The pitch-black storm, originally self-contained over the stadium, bled out over the City over the course of the rest of the day, before eventually dissipating, until there was not a single trace of it, and it was like it never happened at all. The television signal came back again at some point, and Melissa explained that Yuya had been knocked unconscious and Yugo was missing, with Sector Security now looking for him.

As such, Yuya and Zuzu won the Duel by default, and they were due to face us in the next round, the final Duel before the title Duel against Jack Atlas. I'd spent the rest of the day going over my Deck, which in one sense was sort of pointless, seeing as I couldn't actually make any changes to it, as we'd all filled out Decklists prior to the tournament's start and our Decks had to contain those same cards for the tournament's duration, but it was sort of helpful being able to visualize everything.

Tim had gone out to see Declan or Mokuba or whoever it was to talk about whatever their next move was. I wanted to patch things up with him when he'd finished showering, but he got his stuff together and left pretty much straight away, barely telling me anything. He was right, and I would have known that if I wasn't a flip-flopping piece of shit. Of course I had to get home! Of course I had to see Luna and the others again! Anything else would have meant that this whole thing would have just been a waste of time. Even if they hated me, they had to at least know I was sorry for everything I put them through.

I sighed. It was probably mean of me to say, but I wasn't really worried about Yuya and Zuzu, at least in terms of them being our opponents. I'd seen their Decks and how they Dueled enough times to get a general feel for how they played. Zuzu used Fusion, so either blocking Polymerization or any other Fusion cards she might have had with the Continuous Spell Prohibition or slowing her Monsters down with the Field Spell Array of Revealing Light were my best choice.

Yuya on the other hand had Fusion, Synchro, Xyz and Pendulum Monsters in his arsenal, and unfortunately, I didn't really know much about the latter two Summoning types. From his Duel against the twins, I knew that Monsters that were Pendulum Summoned were Summoned at the same time, together, as a group, so cards like Bottomless Trap Hole, Solemn Warning and Torrential Tribute would be really useful for getting rid of mass groups of Monsters, and I was fortunate enough to happen to have all three of those in my Deck. Of course, just because I had them didn't mean I'd be able to draw them when I needed them, but it was something at least.

"Hey-" I nearly threw myself for a loop at the sound of Apple Magician Girl's voice, turning quickly to see her transparent form standing behind me.

"Fizdis, hi, sorry, I was… in my own head a bit there…" I whispered.

"I was just coming back to see if you were asleep yet. I'm surprised you're still awake."

"Y-yeah, I-I know it's late…" I muttered, only realizing then just how late it actually was, a thin outline of midnight blue light coming through a small gap in the curtains. "But I just w-want to make sure my Deck's all r…eady to go. I c-c-can get a-all the sleep that I n-n-n-need or want when I get back to my… Dimension…" I reeled, feeling almost exhausted from having to push through all of those blocks in my speech. Apple Magician Girl looked at me endearingly as I continued. "Wh-whatever happens tomorrow, we won't be coming back here, a-and Tim's gone off doing God knows what, and I…" I sighed, "I can't sleep…"

"Is something the matter?"

"It's just… the Duel I watched today, Yuya and Zuzu's Duel… it got a little bit, um…" I trailed off, sighing and looking down at my Deck sprawled out in front of me. "I-is it… would… w-would you call me a coward if I… if I said I got scared?"

"What happened?"

I shook my head quickly as I looked back at her. "I don't know, he… they… Yuya and Yugo, who… I k-keep thinking is Yusei, they, in the Duel…" I sighed. "They were just… th-the way they were a-acting… it was just a little… unsettling, and… th-that's mostly because I-I've been acting the same. E-e-everything with the Joel here and the Joel back home… I know there's darkness there, in me. A-and thinking about my friends-"

"We'll fix it…" she whispered. "We'll fix all of it, I promise… I know there's still a lot ahead for you, for us, but right now, you need to try and get some rest."

"Y-y-yeah…" I relented, scooping my Deck up. Apple Magician Girl was right, as usual. I wouldn't be of any help to Tim or myself if I was sleep-deprived, though to be honest, I didn't even know if the Duel or the tournament was even going to go ahead after what happened with Yuya. But that wasn't anything I had any control over. No, all I could do, as Apple Magician Girl had said, was get some rest.

I set my Deck aside, throwing my vest jacket over a chair and kicking my shoes off, sliding into bed and looking up at her. I shuffled around in my bed, trying to get comfortable. Apple Magician Girl smiled as she watched me squirm about. I sighed, just about giving up as I threw my arms wide, rolled onto my back and stared up at the ceiling.

"Sorry, I-I didn't mean for you to stop what you were doing. Would… would you like me to leave you alone?" Apple Magician Girl asked.

"No. Y-y-y-you were right. A-and please, d-d-d-don't go on my account. I-I mean, if you want to, you c-c-c-can, but… I feel safe when you're w-with me…" I sighed once more, closing my eyes as the sound of silence started creeping in.

"You're thinking about Luna, aren't you?" Apple Magician Girl asked softly. I opened my eyes and looked over at her. "You're smiling…" She whispered.

I honestly hadn't even noticed. "Yeah… I… she u-used to say I made her feel safe… it felt, felt nice…" I closed my eyes once more. "B-b-back then, I didn't kn-know anything about myself, didn't really have any direction or anything, so it was nice to be wanted…" I exhaled shakily. "I had no idea at the… t-t-t-time that I never used to feel safe." I groaned, the heaviness of my eyes catching up with me. "I'm actually starting to feel tired…"

"Am I boring you that much?" Apple Magician Girl teased.

"No, I…" I trailed off, failing to pick up on her tone and the fact she was joking. "Talking to you is just… it's nice and relaxing…" my voice started to lose tone, cracking as I slowly started to lose myself to sleep, only getting pulled back once I heard the rattling of the door handle to our room.

"Shit…!" I heard Tim whisper-shout from the other side of the door. "Good going, Tim…" he sighed, and then a couple seconds later the handle broke off, the door creaking as Tim made his way inside, closing the door and looking over at me. "Hey…!" Tim half-whispered. "Sorry. Thought you'd be asleep by the time I got back, but I didn't realize most of the staff would be off by now too. Forgot the key to get back in and, well…" Tim glanced down at the door handle. "Oh yeah, the Duel's still goin' ahead tomorrow. Yuyaas is fine now. He's awake, but apparently, he doesn't remember much of what happened. Yeah, Mokubro told me he went all Black Lodge before he and ZoomZoom won. Don't really know what the deal is there, but it's not our problem." Tim sighed, his eyes averting mine for a moment. "Listen, I wanna talk about what I said before."

"Uh-huh…" I mumbled. I did too, but I was actually starting to get pretty tired. For him to have come back late, it probably could have waited until morning.

"People tend to get the wrong idea of what I'm about. Think I'm a monster. I say and do things that people might not agree with, but, ya hafta understand, I…" Tim sighed once more, "Okay, see, one time, I was in this other Dimension, campaigning against handicap access."

I turned to face Tim. "Why were you campaigning against-"

"Would you just listen? Of course if ya interrupt me before I finish it sounds bad. The place I was campaigning against handicap access for was in direct path of, I guess what you'd call an 'alien', species that… has what you and I would consider mobility issues. They can't get up stairs for instance. Anyway, the city didn't know that, and everyone thought I was just disparaging people in wheelchairs and that, so I was reamed out and ostracized, and they went ahead with givin' the place all handicap access, but because of all the handicap access, the town, the city, and eventually the whole Dimension fell to the aliens. Took a lot of effort gettin' rid of 'em, but by the time we did, there was nothin' left."

"Damn…" I muttered, just barely able to keep track of what Tim was saying.

"Right?" Tim sighed. "Look, bottom line is, everything I say and do is for a reason. And… it might not seem like it, but… I do care about you. The last time someone charged into battle when I told them not to, they died. And the worst part is, I don't even remember their name. I don't want you to become a nameless statistic."

"Tim…"

"Let me deal with the Lancers and the Fusion Dimension and all that stuff. Fightin' is what I'm good at. That's not to say you're not, but…" Tim motioned to himself, "c'mon, look at me, I'm jacked AF, mate."

I pushed air out of my nose and chuckled.

"Wait…" Tim suddenly paused. "Red's here, ain't she? I can feel it."

I nodded. "I was l…ooking over my Deck to see if I could come up with anything for t-t-to…tomor…" I sighed, shaking my head. "Tomorrow." I pushed. "Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow. I can say it now, jeez…" I grumbled.

"Don't stress, Jess. You got it." Tim smiled.

I sighed once more. "She came to check up on me, and w-w-w-we got t-talking a little, but it was late…" I trailed. "Y-yeah… she's here…" I swallowed. "Anyway, I-I-I-I've come up with some ideas on how to beat Yuya and Zuzu, but when it comes to Jack… I'm just thinking… when Crow and Yuya Dueled, Crow used Bl-Bl-Bl-Blackwings. The Crow in my Dimension used to run Blackwings as well, before h-he… died. So, what if the Jack in this Dimension uses the same sort of cards as the Jack in my Dimension…?"

"Well, what kind of cards does your Jack play?" Tim finally moved away from the door and over to his bed, swinging around to sit down on it as he faced me.

"W-w-well, his strongest Monster is this… Synchro called Red Dragon Archfiend. It's one of the f-five Signer Dragons, and it's a r-r-r-really powerful card, but the rest of his Deck… I don't know, it's changed a bit over the years. Back when we were in our Duel Gang, he a-actually rarely used Red Dragon Archfiend, the rest of his… Deck just focused on really basic… beatdown. It was kind of really the only cards we could get living in the Satellite, just the stuff that n-n-n-nobody else wanted. But over time, you know, I guess when Jack left the Satellite, his Deck went through a major overhaul and mostly focused on another archetype of cards called R-Resonators, which prevent destruction or damage of that player's cards or Life Points to an extent."

"But wasn't Crow using some other cards in his Duels as well? In the tournament?"

I nodded. "Yeah, the Assault Blackwings. The Crow in my Dimension never had those cards. I didn't even know they existed. And everyone else here too… th-th-th-th-they've been using cards, archetypes and s-s-strategies I've never even seen before. Damn…"

"I've seen Mr. Atlantis sittin' up there in his ivory tower, lookin' down on us, checkin' out all the cards in our Decks. Oh yeah, did you know he hasn't even seen our interview? Rude much. But anyway, he can know our Decks in and out and off by heart for all I care. No matter what he knows, there's one thing he hasn't got."

"'It'?" I asked.

Tim smiled warmly. "A partner. As long as the two o' us stick together, there's nothin' we can't do."

I pushed out a big puff of air with a smile, turning away.

"Tyler, he means it." Apple Magician Girl suddenly spoke up. "I can sense it. He's serious."

"Oh, hey, by the way…" Tim said softly, reaching into the pocket of his pants and pulling out a USB drive.

"Wh-what's that?" I fumbled over my words.

"Digital copies of those photos of us. Mokubro said you wanted 'em."

"O-oh…! Th-thanks…" I mumbled, taking the USB and placing it at my bedside, turning back to Tim. Looking into his eyes, I could feel a pit develop in my stomach, my breathing becoming strained, shortened. "Tim, I-I'm sorry that… y-you had to get caught up in all of this. You… y-you probably could have j-just fought your way out of KaibaCorp, gone to the Storage Facility, taken the boat and gone home on your own. I r-r-r-really appreciate everything you've done for me. I don't m…ean to be difficult. I-I kn-know sometimes it seems like I don't appreciate you, but… I do…"

Tim's cheeks reddened. "Wh-what brought this on?" he asked.

"It's just…" I exhaled shakily, the uneasy feeling still in my chest, "I've been thinking about how hard this has been on me, but… at least my Dimension's similar to this one. This whole thing must feel so strange to you, battling with cards and that…"

"Nah, fightin' is fightin'. And if I had to have anyone as my partner in battle, or at least a card battle, you'd be at the top o' my list." Tim smiled, softly bumping me on the shoulder. "Anywho, we've got a big day tomorrow. The biggest, so it's pro'ly a good idea for us to get some sleep." I nodded in agreement, Tim turning over to his side as he uttered a soft "G'night."

"Night, Tim…"

I lied awake for most of the night, feeling uneasy despite both Tim's and Apple Magician Girl's reassurance. It was just something I couldn't shake. No matter if we won or lost, I'd still have so much more to face, but in terms of what was left of the tournament, I was at least feeling marginally more comfortable with it.

I got up early with the sun, getting together what little things I had, having a quick breakfast and making sure I'd showered and was presentable. It was the fourteenth of April, twenty-twenty-two, and with any luck the day would be the same when I arrived back in my Dimension. I didn't want to wait, so my plan was that I'd go about contacting my friends the moment I arrived back in my Dimension. I'd buy them gifts with whatever money I had left and at least start making headway trying to repair things with them.

I stepped out of the bathroom, fully clothed and ready to go as I saw Tim sitting on his bed. "You don't mind if I keep all these cards, do ya?" Tim asked, glancing over at me.

"Nah, of course not." I said, patting the two Deck Boxes at my sides, one holding my counterpart's Deck, and the other my tournament Deck. "I've got all the cards I need right here. What about you? Are you thinking of p-p-p-p-picking up this game again?"

"Honestly, probably not. I mean, it's fun, but probably not something I can see myself doing again. I really just want the cards 'cause they look cool, and, I dunno, when I'm back home in my Dimension, and I look at 'em, it'll make me think o' you and the memories of this whole thing. Is that alright?"

I nodded. "Yeah, o'course."

"Housekeeping!" a voice called from behind the door to our room, the door creaking open and Mokuba popping his head in. "Nah, I'm just kiddin'" he grinned.

"Oh, you!" Tim put his hands to his hips and shook his head with a smile.

"Mr. Kaiba," I bowed, Mokuba stepping into the room. "Good morning, s-sir."

"Morning, Mr. Nochi, Mr. Ihansha. Just wanted to let you guys know that everything's set for later today. We've taken the boat back from Rogét, and we've secured the power source as well. I've arranged for our staff members to escort you from the stadium back to KaibaCorp once you've finished your Duels, and I'm more than confident that we should be able to send you off there without a hitch." Mokuba explained.

"Thank you, Mr. Kaiba. I-I, I… I do appreciate it." I bowed once more.

"No problem at all," he smiled. "The Council might not like it, but a deal's a deal. Best of luck with your Duels today." Mokuba's eyes suddenly widened, and he looked down at the door handle on the floor. "Uh… don't worry about that either…!" he said, scratching the back of his head.

"Cheers, Mokubro!" Tim gave him a thumbs up and Mokuba went on his way. "You ready?" Tim asked, holding out his fist. I nodded and Tim twisted his fist to the side. "C'mon, don't leave me hangin'"

I pursed my lips together, giving his fist a quick tap with my right. I grabbed my tournament Deck, slotting it into my Duel Disk before placing my hand down on the Deck Box containing my counterpart's Deck.

"Please be with me…" I whispered, leaving the hotel room for the last time.

"Welcome, one and all, to the final day of the Friendship Tag Cup! This will certainly be a day for the history books!" Melissa announced to the packed stadium; their cheers almost deafening. "Out of the sixteen fantastic teams who entered this fantastic tournament, two incredible teams remain, and only one will go on to challenge Jack Atlas for his title of Duel King! The first team is Tyler Nochi and Tim Ihansha, the self-professed interdimensional travelers who, win or lose have certainly made a name for themselves here in Neo Domino City!"

"I'm gonna miss gettin' praised like this!" Tim smiled at me.

"And the second no-less-impressive team is Yuya Sakaki and Zuzu Boyle, the Entertainment Dueling duo who have shown incredible mastery of all kinds of Summoning techniques!"

"Well I don't feel so good no more… now that I know they're 'no-less-impressive'…" Tim sniffed, pouting his lips, and I honestly couldn't tell if he was joking or being serious.

I looked over at our opponents, Yuya looking as though it didn't even register to him where he was, the expression on his face a far cry from the look of anger, rage and sadism he had during his Duel against Yugo and Celina. Zuzu stood with him, holding one of his hands in hers. "Yuya…" Zuzu muttered. Yuya blinked quickly, as though Zuzu saying his name had brought him back from another world.

I didn't want to speak. I didn't like to speak (anymore), but in spite of that, I found myself walking across the Duel Field over to them. "Yuya…" I muttered, my mouth hung open like an idiot, "h-how are you feeling?" I asked.

"So you saw me…?" Yuya muttered, turning away. "Zuzu told me what happened. What I did. How I acted."

"Yuya…" Zuzu muttered once more, looking at him forlornly. "The Entertainment Duels we learned at You Show Duel School… were never, are never to inflict pain."

"I know…" Yuya muttered. "I'm sorry, Zuzu, for making you worry about me."

"I'm never not going to worry about you, Yuya, you're…" she trailed off, a smile gradually easing itself onto her face. I found myself start to smile as well, realizing how stupid I'd been for not realizing Luna used to smile at me in the same way.

"Hey," I said softly, "I'd like to think I'd be the last person to get on someone's case for acting a little crazy, so don't worry about it." I told Yuya.

"I… I…" Yuya sighed. "We made up our minds that… that we'd make everyone smile by winning the Friendship Tag Cup. Th-that we'd beat you guys, beat Jack, and prove to everyone here how wonderful Entertainment Duels can be. But I can't… I can't do that anymore…"

"Yuya…" Zuzu muttered, letting go of Yuya's hand. "I was really worried yesterday. I saw something in you I'd only caught glimpses of before back home. But I know that that's not you. Whatever stress or anger you're feeling, you're not alone. I know you feel like these Duels are all that you have left of your father, and you want everyone to smile for his sake, because that's how Dueling should be, but you shouldn't smile because it's what your dad would want… y-you should smile because… because you have a beautiful smile. A smile I… love…" Zuzu took hold of Yuya's hand once more, moving his hand up to her mouth and pressing her lips against it with a smile.

"Zuzu…!" Yuya gasped, turning to his partner. "After yesterday, I… I just…"

"Mate, you'd never be able to beat us in the first place," Tim's voice came from behind me, "but that doesn't mean you gotta throw in the towel here. I'm sure the people here would have far more respect for you as a combatant than if you just gave up. After all, you wouldn't want the memories of their last Duel of you to be the one where you went insane in the membrane, right? Wouldn't you rather 'em see you Duel at your best? You want these people to smile, right?"

Yuya looked into Tim's eyes, seemingly captivated by the redhead's words, before turning to Zuzu and gazing into her eyes. "Y-yes…! I want… I want…" Yuya took a deep breath, pulling Zuzu to him and cupping her face in his hands, quickly pressing his lips against hers. Zuzu slowly closed her eyes, moving her hands to cup Yuya's, small sounds escaping her lips.

I turned away from them to give them a little privacy, but I'm pretty sure Tim stared right at them while they kissed.

"Yuya…!" Zuzu breathed, the pink-haired girl breaking the kiss with a smile.

"Zuzu…" Yuya smiled back. "I love your smile too… I'm glad I'm able to make you smile. I want to make everyone here smile, and I'll do that by Dueling with you, and winning! Zuzu, let's do our best!" Yuya said to his partner. Zuzu nodded.

"That's the spirit!" Tim grinned, giving our opponents a thumbs up before leading me back to the other side of the Duel Field. "A battle's so much more fun when everyone's fightin' at their best." Tim said to me.

"Aww, did you hear that everyone?!" Melissa called. "Tim's words and Yuya's actions echo the sentiments I'm sure we all carry here today! In this stadium, in this City, today, we're united as one! Commoner and Topsider! We're all friends! We love each other!" the MC cheered, only to once again elicit boos from various members of the crowd, only for that to quickly be swallowed up by cheers and applause from the majority, more than likely swayed by the tender moment between Yuya and Zuzu.

I took a deep breath and activated my Duel Disk.

"Duel!"

[Tim & Tyler: 8000 LP]
[Yuya & Zuzu: 8000 LP]

"I'll start by N-Normal Summoning Rapid-Fire Magician in Attack Position," I said, the robe-wearing sorcerer appeared on my side of the field [ATK: 1600], "next, I'll Set one card face-down, and then I'll activate the Field Spell Card Array of Revealing Light!" as I placed the card down onto the field, a protective seal of light rose up, illuminating the Duel Field. "As long as this card remains face-up, no Monster of one type I ch-choose is able to attack on the turn th-that it's Summoned, so, I select Fairy-type as my target." I smiled, knowing full-well about Zuzu's Melodious Monsters all being Fairy-type. "That'll do it for me. I e-e-end my turn."

"I'll show you that together, Yuya and I can definitely win! Draw!" Zuzu shouted, drawing. "I activate my Spell Card, 1st Movement Solo! This allows me to Special Summon a Melodious Monster from my hand! Sonata the Melodious Diva, appear now in Attack Position!" a yellow-skinned woman appeared on Zuzu's field, hands clasped together, humming to herself [ATK: 1200]. "Now, my Sonata's effect activates: since she was Special Summoned, as long as she's on the field, all Fairy Monsters will gain five hundred Attack and Defense Points." [Sonata the Melodious Diva: ATK: 1700] "I'll Set one card and end my turn."

"Alrighty vegemity!" Tim drew from his Deck. "I Set a Monster in Defense Position, and then Set two cards face-down. I'll also switch Rapid-Fire Magician into Defense Position as well." Rapid-Fire crouched down [DEF: 1200]. "I endth my turnth."

I chuckled. I don't know why I found that funny. I just did.

"Alright! My turn! Draw!" Yuya shouted, "I Summon Performapal Friendonkey in Attack Position-"

"Yeah, I don't even care what it is. I activate Tyler's face-down, Solemn Warning." Tim said simply, tapping on the screen of his pad as my Trap Card flipped up, Yuya's sly-smiling donkey disappearing as light shone down onto it from above.

"Y-you do realize that costs us two thousand Life Points, right?" I asked Tim.

[Tim & Tyler: 6000 LP]

"From my hand, I activate a Spell Card, Monster Reborn!" Yuya shouted, an ankh appearing on his field. "This card allows me to revive a Monster from the Graveyard! So I'll now call back Performapal Friendonkey!" the ankh disappeared in a flash, Yuya's donkey having taken its place [ATK: 1600].

"God damn it…" I whispered before sighing. We wasted a quarter of our Life Points getting rid of one Monster that probably wasn't even worth the cost, only for Yuya to immediately Summon it back to the field.

"Battle!" Yuya pointed toward our field. "Performapal Friendonkey attacks Rapid-Fire Magician!" Yuya shouted, his donkey rushing forward and 'comically' headbutting my Spellcaster in the groin, who collapsed on the ground before fizzling away. "Now I'll use Zuzu's Sonata and attack your Set card!"

Tim's Set Monster flipped up, revealing Witch of the Black Forest [DEF: 1200], who was quickly dispatched as well. "Thanks," Tim smiled, "now I get to add a card from my Deck to my hand." Tim retrieved the head of Exodia the Forbidden One, showed it to Yuya, Zuzu and me, and then added it to his hand.

"I'll Set two cards and end my turn." Yuya said.

"I play my face-down Jar of Greed!" Tim shouted, flinging his hand out as the red and gold jar appeared on Tim's field before shattering. "This card lets me draw one card from my Deck."

I watched Tim draw, and then I followed suit, drawing for my Draw Phase. "I Normal Summon Time Wizard!" The purple-cloaked red clock appeared on my field [ATK: 500]. "Next, I activate Time Wizard's effect: a c-coin is tossed, and if I call it right, your Monsters are destroyed! If not, my Monsters are destroyed, a-a-and th-then we'll t-take damage!" I looked down at the display on my Duel Disk, a coin appearing on the screen, showing a skull head for heads, and a time machine for tails. "I'll call t-t-t-tails!" I called across to them as I tapped the screen and the coin was tossed, landing and then showing the result on screen. Tails. "Yes!" I shouted, perhaps a little too enthusiastically, Time Wizard raising his wand into the air as Yuya's and Zuzu's Monsters faded out of existence. "I enter m-m-m-my Battle Phase! Time Wizard, attack!" I shouted, only for Yuya to fling his hand out.

"I reveal my Quick-Play Spell Card, Illusion Balloons!" he shouted. "Since you destroyed a Monster with your Time Wizard's effect, I can activate this card to excavate the top five cards of my Deck, and then Special Summon a Performapal Monster if one is among the cards I excavate."

"Excavate?" Tim asked. "Are we diggin' for bones now or something?" My eyes widened as five different-colored balloons appeared on the field, each of them popping and revealing themselves to be empty, except for one. Yuya picked up the top five cards from his Deck, before placing one of them on his Duel Disk.

"Performapal Hip Hippo, come on out!" Yuya shouted, a pink top hat-wearing hippopotamus appeared on Yuya's field, getting up on its hind legs and taking a bow [ATK: 800].

"Then I'll c-c-cancel my attack and end my t-turn." I told him.

"Nice work, Yuya." Zuzu encouraged, drawing from her Deck. "Battle! I attack Time Wizard with Yuya's Performapal Hip Hippo!" Yuya's Monster bucked at my Time Wizard with its hind legs, disarming its wand and destroying the clock face.

[Tim & Tyler: 5700 LP]

"I end my turn."

Tim drew. "I play the Spell Card Graceful Charity, allowing me to draw three cards so long as I discard two." An angel appeared on Tim's field as he drew three cards, discarding Shard of Greed and Right Leg of the Forbidden One to the Graveyard. "Next I reveal my face-down card, Reckless Greed! This card lets me draw another two cards, so long as we now skip our next two Draw Phases." A chest of gold appeared on the field, Tim drawing two cards as it disappeared. "Now, I play Monster Reincarnation, discarding Left Leg of the Forbidden One to bring Rapid-Fire Magician to my hand. Now go!" Tim shouted, Normal Summoning Rapid-Fire Magician back to the field [ATK: 1600]. "Attack!"

My magician raised his two staffs into the air as he became surrounded by different-colored orbs pulsing with energy, one of them shooting forward and piercing through Yuya's hippo.

[Yuya & Zuzu: 7200 LP]

"I end my turn." Tim smiled.

"Okay, my turn!" Yuya shouted, drawing. "I Set a Monster face-down, and Set one card in my backrow. That ends my turn."

I flinched, instinctively about to draw when I remembered I wasn't supposed to. I shook my head before throwing my hand out. "I Normal Summon M-M-M-M-M-Mythical Beast Cerberus!" a swirl of blue wind appeared on the field, breaking away to reveal a two-headed beast, a yellow magic seal appearing on the ground at its form [ATK: 1400]. "Rapid-Fire Magician, attack!" I shouted, Yuya's Set Monster [Performapal Gongato: DEF: 100] getting destroyed as another one of my Spellcaster's orbs passed through it. However, instead of it going to the Graveyard, it got placed on the top of Yuya's Extra Deck.

"I play my Trap Card, Performapal Revival! Now since a Performapal Monster was destroyed, I can call out a Performapal Monster to take its place! Return once more, Performapal Friendonkey!" Yuya's donkey returned to the field with a snicker [ATK: 1600].

"I end my turn." I grumbled.

"My turn! Draw!" Zuzu shouted, doing just that. "Performapal Friendonkey attacks Cerberus!" Yuya's donkey once again charged forward, this time nipping the jackal head of my Monster in its side, its eyes comically bulging out as I let out a puff of air, the yellow magic seal disappearing.

[Tim & Tyler: 5500 LP]

I looked over to Tim, who was running his hand along his scar with a smile, and then at Yuya, who had a wide unthreatening smile on his face.

At least they were enjoying themselves. I mean, I was too, to a point, I was just a little irritated that we couldn't get ahead, and I wasn't really a fan of Yuya's circus Monsters. For one thing, I found the expression of Yuya's Performapal Friendonkey to be incredibly annoying.

"I Set a Monster," Zuzu continued, "and that will end my turn."

Tim moved his head around, loosening his neck. "I attack your Set Monster with Rapid-Fire Magician!" Tim shouted, Zuzu's Set Monster [Sonata the Melodious Diva: DEF: 1000] getting blown apart by my magician's twin staffs. "I'll then Set one Monster and end my turn."

"My turn! Draw!" Yuya shouted. "Friendonkey attacks your Set Monster!" Yuya's Monster charged forward, bowling over Tim's Set Monster, a Sangan [DEF: 600].

Tim smiled. "Thanks for gettin' rid o' my Sangan. Now I get to add another Monster to my hand." Tim added Left Arm of the Forbidden One to his hand, but not before showing it to Yuya, Zuzu and myself.

"That's fine. I'll Tribute my Friendonkey to Set another Monster in its place, and then Set one more card face-down. I end my turn."

I sighed, happy that Yuya's Friendonkey was off the field, and that I was able to draw again. "W-w-w-w-well if you're going to Tribute Summon, so will I!" I shouted, drawing. I wanted to sound confident, but thanks to my stutter, I probably came across as anything but. "I Tribute Rapid-Fire Magician to Summon Chaos Command Magician!" Rapid-Fire Magician knelt down, bowing his head as he disappeared, a great magician adorned in green taking the field, a green magic seal appearing in the sky above him [ATK: 2400]. "N-now I enter my Battle Phase! Chaos Command Magician, attack!"

Yuya's Set card was flipped up, revealing a Spellcaster of his own. "Sorry," he smiled, "but my Stargazer Magician has the same amount of Defense Points as your Chaos Command Magician does in Attack Points." [Stargazer Magician: DEF: 2400].

I exhaled, Yuya's magician shrugging off a blast from my magician's scepter. A stalemate. "Alright, I Set one card face-down," I said, Setting Dark Hole face-down so that either Tim or I could use it later, if there were no other ways around his Monster. "I end my turn."

"I play my face-down Mystical Space Typhoon!" Yuya shouted, a cyclone blowing away the Dark Hole I'd just Set.

"Damn it…" I whispered once more, though part of me wondered why Yuya didn't use it to get rid of my Array of Revealing Light.

Zuzu drew, looking out at the field. "I pass my turn." She said simply. I was starting to get a little worried about Zuzu. She wasn't playing very many cards of her own; opting instead to use Yuya's to attack. It wasn't really a strategy I'd seen her use in the tournament, but she was obviously planning something.

"I draw!" Tim shouted. "I'll Set a card and end my turn."

"Alright, I draw!" Yuya shouted. "I Set one Monster and end my turn."

I drew from my Deck. Another Time Wizard. I contemplated using its effect, but eventually decided against it, deeming the risk too great. I kept it in my hand, glancing at Tim who I knew would happily take the risk, but I decided to play it relatively safe. "I'll enter my Battle Phase and attack your Set Monster with Chaos Command Magician!" I shouted, my magician raising his scepter into the air as green light rained down on Yuya's Set Monster [Performapal Thunderhino: DEF: 1800] and destroyed it. "I end my turn."

"I hope you're prepared!" Zuzu shouted, drawing. "I activate the Spell Card Polymerization, fusing my Aria the Melodious Diva with my Canon the Melodious Diva – both in my hand," Zuzu's Monsters appeared on the field before rising into the air, harmonizing with each other as they became silhouettes of orange and purple light that began swirling around each other. "Let your harmonies ring and melodies flow! Follow the baton and show your power! I Fusion Summon Schuberta the Melodious Maestra!" The light settled, and a rather extravagant-looking female Monster stood in its place [ATK: 2400].

I was quite worried for a moment, but then I remembered my Array of Revealing Light Field Spell prevented her from attacking. Plus, I realized, that Zuzu wouldn't attack my Chaos Command Magician with her anyway, since she'd committed three cards from her hand to bring her out, and probably wouldn't want her to be destroyed right away, lest she waste those three, now four, cards.

I exhaled shakily. "I've got to adm-m-mit… you're keeping me on my toes. B-B-B-But don't forget that your M-M-M-Monster's got the same Attack Points as my Chaos Command Magician. Plus, with Array of R-R-Revealing Light on our field, Schuberta can't attack this turn anyway."

Zuzu smiled. "You're right that I'm unable to attack, but as for Schuberta having the same Attack Points as your magician, well, that's about to change! I activate Schuberta's effect, allowing me to Banish three cards from your Graveyard to increase her Attack Points! I Banish Solemn Warning, Graceful Charity and Witch of the Black Forest!" Zuzu's Monster raised her baton into the air [Schuberta the Melodious Maestra: ATK: 3000].

"Holy crap…" I muttered.

"That's not all!" Zuzu flung her hand out. "I activate the Spell Card Winged Trumpeter to further increase Schuberta's Attack Points by five hundred!" a tiny angel appeared on the field, playing softly on a trumpet as Schuberta raised her baton into the air once more [Schuberta the Melodious Maestra: ATK: 3500].

"That's Numberwang!" Tim smiled.

"But wait! There's more! I play Cestus of Dagla, equipping it to Schuberta and increasing her Attack Points by another five hundred!" Zuzu's Monster traded in her baton for a pair of wind-and-fire wheels [Schuberta the Melodious Maestra: ATK: 4000].

"Four thousand Attack Points…" I muttered.

"I'll Set one card face-down and end my turn." Zuzu said, her hand now empty.

I noted that all of Zuzu's cards that she'd had in her hand had now been used, and I looked at the Time Wizard in my hand, regretting not having played him in my last turn. After all, Zuzu probably wouldn't have attacked using Yuya's Monster, opting instead to keep it in Defense Position, so we would have been safe at least for a turn, and either way, Time Wizard or no Time Wizard, we would have lost on our next turn anyway. It would have been better for me just to play the damn thing and take the fifty-fifty chance on its effect.

I sighed, turning to my partner. "Hope you've got something for this, Tim."

"You know it." Tim smiled, looking down at his Duel Disk as he drew. "Come on, Deck Bros…" Tim's smile widened, revealing to us the card he drew – Right Leg of the Forbidden One – along with his entire hand, consisting solely of Exodia pieces.

Tim laid out the Exodia pieces onto his Duel Disk, each of Exodia's limbs along with his head and body appeared on the field, joining together and breaking free of their constraints. Exodia formed a ball of light between his hands, throwing it forward and, well, obliterating all of Yuya's and Zuzu's Monsters, along with their Life Points.

[Yuya & Zuzu: 0 LP]

"We're not through yet!" Tim smiled, looking up at his massive Monster as he pointed to a spot in the sky behind him. "Exodia, be a top bloke and get rid o' those paratroopers too…!"

"Paratroopers?" I asked, Exodia throwing another blast of light off into the sky behind him. I followed the light to see it collide with a group of young men adorned in blue, and while I couldn't get a really good look at their outfits, I assumed they belonged to the same group of people that tried to card Tim and me the day before.

Explosions flew overhead, but the sound of them was quickly drowned out by the cheers of the audience.

"Good shot, mate." Tim praised Exodia, the titanic Monster fading away only moments later, along with the rest of our cards on the field.

"The winners! The winners of the finals are Tyler Nochi and Tim Ihansha!" Melissa cheered. "What a way to end it! Zuzu breaking through a stalemate with a four thousand Attack Point Monster only for Tim to pull out the win by once again Summoning Exodia the Forbidden One! Amazing!" Melissa gushed.

Tim was uncharacteristically mute in both expression and voice as Melissa praised him, and I noticed the redhead's eyes were locked to the other side of the Duel Field where Declan Akaba, head of the Lancers, had made himself known to our opponents.

"Yuya, Zuzu…" Declan said. "You both did well. I'm proud of you."

"Declan?" Yuya asked.

"I would have had to change our plans anyway." I heard him say. "There've been reports of Obelisk Force members being sighted in Neo Domino City. It's time. We have to go and rescue Celina from The Facility."

"The Facility?" Zuzu questioned.

"She's being held there by Rogét right now. We need to go and rescue her, along with Gong, Sylvio and everyone else who lost in the tournament." Declan explained. "Then, when we're all together again, we'll meet up with the High Council and discuss our next move." Declan looked over at Tim, the redhead giving Declan a passing two-finger salute as Yuya and Zuzu were led off of the Duel Field.

"T-T-Tim…" I stammered. "Do you know wh-wh-what's going on?"

Tim nodded. "Nothin' you need to concern yourself with though. Our toughest battle's comin' up. The King's left his throne."

"And now, the moment we've all been waiting for! The long-awaited final Duel of the Friendship Tag Cup! I don't know about you guys, but I can hardly hide my excitement! Woo!" Melissa cheered. "To have made it all this way, Tyler Nochi and Tim Ihansha are the real deal, there's no doubt! But will they be able to knock the King off his throne? Or will another page be added to the King's history books?!"

A song started to play, which I quickly recognized as Avenged Sevenfold's 'Hail to the King', as spotlights moved from one side of the stadium to the other.

"And now, here he is! The star of Neo Domino City! Ja~ack Atla~as~!"

A cascade of fire came down from the other end of the stadium as Jack burst through it, atop his familiar Duel Runner, the Wheel of Fortune. Jack's Duel Runner landed with a thud and he skidded to a stop across from us. Jack moved one of the arms of his Duel Runner up as he moved out from inside it, pointing a finger up into the sky.

"There is only one King of Neo Domino City!" he declared, the audience roaring in approval.

"How come he gets a song?" Tim whined.

"Look at that! Jack's appearance alone has captured the hearts of not only everyone here in the Seto Kaiba Memorial Circuit, but the hearts of everyone in Neo Domino City, I'm sure!" Melissa cheered, though I could hear a little bit of booing now too, most likely from Commoners in the audience. "Now, since this is a two-on-one Tag Duel, King Atlas's starting Life Points will equal-"

"Please!" Jack scoffed. "I don't need any sort of handicap against these two. The standard four thousand Life Points is more than sufficient, I assure you."

"O-oh…! Alright, if you're sure…" Melissa muttered as Jack turned to face the audience and began to monologue, Tim and I taking the opportunity to reset our Duel Disks and reshuffle our Decks.

"Everyone should know that I am the true Duel King, but if there are any doubters left among you – Commoner or Topsider – then let this Duel prove to you my power!" Jack suddenly became uncharacteristically quiet. "When I was younger, I felt as though I was a bird caged in, wanting to free itself and soar to new heights. I knew that I was born to Duel… Not to be bound by what other people thought of me as a native of the Commons. I knew that if I worked hard and aimed for the top, I could reach it by believing in my own power. I always knew it wouldn't be easy, but I fought for the role, for the title of King of Neo Domino City, and now!" Jack announced, turning back to myself and Tim, pointing a finger square between the two of us, "I'll show you what the King has become! Let's Duel!"

[Tim & Tyler: 8000 LP]
[Jack: 4000 LP]

"As the challengers, you get to go first!" Jack stated proudly, obviously confident in his skills, and he had every reason to be.

Tim turned to me and nodded, motioning for me to take the first turn. I looked down at the cards in my hand. "Okay, I Set t-two cards face-down, and Normal Summon Summoner Monk! When Summoner Monk is Normal or Flip Summoned, he's automatically switched to Defense Position." the purple-robed blue-skinned priest appeared seated on my field, pressing his hands together as he became cloaked in a mystical veil [DEF: 1600]. "That'll do it for m-m-me."

"That's all? I'll show you how much better I am!" Jack shouted, drawing. "I Set one Monster face-down, and then one more card in my backrow. I end my turn."

"You… you just did less than him…" Tim pointed out, but when his comment got no response from Jack, he sighed, drawing. "Whatever." Tim drew. "I activate the effect of Tyler's Summoner Monk. By discarding a Spell Card from my hand, I can Special Summon a Level Four Monster from my Deck. I discard Graceful Charity to call Witch of the Black Forest from my Deck to the field!" Tim's familiar witch appeared, crouching [DEF: 1200]. "Finally, I'll Set a Monster in Defense Position, and one more card face-down too."

"You underestimate the abilities of the King! I draw!" Jack shouted. "I Summon Phantom King Hydride in Attack Position!" my eyes widened as Jack played a card I'd never seen him use before, and a sinister-looking knight on horseback appeared on his field, holding aloft a great sword [ATK: 1500]. "Let's get this battle going! Phantom King Hydride attacks Witch of the Black Forest! Dead Man's Volley!"

Jack's Monster charged forward, but Tim tapped on his tablet. "I play Tyler's face-down Mirror Force!" he shouted, my Trap Card revealing itself as a barrier appeared around us, Jack's Phantom King Hydride crashing into it, destroyed.

Jack laughed. "Wasting a Trap Card like Mirror Force on one Monster?! You're not fit to be the Duel King! I Set one card and end my turn-"

"I play my Jar of Greed!" Tim threw his hand out. "This card lets me draw a card from my Deck." Tim drew, and then at the start of my turn, so did I.

"I Set one card face-down, and activate Summoner Monk's effect: I discard Dark Hole from my hand to call Defender, the Magical Knight to the field in Defense Position!" the paladin clad in blue armor appeared on my field, its massive shield hopefully enough to keep Jack at bay [DEF: 2000].

"Is that all you're going to do? Play defensively until your partner can draw the pieces of Exodia into his hand? Such a cowardly gambit!" Jack spat.

I clenched my gauntlet into a fist. He was right, but he didn't have to be such a dick about it. It wasn't my fault he knew all about mine and Tim's Decks and we knew pretty much nothing about his. "I end my turn."

"Cower all you like, but my power will break through your cowardice! Power is everything! My turn! Draw!" Jack shouted. "I activate my Powerful Rebirth Trap Card, allowing me to revive one of my Monsters from the Graveyard! Phantom King Hydride! Return from the brink of oblivion! Wield your power!" Jack's Monster reappeared, its sinister eyes gazing at me. "Not only has my Monster returned from the Graveyard, but Powerful Rebirth increases his Attack and Defense Points by one hundred and increases his Level by one!" [Phantom King Hydride: LV: 4: ATK: 1600]. "Now, I Normal Summon Dark Resonator to the field!" I was actually pretty relieved at the sight of a familiar Monster on Jack's field [ATK: 1300]. "Bow down before my power! Dark Resonator attacks Witch of the Black Forest!"

Jack's Monster flew forward, impaling Tim's witch with its pitchfork, but since it had just been my turn, only I was able to activate the Monster's effect. "I-I-I play Witch of the Black Forest's effect a-a-and add D-D-Dark Armed Dragon to my hand." I stammered, fumbling over my words as I added the card to my hand.

Jack didn't seem to even care however, moving to attack once more. "Go! Phantom King Hydride! Attack Tim's Set Monster!"

Jack's Phantom King charged forward as Tim's Set Monster was revealed – another Witch of the Black Forest [DEF: 1200], allowing me once again to add another Monster to my hand from the Deck. It also meant that Tim wouldn't be able to use her effect to add Exodia pieces to his hand, which was obviously all part of Jack's strategy. "I add Mythical Beast Cerberus to my hand." I told him, selecting the card on my screen.

"I end my turn!" Jack smiled.

Tim drew. "You know, Mr. Atlantis, you call this one a coward for defending himself, but it seems to me like you're the coward. After all, you're trying to end this Duel before I can bring out Exodia. Doesn't that make you a coward?"

Jack snickered. "That's King Atlas to you, and I'm not going to take Dueling advice from someone who's only been playing for a week and whose Deck focuses on one of the cheapest strategies in the entire game."

Tim tilted his head. "You're very proud for someone who's done nothing to be proud of."

Jack twitched. "What would you know?! In order to walk the path of King, I abandoned everything, threw it all away so that I could drag myself out of the bottom of the world!"

"And look where it's gotten you: King of a Lofty Castle crumbling before your very eyes amidst a society at war with itself and oblivious to any dangers outside it." Tim chuckled. "Some King…"

"Are you going to make a move or not?!" Jack barked.

"Well, if you insist… I play Graceful Charity! This card lets me draw three cards from my Deck, and then discard two to the Graveyard!" as the brunette angel appeared, Tim drew three, and then discarded two – a Shard of Greed and Right Arm of the Forbidden One. "Next, I play Tyler's face-down! Fissure! Destroying your Dark Resonator!" A hole opened up from the ground and Jack's Dark Resonator was dragged into it. "Now, I switch Defender, the Magical Knight into Attack Position, enter my Battle Phase, and attack your Set Monster with Defender!" my Monster stood tall [ATK: 1600] as Jack's Set Monster was revealed to be Red Duston [DEF: 1000] and its underside was slit by my paladin's short sword.

"When Red Duston is destroyed, I take five hundred points of damage." Jack explained.

[Jack: 3500 LP]

"I end my turn." Tim smiled with false endearment.

Jack returned the smile in kind, drawing. "I'll show you some far-reaching power! I call forth Power Supplier in Attack Position!" a weird-looking purple-robed man appeared on Jack's field, a gasoline dispenser hooked up to its shoulders [ATK: 400]. "Next, I activate my Power Supplier's effect: I can Target a Monster I control, and then its Attack Points increase by four hundred! I target my Phantom King to increase its Attack Points!" Power Supplier rushed to the side of the Phantom King, jabbing the horse with its dispenser [Phantom King Hydride: ATK: 2000]. "Battle time! Phantom King Hydride! Attack Defender!"

Jack's Phantom King charged toward us, my paladin unfortunately no match for Jack's Monster.

[Tim & Tyler: 7600 LP]

"I end my turn."

I drew, "I activate the effect of Dark Armed Dragon from my hand! Because our Graveyard contains exactly three Dark Attribute Monsters, I'm a-a-able to Special Summon him! Come forth, Dark Armed Dragon!" three black orbs rose up from the ground, circling each other before swirling around as the black and gray dragon appeared on my field with a demonic roar [ATK: 2800]. "Next, I Set one card face-down, and then Normal Summon Mythical Beast Cerberus!" a two-headed creature appeared next to my dragon, much smaller by comparison, though equally as useful [ATK: 1400]. "N-now I enter my Battle Phase! Dark Armed Dragon! Attack Phantom King Hydride!"

My dragon roared, only to be cut off by Jack. "I'll show you what it means to be the King! I activate my Trap Card! Prideful Roar! If I pay Life Points equal to the difference in Attack Points between our two battling Monsters, then my Monster gains that same amount plus three hundred extra Attack Points!"

[Jack: 2700 LP]

"What?!" I shouted, Jack's Monster suddenly getting a huge surge of power [Phantom King Hydride: ATK: 3100] as my Dark Armed Dragon was ripped to shreds by the knight's sword.

[Tim & Tyler: 7300 LP]

I exhaled, not letting the result of the battle deter me. I reminded myself, after all, that I could still get in one good attack, thanks in part to the Dimension's rule about not being able to Normal Summon in face-up Defense Position.

"I-in that case, I'll attack your Power Supplier with Mythical Beast Cerberus!" My Monster leapt into the air, pouncing on Jack's comparatively weak Monster, mauling him to death.

[Jack: 1700 LP]

"Why you…!" Jack's eyes narrowed, and he sounded discernibly irritated.

"Betcha wish you had that handicap now, huh Atlantis?" Tim teased.

"I end my turn." I said as firmly as I could.

"I will not be defeated by the likes of you! Draw!" Jack shouted. "It's time! I Normal Summon Red Gardna in Attack Position!" an ornate red shield appeared on Jack's field [ATK: 0].

"Really?" Tim laughed. "Zero Attack Points?"

"W-wait a minute…" I muttered, looking down at the screen on my Duel Disk. "It's Level Four…"

"You idiots!" Jack snapped. "I'll carve defeat into both of your souls! Phantom King Hydride, Level Four tunes with Red Gardna, Level Four!" Jack's knight broke away as his shield flowed through it.

"No…" I whispered, the silhouette of a familiar dragon coming through the light.

"Heaven and Earth shall tremble before the King's Might. Let the power of the one and only supreme ruler be carved into your soul! I Synchro Summon Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend!" Jack roared, a variant of my Jack's Ace Monster appearing opposite us, roaring boisterously [ATK: 3000].

"Scarlight?" I asked, my eyes looking up and down the damaged frame of the dragon, the differences in its form to the one I knew were striking. So much so that I completely forgot about my face-down card.

Jack laughed. "Prepare to feel the might of the King! Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend! Attack Mythical Beast Cerberus! Scarlight Hellfire!" flames sprayed from the mouth of Jack's dragon, engulfing my Monster. I jumped back from the flames, blazing across our section of the Duel Field.

[Tim & Tyler: 5700 LP]

"No matter how good you think you are, everyone is powerless before the King, and you're no different. I Set one card face-down and end my turn."

Tim drew. "I've taken down bigger dragons than that in my day. Your Archfiend's nothin'! I Set one Monster face-down and end my turn."

Jack drew with an almost callous smile. "Do you want another taste of my Scarlight's power?" he asked softly before raising his voice. "I enter my Battle Phase! Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend! Attack Tim's Set Monster! Scarlight Hellfire!" once again, Jack's Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend breathed a wave of fire across the Duel Field. Tim's Sangan [DEF: 600] was obliterated immediately, but Tim himself stood his ground, the fire parting around the redhead, Tim completely unfazed and unharmed.

"T-Tim…" I muttered.

"I add Exodia the Forbidden One to my hand." He smiled, fishing it out of his Deck, it too unharmed from the flames.

Jack twitched. "I'll Set one Monster and end my turn."

I drew. "I activate Summoner Monk's effect, discarding Foolish Burial to the Graveyard to Special Summon Royal Magical Library in Defense Position!" a myriad of rising platforms appeared on the field, robed Spellcasters standing on each [DEF: 2000]. "I end my turn."

"How did you even get to this point?" Jack asked me, shaking his head as he drew. "Without paying attention to what your opponent's cards can do?! I play Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend's effect: once per turn, I can destroy as many Special Summoned Effect Monsters on the field as possible that have less than three thousand Attack Points, except for Scarlight, and then, I can inflict five hundred points of damage to you for each Monster destroyed! Absolute Power Flame!"

The casted claw of Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend was thrown forward, surrounded by fire, burning my Royal Magical Library, and all the people within it, to cinders.

[Tim & Tyler: 5200 LP]

"Now, Scarlight! Attack Tim's Set Monster!" Jack commanded, Tim's Set Monster, another Sangan [DEF: 600] getting burned alive. And of course, since it had been my turn before, it meant I was unfortunately the one to use Sangan's effect.

"I-I-I add Time Wizard to my hand." I stammered, figuring if there was absolutely no other way of getting around it, using Time Wizard's effect to get rid of Jack's dragon would be better than nothing.

"Then, I'll Set one more Monster face-down and end my turn."

Tim drew, only giving his cards a passing glance. "I end my turn."

Jack drew, chuckling to himself before it turned into a hearty laughter. "That's right. Submit. Kneel before the King. But if you thought my Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend was formidable, just wait until you see what I have next. I Flip Summon my two Set Monsters – Mirror Resonator and Double Resonator!" a pair of Monsters appeared either side of Jack's dragon [ATK: 0].

"Two Tuners…?" I asked myself.

Jack raised his hand into the air, pointing up at the sky. "The King does not falter! Nor does he give anything less than his full power! So now, I'll show everyone here, a Double Tuning Synchro Summon! Touch the soul of the feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl, and give to the world a cry of creation! I Synchro Summon! Tyrant Red Dragon Archfiend!"

A bolt of red lightning came down from the sky, Jack's Resonator Monsters shattering as Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend became enveloped by fire.

A cry I had only heard once or twice in my life, but an unmistakable and unforgettable cry none the less, echoed throughout the arena. It was a cry I'd never thought I'd hear while in another Dimension.

The Crimson Dragon.

My eyes widened as the lightning took the shape of the Crimson Dragon, its form filling out and spilling into Jack's dragon, broadening its features and removing its weakened appearance [ATK: 3500]. "Only the true King may tame the power of the Crimson Dragon, Quetzalcoatl, and as you can see, I have! This is proof that I am the one true King of Neo Domino City!"

I flinched. "N-not this time!" I shouted, turning to Tim. "Tim! My Trap Card!"

"Right." Tim nodded, looking down at his Duel Disk. "I play Tyler's face-down card, Solemn Warning!"

"What?!" Jack's eyes widened, more out of rage than surprise.

"By paying two thousand Life Points, my Trap Card can negate the Summon of your Tyrant and then destroy him!" I told him.

[Tim & Tyler: 3200 LP]

Jack's eyes widened as a singular ray of light descended from the sky, enveloping his Monster in a golden glow as it disappeared, his field empty apart from one face-down card.

Jack stood there, mouth agape, silently, vacantly staring at Tim and I for several moments. "I end my turn…"

I drew from my Deck. "I activate the effect of Summoner Monk, discarding the Smashing Ground I just drew to Special Summon Apprentice Magician to the field." The purple-clad magician-in-training appeared on my field for only a brief moment [ATK: 400]. "Now I Tribute my Apprentice Magician to Normal Summon Chaos Command Magician!" The much stronger magician, adorned in green took the place of the apprentice, twirling his scepter above his head [ATK: 2400]. My heart skipped a beat. "Chaos Command Magician! Attack Jack directly!"

My magician had its scepter poised at Jack, only for Jack to yell out in defiance at the top of his lungs. "Did you really think I, the King, would go down like this?! I activate my face-down card, Reject Reborn! When you declare a direct attack with a Monster, this card immediately ends the Battle Phase! Then, I get to Special Summon a Synchro Monster and a Tuner Monster from my Graveyard, but their effects are negated." Jack explained, before thrusting his arm forward. "Return! Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend and Red Gardna!" in an instant, both of Jack's Monsters returned to the field [Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend: ATK: 3000] [Red Gardna: DEF: 2000].

"In that case, I-I-I-I end my turn."

"Even among Kings, this King thinks two steps ahead." Jack drew. "Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend! Attack! Scarlight Hellfire!"

Jack's dragon threw its head back before letting loose a volley of fire, my Chaos Command Magician getting unfortunately engulfed in the flames.

[Tim & Tyler: 2600 LP]

"I Set one card and end my turn."

Tim drew, his eyes moving to Jack's Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend, unblinking. "I'll Set a Monster and end my turn."

Jack drew. "Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend! Attack!" Tim's Set Monster – Left Leg of the Forbidden One [DEF: 300] – was reduced to cinders. "Then, for my Main Phase 2, I activate my own copy of Fissure, to destroy your Summoner Monk!" My heart skipped a beat as Summoner Monk, our last line of defense, was ripped away from us. Jack exhaled lengthily. "How's that? You have nothing left now! I end my turn!"

This was it. Our field was empty, and I had nothing in my hand that could stand up to, or even protect us from Jack's Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend. Yes, I still had my Time Wizard, but Jack knew that, and I'm sure that that's what his face-down card was for. By playing my Time Wizard, I'd be playing right into Jack's hands, I thought. No. The only chance I had left was to topdeck.

"What's wrong?!" Jack called to me. "If you don't want to fight, just surrender!"

"Yeah, you'd like that, wouldn't you?!" Tim shouted back at him.

I tensed my eyes shut. He would like that, if I surrendered, I thought. I had potentially everything to lose and everything to gain if I drew, but it didn't matter to him. He'd thought he'd already won. But I couldn't surrender; I wouldn't, not when I had something to fight for.

I drew quickly, looking down at the card in my hand as I exhaled. "I Set a card and end my turn."

Jack shook his head as he drew. "You might have survived this long, but I'll show you that blindly drawing cards won't accomplish anything! Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend! Attack directly! Scarlight Hellfire!"

A torrent of fire rushed toward me from the mouth of Jack's dragon and I flinched, though otherwise standing my ground rather than cowering, tapping the screen on my Duel Disk.

"I activate my Trap Card – Magic Cylinder! This card negates your Monster's attack, and then you take damage equal to your Monster's Attack Points! That's three thousand!" an intricately-decorated cylinder appeared on my field as the attack of Jack's Monster flew through it, before turning and firing it back towards Jack.

"N-no! I-" Jack was suddenly silenced by his own voice as he screamed out in pain, the fire of his own dragon clashing against his body before the blond collapsed onto the ground.

[Jack: 0 LP]

"And it's over! Jack Atlas's undefeated legend has come to a close! The winners are Tyler Nochi and Tim Ihansha! Let's give them a big round of applause for their victory and the teamwork that brought it to them~!" Melissa's voice broke as it came out through the speakers surrounding the stadium, completely drowning out the mix of shock and awe from the audience, as well as the fireworks that had begun covering the sky.

"Ye~eah!" Tim yelled, raising his arms to the air and meeting the audiences' approval with his own.

"I don't believe it…" Jack muttered, a look of complete and utter disbelief on his face, refusing to move from his downed position. "I actually lost?! Me? The King?" Jack grimaced. "Impossible…"

"We have witnessed today the birth of two new Duel Kings! This really is a historic moment, and I am absolutely honored to have been the one to bring it to all of you!" Melissa continued.

I found myself looking over at Jack, his clothing and body horrifically burned, and the expression on his face showing he was absolutely shattered. I had no idea how my Jack looked or felt losing to Yusei in the Fortune Cup, but I imagined it would have been similar to how this Jack must have felt. I actually felt kind of bad. I didn't care about being the King, or co-King or whatever. I just wanted to get home, and unfortunately for Jack, the only way for me to do that was to go through him.

My body shook with each breath. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest and I shakily moved to return all the cards in and on my Duel Disk to my Deck Box, barely even able to keep hold of my cards. I was trembling with excitement and fatigue. It was over.

Tim's enthusiasm was almost overbearing, but the expression of joy on his face brought a smile to mine. He came over to me, lightly punched my shoulder and said "We did it, mate."

Then he did some sort of weird handshake with me and I just let him, laughing as I felt him wiggle a finger inside my palm.

"Ladies and gentlemen, not only have we witnessed perhaps one of the best championship Duels to ever grace the Seto Kaiba Memorial Circuit, but we've witnessed the crowning of two Duel Kings, the passing of a torch, a legacy!"

"That was a great Duel, Jack." Tim grinned at the Former King who looked at the redhead with disgust.

"Don't talk down to me…" Jack grunted, slowly getting to his feet. "True victors don't pity losers. I may have lost today, but you'd both do well to know that should we Duel again in the future, I will be the victor next time." He told us, his feet giving way as he collapsed once more.

"Jack-" I gasped as Tim put a hand on my shoulder, holding me back as a group of paramedics approached from Jack's side of the Duel Field. Jack was helped onto a stretcher and his Duel Runner was wheeled away, trailing behind the incapacitated blond.

"Alright, everyone! We're going to be taking a very quick break, but when we come back, we-" Melissa's voice was cut off as another suddenly took its place, a distorted, almost metallic-sounding voice blasting out across the proceedings.

"Attention all citizens of Neo Domino City! Attention all citizens of Neo Domino City! Attention all citizens of Neo Domino City! We have assumed control! We have assumed control! We have assumed control!"