(A/N: Well, we all knew it had to happen eventually, the day that Junko would grace the story with her presence permanently and forever stain it like bird poop on the windshield of a brand new car. It is my hope that all of you will still enjoy the story despite her.
That and for those of you with high anxiety disorders, you read at your own risk).
10 Years ago…
Splashing around in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, trying not to drown Sonia Nevermind was screaming in terror. "Rafael! Mom! Dad! Julian!" The luxury cruise liner she had just been on had been totaled and she was without a life vest. Her big brother had desperately tried to save her, but she'd seen him get swallowed up by the ocean.
No one she called to answered her. Instead, a muffled, furry noise echoed from below her as a large brown puff ball with stubby arms and legs became buoyant beneath her, allowing her to sit atop it. Its cute cry had it bouncing in the water, happy that Sonia was all right.
Sonia pet its wet fur. "I am happy to see you alive and well, Elizabeth."
"Kurrrr!" The creature purred.
"Sonia!"
Sonia looked onward to see her mom, dad and little brother all floating atop similar creatures of different fur colors. Below her dad was a whole colony of them, creating a raft of wet fur.
Dipping her hand in the ice-cold water, Sonia paddled towards her family, giving her mother a hug when Elizabeth bumped into a furry creature identical to its own.
"Mother, have you seen Rafael anywhere?" Sonia asked.
Her mother shook her head sadly.
"Let's direct the Makangos back to the mainland," Sonia's father said. "I'm sure we can put out a search for Rafael once we've spoken to the local authorities and explained the situation."
Riding on the Novoselic exclusive Makangos, the remaining members of the Novoselic Royal Family were carried to safety by dozens of the furry critters.
Present Day
"We looked everywhere for you," Sonia said, fraught with worry. "Missing posters, search teams, we even tried to locate you by Satellite."
"But I…I thought you all perished," Rafael gasped, eyes trembling.
Sonia gave him her ever familiar smile. "Of course we would not perish at sea. Father takes the royal Makangos everywhere in order to prevent things like that. Or…" Sonia looked sad. "Perhaps you did not want to be found? I mean, father eventually did call off the search, but only at mother's insistence that you were no more. But…but I always believed! I always believed you were still alive!" Sonia exclaimed, tears dripping down her face. "Big brother…" The tears became harder to fight. "Big brother!"
Sonia ran forward and gave Rafael a big hug. "I'm so happy to see you."
Sonia reigned her tears in rather quickly and then held Rafael's hand. "Cobain misses you very much." That was the name of Rafael's personal Makango. "Oh, we must fly back to Novoselic immediately!" Sonia began trying to pull Rafael away with her. "Mother and father will be overjoyed to see you."
However, Sonia quickly found that she was walking in place.
She looked at Rafael with great concern. "Rafael, why so cold? It is me, Little Sonia. Do you not recognize me?"
"No, Sonia," Rafael said with a completely straight face. "You are as charming and lovely as the day I last saw you. You've grown into a fine woman. But I...cannot go back."
Sonia looked devastated, the tears returning in seconds. "But why? Everyone thinks you're dead, but I never gave up hope! Do you know how many of Novoselic's resources I utilized to try and find you? To try and find any proof of your demise or that you yet lived? Why, Rafael? Why do you refuse to come home?" Sonia shouted.
"My home is with Master Dartz. Besides, this world needs a mass cleansing. You have two choices, Sonia. You can either join me, or this is as far as our conversation goes," Rafael said coldly.
"No! I will not join an organization dedicated to destroying the world! Do you know how many of my friends have been hurt by this Dartz person? Do you know how much I have suffered? A man I once loved is being controlled by this evil power? Why you too Rafael? How could you do something like this?" The tears were not stopping. Sonia was practically screaming, feeling her heart rip in two. First her crush, now her brother. How much more would life enjoy pushing her to her breaking point?
"Rafael..." Sonia said, hyperventilating. "What's happened to you? You used to be so sweet." She croaked and then choked on tears. "You would never do something like this."
"I'm sorry, Sonia. Please forgive me."
In her weakened mental state, Sonia wasn't prepared for what happened next. Rafael calmly, and on purpose, took his knee into her stomach and mildly chopped her across the back of the neck, not enough to bruise, but enough to render her unconscious. Then, picking his sister up, he brought her inside a nearby abandoned building. The building, conveniently, was a retail store for bedsheets and blankets. Rafael left Sonia curled up on a soft, fluffy quilt and then ran out of the building like a burglar that tripped an alarm.
Now it was his turn to shed tears. As he fired up the motorbike, driving as far in one direction as he could go, his only thoughts went towards his little sister. She was alive. This whole time, my family was alive. What do I...what do I do now?
Having had no luck finding Natsumi or any source of the monster attacks, Yugi and his friends, Mai included, met up in front of the northern entrance to Domino Park.
"Find anything?" Joey asked.
Yugi, now back in control, shook his head.
"How about you guys?" Téa inquired.
"Nothing, but birds, bats and droppings," Tristan sighed.
Miho then screamed and the gang quickly realized that they'd become surrounded.
"There's too many to fight off," Tristan pointed out.
Yugi grit his teeth. What the hell were he and the others supposed to do now? Dark Magician and some of his other best monsters had been defeated and it looked like summoning them again wasn't an option. Monsters as strong as Archfiend Empress were closing in and it didn't look like Mai or Joey had anything left to pump out either.
Suddenly, a bunch of the monsters got run over as a dust cloud headed towards Yugi and friends. Gunshots from a heavy gatling gun rang out, spilling blood and magic energy from all sorts of monsters. An eight-seater jeep—two rows of 3 seats and the driver and passenger seats—then swerved around Yugi's group and the passenger side door was thrown open by a teenage girl with blond pigtails in a blue blouse and a red mini-skirt. Mounted on the back of the vehicle, crouched on one knee, was a teenage girl with black hair and freckles in an army outfit, manning the Gatling gun.
The blonde, driving, put her hand over face like she was doing her best Dio Brando impression, yet spoke as if she were impersonating Arnold Schwarzenegger. "Come with me if you want to live."
"Hey, aren't you—" Téa started to say, but she was drowned out by the Gatling gun going off. More monsters were approaching.
"If you have time to talk you have time to get in. Survival now, questions later," the blonde said.
"R-right," Téa said, climbing in. She, Tristain and Miho climbed into the middle seats with Mai and Joey getting in the back on the left and right sides. Yugi got into the front passenger seat with the group's savior.
"How's it look, sis?" the blonde asked the dark haired girl in the back.
"Enemies down," her sister said. "No targets within a visible radius."
"Right then," the blonde grabbed the clutch and put it in drive. "Flooring it!" She then took off down the road at highway speeds, headed for the nearest highway herself.
"Thank you for saving us," Yugi said to her. "We owe you one. But…who are you?"
"The name's Junko Enoshima," the blonde said, grinning. "And I'm very happy to meet you." Her grin became even wider. "Yugi Muto."
In the opposite direction Junko and co. were traveling, Nagito and Hajime were still on a nearby rooftop. Each one was drawing five cards and their life point counters were tallying up to 4,000 each.
"Let's duel!" Hajime and Nagito declared together.
"I'll go first," Hajime stated. "And I'll start by summoning Darkfire Soldier #2 in attack mode!"
A samurai carrying two swords wreathed in a fiery kimono and on fire stood upon the battlefield with 1700 attack points and 1100 defense points.
"That's an interesting monster," Nagito said.
"I've improved my deck considerably since Battle City with Chiaki's help," Hajime said. "When I stood before you before, it was with only the cards I could scrape together. Now, with the knowledge I gained from the tournament, my deck is as fluid as it can be!"
"I see. I see. Well, let's see if it holds up," Nagito said.
Hajime nodded. "I'll lay two cards face-down and end my turn." The two holograms appeared.
"Face-downs, huh? I distinctly seem to remember you having a limited amount of those," Nagito said. "You really have improved." He drew the top card of his deck. "Not good enough though." He looked at his hand. "One monster card face-down onto the field." The sideways hologram appeared. "Then," Nagito said with a smirk. "I think I'll end my turn."
What the hell is he up to? First he taunts me, then he just sets and passes? Whatever, I am going to take him down! "I draw!" Hajime exclaimed, putting the top card of his deck into his hand. Perfect! "I activate Polymerization! Now, I shall fuse together the Darkfire Soldier on the field with the Cannon Soldier in my hand to make Blazing Fenix the Burning Bombardment Bird!"
Hajime's notoriously infamous phoenix monster extended its wings, screeching as it appeared.
"I see the core of your deck hasn't changed. Well then, bring it on," Nagito beckoned.
"Be careful what you wish for, Nagito!" Hajime exclaimed. "Because I'm summoning to the field Mechanicalchaser!" A robot with a rotund body, spear in one hand and grip claw in the other, with a sharp, spear-like tail, emerged on Hajime's side of the field with 1850 attack points and 800 defense points.
"And now!" Hajime declared, pointing at Nagito's face-down monster, "Blaze Fenix, attack!"
At ramming speed, the mighty blazing phoenix, darted towards Nagito's monster, setting his Giant Soldier of Stone ablaze.
"You're wide open!" Hajime shouted. "Mechanicalchaser! Attack!"
Hajime's machine monster dashed forward and struck Nagito in the stomach with its spear, causing him to slide back from the hard light hologram smacking into him. His life points drained to 2,150.
"Not bad," Nagito said with a smirk.
"My turn is over," Hajime said, glaring. "Make yours count."
"Gladly," Nagito said and drew the top card of his deck. "I now activate an old favorite of mine, Ritual of Destruction! Now, by sending Ritual Raven to the graveyard, I'll now summon Garlandolf, King of Destruction!"
Hajime gasped. Nagito's luck was ungodly. To think he'd bust out Garlandolf this soon.
"And since both of your monsters' defense points are weaker than Garlandolf's attack points, that means I can wipe them both out! Garlandolf! Destroy them!"
With a clap of his hands, Garlandolf, the King of Destruction destroyed Blaze Fenix and Hajime's Mechanicalchaser, leaving the poor boy wide open as Garlandolf's attack power rose to 2700.
"Garlandolf, attack!"
"Activating Negate Attack!" Hajime cried out desperately as Garlandolf's fist slammed against a twisting, swirling vortex. Hajime's quickly revealed trap card dissipated and his life points remained at 4,000.
"Ah, Negate Attack, that was one trap card you were able to scrounge up. But I'm afraid that with only one card in your hand, you don't have very many options to make a counterattack, now do you, Hajime?" Nagito chuckled.
"Watch me," Hajime remarked and drew the top card of his deck. "I activate my other face-down card, another Polymerization!"
A bluff? Nagito had to admit, he hadn't seen that coming.
"This will let me fuse together the two monsters in my hand: Summoned Skull and Goddess with a Third Eye!" Hajime declared. "Now behold, Black Skull Dragon!"
Hajime's mighty beast roared as it shook the battlefield, floating up and behind him. It looked down upon Nagito, its meteor flames flashing inside its pearly white jaw.
"Black Skull Dragon! Attack!" Hajime shouted. "Crush Garlandolf with Molten Fireballs!"
Black Skull Dragon unleashed a ferocious barrage of meteors that tore Garlandolf apart and reduced it to just dust on the wind, bringing Nagito's life points down to 1,650.
"Looks like you're the one who's open," Hajime pointed out.
"Sure seems that way," Nagito said. "I didn't expect you to hide a Polymerization face-down. My turn then."
"I have no cards in my hand, so I suppose so," Hajime said.
"All right then, I draw," Nagito said and drew the top card of his deck. "I'll place one monster face-down and end my turn."
Hajime drew the top card of his deck. It was Curse of Dragon. He couldn't turn the tide with this. "Black Skull Dragon! Molten Fireballs!"
Nagito's monster was crushed, but his life points were spared.
Nagito then drew the top card of his deck. "One more monster face-down and I'll complete my turn."
Is he trying to draw Exodia? Hajime suddenly realized. That's right. Last time I dueled Nagito, I was able to beat him because I managed to make him discard multiple pieces of Exodia from his hand. He drew the top card of his deck. It was Fusion Gate. If I don't get to his life points in time, the duel will be over. But…why isn't he playing the Seal of Orichalcos. What's he waiting for?
"Hajime, I'm getting bored," Nagito said in a sing-song voice.
"Black Skull Dragon, attack! Crush his monster with Molten Fireballs!"
Nagito's monster was destroyed as he drew the top card of his deck. "I'm tired of just setting and passing, let's shake up this boring duel, shall we?" Nagito asked. "Thank you for filling up my graveyard with weak and pathetic monsters, because now I can activate this: Cycle of the World!"
That card?! Hajime remembered that card from his last duel and the vast power of Demise, Supreme King of Armageddon.
"Last time, Hajime, you met the king of Armageddon, now meet the Queen of Oblivion. I remove from my graveyard the two monsters you just destroyed, Djinn Disserere of Rituals and Djinn Demolisher of Rituals. And next, I remove Skull Guardian from my hand to summon a monster the likes of which only exists in the darkest of fairy tales. Behold, Ruin! Supreme Queen of Oblivion!"
A woman with long white hair, carrying a golden scepter and dressed in red, black and gold stood upon the battlefield. She had 2900 attack points and 3000 defense points. A powerful shadow lurked over her left shoulder.
Nagito smirked creepily. "Can you hear it, Hajime? The chorus that signals your defeat. A bell tolls, speaking of your imminent demise."
"The only thing I see is a monster with 300 attack points less than mine mistakenly placed in attack mode," Hajime said.
"Then why don't you destroy her and shatter my hope. You want to save Chiaki, right? You won't save her, if all you do is cower in fear before me."
He's baiting me. I know he is, but I can't figure out what he's up to. What the hell is your twisted game, Nagito? What is this monster and why did you sacrifice so much just to summon it? Do you even have any pieces of Exodia in your hand? I just…don't know.
While Hajime contemplated his strategy and chances of winning Junko was finishing explaining to Yugi and his friends about how she had broken into Dartz's compound, been given the power of the Orichalcos and then got the hell out of dodge before he could indoctrinate her into being one of his underlings.
"You betrayed Dartz?" Joey asked her.
"Hey, if they're gonna steal our souls anyway, may as well be my 500 attack points getting boosted, you know?"
"But using a power like that is just too dangerous, Junko," Yugi said.
"And staring down giant monsters unaided is any less dangerous?"
"How did you even find Dartz in the first place?" Mai asked.
"I didn't. He found me. And I escaped," Junko said.
"All right! Then let's go pay Dartz a visit and kick his ass!" Joey exclaimed.
"It's not that simple," Junko said. "As you all are now, even Yugi wouldn't stand a chance against beating Dartz."
"The other dragons, right?" Yugi asked her.
"Yup," Junko replied.
"Eh, you know about what's going on, Junko?" Téa asked her.
"I mean, I kind of got a lot of info out of Dartz when he thought I was interested in his stupid cult. But more to the point, I know how we're going to put an end to all of this."
"You do?" Miho asked her.
"Yeah. That's why I'm driving to the airport."
"The airport? Why there?" Tristan asked.
"Well, we obviously need to board my private jet and fly all the way to nice, sunny California to visit Industrial Illusions Incorporated."
"Pegasus," Yugi said.
"Ding! Ding! Ding!" Junko exclaimed with extreme cheer. "That's right, Yugi Bear," Junko said, putting an arm around him and pulling his head, extremely close to her boobs for about two seconds, causing Yugi to blush hard. She then spoke with an super duper happy grin on her face. "When I worked for Maximillian Pegasus, he taught me everything I know about Duel Monsters. I was so good to him that he taught me a whole lot more too. Pegasus taught me not just about the game, but about its origins, his history with creating the game. It was pretty interesting stuff. You can read all about it in my magazine!" Junko opened the glove compartment and tossed a magazine over her head that landed in Téa's lap. There was Junko on the front cover dressed as Condemned Maiden. On the cover, there was mention of an inside scoop with Maximillian Pegasus.
"It's amazing what he was willing to divulge publicly after my agency put the whole thing together," Junko said. "Go ahead, educate yourselves."
Téa, Tristan and Miho flipped through the article with Joey and Mai looking over their shoulders. The article detailed the connection between Ancient Egypt and the card games. This article was, of course, rather dated, as it was published before Battle City, so there was no mention of the Egyptian God Cards anywhere.
"What makes you so interested in Duel Monsters, Junko?" Téa asked her.
"Because it's popular and I'm a fashionista. Gotta either keep up with the trends or set them, you know?"
"Guess you're more than just a pretty face, huh?" Mai asked.
"Oh, stop," Junko said, wiggling in her seat and taking one hand off the wheel, "You're embarrassing me."
"Hey! Hey! Eyes on the road!"
"Oh, relax! No one's dumb enough to come outside with the monster attack and anything I do hit will get plowed over by this thing. It's one tank of a jeep after all," Junko said, cruising down the street, ignoring traffic lights. "It's monster proof. Custom made. Isn't my agency the best? Jeeps are totes gonna be a thing in a few months. I like to consider myself ahead of the curve in many ways."
"Well you've certainly got curves."
Everyone looked strangely at Miho.
"Sorry," she said, looking down. "Miho was just filling in for Ibuki-san."
Tristan pat her on the back. "We're gonna get her back, Miho. Don't worry."
"One of your friends lose her soul already?" Junko asked, glancing back at the passengers in her vehicle.
"Yeah, a good one," Joey said dejectedly.
Inwardly, Junko was feeding off the despair of Yugi's friends like flooding her lungs with whipped cream. Outwardly… "Don't worry, we'll get everyone back. Maximillian Pegasus is the creator of Duel Monsters. And Yugi Muto is the King of Games. You don't think Pegasus didn't foresee Atlantis returning? I could go on and on about all the dumb prophecies he dug up. I bet you not even half of them will see the light of day."
"What makes you so sure?" Joey asked her.
"Cause things get boring and repetitive if dark forces keep coming back from ancient times to lord over humanity with their end of the world speeches and evil magic. You gotta shake up the formula once in a while or the fans get salty and butthurt."
"Uh…this is real life. Not some fancy action series."
Junko just laughed like Joey told a joke.
"What? What's so funny? You want a piece a me, blondie?"
Mai held Joey back. "Joey, she's driving. Calm down."
"She's driving all right. She's driving me crazy," Joey growled.
"Oh, don't sweat the small stuff, Joey," Junko said to him. "All you gotta know is that I'm gonna bring you guys right to the thing that's gonna help Yugi here save the world."
Guess the fate of the world is falling on our shoulders again, huh, pal? Yugi asked Yami.
Yami was puzzlingly quiet.
What's the matter?
Are we sure Junko can be trusted? Yami replied.
What? Come on, she saved our lives. You're overreacting.
Sorry, I guess I'm just overtly cautious, Yami thought, sighing.
You're just not used to new people. I know Junko seems…very peculiar, but I think she has the makings of a great friend. Come on, she saved us and she's going to help us, Yugi said.
I suppose, but I just…
Is it because she might be a double agent for Dartz? Yugi wondered.
Yami nodded.
Well, I guess it's good that we have at least one cautious person around us, Yugi thought and then looked back at Junko, who had her eyes affixed on the road in a surprisingly serious fashion. But…I really think we can trust her.
If you say so, Yami said to his partner and retreated into Yugi's subconscious.
As Junko continued to drive Yugi and friends to the airport, Hajime finished contemplating his strategy on how to deal with Nagito's monster.
Don't overthink it, Hajime. His monster has 2900 attack points, he thought as he drew the top card of his deck. Yours has 3,200. Just take action. "Black Skull Dragon, attack!" Hajime shouted. "Crush Ruin with Molten Fireballs!"
"You fell for it!" Nagito exclaimed.
"Huh?" Hajime gasped.
"I discard from my hand Sphere Kuriboh!" Nagito declared as rounded, less than usually fluffy critters began pushing back against Black Skull Dragon's Molten Fireballs, absorbing them as they then began piling onto Black Skull Dragon and forced it to land, guarding itself with his arms, bringing into to its defense position with only 2500 defense points, 400 less than Ruin's attack.
"My turn," Nagito said and drew the top card of his deck. "Ruin! My Supreme Queen, attack Black Skull Dragon now! Oblivion Burst Ray!"
Ruin gathered a bunch of Magenta energy in her staff until the energy ball was bigger than her body. Then she condensed it down into a beam, which tore through Black Skull Dragon like a plasma cutter through solid steel. The monster exploded and dust kicked towards Hajime. He closed one eye and raised an arm, palm facing the ground until the dust settled.
"And don't think you're safe just because you managed to put your monster in defense mode," Nagito stated, smiling craftily. "When Ruin destroys a monster, she deals damage equal to the amount of original attack points your monster had. How many attack points does Black Skull Dragon have? Oh right. 3,200."
Ruin's secondary effect kicked in as she blasted Hajime with the same magenta energy, but in a spread wave fired from her palm. The hard-light hologram pushed him back towards the edge of the building. His foot tacked against the raised roof edge.
Hajime panted as his life points fell from an untouched 4,000 all the way to 800.
"How sad. I didn't even need to use the Seal of Orichalcos to beat you. Maybe you're not an ultimate after all, Hajime. Maybe all those duels you won, maybe that was just sheer luck. After all, what sort of Ultimate Duelist walks straight into such an obvious trap? Or, perhaps you have some kind of counterattack in mind," Nagito chuckled. "Keep in mind, any monster Ruin destroys will automatically shut down your life points too, so choose carefully."
Hajime glared at Nagito as sweat ran down his forehead. He's right. I walked right into that. What the hell was I thinking. I knew Nagito had to be up to something, but to think it's driven me into such a corner with no room for error. Hajime contemplated his current situation. Future Fusion would be unhelpful right now. If I drew Card of Sanctity, I would have to draw Blackland Fire Dragon and Koumouri Dragon as well as another fusion substitute monster just be able to destroy Ruin. If I did, I'd win the duel…but what if Nagito has another Sphere Kuriboh in his hand? If he does, Blackland Void Dragon only has 2900 defense points. All he would have to do would be to increase Ruin's attack points or play his Demise, Supreme King of Armageddon and I'll have lost the duel. And that's assuming I even draw Card of Sanctity at all. The odds are stacked against me. Dammit…I'm not Yugi. I'm not Kaiba. I'm not a hero… Hajime thought, shutting his eyes. I just want the girl I love back.
"Don't be sad."
Hajime gasped. Was that Chiaki's voice?
"Remember what I always tell you? If you lose your composure, if you concentrate only on winning, you can't accomplish anything."
Hajime knew he was hallucinating Chiaki's words to him, and yet he felt like she was, somehow, calling out to him. No, not her, someone…imitating her.
"Can you hear me brave one?"
Huh?
A gentle, feminine voice seemed to communicate within Hajime.
"I know you have not asked for this destiny, but will you take up its sword anyway?"
Destiny? Hajime asked, only to gasp as he was pulled into an out of body experience.
Nagito noticed this as Hajime himself seemed to glow from head to toe. He smiled. Finally. I've drawn it out of you. Show it to me, Hajime. Show me your hope.
When Hajime opened his eyes, he was in some sort of white, hallowed sanctum. More importantly, he seemed to be floating on air. However, as he scrambled against gravity, he realized he could float naturally.
Suddenly then, Dark Magician Girl floated in front of him. "You have come, o brave one."
"Brave one? Me?" Hajime asked.
"Yes, you who does not seek destiny's call, but are nevertheless pulled by its grip. I beseech your help." Hajime took a look around there area. There were 5 platforms beneath where his body was floating. One platform was empty, but the other four contained dragons frozen in ice.
"These are the Legendary Dragons that fought bravely against the forces of the Orichalcos, 10,000 years ago in the war of Atlantis."
"Atlantis? Hold on, I don't understand," Hajime protested.
However, Dark Magician Girl was short on time. She simply extended a hand towards a dragon that had a sword embedded in the midpoint of its horn. "Draw the power of the dragon you have been chosen to wield. Pull the sword out and call out its name, seize your destiny brave knight."
Hajime was going to protest, but he wasn't going to argue the situation. Yeah, maybe he didn't want to get roped into another world saving/ending crisis, but goddammit, he wasn't going to let people suffer because he didn't act. That wasn't how he was raised and Chiaki would never forgive him if he just turned his back on the world.
I want her back, Hajime thought as he gripped the sword with both hands. And I'm not doing this just for her. If life gives me a challenge, then I'll step up to face it. Flashes of every attempt Hajime ever made to become an Ultimate flashed through his mind, from training to set records in athleticism at middle school, researching chess and becoming an ace player, joining the debate club, learning to play the drums, the piano, pretty much anything Hajime could get his hands on, he did his best to excel. But no matter what, he was always glossed over. He was good, but never good enough.
But this isn't about talent, Hajime thought. This is about right and wrong. Even if I was the most talentless person in the world, I'd still draw this sword and stand up to be strong.
Screaming, Hajime pulled the sword from the ice and lifted it over his head. Instantly, the ice shattered as an orange dragon roared loud and proud to the roof of the temple. This dragon had two horns shaped like the devil's, but its broad wings were rounded over, feathery like an angel's. It was like the monster Tyrant Dragon had a bigger meaner, older cousin and that dragon was now Hajime's faithful companion.
"Pythagoras has been unleashed! Use his power well, brave warrior. Do not forget the path you walk."
Hajime came back to his sense of self, suddenly wondering if that had all been a fever dream.
"Well, Hajime, did you awaken the dragon? Did you discover your power?" Nagito asked him.
Clearly none of that had been a dream. "Nagito, I'm going to wipe that smug look off your face. It's my turn now! And I'm going to crush you! I draw!" Hajime's deck glowed as his newest card in his deck was magically summoned to his hand. "Behold the power of the Horn of Pythagoras!"
Hajime's mighty dragon roared as it appeared on the battlefield. Hajime was dead set on his victory and Nagito never looked giddier at the sight of what lay before him.
In Doma's Temple, Dartz could sense Pythagoras' release. The second dragon has been released? And Pythagoras no less? And yet the Orichalcos Seal is not active? What is young Komaeda thinking?
Back in Domino, Pythagoras flew into the air and let out a thermal shower of orange beams that streaked across Domino City, striking down every monster they could across the city of Domino.
In Junko's jeep, Yugi's deck glowed and he pulled out Timaeus to take a look at it.
"What's wrong, Yugi?" Téa asked.
"Forget him! Look at the sky!" Joey exclaimed as the orange beams of light twisted and turned all across the horizon, avoiding the party intentionally and hitting anything and everything it could.
"That's no meteor shower!" Tristan exclaimed.
So. The second dragon has been released, Junko thought, eyes on the road. And judging from the color, it's probably Pythagoras. How very interesting. I wish I knew the individual it was granted to. It can't be Kaiba. By now he's already on his way to Duelist Kingdom to deal with Alister. And it can't be Joey. He's within my immediate proximity and he's not dueling either. Junko briefly closed her eyes. Well, I suppose it doesn't matter. She looked at Yugi. He was looking at Timaeus in his hand, the card of which was glowing. Téa was looking over his shoulder at the glowing card. I already have everything I need within reach.
Back on the rooftop, Pythagoras finally landed, practically taking up the entire rooftop Hajime and Nagito were dueling on.
"That's a pretty cool monster, Hajime. What are you going to do with it?"
"Pythagoras is a special monster. You see, he can fuse with any magic card on my field or in my hand to change his form. And the card I choose is this one! Fusion Gate! So now, I combine my field spell with the Horn of Pythagoras!" Hajime exclaimed.
A worm hole suddenly appeared and swallowed up Pythagoras. The hole was then shattered as the dragon returned, purple and green energy radiating all over its scales. It had changed in neither size, not stature. "Thus I've created Fusion Gate Dragon!"
Hajime's monster had 2,000 attack points and 2,000 defense points.
"Interesting monster," Nagito chuckled. "Too bad it's too weak to do anything."
"Sorry, but you've got that wrong!" Hajime declared, holding up the last card in his hand. "Fusion Gate Dragon can fuse with any monster in my hand or on the field and keep getting stronger, like a continually evolving force. So now I fuse it with Curse of Dragon to create Cursed Fusion Gate Dragon!"
Curse of Dragon appeared as it was drawn into a green and purple tractor beam fired from Fusion Gate Dragon's mouth as the monster was absorbed into Hajime's monster. A grotesque gold horn appeared on it and the giant dragon obtained gilded armor over its head, arms and sprouted a second tail that resembled Curse of Dragon's. Its stats also jacked up to 4,000 attack points and 3,500 defense points.
"Cursed Fusion Gate Dragon, attack!" Hajime declared, pointing at Ruin, Supreme Queen of Oblivion. "Destroy Nagito's monster, now! Buring Fusion Flame!"
A green and purple flame shot out of Cursed Fusion Gate Dragon's mouth, raining down onto Ruin, incinerating her into dust as the flames licked away at Nagito's feet. Fortunately, the Seal of Orichalcos had yet to be played, so they didn't act like real flames.
Nagito's life points then fell to 550.
"How's that, Nagito?" Hajime asked.
"Marvelous! Simply amazing!" Nagito exclaimed. "You're one of the legendary dragon wielders. I must say, I'm enthusiastic! I'm overjoyed to see your hope flourish." Nagito chuckled. "But to have defeated me after just awakening, that makes for a pretty pale hope, doesn't it?"
"Nagito," Hajime growled. He had no time for his games.
"I'll spare your soul this time Hajime. It's far too soon to take it. I want to see it grow. I want to see it flourish and stand before Dartz's army and crush everything in its path!"
"Nagito, talk sense!" Hajime shouted.
"I am talking sense," Nagito chuckled. "It's my turn now. After all, you have no cards in your hand, do you?"
Hajime growled. Nagito, on that front, was unfortunately right.
"And I'm sorry to say, but I'm going to win this duel. Now that I've awakened your dragon, I can't afford to fall here. I have to make you work hard. I have to be the best stepping stone I can be so that your hope will be the hope that pierces the heavens."
"Nagito!" Hajime shouted, seething with rage.
"Your monster is strong, Hajime. At 4,000 attack points, there isn't a card in my deck that can destroy it alone." Nagito smirked. "Alone, of course, being the operative word."
What's he saying? Hajime thought. His hand is empty. He gasped, ahoge sticking straight up. No! He couldn't possibly! That's insane.
"Hajime, Hajime, Hajime, when are you going to learn? My luck comes in very awful cycles. Being able to get you to summon your dragon, that's really good luck, understand, meaning it's about to be followed up by really bad luck. Hence, winning this duel. And even though my hand is empty, I have just the card combination to do it."
Nagito drew the top card off his deck and smirked as he looked at it. "Your monster is strong, Hajime. But it's not invincible, not compared to true power." Nagito inserted the card he drew into the spell/trap card slot. "I activate Card of Sanctity. Now, we each have to draw until we're both holding six cards. I think you may have an idea what's about to happen."
Nagito drew the six cards from his deck. Hajime barely had time to look at his before Nagito was already placing cards from his hand onto the duel disk. "In one fell swoop I've already assembled all five pieces of the truly unstoppable Exodia!"
Nagito chuckled as the 10-pointed star appeared to bring Exodia from its otherworldy prison.
"I guess it's bad luck for both of us. It's my victory, Hajime. Just look on the bright side. Because I didn't use the Seal of Orichalcos, you don't lose your soul," Nagito said with a smile, only to give Hajime a tough look and make a fist. "Only your dignity.
Exodia broke through its containment and appeared on the battlefield, bearing down on Cursed Fusion Gate Dragon.
"Exodia!" Nagito shouted. "Obliterate!"
Everything went orange and then white as the last thing Hajime saw before his dragon was destroyed and his life points hit zero was a powerful blast coming out of Exodia's extended arm.
As the light died down, Hajime dropped to his hands and knees and trembled. He couldn't believe it, when it mattered most, he had lost.
Nagito, seeing this, became filled with feelings of intense irritation. And then, he did something that, ordinarily, he would never do, not even at his lowest point. He raised his leg and kicked Hajime in the cheek, sending him tumbling on the ground, landing on his back, Hajime still in shock from the loss.
"Look at you, so quick to fall apart!" Nagito shouted. "How pathetic can you get! What happened to the Hajime Hinata I dueled in Battle City?" Nagito snapped. "Or did he disappear along with that dragon of yours?"
Hajime's eyes sparked with light, along with his cheek stinging with pain. He stood up and held his sore cheek, looking at Nagito confused.
"You can't save the world if all you do is wallow in your own despair. Like I always say, Hajime. You have to pull yourself up from your despair and use that to generate a brand new hope." Thunder clapped overhead. Storm clouds blanketed the sky, but not a simple drop of rain fell, only harsh winds blew across the air. "Hate me. Chase me to the ends of the Earth. Just like you stood up to Marik, stand up to me, and Dartz as well!"
"Why are you encouraging me, Nagito?" Hajime asked, glaring, holding his sore cheek. "Are you on my side or are you my enemy? Which is it?!"
"Oh, Hajime, you still don't get it," Nagito sighed. He smiled. "I'm not on anyone's side. I'm just picking the path that will allow me to foster the most hope possible." He then backed towards the edge of the roof. "Because that's all that trash like me is good for." Nagito then fell backwards off the roof, arms spread out, legs together.
"Nagito!" Hajime ran towards him to make sure he was all right, but judging from the lack of blood and a Nagito shaped pancake on the hard black top below in the alley, it was clear Nagito had been whisked away back to Dartz's side.
Hajime balled a fist by his heart. Nagito…it sounds like Chiaki isn't the only one I'm fighting to save. This vicious cycle you enslave yourself to. I'll show you that there's more to life than an endless cycle of hope and despair, of bad luck and good luck. Hajime looked at the bottom of card of his deck where the Horn of Pythagoras miraculously was positioned. I didn't ask for this destiny, but I'm going to seize it.
A single storm cloud parted, beaming down a ray of sunshine onto Hajime.
Dartz, I'm coming for you. For my classmates that you've hurt, for this world that you've attacked, just like with Marik, and just like anyone that comes after you, I'll stop your schemes. An epiphany then struck Hajime and his sudden shock turned into a smile as a leaf blew by his face and he looked up at the sunshine, which was slowly widening. If being an Ultimate means setting an example, then that's the example I'll set. I'll use my talent to help others. No, not just my talent, I'll use everything I am. I'll become a shining beacon that the world can rely on. Hajime concentrated within his mind as his hair turned gold and his eyes turned red. After all, that's the person I've decided to become. Yugi, if I see you again, I want you to know, that you aren't alone in your battle against evil's endless hordes. I will be right there fighting by your side.
(A/N: Phew. Done. I actually thought you guys would have to wait much longer after December 7th to get this because of Smash Bros being released, but thank god for the Switch having a reasonable battery life that, in the time I decided to let the system charge, I decided to finish this chapter, which has been in the works for weeks now. Nothing to say really, the chapter is self-explanatory.
Next chapter we will finally learn what's up with that book Junko has. I don't know if there will be a duel, but if there is, it's one none of you are likely expecting to occur. Until then, as always, from all of me, to all of you, let your hearts stay human, and your wrath draconic. Ja ne!)