Disclaimer: I Disclaim Yu-Gi-Oh GX!
Chapter 46: Changing Destiny
Jaden took a seat on the giant jet. Alexis took a seat on his left. Aster sat behind them. "I can't wait! I'm gonna win I just know I will!"
"Remember Jaden, there's more than just the title of GX Champ on the line." Aster reminded the headstrong teen.
"Yeah, Aster's right. The fate of the whole world is at stake." Alexis agreed.
Jaden simply grinned, "Yeah I know, but I can't help but be excited. I mean, this is the moment I've been waiting for my whole life!"
Alexis smiled, "Hmph."
"Jaden. I knew I'd see you here."
Jaden looked over to see Zane looking right at him. "Zane?!"
Zane turned to Aster, "And your here too."
"You know it's dangerous to stand while the jet is flying." Aster replied with a smirk.
Zane simply frowned, "I'll keep that in mind. Jaden, I wish you best of luck, I wouldn't mind having another match with you." Zane turned back to Aster. "And you."
"Well it's nice to see you too." Alexis says annoyed by the fact that she was being ignored.
"Alexis." Zane looked down to see Jaden's and Alexis' hands intertwined. "I see. Well I'll be on my way." Zane said as he made his way back towards his seat.
"You know, he doesn't seem to be as ruthless as he does on television." Jaden says.
Alexis nodded, "Yeah, he seems like the Zane we all know."
"Well looks can be decieving." Aster says. "Hmmmm, maybe." Jaden looked back, "But I'm not so sure."
"This place sure is empty." Ayato plopped down on the couch. Suddenly Hikari burst in, "Hey everyone!" She looked around. Her sweat dropped. "Where is everyone?"
"Uh, the tournament. Where have you been we haven't seen you in a month." Akari said.
"Yeah, and what's with that strange scar on your arm." Ayato asked. Hikari quickly hid her hand behind her back. "Um nothing."
Ayato and Akari looked at eachother, then shrugged. "So everyone's gone huh?" Hikari asked trying to strike up a conversation with the two.
"Yeah." Ayato said as Akari took a seat next to him. "Why aren't you two at that tournament?"
"I have my reasons." The two said in unison. They looked at eacthother again, then shrugged again. "Really? So you guys were planning on spending some time with eachother, is that it?" Hikari was now grinning.
"Yeah I guess." Ayato said at the same time that Akari said "It's none of your business."
Hikari plopped down on the couch next to Akari. She gazed at the mark on Ayato's neck, a serious expression on her face. Ayato, who felt like, someone was watching him turned to catch Hikari staring at him. "What?"
"You never told us you got a tattoo!" Hikari said. "What?!" Ayato looked at her as if she were insane. "What are you talking about?"
"Right there." Hikari pointed at his neck. Akari looked at Ayato, "Hey I never noticed, you've got a tattoo!"
Ayato began to sweat. 'Just play along.' He told himself. "Yeah sure, I got it done from one of the duelist here who had some experience doing tattoos."
"Why are you sweating?" Hikari asked. "Yeah, why are you sweating?" Ayato moved back as Akari moved so that her face was a mere centimeters away. "Are you hiding something from me?"
Later
"The preliminaries will weed out all the competitors until there are only sixteen duelists left, does everyone understand?"
No one made a sound.
The Chancellor's sweat dropped. "Ahem, you all will be assigned to blocks, there will be four blocks, and from each block will come four winners."
"We have taken the liberty of already having you be assigned to a block. If you notice the sticker that we gave you upon your arrival has a letter on it, A, B, C, or D."
Jaden looked at his sticker, "So that's what they were for. Hmmm, I've got 2A. How about you Lex?"
"I've got 4A." She answered. "That's a relief, I didn't want to duel you so soon." Alexis smiled, "What? Afraid that you'll lose."
"Huh? No way!" Jaden retorted.
"Jaden!"
Jaden slowly began to turn around, "Oh no! It can't be, it couldn't be!" Jaden turned around completely "Blair!"
"Long time no see Jaden, your still as handsome as ever I see." She said looking him up and down.
"Um yeah, and you look, um, different." Jaden said examining her. It was true, she had gotten taller, and she was wearing a Slifer Red Blazer to boot.
"Hmph, I see she's with you." She glared at Alexis, who in turn glared at her. "And who's this?" Blair asked, looking at Aster.
"My name is Aster Phoenix, and your name is..."
"Blair Flannigan!" She said, looking at Aster the way she usually looked at Jaden. "Well I'm in block 3B. I'll see you around Jaden, Aster!"
"Looks like Blair's got a crush on you too Aster." Alexis said, still annoyed by the fact that she was there in the first place.
"What? What are you talking about, I just met her." Aster said. "Well that's the way she is." Alexis told him.
"Well good luck in your duels Jaden, Alexis. I'm in block 1A." Aster said as he walked off.
The prelims took an entire day to complete, as there were so many duelists.
Ayato, Akari, and Hikari watched the image of Chancellor Shepard on the television as he spoke. "Ladies and gentlemen here are your competitors.
"From Block 1A, Aster Phoenix! From Block 2A, Jaden Yuki! From Block 3A, Syrus Truesdale! And From Block 4A, Alexis Rhodes!"
"So Syrus made it after all, good for him." Ayato said with a smile. "Well so far so good, let's hope Nico, Exion, and Chazz get through." Akari said.
"From Block 1B, Zane Truesdale, otherwise known as Hell Kaiser! From Block 2B, Chazz Princeton! From Block 3B, Blair Flannigan! And from Block 4B Nico Uchiwa!"
"Nico and Chazz made it, but what about Exion?" Ayato sat at the edge of his seat. Akari and Hikari was just as anxious to see who else had made it.
"From Block 1C, Sartorius! From Block 2C, Bastion Misawa! From Block 3C, Billy Anderson. And From Block 4C, Exion Nagasa!"
"Well at least now we know that all of our friends made it." Ayato sighed a sigh of relief. "What about Anna?" Hikari asked. "Huh? I actually forgot about her." Ayato said guiltly.
"From Block 1D, Anna Haruno! From Block 2D, James Howlett! From Block 3D, Scott Grayson! And finally, from Block 4D, Sango Mitarashi!"
"So Anna made it too." Ayato said. "Man that last block had nothing but members of the Society of Light!" Akari exclaimed.
"Alright! We all made it!" Jaden grinned, facing his friends. "Yeah, on to the real thing now." Exion said.
The sixteen competitors were all standing in one row. "Now I will be coming around with a box, in this box are pieces of paper, I want everyone to take one from the box." Chancellor Shepard started with Nico, and ended with Sango Mitarashi.
After inspecting everyone's numbers, the Chancellor spoke, "Now if you'd bring your attention to the giant screen everybody."
A giant chart appeared on the screen. It read:
First Bracket: Nico Uchiwa vs. Billy Anderson
Second Bracket: Jaden Yuki vs. Exion Nagasa
Third Bracket: Aster Phoenix vs. Anna Haruno
Fourth Bracket: Sartorius vs. Alexis Rhodes
Fifth Bracket: Zane Truesdale(Hell Kaiser) vs. Syrus Truesdale
Sixth Bracket: Scott Grayson vs. James Howlett
Seventh Bracket: Bastion Misawa vs. Chazz Princeton
Eighth Bracket: Blair Flannigan vs. Sango Mitarashi
"Oh man, Alexis vs. Sartorius?" Jaden looked over at Syrus, "And Syrus vs. Zane?"
Sartorius simply smiled, "Interesting."
'There's no way I'm gonna lose.' Alexis thought to herself.
Syrus looked over in Zane's direction worriedly, Zane was looking right back at him. 'Big brother is my first opponent? Aw man, I'm gonna lose for sure!'
"The first match will begin immediately, Nico Uchiwa, Billy Anderson,
to the stadium please." The chancellor said.
"Good luck Nico!" Her friends said. She simply turned and smiled, "I think Billy here is gonna need the luck."
"So it's starting is it?" Ryon asked Kaena.
"Yeah it's starting, so should we do it now?" She asked. Ryon shaked his head, "No. Let's wait until the semi-finals start."
Kaena raised an eyebrow in confusion, "Why?"
"I have my reasons, in the meantime, fetch me Ryuji will you, were gonna need his help one last time." Kaena sighed heavily, "Alright."
(A/N: Due to my laziness, and the fact that most people don't read the duels anyway, here are the first round results.)
Nico defeats Billy with 3000 life points remaining. Jaden defeats Exion with 1500 life points remaining. Aster defeats Anna with 2000 life points remaining. Sartorius defeats Alexis with 1700 life points remaining. Zane defeats Syrus with 2900 life points remaining. Scott defeats James with 100 life points remaining. Bastion defeats Chazz with 700 life points remaining. Blair defeats Sango with 300 life points remaining.
"Damn!" Jaden pounds his fist on a nearby table. "He got Alexis again!"
Everyone stared at Jaden, suprised that Jaden had swore. "Calm down Jaden, I'm sure we'll get her back." Exion tried to reassure Jaden.
"Yeah Jay, all we have to do is take down Sartorius and then she'll turn back to normal." Syrus added.
Jaden sighed, "Your right Sy. If I get all worked up now I'll lose my edge."
"Besides, you have to focus on your next match." Aster reminds him. "Yeah your right." Jaden said. "No you don't." Nico said.
"Huh? Why not?" Jaden looked at her confused. "Because I'm not dueling you." She answers. "Well why not?!" Jaden looked at her as if she were crazy. Nico shrugged, "You'd just win anyway."
"Man, looks like Alexis and Chazz are under Sartorius' control again. I hope Jaden's taking it alright." Ayato looked into Hikari's fridge, pulling out a Mountain Dew.
"I'm sure they'll beat Sartorius, it'll be alright." Akari took the soda from Ayato and started drinking it. "Hey that was the last one!" Ayato whined.
She tossed what was left of it to Ayato. He shot her an indignant look and drank the rest. "You know, you just indirectly kissed me." Akari said with a wink.
Ayato fell of the couch. "What?" He said looking up at her, his cheeks a light pink. Akari laughed at him, "You know Hikari was right, it is fun teasing you."
Ayato sat up. "Yeah yeah. By the way, where is she?" He asked looking around. "She said that she was going to see the tournament for herself." Akari answered.
"Really? And did she say how she was gonna get there?" Ayato asked. Akari shrugged, "I stopped listening after that." Ayato's sweat dropped.
"I summon Arcana Force EXThe Light Ruler!" A crazed Sartorius declares. A white bright light engulfs the field.
"Don't lose hope Aster! No matter what!" Jaden calls out. When the light fades, Aster is lying on the floor. His eyes are shut and his hair turns a bright white. "Aster!"
Sartorius laughs, "Hahahaha! The destiny of victory is mine!" Jaden runs up to Aster and kneels by his side, "Hang on Aster!"
Aster opens his eyes slightly, "That..person..is...not...Sartorius." Jaden looks up and at Sartorius' face. His face was that of an evil man. "Please Jaden, inherit...the real Sartorius' will, and...my will, to crush the...light of ruin. Return Sartorius' true...heart to his body." Aster finishes.
Aster's key floats out of his pocket and lands in the hand of Sartorius. He points at Jaden, an evil smile on his face. "You'll be next Jaden."
Second Round Results: Jaden defeats Nico by default because she gave up.
Sartorius defeats Aster with 500 life points remaining. Zane defeats Scott with 3000 life points remaining. Bastion defeats Blair with 700 life points remaining.
"Are you ready Jaden, your match against Sartorius is gonna start in five minutes, you had better get going." Syrus urges.
"Yeah I know. I'll win for sure. For Alexis, for Chazz, for Blair, for Bastion, for everybody."
Exion nodded. Nico looked down on Aster's still form, "Otherwise. Sartorius is gonna destroy the entire world."
"Don't worry, with Neos by my side, that'll never happen." Jaden says. "Let's just hope your right Jaden." She replies.
"So their trying the direct approach are they?" Ayato looked at the dark portal, Akari standing by his side. "It's obviously a trap." She said.
Ayato nodded, "Yeah. And they know I'm gonna bite." Ayato took Akari's hand in his own and walked through the portal. Ayato looked around his new surroundings once he and Akari stepped through the portal.
It was dark, but he could tell that they had to be underground. They were in a hallway, the walls seemed to be made of solid gold and had Egyptian inscrpitions on them, something he came to expect.
"Hello, Ayato." Kaena walked up to the couple. We've been expecting you." She said coolly.
"Really? Well you brought me here. What do you want?" He asked. "Your Millenium Puzzle of course." She replied. "You say that like I'm really gonna do it." Ayato retorted.
"I don't expect you to." She said. "Ryuji now!"
"Wha?" Ayato said dumbly as he felt the chain around the Millenium Puzzle break. Ryuji suddenly appeared in front of him, grinning. He was holding the Millenium Puzzle in his hand.
"Catch me if you can!" He said as he ran off. "Hey get back here!" Ayato shouted taking off after him. Kaena quickly stood in his way. "Where do you think your going, you'll have to get passed me first."
"Akari." Ayato yelled back to her. "I know!" She ran to his side, activating her duel disk. "I'll be your opponent." Kaena frowned.
"I owe you one!" Ayato said as he took of. "Don't worry, I plan on collecting!" She called out to him. "Alright it's just me and you, let's duel!"
Ayato followed Ryuji into a small room. "Show yourself!" Ayato called out. "Ryuji isn't here. My name is Ryon." Ryon held the Millenium Puzzle up.
"I don't care what your name is, give me that puzzle!" Ayato yelled. "I don't think so! You don't even know how important these items are!" Ryon turns around, a giant stone tablet is behind him.
"What is that?" Ayato asked. The tablet had all the Millenium Items embedded in it. Ryon placed the puzzle in it's spot. "It's complete. Soon HE will be reborn and rule this world!" Ryon laughed hysterically.
"This guy is nuts." Ayato says as he continues to look at Ryon. The tablet begins to shake and light up. "Yes! Soon the great God of Darkness will be reborn!"
Ayato's eyes widened in suprise. "You mean Zorc!?" Ayato said. "You shall be the first to die!" Ryon activates his duel disc, Ayato activates his in return.
"Zorc's already failed twice." Ayato says. Ryon smirks, "Well you know what they say, third time's a charm!"
Ayato: 4000/Ryon: 4000
Ryon draws a card from his deck, "Perfect. I summon Giant Orc(2200/0) in attack mode. A hideous giant orc with a giant bone for a weapon appears on the field. "And I'll end my turn with that."
"Alright, my draw. I summon Mystical Elf(800/2000) in defense mode. Next I'll activate the spell card Vandorgaron's Eye in the Sky! This card allows me to take one spell or trap card from your hand and use it for my benefit!"
An image of Ryon's hand appears above the field. Ayato examined it. "I think I'll take that Dian Keto the Cure Master! Activate!"
Ayato: 5000/ Ryon: 4000
"And I'll end my turn with that."
Ryon draws a card from his deck, calming down a little. "I summon Second Goblin(100/100) and equip him to Giant Orc!" The little goblin jumps on the Orc's back.
"Now destroy that Elf!" The Giant Orc's bone club slams into Mystical Elf, shattering her into a million pieces. Giant Orc then goes into defense position.
"Now I activate my Second Goblin's effect, which allows me to switch my Giant Orc back into attack mode!" Ryon declares.
Ayato swiftly draws a card and smirks once he sees what it is. "Say goodbye to your monster Ryon. First I play Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your Second Goblin!"
The typhoon blows the Second Goblin off of Giant Orc, destroying it instantly. "Now I'll show you what real power is! I summon Relentless (3000/0) in attack mode!"
The giant red dragon roars, it stares at the Giant Orc with murderous intent. "It's feeding time!" Ayato declares. Relentless runs over to the Giant Orc and eats it whole.
Ayato: 5000/ Ryon: 3200
"I'll end my turn with a face down."
With it's final roar Relentless explodes.
Ayato: 4000/ Ryon: 3200
Ryon glares at Ayato as he draws his next card. 'This will be harder than I thought.'
Jaden: 4000/ Sartorius: 4000
"I play E-Emergency Call, which allows me to choose a monster with Elemental Hero in it's name from my deck and out it in my hand." A card materializes into Jaden's hand, it's Avian.
"Next I play the spell Double Fusion, by paying 500 of my life points!"
Jaden: 3500/ Sartorius: 4000
Sartorius smirks, "Giving up life points for fusion, I hope it'll be worth it." Jaden glares at him, "Shut up light of ruin!" Sartorius thinks to himself, 'Could the Wheel of Fortune be working with him?'
"Double Fusion allows me to send Avian and Burstinatrix to the graveyard to summon Elemental Hero Flame Wingman(2100/1200)." Jaden's favorite monster appears on the field. "But that's not all, Double Fusion's effect can be used twice, so I'm sending my Wingman and Sparkman to the graveyard to summon Elemental Hero Shining Flare Wingman(2500/2100) in attack mode!"
Due to there being four E-Heros in the graveyard Wingman's attack increases to 3700. "Attack his Arcana Force ChariotVII now Flare Wingman!"
Flare Wingman glows brightly and slams into Sartorius monster, causing a massive explosion.
Jaden: 3500/ Sartorius: 2000
Sartorius looks at Jaden with an unpleasant look on his face. "Now you have to recieve damage equal to the attack of your monster!" Jaden declares.
Jaden: 3500/ Sartorius: 300
"How do you like that?" Jaden pointed at Sartorius, a victorius grin on his face. Sartorius begins to laugh, Jaden looks at him confused. "What's so funny?"
"Your enjoying yourself aren't you, the impulse of destruction exists in you, as I've said earlier, it exists in every human being. Human beings destroy nations, civilizations, art, and even relationships among people. That's because the destruction is the impulse that humans desire." Sartorius, or rather, the light of ruin explains.
"I don't believe you!" Jaden yells at him. "Have you finished your turn, Jaden?" Sartorius asks, ignoring his outburst.
"I switch Bubbleman to defense mode, and then I summon Air Hummingbird (800/600) in defense mode."
Sartorius smirks, "Although you have the advantage, I can still see some anxiety." Jaden doesn't reply, instead he keeps his play up, "I activate Air Hummingbird's special effect, I gain 500 life points for every card in your hand."
Jaden: 5000/ Sartorius: 300
The entire stadium cheers at the sudden turn of events. "Wow Jaden's doing really good." Syrus notes, Nico nods in agreement. "Let's hope this duel ends soon." Exion says.
Sartorius smirks before drawing a card, "I play the spell card the Bounds of Light." The card appears before above and starts to turn clockwise. "This card effects are different depending on it's position. Destiny is now at it's greatest point!"
The Bounds of Light stop at the upright postion. Suddenly a circle of of white fire sweeps around the duel arena. "The effects of any monster other than Arcana Force monsters inside this boundary are negated." Sartorius explains. Therefore Flare Wingman's attack decreases back to it's original 2500.
A white aura surrounds Sartorius' body, "When I possess both keys I will use the laser satellite SORA to destroy the world and bring it to ruin!"
"I won't let that happen!" Jaden declares. Sartorius' white aura turns into a white flame creature. Jaden stares at the two seriously, 'I can't let that happen...'
Hahahaha Cliffhanger! Two duels that will determine the fate of the world are being played. Anyway, review please.