(Note- this is written in the perspective of me, and My friend on Discord, Erik, AkA Tatsu. Enjoy the story.)

"Don't ya dare forget us, Dest! We will meet again!"

Those were the last words that Momotaros told me after we succeeded in keeping the world programmer, Sylvia Dalloway, safe from from the evil Imagin, and saw to it that the Taros, Deneb, and Seig had returned to their world, safe and Sound, resulting in our world returning to normal. A few months have passed since then. Claudia is now working as an assistant at a nursing school, Sierra started making her best out of life, and as for the one who started the adventure, AKA me? I was just enjoying the newest entertainment- Crash bandicoot 4; it's about time. However, I'm about to learn a rather important lesson- 

Sometimes, the past can come to haunt you, and have the potential to ruin your future...

It began all over again when I was checking my Discord notifications one night. Apparently, I got a message from one of my closest friends, Erik. Opening up our DMs, I took a look at the message, which read; Des! This may sound like a weird coincidental nod to the game you started a few days ago or so, but I just found this portal-thing that looks like someone put Reality on a glass plate and smashed it with a baseball bat... In my backyard...

I calmly thought it over. Quantum Rifts were opening up in our world?! How?! They should only exist in my game! I quickly responded. 'Tatsu, we both know well enough that's a Quantum Rift. Where there's one of those, more could pop up like Portals that lead to Helheim! See if you can find something that can help you close it up, I'll be there quicker than you can say supercalifragilisticexpialawacky!' I sent the message, went outside, clipped on the Den-O belt for the sake of it, hopped on the DenBird, and rode on my way there.

Meanwhile, I, the aforementioned friend Erik, AKA Tatsu, was looking at the Quantum Rift while holding one of my "Black Ice" staffs that I made from a busted mop handle. I tried to see what I could do to close it, including trying to literally grab the edges and pulling it shut. My hands went through the Rift instead, however. I sent a new message to Des, alongside an image of the rift with a metal pipe sticking out of it. The message says "Unclosable, gonna explore this sucker and count how many Grand Zi-O's it takes for us to find each other. Ikuzetto! 0w0"

I nodded upon getting the message, sending a thumbs up emoji, having almost arrived, before a quantum rift opened up underneath me and the DenBird, taking me to a new location, to meet up with 4 old friends, and then meet some new people as well, before everything went black.

Back with the self-proclaimed dragon nerd, I had found that the Rift took me to a world with a Rider Pass with an Altered logo lying on the ground. I picked it up because I thought it was pretty cool looking and I put it in one of my pockets before continuing onwards and meeting new friends who, coincidentally, resembed some of my OCs. I then found another Rift after fully befriending the draconic time-sandbags and I found Des KO'd and with some familiar time-sandbags. I promptly make one of my usual li'l excitement squees and I promptly hug Ryuutaros before introducing the familiar Imagin to the ones modeled after characters from my imagination, or, should I say, my IMAGINation, hehe[Hai, Aruto jaaaaa naito!]!

"Wai~ Wai~! Onee-Chan's up!" Was the first thing I heard upon waking up, seeing the same figures I saw when I met them. I was someplace new, with my Imagin partners- Momotaros, Urataros, Kintaros, and Ryutaros, and Erik. But, I didn't recognize the other Imagin, nor the floating mask with the 2 kid-sized anthro bandicoots..

"Are you ok, Des?" I ask, concerned as usual, "I'd like to introduce my draconic partners to ya, but first I gotta know if you're ok. I found ya KO'd..."

I looked over to Erik, nodding. "Yeah, I'm fine. Guessing that I need to introduce you to my partners, too.." I explained, a sheepish tone in my voice.

"I know their names already, didn't know you were the next Den-O, tho'. My partners are Drake, based off of my first dragon-'sona, Koori, based on Prince Koori the IceWing, one of my favorite OCs, Sora, based somewhat on my few eastern dragon OCs, as well as Sora from Kingdom Hearts, and last but certainly not least, Cobalt, based on my cute li'l kobold who's essentially named after his own species." I say, gesturing to the Imagin as I mentioned them, smiling.

"Nice to meet you four." I told them. "Dest, there's just one question left." Momotaros told me calmly, before yelling. "WHERE THE HECK ARE WE?!?" I looked around at our surroundings. As much as I want to know where we even are right now, I'm drawing up a blank in my mind. "I have no clue, Momo, but I'm going to go explore around this place and figure it out." I told him, as I got on the Denbird, and headed on my way to get a better understanding of this place.

I decide to get on my equivalence, the DenWyvern and gesture for one of the bandicoots to get on. "DES!!! YOU FORGOT TO LET ME IDENTIFY THESE ADDITIONAL PROTAGONISTS!!!" I call as I go to follow with the male bandicoot and the feathered mask accompanying me.

As much as I had wanted to turn around and let Erik introduce me to the other 3, something had caught my attention- Some trees and boxes along the road where phasing in and out of reality! Seeing a blue glow coming from a nearby volcano, I drove towards it to investigate.

I noticed this too, and I timed it so I smashed one of the boxes with my Black Ice Staff Right as it became tangible, and I picked up a few Wumpa fruits as a result. "Chouiine, I found some Wumpa Fruit. I'll see if they're good or not later... Now, we need to see the source of the Tangibility-Intangibility quirk, right, Crash?" I asked the bandicoot, who made an agreement noise due to not feeling like speaking at the moment.

At long last, I reached what looked like the depths of the Volcano, and saw a shining, blue mask, sleeping on a pedestal. Curious, I slowly picked it up. "Um, Hello..?" I spoke to it kindly, trying to not rudely wake it up.

"I know that one from the game, I've seen quite a bit about it!" I mention, gently but enthusiastically, "That's Lani-loli, one of the Quantum Masks! He's one of the ones who can help us close those rifts!" I then notice the pedestal is descending. "Hoo boi... We're gonna drop..." as Lani-loli wakes up, then floats out of Destiny's hands briefly before the floor opens up and we're left floating briefly like cartoon characters. "Kehehhhh..."

"I really hope we don't end up dead..." I tell myself, before Grabbing Lani-loli like a good luck charm, and then fall down into a new area. I looked around the new area of the volcano in curiosity, before I heard a rumbling-like sound.

Lani-loli looks increasingly afraid as he's looking at the source of the sound, as well as Crash. I also look, and I see what's making the noise. "Be ready to ride, Des, There's a big ol' ghosuto and he looks very upsetti..." I say, readying to go full throttle on my DenWyvern.

"Way ahead of you. C'mon you two, we need to get outta here before that giant skeleton gets us, and un-alives us!" I told both the bandicoot boy and the glowing blue mask, before thrusting the accelerator on the Denbird.

"I'm 100, no, 1000% sure I don't wanna become a ghosuto, and I know that Crash doesn't want that either!" I proclaim as I drive my DenWyvern around the obstacles and such as Des and I evade the angry phantom.

Soon enough, the 5 of us reached the exit of the volcano, before reaching a dead-end, and the Giant skeleton was right behind us. I then looked over to Erik, nodding, and then looked over to the bandicoot, and the 2 masks. "Looks like we're going to have to jump!" I told the 3 of them.

"Indeed we do!" I say, grabbing Lani-loli as he's about to protest and vrooming full throttle off the edge.

I follow suit, and do the same with the DenBird, before Grabbing onto the Feathered mask.

In a very Gaim-like mishap, I wind up falling off of my DenWyvern and I wind up faceplanting in the mud below, with Lani-loli on my face. I get up and immediately the Mask of Tangibility starts panicking a little as Coco and everyone else watches. Thankfully the DenWyvern and Crash land safely. "YIIII! Gethimoff-gethimoff-gethimoff!" I pull him off and wipe the mud off. "Aww, The Black Ice broke due to that drop... Oh well, better it than me..." I comment.

"Still, this is all so weird... First the Quantum Rifts open up in our world, and-" I start, before another opens up in front of me. "Yep. These things are popping up like portals to Helheim..." I said, staring at it with a look that reads a sarcastic 'I did not see this one coming'.

"It looks like a door between dimensions." Comments Coco. "The very same door that popped up that brought me and my friends here, even." I added. "Yes, yes! The kind of door we keep SHUT! We gotta go through, find my siblings, and fix this before some putz with a big evil plan and an even BIGGER ego does something MONUMENTALLY STUPID!!!" says Lani-loli, prompting Erik to facepalm. "Gureeeto desu yo..." Crash and Coco look at each other, knowing at least one guy who fits that description.

"I know who you both are thinking about. Cortex. My dad pretty much grew up playing these sort of games, after all.." I said, before miniature sized Quantum Rifts opened up, enabling some mole Imagin to enter the dimension. "Imagin... Finally, Opponents I know how to fight!" I smiled, as Momotaros looked to me and then nodded, before possessing me.

"Oho, Debut Time! Ikuzetto, Drake!" I comment as the green Western dragon imagin nods and possesses me, spiking up my hair and giving me a green streak in the middle that goes straight up. I then equip my belt and press a green button, starting a sort of majestic sounding orchestral loop with horns. "Let's get this started."

"Heh, ya got that right, ya midori Ryu Yaro!" M-Destiny agreed, as they pushed the red button on the Den-O belt, causing an electric piano sort of theme to play. "Henshin!" M-Destiny shouted, as a confirmation noise was heard.

Sword Form!

In a matter of Moments, Den-O sword form was Back. "Ore! Youyaku Sanjoū!" Den-O posed. 'Heck yeah, we've arrived at last!' I mentally agreed, as Den-O charged into the fight.

"Naturally, Henshin!" calls D-Tatsu, scanning his pass and prompting a similar confirmation sound.
Lance Form!
The particles look like hourglasses as they appear and form the base suit, looking much like Plat Form, but carrying a little more bridge/overpass theme rather than just straight Train Station Platform. The armor itself forms after that, looking like the kind of armor a lance knight/dragoon would have, and the Alternative DenKamen is formed from the head of a western dragon. "I'm a dragon, kindly come to terms with that!" States D-Tatsu as he quickly assembles the Alternative DenGasher into its Lance Formation before joining the battle, literally jumping in.

"Ikuze, Ikuze, Ikuze!!" Den-O shouted, attacking the Mole Imagins, before they had merged together, creating something that we didn't see before- A Hedgehog Imagin! "... Ok, new opponents, I understand that much, but SERIOUSLY?!? DOES THIS MEAN THEY HAVE A NEW POWER THIS TIME AROUND?!?" Den-O then screamed at the top of his lungs. 'Apparently so, Momo. Granted, I dunno how we're going to beat a hedgehog Imagin. Not only is it pretty spiky, but it looks like it could stop our attacks at any moment!' I mentally spoke up. Den-O then put one of his hands on his hips. "You're telling me nothing I can do will help? Oh, that's just great. So how the hell are we supposed to beat this thing?" He somewhat whined.

"That's where I come in, Peach boio!" Replies Alternative Den-O, going to attack the Hedgehog Imagin , using the length of the lance weapon to his advantage, in addition to the fact that there's a blade on the end. After knocking said Imagin down, he scans the pass again.

Full Charge!

"Kore ga, ji endo, da." he jumps really high in the air and dives lance-first onto the Hedgehog Imagin. "Ciao, Harineizumi-san." aaand BOOM.

"Gotta admit, you did good, midori Ryuu. Now then, if there aren't any more of those Dang things let's get go-" He tried to say, before ANOTHER hedgehog Imagin shows up. "Way to go, Unmei, your habit of jinxing things just passed on to me!" Den-O groaned. 'That was one time when I used Rod form for the first time, Momo. ONE TIME!' I mentally countered.

"Another one... Yare yare da ze..." replies Alternative Den-O, going to attack before getting quills launched at him, "Aaand this one actually knows how to fire those quills, great..."

Den-O proceeded to dodge the quills. Well, this makes him even harder to hit, then!" Den-O growled, enraged. 'If only we had some way to make getting to the porcupine Imagin easier..' I mentally theorized.

The Porcupine Imagin was rather close to Lani-loli. He tried to get a bit away from it, but ended up bumping into Den-O, and inadvertently used his phase ability on himself, and became one with Sword form! 

"Ancients, what just happened to me?! I-I'm not just a mask anymore!" Lani-Loli said, speaking for Den-O. 

"Talk about an unexpected, yet potentially helpful development!" Says Alt.Den-O, spinning his lance to deflect the needles. "I'd attack, but I gotta defend against the kriffing needles. See if you can nail that piece of schist, ok?" he's very done with this mess. 'Mood, Drake, very definitively a mood. Also, that upgrade looks pretty. Love the chevrons and the cool blues are a nice touch too!' comments Tatsu mentally.

"Alright, Ya ready to take down this harineizumi, Ao Kamen Yaro?" Momotaros asked Lani-Loli, in control of Den-O now.

"I-I guess...?" replies Lani-Loli, getting ready for whatever Momo has planned.

"Then let's go, go, go!" Momotaros said as Den-O, using his own swordsmanship skills, and Lani-loli's Phase abilities to get closer to, and hit the Porcupine Imagin. 'Gotta admit, It feels pretty cool to be possessed by an Imagin normally, but With Lani-loli helping out, I feel stronger than ever..!' I cheerfully giggle in my mind.

"Very impressive, Momo to Lani!" comments Alt.Den-O, gesturing for Koori to swap in before pressing the second button and activating a wintery sounding ambient standby loop before scanning.
Buster Form!
The armor reformats to be more like diamond scalemail as the weapon reformats to be a buster sword. "My blade will deliver a cold division as great as the Great white North!" states K-Tatsu. "If only I had your cheerful excitement instead of anxiety, Des..." comments Lani-Loli in reaction to that cheerful giggle.

'Well, I think it's about time to end it, Right Momo?' I mentally ask my Red Imagin possessing me. "Heck, yeah! Hissatsu!"

Full Charge!

"Ore no Hissatsu Waza- Quantum Phase Version!" Den-O shouted, using his finisher to defeat the Porcupine Imagin, in accordance with Lani-loli's phase abilities.

"...Drake, you lazy Emerald! I wasn't even needed!!!" Calls Alt.Den-O Buster.

"Well, Excuuuse me, prince!" replies Drake, blepping at Alt. Den-O Buster. 'Drake, Koori, don't fight..' I telepathically told Erik's 2 dergn like Imagin. "This is their natural state, playing pranks on one another on occasion..." admits Sora, who was watching the scene the entire time. "Coby not like the sound of it, but Koor and Drake not ones to fight each other, more sass." adds Cobalt. 'I get it.' I mentally nodded to Cobalt and Sora. "Either way, we won." Den-O smiled, and took off the Den-o belt, and what was in front of me was truly a sight worth beholding.

"What's going on? Why do I feel like I'm just a floating face?" Momotaros asked.

'That's 'cause I'm a mask, Momo.' replies Lani-Loli mentally. 'Of course I'm basically a floating face!!! We still gotta find my siblings and fix this mess before the aforementioned putz with a big evil plan and bigger ego does the monumentally STUPID thing!!!' "Right. Just gotta get your siblings together, stop Cortex, and then Erik, our Imagin friends, and I can go home? Got it. I just hope Claudia and Sierra are alright... What's more, I Really hope that we-know-who hasn't teamed up with Cortex.." I worryingly say, knowing which evil, recolored imagin I'm talking about.

Alt.Den-O dehenshins via removing his belt, and Koori wanders over to start a back-and-forth boop chain with Drake as Sora and Cobalt facepalm. "Perhaps, in the end..." Erik ponders, "...the aforementioned putz is the jikan-putz with the tuning fork and the clocks on his hat and chest?" 'I don't know who that is, but maybe...' comments Lani-Loli telepathically. "Trust me, Lani-Loli, you'll know in due time." I calmly spoke. "I can see a pun there, Des, given the guy's motif..."comments Erik as the scene transitions to Cortex working as a minion of sorts for N. Trophy, who's going on and on about conquering the entirety of spacetime via the Rift Generator.

Cortex even does a li'l bit of that bla-bla-bla hand gesture thing before getting interrupted and going back to work. Then N. Gin and N. Brio appear and talk about their inventions, which just makes Neo feel even more tired of the everything before he shoos the two away.

{To Be continued, In S2,E2- Zeronos VS Rawkithëd!}