Horseshoes and Hand-grenades

XXIV: 14-15-15-14-4-1-25/4-5-13-15-14

"Not necessity, not desire- no, the love of power is the demon of men. Let them have everything – health, food, a place to live, entertainment – they are and remain unhappy and low-spirited: for the demon waits and waits and will be satisfied."

-Fredrick Nietzsche

While running to the Northern Pillar, JK was on his cellphone, giving as much of an update status as he could to the Chairman of the Kamen Rider Club. It had to be short because he didn't know what to expect enroute toward his destination, and he needed to conserve battery for any other emergency phone calls in the near future.

"So yeah," he finished telling Miu. "We're on our way to help Amazon to ensure the northern pillar's safety. I hope Ohsugi-sensei and Riderman are safe too with the Western Pillar.

"What about Shun?" asked Miu. "How is he?"

"He's fending off Virgo Zodiarts, but had to become his Serpent-bearer form to do so. Look, I have to get going. I'll talk to you later. Say hi to the others!"

"Are you done babbling now?" asked Chosuke. "Save your breath for when we have to knock some sense into your friend."

"Not to mention that we still have to fight those Dustards without becoming Kamen Riders," Motoyama added. "I just hope Shun isn't hurting from the bullet to his chest."

"Don't blame Ryutaros for it, though!" Norio wheezed. "He just found the quickest way for Shun to de-henshin and let Vasuki take over...although I still don't trust Vasuki at all."

"He's just an accident waiting to happen," JK muttered. "Guys, let's..."

Just as the words left his lips, he felt time slow down for him. The world began to fade away into hues of grey and he found himself being left behind by the others. He started to panic—what exactly was going on?

"Who's doing this?" asked JK, rummaging through his pockets. He felt nothing. He placed a hand on his forehead—that's right, Ryusei disintegrated them yesterday. Great. "Where are you? What do you want with me?"

"I'm over here," said a voice. "Turn around."

JK slowly turned his head, seeing a young boy dressed in dark blue clothes approach him. The boy's appearance wasn't the thing that startled JK the most—what frightened him was that the boy looked like a younger version of Kengo.

"You..." said JK. "Who are you? Why am I here?"

"I cannot explain much now," the boy answered. "Know this though: the one Ophiuchus has chosen is more than what he seems."

"Pray tell," JK replied dryly.

"The Serpent-bearer of Life-bringer Ophiuchus holds the key. Inside that darkened vessel is a soul of light," the boy closed his eyes. "And with this knowledge in hand, know this...let me grant you this gift to help you out in the following days."

"Oh no," JK shook his head. "I'm not going to be dealing with contracts after what happened to Gentaro and Shun." He brought his arms up to defend himself from whatever the boy was about to throw at him. "I won't be some sort of living puppet for you to use for your own little games!"

"Oh," said the boy. "Then it's a very good thing you won't be conscious when I do THIS!"

The boy's body became encased with dark blue scales, and his eyes opened to reveal two dark pinpoints of light. The boy opened his mouth and his body began to disintegrate as a large serpent appeared in his place. JK began to run in order to prevent himself from becoming a victim to this serpent's schemes...only for the serpent to wrap his body around JK's.

"No!" JK exclaimed. "I won't be a Serpent-bearer! I won't kill people, and I won't make contracts that will give up everything I own!"

"You're being selfish!" The serpent snapped. "The world is ending and you're thinking about yourself!"

"That attitude was what caused Gentaro and Shun to give up their lives! I'm trying to save mine before I become like them!"

"That old song and dance, huh? Isn't that the same thing that is creating your mask right now? Hmm? Let me ask you a question, JK. How would your little sister feel when she learns that her big brother has become so cold to people who need his help?"

JK felt his heart stop beating when he heard the serpent ask that question. No one barring his closest friends and family knew about that secret. How did this Serpent know?

"Now that I have your attention," the Serpent continued. "This is not a contract, it is a gift. However, I will need your body for this."

JK didn't speak at all, his mind only focusing on the question posed on him. The serpent took it as a "Yes".

"Very well," said the Serpent. "Please stay still...this might tickle a bit."

He soon opened his mouth and swallowed the paralyzed JK whole.

0-0-0-0-0-0

Riderman charged first as Philip rolled his eyes. He was getting tired of seeing his opponents charge at him for no good reason.

"You need new tactics, old man," Philip replied, drawing a red infinity sign in the air. "Fire."

Three fireballs flew toward the Kamen Rider, but Riderman kept running. Just as the fireballs were about to collide with him, he stabbed the drill onto the ground, sending dust and rocks everywhere. Philip covered his face with one of his sleeves as he tried to find where the others had gone. He heard someone scream and looked up just to see Norio drop kick him to the ground.

"Yeah!" said Chosuke, just as the dust cleared off. "That's how we do it!"

Norio nodded his head but then noticed something weird about their group. Aside from Riderman, there were only him, Chosuke and Motoyama.

"Wait a minute!" he said, looking around. "Where's JK?"

"He was right behind us when we left for the pillar!" said Motoyama. "Where could he have gone?"

"It doesn't matter where he went," Philip replied, standing up. He swapped the red white-board pen for the blue one. "By the time he comes here, it'll be too late."

Motoyama kept his eyes on Philip twirling the blue white-board pen in his fingers. He whispered to Chosuke, "Three steps to your left and don't run until he blinks."

Chosuke nodded his head and cracked his knuckles as he crouched down. He narrowed his eyes as he waited for that right moment. Riderman and Norio also stayed silent as Philip replied in the staring contest. Aside from the fighting noises of Amazon fighting his own opponents, it was still.

Then, Philip blinked.

Chosuke began to run toward the opponent, winding his fist for a powerful punch. Philip snarled as he pointed to the pool of water to his right before flicking his pen at his opponent. A large wave of water threatened to splash all over the delinquent, only for Chosuke to follow Motoyama's instructions. He took three steps to his left before tackling Philip onto the ground and punching Philip across the face.

"Whoa!" said Norio. "Motoyama, how did you know he was going to do that?"

"It's how he holds his pen," Motoyama replied. "He looks like one who's used to writing a lot. He holds it close in the middle to give him a better chance to make thinner, longer strokes."

"Ah...That's a really good thing to know!"

"As long as it's useful in beating his ass, sign me up for art lessons," Chosuke replied, jabbing Philip in the throat with his thumb. "What do we do now?"

"If Chuta Ohsugi was correct," said Riderman. "There has to be a snake that acts like a mind control device. When he freed Kengo, it was a snake that looked just like a necklace."

"This then?" Chosuke yanked the serpent barrette out of Philip's hair. "Consider it destroyed."

He tossed it to the ground and stomped on it until it faded away into Cosmic Energy. Chosuke smiled at his accomplishment...

Until he turned around and saw Philip fire a black line that stabbed his shoulder. He fell to the ground in pain, trying to pull the item out of his body. He wrenched it off as his shoulder began to bleed.

"Finally removed that chip off of your shoulder, huh?" Philip noted. "I'm sorry to say this, but I have no device that makes me loyal to Ophiuchus. I am loyal to him because he saved me from my restraints. He will free all of us and King Ouroboros, and you humans cannot STOP US!"

"Ouroboros?" asked Norio. "Who is that?"

"He's a legendary serpent that is known for biting his own tail in a never-ending cycle of creation, death and life," Riderman answered. "At least we finally learned what Ophiuchus's motives are."

"Son of a bitch!" Chosuke screamed, hurling the black spike back at Philip. Philip created a black horizontal slash in the air, shielding himself from his own weapon about to impale him. "You're going to be sorry!"

"Then fight me," said Philip, beckoning his four opponents. "But know this—you're only delaying the inevitable."

"Then you best start by drawing something new," Motoyama replied, picking up a few smooth stones off the ground. "Because you suck as an artist."

Philip snarled as he stacked all four white-board pens together. The pens transformed into a large executioner's sword inscribed with a serpent on its blade.

"Then maybe some body art should be my next endeavor," Philip replied coolly. "Let's start with me depicting you in absolute PAIN!"

"Think fast," said Riderman, seeing Philip raise his sword into the air. "There's no telling what he can do."

"Got it," said Motoyama. "I just hope JK is runing here as fast as he can, and I hope everyone else is safe."

0-0-0-0-0-0

Kamen Rider Meteor (or rather Meteor Impact) delivered a punch to Fourze before replying with a switch kick to the jaw. Fourze staggered a bit just as Meteor Impact was about to grab onto his throat. Fourze ducked out of the way and gave Meteor Impact an uppercut that sent him flying.

"HAHAHAHA!" Jiro laughed. "That's so much fun! What's next?"

"This," Fourze replied, pointing his staff at Meteor. "Vulpecula!"

A blast of Cosmic Energy appeared near Meteor, transforming into a large fox with red eyes and sharp teeth. Meteor turned his head to see the fox bite deep into his neck as if he was a poor little bird for the creature to eat.

"Get off of me!" Meteor Impact replied, whacking it away with his nunchucks. The fox whined as Meteor kicked it to the side before punching it straight into the heart. The fox whimpered before fading away into Cosmic Energy. Fourze just shook his head.

"That was not necessary, was it?" he asked. "Much like my death wasn't needed by your grubby, little hands!"

Meteor snarled as he turned his gaze toward his opponent. A black dagger caught his attention and knocked his nunchucks off of his hand. Jiro summoned two more daggers as a pair of red and yellow wings grew from his back.

"Killing innocent victims makes me angry!" he roared. "You need to die, Sakuta!"

"Calm down, Serpent of Obsidian Knives," Fourze replied. "Allow me to do the honors."

Meteor dove for his nunchucks before rushing toward the black Kamen Rider Fourze. Fourze pointed his staff at his opponent and yelled, "Sagitta!"

Just as Meteor was about to attack Fourze once more, he was impaled by hundreds of of arrows that pierced through his heart, stomach and arms. He fell to his knees and collapsed, his armor fading away. All that was left was an arrow riddled Ryusei Sakuta.

"Son of a bitch..." Ryusei hissed, lifting his black eyes at Fourze. Fourze, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes.

"You're not bleeding," he noted. "I don't want to fight opponents who don't show any signs of physical pain...it makes it so boring. You're not worth my time right now."

"Eh!" said Jiro. "So does this mean that I can stab him to death? I wanna cut him open and see what's inside! May I have that honor, Serpent-bearer?"

"Do what you want," Fourze replied. The staff in his hand vanished as he began to walk off. "I have something to do right now regarding the Zodiarts. Just make sure that you don't scar his pretty little face. I'd like to see it just as I'm about to give him the coup de gras."

"Goody!" Jiro watched his master vanish in a portal of shadows before prancing toward Ryusei's side. "Now, let's see what makes you tick..."

Ryusei snarled as he tried to stand up, but the arrows hit very sensitive parts of his body. He could only watch as Jiro used his dagger to slice the sleeve of his right arm...exposing the six words tattooed there.

"What's this?" Jiro exclaimed, seeing the words. "You're a machine?"

"So what?" Ryusei scoffed. "You're a corpse, but no one's weirded out by your looks."

"That's because I actually have flaws and could feel emotions. You're an emotionless robot who lacks empathy to other people's feelings." Jiro narrowed his eyes. "I'm going to see what makes you tick, Sakuta." he said icily. "Starting now!"

Just as he was about to slice Ryusei's uniform open, Ryusei grabbed onto the dagger and forced the tip to jab Jiro into his throat. Seeing his window of opportunity, Ryusei then punched Jiro in the stomach before pulling the dagger out and stabbed Jiro in his stomach. The Serpent of Obsidian Knives winced and began to pull the dagger out of his stomach, making him vulnerable to Ryusei knocking him out cold with a headbutt. Ryusei then picked up the dagger and leaned close, stroking Jiro's cheek with a finger.

"Guess you couldn't see it," he replied. "Oh well."

Raising the dagger into the air, Ryusei stabbed his ex-best friend through the forehead. Then, he walked off, pulling off the arrows still stuck to his body.

0-0-0-0-0-0

"I wonder what Owner, Hana and Naomi are up to?" said Erin. "I mean...they're keeping an eye on the DenLiner so we can rest once the battle is over, but it would be nice for them to come see us."

"They probably have their own problems," Tomoko answered. "Something in the past that will affect the future or something like that."

"Time-travelers?" asked Yuri.

"I guess you can say that," said Miu. "You know, wouldn't it be so funny that they travel back in time prior to when Ryusei killed Gentaro? Then again, that would just complicate the time stream and we'd have more problems than if we did without that interference."

Tomoko suddenly looked up and shuddered. There was a dark presence in this area.

"Everyone," she said, standing up. "Stand your ground. Something's coming."

Erin nodded her head and pulled out the Aquarius Switch in hand. Miu also took a step forward as childish laughter was heard.

"What was that?" asked Yuri. "Who's out there?"

A figure emerged in a puff of smoke. It was a white jester with patches of black, pink and turquoise. The most peculiar thing about it was the item in its hands. It was a satellite with big eyes.

"Everyone!" the jester replied. "I'm here! Did you miss me?"

"Who are you?" asked Miu. "How do you know us?"

"I've known you since I could remember! Don't you recognize me? I'm the Gemini Zodiarts! Come on, everyone! Let's work together!"

"I don't think I can trust her," Yuri noted.

"But we should at least hear her out," said Miu. "She might be on our side."

Just as the Gemini Zodiarts was about to jump into the air (or something like that, seeing that she was bending her knees), Miu her her cell-phone ring. She checked the caller ID and sighed. "Hello?"

"Miu-sempai!" cried a voice. "We need back-up! The DenLiner is being attacked by Zodiarts and there's another Serpent loose and-"

"This'll have to wait till later," Miu interrupted. "We have the Gemini Zodiarts to deal with and..." she saw something rush toward them in the distance. It neared closer, revealing a black Kamen Rider Fourze charging toward them with the jetpack mounted on his back. "Oh my god. Gentaro?! What happened to you? Why are you..."

The Gemini Zodiarts turned and was immediately picked up by the black Fourze, screaming in terror. Before anyone else had time to react, Erin was also taken into Fourze's arms and toward the sky. Tomoko immediately latched onto Fourze's leg with her shredded snake skin remains and grabbed on for dear life with Miu and Yuri also trying their best to tether Fourze to the ground. Unfortunately, even with the skin's stretching properties, Fourze's jetpack would not be restrained and put in more force into escaping. The results had Tomoko, Miu and Yuri land on their bottoms and Fourze disappearing into the sky.

"Damn it!" Miu exclaimed. She turned to her cellphone, seeing whomever called her had hung up. "Jun...what the hell are you getting into?"

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

"Erin-chan!" said Gemini, struggling from Fourze's grasp. "Help me, Erin-chan!"

"Erin-chan? Wait a minute..." Erin looked at the satellite plushie in Gemini's arms. "Yuki? Is that you? How did you become a Horoscopes?"

"I'll explain as best as I can," Gemini said. "Let's just say that Yukina and Misa learned the hard way that I wasn't a pushover."

"Of course they had to learn the hard way," Fourze muttered. "Who gave them the plan to hand you the Zodiarts Switch in the first place, Jojima?"

"You made your best friend become a Horoscopes?" Erin exclaimed. She felt her body become engulfed in rage as the three descended to the ground. Once her feet hit the grass, she asked, "Why would you do that?!"

Gemini dropped to her knees as she turned toward Fourze. His back was facing hers, giving her a good opportunity to knock him down. She flipped a card in her hands, revealing a red card with a harlequin on its back, and threw it. However, Fourze turned around, stabbing it with a staff that appeared in his hands before it could detonate in front of his face. It detonated and turned into ash right in front of his eyes.

"Did you honestly think that would've defeated me?" he sneered. "I know every trick in the book regarding the Zodiarts. After all, I fought them eons ago."

Gemini Zodiarts tried to fire another card, but Fourze flicked the switch on the mid-right and far left of the Fourze Driver.

Net On/Winch On

A pink butterfly net strapped to his right foot. He lazily moved it around and saw a large pink net entrap Gemini Zodiarts in Cosmic Energy. Meanwhile, a winch materialized on Fourze's left arm and wrapped itself around Erin. Both girls were unable to fight back against their bonds as the dark Fourze approached them.

"You two have something that I need," he said. "And I plan on taking it."

He snatched onto Erin's hand, the one that clasped onto her Horoscopes Switch, and squeezed it. Erin grit her teeth as she felt her hand being crushed by Fourze's grip that became surrounded in Cosmic Energy. She saw her Switch crack from the pressure and the energy wrapping around Fourze.

"There," he said. "Now you won't be able to heal yourself from this mess."

"How is that possible?" asked Erin. "How did you..."

Fourze just tugged on her hair and glared at her to shut up. He then tossed her aside as he approached Gemini and tossed the Hayabusa Plushie away. In the hand that held onto the cute toy was her Horoscope Switch.

"Gen-chan!" said Gemini. "Why did you give me this power in the first place? What purpose was there to make me become Gemini? I mean...you had to have a good reason, right?"

"The answer's very simple, Jojima," Fourze answered coolly. "I just need the power of the switch, nothing more. After this, you're free to go."

He grasped onto Gemini's hand and pressed on the Horoscope Switch. A black gust of wind transformed the Zodiarts of the Twins into her original form of Yuki Jojima. Yuki just stared at Fourze as if to say, "Are you sure?" Fourze didn't respond as he snatched the Horoscope Switch and tossed it to the ground, stomping it just like he once did with Aries' own switch.

"There," he whispered. "Four powers down, eight to go."

"Four powers?" asked Erin. "But aside from mine and Yuki's, you only have Aries. What's the fourth one?"

Fourze laughed as he lifted the tabs of the Fourze Driver up and became surrounded by light, also removing the Winch and Net Modules that immobilized his prisoners. When it faded, Gentaro Kisaragi showed the two girls the back of his hand which began to glow with the Astrological signs of the ram, the twins and the water-bearer. Another sign began to flicker as Gentaro spoke.

"The Zodiarts of the Scales worships me," he explained. "And once he arrives and gives me his switch, the power of illusions shall be mine!"

"What do you mean the Libra Zodiarts worships you?" asked Yuki. "Principal Hayami is-"

"No more," Gentaro licked his lips. "His soul has been devoured and his body now belongs to Ecydsis. And soon, you two will become of some use to me. I think I'll make you two my Vessels. You can never have more than enough you know."

"Never!" Erin exclaimed. "We'll die before that happens!"

"Exactly," Gentaro grinned. "Circinus."

The two blades materialized over his wrists as he began to sharpen them, running the blades against each other back and forth. The scraping of metal only made the fear of seeing her best friend killing her all the more worse. All she could do now was pray for someone to save them.

"Anyone..." she thought to herself. "Someone stop Gen-chan from killing other people! I don't want to die and be used by him! I thought I could do something as Gemini, but I made things worse! I only make things worse, don't I..."

Erin held onto Yuki's hands to comfort her as the two slowly started to back away. Gentaro just tilted his head and said, "Coral Snake: Obliterate."

A stream of fireballs flew from the right blade's tip as Erin and Yuki jumped out of the way. The ground began to burn as the two tried their best to dodge the oncoming flames. It would've been ten times easier to do this with the Zodiarts Powers, but without them, they were sitting ducks.

"This will be so much fun!" Gentaro cackled. "You can try to run, ladies...but I'll find you! Then I'll get to show you the beauty of space when you help me obliterate anyone affiliated with the Zodiarts and the people who left me! So let's play, you two! Let's play tag!"

Instead of fireballs, Gentaro swiped the blade and a stream of fire appeared, following in his path. He spun around and the grass became a large ring that entrapped the three. Erim and Yuki looked around, knowing that they could not escape from Gentaro's madness.

"What do we do now?" asked Erin.

"I don't know," Yuki answered, shaking her head. "I honestly don't know."

Next time: JK joins the party as he helps Amazon take down Kengo and the Libra Zodiarts. Meanwhile, Shun starts heading toward Miu's location so the two can talk over their conflicting problems and Haruka realizes something very, very important.

To be continued in, XXV-"Demon Days"