Chapter 9-
Dark Signs- A Whale of a Ride- Be Resurrected, Boundary Surpassing Turbo Duel
(Meanwhile, blue lightning is striking elsewhere in the Satellite, around the crater of the Old Reactor. The spire at the bottom of the well, cuts to a candle as it snuffs out.)
Roman: One of our Dark Signers has been extinguished. Devack has failed us. However, where one falls another may rise. Time to pay our prisoner a little visit.
(Roman walks past the spire and down a stone hallway lined with cells and windows to them. He opens a cell door. Grieger is sitting on a plain cot near the door.)
Roman: Stand up. Your time has come, Grieger.
Grieger: (Looks up at him, the wary defeat of a cowed prisoner.)
Roman: The moment you tried to take out Goodwin during the Fortune Cup, I knew I liked you. I couldn't let them send someone with your potential away to some maximum-security Facility.
(Roman has led Grieger to a walkway over a huge, swirling multi-coloured void; apparently part of the Reactor is still functioning.)
Roman: So I had you freed, and brought here, so you may come face-to-face with your true destiny! (He turns and takes off his hood; Grieger is looking down at the swirling mass, nonplussed.)
Grieger: What is all this?
Roman: We stand above the gateway to the netherworld. The doorway to the shadows.
Grieger: And why have you brought me here?
Roman: To help you, Grieger. I brought you here to give you power like you've never known in your life. You're going to become a Dark Signer.
Grieger: Just what is that?!
Roman: Tell me something, Grieger. Now that you have had some time to sit on it, have you forgiven Goodwin? Have you found it in your heart to forgive him for what he did to your village?
Grieger: Are you kidding?! I'm as angry as I was that day at the tournament! Maybe even more so! Argh, I will never forgive Goodwin for what he did!
Roman: Which is why you must become a Dark Signer. Embrace your anger; you're going to need it. (He has walked onto one of the four catwalks that lead to the platform in the middle. Grieger is standing in the centre of the middle platform. A trapdoor gives suddenly beneath his feet, and he drops into the maelstrom below, yelling.)
Grieger: Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! (As he falls we glimpse one of Roman's spiders on the underside of the platform. As soon as Grieger contacts the misty energy, he halts, suspended in mid-air. He stops shouting.)
Roman: Your life as you know it is over, Grieger. The shadows of the netherworld will consume the man you once were, sparing only your thirst for revenge! You will lose yourself and become your anger! This will give you the power to defeat Goodwin and his precious Crimson Dragon! Now, the path of vengeance begins— with the one who first stood in your way! The one who stopped you from destroying Goodwin while you had the chance-
(Grieger hangs in mid-air, semiconscious; in his mind's eye he sees the faces of his siblings, and the climactic moment at the Fortune Cup when Yusei knocked him off his collision course with the top box; the steady, resolute face of Yusei, his first target.)
Roman: For your brother and sister, for your entire village, taken from you by the Crimson Dragon- you must finish what you started! And you must start with Yusei Fudo! Grieger, I give you new life- as a Dark Signer!
(A pillar of energy surges up from the swirling void, around Grieger. Deep in the mist, he opens his eyes, shocked suddenly; they're black. He can see Roman on the side of the Reactor, laughing evilly.)
Roman: Hahahahahahahaha! Hahahahahahahahaha!
(On the landscape appears a new Dark Signer mark: The Whale.)
(Meanwhile, Yusei on his runner and Seria, Aura, Lyra, and Sect in their jeep are zooming down the dusty street side-by-side, oblivious that Elsewhere on the streets, someone is looking for them. Grieger the Dark Signer is back on his monster-truck of a runner, which is sporting a purple-and-black paint job and replacement chariot piles in gold. Grieger doesn't have a hood or cloak, just stripes on his leather armour. He's the purple Dark Signer, with a left-side satellite-special facial mark that extends onto his forehead, just like Kalin's, but wider and lighter, and on the left instead of the right.)
Grieger: Yusei— vengeance is coming for you!
(Abandoned street. Crow's runner still lies in the street, abandoned. However, now we notice a refrigerator standing on the side of the road nearby. Crow opens the fridge door, having been hiding inside. He's still wearing his helmet, and he rubs his head and falls to his knees, then to the ground on his face. He struggles up on his hands to look around.)
Crow: Argh… how did I end up here? (He gets on his feet and is pulling his runner up off the ground. He climbs on it before he falls over, and once in place, expertly pulls down the left-side arm bar. He can't walk, but he can ride. He toggles the right-side acceleration grip, and takes off.) Everyone's gone! Oh, no! (He turns around and zooms back the other way.) I better check on my nest! I hope my friends are okay! Come on, faster! (He races past empty buildings and through empty streets, to his hideout in the shadow of the Daedalus Bridge.) If they're all missing as well, I don't know what I'll do!
(Crow brakes hard outside his hideout and pulls back the curtains.)
Crow: Anybody in here?! Talk to me! Come on, you guys, it's me, Crow! Stop messing around and come out, no more hide-and-seek!
Yoshi: Crow?
Crow: Huh?
Yoshi: Is it really you?
Jiro: We're all over here, Crow!
Itsuki: (Looks down from above.) Ah! Hey! Crow!
Annie: You're back!
(They all run towards him, laughing and cheering.)
Crow: There you are! Man, I was—
(Annie jumps into his arms and vanishes before reaching him; Jiro does the same.)
Crow: Huh?
(Yoshi and Itsuki also disappear; Crow is alone. The kids were only visions. Crow looks at his hands in horror. His nestlings are gone. The sky itself suddenly seems darker, and the breeze stirs the dust harshly.)
Crow: They've all disappeared! They're gone! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
(Later, Crow and his runner stand at the tip of the unfinished bridge, when blue lightning rends the sky behind him. Crow looks back and sees the mark of the giant illuminate the sky.)
Crow: The Dark Signers... are gonna pay for this! (He gets on his runner and turns around, racing back down the bridge.)
(With Yusei and the others)
Yusei: Check it out! (They're seeing the same thing, and the mark of the giant is not far away.)
(With the others.)
(Grieger, too, is racing toward the tower, looking for Yusei, when Crow goes off a ramp above him and lands right in front of him. Both brake hard.)
Grieger: Get outta my way!
Crow: Sorry, pal, but you're not goin' anywhere! Hey wait— I know who you are. You're Grieger. Hang on— you're a Dark Signer? Whadya you want?
Grieger: I'm looking for Yusei.
Crow: Yeah? Well you found Crow! And you're not goin' anywhere until we turbo-duel!
Grieger: You're challenging me? Get real; you're not a Signer.
Crow: Listen, Grieger! The only thing that matters is you're a Dark Signer, and that means you're gonna pay for what you did! And the only currency I accept is bitter defeat!
Grieger: What're you talking about?! I didn't do anything.
Crow: Don't try to play dumb with me! Your giant monster and your freaky dark fog have taken everyone from Satellite, including the orphans I was taking care of!
Grieger: Hmm?
Crow: They were just innocent kids, man, they didn't do anything to you! But I guess that's how you guys operate. Well not anymore, pal, I'm gonna stop you!
Grieger: ...You speak to me of vengeance. I am on my own path to revenge, and it does not involve you. My fight is with Goodwin. But before I deal with him, I'm going to deal with that little puppet of his, Yusei Fudo!
Crow: Well I'm afraid I've got some bad news for ya, chump! If you wanna get to Yusei, you're gonna have to go through me!
Grieger: You don't get it! You're not a Signer, you aren't worthy of a battle with me!
Crow: Y'know, I had a feeling you jerks wouldn't accept my challenge. So I got a little insurance. (He holds up a device that's counting down from five minutes. He slots it into a spot next to his duel disk.)
Crow: It's an electromagnetic pulse charge. When it goes off, that duel runner of yours is history. And if you think you can get away in time, you haven't seen me ride!
Grieger: Huh! That's a bold move. Since you're so determined to destroy yourself, I guess I'll oblige you. Perhaps by duelling you, I can lure Yusei right into my hands!
(The two drive to a suitable battleground.)
Grieger: This is a real shadow duel, Crow. Once we start, there's no going back. And when the final card has been played, only one of us is walking away.
Crow: Well? You Dark Signers took everything I had! I'm already at a point of no return.
Grieger: Very well.
Crow: Oh, and one little thing! Let's do this for real. No autopilot, no restrictions.
Grieger: Huh?
Crow: ("I've gotta protect myself.")
Crow: You ready?!
Grieger: I'll let my Speed World field spell answer that for me!
Duel Runners: Duel mode engaged. Autopilot deactivated.
(Both runner screens show the Speed World and shift to duel mode. The area around them is tinted purple and blue-violet fire springs up in the whale design, reflected against the overcast sky.)
(With Yusei and the others.)
Lyra: Ahh!
Sect: Is that a whale?
Aura: Looks like a dolphin to me.
Lyra: It's a whale, Aura
Seria: How about a Dolphin-whale?
Lyra: That animal doesn't exist.
Aura: May as well.
Seria: I don't remember Miss Security mentioning any Dark Signers with a whale mark!
Yusei: That's because there isn't one— unless they managed to turn someone new into a Dark Signer!
Lyra: Something isn't right here— my mark isn't glowing!
Aura: That must mean that whoever's battling isn't a Signer, right?!
Yusei: Let's go find out! (He speeds ahead.)
(With Crow and Grieger. The fiery pathway stretches ahead of the two duel runners)
Crow: Since we're freestyling this turbo-duel, the duelist who gets to the first corner first decides who makes the first move. You ready?
Grieger: I was born ready! How should we count down?
Crow: (Pulls out the electromagnetic device from earlier and tosses it to the side on the ground; it's at 00:23 and counting.) Here ya go, pal! Don't worry— that's just my alarm clock from my bedroom. How 'bout we kick off when that counter gets down to zero?
Grieger: (Nods, and smiles a little.) You had me going, there.
Crow: And I'll have you going second, once I get to the first turn first! (Starting blocks; last chance to exchange competitive glares before the duel starts; Crow's got a good one.)
Crow (think): You're goin' down! (They wait silently. The alarm clock beeps, and the runners are off.)
Both: Let's duel!
Crow: ("His runner has a lot more horsepower than mine. But I gotta remember, that it's not how fast you drive, but how skilfully you arrive!") (He taps the footpad and zooms onward.)
Grieger: Whadya doing?! Do you seriously think you can beat me around that first corner?! Lemme show you what real speed looks like!
Crow: Ya call that, fast?! (On Crow's monitor, he can see Grieger pulling ahead of him. As they go around the curve, Grieger's runner skids to the outside.)
Grieger: I've got you beat, Crow!
Crow: Think again! (Coming out of the turn, Crow puts on a burst of speed, and leaves Grieger far behind.) Whoooohooo!
Grieger: You wanted me to take the curve as fast as I could, didn't you!
Crow: Of course I did! With a big frame like that taking a curve at that speed? I knew you'd slide out to the edge and leave an opening for me! My runner's smaller, which lets me zig when you zag! Looks like I get the first move, Grieger! I draw! And; from my hand, I summon, Blackwing - Shura the Blue Flame!
Crow: Next I place one card facedown and end my turn!
Grieger: It's my move! (He glances at his draw; Diving Exploder's stats are visible, but its card image just barely is.) First, I'm summoning Trap Reactor• Y FI from my hand! Next, I activate Diving Exploder's special ability!
Crow: (Looks back warily over his shoulder. Grieger discards Diving Exploder.)
Grieger: So it looks like that bird of yours is about to be grounded, Crow! I guess goin' first isn't all that it's cracked up to be, is it! Hahahahahaha!
Crow: So wait— are you telling me that going first got me nothing?!
Grieger: Ha! I warned you, Crow- you can't possibly defeat a Dark Signer! Go, Diving Exploder!
Crow: Aaaagh!
(Big smoke cloud, but both duelists zoom out of it unharmed.)
Grieger: And now, Trap Reactor• Y FI, attack! Treat Crow to a round of Double-R Cannon!
Crow: Argh... Agh…! Off to a wobbly start. (His runner is wobbling a bit and a bump in the rough ground sends it flying. Crow is now in mid-air, struggling to hang on... he is still flying through the air toward the fiery purple barrier, trying to land again.)
Crow: If I lose here, I'll let everyone down! Come on! Come on! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! (He's fallen off the narrow highway they had been duelling on...)
Yusei: Faster, guys! ("Whoever's duelling that Dark Signer has no idea the amount of danger they're getting into! Because if they come deck-to-deck with an Earthbound Immortal, this might be their last duel ever!")
(Seria's car and Yusei on his runner are racing along a highway near the edge of the Sign. Purple flames drift up below them.)
Yusei: ("It's another shadow duel? But who's fighting?") You guys stay back, while I check things out! It's too dangerous!
Seria: No way!
Aura: We can't leave you, Yusei! What if something happens?! We don't even know who this new Signer is! And what if they have another Earthbound Immortal!
Sect: Yeah! I thought we were like the Three Musketeers, not the Lone Ranger! We won't let you go solo!
Yusei: (Nods his head.) All right, Leo, but I'll go on ahead and scout out the duel. Check you guys later. (He leans to the side, merging toward the edge of the road. He twists the acceleration handle and jumps the edge of the highway. Seria and the others are amazed. Yusei lands and bounces on his back wheel and then forward onto his front, before landing solidly and riding onward, determined) ("Time to see who's throwing down.")
(Meanwhile, Crow is still in freefall on his runner.)
Crow: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh! No! I can't go down like this! I owe it to the kids! (He opens his runner's wings, and shoots a mechanism into the side of the track from which he fell. Gliding with his wings he sails in a wide arc upward, tethered by the cord between the stand/claw and the bottom of his runner, and back onto the track. The grappling stand rips out of the track and retracts, bouncing Crow's runner one more time. He folds his wings back up and keeps riding; Grieger is some distance behind him.)
Grieger: ("Not bad. But if Crow had any brains, he'd use those wings to fly away.") (draws card.) Hope your flight wasn't too scary! But then again why would it be, since you're a better pilot than duelist! Too bad those skills won't help you outmanoeuvre my next attack!
Crow: ("I sure hope he's wrong. Because it looks like Yusei wasn't kidding about these battles. Well then it's time I play for keeps, too! And that means I gotta figure out a way to take out Grieger and that runner of his a-sap! Dark Signers took my family away, and now they're gonna pay for their misdeeds.") I'm comin' at you with everything I got! So, prepare yourself, Grieger, because this bird's got some claws! (He draws; Blackwing - Bora the Spear.) First off, I'll be activating my "Speed Spell - Angel Baton". And as long as I have two speed counters, I get to draw two cards. Now let's see what I have in store for you! Hmph. (He discards a card, Blackwing - Elphin the Raven) It's not looking good, Grieger. I discard one card to summon my Blackwing - Mistral the Silver Shield in defense mode! And since I already have a Blackwing on my field, I can summon out— Blackwing - Bora the Spear! And these birds of prey are about to pounce on you!
Grieger: Bring it on! I'll bring both those birds down to earth!
Crow: Not if I end this shadow-duel now! Blackwing Bora, take apart his Y FI! (Bora attacks, and the explosions from Y FI's wild blasts take a chunk out of the side of an adjacent building, which then falls down toward Grieger.)
Grieger: Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! (It falls on top of him, kicking up a huge cloud of dust.)
Crow: Nice knowing ya!
(Then Grieger roars out of the cloud on his runner.)
Crow: What?! How did Grieger only lose a few of his points?! Huh?! His Y FI's still running?!
Grieger: It is, and better than ever, I'm afraid! You see, before you attacked, I activated this! The trap card Fake Explosion. So not only is my Y FI still flying high, but I get to summon another monster, which will even up the playing field! And who better to call for backup than Summon Reactor• SK!
Crow (think): ("Way to go, Crow- not only didn't you take him out, but you let him expand his air force! And as long as he's got Trap Reactor• Y FI and Summon Reactor on the field, you're only one attack away from being sent to the netherworld! I just know he's holding on to Spell Reactor• RE, and once all three are out there, in comes the big dog— Flying Fortress SKY FIRE! That bad boy almost took out Yusei in the tournament.") Now it's gonna come after me!
(Meanwhile, Yusei rides down the track somewhere within the Sign)
Yusei: ("This duel must be around here somewhere. Unless— they're turbo-duelling! Guess I'm gonna have to track 'em down!") (He keeps riding, his new course of action clear, and before a minute has passed he sees a light up ahead.) Huh! There! It's them!
Grieger: Why don't you finish your turn so I can end your misery! You will never beat me, Crow! Not with the dark power I— Huh?
(Grieger's runner beeps, and he breaks off to look at it. A camera shows the track behind him, where another rider and runner are coming up on him fast. The beep must've been some kind of proximity alarm.)
Crow: Huh? (Looks back; it's Yusei!) Yusei's here!
Grieger: But he won't be for long!
Yusei: (He's smiling as he rides up beside the duelists) I'm so glad you're all right, Crow! (Then he looks over at Crow's opponent; no more smile) Huh! Grieger?! Why are...?! Wait! Are you the...?!
Grieger: Dark Signer? Yes! This was the only way to get revenge on Goodwin for what he did to me! He destroyed my family, Yusei! And if joining the Dark Signers is what it takes to make sure that man pays, then so be it!
Yusei: Crow, you remember what happens in these shadow-duels; so please let me take your place. This is my battle to fight.
Crow: Argh! Forget it! It was the Dark Signers who stole my family from me!
Yusei: Huh?
Crow: They trusted me to look out for them. And when the Dark Signers' mist covered Satellite, I couldn't do anything! They're all gone and it's all my fault!
Yusei: What?! All of them?! No!
Crow: Now do you see why I gotta do this? I started this duel and I'm ending it.
Yusei: Listen!
Crow: To what! You're not talking me outta this, Yusei! Those kids were all I had; I owe them this much. And so much more. See, you don't know the truth about me... I never had a family. I never had to do chores or go to sleep early. Now I know that living without rules might sound like fun, but around here, it was dangerous. I learned that the only person I could depend on was me. And the world can be a lonely place when your only company is your shadow. A warm meal... a soft bed... these're the things I dreamed about. But becoming a professional duellist is what I hoped for the most! And so, I tried to make my dream a reality. I figured if I could build a deck, I might win a few duels and score my way outta Satellite. So, I hit the dump; it was the only place where a kid from the streets could hope to find a card or two. They weren't just cards, ya see? They were my ticket outta here! And right away I realized that it wasn't gonna be an easy trip. I met other street kids like me, I thought they'd take my cards. But that's when I learned that your deck is like your soul, and no one would ever steal that. The called me Crow, the name just stuck, and so did everything else I learned from them about duelling. Next thing I knew, I had friends. I had a family. I met you Yusei, and Jack. You weren't just my buddies; you were my brothers. Everything was taken from me, but duelling gave me a new beginning. And I wasn't about to let anyone else have to face their shadow as their only friend. I learned to fly, and it was up to me to teach others the same. I found kids that were like me; ones that had no family or didn't have anywhere to go but the streets of Satellite. I looked out for them, made sure they were safe, taught them how to duel; and together, we learned the most important lesson— when you have friends, you're never alone. They were my family, Yusei. And as much as you think that I saved them, it was them who saved me.
Yusei: But Crow... why risk everything?
Crow: Because! They took them all away! The Dark Signers attacked us, using that cloud to steal the spirits of everyone! And what does Grieger do? He goes and joins them. As far as I'm concerned he's responsible! And now it's time for his punishment!
Grieger: Are you done taking us on this trip down memory lane? Because now it's my turn to send you on a trip to the netherworld!
Yusei: Stop it!
Grieger: Huh?
Yusei: Don't you get it, you're on the same side! You both lost your families and that's why you're duelling! You should be working together to get back what matters most, not tearing each other apart in a shadow duel! Look, you told me what happened, Grieger. Goodwin's the one you want to make pay for this! You told me how he was the one who destroyed your village. So now what? You get your revenge by joining the Dark Signers and taking out Goodwin with the rest of humanity?!
Crow: That's why I need to win this duel, Yusei! Grieger has to be stopped!
Yusei: Not like this. Crow, this duel is all about revenge! That makes you as bad as him!
Crow: You dunno what you're talking about! Argh! This is something that I just have to do!
Yusei: No, it's not!
Crow: This is my battle, ya got that?! If hate is what it takes to win it, then so be it! And anyway, friend, we're talking about a shadow duel, here. (Crow puts a forearm to his visor, wiping his eyes) There's no stopping it. Ugh! (He flings his arm backward and tears fly from his hand, hitting Yusei's visor and sliding off with the wind. Yusei gasps.)
Yusei: ("Crow...") Then good luck! But remember this- hate won't bring your friends back!
Crow: We'll see.
Grieger: Let's end this once and for all! (Grieger toggles the right-hand accelerator and the jet engines on the back of his runner kick in)
Crow: Bring it on!
Grieger: It's my turn, and this is gonna be the last turn I need! (He draws Darksea Rescue.) Now I summon Spell Reactor• RE to my field in attack mode! With it, I can activate the special ability of Summon Reactor• SK! So, by sending it, Spell Reactor, and Trap Reactor to the graveyard, I get to summon out my favourite monster!
Yusei: Oh no... that move nearly beat me before.
Grieger: I'm glad you haven't forgotten how close you came to losing to Flying Fortress SKY FIRE! But rest assured— this time Crow won't be so lucky! Hahahahahahahahaha!
Crow: That's not a monster— that's World War Three!
Grieger: If you think it's scary now, just you wait! Because if I send a card to the graveyard (He discards Dark Tuner Doom Submarine) at the end of my turn, I get to destroy any one of the cards on your field!
Crow: Urgh...
Grieger; And first up is your Silver Shield! (SKY FIRE machine-guns mistral into oblivion.) And now, for SKY FIRE's main attack— I target your Blackwing Spear! Let's lock and load!
Crow: Blackwing, no! (He toggles his right-grip, barely staying ahead of the force of the explosion.) Silver Shield's gone, but, that doesn't stop his special ability from activating. See, as soon as you took it out, all the damage I would've taken drops to zero! (Crow's safe from the blast; Yusei, still following behind, breathes a sigh of relief.)
Grieger: You've just prolonged your pain. Now which one of your little birds is going to swoop in and save you?
Crow: Arrgh! ("I wish I knew that myself. His SKY FIRE looks unstoppable. Not only can its special ability destroy any one of my cards, but if I take one direct hit from that metal monster, it's gonna be 'bye-bye blackbird'! If I wanna win this, I'd better do it fast! And that means it all comes down to this draw.") (aloud) Here we— go! (He draws Gale the Whirlwind.) ("Another Blackwing. Not exactly what I was hoping for, but maybe my deck's trying to tell me something. If I can't stop SKY FIRE's special ability, maybe I should just roll with it. So much as I hate to lose a monster, that may be just the thing that saves me!") I play this in defense mode— Blackwing- Vayu the Emblem of Honour!
Grieger: What a waste! I was hoping to destroy something of value this turn! Your Blackwing Vayu is about as threatening as a rubber duck! And I can't wait to hear the squeak it makes, once my SKY FIRE takes out it, and your life-points! It's been real, Crow! (SKY FIRE bombs Vayu and Crow. The explosion rocks Crow forward so only his front wheel is near the ground, and he takes flight again, flying forward top first.)
Crow: Waaaaah—Argh! (He lands on his front wheel, bounces, and at this point is flying toward the flaming wall.)
Yusei: Watch out!
Crow: (Presses a button on a right-hand grip, and twists a left-hand one to sit vertically. His runner's wings extend and grate along the sides of the track, kicking up sparks. Crow jumps and lands back on the track, wincing.) Now that was a close one!
Yusei: ("And if it gets any closer, I'm afraid Crow might not be around for a victory lap!")
Crow: Are you ready to take this duel up a notch?!
Grieger: Sure; I am, but your field's running on empty!
Crow: Well I'm about to fill 'er up, Grieger! I activate Vayu's special ability! So, by removing my Blackwing Vayu and another monster in my graveyard from the game, I'm now allowed to synchro-summon!
Grieger: But your monsters are all in the graveyard!
Crow: Huh. Well then consider this a message from the Great Beyond. So, listen up— I choose Blackwing - Elphin the Raven, and Vayu the Emblem of Honour! (A glowing red symbol projects from Vayu like a shadow. Vayu's one star and Elphin's six begin the dance of a synchro-summon) One-on-one they weren't much of a match for you. But now they're hatching into a whole new bird of prey! I synchro-summon, Blackwing Armour Master! And as another bonus, pal, I get to summon a second Blackwing monster as long as there's already one on my field! This lucky bird is Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind!
Grieger: You got two monsters for the price of nothing! Perhaps I did underestimate your little birds. But you gotta realize that this duel isn't about believing in your deck. It's what I call a numbers game— and after taking a look at your monsters' attack points, I can see your strategy is for the birds!
Crow: Now! Blackwing Armour Master! Attack Flying Fortress SKY FIRE!
Grieger: Is this some sort of joke? Just look at their points! Your Blackwing doesn't have a chance against my Flying Fortress!
Crow: We'll see! Now attack with Black Hurricane!
Yusei: Why did Crow attack with that?! Now he'll lose for sure! (The wind clears; Armor Master is still standing, fist-to-front with SKY FIRE.)
Grieger: That's impossible, he should've been destroyed!
Crow: Hasn't anyone told ya, life's full of disappointments, Grieger! And here's another— I don't take any damage!
Grieger: Then why attack? It was all just a waste!
(As Armor Master pulls away, he leaves a black splinter sticking in SKY FIRE's main gun turret. It gleams)
Crow: Look again! Because my monster just made a bullseye!
Grieger: Whadya mean?!
Crow: It's just part of Arrow Master's special ability. See, he's got these nifty little things called arrowhead counters, and I used one of them on your SKY FIRE. (SKY FIRE starts to crack where the counter stuck) Now, for the rest of the turn, both your attack and defense points— are stuck at zero!
Grieger: My SKY FIRE!
Crow: Blackwing Whirlwind, why don't you take advantage of the situation! (Gale attacks, and SKY FIRE starts exploding, blasted out of the sky.)
Grieger: Noooooooooooooooooooo! (He ducks as it explodes, but his runner is caught in it. It bucks up on its back wheels, spins and donuts, gets passed by Yusei, and finally runs into a pillar of a bridge over the road. Yusei rides out of the dust, looking back over his shoulder)
Yusei: Grieger! (He pulls even with Crow)
Crow: You were right, Yusei; I'm no better than a Dark Signer if I duel with hate in my heart!
Yusei: I'm glad to see the Crow I know is back to being himself. Now let's— huh?
Grieger: (Comes hurtling out of the mist, airborne. Yusei and Crow gasp)
Crow: Talk about countin' your chickens before they hatch!
Grieger: You scratched my paint job, Crow! You'll pay for that!
Crow: Well ya gotta catch me first! And since you lose a speed counter for every thousand points of damage, it looks like you may never cash in! An' while you try an' play catch-up with your little tricycle, I'll end my turn with a face-down! Now let's see what you got!
Grieger: Oh, you'll do more than see it! Don't forget that this shadow duel's full-contact! Just watch this! (Draws card) With SKY FIRE out of the way, my field's completely empty! Which means I can summon Dark Tuner Doom Submarine! (He takes it from his graveyard and holds it up; his cheek marker glows purple.) Like your birds, he was stuck in the graveyard- but now he's ready to surface!
Crow: Nice move, but I think your submarine's attack points got deep-sixed on the way up!
Grieger: Then it's a good thing it won't be out there all alone for long! I summon Darksea Rescue in attack mode! And now I dark-tune my Doom Submarine and my Darksea Rescue in order to synchro-summon Dark Flat Top! When the shadows are devoured by even darker shadows, the curtain pulls back and reveals— a world without light!
Crow: What is that thing?!
Grieger: Hehehehehehehe! Your doom!
Yusei: Crow'll never sink that thing!
Crow: Well, it looks like this duel is just starting to get interesting! I can't wait to see what happens next! That's quite the ship, Grieger. Ha! So, just too bad I'm gonna have to sink it along with all your life-points.
Grieger: Oh, please, you're not gonna be sinking anything of mine, Crow. See, with the power of my Darksea Rescue, I can add a couple of reinforcements to my deck! And speaking of reinforcements, I activate Dark Flat Top's special ability, which lets me bring back Flying Fortress SKY FIRE from my graveyard once per turn!
Crow: Aw, man! But I already took that thing out once this match!
Yusei: ("And you're gonna have to keep takin' it out unless you find a way to deep-six Grieger's Dark Flat Top!")
Grieger: Welcome back, Flying Fortress SKY FIRE!
Crow: Nice move, but that hunk of junk is about to get grounded, Grieger!
Grieger: And how do you plan to do that with only one monster left on the field? Ya see by sending one card to the graveyard I can activate SKY FIRE's special ability, which allows me to destroy your Blackwing Armour Master! And with him out of the way, I can now set my sights on the only monster you have left. Looks like the only one being grounded this match is you!
Crow: Gah! (He and his runner are flung into near-horizontal donuts, forward along the track. His screen starts to crash.) Aaa-aaa-aaaa-argh!
Yusei: Oh, no!
(The road still steams from a track scraped out of it by Crow's passage. Crow and his runner are down, lying on the ground. Crow's life-points are at 900. He clenches his fists, already struggling to get up, as Yusei and Grieger both brake.)
Yusei: Crow!
Grieger: Don't even bother trying to get back up! I'm afraid your runner's down for the count and so are you!
Yusei: Crow! (He climbs off his runner, about to run to Crow.)
Crow: Stay back! Argh... (He pushes himself up on his hands.) If you interfere, I'll lose. And losing isn't an option!
Yusei: (Gasps.)
Grieger: Well, from the way things look up here, neither is winning.
Crow: (He gets to his feet and trudges over to his fallen runner. There's a patch torn out of the side of his pants.) You wish, Grieger. You're not gonna get rid of me that easily. I got too much- too mu- argh! (He tries to kneel next to his runner, and ends up falling down on top of it. He fights his way back up.) —To fight for! I owe it to the kids. And that means you're gonna pay!
Grieger: Heh. Well I'd like to see you try and collect!
Yusei: ...But your... runner...
Crow: Is gonna be just fine, Yusei, trust me. It might be down... (He pulls up a panel on his runner and toggles something; we hear the engine rev. He begins to smile.) ...But it's not out! (He pushes the runner up as he stands again.)
Grieger: How touching, Crow, but I would've stayed down if I were you!
Crow: (Settles back onto his runner and looks over his shoulder.) Well lucky for my friends, you're not me, Grieger! Shall we? (He keeps going. Grieger follows him.)
Grieger: Yes, we shall! ("I thought you would've given up by now, Crow. But I should've known you would never back down since you, like me, are fighting for the memories of our families and friends. Although we grew up in different parts of the world, we both shared a common goal. Like you, I hoped that duelling would provide an out to the life that had been dealt to my friends and family. I believed that if I shared my knowledge of duelling with those close to me, someday their dreams of a better life would come true. But because of Goodwin, their dreams vanished along with their home.") Hmm! I place one card facedown! Your move!
Crow: (Puts a hand to his side, clearly in pain. The cloth warmers around his forearms have been ripped and torn, to the point that we see they cover up grey arm braces underneath.) ("Move! I can barely breathe! I think that fall damaged more than just my runner. But before I take care of myself, I gotta take care of Grieger!") Looks like I'm up! ("But I might not be for long, unless I figure out a way to take out his Flying Fortress SKY FIRE. 'Cause with the shape I'm in right now? If it attacks me again, I might not be able to keep fighting this fight.") Argh!
Yusei: ("It sounds like Crow's more hurt than he's letting on!")
Crow: I'll end my turn with a face-down!
Grieger: Is that all?! Looks like someone's too scared to attack.
Crow: Too scared to attack! I don't think so! Ya see, why attack when I can let one of my face-downs destroy all your monsters for me!
Grieger: Yeah, right!
Crow: Happy hunting, Grieger! (He pulls ahead, laughing, daring Grieger to try and attack him.)
Grieger: ("Little does Crow know that I've always got a backup plan. And I think this is the perfect time to put my little insurance policy into play.") I send one card in my hand to the graveyard (He discards Darksea Float) In order to activate Flying Fortress SKY FIRE's special ability! Which lets me destroy one card on your field! Now which one will it be! How about the one on the left! Now, attack!
Crow: Oh, so close! Now if you attack me— all your monsters— are going to be totally annihilated!
Grieger: The only things that're going to be annihilated are the last of your life-points! You have nothing left to protect you except that one facedown and that doesn't scare me for a second! This is the end of the road for you!
Crow: (Still smiling.) This is the end of nothing, pal!
Grieger: You cannot stop the inevitable! Flying Fortress SKY FIRE, finish Crow off and send him to the netherworld! (SKY FIRE launches three rockets, which zoom behind Crow in formation, but don't hit him.)
Crow: I'm not goin' anywhere! I activate my trap— Blackwing - Backlash! And since I have at least five Blackwings in my graveyard, this trap destroys all the monsters on your field just like I said it would!
Grieger: How could you!
Crow: Ha! Well, I couldn't have without your help, Grieger.
Grieger: So, this is all my own doing?
Crow: That's right, you've got no one to blame but yourself for the situation you're in. Maybe next time you won't underestimate the power of my deck! (They race onward, three sets of headlights flying down a track of purple. Yusei's headlights are slightly bluer than Grieger's or Crow's.)
Grieger: It's funny you should say that, because that's exactly what I was thinking, when I sent this to the graveyard!
Crow: Sent what to the graveyard?
Grieger: A little insurance policy that allows me to draw one card from my deck. (Draws Card.) That'll do just fine. Next up, I'll trigger the trap card Contaminated Earth! Yah! Due to its effect, because I have two level-five-or-above monsters in my graveyard, I can now summon an Earthbound Immortal!
Crow: An Earthbound Immortal?!
Yusei: This is just what I was afraid of!
Grieger: Yours is a future that will be cloaked in eternal darkness! Now come forth— Earthbound Immortal... Chacu Challhua!
Crow: Uh-oh!
Yusei: That thing's incredible! Crow better watch out!
Crow: Al-righty, Crow, this is it. I draw! (Draws Card) ("But before I make a move I better assess the situation. Grieger's got more life-points than me and a giant whale protecting him. I gotta figure out a way to beach that thing before it swallows my life-points whole!") I summon, Blackwing - Fane the Steel Chain!
Grieger: If that's all you have to attack with, then perhaps you should pull over and end this duel!
Crow: I'm not stopping for anything, ya got that?! In fact, I'm comin' straight for ya! Blackwing - Fane the Steel Chain, attack Grieger directly!
Grieger: (Winces from pain.) That was quite the move. It's just too bad that it's going to be the last one you ever make!
Crow: Don't think so!
Grieger: Huh?
Crow: Ya see, it's time for part two of my attack to take effect!
Grieger: What do you mean?!
Crow: I mean that there was more to that move than meets the eye. Ya see the real purpose of my Blackwing attacking was to switch your whale into defense mode! Now that whale of yours couldn't even hurt a fly, much less me or my Blackwing!
Yusei: Way to go, Crow!
Crow: Now I'll end my turn with a face-down.
Grieger: It's my move then, agh! (Draws card.) Now, you may've stopped my beast from attacking, but whoever said it had to be in attack mode to deal out damage! My Immortal can't be stopped. I activate Chacu Challhua's special ability, which means your life-points get hit for half the amount of its defense points! (Chacu Challhua's dorsal fin surfaces from the road as though it were the surface of the ocean, and swims straight for Crow and his runner.)
Crow: This wasn't part of the plan! (It hits; Crow's runner gets thrown off balance; it's a rough ride as Crow struggles to hang on.)
Yusei: Hang on!
Grieger: I summon Darksea Rescue in attack mode! And next, I activate the trap Basara! Ha! By playing this card I can now release one monster on the field, to destroy a monster whose level is higher! And as an added bonus, not only do you lose one of your monsters, but you also lose eight hundred of your life-points! I release my Darksea Rescue in order to destroy your Fane the Steel Chain! (Darksea Rescue disappears into the face of the trap card, and a hungry stream of fire emerges from the card and heads straight for Crow's Blackwing.)
Crow: What?!
Yusei: If Crow doesn't stop this he's done for!
(With Seria and the others. They're picking their way along the outside, looking for any sign of life.)
Sect: We gotta find Yusei. He's gotta be around here somewhere!
Lyra: Well, judging from that enormous purple wall... I think it's safe to say that we're on the right track.
Aura: Yusei, I hope you're okay...
Sect: I'd be more worried about us being okay, with Trudge's driving!
Seria: Hey! (Pouts.) (And they move on through the empty wasteland...)
Yusei: If you don't stop that attack you'll lose, Crow!
Crow: I'm on it! I play the trap card Guard Mines, which not only protects my monster from your Immortal's special ability, but it also hits you for five hundred points of damage!
Grieger: No! (He shields his eyes from the bright explosion; Crow flies out of the cloud of smoke, leaving Grieger in the dust) This little pest is really starting to get under my skin.
Yusei: All right!
Crow: My turn! (He goes to draw. The only card in his hand currently is Parasite Mind.) ("Okay, Crow— it all comes down to this. You've only got one trap left in your hand. The odds are against you; but they've been against you your entire life! You can't give up now. You owe it to the kids! It's time to draw a winner. Here goes everything!") (He draws. He flips it. It's Blackwing - Blizzard the Far North. He looks at it for a moment, hardly able to believe his eyes, then smiles.) Just what I was hoping for! Now I can go and lay down a facedown, and then summon Blackwing- Blizzard the Far North! Now that I've added a little offense to my field, I think I'll balance it out by adding the defensive abilities of my Blackwing - Shura the Blue Flame! Next I tune my Blizzard the Far North, Fane the Steel, and Shura the Blue Flame— in order to synchro summon... Blackwing - Silverwind the Ascendant! Welcome to the game!
Grieger: That's quite the beast. It's just too bad my Immortal's special ability, will be keeping your Silverwind on the side-lines!
Crow: Fine by me! Because that allows me to counter your move with a special ability of my own! Since my feathered friend couldn't battle this turn, I can now destroy up to two monsters whose defense points are less than Silverwind's attack points!
Grieger: Then that means...!
Crow: Your Immortal's history! And this shadow duel is about to come to an end! Go, Perfect Storm!
(As Silverwind goes to attack, ghostly faces appear on Chacu Challhua's head; Grieger's brother and sister.)
Max: Please, help!
Annie: You mustn't do this!
Crow: Who're they?!
Max and Annie: Please, help us get back to our village!
Crow: Whadya mean, 'village'!
Grieger: Enough stalling, Crow! If you're not gonna finish your move, then allow me to!
Crow: But— don't you see those kids up there?!
Grieger: All I see is the finish line, Crow!
Crow: But Grieger-
Grieger: But nothing!
Yusei: There's kids up there! Please, just look for yourself!
Grieger: Fine, Yusei!
Max and Annie: Grieger, it's us! Please, help!
Grieger: Huh...? How can this... how can this be?!
Crow: Grieger!
Grieger: Why are there people from my village inside this Earthbound Immortal?!
Crow: So, he knows them?!
Yusei: There's only one way to be certain... Grieger, is that your family?!
Grieger: I'm sure of it now! The people trapped inside this Earthbound Immortal are my brother, and sister, and people from my village! That means the Crimson Dragon isn't to blame for this— it was the Dark Signers who took everything away from me!
Yusei: So, it's the Dark Signers who are responsible.
Grieger: Yes. And here I was blaming you and Goodwin. (He decelerates. Yusei falls back with him.)
Yusei: Grieger! Now that you figured out the truth you have to stop this duel!
Grieger: (Opens his eyes; the space around his irises is white again.) Yusei. I'm sorry. I'll forfeit this duel so that- (At that, the mark of the Whale reacts. We hear a deep voice.)
Voice: You'll forfeit nothing! This is nothing but a Signer trick. They are your true enemy! Show no mercy! And send them all to the netherworld!
Grieger: (His eyes glow with purple light, the mark on his face shines too, and he laughs evilly, clearly possessed. We can see veins on the edges of his face standing out from the skin. He grips the accelerator and roars forward.)
Yusei: Grieger!
Grieger (possessed): I'm afraid your trickery will not stop me from sending you and those loyal to you to the Netherworld!
Crow: Come on!
Grieger: (Snaps free for a moment.) Argh— get out of my head, whoever you are! Please, Crow— you must— end this duel, right away! It's the only way to release my family and friends— from their prison—!
Crow: Are you sure?
Grieger (Possessed): (The Whale mark flares; he screams. His eyes glow again.) Not exactly! In fact, it might be best if I end this duel right away! My turn! Yah! Hahahahahaha! I switch Chacu Challhua into attack mode!
Yusei: You'd better be careful with Grieger! He isn't gonna hold anything back!
Grieger (Possessed): That's right, Crow! Now- Earthbound Immortal Chacu Challhua, attack! (The Whale dives down on Crow, opening its jaws to reveal pure darkness.)
Crow: No!
Yusei: Don't give up! You can end this duel; I know that you can!
Crow: ...He's right, I can...! ("And I will! Grieger's beast might not be affected by my traps or spells, but his own are a different story!")
Grieger: This shadow duel is over!
Crow: It will be, once I activate "Parasite Mind"! With this, I can gain control of a trap card on your field, and activate its effect! And the trap card I'm gonna be using is Basara! Now, I know you're familiar with how this card works, and I know you know the damage it can dish out, but I bet you never knew that your own card was gonna be your Immortal's undoing! So, by releasing my level-eight Silverwind, I can destroy your Earthbound Immortal Chacu Challhua! (A blast of fire, led by a Silverwind made of flames, blows a hole straight through the top of Chacu Challhua's head. It rears back and keels over, purple lights gushing like blood. The villagers cry out as they are all sucked toward the wound. Chacu Challhua dramatically collapses out of sight behind some buildings ahead of the duel. It dives beneath the water under the track, (or makes some up) and swims right into a bridge support. Up on the track, buildings lean dangerously to the side and the duelists weather an earthquake. Grieger is oblivious as the thing possessing him roars and screams its fury. Part of his visor is already cracked off. He closes his eyes, possibly unconscious, as his life-points drop to zero. Crow wins. The parallel lines of purple fire recede into the distance and vanish. Crow brakes.)
Crow: It's over! Huh?
(Above him, a piece of building gives way. He can't get out of the way!)
Crow: Aaa-aaa-aaa-argh!
Grieger: Watch out! (He rides up suddenly and knocks Crow and his runner flying. Crow lands, skidding hard to the side and yelling, as the huge chunk of concrete hits the ground. Crow sits there catching his breath for a moment, then realizes that Grieger isn't there. He climbs off his runner and runs toward the fallen concrete.)
Crow: Huh?!
Yusei: (Jumps the pile of debris on his bike, hurrying to join them.) Grieger!
Crow: No!
(There sits Grieger, halfway buried in rubble, and from the looks of it barely alive. One of the two horns is cracked off his helmet, even more of his visor is gone, and part of his helmet is missing entirely. Crow and Yusei kneel on either side)
Yusei: Grieger, are you okay?
Grieger: (Opens his eyes, shaking; they're normal.)
Grieger: I'M fine.
Crow: Huh...
Grieger: And Crow... you're safe...
Crow: Why'd' you do that?! Why did you risk your life for me?!
Grieger: Because... (winces) Argh... You risked yours so that my family and friends could return to their homeland.
Crow: (His eyes start to water.) Grieger...
Grieger: You must continue to fight the Dark Signers... Stay strong and save your family.
Crow: You can count on it, Grieger.
Grieger: (Turns to Yusei.) Yusei... Thank you for helping me see the truth. You freed me of the darkness... that was... gripping my heart. (He winces, clearly in a lot of pain.)
Yusei: Of course…
Grieger: Yusei...! The Signers must stick together. It's the only way— you will defeat the darkness! (He reaches up to Yusei with the hand that isn't buried. Yusei grips it with both of his. Grieger closes his eyes, beginning to turn grey like the concrete around him. He begins to disappear, as little black specks float upward from where he lies.)
Yusei: Grieger!
Crow: We won't let you down! We promise!
Yusei: Crow's right...! We won't stop until... the darkness is defeated!
(Seria, the kids, their jeep, Yusei, Crow, and their runners stand on top of a building not too far from the site of the duel. In the background behind them we see a bunch of collapsed buildings.)
Crow: So— is Kalin next, Yusei?
Yusei: (Finishes putting on his helmet, already astride his runner.) Yes. We have some unfinished business to attend to. (He grips the accelerator and takes off. Above him, the same shooting star burns brightly, though it looks a bit more bluish than purple.)
(Act 9- End)