Greetings and welcome back to Legacy of the Star Princess. Also, in case you didn't know, Sidney's dreams are usually literary foreshadowing. Especially the one in the last chapter and it is also a metaphor. OC x Canon forever! Ok, I'm done ranting, on with the fanfic!

Goodwin left Sidney alone to rest in her room. Lazar departed, since his presence was required elsewhere at the moment. Goodwin and Jack went downstairs and talked out on the front steps.

"Now, I know that we contacted you this morning and we were unable to reach you. Do you have any explanation for that, Jack?"

Jack scowled. "I was in a duel with a Shadow Drone like Yusei described…but it wasn't just anybody…I dueled Trudge."

Goodwin raised an eyebrow but allowed him to continue.

"It was almost like Yusei's duel. As far as description goes…But, I ran into this girl named …Carly, she got caught in the middle of it… But she protected me from getting hurt when I was attacked. …I owe her for that.

Trudge returned to normal after I won, and Carly disappeared…that was when Trudge got in a call and ran off. I suppose that was for escorting Yusei…" Jack huffed.

"So we've won two battles against the darkness. We may have a fighting chance after all…but this is only starting." Goodwin sighed.

"By the way, you are coming to the special event I have set up to ease the public, am I correct?" Goodwin asked. Jack blinked.

"It's not like I have anything better to do."

"If Sidney can overcome her illness in the next day, she will be attending as well. In the meantime, I have other matters to attend to." Goodwin told him flatly.

"I can see where this is going…" Jack mused.

The sky was beginning to clear up, as a stream of the setting sun flooded into the room, revealing the light hidden within.

…

Yusei lay on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. The moon was beginning to rise as the sun's last ray of light faded from the sky. Everyone else was already asleep, but there were things on his mind that kept him awake.

There were still things he didn't know about the Dark Signers. There are so many people who are in danger, he thought. An image of Sidney popped into his head. It was followed by the memory of her suddenly kissing him earlier that day.

Why did that keep coming back to him? He shook his head. It would have to wait, he told himself. There wasn't time to be thinking about it. The whole world is in danger, and he couldn't afford to be distracted. Otherwise, he would lose everything, including her.

The moon rose higher into the sky as he lay awake, unable to sleep. It felt like an eternity before his eyes began to droop as slumber slowly made its way and beckoned him into a deep sleep.

His mind was dark and empty for most of his dreaming, with occasional dreams with no rhyme or reason. But then, an image of the Satellite burning, a dragon with blood running from its eyes, and the shadowy figures dotting the landscape was forced in. At the center of it all were two voices. One was a woman singing a sorrowful tune that echoed through the smoking sky, and the other was another woman, speaking softly and hesitantly. A picture of the dragon was being painted across the sky in fiery strokes.

The dragon came closer to him. He could hear monsters not too far behind him. The song grew softer and the other voice faded as the dragon swung a claw at him and forced him awake. By then, the next day's morning had come.

…

Akiza was once again fetched by Sector Security and driven to Goodwin's house. She knew she was now leaving Sayer behind. For good. He would probably not forgive her for it. She knew he wouldn't understand. That is why she left, without a word or farewell. It was better he didn't know, she thought.

The young woman sat in the car as it strolled along the avenues, lost in her thoughts as houses and office buildings past her by.

And so it was, a new chapter of her life would begin this day.

…

Leo's mind had been quiet that night, and when he awoke the next morning had no recollection of any dreams. He rubbed his eyes as the morning sun greeted his face. Luna and Yusei's friends had already been awake for a while, getting breakfast together. Even Yusei, Blister, and Tanner were up now. The only person still asleep was Yanagi.

Leo wondered over. Luna looked up at him and smiled, happy to see him not so bedraggled this morning. He grabbed a bowl of cereal and plunked himself down next to Rally. Luna sat on the other side of Rally twiddling her fingers, since she had already eaten.

Yanagi had finally been roused awake and dashed into the room.

"I'll have you know! I'm not an early riser like the rest of you!"

Everyone managed to have finished eating when Trudge arrived at the house with a team of Sector Security cars.

"I just got a call from Goodwin. He wants ALL of you coming. And we're not meeting at Goodwin's place like yesterday. There's a new location I am supposed to take you to." Trudge entered the coordinates into Yusei's Runner.

"Goodwin had better have an explanation. Now, let's go."

…

Sidney woke up the next morning feeling better than she did last night. However, when the servant checked her temperature, she was still running a low grade fever.

"You should stay in bed still. I know it's not convenient, but it's better to be at the top of you're game….I'll go get you some more hot tea."

The servant quickly ran down the stairs. Sidney had a mountain of comic books and magazines to keep her occupied. However, just as the servant returned with the tea, Sidney's phone rang. She was left in piece. Laura was on the other line.

"Are you doing ok, Sidney? I haven't heard from you since yesterday."

Sidney sneezed. "I'm a little under the weather, but I am doing much better than I was last night, I was a train wreck."

"You got stuck in the rain, didn't you?" Laura scolded her.

"Yeah."

"I knew it. So, do you have a good reason?"

"Well, I ran into Yusei at the park, and we were talking…"

Laura's voice became excited. "Oh, well, I'm sorry you got sick. Well, I can't hold it against you for 'talking' with certain people. But, this isn't the best time. Especially since you are supposed to help save the world and all that jazz."

"Gosh, you sound just like Goodwin." Sidney sighed.

"What! Well, in that case, I'll just shut up about it, then. Say, do you know anything about the special 'New Domino Honors' Dinner going on tomorrow night?" On the other end of the line, Laura was in her bathroom, in her blue pajamas, just turning on her tooth brush.

"Why? Should I know something about it?" Sidney sneezed again.

"Well, Goodwin is running it, and the news says Jack and his foster daughter are expected to be there. Oh, and get this, Cassandra is supposed to be performing there." Laura explained in between brushing and rinsing.

"Geez, you think they would let me know ahead of time. I'm sick…but if I am any better by tomorrow I guess I'm going…wait, what?"

"Cassandra! You know, the singer you and I like. She's going to be there! Maybe you'll get to meet her… Oh, and the model Misty is supposed to be there, but I know you don't care about that sort of thing."

"So, let me guess, you want Cassandra's autograph?"

"Yes please! I'd like to put it next to my Bolt Tanner autograph…if I ever get one." Laura mentally floated off for a moment.

"Why didn't you say so? Anyways, this is my chance to wear that one dress you bought for me a few months ago for my birthday. If I am better by tomorrow, of course."

"You will be, I know you. You've got a will; therefore there is a way…

Knock them dead, Sid. Knock them dead."

…

All of the Signers had gathered at a house not to far from Goodwin's mansion, which about half of the size, but still fancied up. Goodwin stood in front of the door with a servant at each side.

"Good, everyone decided to join after all, now, in order for your safety, all of you will be staying here. That includes those of you who are not signers. You are all in danger of the Dark Signers, but as long as you stay here there will be no need to worry."

Everyone wasn't so sure about that. However, they went inside and were met by a group of maids. Each made lead a person to their room, where they would be staying.

The interior of the house was classy but simple. The walls were painted a light green and the floors were made of cedar wood.

As Yusei and Blister were shown the doors to their room, Goodwin came up behind them with Lazar at his side. Yusei glanced over at him.

"I have a request for the two of you." He said.

Blister and Yusei turned around. "I need you two to go to the Satellite. There is someone I want you to find for me."

"Who would that someone be?" Blister asked.

"I know not who they are. But, I know that they are known as the Oracle of Twilight. They have the power to see the truth, weather it lays in the light or in darkness."

Yusei raised an eyebrow.

"The Oracle is a psychic who can sense the presence of Signer and Dark Signer alike without revealing their marks. They also have the power to see into past."

"Why do you need the power of this so called Oracle? How do we know what we are looking for? And why send us?" Blister wondered.

"The Oracle of Twilight may give us an advantage over the Dark Signers with their great wealth of knowledge and psychic abilities. They posses no special mark, but I can assure you, a Signer or Dark Signer can spot them easily. I suspect the Oracle may be in the Satellite, which is why I am sending the two of you."

"Wouldn't a psychic be more likely to be with the Arcadia Movement?" Blister was confused. Yusei was wondering the same thing, especially since such a person would be of interest to them, the same way Akiza was.

"Perhaps. But, I have sources that say otherwise. I am the city's maintenance director, after all." Goodwin departed. Lazar leered at them before darting off. Yusei and Blister decided to follow Goodwin outside, where a Sector Security copter was waiting for them.

Yusei's Duel Runner and Blister's Motorbike were already boarded on. They went in and the copter's propeller rotated as it lifted off of the ground.

"I will have security pick you up in thirty-six hours." Lazar called after them. Goodwin looked at him disapprovingly.

"What? We can't afford to have a Signer running around alone in there for too long, right Director?"

Goodwin sighed. "I suppose you're right. I will inform Trudge when to go and fetch them. Perhaps I should check up on Sidney's health. I can't afford her to be sick for much longer."

"A servant did call. She's expected to be well enough to attend the Dinner."

"Good. Things should proceed as planned, then."

…

Crow was riding around on his Runner near the shoreline of the Satellite. The wings of his helmet caught the late morning sunlight. He almost looked like a bird of prey speeding down the dark gray beach.

"What's that?"

As he was riding along, he noticed a body sprawled out near the tide. He came to a halt and jumped off his bike, running over to check it out. Luckily, the person was simply unconscious and not a corpse.

At first, the person seemed to be a young boy, but Crow saw better when he got a closer look. She was a young girl, probably around early high school age, with boyishly short, wavy, deep dark red hair. The girl's outfit consisted of an ankle-length, V-necked black tunic with green trimming around the neck, sleeves, and ankles, and her feet were covered by a pair of sturdy green sandals. Her skin was a soft goldenrod tinge, but was dotted with bruises, scratches and cuts.

This poor girl, somebody must have attacked her and left her for dead. What a bunch of no good rotten scum! Any kind of person who would do this should get what's coming to him.

He brought the girl up to him so her head was resting in his lap. In wasn't long before the girl began stirring and opened her shimmering sea green eyes. The girl whimpered.

"It's ok. I'm not here to hurt you." He wasn't sure what would comfort her. Tears started trickling down her face. She grabbed his arm as she lay in his lap and squeezed it, not saying a word. She dug her nails into him, causing Crow to bite his lip.

Crow restrained himself, it was better not to try anything hasty. The girl opened her mouth. Her voice was sweet and musical like a robin.

"You're not one of them? You're not keeping me for them, are you?"

He frowned. "No way! Who did this to you?"

"The men in black hoods. They follow this group…they call themselves the Dark Signers. They lead one of them to me… and…and…"

The girl could no longer make sense as her speech was lost in her fit of crying. Crow held her hand. He heard of the Dark Signers. A cult had formed in the Satellite and were gathering people underground and rounding up more followers. They preached about strange thins such as embracing the darkness and rejecting the voice of the Crimson Dragon, whatever that was. Many people in the Satellite were sad and desperate, which was why they had been able to round up so many.

Crow didn't like them from the moment they first started making speeches in the streets. Their promises seemed empty as any others he may have heard, and did not make sense to him. Now, he had more reason not to trust them, to consider them dangerous. Even more so, he now had a reason to hate them.

"I can take you back to my place, get you cleaned up. Sadly, I doubt the cops are going to believe either of us." Crow stood up, cradling the small and slender girl in his arms. The girl made hesitant noises.

"I promise, I'm on your side." He reassured her, "The name is Crow, by the way."

This seemed to calm her down, as she returned by introducing herself.

"Midori Tsukino…" She sniveled.

"Well, Midori, you don't need to worry about those creeps ever messing with you again, that's a certainty you can stand by." He helped her onto his bike, doing his best to be gentle with her, as he wounds still caused her a great amount of pain.

"My grandpa…this is all my fault, I should have told grandpa to run! They held him to the wall as they took me away…I… Is... Is he ok?"

"I don't know. I guess all we can do is make sure you're ok. Once we do that, we can go look for your grandpa, ok, Midori?"

Midori sobbed.

"It's not your fault. These rotten people hurt your grandpa and you. It's their fault, and they're going to pay for it, don't you worry about that. What goes around come around." Crow started his engine and drove carefully back to his shack. Midori was quiet for most of the way. He couldn't help but want to take care of this poor girl. He meant what he said, and intended every word.

Wow…that was kind of dark for me. But, now I am happy to announce that we have a new character on board. Although, it's kind of a sad way to introduce a character. Anyways, be sure to read Coke head's A Futuristic Fairytale. And of course, R&R.

Tune in next time for episode seventeen. What sort of surprises are in store?

Well, I guess you will just have to find out in the next episode now, won't we?

Hopefully, the content of this fanfic is still within the confines of its rating, despite the darkened quality I have now endowed it with. Have nice day.