Koros45 doesn't own Yu-Gi-Oh!, or Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's
Kindred Spirits Chapter 51: Rose of Reckoning
Andore sighed as the current news was not good. The purple flames had surfaced over Satellite once again, meaning the City might be the next meal soon given what he'd seen on the news a few years back. Flights were quickly sold out and he was worried rioting would start if it continued. It had gotten so bad that Team Unicorn would be staying in the City for further notice.
And then there was the other news. It had been more disturbing than depressing. The report showed a woman on a blood red D-Wheel leave the hospital premises, a whirlwind of destruction in her wake. Roads had been cracked, guardrails torn and twisted, and a few people even injured as the black and red dragon she commanded let out a screech. Not even Security seemed gutsy enough to challenge her once their on call officers all were swiftly beaten in a few turns.
For Aki Izayoi's alternate personality to reemerge . . . Andore didn't care to know how. Just that he'd dueled her before and won. Therefore it would not be unreasonable to think he'd stop her all the same.
The first wheeler of Team Unicorn let his team know his plan as he shot off. Breo and Jean understood as they wished him luck.
/
The Black Rose Witch exhaled in freedom. Finally. Finally! It had been too long! Too long the woman had been afraid of the power! Too long she'd sealed it away, only to accept it as a half measure rather than the sacred sword of the Arcadia Movement. Even the dragon once a slave to the Crimson Dragon was now free of that shackle! The detestable mark was gone! She was now free to do as she pleased.
The Black Rose Witch punched in the access code that Divine should still have and with a beep she saw his face, smiling in anticipation at her return.
"Aki. Good to see you again." Master Divine said with a grin.
"Divine. I am on my way. This D-Wheel should suffice for the trip." The Black Rose Witch said.
"And what about the former Signers? Did you do anything to them?" Divine asked her.
"No. Yusei Fudo is gone but the girl Ruka is in a coma, and her brother Rua suspects nothing. We can retrieve her from the hospital easily if the need arises."
"Fudo is gone? Do you know why?" Master Divine asked.
"No. But it is of no matter at the moment. As for Yusei . . . I wish to face him again. I will use my Black Rose Dragon to destroy him once and for all. But for now - for now I only have time to see you, Divine." She responded and his smirk deepened.
"That's a good girl!" He said. "Here's my coordinates. See you soon, Aki." He said and the transmission cut.
/
The unicorn styled D-Wheel cut ahead of the Bloody Kiss and Andore leaned over and yelled.
"Aki Izayoi! What's gotten into you!?" The man yelled.
"That is not my name. I am the Black Rose Witch. Now - stay of my way. Or you'll regret it." She responded coldly.
"Is that a threat? Are you sure? I certainly don't regret our last duel. So I'm challenging you to one right now! If I win – you stop this right now and we'll sort it out." Andore said, goading her on.
"And if I win?" The woman asked.
"Then I'll leave you be. I'm not a Security so it's not my job to stop you. I just want to help a friend." Andore finished.
She chuckled in response. "By all means then – let's duel."
ANDORE: 4000 / SPC: 0, AKI IZAYOI: 4000 / SPC: 0
TURN 1: SPC: 0/0
Andore drew his cards and smiled at his hand.
"I will start by banishing this Speed Spell – Dash Pilfer – from my hand to Special Summon this! Monoceros!"
The spell card vanished and upon the unicorn duelists' field, a bulky unicorn with a rhino's lower body appeared (3/1000/1000).
"And then I'll Normal Summon this! The tuner monster – Uni-Horned Familiar!" Andore added.
The second beast that appeared was an impish mammal – monkey like with blue fur, large ears, and a singular horn protruding from its' forehead (2/0/1000).
"And then I'll truly begin my turn by tuning them together!" Andore exclaimed as his monsters flew in the air, breaking apart into two Synchro rings and three level stars.
"Thunder galloping through the heavens, cross with the fierce gale, and appear forth from the world of illusions! Synchro Summon! Neigh - !"
Just two monsters and with a crash of lighting, his ace monster appeared with a whinny.
It was a proud and strong creature – a horse running steadily at a pace to match its' master's D-wheel, dark blue skin highlighted with golden streaks akin to lighting bolts (5/2200/1800).
"Thunder Unicorn!" Andore finished as his ace monster alighted on the field.
"And with that, I'll end my turn after I set these." Andore said before setting two cards as his ace monster kept up with him silently.
"With this field – I've got everything set up. Now show me if that Black Rose Witch you claim to be is a challenge." Andore said.
TURN 2: ANDORE: 4000, AKI IZAYOI: 4000, SPC: 1/1
She drew her card emotionlessly and immediately played it without looking at it. It was eerie for Andore to see. Just like how she'd been in the Fortune Cup footage against Yusei Fudo.
"I summon Night Rose Knight." The woman said as a white haired young woman appeared in black armor, wielding a double bladed sword (3/1000/1000).
"Night Rose Knight's effect lets me Summon a Plant Type monster like Lord Poison!" Aki stated as the knight raised her sword and next to her a man made of spiked roots appeared with a groan (4/1500/100).
"And now I tune my level four Lord Poison with my level three Night Rose Knight!" The Black Rose Witch said as her monsters tuned together.
"Chilling flames engulf the entire world! Pitch dark flower, set into bloom! Synchro Summon! Appear, Black Rose Dragon!"
And with the two of them tuning together, her ace card appeared with a snarl. Crimson petals rose as the ebony dragon spread out its wings and flew over Aki's D-Wheel. Black Rose Dragon let out a screech as her petals blew everywhere, cutting swaths into the road and cars surrounding the pair of Duelists (7/2400/1800).
"Hmph! So you've summoned your Ace with just two cards! Impressive, but now what?" Andore asked.
"Black Rose Dragon! Use your effect and devastate the field! Black Rose Gale!" Izayoi screamed.
Andore grimaced as Thunder Unicorn and both his set cards shattered, the oncoming storm of sharp petals and strong winds buffeting his D-Wheel that he had to lean to the side to avoid crashing against the guardrail.
"Using Black Rose Dragon's effect like that so early – you're going to sacrifice your ace monster just like that?!" Andore said once the winds died down, flabbergasted by her move.
"Yes. I used my single card – Black Rose Dragon – to destroy your Thunder Unicorn and your set cards. Magic Charge and Dimensional Barrier – Lost Force." His opponent stated, looking at his Graveyard's inventory from her view-screen.
"Well – you'd better have planned beyond that! Because when a Beast type monster is destroyed, I can pay 1000 Life Points to Special Summon this from my hand! Rise up - ! Green Baboon!" Andore commanded.
His new monster was a large, shaggy ape, with green fur and brown plate armor, wielding a tremendous club in it's right hand (7/2600/1800).
ANDORE: 4000 → 3000
He smiled as he paid the cost – a meager payment for the summon of his new monster.
"I didn't think you'd destroy the field with Black Rose Dragon like that so soon – but! Even still, my Green Baboon is ready to attack! Even if you found a way to bring back Black Rose Dragon, it's not strong enough to face Green Baboon in battle!" Andore declared.
"I will set four cards and end my turn." The Black Rose Witch said.
"Four cards?!" Andore asked. It was strange, but considering Aki had just used her Ace monster to clear out his field, he didn't like it. He figured she most likely had a way to bring back Black Rose Dragon as she'd done against him in the WRGPX.
Andore grimaced. He was out of cards other than his Green Baboon while she had four set on the field. He'd need his next draw to count.
TURN 3: ANDORE: 3000, AKI IZAYOI: 4000, SPC: 2/2
Andore narrowed his eyes. His new card was very useful in this situation – this new trap could seriously hurt Aki.
"I set one card. And now – Green Baboon attacks directly! Hammer Club Death!"
The monster roared and slammed its club at the Black Rose Witch.
"Trap Card – Offensive Guard. The damage is reduced by half until the End Phase, and I draw a card." The Black Rose Witch said as she coldly drew a card. Then the club struck and the Bloody Kiss shuddered even as the rider didn't even flinch. (AKI: 2700)
Then I end my turn." Andore declared, leaving himself with no more cards left in his hand. His ploy he'd used against Jack was not ideal against Aki Izayoi. He grimaced and wondered just what she would do next with three set cards. Green Baboon roared as its attack power returned to normal (7/ 1300 → 2600/1800).
TURN 4: ANDORE: 3000, AKI IZAYOI: 2700, SPC: 3/3
"Draw." Aki said as she pulled the next card from her deck, giving her two to currently use.
"And to begin my turn, the trap card: Synchro Spirits." Aki said as her Black Rose Dragon vanished from the Graveyard.
"I banish Black Rose Dragon and in return I Special Summon the monsters I used to Synchro Summon it! Revive, Night Rose Knight! Lord Poison!" The Black Rose Witch said as the two monsters re-appeared (3/1000/1000) (4/1500/1000).
"Next a Speed Spell – Angel Baton!" The Black Rose Witch stated as the card was played.
"I draw two cards and discard one, so I'll be discarding Dark Verger." The woman stated and refreshed her hand as such. She immediately played the first of the two cards she'd drawn.
"And now for my Normal Summon – here's Evil Thorn!" The witch said as a spiked husk of a plant appeared on her field. It was cone shaped with several thorns as its name suggested (1/100/300).
"And I'll use Evil Thorn's effect: I destroy it and deal you three-hundred points of damage!"
The plant shattered, sending its protruding spikes flying everywhere. Andore was shocked to see the spikes slam into the D-Wheel lane and impale some of the guard rail on the far side of the street. His D-Wheel suffered, as did his life-points as he took damage from the effect (ANDORE: 3000 → 2700).
Then he heard a tearing sound and grunted as he'd been grazed across the back by one of the thorns. It was not a deep cut, but it did remind him just how serious this duel was. If he was to challenge a Psychic Duelist, he'd need to be as careful as possible going forward.
"Furthermore-" The Witch said, her monster zone expanding as two more copies of Evil thorn rose to replace the first (1/100/300 X 2).
"-When Evil Thorn is destroyed in this way – I can Special Summon two more from my deck!"
Andore grit his teeth. This had become very tedious.
"And furthermore – since I have Night Rose Knight – A Plant Type Tuner, I can Special Summon Dark Verger from my Graveyard!"
A weed with two pronounced leaves sprouted from the ground, floating along with the rest of her monsters. Two eyes opened wide on the leaves and it stared ahead (2/0/1000).
"Five monsters? Yet still – not enough to face Green Baboon!" Andore boasted.
"I'm turning my level three Night Rose Knight with my level two Dark Verger and one of my Evil Thorns." Aki said emotionlessly as Night Rose Knight split into three rings that the other monsters flew through.
"Hunter of splendid thorns hidden in the sacred forest, with your whip of punishment in hand, come forth now! Synchro Summon! Appear now, Splendid Rose!" She chanted.
The monster that appeared was a blonde woman with shoulder length hair and in a bodysuit that was half black and half dark green. As her name suggested, the woman also had a thorny whip wound around her left arm (6/2200/2000).
"Splendid Rose's effect – Once per turn, I can remove one Plant Type monster from my Graveyard to halve the attack of a monster you control, until the End Phase of the turn. I banish my Night Rose Knight to halve the attack power of Green Baboon." Aki said coldly.
Splendid Rose let out a yell as she spun in the air, launching out her whip in an arc that struck Green Baboon and caused the monster to yell in pain (7/2600 → 1300/2200).
"And now my Battle Phase. Splendid Rose – attack Green Baboon." Aki commanded.
The monster shouted again and let her whip fly, striking at Green Baboon and causing the monster to break apart.
Andore grunted as he felt the pressure. It was tremendously intense as his D-Wheel took some actual damage from the force of the attack (Andore: 2700 → 1800).
"Sorry, but you won't win that easily! I'll use the effect of Green Baboon again! I pay one thousand life points and then I can Special Summon Green Baboon again!" Andore yelled (ANDORE: 1800 → 800).
Green Baboon resurrected with a snarl and the Black Rose Witch immediately switched tactics.
"Then I proceed to my Main Phase Two. I will set this card face-down and end my turn." Aki finished, once again using up her entire hand to increase the number of potential traps she had on her field. Now she had three set.
Turn 5: ANDORE: 800, AKI IZAYOI: 2700, SPC: 4/4
He could feel himself sweat as he looked at the field. Green Baboon's only way out was going to defense mode. But even then – it was risky. She had to have another trap card waiting in the wings.
And on top of that, Aki didn't seem worried at all. It was terrifying. The girl he'd faced before had been strong, but not this detached. Andore could feel it was the calm before the storm. A particular storm he didn't want to see.
He had no hand. No traps waiting in the wings like he usually had. Not even a surefire way to get back his Thunder Unicorn. Andore scowled but drew all the same.
"I'll set this monster and then put Green Baboon in defense mode." Andore declared.
"That will end my turn." The man said.
"But if you think that's the end for me, you're wrong. My set monster, Nimble Momonga, will restore one thousand of my life points when it is destroyed, and then summon two more from my deck. I'll have all the life points I need after that."Then his vision shifted to the card he'd set on the field.
"And even if you manage to get around that, my secret weapon will stop any other attacks you declare. Additionally I'll have seven Speed Counters next turn – meaning I'll be able to draw an additional card. I just have to be patient and I'll have my victory!" Andore thought.
TURN SIX: ANDORE: 800, AKI IZAYOI: 2700, SPC: 5/5
"Draw." Aki said, playing the next monster immediately.
"I summon the Tuner monster – Grow Up Bulb*."
The monster was a small plant, with a sprout emerging from the floating mound of dirt that was its body (1/0/0).
"Another level six Synchro Summon?" Andore asked.
"No. Seven." Aki said.
"But – you already used your Black Rose Dragon - !"
"I did. And I will demonstrate how I will again. Trap Card, activate. Dimension Reversion!" Aki said.
"What?!" Andore was stunned. As his strategies often revolved around banishing monsters, he knew exactly what that card did.
"This trap returns all banished monsters to the deck, meaning I return Black Rose Dragon and Night Rose Knight." Aki explained.
"No way - ! How did you have that card?! I had everything set up perfectly!" Andore declared.
"Hmph. You dueled a girl too timid to use the full extent of her powers for fear of being ridiculed. A girl new to Riding Duels. Now that girl is gone. And in her place – you face the Black Rose Witch!"
"I tune level six Splendid Rose with level one Grow up Bulb."
"Chilling flames engulf the entire world! Pitch dark flower, set into bloom! Synchro Summon! Appear, Black Rose Dragon!"The great dragon appeared with a scream, black thorny tendrils slamming into the road as it spread its crimson wings and its shadow fell over Andore's D-Wheel."And now to subject you to the second effect of Black Rose Dragon. I banish Evil Thorn as a cost to switch Green Baboon into attack mode and then reduce its attack power to zero. Rose Restriction!"
Green Baboon let out a roar as Black Rose Dragon wrapped its limbs in her black thorny vines and spread its arms and legs out as the mammal thrashed about (7/2600 → 0/1800).
"You said that in battle, your Green Baboon would triumph against Black Rose Dragon. But now you see how futile that confidence was. In the world of professional dueling you may be elite – but in a true life or death battle, you will see how meaningless that status is."
Her words hung in the air as Andore grit his teeth seeing his monster in such a state.
"I conduct my Battle Phase. Black Rose Dragon, attack Green Baboon! Black Rose Flare!" Aki yelled.
The attack was declared and a wide stream of black and purple miasma erupted from her dragon's mouth, collided with Green Baboon and washing over it.
Andore grinned. She had been just like Jack in the end. Easy to bait out, even with her wild trap card.
"Now- at this moment! I'll use this trap card, Dimension Trap! I banish my Green Baboon from my field to use Dimension Trap's effect! Become that of my Dimension Barrier - Lost Force's in my Graveyard!"
As he spoke, the card did as promised, Green Baboon vanishing as the earlier trap card Black Rose Dragon had destroyed on the first turn of the duel was banished as well, the art for Dimension Trap warping to reflect it.
"The effect of Dimension Barrier - Lost Force will deal you damage equal to Black Rose Dragon's attack power!" Andore declared.
"Coward." She responded as Black Rose Dragon's attack was deflected towards her D-Wheel..
The attack was re-directed, slamming into The Bloody Kiss as she went out of control, slamming into the guard rail. Andore wanted to stop and see if she was alright as he skidded to a halt.
The purple frame of a trap card rose from the smoke and he gulped as he saw what it was.
"Trap card – Reflect Nature. Return the burn damage to it's source!" The Black Rose Witch cried out as the blast was once again re-directed, slamming into Andore for the final count.
He screamed as the blast knocked him from the D-Wheel, skidding into the ground and feeling pain from the fall. He'd landed on his back and his vision swam (ANDORE: 800 → 0).
The pain was intense, and he felt the psychic fire had scalded him whole body. They did not feel severe but the shooting pain from the impact against the road was another story. He still managed to have the strength to open his eyes and look up at her.
"How did you know – what to do against me?" he breathed.
"Fast Power. Your deck type. And regrettably you did not expect I would have a counter to your banishing strategy." Aki said coldly as she looked down upon his damaged form.
"W-wait! You – you're really with them again!? The Arcadia Movement!?" He declared.
" . . . I am The Black Rose Witch. And you are just another fool who underestimated me. Tell Yusei Fudo that I will be anticipating our rematch." She said and sped off.
Andore heard sirens getting closer as he lost consciousness.
/
Jack narrowed his eyes as Carly grinned as him, her eyes turning black.
"I just want to talk." Jack said, stepping forwards.
"Same here, Jack." Carly responded.
"Where's Crow?" Jack asked, sounding restrained.
"He's not here right now. Kiryu left with him to look after his brother." Carly answered. She had her camera shut off and looked up to him as he approached.
"Not the answer I wanted to hear." Jack said.
"Well, what now? Are you going to duel it out of me, because I honestly have no idea where Kiryu took Crow off to." Carly answered and Jack grit his teeth.
"I saw it on your broadcast! Carly, what's going on with these flames?!" Jack asked. "You didn't summon an Earthbound Immortal, did you?"
"It wasn't Aslla piscu, so, no." Carly answered.
"Then why are people around here? Wouldn't an Immortal gobble them all up?" Jack asked.
"This particular Immortal wasn't very hungry." Carly answered and Jack supposed that made sense if it already ate prior.
"So that's it then?" Jack asked and Carly nodded.
"I'm sorry Jack. But I want to warn you. Don't get in our way this time. Without the Crimson Dragon on your side, there's no way you can stop us." Carly said, looking concerned.
"Carly! I can't let you sacrifice Satellite or the City!" Jack declared, looking pained.
"You will have to choose as our plan moves along. For now I suggest you tell the rest of Team 5D's to stay away from us. Kiryu doesn't want anyone else getting hurt." Carly said.
Then his D-Wheel pinged with several updates and Jack growled. It was all a bunch of noise right now.
"Carly – wait. We can still talk about this. I want you to know that I'll do anything I can to save you." Jack said, intensity in his eyes.
"You had a Savior Dragon back then, Jack. And even that did not save me. And afterwards you didn't explain anything to me. Even if you had your reasons – even if they made sense – I had a right to know!" Carly yelled.
"I . . . I know, Carly. I was a fool to assume you'd be happy not knowing. Or that I would be alright keeping the truth from you. It's not the same as lying – but – I was fooling myself. And that is something I'll never forgive myself for."
He stopped and then spoke again. "Carly – you told me the old King – the old Jack Atlus died in his duel with Yusei Fudo in the Fortune Cup, but I've been a fool all this time. But this time – this time, this fool won't let you die. So please . . . don't go through with this." Jack finished. It was as close to pleading as he'd ever been.
Carly closed her eyes. "Sorry Jack. It's too late to stop. The Dark Signers have to act now. But remember – I won't go out of my way to duel you. I want you to be safe too."
Jack sighed. The conversation was circular and going nowhere.
He made a fist and took a step towards her. "I want that as well! Team 5D's is no longer the only force in this world that can stand against the Dark Signers!" Jack warned.
"Yes. Demak and Bommer told us about the man named Bakura. And the other men who look like Yugi Muto and Seto Kaiba. And we've all met Shiro. We are finally ready to stand against them all. Without the Crimson Dragon as a natural check, we will be unopposed." Carly said. Then she turned and walked away into the mist.
Jack grit his teeth. She was not going to listen. And neither would he. If a duel was the only thing letting them compromise, he had a gut feeling he'd have to face her sooner or later.
Jack turned to his D-Wheel and his strong resolve broke when he saw the messages that were displayed before him.
"Crow . . . . I thought it was just you! But now . . . Izayoi and Yusei as well?!" Jack thought in disbelief . He slumped in the seat and felt the cold hole in his chest since he'd seen Crow last widen as both Carly's words and the new messages bombarded him all at once.
/
Shiro narrowed his eyes. "What an idiot." he stated as he watched the new footage on the news. Aki had just finished the duel, resulting in a torn up the field and a devastated Andore.
"Idiot?" Bakura asked, from within the Ring on Shiro's neck, stretching his phantom limbs.
"Divine. Going and jumping the gun ahead of schedule." Shiro responded. "Still, we may have a way to salvage this."
He pulled out a remote and showed it to Bakura.
"This is a tracker on Aki's Bloody Kiss. It will show us exactly where his base is." Shiro said.
"And what? Are we going in guns blazing?" Bakura asked.
"No. Not when we can make our soon-to-arrive guest do it for us. Among other things." Shiro said with a smirk on his face.
/
Yusei remembered the tournament. The excitement at seeing Atem have an official Riding Duel despite the whole thing being a set up. And their own trap had been turned upon them. Bakura's Ring had shone and then he was no more.
The space was black and foreboding. Yusei couldn't see, couldn't move, couldn't even think.
That's when he realized he was not alone.
The last thing he remembered was Bakura's Ring shining as he closed it to stop the man. Then he was alone.
And then Yusei woke up. He heard the familiar rumble of his D-Wheel as he was currently driving it away from the hospital. It was strange. He didn't remember taking this trip at all.
Then he felt indescribable pain and a jolt of lighting surged through his body.
His eyes now saw as if they were his own. And he heard his own voice though he had no control over it.
"And now you see the genius of my plan, little Yusei." another voice behind him said. No. Not behind him.
In his head.
Yusei turned inside of the mindscape and saw the man he hoped he'd never see again.
Marik.The other man's image solidified in his mind, the sounds and sights of the road vanishing as the scenery became the innards of his own soul. Marik's face was downcast as his crown of spiked and washed out blond hair and purple draped cape gave him the appearance of a fiend.
"Remember what I did in the afterlife? When I held you in place? I was securing a way back though your very body. And once I discredit your name and kill all of your friends, Atem is next!" He laughed in Yusei's head..
The lighting surged even stronger now and Yusei felt himself falling.
"This body only has room for one soul – but don't worry! As a spirit, you'll have unlimited time to watch as Yusei Fudo unleashes Hell on Earth!"Then Marik held out Atem's Puzzle at eye length and grinned as the center eye shone. "This Puzzle lets me invite the souls of others within – or in this case, cast them out!"
As Marik spoke, he warped, brown skin turning a shade lighter as the yellow marker appeared on the side of his face. He donned the blue eyes Yusei had, and the black and yellow-orange hair, but the smirk and the same cruel eyes were the same.
"Goodbye, Yusei!" Marik laughed.
Then Yusei's soul was cut off from his very own body, plummeting into a dark abyss where all light vanished.
He fell for a long, long time.