Diclamer: Warning, I don't own Yugioh 5ds or Yugioh Zexal! Both Yugioh series are owned by Kazuki Takahashi and Konami, please support the original series. I only own Zero, Tsubasa, The Zexal Armors, and some of the cards that Zero and Tsubasa have. Now Enjoy another chapter of Yu-Gi-Oh 5ds! Zero's Legacy.
Chapter XVIII: Pain, Loneliness and Hatred
This is it, I adjusted my duel disk on my right arm and remember the words Tsubasa told me over and over again. The only one that can save Aki, is me? Does that mean that Tsubasa no longer can calm her down? If so then I have to stop her before anyone gets hurt, especially…
"Zero." I look toward her, the person that I need to protect from danger.
"Yes, what is it, Ruka?" I saw everyone.
"Your going up against her." I heard Jin say. "What do you make of her card?" I pondered for a minute, should I tell him my opinion? Should I tell him that I felt pain and loneliness through her cards? I looked toward Astral and he nodded.
"I felt pain, loneliness…I do not feel hatred toward her enemies, is as if she is enclosed in a cage." I look toward Yusei. "You felt it too, didn't you, Yusei." he clutches his right arm.
"Yes, There's rejection and anger, but…There is still something else lying dormant."
"I…See." I look toward my left arm and lifted looking to my mark, as soon as our match start I'm sure that this marks will respond to each other. Yusei seem to ponder the same thing because he was looking at his. I narrowed my eyes to Ruka, she had a look of…sadness on her face, she also, was looking to her right arm where here mark was, the mark that symbolize the person I need to protect. I went and put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, I promise, I will wake her up from the darkness and save her." I told her.
"Mm." she's been silent, I look to my magatama it shone but not slightly.
"I need to go." I walk but stopped when I heard Rua.
"Zero! Go beat her up!" I smiled.
"Yeah." I waved him off and left.
Zero, You, you didn't talk about her…Rua told me, the girl that you met in the Daimon Area, the one that you told me when we were in the elevator.
"Don't worry." I felt a hand on my shoulder and look to see Yusei with a slight grin. "He will find a way to save her, after all he always find a way to protect everyone." I nodded. Zero, please be careful.
"It seems Ruka, was a bit bothered by something." Astral said.
"Whatever it is, it can wait a bit longer, If what Tsubasa say is true then this entire Fortune Cup is at jeopardy." Astral nodded.
"Not to mention what Bommer said to us." I nodded. We were Rex little guinea pigs, it sickens me that someone would go so far to obtain something that he is not chosen to wield. Even more I bet he is aligned with them, but then again they could be using him too. Nasch has always been a very patient and calculating Varian. Nasch…the more I think of them the more I think of a way to defeat them without making them disappear. My trail off thoughts were interrupted when my left arm pulsed.
"Urk." I grunted when I looked toward me I saw her. I was face to face with the Black Rose Witch herself.
This boy, tch, the pain it doesn't stop.
"Is you." He told me I clench my right arm. "Why do you call it a wretched mark?" he ask me that?
"I hate those who hold this mark, or any mark that this mark respond to…I detest them." I told him. it seems he wanted to say something but he was interrupted by a laugh.
That annoying laugh it can only mean.
"Why, hello there, Izayoi-sama, Zero-kun." Humph, that clown has the audacity to call me in a formal matter? "We were quite impressed by your last duel. Director Godwin would like to speak with you quickly, commending you, before your semi-final match." Godwin? what does he want with her? "Allow me to escort you to him."
"Aki is tired." I look to see two people. Tsubasa had her mask on while beside her was a man. His hair was a bit long until it reach its shoulders while the front was lifted spiked up. his eyes were dark green while he was dressed in a long brown coat that had a black shirt underneath it and a black tie. his shoes were black and so were his glove. I could feel his aura, it was similar to Tsubasa's and Aki's, this man…he was also a psychic. Could this be the man, Tsubasa talked about, the one she called Divine?
"Who might you be?" The clown asked.
"Let's say I'm Aki's "caretaker." Though, I do believe you already run an investigation." The man I presume to be Divine said to the clown before said clown laugh…I hate his laugh. "We must take Aki back into form before the semi-final match can begin. I hope you understand." They said before Tsubasa, Divine and Aki walked away from him. I couldn't see it but I could tell that Tsubasa was giving me a look…it was that of concern, don't worry Tsubasa I promise you I will fulfill your wish of saving Aki.
"Humph, fraudulent group, playing the mystic angle, as they do." I walk to him.
"What does Rex, want with us? what is he planning?" I calmly said to the clown man he just gave me a smirk.
"I would consider exactly where you stand in all of this. Otherwise…" Otherwise?
I was in the chamber that was disguise as one of the two trucks parked outside the stadium, That girl was there with her mask still on she was whispering something that I couldn't even hear…Tch, this girl, ever since she appeared…
"Tsubasa." I heard Divine's voice and the monitor opened to reveal him.
"Yes?" she told him.
"Is Aki, ready?" he asked her.
"She will be I just need to cast one final spell." Divine nodded at this, it has been always like this, This girl somehow, she manage to control my anger, but each time she seemed to be getting more and more tire…It would be better if she just die.
"Aki,, you do understand, correct? by making our existence known in this tournament, the risk we're taking are stacking up dramatically. People are trying to deceive you like the ones before will be hounding you from now on." Humph.
"It will do them no good. My mission is to let the ideal of Arcadia Movement be known across the world. I wouldn't subject myself to their drivel. My heart…is being rightfully guided by you, Divine." I told him.
"You're quite wise, Aki. That's right. The reason you and Tsubasa are here is because Yliaster has the ambition to resurrect a wicked being, the Crimson Dragon. People are unaware of this, they are unaware that they are trying to get the world on their knees through the power of the Crimson Dragon. We, the one who have the abilities bestoned among by the gods themselves, are the only ones aware of this."
"Yes, we are aware."
"Your match is about to start anytime soon, now let Tsubasa use her spell to calm your mind, your opponent is Ichigo Zero, he might be part of Yliaster, since he has summoned a monster that we haven't seen before, a monster he called numbers." Number, so that what that monster is, that thing that fought Black Rose on equal ground. I hate it. "You should be fine, Aki. once you defeat Zero, then Fudo Yusei, and finally Yliaster's puppet, Jack, the people's jeers will turn into cheers. the time to realize our ideals is at hand. Tsubasa, take care of her, everything rest in both of your hands." Divine told the both of us.
"Yes, sir."
"Yes." That wretched mark…I HATE IT! Because of it, my childhood, my duel academy life…I will make that boy suffer, and then I will feel eternal peace once I know he is no longer in this world.
This marks, they must have bounded us together for some reason, if that so, we cannot let Rex or the Varians use us for their own goals, if I can find a way to talk to Rex, I could get straight answers from him, but, what if he doesn't know that the Varians are manipulating this tournament? No, I have to think positive about this. And That guy, I could feel it, he is no doubt using Aki, and Tsubasa too…That bastard, using my own friend for his selfish goals. We must not let them use us…if that happens, we might be facing him again…But first, I must fulfill someone's wish. I have to awake and drag Aki away from the darkness that she is engulf in.
"Astral."
"Yes, Zero?"
"I know I say it a thousand times over but, I need your help, I need your help in order to save someone from the darkness, someone who needs to awaken her heart someone who needs to know that she is not alone, that she has friends that care for her, I need you to help me awaken Aki's heart." I told him.
"You know you can count on me for anything, Zero. We have faced a lot of obstacles together, and we know that this might be the biggest obstacle in our lives." He is right, Aki is a psychic duelist meaning that all damage that I receive will be real, no matter how many duels I have face with real damage and not only my life but Astral's, Tsubasa's, Shion's and everyone else's lives on the line I have to push forward. I gave a smile which he returned.
"Thank you, Astral." I then took number 39 and 17 out of my pocket…I'll need your help too, Leveiss, Hope.
"I'm going." I told Divine, he approach me.
"This hair clips would ensure to keep your powers in check, Aki." he then narrow his eyes toward the girl. "Also, Tsubasa would be watching you from afar, in case your hatred get's out of control, even the hair clips cannot stop if you unleash it on the boy." he look toward her. "Tsubasa I'm entrusting you to take care of Aki, you and only you can maintain her in control if she lose control."
"Yes." she then look up.
"Aki, would you mind going ahead? I need to speak to Tsubasa for a minute, alone." I hesitated but then nodded, why would he want to talk to that girl alone? His attention has always been her since the beginning. Why?
I know what Divine wanted to talk about, t was because Junon informed me about Zero.
"What do you foresee?" He asked me. I hesitated to tell him, If I told him that Aki, will fall to Zero in this duel he would make sure that I change that but if I lie, Aki, would be…
"Is difficult to tell, but it seems that we must prepare for a more powerful treat in the future, the winds are changing. We cannot defy this destiny, in success or failure of Aki in the tournament we must focus on the upcoming future." I told him, he seems to ponder this for a second before he close his eyes.
"I see, well we must be ready when that time comes then." he then look and smiled to me. "I told you that you shouldn't keep that mask on every time, a face such as beautiful as yours doesn't need to be hidden." I touch my maks and looked away.
"Sorry."
"Don't be, I understand, you and Aki, I can feel the way she glares at you, do not worry I am sure that once all of this is over, you and Aki would be a formidable team." Formidable…Yes, but it won't be because of Arcadia Movement, it would be because of the marks we have, I am the protector of the foot mark signer, the Guardian of Prophecy.
"Yes, Divine." I will protect Aki, even if it cost me my life.
"Beat that Witch!"
"We're counting on you, boy!"
"Pulverize that witch!"
"They're saying all that awful stuff again, same as ever. She is just an innocent teenage girl." I heard Yanagi say.
"But, the fact stands that she is implanting fear on everyone using her strange powers." I heard Jin say…still she is…
"But, being scary, why does people came here to watch her?"
"People are cruel. They know that they're in danger, but they still want to watch…the sight of someone they despise being put to be slaughter." Zero…
"It looks like this will be a tough duel to bare." Please…Save her, but don't get hurt.
I heard Yeager apologize to Rex who doesn't seem to mind. then my eyes narrow to him…The way he stopped the spiked chariot…what is he?
"It was not so hard to stop it really." What the? "I can read your expression, my king. Like I said before, there so many things that I keep secret…even to your Director. I don't want to be cynical but, how did it felt to fight Ichigo Zero and Fudo Yusei one after another?"
"Tch." I scoffed.
"Aw, don't be like that…but I wasn't kidding about you not being able to defeat Fudo Yusei nor Ichigo Zero at your current state. you must have felt it, when you clashed with Ichigo Zero's number, that power that defeated your Red Demon Dragon with ease, ever since that day you been looking for a source of defeating that number if the circumstances occur that Zero defeat Yusei. If that happens you'll be likely defeated by the boy." Who does he think he is? I'm the King, the best, a so called third rate duelist like Ichigo Zero could never defeat me!
"Humph, That boy if he ever gets to face me, I'll show him that he shouldn't wish too."
"Oh, is that so? Would you let me see and experience your clash with him?" Would you?! Heh, he really needs to…
"Humph, I'll let you experience it, it'll be so much that you wish you didn't." Zero, I do not think you'll lose this match. but, Izayoi Aki, she has strength unlike any duelist I ever seen. so far.
"Yeah! We have finally reach this, The second match to determine who will face Fudo Yusei in the finals! Here comes the first challenger is the Black Rose Witch…Aki Izayoi!"
"Beat that witch!" I heard the boos but I don't heave to them. This people they haven't learn, no matter what they are scared of facing me so they decide to call me names, I'll show them, I'll show them the true terror of The Black Witch…
"And now, here's the Hero of Hope and Wishes, Ichigo Zero!" Tsubasa…I'll find a way, I'll find a way to reach her heart.
"The moment of truth would be known, in a few moment, who will come out on top! Second Match of the semi-finals of the Fortune Cup, Start!"
"Duel!"
[Aki: 4000]
[Zero: 4000]
"It's my turn. Draw. I'll summon Ivy Wall, in defense mode." So she is starting with ivy wall again, like last duel [Ivy Wall: *2 DEF: 1200]. "I place a card face-down to end my turn."
"Zero, it might be a trap be careful." I nodded to Astral.
"My turn, Draw." I look at my hand I have to take down Ivy wall fast if I don't I'll be in trouble. "I summon Heroic Challenger- Spartas." I said as he appeared by my side [Heroic Challenger- Spartas: *4 ATK: 1600] "Battle, Heroic Challenger- Spartas, attack Ivy Wall." Spartas charged with his spear toward Ivy wall.
"When ivy wall is targeted by an attack of a monster, I'm allow to special summon an Ivy token on my opponent's side of the field, in defense position." she said as I see a small plant appeared on my field. [Ivy Token: *1 DEF:0] My attack continues before my Spartas stabs the Ivy wall who shatters in pieces.
"Oh, my summoning a token on the opponent side of the field is a strategy that Aki Izayoi has shown us time and time again. What kind of surprise she has in store this time?!"
"Those tokens."
"Yeah I know, something is not right here if these tokens are destroyed the controller will take 300 points of damage." Whatever she is planning I need to be ready. "I place this card face-down, I end my turn." I said as I too put a reverse card.
"It's my turn. Draw. Reverse card, open. I activate my Permanent Trap, Cursed Ivy. it's effect let me special summon an Ivy monster from my cemetery in face-up defense position." She said as her trap card that shows a lot of vines and a few leaves appeared and said vines came to live and entered the ground. "I'll bring back Ivy Wall." [Ivy Wall: *2 DEF: 1200] "When Cursed Ivy is equipped into Ivy Wall and is removed from the field, the equipped monster will be destroyed." Is she trying to fill my monster card zone so I can't Xyz summon? I know when the ivy tokens are destroyed I take 300 points of damage but if I am able to draw War hammer or Gagaga Giant then it'll be pointless.
"I'll end my turn."
"My turn!" I drew, speaking of him. "I release the ivy token, to advance summon Gagaga Giant, in defense mode!" I said as a warrior with his face covered in a stone mask appeared. He is dressed in a heavy stone armor while his skin is brown, the shoulder pads have twin spikes that go to the sides. His boots had three separated section as if the warrior was wearing three different sized boots. He towered Spartas by three feet as he crouch beside him with his arms in a cross position before turning blue, indicating that he was in defense position. [Gagaga Giant: *5 DEF: 2400]
"Oh! what a move by Zero, taking advantage of Izayoi Aki's Ivy Token by releasing it to summon his Gagaga Giant and since it was release and not destroyed, Zero's life points were safe!" I dodged this one but, even if I attack I'll still get three tokens due to Ivy Wall and Cursed Ivy…Its better than four. "Spartas, attack Ivy Wall!" Again, Spartas charged toward her Ivy Wall.
"Ivy Wall being targeted with an attack Special Summon one ivy token to my opponent's field in defense mode." She said as another token appeared [Ivy Token: *1 DEF:0] My Spartas slashed this time making a scar on Ivy Wall before it shatters along with Cursed Ivy. "When Ivy Wall is destroyed, so is Cursed Ivy and when it does, it leaves two ivy token on my opponent's field in face-up defense position." With that I'll have my five monster zones full. [Ivy Token (x3): *1 DEF: 0]
"Can I ask you something?" I told her, she didn't reply so I continue. "When did you meet Tsubasa?" This caught her by surprise. "When we fought back in the Daimon Area, she was the one who stopped the fight by unleashing her psychic barrier on Hope, plus her monster…"
"That girl, the one you called Tsubasa, she came to the Arcadia Movement not to long ago. She said that she sensed us and that she foresaw the future of Arcadia." She said.
"By Arcadia you mean the place that Kodo was going to talk about in our duel." she didn't replied she just narrowed her eyes to the left.
"When we first saw her abilities and her monster, the one she calls Junon, Divine was quite impressed by it. He saw her as a sign for Arcadia to show itself to the world, yet." I could see her anger building up. "Yet she had something that I thought only I had! She had a mark, it was different but I felt it and this wretched mark of mine, it responded strongly to it." I felt mine pulsing, it was as if it was telling me the danger that this girl could unleash. "I hate it, this pain that it gives me, why do I have to have this? Why do I have to suffer for it? Because of it, my childhood was ruined, my parents they were scare of me, when they send me to duel academy I thought that they sent me so it could help me control my powers, but I was wrong. They did it so they could leave their lives in peace without me, they abandoned me! These people, they called me names, They shunned me!" Damn it, the pulse in my arm is building higher. I see her holding her right arm, she must be feeling it too. "You'll never understand, what is like to be alone, shunned, hated, feared." Alone? I understand that feeling because…
"I understand, you're lonely, the reason why you hate everyone is because…you never met anyone who has been in the same spot that you currently are." I look at my hand, "Gagagawind", "Gagaga Draw", "Gagaga Kaiser", and "Heroic Challenger- Extra Sword" I have "Speeding Bye Magic" face-down just in case I need extra draws if I get in a pinch next turn. "My turn ends."
"You understand me?" She whispered before she glares me with hatred. "You'll never understand me! Your mark has make me suffer long enough! Draw!" she drew her card. "I summon Night Rose Knight, in attack mode!" Her voice. I see the knight appeared. she had light short blue hair and was wearing a dark violet prince tops, with the lower body consisting of white pants and dark violet boots. She held a small sword and a white cape was attached to her neck while a dark purple with a ruby line in the center helmet was on her head. [Night Rose Knight: *3 ATK: 1000] "Next, Night Rose Knight effects activates, when she is normal summon I can special a summon a level 4 or lower plant monster from my hand, Come, Lord Poison!" She called as a monster made of vines with sharp pitch black claws appeared. It had spikes in the center and lower part of its body as its eyes were glaring at me with the same hate that Aki is giving me. [Lord Poison: *4 ATK: 1400]
"This isn't good." I said to Astral.
"Hm, I can feel it too, something dangerous is coming." A level three tuner and a level four monster that can only mean.
"I'm tuning my level three Night Rose Knight to my level four Lord Poison!" she said as Night Rose raise her sword and turn into three rings that surround lord poison. "Chilling flames engulf the entire world. Pitch-dark flower…Set into bloom! Synchro Summon!" I felt my hand pulse. then I look to see her hairpiece falling from her hair.
My mark.
"Is coming."
Zero. I felt my right arm pulse violently.
Her hatred, is getting the higher.
"Zero." you must stop Aki and win this duel otherwise, Aki will…
"Black Rose Dragon!" The dragon starts to form. This is the third time I see it. My mind went back to the first time I saw it in the Daimon Area, the time Hope fought it, if I can… "Black Rose Dragon effect, when she is special summon I can destroy all cards on the field."
"What?" I heard Astral say. That means that…
"Black Rose GALE!" with a mighty roar her dragon unleash a powerful gale a lot more stronger than any gale I experience. I wasn't surprise by this, she was a psychic duelist, yet…
"Trap card activate, Speeding Bye Magic, I remove all card's from my hand from play until my standby phase, and during that phase I draw cards from my deck equal to the amount of spell removed by this effect!" I yelled through the gale as I put all my cards in my pocket before I shielded myself from the gale.
"When the Ivy Token's are destroyed, you receive 300 points of damage!" she said as the gales start to cut through my clothes, I grunted in pain as they become more violent and my monsters along with the tokens get destroyed. [Zero: 4000-3100]
"Oh, my! The gales of Black Rose Dragon's effect are taking effect even in the arena!" Damn…After the gales stopped I saw Aki play a card in her spell and trap slot.
"I'm not done, Spell Card, Resurrection of the Dead!" I saw the blue cross that has been used by many famous duelists, including myself. "With this card I can special summon a monster from either players graveyard, Reborn, Black Rose Dragon!" Her dragon return. "Black Rose Dragon, attack the opposing player directly! BLACK ROSE FLARE!" the dragon unleashed a purple flame that engulf every ounce of my body. I scream in pain!
"Zero!" I heard Astral yelled before he too screamed.
"Zero!" No, is like last time! He's getting hurt! Zero…Zero, Zero!
I staggered slowly as I heard the screams of people.
"Damned Witch!"
"-Scram-Go back to the witch's den!-Go away" This people, if they keep insulting her, she… [Zero: 3100-700]
"That's right…That's correct…I'm the Witch. A frightful woman who inflicts pain and enjoys doing so." I saw a slight grin appear on her…She, enjoys inflicting pain? "It's fun! Inflicting pain to all those who drove me into solitude with my powers…is truly is fun!" Aki…Tsubasa is right, I'm the only one who can save you. The reason you say this is because deep down inside, you feel alone and are afraid to open up to others because you're afraid that they'll shunned you, that's why you hate everyone, that is why you enjoy inflicting pain, is to mask what you truly feel inside, loneliness. Aki, I'm going to reach you, even if it cost me my life I will fulfill Tsubasa's wish and save you from the darkness that you created, the darkness of the Black Rose Witch!
"You're never alone,
I'm always be her, so don't wear that mask anymore."
Well the first part of this duel is over and I bet you didn't expect Black Rose Dragon to appear so soon in the duel, blow up the field and then attack directly to inflict heavy damage on not only Zero but Astral too. But yeah Aki's hatred is getting the best of her and has unleashed her untamed psychic powers. I like how she just say that she enjoys inflicting pain while having this semi-sadistic smile on her, while she see Zero and Astral squirm. But next time it will be Zero's turn to awake Aki and save her from the darkness in her heart. The Next Chapter will be epic, Help.
Night Rose Knight= Twilight Rose Knight
Resurrection of the Dead= Monster Reborn
Gagaga Giant= Gagaga Guardian
Review Answers:
Guest: Shark will appear don't worry if you have seen Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal II! you'll already know the real name of Shark and who is he suppose to be aligned with. Kaito, I don't see him making an appearance but Galaxy will but I'm getting ahead of myself with both of them considering that we're still in the first arc.
Guest #2: Astral has 99 numbers, the reason why he doesn't have 96 black mist is because he was destroyed in the war against the Varian…or so they think. Zero right now has 39 and 17 in possession however, since they're in the past something will occur that most of the numbers will scatter all over the world, AGAIN! Making our number hunter hero and his Astral companion search for each and every one of them, along with the main antagonists of the story. Don't worry Ruka will duel more than she did in the anime, Zero will give her some cards but they'll be from this time and not from Zero's time, Rua already have Zero's Mainspring but Ruka will have her fairy tale spirit monsters become more vast, I'm planning on her having a fairytale arch-type of her own since as you said in your review we don't get to see her deck completely and from the way that its described on Yu-Gi-Oh! WIKIA! her deck is based on Mythical creatures like sunlight unicorn, sunny pixie, Regulus I'll make myth creatures that only exist in fairy tales I even have her hold the legendary number 44: White Sky Horse- Sky Pegasus. Hope this answers your question and make you want to support this story more.