Raven's speech had an effect on Kat. She was usual strong, hiding her weaker emotions behind a brick wall exterior. However, right now, she was beginning to tear up.
"Arigatou, Raven," she said to her.
"You're welcome."
"I sure hope my onee-chan will be alright," Leo said as he sat on the couch with Jinx.
"She'll be fine," Jinx assured her.
Takada was standing in front of the window. Something was nagging at him from within. The rain was pouring down hard. He then noticed something outside on the water. He squinted his eyes trying to focus on it. Was it a boat? In this weather? Couldn't be. It looked almost like a person walking on the water. But that was impossible, wasn't it?
Desmond was holding the Bible to his chest and twirling his crucifix between his fingers as he walked towards Titans Tower. Of course he wasn't taking the bridge that connected the Tower with the mainland, oh no. He was walking on the water. It was not impossible given his powers over water. His body was dry as if the rain water did not touch him, also thanks to his power.
His targets were inside the Tower and if anyone get in his way he was to deal with them with extreme prejudice.
His orders were simple: Eliminate the Knights once and for all and take their cards. They were now neutralized so he had nothing to worry about.
Or so he thought
Episode 22: Revival
Desmond's foot touched the shore of the island where Titans Tower stood. He looked up at the magnificent structure. Even though it was raining he wasn't even wet because of his water manipulation powers. He felt almost guilty for having to do this but if he was going to survive he would have to eliminate the either Knights once and for all and take their cards away from them.
As he was ready to summon the Dark Roaches, he heard a voice behind him. It was a female voice.
"You mustn't do this, Desmond!" the voice shouted. Desmond turned and stood face to face with three members of the Royals. Their hoods were over their heads but he knew who they were. They were the Jack, Queen and King of Clubs. The once who had spoken was the Queen of Clubs. She pulled down her hood to reveal Hikaru. "You have to stop!"
"Why?" Desmond responded. They were Royals and he had been conditioned to follow their orders. However, if any of the Royals dared to stop him in his mission he would deal with them appropriately.
The second Royal pulled down his hood to reveal Shima. Despite being one of the Royals he had a kind face and a kind heart. He was not like the others, in fact he loved humanity. He said to Desmond, "I think you know the answer to that. It was wrong for King and Isaka to turn you into their pawn. You are not meant for this and you know that."
"I must do so I can live," Desmond said. "I don't have much time."
"But is living as a slave, a puppet, worth it?" Hikaru asked. "What Isaka is doing to you is totally dishonorable! You can't stoop as low as this! You've won, you've defeated the other Knights, there is no reason for you to go after them!"
"They are still a threat," Desmond responded. "And they still have their cards which I must take. I need that power."
"No, you don't," Shima said sagely. "Even so, there are other ways."
"Not for me," Desmond said. "Now, if you want to stop me than you can stay and fight me." He pulled his coat open to reveal his Advent Buckle. His card had been loaded and all he had to do was activate the transformation.
Hikaru and Shima shook their heads. Shima said, "We can't stop you, only you. Deep in your heart you know this isn't right."
"Just make your decision before it's too late," Hikaru said. She turned to their more muscular associate. "Come on, Daichi." He didn't respond. "Daichi?" She checked and heard him snoring. "He's asleep again!"
Shima sighed in exasperation before the three of them vanished. When they left Desmond turned to the Tower again. He said, "Show time." His buckle split open.
"CHANGE GENBU!"
The alarms suddenly blared, flashing red. Leo and Jinx panicked. Takada narrowed his eyes. Something was happening. Something bad.
The Titans in the infirmary also looked up as the alarms blared.
"We've got trouble!" Robin shouted.
"And it's closer than you think," Cyborg said. "There's an intruder on the island!"
"Not just one intruder," Raven said, her eyes glowing white. Kat looked at her and she said, "I can sense things and I'm sensing more than one presence."
"How many do you sense?" Starfire asked. She wasn't sure if she wanted to hear the answer. When Raven's eyes went wide and she gasped, Beast Boy decided to cut in.
"That doesn't sound good," Beast Boy said.
"She's right," Cyborg said looking at his scanner. "I'm getting about 60 life signals on here!"
"Let me help," Kat said as she started to get out of bed.
"No, you have to stay in bed. You're still recovering," Robin protested.
"You saved my life so I owe you big time," Kat retorted. "Besides, I was getting bored anyway." She then saw the Advent Buckles on a nearby table and looked down at the one she still wore around her waist. "You better get help from my otouto-chan, Tiger-Boy and Pinky too. I'll catch up with you later."
"Thought you wanted to help," Raven said.
"I will, trust me," Kat said to Raven.
"Right, let's go," Robin said as he led the team out of the infirmary. Kat got out of bed and removed her Advent Buckle from her waist and walked over to the table where her brother and Takada's buckles lay. Something deep in her mind was nagging at her and telling her to do something. The first thing she did was throw her Advent Buckle away. It was of no use to her anyway. She then focused her eyes on the two Advent Buckles. Finally her eyes began to glow the same shade of green as her blood.
"What's going on?" Leo demanded as the alarms continued to blare.
"We've got intruders on the island and…" Robin began to say as he suddenly shouted, "GET DOWN!"
The windows shattered in all of a sudden as 25 Dark Roaches crashed through, flying on their beating insectoid wings. Jinx looked at them with shock and disgust.
"What are those things?" Jinx asked.
Leo's eyes narrowed. He said, "Our enemy."
"Titans! Go!" Robin shouted.
"FUUJIN!" Leo shouted as he used his power over wind to blow the Dark Roaches out of the Tower. He turned to the Titans and said, "Let's take this fight outside!" He jumped out of the window.
"LEO!" Jinx shouted in horror but Takada said something to calm her down.
"He's fine," Takada assured her. "There's no fall he can't recover from. But…" He turned and called to Robin, "Robin, you got a wooden sword or anything?"
"I guess," Robin said. "Why'd you ask?"
"I think Leo might need it."
"Okay." He turned to the other Titans and ordered, "Go help Leo! I'll catch up with you later!" The Titans nodded and exited through the shattered windows.
Leo used the air to cushion his fall. A fall like that would've killed a normal person but since the day he donned the armor and became the Knight of Seiryu he was anything but normal.
He was surrounded by Dark Roaches. They charged at him but he zapped them away with his lightning. His powers weren't his only weapon, however as he also had some decent martial arts training. He punched and kicked at them, adding a bit of his electricity into each strike. He also blew away a few Dark Roaches and zapped them with lightning, reducing them to dust.
Shadow watched this with deep interest. He wasn't going to fight the unarmored Knight of Seiryu just yet. He was going to watch. He had an entire army of Dark Roaches at his beck and call so there was no reason for him to dirty his hands. This was a simple game, a game called War, and he had the advantage.
Well, that was what he originally thought.
Green energy blasts destroyed several Dark Roaches as black energy darts did the same as well. A blue sonic energy beam plowed through some Dark Roaches as well and a green gorilla suddenly appeared and started crushing heads. Shadow's eyes narrowed. The Titans were here.
"Need help?" Cyborg offered. Draco nodded.
"Arigatou," he said. He pulled his goggles down over his eyes since the rain water was getting into them.
Starfire let out a battle-cry and unleashed a flurry of starbolts upon the Dark Roaches on the ground. Some flew up to attack her but she dealt with them as well. Despite her usual gentle disposition Starfire was still from a warrior race and she was laying the smack down on the Dark Roaches, showing off the bit of the Starfire the Titans first met. She was absolutely savage and showing no mercy.
"Azarath, Metrion, ZINTHOS!" Raven chanted and sent dark energy in the form of black ravens that destroyed several more Dark Roaches. She turned around just in time to slice a Dark Roach in half with a dark energy blade she formed.
Cyborg was punching at Dark Roaches, left and right, breaking in their faces and killing them. He then aimed his twin sonic cannons and fired, destroying a few more. Some tried to dive bomb him but he reacted just in time to fire his shoulder missiles, destroying them.
Beast Boy quickly shifted from one animal form to another in quick succession. He swiped at them with his bear claws and then stomped on them with his mammoth feet before swinging his large T-Rex rail at them. They climbed all over his large dinosaur body so he assumed the form of a fly before flying up and then dropping on them as a whale.
Leo blasted at the Dark Roaches with his wind powers and saw the one responsible. Shadow was just standing there, watching. Leo's anger boiled, remembering the state of his sister and who had caused her such pain. He growled, "Kiisama…!" He then rushed over at Shadow, avoiding several Dark Roaches attacking him. He charged up a powerful electrical punch and swung it at Shadow. Shadow didn't even need to look as he caught Leo's punch. He turned his head slightly so he would be looking directly at Leo. He then kicked Leo away. Leo doubled over since he was kicked in the gut. He looked up and glared at Shadow.
"Why?" he demanded. "Why are you doing this?"
Shadow said nothing. He summoned his staff and pointed it at Leo. "You're interfering, in the way, so you must be destroyed." He swung his staff to crack Leo's skull but he was suddenly bombarded by pink hex waves which then exploded on his body. He was flung back rather violently. Leo turned to see Jinx and Takada, running towards him. Robin followed in tow.
"LEO!" Robin shouted, "CATCH!" he threw something to Leo and he caught it. It was a bokken, a Japanese wooden sword. He smiled. Perfect.
Robin then joined the others as he took out his Bo-staff and birdarangs and threw the latter at the Dark Roaches. They exploded when they hit the Dark Roaches.
Jinx flung hexes left and right and used her acrobatics to avoid the swipes of the monsters. Takada was close by and flinging large clumps of dirt and rocks at any nearby Dark Roaches. He didn't have a gun with him so he had to improvise. He didn't have any experience with his powers but at least he could practice this way.
Shadow was staring Leo down as the auburn haired glared at him. Shadow said, puzzled, "Why do you continue to resist? Your armor's gone. Your only option is to give me your cards or die. Why do you continue to fight a battle you cannot hope to win?"
"Because okaasan always said that you won't know unless you try and success comes to those who try. You only truly fail if you stop trying," Leo replied. Shadow nodded.
"Very wise advice," Shadow said.
"Know this, Shadow…Amakusa-san," Leo began. He pointed to the sky with his wooden sword and pointed to himself with the thumb of his other hand. "I am the man who shall create the path to his destiny with the slash of his blade!"
Shadow nodded and then undid his own transformation. Leo looked at him with suspicion. Desmond then said, "Then I shall fight you as I am and crush your destiny." He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a retractable Bo-staff but it was black. Leo smirked. They both let out a battle cry and charged at each other.
The Advent Buckles glowed green under Kat's eyes. Her eyes were glowing as bright at Starfire as her hands were pulsating with a sort of eerie power. She was almost done. She just needed more time. Lightning flashed and thunder crashed outside where the battle was. She knew she needed to be there but she had to finish this first. She had to.
Around her waist was a new metal belt with a buckle designed exactly like the detachable card reader she used to wear behind her belt. It was a pentagonal shape with red heart symbol and a narrow slit in the centre. There was also a rectangular card case attached to the right side of her belt. How she got this belt was a mystery but we would not be getting into that now. She continued to concentrate. Her brother needed her now more than ever and even if she was just a clone of the original Kat, she was still Leo's twin sister.
The same blood flowed through their veins. Okay, Kat's blood was green but that was besides the point.
When the Titans found out about her they also promised not to reveal her secret. Besides, she didn't have to tell them anything about herself unless they asked her. She would gladly tell anyone her secret if they asked.
'You never asked' was a catchphrase the original Kat had developed so she had to use it as well. Besides, it was fun too. Just like the secondary 'it's a secret'.
Right now she had to do what she had to do even if it revealed her secret to her brother. He deserved to know but she just wasn't ready to tell him, not just yet. She just wasn't sure how he'd react.
When the Titans found out about her they also promised not to reveal her secret. Besides, she didn't have to tell them anything about herself unless they asked her. She would gladly tell anyone her secret if they asked.
'You never asked' was a catchphrase the original Kat had developed so she had to use it as well. Besides, it was fun too. Just like the secondary 'it's a secret'.
Right now she had to do what she had to do even if it revealed her secret to her brother. He deserved to know but she just wasn't ready to tell him, not just yet. She just wasn't sure how he'd react.
The Bo-staff and wooden sword clashed with one another as their wielders fought. Desmond had discarded his coat just as Leo had discarded his own jacket. The latter's hair came unbraided and his goggles lay on the ground.
They had been fighting relentlessly, showing a great amount of skill in their battle against each other. Desmond swung and jabbed with his staff as Leo dodged and slashed with his sword. They weren't using their powers, only their skill.
The Dark Roaches kept coming but the Titans continued to fight them. They weren't giving up. They'd fought Slade's robots and won and they'd fought Trigon's demons and also won. What difference did this battle make anyway? As long as they fought together and never gave up they would be victorious.
Desmond and Leo locked weapons, staring eye to eye. Desmond had not been concentrating on his water powers so his hair now matted his face as was Leo's. Desmond's lips curled into a smile. He said, "Let's kick it up another notch, shall we?" He mentally willed the water around him and then threw baseball size water orbs at Leo.
The orbs stung but Leo held firm. He then said, "If that's how you want to lay it then I'm happy to oblige." He then swung his sword in an arc and blew Desmond back. Desmond landed back on his feet and watches as Leo sent wind blades at him. He summoned the water to shield him but the wind blades cut through. Desmond ducked down. Leo then rushed at him and swung his wooden sword down on him but Desmond rolled out of the way. Getting on his knees he pressed his hand on the ground. The grass grew longer and suddenly vines erupted from the ground and lashed out at Leo. Leo used his wooden sword and wind blades to slash them away.
"RAIJIN!" Leo cried out and a bolt of lightning came down on Desmond. Vines wrapped themselves together to form a protective dome over the Knight of Genbu to absorb the bolt before they disappeared back into the ground. The island was surrounded by water so Desmond did not have a limited supply of resources. The same could be said for Leo as the storm was providing him with powerful winds to use against his adversary. Desmond then sent a powerful torrent of water at Leo just as Leo was sending another gale at Desmond. The attacks clashed and exploded on impact before throwing both Knights back violently.
Desmond landed roughly on the ground as did Leo. Their weapons fell from their hands. Leo groaned. He didn't have time to create a wind cushion to break his fall. He looked up to see Desmond struggling to stand up.
"Are you okay?" he heard someone ask and Leo looked up to see Jinx looking down at him with worry. She helped him up.
"Daijoubu," he said. He looked at Desmond who had recovered from the explosion of power. He looked around and saw that none of the Dark Roaches had survived. The Titans had destroyed them. That was his entire army. He turned to the Titans who stood before him, ready to take him down.
Raven stepped up. She looked at him pleadingly. Something inside him faltered. He held his head. Just who was this girl? Why did she make him feel so…uncertain, confused?
"Desmond," she began. "It's over. Please stop this right now. Let us help you," she nearly begged him.
"You are our friend," Starfire pleaded as well. "You are a Titan as well, remember?"
Desmond thought about this then he coughed. He covered his mouth looked down at his gloved hand. There was blood in it. No, it wasn't over. He apologized to Raven, "Sorry, but this is the only choice I have." His hand reached for his Advent Buckle and he shouted out, "Henshin!"
"CHANGE GENBU!"
With his dark green and black armor on, Shadow marched over to the Titans. He held his staff and drew a card. He then slashed it through.
"BLIZZARD!"
The rain water froze as Shadow released a cold blizzard from his hand. The blizzard was aimed at the Titans and not even they could escape a force of nature. They were still tired from their fight with the Dark Roaches.
Suddenly, a wall of fire rose up and nullified the blizzard before it could hit the Titans. Everyone looked surprised, all except Leo. He knew who had saved them.
"Onee-chan!" he shouted out happily.
Waling out of the Tower, despite the rain, was none other than a certain Kat Hasuma.
"You're late," Raven commented. Kat shrugged.
"Sorry, I had to do something first," Kat answered. "Something important."
"How important?" Robin asked. He saw that Kat was hiding something behind her back. She then revealed what she had been hiding and both Takada and Leo gasped in shock.
Their Advent Buckles had been repaired and they had been modified as well. The buckles were silver with a clear panel in the centre that had a slot for the Category Ace cards to be inserted. How Kat was able to repair them and modify like that was a mystery but right now they didn't have time to question her.
"Otouto-chan, Takada, catch!" She threw the buckles to them and they caught them. They stared at them and then at Shadow who looked equally shocked at the latest turn of events.
Leo and Takada placed the buckles to their waists and the belts automatically came out and strapped them on. The two then took out their cards and slid them into their new Advent Buckles.
"Henshin!" they cried out. Unlike their previous buckles, which split open in response to the command, the new ones had the panel flip over to reveal their symbols. The familiar energy fields shot out and then Leo and Takada ran through them.
"CHANGE SEIRYU!"
"CHANGE BYAKKO!"
Draco and Pluto were back in action. The Knight of Byakko looked at his hands and then his gun. It may not have been long but he had missed this. The Knights of Seiryu looked at his sword, admiring it like it was his first time. Their armors were the same but one thing was different. They now had devices attached to their left forearms.
"Huh? Nani?" Draco looked at the device on his forearm. It looked like a blue dragonhead. Pluto's on the other hand had a bit of a tiger motif to his. The head of the tiger ended just at his wrist.
"What are these things?' Pluto questioned.
"You won't have time to find out!" Shadow cried as he charged at them. The Titans wanted to go in and help but Kat shouted at them to stop. They looked at her questionably.
Kat said, "Watch."
Draco blocked Shadow's staff with his sword just in time for Pluto to shoot the Knight of Genbu in the chest to send him staggering back. Draco then kicked him square in the chest before punching him in the face. Shadow drew two cards and slashed them through.
"RUSH! STAB!" The tip of his staff glowed as he went to stab it into Draco's chest. Draco, in response, drew a card and slashed it through.
"METAL!" his body was coated with metal and the attack ricocheted off. The metal plating disappeared right after the attack was deflected. Pluto, seeing this drew two cards and slashed them through his gun.
"FIRE! BULLET!" He aimed his gun and fired fireballs at the Knight of Genbu. Shadow snuffed out some fireballs with water but a few got past his defenses and exploded on his body. He didn't have time to get to his Gell Jellyfish card since the fireballs kept raining in on him. He was forced on his knees until the barraged stopped. Draco walked over to him and placed the tip of his sword to his shoulder.
"Do you yield?" he said to Shadow. Shadow glared at him and swatted the sword away before he jabbed his staff at Draco. Draco grabbed the staff and sent a surge of electricity through it and into Shadow.
Shadow was being jolted and he was sent flying by a powerful blast of wind. He landed in a puddle and got back up. His armor was being stained by mud and he glared angrily at both Knights of Byakko and Seiryu. This just wasn't fair odd for him. He needed an advantage. Seeing Pluto draw another card he took his chance and drew a card as well. He slashed it through.
"REMOTE!" A green energy beam fired from the Remote Tapir card and into the card Pluto was holding. Kat remembered this and it wasn't good.
Pluto's card flew out of his hand and the seal was undone to release the Zebra Beast Spirit. The Beast Spirit, remembering who had sealed it, whinnied and charged at Pluto. Now Draco was left to fight Shadow while Pluto was preoccupied with his own opponent.
"We have to help," Jinx said but Kat held her back. "What are you doing?"
"I won't dishonor my brother by helping him until he asks. This is about his honor. We cannot assist him," Kat told her. Jinx shrugged her off and glared at her.
"Don't you care about him?" she yelled at her.
"Of course I do!" she shot back. "But I know him enough to know that he won't give up. He can win this. The best we can do is to give him advice."
"What kind of advice?" Jinx asked curiously.
"This advice," she smirked. She shouted at Draco just after he kicked Shadow away, hard, "Otouto-chan!" That got Draco's attention. He looked to his sister and listened. "Do you see the device on your forearm?" He nodded. She continued, "Slide your Category Queen into it before slashing your Category Jack through it!" Draco nodded and inspected the device on his arm. There was a slot in the back for a card and another slot for slashing through cards. He knew what he had to do.
Shadow came charging at him, several vines following him, as Draco blew him back away with a blast of wind. He knew he didn't have much time until Shadow recovered so he had to do this quick. He spread his cards out in front of him and took out both the Jack of Spades and Queen of Spades. He slid the Queen in first.
"ABSORB QUEEN!" the device announced. So far so good. Shadow had gotten up and charged at him. He drew a card and slashed it through.
"BITE!"
Draco slashed through the Jack of Spades and the device announced, "FUSION JACK!" There was a golden flash of light.
A/N: Sorry if I had to end this with a cliffie but if I tried to finish this it'll be too long. If you want to know what happens stay tune for the next chapter.
Preview to the next chap: To put it simply Draco has kicked this game into a whole new level.