Yuri - Montgomery Residential Palace, Aquarius
September 29 - Year 18 4AOS
Patty was still pretty glum about losing the tournament throughout the whole week. It was all she could keep thinking about. She was so close. If she managed to put a burn damage spell in her deck or had a monster with the ability to inflict piercing damage, she would have won the tournament.
"Cheer up," said Natalya. "Don't be so gloomy." She handed Patty a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice as they stood together in the kitchen moping that afternoon. They heard Andre was going to be at the Ruby Dragon and didn't feel like going for Patty's sake.
Yuri was leaning against the refrigerator, cutting an apple carefully. "You'd think after beating him so many times she'd have a victory in the bag."
Tyson drummed his fingers on the counters, nodding yes to Natalya so he could have a cup of orange juice as well. He lifted his glass and said: "Yeah, well, Patty didn't anticipate the new kid having a Dark Magician in his deck."
"Hey, gang," Mr. Montgomery said coming into the kitchen. He saw the pitcher of orange juice on the counter and reached for it with glee. "Did you make this Natalya?" he asked, pouring himself some juice.
"Yes, sir. I bought these oranges from the grove on Eden Island.
"Wow, honey, this is very good," Jacob said after drinking some. "You all look a little glum today. Come on, it's Saturday. You should all be happy. Didn't you all get A's on your essays? You worked on those for weeks. I figured you'd be doing whatever it is you kids do these days."
"Patty's still glum about losing the tournament to that new kid," said Natalya.
"Oh, I see. Was it a close match?"
"Forget it," said Patty. She leaned against the counter and reared her head up. "I don't want to talk about the tournament anymore. The more I think about it, the more irritated I get."
"Well, it's all you're going to think about if you're moping here the whole day. Why don't you kids go to the beach? It's a beautiful morning. And I think you need to leave Duel Monsters out of your lives for just a day. Next to your studies, Duel Monsters seems the be the only thing you kids do."
"Actually, the beach sounds like a nice idea," Natalya said. "Come on, guys. Let's go. Mr. Montgomery is right. Let's stop thinking about Dueling and have some fun."
"But Duel Monsters is fun," said Nick.
"I think Nattie's right," said Yuri. "It's been a while since we've gone surfing, too. What do you say, Patty? The waves are growing pretty high today."
"Sure, why not? I'm game."
"Then it's decided," said Jacob. "Have fun out there, you guys. And be safe."
They cleaned up the kitchen before going upstairs to put on their swimsuits and gather the boards. They crowded into Mr. Montgomery's SUV and he drove them all the way to the luxury of Eden Island, arguably the second most beautiful island in Aquarius. There were no buildings here, save for two hotels, but they were so concealed behind the high palm trees that they seemed almost invisible. The beaches were almost white as snow and since they were by the Florida coast, the water was turquoise in color.
Patty stretched and pulled her shorts down, revealing a hot pink bikini bottom. She kept her large blue shirt on though and laid down on a lounge chair with an umbrella. As she got comfortable, she noticed Nick standing there with that goofy look on his face.
"Dude, bugger off!" she said. She put her sunglasses on and rested her hands on the back of her head.
Natalya set her things down on the lounge chair next to Patty. She stretched as well, breathing in the sweet, salty air of the ocean. "Oh, this is so nice. Hey, anyone up for watermelon?"
"Me!"
"I will!"
"Yeah, that would be great!"
"Oh, I would!" said Carter. "I would love, love, love, looooove some watermelon right now."
"Sounds like we all do." Natalya dug through her purse to find some Aquarian notes. "Okay, but I'm going to need a few helping hands to bring it here."
"Hey, you can always count on me," Tyson said. He set down his things and followed her to the snack bar.
Patty stretched again and moaned as her muscles relaxed. "Wow, guys, this is just glorious. I really needed this."
"Happy to help," Carter said. He followed Natalya and Tyson to the snack bar to help with the food as well.
"Yuri, what about you?" Nick asked.
"Huh?"
"These dreams you keep on having. The ones with Mr. Hairdo. Are you still having those?"
Yuri didn't want to talk about it. He dug through his backpack for the sunscreen, hoping Nick would forget about it. But he still remained where he was, staring at Yuri, hoping for an answer. Patty lowered her sunglasses and Yuri saw the look of concern in her eyes. She wanted to know about the dreams too.
"I still have them."
"Every night?"
"Almost. Last week he only visited me once. He kept talking about the same crap. Something about a King and stuff like that. I don't know."
"Oh, come on!" Patty said sitting up. She patted Yuri's thigh and took her shirt off. "Enough of this nightmare stuff. We came here to relax, didn't we? So come on. Let's cool off in the water. Last one there's a rotten dragon egg!" She ran past them towards the water.
"Yeah, and the first one there's gotta eat it!" Yuri called, taking off his shoes. Nick, enamored by the sight of Patty in her skimpy two-piece tossed his shirt off, took off his sandals, and ran after her.
Yuri removed his shirt and took off his shield pendant, carefully stuffing it in a special compartment in his backpack that could only be opened with his fingerprint. He chased after Nick and Patty, both already in the water. As he passed by a forest of palms, he stopped. There was a tall figure standing amongst the palms concealed in a messy hooded cloak. It was ragged and dirty. Flies swarmed around it. The figure's face was hidden inside the darkness of his hood as though Yuri were looking into a starless void.
"What's with you?" he asked. "Are you all right?"
"This world," the figure said. "It's devoid of all things wondrous and magical. It is flat. Plain. Dull. Monotonous. It is no wonder they call it the Standard Dimension."
"What are you talking about?" Yuri asked.
"And in this world as plain as a page with no words lies a speck of brilliance. The hope for all worlds."
"Who…who are you?" Yuri asked. "Yugi?"
"I am merely a pilgrim. I wander the highways that link other worlds together. This plane of existence you live on is nothing more than a speck of dust floating in an open field. Despite how small it is, it is still connected to the Heart of All Worlds. The world from whence you came."
Yuri began to field better the more he listened to the hooded man's ramblings. "Hearts? Worlds? Pfft. I think you've been playing too many Tetsuya Nomura games, dude. Get some fresh air. Some sunlight. Trust me it'll do you some good."
"I wouldn't ignore what's going on around you, boy. The balance of all worlds is hanging in the balance and you are the single grain of sand that can tip the scales."
"Yeah, right. You better run along now, whoever you are. If you're a Stowaway, you need to go. I won't hesitate in reporting you."
"Yuri!" Patty called from the water. "Come on! The water's amazing!"
"I'm coming!" Yuri yelled. "As for you…huh!"
The man was gone.
"That's weird. Other worlds? Balance? What the hell's he talking about?"
Yami Yugi and Ser Gerhalos - Somewhere in the Embolodrian Wilderness
Yami Yugi stoked the fire with a stick, eyes, and ears ever sharp, on the lookout for the slightest bit of danger. Even with a giant Leogai like Ser Gerhalos, you could never be too careful. Yami looked up and watched as Ser Gerhalos sharpened his giant claymore with a whetstone.
"What happened to you and the Summoner of Dragons?" Yami asked.
Ser Gerhalos stopped and froze like a statue. He didn't even blink, for the memories were too strong. "I don't recall the last days of her company," he said. "I had an accident that expelled me from the group for a while. I found Avi as she was escaping the bastards who kept her prisoner in the ancient Norman fort. She told me they were slaughtered. Her group, I mean. All of them were brave warriors whom she loved with all her heart. Blair Flannigan the Mystic Dragon Knight was the only one who escaped. The others were not so fortunate. Constantine. Young Tordo. Aldara the adventurous. Santigo the Burglar vanished after they were attacked. No one has heard from him since. After they were slain or scattered, the Naralians captured Avi with Anti-Magic Drones, which severed her connection to the magic world. And then they shackled her with chains made of Orichalcium, the rare metal from Akuuda. Do you think..."
"Prince Marcel was not involved. Long has he given me reports of stopping Naralian smugglers trying to sneak the metal out of the continent. As skilled as he is, I fear even he cannot stop all of them."
"I see." Ser Gerhalos stared at the crackling fire in front of him. "I...I do not blame him at all. I was... never mind. Well...when they captured her. The Naralians raped her. The Red Priest from the Church raped her. The Dragon Hunters who killed her friends took turns mounting her like she was a common whore. And the Mech Pilots who slaughtered the mighty Constantine and his dragon did unspeakable things to her. She. The Summoner of Dragons. Reduced to being a plaything for the enemy. She managed to escape with it was thanks to your apprentice, Andre, that I found her in time. I took her to Lord Erendon of the Golden Elves for aid. She...she was whipped so many times. There were bite marks on her breasts, thighs, and buttocks. And they tore her fingernails one by one. He said he would heal her but I was not allowed in their sanctuary. They turned me away. I saw as they took her into the forest. And I never saw her again. That was...two years ago now. This was not how I envisioned her journey. I have watched her gain power dragons. I've seen her vanquish armies of bandits, slay giants, and overcome the dangers of hidden temples. For the longest time, I thought we were actually going to achieve something. I thought we were on the road to a great victory for Termnnia. Little did I know, we were leading her to a horrible nightmare. If I had only been there."
Yami stoked the fire again and looked up at Ser Gerhalos. "If you had, you'd be dead, too. I haven't heard any news about Avi in a while. Last I heard she was in Ibellia aiding Chazz Princeton in reclaiming his kingdom. But they were just rumors. He claims he never saw her."
"I'd like to think she played a part in his victory. How else could the boy summon a dragon as powerful as the one he summons."
"He doesn't summon it, Ser Gerhalos. The dragon's his partner. A beast of this world. As much as I'd like to believe Avi is with him, I'm afraid I have to take his word for it. I believe Avi is still with Lord Erendon."
"I sort of believe that too. We could really use her. Now that she's gone, King Forrest doesn't worry about the Treaty of Dragonfire anymore. He has begun conquering kingdoms again. We need her! But she is either awol in the wilds of Termnnia or stuck with the Elves. What is this weapon you keep telling me about, Master Yu-Gi-Oh? Can it stop the Naralians?"
"Yes. It can. Its destructive power is so great, King Forrest sends mercenaries by the thousands to try and find it."
"Then we must make haste," said Ser Gerhalos. "No telling what King Forrest will do if he gets his hands on it."