FengàriKattalakis - FPoV

I exhaled softly, my fingers finding the filet knife with ease. I recall that Jaqueline had commented that Cragadile skin was tough on blades, yet I found it only a bit thicker than that of an average gator. I stripped most of the leaner meat in the limbs away as I had found it made really good jerky when smoked. The majority of the meat, I cut into strips and cubes for grilling. I hummed softly, noticing Woz and Geiz watching me from the corner of my eye. I was very aware of, yet didn't care less about the frilly grayish brown apron.

I had already boiled potatoes and cut up some thick andouille sausage as well as thyme, vanilla, garlic powder, and added salt and both black and red pepper. A small smirk crossed my face as I wasn't surprised by the fact that these anthropomorphic ponies had no problem eating meat, though they did not do it very often in most cases.

As I added the Cragadile meat to the pot and set it on low to medium heat to cook, I exhaled as I washed my hands in the outside sink nearby. My head tilted as I thought of something before, to my mild surprise and interest, my hand sank into the air, which rippled momentarily before I pulled my hand back, the rippling air fading away into nonexistence as I stared at what was in my hand.

It was a 1965 Chet Atkins hollow body Stratocaster. My irises swirled slowly and lazily, much like water going down a drain in a small whirlpool. A soft hum escaped my throat as I missed the startled looks both the Prophet and Resistance Fighter traded. My ears twitched at a low mutter.

"He's definitely different from Sugou… the feel of him is… utterly different," I heard Geiz mutter.

"Indeed," was all Woz murmured back.

My head tilted at the moment a sharp beeping sounded on the other side of the window before I saw Jaqueline dart in, sliding a pair of oven mitts on before she pulled first one, then a second apple pie out. I saw her tap a button which ceased the beeping before my ears twitch at dual toned squeaking. One was slow and steady, the other slightly discordant as if the person, whom I presumed to be Tsukuyomi, wasn't quite comfortable with the rocking chair.

I did notice that the oven, whilst slightly futuristic looking, did not seem to run on natural gas or fossil fuels. My head tilted as I noticed Geiz giving me a strange look. My gaze shifts before I blink several times in mild surprise…. as I'm floating a good two feet off the ground without even a thought. Even as I consider it, my feet hit the ground with a small thud.

"Makes me thankful that I tend to save food in a subspace pocket just out of habit," I comment with a small sigh and a shrug. I noticed the male Riders trading a glance out of the corner of my eye again.

"Why would you need to do that, my liege? You were treated," Woz started.

"Like trash. So I know very well what it means to save and work your ass off for what you get, unlike most people. I know what it's like to assist others and gain assistance when in need myself. Though unlike some, I went the old fashioned way of surviving… kill what I eat, use what I kill, and, when possible, leave as little a mark on nature as possible," I deadpan before I notice the border collie staring at me, her tail wagging.

My gaze shifts as I turn, spotting the tail end of Jaqueline's ponytail leaving the kitchen through the saloon style doors as a slight smirk crosses my face. I don't comment on how her kitchen makes me think of a cross between a kitchen in the late 1800s in the Western Territories, as the areas such as California, Nevada, Utah, the Dakotas, and much of Texas were known as in what the majority knew as the 'Wild West' combined with a bit more of a modern appeal.

I hear Tsukuyomi say something, but, somehow… I know that I'm purposely choosing to not quite hear and understand her comment. Strange, it sounds, I'm certain. It's almost as if a small part of myself is aware of how nasty life can be.

My head tilts as I notice a siren before my gaze slides towards the road before my eyes widen slightly at the sight of a car a recognize: the Tridoron… from Kamen Rider Drive.

"I'm guessing you recognize the car?" I hear Jaqueline drawl.

"Kinda hard not to, chèr, if you know anything about Decade… considering Drive was one of the Worlds he visited… though, Geiz… I would be interested in hearing how you acquired the Drive Ridewatch before you met Sugou," I deadpan.

I see Geiz gape with surprise as he obviously has no idea I knew of him and, by extension Woz and quite a few of the various Heisei Riders before they'd 'rescued' me. I don't know how I know, but I'm certain deep inside there is no going back… because there's nothing to go back to.

"How exactly do you know about that?" Geiz snaps warily.

"Another Ex-Aid. You used the Drive Armor against him… though you did force him to retreat with that… it didn't defeat him," I drawl. I see Geiz grimace. 'Rather intriguing that Geiz and Tsukuyomi recall the events of the series despite Sugou's Time Reset… perhaps he set up something with Woz and Tsukasa to restore their memories in the case whatever forced him to do what he did with Shocker… if Shocker has truly gone multiversal, then they're a threat to more than just Kamen Riders and, by extension, Super Sentai and Power Rangers teams,' I considered.

My gaze drifts back towards the Tridoron as the door opens before my ears twitch as my eyes narrow as Shinnosuke slides out of the car.

My gaze snaps to the side as a swirling dark orange rift opens as a dozen creatures I recognize as Tarkatans exit before the portal closes. My eyes narrow as an animalistic snarl escapes me as my irises bleed to a hard golden amber as I feel my teeth sharpen. Six are unarmored, I note.

Whilst of the other six, four are lightly armored, whilst the last two are heavily armored and armed with more than their natural bio-metal weapons.

"Geiz, get Tsukuyomi. Make sure Jaqueline's family are inside. Woz, with me. We're going hard," I deadpan, my eyes on the Outworld natives. I'm not surprised to see Shinnosuke grabbing a case before he straps a belt around his waist.

"Konichiwa, Shinnosuke-san, Krim-san," I comment as my hand snaps out as silver and bright golden flames flare between my fingers, resolving into the Zi-O and Grand Zi-O Ridewatches.

"Huh… been a long time since someone identified me by my old name. However, we got a report of a rogue Cragadile," Krim Steinbelt, or simply Belt-san, commented.

"Guessing there's a police station between here and that mountain city, hai? Either way… that Cragadile is lunch… literally. Those Tarkata are the threat, however," I comment with a small grimace as I roll my shoulders.

"You're right, though I don't know how. However you know that can wait until after that threat is finished," Shinnosuke deadpanned before he slid the car into the bracer as I hear the music of the Beyondriver before I smirk as I slide the Ridewatches into place, releasing the lock holding the Ziku Driver in its locked position.

"START YOUR ENGINES!" I hear Belt-san say which makes me smirk as I instinctively shift into Sugou's pre-Henshin stance, noticing Woz glance at me with a wistful look as I catch his gaze, nodding slightly before my hand shoves the Ziku Driver around before it clicks into position.

"Rider Time! Kamen Rider Zi-O! Grand Time!" blares out as orchestral rock music surges "Kuuga, Agito, Ryuki, Faiz, Bla~de! Hibiki, Kabuto, Den-O, Kiva, Deca~de! W! OOO! Fourze~! Wizard, Gaim, Drive~! Ghost! Ex-Aid! Build~! Iwae! Kamen Rider~! Grand Zi-O~!"

My head turns slightly as I see the flare of prismatic purplish blue and pale green light as Woz shifts into Kamen Rider WozGinga.

Author's Note

"IWAE! It appears there are brigands threatening the innocents of my leige's land. Though I cannot see it clearly, I suspect that Miss Jaqueline will have a bigger part to play in the future."