Disclaimer: Thank you for choosing Rising to the Top as your official flight to the Duel Monster Realm. Please keep your hands and feet inside the seat at all times to avoid random emotional flailing that is due to intense chapters. Also, remember that you must fasten your sanity at all times when you are seated or when the sign is flashing. This will help you cross the turbulence in particularly confusing or violent chapters. Now sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenic view through your computer window. The author of this flight is not affiliated with the creators and editors of Yu-Gi-Oh, and therefore cannot possibly own the show, manga, action figures, etc.
Chapter 15: Saving the Light Kingdom! Part 2
"You!" Cy cried, glaring at Cosmo Queen and King Jinzo as they advanced across the velvet carpet. Svrion and Cy backed up until they bumped into the Flute's throne. It was empty, of course, since Cy cradled the object like a baby in her arms.
"Thieves," Cosmo Queen chuckled, "give back to us what is rightfully ours."
"You're planning to attack the Light Kingdom!" Svrion accused bravely, even though he didn't have half the courage he sounded like he did. It seemed fair enough, two on two. But Cosmo Queen and Jinzo had far more power than any could fathom.
Jinzo smirked. "And you're planning to stop us? Come, let us stop this useless chatter. We each know the other's motives. And we each know who is the stronger. Why, we can't even consider the two of you unless you double the number." Cy growled at his statement.
"Don't judge us!" At her words, the sky outside suddenly lit up with a bolt of lightning so bright it blinded the occupants of the room and turned the darkness into pure white. Then, the gloom settled back in. Cy and Svrion had to blink several times to readjust. But they were distracted. The sudden brightness and loud clap of thunder that resulted allowed Cosmo Queen and King Jinzo to exchange brief glances. As soon as Cy and Svrion had balanced themselves, another blast followed. This time, it was inside the castle.
The sickly black wave tore towards the Light Kingdom duo at amazing speed. Instinctively, Svrion pushed Cy away. She sprawled to the floor, doing everything to hold onto the precious Flute. Looking back, she gave a shriek. The wave of power, glowing black with purple flaming edges, collided with Svrion.
With a howl that shook the Castle, Svrion flew back up against the wall. He made contact with the stone wall with a sickening slam and slid to the ground. Cy stared blankly for a few seconds before comprehending.
"SVRION!" Cy dropped the Flute in her haste to arrive by his side. Cosmo Queen and Jinzo made no move to recover it. Soon, Cy would by dead as well, and there would be no one but them that could retrieve it.
Cy felt her heart sink lower and lower as dread filled her. He's not dead, he's not dead. I will die if he is dead. She slowly ascended the steps and inched towards his body on the other side of the throne. A slow moan escaped Svrion, and filled with the sudden realization that he was alive, Cy practically ran and fell upon him.
"Oh, Svrion! Please! Be okay, be okay."
"It's hardly possible, seeing as how I made that horrible slam against the wall," Svrion whispered, coughing up a little blood. Cy had a horrible flashback, back to the time Celton had been in the same state. All because of her. It's all my fault. Celton, Svrion…they've risked their lives for my stupid idea. If I hadn't decided to change the world by being the first female Dark Magician, this wouldn't have happened.
"Yes it would have," Svrion responded softly when Cy voiced her regrets. "Even if you weren't there in the flow of time, Jinzo and Cosmo Queen would have still waged war. Aren't you glad we are at least here, stopping it before it starts?" Cy pulled Svrion's head upon her lap as she knelt on the floor. His body was growing extremely cold, and it was evident he was using his last strength to say those words. Jinzo and Cosmo Queen waited patiently.
"Let the girl have her last moments of happiness," Cosmo Queen whispered to her husband. "It will make our victory all the more victorious."
"The moment he takes his last breath, we will kill her."
Cy let her hand brush over Svrion's hair. His cap had fallen off as the blast had taken him, and his purple locks lay all over Cy's lap. She fingered each strand, thankful for the strange peace. It didn't matter if the royals did anything to them. Svrion's breathing was getting slower and slower by the second, and if he died, Cy would have no choice but to do the same.
"Cy?" Svrion asked. "I wonder…do you think Celton was saved?" Cy's eyes widened.
"Oh…I…why?"
"Well, I've met…him…and he…seems…he's still alive, you know? I can feel it. You can always feel it when someone dies…no matter where they are…death…you can feel it…"
"Please don't talk about death," Cy pleaded, gathering as much of Svrion as she could into her arms.
"No…Cy…you don't understand…I can feel it. I can feel something…I still feel myself, and I can feel you…" Cy let her finger trace over his face.
"Really," she asked, like a mother talking to her sleepy child that was tucked warmly in bed. "Then, what do I feel like?"
"I don't know…you…you're holding on to me…a part of me wants to grow wings and fly…and yet…I can feel a grip on my shoulder, I can feel you…" Svrion took another shaky breath. "And I can feel the others. They are close Cy. They will help us."
"Oh please," Jinzo whispered to Cosmo Queen, rolling his eyes. "This is going on to no end…"
"Patience," Cosmo Queen said, grinning devilishly at her next victim. "The fun starts soon…the boy is losing his fight."
"So…let me rest Cy. Go, fight Cosmo Queen and Jinzo."
"Are you crazy?"
"Trust me Cy." With those words, Svrion closed his eyes. Cy crinkled her eyebrows.
"Svrion? Svrion? Wait!" She lifted up his hand and shook it, but it fell back down. And he was so, deathly cold… "NO! You can't! You can't die!" She put a hand to his heart, hoping against all odds that it was still beating. Though very faintly, she could still hear a slow rhythm. Svrion had some life, though very, very little.
"Are you done yet?" Jinzo complained, finally having enough with the tragic moment. Cy looked up at him as she finished laying Svrion on the ground, folding his hands across his chest.
"I believe so," she said cautiously, getting up. Already, a number of brilliant spells were running through her mind. Of course, she had no idea if any would work. She only had her normal strategy, to blindly string words together and see if any made a good impact. Then again, she also had learned quite a few words on this journey. She was so intent on the final battle, and the royals were so intent on removing her from existence, that no one noticed the lightening outside had stopped and the Castle had once again become peaceful.
Cosmo Queen and Jinzo looked at each other and smiled. Cy took a moment to run her eyes over them, trying to see if they had any weaknesses. The Queen was standing straight and tall. She seemed to already know that the battle was won, since it was in her favor for sure. Waiting for Cy to make the first move, she fingered the length of her dark red velvet gown, the majority of it covered with shadows that danced every time her finger brushed the fabric. She had a very strange green and gold plated collar that spread out over her shoulders with an intricate design that matched her headpiece. Her bright red hair lay almost out of sight within the depths of her crown, and at the top spike of the strange article of clothing lay a tiara with a small image of some Dragon. Cy guessed it was a Blue-Eyes. The Queen wore no armor besides her crown, and therefore it seemed like she was vulnerable anywhere but her head.
Jinzo, on the other hand, was exactly the opposite. He had on a long suit that covered every inch of his body with blue-green impenetrable metal laced with black magic. The outfit was particularly strong about the chest and neck, but fanned out like a dress near the legs. Besides a small mask, Jinzo's head was pretty much an easy target. He was quite an ugly figure. Cy suppressed a mental giggle as she thought of how Cosmo Queen could stand him. After all, evil put aside, she was quite a beauty. If she had a child, a daughter perhaps, it would be easy to predict that all men would be after her. But what were the chances of that?
"Did you fall asleep?" Jinzo asked. "Because I surely did." Cy narrowed her eyes.
"Well, let's begin then," she said slowly, darting glances between Cosmo Queen and Jinzo. The battlefield was silent once again. The hall resonated with uneasiness. "Well…?"
"I'm thinking of how to kill you," Cosmo Queen explained. "If you would be so kind as to be patient, I'll have the perfect torture planned out for you soon."
"Not soon enough though. You're too late…" Cosmo Queen looked up at Cy, but it wasn't the young Dark Magic student that had spoken. Cy was already looking at the entrance. Her voice caught in the back of her throat. It didn't matter anyway. She couldn't have decided whether to scream, cry, or shout with happiness given the situation.
From the tall double doors that led into the chamber, a blonde Dark Magician stepped out from the shadows. Following close behind him was a smiling, kind-faced Dragon Master Knight and a sulky Lord of Dragons who looked as if he had not had the best of days.
"Celton! You're alive!" Cy squeaked, unable to contain her joy. "And Aundren! Hufanse! What has you in such a tight mood?"
"Oh, look, it's the rest of the heroes," Jinzo exclaimed with a touch of sarcasm. "I was beginning to wonder if any excitement would start."
"You don't mess with my sister till you get past me!" Celton snarled.
"Oh look, such brotherly love," Cosmo Queen gushed, though she was doing it just for her own laughs. Jinzo rolled his eyes. "I've killed off that twerp's boyfriend, now I can kill off her brother as well. Taking over the world is so much fun."
"Killed off her boyfriend…" Aundren scanned the room. "Svrion! Hufanse, look over there. What has befallen our friend?" The two Dark Kingdom residents raced across the velvet carpet, leaving Celton to face Jinzo.
"Oh your friend has been fallin' off the wall," Cosmo Queen laughed. Jinzo couldn't help but smirk. Cy and Celton did not find that funny, especially not Cy.
"You said you would consider us if we doubled the number," Cy retorted. Aundren and Hufanse briefly looked over Svrion before returning to join Cy just as Celton did the same. The four of them faced the Dark Kingdom royals. "There are four of us now…" Jinzo shrugged.
"I suppose it might be a warm-up for the full-scale battle we will eventually wage against the Light Kingdom. What do you say, my Queen?"
"It's like the appetizer before the main course," she replied. "Why not give them a chance?" Cosmo Queen and Jinzo exchanged a quick glance, nodded, and turned their back to each other. Then, they walked ten paces apart each and turned back to face the foursome. The group looked at each other, silently agreeing on a plan. Hufanse and Aundren walked to the left so they were parallel to Jinzo, and Cy and Celton faced off with Cosmo Queen.
In the beginning, as with every battle, the opponents merely stared at each other. A pin drop could be heard in the silence that enveloped them as strongly as the darkness. Aundren stared coolly at Jinzo while Hufanse was giving him a heated glare. Jinzo glanced back and smirked. Cy and Celton wore twin expressions of rage, but Cosmo Queen smiled as if relishing the battle that was to come. Now came the battle of words, which most of it had been played out anyway.
"So, what shall I say to your brothers?" Jinzo started, facing the former Dark Kingdom residents. "Aren't they Randren and Harsh, some of my best warriors? You both bear an eerie resemblance to them. Wouldn't they be heartbroken you turned on them?"
"They were the first to turn on us," Aundren said. "And moreover, they have already tried to kill us once. Chances are that telling them this bit of news will not provoke them further seeing that they have already severed ties with us."
"We could ask you a similar question," Hufanse added. "What would your daughter say?" Cy's head turned towards Hufanse, a curious expression climbing on her face. Cosmo Queen's eyes darkened.
"The nerve of you," she snapped. Then, without warning, she sent a wave of black energy towards him. Aundren and Hufanse ducked out of the way.
"That's not fair! Dark Magic Attack!" Celton shot back, and the fight began. Caught off guard, Cy ducked behind her brother as he fired fire bullets at Cosmo Queen. She sidestepped and shot another wave of power. This was quickly returned by Hufanse and Aundren combining a string of shots. Jinzo gathered a globe of power in his hands and shot it out in the middle, only to be hit back when Cy used Back Force, a minor form of Mirror Force. A brief pause and it all started again.
At first it seemed like the battle was equally progressing. Both sides would take a few minor blows, only to come back and strike an even bigger blow. The major attacks were blocked, but the attacker only came back with smaller blasts that got past the defense. However, the tide of the battle soon changed.
Hufanse knew why too, because even in the mix of confusion and concentration he could still remember Faiya clearly. And the blessing that was a curse. She had said quite clearly that her family had immense power and did not tire easily. That was obviously Jinzo and Cosmo Queen.
Actually, Hufanse realized something. She said the members had beauty and all, but Jinzo was by no standard attractive. Perhaps the spell only ran partway in the family. After all, Cosmo Queen couldn't marry her own relatives, so Jinzo would have been an outsider. And if all of Hufanse's seemingly irrelevant thoughts were correct…he had to take a closer look.
"Aundren, cover for me!" Hufanse whispered, leaping ahead. The Dragon Master Knight shrugged and pulled out his sword, using it to deflect blows. Luckily for Hufanse, one of them backfired right into Jinzo. He moaned and fell back slightly, and Hufanse could see clearly. It was the mask.
Of course. No one normal could last that long. The only reason the four of them were at it was because they were young and double the number. Jinzo was old, and he clearly had no strength. But the mask on his face…it was sucking some of Cosmo Queen's energy every time he took a hit. Cosmo Queen was using her unending source of power to help Jinzo as well. That meant if the mask were gone, then he would be no match for them at all.
"Aundren!" Hufanse said, returning back and shooting out two black bubbles. Celton and Cy at that moment combined an attack that Celton taught her and momentarily blinded the two royals. Hufanse took his time to explain as quickly as he could.
"Jinzo's mask! That's where his energy is! We must destroy it. Celton and Cy need to keep the Queen busy!" Aundren nodded, and hurried behind Celton while Hufanse and Cy teamed up for once.
"Celton!" Aundren hissed as two waves caused them to duck. "You…Cy…keep the Queen busy…" Celton nodded and leaped out of the way. Aundren flipped his sword and deflected the oncoming blast.
"Dark Magic Attack!" Cy was using her strength wisely, as Celton had suggested, and was offering out only minor blows. But, combined with the other's strength, it was good enough for the job. She only hoped Cosmo Queen and Jinzo weren't going easy on them.
Hufanse had a plan worked out. They of course needed to get closer to Jinzo, but in a way that they wouldn't notice. They would need to use an illusion of sorts, and those required great energy. Energy that wouldn't go unnoticed by Cosmo Queen. Hopefully Cy and Celton were a good distraction.
Hufanse told Aundren as much as he could while deflecting blows and calling attacks. Aundren nodded. Illusions were tricky and they only worked on one person. Cosmo Queen would have to be kept away. He tried to catch Cy's eye and when he did so, he pleaded with his eyes. Cy nodded, ducked away from a blow, and tried to think of something to do.
Let's see, she thought. I need to think of a way to beat Cosmo Queen. Celton and I are just barely hanging on, and now with Hufanse and Aundren doing something, I can't risk any more time. It's now. Let me see… Cy reflected back on her adventure, over the past few days where everything had piled up. It seemed like so many months, but it wasn't that long ago since when she had woken up in her room so excited to start school at the Dark Magic Academy.
It was rather funny, Cy could have concluded, that she got sent on this adventure. She was learning attacks that took three years in the Academy. But it was only expected. People could do great things when needed, and Cy couldn't have survived unless she pulled those certain tricks out of the hat.
Some of them were explainable, Cy thought as she escaped another attack. But not all. I remember that attack that knocked me unconscious. What was it…Magic Sword? Simple words, but they had such an effect. And if I remember correctly, it was Aundren who told me that I had used energy a hundred times more than what I had. It would be enough for Cosmo Queen…but what gave me all that power?
Cy left her thoughts briefly as she and Celton teamed up again. Blasts were going past her so fast everything blurred. She could faintly make out Hufanse and Aundren linking hands and murmuring a string of words Cy could only guess was a complex spell. She knew she was running out of time to make a distraction. She figured out what she was going to do, but not how she was going to do it. She scanned the room desperately. Her eyes flew around, searching, and came to rest on Svrion. She thought about him, all the things she had done with him, how much she had gotten to know him, and her realization that she loved him…that's it. Suddenly it dawned on her.
Of course, why didn't I make the connection before? Cy remembered, the sudden feeling. The feeling that had made every kiss of his so passionate. That subtle pulse that radiated from him throughout her body was the same as she had felt when conjuring up the sword. I know where the power lies…
"Celton, I'm going to try something!" she called out. Celton nodded and prepared a few spells in his head to protect her in case anything went wrong. At that moment, Hufanse and Aundren spread out their hands and a shimmering cloud formed at the moment their fingers lost contact. Cy knew it was time.
Using every bit of her power she could muster, Cy thought about the bond she shared with Svrion. She felt the pulse within her grow stronger as she thought about him, a gentle blush growing on her face when she thought of his kisses. Then, her eyes narrowed in determination, she held out her hands. Words formed on her lips without her even knowing.
"Magic…Sword…Spellblade!" Cy realized she could hear Svrion's voice mixed with her own. Even though he seemed near dead, he was using his energy to help her. And since he had rested, it was plentiful. Multiplied by his, Cy's power grew tremendously. Aundren looked back at her, shocked. Hufanse was already walking through the illusion cloud, and Jinzo's attention was on him. Celton's stare matched Aundren, but Cosmo Queen simply smirked.
"Finally, something worth the fight," she remarked, and the shining Blue-Eyes tiara glowed brighter. Suddenly, two bright white lights poured out and formed something in Cosmo Queen's hand. It took everyone a moment to realize what it was: a sword.
"Dragonscale, you have served me well. Prove to me you are the true champion." The Queen flipped her sword several times to get warmed-up before gripping it firmly and eyeing Cy. The teenager only gripped her own as fiercely and glared back, making sure to keep her connection with Svrion strong. The battle started.
Full of new energy, Cy rushed forward with a cry. Spellblade met Dragonscale with a clash of magic metal. Cosmo Queen broke the contact and swiped out, only to be parried by Cy's sword.
"Fire flush!" Cosmo Queen commanded as her sword turned red and danced with flames.
"Spark spiral!" As the flame rushed forward, Cy let go of her sword as it started twirling in midair, deflecting the flames with short lightening bolts. Celton realized his job after this attack. He issued several neutralizing spells as quickly as he could, trying to keep the attack from flying out towards Aundren or even as far away as Svrion.
Meanwhile, Hufanse walked closer to Jinzo as slowly as he could. Under the illusion, it would look like he was stepping sideways. He would appear no closer than he had been a second ago. Aundren had to keep the cloud flowing with a refreshing spell, and he was grateful that Celton was still attentively blocking the spells from Cosmo Queen as Hufanse tackled those from Jinzo. And all along, Hufanse got closer and closer.
"Dragonscale!"
"Spellblade!" The two swords clashed once again. With the Queen's energy from her curse and Cy's energy from her bond, the two were evenly matched in power and skill. So far the battle was a draw.
Hufanse took in a deep breath as he stood right in front of Jinzo. The king stopped his attacks; his vision of Hufanse momentarily vanished. The Lord of Dragons looked over the mask, holding his breath as to not alert the king. He found it at last. The clasp.
With all his effort, Hufanse grasped the mask, pressed the clasp, and wrenched it off. The illusion cloud vanished, and Aundren leaped ahead. As Jinzo staggered back, Hufanse and Aundren threw forward their hands.
"Obliterate!" they shouted together. At that moment, Spellblade and Dragonscale met once again. Cy and Cosmo Queen struggled with all their might to overpower the other. Faces tense, their swords struggled to bend the other. Then, Jinzo's scream struck the air.
His howl shook the Castle and made it waver in midair. He bent over in pain, a gaping hole through his abdomen that slowly spread out until it claimed him. In a sickening explosion of black light he simply vanished, his mask falling to the ground. This was all the distraction needed. Cosmo Queen turned and cried out in anguish, and without thinking, Cy freed her blade and struck. It impaled the Queen right below her ribs.
"No!" Cy cried out, realizing what she had done. But it was too late. Cosmo Queen staggered back, but she didn't vanish like her husband. Instead, her eyes brightened and she fell softly, breathing raggedly. Aundren, Hufanse, and Celton stopped what they were doing, shocked into silence. However, Cy ran forward.
"Cosmo Queen!" she cried. The fatally struck woman smiled up at the young Dark Magic student.
"You freed me," she whispered. "Thank you. Without you, I couldn't have escaped the curse that bound me." At the mention of those words, Hufanse broke free of his trance and ran to her side.
"No, you can't die!" he cried.
"I'm sorry," Cosmo Queen said. As the others joined her in her last moments, she looked at each face in turn, giving her last smile. "I was trapped by the Blue-Eyes Curse, and only death could free me from it."
"No! Death is not the only way," Hufanse protested.
"Yes it is," Cosmo Queen said, looking at him. "My body and brain were controlled by the evil. The real me sat in the shadows and watched in horror as my body and brain committed horrible acts of cruelty. Now, you have killed them both. But without them, I cannot survive. Therefore, I must leave now as well…"
"Death is not the only way…"
"I am afraid it is," Cosmo Queen insisted. "Though it seems cruel, my daughter must die too. I do not want to see her suffer as I did. If my line dies out, maybe the curse will too."
"Your daughter…?" Cy started, but Hufanse quickly drew the Queen's hand into his own.
"I promise you," he said. "I will find away to release Faiya from the spell without killing her. I promise." Cosmo Queen smiled weakly.
"You are so brave and so determined," she lifted a hand and stroked his cheek. She closed her eyes briefly and opened them. Death was closing in fast. "I can believe you. Please tell my daughter I love her."
"I will," Hufanse promised. "And don't worry, you're not the only one." Cosmo Queen grinned, no longer looking like the evil being she once was.
"I was so consumed by the evil that I conjured a husband out of it so my power would not be challenged. I threw my life away…but…you…" Cosmo Queen took a deep breath. "I will not be there in the future to see how it turns out, but I give you my blessing. Please save Faiya, I know if there's someone out there that can, it's you. Don't let her turn out like me. Promise me, as a son might do?"
"Promise, from the bottom of my heart." Cosmo Queen smiled once more.
"And lastly, my body is too weak. But I have a wish that I be buried forever in the rubble of this castle. My dear…" she turned to Cy who glanced teary-eyed at her. "Will you channel my power?"
"Of course, anything." Cosmo Queen closed her eyes and touched Cy's forehead. The Light Kingdom resident suddenly felt a wave of power surge through her and seep out into the castle floor. When Cosmo Queen released her touch, Cy shivered.
"So much power," she remarked.
"Yes, but all gone to waste." The Queen looked one more time around the room. She turned to the Lord of Dragons. "Promise me?" she asked one more time.
"I will save Faiya, with your love and mine." Cosmo Queen turned to Cy.
"Thank you." Then, she closed her eyes and breathed her last breath. Celton and Aundren bowed their heads in respect as Hufanse positioned her hands over her stomach. Cy placed her hand over her eyes to shield her tears, but they flowed out over her cheeks anyway. Hufanse pushed away the crown to let the Queen's hair flow out freely. The bright red color and the beauty still fresh upon her face reminded Hufanse painfully of Faiya. Even in death she was a beauty. He pushed away the crown with a scowl, and the Blue-Eyes tiara fell off and rolled away…
Her daughter does not deserve this fate. I will save Faiya, with her mother's love and mine.