OP Sequence
Ryuki is facing the camera as a silhouette of his Orphenoch form appears behind him, roaring. Lightning flashes and he lunges at the camera in Orphenoch form, slashing with his claws and tearing up the screen to reveal the title card:
ZKD: LOST PARADISE
Ryuki is walking alone in the city, hands in his pockets. He walks past a window and the reflection shows the friends he's made, the enemies he's faced and finally he looks back and sees himself changing into the Ifrit Orphenoch.
His half smiling and half frowning mask flies into his hand. He gazes at it for a second before he throws it into the reflection, shattering it. He sees a dark void then he sees Jinx standing in the middle of a spotlight. He runs towards her and she fades away before he reaches her. He shouts and cries.
Zodiac Knight Draco is surrounded by Orphenochs and he battles them. He destroys them and cries for them.
Next, Zodiac Knight Draco and Zodiac Knight Mortuary are battling against each other. Scene changes to Craig holding a gun to Ryuki's head and pulling the trigger.
Scene changes to show Blackfire, Jinx and Terra, activating their Inzecters and transforming into Masked Riders. They Cast Off their Strong Mode armor and assume their Speed Modes before zipping away at Clock Up speed.
Scene changes to Shadowcobra with Raven and Starfire flanking him. He holds two cards between his right index and middle finger before throwing them in the air. The cards freeze, face up, in midair, showing a picture of Starfire the Warrior Queen wielding her Starblade and a picture of Raven the White Priestess with her Scythe of Light. The two images burst to life and fly out of the cards, swinging their weapons.
Scene changes to Robin facing a giant Joker. He transforms using the Titan Gear and leaps up, throwing a fist which shatters the giant Joker.
Scene changes to show Copycat being split into Neko and Katherine. They face each other like they were facing a mirror before charging at one another.
Scene changes to Changeling standing on a platform resembling the symbol on his DNA Morpher and his alien forms standing in a circle around him. Cyborg and Pluto stand by his side, giving him encouragement.
Katherine sits at a circular table with Rosalinda in her lap. The Lords of Sin sit at the table too, all of them shrouded in shadows. Katherine gives the camera an arrogant smirk.
Scene changes to Neko standing on a cliff in her uniform, holding Gekiryuken in her left hand. Rose is leaning her head on her left shoulder as Cathy stand by her right, holding Neko's hand and beaming as they watch the sunset. They then turn to see the Titans have joined them.
Two trains, the ChronoLiner and GaroLiner, fly out of portals opposite one another and then Ant and Kenzaki both jump out of their respective trains to join the Titans.
They then face the camera and smile. The picture is developed and shows all the characters in a group shot.
Part 95: Rescue Mission
"We need to go and save her, NOW!" Kenzaki shouted as he smashed his fist on the coffee table. All the Titans were in the Common Room. After hearing about Neko's kidnapping, an urgent meeting had been called to decide on the next course of action.
"I know that but we can't find her. Her communicator's signal has been blocked," Robin frowned.
"Then we should go out there and sweep the city!" Kenzaki roared.
"Kenzaki-san is right," Draco agreed. "My sister is out there."
"We have to go and try to find her," Cathy added. She feared the worst.
"I'm with Kenzaki on this one," Rose said. It wasn't like her to normally agree with Kenzaki but then this was Neko they were talking about. The longer she was kept in captivity under Copycat, the more danger she would be in.
"We need a plan. We can't go in blindly," Robin tried to reason.
"You just don't want to save her!" Rose accused.
"Are you implying that I don't care!?" Robin shot back.
"That's right! I know you hate my father but to extend that to Neko is just immature!" Rose snapped. "You don't even like me!"
"I don't even trust you!"
"ENOUGH!" Shadow roared, shocking everyone to silence. "We won't get anywhere just arguing about this. Raven, Jinx, Renia and I will try to find Neko using Scrying. Cyborg, Changeling, Terra and Starfire should split up to sweep the city, checking every one of Slade's past hideouts."
"I doubt they're home, though," Rose muttered.
"At least someone is doing something," Kenzaki mumbled. Robin glared.
"Shadow, I'm leader here," Robin reminded.
Shadow replied, "I know that, but you have to admit that arguing about this is just a waste of time. You're a better man than this, so please don't disappoint me."
Robin sighed. He was getting far too emotional. He associated Copycat with Slade and at times Rose too. He would accuse Rose of being a double-agent despite Neko's argument that Rose was no longer on Tartarus' side. Robin was just being careful, or paranoid in most cases, but he just didn't want the Titans to be compromised.
"OK, we'll follow Shadow's plan," Robin said and he saw Kenzaki headed for the door. "Where are you going?"
"I need to set up for this," Kenzaki said as he held up his Rider Pass. The door slid open to reveal the entrance to the Sands of Time as the GarohLiner stopped there.
"I'm coming with you," Draco said, walking towards Kenzaki.
"Us too," Rose and Cathy said in unison. Cathy already had the ALPHA Gear on her but she hadn't activated it yet. Rose also had her Smartrooper Riot belt on too.
"Fine," Kenzaki nodded. "Let's go."
"I'm coming too," Robin said, earning strange looks from the others, especially Kenzaki and Rose. "I'm sorry that I was acting like a jerk."
Kenzaki smiled. "Good to know. Ikuzo!"
The 5 of them ran through the door and into the Sands of Time before it slid close. They quickly boarded the GaroLiner.
"Hello, Tazuka," Saeji greeted Tazuka who was standing outside of a 24 hour convenience store sipping a frozen beverage called a 'Slushie'.
"Greetings, Saeji," Tazuka greeted back. "So, what brings you here?"
"You can sense spiritual pressure, right?"
"I'm an Arrancar. It's what I do," Tazuka said, referring to his 'Pesquisa' ability. He took a long sip through the straw. It was blue berry flavor.
"Good, because I need to find someone."
"Who?"
"Neko."
Kenzaki stood in front of a wall that was decorated with various firearms and explosives. "This is gonna be the big one," Kenzaki said to no one. He heard the door slide open. "Hey, Kumiko."
"Kenzaki…why do you have to do this now, can't you wait for Robin and the others to create a plan?" she asked, nearly crying.
"I can't," was all Kenzaki said.
"Why not?!" cried Kumiko. She looked up and saw the look of pure determination in Kenzaki's eyes. "You…you love her, don't you?" asked Kumiko.
"Yes…No…I don't know," answered Kenzaki. "All I know right now is that if anything happens to her, I'll never forgive myself." He looked directly at her. "You know about my past, right?"
"You know I do…" said Kumiko.
"For the longest time, I was numb. I couldn't feel a thing, no matter how much anyone wanted me to…I was numb…I wanted to be numb. But something's different whenever I'm around her." He held out his hands and all the weapons turned to a liquid metal before joining being absorbed into Kenzaki's body. "For everyone's sake, for her sake, I needed to be…indestructible."
He walked up to Kumiko and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Please…I don't want you to die…"
"Daisuki, Kumiko-imouto," said Kenzaki as he gently kissed her forehead. He walked behind her to a box that was sitting on a table. He opened the box and took something out, quickly pocketing it. "This all ends today."He left the room, leaving a crying Kumiko in his wake.
Draco was in the dining car with Gekiryuken hanging from his neck. He was biting his thumb with his right leg over the left one and the right elbow on the table. His right foot kept fidgeting every so often. It was obvious to see that he was worried. Sitting across from him was Robin, who was wearing a stoic expression on his face with his eyes on the T-Com in his hands in front of him. He kept flipping the cover open and closed.
The Imagin were watching the two passengers as Shiori walked over and placed down a cup of coffee for Robin and a glass of milk for Draco on the table. She knew they were in deep thought over what was about to occur.
Rose and Cathy were seated at another booth. Rose loved Neko with all her heart and the thoughts she was having were frightening her. What could Katherine be doing to her sweet and gentle Knight? Cathy's thoughts were also filled with trouble. Shiori served the two some ice tea to calm their nerves but it as doubtful that simple beverages would help with their troubled feelings.
"Gekiryuken," Draco began, "Can you sense Neko-chan?"
"It's difficult to get a lock on her," Gekiryuken answered, regretfully.
"Keep trying, please," Draco pled. Katherine was pure evil. She was the part of his sister that didn't possess the same restraint the original Copycat had when she had been whole once. It was his fault this was happening.
"Hai," Gekiryuken replied. He wasn't going to fail his mistress.
Draco took hold of his glass of milk and took a sip when all of a sudden his eyes snapped wide open and glowed. The symbol for Pisces appeared on his forehead as the glass dropped to the floor with a crash, sending shards flying and milk splashing everywhere, shocking everyone.
Neko gritted her teeth from the pain, not willing to scream for their satisfaction. She was being cruelly tortured by Damien who was using a whip to cut more wounds into her skin. She was shackled to a wall and helpless. Katherine watched, amused, as Rosalinda stood next to her, hugging the evil Knight who had her arm around her waist. Slade was there too, watching…merely watching.
Blood dripped to the floor as Neko went limp.
Draco gasped and then started to pant as he stood up and gripped the edges of the table. Shiori was cleaning up the milk and broken glass on the floor. The door to the dining car opened and both Kenzaki & Kumiko walked in.
"I heard a glass break. What happened?" Kenzaki asked.
"Your buddy just freaked out!" Raion informed. "It was like he was having a heart attack!"
"It was a vision!" Draco snapped.
"What kind of vision?" Robin asked. Everyone interested listened to Draco.
"I know where Neko-chan is."
Damien smirked as he stepped back from Neko who'd fallen unconscious from the pain.
Katherine grumbled, "She's still so stubborn, unwilling to become one with me."
"Why would you want her back anyway?" Damien questioned. "She's just the part of you that has all the goodness so why bother? She'll only hold you back."
Katherine narrowed her red eyes at her Lord of Wrath, "Because I need her to fully unlock my powers. Without her, the Key, the Gate, which is me, cannot unleash its full power." Katherine was linked to all the Horror Gates on Earth. If she was able to unlock her true power, than the Horrors would all be unleashed and under her power.
Also, without the Key, she was bound to one world and unable to travel the Multiverse freely like she'd been able to do before. She was only able to find Damien through the use of an alien object known as a Stargate which she'd 'acquired' from a top secret facility and it only had been through luck that she'd been able to find him by using the thing. Of course, now the Stargate was useless due to its long recharge time. Chang was working on getting it operational once more.
Slade suggested, "Maybe we should use psychological warfare?"
"I agree, but I can't enter her mind for some reason," Katherine grimaced. "Her mental shields are as strong as mine. I can't break through them." She loathed to admit it but she had to admit agree that her weaker half wasn't as pathetic as she'd originally thought.
Damien eyed Neko's unconscious form. He wanted to break the girl in bed but Katherine was against it for various reasons, namely because she didn't want any memory of Damien raping her once she reabsorbed Neko. It just sickened her to feel a man's body against her own instead of Rosalinda's.
Katherine picked up a bucket of cold water and tossed its contents at Neko. The ice cold water shocked Neko awake and drenched her. She spat out water and opened her eyes at her captors.
Katherine could feel Neko's anger, hatred, and also fear. Those negative emotions fed her through their connection. Their minds were connected too, but Neko could sever that connection if she wanted to. Neko had discovered the connection between Katherine and herself and had practiced with Gekiryuken's help to block the evil half out of her mind.
"I'm not…going…to join you," Neko spat weakly, blood dripping from her cut lip. "So…just forget it!"
"We have a lot of time," Katherine responded. "We have all eternity really until you agree to be one with me."
"As…if, you psycho!"
Katherine snarled and strode forward before slapping Neko across the face. Though Neko's death would result in her own, they didn't share pain or any wounds, which meant she could hurt Neko as much as she wanted without any repercussions.
"Nobody is coming to save you!" Katherine roared. That scared Rosalinda.
"You're lying! Ryu-chan and the others will find me!" Neko shot back.
"The others? You mean that Wolf Rider?" Katherine scoffed. She was aware of Kenzaki's feelings for Neko but it would appear that the girl was completely clueless. "Why would he?"
"Because he's my friend!"
"Friend?" Katherine repeated, mockingly, "Friend!? Don't you remember what we did to him and his family?" Katherine laughed. "How can you ever be friends? He wanted to kill you if you haven't forgotten. You're just his ticket to getting me! As far as he's concerned, you're just another bounty on his list."
"I'm not!" Neko objected.
"Aren't you?" Katherine purred. "He doesn't care about you, Neko-chan. Nobody does. You and I are the same and they all see you as such. They don't trust you. You're just my shadow and you remind them of all the terrible things we've done."
Neko fell silent from Katherine's words and a grin formed on the evil girl's face. "Nobody cares…"
Neko stood there, hanging by her restraints. The others did care, right? Katherine was lying, right?
...
Right?
"Are you sure about this?" Rose asked Draco. "That's where Neko is?"
"Yes," Draco nodded. The vision had been very vivid. "Neko-chan is there," he confirmed.
"Alright, let's go then," Kenzaki said as he walked into the teleporter. It took him to the cockpit. He walked over to his bike and mounted it before entering the coordinates. With the coordinates set, their destination was clear. They were headed towards Paris, France.
Neko was in a dungeon located in Paris' catacombs.
"Alright, that should be enough for now," Slade said to his apprentice.
"I'm not through yet," Katherine snarled. She was holding her whip and lashing it at Neko, who was still bound to the wall. "I won't stop till she screams!"
"Fat…chance!" Neko gasped. She didn't look like she was in good condition. Her top had been torn up, she had scratches, cuts and bruises all over her body over hours of torture, and a bruise was starting to form around her eye where Katherine had punched her.
"She seems to have retained your stubbornness," Slade observed.
"Great, that's the only thing the Power of the Tiger split equally," Katherine spat. She walked towards Neko and lifted her chin up. The only thing keeping Neko standing were her restraints.
Damien strode forward. "Perhaps some time alone with me will rob her of that stubbornness," spoke Damien. He cupped Neko's chin and forced her to look at him. "I'm sure it would be…enjoyable. For one of us at least." He perversely licked the side of her face and shivered. "Oh…yes. It would be truly enjoyable." Katherine felt disgusted at Damien's perverse behavior.
"We'll continue later," commanded Katherine. Damien released Neko's face and stepped back.
"Some other time then." Damien then turned and left. Despite being one of Copycat's Lords of Sin, he was by no means her servant. He was only here as a means to his own ends.
Katherine leaned forward and licked the blood off the corner of Neko's lips. Neko spat in her face in response. Katherine frowned and wiped the substance off her face before slapping Neko across her own face. She scowled as Neko smirked at her. She turned around and said to Slade. "Slade-sama, ikuzo." Slade nodded and led Katherine out of the cell before locking it behind her.
Katherine had to respect her 'weaker' half. She had a pretty strong will and it had been fun earlier to attempt to break it. However, now it was becoming an annoyance and Katherine was growing desperate. She could only reabsorb Neko if the girl would agree on her own free will.
'Maybe I should've captured Rose and Cathy instead,' Katherine thought. 'No, Slade-sama would be angry.' As effective at that plan would be, Katherine had to reject it. Despite being pure evil, she still considered the emotions of her father figure. 'But, if I captured Draco and Kenzaki…' Torturing them might still get a response out of Neko. She just needed a way to draw them here…maybe a message?
"Hm, maybe I should send them a message," Katherine mused out loud.
"You said something, Katherine?" Slade asked.
"Oh, just thinking out loud," Katherine replied.
"Good, because the plan is almost coming to fruition."
'I agree…' Katherine's mind purred. She took out her phone and flipped it open. A message would lead the group to her and then…
She smirked malevolently as her shadow grew eyes and grins.
Paris, also known as the city of love, was going to play host to some very special guests as a multicolored portal form on an empty street. Many of the city's citizens witnessed the beautiful light show before train tracks 'grew' out from the portal and onto the road. Suddenly, a strange tune was heard right before a futuristic bullet train came flying out of the portal, running along the tracks.
The roadside performers watched in awe as did many civilians. A painter even switched canvasses to paint the amazing sight as tourists took photos.
A door opened before Kenzaki jumped off, followed by Rose, Cathy, Robin and Draco. "OK, we're here," Kenzaki said.
"I remember when I was here with Kat," Rose spoke referring to when Katherine and Neko had been whole in the past. "It was romantic."
"The last time we were here was to stop the Brotherhood of Evil," Draco remembered.
"And I was about to be frozen," Robin muttered.
Kumiko peaked out the door and sighed, "Ah, I've always wanted to visit Paris. It's so romantic."
"Kumiko, stay in the GaroLiner," Kenzaki ordered.
"But, Kenzaki," she complained.
"This isn't a vacation," he interrupted. "Maybe later, OK?"
"Fine," Kumiko sighed. "Just, get back here safely, OK?"
"I promise," Kenzaki smiled. Kumiko returned the smile before getting back in the train. The door slid close and the GaroLiner went into reverse before disappearing into the portal, along with its tracks.
"Let's get to the catacombs, quickly," Robin ordered briskly. "We're getting too much attention here."
"Right," Kenzaki agreed. "Let's move."
As the team ran off to find the entrance to the catacombs, someone was watching them.
Neko looked up as she heard her cell door open. She was absolutely terrified to see Damien standing there. Damien had been kept under a bit of control as long as Katherine was in the room, but with her gone… "Do not worry, girl," spoke Damien, though saying not to worry didn't help the situation. "I'm merely here to read your thoughts."
"You can't!" denied Neko. "You can try, but my mental shields are too strong!" She had said that last part with a hint of pride.
"Oh, I know. They may be too strong for Katherine whom you share a connection with, but not me. You see, I am much more powerful than your shields. Allow me to demonstrate." He placed a finger on Neko's forehead.
"Get out of my head!" Neko screamed.
"Oh, yes, this is very interesting," Damien mused. He saw many things in Neko's mind. Her memories were like a movie and he could see them all. He could see all her secrets, like her first crush, when she'd discovered that she was bisexual, and so many other delicious tidbits that she hadn't revealed to anyone. He removed his fingers. "Very nice."
Neko had felt the intrusion looked at Damien in shock. "How? How did you break through my shields?"
"Oh, I didn't break them. I merely bypassed them." He placed his hands on her head. "Now…let's dig a little deeper." The thoughts he was reading were of Neko's feelings. Her feelings for her family, Rose, Cathy and the Titans were boring but then he found something quite interesting. In the deepest depth of Neko's mind he discovered something that even she wasn't totally aware of. The information would make good entertainment at a gossip party and he knew Katherine would love to hear about them. These thoughts concerned Kenzaki and Neko's feelings for him…
"Oh yes, now that is a delicious piece of information. I'm sure Katherine would love to hear about that."
Katherine lay in bed with Rosalinda. They were in a beautiful hotel suite and had ordered room service. Both girls had shared an unhealthy amount of chocolate together, the rich kind. Unlike her weaker half, Katherine did not suffer from chocolate induced insanity.
Katherine popped another piece of chocolate into her lover's mouth and watched as the silver haired girl chewed it with satisfaction. Both girls were in their underwear and nothing else. "Now this is the life," Katherine purred, running a hand along Rosalinda's belly.
"Oui, Mistress," Rosalinda giggled. One of the shadows began to move and a figure walked out from them. At the sight of the demon, Rosalinda cringed and quickly embraced her mistress. Katherine held the girl protectively, eyeing the figure.
"What is it?" Katherine asked.
"They are here," the figure responded.
"I see." Katherine's eyes narrowed. "So, they're here. Report to Slade-sama and Damien-dono. Tell them I'm on my way." Katherine crawled out of bed and felt a hand on her arm. She looked towards Rosalinda who stared at her pleadingly. "Stay here where it's safe." Rosalinda reluctantly let go of Katherine but was given a kiss. "Be good."
Rosalinda bowed her head, "Yes, Mistress."
Katherine grabbed her Zodiac Deck and entered a dark portal with the figure following.
Draco shivered, "This is the entrance?" He might not be afraid of ghosts, but the sight before him gave him the chills. Cathy shivered too. It looked dark and from what she'd heard about the catacombs, it was filled with old bones. Human bones. Draco was getting some psychic feedback from the entrance. He was receiving visions of the dead and he didn't like it. That was what he hated about the Power of Pisces. He had little control over it and when it turned on he had trouble turning it off despite it showing him horrifying visions like now.
"Yep," Robin nodded. "According to this map I've got."
"I wish we'd picked up Shinji," Draco muttered. The urban explorer and Stag Inzecter user would've been useful for this sort of thing.
"Didn't you say Neko was here?" Rose asked.
"The visions didn't exactly pinpoint a location," Draco responded. "All I saw was her getting…" He hesitated, "Getting tortured and I felt her pain. It led us to here."
"Quit shaking and let's get going," Kenzaki said, producing a flashlight. "You wanna save your sister, right?" Kenzaki questioned as he went ahead. Draco fell silent and put on a brave face. "OK, if there are no more complaints, let's go."
Robin spoke to Draco, "Kenzaki seems more overprotective than you. I mean I know he wants to collect the bounty on Copycat, but still…"
"I know," Draco agreed. "Let's go in." Now was not the time to be afraid. His sister needed him.
They entered the dark tunnel and instantly Kenzaki, Rose and Robin turned on flashlights, Cathy used her ALPHA-Phone as a makeshift flashlight, and Draco picked up a piece of wood near the entrance and lit it up, making a torch.
Cathy felt nervous as she walked through the tunnel. "This place, I heard it was haunted," she said nervously.
"That's just a rumor people use to try and scare people," Rose assured her daughter.
"Actually…" Draco began, earning the two girls' attention. "Shadow told me that if a place has been used as a mass grave, it can contain a lot of paranormal activity."
The two girls paled.
"Oh, brother," Kenzaki rolled his eyes. "You guys fight monsters and even faced a big freaking demon and you're afraid of ghosts?"
Draco, Rose and Cathy nodded.
"Some heroes," Kenzaki muttered. Robin was walking alongside him. Kenzaki caught the look the boy wonder was giving him and asked. "What?"
"You seem pretty protective of Mimic," Robin stated.
"Well, she's a good friend of mine," Kenzaki replied, knowing and not liking where this questioning was going. Earlier, Rose had gotten the answers from him and Kenzaki wasn't interested in sharing anymore.
"Is that all?" Robin asked suspiciously.
"Look, can we talk about this later?" Kenzaki grumbled. "I mean we need to-"
Cathy shrieked.
"What's wrong!?" Kenzaki yelled as he turned his head to the back of the group to see Cathy had fallen to her knees, shaking. Her ALPHA-Phone was on the ground. Her tail was stiff and shaking as she raised a shuddering hand up, pointing in front of them.
"T-T-That…" Cathy stuttered, pointing up ahead. Everyone turned to look and Draco's eyes widened.
Kenzaki and Robin shined their flashlights in the direction and nearly shouted in shock.
"Dear God…" Robin said.
It wasn't the sign that had shocked them, or the bones which were piled up and arranged to make up a wall. It wasn't even the graffiti…it was the two male bodies (the guards) that had been pinned to the wall of bones, spread eagle. Large nails had been driven into their palms and ankles, sticking them there. The look of terror had was frozen on their faces. Signs also hung from their necks, in Japanese.
"Draco…" Robin began. "What do those signs say?"
Draco read the first sign, "Enter at you own peril, fools," before reading the second, "Or face a really short life. Signed: Copycat." At the bottom of each sign was a small cartoony caricature of Copycat's helmet. "Oh, Kami."
Kenzaki sniffed the air. "Those bodies are fresh."
"OK, I know we're here to save mama, but this is really frightening me!" Cathy cried.
"Calm down, Cathy," Rose hugged the younger girl. "Just close your eyes and hold my hand." Cathy did as told. Despite her training, Cathy had never actually killed anyone or even seen a dead body like this before.
There were several tunnel entrances. "OK, which one do we use?" Robin asked.
Draco steeled himself and said, "Allow me." He removed one of his gloves and placed his hand on the surface of the bones.
"What are you doing?" Kenzaki asked.
"Trying to get a vision. If one led us here, then another will tell us the right way to go," Draco answered. So far, he had nothing.
"Can't you sniff her out?" Rose asked, referring to Draco's enhanced senses as he was an Orphenoch.
"There's too much interference," Draco replied. "There are too many scents that I can't focus on hers."
"If you're planning of looking for your friend, you won't find her that way," a familiar voice came out of one of the tunnels. They all turned towards it and saw someone standing there. Someone respected, feared, and all around hated by a large group of people.
"Slade," Robin growled.
"Papa Slade!" Cathy spoke up.
"Daddy!" Rose shouted.
To Draco, he was known as Slade-sensei, but he wasn't about to greet the man.
"I don't have to ask why you're even here, Slade," Robin spoke with venom in his voice. "Now, where's Mimic?"
"Mimic? Oh, you mean my apprentice's weaker half?" Slade replied. "She's our guest and is receiving some proper attention and treatment."
"Tell me where my sister is, teme!" Draco roared. Slade's eye narrowed.
"You could try asking nicely, you know?" Slade sighed and then he struck. He charged forward and sent Draco into the wall with a powerful punch. "Hm, still an amateur."
"Not me!" snapped Robin, his bo staff out. "Come on, Slade!"
"Daddy" Rose shouted, stopping the two eternal enemies from fighting, "Daddy, please."
"Ah, Rose," Slade spoke smoothly. "You've disappointed me. You joined the Titans."
"I joined them because I don't want the world destroyed," Rose replied. Her hand was on the hilt of her machete. "Please, tell us where Neko is."
Slade remained silent. He studied his daughter and then his adopted granddaughter. Maybe, just maybe, they could appeal to whatever conscience he had.
Slade sighed, "Very well." He pointed behind him. "The tunnel behind me leads to the dungeon. But I warn you, the network is complex and you may find yourself lost."
"We'll take our chances," Kenzaki replied.
Slade took out a cell phone and continued, "But, you all need to go though me first." He flipped the black and gold phone opened and dialed in 5 numbers. Draco recognized it. Slade pressed 'OK'.
"Standby."
"Henshin," Slade said coldly before snapping the phone to the belt, the OMEGA Driver.
"Activate."
Golden streams spread from the belt and then released a bright flash. Taking Slade's place was OMEGA.
"Now, come at me," OMEGA Slade challenged.
That did it for them.
Cathy dialed the henshin code into her ALPHA-Phone and pressed "OK".
"Standby."
"Henshin," Cathy called before snapping the phone to the belt.
"Activate."
"Henshin!" Robin spoke into his communicator.
"Standby."
He snapped it to his belt buckle.
"Activation."
"Henshin!" Kenzaki called, swiping the Pass over his belt.
"HUNTER FORM!"
"Henshin!" Rose called, snapping her SB belt open, revealing a black and silver SR emblem inside.
"Henshin!" Draco called out, sliding his Zodiac Deck into the Masked Rider Sword. "Liner Drive Form!"
In flashes of light, the teenagers had transformed into their familiar armored forms, becoming Masked Riders. Ravager (Rose) now wore a black bodysuit with bronze gauntlets and boots. She also had on a bronze breast piece connected to back armor by twin straps on her shoulders and twin straps under her arms. She had no shoulder pads. Her helmet was bronze with a black visor and silver mouthpiece. On her forehead was a pair of antennae. In her right hand was rifle that had a bayonet equipped to the barrel.
"If it's a fight you want, Slade, then bring it on!" Robin shouted.
"Very well," OMEGA Slade nodded. He got into a fighting stance.
"Titans! Go!" Robin ordered and they all charged at Slade who stood at the entrance.
Katherine watched the entire battle through the eyes of one of her hidden minions. She could see as Draco used the Masked Rider Sword and Gekiryuken simultaneously to fight Slade but the master criminal proved much more formidable, even with Rose joining in and using her machete to fight against her father. OMEGA Slade used the flat of his blade to bat the two Riders away.
ALPHA (Cathy/Nekokage) tried to fight from above, shooting her wrist lasers at Slade who deflected the shots using the sword. He swung his sword, batting the shots away like one would swat flies before one of those shots bounced back and struck ALPHA in the chest.
Robin and Garoh were next, armed with their swords and slashing at OMEGA Slade like crazy. He was able to fight the two young warriors without any trouble, proving his power and superiority as he only used one hand which was gripping the OMEGA Sword. Swiftly and smoothly, Slade opened up the OMEGA Phone and pressed the button to activate the Excel Charge option.
Katherine watched as the golden energy blade extended from the OMEGA Sword and heard Slade call out his attack before striking. She smirked, licking her lips. She was proud to call Slade her master and father, which was why she'd chosen him to be her Lord of Pride.
In her cell, Neko watched as the door was sliced apart. Two figures entered and one of them spoke, "It's time to finish this. I'm sorry."
Neko sighed. She resigned her life to fate. "Just, get it over with and make it quick."
OMEGA Slade was too strong and experienced. All, but Robin, were on the ground after Slade had executed his 'Omega Blade' attack that had struck them down. Robin had been able to dodge it and knock the sword away before grappling with OMEGA Slade.
"Guys!" Robin shouted. "Get going! I'll handle Slade!"
"But, Robin!" Draco protested. Garoh got up and headed towards the tunnel. "Garoh!"
"He's giving us a chance to get to Neko! Let's go!" Garoh shouted.
Draco was reluctant to leave Robin alone but ALPHA had already flown into the tunnel with Ravager running by her side.
"GO!" Robin shouted.
Draco gave a nod to his fellow Titan and Rider before following after the others.
"Now it's just you and me, Slade," Robin smirked under his helmet.
"As it has always meant to be," OMEGA Slade replied before sending Robin crashing into the wall, sending bones flying at impact. He reached down to his belt and opened the phone, entering a new code before pressing "OK".
"Excel Charge!"
Slade's right fist was glowing with energy as the excel streams pumped the energy from the belt to it.
Robin responded by opening his communicator and pressing a button too.
"Excel Charge!"
Instead of his fist, the energy flowed down his leg into his right boot.
The two eternal enemies eyes one another before letting out a battle cry and charging at one another. Slade threw a fist as Robin raised up his left leg and swung it at the fist.
The boot and fist connected.
An explosion was heard by the team and Draco turned his head around. He shouted, "We need to go back!"
Garoh placed a hand on Draco's shoulder, "No! Kid, he gave us a chance to save your sister!"
"But!"
"He'll be fine! Now come on!"
They ran down the tunnel, which too had skulls and bones, when they reached a dead end.
"I knew it was too good to be true," snarled Garoh.
"Or is it?" Ravager asked as she touched the dead end. One of the bones was sticking out. "What's this?"
"Wait, it might be a booby trap," said Draco.
Ravager ignored him. She took hold of it and pulled it down. There was rumbling and then a section of the dead end swung open like a door.
"Mommy, sugoi!" ALPHA shouted with glee.
"Let's go then," Garoh said as he walked towards the door.
"That's far enough, heroes," taunted a female figure. She walked into the limited light and placed her hands to her hips. "This is the end of the line for you." It was Copycat.
Draco held the Masked Rider Sword and Gekiryuken tightly as he, Ravager, ALPHA and Garoh faced Copycat. "Where's Neko-chan?" Draco demanded.
"Oh, she's around," Copycat purred. "Too bad you won't be around long enough to find out." She summoned her two battle axes and prepared for battle.
"Draco, go and find your sister," Garoh insisted.
"But…" Draco began.
"I'll handle her, don't worry," Garoh assured. Garoh undid his transformation, Okami and the other Imagin stood around him, though Raion, Byakko, and Buraki were still without a true form. "OK, guys…this is my wish…" The Imagin stared at Kenzaki. "Save Neko, no matter what, save Neko…" As a result of his wish, Raion, Buraki and Byakko's sandy upper bodies rose up as their lower bodies, which floated above them, vanished upwards into the air. The Imagin stood at full height before their respective colors filled in. "Now, get going!" Kenzaki ordered.
Draco nodded and activated the energy tracks. He, Ravager, ALPHA, and the Imagin rode on them, racing past Copycat who had to dodge a shotgun blast from Kenzaki. They all entered through the door which closed upon entry.
"This ends here," Kenzaki growled.
"So be it," Copycat hissed.
Neko was still bound to the wall by her shackles as she watched helplessly as Saeji placed the tip of his blade to her heart. He said to her, "I told you that once the Living Gate became a threat I'd come back to finish the job." Neko wasn't going to beg for her life. Her evil half had been close to breaking her. If this was what it took to save the world and protect everyone, so be it.
"Can you tell everyone goodbye for me at least," Neko said in surrender.
"I'll tell them you gave your life for the greater good," Saeji said somberly. "Goodbye, Neko." He was about to thrust his sword into her chest when Gekiryuken flew out of nowhere and knocked it out of his hand. "What?"
"Saeji-niisan, don't do it!" Draco shouted, running towards them with Ravager, the Imagin and ALPHA behind him. ALPHA blasted at the chains, using her lasers at full strength but with narrow beams to cut the manacles holding Neko to the wall. The wounded girl fell forward but Ravager caught her before she hit the ground.
"Neko, what did they do to you?" Ravager asked gingerly. Neko's top had been torn she had bleeding cuts and ugly bruises all over her body. She had a black eye, a broken nose and a split lip. She was probably missing some teeth too. Buraki couldn't help but stare at Neko's exposed body but got smacked up the head by Byakko.
"They…" Neko began, coughing, "They tried to break me. Tried to make me surrender myself to her…" Neko chuckled weakly, "But I wouldn't let them, no matter what they did." She was in agony and too weak to move after hours of torture. ALPHA held the Aquarius Deck out to Neko.
"Mama, here," ALPHA started. "The Power of the Horse. You can use it to heal you."
Neko looked at the deck and nodded as ALPHA pressed it against her belt. The Zodiac Belt formed and the deck got locked in the centre. The crystal glowed and a shimmering light washed over Neko, healing the wounds and reenergizing her.
Draco and Saeji were glaring at one another. "You tried to…" Draco began, not able to find the words. "She still has more time!"
"Neko and I had a deal. If the Living Gate became a threat at any time then I'd come back to finish the job," Saeji replied, repeating the promise.
"But how did you get here?" Draco asked.
"I helped him," Tazuka said as he walked out of the shadows. He wore his Arrancar clothes along with the helmet-like remains of his Hollow mask. "I just used a Garganta to bring us here once I found Neko's spiritual energy signature."
Draco was silent. He didn't know what to say. His own cousin and brother were conspiring together to kill Neko. He just felt so disgusted by their actions that he couldn't look at them.
"Look, Ryuki-kun," Saeji began. "We have a responsibility to save the world! Sacrifices need to be made."
"Chigau!" Draco objected. "The ends don't justify the means no matter what! I won't let you kill Neko-chan."
Tazuka had to smile. Draco was still as idealistic as he had been 3 years ago since he met him.
Ravager and ALPHA were up in the Makai Knight and Arrancar's faces, a look of anger hidden by their helmets. The two men shifted uncomfortably from the angry glares targetted at them by the two girls who looked ready to shoot and slice them to pieces.
"It's OK," Neko stated after she'd been healed, shocking Ravager and ALPHA. "If I fell into Copycat's hands, this world and others would be in danger. You wouldn't want that, would you?"
Draco nodded, "Hai, but I'd sooner die fighting than allow an innocent life to be sacrificed for 'the greater good'."
Gekiryuken flew into Neko's hand. "Ojou-sama! I'm glad you are safe."
"I'm glad you all came to save me," Neko nodded.
"Well, we need to go. Robin is fighting Slade."
"And Shonen-kun is fighting Copycat," growled Okami.
"We need to help him! Hayaku!" Neko shouted as she ran out the cell.
"Neko-chan, chotto!" Draco shouted before chasing after his sister. The rest followed, except for two.
Kenzaki and Copycat faced each other. The ground around them was littered with spent shells. Copycat's breathing was heavy, while Kenzaki didn't even look winded. 'Gotta love invulnerability,' mused Kenzaki. His shirt had been torn to ribbons, revealing his metallic skin, which was unscathed. Kenzaki took stock of the weaponry he had left. 'Only have a hedgehog left. Good thing I set up a few more Air-fuel grenades around here during the fighting.' Kenzaki ripped off his shirt, revealing his metallic skin. A circular grenade formed in Kenzaki's hand. "Catch!" he called as he threw the grenade at Copycat. She jumped out of the way only to scream in pain. She looked behind her and saw quills sticking out of her.
"Bastard!" hissed Copycat. A detonator formed in Kenzaki's hand.
"Better than being a roasted cat!" he taunted as he pushed the button. Copycat heard beeping all around her, and suddenly she was engulfed in flames.
"It's over," Kenzaki grinned in satisfaction.
"You'd like to think that, wouldn't you?" Copycat mocked as she walked out of the flames, unharmed. She didn't even have a scorch mark on her armor, much to his surprise. She repeated what he'd been thinking minutes ago, "Gotta love invulnerability…"
Kenzaki frowned and prepared to use another attack when Copycat began, "It's funny, y'know? I mean I killed your family and then you come along to kill me, all grown up, but end up falling in love with my weaker half." Kenzaki fell silent. She must've read his mind. "Yes, I did read your mind, so there's no point denying it."
"Shut up," Kenzaki growled.
"Nope, I'm on a roll here," Copycat snickered, "Do you really think you two can ever have a future together as long as I exist? How can you love someone that looks like the person you want to kill? The person that killed your family? I seem to recall you wanting to kill her when you thought I destroyed your little time train." Copycat laughed. "And do you really think she has ANY feelings for you whatsoever? Trust me, she doesn't. We're both connected and let me tell you that she'll never love you. First impressions can last a lifetime and you tried to put a bullet to her head. You know what, that's not a bad idea really…" Liquid metal formed in Copycat's hands, but it stopped when she fell to her knees in pain. "H--how?"
"You may be able to copy my powers, but not my disease. The metal that coats my skin may give me great power, but to everyone else, it's a curse. Creating weapons out of one's own body is quite painful. Lucky for me, I can't feel pain…" He charged forward and planted a powerful punch into Copycat's face, cracking her helmet. "That's for my mother!" He kneed her in the gut. "My father!" He leapt up and delivered a powerful spin kick, giving it another crack, "My sister!" He grabbed her by her helmet. "And this is for me!" He pulled her head forward and slammed it into his own head. This caused her helmet to shatter. She staggered backwards; blood began to leak from the corner of her mouth. "12 years of anger…12 years of hatred…all leading up to this one moment…"
'How…? How is he able to hurt me? I'm invulnerable just like him so he shouldn't be able to…I'm like him! That metal on his body that gives him invulnerability…it can only be affected by the same metal! I've got him now.'
Saeji and Tazuka were left in the cell after the others had gone. "I really blew it, didn't I?" Saeji asked the Arrancar.
Tazuka's only reply to the Makai Knight was, "We both did."
"Ryuki-kun is going to hate me for this," Saeji groaned worriedly.
"He'll forgive you, eventually," Tazuka assured. "I'm not so sure about those two girls, though."
"That doesn't make me feel any better."
"I know, but maybe we should help them."
"Good idea."
Before they could leave, a dark blast of energy smashed into them and slammed them against the wall with a violent thud.
"Leaving so soon?" Damien asked. "How rude." He began to step towards the two, his hands laced behind his back. "And I don't tolerate rudeness." He held out his left hand, and the two warriors were lifted up by an invisible force. "An Arrancar and a Makai Knight, this may be fun." The two were thrown backwards.
Saeji and Tazuka stood up and prepared to fight. Both swordsmen drew out their weapons and activated their transformations.
"Defend! Tiburon!" Tazuka called out before his Zanpakuto shattered and then formed into armor which encased his body. At the same time, Saeji slashes a circle of light above his head and from it his crimson wolf armored fell and encased his body.
Damien looked at the two in mild surprise. He then smiled and began to chuckle. "Yes! Finally some entertainment!" he laughed. His laughter slowly became manic and insane, like a cackle from the depths of Hell. He held out his right arm. "Yes! Come at me! Don't hold back! Try your damnedest to kill me!"
REDDO, having a strict time limit was the first to attack. He charged at Damien and began swinging his blade. But each time Damien dodged it by a hair. He swung at Damien's neck, only to see it hit his throat and do no damage. "Nice try," taunted Damien. He then thrust his palm into REDDO's chest and sent the Makai Knight sliding backward. "70 seconds and counting…" REDDO looked at Damien in shock. "Oh, I know all about your little time limit. So you might want to hurry up."
While Damien was being kept busy by REDDO, Tazuka had gotten behind Damien and was preparing a Cero blast. Damien turned only to see the energy as it finished gathering. "How bout this!?" shouted Tazuka as he fired at point blank range. He heard a scream, which he assumed was Damien's. When the smoke cleared he was shocked to see REDDO, implanted into a wall by the blast. He felt a hand on his shoulder.
"An excellent shot, had you been aiming at him," taunted the Lord of Wrath. He grasped Tazuka's arm, still outstretched. "But you were aiming at me." Tazuka felt himself get lifted off the ground. Damien's other hand lifted up and dark energy gathered in his hand. "I think it should be something like this…" A powerful blast of dark energy shot from Damien's hand and slammed into REDDO. The force of the blast was so great that REDDO reverted into Saeji. Damien moved himself so he was face to face with Tazuka. "Or maybe something like this." Damien placed his hand against Tazuka' chest and fired another burst of dark energy right through Tazuka. Tazuka screamed as his release was shattered and he was forced back to his normal form. His Zanpakuto reformed clattered to the ground. "Pity. You didn't even give me much sport," Damien frowned before discarding Tazuka like garbage. He held out his arm and pointed at the two. "Time to die" he said with a laugh. A blast of dark energy exploded from his hand. He watched as the orb of dark energy stopped short of its targets. "So, you finally came…" The dark energy dissipated to reveal a rather pissed off looking… "Warren Smith."
Warren was glaring at Damien behind his sunglasses. "Like I'd miss a chance to punch you in the face" said Warren.
"Unfortunately these two bored me so much I'm not really in the mood for fighting. Though I hear Paris has some truly beautiful women…" Warren was about to stop him when Damien vanished, though his voice still rang in the air. "Prepare yourself Warren, for our true battle is coming…"
Warren cursed, "Damn it." His eyes then looked towards Saeji and Tazuka who were slowly coming to. "Come on, you guys. I think the others might need our help."
Kenzaki was breathing heavily now. Copycat had discovered his weakness and was easily using it to her advantage. She swiped at him with her claws, but Kenzaki ducked down and did a sweep kick, knocking Copycat to her back. Kenzaki followed up with an axe kick, but Copycat rolled out of the way. Kenzaki heard some rattling behind him and swung around. He found himself face to face with the Bone Imagin.
"Remember me?" the Bone Imagin sneered before he punched the stunned Kenzaki across the face and put him to the ground. The Bone Imagin now wore a hood and a cloak, resembling the Grim Reaper. He strode over to his mistress and stood next to her.
Kenzaki picked himself up and questioned, "But, how? I killed you!"
"Mistress Copycat was kind enough to save my soul and gave me a new body," the Bone Imagin replied. "She even gave me a new name. Now, I am known as Grimm."
"Grimm-kun, let's take him out," Copycat ordered.
"As you command, Copycat-sama," the Bone Imagin grinned, summoning a scythe that had a shaft made of bone.
The Knight and Imagin swung their weapons at Kenzaki who was trying to dodge but the narrow space didn't give him much room to move. He ducked before the scythe hit his head and the blade got stuck to the wall. In an instant, Copycat kicked him in the head and sent him rolling to the ground.
"Hah, pathetic," snorted Copycat. "Without those Imagin or your Rider powers, you're completely useless. Just like when you were a little boy, you're helpless now, just like when I killed your family."
Kenzaki growled. Copycat was trying to get a rise out of him and it was working. He had to find a way to beat her but then recalled the device attached to his right wrist that resembled a purple wolf's head. It had been given to him by his adopted father, the original Garoh.
"Never thought I'd need to use this again…" He flipped open the top of the Morpher, giving it a gong-like appearance. "Hibike! Beast Howl! Beast On!" He pushed a button on his Morpher, causing the gong to sound. The gong released a wave of energy that put his enemies at bay, giving him time to transform.
A purple and black bodysuit with white trimmings and silver arm and legs bands appeared on his body. There was the sound of a wolf howling and a full moon shone behind Kenzaki. Instantly, a purple helmet based on a wolf formed over his head and the visor slid over his eyes.
"Excitement! My style, to the limit of my will! Iron Will! GekiViolet!" Kenzaki posed, now transformed.
Copycat rolled her eyes, "A spandex-clad hero with a corny speech." She let out a scoff.
"Hah, you're still 100 years too early to beat us!" Grimm roared before charging at the violet clad Kenzaki.
"Gekiwaza! Ro Ro Dan (Wolf-Wolf Bullet)!" Kenzaki projected his ki into the form of a violet wolf. It lunged at Grimm and spun around and around, slashing at the Imagin with its bladed tail. Copycat was surprised by this and watched as her servant staggered from the attack as the ki-wolf faded.
"GekiJyuKen?" Copycat questioned. She'd seem Mortuary use the same type of martial arts. This was interesting. Her eyes scanned Kenzaki. With her power she could copy him, blow-for-blow.
"That's right and it's the fist of justice so don't be trying to copy it!" Kenzaki shot back.
Copycat's lips curled into a grin as she challenged, "We'll see about that." With a roar she charged straight at the violet clad bounty hunter.
The two combatants traded ferocious blows with one another. Kenzaki was able to counter all of Copycat's strikes but at the same time Copycat was able to counter his own attacks as well. They fought violently with one another, neither one letting up as they sought to finish the other off.
"This is it!" Kenzaki growled. He concentrated his ki into his fist and went for the final blow that would finish this. However, the hit never connected as Copycat's faceplate and eyepieces slid into the helmet, exposing her face, the same face shared between herself and Neko.
Kenzaki froze in hesitation for only a second but that was all the time Copycat needed to launch her attack. "Big mistake!" snarled Copycat. One of her claws extended and impaled Kenzaki. She could hear Kenzaki chuckle beneath the helmet.
"Gonna take more than a poke in the ribs to put this wolf down…" He felt four more piercings which were coming from the other four claws that were extended. "Yeah…that'll do it…"
"I'll tell Neko goodbye for you," Copycat purred as she readied her other clawed gauntlet to finish him off. "Sayonara, Kenzaki Tsukuba. Tell your family I said hi!" She swung down at him.
"GEKIRYU HENSHIN!"
"NANI!?" Copycat shouted before a blue dragon made of energy smashed into her and sent her crashing into the wall. The blue dragon roared before flying back to its mistress, fusing with Neko, and changing her into…
"Ryukendo! Raijin!" Ryukendo announced as she, Draco, Ravager, ALPHA and Kenzaki's Imagin arrived.
"Kenzaki-san?" Draco questioned, looking at the violet clad fighter. The visor was broken exposing both of Kenzaki's eyes. "It is you."
"Are you okay?" Ryukendo asked as she helped Kenzaki up.
"I've been better," Kenzaki replied.
"So, the gang's all here," Copycat eyed them. "Oh, wait. The Boy Blunder isn't here. I guess Slade-sama is still dealing with him." She stood up straight, Grimm by her side. "And I'm going to deal with you lot once and for all."
"Fat chance!" Ryukendo shouted.
"Ojou-sama! Use the card!" Gekiryuken instructed and Ryukendo obeyed. She drew the card as the dragonhead ornament of Gekiryuken slid up to reveal a chamber for her cards.
"Add Vent!" Ryukendo announced as she placed the card into the chamber and slid the dragonhead ornament down.
"Brave Leon!" Gekiryuken announced. A portal appeared next to Ryukendo and a robotic lion with white, blue and gold armor, along with a golden mane, jumped out and stood in front of its mistress. The lion, Brave Leon, let out a loud roar as its red eyes were focused on Copycat.
"Nice cat," Copycat scoffed.
"It's about to get better. Brave Leon: Vehicle Mode!" Ryukendo shouted as she leapt on top of her Zodiac Beast. The lion roared as its hind legs folded in and a pair of wheels took their place and a third wheel folded out in the front with the front paws hugging it. She revved up the engine and it roared before racing towards Copycat. "Take this!" She swung Gekiryuken and slashed Copycat across the chest, sending her to the ground. Brave Leon did a 180 turn and then sped straight towards Copycat who was just getting back up. Unprepared, Copycat was run over by the three-wheeled lion/vehicle and was flat on her face once more. Ryukendo grinned as she'd given Copycat her just desserts.
Kenzaki stared down Grimm. He chuckled under his helmet. "You know, when I was a kid, in all the mangas I read and movies and cartoons I watched, the hero of the story always had a one-hit, right hand, straight killer KO punch…"
"Yeah? And what's that got to do with this?"
"You'll see…" Kenzaki's right hand glowed with purple flames.
"Let's finish this," Ryukendo said as she turned Brave Leon back around again. She drew a card and quickly fed it to Gekiryuken.
"Final Vent!" both she and her Keyblade called out.
Draco got his own attack ready, the purple mask aligning itself with the blade as the energy tracks formed under his feet. "Full Throttle Break!" He then rushed towards Copycat. "DENSHA SHOTTO!!" Draco thrust his weapon forward and fired a purple blade of energy at Copycat.
"LION DRIVE STRIKE! RYUOU GIRI!!" Ryukendo drove right past Copycat and slashed her with Gekiryuken. At the same time Draco's energy blade pierced through her body.
"GEKIWAZA! GON GON KEN (Rigid-Rigid Fist)!" Kenzaki's fist exploded with violet flames as he charged at Grimm. He pulled his right arm back and threw it, colliding with the Imagin's face. Grimm screamed as he was thrown backwards and then exploded.
Copycat's armor was cracked and damaged as she was down on her hands and knees, breathing hard. She looked up at all of them, glaring hatefully. "This…isn't over!" she snarled.
Kenzaki stared and questioned, "Why won't you just give up? You've lost."
"Because…IT'S NEVER OVER!!" Copycat roared as she reared her head back and smashed her fists to the floor. She shouted out, "POWER OF THE ZODIAC RAT!" and sent a wave of energy all around her. The energy passed over her opponents harmlessly.
"What was that supposed to do?" Kenzaki asked but then realized everyone was frozen. "What?" He then looked around and saw that the bones were moving. "This is bad, isn't it?"
"I believe so," Gekiryuken replied as the bones in the wall all combined together to create skeletons, living skeletons that were crawling out of their resting places before filling up the tunnel.
"The Power of the Rat: Motion to the Motionless," Ryukendo stated. "Now I know why she chose this place."
Copycat's grinned at them wildly and malevolently before she commanded her skeletal army, "GET THEM!!"
Ravager and used her machete and the bayonet to slash at the skeletons as ALPHA blasted at them with her wrist blasters. Draco and Neko stood back to back, fighting together and using their respective Keyblades to cut down the living skeletons. Kenzaki was using his fists, elbows, feet and knees to smash the skeletal army. Despite being more powerful, the Titans had little moving space to fight the army of skeletons and no matter how many were beaten, more of the skeletons kept coming due to the fact that the catacombs were filled with bones.
"There're too many of them!" ALPHA cried.
"Just keep fighting!" Ravager advised, shooting at a several skeletons with her rifles.
"It's easy to take them down," Draco said, swiping his Keyblade at the skeletons, "But getting them to stay down is the real trick!"
"How the hell are we supposed to kill something that's already dead?" Ryukendo added, slashing like crazy.
"Damn, we need help," Kenzaki panted. His Imagin were fighting as well, backing their host up with their own fighting skills. Byakko used martial arts, Raion slashed and clawed at the skeletons like crazy, Buraki was blasting them with fire as Okami used his sword to slash at them.
Copycat watched from afar as the skeletons walked past her and towards her enemies. The attacks used on her had weakened her and she was not interested in losing another life. She took a step backwards, formed a dark portal, and fell backwards, diving into it.
Help finally came as Warren, Saeji and Tazuka showed up to even the odds. Tazuka and Saeji drew their blades and began slicing down the skeletons. Warren drew his gun and began blasting the skulls of the skeletons. He commented, idly, "You know, this isn't as much fun as Bruce Campbell made it look. Oh well…" He swung around and decapitated a skeleton before shooting another one. But unfortunately, even with the extra help, they were too overwhelmed. They decide that it was time to make an escape.
OMEGA Slade and Robin stood opposite each other, panting. Their fight had gone on for a long time without a clear winner.
"Give up, Robin," Slade suggested. "You won't be able to last any longer."
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Robin shot back. "If you think I'm just going to give up, then you don't know me that well enough as you thought."
OMEGA Slade glared back at the arrogant Boy Wonder. "So, you'd rather die fighting me than help your friends? They're in danger."
Robin took in Slade's words. He was here alone and his teammates were deep in the catacombs facing Copycat. Judging from experience, Copycat had gotten a lot more powerful than before. Still, this could be a ruse set up by Slade in order for him to let his guard down.
Suddenly, Robin heard screaming and turned towards the entrance of the tunnel to see the others running out. He blinked as he saw them running in absolute terror from something…a lot of something.
"MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!!" Kenzaki screamed as he ran in between Slade and Robin. Draco, Ravager, ALPHA, the Imagin, Warren, Saeji, Tazuka and Ryukendo were following close behind. Robin looked at the entrance and saw an army of living skeletons chasing after them.
"Robin! Let's go!" Draco shouted.
Robin nodded and turned to where Slade stood to see that he'd gone. Seeing the skeletons coming closer, Robin ran after his friends.
"Kumiko, get the GaroLiner here, NOW!" Kenzaki called into a special communicator built into his Pass.
The team exited the catacombs and the GaroLiner stopped in front of them. The door opened and they scrambled into the time train before it sped away.
Copycat walked out of the dark portal, holding her wounded self. She hissed, "Don't think it will be THAT easy…" The skeleton warriors came running out of the catacombs. Following after them was a dark Imagin orb and Copycat grinned. "Time for you to let loose, Grimm-kun."
Meanwhile, back in Jump City, Cyborg, Changeling and Terra were in trouble.
"Oh, shit!!" Cyborg screamed as he saw ARMS preparing to fire with his Giga Launcher. "Gar, Tara!" Cyborg yelled as he raised a nearby delivery truck and placed it in front of them. "Take cover behind me!"
"Vic!" Changeling shouted to his best friend.
"So long, Titans!" ARMS laughed as he fired the shell. It connected with the truck and exploded, sending the three Titans flying.
Terra slammed against a car but her armor protected her from harm. Changeling got knocked into a lamppost. As for Cyborg…he was crawling from under the wreckage of the truck he'd used to shield them.
"Cyborg!" Changeling shouted as he ran towards his friend. Terra followed after him.
"Oh my God!" Terra gasped.
"I'm fine," Cyborg insisted, but he was obviously lying. His legs had been completely torn off by the explosion, exposing sparking wires and ruined circuitry.
"God, Cy! You're not fine! Your legs!" Changeling shouted.
"Gar, get Cy out of here," Terra said, her eyes on ARMS. Her shoulders cannons were at the ready. "I'll handle ARMS."
"But, Terra!" Changeling tried to protest.
"Just go! Get out of here!" Terra shouted. She ran ahead to face ARMS.
Changeling nodded. He looked down at the DNA Morpher and muttered, "Vic, hope you don't mind." He twisted the silver ring, selecting his alien forms. He found the one he wanted; the Galvanic Mechomorph. "Terra, we're not leaving you behind again." He slammed his palm down on the watch.
Terra opened fire on ARMS but the shots just bounced off the green Zodiac Knight of Taurus. ARMS laughed, "Is that all you got?" Green energy flowed around his hand. "Try this!" He raised a nearby car with his magnetic powers and tossed it at the Inzecter armored Titan. Before it could reach her, it was blasted back towards arms by a green beam of energy and exploded when it hit ARMS. Terra turned her head to see and gasped. There stood Cyborg with his legs repaired but his entire body, save for his face, was pitch black with green circuitry patterns and the DNA Morpher's emblem on his chest.
"Terra, we're going to back you up," said Changeling whose voice was coming from the emblem.
"Gar, this is way too close for comfort for the both of us," grimaced Cyborg.
"I fixed you, didn't I?" Changeling replied. "Now, come on! Let's get this guy!"
ARMS dug himself out of the wreck and glared hatefully at the Titans. He laughed, "You think this is gonna stop me!?" He drew a card and slid it into his gun's magazine. "Fat chance, Titans! Final Vent!"
"Holy crap!" Terra cursed. "Guys, move!"
"Not without you!" Changeling countered. "Not again." Cyborg involuntarily grabbed Terra by the waist. With a quick and creative mind, Changeling gave Cyborg a rocket pack and converted his feet into wheels.
Cyborg's eyes widened, "Gar, wait!"
"Just trust me!" Changeling shouted back as he activated the rockets and Cyborg shot away from the scene, carrying a squirming Terra.
"You can't escape from me!" ARMS roared, standing behind Gigataurus. He placed his gun into a port behind his monster and all of Gigatarus' ammo was exposed, ready to be fired. "See you in Hell! End of-"
"DARK TORPEDO!"
"WHAT!?" ARMS roared when something raced towards them from their right side and smashed right into Gigataurus and himself, knocking them to the side.
Cyborg, Terra and Changeling recognized that voice and ceased their escape. "Is that?"
The bike came to a stop and the rider turned his head to face the trio of Titans. The rider was a familiar sapphire clad Knight in a cape. The rider's visor swung up and his faceplate slid open to reveal…
"Yo!" Pluto greeted.
Terra and Cyborg's jaws dropped.
ARMS pushed Gigatarus off him and growled. "Damn…you…" He got up to his feet and gripped his gun. He aimed it to the back of Pluto's head. "You, god damn bastard…"
"Blast Vent!"
Pluto dismounted from his bike and it transformed back into Darkraider's Zodiac Beast form. It screeched before turning quickly around and activating the turbines in its wings. Debris was being blown towards ARMS as the green Knight found it difficult to stabilize his footing.
"Heh," Pluto chuckled as his faceplate and visor fell back into place. He raised his hand to his face and produced a blue orb of crackling energy. "So long and hope to not see you soon." He then threw his arm towards ARMS and sent the orb flying across the street straight at ARMS. The energy orb electrocuted ARMS and caused him to scream before he collapsed to the ground, his armor shattered. "Oh, yeah." Pluto's faceplate slid open before he blew at his finger like he was blowing smoke off the barrel of a gun. "Bull's Eye."
Pluto made his way towards the Titans who were still stunned at his return. His armor reverted to normal form, the Survivor Mode armor shattering off like glass. He reached up and removed his helmet before tucking it under his arm. Takada looked older and more mature than the last they'd seen him. The tight bodysuit under his armor also did nothing to hide the muscles developing on his body. He'd been away for nearly 3 months and now he was back.
"So, what did I miss?"
In the dining car of the GaroLiner, everyone sat around to celebrate Neko's rescue. The girl in question was being fussed over by her brother, girlfriend and daughter. Though such attention was not unwelcome, she was slowly getting a little irritated. Then again, she'd been tortured and they wanted to see if she was okay.
Shiori served them all drinks and Kenzaki, who'd changed out of his GekiViolet suit, decided to say a few words, "If it wasn't for this ragtag group of misfits, put together into a team, then we wouldn't be able to successfully complete this mission."
"Nice words, Shonen," Okami snickered.
"They are wise words!" Byakko spoke up.
Raion was writing something up. Possibly a new rock song about what'd happened in the catacombs from the looks of it.
Buraki looked out the window and alerted everyone, "Oh, shit!"
"What?" Kenzaki questioned and he looked out the window. "Oh shit!" he repeated.
"Everyone ran towards the window to see and saw that Paris was being attacked by a massive skeletal monster with long demonic horns and large claws. It walked on all fours as it rampaged through the city.
"What is that thing?" Rose asked.
"A damn Gigandeath!" Kenzaki growled. "Okami, ikuzo!" Kenzaki called as he fastened his belt and pulled out his Rider Pass.
"Hai, shonen!" Okami agreed before he leapt into Kenzaki's body, possessing him, symbolized by the black streak in his hair.
"Henshin!" Kenzaki shouted as he waved the pass over the belt after pressing the black button.
"HUNTER FORM!"
Kamen Rider Garoh ran towards the teleporter and was instantly transported into the cockpit. He took hold of the controls and shouted, "Time to break some bones!" He turned the time train around to face the Gigandeath, activating the GaroLiners Tsumes's weapon systems. The top of the train's first car flipped over and transformed it into a wolf's head and a pair of mechanical arms equipped with sharp claws folded out at the sides. The wolfish train howled before rushing at the Gigandeath with its teeth bared. It took a bite out of the Gigandeath who roared in pain. The Gigandeath swiped at the time train but it was able to evade it. The train then began to slash at the Gigandeath using its sharp claws.
"Take this!" Garoh shouted. He pushed another button and the GaroLiner Tsume unleashed a howl. It released a high powered laser from its open mouth, striking the Gigandeath in the face. It roared and was about to take another swipe at the GaroLiner but then a black dragon wearing a castle for armor intervened. The black dragon smashed into the Gigandeath. "Nani?" Garoh let out.
In the dining car, everyone could see the large black dragon. Robin and Draco knew what it was. "Topper-san!" Draco gasped.
"Wait, if that dragon's here, then that means…" Robin narrowed his eyes on the dragon's back and he could see a familiar red, silver and black clad figure waving at them. "Devlin!?" Robin's communicator beeped. He took it out and flipped it open. On the screen was Masked Rider Fang.
"Bonjour, Robin," Fang greeted.
"Devlin, what are you doing in Paris?" Robin asked.
"Oh, I just decided to take a weekend trip with my darling Danielle," Fang explained. "When I saw this train fly by our hotel room I knew something was up so I decided to check things out."
Garoh's face appeared in Fang's place as the GaroLiner's Rider asked, "Hey, Bird Boy, who the fuck is the guy on the dragon!?"
"He's another Rider," explained Draco speaking into his own communicator. "Kamen Rider Kiba (In Japanese, Masked Rider Fang translated to Kamen Rider Kiba)."
"Oh, well, if he's gonna back me up then he's gotta show some power!"
"Power?" Fang laughed from his place on the Great Dragoon's clock tower. "I'll show you power! Great Dragoon, let's take that thing down!"
The Great Dragoon roared and started spewing fireballs on the Gigandeath as Mini-Dragoon launched its own barrage. Fang watched as the GaroLiner continued to fire but this time fired several missiles out of its mouth which smashed into the massive skeletal monster, blowing up chunks of its body.
Draco's face came up on Fang's communicator and the viewing screen of the GaroLiner, "Minna, we need to use a Rider Kick to finish this!"
"A Rider Kick?" Fang mused. "Hm, a capital idea!"
"Let's do it!" Garoh agreed. The hatch of the GaroLine's cockpit opened and Garoh jumped up. He stood on the roof, looking down at the Gigandeath. He looked behind him to see ALPHA, Ravager (wearing the Smartrooper Riot Gear armor), Robin (wearing the Titan Gear armor), Draco (Survivor Mode), Wraith and Ryukendo standing on the roof.
"MINNA!" Draco shouted, "IKUZO! TEAM RIDER KICK!" He jumped off the rood and the others followed. Fang jumped off the Great Dragoon's head and launched by his dragon's fireball. He was engulfed in flames as he flew at the Gigandeath, along with the others flying by his side, legs outstretched to execute the most powerful attack any known Rider had in their arsenal of techniques. The chains shattered from his right armored boot and the wings spread out.
Robin's and ALPHA's Excel Stream glowed as their energy was focused into their outstretched legs. Ravager had connected her rifle to her boot, the bayonet pointing forwards, Draco was covered in flames, Ryukendo was covered by a blue aura, Wraith had a dark aura around him and finally there was Garoh who was howling.
The TEAM RIDER KICK as Draco dubbed it smashed straight through the Gigandeath. The Gigandeath roared as its body exploded. The Riders/Titans touched down on the ground and watched as the skeletal monster exploded and bones rained down on Paris.
Copycat, from afar, bit her lip as her Horror-Gigandeath was destroyed, eyes burning with rage and humiliation. Fists clenched, and posture rigid, she bowed her head and walked away. One day… one day soon… she was going to get even.
"Kanpai!" Draco announced as the entire team stood in the dining cat, sharing drinks.
"That was totally awesome!" Cathy shouted out. "I mean we did that Rider Kick and then…"
"We know, Cathy-chan," Neko chuckled. "We were there."
"Oh, but it was still awesome!" Cathy yelled out excitedly.
As soon as Kenzaki put the glass back down on the table, he suddenly passed out on the floor, causing everyone to panic.
"Kenzaki!!" Neko and Kumiko shouted. Then everything went black for the bounty hunter/Rider.
Katherine was back in her hotel room with Rosalinda treating her wounds. She had bandages all over her body. The wounds would heal, eventually, but she was angry. She'd been defeated by Draco and Neko and such a defeat did not settle well with her.
"I will beat them one day," Katherine swore with a snarl. Rosalinda cringed at hearing this. Katherine looked at Rosalinda and smirked. "Might as well blow off some steam." She tackled Rosalinda to the bed and her slave girl gasped.
"Mistress, but your wounds-" Rosalinda tried to protest but moaned as Katherine licked her neck and cupped her breast.
"Let's worry about that later," Katherine purred before she licked her lips and started nibbling on Rosalinda's ear.
Kenzaki regained consciousness and looked around. "Where am I?" he asked.
"The infirmary in Titans Tower," Neko answered from her place in her seat. Gekiryuken hung from her neck, fast asleep. She was sitting in a char next to the bed and asked, "So, how are you feeling?"
"What happened?" Kenzaki asked.
"Well, the problem is that because you can't feel pain, you didn't realize that you were suffering from internal injuries and bleeding," Neko explained. "You took more damage than you thought and you passed out."
"Oh."
Neko read Kenzaki's expression and decided to get straight to the point. "Ken-kun, how do you really feel about me?"
Kenzaki's response was to freeze. That was a pretty blunt question.
Neko sighed, "OK, if you're not going to say anything, than I will." She continued, "You make me feel the same way I feel about Rose."
"You mean…?"
Neko grumbled. She never thought she'd be attracted to another boy since Takada and look how that'd ended. Initially, she's been confused about her feelings for Kenzaki. Earlier, Damien had dug up her thoughts and conflicting feelings regarding Kenzaki, forcing them out to find information Katherine could use. At first she was in denial, but after confiding with Gekiryuken, she managed to admit to herself. "Yes, Kenzaki, I'm saying I might be falling for you."
"Oh." Kenzaki blinked and asked, "What brought that up?"
"Damien got in my head and brought up some thoughts and feelings I was hiding away in my head. I was actually pretty confused." Of course, she wasn't sure if the feelings were real or because of something Damien did. He might've done a little tweaking when he'd been reading her thoughts. But how would such a thing benefit him? She knew he was as evil as Copycat but he always had a reason for doing things and the things he did always benefited him in some way. "At first I thought of you as a friend and then I thought I loved you like a friend and later a brother. I had a talk with Geki-chan to clear things up." She paused, gauging his reaction before continuing, "What I want to know is how you feel about me?"
Kenzaki gulped and blushed. He feared this day but he had it coming. It was bound to happen. The things Copycat had said to him were true. "To be honest, at first I only thought of you as my ticket to getting a really huge reward." Neko frowned at hearing that. The bounty put on Copycat was due to the damage she'd done to the Multiverse. "And well whenever I saw you, I saw the person that killed my family." She still had nightmares about that and felt the guilt and grief. "But, lately, I've been developing other feelings for you."
Neko blushed at the implication of his words. "Ken-kun, are you saying that…?"
Kenzaki sat up on the bed, despite her protests, and grabbed her arm. "I'm thinking that actions speak louder than words at times like this." He then pulled her into an embrace. Her heart was beating fast and he could feel it thumping against his chest.
"K-K-Ken-kun!" Neko stuttered but she didn't try to push him away.
'It takes me a second to realize…for the first time in a long time…I feel something,' thought Kenzaki.
From the door Rose watched with an unreadable expression before turning around and walking away. She didn't need to see anymore.
To Be Continued…
ZK Chromedragozoid: I'd like to give thanks to Shadow Element 13 and Tanyeera for editing and giving me ideas for this chap.
I can't believe after over 2 years of working on Volume 3 it's finally going to be over!
Also, this Fang is not the spider-headed villain but a Rider from my other fic called "MASKED RIDER FANG." If you want to know more about him, please check it out, OK?
As for the OP and ED, please suggest some songs, OK?
ED Sequence
Ryuki, Neko, Ichijyo and Takada are sitting in a train as it moves along the track. What they see out of the windows is different.
Ryuki sees himself as Draco in his Liner Drive Form, but holding his helmet with his left hand, hanging from his fingers, and resting the Masked Rider Sword on his shoulder. The scene around him is of devastation.
Ichijyo sees himself as Shadowcobra in Death Form fighting. The background is showing Misha's image being covered by darkness.
Takada sees himself as Pluto running from the guards with Blackfire leading them as an explosion causes a fire in his lab in the Palace of Tamaran.
Neko sees herself as Ryukendo sitting at a cliff, Gekiryuken in his Keyblade form lying by her side. She watches as the sun sets in the horizon.
The train stops and the doors open, letting in light. As they step off, they see their friends and family welcoming them home.