Symphony of Justice

~Cmdr_King

Idly wishing he had a cigarette, Katsuya Suou sat, pondering his latest quarry. Half-vampire or not, how was Alucard disappearing so quickly? Where was he going when he wasn't in the arena? Every time he searched, the trail went cold somewhere in eastern Europe. It just didn't make sense.
Wrapped up in his thoughts, Katsuya didn't notice Maya's approach. "Katsuya, what's wrong?"
Katsuya jerked up, and straightened his glasses unconsciously. "Sorry Ms. Amano, I didn't see you there."
Giggling, Maya asked again. "Well what was so distracting you could miss me?"
Katsuya struggled with his words a moment. "Uh, well, I've been trying to crack this Alucard case. But I can't seem to pin down where he goes when he's not in matches."
Maya stared off for a moment, lost in thought, then blinked suddenly. "Alucard? Have you ever heard the stories of Dracula? Alucard is his son's name."
Katsuya nodded. "Those were my findings. What can they all mean, though?"
Maya continued. "The stories say that Dracula lives in a placed called Castlevania, which is never in quite the same place twice. If Alucard is really the same as the one in the stories, he might just know where to find it."
Katsuya considered. "Hmm. That would definitely explain the pattern of the disappearance. But with the season ending, I won't get another chance to follow him, and I wouldn't be able to find Castlevania without a guide..."
Maya laughed. "Let's think positive! If people believe that Castlevania is never in the same place twice, then they'd probably be willing to believe a rumor about where it would appear next!"
Katsuya stood, convinced. "That's just crazy enough to work. We'll have to figure out where to say it will show up, though."

Katsuya and Maya checked out all the usual places, but none of the rumor mongers seemed to have much to say about Castlevania. Finally, exhausted from all the walking, the pair sat, defeated. Looking up, Maya had to blink a few times to make sure she wasn't seeing things.
"Katsuya, was that library always there?"
"I... I've never seen that building before. Do you think we should check it out?"
"Well, we've tried everywhere else..."
Stepping inside, they were immediately baffled at the sheer number of stairs in the building. It seemed almost designed to be confusing and hard to navigate. Still, they eventually worked towards the back, finding the lone inhabitant.
"Why hello there! What can I do for you?"
Katsuya took the lead. "Do you know anything about a place called Castlevania?"
The Librarian answered almost too brightly. "Of course, just tell me what you need."
Katsuya paused, but decided to press on. "I'd like to hear any rumors you know about where it will appear next."
The Librarian gestered wildly, obviously pleased. "Why I heard one just today! Apparently, there is a shrine in Japan that, entered during a solar eclipse, will take you straight to Castlevania!"
Katsuya and Maya looked at each other a moment. It was too good to be true. "Alright, thank you for the information."
"Ha ha, see you soon!"

Standing in front of the Araya shrine, Katsuaya check his pistol. Anything could happen.
Maya walked up to him. "Well, Todoroki is on it, so we should be all set once the Solar Eclipse takes place."
Katsuya was still worried. "You know, it's awfully convenient that a solar eclipse was happening today. Something about this isn't right."
Maya shrugged. "It's too late to go back now."
As the heavens aligned just right, there was a shift of some kind. It wasn't visable, but both Maya and Katsuya felt it; the world almost seemed to invert light and dark for a minute.
Speaking together, the pair went inside. "Let's think positive."

The difference was immediate. Rather than an inviting, decorative shrine, cold stone surrounded them, the taste of blood on the night air. Castlevania.
After working through a long hallway filled with some of the weaker zombies they had ever seen, Katsuya and Maya came to a courtyard, one shockingly occupied by someone they knew.
Guido Kandori bowed slightly. "Welcome to Castlevania. I'm sure you didn't expect to meet me here."
Katsuya levelled his pistol. "What do you want, Kandori? You're supposed to be dead."
Guido answered levelly. "You'll find that Death means little in this castle. I met the man you seek, but he's rather busy. You see, some fool is seeks to resurrect Dracula yet again."
Katsuya considered, and lowered his gun. "I can wait."
"I'm afraid you can't. One way or another, you're stuck here until Dracula is dealt with, and the residents of this castle will not ignore someone as powerful as you for long."
Maya spoke up. "Well, if we defeat Dracula ourselves, that will let us out of here and we could confront Alucard directly."
Katsuya immediately objected. "We don't know what all will be in here, and there's no need to put ourselves at unnecessary risk!"
Maya shrugged. "I think we're at risk anywhere we go in Castlevania."
Frustrated, Katsuya relented. "Alright. We'll handle this. Though I have to ask what you think you're getting out of this, Kandori."
Guido laughed bitterly. "I'm sick and tired of being raised from the dead by every fool necromancer seeking a dark god. Letting this one face you is reward enough."

Moon full despite the blinding solar eclipse present in reality, Katsuya Suou and Maya Amano enter the forbidding realm of Castlevania. Danger awaits at every corner, but can those who thwarted the Crawling Chaos withstand it?
  • Katsuya and Maya both save the day and catch the elusive son of Dracula at last.
  • Katsuya and Maya manage to escape Castlevania, but without confronting Alucard.
  • Katsuya manages to catch Alucard before facing Dracula, and hell breaks loose
  • Katsuya and Maya are separated, one never to be seen again
  • Let us go out this evening for pleasure, the night is still young (Game Over)

Cmdr_King
Treading the stairs quickly as he could, Katsuya closed on his quarry. "Adrian Farenheights Tepes! Hold it right there!"
The man best known as Alucard slowed, and turned slightly. "I apologize, but I've no time for mortal concerns. My father has been resurrected again, and our time is short."
Katsuya levelled his pistol. "Hold it! This is a matter for the proper authorities. We'll take care of this!"
But the half-vampire had already left.
Katsuya tucked the weapon back in its holster, and glanced back at his companion. "Don't say it, I know what you're thinking."
Maya chuckled to herself, but did as Katsuya asked.
Coming the the top of the stairs, the pair found themselves in what was clearly a throne room.
Maya looked around thoughtfully before speaking aloud. "I think this is a fake."
Katsuya nodded in agreement. "But we've searched the entire castle, so where else could this Dracula be?"
"Don't you think that room over there looks a lot like a teleportation device?"
Katsuya took a deep breath. "Well, there's only one way to find out."
---
As the night drew to a close, each began to wonder if they would ever find their way out of the twisted maze they'd stumbled upon. Walking on ceilings, water suspended overhead without the slightest sign of effort... it was enough to unnerve even the steadiest of people.
But finally, circling the same clock tower for the who knew what time, Katsuya stopped, thinking. "Ms. Amano, do you remember there being a pathway above here before?"
"Come to think of it, didn't the normal castle have one?"
"It's the best lead we're going to find. I'll go first."
A few moments later, they had found their quarry again at last. As well as someone neither had wished to ever lay eyes on.
Katsuya managed to recover from the shock of it all quickly. "Dracula Vlad Tepes I presume?"
The silver haired man, if he could still be called that, stood. "What's this? Mere humans have made their way here?! Or perhaps my son thought a few sacrifices would be in order for our reunion."
Though Alucard and Katsuya both seemed on the verge of responding, Maya spoke first. "Will you give up and release us quietly, or are you that determined to cause misery to mankind?"
Dracula laughed. "Me, cause mankind misery? It is you human who bring misfortune upon yourself! Nothing I or any creature of the night could do will ever match that which you humans have inflicted upon yourselves!"
Determination flickering in her eyes, Maya turned slightly. "I guess there's no choice, then." She set herself and called out. "Artemis!"
As Maya's moon goddess materialized, Katsuya took her lead. "Persona!"
Dracula laughed, clearly ready for battle. "Have at you!"
The battle raged for some time, and soon enough, the faint warmth of sunlight hitting the castle could be felt. Soon enough, though, this caused another feeling. A quake that rippled through Castlevania.
Alucard fell back from the battle. "Come, we've no more time to linger here. Castlevania will vanish again with the dawn, and none should remain once it vanishes into the Chaos from which it came."
But even as Alucard said this and fled through the doorway, the entrance collapsed.
Heaving with exertion, Dracula couldn't quite manage a laugh at this development. "You may well defeat me, but you'll never again leave this castle!"
Katsuya grimaced, but managed to bite back. "Well, I can think of worse ways to go than taking out something like you."
As the castle faded back into chaos, Maya too taunted the demon lord. "We might never see home again, but right now, all I have to say is this. It's whoop ass time!"
And so the dance began anew, lost into time and memory.

Katsuya and Maya save day: 23
Katsuya and Maya escape: 14
All hell breaks loose: 19
Katsuya and Maya separated: 6
Game Over: 23

FF6 Fan
In the end, isn't it the heroes who team up who always win?

Dracula gets pwned.