Chapter Three: Enemy of Justice

It was a game commonly played in the Central Shadow Realm, when a monster died and several others knew them. All around there were the occasional murmurs of "sleep in the arms of St. Joan", and "my Necrovalley accept him." Meridio didn't feel like playing. In fact, he wanted every one of their noses broken.

A funeral in the Central Shadow Realm was a rare event, mostly because a monster could very well spend their own lives attending them. Also, most preserved bodies were used for study, and were nowhere near respectful to the deceased after the Lilly's got through with them. Meridio took great pride that he could give this last gift to his brother.

Regina and Meridio had both made a temporary addition to their armors, a pitch black cape, which they then threw around their shoulders. To Meridio it was also a convenient way to hide his damaged hand. He had briefly considered grafting a Fusion Sword to it, but it would hinder the wrist movement he was so good at.

Eustace's lower body was wrapped tastefully in a formal sheet, lying in the bottom of a small bowl-like indentation in the ground. Monsters who knew him placed small items of respect down into the basin, but stayed very far from the edge. The reason for this was simple. The chemicals were made so that the body would never break down. If by great fortune, the deceased was a legend in their own right; they would be forever entombed and untouched, worshiped by those who would come to see them. Unfortunately, since the majority of such monsters most often died in battle, they thus shattered as usual, along with whatever possessions they held.

For the others, the current tradition took place.

"It wasn't your fault," Regina told him, though Meridio did nothing to respond. Sensing no reason to do otherwise, she continued. "I was the one who sent him to help you. He seemed so eager to be what you were Meridio, I thought I'd give him a chance to at least play a part in this." She was openly crying now, but still her brother remained focused on the festivities. Regina finally gave up, until she heard a faint response to her ears.

"This was no accident," he stated icily. "That Guardian planned the whole thing. He weakened that structure carefully, waiting, that death trap was meant for me. Eustace died where I should have; in fact he probably saved my life. I will not let him sacrifice himself to a madman, while the real killer gets nothing."

Meridio looked on, as a small gate opened, quickly filling the basin with a tough acid solution, dissolving everything at the bottom. Meridio was deep in thought, as he mindlessly tapped his brother's sword against his thigh.

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Veronica fought great guilt all the way to the holding cells, under the CSRPD headquarters. There was no natural light at this level, well, not that there was ever much outside either. Machines and Plants had both been known to overpower guards after a brief charge. That was why prisoners never got to go outside anymore.

As she walked, the Protector wondered; why did he have to be on the other side of the complex?

Veronica saw him first, and was amused at what she saw.

Five had taken the liberty of redecorating already after only one night. The translated poem from the tablet was on the wall, as well as diagrams, and other research apparently memorized. She supposed it was probably just easier to have it in front of him. Five was also showing serious signs of tainted Poison of the Old Man withdrawal, and it hadn't even been twelve hours yet.

What really got her laughing though, was the fact that he was only wearing his under-armor clothes, a rather embarrassing to be when one was not alone. That, and the fact that he was snoring. But the cheeriness faded when she look another look at his left hand. It was even more heavily bandaged then the day before.

"Good evening C9,"she heard him ask from within the cell. "Have you come to talk, or are you just here to look?"

Surprised, but keeping her distance, she tried to make conversation.

"I thought you were asleep."

"I don't sleep much," he replied from his stretched out position on a cot attached to the wall, the only furniture in the room, "but the guards walk right past instead of taunting me."

Despite the situation, he seemed rather calm, but she supposed the beating taken from his withdrawal probably numbed most of his other emotions as of late.

"I just wanted to thank you, for saving my life."

He chuckled. "Well, at least someone noticed." He suddenly became very serious. "What happened earlier this afternoon, I never intended that to happen. Come to think of it, why aren't you at the funeral?"

Oh, great, rub it in. I feel bad enough already, she thought, but knew with his predicament, he wouldn't feel too badly for her. She cleared her throat, and avoided the question entirely.

"Is there anything I can do to help you?" she asked.

"Other then the obvious 'get me out of here'?" he chuckled warmly, before thinking for a moment, glancing from his notes on the walls, to his bandaged hand. "A pen would be nice. I never seem to have anything to write with."

Both of them shared a laugh at that, before the Protector of the Throne found herself unconsciously blushing.

All of a sudden, it was as if a light had turned on in Five's head, and he picked himself up, and came pleadingly up to the bars.
"There is one thing miss…"

"Seenine," she explained, going by her more professional title. He raised a knowing eyebrow, the kind you raise when you want someone to spill the entire story.

Smiling at the fact that she couldn't hide, she finally gave in, "Veronica."

"I knew it," he grinned in triumph. "Now, Veronica, I need you to do something for me. I just want to see someone, think you can handle that?"

Focusing her energy into another crystal, she couldn't believe just how likable this Warrior was becoming to her. Her chest swelled as she remembered the earlier events of the day, and why he was here; but he did save her life, and she owed him this much for that.

"All right," she said nervously, as she held the ball up to his eyes, "Who do you want to see?"

"Someone gone," he replied, "an old friend. She's probably in the Higher Plane, Goddess with the Third Eye number 9-RL, can you remember that?"

"Nine Are Ell," she repeated, focusing hard. "I think I've got it, just look inside the center of the ball, not through it."

Normally she just used her powers to get brief images and sound clues, but this time, she poured her full effort into bringing the entire picture to as much clarity as possible. It was difficult on the surface, but to get something from the Higher Plane was something she was not very experienced with.

Five stood mesmerized, as the golden glow in the center of the ball cleared into her precious face, and the ring of her laughter filled his ears for only a moment. He tried to reach out, and touch her, but before he did, Veronica's energy gave way, dimming the image instantly

Five looked at her panting with strain, and immediately realized just what he has asked of her. "I'm sorry," he apologized quickly."You... really loved her… didn't you?" the Protector asked between pants.

Five ran his eyes over the markings on the walls one more time. "She helped me to believe in something," he replied, "and that's all I have left of her."

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Five days later, Veronica sat at her table, scanning the various frequencies for any new information, when for a split moment, something hit her, that forced her to stop on the spot.

"Veronica?" asked Deenine, her closest friend on the job, and one of the only people at work who called her by her name.

"Something's happened," the Protector in chair C9, blurted out with fear. "I need to go."

"Veronica, don't make me work double today again, last month you promised you'd owe me."

"Thanks Dee, I knew you'd understand," she rambled. "I owe you one, bye."

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"And I need you, to go down to the Spellcaster Living Quarters. We've got a Lady of Faith who fell out of a window."

Meridio was briefing a Shadow Tamer on her next investigation when Veronica finally found him.

"Meridio," she addressed with the clear message that she meant to talk NOW. "Just a moment," he responded calmly, ignoring her insistence. "As I was saying, probably a suicide. Neighbors say she was severely depressed after loosing her roommate last year. But it could be that someone didn't like the fact she had a name, so don't rule anything out yet.""Yes sir," she responded, before quickly heading out to her next project, and Meridio turned to the other woman with class.

"Now what did you want, C9, that couldn't possibly have waited until the end of the day hmm?"

"You moved up the trial to tomorrow that's what. How could you, you know that the Cobraman Suzaki case was up next, and after Granmarg, Mobius will play favorites to him, we'll have to wait another two sessions!"

"So some T.A.D.P.O.L.E. breeding got out of hand, what damage could a few Des Frogs do?"

"They devoured sixteen residents in the Plant and Insect Living Quarters!" Veronica shouted, now openly furious, "The Insect Queen has threatened to eat us alive if we postpone the trial, and I mean that literally!"

Meridio took a moment to clear his ears with a finger from her constant use of exclamation points.

"I've already taken responsibility for this, and managed to call in a few favors," he said reassuringly. "C9, please understand, Regina and I both want closure."

Veronica was extremely uneasy about the way he was presenting this case. It made her almost certain that there was something else going on.

"Ok," she said nervously. "I understand, but I can't say I agree. Your brother's body was put to rest already. Why can't you do the same with his memory?"

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It was just another meeting for the Shadow Council, not that that ever meant anything positive.

Raelvion, Forseti, and D'Ampton, the Lord of Dragons, were in a three way shouting match. The Buster Blader had never gotten over the fact that two spellcasters were on the council, even though D'Ampton spoke on behalf of the Dragon Lairs.

Kalvelos and Messiena were also in their usual stalemate, as were Sellick and Mr. Volcano. Ophilia was in her usual state of shouting at everyone.

Exodia was now too involved in his worst headache since… actually he couldn't really remember it being this bad, but then again his migraines seemed to follow that pattern.

"Order!" he bellowed, quieting everyone but the Warrior and the Spellcaster. "And you two, if you don't be quiet this instant, I swear I'll get the next Polymerization off the lines and shove half of it down each of your throats!"

The threat worked, although Forseti looked like he had much more to say. Raelvion seemed genuinely apologetic.

Clearing his throat, the head of the Shadow Council began the meeting by addressing Escalus, the Frontier Wiseman, and middle-man between the Council and Police force.

"Forseti has informed me of a very large disturbance in the Warrior Market Square last week, and he has received several complaints. Does Dupin have an official statement regarding this?"

Before Escalus could answer, a light indicating the Machine King was requesting the floor burned brightly.

"I seem to remember that several members of my race were put in harms way while the true officers took cover behind them. Is there a statement on that as well?"

Kalvelos, the Summoned Skull, stole the floor away from him with a press of his own button.

"The machine race can repair themselves far better then any of our other races can. And personally, I wouldn't think a decrease in their population would be all that bad myself."

This earned a few chuckles from the members, although the Machine King was not amused.

"Think about it," Kalvelos pressed, "come to think of it, most machines aren't even alive."

"Just what are you implying?" Pumpking glared through its one eye, rising on his tendrils off of his slime covered chair."

Escalus cleared his throat just then, and started talking quickly so the situation would not get any worse.

"The intervention you are referring to, took place rather smoothly. No major civilian injuries and the crowd calmed down fairly quickly…"

"To say nothing of the fact that a non-resisting suspect was apprehended with a sword to his throat?" the Rude Kaiser
interjected. "Sounds like a perfect way to get someone killed, which indeed happened if I recall correctly."

All of this was over Ophelia's head, in more ways then one. No one tols the Low-Level representative anything. "What was going on anyway?" Ophilia inquired, rising to her full height on top of her chair.

"Shut Up!" came the mass response, but the Queen's Double held her ground.

"It does seem suspicious that the trial be moved up Forseti," Sellick, the Harpie's Brother added. "So much happening, I wouldn't be surprised if someone took it upon themselves bring justice to the situation. Things could be going on behind the scenes could they not?" He grinned at a certain member of the party. "What do you think Mr. Volcano?"

The Pyro and Thunder representative rose to his feet in response to the challenge.

"It's been dismissed several times Sellick, just like you should be. You do nothing here, it's all due to…"

"My sisters," Sellick finished. "Do you have to mention that fact whenever you talk to me directly?"

"This arguing is pointless," The Legendary Fisherman injected. "No one is on trial here. Indeed, the trial that needs the most attention is the one that has been mysteriously advanced. I have to admit, this does not impress well upon those I represent."

"And I'm not too thrilled about having to deliver the news in my quarters," Rude Kaiser added nervously.

The chamber was silent for a moment, save for Ophilia's squeaks for attention

Escalus once again asked for the floor by clearing his throat. "Maybe this would be of some assistance. The officer responsible for the capture has asked to be able to address the council directly. Should I send him in?"

Exodia thought of this for a moment, and caught Ophilia adjusting an enormous stack of papers out of the corner of his gigantic eye. The decision was easy.

"Indeed, send him in, but no more then five minutes."

Meridio elegantly walked through the door, and into the main chamber, catching the Dark Magician's suspicious eye, and almost lost his comfort. Nevertheless, he made a low kneel in the center of the room, and prayed his voice would echo loud enough throughout the chamber for him to be heard.

"Honored representatives," Meridio began, "I am told that my actions have reached you, and I apologize. Dupin and I have already spoken, but I feel I must present my case." Meridio did a quick sweep to make sure he hadn't lost anyone.

"I feel that this is a matter to be resolved with haste, as some of the population has already begun to question this arrest, and to hold E5-27 for long could cause sympathy for him. Mark my words though, this perpetrator is dangerous. He plans to lead many on a hunt that will end in nothing but death and false hope. He cleverly orchestrated a lethal trap, resulting in the death of an officer, and what's more, he was clever enough to make it look like an accident. This…"

"Thank you officer, that will do," Exodia concluded. Meridio was not use to this, but swallowed his comeback, and made a solute with his right hand. Several eyebrows raised, and a few squinted, but it was the Fairy Representative, the Wingweaver Messiena, who asked the question. "What is that?"

Meridio flexed his hand, now a chrome color. His entire right hand was now overlaid with a permanent glove of Metalmorph, a synthetic element created by the machines. The material was very durable, but hard to keep pliable at high temperatures. Meridio had taken care of that problem by using a mild acid, an idea inspired at his brother's memorial. The burn that had crippled him was a thing of the past.

"This, dear members, is the work of the one who should never again see daylight."

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Only the Council could ratify this request in the time Meridio needed. After a round of Q&A, it came down to a vote, as these things tended to do. Exodia, Raelvion, Ophelia, and Rude Kaiser voted to keep the Trial from being advanced. Everyone else voted to continue as Meridio proposed.

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The news spread within hours, which was fortunate for Veronica, seeing as the trial would now take place the next day. True, justice had never had a reputation for moving slowly, but this had to have set a new record.

She made her way quickly back to the holding cells, making doubly sure to check everywhere with her crystal before moving too far ahead. To her relief, she only made out two signatures, and they were both the people the Protector wanted to talk to. Making a desperate run, the girl found someone she had apparently missed, and her face went white with fear.

"Careful Miss," the Dark Magician regarded, as he stared thoughtfully into the bars. Five was now conversing with the Spherous Lady that was apparently the Guardian of the Labyrinth's representation.

"Mister Representative, I'm sorry, I didn't know…"

"First off, since I am not addressing you in a meeting, I would prefer if you addressed me as Raelvion," he smiled back at her. "I never get tired of it, I like the ring. Not to mention it's much better then what I went by years ago, but that was before advancing."

Veronica didn't feel bad about this. Even though Spellcasters could grow more powerful through knowledge, with the centuries it took, it was almost as difficult as an Uprise.

The Magician made another moment of eye contact before answering the obvious question. "Personally, there are portions of the Zombie Living Quarters that smell better then this, but I can't pardon anyone without more presentable information, especially considering a Warrior. As much as I hate t admit it, Forseti can be much more influential then I can, so I'm down here to see if your friend has a chance."

The Protector's heart gave a slight rise. "Any luck?"

The Magician slouched a bit. "Right now, I think he has a better chance of catching the Dark Scorpions with a butterfly net then going free tomorrow."

That certainly didn't make the worried female feel any better.

"That's not to say there aren't some things on his side," Raelvion confessed. "Meridio is the only first account witness, while he has you…"

"I didn't see what happened to Eustace," Veronica admitted. "I was hanging off a building at the time."

The Dark Magician seemed to deflate slightly. "That complicates things. Alt.-Zero here is a rock type, so that may persuade Granmarg a bit, and your friend has his attribute to his advantage. Thestalos is the one who loves a good beheading, but Mobius isn't much better."

"Shame we didn't get a date on Zaborg's shift," the Protector wished. "I've heard he's never ordered an execution."

"No, he prefers Capsules," the Spellcaster answered dryly.

Finally gathering her courage, Veronica wrapped against the bars. Spherous Lady 0M-0H0 winced in annoyance at her train of thought being derailed, but Five looked genuinely glad to see her, although it was hard to tell through the overpowering look of fatigue he was bearing.

The attorney was about to protest, but the Guardian cut her off with a quick beaconing gesture, and struggled to get to his feet. He stumbled, his head getting within whispering distance of the bars. Poison withdrawal was never a pretty thing to look at, but it was batter then being hooked on Stim-Packs.

"I wanted to let you know I'll be there tomorrow," she whispered, realizing how much she would have liked to be holding Five's hand.

"What about your boyfriend, Sergeant Meridio? I wouldn't think he'd let you hang around here." Five asked with more then a hint of sarcasm. PT 237-C9 was taken aback. "Where did that come from?"

"The Sergeant has been down here on a number of occasions to look at his prize," Five responded weakly. "He's told me I got in his way of saving you. He's obviously looking for a partner in more then one sense of the word."

Veronica felt a bit of anger rising. She couldn't shake the notion that she was just another Low-Level Meridio wanted to show his power over. No more then a trophy to the public, and in this, she and Five had something in common.

"I don't care what Meridio thinks, or what he does to me. I don't want to see you in here forever. I want to help you." The words were ones she didn't remember thinking about. It took her saying them out loud to realize they were true.

"Excuse me, but if you want to talk to the lady with air between you instead of bars, I suggest we get back to work," the Spherous Lady reminded them.

Veronica did what she had come for, and set a small vile of purple liquid on the floor on the other side of the bars. The Guardian gaped unbelievingly, and then looked at the girl for an explanation.

"Don't use it right away," she warned, as fear for herself crept into every bone in her body. "You need to be presentable tomorrow, whatever that takes.

She turned and fled, not noticing the Dark Magician had already left, probably because he knew what she was up to. That left Five with more questions, as he cradled the precious vile in his hands.

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Five was reliving memories he'd rather have forgotten, as he was brought his armor, (his blade was left behind) and promptly bound by a Shadow Spell by two Giant Orc guards. They were perfect for the job… strong, loyal, and expendable.

The circles under the warrior's eyes had vanished, and he felt confident enough to take down half the Dragon Lairs, but he knew he'd be back to his old self within hours. Unfortunately, the trial would be long over before then if precedent was any indication.

The Court was held within the Police Headquarters, a much larger section, as it had to host a twelve-foot Monarch each day, but the room in comparison was not that large.

Six Giant Orc guards, two at each entrance, (Prisoner, Judge, and Prosecution) watched the whole thing, though they were probably too dumb to understand what was going on.

The other door, the one no prisoner never returned from, was oddly comforting in appearance. Raregold and Metalsilver were worked into the pattern, Slypher the Sky Dragon, whose coils were shown wrapped around Reaper of the Cards, with Shinato shown above, and Terrorking Archfiend below.

Around the edges, traditional runes spelled out whatever they could to prevent curses and final threats from escaping beyond that door.

Three seats were set behind two benches across from each other. On one side it would be the Arresting Officer, the Prosecution Representation, and a Witness. The same was for the Defense, although the Officer was obviously replaced with the defendent.

Five sighed once again. As Arresting Officers were more often then not the prosecution themselves, they more often then not had two witnesses instead of one, a severe disadvantage.

Veronica, Alt.-Zero, and Five took their seats, and waited. The other doors opened soon after.

Veronica's heart caught in her throat, as she saw Regina enter the room and look at her with a deep apologetic gaze. Meridio's face was one of a Winged-Beast, not surprising since he had done this type of thing before. Lastly was an Ancient Gear Soldier, who Veronica supposed must have been one of Meridio's troops during the raid.

"Silence, please," a Spirit of the Books addressed in front of the towering Judge's entrance. "This trial is being held to resolve the matter of crimes perpetrated by Guardian of the Labyrinth number E5-27 as of the time of his arrest, the twenty-second day of the second month. Arresting officer was Jack's Knight number 706-J. Judging this trial, the Monarch of Earth, Granmarg."

The door opened, and the titan of stone took his seat, while the winged assistant quickly took his place at a small desk to take notes.

Setting his hands on the large desk, as he preferred not to look over notes and get the same information twice, he took a largely uncomfortable moment, looking and staring, and sizing up each and every life form in the room.

As he inhaled to make his first address, everyone else held their breath.

"I'll be frank with you Meridio," the Monarch began, making the level-5 sergeant pale for being addressed personally right off the bat. "I was impressed by your first case, as you remember I presided that. However, it has reached me that this trial was somewhat… manipulated ahead of schedule and I am dying to hear the Prosecution's reasoning for this." The Defense table relaxed considerably, a mistake, as it did not escape the judge's notice.

"You," Granmarg cornered, "I have no better feelings about. A Public Rally that needed Police intervention to break up? Resisting arrest leading to the death of an officer?"

"Sir, if I might…" Five began pleading, another mistake, making two strikes before the trial even opened.

"The Accused will remain silent." Granmarg ordered, almost pronouncing the period at the end of the sentence.

Five looked to Alt.-Zero for support, but found her gaze locked on the Monarch. She had been here enough to know this, and also knew that Five should be doing the same. Breaking that respect to tell him however, would be their last strike. She had warned Five about this, but he didn't seem to be remembering. Meridio was internally grinning, but like Alt.-Zero, he knew how to get the Monarch's attention, or avoid it for that matter. He waited for Granmarg to open for the Prosecution, and gratefully took the floor.

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Seeing this made Veronica wonder exactly what in the Police was Meridio lacking in. Unfortunately for Five, she found nothing.

The Sergeant used his hands in sweeping gestures, subliminally flashing the metallic shine of his right hand whenever he could. He
took several minutes stating his version of the events before, during, and after, leaving little room for Alt.-Zero to punch holes through.

When the story was finished, it was Five's turn, which was much more brief, and Veronica wanted to hold her head in her hands. Those Tainted cubes had blunted the his memory, and even without that he hadn't the training of Meridio to sharpen his mind to detail.

When it came time for cross examination, both sides fought as if with blades, trying to find a weakness in each other's story. Granmarg watched with equal interest with both sides. The clock began to turn, and Veronica's breaths became more heavy and panic filled. It seemed to go on for hours.

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Finally the time for deliberation was over, and Granmarg slammed his fists on the table to quiet the room.

"After everything I've heard, it seems that the Prosecuting Officer has a strong case that would make me think less of even the most respected monsters."

Meridio gave a satisfied grin. Five fought the urge to take the last few drops from the bottle still hidden in his sleeve.

"However, the Defense has provided several reasons for these actions, as well as a genuine feeling of apology, as such, the sentence will remain prison time, the exact length to be determined."

Meridio was livid, but remained calm, sensing the nervous twitches of his prey. He crossed the room, as the Monarch continued thinking, and held his right hand out to Five.

"I really have to thank you," he said, with an air of knowing, "this could come in handy, and after hearing about this, I can see that Eustace's death was just a terrible accident. No hard feelings, and if it makes you feel any better, now I kind of know how you felt after you lost her."

Five was a little skeptical, but took the handshake. Meridio shook the Guardian's arm relentlessly, until a little bottle fell to the floor with a ringing clang.

Granmarg looked up immediately, and Veronica turned in horror.

"It seems the defendant was not fit to stand trial," he said with the hurt of someone betrayed. "As such, the defense's testimony is void, and Guardian of the Labyrinth number E5-27 is hereby sentenced to an immediate execution by beheading. Case Closed!"

"No!" Veronica yelled, in time with the final fist on the table. Granmarg turned to leave the room, but the girl ran headlong into Giant Orc guards. Five was in the same boat.

"You set me up, slimeball," Five yelled furiously as Meridio bore a smug look of power.

"That bottle was yours," Meridio countered, "But I'm afraid you won't have the time for an appeal. Say Hi to my brother for me, although you probably won't end up in the same place as he did. Goodbye E5-27, I can't say you didn't impress me."

The Orc guards took the prisoner away, through the haunting metal door.

"How could you?" Veronica screamed at him, "How could you do that to him you…" This time she didn't bite her tongue, but Meridio didn't phase in the slightest.

"You'll come around," he told her, "It may seem cruel now, but I can't let someone like that go free. You'll understand eventually, if you make it to the real force someday."

Tears ran down the girl's face as she stared hopelessly as the metal door swung shut.

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With his head covered, Five felt the cold steel of a Beautiful Headhuntress's blade touch the back of his neck. The chill was gone for a moment, and then he felt nothing at all.

Don't you just hate a sad ending? Well, it's a good thing this isn't the end of the story then. Next chapter Veronica starts on the true quest to find the Fusion Gate and pick up where Five left off, but first she's got to catch her breath after being through the ominous maze that is the CSR for her own crime. All, Some, or None of this may happen in Chapter Four: Legends of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon