Chapter 8: Painful Memories
AN:
COLD: Hey guys, don't kill me, gah! (Ducks at the pitchforks thrown at her) (Holds up white flag)
AI: She's got a good reason, apart from writers block!
COLD: The past three years my father has suffered from Cancer and I had to help take care of him. He passed away just over a year ago. I've been working through it slowly.
AI: Yeah, so cut her some slack.
COLD: Enjoy
Xxxxx
It had been just under a week since Craig had been brought back to normal but no one had seen him either. Bastion and Hayley had managed to get their last cards and were now entered into the Doubles Tournament, being the first to do so. Viper and Etain were also in the Doubles, so were Drake and Matt, Aster and Atticus and Crowler and Sheppard, there were only three more spots for the Doubles. Apart from Taniya; Flo, Jacob, Vincent and Hope were in the singles and there were only three places left there as well.
"So, when do you think the others will get their marks and hair streaks?" asked Hayley, walking next to Bastion.
"Soon I guess. Taniya, very soon, Flo and Hasselberry, soon, as for Chazz and Alexis, let's not go there, they'll be the last as they're the most reluctant but then again, maybe they'll be the first because of that," said Bastion, shrugging, he really didn't care about Chazz and Alexis anymore because of their attitudes towards their pasts and what might happen. They didn't want any part of it and they didn't come to the power control lessons that Spike was giving them all.
Xxxxx
Chazz and Alexis were a Tag Team and had managed to get almost all their cards; they just needed to win one more duel.
"Man, it's tough to find Tag Duelists," said Chazz, laying down on his back.
"Yeah and when we do get our last cards and enter we're going to be up against tough competition, Hayley and Bastion," said Alexis gloomily.
"They're the best Tag Team in the school, they're going to win the Doubles Tournament for sure," sighed Chazz.
"Yeah, they are. I hate being left behind like this. Bastion is so…grown up now; he's really changed from the Bastion who first came here. Hayley is acting older than her age and everyone who had a key last year…they've changed as well, we haven't. I hate this Chazz. Why us, why?"
"I wish I could answer you Alexis but I can't. It's just our stupid luck and we have to live with it. I hate to say it but it's life or death, at least we're not the main focus of the bad guys, that's Bastion, Hayley, Taniya, Craig and his brothers," said Chazz, staring up at the sky.
"Yeah thank goodness," Alexis replied.
"Hello Chazz, hello Alexis," said a voice and the couple looked up to see Sartorius and Sarina walking towards them.
"Hi," said Chazz and turned away.
"Hey. What's up?" asked Alexis.
"We were hoping to duel you in a Tag match. We have only one more match to win before we can go to the station and answer the question that will allow us into the Doubles finals," explained Sartorius.
"It's the same for us. Ok we'll duel you," said Alexis.
"Get ready to get crushed you two," said Chazz.
It was an intense duel and Sartorius had just inflicted damage onto Chazz when both Chazz and Alexis found themselves floating above two people who looked like themselves except that they were wearing royal clothes and had marks and hair streaks.
"Oh, no, Chazz, this must be…" said Alexis.
"Our pasts!" cried Chazz.
A man rushed up to their past selves that they recognized; it was Zack Ryder who was in Slifer. "What's he doing there?" asked Alexis.
"I guess he must have worked for us in our past lives," muttered Chazz, watching what was happening.
"Zachary, what news do you bring?" asked Chazz's past self.
"King Jun, Queen Asuka, Princess Sunny of Rainbow Kingdom has fallen in battle, along with General Tai and his brothers. King Daichi has already taken General Tai's and Princess Sunny's powers and transformed them into Color Keys," said Zachary.
"This is bad. Zachary, where has King Daichi placed the Color Keys?" asked Chazz's past self, now known as Jun.
"In another dimension on a planet called Earth your highness. I believe that he's set his own powers and Queen Wisteria's own powers to go there and form their own Color Keys should the worst happen," said Zachary.
"Hmmm, send word to King Daichi and tell him that we will send in more aid. Also ask him to place the same spell upon us should the worst happen," ordered Jun.
"Yes your majesty," nodded Zackary and left, there was another flash and Chazz and Alexis found themselves in another part of their pasts. They were bound with their hands behind their backs and King Jun was glaring up at their captors, past Jaden, past Karādorein, past Larke and a Duel Monster they didn't know.
"For aiding King Daichi you will be put to death," smirked Karādorein.
"You don't have the right to do that!" exclaimed Asuka.
"We on the other hand have every right to send aid to our allies and friends to help fight scum like you," said Jun.
"Kill them Yubel," said past Jaden.
"Who first?" asked the monster, now known as Yubel.
"Queen Asuka, let's have King Jun watch his love die before his eyes," said past Larke cruelly.
Yubel sent a blast towards Asuka and Chazz and Alexis were horrified to see Alexis' past self get killed and they felt her pain and Jun's anguish as he shouted 'NO!' There was a flash of light and they found themselves back at Duel Academy, there was another crater, Alexis' hair now had three blue streaks and on her cheek was a mark of seven shining blue bubbles. Chazz's hair had white lines outlining three black streaks in his hair and on his cheek was a black shadow that looked like a claw. They both collapsed with tear streaks on their faces. Bastion and Hayley, along with Taniya, Ryan and James came running up.
"I guess there's no need for explanations," said Bastion, glancing at the shocked Sartorius and Serena who nodded. Sartorius then handed his and Serena's cards over to Bastion.
"They were winning anyway," he said. Bastion took the cards and nodded.
"Let's get them to the infirmary," sighed Taniya, picking Alexis up easily and Ryan picked up Chazz.
"Let's hope that Hasselberry won't be unconscious when he gets his mark," muttered Hayley. Just then a green burst of light appeared in the sky along with an explosion that shook the ground accompanied by a dinosaur's roar.
"Hasselberry!" said everyone.
"Taniya, Ryan, James, you take Chazz and Alexis to the infirmary, Hayley and I will go to Hasselberry," directed Bastion and they nodded, Taniya, James and Ryan going one way and Bastion and Hayley going the other, being joined by Aster, Sartorius and Sarina. Bastion looked back at them curiously.
"Dude, Hasselberry is our friend, you're all our friends. You guys might be the ones fighting but we're your support," said Aster.
"That's right, Karādorein's lackeys will have to go through us first before they get to you," added Sartorius with Sarina nodding.
"Thanks guys," smiled Hayley as they ran.
Xxxxx
It had started out as a normal day for Hasselberry, hanging with Syrus and dueling to get the cards he needed to enter the tournament.
"Nice one Private," he said to Syrus as Syrus won his last card that would allow him to enter the tournament.
"Thanks Hasselberry. I'm gonna go and enter before someone else does, I'll meet up with you later," said Syrus and dashed off after Hasselberry nodded.
"Now, ta find myself an opponent for one of the last spots," he said and wandered around for a few minutes before coming across a duelist who challenged him. The duel went well with Hasselberry leading in life points until a green flash blinded him for a moment. When he could see again, he saw that he was floating above someone who looked just like him, except he was dressed in military clothes with a royal look, he also had a mark and hair streaks. Next to him was a dinosaur, a full grown grey Triceratops, with gold rings on its horns. Past Hasselberry was looking at some plans on the table in front of him when Matt ran in.
"General Major Kenzan, your Highness, sir, we have news from Rainbow Kingdom, about King Jun and Queen Asuka's Kingdom" he said, bowing to Kenzan.
"Sam Hill, this is ma past!" said Hasselberry, watching what was going on.
"What's the news?" asked Kenzan with a weary look on his face.
"King Jun and his Queen have fallen, their powers have been sent to Earth to form two more Color Keys, Queen Flo from Earth is being contacted by King Daichi about hiding them. King Daichi and Queen Wisteria are very weak and requested as much aid as you can spare," said Matt's past self.
"Thank you General Matt. Send our bravest and strongest troops to defend them against the enemy. Also send a message that ah too request for the power spell to be cast upon me to send my powers to earth when ah finally fall."
"Understood sire," said Matt, looking sad but he turned and went to deliver the message leaving Kenzan to look at the Triceratops with sadness in his eyes.
"Sam Hill," muttered Hasselberry. Then it went dark for a second and the next thing he knew is that he was watching himself fight the war with the Triceratops at his side and then an explosion blasted Kenzan and the Triceratops backwards. Three people walked out of the dust cloud, past Larke, past Jaden and past Karādorein.
Hasselberry watched in horror as they cruelly and mercilessly slaughtered the Triceratops in front of his past self's eyes. Kenzan roared in anger and charged at the three corrupt rulers before he was murdered by past Jaden and then Hasselberry let out a roar of his own and then blacked out.
That was when the others found him in a crater with three green streaks in his hair and a dinosaur footprint on his cheek. He was moaning slightly and his eyes were opening and closing. Bastion checked him over, "He's alright, no concussion or anything; he's definitely doing better than Chazz and Alexis."
"Well, he did come to the Power Control lessons, so of course he would be doing better than them," muttered Hayley.
"Let's get him to Miss Fontain," said Bastion, heaving the army brat onto his shoulders, with Aster and Sartorius helping him out of the crater.
Xxxxx
"So," said Taniya, looking down at the three teens in the Hospital Wing. "We have three more who have their marks, hair streaks and unlocked powers. Just Flo and I left then."
"I can theorize that from what we know of the past, you're most likely going to see your death," said Bastion with a frown.
"Most likely, but that's not going to get me down, I'll take it when it comes," said Taniya.
"Don't forget that Ryan and James also need to get their special guardian marks," said Hayley, watching her sleeping friends and Taniya and Bastion nodded.
"By the way," said Aster, "The guy who was dueling Hasselberry said to give him this," and he held out the last card that Hasselberry needed. "He said that Hasselberry had been about to win the duel so it's his."
"He can be entered into the singles later when he wakes up, along with Chazz and Alexis," said Ryan.
"Guys, bad news," said James running in.
"What?" they all asked.
"Jaden is entering the Doubles with Larke, he got another card from Viper, I saw him give it to him, so now he's back in the tournament," said James.
"That no good son of a…" sand Bastion trailed off in anger.
"That's just proof that they need that moron for something," said Hayley in annoyance.
"Considering that he participated in the deaths of every Reincarnated Royal back when he was the Supreme King, that's not surprising," said Spike, who had come in without being noticed.
"What now?" Syrus asked, sitting at Hasselberry's bedside.
"You wait for Flo and Taniya to get their marks along with Ryan and James and then things will start getting interesting," said Spike and they all looked at each other grimly. Things were heating up.
Xxxxx
Taniya sighed as she walked around the Academy, things were starting to be set in motion, Hasselberry was awake and walking again thank goodness and he'd told them what he'd seen. It was awful that her sister and their friends were experiencing this. Her PDA beeped and she saw that massage from Syrus, saying that Chazz and Alexis were awake. "Well, that's good news," muttered Taniya.
Xxxxx
"Three more Royals have awoken, this is not good," said Larke, crossing her arms.
"They only need two more Royals and the guardians and then, if we don't manage to get what we need then Karādorein will not be able to return," said Viper.
"We could kill them," said Etain eagerly.
"No!" said Viper with a frown and Jacob grinned at the Amazon who was looking angry now.
"Chill guys, we can take 'em" said Jaden, staring up at the sky with a grin.
"Let's go Jaden, we need to get ourselves into the doubles tournament," said Larke walking off, after receiving glares from the older ones in the group.
"Coming," he said, following her.
"Like a puppy," said Jacob, shaking his head, "Now that he's gone, I found this in my room earlier today,"
Jacob placed a Deck on the table, Viper picked it up and searched through it, "He returned the Anti-Valkyrion Deck without a single card missing?"
"What do you think this means?" Etain asked.
"It means A, he thinks his Deck is more powerful than that, and B, he's still on the island," Jacob replied
Viper slammed his fist on the table, "I thought giving him that Deck would burn him out!"
"Relax," Jacob said, "It did. There's three spots left in these finals, Syrus and Hassleberry have two of them secured and they're no threat and I have a little surprise for the third slot. Just you wait,"
Xxxxx
Taniya was walking back to the Slifer Dorm when she got the worst headache ever, that make her grasp her head in agony before an orange flash of light blinded her for a few seconds.
"Ok, I'm floating above myself. My turn to see something tragic about my past," said Taniya in a matter of fact voice. She watched herself fighting against an army with Craig, Ryan and James beside her.
"Come on, we're doing it!" Princess Sunny cried, cutting down another enemy and proceeding to the next one.
"Take them all down!" cried Tai, swinging at a soldier and killing him.
Taniya watched as some of the enemy managed to get past and were beginning to make their way to the castle. "Not on my watch!" cried Sunny, leaping away from the battle to intercept the deserters. She'd keep her little sister and her brother-in-law safe at all costs.
She killed all of them and was then face to face with Karādorein, Larke and Jaden.
"Hello, cousin," said Larke mockingly.
"Hello Robin," Sunny mocked back.
"It's Kestrel! Kestrel you stupid, b****!" she screamed and both Sunny and Taniya smirked.
"Well, with that shade of red on your face I'm honestly surprised you're not called Robin," Sunny sneered, if she could keep them here, Tai and the others would be able to get over to her.
"Enough of this. Today marks the end of your life Princess Sunny and the end of King Daichi's life but the beginning of mine with your sweet sister," said Karādorein.
"Over my dead body and even if I do fall, my sister would rather die than ever be with the likes of you, you insufferable b*****d! yelled Sunny.
"You go girl," muttered Taniya as she watched her past self practically leap on the three with her weapon, pushing them back as much as possible.
"This ends now!" cried Haou who then used his powers to kill her, going right through her heart. The last words she heard were Karādorein's.
"Time to take my prize, Queen Hayley will be mine."
"NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOO!" was her last mental scream before her last bit of life faded and she finally died.
"NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOO!" screamed Taniya. With a flash she was back in the present with her sister shouting at her.
"TANIYA! SNAP OUT OF IT!" she yelled.
Taniya groaned, holding her head. Bastion observed his future sister-in-law, she now had a sun with a yellow center and orange rays around it on her cheek and her hair had three orange streaks in it. "At least you're not unconscious," he said, offering her his hand to get out of the crater she was standing it.
"Ah, yeah," she moaned, taking his hand and climbing out.
"Only Flo is left of us Royals," muttered Hayley after checking that her sister was fine.
"Ow, it feels like I got hit by a Neutron Blast," moaned Taniya.
"Welcome to the club," said Bastion and Hayley together.
"Would you mind if I took a look at what you saw?" asked Bastion.
"Sure, go ahead," and Bastion used his powers to slip into Taniya's mind and then pulled out, showing Hayley what Taniya saw in her flashback.
"So your flashback ends and then ours begins," said Hayley thoughtfully, trying not to wince when she thought of her unborn child being killed by Jaden and the others.
"I think we need to call a team meeting sometime before the tournament starts," suggested Bastion and both girls nodded.
Xxxxx
Watching from afar, from the top of the Duel Tower, stood a hooded figure, watching the people in the crater below and operating the tournament qualification system, checking out the entries.
"Looks like things got interesting way too quickly…" the figure said, "Seems like I'm missing out on all the fun,"
The figure pressed a button, loading up those who had qualified on a screen.
"Seven people in the finals then, once Syrus and Hassleberry are in…" the figure muttered, before turning around and retreating back down the stairs, and out of the Duel Tower and towards the forest.
"One space left? No white cards? Everything going up in flames? My time to shine," the boy thought, so excited the red tint in his eye was almost glowing.
Xxxxx
Somewhere in another dimension, in a weakened state and slowly getting stronger, Karādorein watched all that was happening and frowned at the sudden, unexplained rate that the Reincarnated Royals were getting their flashbacks and powers.
"Things are not looking good for me and my plans," he said as he stared at Hayley through the portal, "Soon, you will be mine," he vowed and on earth Hayley shivered, feeling very uncomfortable.
'I'm just glad Karādorein isn't here to harass me,' she thought. Little did she know that she would be seeing him sooner than she ever wanted to see him ever again.
Xxxxx
COLD: So despite everything, I finally got this chapter done. I hope you enjoyed it.
AI: She had a lot of trouble with this chapter. The next one is mine.
CLD: Yeah, up next is Flo and Ryan and James.