Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's - The Neo-Domino Purge

Originally an RPG after the airing of Episode 6. Following the events of Episode 8; Rex Godwin uses the information regarding research on momentum to plan an attack and elimination of the Satellite residents. When a leak reaches Satellite; the residents band together. All but Yusei Fudo, who is forced to watch from the outside.
Contains violence, language, character death.

-Spirit World: Ancient Forest-

"I don't understand" the girl repeated, her legs trembling as she struggled to grasp what exactly had happened. Where was the corridor? Where was Frank?

None of this made any sense; she had never made a promise to anyone, she had never been to this place. Who were these voices talking to her? Her fragile hands rose and clutched the sides of her head, trying to keep it on straight; this wasn't right. None of this was right.

"I'm not going crazy, I'm not going crazy" she chanted, pressing the palms of her hands harder against her head, sinking deeper into her hair.

"Ruka… This is all real, you must remember" the voice whispered elegantly.

"But I don't!" Ruka cried out, shutting her tearing eyes. "I don't remember anything!"

Her eyes suddenly snapped open – a distant world, eroded memories. Didn't this sound like…? She ventured backwards, searching for what it was the beret-wearing man had claimed; what it was when he spoke her name and then of a tale alien to her.

"You are the girl that fell into a coma eight years ago and claimed to be in Duel Spirit World, Ruka, are you not? I can always guide you back to that time if you wish, before you were snatched away. You could go back to those carefree days of childhood freedom and normality".

Was this place… where she had gone to? Her hands fell from her head and golden eyes rose to the sky, searching for the sun whose light illuminated the clearing brilliantly, searching for anything that could be the source of the voice. Still, there was so much she didn't understand – why couldn't she remember anything of this? No matter how far or how many times her mind travelled back through time, there was nothing to guide her any closer to the truth. That voice seemed to understand everything that was happening; maybe it could supply some much-needed answers and shed more light on her predicament.

"Does this… have anything to do with what that man said?" she asked, searching through the trees for any movement. "Something about going to a Duel Spirit World?"

"Yes, that is truth" the voice muttered. "You came here, but it seems time has eroded your memories of that time. Fear not, I am an ally. I will guide you to the truth and away from that beast".

Ruka glanced over her shoulder, knees trembling as she did so. Id, the demonic beast she knew was Frank's monster, had become deathly silent and still, like it was permitting the conversation. That made no more sense than anything that was happening around her – it had tried to attack previously – but she went with it. It felt like an advantage to get a moment of peace, long enough to speak with the omniscient presence that she could hear. That she could feel. Somehow it felt more than a dream – this was real. Ruka stepped forward, towards where she believed the existence was hiding its form, curious as to why, a blind path leading to the invisible spirit.

"I'm not strong enough to help you or your world. I'm just a girl. Please, take me back to my own world" she pleaded. "There's someone there I have to save, if I don't… I don't know what will happen to him. He means more to me than anything, let me go and help him. I'm in the middle of a duel in my world, can't that help yours?"

There was no immediate answer from the voice, but silence. Kuribon began to whine; its echoing cry reached Ruka's ears and drew her eyes around to the flailing creature. It was powerless, something that stuck by her shield despite that weakness, hopeful to see the world's grim fate overturned.

"It may be the case" the voice uttered solemnly. "But I cannot guide you back. Only you can pass through the space between the two worlds, no-one else has the power the cross over the border. There are many Duel Spirits that need you here – that is why you've come".

Kuribon floated around Ruka, circling her in the fresh air that lifted it, until it suddenly stopped and stared in terror at the massive creature looking like it was made of lightning bolts and ink trapped within the bright borders. Its shadow expanded, stretching over the frail body of the lonely girl. She gazed at it over her shoulder, fear still evident in her glimmering gold iris.

"If I defeat this… will that end the threat to this world?" she asked.

"The immediate threat; yes. There is a blinded presence trying to pass through and reach this world. If he manages to do so, it could spell this place's ruin" the voice answered, still eerily quiet – they were talking about the end of this precious world, after all. "That creature is an avatar for an intruding evil, destroying it permanently should stop the darkness from crossing".

"But I thought only I could cross" Ruka whimpered, fearful that this other presence – Frank, if she was correct – also possessed the ability. If maybe that was why he was desperate to bring her into the world.

"The gate is still open, your passage here has opened a window for the evil to sneak in" the voice claimed. "You came to take on the avatar of the evil in order to save us; then the evil began to creep behind you, following you here".

Ruka turned from the way she had been speaking to the voice and turned her small body to face the beast. If this was the source of Frank's darkness, she would have to take it out and wake him up, make him realise that harming the world wasn't an option. Her head rose, eyes glimmering readily – finally, her fighting spirit had been touched through the surface and into the depths of her soul. Even if she wasn't strong as a duellist, even if she wasn't home, she had a duty. She would fight the darkness and trust the words of the voice; one that made her feel calm and safe. Her faith was in the cards on the opposite side of the border and the guardian watching over her.

Chapter 21 – The Long-Forgotten Promise! A Signer's Battle!

[Nagaku no Wasturete no Yokasoku! Shiguna to Tatakau!]

KEY CARD – Id the Super Demonic Lord

-Neo-Domino: Security HQ-

Rally toppled over, clutching onto the top step of the series as he panted, eyes closed while taking in the deep breaths. Rua was seated beside him, also exhausted from the climb – the adults of Neo-Domino had bodies built for nightlife, the children were different. He glanced up, wondering how Ruka was doing; if she was tired, if she was still fighting. An ember toppled into the fire of his eyes, he had heard that she was in the tower for his sake, because she was under the impression that he had been captured. All he wanted was to find her and get her out before sunrise when operations at Security would resume.

Rally opened his eyes and moved them to the boy, someone from the City that had shunned his own kind; the offspring of those who had lived that time ago, his opposite. He looked the same age; they were as alike in as many ways as they were different.

"Rua" he sighed. "Why are you here, looking for your sister?"

"Someone in the Arcadia Movement told me she came here, looking for me and Divine" Rua answered, setting his eyes on the deprived boy who looked like he had fished his clothes out of a bin and couldn't afford a haircut. Rally's face showed scepticism. "She came with Izayoi-san!"

Still, these names didn't mean anything to Rally; he couldn't say he had never heard of the people, they could be more kids that had wound up in the movement he mentioned. Nothing he said could make complete sense. Rua's finger moved up, pointing at his face, more specifically, at his small Marker.

"You wouldn't understand – you're from Satellite" the teal-haired boy commented.

Rally scowled, the observation had to be said in words. He folded his arms over his chest and pouted at the boy, there was nothing special about him, he had just been lucky to be on the richer side of the divide.

"Oh yeah?" he snapped. His hand shot up, pointing back at a perplexed Rua. "And where are you from, Rua?"

Rua smiled and pressed his thumb against his chest. "I'm from the Tops".

Rally's face transformed; wide eyes and a bottom jaw threatening to drop off and hit the floor. He knew of the Tops – that was the place where only the richest of the rich could live. They had the best lives of anyone in Neo-Domino. And he, a Satellite boy, was working alongside someone his age from that very place. He waited for someone to shake him awake in Satellite, to open his dreary eyes to find Nerve, Taka or Blitz – Yusei, if he could be really lucky – staring at him in bewilderment, wondering what kind of dream the boy had experienced. Rua chuckled at his face.

"So you're like…" Rally whispered.

Rua's ears picked the sound of Rally's voice, but the words were lost when the boy flinched, a roar thundered through the level and into the staircase, Rua gasped, well aware that the noise matched that of a monster. There was a duel going on close by. He scrambled to his feet and rushed ahead, leaving Rally, who cried out when he noticed the boy rushing ahead and flailed to pick himself up and follow.

Frank chuckled as he stood opposite the still girl, her mind elsewhere; her field pitiful in comparison to his. Id hummed over his head, glaring furiously at the girl opposite who had already removed it from the field once before, the girl whose eyes didn't rise or search for weak spots. She was lost.

FIFTH TURN – RUKA

"Draw" she mumbled lifelessly.

That was something that troubled Frank – was it the duellist in her that was fighting for her while she was separated? He hadn't expected her to continue the duel, that he would move it forward for her and pass through the barrier of the Duel Spirit World, entering the place that was untouched by madness of mankind. He would enter the new plain and rule it away from the rest of humans who had polluted their planets. He would make his own place and blow all mysteries apart. No-one was going to stand in his way – not even the girl who tried to hide, just like the natural cowardice of humankind longed.

"Magic card – Pot of Greed" Ruka sounded blandly, placing the card into her Duel Disk, a projection showing for Frank to see. "This lets me draw two new cards".

She drew. Frank's frown returned and deeper than before; now she had two more cards he couldn't tell. There was no possibility he could control the duel if she was going to continue building up her cards secretly, reducing his chances of seizing the reigns of control and drive himself to his goal – she could easily slip out of his grasp and fight back for real. He watched her with narrow eyes as her eyes met the card she held in her right hand, laying it onto the central space on top of the Duel Disk.

"I summon Sunlight Unicorn [ATK 1800]".

Through a sky-blue vortex, the pure white horse galloped through, a spiralling sapphire horn stood from the skull. A mane of blue flames surrounded the extra feature and blazed down its neck, matching the tail and those around the hooves of the otherwise gentle creature. The animal halted in front of Ruka, standing as a shield for her in the face of the demonic beast opposite, snorting through its twin nostrils.

"Sunlight Unicorn's monster effect – I can turn over the top card of my deck. If it's an Equip Magic card, then I can add it to my hand" Ruka stated. She pulled the top card, unknown to both duellists and turned it over – her face showed nothing, only the incessant blank stares and straight lips. "I activate Horn of the Unicorn". The card turned over for Frank to see, he scowled, biting into his bottom lip – he knew what was coming. "This increases Sunlight Unicorn's attack power by 700 points".

The barb began to glow, encased in crystal by the extra power of the card latched onto it [ATK 2500]. The horse shook its head tamely, neighing as it allowed the power to flow through it and enhance its limbs, snorting as it lowered its head opposite Frank's field.

"Sunlight Unicorn attacks Id".

The steed galloped ahead, aiming its horn at Id's head. The four hooves slammed against the ground simultaneously and catapulted it into the air. Id resisted, moving its claw in line with the attack, meeting the glistening horn. Bolts of electricity shot out of the collision, sparking as the power backfired against the dragon-shaped creature and it dissolved. Frank grimaced – Id was his deck's ace card, yet a girl without her mind had been able to conquer it, there was probably more to follow. But she had power that would backfire at the same time. He narrowed his eyes as his lips sealed the parting where his clenched jaws could be seen.

'Where is she getting this extra strength? Could it be something on the other side is helping her, fighting with her?' he thought, fixing his eyes on the girl's stone face.

He threw his arm forward, over the Bound by Ego Trap that began to glow in response to a battle, Ruka did nothing as the scene played out; she was still largely a spectator to the bout.

"Bound by Ego activates, cutting the damage inflicted on my lifepoints by half and dealing an equal portion to you" he called.

FRANK - RUKA
3300 -LP- 2400

The steed whined as the power of the environment around it began to take effect. The trees quaked as their rules were breached, leading the chain reaction through powers that forced Sunlight Unicorn to fade from the field and enter Ruka's Graveyard. The girl showed no emotion to the loss of a trusted companion, and instead, she placed Horn of the Unicorn on the top of her deck.

"Horn of the Unicorn's effect places it on top of my deck when it's removed from the field" she stated. Another card moved from her hand to the field, shining when it revealed itself. "I activate Emergency Assistance. Like with Pixie Knight, it allows the revival of a monster destroyed by a card effect this turn, Sunlight Unicorn returns to the field".

The card glowed brighter than previously, shimmering until its shape altered – from a flat card to the steed. The white-skinned unicorn stood opposite as though nothing had happened, Frank gasped at the sight of it standing alive once more.

"Sunlight Unicorn again?" he called.

"Now I activate another Magic card – Summoning Wings" Ruka protested dully. "When a Fairy-type monster is Special Summoned to the field, this allows me to Special Summon another Fairy in attack mode. I summon Kuribon [ATK 300]".

Ruka moved once more, holding up the card to reveal the source of the voice she had heard earlier – Kuribon. Frank smirked at the artwork showing the cousin of the Kuribohs. Even if she was gathering her Fairy creatures, they were still young and weak; Sunlight Unicorn was a rare exception, but even that couldn't bypass the laws of the Ancient Forest.

"Sunlight Unicorn's effect – I can draw the top card of my deck again" Ruka stated. "And we both know it's Horn of the Unicorn, I equip it to Sunlight Unicorn".

The same icy crystal casing shone around the horn of the animal, Frank smirked coldly at the tactic. Still, he was confident in the laws of Ancient Forest, Id would be safe as long as they were set in place.

"Clever strategy" he commented. "But I can pull tricks of my own. Id the Super Demonic Lord is revived during the End Phase".

"I place a card face-down" Ruka mumbled, uncaring for the power of her opponent's strongest beast. "Turn end".

Behind Frank, a mass of energy gathered, reshaping the destroyed beast. He chuckled in the same dark, unsettling manner; something that would have sent a chill creeping down Ruka's spine if she was still conscious as herself.

"And with your turn at an end, I move closer to the Duel Spirit World" he claimed, his smile twisting from a calm and contained look to that of a madman slowly. "I can feel myself getting closer, chasing after you. Perhaps you're preparing to welcome me as I enter that glorious domain".

-Spirit World: Ancient Forest-

Trees shivered as Id and Sunlight Unicorn exploded together, leaving Ruka alone with Kuribon. She frowned, eyes filling with sorrow at the thought of her precious friend being eliminated so easily, Kuribon whined as it circled her, helpless as its friends were destroyed by the demonic beast one after another. Ruka's hands came together as she watched the spot solemnly.

"I don't want Sunlight Unicorn to die" she whispered, close to tears. "I don't want anyone to die!"

It was half a minute after the wish that a ray of light shot down from the heavens, granting the plea and returning the unicorn like it had been spared from the scythe of Death. Ruka smiled, her eyes lighting immediately at the sight of her friend. Her tiny legs carried her to its side hastily, petting the neck tenderly.

"Sunlight Unicorn" she breathed with hope.

A terrifying roar overshadowed the reunion, Ruka gasped as she looked over her shoulder, finding the beast once again towering over her party. No matter what she tried, it kept coming back; the persistent evil mind trying to tap into her power and reach the domain of peace. The beast threw its claw forward, Ruka cried out – it was trying to either capture or crush her. Either way, she was in trouble.

The steed lowered itself slightly, allowing Ruka to scramble up its side and onto its back, Kuribon was quick to follow, floating in between Ruka's arms and nestling itself on the back of the horse. The animal rose to its full height, earning a small cry of surprise from the girl clutching onto it. As the shady claw closed in on them, Sunlight Unicorn's hooves began to move, throwing it forward and leaving the attack to miss, the sharpened tips of the beast crashing into the soft soil of the forest. Ruka peered over her shoulder at the demon removing its hand from the lush grass.

'There's something different about that thing. There's more power in it' she thought, lowering her eyebrows into an anxious glare. 'Could it be that he's crossed over?'

The lush forest fell behind and what Ruka found when her eyes focused on the black trunks was a barren wasteland. What resembled a forest torn apart by time and pollution, the clouds ranged from purple to grey, water had long evaporated. Life existed nowhere. The plain had decayed beyond repair; mist grew thick and slowed the galloping creature. With a gentle snort, the legs of Sunlight Unicorn stopped moving altogether, Ruka cautiously slid down the animal's side, her trainers clapped against the stone soil. The fog worried her, but if Sunlight Unicorn had paused, then there had to be something significant to the creature.

"Is this place… some kind of vision?" she muttered aloud. "Or is this… real? Has this world already suffered this much?"

Her heart swelled, pushing tears to the edges of her eyes as she contemplated how far the damage could have spread – how much of the world was poisoned like this and how much remained in tact like the Ancient Forest?

The mist began to clear, showing a sparkling lake in front of Ruka. That alone was enough to force a gasp of surprise from her, but Kuribon and Sunlight Unicorn were nowhere to be seen, instead, there seemed to be a group moving on the opposite side of the water – in a meadow as beautiful as the clearing in the forest. Flowers painted the grass in a variety of colours, enhancing its beauty. Ruka's united fists moved in front of her chest, trying to clutch her heart before it could break loose. The group she could see moving were a small collection of Fairy monsters, most of which were present in her deck, but more shockingly was the figure in the centre – herself.

"What… what's going on?" she whispered. "Is that really me?"

The child was much younger than the present Ruka, a girl of three – the embodiment of innocence, dressed in a pink dress and jacket, her pigtails much shorter than her older counterpart. In the background, the game between the girl and young creatures was observed by a glorious dragon; sky-blue skin across her serpentine body, arms hanging from subtle shoulders. Golden braces clung onto her head, torso, shoulders and wrists, rubies embedded in the centre of the pieces, behind them, large wings like those of a butterfly's spread out, pink and white scales fixed onto the blue bones. They matched the fins jutting out from the back of her head, either side of the amethyst fixed into the centre of her head jewellery; jade green locks flowed from the back of her skull, orange eyes shone gently near the ends of lips fixed together.

The girl dropped to her knees and began to fiddle with the flowers, tying their stems together in order to form a crown that she picked up and pressed down on the top of Kuribon. The small furry creature hopped and squealed with joy, flattered by the girl.

"This place is so pretty" the innocent commented, smiling at her friends. "I wish I could bring Rua here, I'm sure he'd like it".

Surrounding Kuribon were a number of Fairy-type monsters Ruka recognised from the Duel Monsters game; Sunny Pixie, Watapon, Key Mace, Petit Angel, Dancing Fairies, Jerry Beans Man. The celebration of the gift-giving suddenly halted when the crown withered and the dying plants collapsed, scattered around Kuribon and tumbling to the ground. The bouncing and cheerful cries of the creatures halted, Sunny Pixie's tiny hands moved in front of her mouth, shocked by the sudden decay. The young Ruka gazed at the remnants of the chain and touched the dead flowers with the tips of her fingers, brushing them sorrowfully.

"Ruka, darkness is threatening this world" the voice that Ruka had heard earlier uttered. The present form of the girl on the poisoned side of the lake widened her eyes slightly when she realised that the voice had been coming from the dragon, the young one focused on the dragon towering over her. "It's the intent of evil ones that will try to invade this land that threaten it now. This world is bracing itself for when that evil comes, to pollute our world and twist it into a vision of their own, something that the Duel Spirits will not be able to fight against alone. They will need help, and there is only one person that can offer that help – that is you".

"Me?" the young Ruka murmured. "Why only me?"

"You have a connection with this world; that is why only you can access it" the dragon explained without moving her lips. "Your soul is pure, strong enough to prevent evil from invading and protect us".

"So if I don't protect you, someone will hurt you all and your home" the young Ruka whispered, despair creeping through her soul. "But am I really strong enough to stop them?"

A soft feeling tickled the palm of her left hand, she gazed down to find Watapon nestled by her side, beneath the hand and stroking itself against it. Its large blue eyes trembled as the girl and dragon discussed a grim future, something that couldn't be overturned without the child's power. Young Ruka's eyes softened as she watched the creature and then rose to the others while stroking the pink ball of life and fluff manually.

"I'll protect this world; I promise" she declared. "I don't want any of my friends to get hurt. This place won't be tainted or destroyed; I'll stand to fight for you all".

A chorus of cheers and squeals followed; the appreciation of those depending on her after her declaration that she would stay and protect them as the dragon wished. The dragon's wings flapped, gliding inches above the ground as she moved towards the girl and creatures, she landed before them, wrapping her arms and wings around them. The innocent smiled and giggled as the dragon transformed its form into a dome of golden light, bringing with it warmth and a sense of security, she felt safe and happy.

Across the water, Ruka watched the scene without words until the dragon altered its form; she paced towards the edge of the land, her eyes retaining their anxious and puzzled glimmer.

"I remember…" she whispered. "That was when I made a promise to protect this world. But…" Her eyes narrowed, moving towards the tainted and ruined ground at her feet, the reflection of herself in the glistening waters of the past. "Why did I forget?"

-Neo-Domino: Security HQ-

Rua shot around the corner of the sterile corridor, there was no sound, nothing to suggest he was any closer to Ruka. But when he twisted his neck to see the scene before him. He stood rooted to the spot when he found a cluster of trees blocking any way forward; the artificial lights illuminated the setting, like a scene from a fairy-tale filled with magic. Rua moved cautiously towards it, unable to see beyond the first veil of trees or what waited on the opposite side of the woodland, eyes leaping from one gap between trunks to another. Rally's heavy breaths filled his ears as he approached the nearest of the trees, brushing it with the tip of his forefinger – it was a hologram.

"A hologram?" he muttered. "Isn't this like the card Ruka…?"

He leapt through the trees, landing in the meadow on the opposite side of the trunks, there he froze completely. Standing opposite each other, Ruka and a man had Duel Disks activate on their left arms, a massive beast towering over the man while Kuribon and Sunlight Unicorn faced it either side of Ruka. But something felt off, Ruka tended to avoid duelling, neither knew why, but she claimed to be drained whenever she duelled. Had she put that fear aside for his sake and prepared herself to face this man? But he had found her.

"Ruka!" he cried joyfully, dashing past the man and towards his sister.

She said nothing, neither did the adult; for a duel, the battlefield was oddly silent. Rua entered regardless, but when he crossed the front line between Kuribon and Sunlight Unicorn, he came to a halt. His eyebrows curved in confusion as he gazed at his sister's face; blank eyes looking nowhere in particular, mouth hanging open slightly like she had forgotten how to move it. She hadn't noticed him, not even when he was in front of her. He twisted his waist, looking back at the man opposite – he, too, was still, silent, like he was sleeping on his feet.

"What's happening?" Rua asked himself desperately, setting his eyes back on his sister.

A crimson glow distracted him as he moved back, finding a pattern on her arm – in the shape of a dragon's claw. He stared at is intriguingly, how had the mark appeared and what was it? Why was it on his sister when he knew every inch of her and her life? That pattern had never appeared before, but now it was shining and she wasn't doing anything about it – she was still staring with the dead eyes.

Rally charged through the holographic forest, closing the gap between himself and Rua, small pants flew from his mouth as he watched the reunited twins, paying no attention to the strange matter that the duel was paused and the combatants were stationary. He came to a halt behind Rua, peering over the boy's shoulder at the girl who looked like a replica of him, with minor adjustments.

"Rua, what's going on?"

Out of his view, Rua's eyes had dimmed to match his sister's, watching her without fear or concern, but with the same lifeless gaze that she stood holding. A light breath came from his mouth. "Ruka…"

-Spirit World: Decayed Forest-

Time moved on for the innocent child, still on her knees in the lush field of life and hope. A voice very close to her heart began to cry out, calling her name over and over, begging her to return. To bring her back to the home world, away from the lonely place where she was the only human, but back to another lonely place where she would be alone.

"Ruka! Ruka!"

"Rua!"

Ruka stumbled as she watched the scene, overcome by the emotions that flooded her – she remembered, and she had deserted them. She fell to her knees, touching the dead ground with her left hand as she struggled to keep herself from curling up and sobbing in guilt. Tears leaked from her eyes regardless. The living field, the water and the bright sky, the monsters she promised; they all vanished under a sea of despair and as it cleared, there was nothing more than the same wasteland she stood in.

"It's my fault" she cried. "If I hadn't left you all, this wouldn't have happened. I broke my promise and now everyone is suffering".

"Ruka…" the voice returned.

Ruka opened her eyes, finding a large crag where the conference had been, the site where she had vowed to protect those around her. The skeleton of a prisoner could be seen, slender and a shadow. The very dragon that she had been surrounded by, who protected her.

"No way" Ruka cried out. "Ancient Fairy Dragon!"

There was no movement from the dragon; she had joined the ranks of victims of the decay that had spread long after Ruka left the world defenceless, poisoned without her pure mind and heart. The sight of the divine dragon pushed Ruka deeper into sorrow and regret, she shook her head and sobbed harder, overwhelmed by the extent of the damage.

"It's all my fault. I failed everyone. Because I deserted everyone and ran away" she wept, closing her eyes, unable to witness the scars any longer. "I failed Ancient Fairy Dragon and my friends. I'm not strong enough to protect this place and everyone; I was an idiot to ever think I would be".

A rumble came from behind, like an earthquake. Through it all, a roar thundered like before, Ruka gazed over her shoulder, eyes already filled with terror and despair – she knew what was coming. Id towering over her, bearing its claws and fangs like a vicious predator about to tear her apart. Her body trembled as she remained on her knees, watching the beast powerlessly; she couldn't even find Kuribon or Sunlight Unicorn.

Through the stomach of the creature, a shadow began to move. A figure passed through, revealing the nature of the shade; a human – worse, Frank. His eyes were closed and a wide grin splashed across his face; he looked like he was going mad. The inane smirk worried her; he claimed to be a psychologist – why would he be mad?

"Finally…" he muttered. His eyes shot open, shooting a wave of terror through the crouched girl when his insanely small pupils were revealed, like those of a violent cat's. "'I've crossed over – I'm in the Spirit World!" His eyes moved to Ruka, darkening his already disturbing face. "Thank you, young Signer. Because of your powers holding the door open, I could finally pass through".

"'Signer'?" Ruka murmured.

She didn't have long to ponder over the word, black shadows began to spread from the soles of Frank's shoes, crawling across the dead earth and up the trunks of frail trees. The trunks moaned and snapped, reducing the weak into dust, Ruka gasped in horror at the sight, watching more of the Spirit World die before her. More victims because of the fight to still come.

"Stop!" she cried out, standing up and turning to the deranged man. "Stop hurting this world!"

Despite her pleas, more trees withered like feeble flowers, reduced to nothing and consumed by the blackness. Ruka retreated, stepping backwards to the edge where water once glistened, standing like a shield in front of Ancient Fairy Dragon's crag, but with no other options. More vanished before her eyes; another life that she had failed to protect, time was short and belief was none.

"I knew it. I'm not strong enough to stop this" she whimpered. She peered over her shoulder, to the immense crag holding the dragon's skeleton as a symbol of oppression, the purple sky swirled overhead; there was no mercy. "Rua…"

-Neo-Domino: Security HQ-

Rally paced around the motionless twins and stood between them, on the side-lines of their eerie reunion. At first, he came to the conclusion that their bonds enabled them to speak telepathically, but Rua had ignored everything he said. Even though their time together was short, he firmly believed that wasn't the true Rua. He would have happily exclaimed that he was standing in front of his sister and explain the whole situation to her, that her duel wasn't needed to rescue him because he had been searching for her. His eyes matched her lifeless ones, his mouth small and closed; no happiness.

"Rua" the lone boy called again, waving his hand in front of the Tops boy's face. "Rua!"

No response, he had failed again. Instead, his eyes moved to the opponent who stood forgotten in the discovery of the girl. He also stood like a statue, like he had lost the ability to think and move. He was as dead to the world as the young twins. Rally frowned curiously, there was nothing to help him understand what was happening, and it was only delaying his search for his own friends. He returned to the twins, casting his eyes to the floor – if something was happening; then he obviously had no part in it. But what was it that had snatched the souls of the people around him? And why did he have nothing to do with it? Perhaps it was a City thing.

The glow of the marking emblazoned on Ruka's arm caught his eye, drawing him around Rua and to the boy's left side. There he saw the shimmering Birthmark; his eyebrows twisted in suspicion. The shape of the claw looked vaguely familiar, like he had seen one before – only different. But had he? He searched the history in his head, unable to match a face or pattern to the glow. But there was something strangely familiar about it, only without the brightness.

"What's going on?" he asked himself.

"Ruka…"

The voice of Rua came and went again, bringing back Rally's tired eyes. Since they had arrived, the girl's name was all he uttered. He knew the girl's name through their first conversation, the motivation of his being in the tower so late at night. The problem was they weren't in the tower now; they were somewhere else, separated from the setting around. At least they were finally together; he only wished he knew where that was.

-Spirit World: Decayed Forest-

"Ruka… Ruka…"

"Rua!" the girl gasped with surprise. He had reached her again. "Rua, help me. Please, bring me back home so I can fight there!"

Droplets of water spurted from the ground, building into bubbles and a small trickle. The girl took a further step back as she watched the puddle grow, something born amidst the death and decay through evil. She crouched down onto her knees again, pressing the soft palm of her hand against the cracked ground to find her face staring back in the misty water. In an instant, the reflection transformed and Rua gazed through with oddly dim eyes.

"Ruka…"

"Rua!" the girl cred. "Get me out of here, please".

"I can't" Rua answered, his voice calm and stoic, far from the tone she knew to come from him. "I heard everything. You made a promise to protect that world. I want to be strong to protect you, and you can be strong by protecting the Spirit World in the same way".

"Rua. Listen to me" Ruka protested.

"Only your brother's voice can pass through the division of our worlds, Ruka" Ancient Fairy's calm voice explained. "Your bond is strong enough to open passage to his voice, but he doesn't possess the power you do to enter this world himself. He can cross, but not completely – he is drifting between our worlds, putting himself in danger in order to reach you as best he can".

Ruka's head fell, concealing her face behind the bangs that fell over her forehead, a breeze swept the deserted forest. The cries of Kuribon filled the girl's ears as the fuzzy creature and the white steed returned, gathering around her.

"Ancient Fairy Dragon…" she whispered. "Kuribon, Sunlight Unicorn, Sunny Pixie, Watapon. Everyone!" She threw her head up, unveiling the new blaze in her eyes as she glared at the source of the poison tainting the world's soil. "I will protect this world. I will keep my promise!"

"Heh" Frank sounded, narrowing one eye and widening the other smugly. "It's pointless for you to fight back. This world is mine and I'll twist it into my ultimate desire – a place that can truly be worthy of a pure soul. People have damaged Earth beyond repair; I will start anew and be the salvation of people. No-one can stop me; especially not you!"

"I won't let anyone pollute this world" Ruka argued. She raised her arm, setting it in place for a mass of energy to gather and form a Duel Disk that latched onto her like the one connected to her body. Kuribon and Sunlight Unicorn vanished, teleporting to the field in front of her in twin flashes of light. "You'll have to kill me first to achieve that".

SIXTH TURN – FRANK

"It's my turn now. Draw" the adult called, drawing from his deck. "I activate my face-down Trap – Gesalt Trap!"

A steel device appeared in front of the lifted card, like a giant clamp. From the stand, the dark ring shot forward and snatched Kuribon. The creature squealed and flailed fruitlessly, despites its efforts, the clamp squeezed it [ATK 0].

"Kuribon!" Ruka gasped.

"Gesalt Trap reduces both the attack and defence points of your monster to zero, meaning its got no chance of saving itself from Id" Frank cackled wildly. "Without its ability, that thing is a target. And so that it stays a target, I activate Immortal Homeostasis". Beside the deadly Trap card, an equally disturbing Magic card appeared, depicting a mage known to Ruka as Maha Vailo surrounded by dark energies, narrow bolts of lightning striking it. She could easily see Frank within the card. "This prevents Kuribon from being destroyed by battle. And as a bonus, if its attack power is different from its base points, then you get 300 points of damage during each Standby Phase".

Ruka frowned, with the combination set in place; any successful attack from Id to Kuribon would deal more than half the starting value of lifepoints in one swift blow. Her glare wavered, but survived; with a stable motivation to keep fighting, with her spirit in place, she would go on no matter what plays Frank made against her.

"Id attacks Kuribon!"

The massive claw of the beast shot forward, towards the panicking Kuribon that flailed in vain, unable to move itself with the lock closed around it. Ruka glared at the beast, no longer paralysed with fear as flashes of the creatures she had vowed to save passed through her mind. Those that welcomed her to the world so long ago, and those she would give another chance.

"Reverse card open – Negate Attack!" she snapped, throwing her own right arm forward. "This stops your attack and spares Kuribon!"

Frank chuckled, any option to scowl and curse the girl's fighting spirit had gone out the window once he crossed the border, surpassing Rua and entering the domain for himself. His mind only saw the play as one thing – a delay. He would still win. For now, he slid a card into his Duel Disk.

"I activate Wave of Evil Intent" he stated, the name earned a sharpened glare from the girl. "When a monster on my field is destroyed, you get 300 points of damage. Turn end".

SEVENTH TURN – RUKA

"My turn, draw!" the girl cried out, ignoring the card she had pulled and instead, pointed at the pure steed in front of her. "Sunlight Unicorn attacks Id!"

Bound by Ego began to glow as the horse charged forward, adding to Frank's delight – with it, Ruka's lifepoints would plummet lower, the chain would reduce her lifepoints enough for an exchange between Id and Kuribon to wipe her out. He cackled as the two creatures collided, horn against the claw of the beast. The larger exploded into golden shards.

"Now the combination of Bound by Ego and Wave of Evil Intent reduces your lifepoints by half the battle damage and then an extra 300 points for destroying a monster on my field" he yelled rapturously.

Bolts struck down from the heavens, one striking Ruka, who then cried out in anguish. Despite her frail limbs, she kept standing, supported by the responsibility behind her and lifted her head to glare again at Frank, who was unaffected by the storm. The heavens were growing restless by his darkened presence, but nothing mattered to him now.

FRANK - RUKA
3250 -LP- 2050

"And now, Ancient Forest destroys Sunlight Unicorn, leaving you with nothing more than that powerless fool, the key to your demise" Frank cackled wildly, pointing at the surviving Kuribon.

Sunlight Unicorn vanished in the same sudden manner as Id, leaving Ruka with the targeted partner she considered to be her closest friend of those in the Spirit World. The constant reminder of those she had to fight on for.

"Horn of the Unicorn returns to the top of my deck when it's removed from the field" Ruka stated, holding up the Magic card and laying atop the stack. Another card entered her Duel Disk. "I activate Foresight. This lets me guess the top card of my deck – if I'm right; I can send it to the Graveyard and draw a card".

"You're going to discard Horn to the Unicorn?" Frank chuckled, puzzled by the move, but giddy nonetheless – it would remove any chance of powering Sunlight Unicorn beyond Id's power if she planned to revive it again.

Ruka picked up the card, keeping it face-down and her eyes on Frank. "I declare this card is Horn of the Unicorn". The hologram of the Foresight Magic card began to glow, confirming that indeed the girl was correct and permitted the card's journey into the Graveyard. She drew a new card in its place. "I set two cards face-down. Turn end".

Behind Frank, a wide tower of white light erupted from the ground, unleashing the buried Id back onto the playing field, the immortal creature that had to die in order to protect the Duel Spirit World. Ruka eyed it hatefully; knowing full-well that was the source of Frank's power, and with its immortal power, there was no way to overcome it permanently.

EIGHTH TURN – FRANK

"Draw" the professor barked with his inane grin. "And with Kuribon's attack power still at zero, Immortal Homeostasis deals 300 points of damage".

FRANK - RUKA
3250 -LP- 1750

"I activate Super Ego's Aim" Frank hollered, throwing the card into his Duel Disk. "By paying 800 lifepoints, this grants Id the ability to attack directly and gain 300 attack points at the same time".

A white glow crept around Id's form, casting a shadow across the field and over the border to Ruka's half. The beast growled and hissed, taking in the power passed onto it. Frank's lips spread further apart as he pointed to the girl.

"All three are together; Id, Ego and Superego" Frank commented. "Come, fulfil the desires of your ego – join me to unleash your full powers".

"I don't understand what powers you're talking about" Ruka whimpered, clenching her right hand in front of her chest. "You keep talking about it, but you won't explain. Besides, I have Rua to find, I won't give up on him for your insane goal".

"Have it your way" Frank snapped. "Id, finish this pathetic Signer off and cover the final stretch to our world!"

Kuribon squealed; even though it wasn't the target, it feared for Ruka, who glared up at the beast. Ruka shifted her feet, setting them apart like she was bracing for the aftershocks of the attack that would end her. But rather than wait, she pressed down on the central key shining on the circular centre of her Duel Disk.

"Trap card open – Fairy Wind!" she yelled in defiance. "This destroys every Magic and Trap card on the field; then it deals damage to us both worth 300 points for each card".

The cards shattered, one on Ruka's side shimmering before it departed, Ancient Forest would be removed with the selection, meaning attacks would be permitted without the destruction of the violent being afterwards.

"Before it enters the Graveyard, I activate the effect of Fairy's Duality" she added in the same forceful manner. "This has two effects that follow changes in either player's lifepoints. For now, I'll use it to increase my lifepoints instead of losing them".

Frank groaned as a wave of pain washed over him as a result of Fairy Wind. Ruka, however, was surrounded by a pink glow as her lifepoints increased, feeling better and stronger than before, she smiled confidently in Frank's direction while his face was twisted in discomfort.

FRANK - RUKA
1750 -LP- 3250

"Looks like my lifepoints are safe now" the girl commented proudly.

"Not for long, your Trap does nothing against Id's attack" Frank retorted.

The shady claw of Id slammed into the ground, dislodging stones and clumps of the ground. Ruka cried out as she was thrown off her feet and launched her to the very edge of the elevated land. She slammed against the edge of the plain and dug her fingers into the dead soil as her legs hung over the edge, where they would once have been swallowed by water and soaked generously. Frank's laughter deteriorated into a fit of shrieks and cackles, unlike anything Ruka had heard before.

But it flooded her ears as she dragged herself up and back onto the higher level of land, glaring at him wearily while the liberated Kuribon floated around on her field, at a loss over what it could do. She took in deep breaths, watching the hopeless scene ahead with few options outside what felt like inevitable defeat.

FRANK - RUKA
1750 -LP—1050

"I think you've suffer enough for one turn" Frank added. "I'll end it there and leave you one final chance to clamber out of the grave that you've been helping me dig. Next turn, Id will finish you off and this world will become mine".

A fit of feverish cackling followed, while Ruka struggled to get her to her feet, swaying from side to side, her waving pigtails low as her body fought to recover.

NINETH TURN – RUKA

"Draw" the girl called.

"Super Ego's Aim activates from the Graveyard during the turn after it was sent to the Graveyard, returning to the field and becoming an Equip Card" Frank interjected. "Raising Id's attack power by 300 again".

The purple demon unleashed a roar as it was surrounded by the same pale aura that pushed its offensive capabilities higher. Ruka glared at the beast and then to the master. She pulled a card from her hand, showing it to Frank as a Magic Card in the midst of a tornado.

"I activate Mystical Space Typhoon!" she shouted. "Which will destroy Super Ego's Aim, and this time, it won't come back". The Magic card opposite exploded, leaving Id the sole being on Frank's field, opposite the lone Kuribon. Ruka held another card up, sliding it into the lower level of her Duel Disk. "I set a card face-down. Turn end".

"So that's all you have to offer? Just a face-down card and destroying Super Ego's Aim?" Frank chuckled. He threw his head back and began to cackle again, amused by how limited the Signer girl's options were. He drew the top card of his deck without hesitation, eager to end everything.

TENTH TURN – FRANK

"Id, finish her off. Devour Kuribon and reduce her lifepoints to nothing!"

The fiend lunged forward, its pointed claws aimed at the small furry creature that hovered alone without backup. With the attack, Frank continued laughing blindly, no longer capable of paying attention to the duel, but rather, lost in his fantasy of owning the elusive world and bending it into his own vision. He would finally achieve what he had been seeking for almost a decade.

"Kuribon's monster effect – it can return to my hand when it's targeted for an attack" Ruka called, stretching her left arm in the direction of the creature. The safe Kuribon shrank into an orb of golden light and shot back to the Duel Disk, into the card lying alone on the top. "By doing so, it reduces battle damage to zero and attacking player gains lifepoints equal to their monster's attack power".

"So all you're doing is helping me, I'll gain too many lifepoints for you to stop me" Frank laughed. "And you have so few – you can't possibly win this now".

Ruka narrowed her eyes into a glare as she tensed the muscles in her body. Just in front of her, she could see Rua – not the real boy, but a transparent copy in her mind, standing opposite with his Duel Disk active and his back to her, facing the same darkness he had no connection to.

"I'll fight to protect you, Ruka" he spoke without moving, without looking back at her. "That's why I fought at the Arcadia Movement".

Ruka's eyes widened and a gasp passed through her parting lips – that was right, Rua had been fighting for her. And now she was fighting for him. Because he put his life on the line for her while facing Aki's legendary powers to the point where she had to step in just to stop the fatal blow. Her eyes flashed with strength and determination.

"I will save Rua. And the Duel Spirits depending on me!" she shouted.

"You will, will you?" Frank cackled. "You can't even save yourself!"

The darkness spreading from Frank accelerated, creeping up the crag imprisoning Ancient Fairy Dragon; boulders broke loose, drawing the girl's eyes to the spectacle. They widened greatly, watching in horror as the rubble slid down the edge of the cliff. Instantly, the consequences of the miniature mountain's destruction while housing the trapped dragon played through her mind – the dragon failing to the darkness and destroyed as the prison around her crumbled away into nothing. Ruka threw her head forward, towards the source.

"Stop it!" she shrieked. "Stop it before you kill Ancient Fairy Dragon! It's not alright for her to die!"

Smoke erupted from the crag like a volcano unleashing its wrath, the skeleton of the dragon began to move, climbing out of the rock. The earth shook as the dragon leaned forward, hissing while Frank's incessant laughter rang in Ruka's ears. She watched in silence, unable to do anything before the grey dragon reached forward and wrapped its bony claws around the man, lifting him from the ground. He continued to laugh, oblivious to everything, to the danger he was in and what had unfolded. He had lost his mind completely.

"Ancient Fairy, please stop this!" the girl cried. "Don't kill that man! No-one needs to die".

The dragon roared viciously, like it didn't recognise Ruka, lost in her own anger. The glorious pink wings of the creature had been reduced to nothing more than bent and misshapen bones of rock, all beauty in the creature was lost. Ruka curved her eyebrows, there was nothing she could do but end the duel and pray that would be enough to get them out the predicament. Perhaps it would get them away from the infuriated Ancient Fairy Dragon and home, to finally settle things without putting someone's life on the line. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes as she focused on what she could do, how she could save both the blinded dragon and the deranged man.

"Reverse card open – Trap of Darkness!" she bellowed, opening the card which rose backwards. "This lets me pay 1000 lifepoints to select a Normal Trap in my Graveyard. This then takes on the effect of that card". The card began to glow, changing its artwork to that of Fairy's Duality. Ruka stretched her neck as she shouted to the two lost beings above her. "With this, I'll take the darkness of both Frank and Ancient Fairy and seal it away forever! Fairy's Duality's second possibility is to reduce an opponent's lifepoints by the same amount they'd gain. Let's end this all now".

A golden ray shot out of the card, engulfing Frank who began to moan wildly in the place of constant laughter, his lifepoints fell without his acknowledging, but his voice finally silenced.

FRANK - RUKA
0 -LP—50

DUEL END

A tornado descended over the ruined meadow, touching against the dead ground and ripped Frank from Ancient Fairy's grasp. Ruka cried out as the winds captured her, lifting her tiny body from the ground and into the uncertain air. She couldn't get a decent view of Ancient Fairy to see if Frank's defeat had quenched her thirst for vengeance. Her right eye opened slightly, a mere slit to avoid the wind battering it and forcing it shut protectively. The world faded to white.

-Neo-Domino: Security HQ-

"It's trying to tell me something".

Her arm was shining. It was enough for Aki to want to tear the limb from her, but she merely stared at it. Her bitter eyes moved to the ceiling, thinking of the girl that had been with her. Thinking of how lucky Ruka had been not to be 'gifted' by the cursed symbol. It had torn the life of Izayoi Aki apart once; she couldn't allow it to do so again. Another chilling glare fell onto the glowing symbol as the light died, with its silencing, she moved on.

Ruka's eyes suddenly flickered, shimmering with the life lost. Rally flinched at the sudden sign of life after so long alone in the dim silence – this was the first time he could see the real Ruka. Rua shuddered, blinking and opening his true eyes as well. Rally smiled at the pair, glad that they had both returned without harm.

"Ruka!" Rua gasped, his voice filled with joy and relief. "I'm so glad you're okay".

"Rua…" the girl breathed, smiling gently as she traced every feature of her brother's face. She had never thought she'd be so happy to see him beaming childishly in front of her.

She shot forward, wrapping her arms loosely around his neck and rested her chin on his shoulder. Her eyes were closed as she took in every emotion, everything about the moment. She had never felt so warm, so happy. Her eyes opened and the smile faltered, shrinking as she gazed on Frank's lifeless form slumped on the opposite side of what had been the battlefield, propped against the wall with dead eyes. Like he truly was dead. She frowned, there was no chance she had been too late to rescue him from Ancient Fairy, she heard his moans as he was torn from her bones and flung into the air. There was always the possibility that he was lost between the two worlds, like Rua had been. She had grabbed his hand and drifted back, but there was no evidence that Frank had followed them back into the human world.

Her thoughts were brought to a sudden halt by a third voice; one not belonging to herself, Rua or the comatose man. She averted her eyes as she moved back from, finding the red haired boy smiling at the two with a face no longer than theirs.

"I'm glad you're both okay. You had me worried" he chirped.

"Rua… who is this?" Ruka asked, turning to her brother.

"This is Rally, I met him further down the building while I was searching for you" Rua answered with a smile. "Don't worry about his Marker, he's a good guy".

"You've been looking for me?" Ruka echoed in bewilderment. How could that be the case? "I thought you had been captured by Security; I'm glad you weren't".

"But we can't leave yet. I still have to find Yusei" Rally intervened, curving his eyebrows anxiously.

"Who's 'Yusei'?" Rua asked, looking at Rally with the same face as his sister.

"He's a good friend of mine" Rally answered. "He, Carly and me broke in to find and save Jack. We have to help him before it's too late".

"Frank mentioned Jack too" Ruka mumbled. "He thought I was someone who had come to help him".

"Jack? As in Jack Atlus?" Rua cried out gleefully.

"Don't you remember, Rua? Shira told you Jack was here when you were asking about Ruka" Rally stated, his face filled with confusion.

"Oh yeah" Rua chuckled, scratching the back of his head playfully. "I forgot because I was so focused on Ruka, I didn't really listen to him because I was set on her and nothing more. Come on, let's find Yusei and Jack".

Ruka watched her brother without words; his sudden elevation in mood was nothing uncommon – he was a big fan of the Duel King Jack Atlus. There was no doubt that he would try to ask the King for a duel eventually, something he had always dreamed of; something that would never happen. As she watched the two prepubescent boys discuss what and who they were looking for, Ruka smiled and shook her head. Maybe he was a pain sometimes; maybe he focused too much on wanting duels. But she wouldn't have him any other way. The two boys turned to her and walked either side of her; they resumed their climb together, united.

PREVIEW

Carly: We're almost there! We can reach Jack!

Kinomiya: You won't free Jack Atlus without passing me. That won't happen.

Divine: What? What are you doing here?

Rua: So you thought you'd kill me to get Ruka, you're despicable.

Divine: I'll deal with you once and for all. This time, you won't come back!

Rua: Next time: "Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's: The Neo-Domino Purge, Chapter 22 – Everyone's Own Battle! The Fight to the Top!" I won't let you try to steal Ruka anymore!

NEXT KEY CARD – Luck Up!

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