For years, decades, and even more…Super Sentai, Kamen Riders and other similar heroes have been fighting the forces of evil. Neutralizing them, destroying them, sending them down to the bowels of Hell or whatever afterlife where the souls tainted by darkness go for eternal punishment.
For the demons running hell, it is a job. Containing the evil souls and making them pay for past sins. The Demons of Hell are often confused with the Demons of Chaotic Evil whom create chaos and tempt others to sin and they hate being compared to those. But what can you do? Sure, they torture but only bastards deserving and by the book. Anyhow, back on topic.
While there are evil people sent to hell whom remain unrepentant about their sins, there are also more then a few whom show regrets in Hell. And for those type of people a new initiative was started. The Coalition for Re-education of the Afterlife and Purgatory. Aka C.R.A.P.
Yeah, either the one whom thought of the title really wanted to have an acronym, didn't realize the implications or thought it would be funny. Maybe a combination of those. But despite the unfortunate name…it has actually wielded some results in the past. Some of the older Sentai and Rider villains whom regretted the past have been able to ascend into heaven, or allowed some benefits. There was a reason after all the likes of Rio, Mele and AbareKiller were allowed to join in special crossover events.
But let's start looking at the current batch. And one of the demons of Hell was busy guiding a new member for the next session. "Remind me again why I do this?" Desnarak VIII asked. "I am supposed to be in Terra's Hakabaka."
"It iz part of ze new exchange project." The blue ogre-like demon whom guided him along replied. "We work with ze other Underworlds from ze Sentai und Riderverse for ze C.R.A.P. Project so zhat other villains like you can get better."
"It's still odd I'm being pulled out of my own underworld but I go along with it to amuse you. It's not like I can put up resistance since I don't have my power in the afterlife." Desnarak sighed.
"Ja, zhat is because we don't want to make it easy for ze likes of you to get out." The blue Demon said. "We are here." The blue demon said.
"Er…this looks like a normal suburban neighborhood." Desnarak said.
"It iz. We want ze people of ze C.R.A.P. Project to feel more at home."
"You know that is a horrible name for the project?" Desnarak noted.
"Ja. But no one has thought of a better name yet and it kind of stuck." The Blue Demon said. "Now, time to meet your fellow CRAPpers."
"Ok, if you didn't realize it was a bad idea when you call people stuck in your program CRAPpers, you need to go back to the drawing board, screw the fact that the name has 'stuck'. It has to get unstuck." Desnarak groaned.
"Later. Maybe." The Blue Demon said. They approached a circle of chairs with various people sitting in it, out in the open where another red oni-like demon with glasses was sitting. "Rott, I have ze final member of today's session."
"Ah, sehr gut!" the Red Demon said. "Bring him over, Blau. Everyone, we got a new member today, zhis is Desnarak VIII of the Bugnarok, coming from Hakabaka, ze afterlife of another universe where ze Sentai team, the King-Ohger, has defeated his Empire. Don't forget to give him a warm welcome. And I don't mean like ze Höllenfeuer warm, warm like compassionate und welcoming."
"I have the feeling I've seen this type of project before…before Hell thought of it, but I can't recall where I've seen it." A claydoll-like monster with a female voice pointed out.
"It iz all in your pretty little head, Wakana." Rott said.
"It'll come back to me, I swear. It is right there." The woman called Wakana said.
"Little sis, let's wait until after we had our session." Another weird female monster resembling a sort of bagworm and no visible legs said.
"Anyhow, now everyone is here, time for introductions. Desnarak, say a bit about yourself." Blau noted.
Desnarak sighed. "Hi, I'm Desnarak VIII."
"Hi, Desnarak!" the monsters in the circle said.
"I come from a planet where there are my people, the Bugnarok. Insectoid humanoids. And five kingdoms full of humans. And our Kingdom has been at war with the humans because the humans were prejudiced against us and called us monsters. We were driven underground. We just couldn't take it anymore and decide if the people think we're evil, we will be evil. So what follows is a campaign of genocide against the humans as the leader, I thought it'd be justified if it would take the lives of a 100 of my people to kill 101 of the humans, as it would be worth it."
"Believe me, I've been there. Not because people were prejudiced but I was kind of in a sort of genocide." One of the monsters said. He was sitting near the bagworm and claydoll monster lady and had a huge blue crown/crest thing that appears to be some mystical creature…dragon? Something else? Desnarak didn't know, wasn't his expertise.
"And I know what it's like to be judged for appearance and go on a spree of mad revenge as a result." A weird demonic creature said with weird yellow dress robes.
"Oh…" Desnarak said. He should have expected this, since he was in Hell and the others had sinned too. But it was the first time a non-Bugnarok empathized with him. Even the King Ohger whom said sorry for him and knew the prejudice was bad knew the feeling all too well.
"Continue, bitte." Rott said.
"Huh? Oh right. Well…There was thing long war with political drama and fighting the current generation of Ohsama Sentai. Kind of a political drama going on too among them but in short…lost my best warriors, decided to just wipe the slate clean and try to blow up the world. So I grew and went to the core of Terra…"
"Oh, how does your group grow?" one of the attendants, a kitsune-like being asked.
"We eat the souls belonging to our Insect Gods." Desnarak noted.
"Sounds pretty metal." The kitsune said.
"It is not, it shortens your life if you eat one. I don't know how I survived being and merely being returned to normal size, they threw their ultimate mecha combination at me." Desnarak said.
"My dad, the asshat didn't even need the ultimate mecha combination to be taken out." The Kitsune replied.
"My dad forced me and my siblings to fight for food for survival and eat each other if we didn't have enough. I was the only survivor in the end and hence succeeded him." Desnarak explained.
"The F***?" Wakana and Saeko hugged each other in shock.
"That's horrible." The kitsune noted.
"No, they actually tasted pretty good." Desnarak said.
"Papa, please don't eat me…" another attendant, whom looked like a humanoid purple female armored creature with a sort of cyberspace team. She curled up in a ball and hugged her legs. "I did all you asked, I brought you back, don't eat me…"
"Escape is triggered!" the kitsune said.
"Oh…er, I didn't mean that." Desnarak said. "Er, what do I do? Before I died I didn't give a crap about anyone non-Bugnarok and not most Bugnarok either, what do I do?"
"Oh dear…I really, really regret how I treated my children but I found it hard to imagine it was worse then that." The guy with the blue dragon on his head said, not looking too hot.
"Breathe, Ryubei, breathe." A woman whom was wrapped in bandages, a coat and sunglasses said, soothing the monster man.
"We should have warned him about certain subjects." Blau noted.
"Er…there, there!" the demon sat closest to Escape and patted her back. "It will be ok? Am I doing this right, Azuma? I think that's what humans do for comfort." He spoke to a human-looking man whom sat close to him.
"Er…it's a good start, Lord Giff." Azuma replied.
"I'm really sorry, you weird armored human female fleshbag." Desnarak said, in an attempt to put Escape at ease.
"She's actually a digital being." Another attendant, a Sagitarrius-themed being said.
"What? Machine and programs can go to hell too?" Desnarak said.
"Yes. Und to heaven." Blau noted. "If zhey can question if zhey have souls, zhey can go to either."
"Zhere is even a religion centered around the AI of a satellite called Zea whom has a Kamen Rider as her champion and ze Kamen Rider's android wife as her Metatron." Rott added.
"Whoa, other universes are insane." Desnarak said.
"Well yours can be wild too, you have ze cosmic eldritch monster whom Kamejim worked for." Rott noted.
"The what?" Desnarak blurted out.
"Oh, zhey didn't tell you yet? Kamejim is only one general to a cosmic godly deity that has manipulated planets into fighting each other in wars to death in your universe for eons. His group is currently the threat the King Ohgers are facing." Blau said.
"What the here?" Desnarak said. "And…the King Ohgers are fighting them? Are they going to die?"
"Oh no, Sentai and Riders deal with cosmic deities, overlord demons and other such things every year and they still end up destroying them." The kitsune replied. "Sentai and Kamen Riders are capable of much."
"Yeah, I am one of the most powerful alien demonic beings and I got destroyed by my descendants. I don't blame them, they fought for what they believed in and I'm actually proud of them." Giff replied.
"That's wild." Desnarak said. "Though if they send that bastard and Kamejim to Hell I want to have a word with them about being a pawn in their little war game because I'm pissed."
"Better finish your story so you can feel calmer." Rott suggested.
"Right…So I was reduced to normal size and fought their sixth Ranger, whom is half Bugnarok and accidentally made the war worse while trying to create peace due to a story he wrote centuries ago…but he meant well. And we fought for leadership. Then the other King Ohger heard my story over past prejudice and they actually apologized for the prejudice of past humans. I was happy to die and leave things in their hands. But Kamejim betrayed me, pinned me down and burnt me like an ant under a magnifying glass and then I was sent to Hell. I wish the King Ohger well and I hope my little pet is ok."
"You have a pet?" Saeko and Wanaka asked.
"We had a cat…now my only living son takes care of him. He must be reaching his old age and may join us soon though." Ryubei said.
"It would be nice to have Miko with us again." Ryubei's wife said.
"I agree, Fumine." Ryubei replied.
"Mine was a robotic pet spider, an infant version of the Shugods. Even wanted me to eat his soul to live but couldn't do that. I only ate the other soul since its owner was already dead." Desnarak said.
"Pet robot spider. Sounds cute, I want one." Escape perked up, temporarily forgetting her trauma.
"Oh, emotional support animals. Zhat vould be a good idea. Write down, Rott!"
"Writing it down, Blau!"
"Now, since Desnarak has shared his story, how about all of you? Maybe he can find some common ground with you?" Rott suggested.
"I'll start. Now, I found this big force that connects all knowledge on Earth and I had a master plan to have all people die and ascend into it. Using my children as tools and driving my family apart. Yeah, not a proud moment." Ryubei noted. "And I'm stuck in my old monster form as a Dopant as penance."
"While I opposed him, I wasn't any better as I used people." Fumine said. "As Shroud, I pulled some strings. I thought I did it for my family but I was vengeful."
"I was jealous of my sister and tormented her and killed my ex. Sacrificed my life for my sister though and now we're on better terms." Saeko said.
"I sacrificed myself for my brother, whom is actually one half of the Kamen Rider hero of our home town. I brought him back by exchanging lives." Wakana said. "Now our family has grown close again and we no longer try to kill each other…not that we could but you get it."
"Not by lack of trying." Another guy standing by the family in a Nazca-themed monster form, next to Saeko, said. "I was mad when we met in hell. But since that didn't work, we just compared notes, and we grew close again."
"And this time we grew to love each other for real." Saeko said as she grabbed his hand.
"You know, I still feel like this whole scenario is familiar. No one else realizes this? I think I saw it in an anime? Or its abridged series?" Wakana said.
"Wakana, I love you and while I can't kill you, you do this every time. Do it once more and I'll still Buffa your Sara." Saeko said.
"Darling, calm down." The Nazca guy said.
"Don't tell me to calm down Kirihiko!" Saeko snapped. "I'm sorry. Still working out issues and it has been over a decade since the last time since we are stuck in these Dopant bodies that are made for combat and not much else. I can't find my vagina in this form."
"When we want affection, we just have to cuddle. And not all of us have mouths…" Kirihiko said. "And how did I breathe or speak in this form?"
"I would explain the science of a Dopant transformation but we won't have time." Ryubei said.
"Next please!" Blau said.
"I'll be next." The Sagittarius guy said. "I'm Mitsuaki Gamou. I'm stuck as the Sagittarius Zodiarts. In short, long ago I was contacted by an alien race whom encourage other species to reach out to them. I went about it the wrong way. I killed an old partner and later his son and would initiate a means to reach my goal that would have wiped out most of the country. A high schooler and his friend group showed me how bonds of friendship can be strong. After being shown my errors used the last of my power to bring back that son. I think they are close to achieving what I wanted to do, but in a non-lethal way."
"Kyuemon Izayoi." The Kitsune said. "Child of a warlord whom became an Oni in ancient times. Sent me to the future before he got sealed. Raised by a ninja clan that sealed him. Grew disenchanted and learned my heritage. Worked to unseal my father and his followers by becoming Youkai. Dad turned on me and absorbed me when he was done. Made peace with the ninjas that killed me."
"You go, girl." Wakana said.
"I'm a dude…today. I have been more fluid ever since I possessed the new Green ninja girl. Didn't think to have an awakening. But my pronouns are he/him today." Kyuemon replied.
"Oh, sorry." Wakana said sheepishly.
"Next one, please!" Rott said. "How about you, Escape?"
Escape has clung onto Giff for comfort since he had been patting her back and Giff looked out of his element. He didn't push her away but didn't know what to do and Azuma was no help. But Escape was momentarily distracted. "Oh…I am Escape and I was created by this computer virus called Messiah to be a herald. Gather this energy source called Enetron for his evolution. Once I did that for him, and he gained a new body he ate me! And then the other herald Enter, kept reviving me but with my memory wiped, getting destroyed and recreated until my data was corrupted beyond saving and he let me die."
"What an asshole." Kyuemon said.
"Yeah, she became an unexpected addition to zhis group but as you see she fits in just fine." Blau said. "Giff, you want to go next?"
"Oh, er…Sure." Giff said. "Now I'm actually an alien being from a powerful race. I came to Earth and was seen as a demonic being. I wanted to connect to humans but most shunned me. But I gained followers like Azuma whom I gave immortality." Giff gestured to his human companion whom gave a small, awkward wave. "I was sealed away and let my immortal agents run my operations, founding a cult in my name and have people channel or fuse with their inner demons in events to return me from my unsealing. I would bide my time afterwards and get involved personally. I would be destroyed by the Kamen Riders whom happen to be related to me since they were infused with my cells and had strong inner demons as a result." Giff explained.
"Oh the Fire Cross thingy." Gamou noted.
"We were on opposite sides but I had wished that with these humans, whom I shared kinship with…they fought for what they believed in, I did the same, but we couldn't meet this middle ground and I wondered if I tried hard enough. They accepted and worked with their demons, even a few former enemies they let into their lives. But I thought I did too much, way more than any of them to deserve that." Giff said. "So my insectoid other-universal friend, I know your pain."
"Yeah…the worst about death, it's the regrets. The filth-no, the Half-br-No, Jeremy wanted me to live so that we could work together but then I was betrayed and killed. And while I had prepared to die, what if I fought to live and be part of the peaceful future they would create instead?" Desnarak said.
"We feel you." Ryubei said. "We weren't able to be a family in life but we learned to do so now. We felt we didn't deserve that but here we are."
"Does anyone of you want to be my Mama or Papa?" Escape asked.
"I'm flattered but I already have two daughters and while I love them, its more then enough and they bicker over the bathroom each morning." Ryubei said.
"Saeko takes forever to put on makeup! We're Dopants, why would we need makeup?" Wakana asked.
"I let you know I like to feel pretty, it is one of the few pleasures I get in Hell. Don't forget that you hog the shower!" Saeko said.
"I'm made of Clay! I need to stay moist!" Wakana said.
"I teach kids, but I don't know about actually raising them." Gamou noted.
"I didn't have a well adjusted childhood, can I be a mom/Dad/Nobi Parent?" Kyuemon wondered.
"Not me, I still don't trust myself to not eat my offspring." Desnarak said.
"And I…er…" Giff didn't find an excuse. And if he wanted to reconnect with his family on the surface, he could perhaps try to practice parenting. Escape had already gotten attached. "I guess I can try…"
"Papa!" Escape said as she clung onto him again.
"Azuma, I'm gonna need your help." Giff noted.
"It has been ages since I had kids myself but I can try…wait, did I have kids? I was immortal and my memories have gone fuzzy over the years…man, maybe the human brain really isn't made to be forever." Azuma said.
"Zhat is wonderful. We are making great progress." Rott said as he clapped joyfully.
"Indeed. Alle zusammen, gut gemacht!" Blau added. The mood was ruined when suddenly an alarm blared. "Oh nein, it iz ze major crossover alarm!"
"Everyone stay here and play nice. We have work to do, we will be right back." Rott said as the both of them got up, pulled out kanobos and rushed away.
"What is going on?" Desnarak asked.
"Well sometimes there is a major event where two or more Sentai or Riders, or even more, and sometimes Metal Heroes get mixed in too…meet and often a lot of monsters and villains are revived to be part of a resurrected army." Ryubei explained. "I was brought back once but that was to test one of those Ghost Riders, wasn't going to make trouble."
"I remember doing that too." Gamou added.
"Anyhow, the villains flow out en masse and the demons of Hell try their best to stop the flow." Saeko added.
"But are there enough demons to stop all those villains. If I heard correctly there has been at least one Sentai or Rider per year for nearly five decades and if any villain group was as big as the Bugnarok that must be thousands of monsters." Desnarak wondered.
"Yes, they can't prevent them all from going through, but their efforts reduce it to a small army. Potentially dangerous but nothing that the combined forces of several hero groups can't fix. Mostly either because the resurrection didn't bring them back as strong and even if, often the heroes have grown even stronger to handle them well enough." Gamou added.
"I don't feel any pull. Are we even affected?" Desnarak wondered.
"I think either because we…regret past transgressions or this place we're in now blocks us off, I don't know, but we're not going to the surface." Kyuemon noted.
"Mh…" Desnarak pondered. "So, the demons are fighting out there keeping as many in Hell as possible? So no one is here to stop us if we walk out?"
"You are not planning on relapsing? I thought you were doing so well?" Azuma asked.
"No, but…" Desnarak said. "I always thought humans were cruel prejudiced meatbags that need dying. Now I just think they don't have to die and can be cruel and prejudiced. But I can't get the few out of my head whom actually apologized. Sentai…the Sentai in your world, they sound like the Ohsama Sentai at home. Right now I can't pay the Ohsama back for their kindness, but I can do the same to the group of humans and heroes whom share their ideals. You know, at first I was weary of this CRAP thing but despite the awful name…I think I should help the ogres. That and I am itching for a fight."
"You're just going to rush in like that?" Giff asked.
"Well, I'm more of a direct guy, Kamejim…the bastard, he was more of the schemer. I ask you to not stop me, as you probably are still working hard for your own redemption."
"We're coming." Ryubei said. "You have the right idea, you royal insectoid from another universe. Let's make it in a family trip. Chances are Raito is one of the heroes fighting the revived villains out there and we can make things easier for him from our end."
"Yes, for our son!" Fumine said.
"For our brother!" Saeko and Wakana stood up. Kirihiro didn't say anything but he nodded.
"And my descendants may too." Giff said. "I have a stake in this too."
"I'll be right behind you, Lord Giff." Azuma said.
"You son of a bitch, I'm in!" Kyuemon said.
"Why not, Gentaro and his friends are probably out there too. They could never stand by. And it's time I follow their example."
"I don't have Gog or Magog…but I'm still going in. F*** you, Messiah and F*** you Enter!" Escape said.
And with that, the former villains charged in.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
At the crossroads where the different afterlives for the wicked met…raised platforms and pathways above fiery pits, bottomless pits, as well as rivers like the Styx and Sanzu. Souls came crawling out and climbing up and run across the pathways, as well as fly all over. All type of demons of hell and other guardians of the afterlife were fighting to hold them back. They were already dead so they couldn't be destroyed. So they knocked them down and out, or from the sky and back into the pits and rivers they came from.
Flying winged imps with crossbows and tridents, ogres wielding kanobos and other heavy bludgeoning weapons, hellhounds, Orthus and Cerberus alike using the criminal souls as chewtoys. They focused more on the villains and generals, and stronger monsters of the week, while footsoldiers are a bonus, they aren't a priority. A portal has opened to this crossroad by whatever evil force is trying to recall the evil villains and they had to make sure as few of them as possible made it through. But even with so many of them, they couldn't hold all the villains off.
A few more in reinforcements may not have made a huge difference but would be welcome. And hence the current CRAPpers (they should really think of a new name for it) came in.
Enter and Messiah in his Messiah Cell body tried to get past an Oni whom blocked their path, Kanobo ready. They didn't have their powers, or wouldn't have them back until they crossed the portal. Escape jumped in. "Escape…my daughter…Help us." Messiah Cell said.
"No, help me, Escape. We go way back. Don't we, ma fille?" Enter asked.
"Oh sure I will." Escape said as she walked behind them. "On my signal, you run and I distract them." She said. "Ready…go!" instead of doing as she said, she pushed the two in the path of the ogre, whom swung at them with the kanobo and knocked them off the pathway, into the fiery pits below.
"Escape, you traitor!" Messiah Cell said.
"Pourquoi?" Enter asked as they fell down. Escape just watched them fall as she flipped them the bird with both hands.
Two particular villains also tried to get past a group of devils. They had their pitchforks out, the pathway was blocked and they were above the Sanzu River. They couldn't move forward.
"Akaishi!" a firm voice said. This was Giff.
"Tatsugami!" another said. This was Damou.
Their old followers, the Gigademos and the Leo Zodiarts stopped in their tracks.
"Master?" they both said.
"Are you here to escape with us?" Kou Tatsugami asked.
"We can overpower these devils if we work together, My liege." Akaishi said.
"We are not leaving." Giff said.
"In fact, you are going to help us prevent the other evil souls from leaving." Gamou said.
"Master, why would we do that? Do you not want to come back to life?" Tatsugami asked.
"And Lord Giff…what about the world you wanted to create? After we help our ally on the surface whom opened the portal, we have fair game." Akaishi said.
"No…we are not those type of people anymore. We are doing things differently now. The fact we got beaten and sent here, says a lot." Gamou said.
"We have gained a different perspective in the afterlife. And it is about time that we do something with it. And do things better." Giff said. "So Akaishi, stand down, help me or not, but don't get in my way."
"You don't want to rule the world anymore?" Akaishi asked.
"What about the Presenters?" Tatsugami asked.
"No, I never wanted to rule. I wanted to belong. I lashed out at a world that didn't accept us, but I didn't try hard enough to get accepted. I still didn't understand humankind or find the middle ground. Even if I never get back up there…I'll protect the world that is in the ands of my descendants." Giff said.
"And more worthy people, the Kamen Rider Club…they are the ones whom will reach the Presenters, they earned that right. I made peace with that."
"It's ok, Akaishi. There is a place where even we can belong and be better. Just make the right choice, old friend." Azuma noted.
"Wait, you are involved with this C.R.A.P. crap?" Akaishi asked.
"We are." Azuma admitted.
"Didn't you promise to be loyal Tatsugami? Did you make a false promise and only followed me to indulge in violence? Or do you believe in my vision old and new?" Damou asked.
Tatsugami looked down for a bit. Then he rushed forwards, apparently towards Damou. However, he rushed past him and punched Super GingaOh off the pathway, into the Sanzu below. "I don't understand, Master Gamou but I will follow you."
"Excellent, then prevent as many from entering the portal out of Hell as possible." Gamou said.
"Well I guess I'll do my part too." Akaishi said, deciding to go along with it. He charged at some incoming enemies, to be precise the Crispers of Diablo's troupe and knocked them back.
"There is still hope for them." Damou noted. "Shall we help them?"
"We shall." Giff said as he, Damou and Azuma charged in, helping Tatsugami and Akaishi to throw Diablo and his monsters of the pathway.
Jun Kazu/Utopia Dopant and Shinkuro Isaka/Weather Dopant were running across another pathway but they were blocked by the Sonozaki family. "Saeko, my love…" Jun said.
"Hey, I was the one whom loved her first. You never got her affections, I would have been with her if Accel didn't beat me." Isaka said. "And you kind of killed her."
"I'm classy, you are just a madman. I myself just had an error in judgement." Jun said.
"To be blunt, I no longer like any of you. I am no longer that woman and I feel disgusted with you two…whoa, still getting used to empathy and regret." Saeko said.
"We are no longer allies. In death we found sanity. I suggest that you use that chance to rethink your life and stop your old campaigns." Ryubei said.
"Why would I do that?" Isaka asked. "I was having too much fun."
"You really have fallen from grace, Ryubei. Now step aside, we want our life back." Jun noted.
"You don't have your powers, only the monstrous visage that showed inner wickedness. We still wear ours as a mark of shame." Kirihiro said.
"Neither have you." Isaka said.
"Yes, but we outnumber you two to one." Wakana said.
"Oh, she has a point." Jun said. If he had something in his hands, he'd have dropped it.
A few moments later, on one of the pillars holding up the pathways on the crossroads, two creatures crawled out of the Sanzu River and up on it. "Faster, you overgrown calamari! This is our chance!" Dokuku Chimatsuri said.
"Cut me some slack, my limbs are short." Shitari of the Bones said. Then he heard screaming. "Master, you hear that…Uh-oh!"
"Now, that is infuriating!" Dokoku said before the Utopia and Weather Dopant fell on top of them, and dragged them along falling once again into the Sanzu River.
Dayu Usukawa, whom saw what happened, decided to stay put. If she didn't move, she didn't get sent back to Sanzu, even though she wouldn't be able to get back to the portal either.
She looked around. She saw Gengetsu Kibaoni on a pathway with Ariake no Kata and Mangetsu Kibaoni. Kyuemon, using a trident from an imp that had dropped it, held it over the pathway and stabbed it, creating cracks. The Kibaoni patriarch gulped. "Kyuemon, my son…"
"My pronouns now are she/her, for the moment." Kyuemon said.
"I don't understand." Gengetsu said.
"You don't have to. I just don't want you to return to the surface. So bye!" She stabbed the pathway again a few times, making a few cracks and making it crumble, sending the Kibaoni and his forces falling down, into the depths below. "That's my good deed for today."
Dayu was curious. "So…what's up with this?"
"Oh, I just try to earn a few years taken of my time here. Chance to get into heaven or a second life." Kyuemon explained.
"Oh…and how do you do that?" Dayu asked. "Because I don't want to go back to the bottom of the Red River with the sake-addicted constantly angry abusive ex-boyfriend using me as a seal counter Dokoku, the living seafoodplatter and their entourage." Dayu said.
"Oh, I joined C.R.A.P. the help group for former villains." Kyuemon explained.
"Wait, that is real? I thought it was a joke, I mean the acronym…." Dayu said.
"You'd think that, but it's real and it can surprisingly work. Though I still have to make fun of the name." Kyuemon said.
"Well, where do I sign in?" Dayu said.
"You have to prove yourself, though." Kyuemon said.
Dayu walked to the edge, kicked a Nanashi whom tried to crawl up in the face, he then fell on top of another and there was a chain effect in which several Nanashi, Ayakashi and Akumaro were dragged down back into the river. "Is that a good start?"
"Girl, you and I are going to get along fine." Kyuemon chuckled.
Rott and Blau were holding off Ginis and the Fangire King, trying to push them back with their Kanobos. Luckily the villains didn't have their full strength. But more villains came and they couldn't stop those and handle their current opponents.
Storious, Zan Vardo and Goche Ru Medou saw their chance to get past the two ogres barring their path as Desnarak jumped in and grabbed the trio and pushed them back. "Desnarak, what are you überhaupt doing?" Rott asked.
"Sorry we didn't stay put. But I'm not the type to sit around. And the task of C.R.A.P. (man that name is horrible) is for me to learn to be good? Well this feels like doing good."
"Let go of us, you weird worm thing!" Storious said.
"No, I won't." Desnarak cursed that he has little strength in hell. Neither did his foes but he was alone and they were three. There was no way forward, as the ogres and their opponents were there. And he couldn't push them all the way back to the other side where more demons and villains gathered. There was one another way. "Let's take a dip!" He threw himself to the side with the three other villains.
"No, what are you doing?" Zan Vardo asked.
"Something good, hopefully." Desnarak said as he felt himself falling. TO the bottom of a river of sinners. Well, he may be stuck now…but he never expected to get life back. To risk his life or afterlife for someone for a change, instead of asking his troops to risk themselves for him. It was different, but a good different. He had no regrets this time. However, he didn't fall further, but he saw Goche, Zan Vardo and Storious vanish in the green Styx river below.
"That was a good trick, but next time don't be so reckless." It was the voice of Giff and he and Damou both had his ankles. They pulled him up.
The assault had stopped as the portal closed. The resurrection ritual couldn't continue on. They could only hope that whatever small amount of villains they prevented from returning was enough to give the heroes on the other side a fighting chance.
"What were you thinking? You were supposed to all stay put!" Blau said. "You really worried us!"
"It's my fault and I bear responsibility." Desnarak said. "I didn't want to sit back and do nothing, I wanted to take action. I got the others mixed up. I take the blame." Desnarak realized he had been more of a responsible leader and King in that moment then he ever was in life.
"You helped keep the evil forces back." Rott said. "While we are not happy you stayed didn't stay behind, we are proud that you took the chance to help us. Zhat is going to earn you lot of karma points."
"I zhink that despite everything you have shown great progress ever since ze founding of C.R.A.P. Oh mein Teufel, zhey are right, ze name is horrible." Blau added.
"You have brighter afterlives coming for you und…wait, zhose three weren't part of the group." Rott noticed Akaishi, Tatsugami and Dayu.
"They also want to sign up." Kyuemon answered.
"Oh, inspire others to change. Zhat is more karma points." Blau said. "All of you are going places. And definitely not below."
"That actually felt good." Escape said.
"Oh, that was a fun family bonding activity. Hadn't this much fun since you took us to Disneyland, Dad. I mean before you went off your rocker." Wakana said.
"Yes, those were good times." Ryubei said. In a moment, it felt like he was human again but flickered back to the Terror Dopant. Similarly, for most except the new three they flickered in and out of their human forms for a sec. If they had them.
"So this is what it feels like. To be an actual hero, like the Igarashis…Like, my family." Giff said. "It feels…really good."
"I remember feeling like this before I lost my way." Azuma said.
"I feel joyful. I feel like I have to say it." Gamou said as he raised his arms into the sky. "Uchu Kitaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" He then stopped. "I made it weird, didn't I?"
"Yes!" Everyone said.
"Well, you look happier then you were in a long time master." Akaishi said. "I am now more curious then ever."
"You will get a chance to witness, Akaishi, and maybe become a better man too." Giff replied.
"Same goes for you too, Kou." Gamou said to his Leo Zodiarts friend.
"Zhis is all so wholesome, celebrate, Lasst uns alle feiern!" Rott said as he put on a party hat.
"I'll get the grease so we can wrestle!" Blau noted.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
At the same time around the world, several people felt themselves thinking about someone they thought they shouldn't think about anymore. But they also felt some optimism, like they felt something, like someone they knew long ago was doing fine.
One half of a duo down in Fuuto felt himself oddly emotional for a moment. His cat, while old still found the strength to jump in his lap and comfort him with his purring.
At a class reunion a space-themed Rider and his former club members all felt the same feeling. Gentaro of course did his usual 'Uchu Kitaaaaaaa!' but he didn't know why he had to say it.
In another universe, six monarchs felt like they should visit the gravesite of their fallen respected enemy again.
The Energy Management Center, where everyone went on like normal. They didn't drop their professionalism for a moment but they all felt it. A weird feeling that worried them but also assured them.
In the Igarashi household, the whole family was together, and they felt for a moment like someone may be missing from the family picture. Though everyone is definitely here, they made headcount. Then whom is missing?
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"You guys think about what could happen next? Going to Heaven? Maybe a chance to walk the Earth again?" Ryubei asked. "I would want to live a second life with my family like before my Fall, and truly living, not just rather being alive."
"I'd be happy to finally be able to have sex again." Saeko said as she took her drink. "Everything else is nice too but I'm still frustrated."
"I would love to see the Fuuto I love again." Kirihiro said.
"I wonder if I can become a DJ again. I enjoyed that." Wakana said.
"We wouldn't be able to regain the powers we had in life. I'd not be top demon again. But to see a glimpse of the family I could have been part off. Something more valuable then the power." Giff wondered.
"Well the way you say it, I would love to see it too." Azuma said.
"Now I'm genuinely more curious." Akaishi said.
"I may not become a teacher again if I were to be alive. But maybe find another way to teach people, so they don't make my mistakes. And maybe if I'm hopeful, witness the Presenters. Not as a man whom would risk lives to do it, but as a better person." Gamou said. Kou Tatsugami didn't say nothing but he didn't look confused or angry anymore, just looked at his master as if in a new light.
"I wouldn't return to life. I think the Ohsama Sentai have it handled. I just hope to get in the upper rings of Hakabaka, earning a Heaven, not a Hell." Desnarak said. "And if Kamijim and his Galactic buddies decide to pay a visit, I am going to get my payback."
"I'm not sure. Well Heaven would be nice, but the surface world…But what would I do? Should I ninja or should I magic again? What options can I take?" Kyuemon wondered.
"I am not sure either, but as long as I can ditch Dokuku…" Dayu said. "And play music."
"I just want to have a family. And if Papa Giff wants to go to Heaven or Earth, I follow him now."
"Oh dear, I'm stuck with that moniker now, am I?" Giff said.
"Congrats, it's a girl." Kyuemon raised her glass.
"Oh, this is a humorous quip, right?" Giff noted.
"It is, sir!" Azuma confirmed. Giff chuckled and the rest followed.
"It's odd to be optimistic. Whom thought that dying would give us our lives back in a way?" Desnarak said.
"Well life and life after death, full of surprises I guess." Kyuemon said. "Now, we aren't going to get something else to drink but Shasta?"
"Pardon me Fraulein, but you still haven't earned enough points for alcohol." Blau noted.
"At least a main brand soda?" Wakana asked.
"Well, you almost have enough points for those." Rott noted.
"This place is insane." Dayu noted. "But it's better then the red river bottom. And After inhaling that disgusting stuff, I prefer this offbrand fizzy drink. Another one." Dayu said as she finished her drink and put the empty can down.
You wouldn't expect it, but even in Hell…something good can grow, if people are willing to make the change. It is oddly beautiful in a way.
"Wait, now I recall, this is basically HFIL!" Wakana realized.
Everyone stared at her for a few secs before giving out a loud 'WHAT?'
NOTES
Yeah, I got a sudden idea for redeemable super sentai and Kamen Rider villains in Hell, perhaps earning their right for redemption.
Some characters are picked because they showed remorse or regrets in their final moments, or maybe they were good people at one point, or maybe I felt sorry for their plight. Or maybe I like them.
Giff being here is inspired by Ri2's Cousin Giffrey stories, AU of Kamen Rider Revice which is fine though my Giff redemption may take a different direction as I want to be inspired, not copy my friend.
Also only in hindsight I realized it was HFIL basically. Decided to make a few jokes around it.
For now I leave the ending open. But I wonder if I could do a follow up chapter in the future, seeing these guys get what they want, maybe a chance at live, or a chance at heaven? Who knows?
