The air around Shonen Rider was tense, with the Sailors, Gargoyle, and Faery Fire shifting and circling around him.

Gargoyle didn’t like this, and didn’t have the patience for stand offs anyway, so he sprung at Shonen Rider. Gargoyle swung his fist, ready to kill Shonen Rider just like the other Riders who died at his hands. Shonen Rider snapped around to face Gargoyle and launched his own attack. Shonen Rider’s punch came faster than Gargoyle could see, Shonen Rider’s punch crashing against Gargoyle’s clenched fist. Gargoyle’s fist buckled, his knuckles breaking apart and bones snapping backward. Gargoyle’s hand came back broken and bleeding, fingers bent backwards and bones splintered. It took Gargoyle a moment, looking at his hand in confusion, to realize just how badly he had been hurt.

The Sailors followed Gargoyle, moving only steps behind him, but even with Shonen Rider’s attention on Gargoyle this proved a mistake. Blue collapsed around Shonen Rider’s fist, coughing up bile as Shonen Rider dug into her. Red came in steps behind Blue, trying to keep up with Shonen Rider’s blinding movement. Red's longsword swung up towards the villain, turning into a stumbling swing as Shonen Rider pulled Blue in front of the blade.

Yellow flew in, thrusting her rapier out and grazing Shonen Rider’s cheek as the Rider spun out of the way. Shonen Rider kicked at the fleeing Sailor, his kick only brushing against her long hair as Gargoyle tackled into him.

Shonen Rider snarled as he pushed Gargoyle back, only to face a blinding flare from Faery Fire. Green’s scimitar flashed through the air, cutting Shonen Rider’s dress shirt in an aesthetically pleasing fashion and revealing his toned midriff, but failed to land telling cuts.

Shonen Rider stepped forward and crushed Green’s foot beneath his own, eliciting a shriek from Green as Shonen Rider pulled a fist back to finish her off.

Faery Fire dove at Shonen Rider, wrapping her arms around his fist, and Shonen Rider kicked Faery Fire's leg out. Faery Fire dropped to one knee, and Shonen Rider quickly delivered an axe kick to Faery Fire’s knee, and the genetically enhanced heroine could feel her calf bone snap and spike into her foot.

Gargoyle tackled Shonen Rider, locked one arm under Shonen Rider’s arm and across his neck.

"Kill him!" Gargoyle shouted, pivoting as Shonen Rider tried to elbow backwards, "Kill him!" Red and Blue moved in tandem, Blue swinging at Shonen Rider’s face as Red lunged towards his stomach. Shonen Rider jerked his head down, catching Blue’s katana with his teeth.

Red's longsword struck true, and the Sensational Sword Saint Sailor stabbed her sword nearly an inch into the evil Shonen Rider. Shock spread over Red's face as Shonen Rider kept her sword pinned in his abs. Shonen Rider swung his legs up, kicking both feet into Red's chest, sending her sprawling against Faery Fire.

Gargoyle landed a knee against Shonen Rider’s side, doing everything he could to keep the Sailors on the offensive, and Faery Fire launched a stream of blue fire at Shonen Rider, burning away the last of his shirt but the Rider’s dress pants resisted the flames. Smoke billowed off of Shonen Rider as he wrenched Gargoyle’s arm and landed a spinning kick to Gargoyle’s side. Gargoyle could feel his ribs snap apart at Shonen Rider’s kick.

Gargoyle refused to back down, his good hand shooting and grabbing at Shonen Rider’s face. Gargoyle dug his thumb into Shonen Rider’s mask lens, but the Rider mask was more than enough for Gargoyle’s strength and Shonen Rider kicked at Gargoyle’s knee. Gargoyle’s foot snapped forward, blocking Shonen Rider’s kick, and Blue ripped her sword out of Shonen Rider’s mouth.

Yellow flew back in, and without even looking Shonen Rider ducked backward and drove his fist up into Yellow’s throat. Green was quick to follow, her sword chasing after Shonen Rider. A burst of fire blasted into Shonen Rider’s back, pushing him forward into Green. Green’s slash was perfect, but her scimitar seemed to glance off him, leaving a shallow cut from Shonen Rider’s shoulder to his waist.

“Keep it up, girls!” Blue cried, swinging at Shonen Rider and scoring a cut across his stomach, “Keep fighting!”

Shonen Rider put a palm on Blue, smashing her kidney. Shonen Rider grabbed Blue by her hair and pulled her into a rising knee. Blue stumbled backwards, dazed and blinking the blood out of her eyes.

“Keep it up, girls!” Shonen Rider jeered, raising a fist, “Keep fi- Ow!”

Gargoyle had pulled Detective Rider’s revolver from his waistband and landed a shot on Shonen Rider’s raised fist. The overgrown bullet had left a scorched bruise on Shonen Rider’s wrist. Shonen Rider slowly turned on Gargoyle.

“You just don’t die, do you?” Shonen Rider demanded, Gargoyle waving him over.

Shonen Rider stalked towards Gargoyle, pausing as the mall's glass ceiling shattered above him.

"Fear not," a young voice declared, floating down through the air, "I have arrived!"

"Prom King Rider!" Blue cheered.

"Traitor," Shonen Rider growled.

Prom King Rider landed, looking nervously at Shonen Rider.

"My love," Prom King Rider said, looking at Blue.

"We're going to die here," Blue admitted.

"Then we will die together, as lovers should," Prom King Rider said.

Prom King Rider swung at Shonen Rider with a powerful haymaker. Gargoyle knew that Shonen Rider could have easily dodged Prom King Rider’s swing, and saw that Shonen Rider barely moved anyway when Prom King Rider hit him. A lightning fast swing from Shonen Rider caved in Prom King Rider’s chest, and Shonen Rider lifted Prom King Rider into the air.

"Put him down!" Blue yelled, flying to Shonen Rider. Blue's katana cut a shallow line into Shonen Rider’s side before the Sailor pivoted and sliced into his shoulder. Shonen Rider kicked backwards, hitting Blue in the hip and letting her crumple to the ground. As Blue fell, Green was quick to replace her, giving Shonen Ride a cool looking cut down one cheek. Shonen Rider’s hand snapped out, grabbing Green by the wrist in a crushing grip. Green’s scimitar sprung from her hand, flying to her free hand, but Shonen Rider yanked the Sailor forward to grab her by the elbow. At such close quarters, Green didn't have room to swing her sword while Shonen Rider squeezed her elbow apart.

Gargoyle shot Shonen Rider again, hitting him in the ankle. Shonen Rider spat a swear at Gargoyle and hurled Prom King Rider at him. Gargoyle fell in a jumble of limbs as Faery Fire limped up to Shonen Rider and pressed her hand against Shonen Rider’s face. Flames erupted from Faery Fire’s hand, pushing fire into Shonen Rider and bursting out through his eyes. Shonen Rider shoved Faery Fire back and lifted her into the air with a kick to the stomach.

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Smoke billowing off him, Shonen Rider turned back to Gargoyle, who had pushed Prom King Rider off him and was trying to stand.

“You know,” Shonen Rider said, walking towards Gargoyle, “I like you. You have a sort of, shall we say, tenacity that the Sailors lack. You fight to kill.”

Shonen Rider took a punch from Gargoyle before tripping the hero back to the floor.

“Still, all good things must come to an end,” Shonen Rider said, stomping on Gargoyle’s ankle, “Why does everyone I like always die-”

Blood burst from Shonen Rider’s chest as Pink’s sword tore through him. Shock rolled over him as Shonen Rider tried to understand what had just happened. His hands were covered in his own blood, he felt a distant pain that seemed to be screaming towards him.

Pink screamed. It was a war cry, a scream of protest, a shriek of fear, a shout of triumph, and a wail of terror. It was fear and hate and love and rage boiling up from her mouth. In that instant, Pink felt great, better than she had ever felt before. In that instant, Pink felt sick, thinking she was going to vomit. Adrenaline pumped through, her heart was pounding in her ears, her stomach was jumping up her throat, a wordless cry was streaming from her mouth, but through all that Pink pulled her sword inexorably upward.

For the first time, Gargoyle saw fear in the Rider’s eyes. Even in his injured, exhausted state, Gargoyle saw his opportunity and took it. Before Shonen Rider could turn to fight, three bullets from Detective Rider’s magnum crashed into his skull, taking off hair, then skin, then finally cracking his skull. Shonen Rider rocked forward, and Gargoyle smashed his stolen revolver into Shonen Rider’s knee, then his shin. Pink pulled her sword up through Shonen Rider’s ribs and cutting into his collar bone. Gargoyle hauled himself up to his feet, helping Pink pull the sword through Shonen Rider.

Blood sprayed into the air as Pink finally managed to rip her sword free. Shonen Rider collapsed to the ground, the Sailors and Faery Fire watching in awe. Pink, however, felt her victory was incomplete. She lifted her sword up before swinging down into Shonen Rider with all her might. Over and over, hacking and chopping Shonen Rider while Gargoyle kicked, stomped, and beat him.

As her scream ran out of air, Pink felt Blue wrap her in a hug. All the Sailors, no matter how injured, flew over to comfort Pink. Faery Fire helped Gargoyle up and turned to the Sailors.

“So,” Faery Fire said, “I think we win. Who’s Prom King Rider?”

“He’s a hero,” Blue said, a blush creeping across her cheeks, “And a, uh, friend of mine.”

“Is he going to need our help?” Faery Fire asked.

“The less he’s seen working with us, the better,” Red said.

“He already risked so much,” Blue said.

The people gathered outside the mall, police and civilians alike. Were treated to an odd sight. The Sensational Sword Saint Sailors, and their two foreign allies, walked out of the mall. They moved with clear limps, bruises clear on their bodies. And yet-

And yet they had won. The Sensational Sword Saint Sailors took flight, carrying the Americans away with them. The police cautiously crept into the mall, wary of all the Riders that had run in after them.

The Sailors staggered back into their studio, Pink doing her best to carry her friends to the infirmary nestled into the back of the studio.

“Nurse Isha,” Pink called, “We need your help!”

A matronly woman in a lab coat stepped out, worry etched into her features as she set the Sailors onto beds.

“Whatever happened to you?” Isha remarked, looking over Gargoyle.

The next morning, all the Sailors were still laying in bed. Faery Fire propped herself up to face Gargoyle. Faery Fire’s augmentations had her healing so fast she was nearly back on her feet, and Faery Fire suspected that whatever Gargoyle had meant he was doing nearly the same.

“Hey,” Faery Fire said, tapping Gargoyle, “Do you have a moment to talk?”

“Not like I can go anywhere,” Gargoyle said.

“What were you doing yesterday?” Faery Fire demanded.

“What do you mean?” Gargoyle asked.

“Don’t play dumb,” Faery Fire said, “I saw you gouging out people’s eyes and clubbing them to death!”

“Oh,” Gargoyle said.

“Why would you do that to a person?” Faery Fire demanded.

“You cooked people,” Gargoyle retorted.

“Because innocent girls were in danger,” Faery Fire said, “I was fighting to live. You were fighting to kill.”

“So?” Gargoyle asked.

“Why?” Faery Fire demanded.

“One day,” Gargoyle said, “I woke up, and realized that all I wanted to do was hurt people.”

“Nope,” Faery Fire insisted.

“Huh?” Gargoyle said.

“You’re not going to stay here,” Faery Fire said, “Definitely not with that attitude. These girls need caretakers, not psychotic warriors. Tell me the whole story, or leave.”

“And you’re going to make me?” Gargoyle asked,

“I don’t care if you wander around until people call you Homeless Rider,” Faery Fire insisted, standing up to face Gargoyle, “You are not staying here.”

“Buy me a plane ticket,” Gargoyle said, standing to face Faery Fire.

Faery Fire slapped Gargoyle across the face. Gargoyle responded on instinct, hooking Faery Fire in the side before slamming his fist up into her jaw. Gargoyle readied a heavy straight as Faery Fire staggered back.

“Look at them,” Faery Fire said, pointing to the Sailors, “They’re scared of you.”

Gargoyle paused, looking from Faery Fire to the Sailors. They were just girls, and they were scared of him, Gargoyle realized.

“Now,” Faery Fire said, sitting back into her bed, “Tell me what happened. I’ll even share if you do.”

“There was a girl,” Gargoyle said, taking a seat next to Faery Fire, “Everyone always said we were destined for each other. We were childhood friends, then highschool sweethearts, I proposed to her after we graduated. I was on top of the world.

After the wedding, I joined the military. I wanted to provide for her, and they offered a big signing bonus. While I was serving my country, I sent money home to help pay for her college. I had a good career in the military, before my contract was up, I had gone from the infantry to the marines, and from the marines to the SEALs. I led men, saved people, killed people.

When I finally got home, I found out that she had been cheating on me. For years even. Some younger, richer, better looking guy, I never bothered to remember his name.

The divorce was draining. Emotionally, financially. It took everything from me.

One morning, I woke up and realized I didn’t care anymore. I didn’t care about the divorce, about my ex wife, about my money, anything. All I wanted to do was hurt people. So, I got into my truck and drove off. I joined the UFC, fighting till I was the heavyweight champion. Till nobody else would fight me. It wasn’t enough, so I started fighting in underground matches till nobody else would fight me. It still wasn’t enough.

Supposedly, Stone Cutter was impressed with me, and gave me the Superhuman Serum. Working with Stone Cutter gave me direction, gave me purpose.

But, I still just wanted to hurt people. Working with Stone Cutter gave me plenty of opportunity to fight people and do good at the same time.”

“That- that’s horrible!” Faery Fire said, “Wait, you’re not a Manifested?”

“Nope,” Gargoyle said, “All my super strength, healing, speed, that all came from the serum. Now, you said you’d share.”

“Well, I got into superhero work because of my boyfriend,” Faery Fire said, “He was a genius, one of the best bio-technicians in the country, maybe even the world. He had a lot of hangups with Stone Cutter, claiming that his serum was impossible.

Either way, I quickly realized that he had some serious issues. He kept talking about how we would rule the world as king and queen eternal! Perfection made flesh! First, I thought I could fix him. This really didn’t work, he drifted farther from me and deeper into his work. It felt like everyday his ego just got bigger and bigger. I quickly realized that he needed to be stopped, so I bought my augmentations from him. I had manifested the wings, tail, and pyromancy, and now I had a superhuman physique.

My boyfriend started to suspect I was turning traitor, even as I gave up more and more for the augmentations. One day, he- one day- he, um-”

“Spit it out,” Gargoyle said.

“It’s really personal,” Faery Fire said.

“So was everything I told you,” Gargoyle said.

“Alright, that’s fair,” Faery Fire said, taking a breath to steady herself, “One day, thinking I was going to betray him, he, uhm, he- During an operation he… Sterilized me. He told me I would never be able to have children until I stood with him again. I had- For a while I was telling that I wanted to have children. And I did. I wanted to experience being a parent, bearing and raising children, growing up with them-

And, now I can’t.”

“That’s why you care about the Sailors so much,” Gargoyle said.

“I- yes,” Faery Fire admitted, “I see them, those darling girls, and I can’t help but children desperate for a mother, for someone they can rely on. I’ve been watching Pink. She hasn’t eaten all day and has washed her hands seven times in the last hour. Gargoyle, they need caretakers.”

“I never really thought about children,” Gargoyle said, watching Pink stare at her hands, a quiet shake rattling through her body.

“I know,” Faery Fire said, “And I know this is a lot to ask. But, you were trained to be a hero, do you think that we could be their heroes?”

“I don’t think I’m father material,” Gargoyle said, “But I’ll give it a shot.”