Episode 66: Love is Eternal Part 1

Yuni, Brutus, Tori, Zenith, Ma'at, Seto, and Oblivion are waiting in the Virtual Pod room of the space station. A door on one side of the room slides open and Otto walks in. He says, "Good day duelists of the World of Duel!"

Yuni exclaims, "Otto, how's it going?"

Otto walks over to Yuni's group and says, "Yuni, it's good to see you again. I trust you got all of those issues you had sorted out?"

Yuni looks confused. "What issues-" Tori jabs Yuni in the side and Yuni pretends to remember and says, "Oh yes, silly me. Of course. Everything turned out fine."

Otto nods. "Good, I'm glad to hear it. I'd like to be able to see another one of your duels."

Brutus asks, "So why are you here Otto?"

"Come on Brutus, this is the event of the millennium! The eight greatest duelists in the world getting together to decide the first King of Games in 5,000 years! It's absolutely amazing! A duel spectator like myself wouldn't miss the chance to see it live for his life!"

Tori asks, "How'd you get up here?"

Otto smiles. "I have some "ins" at the Ministry of Dueling. They set me up."

The hologram of the Minister of Dueling reappears. It says, "Alright, all duelists have now completed the survival duels! Our mystery duelist has just completed it with 2300 life points remaining!" The final Virtual Pod opens up and the mysterious girl steps out.

Yugi says, Hey Yuni, now would be a good time to see if she knows anything about Yugoha.

Yuni nods in agreement. He begins to walk towards her. The girl looks towards him, but then quickly looks away. Just before Yuni can reach her, the Minister of Dueling announces, "Alright duelists, it is time to begin the real dueling! If you would all move into the next room!"

A large door on the other side of the room opens. The eight duelist, plus Otto and Kodane, walk through the door onto an observation platform. On the other side is a large, spherical room. Most of the wall, floor, and roof is made out of a see-through material, allowing for a magnificent view of space and the Earth below.

Kodane comments, "Look Seto! Isn't that amazing!? I love space! I want to be an astronaut when I grow up!"

Seto smiles and says, "I hope you don't, you've got to be ready to help me at Kaiba Corp."

Kodane smiles back. "Oh yeah, of course!"

In the center of the room a larger than life hologram of the Minister of Dueling appears. He says, "Welcome duelists to our specially built, zero-gravity dueling arena! That's right, once you step off of the observation platform, the artificial gravity will shut off, allowing for a truly unique experience of dueling in zero-gravity! The following duels will be a standard grid-style tournament, with the winners advancing to the next round, and the losers being eliminated! Now that we have that settled, let's get to our first duel! Once the match-up is announced, the duelists of the first duel must make their way to their respective sides of the arena. Now, let's see who's going to duel!" A holo-screen appears over the arena and images of the eight duelists randomly flash across the screen. The pictures begin to slow, and eventually stop at Seto and the mystery girl.

Seto smiles and thinks, It looks like I'm up first. This should be interesting. Seto vaults over the railing, as soon as he crosses it, all gravity goes away, leaving Seto floating. He kicks off of the platform and floats towards his position.

Kodane cheers, "Alright Seto! You can do this!"

The girl climbs on to the railing, and lets the antigravity take over. She slowly floats to her side.

The Minister announces, "Alright, it is time to begin duel number one of the first round! Seto Ossius versus Celestia Stellas!"

Both Yuni and Seto gasp. Yuni thinks, But Celestia was the name of the girl in the vision I had when I bumped into that girl!

The girl lowers her head. Slowly she pulls off the hood of her gown. She has black hair, so long that it falls to the back of her knees, a delicate face, and light blue eyes, exactly the same as the Celestia from Yuni and Seto's visions.

Seto, looking like he is in shock, says, "You! I've seen you before!"

Celestia takes a deep breath and says, "Hello Seto, it is so nice to see you again."

Seto says in denial, "My eyes must be playing tricks on me! This is impossible! You were just a figment of my imagination, there's no way you're real!"

Celestia winces. "I am as real as you are Seto. Please believe me."

Yuni thinks, It would seem that I wasn't the only one who has had an encounter with Celestia. Interesting.

Seto holds his hand to his head, as if it hurts. He says, "Enough of this, I'm here to duel, and nothing else!" He activates his Duel Gauntlet.

Celestia pulls up one of her sleeves to reveal an ornately decorated Duel Gauntlet with a nebula-like design on it. She activates it.

The Duel Computer announces, "The first duel of the first round of the World of Duel Finals now commencing. Seto Ossius, with 4800 life points, vs. Celestia Stellas, with 2300 life points. Scanning decks…decks accepted. Commence dueling."

The Minister of Dueling announces, "It has been randomly determined that Celestia will take the first turn!"

Celestia draws. She nods at the card she draws. She says, "This card has very special meaning to me, and it should to you as well. I activate the Field Spell card, Celestial Paradise!" With the activation of the Field Spell, the walls around the duelists appear to disappear, leaving them floating in space. They are no longer above the Earth, and a stunning view of the Milky Way can be seen before them on one side, and a breath-taking nebula on the other.

Upon taking in the view, Seto's eyes open wide. The next moment Seto has a vision. He sees the Yugohan Prince Seto and Celestia, wearing space suits, floating before the view in from the card that Celestia played. The Celestia from the vision says via communicator, "It's absolutely beautiful Seto."

Prince Seto responds, "And it's all for you. Once we marry, this can all be yours. You can be the queen of the galaxy."

Celestia smiles. She says, "You know that all I ever wanted was you."

Prince Seto jokes, "But the galaxy would be nice too though, right?"

They both laugh. "Yes, I suppose it would." They both float in silence for several moments. Celestia says, "Seto?"

"Yes my love?"

"What if the war doesn't end? What if Yugoha falls?"

"Celestia, I took you out here so we could forget about all of that stuff. Yugoha will not fall. I will take my rightful place, and then we shall marry, and you shall be my queen. Do not fear."

Celestia nods solemnly. The vision ends. Seto demands, "What was that!?"

Celestia says quietly, "That was the last peaceful moment we spent together."

Yugi asks, What just happened?

Yuni responds, I'm not sure, but I think that that card just triggered a vision for Seto.

Seto asserts, "Enough of this craziness, make your move!"

Celestia bows her head. "As you wish. I activate Celestial Light." A ray of light shines upon Celestia. "I can only activate this card if my life points are less than yours. This card graces me with 2000 life points (Celestia's LP: 4300). Then, whenever I gain life points, Celestial Paradise increase my life points by the same amount (Celestia's LP: 6300). Now that I posses more life points than you, I can special summon Celestial Grace - Priestess of the Cosmos (Light/Level 7/Fairy/Effect/ATK 1000/DEF 0)." A light shines upon the field and in it a being manifests. The monster is a shining, angelic being. It wears a pure white gown and has wings of light. The entire monster illuminates a golden light. "When my Priestess is summoned, she gains attack points equal to the difference in our life points, as long as I posses more than you (ATK: 2500). I'll set a card and then pay 1000 life points in order to keep my Celestial Paradise on the field (Celestia's LP: 5300) (Celestia's hand: 3).

Seto draws. He thinks, This girl has to be trying to mess with me. She must have set this entire thing up in order to be able to defeat me. But how is she making me see these visions? He shakes off his distress. I can't let it get to me, or she'll achieve her goal. He says aloud, "I summon Plasma Tyrano (Light/Level 4/Dinosaur/Effect/ATK 1000/DEF 0)!" Seto's monster is a T. Rex made of yellow plasma. "When I summon Plasma Tyrano, it gains a level for each monster you control (Level: 5)! On top of that, it gains 500 attack for every level it has over its original (ATK: 1500). Next I'll discard my Plasma Sage from my hand. By discarding it, Plasma Sage can increase the level of one of my Plasma monsters by three (Level: 8), which means that my attack also increases (ATK: 3000)! Now Plasma Tyrano, attack Celestial Grace - Priestess of the Cosmos!" Seto's monster charges at Celestia's.

Celestia looks pained. She says, "I am so sorry my dear Seto, but I have to win this duel. I activate Celestial Charge. This card negates your attack, and then increases my life points by the amount of damage that you would have caused me (Celestia's LP: 5800). Celestial Charge also increases my monster's attack by the same amount (ATK: 3000), and Celestial Paradise activates (Celestia's LP: 6300)." Plasma Tyrano's attack is cancelled.

Seto grunts. "Fine. I have finished my turn (Seto's hand: 4)."

Celestia draws. She says, "I really am sorry my dear Seto. I love you so much, but I must defeat you, there are more important things at stake."

Seto demands, "What are you talking about!? I don't know who you are!"

"You're right. How could you remember me? You are but part of what you used to be."

"What's that supposed to mean!?"

"I guess I can explain. You Seto are but the most recent in a series of reincarnations of the Yugohan Prince Seto, a brave prince who lived 20,000 years ago."

Seto looks skeptical. "You expect me to believe that? 20,000 years ago humans were living in caves. You're trying to tell me that there was a prince back then!?"

Celestia shakes her head. "No, not human, but Yugohan, an entirely different species. Though they look the same, they are not."

Seto bursts out laughing. "Aliens!? You're telling me that I'm not only an alien, but an alien prince?!"

"No, not you. You are a human, but your spirit is Yugohan."

"In case you haven't got the memo, we've been looking for alien life for over 5,000 years, and have found absolutely nothing, there's no such thing. You must be crazy."

Celestia winces. "Your words hurt me Seto, but I know that they are spoken only in ignorance, and I forgive you for that." She looks at the cards in her hand. "I summon Celestial Grace - Firebird (Light/Level 4/Fairy/Effect/ATK 1600/DEF 1900) in defense mode." The monster is a human-sized bird with golden flames burning brilliantly all over it. Celestia says, "Seto, look at my monster. Does it not awaken any lost memories to you?"

Seto stares at the golden bird. Suddenly another vision is brought on. Prince Seto and Celestia are walking through a meadow. They appear younger, maybe by five years, making them younger teenagers. They both appear as if they don't know what to say. After a few awkward moments, Prince Seto says, "Look…Celestia…we've known each other for several years now and…well…um…"

Celestia looks up at him expectantly. She asks, "Yes my prince?"

Prince Seto tugs at his collar. "Well…I've just been thinking. We've been friends, and it's just that…well…you're important to me."

Celestia laughs. "You're important to me too."

Seto continues to stammer, "So…anyways, I was hoping that…"

Celestia says jokingly, "Prince Seto, you're being raised to rule a kingdom, and you're the most assertive person I know, but you can't even ask a girl out?"

They both laugh, Seto a little more awkwardly. Seto sighs. "So what do you say? Would you?"

Celestia smiles. "I was beginning to think that you would never ask. Of course Prince Seto!"

Seto smiles widely. "This is so great! Just promise me one thing."

"Anything."

"Stop calling me Prince Seto, at least when its just you and me. For now on you just call me Seto."

"Of course my prince…I mean Seto." She laughs. A bird screech is heard from above. Celestia points up and says, "Oh look Seto, it's a Yugohan Firebird!" Flying above them is a bird that looks just like the one that Celestia summoned during the duel.

"Wow, it's so beautiful. Of course, not as beautiful as you."

She smiles. "Oh stop it." She looks back up at the bird, flying out of sight now. She comments, "Did you know what they say about firebirds?"

"What?"

"They say that if a new couple looks upon one together, that those two will remained forever linked, no matter what time throws at them."

Seto looks down at her and says jokingly, but still caringly, "Then it looks like you're stuck with me."

She smiles. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

They both hold hands and walk into the distance.

The vision ends. Seto is standing dumbfounded, staring at Firebird monster. Seto shouts, "Stop messing with my head!"

Celestia says, "These memories do not come from me. They are your own."

Seto thinks, I really am going crazy! What is this madness?

Yuni thinks, I wish that I could be seeing these visions that Seto's having. I want any information on Yugoha that I can get.

Yugi says, I don't know, I think that these visions might be something a little more personal, the way that Celestia is talking about them.

You're probably right. I guess it's a good thing though that Seto is being told all of this, that way I don't have to tell him. He'd just call me crazy anyways.

Back at the duel, Celestia says, "I activate Celestial Ray. This card grants me 100 life points for every Celestial monster that I control" A ray of light covers Celestia (Celestia's LP: 6500). "Every time my life points are increased, Celestial Grace - Firebird inflicts 500 points of damage to you." Golden flames burst from the monster and brush against Seto (Seto's LP: 4300). "Now I'll gain another 200 life points thanks to Celestial Paradise (Celestia's LP: 6700), and you take another 500 points of damage (Seto's LP: 3800). It hurts me to hurt you, but it is of the utmost importance that I continue in these finals."

Seto says, "Just drop the act already. You don't care about me, you're only trying to confuse me. You know that you can't beat a duelist as good as me, so you're playing some sort of trick on me, trying to keep me off guard."

Celestia looks pained by the comment. After a few silent moments, she says, "I can not make you believe me. I understand your reluctance to believe me. I hope that some day you may remember us. I pay 1000 life points for the cost of Celestial Paradise (Celestia's LP: 5700) and end my turn (Celestia's hand: 2)."

Yuni looks at Celestia, who looks disturbed. He thinks, I feel so bad for her. Seto is obviously seeing it right before his eyes, and yet he isn't willing to except it. I can sense that she really cares for him. She's not playing any tricks at all.

Yugi says, Well…I guess that Setos will be Setos.

I know, but it's still tragic.

Seto, appearing confused, draws his card. He looks at Celestia. Suddenly he has a quick vision. Prince Seto and Celestia are hugging each other. Prince Seto whispers in her ears, "You are my one and only love." He kisses her. The vision ends. Seto shakes his head, trying to shake it off.

He thinks, I've got to get to my senses. I can't let her get me off guard. He shakes his head quickly again. He declares, "I special summon Plasma Vanguard by tributing my Plasma Tyrano (Light/Level 1/Warrior/Effect/ATK ?/DEF ?)!" Seto's monster a soldier made of orange plasma, standing valiantly, and holding a spear. "When I special summon this monster by tributing a level five or higher monster, it gains the levels of that monster (Level: 9). Also, its attack and defense become equal to its level times 400 (ATK and DEF: 3600). Now Plasma Vanguard, destroy Celestial Grace - Priestess of the Cosmos!" Seto's monster raises its spear and throws it at Celestia's monster. The plasma spear hits its target and destroys it. After that, it continues on to hit Celestia (Celestia's LP: 5100). Celestia falls back from the attack. Seto's monster creates a new spear out of plasma and plants it firmly in the ground. While Celestia's still on the floor, Seto declares, "Then I'll activate Plasma Inferno! This card will inflict 200 points of damage to you for every level that my Plasma monster has!" A burst of plasma energy flares out and scorches Celestia, who's still on the floor (Celestia's LP: 3300). Seto asserts, "See, your plan has got you no where! I am just as willing as ever to inflict damage to you!"

A tear falls from Celestia's eye, she looks hurt, both physically and emotionally. "I can see that."