As the sun began to set, the Protectors all remained silent as they lounged around inside their base, with most staring at Davis' back with worry and concern as he held his helmet with his right hand, while holding his left over it, his palm glowing with his power and repairing the damage done by Dark Hawk's blade.

"Davis..." Tai then started to say, breaking the silence as he continued. "We need to talk about this."

"There's nothing to talk about." Davis merely replied, keeping his back to the group as he worked on his helmet, where TK then stood up from his seat and said in a frustrated voice. "Yes there is! They've seen your face! You need to lay low for a while!"

"I will not hide! I won't let the Night Queen control my life!" Davis said in anger as he finally snapped, turning to face the others, before feeling a hand slap the side of his face hard, shocking not only Davis, but the others as well, especially seeing who it came from.

"Damn it, you stubborn asshole, this isn't a game! This is your life we're talking about here!" Rika yelled in anger, where Davis saw tears start to form in her eyes, the look of fear and concern written all over her face.

But even though he hated causing his friends so much pain, Davis felt he had to stand firm as he then asked the rest of the group. "Tell me, and be honest, would any of you just sit back if you were in my position? Would you run and hide with the villains still out there?"

When none of the others replied, knowing that he was right, Davis began to walk past them as he added. "I refuse to run or hide, If they come for me, I'll give them a fight they'll never forget."

"And what about Kari?!" Tai then asked in anger, causing Davis to stop in his tracks, looking back at the brunette with a glare for using her name in this.

Tai hated doing this, but if the Dark Legion figured out who Davis is, then Kari's life could be in danger as well, and he refused to allow his sister in harm's way as he continued. "What will happen if they target her now?!"

Davis continued to glare at the older brunette, before putting his helmet back on and making his way down to the training level, causing the others to sigh in frustration at the entire situation.

"Well, maybe we'll get lucky, Davis is still in high school, there might not be much for the Legion to go on." Joe said, trying to lift everyone's spirits, before they all glared at him with a look that practically said. 'You're kidding, right?!'

-Meanwhile-

"Davis Motomiya. Senior at Odaiba High and captain of the soccer team. Apparently he's Mister Popular." Stryker, who was back in his normal attire, said as he brought of everal holographic screens in the throne room as the entire Legion looked at the various social media pictures and images of Davis, the maroon haired hero's popularity now coming to bit him in the ass as the various members of the Legion looked at the photos.

Meanwhile, the Night Queen sat on her throne, with Red Phoenix and Fang at her sides, while Shadowknight stood before her, each sensing the growing frustration in their leader, who had finally emerged from her sanctum a few hours after her break down.

"Say what you want about him as V-Force, but as Davis, he's quite the hunk." Dark Ivy said with a small grin, which caused Charm Mistress to glare at the plant villainess and say with a competitive tone. "Sorry, Ivy, but he's clearly out of your league. If I had known what he looked like without his mask, I would've made him my first servant."

"As if either of you would have a chance. I on the other hand would enjoy making him my merry puppet." Psychonis then added with a smirk, only to look at Shadowknight and tease. "Unless someone else is interested in me."

Shadowknight made no reply, while behind him, both Sora and Matt tensed as they heard Kari's hand tighten around her staff, both fearing that she might lash out at any moment.

"Yeah, yeah, while you three enjoy your little fantasies, is there anything useful we could use on him?" Fusionist asked in annoyance as he turned from the three girls to Stryker, who smirked in reply.

"As a matter of fact, according to what I've gathered, he apparently has a love interest, a girl by the name of Kari Kamiya." The mad scientist of the Legion as he brought up images of Kari, causing Mat and Sora to gulp quietly.

"Damn, now that's a hotty!" Fusionist called out with a whistle, causing Charm Mistress to growl and say. "Quiet you imbecile!"

"Oh please, like you aren't thinking of adding her to your 'collection'." The brunette villain remarked as he glared back at Charm Mistress, where the blonde rose her hands and replied. "Yeah, you're right."

"If she wasn't V-Force's little girlfriend, I'd take a shot at her." Deathstrike then added as his eyes looked over the various images of Kari, before his sly grin changed to a dark smile as he drew his pistol, swung it around and added. "She looks like she's a perfect target."

"I say we take her, use her as bait, and let V-Force watch as we make her suffer for all his transgressions against us!" Dark Hawk said with a smirk, getting some nods and agreements from the other Legionaries, before the loud sound of the Night Queen's staff slamming into the metal ground caught their attention, causing them to turn towards their leader.

"Capturing the girl is pointless." The Night Queen said with a small hiss, confusing her servants as to why, since the plan seemed good, where Styrker then asked. "Forgive me, my Lady, but why? She would make the perfect bait to lure V-Force in."

"Plus we could have some fun with that hot body of hers before..." Fusionist then started to say, before stopping when he and all the other Dark Legion members looked to see the Night Queen reach up and take her mask off, showing her anger as she glared at them.

"Oh... Oh!... Oh crap...!" Fusionist then said as realization dawned on him and the others as to why they retreated the night before, as well as the comments they had been making, realizing that they were now in deep waters with the most powerful villain they had ever known.

"F... forgive us, Mistress... We... we didn't know..." Psychonis said with a stutter as she and the rest of the Legion, minus Red Phoenix, Fang and Shadowknight knelt to show they were indeed sorry.

Kari let out a frustrated growl as she put her mask back on, before Asta, speaking for one of the rare times he ever spoke, then asked. "What is your plan then, my Lady?"

Kari gripped her staff once again as she thought about what she wanted, no, what she needed to do.

-Later-

Panic ensued in the park as dozens upon dozens of shadow demons ran rampant, attacking civilians and police in their rampage, where the Protectors responded, though they were unsure if V-Force coming with them was a good idea.

"There are no signs of the Legion, but keep your eyes peeled, there is most likely a trap involved here." V-Force said as the team engaged the demons, while he made sure to keep his eye out for anything targeting him, not sure when or if the enemy would strike at him.

As the heroes began fighting the Stalkers, Brutes and Dark Warriors, after taking down a pair of ground demons, out of the corner of his eye, V-Force saw the recognizable form of the Night Queen herself walking in the opposite direction, deeper into the bushes and trees.

Looking around, V-Force saw the rest of his team too distracted within their own battles to provide him with back up.

And though he knew just how dangerous she could be, V-Force knew he had to make chase and stop the Night Queen, now more than ever.

His energy wings igniting, V-Force gave chase, rushing through the trees in the direction the Night Queen went before, much to his shock, he crashed into a barrier of pure dark energy.

But before he could recover, V-Force saw the same energy form around him in a box-like shape, trapping him within, bringing a little fear alongside, certain the Night Queen would crush him in his current predicament.

"Davis Motomiya." Davis then heard the Night Queen say, causing him to look and see the arch villainess standing before the dark prison he was in now, causing him to glare, before she said. "With me, you don't need to hide behind your mask ."

Davis was confused for a second, before several dark tendrils appeared around him and took his helmet off before he could reach, causing him to look and see the object now on the ground behind him, before he returned his attention towards the Night Queen and asked. "What do you want?"

"Before, I found your rhetoric of 'Justice', 'Peace' and all that to be annoying and hypocritical garbage, but now, seeing who you really are, I'm curious. Why do you care about a world where people constantly suffer, where the corrupt like Knight rule over the innocent, getting away with their cruelty until they are caught red handed? What is in it for you? Fame, glory, a sense of self gratitude, what...?" The Night Queen started to ask as she paced around V-Force's makeshift prison, continuing to confuse him, but he decided to play along.

"I fight you and others like you for reasons you could never understand." Davis replied in annoyance, causing the villainess to stop for a moment as Davis continued. "I fight so that someone I care about so she can keep her smile everyday and not have to live in fear from monsters like you!"

'Could he..? You don't mean...? Oh Davis... You fool... you blind, sweet fool...' The Night Queen though, before testing her theory as she started to say. "Kari Kami..."

"You stay the hell away from her!" Davis yelled as he tried to punch at the prison wall, thrashing around within the dark magics holding him, startling the Night Queen at his sudden rage he was expressing, before finding Davis then added with a continued fury never before seen within him. "If you so much as touch her, I'll end you!"

It took Kari everything in her not to laugh in joy, before she brought her hand up, where Davis stubbled as the prison lifted off the ground as she said. "Your goals are admirable, but your methods are flawed. I will show you a better way."

It was at that moment that Songbird and Vixen, who had noticed V-Force missing, arrived in the air, shocked to see Davis trapped within the Night Queen's dark energies, watching his helmet fall out of it as they screamed in fear. "Davis!"

However, before either could react, the Night Queen and her prisoner disappeared in a wips of darkness, leaving only his helmet, where the two girls felt dread and worry for the man they both loved, landing as Songbird picked the helmet up, just as the others arrived.

"What happened? The shadow demons all just vanished." Dragonheart began to question, confused as to why the Night Queen had summoned her forces, only to call them away so briefly, before noticing Davis' helmet in Songbird's hands, where he then asked in dread. "Where's Davis?"

"She... she took him..." Vixen let out in reply as her head sunk, feeling it was partly her fault, that maybe if she was faster, she could've stopped such an occurrence, while her information scared the rest of the team, believing Davis was in great danger now.

"We've got to find him, now!" Fireguard declared as he and Zephyr felt a great dread, remembering what the Night Queen had done to Tommy before, how twisted and dark she had made him, and feared Davis might be next.

"I'm trying to track his signal, but nothing, we need to spread out and try to find where he is!" HiTech said, his voice matching the same concerns Fireguard expressed, causing the group to quickly scatter and begin searching, all fearing for their teammate and leader's life.

One member, however, took a detour, not because he didn't want to find Davis, but because he needed to calm down, and he knew of only one person he could talk to that might be able to help him in his time of need.

-Moments later-

Arriving outside the window to his brother's apartment, TK's armour glowed for a moment, before disappearing, returning him to his normal clothing, before he opened the window and entered the apartment, sighing for a moment as he saw Matt was not home.

"Damn it, Matt, where are you?" TK groaned as he tried calling Matt once again, but like the past few times he called, Matt's phone went straight to voicemail, causing him to sigh, especially since said apartment was just as messy as the last time he was there.

However, hearing the sounds of something coming up towards the window and, not wanting to be seen, TK quickly moved into the nearby closet, closing it to conceal himself, while also allowing him to see out through the slits, where his eyes widened in surprise to see Fang of all people entering his brother's apartment, causing TK to think in panic. 'Why is he here?!'

Matt, for his part, felt somewhat on alert, having not remembered leaving his window open, causing him to slowly look around, trying to see if anything had been disturbed and if he had an intruder.

However, as he got closer to the closet, the every frustrating sound of Stryker's voice came up in his comms, with the mad scientist questioning with an impatience. "Fang! Where are you?"

"Will you relax, you goddamn asshole." Matt said as he took his helmet off, placing his right index finger against said comm in his ear, before asking. "What's up?"

"The Night Queen wants us all at a warehouse near the pier. She has Davis with her and she doesn't want the Protectors interfering with her plans for him." Stryker replied, causing Matt to sigh and reply back. "Fine, fine I'll be there."

Letting out a frustrated sigh, Matt then looked over at his answering machine, seeing nearly a dozen missed calls on it, where he said with a sad smile. "Sorry, TK, but I promise I'll make it up to you."

Matt then put his helmet back on and left the apartment through the window, none the wiser, for within the closet, TK held his hand over his mouth to keep himself from screaming, tears running down his eyes as he felt anger and betrayal fill him.

Matt was Fang... his brother had not only lied to him, but was in fact one of the top villains running around Odaiba.

Holding back his anger, knowing he would have to deal with it at some point, TK knew he had other things to worry about as he activated his own comm and said. "Guys, I found them, the Night Queen has Davis at a warehouse by the pier, but we have to hurry."

"Seraph, where did...?" Dragonheart started to ask, before TK replied quickly. "Nevermind how I found out. I said we need to move quickly!"

"I'll contact StarCorps and have them back us up." HiTech informed him, before TK got up and exited the closet, looking around as he said in anger. "You have a lot to answer for, 'Brother'."

-A little bit later-

Kari stood before Davis with a neutral look as he stood still and in place, no longer restrained, only the dark Mark now on his forehead leaving him in a trance-like state as it started to try and alter his mind.

"It will only be another hour, my love, but you'll see, everything will be better in the end." Kari said as she took her mask off, moving closer to Davis, where she rested her head on his shoulder, taking in his scent, the scent she loved, as she then added in tears. "I didn't want it like this, but you left me no choice. Everything will be perfect, I promise."

Keeping her body close to Davis', Kari moved her head up, looking at the boy she loved so much, a great part of her hating what she was doing to him, but believed it was for his own good, which brought a small smile on Kari's face, before she set her head forward and gently kissed Davis' cheek, knowing that once she was done marking him, he would be back to the one she cherished, only the V-Force she despised would be no more.

However, her eyes then snapped open as she felt familiar presences heading in their direction at rapid speeds, causing her to put her mask back on and break her embrace with Davis, just as Red Phoenix entered and told her. "Mistress, the Protectors are here, and StarCorps' with them."

"Take them down and kill them all." Kari instructed, before smirking as she then looked at Davis, knowing that, even in this state, she could still command him, where she then instructed him. "Kill your former teammates for me, my love. You won't need them ever again, not when we have each other."

Davis mindlessly began to walk out, followed closely by Kari, who smiled darkly as she set herself back around Davis' arm, knowing that things were finally starting to go her way, believing her dark fate had led her to this.

Instantly, the doors to the warehouse burst open as the Protectors and StarCorps entered, all looking ready to fight as they saw the entire Dark Legion and many shadow demons inside, before, out of a small room nearby, they saw Red Phoenix walk out, followed by a sight that frightened many of the heroes as they saw Davis with a blank look on his face, the same mark set on his forehead as Tommy had, before noticing the Night Queen next to him, standing quite close to the distant minded hero.

"No, we're too late!" Songbird cried, fearing Davis was lost to them.

However, Vixen felt something different than when they fought Tommy, where the mystic heroes said in a hopeful tone."No, there's still time. It's faint, but I can sense Davis is still in there. We just need to undo the mark before it becomes permanent, get a hold of him so that I can take it off."

"Like hell we're going to let you after all the work we...!" Fusionist started to yell, before Fighting Fury quickly closed the distance between them, causing the villain to dodge the police hero's fist, where Fury said with a smirk. "We're not taking no for an answer!"

It was at that moment the fighting commenced, with the Night Queen standing back as the fighting ensued, many of the heroes fighting their normal foes and their demonic servants.

All the while, Seraph would take a moment to look over at Dragonheart and Fang fighting, wanting answers, wanting to know what had drawn Matt to such a life, while feeling that he wanted Matt to suffer for all he had done.

But feeling his bond as his younger sibling, Seraph was conflicted, left between loyalties, anger and justice, before refocusing as he dodged Shadowknight's latest attack.

Seeing her followers continuing to fight, with some faring better than the others, the Night Queen slid herself around Davis, wrapped her arms around him from behind and whispered with a dark purr. "Do as you have been commanded and kill."

Nodding to the Night Queen's voice, Davis jumped at Cobalt Warrior, who quickly brought his blades up and blocked Davis' attack, where he said with a groan. "Davis... fight it, you're stronger than this..."

'I know he's strong, and that strength will be used to create our new world.' The Night Queen thought as she smiled darkly, feeling her dark hold on Davis continuing to grow, knowing that he would soon see the world as she did and would no longer hinder himself to such moralities.

However, the arch villainess then looked in surprise when, just as Davis brought his right arm up to strike at the blond hero, Songbird appeared and grabbed hold of said arm, using all her strength to keep him held back.

"Davis... snap out of it! Don't let the witch use you! You said you'd never let her control your life!" The idol heroine cried out as she tried holding him back, watching as Fighting Fury came over and quickly grabbed Davis' other arm, the two doing their best to hold him still, with Fireguard and Red Nova quickly joined in, trying to hold Davis as he thrashed about, before the elemental hero cried out. "Vixen, hurry!"

Quickly appearing before Davis, Vixen held her staff out as it began to glow with a bright light, before she slammed it against Davis' forehead, causing him to cry out in pain as a dark shadow quickly began to leave his body, the mark fading from his forehead.

"No! You will not take him from me!" The Night Queen cried out, rushing at the heroes and leaping into the air, her staff turning into a dark spear of energy that she intended to strike Vixen down with.

However, Kari then noticed Davis' right arm get free, before seeing it swing upwards, his blade extended and causing her to move her body back, where the blade narrowly missed her, but the edge of it cut down the middle of her mask, causing the left side began to fall off.

Time seemed to slow down as Kari's eyes widened, while she saw Davis' face slowly change from the rage and hate she was supplying him to shock, disbelief, anguish, and most of all, betrayal.

'This wasn't supposed to be... You were supposed to see my ways and finally understand...' Kari thought as time seemed to resume, where she landed on her feet, quickly placing her left hand over her face, and turned to run out the exit, refusing to watch anymore failings for the night.

However, before she could reach it, a blast of light energy shot at the top of the entrance, causing it to collapse and cutting off her path.

"Why!?" Davis yelled in anguish as he looked at the Night Queen, confusing the others to his outburst, before Kari turned around, causing Vixen, Songbird, Lilly and Zephyr to gasp, while Seraph, Hitech and Fireguard all expressed shock.

Dragonheart, meanwhile, turned to the sound of Davis' cry, before his eyes widened in shock and denial as he whispered. "No... please, no..."

"It wasn't supposed to be this way... It wasn't supposed to be this way!" Kari then let out with a mixed array of emotions, before slamming her staff into the ground, causing a blast of darkness to shoot out and spread throughout the area, where the heroes covered their eyes at the rush of energy.

When the energies died down and all lowered their arms, the heroes saw no signs of the Night Queen, the Dark Legion or their demons, where Davis fell to his knees as tears ran down his eyes.

Kari Kamiya, the girl he loved his entire life, was the Night Queen.

-Later-

Back at the Protectors' base, the heroes, minus Davis, all sat around with mixed emotions after what they now knew, even Cody and Joe were shocked by the news as well.

"Are you absolutely sure?" Cody asked, making certain that it was Kari they saw. "Do you think it might've been an illusion she set to keep Davis' will broken?"

"I didn't sense any magic, other than the magic coming off of her own body during the time, there was no other mask then the one she wore." Rika replied, now understanding the powerful pull of magic she felt from the brunette when she and Kari first met.

"How's Davis doing?" Thomas then asked as he tried to approach the question with caution, the six members of StarCorps present as the Protectors allowed them into their base.

At the next moment, the ground beneath them shook for a moment, before Cody looked at the monitors and said. "Training room four is completely destroyed, and I think he's heading to the roof now."

"I'd say let him be, this is a lot to take in." Marcus then added, feeling empathy for the maroon haired hero, before Yoshi then said. "I believe I read that Kari had a brother. We might want to question him to see if he knows anything."

"He doesn't." Joe said in reply, confusing the auburn haired girl, before he pointed at Dragonheart, who took his helmet off, staring at the ground with a broken look as Yoshi then said. "Oh..."

"We're going to have to put out a warrant for her immediate arrest." Yoshi told Tai, placing a comforting hand on the brunette's shoulder and saying. "I'm sorry."

"I know..." Tai said in a voice lacking emotions, his mind wondering how this happened, how this came to be, and why he didn't see it.

TK, meanwhile, wanted to tell the others about Matt, but with the revelation about Kari being their worst enemy left the blond deciding to keep his secret quiet for now, knowing he would have to deal with it later on.

A little bit later, remaining alone, Davis sat on the edge of the roof, where a depressed and solemn look continued to adorn his face ever since Kari was unmasked, leaving the maroon haired boy trying to process all that had happened, before he felt a presence sit next to him.

"Hey, how are you holding up?" Rika asked with a clear worry and concern in her voice, caring deeply for Davis, his well being and wanting to make sure he was ok during this obviously hard time.

"I keep thinking back on what I missed, how I didn't see something was wrong, but every time I do, it all comes back to one moment." Davis said, before turning to Rika and asking. "Have you ever heard of a bookstore called Black Pages?"

Rika's eyes widened at the name, before she nodded and said in reply. "Yes, I was part of a raid that took it down. Turns out it was a front for the Circle of Shadows."

Davis looked back out at the city, clenched his fist as he said. "Years ago, Tai and Kari's parents were killed in a car crash. She... she was devastated for a while, but I thought she was doing better after all the time I spent with her. Tai and I took her out for some fresh air one day, and she asked if she could go into the store for a bit and at the time I didn't think anything of it..."

"And Zhaitan got his claws in her." Rika then said as she understood what happened, before she looked at the maroon haired boy, seeing determination in his eyes as she asked. "So, what will you do now?"

Taking a breath, Davis stood up, where he declared. "I failed her. She needed me and I didn't see it. I... I want to save her, before it's too late. No matter what it takes, I will defeat the Night Queen and save Kari Kamiya!"

Smiling herself, even if it was a sad one, Rika got up and said. "I know you will."

Davis turned and smiled at her, before being surprised when the redhead leaned in and gave his cheek a kiss, moving back with a sad smile, where Davis started to say. "Rika, I..."

"I know. Kari is a fool, a blind fool for what she's thrown away, but she is also lucky to have you. I know I will never have your heart, but I'll still be here for you, no matter what. And I'll be there when you save her." Rika replied with a smile, which grew as Davis smiled back and said with gratitude. "Thank you."

-The next day-

Word quickly spread as TV stations reported the warrant for Kari Kamiya, revealing her as the villainess Night Queen, shocking many who knew the girl, finding it hard to believe the two were one and the same.

Within the halls of the high school, as the broadcast played, the cheerleaders were all shocked, none so much as Eri, at this revelation, along with the other Vigilant, astonished that a seemingly sweet student like Kari could be such an embodiment of darkness and evil.

And with her identity revealed, within her sanctum, Kari sat with a broken look on her face as she held what was left of her mask in her hand, before feeling a familiar presence as she said in anger. "You promised me..."

"And I will keep my word, Davis will rule at your side, but now, you must show him that you are correct, show him that his way is the wrong way. Show him the world you plan to make! " Zhaitan said in Kari's mind, the brunette finding herself agreeing, before looking once more at the mask, where she threw it into the ground with a great rage.

She then held her hand out as it glowed with a dark aura, before the remnants of her mask seemed to melt and lose their shapes, merging together into a dark metal face mask, resembling a demons' mouth and dark purple runes glowing on it, which she then placed over her mouth.

Exiting her sanctum, with her hood back on and her face mask, the Night Queen stood before her servants, who knelt before her as she said in a distorted voice. "Kari Kamiya is officially dead, I am the Night Queen and only the Night Queen. Our time has come, and soon, the Protectors, this city, this world, will no longer matter!"

Looking down before her, the last seal on the dark book finally vanished, before a gust of dark energy swept out from it, causing the Night Queen to laugh wickedly, knowing her triumph was near.

However, neither she nor Zhaitan could have predicted that their actions would have an unintended consequence, one that could ruin their plans before they even began.