DECADE CHAPTER PART 6: SACRIFICE
"I should've known," frowned Shinichi as he and Ranma arrived at the junkyard. "Of course, this is the last place I would've looked."
"The junkyard?" Ranma questioned.
"Not just any junkyard, but Rena-chan's 'Treasure Mountain'," answered Shinichi as he dismounted from the Showa-Racer, following by Ranma who dismounted from the Machine Decader.
"Mountain of Treasure? But this is all garbage," said Ranma as he looked around.
"To the untrained eye, perhaps, and I have to admit that it is, but to Rena-chan this place is special. This is where she finds things she deems cute and calls them treasure." Shinichi pointed to an old van. "That van is where Rena-chan likes to go to be alone. I use it sometimes too. It's our special place." What made Shinichi mad was that Gebok dared to desecrate such a sacred place to him and Rena.
"So, are you sure Gebok's here?" Ranma asked. Shinichi nodded. "How?"
"I can sense that maniac's twisted presence," Shinichi answered cryptically, "Now, follow me."
Ranma followed Shinichi and the world's native Rider touched the ground. "What are you looking for?" Ranma asked.
"A way in," Shinichi tapped the ground and the sound of his knuckles hitting metal could be heard. "Jackpot." Shinichi stepped back as two concealed steel panels slid apart and an elevator rose up. "Guess he was expecting us," said Shinichi. He went to board the elevator but Ranma stopped him. "Ranma?"
"This smells like a trap," Ranma warned.
"It always is when Gebok's involved, but what choice do we have? This is something I have to do," said Shinichi.
"Then I'm coming with you," said Ranma sternly. Shinichi saw the resolve in Ranma's eyes.
"OK, follow my lead," said Shinichi as he got on the elevator with Ranma. The elevator then went down.
The elevator brought the two Riders down underground. When it stopped, Ranma and Shinichi found themselves in a corridor that went in a single straight line. At the end was a door. Oddly, there were no guards.
"This is where Gebok is," Shinichi said with absolute certainty. Shinichi and Ranma walked along the corridor. When they reached the door, Ranma could see that it was locked. There was a pad on the side of door. It was a palm scan with a keypad underneath.
"Looks like we have to force our way in," said Ranma as he prepared to punch the door down. Shinichi, however, put his palm upon the pad. A red beam scanned his palm before he punched in the entrance code. Ranma stared as the door slid open.
"Come on," Shinichi said.
"How did you know the code?" Ranma asked.
"It was the same one Gebok uses for everything," Shinichi said.
Ranma remembered what Warren had told him. Gebok was the one who made Shinichi into a Rider, so it stood to reason that Gebok would tell Shinichi everything.
The two entered and before long found Gebok humming in his chair as he stared at his huge monitor screen. Without turning, Gebok said, "Welcome, BLACK 13! I've been expecting you, and I see you've even brought along a friend."
"We're here to shut you down, Gebok," Shinichi said. Gebok spun in his chair and stopped to face them.
"And how do you propose to do that?" Gebok asked mockingly.
"By killing you," Shinichi said, flexing his fingers.
"How ungrateful. Is this how you repay your daddy?" Gebok asked. Shinichi stiffened. Ranma didn't need to hear this. "Hello, Decade. How are you? Feeling well?"
"Actually, I feel like kicking your ass," Ranma cracked his knuckles.
Gebok laughed as he stood up. Pacing in front of them, Gebok said, "You really think you Riders can make a difference? I told you before that no matter how many of my transmitters you destroy I can still transmit the frequency and cause an outbreak of the Hinamizawa Syndrome! The world will be in total chaos!"
"You're nothing but a madman!" Shinichi shot back.
"Yes, but the madman who gave you your powers," Gebok remarked.
"Shut up," Shinichi growled.
"BLACK 13, I made you to become a weapon. That was your primary directive. It has always been your directive. That was what you were created to be. It's in your nature. It's human nature after all. All humans seek destruction. We're no different. Your desire to destroy me is proof of that."
"Shut up…"
Ranma suddenly laughed, causing Shinichi to become surprised and Gebok to become outraged.
"What's so funny!" demanded Gebok angrily.
"This boy's past may be lost in the darkness, but he was still able to grasp happiness and companionship with his own power. He may not know where he is from, but that doesn't stop him from deciding his own path towards the future. Humans need bonds and these bonds create new memories," said Ranma.
Shinichi, touched by Ranma's words, rose up to his feet.
"You bastard, who the hell are you!" demanded the Gebok.
"Just a Kamen Rider who's passing through. Remember that!" said Ranma. "Henshin!"
"Henshin!"
"Kamen Ride: Decade!"
"Let's Ride: Showa!"
In flashes of light, the two young men were engulfed in light, only to emerge as the forms of Kamen Rider Showa and Kamen Rider Decade. Two generations of heroes resided within them and they were about to let it all loose. A pair of cards then shot out of his Ride Booker. One card depicted Showa's symbol which was a gold cicada with the number 13 on its back. The second card depicted Showa and under Showa was the image of a robotic cicada. There were the Final Form Ride and Final Attack Ride cards for Showa.
Gebok howled as he assumed his Cyborg Mutant form. Black armor covered his body as silver blades sprouted out from the back of his wrists. His hair turned black and lengthened, resembling wires as a black helmet with a red cyclopean eye cover his head.
"Showa, let's go," said Decade as he drew his Ride Booker and set it to Sword Mode. Showa nodded.
"Higurashi no Yaiba!" Showa called, raising his arm. There was instantly a rumbling noise before a wall shattered with an ornate sword decorated with a cicada flying through the rubble into Showa's waiting hands.
Now armed with their swords, they charged at Gebok who slashed at them. The two Riders leapt back to avoid before they swung at Gebok, causing sparks to fly as their attacks connected. Gebok roared and ran straight into Showa, knocking him into the wall. He then whirled around and kicked Decade's sword away before he stabbed Decade in the chest, knocking him to the ground.
"You punk Riders are not going to ruin my plans!" Gebok shouted at them.
"I think we will!" Showa shouted back as he fired energy arrows at Gebok, causing sparks to erupt as they hit him.
"Attack Ride: Slash!"
Decade rose to his feet and shouted, slashing Gebok repeatedly with his powered up sword. Gebok howled as the sparks flew from the attack cutting into his armor. Showa struck, hitting Gebok with a flying kick and sending him reeling.
"Let's finish this," said Showa. "Now sing! Higurashi no Yaiba!" he commanded the sword to grant him power.
Decade wasn't idle as he drew his K-Touch. Drawing his complete card, he slid it into the device before tapping on the symbols
"Kuuga-Agito-Ryuki-Faiz-Blade-Ranki-Caucasus-Den-O-Kiva! Final Kamen Ride: Decade!"
A Kamen Ride card appeared and set itself between his antennae. Pixels covered his body and then changed him into Complete Form. His Complete Form armor was silver and black. The former red armor had all turned silver and on his chest and shoulders were the Kamen Rider cards of the 9 Riders his alternate selves could transform into. From his right shoulder, across his chest and to his left shoulder were the Kamen Ride cards of Ranki, Caucasus, Den-O, Kiva, Kuuga, Agito, Ryuki, Faiz and Blade. The cards were held within a red frame. The Kamen Ride card between his antennae depicted his current form. The helmet had also become completely silver with vertical black lines on the faceplate and red eyes. He replaced the Decadriver buckle with the K-Touch, placing the former to the right side of the belt.
Cicadas made of light flew from the Higurashi no Yaiba and enveloped Showa. His body shone with a bright emerald light. When the emerald light died down, Showa now stood completely changed. He wore a black bodysuit which was decorated by the silver vein-like patterns found upon the wings of a cicada. Flaps of armor resembling cicada wings hung from his belt. His gauntlets were also green as were his boots, with silver bands wrapped around them. On his back was a pack that looked like a cicada, complete with wings. His helmet had also gained enhancements, resembling the helmet of a samurai with his antennae at the brow. His torso armor was green with a high collar, broad shoulders and stamped on his chest was 'XIII'. His eyes flashed, changing from green to blue as the new color bled in.
Showa had assumed Higurashi Form as Decade had assumed Complete Form.
"Blast you!" Gebok cursed as he fired at them with his red eye, only for the beams to be deflected by his opponents' swords.
"You want a blast? Okay," Decade joked as he pressed his K-Touch.
"Faiz! Kamen Ride: Blaster!"
The red and silver technological warrior known as Faiz Blaster Form appeared next to Decade. He was clad in a black bodysuit with reinforced torso armor, arm bands and legs bands with a jetpack on his pack and large yellow eyes in his helmet. The summoning of Faiz BF was also marked by the Kamen Ride cards on Decade's chest flipping over to depict Faiz BS.
Showa charged at Gebok and engaged him. They slashed at each other, sparks ripping off their weapons as they connected. Their weapons ended up getting locked together as Decade set up his next attack. Decade held a card with Faiz's symbol on the face and slotted it into the Decadriver before slapping the device, Faiz BF following his every move.
"Final Attack Ride: Fa-Fa-Fa-Faiz!"
Showa, hearing this, knew that it would be bad if he got caught in the crossfire. He disengaged from Gebok and kicked him backwards. Faiz BS was armed with the Faiz Blaster and had it aimed at Gebok. Decade had his Ride Booker aimed along with Faiz BF. Their weapons fired up and fired beams of destructive photon energy at Gebok, sending him crashing against the wall. This caused Gebok to revert to human form injured.
"You've lost, Gebok," said Showa.
Gebok laughed as he stood up and strode towards the Riders, still grinning like a maniac.
Gebok laughed as he eyed the two Riders in madness. "You think this is the end? Even if I die the machine is set to activate anyway! The whole world will become bathed in blood! You can't stop it!"
"Then I'm satisfied with beating you right now," said Showa, gripping the Higurashi no Yaiba tight.
Decade put a card into the Decadriver, activating it.
"Final Attack Ride: De-De-De-Decade!"
The symbols of all 9 Heisei Kamen Riders appeared and lined up between Decade and Gebok, immobilizing him. The Decade symbol was behind Gebok, keeping him in place.
"Higurashi Zan!" Showa called as he swung his sword.
Decade jumped and flew through the symbols as a green blade of energy flew at Gebok.
Decade's kick and Showa's slash connected with Gebok, sending him crashing hard against the far wall, leaving a huge indent upon impact. As the mad scientist's body began to twitch and spark erratically, he laughed.
"What's so funny?" Decade demanded.
"You Riders! You're all fools! Do you really think killing me will end it all? Even after my death my glorious machine is set to activate and spread the Hinamizawa Syndrome all throughout the globe! I may die here, but I've already won! You've lost, Riders!" Gebok let loose one final laugh before he exploded.
Showa quickly went towards the console and tapped the keys. Somehow, he seemed to know how to operate the GIN-SHOCKER machinery. It probably came from his days as BLACK 13 and Gebok's 'son'. Can't have a soldier who doesn't know how to use your tech, can you?
ACCESS DENIED
"Kuso!" Showa cursed, slapping his palm against the machine. "We're locked out!" Without access, there was no way to stop the countdown.
"Now what?" Decade asked. If they failed here then the world would fall into chaos as people would be infected by the Hinamizawa Syndrome. Paranoia and fear would be everywhere and people would be killing each other and themselves in fits of madness. That was the best case scenario. Worst case would be the Darkloids spreading with the syndrome, engulfing the world in their madness.
"We need the password to access the computer and shut down the machine, but we killed Gebok and only he knew!" It was at that moment that his visor flashed. He remembered something, something that could save them. "Or something both he and I would know."
"Huh?" Decade blinked.
Showa tapped the keys. "Gebok always obsesses that I'm his son, so it's possible that…"
B-L-A-C-K-1-3
ACCESS GRANTED
"Yes! I knew that was his password!" Showa however was suspicious. It was too simple. "Alright, I'm in the system. All I need to do is input the deactivation codes."
"Then do it!" Decade ordered.
"I need space. You better step back and give me room to concentrate. This is delicate stuff," instructed Showa. Decade nodded and stepped back. Showa looked over his shoulder and saw that Decade had walked over the line on the floor. "Perfect." He pressed 'Enter'.
ENTER
SMASH!
A thick steel wall suddenly closed in between Decade and Showa.
"SHINICHI!" shouted Decade as he pounded on the wall.
"I'm sorry, Ranma," Showa apologized. "The deactivation codes are also the self-destruct codes. Once they've been entered, all the exits will be sealed to contain the explosion. That was the first code that sealed me in here to enter the rest. A safety precaution."
Decade continued to pound on the wall, "Shinichi, don't do anything crazy!"
"I have to do this, Ranma," said Showa. "Now, get out of here."
"I can't just leave you!"
"You have to. Decade, you still have a mission. This is my mission. As a Kamen Rider I have to save the world, even at the cost of my life. Now go! Get out of here!"
Decade gritted his teeth.
"Oh, and tell everyone I'm sorry," said Showa solemnly.
Decade nodded and quickly fled from the wall, looking back in guilt.
Showa then started to enter the remaining deactivation and self-destruct codes. He was sure Decade was fast enough to escape before detonation. Showa was fighting the clock. Only a few more lines of code left. He had only minutes before the machine activated.
The codes had all been entered. Showa placed a finger on the Enter key.
"Goodbye, everyone," Showa said.
ENTER
A series of explosions soon followed and the control room collapsed around him.
Decade managed to get out and then the ground rumbled and shook. Decade's armor deactivated and he looked back. "Shinichi…"
"Ranma!" Kasumi shouted.
"Shin-kun!" Rena was with her too. The Hinamizawa Gaming Club was also close behind with Shiori in tow.
"Kasumi!" Ranma called. The young woman hugged him.
"Oh, I'm so relieved!" she let out. "I was so scared!"
"What are you doing here?" Ranma asked.
"Warren-san told us where you were headed," said Mion. Ranma looked to the group of unfamiliar faces. "Oh, sorry. I'm Mion Sonozaki, this is my twin sister Shion, her boyfriend Satoshi, his sister Satoko, my boyfriend Keiichi, Rika, Hanyuu, and this is Rena, Shin-chan's girlfriend."
"So, you're friends of Shinichi's," Ranma assumed. "I'm Ranma Saotome, Kamen Rider Decade."
"Guess you beat Gebok," said Keiichi. "You saved the world!"
"Looks like it," Ranma frowned.
"That's our Shin-chan," Mion said proudly, "Always saving the village like the hero he is."
Rena wasn't the only one celebrating. There was someone missing. Shiori noticed this too. "Where's Shin-kun?" the auburn-haired girl asked.
"Yeah, where is that jerk anyway?" Mion added.
Ranma frowned. He hated being the bearer of bad news. "He…didn't make it."
There was a moment of stunned silence.
"W-w-what?" Rena stammered in shock.
"You're joking, right?" Keiichi asked.
"He stayed behind to shut down and destroy the machine," Ranma explained. "The place collapsed with him still inside."
Shiori covered her mouth, a horrified look on her face, "No…"
Rena grabbed Ranma by his shirt and glared at him, screaming, "YOU'RE LYING!"
"I'm not…" Ranma uttered sadly.
"WHY DIDN'T YOU SAVE HIM!"
"I couldn't. He gave me no choice," Ranma told her. Rena began to pound on his chest with her fists.
"YOU KILLED SHIN-KUN! YOU KILLED HIM! GIVE HIM BACK!" she shouted hysterically. Shiori pulled the distraught girl off Ranma and Rena sobbed against the older woman. "Shin-kun…come back…"
"Mrs. Banabara, I…" Ranma began to say to Shiori. "I'm sorry for what happened."
"I know you never meant to leave him," Shiori said as she continued to comfort Rena.
"He was an amazing man," Ranma added, "I doubt I could be as great as he was."
The rest of the gang was in shock as well. Rika, in her adult voice, spoke, "He gave up his life to save us all."
It still didn't stop Ranma from feeling guilty for leaving Shinichi behind, despite the fact that Shinichi had ordered him to do so. They all mourned for the death of a hero in silence.
"Decade…"
Everyone's gaze snapped, seeing the familiar form of Narutaki standing before them. It was hard to tell if he was about to gloat or admonish Ranma. He seemed to be pleased about finally bring proven right about something, but at the same time displeased about it.
"Thanks to you…this world's Rider is dead," he spoke with a frown. "You can't deny your true nature now."
"Shut up!" Ranma growled, standing up and stomping over to the so-called prophet. "This wasn't my fault! Gebok would have done all this even if I wasn't here! The self-destruct would still be there! He would have known the codes and shut it down just the same!"
"You claim that, but I see the truth," Narutaki spoke calmly before he vanished in the haze of a silver veil.
Everyone was silent and solemn, but then…
"Hey, guys! What's with all the long faces?"
Everyone's eyes went wide as they saw Shinichi standing atop a pile of garbage.
The reactions were immediate and obvious as Rena charged and jumped, sending him falling on his back with her on top of him.
"SHIN-KUN!" she cried happily, tears of joy streaming from her eyes.
"SHINJI!" Shiori called out in surprise and elation. Her son was alive!
"SHINICHI!" his friends shouted as they ran towards him, followed by Ranma and Kasumi.
"Oh, hey, Ranma," said Shinichi as he noted Ranma. "Glad you made it out."
"I thought you were dead!" yelled Ranma. "How did you get out?"
"Well…"
"Let's Ride: RX Biorider!"
Showa transformed into the blue armored Biorider as the place collapsed around him. He then turned his body to liquid and escaped through the cracks.
"My quick thinking saved me," said Shinichi. Of course, that quick thinking was not going to save him from the wrath of his friends.
"Shin-chan, you made us all worry about you," said Mion as she cracked her knuckles. Shinichi paled.
"Wait," Shiori interrupted. "Before you all decide to beat up my son for making you all worry, I'd like to say a few things." She turned to face her son, "Shinji, I'm proud of you. I'm amazed that someone as ordinary as me could be the mother someone as extraordinary as you. Your father always knew you'd grow up to be somebody special and if he were alive today he'd tell us both the same thing." Shiori paused before finishing, "To make a long story short, I love you."
"I love you too, Kaa-chan," said Shinichi, smiling. The mother and son embraced each other.
"OK, now you can punish him," said Shiori to the Gaming Club.
"Excuse me!" Shinichi immediately made a run for it as his friends gave chase.
"GET BACK HERE, YOU JERK!" Keiichi shouted.
"YOU HAVE TO PLAY A PENTALTY GAME! A PENALTY GAME!" Mion threatened.
"SORRY, BUT I'M NOT TOO KEEN ON DYING AGAIN!" Shinichi yelled back.
Ranma laughed but suddenly the ground began to shake, nearly throwing everyone off balance.
"What the hell!" Keiichi exclaimed.
"I don't think it's over just yet," Ranma said. "Shinichi!"
"I know. Let's Ride!" Shinichi responded. The two Riders ran towards their bikes and jumped on before racing off to fight a newly awakened threat.
"Kamen Ride: Decade!"
"Let's Ride: Showa!"
In the Onigafuchi Swamp, something was rising out of the murky water. It was huge, had a human build, with red eyes and a huge grin on its face. It began to wade its way through the water before lifting itself out of the swamp itself. It walked through the forest. The creature was not hard to miss or spot. It was forty feet tall and made of grey metal. It also looked like…
"Gebok," Showa growled as he and Decade saw the metallic giant. Indeed, it was a giant robot that resembled Gebok.
"He's really full of himself, isn't he?" remarked Decade.
"You have no idea," said Showa.
Decade remembered the cards he had and took them out of the Ride Booker. He then decided to activate them. The first one was the Final Form Ride card.
"Shinichi, this might tickle a little," warned Decade.
"Huh?" Showa gave Decade a curious look as Decade activated the gold card.
"Final Form Ride: Sho-Sho-Sho-Showa!"
Decade reached into Showa's back, causing the Rider to go stiff as an insect abdomen and head rose out from his back, colored metallic green. Wings were on the insect's back. It resembled a cicada. Showa then hovered facedown as his legs and arms became insect legs with a middle pair coming out from his midsection.
He was now the Showa Cicada.
"What is this?" Showa asked.
"This is our power!" Decade declared. The Showa Cicada shot towards the head of the Giant Robo-Gebok. He slammed against the robot's head, knocking it off balance for a moment before it righted itself. The robot began to swat at Showa Cicada. The Showa Cicada fired green energy bolts from its eyes, striking the robot's fedora wearing head.
"Alright, let's see what this does," said Decade as he put in the new card.
"Final Attack Ride: Sho-Sho-Sho-Showa!"
The Showa Cicada swooped down and wrapped its legs around Decade from behind, carrying them into the air as the wings buzzed. The attack, known as the Decade Sonic, shot straight at the robot like a rocket. Energy wrapped around Decade and Showa Cicada as they slammed hard into the robot's head. There was an explosion on impact as Showa and Decade dropped from the sky.
"It's been heavily damaged, but still active," observed Decade as the robot stumbled.
"Alright, time to go big for big! Let's Ride: J! Jumbo Formation!"
Decade watched as Showa began to grow, his armor becoming replaced by a dark green bodysuit with red insectoid eyes and antennae. He grew, and grew, and grew, until he was standing at the same height as the Giant Robo-Gebok. He grabbed the robot's head and crushed it between his hands. The robot slumped in his hands before Showa-J lifted it up and tossed it into the swamp. The Onigafuchi Swamp was rumored to be bottomless and this was proven true as the forty foot giant began to sink.
Suddenly, there was a huge explosion and a tower of water exploded. Droplets of the swamp water rained down on the Riders.
Showa-J turned back to Shinichi as he shrunk and looked to Ranma who too had detransformed.
"Say, you wanna celebrate?" asked Shinichi. "I know this cute little restaurant that serves great ice cream!"
"Sure," Ranma smiled, "Let me get changed."
At the Angel Mort, the Hinamizawa Gaming Club, Shiori, Ranma and Kasumi celebrated their victory. Warren was there too, congratulating the Riders. "The NEO-NUMBERS have destroyed all the transmitters and the machine has been destroyed as well," Warren informed them. "Well done."
"I don't want to brag…" Shinichi rubbed the back of his head.
"Since when?" snorted Mion.
"Still, this is interesting," said Shinichi as he eyed the voluptuous redhead with them. It was Ranma in her female form and she was scarfing down ice cream. "Why do you look like that?"
"Ice cream tastes better when I'm like this. I don't know why," Ranma-chan answered.
Ranma had explained to them about the curse. Whenever he got hit by cold water he turned into a girl. Hot water reversed it.
"An interesting curse," said Rika.
"Not like anything I've ever seen," added Hanyuu.
"I can't complain about the results," Keiichi admired. His eyes traveled to Ranma's bust.
"She's a guy, you know," Shinichi reminded. Everyone laughed as Keiichi looked sheepish.
"Shinichi," said Warren as he dug something out of his pocket. "Here, I got these back for you." He put the red and white Magatama on the table.
"Our Magatama!" Rena cried out as she picked up the red one as Shinichi picked up the white one.
"But how?" Shinichi asked.
"Oh, I bumped into Diend while in Paris," Warren replied. "And, he also had this." He put a piece of the Nanban Mirror down on the table. "I think it's yours, Ranma."
"It is," Ranma nodded.
"Ranma, I think we should take a picture," Kasumi reminded.
"Oh, right," nodded Ranma. "Warren, do you mind taking a picture of all of us?" Ranma asked.
"Sure, no problem," said Warren as Ranma handed the camera to ARMOR's director.
The Hinamizawa Gaming Club posed together, along with Ranma, Kasumi and Shiori. Warren took a picture and it was developed instantly.
"Here, another one," said Shinichi, handing Warren his own camera. Warren took another picture.
The Polaroid camera produced the picture instantly. It showed the Hinamizawa Gaming Club, Ranma, Kasumi and Shiori, but it also showed the images of the NEO-NUMBERS superimposed above them. Decade and Showa were in the centre of it.
"Now that's interesting," said Shiori as she gazed at the picture.
At the Banabaras' house, Shinichi stood outside with Rika, Hanyuu, Shiori, Warren and Rena. Kasumi and Ranma were on the Machine Decader and in Ranma's hand was the Nanban Mirror.
"So, where are you headed now?" Shinichi asked Ranma.
"Wherever this mirror takes me," said Ranma, "As usual."
"Will we ever see you again?" Rena asked.
"Maybe," Ranma shrugged.
"Thanks for having us in your world," said Kasumi. "I hope we meet again."
Ranma put the piece of the Nanban Mirror with the rest of it and it fused back together. The mirror shone and in a flash of light both Ranma and Kasumi were gone.
"By the way, Warren-san," said Shinichi curiously, "How did you get Diend to give the Magatama back?"
"Oh, I gave him something just as valuable," smirked Warren.
"Dad and everyone will love these back home," said Kaitoh as he looked at a book written by Shiori Banabara. Warren had given him a collection of them and they were first editions and autographed too. Putting the book into his backpack, he dashed off towards the next world for more treasures.
Kamen Rider Chrome: And this is Decade VS Showa! This is the second collaboration I did with Ten-Faced Paladin. I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I did writing it.