Me: So… the muses decided that Blue Sky was in too good of a place to move on to another one of my stories (because I like to cycle through what story gets updated). Therefore, here is the next update!

Sky: Oh great…

Lucy: Hehehehehehehehehe…

Sky: That doesn't help at all. In fact, that makes me worry even more.

Me: Well, I can say that she's only laughing because of what's going to happen in the next chapter, not this one.

Lucy: No, because this one sets the stage for my chapter. I'm laughing because of this one.

Meri & Shade: Which is our chapter!

Lucy: I don't care! The next one is all mine!

Me: …Okay, before this turns really weird… I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds, but I do own my OCs and her cards—other than Crimson Star Ascension, which I borrowed from Ulrich362 (who borrowed the archetype from me, but what difference does that make?). I hope you all enjoy this chapter…

Chapter 59

"Z-ONE! You'll be facing me in the final Duel!"

"It seems that no matter what world or timeline, you will always give up everything for your brother," Z-ONE says, anger laced in his voice. "What if he doesn't want your help? What if he doesn't want you to sacrifice yourself to keep him safe?"

"I…" The questions catches me off guard, and I accidentally stop the Duel Runner. I twist my head and look at Yusei—he still stands next to Aporia's body, along with the others.

Yusei shakes his head. "You're wrong, Z-ONE!" he shouts. "Sure, I'd prefer it if she kept herself safe, but it's ultimately her own choice! Whatever Sky does, she knows the consequences, and I'm perfectly fine with that!"

Z-ONE remains silent for a moment. "Then you have not suffered—not like I have," he eventually says. "I'll show you what I've lived through, in this Duel!"

I've gathered my wits again, so I turn back to face my opponent. I honestly want to know what he's lived through to want to do something like this. Not only that, I want to know who he really is, and why he seems to have such a vendetta against me. Gritting my teeth, I press the acceleration again, steering the Yusei-Go to a piece of rubble that creates a sort-of ramp.

I ride off of it, and the glowing red wings reappear from the Runner. They flap several times, until I'm directly across from Z-ONE. "Alright Z-ONE, whatever you have to say won't stop me from defeating you."

He laughs, "Just wait until you're on the edge of defeat, Sky! Then you'll be eating your own words!"

"Hmph! With that attitude, I think you should go first," I say.

"No, you may have the first turn," Z-ONE replies.

Z-ONE's Life Points: 4000, Sky's Life Points: 4000

I glare at him. "Fine, I'll take the first turn! I draw!"

Z-ONE S.C. 1, Sky S.C. 1

I look at the cards I have in my hand and quickly realize I'm not using my normal Deck. It's the one with the Crimson Star monsters. Normally, I'd jump for joy over using these cards—I've seen some of their strength from when I was in the diner—but not now. Not when the outcome of this Duel dictates the fates of millions of people. Not when I barely know what I'm going up against. I'd rather have my Celestial cards, because I know all of their ins and outs. I don't know much of anything about the Crimson Star cards.

Still, I can't let the fact that I'm in unfamiliar territory knock me down. I quickly read the effects of the four cards I don't recognize, and smile when I see the effect of one of the monsters. "I Summon Crimson Star Fairy in Defense Mode!"

Crimson Star Fairy ATK: 0, DEF: 0, Level 2

A chibi-like red-haired girl in a poofy dress made of fire appears on my field. She has two wings protruding from her shoulders, bright red and wire-like in their appearance.

"Then I set two cards face-down and end my turn," I finish.

"Interesting, a monster with no strength," Z-ONE says. "It's my turn, I draw!" The giant, floating, mechanical arms move to the giant Deck Holder and takes out a card of an equally large card.

Z-ONE S.C. 2, Sky S.C. 2

After looking at it, the arm throws it out, only for it to hover in place and turn into a monster. "Because I control no cards, I can Special Summon Temporal Machine Priestess!" Z-ONE declares.

Temporal Machine Priestess ATK: 0, DEF: 0, Level 1

A metallic creature, whose grey-and-gold body is also shaped like a staff, appears from the previously thrown card. Its widest part, where the waist is supposed to be if the creature was human, has a gold ring with red orbs set in it, gold spikes extending from the orbs. The monster's head isn't much of one—just a metal piece with two glowing green eyes on it.

"Temporal Machine Priestess counts as two Tributes in the Summon of a Fairy-Type monster," Z-ONE continues, "so I release it in order to Summon Temporal Machine God Camion!"

Temporal Machine God Camion ATK: 0, DEF: 0, Level 10

The new monster's body is shaped like an arrowhead, pointing upwards. An orange sphere is set in the middle of the arrowhead, with gold lines surrounding it. Above the sphere is a mirror with a face on it—a man with light-blue eyes and black hair, styled in such a way that it spikes up and out, and covers his right eye. This monster has thick brown arms attached telekinetically, and curved grey wings behind them.

I study the face on the mirror. It bears a stunning resemblance to my father, but how? Could this also be a coincidence, like the fact that Razion looked like Roman? Or could something else be in play?

"Temporal Machine God Camion, attack Crimson Star Fairy!" Z-ONE orders, snapping me out of my thoughts about what his monster looks like.

A part of one of the buildings next to us breaks apart, and they are surrounded by an orange aura, as is Camion. The creature extends its arm out, and the debris flies at my monster. The fairy throws up her arms, and a thin barrier of red light appears, deflecting the rocks.

'Now, for Camion's effect,' I think. 'I hope I pegged it right…'

"When Temporal Machine God Camion battles, all monsters my opponent controls are returned to the Deck, and you take 500 damage for each," Z-ONE says.

"Not happening! Crimson Star Fairy can't leave the field by card effects other than her own!" I retort, grinning. I had pegged the effect correctly.

There is a short pause as my opponent considers the rest of his options. "I figured your creature had an effect like that. Very well, I set a card face-down and end my turn."

"Great, my turn!" I shout, drawing my card. I look at it and smile.

Z-ONE S.C. 3, Sky S.C. 3

"I Summon Crimson Star Twins, and follow through with the Speed Spell-Crimson Star Ascension! I can return Twins to my hand and Special Summon a Level 5 or higher 'Crimson Star' monster from my Deck, all for the cost of one Speed Counter!" I exclaim. "I choose… Crimson Star-Envoy of the Ancient Fairy!"

Sky S.C. 2; Crimson Star-Envoy of the Ancient Fairy ATK: 2100, DEF: 3000, Level 7

Two red stars appear on my field, but just as quickly, they combine and grow larger. The light morphs into the shape of a serpentine dragon with butterfly-like wings, and then it dims, revealing the Ancient Fairy Dragon clone.

"I activate Envoy of the Ancient Fairy's special ability!" I continue. "Once per turn, if there is a Field Spell on the field, I gain 1000 Life Points!"

Sky's Life Points: 5000

"Now I activate the Continuous Trap Dragon Star Exchange! This lets me exchange the 'Envoy' dragon with the real deal in my Extra Deck!" The lookalike vanishes, and I add, "So come out, Ancient Fairy Dragon!"

Ancient Fairy Dragon ATK: 2100, DEF: 3000, Level 7

My friend's actual dragon now appears, and she seems eager to put a stop to Z-ONE.

"Finally, I activate Ancient Fairy Dragon's ability: by not attacking this turn, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower monster from my hand! I choose… Crimson Star Fortress!"

Crimson Star Fortress ATK: 200, DEF: 2000, Level 4

A castle made of red stone appears on my field. The castle has several constellations etched in its stone, each constellation glowing a bright crimson.

"That ends my turn," I say.

"If you think that dragon is going to help you, then you're wrong," Z-ONE says. "It's my turn, I draw!" As Camion vanishes, he adds, "In my Standby Phase, my Temporal Machine Gods return to the Deck. A decent price to pay, given their effects."

Z-ONE S.C. 4, Sky S.C. 3

"I start by activating the Continuous Trap Zero Machine Ain," Z-ONE says, one of the mechanical arms flipping over the giant face-down card. "This lets me Summon a Level 10 or higher monster from my hand without a Tribute, but its ATK is reduced to 0. But seeing as how most of my monsters don't even have Attack Points, then this doesn't hinder me at all! I Summon Temporal Machine God Michion!"

Temporal Machine God Michion ATK: 0, DEF: 0, Level 10

A golden ring appears on his field, and the mechanical arm throws a card through it. The card glows, and turns into a monster. This one's body is a light-blue staff at the bottom, and a red arrowhead behind the mirror. The creature doesn't have arms, it has golden wings—two giant ones at the top, and four smaller ones at the bottom.

The face in the mirror… I can no longer deny the coincidence. The golden eyes and green pigtails… Luna. I want to ask about that, but… considering how avoiding he's been about answering questions, I doubt I'll get a straight answer. So I grit my teeth and bear with whatever he's planning…

"Temporal Machine God Michion, attack Ancient Fairy Dragon!" Z-ONE orders, a mechanical hand pointing at the dragon.

"I don't think so! Crimson Star Fortress can negate an attack once per turn!" I counter.

Z-ONE's monster shoots several balls of fire at Ancient Fairy Dragon, but the red castle moves in front, blocking the attacks.

"What luck; had the attack gone through, you would have lost half your Life Points," Z-ONE says. "Hmm… I'll set a card face-down and end my turn."

"My turn, I draw!"

Z-ONE S.C. 5, Sky S.C. 4

I look at my hand. Still nothing that can get me out of a stalling strategy, but at least I know that Z-ONE's monsters return to the Deck during his Standby Phase. If I can stall long enough, then there might be a time when he doesn't have any way to Summon one, and then… that would be my chance to strike. "I activate the effect of Ancient Fairy Dragon, and I Special Summon Crimson Star Twins!"

Crimson Star Twins ATK: 1200, DEF: 1200, Level 3

Two small, red stars appear on my field.

"Crimson Star Twins counts as two Tributes in the Summon of a 'Crimson Star' monster," I continue, "so I release them to Summon… Crimson Star-Envoy of the Black Feathers!"

Crimson Star-Envoy of the Black Feathers ATK: 2800, DEF: 1600, Level 8

The two stars disappear, only to be replaced by another serpentine dragon. This one has claws in place of legs, and his wings are segmented into feather-like structures, black with a red highlight. The dragon's tail feathers are bright red as well. All in all, a replica of Crow's Black-Winged Dragon.

"Now I use the effect of Dragon Star Exchange—"

"Actually, you won't," Z-ONE interrupts. "I activate a Trap from my hand, The Angel's Judgement! This negates the Summoning of your dragon and destroys it. Not only that, but you can't Special Summon it from the Graveyard. And," he adds, "you take damage equal to its ATK."

The replica of Crow's dragon screeches in pain as a burst of light shoots through his heart, and he shatters. The light continues and strikes me, blasting me almost into one of Ark Cradle's buildings.

Sky's Life Points: 2200

'Dang it, I was going to try something. Looks like I can't now,' I think. 'Although… Envoy of the Black Feathers is more useful in the Graveyard… I'd like to see Z-ONE try and use a damaging effect on me now.' I look at my hand again. "Mmm… I set a card face-down and end my turn."

"Then it's my turn," Z-ONE says, using the mechanical arms to draw a card. Per its effect, Michion also vanishes.

Z-ONE S.C. 6, Sky S.C. 5

"I send Zero Machine Ain to the Graveyard in order to activate the Continuous Trap Infinite Machine Ain Soph! It has the same effect as Zero Machine Ain, only now there is no limit to how many monsters I Summon per turn," Z-ONE explains.

The golden ring disappears for a moment, only to reappear as two golden rings squished together like an infinity symbol.

'More than one per turn?! I can barely deal with one, let alone as many as he can… though, he only has two cards in his hand. At least, for the moment, that means the max he can Summon is two,' I think.

The mechanical arm that is holding Z-ONE's hand throws both cards at the rings. They pass through them, glowing yellow before turning into monsters.

"I Summon Temporal Machine God Gabrion and Temporal Machine God Tzaphion!"

Temporal Machine God Gabrion ATK: 0, DEF: 0, Level 10; Temporal Machine God Tzaphion ATK: 0, DEF: 0, Level 10

Both monsters to appear are blue. The first, Gabrion, has a skinny, light-blue staff for a body, and darker-blue metal for its arms. Two gold rings crown its head, and greyish wings extend from its back. The mirror it has is shaped like a bird with its wings extended, and the face it shows is a brown-haired woman with gold eyes—my mother.

The second one has a wider staff for a body, but it is the same shade of blue as Gabrion's. This one's arms look a lot like blue wisps, yet at the same time solid metal. Tzaphion's mirror looks like the normal oval-shape, but the face it has doesn't look familiar at all. It's a teenaged girl—I'd say fourteen if I had to guess her age—with gold eyes and black hair, a golden stripe down the left side.

"Z-ONE… all of your other monsters have faces that I recognize. Why is Tzaphion any different? I don't know who she is," I say.

Z-ONE doesn't say anything for several moments. Then, he carefully replies, "That is because she never existed here. Regardless of the timeline, her mother died before she was born."

"But… her mother didn't die in yours?"

"I never said that," he replies briskly. "But she did live long enough to have her. Natsumi."

"That's her name? Natsumi?"

"…I've answered enough of your questions for right now," my opponent says. "Gabrion, attack Crimson Star Fortress!"

"Negate the attack, Fortress!" I cry.

The skinnier of the two blue monsters throws out its arm, and a wave of water goes to hit the fortress. The wave hits, but the castle remains unscathed.

"Again you save your monsters, for Gabrion's effect would have returned them to the Deck," Z-ONE says. "The same cannot be said for your Spell and Trap cards though… Temporal Machine God Tzaphion, attack Ancient Fairy Dragon!"

The second monster creates several large bubbles, and they fly over to Luna's dragon. They burst, spewing water everywhere, but the water doesn't harm the blue dragon. Instead, they swamp my two face-downs and Dragon Star Exchange, and I watch as the three cards return to my Deck.

"What…?"

"When Tzaphion battles, all of my opponent's Spell and Trap cards are returned to the Deck," he explains. "That ends my turn."

I snarl a little, because my face-downs were extremely useful, and Dragon Star Exchange… now I have to individually Synchro Summon all of the monsters. Shoving my annoyance aside, I draw my card without saying anything.

Z-ONE S.C. 7, Sky S.C. 6

I quickly try to come up with a different strategy, but I don't have anything in my hand other than a Trap to stall if it comes to Z-ONE somehow getting more than one monster on his field. I sigh, "I end my turn with a face-down."

Z-ONE also starts his turn without a word, but when his two monsters return to his Deck, he seems to gain a… pleased aura. "When Temporal Machine God Tzaphion is removed from the field, I draw five cards." So the mechanical arm takes five more cards out of the Deck holder.

Z-ONE S.C. 8, Sky S.C. 7

'Great, I bet there's at least one of those monsters in his hand now…'

Oh, one monster was an understatement.

"Through the effect of Infinite Machine Ain Soph, I Summon Temporal Machine God Raphion, Temporal Machine God Metaion, Temporal Machine God Hairon, and Temporal Machine God Sandaion!" Z-ONE shouts, the arms throwing four of the six cards in his hand through the two golden loops.

Temporal Machine God Razion ATK: 0, DEF: 0, Level 10; Temporal Machine God Raphion ATK: 0, DEF: 0, Level 10; Temporal Machine God Hairon ATK: 0, DEF: 0, Level 10; Temporal Machine God Sandaion ATK: 4000 to 0, DEF: 4000, Level 10

The monster I'd watched defeat Aporia appears on the field first, and the other three appear one by one.

Leo. The face on Temporal Machine God Raphion's heart-shaped mirror. The monster has a grey staff for a body, with two red orbs at the bottom, and green arms lined with gold.

Akiza. The face on Temporal Machine God Hairon's mirror that's shaped like a hand mirror. Dark-maroon metal makes up this creature's arms—four of them, attached to the shoulders and hanging down like puppet strings. This creature has two wings, much like all the others, only its are black instead of grey.

And finally, Rex Goodwin is the face on Temporal Machine God Sandaion's cross-shaped mirror. This one's body is much wider than the other Temporal Machine Gods' bodies, but is the same color. Its arms are dark yellow-orange, and its shoulders have spikes.

"That does it! Other than the one with Natsumi, I've known the faces of the people in the mirrors! I'm done with you avoiding the questions, so fess up, Z-ONE!" I shout.

"You haven't figured it out yet? These are the faces of the people who died! Died because of his egotistical ambitions!" Z-ONE shouts.

I gasp in shock, and an unsettling feeling comes over me. That means… most of my friends… dead? "Who… Whose ambitions?"

"Temporal Machine God Hairon, attack Ancient Fairy Dragon!" he shouts, completely ignoring my question.

The monster with Akiza's face moves its arms to where the hands are extended forward. A burst of orange light comes from the center of them, barrelling towards my dragon.

"Hey! I asked a…" I scowl, flipping up one of my face-down cards. "Negate Attack!"

A barrier knocks back the attack.

"If you can figure out who I really am, I'll answer all of your questions," Z-ONE says. "But for now, I set a card face-down and end my turn."

'If I can figure it out…?' I think. 'But… the only thing I can see of him is one of his eyes… and combined with what he's said…' Instantly I shake my head. 'No! That isn't the answer. He isn't… no, there's just no way.' I narrow my eyes at Z-ONE and bitterly say, "It's my turn, I draw!"

Z-ONE S.C. 9, Sky S.C. 8

I look at the card I drew. Useless for the moment… maybe later, though. "I Summon Crimson Star Mage in Defense Mode and… I end my turn."

Crimson Star Mage ATK: 0, DEF: 2000, Level 4

An old man in red robes appears, holding a wooden staff with both hands. The staff glows red.

"I think you know the truth," Z-ONE says. "I think you've figured out who I am, but you don't want to accept it."

Bile rises in my throat as I yell, "Shut up! You aren't him!"

"Just like Dusk 'wasn't' you?" he replies, heavy sarcasm on the word 'wasn't'. "The thing is, she didn't witness all of the deaths—she might have felt them, but she didn't see. I had to watch all of them—except for Rudger's, ah, Roman's. I didn't see his. Still, watching my family and half of my friends die, all because of one man… that was enough to break me."

"That doesn't give you an excuse to do this, and it sure as heck means you aren't him!" I shout.

"Hmm! Suit yourself, but the truth will come out soon enough… It's my turn! I draw!" All four monsters return to his Deck.

Z-ONE S.C. 10, Sky S.C. 9

"Through the effect of Infinite Machine Ain Soph, I Summon the two I haven't used yet—Temporal Machine God Metaion and Temporal Machine God Zadion!" Z-ONE shouts.

Temporal Machine God Metaion ATK: 0, DEF: 0, Level 10; Temporal Machine God Zadion ATK: 0, DEF: 0, Level 10

The first of the two is one with red-armored arms, and a light-blue staff for a body, a gold ring wrapped around the bottom of it. Its mirror is shaped like a bull's head, and the face it depicts is Jack—it even has on his signature scowl.

The second one has thick, green arms that are lined with gold, and two light-green, bat-like wings. The mirror at the front is T-shaped and is positioned above two gold points branching out from the staff-body.

I put my hand to my mouth to prevent myself from screaming. The face on Zadion's mirror… while both of the woman's eyes are gold, and she doesn't have a Criminal Mark… the face is undeniably my own.

"Don't you know that selfless acts only bring pain to the ones you try to help?"

"What if he doesn't want you to sacrifice yourself to keep him safe?"

"These are the faces of the people who died!"

"I know what he has gone through… and trust me, he doesn't care about anything."

"My god…" I breathe. I can barely refuse who I think Z-ONE really is any more. Everything that I've heard so far… it only makes sense if he really is him… but…

"I activate the effect of Speed World 2! I remove ten of my Speed Counters to destroy Crimson Star Fortress!" Z-ONE shouts.

A bolt of lightning destroys my red castle, and I flinch. That was the only way I was going to get out of any attacks this turn…

"Temporal Machine God Metaion, attack Ancient Fairy Dragon!"

The monster with Jack's face puts out one hand, and a stream of fire comes from it. The fire hits my dragon, and it spreads across to Crimson Star Mage, though Crimson Star Fairy avoids it. The fire then continues, striking me with a wave of force.

Sky's Life Points: 1600

Even though I only took 600 damage, the attack sends me and the Duel Runner spinning—which is dangerous in a Turbo Duel, but a flat-out death wish in one like this. I twist, managing to stop the spinning and quickly turn to the side. The sound of metal scratching against concrete resonates in the air, and I ignore the cacophony, instead focusing on how to not fully crash into one of the two buildings I've managed to sandwich myself between. There is barely enough space, and I continue to bounce between the two buildings like a ping-pong ball, scraping them both several times, before I finally get out from between the two and fly back up to Z-ONE's level.

I give him my best glare, because now Crimson Star Fairy is the only monster I have on my field. "When I take effect damage when Crimson Star-Envoy of the Black Feathers is in my Graveyard, you take double the damage I did," I say with annoyance.

A ghost version of Black-Winged Dragon's lookalike appears on my field and roars. A sphere of black-and-red energy appears in front of him, and it flies directly at Z-ONE. The loud CRASH it makes upon impact makes me feel… bizarrely happy.

Z-ONE's Life Points: 2800

When the smoke from the collision vanishes, I realize that Z-ONE is nowhere to be seen… and there is a hole shaped like his machine and the mechanical arms going through one of Ark Cradle's buildings. For a moment, I think I've caused him to crash (and, consequentially, lose automatically), but another loud crashing sound echoes through the area, and he flies out of the building's other side, unscathed.

Well… mostly unscathed. The machine he is riding on is perfectly fine, as are the two arms and the Deck Holder.

His mask, though. The entire left side is cracked into countless pieces. Before my very eyes, the pieces start to be carried away by the wind.

When they're all gone, and I can see his face, I know I can no longer deny the truth. The face under the mask… it's an elderly version of… "Z-ONE… no…" I pause a moment. "Yusei… just what happened to you in your world?"

To be continued…

Me: Yep, that's all for this chapter!

Sky: Of course. Of course you made him Yusei. And of course you killed a bunch of people in the other world.

Lucy: Ah, but not everyone! I was told not to.

Me: So she left Crow alone… not much of a 'don't kill everyone'…

Lucy: Hey, I can still kill him off! I can rewrite that part if I have to!

Me: *Glares at Lucy* Say one more thing and I'm going to let Piano and Rudolph attack what you have written and make it utterly stupid.

Lucy: One more thing.

Me: *Smacks the back of Lucy's head* Don't be a smart aleck.

Lucy: *Sticks tongue out, then walks into the corner and sulks*

Sky: …Well, that was an effective threat.

Me: Lucy doesn't want any of the other muses messing with what she has so far.

Shade: Even when I suggested a different torture method in the killing of AU-Sky that would have been much more satisfying, she attempted to set me on fire.

Sky: *Backs away from Shade* O…kay…

Me: *Sigh* Well, this was a fun chapter to write, and the next one obviously goes into Z-ONE's backstory. You know who died, but you don't know how. And just who is Natsumi…? You can probably guess, but you'll have to wait for a full answer until next chapter. And the next chapter won't come unless I get reviews…

**Having Z-ONE say Rudger instead of Roman was not a mistake. The characters will be referred to by their Japanese names (if they are different) in the world Z-ONE is from**