Shadowchasers: Twice-Told Tales
By 7th Librarian

A/N: Wow, a story that is actually plot relevant to my upcoming proper fic. Pay close attention and remember, all your questions will be answered eventually...

TTTTTT

The Shadowchaser leader settled back into the comfy confines of desk chair, basking in the warmth of the crackling fire that was intense enough to light the entirety of the office. Behind them, a magical window that was linked to an exterior window gave the impression that snow was falling just outside the interior room. "I want to know, is all."

"You really sure?" Violet eyes peered through stands of silver hair, the sharp red and white trenchcoat draped over the back of the Librarian's chair. Dressed in a simple black button-up shirt with ruffles, they almost looked overdressed for the office's austere nature. "There is a credo on the back of your card that warns against things like this, you know."

"I do know. Just call me curious, my friend."

A hand pulled a still-steaming cup of hot chocolate from the tray on the desk. "Curious, huh? I'd say that you're more interested in playing 'What If' about yourself and this is a chance so see what might have been."

"Okay, you have me there. But who doesn't wonder 'What if?' about themselves from time to time? And to see one of those 'what if' questions play out is a rare chance indeed." A smile. "You can make it my Christmas present, if you want."

The Librarian laughed a bit. "Hard to buy for someone who has anything, anyway and I have far too many of those kinds of people on my list." There was a pause to take a drink of the hot chocolate. "Alright, then."

A wave of the hand and a large crystal ball appeared on the desk between them. "Behold the Viewing Globe!"

"...just how long have you been waiting to use that particular line?"

"Long enough." A finger snap and the globe filled with fog. "Now, then, you want a glimpse of one of the many possibilities your life could have taken? Then let me tell you a story..."

The fog within the globe swirled and then parted to reveal an image...

TTTTTT

The Vampire's Tale

TTTTTT

Rapid, heel-wearing feet drummed like machine-gun fire on the tiles as their owner darted down the corridor. "Are the directors all assembled?"

"Aye, milady."

"Good. Then this meeting will be short and swift."

"A vain hope, milady. The directors are a rather stubborn bunch, especially when they've sunk their fangs into something."

"It takes all of them assembled in a meeting hall before they dare to call me in for a meeting concerning me, Uton. I'd call them more cowards than stubborn-they're only making a move because they are confident it will somehow tip things in their favor."

"And will it, milady?"

"No." She flipped dark locks over her shoulder, using the other hand to readjust the tie of her business suit at the same time. "All the same-is my surprise prepared, Uton?"

"Aye, milady." Uton, dressed in a crisp gray suit to match his boss, produced a manila folder from inside his jacket and passed it to her as they made their way up the stairwell. "These are the conditions that we're going to have to accommodate in exchange for it, unfortunately."

She flipped it open and scanned the sheet inside with an annoyed expression. "I and my bride need to make an appearance at the Blue Blood. Figures- he'd go for that kind of thing, since he's loaning me what I need for my surprise."

"We do not have to accept, milady." Uton told her as they made their way up a second flight and started down a corridor. "If such a proposition bothers you."

"No. I want this mess over and done with as swiftly as possible. I am tired of having my choices questioned and under suspect by the board." Ruby eyes gleamed darkly as she stormed through a pair of double doors. "Gentlemen, a pleasure to see you all."

"Miss Fayte Nyte." Four members of her board were seated at a horseshoe table that, she noted with annoyance, was arrayed so that they were facing the doorway she had just entered. Behind them, were three great screens housing the images of the board members who could not be physically present.

And intoning her full name like it was a key to her summons was the figure in the center screen- Polmacrias, a Incantifer. "You have responded to our request for a meeting promptly. Thank you. Now our proceedings may begin."

"Don't speak to me like I'm on trial, Polmacrias." Fayte said curtly, the strong French accent she possessed doing little to make the irritation she was feeling. Her black hair was almost lustrous in the half-darkness of the room. "You and the board here are treading a very dangerous line and being rather insulting to demand a meeting from me like this."

"As the Board of Directions for Nytestone Incorporated, our primary concern is the company and its future. That includes the mental health and stability of its CEO and founder, Miss Fayte Nyte." Polmacrias said easily, though thanks to his deep tone of voice, it was if an avalanche was trying to be as quiet as possible.

"It's 'Mrs. Nyte' now. I am married." Fayte informed him and folded her arms across her ample chest. "And the Board has no discretion or power over my personal life and choices."

"We feel otherwise." Talfa, a young elf in white and tan robes and actually seated at the table interjected quietly. Despite his relative youth, his handsome face did little to hide the cunning and ruthlessness he possessed. "The fact that your new wife is a succubi is-"

"My wife is a succubus of no small skill, a Shadowchaser of no small talent and courage and a woman of far better quality than the lot of you taken together times ten." Fayte's voice was sharp and cold.

"...while we personally have no qualm in your choice of bride, Nyte, others might." Talfa said after a short hesitation, obviously trying a different tack. "The fact she is a succubi will cause many of our customers and suppliers to question their dealings with us, suspecting our ranks are infested with minions of Hell and even that you are under control by an outside agency. We-"

"If people are stupid enough to consider the fact two long-standing decorated members of the Shadowchasers getting married enough to cause some kind of problem, they're obviously too foolish to be worth dealing with in the first place."

"Regardless-"

"Talfa," Fayte interrupted, "there is no 'regardless'. As evidenced by its name, Nytestone Incorporated is a company built from the ground up by my own hands, and I have personally worked on the security systems of many of our clients. If they do not trust me to give my heart and my hand in marriage to someone worthwhile, then they did not trust us enough for the relationship to be a profitable one in the first place."

A few of the board members grumbled. Only Polmacrias spoke up in response. "It seems you do not understand your position at the moment, Miss-" he paused. "Mrs. Nyte. If you continue to push against the wishes of your board in this way, we will be forced to consider... alternate possibilities, in order to ensure the well-being of yourself and the company. While none of us present have any personal objections to her, your bride still represents a significant risk to the trust it has taken decades to build with our clients, and puts every single one of us in danger- and we must consider what is best for the company first. I am sure that if your wife is as noble as you believe her to be, she would agree with this assessment."

To his shock, Fayte responded with a grin- an expression which the board knew only too well, and which meant only one thing.

'Gotcha'.

"The fact that you mentioned my wife amuses me, Polmacrias," Fayte replied, checking her watch. "If I am correct we should be able to ask her opinion on these proceedings in three... two... one..." She turned her head to the doorway. "Good evening, cherie."

The board turned in unison- they had been so focused on their CEO that nobody had noticed the new occupant of the room. Leaning against the wall was a very curvaceous woman in a very revealing dress. A long, black whip-like tail with a little triangle as the point swished lazily around her legs and wings that were somewhere between the 'cute' and 'real flight' size were spread out luxuriously as she stretched slightly.

The board members stared at her for a short moment and the physically present ones exchanged glances before Talfa spoke up. "This is a private meeting. We will ask that you leave."

"As my wife, she lays claim to my stakes in the company as well. She stays," Fayte retorted. "Tsuki, I'm glad you could make it. My board of directors believes that if we do not reconsider our union, I will be considered a risk to the good name of the company and they will be forced to consider 'alternate possibilities' if we do not separate or make our union secret. Your thoughts?"

Tsukihime clicked her tongue, examining the board of directors, scrutinizing each one in turn. "My Fayte told me about all of you, but it seems she left some crucial details out. She neglected to inform me that her board was made of up of jackals."

The board was up in arms, Polmacrias furious. "Director! This is an outrage, after so many years of faithful service- are you going to stand there and listen to this without comment?"

"After implying that marrying the woman I love is evidence of my mental instability?" Fayte made a great show of being lost in thought, then shook her head. "Why no, I cannot think of any reason why I should stay silent." She turned to Tsukihime with rather crisp smirk on her face. "Please, carry on."

Tsukihime strode in front of the board, revealing a large stack of papers in her hands. "These documents are the company charter and account records of Nytestone Incorporated- the charter has remained the same since my wife founded this company, minus a few minor revisions as its scope expanded. One thing which has remained constant, however, is this: The Board of Nytestone Incorporated holds no power, under any circumstances, to either over-rule the decisions of the CEO or to remove her from her position. You are allowed to complain all you like, but the fact of the matter is that you have no leg to stand on in calling this meeting and you know it. Really, I'm shocked that out of all the attempts at a power-grab you could have made, you chose such a transparent one, Mr... what was it, Talfa?"

Talfa blanched. "This is no such thing! I have gathered the support of the board, of Polmacrias-"

"Polmacrias is an Incantifer. I was born in hell." Tsukihime clicked her tongue again. "Of course he distrusts me, it's only natural. And of course it was easy enough for you to convince the board to back you- all you would need do is attempt to sweeten the pot for them. You, on the other hand, are the one who stands to gain the most. You and Polmacrias are the most prominent members of this company besides my wife, and you are the second-highest shareholder. Or were before..." Tsukihime turned back to Fayte. "Did the transfer go over okay?"

"Completely." Fayte smiled serenely.

"Until shortly before this meeting, then," Tsukihime continued, "When Fayte's shares of the company were transferred from her ownership to a joint account, shared by me. The two of us now jointly own a controlling share of this company, in other words."

Talfa's face began to show evidence of his frustration, growing red around the edges. "This is insanity! The board was not consulted before-"

"The CEO of Nyte Industries does not require the Board's authorization when disposing of her own shares. You should read the company charter, it's eye-opening." Tsukihime laid the documents on the board room table. "Speaking of things you should read, perhaps you might try reading the room, Talfa? You've lost, and everyone here knows it."

"This- how are you qualified to even interpret this document?" Talfa looked as if it was taking all of his self control not to simply leap out of his seat and strangle Tsukihime.

Fayte smirked. "Oh, I've been waiting for this part."

Tsukihime cleared her throat, raising her voice. "I am Tsukihime Nyte, Shadowchaser. I have been a member in good standing of that group for the past century. I have spent my life everywhere between hell and heaven. I have built homes and businesses, I have fought both for and against the law, and I have seen the entire spectrum of human nature."

The board flinched as her presence became visibly more imposing, her words becoming harsher than steel. The shadows in the room seemed to deepen, swallowing the light and it felt the temperature was beginning to nosedive down. "You will not tell me what I am and am not qualified to interpret."

The harsh presence died away suddenly, as if it had never been there, and several board members breathed a sigh of relief in its passing. "Also, I studied business at an accredited university during my off-time for several years, and my bachelor's degree is as good as anyone's here. I had the charter checked by a lawyer friend, just to be sure. Two, actually. Including one who specializes in Infernal and Celestial Law."

Talfa looked to his last bastion of support. "Polmacrias, you cannot simply allow-"

"What she is saying... is true," The Incantifer admitted. "Mrs. Nyte, I am sorry to have doubted that your bride would be anything less than the woman I see before me. While I do not share your confidence regarding our relationship with our clients... your judgment of the situation is correct. I withdraw my doubts."

Talfa's expression resembled something between a child who has just had a holiday to the beach canceled, and a wounded animal's, Fayte noted with satisfaction. "This meeting is over. Get the hell out of my building and back to the jobs I pay you for."

Polmacrias and the other two non-present board members nodded and cut their transmissions while the four present ones collected their things and stood. Despite how effectively their little power-grab had been shut down, only Talfa showed any real emotion as they filed from the room.

Fayte knew why. Nytestone's board was comprised of some of the most ruthless businessmen she could find, all being incredible experts in their particular approach to security and their current jobs were incredibly cushy and profitable. To them, Talfa's attempt was nothing more than a shot in the dark to improve their business. Ultimately, nearly all of them were as indispensable to the company as she was and there wouldn't be any repercussions she could issue that could not weather.

Though Talfa would need something more than a sharp reprimand. Perhaps...

Her thoughts were interrupted by a pair of slender arms, a tail and wings all wrapping around her. It was easy to catch the soft smell of sugar as her wife nuzzled her ear. "That was fun. Who can I intimidate next?"

"Why, my dear Tsuki, one would think you were rather enjoying all of this." Fayte walked a pair of fingers up the succubus' face and smiled as Tsukihime wrinkled her nose cutely at the action.

"Of course. I'm a devil. And there is a fine line between intimidation and seduction in some cases." Tsukihime nosed Fayte's ear playfully. "Speaking of seduction..."

"You wish to be ravished here?"

"Why not? You own this building and we're too high up for anyone to actually see...though there's a thought." Hands wandered gently over and into Fayte's suit to fiddle with the buttons on the shirt underneath. "And is the table reinforced?

"You do not ever stop, I see." Fayte rolled her neck slightly to allow Tsukihime to kiss at it better and gave a pleased sigh. "And the table will take us. If not, I can always buy another one."

"Good." The tail slithered its way up and around Fayte's leg, drawing up between her thighs tantalizingly. "Now then, my wife, before we were so rudely interrupted..."

~'Well, listen up, listen up. There's a devil in the church, got a bullet in the chamber and this gonna hurt!'~

"Tsuki, cheri, I think that's your phone."

"If I ignore it, it'll go away." Tsukihime grinned as she nibbled on the vampire's ear, producing a soft mewl and her tail tip teased a bit. "I'm busy trying to finish my honeymoon."

~Let it out, let it out, you can scream and you can shout, keep your secrets in the shadows and you'll be sorry!~

"Honestly, I know you're a succubi, but-"

"Sorry, have my mouth too full of your delicious neck to answer."

"You don't oooohhhh..mmm..."

~Everybody's getting numb, everybody's on the run, listen up, listen up. There's a devil in the church, got a bullet in the chamber and-~

"Hello. Tsukihime's phone. Fayte speaking." A few second's pause. "Yes. I understand." She pushed the phone into the hand that was busy sliding up and unbuttoning her shirt. "Work, ma cherie."

"Hellfire." The succubus muttered under her breath and untangled herself from her wife, placing the phone to her ear as she began to walk and talk. "Yes? What is it?"

Fayte took a moment to enjoy the view of her other half walking away and then smiled faintly as there was a polite cough behind her. "Enjoying the show, Uton?"

"If it is all the same to you, milady, I think I prefer not to comment." Uton said, his cheeks slightly flushed. He, too, held a cell phone, though he was looking at the screen. "I just received a text from Gregory. There is a jet-black limo parked outside our front entrance."

"And this is important because...?"

"The license plates read 'B10DSKR'."

"...damnation."

"Well, I wanted to put that, but it was too many letters." Both Fayte and Uton turned towards the massive windows that filled one of the walls. Despite the lack of storm clouds in the night sky outside, lighting flashed strongly enough reveal the silhouette of two figures standing in front of them. A second later, thunder rumbled ominously. "Ahh, I just can't resist the dramatics."

Two women stood in front of the windows. One was elegant-looking in a stylishly cut business suit, her raven hair done up in a bun and a pair of spectacles perched on her nose. The other was a teenage girl, flamboyant in a red trenchcoat over a ruffled corset and pants. Red-tinted sunglasses masked her eyes and made the cheery smile she wore altogether unsettling.

"Hello, Fayte." She took off doffed her equally red hat and bowed, letting shockingly blue hair spill over her shoulders. Straightening, she grinned enough to bare a fang and replaced her hat on her head. "Nice to see you again."

The Shadowchaser could only manage weak smile. "Hello, Dracula..."

TTTTTT

The inside of the limo was rather quiet, only the low hum of the motor and the wheels over the pavement generating any noise. Fayte was seated in the rear, Uton and Tsukihime to either side. The raven-haired woman was relaxed a bit more, her legs crossed at the knee and hands resting in her lap, her face betraying nothing.

Dracula was far more at ease, her ornate hat occupying most of the seat beside her as she popped the lid to a hidden cooler and fished around in the ice for moment. "Let's see..." Producing a bottle, she studied the label and grinned. "Ooh, 1672. An excellent year for blood wine." Popping the cork, she poured herself a tumbler and proffered the bottle to Fayte. "Would you like a glass, my dear?"

"No, thank you." Fayte narrowed her eyes slightly. "You're underage, Dracula. You can't be more than sixteen in that body."

"Seventeen. And since this body is immortal, age no longer has any importance to it, right? Not to mention I'm old enough to make Jalal look like a toddler in comparison." Dracula took a sip of her wine, leaning back against her seat with an arm draped lazily over the back. "My personal age doesn't change with the body I occupy, after all."

Fayte let the issue drop. "Why are you in that particular body? The last time I saw you, you were in the body of an older English gentleman."

"Figured it was time to for a change." The youth flicked some hair out of her eyes. "Most of my incarnations have been male, you know and it was getting so dull. Besides-" She giggled. "With this body, I get a lot more compliments and after centuries of doing the charming, getting hit on is such a wonderful feeling. Ohh, to feel the goggled-eyed stares of a virile young male again, makes me feel like I'm a hundred again."

The raven-haired woman made a bemused and pushed her glasses farther up her nose with a finger. "It's easy to stare at you when you're dancing on the nightclub stage and throwing half of your garments into the crowd." Her voice was had a strong European accent to it, but placing it's specific origin was impossible. It did make her voice rather pleasant to listen to, however.

"You should try it, might get rid of the stuffiness in those old bones." Dracula stuck her tongue out at the woman. "I know you were raised to be a proper lady, Penny, but that was a few hundred years ago. Loosen up a little."

"Be that as it may, I am your legal guardian while you're in your current body." She gained a slight smirk. "So unless you want me to send you to your room, do try and control yourself a bit more. Or I'll take away your desserts for a week, too."

"What? You can't do that, I paid good money for that chef to fly in and-" At the unyielding look on 'Penny's' face, Dracula huffed and flopped back her seat, crossing her arms in a pout that only teenagers could do. "You used to be fun, Penny. Like the old days."

Fayte snorted. "The old days consisted of Penelope here stalking down and destroyed the cruelest of our race and when you two first met, she threw you inside of a church and impaled you with a giant cross."

"Oh yeaaahhhh..." Dracula winced a bit, then brightened. "Still was a hell of a good fight, though. And the cross didn't hurt as much as it could have. I was Protestant at the time."

"Reminiscing about the past is fun, but it is hardly why you two are here." The Shadowchaser narrowed her eyes. "I've already had my honeymoon interrupted by a rather stupid board meeting and now by the two of you."

"You called us, remember. Wanted to use Penelope's influence to get the board to back down in case you couldn't handle it. Like Dumbledore staring down the Ministry of Magic." Dracula swirled the wine in her glass a bit. "Shame. The Blue Blood would have had a wild night if you had let me perform. We had record attendance the last time..."

"And Tsukihime had to charm the crowd to keep them from erupting into a stampede over us." Fayte pointed out with a miffed expression. "I do not like having to draw a weapon on a crowd to keep them from my woman."

"The fact that you're so possessive means a lot to me, my love." Tsukihime tickled Fayte's chin with a grin and gave her a kiss as the other woman flushed slightly.

"Back to the matter at hand." Penelope said briskly as the two parted. Pulling out a remote, she thumbed it one and suddenly the limo was plunged into absolute darkness. A second later, a small holographic projection appeared between them in the center. "We need your help, Fayte. Both as a vampire and a Shadowchaser."

Fayte didn't answer as she studied the image. It was of a tall, bloody-haired man dressed in light plate armor from neck to toe and over his face was something resembling an opera mask, though it only covered his left eye. A massive blue cape that looked like it could swallow him hung over his shoulders as he crossed his arms and sneered defiantly out at his viewers.

A fang was bared as a hiss slid out between Fayte's teeth. "Castiel..."

"Giving the amount of vehemence you put into that, lover, I'm going to say that this Doctor Doom wannabe is bad news." Tsukihime said, leaning forwards to study the image.

"Castiel is a rogue vampire, once in the service of Grand General Palethorne. When the General was slain by the Knights Templar during the war, he seemingly vanished...and reappeared decades later, wielding the Orichalcos and working for Paradias." Penelope informed her.

"He was a Swordsman?" The succubus' lifted an eyebrow in appraisal. "We should have shut him down as soon as the Pharaoh beat the Leviathan- Jalal had us working night and day to track down all the stones and Paradias agents we could. Between the Shadowchasers, Interpol, Industrial Illusions, KaibaCorp and every other government agency with initials for a name, we damn near tore Paradias down to the foundations."

"Though Dartz and the Leviathan were beaten, it did not simply shut off the Orichalcos stones. They still work and through them, the Orichaclos cards. Despite attempts by Jalal, Pegasus and Kaiba, we have no way of knowing how many Orichalcos stones and cards every existed or how many agents Paradias had that could use them. Dracula and I have found and destroyed a few."

"Castiel reappeared a while back when Palethorne decided he was too good for just staying a pile of dust and made this rather sad little attempt at gaining power." Dracula took a drink of her wine, dismissing the events with a bored wave. "He tucked his tail and ran when it looked like it failed and we've been trying find him ever since. Gotten close a few times, but he's slippery."

Fayte bared her fangs slightly at the image, a dark look on her face. "He's still collecting souls with his Orichalcos card, trapping them in Duel Monsters cards. I ran into him back during my mission to China."

"Your China mission?" Tsukihime sat a little straighter, her eyes widening slightly. "Wasn't that when-"

"Yes. That was when my Renfield, Talkias, was killed. Sliced to ribbons by this nightmare and his soul trapped within a card." The Shadowchaser vampire growled.

Modern mythos often purported that vampires would garner supernatural creatures to guard themselves during the times they were vulnerable, but the truth was that much simpler. Renfields were sentient beings who pledged service to the vampire as their guardians, the pact sealed by their drinking of their new master's blood. This bestowed upon them low-level supernatural abilities and lifespan, while giving the vampire guards who could easily blend into society.

Of course, most beings who weren't part of vampire society viewed this as a form of magical slavery or worse and when the Great Treaty came about, there were many arguments about stopping the practice.

However, as it was the Great Treaty and so the vampires pointed out that Renfields had to be willing for the magic to work and that they were also part of vampiric culture. By Dracula's own decree ages ago, a vampire was responsible for anything his 'blood' (sired vampires and Renfields) would commit, as such individuals were seen as extension of their creator's 'self' in such regards. It was a measure to ensure that more powerful vampires kept control of their creations, lest the thirst for blood cause one individual to inadvertently reveal the race in attempt to slake said thirst.

In Fayte's case, this meant that her team of Renfields were effectively representations of her while she was Shadowchaser duty and essentially acted as deputies. This meant they were incredible useful in not only apprehending large groups of suspects, but also that Jalal had a ready-made team of trained spies and Special Ops for use when magical means were too risky or simply because most Shadowchasers weren't trained to deal with Mundane issues when called for.

Fayte and her team had been active for decades together and the China mission had been one that nearly cost them all their lives. The details were classified and both Fayte and her team refused to speak of it, the mere mention if it able to douse their spirits like water on a matchstick.

Tsukihime put a comforting hand on her wife's back and addressed the other two vampires in the vehicle. "So you need her help because you've found him again?"

"In a manner of speaking. Castiel has an undying hatred for the Shadowchasers for what he perceives as their failure to prevent our loss in the war and by extension, hates any one associated with them." The holographic image changed, this time to a rather plain-looking man in a labcoat. His only distinct feature was the fact he possessed spiky green and silver hair. "This is Doctor Hugo Cylas, a human wizard specializing in research of technomagic."

"I've heard of him." Tsukihime nodded. "He purports the theory that ley lines can be used as an infinite power source for the world given the right technology, even better than Momentum."

"Yes and rumor has it that he's on the verge of an important breakthrough. Unfortunately, this has drawn Castiel's attention to him. We believe that Castiel intends to force Doctor Cylas to use his research help him find a way to revive the Great Leviathan."

"With that thing under his control, he'd be an instant superpower in the world." Fayte lifted her eyebrow. "So we intend to use Cylas as bait, then?"

"Precisely. However, we are rather certain that the rumor of a breakthrough will have attracted more than just Castiel, which is why we need your help." Penelope told her. "As powerful as Dracula and I are, its best to be prepared just in case."

"Sounds like a plan. When do we start?" Tsukihime blinked in surprise as Dracula leaned forwards and tapped her nose with a finger. "Beg pardon?"

"Sorry, my dear. But vampire business is vampire business." The immortal teenage ruler of vampires grinned saucily. "Sides, wouldn't want that gorgeously sexy body of yours to get bruised up before I had a chance to explore it."

"You'd have to talk to my wife about getting a chance like that." Tsukihime informed her and smirked slightly. "Not that I think you could keep up with us."

Dracula laughed. "You, I like!" She poured herself some more wine and raised the glass in a toast. "Congratulations on your wedding, you two. I hope you have many long decades together."

She downed the glass in a single go and grinned at the rest of them. "Now then, will your lovely Watchguard being joining us, Fayte?"

"I am afraid not. Besides Uton, they rest are recovering in the hospital from a recent bought with a couple of ogres some idiot decided would make good muscle. They're currently intensive care."

"Your men?" Penelope asked sympathetically.

"The ogres are in the ICU. My men are mending their broken bones."

"...what kind of men do keep around you, Fayte?"

"Obviously the best kind. I would love to spend with men who can handle ogres..."

"Hormones can wait, Dracula."

"...phooey."

TTTTTTT

"You and the others don't seem all that...worked up over your chance to finally get justice on Castiel, my love." Tsukhime's frowned a bit as static danced over the video screen. "Just where are you, anyway? You almost seem to be out of range."

"Hard to get decent reception in a helicopter, Tsuki." Fayte was seated in the cargo compartment of the chopper, the vampire drawing her cape a bit tighter around herself. "And we're professionals, my love. We'll express how worked up we are about this by putting a bullet between Castiel's eyes and a stake through his heart."

"You sure Jalal is going to let you get away with killing him? We do generally try to avoid that."

"Castiel forfieted all and any protection the Treaty would have offered him years ago. If he is too much of a risk to bring in safely, we'll end him. And furthermore, this is vampire business. By the Treaty's law, we are able to handle someone like Castiel how we see fit. "

"More of the blood calls for blood attitude, I see." Tsukihime leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. "What was that word you told me awhile back? Malthird?"

"Malverde." Fayte corrected her. "It an old vampiric word that translates to roughly 'wash blood with blood' or more poetically, 'Evil Be Slain'."

"Your sire's motto, wasn't it?"

"It was the motto for all of the vampire knights under her command. Vampires are not a natural race of being, only created out of something else and we exist in tandem with what we born out of. If sentient beings exists as a web of life on this planet, then we are the white blood cells." She clenched her fist slightly. "Protectors and guardians..."

Tsukihime was silent for a moment. "...you're the best damn white blood cell there ever was." She kissed her fingertips and pressed them to the screen. "I love you. Don't forget- part of being a hero is coming home safe."

"I know. It dishonors a knight to keep such a beautiful lady waiting for too long. Say a prayer to Erestrial for me." Fayte kissed her own fingers and touched to the tips of her wife's for a brief moment. "I love you, too."

The succubus smiled and waved briefly before the screen winked out.

"We're just over Cylas' lab." Penelope called over her shoulder from the cockpit. "There's an empty section nearby we're going to use as a landing zone."

"Good, but if Castiel is coming, then we need to hurry." Fayte stood and wrenched open the side door, her clothes snapping in the harsh wind.

"What are you doing?!"

"I've got a doctor's appointment to keep." With that, the vampire jumped. Her cape fluttered violently behind before it suddenly slid into rigidity in the form of the pair of wings. Soaring down towards her target, she allowed herself a tight, fanged smile.

This was going to be fun.

TTTTTT

The interior of the lab was dark and for the millionth time in her undead lifetime, Fayte was glad that being a vampire gave her night vision. At the speed she was running through the lab's corridors and whipping around corners, running into something would be very painful.

Reaching flight of stairs, she didn't bother to race up them, instead just leaping-frogging up between the two walls. Coming out of it in a tumble, she came up running. Cylas' lab was straight ahead.

The door practically flew off its hinges as she stormed through and skidded to a halt inside. "Dr. Cylas, I need you to-"

She cut herself off as she took in the situation in the room.

A man that she was nearly certainly was Doctor Hugo Cylas was slumped haphazardly over the back of his chair, a slash wound decorating what had been his face. Papers and the like were scattered about everywhere, presumably the doctor throwing whatever he was carrying into the air when he was shot. A nearby computer console was wrecked beyond repair, sparking and twitching faintly.

Standing opposite the room from here was a lithe figure clad in white armor, a mask with reflective lenses for eyes covering their face. J, the White Justice, known and wanted vigilante.

And in the second it took Fayte to process all of this, was tagged 'wanted murderer' as well.

Instantly, she drew Tempest and fired. J reacted inhumanely fast, ducking underneath the bullet and leaving the wall behind to be cratered. Fayte tracked the vigilante as they ran towards her at inhuman speeds, but was unable to get a second shot off before they closed the distance.

The Shadowchaser leaned to avoid a punch to the face and skidded back to a snap-kick. Out in the hall, she twisted around another lunging punch and landed a reverse-kick on J's back that sent them flying forwards. They turned it into a tumble, coming up out on their feet and whirling just in time to catch a bullet to the chest.

Tempest barked twice more as Fayte advanced, the explosive shots pitching the white-armored figure around like a ragdoll. J smashed into the edge of the stairway's railing, tumbling out of sight. Fayte dashed after them, flip up and over the figure as J's kanata was suddenly hissing through the air to try and take off her ankles.

The explosive round threw her against the wall and J back against the stairs, the points of impact cracking harshly. Both of them threw themselves forwards, metal shrieking as sword and gun collided.

Darkness swallowed Fayte and the ragged form she had become danced and swirled around J's blindingly fast strikes and then Tempest' muzzle emerged, two quick shots throwing the vigilante over the railing. Fayte jumped after them, her feet cracking the ground as J rolled away and swept her feet out from under her.

The vampire winced as an armored heel crashed into her gut and then batted aside a katana stab. Both of them got to their feet and J's blade smashed down on Tempest, knocking the gun free of Fayte's hand. At the same, Fayte caught J's sword hand on the wrist and wrenched it at a bad angle. There was a staticy cry as J felt the pain and then dropped their weapon.

A swift kick bounced of the armor, but sent them stumbling back. Fayte didn't let up, raining punches all across their front so hard and fast thin cracks were spreading across the armor's front.

Then J pointed a wrist and Fayte staggered as smoke erupted from a hidden nozzle on it. Being a vampire mean she didn't have to breath, but the smoke stung her eyes and was thick and heavy around her. A curse slid between her lips as she heard J's sprinting away and she tore after them.

She burst out the lab doors just in time to hear the peel of rubber and see J's white D-Wheel barrel past the door. Ruby eyes narrowed after it and then she reached into her belt, producing a small sphere. She whipping it at the street, where it shattered and erupting into a swirling portal. "Alexandre! I need you!"

Nightmares were to warhorses as unicorns were regular horses. Conceived at a new moon and born on one, they were jet black with golden eyes and horns. Magical red flames comprised their mane and tail, while also wreathing their feet as they ran. Nearly half again as large as a regular horse and packed with muscle, all the regular unicorn's grace and majesty had become power and savagery.

Just like their standard counterparts, they could be tamed by special individuals and only under unique circumstance. These circumstances could be loosely outlined as 'chase the beast down and kick its ass in a fight' and special individuals for Nightmares are classified as 'those who live through their injuries and retain enough mobility to actually mount the animal.'. Magically resilient to a great degree, hard to harm with modern weapons, able to travel at high speeds for an extended period and with hooves that could crush steel with ease, the Nightmare was a powerful steed for any who managed to tame them and lived up to their name when confronting enemies.

As Alexandre galloped through the portal, her hooves striking sparks on the cement, Fayte was glad she had made the effort to tame one. The two months in the hospital had been worth it. Because not only did Alexandre keep pace with J's D-Wheel, the Nightmare knew the vigilante's scent and wouldn't loose track of it easily.

Leaping onto her mount, Fayte gripped the beast's seemingly intangible mane and squeezed with her heels gently. The Nightmare reacted easily, going smoothly from a dead stop to full gallop in the span of a few lengths.

It didn't take them long to catch up to J. Fayte frowned slightly as they rounded a corner and saw the D-Wheel barely a half-block ahead. J's D-Wheel wasn't that slow and even in a city, she'd seen the white-armored duelist travel at much greater speeds. J had baited her like this once before, back when they had first encountered one another, but that had been simply to coax her into a Turbo Duel...

First encounter...

Frown deepening, she nudged Alexandre to the side and they darted down an alleyway. Not pausing to look to see if J saw them vanish, they simply wove their way in and out and through the alleyways at lightning speed. Trash cans were crumpled under hooves and boxes obliterated with the mount's incredible pace.

J never saw them coming- Alexandre cleared the car parked in front of the alleyway just as J passed by. Brakes screeched and the bike crashed to its side, J's armor scraping against the street as they carried the momentum from their vehicle. Metal crumpled and bent as Alexandre smashed the D-Wheel under her hooves

The vampire caught a flash of white out of the corner of her eye and twisted her head in time to see J vanish into another alley, the armor scuffed and battered. With a twitch of her leg, Alexandre dove after them and Fayte was surprised to see to the vigilante disappearing up the wall by a retracting grappling gun. Without skipping a beat, she sprang from the unicorn's back and catching the bottom rung of the fire escape, flung herself up on to it.

J was waiting for her when she got to the top, standing on the far end of the roof and didn't even flinch when Tempest was aimed right between the mask's eyes. "This is where-"

"This where we had our first meeting six years ago, I know. That's how I know where to cut you off at." Fayte's finger eased into the trigger. "Why now, J? You didn't kill anyone during those six years and you took steps to save the innocent- why murder someone now?"

"Is it murder if that person will lead to the deaths of more innocent people-"

"No semantics." Fayte snapped coolly. "A murder is killing someone in cold blood. Doctor Cylas didn't even a chance to defend himself."

"...yes...yes, it is murder." J conceded. Their voice was neutral and filled with static, going through a voice changer. "I killed a guilty man in cold blood to save lives."

"What could he have been guilty of? He had no criminal record and was researching a new kind of power source via ley lines. How do you justify killing a man who was trying to help the world?"

"...do you believe in fate?" J said suddenly. "That events are predetermined to happen, destined to happen and we are merely cogs of destiny's whim?"

"Despite my name, I believe the only fate that exists is that we all answer to death in one form or another. In that, we are all equal." She glared down the gun's sight. "Answer, J. We've been playing at this whole Batman/Catwoman schitck for six years-why would you ruin that now?"

"When I woke up this morning...I found a reminder to something I didn't know I had forgotten. And when I remembered that...I realized that everything had changed. With no way to change it back, no why to make it how it used to be." J's hand tightened slowly. "I had to do what I did...even if I had to sacrifice my honor."

Something clicked inside the suit and Fayte nearly raised an eyebrow in surprise when J's spoke again. There was strong...and definitely female. "Six years of respect and comraderie end tonight, Fayte...and so do I."

Her hand disappeared behind her back and returned, holding the bloodied knife that was the murder weapon. J looked at it. "I've broken my honor and stained my hands with the blood..."

The knife was flung across the rooftop and J looked levelly at the Shadowchaser. "I will tell you everything, but...I have a last request. Let me go down fighting."

Fayte simply stared at her, gun not wavering a millimeter.

"Give me that, at least..." J held up her arm, her duel disk activating quietly. "My last battle as a duelist and a knight! Permit me honor one last time!" (JLP: 8000)

"..." Fayte was silent for a long moment and then she holstered her weapon, produced her duel disk and slid it onto her wrist. (FLP: 8000)

"...thank you, Fayte." It was easy to hear the smile in J's voice.

"Do not make me regret this, J." The vampire told her sharply. "If you want this duel to be your last, then come at me with everything you have! Don't throw this away to soothe your pride or guilt!"

"No, never." J promised before drawing five cards and then a sixth. "I begin by activating the continuous spell card Hysteric Sign." The card shimmered into existence before her. "And since I did so, I can move one Elegant Egotist from my deck to my hand."

Tucking the new card amongst the rest, she grabbed a different one. "Then I will set one card face-down and one monster as well. This ends my turn."

"Harpies...did you through Light monsters along with your honor, J?!" Fayte snapped her card free and then slapped it down. "I summon out Valkyrian Knight in attack mode!" With a flash of light, her monster appeared. A woman dressed in golden, eagle-themed armor and wielding a two-handed sword. (1900/1200) "Attack that defender! Valhalla Sword!"

The female knight yelled a battle cry, leaping forwards and cleaving the set card in two easily. J watched as the pieces revealed a phantasmal image of a large dragonfly for a moment. "That was Flying Kamakiri #1 and because you destroyed it in battle, it lets me special summon a Wind-attribute monster from my deck with less than fifteen hundred attack points."

She pulled the card free from her deck and slid it onto the tray. "I choose Armed Dragon LV3." A small, orange-skinned dragon with tan armor appeared in front of her. (1200/700)

Fayte swept two cards into her disk, watching them appear behind her knight. "I end my turn."

J drew and immediately slid her Armed Dragon LV3 card into her graveyard. "During my Standby Phase, Armed Dragon LV3 grows up and becomes Armed Dragon LV5!" The little dragon roared as it more than doubled in size, powerful spikes emerging from its armor and its body packed with muscle. (2400/1700) "I discard Harpie Queen to add Harpie's Hunting Ground from my deck to my hand."

She played the field spell and the area around them warped, becoming a barren plain of rock and dirt. A wind swept over it, stirring up small dust devils now and again. "In this place, all Winged-Beasts can two hundred points to both stats and whenever I summon a Harpy Lady, I can destroy one spell or trap on the field. So I'll do that right now by summoning Harpie Lady #1 in attack mode."

With a screech, the female monster swept out of the sky. Red hair, purple bodysuit and green wings on her arms did little to remove how fierce she looked, especially as she scraped her talons together. "And so now I will destroy my own Hysteric Sign card." (1300/1400-1500/1600)

The continuous spell shattered and then J held up the Elegant Egotist it had searched for her the previous turn. "And why stop there-I'll use this to summon out a second Harpie Lady #1"

Said monster began to glow and then split into two identical copies of herself, Fayte watching as her left set card shattered apart thanks to the effect of J's field spell. "And your #1's give all Wind monsters three hundred extra attack points." As she spoke, the Harpies and Armed Dragon all began to glow. (1500-1800 x2) (2400-3000)

"That's right and now Armed Dragon LV destroys your knight! Spike Drive LV5" The dragon roared, firing a volley of spikes from its body that skewered Valkyrian Knight and blew her into pixels. (FLP: 6900)

"Reverse card open! Knights of the Round activates when a monster is slain in battle- I can special summon a low-level Knight from my deck. I choose Banner Carrier of the Fierce Knights!" The monster's red and blue armor clanked as it appeared in a kneeling position. True to its name, it held a blue banner emblazoned with a mounted knight, complete with lance and shield. (1200/1300)

"And when this monster is summoned, I can add one Fierce Knight monster from my deck to my hand!" Fayte grabbed the card as her deck slid it out and then braced herself as one of the Harpie Ladies clawed her monster to bits and the other landed a claw-strike on her chest. (FLP: 5100)

"I end my turn." J watched as the two Harpies swooped back to her field and then her disk beeped. "During the End Phase of a turn when Hysteric Sign is sent to the graveyard, I can add three 'Harpie' card from my deck to my hand. " She held up the three named cards and then fitted them into her hand. Then her Armed Dragon roared and began to grow, its armor gaining more wicked blades and covering it more completely. "Did I forget to mention that since my LV5 dragon killed a monster, I can evolve it into Armed Dragon LV7?" (2800-3400/1000)

"You did. But that's fine." Fayte drew for her turn. "In case you don't remember, I'm running Knights and when a knight battles a dragon, the knight always wins!" A spell card appeared in front of her. "Ancient Rules lets me special summon a level 5 or higher Normal Monster from my hand! My choice is Gaia, The Fierce Knight!" (2300/1700)

"Gaia..." J sounded surprised as the blue-armored knight galloped out into play on his purple steed, brandishing his twin red lances. "Your favorite monster is strong, but my dragon is stronger still. How is he going to win?"

"Allow me to demonstrate- I activate the continuous spell card Spiral Spear Strike! Which, as it happens-" Fayte pointed at Armed Dragon LV7. "-is the name of the attack Gaia is going to use on your dragon!"

Why would-damn it!"J watched as the knight kicked his horse and galloped straight for her much larger monster. Suddenly a cable whipped out of nowhere, cracking her dragon across the face a couple of times and dropping him to his knees. Right in time to catch Gaia's lance through his chest. She threw up her arms as the dragon explode, pelting her with pixels. "Enemy Controller!" (JLP: 6700)

"Along with that, you take piercing damage courtesy of my Spiral Spear Strike card." Fayte slid her last two cards into her disk. "Turn End."

J drew sharply. "That was just like a knight-a straight forwards attack. But it's left you open as well! I summon Harpie Dancer in attack mode!" This Harpie's wings were white and she was dressed in a black-and-gold bellydancer's outft. It sparkled and shone as she moved gracefully to music only she could hear. "And her summon triggers my field spell's effect!" (1200-2000/1400-1600)

Fayte watched as one of her other cards was caught up in a sudden tornado and shattered. "That was my Wild Tornado and since you destroyed it, I'll use its own effect to get rid of this field spell!" The plains vanished, returning them to the rooftop and night sky.

"Tch..." J watched the vampire draw two cards and then swept her hands towards her. "I open the Overlay Network with my three monsters!" Becoming bits of light, the three monsters vanished into the portal that opened up above them. What descended out of it was a see-through red-skinned dragon with a black face and orange wings. Despite its intangiblity, it let loose a very real roar as three motes of light began to orbit it. "Harpie's Pet Phantasmal Dragon!" (2000/2500)

"You gave up three monsters to summon that dragon, when one stronger than it already fell to Gaia." Fayte eyed the Xyz monster.

"Yes, but unlike my Armed Dragon, this card comes with useful abilities. First, you cannot target any Harpie monster I posses with attacks or card effects. As for the second-" J pointed at Fayte, who gasped as suddenly the dragon was right in front of her. "It can attack directly!"

Fayte snapped her fingers and Gaia wheeled his mount around, piercing and pinning the phantasm to the ground with both of his lances. "Staunch Defender forces your monster to battle Gaia!" The dragon struggled vainly and then shattered with a roar. (JLP: 6400)

"Nnnn...activate trap card! Level Bond! You draw two cards, but I get back any level monster I want! Like Armed Dragon LV7!" With a roar, the dragon reappeared, the blades on its body razor-sharp in the moonlight. "Destroy Gaia! Spike Drive LV7!"

Gaia was stoic, not flinching as the dragon charged across the field and cut him to digital pixels with a few slashes of its arm even as Fayte drew card. "Knights don't always travel alone-I activate Call of the Haunted to return Banner Carrier of the Fierce Knights to play!"

The trap flipped up, letting out a burst of smoke. It cleared to reveal the blue-armored knight, waving his banner about. "And just like before, he lets me add a Fierce Knight to my hand! So I choose Alessa, Fierce Knight of the Sky!"

"There are other knights besides Gaia?" Despite the mask covering her face, it was easy to hear J's surprise.

"There's more than that- Gaia is their leader." Fayte drew for the start of her turn and then pointed at her Banner Carrier. "This monster counts as two tributes for a Fierce Knight! So join this battle, Alessa!"

The Banner Carrier vanished and the sound of hooves filled the air as the new monster galloped out of the darkness. She rode the same steed as Gaia did, but her armor was a mix of pale-green and gold. Aquamarine hair flitted out from underneath her helm as she drew the two rich blue lances she out of their sheaths. (3000/0)

"Three thousand...!" J tensed slightly at the sight of the monster's huge attack score.

"Go! Spiral Sky Strike!" Alessa reversed her grip one of one her lances, hurling it at the Armed Dragon like it was a spear. A swirl of energy erupted around the weapon and the dragon roared in pain as lance blew through its chest and embedded itself into the rooftop past J. "Your dragon falls yet again!" (JLP: 6200)

Fayte slid a card into her disk. "I activate Trial and Tribulations. During the End Phase, this card will activate an effect depending on the number of monsters I tributed this turun. Since it was one, I draw one card. End of turn." She drew once.

"Good...you're not holding back! And as befitting a battle between two knights, I won't either!" J drew and held up a spell card. "Terraforming lets me add a field spell card from my deck to my hand!" Catching the card her deck spat out, she immediately slid it into her field slot. "I activate Divine Wind of Mist Valley!"

"Another field spell..." To Fayte's surprise, their surroundings didn't change at all. Instead a faint breeze became noticeable and little flecks of magic were visible in it.

"No rule saying a deck can only one kind." J slapped a monster down onto her disk. "I summon Harpie Channeler to the field!" With a flutter of black wings, her new monster descended from the night sky. Unlike the previous Harpies, her oufit was rather revealing and she wielded a claw-topped staff in one hand. (1400/1300)

"I'll use her effect-by discarding a Harpie card, like my Harpie Sparrow Formation-" She slid the named trap card into her graveyard. "I can summon another Harpie monster from my deck in defense mode!"

Channeler twirled her staff with a flourish, scattering feathers that swirled around next to her. Then they scattered, revealing a massive burnt-red skinned dragon, its flame-themed wings attached to its arms and black-mask decorating its white eyes. "Like the original Harpie's Pet Dragon, who gains three hundred attack and defense for each Harpie Lady I possess." (2000/2500-2300/2800)

Channeler suddenly glowed, become a sphere of white light that vanished back into its card as J pulled it off her disk. "By returning a Harpie monster to my hand, I can special summon my Harpie's Dragon Tamer!" The new Harpie appeared with a screech, her wings a solid gold color and a golden length of chain resting her talons. A headdress resembling the Harpie's Pet Dragon was on her head and the dragon itself seemed to pleased at her arrival, leaning down to get its head stroked. (1400/1300)

"Because a monster was returned to my hand, the effect of my field spell lets me summon a level four or lower Wind monster from my deck!" The magical wind of the Mist Valley swirled over on an empty spot on J's field and then returned to normal to reveal the last of the Harpie Lady #1. (1300/1400-1600/1400) (1400-1700/1300) (2300/2800-2900/3400)

J pointed at her Dragon Tamer, who began to twirl her length of chain over her head. "By this discarding a Harpie card from my hand, I can special summon a dragon-type monster who's level is equal to or less than the highest level dragon I have, but it loses its special abilities for this turn and no dragons I have may attack!"

The Tamer snapped her chain up into the air, where it seemed to vanish. A moment later, she gave a tug and down from the sky came a moderately-sized dragon that looked to be made entirely out of blue...something. "Koa'Ki Meru Drago is my choice!" (1900-2200/1200)

Fayte gestured to Alessa, who seemed rather unimpressed by the small army of monsters J had. "You've got a lot of monsters, but only your Pet Dragon surpasses my monster in strength and its stuck in defense mode."

"Which is why I'm going to get rid of your monster in another way! Open the Overlay Network!" Harpie Dragon Tamer and Koa'ki Meru Dragon jumped into the portal. "By overlaying two level four Wind-attribute monsters, I can Xyz Summon my Lightning Chidori!" (1900-2200/1600)

The monster that descended lived up to its name, a bird formed entirely out blue electricity. It trilled as it arrived, lightning sparkign around it. J pointed at her monster and one of the orbiting lights faded away. "By detaching a Xyz Material from Chidori, I can return one monster on the field to the top of the owner's deck! So your knight of the sky has just run into a little more than some bad weather!"

True to her words, Alessa was swept up away and a tornado that sprang out of nowhere. "Now Lightning Chidori and my Harpy Lady will attack you directly!" Fayte staggered as the two monsters leapt forwards, raking her with their talons. (FLP: 1300)

The masked duelist folded her arms, obviously pleased at her progress. "Now I end my turn and you get to draw. Though we both know what it is."

"Yes." Fayte drew and then grabbed one of the remaining cards in her hand. "Since I don't have the resources to summon Alessa this turn, I activate Sacred Sword of Seven Stars, banishing Alessa to pick up two more cards."

Snapping the new cards up, she held up one. "The Warrior Returning Alive adds Gaia to my hand and then I'll use Polymerization to fuse him with my King of the Swamp!" The image of the blue-armored knight reappeared on the field and then swirled together with a mess of foliage and swamp water that looked only vaguely human.

What emerged was Gaia atop a yellow dragon with segmented carapce-like body, screeching as flames licked out of its mouth. "Gaia the Dragon Champion!" (2600/2100)

J shielded her face reflexively as the Champion flew across the field, one lance catching her Chidori and throwing it the air while the second skewered it sharply. The Xyz shrieked lamely before it blew apart into pixels. (JLP: 5800)

Fayte smiled slightly as her Champion lazily flew back around to land in front of her. "I set one card face-down and end my turn."

"Draw!" J pointed at her dragon and it rumbled as it stood to its full height, spreading its arms eagerly as flames began to dance around its mouth. "Attack! Inferno Wave!"

"Activate Trap Card! Curse of Anubis!" The trap lifted and purple fog began to billow out it, covering the field in a haze. "All effect monsters in play are switched to defense mode and have their defense scores reduced to zero this turn!"

"What? Damn!" J clenched her fist in frustration as all three of her monsters retreated into defense mode, her Pet Dragon almost looking unhappy about the whole mess. "Why didn't your Dragon Champion go to defense mode?"

"Gaia is a Non-Effect Monster, thanks to a little known ruling from years ago. He has card text necessary for his status as a fusion, but isn't considered to be an effect monster for all intents and purposes He is not a Normal Monster, either, but that's hardly pertinent here." Indeed, Gaia didn't even seem to notice the haze covering the field.

"Can't believe that didn't come up before, all the times we've dueled..." J staggered suddenly, one hand flying to her chest as she nearly doubled up over in pain.

"What is happening to you, J?" Fayte frowned and took a step forwards, but was halted by the vigilante suddenly straightening firmly.

"On your honor, don't you dare take another step forwards. Instead, fulfill your promise and finish this duel!" J said fiercely and swept her hand card into disk, watching it appear behind her trio of monsters in a flash. "End of turn."

Fayte drew as the haze from her trap card cleared. "Gaia! Attack and destroy her Harpy Lady #1! Double Dragon Lance!"

The feathered woman screeched and tried to fly away as the knight swooped across the field, but didn't gain altitude fast enough to avoid being pierced by one of Gaia's lances. "And since Spiral Spear Strike is still in play, not does Gaia deal you piercing damage, but since it was the Dragon Champion, I can draw two cards so long as I discard one from my hand." (JLP: 4600)

The vampire did so and then after taking a moment to study them, dropped one in the graveyard. "And since you lost your Harpy Lady#1, your dragon loses some attack points, doesn't it?"

"Yes..." J watched as her dragon sagged as its points fell as did her Dragon Tamer's. (2900/3400-2300/2800) (1700-1400)

"I set one monster in defense mode, one card face-down and call it a turn." Fayte allowed herself a slight smirk. "Now what will you do?"

"Everything I can to win." J replied resolutely and snapped a card up for her turn. "I activate Pot of Avarice!" Harpie Queen, Lightning Chidori, Harpie's Pet Phantasmal Dragon, Flying Kamakiri #1 and Armed Dragon LV3 all out of her graveyard. She scooped up the stack and shuffled them into her deck before drawing twice more.

"I sacrifice my Dragon Tamer to summon Armed Dragon LV5!" The Harpie vanished to be replaced by the looming armored dragon, who immediately began to grown as its armor became more covering and spikes erupted everywhere. "And then I'm activating Level Up to evolve into Armed Dragon LV7!"

"Blast..." Fayte's ruby eyes then went slightly wider as the dragon roared, standing up on its hind legs. The armor gained a sheen to it and the spikes elongated into wicked curves, their edges glinting dangerously. "Why is it still growing!?"

"Because by sending Armed Dragon LV7 to the graveyard, I can call out its final evolution! Armed Dragon LV 10!" The dragon roared, every moment of its body highlighting how dangerous it looked. (3000/2800)

A card from her hand was dropped into the graveyard and the dragon's spikes began to glow. "By discarding a card from my hand, I can destroy all face-up monsters you control! Spike Armageddon!" The dragon roared again, launching inummerable spikes from its body that all zipped towards Gaia.

Fayte couldn't even it happen-there was flash and then the blades were all buried in the ground around her field. Gaia was slowly dissolving into so many pixels and then he was washed away by fire as Harpie's Pet Dragon lumbered forwards and breathed forth a wave of flames onto her set monster.

J watched as pixels flew out of her dragon's flames and then an image of the destroyed monster appeared above Fayte. "Morphing Jar. I see...but a new hand isn't going to save you!" Both duelists slid what remained of their hands into the graveyard and drew five new cards. "Armed Dragon! Attack her life points directly! Spike Drive Final!"

Fayte tensed as the dragon swept both of its arms in her direction, unleashing fresh volleys of spikes at her. "Reveal quick-play card- Knight's Duty! Now I can special summon one Knight monster from my hand!"

As before, there was the sound of hooves and out galloping another knight. He rode the same horse as the two before him, but his armor was a mix of gray and red. More surprisingly, instead of lances he carried a powerful looking shield that he used to catch the spikes before they could hit his summoner. "Dan, Fierce Knight of the Plains!" (2500/3000)

"Three thousand defense points?" J stared at the monster...and then laughed happily. "That's incredible! An excellent dodge yet again!"

The vigilante held out of her fan of cards. "But I've seem to had have more control over this duel than you and your dodging can't last forever." She discarded one card and Armed Dragon unleashed a volley of spikes that pulverized Dan. "Finesse in a fight is all well and good, but if you lack the power to make a big move to gain the advantage, all you're doing is delaying the inevitable! How do you expect to take this battle seriously if all you do is dodge!?"

"A big move..." Fayte drew for her turn and her lips quirked. "If that's what you want, J, then I'll gladly provide. I activate the spell card Eternal Quest, allowing me to pick up two Normal Monster 'Fierce Knight' from my graveyard." She quickly picked Dan and Gaia as they slid out of her graveyard.

"Then I'll use another Ancient Rules to summon out Gaia once more!" The leader of the Fierce Knights appeared in front of her, clashing his lances together. "And then the card Xyz Reception lets me bring out a monster from my hand that is his level, but any effects it has are gone and its attack score becomes zero."

With a flash of light, Dan reappeared. At the same time, seven stars appeared above Gaia to indicate his level. "By using the quick-play card, Star Changer, I can add or subtract one level to any monster I control. I think I'll raise Gaia to level eight."

J stared as a new star appeared above the knight. "Why would you do that-if you're going for an Xyz Summon, you've ruined any chance of that!"

"Hardly. I still have one more spell card to play. It's called Group Promotion-I select one monster of level 7 or higher and then all monsters on my field rise to that monster's level until the end of my turn." Stars appeared above Dan's head and then went from seven to eight. "I open the Overlay Network!"

The two knights rode into the portal without hesitation. What emerged was a blue-and-green scaled mountain of a dragon that was easily a head and shoulders taller either of J's beasts. Lighting arced all over its body as it stepped free of the other dimension and its roar was more like the clap of thunder. "Meet Thunder End Dragon!" (3000/2500)

Armed Dragon and Pet Dragon roared challenges at the new arrival, who merely loomed over them as the lightning around its body intensified. "And by getting rid of an Overlay Unit with this monster on the field, I can destroy all other monsters in play."

Thunder End Dragon pulled one of the orbiting spheres it had in front it, lighting flying from all over its body and into the glowing bauble. It doubled in size and then again, dancing with barely contained energy. "Thunder End Dragon! Lightning Storm!

J cried out as the blast smashed into her field, kicking up a small storm of lightning and energy. Her two dragons writhed as it danced over their bodies before exploding into pixels. But there was no time for respite as Thunder End Dragon's claw emerged from the maelstrom and slashed her across the chest. (JLP: 1600)

Fayte watched as the vigilante straightened, though it was obviously painful. "That evens things up a bit." Glancing at the last card in her hand, she tossed it onto her disk where it appeared behind her Xyz monster. "I end my turn."

"I guess I got what I asked for..." J's tone seemed to indicate they were smiling as she drew for her turn. "This puts us in the end game, doesn't it?"

"It does..." Fayte was quiet, her arms folded across her chest.

"Then let's see who comes out on top one last time!" J held up a spell card. "Spellbook Inside the Pot means we both draw three cards."

They did so and then she pointd at her set card, which flipped up and began to spill out flashing lights and pounding music. "The trap card Hysteric Party lets me discard one card to revive as many Harpie Ladies from my graveyard as I can!"

In successive flashes of light, her three Harpie Lady#1, Harpie Dragon Tamer and Harpie Channeler all appeared in front of her, screechin and spreading their wings. "Five monsters...exactly what I needed."

"Five monsters...!?" Fayte stared at her. "What could you possibly need to summon with that many monsters!"

"My reminder." J pointed sharply at her monsters. "For the last time, I open the Overlay Network!" Unlike before, however, her monsters did not enter a portal. Instead, they became beings of light. They drifted together to combine into a single blazing pillar.

Fayte shielded her eyes, squinting into the light as it pulsed and twisted around itself. She saw gauntleted hands emerge from it and then she duck away as the hands scattered the pillar apart. When she felt it was safe enough look, she did so...and felt her breath get taken away.

Standing in front of J was a monster unlike any she had ever seen. It was definitely female. Platinum-colored hair that was easily waist length swished gently in the wind from the vigilante's field card, while elegant blue armor that was trimmed in gold covered the monster from the neck down and seemed to shine in the moonlight.

The Xyz regarded Fayte coolly and then glanced up at the Thunder End Dragon, a small smirk parting her lips. Metal rang through the still night air as she pulled her blade from the sheath at her sight, revealing it to be a powerful long-sword decorated with runes along the blade's length. The weapon was a blur as she slashed it through the air to test its heft while her points flashed above her head. (2500/1900)

J inclined her head towards the monster, sweeping out a hand in a welcoming gesture as five orbs of light began to circle around the armored woman. "Steelheart, Dragon of Justice."

"What...kind of card is this?" Fayte couldn't believe it. That monster looked so real and alive...and familiar. Then it hit her and her eye widened as she took a half-step forwards. "Are you-"

"I activate one of her special abilities!" J shouted, overriding Fayte's attempted question. "By detaching an Overlay Unit, I can raise her attack by one thousand until the end of my turn!" Steelheart held up her sword and one of the spheres around her flew into the blade. The runes light up sequence down the wepaon and when it was shining sharply, she sprinted towards the dragon. (2500-3500)

Thunder End Dragon growled and snapped its head toward the much smaller monster, but Steelheart moved faster than should have been possible in that kind of plate armor. Spinning around the biting fangs, the dragon's body jerked sharply as she drove her blade through its neck in one stab. With a hard tug, she tore the weapon free upwards...and along with it was Thunder End Dragon's head. (FLP: 800)

Fayte watched her dragon explode into dust and Steelheart leap back to her spot in front of J. The Xyz rested her weapon on her shoulder, cocking her head slightly at the vampire. Then she raised her free hand and crooked a finger at Fayte, daring her to come after her.

J remained quiet, watching her new monster carefully and then slowly shifting her attention back to Fayte. "It is your turn. And if you don't defeat me on it, it will be your last."

The Shadowchaser stared at J for a long moment, questions burning on the tip of her tongue. But she knew that J would not answer them, not now. If she desired any explanations, they would come after she won. "I draw."

She glanced over the cards carefully. Plenty of options, but something was nagging her in the back of her mind. Something she had to do..."I activate Monster Reborn to revive Gaia the Fierce Knight!" In a flash of light, her deck's lead monster was back.

"Then I summon Unkown Synchron in attack mode." The monster was metal sphere with a single eye in the center, two antenna on top and no larger than a soccer ball. "Then I tune my level seven Gaia and level one Unknown Synchron together!"

The two monsters broke apart into the traditional Synchro rings and stars. A rune-covered sword fell from the sky, burying itself halfway into the ground as the new monster formed. It was a man, clad in powerful-looking red armor. As he fully materialized, he rose from his kneeling position and pulled the sword free easily. There an ageless look in his eyes and while he didn't seem as lively as Steelheart, he was definitely more 'there' than most monsters. "Dragonprince Jalal!" (2500/1900)

Jalal's sword began to glow as the runes lit up one by one. "He gains one Fortune Counter for each monster used in his summoning and I can expend one to have him force one card on your field face down!" The synchro nodded and swept his blade in front of him, unleashing a crescent wave of energy.

"I activate another one of Steelheart's effects- by detaching one Overlay Unit on her, any effect that targets her doesn't apply!" Steelheart's sword absorbed another surrounding mote of light and slashed her blade vertically in front of her. It released another crescent of energy that roared forwards. Wind and light scattered as the two crescents collided violently.

Fayte plugged a card into her disk and Jalal held out his left-hand. Light gathered there and materialized into a shield, red with gold time and spikes on the corners. He tested its heft and then nodded, apparently pleased with it. "Magnum Shield raises Jalal's attack by his original defense since he's Warrior monster." (2500-4400)

J watched as Jalal charged across the field, Steelheart sprinting forwards to meet him. "You got me...Steelheart's effects can only be used once per turn." Metal shrieked as the two monsters' weapons collided...

And kept colliding, Fayte staring in disbelief as the two seemingly ignored the rules of the game. Instead, they were dueling at speeds most humans could barely follow, sparks showing where their weapons clashed again and again.

And despite her heart having no real function whatsoever, a hand flew to her chest as the vampire felt a sharp pain erupt for a long second.

TTTTTT

All over the world, Shadowchasers felt the same pain in their chests, as if death's icy hand had gripped the organ ever so briefly. No one was hurt, but all were left wondering what had just happened...

TTTTTT

In his office, Jalal Stormbringer vaguely heard his teacup fly to the floor and shatter, having fallen from his hand as pain erupted in him. His hands clutched at his head and he gritted his teeth, trying to understand just what was erupting in his mind.

A temple in the sky, the bottom covered in pulsing-heart like objects. A storm as black as pitch raged overhead, thundering as if the earth itself was angry. A light erupted from the temple, transforming into a massive circle of light and he realized it was a summoning seal. One nearly a mile wide. It was only then he realized he was yelling in rage at the small figure he could see standing on top of the temple. And despite the distance between them, he could hear female, mocking laughter right in his ear...

He was fighting, brawling with a legion of monstrosities-human only in shape and nightmare in everything else. His blade cut through them, magic burned and seared as fast he could speak the words. But there were so many and they surged forwards to overwhelm him. Then a cheerful laugh as a second sword entered the fray, cleaving through the front of monsters easily. He turned and saw his own face, framed in ice-blue hair and stained with blood. The warrior laughed and said something he couldn't hear, before leaping headlong into the pile of monsters...

Someone was shouting at him, he was shouting and the storm still raged overhead and even intensified, as if trying to argue with him. The dead and dying-humans, Shadowkind and things he cared not to know- lay around him. Smoke poured up from the city and the temple in the sky was shaking, surging with power. Someone else shouted, but he ignored it and slammed his hand onto the button of the machine in front of him. It was the only option, the only way...

He stood and watch in amazement. Sheets up clear fire erupted skywards noiselessly and he staggered from the impact as the earth shook and the shockwave hit him- thunder without sound. The temple began to fall, breaking about into nothingness as and he heard a horrible scream of agony and frustration of whatever was in there dying. Pain burned though his body and he felt his exhaustion catch up to him, pitching him forwards into merciful unconsciousness...

The images cleared as quickly as they came and Jalal heaved for breath, as if he just run a marathon. He grabbed for them, but they were gone now and he felt only the impressions they had left. He eyes scanned his room desperately and he gripped his chair to steady himself, trying to figure out an answer to all of this.

TTTTTTT

In London, England, twenty-four year-old Judy LaBaron sighed, kicking off her heels as she entered her room. Reaching up, she undid the tie that held her hair up and shook it out before making her way to her nightstand. Another unsuccessful date, another wasted night. It wasn't that she minded most men, but none of them could hold her interest well. Even the Aware ones. She had even tried dating outside her species, but none of them were much more interesting, either. It all came back to what they wanted from her.

Depositing her jewelry on her nightstand, she flopped back into her desk hair and pulled a sheet of paper forwards and a pen. At least he would understand. Despite being a pen pal, he probably had a better understanding of her than anyone else did and they'd never even met in real life. Besides, it was nice to vent.

She didn't get past the 'Dear' when pain erupted in her skull and her hand jerked, dragging a rip down the length of paper. Her eyes closed as if she was trying to squeeze the pain out and images flooded her brain.

Standing in front of Jalal, a warm feeling suffusing her. He was smiling broadly and from the way her cheeks hurt, she was, too. She turned and found over a hundred Shadowchasers and allies kneeling as she did so. And this was it, she realized. She was leader now...

She was standing in front of Jalal's gravestone, though it was only a tribute. Jalal was gone, but so far so that he might as well be dead. Everyone was gone. Or going. Everyday, she heard more and more reports about whole tribes of Shadowkind just...vanishing. Gone without a trace, the force that brought them here taking them back to where they had come from. And she knew why. Magic was dying-every hour, every minute, every second, there was a little less to work with, a little less to help you exist. Only magic that was divine or demonic in origin, like her immortality, would sustain itself because it wasn't tied to the Earth. And she didn't know how to stop it...

It was the deepest part of the Shadowchaser's HQ-once housing prisoners, but now a last sanctuary. But even this far underground, she could hear then explosions and blasts as war raged overhead. It was a last-ditch stand by those who could still call themselves 'Shadowchaser', fighting with anything they could lay their hands on. With magic, it would have been possible to win. Without it, it was their enemy's effort to stomp out the last bit of resistance to their plan.

She glanced down at the white armor she wore she wore, its helmet tucked under her arm. On the belt, she could see the various decks she was going to use-all of them carefully constructed to avoid altering the world she was going to. Even if she was caught or killed, it would be okay-they weren't any cards no one hadn't seen before.

All of them but her reminder. The one thing she had to have.

She lifted her head to the device in front of her. A doorway cobbled together out of all the tech they could reverse-engineer or invent on the fly. Inside swirled a vortex of colors that she was sure weren't didn't exist, but were there anyway.

It was the only way now...and she hoped that when the time came, she knew what had to be done and could do it...

The memories of events that had never happened were gone and Judy slumped over her desk. She felt exhausted and despite her efforts, she could not recall what she had just seen. Only feel very worried...and frightened.

TTTTTTT

Fayte watched as Jalal and Steelheart dueled, Jalal finally disarming her with a deft move with his shield and landing a powerful slash across her front. She seemed to smile as he did so, simply fading away slowly instead of becoming pixels. (JLP: 0)

The move had happened so fast only J's reflexes didn't jerk her head out of the way in time, Steelheart's blade shattering part of the mask off before it vanished. Bits of metal and glass trickled to the ground as the vigilante raised hand to that part of her face, bits of blood leaking out between her fingers to stain the armor.

"...why didn't you tell anyone, Judy?" Fayte had remained at her spot even as the holograms from the duel faded. "Why do all this?"

"Couldn't risk corrupting the timeline..." Judy removed the remains of the damaged mask, tossing it aside. Her face was still youthful and pretty, despite the cut she had received on her cheek. Platinum hair shone in the moonlight, but had been cropped short to fit under the mask. "So I wiped my mind when I came back and made myself believe I was J. Or one of him. We never did find out who was under the mask or if it was just one guy or a bunch of people with the same outfit in my timeline."

Fayte's watched as Judy's form suddenly rippled between phantasmal and solid. "You realize that now you've succeeded in preventing your own timeline, you don't exist."

"Nothing could make me happier." Judy chuckled at the solid look on Fayte's face. "Just like you, seeing a time-traveler vanish from existence right before your eyes and you barely bat an eye."

"Of course. Hard to arrest someone who doesn't exist." She brushed some hair back over her shoulder. "Why Cylas?"

"Yliaster agent. His method of drawing energy from ley lines would lead to finding a way to detonate them. Without ley lines, magic dies in the world." Judy was almost gone now, more ghost than solid. "I've done all I can."

"That's fine. You've earned your vacation time," Fayte's coat billowed in the wind slightly. "I'll take up your sword."

"That's right...you carry the will of fallen knights..." Judy sounded pleased. "Thank you...for everything..."

And she was gone, never to have ever been and never would ever be.

Fayte remained motionless, staring up at the moon. "...you're welcome."

"Fayte?" Her commpiece crackled in her ear, Penelope's voice emerging from it. "We've run into Castiel. He seems to have found some more Orichalcos stones, as he's got some Orichalcos soldiers with him. We need some help keeping them boxed in." In the background, it was easy to hear Dracula's cheerful laughter and the sounds of flesh being rent as the ruler of all vampires tore into the enemy.

"Yes. I'll be right there. And we won't have to worry about Cylas." Fayte turned from the rooftop's edge and whistled. A moment later, Alexandre made her underneath.

"What? Why not?"

Fayte dropped herself atop her mount easily. "Someone took care of the problem for us."

TTTTTTT

The Shadowchaser leader watched the fog cover the scene in the globe. She leaned back into her chair, steeping her fingers together thoughtfully. "I was never told of this particular incident."

"You didn't need to know. Jalal kept it very quiet. He didn't want to let on to Yliaster somehow that he knew they were up to something. More so, the time travel bit was possible. If someone discovered that it was possible to rebuild Z-One's technology, the entire timeline of the world would be in horrible danger." The Librarian finished her hot chocolate with a contented sigh. "Oh, that hit the spot."

Setting the cup down, she stretched and then leaned her face against her arm lazily, a small smile playing at her lips. "So are you satisfied, Miss LaBaron?"

"I am. Thank you, Emily." Judy was watching the swirling fog in the globe aimlessly. "It is nice to know that even if things in Backwater had played out differently all those decades ago, I would have a good person."

"Indeed. Few people ever find such reassurances in their lifetime." Emily's smile became a teasing smirk. "Though, from where I sit, I think you turned out to be a rather great, gorgeous person."

"Mmph." A faint blush crept up the platinum-haired woman's cheeks. "Enough of your teasing, bookworm. Don't you have something else to do?"

"Indeed I do, scales." Emily stood up and swept out out of her chair gracefully. "I have to prepare your bedroom for later tonight."

"What!?" Judy jumped to her feet, red in the face. "What are you talking about! You've never been that one or-" She scowled as Emily giggled and flashed her a V-sign, revealing she was only yanking Judy's chain. "Hate you."

"No, you don't." The two women stuck their tongues out at each other and then Emily sashayed out the door, humming to herself. "I'll be back later-be sure to put up some mistletoe where we can get some good use out of it!"

Judy watched her leave and sighed bemusedly. "If she wasn't so good-looking and good at her job, she'd be insufferable..."

Her phone rang and she picked up. "Hello?"

"Hi, kettle. This is pot. Just wanted to let you know you're black."

"Dammit, Emily!"

Her only response was laughter and the leader of the Shadowchasers buried her face in her arms with a groan.

TTTTTT

A/N: A tragic timeline averted and one that seems better is in the future...but the distance between the present and future is vast. For those in the present, Emily and Judy are a 'could be' and if something errs just a slight, a 'never be'...

Have questions? Good! Like I said, they will all be answered in the Backwater fic itself. I do hope I've stirred your interest...

Secret Life of Characters #5: Fayte Nyte

"Malverda." (Evil Be Slain)

Some would consider Fayte and her hardline ideals of knighthood, honor and right and wrong to be something of a relic, a remnant of age long since gone and wholly unsuited to the modern world.

These same people never realize that they can sleep in their bed safely because of exactly what Fayte is.

Emerging shortly after the first season Yu-gi-oh! GX, Fayte was first encountered after the events of Season 1 of GX, literally showing up at the Shadowchasers HQ in Britain in the dead of the night and asking to see Jalal. Backing her request was the presence of both Dracula and Penelope. Much to everyone present surprise, Jalal agreed to meet with them and the four wandered a little ways off from the base to have a private discussion.

What was said that night, only they know and when it was over, Fayte was inducted into the ranks of the Shadowchasers. For several years, she was used a 'Black Ops' agent for the group and sent to accomplish missions that ordinary Shadowchasers simply could not do. It was during this time she met Tsukihime and later, collected her Renfields that would form the Watchguard.

Later, Fayte switched duties to relocate to Backwater and not only opened up a nightclub, the Blue Blood, but started Nytestone Incorporated. The company specializes in providing Shadowkind security systems and the like, making sure that they look ordinary to humans despite the advanced magical protection they provide. The company is quite profitable, thanks to a niche market and the fact many of their customers can pay in gold.

Due to her long-time covert status, Fayte is something of an enigma to both the criminal element and teams of Shadowchasers not her own.

This suits her just fine.

Modern-day legends tell humans and Shadowkinds that vampires are the rulers of night, something powerful and mysterious. Fayte likes to give them a poignant reminder as to why that image of vampires exist.

Deck: Fayte's deck is something unique to behold, given its focus on Normal Tribute monsters in a world where Synchros dominate most player's strategies. More over, she uses something like Gaia as a headliner, whose score is ultimately weak compared to many single tribute monsters. However, as shown here, there are ways to make the strategy effective and dangerous- a surprise Synchro or Xyz and even a Fusion can swiftly turn the tides and many people compare the relentless charge of her knight monsters to standing in front of a real-life cavalry charge.

The set itself is not complete, though more cards are forthcoming in the future and the full extent of the strategy isn't known.

Just know it will involve spears.

Origins: Fayte was actually the original Shadowchaser I conceived for the team, because there weren't enough Shadowkind Shadowchasers and I figured a species that had been driven nearly to extinction would have at least -one- member out to make sure that didn't happen again. She's also the character to least evolve as my plans for the story to progress, but we'll see if she can't surprise us.

Created Cards:

Fayte

Banner-Carrier of the Fierce Knights
EARTH
3 stars
Warrior/Effect
1300/1200
Effect: When this card is summoned, you may select one level 7 Fierce Knight' in its name in your Deck or Graveyard and add it to your hand. If this card would be tributed for the Tribute Summon of a 'Fierce Knight' monster, this card may used as two Tributes.

Dan, Fierce Knight of the Plains

Monster/LIGHT/Warrior/7*

Atk 2500/Def 3000

"They have asked me why I choose to fight. I tell them, it is not because my heart longs for battle- but a warrior cannot let his friends battle alone. Therefore I am a shield to all, and they become my sword."

Alessa, Fierce Knight of the Sky

Monster/WIND/Warrior/7*

Atk 3000/Def 0

"They ask me why I do not fight on the ground, as the others do. I tell them that it is only here, in the sky, where there is enough room for both myself and my fighting spirit."

Note: The previous two cards were created by Scarlet Weatherman. All creative credit goes to him.

Knight of the Round
Trap Card
Effect: Activate only when a monster you control is destroyed as a result of battle. Special Summon one level four or lower 'Knight' monster from your Hand or Deck.

Knight's Duty
Quick-Play Spell Card
Effect: Activate only when you have no monsters on your side of the field. Special Summon one 'Knight' monster from your hand.

Group Promotion
Normal Spell Card
Effect: Target 1 face-up Level 7 or higher monster you control; the Levels of all other face-up monsters you currently control become the current Level of that monster, until the End Phase.

Eternal Quest
Normal Spell Card
Effect: Add two Level 7 or higher 'Fierce Knight' Normal Monsters from your Graveyard to your Hand.

J

Harpie Dragon Tamer
WIND
4 stars
Winged-Beast/Effect
1400/1300
Effect: This card's name is treated as 'Harpie Lady' while it face-up on the field or in your Graveyard. You may return a face-up Wind-attribute monster you control to your Hand to special summon this card from your Hand. Once per turn, you may special summon a Wind-attribute Dragon-type monster from your deck whose level is equal to or lower than the highest level Dragon-type monster on your side of the field. The monster summoned by this effect has its effect(s) negated until the End Phase and during the turn you activate this effect, no Dragon-type monsters you control may attack.