Chapter 11: Changes A-Coming

As soon as Double D and Eddy returned to the DenLiner, the group set a course back to the present to see what changes had taken place. They let a collective sigh of relief out upon discovery that all the damage caused by the Crab Imagin had been erased, including the death of the last soccer player. For an added bonus, it turned out Jimmy had finally become a regular on the soccer team.

To celebrate their victory they all sat down to a round of coffee and jawbreakers, courtesy of Naomi.

"Thought I was a goner back there," Momotaros huffed out. "But it looks like we got rid of every single trace of that crab bastard."

"For once, please watch your language Momotaros," Double D groused between sips. "But I must agree things might have taken a turn for the worse if it were not for Urataros's timely intervention."

Eddy was laid back in his seat with a jawbreaker bulging through his cheek. "Yeah, we really lucked out with that whole switching bit," he mumbled through a full mouth. "By the way, how the heck did you know about that?"

"Quite simple really," Urataros casually proclaimed. "The Conductor told me."

Eddy stared incredulously "What?! When the heck did that geezer come by to tell you that?!"

"And more importantly, why didn't he tell me first?" Momotaros angrily added.

Urataros settled deeper into his seat with a smug look. "As to when, it was just after you people decided to storm off in a huff. As to why, I guess he just trusted me more than the red fool."

Momotaros got out of his seat and menacingly made his way over to Urataros. "What did you just say?"

Urataros got out of his seat as well and confidently stood toe to toe with the irritable ogre. "Don't act so surprised, I really was the wiser choice. Lord knows you wouldn't have had the capacity to memorize something so important."

"That's it, I've had it up to here with you, ya pervy turtle." Momotaros pushed said turtle in the chest. "You're gonna be soup when I'm done with you!"

Urataros pushed back. "Then I'll turn you into a miniature can of peaches!"

Momotaros jumped up and grabbed Urataros by the collar of his vest. "Then I'll turn you into hodgepodge next!"

Urataros reached down to grab Momtaros by his jacket collar in turn. They pulled and pushed at each other, daring the other imagin to make the first move.

"Now boys, no fighting." Naomi interjected. "Here, who wants coffee?" She came from behind the counter with two white mugs in hand, one filled to the brim with steaming black coffee covered in red whip cream and the other with a light brown version similarly topped in blue whip cream.

After one look, the two imagin adolescents stopped their fight and eagerly took the mug intended for them. They simultaneously took a deep draft from their cups and exhaled contently.

"GOOD!" They announced together. It took them a moment to realize that they finally saw eye to eye, but that moment was short lived.

They grunted and quickly turned their backs to each other.

Ed was able to pull his face out of a chocolate cake long enough to speak. "Cool! Now that Urataros is helping us out, we can finally become Ed Force, the Radical Squadron!"

"Not even if my life depended on it,"Urataros stated brusquely. "I never agreed on helping you people, I just needed to get back in your good favor, otherwise life aboard this train would have been very difficult."

"Typical of an imagin," Hana grumbled. "Always looking out for their own gain in everything."

"Tsk, have some more confidence in my motives, dear Hana. I have a larger goal in mind." Urataros set his mug down and gestured in Double D's direction. "And it involves the proper education of our friend Eddward here."

Double D looked up at the turtle with utter confusion. "I beg your pardon? By society's standards I'm a rather educated fellow."

Eddy scoffed. "Yeah, and a teacher's pet, a nerd, a pushover-."

"And a know-it-all," Ed added on.

"Yes, thank you for that my most mature and understanding friends," Double D said tersely. "Anyhow, I fail to see how I lack a 'proper' education."

Urataros shook his head pityingly, using his middle finger to push an imaginary pair of glasses higher up on his beak. "And it pains me even more to see that you don't have a clue as to what it is." He broke away and began strolling up and down the aisle as if lecturing a class. "Self-deception… lying… fabrication is life. Big and small, simple and intricate, we breathe falsehood as much as we do air, and we need it just as significantly. With just one act of deceit, we can change our very reality to suit our desires. Truly the ability to lie is a gift from the gods."

"No wonder he ain't got a shell on his back," Momotaros muttered to himself. "It's so far up his you-know-what, it's making him delusional."

Urataros found himself next to Double D where he propped on elbow onto the boy's shoulder. "It will be my job to enlighten Eddward of the powers of lying, to take him under my wing so to speak. By the time I'm done, he'll be a master fisherman of untruth."

"…Words fail me," Double D said awkwardly.

"No need to thank me, I do this out of the charity of my heart. If I have to trounce a few imagin in the process, so be it. It'll all be for the bigger picture."

"Forget about it, I'm not about to let you corrupt Double D." Hana stated firmly. To emphasize her point, she got in between the two and latched on to Double D's arm defensively.

Fortunately for Double D, everyone was oblivious to the blush on his face that came as a result of being uncomfortable around the opposite sex.

One of the many watches on Naomi's arm began to sound off with a repetitive beep. "My, it's gotten this late so fast?" Naomi stated after checking her watch. "Looks like it's time for you boys to go home."

"Alright then," Eddy he got to his feet. "Time to hit the road, boys." Ed and Double D followed suit and stood up from their seats. They followed after their impromptu leader in their normal order.

"Buh-bye, see ya in the funnies."

"Farewell until tomorrow."

"Catch ya later, people."

With that, the Eds headed out the door in miraculously in Ed's basement.

"See you guys," Hana called after them. "Be sure to come back soon."

Momotaros, Urataros, and Naomi left to go about their own business, but Hana stood in the same spot, staring at the now closed door in thought. She couldn't help but feel a little left out.

Though she had only met the Eds over a span of two weeks, anyone could tell how close the three were after spending just five minutes around them. They laughed together, they triumphed together, and they faced trouble together, even when only one of them had to. When plucked out of the security of the norm and thrown into a chain of surreal events in such a short time, their bonds with one another were more than enough to support them.

Maybe it was because they knew each other far longer than Hana suspected, or maybe it was because they were every inch the outcasts their stories painted them to be, but she had no doubt that they were a family.

"Family…"

Hana had to fight back a tear. The word itself felt so warm, but so very far away. The imagin had robbed her family from her, and she doubted that she would ever see them again.

Hana could still remember the overwhelming fear and confusion that invaded the corners of her mind and heart when sucked from her world and thrown into the Sands of Time. It had been five years ago, but the feelings were all too easily recallable…

The feelings and nothing more.

When her world faded away like vapor in the wind, her memories went with them. She knew she had a loving family, she knew she had meaningful friendships, and she knew she had a home she was fond of, but the details were gone. Her only true memory was her name; Hana couldn't even recall what her mother and father looked like.

Hana built wall after wall in her heart to keep her past under lock and key. She had thrown herself into trying to help other worlds stop the imagin, and after so many years of searching and trying, she had succeeded. So why wasn't she happy?

The burn in her legs finally caught up to her brain, commanding her to sit down. She obeyed glumly and buried her face in her arms.

She just didn't know anymore.

--..--

After bidding his friends farewell, trudging back home to tell his parents that he had been out hanging at the Milk Dipper, and haphazardly doing his homework, it was finally time for the shortest of the Eds to hit the sack.

He went through his usual nighttime routine; brushing his teeth, washing his face, and taking the time to polish his gold pocket watch. With that completed, he crawled into bed and shut off the lights, including his lava lamp and disco ball. Eddy was asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.

Yet rest didn't come so easily.

As soon as his mind had drifted off into the inky depths of slumber, Eddy found himself back on the lake shore of his recurring dream. The silt was the same dingy brown and the water was the same greenish silver, and of course, the boat with four oars drifted ashore right on cue.

Inside was the gold pocket watch, and the words inscribed on the back were still there.

The past should give us hope.

It was all the same, like the time before and the time before that. It was as if this dream's only purpose was to frustrate and keep his brother at the front of his mind, along with every thought associated with him. It was starting to wear him out.

This time around, he received an unexpected surprise.

"Well, this is a rather interesting setting, if not a bit bland in pigment. I don't believe I've ever been here before."

Eddy snapped around to find Double D taking in the scenery.

"What the- Double D? What the heck are you doing here?"

Double D went wide-eyed. "Eddy? Is that really you, not some dream version of you?"

"Well I ain't José Canseco, sock-head."

"Sarcastic and bad-mannered down to a 't'; I couldn't possibly conjure up such a realistic version!" Double D concluded. "This is astounding! We're not only sharing, but communicating in the same dream! I've only read material on such a thing!"

"Yeah well, just remember this is my dream, you're just visiting this time around," Eddy said. "Been having this same stupid dream ever since Chris disappeared, and this should be about the time he appears out on the lake."

Double D squinted his eyes and looked past his compatriot. "You must be correct, because I believe I see him now… Is he actually standing on top of the water?"

Eddy sighed despondently and signaled for Double D to follow. "C'mon, we might as well follow the script. This is the part where I try to paddle out to him, but I reach him too late and he sinks under like a rock."

"Don't be so discouraged, Eddy," Double D encouraged. "Maybe things will be different. Who knows? Maybe my presence here is more than a coincidence. It has to be more; there is no other way to explain such a phenomenon."

"Calm it down, sock-head, it's just a dream." Eddy griped. He hopped into the boat and grabbed the two front oars. "If you want to make yourself useful, get in and help me row. Even in a dream this stuff is tough to do."

Double D complied happily and pushed the boat off as soon as he landed in his seat.

Eddy had to admit that the job of getting the boat out to the center of the lake was much easier with Double D there. With the burden equally distributed between the two, the job was much faster than expected. Eddy actually found himself hoping for a change to the dream's end.

As soon as they were close, Eddy stopped rowing and let the boat's momentum carry him to his brother. He reached a hand out, and much to his elated surprise, his brother reached back to him.

And then it ended. Just when their hands were hairs away from each other, Chris slipped silently and quickly under the lake's surface.

Eddy woke up, but not in a terrified sweat. This time, he met the morning with more of a bleary confusion. With his head still swimming from the events in his vision, Eddy swiftly came to one resolute decision.

"I gotta see Double D."

--..--

For once in his life, Eddy couldn't be more eager to set out for Peach Creek Middle School. He took a brisk shower, donned his regular fall clothing, inhaled his breakfast, and waited for the other two Eds to drop by. His father had already left, and his mother was too busy preparing to leave to have enough time to question her son's unusual behavior.

This isn't to say she didn't find Eddy's newfound interest in his scholastic career an unwanted suspicion; she just wanted to know what had finally made the boy realize the importance of an education.

Eddy practically pounced on his two friends as soon as they rung the doorbell. He dragged Ed and Double D into the kitchen just as soon as his mother made a b-line from the stairs to the front door. He waved her off with his usual goodbye and waited to hear her car start before talking.

Eddy turned to Double D in particular. "Alright sock-head, spill it. Did you have a dream about a lake last night? What do you remember from it?"

Double D threw his hands up in defense. "Slow down, Eddy. Yes, I do remember everything from last night and yes, it really did take place. Somehow in some way, I was able to enter your dream."

Ed looked between his two friends as they engaged in their conversation without him. Unlike his usual semi-willful ignorance of things around him, he was truly confused. "… What?"

"Oh yes, sorry Ed," Double D apologized. "As I'm sure you have picked up, me and Eddy have experienced a phenomenon that borders on the paranormal. I was able to witness firsthand a dream Eddy claims to have recurred for nights unaccountable, and I was able to take an active role in it as well."

"Boy, that's a weight off my shoulders," Ed stated relieved. "Just wanted to be in the loop… Was it in the Netherworld?"

"Um, I'm afraid not Ed."

"Never mind then." With his now disinterest in their conversation, he allowed his mind to drift off to his 'happy place'. His face took on a jovial yet blank expression, a look that functioned as a 'do not disturb' sign.

Double D and Eddy stared at their more free-spirited friend for a good minute to witness any possible signs of awareness. There were none whatsoever.

"Yes well… I'll continue then," Double D said. "In your dream, you said that the same thing would happen over and over again, correct?"

"Right, until you showed up last night. I got closer to Chris then I ever did when I was alone." Eddy took a seat and propped one leg up on the table. "But what I wanna know is how you even got in my dream in the first place."

"And I just might have a theory."

Double D reached into his sweater pockets and fished out the Rider Pass, holding it up for Eddy to see.

The gesture was enough for Eddy to understand. "So what you're saying is that it's the Rider Pass's fault?"

"We both have our own passes yet we make use of the same Terminal Belt. Perhaps our shared dream was nothing more than a side effect of that fact. After all, who's to say what properties this technology possesses? We didn't even know it existed until a little while ago."

"And I'm sure messing with it while being a monster's meat puppet voided a few warranties," Eddy said. "While we're at it, what was that thing you said about our passes choosing us?"

"When I first stated that the Rider Pass attached itself to me, I must admit that I found the idea rather farfetched myself, but now there are too many factors to take into consideration."

"Really? Like what?"

"Like for the fact that my pass made itself known to Urataros and not me. It was in my pocket, but I wasn't the one to find it. I know this is going to sound ridiculous, but I believe that the pass was testing him. Moreover, the very moment Urataros decided to fight the Crab Imagin for the first time, he passed that test."

Eddy pulled his own Rider Pass out and placed it on the table. "Then how come Momotaros never got tested like that? I mean, I was the one that ended up getting the pass, not him."

"Because he didn't need to be tested," Double D explained. "The moment you faced that Bat Imagin, Momotaros freely showed his desire to fight. He told you himself that he wanted to battle, didn't he?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Eddy rubbed his chin in thought. "So in other words, our passes wanted us to be in synch with our imagin?"

Double D nodded. "That is what I surmised." He pulled a corner of his hat loose in order to scratch his scalp. "Oh dear, I'm more than a bit bothered that we can only rely on assumptions."

"Like we have a choice?" Eddy shrugged. "In the last two weeks we've been steamrolled by stuff straight out of Ed's comic books. And just yesterday…" Eddy shuddered. "We saw someone who should be dead come back to life."

Double D shivered at the memory of seeing the soccer player's bleeding corpse. "Yes, that child is alive and well now, but the fact of the matter is that we saw him die. We can only thank our lucky stars that we were able to reverse that tragedy."

"What the heck are we messing with Double D?"

Of course the question was rhetorical, but Double D couldn't help but ask himself the same thing.

"Well I for one have been keeping a detailed journal of our recent exploits," Double D admitted. "It's the only way that I can keep track of all of my thoughts lately. There are so many questions that I have, but not a single answer to satisfy them."

"Amen to that." Eddy grabbed his head and face-planted into the tabletop. "Ugh; time traveling trains and demons, becoming superheroes, and a Biology test third period. I'm gettin' a migraine here!"

"Indeed, I dare say that we have bitten off more than we can chew." Double D put his Rider Pass away and readjusted his backpack. "I would love to go deeper into this, but we've run out of time. We better hurry if we want to make it to homeroom."

"Fine, let's get a move on." Eddy grabbed up his backpack and slapped Ed across the back of his head. "Hey mono-brow, wake up! We gotta get going already!"

Ed sprung to attention in an instant. "If I wasn't me, I would be someone else." Having shared his complex revelation, Ed was content to follow his friends out the door.

Eddy lagged behind so that he could lock the house on the way out. When that was accomplished, he quickly took back his spot at the front of the three and led them to Peach Creek Middle School.

--..--

Homeroom was uneventful as usual. The Eds weren't as late as they thought, as they still had enough time to sit back and watch other students trek into the classroom after them. Among the stragglers was Edwin.

Ever since the argument between Eddy and Edwin, the two boys had gone back to the status quo; ignoring each other's existence entirely. It wasn't difficult to do, as they had ample experience in the task. If Eddy didn't, Edwin most certainly did, how else was he able to avoid the Eds ever since Chris disappeared?

It looked like Edwin was back to being a loner.

The teacher decided it was time to bring order to the class. He stood up from his seat, instantly gaining the attention he wanted. "Settle down people, it's time to take roll. Okay, let's start with… Nazzerela Ackerman?"

"Here, dude."

"Rolf Cadwӕlläder?"

"I am here."

"Edwin Gladlocke?"

"Um, here."

"Lee Kanker?"

"Whadda ya want already?! Oh right, I'm here."

"Marie Kanker?"

"Whatever."

"May Kanker?"

"Here, teach."

"Eddy McGee?"

"Yeah I'm here."

"Eddward Peterson?"

"Present, sir."

"Edward Jerry O'Kelly?"

"That's me!"

"Kevin Stenbuck?"

"Right here."

"Johnny Tūbiefoar?"

"Don't forget Plank!"

While the teacher continued to go through roll call, The Eds started to whisper amongst themselves. They talked about nothing in particular, deciding to set aside all Masked Rider business for after school. If any topic they spoke of had meaning, it would be the one that involved the approaching school dance. Scamming was becoming harder as a result, as most students were saving up for it.

"Hey teach, ya forgettin' someone," Lee stated.

"Your right, terribly sorry, I almost forgot. Everyone, I'd like to announce that we have a new student with us today."

Eddy snapped to attention, as a new student meant only one thing. "New student? You mean a sucker fresh off the market? I think Christmas just came early, boys!"

"Eddy I'm begging you, please don't take advantage of the poor fellow," Double D pleaded wearily. "If anything, we should extend the olive branch and make our newest addition to the student body feel as welcome as possible."

"Yeah, then I can show them my toenail collection!" Ed agreed enthusiastically. "That's always an ice breaker!"

"Uh… I think you should belay that for awhile Ed, at least until the new student becomes more familiar with your… mannerisms."

"Okey dokey Double D."

"Hold on a sec, how the heck did Lee know there was a new kid?" Eddy brought up.

The question brought Ed's and Double D's plans to a screeching halt.

"That certainly was an unpleasant omen, wasn't it?" Double D stated. "Still, we can't jump to conclusions…"

"My tummy just screamed guys," Ed informed his friends.

All attention went back to the teacher.

"Now would the new student please make herself known?"

From the middle of the class, a brown-headed girl stood to her feet. Her slightly kinked hair was medium length, the right side falling down to scrape the top of her shoulder while the left side was tucked neatly behind her ear. A single lock swayed in front of her tanned forehead as she straightened out her gray-blue longsleeve. The cuffs were widened out and the shirt's hem was tucked into a pair of black hip huggers wrapped in belt after belt along the waist.

"Class, I'd like you to give a warm welcome to the newest member of the student body, Bethany Kanker from Townsville."

The Eds, along with the other cul-de-sac kids, blanched at once.

"My tummy just started screaming louder, guys."

Double D's hands trembled on his desk. "I think all of our stomachs have, Ed."

"Holy cripes, they're multiplying!" Eddy exclaimed.

"Do you have anything you'd like to tell the class?" The teacher asked.

The new girl lethargically faced the teacher with a half-lidded, completely dead-panned expression. She said nothing, nor did she move an inch. She merely stared unblinking.

"Beth don't talk that much," Lee said. "But she's got a great personality."

"I see… Well, I'm sure she's just a bit nervous about being in a new school." The teacher concluded. "I have no doubt your cousin will fit in just fine with you and your sisters' help, Ms. Lee."

As Beth retook her seat, the students situated around her swore that the air suddenly dropped a few degrees. In particular, Edwin felt a deep feeling of apprehension well inside his gut. Anyone who didn't have their head sealed in a block of wax knew the rumors about the Kankers, but not everyone had actually seen them in action. Edwin sincerely hoped things would stay that way for him.

Half absorbed in his thoughts, he accidently pushed one of two pencils on his desk to the floor.

Beth snapped around with unexpected swiftness to face the boy seated directly behind her. As soon as her listless eyes met his, a furious chill twanged up and down Edwin's spine.

For one agonizing minute she did nothing more but hold the boy in an unsettling gaze. Finally, she broke eye contact and turned back around in her seat.

Edwin wasted no time averting his eyes to his desk and shaking off what felt to be a generous coating of frost inside of his stomach. That girl's eyes… They were totally empty, but piercing at the same time.

Edwin decided he could wait until the end of homeroom to retrieve his pencil. To compensate, he removed the other pencil and placed two pens to either side of his would have to be careful about where he stared in homeroom for now on; the idea of catching the new girl's eye wasn't too appealing.

Unseen by him or anyone else, the shadow of an enigmatic smile crept its way across Beth's face.

--..--

Fifth period rolled around and the cul-de-sac kids plus three found themselves together again. Many times they wondered if the class roster was set up to put them all together on purpose, but it didn't make sense to group them for a class like Art.

And it was just downright vindictive to stick them in a room with all three Kanker Sisters. The school faculty would never base their decisions around how miserable the students would be as a result, right?

Once again, everyone broke off into their own cliques. The Eds (under Eddy's instructions) were trying to counterfeit money out of brush paint and green paper, Kevin had convinced Nazz to work with him on a joint project, and the Kankers were too busy fighting over supplies to get anything done. Sarah was recreating a scene from a fairy tale book, and oddly enough, Jimmy had opted not to help her so that he could work on his own masterpiece. That didn't necessarily mean they couldn't work in close proximity of each other though.

That left Johnny and Rolf to work by themselves.

Eddy was fumbling with a marker as he attempted to make a clumsy tracing of Benjamin Franklin. "Stupid marker" he said irritably, "keeps slipping off the paper. It must be broken or sumthin'."

Double D rolled his eyes at his friend's immature statement while cutting out a neat rectangle from construction paper. "I highly doubt your marker has any effect on your eye-hand coordination, Eddy." He set the freshly created rectangle down into a neat pile of other similar rectangles, each one meticulously cut in the same shape and size. "Which brings me back to the futility of this 'money-making' endeavor…"

"Whatever, save it for a book and keep cutting, sock-head." Distracted, Eddy toppled over a container full of glue onto his collection of crudely drawn presidents. "Aah! My livelihood is ruined!"

"Easy come easy go, I suppose," Double D chuckled.

"Like bagels, huh Double D?" Ed tried to relate. "All finished you guys!"

Eddy quickly got over his loss and ran around to see Ed's work. Surprisingly, Ed had really outdone himself. The feel of the material the money was made out of felt like the real deal, and every single symbol was drawn out perfectly. The paint was carefully applied with a precise touch to make the fake notes look authentic, and the shapes of each bill were amiss of any flaw. However...

"Ed, you dolt, this is Yen!" Eddy shouted "What the heck are we gonna do with Japanese cash?!"

"Live the life of riley?" Ed offered.

That wasn't exactly the answer Eddy was looking for. The consequence was Ed getting his hand-made money literally shoved down his throat.

Ed chewed on a few loose bills thoughtfully before swallowing and giving a thumbs up. "Good, but needs more salt," He let loose a noisy belch in Eddy's face.

Double D could do nothing but sigh and shake his head disapprovingly as Eddy decided to grab an easel stand and chase Ed around the room. Since it was obvious that their plans had once again gone down the drain, Double D decided to glance around the room to see what works everyone else was in the middle of.

Jimmy's project in particular caught his eye.

"Salutations Jimmy," Double D called out. "Forgive me for interrupting, but your painting interested, and I was wondering just what exactly you were so diligently working on."

Jimmy pulled away from his masterpiece and beamed proudly. "Glad you like it, Double D. I was just in the middle of what I hope will be my greatest piece yet."

It was a known fact that Jimmy was quite the artist, the first place ribbon he won from a tri-county art contest could attest to that. Even his offhanded doodles were of premium caliber, good enough to feature in the school's newspaper. When he set his mind to his work, he could produce some of the most awe-inspiring examples of art that you would never suspect came from a child his age.

Sarah ran over to Double D and giddily dragged him by the arm to where Jimmy and herself were stationed. "You have to see what Jimmy's making, Double D. It's amazing!" Sarah released his arm only when she had pulled him directly in front of Jimmy's easel.

Double D unruffled his shirt and took his first careful look of Jimmy's masterpiece. His eyes almost bugged out of their sockets.

"Ed, Eddy," Double D called out to his friends. "I think there is something you need to see."

Eddy stopped and set his makeshift club down. Double D's voice sounded more apprehensive than it usually did about… well, anything. "Come on lumpy, I'll hurt you later."

"I'll pencil you in for two."

The two Eds casually made their way over to their friend and took a look at Jimmy's painting. Their reactions were the same as his.

Eddy grabbed a nearby chair to fall back in. "You gotta be kidding me."

"So, do you guys like it?" Jimmy sought their approval. He sounded confident that they would.

"It's a very good painting, but I must ask you something," Double D stated more than a bit perturbed. "How did you ever get the idea to draw this… masked character?"

The painting was a full body portrait of Masked Rider Den-O's Rod Form. Even the figure's stance denoted a bit of Urataros's cool attitude.

Jimmy had to look off into space to find the answer to Double D's question. "You know… I don't know that myself. The idea just came to me, and it was so easy to draw, it was as if I had seen this person in real life. In fact, I think I have."

The Eds exchanged nervous glances.

"Me too," Sarah said. "But I don't know where…"

Now the Eds were sweating bullets.

"Cool, I've seen this guy too!" Nazz said. She had soundlessly snuck up on them while they were in the middle of assessing Jimmy's work. "Is this like, another school's mascot?"

"It's not like any mascot I've ever seen," Kevin said. Of course he had followed Nazz. "But now that you mention it, he does look kinda familiar."

The attention Jimmy's art was getting had attracted the rest of the cul-de-sac kids, and each one gave their own opinion.

"Rolf feels that he knows this masked man. Hair like the crown of a rooster boy Jimmy's art suddenly fills Rolf with the urge to feast on crab."

"I don't get it either, buddy," Johnny told his ever-present pal Plank. Suddenly, Johnny's expression went from his usual goofy smile to a look of puzzlement. "What's that, Plank? What do ya mean 'are we're dumb'?! It's not like you remember something the rest of us can't! What's that? You do?"

"Okay, it's time we left Jimmy alone to finish his work," Double D desperately attempted to break up the crowd. "We've all had a good look, so let's just return to our stations and-."

"Wait, I have one more picture to show you guys," Jimmy announced. He replaced the current portrait with another one, one that held another shocking picture for the Eds.

Masked Rider Den-O in Sword Form.

"I got this one!" Kevin exclaimed. "I can't remember where or how, but I definitely know this guy! Something about trains and monsters and a girl…"

It was inevitable for Ed to yell out something at the most inconvenient time.

"We've been found out!" He cried. "Now everyone will know of our terrible secrets that we didn't want them to know!"

Eddy sprung into action and put Ed into a headlock. "Shut up burr-head, you're gonna blow our cover sky high!"

Double D face-palmed miserably.

"What secrets?" Nazz asked. "Wait, do you guys know the people in the paintings?"

Kevin eyed the Eds with suspicious contempt. "Yeah, that's right. I think you dorks have something to do with this. Cough up, how come everyone remembers seeing this guy but nothing else about him?"

"Yes, Rolf too would like to know what conspiracy the shady ne'er-do-well Ed boys are in cahoots with." Rolf pulled back his sleeves. "Reveal your hidden knowledge now before the son of a shepherd rips them from you like Nano's knuckle hair!"

The cul-de-sac kids had quickly reverted to mob mentality, backing the Eds into the corner of the room. Not wanting to be left out, the Kankers joined in.

"Leave the interrogation to the professionals, people." Lee said. "I've got the lipstick."

"I've got the chains," Marie stated.

"I've got the big, goofy one." It went without saying who announced that.

Just when the crowd was about to close-in, the bell signaling break rang. Not being ones to let providence slip through the fingers, the Eds acted while the mob was distracted. Ed barged head first right through their ranks, Double D slipped through their legs, and Eddy vaulted right over their heads.

They made a mad dash for the door, leaving the kids in their dust. They didn't stop running until they made it two corners down the hallway. Now all they had to do was wait for the busy student body to fill the halls and hide them in plain sight.

Eddy wiped the sweat from his brow. "Whew, that was close. I just need to catch my breath," he shot Ed a death glare, "and then I'm gonna kill you!"

"You're just as much to blame as Ed, Eddy," Double D stated matter-of-factly. He slumped to the floor with the lockers as his support. "Everyone would have dismissed Ed's outburst as a random blurb until you gave it credibility."

"It's Ed's fault for screaming out in the first place! That idiot was two seconds away from spilling the beans about everything!"

"Don't hate the player, hate the game," Ed said.

Eddy caught his second wind and tackled Ed to the ground. Just as he was about to smash his fist into his face, both Eds were insensitively kicked out of the way.

Eddy got back to his feet. "Hey, what's the big idea?! Whoever just did that is gonna be sorr-." He set sights on the culprit and glared. "Oh, it's just you."

Edwin returned the glare and pushed past him. He came to stand in front of Double D who quickly moved out of his way. With all obstacles gone, he was able to reach his locker and throw the door open.

Double D went to stand by his friends. "It seems Edwin is still holding a grudge against us."

"It's because he can't get over himself!" Eddy made sure he was loud enough for Edwin to hear.

Edwin glanced back over his shoulder and snorted. "I still have thorns from that rose bush you threw me in." He hurriedly fumbled around, not wanting to spend any more time around the Eds then he had to.

Eddy was able to catch a quick peek of the arrangement Edwin had set up inside his locker. His books were stacked according to size, the large ones at each end and the smaller ones in the middle. A duffle bag was squashed at the bottom of the locker in a way so that it reached each side evenly, and two rulers were taped to either side of the locker walls. Both were perfectly parallel to each other.

Eddy just found something to rib the boy about.

"Still having kittens over that symmetry thing, huh?" Eddy taunted. "Geez, get over it all ready."

"Go away." Edwin slammed his locker door close and proceeded to leave the Eds behind.

"Your shoe laces are uneven," Eddy called after to him. "Just thought that might be something you'd wanna know. Your left sweater string is shorter than the right one too."

Edwin froze in his tracks for a moment. Suddenly, he went into a sprint towards the bathrooms, mindlessly pushing people out of the way.

Double D frowned at the shortest Ed, who was now rolling on the floor with laughter. "Eddy, shame on you! You know that Edwin's obsessive compulsive!"

"What, I was just messing with him," Eddy argued. "Besides he kicked me, so I really don't care if he gets stuck in front of a mirror all day. Now come on, we have one more class." Eddy got back to his feet and briskly walked off.

Knowing that Eddy was right, Double D gave up and followed after him. Ed wasn't too far behind, though he did look a bit dejected.

Edwin had made it halfway to the restrooms when he collided with another student, knocking both of them to the ground.

"Sorry about that," Edwin apologized. "I should've watched where I was going." He got up and offered a hand to the other student. He didn't realize who they were until they too got to their feet.

Beth gripped Edwin's hand tightly and locked her eyes with his in the same blank stare as before.

Just like back in homeroom, it accomplished sending a rattling chill through the boy.

Edwin broke away from her gaze and moved to free himself from Beth's grasp. It took three solid tugs before he was able to break loose. He muttered one more apology before rushing off to the restroom, now motivated to distance himself from the creepy girl as well as to make sure his appearance was in perfect symmetry.

Beth watched the boy go with an air of indifference. While observing his retreating figure, she thoughtfully rubbed the fingers of her hand together; the hand that had just been holding Edwin's a second ago.

The hand that had slipped a band around the boy's wrist unnoticed.

Appearing as suddenly as it disappeared, a devilish grin spread across Beth's features.

--..--

The last class of the day went by fast and the student body was once again free to do whatever they wanted with the rest of the day. They piled out of the front doors in troves, flooding the sidewalks and street. Some students went for the bike racks, others walked, and others boarded the buses.

The Eds were stuck behind the school, waiting for their neighbors in the cul-de-sac to be long gone.

Eddy was preoccupied with kicking a discarded can against the wall while Ed was absorbed in watching a row of ants climb their way from the crack in the sidewalk to the dumpster. Double D was pacing back and forth in thought.

Eddy kicked the can at an angle that made it ricochet off and the wall and land at Double D's feet. "Hey Double D, can ya send that back?"

Double D continued to pace, walking right over the can.

"Double D, the can?"

Double D continued to pace.

"Seriously, kick it back."

Still, Double D paced back and forth, always stepping over the can.

"HEY SOCK-HEAD!" Eddy yelled at the top of his lungs. That got Double D's attention.

"Sorry Eddy." Double D kicked the can back and resumed pacing.

"Geez, what's with you? You get a 'B' in something for once?"

Double D stopped moving around and shook his head. "No, I'm brooding over the event that took place in Art today."

"What about it?"

The sock-headed Ed gawked at the shorter boy with a disbelieving look. "Eddy, you must be somewhat bothered by the fact that everyone knows of Den-O."

Eddy kicked his can away and faced Double D. "I don't follow."

Double D puffed out heavily, due more to anxiety than anything else. "When the timeline corrects itself after the elimination of an imagin, we should be the only ones that can recall any significant events that take place prior."

"Duh, I know that already," Eddy said.

"No one can even remember the imagin, that much we know."

"Right."

"But somehow, anyone we come in contact with while assuming the role of Den-O can remember Den-O."

Eddy took a second to contemplate Double D's clarification. "…I see what you're gettin' at."

Double D threw his hands up happily. "Good! Now you see the dilemma that we now have t-"

"We can finally come clean and rub how we're awesome superheroes in everybody's face! We'll be on the gravy train for life!" Eddy lunged at Double D and threw an arm around his shoulder. "Picture it, Double D; movie deals, product lines, and all the jawbreakers we can eat! We're gonna be kings, baby!"

Double D sighed tiredly and shrugged Eddy off of his person. "I'm afraid you're living a pipe dream, Eddy. The Conductor made it clear that no one is to know about the imagin menace."

"But everyone already knows, so there's no point to keeping stuff under wraps anymore!"

Double D shook his head. "No, everyone doesn't know. Aside for the existence of Masked Rider Den-O, they have no idea that you and I make up his secret identity, nor can they even remember where they have seen Den-o in the first place."

Eddy's shoulders slumped dejectedly. "Aw man, nothing ever goes my way."

"In any case, we need to bring this to Hana's attention,before matters go beyond our ability to handle them."

Ed, who had caught the end part of Double D's and Eddy's conversation, pulled back his sleeve to check his watch. "It is four o' three and thirty five seconds!"

"Thank you, Ed," Double D said. "It appears we will be able to get back to the DenLiner without taking it off track, though heaven only knows what schedule that train has to keep."

"Yeah, whatever." Eddy pulled his Rider Pass out. "Come on, whatever's in that dumpster is startin' to get to me."

The Eds fell in line and walked around to the front of the school. If the building was still open, they would be able to get back to the DenLiner from any available door inside.

--..--

With the wrestling season coming up, tryouts for the team were being held after school in the gym. The team hopefuls consisted of some of the strongest students at school, ensuring that this year's season would be one of its best yet. This also made competition for a spot on the team that much more difficult.

Since he had picked up wind of the wrestling team, Rolf had been preparing for the day tryouts would be held. Finally the school offered a sport in which Rolf could truly exercise his immense strength, and hopefully get a challenge while at it. Before even stepping into the gym, Rolf had decided to psych himself up in front of the mirror in one of the school's restrooms.

He continuously splashed wave after wave of ice cold water in his face in an attempt to focus his mind. As strong as he was, he knew there was always someone better out in the world.

Heaven thank the fates for not giving the air-headed Ed boy enough interest in the team to be a potential opponent for Rolf.

Still, who knew what was waiting for him in that gym. He needed to be prepared, and the first step to that was having the proper mindset.

As Rolf continued to cloud his vision in the running faucet, a floating orb of light soared in through the open window and directly into Rolf's back, disappearing in a quick flash that went unnoticed by the foreign student.

Small streams of sand began to fall from his shirt sleeves.

A/N: This chapter was meant to accomplish several different goals.

The first was to give more depth into the Eds' situation. It would be rather ridiculous to assume that they would go through what they have so far without being a bit needful for some answers. As the story continues, the need to step back and see what exactly it is that they want to accomplish will continue to come up.

The second was to give Edwin some quirks so he wasn't just an empty figure in the story. Hopefully it'll help him blend in with the other kids and not be as Gary Stu-ish as I'm pretty sure he is (though I did kind of spring him on you people out of nowhere.)

The third was to make another Kanker for a future event to take place later in the story.

And finally, the fourth was to break the long period in which I haven't updated.

Thank you for reading, and please review.