The next chapter is ready, and this is the conclusion to the duel. I hope it'll make sense, but let me know if there's anything confusing or such. Feedback is appreciated. ^^

Chapter 60

"Alex!"

Max and Mokuba, as well as the others, watched on in shock as they witnessed Alex's body being thrown and she became unconscious as a result. Kaiba looked furiously at the hooded figure and yelled,

"What have you done?!"

The hooded figure looked back at Kaiba with annoyance and replied, "It was her choice, so don't go blaming me-"

Before he could say anything more, though, he suddenly gripped the sides of his head, as though he were in extreme pain. He was muttering to himself, and the others could hear words, like,

"Let go!"

"Stop this-"

Mokuba looked at Max and asked, "What's happening to him?"

Max examined the hooded figure and then replied, "It looks like Andy is trying to break free from his control."

He glanced at Alex and added, "He probably didn't like what happened to Alex."

Yugi looked on with worry and asked, "Is Alex ok?"

Kaiba added, "Let me out of here now! Do whatever you want. Just let me go to her."

The hooded figure was in control at that moment, and as he turned to look at Kaiba, he asked,

"Has she changed you?"

Kaiba angrily replied, "Why do you care? I need to help her."

The hooded figure looked curiously at Kaiba, which only angered the latter. As Kaiba was about to say something, Alexa said,

"I'll check on Alex."

She then hurried towards where Alex was and quickly looked at her. It appeared that Alex had minor bruises and was knocked out, but otherwise, she was fine. Alexa looked at the others and said,

"She's ok."

Then she looked at Max and Mokuba and added, "It would be best if you two finish this duel quickly."

Max nodded and replied, "I understand."

He turned to Mokuba and said, "Alex should rest, but we'll win this duel for her."

Mokuba nodded in confirmation although he gave one last, worried glance at Alex.

Meanwhile, Alex woke up to find herself in a white space. She looked around, wondering what was going on. For a few moments, she thought that she might be dead, but before she could voice out her thoughts, Alexa's image appeared before her and Alexa said,

"Don't worry. You're not dead, but your body is a bit injured and you're unconscious."

Alex nodded and replied, "So we're inside my head?"

Alexa smiled and replied, "Yeah, you could say that."

Alex replied, "I hate that I'm going to be out of his duel, but Max and Mokuba can finish it."

Alexa replied, "They can, but I can wake you up if it comes to that. However, it would be best if you rest for now."

Alex replied, "Ok."

She sighed and then added, "Seto's going to be so mad at me."

Alexa laughed a bit and replied, "Maybe, but I think he's angrier at that guy."

Alex replied, "I understand, but if he is who I think he is, I understand where his anger is coming from."

Alexa replied, "Because of his past?"

Alex nodded and replied, "That's right."

She looked thoughtful and added, "I know it would be better for me to rest, but I feel like I should try to get through to him."

Alexa was about to reply when the Alexa who was tending to Alex's body witnessed what was going on with the duel. The hooded figure regained control although he was still struggling at times. Max and Mokuba were doing their best, but it was proving to be more difficult now without Alex's help, as only Alex could use her sky strikers and her face down cards. Alex noticed how quiet Alexa suddenly became and asked,

"What is it?"

Alexa replied, "While we've been talking, I've also been watching the duel. Your friends are hanging in there, but they're having difficulty. He seems to be going more on the offensive, almost to the point of being aggressive."

Alex replied, "Then I need to wake up and help."

Alexa shook her head and replied, "That isn't a good idea. I'm sure your friends can handle it."

Alex frowned and replied, "I refuse to sit back and rest. They need me, and I can rest after the duel."

Alexa sighed and replied, "You really are my descendant, but ok. I suppose we should help you wake up, especially since there's still a bit of work that needs to be done."

Once she finished speaking, Alexa communicated to Yubel, Astral, and the others she had rescued to come to her aid. Alex watched in wonder as they appeared before her, and she was especially surprised to see Yami as well. She looked at Alexa and asked,

"Did you have anything to do with that?"

Alexa smiled and replied, "It's one of my abilities, but I'm surprised he didn't notice."

Alex shook her head and replied, "We're going to have to talk later about your abilities." She then turned to Yami and asked,

"You ok?"

Yami nodded and replied, "Yeah, but this is a strange feeling, being away from Yugi."

Alex smiled knowingly, being aware that there would be times when Yugi and Yami would be apart.

Alexa then looked at the others and gave a few instructions. They focused their attention on Alex and there was a beautiful bright white light that surrounded her. Alex felt herself bathed in a warm glow and then Alexa and the others disappeared from her view.

The hooded figure had just finished his turn, and he smiled in satisfaction as he witnessed Max's and Mokuba's life points dwindling. He looked to where Alex would have taken her turn, and he said,

"As it looks like she won't be able to take her turn, I-"

Suddenly, there was a loud cough, and everyone turned to its source. Alex was on her feet, smiling weakly. Max called out,

"Alex! But how?"

Alex replied, "You can knock me down, but I'll just keep getting back up."

Mokuba grinned and replied, "I'm happy you're ok."

Kaiba looked on with his eyes full of relief as he saw Alex back up, although a part of him was angry at her for taking such a risk. Yugi glanced at him and said,

"Alex is tough."

Kaiba scoffed and replied, "Of course she is."

Meanwhile, Yusaku had witnessed everything that happened since he woke up, including when Alex used the item. He was aware of the risks of using it, but it looked like Alex was ok. Inwardly, he breathed a sigh of relief and thought,

I'm glad Alex is ok. Now only if I can get out of here.

The hooded figure looked at Alex, and giving her a genuine smile, he said,

"You're a tough one. I'll give you that."

Alex smiled back and replied, "Don't tell me that you missed me."

The hooded figure laughed and replied, "Maybe just a little. You're quite the challenge."

Alex replied, "Thanks. You, too. Now, I heard something about it being my turn?"

The hooded figure replied, "That's right."

Joey called out, "Alex, you just woke up. You shouldn't push yourself."

Alex looked at Joey and replied, "Thanks for your concern, but I'm ok."

Inwardly, Alex was still in pain from her injuries, but she was doing her best to mask it. Kaiba looked at Alex, about to ask her a question when Alex said,

"I'm really ok. We'll finish this duel soon."

She then turned to look at the hooded figure and said, "We need to finish this."

The hooded figure replied, "I agree. This duel has gone on for pretty long. But I must remind you that you are putting your brother in danger."

Alex took a breath and replied, "I know, but the Andy I know wouldn't want this."

As if on cue, the hooded figure looked to be in pain, clutching his head. Alex looked confused, but Max looked at her and said,

"This happened while you were out. I think Andy is trying to gain control."

Alex nodded, and as she looked at the hooded figure, she saw that it was no longer the hooded figure in control. It was Andy, the brother Alex recognized. Andy looked at her and doing his best to be strong, he said,

"Alex, do what you need to do. I know it puts me at risk, but I want to be free. And he needs to be at peace."

Alex nodded and replied, "I figured as much. This has to end, but I don't want to lose you again."

Andy smiled sadly and replied, "I don't want that, either, but you know that we have to do the right thing."

She closed her eyes, taking a breath, and replied, "I know. At least, I got to see you again. But I guess nothing lasts forever."

Andy nodded and replied, "Be happy, Alex, and I'm sorry."

He looked at Alex and then briefly looked at Kaiba before the hooded figure regained control. The hooded figure looked at Alex and said,

"Well, that was interesting and sweet. I wonder what you're going to do."

Alex replied, "It's my turn, so you'll have to watch and find out, Hades."

The hooded figure laughed, removing the hood from his head. He then said,

"Smart girl. Perhaps you truly are worthy. But I won't make it easy for you."

Alex smiled and replied, "I would expect nothing less."

She then drew a card and looking at it, her eyes widened in amazement, knowing that this was what she needed. Max and Mokuba looked at her, and Mokuba asked,

"Did you get it?"

Alex replied, "You'll see."

She then placed her newly drawn card on the field and said,

"I activate my quick play spell, rightful owner. By doing so, it forces all the monsters you've stolen into my deck."

The spell card activated, forcing all of the monsters that Hades had stolen from Yugi and the others into Alex's deck. Once that was done, though, Jack immediately called out,

"Why is my dragon archfiend in her deck?"

Alexa looked at Jack and calmly replied, "That's how the spell card works since Alex is the wielder of it. Besides, would you want your monster to remain in his possession?"

Jack grunted in response although he didn't say anything.

Alex looked at her sky strikers and said, "I know you'll follow my orders, but-"

Sky striker Rose looked at Alex and said, "It's ok, commander. We trust you, and we'll always follow your lead. You and your friends win this for everyone."

Alex nodded and putting on a brave look, she said, "I activate my continuous trap card, time travel, and send all my sky strikers to the graveyard."

All of Alex's sky strikers were sent to the graveyard, and then Alex said,

"Now that my knights, detectives, and sky strikers are in the graveyard, I banish them, and by doing so, I special summon one of the monsters that I sent earlier to my graveyard."

After Alex finished speaking, a beautiful, brunette woman wearing an ancient white Greek dress with a skirt that was just down to the knees and wielding a bow and arrow appeared in front of Alex. She then looked at Alex and said,

"My lady, the goddess Artemis at your service."

Alex smiled and replied, "It's good to see you. I need your help."

Hades looked at the two of them and said, "At least, you didn't summon my brother."

Alex laughed and replied, "I wanted to avoid a sibling conflict, and I'm aware of the history between you and Zeus."

Artemis said, "You know of my special ability, right, my lady?"

Alex nodded and replied, "Yup, and I'm about to ask you to activate it now."

She looked at Hades as she said, "With Artemis on the field, I can use one of her effects. Earlier, I sent another monster from my deck into the graveyard, which I will now special summon."

She took a breath and then continued, "Rising from the ashes, I special summon my celestial phoenix to the field."

A beautiful fiery bird appeared on the field, and then Alex said,

"Now I place my field spell, Mount Olympus, which boosts the attack and defense of both Artemis and my phoenix."

Once that was done, Alex said, "Now I activate my trap card, triple attack. I triple the attack of my phoenix by Artemis' attack, but Artemis won't be allowed to attack this turn."

Alex's trap card activated, and then Hades said, "Impressive, but that won't be enough to get over my monster's attack."

Max said, "True, but that's why Alex isn't in this alone. I activate my trap card. It doubles the attack of one monster on the field, and I choose Alex's phoenix. However, my monster won't be allowed to attack this turn."

Hades replied, "Better, but still not enough."

Mokuba smiled and replied, "Max is right. Alex isn't alone, and that's why I activate my trap card. It also doubles the attack of one monster on the field, but my monster won't be able to attack this turn. The monster I choose to double its attack is Alex's phoenix."

The attack stat of Alex's phoenix was beyond massive. Alex smiled at Max and Mokuba and said,

"Thanks, guys."

She looked at Hades and said, "It's time to end this, and before you even try it, because my phoenix was in the graveyard and I was able to resurrect it, any card effects to get rid of it are negated."

Hades smiled in resignation and replied, "Then finish it, my lady."

Alex was surprised to hear Hades address her as such, and nodding, she looked at Max and Mokuba and said,

"Together now."

The three of them looked at the celestial phoenix and said, "Attack!"

Alex's phoenix attacked Hades' ace monster, destroying it and reducing Hades' life points to zero. A bright light flashed, surrounding everyone as Hades closed his eyes and resigned himself to defeat.