[guncannon109]

Episode 20: Vows and Ancient Memories

Shiore dashed behind Fury and swung her sword at him with full force. Fury grabbed the dial on the side of his belt and turned it until a blue S appeared at the top under the red arrow.

“Shift! Maximum Drive!” The dial shouted as Shiore’s sword phased right through Fury and she fell to the ground on the other side of him.

“A strong fire burns in your eyes young one, I like that,” Fury stated, “Truly we can both benefited from a partnership. You’ll have your revenge and I’ll have a strong warrior as my second in command once I take over this useless rock. So… what say you?”

“A wolf hunts alone,” Shiore said while gritting her teeth as she rose to her feet, “I’ve told you one and I’ll tell you again... I’ll never join the likes of you who use the power of the earth for selfish and unjust reasons.”

Fury sighed, “Pity…” he said turning the dial on his belt until a silver S appeared until the arrow, “I really hoped that you of all riders would see things my way.”

“Shredder! Maximum Drive!” The dial shouted as three large blades shot out of each of his forearms.

“Oh well, at least this way I’ll be able to add the power of three riders to my own,” Fury cackled, “NOW DIE!” He shouted as he raised his blades into the air and slashed them at Shiore knocking her back to the edge of the roof by Tara and Cole.

“Alright,” Shiore grunted as she recovered from the blow, “I might have an idea of how we can beat this guy.”

“Alright,” Tara said looking back to Shiore, “shoot.”

“Temporary truce,” Shiore stated, “we deal with this guy and then we don’t ever have to speak with each other ever again.”

“Will you give up trying to kill Alex?” Cole asked. Shiore said nothing, “I’ll take your silence as a no?... Well then, just know this. If you try to go after Alex you’ll have to go through me. Got that?” Shiore nodded, “Good.”

“Oh, speaking of,” Tara said as she undid her driver from her wrist allowing Kree to change back into his bird form.

“A guardian… here?” Shiore asked.

“I’m not sure if ‘guardian’ is the word I would use, where more of partners in crime. I helped him out, so now he helps me out,” Tara proclaimed, “Now go get Alex,” she instructed to Kree before allowing him to take off into the air.”

“Not sure what the point of sending for Subject X is, but it doesn’t really matter to me,” Fury cackled as he scraped the edges of his blades together, “because in a few short moments… you’ll all be dead.”

{Insert Opening Theme - Extreme Dream}

Alex road down a busy street on his bike, evading cars and other vehicles attempting to move as fast as he possibly could. He continued this tactic until he passed by a pair of familiar looking gates. Alex slammed on the breaks and took a closer look at the gates as well as the building that stood behind it.

“That’s… the same hospital I woke up in,” Alex said aloud to himself, “All those months ago.” At that moment Alex heard the small chirp of a bird. He turned his head to see a yellow robot bird sitting perched on the dashboard of the X-Cyclone, “Kree?” Kree nodded a bit, a small grin appearing on Alex’s face, “Good to see you pal.”

The sound of blades clashing together then filled the air. Kree turned around to where the sound originated from.

“They need my help… don’t they?” Alex asked.

Kree turned back to him and gave a small chirp.

“Ah, who am I kidding? Of course they need me,” Alex said slapping himself in the face, “but how am I supposed to get to them in time?”

“You already know the answer to that… brave youth,” A voice called out.

“Eh, who said that?” Alex asked looking around frantically.

“I did of course,” The voice called out once again.

Alex looked to Kree who sat staring directly at him, “Kree… did you just?”

“Speak to you? Well of course I did,” Kree returned, “do you see anyone else before you?”

“But… you’re a bird? How are you talking to me!” Alex demanded.

“With my condition being what it was I was unable to communicate with you directly,” Kree explained, “However, because of your strong bond with my partner I have since been able to speak with you telepathically.”

“You can speak to people who are close with Tara?” Alex asked.

“Correct,” Kree returned, “However, my connection with you seems rather weak in comparison to the other member of your group so I don’t have much time to explain. Much how I am able to change my shape upon my partner will I am also able to share that ability with others so long as they are of the same morality as said partner.”

Alex scratched his head, “I’m sorry... I don’t follow.”

“Allow me put it a bit more simply than,” Kree returned, “Do you wish to fly Alex Darwin?”

---

Fury threw Cole and Tara to the ground as Shiore prepared one final strike against him. She charged at the raging dopant at top speed raising her sword above her head.

Fury switched the dial over to red F, “Flame! Maximum Drive!” the dial shouted as a ball of fire ignited in his hand. As Shiore came within swinging range of Fury, Fury grabbed her sword by the blade and punched in her chest.

“You never learn,” Fury said with a smirk, “do you?”

“Funny,” Shiore returned, “I was just about to say the same thing.”

Fury looked down to see that where he had hit Shiore had become a puddle of water by his feet. Shiore then melted right in front of him causing water to run down his arm and cover almost half of his body which quickly froze back into ice.

“Yuki! Maximum Drive!” Fury heard a gaia memory called out as Shiore reappeared directly in front of him.

“Now… Proceed on your way to oblivion,” Shiore said raising her sword high above her head as several blades made of ice formed around her. “Diamond Snowstorm!” She shouted as she swung her sword down towards Fury causing every blade around her to hurl themselves at the dopant standing frozen in front of her.

The blades rammed themselves into Fury one by one causing him to go up a icy blue blast of fire and ice.

“Well…” Cole panted as he got back on his feet, “thank god he’s dead.” Cole turned to the yellow rider that stood beside him, “How about you Tara? You doing alright?”

“You know it,” Tara said as she punched Cole in the shoulder. She looked over to Shiore, “What do we do about her though?”

“Aren’t you three celebrating a bit too early?” Fury cackled as he emerged from the smoke of Shiore’s blast.

The three riders retook their stances and drew closer together.

“Crap damn it,” Tara returned, “This guy just doesn’t know when to stay down does he.”

“Well then, I’d say it’s about time that we make him,” Shiore said.

Tara smirked under her mask, “I think I’m starting to like you Sayuri… real shame we’re going to have to fight you after we’re through with Fury if you ask me.”

“Well if you ask me,” Fury interrupted as he drew closer to the three riders, “I’d say it’s about time that I show you my true power,” he added as he turned the dial on his belt until a dark red R appeared below the arrow.

“Ruthless! Maximum Drive!” The dial shouted as the two mouths on Fury’s shoulder armor opened wide and a giant ball of fire began to grow in each.

“Ruthless… MAELSTROM!” Fury shouted as the two balls of fire shot out of the mouths on his armor and hurled themselves at the three riders.

As the three riders braced for the impact a large tornado came down from the sky and encircled them both firing them right back at Fury, Fury jumping out of the way before they hit him.

Fury looked back for whatever it was that caused the tornado before looking up in the air to see a shadowy blur fly up from above before coming to a grinding touch down on the ground in between him and the riders. Once the blur landed, Fury was able to see that it was a black motorcycle with a red X emblazoned on the side. A pair of golden wings now adorned the sides of the bike and the face of an eagle had mounted on the windshield.

“I was wondering when you’d coming out of hiding… Kamen Rider,” Fury said smirked. “But now I’m confused, didn’t you quit after what became of that cute little girlfriend of yours?”

“You’re right, I did,” Alex said as he dismounted from his bike. He turned back to look at Cole and Tara who stood directly behind, “I’ve made some mistakes in the past and innocent people were forced to pay the price… However,” he said turning back to Fury, “I’m no longer going to just sit by and watch others fight my battles for me.”

“So… the short version?” Fury asked.

“I’m not going to allow anyone else to be harmed because of me, because I’m not going to let anyone with the intention of hurting them get anywhere near them,” Alex stated as his driver materialized around his waist, “Not even you.”

“Always jumping to extremes,” Fury chuckled, “Who exactly do you think you are anyway?”

“I’m just the guy that’s going to kick your ass,” Alex returned as he pulled out the Star and Runner memories from his back pocket and held them up to Fury, “That’s all you need to know.”

“Not today,” Fury said with a snap of his fingers causing several explosion to go off around Alex and the other three riders knocking them all to the ground along with portal opening up behind Fury. Alex looked back to the portal to see that Fury had already jumped into it.

Alex gritted his teeth, “Get back here!”

“It’s been fun riders but I think that it’s time we take a little bit of a break for today,” Fury said as three black beasts jumped out of the portal in his place, “But just so you don’t feel lonely, this lot should be more than enough company…” He smirked as the portal closed behind him, “Enjoy.”

Tara ran over to Alex, “Superstar! You alright?” she asked helping him up to his feet as Kree detached himself from Alex’s bike and returned to his place around Tara’s wrist.

“Yeah I’m fine,” Alex returned as he got back on his feet. Alex looked over to the other two riders, “Shiore… I know we haven’t exactly gotten off to a good start, but do you think maybe you could help us out just this once?” Shiore nodded, Alex returned with a grin, “thank you.”

“Okay, now that that’s out of the way, how’s about dealing with these guys?” Tara suggested pointing over to the three beasts that encircled the group. “Wouldn’t you agree Cole?”

“Well it’s not like I have a choice at the moment do I,” Cole said snarkingly.

“Great!” Tara shouted with a smirk, “So Superstar, what’s the plan?”

“Same as always,” Alex said placing his two memories into their corresponding slots on his driver, “We fight together.”

“Great to have you back pal,” Tara said patting Alex on the back as she Cole and Shiore formed into a line alongside Alex.

“Great to be back,” Alex returned, “Now, let’s end this… Henshin!” He shouted as he split the slots of his driver apart.

“Star! Runner!” Alex’s driver called out as his black and red armor formed around him, Shiore taking note of it in the corner of her eye.

“Tara, let’s go!” Alex shouted as he dashed over to the beast up in front, Tara following on the other side of it.

The two encircled the beast and ran around it several times as their speed increased rapidly as a tornado began to form in the gap between them lifting the beast into the air.

Alex and Tara flipped back and Alex singled Tara, “Finish it!”

“On it!” Tara returned as she pulled out her slicer and placed her gaia memory into the hilt.

“Gale! Maximum Drive!” Tara’s gaia memory called as the blades of her slicer split apart

Tara then shouted “Gale Tornado!” before hurling her slicer at the beast suspended in the air tearing it to shreds upon impact.

Alex then turned on his heel and ran over towards Cole, “Cole, Smash!”

Cole knelt down on one knee and rest his hammer on his shoulder as Alex jumped up onto the head of the hammer. “Going up!” Cole shouted as he swung his hammer around and launched Alex into the air, Alex switching his Star and Runner memories out for Blade and Kicker.

“Blade! Kicker!” Alex’s driver called out as his armor changed from red to green and the Bla-Jalibur formed in his right hand upon descending upon the second beast with one quick swing of his sword.

Cole then removed his rock memory from his driver and placed it into the slot at the top of his smasher, “Rock! Maximum Drive!” The memory shouted as the blade on the back of the hammer flipped to the front forming an axe.

“Rock Gasher!” Cole shouted with two swings of his axe causing two green blades of light to shoot out of blade at the second beast causing it to explode on impact.

The four riders then turned to the third and final beast. Alex approached Shiore and placed his hand on her shoulder.

“Ready?” Alex asked.

“Just tell me what you want me to do and I’ll do it,” Shiore returned.

“Alright then,” Alex said removing the Blade and Kicker memories from his driver and replacing them with Blast and Diver, “freeze it.”

“Blast! Diver!” Alex’s driver shouted as his armor changed from green to blue and the Bla-Jalibur was replaced with his Corona Blaster.

“As you wish,” Shiore said as she placed her hand on the ground causing a line of ice to shoot out from her hand and connect to the beast’s feet freezing it where it stood. “Now what?”

“One final blow,” Alex said as he removed the blast memory from his driver and placed it into the top of his blaster.

“Blast! Maximum Drive!” The Corona Blaster shouted as Alex aimed it at the final beast, Shiore placing her hand over top of it.

“Freezing Blast Charge!” Alex shouted pulling back on the trigger as a thousand shards of ice fired out of the barrel of his blaster at the last beast destroying him almost instantly. Shiore then removed her hand as Alex let his arm fall down to his side.

“Yahoo! Go Superstar! Go Snow Woman! Go Cole!” Tara shouted as Alex and Shiore both removed their gaia memories from their drivers returning to their civilian forms.

Shiore then began to walk away from Alex over to the edge of the roof.

“Hey, where are you going?” Alex asked.

“I made a mistake. You aren’t the one I’m looking for,” Shiore stated, “Sorry for the confusion, you don’t have to deal with me any longer.”

“Wait a second, if you’re looking for someone why not let us help you?” Alex asked back.

Shiore stopped for a moment then turned back to Alex, “You would do that… for me?”

“Of course,” Alex returned, “however, I do have one request.”

Shiore raised an eyebrow, “What would that be?”

“I want you to tell us everything that’s going on,” Alex request, “You think you can do that much for us… Shiore?”

“Yes… you three deserve that much at least for all the trouble I’ve caused you,” Shiore nodded, “But it can’t be here. I have a condo that isn’t very far from here, I can tell you everything there.”

“Thank you Shiore,” Alex said bowing slightly.

“No… it is I who should be thanking you,” Shiore returned, “Now… let’s get going. It’s quite a long story and the quicker I can begin the better.”

{End of Part A}
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
{Start of Part B}

Derek pushed through the large doors that led into Vainglory’s main chamber and made his way up to the throne where Vainglory was currently sitting.

“Alright Vainglory,” Derek said pointing a finger at his commander as the doors closed behind him, “I’d say it’s about time w-”

“Hold your tongue Fury,” Vainglory demanded, “You’ve been a pain in neck for long enough as it is, and you are not going to interrupt this with your idiotic ambitions.”

“Idiotic ambitions?” Derek asked, “What could be so important to put my so called ‘idiocy’ on hold my dear commander?”

Vainglory leaned back into his throne, “Carter… you may come in now.”

The doors opened once again as a young lad who looked to be about Alex’s age walked through. He had short messy brown hair and fiery red eyes and a black collar around his neck. The clothes he had on were fairly simple, black pants and shoes along with a plain red shirt with a black sideways moon pattern with three three spikes jutting out the bottom of it along with a single spike in the crevice.

“So, you’re recruiting children now are you?” Fury asked.

“Spite restrain him,” Vainglory said as Spite pulled out her whip and prepared to strike Derek around his wrists with it.

“Now now,” Derek said raising his hand to Spite and stepping off to the side, “There is no need for that here.” He turned to Vainglory, “Excuse my incompetence my lord, I was simply verifying what it was that you were up to is all.”

Vainglory raised an eyebrow, “Who exactly are you trying to fool Fury?”

“Only a cat of a different coat, that’s all the truth I know,” Derek said with a smirk. He then bowed his head to Vainglory, “Now please… proceed.”

Spite placed her hand on Derek’s shoulder and whispered into his ear, “Don’t think that you’re fooling anyone, because if you try anything I will kill you.”

“Why I wouldn’t even dream of it,” Derek returned, “After all whether it has a coat of gold or a coat of red a lion still has claws.” He turned away from Spite and focused his attention on Vainglory, “and mine are long and sharp my lord,” He thought to himself, “as long and sharp as yours.”

---

The front door to a highrise condo opened as Shiore stepped through. She slipped her shoes off and placed them gently against the wall to the right of the door.

“Please, come in,” she said bowing slightly to Alex, Cole and Tara along with Kree who was perched on Tara’s shoulder.

“Okay,” Tara shrugged. She took a few steps forward into the condo before Shiore stuck her arm out in front of her. “What?”

“Shoes,” Shiore scowled.

Tara looked down at her feet then back to Shiore, “But… I’m wearing boots.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Shiore returned, “take them off.”

“Fine,” Tara sighed before reached down to her boots and undoing the laces.

Shiore looked back to Alex and Cole.

The two blinked for a moment before cluing in to what Shiore was saying through her gaze, “Oh right,” the two said before slipping off their shoes and placing them next to Shiore’s.

Tara hopped on one foot trying to get her boot off, “Come on… you… stupid… piece of-”

Shiore rolled her eyes and grabbed the bottom of Tara’s boot and pulling it right off causing Tara to lose her balance and fall to the ground, Kree flying off Tara’s shoulder and on to Cole’s. Shiore then grabbed Tara’s other boot and slipped it off before throwing both of them on top of Tara.

Tara blinked her eyes in a daze, “... thank you.”

“Baka,” Shiore sighed.

“The heck does that mean?” Tara asked.

“You’re welcome,” Shiore returned.

“Oh…” Tara said looking up to the ceiling, “okay then.”

“I’ll go make some tea,” Shiore said as she made her way passed Tara and disappeared around the corner to the left, “you three just… make yourselves comfortable.”

Alex and Cole snickered a bit.

“What’s so funny?” Tara growled glaring at the two.

“Nothing!” The two shouted.

“Good!” Tara shouted back.

Cole knelt down over Tara and extended his hand out to her, “Need some help?”

“Thanks,” Tara said as she grabbed Cole’s hand and pulled herself up off the floor, Kree jumping back onto her shoulder from Cole’s. Tara turned around, her eyes widened as the rest of Shiore’s condo came into view.

The room was fairly bare with a single small table and four cushions placed around it along with a flat screen tv placed hung up on the wall to the left and a two seater couch against the right. A large glass window spanned across the back wall

Tara’s jaw dropped, “... Woah, check out the view!” She shouted as she grabbed Cole by the wrist and ran over to the window.

Alex took a few steps forward before taking in a whiff of an odd scent of something burning, “Is that…” He thought for a moment trying to figure out what the smell, “incense?” He looked into the kitchen, “Hey Shior-” he then caught a glimpse of Shiore reaching for a cup on the top shelf of a tall cupboard but just couldn’t get at it.

Alex walked up to the cupboard and grabbed the cup from the top.

“Here you go,” He said with a grin as he handed it to Shiore.

Shiore blinked for a moment before grabbing the cup from Alex and placed it on the counter next to three others of a similar design. She turned her back to him and walked over to a white stove that had a single kettle resting on it slowly being brought to a boil.

She turned slightly back to Alex but avoided looking directly at him, “… thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Alex returned, “Anything else I can help you with?”

“No,” Shiore said tending to the kettle on the stove, “I have everything taken care of.”

“Alright just checking,” Alex stepped slowly back over to the entrance way he came through, “Just you know shout if you need anything okay.” He said before quickly leaving the room.

"The cut I gave you..." Shiore spoke up, "How is it?

Alex felt along the cut on his cheek, the bleeding had stop but the wound was still there.

"Fine... nothing too serious," Alex returned.

"Oh," Shiore turned back to the stove, "Alright then... just checking."

"Alright," Alex said as he stepped out of the kitchen, "just let me know if you need any help okay?"

Shiore grunted “I try to kill him and he’s the one asking me if I need anything…” She sighed, “Alex Darwin, you sure are an interesting one,” she sighed as she looked up to the ceiling, “To be able to forgive someone so easily. I wonder, what gives you the strength to do that?”

Alex stepped into the living room where Cole and Tara were. By this time Tara was sprawled out on the couch with her feet up on the armrest and Cole was by the window looking over the city.

“Everything okay?” Cole asked.

“Yeah,” Alex returned as he walked over to the small table and sat down on one of the cushion in front of it.

“Something happen?” Tara asked.

“Nope. I just offered to help and she said she was fine,” Alex explained, “nothing else to it.”

“Oh… alright then,” Tara returned, “By the way I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

“What is it?” Alex asked.

“Well… I’ll admit it was pretty cool and everything but…” Tara began as she sat up straight and looked directly at Alex, “How exactly did you manage to combine that bike of yours with Kree’s glider form?”

“It just sort of happened,” Alex explained, “It was Kree that suggested it actually.”

Tara raised an eyebrow, “You serious?”

“Yeah…” Alex returned, “why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well you must’ve hit your head or something because that’s impossible,” Tara said snickering a bit, “There’s a lot of crazy stuff in this world Superstar, but a bird that can talk? That’s pushing it a little don’t you think?”

“But…” Alex looked over to Kree on Tara’s shoulder who looked back at him through his green mechanical eyes. He sighed, “I guess you’re right… I must’ve imagined it or something.”

Tara nodded a couple times, “Yeah, that’s basically what I thought,” she said stretching out her arms and letting out a rather loud yawn, “Anyways I guess that’s not really all that important. Right Cole?”

“Right,” Cole returned turning his attention back to his companions, “what matters is that we figure out who it is that Shiore is after and then think of a way to find them.

“Good to know we’re all on the same page,” Tara said as she lifted her feet up and rested them on the table, “After all that’s the whole reason why we’r-”

Just then, a blur whipped across Tara’s face as she just barely dodged it by ducking. Tara slowly looked up see a kunai knife just inches above her head, the three then looked over to where the knife came from to see Shiore standing tapping her foot with a tray holding four cups on the other side of the room.

“Tea is ready,” She said coldly as she walked over to the table and placed one the four cups at each end.

“Uh… mind telling us what the hell that was?” Tara demanded.

“Feet,” Shiore returned avoiding eye contact with Tara, “They should remain on the floor.”

“You told me to make myself at home!” Tara shouted.

“I told you to make yourself comfortable,” Shiore retorted, “Even if I did, do you have such little respect for your own property to rest your feet where others eat food?”

Tara scratched the back of her head, “Well… no, it’s just that-”

“It’s just that you what?” Shiore interrupted glaring at Tara, “Have no concern for the personal space of others?”

“Wasn’t there something important you were going to tell us!” Tara shouted back.

Shiore’s right eye twitched, “You’re one to get right to the point… I guess that’s one positive about you Tatsumaki.”

“That’s another thing,” Tara said as she slid off the couch and over to the cushion on the floor in front of her, “What’s with all this Tatsumaki business?”

“So you three don’t know of the four great clans then, and where the gaia memories you have originally came from?” Shiore asked. The trio shook their heads in unison. “Alright then,” Shiore said taking a sip of her tea, “I allow me to start at the beginning then.” Shiore dipped her index finger into Tara’s tea and placed it near the centre of the table.

“Hey!” Tara shouted, “Weren’t you the one complaining about personal space?”

“It’s my table I can mess up it as I see fit,”

“Won’t your folks be mad when they get back?” Tara asked.

“No… now, on to business,” Shiore said as she drew a line with her finger, “long ago, a being known simply as Sekai maintained peace and balance in the world. But this peace was not to last as eventually, a dark destroyer emerged and threatened to crush all that Sekai had built and leave her…” Shiore struck another line through the one she had already drawn, “with nothing.”

“Wait… but how come we’re all here today then?” Alex asked.

“Simple,” Shiore said moving her over the four corners over the cross on the table, “Sekai summoned the assistance of four of her strongest guardians. Okami the wolf, Tori the eagle, Ryujin the Dragon and Gaia the minotaur,” she then drew four characters around the cross in the clockwise order of 氷風火土, “Each one upheld one of the earth’s many elements, Okami of Ice, Tori of wind, Ryujin of fire and Gaia of earth.”

“and I’m guessing that through the help of these four beasts and the magic of friendship that Sekai was able to prevent the world’s destruction?” Tara asked in a sarcastic tone.

“Well, not exactly,” Shiore said with sorrow in her voice, “Even with the help of the four guardians, Sekai was only able to put the destroyer into a state of deep slumber… and at a terrible price. Sekai was forced to seal herself away along with the destroyer.”

“And the guardians?” Cole asked, “What became of them?”

“She intrusted them guardians with the task watching over her as she slept until the day that they would be needed to fight fight the destroyer once again… however she did not want them to do it alone,” Shiore proclaimed, “It was then that Sekai instructed them to seek out a companion, someone to share their power with and help it to grow. The four that ended up being chosen were Ryoko Hono, Takeshi Shirayuki, Daichi Iwa and Kaoru Tatsumaki and each one of them received a gaia memory containing a portion of their respective guardian’s power.” Shiore placed her yuki memory onto the surface of the table, Tara and Cole holding their memories in the palms of their hands, “These of course were the gaia memories that three of us now hold.”

“and… the fourth?” Tara asked.

“That’s where things get complicated,” Shiore proclaimed, “each of the four memories and their respective drivers were passed down from parent to child and for nine generations, peace and order was maintained by the four clans that were formed under the power of the elements.”

“They must’ve been rather close huh?” Alex asked.

“Indeed they were,” Shiore returned, “However… it was not meant to last.”

“Did the destroyer return?” Cole asked.

“No,” Shiore said, “What tore them apart… came from within. You see, for reasons I’m not sure of, the guardians were forced to seal themselves away as well but the memories they gave to their companions ancestors remained. Then things took a turn for the worse when Ryuga, the ninth head of the Hono clan, fell in love with Haruka Tatsumaki… but she had already been betrothed to another.”

“What did Ryuga do?” Tara asked.

“He pleaded with Haruka and begged that she accept his feelings for her, but she the person she was set to marry was someone who she cared for very deeply.” Shiore looked Tara in the eye, “and with no other options, Ryuga decided that if he couldn’t be with Haruka then he wouldn’t let anyone else be with her either… and so he killed Haruka’s beloved and then killed her, destroying her driver along with the rest of her clan and taking Haruka’s gaia memory to make sure that no one else would steal that last bit that remained of Haruka away from him.”

Tara tightened her grip on her memory, “That’s horrible…”

“What about Ryuga?” Alex asked, “what happened to him?”

“His actions sparked anger between the Hono clan and Iwa and Shirayuki clans,” Shiore explained “The tension between the three quickly escalated into a ten year war between the Hono, Iwa and Shirayuki Clans which eventually came to an end with Ryuga’s own life being claimed by his brother Ryusei.”

“And Ryusei?” Alex asked, “what happened to him and the rest of the Hono clan?”

“As punishment for his brother’s actions, Ryusei vowed to not allow his blood line to continue and the Hono clan ended with his death several years later.” Shiore explained, “After that, the remaining two clans slowly died out and disbanded, leaving only their drivers, memories and legacy behind.”

“That’s all well and good,” Cole said, “but… how exactly does all that relate to what’s going on now with us?”

“Well you see, the last head of the Shirayuki clan was someone very close to me,” Shiore stated, “and he was killed by someone under the guise of Ryu-jin’s mask and I fear they carry the same wrath as Ryuga Hono. The last head of the Shirayuki clan entrusted his driver to me and I attempted to kill the savage right then and there… however, he was snatched away by some green haired woman who called herself Spite.”

“So you tracked her here and confused me with the guy you were tracking… is that about right?” Alex asked.

“Yes,” Shiore returned, “and now I must ask you three,” she placed her hand over her knees and bowed her head to the three riders before her, “I know I’ve caused nothing but trouble for you since I’ve arrived here in your city, but if I can ask one thing of you I beg you… help me prevent the flames of the past from resurfacing.”

---

Vainglory sat leaning forward in his throne while Carter knelt before him. Derek and Rylee stood off to the side, Rylee biting her lip with a black case in her hand and Derek with his usual smirk.

“Carter Damon, son of Spite,” Vainglory said to the boy, “Do you pledge undying loyalty to your commander, and swear to uphold order in your stead as one of META’s elites?” Carter nodded, “Very good… now then,” he turned to Rylee and extended his hand to her, “Spite, the driver and memory if you’d please.”

“Of course,” Rylee said walking over to Vainglory and handing the case she held in her hand. She bowed slightly before handing the case over to her commander.

“Thank you Spite,” Vainglory nodded as he took the case from Rylee, “You may go now.”

“My lord,” Rylee bowed once more before returning to her place beside Derek.

“Nervous?” Derek asked.

“Of course not,” Rylee returned.

“Don’t lie to me,” Derek said with a smirk, “I can smell it… you obviously fear for him,” He placed his hand on Rylee’s shoulder, “Though it’s only natural for a mother to worry for her children.”

Vainglory opened the case and walked over to Carter, “Now then, with your oath complete all that needs to be done is see if you are able to wield the power contained within this driver and memory,” He turned the case to Carter to reveal a red gaia memory and circle shaped buckle with the face of a dragon in the center and four ruins around the rim, “But take heed, this is one of the most powerful memories in existence. If you cannot control it, it will consume you instantly… are you prepared for this?”

Carter nodded, “I am… my lord.”

“That’s good to hear,” Vainglory said handing the case over to Carter, “you may proceed.”

Carter took the driver and memory out of the case, holding them in his hands and inspecting them with his eyes. He slapped the driver onto his waist as two red belt straps shot out of each end and connected at the back.

He held the memory up to his eye and looked deep into the two dragons circling around each other forming an O shape on the label of the memory. He flipped the memory around and hit the button below the label, “RYU-O!”

Carter took in a deep breath, then slowly exhaled, “Hen...shin!”

To Be Continued

{Insert Ending Theme - I’ll Believe}