AUTHOR'S NOTE/EDIT CHANGES:
Added in the explanation for how Phoenix first returned from the Sun. It was via solar flares!
ELSEWHERE, BACK AT HOME
Once more, Mayu Inamori awakens to the blistering, pale light of the sun beaming through the window, and casting a harsh wave of midday grey over her face. She rises, letting out a sigh. When she was a child, the young girl loved waking up more than anything. It was strange, a lot of kids weren't the morning type; her sister definitely wasn't. Whatever kind nature she held seemed to be replaced with a fiery blister of rage. No matter how soft your feet were shuffling against the ground, Misa knew. No matter how gentle of a tap you gave to her shoulder, Misa already knew. No matter how calming your voice was, ushering her back to the realm of the living, Misa knew. Misa knew that it was morning, and there was nothing you could do to change that fact, a fact that she dutifully hated. In a way, it was pretty funny – watching someone who was so sweet lose all sense of reason and stomp around the house, just until she was ready at the very least. Although, whatever odd effect the sunlight had on her vampire twin, Misa seemed to be completely fine on weekends. Perhaps, what she hated most, aside from being snapped back to reality, and not of her own volition (but if you didn't she would sleep through her alarms!), was the thought of going to school. Then again, Misa loved school, as much as Mayu did, so that couldn't be it.
Maybe, as Misa went to bed every night with a smile, it wasn't the sensation that made her so joyous, but the dreams that she would be whisked away to. Mayu rarely dreamed, and it was never in colour, at least until now. As of late, all of her dreams have been vivid, almost lucid, actually, and she desperately clung on to whatever fantasyland her mind concocted underneath the moon. Some people say that dreams are things to run from, because if you hold on tight you'll lose your footing to reality, soaring high into the air! Dreams don't run forever, and neither do people. When you lose that, you plummet straight back to the ground.
Mayu didn't know whether or not she believed in the power of dreams. Her wishes haven't been granted yet, but maybe today will be different. Maybe, maybe. After all, the only thing Mayu has is tomorrow, right? There is a time where today will no longer exist. Yet, they always say you can never reach tomorrow – it's only a day away, so what does she have?
What did Misa dream about? She can't ask her.
It didn't take long for the young mage to get ready. She was fresh out of the washroom within ten minutes, freshly brushed teeth and ready to tackle whatever challenges lie before her. Boy, there were a lot of challenges. She wondered, what was in store for today? Could it be another round of several hours sitting in a dark room alone, practicing incantations – the type only suited for combat, and nothing more? Or, how about taking a more practical approach and going hand to hand with a mentor that could give her a home, give her meaning, but never his name or face?
"Hellooo ~ ?" Mayu asked, her feet plopping down the stairs in rhythmic motion. Such a cheery melody for someone who hasn't even had the pleasure to smile today. The house was empty, strange. Well, not empty. Everything was here, just as usual, but her mentor was nowhere to be found. Usually, she would arrive downstairs and be treated to a morning meal in the kitchen, where he was waiting with a completely prepared breakfast. She wasn't sure how he managed to do that, Mayu never once caught him sneaking about with produce stacked high onto his shoulder to cook on the ready. No matter how early she got up, he always seemed to outsmart her. Impressive, but also creepy; those two adjectives could encapsulate the uneasy contradictions held forth by her mentor.
While she appreciated all that he had done for such a lost soul like her, Mayu understood that there was an unbreakable wall between them. It was one that he had built, perhaps to teach her the essence of gratitude by keeping her out of dark secrets he ought not to share, or maybe it was to protect himself. Some day, she wanted to break that wall, or at least find a way around it. Kindness was a forgotten virtue these days, and she couldn't properly express how thankful she was that someone helped her take refuge in what was, and still is, the darkest period of her life. Although the training courses were rough, and there were days where she hatefully wished that she could have fallen into despair, Mayu kept at it with all her diligence in hopes that she could do the one thing set out for her: avenging the fallen in the Inamori family, and forever putting an end to a bad dream, so that the world she once knew could possibly live on again.
Yet, in this new one, there were still so many secrets that Mayu was unaware of. Hoping one day to understand what it all meant, whether by a cruel twist of fate or bad luck, Mayu sought out the answers hidden in cloaked silence. If there was one thing she had to keep in mind through all of it: Mayu was the only one who could choose her end and beginning, and that is what kept her heart strong. Regardless of the man behind the mask, Mayu will grasp the guiding light bestowed onto her in the form of this belt and vanquish the darkness that continues to plague the remnants of her bloodline.
As a mage, Mayu will restore her own smile. Not without strength, and not alone.
"Oh, it seems it's still here." Just on schedule, a home cooked meal was set out on the table, ready for her. When Mayu first arrived, there was great hesitancy. Wherever she walked, she walked with a stiff back that tried its best not to trifle over anything. When she ate, she only ever ate what was necessary, in spite of the droning blank stare emanating from the seemingly hollow mask of her mentor. When she slept, she refused to curl up into a ball as she usually did; instead, she chose the plank position as to not infringe on someone else's blanket, of whom she suspected belonged to the elusive little girl who used to live here. A lack of belonging was to be erased if she ever sought to be an esteemed wizard, her mentor ensured of that.
'Do not walk as if this is not yours.' He spoke in a low, commanding voice. Even now, she could picture it whilst recalling his words.
'This home, as is the rest of the world, is yours. If you frighten with each step throughout this house, how will you be able to overcome those nerves in the midst of battle? That phantom you seek, she sees you as no problem – make it one. Move as though there are no boundaries. Run, crawl, skip, I have no preference, but each action you make is one that is done with certainty. When you are certain, you are invincible.'
When you are certain, you are invincible. While digging in, Mayu couldn't help but to gaze out the window towards the weather. The sky was clear, but its colour didn't match the sea. The waves crashed against the sand. Lonely, as always. What was it like to sail out there, would you ever be able to leave this place behind and find the happiness so many of us seek? Or, would you be buried beneath the waves; casted out as a name in the sand to be swallowed by the great unknown? What people don't know can hurt you, and would anyone even search for her if she disappeared?
Finishing up that thought, and her breakfast, Mayu slipped on some sandals and walked out onto the beach. She should stay in the house, for the mysterious wizard to make his appearance, but the thought of waiting around and being alone didn't seem tempting. There was something serene about nature. Lately, Mayu has come to appreciate it more – as if the scenery around her was the only anchor to her circumstances. In a world of magic, could you ever be so sure about what was fact or fiction? Before that day, Mayu assumed that magic didn't exist – it was simply your heart listening to its desires and guiding you in whatever way you wanted, but now that she was certain of its force, she was so unsure of wherever her heart took her. The trees were real, they felt real. The roughness of summer leaves soon to be plucked from the wind; the texture was comforting, and she knew its touch was something tangible.
Magic represented a dream, and Mayu only hoped that she truly was the one in control of it.
"W-what're you doing out here?!" She stopped in her tracks only a little ways out, stunned by a sudden appearance. It was her mentor, the White Wizard! Unmoved by her presence, he was resting by the sand in his usual attire; the waves caught his attention more than she did, as if he expected her to meet her halfway. Knowing him, that was his intent from the morning the sun peered into her room.
"Enjoying the weather." Her mentor said, almost sounding sarcastic. His voice, although strong, was often devoid of anything other than conviction. No other emotion seemed to make its way into the fray. Difficulty arose in considering him as human, because he was more a being of pure power – Mayu could sense a suffocating aura enveloping only his body, and it was only by miracle that she could withstand its effects, but maybe it wasn't much of luck at all. Maybe, he chose who could enter his presence and leave. "We're holding a different kind of training today." He didn't even ask how long she was awake for, or if she managed to finish the dish he prepared – never asking if it was delicious or revolting either!
Only words of the utmost importance were words that left him.
"Different?" Mayu smirked, her heart was swimming in her stomach. "Um, are we using new rings?"
"No, we will not be needing those tools." The elusive wizard got to his feet. With a smooth motion of his arm, he ushered Mayu to turn her attention out towards the ocean. "What do you see?" It was hard to make out, especially with the afternoon wind twirling over her bangs, but there seemed to be something floating. The piece of debris was angular, and long. Oh, it was a boat!
"Are we going treasure hunting?" She asked, like a child looking to a parent for reassurance that a trip to the ice cream parlor didn't have a detour to the dentist.
"Do you fear the ocean?" He said in response. Was today the day where all these indirect riddles he often tossed out finally going to prevail on some groundbreaking truth? Or, would she merely be swallowed by his lack of discretion?
"No, not at all." Mayu said, a sincere smile finding its way up her face. There was innocent curiosity spreading throughout her heart; it was the kind she forgot was even possible to have. What could he possibly have in store for them? "This may sound silly, but do you plan on having me fight a…"
"A what?" White Wizard asked, scoffing.
"A sea monster." The girl answered, cuffing her hands together at the front of her waist with her eyes staring down at the sand. There was silence. Could it be that what she said, something so out there has killed him?! Or, maybe she has figured out his plans, and now he was awaiting whatever false courage to sink in, so that he may meet the warrior – or fodder when she chose to raise her head.
Instead, he laughed. A hearty belt of whimsical laughter! This was more terrifying than anything she could have imagined.
"Ridiculous…" White Wizard couldn't contain it! "What a ridiculous joke!" Instead of antagonizing her further with such an idea, he headed to the edge of the shore, and without even having to signal, Mayu trotted on from behind.
CONNECT, PLEASE!
PULL, PLEASE!
Skirting through the waves in fluid motions, like a knife through butter, the dinghy boat cut through the water at a high speed! Part of Mayu thought that he was going to ram the thing straight into them, and at the rate of which it was heading towards them, it would cause some serious damage! Before she was able to shout for him to release the spell, the boat stopped, almost as though on a perfectly planned cue.
"This way." White Wizard instructed. Upon further inspection, the boat was old. At some point, it must've been painted, but it has long since faded and leaving nothing more than oaky chips one could tear off with their nails if they desired. However, in spite of that, it looked pretty sturdy. Impressive, to be in this shape and to seem so ancient as well. It had to have been owned by him for more than a decade. It wasn't used often, she could just tell by the way he watched her judge its quality – the type of caution exuded in half-quivering hands with every step she made, as if one wrong gust of her warm breath could send years of this personal monument down the drain. Did he keep this as a memento?
"I have to know," She started, gazing back towards that husk of a mask. "What are we doing?"
"Isn't it obvious?" He said, reaching into the boat. White Wizard pulled out a long, plastic rod. "We're going fishing."
"For food?!" Mayu replied, collapsing back into the boat! Water splashed all around, her outfit was now drenched. "S-sorry."
"We won't be eating what we catch." He assured, and for a faint moment she thought she caught a bit of sentimentality present in his voice, but she might've been hallucinating amidst all the embarrassment. "Take this."
A life-jacket. With no expectations, Mayu suited up and got into the boat. Then, the two of them headed out to sea.
CENTRAL TORIISAKA, WISEMAN'S BASE OF OPERATIONS – AROUND THE SAME TIME.
Boring, boring, boring. Everything was so boring!
"Misaaaa…" Gremlin cried out in an exasperated, dry voice. He was atop of the staircase, laying with his torso beneath the railings and sprawled half-way out over the edge, just so that his upper part was resting over nothing. Nothing was satisfying him. It was like all the fun had been sucked out of the world as soon as the temperatures started to rise! Get any higher, and this big dome would be nothing but a hellhole where no amount of power to do what one desired could satisfy them. "Miiiiiiisaaaaa ~ !" He called out once more, but no response. Oh, of course she was here, but how rude was it to ignore him?! Even after he has been so polite, too. This is why she didn't have any friends.
"Misa!" Slipping straight out from his resting position in the unconventional way, Gremlin flipped like a trapeze artist throughout the air and landed in front of Medusa, who was standing in silence with her arms crossed. What a robot, it must pay well to be such a suck-up to the boss. There was an aggravated scowl crossed over her face.
"Choose your next words carefully." Medusa answered, speaking in her usual, cold voice. Why, out of all possible phantoms, did hers have to be so antisocial? "I'm not indulging in your games."
"Games?" Gremlin scratched his head, snickering. "That's a great idea. If I had a game, I wouldn't be so bored right now." Disregarding her personal space, he stuck his nose right up in it with a toothy, devilish grin. "Though, if I were hosting an event like that, I wouldn't invite you."
"And why is that?" Medusa asked, hating herself for answering, but what else were you supposed to do? It was humid, there was nothing to do – it's not as if Gates could be subjugated into phantoms, especially with that pesky astronaut leaping around at a moment's turn, and Wiseman was nowhere to be found. As a matter of fact, he hasn't been in town for several days, ever since that Wizard left. Without that Kamen Rider, things weren't shaping up to be pleasing; one would say that it might've been easier with his presence to continue preparations for the next Sabbath. Yet, she was standing here, alone and entertaining two dim-witted phantoms who could neither muster a thought that wasn't revolting on all ends, or an action that could tip the balance in scales to benefit her. Foolishness, everywhere. If it weren't for her loyalty to Wiseman, she would have buried both of them ages ago.
"Because you're like a needle in a haystack." Gremlin started to laugh. He sounded like a wild mutt struggling to cling onto life.
"... What are you getting at?" She raised a brow, striking a scary face with her sharp chin directed right at him. A look of misplaced pity, discontent and frigid power seeking to incite terror. "I won't indulge in your pathetic attempts at humor." Medusa continued, indulging in his pathetic attempts at humor.
"You ruin the whole batch, because who wants to find a needle in a nice plot of hay?!" Before she was able to swipe at him, Gremlin was gone in a flash! Such a power was really convenient, especially when you made a ton of enemies. "Say, I have been meaning to figure something out: Do you enjoy spending all your time cooped up here, alone?" A disembodied voice daft voice, but one she was familiar with. It was the aforementioned monster, zooming around from corner to corner with each sentence to annoy her.
"Make any more trouble and you'll pay dutifully." Medusa spat through a clenched jaw. Uh-oh, he might've caused this snake to burst a blood vessel! "Wiseman will hear of t–"
"Wiseman, Wiseman, Wiseman!" Gremlin shouted in a mocking voice. "Anything you do and say, Misa, is by the chain of someone who isn't present!"
"There is nothing his power cannot reach." Medusa continued, speaking in a smug voice. "So, actually, why don't you go ahead? Go off, and prance like a crown for as far as possible – I will take great pleasure seeing the mess made of you once Wiseman grows tired of your draining insolence."
"There you go again, ruining my fun." Gremlin sighed, his figure making a tangible appearance back where he started at the stairs. "Learning to take a joke will get you a lot of friends, Misa." He smirked. "Because from where I stand you're in serious need of them." It was finally time to address the elephant in the room. "Oi, Yuugo!" At the other end of the warehouse was Phoenix, who was unlike his usual self. Not that Gremlin would know much about him, other than being an arrogant hot-head who talked more than he could walk, but he was an interesting case, especially when he was silent. "Are you going to keep sulking there forever?"
"Nah, don't mind me." Phoenix said in a somber voice. Ever since he came back from the sun, things haven't exactly been right. He didn't speak about it much, perhaps it was due to how humiliating of a defeat that was. What made his return all the worse, is that Phoenix hadn't even gotten out due to his own strength. It was a fit of dumb luck, a solar flare erupting right on him that managed to shoot Phoenix straight out into orbit! Just enough so he could activate his wings and fly with the momentum. A bit of finely tuned magic of his own, enhanced by his regeneration, and Phoenix was swirling through space rapidly like a rogue meteor. Had that not solar flare not occurred, however, he would still be trapped in that fiery prison.
That Wizard was not aware that he had returned, and to be told that he has become leagues stronger since? It made him look like a joke, and he hasn't exactly gotten over that. "Leave me alone, won't you?"
"What a sad bunch." Gremlin shook his head. "Well, I'm not going to stick around here forever, and neither are you two!"
"Twice now, I have to set the rules." Medusa said, her eyes flashing a shimmering violet. "Once more, and I bury you. No one is allowed to act outside of Wiseman–"
"Yeah, yeah." Gremlin waved. "Heard it all before." He stretches his arms, inspecting his pits with a brave nose. It was terrible. "Say, have any phantoms ever overheated?"
"What?!" Medusa asked, looking puzzled. "What a preposterous question. Why are you asking such a th–"
"Duh, because it's hot as hell here!" Gremlin shouted back, kicking his feet in the air as he hung over the railing. It turns out he leaned a little too far, and there he went! Collapsing over the edge, he managed to turn it around and land on one foot with an irritating signature grace. "Might not be a problem for the immortal over there," He said, throwing his thumb back towards Phoenix, who was still rumbling around in his own head. Pride is the deadliest sin. "But you and I won't fare too well, not with this weather. Aren't you sweating in the least bit?"
"No, I do not sweat." Medusa answered. As soon as she said that, the pain of the heat dawned upon her. She pursed her lips and closed her eyes tight, hoping to whisk it away, but there was no magic in her arsenal capable of such a thing. If only… If only the Wizard were here with his Water-Dragon ring, but she wasn't going to say that aloud! "B-Besides, where would we go?"
"Where would we go?" Gremlin repeated. "Why, anywhere of course! Ah, surely you must have a smudge of memories up there, Misaaa ~ !" He pranced around her, placing his boney hands on her shoulders. The most unnerving part was that unlike the rest of his body, those sets of fingers were absolutely freezing! "Summer couldn't have been so drab that nothing comes to mind!"
"I bury those memories." Medusa smiled. "They're useless to me."
"Buried so deep you forgot you have a sister!" Gremlin laughed. "How cruel can you be, Misaaa ~ ?"
"You have a sister?" Suddenly, Phoenix rose to his feet.
"No." Medusa denied.
"Yes." Gremlin confirmed. "Ah, but enough of that! We're here to have some summer fun, aren't we?"
"Wise–" Before Medusa could finish, Gremlin shushed her. He took a hold of her lips and squished them together, much to her annoyance.
"Out of sight, out of mind, Misa ~ !" Oh, how pouty she was! Gremlin couldn't take it and released her from his confines. If she wasn't a Phantom, Medusa would make a great addition to his collection of clients. The chance to cut her hair was something he couldn't pass up, but when he got to the fun part of sprawling the walls with her blood, his memento of the monster who could never smile would crumble to dust. "Besides, Wiseman and his will only refers to acts that would either support or diminish the coming Sabbath, correct? Well, how in the world could he possibly justify cooling off as an elaborate scheme to dismantle his grand plans?! I can't, and I for one will not stick here in this sauna any longer."
Medusa and Phoenix exchanged glances, neither of them being sure of what he was going to transpire. Nonetheless, two more players have joined his game. Summer-fun, here we come!
ON THE OCEAN, A LITTLE WHILE LATER
It was pretty lonely out here. It wasn't the kind of loneliness that locks a heart by somber chains, however. No, it was the kind of solitude that was peaceful. Granted, there was a bit of awkwardness here and there, especially since the man in front of her wasn't much of a man of words – at least not what he had to say, and he only ever said what he had to.
"Cast the line like this." He instructed, and the long thin rope flew out to the sea with a gentle grace.
"O-okay," Mayu said, nodding. Truth be told, she's never done this before. Readying her rod, and ensuring not to let it drop into the water (that already happened earlier, and without her mentor it would've sunk to the bottom of the sea!) Mayu took a great big breath. 'Here goes nothing!'
PLOP!
It didn't get very far. "I did it wrong." She sighed.
"No, not at all." White Wizard shook his head. "There is no wrong way to fish. Sometimes, it isn't about how far you go, but where." He looked back at her, as if she could see what was behind his mask. Though, she could sense an air of warmth exuding from him; one that she has never seen before, it reminded Mayu of a homely language teacher – the type that you weren't sure of at first, but by the end of the year never wanted to leave. It's been quite a while since she's attended school, come to think of it. An extended absence, a note that was passed onto her chairman. It took a bit of prodding from the school board, but due to her unfortunate circumstances, they eventually caved and sent her work to a listed mailing address she received from her mentor, where it was then delivered to their home.
She used to think that was the greatest extent of kindness Mayu has received lately, but out here, it was beginning to dawn on her that it was always going to be second place.
"Let me tell you a secret." White Wizard didn't sound so demanding when he wasn't inscribing a verbal slate of training commandments every morning. "Over there, just a little to the West? Opposite of where I am, they usually bite."
"Oh, but what about you?" Mayu asked. He said nothing, and watched as she cast her line once more.
They must have spent a good hour or two out on the lake. "Why did you take me out here?" She asked out of the blue, breaking the silence with her hand resting beneath her chin.
"Watching you from afar by the beach became a common occurrence." He answered. "Your heart is drawn to it. I figured it would be a good relief if I allowed you to spend some time elsewhere, outside of our routine."
"If this is supposed to be a reward, then I don't understand." Mayu smiled. "I'm still not very far into becoming a wizard. Shouldn't we be back on the shore?"
"Do you want to be?" He asked, as though whether or not he actually turned around this boat depended on her answer, and not a leading question that pleaded for reaffirmation in the girl's gratitude.
"No, that isn't what I meant." Mayu shook her head. "Thank you."
PLOOP!
"Oh!" Mayu shouted, nearly falling off the boat out of surprise. Frantically, she reached for his attention, waving her arm wildly in the air. "Th-There's something down there!"
"Do not hesitate: reel it in!" Just as she would in training, Mayu answered the call and took hold of her rod. Right on time too, as it was slipping away again. She tugged hard, pulling back the crank with all her might.
"I-it's strong!" She winced.
"Control the sea, this is your catch. Make it your victory." His words were able to stretch the ocean into a guiding stream, and like a leaf plucked from the tall height of some great oak tree, she followed his path. With a bit of elbow grease and some encouragement, Mayu Inamori captured her first fish!
"I did it!" Mayu said, holding it up. It wasn't exactly a prize contender. It was a sea bass! One of the most popular catches in the area, and though it was more runtish than something to write home about, it didn't matter. At least, not to her as she paraded with excitement. She caught a fish! For the first time in forever, Mayu could feel a bundle of joy swelling throughout her chest. She brimmed from ear to ear, grinning like the morning sun greeting the townsfolk. Enveloped in all the warmth of her victory, she almost didn't want to let this thing go!
"Splendid, absolutely splendid." White Wizard cheered, and after they released the fish back into the wild, Mayu was too giddy to sit still. "You are a natural. Perhaps an interest in fishing could suit you, if not a wizard?" He chuckled. "I am kidding, of course." Her mentor stared longingly out to sea, as if there was ever an end to this vast blue blanket. "My daughter and I used to come out here every weekend."
"So, the stuff back home…" Mayu trailed off.
"Yes." White Wizard nodded. "It belongs to her."
"Where is she now?" Mayu asked, biting her bottom lip with scrunched brows; she hoped she wasn't pressing too far.
"Gone." White Wizard replied, obvious pain in that last syllable.
"I'm sorry." It's what she expected, but the sincerity in her voice was not lost.
"Do not worry," White Wizard said. "I will meet her again soon."
"Thank goodness. I'm sure she will be delighted to do this again with you." Mayu replied. "And thank you again for today."
"It is about time we head back." White Wizard said, rowing their boat back to shore.
ODAIBA BEACH – CENTRAL TOKYO, AFTERNOON
"Wooow," Gremlin said, plopping his bare feet onto the sand. "Look around, so many people! Ah, isn't this just a delight, Misa ~ ?"
"Not in the slightest." Medusa growled. "I can't fathom how you can stand to be so sociable around these–" She was cut off as a volleyball flew right past her head.
"Look out!" In a flash, Gremlin helped his moody friend duck, but Phoenix was not so lucky. Good thing that wouldn't kill him. A tall, shirtless man approached them. He was an athlete. "Ah, sorry about that, man!"
"No worries." Phoenix said, smirking. "Catch." With the might of a freight train, he tossed it the opposite way across the beach. He was met with confusion and rage from the well built man, who didn't know whether to yell or punch him. Instead, he chose what was important, his volleyball and ran off. Good choice.
"Nevermind." Medusa smirked. "Maybe there is some fun we can have here." Each of them were dressed up in fitting outfits for the season! Gremlin was dressed head to toe in flashy colours. Bright gold sandals with red fences, a pair that he wasn't wearing at the moment as he stomped around against the scalding sand. He wore a red, shiny vest and swapped out his signature hat for a pair of heart-shaped shades.
Phoenix on the other hand was dressed like a tourist. Grey cargo shorts, a white undershirt, and a purple Hawaiian shirt that had yellow flowers. Medusa? Well, she was veiled head to toe in a black summer dress. There were no patterns on it, and it was bland. Boring, and definitely drawing in more heat than what was worth. She wore long, silk gloves and a white straw hat.
"What?" Medusa asked, addressing the disappointed glares.
"You never have any fun." Gremlin sighed.
Together, the three of them had fun! Or, as much fun as one could reasonably have, given the fact that these phantoms stuck out like a sore thumb. Playing in the sand, Gremlin worked diligently on crafting sandcastles; he laughed and acted like a child, which Medusa completely detested. She stood under an umbrella she had stolen from someone – oh, and what has to be mentioned is that their outfits were stolen too. Right off a set of mannequins in some clothing store that couldn't be bothered to have some form of security. What security they did have didn't matter. A few streets back, people were hiding in terror from monsters that couldn't help but to make their appearance and cause a little bit of chaos.
"Ahh… I can't stand it!" Phoenix said, writhing around. "We have to do something!"
"Duh, we are." Gremlin corrected. "You're just the one who isn't joining in on our fun."
"Screw that!" Phoenix said, stomping off. "I'm going off on my own!"
"Ah, don't be so hasty, Yuugo!" Gremlin said, ushering the retreating phantom back to their side. "What you need, what Misa needs, and what I need is a chance to cool off!"
They got ice cream. Phoenix with chocolate, sea salt for Gremlin, and strawberry with sprinkles for Medusa.
"I wanted vanilla." Phoenix sneered, gripping the cone with enough force to crush a car. It shattered in his hands, spilling all over his foot. The frozen treat quickly melted away with contact from his skin, turning into a sticky puddle of liquid that made it unbearable to move around in.
"What's wrong?" Medusa asked, enjoying her ice cream. "Throwing another tantrum again?"
"Screw it!" Phoenix cried out, shrieking like a madman. He gathered quite the number of eyes with his outburst. "I'm tired of this! Why I crawled back to you and to Wiseman with his – his set of rules to begin with!"
"Watch your tone." Medusa's eyes shimmered.
"What are you going to do?" He asked, getting in her face. "Turn me to stone? Let's see how that works this time around."
"Okay, okay, maybe we're getting a little too ahead of ourselves!" Gremlin said, joining them in the middle. "Besides, if we're going to fight, it wouldn't last very long. Sorry, Yuugo, but that power of yours doesn't ever do you much good." Living up to his name, Gremlin started prodding where it really hurt. "Say you get into a fight. Poof, you die! Then what, Yuugo? Enlighten us, because for someone who wants to be a free man and go his way, you're pretty spineless. Yuugo, you're more like a puppy bound to chains than a wild bird!"
"THAT'S IT!" Phoenix shouted, his voice carrying across the beach. "Fine, it was stupid of me to ever come along here. You want to see how bright I can burn?! Yeah, well, I'll show you how bright I can burn!"
"Do your worst." Medusa demanded, unphased. "Wiseman won't be pleased to see you rampaging again."
"Wiseman can't stop me. Neither can you, and neither can he." He argued back.
"Are you certain?" She asked, licking her ice cream. Both Phoenix and Gremlin knew exactly what she was referring to, Legion, who lived in unbearable pain up until his demise. Someone who was seemingly unstoppable tied down by their leader. Sure, he escaped, but no one would vouch to release this bird out of his cage.
"Oh, come on! It isn't fun to stand around." Gremlin jumped with joy. "I want to see some action!"
Phoenix readied himself for a battle, but just as he was about to transform, he uncurled his fist. It was strange, given the sneer pressed over his face, one would assume he was about ready to rip their heads off, and he certainly did have the ability to, given his trip back from space, but instead, he chose not to. For some reason, whether it be latent restraint or inherent fear he held for Wiseman – only being able to imagine the absolute worst forms of torture for all eternity, and even beyond the world of his desires, still to be subjugated as the clown that every phantom shall entertain, Phoenix chose not to. Instead, he walked off.
Elsewhere, on a nearby building, Phoenix began releasing giant flares of conjured flames that spanned way out into the sky. He screamed at the top of his lungs, casting the fire into the clouds but to no avail. Why did he even come back here in the first place?! His rage was so tempting, so primal, and he wasn't going to lock it up any longer! Just then, as he gave wake to his true form, a familiar face showed up.
"You phantoms sure are tough." It was Kamen Rider: Fourze! Flying throughout the neighbourhood with his rocket, he landed safely thanks to his mini-propeller. "And a lot of trouble too, as soon as I heard about monsters scaring off an entire district, I figured it had to be you!" Fourze glanced around, unsure about something. "Where are the others?"
"Burn…" Phoenix cried with locked teeth, a menacing aura – a contradiction of sky-coloured blue and glimmering tangerine with red-hot tips swirled around the phantom in an uncontrollable, blinding cyclone.
"Oh, sorry!" Fourze shielded his eyes. Wow, that had to be as bright as a star! "I can't exactly make out what you're saying! Mind repeating that?" He asked, speaking in a sincere voice. Sure, Gentaro was one fit for battle, but his natural prowess as a galactical defender of Earth was outmatched by his impeccable will towards one thing: people. A good fight was a fair fight, and he was curious to hear this guy out.
"I… I'm going… to…." Phoenix screamed, violently shaking with rage. "B-burn this world to smithereens!" Not even spending some time out in the Sun could have contained that innate temper he exhibited. A great wave of fire released in brutal motions, spreading outwards and into the sky!
"Woah, woah!" Fourze brought up his defenses, cutting a close shave to such a deadly attack. Good thing he picked the right spot to dish out some justice to this monster, because by a miracle none of the flames have seared out beyond towards the surrounding homes. "You might be laying it a bit too thick on there!"
"Shut up!" Phoenix spat back. "First it was the Wizard, humiliating me over, and over and over again! It won't be you either!"
"I didn't fare you to be so sensitive." Fourze crossed his arms. "Seems like you've been dealt a pretty bad hand." He stretched his arm out. Although you couldn't see it, the young man was smiling earnestly. "How about we give this battle a rest and be friends?"
"A better idea came to mind, just now." Phoenix laughed. "Come to think of it, I should consider myself lucky. The Wizard ain't exactly here to get in my way. So, a parting gift will suffice for what he did to me!"
"Seems like friendship is off the table then." Fourze sighed, readying himself for another fight. Someone who was immortal was going to be difficult to pin down, but he made a promise to Haruto, after all! A vow he wasn't intending to shatter anytime soon. "Good thing I brought these!" He chuckled, holding up a bunch of astroswitches.
COSMIC, ON!
KAMEN RIDER FOURZE: COSMIC STATES!
"When he returns, he'll find nothing but mountains of ash for miles!" Phoenix smirked. "Great way to end a vacation, wouldn't you say?!"
"Sorry, but I have a lot of people here I care about." Fourze said, bracing the buildup for a strong attack. This guy was totally out of his mind, there was no reasoning for him! No matter how hard he struggles, people like Phoenix fall back onto the path of destruction because the most difficult realization is often the simplest one: He likes it, way too much to want to change. What he desires most is only the affirmation to commit his acts of terror! "I won't go down letting you do as you please!"
"Try as you might," Phoenix laughed, unable to escape his own pit of arrogance. Now soaring high into the air, he spread his wings out on each end for at least a mile. Such raw, destructive strength could demolish this town in mere minutes! Just how powerful was this guy exactly?! "Didn't that Wizard tell you? I'm unbeatable!"
"You're immortal!" Fourze cried out. He, too, was grinning beneath his mask. "Not unbeatable."
"Seems like someone's gotten themselves into a bit of trouble." Gremlin said, appointing Medusa's direction towards the ensuing battle. Crowds of people who were taking comfort underneath the sun and shade alike at the beach ran off screaming in terror. All humans who valued their lives escaped in a hurry. As for the other two, they simply watched with joy. Even Medusa, who was now finding her ice cream much sweeter than before.
"Bring all you have!" Phoenix cheered. "It won't be enough!"
"Okay, you asked for it!" Fourze declared his final warning.
Just before he could finish blinking, Phoenix suddenly found himself outside of the Earth's atmosphere. Extremely confused, he glanced around to make sure he wasn't dreaming. Well, he definitely wasn't! They must've been at least a million miles away from Earth! No, more than that!
"Hate to do this, but I can't let you stomp around and destroy the Earth!" Fourze said, explaining the rules with a disappointed voice. "It's a shame that you can't see the value of these people, so if you want to hurt them, I'm making sure you never can never come back to cause more harm! Be sure to get some perspective in your travels, and I hope one day we can be friends!"
Finishing off this troublesome pest with a great slash from the Barizun Sword, infused with tons of cosmic energy, a spiral wrapped around Phoenix's body, sending him even further out into space with a second warp drive guiding him independent of Fourze himself, and straight to the outer regions of the solar system! In a blink, the phantom was gone. Returning to Earth via the same means, Fourze turned off the driver.
"Wherever you are, let's meet again someday." Gentaro said, smiling with his chin raised towards the sun. Speaking of the Sun…
"No, I won't lose here again!" Phoenix cried, orbiting in the grandness of space. Too concerned with plotting his revenge against both Wizard and Fourze, he neglected to notice the direction he was steadily heading in. If he wasn't so short-sighted, he might have been able to avoid all of this. "If it takes a year, or even ten… I'll be back, and both you… and the Wizard will…!" He attempted to move, but to no avail. No matter how much power he put into his wings, it didn't seem to matter! "What?!" It was as though a pair of divine hands were pressing down on each side, keeping him in place as he struggled, and pulling him further away from Earth! It was then that he opted to turn around, recognizing a familiar sphere. "No, no!" Phoenix shrieked.
The Sun has swallowed Phoenix for a second time, and he won't be returning again. Bound to his intergalactic prison, forever. The laws of gravity are cruel, but fair.
"Phew," Gentaro sighed. "More than one warp drive can wear you out… Ah, man, I haven't had this much exercise since gym!" He was drenched in sweat. Who knew space travel could be so tiring? He's never done those with such power, he wasn't even sure if he could pull that off! It seems he wasn't the only one tired out. "By the looks of it, you need to be recharged too!" Gentaro laughed, talking to the driver as though it could hear him. "Perfect day for some ice cream."
Epilogue - Aboard the Highlander
The setting Sun met our heroes for one last cheer, greeting them with a carrot coloured cast of light that glistened over the high seas. The five of them were resting out on the deck, watching with little words between them as time went on. It was strange, wasn't it? How day to day, one could walk through years of their life without change, but all it takes is a few days for things to never be the same. Well, it certainly couldn't be as strange as magic.
"So, now that we're sinking in the last bits of our vacation," Rinko started, turning back to the four of them. "How was it?"
"Almost perfect." Koyomi replied, smiling sincerely.
"What would you have changed?" Haruto asked, gazing at her as if all the brightest stars in the galaxy had aligned in the shape of a crown over her head.
"It may be a bit silly," Koyomi flushed, giggling to herself. "But I really wish I could have kept that staff!" The five of them broke out into laughter.
"Sounds like a pretty grand adventure." Kosuke added in. Oh, right, he got a free ticket back home with them given his rocky circumstances towards Celestice. "Next time, I'm going to stick with you guys, just so I don't miss any of the fun!" He wrapped his arms around Haruto and Koyomi. Shunpei joined them, embracing in a hug. Rinko couldn't help but to finish up this heart to heart pact.
"Oh, how do you think things are at home?" Shunpei asked, eyes widening at the realization that they haven't been home for two weeks now. Could grave danger be awaiting them back in Toriisaka?
"More than certain it's fine." Haruto said, feeling a great weight being released off his shoulders. That felt refreshing. "A promise is a promise, after all."
"What's next in store?" Koyomi asked.
"Too early to tell." Haruto smirked, crossing his arms. He turned his direction towards the way they came, and in his heart, everything was alright. "Whatever it is, we go together."
FESTIVAL OF FATE IS OVER… BUT WHAT IS NEXT FOR OUR HEROES?
KAMEN RIDER WIZARD: ROOT OF POWER
On the West side of Japan, amidst the region of Kyūshū lies a village that against all odds has stood the test of time. Centuries have come to pass, but this small town still stands tall. Legend has it that a great tree which stands at least a hundred feet in length is the source of their good fortune. Some have called it miracles, others have called it magic, but who is to say? However, magic, like any thing in life comes at a cost. Good things are rare, and when good things are known, it is likely that those who wish to exploit such power will come flocking to swipe it. Whatever it takes, as the motto goes.
"Quite the pack we're up against, huh?" One Beast.
"No matter what, I'll fight to the end! That's my decision!" One Mage.
"Behold, the greatest showtime." One Wizard.
Three Kamen Riders stand against the ultimate power, the seed that defies all, and those who seek to abuse it.
"Allow me to show you the true meaning of strength." Said Gilgamesh. "Be buried beneath my greatness, and may your demise serve as another stone to stairs towards my new world."
AUTHOR'S NOTE (12/07/2023)
Alright, so, originally I wanted this chapter to be posted on the anniversary of this story which is 12/29/23, but I ended up getting to absorbed in this chapter! What can I say? It's fun! After an entire semester taking up a lot of my time, I ended up doing pretty well for myself and I wanted to return to this story to give a nice little send-off! I am still working on the other stories, chapter 6 of The Witch The Robot and The Bugster will be completed soon, so don't worry on that! We've made a lot of progress, and my Ex-Aid story will also get a new chapter sometime next month. Sorry for the delay, I know some of you have been waiting for it.
Nonetheless, I'm very glad to send this story off for good now. We had a lot of fun, didn't we? If you're a fan of Wizard, or if you hate Wizard for some reason, I hope this story has satisfied you in all the ways it can. Be ready for the sequel to this story! When is it coming out? I don't know! It will, but after I make work on my other two stories! It's good to have some time to let this one fester in, because I've got a ton of plans for this story!
We're going to see the main four: Haruto, Kosuke, Mayu, and Fueki fighting against a great evil! Lots of conflict, lots of action, and a lot of good character drama. Stay tuned for that, it's a sweet story, so I hope you like this one too!
If you like my stories, remember to leave your thoughts below! It makes my day, and I really love talking to viewers! You guys are always very sweet.