Atop a Mountain

An old man with white hair section in two layers had just packed up his camping supplies. Don't confuse the white hair for old age as he's had this hair ever since his time in duel academy. He also has black eyes position beneath the layer of hair closest to his face. His outfit consists of a black jacket, with grey trimmings, over a purple shirt, dark blue pants, and brown shoes.

The old man was about to move on before receiving a call from Reiji Kaiba. "What can I do for you, sir?"

"Chazz, I'm calling to check up on your progress." Reji stated.

"You don't have to worry." Chazz stated. "I've found the temple and intend to enter it today to find this secret you're interested in. Afterward, I'll make the trip back. Then, I would like that time off you promised me to visit my family."

Reiji said, "Of course…"

The phone went dead and Chazz sighed. He looked behind him as Light and Darkness Dragon appeared in spirit form.

"Hey girl…" Chazz stopped as Light and Darkness Dragon gave a concerned roar. "Huh, what's wrong?"

The dragon moved through Chazz just as the white glow washed over their portion of the world. Light and Darkness Dragon vanished as the world returned to normal.

Chazz instantly took out the card and looked at it with great concern. "You were protecting me, but from what?" She didn't answer. "Whatever that was, it must have taken a lot of her energy to block."

He put his card away and moved towards the temple. "I'll need to confer with Reiji over this odd phenomenon, but I can't leave now. I'm so close to the temple." He pressed on. "I just hope whatever that was hasn't done anything to Zack and the others."

Lance's Mind, After Seeing Yuto…

Lance looked around in confusion as he stood, transparently, in an apartment bedroom. The bedroom was minimalistic with a bed, desk, dresser, and closet. He turned towards the door as it opened only to freeze in place as a kid who looked like him entered.

He looked to be his age as well which would place this kid in middle school like him. The only differences between the two where their hair and eye color as well as their choice in attire. Other than that, they could be twins.

This look alike of Lance had long silver hair with light green highlights tied in a ponytail and golden eyes. His attire consisted of blue pants with a white line down each side, a forest green short sleeved shirt, blue vest with white trim, and a matching fedora.

The kid looked around his room, which was rather clean, without obviously noticing Lance. "Hm, where did I put my deck?" He eventually opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a deck box. "There you are."

He opened it and spread out a familiar deck minus the Numbers.

Lance stared at the spread-out deck in disbelief. "Heroic Challengers?" He shook his head. "Is this a dream? I'm transparent like Astral, so this look alike… me…. Ugh, he can't hear me. Still, what is going on? Why does this guy look more familiar than he should?"

"Hey Link!" A cheerful voice shouted. "Come on down buddy. Ray's here, so it's time we head out to the Legendary Duelist's Museum."

Link smiled. "Coming Zarc!"

Link rushed out of the room and Lance was moved down to the living room which made him realize, he wasn't entirely in control of where he went. He tested this by trying to walk into a kitchen, he could see, only to be stopped by an invisible barrier.

Link came down the stairs at the same time as two other, high school looking people walked in. The first was a guy who Lance assumed was Zarc. Based on appearances, their familiarity, and what age they seemed to be, Lance assumed they were related. At least brothers.

Zarc had silver hair with light green highlights and golden eyes. His attire consists of a blue and white jacket with orange borders, a black undershirt, black pants with brown chaps, faded gold knee pads, dark-blue suspenders, and brown shoes with dark-blue outlines and straps.

The other was a girl who Lance could assume to be Ray. She has long, maroon and dark red hair with purple eyes. Her attire consists of a light purple and blue jacket with white sleeves, matching shorts, white boots, and pink goggles around her neck.

"Those two…" Lance put his hand over his heart as his eyes began to water. "They seem so familiar."

"There you are." Zarc smirked mischievously. "Considering you begged me to take you to this museum, again, I thought you'd be waiting by the door all day. Not spend hours looking for your deck."

"Zarc, don't be mean to your little brother." Ray smiled. "I'm sure he was just up all night working on his deck again." She patted his shoulder and winked. "A practice you could learn from."

Zarc crossed his arms. "Which of the three of us always loses when we duel?"

Link was getting impatient and not really caring about the usual banter between the three of them. "Alright, that's enough you two. Zarc, you can taunt me later and you two can give that sickening, lover's teasing once I'm distracted by the exhibits."

Zarc chuckled. "Little brother, one day you'll come to understand things once you find your own girlfriend." He sighed. "He does have a point. Professor Paradox won't be there to give us a personal tour forever."

Ray smirked. "You are right, so how about we race? Loser has to buy lunch."

"You are on." Zarc stated.

The two teens ran off with Link lagging behind. "Hey, hold on you two!" He shouted after them. "This isn't far! I just started winning tournaments, and your legs are longer than mine!"

Lance then heard Link's thoughts. "Man, big brother and Ray can be such jerks… I'm glad They're around. Yugi, Jaden, Yusei, Yuma, Yusho, and Yusaku… I wonder if I can become as great as them someday."

Then, Lance was teleported from the living room to a duel arena. Ray and Link sat next to each other in the first row, with the transparent Lance now nearby, and they were surrounded by people. It was a packed house. Zarc was dueling someone wearing yellow with brown hair.

"I thought they were… No, they went to the museum a good month ago…" Lance went wide eyed as he somehow knew this. "What, is this?"

The multi-deck user then watched as Zarc's dragon, which looked a lot like Odd-Eyes, knocked into his opponent's monsters. That in turn knocked it into the duelist injuring him. For a minute, everyone, including Zarc, Ray, and Link, were stunned.

Then the crowd, minus those closest to Zarc, started to cheer. They had enjoyed seeing another duelist injured. Even if it was ever so slightly, Lance, Ray, and Link all noticed the smallest of smiles appear on Zack's face.

"Ray, why are they cheering?" Link shook his head. "Dueling isn't about injuring people, right?"

Ray put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "That's right Link. I don't know why they are cheering, but you understand what dueling really is. Don't lose that."

From there, Lance saw a series of duels, one after the other, where Zarc responded to the crowd's desires and went down the path of a duelist that caused destruction and pain. He seemed to love it. Ray and Link became more distraught with Lance sharing in that pain.

Zarc soon stood on top as the most powerful and popular duelist around. Link, Ray, and Lance could tell that he just wasn't satisfied with his victories. On top of that, Lance could feel the worry Link had for his older brother.

Once again, he could hear his thoughts. "Big brother, what has happened to you? Y-You aren't the same brother that taught me to duel, took me in when we lost mom and dad, and grew to love Ray. Please, can't someone explain this to me? What darkness has overtaken him?"

Zarc stood in the duel arena crazed for battle. "Alright, come on. Who wants to duel me? There must be someone willing to challenge me." He wiped his arm out in front of him. "Could it be that you are all frightened to lose? Come on, challenge me. Someone face me."

The crowd was happy to feed into Zarc's attitude. The duelist chuckled as his dragons, Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon, Clear Wing Synchro Dragon, Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon, Starving Venom Fusion Dragon, Plasma Core Link Dragon, and Controlled Light Ritual Dragon, began to glow.

"Yes, I shall answer your call for action, violence, and chaos." Zarc declared. "If no one will challenge me, I shall challenge the entire world. I will destroy you all with my dragons which thirst for a fight."

He summoned out five of them before having them attack the arena and people.

Leo Akaba ushered his daughter and Link out despite Link yelling to his big brother. "Zarc, stop this! Please, stop!"

Lance was left there with wide, wet eyes as people were slaughtered and the building destroyed. Lance was once more teleported, as he would be multiple times, to everywhere in this city Link, Zarc, and Ray inhabited.

He watched as the people tried desperately to fight back against Zarc and his dragon. He saw the devastation and countless lives of brave soldiers and duelist that tried to oppose him fall. It all seemed to culminate with Zarc merging his 6 dragons into 2.

Eventually, Lance was floating alongside Link as the once joyful kid had a hardened, yet sad, look about him. Together, they took in the destruction caused by Zarc. The city was in ruins. Lance and Link both felt a deep sadness.

Link stopped and stared at the top of a crystal building where he could see the two dragons Zarc created before pressing a button on his duel disk. "Ray, I'm approaching brother now. I don't know how long I can last against him."

"I understand, but Zarc is still in there. You're his brother, so even with his desires, he shouldn't move to take you out as he has the others." Ray replied. "Just hold him there until father is done with the cards. I'll snatch them, and Zarc will be stopped. We can save him."

"Right." Link declared with determination.

Ray replied. "Link, stay safe and be careful."

He ended the call and walked firmly up to the structure before taking the staircase to the top. Lance was right there with him no longer being pulled along but following of his own accord. He too wanted to save Zarc. Link and Lance climbed up and Link came to stand across from his brother while Lance stood next to the boy. Zarc turned around and seemed surprised that his brother was confronting him.

"Link?" Zarc asked. "What are you doing here?"

Link wasn't to answer with the truth, but a lie sprinkled with the truth could get by the duelist. "I'm here to stop your big brother. What you've done and are doing is terrible. Up until this point you've taken on duelist that don't understand your deck, but I'm different."

"Yes, you understand my deck but lose every time. There is a real difference their brother. On my side, I know your deck inside and out which allows me to beat you every time." Zarc retorted. "You don't stand a chance against me, so why don't you run along."

Link shot forth a red tether catching his brother unaware as it vanished; however, he could not pull away. "What is this?"

"It's a duel tether I stole from Leo Akaba to ensure you'd accept my challenge. The only way you're getting that off is to kill me or one of us wins the duel." Link stated. "What will it be?"

Zarc smirked. "Very well, I suppose I can spare you a duel for old time's sake." He held his free hand up and his two dragons became cards. "Let's duel."

"Yeah." Link agreed. "He didn't even consider killing me. You really are still yourself brother, so it's not impossible to save you. I will save you."

(Link 4000/Zarc 4000)

"Let's duel!" Zarc and Link stated.

"You can go first brother." Zarc stated.

"Very well." Link stated. "I'm opening up with Heroic Challenger-Chain Scythe(LV 4/1600/300)." A warrior in gray and black armor wielding a chain scythe appeared. "His effect allows me to add a Heroic Challenger to my hand. I'll then set one card."

Zarc smirked. "You're far too predictable." He drew. "I summon Supreme Servant Golem(LV 4/SC 9/1800/1500)." A black version of Gogogo Golem appeared. "Since I control a Supreme monster, I can special summon Supreme Servant Slayer(LV 5/SC 2/2000/600)."

A black armored version of Linkslayer appeared. "Now Slayer will use his ability to destroy your Chain Scythe thereby rendering your face down Heroic Retribution Sword ineffectual. Slayer will then attack you directly." Zarc declared.

"You were wrong about my face down brother because Ray's been helping me strategize." Link declared. "I counter by activating Undying Heroic Spirit. When I'd take damage, I can draw a card.

If it's a Heroic monster, the damage I receive is reduced by that monster's ATK. I can then add that card to my hand; however, if I draw any other card, I must send it to the grave." He drew. "I drew Heroic Challenger Assault Halberd(ATK: 1800) (Link 3800/Zarc 4000)."

"Well, I didn't see that coming, but now you are defenseless as Golem will attack you directly (Link 2000/Zarc 4000)." Zarc stated. "I end my turn with a face down."

"He's really holding back, but big brother hasn't stopped. He may not want to harm me, but those eyes tell the whole story. He wants to win. I'm going to have to pray that holds true for as long as possible." Link drew.

"Since you control a monster, and I control nothing, I get to special summon Heroic Challenger-Assault Halberd(LV 4/1800/200)." A warrior decked out in black armor appeared. "I summon Heroic Challenger-Spartan(LV 4/1600/1000)."

A warrior decks out in golden armor appeared. "Now I overlay my monsters to Xyz summon Heroic Champion-Atlantis(R 4/O 2/2000/1000)." A warrior in ocean blue armor and wielding a trident appeared. "By removing an overlay unit, I can have a monster of my choosing ATK you directly. Atlantis attack Zarc."

Zarc smirked. "You're still far too weak brother. I don't even need my dragons or extra deck monsters to win. I activate my face down Cross Attack. Now any damage I receive is dealt to you in kind (Link 0/Zarc 2000)."

Link's eyes went wide as he was blasted back into a crystal pillar. "I wasn't strong enough to stall him for long. Sorry Ray."

Fortunately, Ray ran up the stairs while taking 6 cards out and holding them in front of her.

Zarc chuckled. "Well if it isn't a reunion up here. Come to enjoy my entertainment? Are you here to partake in a duel as well Ray?"

"No Zarc." Ray stated seriously. "I already know I can't beat you, but that doesn't mean I can't save you." She looked back at Link who sat up against the pillar and nodded. "You did well Link." She turned back to Zarc. "Now, let me handle this."

"Well, if you're not here to duel, then what are you here to do?" Zarc asked.

Ray activated her duel disk before placing 5 cards in her spell/trap zone and the last in the field zone. "This is what I'm doing!"

A brilliant array of colors sprang forth from the cards and caused flowers to bloom all over the city. At the same time, a familiar mark appeared on Link's back. It was the complete Crimson Dragon which cloaked him in red energy.

Link did not notice this, but Lance did, as everyone there were focused on the colors emanating from the cards which eventually drew in energy from the world itself in a spectacular display of lights.

Leo appeared and tried to run to his daughter. "Ray, no. Don't do this."

He was blocked out which left the father worriedly trying to talk his daughter out of doing this. Soon, six bracelets appeared on Ray's right arm before they glowed and resonated with Zarc's own deck. Then, the world was awash in color.

Lance's Mind: Xyz Dimension, Hogan Residence

Lance found himself in a familiar place staring at a baby he could tell was him. "W-What…" He frantically looked around. "Where's Zarc? Link? Ray?"

Then Lance saw a transparent Link cloaked in red energy appear before merging into the baby Lance. Lance walked over to the crib and looked in as his baby self-began to cry. That isn't what was drawing his attention. His baby self's eyes went from Link's gold to gray like his father's.

Lance was snapped out of his thoughts as his mother, much younger, came into the room and picked his baby self-up. "It's okay." She began to cradle him. "You were sleeping peacefully, so did you just have a bad dream."

She walked away with the baby, but Lance wasn't done as he ran after them with his arm outstretched forgetting that he wasn't there. "Wait mom!"

crimson red energy sparked between Lance and his baby self before he found himself standing before a mirror. Lance now had long silver hair with light green highlights tied in a ponytail and golden eyes. His attire consisted of blue pants with a white line down each side, a forest green short sleeved shirt, blue vest with white trim, and a matching fedora.

"I'm not Lance…Nor am I Link" Link/Lance looked at his hands. "Their souls merged." He then looked around him into the blackness as new memories came to mind. "Grandpa… Mom… Dad… They've been dead for a year, but I remember them alive recently."

Link gripped his head as there were so many memories conflicting within him. His time as Lance, his replaced memories as Lance, and Link. His mind was trying to process so much information.

"Ahhhhhh!" Link shouted. "What is happened!? I don't know! What is real!?"

"Link…" Link blinked and looked up at Ray was standing before him. "Get up Link."

He was certain this was her telling him to stand up, but it had another effect as light seeped into the blackness around them.

Hotel Room

Lance/Link bolted awake and the change from his dream washed over him making him look like Link. He gripped his head in distress over what to believe and not believe as three different memories washed over him.

Rio, Shark, and Vega sat nearby. Rio had almost called out to Lance while Vega was running over to give his perceived father a hug until the change happened which confused all three of them immensely.

"Dad? Are you okay?" Vega asked concerned.

Lance jumped out of bed. "I'm sorry, but I got to go."

He didn't even know what was going on. He was so confused, distressed, and still trying to process everything. Lance bolted for the door and threw it open before sprinting out of the room and down the stairs.

Rio ran to the door. "Lance, come back!" She looked back at Shark. "Come on, something's wrong with him."

Shark stood and nodded. "Yeah, the guy's out of it."

So, Rio, Vega, and Shark ran after him.

Hogan Residence

Lance was panting as he reached his home, but that didn't stop him from going up to the front door only to see a plague on it. 'This is in memoriam of the long running Former King of Games Zack Henderson and his daughter Zeera Hogan, Princess of Games and eventual successor."

Lance shook his head and inserted his key to open the house before stepping in only to find that the living room was empty. His eyes went wide, and he ran from room to room finding nothing. Even in his room, his entrance to his former superhero den was sealed shut.

"No. No. No. No…" Lance backed out of his room in disbelief. "The graveyard! They can't have gravestones."

He bolted down the stairs and noticed Rio, Shark, and Vega had entered his home.

"Lance, what's going on?" Rio asked concerned.

Vega nodded. "Dad, are you okay?"

Shark asked, "What's up with the change in looks?"

Lance shook his head. "I'm sorry guys, but not now."

He bolted to the kitchen, threw open the back door, and sprinted outside. Rio, Vega, and Shark followed only to see him jump over the fence. They followed with Rio helping Vega over the thing.

Graveyard

Lance took a deep breath before quickly walking to where he knew his brother and sister's graves were before stopping as he saw that three more graves had joined theirs. In two sets of his memories as Lance, he knew the graves of his brother and sister were empty.

One set of Lance's memories told him that his grandfather, mother, and father were dead. He had been there to attend their funeral. He had been adopted by the Haru into the Tsukumo family. Yuma became his brother and Shark was his best friend even if he didn't want to admit it.

Lance collapsed to his knees before the five graves as tears came to his eyes. He remembered all the support his family had given him. They gave him everything he could have ever wanted. They ensured he had the skills to keep himself safe.

After Nistro got him down from that tree, they made sure he stuck around to become his teacher. He remembered seeing his mother duel, his father taking him for rides on his police motorcycle, and his grandfather's goofy antics… So much more.

The tears continued to well up. "It's somehow true. You're gone, yet I remember seeing you recently." He punched the ground and let the tears flow. "Why did this happen!?"

Outside the Graveyard

Shark, with Vega on his back as they really needed to hurry after Lance, and Rio finally made it to the gate only to see Lance punching the ground, crying, and shouting.

Shark looked at his sister and sighed. "Rio, you should go in alone."

Vega was displeased at this thought. "Dad's hurting so much Uncle Shark. We should…"

Shark shook his head. "We don't know how he'll react to three people coming up to him and from what I understand, Rio and he have spoken to each other on a deeper level. It's the safest option."

Rio nodded as she was saddened to see Lance like this. "He's right Vega." She turned and gave him a small smile. "Leave Lance to me. Your Uncle Shark will take you out for ice cream."

Vega was still worried, but he couldn't deny that this made the most sense. "Alright mom, go help dad."

So, Shark took Vega away from the cemetery while Rio walked into the graveyard.

Graveyard

Lance was panting as his punches became lessened, but the tears wouldn't stop. "It's just not fair. I didn't… you were here just a few… Just why? Now, you've…"

He stopped as he felt arms wrap around him from behind. "It's okay Lance." Rio stated. "You're not alone."

Lance let out a deep breath as he realized all his conflicting memories had made him lose sight of the here and now. He had seen Shark, Vega, and Rio, but he hadn't been paying attention to them.

"You're not alone because you have people who care about you. Haru, Kari, Yuma, Shark, Vega, all the friends you've made, and me." Rio stated.

Lance took a deep, calming breathe. "It's not exactly that Rio. It's hard to explain, and you probably wouldn't believe me if I told you."

Rio stood up, moved in front of Lance, and held out a hand to him with a caring smile. "Maybe what you have to say will be insane, but I trust you Lance. So, please let's leave this place and go somewhere else to talk about it."

Lance couldn't help but smile as he took her offered hand letting her help him up. "Rio… thank you."