{"id":253,"date":"2020-06-03T18:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-03T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/?p=253"},"modified":"2020-06-03T22:04:12","modified_gmt":"2020-06-03T22:04:12","slug":"chapter-48","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/chapter-48\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 48"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We gathered in the Gateway room. X-PO was doing his Rider chance, but I could tell he wasn\u2019t into it, despite the music going on. \u201cAnd today\u2019s riders are\u2026\u201d X-PO began. The hands spun and landed on\u2026 \u201cHiroki!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAll right!\u201d said Hiroki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c&#8230;and Livia!\u201d announced X-PO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes!\u201d called Livia. They took their places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAway we go!\u201d I declared. \u201cFor Rusty!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFOR RUSTY!\u201d everyone said. We charged into the portal and traveled to a lunar landscape with a base and\u2026what the? The whole place was pixilated! We were in 8-bit! Gandalf\u2019s mouth moved, but random noise came out. A text box appeared beneath him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat is this place?\u201d read the text box. Wyldstyle tried to speak but was met with the same noise. Another text box appeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd what happened to your voice?\u201d read the new text box. I made the same noise as I moved my mouth and another text box appeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEr, guys,\u201d it read, \u201cI think the noise is us speaking and the text boxes are translating for us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat kind of place would do this?\u201d read a text box for Hiroki\u2019s noise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d replied Batman\u2019s text box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDUCK!\u201d called Wyldstyle. A green saucer nearly swiped us! Something shot it and Gandalf cast a shield to defend us from the\u2026pixels.&nbsp; A pair of green tripods with yellow centers and eyes flew above us, but something shot them. Once the shooting stopped, Gandalf lowered his shield. Wyldstyle picked up one of the pixels from the saucer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis doesn\u2019t make any sense,\u201d I muttered. \u201cIt\u2019s almost like\u2026like we\u2019re in a video game.\u201d The pixel faded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c\u2026That is the single most ridiculous thing I\u2019ve ever heard,\u201d rasped Batman. Wyldstyle then felt a buzz in her pocket. She pulled out her scanner and used it on a bronze pixel floating above the base that hadn\u2019t faded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019ll tell you what I DO know, though,\u201d she called. \u201cTHAT\u2019S the Foundation Element!\u201d Another saucer grabbed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo, how do we get it?\u201d asked Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWell,\u201d muttered Hiroki, \u201cif this IS a video game, then we play!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI know what game we\u2019re in!!\u201d cheered Livia. \u201cThis is&nbsp;<em>Defender<\/em>! It\u2019s a horizontally scrolling shoot \u2018em up where you control a fighter ship and defend this world from waves of invading aliens while saving astronauts!\u201d We then heard a banging on the door from the base behind us. We turned to see a young man in a doctor\u2019s uniform banging on the door. He had some fancy stethoscope hanging from his neck. Hiroki\u2019s eyes went wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cH\u014dj\u014d Emu!\u201d he yelped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLet me guess, another Rider?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe\u2019s the title Rider of&nbsp;<em>Kamen Rider Ex-Aid<\/em>!\u201d explained Hiroki. \u201cWe gotta get him out!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere\u2019s a vent here,\u201d observed Hongo. \u201cScale Keystone, activate! Lessen Scale of Hiroki!\u201d Hiroki crawled into the vent and ended up on the other side. \u201cNormalize Scale of Hiroki!\u201d said Hongo. Hiroki pressed a button and released himself and Emu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThank you, everyone!\u201d called Emu\u2019s text box. \u201cI was busy with hospital work one minute, then a blue hole opened beneath me and I was trapped here! Thank goodness I still have my Gamer Driver.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe need to help other people to get that pixel down,\u201d I told Emu. \u201cWill you help?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOf course!\u201d replied Emu. We headed to the right and found some poor guy surrounded by fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cElemental Keystone, activate!\u201d announced Gandalf. \u201cElement of water, Hongo!\u201d Hongo was surrounded in a blue aura and doused the fire. The person was\u2026oh, good grief! It was a fat, short guy with a black moustache and red clothing with blue overalls! His hat was red and had a white circle with a red \u2018M\u2019 on the front. Emu goggled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cJumpman?!\u201d he called. \u201cI think there\u2019s a Gashat based on the original game he was in!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cJumpman?\u201d asked the man we rescued. \u201cHaven\u2019t-a been called-a that in a while.\u201d Livia twitched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI forgot how cringy your accent is!\u201d she gulped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019ll-a have you know I\u2019m a real Italian!\u201d snapped the man. Livia and the man argued in agitated Italian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf you please!\u201d I protested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou said you weren\u2019t called Jumpman in a while,\u201d interjected Batman. \u201cWhat\u2019s your name?\u201d We all goggled at Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou never played the&nbsp;<em>Super Mario<\/em>&nbsp;series when you were a kid?\u201d I yelped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOh, yeah,\u201d remembered Emu. \u201cYou changed your name a while ago. Mario, is it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s-a me, Mario!\u201d said Nintendo\u2019s mascot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat are you doing in&nbsp;<em>Defender<\/em>?\u201d asked Hiroki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI-a don\u2019t know,\u201d muttered Mario. \u201cOne minute, I was-a having a picnic with-a Peach. Then, we get-a sucked in here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPeach is here too?!\u201d I called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIs this-a Bowser\u2019s plan?\u201d asked Mario.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo, someone above him,\u201d I answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNot another god-a-like being!\u201d moaned Mario.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHEY!\u201d shouted a voice. It was coming from another base. \u201cGet away from me!\u201d said another video game mascot. It was a blue creature with red sneakers, white gloves, green, connected eyes, and a black nose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSONIC!\u201d called Mario. \u201cHold on! I\u2019ll-a save you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAllow me!\u201d offered Gandalf. He used his magic to make the attacking creature explode. The pixels vanished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHey, thanks!\u201d called Sonic the Hedgehog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSonic, what are you-a doing here?!\u201d asked Mario.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMario! Hey, buddy!\u201d greeted Sonic. \u201cI was just stomping Eggman, as usual, and then a portal opened beneath me. I don\u2019t know what Egg-breath\u2019s up to, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis isn\u2019t Eggman\u2019s doing,\u201d I answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHelp me!\u201d called another voice. It was a petite woman\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIsn\u2019t that Peach\u2019s voice?\u201d asked Sonic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere she is!\u201d answered Mario as he pointed to the voice\u2019s source. A blonde woman in a pink dress was trapped by machinery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMario!\u201d called the woman. \u201cHelp me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI-a got you!\u201d replied Mario as he leapt onto the machine. The attack didn\u2019t do much good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLet me do it!\u201d called Emu. \u201cI\u2019ll change Princess Peach\u2019s fate with my own hands!\u201d He then brought out a pink trinket, a Gashat, like Dr. Kagami used. He pressed the activation button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMIGHTY ACTION X!\u201d shouted the Gashat. The game\u2019s start screen appeared as blocks looking like chocolate squares came in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHenshin!\u201d announced Emu as he put the Gashat into the Gamer Driver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGASHATTO!\u201d called the Driver. \u201cLet\u2019s game! Meccha Game! Mucha Game! What\u2019s your name?! I\u2019m a Kamen Rider!\u201d Emu became Ex-Aid and\u2026BWA HA HA HA! Irina was right! Level 1 Gamer Riders look absurd. While Brave had a knight\u2019s theme going, Ex-Aid had spiky, pink hair and a clear visor! Ex-Aid jumped up on the blocks and then on the machine but met with the same results as Mario.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOkay,\u201d he muttered, \u201cthat might have been a bout of clinical insanity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019ve got an idea,\u201d I called. \u201cLocate Keystone, activate! Initiate Rift detection!\u201d I found it a few feet from the machine. \u201cIdentify source of rift!\u201d The information beamed into my head. \u201cLocate help from 8-4-C-K-T-0-T-H-3-F-U-T-U-R-3!\u201d Just then, the DeLorean flew through the rift!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGreat Scott!\u201d shouted the driver. The Time Machine smashed through the machine and freed Peach. It then vanished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI thought\u2026the Flux\u2026\u201d I muttered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe one Vortech has was from the Time Train, remember?\u201d reminded Hiroki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOh, right, right,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThank you!\u201d said Peach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHELP!\u201d yelled a man. An alien was carrying him. He had wavy hair, pixel style pants, and a jacket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPARADO!\u201d called Ex-Aid. \u201cDai Henshin!\u201d He then opened his Gamer Driver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGACH\u0100N! LEVEL UP!\u201d announced the belt. He jumped into the air, kicked, then his armor flew off and his level 1 head became a backpack. \u201cMighty jump! Mighty kick! Mighty! MIGHTY ACTION X!\u201d Wow, his suit was pink! He still had the health bar on his chest as he leapt up to get Parado. The alien kept him out of reach. I then saw a seedling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGandalf!\u201d I called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cElemental Keystone, activate!\u201d announced Gandalf. \u201cElement of earth, Emu!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEx-Aid!\u201d corrected Ex-Aid. He was surrounded in a green aura. \u201cWhat am I supposed to do with this?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPoint your hands at the seedling!\u201d I instructed. Ex-Aid did so. He made a giant hand grow and flick the alien away. It dropped Parado as Ex-Aid caught him. Parado looked up. He then gave an impish grin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMy hero!\u201d he joked. He then kissed Ex-Aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOh, YUCK!\u201d protested Ex-Aid as he dropped Parado. \u201cMust you?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWell, must you drop me, Emu?\u201d laughed Parado as he picked himself up. He then saw us. \u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYour enemies, that\u2019s who!\u201d declared Hiroki. \u201cHenshin!\u201d He then rushed at Parado, who dodged and gave another grin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMy turn,\u201d he chuckled. He drew out what looked like two Gashats pressed together with a yellow dial on the front and different labels for games on them. He turned the dial to the left so one label was down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPERFECT PUZZLE!\u201d announced the strange Gashat. It then gave weird techno music as it looped on \u201cWhat\u2019s the next stage?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHenshin!\u201d called Parado. He pressed a button on the Gashat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDual up!\u201d it announced. An image of a suit popped up. The suit was pixelated black and white. The armor had a gold chest piece with puzzle pieces in the center, blue shoulder pads, and a blue helmet with a gold turtleneck attachment around the neck. \u201cGet the glory in the chain! PERFECT PUZZLE!\u201d The image went over Parado and he was IN the suit. He put the Gashat into a holder on his right hip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cKamen Rider Para-DX,\u201d (pronounced like paradox) introduced Parado. \u201cLevel 50!\u201d He then charged at Sengoku. Sengoku raised his katana and swung but missed. \u201cMissed me!\u201d taunted Para-DX.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI won\u2019t this time, Bugster!\u201d declared Sengoku.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYameru!\u201d (Stop!) called Ex-Aid. He then summoned a large hammer with an A and B button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGASHACON BREAKER!\u201d announced the weapon. Ex-Aid pressed the B button. \u201cJa K\u012bn!\u201d (sound effect for sword being drawn) called the weapon as a pink sword blade folded out and stopped Sengoku\u2019s katana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEx-Aid, the Americans have a saying for people like you,\u201d hissed Sengoku. \u201cWant to know what it is?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat is it?\u201d asked Ex-Aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cARE YOU OUT OF YOUR GOURD?!\u201d shouted Sengoku. \u201cThat\u2019s Para-DX! A Bugster! Your enemy!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNot anymore!\u201d argued Ex-Aid. Sengoku\u2019s sword stopped moving against Ex-Aid\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat?\u201d asked Sengoku.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe beat Kamen Rider Cronus,\u201d explained Ex-Aid as he relaxed his weapon. \u201cParado started to regret causing humans to suffer game disease and so joined CR. For a while, after we made a Gamedeus vaccine, he used it on himself as well as Poppy. Together, we beat Cronus! There\u2019s still a need for us, but the game disease outbreak is taken care of.\u201d Sengoku\u2019s eyes went wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAre you telling me\u2026\u201d he gulped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYep, there\u2019s a new Rider carrying on the fight,\u201d confirmed Ex-Aid. \u201cI think he&#8217;s called Build.\u201d Sengoku twitched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c\u2026\u2026\u2026<em>KAMEN RIDER EX-AID<\/em>\u2019S OVER AND I MISSED IT?! NNNOOOOOO!\u201d Sengoku screamed a scream only fans could reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo, you\u2019re our friend?\u201d I asked Para-DX.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf you want to call us that,\u201d he said as he cancelled his transformation. Ex-Aid and Sengoku did the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy don\u2019t we start over?\u201d I suggested. \u201cI\u2019m Queen Megumi Hishikawa of the Vortex Riders. The one who tried to carve out Parado\u2019s flesh is my brother, Prince Hiroki, a major&nbsp;<em>Kamen Rider<\/em>&nbsp;fanboy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHello,\u201d he mumbled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is Lady Livia Acqua, a fan of retro games like this one,\u201d I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHello!\u201d she said pleasantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is Batman, the World\u2019s Greatest Detective,\u201d I went on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHi,\u201d grunted Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is Gandalf of the Istari,\u201d I introduced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGreetings!\u201d called Gandalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is Wyldstyle, the Master Builder,\u201d I went on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHi!\u201d greeted Wyldstyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is Sonic the Hedgehog, Sega\u2019s mascot,\u201d I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYo! What\u2019s up!\u201d called Sonic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is Mario, Nintendo\u2019s Mascot,\u201d I went on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s-a me! Mario!\u201d cheered Mario<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is Princess Peach of the Mushroom Kingdom,\u201d I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGood day!\u201d called Peach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd, this is Takeshi Hongo, the first Kamen Rider,\u201d I finished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHello, young Emu,\u201d greeted Hongo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m H\u014dj\u014d Emu, Kamen Rider Ex-Aid and Genius Gamer M,\u201d introduced Emu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd I\u2019m Parado, the one that helps Emu as Genius Gamer M,\u201d continued Parado. All of a sudden, we heard victory music!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGAME CLEAR!\u201d announced a voice. We then looked up to see an image of a number 5 covered by a checkmark! But, the saucer still had the pixel!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m done playing!\u201d snapped Batman as he got a batarang ready. He then tossed it at the saucer, a mistake, in hindsight. The saucer fired on us as Gandalf cast a shield. It kept hammering us with laser fire!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2026can\u2019t\u2026keep this\u2026up!\u201d strained Gandalf. All of a sudden, a rocket came by and fired on the saucer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat\u2019s the rocket the player controls!\u201d called Livia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe really ARE in&nbsp;<em>Defender<\/em>!\u201d cheered Ex-Aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou\u2019ve played this game?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019ve played a lot of games,\u201d replied Ex-Aid. The rocket then turned the saucer into pixels. The bronze pixel floated down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGame over,\u201d rasped Batman. We went to get the pixel, but a portal opened and deposited a person in blue thief robes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWho\u2019s that?\u201d asked Gandalf. The person then took the pixel and laughed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHEY!\u201d shouted Wyldstyle. We followed him into another portal. We ended up in a labyrinth with items littering the place. Our sprites looked like 16-bit ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is new,\u201d mused Peach. She then saw someone! The thief!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou there! Stop, thief!\u201d called Gandalf. The thief just laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou can\u2019t catch me!\u201d boasted the thief. He ran off!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou wanna bet?!\u201d snapped Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFriends can join in any time!\u201d called a voice. Livia\u2019s eyes went wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re in&nbsp;<em>Gauntlet<\/em>!\u201d she realized. \u201cNo wonder the thief looked so familiar! I thought he only stole potions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c<em>Gauntlet<\/em>?\u201d asked Emu. \u201cThe hack-and-slash fantasy game? I never got the chance to play it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWell, now we\u2019re in it,\u201d mused Sonic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLet\u2019s-a go!\u201d called Mario.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMario! Hold on!\u201d warned Livia. Mario stopped and turned. \u201c<em>Gauntlet&nbsp;<\/em>has enemies out the wazoo. We need to be ready.\u201d Hongo then got into his pose as we got our i.d tags out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cRider\u2026\u201d began Hongo. I then heard \u201cMIGHTY ACTION X!\u201d and \u201cPERFECT PUZZLE! What\u2019s the next stage?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHENSHIN!\u201d we all called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGASHATTO!\u201d announced Emu\u2019s Gashat. He then opened the Gamer Driver. \u201cGACH\u0100N! LEVEL UP! Mighty jump! Mighty kick! Mighty! MIGHTY ACTION X!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDual up!\u201d called Parado\u2019s Gashat. \u201cGet the glory in the chain! PERFECT PUZZLE!\u201d We got ready for a fight and charged. I heard spin dashes and saw Sonic running circles around the enemies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHey! HEY! Slow it down-a, Sonic!\u201d protested Mario.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo way, squeaky!\u201d joked Sonic. \u201cThis is how the professionals do it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSQUEAKY?!\u201d snapped Mario as he jumped on a goblin and got a key. \u201cIt\u2019s-a my trademark voice! Something you don\u2019t have, given that your-a voice actors changed over the years! That\u2019s-a why I\u2019m always the one saving Peach!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s also the reason why you don\u2019t talk in any of your games!\u201d argued Sonic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHm, pretty strong words, coming from-a the pincushion with a psycho fangirl and the angriest fanbase!\u201d mused Mario.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWell, it beats being a falsetto squawking midget!\u201d laughed Sonic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOH YEAH?!\u201d snapped Mario as he grabbed Sonic and headbutted him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDude, Smash moves?! Really?!\u201d protested Sonic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCan we do this later?!\u201d snapped Ex-Aid as he smacked enemies aside. We made it to the exit, but a portal opened and we were in another labyrinth. We fought our way through it and collected keys. Gandalf found an exit sign. I then got an idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGuys, we can use this to get to the thief!\u201d I called. We used the exit, went through another labyrinth and used that exit to arrive near the thief! He took off, but we cornered him. Then\u2026another rift opened beneath us. \u2026This is gonna take some getting used to.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We gathered in the Gateway room. X-PO was doing his Rider chance, but I could tell he wasn\u2019t into it, despite the music going on. \u201cAnd today\u2019s riders are\u2026\u201d X-PO began. The hands spun and landed on\u2026 \u201cHiroki!\u201d \u201cAll right!\u201d said Hiroki. \u201c&#8230;and Livia!\u201d announced X-PO. \u201cYes!\u201d called Livia. They took their places. \u201cAway we [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":254,"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":[14,16,9,148,17,147,12,145,146,15],"class_list":["post-253","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kamen-rider-vortex","category-kamen-rider-vortex-chapters","tag-batman","tag-gandalf","tag-kamen-rider","tag-kamen-rider-ex-aid","tag-kamen-rider-ichigo","tag-mario","tag-megumi-hishikawa","tag-retro-video-games","tag-sonic","tag-wyldstyle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/253","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=253"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/253\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1896,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/253\/revisions\/1896"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/254"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=253"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=253"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=253"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}