DDR CITY: Raves of Revolution ~Flames of the Past~
By
Darkness Shade
Disclaimer: Those items, person, things, etc used by me that are not of my own creation belong to their respective owners.
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DDR CITY: Hang Castle
"Ryan, this place is uber-creepy! Can't we go?" Charmy asked, latching onto Ryan's arm.
"I already told you, I need to find one last opponent and this is the only sector of the city I've not been over." Ryan said, scanning his field of vision.
"Why? Why would there be such a scary place in this city?" Charmy said.
Suddenly, a ghostly figure suddenly appeared and Charmy jumped back.
"Uh…let go!" Ryan shouted as Charmy was wrapped around his neck.
"Look ghosts! Let's get out of here Ryan!" Charmy said, out of her wits.
"Ghost?" Ryan said, staring at the figure, then slashing it with his Keysaber, "See? It's gone."
Charmy slowly climbed off of Ryan and fell down, "Can we please go?"
"I told you…" Ryan started to say, "Wait a minute…I feel something, an energy I haven't felt in a long time. Where is it coming from?"
"Are you okay, Ryan? You look like something is off." Charmy asked, standing up.
Ryan shook his head; "I'll be fine…let's just keep going onward. I still need to find an opponent."
From the distance, our shadowy figure was spying on Ryan.
"I didn't think he'd pick up on my signal that easily, it's a wonder she lasted as long as she did against him." The figure said, "Are you ready to take him?"
"Of course…it shall be a pleasure to personally take care of him…and that little dog of his." Said the shadow's final lackey.
"Then go, take care of him."
With that, the lackey took off after Ryan.
"Well, there's got to be someone who I can take on." Ryan said, growing rather impatient.
"Calm down, hon, someone will present themselves; you are the main character after all…well, one of them…but you'll find your opponent." Charmy said, throwing her arm around Ryan.
"Yeah, you're right Charmster." Ryan said closing his eyes, then suddenly opening them, "And I believe it has just happened."
"So, its now our time to duel…and you've brought the dog with you."
"I'd know that voice anywhere," Ryan said.
"Dog? That could only be one person." Charmy said, her eyes aflame.
"Follow me if you aren't afraid." The shadow said, taking off down the path.
"Great, here we go again!" Ryan said, dashing after the shadow.
"Wait up Ryan!" Charmy said, trying to keep up with Ryan.
"Okay, I know she went this way, where did she go?" Ryan said, looking around.
"I don't know…" Charmy said, finally catching up with Ryan, "but you could've waited for me."
"Yeah, sorry…but you know I had to find her." Ryan said.
"I know…hey, what's that thing over there?" Charmy said, heading over to a large sphere that was apparently hovering above the ground.
"I'm not sure…" Ryan said, looking it over, "Something is written on the side, but I can't make it out."
"Hmm…" Charmy said, reaching her hand out to touch it.
"'Those who touch this sphere shall experience a change in perspective.' Eh? What the hell does that mean?" Ryan asked, then saw Charmy reaching for it, "Wait! Don't!"
It was too late, Charmy's hand came in contact with the sphere and a glow enveloped Ryan and Charmy.
"Um…oops?" Charmy said as she and Ryan were rotated.
"Whoa! This is a new one…the whole place flipped upside down. Guess that's what was meant by a 'new perspective.'" Ryan said, letting his stomach catch back up with him.
"Ryan, look, she's over there!" Charmy said.
"Bravo…you've made it. I'm rather surprised you figured it out so quickly, but I suppose you really can teach an 'old dog new tricks.'" Said the figure.
"'Old dog?' If I recall, you're the old dog…rather, make that bitch!" Charmy spat out.
"Heh, some temper. Perhaps that dog of yours needs to be sedated?" said the figure.
"That's enough, Callie! I know you came for a reason, and you've been tainted. I can feel the dark heartless energy flowing through you." Ryan said, "Who's behind all this?"
"Heh, you'll find out soon enough. For now, we duel!" Callie said, letting loose her duel pad.
"Very well!" Ryan said, doing the same.
A distance away…
"Are we almost there Shadow?" Sonic said, limping behind.
"Don't worry hon, I can feel Ryan from here, he should be close." Shadow said, helping Sonic run.
"I just hope he hasn't started dueling yet, I have a feeling he'll need this." Sonic said, holding the 'Legend of Max' card.
"Don't worry…he's not foolish enough to charge headlong into a duel…especially not here." Shadow said, then stopped, "I take that back."
"Why do you say that?" Sonic said, then peered over the edge and saw Ryan dueling, "Dammit all to hell! Wait a tick…you can still slip it into his deck. Just use Chaos Control." Sonic said, handing Shadow the card.
"I don't have a chaos emerald though." Shadow said.
Sonic reached behind him and pulled out the green emerald.
"Where'd you get that from?!" Shadow asked.
"Dimensional pocket, how else would I carry things?" Sonic said, "Now go, hurry!"
"Right…Chaos Control!" Shadow shouted, speeding towards Ryan.
Shadow approached the two duelists and stealthily slipped 'The Legend of Max' in Ryan's deck.
Ryan shook his head, he could've sworn he just felt something.
"What's the matter? Losing your nerve already?" Callie said with a laugh.
"Laugh at this!" Ryan said, playing 'A Minute (Extended Mix)'.
"I play this ritual card which allows me to summon 'Mia Ausa' (2000/2800). I play two cards face down and end my turn." Ryan said.
"Very well, my turn." Callie said, drawing, 'Ah, this card will do.'
Callie played 'So Deep (Perfect Sphere Remix)' and played 'Beat' (2200/1800) in attack mode.
"Now 'Beat', attack his 'Mia Ausa'." Callie shouted.
'Beat' came towards 'Mia' with a spin kick.
"Heh, I don't think so. Activate face down card, 'The Plothole of No Return.'" Ryan said with a grin.
"Damn!" Callie said as 'Beat' was sucked away to another dimension.
"My turn." Ryan said, playing 'Absolute'.
"I play this card, 'Pizza Delivery Call', in order to summon 'Charmy (5th Mix)' (2400/2000)." Ryan said.
"Finally, the digital bitch makes her appearance." Callie said.
Needless to say Charmy had that fire in her eyes look.
"Just for that, I now play this magic card, 'Riot of Blood', on Mia." Ryan said with a grin.
"Crap! Ryan, you sure that's good? You know how Mia is when she goes orochi…" Charmy said.
"That's exactly what I'm counting on." Ryan said, as Mia's ribbon slowly fell off her hair, her fingers became clawlike, her stance hunched over slightly, and she had the purple glow of the orochi flame all about her.
"This card raises her attack power by 1000 points, but unfortunately, it also takes a 1000 of my life points to use per turn. Now, 'Orochi Mia', attack her life points directly." Ryan shouted.
'Orochi Mia' let out a roar and slashed right through Callie.
"And now, 'Charmy (5th Mix)', follow up with your full-speed drop kick!" Ryan said.
'Charmy (5th mix)' jumped high into the air and came crashing down on Callie.
"Sh*t!" Callie shouted, her life points now at 2600.
"Well worth it for that one turn…" Ryan said, his life points at 7000, "But to change her back, 'Charmy (5th mix)' you know what to do."
'Charmy (5th mix)' nodded and gave 'Orochi Mia' a quick kiss and tied her ribbon back on.
"Just like with the real Mia." Charmy said with a chuckle.
"Oh my, what happened to me?" 'Mia Ausa' said, coming out of her daze.
"Hmph, you merely got lucky with that one Ryan." Callie said, drawing her next card, "Heh, heh, heh…say hello to my 'Transfer of Power' magic card."
"What the hell does that do?" Ryan demanded.
"Simple, it takes the attack point total from your stupid little cards and adds it to my life points. All I do is sacrifice 1000 life points first and then the effects kick in." Callie said with an evil laugh.
"Damn!" I said as 'Charmy (5th mix)' and 'Mia Ausa's attack went to zero as the points were added to Callie's life points, bringing her up to 6400.
"You shouldn't have thought it that easy to defeat me." Callie said, playing 'Burning Heat (3 Options Mix)'.
"I play 'Goji Rokkaku' (2400/2700) in attack mode. Attack his 'Charmy (5th mix)' with the Golden Rhino Strike!"
'Goji' called his assassin squad and 'Charmy (5th mix)' was decimated.
"Ryan…." 'Charmy (5th mix)' said as she vanished.
"You sick bitch!" Ryan said as his life points dropped to 4600.
"I'll place one card face down and then end my turn." Callie said.
'She's up to something.' Ryan thought as he drew his next card, 'All right, the second part of 'Ansemian'. I have a feeling I'll need her more than ever with this duel.'
"I switch my 'Mia Ausa' to defense mode and place one card face down. Your turn." Ryan said.
"Running away…just like all those years ago." Callie said.
"Are you trying to thin my patience?" Ryan said, growling.
"I wonder…did you ever tell that little dog there what really happened?" Callie said, pointing at Charmy.
"He told me enough." Charmy said.
"Hmph…oh really?" Callie said, "Then perhaps its time you heard the whole thing…"
A distance away Sonic and Shadow were watching the duel with interest.
"Why did they stop?" Shadow asked.
"I'm not sure…do you think Ryan detected you putting the card in his deck?" Sonic said, his head resting in Shadow's lap.
"He gave this funny look like he knew something, but I don't think he did." Shadow said.
"It was so long ago Ryan. Let's take a trip down memory road." Callie said as we were engulfed in a dark cloud…
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Location: I'll give you one guess…
"Where the hell are we?" Charmy said, latching on to me as we floated in this dark space.
"I don't know, but I recognize the energy signature I'm picking up from anywhere." Ryan said as they touched down on some surface, "This is heartless territory."
"Bravo, Ryan. It only took you one guess." Callie said with a sarcastic clap, "It's time to take a trip down memory lane. Back to when it all started…four years ago."
An image appeared in darkness, a picture I knew all too well…
…'For the first time in awhile, I was happy. I had a girl, I was good at something people liked, and I had friends who liked me.' Ryan thought as he drove to the mall.
As Ryan entered the arcade he was tackled by someone, "Your late again Ryan."
"Excuse me for taking my time Callie." Ryan said.
"How hard could it be for you to get ready? You don't brush your hair and it looks like you just throw on any clothes you happen to see." Callie said, helping me up.
"Jeez, you're almost as bad as Scott is at times, you know?" Ryan said, then felt a hand on his shoulder, "Oh…hi Scott."
"Me? As bad as Callie is? You are kidding right? Cause we all know no one can be as bad as me." Scott said with a grin.
"Yeah, yeah…just lay off. So which one of you guys am I gonna own first today?" Ryan said as he got on the dance pad.
"I think you've got that the other way around Ryan." Scott said, getting on the other side, "You're the one who'll be owned."
"Oh, you boys and your power struggles. You both know I'll beat you." Callie said.
The three looked at each other…and then just laughed…
…"Good times, eh Ryan?" Callie said.
"Times I can't believe ever existed." Ryan said…
…6 months later, Ryan was walking the mall, trying to get over how Scott had suddenly just vanished off the face of the Earth.
"I can't believe my best bud is gone, just like that. It's been a whole month and there hasn't been any trace of him." Ryan said, till he saw something that caught his eye.
There was Callie…with some other guy…and he had his arm around her.
"No, she couldn't be…could she?" Ryan said, walking closer.
"Are you sure we won't be seen by that loser boyfriend of yours?" the guy said.
"Him? Heh, he won't be my boyfriend for long…now that I've found you." Callie said, giving him a kiss, "Your much better than he is…especially at DDR."
Ryan couldn't believe this…first his friend disappears, and now his girl was going to dump him; this was not something he was going to take idly.
"Look here you bitch!" Ryan said, confronting her, "You go ahead and leave me, cause I'm dumping you!"
"Ryan!? Where did you come from?" Callie said.
"Didn't expect to see me, did you?" Ryan said, "And I must say, this guy doesn't really impress me all that much."
"You want some of me?" the guy said, facing Ryan.
"You're not worth my time…goodbye Callie, and I hope your life is nothing but misery from now on…" Ryan said, '…cause I know mine is.'
…"You really are a bitch, aren't you?" Charmy said.
"Heh, you get all touchy, don't you?" Callie said…
…1 year later, Ryan had been obsessed with DDR…he had already won a handful of tournaments and was one of the most recognized players, but something was missing.
One day, while walking home, he noticed some guy torturing an anthro.
"Hey, you leave him alone!" Ryan said, knocking the guy down with a punch.
Ryan looked at the anthro, "A blue hedgehog? Hey, you okay buddy?"
The anthro looked at him and then fainted.
"Damn…" Ryan said picking him up, "…that guy did a number on him."
Ryan made his way home, put the anthro in a guest bed and went about bandaging up his wounds, "There, that should do it. I still don't see why people are how they are about anthros. You think after all these years they'd let up this nonsense."
The hedgehog slowly opened his eyes and sat up, "Where am I?"
"You're at my house, after I knocked out that guy, I brought you here. How you feeling?" Ryan asked.
"Um, I've been better. Thanks for helping me and all…guess some of you humans are all right." He said with a grin.
I chuckled, "Yeah…by the way, my name's Ryan."
"And I'm Sonic…Sonic the Hedgehog." Sonic said, shaking his hand.
"Good to meet you." Ryan said.
"Likewise." Sonic said…
…"How touching…" Callie said, her voice all sarcastic.
"I should really thank you I suppose, without you putting me through all that crap, I don't think I ever would've met Sonic. Funny how things work out." Ryan said…
…6 months later, Ryan and Sonic were practicing for the next DDR tournament.
"Funny, isn't it?" Ryan said
"What is?" Sonic asked.
"Us, being friends, I can tell you I really didn't see that happening." Ryan said.
"Heh, true, true…but I think it makes sense that the best DDRists here are friends." Sonic said.
"Mind if I step in and play?" said a black hedgehog.
"Hey Shadow, how you doing man?" Sonic said, giving him a high-five.
"Good, lot better than I have in awhile." Shadow said.
"I would think so, with us as friends anyway." Ryan said.
Shadow laughed, "Now whether that's a good or bad thing is yet to be determined."
The three of them laughed.
"Speaking of which, what are you doing here anyway Shad?" Sonic asked.
"I'm here to tell you I've heard a rumor of someone starting a new tournament, and this is supposed to be unlike anything ever." Shadow said.
"I suppose that means we won't see much of you then." Ryan said.
"Probably, you know how much I want to be the 'Ultimate'." Shadow said, "Well, I'll catch you guys later."
Just as Ryan and Sonic were leaving, a blond haired girl stopped them.
"Hello Ryan." Callie said.
"What do you want Callie?" Ryan said without turning around.
"Dude, is this that crazy chick you told me about?" Sonic said.
"I see you've started associating with his kind now." Callie said.
"'His kind?' So now you're a speciest (A/N: prejudice against species)?" Ryan said.
"So what if I am?" Callie said.
"Look, what the hell do you want?" Ryan said.
"To be frank, I want back with you…" Callie said.
"What? How come?" Ryan asked.
"Well, I've done a lot of thinking and well, I made a mistake all that time ago." Callie said, 'Not to mention you're loaded and famous now.'
"'Loaded and famous now' huh?" Ryan said, "I see why you want me back. Sorry Callie, no dice. Let's go Sonic."
"Wha? How did you?" Callie said, confused.
"I won't even ask what you did or how you did it." Sonic said as him and Ryan left Callie in her stupor…
…"And that more or less gets us to now." Callie said, "I didn't know how you read my mind back then, but things were opened to me when my master did what he did to me. Who could ever guess you had those powers?"
"Wait, you had a chance to have her back…and you didn't?" Charmy asked.
"Of course, why would I want someone who wanted me for the reasons she did?" Ryan said, "I waited for someone who liked me for me, and I found her."
Charmy blushed.
"I'd say you failed at whatever you were attempting to do, now I'm sending us back!" Ryan said, powering up and unleashing a burst of white energy.
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DDR CITY: Inverted Hang Castle
"I don't know where they could've gone, but I've sensed that energy when Amy did what she did." Sonic said.
"So that means she took them to that heartless world?" Shadow asked.
"More than likely…hey wait, where'd that burst of white light come from?" Sonic asked.
"Dammit, you're much stronger than I thought." Callie said, "I may not have beaten your mind, but I'll beat you in this duel. Reveal face down card, 'Greed of Goji'."
"I have a feeling I won't like that." Ryan said.
"Too right…*chuckles* After sacrificing 'Goji Rokkaku', this let's me summon 'A.KU.MU.' (4000/2800). Now wipe out his 'Mia Ausa'." Callie said.
'A.KU.MU.' charged up and pinched 'Mia Ausa' with his electric claw.
"I've let them down…." 'Mia Ausa' said as she disappeared.
"Bwahahahaha! Now what will you do Ryan? With no monsters to protect you, you'll be wiped out in no time!" Callie said with a laugh.
'What can I do?' Ryan thought as he drew his next card, 'The third card of Ansemian! No characters to protect me though.'
"I'll place this card face down and end my turn." Ryan said.
"Heh, no where to hide. 'A.KU.MU.', attack his life points directly." Callie said.
"I don't think so." Ryan said, "Activate face down card, 'Freeze Arrow'."
"What the hell is wrong with 'A.KU.MU.'?" Callie said.
"Simple, 'Freeze Arrow' stops any attacking character and keeps him frozen for 1 turn." Ryan said.
"Still won't be enough to save you." Callie said, "I end my turn."
'Come on, come on. I need a character.' Ryan said, 'Damn, it's the fourth Ansemian card. And I have no trap cards, which means I have no choice…I can't take a direct hit.'
"I place this card face down in defense mode and end my turn." Ryan said.
"Heh, feel my wrath." Callie said as 'A.KU.MU.' destroyed…an arrow panel?
"What? You had to play defense with that card?" Callie said, then grinned, "Now you can't win. Without all five cards, 'Ansemian: The Forbidden Dancer' is unusable. I'm now unstoppable."
'Dammit!' Ryan said, drawing his next card, 'Well, this'll help.'
"I play the magic card, 'Paralyzing Trick Bars of Pain'. This'll stop you from going for the next three turns."
"Go ahead and hide behind your trick bars, it won't save you from your end." Callie said, "I end my turn."
'Okay, let's get some character cards.' Ryan said, 'You have to be kidding me? The final Ansemian piece?! Damn!'
"I end my turn." Ryan said.
"Heh, nothing…it figures." Callie said, looking over her hand, "I'll end my turn. It's obvious you won't win, so I'd like to prolong this."
"You're a sadistic bitch, you know that?" Charmy said to Callie.
'I'm not sure if I can do this…there isn't a card in my deck now that can stop her. I can't loose, damn it. Most of all, not to her!' Ryan said, drawing his next card, 'Wait a minute! How did I get this card?! That distortion I felt, it must've been Shadow using the Chaos Control. But I can't use this…I can't beat this on Heavy.'
"Anytime you're ready to lose Ryan!" Callie said with as she laughed.
'Think Ryan, think! Wait, there's writing on this card…' Ryan grinned as he read what it said, "I believe I just found the tool of my victory."
"Your victory? Somehow I find that to not be possible." Callie said.
"Does this look like I'm lying?" Ryan said, showing Callie 'The Legend of Max' card.
"How did you? Wait…why am I worried, you can't beat that on Heavy." Callie said.
"There are more ways then one to summon a Max Brother." Ryan said, selecting 'The Legend of Max' on Standard.
"Standard? What on Earth are you trying to do?" Callie said.
Ryan played through and kept his combo till he got to the jumps, missing one.
"Dammit! I've only got one turn left in which to do it...otherwise Callie will win." Ryan shouted, angry with himself for losing the combo.
"Ryan, chill! Remember…trust your cards!" Charmy shouted.
"Oh, for God's sake, not that heart of the cards crap! I thought you were trying to make this different then 'Yu-gi-oh'." Callie said.
"Piss off and let me play!" Ryan said.
"Very well, I end my turn…and with that your trick bars disappear." Callie said.
"Thanks for the breaking news, bitch!" Ryan said, 'I've got to do this.'
Ryan selected 'The Legend of Max' again, listening to the lyrics closely.
"Can you See?"
"Enter Your Feeling."
"The Fly!"
"Do You See Your Goal?"
"Energy!"
"Reality…Reality!"
"Fear!!!"
"Revolt!"
"Do the Right Thing, trust yourself, and you'll know the right thing!"
"Listen to yourself!"
"You can do this…you can!!"
"No F*cking way!!" Callie shouted as Ryan AA'ed 'The Legend of Max' on Standard.
"Oh, I think so…and you know what that means." Ryan said, "First, I'll play this card, 'Sacrifice Blow' which allows me to discard any characters to the graveyard. I place all four pieces of Ansemian that I have in there. And now…I summon forth the unstoppable and unbeatable 'The Legend of Max'! (7000/7000)."
"How is it so strong? It should only be 3000 for each since I only destroyed three of your characters." Callie said.
"True, but remember, it says 1000 per destroyed character." Ryan said.
"That's right, you sent all four pieces of Ansemian you had to the graveyard." Charmy said.
"Exactly, that's where the other 4000 came from." Ryan said, "Now, attack 'A.KU.MU.' with Boost Arrow Blitzkrieg!"
'A.KU.MU.' short-circuited from the arrow overload and Callie felt the difference in life points hard.
"This wasn't supposed to happen!" Callie said, her life points dropping to 2400.
"That's what you get for trying to beat me again, Callie. Even with whomever this master of yours is, you just don't get it." Ryan said, "You can't beat us."
"No, there must be something I can do…" Callie said, looking through her hand.
"It wouldn't matter…almost all magic and trap cards are useless against a Max Brother." Ryan said.
"Nooooo!" Callie said, falling to the ground in agony.
"This finishes it!" Ryan said, sending 'Legend' to do the finishing blow.
Callie was knocked flat by the attack as her life points dwindled down to 0.
"That's it…I've won." Ryan said, holstering his duel pad.
Ryan went to get Callie's strongest card and his final arrow card when Callie's body stood up.
"Still want some more, huh?" Ryan said, grabbing his Keysaber.
"Just as cocky as I was told." Said a voice through Callie.
"You, you're the one behind this aren't you?" Ryan said.
"Of course I am…we'll meet soon enough, that much I can tell you. Till then, I'll leave you to wondering." Said the voice.
"Fight me now you coward!" Ryan shouted, shaking Callie's body.
"Hahahahaha! You'll get your chance to take you on…for I will have my vengeance against both you and your pathetic friends. Darkness Shade will suffer the full brunt of my anger." Said the voice before Callie's body collapsed.
"Dammit! Fight me!" Ryan shouted before releasing a burst of energy.
"Ryan, calm!" Charmy said, slapping me.
"Yeah…you're right." Ryan said, shaking his head, "Let's get her 'A.KU.MU.' card and my final arrow card."
Charmy noticed someone coming from the distance, "Hey, who's that?"
"Ryan, good job man!" Sonic said, limping over to them.
"Sonic! Dude, what the hell happened to you?" Ryan asked.
"Ran into a possessed Amy Rose…but I'll be fine, despite being out of the tourney." Sonic said with a grin.
"Thanks for slipping me that card, though, Shad. It came in handy." Ryan said.
"Thank Sonic, he got it from Amy when we won. So…where to now?" Shadow asked.
"Well, let's place these on my duel pad and find out." Ryan said, arranging all six of his arrow cards and watching the image form.
"So that's where we're having the finals, eh? Here's hoping the other's make it." Ryan said, "Well, onward to the finals!"
After they disappeared into the horizon, a helicopter landed.
"So, this is where the signal last came from, Sonja?" Kanbei said, searching the grounds.
"Yes, brother. 'The Legend of Max' signal came from here. Though I don't see it anymore." Sonja said.
"Hmm…" Kanbei walked over to Callie's body, "I believe I know who has the card. Let's go to the location of the finals, the others should be showing up soon…and it's not good of the host to leave his prey waiting."
The helicopter flew off as the shadow stood on the rooftop of the castle, looking over the landscape.
"It is finally time. I'm going to have to deal with them myself now, but they have no idea who I am, so they'll never know what to do until its too late."
The shadow took off in the direction, heading straight for the others.