"Not so funny when it happens to you, is it?" Our heroes could only watch in awe as another challenger arrived on their battlefield. Their suit, could it be that their mysterious saviour was also a Kamen Rider? Neither of them had an inkling of an idea of who this stranger could be, but if it weren't for them then all hope would have been lost. Before either of them could say anything else, the bindings making Alaka squeal like a sick pig wrapped around the wrists of the figure. Gracefully, she slipped down to their level and landed with a calm, composed posture that only an experienced warrior could have displayed.

CONNECT, PLEASE!

An amber coloured sigil appeared in the air, and the third rider reached inside; their hand disappearing into an unknown void. Bending their elbow towards the sky, the rider unsheathed a great blade with a triangular edge. It was a rapier, fashioned with a golden studded hilt and a shining silver rim of steel. There was nothing that it couldn't pierce! What was most interesting, magic summoning aside, was how the handle had a small plaque of a hand that was the same shape as the crest on both of the magician's drivers.

"Now, let's end this!" Without waiting for a response, Kamen Rider Witch threw her hand into the air, the chain dissipating into a dozen roses. Our grimey, magical foe was left blinded by the sudden formation of a garden right before their eyes. It was so distracting that it didn't notice the blade lancing forward, piercing them with an unprecedented force!

"What a cheap trick!" Alaka spat, gripping at their chest. It felt like they were lying down against the smoldering ground of a volcano as sparks flew into the air. Before they had time to process that someone had managed to gain the upper hand, Witch flew at them, exchanging back-to-back blows between several swift swipes. They fought with extra precision, each attempt ready to strike a different area of their body. It was nearly without warning, the rider exhibiting the stance only someone who has known battle longer than peace could inhabit. "Y-you don't give in, do you?!"

The rider preferred to remain silent aside from an accompanying voice towards their strikes. Although she was certainly skilled, no one was invincible. Planting one foot firmly onto the ground, Alaka pivoted and spun, striking her in the head with their staff.

"Oh, no!" Poppy exclaimed, hands plastered upon her cheeks. Both she and Izu wanted to help, but this battle didn't exactly feel like theirs to intervene with. Besides, who knows if this rider was truly on their side? It's possible they could be fighting for the glory of their lives alone.

Stumbling across the room, Witch regained her balance quickly, tapping the hilt of their weapon.

In an instant, the weapon shifted its shape! The once thin, straight blade thickened into a hunk of a spiraling barrel within the instant, a hole emerging from the tip, and from the handle itself bending over with a trigger popping out of a slot, thus allowing the rapier to transform into a rifle. No hesitation in sight as Witch returned to her previous position and started firing off magical projectiles at speeds far greater than you could envision.

Zero-Two watched from the side as they whirred by. It was with careful direction that the gunfire managed to avoid them. Not that Witch accounted for hitting them, no, but Alaka wasn't much of a noble fighter as they took refuge nearby their hostages in an attempt to cease the damage being done by a formidable opponent. He was fast, and strong. Witch was surprised to see that he wasn't a phantom, but an actual mage. Though, that begged the question – why was a mage attacking the city?! Mages are supposed to protect others through the use of magic, that's the oath that each of them took: fight to do what is right, however you may see it.

EXTEND, PLEASE!

This cat-and-mouse game was becoming tiresome. Another sigil appeared, and her arms length grew to several metres, stretching ahead, coiling around his staff. Swiftly retracting, it swept Alaka off their feet and pulled them straight to the magician, firing off several shots into their chest, and driving a knee right into their face with a rising kick while their arm let go! It was time to finish this and put a stop to the misuse of magic!

RESHAPE, PLEASE!

A concrete wall appeared around her. No, several! One at each corner, trapping her in a cage. "Stay put, won't you?!" He screeched at the top of his lungs, cackling maniacally as he bent his knees, hailing over to see the despair plotting in the others eyes. "Try to find your way out of that! Not so tough now!" His driver glowed once more.

FILL, PLEASE!

Sprouting from thin air, a never-ending sea of water collapsed from the ceiling, entering her cage through a small hole within the ceiling. Oh, what a fitting death for such a nuisance! A slow, painful drowning by yours truly. He would sit back and watch as her lungs would drain dry, just as she had done to his happiness before! Alaka was on the cusp of cementing himself as a true sorcerer of despair, and for what?! For someone else to butt in and try to stomp all over it?! No, he wouldn't allow that! Another magician showing him up in power could not do for this world…

CONNECT, PLEASE!

A bright light emitted between the cracks, and the concrete was broken within an instant!

"WHAT?!" Water rushed out as the Witch huffed, trying to catch her breath. Her left hand had evolved. There was a ginormous, sharp looking claw that was double the size of her head, and thrice the width! Her fingers clenched into a monstrous fist, approaching him with no such fear that he had instilled on countless today. Someone who sought magic only to hurt was undeserving of such, and she was going to teach them what it meant to be a real magician – with her fists!

"Haaaa!" Running towards him, Witch leapt into the air and smashed her fist against their head, driving them straight into the ground! But that wasn't the end, no, not at all! Her claws pierced through his suit, emerging out of that ill-coloured collar of theirs. Against his will, Witch raised him up to his feet, taking him with her free hand. Bashing on him as though he was a rubber duck, he submitted to her mighty strength!

Time for the finisher!

Tossing him into the air, Witch tapped her driver once more.

CONNECT, PLEASE!

SPECIAL: MAGICIAN'S FINAL ACT!

The cape split, transforming into brightly, glistening lavender wings that were 2.5 metres wide, and with sharp vanilla edges! It shimmered like a pale moon reflecting off the dark surface of a lonely ocean, whose waves were far too frigid to dip your toes in spite of their beauty.

FLAP!

She shot into the air, streaming towards the magician with a conviction far greater than he could ever imagine – greater than his strength! This was not good, he had to get out of here! There had to be a spell, right?! If he could only… Try as they might, Alaka couldn't move! It was as though a million hands were wrapped around their muscles, creasing them to a point where it was impossible to escape. It was a painful, burning weighted sensation where even a simple attempt to move was like having the weight of a meteor crash into you! Witch flew in a zagging motion, leaping between the corners of their punishment with rhythmic, clean strikes that smashed faster than the blink of an eye!

Suddenly, the air around them was filled with tangerine gemstones that fell like rain, and shined radiantly! They gathered around her leg, enveloping in a bright cast; swelling to the absolute brim with unbridled strength that surged on each overlapping spiral using pure magic!

"It's time to end this!" Witch shouted, casting her final attack. It was over for Alaka, his joyride of abusing magic was about to end with the right amount of thrill, but the finale was not on his side! No, it was her show, and has been since the moment that he decided to set the stage in Toriisaka, and now it was lights out, by her command! Kamen Rider Witch decided how this story ends!

NOT!

A cloud of smoke appeared, and Witch flew right through it! "Huh?!" One last trick up his sleeve, quite literally! A smoke bomb disappearance, the oldest trick in the book! No, seriously, read any book about being a magician! How did they perform this act in the most dire of circumstances? Well, a magician never reveals their secrets.

Landing back on her feet, Witch frantically searched around, ignoring the presence of our other two heroes completely. "Hey, come back here!" She shouted, but no one seemed to answer her. Gritting her teeth, she gripped her first and scowled. Much like how someone else we know was doing a chapter ago. "Where are you?! We're not finished yet!"

Witch sighed, her suit dissipating into thin air. Poppy and Izu watched as a tall, twenty something young woman with loose black hair strolled around the empty battlefield. There was an obvious frown present over her face, but not one with irritation, though innate disappointment – clearly related to her inability to perform that finisher. She was well dressed for the office, sporting a striped, white collared shirt and a spotted pencil skirt with fashionable, hi-top boots.

"Excuse me," The rider approached them in a reserved manner, keeping their shoulders stiff and one hand around an arm against their waist, greeting them with a soft-spoken voice that was a far cry from the "I have some questions for you."

Before either of them could speak, the sounds of the Earth splitting tenfold interrupted their interrogation.

DEFEND!

Spinning on her heel, a protective layer of magical energy took the form of a reflective, golden hexagon; blocking all attacks in opposition to the spell's casting range.

"Oh, I can't have any fun with you around, can I?!" Alaka, who was perched over the hole he had previously dug, fuming with a geyser of steam blowing out of their ears.

"I'm afraid not." Mayu smirked. "You've run out of chances to hide now. Stand down, this is your last warning."

"No can do." In a blur, Alaka disappeared. There was nowhere to hide, but when you can't keep your secret the best you can do is run from the responsibility of such knowledge – which he was used to, even before he became a magician. Gritting her teeth, Mayu huffed, tempted to chase after them, but there were more pressing issues at hand. Light emitted from over her shoulder, and the mage turned over her shoulder to see that the two other assailants had dropped their transformations.

"Thank you for the assistance." Izu stated, bowing her head with great appreciation. "Had it not been for you, we would have perished."

"Waaa !" Poppy squealed, pressing her palms against her head. "I don't even want to pipo-picture that!" She dropped her hands. "Oh, speaking of being saved, who are you?"

"I'm sorry." Mayu said, reaching into her pocket. She handed them both rings. They were rather large, and weren't exactly suited to either of their styles, but they took them anyway, assuming the best.

They probably shouldn't have done that.

BIND, PLEASE!

Tight wires coiled around their wrists. Izu and Poppy were arrested.


TORIISAKA POLICE DEPARTMENT

The 'criminals' are seated in different rooms. The chairs aren't comfy – as if they are designed to make you squirm around with no release. The walls are dark, a pudgy grey that appears as though it leaks onto the floor rather than the hard, concrete ground connecting each corner. There is no window. If you were to sleep in here, you wouldn't be able to tell if it was today or tomorrow. Not that tomorrow seemed to ever arrive. Not in this room.

Poppy couldn't help but to freak out. "Waaah, I'm plauspothrobic!" This was an odd statement considering that she lived in a cabinet with a digital space no larger than a closet, but perhaps it being designated as her home space helped alleviate any sort of physical tension that was circulating through her body currently.

"Where's the chief?" An officer asked, approaching Mayu with a grin as she watched from the other side of the glass with crossed arms. A frown crossed over her face, unable to help feeling a great deal of pity for the woman as she retreated into the corner to sulk.

"Speaking to the other one." Mayu answered. She wasn't exactly one to make small-talk with others. In fact, many of the people here regarded her as reserved, and at worst antisocial.

"Shame that wizard gave you the slip." He laughed, leaning up against the glass with a snide, toothy smirk coming over his face. "On the plus side, I don't think I've ever seen a perp so cute. Oh, it would be such a shame if she was involved in this ~ !"

The workplace was a place to work, and not a place to socialize – but many had the impression that Mayu Inamori didn't take kindly to anyone here. That wasn't exactly true, there was one person she could count on.

"And that's the gist of it?" The chief asked, putting the final touches on the last word of her notepad. Up until now, it was as though the first ever interrogation she commenced was being remade now in present time. Hurriedly writing down the summary of the Humagear's statement, but also stopping herself several times to be meticulous enough to ensure not a single detail was missed, she was beginning to run mad, and also out of space. Truth be told, she's never interviewed a Humagear before. Not that it would be any different from a human, aside from those eyes; something about those frigid blue eyes unsettled here, and she ought not to meet the android's gaze. There was an extra amount of care she had to put into this, otherwise it would be the higher-ups running their mouths over the sanctity of her department once again. Even when you did everything right, there was always someone who was going to complain – that's what Rinko Daimon, acting commissioner of Toriisaka Section Zero learned over the past ten years.

"Yes." Izu replied, almost motionless as she remained in a neutral position. This was not good – not good at all! On the surface, Izu appeared completely calm, but she was breaking beneath the cracks! Zero-Two was not a public identity, and now she was in the grasps of the police. A.I.M.S. couldn't save her, and if she was being charged then it was over for Hiden Intelligence. That wasn't even taking into account her own life! Humagears were not normally created for battle, and she wasn't assigned to that to begin with! Disobeying the law – her law, was going to call for her scrapping, and no one could bail her out of this one. For all the influence the company has, Izu was screwed. "I must ask," A dozen whirs and buzzes beeped out, making Rinko quite nervous – although Izu could not sense that on the surface with how she commanded herself; it reminded her of Yaiba, though she held greater vulnerability, and perhaps compassion. "Am I being charged with a crime?"

"No," Rinko shook her head. "Not at the moment." Adding in that last part to ensure she wasn't getting the idea she was being let off the hook! There was the issue of trespassing, associations with a criminal, vigilantism and property destruction; all of that accounting for if her story was true! Still, the thought of it was intriguing. Could all of this be hitting a hole far deeper than she imagined? Stolen technology, the reappearance of ghuls and new magic users. Not a phantom, but a wizard. One that valued destruction far more than preservation. That's what unsettled her the most – but she kept silent about it. She had to, at least for now. Sometimes silence got you farther, not that it was wrong to speak, as Rinko was never one to believe in withholding your opinions, even now drowning in bureaucracy trying to oppose her sector in spite of the rise of monsters. One would think that the past two years would account for something if the last ten didn't buy her sector some more credit, but it wasn't easy. Her belief was that you had to hold your tongue and wait for the right moment to say it sometimes. There is such a thing as conditional silence, but never stay silent forever.

All the while, Mayu continued watching Poppy from afar. Part of her wanted to enter the room and tell her that everything was going to be alright – she was clearly out of her element here, and the other, larger part of her kept her distance as she usually did. It wasn't in her interest to socialize with suspects, especially not those in this sector. One appeal to the heart strings could turn the room upside down, quite literally. It was funny, part of her job was to save people. Not just their lives, but their hopes, their dreams… and their smiles. Though, as soon as they brought someone in here it's like all those rules disappeared out the window. Mayu understood why, and she was able to ration with the reasoning as the years had passed and she was pulled deeper into Section Zero instead of being on standby, but it didn't make the job easier. At least, not lately.

It used to be easier when Mayu didn't have to protect those smiles by herself. It used to be easier when she wasn't alone.

Ten years have passed, and Mayu Inamori was the only mage left.

"Sir, you can't be in here!" A sea of voices carried down the hall, heading her way. Before she had time to blink, Mayu's hand was resting over her driver.
"Like hell I can't!" Pushing past the officers, a tall man wearing a lab coat with a demeaning, indecent scowl plastered across his face approached the cell. What's most notable about his appearance was his hair, which had white streaks amongst dark straight waves.

"Hey, haven't you ever heard of courtesy?!" A younger woman, dressed in street fashion, shouted, also pushing past several officers. This place needed better security. "Wait up! Leaving me back there alone, how heartless! You know, this is why no girl ever sticks around!"

That comment caused the man to stop in his tracks and pivot, completely forgetting why he was on this quest to begin with.

"None of them stick around because you drive them off!" He said through gritted teeth, and suddenly the two of them were inches away from the other, butting heads – quite literally.

"Oh, I get it now." The woman said. "Let it be known that you think I'm too much to handle! Is that it, is it?!"

"You sure don't make it easy!" Finally, much to her dismay at being caught between a quarrel of… Well, she couldn't exactly make out what their relationship was, Mayu was able to get some words out of the man in the coat. "We're here to retrieve someone, so step aside."

"I can't let you do that." Mayu said, stepping in front of them. She was betting her life on guarding that door, and he was betting hers on opening it. "If we release her, our entire investigation goes under!"

"Is that so?" Taiga sneered. "Did you get any farther with her?" He banged his fist on the glass. "Hey, Poppy! Poppy, we're here!" He continued banging, all the while Poppy remained in the corner – still in her true form and suffering because of it. It would be easier to just transform back to Asuna, but that disguise was figured out. There was no point, and besides, she felt more comfortable in this skin anyhow.

"Man, you people need some colour in there." Nico muttered. "Boy, if that was me I'd start going pretty crazy… Never know how someone is going to react to that. Be better off with us, hm?"

"Don't push it." Taiga whispered underneath his breath. "Besides, we've got official orders – she's out of your custody and coming with us."

"Under what jurisdiction?" Rinko emerged, hand on her hip and she didn't look to be in a good mood. When that happens, the world better prepare. Ten years ago, Rinko was afraid to step on the toes of her commanding officers, but now she was the one doing the toe-stepping here, and she wasn't going to have someone else step on her toes! Maybe not the best analogy. "She's a suspect for the on-going incident that took place earlier today." There was no fear in her heart as she approached Taiga, staring him down with the same intensity he held in his own eyes. "Who do you report to?"

"Try the Ministry of Health." Taiga scoffed, pocketing his hands. Here he was, battling against some overcooked cop in some town he's never even heard of. "Look, neither of us have all day."

"I apologize," Rinko replied, speaking in an earnest and sincere voice. That was until it devolved right into a certain brand of sarcasm. "If you believed that would work, but I'm not going to hand her over just because you found some… cheap coats and say you're working with the Ministry. If you can, I'd like to speak to your superiors."

"Why, you…" Taiga said, scrunching his nose. Mayu was about to step between them before the commissioner managed to deescalate the situation.

"The phones are down the hall, to the left. You only get one call, so use it wisely." What was he going to do, assault an entire precinct and kidnap a suspect? No, he wasn't looking to get his medical license revoked for a second time. He stormed off, Nico following behind, sticking her tongue out.

"We'll be back, and when we're back we'll be taking Poppy with us, so don't you dare lay a finger on her!" They turned the corner. Nico's head popped out once more. "You hear me?! I'm speaking to you, lady! Better watch that hair of yours, it's going grey!"

"... It's not grey, is it?" Rinko asked, pursing her lip and twirling a strand around, begging Mayu to tell her the truth. Or, at the very least make the lie sound like the truth. The witch didn't say anything, instead continuing to watch her the bugster. There was a wall between her and Poppy, but also a wall between her and Rinko. To some extent, it feels like there always has been. Not to either of their faults, of course.

Rinko Daimon had done a lot for Mayu over the years. More than she liked to admit, and that weight wasn't an easy one to rest on her shoulders all the time. Not that Rinko would ever have asked her to carry such a thing in the first place, but it was more like something Mayu generated and strung up on her back after writing the commissioner's name on the corner. It was a weight that Mayu carried alone, because it was for her and therefore belonged to her. Whatever Rinko asked, Mayu would do, but their closeness never extended beyond that outside of the occasional call after work to ask about the trivial things that never seemed to change.

Though a lot has changed in ten years. Especially now that she was the only one left. A lot can change, but have either of them changed for the better? It's been ten years. Too long, and never enough time. Time was the one thing that never seemed to make things better, at least not for Mayu, in spite of what she told herself.

"Did you get a chance to interview her?" Mayu asked, back to work it is.

"Yeah, I'm starting to get the story here." Rinko said, letting out a sigh. "The assist we got earlier today with A.I.M.S. is definitely related. What I still can't figure out though…" She turned back towards the glass. Poppy was no longer sulking, and was now bored out of her mind, resting her head on the table. "Is how the Ministry of Health connects to all of this, and if we should be more concerned about that technology than they're letting on."

"It's my fault they got away." Mayu apologized. "I'll do better, I swear!"

Rinko gazed at her, shooting her a soft smile that she didn't get the chance to see. "Good, because we're going to need it from here on out. It's not going to get easier. I can count on you." It would be easier if things were different. If she wasn't the only one. It wasn't said, but that's what both of them felt, isn't it? That's why she had to try harder. Of course, she's always been giving her 110%, but for every thousand victories, the one failure clings onto her mind more. No matter how well she managed to hide it. Rinko looked as though she was about to say something, but fate was never really on their side. Just then, another attending officer approached them.

"Excuse me, Commissioner? There's a call from Hinata of the Health Ministry. He mentioned something about the uh… Cyber Rescue division? Sounds pretty official."

"Guess he was telling the truth." Rinko said, walking off, but not before bidding her farewells to Mayu. "Keep watch, OK? And don't push yourself too hard!"

Eventually, Mayu entered Poppy's holding room. From this distance, she didn't seem dangerous. Not that she assumed either of these captives were, but you could never tell, right? "It's pretty humid in here." The witch said, her voice cracking halfway through. Poppy's head shot up from the table, surprising her with an innate look of curiosity.

"Huh?"

"Huh?!" Mayu replied, nearly jumping from the sudden motion. "You must be parched. Please, allow me."

CONNECT, PLEASE!

A sigil appeared. Mayu stuck her arm in it. From an undisclosed location, she snagged a snack for the bugster. Placing her hand before her, Mayu gifted Poppy with a glass of water and a doughy snack. One she herself hadn't had in god knows how long. "Plain sugar."

"Oh, you don't have to." Poppy said.

"But I want to." Mayu said, trying her best to smile. It came across more like she was constipated, but that worked well enough for Poppy, who shot her a genuine look of appreciation. She began to dig in. Turns out all that fighting made for quite an appetite! "I prefer strawberry myself, but… People are pleasantly surprised with how something this simple turns out."

"Oh, this is delicious!" Right on cue. "Where did you get this?"

"Local shop. Maybe you've heard of it?"

"Not a chance!" Poppy said, flaring her signature pose. Then, she remembered where she was and tried to remain professional. "I'm not a local."

"I assume your friend isn't either."

"Friend?" Poppy was confused. She must've meant the other woman. "Oh, I don't have the faintest clue who she is. She came to my support though, so I guess we're as good as friends can be."

"That quickly?" Mayu chuckled.

"Sure, it's better to be a friend than an enemy." Poppy continued to snack on the donut. Oh, Hiiro was going to love this! She had to get the name of that place before she got out. "Have to ask her name, and.. I have to thank you for the assist. It wasn't an easy battle."

"If you're feeling guilty, don't. Magic isn't a common encounter."

"Real magic?" Poppy tilted her head. If that was true, that changed a lot about the world. It was surprisingly easy to accept. "Woooooow!" She plastered her hands over her cheeks, getting sugar all over her rosy face. "So, then they weren't a bugster?"

"Bugster?" That term sounded familiar. Although, when Mayu tried to recall where she heard it, she received a strange fuzz in her head. Perhaps Rinko could explain.

"Oh, I have to ask." Poppy set her donut aside. "What's your name?" The witch figured it was OK to give it out. After all, she seemed harmless, and it's not like she was going to see her past today.

"Mayu. Inamori, Mayu."

"That's a cute name!" Poppy said, resting her elbow on the table. It seems whatever concerns had once overcome her were now gone completely with some good company by her side.

"What's yours?"

"Asu–" Poppy thought for a second, placing her finger on her chin. "Oh, who cares, it's Poppy Pipopapo!"

"Pop..y Popa.."

"Poppy Pipopapo!"

"Pipapo…"

"Hey, Payu, it's not that hard to remember!" Her momentary frown turned back into a smile. "Besides, Poppy's fine!"

"OK. Poppy." Just then, the door opened once more. Rinko, Taiga, Nico and Izu were standing in the doorway.

"Taiga, Nico!" Poppy cheered, throwing her arms in the air and rushing over to envelop them in a huge hug! "You wouldn't believe it! Just before I got here, I was going to arr–"

"Save it for later." Taiga said, wringing his way out of that hug. "We're coming to get you out of here."

"As it turns out, your credentials add up, Karino Asuna."

"Your name isn't Poppy?" Mayu asked.

"It is!" Poppy said, correcting her. "It's a rather long story, though…" She puffed her cheeks up and repositioned her hair. "So, I'm free to go?"

"Not exactly." Rinko interjected.

"Hey, but you said–" Nico interrupted.

"I did, but there's still a more pressing matter at hand." Rinko said, ushering them all to come along. So, the group followed Rinko throughout the precinct as they made their way throughout the precinct. "Karino-san, you claim that you happened to cross paths with the attack by complete coincidence."

"Please, refer to me as Poppy in this form."

"My apologies, Poppy-san." Rinko explained the situation further, about the stolen pieces of technology, and how this ties into Sector Zero, a division of the police designed to combat supernatural threats, which include ghuls – and also what a ghul was. The usual exposition. "Either way, we're a little short on manpower at the moment."

"What are you suggesting?" Izu asked. They stopped at the command center, where dozens of flashing monitors scanned for traces of magic or oncoming threats.

"All parties here want to get to the bottom of this, so I would appreciate your cooperation." The three of them were floored by this sudden request. "Please, understand! I can't deny that some of these actions today have been out of line, and frankly outside of our law, but for both of your sake if you want to make things right, I'm willing to forget all of this happened."

"All of it?" Izu asked.

"Yes." Rinko confirmed. "A lot of lives were saved today due to your action. In spite of legal troubles, we would have been worse off if neither of you had shown up." On the table rested two familiar devices. The confiscated Zero-Two driver, and the Buggle driver! With slow, reassuring movements, Rinko picked up their belts and handed them back. "The best way to save lives is to work together. I won't ask you all to listen to our demands, but I'm begging for your cooperation at this point."

Mayu couldn't recall the last time Rinko was this fired up about something! "If it means protecting those who can't protect themselves and honoring the duty of a Kamen Rider, then help us out and work together to solve this crisis!" The three of them exchanged glances. Neither knew of the other, and their names were nothing more than a passing mention. In fact, none of them could be any more different – two halves of hope, a living computer virus, and a sentient android. Although, there was common ground that each of them could gather just from looks alone, no matter how unsteady. It's that they held a responsibility to fight for a better world, and deliver a million smiles… Even if it only ever reached one person.

That's what it meant to be a Kamen Rider, to continue in the face of hardship and to inspire light in an endless, ever-changing abyss that was their new world. To fight so that humanity would see tomorrow, and to do it with love. Would this come to be something that they would regret? It was too early to say, but none of that mattered. Their decision was made the moment the fateful three met.

"We'll do it."


AN (08/07/23): Alright, finally our team is all together! Yes, there are several things left unanswered about our favourite mage (favourite if you don't like Yamamoto or Yuzuru more, whose fates both will be spoken about) but that will all be revealed in due time! Seems as though Mayu herself has had a lot change in those ten years. I wonder, what could those ten years be referencing? Guess you'll have to find out.

Anyways, for those wondering if Taiga and Nico are a couple... I keep it ambiguous, much like Ex-Aid itself likes to do. Their bond is undeniable though, and I can't wait to now explore the bonds between our trio!

I hope you all liked some of Mayu's new arsenal, crafted by a certain ringsmith who we will be seeing soon!

Oh, speaking of Wizard, chapter 16 of festival of fate will be out soon, and then we're at the finale! I hope you all are excited as I am.