Hello and welcome to the first chapter of my Symphogear/Kamen Rider cross-over story. I'm a big fan of Symphogear and I started reading some crossover fics, primarily because vanilla Symphogear stories are pretty much extinct. And the category that seems to be most popular, much to my delight, was Kamen Rider. To tell you how I got into the series, I have to tell you about our American version of Kamen Rider, Kamen Rider Dragon Knight, which is based on Ryuki. I watched it when I was a kid and for some reason I remembered it when I was older. I got curious and looked up the source and I was amazed to see just how different they are from each other.

To keep it short, I got hooked on Kamen Rider but my favorite one has to be Ryuki since it's the one I grew up with. While I could have picked any other for the story, I feel like Ryuki doesn't get the recognition it deserves and I'm sure some people like me have it as their favorite. I plan to include all 13 Riders and perhaps a few extra that you'll see in the future, but the characters themselves will be completely new. So no Shinji, Ren, Kitaoka, or Asakura though some of them might have a few aspects of their personalities. And for this story, the Kamen Riders are capable of hurting the Noise for reasons that I'll explain in future chapters. Furthermore, they will be far more agile than their live counterparts to make things more dynamic and whatnot. Without further ado, enjoy the story. Since this is the first chapter, it will also be considered a pilot episode. So if there are things you don't like or feel need improvement, do let me know in the reviews so I can bring good material for you guys.

Author's Note(2023): Mirror World and Mirror Monsters will be added in Season 2 and be in full effect in season 3.

Chapter 1
The Day the Angels Fell

"Remind me again why I'm here, Akira."

"Come on, Yosuke, just relax."

Akira Nishitani and Yosuke Yagami stood in the VIP backroom, waiting for Zwei Wing to take the stage. Akira had smoothly secured their access through their commander, and now they were killing time before the concert began.

"You're only excited because your girlfriend is singing," Yosuke muttered. "You practically have to be excited."

"Isn't that what being in a relationship is all about?" Akira grinned. He had short, spiky brown hair and sharp brown eyes. At six feet tall with an athletic build, he was slightly taller than Yosuke, who stood at 5'11". In contrast to Akira's short hair, Yosuke had long purple hair tied in a man-bun, yellow eyes, and freckles on his cheeks. Both were dressed in tuxedos for the special event.

"Besides," Akira continued, "it's our anniversary today! We've been together for a year now, and man, I'm so freaking nervous!"

"Did you get her a gift?" Yosuke asked, hoping to catch him off guard. "Bet you didn't, dragon boy."

"Of course, I did. Who do you think you're talking to, Batman?" Akira shot back with a playful wink. "It's a surprise, though. Only Tsubasa knows. Had to ask for help since I have no clue what girls are into nowadays. I'm an old-fashioned guy—I was just gonna give her a necklace or something."

"Old-fashioned, huh? Yeah, you really need to update yourself." Yosuke shook his head. "You're, like, twenty years behind."

"Aw, like you're any better." Akira suddenly lunged at Yosuke, who barely rolled off the couch in time to avoid getting crushed.

"What the hell?! You could've killed me!"

"Your reflexes are still sharp," Akira said, flipping onto the couch and crossing his legs. "Not bad. You might actually give me a good fight next time we spar."

"Not this again…" Yosuke groaned. "I'm tired of sparring with you. Go fight Goro or something."

"That poor kid's already suffered through my gruesome training. It's your turn now." Akira smirked, raising a fist. "We won't get stronger if we don't practice. You know that."

Before Yosuke could retort, the door suddenly slammed open.

"I knew they were hiding here!"

A red-haired girl stood at the doorway, a blue-haired girl close behind. A shaggy-haired boy clung to the redhead's arm, looking utterly defeated.

"You were right, GoroGoro! Nice work!"

"No problem, Kanaede-san…" Goro muttered, weakly prying at her grip but finding himself thoroughly overpowered.

Akira raised an eyebrow. "Did you kidnap crabby here or something, babe? What's going on?"

"Relax, we're just heading out," Kanade said, letting go of Goro—who gasped dramatically as he collapsed onto the floor. She turned to Akira and grabbed his hands. "Just wanted a good luck kiss before we go wild."

"Anything for my radiant sun," Akira said, pulling her in for a kiss.

Yosuke and Tsubasa exchanged a deadpan look, already accustomed to the couple's theatrics. Goro, on the other hand, had a goofy smile on his face.

"I love happy endings. Don't you?"

"Be quiet," Yosuke shot him a glare. "I bet she's been giving you trouble, Tsubasa?"

"I wouldn't say trouble exactly," Tsubasa replied, rubbing her arm. "But she's definitely too energetic for me. I wish I had her confidence. I wouldn't be feeling this way otherwise."

"What are you nervous about, Tsubasa-senpai?" Goro asked, placing his hands on his hips. "You should be pumped, right? You're an idol! You gotta feel what the audience feels! Or something like that…"

"Goro, stop acting like you know what she's feeling," Yosuke sighed. "Have you ever been on stage before? Obviously, she's nervous."

"Ah! Sorry!" Goro quickly bowed. "I didn't mean to be insensitive, Tsubasa-senpai!"

"N-no, it's okay, Goro-chan," Tsubasa reassured him. "You didn't offend me. It's just… there's a lot at stake tonight. The pressure's on."

"I can imagine," Yosuke said sympathetically. "But you've done this plenty of times before. And besides, we all have different jobs to do. You girls handle the stage, us Riders handle security, and the brass takes care of the big-picture stuff. Just do what you do best—leave the rest to us."

Akira slung an arm around Yosuke, ruffling his hair. "Look at you, giving motivational speeches! Not bad. I might need one later."

"Later? Later for wha—"

"Anyway," Kanade cut in, grabbing Tsubasa's arm. "We should get going! No keeping the fans waiting, right, Tsubasa?"

"Kanade…" Tsubasa exhaled and nodded, her confidence returning. "You're right. Let's not keep them waiting."

"That's the spirit!" Kanade grinned before turning to the boys. "Enjoy the show! See you later!"

With that, the duo exited, heading for the stage.

Akira sighed, plopping onto the couch and resting his legs on the table. "Man, I'm so lucky, it's hard to believe."

"What exactly did you mean just now?" Yosuke asked, sitting down next to him. Goro took the seat across from them. "When you said you might need a speech."

"Right. I never told anyone this. Well, except Tsubasa. And since none of you know, that means she kept the secret really well." Akira pulled a small box from his pocket.

Goro's eyes widened. "No way! You're gonna propose?! But you guys are still young! And still in school and—"

"Relax, kid." Akira chuckled. "It's not what you think." He turned to Yosuke. "And you can close your mouth."

"I… thought for a second…" Yosuke muttered, regaining his composure. "Then what is it?"

"A promise ring," Akira clarified. "It means we're devoted to our relationship. Not quite the real deal yet, but close. Once we graduate, we'll talk about that. She has her idol career, and I can get any job thanks to my stellar Kamen Rider resume. Maybe security… maybe her bodyguard."

"Tsubasa knew?"

"Of course. She helped me figure it out. Back then, I was freaking out over what to do. She promised not to tell anyone—not even the brass knows."

"What a brilliant idea, Akira-senpai!" Goro beamed. "Kanade-senpai will be so happy! You're a genius!"

"Ah, you're giving me too much credit," Akira waved him off. "She's my first girlfriend—this is all new to me."

"Shouldn't you have given it to her already?" Goro asked. "I mean, why wait? No time like the present, right?"

"I thought about it," Akira admitted, scratching his head. "But if I gave it to her before the concert, it'd lose impact. I want this to be the highlight of her day."

Before anyone could respond—

BOOM!

The room shook.

"Look!" Yosuke pointed at the screen. Multicolored beings swarmed the arena, fire from an explosion spreading across the stage.

"The Noise!"

"Just when we thought we'd have an easy day!" Akira shot to his feet. The trio pulled out their Advent Decks, their silver belts materializing.

"Let's do this! Henshin!"

"Kamen Rider Ryuki!" Akira roared, his voice cutting through the chaos.

"Kamen Rider Knight!" Yosuke declared, his grip tightening on his Advent Deck.

"Kamen Rider Scissors!" Goro shouted, though his voice lacked conviction, his body clad in bronze armor resembling a crab.

Ryuki reached for his belt, drawing a card and slamming it into his Dragvisor. "To me, Dragreder!"

Advent: Dragreder

A crimson dragon burst into existence, roaring as it launched a torrent of fire that shattered the ceiling. The Riders leaped onto its back, soaring above the battlefield. Below them was a nightmare—civilians being consumed by the Noise, their bodies dissolving into dust, their screams silenced in an instant.

Ryuki's stomach twisted at the sight. "Dragreder!" he commanded, his voice raw.

The crimson beast obeyed, launching fireballs into the horde below. The flames cut through the enemy, but it wasn't enough. The Noise were endless.

Knight didn't hesitate. He drew a card and shoved it into his Darkvisor. "I'm going ahead. We have to spread out!"

Final Vent: Flyinglancer

Darkwing latched onto Knight's cape, merging with his Winglancer. He shot forward, spinning into a drill of death as he tore through the Noise.

Scissors hesitated. "Uh… I don't know if I can do what Knight did." His grip on his Visor was shaky. "My attacks don't cover a lot of area."

Ryuki exhaled sharply, scanning the battlefield. "Yeah, your Final Vent is better against a single target. That's why you're with me. We'll focus on evacuating civilians while Knight holds the front."

"You got it, boss man!" Scissors forced out a salute, though he felt like he was drowning.

"Alright!" Ryuki nodded, signaling Dragreder to descend. "Get ready!"

Both Riders drew a card and activated them.

Sword Vent: Dragsaber

Strike Vent: Scissorspinch

Knight landed hard, his attack tearing through a hulking Noise before he found himself back-to-back with Tsubasa.

"Yosuke!" she called, relief and desperation clashing in her tone.

"There are too many," he panted, slicing through another Noise with his Darkvisor.

"Where are the others?!" Kanade demanded, blocking an incoming attack with her spear.

"Right here!" Ryuki landed beside her, cutting a Noise in half before kicking another away. "Goro, how's the evacuation?!"

"Almost done!" Scissors shouted, a small child clinging to his back. "Don't look behind you, no matter what!"

The girl gasped as something snarled behind her.

Scissors whipped around—dog-like Noise, closing in fast.

'They're catching up!' Panic seized him. He patted the child on his back. "Hold on tight and don't let go!"

He grabbed his Visor and pulled a card.

Advent: Volcancer

His Contract Monster surged forward, tackling the Noise but was quickly overwhelmed. It bought them seconds—just enough for Scissors to reach the exit and shove the girls toward safety.

"Run!" he yelled. "Go!"

The sisters sprinted away, but before Scissors could sigh in relief, the Noise surrounded him. His body trembled. His hands wouldn't move.

"What are you doing, Goro?!"

A blur of motion. Eight Knights materialized from the shadows, slashing through the Noise.

"Now's not the time to freeze up! Move it!" the real Knight barked.

"Y-Yosuke-senpai…" Goro's voice cracked. He wanted to cry. "I'm sorry, I—"

"I know." Knight grunted, gritting his teeth as he was sent flying by a powerful Noise. "You're not built for this fight. Then again, none of us are."

Ryuki slammed his fist into a Noise, Dragreder's head bursting from the impact to crush a wave of enemies. He flipped backward, landing beside Kanade. Both were panting.

"How're you holding up, babe?" he asked with a wry grin, though pain laced his voice.

"Not great. And you look like hell." Kanade frowned, seeing the cracks in his armor.

"You saying I'm ugly?" he teased, forcing a smirk. "Because I—"

A screech. A flash of green.

The acid hit him like molten fire.

Half his helmet melted away.

Kanade screamed his name as he staggered, gripping the exposed, burned skin of his face. The Noise prepared another attack—Kanade dove in front of him, spear raised.

Guard Vent: Dragshield

The attack hit. The shields held for a second—then shattered.

"AKIRA!" Kanade cried.

A massive rock, loosened from the crumbling stadium, hurtled toward the last civilian in the stands.

"No!" Akira lunged, but a Noise intercepted him. His armor shattered further.

Scissors saw it happen. He didn't think—he moved.

Final Vent: Scissors Attack

Volcancer hurled him into the air. He spun, striking the boulder head-on, smashing it to dust.

He crashed beside the girl, groaning.

"Are you okay?" she whispered, eyes wide with fear.

"Yeah…" He forced himself up, staggering. "Let's get you out of he—"

The ground collapsed.

They fell.

Scissors grabbed her, shielding her as they hit the debris below. His armor held. Barely.

Then it flickered.

And disappeared.

Goro looked down at his bare hands. "Not now…"

Noise swarmed them.

Fire exploded. Ryuki landed in front of them, sword raised.

"Run when I say," he ordered. "I'll hold them off."

The girl clung to Goro's arm, eyes filled with newfound hope.

"Kamen… Rider…?" she whispered.

Ryuki stared at her, eyes dark with realization.

'I said all that, but… this might be it.'

He reached into his pocket. The box with the rings.

'I should have given them to her when I had the chance.'

Then the Noise struck.

The box flew from his grip.

"No!" Akira dove for it—an opening.

Acid rained down.

It struck him full force.

Agony.

He hit the ground, armor shattering. Smoke rose from his burned flesh.

"Akira!" Goro tried to run to him, but Ryuki held up a hand.

"Stay back."

Kanade stepped forward, spear raised. The attack came—she blocked it.

Her armor shattered.

And a fragment of it pierced the girl they were protecting.

Blood spilled onto the ground.

The girl gasped.

Goro choked.

Akira's world slowed to a stop.

Kanade took his face in her hands. "Take care of them for me."

"No…"

She kissed his forehead.

Then turned to face the Noise.

Her voice rose.

"Gatrandis babel ziggurat edenal..."

"Emustolronzen Finé el balal zizzl..."

"Gatrandis babel ziggurat edenal..."

"Emustolronzen Finé el zizzl..."

The world shook.

Her final song erupted, vaporizing the enemy.

But the cost—

She crumbled.

Akira screamed.

Yosuke and Tsubasa collapsed beside him. They clung to Kanade's fading form, sobbing.

And as Akira stared at the rings in his trembling hands, something inside him shattered.

"I can take this back," he whispered.

Yosuke turned. "What?"

Akira stood. "I challenge you, Gamemaster!"

A golden storm descended.

A being clad in shining armor landed before him.

"I have heard your call," Kamen Rider Odin said.

Akira's lips curled into a grim smile.

"Then you know why I'm here."

"Akira-senpai..."

Goro, once again in his Scissors form, clutched the unconscious girl in his arms. His instincts screamed at him to stay and fight, but he knew better. He turned away, running from the battlefield in a desperate attempt to save her—because if he stayed, they would both die here.

"How unfortunate."

The voice was calm, almost disinterested, yet it carried an unshakable authority. "The Symphogear gave her life to protect the one she loved. And yet, you would throw that sacrifice away just to challenge me?"

"It's not throwing it away... if I can beat you," Akira growled, his fists tightening around his deck.

Odin sighed, the golden armor gleaming beneath the city lights. "I do not recommend this course of action. You are wounded, and even at your peak, you lack the strength to challenge me. You are nothing but a moth throwing itself into the flame."

His words barely registered in Akira's mind. His heart was pounding too hard, his grief burning too bright.

Akira's breaths came in ragged bursts. "You said it yourself! This is a game to you, isn't it?! The Rider who defeats you gets any wish granted! Then I'll—I'll take you down right here and wish for... wish for... Kanade to come back!"

Odin regarded him in silence. Then, he chuckled.

"You have a new fire in your eyes." He lifted his deck. "Very well. I, Kamen Rider Odin, accept your challenge."

Tsubasa's eyes went wide with horror. "Did he say… Odin?!"

"DON'T DO IT!" Yosuke shouted, his voice raw with desperation.

But Akira didn't hear him. He was already moving.

SWORD VENT – Dragsaber

Ryuki lunged, blade flashing.

"Humanity is truly intriguing."

Odin vanished in an instant, and Ryuki's sword cleaved through nothing but air.

"For love, for hope… they charge forward without hesitation."

Odin reappeared behind him, slamming a brutal kick into his back. Ryuki crashed onto the pavement, coughing up blood.

"But no matter their motivation… they always fail."

Akira forced himself up. His body screamed in protest, but he pushed forward anyway, running at Odin with reckless abandon.

"You are the best thing that ever happened to me."

Kanade's voice echoed in his mind, overlapping with the pain. He struck wildly, but Odin merely danced around him, striking back with effortless precision.

"I doubt that," she had laughed. "You would have found someone else and been just as happy."

Ryuki staggered as Odin's knee crushed into his ribs, shattering the armor over his torso. He drew another card—

—but Odin kicked it from his grasp before he could activate it.

"No. It had to be you," Akira whispered in his thoughts, his fingers trembling as he reached for another weapon. "You gave me strength. You gave me courage."

His hands burned. His whole body burned. But he wasn't stopping. Not now.

STRIKE VENT – Dragclaw

Flames burst forth from his gauntlet as he launched a barrage of fireballs at Odin—

GUARD VENT – Goldshield

The golden Rider didn't even flinch. He walked through the inferno, blocking every blast with his shield before slamming it over Ryuki's head.

Akira crumpled. His ears rang. His vision blurred.

"Hey… after the concert… let's go on vacation. Just us."

"You mean with the gang?" Kanade teased. "Or just the two of us?"

Ryuki coughed, forcing himself up on shaking limbs. He could barely breathe. His whole body was failing him. But he had one last move. One final gamble.

His fingers tightened around a special card—the only one with his own emblem.

"I'M TAKING YOU DOWN AND BRINGING KANADE BACK!"

FINAL VENT – Dragon Rider Kick

Odin finally moved. He lifted his own card.

"Show me your resolve before you die."

SWORD VENT – Goldsabers

Ryuki leaped, flames surging around him. Dragreder roared, blasting fire to propel him forward. He became a streak of fury, a shooting star of vengeance—

And Odin met him mid-air.

The golden Rider twisted. Ryuki's kick barely missed—Odin was already behind him.

The blades slashed.

A clean, merciless strike from Ryuki's back to his neck.

The dragon Rider fell.

The moment stretched. Blood hit the ground before his body did.

Then—

A golden blade pierced his heart.

Odin twisted it deeper. "Game over."

Akira choked. His hands went limp.

His vision darkened.

He barely heard Tsubasa and Yosuke screaming his name.

The last thing he felt was the weight of a small box in his palm—

The promise rings.

Then, he turned to dust.

The box hit the pavement with a soft, final clink.

And Kamen Rider Ryuki… was no more.

"AKIRA!"

Yosuke and Tsubasa screamed in unison, their voices raw with desperation.

The moment Odin vanished, Yosuke stumbled forward, his body trembling. He barely caught himself before falling, his knees scraping against the cold pavement. Tsubasa was right behind him, her breath hitched in horror.

"Akira! Akira, get up!"

But there was no response.

Akira was long gone. No matter how loud Yosuke screamed, no matter how tightly he clenched his fists, no matter how much he willed his friend to move—he would never open his eyes again.

Where Akira once lay, his body had already begun to disintegrate. His armor crumbled, flaking away like burnt paper caught in the wind. His fingers twitched once—just once—before they, too, faded into dust.

Yet, amidst the vanishing remnants of a warrior who had fought against fate itself, one thing remained.

A small, unassuming box.

It lay there, untouched, nestled in the ashes of what had once been Akira. Yosuke's breath caught in his throat as he reached for it with trembling hands. He knew what it was before he even opened it.

The promise rings.

Rings that would never find their place on their intended fingers.

Rings that would never fulfill their purpose.

Yosuke clenched the box to his chest, his whole body shaking. His vision blurred, though he wasn't sure if it was from the dust or his own tears. Tsubasa fell to her knees beside him, gripping the pavement as though it was the only thing anchoring her to this nightmare.

The wind carried the last of Akira's existence away, scattering him into the void of nothingness.

And just like that, the one who had dared to defy fate was gone.

And that settles things for the first chapter. I was originally going to make this shorter but I realized that I needed to expand on some things, primarily the characters, and set things up for the future. I opted to incorporate the attack names of the Riders and will most likely do the same for the Symphogear. I also decided to add the attack and defense, but if you feel that's unnecessary, let me know. Also, some of you might be surprised to see Odin this early on and yes, he will have a similar role to the one Kanzaki had but will be different as well, so look forward to that. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to leave a review to show your support because it motivates me to keep on writing. See you next time!