This chapter will contain in-depth of some characters and a wake-up call for a certain someone.
Also, a quick message; I edited the last chapter a little bit, so if you've missed it, make sure to check it.
Special thanks to Okazakisan, FlowersHeart17 and CitrusUnshiu for helping me out with the chapter.
The chapter begins in Estelle's point of view.
Disclaimer: I do not own any Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's characters! I only own my OCs!
Chapter 85: Dream Crashers
I was on the edge throughout the whole Turbo Duel of Team Royal Knights and Team White Wind, so I couldn't help but cheer out loud when Sherry won for the team.
"Alright! They won!" Leo cheered loudly.
"They really did", Luna smiled.
"This means both our teams have won the first round of our blocks", Carly pointed out. "If we win again, we'll advance to the next round."
"Hopefully without any sudden surprises", Jack muttered softly.
"Hey, it's your own fault for ignoring our call when we told you to head to the pit!" Crow lectured the blonde Signer.
"I wanted to finish my turn before driving into the pit!" Jack retorted irritably. "I didn't expect my Duel Runner to malfunction on the course!"
"Calm down, you two", I told the bickering duo.
"I checked the damage on your Runner, Jack, and it can be fixed quickly", Bruno spoke up. "It'll be ready before our next Turbo Duel."
"Excellent! And then I'll emerge as the team's hero!" Jack declared determinedly.
"Just promise us when we tell you to head into the pit next time you'll do it, Jack", Yusei said. "I don't want to see you having a cast too."
Jack bit his lower lip with a troubled expression while crossing his arms. "I'll try, depending on the situation."
"That's not a yes…", Crow muttered softly.
I chuckled with a soft shake of my head. "Jack is still Jack. By the way, guys, would you like to have a small party to celebrate our victory?"
"Of course we want that!" Crow exclaimed enthusiastically. "We've won our first Turbo Duel in the World Racing Grand Prix! This alone is a huge accomplishment for us!"
"I don't mind the idea", Yusei answered my question.
"I hate to admit it, but Crow's right", Jack nodded. "We faced against one of the popular teams in the Grand Prix and won against them! This is proof enough that we can win the tournament, especially with the true King of Games in the team!"
"Don't get all cocky, Jack, or else karma will bite you hard on the butt", Crow commented.
"When were you thinking of having the party, Estelle?" Bruno wondered.
"Later this evening, so we can prepare ourselves for the next Duel tomorrow, since that will be our free day as the winners", I replied. "I gladly host the party."
"You don't have to do that, Estelle", Yusei shook his head softly.
"Too late for that", I chirped playfully with a smile. "I've already asked Goodwin for permission to host the party after our Duel and he gave me the clear, so the staff in the mansion should be preparing everything right now."
"Wait… You've already arranged the party?" Crow questioned.
"Yes", I replied.
"Then… What would've you done if we would've lost?"
"Then it would be a consolation party to raise the morale for the next Turbo Duel."
"That's a good backup plan", Carly commented.
"Are Aki and her team also invited?" Luna asked.
"Of course", I nodded. "I sent her a text message while we were watching their Duel to see if she and the others would like to join. I should get an answer any minute now."
"Can we also invite Kalin, Cassandra and her team?" Crow asked. "They are, after all, our friends and they're participating in the Grand Prix?"
"I don't see why not", I replied as I fished up my smartphone from the pocket of the jacket of my riding suit. "I'll text Kalin and Cassandra and we'll see whether they want to join the party or not."
XXXXXXXXXX – Sherry's POV
My team did the necessary ceremonial goodbye by shaking hands with our opponents now that the Turbo Duel was over. Very few words were exchanged as we wished each other good luck for the rest of the tournament.
I got help from Mizoguchi by rolling my Duel Runner to the side of the pit so I could check if it was in good shape after the Turbo Duel. The engine sounded okay and there were no errors flashing on the dashboard, so all seemed cleared.
Well, I still needed to double-check later this evening so we could spend the next day modifying our Decks and come up with a counterattack against our next opposite team.
"Sherry", Aki spoke up, bringing me out of my concentration.
"Yes?" I asked as I turned around to face her.
Aki stood in front of me with her smartphone in her hand. "Estelle texted me not long ago, wondering if we want to join a party tonight."
"A party?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, to celebrate our victories together", Aki explained.
I crossed my arms with a raised eyebrow. "Why is she suggesting a party after only one victory? Besides, we can't afford wasting time. We've got much to prepare for the next Turbo Duel and find out which team will be our next opponent."
It didn't make sense to me. Why hosting a party after one victory in the Grand Prix? Team 5D's should utilize their energy to prepare themselves for the next Turbo Duel instead of wasting it. They knew better than that.
That, and we have to take everything we learn from the Duels and use the knowledge when we face Iliaster and defeat them once and for all.
"But, Sherry, we just won our first Duel in the World Racing Grand Prix", Tanaka joined us while pulling Nakamura along by her hand. "This is huge for all of us, so it makes sense to host a party to celebrate it. Right, Mei?"
"Well, I can't really disagree with you, Sakura", Nakamura chuckled softly. "Since the winning teams in each block will get a free day the next day, we can do the preparations tomorrow. We don't need to work like robots; we deserve to get some rest and relax between the Duels."
Relaxation, hm? I've never had the opportunity to relax for even five minutes for as long as I could remember. Mizoguchi and I had been constantly on the run since the massacre of my family with the enemy chasing us, so relaxation was an unknown territory for me.
"Well, if you guys want to go to the party, just go", I replied. "I'll stay behind to fix my Runner."
"What…?" Aki mumbled softly in disbelief. "You don't want to come with us at all?"
"I'm sorry, but the Grand Prix is far more important than having a party long before one of our teams win", I shook my head.
Aki looked extremely disappointed as she lowered her hand with the smartphone. "If you say so…", she sighed before brushing her long front bangs to the side, revealing her sad eyes. "It's just… I was hoping we could go together…as a team. As friends."
Friends… That word was still foreign to me.
Back when I was a child and my family was still alive, I used to go to horse riding classes where I met other children around my age. I used to talk to them while riding horses and afterwards when we were served refreshments as a reward for good training. They were nice and all, but I didn't grow close to any of them. I couldn't exactly call them friends. They were more like acquaintances.
And now in retrospect, it was a relief I didn't make any friends, because I have a feeling Iliaster would've targeted their families as well.
That was another reason why I never attempted to try making friends while Mizoguchi and I were on the run. I couldn't put other people in danger because of Iliaster.
And what have I done? I broke my own words by recruiting people to my team.
Aki was an exception because she was a Signer and had the power to fight Iliaster, so I was mainly worried about Tanaka and Nakamura's safety. When those two heard Aki had joined my team, they insisted on helping us by being the pit crew. I was against it at first, but Aki managed to convince me to let them be part of the team and assist us since they were her friends.
"It's okay, Sherry", Nakamura spoke up with an apologizing wave of her hand. "We understand you prioritize the Grand Prix. Sakura and I'll go with Aki so she won't be alone."
"Will you join us, Mr. Mizoguchi?" Tanaka asked.
"I shall follow Milady wherever she wishes to go", Mizoguchi replied calmly.
"What a bummer… You two deserve a break", Tanaka pouted lightly.
"There's nothing we can do to change their minds, Sakura", Nakamura gently shook her head. "It's their decision to skip the party."
"Yeah, I know…", Tanaka mumbled.
Aki sighed softly before giving me a tiny smile. "I guess only the three of us will go then… But if you happen to change your mind, Sherry, the party starts by 6 p.m. and it's a casual one, so you don't have to be fancy dressed."
Aki and her two friends walked past me to head into the main garage to get changed and maybe refresh themselves in the showers before leaving to get ready for the party. I couldn't help but feel different about my plans now after our brief conversation. I had always prioritized being on the run that it had affected my health a couple of times, especially when I was still an incompetent child. There was one time I got so weak by the fear of not truly understanding what was happening and why I was Iliaster's target that my body grew a high fever. I remembered seeing Mizoguchi's worried expression a couple of times when he thought I didn't see him while he nursed me back to health by himself instead of bringing me to a hospital, fearing Iliaster would get word of our location.
I've never got so sick again after that since I learned how to cope with the constant stress, but I heard that long-term stress can cause problems later in life, so it was necessary to take it easy from time to time.
I didn't want my health to get bad again, so perhaps… I should consider the party.
"Mizoguchi", I spoke up.
"Yes, Milady?"
"What do you think about this party? Should we attend it?"
"The choice is entirely up to you, Milady. I shall follow you wherever you desire to go."
That didn't exactly help me with my decision. I sighed softly as I gently caressed the frame of my Duel Runner, my trusty steed.
Perhaps I should join the party later, just for a little bit.
XXXXXXXXXX – Estelle's POV
Almost everyone I had invited to the party replied they were coming, so I hurried back to Goodwin's mansion to get changed and help the staff with the final preparations. I managed to take a break in between, so my head felt fresh enough to host the party.
Everyone arrived to the mansion by 6 p.m. shortly after everything was ready for the party, which I decided to host it indoors. While it was summer and the weather was clear, it was still a bit chilly in the early evening. That's why I had changed into jeans and boots.
Kalin, Cassandra, Toru, and Misaki were the last ones to show up. I heard they lost their first Turbo Duel, so they were going to stay for a while before heading back to their place to prepare themselves for the redemption Turbo Duel tomorrow. Kalin had an early shift the next day, so he had to leave with his sister and their friends when it was time. Sherry and Mizoguchi hadn't showed up at all. Aki did tell me they weren't coming, so we shouldn't wait for them.
Goodwin and Ish weren't going to join the party. Instead, they were going to have a dinner date in Goodwin's master bedroom and watch a movie, so they wouldn't disturb us youngsters with their old people talk, as Goodwin had described it.
We gathered in the ballroom where the staff had set up tables with snacks and drinks and chairs so we could sit down if we were tired.
Jack cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "Now then… It's time for Team 5D's and Team Royal Knights' victory party, minus Sherry and Mizoguchi, and Team Icy Scrapwatt's consolation party!" he called as he raised his glass of orange juice.
"Cheers!"
"Kanpai!"
"Skål!"
Leo quickly drank his glass of juice and sighed loudly in relief like an old man drinking beer. "I was really worried when Jack and Estelle lost! I thought we were going to lose our Duel."
"What are you trying to say, Leo?!" Jack growled, taking offense of what the male twin had just said. "Are you trying to pick a fight with me?!"
"N-No, I didn't mean anything like that…", Leo panicked in fear by the sight of the fuming Signer.
"Wait, wait, there's nothing to get so angry about, is there?" Crow tried calming down Jack. "Since it's the truth."
"What?!" Jack hissed irritably.
"Really now… Just because I left, Team 5D's is in shambles", Crow sighed sarcastically.
"Why, you! You don't even know anything!" Jack yelled, now aiming his anger at his foster brother. "I don't need to hear anything from you, after being unable to participate with such a minor wound!"
"A minor wound, you say?!" Crow shouted back angrily. "I was the one who was worried about you!"
"I, Jack Atlas, don't need you to worry about me!" Jack retorted.
Leo looked dumbfounded at the scene. "I wonder why this happened?"
"It's because you said something unnecessary, Leo", Luna scolded her brother.
Carly stepped in between the bickering duo and gently pushed them apart. "Calm down, Jack. This is a party. There's no need to be so angry. We're here to relax and restore our batteries for the next Turbo Duel."
Jack was about to argue when he stopped himself. He got a thinking expression before he turned away with a loud frown. Carly smiled as she let go of his arm now that he wasn't fighting with Crow.
One thing I was relieved about was the absence of Mina and Stephanie. I heard from Carly how those two tried sneaking into the infirmary to look after Jack, but they got scolded by him and were told to leave. I guess Carly's two love rivals got into such a bad mood they decided to listen to him for once. I was glad about that because I didn't want to hear the loud bickering between the rivals like the fight they had in the anime.
A knock echoed from the ballroom's double doors, which caught my attention. I turned around as Hilda stepped inside and bowed softly. "Excuse me, Ms. Estelle. Two more guests have arrived."
"Two more guests…?" I mumbled confusedly. "Show them in, please."
Hilda stepped aside so the two arriving guests could enter. I blinked my eyes in surprise before I felt my lips turn into a smile. "Sherry, Mizoguchi. Welcome!"
"Sherry?" Aki spoke up in a voice with surprise and excitement.
"Look who decided to join us", Mei chuckled softly.
"Good evening, everyone", Sherry greeted as the duo approached us, both of them wearing their usual attire. "I apologize for arriving late to the party. I thought about it and decided to join you just for a little while."
"That's perfectly fine", I replied as I placed my glass of juice on the table to shake hands with Sherry. "I'm glad you changed your mind, Sherry."
"While I still believe it's too early to celebrate, I understand your reasons", Sherry said as she shook my hand. "This is your team's first victory in an official tournament, so it's obvious you're thrilled by your accomplishments."
"Yes, but this is also your team's first victory in the Grand Prix preliminaries, so that's why I put this party together so we can celebrate together", I explained. "After all, we may be two separate teams, but we're still one team."
Sherry nodded as she let go of my hand and glanced over my shoulder. "I see you've got more company", she said, referring to Team Icy Scrapwatt. "I believe your team's name is…Team Icy Scrapwatt?"
"Yep! That's right, lady!" Toru replied. "I'm Toru; leader of the team, and these two girls are Misaki and Cassandra."
"Good evening…", Misaki spoke up in her usual monotonous voice.
"Hello", Cassandra greeted.
"And I'm Cassy's brother; Kalin Kessler", Kalin introduced himself. "I'm not part of their team, but I secretly cheer for them while I'm on duty as a Security officer."
"Nice to meet you. I assume you are friends with Estelle, Yusei, and everyone else", Sherry nodded as Mizoguchi silently walked to her with a glass of juice he fetched from the refreshment table, which she gently grabbed from him. "However… Didn't your team lose?"
"Yeah, we got wrecked by the opposing team, but Estelle was nice to invite us to this victory and consolation party", Toru grinned sheepishly.
"We weren't properly prepared…", Misaki explained.
"The World Racing Grand Prix is something completely different than any other tournaments we've been part of", Cassandra said. "We got thrown off guard by that."
"You'll be Dueling way better tomorrow, Cassandra", Kalin gently placed a hand on his sister's right shoulder. "You three are strong, but perhaps you should change you strategy now that you've got a taste of the professional league."
Sherry sipped her glass of juice before she spoke up. "From my understanding, you use three entirely different Decks, correct?"
"Yes", Toru nodded. "I have a Scrap Deck, Misaki has a Watt Deck, and Cassy has an Ice Barrier Deck, hence the name of our team."
"That might explain the loss of your Duel", the French woman was brutally honest. "Your Decks aren't in sync with each other. Perhaps you should consider using archetypes that work together with one another."
"We've tried that, but it didn't work", Toru confessed with a sheepish laugh. "That's why we decided to stick to the Decks we're most comfortable with."
"I'm sure you'll find a way to get your Decks in balance", Yusei told the leader of Team Icy Scrapwatt. "You just need to train more."
"That's the plan after the Grand Prix", Toru nodded. "At least when we get some free time, since Misaki will continue her studies in New Domino University after the summer."
"Oh? You're a university student, Misaki?" I asked.
"Yes…", Misaki replied. "This will be my second year in September…"
"What do you study?" Bruno wondered.
"Engineering and programming…", Misaki explained.
"Misaki is a great Duelist, but she's got her goal set on becoming a computer programmer", Cassandra explained.
"Yes…", Misaki confirmed the statement. "Professional Dueling is a backup plan…"
"I see. That's very ambitious of you", Bruno smiled.
Misaki shrugged softly, but I could have sworn I saw her pale cheeks look a little darker for a moment.
"Speaking of goals, I'm still trying to choose whether to be a nurse or a florist", Sakura spoke up.
"I didn't know you already got plans about the future, Sakura", Aki said in surprise.
"Well, we're in 12th grade now, so we've got to decide what we want to do soon", Sakura explained. "I did first consider of becoming a chef, like Mom, but I'm bad with cooking."
"You're good with baking, though, Sakura", Mei smiled. "Your cookies are always delicious."
Sakura giggled softly with a blush on her cheeks while twirling a few strands of her hair with her finger. "I'm happy to hear that, Mei, but baking is more of a hobby."
"Have you decided what you want to do, Mei?" Aki asked.
"Yep. I'll go to the Domino Police Academy to become a Security officer, just like Dad and Haruka", Mei replied with a nod. "I've always admired their courage of risking their lives to protect the citizens and our home, so I'll follow their footsteps to protect the people I care deeply for."
"That means we'll become colleagues in the future", Kalin pointed out. "I'll be looking forward working with you, Cadet."
"Me too, Senior Kessler", Mei saluted.
Kalin got a surprised expression when he was called that before his pale cheeks turned red in embarrassment. "Just call me Kalin, okay? I'm not that old."
"Well, you're older than me, Jack, and Yusei, Kalin, so in a way you are old", Crow snickered.
"I'm still in my twenties…", Kalin muttered softly.
Some of us laughed at his reaction because it was just so adorable.
"What about you, Aki?" Sakura asked the female Signer after the laugh fest.
"Me?" Aki blinked her eyes.
"Yeah. Do you know what you want to do after graduation?"
Aki looked down in the glass she had in her hand. "I don't know. I haven't thought much of it. Maybe becoming a professional Duelist…?"
"It sounds like you haven't figured out what you truly want to do, Aki", I said. "And that's perfectly fine. It's normal not to know what you want to do, even as a graduate. I'm sure you will find your answer someday."
"I hope so", Aki nodded with a hesitant smile.
"I never got the luxury to think about the future", Sherry commented. "I'm set on reaching my current goal before I can live a normal life."
"Is it about-", Leo began when Sherry gave him a stern glare, which made him shut up.
Our teams made an agreement to not mention Iliaster if we were around outsiders, like Cassandra, Toru, and Misaki. It was best to let less people know about the evil organization so they wouldn't fall into their claws and put themselves in harm's way. I knew Aki had asked Sakura and Mei to inform her if they ever heard suspicious rumors, but she never gave them any details as of why, so they were also unaware of Iliaster. Kalin was fully aware of it, since the Dark Signers had been related to Iliaster, so he had some experience in the luggage, and he was part of Sector Security.
"It is important to reach the goal you have set in your heart first", Mizoguchi spoke in a neutral voice.
"Well, my goal is to reclaim my title and become the true King of Games by my own strength!" Jack declared loudly. "And then, once I've claimed my throne, I'll defeat Yusei once and for all!"
"I'll look forward to that Duel, Jack", Yusei smiled softly.
"And I'll make sure to document Jack's journey and help him as a freelance reporter to regain his popularity!" Carly raised her hand in the air.
"By stalking him?" Cassandra wondered with a laugh in her voice.
"N-N-No, I'm not gonna stalk him!" Carly stuttered with a bright red face. "I'm gonna interview him whenever he's got time to talk!"
"Grown-ups sure got a lot to deal with", Leo commented. "Good thing I'm still a kid and don't have to think about adult stuff."
"Isn't your dream to become a professional Turbo Duelist, Leo?" Luna asked her brother.
"Yep! And once I'm the professional league, I'll challenge Jack to a Turbo Duel!" Leo exclaimed determinedly.
"Good luck with that, pipsqueak!" Jack snorted loudly. "I'll squash you like a bug!"
"Hey, it would be crazy to see Leo actually defeat the Master of Faster with his Morphtronic Deck", Crow smirked. "I mean, if Yusei can beat you with his Junk Deck, so can Leo."
"What are you implying, Crow?!" Jack snarled aggressively.
"Okay, you two, break it up", Yusei spoke up. "We can have this discussion later. Now we're at a party, so we shouldn't make a mess out of it."
Jack growled through his clenched teeth before he turned away with a loud snort. Crow hid a laugh behind his good hand, but turned away when Jack quickly turned back when he heard laughter.
"Yusei is right", I nodded. "Enjoy yourselves with the food and drink and have fun."
XXXXXXXXXX
The party went well, except for some bickering every once in a while between Jack and Crow, but we managed to stop them from escalating into actual fights. An hour into the party, Team Scrapwatt and Kalin left to get some rest for their next Turbo Duel tomorrow.
I sent them off by the front entrance with Hilda and watched the group drive away on their Runners until they were out of my sight. I walked back inside the mansion, heading back to the party when the hair on my body sudden rose by a chill that ran down my spine.
Something threatening was nearby…
"Ms. Estelle?" Hilda spoke up, realizing I had stopped walking.
"Hilda… Can you tell the others I'll be joining them later?" I asked her. "I want to get some fresh air first."
"Certainly", Hilda bowed before she walked away.
I waited until she rounded the corner before I hurried to my bedroom. I grabbed my red jacket and placed it on my shoulders like a cloak before heading to a weapon display. A crimson katana sheath with golden stars painted on the surface was leaning against the standing support. It was a birthday gift Goodwin bought me after I started practicing swordsmanship. I didn't use it for the training sessions, but if there was a threat to the Goodwin household, I was going to use it no matter what.
I grabbed the katana before exiting my room and ran back to the ballroom, but I ran past the closed double door to the closest door leading to the garden. There was no staff around, so I easily snuck out.
The evening summer air was chilly, but it was nothing I could deal with. I cautiously walked towards the direction I sensed the evil presence was coming from. The wind had grown silent, so the atmosphere was ominous.
I stopped in my tracks as I reached the small park on the island. I glanced around to see if someone was there, but I couldn't see anyone. However, their presence was still there.
"I know you're here", I called in a threatening voice. "Come out wherever you're hiding."
A dark chuckle echoed from the large statue of a goddess in front of me, which gave me the chills. As soon as the chuckle was done, a tall and slim figure stepped into view from the statue. I couldn't see their full appearance, but I knew right away who it was by their silhouette.
"Primo…", I growled softly.
"Very well observed, Priestess", Primo chuckled sarcastically.
"What are you doing here?" I asked with a glare. "Are you here to attack us while we've lowered our guards after winning our first Duels in the Grand Prix?"
"Please, I'm not that vicious", Primo retorted. "I came here to deliver…a warning."
"A warning? For who?" I repeated confusedly.
"Who do you think?" Primo snorted.
I was very confused at first before I realized who he meant. I stiffened my body as I got into a pose, ready to draw my katana if necessary. "What do you want from me?"
Primo chuckled deeply. "I'm here with a proposal. If you surrender yourself and allow me to harness your power and convert it into Ener-D so my companions and I can complete the Grand Design, we will quit harming the Signers."
He wanted me to surrender so Iliaster could use my power to complete the Grand Design and bring the Ark Cradle to this era? There was no way in hell I was going to accept it.
"What if I refuse?" I asked cautiously.
"If you refuse…", Primo began slowly before chuckling once again. "I shall unleash my fury and personally destroy the Signers. Especially your lover, Fudo Yusei."
That was the final straw.
I drew my katana and quickly dropped the sheath on the ground so I could hold the weapon with both hands. "You stay away from Yusei and the Signers, or else I'll make you regret it!"
The wind suddenly caught up as it ruffled my hair and clothes, including Primo's. Dark clouds were coming from the east and made the area darker than what it already was. The scent of humidity tickled my nose, but I paid no attention on the change of weather. My mind was set on the target in front of me.
Primo remained silent as the first drops of rain splashed against the ground before a light shower slowly drenched us. I was a little confused about Primo's silence, but I knew it meant nothing good.
"You'll make me regret it?" he finally spoke up. "How? By protecting the Signers?"
"Yes", I nodded, tightening my grip on the handle of my katana.
"Let me ask you a question; have you really been protecting the Signers this entire time?"
"Of course I have!"
"Have you?"
I raised a confused eyebrow. Why did Primo repeat himself?
"I'm aware you may know more than what you've told the Signers", he continued. "You're holding yourself back so you won't spoil them of what is coming next, because you don't want to affect the original future."
My eyes widened in shock. How did he know about that?!
"Ah, I seem to have hit the nail on its head. Did you really believe Lester, Jakob, and I knew nothing about you? We've been secretly watching you and the Signers ever since we arrived to the city. We swiftly learned you're from another dimension where this world…" Primo gesticulated with his hands, drawing a big circle in the air. "…is nothing but fictional, just like the people around you and Duel Monsters. Meaning you know about my plan with my army of Riding Roids… The Diablo army."
I clenched my teeth as my heart began throbbing fast in my chest by nervousness. Was Primo trying to blackmail me because of my knowledge and prediction about the upcoming events?
"W-What do you want…?" I tried sounding threatening, but my voice shook due to my slightly panic attack.
"I'll give you time to think about my proposal", Primo warned. "If you choose to surrender, do not participate in the next Duel of the preliminaries. If you refuse to heed my words… I shall unleash the army and destroy everything in the city, including the people you hold dear…and Fudo Yusei."
"Don't hurt him…", I growled weakly.
Primo snorted with an amused smirk as his silhouette slowly faded away among the shadows. "The choice is yours, Priestess. Think carefully or else you shall be responsible for bringing destruction upon New Domino City…"
The dripping sound of the rain was the only noise that echoed in my ears as I stood alone in the middle of the garden. My brain tried comprehending the encounter as I began feeling weak in my body, so I collapsed on my knees while dropping the katana, the metal blade making a loud clang noise when it hit the concrete.
Primo had just threatened me to attack the city unless I surrendered myself to the Three Pure Nobles. Not only that, but he claimed I hadn't protected the Signers by keeping everything I knew a secret. I did that because I thought that was the best thing to do so they would know less of what was to come. There was this saying that it was best not to know much about the future, so I kept going on that path.
Have I been wrong this whole time? Have I done more harm than good by keeping my mouth shut?
My brain was being overloaded so my head started to hurt. Should I tell the Signers the truth? Should I surrender myself so Primo wouldn't attack the city with his Riding Roid army? But wouldn't he go against his words, since he wasn't the type to keep his promises? I didn't know what to do!
What should I do?!
XXXXXXXXXX – Yusei's POV
Hilda shortly returned after she and Estelle sent Kalin and Team Scrapwatt off and informed us Estelle was going to join us later after she got some fresh air. I didn't think much about it and enjoyed myself with my friends.
However, I started getting a bad feeling as the time went by. A small summer shower rained upon the city and Estelle still hadn't returned from her walk outside.
"Estelle hasn't returned yet?" Carly spoke up.
"No, not at all", Luna shook her head.
"That's quite irresponsible of a host, leaving the party she organized", Sherry commented.
"Do you think something happened to her?" Leo wondered.
I placed my glass on the table before heading to the double doors leading out to the garden. "I'll go look for her. This isn't like her to be away for so long."
"Sure, Yusei! Go look for your princess!" Crow called teasingly.
"Crow!" I exclaimed while my cheeks grew warm.
Most of my friends laughed at Crow's comment and my reaction, but some were just silent or chuckled softly with their lips twitching upward into a smile. I groaned softly in embarrassment before I walked outside.
The rain was a mild drizzle, but the water drops were still cold. I walked towards the garden to look for Estelle. When I headed towards the rose garden, I stopped in my tracks when the transparent image of Galaxy Serpent appeared out of nowhere in front of me.
"Whoa!" I couldn't help but exclaim loudly at the sight of the Duel Monster. "Galaxy Serpent? What are you doing here?"
The Duel Monster only cooed in response before it flew away from me and towards the park where Jack and I had that fight long ago when we were fighting the Dark Signers. I realized I had been looking for Estelle at the wrong place, so I ran after Galaxy Serpent.
It didn't take long before I found a crouching figure in front of the huge goddess statue. A katana and its sheath lied on the ground next to the figure that I immediately recognized.
"Estelle!" I yelled as I ran to her.
She didn't react to my voice, so I knew something wasn't right. I kneeled down to her left and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. She was drenched by the rain and her body temperature was cold. How long had she been out in this weather?
"Estelle, do you hear me?" I asked in a low voice.
Her head was lowered with her hair covering her face, so I couldn't see her reaction. However, she soon lifted her head up and looked at me with big hollow eyes. I immediately recognized the glance in her eyes. She was in a haze.
"Yu…sei…?" she spoke quietly.
I nodded slowly as I crawled so I was in front of her and held both her shoulders. "Yes. I'm here. What happened, Estelle?"
The more I spoke to her, the more I saw the life in her eyes return. She blinked her eyes a couple of times as she stared at me. Her glasses were stained by the rain, but I could still see her red eyes. She had been crying. What happened out here that made her so upset?
"Yusei…", Estelle repeated.
"Yes…?" I whispered softly.
"I… I…", she began while struggling to find the correct words. "I'm so confused my head hurts…"
"Were you…thinking about something troublesome?"
The only response I got was a nod. Estelle was clearly not in the mood of telling me the details if she was as exhausted as she looked like. It was best not pushing her to speak.
I grabbed her katana and put it back in its sheath before I wrapped an arm around Estelle to help her stand up. Her eyes were still a little hazy, but she was conscious enough to move her body.
"I'm sorry…", Estelle mumbled all of the sudden.
I got a little surprised by that sudden apology. Was she apologizing for the trouble she had caused for me? But it wasn't troubling for me at all.
"It's okay, Estelle", I shook my head, assuring her it was okay. "This day's been too long for you, so of course you need some rest now."
"No… You don't understand…", she responded tiredly.
She was right. I didn't know what she was thinking about, but I did know she needed to rest. "You can tell me when you're ready", I told her.
Estelle slowly nodded in response. "Okay… Thank you…"
XXXXXXXXXX – Estelle's POV
I couldn't remember what happened after my body shut down by my brain getting overwhelmed by all the thoughts I got after my encounter with Primo. I vaguely remembered Yusei found me in the garden after Primo disappeared and he brought me back to the mansion where Ish took over of taking care of me. I remembered I apologized to my friends of causing so much trouble for them while I was the one who hosted the party.
I ended up getting a fever because I got wet like a dog in the rain, so I couldn't do much in the morning. I woke up by 8 a.m. with a heavy head, so after I took some medicine and ate chicken soup, cooked by Ish, I sent a text to Yusei to apologize for what happened last night. He replied he didn't mind that and sent his well wishes to me.
I slept a few more hours before I woke up with a clearer head and my nightgown damp by sweat. The fever had gone down, but I still felt groggy to be able to concentrate on something constructive.
Hilda brought my sweaty nightgown for washing while I took a shower to clean my salty and stinky body. I changed into my casual clothes and exited the bathroom when I was greeted by Bruno in my bedroom.
"Hi, Estelle", he said with a nervous expression. "Are you feeling better?"
"Yeah, I'm okay now after a nice rest and Grandma Ish's magic soup", I nodded. "I still feel a little bit groggy, though."
"That's a relief", Bruno sighed before he made a face that said he had something he wanted to tell me, but he was holding himself back.
"What's wrong, Bruno?" I asked.
"The others and I watched Team Unicorn's Duel on TV and…", Bruno began before he stopped himself.
"Team Unicorn…?" I mumbled softly.
If I recalled it right, Team Unicorn lost their second match to Team Catastrophe that received a certain Monster card from Primo to sabotage the preliminaries…
Don't tell me it actually happened?!
"Did they get hurt?" I asked.
"Worse than that…", Bruno confessed as he rubbed the back of his head.
It did happen!
He showed me the replay of the Turbo Duel on a smart tablet. Andre went first against Team Catastrophe's first Duelist, Nicolas, but it was the opposing team that got the first turn. Nicolas summoned Hook the Hidden Knight before passing the turn to Andre. He summoned D.D. Unicorn Knight and attempted to attack Hook, but he then lost control of his Duel Runner and crashed. Jean went out as the second Duelist of Team Unicorn to avenge Andre, which he managed to do. However, one thing I noticed was Nicolas managed to keep Hook the Hidden Knight on the field and passed it to Hermann after he lost. Hermann cleared Jean's field with ease and then commanded Hook to attack him directly. That's when Jean's crash occurred.
In other words, the match ended by a double-crash default, so Team Unicorn was eliminated from the World Racing Grand Prix with two losses and the team unable to continue Dueling with only one active member. The only one who was safe from the disaster in Team Unicorn was Breo. When he was briefly shown, you could see on his face he was in pure shock by the sight of his teammates getting hurt by two crashes in the same Duel.
My hands clenched into fists after I had watched the replay. I knew it was Primo who had given Team Catastrophe that Monster card and an additional Trap card, which I couldn't remember its name. What was that for?! Just another attempt to stop Team 5D's?!
No. This had to come to an end!
After that wake-up call I got from Primo last night, I knew what my answer to his proposal was. It was time for me to make amends for all the damage I had done.
One of the butlers in the mansion drove me safely to Sector Security so I could have a serious conversation with Goodwin. I found him in his office where he was busy checking documents.
"Estelle? I wasn't expecting you to visit me", Goodwin said in slight surprise when he saw me entering his office. "Weren't you feeling ill earlier today?"
"Yes, but I feel better now", I nodded. "I'm sorry for my sudden visit, Goodwin, but there is something important I need to tell you."
Goodwin put the document and the pen he had in his hands aside and gestured to the chair at the other side of his desk. "Take a seat and tell me, Estelle."
I sat down on the chair before giving him a serious expression. "I've kept myself quiet because I didn't want to do harm by telling you and the Signers about the events that happened in my world, but now I believe it's time for me to start alert you little by little."
"I assume something is going to happen during the Grand Prix?" Goodwin questioned.
"More than just one incident", I replied. "However, the first one…requires preparation from Sector Security. The whole city might come under attack by Iliaster's next plot."
Sorry, Primo, but I wasn't going to stay silent anymore. It was time for me to start talking instead of being naïve and silent!
Goodwin's body stiffened when he heard me mention the evil organization. His eyes narrowed as he stared at me with an interrogative expression. "Elaborate."