DDR CITY: Raves of Revolution ~Prelude to Destiny~
By
Darkness Shade
Disclaimer: Those items, person, things, etc used by me that are not of my own creation belong to their respective owners.
------------------------------------------------------------------
DDR CITY: Kanbei International Arena
"Well, this is the place." Ryan said, landing and setting down Charmy.
"I don't see anyone else, though, so apparently we're the only ones here at the moment." Sonic said, slowly landing and leaning up against Shadow.
"Well, knowing the others something has them delayed again…especially the way Dark and Scott can go at it." Charmy said with a laugh.
Elsewhere in the city
"Okay we've got our six arrow cards, don't you think we should head to the arena now?" Scott said.
"Well, I believe we would if you hadn't knocked poor Darkness through those brick walls…again." Mia said, tapping her foot impatiently.
"It's his own fault for mentioning the SD's again…God help me if I have to face Reps in the finals." Scott said.
A few blocks away
"Ow…anyone know what hit me?" Dark said, coming out of his daze, "Oh, that's right, Scott went and spazzed again after I brought up SD's again."
Dark stood up and started walking till he was plowed over by a vespa, a yellow vespa.
"Hey, watch we're you're…" Dark said, till he recognized it, "You're the one that ran into my car, aren't you?"
"What if I am?" said the driver, sticking her tongue out at him.
"I notice you're still missing your 'Pillows' sticker…guess you got what was coming to you." Dark said with a grin.
"You mean you took it?" the girl said, reaching behind her and bringing out a golden guitar.
"So that's how it's going to get, eh?" Dark said, pulling out his Keysaber.
"Hmm…" the girl said looking over Dark, "Here, take this thing. I don't have any need for it."
Dark raised an eyebrow, "Okay…but no funny stuff."
Dark took the golden guitar and looked at it, "Hey…I know what this is."
"Sucker! Time for you to fly!" the girl said, rearing back another guitar and connecting with Dark.
"@_@ Here I go again…" Dark said in a daze.
"That'll teach you to steal my 'P!'!" said the girl before driving off.
Back with Scott and Mia
"Mia, do you hear something?" Scott said, looking around.
"Yes, it sounds very loud…and, if I'm not mistaken, it's in a lot of pain." Mia said.
Just then, Dark came crashing down into the ground hard.
"I'm all right…@_@" Dark said, nearly falling down after getting up again.
"What happen to you?" Scott said, helping Dark maintain his balance.
"Remember that chick with the vespa who damaged my car?" Dark said, shaking his head to regain his composure.
"I believe I do…didn't you then track her down and steal her little 'The Pillows' symbol?" Mia said.
"Yeah, well…I ran into her…more like she ran into me, but she did give me this." Dark said, pulling out the golden guitar.
"Well, what do you know? You've found another Bemani Item." Scott said, "More precisely, the 'Bemani Guitar'."
"Cool…now I've got one to. I've got one too! I've got one too!" Dark said over and over while jumping around.
Scott could only take so much and knocked him away again.
"Did you really have to do that, Scott?" Mia asked with a sigh.
"Well, wasn't he annoying you as well?" Scott asked.
"Well…yeah…let's go…we wouldn't wish to be late for the finals. At least you hit him in the direction of the Arena." Mia said, flying off.
Scott followed suit.
Back at the Arena
"I remember that one…jeez, good times." Sonic said laughing.
Shadow was just blushing, as was Charmy.
"So many memories." Ryan said, "Okay, something feels off."
"What is it hon?" Charmy asked.
"I feel it as well. Where's it coming from?" Sonic said.
Just then Dark came crashing down into the crater.
"Ah, it's just Darky." Sonic said.
"I'm okay, nothing injured." Dark said, getting up…and then falling down.
"Hmm…that's something you don't see everyday." Ryan said.
"He looks hurt." Charmy said, walking over to Dark, "You okay?"
Charmy bent down and nudged Dark, "Hey, come on…say something."
Just then, Dark's hand went up and squeezed Charmy's chest.
"You son of a…!" Charmy said, tossing Dark up and hitting him with a large hammer that she apparently pulled out of nowhere.
"You can't blame him for doing such, I suppose." Shadow said, "He is ecchi by nature."
Dark held his arm as he stood up, "That was so worth it."
Charmy just glared at him and probably would've hit him again if Scott and Mia hadn't shown up.
"Yo, Ryan! Glad to see you made it." Scott said, landing.
"Good to see you guys are okay, considering…" Ryan said, trailing off.
"Considering what?" Mia asked.
"Well…and so that's what's been going down." Ryan finished explaining.
"I see…so what Cloud and Aerith told us was true. Someone is after us…" Scott said.
"The thing is, who could it be? And why are they targeting me specifically?" Dark said.
"We don't know, but we can be sure that whomever it is will more than likely show up here." Sonic said.
"Especially after what he told us after I kicked Callie's butt." Ryan said.
"My, it would seem things are rather heavy, wouldn't they?" said a voice.
"Ah, there you are Reps, something hold you up?" Charmy said.
"Not really…other than the trouble it seems you guys have had as well." Reps said, having a seat with us.
"So, let's see…who all is in the finals?" Shadow said.
"Well, I am." Ryan said.
"I as well as Dark have enough." Scott said.
"Count me in too." Reps said, showing his six cards.
"So, that's four people so far. Knowing Kanbei, he'll be five." Ryan said.
"I believe we would make six and seven." Said two people wearing cloaks.
"Who the hell are you guys?" Ryan said.
"Easy, Ryan, it is merely us." Said Aerith, lowering her hood, "We had to make sure we stayed hidden."
"Okay…but can you blame me? Especially after what might happen." Ryan said.
"I understand fully." Cloud said, removing his hood, "That's why we had to make it to the finals as well. That way we have a good chance of defeating whomever our enemy is."
"That makes sense." Scott said, "Since we have no idea who this person is, what he/she looks like, and what he/she is capable of."
"Am I too late for the finals?" said a voice.
Everyone whirled around to see a young man with grey hair, wearing a long cloak type thing.
"And who might you be?" Charmy asked.
"Oh, my name is Phirothes. I'm pretty happy I made it to the finals, but after seeing all of you here, I probably won't make it too far." Said Phirothes.
"Well, Phirothes, it's good to meet you. I can tell you must've been a good competitor to make it this far." Ryan said, shaking his hand, "Who knows, you might end up dueling me."
"That sounds like it would be fun." Phirothes said.
"Well, know all that's left is to wait for our wonderful host…late as always it would seem." Dark said.
Suddenly, a very large airship began to descend into the Arena.
"What the hell is that thing? It's massive." Charmy said.
"You know, Cloud, that thing almost looks like Cid's ship." Aerith whispered.
"I think we just found out where he's been." Cloud whispered back.
The airship landed and folded out its gangplank.
"Ah, so you've finally arrive, eh Kanbei?" Ryan said.
"My, my, it seems you and all of your little friends have made it to the finals. Pity, since you won't win, but at least they'll be plenty of you here to console each other when you lose." Kanbei said, "Regardless of that, please present your six arrow cards so that I can verify you belong in the finals."
Ryan, Dark, Scott, Reps, Cloud, Aerith, and Phirothes each handed Kanbei their six arrow cards.
"And my six makes me the eighth finalist. Very well, you all may board." Kanbei said, walking up the gangplank.
"Hold it, you don't have card, nor are finalists, I can't let you past." Said a guard to Charmy, Sonic, Shadow, and Mia.
"Oh, come on…" Charmy pleaded.
"Let them board…I don't really care either way." Kanbei said, before getting on the airship.
"Fine…just hurry up." The guard said.
Everyone quickly boarded the airship and it took off.
The skies above DDR CITY
"This is a rather fancy ship you've got here, Kanbei." Scott said.
"Why thank you, it is the most advanced airship of its kind." Kanbei said.
"If you ask me, it's almost too big…" Ryan said.
"…Like someone is overcompensating, big time." Dark finished.
"Quiet you two!" Kanbei said, "I suggest you head to your rooms to prepare, the dueling will start soon."
"Someone's got something up his butt." Charmy said, as she grabbed Ryan's arm, "Come on, let's get you prepared."
Ryan nodded and followed.
The others agreed they should get their decks ready as well and headed for their respective rooms.
After they were gone and Kanbei was alone, Sonja came down.
"So, did you do what I asked?" Kanbei said.
"Yes…though I didn't quite like doing it, since it's sort of like cheating." Sonja said.
"Did I ask for your opinion? No…so, what did the data show?" Kanbei said.
'No need to be an ass about it...' Sonja thought, "As you thought, all seven Max brother cards are now on board this ship."
"Good…so that means one of those three people I don't know has my secret card. I suppose the only way to find out is through the duels…but that will happen soon enough. I'm heading to my room, call me when the setup is complete." Kanbei said, leaving Sonja alone.
"God, he seems so obsessed with this…what's wrong with you brother?" Sonja said, shaking her head and walking away.
Cloud and Aerith's room
"Aerith, what's wrong? I can tell when you're agitated." Cloud said.
"Just something I feel…you know how I have this, right?" Aerith said, pulling out a golden keyboard.
"Yeah, just like how I have this one." Cloud said, pulling out a golden panel.
"Well, it seems these are 'Bemani Items'. Like what the others have." Aerith said, "And something bad may happen."
"So wait, what you're trying to tell me is that all of the 'Bemani Items' are on board this ship?" Cloud asked.
"Yes, the 'Bemani Arrow', 'Disc', 'Guitar', 'Drum', 'Pod', 'Keyboard', and 'Pop'N'. All seven of them are on this ship." Aerith said.
Cloud took her in a hug, "Don't worry hon, whatever happens, we'll try to stop it…even if it means facing our friends."
Aerith nodded and leaned up against Cloud.
Dark, Scott, and Mia's Room
"I hope you're ready for this." Scott said, "No more messing around."
"You've got that right." Dark said, flopping down on the bed, "I wonder who I'm gonna duel?"
"Dark dear, I think we should be more worried about that mysterious guy who showed up for the finals." Mia said.
"She has a point, Dark. Think about it, an unknown enemy…eight people dueling, seven whom we know, all signs point to him." Scott said.
"Perhaps…I will say that I can't shake the nagging feeling that he seems…familiar almost." Dark said.
"You may be right about that Darkness." Mia said.
Ryan and Charmy's room
Ryan paced back and forth, something on his mind.
"Ryan, what's wrong?" Charmy asked, "Ever since that Phirothes guy showed up, you've been really agitated."
"I know Dark probably feels it too, and I really hope I'm wrong, but there's something oddly familiar about that guy." Ryan said.
"Familiar? What do you mean?" Charmy asked.
"That hair of his…it reminds of someone…long ago." Ryan said, shaking his head, "And…for the briefest of moments, I felt…"
"Felt what, hon?" Charmy said, standing up and hugging Ryan.
"An energy…" Ryan said, "It's probably nothing, but…I just hope nothing bad happens."
Sonic, Shad, and Reps' Room
"Seems you had more trouble with those hooded dudes than I did." Reps remarked at Sonic's injury.
"Oh, you could say that. It would seem we all had our own trials." Sonic said.
"Tell me about it, running into yet another Metal version of you was the last thing I wanted." Reps said.
"You really think we wanted to run into Amy again?" Shadow said, "That girls been borderline psychotic about Sonic without some guy possessing her and making it worse."
"All I know is, as soon as we find that guy, his ass is mine." Said Reps.
"My, don't you seem a tad violent tonight." Sonic said.
"Yeah, sorry, but the last thing I need is more crap from my past." Reps said, "I'm gonna rest up, so just wake me when Kanbei starts the duels."
Sonic nodded and Reps went into stand-by mode.
"Well…here's hoping our friends do well." Shadow said.
"Yes…but, I could use some rest." Sonic said, cuddling up with Shad.
"Very well, hon." Shad said with a smile.
Phirothes' Room
Phirothes' room is dark, the only light that from an eerie glow surrounding Phirothes.
"Yes…the time is soon at hand." Phirothes said, letting out a loud laugh, "Those fools have no idea. Well, no, that's not exactly true…two of them detected my true self before I could cover up my energy signature. I should've known those two would. As for the other two being here, that merely makes things better than I planned."
Phirothes absently held a golden circle in his hand, looking over it.
Phirothes let out another loud laugh, "Ryan, Dark, Cloud, and Aerith…you four will never see it coming. And by the time you do, it will be too late."
Kanbei's Room
"Hmm…I suppose the time has come to start the duel. Sonja?" Kanbei called, grabbing his duel pad and deck.
"Yes, brother?" Sonja said, coming into his room.
"It's time, have the other duelist meet in the main lobby." Kanbei said, "I'll see you and the others there."
"Yes, brother." Sonja said, heading to the cockpit.
"Captain Cid?" Sonja called.
"Hello there, Sonja. What can I do for you?" Cid said, taking a puff of his cigarette.
"Captain, you're not supposed to smoke while on board." Sonja said.
"I know, I know…" Cid said, putting it out.
"Anyway, do you think you could announce for the duelists to assemble in the main lobby?" Sonja asked.
"Sure thing, Sonja." Cid said.
"Thank you." Sonja said as she left for the lobby.
"Cute kid, but a little too loyal to that brother of hers." Cid said, lighting up another cigarette.
"Attention, attention. Will all duelists and guests please assemble in the main lobby…I repeat…" came the announcement over the PA system.
Slowly the duelists filed into the lobby.
"So, about time, ne?" Scott said.
"Yes…so, you all ready to lose to me?" Ryan said with a grin.
"Cocky as ever, I see." Kanbei said, entering the room.
"About you showed up." Dark said, "We going to duel or what?"
"If you'll stay quiet for more than a few seconds, we will." Kanbei said, "Each duel will be determined randomly."
Kanbei signaled at Sonja, who pulled a lever.
A large machine, with a statue of a Max Brother on either side, rose from a platform.
"Inside this machine, a ball with each of your names has been placed inside it. When I throw this switch, two balls will come out. Those two will be the first to duel." Kanbei said, throwing the switch.
The balls rolled round and round till one finally popped out and rolled into the left Max Brother's hand.
"The first duelist is Scott." Kanbei said.
"Figures…" Scott said with a grin, "Wonder which one of you guys gets to lose to me?"
'He's almost as bad as Darky.' Kanbei thought.
The balls rolled around some more till the next ball slid up and down into the right Max Brother's hand.
"And his opponent will be……Reps." Kanbei said.
"Ack! No!" Scott said.
"*chuckles* Time to face your fears there, Scott." Dark said with a chuckle.
"Am I missing something?" Reps said.
"Of all the people, I have to face the one with SD's in his deck." Scott said, cursing his luck.
"I see now…this will be most amusing." Reps said.
"Duelists, if you'll follow me, we can get to our dueling grounds." Kanbei said, motioning for Scott and Reps to follow, "Sonja will lead the rest of you to the observation deck so you can observe the duel."
Scott and Reps' nodded and followed as the others followed Sonja.
Main Deck
"So we're actually dueling on the airship, eh?" Scott said.
"Yeah, sounds pretty cool." Reps said, "You really scared of SD's?"
"Let's just say, I have a distaste for them." Scott said, "You'd better duel your best though."
"Oh, trust me, I will." Reps said with a grin.
Kanbei led them into their positions as the others entered the overlooking observation deck.
"Kanbei doesn't spare the expenses does he?" Charmy said.
"Nope, but that's how he's always been after he took over that company." Ryan said.
"Overcompensating for that which he lacks." Dark said, "At least, that's how I always put it."
"Overcompensating, eh?" Mia said, "Sounds like Nash."
They all gave a good chuckle at this and watched as Reps and Scott took their positions on the opposite sides of the dueling arena.
"Normal duel rules from the tourney apply here in the finals. I trust none of you will cheat, because we have ways of dealing with cheaters." Kanbei said.
"What's he mean by that?" Charmy asked.
"You don't want to know…" Dark and Ryan said at the same time.
"Seems you have experience with that." Mia said.
"Sorta, but we still hold to the fact we didn't cheat…we were set up." Dark said.
"Ah, so is this when you and Callie split…wait…" Charmy said, "It just dawned on me, that other guy…he was Kanbei wasn't he?"
"Sometimes you're too smart for your own good, hon." Ryan said, "Yes…he was…so you can see why Dark and I harbor such feeling towards him."
"Well, Charmy and I are here for you guys so don't worry." Mia said with a smile.
"I know…hey, it looks like their ready to duel." Ryan said.
"So, you ready Scott?" Reps said.
"Ready as I'll ever be." Scott said, "Your SD cards are going down."
"Funny, I could say the same about your Beatmania/IIDX cards." Reps said.
"Duelists ready?" Sonja said, "Battle!"
"Let's duel!" Scott and Reps said as their pads shot out.
In the observation crowd, Phirothes looked on silently.
'Soon…it matters not who wins this. None of them can stop me.'