Chapter 3
The Story
Disclaimer: Own nothing, not Eva or Ghost Rider, Just Like My Soul!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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(Tokyo-3 Park, nearly one o'clock in the morning)
"Who's Blackheart?" Shinji asked.
"Literally... he's the son of Mephisto, the devil." Blaze said.
"Nice." Kaji said sarcastically.
"But what does he have to do with Second Impact?" Fuyutsuki asked. "I thought the explosion of Adam, the First Angel, was the cause."
"It was. But who do you think woke him up? A group of careless humans?" Blaze asked.
"You mean..." Shinji gasped.
"Everything that happened to us..." Kaji asked.
"Everything that happened to the world..." Fuyutsuki asked.
"What happened to my mother..." Shinji asked.
"Was caused by Blackheart?" Kaji finished.
"Yes." Blaze answered.
"But why?" Shinji asked.
"It is an ancient universal law that innocent souls who are killed by demons, by whatever means, become slaves to his will. And in Blackheart's case... recruits for his army."
"What?" Shinji gasped.
"You Mean Blackheart Has Three Billion Souls In His Army? At His Disposal?" Kaji gasped in horror at what that meant.
"Not quite." Blaze reassured.
"What do you mean?" Fuyutsuki calmly asked.
"Blackheart cannot lay claim to these souls just yet. Not ALL of them."
"He can't? Why not?"
"Because Blackheart isn't the devil, so he can't lay claim to that many souls so quickly. Technically they are his, but they are held in trust by his father, and he is allowed only so many souls a year." Blaze explained.
"Sort of like a kid who gets an allowance from a trust fund." Kaji said.
"Something like that."
"And how many souls does he get each year?" Fuyutsuki asked.
"In his case, one hundred of his choice." Blaze answered.
"Which means he's got... 1500 strong souls at his disposal, since Second Impact?" Shinji quickly counted, gasping as he realized the high number.
"Yes. But he isn't so stupid to unleash all of them now."
"Good thing. I seriously doubt we'd stand a chance against a 1000+ battalion."
"But what does he need that many souls for anyway?" Shinji asked.
"Blackheart's ultimate goal is to overthrow his father, Mephisto, and take over as ruler of hell. But to do so..." Blaze explained again.
"He's needs an army strong enough." Fuyutsuki reasoned.
"Three billion souls is pretty strong." Kaji stated.
"But six and a half would be stronger." Blaze stated.
"So Blackheart is going to try to initiate a Third Impact. Correct?" Fuyutsuki said.
"Correct. But Mephisto is fully aware of this, which is why he only allows Blackheart so many souls per year." Blaze said.
"But at that rate, it would take Blackheart... 65 Million Years before he would have an army strong enough to be able to overthrow his father." Shinji said, calculating again.
"And if Mephisto knows all about this..." Kaji surmised.
"Even if Blackheart killed off the rest of mankind using Third Impact, he'd still have to wait millions of years before he could do anything." Fuyutsuki stated.
"And he doesn't sound like the patient type." Shinji said.
"What do you mean by that?" Kaji asked.
"He used Second Impact to try and kill 6 billion people. Sounds like he was in a hurry." the boy said.
"Pretty much." Blaze stated.
"But by then Mephisto would have figured out a means to stop Blackheart." Kaji added.
"Not unless he had a means capable of weakening his father's hold on the souls to release all of them into his service." Blaze said.
"What kind of means?"
"Say... the hellfire of three powerful justice-seeking souls?"
The trio gasped, looking at each other and realizing what he meant.
"He want's us?"Shinji gasped.
"Unfortunately, yes." Blaze stated.
"And you gave us the power Blackheart needs!" Kaji shouted.
"Yes." he said dejectedly.
"But why?" Shinji asked.
"Because this power, like all powers, is a double-edged sword." Blaze explained. "With it you will be able to stop Blackheart, but if he gains possession of it..."
"He'll open his trust fund and force a hostile takeover of hell from his father." Fuyutsuki said.
"And after that, it gets much worse." Blaze said.
"I don't see how." Kaji said.
"Blackheart's lust for power is greater than that of his father. Mephisto understands that balance must be maintained, even though he tries to claim as much power for himself as possible. But with an army behind him, and control of Hell itself, Blackheart will be able to extend his reach across the dimensional planes, to other universes and all their worlds." Blaze explained.
"Okay... that's bad." Kaji said.
"So we have to stop him here." Shinji said.
"Yes." Blaze said.
The group pondered that for a minute in silence, until Shinji spoke.
"There's just one thing I'm not clear on." Shinji asked.
One thing? Kaji thought.
"Yes?" Blaze prompted the boy.
"Where did our powers come from?" Shinji asked. "They don't feel... natural."
Blaze smiled. "No reason why they should. They're demonic powers after all."
"Demonic?!" Kaji gasped. "As in... we're demons now?"
"Half-demons. If that makes you feel better."
"Not much." Kaji said caustically.
Blaze sighed as he continued. "It's important for you to know that the powers you now have once belonged to the former Ghost Riders."
"Former?" Fuyutsuki asked.
"Fifteen years ago Blackheart tried to destroy all of mankind by triggering Adam. He would have succeeded, had it not been for the other Spirits of Vengeance. Their combined powers managed to soften the explosion of Adam. It was because of their sacrifice that Second Impact only took three billion lives instead of six and a half."
"Who were they?" Kaji asked.
"Caretaker, a Ghost Rider from the Wild West. Vengeance, a more hard-core vigilante type. And the last Ghost Rider, a young cyclist known as Johnny Blaze." Blaze explained. "Each of them made a deal with the devil, so to speak, and each were granted fantastic powers to serve him. But they each rebelled and chose to use their curses for the good of mankind. Just as you all chose to accept the powers and become the new Riders."
The trio were stunned for a few seconds.
"So... what you're saying, is that these powers came from Mephisto." Shinji said.
"Yes."
"And Blackheart wants our powers to overthrow his father, because they are really his powers." Fuyutsuki stated.
"Exactly."
"And now that the powers have been passed to us, he'll come after us." Kaji deduced.
"Not directly. He'll use lackey's and servants to do the job for him." Blaze said.
"Like Gendo and SEELE do for them." Fuyutsuki stated.
"But what can we do to stop him?" Shinji asked.
"That is for you to figure out." Blaze said.
"Thank a lot." the unshaven man said. "Wait a minute! Johnny BLAZE?" Kaji gasped as he stared at the man. "You mean... you were the last Ghost Rider?"
"Yes. That was how I managed to keep the powers hidden from Blackheart all these years. But my body was too injured to take up the power of even one Rider. They granted me some powers, enough to hide them until they were ready to be used. But without hosts the powers would have eventually been up for grabs. So I sought out those souls who would better serve as the new Spirits of Vengeance. I chose you... and you accepted." he explained.
"Not really knowing what we were signing up for." Kaji stated.
"True. But you were prepared to do whatever was necessary to accomplish the purpose of justice. In your own ways. You made the choice, and now... this is your life."
Suddenly, the trio looked on and noticed that Blaze's features, which had once been young and virile like Kaji... was now starting to look as old and worn as Fuyutsuki.
Worse, he kept getting older.
"Blaze! What's wrong with you?" Shinji asked.
"I was dying when Second Impact happened. The powers were the only thing keeping me alive. Now that they have successfully passed to you... my time is up." Blaze said as his clothes now started to show signs of wear.
"But... you can't die!" Shinji gasped.
"I should have died long ago. I was only allowed to live as long as necessary to deliver the powers to the next generation of Riders." he said as he kept getting older. "You are the Riders now. Use the power wisely."
Within seconds, the former image that was Johnny Blaze had vanished, turned to dust by the ages of time.
And leaving three stunned men of different generations in shock.
After several shocked minutes...
"So... we're on our own, aren't we?" Shinji asked.
"Guess so." Kaji said.
"What do we do now?" the boy asked.
"We do what we were meant to do. First order of business... Stop Third Impact." Fuyutsuki said.
"But how?" Shinji asked. "Where do we start?"
"We start in the most logical place." Fuyutsuki said.
"You mean..." Kaji started to ask.
"Exactly." the older man said.
"Father." Shinji exclaimed.
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Authors Notes:
Well, here's my third chapter of Spirits of Vengeance.
This chapter was more of a back story for the whole thing. And with Blaze now departed, the three new Ghost Rider's are set to battle the deadly Blackheart, and they're gonna start with Gendo!
So, instead of more story content, I am pleased to give you... OMAKE'S!!!!
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Omake 1
The creature lunged at the Rider, with intent to kill, only to have said Rider leap quickly over the beast and wrap his chains around it's neck. He landed behind the creature and forcefully tugged on the razor-wire like chain, cutting into the creatures flesh and bone, severing its head from its body. A dull heavy thud echoed twice within the underground garage as head and body fell to the ground. Within seconds, flesh turned to ooze, and ooze turned to little more than noxious vapor.
His task done, the Rider wrapped the now smooth chain around his body and mounted his bike. The tires on the spectral motorcycle inflamed anew, acknowledging the presence of it's master.
Ghost Rider skidded the tires around and rode up to Misato.
"No More Will You Be Threatened This Night, Ms Katsuragi." he said.
"Uh... thanks." she said.
"Do You Wanna Ride My Big Hog?" he asked, patting the seat in front of him.
Oh my god he's like Kaji. She thought as she grabbed her cross. "BACK YE FLIRTATIOUS DEMON!!!" Misato shouted as she waved the cross at him.
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Omake 2
"S-Sado?" the young woman asked as the boy tried desperately to get away from the creature.
Suddenly, a strange light and intense heat surrounded the trio as the whinny of a horse caught their ears.
The earth demon turned around as a skeletal horse exploded over it's head, landing between it and it's potential victims. The rider, who looked like he was dressed in black samurai-like armor leapt from the horse and landed hard on his feet. His head was not human, bearing no skin, hair or eyes and flaming as if the fires were born from the inside of the skull itself. There was a black bandanna across his brow, yet was not in flames, and a sword hanging at the figure's hip.
"These Innocents Are Not Yours To Take, Earth Demon!" the samurai said in a deep voice. "Go Back To The Void, Least You Face The Wrath, Of The Phantom Rider!"
The Earth Demon paused as it looked at the samurai.
"Prepare Thyself To Taste The Fiery Wrath From My Blazing Sword Of Tempered Hellfire!"
The Earth Demon continued to look at the samurai, obviously confused.
"And Now While You Are Distracted By My Impersonation Of Gandalf The Grey, I Will Kill You!" he shouted as he leaped at the Earth Demon and killed it.
With the demon defeated, Enton snorted and lifted his leg over the former Earth Demon.
"Enton! That's Enough! Bad Horse! Bad!" Phantom Rider shouted as the horse demon hosed what was left of the Earth demon.
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Omake 3
She was snapped out of her musings as the skull-faced storm rider slid up to her.
"This Fight Is Done. Time To Go Home, Asuka." he said as he scooped her up in his arms and was quickly flying up the side of the building.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!" Asuka shouted as Soul Rider carried her across the rooftops until they had reached the apartment she had been snatched from.
He deposited her on the balcony and gave her a small salute, before back flipping off the railing and skating down the side of the building with speed and skill like she had never seen.
Asuka watched him go until he was out of range.
"That's it. No more of Misato's curry before dinner." she said to herself. "Than again, that goes without saying." she mused as she went back inside and to her own bed to sleep. "And was it my imagination of did that guy try to feel me up when he picked me up?" she wondered to herself.
It would not be until morning when she woke up and noticed the scars on her shoulders. However, she did notice what looked like a hand print burned into her left butt cheek.
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! PERVERT DEMON!!!!!" Asuka shouted.