So here is a new story I've been thinking about for a while. I am a Carly Nagisa/Carmine fan and I have wondered why Carly didn't regain her memories from being a Dark Signer. So this is just an idea about why she doesn't remember.

This story speaks about a new threat that does not have an easy to identify bad guy boss and blood-thirsty monsters that do not come from the Duel Sprit Realms. What I will tell you is this entity (referred to as "the master" or "master") has been planning, moving, and manipulating to take control of the human and Duel Sprit worlds.

I'm going to give you notes at the bottom of the chapters on how the story is going and on my Profile Page will be a bio on the monsters I use.

WARNING: I will be using the Japanese names for most of the characters and their monsters. When referring to dueling equipment I will be using the English names.

I now present to you: Lady Aslla Piscu

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds.

Prologue – How it all Begins

It was a dark night in Neo Domino City with a torrential downpour hitting the city so hard it was almost impossible to see where one was going. In an ugly yellow car a driver had her own downpour of tears filled with hurt, anger, and sorrow.

Carly Nagisa felt her tears coming down her face as she kept driving. Her vision of the road was made worse by the torrential downpour outside the car and tears welling in her eyes.

Carly had never been so angry, hurt and upset in her entire life. Two years ago Jack Atlas had left thinking about his carrier and leaving her, Mikage and Stephanie. Carly had cried about Jack leaving her for a month but she knew she couldn't cry about this forever. It wasn't healthy to dwell on things she couldn't change. So she focused her energies on advancing her carrier (In other words finding a better job than with her loathsome editor), doing volunteer work to keep busy, began changing the frumpy clothes she owned for more figure flattering and pretty outfits. She even began applied to the community college in Neo Domino and took classes to get her Associates Degree.

Carly even met new people and she went on some dates.

For two years everything had been going fine and the healing process was coming along smoothly.

Then two weeks ago Jack Atlas has come back to Neo Domino to visit his home for a month. Carly had figured he wouldn't come and see her. He would just visit Yusei and Martha then he would leave again. Carly had mentally braced herself so she wouldn't get hurt again.

On the day of his arrival she had been in her apartment working on an article for the newspaper and finishing up a term paper when there was a knock on the door. She had opened the door only to see Jack Atlas standing in her doorway with a box of expensive chocolates.

Carly had been stunned to see him and despite preparing herself mentally so there wouldn't be any more heartbreak, her heart started doing backflips.

Carly had let Jack in and they started talking about what had been happening in their lives. To her surprise he asked questions about her and what she had been doing.

"Well I've been keeping busy Jack," Carly replied, "I've been doing volunteer work, going to the Neo Domino Community College to get an Associates Degree, and I've gotten a better newspaper job that doesn't have me working with my slimy editor anymore."

"Well, I'm glad you have been keeping busy Carly. But where are your normal clothes?"

"If you mean the frumpy clothes you saw two years ago then I got rid of them. Misty, Mikage, and Stephanie helped me change my wardrobe. After you left I wanted a new look and to do something with my life."

"You looked just fine to me. I liked you the way you were."

"You should have said something Jack. I can't read your mind. Besides I wanted to look pretty and stop being invisible."

"Carly you're not ugly and you've always been beautiful to me."

"Then why didn't you say anything? You never once told me if I was pretty. I could have gone dressed in a burial shroud and a pair of pink pastel socks and you wouldn't have noticed."

"I don't know what a burial shroud is but I do know that I-"

"Jack did you ever pay attention to anything other than Duels, Turbo Dueling, yourself, and your hair? Because I don't think you know anything about me."

"I know a lot about you Carly. For example-"

"Really? Do you know what day is my birthday? Do you know what kinds of candy I like? Do you know where my dream vacation is located? And do you know what part of Neo Domino I come from?"

"Well, I do know-"

"And Jack don't you have a girlfriend?"

Jack blinked and said slowly, "Are you referring to Ivy Decept?"

Carly nodded and spoke, "If you have a girlfriend and you're giving me chocolates then I don't want them. I will not go out with a guy who cheats on his girlfriend. Even though I've heard things about Ivy Decept and none of it was flattering."

The room was quiet for about two seconds before Jack spoke in a soft and deadly voice, "That woman… no… that slimy pure evil creature in human skin is not my girlfriend."

Carly listened while Jack continued talking in the same tone,

"It's been a nightmare trying to get away from her. I was warned by others Ivy Decept was an evil woman, but I didn't listen and went out with her. It's only been a week since I finally managed to get away from her entirely. I have never hated anyone like I have hated Ivy Decept."

Jack looked back at Carly and spoke quietly, "I do not have a girlfriend and I have made it plain to the public that I am never getting back with Ivy Decept again."

Carly was quiet for a second then she spoke, "Then we won't mention Ivy Decept again."

The rest of the day they just talked and they shared the chocolates.

The next two weeks had been wonderful. Jack had shown up on the community college's campus multiple times to talk to her and walk around. They were seen riding around together on Jack's Duel Runner. Jack even took her back to the amusement park where they had had their unofficial "date" all of those years ago.

Then yesterday Jack had called her and asked if she would like to go out to dinner. He said he wanted to take her to La Roseraie.

"Jack that is the most expensive restaurant in town! They require their guests to wear black tie and formal evening gowns! I don't have anything appropriate in my closet!"

"Carly, don't you have that dress you wear to formal functions?"

"When I updated my wardrobe I turned the bottom part of the dress into a shower curtain."

"A shower curtain? You can do that with a dress?"

"I got help and the pattern designs from a book called 2,000 uses for ugly dresses you don't want but can't get rid of."

"Carly, do you have anything in your closet that comes close to formal evening wear?"

"I ordered a dress two weeks ago from an online dress website called and I received an email today from the company saying it should be here tomorrow."

"Alright, but if the dress doesn't arrive at your apartment tomorrow then I will buy you a new dress so we can go out to La Roseraie."

Carly had paused when she heard what Jack had said about buying her a new dress. Then she spoke quietly,

"Jack… What are you up to? You want to take me out to the most expensive place in the city and you are even offering to buy me a new dress. If I remember correctly you have never been this generous as long as I have known you. What is going on?"

"Carly… I just want to take you out to dinner," Jack spoke quietly, "I make more than enough money to pay for dinner and I just want to treat you."

Carly kept quiet during that little speech and stayed quiet afterword. She had a nagging feeling in the back of her mind that had not left.

"Carly? …Carly, are you still there?"

She needed one thing cleared from her mind and asked,

"Jack …You're not using me to keep that toxic woman away from you?"

Jack's voice became hard and deadly, "Carly… I would never do such a thing to you. That monster knows I will never go back to her. She also knows if she ever hurts anyone-"

"Alright Jack. You need to calm down," Carly spoke quickly, "I just needed to be sure."

"Why would you ask such a thing Carly?"

Carly was quiet for a second then she spoke in a soft but firm tone,

"I don't want to get hurt again Jack."

The other end of the phone was quiet.

Carly continued talking in the same tone, "You were just…. being honest with me, Mikage and Stephanie. It hurt all three of us and all of managed to recover… but I don't think I could handle being hurt like that again. I don't know what would happen if…"

Jack spoke in a strangely muted voice, "Carly… I know I hurt you two years ago. But I want you to know that I am not using you to keep that… woman off my back."

Jack spoke again, "If you don't want to go to La Roseraie then we don't have to."

Carly breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I would love to go to the La Roseraie with you Jack."

"Thank you Carly. I will pick you up at eight tomorrow night, and if you don't have a dress by then we can go somewhere else."

Carly had been grinning when said thank you and to her delight the dress arrived the next day. It was a major improvement over the hideous dress she now used for a shower curtain. It was a royal purple a-line dress with a poncho top. The dress had a silver colored belt at the waist and at the bottom of the dress was a sliver pattern in the form of waves.

She spent all afternoon getting her hair and makeup done and carefully going through her jewelry. When everything was done Carly looked back in the mirror and couldn't believe how pretty she looked.

Wow! I can't believe I look like this, Carly thought, All of those tips on make-up and fashion from Misty, Mikage, and Stephanie have paid off big time. But I think I am going to have to do something about those glasses. Maybe get contacts or a different style of glasses…

Then the phone rang. Carly ran to grab it and said "Hello, Carly speaking"

"Carly, it's Jack. I need you to come over to the hotel right now."

Carly became puzzled. Yesterday Jack told her he would come and pick her up at her apartment at eight p.m. It was only a little after seven p.m. Jack had also mentioned that he would be at a photo shoot for most of the day and he wouldn't be able to answer his phone (He had given his personal assistant two weeks off while he was in Neo Domino City).

"Jack… you said you would come and get me at eight p.m. It's not even seven-thirty," then a thought hit Carly and she asked, "Jack did something happen to you?"

"Carly I really need you to come here. Nothing has happened to me. I just had a change in plans, and I have something for you," Jack spoke with a voice that could have melted butter.

"Well… alright Jack, I will be there as fast as I can. I can't wait to show you my dress for this evening."

"And I can't wait to see you Carly…"

Carly hung up the phone, quickly got her silver gladiator sandals on, grabbed her dress purse and left her apartment.

Everyone in the apartment lobby noticed Carly was dressed in a deep purple formal evening dress and had the biggest smile they had ever seen on a person.

Carly managed to make it to the hotel where Jack was staying and made her way to the elevator to go up to Jack's floor. In her purse was a card key Jack had left with her at her apartment when he had come to see her on his first day back in Neo Domino. He said she could use it but only when he was in his hotel room. She had flatly told him the only time she would use it was in case he ended up going to the hospital or if he was extremely ill (Carly refused to do something she would regret later).

She had made it Jack's hotel room and knocked on it.

The strange thing was while she had been traveling to the hotel and was now knocking on the door; she couldn't help but feel like she was being watched.

"Come in…"

Carly used the card key and came in the room.

And what she saw made her heart break and all of the hurt return.

Jack Atlas, the person Carly had lost her heart to again, was madly kissing Ivy Decept. The toxic woman he said he never would get back with….

…..The high beams of another car forced Carly to come back to reality. Carly had left the city limits and was on the outskirts of Neo Domino City. Carly was heading out of the city to calm down and keep away from Jack Atlas and his toxic girlfriend Ivy Decept.

What a stupid idiot I've been, Carly ranted to herself mentally, What a stupid brain-dead idiot I was for opening that door, letting him inside my apartment and losing my heart to that selfish jerk once again! He didn't call you, email you, write to you, or even mention you while he was away reclaiming his title as World King for two years. Face it Carly Nagisa, Jack Atlas never loved you, he never said he loved you, and he will never love you! He is a cold-blooded heartless creep who has used you for some sick amusement! He seems to like toxic women who make the lives of others a living hell.

It was becoming harder and harder to see the road and the downpour was getting even worse.

Carly kept mentally ranting, Why do I keep losing my heart to that creep!? Why can't I fall in love with someone who has normal looks and treats me like lady?! Jack still hasn't paid me back for all that money I spent on Blue-Eyes White Mountain Coffee!

Unable to keep her rage inside her any longer Carly shut her crying eyes, let go of the steering wheel, and screamed,

"JACK ATLAS! I WANT YOU TO HURT AND SUFFER THE SAME WAY I AM RIGHT NOW! MAY YOU, YOUR BURNING SOUL, PRIDE, EGO, AND YOUR LOOKS-"

Carly never finished her enraged scream. The car began hydroplaning and spinning out of control. Carly immediately grabbed the steering wheel and tried to regain control. But there was no time to gain control.

The next thing Carly saw was a huge thick tree she was sure about a second ago there had not been standing there.

"NO-"

The car slammed into the tree and the last thing Carly saw were Jack Atlas's deep amethyst eyes looking back at hers.

The car had been severely damaged and Carly's body was pinned inside the wreckage.

Then outside the car there was movement in the downpour. A man walked slowly to the wrecked car. Behind the man were smaller figures walking at a respectful distance.

The man walking toward the car had to be over seven feet tall with chalky white skin that stood out in the darkness. The man was dressed in nothing but black, except for two dark-grey metallic pieces on his face. He had on a black 1940s styled Fedora hat that was three inches longer than normal. He was wearing a tight fitting black body suit that had long black belts and black buckles on the chest, arms, and legs. On his feet were long black leather combat boots that reached to just below the knees. Covering over the body suit was a long black trench coat that went down to between the knee and feet. The hands of the man were covered with black gloves. On the man's face was a metallic eye patch that covered his right eye. The other metallic piece was covering his mouth. This man's hair was black and close cropped. His exposed left eye was a deep penetrating sapphire blue. On the man's back was a black knapsack that was full of his equipment.

The smaller figures who were walking behind the man barely reached four feet. They looked like they were made out of solid black slime. There wasn't any indication of a face but the hands had elongated fingers. The small creatures made some very creepy sounds that sounded like the combination between scores of people who were quietly whispering (without the use of any identifiable words in any language) and snakes hissing.

The man walked to the wrecked car and pulled out a long elegantly decorated knife and began to cut through the wrecked car like the metal was made of soft butter. After two minutes of slicing through the car Carly's body was clear. The man pulled out a small bluish-white crystal and placed that crystal next to Carly's head. The crystal began to cover over Carly's body until Carly was encased inside the crystal.

Then man took the encased Carly out of the wreaked car and gently placed her on the grass. Then he placed his hand twelve inches above the crystal cocoon and began to search her mind and soul. He found Carly was unconscious badly hurt but still alive.

And she had the object his master had been looking for.

The man looked up at the small creatures and spoke in a quiet voice, "She is still alive and she has the Netherworld Crown within her soul. The Copy Worm must be set up now so we can return to the master by daybreak."

The small creatures nodded in unison. The man took of his knapsack and pulled out a foot long cylindrical capsule with a button in the middle. The man pressed the button on the capsule and it opened to reveal a sickly tan worm with a huge round mouth revealing sharp needle-like teeth. The worm came out of the capsule and tried to bite the man's hand. The man grabbed the worm's mouth and squeezed it shut. Then he reached into the crystal cocoon and plucked some strands of hair from Carly's head. Then with the hairs in one hand and the Copy Worm in another he walked back to the ruined car.

When he had gotten back to the car he placed the Copy Worm where Carly had been found. Then he let go of the worm's mouth. The Copy Worm tried to bite him, but the man force fed Carly's hairs to the worm. Then he placed his hand back over the worm's mouth and waited until the Copy Worm had swallowed the hairs.

The Copy Worm began to change its shape and length. Its foot long body grew longer, developed arms and legs, its head became more than just a mouth, and its tail vanished entirely.

After a few minutes in the driver's seat was no longer a sickly tan Copy Worm but a perfect mirror image of Carly after she had had her accident. The worm was even wearing a copy of the same royal purple gown that Carly had been wearing in the accident (and she was still wearing the original royal purple formal gown in the crystal cocoon).

The fake Carly lifted its head up and hissed at the man. The man gave the fake Carly a cold look and spoke quietly, "That is enough. As a Copy Worm you are to mimic this woman even after "Carly Nagisa" is in her grave."

The man felt his trench coat being tugged. He looked down to see one of the small black slime-like creatures holding up Carly's glasses. The man picked up the glasses and placed it on the fake Carly's head. Then he pulled out a small vial of clear liquid, grabbed the fake by the mouth and poured the liquid down the fake's throat. After a few seconds the copy became still and lifeless.

Copy Worms, the man thought, Useful creatures in causing diversions. This Copy Worm will make it seem like Miss Nagisa had died in an accident. If anyone were to cut open the worm they would find internal organs matching Miss Nagisa's. Copy Worms mimic the originals right down to the basic DNA. If anyone disturbs this Copy Worm after it has been placed in a grave they will feel it's monstrous appetite.

The man then raised his hand over the part of the car that had been sliced away to get Carly Nagisa out. His hand began to glow an eerie blue and that part of the car folded back to being what it looked like before it had been damaged.

When that was done the man walked back to the cocoon containing Carly, picked the cocoon up bridal style, and walked away into the dark words with the slime-like monsters following at a respectful distance.

In less than a minute everything was still at the accident save it for the rain still coming down in torrents and the trickle of blood coming from the body inside the car.

2:34 a.m. at Security HQ

Ushio yawned at his desk and kept thinking to himself why he had gone on graveyard shift again. He should have been at home with his wife Mikage, and fast asleep in their nice soft bed. But no… instead his boss had to take this time of year to go on a two week trip to Fiji when he was needed the most.

Ushio didn't mind doing paperwork inside a dry office and having been promoted higher-up in the ranks of Security. It was better than riding around outside in the torrential downpour.

Ushio looked at the pictures on his desk and smiled at them. On his desk were two pictures and a framed newspaper article of him and Mikage's marriage.

The first picture was the photo of Team 5Ds victory in the WRGP Tournament. It showed Team 5Ds celebrating their victory. Ushio thought back to the memory of Team 5Ds fighting to save the world from Yliaster.

Ushio had to admit it was nice to think he had contributed to help the Signers save the world, and he sometimes found himself longing for some form of excitement instead of sitting at his desk doing paperwork and managing younger Security Officers.

But then he would remind himself he was married to the best woman who had ever been in his life and sitting here at this desk was worth it.

The next photo was of Mikage in her wedding dress. Ushio had become attracted to Mikage during their running around the amusement park following Jack and Carly. The attraction grew when both of them were with the Signers during the battles with the Dark Signers. Then; for him at least, his feelings for Mikage became even stronger when both of them had been promoted and made into partners. When Jack had broken Mikage, Carly, and Stephanie's hearts, Ushio was the one who had gone in to help pick-up the pieces of Mikage's broken heart.

"Mikage, I know you're hurting from Jack Atlas breaking your heart-"

"Don't say his name! You don't know how I feel or what I am going through!"

Ushio waited after the outburst then spoke in a quiet but commanding voice, "You're correct Mikage, I don't know what you're going through or what you feel like. I can't be Jack Atlas; only Jack Atlas can be Jack Atlas."

Mikage looked at Ushio with tears of hurt coming down her eyes.

"But… but if you ever need to talk or have someone listen to you… then just come see me and I will listen to whatever you need to say, okay?"

Mikage just got up and left Ushio.

Well, it was worth a try and I am very happy I'm not like Jack Atlas.

After five days Mikage appeared in Ushio's office and said quietly, "Is the offer to talk still open?"

"It's always open Mikage."

That was the beginning of their relationship that went from talking that led to dating and then went to Ushio proposing. One of the happiest days in his life was when Mikage said yes to his marriage proposal.

A year later he and Mikage were married. The invited included family, the members of former Team 5Ds (minus Jack Atlas who didn't appear but sent a very nice wedding present), the orphans, Martha, Dr. Schidmit, Mr. Bashford, Security members, and other duel teams came to their wedding.

Ushio's eyes moved to the newspaper article that talked about their wedding. Carly Nagisa had written the article and had been the maid of honor at their wedding. Carly had made sure the article was done in good taste and had submitted the draft to him and Mikage for their approval before sending it to the paper.

… A banging, shouting, and slamming sound in the hallway brought Ushio back to reality. With that sound came a man's voice that Ushio knew all too well.

"WHERE IS USHIO!? WHERE IS HE!?"

Ushio got up from his desk, walked over to the door, and opened the door to see the back of Jack Atlas's white trench coat.

"YOU DON'T HAVE TO YELL AT THE STAFF JACK! MY OFFICE IS RIGHT HERE AND I CAN HEAR EVERYTHING YOU DO!"

Jack turned around and spoke quietly, "Really Ushio… you didn't have to yell right behind me."

"Then don't come down the hall shouting for me," Ushio hissed, "If you needed to talk to me then you could have asked the front desk for my office or you could have talked to one of the on duty officers. Now why are you yelling for me at 2:48 a.m.?"

Ushio saw Jack's face after he stopped hissing. He had not seen this expression since Carly went missing during before the battle with the Dark Signers.

Ushio walked back into his office with Jack following right behind him.

Before Ushio even got to offer Jack a seat at his desk Jack started talking in a tone Ushio had never heard before.

"Ushio, I can't find Carly! I was supposed to meet her at her apartment at eight so we could go out for dinner. She wasn't at her apartment and a resident of the apartment said Carly left her apartment around seven dressed in her best and hasn't returned! I've been riding all over this city looking for Carly, and I've been calling her cell phone but she doesn't pick up. I can't find her anywhere."

Ushio was very surprised to hear the worry in Jack's voice. As long as he had known Jack he had only cared about himself and didn't lose his cool. The only person who had gotten through to Jack and had shown they could handle his personality was Carly.

Then two years ago Jack went and broke Mikage, Carly, and Stephanie's hearts. Carly had taken it harder and longer than Mikage and Stephanie to heal. But she had managed to start healing and kept herself busy. Mikage, Carly, and Stephanie had gone from being romantic rivals to best friends.

Ushio wasn't feeling sympathetic to Jack, but if Carly was missing then a search would have to be done quickly.

Ushio spoke, "I don't know where Carly could have gone Jack. But I will send out some patrolmen and have them start looking for her."

Jack opened his mouth to speak when the phone rang on Ushio's desk.

Ushio walked over to it, picked it up and started speaking.

"Hello, Ushio speaking"

Jack had become irritated that the phone had interrupted this conversation with Ushio. He needed Ushio to get off the phone and help him find Carly. It wasn't like her to just leave without leaving a note or a phone message. The last time this had happened Carly had turned into a Dark Signer.

Carly… when Jack saw Carly open the door two weeks ago and he saw her face he knew he would always love her. When he had been competing and traveling for two years he kept seeing Carly's face everywhere he went. He heard upbeat energetic voice when other people were talking and every time he passed stores selling glasses he could see her gigantic glasses sitting on her face.

Jack had tried to put Carly behind him and began dating a very beautiful woman named Ivy Decept, who was the top model in America. He had been warned about her by his personal assistant Mrs. Joan Cattermole saying that Miss Decept had a cruel and heartless streak as long as the entire length of the Pacific Ocean. Mrs. Cattermole knew because she used to be the personal assistant to Miss Decept. Miss Decept didn't forget when someone made her angry and she never forgot.

Well… He started dating Ivy who was obviously very delighted that Jack Atlas wanted to date her. But after a few dates Jack saw Ivy's ugly personality and wanted to stop dating her. Well, Ivy found ways to make it harder for him to get away from her. She clung to him like red wine stains on a white carpet.

After two years drama he finally managed to detach Ivy Decept completely. But he always felt she let go a little too easy for his comfort.

As far has he knew Ivy Decept was currently in Italy doing a spring fashion shoot. But when Ivy wanted to bully someone because they had made her angry she had a long reach and plenty of people to do her dirty work for her.

Jack suddenly noticed the color on Ushio's face had become extremely pale, like coffee with too much milk mixed in. His voice became strained and upset,

"Are you sure that's her?"

Jack didn't wait. He grabbed the phone out of Ushio's hand and heard what the patrolman was saying,

"…. Carly Nagisa is dead, sir. We found the car a mile out of town."

"THAT IS A LIE! SHE CAN'T BE A MILE OUT OF TOWN!" roared Jack.

"Who is this?! Where is my boss?"

Ushio pulled the phone out of Jack's hands and switched it over to speaker phone. Then Ushio started talking again,

"Any idea why she would be out of the city on a night like this? And any indication of what happened?"

"We won't know until we get the body and the car brought back to Security H.Q. But we can't do that until the storm stops. Most likely she lost control of the car and it crashed into a tree."

"But here is the strange thing…"

Ushio and Jack listened for what was coming next.

"… I've been doing patrols down this road for five years and I know every part of this road where she crashed. I've never seen this tree here before."

Ushio and Jack gave each other looks (Jack gave a look of pure rage and Ushio a look of confusion).

Ushio spoke, "We will look into it. Just give the coordinates of the car crash and we will send a team out."

With a "Yes Sir" the line went quiet and Ushio looked at Jack.

Jack's face had become a mask to hide his thoughts. Ushio couldn't tell what Jack was thinking or what he was feeling. But Ushio was sure about one thing.

Jack Atlas had just lost Carly Nagisa.

Without another word from either of them Jack quickly left the room. Ushio could have sworn he saw Jack's eyes get moist.

Walking down a gigantic corridor made of a metallic substance and decorated in a strange organic style with torches burning a strange sickly blue flame was the man from the car crash. He was carrying the crystal cocoon with Carly still inside it. Behind him were the small slime creatures still walking at a respectful distance.

The man kept walking down the corridor with his sight aimed at the giant doors at the end of the hall.

Behind those doors was the being everyone called "the master."

The man kept walking forward and never taking his eyes off the door. He was making sure his mind would remain calm and quiet so the master would not be interested in looking into his thoughts… or what was in the his heart for that matter.

When the man had made it to the door he stood outside while the slime creatures stayed ten feet away from the door.

The door opened and the man shut his eyes before he walked in. Then he slowly walked inside the room and shifted Carly so he would be more comfortable when he carried her.

The man walked to the spot he always stood at when he was talking to the master. He had walked there so many times he knew the place by heart.

When he got there he stood still and could sense the master was watching him.

Slade… Is this the one…?

Slade kept his eyes shut and didn't even flinch when he heard that voice. He had learned long ago to smother his emotions almost to the point where he couldn't feel joy, anger or the other emotions living beings felt. The master's voice was one of the most horrible things a living thing could hear. It was colder than dry ice, more poisonous than nightshade, and blacker than pitch-black.

Slade spoke quietly, "Yes, this is the one who has the Netherworld Crown in her soul."

Slade could sense the master coming closer to him and could feel the master looking at Carly in his arms.

Place her on the ground so she may be examined and I can see this Jewel myself.

Slade carefully placed Carly on the ground and waited. Slade knew the master was only interested in the Jewel called the Netherworld Crown.

After some moments Slade heard what sounded like a growl of annoyance then,

I did not foresee this complication…

Slade spoke in his quiet tone, "Complication master?"

The Netherworld Crown cannot be removed from this woman's soul. If this woman died the Netherworld Crown would go back to the Netherworld and as long as she continues to live the Netherworld Crown would remain in her soul. She knew this was in her and made sure no one but her could use its power….

Slade heard his master be quiet for several moments then,

Slade how did you find this woman?

"After the defeat of the Earthbound Immortals I traveled all over the city where the battle took place called Neo Domino City in a country called Japan. This woman was one of five people possessed by Earthbound Immortals. Every one of them remembered what happened to them but she did not. I watched her movements and I watched her as she slept. In her sleep she remembered what had happened to her and what she did to prevent the Netherworld Crown from being used," Slade paused for a second then he continued, "I could not take her after the battle with the Earthbounds because the Signers were gaining power. The last thing you needed master was to be detected."

Slade stopped talking and waited for the master to respond to what he had said. After what felt like eternity Slade felt something change in the room; an emotional change.

It felt like the master had become interested in her.

Slade… does she have a name?

Slade spoke in his quiet tone, "Her name is Carly Nagsia and she was the Dark Signer for the Earthbound Immortal Aslla Piscu; the humming bird."

How did she get in this condition?

Slade told the master about what had happened during the last two weeks and he told the master about what had occurred at the hotel.

Humans… they are more interesting than I thought. I see you have placed her in suspended animation to prevent her death. Good… this has taken an unexpected turn for the better.

Slade kept quiet. He was not going to question what his master was going to do.

I cannot use the Netherworld Crown's power nor can I remove it. But I can have her activate it's power. In her badly weakened condition and her emotional state she will subconsciously activate the jewel's power.

If Slade had been able to open his eyes and watch the crystal cocoon he would have seen the crystal turn from bluish-white and clear to Earthbound Immortal Black and impossible to see through. Then the black cocoon had the orange mark of the humming bird. Then four different colored and different sized orbs came out of the cocoon. One biggest orb was red, the next orb was blue and slightly smaller, and the last two orbs were white and about the size of human eyes.

This woman is Carly Nagisa no more. From now on she will be known as Lady Aslla Piscu…

Slade kept his eyes closed and listened to the rest of his master's words. He knew the Netherworld Crown had been activated and what his master had taken would only keep her under the master's control.

... and this lovely one will be the Signer's demise!

Okay, so that was a long opening but hopefully this has placed the groundwork for the story. So far we have two conflicting stories from Jack and from Carly. We have a jewel inside Carly's soul left there by the Earthbound Immortals that Carly made herself forget. The orbs removed from the cocoon (I will let the reader guess what they are), and a fake Carly that is a trap waiting to be sprung.

The battle to save humanity and Duel Sprits is about to begin!

Please R&R, and remember I accept creative criticism but don't send flames.