The chapter begins in normal point of view.
Disclaimer: I do not own any Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's characters! I only own my OCs!
Chapter 26: The Final Battle
The group with Signers and non-Signers plus the three Duel Runners ended up at the island where Goodwin's mansion was located, except the mansion was gone and replaced by the Stairway to the Dragon Star that had been underground. The condor symbol was shining above the temple with the sky being completely dark with an uneasy atmosphere. Not even the moon or the stars shone in the night sky. It was a sign that the darkness was coming.
"Where on Earth did he take us?" Jack wondered before looking up. "Isn't that the temple that was underneath Goodwin's mansion?"
"So this is where that condor was coming from", Akiza said.
"Wait… So then the King of the Netherworld isn't here, but what for?" Leo questioned.
"I don't know", Yusei replied.
"In that case, allow me to explain", Goodwin's voice echoed from the top of the temple.
Everyone glanced up to see said man stand on the top with the female figure called Purple Light who was sitting on the stairs below Goodwin, both her arms and legs crossed as her face was being hidden by the cloth that was on her head.
"For, you see, you may have succeeded in defeating the Dark Signers, but not in time to close the doors to the Netherworld", Goodwin added.
"Director?" Mina mumbled in surprise.
"Goodwin…", Jack growled.
"So tell us what's going on!" Yusei demanded. "Did we fail? Is the world gonna end? And why is that thing heading here?!"
Purple Light chuckled in amusement. "Still so oblivious, Mister Fudo Jr."
"For the ritual!" Goodwin replied.
"What? What ritual?!" Yusei shouted.
Goodwin and the female figure glanced to the direction of the Satellite where they could see the shadowy figure of the King of the Netherworld slowly approach New Domino City.
"The ritual that has been carried out by this temple for many millennia", Goodwin said.
"Okay, so what exactly happens to this ritual?" Yusei asked.
"So full of questions", Purple Light commented. "It's like never-ending."
"It all depends, but this time it's something that's never happened before", Goodwin replied.
"So spill!" Yusei demanded.
"Better tell them before Fudo Jr explodes by all the questions, Goodwin", Purple Light suggested.
"Indeed, my dear", Goodwin smiled at the woman before turning his attention at Yusei's group. "So eager, but for you to fully understand, I would need to start from the very beginning."
In the next second, Goodwin held up a canister that contained Roman's arm with the Head Mark of the Dragon, also revealing his metal arm at the same time. The Mark was glowing, sending a painful energy to the four other Signers, making them groan in pain while their Marks were glowing.
"It all starts with this!" Goodwin gestured at the canister.
"It's the final Mark", Yusei grunted. "But what do you want with it?!"
"I want to use it! Why do you think I have that metal arm of mine?" Goodwin asked.
Purple Light stood up, placing a hand on her hip. "I prefer we cut the speech and begin the action, Goodwin."
"You're right, Purple Light", Goodwin agreed and placed the canister on a tablet next to him.
"Just what are you planning, Goodwin?!" Yusei shouted.
Goodwin chuckled and turned his back to Yusei's group before a purple mark started glowing through his jacket, revealing the Condor Mark.
The group was stunned by shock. They never expected Goodwin to be a Dark Signer!
"Another Mark?! But wait… That one-", Yusei started.
"That's right. It is of a Dark Signer's!" Goodwin finished just as his jacket and shirt were ripped apart by the force of energy flowing through his body that gave him muscles. Even his hair grew longer as purple stripes appeared all over his body.
"Meaning that, soon, I will have both the power of the light and the darkness!" Goodwin shouted as his eyes turned black.
"Oh no!" Leo exclaimed in fear.
"He can't!" Akiza added.
"You won't!" Jack growled at Goodwin.
"And just who's going to stop me?" Goodwin removed the lock of the canister.
"No one, Goodwin", Purple Light smirked, having an amused expression as she looked down at Yusei's group.
Goodwin crushed his metal arm and removed the few pieces that were attached on his arm before he literally put on Roman's arm, making him the new bearer of the Head Mark of the Dragon.
"What are you planning to do with the Mark?!" Yusei demanded.
"What else? To become all powerful and rule the world!" Goodwin replied. "And now, with my Dark Signer and the power my brother entrusted to me, I shall!"
The man raised up his new arm to the sky, making the Mark of the Dragon shine. The Stairway to the Dragon Star was suddenly digging itself out, rising up to the sky.
"Everyone, take cover!" Jack told the group.
"No, we have to leave the island now!" Yusei shouted.
"Let's dash!" Crow shouted.
The three Turbo Duelists rushed to their Duel Runners with the rest of the group following them. Yusei let Akiza sit behind him as Mina got to sit on Jack's lap. Trudge and the twins managed to squeeze themselves onto Crow's Duel Runner before the group could dash from the island.
Goodwin laughed with his evil voice as Purple Light stepped up to him, standing next to the man with her arms crossed. The temple was so large that it destroyed the island and covered a big part of the lake.
Luckily, Yusei's group made it to safety. They all watched the scene before them, the three Turbo Duelists still sitting on their rides. The rest of the group had jumped off and stood next to the Duel Runners.
"Behold the birth of my reign to come!" Goodwin exclaimed. "But first, let us have an entertainment with Purple Light and her magical power of the shadows!"
Purple Light smiled evilly before she threw off the cloth on her head, revealing herself completely.
Yusei and the others gasped and widened their eyes in pure shock. Next to Goodwin stood…
"Estelle?!" they all exclaimed.
"Estelle" chuckled at the group's reaction. "No. I'm not exactly the same Estelle you know. I am her dark side."
"Estelle's…dark side?" Luna mumbled in fear.
"Already forgotten the prophecy?" Dark Estelle snorted in amusement. "I am supposed to meet my good side, but she's not here. I did hear her body disappeared shortly after you set off to Duel the Dark Signers. I wonder where she could be."
"Listen! You gotta stop Goodwin! I know the good Estelle would do that!" Yusei shouted.
"And what if she doesn't want to stop Goodwin?" Dark Estelle retorted. "What if she wants to use the overflowing power to hurt and destroy those who had made her into the person she is today?"
Yusei was surprised to hear that. Did Estelle want to take revenge? "What do you mean?!"
Dark Estelle's bone wings suddenly turned into a pair of wings with black feathers before she flew up to the air. Black feathers were floating down when she flapped her wings. She flew down to the group, but still kept a distance from them.
"This is what I mean", Dark Estelle reached out her hand.
In the next second, Dark Estelle and Yusei's group were teleported to a universe that reflected memories of Estelle's past. It was memories from the early years to the adult age.
Yusei and the others looked around, seeing how the little Estelle got bullied by other children in school and at the playground near home. They could hear little Estelle's cries echoing around them and see the bullies treating her like dirt. They saw how lonely Estelle was when she sat alone in her room with her books, having cuddly toys settled around her, a big one resting on her lap. A few memories showed the time when Estelle did have a few friends, but they left shortly because they didn't want to spend time with a childish girl for her age.
The memories moved on to the time when Estelle transferred to the school that had the special class for children with neurological disorders. The memories showed how Estelle seemed to feel better without any bullying, but still had to go through the other children's frustrations, outburst and childish behaviors. Estelle was still showing signs how scared she was for every sudden outburst, and didn't even get the right education because the teachers had to focus on the other children and their problems.
The memories moved to the middle school with its special class, which Estelle had been looking forward to so she could get the education she needed, but her hopes crumbled down when it turned out the school was worse than the last one. The teachers didn't even care for the students and left them alone to work on their own. Estelle had to retake a year to get the rightful education for the seventh grade, but things got far worse when new students came that were very disturbing.
The memories flowed next to the time when Estelle was homeschooled by her mother and father. Estelle cried often when she and her mother had long and sensitive conversations and there were a few times when Estelle had grabbed a knife to try committing suicide.
Leo and Luna let out small gasps when they saw Estelle holding a knife, but sighed in relief when the memory Estelle never hurt herself.
The group was teleported back to the final stage, not a single second had passed during their time in Estelle's memories.
Yusei's group was stunned to have witnessed Estelle's past. They had heard bits of Estelle's past when she had told them, but they never thought the bullying and loneliness had been this extreme and that she had been once and twice so depressed she wanted to kill herself.
Dark Estelle flew back up to the middle of the temple with her arms crossed. "Do you see now?" Everyone, except Goodwin, turned their attention at her. "I want to take revenge at those who hurt me and put me in depression for so long." She got a madness expression as her anger began to grow. "I want to rip their limbs apart! Torture them until they beg for mercy and I still won't stop until all their blood has been spilled!"
"This is crazy…", Crow mumbled. "I never thought the Estelle you told me about was mad."
"She's not!" the twins shouted simultaneously at the Blackwing Duelist.
"Or, at least, not from what we know", Leo added. That earned him a slap on his cheek by Luna.
"Oh, how little you know about the real Estelle", Dark Estelle mocked. "And you're supposed to be her friends when you haven't asked for more details about her past after she had helped you?" Her purple eyes shone deviously.
In the next second, many shadowy creatures appeared around her. They were all in shape of different dragons corrupted by the darkness. All their eyes shone purple as their bodies were covered by shadows.
"Uh-oh…", Crow cold sweated.
"What's she planning to do?" Trudge wondered.
Both Mina and Akiza were worried about the outturn of the event. Leo and Luna hugged each other, both of them shaking in fear.
"I've got a really bad feeling about this…", Jack mumbled.
Yusei felt the sweat run down his face. "Don't tell me she's gonna-"
"I'm going to start my quest for revenge by torturing you, Signers. Dragons, attack!" Dark Estelle pointed at the group.
The dragon creatures roared before diving towards Yusei's group. Leo and Luna screamed in fear as Trudge held Mina close to him. The male Duelists were frozen, not being able to think. However, Akiza was acting faster than the light. She activated her Duel Disk and placed two cards on the disk.
"Black Rose Dragon! Moon Dragon Quilla!"
The two Duel Monsters appeared above the group before they flew towards the herd of shadow dragons. Black Rose Dragon sent a tornado of petals at the dragons, sending back a few of them. Moon Dragon Quilla's four heads opened their mouths to collect energy of the moon and sent beams at the shadow dragons.
"Akiza?!" Yusei turned to said girl.
"We have to attack the dragons if we want to survive!" Akiza shouted. "Call out your Duel Monsters and counter back!"
"Let's do it!" Jack activated the Duel Disk on his Duel Runner. "Come out, Red Dragon Archfiend, Exploder Dragonwing, Orient Dragon!"
The three dragons materialized before joining forces with Akiza's dragons.
"I guess we have no other choice", Yusei activated his Duel Disk as well. "Stardust Dragon, Sun Dragon Inti, help us out!"
The two dragons roared in agreement when they got materialized and flew to the battle.
Luna activated her Duel Disk and placed down two cards. "Ancient Fairy Dragon, Light End Dragon, we need your help!"
The sister dragons appeared together and joined their friends on the battlefield.
"I know I don't exactly have a dragon, but I'll still send Blackwing Armor Master to kick some serious butt!" Crow shouted as he threw his Synchro Monster card on his Duel Disk on the Duel Runner.
"I'm not a Signer, but I won't back down when my sister and friends need help! Come out, Power Tool Dragon!" Leo threw his Synchro Monster card on his Duel Disk.
Power Tool Dragon and Blackwing Armor Master appeared next to each other and flew ahead to the battleground.
The Signers and non-Signers' Synchro Monsters fought hard against the army of shadow dragons. Things seemed to go well at the beginning while Crow started talking about the legendary man who built the Daedalus Bridge in the Satellite, but then Yusei's group heard Goodwin chuckle.
"There's no such thing as can't miss", Goodwin told Crow. "Not for you. And not for the so-called legendary man you've modeled your life after. Believe me, I know."
"What are you talking about?!" Crow shouted in anger.
"Hold on, are you saying what I think you're saying?!" Yusei gasped in realization. "That you're-"
"Him?!" Jack finished, also shocked by the truth.
"The one who built the bridge from Satellite?!" Crow gaped in shock.
"Yes, I am the one who tried to build that bridge from Satellite", Goodwin confessed. "I thought I too couldn't miss, but I was wrong. And now I know that if you really want something, you must do whatever it's necessary to get it!"
"Not if that means hurting people! And that's why we're gonna stop you right here and right now!" Crow shouted determinedly.
Goodwin just chuckled in amusement before he lifted his left arm with the Mark of the Dragon, making it glow brighter. The other Signers' Marks glowed for a second before they vanished, only to appear on Goodwin's chest, revealing the full Dragon Seal.
Goodwin laughed so loud and evilly it sent shivers down everyone's spines. "You see, I'll stop at nothing from ruling it all together with the Princess of Darkness!"
Dark Estelle joined Goodwin's evil laughter and started laughing like Dark Kalin. "This is going to be so joyous!"
The Signers watched their Duel Monsters taking down one shadow dragon after another, but every time a shadow dragon got taken down, two new dragons would appear.
"Towagatari~Kaze no Uta~" by Yui Horie
"Hoshi ni toban el ragna"
"This is never-ending! How long can we keep doing this?!" Trudge asked, still holding Mina close to his chest.
"Banri wo koete kanata e"
"We must find a way to stop those dragons from keeping popping up out of nowhere!" Crow said.
Just then, the shadow dragons suddenly stopped attacking the Signers and non-Signers' Synchro Monsters and flew up to the sky.
"Hoshi ni yukan el ragna"
"Hey, what's going on?" Leo wondered. "Why're they leaving?"
Luna shushed him. "Listen…"
Everyone heard the singing voice, including Dark Estelle and Goodwin.
"Setsuna… Eikyuu wo"
"Who's singing?" Mina wondered.
Dark Estelle growled, knowing who it could be.
"Nagare nagare itsukushimu"
"I know that voice…", Akiza mumbled, which everyone in Yusei's group heard.
"Mata seishi no yurikago de yawaku"
A portal appeared in the sky where the shadow dragons circled around as a female body lowered herself, dressed in a red outfit and had a pair of red wings on her back with blue eyes and her chocolate brown hair. The outfit consisted of a wine-red/red top with long sleeves that revealed slight of Estelle's bust, a wine-red skirt that reached to the middle of her thighs, wine-red stockings that reached to above her knees and a pair of red boots. Behind her followed Star Eater, his wings spread out.
"Awadatsu"
"The second part of the Dark Signers' prophecy is now coming true!" Goodwin announced in a loud voice when he recognized the figure.
"Aa… Sen no toki no Rinne no tabi"
"It's… It's…", Mina stuttered as she felt tears of happiness collecting in her eyes.
"Estelle…", Yusei mumbled, his heart beating in relief.
"I hope she's the real one, 'cause the evil Estelle is way too creepy", Crow commented.
"Tsunagi au Te to te sagashi motome"
"Yeah, but what's with that song?" Jack wondered.
"Kokoro kawashi Ibuku kaze yo
Arata na sekai wo tobe"
Good Estelle's body got enveloped in a crimson light before she braced herself and sent a warm light. The shadow dragons around her allowed the light swallow them as their true forms were revealed.
The shadow dragons were actually dragon Duel Monsters. That included Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Red-Eyes Black Dragon, Ancient Dragon, Mirror Force Dragon, Doom Virus Dragon, Cyber Dragon, Rainbow Dragon, Victory Dragon, Gandora the Dragon of Destruction and many other dragon-related Duel Monsters.
"Wow…", Leo and Luna mumbled after they had seen what Good Estelle just did.
XXXXXXXXXX – Estelle's POV
My Synchro dragons joined me as the other Synchro Monsters remained close to their masters as soon I had released the dragons from their prison of being corrupted by the darkness.
I glanced down at my friends and gave them a small smile. I turned my attention at my dark twin, seeing her glaring at me with her purple eyes.
"So you've come…", she mumbled.
"Yes…", I retorted before turning to Goodwin.
"Estelle, how lovely to see you could join us", the man chuckled. "I see you've managed to create your own army of dragons."
I heard the dragons growl behind me when they heard Goodwin's voice.
"You stole them from me!" Dark Estelle shouted angrily.
"No, I saved them from the darkness you used to corrupt them", I replied.
Goodwin picked up a card from his pocket. "Then I suggest we start this war on the highest level!" He held up the card as it started glowing purple. "Come forth, Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca!"
The "heart" appeared once again high up in the air, absorbing the residents of New Domino City to let the final Earthbound Immortal wake up from its sleep. The "heart" blasted in a bright light before the giant condor Earthbound Immortal spread its wings and revealed itself to us.
Wiraqocha Rasca let out a cry before I sensed something coming from the King of the Netherworld. I turned around and looked through the army of dragons to see the giant sludge creature release spits of its body, forming into condors that headed towards us.
"Dragons!" I called.
I didn't need to say more words because the Duel Monsters flew towards the herd of condors and started taking them down. Only my Synchro dragons and my friends' Synchro Monsters remained with us.
"Fool! There won't be enough time!" Goodwin shouted. "Soon the King of the Netherworld will reach us and the world will be destroyed!"
I growled through my teeth before I reached my right hand to my left wing and pulled out a feather. When I lowered my hand, the feather transformed into a katana, the weapon I had been trained for.
"It starts between us, my other self!" I shouted before flying towards Dark Estelle.
Dark Estelle glared before she summoned a black staff with the tip having the shape of a crescent moon. "Gladly!"
We flew around as we shot small energy spheres towards each other, mine being red while Dark Estelle's were purple. We avoided all of them before we clashed our weapons. We glared at each other before we flew back and kept doing the same thing for quite a while.
XXXXXXXXXX – Normal POV
Yusei's group was stunned to say the least. They never imagined they would witness a combat battle this intense.
"Damn! That's one catfight!" Crow commented.
"I just hope Estelle will be fine…", Luna whimpered.
"She'll be fine, Luna!" Leo assured her. "I mean, look! She's like a samurai with that sword!"
"Don't forget the last part of the prophecy, guys", Akiza cold sweated. "If one of the Estelles dies…"
"…The other one will follow the same destiny…", Yusei finished.
"So they can only keep on fighting forever until they get exhausted without making any death-like injuries?" Trudge asked.
"It's a never-ending circle!" Mina shouted.
The four non-Signers had been saved from being offered to the new Earthbound Immortal thanks to the Signers.
"And, meanwhile, the world will be doomed!" Jack cold sweated. "We must do something!"
"Yeah, but what?!" Leo asked.
XXXXXXXXXX – Estelle's POV
Dark Estelle had enough playing around and used her staff to send an energy beam at me. I easily avoided the beam and flew around it as I headed to my dark twin. I raised my sword, ready to hurt Dark Estelle when I remembered she was my other self. If I hurt her, I would get hurt as well.
I let the katana clash with Dark Estelle's staff, causing sparks to fly around us when the steel made contact. Dark Estelle fought against my strength, but then I felt her arms growing weak. I took the opportunity to throw aside her arms and kick her stomach, sending her back. I suddenly felt pain in my abdomen, realizing I was feeling the pain from my other self.
Dark Estelle adjusted her wings before she made her staff disappear in a cloud of purple dust. I raised an eyebrow at the sight, but then felt my eyes widen when I heard her sing the Endless Song.
"Towagatari~El Ragna~" by Nana Mizuki & Yui Horie
"Kaze ni yukan el ragna Todorokishi tsubasa"
Dark Estelle's body got enveloped in a purple light as one big energy circle appeared on each of her enlarged wings and slowly collected energy.
I grunted through my teeth, but calmed myself down before I closed my eyes to sing along.
"Hajimari no hikari Kirali… kirali
Owari no hikari Lulala lila"
I felt my right arm with the Star Mark release warmth as it glowed through the sleeve of my top. Energy was flowing through me and spread to my wings.
"Kaesan el ragna
Suna dokei wo
Toki wa afuren
Lulala lila"
I could sense the energy collect in front of my wings after they had spread out, ready to unleash a similar attack as Dark Estelle was about to do.
"Iku oku amata no Inochi no honoo
Sururi Ochite wa hoshi ni"
I knew everyone was looking at us like we were about to truly kill ourselves, or should I say kill myself? No, that was not the plan.
"Nagare nagarete utsukushiku
Mata sei to shi no yurikago de
Yawaku"
Now both I and my dark self were singing together before we unleashed our power. The energy circles from our wings released tornados, mine being crimson while Dark Estelle's were purple.
"Awadatsu"
The tornados clashed as they fought against each other before there was an explosion, including a bright light that swallowed me and Dark Estelle. I closed my eyes to shield them from the light.
Everything turned quiet in the blast. Was I dead…? No, I could still sense my body and felt myself breath.
I slowly opened my eyes to see I was inside a sphere that looked like the cosmos. My dark self flew in front of me. For some reason, she had a very upset expression.
"Why?! Why did you have to come back?!" Dark Estelle shouted angrily.
It was then I noticed Dark Estelle was crying. Tears ran down her cheeks as she held back her sobs by biting her lower lip.
"My other self… Are you crying?" I asked softly, not knowing that my friends and Goodwin could hear us outside of the sphere.
"Yes, I'm crying!" Dark Estelle snarled with her tears still running. "Is it a problem with crying?! Am I not allowed to express my anger?! Why do I have to hold everything back and behave?! Why?!"
Something snapped in my brain. All those questions my dark self asked me… Her facial expression… I realized what it was.
Dark Estelle was acting like all the thoughts I had whenever I was upset.
"Could it be…you're deep inside frustrated that you can't express in the way you want to?" I asked.
"Yes!" Dark Estelle retorted, now releasing her sobs. "I… No… You always had to hold yourself back to not cause a scene…especially after the time you got bullied… Day in and day out, you had to suffer by the other children…and that made you scared of being rejected again once you grew up. You're afraid of being alone, which you have been for a long time… Even now… When you arrived to this dimension, you're scared of being rejected by your current friends… You're afraid that they're with you just because of the Mark of the Dragon…" She tried to stop her tears, but they kept coming. "Deep inside, you want to take revenge on those people who had hurt you the most in your first school. But… Because of your goody-side I can't fulfill your deepest wishes! I can't hurt the people who made me suffer! This is so pathetic! I am the one who's pathetic! I am nothing but a loser! A weakling! What is it that's so special about me?! NOTHING!"
Oh dear… Those were truly the same thoughts I had always been carrying ever since I got the experience of being bullied that had cost all my self-confidence… Of being alone for such a long time to only feel a deep, empty void.
"That is true…", I admitted with teary eyes. "For a long time, I have been feeling very weak and afraid to find new friends to then be betrayed and be left behind… But I can't live on with all those thoughts. I have to move on in order to fully live. If I just remain in the past, how will I be able to look forward?" My own tears were running down my cheeks. "But not everything has been as negative as you believe." That caught my dark self's attention. "I've got the experience of being bullied, which the bullies probably never got… If they were one day going to get bullied and thrown aside, they wouldn't know how to deal with it. It is true I rarely had any friends, so I grew up all alone with my parents. But I do prefer to be alone, even though I often felt the need to be with others. And I do have hidden talents, which I discovered with the help of my mother, like music and many other small things that doesn't seem to be something big, but it was big to me." I knew I was going to look stupid, but I let a smile grow onto my lips while I was still crying. "I grew to love myself in order to trust others who can accept me for who I am. I grew stronger without noticing it myself."
Dark Estelle was a bit stunned by my speech, but she was still crying.
I flapped my wings before I slowly approached my dark self who got scared and flew back a bit. "No living being is perfect. Not even God who I don't believe in." I spread open my arms to hug Dark Estelle. "But… A person will be more…perfect if he or she can accept both her sides." Dark Estelle was shaking in fear as I embraced her. "So… Let me accept you and return to me, my other self. Let us become one again."
"No… No…", Dark Estelle struggled against my embrace as a light started glowing from both of us. "NOO!"
The white light swallowed us as I felt my other self join me. The energy flew around me as I felt complete once again.
I slowly opened my eyes, feeling them burn a little by the power of the Crimson Dragon. Goodwin had a shocking expression; his eyes widen and mouth open.
"I-Impossible!" he stuttered. "This was not the part of the prophecy!"
"Not part of the Dark Signers' prophecy", I corrected him, hearing I had a slight deeper tone in my voice. "But the real Signers' prophecy."
"In the time of distress and chaos, with the power of the Endless Song,
the two spirits of the Crimson Star Priestess shall reunite and become one once again.
With the power of the Crimson Dragon, the darkness shall retire to the Netherworld,
and the true Signers shall regain their Marks of the Dragon."
"No… No! I won't allow that to happen!" Goodwin snarled. "I am a God! You can't take my powers from me!"
"You honestly believe so?" I raised an eyebrow with a smirk on my lips.
I let my new regained powers take over as the energy blasted up to the sky as a light pillar. My wings surrounded me as my clothes changed into the rightful armor.
XXXXXXXXXX – Normal POV
Yusei's group watched the bright pillar of light as they shielded their eyes. The Synchro Monsters were flying above them, ready to protect the group if necessary. Once the light died down, the humans looked up to see Estelle in a new outfit.
Estelle had changed into a red top that only covered her bust along with a wine-red armor decorated with red dots that went around her body above her abdomen and reached up to both her shoulders. She had a small collar going around her neck. Her arms were almost covered by red gloves that included wine-red scales on the lower part of the arms. The skirt had transformed into very short shorts that was red and had a small decoration on the right side, but the belt part was wine-red. The stockings had been slight ripped at the edge and the boots had changed into longer boots with heels and looking more royalty with the decoration.
Yusei gasped when he recognized the outfit. It was the same one he had seen Estelle wearing in his nightmare after he had his first encounter with Kalin and his Earthbound Immortal.
Estelle slowly opened her eyes, showing they were now red, signaling that the transformation was complete.
Goodwin had grown slight pale, actually fearing for the change of situation. "H-How… How were you able to stop your dark self?!"
XXXXXXXXXX – Estelle's POV
"By accepting my other self", I replied as I reached my hands to my wings, pulling out two feathers. "There is no such thing called perfect being. Not even a God is a perfect being. Those who are not able to accept their true sides are ignorant. They are the weak ones." I lowered my arms as the feathers turned into normal swords. "But…" I swung my right hand up with the sword. "…Those who can accept both their sides, good and bad…" I swung my left hand up with the other sword before swirling around and then got into a pose, pointing the swords towards Goodwin. "…are stronger and braver than they can imagine. That includes my friends and the Signers."
I turned around when I heard the Duel Monsters crying in pain. The King of the Netherworld who had now reached the docks of New Domino City had sent a powerful beam of fire at them, destroying the dragons, as the beam kept heading towards me. The Synchro dragons flew out of the way, knowing they didn't have the strength to stop the attack.
I held up my swords, crossing them and shielded myself against the fire. The flames flew past me as they collided with the swords. Once the beam had passed, I lowered my swords as my Synchro dragons and my friends' Signer Dragons flew around me.
"Go."
My Synchro dragons flew towards the King of the Netherworld before they transformed into lines of light. The line of Sun Dragon Inti coiled itself around King of the Netherworld's left arm while Moon Dragon Quilla's line of light wrapped itself around the right arm. Orient Dragon chained the evil creature by its right leg and Light End Dragon took the left leg. Star Eater became a collar that got wrapped around the neck of the King of the Netherworld, partly strangling and partly paralyzing the creature.
The four Signer Dragons roared before they started attacking the King of the Netherworld. Power Tool Dragon and Blackwing Armor Master joined the dragons and gave the evil creature what it deserved.
I turned back to Goodwin who was furious, which the Earthbound Immortal showed by snarling at me.
"So you may have stopped the King of the Netherworld from reaching the temple, but Wiraqocha Rasca will release him from the prison!" Goodwin yelled.
"He has to go through me first", I emphasized by holding up my swords.
"As you wish! Wiraqocha Rasca, kill Estelle!" Goodwin ordered.
The Earthbound Immortal shrieked before spreading its wings and flew towards me. I let the powers of my Mark protect me by wrapping my body with a red aura. Then I could go and attack Wiraqocha Rasca.
I flew towards the Earthbound Immortal as I slashed off his feathers while I flew faster than lighting around him. Soon, I combined the two swords into a claymore, the blade shining like magma. I lifted up the claymore as it grew longer, almost as long as the Stairway to the Dragon Star, and threw it down at Wiraqocha Rasca. The blade slashed through the shadow creature as it shrieked in pain before disappearing in a purple cloud of dust, releasing the people who had been offered for the summoning.
Goodwin looked very pale as I floated only a few meters from him, the claymore returning to its original length. I glanced at him with emotionless eyes and lowered the eyes to the full Mark of the Crimson Dragon.
"You say you are controlling the light and the darkness, but I can sense the hesitation, Goodwin", I spoke up.
"What?!" Goodwin gasped.
"You're still thinking about Roman and the bond you two are sharing", I continued. "A bond that is stronger than any power in the universe-"
"Be silent!" Goodwin retorted.
"Even now, Roman is watching over you, disappointed how far you went when he asked you to fight for the right thing", I continued. "And deep inside your heart…" I pointed towards his chest. "…You knew you wanted to keep the promise. That's why you started building the bridge, letting it become a sign of hope. Hope that you'll accomplish the task you were given to."
"That's just nonsense!" Goodwin cold sweated, showing signs he was losing.
"Is it?" I asked.
Goodwin blinked confusedly before he saw the spirit of the good Roman. The spirit shook his head, disappointed that his brother had gone in the wrong direction.
I could clearly see how Goodwin missed his brother and was surprised to see Roman looking sad about the situation.
"I believe it's time we finish this", I said.
"I agree, Crimson Star Priestess", Crimson Dragon's voice echoed around me.
Crimson Dragon appeared among us, swirling his body around the ancient temple. He let out a roar before the full Mark of the Crimson Dragon disappeared from Goodwin's chest.
"NO! I was the chosen one! I was the one with both the power of the light and the darkness!" Goodwin yelled.
I turned to Yusei's group, seeing how the Signers regained their Marks, except Yusei got now the Head Mark and Crow was blessed with the Tail Mark.
"With the power of the Crimson Dragon…", I chanted as I flew up fast, flapping my wings. "…and with the light of the stars…" Once I was several kilometers from the ground, I reached out my hand to create a small crimson orb. "…I summon the strength of the light!" I felt my back burn as Crimson Dragon's full Mark appeared on my body.
At the same time, the orb of light grew larger so I had to shift my hand up above my head as it collected the light of the stars. I felt Star Eater joining me after he released himself off the King of the Netherworld to use the "befriending" spell.
"Starlight…", I slowly lowered my hand, pointing the giant orb of light at the King of the Netherworld before hitting it with the claymore. "BREAKER!"
The orb crackled for a second before it unleased all its power at the evil creature. The King of the Netherworld sent a new beam at my attack, but Starlight Breaker pushed it back as it approached the sludge creature.
The Synchro Monsters, including mine, flew quickly away from the King of the Netherworld to protect Yusei's group. They used their bodies and wings as shields to endure the light and the power of my spell.
The spell hit the King of the Netherworld as it roared loudly in pain before there was an explosion. The light expanded and swallowed the whole city as the evil creature was destroyed. The light even swallowed me, but I didn't try to fly away, knowing it wouldn't do any harm.