"Luz, I'm not one to get all, 'motherly', but I think we need to have a little talk about your closed-door activities," said Eda.
"Please, let's not."
Luz was reaping what she sowed, yet again, her trance led her to creating a second ring, by the time she was done she was completely drained. She had Eda make her the sugary pancakes – or equivalent of – for her lunch and she downed the mana from heaven – pun not intended – like it was her last meal. She did take a moment to speak to her internal magic mentor and found out eating sugary foods was a quick way to replenish one's mana, noting that he himself would regularly eat powered sugar donuts.
That eased her mind, knowing that her craving for sugary foods was her body's way of physically refilling her magic bar. But her ravenous way of eating did cause Eda worry, she'd have to stock up on snacks to eat whenever she went into those trances and made a new ring. If she could offset her the side effects of the magic drain by munching on some candy or something during or after her trance, then these little awkward conversations wouldn't happen.
Eda and Luz arrived at Hexside, Luz hopped off the staff, hugged Eda, and scrambled towards the school as Eda flew away. She hated that she was late for school, her old school she could not care that much about, but this was magic school, missing any amount of time here was a big no-no for Luz. As she was trying to figure out if she should head to her bestiary class or potion class since it was already one in the afternoon, Luz bumped into one of the students.
"Oh, sorry!" Luz called out.
"Luz?!"
"Viney?"
The dual track Beast and Healing girl, Viney, paused and looked at Luz with confusion. "Hold on, I thought you were at the Grudgby field about to take on Boscha?"
Now Luz was the one confused. "I just got here, I accidentally slept in."
Viney didn't get it, she was sure she heard the other students gossiping and rushing off to watch Luz and Boscha have a witch's duel. "This doesn't make sense…Jerbo and Barkus had texted a minute ago that they saw you at the field."
"Okay, something's up, I don't know what, but we should–!"
Suddenly the sound of an explosion went off, causing both Luz and Viney to jerk their heads in different directions trying to figure out where it came from. But it didn't take them long to figure it out as they shouted together, "THE GRUDGBY FIELD!"
Both girls ran as fast as they could towards the field, but when they arrived, they bore witness to another explosion, blue flames erupted from the center of the crowd, causing them all to back up and create big enough gaps for Luz and Viney to see what was going on. That's when they saw it, the fiery monster that stood at the center of the field, from what they could see, Boscha was there, along with Gus, Amity, her brother and sister, and–
"WILLOW!" Luz shouted in a panic, noticing that her friend had several cracks all over her body and was writhing in pain.
I'm too late, thought Luz.
The world around Luz went black and white just as Wizard appeared next to her. "Not yet, you may still have time to save her, Noceda-chan, but you need to act quickly. A Phantom takes time to manifest, it needs to destroy the Gate's Underworld first before it can be born."
Luz looked to Wizard and asked, "But how?!"
"I will guide you, but before any of that, you need to defeat that Phantom first. It will do all it can to prevent you from saving your friend."
Luz clenched her fists and said, "Like hell it will!" Wizard disappeared and the world went back into color. The Latina looked to Viney and said, "We need to get the teachers and have them call in the Emperor's Coven, Viney! It's one of those monsters from the market!"
"Seriously?! O-Okay, let's head back inside and see if we can find anyone!" Viney stated.
The two girls went back inside, Luz stopped and said, "You go that way and I'll go this way, that way can we can get as many teachers as we can!"
"Got it!"
Viney ran to the left, while Luz ran to the right. She quickly ducked into the girls' restroom and quickly checked for anyone, thankfully it was empty.
"Okay," Luz took out her Driver On Ring and placed it over her right ring finger. "Hold on guys, I'll be there in a minute!"
Luz lifted the hem of her shirt and placed her right hand over the Hand Author buckle.
[Driver On, Please.]
Luz switched the hand's position to the left and quickly placed her Light Style Ring over her left ring finger.
[Shabadoobi touch to henshin! Shabadoobi touch to henshin!]
"Henshin!"
[Light, Please.]
[Hi~Ka~Ri!]
A flash of light and went off in the bathroom, and after a couple of seconds, Kamen Rider Witch burst out of the door and headed towards the field.
The Phantom snickered evilly as she looked upon the shocked faces of everyone assembled, but she savored the looks on Willow's friends the most. "This was almost too damn easy, but no less fun."
"RUN!" someone shouted.
The crowd began to disperse, but then Wil-O'-The-Wisp thrust her left arm out, releasing a blast of azure flames. The flames came alive and encircled the group, trapping Amity, Gus, Edric, Emira, Willow, and Boscha inside.
"Can't have you all leave just yet," said Wil-O'-The-Wisp. "I want to see if any of you are Gates, I figured the despair of watching your dear friend transform into a Phantom right before your eyes might do the trick, or maybe it'll be the existential terror of getting killed by your friend." Wil-O'-The-Wisp looked in Boscha's direction. "In your case, it'll be the terror and despair of having someone you ridiculed and tormented destroy you. I can't wait to see the kinds of faces you'll make, and what Phantoms might spring forth!"
"NONE OF THAT IS HAPPENING!"
Wil-O'-The-Wisp looked up just as Witch vaulted over the fire wall, with her WizarSwordGun she fired several rounds at the Phantom, making Wil-O'-The-Wisp jump back to avoid getting hit. Witch landed and came to a rolling stop as she took aim with her weapon, her gaze directly on the monster before her.
"Witch, I wondered when you'd show up!"
"I will not let you turn her into a Phantom! So long as I'm alive, I will not let her lose hope," said Witch.
"Tch, hope is nothing but an empty promise, something that weak beings cling to when the darkness has come to swallow them. I, Wil-O'-The-Wisp, will snuff out her hope, and everyone else's hope with my flames!"
Wil-O'-The-Wisp thrust her right hand forward, releasing a torrent of azure flames straight for Witch. The Kamen Rider hurriedly dodge rolled to the right and switched WizarSwordGun to blade mode and came rushing at the flame monster. Wil-O'-The-Wisp turned her arms into flaming swords and met Witch halfway. Their blades rang in the air as the two warriors clashed, sparks and flames kicked up with every strike, but whenever Witch was about to land a blow, Wil-O'-The-Wisp would release a wave of heat that created a buffeting wall, preventing Witch's blade from landing a hit.
The flaming Phantom disengaged from the battle and fired several fireballs at the hero. Witch deflected some of them but wasn't able to block them all as some did manage to impact against her body, setting off an explosion that caused sparks to fly from her armor. "What's the matter, Witch?! Can't take the heat?!" Wil-O'-The-Wisp created a huge fireball and threw it in Witch's direction.
"Oh, that's going to hurt…"
Witch quickly put a Spell Ring onto her right hand and placed it over the Hand Author.
[Defend, Please.]
A wall of hard light formed in front of Witch, just in time to take the impact of the fireball, causing a powerful explosion that made everyone hit the deck. Witch sighed in relief, the barrier held, but it was severely cracked, it would not take another hit like that. Witch glanced to Boscha, and then to her friends. She saw Willow on the ground, writhing in pain while Amity and Gus tried to comfort her, Edric and Emira would occasionally glance over their shoulders towards them, but mainly kept their focus on what was happening in front of them.
I can't go all out if they're here, so first thing's first!
Witch jumped into the air, spun around, and landed in front of them.
[Defend, Please.]
Witch created another barrier to protect them, she then addressed her friends and said, "Hang on, I'm going to get you all out of here!"Witch moved to grab Willow, but Amity quickly put herself between Willow and Witch. "What are you doing?! I'm trying to help you!"
"How do I know that's true?! You may've saved us from that monster at the market, but now Willow's in pain, Zera turned into a monster, and…I don't know what to think but I'm not losing my friend!" Amity declared defiantly.
Chica, any other time I would gush about how much you're willing to protect Willow, but this isn't that time! "I'm sorry, but if you don't let me help her, she'll turn into a monster and be lost forever! I'm asking you to trust me, please…"
Witch and Amity stared each other down for what felt like an eternity, Luz tried to convey her intentions without revealing her identity, hoping that Amity would at least feel as if she could trust her without knowing her identity. After a tense moment, Amity moved away from Willow. Witch knelt before Willow and picked her up, scooping her into her arms.
Amity looked up at Witch and said, "If you're lying, I swear on the Titan I'll make you pay no matter what it takes."
"If I fail…then I won't stop you." Witch quickly swapped out her rings and reset the belt. "Hang on!"
[Connect, Please.]
Witch aimed her hand below them, creating a portal. Everyone except for Willow and Witch screamed when they felt the ground slip away, but that only lasted a second before the portal deposited them on the other side of the fire wall. Witch landed on her feet, while Gus landed on his rump, Amity managed to fall on top of her siblings, not by choice, but it insured that she wouldn't injure her leg further. Once everyone was up, Emira gave Amity a piggyback ride, while Witch handed Willow over to Edric.
"Keep her safe but close by, I need to take care of that Phantom first," said Witch as she turned towards the fire wall.
"Wait! What about Willow and Boscha?! Willow looks like she's getting worse, and Boscha's still in there," said Gus.
"I have to defeat that Phantom first; I can't help Willow if that thing's still a threat to everyone. And as for…Boscha."A Kamen Rider saves people, that is what they do. Even if some of those people were jerks.
[Connect, Please.]
Witch created another portal, which showed Boscha on the other side. The young witch saw the portal open to her right and gasped in surprise when she saw Witch. "Take my hand unless you want to stay with that flaming she-monster!" Boscha didn't give it a second thought, she reached out and grabbed Witch's hand just as a fireball came roaring towards Boscha. The portal closed and Boscha was now standing next to Witch. "Get somewhere safe."
The triclops stared up at the hero and nodded her compliance as she ran towards the school. Willow's group had headed close to school building, ready to head inside should this fight turn ugly. The fire wall came down, and now Wil-O'-The-Wisp stood before Witch, visibly agitated. "I will drag your burnt and charred body before Lady Tiamat as a gift, along with a new Phantom, Witch!"
Witch took an attack stance and shouted, "Not going to happen!"
Wil-O'-The-Wisp released a barrage of fireballs straight for Witch, the hero of hope nimbly dodged the fireballs, flipping and cartwheeling around the attacks. When the barrage stopped, Witch said, "You need to work on your aim!"
"Perhaps you shouldn't presume too much."
Suddenly, Witch's back was hit by several of the fireballs that she had dodged earlier, some others hit the ground around her and exploded, throwing the masked hero into the air. Witch hit the ground but managed to avoid a seriously bad fall thanks to the magic of her robe. Ugh, this sucks, I can't get too close because of her heat, and from a distance she has the advantage! There's gotta be something I can do?!
Just then, one of the four colored rings shined. Witch looked down at her chain link and saw the blue ring was glowing bright, as if it were saying to use it.
"Ready to give up yet?" Wil-O'-The-Wisp asked.
Witch removed the Light Style Ring and replaced it with the blue ring. "I haven't even begun to fight!" she declared, placing the new ring over the Hand Author.
[Ice, Please.]
[Kkkkkkori~! Kkkkkkori~!]
A blue version of Witch's magic circle appeared in front of her. The circle moved forward and passed over Witch, and when it finished, her armor and color changed from before. The helmet's design had sharper features, with a blue gemstone visor. The half circle crystal nodes on Witch's coat were now half triangles of the same color, and the crystal chest plate changed to blue as well. All around Witch the air was chilly and brisk, but she not bothered, this was Witch's Ice Style.
"W-What the heck? She just changed her costume?" Emira commented.
"That's a little anticlimactic, I was expecting something else," said Edric.
Gus, however, was wide eyed and in awe. "Oh, you guys, you don't get it! This is what Kamen Riders do! We just witnessed a mode change!"
"What?" the twins asked in unison.
Gus rolled his eyes; how did anyone not know human lore? "Kamen Riders have the ability to change up their powers! Some have elemental mode changes, others weapon mode changes! It mostly depends on the theme and power of the Rider according to the shows. But I never thought we'd actually get to see this in person! Oh yeah, that Phantom's history!"
Amity stared at Witch intensely and said, "I think Gus may be onto something. It's…It's weird, but if you concentrate, you can tell that her magic changed, it's like what it was before, but it's also different." The green haired witch glanced down at Willow, still squirming around in pain. "Please hurry…"
Witch assumed a fighting stance locked eyes with the Phantom. "Now, it's showtime!"
Wil-O'-The-Wisp attacked with more fireballs, but Witch dodged them once again, but unlike last time, her movements were more fluid and swifter, using minimal effort to dodge the attacks as if she were the wind. Wil-O'-The-Wisp didn't care, with a thought, she had the fireballs return like boomerangs and attack Witch from several directions. Witch wasn't about to be taken by surprise again, the hero of hope began throwing kicks and waving her hands. All around her the wind started to kick up, the temperature dropping dramatically as she did. When the fireballs got near her, they were fizzling out until they turned to smoke.
"WHAT?!" Wil-O'-The-Wisp exclaimed.
The Phantom launched more fireballs at Witch, but the hero's dance was creating a blizzard barrier, taking away the destructive power of that they once had. With that taken care of, Witch dashed straight for Wil-O'-The-Wisp, the Phantom was taken aback by how much faster Witch had become, because now she was on her in just a few short strides. Witch hit Wil-O'-The-Wisp with a right palm strike, coating that hand in ice elemental energy. The moment she hit, sparks flew from Wil-O'-The-Wisp, making her cry out in pain from the attack.
Wil-O'-The-Wisp jumped back to put some distance between them, but Witch wasn't about to let her go that easily. Another of her rings began to glow, and Witch unhooked it. When she saw it, she smirked under her helmet and put it on, then activated it.
[Freeze, Please.]
Witch's hands and feet were coated in icy magical energy, she then tapped her foot against the ground and released a wave of ice towards Wil-O'-The-Wisp. The flaming Phantom saw the attack and hurriedly released another fire torrent. The impact was powerful, causing a steam explosion that obscured her vision. However, thanks to the advanced magical tech of Witch's armor, she could sense the Phantom without seeing it completely. Witch swiped her right and left hand across and created two ice waves, the waves came at Wil-O'-The-Wisp sideways, hitting her from both sides.
The fire Phantom cried out in pain as she felt the cool ice sting her, which made little since to her, she was made of living flames, how was ice hurting her? Wil-O'-The-Wisp increased the intensity of her flames, melting the ice and creating more steam. In the clouds of steam, she saw a shadow pass through them at high speeds, Wil-O'-The-Wisp fired multiple fireballs whenever she saw the shadow, but every time she missed, she was assaulted with another wave of ice again, and again, and again.
The Phantom was getting frustrated as she yelled out, "COWARD! FACE ME WITCH, STOP HIDING BEHIND THIS STEAM!"
Wil-O'-The-Wisp released a death blossom attack, unleashing fireballs in every direction, hoping to hit the hero. However, all her attention was drawn to the dodging shadow, and not below her feet. It was too late though, as a pillar of ice suddenly jutted out from under Wil-O'-The-Wisp, sending her flying into the air and screaming. Witch stopped for a moment and switched out her rings.
[Connect, Please.]
Witch reached into the portal and pulled out the WizarSwordGun. After, she opened the Hand Author on the weapon and switched it sword mode.
[C'mon slashing, shake hands! C'mon slashing, shake hands!]
With placed her Ice Style Ring over the Hand Author and infused it with her power.
} ICE, SLASH STRIKE {
"The finale!"
Luz waved her left hand and created an ice ramp. The ice clung to her feet and moved her, accelerating her like a railgun as she was launched into the air on an intercept path with the still flailing Wil-O'-The-Wisp. The fire Phantom saw Witch coming and released a large column of azure flames at the hero. Witch didn't bother to dodge as she slashed at the flames and parted them down the middle, getting closer and closer to Wil-O'-The-Wisp. When she was within range, Witch spun once in the air and slashed Wil-O'-The-Wisp across her midsection.
"This is for my friends!"
Witch finished her slash, cutting right through Wil-O'-The-Wisp. The ice energy of the attack spread throughout the Phantom's body, snuffing out her flames before she exploded into a shower of snow and ice particles. Witch flipped once, twice, three times, and a fourth time before she landed on the ground and dismissed her weapon.
"Willow!" Witch ran, using the speed boost she got from Ice Style, and appeared right next to her friends. "How is she doing?"
"Nothing's changed, if anything she's hurting more," said Gus. "You can save her right? You're a Kamen Rider!"
"I will!" But how do I do it? Mr. Soma I need your help!
Once again, the world went into black and white, Wizard appeared next to Witch and knelt on the ground with her. "You'll first need to change back into your Light Style form. Once you've done that, use the Engage Ring I gave you. Place it over the young lady's finger and activate it with the Hand Author. A portal to her Underworld will open and you will have to go into it and fight the Phantom.
Luz blinked, "Really, that's it? I thought it was going to be harder than that."
"Be careful what you wish for. Now hurry, there's not much time left."
Time resumed its normal flow as Witch unhooked the Engage Ring and then placed her Light Style Ring onto her left hand. "Bare with me, everyone, this may seem strange, but I promise it will save Willow."
[Light, Please.]
[Hi~Ka~RI!]
Once she had changed back into her default form, Witch slipped the Engage Ring over Willow's right ring finger. She then reset the Hand Author and placed Willow's hand over the device.
[Engage, Please.]
"Everyone, step back." Willow went still, and for a moment everyone thought that Witch had killed her. But then Witch's magic circle appeared over her, that circle hollowed out and created a tunnel that seemed to go on forever. "I'll be back!" With that said, Witch jumped into the portal and disappeared.
~(WILLOW'S UNDERWORLD)~
Witch was in awe as she descended through the colorful tunnel of light. Diving down deep into the soul of her friend, where the Phantom that was trying to use her as a vessel awaited. A few seconds later, Witch dropped from the portal and onto a…forest? Indeed, it was a forest, trees as far as the eye could see, along with flowers of different kinds.
"Huh…it kind of reminds me of when Amity and I went into Willow's head to fix her memories. Wonder of Inner Willow is here?" Witch thought aloud, she quickly pushed that thought aside and readied herself as she shouted, "HEY, PHANTOM! IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE THIS PLACE, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH ME!"
Witch's voice echoed through the vast forest, but so far there was nothing. That quickly changed when she felt and heard a rumbling sound. Like giant footsteps. Witch got on guard as she tried to sense what was coming, the helmet was displaying something, a detected enemy, but there was something about it that was off to Witch. The readings showed that it was getting closer, and higher.
The readings soon made sense as a giant creature walked into the clearing. It was female in appearance, twenty feet tall, with a crown made of tree branches, leaves, and flowers. Vines and tree roots made intricate patterns all over its body, weaving in and out of it. The creature had glowing green eyes, and no mouth, but on its back were branches that formed feathered wings, the feathers being leaves in this case. Witch was confused at first, this thing didn't look like a monster, if anything it looked like a spirit of the forest, something that Willow would actually like having around.
Maybe my armor's reading it wrong? "Um, excuse me, giant tree woman! Have you seen a monster roaming around here?! It's trying to destroy this world! Please show where it is!"
The creature looked down at Witch, and then something creepy happened. The smooth surface where its mouth was, suddenly began to split apart, it continued to split wider and wider until it could finally open its mouth in an abnormally large way, and release a chilling screech, which also allowed it to show off its rows of razor-sharp teeth. The gentle hands of the creature changed into jagged claws, the feathered wings turned into devil wings with vines weaved together to make up the membrane, and finally, the crown turned into a pair of horns.
"Ooookay, that's the Phantom…THAT'S THE PHANTOM?!"
The Phantom, known as Dryad, raised its large foot and came down with a stomp towards Witch. The Kamen Rider dodged the footfall, but then it came down with its other foot, the Phantom was trying to squash Witch like an insect. Which in this case, compared to the Phantom, she might as well be, she was expecting to fight a Phantom like Wil-O'-The-Wisp, not a giant monster.
Wizard appeared in a flash of embers, floating alongside her as she ran for cover. "Sorry, did I forget to mention that the Phantoms in the Underworld are three times bigger than their counterparts on the outside?"
"YES!" Witch stopped running as she panted, shooting Wizard and annoyed glare. "So how do I stop something that big?!"
"First, you might want to keep running."
"Why, time moves differently when we talk."
"Yes, that's Overworld rules, we're in an Underworld, a realm of the soul. Time has no meaning here, soooo…"
"Hijo de pu–!"Before she could finish her sentence, Dryad swiped the forest with her claws, forcing Witch to duck as several trees were crushed from the swipe.
Once the attack had passed, Wizard continued his explanation. "You'll need to summon your Phantom to fight that one."
Witch got up and began running, trying to put some distance between herself and Dryad. "And how do I do that?!"
"Hmm, hard to say. When I did it, I had a Spell Ring called DragoRise. It only works in the Underworld, and it allowed me to call my Phantom, Dragon, out to fight," said Wizard. "But I never gave you a ring like that."
Another of Witch's newer rings began to shine, on it was the symbol of an owl, it pulsed as if telling Witch to use it. "Guess I made it during one of those trance episodes. Let's try it out!"
[Lupachi magic, touch to go! Lupachi magic, touch to go!]
[OwlRise, Please!]
A large yellow magic circle appeared overhead, and from it flew out the Phantom that Luz confronted during the Sabbath ritual. The mechanical owl screeched as it flew around, narrowing its eyes at Luz as it hovered overhead. "What miserable place have you summoned me to?"
"Oh, wow, it's you! Hi!" Witch greeted. "There's not much time to explain, but essentially, we need to destroy that other Phantom that's wrecking this world!"
The Owl turned its head in a one-eighty motion and watched as Dryad began attacking the forest, with each strike it dealt a crack formed, the fissures were spider webbing outwards the more Dryad tore up the forest, pieces of the Underworld were breaking off and turning into violet-colored particles, indicating that it would not be long before it was gone. The Owl turned its head around and looked back down at Witch. "And I care, why?"
"What do you mean, 'why'?! Because if we don't stop it, Willow will die, and that thing will take over her body!" Witch argued.
The Owl landed on the ground with a thud, folding its wings and presented itself in a superior fashion. "I recall, not too long ago, that that was my intention, but you caged me inside of your body. Now I must live out the rest of my days as your mana battery! Tch…how humiliating is this that I, La Lechuza,would be beaten by a brat like you! Why should I help you? What's in it for me? Or did you forget that Phantom and I are practically kin? Why shouldn't I just let it rampage and get to taste the freedom that I was denied?"
Luz's left eye twitched inside her helmet; she thought her Inner Phantom would be more helpful after she conquered it. I mean, they were a part of each other, right? So, shouldn't some of her own goodwill be present in La Lechuza? Evidently the answer was no. Now she had to figure out a way to make this Phantom fight the other Phantom, but how? That's when it hit her, like a bolt of lightning.
Witch crossed her arms and smirked up at La Lechuza from behind her helmet. "I'll tell you why you're going to stop that thing. Because it's about to get what you were denied. Just like you said. Why should other Phantoms get the chance emerge when you, the great La Lechuza, were denied?!"
La Lechuza paused as she thought about what Witch said, she then turned her head around to Dryad, still in the middle of its rampage. A spark of anger began to build in the giant bird's chest, as much as she disliked it, the girl had a point. Why should any other Phantoms get to come out, while she was caged in the body of a fourteen-year-old human girl for the rest of her life, it was mortifying, it was unjust, it was a disgrace.
"Let me ask you a question, human. You're going to fight that Phantom no matter what I say, aren't you?"
"You better believe I will!"
La Lechuza groaned loudly and put her right wing to her forehead. "I hate to say this, but I agree. The ones who got out, got out. But these inferior things will not be allowed to come forth when I was denied! Also, if you die, then I die, and though I am loathed to be trapped in your soul, I rather live in a cage then be a dead bird!"
Witch inched a bit closer and asked, "So, does this mean you're going to help me?"
"No, I'm going to destroy that inferior Phantom! You can…assist me."
"I'm good with that!" Witch proclaimed.
La Lechuza flared her metallic wings and took off, heading straight for Dryad. She released a loud battle screech as she struck the back of the Phantom with her razor-sharp talons. The talons pierced and gouged at the wing joints, La Lechuza flapped as fast and hard as she could, and with one more good flap, tore the Phantom's wings from its back. The creature howled in pain as it doubled over. Green ooze came out of the two wounds, and the cracks to the Underworld were healing.
Damaging the Phantom heals the Underworld! So, defeating it will restore it for sure! Another of the rings started to glow from the chain. Witch unhooked it and saw that it was one of the newer ones she made last night. Wasting little time, Witch placed it over the Hand Author and activated it.
[Ride, Please.]
A magic circle appeared to her left, and from the ring materialized a vehicle. It had no wheels but hovered three feet off the ground. It had a sleek design, colored white, yellow, and black. It had handlebars like a motorcycle, and a seating design like one, and at the back was an engine of sorts. Gold colored metal fins spun and contracted, while at the center was an orb of light that seemed to act as the engine of this vehicle. On the front was the magic circle of Witch, painted onto it, along with two grooves that had sharpened clear crystals jutting from them. Witch realized what this was, and she practically squealed with joy.
"I have a vehicle! I have a vehicle!" Witch thrust both her arms into the air and shouted, "I'm an official Kamen Rider!" Witch hopped onto the machine, giddily gripped the handlebars and revved the mystical engine. The fins and orb reacted with each rev, showing that the machine was ready to go. "You're not quite a motorcycle, but you can also fly. I think I'll call you the Witch Speeder!"
With revved the engine once more before going full throttle, in just a second the Speeder took off into the air at great speed. While she was holding on, she felt two trigger-like buttons on both grips. When she neared Dryad, Witch decided to see what they could do and pressed them. The crystals on the front of the Speeder fired bolts of magical energy in rapid fire succession. Each hit exploded against Dryad's body, making it shriek in greater pain.
Witch flew up higher, now flying next to La Lechuza. "Now I fly with you!"
"Tch, do not presume we are equals in the air. It's two-thousand years too soon for a little chick like you to be getting confident about your flying," said La Lechuza.
Dryad was angry now, from her body she released hundreds of vines that moved like snakes, the vines whipped through the air as they tried to take out La Lechuza and Witch. Witch was able to weave around the vines, and blast her way through others, but La Lechuza was having a harder time, she sliced the vines with her rings and talons, but the vines were relentless as they tried to bind her.
"Release me you wretched excuse for a house plant!"
Dryad shrieked again and coiled the vines together into a rope, the giant Phantom pulled that rope and forced La Lechuza straight into the ground, landing with a huge BOOM. Dryad slammed both of its hands into the ground, creating bladed roots and vines that came rushing towards the downed bird. La Lechuza struggled against her bonds, but it was no use. However, Witch flew in and fired several shots at La Lechuza's back, snapping the vines.
"Watch where you're aiming, human!"
"Sorry!"
Suddenly, the Speeder's magic circle glowed, at the same time, so did La Lechuza's eyes. The Speeder went into automatic pilot mode and flew her right to La Lechuza's back. The mechanical owl's back opened and allowed the Speeder to fit into place. The moment it did, La Lechuza's metallic feathers opened, creating hard light feathers that sliced through vines like a hot knife through butter. With this new addition, Witch piloted La Lechuza, slicing up the remaining vines and taking off into the air just before the blade roots hit. La Lechuza was also granted a speed boost as she sped towards the giant Phantom and sliced it across its chest with its hard light feathers. They made several passes, swiping at Dryad and cutting into the forest monster with each strike.
"Ugh, this is humiliating, having you steer me from by back," she grumbled.
"Then let's end this," said Witch.
Witch switched out her right ring with her Kick Strike Ring and activated it.
[ VERY NICE, KICK STRIKE! FABULOUS! ]
Witch was ejected from her seat as La Lechuza underwent another transformation. Her mechanized parts shifted and locked, transforming her into, what looked like, a giant foot. Witch understood and dropped down with her right foot, hitting the seat and driving the giant foot downward. The metal wings formed the sides, the hard-light feathers even released particles of yellow magical light. The entire foot was then wrapped in that same energy as a silhouette of Witch appeared over it.
Dryad was dazed from the attacks but managed to look up just in time to see the giant Rider Kick descending upon it. A powerful explosion took place in the Underworld as Witch and La Lechuza's attack made contact, destroying the Phantom in one shot, that explosion continued to roar out in all directions, turning into a green energy wave that seeped into the cracks of the Underworld. The destroyed forest was made whole once again, the dull colors of this world were now bright and cheerful, matching the personality of the owner. La Lechuza returned to her original state, with the Speeder ejecting from her back.
Witch landed on the ground in front of her, she then placed her hands on her hips and looked up at the great owl. "That was amazing!"
"I take it back, you riding me wasn't humiliating, no, turning into a giant foot and smashing into that thing was definitively the most humiliating part!" La Lechuza spat. "I do NOT want to do that again"
"Something tells me, we may have to. But, so long as I can stop the Phantoms out there from getting to their targets, then that won't happen," said Witch.
La Lechuza gave a screech and said, "Then do your job and make sure this doesn't occur again! Or at the very least find a less humiliating way of destroying them!"
Witch rubbed the back of her head and brought her hands together in a kind of prayer position. "I'm sorry, I really am! Pero de todos modos, gracias por ayudarme a salvar a mi amiga (But all the same, thank you for saving my friend.)."
"Tu agradecimiento no es necesario (Your thanks isn't necessary.)." Witch looked up at La Lechuza and was surprised to hear her speak in Spanish. "Saqué un Phantom inferior, y eso es todo (I took out an inferior Phantom, and that is all.)."
With that said, La Lechuza took flight, soaring higher until a magic circle appeared. The giant owl flew through the circle, disappearing back into Witch. The hero of hope sighed in content, but then she noticed something, there was a great tree that stood tall amongst the others, upon this tree was a picture of herself, Gus, Willow, and Amity. Witch had to keep herself from gasping in shock when she saw Inner Willow appear from behind the tree.
"Thank you."
Witch nodded, and at that moment, the portal to the Overworld opened. With her work done, Witch entered the portal and exited Willow's Underworld.
~(OVERWORLD)~
Amity, Gus, Edric, and Emira waited with worry. It had been a couple of minutes since Witch dove through the portal, and Willow still had cracks all over her body, but her painful cries had ceased, so that was good. Hopefully.
"Willow, please be okay," said Amity.
No sooner had she said that did a portal open at her left side. From the portal appeared Kamen Rider Witch. The moment she stepped out, the cracks all around Willow's body glowed green and sealed themselves, disappearing completely.
"Is she alright?!" Emira asked.
"Ask her yourself," said Witch.
Willow's eyes fluttered open as she stirred, she slowly sat up and groaned, rubbing her head as she took in those who were around her. "Amity…Gus? Edric and Emira…? And…" Willow paused when she looked up at the superhero, she smiled and said, "Thank you, Witch."
"You're okay, right Willow?" Gus asked.
Willow flexed her hands and took a deep breath before exhaling it slowly. "Yep, I feel really refreshed actually."
Amity looked up at Witch and asked, "What did you do?"
"That monster, the Phantom, wanted to turn Willow into a Phantom by inducing despair upon her. When she gave in, that was when the Phantom inside reacted and began, essentially, destroying Willow's soul from the inside. All so it could come to life and use Willow's likeness for its own purposes," Witch explained.
Gus' eyes widened, remembering when they saw Zera transform into that flaming monster. "Zera was a Phantom…this whole time she's been in school, and we never knew she was a monster."
Witch knelt before the young male witch and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Don't beat yourself up about it, these Phantoms are good at blending in. Just be vigilant and watch each other's backs. No matter what happens, I'll always be here to bring you guys hope."
Edric tapped Witch on the shoulder and said, "You probably want to get going now, the Emperor's Coven will be here soon."
"Well, we wouldn't want that." Witch separated from the group and used her Ride Ring.
[Ride, Please.]
The Witch Speeder materialized before them, causing no shortage of "Ohs" and "awes". Witch mounted her vehicle, gave a nod to her friends, and revved the engine as she took off into the forest at great speed.
Luz was exhausted after yesterday, school was closed today, and for once she was glad that it was. Thanks to the appearance of a Phantom at Hexside, Principal Bump and Lilith closed the school for the day while the Emperor's Coven investigated what happened. Willow didn't seem to remember what occurred in her Underworld, and that was for the best. Luz got the full rundown from Gus that Zera was an Illusionist witch like himself, she was always nice to him, and fun loving too, she was in the higher grades like Edric and Emira, so Luz never really got to see her as much.
To say that it was a shock to find out that she was Phantom would be a bit of an understatement. A monster was roaming the halls of their school, unwatched and free, it no doubt scared some of the parents. But what Luz really found sad was how Zera's parents must feel right now, they lost their daughter not once but twice, the first time when she became a Phantom, and the second time when Luz destroyed her physical body. Mr. Soma had told her that once a person becomes a Phantom, that person's soul no longer exists, they are a husk of their former selves, she knew this, but it was still hard. That Phantom was someone's child, just like the others, they were someone's mother, brother, son, uncle.
Luz furrowed her brow in anger, cursing the Phantoms for doing something so horrible to people, for doing that to her and almost making her own mother and Eda have to go through that same pain and sorrow. "I swear I'll take them down." Suddenly there was a tapping sound at her window. Luz looked up and saw that it was Hooty. "What's up?"
Hooty pushed the window open and said, "You got a visitor! Hoot."
"Oh? Really?" Luz got up and walked downstairs, once she was at the foot of the stairs, Luz smiled and said, "Hey, Willow."
"Hey, Luz," she greeted cheerfully.
"What brings you here?"
"I kinda wanted to talk to you, privately."
"Oh, okay, let's go to my room." Luz led Willow up to her room, she closed the door behind her and patted the spot next to her sleeping bag for Willow to sit. "So, what's on your mind?"
Willow sat down across from Luz and sighed heavily. "Luz, you're Kamen Rider Witch aren't you?"
The world froze for Luz, and not the version where she talks to Wizard, the kind of frozen perception when you hear something so shocking that your brain can't function. How did you find out?! Does Gus know?! Does Amity?! Eda?! Okay, calm down, calm down, Luz! She just asked, she didn't outright say you are, just play it cool. "Heh, that's funny, I mean, I can't be Kamen Rider Witch, I'm not brave enough to be her, and I'm certainly not tall enough or powerful like she is."
Willow reached out with her right hand and wrapped it around Luz's left. "Luz, ever since you've arrived at the Boiling Isles, you've changed things for me, and for everyone around you. Changed in a good way. If it wasn't for you, I would still be that scared little witch who was too afraid to speak up and just continue to fail at a course that was wrong for her. My days at Hexside were miserable until you arrived, you…you gave me hope."
Luz started to get teary eyed from hearing Willow speak her heart to her. "Willow…"
"That's why, I get afraid for you sometimes. I know you're not like us, you're not built the same and are a bit fragile compared to us witches, but when I see you do all the things you do, without caring about getting yourself hurt, it makes me take a hard look at myself. Compared to you, I'm weak," said Willow.
Luz gripped Willow's hand with both of hers and said, "No, you're not weak, Willow, you're strong!"
Willow smiled. "I want to be, and I will be. That's why I want to help you, just tell me the truth, Luz. I can tell that something's changed about you since you were rescued, I never could put my finger on it until…yesterday."
Luz gulped. "W-What do you mean?"
Willow took her hand back and placed it over her heart. "This feeling inside, of hope and comfort, it feels the same as when I'm around you. I felt that from you as Witch. I have vague memories of seeing Witch inside a forest and having this sense of peace. The same feeling I get with you around, even in the worst situations."
Luz wanted to deny it, she could still deny it, she had to deny it to keep her friends safe…she couldn't do it, not to Willow. Luz sighed long and hard as she looked Willow in the eyes. "You're right, Willow, I am Kamen Rider Witch. The day I was kidnapped, I was subjected to a ritual that was supposed to turn me into a Phantom, but I stopped it from happening to me, and as a result, I gained magical powers from it. Now I'm using them to fight against the rest the Phantoms."
Willow then asked, "Why does it have to be you? Why not let the Emperor's Coven do it?"
"Willow, you've seen what these Phantoms can do, they're stronger than them. Eda took on Wendigo and she barely put a scratch on him, I has to be me, it's a sacred duty that I gladly accept!" Luz stated with pride.
Willow shook her head for a moment and then smiled. "I know talking you out of this isn't an option, you'll help people no matter what. At least, now, you'll have someone who can be an extra pair of eyes, and…" Willow drew a spell circle and created vines that obscured Luz. "Someone who can cover for you if necessary."
Willow brought the vines down, and after Luz tackle hugged her best friend and the two witches giggled happily. Luz knew she had to keep her friends safe, the Phantoms were about and would threaten them and everyone on the island. Perhaps she didn't need to go it alone like she thought, maybe she could afford to let Willow know her secret, at least now she would have someone to talk about all of this.
"Thanks, Willow," said Luz.
"You're welcome, so, while we're on the subject, how do you do those spells?" Willow asked with curiosity.
Luz's smile broadened as she went into explanation about the rings and magic stones, all the while Willow was listening with fascination evident in her eyes. However, what neither of the girls noticed was how the door, which had been made ajar, was slowly, and silently, closing until it was completely shut. Aware of nothing.