Fictions Mentioned:
Episode 18
OP Song:
Aoi Kaze No HOPE [HISTORY OF TRUNKS ENDING]
Insert Song: Start
Nobody's perfect (Kamen Rider W)
In the past between the lines...
At the same time when Kaoruko Hanasaki was comforting the young eleven-year-old George Kurai from his recent troubles, embracing him as the morning sunrise settles in from the east, there was someone watching over them from afar.
It was Joker.
What was he doing there, many would wonder?
Oh, he was simply observing his greatest enemy was doing as was usually doing when it came down to his "free time". It was simply the way how things go. He observes him in order to find even the slightest weak spot of what makes the enemy tick; how does one actually break the young man who was chosen as the Heir of Time, capable of ruling it just like his original predecessor and burdened as well with the heavy sins of the future.
Truth be told, the more he got to know George Kurai as a person, the more Joker became interested indeed as he understood that one of the successor Precure teams had dealt with a variant of George Kurai that came from an alternate future timeline where things didn't quite work well for humanity as a whole to which he thought was absolutely hilarious and splendid as it was one of his original purposes.
Most of the original Precure of that specific timeline from Futari wa Precure to KiraKira⭐Precure A La Mode were officially either missing or dead, probably because of the hazardous effect of stop-time along with the terrible enemy whose name and backstory is mostly unknown but to a few that came with it who used the increasing toge power to his great advantage, thereby, unfortunately, depriving this timeline of most of its great protectors. Toge power was rampant and increasing at a very alarming rate, humanity was ensuring its very own destruction with every single bad end whose endless supply would make Joker leap with joy as he once recalled having relished such a power boost that came from such power.
Truly, he thought with a terrible, gleeful smile that he should thank GameOver-sama wholeheartedly from the bottom of his black heart for providing him with such power that massively changed him into something far more than what he is intended to be. For the very first time since being free from his original fate, he was finally free to enact almost all that he could actually wish for.
Oh, he still recalls with fondness the memory of obtaining such tremendous power.
But still, whatever should he do as he continues to observe his greatest adversary being embraced by one of the most powerful Precure of her time?
But the question itself would be answered right for him when he noticed something odd. It filled him with dread. But he didn't show it. He felt a type of presence that is both familiar and unfamiliar. He knew what this specific type of individual carries. A mere presence. A power unlike any other. It was subtle and not blatant. It almost felt like time itself was recognizing the Lord of its own domain.
Oh yes.
It was a Lord of Time. A Time Lord of Gallifrey.
An individual around whom the world itself would shift and change, one so out-of-tune with the natural order of the universe that even history would warp and buckle around him. Caillou. Maker of distractions. Changer of rules. A pebble dropped into a pond.
Joker turns around, with his mouth thin-lined to a grim concern even though he didn't show it. He finds a Scottish-looking man reminiscent of early 19th century styles, specifically relating to the painting of Arnaud de Beaufort, painted by Pierre-Paul Prud'hon, a French Romantic painter and draughtsman best known for his allegorical paintings and portraits, and the one who painted a portrait of each of Napoleon Bonaparte's two wives.
He was a handsome man with a tall, slim frame, finely boned hands and face, thick brown hair, pale skin scattered with freckles, and large, dark brown eyes that can stare deeply into your own soul. He wears a dark brown suit with blue pinstripes accompanied by a light brown Duster-type overcoat.
He was just standing just a few meters away from him, with both hands tucked into his pockets. And there was this solemn expression on his face, that face that didn't need to speak any form of words. It was a declaration of protection. He was speaking with no words but his face said it all:
"("If you try to ruin this moment, then you will have to answer to me. You only have one warning. Leave.")"
It was the signal for Joker to vanish and flee. And Joker did vanish and flee as he would not underestimate someone of this level of caliber and accomplishments, whose exploits are well regarded and earned throughout the Multiverse.
The Man Who Makes People Better. The Lonely God. The Destroyer of Worlds. The Oncoming Storm. The Last of the Time Lords.
The Doctor.
After making Joker flee, the Doctor's expression turns to the other side, looking at the young George Kurai, his student, being comforted by Kaoruko.
His expression turned soft and empathetic. He understood the little tears that came from the young lad. It wasn't easy, being burdened with the realization of one's future sins that managed to affect other people to the point of selfishness coated with good intentions. In fact, one of the main reasons why he decided to let George Kurai be a companion was that he needed someone or a group of individuals to look out for him. As a Time Lord, he knew about the history of the Precure from the very beginning up to the very end. He knew how the stories begin. He knew how the stories ended. He knew how the stories begin again. Isn't that just life and history itself in a nutshell?
Everything ends. Eventually.
But...
Everything begins again.
And the Doctor would do whatever it takes to see a young George find the happiness that he deserves.
He thinks of this just as the breeze was waving his coat and every one of his clothing.
In another moment in the past...
The young fourteen-year-old George Kurai was simply sitting on the park bench sifting through a book whose cover reminded one of the TARDIS doors. He was flipping through the pages, seeing every Precure from Futari wa Precure and making his way to every Precure until he arrived at the HUGtto! Precure.
"..."
George was silently looking at the picture showing Hana Nono who was carrying Hugttan. Following her from the left side were Saaya Yakushiji and Hariham Harry. On the right side, there was Homare Kagayaki, Ruru Amour, and Emiru Aisaki. They were all smiling in the photo.
At this point, George was slightly touching the part of the picture where Hana and Hugtan were as tears were leaking from his face. And they were dropping little by little as he recalls everything that had happened in his life in relation to his connection with these two individuals who hold a much deeper meaning in his life as he learned about them little by little.
And he was afraid of it.
For as of now, he was about to be attending L'Avenir Academy in the next few days. The preparations and paperwork are already complete and underway. And now, he was simply just waiting for the inevitable encounter that he would have with the three HUGtto! Precure team members. And he was dreading the fact of meeting them. Even more importantly, he was dreading of even meeting her, the young woman who was the significant other of his life.
And then, he felt something. A tap on the shoulder.
He turns around to find a man in his mid to late twenties, smiling at him with encouragement and understanding.
He knew who this person was.
Sougo Tokiwa - Kamen Rider Zi-O.
Years: 2018 - 2019.
He was born on April 28, 2000, as the only son of Sotaro and Namie Tokiwa. At some point in his childhood, Sougo was riding a bike at a park with his parents. He proclaims to them that he would become a king and that was the start of his innocent dream. On April 24, 2009, Sougo and his parents were involved in an bus accident orchestrated by an enemy of the future by the name of Swartz.
Sougo was amoung the children who were teleported away before the bus crashed inside a tunnel, killing the adults. The children woke up in an alternate future where a city was under attack by several Dai Mazines. After Sougo saved Hiryu Kakogawa using his unconscious temporal abilities, while secretly being assisted by his original counterpart nearby, Swartz realized the potential in Sougo and modified his memories. Returning to the site of the bus crash, Sougo and Hiryu were admitted into a hospital and would be taken in by his grand-uncle, Junichiro Tokiwa after his discharge.
And since then, several years later, he will be forced to confront his dreams, the benefits and misfortunes of it, and the consequences that his entire life revolves around within himself and the rest of the world as Kamen Rider Zi-O. And he felt it, every trial reminds him of the potential fact of the entire world turning against him because he would one day become a dictator by the name of Ohma Zi-O.
And this was why he empathized greatly with the young George's plight, very accepting of him as his potential successor to take his mantle as both a King and a Kamen Rider, teaching him everything he knew.
And as of now, Sougo was simply sitting down on the side of the bench and comforting the young man who was admittedly going through a tough time, understandably fearing the future.
And it was at this very moment when the King and his chosen heir would get to spend time together. When looking at this scene, you'd think that they were father and son as they were simply having casual conversations, discussing the specific Precure team that he would eventually meet face to face for the very first time.
George didn't know whether he was even ready for this.
But Sougo would reassure him that he was.
"...And if you are ever in a pinch," Sougo explained with a smile, patting his successor on the shoulder. "Know that you could always count on me and everyone else to be there if you need us. It's how I overcome the challenges of the future the first time around. It was the fact that I had friends and I believe that when you meet them, they would be your friends too."
And it was the advice that brought comfort to the young man's heart as he genuinely smiled at his sensei.
"Thank you, sensei," he said.
In the present time...
The memory had faded. Everyone was now presently back in the hospital room, having experienced the brush of traumatic experiences.
"...!"
Much to George Kurai's surprise, he felt something soft from all directions. He was being wrapped in a very warm embrace that came from a special flower. Of course, it would refer to Hana Nono who was softly crying tears after everything that she had just seen. And then, it was followed by Hagumi Kurai who was nearby from the left side of the hospital bed, also crying in tears after everything that she had just seen. And then, it was followed by Kotori Nono, Saaya Yakushiji, Homare Kagayaki, Ruru Amour, and Emiru Aisaki who were also crying in tears after everything that they had just seen.
He looks around to find such understanding expressions from all of the Precure and their mascots, especially the Smile Precure! as this hit too close to them, with some having tears indicating that they were crying.
They all thought: "("This was what he actually fought all this time?! This was what he was actually fighting all this time?! Why?!")"
And it wasn't like anyone can blame them for seeing a young man like him getting psychologically tortured to guilt for everything that he had done in the future.
And in the next few moments, he was reminded of what his sensei, Sougo Tokiwa, used to say whenever he feels down.
"...And if you are ever in a pinch, know that you could always count on me and everyone else to be there if you need us. It's how I overcome the challenges of the future the first time around. It was the fact that I had friends and I believe that when you meet them, they would be your friends too."
And this was that moment when he experienced a sense of caring that he could not really imagine when coming face to face with the very Precure team that his alternate future self had opposed just for the sake of his goals, sympathetic and wrong as they were.
And he cried as he smiled.
"...What...I should be the one crying and you're all like this...This is getting ridiculous..." he said with a smile.
"...Sh...Shut up, idiot, and just accept our hug," Homare spoke as she cried.
"That's...That's right...please accept our hug," Saaya spoke as she cried.
And as for Hana, she never spoke a word except to cry and tightly embrace George. She finally understood why George's alternate self had a great interest in her. And even more, she understood why the young George was looking at her especially when he knew about the future.
Hana Nono in the alternate future where Hugtan, Harry, and Ruru had come from was where she had passed away and this in fact was the main reason behind everything from meeting Hugtan to becoming a Precure and everything else that was to follow. But there was also the raw suffering that George has had to deal with, burdened by futures that may or may not be possible. No wonder he felt awkward around her as he was essentially looking at his future wife.
Despite this, Hana didn't blush in embarrassment. No, far from it. It was not the time for such things. George Kurai needed a hug because of the misfortunes that literally happened to him like it were a bad joke and she would give it to him. She always wanted to understand this very complex individual, George Kurai, ever since she met him and now she got a very clear idea. And it was because of herself. One can imagine just how much this was felt by Hana as she embraces the young George as if to say: "("It's alright, I'm here, I won't leave.")" and she meant these words in her heart.
George could only sigh as he smiled at being consoled like this, with tears leaking in his eyes, opting only to remain silent, placing both his arms on the young girls who were pouring out their genuine empathetic feelings on him.
And then, Miyuki Hoshizora, Akane Hino, Yayoi Kise, Nao Midorikawa, Reika Aoki, and Candy were also joining in the hug, feeling the most responsible for George's predicament with Joker in spite of the fact that by all logical and reasonable accounts, they are not to be held accountable for Joker's actions throughout the years. And neither George nor anyone else was faulting them for this.
From outside the medical room, there was Sougo Tokiwa who was peaking from the door, smiling as he was silently watching the Precure comforting his successor.
He was simply stopping by, being given a heads-up by one of his fellow Kamen Riders, Souji Tendou, who stopped by and informed him about his successor before heading to another location in order to take care of official business relating to Ultron.
"Yokatta ne, George," Sougo smiled, with his hands in his pockets.
And then, he leaves the door, preferring to let his successor have his private moments with the girls, walking in the hallway and being saluted by the 14th Legion Clone Troopers who noticed his presence.
What would the future bring this time?
Sougo wondered in all honesty. But he wasn't worried this time. He somehow knew in his heart that the future would be in very good hands.
Somewhere far away in an unknown space, there was the presence of a young woman with blonde hair, wearing a white dress. And she was smiling as she was watching George from afar being given the comfort that he needed.
"Bon pour vous, George," she softly spoke with a beautiful, radiant smile.
Marguerite "Marie" Breuil, the Twilight herself, sends her radiant smile and blessing for the young George Kurai from afar, feeling glad that there were wonderful girls that would look out for the young man.
Insert Song: End
ED Song:
Closing Theme Kamen Rider Black RX
Incarnation(s)/Regeneration(s) of the Doctor:
Tenth Doctor - A: David Tennant
Legend Main Heisei Riders:
Sougo Tokiwa/Kamen Rider Zi-O - A: So Okuno
Main Love Interests:
Marguerite "Marie" Breuil - VA: Yui Sakakibara