The Celestia vs. The World – Revised!

Ambition That Attracts Darkness

Opening Arc

Here we go people, the re-start of the beginning. Yeah, I know this fic has been on hiatus for, well, ever, but that's because previously, I had been writing it as it came to me, throwing ideas in and out on a whim. I've already lost too many good story ideas because of my own devil-may-care attitude, and I won't allow all the hard work put in by myself, and all of my wonderful fans and supporters, to be wasted. So, I'm giving TCvTW:ATAD a mid-course reboot!

Well, more like 'beginning-course' reboot, since the series was really JUST starting... But one thing hasn't changed: I do not have ownership of Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's or any of its predecessors. If I did, you'd be watching this instead of reading it. And that would mean you'd be watching this instead of ZeXal/Arc-V. Visit my forum linked on my profile for story discussion and random chit-chat!


Introduction – The Celestial Pentagon, The Crimson Dragon and The Green Drifter

Shouting. Screaming. Musket fire. The dull thud of sharp metal objects hitting flesh and bone.

"How troublesome."

The battlefield was an old and dense wood. The trees, once brown and heavy with green foliage, were now stripped bare for last minute weapons and covered with the spilled blood of arrogant and careless men. Those who still lived, soldiers of either side, paid no mind to their fallen friends and foes. This was war, and regardless of how many perished, the war would not stop until only one side was left standing.

"To think that this is how humans treat life..."

As countless men locked in mortal combat and waging war between themselves hurried to and fro or fell immobile to the ground, a single man trotted across the moist, dark brown soil that stank of defeat and nevermore. As he trampled over the already thrashed hopes and dreams of men he once knew, men he once considered enemies, men he had once been, he kept a close eye on one particular section of the woods.

The man wore an all-white suit, complete with coat tails and a top hat. He wore speckled leather shoes that clacked with each step he took. In his hands was a cane topped with a jewel, possibly a diamond. His hair, at least what was visible beneath his hat, was tri-colored. The main color was white, nothing like that of an Albino, but as white as drawing paper. There were some black locks peeking from the back of his hat and from either side, two black and gold strands of hair caressed his face every time he took a step.

It was worth mentioning that his attire was not getting stained as he walked through the woods.

"This should be the spot..." The man looked around; a small stream flowed through the heart of the woods. The man in the white suit watched as a silverfish slipped between fallen branches, the moonlight reflecting brilliantly off of its scales. The fish continued to swim upstream, slowing down when it sensed something was amiss. Slowly, the clear stream gained a pink hue that darkened to a red tint. The fish then turned around and darted away as a large, metal boot stomped down in the stream.

"The giant went this way!"

An eager and tired man's voice yelled in the distance. The man in the white suit watched as the 'giant' struggled to free his foot from a sinkhole his weight undoubtedly caused. The giant gripped his calf, and the suited man could see several gashes going down the giant's back. While the front of the giant's armor was still intact, the back piece was completely missing.

"Ready the harpoon! We're going to finish this monster once and for all!"

"Yeah!" A second voice chimed in. "First we'll slay the giant, then we'll win the war!"

The giant, realizing he could not break free, went prone instead, pressing his stomach to the ground. He rushed and threw dirt over his frame, trying to camouflage with the ground.

"An unorthodox strategy," the man hoisted his lapels and crouched near the giant. "But I doubt that will work." He smiled as the giant continued covering himself in dirt as though he heard nothing. "It's amazing how much I can view, although I was not around to experience this." The well groomed man stood erect and retrieved a pocket watch from his pants pocket.

"Actually," a smile graced the lips of the man clad in white. "Enter stage right in three...two...one..."

"Are you here?" A higher pitched voice called out from the opposing side of the stream.

The giant stopped, recognizing his allies' voice.

"Speak to me!" Shrubbery shifted, and a lengthy teen darted out from within the woods. He continued to run until he was standing at the bank of the stream, right next to the man in white. The two were a spitting image of each other; the white clad male tipped his hat to his younger look alike. The teen did not see this, and proceeded to walk right through the man in white.

"Haste leads to waste, child..." The man in white clicked his tongue as he watched the teen run straight over to the giant, crossing to the opposite side of the stream.

"Brother!" The teen paused and looked back. He watched as the ground itself rose up and engulfed his scrawny frame in its shadow. "I am here."

The teen, gripping at his chest, let out a relieved sigh. "I thought you were a beast, brother." The sound of his relief quickly died down as the sound of sickening laughter picked up.

"So, not only do we discover a giant, but also its human aide?"

The man in white sighed and covered his ears. "I truly despise this part..."

Although he covered his ears, the man in white could still hear everything being said; every insult, every accusation, every bone chilling threat. He did not remove his hands form his ears until he saw the group of five men ready the harpoon.

"I will not let you harm him!" The teen declared bravely although his knees shook like a ship mast in a hurricane.

"Fire!" The harpoon rocketed forward, and the teen threw himself in front of it. His light frame was easily knocked back, but not before his chest piece made of leather, and a large portion of his right shoulder were displaced by the heavy metal projectile. The giant bellowed as the harpoon then struck his chest in the very center.

The two lay motionless as shouts and roars became louder, and the harpoon men gained worried looks on their faces.

"They have reinforcements!"

"It matters not; their giant is slain, as is their errand boy. We have won this war. Pull back, men."

The five harpoon men scurried off into the cover of night and trees just as the giant and errand boy's Calvary arrived.

"Tend to their wounds!" "Bring the cauldrons!" "Where is the apothecary?!"

The man in white let out a nostalgic sigh as he walked over to the giant and errand boy lying next to one another. He looked down at their faces, and instead of finding them in shock, they both wore large grins.

"We can live...another...day...brother..." The errand boy wheezed. It was amazing he could even breath, considering almost a third of his neck was gone.

"Indeed, brother," the giant's echoing laugh was not affected by the harpoon he sported in his torso, bobbing up and down with each muscle movement.

"Such fools..." The man in white laughed himself, sounding a lot like the errand boy who now joined in the giant's laughter. His laugh stopped cold and he looked over his shoulder. "A presence?" The woods before him dissolved; the soil, the trees, the moonlight all vanished and left only an empty white room standing. "And a celestial one, at that."

The man in white's eyebrow rose. "Not one of mine...but familiar."

The white room suddenly erupted into a brilliant flash of crimson red.

"Finally, I have broken through to the other side..." The voice had no voice, at least, not to those who were not on an equivalent plain.

"Ah," The man in the white suit was covering his eyes. "I'd recognize such a wonderful light show instantly, even if it has been...what, fifteen thousand years?"

The light died down, and slowly, the Crimson Dragon took form in the center of the room. "Since we last saw one another, yes." It then readjusted itself so that it took a less spacious form. "I have still yet to thank you for warning me of Red Nova's intended assault." The smaller form gazed upon the male in the white suit.

"You...have seen better days."

"Not recently, Crimson Dragon." The man replied with a sharp wit.

"I was not aware of your situation." The Crimson Dragon sounded pitiful.

"Oh please," The man laughed, lifting a cane from the wall behind him. "We all knew we were to fade into nothingness after your Signers completed their duties, thus restoring complete and utter harmony in the multiverse."

The Crimson Dragon made no attempt to confirm, nor deny the statement. "It must be Fate-"

"Oh, Fate," The man sounded vexed. "Whoop-de-doo."

"Fate," The Crimson Dragon continued, sounding irritated. "That you should mention my Signers."

"What did they do this time?" The man asked with a sigh. "Did they go insane with power like their dark counterparts? Or, perhaps, they're trying to resurrect someone they should not?"

"Actually, neither," In a rare display of humor the Crimson Dragon added. "Thank me."

The man in the white suit was quiet for what may have very well been eons. "Leave the jokes to me."

The Crimson Dragon nodded. "Very well then." It then looked around the room. "I have urgent news regarding the wellbeing of your universe."

"Then take it up with the one in charge," The man dismissed the celestial being with a wave of his cane towards his room door. "A left down the hall then take a right at the grandfather clock that ticks no more. If you pass the cherry soda fountain, you have gone too far."

If the man had not seen it before, he would have found the Crimson Dragon raising a brow a rather odd sight. "You are no longer the leader of The Celestial Pentagon?"

The man removed his hat, revealing a mess of white hair peppered with black and gold. "No. I, the one who entails the players selected by Fate, has been rendered..." His airy tone became sinister. "Obsolete."

Instantly, the Crimson Dragon understood. "Very well then. I shall tell the one in charge of the imminent darkness."

Before the Crimson Dragon could vanish, it found the man's cane placed on its right claw. "Oh, do tell."

"I thought the matter no longer concerned you."

"We are a group," The man explained with a large smile. "It shall concern me, eventually."

"This is something better told to the leader." The Crimson Dragon sounded adamant.

"The leader is currently unavailable. Check for yourself." Upon the suggestion, the Crimson Dragon expanded its presence through the realm. "See? Leave the message with me, the second in charge, and I'll ensure our great...and fair..." The words were strained. "Leader gets it."

The Crimson Dragon was now suspicious. "You're the second in command?"

"Who better to be the second in command than the former first?" The man offered.

"Very well," The Crimson Dragon discerned. "But ensure that this information, in its entirety, gets to your leader."

"Of course," The man placed his hat on his head. "What kind of a Gentleman would I be if I cut corners?" The self-proclaimed Gentleman waved his hand and a chair appeared beneath him. "Now, tell me of this...imminent darkness..."


The busy city streets were calming down as the last bit of the sun's light slowly crept into the serene darkness of night. One by one, the lights of businesses and homes shut off, and soon, the entire block was veiled by darkness, save for a few street lights vicariously placed along the sidewalks.

The setting was perfect.

A lone figure stepped out of the shadows at the north end of the block. Judging by its frame and shape, the figure was male, roughly six feet in height and wore a skin tight black body suit akin to a diving suit. He slipped on a pair of night vision goggles that glowed a deep green hue over his face. Their features were totally invisible under the cover of darkness. The man slipped past a lamppost and dove into a hedge. He crawled along the soil until he reached the large condominium. He pressed his back against the wall and stood up, perking his ears near an open window.

"...still, the pickup isn't due for another few minutes..."

Beneath the material over his face, the man smiled. So, this was the right place after all. It looked like his Intel was right, as always. Not one for being cocky, the male pushed the night vision goggles onto his forehead and deactivated them. His dark green eyes scanned the surrounding area again before he retrieved a small camera from the utility belt around his waist. He used the reflective back of the camera to check inside the room; there were two men inside, both standing at the doorway with their backs to the window. The room itself was packed with wardrobes and other large objects used for storage.

The male snapped a few silent pictures of the surrounding area and then the interior before slipping into the open window. Luckily, the suit he was wearing was specifically made for silent entry – and exit. The floor was also covered in velvet carpeting, a nice stroke of good luck in the male's opinion. It would absorb what little sound his already quiet footsteps made, rendering him a ghost. All he had to do now was continue to not be seen.

"Hey, it's a little drafty. Mind if I close the window?"

The male stopped snapping photos and looked at the two guards only yards away. So much for that stroke of good luck!

"Sure, go ahead. Besides, we wouldn't want anything coming in the window. It is mosquito season after all."

The first guard gave a laugh and walked into the room. "Right? The last thing this operation needs is some annoying insect buzzing about." The guard walked over to the window and lifted his hands to close the window. He let out a yell as his foot got caught up in a bit of carpeting, causing his weight to be thrown off. He let out a grunt as he hit the windowsill and fell out of the open window.

The second guard was in the room, his arms outstretched a bit too late. "Hey, you okay?"

"Damn, that hurt!" The first guard complained, rubbing the back of his head. "What the hell, man? You'd think that with his kind of money, Eagle would be able to afford top notch carpet!"

The second guard laughed, turning away from the window. "He's probably one of those money hoarders that cut corners." He stopped when he noticed a clear rip in the fabric. He crouched low, and put a hand on the carpet. "Hey!" His voice was cautious. "Call me crazy, but I think this was messed with." He stood up and looked back to the window.

Only the silence of darkness looked back at him.

"You had better not be playing another stupid prank or I swear, I'll beat you senseless!" After a few more moments of silence, the guard lifted up a wooden chair and smashed it on the wall. Now armed with a chair leg in each hand, he advanced towards the window. "Alright, you asked for it!"

He poked his head out of the window, quickly looking left and right. He heard something shuffling in the hedge and looked down. A pair of black-cloaked hands grabbed him by the neck and yanked him out of the window head first. Before he could let out a yell, the hands around his neck tightened their grip. The guard dropped his makeshift weapons and tried to fight back, but his attacker continuously moved from his arm range. After a few seconds of flailing about, the guard fell limp. Satisfied after a few more seconds of constricting the guard's neck, the man in black drug this guard's body to the first.

Working swiftly, the man used the guards boot laces and belts to tie them up, and stuffed their socks into their mouths for good measure. He double checked to make sure their air passages weren't blocked and then sauntered back to the building. Slipping in again, the man checked the hallway. It seemed like there were no other people on the first floor, so he slid the face mask part of his body suit down and let out a loud gasp.

"Ugh!" He went into an internal pocket and pulled out a colorful bag. It was about the size of his palm and the word 'Chewiest' was clearly labeled on the front in bright colors. He opened the bag of gummy bears, and poured a few into his mouth before walking over to a large, metal locker along the left wall when facing the door. Still chewing, he nudged it with his foot. To his surprise, the door opened and revealed a large array of assorted Duel Monsters cards.

"Didn't see that coming..." He muttered to himself. He retrieved the camera again, and snapped photographs with one hand while pouring gummy bears into his mouth with the other. Wrinkling up the bag and placing it back into an internal pocket, the man then grabbed one of the cards from the locker. He looked it over for a moment, recognizing it as Pot Of Greed, then put it to the light.

"It's a fake." He bent the card, and sure enough, the cheap material ripped. "Eagle wouldn't deal in counterfeits, it's beneath him." The man retrieved his cellphone and entered his password. He then accessed a file that he had saved on an external memory source.

"Like I thought..." He shut his cellphone off and put it back in his pocket. "This is just some two bit counterfeit scheme, no doubt using Eagle's name to try and get some type of leg up against the competition..." The man looked around and found the nearest landline. Double checking his position and deeming it safe, he picked up the land line and waited a second. No one else was on the line.

He retrieved his cellphone once more, entered his password, and then activated a special feature on it. He then dialed the local law enforcement.

"Hello, this is the Itmas Police Department. What is your emergency?"

"Yes, I wanted to report a break in that's happening right now." His voice now sounded like that of an elderly woman.

"A breaking and entering call?" The emergency responder mimed. "And you said it's in progress?"

""Yes, yes," the male knew he had to sound urgent, but if he put too much stress on the voice changer, his own voice might slip through. Besides, he had to do a bit of the work himself, and he didn't want to risk a sore throat. "I can see strangers doing odd things. And I think I see two men who aren't moving!"

"Okay ma'am, please give me the address and I'll have a unit dispatched in no time."

"Oh no no no, one unit won't do!" The man remembered the area when he had canvased it earlier that morning. "There are a few vehicles outside, easily ten in total. You'd better get a whole task force down here." The man then rattled off the address twice before hanging up abruptly. For good measure, he added a small gasp before hanging up.

He closed the program on his phone with a triumphant smile. "That's one injustice to Duel Monsters avoided." The man's phone then vibrated once. His green eyes, their color enhanced by black irises, snapped to the screen. He checked the message twice, just to be sure he had read it right.

The man took off, putting his cellphone back into his pocket mid stride, and leaped clear out of the window. He stuck to the darker sections of the neighborhood as he headed east. Halfway to his destination, about five block away from the condominium, he stopped at a small, serene park that had a wooden bridge across a duck pond. He stopped just before the pond and climbed a tree he had marked by sticking an empty bag of gummy bears on the branch.

In the tree was a small carry bag, and inside that bag was his normal attire. He jumped out of the tree and checked the area before swiftly changing his clothes. He now wore a black leather jacket on top of a dark green t-shirt, paired with dark green cargo pants and black sneakers with green trim. On the back of the leather jacket was a sun partially eclipsed by a moon, creating a crescent shadow over the sun. The man shook out and ran his fingers through his long, green hair, his fingers traveling from black roots to black ends. Shouldering the carry bag, the man once again took off to his destination.

Another five blocks, and the man slowed down to a jog. A few yards away, his getaway vehicle awaited him. It was a crescent shaped Duel Runner if one looked at it from the side. The trim was black and covered the perimeter of the Duel Runner. The leather was black with green trim, the color scheme juxtaposing the frame which was green with black trim. There was a helmet matching the frame sitting on the controls. The man put it on and spoke into the helmet clearly.

"Voice recognition plus command: Let's move out."

The on-board computer beeped a second later. An exotic female voice then replied.

"Voice recognition, complete. Hello, Jake." The engine then hummed as it came to life. The man, addressed by his Duel Runner as Jake, placed his hands on the controls. He revved up his engine and leaned forward in his seat. The seat followed, readjusting itself within the frame.

"Let's ride, Equinox." Jake spoke into the microphone piece in his helmet. The Duel Runner's wheels burned rubber as Jake took off on Equinox. Within seconds, the only thing on the street was the dissipating plume of tire smoke.


"So your grand total is three hundred dollars."

"Three hundred dollars?" Jake repeated, giving the cashier a raised eyebrow. Jake was the only person in the terminal, requesting a late night ride on whatever ferry line was still running at almost four o'clock in the morning.

"Yes," The man behind the register began recounting Jake's expenses. "A single trip ticket on the ferry would normally cost only fifty dollars, but you asked for the express trip, which brings the price to seventy five dollars. You also requested that your Duel Runner be transported via ferry, and that's an automatic one hundred and fifty five dollars."

"That's two hundred and thirty dollars." Jake spoke evenly. "What's the seventy dollar charge supposed to cover?"

"Your dormitory expenses, sir." The cashier punched something into the computer. "It's a twenty four hour ferry – those aren't cheap, and there are meals offered on the ride. Not to mention the cost of your quarters, single room, minimum furnishing-"

"All of this on a ferry?" Jake questioned, interrupting the cashier.

"You specifically asked for the next ferry leaving the Paradigm Republic and arriving in the United County. The next ferry leaving this station for that destination is a part of Iniquity Industries Transportation."

The cashier noticed Jake's expression turn sour and decided to give him another offer. "There's a ferry owned by a private company leaving in a few hours, if you'd prefer-"

"No, this will be fine, thank you." Jake retrieved his wallet from one of the many pockets on his cargo pants.

"Will that be credit or debit, sir?" The man asked. He felt ridiculous after asking that question when Jake handed him three crisp hundred dollar bills.

"Cash." Jake replied, giving the man the money. He watched as the cashier checked to see if the bills were authentic. They were.

"Then please follow the instructions on your ticket," The man handed Jake a ticket and receipt. "So you may dock your Duel Runner on the ferry. And thank you for riding with us." Jake gave the cashier a nod and then looked around.

"Do you know if there's any candy available on the ferry? I have a bit of a sweet tooth."

"Uhm," The cashier was a bit thrown off but replied courteously. "I'm not certain, but I do know there are a few shops that sell treats on the way to the ferry terminal."

"Thanks." Jake gave a wave and headed towards his duel runner parked outside. He stopped in front of Equinox and looked it over. He then bent over and, using a set of keys in yet another one of his pockets, opened the lock of his duel runner's seat compartment. He retrieved an old looking box, about the size of a shoe box, and opened the metal latches that held it closed. He reached inside, and pulled out a picture. He stared at it longingly for a while.

In the picture was a child, undoubtedly Jake when he was younger. On either side was a man and a woman with their arms around him. The three of them wore large smiles and were surrounded by other various people, all smiling and happy as well. They were outdoors on a coastline and all dressed in summer attire.

Jake put the picture back in the box and closed it. He put the box into the seat compartment and rummaged around a bit more. He found what he was looking for; a small, gray lock box with a padlock on the front. He entered the combination and opened the box. Inside were a few bills that he counted quickly.

"Hmm," Jake sighed, closing the box. "I'm running a bit low on funds." He then locked the seat compartment and unlocked Equinox. He checked the gauges, and saw that he was running on half of a full battery. "Better walk her into the lower level vehicle storage." Jake sighed, and began to push his duel runner...


Jake pushed Equinox into the street. He slipped his helmet onto his head and looked around a bit. "Equinox, location."

"Paititi Civic, United County." After a few more beeps. "Big Wave Port, Shipping District."

"Distance to Neo Copan City?" Jake inquired, hopping on his duel runner.

"From current position to Neo Copan City border... 4,300 miles. Estimation."

"Then project a route that will get us there within three days. Set a way point to a Duel Runner service station first so that we can travel on a full battery."

"Calculating route..." Equinox continued to hum. "Route established. Set way points?"

"Yes," Jake then pulled out a flip cell phone that matched Equinox's color. "Send route to leisure cell phone, as well."

"Sending route to leisure cellphone via wireless connection. Transmitting..." Jake heard the cellphone in his hand beep. "Transmission complete."

"Good. Commence autopilot to first destination. Wake me up when we get there." Jake yawned and activated the blinder on his helmet to block out sunlight. "I could hardly sleep in that cramped room."

"The storage conditions for duel runners were rather atrocious as well." Equinox voiced its own critique of the ride.

"Wasn't it?" Jake agreed, putting his feet up on the controls.

"Incoming message." Equinox's sudden alert made Jake stop reclining.

"Sender?" Jake asked, typing on the on-screen keyboard.

"Unknown." Equinox replied, sounding cautious. "Scan contents for malicious software?"

"Also scan for a virtual trail of some sort. I don't like automated systems sending us junk mail. It clogs up your memory."

"Commencing dual scan..." Jake waited for a few minutes as Equinox worked. He watched as people walked in and out of the port, a few of them giving him and his duel runner stares. A few children waved at him, recognizing him as a turbo duelist. Jake returned those waves with a smile. Kids were a weakness of his.

"Scanning complete. No malicious software discovered. No virtual trail found."

"Odd..." Jake murmured. "If it were from our usual, they would have sent the message directly to my business phone." Jake rubbed his chin. "Open the message in safe mode, just in case."

"Opening message on removable media. Increasing firewall protection. Isolating digital information in several safe zones."

Jake watched as the screen blinked once and a black text on a white background popped up. "A typed letter?" Jake read through it twice. "With directions to pick up a package? Equinox, correlate this address with known addresses in your memory."

"Correlating... No matching address found." There was a beep accompanied by a green exclamation point on screen. "Interesting intel discovered."

"Talk to me." Jake became curious.

"The address in this message is also our first way point."

Jake disabled the blinder on his helmet so he could see the screen clearly. "You mean the one you set not even ten minutes ago?"

"Correct."

"And that's where this package is?" Jake sounded skeptic.

"According to the website of this duel runner shop, they also offer storage for various duel runner parts should the need arise. You may then send for the items you stored or pick them up yourself, or even have someone pick them up so long as they carry the proper identification number and have been told someone else will be picking up the item in question."

"Sounds convenient." Jake was now on guard. Not only did this message have no origin, but now it also knew his route not too long after he planned it? "Too convenient."

"Should I terminate the message and recalculate an alternative route?" Equinox asked, a confirmation message popping up on screen.

Jake thought it over for a moment. "Since there was no malicious software on the message, we can assume whoever sent us the message can't be all bad. Not to mention it'd be rude if I just left their gift sitting in some old locker." Jake tapped the 'No' option on screen.

"Carrying on as planned." Equinox began to pull off. Jake reclined into the seat, placing his feet on the controls.

"Now you really have to wake me up when we get there..." Jake mumbled.

"I do not understand." Equinox replied. "While this does warrant an increase of vigilance, you speak as though you're aware of something else."

"Aren't you the perceptive piece of software?" Jake chuckled.

"I'm an artificial intelligence that continues to learn." Equinox then added. "Thank you very much."

"I see that personality program is running smoothly." Jake laughed. "And to answer your question, I have the oddest feeling that whatever it is waiting for us in that locker is just the beginning of something even worse than what I was anticipating upon returning to Neo Copan."

The uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach Jake felt when leaving Itmas was slowly beginning to increase exponentially...


And with that, the first revised chapter of TCvTW:ATAD is completed! Leave a review and let me know what you think of the revision! The update schedule for new chapters will be a new chapter every two to three weeks, unless events allow me to release them either earlier or later.