\u201cSo, what do you think?\u201d asked Optimus as he finished giving Arsha and Megumi a tour of his base. They were at the Command Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m impressed,\u201d praised Megumi. \u201cI could only imagine so much on Richard and Sonic\u2019s descriptions alone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI must say, it reminds me of home, somewhat,\u201d sighed Arsha happily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPst! Hey!\u201d hissed a voice in a falsetto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho was that?\u201d asked Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOver here!\u201d urged the voice. The source was from behind the couch. They looked behind to see Mickey!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMickey! What are you doing here?!\u201d yelped Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMegumi, we need to talk!\u201d whispered Mickey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMr. Mouse,\u201d interjected Optimus, \u201cwhy shouldn\u2019t we toss you to the cops after the stunt you pulled?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause most everybody knows me!\u201d replied Mickey. \u201cMegumi, especially, knows I wouldn\u2019t do this unless I had a good reason!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow fortunate that I know you as well, Mickey Mouse!\u201d growled War\u2019s voice. War, in her Rider form, approached the group with someone familiar floating behind her. It was a flying box with no legs, a single purple eye, an antenna, and arms with pincers on each side!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cX-PO?!\u201d yelped Megumi. \u201cWhat are you doing here?! You\u2019re supposed to be in prison!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd \u2018hello\u2019 to you too,\u201d replied the former Gateway Operator, the Experimental Portal Operator, X-PO. \u201cTo answer your question, War bailed me out on the condition that I would serve her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI needed his computational abilities,\u201d continued War, \u201cto find either Caan or one of his allies. It looks like we came up with the latter. Good work, X-PO.\u201d She drew her sword and leveled it at Mickey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWar, we\u2019ve got this!\u201d hissed Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, I\u2019VE got this,\u201d countered War. She then gave her attention to Mickey. \u201cMickey Mouse, you\u2019re coming with me and you can explain to the whole class why…\u201d A portal opened beneath Mickey and got him out of there. \u201cX-PO! TRACE IT!\u201d shouted War.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey\u2019re continually scrambling the endpoint!\u201d replied X-PO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cClever squid!\u201d snarled War. \u201cOh well, we\u2019ll find him another time. Get us home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWar, what is all this about?!\u201d snapped Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not important,\u201d dismissed War.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, it is!\u201d snarled Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis does NOT concern you three!\u201d urged War. \u201cJust concentrate on the 3V2R!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re in my base,\u201d hissed Optimus, \u201cso I say it DOES concern us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe won\u2019t be in your base for long,\u201d answered X-PO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTeletraan! Lock them here!\u201d ordered Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHEY! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!\u201d shouted X-PO as he turned to the main monitor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot while there are questions unanswered!\u201d snapped Teletraan as his avatar blew a raspberry. \u201cHe can\u2019t access his portal-making abilities! They\u2019re stuck here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGood work!\u201d praised Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRelease your hold on X-PO\u2019s portal functions!\u201d roared War.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry, War,\u201d replied Teletraan in a HAL-9000 impression, \u201cI\u2019m afraid I can\u2019t do that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have no intention of staying here a second longer,\u201d snarled War, \u201cand risking letting Mickey slip away!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not leaving until we get answers!\u201d insisted Megumi as she equipped her Vortex Driver. \u201cI don\u2019t want to fight you, but I WILL beat the information out of you if I have to!\u201d She grabbed her i.d. tag and inserted it into the belt. \u201cHenshin!\u201d she called. She spun the wheel and became Kamen Rider Royal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou never beat me when we were training!\u201d declared War as she drew her sword.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was shackled by the idea of a fair fight!\u201d hissed Royal as she took out her Ascendant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen let\u2019s see you fight unfairly,\u201d challenged War as she charged at Royal. Royal pressed the button on her Ascendant as she dodged the attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAscendancy!\u201d it announced. She then inserted it into the Vortex Driver and folded it down onto the wheel. \u201cAll set!\u201d it called. She pressed the button again and the wheels spun, changing her armor from blue to silver with gold trim. \u201cFull Ascendance!\u201d finished the Ascendant. Royal was now Kamen Rider Royal: Ascendant Base. She summoned her sword and blocked War\u2019s next swing. She then kicked War\u2019s knee, causing her to hold onto it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cX-PO!\u201d snarled War.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKeep your sabatons on!\u201d snapped X-PO. \u201cI\u2019ll get us out of here! This oversized Nintendo Switch isn\u2019t all that sophisticated!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOversized Switch?!\u201d shouted Teletraan. \u201cI\u2019ll Switch you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is getting out of hand!\u201d hissed Royal. \u201cHey, Optimus! I\u2019m borrowing your power!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGo ahead!\u201d replied Optimus. Royal touched Optimus and retrieved his i.d. tag. It came out gold instead of blue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHuh, so this is when we get gold i.d. tags,\u201d mused Royal as she remembered her adventures with Godzilla and her 70-year-old self. She then inserted the i.d. tag into the chamber on the front of the Ascendant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAscendance: Optimus Prime!\u201d called the Ascendant. Then, it happened! From the feet up, Optimus turned into red mist!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHEY! HEY! HEY!\u201d protested Optimus as he fully changed into mist. The red mist then formed hard armor evoking Optimus\u2019 helmet, flight jets, shoulders, hands, and feet! They attached themselves to Royal and her eyes flashed electric blue, then the usual baby blue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…That\u2019s new,\u201d mused Royal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, I got my limbs back,\u201d sighed Optimus\u2019 voice as he folded his arms…at least, he thought they were his arms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEr, Prime,\u201d gulped Royal, \u201cwhy did you fold my arms?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d asked Optimus, \u201cthey\u2019re MY arms. …Why do I feel squishy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDid I just gain some extra machinery?\u201d asked Royal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEr, guys,\u201d gulped Arsha as she pointed to Royal, shaking a bit in fear at what happened to the Kamen Rider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cImpossible,\u201d breathed War. The eyes on Royal\u2019s helmet alternated between baby blue and electric blue. They showed confusion, then they guessed, then panic set in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…GATTAI SHIMASHITA!\u201d (loosest translation, We\u2019ve combined!) shouted Royal in both Optimus and Megumi\u2019s voices. Optimus\u2019 voice then took over as the eyes turned electric blue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is so weird!\u201d he wailed. \u201cLet me out!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis never happened before!\u201d yelped Royal in Megumi\u2019s voice as the eyes went to baby blue. \u201cUsually, the Ascendant projects a clone body and it turns into mist and unites with me, not the actual person!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWait, when you tested this thing out,\u201d asked Optimus as he took over, \u201cwas the person the i.d. tag was based off of in the same room as you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…No, but I see your theory,\u201d mused Megumi as she took over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s rift control again!\u201d cheered X-PO. \u201c…And I lost it again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m not THAT unsophisticated, Toaster!\u201d snapped Teletraan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOkay, that\u2019s it!\u201d snarled War. \u201cEnding this now!\u201d Her sword was raised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUh oh!\u201d yelped Royal in Megumi\u2019s voice. The sword came down and Royal managed to summon Optimus axes to block them! Both were surprised, then a wicked looked entered Royal\u2019s eyes. \u201cPrime,\u201d Megumi called, \u201cdo you mind taking over? I want to see how you use these things.\u201d The eyes then turned electric blue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDelighted,\u201d answered Optimus. Royal then shoved War back and went on the offensive. War was taken aback that Royal was so skilled with dual wielding axes, so she changed her tactics accordingly. She grabbed one arm on an upswing and held the other at bay with her sword, leaving the chest open for her to drive her knee into it. Royal dropped the floor and saw War\u2019s foot prepare for a kick, then she combined the axes into their staff mode and tripped War up. War was floored and Royal got up, raising the axe above her head. War then converted her blade into a hand-held cannon and fired. The shot knocked Royal off her feet and allowed War to get back up. Royal then summoned Optimus\u2019 gun and fired. War wasn\u2019t even fazed as she stormed up to Royal. Royal then got out a human-sized Cyber Key and flicked it into the air before she fired energy from her hand into the Cyber Key. \u201cCYBER KEY POWER!\u201d invoked Royal in Optimus\u2019 voice. The Cyber Key inserted itself into the back of the gun and rotated, allowing the barrel to split, and let the axe split into two again before inserting themselves into the barrel. The new weapons configuration was a Spark Drinker Axe and Royal swung it so hard that it flung War into the wall. When War got back on her feet, Royal was the same way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe better end this quickly,\u201d remarked Megumi as she briefly took over, \u201cWar\u2019s highly adaptive. She\u2019s learned your fighting capabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAny options?\u201d asked Optimus as he resumed control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHEY! ROYAL! TAG IN!\u201d called Arsha. Royal looked back, then nodded. She dashed towards Arsha and got her i.d. tag, golden like Optimus, and swapped out i.d. tags. The Optimus armor turned into mist and reformed into Optimus in normal robot mode. Royal then inserted Arsha\u2019s i.d. tag into the Ascendant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAscendance: Arsha Royana!\u201d called the Ascendant. Arsha turned into pink mist and the mist formed pink pauldrons, nine tails, and a rose helmet piece on the back. Royal then allowed Arsha to take over and the fight turned magical. Royal was firing magic blast after magic blast at War, who had to resort to blocking with her blade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt looks like she\u2019s weak enough,\u201d remarked Arsha\u2019s voice as the eyes turned pink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow\u2019s our chance!\u201d declared Megumi\u2019s voice. Megumi took over and pressed the Ascendant\u2019s button again. The wheel turned on the Vortex Driver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFinal Attack!\u201d called the belt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRIDER ROYAL ARSHA ASCENDANT KICK!\u201d shouted Royal in both Arsha and Megumi\u2019s voices. She leapt into the air and extended her foot. Transparent versions of Royal in her base form and Arsha in her armor flanked the corporeal Royal and followed her in Rider Kicking War. War hit the wall again and fell to the floor, her transformation being cancelled. Royal then picked War up and brought her to her face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell?\u201d asked Royal in Arsha\u2019s voice. \u201cAre you going to talk?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…I knew Mickey would try to contact you lot,\u201d replied War. \u201cNeedless to say, I\u2019m keeping tabs on everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIs it gonna turn out,\u201d quizzed Royal in Megumi\u2019s voice, \u201cthat you tapped my phone?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCaan may have used some sort of mind-control garbage on Mickey to get him to work to his ends,\u201d continued War. \u201cHe might have done the same to you guys. I\u2019m keeping tabs! This is bigger than you or me, guys; this is the fate of the multiverse here!\u201d Royal released War, then removed Arsha\u2019s i.d. tag so Arsha could return to a corporeal state, then took out the Ascendant, then removed her own i.d. tag from the Vortex Driver and returned to being Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou get out of here!\u201d she snarled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTeletraan, release your hold on X-PO\u2019s portal generation functions,\u201d ordered Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSir, you can\u2019t…!\u201d protested Teletraan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s an order,\u201d insisted Optimus. Teletraan sighed. X-PO then perked up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPortal generation functions restored,\u201d he reported. \u201cLet\u2019s get out of here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCapital idea,\u201d agreed War as a portal opened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWar,\u201d called Megumi, \u201cwhen we return to Vorton, we\u2019re ALL going to have a long conversation about this!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUntil then,\u201d dismissed War, \u201cfarewell.\u201d She and X-PO entered the portal and it closed behind them. For a few minutes, no one said a word. As they sat, Teletraan got something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVorton\u2019s calling,\u201d he reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOn screen,\u201d directed Optimus. Emily appeared on screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSorry to disturb you all,\u201d she began, \u201cbut Amavorte wants to talk to Megumi after the Advancement Ceremony for the Second Round.\u201d Megumi sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow what?\u201d she groaned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Advancement Ceremony for the Second Round was in full swing. This time, there were eight floats dedicated to the winners. They were Buncho, Queen Phury, Elizabeth, Bolt Boy, Optimus, Mr. Drendar, Megumi, and Arsha. Blancalmarem and Nemengra were commenting again, accompanied by Julia Caesar and Ultragingana. \u201cI am Blancalmarem, the white princess of Chizara and the life leader,\u201d began Blancalmarem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am Nemengra, the black princess of Chizara and the death leader,\u201d finished Nemengra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd we\u2019re accompanied by Julia Caesar and Ultragingana as we witness the Advancement Ceremony for the Second Round!\u201d continued Blancalmarem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd what a round that was!\u201d cheered Nemengra. \u201cSome of the bouts really said something about the character of some of the fighters. I\u2019m sure Ultragingana could tell us stories about her quarterfinal bout in the 300,029th 3V2R.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019d rather NOT remember,\u201d muttered Ultragingana. \u201cI still have bad dreams about it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt looks like the floats have made it to their designated parking areas,\u201d observed Julia. \u201cThe winners are coming down and receiving their torches from the Princesses!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere they go, lining up, ready to light the Closing Torch!\u201d cheered Blancalmarem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd there it goes!\u201d cheered Nemengra as the Torch blazed high. \u201cPerfect! And there\u2019s Rosadera, ready to make her speech!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFriends,\u201d began Rosadera, \u201cthis has been an excellent second round. The spirit of good sportsmanship is well represented by the competitors, even with those we might not consider so…civil.\u201d Optimus rolled his optics, thinking that what Rosadera said was an understatement considering Ms. Furella. \u201cHowever,\u201d continued Rosadera, \u201csuch people can only be pitied. They\u2019re missing out on the good stuff. So,\u201d her face adopted a mock saddened expression, \u201cwe must burden ourselves by enjoying such good things without them.\u201d The crowd chuckled at the joke. Rosadera dropped it and returned to her speech. \u201cWe can only expect more spectacular bouts in the future, so let\u2019s move ever onward! We shall take a week-long break relative to your universe\u2019s time scale once again, so plan well and rest up!\u201d The winners stepped off the platform and prepared to go when someone whistled. A woman in a yellow green outfit came up to Megumi and Rosadera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAh, Amavorte, yes?\u201d quizzed Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAmavorte?\u201d muttered Rosadera. \u201cWhat can I do for you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI need to speak with Megumi,\u201d explained the woman, Amavorte, the yellow-green princess of Chizara and the earth leader. \u201cIn private, preferably.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…And you were expecting her?\u201d Rosadera asked Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was,\u201d confirmed Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVery well,\u201d muttered Rosadera, \u201cjust let me know when you\u2019re finished talking to her so I can send you home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou guys go on ahead,\u201d Megumi assured Optimus and Arsha. \u201cI\u2019ll see you on Vorton.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI hope you can get answers,\u201d gulped Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSee you later,\u201d bid Arsha. Megumi\u2019s fellow winners then vanished in pink light with Rosadera. Megumi and Amavorte teleported to Amavorte\u2019s private castle in yellow-green light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat did you want to talk about?\u201d asked Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCan you explain why War is trying to access our satellites?\u201d inquired Amavorte.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat?!\u201d yelped Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour reaction just said everything,\u201d remarked Amavorte, \u201cyou\u2019re as surprised as I was to hear that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was inundated with how much you Chizarans value privacy before my first bout,\u201d muttered Megumi. \u201cI presume War was when she competed?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe was,\u201d confirmed Amavorte. \u201cWe fear that there are those that would use our brand of power and immortality for ill deeds if they learned our secrets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut she\u2019s the anthropomorphic personification of war,\u201d remarked Megumi. \u201cI doubt she needs your kind of power. Unless…uh oh.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou have a theory?\u201d asked Amavorte.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo you mind taking me to the Grand Castle?\u201d requested Megumi. \u201cI need to ask the Princesses something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVery well,\u201d replied Amavorte. Yellow-green light then took them to the library of the Grand Castle, where the Princesses usually hang out. As it happened, all five were there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMegumi?\u201d yelped Azuliterii. \u201cWhat brings you here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDoes it have something to do with War trying to access our satellites?\u201d asked Moradelia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m afraid so,\u201d confirmed Megumi. \u201cI\u2019m calling for a mandatory meeting for all my friends the day after tomorrow on Vorton. Could you five and Amavorte attend? I think War has a more nastier deed in mind for the satellites than spying on you all.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cSo, what do you think?\u201d asked Optimus as he finished giving Arsha and Megumi a tour of his base. They were at the Command Center. \u201cI\u2019m impressed,\u201d praised Megumi. \u201cI could only imagine so much on Richard and Sonic\u2019s descriptions alone.\u201d \u201cI must say, it reminds me of home, somewhat,\u201d sighed Arsha happily. \u201cPst! Hey!\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2444,"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-2443","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\/2443","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=2443"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2443\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2445,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2443\/revisions\/2445"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2444"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}