Me: Ehehe…

Sky: What's wrong with you?

Me: Uh… *Rubs back of head sheepishly* The… this chapter. It… erm… well, it's shorter than normal, but… myeh…

Sky: What did Lucy do this time?

Lucy: *From another room* It's Lucifer! You're forgetting the gender-swap!

Sky: …Okay, her choice for her guy name aside, what did sh—uh, he—do?

Me: You just… ah… you have to read it to see…

Sky: Fine, then start the chapter!

Me: E-Eh, alright. I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds, but I do own my OCs… As a fair warning, there are several deaths, and the ending… the ending is… Prepare to be left utterly confused.

Chapter 62

Meanwhile…

Dusk's POV

"…and then she woke you up," I finish. My tears of joy have long since dried up, as my brother wanted me to catch him up on everything that he'd missed. That obviously put a damper on my mood… "I can't tell you how much I regret letting Z-ONE twist our plans to something like this… For letting myself get so bent on 'this is the only way', and convincing… the others of the same."

I don't even have to voice what I really mean to say. I'm sorry for not being there for your daughter, and for bringing her into all of this.

"Don't. It's not your fault." A flash of sadness enters his eyes. "If anyone needs to apologize, it's me. I'm the one who…"

"And that wasn't your fault," I interrupt. "I don't know how, but I know that wasn't you when that happened."

An image flashes in front of my eyes, one that I've seen once before—or, I guess, twice now, since my memories are being rewritten as my past self battles Z-ONE. It's the one where Natsumi died, with the katana through her chest while Yusei had to watch.

'So, Z-ONE is showing her the tragic events in his past right now…' I think. 'But that must mean that he plans to unveil his strongest monster soon…!' I jump up. "Yusei, my past self is in danger."

"You think we can do anything to change that?"

"Maybe. Come on." I grab a Duel Disk off the ground—mine, left behind from the mechanical wreckage of my robot form. It has my Deck in it. "I Summon Fallen Nova Dragon!"

My black dragon with purple wings, a remnant of my former silver-and-purple dragon, appears, stirring up a slight breeze in the otherwise calm room.

I point at the exterior wall. "Fallen Nova Dragon, make a hole in that wall!"

XXX

Sky's POV

I put a hand to my mouth. Having to watch his own sister die… that's horrible. And then I remember that I should expect to see his version of me to die. 'Did he have to watch hers too? God, that would be horrible,' I think. 'Wait a moment…!' My eyes widen. "Who killed Natsumi?" I ask.

"Who do you think?"

I bite my lower lip. "Me…"

XXX

"No… No… Natsumi…"

He hovers near his sister's body, tears staining his cheeks and creating a small puddle where they land on the floor. What was the last thing he said to her? Something about her being mistaken? No, he was the one mistaken, and now…

"Get up," a cold, yet familiar voice orders.

Yusei looks up and gasps.

Sky stands in front of him, holding the bloody katana in her right hand, pointing the tip of it at him. Her eyes, unlike Akiza and Angel's, have depth to them—though the depth is merely bloodlust and coldness. "Get up," she repeats. "Divine wants to meet with you."

"N… No!" Yusei shouts in reply.

"Perhaps I should rephrase that," Sky says. "You will be meeting with Divine. It isn't an option not to."

"And if I still resist? Are you going to kill me too?"

"No. Unlike your father and sister, you are necessary to Divine's plans."

Yusei clenches his fists, "They were your father and sister as well!"

Silence, until the katana slips out of the woman's hands and clangs against the floor. Humanity has returned to Sky's eyes, and she whimpers, "I killed them…"

"No, you didn't! That wasn't you! Just stay with me—ACK!"

Sky has him in a telekinetic grip, and she's glaring at him. The humanity is gone again. "Say one more word and you'll live, but you won't be going to Divine in one piece."

The younger Fudo bites his tongue, but says nothing.

Smiling, Sky turns around and starts walking down the hallway, Yusei forcibly following behind. They approach a door—the one to the control room—and Sky waits a moment when a loud BOOM comes from the other side. When it stops, she opens the door without hesitation, dragging her brother with her. "I have him, Divine."

"Ah, good. Tie him up over there," he replies, pointing to a metal bar between two small pillars, all on a movable platform.

"Yes, Divine." She moves Yusei over to the bar, pulls out a piece of rope from who-knows-where, and tightly binds his hands to the metal pole.

Once there, Yusei can finally grasp his surroundings, and he regrets it.

There is a large blood splatter on the wall next to Divine, and on the floor beneath it is a small cloud of still-disappearing smoke… along with part of an arm, and someone's head. Rudger's.

Divine notices where Yusei is looking, and laughs. "Oh, him? Rudger was just an easily manipulated fool. A disposable fool."

"He was a person!" Yusei shouts. "You can't treat him like he doesn't matter!"

The auburn-haired man looks to Sky. "Shut him up, would you?"

"Gladly." A strip of duct tape does the job, and so all Yusei can do is make muffled grunting noises.

Divine looks back at the collection of video screens—ones showing scenes from the Arcadia Movement Headquarters. "Yes, now all I have to do is wait for Angel or Aki to retrieve that card… and it looks like Aki is almost done dealing with those pesky friends of yours, Yusei."

One of the screens shows Jack, barely able to stand, staring in horror at Aki's Black Rose Dragon. His own Red Dragon Archfiend is in a similar condition, weakened by the effects of Thorn of Malice.

XXX

"Aki, stop! You don't need to do this!" Alice shouts, desperation in her voice and on her face. The psychic is ready to land the final attack, and that final attack is going to take Jack's life with it. This is the last chance—if they can break Aki out of the mind control…! "This isn't you! You're Aki Izayoi, our best friend, not some pawn of Divine's!"

"I'm not one of his pawns!" Aki shouts. "Divine is my friend! Black Rose Dragon, show them the full extent of your power! Hate Rose Whip!"

Overgrown thorns shoot out from under Black Rose's wings, ready to strike Alice, Jack, and Rua.

The blonde shouts, "Rua, Alice, run!"

"No!" Alice protests. "I… I'm not leaving you behind!"

"Dammit, please Alice! Just go, and don't look back!"

His sister merely shakes her head, still yelling, "No!"

One of the vines finds its target—Jack. It wraps around him like a snake, and throws him at one of the nearby walls. There is a sickening crack, and then the only sound that can be heard are Alice's screams.

Another thorn sets itself up to strike down the mourning teenager, but Rua shouts, "I won't let you!"

The green-haired boy is impaled by the vine and dies instantly, still with a look of determination on his face. Determination to protect a friend who might not live much longer anyways…

Alice falls to her knees. "No… Jack… Rua…" Several tears fall to the ground, and a third vine is ready to strike the black-haired, violet-eyed girl. But suddenly, the vine freezes, and retracts to the rose-covered dragon.

"What… what have I done…?" Aki asks, realization in her eyes and horror on her face.

Alice blinks and glares at Aki. "You…! You bitch! You had to break free after you killed my brother and one of my friends!"

"I… I…? What?"

XXX

In the control room, Divine snarls, pressing several buttons on the keyboard in front of him. He swears when Aki doesn't respond. "Gah, and she was the most promising aside from Sky…" He shakes his head. "Well, if she's out of my control, I have no use for her. Sorry, dear Aki, but it looks like it's time for the Black Rose to wilt…"

He keys in some command, with Yusei shrieking a muffled protest as he does so.

XXX

Aki screeches in pain, grabbing at her chest and falling to the floor. A rainbow glow surrounds her for a moment, and when it promptly vanishes, she stops making any sound at all. She doesn't even move.

Worry crosses Alice's face. "A… Aki? Aki!" She runs to the magenta-haired woman's side, still yelling her name. "Aki, wake up! Please!"

The rose Duelist doesn't respond, and her eyes stare blankly at the ceiling.

"DIVINE! WHEN I FIND OUT WHERE THE HELL YOU'RE HIDING, YOU'RE GOING TO REGRET THE DAY YOU WERE BORN!" Alice howls.

XXX

I put a hand to my mouth in shock. I don't know how, but I think that Akiza—er, Aki—died because of the… how did Z-ONE put it? "Psychics are dependent on the Momentum in their hearts—remove it, and they die a painful death within minutes." He must have witnessed it first-hand… like that…

Before I can say anything, the scenes continue.

XXX

The screen showing that particular part of the Movement goes black. Divine turns away from the array of surveillance cameras, and looks at Yusei. "Such a useful contraption, don't you think? One part brainwashes them, and the other allows me to get rid of them—even from a distance—if they break out of it. All thanks to the late Godwin brothers' inventions to manipulate Momentum."

Yusei simply glares at the older man, because of the duct tape over his mouth.

Divine just laughs. "Oh, how the tables have turned! It's a shame you aren't my older brother, but a fitting medium, nonetheless! I only have to wait for Angel to get that Z-ONE card, and look at that! LeBlanc was stupid enough to come right to her!"

XXX

Hiding in a side room, Crow and Ruka are trying to steady their breathing. "Think we… lost her?" Ruka asks.

"Hope so… probably not…" Crow replies.

The door flies off its hinges and into the room. Ruka screams, and Crow just watches as his twin sister comes in, bow in hand and already loaded. But the arrow looks different from the others… this one is glowing at the tip.

Even so, common sense kicks in, and Crow pulls Ruka behind him, protectively. "Angel, why can't you see that you're doing the wrong thing?! We're the ones on your side, not that monster called Divine!"

The orange-haired girl says nothing, aims the arrow slightly below Crow's heart, and releases it. Crow holds his breath and closes his eyes, waiting for his own doom… but nothing happens. To him, anyways.

Ruka shrieks in pain.

"What the…? Ruka!" The arrow had passed through him, and for some reason hit her instead!

In front of his own eyes, he watches as a faint glow surrounds Ruka, before vanishing—along with the girl's screams.

"It… it can't be…! Ruka!" Crow shouts, shaking her body. "Now isn't the time to play dead! RUKA!"

While he continues trying to make the dead girl wake up, Angel notches another arrow, a normal one this time, and aims it at Crow. Suddenly someone crashes into her, knocking the bow out of her hand.

Sherry pins Angel to the floor, looking over to Crow and Ruka. She flinches, muttering something in French. Likely profanity. "I am sorry, Crow! I came too late to help your friend!"

Crow looks up, tears in his eyes as he gently puts Ruka down. He looks at his sister, who is thrashing around underneath the Frenchwoman. "I…" he swallows, "it's not your fault. It's not… Angel's either. It's… Divine's, for controlling her."

"GET OFF OF ME!" Angel shouts, managing to launch Sherry off her back, sending the blonde woman into the nearby wall. Then she stands up, dusting herself off. She glares at her brother, "You're wrong, Crow. It's not Divine's fault. It's your own, for standing in his way!"

XXX

The screen goes fuzzy for a few moments, and when it returns to normal, both Crow and Sherry are dead—both of them practically torn in two. Yusei isn't even crying anymore, though each time he sees one of his friends dead hurts just as much.

After a flash of light, Angel appears in the room. She holds up the Z-ONE Spell. "This is what you wanted, right Divine?"

"Yes, good job Angel," he replies, stretching out an arm to accept it.

Angel smirks, "Now!"

A smoke ball goes off, and both Divine and Sky start coughing.

All of a sudden, Yusei's hands are free, and the tape removed from his mouth. He looks to his rescuer—and gasps. "Crow? But you… I thought…!"

"Illusion," the ginger replies. "See? Still in one piece."

"Then… Ruka?"

Crow's grey eyes flash with sadness. "No… that part wasn't a trick…"

The smoke clears away, and Sherry—also not dead—has Divine in handcuffs. Angel has one of her monsters—Daigusto Sphreez—trapping Sky.

Divine snarls, "A clever trick, but pointless…!"

"Pointless? We just stopped your plans, unless you're suddenly blind," Angel laughs in response.

Divine starts laughing instead. "Oh, but I have won! The gate to the Netherworld lies on the witches' isle!"

Angel shouts, grabbing her head. A shadowy aura surrounds her, and one also surrounds Sky. A strong wind starts up inside the room.

"You've been doomed to lose from the beginning!" Divine cackles.

Angel collapses, but Sky remains standing. She frees herself from the disappearing form of Daigusto Sphreez, and plays Celestial Dragon-Quasar and Celestial Knight-Star. The silver-and-purple dragon grabs Crow and Yusei, while the silver-armored knight points a dagger at Sherry. "Should I kill them, Master?"

"No," Divine says. "They can watch my plans unfold—then you can kill them. Tie them up, and make sure you get that card."

"Yes, Master."

"Sky, stop this!" Crow shouts.

"You broke free twice, Sky! Please, do it again! Can't you see he's evil?" Yusei adds.

Sky doesn't reply as she follows Divine's order of binding the three of them—Yusei back to the metal pole, and Crow and Sherry to each of the pillars. Then she frees Divine from his handcuffs.

The man rubs his wrists. "That's better. The card?"

Sky retrieves it from the unconscious Angel's hand, and hands it to him.

"Why do you need my card?" Sherry asks. "Yes, there is only one in existence, but the same can be said for many others! What makes it so special?"

The auburn-haired man smirks. "I'd say ask the late Doctor Fudo, but since I'm leaving you alive for now, I guess that isn't possible." He shrugs. "You see, he was the one who created Momentum, and the Reactor. The Godwin brothers had to run their experiments behind his back. One day, his lovely wife caught wind of it all—and she was going to report them! I couldn't just let that happen, now, could I? So I had her killed. Unfortunately, Sky could remember the event in full detail—though she thought it was a nightmare. Dr. Fudo knew better, and ended up creating a second security lock, known only by him. It just so happens that Z-ONE is that key."

"What's the first, then?" Yusei asks.

Divine looks at him now, his smirk growing to a maniacal grin. "Isn't it obvious? It's you, Yusei! You, who carries the heart of Momentum inside of your own!"

The entire room goes silent, aside from the whir of electronics. Disbelief resides all over Yusei and his two friends.

"Oh, you never knew, did you? Well, allow me to enlighten you!" Divine pulls out a manilla folder from who-knows where, and opens it. "'We had a pregnant patient brought in today at 12:27 p.m. She'd been assaulted while on a midday walk. My team tried an emergency C-section, but the baby—a boy—didn't make it. It's a shame, the boy was so close to his due date. I hope the fiend who did this is caught.'"

"What does… that have anything to do with me?" Yusei asks.

"Because the patient admitted for assault was your mother… and the child was you."

To be continued…

Me: Before you say anything, remember I said 'prepare to be left utterly confused'.

Sky: *Making incomprehensible squeaking noises*

Me: …Alright, that was actually what I was expecting from you. The squeaking noises, anyways. I kinda expected you to hit me… or make some sort of death threat… or both…

Sky: You… that… What the heck made Lucy come up with that idea and decide to leave it right there with a stinking cliffhanger as big as that one?!

Me: *Shrugs* What can I say? Actually, the original ending was going to be when Divine said that Yusei was the first key…

Sky: I would have really preferred that one. This one is… eh…!

Me: Yeah. I know. Well, I can't exactly do much so… leave a review, please! If you do, I might tell you a little bit in explanation to the last line.