That day in 1999… It was like a nightmare… The day my life—no, everyone's lives were forever changed. The world could not go back to the way it was. A twist of fate… and many were left in despair at the hand dealt to them.

That day in 1999… It was like a dream… The day I made a vow to find him. The one who forever altered my path in life. He saved my life and gave me a memento I've held onto even now— a reminder of my desire to meet him again.

Chapter 36: Dual Fates (Part 1)

19th October 1999…

"What's in 1971?" Ryotaro questioned them, still completely lost while the other two seemed to understand the situation.

It was Takaragi who explained it to him. "1971 was the year the first Rider was born and all of our history began," he elaborated. "Our history began with Kamen Rider Ichigou. If something happens to him before he's born, then all of us will disappear with him."

"Oh, like cause and effect?" Ryotaro understood that part, at least. "So we have to stop Another Den-O from reaching 1971?"

"Exactly. Do that, and we're safe from getting erased from history… for about a year," Takaragi added with a snicker. "In any case, whatever business you two have here in 1999, better finish it quick. As I've already said, today is not a good day to be in Tokyo." After a moment of thought, he added again, "Then again, Tokyo has always been a hotspot of disasters in the Rider Worlds. Even if there are no Riders active now doesn't mean it makes it any less safe."

"Why is happening today?" From how he worded it, something very bad was going to happen but Ryotaro didn't recall anything about this date.

Takaragi simply told him to not worry about it yet as it didn't concern them. He then turned to look at Ritsuka and noted, "You've been quiet. Was Swartz's goals really that much of a shock?"

"No, and be quiet. I already have a headache," he sighed. "It's just too confusing. Why is he even doing all this in the first place?"

If what Fujimaru told him was accurate, then Swartz should have no reason to carry out this plan. If all of Rider history was going to disappear like ashes, he'd disappear with them. There was a bigger picture to all this than just him trying to wipe them out.

"If you want my two cents—" He'd rather not. "—I say it's either yet another test of his or…"

"It's another distraction." That was what his plan in Blade's World amounted to— they searched for Saber to fight Falchion so that Swartz could take whatever it was in Wonder World.

"Potentially both."

That was also possible. Unfortunately, in the absence of any clues or information, the only thing they could do was follow the path Swartz laid out for them. Ritsuka assumed exploring 1999 and learning what happens today was part of his schemes too. Since Takaragi knew what was going to happen but Ryotaro didn't, that probably meant today's event was only known to a few.

If what Takaragi said was true and there were no Riders around yet, then it was an outside interference— and since the ones who attacked them came from this year…

"Takaragi."

"Yes?" The thief had a devilish grin as he responded. "How can I be of service?"

"Where's the trail you mentioned?" Going where the portal to 2008 was should point them in the right direction… maybe.

23rd October 2001…

After taking the morning to take a break and re-energise, the group (without Ciel who hadn't returned since the previous night) resumed their search for their missing friends. This time, they split into four groups; the Taros by themselves— which was admittedly a terrible idea —Yuuto and Deneb, Shouichi going off to find and join Ciel, and finally:

"Are we sure they are actually around?" Ryoko said what was going through everyone's mind at this point. It was looking less and less likely that Ritsuka and Ryotaro were also in 2001. "Maybe those eyewitnesses at the station mistook him for someone else?" She suggested.

"Maybe but it's not like we have any other leads," Tetsuya tried to say but was quickly rebuked.

"Yeah, we do. That Tohno guy," she pointed out. "He obviously knows who Ritsu is; he probably can point us in the right direction."

While she had a point, there was still an issue that Tetsuya reminded her of. "Didn't he say we should stay out of his way?" The new Rider was clearly caught up in something; it was better they follow his advice and not get involved in it… yet. Ciel

Ryoko let out a frustrated sigh. She knew her friend was right. "Fine, fine…" She relented. However, they didn't move the topic away from the strange Rider who saved them the day before. "You think Ciel knew him?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"She was looking at him weirdly," replied Ryoko. "Then she went off on her own last night to look for him…" If it had been Shiki who recognised her, that was not all that strange; he was from the future (or rather the further future), and they could have met already from his perspective. However, if Ciel did know who he was, that was odder. It was too bad Shouchi refused to tell them more about Shiki.

"Hmm…" Tetsuya gave the idea some thought. "We don't know much about her life before you kidnapped her—" "HEY!" "—so it is definitely possible. But if she did, what are the chances she would meet an alternate version of someone she knew?"

"…"

"Alright, that's fair," Tetsuya blushed out of embarrassment. "But what are the chances it happens twice to the same group of people?"

"It could be more likely than you think," she shrugged. This was still new territory; running into only one alternate version of themselves could even be uncommon for all they knew. Now that she was thinking about it, she recalled something odd from the previous night again. "You know, what Shouichi said was pretty strange."

"What do you mean now?" Tetsuya needed more context to get what she was referring to; Shouichi said lots of things last night.

"When he introduced us to Tohno; Shouichi told that guy "might already know them." Ryoko made air quotes to emphasise her point. "He could've already known Ciel but us?"

That was another good point. "There's also that…" Tetsuya muttered, which got Ryoko's attention.

"There's also what?"

"When we split up last night, Shouichi was surprised we were with Ritsuka." Tetsuya recalled what he said specifically— "And how did you and Ryoko find Ritsuka? I remember him saying you guys were off doing your own things now."

Coupled with Shouichi heavily hinting had met Ritsuka again between now and their first meeting, did that mean— "There you are!" Before he could think about it any further, Yuuto's shouting interrupted them. "Over here!"

Both teens looked across the street to see the time-traveller and his partner Imagin on the other side. While Ryoko frowned at his appearance, Tetsuya remained nice to the man who was helping them. "Hey, Kiriya-san! Found something?!" He shouted back.

"Yeah, get over here already! Your friend found a clue!"

After following Yuuto to the meet-up point, which was a decrepit and abandoned building near the area (Ryoko naturally grumbling how they were just begging to be attacked here too), they reunited with Ciel, Shouichi, and the remaining Taros.

"So what's this big clue you found, Bluey?" Yuuto started the discussion without a moment's hesitation which resulted in a slap from Deneb.

"I apologise for him. He means it in a nice way," he bowed with pure intent. Luckily, Ciel was in business mode and let it slide.

"It's alright," she said swiftly before moving on. "As for what I found, I managed to confirm Ritsuka has been seen recently. Where he is is still unknown but we're not on a wild goose chase at the very least."

"How'd you find that out?" asked Tetsuya.

"Well…"

The night before…

After her brief meeting with Shiki again, Ciel decided to leave him to his business and actually go look for Ritsuka. Instead of blindly jumping around the roofs (again) hoping to catch a glimpse of him from above, she thought it was a better idea to see if she still had connections in the city.

Since Shouichi mentioned other members of the Holy Church had contacted him after she went missing, that meant they still knew who she was despite it being 2001. With that logic in mind, she visited the nearest church she knew of. It had worked well for them in the last world; it could still work here.

She entered the cathedral with a small greeting in case someone was inside. Even if it was the middle of the night already, the lights were still up but there was nobody in sight. At least, she thought there was nobody. She walked down the aisle and stopped in the middle, thinking she should just leave, when— "Welcome back Bow. It has been some time, hasn't it?"

Ciel managed to save face and keep her surprise in check at the sudden voice. She turned around to face the older man in charge of this specific location. "Father," she greeted him respectfully. "This may be a bit unorthodox, especially since I've been… away for so long—"

"You require guidance?" The father chuckled in amusement. "Very well, I shall assist however I can."

Great, Ciel thought, she didn't need to explain anything. "I'm looking for a couple of people," she told him before briefly describing Ryotaro and Ritsuka.

Once she finished her description of the latter, the father hummed. "Ah, you mean that boy. He's always in some sort of trouble, isn't he?"

'Huh?' Ciel was initially confused; she never told the Church anything about Ritsuka— mainly because she never got the chance to. How did they already know who he was? 'Unless…'

"Yes, I have heard from your colleagues that the boy has been seen loitering around the general area. After his last appearance and all the mayhem that happened, we thought it was best to be on the lookout for him," the father elaborated.

"I see," Ciel nodded and played along. "Where has he been sighted?"

"After that, I went looking around where Fujimaru-kun's been spotted," Ciel finished her explanation.

"And?"

"And I did find some things of interest." She pulled out what she found during her search— several Rider Cards and more importantly…

"A ticket?" Urataros didn't expect that to be something Ciel found lying around.

"December 1999, I suppose that's where we have to go next?" Ciel questioned.

She knew it was strange and definitely convenient to find a ticket, something they needed now of all times to resume their mission. First, it was that guy at the station and now, it looked like Ritsuka had left them what they needed to move on. That was twice now…

'How did they know…' The man could've been watching them for a while and was only choosing now to get involved when they needed it; it certainly looked that way to Ciel. However, if Ritsuka was the one who left behind this ticket, why? He would need it to move on, wouldn't he? Unless he no longer needed it, there should be no reason other than just pure carelessness that it was left in that place.

As she was thinking, Yuuto took the initiative and swiped the ticket out of her hand. "The only way to find out is to go there." Since there was little reason to stick around 2001 now, they should make a move on already.

"Wait, already? Just like that?" Admittedly, they had already checked all the boxes they needed to— ran into a Rider they knew, got caught in the middle of a large fight, and got lost for the umpteenth time. They also met some weird guy who only confused them further.

Still, Ryoko thought they were leaving 2001 too fast.

It was then that Shouichi gave his opinion, "I think it's better if you all be on your way. Catching up to Ritsuka is certainly smarter than sticking around here."

"What do you mean?"

"Tohno being around here is concerning, to be honest," he explained. "The last time I saw him… let's just say things got pretty bad. It'll be easier on my mind and his if you all get out of here."

"He didn't sound like he cared about us," Ryoko scoffed. Admittedly, Shiki had been more aloof than anything but he still did not make a good first impression with his personality. Saving them was a big plus though.

"I don't know the specifics but I've heard he used to be more outwardly kinder in the past. But whatever he's been through shaped him to be the way he is now… or so I heard," Shouichi restated. "Maybe you'll learn what happened to him in your travels. You've all haven't actually met him for the first time, right?"

That was true, none of them knew who Shiki truly was, not even Ciel yet.

However, Yuuto being the spoilsport he was, popped everyone's bubbles. "All I'm hearing is we can go now. Come on."

"Yuuto, wait for us!"

Shouichi bid goodbye to his (mutual) friends before they boarded the bull-themed train. He watched as the ZeroLiner rode its track up into the sky and vanished into a time portal, leaving the year of 2001.

Will they meet again? He was not sure. They'll meet him again for sure, but for all he knew this could be the last time he'll meet them.

"So they're gone, huh?" Shouichi didn't flinch as Shiki's voice came from behind him before the other man walked up to his side. "That's one less nuisance for me to worry about," sighed Shiki.

"So you do care about them," Shouichi teased to which Shiki just huffed.

"Less that and more I care for people who care about them," he admitted. "If not—"

"You'd still have helped them anyway. I don't think anyone's fooled by your mask, Tohno," mused Shouichi before reminding him of something from before. "'Hunt who I want to hunt. Protect who I want to protect,' right? Isn't that what you said that time?"

Shiki didn't reply immediately, only closing his eyes in thought. Eventually— "I'm just following the path I set for myself. Nothing more."

"Yet that path is similar to ours but you still refuse to call yourself a Rider."

"I'm nothing like you guys," Shiki retorted. "…I have no right to say I'm like you."

"Do you really believe that?"

Shiki fell silent again. Before long though, he sighed and took off his glasses. "Sorry to cut this conversation short but we've got company."

As soon as he said that, Shouichi felt a presence behind them and the sounds of grunting. They both turned around to see a small platoon of various monsters, no doubt sent by their mutual enemies. There were no Lords to be seen among them, explaining to Shouichi why he didn't sense anything.

"Are they the ones you came here to hunt?" Shouchi asked as he scanned the faces, recognising some of them from a previous battle.

"Not them exactly but they'll lead me to my target." With that last remark, the time for words was over; Shouichi summoned his belt as Shiki put his on. The repeating humming of the Alter Ring filled the air while the latter initiated his transformation, his eyes turning red in the process.

NEW OMEGA!

"…Amazon!"

"Henshin!"

1999…

Eight years was not actually that long of a time in hindsight. Still, Ryotaro couldn't help but be surprised how little things have changed from the past to his present. Things were less modern that much is true but compared to the difference between 2007 and 2012, where there was a space station connected to a high school, things were a lot more familiar.

Then again, that space station might have just been out of the ordinary for 2012 too…

"Psst, Ryotaro. Do you remember any winning lottery numbers?" Momotaros maybe joked as they walked past a lottery stand.

"I was 9 years old, Momo," he replied with a small laugh. "I don't really remember anything as minor as that, you know." As Momo pouted at being denied the chance of winning something, Ryotaro went back to talking to Ritsuka. "So who were those guys that attacked us in 2008?"

"I don't know their name for sure," answered Ritsuka. "But Swartz is part of them for sure."

'The one who made the Another me…'

Ryotaro's thinking was interrupted by Takaragi, who'd been leading them to their destination. "Not going to ask me? I know far more than this guy ever will."

"Hey, y—"

"For your information," Takaragi cut him off. "The group Swartz is a part of is called Dai-Shocker."

"Dai…" "Shocker?"

"Yup, Dai-Shocker," the thief nodded in confirmation. "You should at least have heard that name before."

"Shocker…" Ryotaro muttered again. He has heard it before but couldn't immediately recall from where. But after several seconds of thinking— "Ah. Dairiki-san mentioned them before."

"—Anyway, we won and became these guys called the GoRiders and then fought the Game World's version of Shocker."

"Who are they?" He inquired.

"Shocker… Their history dates back long before any of us were even born but they were responsible for the creation of Ichigou," Takaragi revealed, recounting the stories he's heard before. "The original Shocker were destroyed but new iterations have been popping up all over the place after their initial defeat. In this case, the one Swartz is working for is named Dai-Shocker."

"Dai… Shocker…"

"Yes, Ritsuka-kun, Dai-Shocker. Do I have to say it one more time?" Takaragi maybe-jokingly teased him as the name rang a bell in his head.

'Where have I heard that before…?' It was more than likely from before he lost his memories but Ritsuka felt like there was more to it than that.

"They've been kicking around for a long while now and been the ones behind the scenes in many things. In fact, all the villain groups in the Rider Worlds have in one way or another been helped or been helped by Shocker. Even the Imagins have lent some of their manpower to Dai-Shocker."

"You mean…?"

"Yup, the legions of monsters that invaded that World you were living in were working under Dai-Shocker's command," Takaragi cheerfully grinned as he watched Ritsuka's face turn from one of confusion to mild worry.

'That explains everything then…' How they knew he was there was still a mystery but Dai-Shocker being the one behind it made sense. To be able to round up and get the help of every Rider Worlds' monster faction sans Saber's was a monumental task, one that would be an easy task for a long-lasting and powerful organisation like Shocker. 'But why were they after me in the first place?'

They feared Decade's powers, that much was fact, but he wouldn't have become Decade if they didn't invade. Swartz was a calculating and manipulative man from what little he remembers of him; the Time Jacker should have realised Ritsuka becoming Decade was a possible outcome if they went after him.

Then Ritsuka recalled an odd detail about the whole thing. While he had the feeling something was going to happen since before the invasion— Fujimaru also implying he was aware of it too —the Decadriver and RideBooker were sent to him the morning of. There was no way it was Dai-Shocker or Swartz who left it on his dorm's doorstep nor was it Fujimaru… 'Then who…?'

As he pondered the possible identity of the third party who helped kickstart his journey—"We're here." —they arrived at their destination.

Elsewhere…

"If you remembered anything, it should be obvious who it was…" Fujimaru thought as he explored the empty city. His real self wouldn't have heard him; he had temporarily severed his connection with Ritsuka as he wanted to do something on his own first before anything. There were still a few loose ends running around and he should take care of them.

Namely, the escaped Phantom known as Spriggan. He has already caused issues for them in 2017 and 2008 so chances were he was going to interrupt them again. It was better to nip it in the bud before it becomes a real problem.

It may or may not also be because of that name too.

Regardless, Fujimaru went off on his own to find the Phantom, working under the assumption of his target escaping to this year too.

"If I were a creature born out of despair, where would I be…?" The first thought that came to his mind was a high school but that would be too easy. The second thought was an abandoned building as all those guys tend to hang out in but the city was way too big to search on his own or even with a group. It wouldn't even be a needle in a haystack unless it was the biggest haystack in the world.

He absentmindedly fished through his pocket and took out a Rider Card, raising and staring at it. "When was the last time I hunted a Phantom…?" He mumbled to himself. "Too bad I don't have a crystal ball like you did, Haruto…" If only they were still in 2012, maybe he could have checked if Wizard was already active.

Burying the feeling of sorrow for the time being, Fujimaru glanced at a nearby window to peer into the real world. He saw people passing by the store he was standing in front of and thought he should hop through it to resume his search on the other side. Waiting for the right moment, when nobody would notice him (not that it mattered much if they did), he stepped into the window and reemerged into a crowd of pedestrians.

"Now then… where do I go first." He searched through his pockets and took out a stray coin. 'Heads for left; tails for right.' He flipped and caught it. "…Right it is!" He proclaimed before turning left and walking off.

"Useless!" Spriggan cried in pain as he was kicked to the ground by his superior. "You only had one job and you still messed up! Now none of us know where he is!"

"My deepest apologies," he tried to say but was promptly ignored by the apparently human man. The beat-up went on for a full minute before the other person in the room finally spoke up.

"Phoenix, that should be enough punishment." The woman still had a sadistic grin on her face but managed to stop her partner from kicking their underling. "Now then, Spriggan, how will you correct your mistake? Phoenix and I even had to come all the way here to see you ourselves."

The man known as Phoenix spat at her words. "That human… who does he think he is ordering us around like that."

"Now, now. Let's not badmouth our allies. After all—" she pretended to look around before quietly saying, "—for all we know, they might be watching us~"

"Tsk, you bow down too much to Wiseman," Phoenix grunted before walking off to let her deal with Spriggan.

"And you lack faith in him," she sighed before turning her attention back towards Phantom. "What do you think you should do now, Spriggan? As Phoenix said, none of us were told where the Another Rider has gone. We don't even know if he's here in…" She paused for a second to recall the year. "1999."

He did not have an answer, simply replying, "My fate is in your hands…"

His answer, while expected, still made the woman sigh. "While you have little faith in yourself…" she remarked. 'But that just makes our job easier.' "In that case, I'll give you one chance to redeem yourself."

"Anything."

"As I was familiarising myself with this time period, a certain someone caught my eye," she left it there and took out a photo of someone, letting Spriggan fill in the blanks for himself. "You know what to do."

While the thought of altering the past potentially having ramifications on their present was in the back of his mind, Spriggan ultimately ignored it and took his orders like a soldier. "Yes, I will not disappoint you this time."

The woman watch as Spriggan left their temporary hideout just as Phoenix returned from his wandering. "Think he could do it?" He somewhat sarcastically asked, having little faith in his fellow.

"If what the Time Jacker says about Decade is true… then no," she bluntly answered before turning around. "I believe we are done with our task now. Will you return us to our proper time now, Swartz?"

Clapping echoed through the desolate building as the man emerged from an Aurora Curtain. "You played your part well, Medusa. My intuition was right to ask for your assistance," Swartz applauded her performance.

"Hey, what am I? Chopped liver?"

"You weren't acting at all, Phoenix," Swartz smugly retorted but only made the other man laugh, realising the Time Jacker was right. "Your reward will come in due time. For now, return to your time and World while I finish my business here." With a wave of his hand, Swartz opened another portal, this one leading to the World of Wizard.

"You better make do on that. We could have done something more fun back home," Phoenix told him before going through the portal first.

Medusa followed after him, only to stop to ask Swartz one last question. "Was there any reason you asked for Spriggan? You are sending him to his doom; the least you could tell us is why."

Swartz remained silent for a few seconds, only having a small smug smile. Finally, he answered, "Because it is his fate… If I say that, will you believe me?"

"…Perhaps." With that, Medusa disappeared into the portal.

"Hmph, now then…" Swartz talked to himself as he teleported himself to the building's roof. He looked up to the bright blue sky, muttering, "It wouldn't be long now… before this World's fate is set in stone."

19th October 1999. The most important date in this World's history…

To Be Continued in Part 2

A/N: Way way shorter than usual but I feel satisfied enough stopping it here and splitting this chapter into 2. And I mean only 2 this time. I know precisely what I want for the next chapter so I hopefully won't have a repeat of the end of Ryuki with a semi-hiatus. No preview this time despite what I just said but what I will say most of Part 2 will take place completely in 1999 with no time hopping.

As for what's going on in 1988, I've already planted seeds here and there. But it'll be a complete thing with no cutting here and there.

Also, Ritsuka finally learns that Swartz is working for Dai-Shocker insert shocked Pikachu face. Yeah, that much was obvious. But that's one thing solved but still several more questions with no clear answer. Like who was the one who gave him the Decadriver?

…Okay, bad example.

Anyway, apologies for the shorter but hopefully more digestible chapter and see you all next time!

P.S. I'm also now collabing with Bighead98 on his own Kamen Rider/FGO story. Give it a look if you guys get a chance.