That nonsense with Heather made me sleep in this morning! Everyone could breathe easier now that Heather\u2019s in Hell. We all had a late breakfast before assembling in the Gateway room. The Rider chance was fired up. \u201cAnd the winners are\u2026!\u201d called X-PO as the hands slowed down to, \u201cTonje,\u201d Tonje smiled, \u201cand Mikhail!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKhorosho!\u201d cheered Mikhail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCoordinates set,\u201d reported Rusty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCHARGE!\u201d I shouted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We landed near the exit of a carnival at a road leading up to a spooky mansion on a hill. \u201cWell,\u201d mused Hongo, \u201cWataru might enjoy this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKurenai Wataru,\u201d explained Hongo. \u201cA Kamen Rider with a Vampire motif, Kamen Rider Kiva.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGreat, a Kamen Rider out for blood,\u201d muttered Mikhail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t worry too much about him,\u201d assured Hongo. \u201cHe\u2019s not a Vampire, per se.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWait!\u201d hissed Batman as we stopped at the rocks at the bottom of the hill. \u201cI hear something.\u201d We poked our heads around the rock and saw something that made Tonje, Mikhail, and I light up with glee! It was a 1960\u2019s panel van with some custom details to the body with a blue and green paintjob with orange flowers and the words \u201cThe Mystery Machine\u201d painted in orange. The owner, a blond young man in a blue shirt with a white sweater over it, blue pants, and an orange ascot, was leading his friends up to the mansion. The rest of the gang consisted of a red-headed woman in a purple shirt, headband, dress, and shoes with pink stockings and a green scarf, a brunette woman in thick, squared-rimmed glasses, a baggy orange turtle-neck sweater, and a red, pleated miniskirt, a lanky, long-necked man in a green V-neck shirt, brown bell-bottoms, and a scraggly beard, and a brown Great Dane with black spots and a collar with the license reading \u201cSD\u201d!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s them!\u201d I whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMystery Incorporated!\u201d chuckled Mikhail. \u201cI\u2019ve always had a crush on Velma!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEh, I prefer Daphne,\u201d replied Tonje.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho are they?\u201d asked Wyldstyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe blonde\u2019s Fred, the red-head\u2019s Daphne, the glasses-wearer is Velma, the scraggly guy is Shaggy, and the dog\u2019s Scooby-Doo!\u201d answered Mikhail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey\u2019re paranormal investigators,\u201d I explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThose kids?\u201d asked Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThose kids,\u201d I said hotly, \u201chave solved as many crimes as you!\u201d Batman scratched his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI swear those kids look familiar,\u201d he muttered. \u201cMust have been some look-a-likes in Gotham.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, gang,\u201d announced Fred as they arrived at the mansion\u2019s door, \u201cthis is my uncle Arthur\u2019s house.\u201d He pulled on a rope and it rang a creepy bell, making Scooby jump into Shaggy\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cArthur Jones, the famous explorer,\u201d recalled Velma. \u201cDo you really believe he\u2019s seen a mummy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s certainly thinks he has,\u201d replied Fred. \u201cHe said it\u2019s after the Diamond Scarab he found in Egypt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen, it could be here,\u201d guessed Daphne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome on, you don\u2019t really believe that, do you?\u201d asked Velma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s worth splitting up to find clues for,\u201d remarked Fred. Here it comes. \u201cHey, guys,\u201d he called to Shaggy and Scooby, \u201ccan you check out the old fun-fair? That\u2019s one of the places the mummy\u2019s been seen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFun-fair?\u201d gulped Shaggy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGhost Train!\u201d wailed Scooby. I swear he added extra r\u2019s in there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSay, Velma,\u201d mused Fred, \u201cdo you think that fun-fair has a cotton candy machine?\u201d That changed their tune quick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCotton Candy?!\u201d cheered Scooby. He jumped out of Shaggy\u2019s arms. \u201cLet\u2019s go!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRight behind you, ol\u2019 buddy, ol\u2019 pal!\u201d called Shaggy as they took off to the Mystery Machine and drove past us while the rest of the gang.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome on,\u201d directed Batman. \u201cThat Diamond Scarab sounds like our Foundation Element.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do you suppose his mother wants the Scarab for?\u201d asked Gandalf. \u201cPerhaps as jewelry?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d asked Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDifferent type of mummy, Gandalf,\u201d elaborated Wyldstyle. We approached the door, but it shut on us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, it appears to have locked behind those good people,\u201d mused Gandalf as he tried it again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cChroma locked, it looks like,\u201d observed Wyldstyle. \u201cHaven\u2019t tried it out in a while. Let\u2019s find the Chroma Discs!\u201d We first checked the shed and saw that inside was tangled in vines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think I\u2019m going to need some help with this one,\u201d muttered Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI got this,\u201d called Mikhail. \u201cHenshin.\u201d He changed into Gallop and changed steels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBatman Steel!\u201d announced his belt. They fired their grapple guns and yanked hard, letting a garden hose assembly come out. We attached it to the side of the house and the fountain came on. It spat out a large bag. We looked in to see studs. 745,000 studs, to be exact. Our total is now 4,146,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBingo,\u201d Batman said in a snarky tone, \u201cjust what we needed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOkay, that\u2019s it,\u201d I hissed. \u201cI\u2019m using my Keystone. Locate Keystone, activate! Initiate rift detection!\u201d I found it by a garden full of weeds. \u201cIdentify source of rift!\u201d The information beamed into my head. \u201cLocate help from W-1-Z-4-R-D-0-F-0-Z!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat place again?!\u201d asked Batman. A Munchkin came out of the rift and watered the weeds, making them turn into a variety of colorful flowers. The plants spat out a red Chroma Disc. All of a sudden, Wyldstyle\u2019s gauntlet started buzzing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAlready?\u201d muttered Wyldstyle. \u201cWhere are the other\u2026well, there\u2019s blue on the porch roof.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI see yellow in the green house,\u201d replied Tonje.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd I know how to get you guys there,\u201d called Batman. \u201cShift Keystone, activate! Magenta, by the garden! Yellow, in the green house! Cyan, on the roof! Shift! Megumi! Cyan!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot again!\u201d I yelped as I was dumped onto the roof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShift! Tonje! Yellow!\u201d directed Batman. Tonje was sucked into the green house as Gallop cancelled his transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cChroma Keystone, activate!\u201d called Wyldstyle. \u201cChroma lock, reveal!\u201d The Lock Design had a blue circle, a yellow left L-shape, and a red right L-shape. \u201cChroma! Red! Batman! Chroma! Blue! Megumi! Chroma! Yellow! Tonje!\u201d We went into the paint before Batman got us together and we took our respective places. The door opened and someone fell from the roof! We headed over to see if he was okay. He was a Japanese man with a black and gold bat-like gadget flying around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHey, are you all right?!\u201d I asked. The man got himself up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhere am I?\u201d asked the man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re in another dimension, Wataru,\u201d explained Hongo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s Wataru?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd I\u2019m Kivat-bat the Third!\u201d introduced the bat-gadget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHongo?!\u201d called Wataru. \u201cAm I glad to see you! Er, who are those people behind you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m Batman,\u201d began Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGandalf the Grey,\u201d introduced Gandalf<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m Wyldstyle,\u201d replied Wyldstyle<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m Lord Mikhail Kuznetsov,\u201d bowed Mikhail<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLady Tonje Haugen,\u201d introduced Tonje.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd I\u2019m Queen Megumi Hishikawa of the Feudal Nerd Society,\u201d I finished as I curtsied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRight now,\u201d revealed Batman, \u201cwe need to get in and get that Scarab.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve overheard what the Scarab is to these kids,\u201d replied Wataru. \u201cMind if I come with you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs long as you keep your fangs away from my neck, sure,\u201d I hissed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m a Fangire\/human hybrid, not a full Vampire,\u201d assured Wataru. \u201cAnd a Fangire doesn\u2019t need fangs to drain you of life energy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat makes me so much better,\u201d I snarked as we stepped inside. When we came in, we saw Fred, Velma, and Daphne heading towards a door on the upper level. Not a good idea to have Danger-prone Daphne bringing up the rear. She was going slower than her friends and was taken by a spinning wall. Velma and Fred didn\u2019t know as they went through the door. When they shut it, a portcullis barred the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDid\u2026she just get caught behind a rotating wall?\u201d asked Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s with this place?\u201d asked Kivat-bat the Third.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re definitely in the older Scooby-Doo<\/em> episodes,\u201d I mused. \u201cSearch the place.\u201d We started thumping on the walls when Gandalf felt a candle on the wall move. He figured it would lead to something useful and pulled it, letting the portrait of Arthur Jones move up, but all that was there was a box of Scooby Snacks. Gandalf became curious and opened the box, taking a taste of one. It was safe to say he wasn\u2019t a big fan of them. He tossed the box out the window as well as the rest of the snack he tasted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t get it!\u201d snapped Wyldstyle. \u201cI looked everywhere!\u201d She leaned against a bookcase and it fell apart! \u201cOops!\u201d she gulped. Then, she got that look. \u201cActually, maybe not so much an oops!\u201d she cheered as she managed to build an electric coil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow did you do that?!\u201d asked Wataru.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBest not to question it,\u201d advised Hongo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGandalf, if you please,\u201d I directed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cElemental Keystone, activate! Element of lightning, Megumi!\u201d announced Gandalf. I felt the familiar buzz as I gained electric powers. I fired lightning at the coil, startling Wataru and Kivat-bat the Third.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAre you sure you\u2019re not a Fangire?!\u201d yelped Wataru. \u201cKivat, is she a Fangire?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t know!\u201d replied Kivat-bat the\u2026Kivat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s just technology beyond our understanding,\u201d I assured. We heard gears moving and headed to the upper level to see the portcullis going up and the door opening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet\u2019s see what\u2019s in the next room,\u201d directed Batman. We headed into the room and saw knight armor and taxidermized animals. An open door allowed the lightning outside to show a spooky figure. \u201cWhoa, who\u2019s shadow was that?!\u201d asked Batman. Further down the room, Velma went into another room while Fred pulled on a book. That triggered a trap-door beneath him to open. \u201cI\u2019m experiencing some d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu!\u201d muttered Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMaybe you DID meet Mystery Inc.,\u201d I mused. Another portcullis then blocked us from Velma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think I can solve that,\u201d called Wyldstyle as she pulled on a chain from the ceiling. It raised an owl\u2019s cage to reveal a button. I pressed it and the portcullis raised again, allowing us passage. In the next room, Velma realized she was alone and became nervous. She didn\u2019t see where she was going and tripped over something, making her glasses fly off her face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy glasses!\u201d she cried as she felt around. \u201cI can\u2019t see a thing without my glasses!\u201d She stumbled towards an open sarcophagus and blundered inside. It shut itself on her and a hook from the ceiling grabbed it, pulling the sarcophagus and its passenger up. The room had a distinct Egyptian theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow many themes are in this house?!\u201d asked Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWait, I think we may be in the right room!\u201d I called. \u201cThe Diamond Scarab was found in Egypt, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood thinking,\u201d praised Batman. \u201cThe Egyptian room would make sense. Let\u2019s start searching!\u201d We examined everything, although the Jackal sarcophagi took some time. Batman had a gadget for situations like that but needed our help. Mikhail, Tonje, and I changed into our Rider suits and activated Batman Steel. We used our grapple guns to yank the Jackals off and reveal pressure plates. Swing and I stepped on them and Velma\u2019s sarcophagus came down, sans Velma. It split when it landed and revealed a large hammer, larger than any of us could lift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI may require assistance,\u201d muttered Gandalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI got this,\u201d called Gallop as he exchanged i.d. tags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGandalf Steel!\u201d announced his belt. He and Gandalf then used their magic to lift the hammer and break the sarcophagus to reveal\u2026nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll get help,\u201d I sighed. \u201cLocate Keystone, activate! Initiate rift detection!\u201d I found it near one of the Jackals. \u201cIdentify source of rift!\u201d The information was beamed into my head. \u201cLocate help from D-C-C-0-M-1-C-5!\u201d The rift opened to reveal\u2026!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSUPERMAN!\u201d swooned Wyldstyle. It was, indeed, Superman! He flew into the room and flashed a grin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCouldn\u2019t you at least get Cyborg?!\u201d asked Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs I\u2019ve said numerous times on this adventure,\u201d I hissed, \u201cI can\u2019t choose what I get from this thing!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBatman!\u201d snarled Superman. \u201cLet\u2019s settle this rivalry once and for all!\u201d Uh oh! They were gonna\u2026! \u201cCoffee or tea?!\u201d We all lost our balance momentarily, fell down\u2026\u201danime-style\u201d I believe it\u2019s called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEr, Superman,\u201d I interjected, \u201cwe have a bigger problem than that. We\u2019re trying to find something called the Diamond Scarab and we think it\u2019s in this room.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou need my help?\u201d asked Superman. \u201cNever fear, the Man of Steel is here!\u201d He then used his x-ray vision to scan the entire room. \u201cAha! There it is, behind that wall!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe one with the painting of an Egyptian Pharaoh?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe same!\u201d confirmed Superman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI guess, if all Riders kicked it\u2026\u201d I mused as I felt around the wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have a more expedient solution,\u201d declared Superman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOkay, what\u2019s that?\u201d I asked, my back still to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor a start, you\u2019d best get behind me,\u201d advised Superman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy would I\u2026?\u201d I asked as I turned around to see Superman winding up for a punch! I took his advice and quickly got behind him. He punched the wall and it turned into dust. There, at the other end of the room, on a red, velvet cushion, was a scarab beetle made of diamond! \u201cThank you, Superman!\u201d I cheered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHappy to help!\u201d replied Superman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSuperman, before you go,\u201d stopped Batman, \u201cdo you have any information on a guy called Lord Vortech?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cVortech?\u201d muttered Superman. \u201cHe\u2019s just a myth on Krypton, something to frighten children into behaving.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur experience with him would like to disagree,\u201d I argued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUh oh,\u201d gulped Superman as realization dawned on him. \u201cThis is a League matter, then?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe final battle will be,\u201d replied Batman. \u201cWe\u2019re gathering objects like the Scarab to keep them out of Vortech\u2019s hands as well as pinpoint his stronghold\u2019s location as there are hostages in there, Robin included. You should probably tell the Titans as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGot it,\u201d replied Superman. \u201cFarewell, everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBye, Superman,\u201d I bid. \u201cDismiss help!\u201d Superman then flew through the rift for him as we headed to the Scarab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI hope I\u2019m not tempting fate by saying this is easy,\u201d muttered Wataru. He did! A mummy grabbed the Scarab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAt long last!\u201d wheezed the mummy. \u201cThe Diamond Scarab! Behold!\u201d The floor then gave way beneath us!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWATARU, I\u2019M GONNA KILL YOU!\u201d I shouted as we fell.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" That nonsense with Heather made me sleep in this morning! Everyone could breathe easier now that Heather\u2019s in Hell. We all had a late breakfast before assembling in the Gateway room. The Rider chance was fired up. \u201cAnd the winners are\u2026!\u201d called X-PO as the hands slowed down to, \u201cTonje,\u201d Tonje smiled, \u201cand Mikhail!\u201d \u201cKhorosho!\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":313,"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":[14,16,9,17,209,12,211,208,210,15],"class_list":["post-312","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-ichigo","tag-kamen-rider-kiva","tag-megumi-hishikawa","tag-mystery-inc","tag-scooby-doo","tag-superman","tag-wyldstyle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/312","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=312"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/312\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1107,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/312\/revisions\/1107"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=312"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=312"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=312"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}