Kamen Rider SideRide Chronicles: Oscura's Encore

Royale II: The Good Place

The golden glow of the setting sun spilt into her office. Luz's awards and framed book covers lined the walls. She sat at her writing desk in front of her laptop, surrounded by notes, her fingers gliding across the keyboard as she typed up the final pages of her latest manuscript.

Her debut novel, A Tale of Light & Shadow, had taken the literary world by storm. A fictionalised account of her adventures in the Boiling Isles — her journey through darkness and redemption — it became a bestseller overnight. The acclaim grew even more when it was endorsed by none other than Mildred Featherwhyle, the renowned author of The Good Witch Azura series.

Despite her success, Luz never went to college, finding her passion and purpose in storytelling. Instead, she and Amity had moved into an apartment together near the campus when Amity began her studies. Their home was a perfect mix of the mundane and magical: stacks of textbooks shared space with Luz's favourite Azura memorabilia, and glyph-laden charms hung alongside framed photographs of their friends and family.

The sound of gentle footsteps pulled Luz from her thoughts. She turned, smiling as Amity stepped into the room, her hand resting on her small but growing belly.

"You're still at it?" Amity asked softly, her voice carrying the warmth that Luz had always adored.

"Just wrapping up," Luz replied, closing her laptop and rising to her feet. She crossed the room to meet Amity, her arms slipping gently around her wife's waist. Her gaze dropped to Amity's belly, and she knelt, resting her hands lightly there. "Speaking of stories... What's it gonna be, little one? 'Manuel' or 'Azura'? Either way, you're gonna have the coolest moms ever."

Amity rolled her eyes affectionately.

"You're already spoiling them, and they're not even here yet."

"Can you blame me? It's our first baby." Luz gently rubbed the small bump on her wife's stomach. "I want to make sure they know that their moms love them, no matter what."

Amity placed her left hand over Luz's as she smiled at the Latina.

"They will," she assured Luz. "They'll grow up never having to feel like they need to earn our love, nor will we make them feel as if they need to be anything other than themselves."

It was not hard to say that their past experiences had shaped Luz and Amity into the kind of mothers they believed their child would need. Amity had grown up in a house that made her work to earn her mother's love and approval every single day.

Growing up, Luz felt that no one understood her, not even her own mother. Of course, that was not entirely true, and it was only later that she learned the reasons behind her mother's decision to send her to camp. But that was in the past, and she had since been supportive of her and Amity.

"You know, I did say I didn't mind carrying," Luz mentioned.

"Stop it, it's done. They're growing inside me as we speak. Plus, your career's really taking off. You need to focus on that because, heh, soon enough, this little one's going to be driving us up the walls," said Amity.

"I know. I just didn't want you to have to sacrifice doing what you love because I knocked you up," Luz replied as she kissed Amity's neck.

"Hmm~, I don't remember complaining, mi amor," Amity teased. "Oh, and speaking of babies, we're invited to Masha and Vee's baby shower next week."

Luz stopped her kissing as she stood at attention, her eyes widening upon hearing the news.

"Masha and Vee?! They're pregnant?!"

"Heh, yeah. I actually came in here to give you the good news myself." Amity rubbed her belly. "Our little one is going to have a cousin soon."

"And I get to be an Aunt?! AAAAAAAAH!" Luz squealed.

Without thinking, Luz quickly got on her couch and took out her phone, calling her little sister immediately. Once she picked up, Luz switched it to video call so that she could look her little demon sister in the eyes.

{Hey, Luz. I'm guessing Amity told you since you're calling me, right?}

"Oh, you know it! Congrats, hermana! How far along are you and Mash?!" Luz questioned.

Amity took a seat next to Luz as she peeked over her shoulder.

"I'm kinda curious myself. You never did say."

{Eh…heh-heh-heh…funny thing about that…} Vee chuckled nervously as she rubbed the back of her head.

The phone was then snatched up by Masha, who now took up most of the screen.

{Actually, the kiddo's already here.}

"WAIT, WHAT?!"

A couple of hours and a frantic drive later, the two soon-to-be-mothers entered Vee and Masha's home, practically letting themselves in – well, they did own a spare key, so it wasn't as if they were intruding, technically – and began calling out to them.

Masha was at the top of the stairs, chuckling as they motioned for the two to follow them. Luz and Amity hurried up the stairs, with the former making sure her wife was careful with their own bundle of joy. Once they reached what they presumed to be the baby's nursery, they saw Vee standing at the entrance. She had gone through some changes over the years, having grown from a Basilisk into a Greater Basilisk: she was a lot taller now, and had a little more bulk to her frame, showcasing her evolution as a predator.

"Where are they?!" Luz asked in a low whisper.

"Heh-heh, they're in here. And you don't have to whisper," Vee giggled as she stood aside.

Amity and Luz rushed in to see the baby, peeking into the crib to see...an egg. They stared at the egg, then at each other, and finally turned to stare at the enby and Greater Basilisk.

"So, yeah," Vee started. "I...laid an egg."

"We're, um, just figuring out how everything works," Masha explained, standing beside their wife.

"Uh…well…that's… Huh?" Luz scratched her head as she examined the egg, looking at it from different angles. "So…Vee laid the egg… So, then…how did…?"

"Basilisks breed asexually," Vee answered. "But there's an emotional component, too."

"See, when two people love each other, and one of them is a basilisk, the basilisk will lay an egg that symbolizes their love," Masha explained. "Or we can just say it's magic."

"Right, magic," Luz concurred. That's how she and Amity could have a baby, too. "Have you told mom yet?"

"We're trying to figure out how to tell her that her new grandchild is gonna hatch from an egg," Vee spoke, rubbing her head in embarrassment. "I know she's grown used to magic over the years, but you know how she reacts to unexpected surprises."

"Oh, yeah," Luz agreed, recalling telling Camila about Amity's pregnancy, and what they did to conceive.

"So, how long do you think until they hatch?" Amity asked.

"Not exactly sure. We're thinking of taking a trip to the Demon Realm, and see what they say," said Vee. "This is pretty uncharted territory for me, for both of us. I want to make sure that they're okay."

Luz had almost forgotten how Vee's species was technically extinct until they were resurrected by Belos through magical means as experiments. It was only natural that Vee wouldn't know a lot about this part of herself, and would feel anxious about the new life she had brought into this world. The Latina put on a smile as she walked up to her little sister, and gave her a hug.

"Well, I guess we're in the same boat. This is uncharted territory for us, too. Our baby is going to be a half-human, half-witch. And…we don't exactly know how they'll turn out or if their mixed heritage will cause problems for them down the line," said Luz. "But regardless, we want to bring them into the world, and give them all the love they deserve. I know it's the same for you two."

Vee sniffled as she lowered her head, and hugged her big sister.

"Same here. I don't know if they'll like me, but I still want to love them, and be there for them."

"Babe, what's not to like about you? You're a big, cuddly noodle," Masha commented.

"I can vouch for that," Luz added. "She's very cuddly like a plush toy."

"Do not bring up that old thing again," Vee deadpanned.

Amity chuckled as she recalled the incident that led to Luz making plush toys in Vee's likeness, and selling them during one summer several years back.

"At least you can't say they weren't a hit, and maybe we could market this bigger version of you?" Amity suggested.

"Ooh! Ooh! Yeah, maybe even break into the 'adult plushies', too," Masha teased.

"Stoooooop!" Vee groaned.

Luz, Amity, and Masha broke out into laughter, and Vee joined them. However, Luz's laughter ceased for a moment as she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror behind Vee. She saw herself, Masha, Vee, and Amity. But for a moment, all four of them glitched out, and were replaced by a frantic-looking Amity pounding on the glass as if she was trapped. Luz blinked, and the image was gone, showing their reflections.

"Luz, you okay?" Amity asked when Luz suddenly stopped laughing.

"Y-yeah, I'm good…"

A few weeks later…

"Luz, let's go. We're supposed to be meeting Anne, Sasha, and Marcy," Amity reminded.

Luz rushed out of her office, and chuckled as she stopped in front of her wife.

"Sorry, sorry," she apologised. "I was finishing up a scene. I was really locked in for a sec."

"Well, when we get back, you can stay up all night and finish it," Amity promised. She was a bit of a writer herself, fanfics mostly, so she knew how one could get lost in their work and eager to get back to it when they were really in the groove.

Luz moved closer and kissed her loving wife on the lips.

"You're the best, mi amor."

The sound of a faint chime echoed through the room, drawing both their attention. Luz looked up toward the open Portal Door that Eda had installed. Its carvings shimmered faintly with magic, powered by Titan Blood donated by King himself.

"Ready to head over?" Amity asked, taking Luz's hand.

"Always," Luz replied, squeezing her fingers gently.

Stepping through the Portal Door was like coming home. The Boiling Isles greeted them with its vibrant, chaotic charm. A warm breeze carried the scent of freshly baked bread from a nearby stand.

Luz and Amity walked hand in hand, greeting the denizens of the Boiling Isles as they waved, some asking for an autograph or a picture with the Hero of the Demon Realm. Needless to say, ever since their battle to save all realms from the Queen Jyamato, aka Terra Snapdragon, Luz's image had improved dramatically. No longer did people speak her name with fear or hatred, now they looked upon her with joy and a sense of hope.

As they walked, Luz groaned as she saw the building that had popped up not too long after she had defeated Terra. Bria had disbanded the Children of Oscura, only to bring it back and rebrand it as the Church of Luzura.

"At least she's doing it with good intentions, and not to overthrow the government," Amity said optimistically.

"Yeah…yeah…I went from empress to goddess to saviour in record time…" Luz cringed. "But, like you said, as long as she's not preaching violence or encouraging it, I guess it's fine."

The couple continued to walk, eventually coming to a stop at a two-storey house. Luz and Amity walked up to the front door and gave it a few knocks. When the door opened, Anne Boonchuy welcomed them.

"Luz, Amity!" The Thai woman reached out and hugged the two. "It's great to see you two."

"Same, Anne," Luz returned as she hugged Anne back, along with Amity. "So, uh…how'd it go?"

Anne released them from her hug and sighed heavily.

"You should come inside."

Luz and Amity grimaced as they could already tell by her tone and expression that not all was well. As they entered the home, they walked past a myriad of photos: each one depicting either the trio of Sasha, Anne, and Marcy doing some kind of activity, or the trio, Luz, Amity, and the rest of their friends doing something together. Many memories were made, taking place in both the Demon Realm and the Human Realm. There was even one that depicted a wedding of three girls, with Luz and Amity attending, along with their friends from the Boiling Isles. Once they reached the parlour, Marcy intercepted them, raising her hands in a stopping motion.

"Hold up…you might not want to go in there right away," Marcy warned.

"Is she still on the phone?" Anne asked.

"Yeah…"

"Why can't you just accept it?! I'm married to Anne and Marcy! I'm not apologizing for it!" Sasha shouted.

Anne, Luz, and Amity peeked over Marcy's shoulder, watching as Sasha glared daggers at her cell phone, apparently on a video call.

{Sasha, sweetie, be reasonable. The Wus aren't exactly thrilled about your…arrangement either. And they're breathing down our necks about it.}

"Well, tough titties! You can tell them to go to hell! We're not coming back to Earth, and that's final!" Sasha angrily yelled as she stamped her foot.

{Sasha, be reasonable! What you have with Anne and Marcy…it's…well… It's very unconventional. It'd be one thing if you were just in a relationship with one of them. I have no problem with you being bisexual. But the three of you together, that's… That's a lot to take in.}

Sasha rolled her eyes.

"Give me a fucking break. That's still no excuse! They called Anne and me sick deviants! They said we 'corrupted Marcy into taking part in an illicit relationship'. Hah! Just because we screw around like rabbits from time to time, doesn't mean we 'corrupted' her! News flash, Marcy was already a freak in bed!"

"S-S-Sasha!" Marcy exclaimed with a bright blush painting her face.

"Damn, chica," Luz grinned. "Ahora me tienes curioso (Now you got me curious). Ow!" Luz whined as she felt Amity slap her upside the head.

"Luz, behave," Amity scolded.

{Okay, okay, I hear you, Sasha. But I still don't think you need to go to such an extreme like that. Look, the Wus have more traditional values. Marcy knows this because they're her parents. You can't expect them to be as accepting as the Boonchuys.}

"Oh, yeah, that's another thing!" Sasha interjected.

"Oh no…" Anne groaned.

"Those assholes went and insulted Mr. and Mrs. B! Saying how they raised Anne wrong and all kinds of other bullshit!" Sasha yelled. "Marcy's parents may be my in-laws, now, but that doesn't mean I'm going to sit by and let them get away with insulting my other in-laws like that! Especially with how much Anne's parents mean to me since…"

Sasha trailed off, recalling her parents' divorce. The blonde woman took a steadying breath as she continued.

"...They helped me through yours and Dad's divorce. They welcomed me at their table, and treated me like part of their family. I don't care who it is, no one insults them in front of me and gets away with it. And honestly, Mom, you're just as bad for not even trying to defend them," Sasha berated.

{...I …I know I could've done more. It's just a lot to take in, and to find out that you're married – have been married…it's a real shock to the system.}

"Whatever. For now, we're not coming back. Christmas, well, we'll see. Goodbye." With that, Sasha ended the call. She shoved her phone into her pocket, and plopped down on the couch, letting out a loud groan.

Anne and Marcy sat down on either side of their wife, and held her close as they tried to soothe her with their presence. Luz and Amity sat down in the loveseat opposite of them, anxious after hearing that conversation.

Luz and Amity had made contact with the Trio a long time ago. Luz had remembered to one day seek them out, and become friends with them. They eventually convinced them to visit the Boiling Isles and see the world that Amity came from. While there, they had seen some healers and illusionists, working in tandem to unlock their memories of the DGP. It had been a little chaotic when they got their memories back, but thanks to that, they were able to resolve their issues and finally become a throuple.

A few years later, Anne, Sasha, and Marcy had decided they wanted to get married, but they knew something like that was not possible in the Human Realm, at least not in a way that wouldn't draw condemnation from their families and friends. So, they had the wedding in the Boiling Isles where polyamorous relationships were perfectly legal. They hadn't told their folks right away, as they had wanted to enjoy their new state of matrimony, but they knew they couldn't keep it a secret forever.

Sasha, Anne, and Marcy had informed Luz and Amity that they were going to tell their parents about their marriage. The couple had come to the Demon Realm to see how it went, and from the looks of things, not too well.

"So…that bad?" Amity asked.

"It could've been better…" Marcy conceded.

"Look, it wasn't as if we expected it to be all sunshine and rainbows when we told them. We mentally prepared ourselves for them not to accept us as a married throuple or recognize our marriage outright, and that's fine. We got hitched here in the Demon Realm, so it's not as if I blame them – entirely – for seeing our marriage as non-binding when it comes to Earth law. But I thought they'd at least respect the fact that we loved each other and that we were willing to go to a whole different dimension just to be together!" Sasha complained.

"Instead…" Anne sighed depressingly. "The Wus laid into us. They started…using slurs, and accused me and Sasha of forcing Marcy into an illegal marriage. I mean, I can see why they'd think that. Back when we were younger, Sasha was always the 'leader' of our group, and me and Marcy pretty much did whatever she said. And I was always the one looking out for Marcy to make sure she didn't accidentally kill herself."

Sasha groaned as she recalled her past, her controlling and manipulative nature, and the way she practically had Anne and Marcy on a leash. Marcy blushed as she remembered all the times that Anne had saved her from falling down a flight of stairs, smacking her face into open locker doors, and of course, there was that time when she had walked straight into the zoo when the snakes got loose and ran rampant throughout the entire facility.

"And, yeah, they did lay into Oum and Bee, too… They were the only ones who seemed happy for us. You could tell that they were trying to come to grips with it, too, but they were still genuinely happy for us," Marcy explained. "And…that set off my parents even more. I guess they were hoping for a united front to talk sense into us or something, but it was the opposite."

"And my parents weren't any better. They tried to play moderator to diffuse the situation, but they barely did anything," Sasha accused. "I knew it was probably not going to end well… Even so…it still hurts…"

Luz and Amity squeezed each other's hands, feeling deep empathy for the three women in front of them. They counted themselves lucky to have an understanding adult like Camila. Otherwise, they might be in the same situation as the Trio.

"At least Anne's folks are on board with this. And I don't think you guys need to exile yourselves from Earth outright. Give yourselves some time to cool off, and then maybe reapproach Marcy's parents?" Luz suggested.

"And what if they still tell us to stop being together?" Sasha asked.

"Well, are you going to stop if they tell you to?" Amity questioned.

"Of course not!" Anne, Sasha, and Marcy declared in unison.

"Then there's your answer. After living in the Human Realm for the last few years, I can kind of see where they're coming from. The way my people here in the Demon Realm view relationships is vastly different from Earth. Everyone here is born different, we come in literally all shapes and sizes. So, it never made sense to us to hold onto a 'traditional form of marriage'," Amity explained. "It was mostly what worked for us. Some felt like they only wanted one partner, others multiple. Some don't even get married at all, but maintain a relationship that's very similar to marriage. What I'm saying is, what you three feel, how you feel for each other, that's what matters in the end. Not what your parents think, and not what others think."

Anne, Sasha, and Marcy glanced at each other as Anne and Marcy intertwined their fingers with Sasha's right and left hands respectfully.

"You're right, Amity," Anne agreed. "That's really what matters, and I do love them. More than I could've imagined."

"Anne," Sasha whispered, her eyes tearing up as her heart swelled with love for her wife.

Marcy moved closer and nuzzled her head against the crook of Sasha's neck.

"It's the same for me. When I was thirteen, leaving you guys felt like my heart was being torn out. I thought I was over that, but now I know it hurt more because what I was feeling wasn't just the loss of my best friends…it was the loss of two people I loved with all my heart. I won't be separated from you two like that again. We're together now. We're each other's family."

Luz smiled broadly upon hearing the trio's affirmation of their love.

"And you got us in your corner, don't forget that," Luz reminded. "We'll be here for you if you ever need help."

"Heh, thanks, Noceda," Sasha replied, grateful.

Luz wished she could do more to help them. Their love was as beautiful and true as hers and Amity's, and she hated to see them go through this. But such was life: you had to take the good with the bad sometimes, and it was the bad times that made you cherish the good times even more.

Luz's gaze was drawn to the crystal ball in the middle of the coffee table. When she looked at it, she saw the reflections of everyone glitch, replaced by…Amity again. She was pounding against the glass of the crystal ball, looking frantic.

"Luz – have to – not much time –!"

The reflection glitched again, returning to normal. Luz rubbed her eyes, trying to check that they were not playing tricks on her.

"You OK there, dude?" Anne questioned, concerned.

"Just been seeing things. I might be overworking myself. Got another deadline coming," Luz answered.

"Working on another bestseller?" Marcy asked eagerly. She had been one of the first to get A Tale of Light and Shadows when it first came out, and she was eager for another one of Luz's books.

"Yeah," Luz nodded.

"Are you going to tell me what it's gonna be about?"

"Sorry, Marbles. We might be friends, but I can't give out any spoilers. You just have to wait when it comes out just like everyone else."

Marcy pouted cutely, causing Sasha and Anne to break out in giggles.

Later, Luz paid a visit to her other mother.

Amity sat outside the Owl House, watching her wife practice her martial arts skills. They had not needed to fight for a long while now, but it did not hurt to keep their edge and stay in shape. Although now that Amity was pregnant with their child, Luz felt that it was her duty to step up as a protector, both for her wife's sake and their unborn child. But realistically, they both knew that Amity was still a strong witch, even without being able to throw a punch or a kick.

She was not without an audience, however. Lil' Luz was watching her big sister's movements intently, mimicking what she could. Luz was fully aware, so she held back a little to allow Lil' Luz to keep up with her. King was there as well, doing a little better at keeping up, but was still not tall enough to pull off some of the more complex moves, or acrobatic enough to do them.

"Wishin' you could be over there with her?" Eda asked.

Amity glanced to her left as Eda walked over.

"Yeah, but Luz told me to relax as much as I can. I think she's just worried about me and the baby."

"Heh, I can relate. You should've seen Raine when I was pregnant. They were doting on me the whole time, watching what I ate, on the lookout for 'possible danger', and some other things that can drive a girl crazy," Eda sighed, but smiled as she remembered those times fondly. "Still, it was nice up until the actual giving birth part. You have my condolences, Boots."

"Thanks for reminding me," Amity deadpanned.

As Eda and Amity had their conversation, Luz was busy watching her little siblings try to copy her movements from memory.

"Heh, why are you guys so intent on learning how to fight?" she questioned. "Things are peaceful. You don't need to learn my moves or anything."

"Well, I wanna be a Kamen Rider like you, Big Sis! I wanna protect people and save the world!" Lil' Luz exclaimed while thrusting her little fist into the air.

"Same! I am a Titan, and such, it's my job to keep the Boiling Isles – no – the Demon Realm – safe from bad guys! Weh!" King added.

Lil' Luz reached over and hooked an arm as best she could around King's shoulders, and King did the same for his little sister as the witch and Titan pair shared a determined expression.

"We'll be an unstoppable duo!" King stated.

"Kicking butt, and taking names!" Lil' Luz drew a spell circle.

"Oh, shoot! Big Luz, you might wanna–!" Eda warned.

"Kamen Rider Luz and King Titan!" Lil' Luz shouted as she clenched her hand around the spell circle. The resulting spell created a mini explosion behind her and King as they struck a heroic pose. Along with the explosion was a blast of purple and gold smoke.

Luz coughed as she waved her hand in front of her face, clearing the smoke away.

"Heh, well, I'm glad you two want to help people." Luz got down on her knees so that she was at eye level with her witch and Titan siblings. "But you know that it's a dangerous job to be a protector like that. It's not all about beating bad guys and epic fights…" The Latina paused. "...Okay, maybe it is. But still, there's a lot for you to experience, Luz. You too, King. Enjoy being kids, trust me. You won't realize how much you missed out until it's gone…"

A wistful smile appeared on Luz's face, recalling less than pleasant memories. Lil' Luz looked at her big sister, cutely tilting her head to the side as she tried to grasp what Luz was saying. King had a better idea of what Luz was referring to, recalling her time in the Boiling Isles when she was fourteen...and then the time she became Empress Oscura.

Luz shook her head free of the dark thoughts, and then patted her little sister on the head.

"Just trust your big sis on this one. Just be a kid, get into some hijinks, schemes, plots," Luz advised.

"And shenanigans?" Lil' Luz asked.

"Especially shenanigans," Luz confirmed. "King can vouch for all shenanigan-related fun."

"Heck, yeah! Let's take over the slayground! We shall show those other snot-nosed brats that the Clawthorne-Whispers siblings are not to be crossed!" King proclaimed.

"Hmm… Okay! Let's do it!"

Lil' Luz and King scampered off, heading towards the slayground in town. Eda sighed as she pinched the bridge of her nose, and shook her head.

"Luz, I'll keep an eye on Boots. Go, and make sure your little brother and sister don't lay waste to everything," she instructed.

"I make no promises for any collateral damage done before I get there!" Luz responded before running off to catch up with King and Lil' Luz.

As Luz ran off to catch up with Lil' Luz and King, she paused. There was a random puddle of Abomination slime on the ground. It was bubbling, and writhing. Curious, Luz approached it. Once she was close enough, the Abomination slime reacted, rising up and taking the form of her beloved wife.

"A-A-Amity?!" Luz shouted in confusion.

"Luz! You have to–!"

"NO!"

Luz looked over her shoulder, noticing that her shadow had elongated, becoming unnaturally larger and more menacing. Within seconds, the shadow rose as two gleaming violet eyes peered from the darkness and rushed towards Abomination Amity. The slime and shadow struggled before the shadow began to consume everything around Luz, enveloping her in darkness. The Latina felt as if she was sinking into that darkness with each passing second. Crying out for help, she flailed about uselessly. As her head began to dip below the darkness, she held her breath and–

"Luz? Luuuuz? Luz!"

Luz opened her eyes, letting out a gasp as she glanced about. Somehow, she was back in her old room in the Owl House, although now it was more like a guest bedroom. She was wearing a suit, and standing at the doorway was her wife.

Her baby bump was more pronounced than the last time. Or maybe it was always that big?

"W-What's…?"

"Luz, you spaced out. What's going on?" Amity questioned as she approached.

"Uh…I guess I got lost in a memory or something…?" Luz answered, unsure.

Amity started to help Luz fix up her suit.

"Well, I don't blame you. Today's the unveiling. So, I don't blame you for your mind wandering."

"Unveiling?" Luz blinked. "Unveiling of what?"

"Your statue, remember? You told the Council that you didn't need one, but the people – and Bria's congregation – requested one be made in dedication to the hero you became," Amity informed.

Luz furrowed her brow as she tried to recall that conversation.

"I… I think I remember that." Luz looked at herself in the mirror. "Hey…mi amor…have you ever turned yourself into Abomination slime before?"

"Yeah, of course I have. It's an advanced spell, very advanced since it changes the entire composition of my body, but I mastered it anyway," Amity boasted proudly. "Of course, I can't use that spell now while I'm pregnant. No idea how it'd affect the baby if I did. Why do you ask?"

"It's nothing." Luz shook her head. "Sorry for being weird today."

Amity chuckled and kissed Luz on the lips.

"Being weird is one of the reasons why I love you. Now, c'mon. We're going to be late."

Luz took Amity's hand as the witch led her away. However, despite both of them having left the room, their reflections remained in the mirror, watching them walk away.

"See? She's happy here. Just let her be," Oscura pointed out.

"I'm not giving up! I will bring Luz back!" Real Amity declared.

Oscura wrapped her arm around Real Amity's waist, bringing her close until their hips touched.

"Oh, my lovely wife. Why would you tear her away from this? I took my time building this little fantasy. I even put in just enough hardship to balance out the good. If everything went perfectly, she'd get too suspicious. But make it as close to reality as possible, then, heh, even she can be deceived. And what makes it easier is that this is what she desires more than anything. She has her loving wife, and I'll have mine."

Amity pushed away from Oscura as she glared daggers at the Dark Empress.

"I will never call you my 'wife'!"

After declaring this, Amity vanished from the reflection.

Oscura remained, her left fist clenched as she placed her right hand over her heart.

"Why must you keep hurting me…mi amor…?"

The entire town of Bonesborough was abuzz with activity. The unveiling of the statue was turned into a regular festival as stalls were set up: some serving food, others offering games, with a few selling souvenirs. There were a few carnival rides as well.

The members of the Church of Luzura were assisting the Coven Scouts with providing security and maintaining crowd control. They knew that such a dense gathering might draw in those with less than noble intentions that could disrupt the ceremony.

Not on their watch.

"Hey, Willow, Hunter, Skara," Luz greeted the second throuple they knew.

"Hey…you two…" Hunter and Skara greeted her with a tired wave.

"What's wrong with you two?" Luz blinked.

The two witches glanced at each other, blushed, and then shifted their gaze to their mutual girlfriend. Willow was practically glowing, standing confidently and proudly as she hooked an arm over Hunter and Skara's shoulders.

"Let's just say Flyer Derby practice ran long into the night," said Willow suggestively.

Neither Hunter nor Skara could comment as their faces were burning up at the implication.

"Hahahaha! Damn, chica! You ran them ragged?" Luz inquired. "Ow!"

Amity had struck Luz in the side with her elbow.

"Luz, behave," she scolded.

"Well, I could always give you a personal demonstration of our 'practice routine'," Willow offered with a slightly lascivious smile. "Ow!"

Hunter and Skara elbowed Willow's sides.

"Down, Captain," Hunter scolded.

"I swear, you're insatiable," Skara chastised.

Amity sighed as she placed a hand on her hip.

"Looks like we both have to deal with partners with overactive libidos," she remarked.

"Tell us about it," Hunter and Skara sighed at the same time.

"HEY!" Luz and Willow snapped.

With that awkward encounter out of the way, the group made their way to the town square. They were waved down by their family and friends. The Clawthorne-Whispers family was present along with Dell and Gwen Clawthorne, the Trio, Lilith and members of the UC Council. Bria and her followers were also there. They were all gathered with the citizens to witness the unveiling.

Gus stood in front of the statue, which was covered by a tarp. He held a microphone so he could address the crowd.

"Thank you all for coming today," he started. "Years ago, we were visited by a human named Luz Noceda. All of us knew her as a human who wished to be a witch like us, but circumstances beyond her control led her down a dark path. But she has since been reformed, and upon her return, she saved us from a catastrophe. This statue was made in honour of her heroism."

The tarp was pulled away to reveal the statue of Kamen Rider Luzura, with her wings spread like an angel and the Glyphowlcalibur raised in triumph. At the base of the statue was a golden plaque that read:

"Luz Noceda – Kamen Rider Luzura. Our Champion, Our Saviour, Forever."

The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, with some turning their gaze onto the genuine article. Luz was embarrassed by all the attention, but at the same time, she felt so happy to see everyone cheer for her, to know that they no longer saw her as a monster. She remembered the same crowd jeering at her after she lost the Witch's Duel years ago. Now, they were celebrating her.

"C'mon, Luz! Come on up, and say a few words!" Gus encouraged.

Luz glanced at her wife, and Amity gave her a gentle shove forward.

"Go, this is your moment," she urged.

The Latina smiled as she walked towards the stage. The crowd parted, granting Luz a direct, unobstructed path. As Luz walked down the path, she turned to see each of the people on either side of her, all of them with smiling faces.

Not too long ago, they only looked at her with fear and hatred. But now, she was being celebrated. Now, she was a hero to the people of this realm.

Once Luz was on stage, Gus handed his best friend the mic and poofed away, joining the others offstage as he looked up at Luz.

"Hi, everyone," Luz started. "You all know who I am - of course you do. Anyway, I'm Luz Noceda, formerly known as Empress Oscura. Ahem…"

Luz took a breath, steadying herself to begin her impromptu speech.

"...When I came to the Boiling Isles, all I wanted was to learn magic, and be a witch like my idol, 'The Good Witch Azura'. I had this fantasy, this image of what a magical world would be like, and how I could thrive in a world that was filled with so many kinds of different people. But…reality often likes to smack you in the face. Hard." Luz chuckled bitterly. "I regret my actions from when I was Oscura. I was hurt and wanted to make everyone else hurt, too. But at the same time, I wanted to make this world better, to show that the 'monster', the 'weak, magicless human', could improve your lives…until I didn't anymore…"

The Latina lowered her head guiltily as she steeled herself.

"It took another me from another universe and another version of a friend from that same universe to save me from my madness. Then a twist of fate granted me the chance to undo all my mistakes. And though it took a lot of effort, and a certain someone trying to kill me-"

"ONE TIME! I ONLY TRIED TO KILL YOU THAT ONE TIME! GET OVER IT, NOCEDA!" Sasha playfully yelled from the crowd.

"Love you too, Sash," Luz replied with an equally playful tone and rolled her eyes. "But seriously, it's with begrudging gratitude that I must thank the DGP for bringing me back here, and for allowing me to finally tell my story, and in the process, forge a new one. Now, with everyone gathered here, I – we – can all live in a brighter future together. Let's not let darkness cloud our dreams nor snuff out our light. Let my statue be a reminder that no matter how far down into the darkness you think you've fallen, there's always a chance to crawl out of it, and be better than you were before!"

The crowd yelled uproariously, cheering for their former villain, their current hero and saviour.

Meanwhile, in the real world, explosions erupted in the streets as Soaron and Newtonne worked together to eliminate the Cultist Jyamatos.

A blast of emerald wind and a burst of magenta flames ignited a fiery explosion in all directions. The Cultist Jyamatos fought against the flames, but only ended up burning into ashes. However, not long after their demise, a new batch of the monsters rose from the shadow pool to resume their relentless assault.

The two Riders groaned and began again. Their efforts were all to protect Amity. After striking Oscura's chest with the strange stamp device, both of them went still, completely unresponsive to either Soaron or Newtonne's cries.

The Cultist Jyamatos must have realized that whatever was happening was a threat to their mistress, and rushed to remove Amity from atop Oscura. But Newtonne and Soaron had quickly put themselves between the pair and the Cultist Jyamatos, maintaining a protective barrier before Oscura and Amity.

This brought us to the current moment as the two Riders held off the Cultist Jyamatos to make sure none could reach them. Unfortunately, for every Cultist Jyamato they took down, more took its place.

Newtonne drew her sword as the emerald winds began to blow. She dashed around the area, leaving behind green streaks of light before returning to her original position. Each of the Cultist Jyamatos she sliced up exploded in sequence around her. But just like before, more emerged from the shadow pool.

Soaron formed two flame swords, and sliced through one Cultist Jyamato after the other, occasionally releasing bursts of magenta flames into the crowd while spreading the flames to the others. But yet again, the result was the same: each felled Jyamato was only replaced by another as soon as it was destroyed.

"There's like no end to them!" Soaron shouted in frustration.

"Oscura must have set these things to respawn infinitely!" Newtonne theorized.

"Damn, fucking, bullshit OP powers!" Soaron cursed. "How much longer do you think Amity's going to need?!"

Newtonne glanced at Amity and Oscura, noting the blank stares in both of their eyes as the stamp pulsed and glowed. Either Luz or Amity's sponsor had sent the item. They would not have done it, if they didn't think it could save Luz.

"I don't know!" Newtonne answered. "We just have to buy as much time as possible. As sucky as it sounds, we have to, or risk Oscura permanently taking Luz over, and possibly live in a world ruled by her!"

Soaron sighed as she gripped her fire swords harder, crossing the blades before sliding them against each other, and entering an attack stance.

"Well, I'm definitely not becoming that psycho bitch's concubine! For the record, I blame you for that."

"You're never letting that go, are you?" Newtonne groaned.

The two Riders jumped back into the fray, attacking the endless horde of the Cultist Jyamatos, wondering how much longer their stamina would last and how much more time Amity would need to rescue Luz from Oscura's clutches. All the while, unbeknownst to the battling Kamen Riders, the mechanical, eye-shaped camera drones floated invisibly around the battlefield, watching the goings-on closely.

"Game Master, what is the meaning of this!?" one of the VIPs demanded impatiently.

Butler glared at the screen. When he saw Oscura summon those Jyamatos, he grew concerned, until the VIPs cheered at her for revealing that ability. So, he let it go...at least for now.

But then Amity Blight was able to convince Sin Oscura to stand down and cancel her transformation. Fortunately, there was no forfeiting in the Desire Royale. So, she was still in the game. But then a Mission Box appeared, revealing that it contained an unauthorized item. Blight used it on Oscura, causing the two of them to lie on the street, frozen in some kind of trance.

While there was still some action going on with Newtonne and Soaron dealing with the never-ending horde of Jyamatos, this was not what the VIPs wanted. They had come here to watch a battle royale.

"One moment please," Butler requested as he moved the screens around, and contacted the sponsors' spectator room. "What have you done?!"

On the screen, Lumina sat there with a smug look on her face, her legs and arms crossed as if looking down on him.

{Why, whatever do you mean, Game Master?} she asked innocently.

"That was an unauthorized item! What is it?!" he demanded.

{You said so yourself: we are the sponsors, the supporters of our chosen Riders. As such, we're able to set up Secret Missions for them to obtain special items that will give them an edge in the competition. We're simply following the rules,} Lumina replied with an overly sweet tone.

{Plus, that wasn't even Lumi's Secret Mission, it was mine. And it's not exactly written anywhere what kind of support item we can give to our Riders. Right, Oliver?} Amara asked.

{Yes, Ms. Blight, I do believe you are correct. I did a thorough reading of the rules, and it doesn't state that 'Raise Buckles' are the only items we can send our Riders,} Oliver concurred.

Butler angrily ended the call. He growled, fists clenched and jaw tightened.

The audacity! The unmitigated gall! How dare they make a mockery of his Desire Royale!?

He took a deep breath, giving his VIP guests a charming smile.

"Do not worry, ladies and gentlemen," Butler placated, putting on his hood and mask. "I'll take care of this."

He opened a door of light, and walked through it, stepping out the other side to stand on the street where Soaron and Newtonne were fighting the Cultist Jyamatos. He angrily marched his way towards them, strapping on his Vision Driver.

[Vision Driver.]

Once it was secured, he placed his right thumb on the thumb scanner on top.

[Glare. Log In.]

Reaching into a holder on the right side of the belt, he took a transparent plastic keycard that was marked by a yellow eye-like logo in the centre.

"Henshin."

He swiped the card down the reader on the Vision Driver's right side.

[Install.]

Five mechanical red, black and purple eyeballs materialised and shot lasers across Mr. Butler's body, forming his Division Armour before they attached to his chest, shoulders and knees.

[Dominate A System.]

[GLARE!]

Glare willed the mechanical eyeballs - the Hypnorays - to detach from his suit and sent them flying at Newtonne, Soaron and the Cultist Jyamatos.

A shift in the wind currents alerted Newtonne, causing her to look up, spotting five mechanical orbs that were zooming right towards them.

"Sasha! Heads up!"

Soaron looked up and spotted the orbs as they headed in their direction. The orbs glowed and fired powerful laser beams that strafed across the battlefield. A delayed reaction occurred as a string of explosions erupted in the wake of the beams, destroying multiple Cultist Jyamatos in one go.

Newtonne and Soaron noticed that the beams made sure not to hit Oscura or Amity, but that was of little comfort seeing as how close the beams got to hitting them. However, their relief of the destroyed Cultist Jyamatos was short-lived as they began to respawn again. But their attention was drawn elsewhere as Soaron and Newtonne followed the path of the orbs to their origin.

The person walking towards them was undoubtedly a Kamen Rider, but his armour was different from theirs and he did not wear the standard Desire Driver. In fact, there was not even a single Raise Buckle on him. But beyond that, the two Riders could sense an imposing aura emanating from this new Rider.

Newtonne and Soaron hurriedly checked their Spider Phones, but when they did, the only Riders that were registered were the two of them, Oscura, and Amity.

But then, who was he?

A rogue Rider?

Or something worse…?

Their worry was shifted once the Cultist Jyamatos had fully respawned. Instead of focusing their attention on Soaron and Newtonne, all of them turned in unison towards Glare. It was a primal instinct within them, a feeling of knowing what was the bigger threat to their mistress, and that feeling informed them the immediate threat was Glare.

As one, the Cultist Jyamatos dashed towards Glare, completely ignoring Soaron and Newtonne as they set their sights on the bigger threat.

"Begone, filth," Glare ordered as the Hypnorays detached from his armour yet again.

Within seconds, all five orbs fired their powerful beams, instantly obliterating the small army of plant monsters. Glare continued to approach Soaron and Newtonne's position, his hands behind his back as he walked with an air of authority, unafraid of the Cultist Jyamatos that tried to swarm him. 'Try' was the operative word as the Hypnorays laid down continuous fire, blasting any Cultist Jyamatos that got too close, basically carving a path straight towards the two standing Riders.

The Jyamatos were always fodder for the games, so Glare paid them no mind. Oh no. The real prey was right before him: the four unruly Riders that had been both a source of great entertainment as well as an equal amount of frustration and pounding headaches.

"Who the hell are you!?" Soaron demanded. She did not like the look of this guy, whoever they were.

"I'm the Game Master," Glare reintroduced himself. "In this form, you may call me 'Kamen Rider Glare'. In my Desire Royale, you were supposed to fight until only one of you remains." His gaze went towards Amity and Oscura. "And yet, you are using an unauthorized item to stall the entire game. I'm here to rectify the situation."

Soaron and Newtonne's eyes widened with shock at this unexpected development. The Game Master had entered the battle himself, and as a Kamen Rider no less. Now, his power made sense. Of course, the one who orchestrated all the different games they had to play would have the power to beat down other unruly Riders.

"Tell me something, Game Master: were you the one who took out Boscha when she pulled all that shit?" Soaron asked.

"Yes, Ms. Waybright," Glare confirmed. "Whenever a Rider decides to not play by the rules, or if any player goes rogue, it is my duty to set things straight, and get the games back on track."

Soaron began to chuckle, and then it turned into full-blown laughter, causing Newtonne to look at her girlfriend with concern.

"AHAHAHAHAHA! Yes!" Soaron assumed an attack stance, her flames blazing with greater intensity. "Well, first of all, thanks for kicking Boscha's ass. And now, I get to beat the shit out of you for throwing us into the Demon Realm! You made Luz relive her trauma for your bullshit entertainment! Oh, and let's not forget the fact that you let Boscha control me, and made me hurt Luz and Marcy when you could've prevented all that!"

Glare growled indignantly at Soaron as one of the Hypnoray orbs floated next to him.

"You all will fight each other, whether you want to or not. And trust me, you don't have a choice in this matter."

"We'll see about that, you son of a bitch!" Soaron shouted angrily, darting towards Glare as the Hypnorays prepared to open fire on her.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Final Round - Desire Royale: Mole Hunt

Active Players

Sasha Waybright/Kamen Rider Soaron

Marcy Wu/Kamen Rider Newtonne

Amity Blight/Kamen Rider Gato

Empress Oscura/Kamen Rider Sin Oscura (The Mole)

Dr. Exposition: Happy Birthday to me! Yeah, it's my birthday, so as a special treat, here's a new chapter for you guys to enjoy! Now, it's a bit shorter than the last one, but still plenty exciting. What we have here is a classic Black Mercy plot with Luz living her dream life, thanks to Oscura. Though the Dark Empress only did this to get her out of the way, it's nice that she just wants Luz to enjoy her ideal world.