Chapter 8: A Duel to Remember (Rua)

"Rua!" A teal haired boy cried out to him, hands outstretched as his own was reaching for the boy back. The duo soared through the air, Rua finding himself falling down towards the street below. The screech off wheels graced the alley way the boy steered into once he landed and swerved to avoid the oncoming traffic. It proved to be a poor choice, however, when he stared down at a obvious dead-end.

The boy skidded on the side of his rubber, gritting his teeth as he soon was launched off, landing in a collection of garbage can while his runner slid his way, soon stopping before him as he groaned from the impact. A young woman soon ran out to her fire escape to see what the commotion was about, "O-Oh my god! Hang on!" She called out as she made her way down the unconscious child...

Rua groaned as he slowly stirred to consciousness, holding his head as he glanced around the small and humble room he was resting in. "Where... am I?" He slowly sat up and stood off the couch he had slept on, seeing that this was a rather small apartment of sorts. "This place seems nice..." The moment he said that, the door to his left opened, a woman with odd glasses entered, "Oh! Hello there!" She said excitedly.

Rua gave a small smile at her, nodding politely, "Hello. Um... Where am I?" He asked, to which the woman soon answered, "You're in my home. I found you crashed outside in the alley last night. Good thing I know CPR too." At that, Rua tried to recall what happened, but soon came to conclusion...

"I can't remember..." He said sadly. The woman, pondered soon speaking again, "My name's Carly. Carly Carmine. Do you recall your's?" She asked, to which the boy shook his head once more. "Oh dear... You may have gotten amnesia when you crashed last night. Well, I'll try to help you regain your lost memories."

It was a bit of awkward silence between the two, Carly trying to figure something out how to help the boy before her. "Oh! Idea!" She cried out before running into her bedroom, returning shortly after with a duel disk loose on her arm, "Ugh, I forgot to tighten this thing!" Rua blinked for a moment before he walked up and help Carly adjust the device to her arm, faintly recalling something similar happening when...

"Huh? I have... a brother?" He mumbled as Carly looked at him curiously, "You remember something?" Rua nods, "Still foggy, but remember I have a brother." He said, soon looking over at the runner Carly had dragged in with him. Rua walked over, "This... is mine." He said, moving to detach the duel disk, which projected a bit of black energy as he set it up. "Do you have a spot we can duel?" he asked as Carly gawked at the impressive disk on his arm.

"O-oh yeah! The roof'll work perfectly. Follow me." She said with a bit of eagerness, Rua following her closely as they left the apartment.

Else where...

Goodwin smiled as Lazar entered his office, "Ah, Lazar. I trust the invitations have been sent out?" He asked with Jack sitting on a couch while Mina stood next to him. "Yes sir, only one remains." The Director grinned as he looked out at the city, "And I assume that would be Yusei's?" With that, he received a nod, "Yes sir. Speaking of, it appears he and his little twin brothers have taken their runners back from Sector Security. We can't find them, but it seems that Yusei is currently looking for them."

The Director nods, "Then find him and make it clear he must attend." Lazar nods. Stepping out as Jack stands up and makes his way towards the door, Mina following him. "Where are you going Jack?" The champ looked back, "On a little ride around the track..." He said plainly, stepping out with Mina. Goodwin pondered for a second, grinning, "I'm sure Jack will pull something behind my back... I should prepare a couple more invitations, just to deal with those two. I have no use for them."

(Back at Carly's apartment)

Rua and Carly stood apart from each other on the roof, Rua soon asking. "Is there a reason we are up here?" To which Carly smiled, "I read from a interview from Jack Atlas the how you duel usually reveals who you truly are. So, a duel may help you remember who you are." She said, the logic making sense to Leo as he stared at his deck, feeling... trust from it.

"OK. Let's give it a shot." Carly nods as they prepared to duel, but Rua observes her curiously, "Do you duel often?" Carly blushes a bit, but nods.

"I usually use my cards for fortune telling. They usually end up bad and always come true." She admitted, Rua nodding and drawing, "I'm sure you'll do fine. Have a bit of confidence in yourself." He said.

"Duel!" They both shouted.

Rua:4000

Hand: 5

Carly:4000

Hand: 5

"I go first!" Carly said as she drew, "I'll summon Fortune Fairy Hu to my field!" A small green fairy appeared by Carly.

Fortune Fairy Hu

Wind

Level 3

Spellcaster

0/0

"Next, I set a card face down and end my turn! You're up kid." Carly said, focused. (Hand: 4)

"Then it's my move!" Rua called back as he drew, gazing at his hand before he started, "First, I'll play the field spell, Citadel of Endymion!" A large citadel with runes and magical lines appeared behind Rua. "Each time a spell card is activated, I can place one Spell Counter on my Citadel. Next, I play Spell Power Grasp! I I can place a spell counter on my Citadel and add another Grasp to my hand. And since I activated a spell, my Citadel gains another Spell Counter. Now I summon Defender, the Magical Knight in Defense mode!"A blue knight carrying a giant shield appears by Rua.

Defender, The Magical Knight

Light

Level 4

Spellcaster/Effect

1600/2000

"When summoned, he gains a Spell Counter. I set one card face down. Your move." He said, waiting for the woman. (Hand: 3)

"OK, my move!" She called out, drawing once more and looking at the card. "Now I summon Fortune Fairy Hikari!" Another small fairy, this one blonde in a yellow dress, appeared by Hu.

Fortune Fairy Hikari

Light

Level 1

Spellcaster

0/0

"Next, I play Miracle Stone! Now my Faries gain 1000 attack for each Fortune Fairy I control!" (F.F. Hu: 0-2000) (F.F. Hikari: 0-2000) "Now, I play Luck Loan, allowing me to summon a Fortune Fairy I level lower than my Hu! And that would be my Fortune Fairy En from my hand!" A Red Fairy appeared by Carly.

Fortune Fairy En

Fire

Level 2

Spellcaster

0/0

"Now my Faries gain another 1000 attack!" (F.F. Hu/Hikari/En: 2000-3000) And since they do... Now I attack your Defender with En!" She said as En launched a fireball at Defender. The attack caused a cloud of smoke from the explosion, to which Carly cheered, "Wow! i can't believe it! My fortune's turning around!'

"I wouldn't be too sure of that." Rua called back, Defender standing unscathed from the attack, shocking Carly, "H-How!?" Rua grinned, "Defender can protect himself by using a Spell Counter to negate the destruction."

Carly regained her composure, "T-Then I'll activate Book of Moon! I flip your Defender into face-down Defense, then attack with Hu!" Leo grinned.

"No, you won't. I activate the quick-spell, Cosmic Cyclone! By giving 1000 Life Points, I can banish a spell on your field." [Rua: 4000-3000]

"Uh oh..." Carly said, sweating a little.

"Yep, and I choose your Miracle Stone." The stone vanished while Hu attacked, flipping Defender back face up to block the hit of the shrinking Fairy. (F.F. Hu/Hikari/En: 3000-0) "Oh no!" Carly cried as she took the damage. [Carly: 4000-2000] "I-I end my turn..."

Rua smiled, recalling a duel he had with Leo when they were smaller, "And since 4 spells were activated, my Citadel gains 4 Spell Counters." (Spell Counters: 6)

"Now it's my turn!" He drew and grinned, "Now I'll summon one of my favorite monsters! By using all six Spell Counters on my Citadel, I can special summon Endymion, The Master Magician!" Rua called as a tall mage in black appeared, holding a almost regal staff to show his status and experience.

Endymion, the Master Magician

Dark

Level 7

Spellcaster/Effect

2700/1700

"W-Wait, you said your favorite!?" Carly said, forgetting her current position before Rua nodded, "T-That means..."

"I remember. And That also means I win this duel. Endymion, attack Fortune Fairy Hikari!" He commanded, the mage holding his staff as dark magic struck the small fairy and hit Carly, sending her flying a bit. [Carly: 2000-0]

"Aww... Well that sucked..." She groaned as Rua walked up and helped her up. "Thank you, Carly. Though, you should put a bit more faith in your monsters. And keep calm, while you're at it." He advised as she sighed and stood up. "Thanks... So, what now?"

Rua pondered, sighing. "This is where I say goodbye." The reporter gasped at this, looking sort of disheartened. Before she could argue, he cut her off, "See this mark?" He said, pointing at his marking. "I'll just put you in danger if I were to stay. Besides, I need to find where my brothers ran off to." He said, hoping she'd understand.

Carly remained silent, but soon sighed, "OK... But at least stay here, at least for the night." She suggested, leading the way back to her apartment before she paused, "Oh, I was hoping you could use this..." She handed him a card, "Fortune Lady Knight Elizabeth? Are you sure?" Carly nodded, Rua accepting the card happily.

Later that night, Rua rolled his runner out of Carly's apartment, looking up at her home before he revved off, looking for his brothers. "I hope we see each other again, Carly."

He hadn't gotten that far before a limousine pulled in his way, causing him to skid to a stop. He watched as a familiar woman stepped out, "And what do you want?" Ha asked cautiously.

"Mr. Atlas wanted me to hand this to you. Why, I cannot fathom. And one is for your twin." Mina said, walking off before Rua could question her more.

He watched the limo pull off into the night, glancing at his letter before he opened it, discovering a invitation to the Fortune Cup and his Clear Wing Synchro Dragon! He also found a note, 'If you wanna keep that dragon... then win the Fortune Cup! Don't disappoint me. -Jack' Rua stared at the note, "Guess I have no choice. First, I gotta find Leo and Yusei..." With that, Rua revved up his runner and sped off to find his brothers.