[Sentai]

Kamen Rider Hikari
Go Go Hikari Go!

The Great Temple sat atop a dark cloud. Thunder, lightning, exploding through the background mirroring the anger boiling inside. Within the Japanese styled Temple were three of the Elder Dark Beasts who upset the Balance so long ago.
Princess Kuuki, daughter of their King, and Mistress of Air. She took the form of a great Swan. Long, slender, covered in stylized white armor molded to look like feathers hugging her body. With two beautiful feathered wings stretching off from her shoulder blades. And ending with her molded helm, made to look like a stylized roosting swan, with it’s long neck separating the otherwise matte black visor.
Beside her was the Beast, her fiancé, Akarusa. God of Darkness. Having chosen the shape of a tall humanoid being, slightly taller than his dear Kuuki. Molded armor covered his black woven skin. Smooth gray, looking much like cooled lava rock. His helm looking almost human, if not for the bluish tint to the face. And the bright red eyes set behind the round lensed glasses. Ending with two pairs of large dragonic wings. Two wrapped around his shoulders, and moved down his arms, like a long living cloak. While the others remained outstretched behind him.
And then there was their God King. Embodiment of Death, Destroyer of the Original Balance, Shi. The angry King sat upon his throne. By far he was taller than both his daughter and the man beside her, reaching near twelve foot. And that was sitting upon that rock throne. So imposing. Molded armor covered him, black upon the gray beneath. Featureless, even his helm was just a solid piece of molded black. Though hidden beneath the large hood over, and the cloak wrapped close around his shoulders. And the tighter their King gripped his throne the worse the storm outside seemed to become..
“They have chosen another Rider, one who can wield the Light against us… HOW COULD YOU HAVE MISSED THIS, AKARUSA?!” Every word roared, every word accompanied by another crackling rumble of thunder that shook the temple down into it’s core.
Akarusa slowly walked from his woman’s side, and brought himself down onto one knee before his God King. “Forgive me, Great King. But know, had I known, I would not have sent that Water-Toad down to create havoc.. I would have gone myself. Allow me to rid you of this Rider, to once again set us upon the path of Destruction..” Obediently his head bowed, always having been one of the most loyal.
And that was what saved him now. Standing, towering over them all, Shi descended his throne and laid one massive hand upon his Second’s shoulder. “My anger is not for you, my Akarusa. It is for those damnable fools beneath our heels. No. You will not sacrifice yourself, your obedience is enough. I suggest sending down someone more powerful.. Send the Skullger. Send down the Skullger, destroy the Rider, and again the great Shinimasu shall rise….” “Gah!” Taro grunted, the air leaving his lungs, having struck another wall. So far it felt like he’s slammed up against every flat surface in this damned training gym. And wide-eyed, he ducked before The Crazy Military Woman took his head off with her practice sword. “The hell?! That could’ve taken my head off, Old Lady!”
And growling she rushed at him again. Swinging again and again while he deftly attempting blocking, until she got the upper hand. And he found himself on his backside again. And then on his back when her foot kicked into his chest, making the air escape his lungs for a second time. “You think the enemies will show you mercy, Gaijin?!” Emphasizing the word with a grind of her heel into his chest. “They will come, they will never stop, and they will never let you catch your breath! You can’t just rush in wildly swinging you sword and expect it’ll just work out!”
Before he could answer, a kick sent him rolling off until he struck another wall. Grunt. Took time, but he managed using the wall to stand again. Despite how much he was shaking. If she wasn’t beating him down into the dirt, he might actually enjoy seeing her wear that. One of those sports bras, and tight training shorts. But she wouldn’t stay quiet long enough for him to have the chance! “Alright, Old Lady.. Then how about actually teaching me something?!”
“He has a point, Doctor.” Without hesitation she straightened up to attention. Okay, that was new. Another military man, dressed from head to toe in typical Defense Force blue. Looked old though. Like your grandfather, almost. But less homey and more serious. Like he’d be less likely to teach you to go fishing, and more likely to beat your butt black and blue for touching his cane. “He is Hikari, we’ve no choice. The Bracer has bonded, the Cards have spoke, and the Hand dealt.”
He wanted to add.. Well, he wanted to add another smart comment. Only got as far as swiping his thumb across his nose before the Old Man stopped him with just a thud of his cane against the ground. “And you will listen. I saw video of you before the attack, before you knew what you’ve become. You rescued that girl without thinking. On instinct alone. Yes… You are the reincarnated Rider Hikari. There is no doubt. But you are unprepared.. Reckless. And instinct will alone will only get your killed. That Toad was not a General.. He was a foot soldier. Remember this.”
And just like that, the general was gone again. “Who’s the..” And she stopped him with a quick jab of her sword into his stomach. “Greh… Hey!” Quickly slapping him across the head. “He is the Director of the Hikari Project, the Project to resurrect the Next Rider.. You.” Feh. Standing himself against the wall, Taro casually threw his sword against the far wall. Giving an uninterested roll of his shoulders. “Lookit. You want me to be the Rider, I don’t have a choice with this new wrist-jewelry. How about giving me some idea what the hell I’m fightin’, at least? What was that Frog… thing?”
“That is the first sensible thing you’ve said since we met. .. Fair enough.” She decided with a nod. Took them each only a few minutes to move off into the nearby rec-area. Though he was still leaned against a wall, with his arms folded against his tank top clad chest. With her taking her seat at one of the tables, somehow, still looking official. Even with her hair down and that towel around her shoulders.
Sighing, “What we face is an ancient evil. They call themselves the Shinimasu, The Dying. You may not believe all of this but it is important. Long ago we were ruled by a council of Elder Gods, some good, some evil. Each of them keeping the Balance. Then the Shinimasu came.. They destroyed the balance, nearly took over everything. Until He came. The Light, the one who stopped The Dying and saved us all. The Kamen Rider. And Once, every generation, he’s reborn. Dormant inside someone of the bloodline in case they’re needed.”
While she spoke, he eyed the new Scan Bracer carefully. “So that’s why this thing needed my DNA.. So what? I’m related to that first one?” Asuka nodded. “You are. You were born with his instincts, that’s why you saved that girl without realizing. I’m hard on you, Gaijin. Because I know what you are. That’s why I accused you of stealing that brace, after I slipped it into your pack. Because I had.. A feeling. If the scanner wouldn’t have accepted you, I’d have told the Police I made a mistake and you’d have gone free. But I didn’t make a mistake. But you need to take this training seriously. The animals we fight won’t wait until you’re ready, they won’t fight fair. They want you Dead. Period.”
Yea, he was getting.. That. He pushed himself free of the wall, wincing as an alarm sounded though the walls. Echoing like bouncing balls inside his head. “You’re up, Gaijin. .. Well? MOVE!” Snort. He followed close behind, both of them running at stride through the winding halls until they burst through the doors of the C&C. Looked like one of those war rooms you see in Godzilla movies, and on one of them was a new Beast.
Looked big. Like a skeletal, anthropomorphic, Stegosaurus. Why couldn’t they ever be bunnies? Cute, little, fuzzy eared bunnies. “So that’s one of them Shinimasu?” Dr. Asuka nodded, arms folded already with her hand rested against her chin. “One of their soldiers. We call them Shini, for short. And lack of anything better.. Any word on his element?”
From behind her, a young looking man sitting at a PC screen chimed: “Lightning, Ma’am! The reading is off the scale!” And she gave an understanding not, while walking towards Taro. Sigh. Slapping him across the cheek, she earned herself another glare. “Go, take the Hikari Machine. But we need that back in one piece. .. Well? MOVE!”

“.. Ooo…” The Machine was beautiful. A Street Bike, with stylized wings along the body. Pure white with black accents, giving the machine good contrast. Not that he could admire it for long after that PA system chimed up. “GAIJIN! Stop drooling and Henshin!”
“Old Lady!” Henshin, oh yeah. He could Henshin. Raising the Scan Brace, he chose the Henshin Card out of the Stacker Brace and.. “Henshin!” The card swiped, the lights illuminated, and the choice rang out /KAMEN RIDER.. HIKARI!/ “Woooooooooohooooooooooo!” The street pulled away, and out of the newly formed entrance the Machine roared into the air. Landing just as the road sealed back into place. And off he went.. The Kamen Rider Hikari!