The Command Center was quiet, but tension hummed beneath the silence. Yuriko sat with the box of Rider keychains in front of her. She hadn't been able to stop thinking about them since yesterday.
She traced her finger over the charm shaped like Stronger's helmet, then the others she recognized. Each keychain felt warm—alive, as if the Riders' spirits lingered within them.
Suddenly, the box shone with a faint light. The Rangers jumped back in surprise as Yuriko gasped.
"What's happening?" Emma asked.
The glow intensified until something solid emerged on top of the box—a weapon. It was sleek, metallic, and unmistakably insect-inspired. Its body was painted crimson with black dots, its handle shaped like a ladybug's wings folded inward.
"A gun?" Noah blinked. "That looks… alive."
Yuriko's eyes widened. "It's… connected to me."
She reached out slowly, her hands trembling. The moment her fingers wrapped around the grip, she felt energy rush into her arm, spreading through her body like fire and wind.
"This… this is my weapon," Yuriko whispered. "A gift from the Riders."
Before they could process the discovery, alarms blared. Gosei's voice rang out. "Rangers! The Armada has sent another monster downtown! You must hurry!"
---
The city streets were already chaos when they arrived. Buildings shook as an armored monster resembling a beetle swung its massive claws, scattering civilians. The Rangers drew their morphers, but Yuriko stepped forward.
"I'll fight too!"
She gripped the ladybug gun tight and called out, "Tackle, change!"
Her body shimmered with light as her basic form returned—red, yellow, and bold as always. She rushed into battle alongside the Rangers, striking hard and fast.
But the monster was stronger than usual. It shrugged off their blows, sending Jake and Gia flying into a car.
"We can't break through its armor!" Noah shouted.
Yuriko skidded to the ground, breathing heavily. She looked at the box of keychains strapped to her side, then back at the monster. Her instincts screamed at her.
She reached in—and her fingers closed around a silver-blue keychain with a sleek helmet design. Something about it felt… different. Feminine. Bright. Hopeful.
"Kamen Rider… Nadeshiko?" she whispered as the name flickered in her mind.
---
The ladybug gun's slot glowed. Yuriko slid the Nadeshiko keychain inside and felt her body ignite with silver light.
"Rider… Change!"
In a surge of blue and silver energy, her armor shifted. Sleek plating covered her body, glowing neon-blue accents tracing across her arms and legs. Her helmet was round and sharp, with bright compound eyes that shone like stars.
She had become Kamen Rider Nadeshiko.
The Rangers froze.
"Whoa…" Jake's jaw dropped. "She—she's a whole different Rider now!"
Gia smirked. "I think the monster's in trouble."
---
Yuriko felt the strength coursing through her. This wasn't just power—it was speed, precision, and freedom.
She dashed forward in a silver streak, ducking under the monster's claw swipe and blasting it with the ladybug gun. Energy bullets exploded on contact, staggering the beast.
"Too fast!" the monster roared.
Yuriko leapt high, flipping gracefully in the air. Her new armor thrummed with energy as she landed a devastating kick across the monster's chest. The impact shattered its armor, sparks flying.
"Finish… now!"
Her body glowed as she launched into the air again, performing a radiant Rider Kick charged with silver-blue light. The monster screamed before erupting in a fiery explosion.
The Rangers raised their arms, cheering.
"She crushed it—easy!" Noah said, stunned.
"Not just crushed it," Troy added. "She's evolving."
---
As smoke cleared, Yuriko landed softly, her new form shimmering before fading back into her basic attire. The Nadeshiko keychain dropped into her hand, glowing faintly before dimming again.
She stared at it, her breath uneven. "That… that was the power of another Rider. Nadeshiko…"
Emma stepped closer, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Whatever it was… it was beautiful. You fought like you've done it a hundred times."
Gia smirked. "Guess you're officially not just Yuriko Tackle anymore. You're something more."
Yuriko smiled faintly, though her heart raced. She looked at the glowing keychain.
If Nadeshiko's power is inside here… then how many more Riders' powers are waiting for me?
The thought both thrilled and terrified her.
Yuriko studied the Ladybug Gun carefully, her fingers brushing over the strange new slot she hadn't noticed before. It almost seemed like it was waiting for something—waiting for her to discover its true purpose. She glanced down at the glowing Kamen Rider Stronger keychain in her hand.
Taking a deep breath, she slid it into the slot. The gun pulsed with light, and when she pulled the trigger, a blinding surge of energy erupted into the air.
Before everyone's eyes, the light took form. A figure clad in black and red armor stepped out of the glow, electricity sparking across his body—the unmistakable presence of Kamen Rider Stronger.
The Rangers and Yuriko froze, stunned by the impossible. Stronger's gaze swept the room before landing on Yuriko. Slowly, a smile crossed his face.
"It's been a long time, Yuriko," he said, his voice carrying both power and warmth. "Far too long since I last saw you."
The others exchanged shocked looks, realizing this wasn't just a keychain's power—this was the Rider himself, summoned back into their world.