Notes: The inspiration behind Alexander's character is the mysterious and twisted Nova from season 2 of Magic Knight Rayearth. However, while Alexander is similar in some ways, in others he is vastly different. And thanks to DarkSpellmaster for the idea about the duel disks!
Chapter One
Siegfried von Schroider closed his eyes and leaned back in the spa, letting his light pink hair sweep down around his shoulders. The months since he had been summoned to Domino City to determine what to do about the gaming companies being blamed for the Duel Monster infestation had passed by slowly and calmly, much to his relief. Nothing more had been seen of Doom Reborn nor the absurd green beams in the sky, and the German desperately hoped that things would stay that way. Unfortunately, Pegasus was certain that Doom Reborn was merely laying in wait for the perfect time to unleash a much deadlier plan. What had happened back in September had just been the prelude.
And Siegfried knew that was likely true. Doom Reborn must be preparing for their main performance following the opening act, he mused silently. They tantalized us with the events in September and then vanished to leave us in suspense. He, for one, was not pleased by this. Whatever their "main performance" would be, it undoubtedly would not be pleasant—and it would most likely end up involving all of them, whether or not they wanted it to.
He looked up as the shadow of his butler Ludwig fell across him. "What is it?" he asked calmly.
Ludwig sighed. "You have a telephone call, Meister Siegfried," he announced.
"Is it important?" Siegfried wanted to know. He supposed he should not find it surprising, but many strange people had somehow gotten hold of his private telephone number. Occasionally even a telemarketer or a reporter leaked through, which he was never all that thrilled about.
"I would assume so," Ludwig replied. "It's Pegasus. . . ."
Siegfried raised an eyebrow and then slowly stood up, reaching for the white bathrobe to the side of the spa. "So he did not tell you what he wanted?" he queried as he pulled it on and stepped across the tiles to the door, his hair dripping water as he went. Pegasus had not called for a while now, though he did tend to do so every now and then when he was bored and wanted to chat, or when something actually went amiss that he felt Siegfried should know about.
He was always such a difficult person to figure out. Siegfried was never certain whether the older businessman honestly liked him at all or if it was just an act, though he assumed it was the latter. After all, one could never trust anyone in business. Many of the most successful and smart ones, such as Pegasus and Siegfried, knew how to turn on the charm around their associates and potential clients. Siegfried had determined to never be foolish enough to believe that anyone involved in business honestly cared about him or Leonhard. Such trust would only result in disaster later on.
"No, Meister Siegfried," Ludwig replied, following him out. "He just said hello and asked for you." Of course, as was Pegasus's way, he had teased Ludwig for a moment—asking if Siegfried was still paying him well enough and such—but the butler did not feel the need to say that. Siegfried would likely assume it to be the case anyway. Both of them were quite familiar with the other eccentric businessman's ways.
"Danke shon, Ludwig," Siegfried answered as he went into his home office and picked up the telephone receiver.
"Guten tag, Pegasus," he greeted, easing himself into the chair at his desk.
"Sieggy-boy! Why, it's been so long since we've spoke." Pegasus smirked to himself from where he was sitting at his dining table in his Domino City cabin, drinking a goblet of his favorite red wine and looking over a recent newspaper. "I was beginning to wonder if the rumors of your demise really were true, after all." The article he was looking at told of an experience from last week, when a vicious Red-Eyes Black Dragon had attacked the von Schroider limousine and torn open the roof, reportedly torching the vehicle and burning all inside without hope of escape.
"My apologies, the telephone lines have been down in this area for days," Siegfried replied, brushing a damp piece of his hair back over his shoulder and ignoring the disliked nickname that Pegasus had bestowed upon him. "They were repaired only last night." He smirked. "But obviously, the reports of my death were highly exaggerated." He had barely managed to flee from the car before the dragon had sent it up in flames, and he was grateful that Leonhard had been safely at home at the time.
"Of course, of course," Pegasus smiled, "unless I'm actually talking to your ghost—or your doppelganger."
Siegfried raised an eyebrow. "Doppelganger, you say?" He could not recall Pegasus ever mentioning doppelgangers unless he was talking about the Duel Monsters card of the same name, so the phrase had caught his interest—just as Pegasus had wanted. "But a doppelganger is a ghostly double of a living person. If I had left mortality behind, I doubt any possible doppelganger of mine would remain."
Pegasus snapped his fingers in delight. "Then you do know what it means!" he said in mock excitement.
"Why the sudden interest in doppelgangers?" Siegfried asked, picking up a rose he had left on the desk earlier that day. "I was under the impression that I was the one fascinated by mythological beings, while you focused on going through your second childhood." Pegasus's obsession with cartoons amused Siegfried, though he had never understood the attraction. He had been raised in a high-class society environment, and for the most part, he enjoyed the entertainment it had to offer. Being taken as a child by his mother to the opera, he had first discovered Valkyries via Wagner's masterpiece Der Ring des Nebilungen. He had carried mixed feelings about the shallow-seeming "hero" of the story who bore his name, but the Valkyries had left a lasting impression and fascination that had started his interest in Norse mythology.
Pegasus laughed at Siegfried's description. "Yes, yes, I know," he said amiably, "but I discovered something fascinating. Just a short while ago, only a couple of hours or so, I saw a winged creature flying happily over my property! This same being has approached several other times over the past few days, and this time I was lucky enough to take a picture of it when it hovered lower in the air." Now he pulled out a manilla envelope and opened it, extracting the photograph and admiring it.
"And what does this have to do with me?" Siegfried asked, growing bored with the conversation. "Surely you don't believe it truly was my doppelganger. It was most likely a Duel Monster of some kind."
"Oh no!" Pegasus said emphatically. "It wasn't a Duel Monster, and it didn't look like you either, Sieggy-boy. Actually, it frighteningly resembles that redhead you met in September—Alister Mackenzie." He studied the picture again. "Only his hair is hanging down, fluffy, in a boy's style. I can't see his eye color, but he's Alister's same approximate height and weight. And here's the really interesting part—he has one angel wing and one demon wing."
Siegfried leaned forward over the desk. "Do you believe it is a new threat?" he asked.
"I really couldn't say," Pegasus mused, "but I believe it's coming from a small mansion secluded higher up in the canyons. I saw it heading in that direction."
Now Siegfried set the rose down, still not certain why he was being told of this strangeness. "Then why not investigate?" he asked calmly. "I certainly know nothing of this creature, but if it is a doppelganger it seems it would be with Alister Mackenzie. Also, seeing such a being is a very rare event. It seems odd that you would have several sightings all at once."
"Why, what wonderful advice!" Pegasus smiled, though he certainly had been planning to investigate all along. "I knew it wouldn't be a mistake to call you about this, Siegfried. I'll have this solved in no time at all!" And then he paused, finally growing serious again. "Anyway, there is a chance that this creature is from Doom Reborn. At one point, I noticed it sending turquoise blasts into the air, almost as if it was practicing for something. It really did look alarmingly similar to the Orichalcos light. Keep your brother safe, Siegfried, and of course you stay safe yourself."
Siegfried frowned deeply at this. "If it was sent by Doom Reborn, then investigating it might not be safe," he thought aloud, wondering if it was a trap.
"Oh yes, I know, but it must be done." Pegasus replaced the photo in the envelope and stood up. "I will be sure to let you know what I find out." With that they exchanged their goodbyes. Pegasus told Kemo to go investigate the mansion on the hill, while Siegfried pondered over what this event could mean. It did not make sense to him.
A brunette woman stood at a window in a building that, as of yet, still was not entirely finished. Her once-bright eyes were now clouded over and filled with sadness. Her beautiful light brown hair, sometimes pulled back in a long ponytail, was now hanging freely down her back and escaping over her shoulders. The symbol of the Orichalcos was not upon her forehead, but instead on the pendant she wore around her neck. It was the same pendant that Dartz had worn before her.
There is so much wickedness in this world, she thought silently to herself. There was no one for her to speak with. She kept herself apart from her warriors, leaving their training up to other commanders serving under her. The Doom that she had reborn was not the same organization that the strange and mysterious Dartz had overseen. She felt that the leadership position was too heavy for one person alone to carry, and so she had delegated.
The idea of purifying the world sounded so delicious to her. She could not fathom the immense evils she had witnessed. A wanderer since she could remember, she had passed through several areas where there had been so much devastation and suffering that her kind heart had not been able to bear it. She had witnessed innocent people being massacred, even the children. She had seen the uttermost repulsive aspects of human nature, again and again until she had felt she would go mad.
When she had looked to find some sort of meaning, she had found the remnants of the original Doom, waiting and wanting to be united under a new leader. She had learned of their failed cause and the meaning behind it, and then she had taken on the responsibilities and position of the leader. She would lead the world to its new Paradise. Dartz had abandoned his ideals in the end, but she would not.
Sometimes she feared the Orichalcos's power. It seemed as though it would worm its way into her mind and soul until she believed that nothing was more important than completing her mission. This frightened her because there were times when she was certain she had done terrible things, but she could not recall exactly what they been or why she had done them.
And there was times when she doubted the mission itself. Was it not hypocritical, she occasionally wondered, to take people's souls in order to bring about the purification of the world? Was she not committing wicked acts herself, in the name of justice? But those people were evil anyway. The Orichalcos had proved them to be. So should they not be eliminated before they could hurt the innocent?
It was all so confusing to her. Perhaps there was not any one "right" answer to her questions. But in any case, Doom Reborn's next plan was almost ready to go. She just needed one final key ingredient for it to work. And she knew that several of her agents were already preparing it.
In another part of the world, Duke watched out of another window in boredom. His raven hair was pulled back in the trademark ponytail, and once again he had the red and black headband around his forehead. He was tired of playing dead. For reasons of precaution, he had not even been able to let his friends know that he was still alive. Maybe they won't want to see me anyway, he thought. I did some really horrible things.
But he knew it had not been his fault. Doom Reborn's gang had deliberately beaten him nigh to death so that the Orichalcos would be able to take over with no resistance. He still was not certain how they had gotten his body away. Perhaps they had switched his body with something (or someone else) before the burial. That was the most logical idea, though he supposed that they also could have snuck into the cemetery that night and dug up his body. He shivered, disturbed.
Suddenly hearing someone approaching the doorway, the boy started and turned to see Critias there.
The warrior just gave him a deadpan look. "You don't look happy," he observed in a matter-of-fact tone.
Duke frowned. "Well, I'm not," he retorted, twirling a piece of hair around his finger. "We don't know when Doom Reborn might attack again. It could be ages from now. I mean, they've been quiet for over two months. And my friends all think I'm dead. They've probably been blaming themselves since the time I was beaten up. The last thing I wanted to do was come back to life as a possessed lunatic." He glared down at the throw on the couch. "I could've killed all of them!"
"You didn't." Critias half-turned, crossing his arms. "And the very fact that Doom Reborn hasn't done anything for this amount of time probably means they're getting ready to unleash something drastic. I don't think they're going to let the year slip by without trying again." His eyes narrowed. He knew that for many humans, this was a season of celebration and good will. And he would not put it past Doom Reborn to decide it was the perfect time to attack.
Duke clenched a fist. "I know stuff about these guys," he protested. "I need to warn Yugi and the others about what they're capable of."
"They know enough," Critias said flatly. "They know that Doom Reborn isn't above taking people to the brink of death to get them under the Orichalcos's control. That's plenty. Basically, anything goes with them."
Duke was not pleased or satisfied. "I know some specific things about some of the stuff they want to do," he objected. "How long do you and your pals plan to keep me here?" He stood up slowly and carefully, testing his equilibrium. "I've been getting better." Finding that he seemed to be able to stand without a problem, he began walking around the room—though he did so with a slight limp.
"Yes, and Doom Reborn might decide to try to take you off again," Critias retorted. "I don't think it's safe." With that he made a move to leave the room. He knew Duke was unhappy about remaining here, but he felt that for now the boy would have to get used to it. Timaeus was certain that something terrible was just on the horizon, and Critias was certain that when it burst into being, all Hades would break loose—quite possibly literally. Doom Reborn was tampering with things beyond its understanding. And the last thing they needed would be to have Duke taken by the organization again.
Critias wondered, as did Duke himself, whether Yugi and the others would even trust the former, unwilling servant of the Orichalcos. Helmos was confident that Duke's friends would stand by him, but Critias was not as certain. Some of them had doubted that Duke had not accepted the Orichalcos by choice. Critias did not know whether they had come to realize the truth or not.
Raphael leaned back in the chair with a well-read copy of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, sighing to himself. The house was quiet tonight. Alister had gone to the group home to visit the children, and Valon was out riding his motorcycle around the city. He had been going out more frequently as of late, wanting to enjoy it as much as he could before snow and ice made it impossible to ride the bike for the winter.
Raphael wondered what Valon would do when that happened. He had taken a job delivering pizzas, and used his motorcycle as the delivery vehicle since he did not have a driver's license yet. Raphael hoped that Valon would be able to get one before long, but he was not even certain if the boy could since they did not know his true age nor his surname. Valon had said that he would never disgrace himself by taking on the current alias of his criminal parents, and Raphael did not blame him for that.
The Australian's memories had been returning slowly but surely. That was an immense relief for all three of them. Valon was now more like the cheerful, carefree teenager Raphael and Alister remembered, rather than the angry and confused amnesiac.
But Raphael was worried about Alister. The quiet—yet blunt—and reserved redhead had grown even more distant of late and always seemed to look tired. Raphael wondered if Alister was getting good sleep at all. Sometimes in the night he would hear the younger man getting up and wandering downstairs, but he allowed Alister to have his time alone. However, he knew that if Alister kept not being able to sleep well, it would affect his health. He did intend to approach him about it if it continued.
Liu stretched out on the arm of the chair, purring loudly and half-closing her eyes in pure contentment. Raphael was terribly amused. It seemed that his cat was always happy, which was a good thing. It would seem depressing if she was as aloof as her owners often were. The fact that she always seemed blissful seemed to make it a bit easier for Raphael to relax after a long day.
Suddenly the feline perked up, blinking and staring forward as if she knew something was about to happen. Raphael frowned at her questioningly just as the lights went out. The blonde muttered to himself in annoyance and was about to get up for a flashlight when he heard Liu make a soft mew in an apparent greeting.
"Eh?" Raphael squinted, now making out a strange silhouette standing before him. It looked about Alister's size, but two wings were protruding from its back—if Raphael was being able to see correctly. Suspiciously the man laid his book aside, ready to bolt up. "Who's there?"
"Hi!" a perky, yet soft, voice answered. Raphael heard Liu leap down and then saw her rub against the long legs, purring in delight. Knowing that she seemed to greet everyone the same way, Raphael did not find this particularly strange. What he did find strange was the entity's presence. He could see it bending down and picking up Liu, stroking her soft fur.
"Who are you?" Raphael demanded, standing up now as well and reaching for his cat. "How did you get in?" He felt a soft, feathered wing brush against his arm as Liu was handed back to him.
"I just came," the creature answered, grinning and showing his fanged teeth. "I'm the Angel of Death!"
Raphael could only stare in disbelief. "What?" he said then, as Liu batted a feather that had come loose from the right wing. "Is this some kind of a gag? Because if it is, I don't think it's funny."
Alexander shook his head. "It's not a gag," he replied. "I just wanted to tell you that I'm here to fulfill what Alister wants. That's my whole purpose in life. Once I've completed it, I'll die." Of course, when Alister died, Alexander would as well. And since the creature believed that killing Alister was the way to make him happy, he did not care that he would perish along with the gray-eyed man. Sacrifices had to be made. And Alexander was certain that Raphael and Valon would be happy for Alister, if they knew that he was going to be happy by dying. That was why he had come to tell Raphael of what he intended to do.
Raphael was only becoming all the more confused, and suspicious as well. "What are you talking about?" he growled, thinking that none of it made sense. Was this some bizarre stalker, perhaps from Doom Reborn? Or was it some kind of a Duel Monster? The blue-eyed man felt frustrated and wished that he could better see what the entity in front of him looked like.
"I'm going to kill him, of course." Alexander stepped into the light from the moon outside, and Raphael could not hold back a gasp as he took in the shocking resemblance to his friend—and the alarming statement. Again he was stunned.
"You just said you were going to fulfill what Alister wants!" Raphael said indignantly.
Alexander blinked at him. "But don't you know? Alister wants to die."
Raphael swallowed hard, many things going through his mind at that moment. He did not want to believe this . . . this whatever it was. And yet he knew that Alister had felt suicidal in the past. Was it at all conceivable that such feelings were returning? He thought back to Alister's sleeplessness. Could that be why he had not been able to sleep—because he was longing to die? The blonde growled, trying to push such thoughts out of his head. He could not believe such nonsense, and especially not coming from such a strange being that he had never seen before. Still, he could not deny that the resemblance to Alister was very unsettling. That was something he needed to find out the meaning behind.
"That's not true!" he snapped finally, his eyes narrowed. "Alister doesn't want to die."
"But he does," Alexander said softly, tilting his head to the side. "I know he does. I felt it . . . I felt his pain, his agony, his self-hatred. He wants to die, and I'm here to make sure he does." He smiled, looking almost childlike. "I love him, you know. I hate what he loves and I love what he hates. He hates himself, so I love him."
Raphael was highly disturbed by this point. Again he glared at the creature. "What are you?" he whispered. "What makes you think you know what he wants?"
"Because," Alexander replied just before he vanished, "I am him."
The lights flickered back on. Raphael stared. The thing was gone. In fact, there was no trace of it anywhere, and the blonde was sorely tempted to wonder if the encounter had all been a terrible, fascinating, realistic dream.
But then he saw Liu on the floor, playing with a large white feather. "The Angel of Death" had truly been there. That had not been a dream. And Raphael was left to wonder how much truth, if any, there was to what had been said. Alexander's last, cryptic remark haunted and perplexed the blonde man. And it was impossible. Alexander could have only meant that he was Alister in a figurative sense.
What was equally puzzling were the two wings. What did they mean? Why did the creature have them? Maybe, if Raphael could figure out what kind of being it was, that would help answer the wing question.
The man groaned, rubbing his forehead. When Alister did return, they would have a lot to discuss.
He did not know that there was something else they needed to worry about. But uptown, many of Seto Kaiba's "Solid Vision" holographic duel disks had been purloined. Doom Reborn's next treacherous plan was about to come forth.