Part 8: Zodiac Duel. Draco VS Shadowcobra.
A cloaked figure was waiting in the abandoned warehouse. His features were obscured as he was hidden under a black cloak. He surveyed his scene and nodded.
"Yes. This shall be the perfect place for Draco's demise," he said with a hiss. Behind him, Jinx was tied to a chair and gagged, so that she wouldn't escape or scream. He went over to her and removed the gag. Jinx spat at him, and the figure merely wiped it off with this gloved hand. "My dear. You should have more respect for your elders." He slapped her. Jinx refused to scream as a red mark started forming on her face. The figure cupped her face in his hand and forced her to look at him. "Beautiful. It is no wonder he adores you."
Suddenly, from a nearby mirror, a Knightrider appeared. It dropped to the ground and skidded to a halt. Draco got out and looked at the cloaked figure with hate and disgust. Jinx eyes widened as she called out to him.
"Draco!" she said.
"Jinx!" Draco looked up at the cloaked figure and snarled. He lunged at the figure and punched him. The figure dodged and kicked Draco in the stomach, sending him flying into some nearby crates.
"You're getting slow, Draco," he hissed.
"What's going on!" someone said. Draco, the figure and Jinx turned their heads to see Robin and the rest of the Titans, standing at the door of the warehouse.
"Robin! What are you doing here?" Draco asked.
"We came to help." Robin walked towards Draco and helped him up.
"Thanks, but I can handle it." He turned his head at the figure. "Now, take off that cloak so that we know what you look like!"
"Very well." The figure unclasped his cloak and it fell to the ground. Everyone (except for Draco) looked wide-eyed at the figure. It was another Zodiac Knight.
He was clad in a black bodysuit and purple armor trimmed in silver. He wore purple gauntlets and knee-high boots. His helmet was based on a snake, the king cobra. Instead of lenses, his eyes were covered by a visor that had 3 horizontal slits over each eye. On his chestplate was a symbol that looked like a cobra. In his left hand he held a cobra scepter. He pointed the scepter at Draco and hissed. "By the code of the Zodiac Knights, I, Zodiac Knight Shadowcobra, challenge you, Zodiac Knight Draco, to a Zodiac Duel!"
Draco answered back, "I, Zodiac Knight Draco, accept your challenge, Zodiac Knight Shadowcobra, by the code of the Zodiac Knights!"
"DUEL!" They both cried out. A ring appeared around the two combatants.
Beast Boy stood next to Draco. "Dude, what's a Zodiac Duel?" he asked.
Draco explained, "A Zodiac Duel is a battle between two Zodiac Knights. The code states that only one will stand, while the other will fall. It is a fight to the death."
Shadowcobra sneered. "Must you tell these mortals everything about our secrets?"
Starfire stood in front of Draco. "Friend Draco, you must not agree to this duel to the death!" Draco placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I have no choice, Star. It's the only way to save Jinx." He gently shoved her out of the way into Robin's arms.
"How about an extra wager? If I win, I'll take your girl," Shadowcobra said arrogantly, hissing out every word.
Draco screamed. "No way!"
"Suit yourself. Besides, after you die, I'll take her anyway, and no one will stop me!"
"Draco…" Jinx looked pleadingly at Draco.
"Just tell your friends not to interfere in our duel," Shadow cobra smirked under his helmet.
"Very well." Draco turned to the Titans. "Guys, don't interfere. Any interference made in a Knight's favor will cause the Knight to forfeit the duel as well as his life!"
Everyone agreed. This reminded all of the Titans (except Terra) about Cyborg's fight against Atlas. They could only watch as the two Zodiac Knights dueled to the death.
"DUEL!" both Knights cried out as they drew their first cards. A barrier formed around them, so that no one would interfere. Draco inserted his card into his dragon gauntlet.
"Sword Vent-Red Shark Sword!" Draco grabbed the sword and stood battle ready in front of his opponent. Shadowcobra inserted his card into his cobra scepter, which also acted as his card reader.
"Sword Vent-Snake Coil Saber!" he also held his sword in front of him.
"Hiiiyaaa!" Draco cried as he ran at his opponent, swinging his sword. His sword was blocked by the saber and Shadowcobra kicked him hard in the ribs. He then followed up with roundhouse kick to Draco's side. Draco staggered a bit, but was able to withstand the attack. He then punched Shadowcobra hard in the face, causing him to fly into the barrier. He bounced off the barrier and fell flat on the ground, face first. The Titans cheered him on.
"Go Draco!" yelled Beasboy.
"You rock!" yelled Terra.
"You the man!" yelled Cyborg.
"Go friend Draco. Show that snake who is boss!" yelled Starfire.
"You can do it!" Robin yelled.
"Draco…" Jinx said.
"Um…Go, Draco," Raven said, in a monotone fashion.
Suddenly, there was an ear-piercing laugh. It was coming from Shadowcobra.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Shadowcobra got back to his feet, and propped himself up with his scepter. "Don't celebrate too soon, my friend," he hissed maniacally. He drew another card from his belt and inserted it into his scepter.
"Trick Vent-Shadow Clones!" Shadowcobra's armor turned black and then he split into 2, then 4, and then finally 8. All 8 of the duplicates laughed as they surrounded Draco.
"Dude! What happened?" Beastboy said in confusion.
Draco explained, "Shadowcobra has a special Trick Vent card called Shadow Clones. All of them are clones of the original, but they are not illusions. I can only take all of them out if I can find the real one."
"Right you are, Draco!" all the Shadowcobras complimented at the same time, albeit, sarcastically. They each drew a new card and inserted them into their scepters.
"Swing Vent-Sting Whip!" Whips appeared in their hands. The whips crackled with electricity, enough voltage to paralyze, or even, kill. They swung their arms back, and then swung them forward as they struck Draco at the same time. Draco screamed in pain as the electricity coursed through his body, threatening to kill him from the inside out. The Shadowcobras withdrew their whips and walked towards Draco, who was gasping. His armor was smoking.
"Draco, no…" Jinx said. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. She didn't want Draco to die.
"I better end your misery, Draco…" All the Shadowcobras said as they attempted to strike Draco again with their whips.
"I…Don't…Think…SO!" Draco dropped his sword, then clasped both his fists together and swung his arms as hard as he could into one of the Shadowcobras' face. The Shadowcobra fell to the ground, clutching his broken mask in pain. His armor reverted to the original purple. After that, all the clones disappeared.
"Damn you…" Shadowcobra hissed, "How did you know?"
Draco got up and dusted himself off. "It was easy to tell which one of you was real." Draco pointed to Shadowcobra's shadow. "All of the clones are physical manifestations of your own shadow. Therefore, it was easy to tell by the fact that all the clones' shadows were joined to yours, "Draco proudly explained.
All the Titans stared at Draco with amazement.
"He found out which one was real by the trick of the light. Man, I could've never figure that out," Robin said.
Draco turned. "Actually you would Robin." Draco turned towards Shadowcobra again, "Because this guy's fighting to sloppy to be the real Shadowcobra."
"WHAT?" A question mark appeared above all the Titans' heads. Jinx looked at Draco with confusion.
"What are you talking about? I am the real Shadowcobra!" Shadowcobra hissed angrily.
Draco shook his head. "No, you're not. I know Shadowcobra. He is an honorable Knight. He issues his challenges face to face. He never uses notes or kidnaps innocent people. Also, he isn't sloppy and fights with honor." Draco's head snapped back up. "You are not him!" Draco drew a card from his belt and inserted it into his gauntlet.
"Sight Vent-Lights of Revelation!" A light shone brightly on Shadowcobra. Shadowcobra's form started to shimmer. His armor changed and his true identity was finally revealed.
"I knew it was you all along…"
To be continued…