Chapter 4: Bonding Hearts

The two duel runners sped down the highway towards the Facility. Their riders's eyes staring straight forward, the two intent on rescuing their friend from imprisonment. They continued down the highway, passing the New Domino hospital as well as the famous Kaiba Dome. Andre's visor slid down.

"We're almost there, remember the plan?"

Zoey sighed, sliding her visor down. "Yes, Andre, don't worry."

"Just checking." Andre replied.

Zoey revved her duel runner and sped ahead. Andre followed suit a second later.

"I'm coming in, I need to collect your sheets Mr. Nakamura." the voice trailed through the bars of Westin's window of his fourth floor room in the Facility.

"Whatever." Westin stood from his bed and glanced at the door as a pretty young nurse walked into his room.

The nurse had light blonde hair and wore the typical nurse outfit from the hospital. Nurses frequently visited the Facility to clean up, considering the Sector Security officers were too lazy to do so.

The nurse strode to Westin's bed and took the sheets, folding them and placing them on her cart outside the door before returning.

"We will be distributing the meals from Chef Kevin in an hour. So, be expecting them." she said with a smile.

"Gotcha." Westin smiled back.

With that, she left him alone once more. However, Westin had a plan. He strode to the door before it shut all the way and glanced out into the hallway. One officer was patrolling the third level under him but his level was clear. The nurse was strolling down the hall, knocking on doors as she went. She cleared three rooms, taking blankets and shutting doors behind her.

Westin closed his door until only a slight crack remained and waited.

"How do we get in?" Zoey asked as she and Andre stood outside the giant doors to the Facility.

Andre stood behind her, surveying the area. Suddenly, a small white object caught his eye. It lay in the grass across the street near the forest. He crossed the street and Zoey followed.

"What is it?" she asked as he bent down to pick it up.

"It looks like a keycard." Andre answered as he turned the card over.

A picture of Misty Tredwell occupied the front side along with her information.

"It's Misty'sཀ" Zoey spat taking the card from Andre. "How lucky are we? Let's hurry and open those doors before someone sees usཀ"

"I don't know. Misty wouldn't just leave her all-access card laying in the grass like this." Andre questioned.

"Who cares? We have what we need." Zoey said as she crossed the street once more.

Andre looked back for a moment, barely missing the trail leading to the clearing where Misty's lifeless body rested.

The nurse returned from her last stop and began walking back the way she had come, towards Westin's cell. She walked past, not even glancing at his cracked door. She continued down the hallway, only stopping to pick up a fallen sheet from her cart. When she almost reached the door at the end of the hallway, Westin bolted from his room. He barreled down the hallway, reaching the nurse as she was halfway through the door. He shoved her inside and slammed the door shut behind him.

The nurse turned and began to scream before Westin covered her mouth with his hand.

"Please don't. I mean you no harm. I just gotta get out of here." he pleaded before uncovering her mouth.

She took a few steps back. They were in another hallway with several small rooms attached. Each room, however, appeared to be empty. A staircase lead to a set of doors with a sign reading: EXIT above them.

The nurse didn't say a word, so Westin stepped past her and raced for the door.

"Wait." the nurse's voice echoed throughout a few of the rooms.

Westin stopped and turned around.

"You know that once I tell the officers about this, they will lock you up for good?" she informed the vigilante.

"Yes, I know, that's why I have to get out now." Westin answered the pretty woman.

"I assume you were put in here for something to do with Duel Monsters?" the nurse's next question came as a surprise.

"Yes, actually."

"Well then I'll make you a deal, duel me, and if you win, not a single word of this will slip from my lips, but if I win, then you have to come back to your cell." she pulled out two duel disks from under the cart and strapped one to her arm.

"You've got yourself a deal lady." Westin said as she tossed him the other one.

He took his deck from his pocket and inserted it into the duel disk.

"Can I at least know the name of my opponent?" Westin asked.

"My name's Dahlia, but enough of that, let's duel." the nurse activated her duel disk.

"That's a pretty name." Westin activated his as well.

(Westin 8000) (Dahlia 8000)

"I think it's only fair for the lady to go first." Westin bowed.

"You're so sweet, too bad you're going back to your room. I draw." Dahlia drew quickly and scanned her first hand of six cards. "I think I'm going to summon my Nurse Reficule the Fallen Oneཀ"

A young woman clad in bandages resembling a mummy appeared. She had spiky blue hair and demonic wings sprouted from her back. All in all, it was a pretty gruesome monster. (Atk: 1400)

"And now I activate the Spell card known as Upstart Goblin." Dahlia continued. "This let's me draw a card at the expense og giving you 1000 extra lifepoints."

As she finished her sentence she drew her extra card. "Too bad Reficule's effect takes all increases to your lifepoints and turns them into decreases."

"What? Noཀ" Westin shouted as a green spiral of light tore from the spell card and slammed into him.

(Westin 7000) (Dahlia 8000)

"And I'll end my turn with a face down card." Dahlia concluded as the card glowed to life at her feet.

Westin drew. "It's time to mix up some hurt, I summon my Hydrogeddon in attack modeཀ"

A large being of water appeared. It consisted of muddy water constantly swirling in the shape of a dinosaur. (Atk: 1600)

"I activate my trap known as Gift Card." Dahlia interrupted Hydrogeddon's summoning. "Now, normally this card would give you 3000 lifepoints but since my Reficule's still on the field, you lose those lifepoints instead."

A spiral of violet energy erupted from the trap, slamming into Westin, sending him crashing to a heap a few feet away.

(Westin 4000) (Dahlia 8000)

Westin slowly got to his feet and made his way back to the duel. I haven't even attacked her yet and she's got my lifepoints down to half. She wasn't kidding about being able to duel.

"Now Hydrogeddon, attack Nurse Reficule." Westin pointed at the demonic nurse.

Hydrogeddon reared it's head back and released a jet of brown liquid from it's maw. The jet struck the nurse and she cried in pain before shattering.

(Westin 4000) (Dahlia 7800)

"Now my Hydrogeddon's effect kicks in. When he destroys one you monsters in battle, I get to Special Summon another one of him from my deck." Westin informed the shocked woman.

Another Hydrogeddon roared to life next to the first. (Atk: 1600)

"Now, attack her directly." Westin ordered.

The second Hydrogeddon repeated what the first one did and released a jet of brown liquid. The liquid struck Dahlia who covered herself with her arms.

(Westin 4000) (Dahlia 6200)

"Are you finished?" Dahlia spat.

"Actually, I place one card face down and now I'm finished." Westin slotted the card into his duel disk.

"It's my turn. Draw." Dahlia drew angrily. "It's time to bring out my second option, I summon Herald of Orange Light."

A strange creature with a white cube for armor appeared. It appeared to have hands and wings growing from it's body. (Atk: 300)

"Now I activate Premature Burial in order to revive my Nurse Reficule the Fallen One from my graveyard." Dahlia placed the card on her duel disk as her lifepoints decreased.

(Westin 4000) (Dahlia 5400)

The demonic nurse appeared before her mistress. (Atk: 1400)

"And now I'm going to tune my Herald of Orange Light with my Nurse Reficule the Fallen one in order to Synchro Summon..." Dahlia started.

Herald of Orange Light into the air and disintegrated into two glowing starts that encircled Nurse Reficule the Fallen One, sending her through a Synchro Gate. A bright flash appeared throughout all the subdivisions of the hallway they were in.

"My mighty savior of sacred light, descend to vanquish the darkness in my foe's heart. From the Heavens above, Ancient Sacred Wyvernཀ" Dahlia chanted.

A gigantic being of light descended from above the two duelists. The creature resembled that of a Chinese dragon clad in several markings. It's white body stretched and it's head roared it's lament to the heavens above. (Atk: 2100)

"That's a pretty epic monster you have there." Westin complimented.

"Well thank you." Dahlia said. "I'm sorry that it's the one that will be putting you back where you belong."

"We'll see about that." Westin smiled.

"Yes we will. When my lifepoints are higher than your's, my Wyvern gains attack points equal to the difference. And I see a 1400 point difference." Dahlia informed.

Ancient Sacred Wyvern glew with energy. (Atk: 3500)

"Now, let's see those Hydrogeddons stand up to this beast." Dahlia mocked. "Attack the first one."

Ancient Sacred Wyvern reared back and unleashed a torrent of white energy from it's mouth, shattering Hydrogeddon in seconds.

(Westin 2100) (Dahlia 5400)

Ancient Sacred Wyvern glowed again. (Atk: 5400)

"I activate my trap, DNA Transplant." Westin's card flipped up at his words. "Now all monsters on the field become Fire attributes."

"And how is that going to help you defeat me?" Dahlia asked as Westin rose back to his feet from the attack.

"You'll see." Westin cracked a smile.

"Okay, then. I end my turn. Let's see this work." Dahlia folded her arms.

Westin drew slowly.

"I summon Oxygeddon." he said.

A large pterodactylappeared in the form of wind currents. (Atk: 1800)

"Again with the weak monsters, I just don't get it. You're not going to defeat me. Just face it." Dahlia said.

"Now I activate the spell card known as Successful Mixture. With this, I can Special Summon one monster with "eddon" in it's card name from my deck or hand at the cost of 1000 lifepoints. And I choose to Special Summon my third and final Hydrogeddon." Westin informed the nurse.

(Westin 1100) (Dahlia 5400)

Another Hydrogeddon appeared next to Westin. (Atk: 1600) Ancient Sacred Wyvern began to glow again. (Atk: 6400)

"Now here's where the fun begins." Westin started. "I activate Bonding - H2Oཀ With this card, I can sacrifice my three monsters on the field an Special Summon one Water Dragon from my deck."

Both Hydrogeddons and Oxygeddon rose into the air and shattered into golden dust. A towering spiral of water rose from the ground and knocked the dust away. A dragon's head burst from the water spiral and roared as the rest of it's body followed suit. (Atk: 2800)

"Are you serious? My Wyvern has over double that things attack. There's no way you are beating me." Dahlia laughed.

"Actually, when Water dragon battles a Fire attribute monster, that monsters attack becomes zero." Westin informed her once more. "And my DNA Transplant changed all monsters to Fire attribute which means your Ancient Sacred Wyvern is about to get it."

Ancient Sacred Wyvern's white aura dissolved leaving the creature powerless. (Atk: 0)

"Now, Water Dragon, attack her Ancient Sacred Wyvernཀ" Westin shouted.

Water Dragon released a jet of water from it's maw, engulfing the Wyvern and shattering the beast once and for all.

(Westin 1100) (Dahlia 2600)

"No, you did destroy my strongest beast." Dahlia fell to her knees. "I'm finished. There's nothing left in my deck that can stop that thing."

"Don't give up." Westin encouraged her. "Just a couple turns ago you were beating me and I never gave up."

"Maybe you're right, but I've been using this deck for years and I know that I have nothing left." Dahlia cried.

"If you truly believe that then surrender." Westin said. "But if you doubt yourself even a little, stand up and finish this duel with dignity."

Dahlia looked up. "Well, maybe there is a card or two."

"Then let's finish this the right way." Westin walked over and helped the woman to her feet.

"Thank you." she said as she took her spot back. "Is it my turn?"

Westin nodded. "You bet."

Dahlia smiled and drew. "I activate..."

She was interrupted by the sound of footsteps outside the door leading to the fourth floor. It sounded like two guards getting ready to reach the door.

"You need to go now." Dahlia said.

"But I didn't win the duel." Westin said.

Dahlia placed her hand over her deck. "I surrender. You have a good heart Westin. And I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I was responsible for you being locked back up here. Go see the world. I will speak nothing of this encounter."

(Westin 1100) (Dahlia 0)

"I'm sorry it had to end this way." Westin said detaching the duel disk.

"Keep it." Dahlia said. "Perhaps we can have another duel someday without these circumstances."

"I'll look forward to it." Westin smiled as he took off for the stairs.

He scaled the stairs quickly and reached the first floor in a matter of seconds. He stood at the end of a long hallway with a sign that read: EXIT on the other end. This was the same door from the sign upstairs. Westin sprinted for the door, not looking back. He was a few feet away when a boy and girl about his age walked into view from an adjacent hallway. The three of them collided and landed in a heap.

"I'm sorry, I gotta go." Westin stood and ran for the door once more before the boy grabbed his ankle.

"Hey, stop." the voice was so familiar.

Westin turned to see his old friends Andre and Zoey sprawled on the floor. His mad dash for the exit had blinded his vision.

"I don't believe this." Westin pulled them to their feet before Zoey lunged forward and embraced Westin so tightly he felt that his eyes were gonna pop out of their sockets.

"Oh, I've missed you so much." she began to cry.

"It's great to finally see you buddy." Andre clasped hands with Westin.

"I can't believe you guys snuck in here to find me." Westin said before looking over Zoey's shoulder to see two Sector Security officers rounding a nearby corner. "But now's not the time, let's go."

The three long-lost friends raced for the exit, and their freedom.

Succesful Mixture Normal Spell Card

Pay 1000 lifepoints. Special Summon one monster with "eddon" in it's card name from your deck or hand.

(The above card was created by me and all creative credit must go to me.)

First of all, I'm sorry for my lack of recent updates. It's just hard to find time with constant school work and working for money too. But I'm beginning to get more free time so expect more updates from me soon.

Character Spotlight: Westin Nakamura

Westin Nakamura was born in the Satellite to a pair of drug-addicted parents. At a young age, he discovered Duel Monsters as a way to relax and have fun with his friends. He met Andre and Zoey at around the age of fourteen and the trio have been inseperable since. With dueling and his friends by his side, Westin was doing okay. That is until Team Satisfaction and their cruel leader Kalin Kessler began to defeat rival gangs and destroy their duel disks. When Zoey and Andre had been the victims of this group, Westin had felt the need to step up and protect his friends. So, he turned to crime in order to get his friends back what they had lost. Although this worked for a while and Andre and Zoey were soon back to dueling, the two had decided to change their criminal ways. But Westin had wanted more. So, he promised the pair that he would only steal one more time. Unfortunately, that was the night Julian Mikuro took the liberty to drop by.

Next time on Rise of Darkness: The three friends decided to duck into the park while hiding from Sector Security. However, when Zoey gets angered by a certain woman looking for partners for the World Turbo Grand Prix, the two engage in a Turbo Duel.

Be sure to check out Chapter 5: Revolution Evolution