STALAGTICA REGION, HALF AN HOUR LATER
Our heroes continued to venture through the red desert, piles of sand shifting between their sore feet as their travels began to wear on them. Haruto had been silent the entire time. Ever since he drew fresh air, he had been speechless with only the sounds of boots shuffling through heaps of cold wind. Neither Rinko nor Shunpei dared to open their mouths. They didn't have the time for banter. There was no time left to sit back and chat, not anymore. The fate of Celestice rested on their shoulders, as did the sacrifices of those who still dwelled far beneath the surface. Haruto's eyes were drought of rest, but burning to the brim through a great flame that aided each step.
He had a promise to uphold. Haruto Soma was going to put an end to this conquest and bring back the morning light to this island, even if it meant he was playing as a puppet with strings to divine intervention he couldn't understand. Even if it meant this tale was nothing more than another fictitious fable to justify the misuse of magic. Even if it meant that he died tonight, Haruto Soma was going to restore hope to Celestice – even if they didn't deserve it.
"Hold it." Haruto said, and their party stopped. He set Koyomi on the ground and knelt down next to her. Enough time has passed.
"Are you sure?" Rinko asked, leaning over his shoulder. "You haven't recovered all the way."
"I can't let this go on any longer." Haruto muttered, shaking his head. "She's already been out for a few hours now. It's worth the magic." Her eyes were shut, and her skin was beginning to go cold. Koyomi had no more time. This had to be done right here right now, otherwise it might be too late.
CONNECT, PLEASE!
Her hand connected to his driver. "Come on…" Haruto muttered wearily, breaking between the seams. "Koyomi, please…" A stream of gold light emanated from his hips, swimming towards her fingers and throughout the rest of her body. Pure, unfiltered magic driving helplessly in waves through the woman's veins, desperation singing between the bridges of life and death, clinging onto that hope. She hadn't been out this long before, and if he couldn't bring her back… He wouldn't know what to do.
It was taking longer than usual. Why was it taking longer than usual?!
This wasn't going to be her final resting place. There was more to do, and far more to see. He wouldn't allow it to be the end! "Come on, come on…!" He kept muttering underneath his breath. With every waking moment he felt his heart sinking deeper into his stomach, and finding it harder to stay awake as more magic was being sucked from his soul. The golden glare bounced around their ankles and swirled in circular motions around Koyomi's body, making slow laps, seeping in and out of her skin. It was like a field of daisies were rising around her limbs and ready to bloom, but the sun denied its reach.
Haruto gave her all he had and collapsed next to Koyomi. He was without magic. It was every last bit he could conjure up at the moment and more. Our hero was breathing, but sluggish in each movement. If this didn't work, then he was out of options, and he wasn't going to bank on miracles.
"Haruto?" A voice called out, but it wasn't Rinko or Shunpei. No, it was light and soft, like a wool blanket soothing over his shoulders. Gentle hands wrapping around his hips to collect all of his pieces back into one pile, shaping a hill into a great mountain where the clouds could kiss his cheeks as they rolled by his sharp ends, smoothening the edges from hunks of rock into a piece of art that they believed each other to be on equal planes. Haruto joined Koyomi in a hug, as though he finally understood what it meant. "Are you OK?"
All that, and her first concern was his safety. She stared into the flooding abyss of his eyes which had regained their seas following what felt like a decade long drought. Before he could respond, Rinko and Shunpei gathered themselves around the two of them and cried at her return. It had only been a few hours, but it was as though years passed by.
"I was so worried, oh if you were hurt…" Shunpei shouted, digging his head into Koyomi's shoulder.
"You didn't seem to mind hurting me!" Rinko replied, holding up her arm which had visible sinkings of his nails as he had stood by and watched nervously while Haruto had performed her resurrection.
"I'm…" Koyomi started, trying to break free from everyone's grasp. It was quite difficult to breathe, but being smothered with such love had her on cloud nine! "I'm… grateful!" She said, finally managing to break through. The four of them toppled over, laughing at each other. "Where are we?"
"We broke out of that prison." Haruto said.
"Are we the only ones?" She asked, glancing around. Only the four of them being among those who had reached the surface sent a chill down her spine.
"For now." He answered, not sure if he was trying to convince Koyomi or himself. "It's thanks to the General that we escaped, but our work isn't over yet." He got to his feet, staring beyond his reach and into the sky. Cestalia was still quite a ways away. There was a lot of distance to cover still. "Genichiro," he curled his fist. "It's time to put this show to an end."
Eventually, after another hour, our heroes managed to make it halfway through the region, but at this rate, it would take forever without a balloon. "How… how did they even get us here in the first place?" Haruto said, wiping sweat from his brow.
"We were transported through magic." Rinko said. For a sundress, this wasn't what she had in mind. "No balloons, no vehicles. They didn't want anyone using it to escape."
"They're counting on us to tire out…" He nodded, getting the picture.
DRIVER ON.
"Again?" Rinko widened her eyes. "What if you lose contr–"
"I won't." Haruto said, this time with greater conviction. "Stand close."
LAND, PLEASE! DODODO DODODON, DON DODODON!
KAMEN RIDER WIZARD: LAND FORM!
Erupting from the ground, the roots of their salvation arose. A giant slab of rectangular rock, fit enough for the four of them now lay before the party. "Hop on." Haruto ushered, smiling beneath his mask. "Don't worry, we're going to get out of here. I promise." Koyomi was the first one to step on. She did it without hesitation, and raised her head while she waited for the others to hop on. The night sky was a pool of darkness with fading glimmers of hope, and yet as a star would eventually deplete, it didn't matter. Her eyes moved to the next. As long as there was one, Koyomi wasn't in the dark. That, she recognized now more than ever.
How sentimental could she be? It had only been a few hours, and her eyes were much needed lakes to this land over nothing more than a pile of shimmering lights. And yet, this hollow sea was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
"Is this really safe?!" Rinko shrieked, tripping over herself and nearly toppling off the platform.
"Strap in!"
CONNECT, PLEASE!
Without further ado, the Wizard warped his arms through the air and their slab started to move! Pushed by the sands beneath them, they traveled throughout the region at a breakneck pace. Holding each other tightly, Shunpei and Rinko squealed in terror, but it didn't take long for their fear to be overtaken by pure joy! "Uh-oh," Wizard muttered. Before them a huge, crimson escarpment stood in the way. No other option here. "Sharp turn ahead!"
So much for an ample heads up. "Haruto, Haruto!" Shunpei cried, clinging with one hand on the edge of their platform. His fingers were quivering, finding it difficult to keep the ends etched into uneven ridges found in the corners of this rock. His voice was a trailing fragment of faint vibrations, as the magician could not hear him over the wails of the wind.
"H-help, I can't…" He continued to scream. Quickly, Koyomi took hold of the Wizard and tapped his backside.
"Huh, what's wr-" Haruto turned back, and almost lost control of their ride completely! A sound ride requires a sound mind, and that was the last thing he had! It swerved irresponsibly, matching the jumbled mess of his head as he raced to Shunpei's aid, leaving their safety on trust in the world alone. More or less, autopilot, and he had never been on a plane before.
SCULPT, PLEASE!
Breaking off from the inner region of the rectangular rock, a platform was formed beneath Shunpei's feet so he had room to stand; the bridge in question being borrowed from other portions. "Aah.. Thank you!"
"You should have said something." Wizard chuckled.
"But I…" Shunpei started, and decided it wasn't worth it. Probably because there was more trouble right ahead in the form of a pitfall! "I think you should look ahead!"
SCULPT, PLEASE!
Beneath them, the ground took the shape of a ramp that launched them just in time over the gaping hole! Well, it wasn't the deepest hole they would've fallen into lately, but if he could go on without climbing out of another, then he would take it in stride! They held on tightly to each other, one wrapped around the other in a strange coiling mesh that could only be described as a mosh of bodies who would take solace in crashing as one.
Fortunately, a crash did not occur. Instead, they landed smoothly and continued sailing… smoothly!
"That was too close." Rinko said, quivering in her boots. Criminals, phantoms – both in some cases, the special type of immortal fire-breathing monsters, all of that scared her far less than the thought of plummeting into a pothole. Then again, smearing the skin off of her butt as she rolled around without a lick of control wasn't exactly something to take lightly either, so call that fear justified. "We should keep our eyes on the road…"
"We're almost there. Hang on until then, OK?" Haruto replied, sounding a bit exasperated in his tone of voice. Whether it was shock or exhaustion was left up to interpretation, but the latter was finding itself more prominent in the eyes of his friends.
CESTALIA, NEIGHBOURHOOD DISTRICT
Soon afterwards our heroes left the region of their entrapment and ended up back in town. It was dead silent. Not even a mouse dared to move out here. What was once a lively city was now nothing more than a ghost town. All that remained were the remnants of a civilization that were forced back into the confines of what once gave them comfort: their homes. That was if they were lucky. Travelling on foot was shaping up to be more dangerous than their previous means. Haruto couldn't bear to expend any more magic at the moment. In spite of his stubbornness against his own health, he eventually caved and moved to regain his reserves of magic through slow movement.
It was probably for the better that none of them were flying around, anyways. He didn't have the means to carry them, and something like that would certainly make a whole lot of noise.
"The Emperor said the museum is where we need to go." Rinko whispered, sneaking through an alleyway. It was musty, and blooming moss was between every other step. "It's our best bet at gearing up."
"You sound excited." Koyomi whispered.
"We can't afford to reach the palace empty handed." Haruto interjected.
"How are you feeling?" Koyomi asked, shuffling through the tight space. This neighborhood was packed with closely knit buildings that were clumped in a labyrinthian mess. Though there was certain beauty to it under the sun, now was not the time for sightseeing. They were out of prison, but she felt no less trapped. "Last time it didn't end well."
"Last time I underestimated him." Haruto sighed. Saying that left a daunting hole in his stomach that kept churning around to eat itself. He was partially to blame for letting this spiral out of control. Truth be told, ever since he first drew a fresh breath upon their escape, Haruto hadn't been able to control a lingering sensation of doubt in the back of his mind. "This time, it'll be different." He said with great uncertainty present in his voice.
Was there no other way around this? Was Haruto going to have to take a life? Phantoms were nothing more than echoes of someone who once was, but he had never taken the life of another man before. If he couldn't take him down, would he resort to having to bury him? It was not the thought that he couldn't, but that he could – and more so that he would. "You're scared, aren't you?" A hand wrapped around his. It was Koyomi's.
"Just hoping to live up to expectations." He lied, trying to play it cool. "A buildup as big as this can't have a dull finale."
"You don't have to shoulder that responsibility alone." She said with great conviction. "We won't let you." They exchanged smiles. Her words softened him, if only for the moment. Often, Koyomi looked towards him with relief that he was always there when he needed her, but the truth was she was by his side just as often. Always have been, and… always will be. At least, he'd like that. Would that be OK?
This whole mess shouldn't be carried by him in the first place. This was supposed to be their vacation, but more than that it was Haruto's first and foremost. That is what the three of them decided. Time off for the first time, yet here he was again trying to carry the weight of someone's world. This time, however, none of them were going to allow him to do it alone. Not a chance.
"H-hold on!" Rinko said, stopping them in their tracks. She ordered them to be quiet. Footsteps were approaching, dozens of them. She leaned back against the wall and peered out past the opening, praying that the darkness would be enough to keep them hidden past the army. Just as she suspected, tons of soldiers were making their way across the street. The same type that they had encountered previously beneath the surface. Walking with them were other people. Or, were they? No, those weren't people – those were statues!
No, wait. Statues of people! All being transported between the groups. "They're turning them into stone…" Shunpei said in a soft voice. The thought of his feet being turned to stone made him nervously tap them on the ground. Rinko forced him to stop. Once the last bit had turned the corner, our heroes emerged and watched their travels.
"They must be heading for the colosseum." Rinko said. The place was lit up as though the festival had never been interrupted. Perhaps it wasn't their festival, however.
"Could they be an audience?" Koyomi asked. "Haruto, is there anything you can do?"
"No." He shook his head. "None of my rings can fix that."
"We'll have to worry about it later." He continued. "For now, we need to keep moving." Sneaking around wasn't easy, but no trouble came their way aside from a few close shaves here and there. The whole time, his mind kept wandering; breaking away and strolling up the steps of the palace. Every time he pictured placing his foot at the bottom of those ruby coloured marble steps, Haruto's soul sank deeper into the pits of his stomach,, soon to be swallowed by the sea of sickly acid that held no mercy for sensations other than excitement and satisfaction. He had to push those feelings aside and keep moving forward, not for the sake of this island, but for the rest of them.
For Shunpei, for Rinko, and for Koyomi. A hero was worth nothing if he did not have the courage to raise his blade and fight for what's right. Too many people were depending on him, and sure - he wasn't shouldering it alone, but in spite of Koyomi's kind words, he couldn't help to feel as though he was sliding in between the four of them and taking the brunt of the work, so no one else had to live underneath the immense pressure Haruto knew quite well. Every day was a stage for a brand new show, and Haruto had been confident that he was used to all of it by now. The song and dance had become as routine as brushing his teeth, but tonight has shown that his head was far beyond his heart, trapped in a land that he held no tether to. It was like running barefoot across clouds.
"Um, Haruto…" Shunpei spoke up, standing alone in the middle of the once lively marketplace. "After we've saved the island, what comes next?"
"We go home." Haruto stated. To put it bluntly, he didn't want to stay here any longer than was needed. He made a promise to this island, and he was going to fulfill it.
"After all that, we just leave?" He continued, crossing his brows with a pursed lip as his gaze met the ground. "Is that really the right thing to do?"
"I'm with Shunpei on this one." Rinko said, moving over to his side. "We said we would give back their freedom, but a lot of people were hurt because of a lot of lies." She sighed, pressing a hand against her forehead. Bundles of hair strung between the fingers of her tired hands. "Shouldn't we have more authority over this?" The words were becoming increasingly difficult to get out, but they were the right words. They had to be, at least she presumed so. "Back then, they said it was for the safety of this island, because they cared about Celestice." She shook her head, stomping her foot on the ground with a voice raised far past a cautious level. "But I don't believe that!" Rinko shouted. "They were afraid, and the people suffered for it."
"What's going to happen next if we leave?" Shunpei asked. "Haruto, if something like this happens again, and we're not here for it, then this whole island could fall into despair."
"It's not right." The detective chimed in. "If the Emperor comes back into power, then we're letting him escape accountability! We have to bring justice, it's our duty!" Her words carried great power, nearly sweeping Haruto off of his feet and back into doubt, but he remained firm in his standing.
"We don't fight for justice." Haruto replied, staring at his flame ring. "Kamen Riders fight for freedom, so that no one else has to suffer."
"I just…" Rinko started, gripping her fists. "I… I want to do something more. These people deserve more. Haruto, I'm not magical like you. I can't stop phantoms, or save people from evil magic, but even so… I have to do something. We can't let this place return to what it once was after we're finished here. If the Emperor seizes power again, then how did we ever fight for freedom?!"
"Is that how you truly feel?" Haruto asked, placing his hands on his hips. It became apparent that he hadn't been listening to her, not since they stepped on that boat, and even before that. Ignoring a friend in her own sorrow caused by wanting greater use in a world that up until recently she didn't know existed. How heartless could he have been?
"Yes." Rinko said.
He smiled. "Then it's settled." Haruto pocketed his hands, walking circling around and trying not to meet their eyes. "Once this is over, we're ensuring that we're not leaving this place in shambles."
"How are we going to achieve that?" Koyomi asked.
"I'm not too sure." He shrugged. "Right now, we still have to restore hope to this place. Whatever comes after… We can't tell until we get there."
CELESTICE MUSEUM
After an interminable, cautious trek through Celestice, our heroes had finally come across the museum. Their legs were tired, and there was still so much more to do, but they continued on!
"It's locked." Koyomi sighed, searching for a way in. The doors were chained shut. Was it the work of the new Emperor's army, or just a matter of routine for any building? "Perhaps there's a back entrance."
"No need." Haruto said.
CONNECT, PLEASE!
A sigil appeared before him, and he reached into an empty space, retrieving his swordgun in the process. He aimed for the lock, ready to fire. However, just as he was about to pull that trigger, Koyomi jumped in front of the barrel. "Hold on!" She said, holding her arms out. "What if there's an alarm?"
"We wouldn't want to alert the island with nothing in our hands." Rinko nodded. "It's possible there's a power system around the perimeter. If we could disable that…"
"I've got an idea." Haruto knelt down by the door, inspecting it carefully. Then, he took a look at the windows.
"Transform!"
WATER, PLEASE! SUI-SUI, SUI-SUI!
Kamen Rider Wizard, at your service. He took a bow, running along with the ecstatic claps from Shunpei before turning back to the door. He reached for his driver once more.
LIQUID, PLEASE!
Transforming into a loose puddle of water, Haruto slipped underneath the small airways beneath the doors and effortlessly slipped into the museum, reappearing into a solid form not a moment later. He wandered off into the dark, leaving the rest of his crew behind.
"He'll be back soon, won't he?" Shunpei peered through the windows, unable to find him.
"I hope so." Rinko said, glancing over her shoulder. A chill ran down her spine. "Standing out here gives me the creeps. It's like someone's watching me."
"If someone was going to, now would be the time to strike." Koyomi muttered. "We're left defenseless."
"Oh, but Rinko-chan can protect us!"
"I can?!" The Rinko in question said.
"You can put someone in an armlock and make them beg for mercy!" He excitedly, and ignorantly proclaimed. There was nothing to fear in his mind.
"I only have two arms!" She said, putting him in an armlock. As he predicted a moment ago, Shunpei begged for mercy within a minute, tapping out multiple times until she let him go.
"There's no one around." Koyomi checked the perimeter. An ability she didn't really use too often, and one that couldn't exactly be explained – not to anyone's knowledge, was her uncanny eye for phantoms or ghoulish fiends. Magical beings gave her a tingling sensation in the back of her skull each time she crossed paths with one. It was very useful, but she didn't find many uses. It wasn't common for her to be out in the field, so her crystal ball made do for recon.
Being out in the field, huh? Koyomi hadn't imagined this day would arrive. Yes, while it was true that she occasionally went out with Haruto, her expeditions had sharply decreased since the introduction to Shunpei and Rinko. To this scale, however… It was terrifying and exhilarating all the same. She sort of missed this, but was it really the right time to have thoughts like that?
"How can you be certain?"
"W-well, if Koyomi-chan says so then I bel-believe her…" Shunpei said, laughing nervously as he bumped backs with Rinko. The two of them were so terrified that neither of them noticed.
"Why are you two standing so close?" Koyomi asked, raising her eyebrows. Well, there goes peace and quiet as they both began arguing about who was leaning on who. She couldn't help it, Koyomi releasing a fit of laughter. One so loud that it would certainly attract anyone nearby, but she couldn't help it!
"This creeps me out the most.." Rinko whispered.
"Me too." The truth was, Koyomi was just over the moon to be watching her friends bicker and banter. It was so simple, but that's all we need sometimes in life – something simple to give us the happiness we can't find alone. A lot of the time, people search the world hoping to grasp what it means to be happy without realizing they're staring into a dark hole they call their own abyss and forget that happiness exists to be shared, and therefore can only be found in those around you. In your little corner of the world, as long as you can smile, maybe you don't have to worry about anything else.
That's why the ocean didn't matter. If Koyomi were a wave, she would be alone, and if she were alone, Koyomi would be unhappy. But she isn't alone. She has her friends, she has old man Wajima, and she has Haruto – and beyond all this, Koyomi cannot wait to share some ice cream with them. That was her idea of a vacation.
A knock arrived at the door. Rinko and Shunpei leaped out of their shoes, and there stood Haruto. The faint sound of a catchy jingle caught their ears.
WATER, PLEASE!
A puddle of water slipped beneath the door and Haruto reemerged. Giving his weapon a good spin, he fired at the chains on the museum's front entrance. Opening the door, he ushered them inside with the swoon of his arm. "Ladies first, if you would be so kind." He bowed his head, and the four of them entered the museum. The building itself was marvelous. The exterior, for all of its beauty, could not replicate the art that was the interior. The round center branching off into several paths, each designed with a particular aesthetic in mind, if one so desired to walk the path that called to their heart. Paintings of the island, contemporary and abstract alike hung from the walls. If they weren't in the middle of an invasion, our heroes wouldn't care at all to gather here and explore hundreds of pieces of hope carefully placed for wandering eyes to gaze in awe.
"Woah… Look at this!" Shunpei said, standing on a bench with one leg in the air as he leaned over pointing at an early design of the hot-air balloon hanging from ropes by the ceiling. "Or this!" Now, he was standing next to a bunch of old armor – white robes sitting beneath a steel helmet encased in amber coloured jeweled glass with horns far too long to be considered any rider they knew. "Haruto-san, look!" He called out, now standing next to a staff with several different coloured magical stones embedded above the handle, but beneath the violet diamond which lay upside down and that sat attached to a steel ring encrusted with strange sigils neither of them were able to decipher. A lot of this magic appeared well before their time.
"If we break something, that's on us." Haruto instructed, and Shunpei heeded his message, being more careful. "I have to admit it though, there's a lot of amazing things here."
"Their collection must probably go back hundreds of years." Koyomi said, gazing at that staff with childish wonder. "W-we need to be extra careful."
"It seems all of this was donated." Rinko said, reading the plaques inscribed beneath every work. "They must have really generous people."
"Almost makes you want to be a part of its history, huh?" Haruto said with a grin. "Well, I suppose we should get ready. We don't have all night."
"Are you sure we should be taking these?" Koyomi asked, her fingers finding her way around the ropes that guarded the staff as it stood in place. She could hear a voice beckoning her to take it.
"So long as we don't burn down this place, I'm sure we'll be fine." He reassured her. "Besides, it's our only option at this point." He turned his attention out the skylight and towards the palace. It was like a never-ending golden tree that taunted him at every move. Keep it cool, and keep it going. The end is yet to arrive.
"What do you have your eyes on, Haruto?" Shunpei asked, wielding a massive hammer! It was best to put that back, as dragging it around was going to cause more damage to him than anyone in his way.
"Me?" Haruto chuckled, looking down at that special ring. The power of infinity. It's do or die with this one. "This is more for you three. I've still got a few tricks up my sleeve."
"Is it alright to take this one?" Koyomi asked, holding the staff that she was previously staring at.
"If it works for you." Haruto shrugged, scratching the back of his head. He turned around, continuing to watch the stars. He had a feeling all of them were shining down on him, and not in the way he wanted to. It was strange, what a comforting blanket of light was now showing its true colours as a shroud that hung his life above his head. Keep it cool, Haruto. Koyomi watched from afar. Though a few feet between them, she felt the miles beginning to rack up. Did he not want her to fight, or… Could it be that it was himself he was worried about?
"Don't worry, I'll be careful." She assured, taking a shot on believing it was the former. "After all, this was made for protection, right? As long as I have hope in it, I'll be OK."
"I'm sure you will be." The magician said, facing back to her with a smile. He had more faith in her than he had himself at the moment.
"Oh, this is perfect!" Rinko squealed, pressing her hands against the glass. Sitting there before her, in pristine condition behind a thick cover was her tool of choice. With an ebony grip, a shining steel body whose reflection sparkled in her eyes, and a sharp, thin barrel longer than her own hands was a modified Colt Buntline revolver. It was like love at first sight. That barrel must've ran halfway down her leg in length. Something like that just had to pack a punch. "Um, how do I..?"
The detective plastered her hands all over the cover, searching for an opening. Waddling up next to her was Koyomi, who took one look at it and smacked the staff against the glass, shattering it into several dozen pieces!
"I hope it's not broken." Koyomi smiled. It's not like anyone would mind, at least for the time being. Rinko carefully took hold of the gun. It was heavy, far heavier than she could have expected. Well-kept, and the longer her fingers were wrapped around the grip, the more holding the revolver felt like slipping on a pair of new gloves. Rinko was more than thankful that this baby was donated, because she was going to make great use of it. She's not one to use magic, but this will suffice. It will suffice indeed.
"Are you sure you should use something like that?" Shunpei asked, carrying a shield. With all this talk of battle, it dawned upon him that he cared more about protection than packing a punch.
"I am a detective, y'know." Rinko said with a smirk. In fact, she wasn't just any detective. She was the top shot back in her academy. Though she rarely, if ever, had to use this sort of thing, Rinko more than occasionally indulged in hitting the range. Sticking two fingers between the grip, she spun the revolver in a clockwise motion. It swam like a shark through the ocean with its movements, slicing through any resistance of doubt as naturally as a great fin cuts through waves. Just as it reached its peak speed, Rinko let go of the grip and the revolver flew high into the air!
The rest of them quickly ducked for cover, Shunpei holding his shield out in front of him and Koyomi – all the while Haruto hid underneath a bench. Have no fear, however, Rinko was a certified gunslinger. She caught the revolver in another hand and spun it around, then raising her elbow to spin horizontally with the barrel passing over to greet her body here and there. One more toss for good measure, ending it with a great spin as Rinko caught the revolver for the last time, striking a pose with both hands sprawled out against the grip and a straight aim down the line of justice. "Ta-da!"
They were all too terrified to clap. "So, that's it then?" Haruto asked, glancing at their equipment. Our heroes were just about ready to go. "OK, guess we only have one stop left." He smirked. "Let's put an end to this." Footsteps marched across the floor, heading out the door. Three pairs of feet.
"Haruto?" Koyomi called his name, but her voice was faint. He turned around, and his companions were staring back at him with concern painted across their faces. "What are you doing still standing there?"
"Oh, I… I hadn't realized." He said, laughing it off. He shuffled towards them with small steps. Though he figured he was moving normally, the rest of them could see he was walking down a path with too much caution.
"Um, we need to hurry this up…" Shunpei muttered.
"Haruto," Koyomi stepped forward. She was only a few feet away from him, and closing the gap with each word. "Are you OK?" He couldn't hide it any longer.
"Hey, let's not make this about me." Haruto replied, his worst attempt so far at trying to cover this up. It was of no use. Everyone saw through it. "I'm terrified beyond words." He said in a low, soft whisper as his eyes met the ground. "A magician is supposed to be a beacon of hope for those buried beneath the dark, but… here I am, too scared to move. What kind of hero am I?"
"Everyone gets scared." Koyomi said. "If I'm being honest, so am I. All of us are, Haruto."
"What if… What if I can't…" He started, but cut off as a hand brushed against his cheek.
"Those are words." Koyomi moved in closer. "That's all they are. What you have in your heart is far greater than magic. You'll do the right thing, you always have." They were standing inches apart from one another. "Besides, you're not alone, so… Stop fighting like you are."
"She's right." Shunpei said, stepping forward. "Haruto, we're here for you every step of the way, because we know you would do the same – you've already proven that."
"There's no one I'm more willing to stand with." Rinko chimed in. "You have changed our lives in every way for the better, and we won't let you do this by yourself."
"It was never about the magic." Koyomi continued. The three of them surrounded him. "Haruto, a hero believes that it's their responsibility to fight, even if all the odds are against them. Kamen Riders fight for peace and freedom, because it's what's right. They fight, but they don't fight without fear – and they don't fight alone. What made you a Kamen Rider wasn't your magic, but your ability to keep moving forward, in spite of the world telling you to give up. You taught all of us to move on, even if we're unsure of what lies ahead. You are our hope, because your kindness has given us strength."
It was Koyomi who was first to wrap her arms around him and hug Haruto, and the others followed. "Believe in yourself as we believe in you, and as you have believed in us." He was speechless. Words tried to come out, but all that spilled from his heart were low, incoherent hums of relief as the magician let go all of that weight he had been carrying for far too long. It was warm here. There was nothing to hold onto that would pierce into your fingers and twist the freedom in yourself that you sought out. No, there was nothing here to hold onto. Nothing but the love of your friends, who you were only now realizing were and have been standing next to you this entire time, needing not protection, but trust and support – that same support you needed now the most.
"T-thank you…" Haruto whispered. It was all he had to say. All the magic in the world meant nothing to the fortune he had around his arms.
CESTALIA MARKETPLACE
It's time for this show to come to an end. Nothing good lasts forever, and nothing bad will either – they were going to ensure that.
"First, we have to take down this new Emperor." Haruto said, strolling through the streets with his hands in his pockets. "Then, we'll figure out a way to free those people." The rest of them walked with the magician, creating a line through the streets. "It's a good thing they're all held up in the same place. Makes our jobs a lot easier, right?" Just as he finished, the cavalry arrived. Before them stood a barricade of magical constructs – the Empty, appeared and armed to the teeth while blocking the rest of the way. Above them, several others, resting upon rooftops ensured that there would be no dirty tricks like flying out of here. When you thought they couldn't be more prepared, dozens showed up from behind.
Standing back to back, their group prepared for the oncoming attack.
"I'll handle the front." Haruto said. "The rest of you handle the back."
"Don't forget about me!" Shunpei replied, wielding his shield. "You and I are on this one."
"Try to keep up then." He smirked. "That means it's just you two."
"Save some for when we're done." Rinko spun her revolver, aiming it towards her side.
A red ring with the shape of an opal found its way onto his finger.
DRIVER ON!
"Transform!"
FLAME, PLEASE!
HI-HI, HI-HI-HI!
Kamen Rider Wizard made his appearance on the stage. "Now, it's showtime!" Together, our heroes rushed into battle. Tons of them flooded into the streets, their spirits embodying nothing but anger with vile, violent attempts at their lives. Their skills were no match for Wizard, as he hacked and slashed past many of them.
EXCITE, PLEASE!
Clearing the path, Wizard's body enlarged into a great beast of muscle and spun his arms around in circular motions, knocking them into stands and windows alike. All the while, Shunpei tried desperately not to get hit. "Hold on, don't leave me behind!" He shouted, raising his shield in fear as he slumped into a corner, bracing himself for the impending attacks from a group of Empty. To his surprise, however, a moment passed and he was still alive! He opened his eyes which revealed that his shield had broken the barriers of conventional shape and stretched out into a rectangular prism which blocked all incoming attacks from up to ten meters at each end!
"W-wow!" Shunpei cheered, getting to his feet and screamed with glee as he used it like a battering ram, forcing his attackers up against a wall; slamming them with great strength. "You and I can take on anything!"
You know what they say about gloating before you cross the finish line? Well, there was a lesson to be learned here as from behind, another Empty leaped into the air with a spear in hand and was ready to strike it through Shunpei's back!
Several magical bullets streamed his surprise attacker, causing them to collapse and dissipate into emerald coloured smoke. He would've succeeded had it not been for great instincts. "Hey, be ready for anything!" Wizard shouted, blocking a slash at his chest with his blade.
Meanwhile, Rinko and Koyomi were making quite a team. Koyomi raised the staff towards the clouds and called upon the sky for a blessing. The world answered, and bolts of solid ice came crashing down into the field, burying their enemies in cases of ice. "Now's your chance!"
"On it!" Rinko spun her firearm and closed one eye. Keep your focus, and keep it going. She fired several times, the recoil nearly knocking her flat on her butt! She stood her ground, however, and many giant, magically infused projectiles whirred throughout the space, bouncing off of any surface they touched numerous times before breaking through and destroying the enemies that lie ahead! "Alright!" Rinko and Koyomi exchanged fist-bumps. There was still a lot more to deal with.
"Uh-oh, we might need some help here!" Rinko cried, firing over and over. It was like there was no end in sight!
BIG, PLEASE!
A big fist hurled towards the front, destroying a few of the waves before them. "Shunpei, you and Koyomi handle the front!"
"Don't worry, she'll be safe with me." Shunpei said, assuring him with the pat of a shoulder.
"I know." Wizard said, sounding proud as he returned the gesture. They switched positions, and he joined Rinko in the back. The blade quickly switched back into a gun, and the detective pursued their foes alongside the magician.
HURRICANE, PLEASE!
Activating his hurricane style, Wizard wrapped an arm around Rinko and hovered into the air, much to her dismay.
"Hold on, what are we doing?!" She screamed. Rinko never was a fan of heights.
"Adding a little flare to this show!" In a blitzing speed, the two of them flew over the crowd and began firing uncontrollably, making a hailstorm of bullets from above to bounce around in twenty places – hitting just all the right spots and covering the entire crowd! Once back on the ground, he chose another spell. Spawning from thin air, a green swirl of air covered the group and lifted dozens of Empty into the air, squirming around as they lost control. "Take your best shot." He said, ushering Rinko for the finisher.
She obliged, unloading as much as she could before being unable to withstand the recoil anymore. Combining the wind with these wild, ricocheting bullets created the perfect storm for a neverending vacuum of fury being swapped back and forth between their comrades. "Not bad." Wizard said.
Shunpei and Koyomi weren't too shabby either. As more approached, Koyomi had to be quick on her feet. A thought from earlier occurred in her head. "Make a bridge for us!"
"A bridge?!" At first he didn't get it, but when Koyomi pointed upwards, all of it clicked together. Tossing his shield onto the ground, he commanded it to warp to his will. Heeding his words, the shield stretched out into a platform beneath their feet, raising them into the sky, and then stretching out into a wide platform shackled between the roofs as the bottom disappeared.
"Haruto, Rinko, hold on!" Koyomi shouted before casting her staff towards the ground.
EARTHQUAKE! GET READY TO RUMBLE!
The ground started to shake violently, knocking their enemies off their feet. They collapsed under the pressure of the Earth, bursting out into clouds of energy that returned to the stars. Shunpei was once again hanging off the edge. Quickly rushing to his aid, Koyomi struggled to lift him up. "S-sorry, I overdid it!"
Shunpei let go, and the platform beneath Koyomi's feet disappeared! They fell through the sky, but in quick thinking, Shunpei willed the shape of a slide into existence from the body of this shield, and the two of them made it back to the ground safely – even knocking down a few stragglers along the way. Pretty soon our heroes got into the pattern of switching partners. One could say it added more fun to the battle.
"Shunpei, you're with me now!" Rinko exclaimed, and together they showed off their power. Creating a large blanket around the enemies, they were trapped in a tight space as his shield warped once more. This time it was in the form of curving walls, and then a lidless cylinder that trapped their enemies in a space that resembled the shape of a large jar. Shunpei closed it off, with the exception of a tiny hole.
"You got this, Rinko-chan!" Shunpei cheered, watching her work the magic. Rinko fired into that small hole, and it quickly closed upon the ceasing of her shots. Imprints of slams etched their way into the shield's current form as being stuck in a tiny room with bouncing danger was going to catch up to you sooner or later, regardless of how quick on your feet you are.
"Sorry, we can't stick around forever and fight you." Wizard proclaimed, finishing a spin strike with his sword. "Let's end this and get to the next act!" Out of their depth, a large Empty made their entrance. It held a giant blade over its back, or rather it was more like a huge hunk of iron that could take anyone's head in seconds. "Didn't I make myself clear? We're moving past show openers." He laughed. "Koyomi… Let's go, together."
"I thought you would never ask."
Together, hand in hand they charged the creature, splitting off on opposite sides. Lightning flashed from the woman's staff, and she dived forward, splintering their sides with a ball of message directed all the way from the clouds whilst Wizard leaped into the air, slashing from above on the opposite side. Before the creature could take another step, Koyomi froze their feet in blocks of ice. Meeting at the back, the duo split off again.
CONNECT, PLEASE!
SPECIAL MOVE: FIRE AND ICE!
Creating pathways that split off and carried them throughout the air, they made a figure-8 out of opposing elements. A beautiful spectacle that rained conflicting, yet complimentary crimson shards of ice that completed the other as they extinguished their sorrows to a grand finale towards this battle. Crossing a bridging road, Haruto and Koyomi readied themselves for the home stretch.
VERY NICE, KICK STRIKE!
Charging her staff, Koyomi could feel the planet enveloping her veins. With as much strength as she would ever muster, Koyomi smacked down a lifetime's worth of elements: screaming clouds, cracking lightning, rushing waves and rumbling ground – all of mother nature's pain released into an attack greater than she could ever imagine! Joining alongside her was Haruto, burrowing the strength of fire – the will to not just survive, but to live inside his legs and together they unleashed a move that would bring hope to a sea of despair!
Landing gracefully with Koyomi in his arms, Wizard let out a fresh sigh of relief. "Whee…" It was over. For now, at least.
"Haruto!" He was on one knee. "Don't tell me you wasted all your magic on that."
"Not a… chance." Haruto said, getting to his feet with her help. "Just a little tired from that exercise, that's all."
"Was that the last of them?" Rinko asked, searching around. This place was a mess – courtesy of them, but they didn't have time to think about that. There was no one else around.
"Not at the moment." Koyomi said, unable to sense any phantoms – or Empty, as these off-shoots were referred to.
"Woooooow," Shunpei threw his arms into the air. "That was fantastic! Haruto, you were like whoosh! Koyomi, you were also spinning around like waaaaah!" He continued to imitate their movement, although rather poorly.
"We've had a bit of practice." Haruto said, shrugging it off with a smile. One dance this vacation just wasn't enough for them.
"Part of me wishes I could keep this…" Koyomi asked, hugging her staff. This could really change the course of her life.
"Sorry, we're only borrowing for the night."
"Right." She sighed. "Still, maybe if we're polite…"
"That's up to them once this is over. We can't tell, can we?"
"No." She smiled. "Not at all."
CESTALIA COURTYARD, JUST BELOW THE PALACE
It was quiet. Too quiet. The central area of the town was lifeless. Not even a mouse was scurrying around. Before them was the palace, awaiting their arrival – as we all have.
"There it is." Haruto muttered. "Who can tell what's waiting for us?"
"But we sh-shouldn't worry about that, right Haruto?" Shunpei said, now standing behind him. It was as though you could feel the aura of the New Emperor gazing down at you. In fact, he was. Though none could see him, Haruto was able to sense him. From deep inside, his phantom, Dragon, was responding to the calls of another phantom that beckoned the magician's appearance.
"That stench is foul." Dragon, from within, gawked. "Ever since you arrived, I've been able to smell them."
"So, you've known about them all along?" Haruto asked, finding himself in that dark void once more.
"The strong recognize the strong. Surely, you can comprehend that strange feeling by now, can't you?" Dragon chuckled. It was all starting to make sense. Those headaches, it was his phantom responding to the presence of another phantom of great magnitude. The same as him, dwelling from inside, and taking the form of an all-powerful creature. The more stubborn you are, the greater your phantom is, or so he liked to think, because neither Haruto nor Genichiro were ones to quit. "Though, this one has been adamant about gaining our attention. Isn't it about time we close the curtains on this nuisance?"
"Couldn't have said it better myself." Haruto replied. "Say, if I lose – you're not going to cause trouble, are you?"
"Oh? Are the seeds of doubt being planted once again in your mind?" Dragon teased, brandishing its many layers of steel teeth.
"Not a chance. Just wanted to see if you were still the same old Dragon." The void was embellished in a sea of light, and Haruto returned back to reality. It seems he'd only been standing there for a minute.
"We can't stop now. Haruto?" Koyomi took his hand.
"Sorry, you're right – no more time to waste." He started, heading towards the stairs. "Now, it's the finale."
"I would hold off if I were you." A shrill cackle made its way throughout the courtyard. All of them turned around, ready to fire off at a moment's notice. There was no one there. "Please, hear me out – if just for a moment." From the shadows emerged a face none of them had seen before. It was the Emperor's right hand man, Kytalo – who at this point, was more than willing to hand themselves an upgrade upon the imminent collapse of the new empire.
"Who are you?" Haruto asked, stepping forward.
"The creator of that great army you happened to run through. You've made quite the mess of my art – and we were so merciful."
"If this has a point, you should get to it." Haruto said, gritting his teeth. "We don't have time for this."
"The matter of fact is: I require the Emperor to remain in power, only if for a little longer. If you stop him now, well…" A dark, gangly green sigil opened and Kytalo brandished a curved blade. They laughed, running their tongue across the edge. "You would be sending me into an everlasting despair. All of my work, reduced to ashes. Aren't you supposed to be the bringer of hope?"
"Funny you would say that," Haruto stepped forward. A deep scowl was plastered across his face. "Aren't you the one going to rob hundreds of their own hope?!"
"In order to secure my hope, you have to crush a few that matter less. Isn't that how happiness is achieved, by crushing someone else's? I'm sure mine was." With a wicked grin, Kytalo spun their sword around, cutting through the air aimlessly. "Our new celebration must commence, and I require Emperor Genichiro for that." Kytalo put their feet apart and raised the blade, turning it upside down and having it raised just above the head. "I'll offer you mercy once more – do not be a fool and waste it. Leave the Emperor to me, and I will forget more than this defiance."
"If I don't?"
"You all die. Simple as that. Worry not, it will be as painful as you can imagine, and… besides, you're all suited to be fine dolls to play with."
"Sorry," Haruto brandished his ring. "We don't have time for games."
DRIVER ON.
"Hold on," Rinko pushed past them, standing between the sudden opponents. "Allow me to deal with this."
"Rinko, are you…" Before he could finish, she cut him off.
"You helped that monster escape, didn't you?" She asked, pointing the barrel right between their eyes. "Someone like you could never do it on your own. Even after all that, you still choose to betray the man who stands as the reason you're here?!" A great flame lit in her soul as Rinko continued her speech, speaking with as much clarity as she ever held in all the years she has lived. "Trading trust for power, all because you couldn't stand to be anything but number one… Because you felt weak, you want more and more because you can't recognize your own strength, is that it?!"
"An Emperor who speaks more than he acts is unfit to be a ruler." Kytalo snickered. "What, am I supposed to lie in wait as that manchild runs this place to the ground?! I won't let that happen. This is my opportunity to seize it, and soon enough, the entirety of Celestice, no – the world will bow down to my power." The grip on their sword grew tighter, so tight that it hurt their hands. "Those who oppose my strength – those who seek to challenge it, all will rot beneath me."
"You're pathetic." Rinko muttered. "All that power, and you can only think of hurting others. It doesn't matter who gets to be king, or who gets to use magic in this world. What matters is knowing who you are, and not being ashamed of it! That jealousy will make you more alone than you were to begin with. Having that strength, whatever kind it may be, and using it to protect the ones you love, with the ones you love! None of that power will mean anything if you have no one to share it with." The detective turned off the safety. "That's why it has to be me who takes care of you. If you think of the world only in ranks, then you'll always be at the bottom."
"Rinko!" Haruto shouted, beginning to back off towards the stairs. "... Show him what you're made of."
"Count on me." Rinko said. "Now, go finish this!"
AN 6/30/2023: Alright, so, that is a long chapter. A long one indeed, yes. Well worth it I'd say. Anyways, I hope you all are liking the story as we are finally entering the last few chapters. There should only be about 3.5 chapters left, and two very small extra snippets which I hope you all enjoy. Thank you for coming with me on this journey. We're not done yet, but I'm very proud of having written this story over the last 7 months, and I hope I can finish it before the summer ends.
Following that, I'd like to make a sequel at some point. Or, maybe a crossover. I kind of had one in mind with Ex-Aid, Fourze and Wizard as they go into space to fight aliens or whatever, and of course we get Kuroto Dan, one of the best villains in the franchise - definitely one of the most iconic, and also a returning character from Wizard. Who could it be? Who knows, only I know. Well, maybe you also know, but for now only I know that I know!
Anyways, if you enjoyed it leave a review. If not, leave some criticism. If you're the strong silent type, or just the silent type then I'm glad to see you're reading this either way!