(A/N: Hi, everyone! I'm back. Sorry for the delay. Unlike most people in this past month, I have not caught onto the Kingdom Hearts 3 craze—long, complicated story. Please don't ask about it in your reviews—but rather was doing some nostalgic gaming with Pokémon Platinum that I have played to my satisfaction. Since I care not for the "professional" part of the game—i.e anything to do with the level 50 all bullshit no legendaries battle system—and the game reduced Heatran to level 50—I picked Turtwig as my starter and was hoping to switch them out and I am not wasting my time grinding Heatran 11 levels—I am just done. Let's get back to this story and have some real fun.
When last we left off, Junko had encouraged the darker side in Yami and secondhandedly caused the death of Weevil Underwood. And yes, Weevil is dead. I am confirming it now. Now then, let's continue this arc because there are more surprising moments to come. A lot of you have posted comments about this that or another thing coming down the line this arc. To quote a friend of mine when I didn't know the twist involving Kaede in V3: "You haven't the slightest idea of what's to come, that you have already wandered off the path into despair."
I'll let you all chew on what I mean, and continue forward).
Awake and with his bearings straight, Yami followed Junko out into the open air deep below the canyon where they had fallen from the train tracks.
"What happened after we fell, exactly?" Yami asked Junko as they walked. "And where are we headed?"
"One question at a time, love," Junko responded. "We hit a pool of water, which from our height would've been like smashing into concrete, but my spell saved us. The shock, I think, knocked you unconscious. I dragged you out of the water over my shoulder where this little girl and her grandfather spotted us. That's who we're going to see now. Chris here was kind enough to give us a spot to rest until you recuperated. I've been out and about for a bit. Was down for a little power nap when you woke up. Chris' grandfather, Ironheart, actually knows quite a bit about our situation. I wanted to wait till you woke up before he explained more, since, well, no need to tell the same story twice."
"I see," Yami responded.
The two found Ironheart, an elderly man with a long, gray beard of biblical proportions, down by the lake, scooping water into a basket. "Hmm?" He turned and stood up. "Oh. Is your companion's strength back, Junko?"
"Yes," Yami nodded. "I'm fine. Thank you."
"Pleased to hear it," Ironheart responded.
It was then that the group heard barking as a dog came dashing forward from behind Ironheart. Junko immediately tried to use Yami as a human shield.
"What's wrong?" he asked Junko.
"The doggie tried to bite me," she said in a cutesy and pouty voice.
The wolf-like dog approached Yami as Junko acted out being afraid of it, crouching behind the Pharaoh. The canine sniffed around Yami, growled at Junko, only to tilt its head and be confused. He stared up at Yami for a bit and then began panting before he stood up on his hind legs and licked Yami's face.
"That's strange," Chris said. "He seems quite fond of your companion."
"Skye has always been sensitive to mysterious forces," Ironheart responded. "That and he always seems to know who she likes and who she doesn't like."
"It must be the Seal of Orichalcos," Yami stated. "Junko made a deal with Dartz and then betrayed him." He held up the Millennium Puzzle. "And yet I wonder why my Millennium Puzzle doesn't bother him."
"Probably because you're the rightful owner of the ancient magic and I'm dealing with evil forces far beyond my control for pragmatic survival," Junko responded. She pat Yami on the back. "But hey, that's a relief, right? It means the dog doesn't think you're evil."
Yami frowned. It barely made him feel better. The loss of Yugi was still heavy like the literal chain around his neck.
"What's wrong?" Junko asked.
Yami, finding his deck on his belt pouch, took Timaeus from the bottom and handed it to Junko.
"Ph-Pharaoh?"
"Take it," he said to Junko. "I'm undeserving of Timaeus' power."
"I mean, I'd be just as undeserving. Don't you remember what Rafael said? Timaeus and the Orichalcos don't mix."
"Then you can hand it to Mai or whomever later when we meet up with them," Yami said, turning around and turning his back on Junko and the others. "It doesn't belong with me."
Wow, I know Yugi hit him hard, but this is a far harder fall than I could've anticipated. His plummet into despair is so… Junko did her best not to drool. Delicious.
"The dragon chose you, young man," Ironheart said. "You shouldn't be so quick to get rid of it so easily." He held out his hand to Junko. "Perhaps I can hold onto it until he feels worthy."
Junko nodded. Anything to get Timaeus out of her hands. She had a minor worry that having her hands on the card might someone open Yami to the truth of her true nature and she couldn't have that. "Very well," she said, handing it to Ironheart. "So," Junko said. "You said you understood something about the forces that we face. The moment I brought up the Eye of Timaeus and the Seal of Orichalcos, you seemed to understand what I was talking about."
"I do. And it's rare to see all of the pieces in place: the Atlantean Spellbook, the Seal of Orichalcos, and one of the legendary dragons, the Eye of Timaeus. Follow me," Ironheart said, encouraging Yami and Junko to follow. "10,000 years ago, war ravaged the land of Atlantis between monsters and Atlanteans. And not against each other. There were monsters and Atlanteans on both sides of the conflict. The battle was clear cut: good versus evil."
"It's just like Rafael said," Yami said, feeling disheartened.
"In the end, Atlantis fell, sinking beneath the waves."
"Nothing I don't already know or haven't told the others from my research," Junko said.
"Well then, perhaps I should speak of something you probably do not know, about the legendary dragons."
"Go on," Yami stated.
"These dragons were actually a band of brave warriors that were cursed into becoming dragons. They were not always roaring, snarling beasts."
"Interesting," Junko stated. "That's certainly news."
Ironheart nodded. "During the war, or so it is said, Queen Iona entered into the conflict against the forces of evil, alongside three noble knights: Timaeus, Critias, and Hermos. They were accompanied by Atlantis' most powerful sorcerer: Pythagoras. However, in time, it became clear that the conflict was growing worse and that the enemy was developing new spells and curses with which to thin Iona's numbers. That was when Queen Iona came up with a plan to protect the minds of her closest companions. It was risky, but the alternative was becoming corrupted into mindless monsters, as she herself had almost succumb to such power once already."
"What was the plan?" Yami asked.
"I think I can guess," Junko said. "Turn themselves into dragons."
"That's correct," Ironheart answered. "By becoming monsters of their own volition, they would give up speech and a great deal of their own power, but they would be able to protect their minds from the enemy. The only way to undo their self-inflicted curse would be to purge the power of the Orichalcos once and for all, or if the counter curse was invoked by a brave soul that understood exactly what had occurred. To that end, before casting the curse, Pythagoras made sure to document the steps taken, creating a beautiful mural in Atlantis' most sacred hall."
An epiphany hit Junko. "Pharaoh, do you still have that blank card we got at Industrial Illusions?"
Yami reached into his pocket and pulled it out.
Junko took out the Atlantean Spellbook and started thumbing through random pages until the book seemed to glow. "Aha!"
"Junko, do you think this card is…?"
"Yes, Pegasus must have found the mural and studied it at some point. This must be connected to the counter curse somehow." She closed the book onto the card like it was a bookmark. "I'll hang onto this for now, see if I can't study how to effectively awaken the card's true potential."
Yami smiled. "Thank you, Junko."
Skye, however, objected to this with a series of barks.
"Skye, it's okay. She's on our side," Chris said, doing her best to hold Skye back. "Heel. Heel."
Skye whined, barking at Chris, pawing at the dirt. But the meaning of her cries were lost on Chris, who just hugged Skye.
Annoying mutt, Junko thought. She knew the reason Skye had it out for her. The dog could sense Junko's true nature. The faster they parted ways from Chris and Ironheart, the better. That meant she would have to get Yami to snap out of his current funk. Fantastic, and she was making such good progress with his despair too. She sighed and slapped her cheeks before donning her hero persona. "So, Ironheart, where are we headed? Are we bound by adventure?"
Ironheart chuckled. "Based on your tales, my dear," he said to Junko. "I believe I may be able to help your friend's predicament with his lost companion. Come hither. It's not much further. We've almost reached the other side, the place where spirits dwell."
"Spirits?" Yami inquired.
"You see, my people believe that human souls exist all around us and just beyond this mountain is a sacred valley where drifting souls are said to gather as they wander along," Ironheart explained.
"I see, even if Yugi is currently dwelling inside the belly of the Leviathan, we may be able to call his spirit to the valley with enough faith and good will. Is that what you're trying to say?"
Yami gasped. If that was true, that was the first good news he'd had since losing Yugi.
"It is possible," Ironheart responded. "But be warned. There are evil spirits there as well. Finding the soul you seek is easy. Leaving with your own is another thing." The group reached the end of the trail that overlooked the valley. "It's not too late to back out."
However, the prospect of seeing Yugi was far too much of a prize for Yami to turn back. "I must go," he said. "I owe it to Yugi."
"So, what do we do?" Junko asked.
"Not we, only the one who seeks the lost soul may enter. The valley only accepts one visitor at a time."
"Very well," Yami said. "I accept the challenge."
"Don't make me have to fetch your soul out of that pit if you don't come back," Junko said to him. "I understand rescuing Yugi is important, but if you falter here, we'll all be in big trouble."
"I appreciate the concern, but failure is not an option, Junko," Yami said and then began scaling down the cliff.
Once Yami was out of earshot, Ironheart said to Junko. "I've been meaning to ask you, young lady. Who or what exactly are you?"
"Pardon?" Junko responded.
"You wield the power of the Orichalcos, yet you seemingly resist its influence. You carry the fabled spellbook, yet its words are not readable to you as though you had some connection to the ancient past. You are…truly an enigma."
"And what's wrong with being an enigma?" Junko asked. "Once you figure something out or have the answer to something, it ruins the mystery. I find the unknown to be exciting and fun." She looked at Yami walking towards the sacred circle. "And this moment right here is going to be quite a show."
Skye whined and shuffled next to Chris.
Dark storm clouds circled in overhead as a fierce wind blew across the valley. Junko watched the Pharaoh march into the eye of the storm, unimpeded as he marched towards his goal.
However, when he reached the perimeter of the Sacred Circle a bunch of spiritual orbs began to float around. And then, one by one, they took shape. Each of them taking the form of one of Yami's many victims from the various shadow games he'd played in his career. The parts of his enemies that he had banished forever. From Ushio, to Panik, to the various Rare Hunters under Marik's employ. Even if he had not been their undoing, he had still been their final opponent. And then, things took a turn for the strange.
"Keheehee…Kya! Heeheeheehee HAHA!"
"Who's there? Show yourself!" Yami demanded.
One of the spirits manifested in the same transparent, blue form as all of the others. It was a teenage, bespectacled girl with a long dress, braided pigtails and glasses. Most strikingly was her inhumanly long tongue.
"Well, well, well if it isn't Yogi Bear," she chuckled, twirling a pair of scissors.
Yami gasped. "Genocider Jill."
"Ding! Ding! Ding! That's right! Been a while, eh? Yes! It is I! Everyone's favorite psycho serial killer is back!" She folded her arms. "Or rather, it's what I'd like to say, but I'm kind of just freestyling it these days. It's not so bad being a wandering lost spirit. Even the Shadow Realm gets kind of boring."
Yami glared. "I'm not in the mood for your games, stand aside."
Jill floated around Yami's right and then floated behind him. "Awww, what's the matter? Is Yogi Bear all grumpy cause he lost a widdle itty bitty duel?" She held a pair of scissors by his neck. "I'd say that's par for the course for trapping me in here." She said snipping her scissors at the air.
"ENOUGH!" Yami thundered and walked forward, Jill disappearing into aether, with her laugh echoing through the valley.
As Yami neared the center of the Sacred Circle however, one more spirit appeared: Weevil Underwood.
"Well, well, well, I never really took you for a murderer, Pharaoh."
However, Yami ignored Weevil, walking straight past him, tuning him out, eyes closed. This was just a trick of the valley. He had to keep telling himself that as he reached the center, intent on finding Yugi.
And then, so did Yugi finally manifest, and not in the blue, phantasmal way like Jill and Weevil. He was fully colored and spoke gently, his manifestation hitting the Pharaoh like a serrated machete to the heart.
"I found you," Yami uttered, walking forward, only to pass right through Yugi. It seemed that fate would continue to be cruel.
"Is that really Yugi?" Junko questioned.
Ironheart looked at Junko.
"I wonder…if that is truly the spirit of Yugi Mutoh, or just a manifestation of him, caused by the ancient magic surrounding this place."
"That's…difficult to answer," Chris stated.
Junko covered her mouth with her palm in intrigue, already formulating the possibilities of what Chris' vague answer meant. "I see…" This is about to get interesting.
Yami began pouring himself out to Yugi, apologizing profusely and believing that he was regressing back into old habits. "I'm becoming evil, Yugi," was the hardest sentence of them all for Yami to utter.
Junko was so far away that she couldn't make out what Yami or Yugi were saying to each other, which is why she was surprised when a duel disk suddenly manifested on Yugi's arm. However, she could still see clearly and she could read the tension in the air.
So that's what Ironheart meant by coming back with your own soul is difficult. Let's see what happens, Junko thought, carefully observing the situation.
The first two turns were nothing Junko hadn't seen before, as she was unaware that both players started with the same hands. She was also barely fazed when Yugi played the Seal of Orichalcos. It tied into what Ironheart said about how coming back with your own soul would be difficult.
"You're awfully quiet, Junko," Chris said. "Aren't you worried about your friend?"
"No. I have full confidence in him to win and face this trial head on. That's just the kind of forthright, stubborn person the Pharaoh is," Junko said with a smug smile.
Ironheart gazed at Junko. He really couldn't comprehend her. Was she good? Was she evil? Her actions and behavior seemed contradictory and her heart was a blind maelstrom of utter confusion. He couldn't get a read on her at all.
Junko carefully watched as Yugi assembled a field of Catapult Turtle, Dark Magician Girl and Queen's Knight.
I see, using his own strategy against him. I'll have to ask the Pharaoh for clarification if he thought he was dueling the actual Yugi. Being so far away makes it difficult to analyze the situation. Either way, it makes for a good test. The only way the Pharaoh will learn to overcome his failure is to face his actions and who better to show him the consequences of his strategy than the person he lost in the process. Whether this valley has recreated Yugi's soul or dragged him out of the Leviathan's clutches, no matter how temporary, it is truly a magic with little to compare.
Yami managed to win in the end and, however temporary, Yugi was a solid object, the Pharaoh cradling him in his arms before he faded once more.
So it was the real deal, Junko knew that Yami wouldn't be distraught if it had been a fake. Did…did he pull all of that as part of his own careful strategy? Junko wondered. A wide, toothy grin crossed her face. Interesting. You're more capable of deception and cunning than I gave you credit for, my little Yugi. I'll have to take that into consideration.
"I'll save you!" Yami shouted so loud that Junko could hear it. She could see him hunched over, crying. Yes. Definitely the real deal. "Mark my words! I won't rest until I get you back!" Yami dropped to his knees and pounded his fists into the dirt.
"Brilliant plan, Ironheart," Junko said. "Seeing Yugi seems to have only worsened the situation." Which is good for me, but not at the moment. If the Pharaoh breaks, I can't stop Dartz…and then I won't be able to get my chance to plunge the world into despair.
Then, unbeknownst to Junko and Yami, Rafael had happened on the scene. At Dartz's behest, he was advised not to go into the ruins, but instead to throw his Orichalcos stone into the ruins. Dartz's performed an ancient chant that brought to life a massively terrifying beast. It rose up from the ground, accompanied by flashes of lightning roaring, surprising both Junko and Yami simultaneously.
The soldier had a massive blade on its left arm that resembled a duel disk. And then, the Seal of Orichalcos formed around the Pharaoh and the monster.
"Dartz's foot soldier," Junko commented. "Oh dear."
"Just how much do you know about Dartz?" Ironheart asked.
"I believe I should be asking you that," Junko said with a wry smile, indicating she knew more, but chose not to speak of it. Ironheart then went silent.
Junko watched the duel unfold between Yugi and this strange creature as it summoned a monster she had never seen before. The duel was also lawless with no turns. It was real-time strategy.
A duel with no turns where you have to think of your feet, acting quick enough to fight back while still having life points. Now that sounds like a neat concept. I wonder if Pegasus would take to it as a new dueling format, Junko thought.
"There is but one thing that can save him," Ironheart said, snapping Junko from her daydream.
"Huh? Oh, right. The Eye of Timaeus. I take it you plan to hand deliver it to him personally?" Junko asked. "What about all that stuff about this being a hallowed ground and only one soul can enter at a time.
"That became irrelevant the moment this ground was corrupted by the Orichalcos' soldiers."
So the seal itself, fine. The soldiers themselves, bad. What terribly inconsistent an inconvenient magic, Junko thought.
Ironheart then began scaling down the mountain with the skills of an Olympic athlete.
Ironheart…so you truly are…
"Let's go, Skye!" Chris exclaimed, mounting the dog as they raced down after Ironheart. Junko watched and observed. Just a boring little venture of Yami getting his card back. Ironheart would just hand it over and then—
BOOM!
Junko was jarred from her thoughts by the sound of thunder and the flash of lightning, which struck Ironheart directly across his whole body.
Junko gasped. Dartz!
That lightning strike was too precise, not to mention Junko had read up on a similar spell in the spellbook she carried. But for Dartz to know that spell and wield it… She came to a realization. I see, you're him, aren't you, Dartz? You're the surviving King of Atlantis. Now isn't that a twist.
Chris picked up Timaeus from Ironheart's fading body—as it dispersed into bubbles—as she and her Silver Fang raced towards Yami to hand him Timaeus.
Okay so the chances of failure had risen, but really, there's absolutely no cause for—
BOOM!
Chris and Skye were struck down by a lightning bolt as well.
Junko watched as the Eye of Timaeus floated gently onto the ground, laying face-up, Chris and Skye vanishing into bubbles.
"NOOOOOOOO!" Yami shouted.
This is it. My plan is up in smoke. Ironheart and Chris are gone and the only card that can save the Pharaoh is laying face-up in the dirt. And…why is the bottom of the cliff suddenly getting closer.
Before Junko had realized it, she was hoping down the cliff as Ironheart and Chris had done before her, her kinesthetics and analysis remembering the steps that had been taken to jump down the mountain and carefully calculating how she precisely she needed to land to maintain her footing.
"Junko!" Yami called out to her as she sprinted towards him at full speed.
I don't understand. I'm running to help him and I can't stop myself. This doesn't make any sense…why am I the one fostering hope right now?
However, at the thought of fostering hope, Junko felt despair and, on top of that, knew that the hope she was creating now, would create such great despair down the line. No one would see it coming, least of all the Pharaoh. And the feeling inside her heart was ever so…delicious!
Junko ran across the valley rather quickly in spite of her heels. She scooped up Timaeus in her hand, racing towards the Pharaoh. "Don't worry, Pharaoh. I'm coming!" Junko exclaimed.
As Dartz watched all of this unfold, he thought about electrocuting Junko, but then decided against it. He was intrigued by her. The Orichalcos had gifted her its power and yet here she was actively fighting against it. He could not comprehend this. He needed to leave Junko alive. He needed to carefully observe her.
What is this woman's game? Rafael thought, watching Junko get closer and closer to the Pharaoh, heart pounding in her chest from the exercise.
"Pharaoh, don't worry! I'm here to help!"
"Junko! Stay back! It's dangerous!"
"I don't care!" Junko shouted. "You mean too much to me for me to let it all end here!" As she exclaimed this, the stone of Orichalcos in her hairpin glowed for a brief second.
She reached the Pharaoh's location, putting one hand on the outside of the barrier of the Orichalcos.
"Pharaoh, you have to use Timaeus. It's the only way," She said putting Timaeus on the barrier as well, causing it to ripple.
"But I…"
"I get it! You send Yugi to his demise, but that's not what you should be focusing on!" Junko exclaimed. "If you let your despair consume you now, we're all going to pay the price for it, including me! Including Téa, Joey, your grandfather, and everyone else you care about! Grieve later, take action now!" Junko forced a tear to roll down her cheek to compliment her speech. "Please, Pharaoh." Her hand slipped through the barrier, getting caught at the wrist, "Take it. I'm sure Timaeus will forgive you."
Yami clutched the card and then clutched Junko's hand, their fingers intertwining, her nails caressing the back of his hand. She pulled her hand back through the Orichalcos once Timaeus had been taken. "You know what you have to do. Everyone believes in you. You just have to believe in yourself."
"Yes…you're right." Yami said and turned around to face the Orichalcos soldier and its minion. With a heavy heart, he silently begged Timaeus for forgiveness so that he could save the world. It was apparently enough as, when he attempted to fuse Timaeus together with Dark Magician Girl, it worked. Then, by enhancing her with the spell card Excalibur, the dragon and knight duo were able to vanquish not just Orichalcos Gigas, but the Orichalcos Soldier as well.
With the dust settled, Timaeus and Dark Magician Girl looked at the Pharaoh and he back at them. "Well done, my creatures," he said to them. "He's gone now thanks to you two, but I feel that this is just the beginning." They nodded and then both of them vanished.
As the sky cleared up, Junko suddenly hugged Yami. "You did it!" she exclaimed.
He smiled at her. "Yes, and I couldn't have done it without your help. Thank you, Junko," Yami said. "But…Ironheart and Chris—"
"Were already dead," Junko told him. "I know. They were warriors from the great war."
"How do you…?"
"Analysis. You?"
"Er…visions."
"As if I needed more proof that the millennium items are a creation of ancient Atlantean magic warped by the ancient Egyptians."
"Well, now what?" Yami asked.
Junko whipped out her spellbook. "Why don't you take five? I'm going to whip us up some transportation."
"I still believe we should go looking for Weevil, at least to find his body," Yami said.
Junko groaned. "Look. Time is of the essence. We could waste hours and hours looking for someone who's likely dead after a thirty foot tumble down a cliff or we can press onward towards the matter at hand. Which makes more sense to you? Spoiler alert, it's not the one that gives Dartz ample time to summon the Leviathan."
"But..." Yami protested.
"You don't have to be happy about it. No one's asking you to be. If he had fallen with us, I would've at least protected his soulless body," she lied.
Yami looked sullenly at the ground. Junko pecked him on the cheek, surprising him and causing him to blush brightly.
Junko smiled. "Come on, much as I love that adorably frustrated, "Gods have pity on me" expression on your face, we have a date with destiny."
"Y-yeah," Yami stuttered.
"So don't you worry about a thing," Junko said, flipping through the pages of her spellbook. "I have it all under control."
"You should be careful with that spellbook, Junko," Yami warned her. "Its magical powers may be beyond your comprehension. I don't want you to turn out like I did."
Too late for that, Junko thought. "Oh don't be such a worrywart. I'll be fine, I promise." She smiled. "Are you worried about me though, Pharaoh? That's so sweet of you."
Yami cleared his throat, trying not to deepen his blush. He spoke with his arms at his sides, eyes closed. "Despite your...dismissive behavior towards Weevil, and the things you've said about yourself. You have done your best to aid me and my friends. I feel as though I can count you among them. That's all."
Junko grinned. "Sure, there's not more to it than that?" she asked mischievously.
"What do you mean?" Yami asked her.
Junko chuckled. "Oh. Nothing. Nothing. Now sit tight. I'll get us some new transportation in record time." She then began casting a spell, speaking ancient Atlantean tongue. Yami watched her and was drawn in by Junko's composure and how well she seemed to masterfully speak the language and control the magic. He noticed however that the magic was being funneled through the stone of Orichalcos Junko had glued to her hairpin.
So that's how she's controlling the magic. She's channeling it through the power of the Orichalcos.
Suddenly a flash of light shined behind him and caused Yami to look back. A fluffy, purple four-winged, blue feathered creature known only as the monster Sky Dragon appeared as though summoned.
He was so distracted by the creature's sudden appearance that he barely noticed Junko slamming her book shut and mounting the creature. "Well, come on. Let's go."
"Go? On that?"
"Oh come on, he's completely under my control. We'll get from here to Florida in no time at all."
"What about the others?"
"By now, they're all together, Jeep and all. Though, if my calculations are correct, and they usually are, they'll probably run into Kaiba and get a lift from him. He'll probably ditch them first chance he gets and we'll all likely end up at our destination in about 4 to 5 hours."
"Kaiba?" Yami asked, approaching Sky Dragon. "What makes you think they'll run into him?"
Rather than launch into a complicated explanation as to how she deduced her reasoning, Junko simply reached down to Yami to give him a hand to get up onto the dragon's back. She then smiled and answered him with a single sentence that was good enough for his curiosity, "Because destiny says so."
After a long series of two train rides the day before, the Yukizome, and the minors in her company, had arrived in Charlotte, North Carolina at 2:30am earlier that morning. They were able to get individual hotel rooms—right out of Hope's Peak's field trip budget for the ultimates—and were ready to get back on the road to get to Gainesville, Florida. However, there was a problem.
"What do you mean the buses have been shut down?" Yukizome angrily asked a woman working at the transit center.
"Ma'am, please calm down. I'm only repeating what I was told. We are short on staff with the worldwide crisis currently going on. If you'd like, I can recommend a taxi service."
Yukizome groaned, slapping her eyes with her palms, head tilting back. "I have too many people with me for a taxi and Uber shut down its services for safety too."
"I'm sorry, ma'am. If you'd like I can refund your trip here from yesterday as compensation."
Yukizome sighed. "Sure, let me fill out a form."
The others had heard all of it. "Sounds like we're out of luck for the moment," Hajime stated, starting the conversation.
"Purchasing or even renting a car is probably outside the school's budget, especially since if we were renting it, we'd have to return it in perfect condition. And there's no guarantee we could do that under the circumstances," Kyoko stated.
"Hey, Sonia, you're loaded, right? Can't you buy a car for us or something?" Akane asked.
"Ah, that's a little…"
"Hey! Don't go volunteering Miss Sonia's money like that!" Kazuichi exclaimed.
Sonia's jaw went slack a little. For once, Kazuichi had jumped to her defense in a way that wasn't completely grossing her out, and yet the words "Thank you, Kazuichi," were trapped in her throat.
"I-If we could build our own car, m-maybe we could get to Florida," Mikan suggested.
"That's an ordeal and a half in and of itself," Kyoko stated. "Besides, where would we even get the parts?"
An invisible exclamation mark shot above Kazuichi's head. He whipped out his phone and began typing into it.
"I could contact Kaiba Corp and have them fly a helicopter out to us," Chihiro suggested.
"That doesn't sound safe. Airports are shut down for a reason, aren't they?" Ryota asked.
"Well we can't walk there. That'll take days. And it'll be another day before Munakata could ever get down to us," Hajime pointed out.
"Miss Yukizome can drive a bus, can't she?" Akane inquired.
"We are not stealing a bus," Ryota told her.
"I've got it!" Kazuichi then shouted. The group turned to look at him. "Leave it all to me!"
"Leave what to you?" Hajime asked.
"Making a car, duh," Kazuichi said. "There's an auto salvage yard about an hour's walk from here. It's a bit of a journey, but it's faster and probably cheaper than buying one from a used car lot."
"We'll need not just any car. We'll need a van," Sonia pointed out. "There are ten of us after all."
"Like I said, leave it to me. I don't care if I've got a frame to work with or if I've gotta build a beat-up Oldsmobile with two extra rows of back seats tacked onto it with nothing but scrap parts. If it can get us to Florida, even one way, so we can fix this mess, good enough for me!"
Sonia actually smiled. "Kazuichi…thank you. Do not let money stop you. I'll charge it all. I have a Platinum card after all."
Kazuichi's eyes lit up. "Miss Sonia!"
"I'm no Ultimate Mechanic, but I'll gladly give you a hand," Hajime said. "I'm sturdy enough to at least hold things in place."
"Ah, and I'll help if you need features programmed," Chihiro said.
"What's this about features?" Yukizome asked, walking towards the group.
"Kazuichi is going to build a car for us so we can get to Florida. There's a salvage lot about an hour's walk from here," Kyoko told her.
"Excellent thinking!" Yukizome exclaimed. "Well, lead the way, Kazuichi! We're counting on you!"
Kazuichi saluted. "Yes ma'am!"
To the luck of the nine teenagers, and Yukizome, the used lot happened to be open for business. Kazuichi shopped around with Hajime for company as the two began drafting blueprints and browsing for parts while the rest of the group took a breather. The manager running the salvage lot was nice enough to let the group sit on the cars and eat the burgers and sushi Teruteru had prepared using a battery powered griddle he brought, provided they share with him.
Well, at least we won't go hungry, Yukizome thought, biting into a burger. "How's the car coming, boys?" she asked Kazuichi and Hajime.
"Still figuring out a few necessary parts," Hajime said, walking up to load up on more sushi. "Kazuichi's checking the back. Told me to get some food."
"He tell you anything about how long it'll take to make the car?" Akane asked.
"Two hours, which is at least significantly faster than if we had been going to Florida on foot or waiting for a bus. We should make the rest of the trip by nightfall depending on who's driving," Hajime said.
"That would be me," Yukizome stated. "Just make sure it's not a stick shift." She stuck her nose in the air. "I hate stick."
Beads of sweat formed on Hajime's forehead and right temple. He smiled nervously. "It's not a stick."
"The fastest we could drive, if we ignore the speed limit, would still bring us close to our destination by eight o' clock," Kyoko pointed out.
"Oh my, a late night romp?" Teruteru chuckled. "How scandalous."
"Go back to cooking and shut your yap," Yukizome stated. "I have chop sticks and you don't want to learn what I can do with them."
This, unfortunately, only made Teruteru blush and smile giddily.
"Say, Mikan, can you keep your vision if you get a chop stick wedged in your eyeball?"
That however, at least got Teruteru to go back to cooking both silently and nervously.
"That's what I thought," Yukizome said, popping a piece of sushi into her mouth.
"But I didn't say anything," Mikan whined, not realizing it had been a rhetorical question.
It was Akane who eventually brought the cheery mood to a close. While she was in the middle of stuffing her face with a burger, she suddenly stood up straight, eyes narrowing, legs tensing up.
"What's wrong?" Hajime asked, taking notice.
"I smell wet animal fur," Akane said.
"Wet animal…" Hajime said, only to trail off. He was trying to puzzle out why that was a problem, only to realize what Akane was likely getting at. "Gundham!"
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! It would appear I have been sniffed out by the astral powers of The Vigorous One! But just the same!" From out from behind a junked car, Gundham took a mighty leap and landed in front of the group, posing as if primed for battle. "For I, GUNDHAM TANAKA, have arrived to play the role of the Reaper of Souls and drag you all off to the belly of the beast mercilessly!"
"Gundham, please!"
Gundham clammed up when Sonia approached him closer than any other member of the group. He stared at her with a serious, but glowering expression on his face.
Sonia started crying, fists clenched at her chest, eyes shut tight. "Please, Gundham! Stop this! You're our friend!"
"Friend? He stole Nekomaru's soul!" Akane exclaimed. "Let me at him!" She cracked her knuckles.
However, Yukizome put a hand on Akane's shoulder and pulled her back a little, shaking her head. She wanted to see how this would play out a little bit more.
"Coach Nekomaru was but a piecemeal attack for the great bounty laid before me," Gundham chuckled. "And you will make a nice second course, Dark Queen, provided you even have the strength to face me. Or do your knees tremble and your eyes feel so heavy that your blade as dull as stone?"
"Gundham," Sonia's lips trembled. "I will gladly let you steal my soul and carry it away to the farthest corners of the Earth, but not like this. Not like this!" Sonia shouted in anguish.
Gundham chuckled. "Keheheheh. This is my true form, Dark Queen. Does it frighten you? Are you unable to fathom my dark powers now that you've seen them with your own eyes?"
Sonia took a step forward, crunching a few pebbles in the dirt underfoot. Sniffing, eyes open, she clutched a hand over her heart. "I'm not afraid," she said, doing her best not to let more tears fall.
Gundham turned his head to one side. "Pah, your words are but wind. You and I were shaken greatly by the powers of the Fell Dragon. The images we saw, the cruelties we suffered…lesser beings would've been driven into permanent madness." Gundham held his hands up in a kung-fu like pose in front of Sonia. "The fact that you still stand shows the unyielding strength of your spirit, but it has been destroyed by the darkness swimming in your heart. I embraced the power of darkness and made it my own." Gundham laughed. "I have never known such comforting power." He clutched at his scarf. "Tell me, Dark Queen! Will you join me as a wielder of darkness? There are only two paths that lay before you! You can either stand up to the might of I, GUNDHAM TANAKA, or you can join me and we shall crush the Guiding Light together. Choose your path, now!"
Yukizome thought she was going to have to get involved. She watched Sonia stand there, trembling…but then the trembling stopped.
"Gundham, forgive me. I'm sorry it's come to this," Sonia said as she reached behind her back for her duel disk. "But I cannot allow the world to be plunged into darkness like this!"
Gundham smiled. "Then you know what you have to do. It is the will of causality that I shall engulf this world. If you claim you are capable of changing fate, prove it."
Sonia held her duel disk in her hands. It felt heavy. She looked at Gundham, his Atlantean duel disk strapped around his arm. She swallowed, the pain and suffering of being blasted down upon by Ra still shook her. However, now was not the time to be scared. Now was not the time to be consumed by such thoughts. Now…more than ever…she needed to stand up.
Everyone watched as Sonia strapped on her duel disk and then she held up her arm and the disk clicked into place, activating.
"You…will lose your soul, Gundham," Sonia said with a stern, yet concerned expression.
Gundham laughed. "My beloved Dark Queen, if my conquest were to end at your hands…I wouldn't have it any other way."
The two stared each other down.
"Let's duel." Sonia said calmly.
"Let's duel!" Gundham exclaimed.
"I shall begin this forbidden ritual with this!" Gundham shouted. "The Seal of Orichalcos!" He opened the field spell slot of his duel disk and caused the seal to drop down onto the battlefield.
"Miss Yukizome, do something!" Akane shouted.
Yukizome took a deep breath, nodding and then put her hands on her cheeks before crying out happily, "You can do it, Sonia! We all believe in you!"
"Huh?" Akane was completely confused.
Yukizome dropped her voice down so only Akane could hear her. "This is something Sonia has to confront, Akane. If she doesn't stand up on her own two legs, she'll never be able to go back to her old self."
"But…" Akane said, worried.
"Don't worry. Sonia may not have one of the legendary dragons, but she's still one of the best duelists in our class. And if Gundham does take her soul." Yukizome's pitch dropped down to a chilling contralto. "I'll take his as punishment."
Akane gulped and then gingerly stuffed her face with a burger, chewing slowly.
"And next I shall play this: Armored Elephant!" Gundham declared, playing a yet unseen monster. It was a green elephant with bronze colored armor all over its body. It had 1500 attack points and 1500 defense points. "And thanks to the forbidden power of the Seal of Orichalcos, it gains 500 attack points!"
Armored Elephant gained 500 attack points, bringing its total to 2,000.
"Next, I shall place one card face-down onto the field," Gundham stated, chuckling. "Your hour is at hand, Dark Queen. Do not disappoint me."
Sonia gulped and drew the top card of her deck to her hand. She suddenly felt short of breath, hand trembling, vision waning. This had nothing to do with the shadow game's effects. This all had to do with her own fears and doubts. It had been a long time since Sonia had put on a duel disk, much less dueled.
Am I in over my head? Am I still not ready for this? She stared down Gundham's elephant, the red glow in its eyes briefly sending a chill up her spine and causing her to sink to her knees.
"Oh no," Yukizome said, trotting up to the seal. She wasn't ready for this. "Gundham," she said, banging on the seal. "Please! Sonia's still not ready to duel yet. Please, if you have any way to stop this, please! She can't duel!"
Can't duel. Those words reverberated in Sonia's head. "You can't do this, Sonia." "A princess doesn't do that." These were words and phrases she had heard countless times from her family, but Sonia had proved them wrong. She had grown and shaped into a fine young lady that they were all proud of. Even before the acceptance to Hope's Peak, as the Crown Princess of Novoselic, her father had told her "Novoselic is in good hands when the throne passes to you."
And yet, here she was, crouched on the ground and in a cold sweat like some peasant. Everything seemed to go black. All Sonia could hear was the sound of her breathing and her own beating heart.
"What's the matter?"
"Huh?" Sonia's verbal confusion was more of an intelligible half-gasped whimper, but the intent was clear as day. She picked up her head and saw a 5-year-old girl standing in front of the pitch blackness. She had long blonde hair and was wearing a pretty pink dress with an adorable pink bow in her hair.
"Who…?"
"I'm you, silly," the girl responded.
Sonia's tear glossed eyes widened as she stared at the little girl. Indeed, this was how she looked when she was but a child. She was innocent, carefree, and she still had her big brother.
The little girl approached her. "You love duel monsters, don't you?"
"I…"
"Remember how big bro used to play with us?"
"But Rafael has…!" Sonia started to exclaim, but trailed off.
Her younger self hugged her, nuzzling her head into Sonia's shoulder, smiling. Sonia gasped, tears running down her cheek.
"It's okay to feel scared sometimes," her younger self said. "But, we can't stay scared forever. Think of all the things we did in search of Rafael. There were scary moments, but there were also fun moments too."
"But…the shadow realm…"
It was unlike anything Sonia had ever experienced. Although she had learned to withstand minor forms of torture, the Shadow Realm went beyond torture. She had been trapped inside it for almost 24 hours. She had seen horrific images that even now made her want to puke. She had been helpless, as if a floating consciousness with no semblance of her five senses. It had been utter hell, and it had all started from getting attacked by Ra.
The panic attack passed as Sonia's vision cleared, her surroundings coming back into view.
"Is the ordeal too great for you? Are you planning on giving up so soon? The ritual has only begun!" Gundham exclaimed.
Sonia stayed on the ground, looking at Gundham, eyes shaking with fear, tears still staining the bottom of her eyes.
"I thought you were going to punish me with the full force of the Nevermind Royal Family," Gundham stated. "Or does your reach exceed your grasp?"
"I…"
"My feet are planted firmly upon this soil. No matter how long this affair may last, I will wait." Gundham grinned. "Stand, Dark Queen. Face the force of evil lay before you and smite it with your holy light and sacrilegious darkness! I am not afraid!"
Gundham knows what could happen to him and yet…he's still willing to duel. Sonia swallowed. I must be brave. Sonia stood on her feet. She wobbled, but she was managing her mental state for now. "I've drawn, so it's still my move!" She exclaimed. Despite her trauma, Sonia still remembered her deck in and out. Her combos were second nature to her. "I activate the special ability of Darklord Ixchel! By discarding her and one Darklord card from my hand, I can draw two more cards!" Sonia sent Ixchel and Zerato to her graveyard, pulling two fresh cards to her hand. "Next, I activate Monster Reborn, allowing me to summon Ixchel from my graveyard back to my side of the field!"
The beautiful, but deadly Darklord Ixchel with her purple hair and four wings floated in front of Sonia, with her massive 2,500 attack points and 3,000 defense points. A corrupted halo floated above her head.
"Next, I summon to the field my Queen's Knight!" Sonia declared as the red clad warrioress stood upon the battlefield with 1,600 attack points. "And now, Ixchel, attack! Dark energy barrage!"
Ixchel gathered energy above her head and in between her hands and blasted Armored Elephant as the gathered energy turned into an onslaught of smaller energy beams. However, despite the overwhelming assault, Armored Elephant did not disappear. Instead, only its armor vanished and Gundham took 500 points of damage, bringing his life point total to 3,500.
Gundham laughed. "Fortunately for me, Armored Elephant remains in play even after it has been attacked at the cost of only 500 defense points." Gundham said as his monster now only had 1,000 defense points. "Of course, this ability is only good once while Armored Elephant remains on the field, but seeing as how Queen's Knight lacks the astral power to defeat it, my life points are safe."
Sonia gulped. This was not good. She looked at the four cards in her hand. "I shall set one card face-down," Sonia stated. "And I shall end my turn."
Gundham chortled. "I hope your trauma is not holding back your power for if it is, you shall rue the day you underestimated GUNDHAM TANAKA!" Gundham declared, drawing from the top of his deck. "As Armored Elephant has served his purpose, I offer him up as a sacrifice to summon this, my Beast of Talwar!"
Gundham's elephant vanished and, in its place, there appeared a beefy, green demon with blue wings, twin sabers and 2,400 attack points.
"And thanks to the Seal of Orichalcos, he is even more powerful!" Gundham declared. Beast of Talwar's eyes glowed fiercely as the Seal of Orichalcos emblem placed itself upon its forehead. Its attack power then became 2,900, making it the most powerful monster on the field.
"Go, my monster!" Gundham shouted, "Destroy Queen's Knight!"
"Ah!" Yukizome, Akane, and Hajime were all surprised. Most duelists in this scenario would target Ixchel given how much of a threat it was. Gundham must've either been extremely confident in his field presence, or he just wanted to inflict some serious pain to poor Sonia. And, given the circumstances, either or both could be true.
With a massive slash from his blade, Talwar annihilated Queen's Knight, splitting open her armor plating and smacking her into the dirt. The force of the blow threw Sonia against the wall of the seal, sinking her life points to 2,700.
"Tell me Dark Queen, can you fathom the weight of my power now?" Gundham asked. "I'm barely using twenty percent of what the Orichalcos can grant me!"
"Sonia, are you okay?" Yukizome asked her as Sonia's shoulder remained firm against the wall of the seal. Her body was shaking and she was cowering. She glared and shouted, "Gundham, what the hell are you thinking? You know she's suffering!"
"This is a battlefield!" Gundham retorted. "The weak shall be weeded out and only the strong shall prevail! The Dark Queen stepped onto this battlefield and she shall lie in the bed she has made, though it is made of dirt!"
"What the hell is going on here?" Kazuichi came running over to the area. He didn't need a high IQ to put the pieces together from more than a glance. "Gundham, what the hell gives? How could you! And to Sonia!"
Gundham gave Kazuichi no reply.
"Hey! Answer me when I'm talking to you!" Kazuichi exclaimed indignantly. "Miss Sonia has been worried about you, and you're repaying her worry by trying to take her soul! What the hell is the matter with you?"
"There are things in this world that even you cannot comprehend, Kazuichi Soda. The power of darkness shows no mercy and it certainly does not have any compassion for those caught in its shadow."
"Enough with the cryptic nonsense! Look at Sonia! She's terrified! How could you do this to her?!"
Gundham gave no reply once more.
"Hey! Say something!"
"That's enough, Kazuichi," Sonia said calmly.
"Huh?" Kazuichi looked at Sonia, loosening the tension in his fists.
"Gundham," Sonia said. "They're right. I'm very terrified. The scars of the Shadow Realm still haunt me, but…" Sonia stood, still trembling. "I refuse to let that stop me now!" Sonia went for the top card of her deck. "I draw!" Sonia declared, drawing the top card of her deck. She looked at her hand and then at the field. There was no reason to hesitate. She had precisely the power needed to shut Gundham down. "I activate Cestus of Dagla!" This magic card will boost Ixchel's attack power by 500 points.
Ixchel obtained the Cestus on her right fist as her attack power rose. It was now 3,000, making her the strongest monster on the field.
"And now, Ixchel! Attack!" Sonia shouted. "Destroy Beast of Talwar!"
"Keheheh! HAHAHAHA!" Gundham laughed. "A valiant effort Dark Queen, but ultimately fruitless! Reveal face-down card: My Bark of Dark Ruler! All I have to do is lower my life points by increments of 100 and it will be your monster destroyed by battle this turn!"
"Sorry, Gundham, but I would not have attacked if I did not have a plan. I activate my face-down card: Trap Jammer!"
Gundham's jaw went slack. He certainly hadn't expected that.
"This trap card nullifies your trap card and allows my attack to continue!" Sonia declared. Gundham's trap suddenly sparked and then exploded, allowing Ixchel to continue her attack as she punched Talwar right in the chest and sent it tumbling to the ground, where upon it exploded. Gundham's life points then ticked down to 3,400 and Sonia gained 100 life points. This gave her 2,800 life points and left Sonia with a monster strong enough to contend with Blue-Eyes White Dragon on the field.
"All right, Miss Sonia! Eat it, Gundham!" Kazuichi declared.
However, Gundham had already regained his composure. "Do you feel it, Dark Queen? The rush of adrenaline? The sheer power coursing through your veins? To embark on a summoner's journey and command the very fabric of reality!" Gundham declared. "Such power is precisely at your fingertips!"
"I…" Sonia took a moment to realize that, for the moment, her panicked breathing had ceased. Her vision was clear and she felt…stronger than ever. But…why?
Gundham chuckled. "Your trial to confront your nightmares is almost but at an end. How quaint. But I will not go quietly into the void! It is my move!" Gundham roared. He drew the top card of his deck, giving him five cards in his hand. "And now, behold the key to your ultimate suffering. I activate Polymerization!" Gundham shouted. "And with it, from my hand, I fuse Mystical Sheep Number with my faithful Summoned Skull in order to create a monster of absolute terror! Behold! Black Skull Dragon!"
Sonia's eyes shrunk in as Black Skull Dragon roared upon the battlefield, taking up almost the entire space on Gundham's side of the seal locking the two duelists in combat. With its large black body, demonic horns, and dozens of sharp teeth, Black Skull Dragon was truly a nightmare to behold. With 3,200 attack points and 2,500 defense points, it completely eclipsed the power of Sonia's Ixchel.
"And now, with the power of the Orichalcos, I increase my beast's power by 500 points."
With a mightier roar, shadows leaking from its mouth, Black Skull Dragon's attack power increased to 3,700, making it one of the most terrifying monsters that Sonia had ever laid eyes upon.
Her heart beat fast, memories of the Shadow Realm came flooding back in an instant. Sonia suddenly dropped to her knees and let out an ear-piercing scream of fear and anguish. Those red eyes gazing into her soul, that black form reminiscent of shadows themselves, it was all too much for her soul to bear.
Gundham laughed. "Yes! Feel the weight of your despair as you tremble before my dragon!" He exclaimed.
"Dude, she's freaking traumatized!" Kazuichi shouted.
"Gundham, stop bullying her!" Hajime scolded. "You two shared such a strong bond in Battle City, and now you're just throwing it all away! For what? For untold power?"
Gundham laughed. "You're the last one that should be lecturing me about power, Singularity." He looked at Yukizome. "And what of you, Guiding Light, have you any harsh words for this bearer of the Forbidden Seal, for the far from humble Supreme Overlord of Ice?"
"No," Yukizome said unnervingly calmly. "Because words mean nothing now." She gave a glare that pierced into Gundham's soul. "Punishment will more that suffice."
Gundham had to take a moment to collect his composure, but Yukizome saw the fracture in his persona all the same. It was still his turn, and he wasn't going to show any remorse.
"Black Skull Dragon! Attack!" Gundham roared. "Molten Fireballs!"
With a barrage of meteor-like fireballs fired from its throat, Black Skull Dragon utterly annihilated Ixchel, bringing Sonia's life points down to 2,100. The flames and the destruction of her monster, only served to wound and traumatize Sonia further.
"There is nothing on the field to protect you and you stand before the king of demonic dragons himself!" Gundham declared. He seemed to take pleasure in Sonia's torment as he added, "On your knees, kneeling before this emperor of darkness. Such is the proper place for a fallen and overthrown Queen. If you beg for mercy, I shall grant you a swift and painless demise. Your soul will be torn from your body, but your dignity may survive!" Gundham laughed. "If it's too much for you to bear, Dark Queen, you may certainly give up, but I'll take more than just your soul, I'll take your deck, your duel disk and your pride! For one such as you have no need of such things, sitting there, groveling on the ground like a rabbit before the wolf!"
Sonia's panic attack was back in full swing. She couldn't do this. She could barely move, let alone draw the card to begin her turn. It was over. No more. She couldn't duel anymore.
"Yes you can."
Sonia's younger self gave her a hug from behind, surprising Sonia once more.
"You love dueling. Are you really going to throw it all away?"
"I…"
"Yes, Little Sonia, aren't you going to fight?"
The voice of Marik's dark half shattered Sonia's resolve as she saw his image in front of her, the rest of the world having faded to black. He laughed in her face. "Will you not stand up and face the darkness, or are you too scared to even speak?"
Sonia began hyperventilating.
The others could see this, even if Sonia had shut them out. Mikan was in shambles. "No! The duel has to stop! If this keeps up, Sonia's going to have a heart attack!"
The imaginary Marik walked towards Sonia, putting his fingers all over her face, tilting her head back and letting his long tongue hang out of his mouth. "Poor Little Sonia, so frightened and broken by the power of the shadows. I'd laugh if it weren't so pathetic."
Sonia began to whimper, almost crying.
"Do I frighten you, girl?" Marik asked.
"Yes," Sonia cried.
Marik laughed in her face as he held up the Millennium Rod. "Good."
Sonia shut her eyes, waiting for the inevitable to come.
Don't you dare give up, my liege.
Sonia squeaked as Marik was suddenly pushed back by a powerful, sharp and long sword. A trio of purple wings covered Sonia's body as she stared up at the back of a being with white hair, pale skin and no less than eight purple and white feathery wings. Atop the creature's head was a corrupted red halo.
"Do not let him scare you, Sonia," the creature spoke in a reassuring and deep voice. "The power of your heart is far too strong to be broken by darkness."
Sonia stuttered as she looked at the being that had saved her. "Da-Darklord Morningstar?"
With one of his wings, Morningstar caressed Sonia on the head. "It has been difficult to watch you suffer, my liege." He said, holding up his blade, aiming it at Marik. "The fear and doubt within your heart is a deep wound indeed, but though the shadows are deceitful and cruel, they are also lovely."
"I…do not understand," Sonia said.
"Remember? Darklord Morningstar was the first rare card we ever obtained," her younger self told her.
That's right, when I obtained Morningstar, I started to build my entire deck around him and sought after the rare Darklord cards. Memories of when she only had Ukoback and Marie as Darklord Monsters, in addition to Morningstar brought Sonia a sense of calm and tranquility.
"You were isolated in darkness. And in your isolation, in your helplessness, you forgot something when you returned to this world," Morningstar said and, with a slash of his sword, made the illusionary Marik vanish. The black world turned a more mystical purple as every Darklord monster in Sonia's deck appeared, surrounding her. "You are never alone. For we are your subjects. Our power is your power."
"Your friends are also able to support you when we cannot," Ixchel said to Sonia. "Even Gundham, even now."
"I do not understand," Sonia said, confused.
"You are still panicking," Morningstar said to her. "It's time for you to wake up. You must realize the truth. Wake up, Sonia."
"Wake up, Sonia," Ixchel said.
"SONIA, PLEASE WAKE UP!"
Mikan's heartbroken, panicked shout had Sonia's eyes shoot open. She was lying on the dirt, knees halfway tucked into a fetal position. She quickly came to her senses. It was now her turn. Gundham had just finished destroying Ixchel. She was still in the middle of a duel. And though she'd clearly just lost consciousness, she wasn't about to stop here.
Pushing off the ground, groaning like she'd just had a nap, Sonia pushed herself to her feet. Then, balling her right hand into her fist, she stared resolutely at Gundham and his Black Skull Dragon. She grunted in affirmation of her stalwart stance.
"Sonia," Mikan sobbed. "Are you okay? I thought you went into cardiac arrest."
"No, Mikan," Sonia said, glancing back with a warm smile at her friend. "Thank you for worrying about me. I'm going to be all right now."
"You sure about that? You've got a Black Skull Dragon staring you in the face and you've lost almost half your life points," Hajime said.
Sonia smiled, nodding to Hajime. "I'm fine."
"How are you feeling?" Yukizome asked her.
"I think I'm going to be all right," Sonia said. She looked at the three cards in her hand, which included Darklord Morningstar. He would not be played on the battlefield as per her current plan, but his presence alone was a comfort. What is it you were trying to tell me? She thought, staring at the card.
"Feeling more level-headed, are we?" Gundham asked. "Has the fear in your heart begun to subside?"
Sonia shook her head. "No. I am still afraid, but I won't let that deter me now! I must duel! I must!" Sonia shouted and drew the top card of her deck. "First, I shall activate this magic card, Soul Release! This will allow me to banish my entire graveyard from the game!" Sonia removed Trap Jammer, Ixchel, Zerato, Cestus of Dagla and Queen's Knight from her graveyard, putting Soul Release inside it.
Gundham stared puzzlingly at Sonia, wondering what her strategy was here.
"And next, I shall activate this spell card: Different Dimension Reincarnation!" Sonia shouted. "By discarding a card from my hand," She said, leaving her with only Darklord Morningstar in her hand. "I can target one of the monsters that have been removed from my graveyard and summon it to the field and I choose Darklord Zerato!"
From a rip in the dimensional boundaries, a fiendish swordsman with demonic, red wings and blue skin emerged onto the battlefield with 2,800 attack points and 2,300 defense points.
"And what exactly do you plan to do with that?" Gundham asked, intrigued.
"Cut you down of course," Sonia said with a slight scowl and no amount of mercy in her tone of voice.
Gundham gasped.
"I activate Darklord Zerato's special ability!" Sonia shouted. "By discarding Darklord Morningstar from my hand, I can destroy all monsters on your side of the field."
"What?! Impossible!" Gundham balked, panicked.
"Very possible," Sonia said sternly. "Go! Darklord Zerato! Destroy his Black Skull Dragon!"
Charging powerful darkness through his blade, Zerato made a wide slash across the battlefield, cleaving Black Skull Dragon in half, causing the monster to explode in destruction.
"My monster is gone…and yours has yet to attack," Gundham sweated.
"Indeed," Sonia said as her voice dropped to a very familiar, and rather unsettling contralto. "There is only room on this battlefield, and it is I," Sonia declared calmly, swinging her arm down, wrist bent, fingers together, tips pointed up at an angle. "Bow down."
Taking her implicit command, Zerato charged forward past Gundham and slashed him across the chest, causing Gundham to drop to his knees as Zerato flew up and back towards Sonia, flapping his wings forcefully to steady his hovering in front of her.
Gundham held his opposite shoulder with his unbandaged arm as his life points were diminished all the way down to 600 points.
"Impressive," Gundham grunted, down on one knee, one eye closed.
"All right! Way to go, Miss Sonia!" Kazuichi cheered.
"There's the Ultimate Princess back in action!" Hajime declared.
"I'm really proud of you Sonia," Yukizome said to her.
"It's not over yet," Sonia said with a calm, unflinching gaze. "The price to pay for using Darklord Zerato's ability is that he goes to the graveyard at the end of my turn." A blue light shimmered from the top down upon Darklord Zerato, removing him from the field.
"But that leaves you wide open!" Akane cried out in alarm.
"It is a risk I must take," Sonia said. "I have no other choice."
"Sonia…" Hajime was much less enthusiastic than before.
Gundham laughed. "Keheheh. I see. So, you took the only risk available to you to pull out ahead. Well done, Dark Queen. Well done." A wide grin was plastered all over Gundham's face. "Unfortunately, it will be all for naught." Gundham drew the top card of his deck and looked at it. "In Russia there is a saying: Scared of wolves, don't go in the forest. And in my case," Gundham slapped a monster onto the card reader. "I mean that quite literally! Go, Silver Fang!"
The well-known wolf-like monster appeared on Gundham's side of the field with 1,200 attack points and 800 defense points. Its howl echoed through the salvage lot.
"And with the power of the Orichalcos, he becomes even stronger!" Gundham's monster's eyes became red with the power of the Orichalcos as the emblem appeared on its forehead. More worrisome were its now 1,700 attack points.
"Go, my beast! Attack! Sonic Wail!"
With a loud howl, sound waves echoed from Silver Fang's throat and slammed into Sonia, knocking her towards the wall.
However, rather than let herself be deterred by the direct attack, Sonia firmly planted her shoe in the ground and whipped her head back at Gundham, glaring. Her life points then fell down to 400.
"Has Sonia really conquered her fear and trauma?" Kyoko wondered, completely confused.
"I'll examine her later, but she certainly seems back to her old self," Mikan stated.
Come on, Sonia, Yukizome thought.
"While I have two cards in my hand," Gundham said. "Neither of them are worthy to grace our humble game at this time. It is your move, Dark Queen. Do not disappoint me."
"I shall not," Sonia said. "I draw." She looked at the card she drew. It was not a monster, but she could still use it. "I activate Darklord Contact! This magic card allows me to bring back any Darklord monster in my graveyard into defense position. Unfortunately, since Morningstar can only be summoned from my hand by tributing two monsters, I must call back to the field my Darklord Zerato!"
Zerato crouched on one knee, using its wings to protect itself. It had 2,300 defense points, a solid defense in Sonia's opinion.
"Impressive, Dark Queen. Darklord Zerato is certainly powerful, far more powerful than most monsters I could play." Gundham drew the top card of his deck. "Unfortunately, the keyword there is most. I sacrifice my noble Silver Fang to play Behemoth The King of All Animals!"
A bulging, pink beast with a long, purple mane appeared on the battlefield. It had 2,700 attack points and 1,500 defense points.
Sonia gasped.
"Worry not, Dark Queen," Gundham said, chuckling. "Since I offered but a piecemeal sacrifice to this noble beast, his appetite is not sated, therefore he is not at full power. Observe."
Behemoth's attack power dropped to 2,000.
"However, that means little when I have the power of the Seal of Orichalcos!"
Behemoth's attack power jacked up to 2,500.
Sonia gasped again.
"And before you have any hopes of victory, I shall activate the might Horn of the Unicorn!" Gundham declared. "This will increase Behemoth's attack power to a nigh-unstoppable 3,200!"
Behemoth's attack power increased more as the Horn appeared on its ahead above the emblem of the Seal of Orichalcos. Lightning radiated through the horn and the monster roared fiendishly.
"And now, my beast, destroy Darklord Zerato!" Gundham shouted. "Use the power of Horn of the Unicorn and vanquish it from the field!"
With a terrifying roar, Behemoth unleashed lightning from its horn and utterly annihilated Darklord Zerato, leaving Sonia defenseless once more.
Gundham chuckled. "Are you well, Dark Queen? Do you realize now the differences in our power? Behold! See now the violent struggle I make in the face of adversity! I have faced the Fell Dragon and only grown stronger! The power of the Orichalcos runs through my blood and has left me the ultimate victor of this duel! You cannot escape destiny!"
Sonia became nervous, but she did not cower as she had before. But…what could she do, really? She had no more monsters in her deck that could stand up to Gundham's Behemoth. She had nothing on the field and nothing in her hand and too few life points to summon from her graveyard or outside the duel, not that that would help her now.
Sonia would not give in. She had come so far. If she could conquer Gundham and his behemoth, then maybe she could finally—
Sonia gasped. Was that what Gundham was trying to do this whole time? Was that his plan? Did he…want her to win?
A dark glow emitted from her graveyard. Sonia took out Darklord Morningstar and looked at it. And in that moment she understood. She knew exactly what was going on.
I see… Sonia dripped out a pair of tears and wiped them away from her eyes. I haven't been the only one suffering this whole time. I thought the Seal of Orichalcos buried your trauma with its dark powers…but I was wrong. We were all wrong. Gundham…I'm sorry I didn't notice sooner. Please forgive me. Sonia bit her lip and sucked in her tears. There is one card I can play that could turn this whole duel around. I just have to draw it!
Sonia placed the top card of her hand on her deck as a golden light gave off from her duel disk. Come to me, she thought as though tapping into some sort of supernatural power to pull the one card she needed to end the pain and suffering between her…and the man she loved.
She smiled when she saw what she drew. Yes. This was it. This was exactly the monster she needed.
Raising the card high above her head, clasped between her index and middle finger, Sonia declared, "I summon to the field, Victoria!"
In a flash of golden light, a blond woman with golden dragon wings, riding a golden, four-headed dragon appeared on the battlefield. She was wielding a golden scepter and had 1,800 attack points and 1,500 defense points.
"And what exactly is that supposed to prove?" Gundham asked. "Her attack power is far too low to be of any use to you now. You would have to essentially double her attack points and your hand is empty."
"I won't be using any of my resources," Sonia said, striking her arm down, hand tilted up in a knife-like shape. "I'll be using yours! I shall win this duel by turning your own power against you!"
"What?!" Gundham gasped, flabbergasted.
"I activate Victoria's special ability! This allows me to resurrect any dragon-type monster in another player's graveyard to my side of the field. So rise now and serve me, BLACK SKULL DRAGON!"
A shimmering golden light erupted from Gundham's duel disk and then a chasm of golden light erupted in front of Sonia's feet. The light was guided and controlled by her monster, Victoria.
"What…foul sorcery…is this?" Gundham exclaimed, feeling his monster pulled from his own graveyard to Sonia's side of the field.
"Gundham, it's okay," Sonia said with a smile. "I know."
Gundham looked at Sonia with a calm smile and then he laughed. "If the end of times have come, then I shall not turn back! Strike me down with your holy wrath! For, I, Gundham Tanaka, SHALL NOT YIELD!"
Black Skull Dragon emerged on Sonia's side of the field. It's just like back then, isn't it? Sonia thought. Using my opponent's monster against them to seize victory. But this time, I shall be the one remaining victorious. "Black Skull Dragon!" Sonia shouted. "Crush Behemoth now with Molten Fireballs!"
"Behemoth! Do not falter! Unicorn Lightning counterattack!"
The battlefield was set ablaze and crackled with electric discharge as the two monsters fired their attacks at each other. Both were destroyed amidst the ground rumbling chaos. But then, aloft her golden dragon, Victoria continued her charge towards Gundham to strike him down.
"Victoria! End this duel!" Sonia shouted.
You did it, Dark Queen, Gundham thought, smiling tranquilly. He held his arms out wide, standing spread eagle to take Victoria's scepter blast. You overcame your fears. Gundham saw the strong, undeterred look in Sonia's eyes, even if they were wet with tears. Her golden hair billowed in the breeze and she had her fist gripped tight in front of her chest. I am happy to see that look in your eyes once more. Your strength has been restored. This bearer of the evil eye, Gundham thought as he saw Victoria charge her energy beam, has no regrets.
Victoria attacked and struck Gundham directly. "GEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGH!" Gundham cried out in pain from the direct attack, his life points dropping to 0 at the same time.
Gundham then began to fall back as the Seal of Orichalcos surrounded him. However, before he could hit the ground, he fell gently into Sonia's arms.
"Gundham!" she sobbed. "Gundham!"
Gundham coughed. "And so, you have conquered your fear of the shadows. All...is as it should be."
Hajime gasped. Now even he realized what Gundham had been trying to do this whole time. "Gundham…you don't mean…"
"I sought the powers of the unknown," Gundham said, looking up overhead at the storm clouds above. "I cursed my own powerlessness from the land of the shadows. I wanted it back," He raised his bandaged arm up above his head and clenched his fist. "I wanted the great power I possessed in the power of the shadows. Once one has had a taste of power, thou cannot think of but drinking from the whole cup."
"Your shadow duel with Marik," Yukizome said as she and the rest of the students gathered around Gundham. "You were able to fight him even without your cards." Gundham had relished in the tale when recounting his experiences to the class.
Gundham continued his explanation. "When my goblet was empty, I saw the monster I had become, neither devil nor angel, but something far worse." He lowered his arm and turned his head to look at Sonia, "I was unworthy to stand at your side."
"That's not true," Sonia said. She sobbed out tears. "That's not true!" she repeated.
"I am too unclean for even you, Dark Queen. You'd best forget about me and let me drift alone into hell," Gundham said with a smile. "It only matters that you are safe."
"I will not!" Sonia shouted, wrapping her arms around Gundham, hugging him tightly. "If you are bound for hell then so am I! Gundham, please! You never had to do any of this for me! It's my fault! I didn't realize you were suffering too! Gundham!" Sonia howled in sorrow. "Gundham! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" she wailed.
"It's too late now," Gundham said, putting his hand firmly on Sonia's back. "Goodbye, Dark Queen."
"No. NOOOOOOO!" Sonia shouted.
Kazuichi pulled his hat down over his eyes. Even if Gundham was his rival for Sonia's affection, even if he'd been a total bastard, even if Sonia had chosen him, even now, even with all that, he still understood the sacrifice Gundham had made. And he could only silently pay respect to a man that, he felt, was of a far greater caliber than himself.
"Gundham…" Even Akane was shaken up by this. "This whole time…you were just trying to help Sonia?"
"I think that's abundantly clear by now," Kyoko said.
"But why…why like this?" Akane shouted. "Nekomaru's suffering now because you! How do you intend to excuse yourself for this, huh?"
Gundham laughed weakly. "I don't."
"WHAT?!"
Gundham stared up at the storm clouds. He could feel the call of the Orichalcos, the sound of the Leviathan's rumbling growl. "Tell my story to all that will listen. Tell it truly, ill deeds along with the good. Let my sins be judged accordingly. The rest…" Gundham said, tilting his head back as he coulf eel his soul leaving his body. His last two words, though spoken were barely able to escape his lips before his soul was completely removed. "…Is silence."
Gundham then lay in Sonia's arms, soulless as his arm went slack at his side, dropping from her back.
"Gundham?" Sonia asked, finding him unresponsive. "Gundham!" Sonia looked at Gundham, his eyes closed, a content smile on his face. Her eyes welled with tears as she smacked her forehead into his chest. She cried, harder than she ever had in her life, staining his outfit with her tears. Her fingers clutched at his scarf and coat. It wasn't fair. It should've been me! Sonia wailed internally, not really meaning it. The words only raced through her mind because she wanted Gundham back by any means, even at the cost of her own soul.
Hajime clenched his fists tightly, grinding his teeth in anguish. He felt a firm hand put itself on his shoulder. He looked over his shoulder to see Kazuichi standing behind him, hiding his sullen expression with his hat. "Come on," the ultimate mechanic said, "We've got work to do. Right now…that's the best way to help him."
Hajime sighed, "Yeah. Come on, Chihiro."
"Yeah…I'm coming," Chihiro said, reluctantly following after the two. Having worked alongside Gundham during the incident with Noah, even the young programmer couldn't help but find his heart sinking.
Kyoko, used to comatose and dead bodies, merely took out a pocket notebook, jotting down notes. So, this is what it looks like when a person loses their soul.
Mikan and Sonia were now hugging each other and crying into each other. Ryota, Teruteru, and even Akane all looked disheartened by the sacrifice Gundham had made. He wasn't the irredeemably evil bad guy they'd all marked him as. He was just playing the part of the villain to help the suffering heart of one of their noblest allies. But…was it worth it? Was it worth such tragedy?
Unfortunately, contemplation of this moment could not be performed for long. A roaring shout of raw anger shook the lot as it ascended towards the sky. "DAAAAAAAAAARTZ!"
The others gasped and looked towards Yukizome, eyes filled with tears, rage and hatred plain upon her face as she stared up at the sky. She felt it in her gut that Dartz had to be watching and she wanted him to know that he'd done more than just put the fight in her, he had blatantly pissed. Her. Off. She could see more than just Gundham's suffering, but Nagito and Hiyoko's as well. Dartz had taken advantage of their insecurities. He'd won them over with promises of power and pretty words and now he was using them to hurt others, including their own classmates, her precious students.
Fists clenched tightly, face seething with rage, Yukizome shouted up at the sky, "You won't get away with this, do you hear me?! I am going to hunt you down and I won't let you pass on until I've made sure you've suffered double for everything you've done to my students!"
Hajime, who had not yet completely walked away from the scene, could only stare at Yukizome exploding into pure rage. And, for a second, Kazuichi thought her hair was about to turn golden she was so pissed off.
"Hajime! Kazuichi! Chihiro! Get that car built on the double!" She commanded.
"Yes, ma'am!" They all declared and rushed off to build the car.
"Are…you okay?" Kyoko asked, pretty sure she was asking a stupid question.
"I'm fine," Yukizome said, though clearly not with the way she spat out the word fine. "Once we have our vehicle, we're headed straight for Doma. Dartz wants a war? He's got one," Yukizome said, glaring at nothing in particular. "And I'm a walking army." Her glare deepened. "Nobody hurts my students," she said venomously.
"Then come, young Yukizome," Dartz said, chuckling, watching Yukizome while knelt down in front of the Leviathan's shrine. "Even if you carry the spirit of Iona, she already failed to stop me once before. Your crusade is pointless. Soon, this entire world will be engulfed by the power of the Leviathan and neither you, nor the Pharaoh, will be able to stop me."
Dartz then laughed and his laughter echoed through the entire prayer hall. Soon he would have all the souls he needed. A new world order would soon be at hand.
(A/N: Dartz, buddy, I think you should be a bit more worried about the copious amounts of pain, Yukizome is bringing your way. That said, good lord this chapter. Hooray for Sonia finally getting over her fears, but at what cost? If you have to dig two graves when you set out for revenge, what the hell even describes what the heck happened here?
Next time on Dueling Trigger Finger, if we're lucky, we actually will get a break from Junko. It's time for Joey Wheeler to step back into the spotlight. It's blond vs blonde. Will Joey be able to conquer the power of Natsumi's Koa'ki Meiru monsters? Find out on the next exciting chapter of Dueling Trigger Finger!
Until then, as always, from all of me, to all of you, let your hearts stay human and your wrath draconic. Ja ne!)