Chapter 21; Gift from the afterlife, the ultimate duelist reborn
The singed ones arrived at Cairo the next day after the final match between Tails and dark Sonic-Nazo. They travelled incognito with the first flight of the day on economy seat so no one would identify any of them. After they exited the airport they went to the closest restaurant they could find. Once they had ordered they started discussing their next move.
"So guys I have good news and bad news." Sonic announced "which ones should I reveal first?"
"The good ones" Knuckles said.
"I found the location of my alter ego's tomb. It is exactly under the place where the pendant he lives in was found."
"That's good." Amy said wondering why there could be bad news.
"Yes, but the bad news is that since yesterday due to my alter ego's receiving back his memory after I gave him the god cards so he could remember where the place was, there has been some paranormal activity. Apparently, there is an entire city buried there. They discovered it when a sandstorm occurred. Ever since then sandstorms occur there frequently. Not really sandstorms though. More like sand whirlwinds. The point is the place is crawling with archeologists and paranormal researchers. They are trying to find the source of all this. Which means getting in there is no easy feat."
"Well you could use your status as king to visit." Jet suggested
"I know Jet. But the problem is they will search me before entering the city. And they will find the pendant. To the world it's a stolen artifact. If we are found with it we're all doomed. We have to find another way in."
"Maybe we could sneak in during the night." Tails said
"They patrol the roads to the place during the night Tails. Actually no. They patrol the whole radius. If we try to get in during the night it's the jail bars for us."
"No! No more jail for me. It was bad enough when I was accused for killing you."
"What about digging to get in?" Knuckles said.
"Too risky. The whole research team camp could sink on top of us if we dig under them. And we don't even know where exactly underground the ancient city is located. Ignoring of course the fact that it will take us days or even be proved impossible because digging in the middle of the dessert with just shovels will just result in the sand we remove from the ground be replaced by the sand around us due to gravity. We won't be able to create a tunnel either way."
"Maybe I and Amy could pose as journalists and acquire entrance."
"They won't allow all of us. They will expect something like a camera crew. And if they see us without…" Sonic was saying but stopped when the waiter brought their meals. When he left Wave continued.
"In that case we will keep the guards at the entrance busy long enough for you guys to pass by them without being seen and we will leave the same way." Wave explained.
The rest of team finding no alternative plan agreed. The immediately took the tourist bus there because they didn't think everything before leaving and they hadn't booked any rooms in a hotel. Plus the sooner they left that place after the end of their mission the better. The bus left the tourists exactly outside the research camp. They witnessed from the place they were looking several building ruins in the middle of the camp and also several archeologists digging. The team split from the tourist group and headed for the entrance. Amy and Wave went ahead. But when they were about to enter the guard responsible for opening the road to vehicles stopped them.
"I'm sorry ladies. You can't go any further. I'm gonna have to ask you to leave."
"We're journalists. We just wanna have a look and ask someone about these beautiful ruins."
"I'm sorry the place is strictly off limits. Leave or I will have to call the security."
"Oh, come on" Wave said while taking a cute and lustful expression "Not even for just a little bit? For me? Please handsome boy?" she asked while looking him directily in the eyes, locking his view exclusively on her. The guard blushed and tried to smile.
"Well.. I think I could make an exception for such a gorgeous young lady like yourself madam. Go right ahead but please don't take too long."
"Oh I promise we will be as quick as a breeze." She said and moved in along with Amy while winking at the guard who couldn't stop looking at her.
What the guard didn't see was Sonic, Tails Knuckles and Jet moving into the research camp just behind his back. Once the singed ones entered they hid between the ruins of a building.
"Impressive control. I never thought you could be such a heart stealer." Tails said while Sonic was looking around for guards.
"Thanks. I hope we don't take too long though or he will send security."
Ancient Sonic came out of the pendant.
"So where do we head to now?" Sonic asked him.
"We have to go to that spot right there." He said pointing right next to a table where some kind of papers lied.
"Really? Right there?! We will be seen instantly!"
"Just trust me."
"Ok then. I'll go first. If I find some kind of secret passage come one by one." Sonic ordered the team. Then he slipped out of their hiding spot and started crouching towards that table. He made it there but nothing. He dug a bit into the burning sand but nothing.
"Ok we're going back. Nothing here."
"No stay just let me do my thing." Ancient Sonic said from inside the pendant which immediately started releasing a blue shine.
"What are you doing? You'll get us caught!"
"Give me one sec."
But they had no sec. The next moment a voice was heard.
"INTRUDER! SECURITY!"
Sonic panicked.
"Hurry!"
The shine disappeared and a sudden sand whirlwind was created right around Sonic. He saw the archeologists trying to see through the sand while his friends were looking at him shocked. The next moment he felt the sand under him sinking. He looked down and saw some kind of stairs heading underground being revealed. He immediately signaled his friends to run to him. They entered the whirlwind which didn't affect them under the shocked watch of the archeologists. Then once they were all in the stairs moved up again closing the opening as if it was never there. But pitch black darkness covered them.
"Guys are you all here?"
"Yeah!" Tails and Amy answered.
"AAAAH! SOMETHING TOUCHED ME!" Knuckles screamed.
"It's me you idiot!" Jet said.
"Oh sorry!"
"Everybody chill!" Wave screamed.
The blue shine from before returned shedding some light in the darkness. The six friends saw the stairs going down further and further. They followed them. Suddenly the reached in a gigantic underground cave. Inside it were the remains of the city the researchers were looking for. However they were perfectly intact. Sonic moved further inside first. The rest of the team followed. They started walking through the city. Several shiny objects on the ground reflected light from the blue sphere. When Amy noticed them up close she saw that they were actually golden and silver coins. Tons of them. All of them had Sonic's head on them. This must have been the city where all of the pharaoh's (ancient Sonic's) treasure was moved during the war with ancient Tails. Soon they made it outside a building. Ancient Sonic looked at it with tears in his eyes.
"What is it?" Sonic asked him.
"This.. is.. my tomb."
"So you mean..?"
"We're here."
They entered the tomb. Inside they saw several of ancient Sonic's belongings. And further inside was the sarcophagus in which his body rested. Sonic noticed some carvings on the ground. When he sat down to examine them he was stopped by ancient Sonic.
"We do not touch the sacred battlefield."
"The sacred battlefield?"
"This wasn't always a tomb. This was once an arena. In here, before he decided to try and claim my throne, Tails and I unraveled the secrets of rivalry and power of the lunar dragon. This is the birth place.. of dueling!"
Sonic looked around in awe. He knew ancient Sonic meant that the game he played was the way of war the lunar dragon gave to the singed ones. So this was the place where the very first duel ever took place.
"So now what do we do to set you free?"
"You need to stand in front of this statue. Then you must point the illusionary beasts to it. It will release my spirit since you are my undefeated descendant."
"Ok then." Sonic said while taking out the god cards. Then he focused and pointed the cards towards the statue of the lunar dragon that was standing right above ancient Sonic's tomb. His mark started shining. Ancient Sonic started to disappear. But at that moment the eyes of the statue turned blue. The statue started breaking. The singed ones took cover. When the statue broke they saw the lunar dragon floating above them. It let out a roar that sounded like a song. But suddenly they heard a voice, which they realized in shock, came out of the dragon!
"The one way to freedom, is to be released by your undefeated descendant. And he is not undefeated anymore but neither is he defeated. Settle the score. Then reach for freedom." The dragon's voice said while it disappeared. Suddenly several torches were lit. Sonic and Tails' duel discs activated by themselves. They looked in each other's eyes understanding what they had to do.
"Only one of us can lead the singed ones Tails. Give it your all. This is the final duel! We now determine, once and for all who the real duel king is. So give me your best shot!"
"Same goes for you Sonic!"
"DUEL!"
"I'll start this! I discard glow up bulb to summon power giant! Then he level goes down by glow up bulb's level so 1, from 6 to 5. Then I special summon glow up bulb by sending the top card of my deck to my graveyard. The card I sent was red resonator. Then I tune together glow up bulb with power giant! Witness the almighty power of the ruler. Witness my SYNCHRO SUMMON! Arise red wyvern! I set one card and end my turn!"
"I'm up then! I draw. I activate black whirlwind! Then I summon blackwing shura the blue flame! Then I activate black whirlwind's effect! I add to my hand the tuner monster blackwing gale the whirlwind. Next I special summon blackwings gale the whirlwind! Kris the crack of dawn! Bora the spear! Next I activate blackwing feathers! For every different named blackwing out I draw one card!"
"I was expecting this move! I discard ash blossom and joyous spring to negate blackwing feathers."
"Hmm. Not bad. But I'm just getting started. I set the link arrows with my gale and my bora! Arrowheads confirmed! The conditions are 2 monsters, 1 at least being a tuner! Circuit complete! Link summon! Appear link 2 crystron needlefiber! I activate then needlefiber's effect. I can special summon a tuner from my deck! I choose blackwing steam the cloak! I then set once again the link arrows with needlefiber and steam the cloak! Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are at least 2 monsters! Circuit complete! Link summon! Appear! Link 3 summon sorceress! Then i activate steam the cloak's effect so I get a token. But then I immediately tribute it. So steam the cloak comes back! Then I tune steam the cloak and Kris the crack of dawn! Spread your jet-black wings and storm forth in tandem with the roaring thunder! Slash apart the lightning! Synchro summon! Fly high! Assault blackwing! Raikiri the rain shower!"
"You triggered my red wyvern's ability! Once per turn if you control a monster that is stronger than my synchro summoned wyvern I can destroy it! So raikiri the rain shower is about to crash land!"
Red wyvern unleashed a fire arrow which destroyed raikiri.
"Fine. But because my shura is at the zone where summon sorceress points at I can activate her effect. I special summon a monster with the same type from my deck! So I special summon another gale the whirlwhind! I activate then his effect! I halve your wyvern's attack points! Next I tune together shura with gale! Wet those pitch-black wings! And along with the drizzling rain bring forth a strike of lightning! Synchro summon! Fly high! Assault blackwing chidori the rain sprinkling! Thanks to its effect it gains 300 attack for every fallen blackwing! I have 6! So he has 4400 attack! Summon sorceress! Attack! Destroy red wyvern!"
"Sonic! I know that my victory means ancient Sonic never gets to find peace! But I won't let you win! I activate the trap king's synchro! I negate the attack and tune red wyvern with a tuner in my graveyard! I tune my red wyvern with my red resonator! Isolated absolute king! Scorch the earth with your eternal flames! Synchro summon! Appear! Hot red dragon archfiend!"
"Damn! Ok then! Chidori destroy hot red dragon archfiend!"
"I discard red shield from my hand! This turn red dragon archfiend monsters can't be destroyed in battle!"
"You still take damage!"
"AAAH!" (Tails LP 6600)
"I set a card and end my turn with that!"
"Very well then. I draw. I activate hot red dragon archfiend's effect! Once per turn I can destroy all other attack position monsters out! Say goodbye to your monsters!"
"Oh no you don't! i activate effect veiler from my hand to negate the effect of your dragon!"
"A minor setback! I summon barrier resonator and special summon creation resonator! Now I double tune my monsters together with my dragon! Ultimate dragon of hot flames! Fly from the depths of hell and take all the souls of this world! Synchro summon! Appear! Hot red dragon archfiend king calamity! Attack and destroy summon sorceress!"
"AAAh!" (Sonic LP 6200)
"When my dragon destroys a monster in battle you lose LP equal to its attack points!"
"Damn!" (Sonic LP 4000)
"I set a card and end my turn!"
"Sonic and Tails have never fought with so much at stake before." Amy said looking at them worried.
"This is the true title match for this year's tournament." Knuckles said with his arms crossed.
"I draw Tails. I activate the spell link down! I banish a link monster from my graveyard to special summon a link in my extra monster zone with 1 link lower. I summon the link 2 monster underclock taker!"
"No! not that!"
"Next I play column switch! So my chidori moves under underclock taker's link! Now I activate underclock taker's effect! I make your dragon loses attack equal to my chidori's attack! So he goes from 4000 to 0!"
"NO!"
"Underclock taker! Eliminate hot red dragon archfiend king calamity!"
"AAAH! (Tails LP 5600!)"
"You triggered my dragon's effect! When he is destroyed I can summon a level 8 or less dark dragon type from my graveyard! Rise again! Hot red dragon archfiend!"
"Chidori take it out this time!"
Chidori attacked and this time there was no saving the dragon thus Tails lost 1400 LP (Tails LP 4200)
"They're almost equal in LP. But Sonic has the upper hand."
"Let's see if he can keep this up."
"I draw Sonic. I special summon vice dragon. And then I summon dark resonator! I tune my 2 monsters together! The ruler's heartbeats will now file through here! Bear witness to its creation-shaking power! Synchro summon! Come forth! my sould and pride! Red dragon archfiend! Finally I activate my final card! Junk dealer! I special summon 2 monsters back to the field with half of their attack points and effects negated! I choose creation resonator and barrier resonator!"
"Oh no! I'm in trouble now!"
"Trouble is an understatement! I double tune red dragon archfiend and the two tuners I have! The king and the devil will now become the one raging spirit that lifts the cries of the Creation itself! SYNCHRO SUMMON! COME FORTH! MY BURNING SOUL! RED NOVA DRAGON!"
Red nova dragon appeared through the rings of fire that were created through the tuning of red dragon archfiend. Their friends looked shocked.
"Tails is back in this."
"Sonic…" Amy though "is this really the time to drop your crown?"
"My dragon gains 5000 attack for every tuner in my graveyard. I have 5! So his attack is 6000! Once I attack underclock taker it's over! You were an amazing duelist all these years Sonic! But your reign ends now! Red nova dragon! Attack underclock taker! BURNING SOUL STRIKE!"
Red Nova was about to strike underclock taker but Sonic was far from done.
"Not just yet Tails. I have a lot of fight left in me! And I'll start by activating the trap changing destiny! You can either deal me your dragon's half attack as damage or gain it as LP. Either way your attack is negated and I'm safe!"
"I knew it wouldn't be so easy. But you already have so few life points to spare. So I think I will reduce your LP!"
"Very well." (Sonic LP 1000)
"I set a card and end my turn."
"Here I go Tails. I draw. Perfect. I activate the spell de-synchro. I split my chidori back to shura and gale. Then I activate the spell graceful charity! I draw 3 cards and discard 2! I then activate the effect of destrudo the lost dragon's frisson I just discarded. I special summon destrudo to the field for the cost of half my LP. (Sonic LP 500) When he is summoned his level is reduced by the level of a monster I already control. I choose shura so destrudo goes from level 7 to level 3. Then I tune together destrudo who returns to the deck after being summoned by its effect and shura! Spread your wings of rose, emissary of the moon and strike down your foe! Synchro summon! Appear! Black rose moonlight dragon! when he is summoned its effect activates! I can send a special summoned monster back where it came from! So Red nova dragon goes back to the hell where it originated from!"
"NO! I activate the spell interdimensional transport device! My dragon hops out of the way of your dragon's effect!"
"It doesn't matter buddy! This duel is over now! Let's end this! Black rose moonlight dragon! attack Tails directily!"
"I activate the trap super defense draw! I am allowed to halt the attack of your weakest monster! Then when you end your battle phase I draw one card for every 1000 LP I lost this turn. I take black rose moonlight dragon's and gale's attack!" (Tails LP 500) "But you can't attack with underclock taker!"
"Damn. Fine I end my turn with a face down card."
"My turn now. I draw. My dragon returns to the field! Then i…. Sonic I'm not going to beat you this turn. But I am gonna create a situation that not even you can get out of!"
"How?"
"I'll show you. I activate the spell monster reborn! So my hot red dragon archfiend king calamity returns! Then I activate the spell magical stone excavation. I discard 2 cards to add junk dealer back to my hand. Then I activate it. I summon back vice dragon and dark resonator! Now I tune them together! From the ancient chasms of a lost world I unleash a great and terrible power! Burn down anyone who crosses my path to the top of the world! SYNCHRO SUMMON! APPEAR! MY STRONGEST MONSTER! SCARLIGHT RED DRAGON ARCHFIEND!"
"So it is out." Sonic though.
"Now I summon my monster for the turn! Deep sea diva! Her effect calls her twin sister from my deck! And now! It's finally time!"
"He is doing it!" Amy whispered shocked at what her husband was going up against.
I double tune my 2 deep sea divas with scarlight red dragon archfiend! Ruler and devil now become one! Call upon the soul of the dragon god and roar in the name of the creation itself! FLAMES SYNCHRO!"
Scarlight red dragon archfiend started transforming into his ultimate form as Tails' mark started emmiting a blue shine just like Sonic's.
"SHOW YOURSELF! ULTIMATE DRAGON OF FLAMES! TYRANT RED DRAGON ARCHFIEND!"
Tail's ultimate monster appeared as he himself transformed into his new form. The white duelist.
"It's on now!"
"Bring it on!"
"I'm sorry Sonic. But this is where it all ends! I activate the spell ultimate synchro blast!"
"WHAT?! You actually met the activation conditions? When I suggested the creation of this card I never thought it would be possible to activate it!"
"Exactly. Because it requires 3 level 10 or higher synchro dark dragon monsters. But up until now only my king calamity and red nova existed. And it was nearly impossible to raise a dragon's level at the same time as maintaining this field. But thanks to the existence of my tyrant dragon it has been possible! I activate the effect of my spell! I end my turn immediately and destroy all cards on your field plus 3 monsters of my choice in your extra deck!"
"WHAT?!" Jet said shocked.
"That's not fair!" Wave said equally shocked.
"Sonic can't come back from this!" Amy said in despair.
"The cards I choose for destruction in your extra deck are black-winged dragon! assault blackwing sohaya the rain storm! And Black feather sky ruler dragon!"
Tails' 3 dragons unleashed a barrage of flames that destroyed everything on Sonic's field plus the 3 cards Tails declared.
"It's over Sonic. You can't do anything. There are no cards in your field or hand. And I have 3 unbeatable dragons! If you choose to accept defeat I will understand."
Sonic was looking down however. Thinking.
"He is right. There is no comeback from this. But.." he looked at ancient Sonic who was standing with the group "I can't lose here. He is depending on me! And I will nto let down a friend!"
"I'll never surrender Tails! No matter how impossible the situation seems!"
"Suit yourself Sonic. If you think you have what it takes to beat me now then do it!"
"I will! Cause I believe in my deck!" he said picking the top card of his deck.
Suddenly the mark on his hand started shining again. The lunar dragon appeared above him. It roared loudly causing Sonic's mark to shine brighter than ever before. And when they looked again…
"NO!" Tails said scared.
"it can't be!" Amy said realizing what had happened.
"Again?!" Knuckles and Jet said in total shock.
"His mark.." Wave tried to say.
"It changed again!" Sonic said looking at his new mark in awe.
Then the lunar dragon's body started shining as well. The earth started shaking. The singed ones bear witnesses as the light produced by the dragon flew towards Sonic's duel disc and entered his extra deck! Sonic looked at it and saw 2 new cards lying in his extra deck that weren't there before. He looked at them and immediately knew what he had to do.
"I summon the card I drew! Blackwing gofu the vague shadow. His effect now summons 2 token to my field! Then I activate sohya's effect in my graveyard. I can tribute 2 monsters on my field once per duel and summon it back! I tribute the 2 tokens so sohya springs to the field!"
"And what are you going to do with it?!"
"I'll perform a DIVINE SYNCHRO!"
"DIVINE SYNCHRO?!"
"The monster I summon has an actual level of 12. But his summoning conditions are banishing 2 level 5 or higher monsters with the same level one of them being a tuner! Both sohya and gofu are both level 5 and gofu is a tuner! So I banish both of them! ABSOLUTE DRAGON! GOD OF THIS WORLD'S BALANCE! ANSWER MY CALL AND ASSSIT ME IN MY FIGHT! DIVINE SYNCHRO! BEHOLD! THE ANCIENT DRAGON GOD! LUNAR DRAGON SOAR!"
"Impossible!" Tails screamed in shock as he witnessed his friend summoning the same lunar dragon that gave their power so long ago as a monster card.
"The lunar dragon has 0 attack and defense. However once per turn I can send monsters from my deck to my graveyard up to the number of levels on a dragon synchro monster and special summon it from my extra deck treating its summoning as a synchro summon! I send 12 blackwings to the graveyard! Watch Tails as I banish my black feather sky ruler dragon from the graveyard to initiate this synchro summon!"
"Banishing the sky ruler as a summoning condition?!"
" Spread your divine jet-black wings and soar with me to the top of this world! Teach everyone who opposes you your unlimited power! NEO BLACK SYNCHRO! Take your place in the sky! BLACK FEATHER SKY GOD DRAGON!"
"SKY GOD DRAGON?!" Tails said unable to process this "the lunar dragon gave you his divine powers?! But.. that would mean that you are what we would call…."
"God. But I'm not gonna use these powers for my own gain. Not as nazo would have done. I will use them with you guys to lead this world to a brighter future. Now back at the duel! This one dragon doesn't gain any power from the fallen blackwings. But his power is 5000! And he is immune to all effects!"
"WHAT?!"
"Black feather sky god dragon! Attack Tyrant red dragon archfiend! DIVINE STRIKE OF THE SKY!"
"You miscalculated Sonic! I can banish my red nova dragon to negate an attack once per turn! And I don't target specifically a monster. I can negate any attack I want! So your dragon is out of commission for this turn!"
"I knew you would try that Tails! But I am 2 steps ahead of you! I activate the lunar dragon's ability! I can tribute it until your end phase to negate the activation of an effect that occurs in the battle phase! So your red nova dragon escapes from the field but your tyrant red dragon archfiend won't share this fate!"
"AAAAAHHH!" (Tails LP 0)
"Sonic won!" Amy screamed while running at him and hugging him.
Sonic hugged her back. Then he headed towards Tails who was looking down and trembling as if he was crying.
"Buddy? Are you ok?" he asked him worried.
But then Tails looked up and bursted in laughter.
"AAHAHAHA! AHAHAHAHA! Oh man. That was the best duel I have ever fought. I may have lost but I have no regrets. Welcome back blue leader."
"Glad to be back." Sonic said "Now let's finish what we started."
"He pointed the 3 god cards once again towards the statue of the lunar dragon which had been miraculously reformed during the duel. The eyes started shining and ancient Sonic started to disappear once again. This time the disappearance didn't stop. Sonic walked ahead of him they smiled at each other and shaked hands.
"Glad to have met you."
"Me too. Thanks for everything. Especially for the chance to see the future. Eat delicious food. And spend time with such amazing people as you. Make sure to live your life to the fullest and make a bright future both for yourselves and the world."
"We will. Now go. Be at peace."
Ancient Sonic closed his eyes as he completely disappeared. They felt momentarily a breeze that headed for the sarcophagus. But once it entered an earthquake started. The whole cave started coming crumbling down!
"He is making sure this place won't be found! We gotta get out of here!" Sonic screamed while running.
His friends ran as well. They reached the stairs where they came from and jumped 4 stairs at a time. When they reached the entrance it opened on its own. They noticed a giant sand whirlwind that reached the sky had appeared. The researchers were running for their lives not even noticing the 6 youngsters in the middle of their camp. The singed ones ran for the exit. They kept running and stopped only when they made it back to the bus stop. When they looked back they saw that everything that existed before their arrival was gone. It was just a part of the dessert now. They decided to walk to town unable to stand in one place due to the adrenaline. They eventually made it to the city. They took a cab to the airport and booked tickets for the next flight for their home. The flight however was delayed in fears of another sandstorm. The 6 friends waited at the waiting room for 4 hours. Tails and Knuckles decided to duel so time could go by. Jet and Wave were sleeping on the ground on their sleeping bags and Sonic with Amy were sitting and watching Tails and Knuckles' duel.
"You know…" he said breaking the silence "I'm gonna miss him."
"Yeah me too. But we have at least a souvenir from this adventure. Besides the god cards and the pendant. Where is it by the way?"
"I decided to let it be buried with everything else in the cave. It was his after all."
"Well I hope he won't be mad. Cause I took a golden coin from the cave. You know so I can remember him. And look at it and think about you."
Sonic smiled and kissed her. "I'm sure he won't be mad. He had tons of them."
The singed ones then after a long and painful wait took the next flight and finally returned home and back to their routines before their encounter with ancient Sonic. Modern Sonic was looking at the sunset from the balcony of his apartment as Amy was bringing some tea. He took out the sky god dragon card and looked at it.
"I promise" he whispered " the future will be bright".
"What did you say?" Amy asked him while sitting next to him.
"Nothing. Just thinking… will make the future bright. My promise to him. And you know what? we're starting right now. Our future begins today." he said imagining it in his mind fully determined to make it come true.
THE END
Story 4 coming soon
