“Fight!” Shonen Rider demanded.

And so, the Rider Gang fought, charging into the Sailors, Faery Fire, and Gargoyle. While the rest of his side braced for the charge, Gargoyle rushed forward to meet the charge with his own. His target was Delinquent Rider, and as he approached the young Rider unleashed a wild swing of his bat. Gargoyle ducked under the swing, landing a short uppercut to Delinquent Rider’s arm to force the swing high. Delinquent Rider lashed out with a kick, aiming straight for Gargoyle’s gut, but the veteran hero twisted to the side, letting Delinquent Rider’s kick sail past him as Gargoyle planted a boot directly across from Delinquent Rider’s foot. Gargoyle dragged Delinquent Rider forward, sending the Rider tumbling to the ground as he tripped over Gargoyle’s leg. Even as Delinquent Rider staggered to the ground, Gargoyle leapt onto the Rider’s back, ever the expert fighter.

When Delinquent Rider landed, he found himself trapped. Gargoyle had, all while Delinquent Rider stumbled to the ground, shoved one of Delinquent Rider’s legs out forward while yanking the other leg back and tucking one of his own legs over it, pinning Delinquent Rider on one knee. Delinquent Rider’s back pushed hard into his neck, one end held fast under Gargoyle’s knee while Gargoyle kept a tight grip on the other end. Delinquent Rider flailed one arm uselessly, Gargoyle had twisted one of Delinquent Rider’s up into the air, tucking his arm under Delinquent Rider’s shoulder, wrenching it upward, before locking Delinquent Rider’s bicep between his arm and the hard metal of the bat.

“Rider Killer,” Delinquent Rider said, his voice a rasping whisper, “Rider Killer. Help.”

Delinquent Rider was a Rider, a chosen soldier of Ultimate Rider, granted incredible powers by Ultimate Rider. To die here, to fall against a single motion from a Rider killer, would be to dishonor Ultimate Rider. Delinquent Rider’s pride refused a slow, weak death.

“Pride,” Delinquent Rider wheezed, “And Pompadours!”

Delinquent Rider’s free hand shot to Gargoyle’s thigh, grabbing as hard as he could. Gargoyle growled in pain, feeling Delinquent Rider’s finger dig and tear at his muscled leg. Gargoyle lifted a hand up, and slammed a fist down onto the top of Delinquent Rider’s skull. Delinquent Rider’s head rolled, his vision filling with sparks of pain, but his finger dug deeper into Gargoyle’s leg.

Gargoyle struck again, but Delinquent Rider answered pain with pain, and Gargoyle could feel skin tear and blood begin to trickle from his leg. Gargoyle slapped an open palm over Delinquent rider’s face, and started digging a finger into Delinquent Rider’s eye. Delinquent Rider’s hand shot up to Gargoyle’s, working to pull the hand off his face. Gargoyle felt the glass lenses on Delinquent Rider’s mask crack, and a long, breathless, wordless, agonized scream was dragged out of Delinquent Rider’s mouth. Gargoyle pushed deeper, blood trailing down Delinquent Rider’s face, and Delinquent Rider slapped at Gargoyle’s leg in desperation.

He was trying to tap out, Gargoyle realized, to surrender. Gargoyle paused for a moment, leaning in to whisper directly into Delinquent Rider’s ear. Gargoyle didn’t know if Delinquent Rider could understand English, but thought the message was clear enough that Delinquent Rider would know what he meant. Even if the words were lost on him.

“No.”

Delinquent Rider did understand, hand trembling, tears mixing with blood, body shaking, arm pulling relentlessly at Gargoyle. Delinquent Rider’s lungs burned, his muscles surged with panic, but the struggle had left him breathless and his hand felt heavy and slow. Gargoyle pushed deeper, and focus scattered from Delinquent Rider, replaced with blinding, screaming pain.

Delinquent Rider’s arm fell, and Gargoyle felt the Rider’s body go slack. Gargoyle tucked Delinquent Rider’s head under one arm, and broke the Rider’s neck with a solid yank. Then Gargoyle stood up, still holding Delinquent Rider’s bat, and drove a heavy swing into Delinquent Rider’s skull, just to be sure. Then he slammed the bat into Delinquent Rider’s spine.

Just to be sure.

Gargoyle heard clapping, and whipped around to see Shonen Rider applauding him. Shonen Rider gestured happily to Gargoyle, and said something. As Gargoyle entered a fighting stance, favoring one leg, Shonen Rider laughed, waving off Gargoyle, and then pointed to Little Sister Rider.

Little Sister Rider saw Gargoyle, seeing the aura of bloodsoaked viciousness around him. Little Sister Rider saw the corpse of Delinquent Rider, blood slowly pooling around him. Little Sister saw Shonen Rider, and the awful, self indulgent smile he always wore.

Mama Rider wanted nothing more than to wipe that smug grin off of Faery Fire’s stupid, perfect face. Mosquito bites, hah! She was a healthy size, Faery Fire’s body was just obscene. As much as Mama Rider wanted to stride forward and show Faery Fire what a woman could do when she wasn’t being dragged down by fifty pounds of silicon, the Rider Family had a battle plan. Mama Rider held her hand out in a heart shape, charging up her Motherly Beam. Big Bro Rider and Dad Rider worked point defense, keeping the Sailors off Mama Rider, and Little Sister Rider cheered on Mama Rider to help her charge the Motherly Beam. Elephant Rider normally worked chaos into any formation enemies set up, hooking his tusks around to rip pieces off anyone who defied Rider Gang law, but Faery Fire kept him one the defensive, launching streams of blue fire from her hands whenever Elephant Rider got close. The Cat-Girl Riders and Gal Rider fought the four Sailors, magic swords clashing against Gal Rider’s purse, Cat-Girl Maid Rider’s mop, Cat-Girl Nurse Rider’s oversized syringe, and Tourist Rider’s camera. The Sailors, weak willed, scared little girls Mama Rider thought with a sneer, unfit for war, focused on defense. Swords swatted away Rider weapons, and when the Sailor’s did take an opportunity to attack it was always a hard slap with the flat of their swords.

“Motherly Beam!” The pink laser cut through the air, aiming for Faery Fire. Blue and Red saw where Mama Rider had been aiming and rushed to Faery Fire’s side as Mama Rider unleashed her attack. The beam broke against the crossed swords of Blue and Red, the Blue’s katana and Red’s longsword pressed into Faery Fire as pink light sprayed across her, reminding Faery Fire of home cooking and bedtime stories, and pushed the heroines back. Elephant Rider stampeded forward, the two sailors diving away with Faery Fire. The Sailors flew up while Faery Fire dove low, trying to avoid Elephant Rider’s tusks only for his trunk to grab her by the ankle.

Elephant Rider spun Faery Fire twice before launching her through the air. Faery Fire crashed into the prize counter of the Sword Saint Arcade in a shower of broken glass and gummy candies. Faery Fire staggered to her feet, ignoring aching bruises and sharp cuts as Elephant Rider closed in. Faery Fire scooped up a handful of gummies and hurled them at Elephant Rider.

“American!” Elephant Rider laughed, gummy bears and ropes bouncing off him, “What do you think this is? You may fight alongside children, but-”

Faery Fire threw another handful of gummies, launching a short burst of fire as she threw them. Gummy candies melted midair, cooking in the heat and bubbling as they stuck to Elephant Rider.

Elephant Rider roared, a deep bellow of rage, tusks arcing and hooking through the air. Faerie Fire ran, grabbing a bucket full of gummy bears before dashing towards the maze of arcade cabinets. Faery Fire stayed low to the ground, cornering as often as she could as Elephant Rider’s tusks cut jagged lines through the machines. Elephant Rider himself towered over the arcade cabinets, and didn’t slow his rampage until he lost track of Faery Fire.

Elephant Rider knew he didn’t see Faery Fire jump into the ceiling, and a quit check revealed no other exits from the arcade. Elephant Rider brushed some rubble off a tusk, slowly backing towards the arcade’s entrance while keeping a lookout for Faery Fire. A blue light, Faery Fire’s flames, gleamed in the back of the arcade, but Elephant Rider shrugged and kept up his post.

Faery Fire cursed her luck. If Elephant Rider wasn’t going to come searching for her then Faery Fire was sorely lacking in options. She could only hope that either Elephant Rider gave up or the Sailors fought their way to her.

Mama Rider caught the blue glow deep in the arcade, her eyes narrowing as she unleashed her hate.

“Motherly Beam!” The beam shot past Elephant Rider, narrowly avoiding the huge Rider, and blasted apart the arcade cabinets.

“What are you doing?” Elephant Rider hollered.

“Attacking the enemy!” Mama Rider shouted back.

“That is obviously not her!” Elephant Rider insisted, “She was moving a ball of her ghost fire through the vents! That was bait!”

“Mama Rider!” Little Sister Rider screamed, “Mama Rider! Help!”

Mama Rider turned, seeing the bloody visage of Gargoyle striding towards the Rider Family.

“You two,” Mama Rider snapped, pointing to Dad Rider and Big Bro Rider, “On him!”

Faery Fire wasn't going to get a better chance, and she knew it. Faery Fire closes the lid on her bucket of gummy candies, reared back and flung the bucket towards Elephant Rider. Faery Fire sprung forward, blasting a wave of fire into the plastic bucket. Elephant Rider stepped to the side, only to feel the razor sharp point of Yellow's rapier dig into his side. Elephant Rider moved on instinct, stepping away from the sharp pain and swinging his trunk at Yellow.

The tub of gummies landed squarely on Elephant Rider’s face, the still burning plastic and sugar sticking to his skin. Elephant Rider screwed his eyes shut as burning pain and panic washed over him, trumpeting his trunk. On sheer instinct Elephant Rider tried to wipe the burning sugar from his eyes, spreading the burn to his hand. Elephant Rider swung his burning hand, trying to get the molten sugar off him, and caught Yellow in the gut before shaking his head and catching Yellow across her side with one of his tusks..

“Run!” Faery Fire barked, running towards Elephant Rider, “Girls! Run!”

Red moved to help Yellow, but Tourist Rider chased after her and both of them with a blinding flash of his oversized camera. Red swung her longsword in wide, blind arcs to ward off the Riders while Yellow staggered backwards, one hand on her side and one over her eyes.

This was, Faery Fire knew, not a fight they were going to win. The Rider Gang was filled with thugs and gangsters, and the Sailors had never killed anyone. Faery Fire hadn't killed anyone.

They were just girls, Faery Fire thought, raced after Elephant Rider. The giant elephant man swung wildly, fighting in a blind rage that threatened Rider and Sailor alike and scattering the grouped up fight. Tourist Rider and Cat-Girl Nurse Rider fled as Faery Fire hurled more of her blue flames at Elephant Rider’s back.

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"You idiot," Mama Rider grumbled, "Motherly Beam!"

The beam cut into Elephant Rider, blasting apart his torso and sending the Rider sprawling to the ground. Motherly Beam had punched a burning blackened hole the size of Elephant Rider’s fist through his body.

“You?” Elephant Rider groaned, blood leaking through charred flesh, “Why?”

“You were as much a danger to us as to the Sailors, nyan,” Cat-Girl Nurse Rider explained, driving her huge syringe into Elephant Rider, “This’ll be just what the doctor ordered. Oh yeah, uh, nyan.”

As Cat-Girl Nurse Rider reached for the plunger, Sailor Green swung her falchion, driving it up the syringe and towards Cat-Girl Nurse Rider. Cat-Girl Nurse Rider bent backwards, her spine and head swinging down as her feet were firmly planted.

“Nya-haha!” Cat-Girl Nurse Rider laughed, bouncing back up, “Cat stretch!” Green’s sword flashed through the air in a flurry of strikes, but Cat-Girl Nurse Rider effortlessly bent and slid out of the way. Tourist Rider caught Green in the stomach with a heavy fist, folding the school girl over. “Cat!” Cat-Girl Nurse Rider barked, the tips of her fingers turning into wicked claws, “Scratch Fever!” Cat-Girl Nurse Rider raked her claws across Green’s face, and while the Sailor whirled her blade about reflexively the strike was slow and clumsy compared to the claw swipe.

Tourist Rider stepped forward, digging his fist deeper into Green as he moved, and hurled the Sailor through the air. Faery Fire caught Green, and noted that the scratch was red and swollen with infection. Green’s breathing was heavy and labored, and her face was flushed and sweaty.

Yellow came flying in, ducking under Tourist Rider and Green, rapier held forward. The thin blade struck Cat-Girl Nurse Rider’s syringe, shattering the oversized glass tube and splashing the emerald liquid across the floor. Cat-Girl Nurse Rider howled in rage, her claws chasing after the Sailor as she flew away.

“Kill her!” Cat-Girl Nurse Rider snarled, ordering Tourist Rider after Green. The burly Rider stomped towards Faery Fire and the Sailor, grinning to himself as Faery Fire sprayed him with her spirit fire.

“Safe Travels!” Tourist Rider declared, letting the fire wash over him. The flames scorched the ground around Tourist Rider, leaving patching of burnt cement and tile in his wake, but didn’t so much as singe Tourist Rider’s Hawaiian shirt. Tourist Rider swung a meaty palm at Faery Fire, slapping her hands apart and dissipating the spirit fire, before raising his camera. Faery Fire instinctively screwed her eyes shut and pulled her hands over her face to protect her from the coming flash. A flash that never came. Tourist Rider sprung forward and stomped a foot onto Green’s knee, grinding his foot into the bone and eliciting a cry of pain. Faery Fire moved to help Green, only for Tourist Rider to quickly draw his camera and hit Faery Fire with the bright flash.

Faery Fire’s eyes stung and spots clouded her vision. She could hear Green’s cries for help mixing with Tourist Rider’s cruel laughter at Japan’s least wanted daughters. The Sensational Sword Saint Sailors had never killed anyone, Faery Fire had never killed anyone, but the Rider Gang held no such morals. This whole mission, rescuing Gargoyle, had been her idea. How hard could killing the enemy really be, Faery Fire wondered. Gargoyle was a soldier, and he probably killed people all the time.

Blue whacked Gal Rider in the side with her katana, sending the Rider stumbling backward. Blue stepped forward, keeping up the momentum and beating Gal Rider over the head with the back of her blade before sending the Rider toppling to the ground with a swift kick. Blue raised her sword for a finishing blow, and looked down at Gal Rider. She had her arms up in panic and fear clearly etched into her face. At that moment, Blue saw herself and the other Sailors, tired, fearful and unsure. It was a moment too long, Gal Rider noticed Blue’s hesitation and swiftly pivoted to land a kick against Blue’s shin. Dress shoes and knee socks met white leather boots, and Blue winced in pain as Gal Rider launched another kick. Blue landed atop Gal Rider, and reared up to pummel Gal Rider with the back of her katana. Gal Rider’s defenses crumbled against Blue’s onslaught, leaving the Rider beaten, bruised, and stunned. Blue switched her sword around, pressing the point against Gal Rider’s neck. She just needed to- needed to-

Blue’s arms shook, and the Sailor could feel bile rising in her throat as her guts seemed to twist up. The thought of killing her, even though Gal Rider was a Rider, made Blue feel sick. Blue quickly stood up and gave Gal Rider a kick to the jaw, hoping to knock the Rider out.

“Blue!” Yellow yelped, Cat-Girl Nurse Rider advancing on her. Blue raced to her fellow Sailor, katana at the ready. Cat-Girl Nurse Rider spun on her heel to meet Blue, and Yellow’s rapier flashed through the air, slicing into Cat-Girl Nurse Rider’s thigh. The wound spat blood and Cat-Girl Nurse Rider howled in pain. The shock let Blue move through the Rider’s guard, landing a cut across the Rider’s stomach. Cat-Girl Nurse Rider swung her claws furiously at Blue, but Yellow thrust her rapier into Cat-Girl Nurse Rider’s arm. The Rider spat and hissed, only for Blue slash into her bicep.

“I should kill you,” Yellow said, circling around the Rider with her weapon at the ready, “You’re- you’re evil! Sailor Celestial told us to defend this land, and you bring nothing but misery!”

“Do it then,” Cat-Girl Nurse Rider taunted. Yellow lifted the Rider’s chin with the tip of her rapier. Cat-Girl Nurse Rider flashed a smile to the Sailor. Yellow wept openly, trying to steel herself as she snarled at Cat-Girl Nurse Rider. She was a servant of Ultimate Rider. She was a Rider. She was evil. She had hurt people before. She would hurt people again. All Yellow needed to do was what Sailor Celestial had told her, had trusted her, to do.

Blue placed a hand on Yellow’s shoulder. “You’re not worth her,” Blue said.

“I just-” Yellow sobbed, “I just hate them so much.”

“Get off her!” Faery Fire snarled, swinging her fist blindly at Tourist Rider while trying to blink the spots from her eyes. Tourist wrapped a hand around Faery Fire’s arm as she swung it, yanking her into a crushing bear hug Faery Fire’s legs kicked and squirmed as the Rider lifted her off the ground, pain lancing through her as Tourist Rider squeezed at her spine

"Finals Fervor!" Big Bro Rider shouted.

"Nine to five marathon!" Dad Rider declared.

Gargoyle walked with a minor limp, brandishing Delinquent Rider’s bat as he strode up to the two Riders. Big Bro Rider came on first, throwing punches in fast, tight combinations. Gargoyle wove through Big Bro Rider attacks, landing an elbow into an uppercut before stepping back to line up a swing of the metal bat. The bat bent against Big Bro Rider’s head, knocking the Rider back a step. Dad Rider tried to close in, only for Gargoyle to angle around Big Bro Rider, careful to keep one Rider behind the other.

Dad Rider chased Gargoyle around, and the hero split his focus between swinging the bat into Big Bro Rider and warding sweeps to keep Dad Rider back. Dad Rider pulled Big Bro Rider to the ground, stepping over the dazed and bruised Rider. Gargoyle took one swing at Dad Rider, only for the Rider to catch the bat in one hand.

"Fatherly Love Style," Dad Rider shouted, "Leather Discipline!"

Dad Rider pulled his belt off with one hand and whipped it at Gargoyle. Gargoyle felt a rib crack where Dad Rider hit him, and the leather belt dragged away Gargoyle's skin, leaving a bleeding wound in its wake. Dad Rider swung the belt again, and Gargoyle’s hand snapped forward and caught it. Blood dripped from Gargoyle’s hand, but he kept a tight grip on the leather belt. Dad Rider pulled Gargoyle forward, and Gargoyle stepped forward and slammed one knee into Dad Rider’s stomach. Dad Rider doubled over, the breath knocked out of him, and Gargoyle pushed his advantage, swinging the belt around to wrap it around Dad Rider’s neck. Gargoyle pushed Dad Rider to the ground, dropping him over Big Bro Rider and pinning him under one knee.

Gargoyle wrenched the bat from Dad Rider’s hand and raised it in triumph, Big Bro Rider’s mask lenses widened in fear as Gargoyle brought the bat down. Gargoyle alternated his swings, aiming for Big Bro Rider’s nose, then mouth, then eyes, then jaw, then ears. Gargoyle slammed the bat into Big Bro Rider’s shoulder until it was swollen and broken. Gargoyle beat Big Bro Rider until the Rider’s hair came off in clumps. Dad Rider struggled and strained against the leather belt, choking as Gargoyle pulled the belt tight. Dad Rider went limp under him, Big Bro Rider twitched and jerked with each swing of the bat, until the metal bat was nothing more than a piece and twisted and beaten scrap metal.

Gargoyle snapped the metal bat under one foot and stood Dad Rider up. The Rider took gasping breaths as he reached for Gargoyle. Gargoyle stabbed the metal bat into Dad Rider’s stomach, and Dad Rider’s hands wrapped around Gargoyle’s neck in desperate strength. Gargoyle drove the rough spike upward, through Dad Rider’s insides as Dad Rider squeezed for all he was worth. Dad Rider could feel the metal bat dig into his heart, could feel his strength leaving him as his arms went limp, and watched the darkness close around his vision.

Gargoyle pushed Dad Rider off him, and once more Shonen Rider applauded his violent work.

“A monster,” Little Sister Rider whispered, watching Gargoyle stalk towards her, “He’s a monster. Mama Rider, he’s a monster!”

Little Sister Rider looked between Gargoyle and Shonen Rider. She ran as fast as her feet could take her.

“Something on your breath, seems like you’ve been eating-” Faery Fire ground out, stuffing a hand into Tourist Rider’s mouth, “Foreign foods!” Faery Fire launched a stream of spirit fire from her hand. Smoke billowed out from Tourist Rider as Faery Fire’s spirit flames cooked him from the inside out. Tourist Rider staggered back, releasing Faery Fire, and Faery Fire strode forward, hooked one a foot under Tourist Rider, and tripped him. Faery Fire wasted no time stomping on Tourist Rider’s head, kicking and stomping him until- Until-

Faery Fire couldn’t do it. Tourist Rider was hurt badly, but the cruelty, and rage, the battle fervor left her. Tourist Rider wasn’t going to get for a long time, if he lived at all. There were other threats, Faery Fire told herself, and legal authorities would be able to judge the Rider’s fairly.

Mama Rider snarled at Faery Fire, gathering pink energy between her hands.

“Overgrown witch,” Mama Rider barked.

“I,” Faery Fire said, feeling a throb of pain as she stood straight, “Am an American.”

“Alright, enough,” Shonen Rider said, placing a hand on Mama Rider’s arm.

“What?” Mama Rider demanded.

“I want a turn,” Shonen Rider said, “Look at these people, they’re amazing! That guy killed three Riders by himself.”

“All the more reason to-” Mama Rider said.

“You know I don’t get any fun fighting with a team,” Shonen Rider chided, “Look, I’ll tell Ultimate Rider you did your best. That you fought the Rider killer with all your might.”

“But I-” Mama Rider begged.

“I know, I know,” Shonen Rider said, waving her off, “You want to fire the Motherly Beam, you’re the only person here other than me with a good technique. So,” Shonen Rider pulled Little Sister Rider forward by her neck. “Do it.”

“Please,” Little Sister Rider choked.

Mama Rider’s eyes flickered from Shonen Rider to Little Sister Rider, the pink light in her hands growing brighter.

“You’re to kill us,” Mama Rider said.

“Hey, I might,” Shonen Rider admitted, “But this looks exciting.”

“Let them go,” Faery Fire demanded.

“And what will you do if I don’t?’ Shonen Rider demanded.

“Not much,” Faerie Fire admitted, “But believe me, I know how to keep boys like you busy.”

“Ooh, I like that,” Shonen Rider said, releasing Little Sister Rider, “Tell you what, you, the guy, and the Sailors fight me. Then, I keep you up for the rest of your life.”

Mama Rider scooped up Little Sister Rider and ran.

Shonen Rider smiled as Gargoyle, Faery Fire, Blue, Red, Yellow and Green assembled around him.

“Now, I know some of you worthless Riders are still breathing,” Shonen Rider said, “So I just want to tell you. If you interfere, I will do to you what I’m going to do to them. Now, let’s get started.”