\u201cI was the princess,\u201d muttered Kaitlyn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe TARDIS is not a toy!\u201d shouted 70-year-old me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEr, where IS the Den-Liner crew?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAfter we came back,\u201d explained Joshua, \u201cthe Den-Liner came here to pick them up. They\u2019re already gone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd WE need to go as well,\u201d continued 70-year-old me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nice to know that my future is in good hands,\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou were the one who made that choice,\u201d observed 70-year-old me. She opened up a time rift. \u201cGoodbye, Megumi.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGoodbye, Megumi,\u201d I bid as we both bowed. They all soon went back to their original time. \u201cOof! My head!\u201d I complained. \u201cTime travel\u2019s just one nuisance after another!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSpeaking of time,\u201d interjected Richard, \u201cit\u2019s against us. Heather\u2019s probably finishing it up now!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGet Emily and have her join us in the Gateway Room,\u201d I directed. \u201cBatman, Hongo, Wyldstyle, Gandalf, Lacey, with me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot that I want to question you,\u201d argued Richard, \u201cbut are you sure sending Emily after Heather is a good idea?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHeather may attack in a blind rage,\u201d I admitted, \u201cbut she can cause damage. I want a medic with us. Besides, it might be the best way for Emily to get closure on Heather. I can just imagine her face now as she lords victory over her old nemesis and high school bully.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVery well,\u201d conceded Richard. He headed off to find Emily as the rest of the team joined me. Lacey called up Death on her phone and informed her we would meet her at After Academy. After she finished the call, she gave the technical team the coordinates and they set the Gateway for that location. Rusty gave the thumbs-up as Emily joined us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cReady to close the book on her?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo you even need to ask?\u201d replied Emily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet\u2019s go, then!\u201d I declared. The rift opened and we charged through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After Academy is certainly opulent, I can tell you. The Four Horsemen joined us a few seconds later. \u201cHad to confirm something,\u201d whispered Death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNothing you need to know just yet,\u201d whispered Death. \u201cCome. We have work to do.\u201d We made our way to a cave on the outskirts of the school and had examined all of the bits and pieces of technology strewn about the place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDoes she even know what half this stuff is?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t be surprised if she found out,\u201d muttered Emily. That got our attention. \u201cHeather has more in common with the Daleks than just her racism. She\u2019s a genius in terms of mechanical skill.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA pity she didn\u2019t put it to good use,\u201d I lamented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere she is!\u201d whispered Hongo. Heather was busy using a solder on something, her knockoff Apocalypse Driver, in all likelihood. We then saw her put the tool down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDone!\u201d she cheered. \u201cIt\u2019s finished!\u201d I nodded to my team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo are you!\u201d roared Emily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou!\u201d snarled Heather as she turned to us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHeather, you don\u2019t want to do this!\u201d I warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat I don\u2019t want,\u201d insisted Heather, \u201cis interference from you freaks!\u201d She came at us with wild punches. Hongo struck his pose and we got our i.d. tags out. The Horsemen and Lacey we\u2019re ready as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRider\u2026\u201d called Hongo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHenshin!\u201d we all announced. We changed and the fight began. Heather tried to slam her fists on to my head, but Apocalypse kicked her in the stomach. Heather tried to change her target to Apocalypse and did a roundhouse, but Apocalypse jumped out of the way so Ichig\u014d could catch her foot. He then flipped her into the air, leaving her open to Batman\u2019s knife-hand jab to the gut. Gandalf held her in the air with his magic while Wyldstyle made a giant fist out of the rock and slammed it onto Heather. Death then grabbed her legs and tossed her to War, who kicked her over to me. I drove my knee into her spine. While she was trying to pull herself together, Famine bit her arm, leaving a gaping wound for Pestilence to fire a gas at her. She briefly broke out in spots, but they vanished on account of the fact she was already dead. Touch\u00e9 then grabbed her hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor everything you ever did to me and for those people you\u2019ve killed!\u201d she declared. She grabbed her nemesis by the throat and tossed her into the cave wall. \u201cIt\u2019s over, Heather,\u201d commented Touch\u00e9. \u201cYou\u2019ve lost. Your small-minded obsession towards purity is weighing you down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIT IS NOT SMALL-MINDED!\u201d roared Heather as she held up her knock-off Apocalypse Driver. \u201cPURITY IS WHAT KEEPS US GOING! CAN\u2019T YOU SEE THAT?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHeather, don\u2019t do it!\u201d warned Apocalypse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSHUT UP!\u201d bellowed Heather. \u201cI\u2019m coming back and no one\u2019s gonna stop me!\u201d She then put the Driver on\u2026and felt the consequences. She was zapped multiple times and convulsed in pain while a bright light filled the area. It expanded to cover us all and blind us. When we regained our vision, well, I can\u2019t speak for everyone\u2019s belief in their sight, but I CAN speak for my own, because I couldn\u2019t believe it! There, wearing a photo-negative version of the Apocalypse Driver, was an equally photo-negative version of Lacey! Heather picked herself up and examined herself. She was still transparent. \u201cNo!\u201d she yelled. \u201cNo, this is all wrong! IT\u2019S SUPPOSED TO BRING ME BACK! I\u2019M SUPPOSED TO HAVE A FULLY FUNCTIONING BODY!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou have an annoying talent for whining,\u201d replied a voice. It sounded like Apocalypse\u2019s voice, but with a slight echo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow are you doing that?\u201d I asked as we cancelled our transformations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho are you talking to?\u201d asked Lacey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026You,\u201d I replied, confused. \u201cYou made your voice go all echoey.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d contradicted Lacey. \u201cI didn\u2019t say anything. And I can\u2019t make my voice have an echo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, it WAS your voice,\u201d replied Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, it was mine,\u201d corrected the voice again. At that moment, we all turned to Lacey\u2019s Negative Clone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Did YOU speak?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI should hope I did,\u201d remarked the clone. \u201cI have been dormant for eons since the dawn of eternity. I exist as a voice for the Void.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Void?\u201d whispered Death. \u201cOh, this is brilliant!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Void,\u201d wheezed Pestilence, \u201cis the counter to the multiverse. While everything exists here, nothing, and I do mean NOTHING, exists in the Void.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have been born,\u201d continued the Lacey Clone, \u201cas a guardian of the Void. Specifically, I guard the multiverse against the Void. There must be a balance between everything and nothing. Even if Vortech were to succeed in his plans, the Void would remain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why there should be only ONE Apocalypse Driver!\u201d hissed Death as she turned to Heather. \u201cI warned you about what would happen if you went through with this! You ignored me and easily half the multiverse! Even Caan could see what your machinations could have wrought, and he\u2019s a Dalek!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI will NOT be condemned to never having offspring!\u201d shouted Heather. \u201cIf the multiverse won\u2019t let me have children, I will happily burn it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat CAN\u2019T happen!\u201d insisted the Lacey Clone. \u201cThe power would be uncontrollable! You\u2019d be erased along with the multiverse before you had a chance to breed!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019d destroy the multiverse just to make all life like you?\u201d asked Emily. \u201cYou sound like a Dalek.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBeing barren is unbearable!\u201d protested Heather. \u201cBeing DEAD is unbearable!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHeather Richards, your unholy crusade nearly destroyed everything!\u201d declared the Lacey Clone. She snapped her fingers and a fiery hole opened up beneath Heather. She grabbed the edge before she fell. \u201cAll of Hell wants a word with you!\u201d hissed the Lacey Clone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNO! YOU CAN\u2019T SEND ME DOWN THERE!\u201d screamed Heather as she tried to pull herself up. The Lacey Clone stepped on her hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe decision was already made by both Man and God,\u201d she insisted. She then kicked Heather down to Hell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI HATE YOU!\u201d roared Heather as her screams mingled with those of the Damned. The Lacey Clone shut the hole and there was silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat was\u2026utterly terrifying!\u201d mumbled Hongo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the point of monsters like her,\u201d replied the Lacey Clone. \u201cIn any case, it\u2019s good to see you all, finally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Finally?\u201d asked Lacey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Void has had a consciousness of its own,\u201d explained the Lacey Clone. \u201cIt\u2019s been waiting to explore the multiverse without causing imbalance. Heather\u2019s attempt to come back to life was the chance it needed. So, I have a belt that gives me a suit just like you guys do. I guess you could call me Kamen Rider Void.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat about your civilian name?\u201d I asked. \u201cI don\u2019t know about the rest of us, but in my head, I\u2019ve called you Lacey Clone. Do you have a different name?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026You know, I think I just thought of one,\u201d replied the Lacey Clone. \u201cCall me Sandra, Sandra Noman.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNoman?\u201d asked Lacey. \u201cThat means \u2018not a person\u2019. Are you sure you want that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m of the Void,\u201d replied the newly christened Sandra. \u201cI think it\u2019s appropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, all right,\u201d I sighed. \u201cIn any case, can we count on you in the final fight against Vortech?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI must disappoint you,\u201d answered Sandra. \u201cMy powers are too out of control and getting a handle on them will take time, long after the final fight against Vortech. I must apologize.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWill you at least consider joining After Academy?\u201d whispered Death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt sounds like an excellent school,\u201d mused Sandra. \u201cI might join it. I\u2019m on the fence about it, though.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you DO want to,\u201d wheezed Pestilence, \u201cyou need merely ask us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd no hurry in choosing a house,\u201d assured Lacey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you, all of you,\u201d replied Sandra. \u201cUntil next time.\u201d Black mist then surrounded her until she and the mist vanished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2026was intense!\u201d I breathed. \u201cThere IS one more thing I need to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d asked Lacey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLacey and Horsemen,\u201d I called, \u201chow would you like to be members of the Feudal Nerd Society?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe haven\u2019t had new members in a LONG time!\u201d cheered Emily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s only been a year since Sheela joined us,\u201d I replied. \u201cIt\u2019s all your choice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019d be a fool NOT to join!\u201d declared Lacey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI suppose it won\u2019t hurt,\u201d whispered Death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEh, why not?\u201d grunted War.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis could be fun,\u201d wheezed Pestilence. \u201cCount me in!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI want in on this!\u201d mumbled Famine as she finished her protein bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat about you guys?\u201d I asked, turning to Batman, Hongo, Wyldstyle, and Gandalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI must respectfully decline,\u201d replied Gandalf. \u201cBut, thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSorry, I have to say no as well,\u201d remarked Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, sorry,\u201d muttered Wyldstyle. \u201cWhen this is over, I\u2019m gonna be busy with the Master Builder Academy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd I must say no was well,\u201d answered Hongo. \u201cI do apologize if I have disappointed you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLike I said,\u201d I assured them, \u201cit\u2019s all your choice. I understand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut, if you want to reconsider,\u201d offered Emily, \u201cjust come find us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you,\u201d replied Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow, kneel, Lacey and Horsemen,\u201d I instructed. I\u2019m probably one of few people the Horsemen ever kneeled to. I drew my blade and tapped their shoulders as if I were knighting them. \u201cAnd rise, Dame Lacey Thanatos, Duchess Death, Dame War, Lady Pestilence, and Lady Famine!\u201d They rose as new members of the Feudal Nerd Society!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow comes the real question,\u201d declared Lacey, \u201cwho do I see for a dress?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy mother can help in that regard,\u201d I answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe\u2019s made the costumes for the entire F.N.S,\u201d explained Emily. \u201cShe\u2019s always open to ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll ask her for help when we get back,\u201d declared Lacey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSpeaking of,\u201d I remarked. I then called up Vorton. \u201cX-PO, mission accomplished. Heather is no more and the knock-off Apocalypse Driver DIDN\u2019T destroy the multiverse. Boy, have we got a story to tell you all!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOne rift home coming up!\u201d cheered X-PO. \u201cAnd we\u2019ve found the next Foundation Element!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll remain here,\u201d whispered Death. \u201cBut, we\u2019ll join you in the final battle! Good luck!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you!\u201d I called as we jumped through.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cI was the princess,\u201d muttered Kaitlyn. \u201cThe TARDIS is not a toy!\u201d shouted 70-year-old me. \u201cEr, where IS the Den-Liner crew?\u201d I asked. \u201cAfter we came back,\u201d explained Joshua, \u201cthe Den-Liner came here to pick them up. They\u2019re already gone.\u201d \u201cAnd WE need to go as well,\u201d continued 70-year-old me. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to know that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":310,"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":[51,14,69,16,207,9,17,27,12,15],"class_list":["post-309","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kamen-rider-vortex","category-kamen-rider-vortex-chapters","tag-apocalypse-horsemen","tag-batman","tag-emily-saunders","tag-gandalf","tag-hell","tag-kamen-rider","tag-kamen-rider-ichigo","tag-lacey","tag-megumi-hishikawa","tag-wyldstyle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/309","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=309"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/309\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":311,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/309\/revisions\/311"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/310"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=309"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=309"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=309"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}