Prologue

Jack raced through the pipeline. He had only one hour to cross the tunnel and leave Satellite for good, casting aside his old life behind in exchange for the life of a king in Neo Domino City. This was his fate, his calling. Jack was born to be a king, and a king he would he. The end of the tunnel appeared. With a victorious smile, he left it and stopped before the limo that was waiting for him. Rex Goodwin emerged from it.

"You made it."

"You gave me my chance. I seized it. Now …"

"Do you have the 'passports'?"

Jack grinned. Taking his deck, he retrieved the first card that was his key to freedom. It was a red and black, demonic-looking dragon with three horns and a mighty face. His strongest monster, Red Dragon Archfiend. Also his favorite.

"Good. What about Stardust?"

Jack shrugged and checked his deck. Once. Twice. The third time, he started looking in his coat pockets and pants, then looked at the tunnel with worry. Did the card drop out of his coat or something? No, he was definitely sure he put it in his deck alongside Archfiend. So why wasn't it there!? Goodwin asked the three men at his side to scan the area. In vain. Jack looked down and clenched his teeth. He could say goodbye to his new life. Goodwin sighed.

"We had an agreement. I can understand that the card may have fallen from you, but a deal remains a deal. You only brought Archfiend. Without Stardust along, I am uncertain what I can do about you …"

"More than you believe, human."

The two men nearly jumped at the deep, guttural voice that seemed to come from nowhere. Then, in a flash of light, Red Dragon Archfiend emerged from his card, materializing in flesh and bones at Jack's side. Somehow, the creature seemed to be smirking.

"It isn't Jack's fault if Stardust isn't at our side. In fact, I should say it's yours for asking him something as stupid as separating a Signer and its dragon. Stardust didn't take in well at all. In fact, he was more or less ready to tear you apart for trying to separate him from Yusei. But since kiddo's life was endangered, he made rescuing him a priority." The creature grinned. "If I were you, I'd try not to be around when Glitterscale comes back, because Stardust may be the kindest of us, but he certainly isn't the most merciful."

Jack looked at his monster in bewilderment.

"What are you talking about? And how can you do this anyway? I thought you were just a regular powerful duel monster!"

Archfiend turned to him and whined.

"Just a regular powerful duel monster? Man, partner, I'm hurt! I thought you cared more for me than that!"

Seeing the pained look on the dragon's face gave a pang in Jach's heart. The blonde teen came to the creature and caressed it, earning himself a few purrs and noticing how hard and warm its scales were. This wasn't an illusion. Red Dragon Archfiend was here in flesh and blood, a genuine, ten feet-tall dragon looking at six men with crimson eyes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know you could do that. Don't be misunderstood, you are priceless to me as an ace and the embodiment of my power as a king. I just didn't think you were sentient and you could turn real at will."

Archfiend looked deeply at him and folded the sleeve on his right arm, revealing a pair of crimson-colored wings tattooed on Jack's skin.

"Of course, you didn't. You know very little about your true nature, or even mine for that matter. But I believe our new friend here can give you all the explanation you need. If he can't, then I'll fill in for him but he better prove himself useful, or else I'll find out what you humans taste like." The dragon turned to Goodwin. "You knew about Jack and Yusei's nature, and yet you asked Jack to separate Yusei and Stardust. If you really know as much as I believe you do, you should've known Stardust would have never accepted to go with Jack. It is your fault and yours alone that he doesn't have Stardust. Now, you hold your part of the bargain and give Jack the life you promised him. And you tell him about the Signers."

"I don't believe you're in a place to argue."

Goodwin crossed his arms as his three bodyguards pointed their guns at Archfiend. In the limousine, Lazar chuckled. These men were trained fighters. A Satellite scum and his dragon pet were no match for him. Archfiend opened his wings and stood taller, his eyes now blazing and standing protectively between Jack and the bodyguards.

"You are not in a place to argue! How much damage do you think your puny guns will do against my scales!? You try anything funny and I will enjoy turning you into piles of ashes! Now Goodwin, you do as you promised lest you fancy yourself as snack."

The dragon looked genuinely feral and threatening. Goodwin adjusted his tie and cleared his throat, intimidated by the glare Archfiend was giving him.

"Well, you do have a point. It was stupid of me to ask for Stardust along. Get on your Duel Runner, Jack Atlas. We have a lot to do before you can become the true king of Neo Domino City."

Stardust Dragon looked at the sleeping form in his arms. Yusei had managed to carry Rally to the shore before a strong wave took him away and nearly sent him drowning. Fortunately, the white dragon had come in time to dive and grab his partner, quickly soaring back to the surface. Yusei had remained unconscious since the event, which Stardust found very convenient. His heart stirred. The teen was his partner, his soul. He didn't have a mark yet, but Stardust could feel their bond almost physically. Yusei was him, and he was Yusei. The rest didn't matter. Now, he was flying to a place he knew would help his other self find out his true legacy and become who he was truly meant to become. The edges of a gigantic crater came to his sight. Summervale, at last! His journey had ended. Yusei's had barely started.

Alright, everybody! There is the first chapter of the sequel I promised you. Don't worry, I'll give you the real first chapter soon enough. But, for now, how did you find this little intro?