The course of action in the fanfic will not entirely follow the same story line as in the anime. I'll be experimenting and come up with some original ideas and made-up chapters. I hope you will enjoy the changes.
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The chapter begins in Yusei's point of view.
Disclaimer: I do not own any Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's characters! I only own my OCs!
Chapter 58: Synchro Solution
For the last few days, after I had that Turbo Duel with Sherry, I have been haunted by nightmares of me facing an unknown Duelist that turned out to be Ghost and his Meklord Emperor Wisel. The nightmares always ended up in the same way with me yelling in fear while watching Stardust Dragon getting absorbed by the machine Monster. Sherry's voice would then echo around me that I could find a new goal if I joined her team.
Was she right about it? Could I find a goal and a reason of why I was Dueling if I joined her team?
One morning, after I woke up by the nightmare, I couldn't take it anymore. I had to find a new solution to defeat the Meklord Emperor without using Synchro Monsters.
I got dressed and went down to the garage where Crow was organizing delivery boxes for his business. He always woke up before me nowadays because he preferred being an "early bird" when it came to the deliveries.
"Morning, Yusei!" Crow grinned widely before he noticed my complexion. "Uh… Did you have another nightmare?"
"Yeah…", I nodded as I rubbed my eyes while holding back a yawn.
"Man, that's like the fourth time in a week. It's not like you", Crow said, concerned. "Is the engine prototype bothering you?"
"Not just that", I shook my head.
"What're you two talking about?" Jack spoke up as he walked down the stairs from the kitchen.
"Good morning, Jack", Crow greeted.
"Jack", I spoke up, getting his attention. "I want to challenge you to a Turbo Duel."
"Say what?!" Crow exclaimed in disbelief.
Jack stayed quiet for a few seconds to process my words before he got a surprised expression. "What? You want to challenge me?"
"What do you mean, Yusei?!" Crow asked. "You wanna go against Jack?!"
"Well, I've had it on my mind for a while now", I confessed. "But I want to find another way to fight; one without using Synchro summoning."
"Another way to fight?" Jack repeated.
"You remember my Duel with Ghost, right?" I asked my foster brothers.
"Your Duel with Ghost…", Crow cold sweated, his reaction clearly telling me he remembered. "The Monster that can absorb Synchro Monsters…"
"So it's the Synchro Prevention that's bothering you, huh?" Jack figured it out.
"Majestic Star Dragon bailed me out then… But if Ghost shows up again, or the other two Meklord Emperors appear as Estelle told us, I'm not confident I can win again", I explained. "That's why I want to find a way to fight without using Synchro summoning."
"Yusei…", Crow mumbled concernedly.
Jack jumped from the small platform to the bottom floor and straightened up tall and proud. "Fine, then. I'll face you. However, there will be no holding back."
"Right", I nodded, glad he accepted my challenge.
"Alright! I'll tag along!" Crow declared as he quickly ran up the stairs to change his jacket.
XXXXXXXXXX
Jack canceled the Turbo Duel after he had enough of my naïve style of Dueling. He said I had to overcome the opponents I was facing with Synchro Monsters, but… I was scared to use them against the Meklord Emperors. I didn't want to see Stardust Dragon or any of my Synchro Monsters get taken away from me again.
I snapped my head up when I thought I felt someone was staring at me. I looked over my shoulder to look at another route, but no one was standing there. Was it Sherry again? Or someone else?
"You okay, Yusei?" Crow asked.
"Yeah…", I nodded as my body stopped shaking.
"Don't take Jack's words seriously. I'm sure there's another way to defeat the Meklord Emperors besides using Synchro Monsters. He should be aware we need to come up with a new strategy against those machines."
I nodded as I tried to come up with a solution, but nothing came to my mind. I was stuck.
"Sorry, Crow, but I need to be alone for a while", I told Crow before I drove off.
Was Jack right that I had to use Synchro Monsters? Did this mean I had to concentrate on building a defense-style Deck that could protect the Monsters and let them strike when I've immobilized the opponent?
But that wasn't my style. My style of Dueling was balanced between offensive and defensive. What could I come up with? Who could help me?
The one who seemed to know about the Meklord Emperors was Estelle. Could she have the answers I needed? I pushed the gas, heading toward the Goodwin mansion. I hoped she was at home. I really needed someone to talk to.
XXXXXXXXXX – Estelle's POV
I was in the garden taking a morning walk after breakfast. It was a routine of mine to walk outside and enjoy the garden and fresh air in the mornings nowadays. Goodwin's mansion may be located in the middle of New Domino City, but the noise from the city didn't bother me.
After walking around for half an hour, I headed back to the mansion and took a refreshing shower. While I was getting dressed, I suddenly sensed the Head Mark's energy.
Yusei was nearby. Was he coming to the mansion?
I got my answer when Hilda stepped into my room and knocked on the locked bathroom door. "Ms. Estelle, Mr. Yusei is here."
"He's really here…?" I mumbled to myself as I put my shirt on. "Thank you, Hilda. Where is he?"
"He's waiting in the living room", Hilda responded.
"I'll be right there", I nodded.
After making sure I looked proper and clean, I walked out of my room and headed downstairs to the living room. Yusei was standing with his back turned to me as he looked out the window. He seemed to be in deep thoughts.
"Yusei?" I called.
Yusei turned around after I had called his name. The Signer's lips twitched a bit upward, but it wasn't his usual smile. He also had black bags under his eyes, which was not like him. Something was really bothering him if he couldn't sleep well at night.
"Hi, Estelle", he greeted. "I hope I'm not bothering you with my sudden appearance."
"You and the Signers never bother me when you show up without any notifications", I shook my head. "But, Yusei, are you feeling well?"
"Yeah…", Yusei nodded hesitantly.
"Really?" I said as I put my hands on my hips. "Your complexion tells me otherwise. Something is really bothering you and you want to talk about that with me?"
Yusei sighed as he brushed his hair a bit. "Well-"
A growl erupted from his stomach, making him blush in embarrassment. My eyes widened softly in surprise before I giggled at his reaction. "You haven't eaten breakfast yet?"
"I didn't have an appetite back then…", Yusei confessed.
"Alright then. How about I bring you some breakfast before we talk? I think there are still some leftover scones in the kitchen to make Eggs Benedict. I'll bring a plate out with a drink. Coffee or tea?"
"Black coffee. And thank you."
"Breakfast is the most important meal, so you better not skip it in the near future", I softly scolded him. "Wait here and I'll be right back."
XXXXXXXXXX
After Yusei ate the breakfast, now with a big appetite, he finally decided to tell me what was bothering him. It was all from finding a new way to Duel without using Synchro Monsters against the Meklord Emperors to Sherry's recruitment.
"So, in other words… You think you might find a new way to fight and goal if you join Sherry's team?" I said.
"That's one of the ideas, yeah", Yusei confessed.
I exhaled deeply through my nose as I leant back against the couch while crossing my arms. "But if you join her team for the World Racing Grand Prix, how do you think Crow and Jack will feel? They would feel devastated and betrayed. After all, you three promised to enter the tournament together."
"I'm aware of that", Yusei nodded as he looked down on his lap. "But what else can I do? I was able to win against Meklord Emperor Wisel with Majestic Star Dragon, but I'm not sure I can win again next time."
I suddenly got an interesting idea. I got up from the couch to walk over to a desk where there were some paper and pens. I grabbed a sheet and different colored pens before heading back to the couch. Yusei watched me as I settled down and began scribbling on the paper sheet.
"Let's try and think about the evolution line of Duel Monsters", I spoke up. "The Duel Monsters used to consist of Normal and Effect Monsters, and then came the Ritual and Fusion Monsters. Synchro Monsters came after them, so the Meklord Emperors would come next as to prevent the previous Monsters from being used. You with me?"
"Yeah", Yusei nodded as he looked at the paper where I wrote the different Duel Monsters cards in a certain order.
"So, if the Synchro Monsters are useless against the Meklord Emperors, we either need to take a step back and think old-fashioned, or take a giant leap forward to come up with a new evolution of Duel Monsters", I continued my little session.
"New evolution…", Yusei mumbled before he looked up at me. "Is it possible within such a short amount of time before WRGP?"
"I'm not sure…", I shook my head as I put back the lid on the black-colored pen.
I was debating if I should tell Yusei about the new summoning, but maybe the timing wasn't right. Originally, it was Antinomy who taught him Accel Synchro summoning at the World Racing Grand Prix Premium Event, but that party had been pushed up to late May, just a couple of days after my birthday. I got surprised when I heard that from Goodwin, but then again it kinda made more sense to hold the party a week or two before the tournament.
"So, I should concentrate on Fusion Monsters?" Yusei questioned.
"That could be a solution", I nodded.
"I've never really Dueled with Fusions before, but I'm willing to try."
"How about this? Both of us build a Deck that's focused on Fusion Monsters and we test them in a Turbo Duel. That way, we can try coming up with a new strategy against the Meklord Emperors. But if it comes down to the worst, we should have at least one Synchro Monster in the Extra Deck to use for a surprise combo."
"That sounds similar on what I thought of earlier today in the Duel with Jack. I'll do it."
"Okay. I suggest you should focus on Fusion Monsters that doesn't need a specific Monster card, like my King Dragun that needs Lord of D. and Divine Dragon Ragnarok."
"I get it", Yusei nodded as I noticed a huge change on his shoulders; he was finally relaxing a bit. "I think I can do it. Thank you, Estelle."
"No problem, Yusei", I gently shook my head with a small smile. "I'm always happy to help you and the others."
XXXXXXXXXX – Yusei's POV
After talking to Estelle about the Meklord Emperors, I tried coming up with a decent Turbo Deck with different Fusion Monsters in the Extra Deck. The only Synchro Monster I kept was Stardust Dragon. He was my Signer Dragon and he was needed in the new Deck because of a new Fusion Monster I got to keep after I went through Goodwin's private card collection.
It was decided Estelle and I would Turbo Duel on the course that was owned by Bolger & Company. After Bolger turned himself in, his assistant told my foster brothers and I that we had special access to the company's course and could use it for test drives and practice Turbo Duels. After all, they were our sponsor for WRGP.
When our friends heard about the practice Turbo Duel, they wanted to come along and watch. Jack was still headstrong about using Synchro Monsters, but he said he wasn't that disappointed as long as I didn't entirely reject them.
Estelle and I were at the start line of the course, doing some last-minute checkup on our Runners while the others were in the watchtower to follow the Turbo Duel.
"Okidoki (Okey-dokey)", Estelle clicked her tongue as she inserted her Deck in the Wrist Dealer. "I'm ready, Yusei."
"Wait just a minute", I told her as I double-checked the status of my Runner. "I'm almost done."
Estelle hummed softly in reply as I heard her check the gas pedal, her Duel Runner making a smooth noise. I looked at the display on my Runner and quickly calculated something before everything was okay.
"Alright", I nodded as I rolled down the visor of my helmet. "Ready to Duel, Estelle?"
"Ready when you are", Estelle replied with a nod.
I nodded and was about to press the button to activate the Field Spell when I felt eyes on my back again. I looked around, trying to find out who it was. I looked at the watchtower, but the glance didn't come from that direction. This feeling was the same when I felt eyes on me after the Duel with Jack.
Who in the world was it?
"Yusei?" Estelle called, snapping me out of it. "You okay?"
"I'm fine", I nodded. "Let's do it."
Estelle didn't look convinced at first, but she dropped it. "Yeah."
"Field Spell, Speed World 2, set on!"
"Duel Mode, on – Autopilot, standby."
The Solid Vision was activated as my Duel Disk prepared itself for the Duel. A holographic traffic light appeared above us before it slowly counted down. During that time, Estelle and I drew our first five cards from our Decks and secured them on the Wrist Dealer.
"Ready, set… Duel!"
Estelle and I pushed the gas and drove as soon as the light changed from red to green. We competed about getting the first corner that would decide who would go first. I quickly noticed Estelle seemed to take it easy as she slowed down a bit. That meant she didn't have enough confidence to drive fast while rounding a corner. It was something she had to work on. I drove before her and rounded the corner first. She was only two seconds behind me when she passed the corner.
"I'll go first, Estelle!" I told her.
I was just about to draw my sixth card when my display opened a window and showed Crow's worried face. "Yusei, Estelle! We're picking up the signal of an unknown Duel Runner entering the course!"
"An unknown Duel Runner?" I repeated confusedly.
"How were they able to get access to the course?" Estelle questioned through the intercom.
"No idea, but that Runner is right behind you guys!" Crow said.
"I see it!" Leo exclaimed in the background. "Man, it's going so fast!"
I swiped the window with Crow's face on the touch screen to a corner to open another window for the dash camera on the back of the Duel Runner. He was right. There was an indigo odd-looking Duel Runner behind me and Estelle. It had a futuristic design, and only had one main wheel like Jack's Phoenix Whirlwind and two small wheels on the sides.
The unknown Duel Runner drove up to us, forcing me and Estelle to make way for it. The driver was dressed in a cobalt riding suit and helmet, and a non-transparent deep red sunglasses that hid his face like a mask.
"Who are you?!" I yelled. "And how did you get in? This is a private course!"
I couldn't see the man's eyes through the sunglasses, but I could feel they were staring deeply at me. I recognized the feeling; it was the same as the other times when I felt someone was watching me.
"Yusei…", the man spoke in a deep and cold voice. "You are trying to find a way to beat Ghost, right?"
Wait… How did he know that? Who was he?
"How do you know…?" I questioned hesitantly.
"All I can say is, as you are now, you cannot beat him", the mysterious Turbo Duelist said, ignoring my question. "Not unless you surpass your own limitations."
"My own limitations?" I repeated.
"That is the only way to beat him."
"Gimme a break!" Crow spoke up from the dashboard, obviously hearing what the unknown Duelist said through the intercom. "What's your deal, bud? Coming outta nowhere and acting like a big shot!"
"What did you mean by that?" I asked the stranger.
"Duel me", the Duelist said in a demanding voice. "It'd be quicker if you try it out for yourself than if I explain it. I'll show you the new strategy none of you know about."
"New strategy?" I said softly.
My eyes widened in realization. Was the Duelist talking about a new Duel Monsters evolution that could surpass Synchro Monsters and the Meklord Emperors?
"Duel him, Yusei", Estelle spoke up after she had been quiet for a while. "He could hold the answer of defeating the Meklord Emperors. We can try our Fusion Monsters Decks another time."
I looked to my left and saw Estelle driving next to the Duelist at the other side of the course. She looked calm and her aura almost felt relieved that our Turbo Duel got interrupted.
"I'll Duel you… Do you have a name?" I asked the Duelist.
"Call me…Dark Glass."
Estelle slowed down and drove to the pit which Dark Glass and I passed, so we got the whole course for ourselves. I grabbed the cards I had drawn at the beginning of the Duel and shuffled them back into my Deck while Dark Glass prepared his own Deck and activated Speed World 2.
"Turbo Duel! Acceleration!"
Dark Glass… Show me the new strategy that could defeat the Meklord Emperors! Tell me how I can surpass my limitations!
XXXXXXXXXX
Dark Glass's Duel Runner was way faster than mine and he handled high-speed turns with perfect maneuvering. I tried copying him and for a few seconds, I felt like I was in a different dimension within the world of speed I had never experienced before. It wasn't the usual feeling I had during a Turbo Duel.
This was something extraordinary, but it didn't feel completed just yet.
I got very surprised when Dark Glass Synchro summoned two Synchro Monsters, one of them being a Tuner Monster, and he used this new summoning method called Accel Synchro to Synchro summon during my turn without using the Trap card Urgent Tuning or any other card effects. He sped up so much he vanished in front of me, only to appear next to me with a new Synchro Monster known as Accel Synchro Monster.
Was this what Dark Glass meant by surpassing my limitations? I had to push myself much harder to get so fast that I vanish from the field while Accel Synchro summoning?
Another big surprise was at the end of the Turbo Duel when Dark Glass activated his Monster's effect to remove it from the field, allowing my Monster to attack him directly, reducing his Life Points to zero. I was confused of why he made such a move to protect his Monster, but all he said was he didn't want to reveal all the secrets of Accel Synchro. I asked him why he told me about this new method. He could have told someone else about it, so why me? Was it because of the Meklord Emperors, or was it because I was a Signer? I didn't understand.
The last thing Dark Glass said was he was looking forward to Duel me again before he left the course.
This Turbo Duel left me with more questions, but also determination and a slight ray of hope. If Accel Synchro was the answer on defeating the Meklord Emperors, I had to push myself beyond my limits to get as fast as Dark Glass in a Turbo Duel.
No.
I will surpass my limits to achieve Accel Synchro summoning!