Ch.2: Lingering Hope

"Don't cry Leo," said a familiar voice, snapping me out of my thoughts.

At first I wasn't to sure that I had heard it at all, but when I lifted my head, some of my despiar fled seeing Jack Atlas rise upon his feet again. He was still alive even after taking major damage. If he could do it, maybe Luna could too.

I looked towards Luna, hoping she would wake up any minute now, ready to duel. My hopes were shattered as I saw she was still laying unconious, breathing heavily and Aporia's device flashing red on her chest.

"Leo" said Jack, snapping me out my thoughts again, his voice trying to be reassuring. " don't give up! This duel isn't over yet,"

"I can't help" I told Jack, tears threatening to come out of my eyes. " whatever move I make will just cause you and Luna more pain. I don't want you two to die because of me,"

"Oh suck it up already" said Jack " it's not your fault! Don't beat yourself up after a few bad turns! Dueling is full of winners and losers! But the real champs are the ones who accept their losses and move forward. I had to learn that the hard way after I lost the Fortune Cup to Yusei,"

"Don't under-estimate yourself or the power of your deck! Find the strentgh and determination to press forward! Your a role model for your sister Leo. Continue to be one! Continue to be her Guardian!"

"He's right Leo" said my sister's voice. I turned in surprise as she stood up beside me " I always believed in you. We can win this thing,"

The truth in Jack's words and my sister's encouragement cut through my despair like a knife, and I stood back on feet ready to finish the duel. Jack smiled as I finally stood, Aporia just humphed in surprise.

"It seems you decided to reject your fate" said Aporia, glaring at me " you have made a poor decision,"

"You hurt my sister!" I said angrilly " and for that you will pay!"

Trouble was, what could I do? Aporia had a continious trap and magic card on the field. If I summoned a monster, I would recieve 200 points of damage timed the monsters level. If I set a magic or trap card, I would take 200 points of direct damage for each card I set.

That monster had me backed up in a corner, where I couldn't make one move without getting hurt. However, at least I had 3200 life points to spare. Jack and Luna's life points were so low, that it would take only one more attack to finish them off.

I had come so close to losing both in the last round. I would not let that happen this time! I would fight Aporia with all my strentgh and heart! No matter what damage I obtianed doing it!

I had to be careful plotting out my next move. I did not want to hurt my friends again. Finally my mind seemed to come up with an idea, and I drew my card.

But once I did my worries returned. I kept on seeing in my mind the ways I let Jack and Luna down, made them suffer nearly fatal injuries thanks to my mistakes. The painful thoughts were to much for me to bear, and I ended my turn.

Jack yelled at me for giving up so easily, but I didn't care. If I didn't duel I couldn't cause him or Luna anymore pain. They were better facing off Aporia without me.

"My turn," Luna said weakly, drawing me away from my thoughts.

I looked at her; injured, weak, vunerable. She could barely stand. As soon as she drew her card, she ended her turn the same as I did. Aporia activated the ability of his Machine Fortress Field Spell, making Luna taking 100 points of damage and leaving her that much closer to death. She now had only 100 life points left remianing. One more hit and she was done for.

I looked over to Luna in worry, then directed my gaze towards Jack, hoping for strentgh, but he was as shaky as I was. Fear quivered through his body. He tried to hide it, but I could see through the disguise quickly. He was just trying to be brave for us.

"Surrender" said Aporia to us all " you all know your fates. Only those who follow Zone will survive and exsist in a better world. A world without pain and loss, without despair. You just have to promise to leave the foolish whim of your hearts behind,"

"I won't let my fate be decided by you!" yelled Jack, taking his turn " I summon Clock Resonator to the field in defense mode!"

"No Jack don't...," I started to say, but Aporia had already activated the ability of his Level Cannon, blasting Jack with 600 points of damage. Now he, like Luna, only had 100 life points left.

"Turn end," said Jack, walking back from the blast that knocked him off his feet.

I could see the fire burning in his eyes, his endless rage for what Aporia did to us. Seeing the fire burning in his heart gave me a spark of hope. If he can manage to keep hope during a time like this, why couldn't I do the same?

"My turn" said Aporia, drawing his card " I play the spell card Gift of the Machine Emperors. With this, I draw one card for each Infinity monster I control. I summon to the field, Divine Dragon Asterisk!"

What came next was the ugliest monster I ever seen. For a dragon card, this sure didn't look like one. Asterisk looked more like a gaint skeleton of a worm, with an infinity symbol planted in it's star-shaped mouth.

"Normally I would take damage because of Level Cannon's effect" said Aporia " but with Skiel Ein's special ability, I can negate that damage. There's more, all the attack points of my Infinity monsters combine and become Divine Dragon Asterisk's attack points,"

Me and Jack stared in horror as Aporia's dragon's attack points went from 0 to 4600 in just a few seconds. There was no way we could beat something that powerful!

A small grunt had me turning to my sister. She was on her knees, desperately trying to stand up and finish the duel. My mind suddenly flashed back to the day Luna had fell into her coma.

I remembered how much I prayed for her to wake up and be alright. I remembered how I had promised to protect her with all my heart and soul. Suddenly, my fighting spirit was lit up like a blaze. I had sworn an oath to protect Luna, and there was no way I would break my word!

"Skiel Ein" said Aporia " attack Jack's Clock Resonator!"

"Not so fast" I said, the fire returning to my eyes " I activate the trap Block Lock. With this my Morphtonic Stapler becomes the new target of your attack. And since Stapler can't be destroyed in battle once per turn, I won't take any damage this round,"

"Wrong" said Aporia " I acivate Wisel Ein's ability, making Skiel Ein inflict 200 points of damage anyway despite your monsters effect,"

Aporia thought he had the upper hand in this fight when he dropped my life points to 3000, but I had another trick up my sleeve.

"I activate Morphtonic Stapler's effect" I said " by switching to attack position my monster can force two of your montsers into defense position, and I pick Emperor Skiel and Grannel,"

I grinned at my success. Without those two monsters in attack position, Divine Dragon Asterisk's attack points relied solely on Wisel Ein's attack points, which were 1800. Aporia sought his revenge, by having Wisel Ein attack my Morphtonic Stapler and drop my life points to 2600. But Morphtonic Stapler had one last effect.

" I activate Morphtonic Stapler's last effect" I said " when destroyed in battle, the monster that attacked it loses 300 attack points,"

Divine Dragon Asterisk's attack points were now a measely 1500. Weak enough to destroy, but still strong enough to slam me with another attack. I lay injured on the floor as my life points dropped from 2600 to 1100. Aporia set two cards face down and ended his turn.

Jack and Luna were screaming for me, hoping that I would be alright. For one small moment, my guilt returned, and Aporia's voice spoke to me, impressed.

He asked me to surrender the duel, and join him in helping Zone create a better future, since me and him were so much alike. I stood shakingly to my feet, as I pondered over his offer to live at the cost of Luna and Jack's lives.

"Well" asked Aporia " what do you decide?"

I looked to Jack and Luna. They both had their heads turned away, afriad that I would take Aporia's offer. My decision was made right there and then.

"No way!" I said, growling at Aporia angrily "No way will I ever join you!"

Luna and Jack cheered as I took my turn, neither having no idea about what sacrifice I was about to make. I had to make this turn count, no matter what the cost!

" I activate Fortimisso the Moving Fortress's effect to special summon Morphtonic Boomboxen to the field in defense mode" I said " then I summon tuner monster Morphtonic Lightman in defense position,"

"Level Cannon activates" said Aporia " making you take 1000 points of damage,"

I could hear Jack cry in worry as my life points decreased to 100, but my turn wasn't over yet.

" I activate the magic card Douple Ripple" I said, playing the spell " with this I can summon two sycrho monsters whose levels are exactly the same as the combined levels of the monsters I scarificed. I borrow Jack's Clock Resonator and tune it with Morphtonic Boomboxen! I synchro summon Power Tool Dragon and Anceint Fairy Dragon!"

"Fool" said Aporia " Level Cannon and Divine Dragon Asterisk's effects activate, add up the numbers and you take 4800 points of damage! It's over,"

" Not yet" I said, surprising Aporia, then turned to Luna's dragon " Ancient Fairy Dragon, please protect Luna for me,"

" Your life ends here!" said Aporia " Nemesis Tornado!"

Pain poured throughout my body as I was swallowed up by the swirling purple funnel. Black lightning struck againist my skin, and the Level Cannon added to the pain. When the funnel dispursed, I barely noticed it. And as my life points dropped to 0, my heart stopped beating, and I collasped on the ground.


Once I died, it felt as if my spirit was stuck in limbo. I could hear the sound of Luna crying over me. I could hear Jack's voice shouting for me to wake up. That Luna on the verge of dying now that I was deceased.

"Leo" said the familiar voice of Ancient Fairy Dragon, cutting through the darkness " Luna needs you Leo. Please come back to us,"

The Crimson Dragon suddenly appeared out of the darkness and flung me on his back, flying me towards a light I hadn't seen before. I could hear the sounds of all of my friends voices calling for me to return. It made my heart burn with joy knowing how much they cared.

"I'm coming guys!" I called back to them " I'm coming!"

The next thing I knew, I was out of the void and standing back on my two feet. My life points had increased back to 100 thanks to Morphtonic Lightman's effect, and crimson mark lay emblazoned on my arm.

I looked at the mark in confusion. It looked like it was in the shape of heart. But was how it possible for me even to have a mark? I wasn't a Signer, was I?"

"Leo" said Ancient Fairy Dragon " are you glad that you're finally a Signer?"

"I'm a Signer?" I asked, still not believing it " like Aki, Yusei, Crow, Luna, and Jack?"

"Yes" said Ancient Fairy Dragon, nodding " your strentgh of heart and loyalty to your sister, has awakened the power that has lay dormant within you. Use that power to win this duel and save her,"

Luna's life points were down to 82 and dropping, she was still feeling the pain of my death. I had to act fast! Grabbing the mark on my arm, I begged for the Crimson Dragon to help give me the power I needed to save my sister and beat Aporia.

The Crimson Dragon appeared granting my wish! I held up a glowing white card as my Power Tool Dragon tuned with my Morphtonic Lightman.

In the power of the Crimson Dragon's flame, Power Tool Dragon shed his armor to reveal his true form! Jack and Aporia stood stunned in amazement, as what what was once machine became flesh and blood.

"I syrcho summon, Life Stream Dragon!" I yelled.

I smiled as my new monster let out a mighty roar and glared at Aporia. The real battle was just about to begin!