"Does Café La Salle sound okay?" Desmond asked. Raven blinked.
"Café La Salle?" Raven repeated.
"Yes, or do you wish to go someplace else?"
"No, it's fine."
"Great, I'll pick you up. Where do you live?"
"You know that big tower in the shape of a T?" she questioned. He nodded. "You can pick me up there."
"8:30?" Desmond asked.
Kat lay on her bed, facedown, crying her eyes out. Her father was gone and there was no telling what had happened to him. He could be alive, he could be dead; there was no way of telling.
What had hurt the most was the betrayal. How could the people she had been working for keep this from her? She had loyally and blindly followed their orders to seal the Beast Spirits and she was repaid with lies and secrets. She didn't know what was true anymore.
They would have to beg her to become Mimic now. Someone else would have to take up the mantle of the Advent Knight of Suzaku for she wasn't going to do it anymore. No way, no how, not ever.
Leo would have to do it alone now. Well, he wasn't alone. There was Takada/Pluto. He Tiger Knight would help him since she wanted nothing to do with this anymore. She was through, now and forever.
A black and green motorcycle stopped in front of Café La Salle. The rider, who was dressed completely in black, was wearing a helmet with a visor that completely hid his face. He looked into the window and saw both Leo and Takada talking. He revved up his engine and rode away. He had other things to attend to right now.
Episode 13: Infestation
In a darkly lit room stood twelve individuals. Their identities were hidden from the outside world for they wore black robes with hoods that completely hid their faces. They stood in a circle, facing one another.
One began to speak, "It would seem the Knights are in this city and have started to seal our lesser kin."
Another replied, "What should we do? Do we face them ourselves."
Another one protested, "No. Such an action would be unwise. What do you say, King?"
King, their apparent leader, pulled down his hood to reveal the face of a man in his early forties with spiky and messy black hair with green eyes and slightly tanned skin. He said, in a commanding voice, "Release the Dark Roaches."
A different robed and hooded individual bowed, "It will be done, Lord King."
King grinned, "Excellent…"
Raven looked at herself in the mirror. After trying on various forms of clothing, she picked something that would be the most appropriate.
It was a dark blue t-shirt with a picture of a raven on it and a pair of black jeans. Around her wrists were black bracelets and on her feet were black combat boots. It would appear that Raven did have something to wear from her wardrobe and all she needed to do was look deeper. The clothing that Starfire had suggested made Raven shudder, cringe and grimace at all the pink and preppy clothing. It was just not her. She didn't like dresses that much either, even though Starfire said she would look simply stunning in one.
This wasn't a fancy dinner at a fancy restaurant. This was just a casual little place the Titans had gone to one or twice and being run by a pair of twin Advent Knights. Raven still didn't trust them, at least not by much. They were keeping something from the Titans and she intended to find out.
Taking a book up into her hands and looking at the clock, which showed 8:15 pm, she waited for her date.
Desmond rode towards the edge of town and looked at the Tower that was located on an island not too far away. It was a massive structure, despite looking like the letter 'T'. He couldn't help but chuckle. He removed his helmet.
"So, this is her home," he mused to himself. "Interesting…"
For a very long time, Desmond had never met a person quite like Raven. She was dark, very dark, and quite attractive. Her violet hair and pale greyish skin made her look…exotically entrancing. He frowned a bit before he wondered if this was such a good idea in the first place. Was it wise to get close to anyone? He had a job and was running out of time…but still?
He shook his head. No time to think depressing thoughts. For once in his life, he would try to behave like a normal teenager…even if his date was anything but normal.
Back in Café La Salle, Leo was still feeling a little depressed. He took a few glances up the stairs leading to his and his sister's room. Takada sat across from him, feeling both guilty and sympathetic.
"I'm sorry, Leo," Takada apologized.
"No, it's fine and-" his cell phone beeped. "Now what?"
Takada's cell phone was beeping as well. Both Knights of Byakko and Seiryu took out their cell phones and peered on the screens. Their eyes widened with shock.
"Kami…" Leo prayed.
"Okay…this cannot be good," Takada added.
"My words exactly," Leo agreed. On their screens were hundreds upon hundreds of Beast Spirit signals.
It was an invasion.
Raven was waiting in her room expectantly, feeling oddly giddy. She looked up at the clock. She was, strangely, feeling both nervous and excited. She could hardly wait.
Suddenly, the alarm blared and the lights flashed red, causing her mood to drop. One of the occupational hazards of being a hero: no such thing as a normal life.
She heard a knock at the door. "Raven!" Beast Boy called out. "It's an emergency!"
With a sigh and a flash of black magic, Raven was once again in her uniform. She pulled up her hood, thinking, 'I hope Desmond can forgive me.'
The Titans arrived in the city and looked up into the sky. The sky was filled with a cloud…
A dark cloud…
A dark buzzing cloud…
A dark living buzzing cloud…
A dark living buzzing cloud…
OF GIANT HUMANOID ROACHES!
People panicked and ran as the creatures swept down. The Titans made their move.
"TITANS! GO!" Robin commanded as he knocked a Dark Roach away with his Bo staff. "Go! Run!" he told the man who gratefully ran with his life.
The other Titans attacked the swarm. Starfire blasted them with her starbolts, turning them to dust much to her shock, but continued blasting nonetheless.
"It looks like Killer Moth has been busy," Cyborg said as he punched one Dark Roach across the face.
"I don't think this is Killer Moth's doing," Robin said. "He uses mutant moths, not cockroaches." He threw several explosive discs at the ones flying too close.
"Whatever they are they're sure ugly," Beast Boy said before morphing into a stegosaurus and smacking a few Dark Roaches with his tail.
"Let's squash some bugs!" Raven said, her eyes radiating with white energy, as she collected a few into a dark energy orb and crushed them. Some of the Titans blinked.
"Is it just me, or does Raven look a bit more edgy than usual?" Beast Boy questioned.
Leo knocked on the door, "Onee-chan! We need to go!"
"I TOLD YOU! LEAVE ME ALONE!" Kat yelled from the other side. Leo sighed exasperatedly.
"We need to go, Leo!" Takada called out o his younger friend.
Leo sighed, "Alright, Takada-san. But first…" he placed the Suzaku Buckle and Change Ace card at the foot of the door. "Now, let's go."
The two Knights, wearing their Advent Buckles, ran out the Café and rode on their bikes. Leo's was silver and blue with a spade shaped windbreaker while Takada's was black and white with a diamond shaped wind breaker and black stripes on the white parts.
"Henshin!" They shouted together as they slid their Change Ace cards into their buckles.
"CHANGE SEIRYU!"
"CHANGE BYAKKO!"
The two vehicles revved up, engines roaring, and sped towards the battle.
'I hope onee-chan can join us soon,' Draco thought. 'Judging by the number of signals, we're going to need all the help we can get!'
The Titans were still fighting the Dark Roaches, and it didn't look like they were doing so well. No matter how many were destroyed, several more would just take the place of their fallen comrades.
Cyborg stood back to back with Starfire as they blasted with their respected sonic cannon and starbolts, reducing the charging monsters to dust.
"They just keep coming!" Beast Boy yelled out before changing into an elephant and stomping on them. A few leapt upon him before he morphed into a fly and surprised them by changing into a tyrannosaurus and attacking ferociously.
"No matter how many we beat, a few more just keep showing up!" Cyborg yelled.
"Taking them down is easy!" Robin smacked a Dark Roach across the face with his staff. "It's getting them to stay down that's the trick!" he panted and wiped the sweat off his brow.
Raven blasted and impaled the Dark Roaches with dark energy spikes. She floated down lower to the ground. She was starting to get exhausted and didn't notice one sneaking up behind her.
"RAVEN!" Raven heard someone yell as a black and green motorbike slammed into the Dark Roach sneaking up behind her and smashed it into the car. He bike skidded to a stop as the rider removed his helmet.
"DESMOND!" Raven yelled. "Get out of here! It's too dangerous!"
"Not likely," Desmond said as he revealed a black Advent Buckle, much to Raven's surprise and slid a card into it. "Henshin."
"CHANGE GENBU!" The green energy field swept over him and donned the black and green armor upon him. Raven's eyes widened.
Desmond…was Advent Knight Shadow.
Getting off his bike, Shadow charged at the Dark Roaches and smacked them around with a swing of his staff. He blocked their attacks with his turtle shell shield that was strapped to his left forearm before running them through with his staff. Raven shook her head, thinking of demanding an explanation from him later, and joined in the battle.
Dark Roaches surrounded Beast Boy and Cyborg. The two best friends gulped.
"Cyborg, you're my best friend, right?" Beast Boy asked.
"Yeah," Cyborg replied, cracking his knuckles. "So?"
"I just wanna say…" Beast Boy began to say. Suddenly, the Dark Roaches were reduced to dust after the sound of gunshots. Beast Boy and Cyborg blinked and looked up. Standing atop the roof of a building was none other than the Advent Knight of Byakko-Pluto!
"NEVER FEAR, THE CAVALRY HAS ARRIVED!" He jumped off, did a flip and landed on the street, shooting at Dark Roaches left and right with his Byakko Revolver. Beast Boy and Cyborg shrugged as they joined in the battle.
Starfire and Robin were separated from their friends and facing numerous Dark Roaches that wanted nothing more than to tear the young heroes to shreds. Taking hold of Robin's hand, Starfire whispered, "Robin, if we do not survive, I wish you to know that I love you…"
Robin tightened the hold and replied, "I love you too, Starfire." He gave her the same confident look she loved so much, "And we WILL survive this!"
Starfire, encouraged, rose into the air and began raining death upon the Dark Roaches with her starbolts as Robin threw his explosive birdarangs and discs at the monsters.
There was something that sounded like a blade slicing through the air. Robin turned his attention to see…the Advent Knight of Seiryu-Draco, raising his sword into the air and announcing, "I AM THE MAN THAT WILL CREATE A PATH TO HEAVEN WITH THE SLASH OF HIS BLADE! NONE OF YOU FOUL BEASTS WILL STOP ME!" Powering up his wind powers, he sent air slashes at the Dark Roaches, cutting them apart and changing them to dust. He also summoned a lightning storm with a yell of, "RAIJIN!" and the bolts struck down upon the Dark Roaches. Draco ran through the horde and slashed at them with his sword skilfully and effectively. He reached Starfire and Robin.
"Gomenasai," Draco apologized. "I'm a bit late."
"That's okay," Robin said, "I'm just glad you're here."
"Let us defeat these fiends!" Starfire shouted, eyes glowing green.
The three let out a united battle-cry and attacked.
Kat wiped her tears away and turned on the TV in the room. There was a news flash.
The news reported on TV said, "Mysterious black insectoid creatures are attacking the city. Thankfully, our local superhero team, The Teen Titans, are handling the situation. Here's our roving reporter, Jack Bridged, reporting live from the scene." They went to the live video feed.
" Moron," Kat muttered
"Like you said, Tracie, the Teen Titans are handling it. Also, in addition, three others have joined the fight. They seemed to be wearing some sort of armor and appear to be allied with the Titans! Well, I hope they can help out!"
A Dark Roach was approaching the reporter and cameraman but was sliced in half by Draco. Draco ran towards them and shouted, "Run! Get out of here! Hayaku!" He then looked to the camera, "Onee-chan, if you're watching this, we really need your help! Now!"
Kat turned off the TV. She was starting to feel guilty. She knew that her brother, Pluto and the Titans could handle this, but her brother was in danger. Maybe if she…
No, she was no longer going to become an Advent Knight. She had been lied to for so long and…
Wait a minute. Did the reporter say THREE armoured figures? That would mean…
She grinned. It was payback time.
She went over to the door and opened it and lying at the foot of the doorway was her buckle and card. She picked up both items and smirked.
Even though she had been lied to, there was no way she was saying no to a chance for payback.
She put on the buckle, the belt forming around her waist and slid in the card.
"Henshin."
"CHANGE SUZAKU!"
Draco was picked up by a few Dark Roaches and taken into the air. Starfire and Robin were too busy to assist him. They dropped him and he crashed upon a car, shattering the glass and denting the roof. He groaned, "Itai…"
The Dark Roaches dove at him and he threw up his hand, yelling, "FUUJIN!" blasting them with a powerful gale. He jumped back to his feet and drew three cards before slashing them through his sword.
"KICK! THUNDER! MACH!" the Seiryu Blade announced, "LIGHTNING SONIC!"
Draco stabbed his sword into the ground and ran at supersonic speed. He jumped up and aimed a special electrified flying kick at a few Dark Roaches. The creatures could not escape the speed and power of the attack as it smashed through them and destroyed them in a powerful explosion. He looked around, picked up his sword and charged it, slashing at a few Dark Roaches and reducing them to dust.
"EAT ARROWS!" Draco heard a familiar yell and looked up to see his sister clad in her Mimic armor, flying upon dragonfly wings and wearing her card reader on her buckle. He smiled under his helmet.
"GAMBATTE, ONEE-CHAN!" Draco yelled out as he elbowed a Dark Roach in the face before kicking another one in the gut. Mimic waved at her brother and shot ice and fire arrows at the Dark Roaches in the air. She also sliced them to pieces as Draco hacked into a few of them and zapped some more.
Shadow drew two cards and slashed them through his staff, activating them.
"BITE! BLIZZARD!" the Genbu Staff announced, "BLIZZARD CRASH!"
Shadow leapt up, releasing freezing blizzard winds that froze a few Dark Roaches solid and then smashed into them, crashing them to pieces. Raven was tired, he noticed this, and he walked over to her. Placing his hand over her, energy in the shape of leaves and flower petals fluttered down on her. She felt good as new.
"Thank you," she said, smiling.
Shadow shrugged before gripping his staff in an offensive manner. "Thank me later. Right now, we're surrounded and we have to fight."
They both stood in their battle stances and fought. Shadow threw water bombs and wooden spikes as Raven used her dark magic.
Drawing three cards and slashing them through his gun, Pluto prepared his attack.
"DROP! FIRE! GEMINI!" his Byakko Revolver announced as he placed it back into the holster, the giant projection of the three cards floating above him before being absorbed into his body, "BURNING DIVIDE!"
Pluto jumped up and tucked his legs under his body before he did a flip. His legs were engulfed in fire as he duplicated into two and both Plutos performed the flaming drop kicks upon the Dark Roaches, destroying them.
Cyborg and Beast Boy were both impressed as Pluto took out his gun again and began shooting at the remaining Dark Roaches. Cyborg joined in by blasting with his cannon as Beast Boy assumed gorilla form.
Pluto demonstrated his power over earth by stomping on the ground and creating a tremor to knock the Dark Roaches off their feet before using his power over metal and dropping an empty bus on them. He then summoned a few chunks of the street into the air and clobbered a few of the Dark Roaches out of the air.
Seeing Pluto do this reminded Beast Boy of Terra…
Soon, there were no more Dark Roaches left as they were all destroyed and disintegrated. The Titans and Knights regrouped. Things became tense when Mimic set her eyes upon Shadow.
"It's good to see you, onee-chan," Draco said to his sister.
"I never miss a fight," Kat said, hands on her hips. She glared at Shadow from under her visor.
"Thanks for the help," Robin said to the Knights.
"It was nothing, really. Just glad we could help," Pluto said, rubbing the back of his head. Robin gave him a communicator. "What's this for?"
"Consider yourself an honorary Titan, Advent Knight Pluto."
"Alright!" Pluto cheered, shooting into the air with his gun before he calmed down after freaking out the Titans.
Shadow crossed his arms and looked away, scoffing. "If we're done here, I'd like to be off, thank you. I don't have anymore time to waste."
"Now, hold on," Robin said. "It seems that the threat of the Beast Spirits is endangering the city more and more. I suggest that all of us work together to keep this city safe. What do you say?"
Shadow replied, "I am an Advent Knight, but I am not allied with these three." He pointed to Pluto, Draco and Mimic with a thumb. "I don't need their help nor do I need yours. If they choose to help you, so be it. However, it's best that you Titans stay out of this and don't interfere."
"Now hold on!" Beast Boy shouted.
"This doesn't concern you…" he said before he turned to walk away. He felt a hand touch his shoulder. He turned to see Raven, looking at him pleadingly. He sighed.
"Raven, please…"
"Desmond, this is our city and we need your help," she began to say, making the mistake of calling him by his real name, "Like you need ours."
"Desmond?" Pluto blinked under his helmet. "Why does that name sound so familiar?" He rubbed his chin.
Desmond sighed. His cover was blown. He wanted to glare at Raven but caught her smirking. He reached down to his buckle and ejected the card. The energy field swept over his body and stripped off his armor. The other three Knights' eyes widened. They did the same and their individual energy fields stripped them of their armor.
"IT'S YOU!" Leo and Kat yelled.
"You know him?" Robin asked.
"He came by the Café a couple of times," Kat replied and turned to glare at Desmond and stepped up to him, grabbing him by the collar of his coat. "So you've been spying on us, huh?" She got in his face, "Who the hell are you and how did you get to become an Advent Knight?"
"It was the only way I could gather information," Desmond retorted, undeterred. "One must always know all they need on ones enemies and allies. And as how I became an Advent Knight…" he grinned, "That…is a secret…"
"That's my line," Kat snarled. Leo was trying to get his sister to let go of Desmond, but he wasn't able to pry open her grip on him.
"Wait a minute, now I know who you are!" Takada said in realization. Desmond gritted his teeth as Takada said, "You're Ichijyo Desmond Amakusa, the boss' kid!"
"NANI?" Leo and Kat shouted in shock as Kat let go, pointing at Desmond.
"So that's how he got access to an Advent Buckle and the suit?" Kat questioned accusingly.
"Correct," Desmond said as he fixed his collar. "In addition, I am also heir to Smart Brain Corporation, so that means you'll work for me as well, eventually. I should sue you for assault."
Robin blinked, 'Smart Brain? Is that the secret corporation Kat was telling us about before?'
Kat lunged at Desmond and screamed, "WHY YOU STUCK UP, SNOBBISH, LITTLE RICH BRAT!" She thrashed around, swearing in Japanese while Takada and Leo restrained her. Her string of curses was making both Leo and Starfire blush at the intense vulgarity of each word.
Desmond took no heed of Kat's threats or curses. He sighed and turned to address Raven, smiling charmingly, "I apologize that we aren't able to have that dinner anymore, Raven."
Raven blushed as Starfire approached her, wanting to know what Desmond meant. The others were trying to calm Kat down and stop her from shooting Desmond with an arrow as Robin sighed.
"This is gonna be one interesting alliance," Robin muttered under his breath. "What were those things?" he asked.
"Dark Roaches," Takada explained. "They are detected as Beast Spirits but are more like cannon fodder. They usually work for a High Class Beast Spirit."
"High Class Beast Spirit?" the Titans echoed.
The twelve robed figures stood in a circle, sighing deeply.
"It would appear the Dark Roaches have failed and were eliminated, King," spoke one of the robed and hooded figures with a distinctively female voice.
"Don't you mean 'exterminated'?" snickered another robed member who also had a female voice.
"No matter, we still have time. Besides," King grinned, "This way, we can learn the Knights' strengths," he waved his hand and a viewing portal appeared, showing Desmond talking to Raven, "And weaknesses…" He focused on Raven who was still blushing and trying to avoid Starfire's questioning.
A/N: Now all four Advent Knights are together, sort of. But who is this mysterious group of twelve robed figures and who is King? Why are they so interested in Raven? Read on to find out.
Preview to next chap: Leo is running back to the Café from the grocery store when he accidentally bumps into a strange girl with pink eyes and pale skin. Feeling slightly impulsive, he asks her out to lunch at Café La Salle as an apology. Well, when they meet on their date, the Titans are in trouble and need Leo's help. Should he stay or go?
New combo's revealed.
Burning Divide
User: Pluto
Cards used: Drop Whale, Firefly, Gemini Zebra