Chapter 15; the true enemy. the title match is on

Sonic was at his desk in his home adjusting his deck. Tonight's duel was what he had been fighting for all along. Tonight he would finally learn if Tails was safe. He picked his Black-Winged Dragon.

"Let's win. For Tails."

He then got up took his duel disk and his deck and went downstairs at the garage. Right before he rode his duel runner he received 2 messages in his iphone. The one was from Amy.

"We are at the stadium. Good luck and please take care. Kisses."

Sonic felt happy that they were all there to support him. The second message was from an unknown sender.

"I'll be waiting for you. Don't be late. I grow impatient easily. And I can't wait to humiliate you. C."

Sonic didn't have to be a genius to understand who this C was. He rode his duel runner and headed for the dome. He entered the garage but was informed by the staff that he would have a turbo duel with the champion. Before the door to the speedway would open Amy showed up next to him.

"How are you feeling?" She asked.

"I've never felt more alive before. I'm gonna destroy this guy in this duel and force him to lead us to Tails."

"Take this." She handed him a card.

"Where did you get that?"

"It doesn't matter. Just use it to win."

"Had you used that in your duel against Jet you would have won."

"I was only planning to use it if I defeated Jet. But now I want you to use it"

Sonic looked at the card.

"Don't worry. I will win"

Amy's eyes looked like she would cry any minute. She hugged Sonic and he hugged her back.

"Please. Promise you will come back safe and sound. Yesterday I thought I" she corrected herself "we lost you forever. I will not be able to live in a world without you. Neither of us will."

"Ames" he said in a serious tone " I am going to return safe and sound. And I will return with Tails."

She then wished him luck once more and left for the seats. Then Sonic heard the announcer announcing the champion's arrival. Then it was his turn to ride in the speedway.

"AAAAAND NOW! OUR NEWEST GREECE CHAMPION. THE SHOOTING STAR OF THIS YEAR. THE ONE THE ONLY! SONIC THE HEDGEHOG!"

The garage door opened and Sonic sped up into the speedway under the loud cheers of the crowd. He reached the start and stopped his runner right next to the champion's. He noticed his friends close to the start at the seats waving at him. His parents were there as well. Full of optimism. He waited for the lights to start flashing meaning that the turbo duel would start soon.

"So I heard that you had an adventure last night huh?" the champion asked him ironically.

"Yes, and now I'm here. So. Will you tell where Tails is? Or will I have to tear every last bit of your life points to find out?"

" He is here. In the dome right now that we are speaking."

After hearing those words Sonic started looking everywhere insode the crowd. But he couldn't see Tails anywhere.

"You won't find him there,"

Sonic looked at him in rage. It seemed that he would have to torture the champion by destroying his life points one by one in order to reveal Tails' location. The red light started flashing. Sonic's runner's engine roared. The yellow light opened.

"TURBO DUEL! ACCELARATION!" They both said once the green light flashed. They accelerated. Sonic knew that he had to take the first turn. But when he tried to outmaneuver the champion he tried to knock the Furious Flame outside the course. Sonic slowed down to avoid crashing letting the champion take the first turn.

"Looks like you got your license for nothing hedgehog. But I feel generous. Go first."

"Don't mind if I do. I draw. I activate the black whirlwind. Then I summon forth shura the blue flame. Due to the effect of the whirlwind I add to my hand and special summon gladius the midnight sun. I set a card and end my turn."

"Let's begin the destruction. I draw. You have monsters. I don't. So cyber dragon joins us. Then I play the spell resonator call. I add dark resonator from my deck to my hand. I summon dark resonator next. He is a level 3 tuner and cyber dragon is a level 5 non tuner. I tune them together to synchro summon the one the only! Red dragon Archfiend!"

At the seats

"Weird" Knuckles said " I'd swear I've seen these moves before."

"Knuckles where is your brain?" Amy asked him "these are the exact same moves Tails makes."

At the speedway

Sonic thought of the same thing.

"You bastard!" he yelled at the champion " where do you have Tails?"

"What question is this right now?"

"These are the exact moves my friend Tails makes. You stole his deck!"

"Of course I didn't. you still haven't realized?"

"Realised what?"

"Too bad then. I activate 2 spells. Scarlet security and red dragon vase! Because I control Red dragon archfiend I draw 2 cards and all your spell and traps are destroyed!"

Sonic's spell and trap cards were destroyed by the dragon's flames.

You triggered the trap you destroyed. Dig of destiny. Since it was destroyed by an effect I draw a card."

"Now I equip my dragon with fairy meteor crash to deal piercing damage with my dragon. Attack his gladius! And gladius' effect won't save him from my dragon's effect. Since he is in defense mode after the damage calculation an defense monster you have is killed! Go Red dragon Archfiend! Absolute Powerforce!"

Gladius was killed off by the dragon.

"AAAAH" Sonic screamed while grabbing his left arm. (Sonic LP 6500)

"What's the matter hedgehog? Can't take on a real duel of the singed ones?"

Sonic's eyes widened in shock.

"You..! You are a…"

The champion revealed his right arm. Sonic saw the mark of the lunar dragon that he saw in his vision. The body of the lunar dragon.

"So it was you! You were the one who rebelled!"

"Exactly! I deserved the leadership of the singed ones back then. But you took it. And for that you will pay!"

"And why did I feel the attack as if I was hit by the dragon?"

" I can use my powers to make the monsters I summon real. The damage in turn is REAL!"

"Why you! Fine then. I can live with this rule. Just end your turn already."

"If you insist. I end my turn with a face down."

"My turn again. I draw. Perfect. I activate another black whirlwind. Next I summon forth my elphin the raven without tributing since I control a blackwing already. Summoning Elphin allows me to add to my hand bora the spear! And he is gonna joins us. Also summoning Elphin allows me to switch your dragon to defense!"

"What? Oh no!"

"Elphin! Send his dragon for a nap!"

Red dragon archfiend was destroyed.

"Shura Bora. Attack directily!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAHH"(Champion 4500)

"I set a card. Your move again champ."

The champion was not talking. Instead he stopped his duel runner. Sonic was going too fast to stop so he completed a lap and stopped next to the champion.

"Don't tell me you're surrendering now. You were the one who said you will humiliate me!"

But the champion was trembling.

"Hey. Seriously now are you ok?" Sonic asked

The champion tried to speak

"NO… NO….. I can't… lose… to you… AGAIN!"

The last word echoed in the entire dome. Silence spread everywhere. Sonic was speechless. The champion just said that he couldn't lose to Sonic AGAIN?

"What do you mean by again? This is the first time I face you!"

"Looks like this duel has turned personal. Follow me!" the champion said and accelerated heading for the open door to the garage. Through the garage he exited to the parking and headed for an unknown destination. Sonic tried his best to keep up with him. They raced through the city with millions of eyes looking at them wherever they passed by. After a long ride the champion stopped in an abandoned spot in a highway. Sonic stopped in front of him. Soon after they stooped the gang arrived as well half of them riding on the duel runners along with the runners' owners.

"So we're all here" the champion noticed "here it is Sonic. The answer to your question." He said removing his helmet. The next second turned to a hell for Sonic. He called himself inside of him idiot. He practically screamed where Tails was. He was in front of him. The champion was Tails.

Silent moments went by. Sonic was looking at Tails in shock. Tails was looking at him with a face full of hatred.

"How can this be? How can you be the champion Tails?"

"I became the champion secretly 3 years ago. I defeated the old champion in a secret duel. he dueled me in a lonely place when I visited England. I spoke to a girl in a bar and he was there and was her boyfriend. I apologized and left. But he followed me and challenged me to a duel revealing he was the champion. I defeated him. Then it was a secret."

"So that's why you were gone for long periods of time at times. But why didn't you tell us you became the champion?"

"Because 2 days later when I returned and we met, you defeated me!"

"Then according to your sayings that means.."

"That the only champion here is YOU! You are the world champion!"

"And all this hatred.. all those times you tried to strangle me and you beat me up… was due to the fact that your reign lasted only 2 days?"

"No… it was because ever since we began dueling I was the underdog and you were the winner. I got sick of that. I can no longer be inferior to you. I am beating you today! "

"Tails…." Sonic started saying " and how did you become a singed one?"

"The moment I became the champion my hand was sliced. Then I saw this mark. And suddenly memories from every possible time in history appeared in my mind. In all them I was somehow inferior to you. I was cursed to lose to you forever! But I couldn't care less about the past. I care about now. About beating you. About finally stop being an underdog! I WILL NO LONGER LOSE TO YOU!"

"Tails.." Sonic tried to say.

"Enough words on with the duel." he accelerated and Sonic followed him.

"My turn. I draw. I activate the spell raigeki. All your monsters are destroyed!"

"What?" Sonic's monsters were all destroyed by a lighting.

"Now I play call of the haunted. My dragon returns. Afterwards I activate foolish burial to send krebons to my I summon deep sea diva. Due to her effect another deep sea diva appears. Now I double tune them together with my red dragon archfiend! Arise from the depths of hell! RED NOVA DRAGON!"

Red nova dragon soared covered in a dark aura. Sonic's first vision hit him like a lightning.

"The dragon from my vision. It can't be!"

"IT IS! RED NOVA DRAGON. BLAZING SOUL STRIKE!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH" (Sonic LP 1000)

"NOOOOOOOOOO SONIIIC!" Amy screamed.

Sonic stopped his runner. He was dizzy. He could barely stand. Trembling he stared at Tails who stopped in front of him.

"This is my hatred's power. And in the next turn the vision you saw will become a reality!"

"Tails….. why? What changed inside of you? When we started dueling we had so much fun? What changed?"

"I'll tell you what changed! I was always losing to you!"

"But.. we promised.."

"Huh?" Tails' expression turned from hatred to curiosity.

"We promised not to turn like this. I don't care about that eternal spirit fight and neither do I care about victory if it means losing you Tails. You're the best friend I ever had. And no matter how many times I win or how many titles I conquer they can never replace you. So if I have to surrender in order to get you to be the Tails you were in the past then so be it."

Tails was under pressure now. Sonic's words reminded him of all the fun they had playing the game. How the pure happiness of their friendship filled them every time they played. But he just couldn't forget that Sonic always won. Sometimes people called him number 2. He could just not forget it.

"Even if you surrender nothing will change. I won't have beaten you. Face it! The old Tails is gone. I end my turn."

"Very well then. I draw. I summon play the spell against the wind. I pay the attack points of gladius the midnight sun to add him back to my hand." (Sonic LP 200) Then I set him. I end my turn."

"My turn. Draw. Red Nova! Reveal gladius! I end my turn."

"My move. I draw. I summon gale in defense mode. I set a card and end my turn. Tails don't you see that your ways are wrong?"

"What do you mean? Would you like to be an underdog?"

"If I was an underdog to someone I would be anxious to battle them again. And with every defeat I would become stronger and more willing to fight and defeat them."

Tails' eyes widened. He felt somehow like this until he lost to Sonic and was consumed by his hatred for being an underdog. But then he was more anxious to duel Sonic again.

"So what? I can't turn back the clock anymore. These feelings control me now and I will live with them."

"it's true. You can't turn back the clock. But you can wind it up again."

"My turn" Tails said " I draw." He looked at his card. "Sonic. It's over. I drew my second fairy meteot crash. I equip it to my dragon. Erase Sonic Red Nova!"

"I don't Tails. I activate fiendish chain. Your dragon can't attack and his effects are sealed."

"Oh no!"

"My turn. I draw." He drew the card. And then he felt the crossing between his and Amy's soul. Cause he drew her card.

"It's over Tails. I summon blackwing fane the steel chain. Fane tune with gale and gladius to form the almighty BLACK-WINGED DRAGON!"

Black-winged appeared and roared. Red nova roared as well.

"So it appeared."

"Tails.. do you remember?"

"Remember what?"

"When we pulled our aces from the packs?"

The memory came in Tails' mind immediately. They went to buy some cards and when they opened the packs he got Red nova dragon and Sonic Black-winged. They immediately dueled. Sonic won. But back then Tails was enjoying the duels with Sonic from the bottom of his heart. He wanted to relive that.

"Do you get now the true nature of duels Tails?"

Tails didn't answer.

"I activate the spell synchro's hidden power. For one turn a synchro on my field if it battles another synchro it gains 500 attack points multiplied by the difference in their levels. My dragon is level 8 and yours level 12. So it is 2000 attack boost. His attack is 4800 and your dragon's 3500. Black-winged destroy Red nova dragon and clear Tails' heart of his hatred! BLACK BLAZING STREAM!"

"AAAh" (Tails LP 3200)

"I'm not done yet."

"So am I not done. Synchro's hidden power also deals you damage equal to the destroyed monster's attack points. It's over."

"No way!" (Tails LP 0) "I lost again." He said sad

"Tails it doesn't matter if you win or lose as long as you have fun."

"I don't have anymore a reason to duel Sonic. I have to go and think. The sea will calm me. I'm sorry. Goodbye." Tails said and accelerated.

"Tails no!"

But Tails was gone already.

Amy dismounted Knuckles' duel runner and approached Sonic.

"Are you ok?"

"I'm in one piece. But.. I can't believe it. Tails was the champion. The one who rebelled. And now… he wants to stop dueling." Sonic's voice collapsed.

"It's ok. He will do the right thing. We should all go to sleep. We'll find Tails tomorrow."

Sonic reluctantly agreed. They all went to their homes. Sonic couldn't sleep. Tails' words echoed inside his head. The next morning when he was taking breakfast while his parents were at work the doorbell rang. He opened. A girl was there.

"Can I help you?" he asked

"You're Sonic the hedgehog?"

"Yes."

"My name is Cosmo. I'm Tails' girlfriend. I saw yesterday's duel. did Tails contact you?"

"Wait. First of all come inside. I'll make some coffee and you will tell me everything in a minute."

She came inside and after Sonic brought coffee he asked " Why come to me?"

"Because Tails and I met when he beat the previous champion."

"Wait. Let me guess. You were the ex-champion's girlfriend."

"Yes. But Tails and I fell in love at first sight, But my ex did not react well. I left him and walked with Tails. Then they dueled."

"Oh so that's what happened. And you came to me because you're worried"

"Yes."

"Well I'm worried too. I don't know where Tails is. He said he wanted to think."

"Wait. Did he mention anything except that?"

"Yes. He said the sea will calm him."

"I know where he is then. Can you get me there with your runner?"

"Sure."

They rode the Furious Flame and headed over to a beach Cosmo instructed him. She said that Tails and she discovered it while exploring the place. it was their secret place. And she was right. Tails was there. He was sitting at the sand looking at the sea and his cards.

"Tails?" Cosmo called him.

Tails turned his head and looked at her. "Oh I see you found me."

"Tails why didn't you call us? We both have been so worried" Cosmo said.

"Cosmo. Can you please leave me and Sonic alone for a sec?"

Cosmo surprised at first agreed and left. Sonic approached Tails.

"Buddy are you ok?"

"No. I no longer have the blazing soul of a duelist. I just don't see any point in this. I will quit."

"So you basically… say that you only saw victory in dueling?"

"Yes."

"Look at me."

Tails turned his head and then felt Sonic's punch on his nose. He fell behind and got angry.

"Hey what was that for?!"

" Firstly for the beat up I had the previous days. Secondly because you are idiot."

"I am what?"

"How can you say you don't have the spirit of a duelist? Yesterday's duel was one of the best I ever had. You have a boiling soul Tails. You have an unextinguishable flame in your heart. I know that deep down, you wanted to duel me not to defeat me but because you enjoyed it. And no matter what evil thoughts you make this purity of enjoying duels cannot be destroyed."

Tails finally understood it. He wanted to beat Sonic. But not because he was an underdog. Instead it was because it was natural for a duelist.

" Can you forgive me?" he said in the end. "I was confused and blamed you for it. I nearly destroyed our friendship."

"It's ok Tails. You don't have to ask for sorry." Sonic said smiling.

Tails smiled back. Then a shining blue sphere appeared. They both looked at it surprised. The priest of the lunar dragon appeared suddenly from the inside.

"So I was right. You did have what it took to save your friend from the darkness in his heart."

"Indeed. Thank you for the power." Sonic replied.

"No I thank you. My spirit had to stay alive until you saved him. Now I can finally rest in peace"

"I'm happy I could help then. "Sonic said.

"Wait one question" Tails said "What'll happen to our marks now?"

"Nothing. The power is yours to wield."

"Interesting" Tails said looking at his mark while smiling.

"Farewell." The priest said and entered the sphere. Then the sphere vanished.

"Now what?" Tails asked.

Sonic smiled and called Amy. He instructed her to assemble the gang and to meet them at their haunt. When Tails Cosmo and Sonic arrived the others were there waiting. Tails explained everything then apologized for his mistakes and finally had fun with his friends for the first time after after a really long time. When they had to split he decided to race Sonic before going home. While they were racing he remembered something.

"Oh Sonic I forgot to tell you."

"What?"

"Before I go to the beach and think I informed the media of the result of the duel. I believe that by now the whole world will know you are the champion."

"You did what?! Now everyone will come and challenge me!"

"Well can't hurt to have some duels everyday can it?" Tails said winking and taking the turn for his home. Sonic, before he could answer, noticed about 3 duel runners behind him trying to catch up.

"Well.. I guess there's only one thing to say."

He accelerated and activated the duel system

"LET THE SPEED RULE!"

THE END

STORY 2 COMING SOON