I stretched in my bed, the new dream I had being pleasant and restful. I got up and saw Richard stirring. Emily wasn\u2019t in bed, must have woken up before us. Hope her dreams were restful. I stroked Richard\u2019s hair and blushed. My mind wandered to a possible future with me as his wife, ruling a fairytale land. However, I suppressed such thoughts as Vortech was a more immediate priority. I came into my bathroom to wash my face. The door shut and I saw Emily in the mirror. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you just tell my brother you love him instead of burying such thoughts?\u201d she whispered. Curse her sharpness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVortech is a more important priority,\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThose feelings you have aren\u2019t new,\u201d she countered. \u201cYou\u2019ve had them for a while, before we came here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s more interested in the duties of being a knight instead of romance,\u201d I argued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre you sure?\u201d asked Emily. I turned to face her, blinking. \u201cI\u2019ve seen the way he makes the goo-goo eyes at you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe what?\u201d I yelped. He\u2019s making lovey eyes at me?! How did I not notice?! At that point, I heard a knock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYO! ROSE BUSH!\u201d called Richard to Emily. \u201cARE YOU DONE?! SOME OF US NEED SHOWERS!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJust a sec!\u201d I replied, then covered my mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy Lady?!\u201d yelped Richard, embarrassed. \u201cEr, take your time!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome in here, actually,\u201d I requested. \u201cI want to ask you something.\u201d Richard stepped in. \u201cRichard, I need to ask this so I can concentrate on Vortech. Emily said that you made eyes at me, eyes of love.\u201d Richard glared at his sister. \u201cDoes she speak the truth?\u201d Richard sighed, letting his guard drop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, my Lady,\u201d he responded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGood,\u201d I answered, \u201cbecause I have those same feelings.\u201d Richard brightened at that. \u201cHowever,\u201d I continued, \u201cintimacy will have to wait until we beat Vortech.\u201d He frowned at that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDude,\u201d protested Emily, \u201cnot cool!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI need to focus our efforts onto cleaning this mess up and getting our loved ones back,\u201d I explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, very well,\u201d muttered Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI failed the Bechdel test for THAT?!\u201d wailed Emily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet\u2019s just get ready for the next dimension,\u201d I suggested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot even a kiss?\u201d protested Emily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEmily, why are you so hell-bent on trying to hook me and Megumi up?!\u201d asked Richard. \u201cThis isn\u2019t the first time you tried to pull this stunt! Can\u2019t you just let us discover things ourselves?! Why are you so insistent\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause I don\u2019t want you to end up like Paw Paw!\u201d exclaimed Emily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPaw Paw?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur dad\u2019s father,\u201d replied Richard. \u201cAnd, why mention Paw Paw?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo you know why he married Maw Maw?\u201d asked Emily. I guessed that was Paw Paw\u2019s wife. \u201cBecause he was told to marry her,\u201d continued Emily. \u201cHis heart belonged to someone else, but his parents wouldn\u2019t hear of it. He suppressed his emotions and followed his parents\u2019 wishes, like a \u2018good man\u2019. Now, jealousy eats away at him since Dad didn\u2019t marry the girl Paw Paw told him to marry. If anything, he proved what just obeying parents totally does to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHence, why Dad says that a human who just follows orders…\u201d guessed Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIs no true human at all,\u201d finished Emily. I then considered my own lifestyle. Contrary to most Japanese people, I didn\u2019t have much in the way of being told to follow orders. Mom just influenced where I should direct my scrappiness. I could understand where their parents came from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can understand your intentions,\u201d remarked Richard, \u201cbut, in this instance, I must invoke Mom\u2019s rule of \u2018Let people make their own mistakes\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs do I,\u201d I agreed. Emily shuffled her feet. \u201cStill, I do appreciate the attempts. Let\u2019s just put this to bed for now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll right,\u201d she mumbled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow, Richard,\u201d I declared, \u201cif the ladies could have our privacy.\u201d Richard took the hint and left as we got dressed. Emily apparently had a clothes ritual too. I never knew that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I watched that, I arched an eyebrow. \u201cDid I inspire you in any way?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYep!\u201d confirmed Emily. \u201cI kneel, then stand to emulate the flower I\u2019m obsessed with.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re growing and blooming like a rose?\u201d I guessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExactly!\u201d she said. After I did my dress ritual, we left the bathroom and joined everyone in the cafeteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGood morning!\u201d I called pleasantly. Everyone reciprocated. It really felt like a good morning, since that collective nightmare Hiro caused was gone. We ate our breakfast and headed to the Gateway Room. Elphaba, Rusty, and the Brigadier had set our destination because they found a power signature there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s in a dimension called B-A-C-K-T-0-T-H-3-F-U-T-U-R-3!\u201d reported Rusty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEveryone ready?\u201d I asked the rest of the Vortex Riders. Everyone confirmed their readiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGood luck,\u201d called the Brigadier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCHARGE!\u201d I rallied as we ran into the portal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We ended up in a Western setting. I swear I could hear Oh, My Darling Clementine<\/em> somewhere. We exited the alley we landed in. A chicken popped out from Gandalf\u2019s hat. He jammed his hat down to avoid Batman seeing it, then took it off to have an egg pop out. It landed on the ground intact! The mama chicken then flew out of the hat, flapping its wings and squawking like mad! Wyldstyle checked her scanner. \u201cAny luck finding the power signature?\u201d asked Batman. Wyldstyle shook her head as a long beep came from the scanner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t even look like they\u2019ve got electrical power!\u201d reported Wyldstyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood grief, you\u2019d think they\u2019d have telegraphs!\u201d I complained. \u201cLast I checked, those needed electricity!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell now, ladies,\u201d called a voice in a thick cowboy accent. We jumped and turned to see a heavyset gentleman in a top hat and carrying a mayor\u2019s ribbon on his person. \u201cI assure you,\u201d continued the Mayor, \u201cwe most certainly DO have power of the electrical persuasion! Behold, the town light-bulb!\u201d He pointed to the single street lamp in the town. \u201cAnd of course, we have telegraphs, my Chinese lady friend!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m Japanese, you twit!\u201d I snapped. Seriously, it\u2019s not that hard to keep straight! The street lamp\u2019s bulb then went out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDAGNABBIT!\u201d shouted the Mayor as he threw his hat to the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAre you in charge here?\u201d asked Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIndeed!\u201d confirmed the Mayor as he retrieved and dusted off his hat. \u201cMayor Hubert, at your service!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHave you seen anything\u2026weird\u2026around here?\u201d asked Batman. I opened my mouth to counter Batman, but Mayor Hubert beat me to the punch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell,\u201d he whispered. He leaned in closer to Batman. \u201cI do see a lady dressed in britches and a man in a dress!\u201d Wyldstyle and Emmanuel heard that and made noises that showed their contempt for that comment. Before she could get any further, Wyldstyle\u2019s scanner picked something up. She discreetly motioned her head in the direction of the power signature. Batman and I caught that and winked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ll just\u2026take a look around,\u201d commented Batman. \u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, er,\u201d stammered Mayor Hubert, \u201cthen, enjoy our fair town!\u201d He then headed into a crowd blocking the streets. \u201cI\u2019m afraid it\u2019s a little congested today!\u201d As he left, the Marshal came up on his horse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWho are you?!\u201d he demanded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou know, where I\u2019m from, it\u2019s only polite to introduce yourself before you ask questions,\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m James Strickland, the town Marshal,\u201d he introduced himself. \u201cNow, who are you people?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m Princess Megumi Hishikawa,\u201d I replied. \u201cThese are my friends, the Vortex Riders.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou guys don\u2019t look like you\u2019re from around here!\u201d guessed Marshal Strickland. \u201cNot by a long shot, no sir! Prove yourself to these good folk, and maybe they\u2019ll accept you. Meanwhile, I have to go deal Stinky Lomax.\u201d He charged off on his horse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHelp out the citizens and get information,\u201d mused Batman. \u201cSounds simple enough.\u201d We headed over to a sign near a train station. An old man was trying to pose in front of it. It read \u201cHonest Joe Statler\u2019s Fine Horses, sold, bought, and traded.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJoe\u2019s the name!\u201d called the man. \u201cJoe Statler\u2026 or\u2026 \u2018Dishonest Joe\u2019 as they call me. I\u2019m trying to become a straight-edge business man I need a change of image. \u2018Honest Joe\u2019, I\u2019m thinking! Say, you strange\u2026strangers\u2026wouldn\u2019t mind helping me complete my sign, would you? I need my photograph taken, but the photographer\u2019s gone to see what\u2019s going on down the main street!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, we can help!\u201d I replied. \u201cNow, where\u2019s the camera at?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEr, that\u2019s another problem,\u201d stammered Mr. Statler. \u201cI don\u2019t have a camera, per se. Can you wrangle one up for me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDishonest Joe is right,\u201d I thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMaybe a Master Build is needed,\u201d mused Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBatman, we\u2019re trying to blend in!\u201d protested Haitao.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re a bunch of people in fancy clothes and other costumes,\u201d countered Richard. \u201cI think a Master Build is the least of our worries.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, our clothes are a little anachronistic for this area,\u201d muttered Michael.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat box needs to be opened,\u201d observed Wyldstyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI see a grapple hook,\u201d I called. I then got out my i.d tag. \u201cBatman, need any help?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet\u2019s do it,\u201d replied Batman. \u201cI want to see what Proto-Vortex is capable of.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHenshin!\u201d I announced. I then put my i.d tag into the slot and jumped into the circle. I still ended up in my Royal suit. I then started the Super Charge sequence. \u201cSUPER\u2026!\u201d Someone grabbed my arms. I looked down to see the owner\u2019s face. \u201cHongo-san,\u201d I asked. \u201cmay I have an explanation?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t go using your Super Charge form so recklessly,\u201d explained Hongo. \u201cYou may not realize it, but there is a weakness in that form.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat weakness?!\u201d I asked. Hongo said nothing as he released my arms. Batman looked at Hongo, guessing why he would say that. I stared, not getting an explanation of any kind, then resigned myself to staying in Royal form. I swapped out my i.d tag for the Batman one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBatman Steel!\u201d announced my belt in Vortoranii\u2019s voice. I helped Batman open the box. Wyldstyle then used the parts inside the box, panels of a pile of boxes, and a camera light fixture to make a giant camera. She then jumped up onto the giant camera as Mr. Statler posed for the picture. Wyldstyle then took the picture and waited for the printout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, darn it!\u201d hissed Mr. Statler as he looked at the picture. \u201cI think I blinked and I have something stuck in my teeth! That\u2019s gonna be a terrible picture! Thanks anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s one,\u201d I observed. \u201cMaybe another one can help?\u201d Then we heard an Irish voice cry for help. The poor person looked like he was stuck head first in manure! Ugh! I saw a Keystone transmit\u2026SHIMATTA! (Japanese word for when someone makes an error) \u201cWho\u2019s got the Locate Keystone?!\u201d I asked. Everyone checked, but none had the Locate Keystone. \u201cNo!\u201d I wailed. I face palmed with my left hand. I can\u2019t believe we came here so unprepared!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEr, my Lady,\u201d quizzed Richard, \u201cdo you mind wiggling your fingers in front of your face?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat,\u201d I muttered as I did so, \u201cis this some obscure game Americans like to\u2026?\u201d I did a doubletake when I looked at my hand. On it was a Keystone gauntlet! \u201cAll right!\u201d I cheered. I then ran through the instructions a few times, then decided to use my new powers. \u201cLocate Keystone, activate!\u201d I announced. \u201cInitiate rift detection!\u201d As I walked, my hand went greener and greener until a crack of white light appeared. \u201cIdentify source of rift!\u201d I said. I then mimed pulling the sides of the rift crack open. My gauntlet then beamed the information of the crack\u2019s origin into my head. \u201cLocate help from T-H-3-L-3-G-0-M-0-V-1-3!\u201d I ordered. A crane with a claw attachment then went through the crack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s from my home!\u201d called Wyldstyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd a solution presents itself!\u201d I cheered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAllow me,\u201d rasped Batman. Given that some of his crime fighting involves crane operation, I allowed him to help the man out. The crane swung around to hover over the man in the manure. He was then deposited away from the manure pile. He ran off to get himself cleaned after thanking us. \u201cI don\u2019t even want to know how this happened,\u201d said Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDismiss help!\u201d I called. The crane then went into the rift it came out of. The crack then disappeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cExcuse me!\u201d requested a man. He wore a Train Ticket Officer\u2019s uniform. \u201cCan you help me out?\u201d asked the Ticket Officer. \u201cI\u2019m a spot of bother, you see. The train is stranded at the station and cannot continue on its journey.\u201d Some of the tracks were missing! \u201cDo you think you could help fix the track?\u201d continued the Ticket Officer. \u201cThe supplies should be around here somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAllow me to fix it,\u201d replied Gandalf. He found the rails and railroad ties (railway sleepers in the U.K.) and then examined the track ahead to gauge the measurements. While that was going on, Richard and Emily were geeking out over the train. They identified it as a 4-4-0 wheel configuration tender engine in the \u201cAmerican\u201d style, a classic train used in westerns. A famous engine of that style was The General, a train that was stolen by Union spies during the Civil War in an event called the Great Locomotive Chase, or Andrew\u2019s Raid, an attempt to cripple the Confederate Rail network. The Union spies were eventually captured, but not before damaging a vital Confederate Rail route called the Western and Atlantic Railroad. While the spies were captured, some were executed, the attempt was a success since Confederate forces couldn\u2019t get warnings out along the route quickly enough, the Union spies cut the telegraph wires. Gandalf had fixed the tracks with his magic and the train proceeded on its way. The Ticket Officer was startled by the whole business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEr, I\u2019ll pretend I didn\u2019t see that strange heebie-jeebies nonsense,\u201d he gulped, \u201cas you\u2019ve done us a good turn. Thank you kindly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow do you get into these messes?!\u201d asked a woman\u2019s voice. We whirled around to see a woman in a miniskirt shouting at a man being hung upside down on a roof. Five humanoid monsters were shouting at him as well, a red one with an Oni appearance, a blue one with shell-like skin, a yellow one with a single horn in front and the body builder\u2019s body, a purple one in a trench coat, a Japanese dragon\u2019s head, and a pair of headphones, and a white one with a wing-like appearance to his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWho are these guys?\u201d I asked Hiroki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re the main cast of Kamen Rider Den-O<\/em>,\u201d explained Hiroki. He walked up to them. \u201cExcuse me,\u201d he called. The monsters and woman turned. \u201cCan we help you at all?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSure,\u201d shrugged the Oni. \u201cBefore we start, I\u2019m Momotaros, the leader of the Imagin with Ry\u014dtar\u014d Nogami up there.\u201d he pointed to the upside down man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCan someone get me down?\u201d asked Ry\u014dtar\u014d pitifully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAllow me,\u201d called Hongo. He jumped up and untied Ry\u014dtar\u014d, holding on to his feet so he doesn\u2019t make a splat landing. Hongo then jumped down and let Ry\u014dtar\u014d go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPoor guy has the worst luck in the world,\u201d muttered Momotaros. \u201cKame-yar\u014d (Turtle Jerk) over there,\u201d he pointed to the blue monster, \u201cis Urataros.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA pleasure to meet you,\u201d purred Urataros as his pointer finger tilted my chin upwards. My response? I bent the finger backwards. I got a womanizer vibe from him. Momotaros started laughing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m already spoken for,\u201d I hissed. Not entirely true, as Richard and I hadn\u2019t formally declared we were boyfriend and girlfriend, but I didn\u2019t want to give the guy a chance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI understand!\u201d yelped Urataros. \u201cNow, could you let go, please?!\u201d I released him. He tended to his finger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKuma (the bear) over there is called Kintaros,\u201d growled Momotaros as he pointed to the yellow monster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour strength would have made anyone cry,\u201d answered Kintaros in a voice that made him sound like he was from Osaka in the Edo period, still used today under the dialect name Kansai-ben. \u201cI am thoroughly impressed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHanakuso Onna (Nosy Woman) over there,\u201d introduced Momotaros, pointing to the woman, \u201ccalls herself Hana.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWatch it!\u201d snarled Hana with a slight bit of hate in her voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd Hanatare Koz\u014d (Snot-nosed Brat) is Ryutaros,\u201d finished Momotaros.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m not a brat!\u201d whined Ryutaros in a childish way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd you forgot me, retainer,\u201d called the white monster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLike you need to be introduced, Teba-Yar\u014d! (Chicken Wing Jerk)\u201d snapped Momotaros.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHardly the attitude of a hero,\u201d mused the white monster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAre you kidding?!\u201d screeched Momotaros. \u201cLike a pompous idiot like you can be a hero!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMomotaros, Zu ga takai!\u201d (Your head is high!) proclaimed the white monster. He then pointed at the hotheaded Momotaros and he shrunk the guy down to four inches. \u201cApologies, Hime,\u201d (Princess) said the white monster as he walked towards me. He knelt as if addressing royalty. \u201cI am Sieg, Prince of the Den-Liner.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe train of time,\u201d explained Hiroki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd who is he?\u201d asked Sieg. Momotaros then grew back to his usual height.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is my brother, Hiroki,\u201d I replied. I introduced everyone to the Imagin, as Momotaros and his monster friends were called. Ry\u014dtar\u014d was surprised to hear we were Kamen Riders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, you\u2019re the first one?\u201d asked Ry\u014dtar\u014d to Hongo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am, indeed,\u201d confirmed Hongo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHey, guys!\u201d I interrupted. \u201cMain Street\u2019s clear!\u201d The people had decided to clear traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMoving on!\u201d cheered Wyldstyle. She turned to the crew of the Den-Liner. \u201cWanna join us?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSure,\u201d replied Hana. \u201cAnything to get out of this place. We have Imagin to get rid of.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI thought the monsters over there are Imagin,\u201d I mused, pointing to Momotaros and the others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re useful,\u201d replied Hana. \u201cThey help Ry\u014dtar\u014d become Kamen Rider Den-O.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRy\u014dtar\u014d\u2019s a Kamen Rider?\u201d I quizzed, looking at the poor guy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe\u2019s proven to be a capable warrior,\u201d replied Hana. Suddenly, thunder clapped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnother rift?\u201d asked Wyldstyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA storm?\u201d asked Gandalf. All of a sudden, a fireball spat something out before it disappeared. The object landed in front of us after some clumsy flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo,\u201d answered Batman, \u201ca DeLorean.\u201d The DeLorean was tricked out with something that made it spark. The driver, an old man with frizzy hair and a lab coat, stepped out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell now,\u201d asked Gandalf, \u201cwho\u2019s this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGreat Scott!\u201d yelled the man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGandalf,\u201d introduced Gandalf, taking what the man said out of context. \u201cPleased to meet you, Scott.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat?\u201d asked the man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGandalf, \u2018Great Scott\u2019 is just a saying,\u201d I explained. \u201cHis name is Doctor Emmet Brown.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen am I?!\u201d asked Doc Brown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2018When\u2019 are you?\u201d asked Batman. \u201cDid you hit your head?\u201d He looked up at a sign that advertised a town festival on Saturday Night, September 5th. It promised Food, dance, and games and all proceeds would go into the clock tower\u2019s construction. \u201cYou\u2019re in Hill Valley,\u201d answered Batman. Doc Brown looked around and saw the construction of the clock tower going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, no no no!\u201d he wailed. \u201cThis is terrible!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d countered Wyldstyle. \u201cIt has a certain old-timey charm to it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis could destroy the space-time continuum!\u201d cried Doc Brown. \u201cI don\u2019t belong here, not now!\u201d A caravan was blocking the path and let some rubble fall onto the DeLorean. \u201cQuickly!\u201d yelped Doc Brown. \u201cYou have to help me move my car!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, a DeLorean in 1885 is a little anachronistic, ain\u2019t it?\u201d I muttered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c1885?\u201d asked Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDoctor Brown used a DeLorean,\u201d explained Haitao, \u201cto make a machine that can go into the past or the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnother time-travelling Doctor?!\u201d said Batman, exasperated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGreat Scott,\u201d gulped Gandalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGreat Scott, indeed!\u201d agreed Doc Brown. \u201cQuick! We need to move the DeLorean as soon as possible!\u201d He turned the key, but the engine wasn\u2019t making a promising sound. \u201cStart! START! Start, you silly car! If people see this DeLorean in 1885, then\u2026oh my!\u201d We started cannibalizing parts from the caravan to see if we could turn the engine manually. It turned over and started purring like a kitten. \u201cSuccess!\u201d cheered Doc Brown. \u201cI knew it would work eventually!\u201d He turned around to go down Main Street. \u201cThanks!\u201d he called to us. \u201cNow, I\u2019ll head off to the mines! Watch out for Mad Dog Tannen! He has a bit of a reputation if my history of Hill Valley is correct!\u201d He sped off to the mines. As he did, we wandered down the main street, with Momotaros looking bored, if you can call that permanent scowl bored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter with you?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m itching for a fight and no one wants to fight me!\u201d he snarled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot everything needs to end in a brawl,\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis coming from a lady who wants to punch her father\u2019s mug,\u201d muttered Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s different,\u201d I hissed. That\u2019s when I noticed the townsfolk shutting their windows and taking cover as a cowboy with a huge mustache came up the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think that might be the Mad Dog the Doc mentioned,\u201d gulped Wyldstyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt appears to be in human form,\u201d observed Gandalf. \u201cIs it a skin-changer?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think \u2018Mad Dog\u2019 is just a name,\u201d explained Wyldstyle. The scanner beeped like crazy at the Cowboy. Batman and I saw it and started puzzling things out. As we did, a man ran out of a saloon. Another person was flung out of the saloon with the flinger stepping out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNobody calls me Mad Dog!\u201d snarled the man. \u201c\u2018Specially not some duded-up, egg sucking gutter trash!\u201d The poor man was the one we rescued from the manure. Judging by his face, I\u2019d say it was Seamus McFly, the ancestor of the protagonist for Back to The Future, Marty McFly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHelp! Anybody?!\u201d called Seamus. The strange cowboy then sparked some purple lightning from his hand. That was the cue for Hiro in robber getup and Igura in a saloon girl dress to come out and fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cY\u2019all just move along before one of you gets hurt,\u201d called Hiro in a terrible Texan accent. Mad Dog Tannen started laughing. \u201cYeah, the accent\u2019s terrible,\u201d muttered Hiro in his usual accent. \u201cHere\u2019s something you might understand.\u201d He then fired on the people at the saloon. Mad Dog and Seamus took off in opposite directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhoever Hiro and Igura are with, whoever that is,\u201d rasped Batman, \u201cthey\u2019re the source of the power signature.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes,\u201d confirmed Gandalf, \u201cI can feel it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis universe ain\u2019t big enough for two teams!\u201d called the cowboy in a voice that made me freeze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen why don\u2019t you take Hiro and Igura and leave?\u201d I shouted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBecause we have business here, Megumi,\u201d hissed Hiro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBusiness that I reckon you\u2019re fixing to meddle with!\u201d continued the cowboy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen it looks like we\u2019ve got ourselves a reckoning!\u201d declared Batman. Both sides charged towards each other with Batman leading our side and the cowboy leading the other. Both leaders bent down as if they were about to draw pistols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBatman,\u201d muttered Wyldstyle, \u201cyou know you don\u2019t have an actual gun, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBesides, that\u2019s the form I\u2019m responsible for,\u201d muttered Ryutaros.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t we all transform?\u201d I suggested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow THAT\u2019S something I like!\u201d cheered Momotaros. The Imagin and Ry\u014dtar\u014d took out belts and strapped them on. The Taros brothers, as Momotaros and his other similarly named friends call themselves, had the same belt design as Ry\u014dtar\u014d. It had a circle in the center with an L-shape at a diagonal facing the arrow on the right side of the buckle and had four colored buttons on the left side, going from red, to blue, to yellow, to purple downwards. Sieg\u2019s belt had a gold wing design on the front. Ry\u014dtar\u014d took out a flip style cell phone and pressed some buttons before attaching it to the circle part of his belt, unfolded. They took out passes and pressed their respective color buttons as we took out our i.d tags and Hongo struck his Henshin pose. Hiro loaded his i.d tag and Igura put her hands on her belt\u2019s wings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRider\u2026\u201d began Hongo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNova…\u201d announced Igura.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHenshin!\u201d called all Riders, both good and evil. We all transformed. I heard the Den-O belts say, \u201cSword Form\u201d, \u201cRod Form\u201d, \u201cAx Form\u201d, \u201cGun Form\u201d, \u201cWing Form\u201d, and \u201cLiner Form\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider Rogue. Stand and deliver!\u201d began Rogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider Talon. You\u2019ve made a poor decision to go against Shocker Nova,\u201d called Talon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider Outback! Better watch your backs, mates!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider Claw! My weapons shall turn you into ribbons!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider Swing! I\u2019ll be taking your legs!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider Hunt! I shall always get my prey!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider Clash! A duel with me shall end in your defeat!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider Climb! Mountains are a warrior\u2019s best friend!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider Gallop! My riding skills are unmatched!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider Sengoku! You shall get a taste of Feudal Japan!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider Royal! Evil will ultimately bow to me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider Guard! None shall harm my friends, family, and lady!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider Touch\u00e9! En Garde, thing of evil!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider Zh\u00e0nsh\u00ec! Try and stop my quest!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider Arch! My skills outdo Robin Hood!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider K\u00e4mpfer! Your defeat will be certain at my hands!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider Seeker! It\u2019s not gold I seek, but your end!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider Battle! For friends and family, I shall be victorious!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am Gandalf the Grey! Prepare to see some fireworks!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m Wyldstyle! Time to think outside the box!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m Batman! The Dark Knight rises!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am the start of a group of warriors! I am Kamen Rider!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider Den-O, Sword Form,\u201d proclaimed Momotaros. He had red armor with shoulder pads jutting out and a mask that looked like a peach was split from the top. He then pointed his thumb to himself. He then struck a pose with his legs spread out and his hands spread out. While that went on, he said \u201cOre\u2026sanjou!\u201d (dynamic way of saying I have arrived!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider Den-O, Rod Form,\u201d purred Urataros. He had blue armor with antennae on each side of the head and a blue visor with orange eyeholes and samurai style shoulder pads. \u201cOmae… boku ni tsuraretemiru?\u201d (Loosely translated; Won\u2019t you let me string you along?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider Den-O, Ax Form!\u201d boomed Kintaros. His yellow armor was ridged on the front and had an ax head placed in between the triangular visor for the eyes. \u201cOre no tsuyosa ni, omae ga naita!\u201d (Loosely translated; My strength has made you cry!) He then slammed his foot into the ground like a sumo wrestler and cracked his neck. It made a popping sound that made me wince. \u201cNamida wa kore de fuitoke!\u201d (Loosely translated; Wipe your tears with this!) he said as he tossed a hankie at Hiro\u2019s team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider Den-O, Gun Form!\u201d cheered Ryutaros. It looked like a set of speakers was on each shoulder and his mask looked like his usual face. He danced around as he said \u201cTaosu kedo ii yo ne?\u201d (Loosely translated; Mind if I defeat you?) He then leaned back and pointed at the enemy. \u201cKotae wa kii te nai!\u201d (Loosely translated; Can\u2019t hear your answer!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider Den-O, Wing Form,\u201d called Sieg. His armor was white and the eyeholes looked like swan wings. \u201cKourin, man o jishite.\u201d (Loosely translated; Advent, at the top of everything.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider Den-O, Liner Form,\u201d stammered Ry\u014dtar\u014d. \u201cEr\u2026none shall stop me on my journey to the station of your defeat!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat was awful!\u201d shouted Sword Form. The cowboy had had enough and drew his staff! It was Lord Vortech! He made a noise with his mouth that sounded like he fired a shot into the sky as a portal opened to drop the Daily Planet building onto the street! The globe on top fell and rolled towards us!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWatch out!\u201d called Batman as we all ran from the globe. No duh! The globe bowled us over!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGoodness!\u201d yelped Gandalf. Vortech then made a shotgun reload noise and then said \u201cBoom,\u201d as he opened another portal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMOVE!\u201d I warned. We got out of the way as the Kwik-E-Mart from The Simpsons<\/em> dropped in. Homer poked his head out and looked around. He saw us, screamed, and shut the door, running inside and causing a huge mess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is a rather inconvenient store!\u201d joked Wyldstyle. We all groaned. \u201cOkay, in all seriousness, I see a Keystone transmitter and a chroma lock design on the front of the store. Let\u2019s find the chroma discs.\u201d I found the red one under a wagon from this dimension, Gandalf found the blue one in a dumpster belonging to the store, and with Arch in Batman Steel, both he and Batman yanked down the store\u2019s sign to drop the yellow chroma disc. I noticed something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGuys, the chroma design doesn\u2019t have blue!\u201d I yelped. The design had a yellow left L shape, a red circle, and a green right L-shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo problem,\u201d called Wyldstyle. \u201cWe just combine blue and yellow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou can mix and match colors?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSure can!\u201d confirmed Wyldstyle. \u201cHey, Momotaros, Urataros, Kintaros, want to use a Chroma lock?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis should be fun!\u201d cheered Sword Form<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt sounds intriguing,\u201d purred Rod Form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt would be bad not to try it,\u201d said Ax Form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cChroma Keystone, activate!\u201d announced Wyldstyle. \u201cChroma lock, reveal!\u201d The design appeared on the ground, surprising the Den-Liner crew. \u201cLet\u2019s see, Chroma! Red! Den-O Sword Form! Chroma! Blue! Den-O Rod Form! Chroma! Yellow! Den-O Ax form!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat do you want us to do?\u201d asked Ax Form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJump into the paint blobs,\u201d explained Wyldstyle. \u201cThen Sword Form goes into the circle. Rod Form goes into the right L-shape, and Ax Form first jumps into the left L-shape, then the right!\u201d The three Den-O\u2019s did as they were told and unlocked the Kwik-E-Mart. We ran through the place, startling the poor owner, Apu. We ended up going through the backway with Apu trying to sell us something at an exorbitant price. Not a chance. He still said, \u201cThank you, come again,\u201d when we left without buying anything. We saw Vortech again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd now, for my next trick!\u201d he called. He summoned one of the statues of the Argonath in Middle Earth and a giant aircraft carrier that could fly! It crashed, blocking the path again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, the poor Valiant<\/em>!\u201d wailed Battle recognizing the airship. \u201cUNIT of 2015 will be so disappointed!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNever mind that!\u201d dismissed Wyldstyle. \u201cI can master build something!\u201d She made a giant cannon and fired on part of the aircraft. She then made a ladder that ran up a building out of the rubble. She climbed up the ladder and found a transmitter. \u201cUp and over, guys! This is just what we need!\u201d said Wyldstyle. We came up. Batman decided to use his Keystone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShift Keystone, activate!\u201d he announced. \u201cCyan, on the roof of the building across from us! Yellow, on the roof we\u2019re on! Magenta, on the top of the aircraft wreckage! Shift! All allies! Magenta!\u201d We got to the top of the aircraft carrier and jumped over the other side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, you\u2019re still here?\u201d mused Vortech. \u201cVery well then!\u201d He summoned the Sphinx, the Statue of Liberty, and a pirate ship to block our path. \u201cAs you can see,\u201d said Vortech, \u201cnothing is safe from my reach!\u201d The ship seemed to be familiar to Wyldstyle. She got a look at the name before it caught fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Sea Cow<\/em>?\u201d she gulped. \u201cThat\u2019s MetalBeard\u2019s ship! Oh no, this isn\u2019t good!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow are we gonna get past that?!\u201d snapped Sword Form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith the Elemental Keystone,\u201d explained Gandalf. \u201cElemental Keystone, activate! Element of water, Ichig\u014d!\u201d Hongo doused the flames, allowing us safe passage over the roadblock. Vortech and his cronies were hiding behind an electric coil. \u201cElement of lightning, Royal!\u201d I zapped the coil with lightning, making it explode in the enemy\u2019s face. They retreated as we climbed the Sea Cow<\/em> and pursued them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I stretched in my bed, the new dream I had being pleasant and restful. I got up and saw Richard stirring. Emily wasn\u2019t in bed, must have woken up before us. Hope her dreams were restful. I stroked Richard\u2019s hair and blushed. My mind wandered to a possible future with me as his wife, ruling […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":130,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[96,8],"tags":[48,14,16,13,9,49,17,28,12,15],"class_list":["post-128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kamen-rider-vortex","category-kamen-rider-vortex-chapters","tag-back-to-the-future","tag-batman","tag-gandalf","tag-hiro-adachi","tag-kamen-rider","tag-kamen-rider-den-o","tag-kamen-rider-ichigo","tag-lord-vortech","tag-megumi-hishikawa","tag-wyldstyle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=128"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1074,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128\/revisions\/1074"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/130"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=128"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=128"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}