Horseshoes and Hand-grenades

XXI: 4-5-1-4/19-5-1

"Idleness is the dead sea that swallows all virtues."

-Benjamin Franklin

Yuri Kuramochi sat in the pit she was currently in, glaring at the shimmering barrier that prevented her from escaping. As if there wasn't anything more degrading aside from keeping an eye on both Misa and Yukina—who were still asleep despite the fighting, explosions and screams. Moreover, the barrier above her head made it impossible for hear what was going on, thus making it completely soundproof. All in all, this was making her very irritable.

"Let me out right now!" Yuri screamed. "If you don't, I'll…"

The barrier flickered before fading away. Seeing this as her chance to escape, Yuri slowly climbed up, poking her head to see if anyone was there. Instead of four adversaries, she only saw a field of grass.

"What the—" Yuri looked up to see the Power Dizer picking her up with its tire-like hands. She was set down onto the ground without trouble, but Yuri just glared at the giant yellow mecha. "You…you're the damned thing that stopped Ritsuko from setting revenge on the school!"

"There was a good reason Shun did," said Tomoko, approaching from behind. She lashed her snake skin toward Yuri's right arm and tugged. "Even if there are people who don't listen to you, there are people who simultaneously care for you too! Ritsuko just roped you into some deal to destroy people—not to help you get along!"

"Why don't you die in a scorpion pit, Tomoko?" Yuri screeched, turning around. "How dare you say that about Ritsuko!"

"We're trying to help you out!" said Erin, latching the Nectar around Yuri's left arm. "Your mind has been manipulated by a being who never cared about you at all! All he wants is the whole world to suffer, and who wouldn't care whether you lived or not. You could be easily replaced after all this time."

"The Serpent-bearer wants me!" Yuri screamed, trying to escape her bindings. "You're just jealous!"

"And you're delusional!" said Miu, speaking from the Power Dizer. "What has Gentaro promised you? What will you gain?"

"What I deserve! What did I do to be teased? Nothing! They did it out of spite! They did it because they could!"

"And that means I can do this because I can!" cried Yuki, rushing toward Yuri. "HAYABUSA...PUNCH!"

Yuri tried to concentrate on unleashing another geyser of groundwater underneath Yuki's feet, but Tomoko and Erin tugging on her arms broke her concentration. Yuki pulled her arm back, preparing to knock her out...

Except Yuki switched hands and grabbed onto the serpent wrapped around Yuri's neck. With a mighty tug, the snake unlatched itself from Yuri's neck and was flung into the air. Yuki raised her Hayabusa plushie into the air, the mouth opening to reveal the Potechokin Foodroid. In a blink of an eye, it snipped the snake in half before the snake disappeared in a puff of Cosmic Energy. Yuri groaned and closed her eyes.

"We did it," said Erin, pressing the top of her Horoscope Switch. Once she was back to normal, she sat down on the grass. "Phew! I'm glad that's over."

"All we have to do now is get Misa and Yukina to a safe place," said Miu. "Then we can meet up with everyone and see if they've finished their part of the mission. I just hope they're all right. The last thing we need is everything to fall apart."

Yuki nodded her head before she sensed something behind her. It was this gut feeling that made her turn around...

And scream as she was completely encased in ice. Erin, Tomoko and Miu turned, seeing Misa and Yukina hovering in the air, sneering at poor Yuki.

"Poor, poor girl," said Misa, staring at the frozen space otaku. "Why the Serpent-bearer wants him is beyond me."

"Is it maybe because he still holds feelings for her?" Yukina suggested, rolling her eyes. "As if there is no one else who can be by his side but me. I am his beloved protector after all."

Thinking quickly, Miu reached out to grab the two levitating girls but was met with Yukina blowing a gust of ice over the visor, obscuring her vision. She could hear both Misa and Yukina's laughter as she struggled to find where they were.

"Come and fight me one-on-one!" Miu exclaimed. "Where are you?"

"We're just evening the odds," said Misa. "You're the one piloting a giant mecha that can kill us with a flick of a wrist. And you tell us to fight one-on-one."

Tomoko twirled her snake skin into the air, hurling it toward Yukina's ankle. Yukina just smirked and pointed a finger at it, a bolt of ice freezing it in its place. With a swat of her hand, the shed skin was shattered into nothing more than a collection of ice crystals.

"As if something like that will stop a snake," Yukina replied. "You're more delusional than we thought."

Misa descended and wrapped an arm around one of Yuki's frozen arms. Yuki, who was still able to see, could only look in horror as Misa placed a hand around her frozen neck.

"You're going to be a good offering for us," Misa cackled. "And I highly doubt screaming 'Stop! Stop!' is going to change your fate."

"Stop this, stop this!" Yukina mocked. "That's what you said to stop Gentaro's death, but why didn't you move your dainty little feet too? Were you just frozen in place?"

Yuki felt her eyes brimming with tears as she recalled that dreadful scene with Gentaro and Ryusei. She wanted to do something, but all she could do was say "Stop!" If she could go back in time, she would run toward Fourze and protect him from Ryusei's one-inch punch. If only...if only...

"Yuki!" Erin cried, running toward her friend. "Hold on!"

Yukina raised a hand as a blanket of snow obscured her, Misa and Yuki. When it faded, the three had vanished. Erin fell onto her knees in disbelief.

"We failed..." she whispered. "We planned so much and Gentaro still wins! What now?"

"We regroup and figure out our next plan," said Miu. "First off, let's bring Yuri somewhere safe from all of the fighting. Then, we'll take her to the DenLiner before meeting up with the others."

"Good idea," said Tomoko, looking at the remains of her snake skin. "So until then...we better hope that everyone else is doing fine."

0-0-0-0-0-

Riderman grabbed onto Libra Zodiarts' ringed staff with his right hand, keeping his stance firm as he delivered a punch to the gut. He had to be careful and not step into the water. That would give the Zodiarts of the Scales an opening to use lightning attacks, and Riderman knew that he wasn't lightning proof.

"Kouhei Hayami," said the Kamen Rider, kicking Libra Zodiarts in the gut. "You still have a chance to change your ways. Surrender now, and you can continue your life as a free man."

"A free man?" Libra just laughed. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but Kouhei Hayami no longer exists."

"What do you mean? Kouhei Hayami is the Libra Zodiarts, and since you're Libra-"

"I mean that I, Shed Skin Serpent Ecydsis, have consumed his soul and am now taking his place. His hubris and arrogance was his own downfall—he let himself believe that he wouldn't be manipulated by me, but that wasn't true."

"What do you mean? Are you saying that you were the one controlling his body back at the auditorium?"

"No, it was the Serpent-bearer who did everything that day. He did it to weaken the foolish mortal's resolve and sanity."

"Gentaro did this..." Riderman's arms trembled. "To his own principal? To a fellow human being?!"

"The Serpent-bearer is doing this world a favor!" Ecydsis exclaimed. "Kouhei Hayami never cared for the students that were transforming into these monsters. All he wanted to do was save his own hide from being imprisioned in the so-called 'Dark Nebula' where his little crush was being held. He even entrapped the original Cancer Zodiarts there without mercy. All he wanted was for the spotlight to be on him, and if he had to make a few students miserable, so be it."

"But he was still a human being who could change! You killed off his only chance of redemption!"

"He was beyond redemption, Yuki Joji! He deliberately let children become the spawn of those who killed us all off! Are you saying that we show this compassion to them? Tell me Joji, why should we?"

Riderman lowered his head. It's true. When he became Riderman for the very first time, it was for vengeance. He didn't even realize who were the true villains until he had an epiphany, screaming on how he was worshipping the devil. When he uttered those words, he knew what he was going to do. He was going to fight for justice.

"Because humans have the ability to change," Riderman answered. "Like how a serpent sheds is skin, a human is able to grow and become something new. Just like my fellow Kamen Riders transform from normal civilians to superheroes, Kouhei Hayami still has the chance to change his ways. So bring his soul back and leave us alone."

"NEVER!" Libra screeched. "Hayami is as good as dead and soon, you shall join him..."

Riderman took a good look at his surroundings. The pillar was still untouched, and Kengo was focused fighting another opponent who wielded white board markers. Amazon was slowly making his way out of the water, his green armor now purple. Riderman wanted to ask how that was possible—seeing as Stronger was the first to ever obtain a Super Mode out of the original Kamen Riders—but he had to focus on defeating Libra. He curled his left hand into a fist and crouched onto the ground, preparing to charge toward the Zodiarts of the Scales. Libra got the same message and began to charge toward him, staff at hand.

However, Riderman knew that was going to happen. He picked up one of the heavier rocks and hurled it toward the Zodiarts. Libra couldn't react in time, so he was hit full force and fell onto his back in the water. Riderman then quickly swapped the Power Arm for the Machine Arm in his bag, ready to riddle Libra with bullets. The Zodiarst laughed.

"You humans have no honor," said Libra. "Go on and shoot me, but no one will know who I really am. Hayami's soul maybe devoured, but his body is being used by me. You will be marked as a murderer!"

"Who said that I was firing it?" asked Riderman. "I just needed to distract you for a little bit."

Libra turned around as he heard a voice scream "DAISETSUDAN!" Kamen Rider Amazon brought his hands up into the air as the fins on his purple gloves grew. Just as the Zodiarts of the Scales was about to be cleaved in half again, a green spiral appeared between them. A cyclone pushed Amazon back into the stone pillar, causing it to slightly crack.

"Daisuke!" Riderman gasped, rushing to his friend's aid. "Are you all right?"

"Amazon...all right," Amazon replied, nodding his head. "Thank you..."

Riderman just smiled as he brought his Machine Gun Arm into the air, ready to fire it. Just as the first round of bullets were about to fly, a black diagonal slash appeared and sliced it in half. The gun dropped into the water, and all that was left on Riderman's right arm was a stump of metal.

"Wasn't there an old saying called 'Never bring a knive to a gun fight?'" said a calm voice. "Well, maybe it should be called 'Never bring a gun to a magic fight' instead."

Riderman looked up, seeing Libra Zodiarts, Kengo and the white-board marker wielder raising their weapons at him. The one with the whiteboard markers spoke.

"I suppose you want to ask who I am," he said. "In a former life I was Raito Sonozaki, in another I was simply known as Philip. Now, I have been christened as Leviathan, and I shall be the one who will dictate your death."

"You have been brainwashed," Riderman snarled. "What does your master intend to do with you after he's accomplished his plans? What will you be to him?"

"His loyal subjects that will help rule the new world," Kengo answered. "The wretched humans who have treated us with malice and disgust will be destroyed and it will all start with you Kamen Riders."

"But your father helped create Kamen Rider Fourze! Are you saying-"

"My father is right here!" Kengo pointed his sword to Libra Zodiarts. "My father was slain in battle by the one who wielded the Scales of Justice! Isn't it fitting that the scales have finally given us its due?"

"You're not making any sense," Riderman snarled.

"I don't have to! When a human being is set on revenge, their thought process isn't clear, is it? You of all people should know."

Riderman's arm began to tremble once more. He remembered how he was found without memory, unable to recall why he was still alive until he learned who he truly was. However, his right hand instinctively knew who he was in the past, and how it stood as a symbolism to fight for justice. He would never let himself give into evil ever again.

"I do," he replied. "But that does not mean I shall let you give way into that either! Kengo Utahoshi, I shall free your soul from this cycle!"

"And how?" asked Philip, pulling a red whiteboard marker from his sleeve. "You're unarmed."

He uncapped it and drew a line toward Riderman's unguarded bag of Cassette Arms. A stream of fire emerged and began to convert Riderman's entire arsenal into molten metal. Riderman wanted to scream in anguish—without those weapons, he was defenseless!

"Did I do that?" Philip asked mockingly. "Oh dear, I am such a bad boy."

Riderman gritted his teeth as he saw his surroundings. He was defenseless: Libra's lightning attacks, Kengo's fire skills and Philip's arsenal of white-board pens would easily defeat one who could only fight with one hand. He would only be committing suicide if he were to attack now.

Amazon slowly stood up as Cosmic Energy began to escape his mouth. He turned his glance toward his friend and placed a gloved hand over Riderman's own.

"Riderman," he hissed, handing his partner something. "Take this...it belongs to you."

Riderman soon saw what Amazon gave him: it was the Clear Drill Switch. For some reason, it began to glow. Riderman felt so many memories rush into his mind, ranging from the death of his parents, losing his arm, his multiple fights with and against Shiro Kazami and hearing Kazami screaming that he was now Kamen Rider 4. The emotions stemming from these memories made him feel more powerful, powerful enough to end the madness of the serpents taking over the bodies of these innocent civilians.

"What?!" Libra Zodiarts screamed. "How are you able to wield the power of an Astroswitch?"

Riderman crushed the switch in his hand as a golden burst of energy wrapped around his right arm. When the light faded, the remains of his old Machine Gun Arm was replaced with a large orange and yellow drill that let out a powerful roar. Riderman grinned.

"It seems as if Fortune is favoring me today," he said. "Amazon, are you ready?"

"Amazon ready to destroy serpents," Amazon replied. He swiped his arms in the air as he added, "Amazon ready to save friends."

"Friends?" asked Kengo. "You're calling us your friends? Don't be ridiculous! All I see are two obstacles ready to be ANNIHILATED!"

"Then, you will be the first one liberated from this madness," Riderman retorted pointing his Rocket Drill Arm toward the serpents. "Let's do this man-to-man."

0-0-0-0-0-0-

Jiro slashed the air with his knives, but it was useless as Meteor Impact quickly deflected the attacks with his nunchucks. With a flick of his wrist, one of the weights knocked Jiro onto the ground as Meteor quickly made his way toward Kamen Rider Fourze. Fourze quickly pulled out the Elec Switch in an attempt to defend himself, but Meteor Impact was swifter. Another flick of his nunchucks knocked the switch out of his hand

"I don't think swords fit you," Meteor Impact remarked. "You look like the guy that I wanna beat with your hands shattered and your face filled with shame."

Fourze snarled as he prepared to fire the Gatling Module on his left leg. Meteor Impact sidestepped from the round of bullets and jumped into the air, removing the Meteor Impact Switch and attaching it to his nunchucks.

Limit Break!

"Meteor Impact Blitzkrieg!" Meteor Impact screamed, sending the nunchuck down on Fourze. The Meteor Impact switch swirled with red and black energy before a large disk that sliced through Fourze's armor. As Meteor landed on his feet, he walked away as Fourze was engulfed in an explosion.

"Your reign has ended," Meteor Impact solemly stated, turning his gaze toward Jiro. He took Jiro's knives and twirled them around. "And now, I think it's time to give an offering to-"

Meteor was interrupted by a roar as the flames and smoke were sucked up. He turned around, seeing Gentaro surrounded by a vortex of darkness accompanied by two red pin points of light. Gentaro's body was covered in a multitude of snake scales as the darkness swirled above his head, forming an Astroswitch.

"What the?" asked Meteor. "What trickery is this?"

You have made us unleash the power of the Dark Void. A voice boomed, causing Meteor to slightly step back. You have made us unleash the darkness that shall consume this world for all eternity!

The darkness dispersed as Gentaro took the Astroswitch in his hand. It was larger tha most, decorated with a silver snake as a topper and the number '0'. He inserted the switch into the far right slot of the Fourze Driver and flipped the tabs down. Once the pillar of light transformed Gentaro into Kamen Rider Fourze once more, he laughed as he let a finger hover over the new switch.

"Thank you for handing me the last amount of Cosmic Energy I needed," Fourze hissed. "Now, I think you've played your part. It's time for you to be an offering to King Ouroboros!"

He pressed onto the topper of the Astroswitch.

Void On

Next time: Close to Kyoto are a Kamen Rider and a photographer who have somehow got involved in this madness. Unfortunately, before they can even get involved with the madness, they are stopped by a fortune-teller that seems to know all.

To be continued in, Intermission 3: Magic the Gathering