Metaverse, Bernkastel's Realm
"It's gone...it's all gone..." Bernkastel moaned as she lay on her bed, absolutely depressed. She did not have the energy to get up and not even Lambdadelta being annoying could coax her to rise.
What was the point anyway?
Bernkastel became paranoid after Shinichi ascended into a Lawmaker. While she sensed that his powers no longer destroyed her Endless June timelines, she just could not allow him to exist. There was too much at risk. With his newfound power, he could easily destroy those timelines without a second thought. He had to be erased before that happened. Sadly, the very scenario she tried to prevent occurred anyway and it was all because of her.
"You seem depressed," Shinichi observed as he appeared in her bedroom. She did not even seem surprised that he was in her domain nor did she have the energy to try and kick him out.
"Come to gloat?" Bernkastel spat.
"No, not really," Shinichi answered. "Just here to see how you were doing."
"Ah, so you can see what a failure I am?" she said bitterly. "Well, take a picture. It'll last longer."
"Your words, not mine," Shinichi responded. "You know, I always thought you saw me as a threat because I was destroying the timelines that gave birth to you. But that's not the only reason, is it? They had sentimental value. Even though the timelines ended tragically for the past versions of you, they were why you even exist in the first place. They reminded you of home."
"Bravo, bravo," Bernkastel clapped sarcastically. "You finally figured me out. Not that it matters anymore. It's all gone now."
"Yes, because you gave Viviana that Anotherwatch to destroy me," Shinichi reminded. "The irony here is that the tool you intended to use to destroy me became the threat you feared instead. When she used the power you gave her, she ended up destroying everything you tried to preserve."
"Don't remind me," Bernkastel groaned. She should have seen it coming. Giving Viviana the same powers as Shinichi would have allowed her to access all of his abilities, including his Return to the Past which erased her Endless June timelines. She just underestimated how far the girl would go to try and erase Shinichi.
"Battler told me that you had a habit of using people's emotions to manipulate them for your own ends, just like how you used his sister for your amusement," Shinichi continued. "This time though, it seems to have backfired on you."
"So, is that why you're here, Shinichi? To punish me?" Bernkastel questioned.
"No," Shinichi answered, shaking his head. "I think you've already been punished enough."
"Don't you dare pity me!" Bernkastel snapped as she shot out of bed. "I don't want or need your pity! Just kill me and be done with it! Or just leave me alone!"
"You know, your life's not over yet. Even when everything seems lost, that doesn't mean you should give up and let your life go to waste. After Rika changed her fate, she found a new reason to live. And since you were created from her, I know you can do the same." After saying his piece, Shinichi vanished in a flash of blue feathers, leaving the Witch of Miracles alone.
Showa Chronicles: Legacy of ReVenge
Act X: The End of A Fool's Game
Earth-83 (1991)
Shinichi stood outside his mother's house to see Shinichi and Ranma off. Shinjiro was absent, having vanished immediately after the timeline was restored.
"Well, it looks like everything is back to normal," Ranma observed. "What are you going to do now?"
"I'm going to visit my mom and check up on her," Shinichi answered. "What about you?"
"I gotta send Kenichi back to his world and there are a lot more worlds I need to see," Ranma replied.
"Just do me one favour, alright? Let's not meet because of a world-ending crisis next time," Shinichi requested as he held his hand out.
"Not sure if I can promise that," Ranma said as they clasped hands together. "And here, you should take this." He handed Shinichi a Kamen Ride card. The card's face had the headshot of a Rider Shinichi had never seen before, but the design was reminiscent of both Kamen Rider Ichigo and Nigo.
"'Kamen Rider Sango'?" Shinichi read the name of the Rider.
"I think it'll come in handy," Ranma winked as he erected a Dimensional Wall.
"It was great to fight alongside you, Shinichi-sempai," Kenichi said as he shook Shinichi's hand. "I'm sorry about what happened to your father."
"It's OK. He died a long time ago and I've come to terms with that. I'm just glad I had the chance to meet him," Shinichi admitted.
"I hope we meet again, preferably without a crisis too," Kenichi added.
"And maybe we can hang out at Angel Mort. It'll be my treat," Shinichi offered, smiling. "Keep up the good work, Kenichi. If anyone can show that weaklings can become forces of nature, it's you."
"You got it, Sempai!" Kenichi bowed.
"See ya later, Shinichi." Ranma said as he stepped through the Dimensional Wall with Kenichi.
"Have a safe trip," Shinichi waved as the Dimensional Wall collapsed. He looked at the card again before it turned into particles that flew into his Spark Core. He blinked as he stared at his empty hand. "Hm, that's interesting."
Now, to see his mother. He stepped up to his mother's house and knocked on the door. After a few moments, Shiori opened it to see her son. He was relieved to see her, alive and well.
"Shinji, I wasn't expecting you," Shiori said. "You should've called to tell me you were coming."
"I...I just wanted to surprise you, Kaa-chan," Shinichi smiled before he suddenly hugged her. She was alive, as she should be.
"Is everything alright?" Shiori asked as she returned the hug.
"No, everything is fine," Shinichi answered with tears of joy. "Just happy to see you."
"Come inside." Shiori knew whenever her son was like this it was because something weighed heavily on his mind.
He joined her in the living room and she made them some tea.
"What happened?" Shiori asked.
"Well, I was on a crazy adventure," Shinichi started. "Someone changed the timeline so I had to set it right. While I was doing that I...I met Tou-chan."
"You...you met your father?" Shiori asked, not expecting that, and he nodded. "Really?"
"Yeah," Shinichi took out the letter Shotaro had given to him. "He asked me to give this to you. I didn't read it if you're asking."
Shiori took the letter, unfolded it and read it:
Dear Shiori,
If you're reading this letter, that means you're alive and our son managed to deliver it to you. Yes, I met him and he's a fine young man that I'm proud to call my son.
After you died, I spent years fighting in your name. I had nothing but memories and they were all that kept me going. When I heard that you were alive in a different timeline, I decided to write this letter, hoping it will reach you once the proper timeline was restored. Knowing that you would be alive gave me a new reason to fight. I wasn't just fighting in your memory. I was fighting to make the world right again.
I'm also glad to know that, even without me, you managed to find happiness again.
Just know, Shiori, that I'll always love you and I'll always watch over you.
With all my love, XOXO,
Shotaro Banabara
After she finished reading the letter, Shiori began to cry as her tears dripped onto the letter. She laid it across her lap and wiped her tears away with her hand.
"Shinji, can you tell me what he was like in the other timeline?" Shiori asked.
"Sure, Kaa-chan. First of all, he was awesome and a Kamen Rider just like me..." Shinichi began.
Shinichi returned home and was happy to see Rena and Shinjiro. When he returned home, he discovered that Rena remembered nothing of the alternate timeline. That was a relief. Losing her arms was traumatic and she should not be plagued by nightmares of a time that never happened.
As they sat down on the couch together, he watched as Rena breastfed their son. When he first held their son after his birth, never could he imagine that he would follow in his footsteps and become a Kamen Rider too.
Should he still tell her, though? She knew being a Kamen Rider was dangerous and she loved their son. If he told her, then would she try to stop Shinjiro from walking the same path?
"Is something wrong?" Rena asked. "You've been pretty quiet."
"I just had a long day," Shinichi answered.
He wondered how Future Shinjiro was doing right now. After the timeline was restored, he just vanished without a trace. Shinichi hoped he was fine, back in his own time, fighting the good fight.
"Did something happen?" Rena asked.
"It's going to sound crazy. I doubt you'd believe me," he answered.
"Shin-kun, ever since I met you, I've seen demons, cybernetic monsters, mad scientists, killer robots, aliens, time travellers, and evil immortals," Rena listed. "I doubt there is anything crazy you can say right now that I wouldn't believe."
Shinichi had to admit, she had a point there. Their experience these past few years had opened their eyes to many extraordinary things. So, she would believe him. He just wasn't sure if she would react negatively or positively to what he was about to tell her.
"Well, I was on a crazy adventure recently," he started. He told her about Viviana and how she tried to get rid of him by changing the timeline. He told her about how he worked with other Riders to fix the timeline and met his father. Finally, he told her about Future Shinjiro.
She listened quietly but once he finished, she was utterly speechless. Her voice returned once the shock passed.
"...So someone killed Shiori-san so you wouldn't be born," Rena said.
"That's right," Shinichi nodded.
"...And you met your father."
"Yeah."
"And our son," Rena looked at her baby. "He becomes a Kamen Rider."
"That's right."
"Wow, that is a lot to take in," Rena admitted. "It sounds so unbelievable but if you're telling me this then it must be true. And he grows up to be a Rider, like you."
"Not exactly like me but he does walk in my footsteps. You should've seen it, Rena-chan. He was completely badass," Shinichi told her proudly.
"What else?" Rena questioned.
"He told me he likes dinosaurs. He plans to become a palaeontologist."
"OK, now I know what toys to get him for his next birthday." Rena went and she kissed her son's cheek. "My little hero." Shinjiro giggled as his mother rained kisses on him, enjoying the affection.
Hanyuu, Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi were sitting together and drinking tea in the sun demigoddess' home. The three demigoddesses frequently met to chat and catch up on current events.
"I'm so glad that the world is back to normal," Amaterasu smiled as she sipped her green tea. Alan had restored the timeline, just like he promised. She never once doubted him.
"Easy for you to say," Tsukuyomi groaned, rubbing her temples. "I still have a headache from these alternate timeline memories."
"They'll pass," Hanyuu assured in a comforting tone. "Trust me. Memories from alternate timelines are nothing new to me. Soon, they'll settle in your mind."
"What happened to you anyway?" Amaterasu asked.
"Before the timeline changed, the Golden Witch whisked me away and I stayed in her mansion until the crisis was over," Hanyuu explained. "Chiaki-san was with me too. It was a good thing she saved me just in time. If she hadn't, I would've been stuck in my spirit form and trapped in a void of infinite darkness with no light, no sound, no sensation. Just thinking about it gives me the shivers."
"Thank goodness you were saved. That timeline was so dark and gloomy. Glad the boys fixed everything."
"The advanced technology was cool, though," Tsukuyomi remarked. She saw how the two other demigoddesses were looking at her and she quickly amended. "But a world ruled by GIN-SHOCKER was horrible. They even ruined my moon."
"Let's not talk about such gloomy things then. Hanyuu-sama, I was wondering if you have any plans to marry your beloved?" Amaterasu asked.
"Oh," Hanyuu blushed. "Yes, someday. He hasn't proposed yet but I've been dropping hints."
"I doubt he has picked up on them," Tsukuyomi scoffed.
"Chiaki-san's not that oblivious," Hanyuu defended. "I'm sure he's waiting for the right time to pop the question. He's probably trying to come up with a way to ask my parents for their blessing."
"Don't mind my sister. She does not believe in marriage or commitment," Amaterasu stated.
"Not true," Tsukuyomi denied.
"So why have you not told Shinichi about your pregnancy?" Amaterasu questioned.
Tsukuyomi averted her sister's gaze as she put her hand on her noticeable baby bump.
"I just haven't had the chance to tell him," she mumbled. "And I've been busy."
"Busy avoiding him, you mean," her sister retorted. "You really broke his heart when you ended things with him months ago. Thankfully he has Rena, Satan and Shawna to comfort him. He still misses you but leaves you alone to respect your wishes since you claim your relationship with him was only casual."
"It is - I mean, it was," Tsukuyomi insisted.
"You miss him too, don't you?" Hanyuu asked.
"...Yes," the moon demigoddess admitted, hanging her head. She wondered what she was thinking by keeping her pregnancy a secret from the father.
"Then give him a call, little sister," Amaterasu urged. "I'm sure he will be happy to hear from you again."
"Fine, I'll call him. But don't expect me to ask him to marry me, alright? I don't want to force him to take responsibility like a bitch."
"He would do it anyway," Hanyuu pointed out. "And he would be happy to do it. He's always wanted a big family."
Tsukuyomi blushed. It would be nice to see Shinichi again and surprise him by telling him she was having his baby.
"Alright, I'll do it. I'm going to call him," Tsukuyomi said as she got up and picked up the phone. She hesitated as her fingers hovered over the keypad. Why was she so nervous? She had been alive for centuries and faced every threat without showing an ounce of fear. Now calling an old flame was giving her butterflies in her stomach.
"C'mon, sister! Call him!" Amaterasu encouraged her.
"I will! I am! Don't rush me!" Steeling herself, Tsukuyomi took deep breaths, dialled Shinichi's number and waited for him to pick up. It rang a few times and yet nobody was picking up.
Maybe he was not home? She could call back later.
"Hello?" Shinichi answered after picking up. Oh, there he was. "Who is this?"
"...Hello, Shinichi." Tsukuyomi facepalmed at her weak response.
"Tsuki-chan?" Shinichi sounded surprised to hear from her. She could not blame him since it had been months since they had last spoken to each other and he probably believed she never wanted to see him again. "This is a surprise. Wasn't expecting a call from you."
"I'm sorry I haven't contacted you," she apologized. "I've just been trying to...adjust."
"You told me we were over and not to come looking for you," he reminded her and those words stabbed her in the heart. She knew she had probably broken his heart but she had told him they were just casual friends-with-benefits. It was just sex and they were not supposed to develop feelings for each other. It was just supposed to be fun.
"I'm sorry. It's just that something unexpected happened and I wasn't sure how to tell you."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"The truth is...well...I'm pregnant...And it's yours." She heard a thud coming from the other end and then silence. "Shinichi? Shinichi, are you there? Shinichi?"
"Hello, Tsuki?" Rena answered.
"What happened? What happened to Shinichi?" Tsukuyomi asked worriedly.
"Oh, Shin-kun just fainted. What did you say to him?"
Tsukuyomi speechlessly gawked at the phone.
The following day, Shinichi went out to meet with the NEO-NUMBERS so he could check up on them. The NEO-NUMBERS were gathered in front of the Hinamizawa School. The building had been renovated to include individual classrooms for elementary, junior high and high school level students. The schoolhouse even had a fresh coat of paint.
"So, you're all probably wondering why I've called you here," Shinichi said.
"Oh, are we going to play a game?" Yokoshima guessed excitedly. "If you told me, I would've brought Sprinkles!"
"No, you idiot," Daichi grumbled. "He wants to tell us about how the timeline changed."
"Wait, how do you know about that?" Shinichi wondered, confused as he saw the looks on their faces. They were aware of what Eisenberg had done?
"Because we watched it happen," Shogo answered.
"Wait, you watched it happen?" Shinichi blinked. "How?"
"Moments before Eisenberg changed the timeline, Lucifer spirited me away. Our mother-in-law was kind enough to let us stay at her place until the crisis was over. She also let us watch everything as it happened," Shogo explained.
"Levi did the same for me and Mika," Daichi added.
"Asmo-chan too," Yokoshima chimed in.
"You guys too?" Shinichi pointed at Chiaki, Michiru and Hana.
"Mammon and Belphegor picked us both up," Hana stated.
"They just appeared right as Hana-chan and I were about to go to bed," Michiru added. "Didn't even give us any warning. They just snatched us up and took us away."
"I was saved by Beelzebub," Chiaki confirmed. "And Hanyuu-chan was with me."
"Hanyuu-chan was with you too?" Shinichi was surprised and relieved to hear that. "That's good. I was wondering what happened to her. So the Stakes took you all back to Beatrice's mansion in the Metaverse where you'd be safe from the altered timeline."
"Wait, hold on a second, the timeline changed? For real?" Battler asked. "Where was I when all this happened?"
"The Golden Witch probably forgot about you," Shogo said but he understood when he met the Eternal Sorcerer Battler. Having two different versions of Battler in the same space would be confusing and difficult to explain. Then there was Beatrice whose resemblance to his fiancée Beato would've shocked the man.
"Wish we could have been there," Daichi admitted as he punched his palm. "I wanted to kill that bitch for killing your mom."
"Double," Yokoshima agreed, being a fan of Shiori's work.
"So you all saw everything?" Shinichi asked. "Like everything everything?"
"From start to finish," Yokoshima answered. "It was like watching a movie. There were so many twists and turns that I was at the edge of my seat. But I think you had too many main characters, and Alan showing up with the others near the climax was like a deus ex machina."
"I'm really sorry about what happened to your dad, Shinichi," Michiru said sympathetically.
"Thanks, Michiru," Shinichi accepted.
"He was a good man," Hana added. "But to discover that your second oldest son grows up to become a Kamen Rider too must've been quite a shock too."
"It was but he showed me that he could do the job," Shinichi said proudly.
"Yeah! Mega Dino Power!" Yokoshima cheered.
"OK, seriously, what the hell did I miss?" Battler wondered.
Meanwhile, Rena stayed home to work on a new piece. Shinjiro was taking a nap. As she was in the middle of her work, she heard the doorbell ring. She went to open the door and was surprised to see who it was.
"Oh, it's you," Rena said in a neutral tone.
"Can I come in? So we can talk?" Misato asked while playing with her fingers. Rena didn't trust Misato but both Shinichi and Yuji had vouched for her. Still, Rena could not help but feel cautious.
"Sure, come inside," Rena invited her in. "But I warn you, if anything happens to me, Shin-kun will find out."
"Yes, I know," Misato nodded as she came inside.
"Sit down. I'll make us some tea."
The two sat in the living room with cups of tea.
"So, how's the tea?" Rena asked.
"It's not bad," Misato answered. "You have a lovely home."
"Thank you."
"So where's Shinichi?"
"He went out to meet his team."
"I see. Guess he wants to tell them about what happened."
"So you know about the alternate timeline too?"
"Yeah, I do. It was nuts. Just glad that everything's back to normal."
"So, what did you want to talk with me about?" Rena questioned. She knew Misato was beating around the bush and wanted the vampire to get straight to the point.
"I'm trying to do better, trying to be better and I thought I should start with you," Misato confessed. "I owe you an apology." When she caught Rena's critical glare, she amended. "OK, a lot of apologies."
"So, you're sorry that you kidnapped me and tried to kill Shin-kun?" Rena asked.
"Yes, I am," Misato nodded. "And every other time I tried to kill him since then."
"Why are you apologizing now?" Rena questioned.
"Yuji and I have a daughter and I want to be someone she can look up to when she grows up. So I've been reflecting on my actions, the type of person I used to be, and who I want to be. I came very close to losing everything and I didn't want to waste any more time," Misato explained. "I want to leave my past behind, just like Shinichi and it looks like he's done well for himself."
"He worked hard to get to this point," Rena reminded. "It's not easy. He didn't have someone to come to his rescue."
"No, he just found friends who helped him rediscover his humanity," Misato responded. "He was a different person and I was too blind to see it."
"And Gebok tricked you."
"Yeah, he did, but I am still responsible for my actions."
"You and Shin-kun were made into killers. He didn't have any emotions then but you did. Tell me, did you enjoy it?" Rena asked.
"I…" Misato paused. "I did." She was ashamed of it too.
"Why?"
"Because it made me feel powerful. It made me feel like I was in control. You can't imagine the rush you get when you're holding someone's life in your hands. You decide if they live or die. That kind of power, that kind of control, it can get addictive," Misato described. "But now that I think about it, I was never really happy being one of GIN-SHOCKER's weapons. I was only happy when daddy praised me."
"Your own father made you into a cyborg?"
"Adoptive father," Misato corrected. "Dr. Washam saved me from my abusive family and raised me like I was his own. He made me powerful so I used that power to make him proud. Not a good reason but he gave me everything."
"And you wanted to repay him," Rena nodded, understanding where Misato was coming from. Her family's abuse made her feel weak but when Washam gave her power, she never wanted to feel weak ever again.
"Yeah, but I was twisted by GIN-SHOCKER, we all were," Misato sipped her tea. "I really am sorry. For everything."
"I know and I accept your apology," Rena smiled as she put her hand on Misato's shoulder then pulled her into a hug. Surprised, Misato returned the hug. Then Rena tightened the hug and whispered into her ear. "If you ever stab my Shin-kun in the back, I'm coming for you."
They broke the hug, Misato looking stunned at Rena who was smiling sweetly at her and the two shared a laugh.
After he met with the NEO-NUMBERS, Shinichi called Alan to come meet him at Angel Mort. The two had milkshakes as they sat in a booth together. Angel's Delight might have been fun in its own way, but it could never compare to the warm atmosphere of Shinichi's favourite restaurant.
Alan told Shinichi about everything that happened in the past, about how he saved his parents and together with his team defeated Viviana. Shinichi already knew they had succeeded. By defeating Viviana in the past, they had sealed her fate in the future, allowing Shinichi and the other Riders to finally defeat her and restore the timeline.
"How are you holding up?" Alan asked. "It must've been a jarring experience for you."
"Honestly, I'm fine," Shinichi claimed. "I was able to meet my dad. But a small part of me still wishes I could have saved him."
"You know that wouldn't be possible," Alan said sympathetically. "Once the timeline was restored, he would be..."
"I know, I know. You don't have to tell me," Shinichi interrupted. "But it still hurts, you know?"
"Well, whenever you need someone to talk to, you know me and Dad are there for you."
"Thanks, Alan. You know, that experience did make me wonder about something."
"About what?" Alan asked as he sipped his milkshake.
"About how my absence affected the world," Shinichi answered. "I was never born in that timeline and because of that GIN-SHOCKER was able to take over the world. But why was I so important? Why didn't some other cyborg decide to rebel and stop GIN-SHOCKER?"
"Maybe that's why you were born," Alan pointed out. "When Gebok kidnapped you, it started a domino effect that would lead to GIN-SHOCKER's end. Gebok designed you to be the ultimate weapon but he made one mistake. It's the same mistake that many men like him make that leads to their downfall: he never thought his ultimate weapon would turn against him. It was his own hubris that led to the destruction of GIN-SHOCKER."
"So, I'm just a product of his hubris, huh?" Shinichi frowned, crossing his arms. "Still, it makes you think, doesn't it? How one person's presence or absence can affect the world."
"That's the Butterfly Effect at work, Shinichi," Alan shrugged. "One change, no matter how small, creates ripples that can affect everything even if they don't seem connected. The truth is, everything is connected. Every little thing we do or don't do changes the world a little bit."
"Speaking of changing things, I might have changed something in my past," Shinichi started.
"What did you do?" Alan asked, frowning seriously.
"Viviana killed Kaa-chan and changed the timeline because I killed her parents so I decided to give her what she always wanted," Shinichi answered.
"You didn't..." Alan realized what Shinichi had done.
"I did," Shinichi confirmed, tapping his forehead. "Would you like to see?"
"I thought you didn't like to have your mind read."
"I'll make an exception this time."
Alan opened a link between their minds to see Shinichi's memories.
Earth-83 (1983)
Johan and Lia Eisenberg were about to head to bed when Lia remembered something.
"I left Vivi's present at the lab," Lia told her husband.
"It'll be fine, Lia. It'll still be there in the morning," Johan assured his wife.
"No, I'll feel better knowing it's close by, Johan," Lia insisted. "We should go back for it."
"Fine," Johan relented. "Let's go."
The two turned back towards the lab but were both stopped by a young guard.
"Um, Dr. Eisenberg and Dr. Eisenberg," the guard said to them. "Good evening."
"Yes, what is it? What do you want?" Johan asked curtly, annoyed that a guard had come up to them.
"Johan, don't be rude," Lia chided her husband.
"Sorry," Johan apologized. "How can we help you?"
"Well, I just want to say that what you're both doing is extraordinary work," the guard told them, smiling. "I'm sure that the two of you will be able to change the world for the better with your project."
"Oh, thank you," Lia smiled. "That's so kind of you."
"You're welcome," the guard nodded. "Sorry for taking up your time. I'll continue my rounds. You both have a good night."
"What a sweet guard," Lia said to her Johan as they continued to make their way towards the lab. The guard watched them go and sighed, relieved.
"OK, so my past self should be gone by now," the guard - Shinichi - said as he spotted a dark figure leaving the base. "And then the Eisenbergs should find their prototype and research notes gone before..." The alarms blared. "OK, time to go."
Alan cut the connection and he just stared at Shinichi, stunned.
"You saved them," Alan concluded.
"I did. Now, they're alive, she's happy and never has a reason to come after me," Shinichi explained. "That means everything she did never happened."
"So you didn't kill her." Alan was relieved to hear that.
"Of course I didn't. When I told you that I was going to do what I'm best at, that's what I meant. As tempted as I was to just kill her right then and there for everything she had done, I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of proving her right about everything she ever believed about me," Shinichi explained. "I'm a little insulted that you had so little faith in me, little brother."
"Don't rub it in. You were being so freakin' vague," Alan grumbled, "So, does that mean you're going to go back in time and save everyone you killed before? Because that could mess up the timeline even more."
"I know and I won't," Shinichi answered. "I know saving Viviana's parents would cause ripples but it's a small price to pay to prevent someone from messing up the timeline in a misguided attempt at revenge." He crossed his arms and leaned back as if waiting for a retort. "Well?"
"Well, what?" Alan quirked an eyebrow.
"You know what I mean. I broke the rules so give me the lecture about the timeline being sacred and how making any changes to it for personal gain is selfish and wrong. The usual spiel."
Alan gave a deep sigh through his nose. Well, he did have something to say about the matter.
"No, I got nothing. This whole crisis happened because her parents were killed. You going back in time to save her parents will negate the reason she wanted revenge on you. There's no criticism I have in that regard. And it looked like no matter how many times we would lock her up she would still come back to try and get you again. Her mind was far too warped by her grudge to ever consider you being a better person. I don't like it, but saving her parents was the best solution in this scenario."
"Oh? Well, that's good," Shinichi nodded. So even Alan agreed he had done the right thing.
"You know...Viviana kinda reminds me of myself," Alan remarked.
"What do you mean?" Shinichi asked, blinking in confusion.
"Parallax," Alan clarified. "She was just like me when I became Parallax. Someone with great power saw a great injustice that they could suddenly fix. With no regard for the consequences of their actions. That's exactly what I did. I suddenly gained great power and used it to throw a cosmic tantrum that nearly tore a hole throughout time and space."
"Oh," Shinichi understood. "Yeah, I think I see the similarities. You were blinded by anger, and pain and grief. Just like Eisenberg when I killed her parents. Just like I was when Lina died in my arms again. That is what allowed Parallax to sink his claws into you."
"No, I was nothing like you," Alan refuted, shaking his head. "You went after Gebok and everything he built because you knew he wouldn't leave you alone and he made it clear many times before that he was more than happy to use your loved ones to get to you. Viviana and I - we took our pain out on everyone else. Viviana nearly destroyed your world and I nearly destroyed the Multiverse."
"Yeah, but my point still stands," Shinichi interjected. "When all we can think about is our pain, it becomes our main drive and it makes us blind to everything else. If I hadn't taken a break to see my friends again, I would have forgotten that I was doing it for them, so that bastard could not hurt anyone else I love. Eisenberg wanted to save her parents from me but did not consider the consequences of her actions. When she realized that she ended up making things worse, she decided to destroy everything instead of trying to fix things. And you..."
"I just wanted to fix everything," Alan finished Shinichi's sentence. "Save the people of Aoran, save Jade, keep everyone safe. This ring is the most powerful weapon in existence. I can create anything...anything I can think of with it. And my imagination is pretty big. But I got too far ahead of myself. When the Guardians shut my ring off, I didn't view it as them trying to keep me from playing God. No, I wrongfully saw it as them being afraid of me and the power I could wield. And then the events we refer to as the 'Emerald Twilight' happened."
"The road to Hell is always paved with good intentions, Alan," Shinichi quoted. "You only wanted to do what you believed was right but you took things too far. I'm not saying you were justified, but shit happens and I understand what it's like when you get pushed over the edge. After Lina died in my arms, I lost faith in myself and ARMOR. I decided I had to stop Gebok myself. I abandoned everyone I loved to protect them. I was just fortunate enough that Yuji and the others found me before I took things too far."
"You know when I went after you, I wasn't trying to stop you, right?" Alan reminded him. "I wanted to help you and bring you back home. My loved ones had to beat some sense into me before so I thought I could do the same to you. I just didn't account for how stubborn you could be."
"But Eisenberg did not have anyone," Shinichi stated. "She did not have a support system that could help her. All she had was her grief until Bernkastel got to her. She manipulated Eisenberg and then she found more people to join her crusade, making her think she was right the whole time. Even when she rewrote the timeline, all it did was leave her empty. She didn't even care that she was working for GIN-SHOCKER, the same organization that made BLACK 13. The same organization that caused her parents' deaths. And Bernkastel thought she had found someone to destroy the threat I posed to her precious fragments but she ended up creating the very thing that destroyed them instead."
"One thing I was wondering though," Alan continued. "Why wasn't the Endless June affected by your time powers after your 'big change' but was wiped clean when Vivana used her Return to the Past?"
"I think I have a theory about that," Shinichi replied. "I think a timeline from the Endless June only gets erased when I use Return to the Past, rather than when I use my time powers themselves. And those chains that I snapped off were the tethers that held me to those other timelines. It was how I was connected, I think. When Eisenberg transformed into Another Showa, I saw those same exact chains creeping on her body. My guess is that because the Endless June was a symbol of Rika-chan's struggle against fate and despair, it was drawn to my guilt. When I made peace with myself, the tethers became weak enough for me to break free and that allowed me to have full access to my time powers. But since Eisenberg was so laser-focused on making me suffer the same way she had, the tethers of the Endless June latched on to her, and that was when she unwittingly destroyed it."
"And that's why a timeline from the Endless June would vanish whenever you used your powers to turn back time," Alan nodded, understanding. "They weren't actually drawn by your powers at all. It was your guilt and self-loathing that was causing them to disappear. I guess an empty shell like Bernkastel would have never been able to understand that."
"Yeah, too bad for her," Shinichi concurred. "I'm curious, why were you so adamant about me not killing Eisenberg?"
"Because…I'm tired of killing," Alan confessed. "I know I don't normally kill unless it's a deeply personal enemy. No, before all this…before my second chance…I killed so many good people. And so…I had to balance the books. Possessed by the literal spirit of vengeance, my soul travelled the multiverse…killing the people who thought they got away with their crimes."
"Why did you never bring this up?" Shinichi asked, stunned by the confession.
"Because it was my punishment. Not the story of my trauma or anything like that. I did something horrible, Shinichi. The kind of thing that the people we've faced could only dream of achieving. And this is what I had to do to make amends with the cosmos. Yeah, it was horrible. And yes, there is still blood on my hands that will never come off. But I was given a second chance. A chance to be the hero I always dreamed of being. One that doesn't view killing as the first and only choice," Alan explained.
"So what are your plans now, Alan?" Shinichi inquired.
"I have a few things on my backlog," Alan answered. "Unrelated to what's been going on recently but still related to your world."
"Oh, what would that be?" Shinichi questioned.
"I'm not Susanoo," Alan revealed.
"Yeah, you've been pretty clear about that many times," Shinichi remarked. "What else is new?"
"No. I mean, I've looked through history and double-checked it with Amaterasu, and the timelines don't match up. If anything, when I showed up in the past and fought the Orochi back then, my powers made the people at the time believe I was a god and wielding Kusanagi only cemented that belief," Alan explained. "This leads to another mystery to unravel."
"And what's that?" Shinichi questioned.
"What actually happened to the real Susanoo? I've narrowed down the suspects that may be behind Susanoo's disappearance to two different cults," Alan answered. "One worships a demon known as Kagutaba. The other worships Amatsumikaboshi, the Dread Star of Heaven. Either one of them is responsible for Susanoo's disappearance and I need to uncover the truth."
"Sounds to me like you have a real mystery on your hands," Shinichi stated. "Need any help?"
"No, after the episode you had, you deserve a break. Besides, I can handle this on my own. Though, I might need to borrow Tsukuyomi when she's ready..." Alan finished the rest of his milkshake and got up. "Well, hopefully, we can chat like this without someone screwing up the timeline. Catch you on the flipside, Shinichi."
"Take care of yourself," Shinichi bade in return. "And tell me all about the case once you've solved it."
"That's a promise," Alan nodded with a smile, walking out of the door with several cake boxes in plastic bags. As soon as he stepped out of the restaurant, his smile dropped into a sad frown. After the timeline was restored, he checked Shinichi's future again and saw his brother's gravestone. The future had yet to change but he would not give up. Nothing was set in stone. He still had time to find out how Shinichi died and prevent it from happening. He promised to save him and he was never going to break that promise.
Earth-83 (2007)
Shinjiro was lying on his bed and holding an old picture in his hand. It was a picture of his dad holding him when he was a baby. He turned it over to see a simple message written on the back:
Love, your dad. 10/10/1990
He heard a knock on his door and put the photo away in the drawer of his bedside table. He got up from bed and opened the door to see Kagami. The girl was fairly tall, with long brown hair that came down to mid-thigh and was done in a hime cut, bright green reptilian eyes and thin eyebrows. She had a slim and curvy physique with large breasts and long legs. Her relatively long limbs showed toned muscles. She was dressed in a simple white tank top shirt which fit around her chest like a second skin and brown skinny pants.
"Hey, Jiro," she smiled.
"Kagami," he greeted back.
"Can I come in?" He nodded and let her inside. "How did things go?"
"The timeline is back on track," he reported.
"Yeah, I noticed. Lucky Raheem was able to put up a chronolock when he did but moving around in a cramped space was a tad bit uncomfortable," she said coyly. "But I want to know how it went for you. After you got back, you were pretty quiet."
"I'm fine," he insisted.
"No, you're not," she protested. "Something happened during the mission. Something bad."
"Doesn't matter," he stubbornly shook his head. He did not want to talk about it.
"I think it does," she argued. "You know you can't hide anything from me. I know when something's bothering you. I'm not just your fiancée, I'm also the Kekkain heiress. I have to be observant about these things."
Jiro averted his eyes. She was so perceptive, so observant. The wound was still fresh and the memory was painful but maybe talking about it might help.
"Jii-chan died...to save my life," Shinjiro confessed.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," Kagami responded sympathetically, putting her hand on his shoulder.
"It's strange. I barely knew him and he's been dead for a long time in our timeline. But in that timeline, I met him and I..." Tears welled up in his eyes and he covered his face with his hands. "He died because of me, Kagami..."
"Come here," Kagami beckoned and he walked into her open arms so she could soothe him. "Everything is going to be OK. Just cry and let it all out."
Earth-83 (1991)
It rained heavily that night and everyone was safely indoors. However, someone was walking with an umbrella. The person was a girl clad in stylish gothic lolita fashion. She hummed a tune as she twirled her umbrella before coming to a stop.
"Ah, found you~!" She picked up the Showa Anotherwatch that had mysteriously restored itself. "Wouldn't want a rare treasure like you to end up in the wrong hands." She tossed it up in her hands, stood up, and continued to skip in the rain while humming.
END OF "LEGACY OF REVENGE"
Dr. KRC: Wow, and we're done. Now, this arc was very Shinichi-centric while the last arc was really Shinichi light since he only appeared at the beginning and the climax in "The Powerless Ones". Now, let's talk about Viviana Eisenberg for a second. She was originally created for Showa X Vampire. However, due to that story being cancelled, she was shelved. But then Tails decided to use her as another addition to the Showa Chronicles story and I was pretty much on board. The thing is, Viviana represents the refusal to accept someone's redemption, as well as what he could become if he ever forgot his sense of justice. He was only an instrument but people still blame him for his actions even though Gebok was the one who made him do all these things. Her actions as shown in this story devolve further and further into simply trying to hurt him in any way possible.
Also, Viviana is kind of like a foil towards Shinichi. They were both motivated by revenge. Shinichi, as you know, wanted revenge against Gebok for the things he had done to him and made him do. However, unlike Viviana, Shinichi learned to let go and instead of killing Gebok he had him locked up. Helps that Gebok ended up just a brain in a jar. Viviana, unfortunately, allowed vengeance to consume her. She initially targeted Shinichi, but after receiving the Anotherwatch from Bernkastel and becoming Another Showa, she decides to erase Shinichi from existence. So, she killed Shiori in 1968, preventing Shinichi's birth.
Now, let me repeat that: She. Killed. Shiori. She killed Shiori who has never done anything to her. She killed an innocent just so she can finally get her revenge but even then she did not succeed thanks to Shinichi being a Singularity Point. Even before she killed Shiori, she also killed a kid who was in a Showa costume and still she manages to blame Shinichi for it. She doesn't take any responsibility for it but Shinichi shuts her up.
Also, Viviana is a hypocrite. She claims she's not a monster but you guys take a look at what she's done. She murdered a child while thinking he was Shinichi; she killed Shiori to prevent Shinichi's birth; and then when she returns to the present, she works for GIN-SHOCKER, the same organization that sent BLACK 13 to kill her parents. She doesn't even see the irony or she's just blinded to it. She justifies her actions by claiming Shinichi is a monster without realizing she's become one herself. By taking the Anotherwatch, she willingly gives up her humanity. Shinichi, on the other hand, had his humanity taken from him but he managed to regain it.
So, in the end, Viviana's desire for revenge made her into the exact monster she claims Shinichi is. She became a far worse monster than BLACK 13 could ever be. Shinichi could have just killed her to avenge his mother but he also knew his mother would not want him to kill in her name. He's also grown beyond revenge. He can let his rage get the best of him, but he understands that revenge leaves you empty. He's fought so hard to always do the right thing so he won't give Viviana the satisfaction of proving her right.
But, to prevent the crisis from ever happening, he goes back in time and makes sure her parents did not witness BLACK 13 stealing their research. No, he didn't forgive her. She's done too many terrible things to be forgiven, he's just preventing the thing that made her want revenge from happening in the first place. He was just getting rid of a problem. She might not remember, of course, but at least she'll be healthier. And now here's a treat. A look at what happened to her in this new timeline.
"Thanks for joining me, Shin," Keiichi smiled as Shinichi joined him for his latest assignment. Keiichi was sent to cover the tech expo and had asked his friend to take pictures of the event.
"Hey, like I told you before, Kei. You need a photographer, I'm your man," Shinichi said.
"I really appreciate that but what are you wearing?" Keiichi asked. He had a good reason to ask as his friend was not dressed like he normally would. He wore his perception filter glasses and a newsboy cap on his head. He was also dressed in a blue flannel shirt, dark slacks with suspenders, and had brown loafers on his feet. If that wasn't enough, he also included a bowtie.
"Have to look the part," Shinichi defended. "I am your photographer and your personal 'Jimmy Olsen'."
Keiichi did not understand the reference but chose not to comment. He was used to Shinichi's antics and he had to admit that what he wore was a pretty good disguise.
"So, what's the story you're supposed to be covering anyway?" Shinichi asked.
"There's going to be an unveiling of a new and highly advanced piece of technology. Nobody knows anything about it, except that it's been in development for years," Keiichi explained.
"Oh, and who developed it?"
"A foreign scientist. Can't remember her name though but I think it starts with a 'V'. Oh, it's starting now. Make sure to take plenty of pictures."
They both watched the stage as a woman with a briefcase walked up to it and Shinichi's jaw dropped the instant he saw who she was.
"Guten tag. My name is Doctor Viviana Eisenberg," she introduced herself. Allow me to present to you the Cyberdeck Portable Computer system." She placed the briefcase on top of a table and cameras focused on it. The large screen behind her displayed an enlarged image of the item as she unveiled her invention. The briefcase opened to reveal a slim computer monitor and a keyboard integrated into the interior of the case. "As you can see, this computer is small enough to be carried anywhere. It has a rechargeable battery that can last for up to twelve hours and only needs one hour to be fully charged."
Shinichi was stunned speechless when he saw Viviana. The last time he had seen her was before he jumped into the past to prevent her parents' death. She looked different too. Instead of the hate-filled, rageful glare she had before, her gaze was much more relaxed and showed plenty of intelligence. She had grown out her red hair which she tied into a bun and she was also wearing a smart pants suit. Like her parents, she was a certified genius as she was able to invent the Cyberdeck which looked like one of those laptops he had seen in ARMOR.
"Now, any questions?" Viviana requested. She spotted Keiichi who raised his hand. "Yes, please."
"Dr. Eisenberg, what gave you the idea to create the Cyberdeck?" Keiichi asked.
"Oh, the idea for the Cyberdeck PC came to me in a dream," Viviana answered. "And my original prototype was built from scrap. Ever since then, I've been working to perfect it into the device you see today."
"And you believe everyone will want one of your Cyberdeck PC's?" Keiichi asked.
"We live in extraordinary times and are nearly a decade closer to a new century and a new millennium. That is why I believe technology should take a huge leap forward. The future is coming and we mustn't be left behind," Viviana explained.
And of course, we can't forget about Bernkastel, who caused this mess in the first place. She manipulated Viviana by using her hatred against Shinichi, lit it up further, and tried to use her to kill him, not that she had to do much. But this time she messed up big. Not only did she unknowingly have a hand in the Alternate 1991, but her actions ended up causing the destruction of the Endless June, which she tried to prevent by killing Shinichi to begin with. How ironic. Well, she's got no one else to blame but herself in that regard. This also means that the rivalry between her and Shinichi is officially over.
Also, a bit of a rant regarding me using Decade Complete Form. I didn't use Decade Complete Form 21 for two reasons. Number 1: Decade Complete was already good enough, so I changed how it worked with the Neo Heisei Riders. Since the K-Touch is a touchscreen, to use the Neo Heisei Riders, he just has to swipe the screen to the second page with all their symbols. The second reason is, well, as Edna Mode would say, "NO CAPES!" I mean, seriously! It was good enough without the cape, which is generous! Why add a cape and why one that is so ugly? It's like when a kid spreads out a sheet of paper and glues their extra trading cards on it. I mean, why? Why a cape and why a cape like that? A cape doesn't work with Decade since it's impractical. Usually, for a Rider, a cape either has a function or shows status but for Decade it does neither. It's a useless and ugly add-on. Also, they could've done something better for the chestplate for Decade Complete 21. I mean, look at what Fourze did. They could have put a giant version of the K-Touch's screen on Decade Complete 21 with the Rider Symbols on it instead of their cards put all over his armour. Do you know who did the card thing better? Blade King Form! The cards were made part of the armour instead of just displayed on the chest like a card album. Maybe they did not wanna copy what Blade did but I think that instead of the face of the cards, they could have just shown the emblems across his chest like what they put on his Decadriver. Sorry, sorry, that was my rant about Decade Complete 21. I'm sorry I said too much.
Now, for the stinger...
In an undisclosed location, Kyofu stood inside a control/observation room with a window that peered into a rather large training room with metal walls. Inside the training room, his psychics were training intensely with their powers while going through an obstacle course.
"Gebok's little pet project ALWAYS gets ALL the glory! Even back then, he was ALWAYS put on a pedestal!" Kyofu snorted in contempt before he smiled. "But not for long. After we show the world what we can do, he will be ancient HISTORY! Don't you AGREE, Weapon D?"
Behind Kyofu stood a woman who remained hidden in the shadows, leaving only her feminine figure and shining blue eyes visible.
"Yes, sir," the woman – Weapon D – droned like a robot.
"Oh, that INFERIOR hunk of junk will get EVERYTHING he deserves and so much MORE!" Kyofu promised. "But let's NOT forget about the rest of NUMBERS! BLACK 13 and his team need to be THOROUGHLY HUMILIATED and put in their place before we can END them!"
"Yes, sir," D concurred. "But I am surprised that you didn't wish to ally yourself with the Religion of Crime."
"I have to admit I was TEMPTED but I didn't think it was a good fit for me," Kyofu claimed, causing D to look confused. "Vandal Savage seemed too... SUSPICIOUS! Besides, the Religion of Crime FAILED to rule the world! Perhaps if I had been in charge, they MIGHT have SUCCEEDED!"
"I see," D understood as she nodded.
"I was hoping the HEROES and the Religion of Crime would DESTROY each other but that didn't happen, UNFORTUNATELY!" Kyofu frowned before quickly turning his frown upside down. "But at least WHITE 14 and his faction were ANNIHILATED!" He then got back on topic. "All the combat data we managed to record from their battles was at least USEFUL to help strengthen our 26 CANDIDATES!" He looked forward to watching his psychics usurp the cyborgs' position as the protectors and saviours of the world.
"If they continue with their training and improve at this rate, then I believe it is possible, Professor," D stated.
"YES! The era of the CYBORGS is OVER! It is now the AGE of PSYCHICS! And I, PROFESSOR SAIBA KYOFU, swear that I will SUCCEED where Gebok FAILED!" He punctuated his declaration with a raised fist as he laughed maniacally. "HAHAHAAHAHAHA! YOU HEAR ME, GEBOK!? I WILL SUCCEED! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Indeed, Professor Kyofu. You will succeed," D obediently agreed.