"Every star that's ever fallen
Knows the way to where we're going
Now I really know just what you mean to me."
-Finding Neverland by Scott Frankel
It was the middle of the night. Eito was taking apart one of the spare duel disks that were lying around the apartment while Leiko sat on the couch watching some late-night program. Neither felt like sleeping. It was hard to focus on sleep when the sister you had finally reunited with after many years was in the Satellite helping fight the battle of a lifetime. There had been no bad news thus far, but that could change at a moment's notice.
The door handle turned. Eito stood up abruptly, while Leiko only looked up from the edge of the couch.
The door swung open, revealing a woman of average height with dark skin and gray eyes. A white bandana held her auburn hair back. She was still wearing the clothes she had been last seen in.
Eito and Leiko could only stare in stunned shock. Leiko's eyes were growing wide and watering.
"Hey," Anya spoke with a small smile. She looked exhausted. "Anyone miss me?"
Eito was speechless. Leiko ran forward, her arms going around Anya's neck. Anya stepped back to support herself, but her arms wrapped around the youngest Hiraoka siblings.
Leiko's mentor was back. She was alive. The Signers had actually pulled it off.
"You're back," Leiko's voice was muffled from how she had her face buried in Anya's shoulder.
"I'm home," Anya corrected her. "And I'm damn sure never leaving again."
"They did it," Eito whispered in disbelief. "Holy shit, they really did it."
"Crow," That was Aki's voice over the walkie-talkie. "I can feel that Yusei won. Is Lina-"
"Guys, it's really bad," That was Rua's voice. Crow, Kirika, and Yui only just realized that Ruka and Rua were somewhere in the building with Ushio. They would have seen Yusei's death. Yui put a horrified hand over her mouth at the realization. "No, it's worse than bad."
"Did Lina come back?" Jack's tone sounded annoyed.
"...No, she did not," Kirika was the one who chose to answer. "Along with that-" Kirika was interrupted when Crow reached over and turned a button on the device, effectively cutting Kirika off. Kirika shot him a glare. "What was the meaning of that?"
"Don't tell them yet. Not until we know what's goin' on," Crow shook his head. "Give 'em some hope. One of their best friends is dead. We don't need to add another to the list yet."
"But that's lying," Yui's eyes widened. "They deserve to know."
"Yeah, but not right now," Crow appeared to be too downtrodden to feel guilt for his actions. Lina and Yusei were both dead. That didn't feel right.
"Fine," Kirika seemed to accept his reasoning. "We will keep it to ourselves for now. I hope you understand that the twins know as well."
"We should go find them. They might need us," Yui suggested. Kirika and Crow nodded in agreement.
"What do you mean Lina didn't come back?" Jack sounded both furious and desperate.
"I don't understand..." Aki sounded as if she were holding back tears.
"Exactly what we said," Crow informed them. "Anya's back, but Lina...she would've said somethin' if she was back by now."
"That means..." Aki couldn't finish the sentence.
"No!" Jack had to pull over to compose himself. Lina was dead. The woman who he connected with as his little sister was dead.
Now he had to go head to head in a duel to the death against the person he cared about just as much as he did for Lina- just in a different way.
He loved Carly.
His sister was dead. He had to kill Carly.
Jack pulled a card out of his deck and stared at it. Changing Destiny. He loathed this card. It gave all of the control to his opponent, either to gain life points or to inflict damage. Jack was a powerhouse dueler. He never left anything up to chance.
"I have something for you!" Carly had stared at him with a giant grin on her face. This was after Yusei's first duel against Kiryu, just after he and Carly stepped out of the helicopter together. "You're worried about what's gonna happen. It's a good thing I have just the card for you!" Carly had handed him the card: Changing Destiny. "Maybe with this on your side, you'll have some luck!"
"I loathe this card," Jack had told her in response. Yet, he still kept it, because it had been a gift from her.
Lina said there was still a chance to reach her. Carly. Lina had seen it in her own duel against Kaito.
I think there's a way to save the world, even if it hurts a lot. I think...I think there's a way they'll come back after all of this is done. Maybe you just have to hope enough, because if you don't, you know you'll lose someone you really love.
Lina was dead. The same fate wouldn't happen to Carly. Not if he could do something about it. He was Jack Atlas. He would defy fate.
Without a second thought, and without another glance at the card, Jack placed it into his deck. Fate could kiss his ass. He was still the King, and he would save Carly, no matter what it took.
Jack took off on his D-Wheel. He raced through the fog, the riding a bit rough due to the terrain. He was far out in the middle of nowhere. He supposed he should have been happy for that. There would be no passerbyers to witness what would happen. Jack rode off a steep cliff, temporarily flying through the air, before landing smoothly on the ground. This was the spot that Kirika's digital map had told him to go. He could see the Hummingbird control tower.
Jack reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the broken glasses. He stared at them, his fist closing around them.
Carly wouldn't be a Dark Signer for long. That was his vow.
Jack put the glasses away and rode up to the tower.
"Carly!" Jack shouted out into the air. "I know you're here! If you'll let me, I've come to help you."
The sound of another D-Wheel roared by. Jack looked towards the sound. Another duelist on a D-Wheel was speeding towards him. Jack refused to move. At the last moment, the D-Wheeler jumped, flying neatly over both Jack and his D-Wheel. They landed a few feet away from Jack.
The duelist on the machine was Carly. There was no doubt about that. Instead of the geeky girl that Jack was used to, Jack could only stare in horror at what she was turned into. Her eyes were black, just like Kiryu's had been.
"I've been waiting for you, Jackie," Carly spoke the name condescending. Jack visibly flinched. Lina used to call him that to tease him, but hearing it from Carly's only further stabbed him in the chest.
"Carly, who did this to you?" Jack sounded hurt. "Tell me."
"You have to be joking. The answer is just so obvious. You're responsible!" Carly smirked to Jack.
"No, you're mistaken," Jack blinked in shock. "I'm the one who's trying to save you."
"You cut me out, Jack! You didn't care about me," Carly hissed out. "If only you had been a little nicer."
"I was trying to protect you," Jack defended himself. "That's why I kept you at a distance. Carly- I didn't want you to get involved. I didn't want you to get hurt by me or someone after me."
"Well, you failed. Face it, Jackie, I'm a Dark Signer because of you," Carly laughed. "Trying to protect me? I heard about your sister, Jackie. Did you tell her the same thing?"
Jack reared back, visibly stricken by the blow. "I may not have been able to save her," Jack spoke after a pause. "But I'll do whatever it takes to release you of this."
"Funny. She said something similar," Carly raised an eyebrow. The Hummingbird mark glowed on her arm, which also ignited Jack's Mark of the Dragon. "Allow me to show you the truth!"
"I will save you, Carly," Jack vowed to her.
The duel was set. He would find a way to save her.
"Ayeka Fudo..." Lina repeated once more in absolute disbelief. Lina wasn't quite sure where she was. She was told she was inside of the Reactor, which made sense, but still a what the fuck is going on sort of moment.
Now Yusei's very dead Mother was in front of him. The Mother he never got to know because she died in the Zero Reverse when he was only a little over a year old.
It was interesting to Lina. This close up to the other woman, Lina could see the similarities between the two, specifically eye shape and eye color. They both had the same cobalt blue eyes. When she smiled at Lina, she could see Yusei.
"Hello there?" Ayeka raised an eyebrow in amusement. "You alright? You look like you saw a ghost. Which, you just did I guess, but I was going for something more metaphoric."
She didn't expect Yusei's Mom to be so...playful. She had this lively fiery energy that made her seem so alive.
"No, it's just..." Lina didn't know how to put it into words. "I do know you. I mean, I don't know you, I'm not even sure if ever actually got to meet, but I know your son. I know Yusei."
Ayeka's eyes lit up. "You know Yusei?" Ayeka leaned in, fulling taking in Lina's appearance. Ayeka had some recognition on her face. "You remind me of someone, but..."
Lina heard it before. She looked like her Mom, Yvette, but not quite. There were only similarities. "Yusei's my best friend," Lina told Ayeka with a smile. "I'm kinda in here because I didn't wanna hurt him." Lina probably still killed him, but at least he was alive.
"How is he? How is my son?" Ayeka shot off the questions rapidly. Her eyes held a thirst for knowledge. She wanted to know everything about him. "Does he look like me- or his Father? Oh, you might not know what Ryoto looks like. Does he look like me at least? Is he alright?" Ayeka was practically jumping from excitement. Lina had to lean back from the other woman, but she chuckled in response.
"He's the most amazing person I ever met," Lina replied honestly. Ayeka breathed out a sigh of relief. "He has your eyes. He won a tournament and became the King of Games. He's saved my life more times than I can count. He...had a rough start, but he's so great. He's..." Lina trailed off. She wanted to be up there with him. She wanted it more than anything else.
She loved him. She really, really loved him.
"That makes me so happy," Ayeka leaned back, her eyes looking up at the white nothingness around them. A smile lit up her features as her eyes watered from joy. "I didn't get to raise him, but knowing he's doing well, despite all this shit...it makes me happy. It makes all this somewhat worth it."
"You guys did your best. You know, for trying to stop the whole Zero Reverse thing from happening," Lina smiled at Ayeka. "He isn't mad or upset at either of you. He knows why things worked out the way they did."
"He should blame us. I hope Reo took good care of him," Ayeka breathed out a sigh. "Here we are, trapped in hell for eternity. Consider yourself lucky you didn't get stopped the other poor souls trapped with us."
Reo? Lina's eyes widened before her head tilted to the side in confusion. Her Dad was supposed to take care of Yusei? That obviously never happened. Lina would think that either she or Yusei would remember that.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Ayeka frowned at Lina.
"Because Reo didn't raise Yusei. He grew up in a foster home in a place called the Satellite," Lina spoke with bewilderment. "Was he supposed to?"
"Reo...what the hell happened..." Ayeka's face dropped. Her eyes narrowed and she turned to Lina. "How do you know all this? Who are you?"
Lina raised her hands in defense at Ayeka's glare and accusations. "Woah, hey! I'm just the messenger!" Lina waited for Ayeka's glare to soften.
"I'm sorry," Ayeka breathed out. "I'm taking it all out on a kid. Still, how do you know Reo didn't take care of Yusei?"
"Well, he's my Dad," Lina replied sheepishly. "I don't really remember Yusei being around. We didn't meet until I went to the Satellite."
Ayeka stared at Lina for a few seconds. The realization clicked. "Ellie?!"
"I prefer Lina now, but yeah, that's me," Lina waved to the other woman. "My name is Lina Kazukata. I'm Reo and Yvette's only daughter. Apparently, you guys were really close."
"You...could say that," Ayeka blinked as she absorbed in the information. "You said you went to the Satellite. Why?"
Lina realized at that moment that Ayeka wouldn't know what had happened to her parents. "My parents died in a car accident when I was five," Lina informed Ayeka in a low voice. Lina wasn't looking at her. "I ran away and ended up in the Satellite. I met Yusei after that." Lina turned her head to look at Ayeka Fudo, but her mouth was opening and closing as she took in the information.
"Dead...It can't be...Out of all the people who could have died..." She was devastated. Reo was a kind man who lit up the life of anyone he encountered. To think he was dead...
"Perhaps it was a good thing Yusei did not end up with him after all," Ayeka shook her head. "Reo and Evie are dead..."
"Came as a shock to me too, if that helps," Lina joked quietly. "I'm sorry."
"No, you shouldn't be, but..." Ayeka's eyes widened. "But now- you!" Ayeka turned to Lina frantically. "We have to get you out of here. You're not meant to be here. Reo and Evie would kill if they knew you were here."
"What?! I can do that? Are you saying I can leave?" Lina stood up in shock. Her heart was racing. Her heart. She could feel it beating. "Am I alive? I really thought I was dead."
Ayeka didn't answer her. Instead, she seemed to be listening. Was someone talking to her? Ayeka clicked her tongue, obviously annoyed by whatever she had heard. "Fine. I can wait."
"Wait for what?" Lina was confused. One minute she was dead, and the next she was being told that she could be saved. What the fuck was going on? "Do you think you could let me in on this? I'm pretty confused."
"Yeah, get in line. I've been here for seventeen years and I'm still not completely sure what the hell is going on," Ayeka sat down on the ground and patted the spot in front of her. "I was told we needed to wait just a little bit longer before we could make our move. Come sit down in front of me. I haven't braided someone's hair in years, not since Evie, and I miss doing it. Come on, I won't bite. You can tell me stories about you and Yusei while we wait for whatever it is my idiot husband says we're supposed to wait for."
Lina had the opportunity to bond with Yusei's Mom. She wasn't completely sure how she felt about the situation, but she felt excited. This might be her only chance to interact with the woman. Lina sat down in front of Ayeka and let the woman play with her hair.
"It feels the same," Ayeka let out a laugh. "Your Mom- Evie- she had the same thick hair like yours. It was always a pain to braid."
"What was she like?" Lina's hand went to the sun pendant around her neck.
"I thought she was snobby and another one of those air-headed rich idiots when I first met her. Then, she fell in love with one of my best friends, and I realized she was the exact opposite," Ayeka had begun to section off Lina's hair. "Reo, on the other hand, was a huge dork. They met a goddamn party, and I told him that he shouldn't go up to her. He did it anyway and got laughed at. Not by her. He complimented those fox earrings she wore, and next thing you know, they're married." Ayeka glanced down at Lina. Lina was crying, but a smile still stretched across her face. A fox. That made so much sense. "You miss them," Ayeka's voice was soft.
"I'm lucky enough to remember them," Lina returned back. "Yusei misses both of you. Rudger said some awful things about both of you, but he knows they aren't true."
"Figures he would," Ayeka's voice held disdain. "That bastard-"
"Yusei's dueling him now," Lina's words made Ayeka freeze. "I dueled Rudger and lost, but I know Yusei will win."
"Do you really believe that?" Ayeka didn't want to believe that was her only son's fate, but she had no choice but to accept it. She could do nothing about it.
"Yeah," Lina nodded. "He was meant to be a hero. If anyone's gonna save the world, it's him. I know it."
Someone was calling out to Jack. His eyes slowly opened. Carly was beside him, poking him gently in the shoulder. A smile stretched across her face. "Wakey wakey, Jackie Jackie."
Jack was in a fancy room. The sky outside was a purple-red color. For some reason, he felt he couldn't remember anything. His mind felt foggy.
"Still feeling groggy from last night?" Carly raised an eyebrow. "I know you're still getting used to being a Dark Signer, but you those shadows really do liven things up."
Jack noticed for the first time that the Mark of the Hummingbird was on his arm. Something wasn't right. This wasn't right. Jack sat up and saw himself in the mirror for the first tie. His eyes were black, just like Carly's. Carly was smiling up at him, but something was off. Her smile was different somehow.
"What's going on?" Jack muttered to himself. "What happened?"
"Don't you remember?" Carly was letting her nails go up and down Jack's arm. "I can kiss you again if it'll help you remember what you gained. You're one of us now, Jackie. The shadows of the Dark Signers infected you, and now you're mine forever to rule beside me. The world is ours."
That was right. Carly defeated Jack in a duel. He was about to die, but Carly saved him. She had turned him into a Dark Signer so he could take his place beside her.
Jackie. That name meant something from him. He heard it before, besides from Carly. He couldn't think of where he heard it before. He thought he saw an image, but it left as soon as he tried to reach out to it.
Carly led him to get dressed in robes that matched Carly's own Dark Signer attire. She told him that he was the King. The land was filled with fire and lave. Ruined buildings scattered the land. Carly informed Jack that the sky would remain forever dark.
Carly told him it was beautiful. Jack wasn't sure if he agreed. A part of him, the darkness, was telling him there needed to be more. There needed to be more death, more fire, more destruction.
Another voice- a quieter voice- was telling him to snap out of it.
"Some may disagree- like the Signers, but since they can only challenge our reign as the Dark Signers every five thousand years, they'll just have to deal with our rule!" Carly smirked cruelly. Her face twisted so maliciously felt wrong somehow. "Or they can pay the price like their monsters already have." Carly raised her hand out to gesture to their surroundings. Jack had a flashback of the memory. Black Rose Dragon, Ancient Fairy Dragon, and Stardust Dragon, each fell into the fire to be destroyed. Red Daemon's Dragon was the last. That was his card. Nobody touched his card.
The Crimson Dragon was plunged into lava. Carly chuckled evilly in the member, with Jack beside her. He looked just as sinister as he threw back his head and laughed.
"It's coming back to me," Jack admitted. "All the destruction, all that devastation. It paved the way to a new world."
"In this world, you are the Supreme King, and no one will ever touch your crown again," Carly laid her hand on Jack's shoulder. "All that you see is yours. You have everything you want."
"As I should," Jack felt the immense power he had. It was thrilling. This was what he always wanted. "What a fool I was before. Counting on friends, fighting for what is good. What a sick joke. This is where I belong. This is what destiny had planned for Jack Atlas!"
"It was in the cards this whole time, like I always said," Carly agreed. "In fact, it was the same card that made me realize why I was chosen to become one of the Dark Signers. And how I could face you in a duel. I was almost talked out of it by her, but it was nothing I couldn't face. I realized the truth- that you were meant to be King! Destiny has been fulfilled!"
"Her..." Jack echoed the words. Who was she? Why did it hurt to think about her?
"She's gone, Jack. You burned her cards yourself," Carly tried to remind Jack. Jack saw it. A beautiful white dragon roaring as its body burned in flames. That was Spirit of the Stars Dragon. That belonged to...
"Lina," Jack whispered out. He remembered her. His little sister he swore to avenge by saving Carly.
"Jackie?" Carly frowned up at him. That name-
Congrats, Jackie! I'm so proud of you! I knew you could do it!
That was when Jack won a major duel that would put him one step closer to becoming King of Games. He could see her perfectly now- how her blonde hair was neatly put into a ponytail because she knew cameras would be on her- and the giant smile on her face.
This was all wrong.
Jack pulled out an object in his coat that he could feel poking him in the chest. It was a broken pair of glasses.
"Enough of the past, Jackie," Carly tried to put his attention back to her. "Time doesn't exist anymore."
Glasses. These were Carly's. His Carly. These belonged to the Carly who stammered, who wasn't sure what words to say, who tripped over her feet. These belonged to the Carly Nagisa who bandaged his arm, who let him stay in her apartment, and who helped him duel against a Shadow Drone. This belonged to the women who he had foolishly pushed away to save her from the darkness after him, but had still been pulled in.
These belonged to the woman he loved.
"This is a trick," Jack realized out loud. Carly's eyes widened, a gasp escaping her lips. "None of this is real. You're not Carly."
Jack's focus returned to the duel. He was back in reality.
The duel wasn't over. Not by a long shot. It was time to bring out the card that would change everything.
"Since we're back on the playing field- I think I'll play this!" Jack activated his trap card. "I'm sure you recognize it! Changing Destiny negates your monster's attack!"
"I thought you hated that card, Jackie?" Carly's voice was nasty. "Sure, all of that was a trick, but it could be real. Don't you see that's what destiny has in store for us? You could rule over this entire wretched world."
"I lost my sister to the shadows. I'm not losing myself to it. I'm changing my destiny, and yours and I'm taking it back! I'm taking the real Carly back!" Jack sounded stubbornly determined. His hand clenched around the glasses. Carly seemed to notice the spectacles in his hands and gasped. "Did you notice I kept these?" Jack's voice was hard. "They remind me who I'm fighting for- why I'm fighting. And I won't stop until I've won. Get ready, Carly! This isn't over yet! I'm getting that girl back- the girl who just wants to make the world a better place!"
"This is the real me!" Carly snapped out. "First it's Lina, and now it's you! Stop with the mind games! Our destiny- both of our destiny's- is to become a Dark Signer and rule over this world together! I showed you the future. Don't you see? It's pointless to try and resist."
"The future hasn't been decided for either of us yet," Jack shook his head. "If Lina said something to you, she meant it, just like I mean every word I'm saying to you now. You may have fooled me with that trick, but you also showed me what I need to do."
Jack took a deep breath. It was now or never.
"Do you feel that?" Ayeka had just finished Lina's braid. Lina loved it. It reminded her of when her own Mother used to braid her hair when she was younger. "It's the air of arrogance, coming to remind you of how 'oh so smart' he is."
"Huh?" Lina didn't understand what Ayeka meant. A bright light flashed in front of her eyes. Lina held up her hand to shield some of it away. When Lina saw that it was gone, she lowered her hand, but let out a large gasp. A man stood in its place. Even if she hadn't seen his picture, she would have known who he was based only from his spiky black hair that looked exactly like someone else's she knew.
Lina hastily stood up and bowed to the man. She was surprised to hear both the man and Ayeka chuckling.
"Did you make a new friend, Ayeka?" The man who Lina knew to be Ryoto Fudo sounded amused.
"How could I say no to Reo and Evie's beautiful daughter?" Ayeka grinned up at her husband. Ryoto offered his wife a hand, which Ayeka graciously took to let herself up. Lina was still gawking at them with nervous wide eyes.
"Uh...hi," Lina greeted lamely. "I'm Lina, which I think you might already know, but if you didn't, now you know. Apparently, you were really close with my Dad and I never knew that."
"We were close," Ryoto agreed. This was creepy to Lina. He even sounded similar to Yusei. "We had a bond."
"Hey, that sounds like me and Yusei! I mean, we have a bond. A special bond. But not like that! We're just really, really close. Best friend kind of close. We're not close in any other way," Lina never sounded more like an idiot than she did in front of her kind-of-boyfriend-but-not-really-a-boyfriend's parents. Way to go, Lina. Ayeka and Ryoto exchanged an amused glance to one another.
"Lina," That voice was so familiar. Lina turned her head to see her card spirit: Sun Hope's Magician. But what was she doing here? Lina left her cards back in the land of the living.
"Sun Hope's Magician?" Lina frowned in confusion. "What are you doing here? What's going on?"
Ryoto noted Lina with a curious eye. She did have her Father's ability to communicate with duel spirits after all.
"You need to come with me!" The duel spirit sounded frantic. "It's Yusei! He needs help."
"Yusei?" Lina straightened her stance, her mind sharpening. "What happened? Where is he? Is he here?" Dear gods, Lina prayed he didn't jump in to try and go after her. That sounded like something too stupid for Yusei to do, but she wouldn't put it past him.
"She means that Yusei's in here," Ryoto informed Lina. Lina's gaze cut to him, her eyes narrowing.
"Where can I find him?" Lina demanded.
"You want to save him?" Ayeka raised an eyebrow.
"We save each other. That's what we do," Lina replied earnestly. "If someone can point me in the right direction, that's exactly what I'm going to do."
Ryoto's lip curled into a small close-lipped smile. While Lina resembled her Mother in appearance, she had her Father's spirit. He could feel that she and Yusei had a bond like he and Reo had, but different. Perhaps theirs was stronger.
"Are you sure about this?" Ryoto questioned Lina.
"There's no doubt in my mind," Lina replied smoothly.
That was exactly what Ryoto wanted to hear.
Lina had been right. There was a way to get through to the Dark Signers. There was a person underneath it all that was there. When Carly had opened her eyes after leaving Jack's life points untouched, they were white instead of black, and her large eyes blinked towards him.
"Carly!" Jack sped up to her so he could ride beside her. Changing Destiny had worked. The card that Carly had given him had worked after all. "Is it really you? This isn't another trick, is it?"
"I think it's me," It was a statement that was so ridiculous, but Jack still let out a relieved chuckle. It was her. Carly was shaking.
"Thank the gods," Jack murmured out.
"I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry for everything I've done, Jack," Carly was close to crying. "I never wanted to hurt you. I'm scared."
"I'm right here," Jack tried to assure the woman. "It's not your fault. It's that damn darkness you were inflicted with. It seems to be gone." Jack had gotten rid of it. He had gotten through to Carly. He finally seemed to be doing something right.
"The card spoke to me before, after I talked with Lina," Carly recalled the event. "And then I was here. But now we're together!" Carly grinned at him, but just as quickly she was crying out in pain. The Hummingbird Mark on her own was violently glowing. Carly gripped in her hand.
"Carly!" Jack called out in worry. "Tell me what's going on! What can I do to fix it?"
"You didn't really think it would be that easy, did you?" A dark, menacing voice came out of Carly. "When you are marked by the darkness, you are marked for life!" Carly cried out in pain once more. The purple fog was entering through her mouth. A figure appeared over her, vaguely representing the Hummingbird Earthbound Immortal- Aslla Piscu.
Jack realized the shadows were taking control once more. His gaze hardened into a glare. "So you're the monster that's pulling the strings in this."
"What do you think?" Carly's eyes closed, but when they opened again, they were glowing pure purple. Veins stood out on the edges of her cheek. This was no longer Carly, but something else entirely controlling her. "I'm not finished with her yet. Not until you're destroyed!"
"We'll see about that! Release her!" Jack demanded.
"Not unless you beat me in a duel, Jackie!" Carly emphasized the name. "Let's get back to it unless you want to see this world covered in flames!"
He had been so close to freeing her.
He would not give up. Not yet. Not when he had briefly won.
When Yusei woke up, he was surrounded by darkness. He groaned softly. The pain was still hitting him from his fall.
Pain. What did that mean? He could still feel something. Was he dead? He had fallen into the Reactor. If he wasn't dead, did that mean Lina was alive somewhere as well?
"Where is this place..." Yusei looked around to figure out what his surroundings were. It was an empty landscape. The terrain faded from purple-red to a purple-blue color. Yusei glanced down at his own handed and moved them. He was still in one piece.
Just then, a white, glowing ghostly head dug his way out from the ground. More quickly came out with him. Yusei was surrounded. Yusei looked around. He was trying to figure out if there was a way out of this. One of the ghouls grabbed onto his wrist. More were starting to advance on him. They were appearing in every direction. Were they going to pull him down with them? What was happening? Yusei was starting to panic as he pulled his arm away, but the more he struggled, the more ghouls clung onto him. One of them touched his Mark of the Dragon. A vision appeared of the Reactor. The ground shook, and the light from the Reactor expanded until nothing was in its place. Yusei was jerked back into reality, his breathing hard.
Yusei looked back down at the ghouls. Their faces were unrecognizable. They had shown him a vision of the Zero Reverse. It was the moment the Reactor tore apart the city and killed innocent lives.
"They don't seem to be very big fans of me!" Yusei needed a way out. The ghouls started to pull him down. He had sunk down to his knees, and then his waist. He didn't have much time left. The ghouls had started pushing on his shoulders to make Yusei sink faster. They really seemed to have it out for him. Yusei was fighting to stay above the surface.
"Hey! Let go of him, you assholes! Is that how you treat a guest of the Netherworld?" A voice called out. Yusei's breathing stopped. He knew that voice.
"Yeah, you all heard me! Let him go right now or my very much alive ass is going to kick all of your asses. This one is mine, do you got that?! He. Is. Protected. Most importantly, he had nothing to do with this! The real enemy is in here somewhere, go find him!" The voice seemed to get through to the ghouls. The ghouls disappeared with a moan into purple-red sparks of light that floated up and evaporated. The space around Yusei began to glow in the same color, and slowly, Yusei started to rise back into the air. He floated until his feet hit solid ground.
The figure was shrouded in bright light, but Yusei knew who it was. The figure began to step forward. The light illuminated her features. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a braid, but her green eyes were wide and looking only at him. A large, brilliant smile covered her features. Yusei could see she was crying, but they were happy. She was happy to see him.
"Hey, hero," Lina Kazukata greeted Yusei. She stepped closer until they were face to face. Yusei could only look down at her in dazed shock. "Looks like it was my turn to save you." Lina raised an eyebrow up at him. "Well? You gonna say somethin'?"
"You're alive," Yusei blurted out the words before he could help himself. Lina laughed. Yusei's heart skipped a beat at the sound. He never thought he would hear it again.
"Yeah, I think we both are," Lina looked up at him with bright eyes. "Is that a good thing or not-"
Lina was cut off when Yusei wrapped his arms around Lina's waist and picked her up in a tight hug. Lina wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his shoulder. They stood like this for what seemed like several minutes before Yusei returned her feet to the ground. Still- he held onto her- as if she would disappear at any second.
"What is it?" Lina sounded out of breath. "You're lookin' at me all funny."
Yusei reached into his belt and pulled out her deck. Lina's face lit up as she took her cards from him. "My cards!" The blonde exclaimed happily. When Lina's hand wrapped around her deck, Lina's monsters quickly appeared around them. Lina spun around with a giggle. Renard hopped on her shoulder and barked. Lina hugged her cards to her chest. The spirits all disappeared, save for Spirit of the Stars Dragon, who let out a loud roar.
"I never thought I would see that card again," Ryoto Fudo had appeared behind Yusei. Yusei jumped in the air, his head turning to look at the newcomer, but Yusei completely froze at the man's appearance.
"You-" Yusei started to talk, but he cut himself off. Ryoto was staring at Spirit of the Stars Dragon with a fond look on his face.
"Do you know this card?" Lina questioned with her head tilted. Lina had been given the card for one of her birthdays by the other members of Team Satisfaction. They had gotten it from a vendor in the marketplace. No one had ever figured out where it originally came from.
"It used to be mine," Ryoto informed the pair, causing the two to jump in the air. Ryoto turned his glance to Yusei. "It's nice to finally see you again, my son. I wish it had been under better circumstances."
"Father," Yusei didn't seem to know what to say. "That card- Lina's card used to be yours?"
"A bond between two friends," Ryoto seemed like he was repeating an old joke. He raised his hand out. Spirit of the Stars Dragon leaned down its head to put its nuzzle into Ryoto's hand. Lina was gobsmacked.
"A bond between two friends..." Lina echoed the statement. "But- wait- does that mean-"
"Your Father made this card for me based on a sketch I did of a dragon," Ryoto glanced at the two teenagers. "He said it was to represent our bond. The 'Spirit' after him, and the 'Stars' after me."
Lina had many cards that had 'Star' in the name. She never knew why. Now she did.
Her Father had named some of her cards after his best friend. Her gaze traveled to Yusei. A burst of laughter escaped her lips.
"We had a connection before we ever had a connection, Yus," Lina couldn't help but laugh.
"There's not much time," Ryoto interrupted with a serious look on his face. "There's still much for you to do back in the Satellite Sector, my son."
"Father, what do you mean?" Yusei stepped closer. Spirit of the Stars Dragon faded. Lina put her deck into her belt.
"Rudger may be gone, but a bigger threat lingers. The war is not over," Ryoto appeared grim. "My son, it's up to you to stop it."
"He's not alone in this!" Lina stepped forward and took Yusei's hands. Yusei glanced down at her in shock. Lina held a determined look on her features. "Whatever you do- wherever you go- I'm right there beside you. Until the end."
"Lina..." Yusei wanted to tell her she had already died, that it was too dangerous, but the words wouldn't come out.
"My baby," A woman appeared beside Ryoto, her face pained. Yusei jerked back at the sight of his Mother. "Look at you. God dammit, you look more like your Father than you do me."
"Ayeka," Ryoto chided her softly. "The child has to get back to the world of the living if all of this was to go away."
"I know that," Ayeka replied back with snark. Still, when she looked at Yusei, Lina could see the guilt on her face. "My son. We will always be with you, no matter where you are. You make us proud with every step you take. To see you here in front of me-" Ayeka stepped forward, her hand going to cup Yusei's face. Yusei didn't stop her, but he didn't move either. He completely froze. Ayeka gave him a sad smile. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry for the pain we put you through. I wanted you to have the best life."
"I've managed with what I have," Yusei choked out.
"Our damn research," Ayeka put her hand down.
"Rise to greatness, Yusei," Ryoto put his hand on Yusei's shoulder and nodded. "We are with you."
Yusei was touched by their words. "Mom, Dad..."
"And you," Ayeka turned her attention to Lina.
"Thank you for everything," Lina reached out and grabbed the woman's hands.
"Stay by his side, Lina. Promise me you'll do that," Ayeka needed that reassurance. Lina nodded without any hesitation.
"I would have done that anyway. I promise. He's stuck with me," Lina laughed.
Ayeka seemed happy with that answer. Slowly, she let go of Lina's hands and stepped back to join her husband. Yusei seemed upset to leave his parents. He finally had a chance to talk to them, but there was no time. They weren't alive anymore. Lina and Yusei had to return to the real world to finish what they started.
"Wait!" Lina remembered something. "Ayeka, what card did you use for the seal in the Main Reactor?" The card for the Main Reactor was never disclosed, leaving it a mystery."
"Ryoto did that one," Ayeka gave an entertained glance to her husband.
"What is it?" Yusei questioned.
"A bond between two friends," Ryoto gave the same vague answer he gave to Reo Kazukata seventeen years prior. Both teenagers seemed confused. Just as they were about to question Yusei's parents further about the mystery card, a bright light encased them. The last thing they saw was Ryoto and Ayeka Fudo waving goodbye.
Lina was lying on her back when her eyes opened. They were back in the Main Reactor. Lina stood up slowly just to test her footing.
She was alive. Holy shit, she was alive!
"Yusei!" Lina called out excitedly. She spun around, trying to find him. Yusei was also on his feet. He seemed just as stunned as Lina was. Their eyes locked for only a second before Lina raced forward and rushed into Yusei's arms. Yusei caught her and spun her around. Lina was laughing loudly.
They were alive.
"We did it. Holy shit, we did it and you beat Rudger in a duel and I'm fucking alive!" Lina was grinning ear to ear. "Fuck me, right!?" Lina was practically buzzing. Yusei was staring down at her with an intense look on his face. Lina was perplexed by that look. "What? What is it? Did I come back deformed or somethin'? Is something wrong with my face?"
"Did you mean it?" Yusei asked abruptly.
"Mean what?" Lina wasn't sure what he meant.
"What you said before you fell," Yusei never took his eyes off of her. His hands sat comfortably on her waist. Lina's cheeks turned pink. He meant that. Her declaration.
Lina said the words out of honesty, but she also assumed she was very much.
But she meant every word she said. All of it. She did love Yusei Fudo with everything she had. She didn't realize it until recently, but she did. Suddenly being alive again didn't change anything.
Did he love her too? Did he still love Kiryu? Lina wasn't sure. She didn't want to be rejected by the only person she loved like that, but she couldn't lie to him either. This was Yusei. If she couldn't tell Yusei the truth, she couldn't trust anyone.
Yusei was looking at her so earnestly. He wanted to hear her answer. Lina thought she could see a little fear. He was scared of what she could possibly answer.
It was time to put his fears to rest. Lina smiled up at him with one of her brilliant smiles.
"I meant every word I said," Lina spoke in a quiet voice, as the words were only reserved for the two of them. "I love you, Yusei Fudo. Nothing's changed from being dead to alive again. I still love you. I love you, I love-" Lina was cut off by something she didn't quite expect. Yusei had used one of his hands to cup her face and bring it up to his. He was kissing her. Yusei Fudo was kissing her. They were still kissing!
They had kissed before, sure, but this time was different. It wasn't Lina kissing Yusei because of a bet, or because she was scared, or because she was dying. Yusei was kissing her because he wanted to. Lina was kissing him back because she was in love with her stupid hero.
Lina wasn't sure how much time had passed (nor did she care), but eventually Yusei pulled back and rested his forehead against hers. Neither spoke. The only sound was the heavy breathing of the two duelists. Lina's cheeks were flushed pink.
"What now?" Lina's voice was quiet.
"I'm not sure," Yusei admitted. "I guess we save the world."
"I wasn't talking about what we're doing next," Lina playfully smacked his shoulder. "I more meant what happens with us, but hey, end of the world comes first. As long as neither of us dies again, we have the rest of our lives to figure it out." Lina looked up at him. "I love you, Yusei. I mean it."
Even though Yusei didn't say anything back, he leaned down to give her another kiss, something that Lina was grinning through. Once it ended, the two looked around. The pillar for the seal was just ahead.
"We still don't know what card goes in there," Lina looked at the pillar with a frown. "A bond between two friends..." Lina muttered out the words. Yusei was quiet as he thought.
The realization came to the two of them at the same time. Lina reached into her deck and pulled out Spirit of the Stars Dragon. "A bond between two friends!" Lina held the card in her hand. "It was so obvious!" Lina held the card out to Yusei. "Well, what are you waiting for? Here you go, hero! Shut off this Reactor and we can move on!"
Yusei was hesitating. "What is it?" Lina wasn't understanding why he wasn't taking the card.
"It's your card. You should be the one to do it," Yusei nodded to the card.
"How about we do it together? It is meant to be a bond between two people," Lina smiled playfully. Yusei thought about her answer and nodded in agreement. Together, the two walked up the pillar. Lina held out the card. Yusei took half of it in his gloved hands, with Lina taking the other half.
Together, they put the card in the seal. The building began to shake. Lina and Yusei ran outside to watch as the Main Reactor crumbled to the ground, completely destroyed.
Yusei's mark appeared. "Jack needs my help," Yusei informed Lina.
"Then give it to him," Lina laid her hand over his glowing mark. "Whatever he needs, you give it to him. He's not alone in this. Let him know he'll always have us at his back." Lina grinned up at him.
The Mark of the Crimson Dragon glowed on Jack's back. His friends were giving him support. That was all he needed to summon out Savior Demon Dragon.
Jack had a plan in mind. He wouldn't kill Carly. The darkness that was controlling her was right. He couldn't hurt her. He couldn't kill her. It might have been his destiny to stop the Dark Signers, but he did not sign up to kill the woman he loved.
He was going to use his dragon to force the duel into the draw. It was the only way. He felt resolved by his choice. He had lost Lina. He was going to lose Carly. He had no issues joining them.
"We'll be together again soon, Carly," Jack's choice was final. Destiny had no hold over him. "Not in the way I had hoped, but together nonetheless, and that's the only thing that matters!"
"I activate the trap Earthbound Release!" Carly revealed her card. She sounded like Carly. His Carly. "With this in play, all monsters on the field are destroyed and you take damage equal to their attack points!"
"Carly, no! You know my dragon's special ability is in play. Don't make such a careless move to save me." Jack tried to stop it, but there was nothing he could do. A huge explosion covered the field. He tried to desperately call out her name, but there was no response. Carly Nagisa was thrown from her D-Wheel and onto the ground as her life points hit zero. The fires that marked their duel circuit disappeared. The Hummingbird Dark Signer disappeared from the sky, as did Jack's Mark of the Crimson Dragon on his back.
Jack didn't care about any of that. He stopped his D-Wheel and flung his helmet to the side so he could join Carly's side. He held her in his arms, her head rested against his chest. She felt lifeless.
"Carly," Jack was pleading with her. "Hang in there, please. Can you hear me?"
"I can hear you, Jack," When Carly opened her eyes, they were blank and dazed. Her voice was only a little above a whisper. "I can't see you."
"You're going to make it through this," Jack sounded as if he were trying to convince himself.
"No, I won't," Carly smiled weakly at him. "Thank you, though. You tried your best."
"Don't say that. Look, I saved these for you. You can see," Jack took Carly's glasses out of his coat pocket and carefully laid them on her face.
"Thank you, Jack," Carly was beginning to turn gray. "But I don't want you to worry about me. Even though death is calling, I think I'll be okay. I-I'm scared, but you shouldn't be. We'll be together again someday."
"You're right," Jack agreed. "I'm going to do whatever it takes to bring you back. I love you, Carly. I'll never give up hope, and I'll never stop fighting for you."
"I know, Jack," Carly sounded serene. "I love you too. You're my King." Carly reached up and hugged him. Jack held on to her tightly. He knew if he were to let go, she would be gone. "Goodbye, Jack." Carly dissolved into ash. Jack tried to snatch at the air, but there was no point. Carly's glasses clattered to the ground. Jack's fist slammed against the ground.
First, it was Lina, now it was Carly.
Everyone he loved and cared about was gone.
"Dammit!" Jack screeched out the word. There was silence. No one was around.
"Jack, come here. There's something you gotta see," That was Yusei's voice over the walkie-talkie.
He didn't want to move. There was no point. Nothing mattered.
Jack slowly got to his feet and started walking towards his D-Wheel.
"Do you see that, Yusei?" Yusei's mark had returned to him. Lina pointed up at the sky. It looked like shooting stars were racing across the sky, but Lina knew better.
"The spirits that were trapped in the Reactor are returning to where they should be resting. They can finally get some peace." Ayeka appeared in front of them. This time, she was transparent, as if she were a duel spirit herself. Ryoto appeared beside her."
"You figured out my riddle," Ryoto held a proud smile to his face.
"I'm guessing you can't stay for long," Yusei seemed disappointed.
"We're free now, thanks to the two of you. We're not trapped to our former sins any longer," Ryoto was staring at his son, as if it were the last time he would ever get a chance to look at him. Perhaps it was his last chance. "Our place in the afterlife- the proper afterlife- is calling to us."
"So everyone else is free too? Lina asked to confirm. Ryoto and Ayeka both nodded their heads. Lina opened her mouth to ask more questions, to stall so that Yusei could see his parents for a few moments longer, but a bright blue light interrupted them. Another man appeared. Lina completely froze, her mouth open. A tanned skin man had appeared, with messy brown hair and circle glasses that covered his face.
"It looks like you were right," Reo Kazukata was grinning at his two best friends. "Our paths did indeed cross again, my friend."
"Are you supposed to be the angel that guides me and my wife to the afterlife?" Ryoto chuckled in amusement.
"It's more I'm taking you on a detour. I promised I would show you the Spirit World. Now that my daughter's saved it, I thought it would be the perfect time for a tour," Reo never looked more proud when he said 'my daughter'. Lina choked back a noise.
"Reo," Ayeka stepped closer to her friend. "When did you-"
"Ah, about four years after you, I'm afraid. Totally normal and human accident," Reo was speaking about his death. "I'm sorry. I tried very hard to find him- your son. I failed. I will live with that forever." Reo turned his attention to Yusei. Reo gave the boy a sad smile. "You were trusted to me, but guards were after me. I gave you to a woman named Martha to watch, but by the time I went back for you, you were in the Satellite. I tried everything I could to get you back. Seems I died before I could," Reo bowed his head. "Accept my apologies."
"It wasn't your fault," Yusei was lost for words. Lina was staring at her Dad. She seemed to be completely frozen.
"We forgive you, Reo. How could we not?" Ayeka smiled at her friend. Reo seemed relieved by that answer. He turned his attention to one last person. His gaze went to his daughter. Slowly, he walked up to her. His hand went and rested on her cheek. Lina leaned into his touch- even if she couldn't actually feel it.
"Papa," Lina blinked back tears.
"My little Ellie," Reo smiled brilliantly at her. "Look at you. You're all grown up. You look...just like her," Reo was talking about her Mother. "That's a good thing. I was worried- with my genes and all- but here...you are," Reo seemed stunned by her presence.
"You're in the Spirit World?" Lina asked quietly. Reo nodded.
"I am, Ellie. But beyond that, I'm right...here," Reo pointed to his heart. "Your Maman and I are always with you. I made your deck to remind you of that. You'll always be surrounded by people who love you just as we love you."
"Papa, please don't go," Lina's voice cracked.
"I have to, my beautiful girl," Reo gave her another smile. "I'm so proud of you. Maman and I are proud of you, little Ellie. You've done so much, but there's still so much to do. Are you sure about this path?"
"Yes, Papa. I won't give up. Not when I can still do something," Lina nodded with conviction. Reo's smile only grew with her answer. Slowly, Reo stepped back. Lina closed her eyes. She didn't want him to go.
"I'm glad that if someone had my daughter's heart, it was you, Yusei," Reo gave one last smile to his best friend's son. "Keep it close to you. We all need a little light in our lives. As for me..." Reo turned his head. "Evie is calling for me. Are you ready?" Reo offered his hands out to both Ayeka and Ryoto.
"We are," Ryoto confirmed. Ayeka and Ryoto reached out and grabbed their best friend's hand. Ayeka snuck one last look at her son- and Lina. Lina and Yusei were gripping each other's hands as if their life depended on it.
The three disappeared in blue light.
Yusei and Lina were alone once more.
"Hey! You there!" Crow waved to them from a distance. Lina and Yusei whipped their head around to look for him. He was rushing towards them. Kirika was following at a slower pace, but Yui had already arrived to throw her arms around Lina.
"You're alive!" Yui was clinging on tightly.
"You're choking me!" Lina protested weakly. She yelped in pain when Crow punched her in the arm. "Hey! What the fuck!?"
"That's what you get for fucking dying on us!" Crow snapped but pulled Lina in for a hug. "Don't do that again, dammit!"
"Okay, okay! I promise I won't!" Lina stepped back, but just as she did, Rua and Ruka jumped on her.
"Lina!"
"Lina, you're okay!"
"We were really worried!"
"But you're okay!"
"I'm okay! I'm really okay," Lina bent down to Ruka's level. Rua had already joined Yusei's side. Ruka was gazing at Lina with worried eyes.
"You're okay?" Ruka asked tentatively. Lina grabbed Ruka in her arms and pulled her close. Ruka rested her head on Lina's chest.
"I'm okay," Lina confirmed. "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere." Lina looked up to see Kirika watching her. Lina raised an eyebrow, but Kirika only rolled her eyes. Lina should have figured that Kirika wasn't the hugging type.
"We're glad to have you back," Kirika informed Lina.
"Likewise," Lina smirked. Her arms were still around Ruka.
Lina didn't let go until she heard a D-Wheel pulling up. A silence fell over the group. Lina stood up slowly. Jack had taken off his helmet, but he was gazing at only one person.
"Hey, Jackie," Lina shot him a brilliant smile. "It's nice to see you again."
"Lina..." Jack tried to form words. "You're alive."
"Yeah," Lina nodded in agreement. "I am."
Lina wasn't sure who moved first. The next thing she knew, Jack had lifted her up in a bone crushing hug. Lina clung on tightly. He was shaking, but so was she.
"Don't do that," Jack was begging her. "Please don't do that again. I can't lose-"
"I won't," Lina cut him off with her promise. "You're never getting rid of me again. Not for a long ass time."
"Good. Good," Jack repeated the word. He didn't seem too keen on letting go. Lina felt the same.
There was only one more duel left, and they could go home.
It was all up to Aki.