Me: Yay! I'm managing to update Blue Sky on my birthday!

Sky: Happy birthday! Does this mean no evil stuff?

Me: Hmm… maybe just a little. But I don't think there's that much…

Sky: I hope you've enjoyed your day so far.

Me: Are you kidding me? I have over $170 in spending money, Bravely Default, Eona: The Last Dragoneye (that's a book I wanted), Scribblenauts Unlimited, and a PSP. A FREAKING PSP! It wasn't even my family who gave it to me! I just happened to mention it to one of my friends, and his dad just so happened to have a PSP that really only has a few months of wear on it that they didn't want!

Sky: Sounds like you have a nice friend for once.

Me: …For once?

Sky: All of your friends are insane.

Me: …This friend was messing around with another one while she was trying to call home for a ride. He kept yelling that we were 'doing drugs' and 'playing strip poker'.

Sky: HURK!

Me: That's what I did. Except I had an icecube in my mouth at the time… So I kind of splattered ice slivers all over the carpet…

Sky: That's… uh… nice…

Me: *Shrug* It was. Well, I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds, but I do own my OCs and some of their cards… Z-ONE might seem OOC at some points, I don't know. Maybe even Sky, if it's possible for me to write her out of character… Well, enjoy anyways!

Chapter 65

Nothing I do helps. No magic, no movement… And the ground just keeps getting closer and closer as my hope gets farther and farther away…

After everything I've done, it's been for nothing? I can take on Dark Signers, I can fall off cliffs, I can technically die not once, but twice, I can quite dangerously travel through time… I can carry the power of two deities…

And what do I have to prove for it? Nothing except for the looming darkness that is my death…

No hope… at least not for me. Maybe Yusei will finish the Duel or something…

Oh, who am I kidding? Yusei will be devastated if I die! He wouldn't be able to Duel anyone!

I find that the lack of movement is only in my body, as I can still manage a whisper. "I'm sorry, Yusei. I'm sorry, Dusk. And everyone else… I'm sorry I couldn't stop Z-ONE…"

I close my eyes, ready to accept my fate.

"You can't give up!"

My eyes snap open. That voice, it couldn't possibly be…!

"It doesn't have to end here!" the voice, my father's voice repeats. "You still have a chance at victory!"

"But… how…?" I find myself asking before I think I've gone insane, because I'm talking to someone who's dead and, unlike last time, can't see him.

"Just hold onto hope!"

Hold on… to hope? That sounds like something… I would say. And all of a sudden, I start laughing. I don't even know why.

And then I hit something solid.

…But it isn't the ground. I don't splatter like a raw egg thrown against a window. I landed on… a person?

I look around and see myself staring back at me. Or rather, it's Dusk, a smirk on her face as she says, "Well, I guess this'll count as me returning the favor."

"Dusk… You saved me?"

"Don't forget Future Yusei," Dusk adds.

I tilt my head, to see my brother's future self look back at me, grin and wave a little, before he turns back around and steers the dragon away from the path of a falling building.

…Wait a second, a dragon?! I find myself able to move again, and twist out of Dusk's arms. Now I'm lying face-down on the back of something black and scaly. I push myself up to a sitting position, and realize I'm actually riding on Fallen Nova Dragon, Dusk's counterpart for my Celestial Dragon-Quasar. I also realize that Dusk has a Duel Disk on, with the dragon's card on it.

Ah, that explains the dragon.

"Well… thanks, both of you," I say slowly. "But… what am I supposed to do? His monsters are so strong and I've yet to get a card that can negate effects and I can't stall for much longer—"

"Life Stream Dragon is a Synchro Tuner," Dusk cuts me off.

I blink a few times, absorbing the fact. But what good will that do me, unless… "Is there something beyond Accel Synchro?"

Dusk nods, "I'm fairly certain Antinomy showed off Delta Accel Synchro in his Duel with your Yusei."

My heart pangs a little. Antinomy was Bruno, and I know how hard it is for Yusei to Duel someone he's become close friends with in circumstances like this…

My future self shakes her head, and adds, "But I'm not talking about Delta Accel Synchro."

"Then… what?"

"Believe in your cards, and your friends," Future Yusei replies without looking back at me.

"Alright," I say, though not with much enthusiasm.

"Sky, listen to me," Dusk says, grabbing my arm. "If anyone can stop Z-ONE, it's you. Just don't give up. The light will find a way."

The light will find a way… "Okay, I understand now." I nod, smiling back.

"Good," Dusk says. "On three, be prepared to land back on the Yusei-Go."

"W-What?"

"One, two, three!"

I don't have the time to get a grip on anything as Future Yusei causes the dragon to do a barrel roll, launching me off of it. I let out a scream, flailing around a little… and then land on my brother's Duel Runner and quickly regain my senses. I look back up. Dusk is laughing, so I glare at her, but she only laughs harder.

'Ugh, next time warn me about what you're going to do,' I think. Then I shake my head. It's time to concentrate on my Duel. Quickly turning the Duel Runner, I spiral back into the sky—just in time, too, because the ground was literally inches from the tires.

When I get back into Z-ONE's sight, he snarls a little, but I can almost hear the collective sigh of relief from my friends and everyone in Neo Domino City and Satellite. I can understand why, I mean, I'm the one thing standing between them and the thing that can cause their deaths, and I almost died just now…

"So, you refuse to give up…" Z-ONE says with a sour tone.

"Of course!" I shout in return. "I'll keep fighting until the very end and then some!"

"Hmph. Such admirable tenacity that will get you nowhere but death…" Z-ONE shakes his head. "I end my turn."

"It's my turn!" I practically rip the card out from my Deck.

Z-ONE S.C. 3, Sky S.C. 5

"I Summon the Tuner Crimson Star Harmonizer!"

Crimson Star Harmonizer ATK: 1600, DEF: 0, Level 4

Contrary to its name, the monster that appears is a wyvern with shimmering red and gold scales. It's contrary, because the last thing you'd expect to be creating "harmony" is a creature known more for belligerent ways when threatened. The wyvern flies up next to me, waving its hooked tail, and screeches.

"Oh, and what good will that do? I've no recollection of you having a Level 6 Synchro Monster," Z-ONE recalls.

I smirk, "You're correct there; I don't have a Level 6 Synchro Monster. However, I do have two Level 7 ones in my Extra Deck, and one of them I want on my field."

Z-ONE frowns. "I don't follow."

"You will, once I activate Crimson Star Harmonizer's first ability," I continue. "See, this lets me change the Level of another monster on my field to that of one in my Graveyard… like Crimson Star Twins: Level 3!"

Crimson Star Fairy: Level 2 to 3

"The only downside to this is that, if I use this effect on a monster that isn't part of the 'Crimson Star' archetype, my Life Points are cut in two," I continue. "But that is not the case at this moment, and now I Tune the Level 4 Crimson Star Harmonizer with the Level 3 Crimson Star Fairy! Once again, I Synchro Summon the regal Ancient Fairy Dragon!" I declare.

When Luna's blue, butterfly-like dragon reappears, Z-ONE's frown turns into a scowl. He has no idea what I'm trying to do. And that means… I still have a chance.

"Now, Crimson Star Harmonizer's second ability activates!" I exclaim. "When used in the Synchro Summon of a Dragon-Type Synchro Monster, I can revive Harmonizer—but only once a turn!"

The fiery red cousin of dragons reappears on my field with as much vigor as it had before.

"I use Harmonizer's ability on Ancient Fairy Dragon, changing her to the Level 8 of Crimson Star-Envoy of the Black Feathers!" I continue, wincing as the wyvern whips me with its tail per the Life Point halving effect.

Sky's Life Points: 800; Ancient Fairy Dragon: Level 7 to 8

"What are you doing?" Z-ONE finally asks, exasperated.

"Showing you the power of the Envoy of the Crimson Dragon!" I bellow, throwing my right arm out in front of me. The mark that I've taken to calling my Signer Mark glows brighter as I declare, "I Tune my Level 4 Crimson Star Harmonizer with my Level 8 Ancient Fairy Dragon! Clustering holy lights shine throughout the dimension of eternity! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! A most regal descent, Crimson Fairy Dragon!"

Crimson Fairy Dragon ATK: 4000, DEF: 5000, Level 12

In a much larger column of light than normal forms a dragon that, of everyone else here, only Dusk and (technically) Future Yusei have seen. She spreads her wings so that they stick out of the pillar—they are the exact same as Ancient Fairy Dragon's. Then, the pillar disappears to reveal that this dragon has purple scales instead of blue, a red mane instead of teal, and red armor that protects even better than Ancient Fairy Dragon's golden armor. The Mark of the Front Claw is embedded in the right side of the armor, and glows faintly.

'That dragon… is amazing,' I hear my brother's voice comment.

'Think of it as my version of your Majestic Star Dragon,' I think back, 'it's an upgrade. A powerful one that might get me out of this predicament.'

A short pause, and Yusei replies, 'I bet you will.'

Cutting off the conversation, I explain to Z-ONE's bewildered face, "Crimson Fairy Dragon is only one piece of the puzzle—all of the other Signer Dragons have one of these, but I'm using Crimson Fairy Dragon for her ability! I can decrease her ATK by 500 in order to Special Summon one monster from my Graveyard, but it loses 1000 ATK and DEF!"

Snapped out of his confusion, my opponent laughs. "You would make your dragon weaker? As if you weren't already about to lose!"

"Attack power isn't everything, Z-ONE," I say. I close my eyes, silently asking my friends for their strength. Power bubbles inside of me, and I know they've answered me. "I reduce Crimson Fairy Dragon's ATK by 2000 in order to revive… Black Rose Dragon, Red Dragon Archfiend, Life Stream Dragon, and Black-Winged Dragon!"

Crimson Fairy Dragon ATK: 4000 to 3000

The marvelous purple dragon clad in red flaps her wings, and sparkles rain off of them. A hole in the sky opens up, allowing the sparkles to fall into it. In a burst of light, four creatures fly out of the pit.

Black Rose Dragon ATK: 2400 to 1400, DEF: 1800 to 800, Level 7

The first dragon out is Akiza's, with a sleek black body covered in dark pink rose petals. Her body has several lines, the exact same color as the rose petals.

Red Dragon Archfiend ATK: 3000 to 2000, DEF: 2000 to 1000, Level 8

The second dragon out is Jack's, also with a black body, but much more war-like in appearance. His wings are dark red, frayed at the ends, and red plates cover his legs, chest, and shoulders. This dragon has three horns—two curved backwards from each side of the dragon's head, and one curved back from the top.

Life Stream Dragon ATK: 2900 to 1900, DEF: 2400 to 1400, Level 8

The third dragon out is Leo's, a four-winged with an orangish body. Each wing looks like lightly-colored leather, and a part that looks exactly like that material is attached to the dragon's tail, though it is small. Something that looks like a weapon is stuck to the back of his left arm—a red base with a metal spike at the end.

Black-Winged Dragon ATK: 2800 to 1800, DEF: 1600 to 600, Level 8

Last but not least, Crow's dragon flies out from the hole in the sky. This one lacks legs, unless you count the four giant claws—two on each side—that come out from the dragon's lower half. His tail is entirely made of feathers—short black ones that branch out into long, flowing white ones. As Black-Winged Dragon has no Black Feather Counters yet, the feather-like segments on his wings are white with black streaks.

"So, you've gathered all of the Signer Dragon's aside from your brother's on the field," Z-ONE notes. "I still don't see how—"

In any normal circumstance, I wouldn't cut anyone off. But right now, time is of extreme essence, and so I interrupt by shouting, "I activate Life Stream Dragon's ability! Once per turn, I can change the Levels of all other Synchro Monsters I control to one that I choose! And the Level I choose is… one!"

Crimson Fairy Dragon: Level 12 to 1; Black Rose Dragon: Level 7 to 1; Red Dragon Archfiend: Level 8 to 1; Black-Winged Dragon: Level 8 to 1

I laugh, because the tables have turned so much. Before, it was me in confusion, but now it's Z-ONE, completely dumbfounded at the moves I keep pulling that seem to lead to nowhere. My laughter seems to make him angry on top of confused, and I end up stopping. He might be trying to destroy everything, but… he is still technically my brother, right? Technically? Well, if not, he was some Sky Fudo's brother, and so I don't want to get him that riled up for some reason.

'You can't possibly be planning something drastic, are you Sky?' Yusei asks me telepathically.

'Define 'drastic',' I quickly reply, settling on a sarcastic response. 'Don't worry, I'll be fine. Just as long as you—and all of the others—support me.'

'We've been supporting you since the beginning.'

A smile creeps up on my face, and warmth fills my heart as I think of the others. Not just the Signers, but everyone else I know here in the City and Satellite. Martha and her orphans and Dr. Schmidt. Mina, Trudge, Kaz, even Lazar! Carly—oh, the list could go on and on!

'Oh, mighty Crimson Dragon,' I think, attempting to channel my power. I have no clue if it's working, but I think it is because the Seal of the Dragon on my back hurts a lot more. 'Please, grant me your power to protect my home, my family, my friends, and everyone else who lives here!'

A familiar screech nearby makes me tilt my head in its direction. The Crimson Dragon, fiery as I've never seen it before, flies next to me.

'Reshiram, can you help as well?'

'Of course, little one,' she replies. 'Two is better than one.'

"Z-ONE! This is where I turn the tides!" I shout. I'm suddenly cloaked in light, and I can no longer see or move or hear…

Wait, I can still hear. It's my voice, but it sounds so far away…

"I Tune the Level 8 Life Stream Dragon with the Level 1 Crimson Fairy Dragon, Black Rose Dragon, Red Dragon Archfiend, and Black-Winged Dragon! Clustering stars become as one, as new bonds will illuminate the future! Become the path its light shines upon! Limit Over Accel Synchro! The Light of Evolution, Shooting Quasar Dragon!"

Limit Over Accel Synchro? Alright, whatever I'm doing better be good…

I'm dropped back into my body and it takes me several seconds to reorient myself. I'm on the Yusei-Go… descending from the clouds… alright. And then I turn around to see where this powerful light is coming from.

I gasp.

The dragon I appear to have something bears a loose resemblance to Stardust Dragon, although that's only in the shape of his head. And even that is only a miniscule comparison—this dragon's… I guess it would be his snout, is much longer, skinnier, and even curls backwards in a point. His body is mostly a dark blue or black (I can't tell from this distance), although he has silver-blue coverings on the back of his arms, legs, and in an X-shape across his chest. At the center of the X-shape is a green orb. The silver-blue material also makes up the dragon's wings, which are more blades than something I would think you could fly with.

Shooting Quasar Dragon ATK: 4000, DEF: 4000, Level 12

Z-ONE laughs upon seeing my new dragon's stats. "Hah! Your dragon is nowhere close to what you need to defeat Ultimate Temporal Machine God Sephiron—unless you aim for a suicide attack?"

I smile, but only faintly. He doesn't realize my dragon's effect will be the end of his precious monster… "That ends my turn, Z-ONE! Oh, and 'just so you know, this is the last one you will have in this Duel'," I quote.

Well, it looks like I've certainly peeved him off. He says nothing as he draws his card, until he has to explain that all of his normal Temporal Machine Deities still have to return to the Deck during his Standby Phase.

Z-ONE S.C. 4, Sky S.C. 6; Ultimate Temporal Machine Deity Sephiron ATK: 20000 to 4000

'Wait for it…'

"Your dragon is nothing more than a pathetic lizard! I won't let it stop Sephiron!" Z-ONE cries out. "I activate the effect of Sephiron again, reclaiming the four Deities I returned—"

'Now!' "Not so fast, Z-ONE! I counter with Shooting Quasar Dragon's ability! Once a turn, I can negate the activation and effect of a card and destroy it!"

The look on Z-ONE's face is priceless. It's a combination of disbelief and anger… and, if I look deeper, relief. But why relief? Doesn't Z-ONE still want to win?

My new dragon screeches, emitting a powerful blast of light from the orb in his chest. It strikes Z-ONE's monster head-on, and one of the loudest explosions I've heard in my life resonates throughout the area.

Everything is… blurry… and I can't hear all that well… wait… I think my senses are returning to normal. Yes, they are. Z-ONE appears to have landed his pod thing on top of one of Neo Domino City's buildings, so I land alongside him.

"I… can't believe… I did all of that," he says slowly. He turns to me, "Finish this, Sky. I end my turn."

I draw my card, almost reluctantly. Z-ONE's shift in attitude… It bothers me.

Z-ONE S.C. 5, Sky S.C. 7

"Shooting Quasar Dragon…" I start, but then my voice cuts off.

I can't do it. Instead of seeing the aged Yusei, I see my brother inside of that suit, that pod. I see him looking back at me, not a Yusei who has lost practically everything. I curl my fingers together and retract my hand from its outstretched position.

"Sky, please, you aren't doing yourself any favors!" he urges. "Just attack me and… and it'll all be over! I'll stop the Ark Cradle's descent!"

Dang it, now I'm crying. I blink away the tears. I look at Z-ONE. He still looks like my brother, but with a desperate look on his face. One that I've seen all to often, as of late…

I close my eyes, tilt my head down, and shout, "Shooting Quasar Dragon! Attack… attack Z-ONE directly and end this Duel! Creation Burst!"

Five glowing orbs appear around Shooting Quasar Dragon—one black, one red, one orange, one yellow, and one teal. They spiral together, and strike Z-ONE as hard as they can. I think I see him and his capsule fall off the roof…

Z-ONE's Life Points: 0. Winner: Sky Fudo.

I run to the side of the building immediately, looking down in horror. But, aside from a few spilled garbage cans, there is nothing on the street below. So instead, I look up, to where Z-ONE appears to be… heading back to the Ark Cradle?!

I shout, catching his attention. He turns around, and my eyes lock with his. I let out a small gasp—he has hope in his eyes again! "Sky… thank you for saving me from my madness… and allowing me to see one of my sisters again, even if you aren't really her."

"Z-ONE—Yusei! What are you doing?"

"Ark Cradle requires a sacrifice of positive spinning Momentum to send it back to its own time and, well… it is what powers this contraption I choose to ride."

Requires a… sacrifice? "But doesn't that mean…?"

"I'll die? Perhaps there's a way around Dusk's spell," he replies. "I don't know. But it isn't right for anyone else to do this—Ark Cradle belongs to me, and now I must see it back to where it belongs… Goodbye, Sky Fudo."

"Goodbye…" I whisper back. Almost silently, I add, "Little brother…"

I see Dusk and Future Yusei, still on the back of Fallen Nova Dragon, flying after Z-ONE. They wave to me, and as they turn around, I watch them disappear.

Disappear…? Maybe, because the past has changed, the future has as well… That's what I hope for.

And before I can do anything else, I'm enveloped in light—bright red light, that is the power of the Crimson Dragon.

XXX

I can barely see, but I can still feel the impact of someone ramming against my body, pulling me into a tight hug. "Next time you want to take my place in saving the world, just ask," Yusei says into my ear.

Everything clicks into place, and I reply, "Oh, but would you listen to me?"

He chuckles. "Probably not. But you scared all of us half to death when you…"

I know what he means. When I fell.

My Extra Deck starts glowing, and I pull out the cards. "Oh, right… before I forget, I should return these to you guys," I mumble.

Jack says nothing, but sort of glares at me as I return his dragon. Knowing Jack, he's probably going to hate me for a few hours—no one uses his cards without his permission, and I certainly didn't. But then he pats me on the back, "Good job."

"Thanks…" I say.

Crow is a lot kinder when I give back Black-Winged Dragon, although he repeats the 'just ask' montra Yusei told me. "C'mon Sky, we probably would've let you Duel instead if ya just asked."

"I'll keep that in mind for next time," I reply, laughing.

"There isn't gonna be a next time!"

I chuckle as I turn to Akiza, extending Black Rose Dragon. She takes the card back. "Hmm… I… well, I'm glad you won," Akiza says. "Although… I still think Yusei could have handled himself in that Duel."

I nod in agreement, "He would have. Probably better than I did, too."

Next, I go to the Twins. Leo bounces around a few times as I hand him back his two dragons, declaring, "Hey! Life Stream Dragon was really the only reason you were able to pull that off… right?"

"Yes," I reply.

"Then I totally saved the day!"

I laugh at his logic. While true, it was the efforts of everyone that really saved the day. "Sure you did, Leo."

"Uhm… Sky?" Luna says. "Can I see… Crimson Fairy Dragon?"

"Sure!" I hand back Ancient Fairy Dragon first, and then pull out the dragon she wants to see.

Her face brightens as soon as she touches the card. "Oh! So much… life energy!"

"She's saved me twice now, you know," I say.

Luna nods. "I can tell."

I offer her a smile before turning back to Yusei. On second thought, I pull another card out of my Extra Deck, and hand it to him along with Stardust Dragon.

Yusei looks at it, and his eyes widen. "Shooting Quasar Dragon? I can't accept this."

"Think of it as an apology for stealing your Duel Runner," I say.

"But you gave it back not even half a day later! And it isn't really damaged!"

I shake my head, and press the card back into his hand. "I have enough good cards. Besides… I have a feeling that Shooting Quasar Dragon fits better in your Deck."

Yusei looks at me, then the card, and back at me. "Alright…" He pockets both of the cards I've handed to him. A smile appears on his face. "That's the end of having to save Neo Domino and possibly the world?"

I grin back at him. "Oh yeah, that's it!" I look back over the City—while it's a little bit damaged, the City appears relatively unharmed, along with Satellite… but most importantly, Ark Cradle is disappearing, already a distant memory.

To be continued…

Me: And that's the—hey, wait a minute!

Sky: What's wrong?!

Me: This… this is the last chapter! All that's left is the epilogue!

Sky: *Eyes widen* WHAT?!

Me: I never thought I'd get this far… Oh my gosh, this makes me so happy right now…

Shade: It's a shame we can't finish the epilogue in twenty minutes. Then it could be our birthday present to you. And when I say 'our', I mean mine, Rudolph, and Piano's. And that wouldn't work because I don't work with those two and there needs to be an allusion for evil to come at the end and—

Me: SHADE! *Voice cracks* Dang it, stupid allergies… Shade! No more spoilers!

Shade: Tsk, tsk, fine.

Rudolph: Arf! Arf!

Me: That was Rudolph, asking for reviews. And by reviews, I mean cookies. Which you can send to him in a review, along with your thoughts about this chapter. Please? The cookies are also for Piano…

PS: Check out my new story called "Sacrifice"! I don't believe explanations are necessary for that one. And… Shimmer's update will come tomorrow! I ran out of time, unfortunately.