Dr. X: If you wanna enjoy the chapter fully, please play the songs as you read the singing performances.
Theme Song: Trust・Last
The theme song started and the screen showed the DGP logo before it flipped around to reveal a blank Desire Card. Soon, writing appeared across the card: "What is your desire?"
"Invitation,
Now that it has arrived,
Open up the dungeon,
What is your desire?"
The screen then showed Luz with her six black wings spread and being bound by multiple chains.
"Claim your place in this race,
Show me who'll be the Ace,
(Get Ready!)
(Shut it down!)
Now there's no turning back!"
As it rained upon her, Sasha could be seen approaching her, holding a sword.
"In the endlessly lasting spiralling of our lives,
Breaking through all of space and time,
Until we can unleash everything deep inside"
The next scene showed an unbound Luz as the background shifted and showed memories of her time as Empress Oscura. The Phantom army could be seen marching on the Boiling Isles as Empress Oscura held out her hand like a commander ordering her troops to advance.
Then, the scene cuts to Amity, standing in front of Oscura's castle, ready to confront her again. Empress Oscura glared down with an evil grin as young Amity dashed forward before the two collided, creating a burst of light that cut to a new scene of the two of them in the Human Realm.
The next scene showed Luz with a forlorn look on her face as the sky shifted from day to night, with ghostly images of the people she once cared about, along with the images of the people who fell by her or her Phantoms' hands, all while she slowly glanced over her left shoulder.
"You want control? Or maybe diamonds?
Love and Peace? Whatever your goal,
Another scene cut to Sasha as night turned to day, with memories of Anne and Marcy appearing in the sky as she glanced over her right shoulder.
Amity and Marcy were standing back to back as they looked at their respective friends/lovers, depicting them caught in the middle. There was even a ghostly image of Anne above them, smiling as if waiting for them.
"However you think you wanna rule this world,
(Come on, got to go the next round!)"
The scene shifted again, now showing Oscura in her Entry Form suit as she took the Oscura Buckle and slotted it into the Desire Driver. Six black wings formed around her and burst into a cascade of feathers before revealing her in her armour.
"Can you get a win in this fight?
Your moment of fate is on standby,
Everyone is holding onto some drama"
It then jumps to showing Kamen Rider Oscura throwing punches and kicks at the ghostly hands that came after her. Then many hands clasped around her but a moment later, she burst out of the hands, shattering them like glass as if to say she was not going to be taken down or held back by the past.
"TRUST・LAST"
"Better not get shaken off, or on the spot, DROP OUT!
(Whoah!)"
The scene then showed the players posing as their names appeared across the screen while their Rider personas were shown in the background.
Luz Noceda as Kamen Rider Oscura
Amity Blight as Kamen Rider Gato
Sasha Waybright as Kamen Rider Soaron
Marcy Wu as Kamen Rider Newtonne
Masha DeLisle as Kamen Rider Kurma
Boscha Barbtalóne as Kamen Rider Red-Pan
"Do I have to cause somebody else pain?
Hurting others in a never-ending game?"
"TRUST・LAST"
"Ignite the fire of your heart's desire, burning,
(Go for the win!)"
A group shot of all the players in their Entry Forms was shown before it changed to show their civilian forms.
"Reading the winds,
For false pretence,
So we know when,
They will join hands again,
I won't give in,
When they betray every expectation"
The next scene showed Luz breaking the chains holding her as the black wings dispersed into a cascade of black feathers.
"Tell me can we discover anything,
From a victory to win a dream?"
The final scene showed Sasha pointing her sword at Luz before the title showed:
*DESIRE GRAND PRIX*
"That is the intro for the show," Tsumuri said to the audience. "What do you all think?"
The players were sitting in the lounge, having seen the intro on the large holographic screen.
"…Okay, I'll just say it: WHY THE HELL IS OSCURA THE DAMN HEADLINER OF THE ENTIRE INTRO?!" Boscha complained.
"She was last season's champion," Tsumuri stated.
"And what was with that image of me when I was a kid and fighting the Empress like that?" Amity questioned.
"That was meant to illustrate your beginnings and how far you have come since," Tsumuri explained.
"Not that I'm unappreciative, but did you have to show us like that? With Marcy in the middle and Anne standing above us?" Sasha asked.
"Also, part of the theme. Since this is the main goal of at least three of you and, of course, it is not hard to see the divide it has created," Tsumuri answered.
Sasha couldn't deny that, but it kind of hurt to see it depicted so vividly like that.
"...Wait a minute, how did you get this made anyway?" Luz wondered out loud. "I don't remember being filmed for this." The other players looked at each other, wondering the same thing.
"You may not remember, but we certainly do," Tsumuri said mysteriously.
Kamen Rider SideRide Chronicle: Oscura's Encore
Reality III: Sing Your ❤ Out!
An alarm went off, waking up all the players from their slumber. Boscha still had to get used to an alarm that was not screaming at her to wake up each morning. Who uses a bell as an alarm anyway?
{Players, please report to the lounge for a special announcement!}
{Players, please report to the lounge for a special announcement!}
Both Luz and Amity were roused awake by the alarm and announcement. They lay entangled in bed, having slept together last night. While the rules stated they could not share a room, that did not stop them from sleeping over in each other's rooms. Last night, Luz had gone to sleep in Amity's room.
"Five more minutes..." Luz mumbled.
"C'mon, Luz. We need to get up," Amity said, yawning as she rubbed her eyes.
"Don't wanna..." the Latina whined as she buried her face in Amity's chest. Amity rolled her eyes and then she cupped Luz's face before giving her a good morning kiss. This served to wake up the other girl as she kissed her fiancée back. Amity broke the kiss, smiling. "How's that?"
"Better, but a few more kisses wouldn't hurt," Luz smiled.
{Players, please report to the lounge for a special announcement!}
When the alarm went off, Marcy jumped out of bed but she got tangled up in her blanket and fell to the floor.
"Gah!" she yelped. "Hold on! I'm coming!"
{Players, please report to the lounge for a special announcement!}
Masha took out their phone and smiled at the background image. It showed them and Vee smiling at the camera while they kissed the disguised basilisk on the cheek.
"Wish me luck, babe."
{Players, please report to the lounge for a special announcement!}
Always the early riser, Sasha was quick to get ready. After brushing her teeth, taking a shower, and taking care of some business in the bathroom, she got dressed. She put on some DGP shorts with her boots and a red t-shirt with the DGP logo.
Mr. Butler had breakfast prepared as each player was given a plate of toast, scrambled eggs, baked beans, sausages and bacon. They were also provided with coffee to help wake them up. The food smelled so good and tasted even better.
"Ah, coffee~!" Marcy sighed as she took a sip, the drink fully waking her up.
"That's good stuff," Luz remarked, having taken a sip herself. "What's your secret, Mr. Butler?"
"If I told you, it would not be a secret. Now, if you'll excuse me, there's something that requires my attention," Mr. Butler said before he went to the back to do some more work.
"Good morning, everyone," Tsumuri greeted the Riders as she entered the lounge. "I hope you had a good night's rest."
"Hey, Tsumuri!" Masha greeted. "C'mon, pull up a chair and join us!"
"Thank you, but I am here to inform you of today's special mission," Tsumuri replied. She now had the players' attention.
"Good, I'm itching to kill something," Boscha grinned viciously.
"It's not that sort of mission." Tsumuri shook her head. "Allow the Game Master to explain."
{Good morning, my dear Kamen Riders,} the Game Master greeted as his face appeared on the screen. {I hope you had a good night's sleep.}
"It was alright," Sasha admitted.
{That's good to hear. Now, for today's mission, we're going to have...} The players waited in anticipation to learn what they would be doing today. {A singing contest!}
The players all facefaulted as soon as they heard this.
"A singing contest!?" Boscha cried out. "Are you kidding me!?"
{I am not kidding you. You all know about your popularity ranking, correct?} The pie chart appears to show the Riders' popularity. It would appear that Masha had gotten quite popular in their debut, overtaking Marcy's popularity. Boscha glowered at her measly 1%. {This is actually a good chance for you to appeal to your fans.}
"Is this an elimination round?" Luz asked.
{Oh, no. There will be no eliminations. However, the winner of today's game will receive a reward.}
"So, how do we win?" Amity asked. "I mean, I know we gotta sing, but what's the catch?"
{The winner will be decided by the audience, of course. After you have all performed, the audience will vote on who among you is the best. Now, please, enjoy your meal and be ready for tonight.}
The holographic screen went off, leaving the players to mull over this.
Confessional: Luz Noceda/Oscura
"Seriously, a singing contest? OK, I know that the DGP loves to throw a curveball once in a while, but this is the biggest curveball ever. I know I can sing and so can Amity, but they are asking us to be ready by tonight. That includes choosing a song and practising. I don't think that's enough time, but I can't slack off. Even if it's not an elimination round, the reward could give me an advantage."
Confessional: Sasha Waybright/Soaron
"At least in this game, Marcy won't have to put her life on the line. But I don't think I've ever heard her sing before. There was a time we did a music video for fun, but I did vocals while Marcy and...Anne were backup dancers. Whatever, I'm gonna win this contest and get me that reward."
Confessional: Marcy Wu/Newtonne
"OK, so back in the day, Anne, Sasha and I had a garage band. Sasha named us 'The Sharps'," Marcy said. "I was on drums. But this is the first time I'll have to perform alone. I just need to find the right song to sing. I hope I don't mess up."
Many hours later, the players were summoned for the singing contest. The mechanical eye-like cameras floated around the temple, broadcasting to their audience. They had only been given until that night to get ready, but it should be enough prep time to provide a satisfactory performance.
"Welcome to a special episode of the Desire Grand Prix," Tsumuri addressed the audience. "Tonight, our players will be performing songs of their choosing. As the audience, you shall judge and decide who among them will be tonight's winner. So, please enjoy the show." Tsumuri turned to address the players. "Now, time to decide who shall go first."
A wheel that was cut into six sections appeared beside Tsumuri. At the top of the wheel was an arrow and on each section of the wheel were the corresponding logos of each player. Tsumuri went and spun the wheel. The wheel spun quickly, blurring the logos, before slowing down until it came to a stop with the arrow pointed at Oscura's logo.
"Our first performance will be by Luz Noceda, Kamen Rider Oscura!" Tsumuri announced.
"Good luck, Luz," Amity whispered to her fiancée.
"Yeah, break a leg," Masha added.
"Wish I could break both her legs," Boscha whispered to Sasha.
Luz walked up to the stage that was crafted onto the floating platform of the Desire Temple. She held out her hands and a tablet materialised into them. Afterwards, she swiped through a few costume choices, and selected one that she thought would fit the song she was going to sing. She pressed the 'select' button and the tablet disappeared.
A moment later, Luz's clothes began to change into blue pixels before transforming into a black dress with a feathery skirt that gave off a rainbow sheen when the light hit it just right, like a raven's feathers, and a black cape that flowed down her back. The eyeliner around her eyes was a heavy dark colour, and it kind of gave her an almost Disney villainess appearance.
Amity wasn't sure where Luz was going with this, but she was sure that this wasn't going to make her fiancée look any better in the eyes of Sasha, and Boscha was a lost cause as far as she was concerned.
Once the dress was donned, Luz held out her right hand as a microphone materialized into it. After taking a calming breath, Luz nodded to Tsumuri who pressed a button on her tablet and began the song. A techno beat started at first, with everything in the temple going pitch black.
"My Past is Not Today"
Performed By: Luz Noceda/Kamen Rider Oscura
"Power~was all I desired~ (I desired, I desired)
But all that grew inside me was the darkness I acquired~"
Images began to appear around them, showing silhouettes of Luz as Oscura as she ruled over the Boiling Isles, along with a horde of Phantoms. Boscha was starting to tremble as she looked upon the images, memories of that time in her life rearing their ugly heads. Sasha merely clenched her fists as she glared at Luz, and Marcy was already looking worried. Masha decided to remain silent. They wanted to get the full story, and perhaps this song could provide some context.
"When I began to fall and I lost the path ahead~"
A new set of images appeared, showing how Oscura became a fallen angel of pure evil, the being that Amity knew as 'Scyn Oscura'. Aside from Luz's old state, that form would always remain in her mind.
The images then zoomed straight inside Scyn Oscura, showing a silhouette of young Luz hugging her legs as she appeared to be weeping.
"That's when your friendship found me and it lifted me instead~"
Two hands of yellow and blue light reached out towards the silhouette of Luz who now looked up at the outstretched hands. She took hold of them, releasing a bright flash through the area. As Luz took a step forward, her cape and skirt fluttered from her action.
"Like a phoenix burning bright in the sky~
I'll show there's another side to me you can't deny~"
A firebird suddenly flew around the temple, catching everyone off guard. As they watched as the blazing avian flew around, it released embers and feathers that cascaded down from the faux sky as Luz pointed towards Sasha and Boscha. She then clutched her left hand at her heart.
"I may not know what the future holds, but hear me when I say~
That my past does not define me, 'cause my past is not today~"
The embers and feathers burst apart in sparkles of light that now hovered in the air around them as the area went dark again, with the only source of illumination coming from the small orbs of light.
"Ambition is what I believed~
Would be the only way to set me free~"
The images in the temple shifted again, showing silhouettes of young Luz as she drew light glyph after light glyph, and how each one scarred her body, represented by white gashes that appeared on the black silhouette's body.
Amity hugged herself and bit her bottom lip, remembering how Willow told her about what Luz did to herself to try and break the curse, which was the cause of her many scars. She couldn't help but shed a tear as she remembered that she was the one who inflicted that pain on her beloved.
"But when it disappeared and I found myself alone~"
The shadows reformed and showed Empress Oscura as she used her power to change the Boiling Isles. But at the same time, that image of Oscura showed those she cared about being pushed further and further away from her until she was all alone, a solitary ruler upon a throne, with no one to love and no one who cared about her. Someone who had driven all away. That same Empress Oscura fell to her knees and released a wordless cry of pain into the air as white tears fell from her eyes.
"That's when you came and got me, and it felt like I was home~"
The others watched as Empress Oscura shifted back to young Luz, and how new silhouettes formed around her, showing images of Gus, Willow, Amity, and two other forms that no one recognized that were coloured yellow and azure.
"Like a phoenix burning bright in the sky~"
Luz pointed her left hand into the air as the darkness was chased away. The same phoenix rose from the darkness and began to fly around in the air until it was right above the temple and cried out loudly.
"I'll show there's another side to me you can't deny~"
Luz closed her eyes for a moment before looking defiantly and confidently into the crowd with a smile on her face.
"I may not know what the future holds, but hear me when I say~"
The phoenix above her screeched once again before heading straight down, aiming straight for Luz.
"That my past does not define me~!"
The phoenix turned into pure fire as it struck the stage, setting the entire thing ablaze. The heat felt so real that it actually made the others, aside from Boscha, afraid that Luz had just set herself on fire. But those flames suddenly started to turn into a fiery tornado which burst apart in a shower of embers and orbs of light, revealing Luz in a brand new outfit.
Her dress was now a crimson red, with the edges of each feather of the skirt tinted with gold. Luz gripped the clasp of her cape and threw it off into the air as she belted the last line of her song.
"'CAUSE MY PAST IS NOT TODAY~~~~!"
The song ended with a shimmering golden aura around Luz before six blazing wings of light shot out from her back. The heavy black eyeliner around her eyes had disappeared, replaced by gold eyeliner that was done in sharp curves around Luz's eyes.
Lumina was sitting in her audience room, enjoying the show with a glass of apple blood.
"Now that was a performance," Lumina praised. "So, still think Oscura is the big bad boogeywoman?"
She was not alone, as she had a guest sitting beside her. Amara Blight was watching the same performance and she appeared to be conflicted.
"I never said that," Amara defended.
"Well, you never denied it."
"No, but like most of the Boiling Isles, we grew up with the stories of Oscura's time in power. You can't blame me for thinking of her that way."
"I suppose not, being the descendant of the Legendary Amity Blight."
"But I can see that she's not the same person," Amara admitted.
"Yeah, she chose the right song."
Amity, Masha, and Marcy's jaws dropped at the performance. For one thing, neither Masha nor Marcy knew that Luz could sing so well. Secondly, they didn't think her performance would be so amazing. Apparently, Luz's fans were of the same mind as cheers and applause could be heard coming from the floating cameras. At the same time, multiple screens appeared around the Desire Temple, some showing a multitude of positive comments and praises for Luz's performance.
"Uh, heh, well, thank you Desire Grand Prix!" Luz exclaimed, waving. She stepped down from the stage. As soon as she was off the stage, she was immediately assaulted with kisses from her fiancée as Amity threw her arms around her.
"Mi amor, that was beautiful!" Amity praised.
"I just sang from the heart," Luz admitted. "Wasn't expecting it to be a hit though."
"When you sing from the heart, it always resonates with people," Amity replied.
"A very good performance, Ms. Noceda," Tsumuri applauded. "Now, who shall be next?" She went to the wheel as it changed. Now it had five sections which displayed the logos of the other players. It seemed that, after each performance, the player who had finished would have their logo removed. Tsumuri spun the wheel and when it stopped, it pointed at Soaron's logo. "Now, up next, Sasha Waybright, Kamen Rider Soaron."
"Show her what you got, Sasha," said Boscha, grinning.
"Hmph, naturally." Sasha walked towards the stage, but not before sparing Noceda a passing glance.
Once up on stage, the tablet appeared in her hands and Sasha selected her outfit for her song. Blue pixels shrouded her current clothes and body before disappearing and revealing her outfit. It was a punk rocker outfit with a dark red leather jacket, a spiked wristband wrapped around her left wrist, and a plaid, dark brown skirt. Her hair was tied back into a ponytail while her bangs were combed back and given a spiky look. Her shirt was charcoal grey, with a black heart in the centre that was cracked in half. She wore a pair of thick black leather combat boots, a metal studded belt and, like Luz before her, had dark eyeliner. In her hands, Sasha held a red guitar that was shaped like a literal axe. A microphone headset appeared over her right ear, freeing up her hands to play her instrument.
"Is she planning to cut my head off with that thing?" Luz whispered.
"I wouldn't put it past her," Amity replied.
Sasha got her hands in position on her guitar and nodded to Tsumuri who started the music.
"Backlight"
Performed By: Sasha Waybright/Kamen Rider Soaron
Sasha immediately began shredding on the guitar, making flames erupt all over the place, causing everyone to jump at how quickly that escalated. Marcy had to admit, despite them not playing in a band together for the last few years, Sasha's guitar skills had not dulled in the slightest.
"My mem'ries so good and awful, it seems they gave me a grudge~"
The flames took on the shape of Sasha as magenta flames, and Anne in azure flames. The scene showed how Sasha held Anne's body in her arms as the azure flames started to break down.
"But I have left bitterness and resentment behind me~"
The magenta flame Sasha desperately grasped at the azure flames of Anne as they completely disappeared, leaving her alone as the black flames representing Oscura arose on the other side of the temple, causing everyone to look in that direction for a moment.
"And it is all thanks to her~!"
Sasha immediately pointed an accusatory finger at Luz, making the Latina frown as she sighed. Marcy mirrored Luz's expression. It seemed that Sasha's grudge was still burning bright inside of her friend.
Sasha kept playing her guitar as she slowly paced the stage, glowering down at the ones who kept telling her that her hate was 'misguided', that Oscura 'wasn't evil' but she knew better.
"Oh look, it's the clowns who think they know,
How crushing loneliness can be,
You know nothing 'til you come with me~"
The punk rocker raised her right hand and struck a power chord, causing the flames around them to erupt with greater power and intensity.
"And run wild! Release your rage,
Let the winds of wrath blow them away~!"
Sasha continued to shred on her guitar as the flames blew straight out into the audience, forcefully separating Luz from the others as they lifted her into the air.
"Not gonna live in compliance-iance-iance,
I'm not playin' the victim no more,
Time to go RAGE, let's punish them all,
For their love; I'm done trying to trust!"
The flames suddenly turned into shackles and chains that suspended Luz in the air. Amity growled angrily as she turned to Tsumuri to stop this, but the DGP navigator gave her a look and shook her head. Amity knew these special effects were all just holographic, but she still didn't like it.
"Not gonna live in compliance-iance-iance,
Gonna play with fire, backlit by the FLAAAAAAAMES~~~!"
Luz struggled against the shackles. Despite them being made of holographic flames, they weren't easy to break, but at least they didn't burn. It seemed as if Sasha wanted her to have a good view. Sasha took a breath as she looked directly at Luz.
"By the end, everything turned to red, it was brutal yet so beautiful~"
The flames that surrounded the temple started to shift to red as a holographic flame construct of herself and Anne appeared, just showing them walking and chatting.
"A kind of red, pulls you in, and won't let you look away,
Make you feel a bit feverish~"
Pink flames started to appear over the flame hologram of Sasha's face as it looked upon Anne's flame hologram. The flame holograms Anne and Sasha began to dance amongst the rest of the scarlet flames as the real Sasha made her emotions regarding Anne plain for all to see. It was then that everyone seemed to understand how deep her grudge truly went.
"Scarlet crimson lit up from behind, so bright'll make you go blind,
Hypnotizing every eye that sees its red aura blazing,
Held captive by the allure~"
That was when the black flames of Empress Oscura came in and ripped the Anne hologram from the Sasha hologram's arms, and snuffed out its flames, leaving the Sasha hologram alone as it clutched at its heart with the black flames surrounding it.
"My heart got tangled up bad and now it's frayed,
No matter how much I've learned,
I understand that my anger's here to stay,
The words rush out–"
Sasha struck another power chord as the black flames were blasted away by her hologram, magenta flames taking over the black as her hologram glared down the Oscura hologram behind Luz.
"And run wild! Release your rage,
Let the winds of wrath blow them away~"
The Oscura hologram took on the form of a demonic bird as it shot towards the Sasha hologram, which now wielded two swords. Both it and the black flame bird waged battle around the temple, causing explosions of black and magenta fire to go off around them.
"Not gonna live in compliance-iance-iance,
I'm not playin' the victim no more,
Time to go RAGE, let's punish them all,
For their love; I'm done trying to trust,
Not gonna live in compliance-iance-iance,
Gonna play with fire, backlit by the FLAAAAAAAMES~~~!"
The two holograms clashed once more, creating a powerful explosion that made everyone close their eyes. The shackles around Luz's arms and legs shattered apart as she was dropped back onto the floor. The entire temple went dark again, and no light could be seen but that was when a single spotlight shone over Sasha. To everyone's surprise, her face had black streaks, showing that she was crying.
"Though my anger exhausts me and I fall apart,"
A spotlight suddenly shone on Marcy as the blonde looked right at her friend.
"My actions may cost me but,
I can't let go of the past, I refuse to move on,
I know if you would listen, you would understand–"
Marcy rubbed her right arm as she could tell that Sasha was telling the Taiwanese girl in her own way why she was doing this, and that she wished her friend could understand why she had to do things her way. However, Marcy knew that Sasha's anger was not justified, that it would only destroy her if she kept this up, and could destroy what they had even after the DGP was over.
A third spotlight was shone on Luz as she got up and looked up at the stage, and directly at Sasha.
"It's time you entered into this bad dreamland,
You made for me and suffer like I have~!"
Sasha raised her right hand and struck her third power chord as crimson, orange, yellow, and magenta flames erupted all around them with greater intensity than before.
"So let's run wild! Release your rage,
Let the winds of wrath blow them away,
Not gonna live in compliance-iance-iance,
I'm not playin' the victim no more,
Time to go RAGE, let's punish them all,
For their love; I'm done trying to trust,
Not gonna live in compliance-iance-iance,
Gonna play with fire, backlit by the FLAAAAAAAMES~~~!"
Sasha held up her right fist into the air as a column of fire blasted up from behind her, showing a mighty female warrior hologram that had a flaming sword pierced into the black demon bird hologram that represented Oscura. The flames finally disappeared as the song ended.
Despite the song's subject matter, the passion and emotion behind it were plain to see for anyone listening, which caused holographic screens to appear that showed praise for Sasha's performance as well. The blonde panted as she walked off the stage, slinging her guitar over her shoulder.
"Sasha," Luz spoke up. "Did you…love Anne?"
Sasha didn't say a word, but nodded her confirmation as she stood next to Boscha, crossing her arms.
Confessional: Luz Noceda/Oscura
"Now I can understand how deep Sasha's grudge is. I never suspected that she had those feelings for her best friend. She hates me the same way I hated that Jyamato for killing Amity. The only difference is that I got closure and Amity came back. Seeing us being so happy together, it must cause her to resent me even more."
Ted Waybright sat in his personal audience room, having watched his daughter's performance. He had witnessed her daughter's passion and resolve to win the DGP. While he did not blame Noceda for Anne's death, the girl was the perfect driving force for Sasha. Still, Ted did not like how his daughter was consumed with anger. While anger was a good motivator, it could take over and destroy a person from the inside and everything around them, like a flame that went out of control.
Sasha had always tried to keep things under her control. When he and his ex-wife separated, Sasha was helpless, powerless, so she resolved to never be weak. That was why she did everything in her power to keep Anne and Marcy under control, which was a misguided attempt to protect them.
A sensible parent would have scheduled their child for therapy, but Ted had made a deal with the DGP and he needed to follow through. He just hoped his daughter did not lose her life in the process. If his ex-wife ever found out, she would never forgive him.
All that emotion was intense, to say the least. If Amity took that song literally, combined with the visuals, and the question that Luz posed to Sasha at the end, it would make so much sense. The way that Luz reacted to her death, and the way Sasha reacted to Anne's, wasn't just the grief of losing a dear friend, but the rage and sorrow of losing someone you truly loved.
'If that's really the case, then…it makes total sense why she's holding a grudge against Luz. If Sasha got Luz killed during that final game…I would probably want to make her pay for what she did too. Still…'
Amity glanced in Sasha's direction. She kept her gaze downcast, crossing her arms over her chest as she stood and waited for the next person to take their turn on stage. If it wasn't for the rule that they all needed to be in attendance for this game, Sasha probably would've headed back to the lounge to be alone after airing out her feelings as she did.
'In some ways, Sasha, we're the same. But you can't let that grief and hate consume you.'
"Such a passionate performance, Soaron," Tsumuri praised. "Now, who is next?" Tsumuri spun the wheel and it stopped with the arrow pointing at Amity's Rider logo. "Amity Blight, Kamen Rider Gato!"
"Good luck, Amity," Luz smiled.
"Thanks," Amity smiled back. "Let's hope all that practice paid off."
With that in mind, Amity strode towards the stage. Once on stage, like the others before her, the tablet appeared in her hands. She scrolled through the options, found one that worked for her, and tapped it. But the moment she did, the sky went dark, and the lights went out inside the temple, casting everything in darkness. That made it hard for everyone to see an inch in front of their faces.
And then the music kicked in.
"The Power of Love"
Performed By: Amity Blight/Kamen Rider Gato
Suddenly, clapping sounds could be heard echoing through the temple, along with the tune of an electric keyboard and drums. Neon lights began to flash around their feet, shifting between, green, blue, and purple.
Just then, upon the stage, the group watched as sparkling purple light began to shine, but it was taking shape around an obviously female silhouette. It took the shape of boots, then a skirt, a shirt with a pronounced collar, a flowing mantle, fingerless gloves that reached the elbows, and finally…headphones that looked like they had cat ears.
That was when the music amped up. A white light began to flash above their heads before the music hit its crescendo and as it did, the light shone on the stage, revealing Amity with her back turned to them. Her clothes appeared made of sparkling light before she twirled around and struck a pose. The moment she did, the light dispersed from her clothes, revealing their true form. Amity had donned a pair of purple boots that ran halfway up her legs. Around her waist was a purple pleated skirt with a white stripe running along the hem. She had on a white, sleeveless shirt that hugged her stomach and chest, and in the centre of her shirt was a mauve bow with a broach that had a golden crescent moon in it.
The mantle, which was a sparkling pink see-through fabric, was connected to the shoulders of her shirt, forming a loop under her arms and connecting to the back of her shirt to form a faux coat/cape. The gloves were indeed fingerless, with a leathery appearance similar to her boots. On Amity's head was a pair of headphones, with the left side producing a microphone for her to sing into, while the top had a pair of animatronic cat ears with glowing neon lights that outlined their shape. The ears seemed to move in conjunction with Amity's movements and her mood, just like a cat's ears would. The collar was a little wide at the back, but tapered down to form a kind of V-cut that showed just a bit of the witch girl's cleavage.
'SO HOT!' Luz and Boscha thought at the same time.
Amity started to draw spell circles in the air, focusing her magic on her Bard and Illusion spells as she added to the special effects created by the Desire Temple.
"There comes a time,
When you face the toughest of fights,
Searching for a sign,
Lost in the darkest of nights~"
The temple showed light holograms of a young Amity and the imposing figure of Empress Oscura, and all the times she failed in her attempts to combat the Dark Empress of Evil. While at the same time, showing how that hologram of Amity would see the haunting image of a Luz hologram, covered in scars as she reached out to her as if trying to beg for forgiveness before the image got swallowed by darkness and turned into Oscura.
"The wind blows so cold,
You're standing alone,
Before the battle's begun~"
Sasha started to pay more attention to Amity's performance as she saw a fierce battle happening between Oscura, along with a yellow warrior and a blue warrior before a bright flash of light went off and all that stood was Luz Noceda as she once was.
"But deep in your soul,
The future unfolds,
As bright as the rays of the sun~!"
The Amity hologram reached out towards the Luz hologram. The Luz hologram looked up at the Amity hologram and took the other's hand. Right as their hands joined, a flash of lavender light erupted from their joining hands and showered the area with sparkles of light as she danced upon the stage.
"You've got to believe,
In the Power of Love,
You've got to believe,
In the Power of Love,
The Power of Love~!"
Luz quickly made her way to Tsumuri.
"Hey, Tsumuri, any chance you can get me some glow sticks, please?" Luz asked. Tsumuri gave a small smile, tapped on her tablet, and a second after, about eight glow sticks appeared in Luz's hands. "You rock, Tsumuri!" She returned to the front of the stage. She began waving them around as if she was at a concert. "Amity! Amity! Amity!"
As Tsumuri was about to go back to enjoying Amity's performance, she sensed a presence to her left. The navigator glanced over and saw that Boscha was standing there as well.
"May I help you, Ms. Barbtalone?"
"Uh, could you make me a couple of those things too?" Boscha asked. Tsumuri gave Boscha a deadpan stare before tapping on her tablet. Only one glow stick materialized in Boscha's hand. "Wait, why do I only get one?"
"Do I have to give you a lengthy explanation as to why? Either take it or leave it, Ms. Barbtalone."
Boscha rolled all three of her eyes, feeling both insulted and offended, before heading back to her spot, using her one glow stick as she cheered for her crush.
"Blazing Emotion,
There's a light that glows from your heart~"
Amity placed her hands on her heart as a light began to shine from behind them. She kept the light close to her heart before releasing it, allowing it to burst into the air. It wasn't a single burst, however, as it kept going, showing images of happy times between herself, Luz, and their family.
"It's a chain reaction,
And nothing will keep us apart~!"
Amity looked directly at her fiancée, her future wife, smiling as she saw her waving eight glow sticks between the fingers of both hands.
"Stand by my side,
There's nothing to hide,
Together we'll fight till the end~!"
The bursting light images showed herself and Luz in their Rider forms, some of them were side-by-side, others back-to-back, but all had the same theme, the couple forever fighting together no matter the foe or obstacle.
"Take hold of my hand,
And you'll understand,
What it truly means to be friends~!"
Amity reached out towards Luz and then to Sasha, which shocked the blonde as if she was beckoning to her, asking her to give up on the grudge that plagued her. After that, Amity swiped her hands across the stage, causing an explosion of sparkling lavender light to cast shadows upon her as she went into her dance routine.
"You've got to believe,
(You've got to believe)
In the Power of Love
You've got to believe,
(You've got to believe)
In the Power of Love,
It gives meaning to each moment,
It's what our hearts are all made of,
You've got to believe,
(You've got to believe)
In the Power of Love,
The Power of Love~"
Amity drew more spell circles, using the music and Bard magic to help tap into and stir Sasha's emotions.
Sasha, for her part, could feel a soothing wave of calm wash over her. At the same time, an image of Anne appeared beside her. It was obviously a hologram, as it was coloured blue, and its details were outlined in a brighter glowing neon blue. Nonetheless, she allowed the hologram to draw closer and smile at her.
Marcy saw this and smiled as well. She could see what Amity was trying to do for Sasha and, despite the friction between them, it was nice to see that the witch was trying to reach out and extend an olive branch to the blonde.
"You've got to believe,
(You've got to believe)
In the Power of Love,
You've got to believe,
(You've got to believe)
In the Power of Love,
It gives meaning to each moment,
It's what our hearts are all made of,
(Just look inside)
You've got to believe,
(You've got to believe)
In the Power of Love,
The Power of Love~!"
Amity ended her song with a dazzling pose, winking with her right eye while parting her left index and middle fingers as she raised her left hand and framed her eye in the gap between the two fingers. After striking a pose, a shower of stars, sparkling lights, and hearts exploded around her and drifted down around the gathered audience.
"Yeah!" Amara cheered, waving glow sticks as Lumina laughed in amusement.
"Never saw you as a pop music fan," Lumina remarked. "Thought you'd prefer Rock and Roll."
"Just showing support for my aunt, Lumina," Amara said defensively, sitting down before she grabbed her drink. "I can admit, it was a nice song."
"Never knew Amity could sing, though."
"Well, as a Blight, she has to be talented," Amara boasted haughtily.
"OK, then prove it," Lumina challenged. "Let's have a Karaoke Battle after this."
"HA! Bring it, Little Miss Perfect!"
"Ugh! I hate it when you call me that!"
Marcy, Masha, and especially Luz, cheered loudly for Amity. Boscha did too, but it died out after she saw what happened next: Amity jumped off the stage, waltzed up to her fiancée, threw her arms around her, and kissed Luz on the lips, prompting the human to hug and kiss her back.
Sasha looked at the hologram that still lingered at her side. She gingerly placed her hand on the hologram's shoulder, prompting the hologram to place her own hand over Sasha's as the hologram smiled at her. Sasha smiled as well, but about ten seconds later, the hologram disappeared.
'Anne…'
Boscha's eyes narrowed in anger. She hated it then, and she hated it now. Seeing the girl she loved in the arms of a monster. There was no other explanation other than Oscura having done something to Amity. Oscura must have brainwashed her, twisting her mind into falling in love with the person who had twice murdered her mother.
Oscura had ruled their home with an iron fist and made every day a living nightmare, letting them all live by her whim just so that they could wallow in despair, letting them dangle over the edge every single day wondering when the evil empress would become bored of their existence and decide to wipe them all out.
That royal bitch had stolen the magic of two of her friends, leaving them weak and invalid. She remembered being there when it happened, seeing them drained of magic before her eyes. While Oscura stood over them, and stared back at her with a malicious grin. Boscha remembered that monster holding out her hand, with the triclops close to wetting herself as she believed this was the moment where she died. However, Oscura simply booped her on the nose before leaving her and her drained friends alone. At that moment, it became clear to Boscha that Oscura did not deem her a threat by letting her keep her magic. She was not even worth killing in the Dark Empress' eyes.
Boscha used to write off humans as being weak and powerless, but she had since learned not to underestimate them. Even without natural magic, humans could be dangerous and resourceful. Belos had proven it by manipulating the witches and demons of the Boiling Isles for centuries and ruling over them for 50 years.
Then there was Oscura, a human girl who had discovered a forbidden power. Practically overnight, she took over the Boiling Isles, ruled over them all, and brought them to near ruin.
In Boscha's eyes, Oscura was, and always would be a monster. A vile creature that didn't deserve to exist, that didn't deserve to be around someone like Amity. As far as she was concerned, Oscura should have been executed, because now she stood among this rabble of humans, with her powers returned, just as powerful and as ruthless in battle as she once was. Boscha didn't buy this whole 'wish Anne back to life' crap. If nothing else, this was just one more step towards her ultimate wish.
Tsumuri spun the wheel and it stopped at Red-Pan's logo. Before she was even called, Boscha spoke up.
"I'm going next!"
No one objected as Boscha made her way to the stage. She threw a scowl towards the happy couple before stomping onto the stage.
"Ahem…I'd like to dedicate this song to someone we all know and love," said Boscha, sarcastically. "I hope you enjoy it…"
The tablet materialized and Boscha found the outfit she wanted. Tapping the option, her entire body was wrapped in blue pixels before her clothes and hair were changed, making the other contestants a little uncomfortable when they saw the results.
Boscha's hair was allowed to flow wildly down her back. Upon her head was a black hairband with four horns. The two outer horns were bigger than the two middle ones. Her first two eyes had black mascara running down her face in streaks, as if to mimic tears. Around her shoulders was a pitch-black cape that fluttered about with each movement she made. Around her torso was a black leather bodice, which exposed her shoulders, neck, and collar, providing a view of her cleavage. Around her waist was a belt of spikes, which held a black leather skirt that went halfway down her thighs, with the front of the skirt left open to reveal her legs. Boscha wore long leather high-heeled boots that came up just above the knees, and black gloves that stopped around her biceps. The gloves had spiked knuckles and the tip of each boot had a single spike on them as well.
"I really hope kids from the future aren't watching this," Luz whispered to Amity.
"Okay, I'll admit it. She's a bitch, but she has a smoking hot bod," Masha confessed.
"Seriously?" Luz and Amity deadpanned.
"What? Did you forget that part where I said I'm a proud enby nympho? I can appreciate a hot girl when I see one," Masha defended.
Whether they wanted to admit it or not, Boscha did have a nice figure. Too bad she was such an insufferable witch.
"Why do I get the feeling this is going to go completely off the rails?" Marcy questioned with dread.
"It's Boscha. So you might as well brace yourself," Sasha remarked.
"All Things Must Die"
Performed By: Boscha Barbtalone/Kamen Rider Red-Pan
The stage and everything inside the temple went pitch black again. Suddenly, piano music started to play, its eerie tune echoing in the darkness as more instruments accompanied it, amplifying the already eerie feeling that descended upon them. A spotlight slowly began to illuminate the stage, showing Boscha who was now holding a microphone as she kept her eyes closed and began to sing.
"Day by day, it's nearer,
Step by step, you grow,
Closer to your ruin~"
Boscha slowly opened all three of her eyes as another spotlight slowly came lit up, this time illuminating Luz. A sinister smile formed on the triclops' lips as she pointed directly at the Latina.
"Soon your time to go,
Life is just a journey,
Yours is near its end~"
Amity furrowed her brow. It didn't take Boscha long to start threatening her fiancée, and in song form no less. Luz saw that Amity looked like she was going to try something, but she gently placed a hand on her shoulder and shook her head in the negative. This was a round of the DGP, and it was only a song.
"Bloody evolution,
This world transcend,
Black out the sky~"
The lights started to grow dimmer and dimmer, slowly letting the darkness return.
"All things must die~~"
The music suddenly swelled, now adding guitars and drums to the ensemble as they played loudly. The darkness was quickly dismissed as burning flames erupted from the stage, lighting up the area. Everyone stepped back from the stage as images began to take shape around them. Blackbirds could be seen flying in the sky before getting shot with arrows and falling to the ground, dead.
"This is the end,
Here's where you'll die,
Legends have scattered,
So just say goodbye~!"
Boscha suddenly disappeared from the stage, and just as suddenly reappeared next to Luz, cutting in between her and Amity. Taking Luz's hand, Boscha pulled her away as she twirled the former Dark Empress of Evil around, dancing with her for a moment before bringing her close to stare directly into her eyes, making sure the human saw the hate in them.
"No one will miss you,
When you're finally gone~!"
The triclops parted from Luz, shoving her away and letting her fall to the floor as she looked down on her with satisfaction.
"At your conclusion,
Sing your swan song~!"
Boscha disappeared in a puff of black smoke before reappearing on the stage as she began belting out her next lines.
"Murder, unkindness, conspiracy,
Embers extinguished in effigy~!"
Images started to appear, showing a black silhouette of Oscura and dozens upon dozens of, what could be assumed to be, Boiling Isles citizens attacking her. They were exacting their vengeance upon the evil empress who oppressed them and killed so many. With every blow, every slash, red light shined inside of the Desire Temple, as if Oscura was bleeding for her crimes.
"Just close your eyes,
Don't fear demise~"
The images started to fade as Boscha pointed right back at Luz, keeping her menacing glare on her as the light in the temple started to fade as well.
"Black out the sky,
All things must die~"
The temple went dark again. A couple of seconds after, more fiery explosions erupted around them, the music continuing at its fast pace as Boscha glared at Luz, which was now starting to morph into a disturbing murderous look.
"All tales conclude,
All bonds dissolve,
Infinite matter,
Will always evolve~!"
Boscha drew a spell circle that immediately wrapped around Luz, and with a swift tug of her hand, she was dragged off the floor and brought to the edge of the stage where Boscha could look her enemy in the eyes.
"Just pray for mercy,
At your time of death~"
The triclops shot out her left hand, gripping Luz's chin, hard.
"Be glad you existed,
Enjoy your last breath~!"
With a flick of her wrist, Boscha threw Luz back into the crowd. Amity quickly got into position to catch Luz but before she could land in her arms, Boscha's levitation spell kicked in again, and whisked Luz out of Amity's reach, making her float in the air, helpless to do a thing about it.
"Gleefully voicing this eulogy~!"
More black-silhouetted images of Empress Oscura's crimes and misdeeds began to play out around them as Boscha spun Luz around, forcing Luz to watch and relive the horrible things she had done in the past.
"Spawn of the tenets of treachery~!"
The last image shown was a silhouette of Amity with a crooked knife as she plunged it into the heart of Empress Oscura. More red lights flashed to mimic blood spewing from the stab wound before the aura that held Luz in the air was released, allowing her to fall from her great height. As Luz fell, Amity quickly drew her own spell circle and wrapped her in her own levitation aura. As quickly as she could, Amity slowed down Luz's descent, allowing her to land on the ground gently. The flames and lights gleamed off of Boscha's eyes, as she held her murderous gaze on her hated foe.
"Rest now, subside~
With fate, collide~
Black out the sky,
All things must die~!"
Boscha drew another spell circle as she created a staircase for herself as she walked off the stage and towards Luz.
"It's time to accept, to abide~"
The demon-witch girl pointed an accusatory finger at Luz as the images of Empress Oscura filled the temple.
"Admit that the hour's arrived,
Resign, comply~!"
That same finger rose and pointed towards the sky above, which now had a black silhouette of Oscura, held spread eagle as white jagged patches and marks riddled her body as if she had been beaten and scarred further.
"It's time to be one with the sky,
Surrender your pride,
Let death be your guide,
All things must die~~~!"
Boscha took a harsh step towards Luz, her anger flaring more and more within her as the images of Oscura appeared holding chains in her hand that were wrapped around an image of Amity, whose neck, wrists and legs were bound.
"Just close your eyes,
Don't fear demise~!"
Before Boscha could get closer, Amity put herself between Luz and the triclops, glaring daggers at the witch and daring her to take one more step. Boscha stopped, her harsh scowl softening as she looked upon Amity as she slowly backed away. The flames and the lights started to dim slowly as if responding to her retreat.
"Black out the sky~"
Boscha kept walking back until she made it onto the stage. The lights continued to dim more and more, leaving a single ray shooting down from a spotlight above but that too grew dimmer and dimmer until only Boscha's eyes could be seen.
"All things must die~~"
With the last line sung, all the lights in the Desire Temple kicked back on. Boscha dropped the mic and let it turn into blue pixels as she made her way off the stage, sparing Luz one last hate-filled sneer before walking away and taking her spot next to Sasha.
Lumina and Amara could only stare dumbfounded at how utterly intense and graphic that song was. The song was Boscha's declaration of war, swearing she would kill Luz.
"Well…at least she's hot," said Amara.
"Really?" Lumina looked at Amara in disbelief.
"Cut me some slack. I'm trying to find one thing I liked aside from the hard rock," Amara complained.
Lumina ruffled her hair as she sighed heavily.
'Jeez, Red-Pan's hatred for Aunt Luz runs deeper than I thought…'
After Boscha's rather shocking performance, Tsumuri spun the wheel again. When it stopped, the arrow pointed at Kurma's ID Core logo. Masha, after seeing this, went up to the stage. They figured that it was time to perform something to help brighten the mood that Boscha had ruined with her dark and foreboding song.
"OK, before I start, I want to dedicate this song to a very special gal. We're all unique and special in our own way, even if there are people who refuse to understand us. So, this is for you, Vee!"
The enby pressed the button on the tablet. Suddenly, their body flashed and their DGP uniform changed into a pink tuxedo with a sparkly sheen. Luz nodded approvingly, and was eager to hear what her (at this point likely) future in-law would sing. Considering how she had thrown around twice during two different songs, Luz was hoping for something with a little less anger.
A microphone materialized into Masha's left hand as they smirked at Tsumuri.
"Hit it!"
"People Like Us"
Performed By: Masha DeLisle/Kamen Rider Kurma
The lights in the Desire Temple dimmed. Instead of a spotlight, six bright white lights shined behind Masha, making it hard to see their full form aside from their silhouette.
"We come into this world unknown,
But know that we are not alone."
The white silhouette of a child appeared in the sky and it wasn't certain if it was a boy or a girl.
"They try and knock us down."
That same child was now standing in the middle as other white silhouettes appeared, some that seemed to be pulling them in one direction or another. They struggled to stay in the centre, despite how much either side kept pulling at them.
"But change is coming, it's our time now…"
At last, the child broke free from both sides, shooting into the air before coming down in a streak that released a burst of sparkling light, illuminating the temple as Masha began to dance on stage.
"Hey, everybody loses it,
Everybody wants to throw it all away sometimes~"
That was when something unexpected appeared as a hologram of Vee appeared. The Vee hologram showed her walking in a crowd of human kids, but overlaid was an image of her true basilisk form, showing how she had to conceal her true identity.
"And hey, yeah I know what you're going through~"
Masha stopped their dancing as they approached the Vee hologram in the middle of the crowd. They placed their hand on Vee's shoulder, giving her an understanding look.
"Don't let it get the best of you, you'll make it out alive~
Oh~"
The Vee hologram smiled up at them before her human form disappeared and left the basilisk form in its stead.
"People like us, we've gotta stick together
Keep your head up, nothing lasts forever~"
Suddenly, more and more people began to fill the stage. They weren't just plain silhouettes either. They were a mixture of male and female silhouettes, and some were androgynous. Many of them were dyed in a myriad of different colours, and upon closer look, Luz recognized that many of them were colours that represented all the different sexualities and orientations.
"Here's to the damned, to the lost and forgotten,
It's hard to get high when you're living on the bottom~"
The music crescendoed as the sky was filled with sparkling auroras of colours. At the same time, the multicoloured holograms began clapping their hands while others became Masha's backup dancers, matching their movements perfectly.
"Oh whoa oh oh whoa oh,
We are all misfits living in a world on fire~!"
Masha reached out their hand to the Vee hologram, who at first reached out towards them with some trepidation. As soon as Masha grasped the Vee hologram's hand, the fear and hesitation left her and the two began dancing on stage together.
"Oh whoa oh oh whoa oh,
Sing it for the people like us, the people like us~!"
Masha dipped the basilisk hologram for a moment before twirling her around and keeping her close before they looked out into the crowd.
"Hey, this is not a funeral,
It's a revolution, after all your tears have turned to rage~!"
Amity glanced at Luz and Sasha for a moment. One of the things she found out about Earth, one of things that made it stand out to her more than other things, was just how prejudiced its people were against girls and non-binaries like Masha, Luz, and apparently, Sasha.
In the Boiling Isles, it was just a natural thing. Your sexuality was who you were, and no one argued one way or another. Considering there were so many different variations of demons, and interracial children born from unions of demons and witches, discrimination based on gender, appearance, or sexuality wasn't even a thought in their minds.
But here, in the human world, people like Luz, Sasha and Masha were struggling to just be recognized, to be seen as equals, to matter.
"Just wait, everything will be okay~"
Masha looked at Vee, but then spared a glance to Amity, as if they were addressing her just as much as they were addressing the hologram of their girlfriend.
"Even when you're feeling like it's going down in flames~
Oh~"
New holograms began to form, this time taking on a characteristic that both Amity and Boscha noticed. These new holograms had pointed ears just like themselves, and they too were painted in different rainbow colours like the others.
"People like us, we've gotta stick together,
Keep your head up nothing lasts forever,
Here's to the damned, to the lost and forgotten,
It's hard to get high when you're living on the bottom~!"
Masha released Vee and waved their hands out, and immediately more holograms formed, creating a crowd around the other Riders. The enby thrust their right hand into the air as they sang into the microphone.
"Oh whoa oh oh whoa oh,
We are all misfits living in a world on fire~!"
The holograms in the audience area began jumping up as they clapped their hands to the song, some were even dancing with each other. Luz glanced over at Amity, offering her hand to her fiancée and Amity gladly took that offered hand and the couple started to dance along with the holograms.
Marcy couldn't help herself and started to bust out her own moves, while Sasha tapped her foot along to the music and bobbed her head.
At the same time, Sasha snuck glances at Marcy, smiling as she watched the nerd she loved dance to this more upbeat song. In a way, it felt like Masha was singing this song to her too.
"Oh whoa oh oh whoa oh,
Sing it for the people like us, the people like us~!"
Masha took a step forward to the edge of the stage as they swiped their hands to the left, and then to the right. The aurora of light around them started to shift and turn into rainbow-coloured flames that burned around them and released multicoloured embers.
"Oh whoa oh oh whoa oh,
You've just gotta turn it up loud when the flames get higher~!
Oh whoa oh oh whoa oh,
Sing it for the people like us, the people like us~!"
Masha threw their arms into the air, making the flames rise even higher until they formed above the platform and burst into a shower of rainbow embers that danced in the air as they cascaded harmlessly down to everyone below.
"They can't do nothing to you–"
Masha extended their right index finger and made sure to swipe it over everyone in their sight before ending it with their finger pointing at the Vee hologram.
"They can't do nothing to me!"
The enby pointed at themselves with their thumb.
"This is the life that we choose, this is the life that we bleed,
So throw your fists in the air, come out, come out if you dare~!"
Masha threw their right fist into the air, which the hologram mimicked, even the Vee hologram. Luz did the same, along with Amity, Sasha (out of reflex, not because she was into it, obviously), and Marcy.
"Tonight we're gonna change forever~!"
The bright lights in the sky and around the floating platform suddenly went out, bathing everything in darkness. Then the white holographic figures reappeared, but when that happened, they were no longer painted in their different colours, they were just plain white beings. And from what the others could tell about their body language, it seemed as if they were afraid, ashamed even. As if they were hiding. When they looked back up at the stage, they saw that the Vee hologram had returned to her human form, and on her face it was clear to see that she was worried, afraid. Even the holograms that were on the stage were the same as the others.
"Everybody loses it, everybody wants to throw it all away sometimes~
Oh~"
Luz, Sasha, Marcy, and Amity understood. It was hard to reveal this part of yourself, hard to show who you really were. And sometimes it was easier to just pretend to be like everyone else.
"People like us, we've gotta stick together~"
Masha walked up to the Vee hologram and tilted her chin up to look at them.
"Keep your head up nothing lasts forever~"
The enby walked back to the front of the stage as they began pointing at different sections of the crowd, including their backup dancers.
"Here's to the damned, to the lost and forgotten~"
With each group they pointed to, the colour returned to their forms, and some that seemed human revealed their pointed ears. The holograms began to link hands. One of them held out their hand to Luz, and she happily took that hand, which made the hologram suddenly become painted in the colours of the bisexual flag. Luz grasped Amity's hand and the moment Amity grasped the hand of the nearest hologram, that hologram was coloured in the lesbian flag colours. Each hologram kept linking hands, bringing their colours back to the ones that seemed like they were still hiding.
One of them reached out to Sasha. She hesitated for a moment, but then grasped its hand, making it change into the bisexual flag colours. Curious, Sasha paid close attention as Marcy, without hesitation, grabbed the hand of a still white coloured hologram, changing into the colours of the pansexual flag. Sasha's eyes widened when she saw this. Although she had come out to her friends about her bisexuality, neither Anne nor Marcy had ever really told her which way they swung.
'So…that means…I have a chance?' Sasha thought, her heart swelling a little upon seeing this.
Marcy glanced over her shoulder at Sasha, blushed, and shot a little smile her way as if saying, "Yeah, I'm pan! Surprise!"
None of the holograms wanted to hold Boscha's hand, which made the triclops grumble as she crossed her arms.
"It's hard to get high when you're living on the bottom~!"
The holograms got into a crouching position, prompting everyone else to do the same. And as one, they all jumped up a few inches into the air before coming down on the platform as one. When their feet hit the floor, the burst of rainbow light exploded out, chasing the darkness away as a bright blue sky shone down upon them, along with golden sparkles cascading down around them.
"Oh whoa oh oh whoa oh,
We are all misfits living in a world on fire (In a world on fire),
Oh whoa oh oh whoa oh,
Sing it for the people like us, the people like us~!"
At this point, everyone was singing along. With Sasha, Luz, Amity, Marcy, and strangely even Tsumuri.
"Oh whoa oh oh whoa oh,
You've just gotta turn it up loud when the flames get higher,
(When the flames get higher),
Oh whoa oh oh whoa oh,
Sing it for the people like us, the people like us~!"
Lumina and Amara, for this moment, didn't care how silly the other looked. They were off the couch and dancing along as they sang with Kurma.
"Oh whoa oh oh whoa oh,
We are all misfits living in a world on fire,
Oh whoa oh oh whoa oh,
Sing it for the people like us, the people like us~"
The holograms started to break down one after the other as their colours danced in the air around everyone. The song began to slow a little as the holograms melded into the rainbow that now formed over the platform.
"Oh whoa oh oh whoa oh
You've just gotta turn it up loud when the flames get higher~"
Masha looked upon the Vee hologram fondly, lovingly. They brought the hologram close and hugged it. They wanted to kiss it, but that would be a little embarrassing, considering this wasn't the real Vee. Guess they missed her more than they thought.
"Oh whoa oh oh whoa oh,
Sing it for the people like us, the people like us~"
The rainbow above the platform faded away as the golden sparkles disappeared. The last thing to go was the Vee hologram as she looked at Masha, and smiled before it faded away with the rest of the created effects. Masha let out a sigh as they looked back into the audience.
"Well, hope you all liked my song!" Masha exclaimed, giving a bow. After the song ended, they jumped off the stage and were immediately swarmed by Luz and Amity.
"Masha, that was hella awesome!" Luz remarked.
"Seriously, that was beautiful," said Amity with sincerity.
Masha rubbed the back of their head as they chuckled, "Aww, c'mon, you're just saying that."
"No way!" Luz shook her head. "You were great! I just wish Vee could've seen that."
"Heh, me too. When I told you I loved her, I meant it, Luz. I want to protect her, and I want her to live how she wants to. Not tied down to one form, to be who she really is." Masha then looked at Amity. "Same for you, Ams. You shouldn't have to hide who and what you are. You're beautiful, like my Vee. And the world shouldn't have to fear you or persecute you. Any of us."
Luz nodded and hugged Masha.
"Hey, am I missing something?" Boscha questioned, curious.
"What, you didn't get the meaning of the song? She was singing about how people shouldn't have to hide who they are, be it Amity and apparently Noceda's little sister, or how I used to hide that I was bi," Sasha explained.
"Okay, I still don't get it. Why would you have to hide that you're a bi?" Boscha inquired further.
"Ugh, because people can be total assholes and discriminate against you for it," Sasha answered.
"Wow, the Human Realm sounds like shit," Boscha remarked.
"I wouldn't call it that. Yeah, there are shitty people in the world, but there's also been more support growing for the LGBTQ+ community," Sasha explained.
"Tch, we don't do that in the Demon Realm. Being straight, bi, pan, gay, whatever, it's as natural as breathing to us."
"Sounds nice," Sasha smiled. When she came out as bi, despite being popular, she knew some of the kids at school did not look at her too kindly. They just did not dare mess with her due to her influence.
"Yeah, it's too bad you can't visit. After Oscura was banished, humans are pretty much forbidden from stepping foot there," Boscha added. "Not that they could since the only working portal was destroyed, but nobody wants to take a chance."
"Considering what she did, I can't exactly blame you for being afraid that another human might do the same thing. That being said…" Sasha looked towards Marcy, a question burning in her mind. "Give me a sec, I need to talk to Marcy."
Marcy couldn't help but feel a little emboldened after hearing Masha's song. The enby was crass, snarky, and unpredictable, but they were not afraid of being who they were. Sasha wasn't either, having come out of the closet long ago. Even though she had grown in her time away from her friends, Marcy was still a little afraid of coming out. Coming out to the people she knew back in her new home, to her parents, and even to the people she cared most about.
"Mar-Mar." Marcy was snapped out of her inner thoughts as she turned around and saw Sasha standing behind her. "Hey…during that song…what I saw. Are you…I mean…"
Marcy didn't answer her. She merely smiled as she walked away and headed for the stage. She was the last one to go so there was no need to spin the wheel. Marcy got up on stage as the tablet materialized in her hands. Everyone looked up, eager to hear what song Marcy was going to sing, Sasha most especially. After a moment, Marcy took a deep breath and released a long sigh.
"This was my best friend's favourite song so I want to dedicate this to Anne Boonchuy," Marcy said and Sasha's eyes widened. "And Sasha, this is for you too."
Marcy tapped the tablet and her uniform changed into a new outfit. She wore a green tank top with a pink, yellow and blue flag across the front. She also wore tight denim booty shorts with pink, yellow and blue striped stockings and sneakers. Over her top, she wore a green letterman jacket with a floral pattern in pink, yellow and blue. Finally, a green streak appeared in her hair.
'Wait…she can't mean…' Sasha thought as a familiar song began to play.
"As If It's Your Last"
Performed By: Marcy Wu/Kamen Rider Newtonne
A sphere of blue light formed at Marcy's right, while an orb of magenta light floated at her left. Marcy closed her eyes for a moment, and that was when the two orbs exploded and took on solid form.
The blue orb, much to Amity, Luz and Sasha's surprise, took on the form of Anne, dressed in a halter top, sleeveless jacket, and the same type of booty shorts as Marcy.
The magenta orb was now in the form of Sasha. Her outfit consisted of a similar jacket, with a top that only covered her chest, with straps that formed an 'X' pattern across her collarbone and went over her shoulders. The hologram wore a skirt that went just a little past her knees, and both holograms had on the same pair of sneakers. Like the other holograms, the finer details of their outfits and bodies were outlined in neon shades of their respective colours.
Sasha couldn't help but blush, both due to the outfit that her holographic self was wearing, and due to how cute and hot Marcy looked in her current attire. At the same time, she felt the same way towards the Anne hologram, but she wasn't sure if she should feel wrong about that or not.
Marcy opened her eyes as a microphone headset appeared over her ears, and she began to sing.
"Remembering just what you are,
Nothing but a blow to my pride~"
Marcy started to go into a dance routine, and it was one that Sasha remembered. During one summer when Marcy visited LA, the girls decided to do a music video of their own, practising dance moves to their favourite song, and it was like Sasha was seeing it being replayed right in front of her.
"My face is burning up,"
Marcy waved her hand over her face, and her face was indeed red.
"Heartbeat is churning up~"
The Taiwanese placed her hand over her heart, and moved it back and forth as if mimicking its beating.
"Now my whole body is out of my control~!"
Bright white lights, along with beams of blue, green, and magenta light began shooting out from behind the stage.
"You're just like a pile of sand,
Can't grasp you, slipping through my hand~"
The Anne and Sasha holograms were out in front of her now, holding out their hands as if beckoning to her. Marcy looked at them and tried to grab for them, but each time she did, their hands would disperse into pixels before reforming again.
"So unattainable, making me want you more,
Ain't going the way I want it all to go~!"
The two holograms returned to their original positions beside Marcy, and the two of them sang as well. Which was freaky, because they sounded exactly like the real Anne and Sasha. But Marcy didn't give it a second thought as she moved closer to the edge of the stage, focusing hard as she entered 'The Zone' and looked directly at Sasha, tuning out everyone else so that it felt like she was only singing to her.
"Can't you see I'm longing again,
Every breath is giving in for your love,
Looking at you, I'm missing you,
So tonight won't you set me free~?"
Sasha watched as Marcy made gestures as if she was pleading with her. Begging for her to end this grudge, to see what she had in front of her, and what she stood to lose if she kept this up.
"Baby just hold on to me like the world
Might blow up tomorrow, don't hesitate, just let it go.
Lie to me, go on kiss me so, let me make believe,
As if this is really your last love~!"
Marcy and the holograms went back into the dance routine as she thrust her open hand to the sky, causing it to light up with flashing images. Sasha and everyone looked around them as memories began to appear, memories of Marcy's and Sasha's past. Memories that the Taiwanese girl held dear to her heart even after all these years apart.
Like your final love, l-l-like your final love,
As if it's your last final love, love.
Like your final love, l-l-like your final love,
As if there was no more tomorrow~"
With a swipe of her arms, Marcy made the floating memory images disappear as a magenta spotlight shined down on Sasha, making the blonde jump for a moment. An emerald spotlight shined on Marcy as she hopped off the stage, and confidently strutted over to Sasha, causing the cheerleading captain to gulp.
"Uh, I'ma fall in love baby, you gon' finna catch me~
Uh, give you all of this baby, call me pretty and nasty."
Marcy quickly advanced on Sasha, getting right in the blonde's face as Sasha started to sweat bullets. The Taiwanese girl spun around and pressed her back against Sasha's chest as she looked up at Sasha with a half-lidded gaze.
"'Cause we gonna get it, my love you can bet it on,
Black we gon' double the stack on them, whoa~!
I be the Bonnie–"
Marcy raised her right arm and placed her hand against Sasha's right cheek as if to emphasize her words.
"–and you be my Clyde~!"
She quickly released Sasha, spinning around until she was behind her, standing back to back.
"We ride or die, X's and O's~!"
Before she could react, Sasha was suddenly taken into Marcy's arms and she began dancing with her.
"Ticking on, time's wasting away,
Can't control this growing need for your love.
My whole world's only missing you,
So tonight won't you set me free~?"
Marcy brought them close, enough that one could argue they were within kissing distance. But then Marcy released Sasha as she ran and jumped back up onto the stage as she struck a pose. The two holograms mimicked her as more flashes of light went off along with fireworks.
"Baby just hold on to me like the world
Might blow up tomorrow, don't hesitate, just let it go.
Lie to me, go on kiss me so, let me make believe,
As if this is really your last love~!"
More images of their childhood began to appear around them. Sasha knew what Marcy was doing, or at least, she thought she did. Her emotions were all over the place right now.
"Like your final love, l-l-like your final love,
As if it's your last final love, love.
Like your final love, l-l-like your final love,
As if there was no more tomorrow."
The images ceased once again, and the lights that were shining on stage went out as Marcy began counting down on her fingers as the holograms did the same.
"123, it's a brand new time to start,
No regrets, there's no way I'm ever looking back~"
Marcy held her arms close to her chest as she looked over to the Anne hologram, who smiled at her and then smiled in Sasha's direction.
"If I run over to you, will you catch me in your arms?
Hold on tight, there's no way we'll ever break apart."
The holograms disappeared as Marcy started to walk backwards. Sasha started to get worried as she kept walking backwards more and more until Marcy was at the edge. That was when Marcy took that last step and fell off the back of the stage. Sasha was about to break into a run to catch her, but then…
"BLACKPINK in your area!"
Suddenly, three beams of blue, green, and magenta shined straight up from behind the stage, sparkling bright. Sasha watched as out of those lights came the holograms of herself and Anne, and then Marcy came out of the light, being held by the other two. The holograms' hair was glowing brightly with the colours that they were made of, and now Marcy's hair took on a green glowing shade that matched theirs.
A platform made of their three lights formed out in front of them as the three jumped onto it together and began dancing while singing in unison.
"Baby just hold on to me like the world
Might blow up tomorrow, don't hesitate, just let it go.
Lie to me, go on kiss me so, let me make believe,
As if this is really your last love~!"
The Sasha and Anne holograms leapt off the platform, holding their arms out as Marcy leapt off and flipped once, and let herself fall as she was caught by the holograms of the two people she loved most.
Like your final love, l-l-like your final love,
As if it's your last final love, love.
Like your final love, l-l-like your final love,
As if there was no more tomorrow~"
The song ended with Marcy hugging the holograms. Their forms disappeared in a matter of seconds, leaving Marcy alone. She then looked back out into the audience, to the real Sasha and smiled at her.
Then she heard applause.
"Wuh?"
Marcy shook her head and remembered that there was more than just Sasha there. Luz, Amity, and Masha were applauding Marcy's performance, and for some reason, the three of them were blushing at the same time.
"…"
"…"
"Okay, it's official. I think I like cute nerds now," Amara admitted.
"Admittedly…I think I might've developed a liking for them too," Lumina confessed.
'Oookay, I definitely wasn't expecting Marcy to go that hard on her song. That was kinda hot,' thought Luz.
'…Maybe Luz was onto something about that throuple thing,' Amity pondered.
"MARCY, YOU WERE HOT! WHOOO! WAY TO GO, GIRL!" Masha exclaimed.
"H-Hot…m-me?!" Marcy's face started to turn red as she pressed her hands against her cheeks. "Oh, nonononono! What did I do?! Tsumuri!" Marcy hopped off the stage and immediately ran up to the navigator. "Show me what I did!"
Tsumuri obliged the panicking nerd and flipped her tablet around to show Marcy's performance. And as expected, Marcy's blush intensified when she saw how she acted with Sasha. Her gaze swiftly turned to her friend, who was also blushing and finding it a little hard to look Marcy in the eyes.
Confessional: Sasha Waybright/Soaron
"OK, I admit, I did not expect Marcy to pull off a hot performance like that. It was like she was a whole different person...and I think she was trying to tell me something."
"Excuse me. AAAAAH!"
Everyone watched as Marcy dashed towards a glowing doorway and off the platform.
"Um…with that…this concludes the contest," Tsumuri declared. "The winner will be announced later tonight. Until then, please enjoy your dinner."
Oliver sat in his audience room, sipping on his 'juice'.
"Ah, Master Marcy. You're still such a pure maiden after all this time," he commented. Perhaps he could help offer her some advice. She had feelings for Sasha and it appeared that the blonde human may reciprocate. However, without Anne, it just would not be perfect.
Songs Featured in this Chapter
TRUST・LAST (TV Sized) - English Cover Version
My Past is Not Today - Sunset Shimmer (Equestria Girls)
Backlight - One Piece: Red. English lyrics by Amalee
The Power of Love - Sailor Moon English Dub
All Things Must Die - RWBY Vol. 5 Soundtrack
People Like Us - Kelly Clarkson
As If It's Your Last - BLACKPINK. English Cover by Janny
Dr. X: Sorry, but no winner announcement here. Why? Well, I thought it would be more fun for you guys to decide. Who do you think should be the winner of the Singing Contest? Please vote with the link on the version that is posted on Archive of our Own (AO3).
Anyway, I'm gonna leave you with a preview for the next chapter:
Jacob Hopkins was a historian who specialised in the history of Gravesfield. He was also an avid conspiracy theorist and believer in the supernatural. Unfortunately, his theories on the supernatural, specifically witches and demons, were off-base - as in, completely and utterly wrong. Not that he knew, of course, or would admit. He fully believed in his delusions.
He used to work as the curator of the museum for the Gravesfield Historical Society. However, he was no longer employed with them as he was now in prison.
Jacob grumbled as he sat down for lunch, wearing an orange prison jumpsuit. He was sitting all alone, ostracised. The reason he was an outcast in prison was due to the circumstances of his arrest and conviction.
He was in prison for stalking and attempted murder of a child. That did not make him popular in prison, and his attempt to convince everyone that demons and witches were real did not help either. The reason why he was not sent to a mental health facility was that he was completely sane, despite his delusions.
After lunch, Jacob returned to his cell. He had been in prison for four years now, four years, and all because of demons and witches.
Jacob returned to his cell after lunch to find three boxes on his bed. One was black and yellow while the other two were black and pink. He approached the black and yellow box carefully and removed the lid to find a strange black and grey item. His eyes went over to the circular trinket that was included in the box. It had the image of a donkey staring back at him. He touched it and then his eyes snapped open as memories flooded his mind.
Next Mission: "Rider Manhunt"
Dr. X: So, yeah, Jacob used to be a Rider in the Desire Grand Prix. Now, what was his wish? Well, what do you think? Oh, and guess what his Rider name was? It's Jack-S.