Downtown Station Square was, regretfully, a mess. That tends to happen when the Joker and Sauron are involved. The new arrivals were trying to keep the property damage to a minimum. They were Richard\u2019s classmates, Brenden Patterson and Liam McIntyre, and Liam\u2019s Head of House, Pestilence. They were in their respective Rider forms of Herald Y, Highland, and…well…Pestilence. Highland had activated his shield\u2019s gatling gun and fired on Sauron who blocked the shots with a magic shield. The Joker sprayed acid from his boutonniere and almost hit Pestilence, but she dodged the attack and fired from her own weapon. Herald Y converted his knife into gun mode and fired. The Joker deflected it with a baseball bat. Herald Y got out of the way as Highland shield-bashed him right into Sauron. \u201cWatch it!\u201d roared Sauron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou watch it!\u201d squawked the Joker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOOGA BOOGA!\u201d screamed a voice, scaring the Joker and causing him to leap onto Sauron\u2019s head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGET OFF OF ME, YOU PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR A COURT JESTER!\u201d demanded Sauron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPrime, PLEASE tell me you caught that!\u201d laughed the voice. The owner of the voice revealed himself from behind a trash can. It was Kamen Rider Guard. Optimus\u2019 holo-form joined him from the alleyway and was howling with laughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJust posted the video to Mobochat!\u201d he hooted. \u201cIt went viral!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHEY, DON\u2019T YOU KNOW IT\u2019S RUDE TO POST SOMEONE\u2019S FEAR ON SOCIAL MEDIA!\u201d shouted the Joker as he got off of Sauron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, right!\u201d argued Guard. \u201cLike you haven\u2019t during one of your heists!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m the Clown Prince of Crime,\u201d remarked the Joker, \u201cI\u2019d rather keep as low of a profile as I can. …Which isn\u2019t saying much for me!\u201d He then gave off his signature laugh and made a balloon sword. He swung it at Pestilence who dodged it. The balloon sword hit the pavement of the street and caused it to crack as if a massive hammer struck it. \u201cImpact rubber!\u201d explained the Joker. \u201cCourtesy of Shocker Rift! Amplifies the damage of my swing when it detects the slightest bit of force, yet still light as a feather! Perfect for breaking ribs!\u201d He swung the balloon sword sideways, making Pestilence roll out of the way and shattering a street lamp on impact. The Joker laughed all the while as Highland charged at him with his shield out in front. The Joker heard Highland\u2019s shout as he charged and swung the balloon sword at him. Highland blocked the attack and felt some force go up his arm from the impact. Nothing was broken, thankfully, just hurt. \u201cHm, that should have cracked the shield,\u201d mused the Joker. \u201cStill, the noise you made as pain traveled up your arm was rather funny!\u201d He laughed again. Meanwhile, Guard was assisting Herald Y with Sauron. His mace was still magically enhanced as it threatened to shatter Richard\u2019s weapon. Their respective weapons locked with each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShre nazg golugranu kilmi-nudu,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ombi kuzd-durbagu gundum-ishi,<\/em>\u201d rasped Sauron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, yeah, yeah, \u2018Nine for mortal men doomed to die\u2019, I\u2019ve heard all that before!\u201d interrupted Guard. \u201cYet dying is called the Gift of Men for a reason!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI hardly see death as a gift!\u201d argued Sauron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYet we explore more of the world while immortals just sit and do nothing!\u201d hissed Guard. \u201cWe become stronger than the immortals!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo one is stronger than me!\u201d roared Sauron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen what did Isildur do?\u201d countered Guard. \u201cOh yes, he reduced you to nothing more than a flaming eye atop Barad-dur!\u201d Sauron howled in frustration and anger and swung his mace upwards, knocking Guard backwards. The impact from the mace caused the suit to crack in its energy distribution nodes from undersuit to armor, making energy spark all over Guard\u2019s body, so the automatic suit cancellation functions in his belt did as advertised and reverted Guard back into Richard and returned his i.d. tag to the pockets hidden in his belt while he gasped in pain. Sauron loomed over Richard menacingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPrepare to join Isildur in death!\u201d boomed the Dark Lord of Mordor as he raised his mace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cENOUGH!\u201d shouted a voice. \u201cCAPTO!\u201d Sauron\u2019s mace was grabbed by unseen hands and his downwards swing was interrupted by the invisible hands tugging on it. The mace was then yanked out of his hands and tossed away. He turned to see runic circles made of light around Optimus\u2019 hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…A machine?! Using magic?!\u201d protested Sauron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYep,\u201d replied Optimus. Sauron roared before casting his own magic to alter his size. Right now, he would tower over Optimus\u2019 robot mode. \u201cOkay, so you don\u2019t need to use your voice in casting magic,\u201d mused Optimus. \u201cI suppose I would be worried if I fought you in my normal robot mode.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…You too?\u201d groaned Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPardon?\u201d asked Optimus as he looked around Sauron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSome versions of you have a super mode,\u201d explained Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, this one does too,\u201d confirmed Optimus. \u201cOptimus Prime: SUPER MODE!\u201d His trailer appeared and split into four long units with an empty box in the center. The nosecone of Optimus\u2019 vehicle mode split and moved to the sides of the car while the rear extended. The cockpit area then rotated and revealed his head as the long units extended and revealed joints, hands, and feet while Optimus flew into the box and connected to the new limbs. Armor folded down to cover the interior robot and a larger version of his helmet wrapped around his head. The limbs then moved as Optimus wanted as he punched his new hand. He was now as tall as Sauron was currently. \u201cLet\u2019s do this!\u201d challenged Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou will fall just like Men!\u201d snarled Sauron as he retrieved his mace and enlarged it so he could wield it once again. Optimus combined his axes and got into a defensive stance, daring Sauron to make the first move. Sauron charged at Optimus, raising his mace up high, exposing his chest to Optimus\u2019 axe swing. Sauron shrieked in pain as he clutched his chest. Optimus readied himself for another swing, but was tripped up by the Dark Lord of Mordor. He landed hard on his back as Sauron recovered and raised his mace. Just then, he was shot from behind! Everyone turned to see Hiro grabbing the Joker by the ear and pulling him over to an open dimensional rift. Megatron, in his own super mode and the one who most likely shot Sauron as his fusion cannon was still smoking, grabbed Sauron\u2019s head and threw him into the rift. He then turned to Optimus, leveled his fusion cannon at him…then opened his hand. Optimus arched an eyebrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI assure you, brother, my hand is no trap,\u201d chuckled Megatron. Optimus then grabbed Megatron\u2019s hand and was pulled upwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI suppose I would be safe in assuming that was a one-time save?\u201d guessed Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMost safe,\u201d confirmed Megatron. \u201cWhen next we meet, both of our armies will have been built up and only then will we try to kill one another. See you then.\u201d He followed Hiro through the rift and it closed behind them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Better start detailing repair crews,\u201d muttered Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When everyone was returned to the Autobot base, Optimus was introduced to Brenden, Pestilence, and Liam. The reason Ironhide didn\u2019t participate in the fight was because he was injured and unconscious. Sauron\u2019s magic had dealt severe blows to Ironhide\u2019s internal mechanics, so he was laid up in the Repair Bay for some time. Ratchet had assured everyone that Ironhide was going to make it and be cleared for duty soon. Richard was starting to get a little bored and looked out the window. He heard someone politely clear their throat and turned to see Swalmu fanning himself. \u201cNervous, I take it?\u201d asked Swalmu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBored, actually,\u201d replied Richard. \u201cI\u2019m not used to periods of inactivity. We have the mines set up and cloaked, we\u2019ve got more people helping us, Pestilence told us about finding a Temporal Stop, I honestly have nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur host has graciously invited us to join him for a game or two,\u201d offered Swalmu. \u201cAs someone who enjoys a good game, I see no need to object.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI suppose we can see how Cybertronians play,\u201d mused Richard. \u201cLet\u2019s check it out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The game was in the Entertainment Room and it was there Richard discovered that there were video games in Swalmu\u2019s home. It was a trivia game and it was clear enough Optimus, Richard, and Swalmu were at a disadvantage, being foreigners to Mobius. This was a Mobius-based trivia game, not one from Cybertron, Richard\u2019s home, or any of the Realms. Swalmu was in the lead at the moment and Richard was trailing dead last. The question came up and the three were wracking their brains. They pressed a different button on their controllers and the results were revealed. Swalmu got it right and pumped his fist. \u201cGot it!\u201d he cheered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t know any of this scrap,\u201d muttered Optimus. Richard pressed another button too fast and lost some in-game money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWha…?!\u201d he protested. He then kept pressing the button and losing money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDude, what the frack?!\u201d laughed Optimus as Richard went into negative numbers. \u201cYou just lost all your money!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIF I CAN\u2019T BE THE BEST,\u201d declared Richard, \u201cI SURE AS HELL CAN BE THE WORST!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRichard, chill out a minute!\u201d giggled Swalmu. Richard then laughed at himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he finally answered, \u201cI got frustrated!\u201d Just then, a piercing squeal attacked their ears! Pestilence then came running in and hugged Optimus\u2019 head, still squealing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOMYGOSHYOU\u2019VEBEENINVITEDTOTHEVERSEVS.VERSERUMBLEROYALETHISISSOAMAZINGICAN\u2019TEVEN…!\u201d she shouted happily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPestilence, whoa! Slow down!\u201d called Richard. Pestilence then let go of Optimus and jumped down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRichard, did you tell him how honored he should be in fighting in the Verse Vs. Verse Rumble Royale?!\u201d asked Pestilence, a fat grin on her face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, how honored should he be?\u201d quizzed Richard. The grin slowly faded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Haven\u2019t you ever HEARD of the Verse Vs. Verse Rumble Royale?! The 3V2R?!\u201d she yelped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCan\u2019t say as I have,\u201d answered Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…AREN\u2019T YOU THE SPORTS GUY?!\u201d wailed Pestilence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s rare for me to do sports commentary,\u201d replied Richard. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…There\u2019s something a little YEESH about a guy that\u2019s never heard of the 3V2R!\u201d winced Pestilence. \u201cAll right, quick summary, the first race to appear in the multiverse was the Chizaran race, built like humans with all the varying skin-tones. Over time, they achieved godhood and, after exploring the limits of their power, were struck down with boredom and ennui. So, in response, five of the main Chizaran princesses invented a tournament to keep everyone entertained: the Verse Vs. Verse Rumble Royale, or the 3V2R. Because they saved their race from boredom, they went from princesses to Princesses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLowercase p to capital p,\u201d observed Richard. \u201cSo, who\u2019s their Queen or King?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey don\u2019t have one,\u201d replied Pestilence. \u201cIt\u2019s the capital p princesses that rule the Chizaran race.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, I have to fight in a gladiatorial match for them?\u201d asked Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMaybe,\u201d answered Pestilence. \u201cThat\u2019s the beauty of it; to keep it interesting, each match is different. You\u2019re randomly assigned an opponent and one of you has to decide what the actual battle\u2019s going to be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cReally?\u201d remarked Optimus. \u201cTo me, it sounds like it could be a thumb-war.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMaybe,\u201d conceded Pestilence. \u201cIt\u2019s happened. When War participated in one, her final match before claiming victory was an arm-wrestling match. Just 10 whole minutes, back and forth! There ARE rules to it, though. While one of them chooses the match, both of them have to agree on the general idea of how the fight\u2019s gonna play out. There\u2019s gotta be a reasonable chance one of them could win.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow\u2019s that determined?\u201d chimed in Swalmu, his interest held more by the conversation than the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s something the Chizarans figure out,\u201d explained Pestilence. \u201cBest thing about being a god, you learn rather quickly if someone\u2019s got a snowball\u2019s chance in Hell at winning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat happens if the contest results in someone getting killed?\u201d asked Swalmu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Chizarans don\u2019t allow that,\u201d replied Pestilence. \u201cYou get stabbed in the heart; they\u2019ll fix you right up!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat explains the red lady\u2019s comment of all battles being non-lethal,\u201d muttered Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI take it you\u2019ve asked questions while holding your invitation?\u201d asked Pestilence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI did,\u201d replied Optimus. \u201cI\u2019m spacing on their names now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJust use Spanish colors to help,\u201d explained Pestilence. \u201cRosadera\u2019s pink, Azuliterii\u2019s blue, Verdutha\u2019s green, Rojenthi\u2019s red, and Moradelia\u2019s purple. Tell me, what\u2019s First Place Prize?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMoradelia told me that they haven\u2019t decided the First Place Prize yet,\u201d answered Optimus. \u201cIt sounds cool, but I need to know what the prize is before I decide. Apparently, my deadline is until I meet Richard\u2019s wife and a Ms. Arsha Royana.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cArsha?!\u201d yelped Swalmu. \u201cA tip, when you meet her, don\u2019t call Arsha \u2018Ms. Royana\u2019, call her \u2018Your Highness\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe\u2019s royalty?\u201d asked Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHanako\u2019s daughter, princess of the entire Mid-realm, and Captain of a skyship named the Endeavor<\/em>,\u201d explained Swalmu. \u201cIf she\u2019s invited and we need to meet with her, then we need to locate a Temporal Stop NOW!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll ask Ratchet how he\u2019s doing, given the information we could be given,\u201d declared Optimus as he stood up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll tell those of my home about this development,\u201d replied Swalmu as he got up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll tell my people to be on the lookout for any trickery from our enemies,\u201d resolved Richard as he hit quit and shut down the gaming console.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, Optimus shows promise,\u201d chuckled Azuliterii as Rojenthi brushed her long tresses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe still hasn\u2019t decided yet, much like Megumi,\u201d countered Moradelia as she perused a history book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have faith he will,\u201d assured Azuliterii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll done,\u201d declared Rojenthi. Azuliterii got up and offered her a hand. Rojenthi accepted and they started dancing slowly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHave we got any definitive answers?\u201d asked Moradelia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat Emperor Dalek was a mistake,\u201d remarked Rojenthi, \u201cso he\u2019s not participating. His opponent, Bolt Boy, on the other hand, he\u2019s on the roster.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat about Ms. Furella and Supremo?\u201d asked Azuliterii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTheir preliminary round is still on,\u201d replied Rojenthi. Rosadera then came into the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMs. Furella and Supremo are both worthy enough to participate,\u201d she declared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPerfect!\u201d cheered Moradelia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd Linkara?\u201d asked Rojenthi. Verdutha then came in via a green flash of light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLinkara has declined,\u201d she sighed. \u201cHe\u2019s still participating in the Temlins\u2019 Contest of Champions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat?!\u201d yelped Rojenthi as she and Azuliterii stopped dancing. \u201cWhy\u2019s he participating in THAT tournament?! That\u2019s a knock-off of ours!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s no point in arguing, his decision has been made,\u201d sighed Rosadera. \u201cWe\u2019ll have to try others.\u201d The other four grumbled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen?!\u201d whined Metaltron. \u201cWhen do we strike?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow,\u201d purred Caan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFinally!\u201d cheered Metaltron. \u201cOur first step is our Dalek brethren, correct?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCorrect,\u201d confirmed Caan. \u201cWe must give them the secret of returning, safely, to their old casings. Hiro may keep the Daleks he created.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat do I need to do?\u201d asked Metaltron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI will go to the good Doctor and the Mouse,\u201d declared Caan. \u201cYou will go to our ancestral homeworld and introduce data relating to our brethren\u2019s freedom. Make sure you\u2019re not seen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI obey!\u201d obliged Metaltron as a rift opened for her. She departed as Caan changed the coordinates for his first destination.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Downtown Station Square was, regretfully, a mess. That tends to happen when the Joker and Sauron are involved. The new arrivals were trying to keep the property damage to a minimum. They were Richard\u2019s classmates, Brenden Patterson and Liam McIntyre, and Liam\u2019s Head of House, Pestilence. They were in their respective Rider forms of Herald […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2320,"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":[101,102],"tags":[9,345,337],"class_list":["post-2319","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trinity-soul","category-trinity-soul-chapters","tag-kamen-rider","tag-three-realms","tag-transformers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2319","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=2319"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2319\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2321,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2319\/revisions\/2321"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2320"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2319"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2319"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2319"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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