He went outside the camp and went into the small town of Riverkiss, which lay deserted for the night. The windows of the houses and inns were illuminated with warm yellow and orange glows.
He looked around nervously. He was kept warm by his leather jacket. He wore a hood underneath and navy denim jeans.
"You'd think they'd be here by now," said Yuri.
"I'm sorry," said the knight. "I truly am."
"Will it hurt?" Yuri said, his voice shaking.
The knight could feel his heart breaking. "If there was another way, Yuri, I would raise the world to the ground to find it."
"So be it," said Yuri. "I now go to savor the fruits of the Garden with my mother and father."
"Yuri…"
"Hey, Conqueror," Yuri said, doing his best to form a grin, "mind if I borrow your power one last time."
"I shall give it to you," said the knight.
"Good. Once they're done with me they're going to go after Avi. I think it's only fair that I end a few of them to make things easier for her."
Yuri's arms were encased with platinum vambraces and pauldrons. The holy light-forged sword fell from the sky and landed by his feet.
Yuri picked it up. The lightning flashed. Yuri's eyes caught a glimpse of shadow figures taking form in the streets and on the roofs of the houses. The Sisterhood had arrived.
"They're here," said Yuri.
He took black earbuds from the pocket of his jacket and put them on.
"Music?" asked the knight.
"I would like to hear my favorite song as I fight," said Yuri. "This could be the last time I hear it."
"Do you believe you have a chance?" the knight asked.
"And how," said Yuri. "Who knows. Maybe we don't have to undergo that task you told me so much about."
"I can only pray," said the knight. "If you survive this fight you will be an even greater hero than me."
"I hope you liked being known as the legend," said Yuri. "Because that title will be mine after tonight."
"Looking forward to it, Yuri. Give them hell. Either way, you and I will make things new."
Yuri searched his phone for his song.
He smiled when he heard the opening to the music. Finally, the soothing voice of his favorite singer rang in his ears. Holding back the years.
"Yeah," said Yuri.
The assassins from the Sisterhood approached and drew their bizarre weapons. They charged and Yuri dodged their attacks. Whoosh! Whip! Their weapons whistled with each attack.
I'll keep holding on!
I'll keep holding on!
As Yuri blocked their weapons with his light-forged sword he smiled. Remembering the loving faces that surrounded him since the day of his birth. He saw Jacob and Paula Montgomery smiling down at him when they woke him to celebrate his birthday. Patty looking back at him and smiling as she painted the ocean while Tyson and Nick had a duel in the fields.
Crystal. I'm so sorry.
His memories brought him back to the tower in Aurelia. Having a beer with Jon. Hunting giants with the princes. Summoning Black Tyranno for the first time.
I'll keep holding on!
I'll keep holding on!
A sisterhood assassin with a golden spear slashed him on the side. He grimaced from the pain and did a flip before sliding to a stop. Yuri checked his wound. The spear cut through his leather jacket and his shirt. Blood soaked his already damp shirt. Through the hole in the fabric, Yuri could see the wound that was inflicted on him. He could see the white of his ribs.
"Damn, that's going to require some stitches," he said humorously.
He charged again to fight. More assassins danced out of the shadows to attack him. Yuri did his best to block their moves but he got slashed in the back by an assassin wielding an abnormal tomahawk.
As he fell to his knees he felt his arm sting when another sister slashed him with one of her twin blades.
Yuri managed to block the second attack and kicked her away.
Holding back the years!
Yuri closed his eyes. "It's time," he said to the knight.
O' Warrior, so brave and willing. I thank you for your flesh and blood. With this gift. We will make the world anew.
"Take care of her," Yuri said.
The knight nodded.
He stood and watched as the as Yuri fell to his knees and surrendered. The assassins charged.
I'll keep holding on!
I'll keep holding on!
The first one jabbed a blue javelin into his gut. Yuri croaked with pain.
Holdin'
Another came from behind with her tomahawk and dug the blade into his spine.
Holdin'
The third jabbed both her twin swords into his ribs.
Holdin'
Then the last one, the leader. Summoned a silver sword and jabbed it into Yuri's chest, ending him. He fell backward onto the wet street and coughed. His phone had the song playing on loop for the length of the battle which lasted for hours.
As his life faded, his song ended just as the battery died.
Evelyn
Evelyn sat naked at the edge of her swimming pool. She washed away her anxiety under the flow of the waterfall that had poured down from the rotunda above the water. Her maids daubing her with sponges pervaded with the scent of roses.
Xifeng's familiar, Skull Red Bird, sent her a message from the Gray Hills raising her spirits with good news. Dancer was alive, the battle was won, Avi is safe, and Guy de la Tierra Sainte is now dead. What made the news even sweeter was High King Yuri's continental ban of the Church of Yeyu.
Xifeng did not mention Yuri's collapse. She thought it best for Dancer to tell her the news.
Knowing her lover was on his way back, Evelyn did well to make sure the castle was tidied and prepared for a royal wedding. Soon, she would be queen and Dancer would be the new king of Elleria. Her mother was not pleased with the news one bit, and her father, though reluctant at first, sighed with defeat and gave his daughter the rule of the country. He knew better than to fight with the High King of Termnnia. And with all the benefits the kingdom would be receiving for allowing Evelyn into power, he would be a madman to refuse the High King's wishes.
The maids started polishing her nails when there was a crash the broke the silence of the halls. Evelyn picked up the clink clank of steel and chainmail and Ezra screaming at the intruders to leave.
What she saw frightened her.
Templars of the Church dressed in heavy black enameled steel plate and black wool capes. They carried tactical rifles as well as swords. Pouches bloated with extra ammunition ringed around their chestplates and pauldrons. Their rifles were hanging on an anti-gravity device on their backs leaving their hands free to hold their shields and swords.
Evelyn stood up, scowling at them as her maids retreated for the balcony.
"What is the meaning of this!" shouted Evelyn.
She couldn't help but notice her captors had their eyes on her still-moist body. She held her head high, looking down at them to display what little power, and dignity, she could muster standing naked in the water.
"Your Highness," a Red Priest walked through the squad of Templars. He grinned seeing Evelyn the way she was.
Pink spots began to form on her cheeks. She clenched her fists and flared at the priest.
"Yes!" Evelyn snapped, waking the priest from his hypnosis.
"Ah yes, we have come to arrest you for conspiring against the king."
"What!" shouted Evelyn. "I am the Queen of the Rock! Do you not know that Prince Yuri put me into power?"
"Yuri is dead."
Evelyn felt a chill run down her frame.
"Wh-what?" babbled Ezra in confusion.
"Collapsed in the midst of battle under the mighty presence of King Hector."
"When my father hears about this…"
"Your father and mother have already been detained. Arrest her!" he shouted pointing at Ezra.
Ezra was surrounded by Templars. She held out her arms and formed fireballs over her palms.
"Darling," said Evelyn. "Don't."
Ezra looked at Evelyn in disdain. She put her flames out then put her wrists together to allow the Templars to lock their anti-magic cuffs on her.
The pushed her, telling her to move.
"Evelyn…"
"We can sort this out later, Ezra. This is just one vein attempt to from the Church to keep in power."
"A vain attempt," chuckled the Red Priest. "We are in power."
"You're delusional."
"Look outside," the priest said with a grin.
Evelyn turned her head to look out the entryway of the balcony. She ignored the jeers of the priest.
"Your Highness!" shouted one of her maids. "There is a fleet of ships in the sky!"
Evelyn felt like someone punched her in the solar plexus.
Airships? Used by the Church? It can't be.
"So you see, my dear," said the Red Priest. "This is the dawn of a new era in Termnnia."
Evelyn then remembered the priest saying that she was under arrest for conspiring against the king. If her father was currently being detained…then who was she conspiring against?
Evelyn guessed they put a member of the Church into the throne.
Without another word, she squared up her shoulders, held her head high, and marched out of the bathhouse, brushing past the Templars.
When she was fully dressed in her quarters, Evelyn looked outside her window and saw a fleet of massive airships hovering of King's Rock. Large one slowly flew across the clouds heading farther south.
It seemed the Church was preparing an invasion with their new machines. She heard people screaming in the streets below. pillars of smoke billowed into the air.
Dragon Riders mounted on Gray Wings and Winged Dragon Guardian of the Fortress flew over the city commanding their beasts to torch every dueling arena on sight. Evelyn ran across the halls of the castle.
Her Ebony Knights were being rounded up and escorted out of the castle in chains by Templars. Priests of every rank laughed victoriously in the hallways, congratulating one another on a splendid victory.
When she made it to the throne room she felt her heart stop. Priests, Red and Black, monks, reverends, Templars, mercenaries, and mages filled the room holding up a glass to the newly crowned King of the Rock.
Ethan of House Morris stood in front of the throne holding up his glass and sat back down. His Black Luster Soldier-Envoy of the Beginning stood proudly beside him.
Below the steps of the throne were her mother and father, Helmsley, Sera; her lady-in-waiting, Josephine; and her friends, Era, Ser Kevin and Antoine were chained together and kneeling.
Evelyn ran through the crowd who parted to make way for her.
"Ethan!" Evelyn shouted. "You're behind this?"
"No," Ethan said with a maniacal grin. The crown of Evelyn's father glimmered on his head. "But, it is so good of you to join me this day. The day of my coronation."
"Your coronation!" shouted Evelyn. "Ethan, what is the meaning of this?"
"The meaning of all this is that Yuri and his friends are no longer in power. He took the bait in the Gray Hills, hook, line, and sinker! King Hector knew he could not resist Summoning the God Card. Now, every nation is without an army and defenseless while their militaries are trapped in Thara with their dead Crown Prince. As they lay undefended, the Church makes their moves and puts kings into the empty seats the princes so foolishly left behind."
He got up and paced back and forth in front of the throne.
"You see, Yuri was ill, weakened when the spirit of an ancient warrior used his body to battle an assassin from the Sisterhood. Now even though he could summon the God Cards and wipe out Hector's forces, he could not take the chance that his weak body wouldn't be able to summon them. Five hundred thousand against two million, not impossible odds, but still very slim. Even in his weakened state, Yuri managed to call all three of the beasts. And though he scared Hector's army away it cost him dearly. Yuri killed himself summoning those God Cards."
"It's not true!" shouted Evelyn. "You're lying!"
"You never did believe in me, Evelyn," laughed Ethan. "It doesn't surprise me. No matter what I did to make you happy, you always found some way to spit it back in my face. Well, now the tables have turned. I'm the royal and you're the peasant!"
The crowd in the throne room laughed. Ethan snapped his fingers. Two Templars dragged Sera and Helmsley to the middle of the court. Ethan then looked at his Black Luster Soldier and nodded.
The warrior monsters drew his blade from his back and walked down the stairs towards her parents.
"Ethan, don't do this!" Evelyn pleaded.
"All you have to do is accept my offer," said Ethan. "Just say yes, and they will not suffer."
Evelyn's shoulders quivered. She shut her eyes to contain her tears but they flowed out through her eyelids and dripped from her long eyelashes.
"Okay, Ethan, you win. Just don't hurt my parents."
"Wonderful," said Ethan. "It's good to be the king."
He snapped his fingers again and ordered a priest to wed them.
The ceremony was short and bitter. It was not the wedding Evelyn had dreamed up since she was a child. She dreamed of white flowers, banners, confetti, rice and being paraded down the streets on a golden chariot with her handsome husband under the blessing of Ana the Goddess of Love and Beauty.
Instead, she got a five-minute ceremony with her parents being threatened with execution. And taking her vows under a god she did not worship. And she was marrying a vile king she once called her friend.
When she and Ethan kissed to seal the vow, the people in the throne room applauded. After Evelyn was freed from his lips, Ethan looked down at his Black Luster Soldier.
"Kill them."
Evelyn had never heard herself scream so loudly. The crowd in the throne room cheered as the Black Luster Soldier hewed Sera's head first. Evelyn screeched like banshee. She tugged at Ethan's surcoat, begging him to spare her father's life. Her wails fell upon deaf ears, for Ethan gave the signal and Black Luster Soldier took off Helmsley's head with a swift chop. Evelyn fainted and fell on the floor with a hard landing.
"Take them away," Ethan ordered the Templars to escort Kevin, Ezra and Antoine into the dungeons.
A moment later, Evelyn found herself being woken by wine being poured on her face. She coughed and spit it out.
"Wakey, wakey," Ethan sang out.
"You…you killed my mother and father."
"Technically Black Luster Soldier did the killing." He paused. "Come to think of it, Duel Monsters are weapons, aren't they? Black Luster Soldier is my weapon. So…yeah…yeah, I guess I did kill them."
"You promised me!" Evelyn sobbed, getting up from the bed.
"Yes, I promised you they wouldn't suffer," chuckled Ethan. "Because I knew them once I gave them a clean death. Any other person I would have had burned, or sawed in half."
"You are no Summoner," said Evelyn. "How is it that you can call upon such a powerful creature?"
"With this," Ethan said holding up a black, mechanical gauntlet. "It's called a Dueling Glove. The techies at Paradius created this machine with the hopes that our military can call upon monsters without the tedious needs of becoming a Summoner. With this baby, we can catch the very soul of the monster and trap it within this device."
He held up his gauntlet and summoned a Naturia Marron, a fluffy puffball with large round eyes. It was trapped in some sort of bubble pleading to be let out.
"If they fail to obey us, we just press this button here, and the machine turns their souls into nothing. Meaning they will cease to exist. In other words, they become our servants forever under pain of death."
"You would do this to the Duel Monsters?" cried Evelyn. "That's so cruel!"
"They're just monsters," said Ethan. "Whether they like it or not, they were put into this world to serve us! And with these machines at our disposal, the monsters of this world will finally learn that Man is the true king of this world. And this creature is weak. I will not have it."
He pressed a button on his gauntlet. Electricity surged all around the frightened creature.
"Ethan don't!" pleaded Evelyn. "Let it go!"
"I am," said Ethan.
The Naturia Marron squeaked fearfully as it was evaporated into nothing.
Evelyn fell to her knees and sobbed. "You will pay dearly for this," Evelyn still wept for the monster Ethan just…deleted from existence. She thought of how happy it must have been. Living in the Naturia Forest under the roots of the northernmost region Great White Mountains. She thought about how it would never feel the sunlight warming its fur. Never again would it taste the rich sweet fruits that grew on the many fruit-bearing trees. It was never going to live again. Its soul would not even find peace in the afterlife because that was gone too.
Ethan laughed at her. "You have nothing but sympathy over these monsters. It's pathetic."
"These creatures don't deserve to be called monsters!" shouted Evelyn. "I have seen these creatures show love, kindness. Help build this world and make it better. But now I know that the only real monsters in Termnnia are people like you! There are going to be consequences for this Ethan!"
Ethan slapped her across the face. He punched her in the gut and threw her belly first on the table and held her arm behind her back.
"Consequences, eh? I'll show you consequences. This is what you get when you speak to me that way ever again. You are my bitch now, Evelyn. It's time you understood that. And if this is the only way to make you understand, so be it."
He lifted her dress.
"No!" sobbed Evelyn.
She felt him rip her undergarments off. Evelyn then heard him breathing heavily when he saw her forbidden parts finally exposed for him to see and enjoy.
His sweat poured down his face and onto her flesh.
Ethan felt his heart pounding in his chest with excitement. His whole body throbbed and sweat excreted from every pore.
He removed his Dueling Glove and rubbed Evelyn's buttocks with his sweaty hands and grinned. "You have no idea, how long I have waited for this, Evelyn."
"Ethan, please…"
He grabbed her left buttock and stuck her in between her cheeks with his thumb. Evelyn gasped at the sudden penetration.
"You're very wide in there. Dancer had it good by the looks of things," said Ethan. "But…it's time you forgot about him. You're mine now."
This can't be happening! It shouldn't! It wouldn't! It couldn't! Why me? Why me? Dancer! Yuri! Yugi! Goddesses! Exodia! Blue-Eyes White Dragon! Anyone save me!
There was nothing more Evelyn could do but to lay there and endure the pain and humiliation as the man she once called Little Brother thrust himself into her.
Antilles
The camp of House Dragonheart washed the fields of Old Market with red, gold, and black. The army was on its way back to Emboldor but they ceased their halt when word of Yuri's death finally reached them.
Soldiers in red-scaled armor patrolled the fields. Two of them said hello to Daralis Dragonslayer. She stood outside the command tent of her father, Antilles. Clad in red armor engraved with gold designs and the sigil of a red dragon eating a heart was emblazoned on her chest. The wind blew her black cape swaying behind her like a shadow. As she approached her tent she saw Alexandra's Des Volstgalph sitting outside like a common dog. It was sleeping. The carcass of a deer lay in front of it.
A cloud of flies surrounded the corpse, and was always blown away by the puffs of air from the dragon's breathing.
Alexandra must have been inside as well if Des Volstgalp was here.
She went inside the tent to warm herself from the chill of the cold and forbidding January morning.
There was a warm fire in the center of the tent with a cauldron of soup cooking over the flames. The chicken, herbs, and corn filled Daralis's nose with its intoxicating aroma and made her stomach rumble.
Antilles was sharpening his sword by his mahogany desk. Alexandra was in the corner treating herself to a hot bath.
"Do you have them?" Antilles asked.
Dalaris threw him Yuri's deck box.
Antilles eagerly opened it and flipped through Yuri's dinosaur cards until he found Obelisk, Slifer and Ra.
"Oh," he moaned with greed. "At last."
He held the three monsters up high.
Dalaris began to laugh.
"Whatever do you find so funny?" Alexandra asked, rubbing her arm with a sponge.
"He was too weak," Daralis laughed. "Yet he summoned the Gods anyway. Now Yuri lies dead. Poor Yuri. Great man. Brave and bold. But a horrible sense of judgment."
"The traits of a weak king." Alexandra grinned, picking up a goblet of brandy from the night table next to the alabaster bathing tub she waded in. "Good riddance. Now Slifer, Obelisk, and Ra will belong to us."
"Indeed they will," said Antilles with a smile. "We have worked long and hard for this day, my love. Now it has come at last. At this point, we cannot have any further foul-ups. Girls. The fate of our House will be determined in the next few days."
He walked to the command table. A chessboard with marble pieces was perched in the middle.
"The pieces are in play, Dalaris."
He moved the black king forward and knocked over the white king.
"Yuri is dead."
He then used the black king to knock over the white queen. "Soon, Avi will be dead."
Dalaris shivered.
"Then the pretender shall follow." He knocked over a little pawn. Hector. "And then, when they are gone, that pointy-haired bastard of an Eyar will be next."
He used the black king to knock over the bishop. Yugi. Antilles then knocked over the rest of the pawns.
"Once their leaders are gone. The Princes will follow. And once they are all gone..."
He slammed his black king on the center of the board.
"...There will be nothing that can stop us. Today we could establish a long and prosperous family legacy that could last an eternity. Or. We could dissolve and fade into history as the Plantegrasts did."
Dalaris nodded. "No more foul-ups." She promised.
Peter stormed into the tent. His face was red with fury.
"And, Peter, what is it now?" snapped Antilles.
"It's not true!" Peter said with eyes swollen and red from his mourning. "Tell me it's not true. You had him killed?"
"That was the plan," said Alexandra. She picked up a cherry from a silver bowl and ate it seductively.
"You monster!" said Peter.
"You want to write a sympathy card?" said Antilles. "Go on, write one if that will make you feel better."
"By Exodia's cock! You have no idea of the evil you have let run loose into our world, brother."
"The Ancient Beasts will be found," Antilles said calmly. "And, we control the God Cards. If Zorc does come through the gates of the Shadow Realm we will deal with him too."
"Yuri was a very important piece of the goddesses' plan," said Peter.
"Who bloody cares?" said Alexandra.
"You will not get away with this," said Peter. "The Goddesses will never forget."
"Good," said Antilles. "It's high time we show them they no longer have control over our lives."
A soldier walked inside the tent and gave a bow.
"My Lord," he said nervously.
"Yes?" said Antilles.
"It's High King Yuri. He's returned to Rassay."