A/N: And......... without further ado, I present to you, the last chapter of THIS BLOODY TOURNAMENT!
All: WHAT?!
Alpha: I am so frickin' BORED of non-tribute rules! They take too long, have little fairness if someone has an abundance of high-leveled cards, and ultimately are now obsolete with Battle City.
Chibi Vegeta: And exactly what are the others going to do, then?
All: *stare at the fact that the runty Saiyan found a way into this fic's AN*
Alpha: They're going to defeat Helios, the Fiend Empire, and get everyone out of the Shadow Realm so I can start making crossovers, as well as the actual sequel to this fic.
Drake: ACTUAL sequel!?
Alpha: Yes. I have infinitely many crossovers, some I haven't even thought of yet, to exploit.
Lance: Why, oh WHY do so many fictional things have dragons in them?
Alpha: I'm going to be writing the actual sequel, Dragon in the City, at the same time I write Between Monsters.
Helios: Dragon in the City? Between Monsters? *looks at Toon Mermaid* And I thought that I was bad at naming things!
Alpha: *grumbles* I'm open to review/e-mail suggestions.
Ash: *looks at list* Hey! There's a Pokemon crossover here! But it doesn't look like Drake's in it.
Drake: WHAT?! Man, the only thing I actually would VOLUNTEER to do, he isn't going to put me in?
Ash: Well, sorta. He's making a new character with your appearance and personality, a very often-used thing.
Lance: Let me guess, his name is Ryu, a dragon-using Cooltrainer, and he's my Poke' counterpart's student.
Alpha: .... IS EVERYTHING SO PREDICTABLE?! ARGHHHHHH!
Lance: When you write it down, yes.
Disclaimer: I've stated the obvious too much, but I will again say that Shayla and Martin are Gema J. Gall's characters, not mine.
Shayla: Whew! That's good to know! No offense guys, but I see enough of this idiot in POF meetings.
Alpha: And what makes you think you're off the hook? Gema already signed you up for the Digimon crossover, along with an original digimon! Plus, I most likely have plans for you and a certain Tournament-holder in Dragon in the City.
Seto: WHAT!?
Shayla: *grumbles* Give me one good reason why.
Alpha: *lifts up a bowl of ice cream, made from what was originally hot chocolate with marshmallows and candy canes* Well, I never DID give Gema a friendly Christmas present......
Non-POF members, except for Veggie and Ash: *remember, with great horror, the Yu-Gi-Oh Christmas Carol.
Everyone: PLEASE SIGN US UP FOR YOUR FICS!
Alpha: .... I don't need all of you.....
All Yu-Gi-Oh: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Yami Alpha: Since you obviously can't seem to shut up, I'll start the fic.
Alpha: When are you going to go away?
Yami Alpha: When the pyramids are turned back to their right position, instead of being upside down.
All: ......
Yami Alpha: Or, when you invent a Millennium Item for yourself, thus making me an actual Yami, and not just your conscious.
Alpha: Okay, I'll-
Chibi Vegeta: *presses enter key, fic is posted on FFN*
***************************************************************
Shayla woke up from a surprisingly dream-free night. Maybe it was the fact that she would duel for her life today, but she didn't have any dark dreams of the past.
She groaned, trudging downstairs. Maybe the reason she didn't sleep was that she had gone over her deck most of the night.
She stepped onto the podium, and was lifted up to the duel.
***************************************************************
Lara happily held on to Drake as they flew across the desert. Her wings had tired out a few minutes earlier, and now she was being carried like that day Drake had first transformed.
Yami and Simon were hovering over the ground at high speed, Simon by unknown ways. Yugi's horse was keeping him going just as fast.
"Drake?" she asked suddenly. "When this is all over, what happens next?"
Noticing her boyfriend's confused look, she explained," Your dad'll be free, as well as everyone in this wacky realm. Yugi and the others will have everything they want back to them, and our lives just might actually be normal for a while, but what next?"
"I don't know," he admitted, then grinned, "I'll have to get used to my girlfriend living in the same house, that's one thing!"
Lara playfully punched his cheek, then, holding on tighter, kissed the same spot.
"That's right," she said, smiling, "You're stuck with me."
"Wouldn't have it any other way," he whispered, with a surprisingly high amount of passion.
"Oh, really?" Lara asked, mocking disbelief. "Not even if I was less of a flirt?"
With this, and a seductive smile, she gently stroked Drake's arm.
To her surprise, he flushed only slightly. "Actually, I'm getting sort of fond of that. Maybe it's just me becoming slightly perverse, or it could be the genetics! I mean, my dad sees EVERYTHING, and-"
Lara chuckled. "Well, in any case, that's glad to know. I was getting afraid your face might melt off."
"I did sort of ignite sometimes, didn't I?" Drake admitted, laughing.
"So, you're okay with me intentionally triggering your drool releasing?" Lara asked, in an intimate whisper.
"Only if you're okay with the hottest thing between us being you, and not my face." Drake smiled.
With that comment, Lara pulled him into a strong kiss, and only stopped when Drake's wings started to get weak from lack of oxygen.
"Agreed!" Lara said happily. "Court adjourned, let's review!"
"Maybe when we have a quiet place to go over the facts." Drake smirked. Smirked, because it caused HER to blush heavily, though she grinned at the thought.
Meanwhile, in some joint-Soul Room, their yamis oversaw them.
"Hah! Told you Drake would do it eventually! Pay up!" Lance bragged.
Prima scowled, then smirked evilly. "Sure thing! Cash, Credit, or 'other'?"
Lance grinned at the obvious 'other'. " Does 'other' have repeating interest?"
SMACK!
Prima grinned too, at her unconscious boyfriend.
"Maybe when our hikaris are old enough, Mr. Agni! Though, when the time comes, I hope I can have VERY successful buisiness with you..."
Back in the real world, sorta...
"Are you two done yet?" Simon demanded, sounding very annoyed.
"Yes, at least for now, why?" Drake asked.
"Because you guys are leading, and we passed the city two romantic nothings ago!" Yami scowled.
Looking back, both sweatdropped and did a mid-air facefault.
And so, one angry horse and two legs in Drake's face because of the swift turn, the group turned back.
***************************************************************
Bakura Ryou collapsed. Ever since his yami had pulled that horrible trick, he had been slowly moving through the city, going less than a mile a day.
He was weak, starving, and, unknowingly, in need of a few thousand more blood cells than he had.
He had never really wished ill of anyone, but his yami's deed had just earned the first honor.
Suddenly, he felt like he was being lifted up, but had no arms doing so!
He looked ahead. His vision was too blurry to see, but he saw a vaguely humanoid shape ahead, as well as many confusing colors and patterns.
"Well, my good fellow, you certainly seemed to have gone through the runner, haven't you?" The person ahead of him chuckled insanely.
Bakura grimaced. This person was not only humored by his pain, or the owner of a very sadistic aura, but was using a VERY lame mockery of a British accent.
He fell unconscious, and the mysterious figure made him float over to him.
"Hello? Kimon?" The mysterious figure asked, strangly speaking into a white handkerchief, "This is Piedmon, I've found him!"
With that, the figure known as Piedmon dissappeared, along with Bakura.
***************************************************************
Shayla turned her Scales on again as the podium reached the top, and looked toward Shadi.
"You may go first," Shadi said politely. He seemed anxious to see her first move.
"Very well, a monster card facedown, and one other card facedown."
Her cards appeared on the field.
"I will play my own monster facedown, and end my turn," Shadi said, looking to her.
"No magic or trap cards?" Joey asked. "Why would he just defend?"
"He must have a high defense monster, aiming for her to lose life points by attacking," Marik said.
Shayla thought for a minute, then smiled. "I flip Invader of the Throne, switching it for your facedown monster!" [1350/1700]
The monsters immediately switched places, and she continued, "I'll also play Versago the Destroyer, in defense mode!" [1100/800]
Versago was wrapped head to toe in sickly green cloth, so tightly that the only hint it was a female was her long violet hair streaming out of the folds, ending in sharp spikes.
"I'll also flip my magic card, a Ritual Magic card called Resurruction of Chakra!"
Instantly, Shadi's old monster dissapeared, and Versago went through a dramatic change. The cloth dissapeared, but before anyone could see for a second what her appearance was, her hair suddenly surrounded her.
The long threads tightened, and with a flash became skin. Versago had changed from a mummy-like sorceress into a large, six-legged demon, purple almost everywhere except for it's single green eye. [2450/2000]
"Very interesting," Helios remarked, clapping for Shayla. "Little Shayla-girl must really study her monsters! How else would she, or anyone else for that matter, realize exactly what the Chakra really is? Yes, a demon, but a demon that was once a sorceress! It also makes her unique: her deck type is female, but most duelists of the same kind of deck either ignore the Chakra for looks, or don't know it's a woman! She's much more serious than any other female-deck using duelist I've seen before!"
{Yeah, you'd know that, Yami Peg-ass!} Joey thought, smirking.
As Helios scowled at the mental remark, Shayla used Chakra to destroy her old Invader.
"Very skilled manuever," Shadi complimented. [LP: 900] "Now, it's my turn."
He drew a card, and smiled. "I'll counter your squidlike monster with a little fresh water! Suijin!" [2500/2400]
Suijin looked mostly like a pair of legs, metallic and blue. Where the waist would be, however, was a skull with a hinged mouth.
"Suijin, wash her creature away!" he commanded.
Shayla wasn't too affected by the loss. She had a few other plans to count on. [LP: 1950]
"Two cards facedown, and another monster facedown!"
"Then I will add to my assault," he said. "Sanga of the Thunder." [2600/2200]
Sanga was basically a floating red sphere, except for the two arms coming from it's sides.
"A Gate Guardian deck," Shayla stated, as she flipped her trap card. "Spell-binding Circle!"
Shadi scowled as his attack was blocked, and his monster weakened. [1900/2200]
"Now that it's my turn, I play Monster Reborn, and play another card facedown."
The Chakra reappeared in a flash of light, in defense mode.
{Ah! Quite a brilliant idea, Shayla-girl!} Helios thought. { If he summons Kazejin now, your Spell-binding Circle's power will make the Gate Guardian's three pieces will stay at their original stats when they fuse! Not only that, but those stats, in truth, will ALL be weakened 700 points, making his threat non-existant, and your victory assured!}
"I don't think so!" Shadi countered." First, I flip my own Circle, then I summon Kotadoma!" [0/1600]
Kotadoma looked like a human, carved out of coal, with orange markings all over it's body.
"As long as Kotadoma is on the field, cards of the same name cannot be on the field at the same time!" Shadi explained, and both Circles dissapeared into some strange rift in space.
"Now, I use Stop Defense on your facedown card!" he added, revealing the Mystical Sand. [2100/1800]
"I also use this two card combo! Tribute to the Doomed destroys one monster on your field, in exchange for me discarding one card."
Shayla's Chakra was re-wrapped, and a giant arm burst from the ground, dragging it to the Graveyard again.
"Finally, I'll use Monster Reborn to revive the card I sent to the graveyard, Kazejin!"
In a flash, the three pieces dissapeared, replaced by a combination of the three. The Gate Guardian had Suijin for legs, and Sanga as an upper torso. Kazejin connected the two, creating the monster now on the field. [3750/3400]
"Now, I'll destroy your Mystical Sand!" he said, the same stoic expression on his face. "Thunderstroke attack!"
Wind and Water mixed together, swirling up to the head of the Guardian. Sanga's lightning mixed with the two, creating a massive beam of energy heading for the Mystical Sand.
"I flip Negate Attack!" Shayla countered, and the attack was nullified in midair.
"I now flip my facedown card, the Malevolent Nuzzler." [2800/1800]
"Mystical Sand, attack with Petrifier Spell!" she commanded, to the shock of the audience.
However, the audience was even more shocked when the Guardian suddenly lost it's head.
"Ahh, I see. Very keen thinking, Shayla," Shadi complimented.
"Explanation?" Joey asked Marik, who returned a confused look.
"I think I know how this happened, but I can't be sure," Helios said.
Shadi, however, had different thoughts. {It appears she isn't having just dreams! Her dueling skill, her knowledge of the game from ancient times, is also returning to her!}
He grimaced at the witch on her side of the field, who grinned at the wreckage of Sanga.
{When the Ancient Egyptians created a few unique Duel Monsters, they paid special care to the power of sand. They respected the dangerous desert, and one sorceror created the Mystical Sand to embody it! The sand would have turned to mud if Suijin had countered, splashing the INDIVIDUAL pieces all at once, finishing me! Kazejin's wind would create a dustdevil, also finishing the Guardian, and my Points. So, Sanga took the fall, and I still have a chance!} [LP: 600]
"My Kazejin is still a wind-type, with an advantage to your earthen witch!" he yelled. "Windbreak!"
"I flip my trap, Widespread Ruin!" she said, and with a large explosion, the rest of the Gate Guardian was destroyed.
Shadi grimaced, easily seen as backed into a corner. {How can I make a comeback? Wait.... a comeback!}
"I play this magic card, a Ritual called Revival of Sennen!" He proclamed, and out of the ground burst a monster.
It was taller than the Gate Guardian had been, looked like a perfect example of a blue ogre, and had one eye like Chakra. It held several golden Items with the Millenium symbol on them.
"This is Sengenjin, the guardian of the Millenium Items whose owners used them improperly, and were discovered!" Shadi said, scowling at Helios and Marik. [2750/2500]
"That's still not strong enough." Shayla pointed.
"Then allow me to present the difference!" He claimed." Shield & Sword!"
Both monsters stats were flipped, and the Mystical Sand had definatly lost her cocky look. [1800/2800] [2500/2750]
"Sengenjin! Attack with your Millenium Retribution!"
Every single Item the monster carried glowed brightly, and it's fists were filled with immeasurable mystic energy.
"Not so fast, I have another facedown card!" She said, revealing it." Dust Tornado! It allows me to destroy one of your magic cards, and set another card on the field.
Shadi, however, looked surprisingly calm as the sand twister blew away his Shield & Sword.
"Apparantly you didn't read the card correctly." He chuckled." Dust Tornado DOES destroy the magic card, BUT, if the card's effects aren't continuous, it never NEGATES an effect! Our monster's powers are still reveresed!"
Shayla grimaced. {Of all the moves to forget, it's one of my Mystical Sand combos!}
"Sengenjin, attack!" Shadi commanded again. This time the monster jumped forward at an unbelievable speed, ready to blast the Mystical Sand into dust.
"And apparantly, you forgot the card I was allowed to put down, thanks to Dust Tornado!" Shayla retorted," I now reveal the card that will either end the match for me, or end it for you!"
The Sengenjin stopped, purplexed by the aura that was now surrounding the Mystical Sand.
"The trap card, Earthshaker! It allows YOU to choose two types of monster that are on the field, and, depending on whether my Mystical Sand can channel the power the correct way, one type will be destroyed!"
"Very well." Shadi said. " as there are only two types of monster, I can only say those. Beast-Warrior, and Rock!"
Immediately the aura burst twice as bright, and the ground started to tremble.
{Hehehe, quite an interesting play!} Marik thought spitefully.{That stone witch will either destroy her opponant, leaving Shadi open to a direct assault on the next turn, or obliterate herself, giving Shadi the opening!}
A final flash of light shone. When it dissapeared, their was only one monster left on the field, and a clutter of odd Millenium Items on the ground.
"My Sengenjin is destroyed." Shadi said, smiling as the Mystical Sand took his last points. "You win."
Shayla looked down, turning off her Scales, as the podium descended. Shadi looked at the light streaking toward him, and a solemn look appeared on his face.
"It's up to them now. The final battle approaches."
The light hit, and he, like the others, vanished.
***************************************************************
"I still don't believe this will work." A very bitter Ryou scowled as Kaiba started the program.
"Believe me, it will. Those fools have become so confident that my holographic technology is flawless, that they'll believe even this pathetic bluff." He answered, placing his deck into the slot the computer opened.
"Now, what monster would the executives least like to see chasing them first......"
*This will be very amusing.* Seth mentally grinned. *Seeing those cowards run from a hologram will be very entertaining.*
"Ahh, of course," Seto smiled, keying in the name of his first card," I sure hope they're in the mood for a 'side-splitting' experience! D.A.R.K. Z.E.B.R.A."
Instantly, a computer within the building created holograms of several large and heavy pieces of furniture, and the horned zoo animal, with a definite temper.
Seto smirked as he started hearing the screams of fear." Don't worry Mokuba, as soon as I can scare these wimps out, I'll be with you again. Let's see, V.A.M.P.I.R.E. L.O.R.D."
***************************************************************
Drake and the others' mouths dropped as they heard the explanation from the others.
"You mean..... Bakura, Mike, Mokuba, Kaiba, Ishizu, and Shadi are all dead!?"
"Keith and Buster, too." Marik whispered, smirking.
Yami looked down in anger, Yugi seemed to be in shock.
"What about Tea? Tristan, Mai, the entire audience!?"
"Soul cards, all of them." Joey grimaced.
Simon finally spoke up. "I believe it's time we pay a little visit to Helios. Millenium Code or not, this is inhuman, and it cannot continue!"
"Good luck, I've already searched the whole building. He ditched us as soon as Shadi lost." Ryo said, to the surprised looks on everyone's faces.
"But, where would he go?" Lara asked," He wants the Millenium Items, why would he leave?"
The answer was given by a voice at the gates." I...I know where he went."
The group turned to see who they knew as Buster Slade in the doorway.
Drake's sad expression over the fate of the Coliseum's duels quickly turned to rage." What are YOU doing here!? More importantly, why are you still alive!?"
"Because I don't won't to be." He answered the second question, looking down." And I came here to try and help you."
"Help us?" Drake replied," Aren't there enough snakes wrapping us into a corner already?"
"Drake, stop."
Everyone turned to Yami, who seemed to have a strange look of understanding on his face.
He slowly walked to Buster, and looked him in the eye. He looked shorter than he remembered, barely matching Joey's height.
"I see," He said, with pity in his eyes," When I tried to shatter your mind, it failed. You were under the control of some evil force, and I sent it out!"
"Yes, and no." The sorrowing teen answered." You forced an evil out, but not only that evil! You..... you sent out ALL of my evil..... I....."
Here, he collapsed to his knees." Why did I have to...... why did you....... I can't stand it!" He screamed. " I've lived my whole life not knowing the meaning of remorse, now knowing who or what I was! I joined the Fiend Empire when I came to this realm, and was possesed by the conscious of Zera the Mant!"
This brought about a reaction. Drake's eyes went wide. Everyone else was merely shocked.
"You forced him out.... but he took the rest of me with him!" He continued, before angrily slamming his fist on the floor." My name is Roan Buster Sladiar, a person without a past! I can't remember anything of a real life, I can only remember the pain I never felt for doing my horrible deeds! And the names of the people who's lives I've ruined! "
Here, he made a choking noise, followed by what sounded like," Seri....."
Lara looked at Drake questioningly, who walked over to Buster, no, Roan, and kneeled down to his level.
"Bu- Roan, I'm sorry, I didn't know."
Roan looked up, and surprisingly saw compassion in Drake's eyes." You're not the first person I've misjudged in life, and most likely won't be the last. I know how hard it must be, but will you at least accept my apology?"
Roan looked at the hand Drake extended, for a moment as if it were some kind of priceless artifact. After a moment, he made a weak smile, and shook it.
"He's heading for the Fortress of Skulls, far to the north." Roan said, stepping up." I felt it.. Zera is calling all of his supporters... he's ready for battle, and he aims to rule!"
"Well, that's too bad for him!" Yami said, raising a fist in the air." We're stopping this madness! Our friends will NOT have given their lives in vane!"
"And we'll save everyone's souls!" Yugi added, also pumping a fist." I won't let my friends, or all those people, be some kind of collector's item for a monster!"
"And let's not forget, most important of all, let's save the whole darned world!" Ryo exclaimed.
"But first, I believe there needs to be a little exchange." Simon interjected. Yami smiled, knowinhg what he meant.
"Here, Roan, this belongs to you!"
Roan looked at the card, and scowled." Not this, I can't use it. It's only a reminder of who I once was!"
"And who you may be again!" The spirit of the Puzzle corrected." Never forget your past, or you're doomed to repeat it! It's the fate that I fear will befall me. Besides, I have a feeling this card needs YOU to be the one to help it. I can't undo any feelings you may have instilled in his heart, that is your duty!"
Roan looked at the card again, the Buster Blader. He knew Yami was right.
"Very well, I'll do my best to make ammends!" He said proudly, before grinning with adrenaline," Starting with kicking that Prayer-less Mant-ass!"
The group chuckled, and finally left the demonic Coliseum. The battle that would decide it all was know apon them, and they would NOT fail!
***************************************************************
A/N: *In stupid fake french accent* It has begun! I weep for us.....
Magus: Finally! I was wondering when you would actually get him back on the good side!
All: *see Magus, then groan* ALLLLLLLLPHA!
Alpha: *sighs* It seems with every new fic I write, the amount of people bothering me as I write these fics increase.
Rika: Well, that fits in the subject labeled "DUH!"
Kazu: Hey, that's my line! Or it was going to be.....
Terriermon: Hey, great place you got here! *eats ice cream*
Alpha: *horrified* NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Drake: *eyes twitch* Henry..... get your partner to as far away a place as possible... NOW!
Henry: Uhh, why?
Alpha: Read the AN at the top of this chapter..... FAST!
Henry: *reads* Oh sweet merciful...... TERRIERMON! No more sugar! EVER!
Terriermon: Aww.w.ww..ww.w Nutsststsssstts!
Takato: *sweatdrops* Sugar high records will never be the same.
Next chapter: The final battle has finally come! The Divine start the attack, and the front lines guarding Zera's fortress quickly fall. However, when the Cosmo Queen is taken out by the Lord of Zemia's traps, the good guys fall at a serious disadvantage. And when Zera finally steps up, will our heroes save the day? Or will an even greater danger present itself, when an ally loses control? And in the real world, when the Kaiba brothers reunite, a mysterious figure appears? Who is this mysterious creature, and what part has it played since that fateful day Drake met the others? A climax is met, next time on Fellowship of the Dragoon!
The Future begins, the Past returns, and the Present's fate is determined.....
All: WHAT?!
Alpha: I am so frickin' BORED of non-tribute rules! They take too long, have little fairness if someone has an abundance of high-leveled cards, and ultimately are now obsolete with Battle City.
Chibi Vegeta: And exactly what are the others going to do, then?
All: *stare at the fact that the runty Saiyan found a way into this fic's AN*
Alpha: They're going to defeat Helios, the Fiend Empire, and get everyone out of the Shadow Realm so I can start making crossovers, as well as the actual sequel to this fic.
Drake: ACTUAL sequel!?
Alpha: Yes. I have infinitely many crossovers, some I haven't even thought of yet, to exploit.
Lance: Why, oh WHY do so many fictional things have dragons in them?
Alpha: I'm going to be writing the actual sequel, Dragon in the City, at the same time I write Between Monsters.
Helios: Dragon in the City? Between Monsters? *looks at Toon Mermaid* And I thought that I was bad at naming things!
Alpha: *grumbles* I'm open to review/e-mail suggestions.
Ash: *looks at list* Hey! There's a Pokemon crossover here! But it doesn't look like Drake's in it.
Drake: WHAT?! Man, the only thing I actually would VOLUNTEER to do, he isn't going to put me in?
Ash: Well, sorta. He's making a new character with your appearance and personality, a very often-used thing.
Lance: Let me guess, his name is Ryu, a dragon-using Cooltrainer, and he's my Poke' counterpart's student.
Alpha: .... IS EVERYTHING SO PREDICTABLE?! ARGHHHHHH!
Lance: When you write it down, yes.
Disclaimer: I've stated the obvious too much, but I will again say that Shayla and Martin are Gema J. Gall's characters, not mine.
Shayla: Whew! That's good to know! No offense guys, but I see enough of this idiot in POF meetings.
Alpha: And what makes you think you're off the hook? Gema already signed you up for the Digimon crossover, along with an original digimon! Plus, I most likely have plans for you and a certain Tournament-holder in Dragon in the City.
Seto: WHAT!?
Shayla: *grumbles* Give me one good reason why.
Alpha: *lifts up a bowl of ice cream, made from what was originally hot chocolate with marshmallows and candy canes* Well, I never DID give Gema a friendly Christmas present......
Non-POF members, except for Veggie and Ash: *remember, with great horror, the Yu-Gi-Oh Christmas Carol.
Everyone: PLEASE SIGN US UP FOR YOUR FICS!
Alpha: .... I don't need all of you.....
All Yu-Gi-Oh: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Yami Alpha: Since you obviously can't seem to shut up, I'll start the fic.
Alpha: When are you going to go away?
Yami Alpha: When the pyramids are turned back to their right position, instead of being upside down.
All: ......
Yami Alpha: Or, when you invent a Millennium Item for yourself, thus making me an actual Yami, and not just your conscious.
Alpha: Okay, I'll-
Chibi Vegeta: *presses enter key, fic is posted on FFN*
***************************************************************
Shayla woke up from a surprisingly dream-free night. Maybe it was the fact that she would duel for her life today, but she didn't have any dark dreams of the past.
She groaned, trudging downstairs. Maybe the reason she didn't sleep was that she had gone over her deck most of the night.
She stepped onto the podium, and was lifted up to the duel.
***************************************************************
Lara happily held on to Drake as they flew across the desert. Her wings had tired out a few minutes earlier, and now she was being carried like that day Drake had first transformed.
Yami and Simon were hovering over the ground at high speed, Simon by unknown ways. Yugi's horse was keeping him going just as fast.
"Drake?" she asked suddenly. "When this is all over, what happens next?"
Noticing her boyfriend's confused look, she explained," Your dad'll be free, as well as everyone in this wacky realm. Yugi and the others will have everything they want back to them, and our lives just might actually be normal for a while, but what next?"
"I don't know," he admitted, then grinned, "I'll have to get used to my girlfriend living in the same house, that's one thing!"
Lara playfully punched his cheek, then, holding on tighter, kissed the same spot.
"That's right," she said, smiling, "You're stuck with me."
"Wouldn't have it any other way," he whispered, with a surprisingly high amount of passion.
"Oh, really?" Lara asked, mocking disbelief. "Not even if I was less of a flirt?"
With this, and a seductive smile, she gently stroked Drake's arm.
To her surprise, he flushed only slightly. "Actually, I'm getting sort of fond of that. Maybe it's just me becoming slightly perverse, or it could be the genetics! I mean, my dad sees EVERYTHING, and-"
Lara chuckled. "Well, in any case, that's glad to know. I was getting afraid your face might melt off."
"I did sort of ignite sometimes, didn't I?" Drake admitted, laughing.
"So, you're okay with me intentionally triggering your drool releasing?" Lara asked, in an intimate whisper.
"Only if you're okay with the hottest thing between us being you, and not my face." Drake smiled.
With that comment, Lara pulled him into a strong kiss, and only stopped when Drake's wings started to get weak from lack of oxygen.
"Agreed!" Lara said happily. "Court adjourned, let's review!"
"Maybe when we have a quiet place to go over the facts." Drake smirked. Smirked, because it caused HER to blush heavily, though she grinned at the thought.
Meanwhile, in some joint-Soul Room, their yamis oversaw them.
"Hah! Told you Drake would do it eventually! Pay up!" Lance bragged.
Prima scowled, then smirked evilly. "Sure thing! Cash, Credit, or 'other'?"
Lance grinned at the obvious 'other'. " Does 'other' have repeating interest?"
SMACK!
Prima grinned too, at her unconscious boyfriend.
"Maybe when our hikaris are old enough, Mr. Agni! Though, when the time comes, I hope I can have VERY successful buisiness with you..."
Back in the real world, sorta...
"Are you two done yet?" Simon demanded, sounding very annoyed.
"Yes, at least for now, why?" Drake asked.
"Because you guys are leading, and we passed the city two romantic nothings ago!" Yami scowled.
Looking back, both sweatdropped and did a mid-air facefault.
And so, one angry horse and two legs in Drake's face because of the swift turn, the group turned back.
***************************************************************
Bakura Ryou collapsed. Ever since his yami had pulled that horrible trick, he had been slowly moving through the city, going less than a mile a day.
He was weak, starving, and, unknowingly, in need of a few thousand more blood cells than he had.
He had never really wished ill of anyone, but his yami's deed had just earned the first honor.
Suddenly, he felt like he was being lifted up, but had no arms doing so!
He looked ahead. His vision was too blurry to see, but he saw a vaguely humanoid shape ahead, as well as many confusing colors and patterns.
"Well, my good fellow, you certainly seemed to have gone through the runner, haven't you?" The person ahead of him chuckled insanely.
Bakura grimaced. This person was not only humored by his pain, or the owner of a very sadistic aura, but was using a VERY lame mockery of a British accent.
He fell unconscious, and the mysterious figure made him float over to him.
"Hello? Kimon?" The mysterious figure asked, strangly speaking into a white handkerchief, "This is Piedmon, I've found him!"
With that, the figure known as Piedmon dissappeared, along with Bakura.
***************************************************************
Shayla turned her Scales on again as the podium reached the top, and looked toward Shadi.
"You may go first," Shadi said politely. He seemed anxious to see her first move.
"Very well, a monster card facedown, and one other card facedown."
Her cards appeared on the field.
"I will play my own monster facedown, and end my turn," Shadi said, looking to her.
"No magic or trap cards?" Joey asked. "Why would he just defend?"
"He must have a high defense monster, aiming for her to lose life points by attacking," Marik said.
Shayla thought for a minute, then smiled. "I flip Invader of the Throne, switching it for your facedown monster!" [1350/1700]
The monsters immediately switched places, and she continued, "I'll also play Versago the Destroyer, in defense mode!" [1100/800]
Versago was wrapped head to toe in sickly green cloth, so tightly that the only hint it was a female was her long violet hair streaming out of the folds, ending in sharp spikes.
"I'll also flip my magic card, a Ritual Magic card called Resurruction of Chakra!"
Instantly, Shadi's old monster dissapeared, and Versago went through a dramatic change. The cloth dissapeared, but before anyone could see for a second what her appearance was, her hair suddenly surrounded her.
The long threads tightened, and with a flash became skin. Versago had changed from a mummy-like sorceress into a large, six-legged demon, purple almost everywhere except for it's single green eye. [2450/2000]
"Very interesting," Helios remarked, clapping for Shayla. "Little Shayla-girl must really study her monsters! How else would she, or anyone else for that matter, realize exactly what the Chakra really is? Yes, a demon, but a demon that was once a sorceress! It also makes her unique: her deck type is female, but most duelists of the same kind of deck either ignore the Chakra for looks, or don't know it's a woman! She's much more serious than any other female-deck using duelist I've seen before!"
{Yeah, you'd know that, Yami Peg-ass!} Joey thought, smirking.
As Helios scowled at the mental remark, Shayla used Chakra to destroy her old Invader.
"Very skilled manuever," Shadi complimented. [LP: 900] "Now, it's my turn."
He drew a card, and smiled. "I'll counter your squidlike monster with a little fresh water! Suijin!" [2500/2400]
Suijin looked mostly like a pair of legs, metallic and blue. Where the waist would be, however, was a skull with a hinged mouth.
"Suijin, wash her creature away!" he commanded.
Shayla wasn't too affected by the loss. She had a few other plans to count on. [LP: 1950]
"Two cards facedown, and another monster facedown!"
"Then I will add to my assault," he said. "Sanga of the Thunder." [2600/2200]
Sanga was basically a floating red sphere, except for the two arms coming from it's sides.
"A Gate Guardian deck," Shayla stated, as she flipped her trap card. "Spell-binding Circle!"
Shadi scowled as his attack was blocked, and his monster weakened. [1900/2200]
"Now that it's my turn, I play Monster Reborn, and play another card facedown."
The Chakra reappeared in a flash of light, in defense mode.
{Ah! Quite a brilliant idea, Shayla-girl!} Helios thought. { If he summons Kazejin now, your Spell-binding Circle's power will make the Gate Guardian's three pieces will stay at their original stats when they fuse! Not only that, but those stats, in truth, will ALL be weakened 700 points, making his threat non-existant, and your victory assured!}
"I don't think so!" Shadi countered." First, I flip my own Circle, then I summon Kotadoma!" [0/1600]
Kotadoma looked like a human, carved out of coal, with orange markings all over it's body.
"As long as Kotadoma is on the field, cards of the same name cannot be on the field at the same time!" Shadi explained, and both Circles dissapeared into some strange rift in space.
"Now, I use Stop Defense on your facedown card!" he added, revealing the Mystical Sand. [2100/1800]
"I also use this two card combo! Tribute to the Doomed destroys one monster on your field, in exchange for me discarding one card."
Shayla's Chakra was re-wrapped, and a giant arm burst from the ground, dragging it to the Graveyard again.
"Finally, I'll use Monster Reborn to revive the card I sent to the graveyard, Kazejin!"
In a flash, the three pieces dissapeared, replaced by a combination of the three. The Gate Guardian had Suijin for legs, and Sanga as an upper torso. Kazejin connected the two, creating the monster now on the field. [3750/3400]
"Now, I'll destroy your Mystical Sand!" he said, the same stoic expression on his face. "Thunderstroke attack!"
Wind and Water mixed together, swirling up to the head of the Guardian. Sanga's lightning mixed with the two, creating a massive beam of energy heading for the Mystical Sand.
"I flip Negate Attack!" Shayla countered, and the attack was nullified in midair.
"I now flip my facedown card, the Malevolent Nuzzler." [2800/1800]
"Mystical Sand, attack with Petrifier Spell!" she commanded, to the shock of the audience.
However, the audience was even more shocked when the Guardian suddenly lost it's head.
"Ahh, I see. Very keen thinking, Shayla," Shadi complimented.
"Explanation?" Joey asked Marik, who returned a confused look.
"I think I know how this happened, but I can't be sure," Helios said.
Shadi, however, had different thoughts. {It appears she isn't having just dreams! Her dueling skill, her knowledge of the game from ancient times, is also returning to her!}
He grimaced at the witch on her side of the field, who grinned at the wreckage of Sanga.
{When the Ancient Egyptians created a few unique Duel Monsters, they paid special care to the power of sand. They respected the dangerous desert, and one sorceror created the Mystical Sand to embody it! The sand would have turned to mud if Suijin had countered, splashing the INDIVIDUAL pieces all at once, finishing me! Kazejin's wind would create a dustdevil, also finishing the Guardian, and my Points. So, Sanga took the fall, and I still have a chance!} [LP: 600]
"My Kazejin is still a wind-type, with an advantage to your earthen witch!" he yelled. "Windbreak!"
"I flip my trap, Widespread Ruin!" she said, and with a large explosion, the rest of the Gate Guardian was destroyed.
Shadi grimaced, easily seen as backed into a corner. {How can I make a comeback? Wait.... a comeback!}
"I play this magic card, a Ritual called Revival of Sennen!" He proclamed, and out of the ground burst a monster.
It was taller than the Gate Guardian had been, looked like a perfect example of a blue ogre, and had one eye like Chakra. It held several golden Items with the Millenium symbol on them.
"This is Sengenjin, the guardian of the Millenium Items whose owners used them improperly, and were discovered!" Shadi said, scowling at Helios and Marik. [2750/2500]
"That's still not strong enough." Shayla pointed.
"Then allow me to present the difference!" He claimed." Shield & Sword!"
Both monsters stats were flipped, and the Mystical Sand had definatly lost her cocky look. [1800/2800] [2500/2750]
"Sengenjin! Attack with your Millenium Retribution!"
Every single Item the monster carried glowed brightly, and it's fists were filled with immeasurable mystic energy.
"Not so fast, I have another facedown card!" She said, revealing it." Dust Tornado! It allows me to destroy one of your magic cards, and set another card on the field.
Shadi, however, looked surprisingly calm as the sand twister blew away his Shield & Sword.
"Apparantly you didn't read the card correctly." He chuckled." Dust Tornado DOES destroy the magic card, BUT, if the card's effects aren't continuous, it never NEGATES an effect! Our monster's powers are still reveresed!"
Shayla grimaced. {Of all the moves to forget, it's one of my Mystical Sand combos!}
"Sengenjin, attack!" Shadi commanded again. This time the monster jumped forward at an unbelievable speed, ready to blast the Mystical Sand into dust.
"And apparantly, you forgot the card I was allowed to put down, thanks to Dust Tornado!" Shayla retorted," I now reveal the card that will either end the match for me, or end it for you!"
The Sengenjin stopped, purplexed by the aura that was now surrounding the Mystical Sand.
"The trap card, Earthshaker! It allows YOU to choose two types of monster that are on the field, and, depending on whether my Mystical Sand can channel the power the correct way, one type will be destroyed!"
"Very well." Shadi said. " as there are only two types of monster, I can only say those. Beast-Warrior, and Rock!"
Immediately the aura burst twice as bright, and the ground started to tremble.
{Hehehe, quite an interesting play!} Marik thought spitefully.{That stone witch will either destroy her opponant, leaving Shadi open to a direct assault on the next turn, or obliterate herself, giving Shadi the opening!}
A final flash of light shone. When it dissapeared, their was only one monster left on the field, and a clutter of odd Millenium Items on the ground.
"My Sengenjin is destroyed." Shadi said, smiling as the Mystical Sand took his last points. "You win."
Shayla looked down, turning off her Scales, as the podium descended. Shadi looked at the light streaking toward him, and a solemn look appeared on his face.
"It's up to them now. The final battle approaches."
The light hit, and he, like the others, vanished.
***************************************************************
"I still don't believe this will work." A very bitter Ryou scowled as Kaiba started the program.
"Believe me, it will. Those fools have become so confident that my holographic technology is flawless, that they'll believe even this pathetic bluff." He answered, placing his deck into the slot the computer opened.
"Now, what monster would the executives least like to see chasing them first......"
*This will be very amusing.* Seth mentally grinned. *Seeing those cowards run from a hologram will be very entertaining.*
"Ahh, of course," Seto smiled, keying in the name of his first card," I sure hope they're in the mood for a 'side-splitting' experience! D.A.R.K. Z.E.B.R.A."
Instantly, a computer within the building created holograms of several large and heavy pieces of furniture, and the horned zoo animal, with a definite temper.
Seto smirked as he started hearing the screams of fear." Don't worry Mokuba, as soon as I can scare these wimps out, I'll be with you again. Let's see, V.A.M.P.I.R.E. L.O.R.D."
***************************************************************
Drake and the others' mouths dropped as they heard the explanation from the others.
"You mean..... Bakura, Mike, Mokuba, Kaiba, Ishizu, and Shadi are all dead!?"
"Keith and Buster, too." Marik whispered, smirking.
Yami looked down in anger, Yugi seemed to be in shock.
"What about Tea? Tristan, Mai, the entire audience!?"
"Soul cards, all of them." Joey grimaced.
Simon finally spoke up. "I believe it's time we pay a little visit to Helios. Millenium Code or not, this is inhuman, and it cannot continue!"
"Good luck, I've already searched the whole building. He ditched us as soon as Shadi lost." Ryo said, to the surprised looks on everyone's faces.
"But, where would he go?" Lara asked," He wants the Millenium Items, why would he leave?"
The answer was given by a voice at the gates." I...I know where he went."
The group turned to see who they knew as Buster Slade in the doorway.
Drake's sad expression over the fate of the Coliseum's duels quickly turned to rage." What are YOU doing here!? More importantly, why are you still alive!?"
"Because I don't won't to be." He answered the second question, looking down." And I came here to try and help you."
"Help us?" Drake replied," Aren't there enough snakes wrapping us into a corner already?"
"Drake, stop."
Everyone turned to Yami, who seemed to have a strange look of understanding on his face.
He slowly walked to Buster, and looked him in the eye. He looked shorter than he remembered, barely matching Joey's height.
"I see," He said, with pity in his eyes," When I tried to shatter your mind, it failed. You were under the control of some evil force, and I sent it out!"
"Yes, and no." The sorrowing teen answered." You forced an evil out, but not only that evil! You..... you sent out ALL of my evil..... I....."
Here, he collapsed to his knees." Why did I have to...... why did you....... I can't stand it!" He screamed. " I've lived my whole life not knowing the meaning of remorse, now knowing who or what I was! I joined the Fiend Empire when I came to this realm, and was possesed by the conscious of Zera the Mant!"
This brought about a reaction. Drake's eyes went wide. Everyone else was merely shocked.
"You forced him out.... but he took the rest of me with him!" He continued, before angrily slamming his fist on the floor." My name is Roan Buster Sladiar, a person without a past! I can't remember anything of a real life, I can only remember the pain I never felt for doing my horrible deeds! And the names of the people who's lives I've ruined! "
Here, he made a choking noise, followed by what sounded like," Seri....."
Lara looked at Drake questioningly, who walked over to Buster, no, Roan, and kneeled down to his level.
"Bu- Roan, I'm sorry, I didn't know."
Roan looked up, and surprisingly saw compassion in Drake's eyes." You're not the first person I've misjudged in life, and most likely won't be the last. I know how hard it must be, but will you at least accept my apology?"
Roan looked at the hand Drake extended, for a moment as if it were some kind of priceless artifact. After a moment, he made a weak smile, and shook it.
"He's heading for the Fortress of Skulls, far to the north." Roan said, stepping up." I felt it.. Zera is calling all of his supporters... he's ready for battle, and he aims to rule!"
"Well, that's too bad for him!" Yami said, raising a fist in the air." We're stopping this madness! Our friends will NOT have given their lives in vane!"
"And we'll save everyone's souls!" Yugi added, also pumping a fist." I won't let my friends, or all those people, be some kind of collector's item for a monster!"
"And let's not forget, most important of all, let's save the whole darned world!" Ryo exclaimed.
"But first, I believe there needs to be a little exchange." Simon interjected. Yami smiled, knowinhg what he meant.
"Here, Roan, this belongs to you!"
Roan looked at the card, and scowled." Not this, I can't use it. It's only a reminder of who I once was!"
"And who you may be again!" The spirit of the Puzzle corrected." Never forget your past, or you're doomed to repeat it! It's the fate that I fear will befall me. Besides, I have a feeling this card needs YOU to be the one to help it. I can't undo any feelings you may have instilled in his heart, that is your duty!"
Roan looked at the card again, the Buster Blader. He knew Yami was right.
"Very well, I'll do my best to make ammends!" He said proudly, before grinning with adrenaline," Starting with kicking that Prayer-less Mant-ass!"
The group chuckled, and finally left the demonic Coliseum. The battle that would decide it all was know apon them, and they would NOT fail!
***************************************************************
A/N: *In stupid fake french accent* It has begun! I weep for us.....
Magus: Finally! I was wondering when you would actually get him back on the good side!
All: *see Magus, then groan* ALLLLLLLLPHA!
Alpha: *sighs* It seems with every new fic I write, the amount of people bothering me as I write these fics increase.
Rika: Well, that fits in the subject labeled "DUH!"
Kazu: Hey, that's my line! Or it was going to be.....
Terriermon: Hey, great place you got here! *eats ice cream*
Alpha: *horrified* NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Drake: *eyes twitch* Henry..... get your partner to as far away a place as possible... NOW!
Henry: Uhh, why?
Alpha: Read the AN at the top of this chapter..... FAST!
Henry: *reads* Oh sweet merciful...... TERRIERMON! No more sugar! EVER!
Terriermon: Aww.w.ww..ww.w Nutsststsssstts!
Takato: *sweatdrops* Sugar high records will never be the same.
Next chapter: The final battle has finally come! The Divine start the attack, and the front lines guarding Zera's fortress quickly fall. However, when the Cosmo Queen is taken out by the Lord of Zemia's traps, the good guys fall at a serious disadvantage. And when Zera finally steps up, will our heroes save the day? Or will an even greater danger present itself, when an ally loses control? And in the real world, when the Kaiba brothers reunite, a mysterious figure appears? Who is this mysterious creature, and what part has it played since that fateful day Drake met the others? A climax is met, next time on Fellowship of the Dragoon!
The Future begins, the Past returns, and the Present's fate is determined.....