Everyone was following a modified, old GMC motorhome, lovingly called the Rust Bucket 2 and belonging to Ben\u2019s grandfather, Max Tennyson. Right now, Life was behind the wheel and the cavalcade was going across the country to Keystone, South Dakota, straight to Mt. Rushmore. Max was driving the Rust Bucket 2 with Xiomara, Sora, and Life as his passengers. They were sitting at the table with Sora looking out the window. \u201c\u2026Mi hijo?\u201d asked Xiomara. \u201c\u00bfEst\u00e1 bien?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026No, Mama, I\u2019m not,\u201d mumbled Sora.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s on your mind?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026How can I make Dad understand?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026No entiendo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know Dad wants me to be a Kamen Rider. Why else would he ask about me being a hero? I DO want to be one, but I\u2019m not so sure I can specifically be a Kamen Rider.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBatman\u2019s not a Kamen Rider,\u201d reminded Life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd your father\u2019s not pushing him to be one,\u201d remarked Xiomara.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut Dad\u2019s always going on about how Kamen Riders are the most varied type of hero!\u201d replied Sora.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not entirely true, the various Super Sentai teams are rather varied.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSora, was it?\u201d asked Life. \u201cIt sounds to me that you fear that you\u2019re failing your father.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026I am.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow that\u2019s not true at all!\u201d remarked Xiomara.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMama, what if he doesn\u2019t accept that I don\u2019t want to be a Kamen Rider?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe WILL! \u2026If he stupidly doesn\u2019t, I can make him understand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou know, there\u2019s an organization that I think could help you,\u201d mused Life. She then gave Sora a blue ring. Sora picked it up and saw that the ring had the symbol of what looked like an alien lantern on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026The Blue Lantern Corps?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey could give you the serenity your crave and give you the ability to fight without the use of a belt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure Papa would love to know that his son is a Blue Lantern,\u201d urged Xiomara.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026I\u2019ll think about it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHere we are!\u201d called Max. \u201cMt. Rushmore!\u201d The familiar carved faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln loomed over everyone. The cavalcade drove into the mountains and a secret entrance opened to reveal a hidden base. Ben\u2019s Phury was taken to the medical ward and Sky Runner advised the medical staff on treatment. It required Energon to counteract the effects of the Dark Energon in Phury\u2019s bloodstream. The two would cancel each other out and the body\u2019s immune system would naturally purge it. She would be out of action for a few hours. As he waited, Sora looked at the ring Life gave him. Life then approached Sora again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026It\u2019s a big decision,\u201d she remarked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Life, do you even WANT to leave this universe?\u201d asked Sora. Life grimaced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo be honest, no.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause this universe is one of the most diverse ones when it comes to life-forms. Yes, it has its baddies that want to burn it or control it, but this universe is proof that life finds a way!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen maybe your Source would be safer here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think I got the full story about why you lot are here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026It\u2019s about the boss of the ones that invaded Plumber HQ. You see, he has something called the Tome-\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe what?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTh-The Tome.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe same Tome that can make something real by writing it down and narrating it?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cY-Yes!\u201d Life\u2019s face was frozen in stark terror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026That\u2019s why they\u2019re here! They want my Source!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey\u2019re after your sister\u2019s Sources too,\u201d called a voice. It was Rosadera. \u201cOptimus, Megumi, and Arsha\u2019s 3V2R prizes are also needed for the Author\u2019s grand design.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Then it really IS time to go home. \u2026Will they really accept a nine Horseman Sisterhood?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s ten again,\u201d said Sora. Life looked to him in surprise. \u201cThe Horsemen of the Apocalypse found their new Chaos, a lady by the name of Lacey.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u202640,000 years it took them to do that,\u201d mused Life. She smiled. \u201cOrder\u2019s going to like that. \u2026I miss them so much.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen maybe now\u2019s a good chance to reconnect with them,\u201d suggested Sora.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Not until we get my Source back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhere is it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn a hidden pocket dimension inside Plumber HQ. We must retake it soon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe better discuss this with everyone, then,\u201d declared Rosadera. \u201cSora, are you coming with us?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2026I still need to decide,\u201d replied Sora.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJust know this,\u201d said Life, \u201cyou don\u2019t need a belt to be a hero.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sora spent some time to himself. He still couldn\u2019t figure out what he wanted to do when it came to stopping evil. As he looked out of Washington\u2019s eye, his mind still spun with questions. \u201cAnd they say I brood a lot,\u201d chuckled a voice. A de-Borgified Bruce Wayne then came up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Mr. Wayne, how do you cope?\u201d asked Sora.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026With what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith being what Gotham wants you to be?\u201d Bruce chuckled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTake it from me, if Gotham found out the connection between me and my night life, they\u2019d want me to give up being Batman.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen how can you really say you\u2019re a hero?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere are enough people that look up to Batman as a symbol of hope. As long as I can inspire someone to fight against evil until the day they die, then I have won. \u2026It\u2019s about your dad, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI worry that he can\u2019t see that there are other means of fighting evil without a belt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think he\u2019s THAT obsessed with the Kamen Rider<\/em> franchise. I doubt he\u2019d be in the F.N.S if he was that mule-headed. Remember, I fought alongside him in the Vortech Wars. While his preferred method of hero work involves a belt to give him armor, he respects my own methods. He once compared the variety of heroes to ice cream, there are many different flavors and they all taste good to someone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut what about carrying on the legacy? I mean, don\u2019t you want one of your family to be the next Batman?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019d rather they find their own path.\u201d Sora was surprised by that answer. \u201cThat\u2019s what any parent wants. When Dick Grayson became Nightwing and got himself out of my shadow as Batman, I couldn\u2019t be prouder of him. And I know Hiroki, he would want you to carve out your own path.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026I guess I\u2019m not so hopeful,\u201d admitted Hiroki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou know, there\u2019s an organization in my universe that fights for hope,\u201d replied Bruce. \u201cThey usually assist the Green Lanterns.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026You\u2019re not talking about the Blue Lanterns, are you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou know about them?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve done some research on each Lantern Corps. Life gave me a Blue Lantern ring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, Kamen Riders fight for hope, why not assist them as a Blue Lantern? Just a suggestion.\u201d Bruce then headed off and Sora took the ring out of his pocket, staring at it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Hope,\u201d he muttered. \u201c\u2026I could do with that myself.\u201d He then looked to the stars. \u201cImagine that, a monk needing hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bruce met up with Megumi, Optimus, and Arsha. \u201cSomething on your mind, Bruce?\u201d asked Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour nephew is a little lacking in hope,\u201d replied Bruce. Megumi grimaced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s something he\u2019s struggled with for his entire life. He looks up to his father a lot and wants to emulate him, but he\u2019s come face to face with the fact that he\u2019s not his father and he feels like he\u2019s failing himself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s a load!\u201d remarked Optimus. \u201cHe\u2019s not failing anyone!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnfortunately, I know all too well of children that feel like they\u2019re not living up to their parents\u2019 ideals when they feel that their parents are wrong in some fashion,\u201d sighed Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOne of your kids?\u201d asked Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBoth of me and Lardeth\u2019s kids. They wanted to be heroes like us but didn\u2019t like combat. It was a huge relief to them when we told them we didn\u2019t like combat either, especially after the Final War. I think Sora and Hiroki need to talk it out soon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have a feeling the conversation will be better than Sora realizes. I know Hiroki. He\u2019s a very understanding man. The only thing he\u2019s afraid of is that his son won\u2019t find his own path.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAny parent fears that for their kid,\u201d replied Optimus. \u201cI went through that with my daughters. For a moment, I thought that my own kids would want to be a Prime. When I offered them the Matrix, though, they said no, they didn\u2019t want to lead the Autobots. \u2026Now, Glyph, on the other servo, I think she has potential to be a better Prime than me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf Arcee\u2019s okay with it,\u201d remarked Arsha.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Everyone was following a modified, old GMC motorhome, lovingly called the Rust Bucket 2 and belonging to Ben\u2019s grandfather, Max Tennyson. Right now, Life was behind the wheel and the cavalcade was going across the country to Keystone, South Dakota, straight to Mt. Rushmore. Max was driving the Rust Bucket 2 with Xiomara, Sora, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6293,"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":[754,880],"tags":[14,130,482,9,146,337],"class_list":["post-6308","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-journey-through-wonder","category-story-journey-through-wonder","tag-batman","tag-ben-10","tag-fantasy","tag-kamen-rider","tag-sonic","tag-transformers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6308","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=6308"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6308\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6309,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6308\/revisions\/6309"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6293"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6308"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6308"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6308"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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