Final Ride

(I was told I could do this. So I have a few things bouncing in my head. No this isn't gonna actually happen or something. But I just wanted to write this idea out.

It had all gone wrong...

The city of New York lay in ruin. Craters dotted the landscape, and the crumbling husks of building stood testament to the horror that had occurred here.

No battalions of soldiers had marched through here, yet a war had been fought here. No bombs had been detonated here. No tanks had been deployed. Despite all this, the destruction spoke for itself.

Their hope had turned to despair...

A decisive battle had been fought against S.H.O.C.K.'s oppressive regimen. The Riders had gambled everything on Ashton and his abilities as Kuuga.

Perhaps to much faith...

He ascended to his Ultimate level during a fit of rage, but the power was to much. The enemy was defeated, but he lost his mind to it and proceeded to destroy everything that got in his path...

One by one the Riders fell before him. He often prolonged the kills for his enjoyment.

The survivors had staged a concentrated effort. They attempted to lure Kuuga to a remote location for their last stand, but it appeared he had other ideas...

Humans were pests that he had to destroy. No where was safe from his rage, and the riders had no choice but to confront him in the middle of America's biggest city.

The battle did not go well. Kuuga defeated the riders on by one.

One rider had not joined them. She had been there with Ashton on that fated day. A thief that had chosen adventure over profit.

Trisha was terrified of Kuuga...

She had seen him snap spines like twigs. She still heard the screams of the soldiers Kuuga had burned for fun. She could not forget, but she could not stop him. He was to powerful.

She now stood on the edge of the city. She was the last rider besides Kuuga. She could see in her mind the faces of all the friends she had made along the way.

This was to much...

She hunted through the wrecked city and searched or Kuuga. She found him easily.

He stood. One foot on the tattered body of a man wearing a red coat. Nearby several others lay in pathetic heap.

His black armor seemed to shine in the waning sunlight. He turned to look towards her. The black eyes of his helmet glowed briefly, and he began to chuckle.

Trisha whipped the DiEnd driver up from its place on her hip. She aimed both barrels of the weapon directly at Kuuga, yet he did not flinch. A single tear rolled down her cheek as she remembered her friend. She pulled the weapon back and drew a card from her pocket.

"I'm sorry, sugah... But this is foah yoah own good! HENSHIN!" She shouted, fighting back tears. She slipped the card into the weapon, punched the slide to load the card, and pulled the trigger.

A bright flash of multi colored light engulfed her, and blue prisms swirled her like a tornado. It ended as quickly as it had started, but now Trisha was clad in blue and black armor. Her helmet held a shape similar to the icon on her weapon.

Kuuga now turned to face her properly. As soon as he had done this, she charged. She was fast, fast enough to close the space between them in almost an instant. She jumped just high enough to aim a heavy punch at his face.

Despite her speed, he was faster. He blocked her punch with his palm and retaliated with a punch of his own. The blow struck her hard in the chest and sent her flying backwards.

She landed back almost at where she had started from. The center of her chest plate smoked slightly and small cracks could be seen in the armor. She could feel blood trickling down her chest.

Kuuga lifted his hand towards her. Flames erupted from the ground in several geysers. Trisha rolled away from the flames and crouched on one knee. She said, "So... I guess that's why they call it the ultimate darkness..." She winced slightly. The punch might have even cracked a rib.

She shook her head. It's time to focus, Trish! She opened the card holder on her right hip and drew her cards. "This! This is for all of OUR friends that you killed!" She began to load card after card into the her weapon. As she loaded the last card, a halting voice called out, "F-F-FINAL R-RIDE! DIEND!"

She aimed the weapon towards Kuuga. He lifted a hand and chuckled ominously.

Trisha pulled the trigger and an image of a giant, golden card engulfed her briefly before she vanished. Kuuga stood, briefly confused by this.

Similar golden cards appeared, surrounding him. Each card had a different gold icon on it.

A red rocket flew from one card with "G3X" on it. It hit Kuuga hard, and he glanced towards its source. A blue armored rider stood there. Kuuga turned towards him, but he was gone as swiftly as he had appeared. A sphere of blue energy slamed into his back. He turned again to see the fleeting image of Kamen Rider Drake.

A blade raked his back and searing flames washed over him. He turned again. Ixa stood there briefly.

One by one. Riders appeared and unleashed their ultimate attacks. One by one, Kuuga was struck by flying kicks, blasts, swords, and even some heavy punches. The copies appeared and disappeared so quickly that he could not defend against the attacks.

Soon the onslaught began to take its toll. He staggered briefly and turned towards one last card. Suddenly nine rings of small teal cards appeared, and he found himself standing between the fourth and fifth rings.

Trisha stood where she had started. "ASHTON! I... I'M DOING THIS FOAH YOAH OWN GOOD!" She screamed as she pulled the trigger.

Her weapon crackled with electricity arced around it, and a large beam fired from the top barrel. Each ring of cards the beam
passed through layered onto the blast and increased its size.

It slammed into Kuuga's belt and pushed him back. The beam grew larger as the last few rings joined the blast, and the it engulfed Kuuga. He roared in pain briefly before it all ended.

He still stood, but his belt was damaged and the gem sitting in it was heavily cracked.

Trisha glanced at her weapon. It was beginning to fall apart from stress, and sparks flew from it as it began to short out. She tossed it aside and ran towards Kuuga. Her right foot began to glow blue. The glow increased with each step.

She jumped from the ground and somersaulted briefly in mid air, before she uncurled and extended her right leg. The heel of her right foot was aimed directly at Kuuga's belt, as she flew towards him. The color of her armor began to fade, but she could not stop. Her kicked connected with the crystal in his belt and caused it to shatter.

She fell to the ground in front of him and her armor vanished in a flash. He stumbled backwards. Black smoke engulfed him briefly as his armor changed to white. The harsh angles were now replaced with softer shapes. He stood briefly.

She started to stand. It was finally over.

Kuuga lifted one hand. He closed his fist a raised his thumb in a traditional sign of approval.

A gritty texture crept up his body, starting at his feet. It soon covered his entire body. Briefly, he stood like a statue. A gust blew between them and he began to crumble. His entire body was now white sand. It fell to a pile on the ground.

It had all gone wrong...

Now Trisha stared at the remains of her friend. Tears streamed openly down her cheek. She had given up her existence as a rider to save him, but he perished anyway.

She ground her palms against her eyes in a feeble attempt to stop her tears.

Her final ride may not have been in vain.... But it sure felt that way.