Goodbye
Jesse ran up the steps of the 'temple' at top speed. He finally had the Rainbow Dragon. He could get everyone home now! But, he knew what had to be done. He knew everyone else was going home except for him. Even though he knew he'd be staying behind, it was alright. He would finally be able to do something worthwhile…
"Jaden, how ya faring?" Jesse asked as soon as he got up.
"I'm good," Jaden said with a nod.
"Can you believe it, buddy? We found the Dragon!" Jesse exclaimed.
"Oh yeah!" Jaden said with a smirk, high fiving Jesse. "Put it right there. I knew you and Axel would find it!"
Jesse smiled in return and then looked to Marcel. He seemed to be writhing in anger, but why was another story. Jesse and Jaden glared at him and took their positions for a duel.
"Listen here. I want in on this duel!" Jesse cried.
"What?" Marcel snapped.
"We're gonna form us a little tag team," Jesse said. "And in return, your Life Points are gonna go up a bit. You'll get a bonus equal to mine. What do ya say, Hoss?"
"I get extra Life Point? I accept," Marcel said without a second thought.
"Wait 'till he gets a load of Rainbow Dragon," Jesse whispered to Jaden. "Let's show him what happens when you mess with the best! So let's take this guy down! And get us back to the world we belong in!"
"Yeah!" Jaden cried, glaring at Marcel.
Jesse activated his Duel Disk and drew his cards. The duel raged on and Jesse was starting to get worried. Not about himself, no, about Jaden. Marcel really wanted Jaden dead. Jesse swore that was not going to happen. It wasn't long until the Sacred Beasts were summoned. Jesse didn't exactly pay attention to the duel; he was more enthralled with the monsters in front of him. He seemed to have lost a little bit of his sanity, because he started laughed.
"What are you giggling at?" Marcel snapped.
"This rules!" Jesse said with a smile. "I mean, we're duelin'… the Sacred Beasts! This is the stuff duelists dream about! This is what we live for! Can you believe it?"
"Hmm, you're right," Jaden said with a soft smile. Jesse's innocence always managed to make him smile, and now was no different.
Jesse smirked and began his turn. He was really on a role. He managed in one turn to get all his Crystal Beasts into position to summon his Dragon. Now he was getting giddy.
"I did it! I did it! It's really gonna happen! It's history in the makin', Jay!" Jesse said excitedly.
"Can't wait!" Jaden said with a smile.
"Now, I guess I should really thank you, Hoss!" Jesse said with a smirk. "'Cause thanks to you, my deck is finally complete! Now, you get the esteemed honor of being the first duelist to experience how it feels to be beaten by my new monster!"
"You're what?" Marcel cried.
"With all seven Crystals either in my Graveyard or on my field, I'm set!" Jesse said with a determined look on his face. "Now here comes the main event! Ready, Jay?"
Jaden nodded, making Jesse smile. Jaden was excited. He was going to get to see one of the most feared monsters in Duel Monsters history. It was a once in a life time chance.
"I can't believe I'm about to say this, but here it is!" Jesse said, grabbing a card from his hand. "I summon the all powerful… Rainbow Dragon!"
The sky lit up with the colors of the rainbow and Jesse smirked. He looked over to Jaden to see a large smile on his face. Jesse stared at the brunet, wanting to etch that look into his memory. It may be the last time seeing his love smile. But the smile quickly faded and turned into a look of awe. Jesse looked up to see the Rainbow Dragon there in all its glory. He couldn't believe it, and felt an overwhelming sense of pride.
"I thought it was just a legend!" Marcel cried when he saw the beast.
"Just a legend? More like legendary!" Jesse said with a smirk. "This here is as real as it gets!"
"Well, don't forget Raviel's ability!" Marcel growled. "I get another token."
"I'm not interested in tokens!" Jesse cried. "Go, Rainbow Dragon! Attack Uria, Lord of Searing Flames!"
The Dragon attacked and Jesse smirked proudly. Jaden watched in awe as the Dragon attacked. They actually thought they were going to see the defeat of the Sacred Beast. But then Marcel smirked.
"That's an impressive attack," Marcel admitted. "But unfortunately, Hamon is on the field and in Defense Mode. So that means all attacks are directed to him." The students watched helplessly as the attack was directed at Hamon, who simply deflected it. Jesse growled under his breath.
"We'll shoot, it's a draw," Jesse said with a sigh. "Oh well. I place one card face down to end mah turn."
"Jesse that was an amazing move!" Jaden said with a smile. "You almost had him!"
"Next time," Jesse said with a smirk. "Now it's your turn, Jaden. Take him down. And let's not forget the goal here. We gotta unleash us some hard core power so that we can get home."
Jaden nodded and began his turn. Jesse watched, hiding his amazement well, as Jaden went on a roll. Not only was he able to summon a kick ass fusion monster, he also destroyed Uria. This only served to infuriate Marcel even more.
"You messed with my school and my friends," Jaden snapped. "Now I'm gonna mess with you!"
"Is that so?" Marcel sneered. "It's my turn! I activate Immortal Clash. Now, by sacrificing two monsters on my field, I can summon a Level 7 or above monster from my Graveyard! So I discard two Phantasm Tokens to resurrect the Lord or Searing Flames!"
Jaden and Jesse gasped as Uria came back to life. Jesse growled under his breath and barely heard Axel's comment of 'It won't stay down!' He was right. Jesse wasn't sure if he would be able to beat it, even with the Rainbow Dragon.
"What else? How about another Magic Card?" Marcel cried, holding out another card. "Dimension Fusion Destruction! It's been a blast messing with the Sacred Beasts. But, by removing all three from play at the same time… I can common Chaos Phantasm Armityle!"
"Zero?" Jaden asked as the beast was summoned, referring to its zero Attack Points. "That can't be good…"
"Oh it is good. Good for me!" Marcel sneered. "Do you know what Armityle's Special Ability is? Once a turn, Armityle can deal 10,000 points of Battle Damage to your monster! This Duel is over!"
Jesse growled when he heard this. His mind was kicked into overdrive, trying desperately to figure out how to win. He thanked his photographic memory, and went through each of his and Jaden's cards, trying to figure out a strategy that would work. He couldn't figure out anything. Marcel was right, this duel was over. Jesse gritted his teeth at the thought.
"Stop doing this, Marcel!" Blair cried, running over to her friend.
"You again?" Marcel hissed. "Little pest…"
"No, Blair!" Jaden called, wanting to stop her. Jesse gritted his teeth harder as he felt the little green monster of jealousy rise in him.
"Get back, that's not really Marcel!" Jesse called, knowing it would be strange if he didn't say anything.
"I know that," Blair said sadly. "But it's… it's using Marcel, and I… I want my friend back!"
"Are you referring to this frail human shell?" Marcel asked, smirking evilly. "Just take it. It's yours. Thanks to Viper and all the bio-bands, I've absorbed far more energy than I've needed. As for this body… it's time to shed this pathetic skin!"
"You're doin' what?" Jesse asked in shock.
"What do you mean?" Jaden demanded.
"My true form is not longer hostage to the laws of this universe!" Marcel cried. "It can finally manifest itself and unite with my spirit! After so many years, I can finally materialize in pure physical form! I've drained every last drop from every dueling Duel Ghouls that fell victim to my power."
"Al l this…" Jaden breathed. "Was so that you could, like, come to life? Who are you?"
The group watched on in awe as Marcel began to glow. A golden, orange light appeared around Marcel and he collapsed. Everyone gasped as a monstrous figure appeared behind the unconscious Marcel. Jesse took one look at the orange and green eyes and was too shocked to think. He felt something when he looked at them… something bad.
"Finally, my transformation is complete," the figure said in a light, female voice that chilled Jesse to the very core. "I am as real as the rest of you. I have no use for him." The figure picked up Marcel and smirked. "I'm sick of this lump of flesh. You want him, then you can have him."
The figure carelessly tossed Marcel towards Blair, who fell over when she caught him. Jaden cried out for his friend, knocking Jesse out of his shock. He tried to hold back his jealousy as Jaden was, once again, overly concerned about Blair. He then heard the figure say something about it and Jaden being 'reunited'. This caused Jesse's flame of jealousy to spike again. Jaden looked almost scared when he recognized the monster. Jesse couldn't' stand that. He felt his heart pang painfully at the thought to Jaden being hurt.
"No, it can't…." Jaden breathed in shock, looking at the monster again. "Yubel?"
"Hold up!" Jesse cried, turning to Jaden. "You know that… that thing?"
"I do…" Jaden said, his voice devoid of emotion.
"Took you long enough," Yubel hissed. "I never forgot. How could I? You had them send me away. You decided to alienate me. But now we're face to face again. And you and I… we have some catching up to do. Now you'll feel my wrath! Chaos Phantasm Armityle, wipe them all out but leave Jaden for me! Transmigration waves!"
The monster began to power up for the attack and Jesse knew that this was it. He took a deep breath and looked at the monster in front of him, and then up to his Dragon. He turned to Jaden, a determined look in his emerald green eyes.
"Jaden, this is it, buddy. I'm on it," Jesse said with a smile. "Now, get back safe."
"But, Jess, what about—" Jaden asked in shock.
"No buts Jaden!" Jesse said with a smile. "I play Prism Wall! Now this sends every attack right in mah direction! So Yubel and I, we both take damage!"
"Jesse, don't do this!" Jaden cried. Hearing the desperation in his voice, desperation that Jesse had wanted to have in his direction, nearly made Jesse loose his resolve.
"I'll be alright," Jesse said with a smirk. "I got mah Dragon, and he's got mah back! And now I activate his Special Ability! You see, mah Rainbow Dragon can absorb every Crystal Beast on the field. And for each Beast, he gains 1000 more Attack Points! Go Rainbow Overdrive!"
"My attack has been thwarted!" Yubel cried as the Dragon's Attack Points climbed to 10,000. "NO!"
The ground began to shake as the Beasts charged up for their battle. The temple ground began to crumble, and Axel cried that it was going to go any second. Jesse stayed calm. He had known all along what he had to do. He was finally going to be useful to his friends. He wasn't going to just stand by and watch the others suffer… watch Jaden suffer. Never again.
"Let's go!" Jaden said, turning to Jesse.
"I can't," Jesse said, forcing a smile. "Leavin' now would reduce the energy spike and the portal hole won't be able to open. I keep the strength of mah attack up. Catch ya later, Partner!"
"Jesse!" Jaden cried, not believing what he was hearing. Was Jesse really… sacrificing himself…?
Jesse smiled to him and turned back to his opponent. He was ready. He knew that there was a very good chance he was never going to see Jaden again. His thoughts drifted to what he was thinking earlier. Even if Jesse was in hurt, Jaden was probably not going to come running to save him. He only did so during the duel with the Trapper because a Duel Spirit was at stake. Jesse shook the thoughts from his mind and sighed. Here goes everything.
"Alright, Rainbow Dragon!" Jesse cried. "Attack with Rainbow Refraction!"
"No, Jesse!" Jaden cried at the monsters attacked each other.
The flash of light blinded the duelists for a moment. But a moment was all that was needed. The force of the attack flung Jaden right off the edge of the temple. Jesse watching helplessly as Jaden fell. It was going to be the last time he saw him. Jesse clenched his teeth and looked back to Yubel and glared. This was its entire fault. Jesse looked up and saw that the portal hole was open enough.
"You'll pay… for taking him…" Yubel cried before she disappeared. Jesse just smiled, feeling rather content with himself.
"We did it!" Jesse said, opening his arms. "Rainbow Dragon… take them home."
Jesse closed his eyes as he too, disappeared. He was happy, though. His friends were getting back. Jaden was returning home safe and sound. That was all Jesse needed to know. Jaden was safe. Jesse had one regret, however. That he didn't tell Jaden what he felt before he disappeared. Jesse just relaxed his body as he floated through the void and imaged Jaden's face. Even just the memory of Jaden smiling at him was enough for Jesse.
so, this is kinda long. it's episodes 325-326.
i really wanted to get this down on paper because i think it's sorta important. i wanted to get Jesse's feelings right; i really hope that i did... it was so hard to write because i'm starting to forget how to write again. so it may be a little choppy at points. i'm sorry about that...
anyway, not rly fluffy, but important... enjoy~
R&R-ing is an amazing thing. i really need feedback for this one~