Submarineroid propelled itself toward its target, an Obelisk Blue student. The boy yelled as his lifepoints dropped to zero. Another victory for Syrus. This pleased him greatly. He was one step closer to dueling Zane. Yes, he was a Ra Yellow, but Zane was a pro. He needed to win several medals before taking Zane on. That was the plan.
"What happened, Truesdale?" the Obelisk asked. "Last week, you were hiding in a trash can and now you're kicking butt. What changed?" He tossed his medal toward Syrus, who caught it.
"Nothing changed," he replied as he turned and headed back up the rock path leading to the red dorm.
"What do you mean nothing changed?" Jaden spoke up when Syrus met up with him at the top. "You've been winning duels and taking names. You've also become more confident."
"The full moon's tonight, too," Syrus whispered. "My confidence is at its strongest right now."
"Hey Jaden, Syrus," Hassleberry called running up to them. "Aster and Zane just bumped shoulders in front of the school. I think things are going to start getting ugly."
'Zane!' Syrus's heart started to beat faster. His brother was close and this was his chance. Picking up the pace, Syrus raced ahead of his friends and headed for the school
He got there to see Aster and Zane facing off aka Old West-style. "Hey, both of you get back to your corners and chill out," he yelled as he got between them. He felt a little like a referee at a wrestling match. Turning to Aster, he said, "You don't want to duel him. He's looking for revenge."
"Uh, no, he's not," Aster corrected. "I mean, I've been talking trash for the last ten minutes and he hasn't taken the bait. According to your brother all that matters to him is victory and he doesn't care who he has to step on."
Syrus spun around to face his brother. "Is that true?"
Zane sneered, "You people are just a bunch of maggots to me."
Syrus's eyes widened in shock and hurt before his nostrils flared slightly. Zane's scent. It was different. 'Why didn't I notice it before? It's definitely more wolf-like than usual.' Out loud, he said, "I'm challenging you to a duel, bro." He waited for a response. Would Zane laugh and walk off? Or would he accept?
"It's your funeral, little man," was Zane's answer.
&&&&
Syrus was holding up well against Zane if he did say so himself. He had 2400 lifepoints while Zane had 1600. The shock bands, however, were another story. Each point lost set them off. It was agony to the boy, but Zane wasn't even flinching. Zane declared they gave him strength to endure the pain and then inflict it on his opponent.
Syrus was horrified at his brother's attitude. This was not the brother he knew and loved. Who was this guy?
He saw two monsters heading for him, preparing for a double direct attack. Acting fast, he activated his trap's effect. Yes, Lifeforce cost 800 points total to block both attacks, but it was worth it. Otherwise, Zane would have defeated him in two or three turns.
A shock bigger than his previous ones shot through him. He screamed as the pain sent him to his knees and his glasses fell to the ground. Syrus didn't notice because his eyes were closed. He heard Zane repeating his beliefs of enduring pain, victory, and not respecting his opponent. 'Maybe that is my brother and he just saw the facts of the real world.'
'You're wrong,' a voice called.
'Huh? Who's there?'
'You know me.'
I do know. Syrus wasn't sure how he knew, but he did. Opening his mind's eye, Syrus saw a gray wolf with a bare patch on the left hindleg. He was looking at himself!
'You're me!' Syrus exclaimed.
'Yes, I'm your wolf half.'
'You said earlier I'm wrong. What did you mean by that?'
'That's not really your brother. His wolf half is in control.'
'But he wasn't bitten.'
'I know. But every curse brings a wolf half with it. I believe Zane was desperate to escape the Underground and he joined together with his wolf half, not knowing it would control him.'
'I have to help him.'
'I know, little one.'
'Hey! We're the same person, you know!'
A chuckle. 'I know. I'm sorry.' The wolf paused and tilted his head. 'Your friend, Jaden, is talking to you.'
Syrus came back to the outside world in time to hear Jaden say, "You need to teach him respect, Sy. Respect for his cards, respect for his opponent, and respect for himself."
Syrus put his glasses back on and stood up. "You're right, Ja. I'm not giving up until I do show him respect."
'Be careful, Syrus.'
'I will. Thanks.'
The duel resumed and Syrus was fired up to defeat Zane. He felt certain when his brother played Power Wall and discarded twenty-seven cards. That left him with one card in his deck! If he could hold on a little longer, he would win.
&&&&
"I did it," Syrus said after blocking Cyberdark Dragon's attack. As the smoke cleared, Syrus looked at Zane's field, blinked for a moment, and then his mouth fell open at the card that was just activated. De-fusion!
"Oh no!" he cried. "That means…"
"It's over," Zane declared. "Farewell."
Syrus stood in stunned silence as Zane's Cyberdak monsters bore down on him. He couldn't block them all with his trap. It was over. He barely acknowledged the shocks as he fell to the ground.
'I failed,' he sobbed to his other half.
'I'm sorry. I guess there's no way to help your brother.'
'There is one way.'
&&&&
"I'm fine, Ja. Really." Syrus pushed the sheets back and got off the bed.
"Sy, you were just in a rough duel. You need rest."
"And you need to have your head examined if you think I'm staying here tonight."
Jaden's eyes widened at Syrus's outburst. Then, they went back to normal size. "Oh, right. I forgot. Sorry, Sy."
"I'm sorry too. I didn't mean to snap like that."
"Go ahead and leave, Sy. I'll see you later."
Syrus headed out of the infirmary and into the forest. He stripped off his clothes and watched the moon rise. His body shivered a little as his fur began to spread all over him. His tail grew out behind him as his feet became paws with exposed claws.
Syrus crouched on his hindlegs as his arms and hands began to change. His ears and muzzle emerged and he howled as his change ended. He sniffed the air and ground vigorously.
'Looking for something, little one?'
'I'm looking for Zane and I thought I asked you not to call me "little one".'
'Actually, you didn't.'
"Oh. That's right, I didn't. Hey! I've got his scent!' Syrus took off in a run. The scent got stronger as he neared the red dorm. He raced into a clearing and there was Zane right in front of him.
'Zane,' Syrus thought as he stared at him. 'No. That's not really Zane.'
"How ironic," Zane said. "We meet again in the same place I was born in."
"It's you. Zane's wolf half."
"Yes. However, your presence is making it hard to stay in control. Zane obviously cares a great deal about you."
Give Zane back control and go back where you came from."
"You think I'll go back to that subconscious cage? I don't. I deserve to be as free as your wolf half."
"Then I have no choice but to get rid of you."
"You can't kill me. You'll be killing your brother, too."
"Who said I planned to kill you? I plan to remove the curse I caused by placing another one on you."
"You can try, runt."
Growling, Syrus pounced and missed as "Zane" leaped gracefully to one side. The werewolf snapped at his brother every chance he got, but he kept missing.
'I will bite him. He can't keep dodging forever.'
Suddenly, Zane jerked as if stunned. His dark blue eyes lightened and he held his head in his hands. Soft growls came from his throat.
'Uh, wolf me? What's going on?'
'It looks like Zane's fighting his wolf half. Maybe you won't have to bite him.'
&&&&
Darkness leaped aside as the young one pounced. He wanted to laugh. Did this Syrus seriously think he could curse him again? The first time that happened, Zane was just a human. Too slow and too weak. Now, the enhanced senses were working for him.
He jerked back to avoid another snap of teeth. 'This has gone on long enough. He needs to die.'
'WHAT!?' Zane exclaimed.
'You heard me.'
'But, that's my brother.'
'He's not mine. So, I'll have no problem killing him.'
'You can't. I won't let you.'
'You can't stop me. I'm in control.'
'Not for long.'
Zane lunged at Darkness, grabbed him by the scruff, and hurled him down his soul corridor. Zane realized he was in control and was about to tell Syrus when Darkness leaped on top of him.
'You might be in control, Zane, but I can influence your actions.'
'What?' Zane was surprised. Darkness wasn't going to take control again?
'It's sweet revenge really. Syrus will believe I killed him, but you will live with the knowledge that it was you who killed him.'
'No. Syrus.'
Darkness laughed before saying, 'Kill him Zane!'
'No, I won't.'
'Yes, you will. Kill him!'
'No!'
'Kill him!!'
'No!!'
'Kill that runt now!'
'No! HE'S MY BROTHER!' With a surge of love and mental power, Zane blasted Darkness off him and sent the dark wolf hurtling back into the silver cage.
'No!' Darkness howled as the latch clicked into place. Then, he was silent.
Zane blinked as he returned to the real world. He looked at his surroundings. He was in the forest. He looked in front of him to see Syrus in an offensive posture. His legs were bent, the ears were folded back, his teeth were bared, and a growl echoed in his throat.
"Syrus," he said gently.
The werewolf's pose slackened. He stared at him for a moment before answering, "Z-Zane?"
"It's really me. Darkness is back in his cage and he's going to stay there."
"Darkness? Is that his name?"
"That's what he asked to be called."
"Considering the curse that brought him, it's an appropriate name."
"Yes. Sy, I'm happy to be back in control. It's been so long since I could do anything on my own."
"I'm happy you're back too."
"I intend to give the Underworld Deck back to Shepherd. He was right. It's too dangerous."
"Good idea. You can crash in my room, bro."
"Thanks, Sy."
"No problem. Oh, and one more thing, Zane. Get out of those clothes."
Zane laughed. "Deal." As Zane headed for the Ra dorm, he heard Syrus release a long and joyous howl.
The End
Yeah, Zane's back to normal! I just saw the latest GX show and I know Zane's still Dark Zane, but this is an AU fic, so I took a little creative license. Anyway, I hoped you enjoyed this story. My college classes will be starting on Tuesday, so I may not be able to post anything for a while.