"I have already decided my fate. I am prepared to face whatever challenges that will appear."

The female Kaiju smiled as she nodded,"That's good to hear. I wish you all the best. But be warned, your fate can no longer be changed for whatever reason. Time will not go back as you like. You do not have the power to change your fate, but you do have the power to make it happen. Be careful as you progress. There will be those who wish you to die. But I know you won't let that happen."

Without another word, the female Kaiju vanished with a trail of feathers, leaving Project D alone as the leave barrier fell onto the ground.