** Henry: 50 LP || Zero: 3099 LP **
Zero and Henry stood at opposite sides of the battlefield. The summoning circle that protected Zero from direct attack was still in effect, and Henry was still suffering the aftereffects of the quick attack that nearly wiped out his life points. The boy's shirt was torn, but only because Henry had used parts of it to give Joey some first aid. Now, Joey was unconscious and Henry was alone again.
"I rarely meet warriors with your level of tenacity," Zero commented. "This girl, Jeri... she must be important to you."
"So is Takato," the tamer snarled. "And everyone I'm friends with."
"I had friends once. But ultimately, it was their mortal weaknesses that sent them to the afterlife." Zero inhaled deeply, then slowly let the air out of his lungs. "It is the curse of a Ka to live forever, and forever witness death. True Ka do not have friends."
"You've... mentioned that word before. Ka. Tell me what it is. So at least I know why you killed Takato"
Rapidmon waited patiently for a command. The monster dared not move a muscle, for fear that the battle would begin anew, and his tamer would suffer more.
"It is something like me," Zero finally answered. "A spirit that lives through the centuries, guiding the lives of the mortals." Zero's puzzle glowed as his memories rose to the surface.
"So you're... a ghost?"
"An apt comparison. But I am more than a mere ghost. Every mortal has a past life that they cannot remember. Another 'self' that has existed in another time. Some of these selves have such great force of will, that their personalities are burned into the soul that created them. As the soul is reborn through the centuries, the personality sometimes influences its descendants or takes control outright. Other times, the personality takes on a life of its own, such as it did in ancient Egypt in the form of monsters."
"Monsters?" Flash
"...I created Guilmon. He is a part of me. And I am a part of him. Without him, I feel... incomplete. There must be a way to get him back. And I'm going to find it." Flash
"Ka..." Henry looked at his fallen friend, and sighed. "Takato..."
"These Ka are sources of great power. Many people try to acquire the power of the Ka by stealing the ancient items that carry them, or capturing the monsters that host them. But I have discovered a way to draw out the spirit directly, and claim it as my own. In this way, I can gain enough power to control the ultimate power."
"Is that why you attacked Takato? Because you think he has one of these Ka? If so, then I think you have the wrong guy," Henry lied. "Takato's never done anything that'd make me believe he was that great. Neither has Jeri."
"...Then you don't think destroying the D-Reaper was an impressive feat?"
Henry gasped. Zero chuckled a bit.
"Yes... I know a lot about you and your friends. Even more than the various journalists who published your story. Innocent Takato has accomplished much in his young life. He created a Digimon, unleashed the powers of the Crystal Matrix through the Blue Cards, and achieved Biomerge Digivolution, all through force of will. These actions are not possible for those without Ka."
"But... why Jeri? She is a great person, but she's legendary."
"I beg to differ," Zero said. "Jeri has a mighty spirit... as do you, and the redhead. All of you have some measure of greatness within you. Those who possess Ka are destined to change the world."
"So you're going to steal that gift from us!? For some 'ultimate power'?"
Zero looked at the girl lying unconscious at his feet. "Just as Takato is destined for Creation, Jeri is destined for Destruction. It is this destiny that drew the infantile D-Reaper to her, and enabled it to grow within her and achieve its final form in the real world."
"Jeri has many past selves within her that were equally destined for Destruction. The face of Destruction has changed with the times. Exodia and D-Reaper are two parts of the same force... a force tied to Jeri's lineage."
Henry never imagined that Jeri was so cursed. "No..."
"Just as Jeri gave physical form to the D-Reaper, she can also give physical form to the Forbidden One. It is Jeri's birthright to unseal him, and unleash the ultimate power He possesses. All she needs is a little 'nudge' into the realm of depression and fear. And I intend to give her that nudge. Starting with the elimination of her loved ones, one by one, and the enslavement of the very power that makes them special."
"You... you monster!" Henry shouted. "RAPIDMON!!"
The digimon barked like a rabid dog and zoomed across the field to attack. Zero's powers must've been weakening, as he was actually worried about being hit. His hand shot up as he summoned another tablet, this time emblazoned with an ankh. The tablet shined its light on the field, and instantly the Black Luster Soldier returned.
"No way! He brought her back from the dead!" Henry didn't think it was possible to ressurect the dead... even if they were living holograms. Did Zero's "magic system" have any limits?
Rapidmon didn't stop his tackle, and slammed into the Black Luster Soldier. Surprised as she was, the soldier took the blow with less grace than normal. The two monsters rolled in the dirt and wrestled for control. As the battle continued, Henry prepared a strategy that would put Zero in his place.
"Armor Piercing!!" Henry slashed the option card, and three globes of light shot into Rapidmon from the ark. "Rapidmon, make this shot count!"
"You got it!" Rapidmon leaped into the air and flipped backwards as he powered up his shoulder cannons. He came to a quick stop, and the missiles shot from their pods like bullets. "Good~bye!" he growled.
"Mystical Elf, protect her!" Another tablet came into being and shined its light. A blue-skinned elf hovered above the Luster Soldier and shielded her body with her own. Rapidmon's attack sliced through the elf easily thanks to his armor-piercing attack. Parts of her robe fell everywhere like pillow stuffing. Her cries echoed through the field.
The Luster Soldier was injured by the bullets that got through, but she was alive. The monster got to her feet and raced to the opposite side of the field for better position. The power of the dead Elf went into the Luster Soldier and increased her strength to a competitive level. [ATK +400 / DEF +400 / SPD +4]
"It appears I have the advantage now," Zero smirked.
"Appearances can be deceiving," Henry reminded him. "But I'm sure a masked man would know all about appearances."
Zero laughed maliciously. "You're an amusing boy. I will regret killing you." Black Luster Soldier charged for Henry, but Rapidmon managed to zoom into the path of the attack and take the hit. The digimon fell with a cry as the monster's sword took out a chunk of his armor and disabled one of his missile pods before cutting into his skin. Henry cried out in a similar manner as Rapidmon's pain was transferred to him as well. They were lucky to be alive after a hit like that.
** Rapidmon: 1350 HP || Black Luster Soldier: 600 HP **
"It appears that my warrior has an advantage over machines like your friend," Zero taunted. "If he weren't so closely tied to you, he would've been sliced in half by her blade."
Henry's left arm was dead at its side, and Rapidmon was in the same predicament. Black Luster Soldier was peppered with missile wounds. Both monsters looked like they were ready to drop from exhaustion. The pain flowing through their bodies was intense.
And yet, both monsters were intent on finishing this battle. If only to see which of them was strongest. And even then, they already had deep respect for each other. Rapidmon just wasn't sure if the Black Luster Soldier was "free" enough to understand that.
"...Good game," the digimon said.
The soldier smiled, and nodded. And at that point, she attacked in full force.
~ ~ ~ ~
Rika and Ash rode towards the flaming ruins of Mihira Dungeon, only to be stopped by a crowd of walking, talking pokemon furries. The crowd and their fire squad of Squirtles were baffled by something in the fire-filled area.
"What the hell is going on?" Rika barked as she dismounted her Kyuubimon. "Get out of here before you get hurt!"
"We can't get into the trouble zone," said the leader of the Squirtle Squad, a turtle-man wearing a pair of black shades and a fireman's kimono. "There appears to be something blocking us. Some kind of barrier."
Rika approached the "barrier", where two Squirtle-men and a Vulpix-girl were tapping it curiously. Rika shooed them away and tested the barrier herself. With a flick of her finger, she noted it was quite solid. And quite invisible.
"What do you make of this?" Rika said as she turned around. Ash was making some odd stares at the Squirtle Squad, particularly their leader. "Ash?"
The young man blinked. "I don't know. I've never seen anything like it."
"Does it have something to do with those?" said the Vulpix-girl in a kawaii voice. She was looking at something above her. Rika, Ash, and the others looked up to see what she was referring to.
They saw a series of golden swords, made purely out of light. They formed a ring around the fiery ruins, and blocked off about one kilometers worth of area. Floating past the swords was a little creature with brown fur and tiny paws. It was holding a slim but long ankh like it was a musket.
"That's a Kuribo," Ash noted. "One of the kids I battled earlier used one."
"And those swords must be what's making the barrier," Rika added. "And that Kuribo seems to be holding something else. I doubt a wand that big goes with something that puny." Kuribo seemed to hear this, and growled at Rika as it passed.
"I'll scan it," said Ash. He pushed a button on his Duel Ark. "This thing can scan monsters and card effects like a Pokedex can scan Pokemon, so it should be able to tell us what the deal is."
Ankh of Enchantment** Equipment Magic Card
** EFFECT: Choose 1 Magic Card you've played. That card's duration becomes "Permanent" as long as the ankh and the creature holding it are in play.
"Well there you have it. Somebody's put up a magical barrier, and that Kuribo is keeping it active with that Ankh."
"Who would do something like that?" Rika groaned. "We can't help anybody if this thing is in the way." Rika beat on the barrier generated by the swords, and did little more than make the air vibrate visibly. "Why would somebody want to keep us out?"
"Maybe they don't want us to get hurt," Ash suggested. "Could your friend have done it?"
"No, he doesn't have any cards like this," Rika said. "And besides, he wouldn't keep me out like this, even if he was worried about my safety. Somebody else had to 'ave done it."
Ash frowned. "Well, we could try flying over the swords, but I doubt that would work. I heard these Magic cards tend to be really powerful."
"Then we'll just have to do something about that Kuribo," Rika said. "And fast. I don't know who did this, but if Henry or my friends get hurt... I won't be able to forgive myself."
"Then let's get to work, people!" shouted a Squirtle Squad member. "We have a Kuribo to antagonize!" The turtle-men marched comically along the barrier, spouting comments at the creature and trying to make it drop the ankh or the barrier. And strangely enough, they seemed to be succeeding in making the fiend angry.
Rika and Ash looked at each other, shrugged, and joined the squirtle-men in taunting the Kuribo.
~ ~ ~ ~
Rapidmon was on the defensive. If the Black Luster Soldier scored another hit, it was all over for him and Henry. Henry was frantically trying to sift through the cards in his deck by powering up Rapidmon for a few seconds at a time, and launching quick attacks at the Soldier in the hopes of weakening her enough for Rapidmon to deal damage. But the Soldier was persistent, and Zero was good at preventing Henry from making any real progress. Henry was starting to lose hope.
I'm running out of ideas, the boy thought. I need a powerful card, now! He reloaded his hand, and got a card that might help him turn the tides.
"Unexpected Sadness!" Henry's card took effect when he slashed it and sent its energy into the Black Luster Soldier. The soldier suddenly felt a wave of depression hit her, and it showed. The soldier trembled, sagged to her knees, and lowered her head.
"Get up and fight!!" Zero ordered. "Don't let his tricks fool you!" Luster Soldier pulled herself up and slashed at Rapidmon again. But the attack lacked force.
"Henry, what's happening to her?" Rapidmon asked. He was glad he wasn't getting chopped to bits, but this card's effects were disturbing to the digimon.
"The card will make her progressively weaker," Henry said. "...At least in game terms. I don't know what it really does."
The Luster Soldier approached Rapidmon and took another swing, but didn't make it far enough. She fell to her knees again, and seemed to lose all energy. The Luster Soldier started to cry. It seemed Henry's card was living up to its name.
"Do not let yourself submit to him!" Zero ordered. "Stand and fight, like a warrior!" Despite the intensity of Zero's order, the Luster Soldier did not respond. She seemed to have lost the will to live.
"I'm... sorry," Rapidmon said softly. The Luster Soldier looked up, nodded again, and gently pushed him back. When Rapidmon was a safe distance away, the Luster Soldier submitted to the final effects of Henry's card. In game terms, the monster attacked itself. In reality, she took her own sword and stabbed herself in the heart. The Luster Soldier fell to the ground, dead.
** Zero: 2599 LP **
The "Monster Reborn" tablet shattered as its effects were expended. Zero growled in irritation, as he realized that this boy was fighting back and winning!
"All right!!" Rapidmon cheered. "Let's finish him off Henry!"
"Right!" Henry reached down to redraw his hand. But even after refilling his hand, Henry didn't get anything useful. He had to hope the next monster Zero summoned was fairly weak.
"You've insulted me for the last time, boy!" Zero lifted his hand and summoned a gigantic demon with the appropriate tablet. The "Summoned Skull" roared to the sky as it charged up its powerful lightning attack. Rapidmon's damaged armor would do little against an electrical attack.
"Henry..." Rapidmon said with concern. "Now's the time to slash a card!"
"That's just it! I've used up all my good cards! I don't have anything that can help!!"
Rapidmon backed up as Summoned Skull's power reached its crescendo. "Well do something!! Otherwise it's lights out for us!"
Come on, Rika... Henry prayed. You're my only hope. I need a miracle, NOW!
The Demon Rain came down as a ball of lightning, with the intent of splitting up into smaller bolts. But something flew across the field like a bullet and disrupted the path of the ball. The object ricocheted off the Demon Rain attack, causing it to burst prematurely. The bolts of lightning went towards the closest target - which happened to be the Summoned Skull at that height. The demon's organic parts were incinerated by his own attack!
A single Yen coin landed in the center of the field, a little crispy but intact.
** Zero: 1299 LP **
"What is this!?" Zero cried as his monster's tablet shattered behind him.
And at that moment, Henry's Duel Ark screamed in alarm. Zero's barrier was weak enough to ignore! "Rapidmon-fire!!"
The digimon wasted no time and blasted away with everything he had. Every missile in his shoulder pods were launched at Zero. The duelist tried to block them as he had the other attacks, but his energy was now too low to block them all. Half the missiles pierced his barrier and exploded at point-blank range. Zero was drowned in a series of explosions, and Henry was forced to cover his ears to keep from going deaf. Rapidmon's attack sounded like a nuclear assault.
And with that, it ended. Henry's Duel Ark confirmed the kill.
** Zero: 0 LP **
It took a moment for the boy to comprehend what just happened. As the smoke cleared, Henry saw no trace of his opponent. Jeri was lying underneath a pile of dirt and rock kicked up by the explosions. Aside from a few burns, she was alive. And the threat to her was dealt with.
"I... can't believe... we just did that," Henry said between breaths. "We killed him."
"...Not quite," Rapidmon said. He craned his neck and sniffed. "I can smell him."
"Smell him?"
"...Yes. He disappeared when he ran out of energy, but he's still alive. His data just went somewhere else. And really quickly, too."
"His data?" Henry replied with a start. "Are you saying he's...?"
"I'm saying he'll be back." Rapidmon crossed his arms over his chest. "And we'd better be ready for him." The digimon shrank into the form of Terriermon and disappeared into the Duel Ark to recharge.
"Mmm..." Jeri moaned.
"Jeri!" Henry ran over to where the girl lay and pulled her to a sitting position. "You're alright!"
The girl coughed and tried to regain her bearings. She felt horrible, but she recognized Henry's voice. She blinked as she tried to clear the dirt from her eyes. "Ta...kato? Where's Takato!"
Henry frowned. "I... I'm sorry."
Jeri was afraid of what that meant. She waited for Henry to say something else, but no reversal came. Jeri broke down and started to cry into Henry's chest. The boy was about to join her, but a series of footsteps got his attention.
"Who's there!" he shouted. An outline appeared in the dust, and Henry feared the worst. But as the figure approached, Henry saw that it wasn't the man he'd been fighting before. It was another player, wearing a Duel Ark. His hair was wild, like Zero's had been, but it was colored differently. He was a teenager, which led Henry to assume he was a Duelist like Joey. At least, he hoped he was like Joey. There was a chance it was one of the "scary" duelists.
"...I'm glad I got here when I did," said the young man.
"Was it you who tossed the coin during that battle?"
"It was."
"Who are you?" Henry asked carefully. No normal player would have thought to use a metal object to disrupt the flow of an electrical attack. And a normal person couldn't actually do it.
"My name is Yugi," the man said in a deep, powerful voice. "Yugi Muto."
Henry gasped. Yugi... the one in the newspaper! The one who killed Panik!
Yami noted the boy's expression. "You... know of me?"
"Stay back!" Henry shouted as he cradled Jeri. "This doesn't concern you!"
"That is Jeri Katou. She and I have some business to settle."
"No more!!" Jeri cried. She was whimpering in Henry's arms like a little child. "No more..."
Look at her, Yugi thought. She's suffering so much.
It's her destiny to suffer. Yami slowly stepped forward, his fists clenched tightly. I must relieve her of her pain, once and for all.
"Stay BACK!!" Henry shouted. Yami stopped a few feet away. "Stay back or I'll...!"
Yami please, I'm begging you. Don't do this. Destroying her soul is not the answer. Would you do this if it was Tea?
Juri... was to me what Tea is to you, Yugi. A dear friend, that I could not imagine life without. But I must do this. The world is threatened as long as she exists.
If you kill her, then you will be killing me too! Yugi's soul hovered over Jeri like a guardian angel. Yami froze in terror.
Aibou!
You promised me once that you would never go against my wishes again! Yugi reminded him. It was after Kaiba defeated us at Duelist Kingdom! You swore that we would work together, or together we would fall!
Yami was paralyzed with indecision. Although Yugi was incorporeal, he could place himself in the path of his psychic attack. If Yami tried to destroy Jeri's soul, Yugi would be destroyed as well. And Yami could feel Yugi's determination. The boy would go through with it if he had to.
I... remember. Yami lowered his head. But if Juri's power is fully released, I will lose everything I care about. I don't want to experience that pain again.
I know... Yugi stepped forward and put a hand on his other self's heart. I know. But together, we can do something. There must be a way to save her, and the world.
Henry stared up at the teenager, who looked as terrified as Jeri did. What was wrong with him?
You've been searching for a way as well, Yugi continued. You've been looking through your memories... the memories I saw when I was dreaming. You care about this girl's past self. I can feel it.
Yami's eyes closed as he felt old emotions bubble to the surface. The memories weighed heavily on his soul. There is no other way. Even with my powers as Pharaoh, there was nothing I could do in the past. I could not save the girl who first touched my heart.
Jeri gasped as she looked up. Yami looked down, and their eyes locked. For a moment, she seemed to pierce his soul and see the truth. She showed the spark of remembrance, but it was like remembering a dream. Her memory disappeared in the blink of an eye.
The moment faded. Jeri closed her eyes and curled herself against Henry once again. It was like she was waiting for the inevitable.
Tell them, Yugi said softly. They will understand. I know it. Yugi faded into the background, and Yami returned his attention to the real world. Henry was looking at him fiercely and still holding Jeri protectively.
"I... need your help." Yami bowed his head slightly. "To save Jeri. And our world."
Henry was skeptical. "How do I know you're telling the truth?"
Yami drew a switchblade from his pocket, startling Henry. He could have disarmed the teen easily, had he not been holding Jeri at the same time. The girl cringed slightly; she must've heard the blade being drawn.
"An ancient custom, but one I take very seriously." Yami placed the tip of the blade on the upper half of his arm.
Oh my God, Yugi gasped. You're not going to-!
Yami closed his eyes and drew the blade across his skin, slowly and precisely. Henry watched uneasily as the teen made a long, deep cut from his bicep to the middle of his underarm. Yami gritted his teeth during the painful process. When he was finished, he threw the knife into the ground at his feet.
"I swear on my life that I won't let any harm come to Jeri. That is my solemn oath." As he said those words, drops of his blood fell to the earth. A thunder clap sounded above him as the passing storm died down.
Henry stared into the teen's eyes, and Yami stared back with equal intensity. That intensity was all Henry needed to see. "Okay. Then help me get her out of here. We have a lot to talk about."
Yami bent down, and gently took Jeri into his arms. Henry limped his way out of the fire, and Yami followed him in silence. The switchblade was left in the dirt like Excalibur, the legendary sword of a long-dead king.
~ ~ ~ ~
Sakura's eyes opened. She sat up stiffly, and looked to her right in a westerly direction. Her eyes were locked precisely on En'Dal's location, many miles away.
THIS UNIT DETECTS THAT ZERO-KA HAS BEEN MOMENTARILY DISRUPTED. JURI-KA REMAINS WITHIN ITS HOST. Sakura then turned and looked straight ahead as it began a self-analysis. THIS UNIT WAS ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE MILLENNIUM PUZZLE. MAKING BASELINE ADJUSTMENTS TO SHELL PERSONALITY.
The duelBot instilled a phobia-level fear of the Millennium Puzzle in her false personality's program. That way, when she was recharging her onboard battle systems, her shell would not want to touch the puzzle again. When the modifications were completed, Sakura stepped out of bed and walked lightly across the room. Her nightie swished lightly in the night breeze.
At the open window, Sakura gazed into the night sky. THIS UNIT'S BATTLE SCHEMATICS HAVE BEEN MODIFIED 3.53% TO COMPENSATE FOR THE PHARAOH KA'S TACTICS. THIS UNIT IS READY TO ATTEMPT A FULL-ON ASSAULT. SENDING QUERY TO CENTRAL DATABASE.
Sakura opened her mouth, and started to sing. On the surface, the song sounded like a somber melody about the beauty of the night, and how love knew no boundaries. But hidden within the song was a subliminal message that only the most advanced machines could understand and translate. It was the pre-set method for her to transmit radio messages.
Mokuba awoke and listened to the song. Slowly, he smiled. "That's beautiful, Sakura."
The duelBot paused for a moment, and quickly uploaded her shell personality's language processor. It was difficult for the AI to speak like her shell did, but it was necessary at times. "Does it bother you?"
"No... keep singing."
Sakura smiled fiendishly, but kept that hidden by not turning around. "Thank you, Mokuba." The duelBot continued her transmission, and awaited her orders. Within seconds of the song's completion, she received her answer.
ATTACK PHARAOH-KA. CAPTURE ALL KA ENCOUNTERED. RELEASE FINAL LOCKS ON BATTLE SYSTEM.
Sakura's eyes glowed gold as the final command was processed. With the final locks released on her battle system, nothing would stand in her way.
But first, she had to deal with her shell personality's little friend, Mokuba.
~ ~ ~ ~
[Eye of Ra]
Zero stepped up to the massive supercomputer that governed his island. The main monitor and the advanced keyboard that controlled it were all that was visible. But there was more to this computer than Zero could see. Even he didn't understand its limits. Zero was this machine's master, but he needed it to exist. This machine was the god of this island, and without it Zero was nothing.
"The boy with Joey was stronger than I expected," Zero said grimly. "With Joey's aid, he was able to defeat me. I was forced to reboot."
"Master, your body in this world is strong, but not invulnerable," the computer said. "Your body can be rebooted indefinitely, but each reboot stretches the limits of your spirit. I recommend you avoid direct confrontation until Exodia has been captured."
"...That is not my way," Zero replied icily. "The Pharaoh relied on my strength to protect him from his father's enemies. I do not hide from my enemies."
"Understood. But magic and technology have never worked well together. Your powers are not at their full potential while in a digital body. You must exercise caution." The monitor went black and displayed the symbol of a golden ankh. The computer was deep in analysis, and would likely be so for a few hours. Zero had to busy himself.
"He's right. My powers are nowhere near their full strength in this accursed body." Zero focused on his hand intensely, causing it to fizzle in and out of existence like a television image filled with static. He stopped himself before he did any real damage to this form.
"Jeri was in my hands, but I did not find the opportunity to escape. As fast as I am, I cannot outrun their monsters. Not yet." Zero stepped lightly across the marble floor until he was standing at the room's center. A massive mural of Ra's eye rested at his feet.
"But when I free Exodia, and bask in his light, I will achieve my true form. And then, within the Room of Stars, I will destroy this universe and remake it in my own image." Zero raised his arms to the sky, and stared into the limelight that led up to the Room he was speaking of. It was so close, and yet beyond his reach. For now.
"In the meantime, the players on the island are using my Arks to fight their petty battles." Zero closed his eyes and sensed the power residing below him, in the hidden room where Exodia's tablets now rested. The stone battery in the room's center was almost half full. The data expenditure on the island was proceeding smoothly, and the battery would be at maximum capacity on schedule.
"By the time the tournament is at its end, Exodia's battery will be full. And then, the ritual with Jeri and Sakura will be ready to commence. All that data will become Exodia's Chrysalis, and my shadow powers will make it real. I will be the new master of the Forbidden One."
Zero's laughter echoed throughout the room. The chaos he would create would be magnificent.
~ ~ ~ ~
[En'Dal || Morning of Day 2]
"No answer," Henry said grumpily as he hung up his cell phone. He'd tried for the last half hour to call his father and ask what was going on in the outside world. Probably panic, if anyone was watching this tournament on television. Henry was surprised the military hadn't tried to invade. "I'm not even getting a busy signal. It's like the satellite is completely gone."
"The signal is either being blocked or disrupted," Rika replied. "If we're really in the Digital World like you say, then I'm not surprised. I don't know what the outside world is seeing, but there's no way they could be seeing us."
Ash flexed his right hand to crack his knuckles. "I know you've explained this to me once already Rika. But explain again why I'm here? If this is a Digital World, then doesn't that mean its a Digimon Tamers problem?"
"I don't know what's going on, to be honest." Rika scratched her forehead. "Zero brought us all here by boat, and somehow we're trapped in another world. I don't get it."
"Not quite trapped," Henry said. He lifted his arm to show off his ark. "These have something to do with it."
"But taking them off doesn't seem to change anything," Rika said, a bit more excited than before. "Taking them off means we can't do any of the water-breathing adaptation crap. But it doesn't take us back to the real world. We can still see each other if we take them off, so we're not going anywhere."
"I think it's like a modem versus a broadband," Henry suggested.
Ash blinked. "Whaaa?"
"A modem is a smaller connection than an internet cable. The cable is the better connection, and its gives you a whole lot more data at a much faster rate. I think the same thing is going on here."
Rika nodded slowly. "Wearing the Duel Ark makes our connection to the Digital World stronger. Sort of like our old D-Arcs did."
"Though nowhere near as strong as these do," Henry corrected. He glanced down at the Duel Ark, awe in his eyes. "These things are powerful beyond belief."
Ash looked outside the room window. The city was bustling from the recent emergency. The Squirtle Squad was still putting out the forest fire, now that Yugi Muto had recalled his Kuribo and broken his spell. The city residents were scared and excited by the recent events, and there was some panicking going on. The local officials (pokemon furries dressed as guards and knights) were busy trying to calm the people down while dealing with the fire. The human players were resting in the local inn while Jeri and Joey rested next door.
"Takato's body..." Ash started. He didn't continue, because he didn't know how to say it without hurting the other two's feelings. Hearing Takato's name visibly hurt the tamers.
"The Squad took him to the hospital," Henry said evenly. "Players are expected to use the inn, but the hospital is also real enough to function. I guess they took him to... the mortuary."
"Don't say that!!" Rika shouted. Henry didn't look up. Rika suppressed her tearful gasps and sat down on the bed once again.
Ash wanted to say something to soothe their pain, but he didn't know what to say. Brock would know. He was good at easing people's pain. He did it when Ash heard about Misty's chances of being forever crippled. Ash didn't have that kind of skill with words.
A light knock on the door broke the silence. Yugi quietly stepped into the room and shut the door behind him. He saw all the sad faces, and knew instantly what they were thinking about. "I wish there was something-"
"Shut up!!" Rika shouted. "It was one of you Duelists who killed him!!" Rika charged from the bed and tried to punch Yugi, but Ash was quick enough to grab her and hold her back. Henry rushed over to help, while Yugi cringed against the door.
Rika started to cry, but she didn't let up. "Bastard!!" She struggled a few moments more, but Ash and Henry held strong. Eventually, she stopped trying and let her head fall into Henry's shoulder. She was more comfortable with him, and at this moment she needed a lot of comfort.
Yugi glanced at Henry for help. The tamer looked down at Yugi's arm, which had been bandaged to stop the bleeding his oath had caused. He shook his head lightly, and held Rika as he whispered some comforting words to her.
"We'd better get our stuff packed," Ash said with a heavy heart. "With all that's happened, I think the tournament is going to be canceled."
"Not exactly," Yugi said, still frowning. "I just spoke with Kaiba. He tried to call ahead, but apparently the docks are locked up. There aren't any ships, anywhere. He tried to call his little brother Mokuba, but there was no answer. Cell phones don't seem to be working anymore."
"They worked before," Ash said. "Rika and Henry were talking before she woke me up and told me about her friend being in trouble."
"...Somebody's blocking all the signals," Henry said, still holding Rika. "I'm betting it's Zero. He's after something called a Ka. That is why he had Takato killed."
"Kaiba told me," Yugi said regretfully. "He doesn't know how, but somebody put him into a trance and took control of his body and mind."
"A likely story," Rika growled. "He's just saying that to cover his tracks." She lifted her head from Henry's shoulder and slowly let go of him.
"I know Kaiba, and he wouldn't kill Takato when he could defeat him instead. Kaiba's cruel, but he's not a murderer."
"...Apparently you are, though," Henry said icily. "I've heard from some reliable sources that you've killed players at Duelist Kingdom."
Yugi was about to protest, but his memory caught up with him. He had killed some people. Or rather, Yami had. Before Yugi even realized that he had another self, he'd fought players whom he considered 'evil', and thus punished them when they lost to him. Panik was one of them. Even before Duelist Kingdom, he'd done the same thing to more mundane people. Like the gym teacher who tried to rape Tea by sending her a card and signing it with Yugi's name. Yugi had passed judgment on people, and sent them to their deaths.
"You have nothing to say in your defense?" Rika snapped. "Then it's true?"
Yami was about to come out and defend his aibou, but Yugi stopped him with a thought. Please, let me handle this.
You did not do those things Yugi. I did.
You and I are the same. We must face the punishment together.
Yugi remained firm. "Takato is an innocent. Panik was trying to kill me and hurt my friends. I had no choice."
Ash frowned. "Protecting yourself and your friends by killing? Isn't that a little... much?"
"Not against those guys," Yugi said softly. "I've seen some scary people. And sometimes, I've had to kill to protect myself, or save my friends from death. I regret doing it, but I'll do anything to protect my friends. Anything."
Henry thought of all the times he's destroyed a Digimon in order to protect the people he loved. Digimon and Humans were inherently different, but the policy on death was the same. Even though he believed that killing a thinking being was wrong, Henry understood the need for protection.
"I hope you're telling the truth," Henry said. "Because if you're not, then you're no better than the people you killed."
Yugi nodded. "I understand."
"I don't," Ash said. "But, I'll go with Henry on this one." The trainer went to the nearest wall and leaned against it. "So what do we do? We can't leave, and we can't call for help."
"We have to stop Zero," Yugi said. "By entering his castle and facing him again."
"I've already beaten him once." Henry tossed his cell phone into his bag. "But my... friend says that he'll be back. I find it hard to believe, since I incinerated him though."
"A little much," Ash said again. Henry glared at him, but the trainer wasn't perturbed.
"I remember," Yugi said quickly, before another argument could break out. "He was wearing something around his neck. A strange pendant shaped like my puzzle." Yugi lifted his millennium item by the chain to show it off. "But it was black. And it was... different, in a way that I can't explain."
It had a different kind of power, unlike that of a millennium item, Yami helped. Yugi did not relay this to the group, as he didn't want to reveal his "magical" nature to them. They were suspicious enough as it was.
"It glowed during the fight at certain times," Henry recalled. "I think it let him summon monsters like our Duel Arks do, and it also made that barrier that protected him from direct damage. But he didn't have any cards that I could see. He had... tablets."
Yugi gasped, and Yami felt similar alarm in his subconscious state. Tablets?
"So he didn't have to draw or anything?" Ash asked. "That gives him quite an advantage. But why does he get to use these tablets if I can't use my pokeballs?"
"He's not in this for the tournament," Rika said, finally joining the conversation. "He's in it for himself. There are no rules. But since he's trapped everyone here, it doesn't matter anymore if there are rules or not."
"It's better if you use the ark," Henry said to the trainer. "You can't protect yourself if you just use your pokeballs."
"I guess you're right." Ash pulled out his Pokedex and flipped it open. A bunch of noisy static came from it, forcing the trainer to close it immediately. "Aghh..."
"What's wrong?"
"I was going to see what the News had to say. But it's an online sort of thing, so I guess I can't get any updates while I'm here on the island." Ash pocketed his device. "Bummer. I was hoping I'd get an e-mail from Brock today."
"About Misty?" Rika asked. She doubted he would be irritated if the mail was about something else.
He nodded. "Her surgery was supposed to be done by now. I wanted to know how it went."
"Well... I'm sure she's just fine," Rika said with a forced smile. The recent events with Takato and Jeri were making it difficult for her to smile.
"I hope you're right." Ash looked back, but Rika dropped her gaze before long.
Yugi turned and opened the door. "I'm going to check on Joey and your friend. We can talk about what to do when we're sure they're okay." The teen continued out the door and stepped across the hall. The room he left was uneasily quiet.
"Do you think we can trust him?" Henry said eventually.
"He knows the duelist who killed Takato," Rika said sharply. "Brainwashed or not, it was that man that killed our friend. I'm never going to trust a Duelist."
Henry glanced to the opposite side of the room. "What about you?"
Ash breathed loudly as he thought. "I don't know. He seems like a nice guy. But there's something about him that makes me worry. Gary was the same way. One moment he'd seem like a nice guy. And the next, he'd turn on you."
"We can't trust him," Rika said. "He sliced his arm open with a knife. And he wears an upside pyramid around his neck. He's not normal."
"My grandfather always told me never to judge a person by their appearance," Henry said. "And I'm finding that a lot of things on this island are different than they appear to be. I don't trust Yugi, but I keep wondering if he really is a good person. I don't want to insult somebody who might honestly want to help us."
Rika looked up. "...What if we're wrong?"
Ash stood up straight. "There's always a chance we're wrong. But there's also a chance that he's telling the truth. And if he is, then we'll be better off. If he's telling the truth and we don't believe him, he might not help us."
"We don't need him," Rika affirmed. "The three of us can beat Zero on our own."
"Yugi seems to know something about Zero that we don't," Henry said. "He was hiding something about Zero's black pendant. I could see it in his eyes."
Ash smiled lightly. "You really want to trust him."
"Joey is a Duelist, and his deck is powerful," Henry replied. "Maybe even stronger than mine. Yugi is the champion of Duelist Kingdom, meaning he's the strongest Duelist in the world. If our lives are in danger, I think we'll need someone with his strength on our side. If we leave him on his own, he might try to attack us the way Seto Kaiba attacked Takato."
The room went silent at that.
"...I say we risk it," Henry finished. "For Jeri's sake."
Rika considered that, and eventually came up with a reply. "If you think he's okay, then I'm with you. You're a better judge of character than me. Except with Ryo."
"Including Ryo," Henry corrected. "Don't strike him off the list just yet."
"Who's Ryo?" Ash asked.
"Nobody," Rika said quickly. "I'm in."
Henry frowned at Rika's comment, but let it slide for now. "Well Ketchum? What do you say?"
"...Alright." Ash walked towards the door. "But I'm going to be watching him very closely." The trainer opened the door and stepped across the hall to the opposite room.
"I'll sleep better knowing that," Henry said. Rika nodded silently in agreement.
~ ~ ~ ~
"You're not coming with us?" Yugi said, surprised. "But Kaiba, we could really use your help."
"I'm concerned about Zero, but not because of your kindergarten friends," Seto replied. Ash frowned at his comment, but said nothing as he helped a Chansey nurse tend to both Jeri and Joey.
"Then what are you going to do? You can't be thinking of taking him on by yourself."
"Eventually, yes." Seto crossed his arms defiantly. Or defensively, depending on what the elder Kaiba was thinking. "But I'm worried about Mokuba and Sakura."
"Sakura?" Yugi hadn't heard that name before.
"...A friend of Mokuba's. Whatever Zero did to me, I can feel that he made me do something horrible to her." For a moment, Seto actually looked concerned. But his cold exterior covered it up quickly.
"I understand that you're worried about Mokuba," Yugi continued. "But please, once you find them, consider joining us in the fight against Zero. Our chances of defeating him are much higher if we work together, rather than separately."
"I won't need your help, and I don't want any little Poke-brats or Digi-dorks dragging me down."
Ash scowled at the older Kaiba. "Pikachu and I could take you, any day."
Seto chuckled. "I doubt that. I would love to show you why, but I have more important matters to attend to." The duelist turned around, his coat swishing lightly, and walked halfway out the door before Yugi stopped him.
"Kaiba! Good luck, and please don't do anything rash. Think seriously about joining us before you try to face Zero alone."
"...I will." He shut the door as he left, leaving Ash and Yugi on their own.
~ ~ ~ ~
"So that's your great plan?" Rika griped. "Continue getting Crests? Why bother following the rules at this point? We should just charge the castle and kick that bastard's ass."
Yugi was amazed that such a little girl had such a nasty temperament. "Well, I guess you could try that. But do you honestly think we can get in that way?"
"Why couldn't we? It's just a castle."
Henry shook his head. "Normally I'd agree, but this isn't just any island we're on. Zero probably has enough defenses around his castle to survive a nuclear assault. If we're going to get in there, we'll have to unlock the gates by solving the riddle he mentions in the rulebook."
"There are twelve Crests on the island," Rika said, reading from her own copy of the booklet. "And you need four Crests to get into the castle. So only three people on the island even have a chance."
"There are only three Crests that haven't been captured yet - Vritra [dragon], Catsura [dog], and Sindura [rooster]. It's only a matter of time before the players go after each other to get the Crests they need."
"And more people will get hurt," Ash said with regret.
"The nurse told me that there is a rumor going around about a 'special' Crest hidden on the island. The special Crest is supposed to give you access to the castle as if you had four Crests. If one of us gets that Crest, and the other three get four of their own, we can enter the castle as a group."
"I can't believe we have to play by Zero's rules," Rika fumed. "It's pathetic."
"It might be the only way into the castle," Henry replied. "We can try getting in by force, but there's gotta be some kind of special defense set up that prevents players from doing that. Otherwise, someone would have already broken into the castle and found the Star Road."
Yugi nodded. "I don't have any Crests yet, so I'm going to find out more about this special Crest. This island is designed a lot like an RPG game, so asking around should give me the clues I need to find it."
"The rest of us can split up and collect the Crests we need," Henry added. "And then we'll meet back here."
Rika remembered the readout from before that told who had a Crest. "Somebody should pick up Takato's Crest, then."
"No," Yugi said. "...Leave it. He's still on the team. Let him hold onto it until we need it."
Rika smiled faintly at that. "...Yeah. Takato's still on the team."
"What am I going to tell Joey?" Henry frowned. "He has a Crest too, and I doubt he'll just give it up."
"...Leave that to me," Yugi said. "Joey and I are best friends. He'll understand that this is for a good cause. He can protect Jeri and keep us up to date when we report back to En'Dal, too."
"You sure it's safe to leave Jeri here with him?" Rika said, concerned.
"If it wasn't for Joey, Zero would have taken Jeri for sure," Henry vouched. "If anyone should stay with her, it's him."
Ash smirked. "If one of us wins, we can give him the prize as a fee. If he wants it."
"Oh, he'll definitely want it." Henry and Yugi laughed knowingly. In the short time he'd known him, Henry had learned what kind of person Joey was.
"Okay, then let's get out there and get some Crests." Rika held her hand out. "For our friends."
Ash did the same. "For our friends."
Henry nodded. "For our friends."
Yugi looked at each child, one by one, and saw the faces of his friends overlapping theirs. Even in this strange competition, Yugi had found some people that he could trust. These children truly understood the power of unity. "For our friends."
The four players gave out a cheer, and shot their hands into the sky. The battle was just beginning!
*** Cut Scene Series ***
MUSIC: "I'd Do Anything!"
Scene
Rika stares down a mighty bird monster, whose body encompasses the entire room. Sinduramon growls malisciously at the insolent tamer before him.
She simply smiles. "10 seconds."
/Scene
Another day is going by
I'm thinking about you all the time
But you're out there and I'm here waiting
And I
Wrote this letter in my head
Cause so may things were left unsaid
But now your gone and I can't think straight
Scene
Catsuramon pounces on Rapidmon, who struggles against the powerful canine deva. The beast sends a shard of marble flying in Henry's direction. The tamer ducks and rolls, narrowly avoiding the flying material.
This could be the one last chance to make you understand
Henry slashes a single card, and a massive force builds up in Rapidmon's hands. The digimon lets it loose on Catsuramon's stomach, and incinerates the creature with one powerful strike.
/Scene
I'd do any~thing!
Just to hold you in my arms
To try to make you laugh
Somehow I can't put you in the past
I'd do any~thing!
Just to fall asleep with you
Will you remember me cause I know I won't forget you
Scene
Jeri sits in a garden of En'Dal, with a family of baby poke-kids playing around her. She has a somber expression her face. An image of Takato smiles appears behind her, representing the thoughts in her mind.
Joey puts a reassuring hand on the girl's shoulder. Jeri seems unreactive.
Desperate to lighten the mood, the teen joins the babies in a playful romp. Joey's antics make Jeri smile slowly.
/Scene
I close my eyes
And all I see is you
Scene
Rika and Bones are locked in a fierce battle. Bones has summoned a literal army of Zombies through a creative play. Rika is surrounded on all sides by the undead, and they are shambling in for the kill.
I close my eyes
I try to sleep I can't forget you
(Nanana, nanana)
And I'd do anything for you
(Nanana, nanana)
The tamer holds up Renamon's card, which shines like the sun.
I'd do any~thing!
Just to hold you in my arms
To try to make you laugh
Somehow I can't put you in the past
The rookie flashes in and out of sight like lightning, and slices the army to ribbons.
I'd do any~thing!
Just to fall asleep with you
...to fall asleep with you, yeah
Bones whimpers pathetically before falling to the ground in exasperation. Rika smirks confidently and flashes a "V for Victory" sign at her camera'mon - a flying Patamon wearing a pink rag, an artist's cap, and a fake moustache.
/Scene
I'd do any~thing!
To fall asleep with you
I'd do any~thing!
There's nothing I want...
I'd do any~thing!
To fall asleep with you
I'd do any~thing!
Cause I know I won't forget you...!
*** End Cut Scene Series ***
~ ~ ~ ~
** Monster Duel Ex - Mid-Day Standings - Day Two **Crests Captured: 12 of 12.
Four Crests
Rika Nonaka (Makura, Sindura, Vikarala, Kunbira)
Three Crests
Kao Umbreon (Santira, Vajra, Vritra)
Henry Wong (Antira, Pajira, Catsura)
One Crest
Ash Ketchum (Indra)
Takato Matsuki (Mihira)
~ ~ ~ ~
[Nalum Highroad || 3:48 PM]
Ash strolled through the plains, keeping his eyes open for any movements on the surrounding hills. His ark said there was another player in this area, and the rumor in the last village was that the player was none other than Kao Umbreon, one of the leaders of the tournament. Ash needed to face Kao in order to get four Crests, so that he could enter the Crystal Castle. The winning trophy, and the villainous Zero, were both there waiting for him.
A bicyclist peddled rapidly in his direction. Ash held up his hand in the hopes of getting her attention. "Hey!"
"Out of the way!!" the girl shouted. She peddled past Ash so quickly that she nearly ran over his feet. Ash was just barely able to leap out of the way.
"What's the rush!?" Ash shouted indignantly.
"Kao's coming! Ru~n!" Her voice drowned out in the distance.
Ash dusted himself off and resumed his walk. "That's what I'm hoping for."
After a few dozen steps, Ash came to a fork in the road and was amazed at what he saw there. Standing at the divide was an imposing figure dressed in a black outfit that obscured everything but his eyes. It was like a ninja's outfit, only outfitted with accessories designed for fashion rather than subterfuge. He had a Duel Ark on his arm, and a black cape swooshing behind him. It reminded Ash of the figure that Henry mentioned fighting, but it was subtly different. For one, this person couldn't have had hair as wild as Henry claimed. It would be impossible to fit it underneath the ninja mask.
Ash stopped when he was within speaking distance. "Excuse me, but I'm looking for someone."
"I'm not surprised," said the stranger.
The instant Ash heard his voice, he was petrified. He recognized that voice...
"Long time no see, Ashey-boy." The man pulled his mask off and revealed the face of a boy. His hair was brown and spiky, and his eyes were equally brown. His features were sharp and twisted, like an angry dog's muzzle. At the same time, he seemed amused by the person he was speaking too.
"....Gary." Ash's fists trembled as he squeezed them as tightly as humanly possible. He drew blood from his nails cutting into his palm.
"Gary Oak, in the flesh. Or 'Kao Umbreon', as I'm known by in these parts. I think that was a clever nickname. Changing 'Oak' to 'Kao', and adding my favorite Pokemon's name to the end. Don't you think that's clever, Ash?"
The trainer scowled. "...I've been wanting to see you again. After that battle with Misty, I've been thinking about you a lot."
"Are you still mad about that?" Gary teased. The tone of his voice made it painstakingly obvious. "It was just a mis-aimed attack. Honest. A law-abiding league trainer like myself wouldn't hurt somebody. Even someone as annoying as her."
Ash ran forward to give Gary the beating of his life, but his attack was cut short by Gary's duel ark. The machine activated and sent out a wave of energy to create his LPB. The barrier knocked Ash a good distance away before putting him flat on his back. Gary laughed as Ash slowly sat up.
"You're so unprofessional, Ashey-boy. A real trainer should expect to get hurt. You act as if what I did to your girlfriend was unexpected. Any trainer worth his salt has to do everything in his power to win a battle. Soldiers don't win battles by pussy-footing."
"Misty's not a soldier, and neither are you," Ash growled. "We're kids, playing a sport."
"Open your eyes, Ash. A real sportsman will do anything to win, and I'm no different." Gary switched his stance into one ready for a card battle. "And I'll show you what I mean by beating you into a pulp before I take your Crest."
Ash wanted so badly to just pull out Pikachu's pokeball and send Gary to the hospital for a month. But Ash's mother didn't raise a fool, or a cheat. Ash would avenge Misty the right way - by beating Gary fair-and-square. He would do it, even if he had to use a bunch of cards instead of his actual pokemon.
"A Partner Battle, for all our Crests," Ash offered. "If you win, you get my Crest. If I win, I get your Crests."
"Most trainers would consider that an unbalanced bet," Gary chided. "But I know that I'm going to win. So there's no reason for me to be concerned."
Ash smirked at his rival's subtleness. "...Alright." The trainer reached beneath his jacket, pulled out two pokeballs, and held them between his fingers. "Two pokemon to make up for the two Crests I don't have. Pikachu and Lugia."
Gary whistled in amazement. "Ashey-boy means business today. I already said I didn't care about the bet. But if you insist, I'll take your pokemon off your hands as well."
Ash tossed the two pokeballs at his feet. "This is it, Gary. It's been a long time since we've faced each other, and it's time for us to find out which of us has grown the most since our Pokemon journey began."
Both trainers brought their Duel Arks to life and readied themselves for a fight. Partner versus partner, pokemon versus pokemon, rival against rival. Ash was fighting for his friends, and only Gary knew what he was after.
But Ash had a feeling, he would soon find out.