DW: Kamen Rider Zi-O: Pretty Cure Protector

by Multiverse Learner 101

George Kurai, the young 14 years old man, is known as Kamen Rider Zi-O. But his dream is not that of a king. Actually, he doesn't know what his dream truly is. In a matter of fact, he fears the future more than most. A protector of dreams and yet a man with no dream to call his own, and the protector of all Precure no matter if it was the past, present, and future.

36. Chapter 36

Fictions Mentioned:

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Episode 36

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OP Song:

Summertime Render OP/Opening 2 Full『Natsuyume Noisy (夏夢ノイジー)』by Asaka

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Insert Song: Start

Sis Puella Magica!

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PART 1

Ever wondered what it was like to be the only one in existence who knows the truth? Not your family, not your friends, not anyone?

Well, in a manner of speaking, Tatsuya Kaname can pretty much relate to this troubling question due to the following experiences when he was simply three years old. He was very young, only about three years old when he can sometime see a young fourteen-year-old girl with pink hair that was visiting him, speaking to him with such kind words.

"Good night, Tatsuya..." She would say with a sweet, and yet saddened tone that left a deep impression upon his youthful mind. A smile that was bright and yet so melancholic. "Sweet dreams..."

Was it sweet dreams?

For Tatsuya, he thought so at the time. But he never fully realized then that this young woman was the only person that wouldn't be seen by anyone. Except for him. Tatsuya Kaname was the only one who can see this young woman, no one else. Whenever he tried to point it out to his parents or perhaps to someone else, they would chuckle a bit out of innocent humor, perhaps providing reasons such as "imaginary friend" or "he'll probably outgrow this kind of thing eventually when he makes more friends at some point".

But that was the problem. He couldn't get over it.

"Tatsuya," His onee-chan used to say with a concerned tone. "Don't try to talk to me whenever you're going outside of the house."

"But...why, onee-chan?" He once innocently asked with a tilted head. Ah, when he was so very young.

"Because...other people may not find it so cute or funny," She would say with a saddened tone.

He did not know why at the time, but he had a feeling that he should follow whatever his onee-chan would say on the matter. He would simply nod along and follow her instructions. But then, he started to notice something odd. Little by little, the more he grew up, the more his onee-chan would no longer visit him. And little by little, it seems that his memory of his onee-chan was slowly fading. He was just a young boy that didn't know any better.

Eventually, it would suddenly disappear entirely at least by the time when he would turn eight years old, leaving Tatsuya memoryless as he too would forget about his dear onee-chan. Except, there was something that laid dormant, a giant hole that was felt inside of him that he could never fully fill. He may have lost his memories, but it didn't seem like he was ready to forget, or rather, there was something that was not making him forget as he should.

No memories. Only a vacuum remained. And it would relate to the girl who had once been visiting him.

Now, it was nothing but dreams. But with dreams came nightmares. Nightmares that were kind of a blur for him to truly identify and can never make out the full picture. They...felt like memories instead of dreams. He didn't know why, but he could feel the helplessness, the sense of grief and despair that was felt by someone, either him or maybe it was someone, either way, he felt the darkness of grief and despair. He would dream of, to his horror, a ruined Mitakihara City, of creatures of different appearances and strange abilities attacking what appeared to be...young girls wearing magical girl outfits, and...this girl that the hole of his heart had indicated was there?

The dreams would start at least when he was about eight years old. They were very vivid dreams. For over two long years, counting the present which was ten years old, these dreams haunted him. Something felt off. They felt intense. Of course, he would never admit this out loud as he felt that no one, not even his parents could believe him. If there is one thing that he knew at this point, it's that people are easily believe to think that anything that isn't something that one can consider to be normal can be classified as either of the following: creep, nerd, insane, and other words that can be used against the person, as if they were the definition of those who are not part of the crowd.

Yes, Tatsuya, for some strange reason, was not like the other children. He was intelligent, sharp, and can understand the world of adults better than most his age. But this trait of his was never fully revealed to the limelight. To everybody, he was just your average cheerful and fun-loving elementary school student that can at least befriend everyone he meets. Yes, this is true, but there is more to him on the surface than just that.

And Tatsuya knew this. He was not what people can call normal. I mean, he thought, would you call him normal when he has these strange dreams? He cannot fully articulate or explain them properly because they are often too grotesque to talk about; these frightening yet dazzling dreams that are all consuming in their chilling glory; saying anything out loud would warrant him being thrown into an insane asylum for the rest of his young life which is something he'd rather do without thank you very much, he thought.

This could not be his imagination, he thought. He could not really make this stuff up even if he wanted to. He was neither a great artist like the old Renaissance painters nor had the refinement of someone like Hiroshi Yoshida, one of the greatest artists of the shin-hanga style, and is noted especially for his excellent landscape prints. He could not even imagine all of this because this felt so alien, so unhuman by nature.

Every time he would have dreams, he would always somehow manage to wake up with either of the following reactions. He was crying, but he did not know why. He was sweating, but he did not know why. He was feeling nauseous, very sick to the stomach, as if he would throw up after bearing witness to a brutal desecration of a young girl's body that he would see in his dreams at least a few times, but he did not know why.

Cold sweat always graced him. His eyebrows scrunched in confusion. A feeling of disorientation remained that seem to at least go away as he fully sits up from his bed and takes a deep breath. That was his daily routine since he was eight years old. And it never really left him. It was ingrained in his mind like a habit.

But he knew that he could not just keep living like this. He needed concrete, grounded answers. He did not want just enigmatic dreams, he needed an interpreter of these dreams, an answer to these fundamental questions that raced through his mind. These dreams were not just dreams, but memories. He was sure of it. And he needed to find some answers. But where could he possibly look? He was sure that no one in Mitakihara City could help him. He would not also risk exposing himself to shady fortune tellers if only because of the potential for cheap scams.

He had to find answers alone for the most part. For the past two years, he had been...well, researching about Mitakihara City, its entire history from beginning to end as much as he could find. A feeling in his gut told him that it would be useful for him to know his general location first. Next, he had taken an interest at least in the idea of a concept that a lot of Japanese would probably know, at least by fiction.

A magical girl.

From his research, it was a subgenre of Japanese fantasy media (including anime, manga, light novels, and live-action media) centered around young girls who possess magical abilities, which they typically use through an ideal alter ego into which they can transform. The genre emerged in the early 60s, followed by a wave of similar anime produced in the 70s which the term majokko was used, then in the 80s, the term magical girl became more common and largely replaced the older term, reflecting the new popularity of shows produced by other studios. Then in the 90s, it introduced the concept of a transforming superheroine who fights against forces of evil, a synthesis of elements from tokusatsu hero shows that became a staple for the magical girl series that followed.

Why was he even searching for something like this?

Well, he felt once again in his gut that he needed to search this topic thoroughly.

And now comes the present time. Tatsuya, having awakened as early as about five o'clock, had been just staring at his computer and reading about something relating to magical girls when he heard the sound of his mother calling for him from the knock on the door.

"Tatsuya! Time for school!"

"Alright, kaa-san, I'll be right there."

Tatsuya reassured his mother. Shutting his laptop down, already dressed and ready to go, he would walk towards the door with his backpack in hand.

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PART 2

It was the year 2018.

A young ten-year-old elementary student of Mitakihara Elementary School, Tatsuya Kaname, while appearing to look like he was paying attention to the teacher in class, was actually in deep thought regarding the deep hole within his heart and the memories that came with it. Some might call him rude, but in fairness, he was already aware of what the old man with grey hair - his teacher was discussing on the blackboard. Basic mathematics which was a requirement for a grade-schooler to know was something that he can already manage to pick on. He was after all a very smart but nevertheless careful boy who does not want to draw too much attention to himself. He was simply content with the grades that were required of him to pass, no more, no less. If one gets a full mark of about 100, then people may start to notice his intelligence. That would be the last thing that needed to be on his mind.

Now, do not get him wrong. He has a lot of friends in this school, although what classifies the definition of 'friend' in this case? Maybe the proper term should be amicable acquaintances as he was simply a part of the crowd and talking stuff with his fellow classmates. But that was just it really. He never really had a big problem in his life, minus the hole in his heart. He never had much in the way of true friends. He was friendly, he was cheerful, he was kind, he was funny and it made people spoke nothing except that he was a bundle of cinnamon roll brim with positivity.

But he was never really someone with an actual true friend to talk with. Someone he could share similar things with.

Well, the having friends problem aside, he also never really found it difficult to participate in school despite his sometimes lack of sleep. In fact, he hasn't been more alert in his life if only because of the positive energy of experience, and perhaps surviving the dreams that would push him to try to succeed today, in every aspect of his life. The remembrance of this pink-haired girl had provided the push in his personality. He couldn't help but find it natural to be kind. He couldn't help but at least find ways to help people, at least preferably when he wouldn't want to make himself known and recognized. He never wanted recognition for his deeds. He just wanted to help. Most of the time, it's just the simple things of life. Helping his parents, helping an old woman cross the street, helping his classmates with some stuff like school work, just...helping, and it came naturally, but most of the time, no one would probably recognize his kind deeds because he doesn't want to be recognized for it.

After what appeared to be the last lesson for the day, it was about time for Tatsuya Kaname to turn tail and head home for the day. He wore his outside shoes and with his backpack in tow, would walk straight home.

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Insert Song: End

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Insert Song: Start

Puella Magi Madoka Magica OST - Surgam Identidem

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...At least, that was the plan initially.

"...?"

As he was just walking on the side of the streets, he slowly noticed something odd as a shiver ran down his spine as he passed through something he wasn't supposed to be. First, he noticed that the surrounding area and landscape along with the atmosphere had changed. He would blink at this. Odd, was his first thought. He would just look around and walk straight forward. This walk, to him, lasted about...an hour he suppose. In all that time, he was just walking down unfamiliar hallways, seeing from his eyrie, buildings of different shapes and sizes. From the designs of this maze-like atmosphere, it looks like he was on some kind of black-and-white checkboard or something out of a black-and-white motion picture. And even the sky had these kinds of colors.

Something was troubling him. This...felt like his dreams... He can...sense some kind of danger... But he doesn't see it. He looks around and he doesn't see anything. But something was definitely telling him that there was danger nearby and that he needed to be ready for anything. An instinct, if you will. Right now, passing through various strange landmarks, he was just walking on the strange hallway that appears to be a bridge of sorts which appears illusion-like like a swirling passage, spotting familiar-looking faces who were just standing there, not doing anything. It bothered him. He felt something off.

"Kaa-san?! Tou-san?!"

His parents? What were they doing there? And why were they just standing there, looking as if they didn't hear him? He didn't need a second to think before he started dashing with his own two feet. But...

"...?!"

He was being blocked from stepping a single foot. There were strange-looking humanoid creatures, with dark blue being the dominant body color with black and silver attached body part designs lining from their claws to their feet, and with a black orb on their chest. There were giant-looking shurikens mounted on their backs. And they were detachable it seems as they draw it out. He counted about...fifty of them! And they were making clicking sounds from their mouth, similar to ominous beetle clicking sounds.

"...Get out of my way!"

Of course, he was afraid of this situation. Who wouldn't be? But he cannot afford to be afraid. Not now. His parents were right there on the other side. He needs to be there. Screw these monsters! He removes his backpack, feeling it was more heavy luggage than needed.

Because he was of the size of a fifth grader, it was easier for him to slip by the monsters that were now aiming their shurikens at him, their sharp edges almost swiping him. But Tatsuya can...somehow feel the danger coming, like a gut instinct telling him where to duck and cover. Memories of his dreams would come back to him. It felt like second nature to him as he dodges each attack with his quick-thinking reflexes.

From left to right, he managed to at least evade the monsters but...he felt as if the journey was becoming a bit of a pain if only because he was not even close to his parent's location while he keeps dodging these monsters. It felt like the illusion of this place was making him feel like he was not one step closer to his parents. As he paid attention, there were at least five of the monsters that were now surrounding them.

"NO!"

Tatsuya needed to hurry. He kept dodging and dodging but he was no step closer to his goal. He seems so far away. It was like the 10 meters between him and his parents appear to extend, showing the strange illusion of this place. He kept running and running, finally at least being free from the dodging after the last monster, dodging its shuriken swing by crouching right.

But he wasn't that close. But he wasn't that far either. It felt like he was not going to make it. His heart pounded like crazy as his eyes widened in horror, seeing the monsters coming close.

"NO! I CAN MAKE IT! I CAN MAKE IT!"

He kept telling himself as he caught his breath, running as fast as he could. It almost felt like time was slowing down for him. It was not letting him make it., He raised his right hand and static seem to engulf his mind, reminding him of his dreams (memories). This felt like a horrible sense of deja vu.

You lost someone, something seems to sinisterly whisper. And you cannot even remember how much this person meant to you. But do not fret, for you will soon know how it felt like to lose the people close to you.

Who was whispering? Where was it coming from? He did not know. But the way this sinister whisper phrased his situation, he could not bear to think of the outcome. He dashed as hard as he could, feeling the monsters that were coming from behind, chasing after him.

"KAA-SAN! TOU-SAN!"

He screamed as he raised his right hand with an expression of horror. He can already see the monsters drawing out their shurikens and were about to go for the kill. It felt like an entire few seconds seems to pass. He cannot make it. He is going to lose them.

And in the next few seconds...

"Krrgh!"

"?!"

As he ran, he would notice someone suddenly coming, armed with some kind of strange-looking futuristic sword, wielded by a young man with black hair and purple-yellow brown eyes that were glowing a bit bright, wearing a white polo shirt and black pants. He swung this sword with a grimacing angered expression, swinging it lefward, striking the back of the monster, taking one of them out. Then he spun around and swung his sword left, taking out another one.

ZYU!

Then he somehow switched his blade to a gun and started firing magenta-colored energy projectiles that caused sparks to fly. All of the other monsters were taken out as various semi-orange explosions engulf the area. The young man, appearing to be the same age as he was, was now looking at him. Tatsuya had already arrive by the time the young man had managed to take out all of the monsters.

"...Who..." Tatsuya would mutter.

The young man would aim his gun in Tatsuya's general direction and fire multiple energy blasts, decimating the horde of monsters that were on his tail.

"Come with me if you want to live," the young man would say in a serious tone.

If it weren't for the seriousness of this situation, Tatsuya may have quipped at the old cliché quip since he had watched the Terminator before. He simply nodded along, grateful for the help that this young boy managed to save his parents. Speaking of his parents...

"Tou-san, kaa-san," Tatsuya tried to grab their attention by slightly shaking their bodies. No response. When he looked into their eyes, all he can see were blank stares, like they appeared to look dead.

"It's no use trying to get their attention," the young man replied grimly. "They're in control by whoever is seemingly running this place."

"What the heck is happening?" Tatsuya asked. "Do you know what's going on?"

"Grrrr."

Their conversation got interrupted as both noticed another horde of the same humanoid monsters that were materializing from a nearby stairway at least fifty meters away. Among them, they would spot what appeared to be the one commanding these monsters. It was a humanoid monster that was similar in appearance to the other mooks, but had a commanding presence, and his face was that of a shark with sharp teeth and claws.

"...I guess that would be the monsters' leader who's in control of this place," Tatsuya took an educated guess.

"...You guessed it correctly," the young man grimly nodded.

"What the heck are these things?" Tatsuya muttered.

"Bewitchers," George answered.

Tatsuya noticed that he was already walking forward a bit, subtly making a defensive line for Tatsuya and his parents. And then, Tatsuya noticed something else. He would notice the young man carrying what appeared to be a watch in his right hand that had the words "2018" in it, and he would turn the dial, revealing the face, and then he would press the button, revealing a holographic version of its face.

ZI-O! ZIKU-DRIVER!

Then, Tatsuya would notice a strange high-tech belt encircling the young man, then the young man would place the watch on the right side of the slot and it begins to enter standby mode. The sound of a clock ticking was heard.

"Stay with your parents, I'll deal with these monsters," the young man spoke with a grim tone. Tatsuya didn't know why, but he felt that there was more to that tone when he was asking for Tatsuya to remain with his parents.

"Wait, but who are you?" Tatsuya asked. He needed to know who this young man was.

"I..." the young man was hesitant for a bit before answering as he looked back at the menacing monsters. "George Kurai. But right now...I am..."

The young man didn't continue and instead continued on with his actions, letting them do the talking. He presses the button on top of the belt, making it tilt counterclockwise a little. Then he slowly raises his arms, positioning them towards his right side before he moved over his head and eventually landed in position. His left hand was raised to the upper right side with his left palm outwards while his right was by the hip with his right palm open. It was similar to the movement of the hands of the clock. As he was doing that, Tatsuya, to his shock, would notice the giant holographic clock forming behind George, noticing several different gears around it turning and the clock hands spinning counterclockwise.

And then...the young man, while flicking his hands showing that he was ready, spoke a word that he never thought he would hear with his own ears.

"Henshin!"

An iconic word, one that Tatsuya could not forget, widening his eyes. He would see the young man, George Kurai, backhanding the belt as it spins 340° counterclockwise until it went back to its original position while bringing his arms in an X pattern before bringing them back to his sides. The clock hand from the holographic clock spins together at the twelfth before splitting to the sides, the small hand landed on the ten and the big hand landed on the two. The pink katakana word spelled 'Rider' formed under the clock hand. The katakana pulsed outwards, launching them ahead of him, taking out the nearby monsters as they exploded, and three holographic watch bands circle around him forming his armor. They dissipated a moment later as he was now officially in his armor.

DING! DONG!

RIDER TIME! KAMEN RIDER! ZI-O!

Tatsuya's eyes widened in shock, muttering.

"...Ka...Kamen Rider..."

A Kamen Rider. And it was a Kamen Rider that he never thought that he would see since at this point, if he were to recall, the current Kamen Rider that was on the air was Build, and Zi-O, as far as rumors were concerned, were still in the works.

It consists of a jet-black suit with a silver band in the center with silver ornaments on the sides of his shoulder and chest armor with pink highlights, and pink highlights on the hips and forelegs. On his forearms are the watch holders carrying two blank watches on his right and one on his left, he had a silver watch that says 'Bike' in Japanese carried on his left holder. His hands are black with pink armor on his fingers and backhand. His helmet looks like a clock with a white clock piece with the symbol that spelled 'Kamen' on the forehead, and a black visor until the katakana letters flew back and slammed into his visor as it shines brightly in pink.

A Kamen Rider. A fictional hero that aired in Japan in the year 1971 and still runs strong to this day as an iconic legend that inspired millions of people in Japan and throughout the world. And right now, that hero was no longer in the realm of fiction, but was now a reality that no one could ever have predicted.

"("I will keep this family safe, or die trying!")" George Kurai thought to himself. It was a resolution. It was a promise. It was a promise that no one would have to suffer the same fate as him, that one should never have the suffer the pain of losing one's loved ones and if they had would never experience it again. That was one of the main reasons why he became Kamen Rider Zi-O.

"Grrrrhhh."

The monsters were now slightly backing away as if they recognized a much deadlier opponent while looking at him with hatred. The shark headed monster would raise his right arm, ordering the other monsters to attack head-on. They complied as they grabbed their shurikens and charged with a predatorial sprint.

Then...

KEN!

Zi-O would use his sword whose edge was brightening with magenta-colored energy, unleashing an energy wave with a swing to the right, creating sparks and killing off several monsters that were heading towards them. All of the minions were down, only the boss remained as it clicked in irritation. And the two combatants would now make a firm stance of their own as they wait for the other to make their move.

Wait. Wait. Wait.

Then suddenly, both were now a blur as they accelerated to the point where a normal human eye could not really see them. But Tatsuya Kaname was far from normal as he can definitely see the battle. He would see the clashing sparks that came with each attack from both Zi-O and the shark monster. The shark monster, after dodging several straightforward strikes, would twist and scratch Zi-O in the back, making it a hit, sending Zi-O tumbling via rolling before aiming his sword upward and blocking the incoming nail projectile attacks that came from the claws of the shark monster.

The shark monster would suddenly vanish like a puff of smoke, forcing Zi-O to make a combat stance as he raised his Zikan Girade with a firm grip. He waits for a few moments...then...

...Zi-O dodges a swift tackle from the shark monster by rolling over to the right. He notices that the shark monster had disappeared once again. And then, he dodges the attack again by rolling left, having noticed it. And then, he noticed three versions of the same shark monster surrounding him. But Zi-O was quicker. He would spin around and perform a clockwise counterattack strike that sends all three to dissipate into mere illusions.

But...

"Kah!"

That's when Zi-O also noticed that he was suddenly pushed back and thrown away for over thirty meters. The shark monster was fast, Tatsuya thought in worry. But he also noticed something else.

"...!"

He would notice the mook monsters, the Bewitchers, he recalled Zi-O mentioning them, were now materializing and gathering across him. He was surrounded!

"No-Kah!" Zi-O was slashed again by the shark monster who was fast. And again. And again. And again. And again. He was not getting things anywhere. Admittedly, he was still a rookie when it comes to fighting. He was still getting the hang of things despite being a quick study. But his main concern was Tatsuya Kaname, who along with his family, was currently surrounded. He tries to move forward, only to get struck down and sent to a wall that was over fifty meters away, with the shark monster in pursuit of its prey.

Tatsuya did not know what to do as he was raising his arms, with his hands forming a T-pose, with his eyes looking around and thinking of something, anything. He was not confident in his ability to take them all. He was just a ten-year-old kid. What can he do? He does not even have the power to stop it. Is he...Is he...going to die...?

"You will not die."

"Eh?"

Tatsuya would suddenly notice something odd. A strange, mysterious, benevolent force. A warm, fuzzy feeling. It felt as if time itself would stop. And it felt like it did. That one fraction of a nanosecond. He would feel the hole in his heart triggering something in him. The memories would flow back as if through time. Through...time...? He grabs hold of his heart and felt it squeeze. And then, there were tears that would leak in his eyes.

"I won't let you die, Tatsuya. I won't let our parents die. Your onee-chan won't let it happen."

"O...Onee-...chan...?"

The words that left his mouth felt bittersweet. Somehow, from within the corner of his eyesight, he felt as if he was having a vision. He would see...a very bright and beautiful smile, one that was even brighter than the sunrise. He felt that she was from a different level of existence, somewhere very far away from him, and yet was seemingly near him at once. What is this? He felt comforted and he knew that he was loved. It was a love that felt so familiar. It was one that he would always feel from his mother and father. A familial kind of love, but one whose intensity seems to stretch more and more, expanding like a wide-open embrace.

What comforted him more was her bright pinkish amber eyes that looked at him.

"Tatsuya. Understand...that I cannot interfere directly in this battle. If I do, the world would be destroyed."

"Eh?! D-D-Destroyed?!" Tatsuya was shocked, feeling the shuddering burden and the implication of such an effect. He knew instinctively that this person, this strange being, this all too familiar figure from his dreams, is telling the truth. He did not know why, he just knew she was telling the truth.

"Yes. Which is why..."

The beautiful figure became saddened as she made a sideways expression for a few moments. A seemingly invisible shudder was felt. Her perfect mouth was trembling and her expression was one filled with conflict as she next directed her gaze at Tatsuya.

"...Which is why...I would ask you this...? If you had the power, any kind of power, what would you do with it?"

Tatsuya did not answer for a moment, but not because he was hesitating, but because he was attentive. By instinct, it felt like he knew that he was being asked to do something very important, something that would eventually define him as a person.

"Isn't it obvious?" Tatsuya would say with no hesitation. "If I have the power, I would need to help my parents and..." His thoughts turn to Zi-O, the one who saved his parents, the only family that he has truly known and lived with. "...And, George Kurai, Kamen Rider Zi-Om the one who saved my parents while I couldn't do anything. But even with all of that, I cannot just stand by and let these..." He would refer to the Bewitchers. "...These things do as they please. What if my parents aren't the only ones who are being affected by these creatures? What if there were others? I cannot in good conscience ignore this and simply stay on the sidelines while also not knowing what's going on. I want to help as much as I can. And I am going too."

The young beautiful woman would smile with approval, albeit sadly and with resignation, as if her expression was telling of a future that she seem to foresee with her nigh-omniscient eyes. She almost felt that she did not want to hear that kind of answer, and yet, from some kind of twisted sense of irony, it would seem that another Kaname would make a choice to become somebody, to become a hero.

...But he will not be a magical girl.

...No.

...He will be a different kind of hero.

...A kind that had never been seen in this universe except only through the realms of fiction and of the imagination.

"I see. Then I will give you what you need, Tatsuya."

And then suddenly, as the young woman would seemingly disappear from the corner of his eye, with time still not seemingly moving as the monsters were not all attacking him and his parents, a watch would suddenly appear from his right hand along with a belt.

ZIKU-DRIVER!

A Ridewatch, an instinctive thought whispered into his mind. He knew instinctively what to do somehow. The Ridewatch was of a red and black color. It had a red dial button and had the same symbol for "Kamen" and the year "2068" on it. A Ziku-Driver, another instinctive thought once again whispered into his mind. It was referring to the advanced belt on his waist that was automatically attached to him.

He looked between the Ridewatch and the belt. He knew what he had to do. He simply raised his right hand straightforwardly and turns the dial, pressing the crown button.

GEIZ!

A sound was heard. Then he placed it towards the right side of the slot and presses the top of the belt by slamming it with his left fist, making it tilt counterclockwise a little. Appearing behind him, as he noted, was a futuristic holographic digital clock with gears surrounding it spinning counterclockwise. Then he puts both of his arms before him, swings his arm, and grabs both ends of the driver.

"Henshin!"

He said, exclaiming with a determined expression, one full of resolve. He spins his driver back into position as the holographic digital clock spins back into place.

BEEP! BEEP!

RIDER TIME! KAMEN RIDER GEIZ!

The shockwave of the transformation was immense, to the point where all of the monsters, the Bewitchers, would seemingly be vaporized and time itself would continue forward as it should. There were yellow hiragana words for 'Rider' formed on the clock just as he was surrounded by red and black wristbands. The hiragana pulsed and flew out during his transformation. He transformed when the wristbands dissipated and the hiragana slam into his visor completing his transformation. His armor had formed.

It was red armor with black details and a bit of yellow, and two black armbands that hold four watches. The Ziku-Driver around his waist was with the Geiz Ridewatch on the right slot and the screen was saying "2068" in yellow. It has red triangle shoulder armor with grey and yellow details along a round chest plate, black gloves with yellow fingers, black knees, grey anklets, and a black digital watch design from the head to below the waist and onto the back. His helmet was black with a white face, his sharp-edge ribbon visor was yellow that spells 'Rider' in hiragana, and on the forehead has a digital clock symbol and a katakana symbol for 'Kamen' between them.

He raises both of his hands and couldn't believe what he was seeing with his own eyes. He was looking at himself, transformed into a suit of armor that he never thought would experience in his lifetime. He has become the iconic hero that many throughout Japan and the rest of the world would only know as...

"...I've become...a...Kamen Rider..." he muttered.

---

As the Law of Cycles—Madoka Kaname looked on, her pure, amber eyes turn to sadness. Existing on the higher plane of reality, eternally existing as a concept and a metaphysical universal law that cannot be overturned, capable of seeing all universes under her jurisdiction, including universes that had once existed or ones that might potentially exist in the future.

But for her native brother's timeline, the now-christened Kamen Rider Geiz, his timeline was...a conundrum to her. Now, his actual future is definitely being blocked for her to see. From the moment he became Kamen Rider Geiz, she would lose absolute sight of what he could or would become in the future. She knows every potential path that her brother could have walked or would have walked. All timelines were hers to oversee and ensure that her little brother is given the best life that he can have before he can die of old age peacefully. But these timelines were seemingly all erased or unconnected with the Tatsuya Kaname that she would oversee with her own foresight.

Kamen Rider Geiz—the Future Guardian.

"My brother is now a Kamen Rider, the Kamen Rider who stands alongside the newly christened heir to the King of Time, the Kamen Rider who is the Future Guardian. His future, one that I can always see, is now clouded...by forces that even elude me. Now I worry if this was truly the right choice at all."

Yes, she wanted her brother to be safe and live a normal life. She never wanted to drag him into the wider problems of the universe and beyond. But circumstances seem to force her hand to intervene. Upon the advice of a Time Walker, Tatsuya Kaname, as much as it pains her to admit, needs to be Kamen Rider Geiz, and the potential for that is what she can already see. By the mere fact that his future is not written in stone, that it can be made by his own hands without even her lifting a finger, that his future is no longer foreseeable.

But that was not all. Apparently, she would think in shock as she discovered something more about her little brother, there was a link connecting him to her best friend, her most precious friend, Homura Akemi. That was the strangest part. What does Honoka, the young woman who had traversed through so many timelines, have anything to do with her little brother? She never really saw any part of Homura in Tatsuya's predetermined future lives. In fact, either Tatsuya was seen to be single or with someone else. But then, when he became a Kamen Rider, something was now connecting the two together. A very vibrant connection that seemingly stretches across time and space. One that was pure, coated with a similar and yet different vibration to the one that she and Honoka had shared with each other.

"My brother...and Honoka-chan...?"

And she would see something odd about Tatsuya's timeline. In fact, his timeline had been rather of an enigma from the start even before he became a Kamen Rider. There were a few "errors" as she could term it that way spotted across this timeline. There was one particular blindspot that she had noticed most of all. One of them? Homura Akemi seemingly wasn't anywhere to be found in Tatsuya's future in spite of the fact that she and Tatsuya met in the park as the latter was drawing a figure of her. But this was the past, not the future. And as she looked into it further, she did not see Sayaka Miki, Mami Tomoe, and Kyoko Sakurai either in this future. It was as if they, or in fact every Magical Girl that had ever come to be, does not truly exist in Tatsuya's timeline.

It was odd in consideration of the fact that if she were to look into the past, she can see them. But in Tatsuya's personal timeline, they were never even there. It was like there were two worldlines coexisting within one worldline. But that wasn't possible. The past and the future should be the same regardless. Anything that could affect the past would affect the future. It was the normal rules of causality. But Tatsuya Kaname's timeline seemingly ignores that and continues to move forward, without any sign of any Magical Girl or the enemies that they were supposed to fight, the Wraiths.

She found this all rather odd. But then, that would definitely explain, or at least give one of the reasons why there was the presence of these alien creatures (Bewitchers) who were invading her territory. It is in their nature to be attracted to temporal paradoxes after all.

She really felt bad, leaving all of her friends and family behind, among them being Honoka and Tatsuya, but that was the only way everyone was going to get out of the nightmare, of having to deal with nightmarish creatures (Witches) that brought too much suffering that didn't need to happen. And thus, she changed it. Every single one of them. Every universe had the Witches erased. The Witches...are no more...throughout All of Time, All Parallel Worlds.

Now, she had accomplished this task, but she is forced to remain in this state of affairs for eternity, being essentially forgotten by everyone, including her friends and family. And Honoka was the only one who would remember her. And the same can now be slowly said of her little brother, Tatsuya.

"...My brother...and Honoka-chan..."

And yet, somehow, she felt like she could smile in peace as she bore witness to this dimly bright shining light that lay a connecting thread between her best friend and her little brother. Somehow, with a common person that they missed, they would bond, and maybe...turn into something else. And when one can traverse time, it appears to be such an inspiring connection.

But still...her brother and Honoka...?

Even she would never imagine that kind of connection that had been made that would formally solidify when her little brother had become a fictional superhero. There was not even a single timeline that fully suggested such a thing. Until now that is...

---

"...I've become...a...Kamen Rider..." he muttered.

There was a sense of thrilling urge to jump in the air for the pumping adrenaline of excitement, but there was, unfortunately, no time for that as he would remember his parents who were still looking like dead-fish eyes zombies that were only standing up and doing nothing, with no type of reaction whatsoever. Instinctively, Tatsuya...no, Kamen Rider Geiz knew what to do, like an unknown force behind the armor was directing him with what to do in this situation.

With resolve, he went towards both of his parents and looked them in the eye.

"I don't know what's happened to you both, but I promise...I'll find a way to set all of you free."

Geiz spoke lastly as he would begin to touch both of his parents who would become as bright and transparent as light before vanishing from this strange dimension entirely, instantly transporting them back towards the family home where they will be safe. As to how Geiz knew how to operate his power, it seems to be giving him the instructions conveniently enough. But he would have to think about this later. He would need to help Zi-O.

And speaking of Zi-O...

"...!"

Geiz would look up and spot both Zi-O and the Shark Bewitcher thoroughly engaged in battle from the black and white sky, jumping from random skyscraper to random skyscraper, from random bridge to random bridge. Then he would see them land on an upper walkway just a few hundred meters away as the Shark Bewitcher would try to perform a multiple claw combo attack, from left to right, and then by biting the opponent on the head. Only, he can see Zi-O dodging them all with ease before pulling a straightforward thrust upwards, stabbing the jawline of the monster who roared in pain and became enraged, pushing Zi-O back for several meters just over the edge of the building wall, but he manages to steady himself.

It would appear to Geiz that his eyesight had been enhanced. Geiz begins to think for a moment, thinking of how he can help, looking back. Then he had an idea. He would walk backwards for a few five meters before keeping his position steady. And then, he would begin to make a dash and jump as high as he could.

The problem though...

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

He was jumping a little too high. Way too high. He tries to steer and maneuver his jump in the open air as he would begin to fall down like a crashing meteor. Waving his arms around, trying to time his movement, he made himself move to the walkway as he would...inevitably crashed into Zi-O, the latter realizing too late as they both crashed on the ground. They grunted. Zi-O would notice Geiz who was on top of him.

"So-Sorry about that," Geiz made a contrite expression, lifting himself a bit as he looked at Zi-O who was also lying on the ground.

"("That voice...")" Zi-O noticed the familiar voice. He recognized it to belong to the boy that he, along with his family had saved earlier.

"Before you asked, my parents are safe. I managed to somehow get them out of this place and transported them back to my house. Don't ask me how yet, I'm still getting the hang of all of this," Geiz reassured while speaking a bit too fast in a rush of adrenaline. "As for how I became this...well, that's a long story that involved some kind of girl with pink hair and eyes. Does this make any sense to you?"

"Actually, it does. Somehow, considering your circumstances, I think your situation isn't that different from how I became a Kamen Rider, although..." Zi-O said with a grunt, not wanting to add more. He did not want to be reminded of the first time he transformed into one. Not now. But he would take note of the present circumstances due to the similarities. No wonder Professor Paradox wanted him to visit this universe that was far removed from his universe. Something odd was definitely happening around here and the Bewitchers being present is one proof of it considering their penchant for being attracted to temporal paradoxes.

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"Grrrrrrrrrragggggggggghh!"

"...!"

Both Zi-O and Geiz would turn back to find the Shark Bewitcher who was now summoning the same horde of minion monsters, the Minion Bewitchers, with their sharp claws and dangerous shurikens. The Minion Bewitchers would throw multiple shurikens at them in a straightforward pattern, forcing Zi-O and Geiz to get up and jump away from the shuriken strikes.

Geiz would raise both of his arms downward and perform multiple flipping maneuvers that would allow him to dodge enemy shuriken fire. Instinctively...

ZIKAN ZAX!

OH! NO!

ZAKKURI WARI!

...He would summon his primary weapon—Zikan Zax whose axe blade channeled pressurized yellow energy, creating a kind of resonance vibration. With one swipe from his axe, he makes short work of the Minion Bewitchers from his right side. At the same time, he would be back jumping towards a nearby wall whose outline texture would seem to show black and white pixelated cubes which were apparent as his two feet made a landing.

GIRI! GIRI! GIRI!

As for Zi-O, he was simply rolling over before standing tall. it was at the same time as Geiz that he used his Zikan Girade, unleashing a wave of pinkish energy from his blade that destroyed the other half of the horde, causing multiple explosions.

The Shark Bewitcher would suddenly jump high in high speed. Both Zi-O and Geiz were in hot pursuit. While Zi-O was showing his basic skills from jumping from location to location, showing that he had been doing this for a while now, Geiz was struggling a little, but he was capable of keeping up. And then, they would notice multiple versions of the same Shark Bewitcher standing on a nearby rooftop of a strange swirling shape building.

With their mouths, they opened fired bluish-looking projectiles that were being parried by both Zi-O and Geiz with their respective weapons, using them like slicing tools in the kitchen, from left to right in a burst of speed, walking on the nearby glass walls. They were also capable, or Zi-O at least was more noteworthy of such a feat as he motioned his body through the air with general reflexes that allowed the projectiles. And then, as he twisted and dodged three projectile strikes, he would unleash a wave of energy coming from his blade, first to use it to slice at least those who were nearby, evaporating into nothing, and then, stabbing it on the ground, causing a shockwave that would evaporate all of the enemies at once.

"Sugoi..."

Geiz was amazed at this. Afterwards, he jumped and landed toward Zi-O. And then, the both of them would sense something.

"RRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!"

They would turn around to find a giant-looking shark humanoid standing overhead of them. He raised his claws in order to swat them like a pair of flies. Instinctively, both Zi-O and Geiz were dodging. Zi-O, concentrating, would teleport from another wall. As for Geiz, he would, as he would instinctively try to dodge, was at the same time witnessing some kind of memory flash.

And it appears to relate to someone. He remembers being a young three-year-old boy again. There was an orange sunrise in the distance, meaning that he was outside his house again. He was somewhere in a park. There were a few people just walking nearby. There were two short silver poles from the left and from the right and brown wood attached to the ground. And...static seems to form in his mind, making him grimace a bit. A few moments later, the static would clear, revealing the existence of someone that he felt like he had met before.

A young fourteen-year-old woman, her face is very beautiful and mesmerizing, with long black hair accompanied by a red tie that acted like a headband tied to her left side, one that blows gently by the wind, crouching down alongside him. She had amethyst-looking eyes, ones that, when Geiz noticed and looked, felt like he was seeing someone much older than her physical appearance. She was wearing a light tan blouse with a red bow in the center of her collar shirt. A black plaid skirt and white thigh-high socks with a pair of brown shoes. Geiz recognized the uniform as belonging to Mitakihara Middle School. Her school bag was right beside her right side, putting it on the ground, which grabbed the attention of his younger three-year-old self.

Everything about this image felt mesmerizing and concerning. He was troubled because of the way she smiled at him, like this moment, this particular fraction of peace that one had not felt in a long time. But it came at a great profound cost.

Geiz saw through his younger eyes and felt his wildly innocent and pure emotions as he was at that time. The innocent three-year-old boy. But something was wrong. He sees himself kneeling down, using a branch stick to draw something on the ground, showing the image of a girl with a magical girl-looking dress. Even when it was not perfect and something that a child of three could definitely draw, there was no doubt in Geiz's mind that this was the same girl who had visited him in a brief vision and who had provided him earlier with the means to become a Kamen Rider.

"Madoka! Madoka!"

He heard his child self pointing out with an innocent tone. The young woman who was beside him smiled only sadly for a bit before looking at him with a simple smile that would make Geiz heart troubled, one full of worry.

"That's right. It looks just like her."

Then the last moment of this scene has her gently pat her head. And her face, while not appearing to be crying, was something that only Geiz can truly see. As if she was telling someone...

"("Someone...please...help me...")"

It was the look of someone who had lost someone she cared for. But no one was around to comfort her nor would anyone be able to understand her. Because no one remembered that person. Geiz, seeing his younger self, would notice the latter trying to reach the young woman's tie before suddenly getting picked up by his father, gently scolding him.

"No, Tatsuya, that's not nice. You shouldn't pull out a girl's hair, okay?" His father said, carrying him.

"Madoka! Madoka!" His younger self would say, raising his arms with clenched fists, sporting a cheerful looking smile.

"I'm sorry, are you alright?" His mother said to the young woman who was crouching.

"I'm fine," She replied with a reassuring tone as she stood up. Her voice, one that made Geiz stop his heart beat due to the mixture of tones that seem to indicate to him that something was wrong. That she was not really fine. And yet she still smiled like an angel. "Sorry for bothering you."

Then she slightly turned left, looking at Tatsuya with a smile. "Madoka...right?"

Geiz would see his younger self smile, nodding and answering with his cutesy three-year-old voice. "Yeah!"

And then, the memory vanished, and with it, bringing his danger sense back into full throttle. It instinctively made Geiz teleport to another location which was the rooftop of an apartment building that was over ten floors. He was in a crouching position, just reeling in from the memory flash that had just occurred.

What was that?

But Geiz knew somehow that this had happened to him. A very long time ago. He was looking at something from his past, a past that he had mostly forgotten. The young woman with black hair and sad amethyst eyes felt connected to that past. But how come he had forgotten this particular meeting? One can argue that he was only three years old when that happened, but Geiz felt that there was more to this than just simply that. It felt like...his entire universe was being rewritten, and even he was being slowly affected by it as the years go by.

"RRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!"

The Shark Bewitcher was currently being shot from several directions by Zi-O, using the gun mode of his Zikan Girade as he unleashes a burst of magenta-colored energy projectiles that would be aimed from all of the weak spots. He can see Zi-O teleporting from one location to another. He was quite fast. Geiz was heavily reminded of all of the fights from the manga/anime Dragon Ball. Movement techniques, from what he can recall. This fact surprised him. He did not recall a Kamen Rider being this fast. At least in their based form. Even things like him just flying randomly from building to building seem like out of this world, something that no television show could ever replicate. Well, perhaps it's because it was all down to things like special effects and practical effects being the factors. Humans as a species can only do so much and replicating the powers and abilities of the Kamen Riders that borderline on the fantastical in a live-action television may prove to be quite a challenge to even the experts of those who had been doing the longest, making Geiz better appreciate the hard work and effort that these people had done to bring these heroes to life.

What else was out to surprise him, he supposed?

And the question seemingly answered itself when a black and purple Ridewatch suddenly materializes from his right hand.

"...?"

Geiz was looking intently and examining the Ridewatch. There was the image of a young woman, the same one from his memory flash just recently. And there was the word "2011" on the lower heading. And then, a name would suddenly be formed as a thought within his mind. More of a thought, a name.

Homura Akemi.

"Akemi...Homura..."

Geiz muttered. The woman's name would suddenly be blurted out of his mouth.

And then, he would see another memory flash. This time in what appeared to be a landscape containing the ruins of various infrastructures. It felt like a grave battle had taken place here, a battle that would inevitably decide the fate of the world. No, not the world, something instinctively corrected, the entire universe. He would see at least three individuals that were there. One was the young woman from his dreams, the other was a young woman from his recent memory flash, and there was one particular creature that he would see that was not human.

Yes, not human was how you can describe this individual that was just as small as a cat and a rabbit, a crossbreed between them due to its white fur and four ears, two of those ears being attached to the other two ears, and two of those ears would resemble dove-like wings. He can see the golden rings around its long ears. resembling a pair of haloes. At the bottom of the ears, it appears that it is separated into three, along with a pink-white fade and three red ovals.

Something told him, do not trust him just by his word. But not because of any malevolent intent. Rather, it was something else. An emotionless void was what Geiz would feel when looking at this creature. This creature who does not have a concept of emotions. A being without emotion.

Kyubey.

"I..." The young woman of his dreams...no, Madoka Kaname, his onee-chan, would say with a firm resolve after all is said and done. Taking one heavy breath, she continued. "I want to erase all Witches before they are even born. I will erase every single Witch in every universe, past and future with my own hands."

That one wish was triggered that began it all. The wish that would remake the entire world, the entire universe. The records (universes) would completely expunge the virus (Witches) that had plagued this cosmology (multiverse) for so long. And now, they will all be wiped away, leaving nothing of their trace and no memory of their existence. A bright light would engulf around Madoka Kaname, and a seemingly concerned Kyubey would speak.

"If that wish...If that wish were to come true, it wouldn't just be on the scale of temporal manipulation. You'd be opposing karmic destiny—the very laws of causality themselves!" And then, Kyubey softly gasped as if realizing something. "Do you truly intend on becoming a god?"

But Madoka's response was. "I don't care if you would call it becoming a god. All those magical girls who held onto their hopes and fought against Witches. I don't want to see them cry. I want them to stay smiling until the end. If any rule or law stands in my way, I will destroy it. I will rewrite it. That is my prayer. That is my wish. Now grant it, Incubator!"

And the last moment of his memory flash has him see a bright pinkish light engulf everything around him. Then...

"...!"

Geiz was led back to the present day, in the present hour. His memory of his onee-chan...yes, he had an onee-chan before, but she made a decision that resulted in her being forgotten by everyone else, and inevitably becoming something else, something that existed on the higher plane of reality, as the embodiment of hope, the cosmic force that would ensure that there would never be any Witches ever again, in the past or in the future.

From underneath his helmet, Geiz would slowly cry. Tears would flow down from his face as the hand that was holding the Ridewatch was shaking.

Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

That was the one question that made him shake. He was crying as he stood. But as he cries, he can still hear the battle that was still happening from the distance. He can see Zi-O using the gun mode of his Zikan Girade to open a bombardment of energy attacks that would strike the Shark Bewitcher down. Zi-O in turn was dodging every single attack, twisting the motions of his body, making it rather fluid as his reflexes told him where and when to move, even hopping through random rubble from the skyscrapers and stepping on them one at a time before jumping to the walls of another skyscraper.

He was fast...and Geiz wanted to be like that too. He wanted to be like the Kamen Rider who would fight, who would have the strength to be the salvation of those who could not be saved. Yes, that is what he is and that is what he wanted to be. With some of the memory flashes now making him remember what he had lost, all of the happiness and the peaceful life that was his that only came to be only because his onee-chan had sacrificed her own existence.

He would begin to place the Ridewatch into his left hand and raise it up, twisting the dial and pressing a button, showing the hologram of the young woman's face.

HOMURA!

And then, he would set the Ridewatch to the left side of the slot and slam the crown button of his belt, tilting it slightly. He raised his left arm to the upper right downward direction before raising the other arm, swinging them and grabbing both ends of the driver, and then, he would spin it back into position.

ARMOR TIME! REVERSE THE TIME~! CHANGE THE FATE~! MY BEST GIRL~! HOMURA!

And then, the hiragana word flies out of his belt and a holographic wardrobe appears with the words 'Armor Time!' floating around it. The wardrobe looks like a purple Fabergé egg, a jeweled egg-like case once possessed by Russian royalty. The egg would flicker like a bright white light as it suddenly hatched open, revealing pieces of black and white armor which also is accompanied by two purple Fabergé eggs that are meant to be attached to the shoulder and two attachable shields that can switch between its default mode which is for defense and miniguns resembling the M134 Minigun which is for offense, all of which is meant to be attached to the arms. There is also a long purple cape that is meant to be attached to the back.

In the next second, the armor would scatter and float around before attaching to Geiz. Now he has black and white armor colors with a purple cape. He has two purple Fabergé eggs that are meant to be attached to the shoulder. And he has two attachable shields in his arms. And a hiragana would be attached to his visor that said "Homura".

He had now donned the armor that contained the powers and abilities of a Magical Girl—Homura Akemi. And from there, a flash of memories occurred and her words were heard from his heart. A wish, one that connects the pair of them through space and time, relating to his onee-chan.

He can hear Homura Akemi's voice from one of his memory flashes as she spoke her final words, preparing for battle.

"Though this world is filled with repeated sorrow, and hatred, and isn't worth saving, it's still a place that she wanted to protect. I remember it. I will never forget it. That is why I will continue to fight."

"...Even if..." Geiz muttered as he clenched his fists as the memory flashes were now no longer just the illusive dreams and seeming imaginings of a ten-year-old but of an actual world that had gone before. Even now, he was still crying as his voice turn to a steeled resolve. Now that he was a Kamen Rider, one that was given to him as an opportunity by none other than his beloved onee-chan, he will make do with it. His resolve almost seems to complement and contradict Homura's words. "...Even if this world is cursed with misfortune, even if...even if there is no way to redeem this world, that...that would not stop me from trying. ...I...I will be the hope of those who truly need it. Whether god or devil, I will stretch out my hand and save them all! This world that my onee-chan had built, despite the sufferings and the evils, are still more surely worth saving! My onee-chan proved that when she gave up everything she had! And I will not let her sacrifice be in vain! For I am...a Kamen Rider!"

As he declared his resolve, he would instantly notice the Minion Bewitchers suddenly materializing from all sides. His eyes narrowed as he raised his shield arms. One Minion Bewitcher tried to use its shuriken to get a strike from the right. But that failed because Geiz blocked the monster and sent it flying with his shield. Geiz ducked before performing an uppercut punch that would send another Minion Bewitcher flying. And then, he would use the shield arms to perform a twisting maneuver that slashed over ten Minion Monsters, destroying them with ease. A shuriken was thrown by a Minion Bewitcher to the southwest, only for Geiz to parry with his left shield arm before a circular purple energy ball would be formed in the right palm of his hand. He fired it toward the Minion Monster, instantly destroying it.

Two Minion Bewitchers would try to get the jump on him, but Geiz was quicker to dodge by lowering himself before slashing the two Minion Bewitchers to the sides of their waist, killing them instantly.

With all enemies cleared, Geiz would teleport himself from his current location and then was seen flying overhead. He switched his shields to the miniguns and opened fire, releasing strong vibrant yellow energy projectiles that would make the beast howl as it looks upwards.

Having noticed Geiz arriving earlier, Zi-O would take advantage of this slight distraction with his quick thinking. As he was standing on a slightly titled glass window from a skyscraper. He would take the OOO Ridewatch and raise it in a straightforward manner with his left hand. He twisted the dial, pressing the center button.

OOO!

He would put it on the left side of his slot and slants the belt a little, beginning on standby. He would backhand his driver with his left hand as it spins 340° counterclockwise until it went back to its original position.

ARMOR TIME! TAKA! TORA! BATA! OOO!

The mixture sound of a theme and drumbeats was heard to accompany the announcement. At that point, the katakana word flies out of his belt and three mechanical animals—Grasshopper, Tiger, and Hawk—would suddenly materialize from behind him and jump up behind him. And then, they all begin to form into the armor that has the words "Armor Time" seen hovering it before eventually disappearing as the armor attaches itself to Zi-O.

The green and silver legs of a grasshopper and the shoulder of a tiger with a triple-claw that are seen to be attached to his right hand along with a yellow bracer. The helmet looked like the face of a hawk that slotted itself from above. On his chest, a crest depicted the names of the animals used in the combination in the wording of katakana: 'Taka', 'Tora', 'Batta'. And finally, his visor would depict the katakana letting that spelled out 'OOO'.

At the same time that this happened, after firing over thousands of energy projectiles, Geiz would teleport himself to a rooftop building a few twenty meters away and would begin to press the button of the Homura Ridewatch and the button on the center of the Ziku-Driver, tilting it. He would once again spin it back into position while doing so.

FINISH TIME! HOMURA!

He would summon two IMI Desert Eagles with both of his hands. From its tip, it was now spawning dark purple energy. But that wasn't just all. From all four directions, there was a Kamen Rider Geiz standing on a rooftop, initiating their own finishers. Geiz had accessed the ability to summon temporary timeline remnants of himself.

Then, Zi-O would make his move as he moves with a hyper-dashing speed, using his claws to create slash attacks that prove fatal to the Shark Bewitcher as it screamed in agony, with multiple accumulated electrical sparks flying, with the final strike being somewhere directly in the face, scratching it before making a twisting maneuver and landed on a rooftop nearby.

Then, Geiz made his move as he, from all directions, fired purple projectile bullets that would be aimed in the four directions. The bullets flew with supersonic speed as it hits each other, forming a type of purple mystical barrier that would eventually encase the monster, making it freeze as if time would not let it to move. And then, the four Geizs from the rooftops would disappear and out came another Geiz that would perform a Rider Kick maneuver from the front.

MAGI! TIME BURST!

"FOR YOU, ONEE-CHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!"

Geiz screamed with a driving raging fire in his heart, still with saddened tears in his eyes that made him still see brief memory flashes that connect between himself, Homura, and his onee-chan, as he, with multiple hiragana letters in a straightforward pattern, as he uses his right foot to initiate a Rider Kick attack. Then he falls forward and reaches for a few meters at full speed, kicking the monster straight in the chest and continually penetrating it until it reaches the back. Then, he would land towards an abandoned alleyway nearby, one that was full of the rubbles of various buildings. Geiz would make a rolling position upon landing before steadying in a crouch position with his right hand raised a bit and his left hand raised near the left side of his waist.

Behind him, the monster would be destroyed as a giant orange explosion engulf it, leaving it to turn into mere dust and ashes.

And then, the surroundings seem to return to normal as it changed back into nothing except...rain. It was raining. And it was sometime during the night. And then...

"...Kggh."

Geiz would automatically fall down to his knees as he detransforms back into his civilian form. And he puts his hands on the cold floor as tears would still continue to stream down his face. The battle was over. And now, he was more than free to release his pent-up emotions as he cried with all of his heart.

"...Aaagh...Aagh...Aagh...Why...Why onee-chan...? Why...Why did you have to sacrifice yourself just for everyone's sake, for my sake?! ...Why?!"

He already knew the answer based on the memory flashes that he had now been receiving. It had to be done in order for the cycle of despair to finally end. It would give hope to any magical girl that would never have to undergo the transformation as the now-annulled Witches. There would never be Witches ever again. But the price, Tatsuya felt to himself, was just too costly.

Thanks to that wish, his onee-chan would no longer be remembered by anyone, or maybe even him if it were not for the dreams that he continued to have. He cried. He cried. He cried. He cried because he felt the unfairness of the situation, and the weight of the sacrifice all for the sake of giving him and their family a more peaceful life, for the sake of everyone else, Madoka Kaname had to undergo the transformation as the Law of Cycles.

He knew, but he still felt a deep-cut sorrow due to the memory flashes that were now giving him the context that he needed.

And just from afar, Zi-O, having detransformed into George Kurai, was now walking silently for a few meters, stopping just five meters away, not daring to come near and only looking at him with empathetic eyes. And, as if taken by surprise due to the fact that he senses someone touching his shoulder, turns around to find a familiar old man with grandfatherly features, showing black hair with grey sides and wrinkles, wearing a white lab coat that has brown and black pouches, and gold trim, and underneath, he wears a black turtleneck with a white scarf, and his brown vest has gold buttons and pouches. He wears a pair of goggles with green lenses around his neck. There was a significant metal gauntlet that now forms his right hand which is an extremely powerful technology that allows its user to travel through space and time throughout the Multiverse. There was a fingerless glove on his left hand. He wears black pants with brown kneepads. He wears a pair of brown boots with gold straps. He has a staff that he holds with his left hand which is designed for a variety of purposes.

He was Professor Paradox—The Time Walker. The man who sent George ahead to intercept and save Tatsuya and his family in the first place in light of his well-refined aging foresight throughout the timelines that once were, has been, or ever could have been.

Right now, Paradox was silently saying via a look and a tilt in the head that George should go to comfort the young man, and offer him a shoulder just like Paradox would do for him. Naturally, George nodded as he of all people can understand what it was like to lose a love one, or two for that matter. George would walk towards Tatsuya slowly in order to not disturb his cries and simply offered a hand to the right shoulder, making Tatsuya notice as he slightly turned around, seeing George and an unfamiliar old man who was watching him with empathetic expressions.

There was no reason to say anything at the moment. Only actions spoke louder. Only tears remained on this very night that was accompanied the rain. The rain would wash upon Tatsuya Kaname as if they were symbolizing the tears of a Goddess from afar who would cry too upon seeing her brother like this.

---

PART 3

Years later...or years back...whichever way you look at it from the perspective of a time traveller...

It was the year 2011.

It was raining throughout Mitakihara City sometime during the late evening hours of the night. The wind was seemingly strong at this time. The general population at this time are either somewhere indoors or they are using their umbrellas to cover themselves from the rain. Somewhere in the park, there was the fourteen-year-old Honoka Akemi who was currently surrounded by monsters that she did not even recognize, in any timeline that she would care about or would like to remember.

From all around her, there appeared to be dark blue humanoid creatures with black and silver attached body part designs lining from their claws to their feet, and with a black orb on their chest. There were giant-looking shurikens mounted on their backs that could be detached and used against her, as she had already noticed by now. There doesn't seem to be an end to their immeasurable numbers. She could count at least a hundred for a minimum approximation.

How did she get into this mess?

She had just been scouting up ahead for any sign of any Wraith when she sense something odd brewing somewhere in the park. She thought to check it out and it turned out to be some kind of elaborate trap dedicated simply for her as far as she could analyze her current situation. She can already tell that these creatures were neither the very familiar Witches that she had fought in the previous world nor were they the newly acquainted enemy of the new world called the Wraiths. She felt that they were something else, something completely...alien, ones that should not be allowed to even exist here.

Right now, she would use her bow to aim from the skies and fire purple energy projectiles with a graceful yet somber tone. The arrows would all fly upward before dispersing to the ground, taking out several of the monsters that were on the ground. But she noticed something from the skies. There were entire flying humanoid monsters of the same type, with four hovering wings moving fast.

All of a sudden...

Multiple explosions would occur which would decimate the entire flying horde that was trying to get too close, surprising Homura for a bit. Then she instantly noticed something grabbed her right hand, surprising her even more as not just anyone can suddenly sneak up on her so easily. She made absolutely sure to always keep aware of her general surroundings as one could never be too careful. She had to learn that the hard way throughout the years. She turned around to find...someone that she was not expecting at all.

It was a young twelve-year-old boy with a handsome but serious and concerned-looking face, with short brown hair being wet by the rain, wearing a green jacket with white linings seen on the shoulders, black pants, and red sports shoes. His brown hair was looking straight into her amethyst eyes. From one eye to another, there was that sense of familiarity. It was like they had met somewhere before. But not only that, but there was also a sense of age, one that seemingly experience similar circumstances, perhaps such as voyages through the unknowing passage of time.

She can hear the river nearby make a haunting sound as the little prickling waves would collide with each other, as if making the spectators be aware of whatever seems to be happening throughout this night.

"Madoka..."

"...!"

Homura became shocked when she heard that name from the young man. But before she could react, the young man continued with a firm tone that made her stop for a moment.

"I know! I know that you're the only one who remembers her! Because..." The young man made a saddened smile, with his face precipitated from the rain. "...Because I do too. I remember too...Do you remember that time in the park? You were there along with Madoka's brother. You saw him draw a picture of Madoka and showed it to you, saying Madoka, Madoka, and you said...That's right. It looks just like her."

"That's right. It looks just like her," Homura would say at the exact same time as the young man did with a tone of shock. "...But...But how...how could you know something like that...?"

"Grrrrrrrrr."

Both the young man and Homura would notice the incoming interlopers that were materializing from a few meters away, with shurikens on the ready. But, much to Homura's surprise, someone wearing what appeared to be an individual wearing a jet-black suit and pink highlights would suddenly intervene and struck down the interlopers with what appeared to be a sword, a type she had no familiarity over. From the aesthetics of the suit, it looks more like it was based on a watch or a clock. Was it a Magical Girl? But it was none that she had ever seen before, in any timeline whatsoever, so it could be or it could not be. Things have not really been the same since being in a new world.

In the meantime, Homura would notice the young man smiling at her and was gently touching the latter's red tied ribbon on the left that held her headband together, a memento of Madoka Kaname before passing on to a higher plane. Normally she would swat anyone trying to do something like that, but something was telling her that she shouldn't, especially when she saw that look on his face that almost appears like he was about to cry but was trying to hold it all in with a smile. That smile...That smile was something that twitched Homura because of the eerily similar smile from a certain someone that is no longer here.

Then she noticed his gentle hand would touch her cheek, making Homura a little flushed and yet...did not feel like swatting the hand away.

"Because I was that little boy from long ago..." the young man smiled cheerfully and sadly at her, winking at her with his right eye. "Hello again, Honoka-chan, my name is Kaname Tatsuya..."

"...!" Honoka was shocked and troubled at the mere mention of the familiar name. Tatsuya Kaname?! Madoka's little brother?! But...that was not possible though...that is, if she was taking the present-day context into account. But wait a moment, she thought, that could only mean that he was from the future. Even with all of her time travelling experiences, she never really experienced someone who had come from the future so this was completely new to her. Even more so, no normal human could simply just travel through time. One would need to be a Magical Girl for that to even happen. And that's another problem. This person who revealed himself was a boy, not a girl, so Homura could potentially rule out that kind of possibility.

"But I am also..." Tatsuya Kaname's voice suddenly cut short as the next step for his introduction was more through actions instead of words. He would walk a few meters to the left while Homura watches.

And then, she would notice Tatsuya taking what appeared to be a watch from his right pocket and raising it, twisting the dial and pressing the button, revealing the holographic face of an unfamiliar armored figure.

GEIZ! ZIKU-DRIVER!

Then there was what appeared to be an advanced white-colored belt that would suddenly attach itself from his waist. He placed the watch to the right slot of the belt and presses the top of the belt by slamming it with his left fist, making it tilt counterclockwise a little. Appearing behind him, much to Homura's surprise, was a futuristic holographic digital clock with gears surrounding it spinning counterclockwise. Then he puts both of his arms before him, swings his arm, and grabs both ends of the driver.

"Henshin!"

He said, exclaiming with a determined expression, one full of resolve. He spins his driver back into position as the holographic digital clock spins back into place.

BEEP! BEEP!

RIDER TIME! KAMEN RIDER GEIZ!

Tatsuya backhanded the belt as it spins 340° counterclockwise until it went back to its original position. There were yellow hiragana words for 'Rider' formed on the clock just as he was surrounded by red and black wristbands. The hiragana pulsed and flew out during his transformation. He transformed when the three holographic wristbands that were now forming his armor would dissipate and the hiragana slam into his visor completing his transformation. His armor had finally formed.

It was red armor with black details and a bit of yellow, and two black armbands that hold four watches. The Ziku-Driver around his waist was with the Geiz Ridewatch on the right slot and the screen was saying "2068" in yellow. It has red triangle shoulder armor with grey and yellow details along a round chest plate, black gloves with yellow fingers, black knees, grey anklets, and a black digital watch design from the head to below the waist and onto the back. His helmet was black with a white face, his sharp-edge ribbon visor was yellow that spells 'Rider' in hiragana, and on the forehead has a digital clock symbol and a katakana symbol for 'Kamen' between them.

"Ma...Masaka..."

Homura couldn't help but mutter in shock, especially if what she had just heard now was true.

A Kamen Rider? But that's not possible, Kamen Rider is a fictional character, and even if that were the case, she was not very familiar with this Kamen Rider. And actually, now that she thought about it, she did see the number "2018" present on the watch that Tatsuya had inserted into his belt earlier in order to transform. For the sake of humoring the hypothetical, that would only mean that this Kamen Rider was not the type she was familiar with if only because this Rider hasn't even existed yet in the public eye, that this Rider had only to be known in the years to come, in the year 2018.

She would see the newly transformed Tatsuya Kaname—Kamen Rider Geiz grabbing another Ridewatch with his left hand that was somewhere on the right arm watch holder, one with the colors of black and purple. He would twist the dial and press a button.

HOMURA!

"Eh?!" Homura became surprised due to the fact that the watch just mentioned her name.

She would see Geiz place the watch to the left side of the slot and once again slam the crown button of his belt, tilting it slightly. He raised his left arm to the upper right downward direction before raising the other arm, swinging them and grabbing both ends of the driver, and then, he would spin it back into position.

ARMOR TIME! REVERSE THE TIME~! CHANGE THE FATE~! MY BEST GIRL~! HOMURA!

And then, the hiragana word flies out of his belt and a holographic wardrobe appears with the words 'Armor Time!' floating around it. The wardrobe looks like a purple Fabergé egg, a jeweled egg-like case once possessed by Russian royalty. The egg would flicker like a bright white light as it suddenly hatched open, revealing pieces of black and white armor which also is accompanied by two purple Fabergé eggs that are meant to be attached to the shoulder and two attachable shields that can switch between its default mode which is for defense and miniguns resembling the M134 Minigun which is for offense, all of which is meant to be attached to the arms. There is also a long purple cape that is meant to be attached to the back.

In the next second, the armor would scatter and float around before attaching to Geiz. Now he has black and white armor colors with a purple cape. He has two purple Fabergé eggs that are meant to be attached to the shoulder. And he has two attachable shields in his arms. And a hiragana would be attached to his visor that said "Homura".

"...!"

Now, Homura was quite understandably flustered if only because of the way the announcer of the belt had said something about her being "Best Girl?!", bewildered and troubled if only because she can feel a very similar if not the exact same power as herself from the armor.

And then, she would notice Geiz summoning a bow - her bow?! - as he opened fire a couple of energy projectiles that manage to decimate many of the charging dark blue m monsters that were heading towards them. Geiz would dematerialize the bow and his shield arms would change into miniguns that were fired at point blank, killing the rest that was nearby.

She senses immediate danger as she would see at least more of the monsters that were coming from behind her. Shots were suddenly fired as the five dark blue monsters would fall down to the ground before exploding into nothing. She looks and sees a monster appearing behind Geiz, only for the latter to do a back elbow punch that hit its face and sent it away and tumbling upon the rest of its comrades like bowling pins.

BLADE!

She looks to her right and sees the unknown Kamen Rider (Zi-O) using what appeared to be another one of those watches, only this one felt different. He would put it on the left side of the slot, press the button on the center, and tilt the belt before using his left hand to eventually return it to the proper position.

ARMOR TIME! TURN UP! BLADE!

Electronic music mixed with an opening theme song was heard along with the announcement. The katakana letters would suddenly burst out from the belt along with the body parts that would form the armor, with the nearby monsters getting caught in the crossfire. Then all of the pieces would begin to attach themselves to Zi-O. His armor was mainly light and dark grey with dark blue. His feet were light grey armor with dark grey heels, his shins were light grey armor, pale blue kneecap guards, dark blue and light grey thigh-guards, black waist armor, pale blue-grey armor, and grey sectioned armor on his torso, his arms were covered in grey almost block-like armor, his shoulders had red-backed cards displayed in a fan and held by a silver and blue clasp. His helmet was large and silver-pointed. The pink katakana lettering in his visor spelled out 'Blade'.

"("Kamen Rider...Blade...?!")"

Now this was a Kamen Rider that she was quite familiar with if only because if had been a few years ago. Kamen Rider Blade, airing from January 25, 2004 to January 23, 2005, was about a massive battle royal that happened more than ten thousand years ago and which was fought by fifty-two demons known as the Undead, each representing a species fighting for dominance over all others. The ultimate winner was the Human Undead, known as Category Two of Hearts, giving dominion of the Earth to humanity. In the present day, archaeologists discover the sealed Undead, and accidentally set them free. Thus, a new Battle Fight begins. Having developed something called the Rider System based on an Undead's ability to copy sealed Undead, the organization BOARD (Board Of Archaeological Research Department) equips two young men, who become Kamen Riders: Kazuma Kenzaki and Sakuya Tachibana to fight together as Kamen Rider Blade and Kamen Rider Garren in order to protect humans from Undead and seal them. Also fighting the Undead is the mysterious Chalice, a Kamen Rider whose purpose is unknown. In addition to them would be a young man who struggles to free himself from the control of the sealed Undead powering his own Undead-made Rider System, fighting as Kamen Rider Leangle.

Kamen Rider was just fiction. They couldn't possibly be real. The rational thought in her head tried to say. But the evidence seems to speak for itself as she would see this unknown Kamen Rider and Kamen Rider Geiz battling against these strange creatures that she had not witnessed before. If it were any other day, she thought she may have been hallucinating.

Nevertheless, she needed to focus on the main problem right now...which would have to be the older Tatsuya Kaname, her precious friend's younger brother. How did he end up here in the past? What was he even doing here? And what were these creatures that he was fighting? Does he know anything about them? And who was that other Kamen Rider who can don the powers of another Kamen Rider that reminded her a bit of another passing through Kamen Rider?

So many questions while she was focused on keeping herself in check. For now, she would aid these Kamen Riders in fighting these strange creatures and find out answers later. And with that, she would aim her bow up in the air and fire more energy projectiles that would hit more of the monsters.

---

The Bewitchers.

These were the sinister creatures that had once endangered Tatsuya Kaname's parents and who were now the ones responsible for trapping and trying to take Homura Akemi out of the picture. Who exactly are they? Their origin is a complete mystery to many who would encounter them. What is known is that these creatures are that they are a subtle and yet dreaded force of chaos that had come from a universe that is so utterly inimical to any kind of life or light. They embody the purity of the concept of darkness and they feed on the hearts of living beings. Attracted by the temporal paradoxes that surrounded Tatsuya Kaname's universe, they have come for one thing.

To feast upon it. They will feast upon hearts, upon death, and upon temporal paradoxes in the timeline. And this universe acts like an attractive meal for them. But of course, in this case, these creatures are but the animals. And thus, they are attracted to whatever is causing the meal to come. There would have to be a chef or so responsible for such things after all.

---

Insert Song: End

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ED Song:

Kamen Rider 4 [Time - Mitsuru Matsuoka]

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12 Core Members:

Professor Paradox - A: David McCallum

New Characters:

Kyubey - VA: Emiri Katou