The Sanctum skyfleet soared through the sky of Cocoon like a giant cloud of metal, a flying hive of wasps constantly surrounded with it's soldiers while the queen inside was carrying precious cargo.
However, in the world of wasps, there are some insects, like hornets for example, capable of infiltrating their hive and tear it up from the inside… by mimicking the wasp's appearance and behavior. A similar thing was now occuring among the wasp-hive called Palamecia. There was a hornet among them.
A hornet launched from a different hive:
An airship on safe distance: the Lindblum. Mobile fortress to the infamous Cavalry, a rogue military unit which is not concered with the l'Cie issues. In fact, it was operating to the opposite.
The Cavalry's man in charge went by the name Cid Raynes, a young yet charismatic kind of guy whoe aditude in formal wear was almost statuesque. He was currently aboard the Lindblum, contacting his rougue hornet scout that they sent to infiltrate Palamecia. It's crew: nothing but l'Cie, lead by a pink-haired female soldier.
They were comunicating by video-link, and got to see each other.
Cid (overscreen): "You're almost there. Once you all get close, we'll terminate all comunications with the Lindblum. Are you sure you're all fit for the task?"
Snow: (currently behind the controls) "What, now you're asking that? We'd all be dammed if we turn back now."
The correct list of crewmembers is: Snow, Lightning, Hope, and the woman called Fang.
Cid: "Of course. You might posess the overwhelming l'Cie powers, but remember, they still have you outnumbered. Be careful."
Lightning: "Understood."
Fang: "Like hell I care how many birds they have in the stock, bring them all on! Now that I finally found Vanille, I'll tear that iron falcon one bit at the time if that's what it takes."
Hope: "We all have friends aboard that airship, Fang. Let's get them out first."
Snow: "And then we capture the Primarch! Easy, peasy."
Cid: "I'm glad to hear it. Just remember: we need you to capture the Primarch alive, so he can testify and halt all this Purge madness."
Hope: "I sure hope he does. I don't want to see anymore people die…"
Lightning: "PSICOM is in for a surprise. They might believe they are doing the right thing, but their will is only moved by lies and iron tubes. We came here for our friends, and we'll get them out for sure."
Fang: "Don't you worry a thing, Cid. We'll get Vanille home."
Snow: "And Sazh."
Hope: "And Shiro. That's where he was taken, right?"
For some reason, Lightning took her time before speaking up, zoning out in the process:
Lightning: "… Yes, Shiro. The Battle Duelist. With the world put against us, he decided to take our side, without doubting the slightest. If it wasn't for him, Snow and Hope would probably end up a lot worse, and we never would have got the chance to inform Hope's father on the situation. Shiro… Capable of changing the flow of battle with just his hope and resolve alone. A mere card game, yet in his hands, it becomes a tool that alters destiny itself. So I've seen. A trait we all should look up to. I wish I had that kind of strength when Serah…"
Suddenly, there was interfeerance in the visual contact, and the PSICOM vessel they were all aboard approached the massive Palamecia close-up.
Cid: "This is it, the point of no return. I wish you the best of luck."
The link broke. There was nothing but snow on the screen, and so, the image disconnected.
Snow: "Alright, here we go."
Snow piloted the sky vessel to gracefully fit into the surroundings, blending in with the wasps just like a hornet was supposed to. The crew inside was given a splendind view on the Palamecia's deck.
And then, there it was: a familiar screech. It echoed through their heads like a wave.
Lightning: "Huh? Did anyone else…?"
Fang: "Yes, I heard it too."
Snow: "Where did I hear that before?"
Hope, while looking around to find the source of that roar, which was almost as sweet as a song, ultimately made a discovery when he looked out the window.
Hope: "Hey! Does anyone else recognize THAT one?"
Snow: "What do you mean? (looks out the window, then gasps) What the…"
Lightning looked at the scene. In short, she was speechless.
A slight breeze of gentle glittering dust was searing through the air. It was the trail of a wingbeat. A dragon's wingbeat.
They saw Diamond Dust Dragon flying outside the ship.
Fang: "Hey, isn't that…?"
Lightning: "Diamond Dust Dragon!"
Snow: "But that would mean…"
As soon as the vessel they all boarded took a different angle, they got to see the whole picture:
There was Diamond Dust Dragon, flying above the Palamecia's deck surface. Next to it, there was a large knight-like figure holding a large sword and constantly releasing a steaming trail from it's armor. Barely notable, there was also a small fuzzball-like creature with large twinkle eyes and wearing what appeared to be winter garments.
Beneath that, on the surface itself, there was Shiro, riding King Blizzard.
Lightning: "It's Shiro!"
Hope: "How did he end up there?"
Fang: "(looks in a different direction, pointing) Look!"
Fang was pointing on the other side of the field. There was a huge, white, dragon-shaped monster that almost rammed the vessel. It was flying next to another vehicle in the lead: that was Jihl Nabaat, riding the prototype Titania.
Snow: "He sure picked an odd time and place to duel."
Hope: "We have to go help him!"
Lightning: "If we rush in like this, our cover will be blown. We have no choice but to stick to the plan and hope he'll be alright until we arrive."
Fang: "Right now, it's all we can do."
Snow: "Then we better step on it. I'm bringing this baby aboard!"
Because of this, Snow piloted the aircraft away from the scene, and towards the docking point.
Lightning: "Shiro… Hang in there. You too, Sazh and Vanille."
And on the duel field, here's the situation:
Jihl's side:
Jihl: LP: 6450/ SC: 5
She had the powerful Ancient Sacred Wyvern, whose aura of white ripples seemed as solid as a cocoon. ATK: 6500
She also had a set card.
Jihl: "Your situation is and remains hopeless, Shiro. Justice, no, destiny is on my side. All things wrong can be fixed when just the right tools are used."
Shiro's side:
Shiro: LP: 2050/ SC: 5
He had the following allies:
Diamond Dust Dragon: ATK: 2300
Frostland Knight: ATK: 2100
Huriboh: ATK: 300
All in all, Jihl had every right to brag. None of his summoned monsters could hold a candle to Jihl's Wyvern, not even his Comandee.
Shiro, however, remained silent.
Jihl: "Lost your wise words? I can't blame you. Afer all, it must fall hard to get beaten in your own game. It only proves how inferior you are to me, no, to this whole world."
Shiro: "If that's what you think, you misunderstood my words gravely!"
Jihl: "What?"
Shiro: "Like I said, it is never a matter of strength or the number of people supporting it. All that matters in the correct way of using it. That is our power: we believe and we hope even when the days turn dark! That kind of resolve cannot be crushed by destiny!"
He lifted his right arm, and the brand there glowed with radiant light.
What occured next was quite unexpected: right out of the Palamecia's interior, a bright red orb of light appeared, grazing the sky like a stream of red lightning. Shiro, seeing it, put his palm up, and like by magic, the orb flew into his hand and materialized in form of a feather-shaped crystal.
Shiro: "This is…"
The crystal shattered, then reformed as a card: a white card featuring a specific monster: a scarlet-red warrior lady Eidolon.
Shiro: "This came from Sazh… (closes eyes) I thank you for your tribute, my friend. (opens eyes, and shows the card) This my new ally! This will show you what my power is capable of!"
Jihl: "A level 8 Synchro monster? Where did you get that from?"
Shiro: "It is the result of my hope, and the power of bonds compels it. That's why I can promise you: in this turn, I will shake your very ideals and bring you to a level below mine!"
Jihl: "(smiles) Like I once told you, you're a bad liar. Care to look at the field? You have not a single correct material to summon the thing, and even so, my Wyvern posesses over 6000 attack points, there's no way yo can summon anything stronger!"
Shiro, not replying, simply picked a card in his hand and placed it on the playmat console.
Shiro: "I Normal summon Blue Giant!"
While the massive creature appeared from a summoning portal, Shiro kept explaining it's properties:
Shiro: "Blue Giant is a level 5 monster, and this usually requires the tribute of 1 monster in order to summon. However, for Blue Giant only, I can reduce his power by 500 and summon him without a tribute!"
The summoned monster was a huge, Alexander-sized bipedal monster covered in blue armor and with a mask resembling that of Frostland monsters. Notably, there were odd crest-like formations on it's back with a blue orb hovering above it's head, and blue flames kept rushing in from it's gauntlets, shoulders, back and hips.
Blue Giant: "Hrrrrrr… Giant!" (ATK: 2200… 1700/ LV5)
Huriboh looked at it's new ally with awe, his eyes becoming as wide and as reflective as bubbles in a cute-face kind of way. It felt quite small compared to Blue Giant, but this didn't scare him one bit. As the matter of fact, it encouraged him.
Jihl: "An interesting ability, but in terms of sheer power, my Wyvern is the one and only giant here."
Shiro: "(picks another card) Finally, I use the ability of Tear Magician in my hand (shows the card) If I use 2 Cryonite-type monsters for a Synchro summon, this monster becomes the material from my hand!"
Although it did not exactly summon it, a transparent version of the monster did enter the field. It was a white-cloaked magician with a matching hat and garments, most of which were concealed beneath it's cloak, along with most of it's face, except for it's frowning eyes. It was carrying a staff with a tear-shaped tip.
Jihl: "He can do that?"
Huriboh: "(happily) Huri-huriii!"
Shiro: "I tune my level 1 Huriboh…"
Huriboh tried to make a macho impression by frowning up and acting tough.
Shiro: "… My level 5 Blue Giant…"
Blue Giant appeared behind Huriboh, overwhelmingly towering over the puffball, and expressing it's torso.
Shiro: "… with my level 2 Tear Magician!"
The Magician slashed the air in front of him two times, creating Synchro rings with every swing before vanishing. The rings surrounded both monsters. Huriboh was still acting tough with it's small attire, while Blue Giant simply followed up.
Huriboh: "Huri-huri."
Blue Giant: "Giant!"
They exposed their inner lights while flying into the rings.
1* + 5* + 2* = 8*
Shiro: "When a desparing heart stands before the abyss, the strength it finds will become a powerful burning halberd. With sparkling dust, shatter that dream into wake! Synchro summon!"
The summoning light exploded in a fury of dancing flames.
Inside the ship. Sazh was experiancing something odd: his brand kept pulsing uncontrolably, and he did nothing to provoke it.
Vanille: "Sazh, what's wrong?"
Sazh: "I don't know, it's like my brand is having a mind of it's own! (holding his chest) It's burning, but for some reason… it feels powerful! It's…"
Then, he just released the wrath from within and yelled it out.
Shiro: "Let's ride, Soldier of Etro… Brynhildr!"
The monster emerged from the massive orb of fire.
At first, it looked like a red sports-car, but then, it's parts shifted and moved, forming the body of an Eidolon. The wheels spiraled out and became shoulders of the creature. Arms and feet, both feminine, stretched out, and the front bumper detatched and turned into some kind of pickaxe-shaped tool, which the new monster caught before exposing her black face hidden beneath the hood. It now looked exactly like it's card artwork suggested: a powerful, fiery warrior lady. ATK: 2600/ LV8
That's what took it's place next to Shiro's other monsters, and pointed her weapon towards the hostile Wyvern.
Jihl: "He did it? He actually…"
Shiro: "Fight alongside me… Brynhildr!"
/opening song: Blue Drops: „Heart no Kakuritsu" („Sora no Otoshimono Forte", 2010)/
(Lightning & co. at the lakeside, with her gazing into the waters…)
Saisho de saigo no Suki
Saisho de saigo no Daisuki
(… she turns to see Shiro standing near her, flipping a card in his hand, then tossing it across the lake…)
Unmei nante nanimo
(… the card shines, flies across the surface, producing waves, then returning to the spot where Lightning is standing…)
Shirazu ni kimeta mirai
(… with a powerful splash, Diamond Dust Dragon arises, freezing the waters and raining glittering dust over the entire cast, before taking up into the sky.)
Da kara
(in the sky, the flying Eidolons Alexander, Bahamut and Shiva Sisters join Diamond Dust in mid-flight; title screens:)
Cold Saga
(characters drawing cards, which come to life before them:)
Kimi ni arigatou
(Kimi ni arigatou)
(Shiro draws Shiva Shield which comes to life; Snow watches and thumbs up)
Konna kanjou ga
(Konna kimochi ga)
(Lightning draws Diamond Dust Unicorn, which comes to life; Sazh, obsering, almost falls down)
Jibun no dokoka ni
(Mienai dokoka ni)
(Hope draws, and the card, Huriboh, comes to life, with Vanille watching…)
Nemutteta nante
(Umareteta nante)
(Vanille hugs and cuddles Huriboh, who blushes while Hope sweatdrops and Fang laughs about it)
Chikyuu o
(a huge humanoid monster emerges from the ground, shattering the earth)
Yusaburu you na
(it takes it's place behind Barthandelus, whom the group has confronted)
Chitei no
(fast blendings of the surroundings: Fifth Ark, Archlyte Steppe, Titan's Throne (with Titan in the shot) and Oerba)
Maguma mitai ni ne
(A white snowmobile-like monster drives over the screen, splashing snow as it goes)
Haato ga me o samasu
(Vanille in a Diamond Dust cosplay, winking, then dancing with a glittering staff)
Kokoro ni hi o tsuketeku
(monsters performing: Ice Battleclaw clawing the scene; Frostland Archfiend breaking massive ice…)
Negai ga ugokidasu
(… Alexander charging a punch; Brinhyldr shooting firebolts; Frostland Knight slashing with it's sword)
Kodou ni deatteku
(… Lightning performing Zantetsuken; Shiro summoning a great forcefield…)
Saisho de saigo no Suki
(Diamond Dust roaring, a bike-monster dissolving into Synchro rings…)
Saisho de saigo no Daisuki
(… surrounding Diamond Dust, transforming it into a greater jet-winged dragon, too illuminated to be told apart;)
Unmei nante nanimo
(Shiro riding King Blizzard, Diamond Dust flying above him, and Lightning on it's shoulders, feeling the wind)
Shirazu ni kimeta mirai
(a Synchro ring opens a portal, leading into warp-space, then overlooking…)
Da kara
(…the world of Pulse.)
Episode 6: Resolve vs. Destiny
And just like that, the tides have turned. Jihl couldn't tell why, but for some reason the presence of a new monster didn't make her feel well.
Brinhildr: ATK: 2600/ LV8
Jihl: "But that's… Isn't that Sazh Katzroy's Eidolon?"
Shiro: "With Bryndildr on the field, I'll make you witness overwhelming power of hope! No destiny will decide my actions, we all fight with all our strength every day."
Jihl: "Hm… (smiles) Your little talk surprised me, I'll give you that. But, as far as I can tell, you still don't have the power to crush my Wyvern."
Shiro: "Brynhildr's monster effect activates! When this monster is summoned, my opponent takes 400 points of damage for every Synchro monster that exists on the field. As far as I can tell, there's 4 of them!"
Jihl: "What?"
Count them up: Diamond Dust Dragon, Frostland Knight, Ancient Sacred Wyvern and Brynhildr itself, a total of 4. In response, 4 cannon-tubes on the tip of the Eidolon's pickaxe lit up with flames.
Shiro: "For 4 Synchro monster that are out, Brynhildr will inflict 1600 damage! Spark Shower!"
Bryndilhr shot out the missles from her weapon, which became 4 fiery meteorites, all headed in Jihl's direction.
Jihl had to drive in zig-zag in order to avoid a direct hit, but the heat she felt left disoriented her slightly. As a result, the fires caught her D-wheel and dealt the damage, much to her dismay.
Jihl: LP: 4850
Ancient Sacred Wyvern: ATK: 4900
Jihl: „Ghhh… Fine, You scored this hit. However, Ancient Sacred Wyvern is still far superor to any of your monsters. As far as the power of my Sacred Life deck is concerned, our path of justice still prevails."
Shiro: „You're talking about your deck like it's a tool used by someone else. Are you not considering that your own strength at all?"
Jihl: „This deck of mine represents his Eminence Primarch Galenth Dysley and his path of light. I have no right to steal his thunder. His words and his alone guided me this far."
Shiro: „She still dares not to see the truth. Very well then… I must break that belief by breaking her deck's power. (looks at Bryndilhr) With this new strength… Etro, once again, please aid my quest."
What none of them realized was this: in the sky, flying just above the same area where the two of them dueled, only a few dozen feet above their monster's heads, there was an odd, white mechanical owl, watching and monitoring their every move.
At the bridge, the operators at the consoles were operating perfectly. Dysley also seemed calm enough. As the matter of fact… he was a bit too calm. He seemed to be talking to himself, but he did so in the exactly the same moment as the bird from before blinked outside.
Dysley: „Child, do you really think your actions go… unsupervised?"
Simultaneously, one of the operators was having a rough conversation with one of the pilots via intelcom.
The pilot: none other than Snow. Of course, he didn't know that part.
Snow: „What's the holdup?"
Operator: "Just verifying identification codes."
Snow: "You let me land this bird, or I'll crash you into your…"
The rest of his sentence is not suited for some readers. Let's just say the operator let out a loud sigh. However, he did noticed something weird about the code of the vehicle he just scanned.
Operator: "What? (a few keystrokes later) That PSICOM vessel was reported missing in action 2 weeks ago. Could it be… Code verified, you're free to dock. Welcome aboard."
Snow: "About time."
That's not exactly what he said, but still, what he didn't know was that the operator simultaneously broke the link with him and opened a channel to contact Colonel Nabaat.
At the duel-grounds, Jihl received that contact. She had no problem steering her D-Wheel with one hand only while using the other one to keep contact via intelcom despite the rough weather conditions.
Operator(via intelcom): "Liutenant Colonel Nabaat, this is the bridge. Please respond."
Jihl: "I'm in the middle of something right now. This had better be good."
Operator: "A PSICOM vessel just docked the Palamecia. However, it's code is suspicious. It could be rogue."
Jihl: "(grins) Ah, so I see, they have finally taken the bait. Let's see, that means we have intruders aboard wich are armed and dangerous, the best tactic for that situation would be… (responds) Alert the troops. Put the ship on Code Red."
Operator: "Right away, ma'am. (ends connection)"
Jihl: "(to Shiro) Looks like your friends got here a bit earlier than expected. Nontheless, they shall receive the ultimate penalty."
Shiro: "What? Lightning is here?"
Jihl: "And she brought friends, no doubt. Still, I'd hate to be in their shoes right now. As said, the personel is trained for every and any situation."
On the Palamecia docks, the 4 l'Cie just left their vessel and stepped aboard the mighty Palamecia.
However, they didn't have enough time to sightsee the docks before a loud message was broadcasted:
"Code Red! I repeat, Code Red. Security breach! This is not a drill, I repeat, this is not a drill, Code Red."
Moments later, the docks gate opened, and an entire platoon of PSICOM soldiers, all dressed in red trooper garments, marched out. They were not alone. Behind them stood a mighty machine of war: a red Tilter-class machine named Viking. They were all putting out and pointing their weapons at the lot.
Hope: "They found us so soon? (takes out his boomerang)"
Snow: "(punches fists together) Good, I was afraid this trip might become too easy."
Fang: "(spins her spear over her head) Looks like we'll have to make some noise on our way in."
Lightning: "(unsheats her gunblade) Let's go then. Sazh, Vanille and Shiro are waiting."
PSICOM soldier: "Charge!"
The l'Cie and the soldiers charged at each other, and the clash began…
At the Palamecia's starboard side:
Shiro: "I can't hold back no longer. Forgive me, Jihl, but you leave me no choice! I activate Brynhildr's second ability! If I discard a monster card from my hand, this Soldier of Etro increases my Life points by an amount same as that monster's Attack points. (picks a card) I'll discard my brave Saber Skater that holds 1000 points!"
He discarded the card, and it's spiritual version appeared as a phantom at the tip of Brynhildr's tool. It looked like a futuristic ice-skater with jet-charged feet. The image soon became blurry as Bryinhildr converted him into a cyan orb of slimey light.
Jihl: "Wait, you're doing what?"
She showered that light over Shiro, and his Life points started rising.
Shro: "For every Life point that I come closer to your amount, your so called Sacred Wyvern loses on power."
Shiro: LP: 3050
Ancient Sacred Wyvern: ATK: 3900
Shiro: "Finally, I use the effect of Speed World S, and convert all my Life points into Attack points for a monster of my choice. I give all effects to my mighty Frostland Knight!"
The show continued, as visibly Shiro's speed became a visible force, which illuminated the great knight that stood by his side.
Shiro: SC: 0
Frostland Knight: ATK: 3100
Jihl: "Thirty-one-hundred? It's still not enough."
Shiro: "I declare battle! Frostland Knight, attack her Ancient Sacred Wyvern. And this time, bring it down for good!"
Frostland Knight: "Hrrrr… Knight! (leaps up)"
The giant Knight seemed like a small pawn compared to the giant Wyvern, but it lifted it's blade against it anyway.
Jihl: "Moron. Without it's ability to halve my Wyvern't power, your Knight will be pulverized. Or did you forget my Curse of Light?"
Shiro: "It's you who forgot. When I used Dimension Crack, I removed my Knight from play for a moment, and since it was re-summoned, the curse was lifted."
Jihl: "What!"
Shiro: "When Frostland Knight attacks a monster whose current Attack points exceed it's original Attack points, then that monster's power is cut in half, and my knight gains 500 points in return!"
So it happened.
Ancient Sacred Wyvern: ATK: 1950
Frostland Knight: ATK: 3600
Shiro: "Do it, with Winter Sword Slash!"
Frostland Knight: "Kniiiigth!"
The knight cut the Wyvern't throat, to which the beast could only weep in pain as pure white energy spilled forth from the injury, seconds before the impact caused the wyvern to explode. Jihl covered her eyes as the splintered remains of her own monster ached like dust of glass.
Jihl: "No way!"
Jihl: LP: 3200
Jihl: "I won't go down that easily! I use Ancient Sacred Wyvern's special ability: when destroyed in battle, I can bring him back for the cost of a thousand Life points!"
Jihl: LP: 2200
Jihl: "No… both our Life points got too close in value, Wyvern's bonus will make no difference! Wyvern, I summon you in Defense mode!"
The great beast rose up again. However, this time, it was no larger than any of Shiro's monsters, and the perpetual white glow that coated it thus far was no longer visible.
Ancient Sacred Wyvern: DEF: 2000
Shiro: "As I thought. She's trying to escape further damage by bringing up a defense. Is that really what your Sacred Life deck can muster?"
Jihl: "I…"
Shiro: "Your deck only remains dominant until someone prooves it wrong. My deck, however, breaks all dominance and conquers anything with sheer power of truth! The same goes for your ideals, they're wrong, Jihl!"
Jihl: "How dare you!"
Shiro: "If you still don't believe my words, maybe you'll believe my cards. I attack your Wyvern with Bryinhildr, Soldier of Etro!"
Brynhildr leaped up, and engulfed her weapon in bristling flames.
Shiro: "Muspell… Flame!"
She swung the tool against the dragon, and as if the flames were a blade, they eviscerated her monster like a piece of chalk. It exploded, once again, leaving Jihl stunned.
Jihl: "Again? My Wyvern… No! I use Ancient Sacred Wyvern's ability again to bring it back!"
Jihl: LP: 1200
The dragon rose up again. By now, it was barely larger than an average human. DEF: 2000/ ATK: 250
Shiro: "One last time! That one came from Sazh, and this one comes from me! Diamond Dust Dragon, attack it! Sonic Vortex!"
His most reliable monster, Diamond Dust Dragon, obeyed him. It launched forward a stream of blue energy. On impact, it reduced her Wyvern down until nothing remained. It was like a piece of paper before a firestorm: completely anihilated.
Jihl: "This isn't happening! (looks at her LP) No… At this rate, it's not worth it… It's just not… (hangs her head) I'll skip my Wyvern's abilty to ressurect itself."
Shiro: "Hm. (Diamond Dust Dragon returns to his side) If that's the case, I end my turn."
Frostland Knight: ATK: 2100
Jihl was currently in a state of crisis. Her eyes were wide opened, but she was barely looking around. Rather, she zoned out and almost forgot to steer Titania in a straight course.
Jihl: "My Wyvern… My deck, defeated… Just like that… (gasps)"
She looked at her right hand, which she tried to cover her face with. She noticed something. It was shaking, trembling uncontrolably.
Jihl: "Again… No, it… It can't be! (looks as Shiro) Is this the Battle Duelist's power?"
At a certain floor on Palamecia:
Soldiers and machine parts were flying around, hitting walls, floors and anything they could come across. The last soldier just lost his conscience. As the result, the corridor was full of immobile soldiers and wrecked machine parts lying around.
The reason for this was the group of l'Cie, standing front with their respective weapons drawn. Fang was in the front of the group, swinging her spear like wild. She seemed to be quite carried away.
Fang: "Anyone alse? Come on, I'll take you all apart!"
Snow: "(puts his hand on her shoulder) Hey, easy, I think they've had enough."
Fang: "Hmph… (closes her spear) I can't stand it, this waiting, I want to get to Vanille as quickly as possible."
Lightning: "Rage might make you strong, but giving into it will end up destroying you."
Fang: "Yeah, yeah, whatever."
Hope: "Have a little faith in her. That's all she needs."
Snow: "Truth be told, shortstuff. My gut's telling me they're all just fine."
Lightning: "I don't rely on your gut, Snow. I rely on Shiro. He can keep his grounds."
Fang: "And the other two as well, right?"
Lightning: "Huh? (blushes slightly) Oh, right. Vanille and Sazh too. (normally) Let's get moving, then!"
The l'Cie ran ahead across the corridors, ignorring the beaten enemies around them, but not before Snow had the chance to ask Hope:
Snow: "Hey, did you notice she's been a little nicer lately?"
Hope: "I dunno…"
Half a hundred floors beneath them:
The Palamecia Primary Engine Bay, a huge dome-like area with a large orb in the center, this being the main reactor engine, surrounded by platforms for maintece crew and security to pass.
Vanille ran out of one of the enterances, screaming and holding her cheeks.
Vanille: "Are they still after us?"
Then Sazh came out:
Sazh: "I ain't stopping to look!"
Then a swarm of odd slimey creatures: Flanitors and Flanborgs, chasing after them.
Vanille: "Why can't they just leave us alone?"
Chocobo: "Kweh!"
Sazh was wielding his trademark weapon: a pair of handguns with two vertically parallel barrels. He kept shooting the swarm of pursuers in an attempt to keep them all at bay, but it did little help against the formless monsters.
Sazh: "(after firing a few more shots) Darn it, I've had it with you all!"
By this time, Sazh's brand on his chest was still burning with an intense light. Once he ceased firing at the Flans, Sazh crossed the pistols before him, over the brand, and summoned a great amount of energy that was spilling forth.
Sazh: "HaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAARHHH!"
The energy manifested in form of a massive fireball, which Sazh threw at the creatures, and it exploded with the power of several grenades. All Flans caught in the blast either melted, burned out or were blown away and into the deep chasm of the Engineroom's space.
No matter the case, the enemies were all gone.
Vanille: "(thumbs up) Good going, Sazh!"
Sazh expressed his biceps as his victory pose while the chocobo chick on it's head displayed a loud "kweh" of joy. He soon withdrew his guns in their respective place on his pants, and pated his palms together.
Sazh: "For some reason, I feel super strong. With this. (points at his burning brand) Somehow, my Eidolon summoned itself, but to benefit someone else's battle, not my own. And because they're all winning, I guess I feel stronger too."
Vanille: "Do you think it's Shiro? I saw his Eidolon creature fly by the bow earlier."
Sazh: "It is possible. However, not to rush or anything, but let's just get the heck outta here. Eidolons have their limits too, and there's no telling when Brynhildr is going to reach hers."
Vanille: "Roger. Let's go."
On the Palamecia bow…
Jihl was gasping heavily, frightently observing her shivering hand. The last move simply overwhelmed her, and with her Life points being brought drastically low, on a level below Shiro's, and with that, her entire strategy slowly fell apart.
Jihl: „No way… It just isn't possible… Even if I have brought back Ancient Sacred Wyvern now, it's power would have vanished completely because his Life is now greater than mine… (looks at his field) That monster, Brynhildr… It's exactly the same as Sazh Katzroy's Eidolon. How on Cocoon did he manage to utilize it's power like this? It's like the monster took on precicely those traits that would help him in this kind of situation. Had he not summoned that thing, the turn would have ended otherwise. Did he… did he really see this comming? (with her hand shaking, she draws a card) My turn!"
Jihl: SC: 6
Shiro: SC: 1
Jihl: "Because of the effect of Solemn Wishes, every time I draw, my Life points increase by 500!"
Jihl: LP: 1700
Jihl: "It's still lower than his! Curses! (looks at the card she drew) This is… (looks at her field) I see. I never thought I'll ever be forced to call upon this might."
For some reason, fear left her eyes completely, and Jihl piloted her D-Wheel so that it was driving backwards at full speed, and she was facing Shiro.
Jihl: „You had me fooled back there! You said you demolished my beliefs with your own power, but no way could you have predicted the arrival of your new monster. Face it, Shiro, you did exactly that what contradicts your statement."
Shiro: „What do you mean?"
Jihl: „You never relied on skill, what caused this tide-turner was nothing but blind luck. You think so as well, don't you?"
Shiro: „That's not true. I give in to hope, but never to destiny! I carve my own path to victory."
Jihl: „Really? But tell me, how did you intend to carve your path if Brynhildr didn't arrive to your rescue?"
Shiro: „Huh?... Well, I…"
Jihl: „So I thought. (drives normally) You rely on destiny the same way the l'Cie do. One way or another, destiny took a different tide now. Trap, activate! (the card reveals) Wicked Rebirth! That means I can summon a Synchro monster from my Graveyard by paying 800 Life points, so I'll pay the price to ressurect Ancient Sacred Wyvern!"
Jihl: LP: 900
Jihl: „If I summon him in this way, my monster's effects are all negated and it can't attack."
The terrifying Wyvern was reborn, only this time, it's former shine was completely robbed of it's hide. ATK: 2100/ LV7
Jihl: „Next up, I play this: Speed Spell- Time Leap! It's a very special card, and if I pay 3 Speed counters, I can special summon another monster from my Graveyard, and I select to ressurect Sacred Skyfalcon!"
Jihl: SC: 3
The spell's gleam materialized in a familiar shape: a cyan, almost transparent radiant falcon with a long tail of a swallow. ATK: 800/ LV3
Shiro: „A formation of those two monsters is meaningless in terms of attack power. They only thing she can do with those now is…"
Jihl: „Synching them together, exactly. It's the whole purpose of Sanctum's methods, to resolve a greater good, even if it means bringing sacrifices. I'll tune both my monsters! Level 7 Ancient Sacred Wyvern and level 3 Sacred Skyfalcon: synch level 10!"
Shiro: „A level 10 Synchro! There's no telling what might come out!"
The Skyfalcon rose up and dissolved into 3 Synchro rings, enveloping ancient Sacred Wyvern which flew through all three of them.
7* + 3* = 10*
Jihl: „By the grace of fal'Cie, the ignorrant will meet their judgment from the god of storms. The sword that divides heavens, become the court's hammer! Synchro summon!"
It was like she said, the skies split above her, and through the gap in the clouds, a new monster descended, one whose appearance was truly awe-worthy: a huge knight in platinum armor, almost two times larger than Frostland Knight, but his body was much more spikier, as if the horns atop it's helmet served as a crown of sorts. It had legs that were disproportionally longer than they were supposed to, like pillars supporting a god from above. In one hand, it was holding a large shield engraved with thundering symbols, and in the other, there was a spear of sorts, but the blade of that spear's tip was even larger than Frostland Knight's sword. It's face was completely darked out because it's helmet was only leaving a narrow area of open space, and nothing but lights and sparks were emitted from it's body.
Jihl: „It's here. Frail, Stormlord Destion!"
It's howl, indeed a howl, it was like it was carried by the winds across the entire world. ATK:3000/ LV10
Shiro: „I've never seen a monster like this one before."
Jihl: „And it is going to be the last time you see it at all. I now activate Destion's special ability! If my opponent's Life points are higher than this monster's Attack points, then Stormlord Destion can instantly destroy all other monsters on the field!"
Shiro: „What?"
Jihl: „A shame, really. I always wanted to beat your Diamond Dust Dragon in battle, but this way I'll get to see what happens when your Comandee falls under effect destruction. Go, Destion! Ultimate Judgment Spear!"
The massive spear in Destion's hand kept charging and charging, no doubt could the accumulated power within obliterate the entire ship. All that might, focused on a single tip. The Stormlord raised it's spear into the sky, and released all the combined energy it aquired, producing a series of lightning bolts. And the targets, they were all on Shiro's side.
Simultaneously hit by lightning, all monsters squimmered in pain before their images shattered like glass.
First one was Frostland Knight…
Then Brynhildr…
And finally, Diamond Dust Dragon suffered the same end. Before his master's eyes, the Comandee gave in to destruction, desperately trying to fight back with it's scream.
Shiro: „NO! Diamond Dust! Brynhildr!"
Shiro was shocked by the disappearance of it's ace monster, but other than that, he expressed almost no signs of fatigue.
Jihl: „Hmmm, looks like Battle Duelists endure effect destruction of their Comandees better than battle loss. Still, I intend to make up for it. Without any monsters to shield you, I now attack your Life points directly with Stormlord Destion! Show him no mercy!"
Despite it's massive size, Destion's movements were those of an elite martial artist. He lifted it's blade and swung it around like it was feather-light. But, the bad news is, that swing was aimed at Shiro's side of the road. The impact on the road produced a massive way of shining voltage, which not only hit Shiro and inflicted tissue-demolishing pain, but also tilted him way off-course.
Shiro: „GYAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
Shiro: LP: 50
He was, yet again, dangerously close to the edge of Palamecia's bow…
Inside the Palamecia:
Lightning just felt something. There was nothing occuring in her presence that could make her feel that way, but somehow it felt like something sharp ripped off one of her ribs out of her chest. The pain was present for only a nanomoment, but it left quite an impact on the experienced soldier.
Lightning: „(shirt gasp) What was that?"
Hope: „Is something wrong?"
Snow: „Did one of those Dragoon guys hit you?"
Lightning: „No, I'm fine. This feeling… This sharp impulse, what was that?"
In her head, Lightning saw the face of her sister, Serah, flashing in a warm memory. For some reason, the pain she felt called that upon, but tainted it in red background.
Lightning: "Serah… Shiro… (shakes her head) We can't waste our time worrying about me, every second we dilly-dally puts Sazh, Vanille and Shiro at more risk!"
Fang: „Right you are, these guys won't be getting up anytime soon."
To explain Fang's statement, they were currently surrounded by what was now a pile of junkparts, formely used to make out the bodies and mechanisms of Palamecia's deckdrones.
That said, the group continued onward.
Inside the Palamecia's engine room:
Sazh's brand, which up until reecently kept radiating a burning stream of energy, now went completely blank and silent.
Sazh: „That's weird."
Vanille: „Your brand, it stopped."
Sazh: „Yeah, and it feels like Brynhildr's out of the game as well. Something punched the daylights outta her."
Vanille: „Are you feeling alright?"
Sazh: „(macho pose) Of course. Never better. We better get out of here fast. According to the alert signals, we aren't the only ones cleaning house. Could be l'Cie on board."
Vanille: „Then, does that mean Fang's with them too?"
Sazh: „Quite possible. Come on. Let's go get rescued."
Just as Sazh was about to walk away, Vanille stood still and interrupted him.
Vanille: „No. I'm through with running. For once in my life, I'm going to save her."
Sazh put a wide grin on his face.
Sazh: „Haha, now you're talking! Let's not keep her waiting."
But just as they were about to storm out, a loud cry was heard across the halls. It was not human.
Moments later, the source of the cries came close enough for them to see: a group of about a dozen sinthetic Flans, with a mighty Bio-weapon, a Thermadon, marching behind them. Both Vanille and Sazh pulled out their respective weapons.
Sazh: „Is it too much to ask to cut us one break?"
Shiro managed to keep his course steady, despite the awful wind velocity around him. However, he did not do so without consequences. With the shock that his body felt from all the voltage he took from the attack, plus the trauma of seeing both his and Sazh's monster pulverized left a critical mark on his body. He was sweating and gasping, which was odd since, according to his own cold phisiology, he was not supposed to be in the condition to sweat at all.
But of course, Jihl found this extremely amusing.
Jihl: „Wonderful, your Life is reduced to a mere 50. I wonder how you intend to bounce back."
Then, she received another call via intelcom.
Operator: „Liutenant Colonel! We have an emergency here! The l'Cie… the imprisoned l'Cie have escaped!"
Jihl: „What? (responds) Repeat that. Where are they?"
Operator: „The Flanitor units have located them in the Engine room's passage on backboard side, floor 13."
Jihl: „(smiles) Hm, no need to panic, right now they are like ferrets, cluelessly running through our pipes. Let's see, the other units should have aprehended the intruders we have, so we should focus on capturing the escapees, that would be… (responds) Turn the alert over to Code Green."
Operator: „Right away, ma'am."
Jihl: „(breaking the link) Your efforts to set your friends free have all been in vain, Shiro. Our troops are minutes away from capturing them."
Shiro: „(breathes heavily) They… They are…"
Jihl: „Hm?"
Shiro: „They are… They are not going down that easily! And neither do I! (draws) My turn!"
Shiro: SC: 2
Jihl: SC: 4
Shiro: „(looks at the card) Miracle Shot… This could be my last chance… (sets it) I set one card face-down, and end my turn."
Jihl: „That's all? No bold speeches of hope and power? Can it be you're in fact playing with despair and relying on that face-down? I do wish to see that one perform. My turn! (draws)"
Jihl: SC: 5
Shiro: SC: 3
Jihl: „(looks at the card) O-ho, Divine Chance. And it looks like whatever you put down won't succeed, no matter what your intentions are. First, because of Solemn Wishes effect, my Life points increase by another 500."
Jihl: LP: 1400
Jihl: „And now for the final strike. (points at Shiro) Stormlord Destion, attack Shiro's Life points directly! Ethereal Judgment!"
Just as the overpowering monster lifted it's spear again to attack…
Shiro: „It's againts my policy to leave a fine card unactivated. Trap, open! (reveals) Miracle Shot! This card activates when my opponent attacks me directly. It allows me to draw one card from my deck, and if I draw a monster, not only do I get to Special summon it, but I also negate your whole Battle phase. But in case I draw anything else, a Spell, a Trap, or a Monster that can't be summoned, I have to discard it and your attack connects."
Jihl: „So that's what you've been hiding? You always find new ways to amuse me. Destiny, mister Whiterain, your power is all about destiny! Even if you do manage to create a reversal with that, it'll all be because of destiny. Which means I was right, and you were wrong. Neither l'Cie nor Battle duelists can do any better than follow their destructive path. Destion, smite him down!"
Stormlord Destion leaped up…
Shiro: „I won't allow that! Here I go! (prepares to draw, but hesitates) Hhh… Wait a second… The outcome of this duel depends on whether or not I draw a monster. But that means…"
Destion lifted it's spear and summoned divine thunderbolts…
Shiro: „This deck, every card placed atop each other, it had a pre-decided row in which I drew my cards from the start."
The charging of the spear was complete…
Shiro: „What if Jihl is right? What if dueling itself is nothing more than a play of chance? Does it really matter how I put my deck or make my moves? Is destiny really all I can rely on? (slowly moves the hand away from the deck)"
Destion started diving down, with it's spear aimed right at Shiro's D-Wheel…
Shiro: „Gh… (puts the hand back on the deck) No, I rely not on destiny. What the world offers, I take and shape like I desire. It's not what should be, it's what can be that becomes my power. That… is my strength."
He drew the card, and looked at it without hesitation, without duobt.
He didn't smile, his eyes went wide.
It was a monster.
Shiro: „(reveals it) I special summon Diamond Dust Unicorn!"
Just before the god of all spearbearers was about to inflict the fatal blow, the field in front of him became blurry and his movement was halted by a sudden appearance of a blizzard.
Out of the blizzard, a new monster arrived. As it's name suggests, it was a white horse with a silver horn atop it's head, and wearing battle armor modeled after Diamond Dust Dragon. Certain parts of it's body, like the horn or the hooves, were partially covered in crystalized ice and this gave then additional shine. It was majestic, but it's helmet covered most of it's head, including the eyes and mouth, rendering it almost faceless. Still, the mighty beast released a galloping sound of a true stallion, before hitting the road with it's hooves. ATK: 1800/ LV4
Shiro: „And throught he effect of Miracle Shot, your Battle phase is canceled!"
The powerful gust of snow followed the direction Diamond Dust Unicorn was pointing at with it's horn, and this windburst completely caught Destion off guard, forcing him to retreat to it's side of the field, it's attack unsuccessful.
Jihl: „To think he'd be able to block the attack anyways. Still, wasn't it destiny that put that card on the top of your deck?"
Shiro: „It wasn't."
Jihl: „What?"
Shiro: „You may have seen it like a draw of destiny, but I rely on no such thing. Playing Miracle Shot and summoning Diamond Dust Unicorn was my choice and mine alone. This is the power you failed to witness: our unbreakable spirit that produces miracles! Resolve, not destiny!"
Jihl: „Tch… As if it matters. Your beast is weak, and your Life points low. And do you know why I know your situation is hopeless so precicely? (shows the card in her hand) Look. This card is the final piece. It's called Divine Chance. A trap card designed specifically to counter a great loss. If you manage to reduce my low Life to zero, I can play it, and nullify the damage, then summon a monster from my Graveyard. That means you won't be able to beat me in the next turn, and if you try, I'll use this card effect to bring back your nemesis: Ancient Sacred Wyvern! Then, when your turn is over, and mine begins, I'll have 7 Speed counters, more than enough to use the effect of Speed World S and reduce those meaky 50 points of yours to zero. And even if by any more miracles you manage to survive that, I'll still have the ultimate advantage: Stormlord Destion, and his overwhelming 3000 points of strength!"
To confirm her statement, Destion released a powerful war-cry.
Jihl: „That means you have to manage to pull out 3 miracles in a row, chances on your sucess are roughly 1 : 36 720 000 000. And with the cards in your deck being piled up that increased that digit by a factor of 27. I have absolute confidence in my victory, you only fail to realize it. Come on, admit your statement wrong, and I might let you die with dignity in Eden, otherwise you'll crash and die on 10 000 feet heights, without anyone ever knowing on what happened to you."
Shiro: „A duel is more than a math-job, Jihl. A wise man once said 'It's never the opponent's deck what you're dueling, it's the opponent himself'."
Jihl: „So that's a no, then? Fine, I'll enjoy seeing your heretic mouth burn to ashes and splatter like a crisp on your way down! (sets the card down) Much like your hope, this card is going down on the field. Your move, Duelist."
Shiro: „You are wrong. Our hope never dies!"
Lightning: „Our hope never dies! Keep moving!"
The group just finished another battle in the Palamecia's interior. As the team progressed further, enemies become more difficult to evade and fights have become more severe.
Finally, there was the next step in their trip: they reached an exit that lead to the starboard bow of Palamecia's exterior.
While getting out there, the l'Cie felt the sudden change in conditions. The powerful winds that were slapping the surface of the ship all the time almost blew them away (literaly).
Snow: „(covering his face from the wind) The exterior is dangerous!"
Fang: „He's right, not even l'Cie would survive a fall from this high up."
Lightning: „If we are to make progress, we have to break through this!"
As if the cries of the group served as a beacon, the exterior was suddenly full of floating deckdrones. While the l'Cie had to brace themselves and cover from the wind, to the drones, the wind presented no hazard at all.
Hope: „We'll be in trouble if we stir up a fight here!"
Fang: „Then go back home, I'm comming for Vanille!"
Snow: „(fists together) No choice then, huh?"
Lightning: „(readies gunblade) Right."
The scene changed as fast as much as it was dramatic. Lightning felt another sudden surge in her head. It was like a flash.
Lightning: „Huh?"
And the next moment, a great surprise: two D-Wheels drove past them, and disoriented the deckdrones in mid-flight, causing them to fall down like pears. The vehicles sped away at a great speed, Lightning only saw their faces for a split second. More surprising, a pair of giant monstrous images were flying next to the driving vehicles, and Lightning recognized one of them:
Lightning: „That's… Shiro!"
Snow: „He made it this far?"
Fang: „Or perhaps it's us who's fallen behind him."
Hope: „Then who's he dueling?"
Lightning: „I don't know, but moving out here is dangerous. If we don't stop them somehow, they might crash."
Snow: „(scouts far ahead) They're headed for the Bridge Access. Anyway we can cut them off?"
Lightning: „Only if we break a couple of floors and ceilings."
That's when Fang looked around, and in the distant sky, she saw a familiar shape: a type of flying animal, a Wyvern, or a Garuda as they also called it, made into a Bio-weapon. Fang smirked.
Fang: „Maybe we won't have to. (waves) Follow me, I have an idea."
No matter how perilous the outside was at the moment, that's where she ran off to.
And heck, the others followed.
Meanwhile, beneath them, in the reactor section:
Things were not going as smooth as Sazh and vanille had expected.
Sazh: „Blitz Gun!"
He shouted while releasing rapid shots from both his handguns. The bullets switz-cheesed all over a Thermadon's body at Gatling speed, and as each hit penetrated it's hide, the beast fell down with a squimmer.
But, with this one opponent down, a horde of new ones emerged. Flanitors and Flanborgs moved their slimey extentions over the ground, even moving over the Thermadon's dead body, and they were slowly cornering Sazh and Vanille into a dead end.
Sazh: „Darn it, they just keep on comming! Unless we figure out something soon, they'll trample right over us!"
Vanille: „Enough thinking, time for acting."
Sazh: „That's what I mea… Heh?"
What he failed to notice in time was that Vanille was charging up a powerful burst of energy, and this radiated from her body like a supernova.
Vanille: „Haaaaaaaaaaaa…."
Sazh: „Woah, hey, slow down, girl! I know you're better at this magic stuff, but don't overdo yours…"
Vanille: „…AAAAAAAAAAAA…"
When she released the burst, simply put, fire swallowed everything. Everything in sight.
The duel was still stuck in that silent interphase between Jihl's End and Shiro's Draw phase.
Shiro: „My turn! (draws)"
Shiro: SC: 4
Jihl: SC: 6
Shiro: „(looks at the card) This is…"
Jihl: „Not getting what you wanted, huh? Like I said, your hope is…"
Operator1: „Liutenant Colonel, we lost the prisoners!"
Jihl: „(shocked) What? Say that again, what's the status?"
Operator1: „We lost contact to all units tracking them. The 11th Reactor stream seems disrupted as well."
Jihl: „So that means we have escapees on an unknown location. (responds) Alright, set the alert to Code Purple…"
Operator2: „Colonel Nabaat, we lost the intruders!"
Jihl: „What? What do you mean?"
Operator2: „They went AWOL. We lost all track."
Jihl: „And what happened to the forces sent to capture them?"
Operator2: „No one reported back. They have all been eliminated."
At this point, Jihl's eyes were showing the one, the only true sign of a state she never expressed before: utter shock.
Jihl: „What! They've reached this far, how is that possible?"
Operator1: „Ma'am, what about the prisoners?"
Jihl: „That means… we're Code Yellow."
Operator2: „But the intruders, ma'am!"
Jihl: „No, wait… Code Blue? No, that means we're…"
Jihl was completely confused and mind-blown. It was a miracle she didn't crash the Titania while trying to remember all military formations. Shiro noticed this.
Shiro: „She's not paying attention? Can it be something crashed her system completely? I can't miss this chance. I use Diamond Dust Unicorn's special ability! If I control this monster during Standby phase, I can replace it with the Diamond Dust Dragon that's in my Graveyard. Replace Life!"
Diamond Dust Unicorn galloped forward, calling and penetrating the very air with it's horn. The air spiraled around it, creating a whirlwind that encircled the beast completely, and as the next effect occured, sharp blades of ice kept blossoming on the track it was running on, eventually shattering into diamond dust. It took flight, and out of the whirlwind, a pair of majestic wings were spread out. It was Diamond Dust Dragon, summoned anew. ATK: 2300/ LV7
Shiro: „When Diamond Dust Unicorn summons my dragon in this way, he also automatically freezes all my opponent's Trap cards during this turn!"
With a wingbeat, Diamond Dust Dragon's windburst revealed and instantly froze the face-down Trap on Jihl's side.
Shiro: „(reveals a card) Next, I play a Spell card called Winter Breakforce! (activates it) Since it's not a Speed Spell, Speed World S will damage me with 2000 points. And since I have Diamond Dust, I negate the damage using his ability!"
As soon as the large image of the played spell was revealed, the sky above Shiro became dark, and a thunderbolt was starting to head in his way. However, this was intercepted by Diamond Dust's unique technique, in which his wingbeat and his roar produced a powerful blizzard, which kept the storm at bay just long enough for Shiro to use it's cold to restore his life. One small portion of the thunder still hit him, but Shiro endured it.
Shiro: LP: 50… 1050… 50
Shiro: „Splendid, now for the effect of Winter Breakforce! (the card radiates) This card can rob all monsters on the field of 400 of their Attack points, with the exception of Cryonites and Diamond Dust Dragon."
Another powerful blizzard formed, only this time it was a heavy front that hit the monster field. The air suddenly became evan more dangerous than before as the sub-zero temperature combined with the already perilous wind power created a comletely different natural disaster.
The once mighty Stormlord Gradlon could not endure the cold. His equipment froze solid and ice bagan to form all over his armor, weighting him down and corroding his power. Diamond Dust, on the other hand, enjoyed the enviorment.
Stormlord Gradlon: ATK: 2600
Shiro: „And finally, I use the effect of Speed World S, paying 4 of my Speed counters and giving them to Diamond Dust Dragon, increasing his power by 800!"
Shiro: SC: 0
Diamond Dust Dragon: ATK: 3100
Shiro: „The field is set. Here I come!"
Despite his Speed Counters becoming zero, Shiro managed to speed up his D-Wheel, and despite the former lead, he overtook Jihl's lead.
All this occured without her noticing a thing.
Jihl: „If we were Orange, that would mean… Grrrr (punches the console) Damn l'Cie! (Diamond Dust Dragon's shadow passes her) Huh? What?"
That's when she finally looked up on what was happening around her. Shiro not only got the lead, but he also turned around and faced Jihl while driving backwards. He was mocking her, and prooved he has mastered the track despite the hazards.
Jihl: „When did you…? Ah!"
She saw the state of the field: his monster was strong and bold, hers was half frozen and stiff.
Diamond Dust Dragon: ATK: 3100
Stormlord Destion: ATK: 2600
Jihl: „How did this happen? What did you do? (looks at the console) What? (sees the cards) Winter… Breakforce? (selects it, displaying it's effect) Decreases the Attack points of mine… and if it's destroyed, I take damage equal to it's robbed power. That means if his attack hits, I'll lose. I cannot allow that! Trap, open! Divine Chance!"
Her D-Wheel replied:
„Cannot comply."
Jihl: „What? (tries again) I said 'Trap open'!"
„Cannot comply due to monster effect."
The screen on her D-Wheel displayed the image of Diamond Dust Unicorn's card, and bolded the effect that stated her Trap cannot be activated.
Jihl: „No… (slaps the console) You can't be serious, do something! If I don't stop that damage I'll… (looks sideways, beholding the space over the edge) No… No, I can't… I can't loose… (sees her hand; it's shaking) No… Not this… (looks at Shiro) You… You're inhuman!"
Shiro did not reply at first. He first tured around and continued driving the right way.
Shiro: „When I attack, it'll start a chain reaction that will, in the end, reduce your Life points to 0. You know what that means, Jihl?"
Jihl: „No… No you can't… If my D-Wheel ceases to work here, I'll crash! I'm going to die like this!"
Shiro: „(looks ahead) Not yet… Just a bit more…"
The state on the Bridge were starting to get critical. Every operator was busy at their consoles, getting reports on seemingly unstoppable l'Cie rampaging around the ship. The fact that Jihl Nabaat was nowhere to be found made the situation twice as scary.
Except for Primarch Dysley. He found the chaos rather amusing.
Dysley: „Desperate times require flexibility. (smiles) Code White."
The moment he said that, all lights in the room, usually colored in all possible colors of the rainbow (corresponding with all the possible alerts occuring) became white.
Simultaneously, the usually active reactor engine ceased to move, and all mechanized units aboard just malfunctioned and stopped moving. The entire ship, the Palamecia, remained still.
Shiro was still in the lead, as Jihl kept sweating and shivering like she was sick. She couldn't pull over since it wasn't her turn, and the D-Wheel controls prohibited it. Where would she go, anyway? The surrounding space outside the duel road was nothing but 30 000 feet of air.
However, Shiro sure did stall his next move, it's been almost a whole minute since Jihl relized her defeat was at hand, and Shiro didn't do anything at all except move forward.
Jihl: „Why is he stalling? Is he going to attack? No… maybe not… What am I saying, he's a cold-blooded killer! Is he enjoying this? Is this why he's stalling, to torture me?"
Shiro: „Not yet, I won't attack yet…"
Then, the both of them left the Palamecia starboard deck, and entered the complicated road system of it's Bridge Access. Winds have died, the only thing left was the speed.
Shiro: „Now. (reverts steering to face Jihl) Battle, Diamond Dust Dragon! Attack Stormlord Destion with Sonic Vortex!"
Diamond Dust Dragon performed it's trademark move, releasing a stream of blue cryonic energy. It's target was already half frozen, so aiming was almost uneccesary. The released burst hit the massive warrior's chest, then penetrated it, causing the Stormlord to swell up, the explode, the remains of it's broken armor falling down over Jihl.
Jihl: „Gaaaaaaarhhhh! Curse you, Shiro!"
Jihl: LP: 900
Shiro: „Finally, through the effect of winter Breakforce, when Diamond Dust Dragon destroys a monster in battle, you take damage same as that monster's Attack points."
Jihl: „No…"
Jihl could only look up in horror as the remains of her monster formed a powerful cold gust, which scarred her vehicle and caused minor frostbites on her skin. Only an observer would dub this wind harmless, the cold was equal to the pain of a dozen knifestabs.
Jihl: „AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH…"
Jihl: LP: 0/ LOSER
As the Titania had no more Life left, it's hood poped open, and started expelling smoke. It's screen malfunctioned and quite soon, the machine stopped running.
Jihl braked and the Titania halted, it's driver driven to the edge of despair.
Shiro halted his D-Wheel as well, and his clothes changed to his regular attire in a flash as soon as he took his helmet off.
Jihl: „(breathes heavily) Close call… That was tight… had I lost the duel outside I would have… (realizes) … You… (looks at Shiro)… You did it on purpose."
Shiro noded.
Jihl: „Really, you stalled for that? Had you attacked while we were outside, the winds would have torn my D-Wheel apart and I would surely fall of the edge. You could have killed me, but… You didn't, you… You spared me. Tell me, why did you do it?"
Shiro paced towards her, then, he extended his hand forward.
Jihl: „Huh?"
Shiro: „I told you. I'm not a monster, and neither are the l'Cie."
Jihl didn't know what to think. Her opponent held every grudge against her, yet he decided not to give in to the rage. She sighed, then she smiled.
Jihl: „I've been the fool here, then. Such kindness you don't forget. (looks at him) Well played, Whiterain."
She showed her sign of good will, but instead of shaking the offered hand, or using it to get up, she slapped her palm against his. Something similar to a high five.
That was not even the highlight of the scene. Just one second later, the ceiling blew up.
As they both looked up to see what happened, they only saw lots of smoke at first.
But then, a monstrous head peeled out of the smoke. It belonged to a Garuda-class anihilator, a Bio-Weapon.
And then, there was it's rider: none other than Fang.
Fang: „(pats the Garuda's head) Good girl. (picks her spear, then jumps down) Our last stop!"
Not only her, but the other l'Cie also descended down, jumping of the Garuda's back.
In their respective order, Fang, Snow, Hope, and then Lightning jumped down. The fall didn't hurt them, despite the heights.
Fang: „Told ya' it was a shortcut."
Snow: „That was kinda cool, I guess."
Hope: „We're never doing that again, are we?"
Lightning opened her eyes, and she saw Shiro, along with Jihl.
Lightning: „Shiro! You okay?"
Shiro: „Lightning! You here?"
Fang: „Well it ain't Pink Julie."
Shiro: „Everyone, you made it!"
Snow: „Of course we did, the heroes never die, I tell ya'."
And that's when Lightning noticed the woman in the suit was in fact Jihl Nabaat. Jihl took her helmet of to make it clear.
Lightning: „You?"
Jihl: „Captain Farron, what a surprise."
Before she even got to express her opinion (and judging by her face, it wasn't that sunny), another explosion occured. This time, in one of the walls.
A wall of compact steel collapsed like a pile of dominos, smoke kept comming out. The smoke cleared quite fast, though. The final two newcommers made their appearance.
One of them was Vanille, who had an odd, cute but concerned expression.
The other one was Sazh. He was completely black (blacker than usual, ash-covered), from head to toe., and his hair looked like it was set on fire. He kept patting his own clothes to clean the dirt away.
Vanille: „That Firaga sure did the job. Uhm… Maybe I overdid it a little?"
Sazh: „YOU THINK? (shakes his head)"
Fang was the first to recognize the two. Or, at least, one of them.
Fang: „Vanille!"
Vanille: „Huh? (looks back, then smiles) Fang!"
Fang: „Vanille! (runs up to her)"
Shiro: „Wait, THAT's Fang?"
Lightning: „You sure missed a lot, didn't you?"
Fang and Vanille ran up to each other, and hugged upon meeting, laughing along the way.
Fang: „Don't give me a scare like that again, you hear me?"
Vanille: „You're not mad, are you?"
Fang glared at Vanille with a slight frown, but soon formed a smile, then grabbed vanille's head and started rubbing it (much to her dismay).
Fang: „How could I ever get mad to that puppy-face of yours?"
Vanille: „Ow, ow, that hurts!"
Hope: „They're just like sisters."
Lightning: „As planned, we found them. (looks at Shiro) All of them."
Sazh: „(catches up) Hey… Don't I get a greeting?... (sees Jihl)…"
At that moment, when Sazh realized who the intruder in the pile was, his aditude changed… drastically.
He frowned, then pulled out his pistols, aiming at Jihl's head.
Hope: „Woah!"
Snow: „Easy now…"
Vanille: „Hey…"
Sazh: „Been looking for you, Nabaat!"
Jihl didn't even flinch. She didn't smile, she didn't frown, she just glared at Sazh and the barrels of his guns.
Sazh: „Remember Dajh? Remember what you almost had me do to Vanille?"
Jihl only bit her lip, yet her eyes barely moved.
Sazh: „Name me one reason why I shoulnd't pull the trigger now. One reason."
The silence that followed was almost like the one from a horror movie. Every second wasted was bringing Sazh closer to his ultimate breakdown.
And just as he was about to do it…
Shiro approached and put his hand on the guns, lowering them.
Shiro: „Because you're better than that."
Sazh: „What… Shiro, why…?"
Shiro: „There's no need for that anymore. She is no longer a threat."
Sazh: „Threat, shmet, do you have any idea what…"
Shiro: „I received your Brynhildr."
Sazh: „Huh?"
Shiro: „It is a sign that you found forgiveness. Find some for her as well."
Sazh: „B-but… (looks confused, then sighs) Hhhhhh, there better be a heaven. (puts the guns down) By the way, thanks for the bust. You have got to tell me where to buy them Huribohs."
Jihl tried to act cool, but she couldn't help but to sigh in relief.
Shiro: „The loser admits the winner right. I asume an idealistic person like yourself will keep to her word."
Lightning: „How did you two meet? (looks at Jihl) Liutenant Colonel Jihl Nabaat. I barely recognize you. What happened to that 'destroy all l'Cie' aditude you're so famous for?"
Jihl: „(smiles) I guess I'm wondering the same thing. But… I put my ideals on a trial… and they lost. Tabula rasa, I'm a blank board now. Congratulations… all of you. You made me and my troops fall to their knees."
Snow: „… Right, whatever, but that's not what we came here for. Remember guys? It's the Primarch we want to Purge now."
Vanille: „The Primarch?"
Lightning: „This rescue was all a part of a plan lead by Cid to expose the Sanctum's true nature to all of Cocoon and thwart their rule. Our goal is to capture and interrogate the Primarch and force him to reveal the truth."
Jihl: „His Eminence?"
Shiro: „(smiles) So once again, I'm called property to scheme?"
Lightning: „Take it whatever way you want. (to Jihl) We're capturing the Primarch, whether you're trying to stop us or not."
Jihl starred at the floor for a while, before responding with an almost fading voice.
Jihl: „Do so, and I won't be stopping you. Not anymore. My beliefs are crushed, I have no intention on following broken ideals. (to everyone) Making me talk like that… You're all amazing people, the lot of you. I just never realized that before. My eyes were busy casting monstrous shadows on all of your faces."
Fang: „Is that supposed to be an appology? I dunno about you guys, but it didn't move me."
Snow: „Let's just put that aside, alright? Okay, so she for one is harmless, but Dysley sure will have more hondson his leash. (rubs fists) Best prepare for the worst."
Lightning: „Shiro, there's a rogue PSICOM vessel not far from here. It has an autopilot built in. Use it to leave ship and let us fight this battle."
Shiro: „No. I'm sorry, but I refuse. This concerns me just as much as it concerns you."
Lightning: „What? How so?"
Shiro: „I made a commitment, to all of you. It never matter what world it is, as long as I'm capable of breathing, I will try to save it. All of it."
Ligtning: „Shiro…"
Sazh: „Not that I intend to break your bubble, but I cincerely doubt this situation can be solved with a game of cards. Best you sit this one out, kid."
Shiro: „Don't be concerned."
Having said tha, Shiro walked to King Bliizzard, and extended his left arm next to the console. The D-Wheel sprang to life, and a mechanism was activated. The duel-disc pad on the vehicle's console folded in, forming a circular pad which resembled a saucer, then it extended and clicked on Shiro's wristband device which contained his deck.
„Duel Disc, Ground mode initiated. Dormant state."
The was the device fit on his left arm, it looked a lot like a shield.
Hope: „Wow, what was that?"
Shiro: „Dueling is my power and weapon. If emergency arrives, I can detach the duel-disc from King Blizzard and use it for a ground duel. That way, I can summon and fight even without wheels and roads. After all, I'm a Battle Duelist. Flexibility is a must."
Snow: „Fascinating. (shrugs) Alright, if you're so keen on getting wacked, fine. But let us handle the front lines."
Jihl: „If I may…"
The group got Jihl's attention. Sazh almost pulled his guns again.
Jihl: „I wish… to find out the truth as well. If my principles weren't right, then what is? Let me talk to his Eminence. Perhaps we can bring this deception to an end without weapons. I can dismiss the troops and arrange a meeting."
And then…
Dysley: „That won't be neccesary, Jihl."
Jihl: „What?"
Lightning: „Huh?"
Shiro: „What the…"
Sazh: „Where did that come from?"
That was a voice, the voice of Dysley, echoing the ship. There wasn't anyone around, and yet obviously someone was speaking. It didn't sound like a transmission of any kind, it was like the voice itself was the person talking. Everyone kept their weapons on standby, preparing for the worst, but they so no opponent.
Dysley: „(laughs) The meeting is arranged. His Eminence will see you now."
The ground beneath their feet shook, and as if this was not confusing enough, some kind of light appeared out of nowhere, surrounding the group.
Vanille: „What's going on?"
Lightning: „This is not Cocoon tech!"
Dysley: „He-hahahahahaha….."
The light swallowed them all. But it was not holy light. It was devouring…
- to be continued
/ending theme: Onnaji Kimochi; Hayami, Inoue, Hanazawa and Endo (Sekirei, 2010)/
(Lightning and Shiro standing at the opposite ends of the screen, turned backs to each other, slowly being laned towards each other)
Unmei nante ne
Zenbu ne
Kimi shidai
(as they get closer…)
Tsuiteku doko made mo
(they make back to back contact…)
Onaji kimochi o
(and glance at each other with an „Oh" face)
Kakaete
(instrumental solo: a roll-up of characters ghosting in and out: Snow giving a thumbs up, Hope waving, Sazh smiling, Vanille winking and Fang showing a peace sign)
(Shiro's monsters screen-dive in the background while the chib versions of the cast dance on screen)
(background: Diamond Dust Dragon; Frostland Archfiend; Frostland Lancer; Frostland Knight; Ice Battleclaw; Snow Warrior; Kuriboh Cube; Fairy Ice-Cone…; front: chibi Vanille and chibi Sazh performing, Hope and Snow observing with O.O faces, while chibi Lightning and Shiro watch sideways with (-_-) faces;)
Mada dare ni mo
Hakken sarete
Inai michi no tairiku ni sou
(chibi Fang watches from the side, eventually pushing chibi Snow and chibi Hope forward to perform)
Ichibansaki ni
Fumidasu you na
Bouken na no kono koi wa
(background: Eidolon slideshow, starting with Nix and Stiria, then Alexander, Brynhildr, Bahamut, Hecatoncheir, a female Odin-like Eidolon, and a large dragon that is covered in light)
Kitto shinjitsu da yo
Kanjiteru koto subete
Sono koe ga
Ima yondeiru kara
(Itsu demo)
(Lightning's profile body in a fetal position…)
Mubou da to wakattete mo
(…spreading out and gaining angellic wings)
Issho ni tameshitai no
(Lightning riding on Odin (Gestalt) followed by Shiro driving the King Blizzard, and Snow on the Shiva bike falling behind)
Nan ni mo iranai
Nee kimi ga
Warau tabi
(then, Sazh picking up while driving Brynhildr-racecar, Fang descending from above on bahamut, Vanille gaining while riding a running Hecatoncheir (Gestalt), and ultimately Hope on a marching Alexander (falling behind))
Ikiteru sono imi wa
Tokiakasarete
(a pizza in the middle, and each character grabs a slice, enjoying it in different ways (either eating, admiring it or talking)…)
Unmei nante ne
Zenbu ne
Kimi shidai
(Shiro and Lightning reach for the last slice simultaneously , accidentally touching each other's hands…)
Tsuiteku doko made mo
(and looking at each other…)
Onaji kimochi o
(… eventually retreating and blushing, as the others laugh)
Tsuyoi kimochi o
(Diamond Dust Dragon is holding this entire world between his palms…)
Kakaete
(then closes it in in his hands)
BONUS:
ChibiVanille: „Hoi, hoi, thanks for watching 'Cold Saga' everyone! It's me, Vanille-chan. I'm here to express the graditude of all staff that took place in creating of this fan-story. Thank you all very much (winks)! Now, as further bonus, we started a poll on you real oppinion on all our hard work. (a screen pops up, displaying various scenes) A great number of new monsters appeared in this story. Thanks for saying you liked them. But, which one do you like best? Vote for your top 3 favorite monsters that we met here, from the awesome ones (scenes of Diamond Dust Dragon and Alexander), to powerful ones (scenes with Claymechs and The Burning Antares) and don0t forget the cute ones, too. (scenes of Huriboh and Sacred Skyfalcon) Also, if things go as planned, I might release some top secret behind-the-scenes material. Kawaii! Thanks again for all fanmail! We all apreciate the support. Now, let's see what happens next. (winks in her trademark pose)"
(next time)
Jihl: „Did I make a mistake? I did my duty…"
Sazh: „Was that magic?"
Snow: „Humans are not yours to use!"
Dysley: „What else does one do with tools?"
Shiro: „That voice, your name is deception! Face me!"
Dysley: „Silence the cries of the doomed dying souls, and let the world die in peace."
Shiro: „This power, impossible…"
Dysley: "You have all been brought here for one purpose only: Destruction."
Lightning: „Shiro!"
Dysley: "Ragnarok!"
Shiro: „I give the last of my power to you…"
Dysley: „L'Cie? You mean me? Child, perish that thought. I am more than that!"
Shiro: „Next time on Cold Saga: 'Ultimate Deception- The Hungry Terror of Megiddo'. With sparkling dust, shatter that dream into wake!"
Card intel:
Blue Giant (FIRE/ level 5/ Cryonite-type/ ATK: 2200/ DEF: 1600)- You can Normal summon this card without a tribute. If you do this, reduce this card's ATK by 500.
Tear Magician (Light/ level 2/ Tuner/ Cryonite-type/ ATK: 0/ DEF: 2000)- If this card is Normal summoned while you control another Cryonite-type monster(s), it is placed on the field in face-up Defense position. You can use this card in your hand as Synchro material. If you do this, the other Synchro materials must be 2 or more Cryonite-type monsters.
Saber Skater (Water/ level 1/ Tuner/ Cryonite-type/ ATK: 1000/ DEF: 0)- For every other monster you control, increase this card's level by 2 and it's ATK by 300.
Speed Spell- Time Leap (Spell, normal)- Remove 3 Speed counters you control. Special summon 1 level 4 or lower monster from your Graveyard that was Special summoned during the duel. During the End phase, remove that monster from play.
Stormlord Destion (Synchro/ LIGHT/ level 10/ Thunder-type/ ATK: 3000/ ATK: 2000)- 1 LIGHT Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner Synchro Monsters
- If this card is Synchro summoned, and your opponent's Life points are higher than this card's ATK, destroy all other Monsters on the field. You cannot Special summon monsters during the turn you use this effect.
Divine Chance (Trap, Counter)- If you take damage (by battle or card effect) that would reduce your Life points to 0, negate the damage. You can then send 1 card you control to the Graveyard (except this card) to Special summon 1 monster from your Graveyard. That monster's effects are negated.
Miracle Shot (Trap, normal)- If your opponent declares a direct attack, draw 1 card from your deck. If it's a Monster card, Special summon it and end the Battle phase. Otherwise, discard it.
Diamond Dust Unicorn (WATER/ level 4/ Cryonite-type/ ATK: 1800/ DEF: 1200)- During your Standby phase, you can send this face-up card to the Graveyard to Special summon 1 „Diamond Dust Dragon" from your Graveyard in face-up Attack position. Your opponent cannot activate or resolve effects of Trap cards during the turn „Diamond Dust Dragon" is summoned by this card's effect.
Winter Breakforce (Spell, normal)- Decrease the ATK of all face-up Monster cards on the field, except Cryonite-type monsters and „Diamond Dust Dragon", by 400. If a Cryonite-type monster or „Diamond Dust Dragon"destroys a monster by battle during this turn, inflict damage to your opponent equal to the destroyed monster's original ATK. You can't attack your opponent directly during this turn.