I'm so sorry it took so long to update! I'm not even going to try to offer an excuse…the length of time it took to get this chapter out, despite writer's block and everything else, is inexcusable.
::bows::
I'm really sorry for making everyone wait! But I also thank you for your patience.
Chapter 57
Jou could feel his power increasing as a burning fire…a flame that couldn't be extinguished no matter what. He could faintly hear things in the background, but all that mattered was the flames. He seemed to be looking through the fire…there was fire all around him. Looking into it, like a mirror…but instead of seeing himself, he saw something resembling the Flame Swordsman. On instinct, he reached out his hand through the flames, expecting them to burn him.
They didn't.
The Flame Swordsman had also reached out his hand. A bright light went off as soon as their hands met.
Jou's eyes snapped back open to reality, and a wall of fire surrounded him.
Honda screamed and recoiled, rolling on the ground to get the fire off.
Jou looked at his gloved hands…they were a burning red. He looked around himself and saw that his entire body was on fire. But it didn't hurt. Instead…it felt right.
Jou grinned and held up his sword, which was soon pulsating with flames as well. He raised the sword, and brought it down, swinging it into the ground. A pillar of flames shot up from where he had struck, and shot out towards Honda.
Honda didn't have any time to react, and screamed as the flames tore into him, engulfing his entire body. Even rolling around didn't seem to put them out as he screamed once more.
Jou was breathing hard, but let go of the sword and ran forward. The flames surrounding him started to vanish as he leapt forward.
Honda looked up, shocked for a moment through his pain as a fist came flying at his face.
"Wake up, you bastard!!" Jou shouted, and his fist, the last remaining part of him still engulfed in flames, connected with Honda's cheek.
Honda went flying back, parting the ground as he went, until he slammed into the wall of the castle, collapsing what remained of it.
The flames started to slowly die out all around them, leaving scorched earth and some injured Hikari Senshi. Standing in the middle of a small crater was Jou, breathing hard.
Jou looked at his hands. Did I…just…merge with the Flame Swordsman? It was…it was incredible…! He looked over to the collapsed wall, seeing it move. Raising his fists, he watched as Honda slowly climbed out from the rubble.
The two stared at each other for what seemed to be eternity. Zuki, who as nearby, looked between the two in anticipation.
Honda blinked, then gasped, then blinked again and looked around. He finally focused on the boy standing in front of him. "J-Jou…?"
Jou blinked, "So, you can talk…"
Honda looked around, "What…what's going on…?"
Jou gaped at him, "What do you mean 'what's going on'?! You…!!!"
Honda put a hand to his head, "Last thing I remember…they captured me and Ryou, and were going to hurt Ryou…they said that if I came quietly, they wouldn't…" He looked around, then down at his armor, "…what have I been doing…?"
Jou slowly lowered his fists, "Ya mean, you don't remember? Noth'n at all?"
"Remember what…?" Honda's eyes widened as he looked around, "What happened here!?" His eyes darted from body to body, from injured to injured.
"Sure took yer sweet time wake'n up from their damn spell," Jou grumbled, then winced and started to collapse.
Honda blinked, and sprinted forward, catching the boy before he hit the ground, "Don't tell me…did I…did I do this to you…?"
"Heh…you wish," Jou smirked painfully, "…most of it is from the first wave of the attack."
"The attack…?" Honda frowned, then blinked, "What happened to everyone else!? Ryou, Yugi, Seto…!?"
"As far as I know, they're still alive," Jou shrugged, wincing again.
Honda supported the boy and stood up, looking around, "What's happening?"
"We're take'n down the Kurayami group once and for all," Jou smirked.
"Shouldn't we go help…?" Honda asked.
Jou shook his head, pulling the boy to sit on the ground as one of the medics was going around. "Nope. Not part of the plan. I wish I could…but I'm frigg'n beat. Not just that, but we're supposed to wait. Anzu is gonna come through with the prisoners."
"Anzu is…?"
Jou grinned weakly, "We've got it all worked out, pal." He frowned and looked at the darkness that was spreading in the front of the castle. From where they sat, it looked like a cloud of black, crackling with electricity. "Damn. I wonder what's going on."
Honda shook his head, "I…don't know…"
Jou stared at the cloud of darkness. I hope everyone's okay…
Anzu looked up at the ceiling as a chunk of it fell down, causing dust and grit to rise up.
"What's go'n on?!" Yunti yelped, dodging another chunk that fell into the stands.
Anzu looked suspiciously at Mai.
Mai looked equally as puzzled, then looked down at the cards and blinked, "The Shadow Game…has been cancelled…?"
"What?" Anzu blinked.
"It's the boss," Mai's expression was something akin to fear, "The boss came out…"
"What does that mean?!" Anzu demanded.
"That this game is pointless," Mai responded, "The Shadow Game is for nothing…"
"It's not for nothing!" Anzu shouted, surprising the others.
Mai blinked.
"I came to rescue my friends…and I made it this far because my friends believed in me and trusted me……and I'm not going to let them down!" Anzu shouted, preparing to draw a card from her deck, "I don't care about your Shadow Games, Mai. But this game isn't over!"
"Face it, it's over," Mai crossed her arms, "Four of your monsters are already destroyed…and only two of mine are. I have my three duplicated Harpy Ladies on the field, and you only have a Petit Angel on the field. The boss has come out…your friends are doomed, and you have lost."
Tears welled up in Anzu's eyes, "You're wrong…you're wrong! I know I have a card that will let me win this turn! I just know it!"
Mai laughed, "Give up!"
"Don't listen to her, Anzu!" Ielmi shouted down.
"Yea! We believe in you!" Zeyl continued.
"You can do it!" Yunti added.
"We are with you," Airi whispered.
Anzu smiled, and could just about feel the hope inside of her. She put a hand over her heart. Everyone…they all trusted me with this mission. And…Yugi is counting on me to do this! He believes in me…and so does everyone else! They put me in charge of this…they truly believed I could do it. And…they still do believe. I can feel it. Her eyes narrowed in determination. I'm not giving up! Not now! Not ever! She looked at her deck. Please…She squeezed her eyes shut, and drew the card, ignoring the rumbling around her and when a chunk of the ceiling or wall would crumble.
"Well?" Mai crossed her arms, "Play your card so I can beat you already…"
Anzu looked at the card, then smirked, "I wouldn't be so sure of that, Mai. I play the magic card, Raigeki!!"
A ball of lightening appeared and floated over towards Mai's monsters.
"Alright!" Zeyl cheered, "Raigeki destroys all of the opponent's monsters!"
"Not so fast," Mai smirked, "You think I'd let you go for an easy victory, Anzu? I play a trap card…Anti-Raigeki! It stops your Raigeki, and reflects it back onto your own monsters!"
The ball of lightening that had been hovering between the two players started to go towards Anzu's cards.
"You're not the only one who had a trap card!" Anzu pointed to a card that was laying on the ground, "I activate Seven Tools of the Bandit!"
Mai gasped, "Masaka…!"
Anzu grinned, "And, because we discarded the playing of life points, I don't have to worry about the 1000 life point penalty of using the card. However…its effect is still the same! Your Anti-Raigeki is destroyed!"
Mai winced as her trap card blew up and zipped into the graveyard. The ball of lightening went for Mai's cards again.
"No…" Mai whispered, "…it's impossible…"
The ball of lightening exploded, sending a jolt into each of the three Harpy Ladies. Instantly, all three were sent to the graveyard. The cards returned to normal, and the only sound for a few moments was the creaking of the structure.
"She won!" Yunti cheered.
The other four on the rescue team let out a loud cheer, and leapt over the stands to congratulate Anzu, who was looking slightly shocked that she had actually won.
"You did it!" Airi smiled.
"Thanks to you," Anzu smiled back, "You're the one who gave me the Raigeki card…remember?"
Airi blushed.
Ielmi beamed at them.
"I don't understand……how did I lose…?" Mai whispered, falling to her knees.
Anzu walked over to her, "Because you were fighting for the wrong reasons. I'm not strong, Mai…you were right when you thought that. I am…probably the weakest of all my friends. But…I know that, as long as they're there for me, even if they aren't physically nearby, I can do it. Because I know that wherever they are, they believe in me. That they'll always be there for me. It's them that gives me the strength to fight. Because of them…I can be strong."
Mai looked at her for a few moments, before looking back at the ground, "Is that really where true strength comes from…? Believing…?"
"Yes…and no," Anzu walked over until she stood directly in front of the older teen, "I was able to be strong because…I'd do anything for Yugi and the others. Because I want to protect them. That, and because they believe in me……that's why I was able to win."
Mai chuckled, "I still don't understand. How can you risk yourself so easily? How can complete strangers believe in each other so much…?"
"If you don't understand…how about letting us show you." Anzu smiled, extending her hand.
Yunti gaped at her, "What are you saying, Anzu…?!"
"You want to learn about it," Anzu smiled at Mai, "And I can tell that you're lonely. You just want to have friends, right? Then come with us."
Mai stared at her, "Are you mad? I tried to stop you…"
"If we always live in the past," Anzu said seriously, "We will never move forward. Yugi…his past is horrible. Some may not call him brave…but I do. Because he doesn't stay in that past. He could…and could always be haunted by it. But he doesn't. He chose to move on. To keep walking forward. That's what's important. That's what makes us strong."
Mai stared at the hand for a few moments.
"So, how about it?" Anzu smiled, "Want to be our friend as well? Besides…we're going to need your help to get to the prisons."
"Why do you try so hard, when it may be futile?" Mai asked.
Zeyl grinned, "Just cause……we can."
Mai blinked, then chuckled, "Helping others…doing things for other people……," she shook her head, "…you kids are crazy, you know that?"
Anzu just smiled, and some of the other people from the rescue team chucked or giggled in the background.
Mai reached up and took Anzu's hand, allowing the younger girl to help her up. "Okay, you've convinced me."
"Welcome aboard," Anzu smiled.
Yunti cleared his throat, "Ah…this is all nice, but……we've got a mission to accomplish, here…"
Anzu nodded, her expression turning into one of determination again, "Right! Come on, everyone! Mai, how about leading the way?"
Surprised, Mai blinked, "Aren't you afraid I'd lead you into a trap?"
"Friends trust each other," Anzu explained, "You've got a lot to learn…"
Mai laughed, then signaled them to go through the door she had been guarding, taking up the lead, "I see that! Okay…follow me!"
"Right!"
Mokuba yelped as the ground shook again. "What's going on up there…?"
"Mokuba!!"
Mokuba blinked, then his hand went through the tunnel, and he found himself falling. He screamed, and could hear Jade screaming as well. The two landed on some plants, and groaned.
"Ow…man…" Mokuba rubbed his head.
"Look!"
"What now…?" Mokuba looked up and gasped. They seemed to be in an underground garden. There were flowers and plants all around them, and even small trees. There was a glowing light coming from the center, and the song seemed to be even louder and stronger then ever before.
"Listen…isn't it beautiful? It sounds like the plants are singing," Jade had closed her eyes.
Mokuba looked around.
"Alone for a while, I've been searching through the dark…"
"This way," Mokuba whispered, gesturing Jade to come through the shining flowers and glistening plants.
"…For places of the love you left, inside my lonely heart…"
Jade frowned, "Weird…how come there's all this plant stuffs here? Everything on the surface, and even underground, is dead from the Kurayami group."
"…To weave by picking up the pieces that remain…"
Mokuba shook his head, "I don't know…" he continued through the cavern of plants, finding that it was deeper then he thought.
"…Melodies of life, love's lost refrain…"
Mokuba stopped as he drew closer to the light, his eyes widening.
"…Our paths, they did cross, though I cannot say just why…"
Jade nearly collided with him, "What are you…!? Oh…wow…"
"…We met, we laughed, we held on fast…and then, we said goodbye…"
In front of them was a giant, green crystal that had roots coming out of it and going into the ground. Everything around it pulsed with the same energy color as the crystal. And inside the crystal was a woman who seemed to be frozen. Her eyes were closed, and her long hair (Mokuba guess it was blond) seemed to be flowing, though it wasn't even moving inside the crystal. She wore a thin, white gown. Her lips weren't moving, but it seemed to be where the song was coming from.
"…And who'll hear the echoes of stories never told…?"
"What…what is this…?" Mokuba stammered.
"…let them ring, out loud, till they unfold…"
"I…don't know…" Jade shook her head.
"…In my dearest memories…"
Mokuba went over to the crystal.
"…I see you reaching out to me…"
"Mokuba! Be careful!" Jade called, hurrying over, "We don't know what it is…!"
"…Though you're gone…I still believe that you can call out my name…"
Mokuba found himself reaching for the crystal, the song seemingly enchanting.
"…A voice from the past, joining yours and mine…"
"Don't touch it!" Jade grabbed Mokuba's arm, "It's got strong magic!"
"…adding up the layers of harmony…"
"But…I just get the feeling that…this is…" Mokuba whispered, reaching once again for the crystal.
"…Now I know we'll carry on…"
Jade gulped and looked at Mokuba, whose hand hovered over the crystal.
"…Melodies of Life…to the sky beyond the flying birds…"
Steeling himself, Mokuba's hand drew closer, reaching out for the crystal.
"…Forever and beyond…"
As soon as Mokuba's hand touched the crystal, there was a bright flash of light.
"Mokuba?!" Jade called.
Mokuba could only stare as the crystal seemed to be melting under his hand, and the woman's eyes opened slowly. As the crystal completely melted away, the woman stood there for a few moments, blinking.
Mokuba stumbled back, looking at his hand in shock. Jade hid slightly behind him.
The woman looked around, then her eyes rested on Mokuba, "You heard the song?"
Mokuba could only find himself nodding.
"Then that means…it's time for Gaia to fight back," the woman stated.
"Wh-what…?" Mokuba gulped.
The woman looked at them, "You were able to melt away my prison. I had been encased in that crystal for the last ten years. Ever since Tenko…" tears rolled down her face.
"Tenko?" Mokuba frowned, thinking, "Oh! You mean, Yugi?"
The woman's eyes shot open, "You know of him?! He's alive?!"
Mokuba nodded, "Y-yea! He's a…whatchamacallit…Holy Spellcaster! And he saved me a while ago, back on Earth! He and his dad and my brother and their friends are fighting the Kurayami group!"
The woman looked shocked, then she looked up, "Tenko and Shinbu are…alive…?" Another tear rolled down her face, before she shook her head, "We must hurry, then. If I have been freed…then that means that the darkness and light are clashing." She looked at Mokuba, "…and that there are humans in between."
"I don't get it…" Mokuba frowned. He looked at Jade, who shrugged.
The woman smiled, "You don't have to understand. But for you to have melted the crystal and freed me……you must play some role in this that neither of us understands yet. The only way to find out……is to go to the greatest point of conflict between the light and darkness."
"Where's that?" Mokuba asked as a white light started to surround the three of them.
The woman looked up at the ceiling once more, "That would be……where the auras of the strongest warrior of light and the most powerful soldier of darkness are."
Kodai smirked and floated down to the ground in front of Yugi and Yami, but was looking more at Yugi. "So…Tenko finally showed up. It's been a while."
Yugi's eyes narrowed, and he got into a defensive position, a staff of light appearing in his hands as he held it at the ready.
"I'm glad you understand," Kodai smirked as a dark staff appearing in his own hands as he looked at the boy, "that for this battle, we'll need our own powers. Not those of the monsters." A dark aura surrounded him.
"You're wrong," Yugi stated, "We need the power of the monsters, and the power of our friends." A bright aura started to surround him.
"Friends…ha," Kodai smirked, raising his dark staff, "Well, now…it seems this battle has been foretold in the prophecy. The greatest powers of light and darkness have now met. And the only thing left for them to do…"
Yugi's eyes narrowed.
"…is fight."
TO BE CONTINUED…
Suffice to say, I found my notes…and now I just have to put together the next chapter. The final battle is about to begin. Hopefully, I'll be able to finish it soon.
Thank you all for your patience.
::bows again::
Arigatou gozaimasu!