Episode 62 now available. What has become of our hero and heroine?

After seeing a cascade of swirling color and light, Yusei found himself wrapped up in impenetrable darkness. A dampening weight seemed to press against his body as he tried to stand up and get a sense of where he was. The air was completely still, and all he could see forever was the darkness. Was he dead? Was this the afterwards that greeted him? He could not say at first.

However, that theory was dashed when his Signer mark began to glow. Up ahead, he could see a faint red light, nearly being crushed by the darkness. He followed the light, feeling something was familiar about it. The duelist walked, and walked, and walked. It seemed like an eternity that he walked towards the light, though it grew a little brighter every so often.

Eventually, a form began to outline around the light. He drew ever closer, recognizing a human shape. He called out, only the shape slightly twitched in response. He called again, but to have little to no effect. He picked up speed, running as fast as he could with the weight bearing down on him.

He came close enough that he recognized the shapes of each of the Signers marks, and saw the form the light was coming from was none other than Sidney, or something that looked like her.

"Sidney!"

She was lying sprawled out, her face turned to the side. Her Signer marks were glowing, but dimly like a light bulb that was about to go out. Her eyes were closed, but her fingers trembled. Yusei reached out, wondering if he was seeing some sort of vision. He was surprised that his gloved fingers actually touched and felt the warmth of her cheek.

"Sidney…can you hear me?," Yusei's voice softened. She finally responded with movement, slowly attempting to sit up. Yusei reached behind her and gently supported, helping her get to her feet. She let out a quiet noise of disgruntlement before shaking her head.

"Y-Yusei…"

Her eyes finally opened and her head tilted so she was looking Yusei in the eyes. She smiled feebly at him and sighed with relief.

"Thank goodness you're alive…I thought I had lost you."

She pulled him in for a quick kiss before gazing out at the foreboding darkness.

"Are we…inside Momentum?"

"For a while I thought maybe this was what beyond the grave looked like," Yusei replied, "But, your guess is as good as mine. If that's where we are…"

He looked around anxiously.

"But, you shouldn't be here, Sidney."

"Neither should you. I came in after you because I intend to get you out."

Yusei shook his head.

"Sidney… you shouldn't… how are we supposed to get out, then?"

Sidney faltered, her expression turning grim.

"I…I don't know. But…I couldn't just stand by and watch you fall."

She felt Yusei firmly grab her by the arms, looking like he was holding back from being frustrated. Sidney pulled on his arms with her fingertips, looking up at him unflinchingly.

"You shouldn't have come in after me. Losing one of us is better than losing two. Especially…"

"Yusei, I refuse to lose any of the Signers. And I love you. What more reason do I need?"

He sighed.

"And that's why I wish you would have stayed behind. Because I can't lose you."

He started to sense a darker presence and Sidney could feel it too.

"We're not going to get anywhere arguing. Besides, I have a feeling things are about to get worse," He warned as suddenly the silence around them was broken by soft murmuring, followed by mournful, pitiful wailing.

"Come on," Yusei gently tugged on Sidney's hand, a gesture for the girl to follow him.

"What's going on? I can sense… this dread… this feeling of agony…"

As Sidney was speaking, several white figures started to wander out of the dark, walking sluggishly and jaggedly, as though having a desire to limp. They looked like they were made of mist, with empty faces and a body that was featureless.

"What are these things?" He wondered aloud. He reached out a free hand and touched one. Suddenly, his Signer mark began to shine brightly, and a vision flashed across his mind. In it, several people were falling into a chasm that was forming, down into the abyss to their deaths. Debris and a crumbling city surrounded the chasm, a city that Yusei knew all to well.

"These are…"

He turned to Sidney.

"These are spirits of people who died during the initial explosion. The one that happened from my father's project… They're… they're here…trapped… just like the souls of the Satellite being used to fuel the Earthbound Immortals."

Sidney gasped when she reached out and touched one herself, feeling the memories flooding into her mind.

"My…my god…you're right, Yusei. So…is this place… where some of the souls have been trapped?," She worried.

Before either one could come to a conclusion, Sidney's marks started to shine brightly as well. The white figures halted, their featureless faces turning towards Yusei and Sidney. A few of them started to walk towards them, the sounds turning into howls of anger.

"They… they can sense us through the power of the Crimson Dragon… or perhaps they touched our memories? I don't know what's happening."

One of them suddenly grabbed Yusei, pulling him away from Sidney.

"No! Let him go!"

However, a spirit grabbed her as well.

"Sidney!"

Yusei saw another vision, one of several people getting caught in the blast of Zero Reverse.

"They're angry… because of what happened with the project… with what happened with my father and the Goodwins…"

"Yeah? And my mother was the architect for the building, but that's her, not me. Just because you're related doesn't mean it's your fault. It wasn't even your father's fault… it was Rudger."

"Yeah, well I don't think it makes a damn bit of difference to them," he huffed pushing as hard as he could away from them to get to Sidney. He held out his hand, and Sidney tried to grab on, only to have the spirits rip him away again.

"Leave him alone!"

She tried to use her abilities, but other than a bright glow from her marks, nothing seemed to be happening.

"I…have no power here… I can do nothing…but... How?"

Suddenly, the darkness began pulling Yusei in, and the spirits were pushing his body down further into the abyss.

"Yusei!"

She felt her own body begin to sink, and the spirits pushing her down from above. She tried to push against the forces acting on her, as did Yusei. But, it seemed as though their efforts were futile.

However, as the darkness was at their shoulders, there was a sudden silence. A bright light shined in the darkness, causing the spirits to stand back. A deep voice called out, shunning the spirits and shooing them away.

"These people do not bear the sin you seek to absolve. Hurting them will not earn you your final rest. By doing them in, you take away the chance entirely. Now, be gone!"

The spirits vanished, leaving the two engulfed by the blinding light, the darkness melting away. Yusei and Sidney's bodies were pulled back out by an unseen force, and they found themselves standing on a plane of pure white. The two of them turned to each other, each wondering what had just happened. However, Yusei could swear the voice was familiar from somewhere, but who was it?

A silhouette of a man stepped out of the white approaching them as a figure of pure black. However, as it got closer, more features became discernible, such as the flowing of a coat, the outline of shows, and spiked hair.

"What are you two doing here?," the voice spoke again. They realized that whoever was approaching them was the one who was speaking.

"Thank you for saving us," Sidney thanked them, "We got here by accident. We need to find our way back but neither of us knows the way."

The figure came even closer, and Sidney saw a pair of striking blue eyes and tan skin. Yusei realized the form much resembled someone from the past, but he scarcely believed what he was seeing in front of him.

"…Father?!"

Dressed in a white lab coat was the figure of Yusei's deceased father, Hakase (Professor) Fudo.

"I am glad I got here in time, or the earth may very well have swallowed you up," the professor sighed, "But yes, I am here to guide you from this place. You should not be here. NEITHER of you."

Yusei started to approach him, his face showing pure awestruck bewilderment.

"How…can you be here? Are you alive? Are you a spirit trapped her as well?"

Yusei's father nodded slowly.

"I am no longer alive. I haven't been for some time, Yusei. But I have remained here, to look over those who have suffered because of the mistakes of my team. I will depart as they will, when the threat of the darkness we unleashed is averted."

"So…"

"I can lead you out, but I cannot go with you. Trust me, my son, this is not your place. There is much left for you to do, more people in your life to meet, and more experiences for you to have."

He turned to Sidney.

"I can say the same of you, Miss Clay-Jacques."

"Why is it that you can lead us out? And not one of the other spirits?," Sidney asked.

"As I said, I am looking after these poor people until their turmoil is put to rest. The details are unimportant. What is important is that you both return to the Satellite and write the wrongs of the evil that seeks to destroy everything," he explained.

"Not important? But…"

"Father…" Yusei hesitated.

"This is what must be done. I wish things were different, but this is something that cannot change. What has been done cannot be undone. But the future is still there for you. And the world is counting on you that all may have whatever the future may bring."

The light intensified, blinding the two of them once again. The professor began to disappear, and the whole of reality began to shift.

"Father!"

"Take care, especially you, Yusei."

…

Back at the old site of Momentum, several allies and friends of Yusei and Sidney were gathered around, fearing that they had lost both of them. Midori, Crow, Etsuo, Laura, Shinju, the twins, and Trudge, along with Cassandra, were huddled around the edge where the bridge had collapsed.

"We need to go. Your friends are probably trying to seal the other towers." Etsuo uttered regretfully. Midori shook her head.

"But, Grandpa! They can't really be dead! Not like this!"

Laura slammed her fist against a rock wall, tears streaming down her face. Shinju held her other hand, trying to comfort hurt.

"Dammit, Sid…"

"Hey, look!" Everyone heard Leo's voice pipe up with astonishment. Cassandra was the first to see particles of light begin to gather at the center of their small group. The particles began to shape into humanoid forms, and everyone suddenly realized what might be happening.

"Is that…?" Laura gasped.

"I think Yusei and Sidney are back!," Cassandra exclaimed.

"No way!" Trudge objected.

However, the light outlined their forms in mid-air, and soon it seemed to burst like shattered glass, revealing the forms of the group's lost companions.

"Way," Laura's eyes widened, tears still staining her face.

Yusei hit the ground first, with Sidney landing on top of him. He grunted from the sudden impact of the rocky surface. He noticed that his Signer mark was no longer glowing, and Sidney's had also stopped as well. He looked down noticing Sidney was shivering and her eyes were closed.

"Sidney. It's okay. We're back. Everyone's here."

She opened her eyes and looked around.

"…Guys?"

Before she could look down and comment on the awkward position she and Yusei landed in, she was scooped up by Laura in one of the tightest hugs she ever had in her life.

"Don't EVER do that again, Sid. We thought you two might be dead!"

Sidney could hear her best friend restraining sobs.

"It's okay Laura. I have no intention of that happening."

She laughed. Crow extended his hand to Yusei and helped him to his feet.

"Glad to see you're in one piece, Yusei."

"Well, I think I've seen just about everything now," Etsuo chuckled. Trudge was utterly dumbstruck by the whole thing. Midori smiled and laughed along with her grandfather. However, Cassandra seemed somewhat distant. She was glad the two of them were okay, but a part of her was thinking about Rudger, what he said to her. She wished it never had to come to this. What sort of plan did Goodwin have? Why did all of this destruction have to happen? And what was the point? Why was everyone swept up in all of this?

"Cassandra?" She felt a tap on her shoulder, and saw it was one of the group, a boy who had been with the Oracle and Sidney's friend Laura before.

"You're…"

"Laura's boyfriend, Shinju. I'm mostly along for moral support and because Laura dragged my butt along for the ride…"

Cassandra nodded, acknowledging him.

"You don't look so good, are you going to be alright?"

Cassandra shook her head.

"It's going to take a while… but…I think…I hope I will be okay. I am not certain…"

He looked down at the old Momentum, spinning with its multicolored light.

"I noticed how you are Rudger interacted. Were the two of you close?"

Cassandra froze up for a moment or two. But, then she nodded solemnly.

"He meant a lot to me."

"Then, for what it's worth, I'm sorry. No matter what someone has done, it always hurts to lose somebody you care about," Shinju attempted to give her reassurance.

"We're all in this together. And somehow, someway, things are going to be put right."

As Sidney was being hugged by Laura, Yusei tapped the best friend on the shoulder.

"May I borrow Sidney?"

Laura laughed and released her friend.

"She's all yours, Yusei."

He then took Sidney's hands in his.

"Yusei…"

Before she could finish her sentence, Yusei leaned in and pressed his lips to her cheek. Her face turned bright red, not expecting that particular reaction at that moment. She looked away, until he took one of his hands and cupped her cheek, turning her gaze back.

"We're almost through this. And… we're both okay." She smiled.

"I…I hope everyone will okay in the end."

"That is my hope as well," Yusei nodded. He released her then started to head down the tunnels back to where he parked his Duel Runner. Everyone began to follow, knowing the group was probably heading to wherever the next match was, and hopefully, the towers would be sealed before the sun set.

Otherwise, the fight for the world might be the fight to their deaths. And even though some thought they may not come out of this alive, all had a secret desire to see things through to the end. Sidney sensed that in their absence another Dark Signer had been defeated, meaning that only one remained. But, time was still the essence. And so, their fight for the future of the world would come to a close soon, one way or the other.

…

Well, that's it for episode 62! Be sure to check out the next episode… hopefully… if I can finish it. Also, did anyone actually read the important announcement last chapter? If not, please take a few minutes to read it. Thank you for your support! See you next time! :D