Oerba, the place where it all began. Despite being called a "village", you're highly unlikely to find any real villagers around these parts. It was, in fact, more similar to a small town, with a running electric network and a rail-system, not to mention heavy machinery, and practical windmills. The surroundings was a paradise: hills covered in grass and flowers of all kind, and the other half of the village was placed next to a large lake, so it was a quite lovely sight.

But… that was 500 years ago.

Now look at it.

Oerba, once a flourishing haven, now lies in ruins. Many houses were torn apart by the fangs of time, machines were all dead for a long time, and the once glorious railwork system is now twisted and bent beyond repair, rusted up and petrified like a huge abstract statue. Nature took it's toll, but most of the beautiful nature here has long since been swallowed by it's darker side. Plants that were once decorating the village were now tearing it apart, giant wooden roots devoured the houses and concrete. The lake, once cobalt blue, is now ashen white, frozen solid like winterwater. And the flowers? There was barely any left.

This was the sight that the l'Cie found once they arrived there. A sight so sad only the most tearful of ballades could match the scenery.

Shocked most of all were the former residents of Oerba: Vanille and Fang.

Vanille: "Our village…"

Fang: "I cannot believe it."

They barely found the strength to walk on these dead streets. The landscape was now covered in crystal ashes, barely any more transparent than common dust. It existet in such a vast quantity it looked like a snowy surroundings. The air was cold, still.

Sazh: "After 500 years, it's no wonder, but still…"

Hope: "So much for hope."

Snow: "(taps Hope's shoulder) Nonsense. We just arrived here. Maybe there's a bit of hope just around the corner. How about we come have a look?"

Vanille: "We came too far to quit. As painful as this might be, we have to find some clue on what to do. Something… anything."

At that point, Fang went out of character and yelled out.

Fang: "This was all a wild goose chase! This whole removal of brands thing. How are we supposed to find anything here?"

Vanille: "Calm down, please."

Sazh: "We're shooting high hopes here. But hey, it's better than not shooting at all. At least, we're all still alive."

Vanille: "Maybe we should just look around a bit?"

Snow: "Must be at least some joy to be home once again. Even if it is a bit messed up?"

Lightning: "(looks at Snow) … 'A bit messed up'? Sanctum's parking system is 'a bit messed up'. THIS is a nightmare!"

Snow: "Hey, hey, I didn't mean anything wrong by that."

Vanille: "He's right. At least we're home again. We should make the most of it."

Fang: "We're all a bit stressed out, but you better behave a little, princess. Ever since Shiro bailed out on us you've been nothing but a pain!"

Lightning didn't respond. She just looked the other way and started walking into the village.

Lightning: "I don't care if Shiro bailed on us. He's gone now, and we're here on our designated target. It's just… What happened here? People must have built this place, but where is everybody."

Snow: "Good point. Then we better start looking for clues of some sort."

They all went onward. Only Lightning remained back, observing the awful sight that the village has become.

Lightning: "At least theirs is a hope I can keep up. But… we came all this way, and this is what we find. It is unlikely we will find anything that might help us. After all, we're l'Cie. What hope do we have left?"


Meanwhile:

On the Archylte steppe, engine noise rumbled, and even though the climate was warm, snow kept materializing, and cold was left in it's wake.

It was Shiro's King Blizzard that was moving onwards. His direction: north. His goal: Oerba, where the others were heading. His reason: keeping a promise to a very important person.

Unintentionally, as he was moving on, he also froze and half-covered a Behemoth King named Grunt in icy chains while moving past him. This rendered the beast immobilized and sad.

Shiro was still moving onward.

Shiro: "Lightning… everyone… I don't care how much grudge you feel against me. I'm comming."


/opening song: Twill: "New World" (Digimon Xros Wars, 2011)/

(the screen freezes… then shatters, revealing the title and starting the instrumental)

Cold Saga

(a fly-by over the world of Pulse…)

Sora wo koete
Umi wo koete

(Diamond Dust flying, with Lightning at it's back, feeling the wind)
Chiisana fuan
Kibou ni kaete

(next to them, Bahamut flies with Fang as it's rider, and in order, Snow, Hope, Vanille and Sazh behind her)

Arukidashita

(Shiro stands next to King Blizzard at the coast of a lake…)
Kono sekai de

(images flash: of Jihl, Cid, Dysley and Barthandelus)
Donna deai wo

(… and of Serah, who smiles at Shiro)
Sagashi ni ikou

(he puts on the helmet and rides the D-Wheel over the water, freezing it)

Omoi kusuresou demo

(cast performing: Sazh shooting his guns (Brynhildr in the background), Vanille swinging her rod-reels around (Hecatoncheir in the background)…)
Zawameku kokoro osaeru

(… Hope throws the boomerang and catches it (Alexander in the background)…)
Kimi no koe ga tsutsumu saki

(…Snow performing melee punches and a roundhouse kick (Shiva sisters in the background), Fang spinning her spear, then aiming it somewhere (Bahamut in the background)…)

Shinjite

(Lightning shooting bullets, then morphing the blade into a sword, slashing the screen (Odin in the background)…)

Bokura no tabi wa

(Shiro riding, summoning Shiva Shield and Frostland Lizard…)

Mada hajimatta bakari

(… who synch together and become Diamond Dust Dragon;)

Doredake no yume wo

(Frostland Knight slashes, Brynhildr shooting fire missles)
Kizuna wo

(Shiro and King Blizzard, grinding wheel to wheel with Rosch and the Proudclad, both yelling)

Tsunai de ikou
(Barthandelus laughing, Megiddo-End Land Gigas appearing behind him and reaches out to grab Shiro…)

Atsumaru kokoro wa

(Diamond Dust roaring; L-Nitro Plasma Rail comes before him)
Tatakau tsuyosa ni naru yo

(Shiro's brand lights up, they all accelerate in Accel Synchro)
Yami wo koete

(Mirrordust Dragon emerges, flying up)
Asu no sono saki e

(flash-image: the l'Cie and Shiro and Mirrordust Dragon on one side; Barthandelus with Land Gigas behind him, and Dysley's face in the sky on the other side)


Episode 12: Retaking Destiny: Shiro vs. Megiddo

Trying to move while immobilized in ice proved more painful than beneficial, forcing Grunt to sustain his strength. Just as he quit trying to get up, Grunt stuck his tongue out and kept breathing out loud.

Then, someone walked past him, bringing up the beast's curiosity. It was a guy in golden-yellow armor. At first, the guy ignorred Grunt, but eventually turned it's gaze towards him.

Domick: "…."

Grunt: "… Ang?….."

Domick: "….. Hi there. Wassup?"

That was Domick of O-Zone… and he just stole 20 seconds of this episode.


Investigating the village of Oerba turned out to be even sadder than looking at it from first glance. The group found nothing but painful remnants of a once happy village.

Snow found a house that was half-crushed by a giant root of sorts.

Hope investigated the lakeside, and noticed it was now immobile, and cold, like ice of the worst kind.

Sazh found an empty energy-plant inside a basement. All the equipment was rusted up and devoid of power.

Fang and Vanille just investigated their old house… or one of them, at least. As it turns out, everyone in the village was living everywhere, sharing houses and roofs like a big happy family. The one they spent the most time in, though, was not spared by the ruin. It was completely silent, completely empty. Can you even imagine how that made them feel?

Fang picked up a framed photo, this depicting Vanille and herself. They seemed happy, but the warm memory did little effect to boost Fang's mood.

Fang: "(sigh) How did it come to this?"

Within the next minute, the l'Cie all regrouped at the main square just outside Fang and Vanille's house.

Lightning: "Any luck?"

Snow: "Can't say I had any."

Sazh: "None whatsoever."

Hope: "Ditto."

Fang: "The whole village is empty."

Vanille: "Everybody's… gone."

Vanille sounded sadder than ever. She hung her head and tried to supress her own tears from flowing.

Just then.. she heard something. It sounded almost like.. a whisper.

Vanille: "Huh?"

She turned around. The noise was comming from an open terrace positioned right beneath her former home.

Snow: "What's wrong?"

She approached the place slowly and carefully. She was inspecting it from a distance, then got in.

The terrace was awfully messy, it was closer to a garage than a terrace. Piles of random objects were just lying and hanging around. She kept looking at the interium, somehow feeling there was something in here.

Vanille: "Uhm…"

Then, she saw it: there was a small bit of dirty cloth, a blanket of sorts… but it was shaped like someone was wearing it. Like someone covered himself up with it. What's more: Vanille heard another loud breath, and saw that blanket move a bit, like it was being cradled.

This made her open her eyes wide, and then she smiled openly, overjoyed.

Vanille: "Guys, guys! Someone's here! Someone's here!"

Snow: "What?"

Sazh: "Where?"

Vanille: "Over here, come."

And so, they all entered the place, and saw what her joy was all about: from their perspective, it looked like a person covered with a blanket and with his or her back turned to them.

Hope: "It's true."

Vanille: "Uhm… Excuse us. Could you come out, please? We won't hurt you."

The person, or whatever it was, was obviously a sentient being of sorts. The blanket stood up before them, giving the l'Cie a new hope…

… except for Lightning. She felt an uneasy stir.

Lightning: "something's not right."

That's when it happened: on the blanket, a pair of big red eyes shone out. Really big eyes!

Lightning: "(gasp) Get back!"

Within a moment, she got her gunblade out and pushed the others back. They realized something was wrong, but didn't know what.

And then, a mighty gust blew from inside that room, and the blanket was torn apart, revealing the figure beneath it.

It was monstrous!

This creature looked like a headless wraith made of dim obsidian subtance, with huge, handless arms that looked, in closest comparison, like giant wrenches, with circular seals on each one. The thing had it's eyes on it's chest, and was hovering above the ground. The gust that tore half the room was it's own doing.

Snow: "A Cie'th!"

Vanille: "AH!"

A Vetala to be more precise, and it seemed to be charging energy into it's arms.

Snow: "Watch out!"

Before anyone could act, the Vetala detonated the gathered energy.

With this, the entire room blew up in smoke, forcingly sending all the l'Cie outside on the ground.

They all seemed unharmed by the explosion.

Lightning: "Is everyone alright?"

Sazh: "I feel like I just flew out of an exploding room. Oh, wait a minute… I did!"

They all got on their feet and readied their respective weapons. But by the time Vetala hovered outside to greet them again…

Fang: "(looks sideways) Oh no, look!"

Suddenly, the Vetala alone did not seem as big a deal as this: from all over the village, behind corners, out of the ruined houses, out of garbage cans, through the windows, literally everywhere… hundreds of different Cie'th were crawling out!

A kind that was a huge bipedal Cie'th with a mishapen body full of lusterless substances, a kind that was only a small portion of a torso with a huge arm dragging it, and a kind that was simply just a Cie'th face with wings. Don't forget the Vetala we met earlier.

Just like that, they were surrounded. It looked like a zombie apocalypse with Cie'th. (which, I presume, were one and the same thing here)

Hope: "They're everywhere!"

Sazh: "You have a Cie'th problem, alright."

Vanille: "Are these all… people of Oerba?"

Lightning: "Even if they are, they're all Cie'th now! Killing them is the only mercy they can receive."

Vanille: "You can't be serious!"

The Cie'th didn't wait for the l'Cie to finish their conversation. They were cornering them fast.

Fang: "Guys, we're running out of options!"

Just as they all got close enough to engage, Lightning started attacking…


The situation on Archylte: the Behemoth King Grunt was still ice-bount to the ground. Only this time, he also had another problem on his back. Literally.

Domick: "(sitting on Grunt's back) And that's how he left me. Just like that, I turned my back for 10 seconds, and he was already gone over the seven hills. Said something about some 'unfinished business' or something, I mean can you believe it? Not that I blame him, though, I make an awful company. Did you know I hardly had any firends before I joined the O-Zone?"

Grunt: "… Rawn…"

Domick: "By the way, the name's Domick, nice to meet you… Oh wait, I should have said that first. What's your name?"

Grunt: "…Rawn."

Domick: "Grunt? That fits. Who told you that?"

Grunt: "Gawn…"

Domick: "So you know Shiro's friends? No kidding, I never imagined he would settle down this fast. Maybe that's why he left to go help them. Come to think of it, then that makes ME the bad guy for trying to convince him to come."

Grunt: "Gawn."

Domick: "No, seriously, it does. How could I be so silly? It's not that we really need him that much. Did you know there are duelists in my world that are even stronger than Shiro? Let's see, let's see…aha, Yunata Shuuki, oh, she's a pretty lady, but don't tell her I said that. She's pretty, but barely a lady. Don't tell her that either. She's the one who took over O-Zone after the thing with Michingel. Funny story. You see, first, there was a…"

Grunt simply sighed (through his nostrils) and rolled his eyes. He was immobilized AND he had an annoying chatterbox on his back.

With this, Domick stole another 55 seconds of this show.


Fighting their way through the sudden swarm of Cie'th didn't fall hard on anyone to do, but it sure wasn't easy. For every Cie'th they managed to bring down, there were at least 2 that filled in the scene a minute later.

Sazh: "There's too many of them!"

Sazh and Lightning managed to keep the distance line secured by shooting the Cie'th down that approached, while the others had to beat up anyone that came too close. It was a nice strategy, but sady, it didn't work.

Lightning noticed a station of sorts that was leading to the higher grounds, this being the railway.

Lightning: "This way!"

Barely holding their attackers of, the group retreated into the station house and fought their way up…

A large Cie'th was blocking the stairs ahead.

Snow: "Emperor's Fist!"

Snow punched the monster and took it down with a single blow.

Snow: "Come on, hurry."

They hurried onward, escaping the Cie'th hordes. They ultimately came to use the trailway system by foot, whose grounds have long since ceased to use any kind of trasportation. The bridge that lead across the Oerba waters was a little bent outta shape, but it served it's purpose.

However, it was a bridge to nowhere. As they kept running, the l'Cie realized there was a dead end and nowhere to go. They halted as soon as they noticed this.

Lightning: "A dead end."

Hope: "We're trapped."

As they looked at the other way, they saw the Cie'th hordes approaching. Their movements were equaling those of the living dead: disoriented and lumpy, but they were approaching nonetheless.

Fang: "Guess we'll have to deal with this the old-fashined way."

They all readied their weapons, prepared to face the hordes, even though it was clearly a loosing battle…

Then, at one point, the Cie'th…

(whispering melody)

… they just stopped. They came to a certain point of the bridge, then they just stopped moving.

Vanille: "Why did they stop?"

Sazh: "Maybe they ran out of stamina?"

Lightning: "Don't be stupid, they don't need stamina to move."

The Cie'th just stood there, tilting left and right like trees in the wind. Then, after a while, they simply turned around and walked away. They moved away and pretended nothing happened. Out of relief, the l'Cie lowered their arms.

Fang: "What was that all about?"

Sazh: "A little reminder we're running on borrowed time. Unless we figure a way to solve our Focus problem, we'll end up just like them."

Hope: "Walking menaces bound to oblivion. Without will, without hearts. A fate worse than death."

A breeze blew in, carrying a familiar voice…

Vanille: "Then we better decide what to do before-"

Lightning: "Shh! Listen."

Lightning heard something, a voice she so craved to hear…

It started low, like a whisper, but it's volume soon increased. Soon, all l'Cie heard words of mysterious meaning.

Each of them turned to look at the end of the bridge, and they saw some kind of distortion in the air. Like there was an unseen wall, with a shadow on the other side, and getting closer to them.

It was spoken with the voice of a girl.

?: "Ragnarok. Come Day of Wrath, o Pulse l'Cie."

Lightning recognized that voice. And so did Snow.

?: "Embrace thy fate, thine home to burn."

And then, the figure walked into the visible light: it was a girl with pink hair, resembling Lightning like a sister. It was her.

Serah: "That fallen souls might bear your plea. To hasten the Divine's return."

They were all just staring, speechless. Lightning couldn't believe her eyes. It was like a dream. Her words meant nothing, it was her presence that warmed her heart.

Serah: "O piteous wanderer, Ragnarok, make of this a great epoch. Deliver the Divine, Ragnarok."

Lightning: "Serah…"

Snow: "Serah!"

Snow and Lightning both ran up to her, overjoyed to see her, yet still confused by her arrival.

Lightning: "Serah… How did you…?"

Serah was just smiling at them. Lightning and Snow were wondering if they were dreaming.

Snow: "Serah, is that… really you?"

Serah nodded.

Serah: "I was waiting for you."

Lightning could hold back no longer. She approached her sister and hugged her, and Serah hugged her back.

Lightning: "But you became crystal. How did you get here? (tears of joy)"

Serah: "I don't know. As soon as I woke up, I found myself here."

Lightning: "It's alright. You're safe now, that's all that matters."

By this time, the others approached as well and saw the happy occasion. Needless to say, their breaths were taken.

Vanille: "Serah…"

Sazh: "But how did she?"

Serah: "All the time I was asleep, I knew what was happening. I kept trying to think of a way to save Cocoon… together."

Lightning: "Save Cocoon?"

Serah: "Yes. But, the more I thought about it, the more I realized… there is no way."

Lightning: "What?"

Serah was weeping… or at least, that's what everyone tought. While her face was hidden in Lightning's embrace, "Serah" smiled… but it was an evil smile, with her eyes narrowed and with a sinister gleam inside of them.

Serah: "You came all this way looking for a miracle. But the truth is… there is none. No gods with miracles can save us. That is why… we have to call one."

Lightning: "Serah?"

Snow: "Serah, what are you saying?"

Serah: "It is the only way… You must do it. Destroy Orphan."

Lightning broke the hug to look at Serah in the eyes. By this time, "Serah's" face returned to normal.

Lightning: "But… If we destroy Orphan…"

Sazh: "Then Cocook will fall out of the sky."

Lightning let go of her sister, and paced back. She could not believe what she was hearing.

Serah: "It is the only way. You have to do it."

Snow: "Serah… Serah, we're all shooting for the same goal here. We want to save Cocoon, didn't you tell us that?"

Serah: "I did. But… If you do nothing, Cocoo will tear itself apart. Only the Maker can restore order on Pulse."

Fang: "What?"

Serah: "Lightning, don't you agree? You want us all to be happy, don't you?"

Lightning: "I…"

Hope: "That's crazy! How are we going to save Cocoon by destroying it?"

Sazh: "It doesn't matter if some Maker comes around to save the day, a lot of people are going to get hurt!"

Meanwhile, the village was swarming with Cie'th wandering around. A strange disturbance caused them to look up into the sky… before being frozen still…

Lightning: "But…Maybe… that was the point."

Snow: "Lightning?"

Lightning: "Maybe it will restore everything. But can we bear the sin?"

Serah: "(extends her hand) You can do it. I believe in you, Claire."

Lightning felt this great sensation within her heart. She broke in tears.

Lightning: "There's only one person that knows my name."

Snow: "What?"

Lightning: "Serah… What do I do?"

Serah: "Just give into it. Give into your Focus, and everything will end up well."

Hope: "You can't be serious!"

Sazh: "Lighnting, you agree with that?"

Lightning: "I must… give in."

At that point, Lightning felt like her body was moving all on it's own. She slowly lifted her hand, and went forward to reach out for Serah's arm…

The others were just watching in shock. How can Lightning favor destruction over protection?

And this… "Serah", as she held her hand extended, she smiled again, a dark smile with shadows covering her eyes and a black aura streaming out of them.

And just when she was about to touch her hand…

There was a cry in the sky.

Lightning: "What?"

A dragon's cry.

Shiro: "Sonic Vortex!"

Out of the blue, a powerful stream of blue energy was launched right at the figure calling herself Serah, leaving a powerful burst of blue smoke behind, and cold flames surrounded her entirely.

Lightning: "That was…"

In the sky, everyone saw it: Diamond Dust Dragon was flying. And beneath him, driving a D-Wheel on the fallen bridge, Shiro Whiterain was closing in.

Vanille: "It's Shiro!"

Sazh: "And he blew up Serah?"

Hope: "(points at Serah) Look!"

They all looked at Serah another time. This time, their horror was ultimate. The dragon's attack didn't kill her. As the matter of fact, it didn't even phase her.

The blue clouds that surrounded her started to fade, only whoever it was that Diamond Dust attacked, it was no human. Serah's image, her face especially, it was completely twisted: her eyes were wide open, and her smile as sharp as razor, like a horror-movie logo. Her hair was moving all on it's own, without any wind intervention.

Serah?: "Hmhm… Heheheha… HEHEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…."

The smoke surrounded her image like a vortex, shrouding her completely as she laughed maniacally. Her voice changed from a female to a male one, and the smoke faded within a second, and when it did, there was someone else on Serah's place:

Dysley: "… HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Sazh: "Primarch!"

Snow: "Dysley!"

Lightning: "(shocked)… (attacks Dysley) You bastard!"

Before Lightning could land a hit on Dysley's hideous smile, the human-disguised fal'Cie vanished in a flash and teleported away from her blade, about 30 feet away. That was without a doubt their Primarch standing before them.

Dysley: "How well you've all resisted my while."

That's when Diamond Dust landed down on the ground, grunting on all four like a beast, it took it's position between the l'Cie and Dysley. He was eyeing at the Primarch, but it only growled and did not attack.

Dysley: "So you've found discipline."

At the same time, Shiro drove all the way to meet his friends, and hit the breaks to sharply halt on spot. He was already geared up for a Turbo Duel, so he had to take down his helmet to greet them.

Shiro: "Guys, are you alright?"

The group did not know what to think. They saw Shiro, their friend, with them at last. But, it was the same friend that abandoned them… They knew not what to think: joy, or rage?

Hope: "You came?"

Vanille: "But why? What about…"

Shiro: "I gave it some thought and concluded I value some things more than I value my own pride. (gets of the D-Wheel) Even a whole world seems small now that I'm comparing it to a promise I once made."

Most of them were certain now: they were happy that he returned.

Sazh: "Heh… Took you long enough."

Fang: "Don't you ever do something like that again."

Shiro: "I won't… (looks at Lightning) Not anymore."

But Lightning didn't share the tought.

Lightning: "After what you've done… Don't you dare think this made anything better!"

Snow: "Lightning!"

Shiro: "No, let her. What can I say, I deserve it. I was blind… No, more like I made my own pride blind me. But my friends… and I realize I have them now, them I treasure more than anything. So this time, I make amends to them!"

Having said that, Shiro walked past them all, even Lightning, at which point the two exchanged glares, then held up a card and dismissed Diamond Dust Dragon inside it. He was now facing Dysley.

Dysley: "Ah, the man of soil foreign. I am pleased to see my most precious tool is still among us. How fitting that you join us here, in the land where it all began."

Shiro: "You and I… we have a score to settle."

Dysley: "Do we now?"

Shiro: "Curse your name. You hurt my friends, and toyed with their emotions, all to acomplish a fiendish trial!"

Dysley: "The emotions of men are their weakness."

Shiro: "Don't you dare take their hearts as a sign of weakness! It is our hearts that make us strong! You, on the other hand, are weak before us."

Dysley: "Shatter those thoughts. Was it not those emotions of yours that made you run and hide? You abandoned them for your own good. How does that make you better than me?"

Shiro: "I will not run nor hide. Dysley… no, Barthandelus, I shall mute your voice here!"

Sazh: "Does that mean what I think it does?"

Hope: "You better believe it."

Dysley put simply laughed at Shiro's exclamation. E found it so amusing, in fact, that he responded him with his arms open.

Dysley: "What better performance can you offer?"

And then, Shiro pointed at Dysley, and said:

Shiro: "Ek Daag Ju Ciel."

The phrase that was powerful enough to bring down gods. But… will he really?

Dysley: "You amuse me every time you speak."

Lightning: "Shiro, what are you-"

Shiro: "It's the only way! You cannot face him alone. Not with Megiddo on his side. I have to find a way to defeat him."

Lightning: "On your own?"

Shiro: "No! Not on my own… Not anymore."

Hope: "Well… if that's what you aim for, we've got your back."

Sazh: "Same here. Tear the sucker apart!"

Snow: "If I could punch him in the face, I'd do it right now. But since I can't… (puts his fist forward) You'll have to do it instead."

Shiro: "I will."

Dysley: "You betray your fal'Cie to chase after dreams and shadows. Now you put your beliefs in that man?"

Shiro: "Our beliefs is what you fear most. That's why you keep crushing them."

What he said shook them all up a bit. It actually made sense, and it was sensational to hear a fal'Cie being afraid of something.

Dysley: "Your words cradle the ending of your existence. Even without a brand of fal'Cie design, you will still move accordingly."

Meanwhile, Menvra, Dysley's rukh fal'Cie, flew above them, and was now headed towards the tip of Dysley's staff.

Dysley: "Otherwise…"

As soon as Menvra made contact with Dysley's staff, a bright light consumed him. Once it faded, the l'Cie were witnessing a completely different sight.

Dysely: "… I shall claim that power of yours and perform the revival ritual myself."

To their surprise, Dysley was now riding a D-Wheel that Menvra transformed into! It was not even a real D-Wheel, more like an entchanted D-Wheel shaped carriage. Dysley was just standing on a platform that was closed from all sides, and the vehicle was lacking a steering wheel, gas pedals, even a playing-mat console. It's hood was shaped like an extended head of Menvra, and the details on the back resembled her wings. The place where Dysley was placed resembled a throne.

Sazh: "Cme on, what the heck is up with that bird?"

Dysley: "I accept your challenge, Shiro Whiterain. Yours shall be the first mouth to beg for salvation before the might of Megiddo."

Shiro: "So what are we waiting for?"

Shiro said that, then quickly ran up to his D-Wheel and sat behind the wheel, put his helmet on, and started driving down the bridge.

Dysley's machine, whatever you call it, it had wheels, but barely had any contact with the ground. By his own will, the vehicle was constantly floating and moving at great speeds. He soon caught up with Shiro as soon as the chase began.

Fang: "Are they seriously going to duel?"

Sazh: "Yeah… To the very least, Shiro will make most of it. All we can do is cheer."

And Dysley heard them.

Dysley: "Your pain will not end with my dismissal."

Then, in mid-flight, he turned his vehicle around and faced the l'Cie, pointing his staff at them. A bright light came from it's tip, and he shot forward a shining orb that caused a burst upon contact with the ground in front of them.

And out of this burst…

Snow: "What the…?"

Hope: "No way!"

Out came an entity: a huge metallic monster. It resembled the fal'Cie Barthandelus in every way, but it was lacking a head.

Shiro: "What is that?"

Dysley: "Hm-hm-hm… My own clone, Zweiter. He will occupy your friends while the two of us perform the last rites for your demise. I wonder how they'll perform? Will they join your cause? Or perhaps… greet the end here, in the land where it all began?"

The neck of the fal'Cie that Dysley summoned then suddenly expanded, revealing a huge head adornment decorated with human profiles, and then, as if it was blooming, a face appeared from the center of it. Zweiter, as he called it, looked exactly like Barthandelus in his true form, but had a more gracious design and a pearl-white skin of hard metal. It's grin, to their horror… it also belonged to Barthandelus. A terrible sight to behold.


Meanwhile, on the Archylte Steppe:

Domick: "And then they all attacked. I couldn't believe my eyes! All 5 planes in the same duel, all the bonds and emotions, it was spectacular! Imagine, just by believing in her friends, she brought down Michingel with their very power. It's like they all fought as one! It must have been beautiful, that sweet victory, that is. I think we all sang that day, those among us who witnessed the miracle. And I looked up to that dragon and I said to myself: 'That's what I want to feel, the powerful bond of hearts!' And then I…"

Grunt: "(sadly) Weh… Weh…"

Domick: "Huh? Wait a sec, Grunt, are you… (looks down at Grunt) Are you crying?"

Grunt: "(crying) Weeeeeeeeeh!"

It was a really odd sight: a Behemoth King was crying his eyes out, and also snorted and weeped simultanously. He was sad indeed. Domick had to come down from his back to look the beast into the eyes.

Domick: "What's the matter? Why are you so sad?"

Grunt: "(still crying) Weeeeh-weeeeh… (snort)"

Domick: "Moving? Well, it was, in a way."

Grunt: "Graaaaaaaam… Graaaaaam."

Domick: "You wish you could feel that way too? Why… Have you never felt close to anyone before?"

Grunt: "Ang-ang… Weeeeh!"

Domick: "Oh… I see… Natural selection, and all that. I bet that's where you got that scar of yours. So in your world, everyone takes care of themselves, no one becomes friends?"

Grunt: (nods sadly)

Domick: "That is awful, you never had any friends? Only prey and only rivals?"

Grunt: "Weeh-weeeh-weeeh!"

Domick: "Don't say that, look at you. You're the toughest thing on the steppe, you're adorable. Who wouldn't wanna hang out with you? Say, these friends of Shiro, they were kinda nice weren't they?"

Grunt: "Ah?"

Domick: "Sure. That's the part of being friends. You help each other out, and everyone is happy. (thinks) Hmmm… Why don't you go after tham?"

Grunt: "Herm?"

Domick: "They could be your friends, no doubt. Why did you run away from them anyway? I'm sure they were hurt by it, why don't you go over and appologize? Come to think of it… It's quite the same thing Shiro did, and I bet they all forgave him already. In fact… (activates the blades hidden in the gauntlets) I'll make sure you do. Scythe Blaster!"

He slashes with both hands simultanously, sending forward a serious of blade-shaped shockwaves that instantly shreaded Grunt's icy prison to bits. With the icy chains gone, the Behemoth was free to move around, so he got up instantly.

Domick: "That's it, go on, gogogo! Keep going, keep going, they're all waiting for you! Keep going! Keep go-WAH!"

The reason for this last remark was as follows: As Grunt was turning around to regain the course that lead towards Oerba, he unintentionally wacked Domick with his tail, sending him flying and crashing him into a nearby rock formation.

Domick: "Ow… Okay, I'm seriously hurt… But you should still keep going!"

Grunt didn't hear him. He was long gone, runing over the steppe and heading north at amazing speed…


In Oerba:

Shiro: "Dysley, you snake!"

Dysley: "I need my tools to be in top shape if they are to bring the Day of Wrath. Hence I sent Zweiter to keep their edges sharp."

Shiro: "They are human beings, not your tools!"

Dysley: "If you wish to salvage them, you must kill the one monster that was your demise during our last encounter."

Shiro: "You don't mean…"

Dysley: "Best the rage of Megiddo-End Land Gigas, and Zweiter shall vanish."

Shiro: "Then I have to win, no matter what!"

The two of them were matching speeds, and driving all over Oerba, bypassing the frozen statues that were once roaming Cie'th.

Meanwhile, at the bridge's end: Zewiter confronted the group, forcing them to arm-up.

Sazh: "Creating clones of himself, just what else can Dysley do?"

Snow: "If he thinks this hunk of metal can keep us down, he's dead wrong!"

Lightning: "(readies her gunblade) Let's go, everyone!"

They all went ot assualt the enemy before them:

Sazh fires a barage of bullets in it's direction.

Hope threw his boomerang enhanced with magics.

Vanille unleashed the strings of her rod, each of which was powerful enough to penetrate steel.

Fang launched a number of fireballs at it.

Snow launched a non-elemental magical attack that resembled compressed orbs of smoke.

Finally, Lightning morphed her gunblade into a gun and with it, she shot a vengeful series of attacks at it.

The ultimate result of all attacks culminated: there was a mighty burst, an explosion several times more powerful than dynamite.

Hope: "Did we get it?"

Vanille: "That should have done at least something."

But, out of the smoke… Zweiter's eyes flashed. The clone did not even wait for the smoke to clear, he blew it all aside with sheer force of it's roar.

Fang: "No way, there's not even a scratch on it!"

Zweiter: "Destrudo!"

Zweiter's neck, full of odd holes lined up, lit up and launched a series of magic-enhanced missles at the l'Cie. The impact was pretty much the same, only they were not as prepared to resist it. They were all tossed left and right, badly hurt.

Lightning: "He's strong…"

Fang: "Like it matters, Lady Luck ain't on his side! (gets up)"

But their uprise made no difference. Zweiter was still overwhelmingly laughing at the lot.

Shiro: "Guys! No way… I must win!"

Shiro drove King Blizzard into the water surface, and the water instantly froze as he approached, creating a completely different track for him.

Shiro: "Ice Traveler! Freezing Fountain!"

He used this very road, and as Oerba was a small village with an even less friendly road, he decided to gain extra space by riding on the surface of the lake.

Dysley, on his machine, was simply flying next to him.

Shiro: "First one to reach the other side gets the first turn."

Dysley: "You claim to be a match in speed for a fal'Cie? Haha, fool. It is meaningless to do this. I shall save you the effort, and give you the first turn."

Shiro: "So be it. Speed World S, activate!"

A card flashed on his screen.

"Duel Mode on."

At the same time, Dysley waved his staff, and summoned 5 giant, transparent cards before him.

Shiro: "Riding Duel! Acceleration!"

Shiro: LP: 4000

Dysely: "Duel."

Dysley: LP: 4000

Shiro: "I go first. Draw! (draws, and studies his hand) This will do. I no longer fear you, Barthandelus. And neither do my monsters. I summon Ice Battleclaw!"

Before him, his mighty ally appeared: a nomadic gauntlet warrior of the Frostland with huge claws, all of which he put in an offensive stance. ATK: 1600/ LV4

Shiro: "Next, I can reduce Ice Battleclaw's level by 1, to Special summon the Tuner monster Fairy Ice-Cone from my hand!"

From the Battleclaw's chest, a small amount of snow-like matter detached and flew out, this sprouting wings, a halo and a small cone beneath it while putting on a cute face. ATK: 100/ LV1

Ice Battleclaw: LV3

Shiro: "Now for Ice Battleclaw's monster effect: when a monster is summoned on my side from my hand, he can turn that monster into a level 4."

The nomad claw-bearer formed a total of 4 cyan-blue orbs of power, then juggled them forward, into Fairy Ice-cone's body. Seeing how the situation turned serious, the cute monster put a game-face on.

Fairy Ice-Cone: LV4

Shiro: "Here goes! (his brand lights up) I tune my Ice Battleclaw that is now level 3, with the Fairy Ice-Cone that is now level 4!"

Both monsters performed. Fairy Ice-Cone flew ahead of the Battleclaw, and did it's best efforts to dissolve into 4 Synchro rings, allowing the Battleclaw to fly through there. Their inner lights united.

3* + 4* = 7*

Shiro: "Traveling heart will transcend a crystal field of dreams. With sparkling dust, shatter that dream into wake! Synchro summon!"

The burts of light grew wings of glazed ice, as deep as the ocean. These wings belonged to Shiro's Comandee.

Shiro: "Rise up, Diamond Dust Dragon!"

So, the mighty dragon with body made of diamond dust rose up, spreading it's wings, and joining it's master in it's crouse. DEF: 2100/ LV7

Shiro: "I set a card face-down and end my turn. (sets)"

That was the first move. The only thing that the l'Cie managed to witness was Diamond Dust's arrival. Most of the time, they had to focus on avoiding Zweiter's attacks.

Snow: "(sees Diamond Dust) It's here! (to Hope) Hope!"

Hope: "What is it?"

Snow: "We can handle Zweiter on our own. Keep us posted on what is happening to Shiro!"

Hope: "Aye-aye."

Hope closed his boomerang and sprinted away from the battlescene, being just close enough to be able to shout to his friends, and far enough for Zweiter not to notice him for now.

Zweiter was a terrifying enemy, it was as if every single one of his decorative profile heads served as a second opponent. Magical attacks were launched in all directions. The battle that was held against it was way too chaotic to describe in short terms.

Hope witnessed the duel between the two moving duelists from his point. He saw that shiro managed to summon his ace monster.

Hope: "It's Diamond Dust Dragon, Shiro summoned him!"

Sazh: "That so? Then he's already half way there."

Snow: "Yeah, if he can survive Dysley's next turn, that is."

Lightning: "No, let's not put our hopes in it."

Snow: "Huh?"

Sazh: "I beg your pardon."

Lightning: "It wouldn't be the first time something would befall Shiro that he couldn't handle. We have to fight our own battle now. Defeat Zweiter, and Dysley will most likely fall too."

Sazh: "What are you talking about? We have to support each other!"

Lightning: "Since when? Since he came back and decided to become the hero of the day?"

Zweiter was just preparing a second wave of attacks.

And on the duel field:

Dysley: "Don't you find this fate curious? You performed the very same turn you did last time we crossed decks. History teaches us, and it will repeat itself."

Shiro: "You're wrong."

Dysley: "Am I? Let us find out. It's my turn. Draw."

Even though Dysley claimed the same terms as all other duelists, his performance was obviously different. On the count of "draw", Dysley waved his staff in front of him, and another giant transparent card appeared before him. He played cards by touching them with the tip of his staff, which would then be revealed and displayed. I'm only saying this so that no confusion arises in this duel terminology.

Dysley: "When my opponent controls a Synchro monster, the Trap card Altair of Virtue can be played from my hand. (reveals the Trap) It's effect allows me to discard a card from my hand, then Special summon any Megiddo monster from my hand of my choice."

He touched one card, which vanished without a trace, then touched another and revealed it.

Dysley: "I Special summon the Megiddo Ghoul – Taxim the Wail."

He summoned monster looked awful: it greatly resembled a shambling Cie'th, but had vertical jaws in the center of it's chest, and eyes on it's hips. What other bodyparts were, I dare not to imagine. ATK: 1600/ LV4

Dysley: "And after that, I Normal summon Megiddo Weed – Harvest the Sap."

Another monster appeared on his side, this one resembling a man-eating plant with a brown crust, and large venus-trap mouth at which center was a large eyeball. ATK. 100/ LV1

Dysley: "At last, when other Megiddos exist on my side, I can Special summon the Tuner monster Megiddo Puppet - Crus the Sandrene."

The third monster looked like a string-puppet with butterfly wings, dressed in pink body armor of sorts. It had a happy expression on it's face, but that was only painted on, the other half was rubbed over and ruined. This half, it expressed a gleaming, narrow red eye of sorts. ATK: 600/ LV3

And with that, he was controling 3 monsters of levels 4, 1 and 3 respectively.

Shiro: "Four… Five… Eight. Their total levels equal 8. Looks like he can't summon Land Gigas with that combo."

But Dysley, he only smirked.

Shiro: "Megiddo Ghoul – Taxim the Wail's monster effect activates. This monster is capable of changing places with another Megiddo Monster from my hand with a higher level."

Shiro: "What?"

Dysley: "With it, I return Taxim to my hand…"

Taxim reverted back into a card form, and returned backs to Shiro to Dysley's hand. The Primarch selected another card.

Dysely: "And I special summon Megiddo Rage – Orthos the Flood."

The new monster was so far the most hideous lower Megiddo seen: a large purple octopus-like creature with narrow red eyes and a toothy grin on it's face, holding a different kind of weapon in each of it's tentacles. ATK: 2400/ LV6

Dysley: "Finally, the effect of Megiddo Weed – Harvest the Sap: this monster gains another level every time a Megiddo monster is special summoned. For the summoning of Crus, and of Orthos, it's level increases by 2."

Megiddo Weed – Harvest the Sap: LV1… LV3

Shiro: "Oh no!"

Dysley: "This is my perfect formation. 2 times 3 equals 6, and this equals the third component. I tune my level 6 Orthos and level 3 Harvest with the level 3 Tuner Crus."

/insert music: "Fighting Fate", instrumental/

Other than usual beautiful Synchro display, these Megiddos has a different performance for a Synchro summon: Crus dissolved into 3 rings which were completely white, and decorated in weird alphabet. That's what the other two flew through, closing in like a shell.

3* + 6* + 3* = 12*

Shiro: "It's coming!"

The combined union of these Megiddos eventually turned into a beam of light that was shot upward and pierced the skies.

Dysley: "Silence the cries of the doomed dying souls. And let the world die in piece. Loe, the Day of Wrath is come!"

Ragnarok

de Dies Irae

l'Cie Pultis. Tuum fatum sequeris. Tuum sanctuarium affligeas

What was once light became darkness: skies blackened out.

Dysely: "Synchro summon!"

And a burst of energy showered upon this world like a waterfall of misery. This same burst, it concealed a shadow, a vile figure that indeed resembled a demon in rise.

The battle with Zweiter was put on hold because all of the combatmants had to observe the horrible summoning.

Vanille: "Is it here?"

Fang: "He's summoning it!"

Sazh: "The Land Gigas!"

Ragnarok

de Dies Irae

l'Cie Pultis. Tuum fatum sequeris. Tuum sanctuarium affligeas

As soon as this burst faded, a monster, as giant and monstrous as a colossal devil, mountain sized, started to rise. A black shadow followed it's every move. Even now, that it was knee-deep in the lake of Oerba, it's head was towering over the entire village, it was almost tall enough to swallow up Cocoon whole! That grin, that hideous grin that reminded everyone of Barthandelus, it now gleamed towards the field of battle. Not even the mighty Titan would match this thing in size.

Dysley: "To silence return, Megiddo-End… Land Gigas!"

The monster howled with such a might that all winds were now turned in the opposite direction. ATK: 4000/ LV12

Shiro: "It's here…"

Just as the Land Gigas looked upon the world it arrived in, it instantly started firing laser-beams from it's eyes, decimating the surrounding mountains, the landscape, and even Oerba. One such beam impacted close to the bridge where the group was fighting Zweiter, and Lightning was almost caught into it's flames.

Shiro: "Lightning!"

Dysley: "It's useless, nothing can stop Megiddo-End monsters once they start rampaging. By battle it cannot be destroyed, and neither Spell, Trap or monster effects can destroy it. It is by all means a creature worthy of eyes divine. Now mourn the disaster that will strike this world. Megiddo- End Land Gigas, attack Diamond Dust Dragon!"

Per somnum aeternum

Numen divinum dictus est

Viator elamentabilis

Land Gigas' movements started to shift their attention towards Shiro's field. Even though Shiro was moving and Gigas stood still, he was by far large enough to grab him from a distance. Gigas started lowering it's fist towards the defending dragon.

Shiro: "That attack will not pass! Trap open: Diamond Dust Call! (the trap reveals)"

Dysley: "What?"

Shiro: "When Diamond Dust Dragon is on the field, Diamond Dust Call summons another monster from my hand. (picks a card) Go for it. I Special summon Huriboh!"

With a poof from a chunk of ice, a small fuzzy creature flew out, smiling, laughing, and winking… DEF: 200/ LV1

Huriboh: "Huriiiiiii, huri-huri, huri-huri-"

… and then it saw what monster it was up against. In short, he freaked out. Every hair on it's body raised up like a hair-cone.

Huriboh: "EEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHH! (swirly eyes) Hurihurihurihuri…"

Dysley: "Your monster is not any better defender than your Comandee."

Shiro: "(to Huriboh) Don't worry, you can do it."

Huriboh: "Huri?"

Shiro: "I trust you. You can topple this god!"

Huriboh: "(confident) Huri! (looks at Gigas) Huri-huri!"

Shiro: "Huriboh's monster effect activates. When a monster is attacked, Huriboh can switch from Defense mode to Attack mode and intercept the attack!"

Huriboh: "Huri! (ATK: 300) Huri-huri-huriiiiii!"

Huriboh flew up on an intercept course with Land Gigas' hand, and in mid-flight, it's body radiated a calming blue glow. Once it reached it's hand, the Gigas' movement stopped, and Huriboh' body detonated in brilliant light.

(There is no actual onomatopaea for the noise it made, so reference-wise, when Huriboh attacked this way, he made a sound quite similar to what R2D2 made when he was almost blown up by laser beams in the Star Wars franchize)

Shiro felt a shock, but his side of the field was covered by a gentle blue dust.

Shiro: "And when the brave Huriboh intercepts an attack this way, all battle damage is reduced to zero."

Dysley: "But Land Gigas has a special ability of it's own. When this god-like creature destroys a monster in battle, the total sum of your monster's attack and defense points is depleted from your life points."

Just as Land Gigas withdrew his arm, he fired a massive laser beam from his eyes, aiming at Shiro.

Shiro: "I'll intercept that too, with Diamond Dust's effect! Revoke Life!"

Diamond Dust flew up, and before him, a giant seal in form of a snowflake reduced the intensity of the laser-beam's attack. After the beam penetrated this shield, Shiro felt just a little spark on his shoulder.

Shiro: LP: 4000… 5000… 4750

Shiro: "Success. I survived."

Dysley: "Impressive. You took advantage of Land Gigas' ability to sacrifice a weak ally, then boost your own Life. I wonder, can you keep it up? I set a card face-down. Turn end. ('sets')"

On the bridge:

Fang: "How's he doing?"

Hope felt relief when he saw Shiro well and healthy even after Megiddo End land Gigas attacked.

Hope: "He's alive! And Diamond Dust is on the field as well!"

Vanille: "You all know what that means, right?"

Sazh: "Aye. Primarch's in for a big surprise."

Snow: "Time for Shiro to pull out his secret weapon. Not even the Megiddo End land Gigas stands a chance againt the Accel Synchro!"

They sounded quite confident, and even endured Zweiter's next attack without serious injuries.

Fang: "Let's not make him feel lonely. We have our hands full here too!"

And on the lake:

Shiro: "Here I go… (draws) My turn! Draw!"

Shiro: SC: 2

Dysley: SC: 2

Shiro: "(looks at the card he drew) Alright, it's time! Dysley, know this, I have not arrived unprepared. With the new power I got from my friends, I will show you what hearts of man are capable of! I'll show it to you! My Accel Synchro!"

Dysely: "Accel Synchro? Interresting."

For some reason, Dysley showed no signs of concern.

Shiro: "First, I Normal summon the Tuner monster L-Nitro Jet Sniper!"

The summoned monster looked like a futuristic soldier, wearing black, bullet-proof armor with blue lines running through it like bloodveins. He was carrying a large riffle on one hand, which ws connected to his suit, and he was flying around at mach-speed with the help of the powerful winged jetpack on his back. ATK: 1000/ LV1

Shiro: "When Jet Sniper is summoned, it's monster effect can be activated. I pay 500 Life points, and then special summon another L-Nitro monster from my deck!"

Shiro: LP: 4250

His deck reshuffled itself, and one card was sticking out. He picked it up, and placed it on the console.

Shiro: "I Special summon L-Nitro Snow Fairy!"

The new monster was a futuristic fairy with synthetic wings, and a bodysuit that covered most of her body, except her face. Like Jet Sniper, she had blue lines running across her body. ATK 800/ LV1

Shiro: "Snow Fairy's effect is that she gains an extra level for each other L-Nitro monster on the field. That means she becomes a level 2 monster!"

L-Nitro Snow Fairy: LV1… LV2

Shiro: "Alright, here goes! I tune my level 2 L-Nitro Snow Fairy to my level 1 L-Nitro Jet Sniper!"

They were both moving at great speed, and as Jet Sniper, on wings powered on liquid nitrogen, came first, he dissolved into a Synchro ring (actually, he shot it out of his riffle, then vanished) and Snow Fairy flew through it, uniting their inner lights.

2* + 1* = 3*

Shiro: "Desired liberty will reach the fields of crystal mist. With sparkling dust, shatter that dream into wake! Synchro summon!"

The burst of light gave rise to a new monster, howling with engine noise of an eternal race-champion.

Shiro: "Full throttle! Synchro Tuner, L-Nitro Plasma Rail!"

The monster that was both the driver and the vehicle appeared, flipping over and over several times before finally taking it's position before it's companion. ATK: 1300/ LV3

And so, the stage was set.

Hope: "Plasma Rail is summoned!"

Snow: "(holding back Zweiter's claw) Great, just tell him to hurry it up a bit!"

Shiro: "Let's go! (eyes flash) Clear Mind!"

Shiro entered a wholly new domain of speed, an this was made obvious by the powerful burst of energy that King Blizzard was emitting. Both Diamond Dust Dragon and L-Nitro Plasma Rail followed the speed.

Shiro: "I tune my level 3 Synchro Tuner L-Nitro Plasma Rail…"

Plasma Rail already came ahead and dissolved into Synchro rings.

Shiro: "With the level 7 Synchro monster Diamond Dust Dragon!"

The dragon flew right through them like they were a tunnel…

Shiro: "World of illusions, show your true face as reflected by the sea of crystal dreams. With sparkling dust, shatter that dream into-"

But…

Dysley: "Continous Trap, Stygian Dirge activates! (the card flips)"

Shiro: "What?"

The Trap's activation suddenly turned the tables. As soon as it's artwork was revealed, a series of dark tentacles rose up from it, and they entangled Diamond Dust Dragon like vines. The dragon resisted, but in vain.

Shiro: "Diamond Dust!"

Then, seeing nothing occured, Plasma Rail reformed, and the dark tentacles got a hold of him as well, obviously much to his dismay.

Shiro: "Plasma Rail too?"

Speed was broken, and Shiro had to decelerate. He saw his monsters wrapped up in awful dark bandages. They didn't feel well. Their strength was drained from them.

Hope: "No way…"

Sazh: "What's happening? Did it work?"

Hope: "Something's wrong! They're all tied up!"

Sazh: "What?"

Sazh turned for a second to look at the duel one second was enough to terrify him. It was also enough for Zweiter to attack him from behind.

Vanille: "No, what does this mean?"

Shiro: "No… Dysley, what have you?"

Dysley: "Hahahahaha, you thought you could surprise me with Accel Syncrho? Who was it that showed you these arts? Was it not Cid Raines, by any chance?"

Shiro: "How do you know that?"

Dysley: "Fool. Cid was a l'Cie branded by yours truly. Even though I could not forsee his actions, I knew all along what he was doing. I saw him teaching you how to Accel Synchro. Did you think I never imagined ou would use it against me?"

Shiro: "You knew all along?"

Dysley: "Hence my preparations. Stygian Dirge's effect reduces the levels of all your monsters by 1."

Diamond Dust Dragon: LV7… LV6

L-Nitro Plasma Rail: LV3… LV2

Shiro: "Their levels reduced!"

Dysley: "Your Accel Synchro monster, Mirrordust Dragon, can no longer appear. He is a level 10 monster, but even with it's correct materials on the field, you cannot synch their levels together into 10."

Shiro: "No… He blocked it."

Hope: "He can't Accel Synchro?"

Snow: "What?"

Hope: "Barthandelus just blocked his synch off! He can't accelerate!"

Snow: "Oh no… How do we… (resists a slap by Zweiter) Ghrrrrrrr… This thing just won't quit! (pushes it back)"

Lightning: "I told you so. We cannot trust Shiro to succeed as we used to."

Snow: "Stop talking nonsense!"

Lightning: "If we are to survive, be better take care of ourselves! (summons an aura) Odin… (the aura fades) What, again? Come on, lend me your arms, damn you! (the aura reappears, and she obtains a rose-shaped crystal) Cut us a path… Odin!"

She cut her crystal, and with it, a seal appeared that ultimately brought up her Eidolon, Odin. What was weird, most of the shining effects were missing, and Odin appeared with only half the luster it usually carries.

Lightning: "Go, Odin!"

Odin leaped up, and attacked Zweiter… Only to be slapped and wacked aside by the clone fal'Cie. Odin crashed into a nearby pile of metal.

Lightning: "What? Why is he so weak?"

Broken down, but Odin still stood up again.

Sazh: "First Shiro's Synchro block, now we're having Eidolon problems. What comes next?"

Shiro: "No choice then… (sets a card) I set a card down. Turn end."

Dysley: "You ran out of options. My turn. ('draws')"

Dysley: SC: 3

Shiro: SC: 3

Dysley: "The ability of Megiddo Ghoul- Taxim the Wail is preventing me from Normal summoning this turn. Spell cards can also not be activated. But, I still have the mighty Megiddo-End Land Gigas. Battle. Land Gigas, destroy Plasma Rail with Gaian Rage!"

The immense soldier obeyed, charged it's hand with sinister power, and started moving it towards Shiro's field.

Shiro: "Shoot! If I don't figure out something soon, I'll loose the duel! (looks at the screen) There must be something… AHA! L-Nitro Plasma Rail's monster effect activates! This monster can negate an attack by performing a Synchro summon with another Synchro monster I control."

Dysley: "Accel Synchro you cannot perform. We established that much. Besides, have you forgotten that card effects don't work on Megiddo End Land Gigas?"

Shiro: "I don't need to Accel Synchro. The combined level of both my monsters is 8, so I will simply Synchro summon a level 8 monster instead! I tune my L-Nitro Plasma Rail that is now level 2 with the Diamond Dust Dragon that is now level 6!"

Seeing no other option, Plasma Rail disolved into 2 Synchro rings. Normal ones, thus escaping the Grasp of Stygian Dirge. The rings surrounded Diamond Dust Dragon as well. The materials for the Synchro summon were with this wasted, but it was the only way to survive. Their inner lights united.

6* + 2* = 8*

Hope suddenly felt his brand activating.

Hope: "Huh? My brand? Alexander? … I see. Have my shield, Shiro!"

Shiro: "When a heart that doubts conquers all fears, the courage left inside will become an invincible fortress. With sparkling dust, shatter that dream into wake!"

Hope formed a crystal in his hand, and tossed it into the burst of light that Shiro's Synchro created.

Hope: "Go!"

Shiro: "Synchro summon!"

The burst flew skyward, where a powerful machine was slowly descending. Upon diving down, Hope's Eidolon formed up, revealing his arms, torso, and head.

Shiro: "Stand up, Guardian of Etro, Alexander!"

And just like that, Alexander appeared on Shiro's side, taking a defensive stance. DEF: 4000/ LV8… LV7

The l'Cie that had the time to peek saw this image.

Lightning: "Alexander? Why is he there?"

Hope: "Shiro cannot fight our battles without our help. So, I gave him my support."

Lightning: "Fool! Why did you do that?"

Hope: "Huh? … What kind of a question is that? I did it because I had to."

Lightning: "But how… Why… Why am I the only one not trusting him?"

Her Eidolon, Odin, was holding back Zweiter's attacks somehow with his powerful shield, but the impacts did a number on him. It was as if he didn't even want to fight. The attacks Zweiter received from the other side did little effect.

Fang: "Would you two skip the chatter? We have our hands full here!"

Snow: "Lightning… Why are you acting this way?"

And so, Shiro got a new guardian.

Shiro: "Alexander's Defense points are the same as the Attack points of the Land Gigas, so he can't destroy him. In addition, because L-Nitro Plasma Rail used it's effect, your attack is canceled, and because Plasma Rail is in the Graveyard, his effect cannot be negated!"

Dysley: "Ah, so you're slowly figuring ways to stall. But, don't underestimate the strength of Megiddo-End Land Gigas. After all, his strength did come from you."

Shiro: "What?"

Dysley: "For centuries now, Cocoon has provided generousity or its human inhabitants' every want and need. Coddled them, one might even result being their deep seated fear and hatred of change and all things alien. Fed, nutured, and ready to detonate at the slightlest spark. But to summon th Maker, this may not be enough. So we, the Cocoon fal'Cie, turned to the ever hungry power of Megiddo."

Shiro: "What are you talking about?"

Dysley: "Megiddo-End monsters, these fiends that posess the power to awake the deepest fears and anguish in the hearts of those they face. A million deaths might open the gate to the Maker's realm, but only if they're suffering deaths will he make an appearance. Since the dawn of Cocoon, the fal'Cie were hiding these beasts hidden inside the Cocoon's shell, slumbering, waiting for the Day of Wrath to arrive. What could truly awake them was the presence of a worthy opponent. A duelist with unimaginable power."

Shiro: "Wait, you mean… Me?"

Dysley: "On the day you Transected in escape, the world was not randomly chosen. Like my l'Cie, your destiny too was of my design. I heard a whimper of despair in your call, and so altered the route so that your path crosses roads with that of l'Cie."

Shiro: "YOU brought me here? You directed my course here? But why?"

Dysley: "What better priest to the ritual than a duelist that has lost his will to live. If it wasn't for you, another fool from your world might have met the same fate."

Shiro: "So it was all… pre-designed?"

Dysley: "Indeed. Megiddo-Ends like the Land Gigas drew breath the moment you arrived. Your own weakness fuels their veins with power."

Shiro didn't know what to think. His head was fogging with all kinds of confusing thoughts. Was it really only his destiny to come here, as pre-ordered by the fal'Cie of Cocoon? If so, what was the point in all this? To end up like some puppet?

But then, he thought better.

Shiro: "If that's the case… I might as well thank you."

Dysley: "Hm?"

Shiro: "If you brought me here, then it's because of you I got to meet Lightning, and the others. You think you can move me like a marionette, but you're dead wrong, and my arrival here shall mute that voice of yours for good. You have sealed your fate, Barthandelus! I will best you, and I will save Cocoon along with my friends!"

The l'Cie were caught up in their battle… but some of them managed to hear what he was saying. This made them feel strong in their hearts again.

Dysley: "Hm. Hollow words of a hollow child. Turn end."

Shiro: "My turn! (draws) I have Alexander's defense, I better not risk any other opening. I pass."

Dysley: "What more can you do? My turn."

Dysley: SC: 5

Shiro: SC: 5

Dysley: "Normal summons are allowed now. And so I bid Megido Ghoul – Taxim the Wail again."

He resummoned the shambling monster. ATK: 1600/ LV4

Dysley: "With it's effect, I return him to the hand to replace him with an even more terrifying monster."

Taxim returned to his card mode, and in his place, another card was flipped. This was immediatelly summoned.

Dysley: "Appear, Megiddo Penetrator – Anavatapta the Fountain!"

The summoned monster looked like some kind of giant, blue scorpion, but it had visible claws instead of scissors, and was lacking arthropic feet. ATK: 2300/ LV7

Dysley: "And as it seems, I now have more than 4 Speed counters. So I use the effect of Speed World S, paying all of them and give all the effects to Megiddo End Land Gigas."

Dysley: SC: 0

The Land Gigas was now more fearsome than ever. A wicked red aura was surrounding it's body, and the awful gleam in his eyes was with this amplified a hundred fold! ATK: 5000

Shiro: "Attack power of 5000 points!"

Dysley: "No guardian of godess can halt his wrath now."

Shiro: "Don't be so sure! With Alexander's effect, I can negate an attack of a monster that has 3000 or more Attack points. Your attack will not go through."

Dysley: "Then this might be a good time to mention the ability of my Megiddo Penetrator – Anavatapta the Fountain."

In that moment, Anavatapta's eyes flashed red, and Alexander was seemingly held down by some kind of red aura, causing respective bending parts of him to rust.

Dysley: "When Anavatapta the Fountain is summoned by an effect, it's effect cancels your monster's special abilities for this turn."

Shiro: "What? No!"

Dysley: "The path is clear. Battle, Megiddo-End Land Gigas, destroy that excuse of a guardian. (the Gigas charges it's attack) Even though your monster is defending itself, upon it's destruction the total sum of it's Attack and Defense points will be inflicted on ou as damage. And with it's ability canceled, Alexander can no longer block attacks."

That's when Land Gigas lowered his claw, and delivered a devastating blow whose flash stired up the lake, and pulverized Alexander on spot.

The l'Cie Alexander belonged to had an odd reaction:

Hope: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

Hope was just screaming, even though no real pain was inflicted to him. In his eyes, he saw a horrible flashback: the moment when his mother died, over, and over, and over…

Hope: "MOOOM!"

Sazh: "What?"

Vanille: "What's wrong with him?"

Hope fell down on his knees, trembling, horrified. It was like something sucked all courage he had left.

Hope: "No mom… No mom, you can't leave me… Please help…"

Shiro could feel the damage as well.

Shiro: "GYAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

Shiro: LP: 250

The waves caused by the attack flipped Shiro up, and he was facing a dangerous situation. He was currently upside down, hanging in mid-air a few meters above water surface. The lake was no longer frozen for him to use as a road.

Shiro: "Darn it!"

Time slowed down for him. As if she heard him, Lightning turned to look, and saw the event.

Lightning: "Shiro!"

She wasn't paying attention. At that moment, Zweiter launched another attack, a powerful shockwave.

Snow: "Incomming!"

Snow and some others managed to get into defensive stances in order to lower the amage dealt. Vanille came to Hope in order to shield him with her body… But Lightning was too late to react. The blow picked her up and pushed her sideways, causing both her and her Eidolon to crash on the opposite ends.

Shiro was still hanging in the air, as if time slowed down.

Snow was the first to get up from the attack. Others soon followed.

Snow: "Lightning!"

Sazh: "Hope!"

Hope was still in a state of utter anquish. He was barely breathing and his pupils narowed significantly.

Vanille: "The Land Gigas must have done this. He somehow made Hope experience his worst nightmares after destroying Alexander."

But the one they were all concerned most was Lightning. She was in the eye of Zweiter.

She barely got up, not even holding her weapon anymore, when the fal'Cie clone brought up his giant claw…

Lightning gasped. There was no time to evade…

(something came gruntingly down the alley)

And just when it seemed like Zweiter would kill her…

Something intercepted him.

A huge, brutal punch into the face to be more precise. A giant fist pushed Zweiter aside and stunned him for a few seconds.

They could not believe who came along to save her.

A Behemoth King!

Lightning: "Grunt?"

Sazh&Snow: "(O.O) Eh?"

Shiro didn't give up either. He put his palm so it was facing the water beneath him…

Shiro: "Ice Traveler!"

… and focused a great amount of his energy into a cold wave of sorts. Water froze instantly, and he flipped King Blizzard just in time to gain wheel-contact. He continued driving normally. But he was exhausted.

Shiro: "Close call… I spent too much of my energy doing that… (looks at the bridge) Huh? (sees Grunt) What is that?"

It was a Behemoth King with a scar on his eye that saved Lightning in that moment. He was moving on two legs intead the usual four. Needless to say, this confused the l'Cie even more.

Vanille: "He came back?"

Sazh: "Here of all places."

Grunt simply glanced in Lightning's direction, and she was looking up to him. Not even the King knew how to act. Then, he just put both his arms up like a macho, and grunted, before turning his attention back to Zweiter.

Grunt growled at the thing, then got on all four and charged at the fal'Cie, ramming it with it's crest, and pushing it back.

Odin got up as well, and joined the titan in his assualt, trying to hold Zweiter's right arm at bay. Unfortunately, the clone was stronger than both of them, so he simply pushed them aside. Grunt came up quickly, and by using his forearms, he started pushing his enemy back.

That's when Zweiter revealed his secret weapon: his face opened, and revealed a series of cannons.

Zweiter: "Thanatos!"

The cannons all shot at the same time, resulting in a devastating beam that hit Grunt right in the chest. The Behemoth yeowled in pain, the attack causing both heating and physical damage on his body, eventually causing the beast to fall down on it's back with a large burnmark on it's chest.

Lightning: "What is… happening?"

Shiro was in no better shape.

Dysley: "This ends here. Megiddo Penetrator – Anavatapta the Fountain, attack his Life points directly!"

The huge insectoid creature started moving forward, aiming it's claws at Shiro.

Shiro: "I can use my face-down to repel the attack, but in doing so I hve to sacrifice another monster of mine. And if I bring anyone else in danger now, it might be fatal. (looks at his hand) Then this. (picks a card) I use the effect of Wizard of White!"

He discarded a car, and before him, a tall wizard, completely dressed in white robes and carrying a cherry staff appeared.

Shiro: "When my Life points are 1000 or less, Wizard of White can be discarded to negate the attack. He also destroys your monster and ends the Battle phase!"

The Wizard's spirit then tapped his staff into the water below him, and in doing so, he summoned a giant torrent that not only blocked Anavatapta's attack, but also swallowed the monster as well beneath the waves.

Dysley: "A trick up your sleeve still? Yet, you are barely breathing. Turn end."

Megiddo-End Land Gigas: ATK: 4000

Shiro was almost at the end. His breathing became deeper and his movements slower.

At the bridge, the battle with Zweiter was simply not going to end. Zweiter conquered everything the l'Cie threw at him. Even the Behemoth King Grunt was severely injured.

Lightning just picked her gunblade up, and stood up, barely holding herself up.

Lightning: "That beast… why does it fight for us?"

Fang approached her.

Fang: "It must have badly wanted to fight alongside us. Even though it abandoned us at Taejin, Grunt somehow found the courage to confront us, and our enemies as well. How about you?"

Lightning: "What? What about me?"

Fang: "Shiro came back just like Grunt did. We welcomed the aid of Grunt, but you don't seem to be overjoyed to see Shiro. Why is that?"

Lightning could not look Fang in the eyes while answering. She was weeping, holding her head down.

Lightning: "I don't want to be angry at Shiro… But… I just am."

Then, a first tear appeared on her face.

Lightning: "He abandoned us. He abandoned me! After all we've been through, he thought there was something more important! Now of all times. I… I just cannot forgive that!"

Fang has had it!

SLAP!

Time slowed down again. Instead on focusing on taking down Zweiter, Fang turned her hand against her own ally… and slapped Lightning in the face, leaving an obvious red mark on her right cheek.

As if that wasn't enough, she grabbed Lightning by the shoulders. Right now, she was yelling, and she too started to cry.

Fang: "For peepsakes, get a hold of yourself! What's wrong with you?"

Lightning didn't know how to reply. It was not the pain in her jaw that made her unable to, she just didn't know how.

Fang: "You think YOU're having issues? You think everything is conspiring against you? Use your head, lady! We're all fighting together! For the same goal, for the same purpose, on the same side! Does it matter how or in what way? Does it even matter if we're winning?"

Lightning was just breathing heavily. That's when Fang looked across the bridge and saw the dueling area.

Fang: "Take a look."

Lightning turned around to look. She saw Shiro, in a bad condition. He was barely moving a muscle, and the speed of his D-Wheel was also not showing great signs of recovery. After all, he was facing the immense Megiddo that covered up the skies.

Fang: "He's not even from this world. But that's not stopping him from lending us a hand. He's fighting for our cause. He left us once, but he returned, because he sees something great in us. Something great in you!"

Lightning: "In me?"

Fang: "He's not just jumping in. Shiro, he's pulling his last legs if that would make a difference here. So don't you dare say you can't forgive him, understand!"

Lightning escaped Fang's grasp. Yet, there was so much on her mind that she didn't even know where to start. Not to mention, Zweiter was starting to stir up again.

Lightning: "I am sorry… Forgive me… I knew my thinking was wrong, I just… I just…"

The rest of the l'Cie stood up again. This included the previously handicapped Hope.

Shiro was still barely moving at all…

Shiro: "My… turn… (barely draws a card)"

Shiro: SC: 6

Dysley: SC: 1

He was not exactly satisfied with the card he drew…

Shiro: "Shoot… I cannot give up now. I must… There must be…"

Lightning: "Shiro, I… I don't want to…"

Every tear she cried made it more obvious she really did care about him. And then, a miracle occurred:

Lightning's brand started to shine, and when she went to check on it, a rose-shaped crystal appeared in her palm.

Lightning: "Shiro… I don't want…"

Just as Zweiter was preparing to strike…

Lightning yelled her soul out:

Lightning: "I don't want you to loose, Shiro!"

She tossed the crystal in her hand… aiming it at him.

Shiro: "Huh… (looks at her) Lightning…"

He saw the object she threw, shining up and flying in his direction like a pink bolt. Shiro extended his arm, and the crystal landed there in his palm. Then, it shattered, and reformed as a card.

Hope approached Lightning, curious about the situation.

Hope: "What happened? What was that light?"

Lightning: "Shiro is not fighting alone. He needs our help, just like you said."

Hope: "Huh?"

Lightning: "I wanted to lend him a hand. And so… I gave him Odin. May it bring him victory."

Hope: "But Light… Odin is right here."

Lightning: "What?"

As Lightning turned around, she indeed saw it: Odin was still standing, blocking Zweiter's attacks with his shield.

Lightning: "How can this be? If it wasn't Odin I sent him, then what…?"

Shiro then looked at the card he obtained.

Shiro: "This is…"

Odin could no longer handle the pressure. His shield cracked, and the Eidolon vanished.

Lightning was prepared for the worst, having her Eidolon destroyed. But, for some reason, it didn't feel that bad.

Lightning: "The pain was minimum… It's like… It's like Odin vanished on purpose. But he existed at the exactly the same point as the crystal I gave to Shiro, so what…?"

Shiro looked at the card, then the field…

And he smiled.

Shiro: "So that's it. (out loud) I got your message, Sparky! I shall deliver you all victory!"

Lightning, not sure what to think, simply gave him a thumbs up.

Shiro: "Here goes! (accelerates) I reveal my Trap Card: Descending Lost Star! (the card flips) With this, I can Special summon a Synchro monster from my Graveyard in Defense mode, and I choose Diamond Dust Dragon! His Defense points become 0, his effect is negated, and he can't change his battle position!"

Diamond Dust Dragon appeared once more. His voice as sweet as ever. DEF: 0/ LV7… LV6

Shiro: "Since Diamond Dust's effect is negated, I can Special summon Effect Healer from my hand! Summoned in this way, Diamond Dust regains his effect for this turn only!"

Another monster appeared: a beautiful maden dressed in blue robes fit for a priestess. DEF: 1000/ LV3

Effect Healer then kissed her own palm, and put the same hand against Diamond Dust Dragon's head, spreading a bright blue aura all around it's body. The dragon felt much better and roared it out.

Shiro: "Finally, I Normal summon Trap Captor!"

Shiro's last monster looked like a pink armored ninja with a tall hat and a long scarf. It's shoulder plates resembled beartraps, and it's gauntlets had vertical curved blades on them. He stroke a pose and yelled something in a kung-fu fashion after performing a few sommersaults. ATK: 1300/ LV3

Those were the three monsters he needed.

Shiro: "They're all here. Now I can Accel Synchro again!"

Dysley: "Are you forgetting? The curse of Stygian Dirge is still in effect, so all your monsters loose power in level. Accel Synchro is still as far as ever."

Diamond Dust Dragon: LV6… LV5

Effect Healer: LV3… LV2

Trap Captor: LV3… LV2

Shiro: "I haven't forgotten. As the matter of fact, I'm counting on it!"

Dysley: "What?"

Shiro: "Your own voice shall be muted by the power of bonds! Face Lightning's new power! I tune my level 2 Trap Captor with the level 2 Effect Healer!"

/Insert song: "Clear Mind" by Masaaki Endoh/

Both monsters flew forward, and Effect Healer took the lead. She put her hands in a praying position and chanted something in an unknown language, thus summoning 2 Synchro rings. Trap Captor flew through them, holding his fingers in a ninja-like fingersign fashion.

2* + 2* = 4*

Shiro: "When a heart of justice shields the world by accepting sin, the world shall turn around from the arriving storm! With sparkling dust, shatter that dream into wake!"

Lightning's brand intensity increased suddenly, and she warmly accepted the arrival of a seal around her. The light was so powerful Zweiter was blinded by it's effect.

Lightning: "I know we can do it. All of us. Together."

Shiro: "Synchro summon!"

The burst lead to an unknown extent, and gave rise to a brand new creature.

"Odin shall rise… And with hearts of men, the storm shall twist."

Odin did arrive from the burst of light… but in his Gestalt form, as a stallion. And there was someone riding him. You would not believe it: it looked like a female variety of Odin as a rider, only her skin was soft instead of mechanical, and she was wearing an armor fit for a Valkyria. She was carrying Odin's Zantetsuken and his shield, with a female version of his armor, and in fact, the monster greatly resembled an armored up, white-haired version of Lightning.

Sky flashed in the moment of her arrival.

Shiro: "Cut the path, Rider of Etro… Averia!"

Just like Lightning would do when she rode on Odin, Averia performed a splendid pose as a warrior. ATK: 1500/ LV4

Karamitsuku jikan furikitte
Genkai made buttobashite
Girigiri no omoi tsunai dara iku no sa MY WAY

Dysley: "What kind of monster is that?"

The l'Cie were in no less surprise than Dysley.

Sazh: "What in blazes?"

Vanille: "That's your Eidolon card? What happened to Odin?"

Lightning: "I have a theory. Somehow, when my spirit traveled over into that crystal, the comotion my heart was in at the moment must have somehow interfeered with the transformation process. What Shiro is holding… came more from him and myself than from my Eidolon."

Akaku tagiru jōnetsu daite
MONOCHROME no keshiki o nuke tara
NON STOP de ikkini oikoshite ike

Shiro: "This monster… Averia, she will lead me to victory!"

Averia rode next to Shiro, across the lakeside and on the watersurface. She took a glance at the giant Land Gigas above her, and dared to challenge it. Diamond Dust Dragon got behind her.

Dysley: "You forget. Even with a hundred new Eidolons, Stygian Dirge will still devour your monster's levels and deny all power."

Shiro: "Trap Captor's monster effect activates! When Trap Captor is used as Synchro material, a Trap card on my opponent's side of the field is destoyed!"

Dysley: "What?"

Dare yori mo hayaku tadori tsuki tai
Mamoru beki hito ga irukara

From a shadow next to Dysley's flying vehicle, Trap Captor rose up, and faced the card before him: it was Stygian Dirge.

Shiro: "Trap Captor, destroy Stygian Dirge!"

The ninja used both hands to perform a series of fingersigns, and the last sigh it performed brought up such a powerful pulse that the Trap was caught in a field of negative color pattern, eventually being pulverized, and the ninja vanished.

Diamond Dust Dragon: LV5… LV6

Snow: "He used his own Trap against him!"

Sazh: "But what now?"

Shiro: "Here's a surprise for you, Primarch: Averia, Rider of Etro, is no ordinary Synchro monster. She is, in fact… a Tuner as well."

Dysley: "Synchro Tuner? No way… Their level is…"

It was finally evident what Shiro's intention was: total amount of his monster's levels was 10, equal to Mirrordust's level.

Lightning: "He's gonna…"

Shiro: "Accelerate!"

CRAZY, KEEP ON DRIVING!

Motto hageshiku
Hashire furikaeru koto nante

Deki nai ONE WAY ROAD

Shiro once again pushed his speed to the limits, causing a powerful energy surge to envelop him. Both Diamond Dust and Averia followed him and matched his speed. His eyes flashed.

Shiro: "Clear Mind! (accelerates more) I tune my level 7 Synchro monster Diamond Dust Dragon… With the level 4 Synchro Tuner Averia, Rider of Etro!"

Averia took the lead, galloping at full speed, and by swinging her sword up, she created 4 Synchro rings for Diamond Dust and for Shiro to use.

6* + 4* = 10*!

Shiro: "World of illusions, show your true face as reflected by the sea of crystal dreams. With sparkling dust, shatter that dream into wake!"

The speed was immense. Their shapes were slowly fading away…

Dysley: "Megiddo End Land Gigas, stop him!"

The Gigas above them launched a laser beam from his eyes, hoping this will stop Shiro's actions.

It didn't. He was too slow.

KEEP ON, BURNING SOUL!

Atsuku moyashite
Arashi no yō ni subete o ke chira se

FULL THROTTLE de
Iku ze CLEAR MIND

Shiro: "ACCEL SYNCHRO!"

Shiro grabbed the white card in front of him, the one he crafted out of speed…

Then, he disappeared, and the beam hit only empty water.

Dysley: "He vanished?"

There was a pulsar opening in space behind Dysley.

Dysley: "Hh?"

Shiro emerged out of this portal, and he had a companion: a large companion. A dragon with a heart born of speed.

Shiro: "Reach the skies, Mirrordust Dragon!"

So it was, his ultimate monster: the dragon turned sharply and headed up into the sky, spinning at great speed. Faster, faster, and even faster, up to the point when it equaled a twister in speed, and then…

He halted, in mid air, suddenly, and spread it's wings for the world to see: the brilliance, the power, the luster. Birth of Mirrordust Dragon! ATK: 3200/ LV10

The sight was just what the l'Cie needed for their soar eyes. In the air, new hope was greeting them.

Vanille: "It's here…"

Snow: "He pulled it of!"

Kodoku to fuan o hikizu ta
Muryoku na hibi bu kowashite
Mō DASH de ima o tsukinukero nai techa

NO WAY

Even Grunt, still hurt from his battle, glanced a bit at the sight in the sky. He felt warm at heart, and even let out a tear.

As far as Megiddo-End Land Gigas is concerned… He was not only surprised, he was horrified! The light emitted from Mirrordust Dragon's body was like poison to him. He tried to cover his face, but the light didn't just blind him, it took a toll on the entire body!

Shiro: "Mirrordust Dragon is a level 10 monster. Bound by his own effect, Megiddo End Land Gigas' effect is negated. He is no longer immortal!"

Me ni mie nai nani ka ni obie
GRIP kika nai CORNER ja
Mayoi wa kinmotsu da ze kakugo kanryo

The Gigas was actually weeping in pain. Locations on his skin started to turn to smoke.

Shiro: "Now I use the effect of Speed World S: I consume all my Speed Counters and convert them into Attack Points for Mirrordust!"

Shiro: SC: 0

Mirrordust absorbed every particle of speed Shiro offered. His body suddenly burst with energy, and he felt the need to generate it somewhere. ATK: 4400

Shiro: "Do it! Battle! Mirrordust Dragon, attack Megiddo-End Land Gigas with Cosmic Arrow!"

Mada dare mo mi ta koto nai ashita e
Omae-tsure kaze ni naru no sa

Mirrordust put his arms close to his chest, opening up the blades in his gauntlets, making him look like a crosbow, then stiffed both his feet, tail and wings, turning his head toward it's enemy. At immense speed, Mirrordust flew around his opponent, the Gigas who was trying desperately to get rid of him. In mid-flight, the speed became so great that energy completely consumed the dragon's appearance, giving him the shape of an arrow.

Then, he finally aimed, and launched.

DON'T STOP, KEEP ON ROLLING!

Motto tōku e
Ki o nukeba inochi wa nai no sa

Buchikome RED ZONE

The Gigas tried to keep him away with his claw, but that was too slow for Mirrordust. He landed right in the middle of the Gigas chest, and for a moment, it looked like someone actually penetrated his body with a javelin.

Mirrordust flew right through him, then halted suddenly and morphed back, and turned around to see the damge dealt.

KEEP ON, BURNING SOUL!

Iki teru kagiri
Hakanakute mo kagayaite i tai

FULL SPEED de
Iku ze CLEAR MIND

There was a hole in the Gigas' torso, leading all the way to his back. In pain, and shock, the Gigas could only express pain and agony, as the hole suddenly gave rise to numerous cracks and gaps in his skin, which soon spred all over it's body, turning him into a giant piece of volcanic rock.

And so, it exploded, one bit at the time, it was like watching a tower collapse. In a matter of moments, Megiddo-End Land Gigas was nothing but dust in the wind.

Dysely: LP: 3600

Soon after this… Zweiter also swelled up and exploded, leaving no trace behind.

Vanille: "He did it!"

Sazh: "He pulverized the Land Gigas!"

Snow: "That's our boy!"

Lightning: "He did it… He did it!"

Shiro: "Mirrordust Dragon's monster effect activates. When Mirrordust Dragon destroys a monster in battle, can release him. (Mirrordust vanishes) And because of that, you next Battle phase is skipped. I set a card face-down and end my turn! (sets)"

CRAZY, KEEP ON DRIVING!

Motto hageshiku
Hashire furikaeru koto nante

Deki nai ONE WAY ROAD

Dysley was surprised by how the events turned against him.

But he was not shocked or afraid.

Dysley: "To think I'll see the day when a Megiddo-End meets his demise. You have truly proved yourself."

DON'T STOP, KEEP ON ROLLING!

Motto tōku e
Ki o nukeba inochi wa nai no sa

Buchikome RED ZONE

And then came the most shocking part:

Dysley: "I concede."

Shiro: "What?"

Just like that, Dysley landed his vehicle and dismissed it about at the same location where they started of. This put him dangerously close to the l'Cie.

KEEP ON, BURNING SOUL!

Atsuku moyashite
Arashi no yō ni subete o ke chirase

FULL THROTTLE de

FULL SPEED de

Shiro had no choice but to follow him on dry land. He was present there in a matter of seconds. His clothes turned normal as soon as he took his helmet of.

Iku ze CLEAR MIND

That's how Dysley came before them all. He was facing off against both Shiro and the l'Cie.

Shiro: "You quit the duel? What is the meaning of this?"

Dysley: "There was little point in continuing with that sharade. Had you kept negating my Battle phases, I would have stood little chances in retaliation. Besides, the point was in you defeating only Megiddo End Land Gigas, not myself."

Sazh: "So what happens now?"

Shiro: "When a battle duel ends in surrender, neither player can surrender to the other one. It's the one way escape route."

Fang: "Sounds quite cowardly when coming from a Lord Sovereign of the Sanctum."

Dysley: "On the contrary. This was all a part of my great design."

Shiro: "Now what does he mean?"

Dysley: "You did well to come this far, Shiro Whiterain. And for that, I reward you."

Dysley pointed his staff at Shiro, and charged it with magical energy.

He launched it.

Shiro: "Hey, what the…"

Fortunately, the shining orb he fired missed Shiro. Instead, it continued onward and hit King Blizzard behind him. On impact, something trully strange occurred: the vehicle came alive and made powerful engine noises. A mighty blue aura surrounded it, and it's front lights lit up and flashed like a pair of eyes. Not only that, but the wild aura surrounding it, it focused it's intensity on it's front wheels, eventually bursting sideways, forming what appeared to be a pair of flapping wings.

And just like that, the aura faded. Shiro immediatelly approached his vehicle to inspect it. As far as he could tell, there was no harm done.

Shiro: "What have you done to King Blizzard?"

Dysley: "I took the liberty of adding a few modifications to your D-Wheel. With the help of the Aero-Graviton that I installed, your vehicle can now defy gravity and move on wings of pure light."

The sentence sounded ten times weirder than I made it sound when it was spoken from Dysley's grumpy mouth.

Hope: "You mean… King Blizzard can fly now?"

Snow: "And why would we accept this gift all of the sudden?"

Dysley: "You will soon realize that this is a gift you will learn to cherrish. For what lies ahead, you will doubtlessly need it. The world you claim to wish to protect now faces the end of days with no hope of salvation."

Hope: "The end of days? I thought fal'Cie didn't have the means."

Dysley: "Oh, it won't be fal'Cie who destroy her. The seeds of destruction take root, even now."

Lightning: "What did you do to Cocoon?"

Dysley: "(smirks) I would tell you, but would you rather not come and see for yourself? The glory of your home in it's final days?"

Sazh: "This smells rotten all over the place."

Dysley: "Not any worse than what will await Cocoon once our final ritual has begun. It's sacrifice, the entirety of Cocoon's populace, all fed to the wrath of the Megiddos. In the midst of mayhem, once they learn of their fate, panic and ferality will take over the society, and Cavalry will arrive to dispatch of them. And imagine, when I spread word that it's Orphan tugging at their strings… what happens next?"

Shiro: "(grinds his teeth) You rotten… You intend to use the Megiddos as a prelude for Cavalry's attack on Orphan?"

Dysley: "… Perhaps. Or perhaps, I'll feign the howling of Pulsian wolves and let the fear-addled sheep slaughter themselves first. Either way, the end is at hand."

At that point, Menvra, the bird bound to Dysley, appeared in the air.

Dysley: "Allow me to extend my invitation. To save a people beyond salvation, there is only Ragnarok."

By means unknown, Menvra was engulfed in a brilliant shine, and increased in size dozens of times. In the end, instead of Menvra, a large airship landed before Dysley.

Dysley: "Cocoon suffers. Release her from the pain. (levitates up) I shall savor the demise of Cocoon from atop the highest seat in Eden."

Then, by means unknown, the Primarch vanished, leaving only the airship behind. As far as the l'Cie were were just in the middle of another pickle situation. They could see the moon-shaped utopia, Cocoon, floating in the horizon.

Snow: "Seems like there's about to get very messy up there."

Vanille: "Now what?"

Fang: "Anyone else feels this sudden urge to tear the sucker apart and then tap-dance on his grave? Now that we know he can be beaten, mind as well go for it before he bounces back up."

Sazh: "Maybe we shouldn't rush things like that."

Hope: "What do you mean?"

Sazh: "Remember the duel just now, when he quit all the sudden? Not to mention that weird hocus-pocus he did on Shiro's D-Wheel. I dunno about you, but to me, it seems far too easy. It's like he lost on purpose, he didn't even fight with full potential."

Vanille: "But if what he says is true, then… We have to help."

Sazh: "That's what I'm saying. It could be another trap. If what he says is true, we're toast, if it isn't, we're toast anyway for not completing our Focus. (sighs) I dunno, what do you think, Light… ning?"

The reason why he pronounced her name only for one part was this: Lightning didn't pay much attention to them as she did to Shiro. She walked up towards him, and he stood before her. They exchanged looks, but remained silent. The other sensed something was going to happen.

Shiro had that typical "trying-to-find-an-excuse" kind of behavior.

Shiro: "Look, Light… I know it was wrong from me to leave you like that, and that you're probably steaming mad at me right now, and I'm very so-"

POW!

She cut his sentence short… by sucker-punching him in the face and bringing him down. The audience's raction was, of course, surprising.

Hope: "Light!"

Fang: "Ouch…"

Snow: "Right in the deck-zone."

Lightning: "That's for leaving in the first place!"

Shiro had a hard time getting up. While down, he was way too busy readjusting his jaw, nose, or whatever other part of him Lightning misplaced. He was whining silently, but for some reason, while getting up, he smiled.

Shiro: "I can't say I… didn't have it coming. But I'm glad you expressed it so clearly, because I was really feeling awf-"

As soon as he got up, she cut his sentence short again. Only this time… (get this, it's even more shocking)

… She hugged him. She practically embraced him, and leaned her head on his chest.

Shiro was speechless.

The others… their jaws dropped.

Shiro: "Light…"

Lightning: "And this… is for returning. I am sorry. I felt the rage aganst the wrong person. (drops a tear) I was lost. I thought you…"

He could have hugged her back. He could really have embraced her himself.

Instead:

He gently grabbed her head and tilted her back, so he could see her in the eyes.

Shiro: "I will never leave any of you again. This I swear."

He used his thumb to clean her face of the tear she shed. That's when she smiled to him. And he swore, it was the most beautiful sight he ever saw.

Shiro: "I will help you stop Dysley. I want to help you save your home. What we saw today, it was only a fragment of what we're capable of. I know… With your help, we can make miracles happen."

The moment was a memoriable one. Shiro never felt so close to someone, that much was certain. He gently pushed her away for her to wipe her eyes and gain more space for herself.

And if you think that was the end…

Shiro: "By the way, what is that?"

He was looking at this:

Vanille was cuddling Grunt's snout. The Behemoth King was smiling, blushing and wiggled his tail left and right, making his tail look like a waving ribbon. She treated Grunt like he was a puppy. To make it worse: he liked it!

Vanille: "You were a good boy, Grunt. Yes you were. Yes you were. Who's my favorite Bahemoth?"

Lightning: "The Behemoth King you caught. We named him Grunt."

Shiro: "Grunt? Well that fits… I guess."

Fang: "(-_-') You will NEVER see a stranger sight."

Hope: "Why do you think he returned?"

Sazh: "(-.-) Who knows. Maybe it forgot his treat? Seriously, what do treat a four ton Behemoth with?"


A few minutes later, the group, now consisting of a total of 7 people, and 2 wild animals (the chocobo chick and Grunt), gazed upon the Cocoon in the distance again. Shiro just fixed his gloves, then turned to the others.

Shiro: "Everyone ready?"

They all nodded.

Snow: "On to Cocoon we go. Let's save everyone. Let's get Dysley!"

Fang: "One thing at the time. What do we do about Orphan?"

Shiro: "We help Orpahn, of course. It's Barthandelus we're after. Him and his Megiddo deck that can devour the world."

Lightning: "Afraid?"

Shiro: "Not really. A good duelist feels a share of excitement every time he faces a challenge. I must not forget this."

Vanille: "(patting Grunt) Be a good boy, Grunt, and take good care of Oerba while we're away. Okay?"

Grunt: "(nods) Ung."

Sazh: "(-_-)… So, we all agree to it?"

They all put their respective weapons up (Shiro held his Diamond Dust Dragon card instead), then they all put them in the middle, joining their tips like hands of a basketball team.

Lightning: "By this we swear, we will protect Cocoon until the very end!"

Then, the chocobo chick flew atop of the pile, and kweeh in joy.

Sazh: "The bird says so. We won't mess with the bird."

Lightning: "Enough talk. Time to move!"

Shiro: "Onwards to battle!"

They all shouted out loud simmultaneously, gazing into the dusk horizon.

That was the last time they all walked on pulse together. Now, only one more goal remained:

Eden, capitol of Cocoon.

(to be continued)


(BONUS!)

Vanille: "Say, Shiro…"

Shiro: "What is it?"

Vanille: "Where is your 'Yu'?"

Shiro: "My what?"

Vanille: "Your 'Yu', you know? Every mighty duelist so far had a 'Yu'. YUgi, YUki, YUsei, YUma, then there's YUno, YUnata and YUshio,… But you don't have a 'Yu', why?"

Shiro: "I don't need a 'Yu' to be a good duelist."

Vanille: "But don't you find it a bit odd?"

Sky: "(invades the screen) It's because he's a spinoff character!"

Shiro: "What! Who are you?"

Sky: "I'm Sky Galen. I'll follow after your adventure in a show of my own. 'Number Wars', you should come watch."

Vanille: "What do you mean 'spinoff character'."

Sky: "Shiro here is only second best. Where he comes from Yunata Shuuki is the number one. She's the one with the 'Yu'. He just happens to be awesome enough to have his own show."

Shiro: "Like it matters!"

Vanille: "You're not the best of?"

Shiro: "This is so embarrasing…"

Sky: "(taps Shiro's shoulder) Cheer up, I'm a spinoff character as well, and I don't make a big fuss about it. One must make the best of it, Sky High!"

Shiro: "That phrase is not as catchy as you think."

Sky: "At least you, Diego and Yunata got to be in a movie together. HEY! Why was I not invited? I totally nailed the Xyz Plane!"

Shiro: "Because you're out of practice."

Sky: "Can I have a guest appearance here?"

Shiro: "No. Now leave."

Sky: "Gosh, you really are too cold to hold."

Vanille: "(sigh) Geez, what a mess. Now, on with Cold Saga! (winks)"


/ending song: "Garasu no Hana" by IORI ("Ikki Tousen Dragon Destiny", 2007)/

(instrumental; Lightning is standing knee-deep in a lake during night-time; she gazes up into the sky)

Kami wo naderu yokaze michi wo terasu seiza

(Shiro sitting on a rockbed, next to the same lake; he looks at her)
Nemuru mado ni yane ni sosogu minori no ame

(cast's appearance in differently colored background)

(Snows, blue background)
Kimi wo tsutsumu

(Sazh with a green background)

Keshiki no

(Vanille with an orange background)

Ichibu ninaritai

(Hope with a yellow background)
Itsudemo soba ni

(Fang with a purple background)

Itaikara
(quickflash of Serah, Grunt, Rosch and Dysley during dum-dum scene)

I WILL NEVER SAY I LOVE YOU
Negai goto ga

(Shiro draws a card, this move shattering the ground beneath him…)

Hitotsu dake kanau nara

(and bringing forth Frostland Archfiend, Knight and Lancer)

Omoi wo kakushi temo

Onaji yume oi kaketai

(Lightning beholds the night sky, and sees a shooting star, then turns around and walks away)

I'M GONNA STAY BY YOUR SIDE
Demo kidu ite

(Diamond Dust Dragon is summoned before Shiro)

Dare yorimo mitsu meteru

(… And Averia, Rider of Etro, before Lightning; the two monsters clash…)
Kirei na mama de ite

(… and in mid-fight, they form a ying-yang-kind of pose against each other)

Mune ni sai ta garasu no hana

(5 giant monsters are in the background, one of which is Megiddo-End Land Gigas)

(intrumental ending: two roses, a red and a white one, lean against each other in the wind; a pedal falls from the white one; Shiro and Lightning stand back to back to each other)


(next time)

Shiro: "We have to split up!"

Gadot: "Hey, look who's back!"

Fang: "What, is he crazy?"

Shiro: "We both want the same thing!"

Rosch: "I see your power has grown."

Lightning: "It's already started!"

Fang: "Those people are so blinded by fear, they can't even imagine it."

Snow: "He can handle it. He hero saves the day!"

Shiro: "I will never fall back again. My new Diamond Dust Dragon!"

Shiro: "Next time on Cold Saga: 'Eden Assault- Terror-Sublimity Dragon Lapsus Infinitum!' With sparkling dust, shatter that dream into wake!"


Card intel:

Altair of Virtue (Trap, normal)- You cannot activate this card during your opponent's turn. If your opponent controls 1 or more Synchro monsters, and you control no monsters, you can activate this card from your hand. Discard 1 card from your hand, then Special summon 1 "Megiddo" monster from your hand.

Megiddo Ghoul – Taxim the Wail (DARK/ level 4/ Zombie-type/ ATK: 1600/ DEF: 1700)- During your Main phase, you can return this face-up card you control to the hand to Special summon 1 "Megiddo" monster from your hand whose level is higher than this card's level. If the effect of "Megiddo Ghoul - Taxim the Wail" is used, you cannot Normal summon monsters until your 2nd next Standby phase.

Megiddo Weed – Harvest the Sap (DARK/ level 1/ Plant-type/ ATK: 100/ DEF: 100)- When a "Megiddo" monster is Special summoned, increase this card's level by 1 until the End phase.

Megiddo Puppet – Crus the Sandrene (LIGHT/ level 3/ Tuner/ Machine-type/ ATK: 600/ DEF: 800)- If you control at least 1 "Megiddo" monster, you can Special summon this card from your hand. You cannot use this effect if you control a non- "Megiddo" monster.

Megiddo Rage – Orthos the Flood (DARK/ level 6/ Fiend-type/ ATK: 2400/ DEF: 2400)- If you control 1 or more "Megiddo" monsters, you can halve this card's ATK and DEF and Normal summon it without a tribute. This card cannot be used as Synchro material, except for the Synchro summon of a "Megiddo- End" monster.

Diamond Dust Call (Trap, Continous)- You can only activate this card if you control a face-up "Diamond Dust Dragon". Select it, then Special summon 1 monster from your hand. If that monster is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard by either battle or your opponent's card effect, destroy this card and draw 1 card. If this card is destroyed, destroy the summoned monster. If the selected "Diamond Dust Dragon" is removed from the field, destroy this card.

L-Nitro Jet Sniper (WATER/ level 1/ Tuner/ Cryonite-type/ ATK: 1000/ DEF: 500)- When this card is Normal summoned, you can pay 500 Life points to Special summon 1 "L-Nitro" monster from your deck. This card cannot be used as Synchro material, except for the Synchro summon of a "L-Nitro" monster.

Megiddo Penetrator – Anavatapta the Fountain (DARK/ level 7/ Insect-type/ ATK: 2300/ DEF: 2300)- If this card is Special summoned by an effect that specifically summons "Megiddo" monsters, you can select 1 face-up card on the field. Until the End phase, that card's effect is negated. This card cannot be used as Synchro material, except for the Synchro summon of a "Megiddo- End" monster.

Wizard of White (LIGHT/ level 4/ Spellcaster-type/ ATK: 0/ DEF: 0)- If your opponent attacks directly while your Life points are 1000 or less, you can discard this card from your hand; negate the attack, destroy the attacking monster and end the Battle phase.

Effect Healer (LIGHT/ level 3/ Tuner/ Cryonite-type/ ATK: 800/ DEF: 1000)- During your Main phase, if you control a face-up Effect monster whose effect is negated: select it, then Special summon this card from your hand. If this card is summoned by this effect, the selected monster regains it's effect until the End phase.

Trap Captor (EARTH/ level 3/ Warrior-type/ ATK: 1300/ DEF: 300)- If this card is sent to the Graveyard as Synchro material, you can select 1 face-up Spell and Trap card on the field and destroy it.

Averia, Rider of Etro (Synchro/ LIGHT/ level 4/ Tuner/ Warrior-type/ ATK: 1500/ DEF: 1600)- 1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
- During Battle phase: this card gains 400 ATK for every face-up Synchro monster on the field. If you Special summon a Synchro monster(s) to your side of the field, except by Synchro summon, you can make that monster's level become either 1 or 2 until the End phase.