Setting Shadows

by 7th Librarian

Set in the Shadowchasers universe. Lyrius Stormcloud, the world's newest king. And Judy LaBaron, his queen and leader of the Shadowchasers. Together, their destiny will change the world forever. But before this, before the future comes to be, the past must be laid to rest. To see the dawn, the night must end. Take the plunge with them behind the veil, into a world without light.

1. Old Friends, New Foes

Setting Shadows
By 7th Librarian and Mei1105

A/N: To celebrate Christmas and the gift of each other's love, my darling fiancée (Mei1105) and I have taken the ultimate step as a couple. To write a story as co-authors! Please, enjoy, read and review!

OOO

"I never took you for a writer, Em." With overdramatic grace, Judy LaBaron-Stormcloud draped herself lengthwise over the lounge chair so that her sleek mane of silver hair landed in her husband's lap. Her lips quirked in a smirk and she regarded her best friend of umpteen years with impatient amusement. "So what's with the book?"

"I would hardly call this writing." Seated in a rather comfortable recliner, a woman with a stylish pixie cut gestured to the tablet laying on her lap. Floating in the air above it was a blue image and as they spoke, the words appeared in the space it generated before being 'sucked' down into the tablet's surface. "It's just recording what we're talking about."

"Editing and adding notes and stuff counts as writing in my book." Judy giggled and grinned. "And considering this story is about me, it most certainly is my book."

"Our book, sevetti." Lyrius Storcloud corrected gently as he ran his finger's through Judy's hair, carefully removing the circlet that rested there. Silver and gold woven together and etched with platinum, it mirrored his own. "And kindly remove your crown before you lay in my lap. It was digging into my thigh."

"Sorry, darling." Judy didn't sound it as regarded Emily again. "So, why the interest? Won't this story be in the Library Arcanium automatically?"

"Not this one. This is one I have to collect personally given I'm the Librarian. And, well, you've never quite told me everything. Going on an adventure and saving the world is hardly an explanation." Emily said pointed and gave her friend a fierce look. "Details, woman, I need details."

"Well, Lyrius does love this thing where I take my mouth and-"

"Wrong kind of details!" Emily scowled as Judy laughed. "Be good, Scales and tell me how you changed the world!"
'
"Alright, alright, Bookworm. I'll behave. For the most part." Judy threaded her fingers into Lyrius' free hand. "I suppose it all started back when we first got together. I'd known him for years by that point, but we went months between meetings and finally, at one, I'd decided to stop hinting and start asking about his feelings. Of course, the universe decided to laugh at us and sent that monster..."

OOO

Chapter 1: Old Friends, New Partners

"One double shot white chocolate macchiato and one Naked Smoothie. Thank you for shopping at Starbucks, sir! Enjoy your day!" The cashier, armed with a beaming, cute smile, a visor and ringlets of dark hair, passed the drinks over the counter. "Please don't hesitate to ask if you need anything!"

"Thank you." Her customer took the drinks with a polite nod before striding over to a nearby table and passing the steaming mug of flavored coffee to his companion. "Your caffiene."

"Ah, thank you!" Judy LaBaron took the cup gratefully and took a sip, savoring it as the man seated himself across from her. "Mmmm, so good…"

"I believe I can hear your heart speeding up from over here." The man commented as he unscrewed the lid to his drink.

Judy gave him a skeptical look. "Even you aren't talented enough to hear someone else's heartbeat from across the table, Lyrius. If your hearing was that sensitive, you'd be driven mad by the sound of your own."

"Assuming I am not already mad."

"Are you saying that because of all the insane shit you put up with?" Judy took a more forceful drink of her coffee, sighing contently.

"Compared to your more recent adventures, I believe my life is quite dull." Lyrius said pointedly.

"I'd take dull over dealing with another of Mister Monster's creations again," Judy muttered. Seeing her coffee-buddy's eyebrows lift, she sighed. "Explaining to Her Majesty how we had to blanket London in a magical fog and bury the body of a zombie dragon in the Thames was not a conversation I enjoyed…"

"Her Majesty, understandably, does not cope well with such things outside her purview." Lyrius took a drink. "I had several furious messages in my voicemail about that dragon and why I was not destroying it utterly."

"...the Queen has your mobile number?" Judy gave him a minor scowl. "Even I don't have that!"

"I needed access to the Tower of London and the Crown Jewels several years ago. After destroying the Dread Pirate-Lich Roberts, it seemed prudent to maintain a close relationship to the Royal Family."

"You destroyed Roberts?" Judy groaned and buried her face in her arms. "Lyrius, you need to tell me these things! We've had that case open for the last five years because we lost track of his ship in the Channel! I spent two weeks on Guernsey hunting for the damn thing and by the end of it, I was ready to murder a tourist!"

"Well, cruise ships are tempting targets for bloodthirsty, treasure-hunting pirates." Lyrius said with a straight face. "If you require the Crimson Dawn, I have it currently docked in Arcadia."

"You stole his ship from him." Judy sighed into her arms. "...did you steal his treasure, too?"

"I donated it to the Red Cross." Lyrius informed her.

"Good on you." Judy smiled over her drink. "Any other good deeds that I should be aware of?"

"I bought you your drink."

Judy looked thoughtful and grinned playfully at him. "You going to buy me anything else today?"

"According to your friends, you need a social life." Lyrius lifted an eyebrow. "Apparently, I myself do count as one for you."

"Only because as talented or handsome as you are, you still are just one man. Who is rather happy today. Well, at least for you. Must be a good drink." Judy smirked. "Or because you happen to be on a date with the most beautiful Shadowchaser this side of the equator."

Lyrius' eyebrow lifted enough to rise above the line of his sunglasses. "We are having drinks in a Starbucks."

"Hey, its my social life and if I want this to be a date, then it'll damn well be a date." Judy gestured at him with her drink, grinning. "And judging by the looks that clerk gave you and the glares I'm getting, she certainly thinks it's a date. Perception is important, doncha know?"

"Considering what you have told me of your previous boyfriend, anyone would be a step up." Lyrius had a ghost of a smile. "Your Facebook squabble with him after your break-up leads me to believe you were rather unsatisfied."

Judy leaned forwards a bit, glad for her hair to spill over her shoulders and the platinum blonde locks hid her blush. "I was unsatisfied…" She trailed off, uncertain how to continue.

"Emotionally or physically?" Lyrius asked carefully.

"Both."

"How so? You seemed quite smitten with him at the start of your relationship, if your letters were any indication." He took a drink of his smoothie.

Rubbing her head between her hands, the pouting half-dragon glanced off to one side, not quite willing to meet this inquisitive gaze. "Trust is hard to maintain when you live a secret life." She admitted quietly. "Friends are hard enough - at least I have Em, Becky and Sheeta to make sure the secrecy doesn't kill me. But boyfriends…" She trailed off a little helplessly.

Lyrius nodded sympathetically. "Understandable. So physically - why, in your own words, did he 'suck worse than a black hole?' "

"Because he did suck like a black hole!" she burst out, with a noise that was half exasperated half laughter. "Everything was all about him! There was...well, nothing in it for me...you know what I mean?" she failed in her efforts to find an explanation that was not R rated.

"You enjoy wrestling foreplay, much petting and making out and like being subdued. As long as you are getting some, position matters little and you like grabbing onto things and having your hair pulled. Lyrius said smoothly, like he was discussing the weather.

The blush became hotter and more vivid. "Were you taking notes on my twenty first birthday?" She asked accusingly.

"It took a month for that bite mark in my shoulder to heal all the way. That was an effective reminder." Lyrius had that ghost of a smile again. "You were rather forward. It was...appreciable. I have been told I come across as rather intimidating."

Judy chortled into her coffee. "You know flowers, earrings and eyeliner don't make you look intimidating," she jabbed a finger at the white rose tucked behind his ear. "Makes you look like a hipster...or a poet. All you need are the big brainy specs."

"I am wearing sunglasses. My eyes...tend to bother others." Lyrius tapped the eyewear with a finger. "They do look...rather bloodthirsty, even when I am calm."

His eyebrows arched as Judy leaned across the table and plucked the glasses from his face, pushing them onto her own nose. Lyrius didn't blink and even through the dark tint of the glasses, Judy could see why his eyes bothered nearly everyone. They were white-on-white-on-white, pupil barely visible in this light. Despite their vacancy of color, they seemed to smolder with power. Judy felt a delightful shiver run through her body as they gazed at her.

"Bloodlust excites you." Lyrius noted suddenly and Judy swore his gaze had flicked to her chest, but with those eyes, it was impossible to tell.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," the half-dragon Shadowchaser cleared her throat and took a hasty sip of her coffee.

"Your excitement is...noticeable in that shirt." Lyrius cocked his head a tiny bit. Scowling, Judy folded her arms over her chest.

"Well anyway," she continued, rather pointedly. "That was why he was so unsatisfying. I'd love to say that I dumped him, but he ended up with that honour."

"It was his loss." Lyrius said softly. "Though, I cannot say I am surprised."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You are an aggressive woman by nature. You get excited when we spar and you are a half-dragon. The thrill of battling formidable opponents and triumphing with your strength alone is in your blood, Miss LaBaron." Lyrius tucked a lock of his midnight black hair behind his ear. "Full dragon courting is not much different from a life or death battle. It sounds as if your recent relationships have simply been too placid."

"Hmm…" Judy gave a huff, and placed her mug back on the table with a loud clink of china. "Well, I didn't drag you here to discuss my ex's. Besides, if any of my dragon instincts are going to kick, I'd rather it be the hoarding one."

"I do not think even Jalal's hordes would be enough to split amongst two dragons."

Judy snorted. "I have a horde of my own already thank you - I came into my trust a year ago." A wistful smile crossed her face. "You would not believe the amount of paintings I have right now, and nowhere to put them."

She saw Lyrius's eyes light up at the mention of artwork, and she fought the urge to growl protectively. Those paintings had belonged to her father and she would not be parting with them!

"Anyway, as much as I like Dad's collection of beautiful women, I prefer real people," she grinned. "Maybe that's what I'll collect!"

Lyrius' eyebrows raised.

"Oh don't give me that look!" a huff sent her hair flying. "Not just pretty on the outside, but pretty on the inside too. Pretty skills. Pretty personalities…" she trailed off happily. "My own little harem! And when I have a problem, I just snap my fingers and poof! Solved."

That ghost of a smile was back. "You wish to be a queen."

"I don't know a single girl of my generation who didn't want to be a Disney Princess at some point," she admitted, before waving the thought away. "But I have an impossible job to consume my life, body and soul. I don't need two. Not to mention, you're the only king left, really."

"A king of nothing, perhaps."

"No one ever really gives up that kind of title."

"Few kings ever live to retire. Only to end on the point of a sword or a poisoned cup or a knife in the back." Lyrius' eyes softened and he looked down at the table. "What I had is long since changed. My homeland may have once called me king, but now I am a shadow of a legend."

He took a long pull from his drink. "As it should be."

The bottle returned to the table, and a hand slid into his, fingers squeezing firmly.

"There's no shadow to your legend." Judy said pointedly. "Working as the Sword of St. Cuthbert for twenty years, storming the Abyss to battle an evil god to save your wife's soul…none of that is ancient history. That was all you. And if you ask me, those were the actions of a king."

Sliding her hand free again, she leaned back in her seat, her fingers wrapping around her mug. A teasing smile materialised on her face. "To be honest, I'm surprised some of the groups of Shadowkind haven't asked you to lead them. Or had their gods make you offers."

"There have been...some, but I know that many deities would barter with me as a means of control. To defeat a divine being, so few mortals have done such a thing and that fact I bear no adherence or allegiance to any of them is an unsettling thought for many. Individuals such as myself have, in ages past, risen to become demigods, great evils or were destroyed in the process of becoming stronger."

"Mmmm. What about Eiliastraee?" Judy pointed to the single piece of non-black clothing that Lyrius wore, a small dangling earring of a crescent moon impaled by a sword. "You don't seem the type to just wear a god's symbol without a reason."

"The Moon Dancer is a patron to artists of all kinds and to wielders of the sword. When I was returned to life, I sought out her Blade Dancer priestess to spar against and hone my skills with the blade again. And as I am a freelance artist in my spare time, she favors me from time to time." Lyrius took a pull from a drink. "But she passes inspiration for my art and little else. I respect her, but do not believe in her as a patron goddess."

"Some would argue that respecting a god is enough to say you believe in them as a higher power." Judy traced the rim of her cup with a finger. "I agree with you, though. No one's particular dogma ever rang really true with me. Not to mention picking one particular deity would make my job as Shadowchaser leader that much more difficult."

"You are an excellent leader, Miss LaBaron. You posses cunning, wit, reason, courage and faith and the rest you do not have, you will learn through experience." Lyrius told her. "You truly are sevetti."

She flushed at the praise. "You know, I think you're the only person who calls me 'Steelheart' and means it...and you're the only person I like hearing it from." An expectant look crossed her face.

"If you wish me to say it more often, Miss LaBaron, I would have to have you grace my life with more of your beautiful presence." Lyrius had that ghost of a smile again. "I only hope my presence wouldn't bore you."

Judy's eyes widened by a fraction, before she controlled herself."You show up to half our meetings reeking of blood and given all those reports of wiped out gangs, flunkies and monsters that cross Jalal's desk, your life is anything but boring."

"I, surprising as it may seem, do have efforts outside of my crime-related activities." Lyrius took a drink of his smoothie. "I imagine you would not be so fussed if you were watching me paint or draw."

"I would, depending on the subject matter." Judy said carefully. "Portraits were the original selfie, you know."

"I have yet to draw you." Lyrius noted.

"I would like that, I think. You are a very talented artist, Lyrius." Judy leaned forwards a bit eagerly. "Do you do paintings where the subjects are...less than clothed?

"For the right subject and pay." Lyrius acknowledged. His face betrayed no expression, but his eyes burned a bit harder in their intensity and Judy felt a pleasant warmth coil in her belly.

"I like to think I'm very pretty and I have three dragon hordes worth of money." Judy smiled heavily, letting the warmth in her belly spread to her face. "And there are other ways I can pay as well. In fact…"

Her hand reached out and took Lyrius' slender fingers in her own. "I'd like to have a long-term, personal payment plan, Lyrius. A permanent one."

"I will be happy to arrange that." Lyrius leaned forwards a bit as well and an actual smile slid onto his face. Soft, small, but there and powerful. "You are very beautiful. I am a creature of old habit and slow to stir, but I know this. I would kiss you, Judy LaBaron."

"Do it." She murmured and closed the distance. "Do it…"

So he did and he tasted cinnamon in the softness of her lips and her free hand flew up to slide itself along his cheek and tangle it in his hair. Her tongue pushed at his and a mutual tremor ran through them.

He pulled back and to his surprise, Judy followed him. She slid out of her chair, putting herself in his lap. Her eyes were still hidden by her stolen sunglasses but her face was flush with pleasure as Lyrius's arms went to her waist. She planted both hands on his face, cupping it and she lost herself in those white eyes, at the burning power in them. For a moment, the coppery scent of fresh blood mixed with the vanilla gently coming off him and Judy groaned softly as she locked their lips together again. "More...please."

There was an eager clapping and Judy jolted with a quiet yelp, throwing her arms around him on a reflex to keep herself from falling. The patrons of the Starbucks were politely ignoring the couple, some even outright fixating on the opposite side of the room, save for one young woman in a large university hoodie and a grey beanie, who was applauding the display.

Colour flooded back into Judy's face, and she slid back into her chair with a mortified expression. "I forgot we were in public…"

Lyrius, for his part, looked completely unruffled. "I take it this means you wish for us to engage in a relationship."

"As boyfriend and girlfriend? No…" Judy ducked her head, hiding in her hair and shook her head. Her gaze bore into the table. "I want you to be my most precious...my other."

"That is very poetic of you." Lyrius reached across and took his sunglasses back, sliding them onto his face. "Are you sure you want this?"

"I've been sure for a while now, Lyrius," Judy let out a breath and smiled at him strongly.

"I admit...you occupy much of my thoughts...and I would have you occupy my heart." Lyrius took her hand and kissed the back of it.

"Good." Judy stood, using their connection to draw Lyrius after her. "Let's go back to my place."

She squeezed his hand and turned to pull him towards the entrance when she caught sight of the person standing at the door to the cafe, blocking it and not caring or perhaps not even noticing thanks to the shocked expression their face.

"I do believe that is one of your exes." Lyrius said softly. "I also believe that he saw us kissing."

"Really? What gave it away?" Judy muttered back, tightening her grasp on his hand and lifting her chin, as they began to stride towards the door.

"Judy…" The man stepped to block their path. He had a group of flowers in one hand and a small box in the other, but they hung limply in his hands.

"David," Judy growled in response. "You know it helps if you order drinks in the queue, not in the doorway."

"Who is this man? Another one of your special friends?" David's expression morphed from hurt to insulted in a blink. "And don't get snippy."

Judy visibly bristled. "I'll get as snippy as I damn well please - I have nothing polite to say to a man who ends a relationship by having a childish temper tantrum. As for who he is," she inclined her head in Lyrius's direction, her hand squeezing his tightly. "That is none of your business. Now move it - your ego is blocking the door, and we have places to be."

"You always were a bit of a bitch, but that's not a reason to be hostile." David's tone was one of forced patience. "If this man is one of your unique friends, that's fine. I didn't mean to blow up like that. That's not how trust works. I'm sorry. So I came to apologize and…" He glanced down at the gifts in his hands and then his fists clenched.

"Look, I'm not perfect, but you were the most perfect thing to happen to me. I don't mind if you have a life you can't share with me. I want you back with me. It's where you belong." David nodded to himself. "I can give you what you need make you happy."

A short, judging glance at Lyrius. "More than your...artsy rebound man. Trust me, I know his type. He's not worth it in long run. Probably wants you to sponsor his work, right?"

He tucked the box farther under his arm and dug around in his pocket. "How much? I'd rather not have you involved in this - it's not your problem."

Judy looked as though someone had hit her in the face with a brick. Her mouth opened and closed several times as she gaped at her ex-boyfriend's sheer audacity.

"Sir." Lyrius' interjected smoothly. "I am sorry that your attempt was precluded to failure, but it is out of your control. And given how material your actions have been, it is clear to me that the only interest you have in satisfying anything is yourself with Miss LaBaron. Emotionally or physically." A slight eyebrow twitch up. "The phrase 'flash, but no substance' seems accurate, but that would imply you were any more surprising than a bowl of oatmeal. And as Judy has told you, you are nowhere near as filling."

"You...how…" David's face went slack and then it tightened in anger. "What gives you the right to talk to me like that? I am more than twice the man you are. And I know what Judy wants and how to give it to her. What do you have, you androgynous goth!"

Lyrius was spared from answering. Judy's voice had come back to her, in a burst of fury that rumbled through her voice like thunder.

"This is why I don't regret you walking out of my life! Let me explain something to you, David. You can buy flowers, and gifts and all the pretty words you want, but I am not for sale! You do not stamp a price on a person, or on trust. You don't understand me, so I guess it must be incomprehensible to you that I found someone who does."

"You..he.." David's eyes darted back and forth between the pair, then his face twisted in a sneer. "This is that guy you could really never get over, could you? Is that how it is with you? One good fuck and you just about up and marry him!?"

His would-be gifts dropped from his hands and he took a sharp step towards her, reaching out. "I am not going to let you slip away ag-"

There was a solid crunching noise, as Judy's fist impacted solidly with his nose. Several coffee-drinkers gasped in shock, and behind the bar, a mug smashed against the floor with a tinkle of china.

"Slip away with that," Judy snarled. "On your own! And don't ever try and touch me again!"

David reeled a bit and the crowd of patrons that had been trying to exit or enter backed off slightly. One hand flew to his nose and he felt it for a moment. Then he managed a smile. "That should have broken it…"

His eyes steadied, becoming reptilian and narrowed to slitted. "Is that what a half-dragon punch is like?"

Judy had no warning - Lyrius had seized her by the collar and hurled her to the side even as David lunged forwards and slammed a fist into Lyrius. The blow sent him flying backwards and David raised his fist triumphantly. "It worked."

He darted forwards again, slamming his foot into Lyrius' gut so hard the ground behind the prone man cracked. Around them, the terrified shoppers and businessmen began to flee for the door.

"I found those secrets you fought so hard to keep, Judy! Those special friends! I know what they are now! And I know what you are!"

He spun towards Judy as fangs sprouted from his mouth and the skin around his eyes and his neck began to darken into coal, a sheen flashing across it as scales began form. His nails lengthened into claws and he began to advance. "Dragon…"

Then a foot slammed into the side of his head and David went hurling into the bar, coffee and machinery exploding in a spray around him.

Lyrius didn't waste time - even as David began to pull himself free, a fist to the stomach doubled him over and then a knee to the face left him howling in pain. Lyrius seized him by the wrist as David clumsily threw a punch at him and there was a sickening crack as that elbow was crushed between Lyrius' knee and arm.

David screamed in pain and then it morphed into a gargling vomiting noise. Lyrius threw himself back as a wave of green launched from David's mouth, splashing over the countertops, wrecked machine and spilt coffee. A harsh sizzling filled the air, along with the smell of melted plastic and burnt coffee.

"He's gained the powers of a black dragon." Judy swore under her breath and then again as David's broken arm began to writhe and lash ungainly. With a grinding noise, it twisted back into proper shape. "Shit...high-speed regeneration? Dragons can't do that!"

The floor splintered as David launched himself towards them with an inhuman roar, but they just leapt aside in opposite directions. The transformed human whirled to face Lyrius. "Stay out of this!"

Then his eyes bugged out as he felt a sharp pain shoot up his spine and he glanced over his shoulder to see that a yard-long tail had sprouted…and Judy had a death grip on it with both hands.

"I'm done with this shit, thank you! Seriously, what does the universe have against me enjoying Starbucks? I always get attacked in them!"

Judy growled and strained, David hollering as she arced him above her with a fair amount of ease and spun, releasing his tail at just the right moment to send him headfirst into a wall. Dazed, the ex-boyfriend stumbled out of the hole he had made, tail whipping back and forth until he let out a small shriek as she seized it again and twisted it like taffy. "What do I have to do to have a nice quiet drink?!"

"Let...go!" His hand arced at her and the flesh rippled, black darts trailing green ripping free.

A tabletop flashed between them, the darts smashing into it and it clattered to the floor, hissing and popping as the acid ate through it like a hot knife through butter.

"We are going to draw attention. We need to contain him." Lyrius murmured as he sidled up next to Judy while David spun to face them, his tail coiling behind him.

"I don't have my capture jewel - it's my day off. All I have is my duel disk…" Judy suddenly grinned. "I've got it."

"Then deal with him. I will go delay the authorities until your teammates arrive." Lyrius vanished out the door.

Judy produced her Duel Disk, popping open a hidden slot on it and withdrawing a jet black Duel Monsters card. The blackness was mottled with various shades and looked oily. "If I'm right in assuming who gave your makeover, David, then I'm guessing he gave you a way to play Duel Monsters."

"So what if I can? I want you and I'm going to-" David broke off, head cocked as if listening to something and then a wicked grin revealed that he had a mouthful of fangs. "You want a Shadow Duel? Fine! I accept, because I win, I'll take you as a my prize!"

"You won't." Judy slid the black card into her Duel Disks' field slot. It melted away as she slid closed and the shadows around them rose up around them. They twined together to form an endless dome of black and purple shadows around the pair. "You're not in your right mind, David and I hate your guts, but I'm going to help you." (JLP: 8000)

"Oh you will once I win and change your mind!" David held up his right arm and a Duel Disk appeared there. (DLP: 8000)

He snapped up six cards. "I'm first! From my hand, I activate Foolish Burial, sending one monster from my deck to my graveyard. Then I'll set three cards face-down."

Three brown-backed cards flashed into existence in front of him. "End of turn!"

"Draw." Judy picked up her card and then slid one into her disk. "Sacred Sword of Seven Stars lets me banish a level seven monster from my hand to draw two cards."

She placed her chosen card in the appropriate spot in her disk and plucked two more from her desk. "I discard Breakdown Dancer to add one 'De-Fusion' from my deck to my hand."

She caught the card as it slid free from her desk and held up a second spell card. "Plains of Existence special summons one banished Normal Monster. Return, Gaia The Fierce Knight!"

The air split in front of her and with the sound of galloping hooves, a warrior wielding twin lances and astride a purple war horse charged out onto the playfield. (2300/1700)

"Polymerization fuses Gaia and the Red-Eyes Black Dragon in my hand to summon Gaia the Soaring Dragon Champion!" Gaia and a skeletal black dragon blurred together. When it snapped back to visibility, Gaia was now riding a large red dragon that was wearing heavy armor and glowing with flames. (2600/2100)

"When the Soaring Dragon Champion is summoned, I can add Spiral Spear Strike to my hand. And I'll be activating it." A continuous spell card materialized in front of her and Judy pointed across the field. "Gaia! Direct attack! Spiral Spear Strike!"

"Like you are that dense!" David held out a hand and his center set card flipped up. "Call Of The Haunted revives Brain Dragon!" Light spilled out of the shadows behind him, resolving into a coiled Eastern Dragon colored in mottled greens and blues. It had an extra large cranium. (2800/1000)

"So you're still using your Brain Game deck." Judy watched as her Dragon Champion veered to the side around the newly summoned monster and zipped back to her field. "You really don't change."

"It's beaten you before, so why fix what isn't broke?" David sneered. "And since you know it's coming, I'll activate my other two set cards! Declared Future and Sacrificial Lion!"

Judy watched as the two continuous trap cards flipped, the first one depicting a duelist sitting at a table with the Fortune Fairies and Fortune Ladies spread out of in front of him like Tarot. The other card depicted Warrior Dai Grepher attacking the Invader Of Darkness while Gagagigo and D.D. Warrior Lady attacked from behind.

"You remember how this works. Brain Dragon lets me draw two cards in addition to my normal draw on my next turn. Then I place two cards from my hand on my deck in any order. Declared Future lets me declare a monster name among the top three cards from my deck and Special Summon it, ignoring conditions but negating its effect and sending it to the bottom of my deck at the end of my turn." David folded his arms, tongue flicking a little too far from his mouth in what was probably supposed to be seductive, but was instead freakish.

"Sacrificial Lion gets around this, as when a monster I control battles, I can destroy at the end of my Battle Phase and gain life points equal to its level times two hundred." He chuckled confidently. "This means the gap between my opponents and becomes insurmountable."

"You keep talking like you're going to survive this turn!" Judy pointed at Brain Dragon. "Gaia! Attack!"

Wind kicked up as Gaia shot across the field with a single beat of his mount's wings, his lancing skewering Brain Dragon through the neck and it blow to pixels without so much as a whimper. David stared at the space where it had been in shock. "How…!?"

"This Gaia the Dragon Champion as a second effect, letting it change the battle position of any monster it picks a fight with. And since it counts as the original Gaia, it deals piercing damage thanks to Spiral Spear Strike!" Judy smirked as Gaia drove a lance through David. Despite the Shadow Game, it didn't cause any actual injury, but David howled all the same. (DLP: 6400)

"Then, since it dealt damage, I draw two card and discard one!" Judy prompt did so and then held up a spell card. "De-Fusion splits Gaia back into the Fierce Knight and Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"

The fusion glow and split into spheres of light that resolved into the knight on his original charger and the black skeletal dragon from earlier. "Spiral Spear Strike! Inferno Fire Blast!" (2300/1700) (2400/2000)

David howled again as the dragon blasted him with a series of fireballs, then roared in frustration and anger as Gaia skewered him again. "That's enough!" (DLP: 6400-4000-1700)

His tail lashed against the ground, cracking part of it as he pointed at Judy with a growling sneer. "You failed to beat me! I still have life points and you're out of attacks! On my next turn, I'm going to destroy your monsters and win! And when I do, I'll give you everything you wanted. Starting with me!"

"You couldn't make me take you if you paid me! And since you actually tried that, you should know how well that goes!" Judy held up one more spell card. "Flash Fusion lets me fuse monsters on my side of the field together!"

"What!? No!" David threw up his arms defensively as Gaia and Red-Eyes charged, fusing together in mid-motion. The newly formed Dragon Champion slammed his weapon through the hybrid human so hard it sent him skidding backwards into the wall. "NOOO!" (DLP: 0)

"For my penalty game, I strip away the dragon inside of you! Return to your human, jackass self!" Judy pointed fiercely at him and he began to cough violently as the darkness around them began to disperse.

"This..this isn't fair…" David reeled as his tail faded away and the scales on his body flaked away to clatter on the ground. He pitched to all fours, blackness pouring from his lips briefly. "I had it...I was strong...I could take you."

He rose to his feet unsteadily, his staggering lurch morphing to a desperate run. "I won't allow that!"

Then he was promptly eating floor as Judy's fist hit him in the face for the second time that day.

OOO

"Wow, you really can't go to Starbucks any more!" The South African woman put her hands on her hips as she surveyed the wreckage that the brief fight had caused. "You pay so much for damages, you might as well just buy out the chain."

"Jalal won't let me. He wrote it into the budget rules after the Abercrombie incident. So even if I become leader, I can't do it." Judy raked a hand through her hair. "Sorry to pull you out of your photoshoot, Becky."

"Coursework will still be there in the morning, Judy." Becky nudged a bit of debris with her foot speculatively. "The police are going to give us another twenty minutes, then they have to do their jobs. As pretty as Sheeta and I are, we can't delay them forever."

She folded her arms. "So, are you going to explain why we just trussed your ex up and sent him back to HQ? Or why he was out of what little mind he had left, when we got here?"

"Pretty sure it's Mister Monster," Judy nodded grimly. Even as she said it, thoughts of those dead eyes and tentacles were creeping back from her childhood nightmares. Becky hissed through her teeth.

"You think?"

"Mhmm. I don't know anything else that can take a ordinary Sensitive and turn them into a rampaging dragon mutant," Judy folded her arms and frowned. "I do know that Monster doesn't do anything like take random people off the street and turn them loose. He picked David specifically to find me. Or maybe he let David track him down. Either way, that suggests that he's trying to trap me."

"And knowing you, you're going to go and try spring the trap early." Becky commented with a eyeroll.

"Hey, I'm taking Lyrius with me!" Judy jerked her thumb over her shoulder to where the dark-haired man was waiting, leaning against an alleyway and half-hidden in the shadows.

"Ah yes, mister tall dark and brooding," An unholy grin crept across Becky's face. "Although, you could give him a run on the brooding. How long has he occupied your 'best sex of all time' list now? Four years?"

"Five," Judy corrected, blushing as she realised what she had just said. As Becky cackled, she groaned. "So this is what it feels like to be on the other end of shipping."

"Hey, I'm totes happy for you hun," Becky gave her a one-armed hug. "So should I be wearing earplugs tonight?"

Rolling her eyes, Judy elbowed her friend away before she could develop a permanent case of red-cheeks. "No. If this is Mister Monster, then we need to start tracking this as fast as possible. Lyrius and I are going to head to David's old stomping grounds and see what we can dig up. I want you start pulling his and his family's finances. I know they're not that loaded, but Monster isn't cheap. So the money had to come from somewhere and it had to go somewhere."

"You're tracking down a known mad scientist and all around creep as your first date?" Becky drawled. "Why am I not surprised?" She saluted. "Very well, number one. To the research, I shall go!"

Lyrius appeared so suddenly behind Judy that both women jumped. "I have arranged our transportation, sevetti."

His hand brushed against hers as he whistled softly. The note, oddly, began to echo for far longer than it should have and then suddenly faded completely.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then the shadows nearby began to waver and ripple like water. There was a rhythmic chiming noise and then they parted to allow a black unicorn to step free. Its golden horn glowed softly in the darkness and its mane was black and blue flames that moved with a life of their own. Similar flames were wrapped around its hooves, giving off the impression is was walking across a road of flames.

"A Nightmare…" Judy took a step back in surprise. Behind her, Becky mutely took out her phone and snapped a picture.

"This is Resonae." Lyrius swung himself onto the Nightmare's back, the flames fluttering harmlessly over him. "We are going to travel through the Outer Planes. We should be at our destination in an hour."

"Glasgow in an hour? Impressive." Judy took a cautious step towards the Nightmare, who whickered and jerked her head at the apparent intrusion. "And once there?"

"We'll be meeting with one of my contacts and then launch our investigation." Lyrius stroked the Nightmare's neck. "Let her ride, Resoane. She is...my significant other. Judy, you needn't be fearful."

"I'm not afraid." Judy said briskly.

"I would be. Nightmares are known to kill and eat anyone who isn't their chosen rider." Becky put in cheerfully. "They can sprout fangs! And I don't mean cute little nomming ones - I'm talking nasty big pointy teeth!"

She made stabbing motions with clawed fingers, while pretending to roar.

Judy eyed Resonae and she swore the Nightmare smiled with those fangs. "Don't I have to beat it up before I can ride it?"

"Not unless you wish to spend a month on bedrest." Lyrius reached out a hand for her. "Resonae is only jealous. She will get over it."

"Okay...I suppose I trust you if I kiss you…" Judy took his hand and let herself be pulled up behind him, securing her arms firmly around his waist.

"Awww, it's like a fairytale!" Becky cooed, pulling out her phone and snapping another photograph. "Emily's going to love this!"

"If that photo ends up on the internet, I will leave all your Lush products out in the rain!" Judy glared, as her friend drew a scandalised gasp at such blasphemy. Then a grin spread over both of their faces, and Becky reached up for one last hug, before hurrying off to get on with her job.

"Nervous?" Lyrius asked as Resonae cantered in place a bit underneath them, the simple movements flexing a lot more powerful muscle than Judy realized the equine had had.

"I am not." Judy said firmly. "No more than you were when I taught you how to handle a D-Wheel."

"I was nervous?" Lyrius' tone was soft, lilting. "Was it not you screaming for me to slow down?"

Judy scowled into into the back of his head so hard it might have a dent. "Just drive the unicorn already."

But Resonae needed no prodding and broke into a gallop in two smooth strides, all three of them vanishing into the shadows.

OOO

Created Cards:

Breakdown Breakdancer
LIGHT
3 stars
Fairy/Effect
1000/900
Effect: You can discard this card from your Hand, add one 'De-Fusion' from your Deck to your Hand. You can tribute this face-up card on the field, target one Fusion Monster on the field and return it to the Extra Deck. If all of the Fusion Material Monsters used for the Fusion Summon of the targeted Fusion Monster are in the Graveyard, you may Special Summon the. (This is a Quick Effect)

Declared Future
Continuous Trap Card
Effect: Once per turn, you may declare the name of a Monster Card. Excavate the top three cards of your deck and if the declared Monster Card is among them, Special Summon it (ignoring Summoning Conditions.) The Monster Card summoned by this effect has its effects negated and cannot be used for a Xyz or Synchro Sumon or be Tributed. During the End Phase, place the summoned Monster on the bottom of your Deck.

Sacrificial Lion
Continuous Trap Card
Effect: At the end of the Battle Phase, you can select one Monster that you control that attacked this turn. Destroy that monster and gain 200 Life Points times the destroyed monster's level.