Staggering backward, Konami rubbed his forehead as his vision began to swim. It was too much. The pressure, the burden. It was only a matter of time until it overcame him, and finally, it seemed as though it had. With one last unsatisfied grumble, he collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
He awoke some time later, in the comfort of a surprisingly large bed. His head was throbbing, perhaps from hitting it as he fell, but despite that, he still felt remarkably refreshed. It was as if everything was clear to him now, almost like...
...he had seen the light.
Just kidding.
Had you fooled for a second though, didn't I?
"Awake already? My, you certainly weren't out for very long, were you?" Frigg asked as she entered the room.
"What happened?" Konami asked with a frown. "Where's Jaden?"
"I sent your friend on his way. Though your sudden blackout did come as a surprise to me, our deal remained firm. Jaden Yuki will remain ignorant to the secrets of this store. That being said, I did not let him leave with nothing. His journey is now one with a clear destination, but it is one that he must make alone."
"...So what you're saying is...he ditched me." Konami grumbled.
"If that is the term you wish to use." Frigg said softly. "He wished for me to thank you for your help when you awoke. He seemed...most grateful."
"Yeah well, he shouldn't be." Konami grunted. "I failed him. He was counting on me, and I lost when it mattered most. I seem to be good at doing that..."
"Best to make the mistakes now, while you're still young." Frigg replied.
"Best not to make the mistakes at all." Konami grimaced.
"Perhaps..." Frigg agreed. "However, if you make no mistakes, how will you grow as a person? It is both our failures and successes that make us who we are today."
"And if you don't like who you are?" Konami wondered.
Frigg smiled softly. "Then know that you have time to change yourself. You are young, after all. Better to realize your faults now, than when you're old and fragile. Alas, I didn't come here to discuss such things with you. I merely wished to inform you that those cards you used...Dragunities, they do not fit one such as you."
Konami's eyes narrowed in confusion. "And just what is that supposed to mean?"
"It's means that your Deck is not your own." Frigg explained. "Why Alina and Freyja allowed you to leave with it I do not know, but I am aware that you specialize in dragons as a whole. Why limit yourself to a single archetype, when you have access to so much more?"
"Because a new perspective on things was necessary. Evolution was necessary."
"Why?" Frigg asked.
"Because I'm a duelist. Evolving one's deck is what we are meant to do."
"Evolve, yes. But then, from what I've seen, you haven't evolved your Deck for quite some time." Frigg mused. "You've made promises to more than just humans Konami. If you truly wish to strengthen your dueling, then maybe, just maybe, it'd do you some good to see them through."
Konami blinked in confusion at the words. What was Frigg saying, he'd made promises to more than just humans? What else could he have made promises to-
Oh.
Oh.
Realizing what the woman meant, Konami frowned, and fixed her with a wary glare.
"Who are you? How do you know these things?"
"Go back to school, Konami." Frigg said instead, dodging the subject entirely. "Jaden will be fine. Right now, the ones left behind are the ones who need you most."
She stepped outside at that, leaving Konami to his thoughts.
Yu-Gi-Oh: Tag Force
Learning to Shine
Arc Two - Chapter Six
Hope
"You know, I'm wondering exactly what you meant by that." Konami said.
Following Frigg's comments, the boy had chased after her into the card shop's lobby, demanding a proper response. Of course, like most of Transcend's employees, the woman seemed to enjoy providing Konami with little more than half-truths and more questions than answers.
"I'm not quite sure what else to tell you." Frigg shrugged nonchalantly. "I do believe what I said makes it quite clear, does it not?"
"Of course it doesn't!" Konami snapped. "Sure, I understand the strengthing my dueling comment, you were talking about going back to my roots right? Using all my dragons, and not just the Dragunities I've gotten recently. But that other thing you said, about those left behind needing me most...what's that supposed to mean?!"
"Exactly what it sounds like. In your rush to cure Jaden's ailment you left Duel Academy defenseless. Did you not think it strange, the timing of these events?" asked Frigg. "The departure of Chancellor Sheppard, the attempting kidnapping of Atticus Rhodes, the defeat and subsequent blinding of Jaden Yuki? Wake up and see the truth for what it is! Things are starting to occur at that school of yours once more, and the longer you and Jaden stay away from it, the less likely it is that things will end well for you and your friends!"
"So what? You're saying that Duel Academy is under attack? Is that it?" Konami wondered, squinting his eyes in confusion.
"Perhaps. There are more things on this earth to fear than the power of the Sacred Beast cards, after all." Frigg replied.
"So you knew about them too huh?" Konami grunted. "Why am I not surprised?"
"Perhaps it is because you realize that not all things are as they seem." Frigg said. "Perhaps...it is because it's time for you to understand just what is truly going on around here."
"Yeah." Konami agreed. "That'd be helpful."
"Then I'll explain it to you as simply as I can." Frigg said. "You see, Konami, this threat Duel Academy now faces...it is not an unknown one to us. Those associated with this shop know well of its presence, and ever since we've learned of its existence we've worked tirelessly to ensure we would bring it to a swift and merciless end. From what my associate has told me, it would seem the moment is close at hand. Soon, the Light of Destruction will make its move, and when it does, we shall be there to strike."
"The Light of Destruction? Is that what it's called?" Konami wondered. "This 'threat' you keep going on about?"
"Yes. It is an entity from another world. A being who exists for the sole purpose of illuminating this world in its white light, and annihilating anything and everything that would get in its way." Frigg explained. "As an eldritch abomination that has little to no power by itself, it survives by inhabiting the host of a powerful duelist, and then uses that duelist's strength to "recruit" other powerful figures into obeying its every command."
Konami blinked. "So...simply put, it's an parasite from another world that intends to enslave or destroy us all."
Frigg's lips curled upward. "See? You can learn quickly. While parasite may be too concrete a term, the Light of Destruction does require a host to make use of its own abilities. It has had several over the course of history, but its most recent is one Sartorius Saiou - manager to the Pro Duelist Aster Phoenix...and the new Vice Chancellor of Duel Academy."
"...!"
Konami's eyes widened at the second occupation, but Frigg continued as if unconcerned.
"As you are well aware, Dr. Vellian Crowler took over as Chancellor during Sheppard's vacation. Of course, running a school is no easy job. He needed someone to help take on some of his new duties, and so...Sartorius applied for the job. He had, after all, the perfect disguise, for whom in their right mind who turn away the one responsible for producing such a powerful duelist like Aster Phoenix? The moment he accepted he was as good as hired, and now that the matter is official, the Light of Destruction has gained access to hundreds, if not thousands of malleable, young minds ripe for the picking."
"Assuming everything you say is true, you're telling me that you just let this all happen?" Konami wondered. "If this Light of Destruction is so dangerous, why would you let things get this far out of hand?"
"Because, even now, they are perfectly well in hand." Frigg retorted. "Or they were, until you left the school and brought Jaden to our doorstep."
"What do I have to do with any of this?!" Konami shouted.
"More than you know." Frigg said softly. "You may not recall it now, but once upon a time the name Sartorius did mean something to you. Be it a distraction or a goal, his identity was one of the many things you sought out over the summer, or at least is was, until you got a little too close for comfort."
Konami's eyes narrowed suspciously. "What're you talking about?"
"Why, the Duke Devlin, of course." explained Frigg. "Tell me Konami, do you remember your duel aboard that ship?"
"Of course, how could I not?" Konami answered. "It was where I first met that Surtr guy, who first revealed to me the existence of Synchro Summoning, and gave me the means to reach this place to begin with!"
"True, but contrary to your current beliefs, your duel that night was not your first encounter with Surtr, but rather your second." Frigg corrected.
Konami blinked in surprise. "Excuse me? I...think you've got that wrong, Frigg. With a hairstyle like that, I'm pretty sure I'd know if I met him before."
Frigg ignored his comment. "You see, while the Duke Devlin is indeed where you first encountered Surtr, the duel only happened your second time aboard it. The first time he gave unto you a certain set of coordinates. Coordinates you visited with that gambling friend of yours - Pierre. Together, you arrived at a certain facility my cohorts and I went through great trouble to keep off the map. A tower of sorts, in which you dueled and defeated three of our...less enthusiastic allies."
"Now I know you've got this wrong." Konami said. "Gambling may be one thing, but dueling's another! I remember every single duel I've ever had in this head of mine, and I can tell you right now that I don't remember facing off against three people at the same time! I don't know what kind of game you're playing with me, but it stops now!"
"A-Actually, master..." a feminine voice called out from the deck. "You did, in fact, duel against three men in that white tower we found. They tried to defeat you using the Monarchs, but you finished them off with the power of Illusion Gate and the Blue-Eyes White Dragon! Though...I suppose it's not surprising you forgot, considering what that woman did to you after you won!"
"Yae...?" Konami inquired, glancing at his deck holster in surprise. "What are you talking about? What woman?!"
"Sarina Saiou." Frigg explained. "Sister to Sartorius Saiou, and an ally in our mission to destroy the Light of Destruction. She met with you on our behalf in the tower of Yggdrasil, and, given that you wound up at Transcend, it would seem that whether you remember it or not, you did agree to our terms."
"And what terms would those be?" Konami asked.
Frigg's eyes narrowed. "That you would stay out of the way. That you would leave the Light of Destruction to us, and rejoin your associates at Duel Academy without any fuss! Of course, that was all ruined when Alina had you witness Synchro Summoning from Surtr instead of what Odin and I had originally intended."
Konami winced at the sound of her tone, and the knowledge that Alina was involved as well. Even so...
"What's wrong with Synchro Summoning?" he asked. "It's a powerful dueling mechanic!"
"And yet, in this time and place, it just does not belong." Frigg retorted. "You were supposed to be given Gladiator Beasts, and with them, the power of Contact Fusion! While similar to Synchro Summoning in its own right, it is something that is already known to this world, and as such, it would not draw attention from the higher ups in the dueling world. Needless to say however, you did not receive the Gladiator Beasts, but instead those Dragunity monsters that made you an overnight celebrity, and ruined the anonymity this store had! As a result, Sartorius took to targetting us for recruitment as well, something we had taken every precaution until now to prevent!" Frigg paused then to sigh. "Really, if we had known Alina was going to give you Synchro Summoning in the first place we wouldn't have gone through the trouble of mindwiping you to begin with!"
Konami grimaced. "So you did do something funky with my brain!"
"Yes. We erased all the knowledge you had been given to make you see things our way. It was a safety precaution, in case Sartorius managed to get ahold of you by some means or another. We knew he had an interest in you from the beginning of course, after all, it was he who initially arranged for you arrival at Duel Academy, and we have reason to believe he intends to recruit you to further his own goals."
"Reasons?" Konami asked. "What reasons?"
"I can't say that much, it's not my place." Frigg apologized. "What I can say however is that...we know from experience."
Konami frowned. "Who are you people? All this talk about experience and how Synchro Summoning doesn't belong...mindwiping...you can't be normal, so what are you? Duel Spirits, or maybe...aliens, like this Light of Destruction you keep going on about?!"
"Aliens?" Frigg giggled. "Well, that's certainly one way of looking at us. It would be an adequate term to refer to us by, I suppose, but not for the reasons you might think. We are foreigners to this world, but we come from one that is just as obsessed with Duel Monsters as yours, if not more so. One way to put it would be, oh well, everyone's said it at least once, haven't they? Card Games on Motorcycles."
"Card Games on - what?! That's absurd!" Konami shouted. "And I know that for a fact!"
Frigg smiled mysteriously. "Yes well, our world's more advanced than yours. Unlike you when you went up against the Wicked God cards, our duelists are accustomed to dueling behind the wheel, and their vehicles, unlike your Red Herring, are built for dueling. They come with an autopilot, and a maneuverable driving system that makes steering simple even while playing Duel Monsters. The Duel Runner really is an interesting piece of equipment. Given that Yggdrasil has the equipment for it, I'm surprised Alina didn't give one of those to you too."
"You...really expect me to believe all this?" Konami asked. "To just...take your word for it?!"
"I'm afraid so." Frigg announced. "Though, your disbelief does not come as a surprise. Even in Yggdrasil, Sarina had a rough time dealing with you. It was not until he arrived that you came to understand. He, who could understand you more than anyone of us. He, who went through similar experiences, albeit with less, or perhaps more, at stake."
Konami shook his head in confusion, and squinted his eyes warily. "He?" he inquired, only to freeze as a young man walked through the door.
"Hello Konami," an person who looked like him said solemnly. "Let's go for a walk, shall we?"
Frigg's eyes widened as if in surprise, but Konami, for once, did not pass out.
-LtS-
"Are you, like, my brother or something?"
The two lookalikes were outside, walking down the less-than-busy sidewalk of Domino City as they talked. The older man had decided, correctly Konami might add, that a bit of fresh air was needed, and subsequently "accompanied" Konami on a walk to the park and back. Despite the tense atmosphere that had followed however, the older man could not help but chuckle at Konami's remark.
"Afraid not." he replied. "And before you ask, I'm not a cousin of yours either. We're not related, at least, not in the way you're thinking."
"Then you're a clone? Some sort of homunculus?" Konami asked. "I knew Banner had something else hidden in that basement!"
"No, and no." his older self said. "I'm not of Banner's little experiments. Don't you get it yet? I'm you, Konami. Just with a few more years under my belt."
"Really? Time travel? That's what you're going with?" Konami sighed. "Fine, let's pretend I actually believe you for a minute. How is this possible?"
"It's not as complicated as you might think." The older man said to him. "Hell, in my time, something like this wouldn't even register as strange anymore. For you though, I can see why you might be a little suspicious. You still have two more years to go before you realize that as long as Duel Monsters is involved, anything is possible. Getting back to your question however, let's just say that Kagemaru isn't the only old man who managed to throw us into a sticky situation."
"Old men like Kagemaru..." Konami asked. "I see. So there are people like him running around in your world too... Fine, I'll play along for now, so what am I supposed to call you? I mean, do I just call you, 'me' or, do you have a name? You know, like Konami?"
"Let's just keep it simple for everyone around us, alright? For the time being, you can just call me Odin. It's easy that way." Odin said.
"Alright then, 'Odin'," Konami said, "How do I know you're really me? If you really are me from some kind of future or whatever, you've gotta have something to prove it, right? Maybe some kind of information that only I'd know?"
"Nothing so dire I'm afraid." Odin replied. "But, if it's proof you want, you could always ask Yae. Unlike you, she still has all her memories of your meeting with Sarina. If she wanted, she'd tell you that we went through the whole, 'you're not me' spiel before, and that it didn't stop until we got a DNA test. A DNA test which, surprising even me, came out exactly identical. Guess that just goes to show that even though the world's and situations may be different, the people are the same."
"It's true," Yae said from the Deck. "That did all happen. You were pretty freaked out about it too!"
"This...This is unreal." Konami decided. "I mean, there's another me running around! Won't this cause like, a Time Paradox or something?"
"No." Odin said. "Like Wis told you before, our worlds are similar, not identical. Since they aren't based in the same timeline, we shouldn't have to worry about any time space mishaps occurring anytime soon."
Despite everything else that had been said, Konami couldn't help but raise his eyebrow. "Wis?" he said, asking for clarification.
"Frigg." Odin explained. "What, you didn't think that was her real name, did you?"
"No, it's just...ugh, forget it, it's probably nothing." Konami said.
"Whatever you say." Odin replied. "But, we're getting off topic here. Despite how it looks, I don't actually have a lot of time right now, so let's get straight to it." he turned to face Konami, and settled on a solemn stare. "What do you want to know?"
Konami, being Konami, already had a response in mind.
"Everything."
On the streets of the most famous city, the answer he is given is...?!
Find out next time
on
Yu-Gi-Oh: Tag Force
Learning to Shine!
Arc Two - Chapter Six
END