Leon fell, down into the dark. Closing his eyes made no difference- below, above, and to the sides of him stretched blackness for as far as the eyes could see. A freezing wind blew upwards, nipping at his face like a sheet of needles. Vague, half-focused images flashed past, too quickly for him to comprehend. A voice was laughing manically, cackling in his ears like some psychotic killer. It began to whisper malevolently to him, the words reeking with cruelty and sadism.
You fool…you're in my world now. Or rather, you're in your own little world. Sorry to disappoint you, but this world will be no paradise. It's going to be your HELL!
The laughter fell silent. Leon began to fall more slowly, as if the force that was pulling him downward. The icy wind also began to lessen, giving his face some needed relief. He continued to fall, slower and slower, until he was barely dropping at all. Suddenly, his feet hit something hard, and he was standing. His world was black- the darkness had not dissipated at all. He checked his deck had survived the fall intact, and gingerly took a few steps forward.
Ladies and Gentlemen, our show is about to begin. But before our performance dazzles and delights you all, it's time to meet the protagonists!
A spotlight flashed up- a piercing beam of white light directed straight at him, so dazzlingly bright that he was forced to shield his eyes. He couldn't see the source, couldn't even look towards it. It illuminated him alone, casting no light on the inky blackness that encircled him. The sound of hearty applause suddenly surrounded him, resounding from all sides.
Here friends, stands Leon, hero of our times.
A longsword appeared in his hand, engraved with gold, and the hilt in the shape of a dragon's head.
Leon the Bold. Leon the Fool. Leon the Liberator. Lord Leon. Sir-
"Enough!"
Now now. Our audience wants a good show- and for that, they need a good lead. I take it you are up for the task?
"O cursed sprite, that I was ever born to set things right." He remarked sarcastically, tossing the sword away. It tumbled to the floor and vanished. The sound of cheering could be heard from the dark.
Not bad. You seem to be popular with the crowd- off to a good start, despite lacking a certain… je nai se qua.
"Hey!"
Now we've met our lead, friends. But what's a hero without a villain?
"I take it that role would be reserved for you?"
It laughed mirthlessly.
Who better?
"Why not just come out and face me now?!"
Patience. A good performance always saves the best for the grand finale! If I faced you now, what of the drama? The tension? Why, our little show would be over in a heartbeat, and I so do not wish to disappoint our honoured guests.
"Hmph. We wouldn't want that, now would we?"
Indeed not. There's some more people to meet- some friends, some foes. Some dead and some alive- some long gone, and some others that'll survive. But before all that, there's someone else to introduce. Friends, we've met the champion of our piece. Next, I'll tell you of his nemesis, his arch-rival, his greatest foe, his clear better in every way…Me!
"Get on with it…"
This place is my bastion, and I'm the lord of all I survey. It's an age-old battle between good and evil- he's the shiny, white knight, trying to oust me from my tyranny and restore justice to the land. The twist? My realm- is Leon's own mind!
"WHAT?!"
It chuckled softly.
Seems as though someone didn't read the script. So very unprofessional of you- it's shocking! Our plot may be a classic, but I promise you friends, that this will be no cliché ending. You will have the pleasure of witnessing my triumph, and my rise to greatness!
The unseen "audience", began to applaud again, growing louder and louder, until it echoed sinisterly around him. It continued for a time, then died away. Without warning, the spotlight shut off, leaving him in total darkness again. He rubbed his eyes, glad of the relief from the glare.
"You always did love the theatrics."
Touché. As they say- blood will have blood! Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!
"You truly disturb me sometimes…"
As I said, I'm the villain. It's my job to keep you guessing. Alas, we are out of time. The first act is about to start, and there's not much more I can tell you.
"Why are you telling me anything?"
Why indeed. An audience does not like an unfair battle- it wouldn't be any fun if I crushed you right away. In the interests of putting as great a show as possible, I want to even things up a bit. I'll leave you with one last tip- not all the doors are friendly.
"Doors? What are you talking about?"
The voice sighed, as if it was trying to explain something to a clueless child.
Doors like the one behind you.
Leon spun round. A door had appeared behind him, sure enough. It was carved from dark grey stone, and seemed to wait ominously for him. He stepped over to it, and ran his hands over it slowly. The stones seemed to radiate an unnatural, icy cold, and they appeared rather rough and jagged. His palm caught on a particularly sharp edge, causing blood to flower immediately. He swore and tried to wipe it away on his jacket. Some of it had split, darkening the door even further. He pushed on it gently, and it swung open with surprisingly little resistance.
Once you go through that door, the show must go on. Sure you're up for it?
"What kind of question is that?"
Heh. I'll see you when it's time for the climax. Now, let the curtain rise, and the games begin!
"Break a leg." He muttered as he stepped through the door. It slammed shut behind him, and vanished. Images began to flicker and swirl nauseatingly around him, fading in and out of existence before he could catch more then a glimpse of them.
Him, sitting by an open grave. Him, walking away from a burning building. Him, licking blood from his fingertips. Him, with a vicious smile on his face, torturing a teenager with lavender hair. Him, strangling the life out of someone. More images, each more horrifying then the last, flashing past faster and faster each time, until he was too sickened to watch and looked away. But that didn't stop it- they continued to appear before him, little portraits of brutality, brutality that he was orchestrating. He closed his eyes, willing the horror to go away.
"No…no….please…no more."
"Sir? Are you alright?"
…What?
He opened his eyes. He was sitting in a comfortable chair, at a large oak desk. He was in an office, quite medium-sized, but large enough to be comfortable. The room was dark; the only illumination came from a table lamp. A young woman stood in the doorway, dressed formally in a black uniform. She was watching him curiously.
Where the hell am I? What's going on?
The woman stepped into the room. She hid it well, but Leon could see she was uncomfortable about something.
"I…I'm alright, thank you. Just a little tired."
The sound of his voice shocked him. It was deeper than normal- he sounded older.
She smiled. "Aidan's on the phone for you, sir. Something about an Ancient Gear Gigas?"
Ancient Gear Gigas? That sounds like somebody's card creation. I'd better play along, until I can figure out what's going on here.
He formed a shaky smile. "Oh yes, Aidan. I'll speak to him now. Is there…anything else?"
She shook her head. "No, sir. Is there anything else you require?"
"No, thank you."
"As you wish, sir."
She turned and left. As she did, Leon noticed that she had the letters "I.I." stamped on her uniform sleeve.
He stepped over to a nearby mirror took the time to study himself. He was dressed in a black formal suit- the kind you'd see any kind of businessman wear on a workday. He'd grown about a foot, making him look slightly intimidating. He looked at his face and let out a gasp.
His reflection was off- the Leon looking back at him appeared about ten years older then he was. He'd been talking to Taylor this morning aged sixteen, but the boy…no; the man in the mirror was at least twenty-five. His heart began to beat faster, and his hands started to shake. He clenched them until the knuckles went white.
This can't be real…it can't be. This is a dream- it HAS to be! Where else could I walk through some door and end up ten years in the future?
Oh, dear…he's not very bright, is he?
Leon could hear the faint sound of laughter in his head, muffled but still all too audible.
Bite me.
Tsk, tsk. Such foul and abusive language is unfitting for a hero.
Do I look like I care?
Nope. Thing is, you probably should.
A phone began beeping on his desk. He picked up the receiver.
"Hello?"
"Heya Leon, it's me. Listen, about that card of mine…could you put in a good word with Pegasus about it? I think it'd really be a good boost to Ancient Gear decks everywhere!"
Pegasus? As in Maximillion Pegasus, creator of Duel Monsters? What IS this?
A fantasy, of course. And a rather interesting one, to say the least.
What?
"Leon? You paying attention, buddy?"
"Uh, sorry. Ancient Gear Gigas? It would help if I knew what it does."
"I sent you a prototype of the card last week. Don't tell me you didn't read it?"
"Er…no. I'm really sorry, I've been busy lately."
"It's ok. Pull it up on the I-base and see what you think"
"I-Base?"
"What's wrong with you today? Just turn on your computer and its there!"
He looked around. A laptop computer was lying on the desk, next to several sketches and some paperwork. He flipped the lid, and the symbol on the girl's jacket appeared as a background. A box appeared, with a section to enter a password.
"What's the number?"
"77829546"
He entered it. A screen flashed up, showing the card's name, statistics, and effect text, in addition to the name of its creator. Leon's eyes widened as he read the card.
"This is…a great card. However, it won't ever be printed the way it is."
"Why not?"
"Simple. Ancient Gear monsters run off the principle of not being able to be Special Summoned. Your card breaks that rule."
"What should I do?"
"Hmm. Ancient Gear support cards work mainly around providing alternate Normal Summons. Alter your monster to accommodate that, and it'll be fine."
"Good idea. I'll make a few changes. Mind having a look at some of my other cards later? I need some inspiration"
"Yes, yes, of course."
"Oh, and how's Anne shaping up? She doing ok?"
"Anne?"
"Er…my little sister? Your new secretary? You really aren't with it today, are you?"
That's an understatement…
"That bad, huh? What's the problem?"
"Did I say that out loud? Ugh…forget I said anything. I just need some tea, I think."
"I thought you hated tea?"
"Shut up…"
"Oh, well excuse me for not knowing your drinking habits" Aidan replied sarcastically.
"…Sorry. I've just been dealing with a lot of stuff recently. I'm not really in the most amiable of moods today."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning that I'll probably explode the next time somebody speaks to me."
"I see…" he said knowingly." Go home and get some rest- you spend too long here. There's a whole world out there- sometimes I think you forget that."
"Thanks. I might just do that."
"Ok. Say hi to Taylor for me, would ya?"
How does he know about-?
"Hey, hang on a-"
The line had gone dead. Leon slammed the lid on the laptop shut, causing it to squeal angrily. He put his head in his hands.
This is a fantasy…but which one? And where the hell am I?
Try looking out the window.
He turned around in his chair. The windows gave a view of a city covered in glass and steel. Skyscrapers rose up to his eye level, while cars crammed onto the streets. In the distance, he could see a waterfall, gushing over the cliff softly. Streetlights illuminated it, blanketing the city, turning it into a world of the brightest lights and the darkest shadows.
That waterfall…
Two and two, Leon. Figured out where we are yet?
We?
Freudian slip, mate.
This is Industrial Illusions…it has to be. No other place has this view. But why did you bring me here?
The question you should be asking is- why did you bring you here?
What's that supposed to mean?
Ask yourself that question.
Stop speaking in riddles!
I'm the villain, remember? It's in the job description, right under "devilishly handsome."
Why don't you go shuffle off this mortal coil, Shakespeare?
So bloody unrefined, no appreciation for the finer things in life. We're in your mind, remember? This is your fantasy. A world where you have everything you desire. But it's not exactly Paradise, is it? You couldn't even do this right. You tried to create a heaven for yourself, and you ended up building purgatory. Congratulations.
"Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!!!!!" he roared, so loud he thought the glass would break.
Hehehehe. You're far, far too easy to push.
"Sir, what's wrong?"
Leon turned around. The woman from before was back- she'd obviously heard his shouting from the lobby.
"Anne?"
"Sir?"
"I'm…I'm fine, thanks. Just dealing with some things right now."
She raised an eyebrow. Clearly, she didn't completely buy his story. He gave her a cool look.
"Is there something else?"
She returned the look. "Why, yes, sir. Your wife is outside, looking for you. Apparently you're running late."
Leon's face had formed into a knowing smile, but his head was spinning.
So now I'm married too? Did you do this just to torture me?
Good guess, but nah. You did it to torture you.
I…I did this? How? Why?
I don't really know. Your mind is a strange place. But I'm guessing its because your subconscious is trying to get you to accept something.
And what's that?
Perhaps you need to be reminded of what you will never have.
What I will never have…
"Sir?"
"Um…yes. Tell her I'll be out in a moment."
"Very well, sir."
She left. His hands began to shake again.
Well? Waiting for someone to bid you adieu?
He stood up and walked to the office door. He hesitated for a moment, gripping the door handle. A bead of sweat started rolling down his brow. He wrenched the door open.
A woman was standing in the lobby, looking out at the city. She was wearing a scarlet dress. It matched the colour of her hair, which was down around her shoulders. She stretched and turned around.
It's her…
Who did you expect?
She'd lost the glasses, and she wore her hair differently. Like him, she'd aged, probably about six or seven years from what Leon could see. She was wearing lipstick, colouring her lips to match her outfit. Her face had lost some of its paleness, which surprised him. Her eyelashes were long- she was using mascara. Despite all the changes, it was obvious who it was. There was no mistaking those eyes. Those one blue, one green eyes.
Taylor was smiling at him.
Leon stepped towards her, and she embraced him. She put her head on his shoulder playfully, and whispered in his ear.
"Let me guess- you had something you needed to finish?"
Leon didn't reply. He just stood there, holding her in his arms. Holding the woman he loved. It was a wonderful feeling. But even here, in the fulfilment of his deepest desire, he could not be content.
Isn't this what you wanted?
It is…more then anything in the world. But it's not real. It's just a fantasy. This will never come true.
Perhaps. But you should enjoy this while it lasts, Leon. Because it never lasts long enough.
"Leon? Are you ok?"
He focused on her again. He smiled, despite the hollow feeling he held inside him.
"I'm fine. I just want you to know…I love you. And I always will."
She gazed deeply into his eyes. She spoke seriously.
"I know. And I won't forget what you've done for me. I love you too, Leon. Don't ever forget that."
She leaned forwards and pressed her lips to his. Leon closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation. Time seemed to halt, freezing the two of them in a moment of emotion.
Just a fantasy? Somehow I doubt that. This is the rose in my garden of thorns. Enjoy this moment, Leon. You're going to need it…