Author's Note Part 1: Thanks goes to Ulrich362, Mizashi Haruka, iloveyugiohGX93, mcdinh, Doccy Larsson Seraphim, and I guess the Guest for reviewing the previous chapter! (Even if the guest review was more like some sort of flame… or troll…)

Well, there isn't much to say for this chapter. Just… be prepared for more screwing over of the Crimson Dragon/Earthbound Immortal's backstory.

I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds, but I do own my OCs. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 36

I'm on the outskirts of an ancient city built into the side of a hill. Actually, when I look closer, it looks to be a lot like the city depicted by Toby's Field Spell, except the buildings are made of a different type of stone, and it's a lot darker. As in the only source of light is the setting sun.

But still. That doesn't explain where Toby went.

Or why Yusei and Ayame are in the vicinity again.

…Wait, Yusei and Ayame?!

I dash over to where I see the two of them—surprised by the fact that nothing hurts despite clearly hearing something snap when I hit that building after the explosion—but ignoring that fact as I angrily say, "I thought this was supposed to be a Tag Duel, not two separate Duels."

"Yes, well…" the Dark Signer shrugs, "apparently the knowledge that you Signers are stronger in groups can surpass a loss of memory."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" I demand. The way she's talking, it sounds like this darker half of Ayame seriously has it out for us. But the part about amnesia…?

"That isn't my mother," Yusei says.

"Huh?"

"It's Choco Airutan," he adds. "Just like what Uru did with your uncle."

Then that means… she, it, Choco Airutan—whatever—is speaking in that same language. That I can somehow understand. And… so can Yusei, apparently.

I narrow my eyes at the Dark Signer. "Explain."

She smirks slightly. "What is it that you would like to know first? Where we are? What my real goal is? …Or what language I'm speaking with, and why you can understand it?"

How could she know that?

"Oh, but that is not important," she continues. "And, well, I cannot remember everything yet. Why you understand the language of the ancients is yet lost to me."

I'm pretty sure I scowl, but I definitely let off a displeased noise. I can never get straight answers where things like this are involved. Never. There's always an excuse to keep the truth from me.

"I think… you should start with the basics. What is this place?" Yusei asks, preventing me from blowing up at the Earthbound Immortal. Probably a good thing. For all of us.

"This city before you," she gestures in the direction of the buildings, "is Falga, one of the five cities of this world."

"It seems… awfully quiet," I say. "And what is this world, if it isn't Earth?"

"It is not obvious? This is Nether; as you all say it, the Netherworld." The expression on the Dark Signer's face briefly changes to sorrow as she adds, "Or at least, how Nether was, before the battle."

Somehow, I know exactly what battle she's talking about. "The one fifteen thousand years ago, right?" I ask.

She nods.

"But that was fought in our world," Yusei says. "Also, it was a draw, I don't see how—"

"A draw?!" the Dark Signer screeches. "A draw?! Hah! Just because the leaders of both sides were defeated doesn't mean it was a draw!"

Judging by her attitude, I'm pretty sure that what she means is that the Signers won…

"Oh, they did! Despite the numbers, despite us having more strength, despite their losses, somehow they were able to turn the tables and… and…" a tear slides down her face. "Somehow, the dragons were able to destroy almost half of us…"

"Then what? Did you retreat or something?" I ask.

"We must have; otherwise this war and the one ten thousand years ago would not be possible," Choco Airutan says. She looks at the city, smiling warmly. "The sun has set…"

Suddenly the city is full of a bustling crowd of… well, people isn't the right term to use. Name any type of monster in existence—evil ones—and at least a dozen of them are in this crowd. Except… they aren't… evil.

I can see a troll helping an old witch reach something on the highest shelf of a market stall. I can see several vampires playing some sort of game with a pack of werewolves. Overhead flies a black dragon with a bunch of young goblins on its back.

There are more, some I don't even have a name for. But they're all friendly. No one is doing anything wrong…

"What… what is this?" I ask.

"You thought the inhabitants of Nether were human?" Choco Airutan asks, chuckling slightly. "No, everyone in this world is what you would call a monster, or a demon. But in truth, our only 'crime' is that we prefer darkness to light."

A bell rings several times from the tallest tower in the city.

"A summon… this means that the Second Prince has news to share," the Earthbound Immortal says. "Come, let us listen. It may get the two of you closer to the truth."

A split second later, we're standing on the roof of a building, close to where all the inhabitants of the city have gathered. The building in front of us… well, it's definitely a castle, complete with a wall and guard towers. On top of the wall, right over the entrance, stands a man.

No, not truly a man. He looks human, except for the fact that he has black wings not unlike the dragon I saw earlier. And his clothes don't really look like clothes—the black material looks like it's fused with his skin. To top it all off, he has this hood or something, shaped like the head of a dragon, that covers the upper half of his face.

"Milon, Second Prince of Nether, one of the four Fiends of the Netherworld. He is also my uncle," Choco Airutan says.

"Your uncle?"

"You'll find out soon enough…"

"Citizens of Falga!" the dragon-man's voice booms, echoing of the stone buildings. "I am afraid I have grave news. The Crimson Dragon and her servants have recovered from their conquest of Orience."

Worry spreads through the crowd, as a giant murmur and fearful expressions crossing everyone's faces.

"Their next target… is Earth. The realm of humans," he continues.

Another murmur throughout the crowd, and someone shouts, "Then what? Are we next?"

"No," Milon replies to the comment. "We will be safe here. As we speak, my brother, the First Prince, along with his children, are preparing to go into the Human World to stop the Crimson Dragon from conquering it."

"Like that's going to be enough of an army!" the same voice shouts. "Why aren't you going? Or either of your two other brothers—or why not even the king and queen themselves?!"

That statement looks like it starts to instill more fear in the crowd.

A frown appears on the Second Prince's face. He waits a moment, and declares, "I cannot fight in that world, nor can the king or queen. We are the ones who keep this world alive. Even allowing Xolotl to travel is extremely dangerous." After this, he turns around, starting to walk back into the castle. "That is all," he says over his shoulder. "But be prepared… for the worst."

The city and its inhabitants all vanish before anything else can be said.

I stare at the space where Milon was standing. I don't… no, I can't believe what he was saying. The Crimson Dragon, conquering worlds? Trying to conquer this world, and Xolotl—that name still makes me unsettled—being the one to try and stop that? And… and… the Earthbound Immortals… they would have been helping Xolotl, and by what Milon revealed, they're his children.

The Earthbound Immortals are related…

"Interesting, is it not?" Choco Airutan asks. "To have your beliefs dashed apart like this… it's quite amusing."

"You're lying," I say. "That… that… this is all a trick to make us let our guards down!"

"It is no trick," the Earthbound Immortal retorts, pure venom in her tone. "Ah! If only I could remember everything, I would show you more! Show you everything! That battle, that wretched battle…" she grasps her head, screaming. "Ahhh…! You'll see! You'll see the truth soon enough!"

Everything starts spinning. I can't see Yusei anymore, though I do call out to him.

XXX

And when I breath in next, it's in pain. The lights are back, and so is Toby. So is the Shadow Duel… and my injuries.

I grit my teeth together and try to stand. My chest tightens in protest—I definitely broke a rib. Probably more than one. Then I realize a very metallic taste in my mouth, and cough a few times, spitting out a mixture of saliva and blood.

This Duel needs to end soon. Otherwise I might not be able to continue.

Toby's Life Points: 600, Angel's Life Points: 1100

"2100 damage… so, what Synchro do you have, whose ATK or DEF is lower than that?" Toby asks, with a smirk on his face.

It's a trap. It has to be a trap, I think. So then, do I bring out Daigusto Tornado Dragon, or something else…? I close my eyes, and I know what I'm going to do. "I choose… Daigusto Tornado Dragon!"

Daigusto Tornado Dragon ATK: 2900, DEF: 2000, Level 8

A tornado announces the coming of my dragon, who flies out of it within seconds. His dark-green scales shimmer in the light. When his four feather-adorned wings flap, a slight breeze is created. But there's something different about my dragon. His claws don't look like they'll tear through everything in sight, and his eyes… seem clouded.

I understand that. I don't want to have to battle Toby, even if it is the only way to save him.

"Of course, your dragon," he says. "Well then, I better bring out… Michael, the Arch-Lightsworn!"

Michael, the Arch-Lightsworn ATK: 2600 to 2800, DEF: 2000, Level 7

A man, in golden armor, appears on Toby's field. The armor even covers the two wings the man has. He brandishes a large sword with a silver blade, ready to attack anything at a moment's notice.

I narrow my eyes at the monster. He's one of Toby's two best cards, but is best used after he uses Judgement Dragon. I don't know why he Summoned it now, but it can't be for anything good.

"I end my turn with a face-down, meaning the effect of Michael, the Arch-Lightsworn's effect activates, forcing me to send the top three cards of my Deck to the Graveyard," he finishes. "That also means Realm of Light gains another Shine Counter."

Realm of Light SC: 3; Michael, the Arch-Lightsworn ATK: 2800 to 2900

"Then it's my turn! I draw!" I declare. Looking at my new card, I can't see much of a new strategy… "I set a card face-down… and then, activate the Quick-Play Spell Forbidden Chalice! Now Daigusto Tornado Dragon gains 400 ATK until the End Phase, but his effects are negated."

Daigusto Tornado Dragon ATK: 2900 to 3300

"Time for battle! My dragon attacks Michael, the Arch-Lightsworn!"

Toby keeps a perfectly straight face as my dragon creates several tornadoes that rip through his monster, even when the winds pelt him with stones that they picked up. That settles it. He's up to something.

Toby's Life Points: 200

"When Michael, the Arch-Lightsworn is destroyed, I can select any number of the other 'Lightsworn' monsters in my Graveyard and return them to my Deck. Then, I gain 300 Life Points for each one," Toby says. "There are seven other 'Lightsworn' monsters in my Graveyard, so that means 2100 Life Points for me!"

Toby's Life Points: 2300

Exactly the amount he lost from that card effect… great. And he has more Life Points than me now…

"Fine, I end my turn," I finish.

"Well then, it's my turn!" Toby draws his card, and grins. "First off, I'll activate the Trap Needlebug Nest," he says. "That sends the top five cards of my Deck to the Graveyard. Oh, and another Shine Counter for my Field Spell."

Realm of Light SC: 4

As soon as he does that, Toby grins evilly. "There were three of them in it… and combined with Michael… Hehehe… Judgement Dragon! Descend from the heavens and rain down your wrath!"

"Ahhh…!" a gasp escapes my lips. Of course, his best card…

Judgement Dragon ATK: 3000, DEF: 2600, Level 8

White feathers covering his entire body and wings. Bright red claws. The dragon I don't want to face, flying before me.

"And now, I activate the effect of Judgement Dragon!" Toby shouts. His grin grows wider, and he spreads his arms wide as he takes the 1000 damage in order to use the effect.

Toby's Life Points: 1300

"Destroy! Destroy everything!" he screams.

No, no, no, I can't let him destroy my dragon, I think. Pressing a button on my Duel Disk, I shout, "I activate the Trap Radiance of Gusto! By sending two 'Gusto' monsters from my Deck to the Graveyard, I can shield my dragon from destruction this turn!"

I see ghost versions of Kamui, Hope of Gusto and Caam, Serenity of Gusto appear in front of my dragon, crossing their staffs to create a barrier.

Now, all I can do is… I raise one arm to shield my eyes, wincing as my ribs protest the movement.

Everything momentarily turns white.

To be continued…

Author's Note Part 2: Don't worry, most of the gaps from what Choco Airutan said will be filled by Wiraqocha Rasca. You'll get your answers eventually.

Anyways, did you like this chapter? I hope you did, and I'd really like it if you told me so in a review! Even if it's pointing out a mistake I made, I'd still like to see your review!