Disclaimer: We don't own Yugioh GX.

"Isn't Saiou the one possessed by the Light?" I asked. "When, exactly, did he tell you this?"

Ed hesitated a moment before he answered, "Before the Light emerged."

Well, that was surprising. And likely to raise some questions, even among the most reasonable of people, if they weren't from my kingdom. And, unfortunately, only one of these people was from my kingdom, so I was definitely expecting some sort of explosive reaction.

Sure enough, my audience—those with eyes—had theirs turn to the size of pinheads. "Eh!?" some cried. Others opted for, "Wha!?"

"S-so, does that mean that Ed really is the true hero!?" Sho asked.

"He really did steal that deck…" Manjoume said.

Johan was staring in awe.

I couldn't blame them for their shock and doubt this time. I mean, Neospacians were the ones who had it pounded into them from an early age that the chosen hero would be the first-born prince of Neospace. Kalmar learned that my family was full of loathsome deadbeats, as I'd learned recently, and most of these guys were from there.

I decided to wait and see if Ed was going to elaborate on that, so I didn't say anything.

Ed looked away, seeming upset. "Saiou… I've known him since we were little. We used to hang out all the time. He was a fortune teller, and he always read me mine. One day, he told me his future was in grave danger. That a devil would come after him."

"A devil?"

"Could that have been the Light of Destruction?" Johan asked.

"Correct, my prince," Ed said. "The devil he was referring to is, in fact, the Light of Destruction. But we didn't know this at the time."

Ed's POV

It was time to prove that Judai really couldn't be the chosen hero. After all, not only was he too irresponsible and selfish, but I had been told that it was my destiny to save Saiou. Since the Light of Destruction was what he needed saving from, that must have meant that I was the true hero!

So I told them my story.

I was ten years old when I knocked on Saiou's foster family's door after school. He answered, looking completely depressed.

"Hi, Saiou!" I said, excited about what my father had just given me. "Thought I'd drop by to say hi! And to see if you wanted to play cards with me! My dad just made a deck for me that'll blow you away!"

My father was a card designer, so when I said he had made me a deck, I meant each card had been specially designed for me.

Saiou looked away, saying, "I'm sorry, my friend. But now isn't the time…"

I looked at my friend, concerned. After all, it had been a long time since I'd seen him this upset. "Huh? What's wrong? You haven't looked this down since the day your mom died. Are you and your sister being relocated?"

Saiou closed his eyes and shook his head. "I wish it were that simple, Ed… As it is, however, I just received a message from the gods… Something…terrible is about to happen…"

A message from the gods? That could only mean his powers had shown him something. But what, I wondered?

I stood there on the front porch, looking at him in concern. "What do you mean?"

"Come inside, Ed," Saiou said, stepping aside. "I want to show you something."

I headed inside, wondering what fate had in store for me this time. I had long ago become a believer in Saiou's powers when everything he had predicted about my future had come true. Most recently, he'd told me that my father would make me a special deck for my birthday. That had happened the day before, on my tenth birthday. Needless to say, I never doubted his predictions.

Saiou and I sat down at a small table with a deck of tarot cards sitting in the center. I waited anxiously for him to pull a card from it. When he did, his eyes closed, it was the Devil. I'd learned by then what that card meant.

My eyes widened, and I leaned forward in horror. "Th-that card is—!" I cut myself off, looking at Saiou with increasing worry.

"That, Ed, is my future… A devil will emerge from its long slumber and overtake me… A great battle will ensue…" He closed his eyes again sadly as he finished.

"A battle?" I asked.

Saiou looked me square in the eye, his expression one of total seriousness. "Yes. One that hasn't been seen in 500 years… The time for a hero is fast approaching…" He drew another card, getting the Emperor card upright. "One with a heart that's pure and true. A hero who bears the weight of the whole world on their shoulders…though the cards won't show me the hero in question, this card keeps coming up when I think about you…"

Was Saiou trying to say what I thought he was?

I gasped, my eyes widening with realization. "S-so does that mean what I think it does?"

"I can't be sure yet, Ed. But, if the cards are right, it seems you're destined to save me from this evil somehow…though your purpose may be different than what we're thinking it is…" He closed his eyes again and drew one more card: The Chariot, upside down. "The true nature of our destinies is uncertain…because this sign means to defy destiny… I've…never been so confused about the future as I am now…" He shook his head, then lowered it, looking upset.

He seemed so depressed, and I knew the teen must have been really distraught. After all, it wasn't possible to defy destiny, so such a message didn't make sense.

But one thing was clear: I had to save Saiou from whatever was coming. Not just him, but the entire world!

I stood up, looking determined. My sudden movement drew Saiou's attention. "Saiou! I understand what I have to do! If your fate and the fate of the world rests with me, then I promise you! I'll become a true hero and fight that great battle! I'll save you and the world we love so much!"

Saiou looked at me, seemingly touched. "Ed…"

"I swear to you! With this chosen deck my dad gave me, I'll do it! I'll save this world and restore peace to the land! I won't give up until this world is safe again! Then we can both live in peace forever more!"

The passion burning in my eyes caused Saiou to smile as he stood up as well. "So be it," he said. "I wish you the best of luck, my friend. The matter rests with you now." He held out a hand, which I took in a firm handshake, smiling.

After that, my training to become a hero had begun.

So, as you can clearly see, I was meant to save the world, not some spoiled and selfish prince.

Judai's POV

Well, that was quite a story. Though I saw something in there that Ed obviously didn't—something that threw a serious monkey wrench into his delusion that he was the chosen hero.

The others, apparently, didn't quite catch it. They seemed to be in awe.

"Whoa…" Johan said.

"That's…" said Ojin.

See what I mean? Awe.

"See?" Ed asked. "That's why you won't win, Judai! You're a fake hero, and this mess requires a real one!"

Okay, did I say there was one thing that threw a monkey wrench in? Sorry, there were actually two. See, the fact that he believed in predetermined fate to begin with was already making it glaringly obvious that he couldn't be the chosen hero because the chosen hero defies this so-called fate.

Johan sweat, seemingly nervous. Well, after that story, who but a native Neospacian could blame him? I mean, it was only obvious to me what that story showed. "D-don't listen to him, Judai!" he said. "He wasn't born royal, and the prophesy states that only a prince receives the power!" Muttering, he seemed stunned when he said, "Why Saiou said Ed should's a mystery…"

Well, at least he didn't seem to totally believe Ed's story. He just didn't get what it was all about.

"He's right, Judai!" Asuka agreed. "Ignore him! You've been purifying us this whole time, and only the chosen hero can do that!"

"Yeah, what they said!" Yubel added, "It's not your fault you were born stupid, after all! The Neo-Spacians couldn't tell that when they chose you! Don't beat yourself up for being you."

Ignoring that last one, I took a moment to gather my thoughts, then told Ed, "Regardless of what he told you, I'm no fake. I never thought I was a fake, so you guys can all rest easy. Besides, that whole 'defying destiny' thing could throw all of this out the window. Nobody can totally accurately tell the future, especially when it involves a guy who defies destiny. That last card he drew destroys your whole story."

If he didn't accept the truth of those words, he was a fool.

"Think that if you want," Ed said, showing me that I'd need to prove it to him. "I end my turn. Let's let destiny decide who the chosen one really is." For good measure (you know, to show how stubborn he was), he crossed his arms.

Okay, clearly, I did need to prove him wrong. But I wasn't letting this imaginary destiny decide anything.

"While the point is clearly true, I'd like to know why a prince like that was chosen. He's lazier than you are," Ojin said, turning to Johan accusingly.

Really? Come on, I know I'm lazy, but that doesn't mean you have to keep pointing it out!

Johan narrowed his eyes at him in annoyance. "I'm going to pretend you didn't say that."

Well, if we were both lazy, that was another thing we had in common, I supposed.

"Ojin, you can rest assured that I'm not planning on fighting Kalmar ever," I said. "One of these days, maybe you'll believe me when I say Johan and I are friends." I drew my card, then said, "I activate the field spell Skyscraper! And you know what that means!"

"Tch. You take away the D-Hero's advantage," Ed said.

"Bingo! And give one to the E-Heroes! Next I summon Elemental Hero Avian!" (Atk 1000)

Yubel cupped her hands around her mouth, calling, "That thing better be attacking that Diamond Dude of his! You attack the wrong thing with that wimp, and I'll never forgive you!"

Okay, so she was insulting my monsters and me all at the same time. Well, what else was new with her?

"What she said!" Manjoume agreed, making me think the two of them should get married. "Use your wimps wisely, or don't use 'em at all!"

I twitched slightly. Again with the backseat dueling? "Uh, you guys do know I can do simple math, right? And I understand effects?"

"Ignore them, Judai, and get on with your move!" Asuka commanded. "We're counting on you, remember!?"

"Yeah, well, some of you have got a funny way of showing it," I muttered. "I switch Clayman to attack mode, which will cue another chorus of 'you idiots' from my cheerleaders!"

Misawa lay down, yawning as he said, "Just hurry up and end this duel… It's way past my nap time…" And he started snoring.

Snoring. I mean, I know he was an old man in this world, but seriously? He was sleeping!?

"I'll worry when it's time to worry!" Ojin snapped. "Just finish your move already!"

"'When,' huh?" I asked.

Ojin sweat. "Well, you're not dueling as good as you usually do, so…" he said, sounding awkward.

Well, I supposed I could accept that. It wasn't like it was a lie.

I sighed, then turned my attention back to the duel. "Clayman attacks your Disk Commander!"

"Argh," Ed muttered as Clayman charged his monster.

The attack hit dead-on, destroying Disk Commander.

Ed: 2200
Judai: 2300

"Next Avian's gonna take out your Diamond Dude!"

With Skyscraper's effect, Avian's attack power rose to 2000. Avian launched a shower of white feathers at Diamond Dude, destroying him, too. Ed didn't look too thrilled with me. Well, gee, I wonder why?

Ed: 1600
Judai: 2300

"Huh?" Sho asked. "Why didn't Avian get destroyed? Diamond Dude had higher attack points!"

…Really, Sho? I could have sworn I'd used Skyscraper around him before.

Manjoume glared, making the car jump a bit. "Idiot!"

At the same time, Yubel smacked herself in the forehead.

"What?" Sho asked, ever the naïve one.

And people thought I was bad.

Asuka covered her face with a hand, sighing. Aside from Manjoume, Misawa, and Yubel, everyone else did the same (well, in Johan's case, it was a paw) and sweat.

Okay, it was time to take pity on my forgetful friend.

"Because Skyscraper raises an Elemental Hero's attack power by 1000 when they fight against a monster more powerful than them," I answered.

"How many times you seen that effect used?" Yubel asked, annoyed. She had her arms crossed and was glaring at him. "Or were your eyes closed every time he used it?"

"He's an idiot. A complete and total idiot," Manjoume muttered, still covering his face.

"Wow… No wonder he doesn't duel…" said Johan, stunned.

Yeah, I was totally starting to get that, too. He needed some serious help if he was ever going to be a duelist.

Sho slouched down in embarrassment. "Sorry."

Ed blinked at Sho, looking just as stunned as everyone else. Hey, he had a right. Sho was pretty startling when you first met him.

Turning back to me, Ed asked with genuine curiosity, "You always make friends with the most needy of people, Judai? At least Saiou could handle himself up until now."

Okay, that was rude.

"So your reason for wanting this burden of mine is so that you can save your friend?" I asked, ignoring the rude comment about my friend.

Once again, Ed glared at me. It seemed I was real good at getting that reaction out of him. "Well, somebody's got to! You're no hero, and I've been preparing for this my entire life! Get out of my way so I can save him! It's my destiny to do so!" He sounded a bit anxious with what I could only guess was worry.

Okay, so I was in his way. Not him in my way while I was trying to save his friend. No. I was the one getting in the way. I was starting to think this guy was a serious loner, at least when it came to dealing with any issues he had.

Well, better to ask than to just assume. After all, there's a saying about assuming.

"Do you always try to tackle all of your problems on your own? Is your trust in others really that low?" I asked.

"That's not it! It's just that—"

"That it's your 'destiny?'" I cut him off. "That Saiou's your friend? Well, let me tell you something, the Light's gonna tell you that it's your 'destiny' to lose to it, so, unless you believe that people can create their own destinies, you aren't going to have any luck there, either. And, if you care about your friend so much, you need to be willing to let others help you sometimes. You can't always save someone on your own."

I should have known all about that, given that my entourage was only here because of my inability to save Asuka by myself.

"Shut up! You don't know anything about a person's destiny! Saiou can see the future, and he told me a hero with a heart of gold would save him," Ed said.

Yeah, as if the Light didn't "see the future," too.

Ed pointed an accusing finger at me, going on, "You run from your duties all the time, so you don't have one!"

Yeah, as if being irresponsible meant I didn't have a heart of gold? Having a heart of gold meant you cared about people, sometimes more than yourself, at least where I came from. So, seeing as I did care about people, I qualified for Saiou's dumb prediction. It wasn't like I ever flaked out on any important responsibilities. Just, you know, an occasional lesson. No harm, right? I always made it up later.

Ed put a hand to his heart. "I never do, so let's get on with this thing before your selfish actions cause SORA to strike the earth!"

Yeah, uh, that would be your fault. I mean, I was going to go stop Saiou, but you dragged me off for a duel so you could prove you were better than me. Seriously, did he really think that was the selfless thing to do?

"Didn't you just say that Saiou also drew a card that implied destiny would be defied?" I pushed on, not willing to give up. I mean, I could save us both a whole lot of time if I could just convince the stubborn guy he was wrong. "I know all about defying 'destiny' because that's just what I do! I don't even believe in it because every prediction someone makes about me turns out to be wrong!"

"Did you forget about SORA, you selfish excuse for a prince!? Your nonsense about 'defying' destiny is costing the world its future! Shut up and duel so I can finish this already!"

Okay, not to be totally cliché, but the pot was seriously calling the kettle black. I admit, I can be selfish at times. I admit I'm often irresponsible. But Ed wasn't being much better, distracting me from my mission because of his delusions! At least I was ready to admit I wasn't perfect.

"Hmm… Good point," Yubel said in typical fashion.

Ugh… She was such a pain.

"It is a prince's job to help protect their people, after all," Johan said.

"And to learn how to care for them better," Ojin added. "So letting SORA hit the earth really isn't taking care of them, is it?"

Okay, yeah, I got the point, guys. I needed to stop trying to reason with the unreasonable and just beat him already. Geez, did I really need more pressure?

"Wasn't planning on it," I said, taking a card from my hand. "I play a card face down. Turn end."

"Hmph. Fool. Even the other princes know I'm right!" Ed said. Muttering, he added, "Defy destiny! Not a guy like that!"

Well. He certainly wasn't going to do any better than he thought I would in that area.

He drew his next card, then said, "Since I'm pretty sure you forgot this, let me remind you that you get your Sparkman back this turn."

As soon as he said that, Sparkman reappeared, returning from his trip through time.

"Not that it will help you much. Especially after I activate that Monster Reborn card my Diamond Dude got me last turn to summon my Disk Commander back to the field!"

Disk Commander returned, with 300 attack points.

"Hmm. Not a bad call," Johan said. "When Disk Commander is summoned to the field from the graveyard, Ed gets to add two more cards to his hand from the deck."

"He wha?" Sho asked, casting a worried look at our calm and collected furball of a friend. "But, if he does that, he could—"

While Sho was talking, Ed drew his cards. "Destiny's on my side!"

Like that mattered? I had already told him the one with the power to stop the Light of Destruction could defy destiny! What part of that was so hard to understand?

"Because of that, you get to see one of my best monsters now, Judai!"

One of his best monsters? Part of me wanted to get excited, but another part of me was too pressured by the situation to even let that excited part of me try to come out.

Asuka gasped, covering her mouth. Her eyes widened in horror. "No. It couldn't be!"

"Knowing our luck, it is," Manjoume said.

Yubel muttered, "Just what we needed. Sheesh."

Annoyed as always, you two? Seriously, hook up, get married, and don't have annoying little babies. You'd be horrible parents, anyway.

Misawa was still snoozing away, so he didn't comment.

"Here goes!" Ed went on. "I sacrifice my three monsters to summon my main trump card, Destiny Hero Plasma!" (Atk 1900)

Johan's eyes widened as he perked up the way I would have if not for my conflicting feelings about this duel. "Oh, wow. Plasma! It's—"

Yubel glared fiercely, yelling in his face, "Can it! This is not the time, mister!"

He cringed away from her, grinning and sweating.

Asuka turned to all those stunned by her enhanced beauty and said, "Okay, guys. I'm setting some ground rules here and now. Under no circumstances, and I mean no circumstances, can any of you touch me! And another thing—"

Ugh… Again? Clearly this was a good monster if it was inspiring another round of doubt.

"Oh, will you guys knock it off already!?" I snapped.

"But, Judai!" Ojin started, worried. "That monster is—"

"I activate my monster's effect!" Ed cut him off. "Once per turn, he can absorb one monster! And I choose your Sparkman, Judai!"

"What!?"

Okay, I was starting to get why they were worried.

"That's not all!" Ojin said. "Now half of Sparkman's attack gets added to Plasma's!"

Sho gasped, his eyes widening. "Y-you mean it's got—"

"2700 attack points…" I said.

Now I really saw why they were worried, given that my other two monsters couldn't stand up to that even with Skyscraper.

Yubel put a hand to her head and finally got on me for switching Clayman's battle position. "And Clayman's in attack mode, too… Ugh."

"Get ready, Judai, 'cause the end is near!" Ed said. "Plasma! Attack his Clayman! Bloody Spears!"

I couldn't afford to let him hit me, so it was a good thing I had a face-down card.

"Trap, activate!" I said, pushing a button to flip my card. "Negate Attack! So the battle phase ends!"

"Seriously?" Ed asked, sounding annoyed again.

One of these days, I'd have to figure out if this guy had any different moods besides annoyed and angry.

"I'm told I'm good at hanging on by a thread," I told him.

"That was close." Johan's eyes were wide with relief.

"Yeah, you idiot!" Manjoume agreed, glaring at me. "Watch it next time! This guy's been a pro way longer than most of us here! He's your superior when it comes to dueling!"

Yeah, thanks for the update. Was that maybe why these guys were so sure I would lose? Because Ed, unlike any of the others I'd faced that day, was a duelist for a living? Well, I guess it made sense. It wasn't like I spent all day playing cards, after all. And I was pretty new with that deck.

"And brains," Yubel muttered.

Ignoring that.

Misawa rolled over and scratched his side, snoring loudly.

Okay, old man or not, that was annoying. I glared at them, not sure if it was because of Misawa's snore or because I'd decided not to ignore Yubel's comment.

"Okay, that's enough nonsense from you," Ed said. "I play two cards face down and end my turn."

Nonsense from me? He was the one with the nonsense! He was holding me up with this crap about how it was his "destiny" to defeat the Light of Destruction! Heck, I was tempted to let him challenge the guy before me just to see him cave instantly when the Light used Saiou to tell him it was his "destiny" to lose. A guy who put that much stock in predetermined fate would never be chosen by the Neo-Spacians.

And I was going to prove it if it killed me.