Chapter 6: Forgiveness

Hey everyone! It's me sakuraphoenix, and I am back! Just another chapter after this one and this story will finally be over! It was fun writing this, but I really am looking forward to the sequel to Flight of the Crimson Dragon. There will be many surprises, but let's stay on track with this fanfic. Time for the disclaimer!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's

Enjoy!

I was patiently waiting in the whale tower for Sakura. I could sense that Greiger was gone, but not from the hands of a Signer.

"Dawn! You here? I came to help you sister! Dawn!" exclaimed Sakura

So, she came after all.

"I've been waiting for you Sakura." I said

I activated my mark, which caused the geoglyph to appear, and walked outside to meet her.

"Sakura, you finally show up to face your demise?" I asked

"If by demise, you mean save you from the darkness, then that's exactly what I mean!" exclaimed Sakura

"Oh please, you mean you don't remember what you did five years ago before our birthday?" I asked

"Before we turned thirteen?" wondered Sakura

"That's right. You hired an assassin to kill me." I said

"What?-! Who told you that whopper of a lie? You know that I would never do that!" exclaimed Sakura

"I thought so too, but Cusillu showed me exactly what happened prior to my death, and I saw you talking on the phone with someone!" I exclaimed

She had a face of shock on her face

"That? That wasn't what you thought! Besides, I would never hire anyone to kill you! It was…" started Sakura

"Shut up! Do you honestly think I'll believe you? You should've accepted my offer to join the Dark Signers. Maybe then I would've listened to you." I said as I raised my duel disk

"Grr… if it's a duel you want, it's a duel you'll get!" Sakura exclaimed while sliding in her deck

"Let's duel!" Sakura and I exclaimed in unison

Dawn LP 4000/ Sakura LP 4000

"I'm up first! I set a monster down in defense. Next, I'll place two cards face-down and end my turn. You're up." Said Sakura

Dawn LP 4000/ Sakura LP 4000

This isn't her usual strategy. What is she planning?

"What was it you said during an interview last year? 'Although playing aggressively is an ideal strategy to force your opponents into a corner, you shouldn't leave an opening for them to use? Well, that's exactly what you did! I summon Dread Hero- Diamond Dude in attack mode! (ATK: 1400/ DEF: 1600) Unlike his weak counterpart, he can inflict damage equal to the difference between your monster's defense points and Diamond Dude's attack points! Diamond Dude, attack her monster!" I exclaimed

Dawn LP 2700/ Sakura LP 4000

"What the?" I exclaimed

"Surprise! It's Destiny Hero- Defender! (ATK: 100/ DEF: 2700)" exclaimed Sakura

"Why are you using father's deck?" I asked

"Technically speaking, it's yours, not dads. I'm trying to show you that your cards want you back to your old self. Take a look at Defender. You can't exactly see it, but he's really sad, sad to see his mistress turn bad." Said Sakura

"I'm no longer its mistress! I moved on from such a weak deck to a much stronger one! I place two cards face-down and end my turn!" I exclaimed

Dawn LP 2700/ Sakura LP 4000

"I tried Defender. I guess it's the hard way now! Sweet! I activate an old school favorite, Polymerization! Now if I add Elemental Hero Avian and Burstinatrix to the mix, I give you Elemental Hero Phoenix Enforcer! (ATK: 2100/ DEF: 1200) Adding with the bonus that he can't be destroyed in battle, it's double trouble for you! Unfortunately, I don't have a monster to normal summon, so it's plan B! Enforcer, attack her Diamond Dude!" exclaimed Sakura

"If you think it's going to be that easy, then you've underestimated my new deck! This classic should be familiar, it's Negate Attack! I can activate this and not only is your attack canceled, but the battle phase is over!" I exclaimed

"Then I place a card face-down and end my turn." Said Sakura

Dawn LP 2700/ Sakura LP 4000

"Well that was pathetic. My move!" I exclaimed

"Don't forget that Defender allows you to draw an extra card from your deck." Reminded Sakura

"Thanks, not! I special summon Dread Hero- Departed! (ATK: 1000/ DEF: 1000) Now I activate the spell Double Summon! I'm sure you're familiar with this spell! Now I summon to the field Dread Hero- The Dark Angel! (ATK: 0/ DEF: 0) And now for the main event! I sacrifice my Dark Angel and Diamond Dude in order to summon Dark Tuner Dreaded Hero! (ATK: 0/ DEF: 0)" I exclaimed

"A Dark Tuner? This is bad!" exclaimed Sakura

"More like your demise. I Dark Tune Dreaded Hero with Departed in order to Dark Synchro Summon Destiny Dread Dragon! When the shadows are devoured by even darker shadows, the curtain pulls back and reveals a world without light! Dark Synchro! Come forth, Destiny Dread Dragon! (ATK: 3500/ DEF: 3000)" I chanted

When my monster was successfully Synchro Summoned, I noticed that Sakura looked like she was going to look sick or something.

"That's not a monster! That's a Plaguespreader Zombie twenty times uglier!" exclaimed Sakura

"Funny, but you won't be laughing when I activate my Dark Tuner Dreaded Hero's special ability! You see dear sister, when he's used for a Dark Synchro Summon, his special ability allows me to send one card on your field to the graveyard, and I think I'll choose your Enforcer!" I exclaimed

"Say what? Aw snap!" Sakura exclaimed as Enforcer was destroyed

"Now with him out of the way, I can activate the special ability of Destiny Dread Dragon! Once per turn, I can remove from play a 'Destiny Hero' monster in my graveyard from play, and Destiny Dread Dragon not only temporarily gains the special ability of the monster I just banished, but he also gains the attack points of the monster I just removed from play." I said

"But you don't have any Destiny Heroes." Said Sakura

"Dread Heroes are treated as Destiny Heroes, so I now remove from play Diamond Dude. (ATK: 4900) Now, Destiny Dread Dragon, attack her Defender! Send her life points to the shadows!" I exclaimed

"This is going to leave a mark. AAHH!" Sakura screamed as Destiny Dread Dragon's attack hit her

Dawn LP 2700/ Sakura LP 1800

"SAKURA!" Yusei, Crow, Leo, Luna, and Trudge exclaimed in unison

"SAKI!" exclaimed Matt

"Hear that? Sounds to me like you have a fan club. Seeing your wounds right now, why don't you make this easy and join the Dark Signers? It'll ease the pain." I said

"You're still going on about that? For two years, I've kept the secret that you were still alive when you saved me from Sayer. I don't what you did, but somehow when I saw him at the Fortune Cup, he had forgotten about our little encounter here in Satellite. I know the sister I grew up with is still inside there. If you were a different person, why did you save me?" asked Sakura

"Why else? Despite the fact that we're enemies, there's only one way for the two of us to be together, and that's if you join the darkness." I said

"Think again! I activate Destiny Signal! I can only activate this card when a Destiny Hero monster of mine is destroyed in battle. Thanks to you, I can now summon Destiny Hero Diamond Dude! (ATK: 1400/ DEF: 1600)" exclaimed Sakura

"What a cheap move. You want a real move, then here it is, I activate this spell card!" I exclaimed

A blinding light shone, and Sakura shielded her eyes from being blinded. When she opened them again, they were distant, and she put her arms to her side. Cusillu was showing her a vision of what would happen if, no, when she joined the Dark Signers

"The Spell Card I just played is known as Destiny Damage. I can only activate this card when my opponent special summons a 'Destiny Hero' monster. If the difference between my life points is greater than yours, then I take the level of every monster on my field, and multiply its level by the difference. Its okay Sakura, you've lost our duel. Please, let your destiny be realized." I said

"My destiny… revealed." Sakura said in a trance-like state

A card fell out of her pocket, and landed on the ground in front of her. I paid no attention to it.

"Sakura! Please snap out of it!" exclaimed Matt

"It's pointless now. She can't even hear you. Sakura is coming with me, to the winning side." I said

"I know this is all a trick, you can't fool me any longer!" exclaimed Sakura

No. She figured it out! Her eyelids closed for a second, and when they were open again, her eyes weren't distant anymore! Oh no!

"Which means this duel isn't over, which means I can play this trap! Pikeru's Circle of Enchantment! For the rest of this turn, the effect damage I would've taken becomes zero!" exclaimed Sakura

"Wait, Sakura, sure, that was an illusion, but please, it could become a reality." I said

She then picked up the card that fell earlier up from the ground.

"I don't need some cheap trick messing with my head. I make my own future; it's not decided for me." Said Sakura

"I end my turn with a face-down." I sighed defeated

Dawn LP 2700/ Sakura LP 1800

"Here goes everything! I summon to the field Destiny Hero Dawn! (ATK: 1700/ DEF: 1500) Dawn, don't you remember this card? It was the card we submitted to that card contest years ago! We didn't win the grand prize, but at least we had fun!" exclaimed Sakura

"What are you trying to do? Walk down memory lane? The past is gone!" I exclaimed

"I was hoping it wouldn't have to come down to this, but I'm afraid that you leave me with no choice! I tune Dawn with my Destiny Hero Diamond Dude! When the night comes to a close, the sun shall rise to bring hope to all! Synchro Summon! Shining hope, Sunrise Dragon! (ATK: 2600/ DEF: 2000) And in case you're wondering, I'll be nice and not activate her special ability!" exclaimed Sakura

But why would she not? I mean, that's what I would've done.

"But why would you not?" I asked

"Because one of your trap cards might turn against her special ability and because I have a better plan! Now Dawn's special ability activates! I can add one spell card from my deck to my hand, and I have just the one to do it. Now for the main event, I activate my trap Eclipse! With the power of this trap card, I get to special summon a Synchro Monster from my Extra Deck so long as I remove it from play at the end of my turn. This should be a blast from the past! Power of light, lend us your sight! In the darkness of night, show us your might! Synchro Summon! Shine, Lunar Eclipse Dragon! (ATK: 2900/ DEF: 2500) Now I activate the spell that I got thanks to Dawn's special ability, and it goes by the name Synchronized Fusion! Now I fuse together Sunrise Dragon and Lunar Eclipse Dragon in order to fusion summon Dawn to Dusk Dragon! (ATK: 3300/ DEF: 3000)" exclaimed Sakura

When the monster appeared, it had features that made it resemble a cross-over between Sunrise Dragon and Lunar Eclipse Dragon. It also had six wings, which appeared to be made out of feathers.

"Pretty cool monster, but your sixed winged dragon is no match for my dragon!" I exclaimed

"Right now, maybe, but after I activate her special ability, you might want to change your tune. You see Dawn, Dawn to Dusk Dragon gains attack points for each Dark Attribute monster in the graveyard, and I didn't say whose graveyard it had to be! I count four monsters total, bringing a grand total of 800 extra attack points! (ATK: 4100) Alright my mighty beast, attack her dragon!" exclaimed Sakura

As her dragon's attack hit, a cloud of dust appeared. When the cloud vanished, Destiny Dread Dragon was still there. Guess she didn't read the card.

"What in the blue blazes? How is your dragon still on the field?" exclaimed Sakura

"My dragon's special ability of course. Once per turn, it can't be destroyed in battle." I said

"Maybe, but you're still taking the damage." Said Sakura

"A small price to pay to save my dragon." I said

Dawn LP 2100/ Sakura LP 1800

"I end my turn." Said Sakura

Dawn LP 2100/ Sakura LP 1800

"You'll regret this! Can't do much with this hand, so I'll freshen up. I activate Card of Sancity! Now we both draw until we both have six cards in our hands! Perfect. I activate Axe of Despair! Now my dragon gains 1000 attack points! (ATK: 4500) Now, attack! Wipe her mark clean!" I exclaimed

"I don't think so! I activate the trap card, Negate Attack! Listen up, the battle phase is over!" exclaimed Sakura

"Fighting fire with fire, huh? Oh well, it'll be your demise. I place one card face-down and end my turn." I said

Dawn LP 2100/ Sakura LP 1800

"It's my turn! I activate the spell card, Pot of Greed! Now I can draw two cards from my deck! It all comes down to these two cards. Heart of the cards, guide my hands! Alright, first off, I activate the spell card, Destiny Revealed! But before I activate its effect, a little trip into the past is in order!" exclaimed Sakura

A light erupted from Destiny Revealed, and we found ourselves in the past, our thirteenth birthday to be exact.

"What did you do?" I exclaimed

"Calm down, I didn't do anything. We're nothing but observers here." Said Sakura

"You wanted us to see my death again?" I exclaimed in rage

"I want to see who shot you that day, and you need to know the truth. That person was after me! That bullet was never meant for you!" exclaimed Sakura

Her words are contradicting what Cusillu showed me. Why is she saying this?

"How do I even know that you're telling the truth, huh? Why are you saying this?" I exclaimed

"Because you're the only person that I can never tell a lie to." I said

She looked in one direction, and reluctantly, I looked in the same direction, and saw him pull the trigger.

"It was him? But then, how do you explain this?" I exclaimed as I changed the scene

We saw the phone call she made the week before that happened.

"Dawn, this wasn't a phone call to an assassin! I wanted to hire a piano tutor for the both of us! That's what that phone call was!" exclaimed Sakura

The scene changed yet again, revealing Sakura just getting out of an ambulance. This was eight years ago.

"Please Sakura, don't leave me! You're all I have left! Sakura, please sister! I need you!" I exclaimed

"Did I really say that all those years ago?" I wondered

When we got back to the duel field, I had my eyes closed, and tears were falling. I understand now. Sakura, I'm so sorry.

"Dawn?" asked Sakura

"Sakura, now I understand. It wasn't your fault back then. Cusillu played on the confusion I was feeling as I died. I'll surrender the duel now and…" I started

'You'll surrender nothing Dawn.'

Cusillu! He's trying to control my body!

"ARGH!" I exclaimed as I clutched my mark in pain

"Dawn! What's wrong?" Sakura exclaimed as she almost ran to me

"Stay back! Cusillu's trying to take over! I don't have much time before he does! Sakura, please, I will no longer have control in this duel, so listen to me. Stop me, save me from the shadows, and save the world from this evil. You're my last hope Sakura." I said with my eyes closed, and my face wearing a mask of pain

"Dawn…" started Sakura

Cusillu shoved me out of my own mind, forcing me to only watch, thinking he was going to defeat Sakura.

"Is gone forever!" exclaimed Cusillu

"Bring my sister back Cusillu!" exclaimed Sakura

"There's no hope of saving her. You might as well just give up. She belongs to the darkness now!" laughed Cusillu

"You don't scare me! Now Destiny Revealed allows me to bring back one Destiny Hero back from my Graveyard, so long as I don't summon any more monsters this round or that I have no 'Destiny Hero' monsters on my field, and as an added bonus, that Destiny Hero's attack points are doubled! Welcome back Dawn! (ATK: 3400)" exclaimed Sakura

"So what? All I see is a little girl with a staff." Said Cusillu

"Maybe right now you do, but when I activate these equip spells, you might just change your tune. I activate Demon Shackle! Demon Shackle allows me to decrease a monster's attack points by 700, and guess which monster I'm choosing. Your dragon!" exclaimed Sakura

"You can't!" exclaimed Cusillu

"I just did! (ATK: 3800) Now I activate Black Pendant! If I give this card to Dawn, her attack points go up. (ATK: 3900) Now Dawn to Dusk Dragon, attack that thing's monster!" exclaimed Sakura

Dawn LP 1800/ Sakura LP 1800

"Now Dawn, it's time to take out that monster! Attack!" exclaimed Sakura

Dawn LP 1700/ Sakura LP 1800

"HAHAHAHAHA!" laughed Cusillu

"Something funny?" asked Sakura

"You just opened the gate to your own demise! I now activate the trap card, Dark Matter! With this trap, these cards will lead to your destruction!" exclaimed Cusillu

"Not that card!" I exclaimed

"I'd like to see that! I place one card face-down and end my turn! And now, Dawn's hitting the dust! Sorry about this." Said Sakura

"I don't care about that. Just save my mistress from the shadows." Dawn said before she got sent back to the graveyard

Even after all this time, my cards, they still consider me to be their master.

Dawn LP 1700/ Sakura LP 1800

"You'll regret this! I activate Magical Mallet. Now I'll send all but one card in my hand back into my deck, and now I can draw the same number back. Yes, it's finally time." Said Cusillu

"Time for what?" asked Sakura

"For your soul to be sent to the Netherworld! I now activate the Field Spell, Closed Forest! And now, for your demise. I sacrifice these monsters in order to summon Earthbound Immortal Cusillu!" exclaimed Cusillu

"Oh no! The Spirit World!" exclaimed Sakura

"I don't need those pathetic spirits to charge myself up. I'm using the souls of the people of the Satellite that have been captured! After 5000 years of your ancient slumber, arise again to send this world into darkness! Advent, Earthbound Immortal Cusillu! (ATK: 2800/ DEF: 2400)" chanted Cusillu

"Before you try anything, I activate my face-downs, Spirit Barrier and De-Fusion! Now you have to get rid of all my monsters in order to leave a scratch on my life points! Who's the tough guy now?" asked Sakura

"Atta girl Sakura!" I exclaimed

"Funny, but don't forget about Closed Forest. In case you didn't learn from your last duel, Closed Forest gives Cusillu an extra 100 attack points per monster in my graveyard. I count six monsters, bringing Cusillu's attack points up to 3400. Earthbound Immortal Cusillu, attack Sunrise Dragon! Show my host her symbol of hope being destroyed!" exclaimed Cusillu

"Fortunately, I don't take any damage." Said Sakura

"Even though that's true, I'll still have the advantage. I end my turn." Said Cusillu

Dawn LP 1700/ Sakura LP 1800

Sakura's Sign began to burn brighter.

"My mark!" exclaimed Sakura

"What's happening?" exclaimed Cusillu gripping the arm with its mark

I pushed Cusillu out of my mind. This is my only chance.

"S-Sakura!" I exclaimed

"Dawn?" wondered Sakura

"While Cusillu's grip over me is weak, you have to focus on your mark! You're the Twilight Signer, I know you are! If you focus on the light, then my Dark Mark will merge with yours once the duel is over. Now please! Finish me!" I exclaimed

"Dawn… I will allow your wish to be heard. With my friends by my side, I can achieve anything. I won't give up on you! Well, here goes everything! Because I have a Light Attribute Synchro monster on the field, I can now special summon Moonlight Phoenix! (ATK: 800/ DEF: 2000) Now I normal summon Majestic Dragon! (ATK: 0/ DEF: 0)" exclaimed Sakura

It's so… beautiful.

"What are you going to do with them? Attempt to win this shadow duel?" asked Cusillu

"More like actually win it! I tune Majestic Dragon with Lunar Eclipse Dragon and Moonlight Phoenix! The light of day, burning bright, chases away the darkness of night. Let this light, shining bright; light the stars in the night! Synchro Summon! Burn with light, Majestic Moon Dragon! (ATK: 3400/ DEF: 3000)" chanted Sakura

"That dragon can't stand up to my immortal. You wasted your time." Said Cusillu

"Don't count your chickens before they hatch. I didn't tell you about her special ability." Said Sakura

"Her what?" exclaimed Cusillu

"Don't play dumb, you heard what I said. Majestic Moon Dragon can negate your monster's special ability, use it as its own, and absorb your monster's original attack points! (ATK: 6200)" exclaimed Sakura

"That's enough to win this duel! Do it Sakura!" I exclaimed

"This can't be happening!" exclaimed Cusillu

"Sorry, but it is. Majestic Moon Dragon, attack Earthbound Immortal Cusillu with Glimmering Celestial Slash!" Sakura exclaimed as tears fell

Dawn LP 0/ Sakura LP 1800

I felt Cusillu's presence leave me for good, and my chest erupted in pain. My time's up.

"Dawn!" Sakura exclaimed as she ran over to her

She managed to catch me before I fell.

"Sakura." I said

"Please, hang in there! We'll find a doctor, then…" started Sakura

"It's too late for me. Because you defeated Cusillu… his grip over me has faded. You did what you set out to do; you saved me from the darkness." I said

"Dawn please, you have to hang on! I can't lose you again!" exclaimed Sakura

"You've moved on once, you can do it again." I said

"Huh? What do you mean?" asked Sakura

"I've been watching you ever since I became a Dark Signer. I wanted you to be happy, and your circle of friends helped you to move on. Matt, Naomi, Igneous, Jack, Crow, Yusei, Kalin, Akiza, Leo, Luna and Sartorius. They all helped you in more ways than one. Sakura, I have one last request before I go." I said as I gripped Sakura's right arm

"What is it?" asked Sakura

"You're not going to do something as stupid as lose to the Dark Signers, are you?" I asked

"Of course not. I'm not an idiot." Said Sakura

"That's my sister. Save this world." I said as I closed my eyes

My felt my body go numb after that. Sakura, I'm not angry anymore. I believed the lies. I'm so sorry, but I'm glad I got to see you again before I died. Sakura… thank you for saving me.

Done and done! Yep, this took a while, but hey, at least it's done, and just a little while until the sequel. Please review, and until next time, I'm sakuraphoenix, saying I heart you, signing off for now. Kan dao ni!