Chapter 35: At The End Of Truth!
Aki's Black Rose Dragon, with 2400 attack points, roars and is answered by Misty's Dragon Queen of Tragic Endings with 1900.
Outside the holographic dome of prismatic glass, both sets of twins and Hotaru approach, nervously. "Black Rose Dragon!" Luca says. "Aki..." Says Lua. "There's something wrong with her." Hotaru says.
Aki's eyes are strangely blank, flat and hostile. She laughs, with uncharacteristic nastiness. "Hahahaha! Burn her to a crisp! Black Rose Flare!" Says Aki.
"Uu-uuuugh!" Misty weathers the attack, down to 3500 life points. When Black Rose Dragon's attack struck the ground, it dug a trench.
Lua and Luca gasp, in horror. Velvet and Subaru are both awestruck and bewildered. "It's Aki's psychic power!" Subaru says. "It's very powerful!" Says Velvet. Hotaru's watching, intently.
"I end my turn." Aki says, in a sinister, deadly whisper. Her life points stand at 1900.
Misty's at 3500. "That's the power that took Toby's life. I won't forgive you!" Says Misty. She raises her arm and the mark of the lizard glows, as the ground starts to rumble. "Come forth, ancient seal!" Misty says.
Both sets of twins and Hotaru back up a few steps, fearfully and calmly, respectively, dodging a line of purple fire, as it paints itself through the ruins of the hall of mirrors. Lua stands in front of Luca, protectively. Hotaru's hugging Subaru and Velvet close to her.
From above, the mark of the lizard can be clearly seen, painted across the landscape of the abandoned carnival, with a bubble of bluish crystal around its middle.
Divine gazes out at the duel from his vantage point in the smashed-out window of a nearby building. "Huhuhuhuhuhuh!" "Aki, show her that your true power is superior! Squash her!" Divine thinks to himself. "Hahahahahahaha!"
Meanwhile. Down in a dark warehouse elsewhere in the carnival, Ushio's still straining on the pipe he has wedged between the plates of the metal mesh of the floor.
Aurora nudges Grim with her muzzle and licks at his face. He suddenly opens his red eyes and slowly lifts up his head, whimpering slightly, in pain.
Below, the basement is filling up with water, and Sakura, Minako and Kakyuu are barely staying above the surface. Minako is crying and wailing. "Ushio, hurry!" Says Sakura.
"I know!" Ushio says. Grim gets up to his feet, staggering a bit. Aurora leans herself into him, helping him to stay standing.
The water level is passing Minako's chin. She strains to keep her head above the water, as it runs down her face. "Save me, Master Atlas!" Says Minako.
Ushio's livid, can't he ever catch a break? "Rrrgh! Why Jack? Rrrgh!" Ushio says. And with that, he breaks through at last, and the gate goes flying.
"You saved us, Ushio!" Says Sakura, cheering. Kakyuu just smiles and Minako seems beyond words.
They run outside. The light is unnatural. Sakura's sign, symbolic designs, Seal of the Crimson Dragon and additional markings are all glowing, while her irises and gradation has continued to flare, brightly, and her scleras have remained black, with glowing red veins across her eyes, throughout this whole ordeal. She is also carrying Jace in her arms. "The duel has already started." Sakura says.
"Sakura, wait! Misty thinks Aki killed her brother." Says Minako.
"What? Is that true?" Sakura asks.
"I don't know, but Aki doesn't remember doing that." Says Minako.
From the look in her eyes, Sakura is determined to get to the bottom of this.
"My turn. I draw. 'Sorrowful Memories's' effect is still active. The monster card I drew returns to my deck and is shuffled." Misty says. This card was Reptilianne Gorgon. "In regards to Dragon Queen of Tragic Endings that you just destroyed, I can Special Summon it by sending one Continuous Spell on my field to the graveyard. I send the Continuous Spell 'Sad Story-Sorrowful Memories' to the graveyard. I Special Summon Dragon Queen of Tragic Endings!" Says Misty.
Dragon Queen of Tragic Endings reappears on the field, has 1900 attack points and is a Level 6 monster. "Then from my hand, I equip the Equip Spell 'Reptilianne Rage' on Dragon Queen of Tragic Endings. It gains eight hundred attack points." Misty says. Dragon Queen's points rise up to 2700. "Battle! I'll disperse those petals!" Says Misty.
"I activate my trap 'Rose Blizzard'! When a monster on my field is the target of attack, it negates your monster's attack and switches it to defense position." Aki says.
Dragon Queen of Tragic Endings has 2600 defense points. "You managed to survive this time, but what about next time? I end my turn." Says Misty.
Both sets of twins and Hotaru have found a relatively safe spot from which to watch the duel, a landing at the top of a set of stairs.
"Lua! Luca! Hotaru! Velvet! Subaru!" Sakura says. She hurries up to them, holding Jace in her arms, with Grim and Aurora keeping pace at either side of her. "Sakura!" Says Hotaru. "Mommy, Aki is dueling!" Velvet says. "But there's something wrong with her!" Says Subaru. "Aki…" Sakura says. "Aki has changed back to her past self." Says Lua. "Aki, what happened?" Sakura thinks to herself.
Up in his window. Divine's still watching the duel. "Hahahaha." "Aki, fight!" Divine thinks to himself. "Hahahahaha!"
As Sakura gazes down at the duel. The sun glinting off a shard of glass catches her eyes. Sakura notices the window across from them and recognizes the person standing at it. "He's…" Sakura thinks to herself.
Flashback. After Sakura's first duel with Aki, at the Fortune Cup, Divine put his trench coat over the latter's shoulders and consoled her, condescendingly.
Change flashback. When Sakura snuck into Arcadia and got jumped by Divine and his goons. He has her held in a strong arm hold. Grim turns and snarls at Divine, his teeth bared. He looks down at him, he's almost bemused by him. "Is that the same dog you had before?" Divine asks. "Yes, he is. Grim's more than just a typical dog." Says Sakura. Grim keeps baring his teeth at Divine, growling at him. "Doesn't matter! You'll not come between me and Aki, you got that?!" Divine asks. "What's wrong, Divine? Afraid that she shall turn her back on you and use her powers against your Arcadia Movement?" Asks Sakura. "That's enough out of you." Divine says. He pushes Sakura towards two Arcadia goons and they both grab a hold of each of her arms. "Grim, shadow phase now." Sakura thinks to herself, speaking telepathically to Grim. He soon shifts his stance and bursts into a black shadowy mist, he's disappeared.
Divine then approaches Sakura and grabs her chin, roughly. "Not sure what happened to your mutt, but you'll now experience what happens to those who dare step into Arcadia under their own free will. You're quite foolish to step in here without backup. If that dog was it, then he's left you to fend for yourself." Says Divine. "You can believe whatever you want." Sakura says. Divine's actually taking in her looks, he's almost enchanted by her beauty. "Hm. Such bewitching looks, yet you hid it all away behind that fearsome mask. I wonder." Says Divine. He traces at the marking under her left eye and face. "Is it because of this marker? That Godwin marked you as his personal property? Or is it to keep you in his grasp?" Divine asks. Sakura moves to knee him, only for him to catch her incoming knee. "Oh, did I strike a nerve, Princess? You know, at the tournament, I saw what you were capable of. And I do have to admit that I was impressed." Says Divine. He moves to caress Sakura's face, his face inches from hers. "Would you like to see what I'm capable of?" Divine asks. He then locks lips with Sakura, stealing a kiss from her. Her eyes widen, she's completely caught off guard. The two goons release Sakura and step back.
Divine separates his lips from hers, he has one arm wrapped around her waist, keeping her held against him. He then suddenly jabs a needle, with some sort of drugged liquid, into the side of Sakura's neck. "You snake." Says Sakura. Divine releases her and she starts to become tired. Sakura reaches for her head. "What did you do to me, Divine?" Sakura asks. "I just sedated you, my dear." Says Divine. "I shall get you for this." Sakura says. She falls to her knees, slowly, and the rest of her body does the same. Sakura is completely out of it, knocked out.
Change flashback, to when Divine tried to interrogate her. He kneels down before Sakura, who's wrists are tied down to the armrests of the chair that she's sitting in, and lifts up her chin, making her look up at him. "You may still be under sedation, but I know you can still understand what I'm saying to you. So listen very carefully, I'm only going to give you this one chance. Tell me about these powers that you and that little girl possess? Are there more of you?" Asks Divine. "I'm not... telling you... anything, Divine... And leave... Luca alone... She is... just a child..." Sakura says, still under the effects of the sedation. Divine then releases her chin and stands up. "You had your chance. From now on, your stay here will be quite unpleasant. I'll torture you until you break and tell me what I want to know." Says Divine.
Change flashback, to when Sakura had been whipped by him. Divine's standing across from her, who is facing the wall and her arms are tied up over her head to the wall. All of Sakura's clothes have been removed, with the exception of her black panties, while her hair is slung over her shoulders. Divine's holding a whip in his hand. "You should've told me what I wanted to know the first time. You're at my mercy now, Sakura." Divine says. He cracks the whip against the bare flesh of Sakura's back. She lets out a cry, in pain. Divine lashes at Sakura's exposed skin, nonstop, not showing any restraint or mercy.
Change flashback to five hours later. Divine does one final whack of the whip and tosses it down to the floor.
Sakura's back and some parts of her thighs are bloody and covered in open wounds from the whip, it is almost hard to tell which ones are the wounds and which ones are the symbolic designs.
Divine walks over to her and tugs at her hair, pulling her head back. "Are you ready to cooperate?" Asks Divine. Sakura looks up at him, she still has her resolve. "I shall… never… give in… to you..." Sakura says, pained. "Fine, have it your way. There are other ways to break you." Says Divine. With him having pulled her head back, he has a clear view of Sakura's body. "Hm!" Divine says. He has a wicked smile, and presses himself up against Sakura from behind. Divine pulls at her hair more, making her body arch into him, and with her hands still tied up over her head to the wall, it gives him an even better view of her body. "I have to say, your body is quite tempting bared. I think, I'll partake in you." Says Divine. He takes his free hand and starts roaming it along her body. Sakura turns her head away, in disgust. Since she can't fight back against him, due to her hands being bound, Divine lets go of her hair, and starts fondling her breasts. "Stop it!" Sakura says, firmly. Divine brushes his face into her neck and shoulder. "No, I don't think I will. I'll teach you to submit to me. Just as I'll do the same to Aki, when the time comes. Although, lets face it, she won't put up much of a fight against me. She'll be begging me to take her, in mind and body." Says Divine. "You're a sadist!" Sakura says, sickened. Divine keeps roaming his hands along her perfectly fit curves, while also keeping her pressed into him. "Hm! How perceptive of you! From the way your body tenses up at my touch, you've been taken by force before, haven't you?" Asks Divine. Sakura's eyes widen a bit. "You do not know me!" Sakura says. "So, I'm right. You were raped by someone. That explains why you're so distant from others. Was it your baby daddy? Or perhaps, the former King himself?" Asks Divine. Sakura's eyes flash red, briefly. "Hold your tongue!" Sakura says, with venom. "Oh, looks like I just got my answer. Doesn't matter, though." Says Divine. He snakes one of his hands downward. "I'll still take you!" Divine says. His hand reaches the fabric of her panties and tears them off of her, rendering Sakura completely naked in front of him. Divine then in a blink of an eye, grabs her and tosses her onto the bed, with her wrists still bound. Before Sakura can even make an attempt to escape this situation, he's on top of her within seconds, keeping her from moving by pushing his weight on her. During the fiasco, her hair has become free of her signature hairpieces, setting it completely loose as it sprawls all over the bed. Divine's taking in the sight before him, a complete view of Sakura in all her naked glory. "How exquisite. Go ahead and scream all you want, no one will help you or stop me." Says Divine.
Change flashback. Sakura winces, deeply, and looks up at the ceiling. She's lying on the bed, with her arms still tied up over her head. Sakura's fighting to keep her tears from falling, she's hurting, deeply. "Brother… Make this pain stop…" Sakura thinks to herself.
Divine's hovering over her, breathing heavily. "Oh, did I hurt you?" Divine asks. He grips at Sakura's face. "Still not giving in, I see." Says Divine. Sakura glares up at him, her resolve is still very much in her eyes. Divine's almost taken aback by this. "Hmm?" Divine asks. "I told you already! I shall never give in to you, Divine. You can do whatever you want to me. Whip me, rape me, torture me, whatever makes you feel like your in control. However, you can go to hell." Says Sakura. Divine seethes at this and backhands her, which stuns her, but only briefly. He then gets up and out of the bed, he's completely naked, just as Sakura is. "Your punishment has only just begun, my dear. I'll whip, rape and torture you every day and night until I finally break you. Besides, I enjoy taking you, your body is quite tempting to unravel." Divine says. He removes the condom from his dick. "Oh, and don't worry. I don't plan on impregnating you, that luxury I'm reserving for Aki." Says Divine. "Aki? You mean, you're going to force her to bear your child!" Sakura says. "I'm not a monster, Sakura. I haven't even touched her intimately as of yet. I'm a patient man, I'll wait until she comes of age, when she's finally considered an adult. But until then, I need to release my pent up sexual urges on someone, which makes you the perfect substitute for Aki." Says Divine. "You're a vile man, Divine." Sakura says. Divine, now dressed, smirks at that. He then leans over Sakura and touches the Seal of the Crimson Dragon etched into her abdomen, tracing his hand along it. "And your very body houses secrets, it's written all over it." Says Divine. He then turns away and leaves, closing the door behind himself and locks it.
Change flashback. The stranger in the gray trench coat who attacked Sakura earlier introduces himself by flashing a Security badge. The flashback ends.
Back to the present. "I see. He was in disguise!" Sakura thinks to herself. She hands Jace over to Hotaru, who takes him. "All of you stay here!" Sakura says. She sprints away, with Grim and Aurora running after her, before they can turn around.
"Huh! Sakura!" Says Lua. "Mother!" Subaru says.
"My turn. I draw!" Says Aki. Her card is Dark Verger. "Black Rose Dragon's effect activates by removing Rose Fairy in my graveyard from play." Aki says. Black Rose Dragon chomps a ghost of Rose Fairy. "Rose Restriction! Dragon Queen of Tragic Endings is forced into attack position, and its attack points become zero." Says Aki.
"What?" Misty asks.
"Well done, Aki! Since your powers are no longer restrained, you don't need to be afraid of the Dark Signers. Do it!" Divine thinks to himself.
Sakura, with Grim and Aurora keeping pace at her heels, takes the stairs on the side of the building two at a time and busts down the door with her shoulder.
Divine turns, startled.
Sakura regains her balance after busting through the door, with a graceful somersault. She now stands in the opposite corner of the room, with Grim and Aurora standing in front of her, blazing red eyes and mystical blue eyes intently locked on Divine, snarling and teeth bared, positioned to defend their mistress.
Showdown.
"You! You're still alive!" Says Divine. He activates his duel disk.
Aki laughs, wickedly. "Ahahahahahahaha! Battle! Black Rose Flare!" Aki says.
The attack lands, engulfing Misty's field in purple fire. She stays on her feet, down to 1100 life points.
"If you stand in my way, I'll eliminate you." Says Aki.
"Since 'Reptilianne Rage' was destroyed and sent to the graveyard, your Black Rose Dragon loses eight hundred attack points." Misty says.
Black Rose Dragon's attack points are reduced to 1600. "I summon Dark Verger in defense position!" Says Aki.
Dark Verger has 1000 defense points and is a Level 2 monster. "I end my turn. It's your turn." Aki says.
Both sets of twins, Jace and Hotaru are still spectating. "Aki..." Says Luca. "If you don't hurry up and win this duel… The sun will set." Lua says. "And great darkness will befall us all!" Says Hotaru.
"What's your goal? Why are you here?" Sakura asks.
"Since the Dark Signers attacked Arcadia Movement, this happened to me." Says Divine. He lifts the wild patch of hair that had been covering his right eye, revealing the scarred, destroyed skin around it. "But Aki's mind control is perfect." Divine says.
"Mind control?" Asks Sakura.
"Aki won't listen to anyone except me. I'll use her power to get my revenge on everyone who hurt me." Divine says.
Sakura's irises and gradation ignite extremely bright, she's angry. "Set Aki free! She has changed her ways!" Says Sakura, her voice echoic and menacing. Grim growls, viciously, as if backing up her words. Aurora's fur is puffed up, as she bares her teeth at Divine.
"Changed her ways? Aki is my faithful servant! I'll decide everything for her!" Divine says.
"What?" Asks Sakura.
Suddenly, Divine draws a 'Hinotama' spell card off the top of his deck, plays it, and shoots a fireball at her, destroying the table standing in the room between them.
Sakura, Grim and Aurora all dodge and escape unharmed. Grim and Aurora snarl at Divine, ferociously. "I won't let you control a person's soul!" Sakura says.
"Everyone does what I want them to do. I can make them do what I want by striking at their weaknesses. Just like Aki! Though she had incredible psychic powers, Aki's heart was alone. So all I had to do was mess with her heart." Says Divine.
"How dare you!" Sakura says.
"Misty is also pathetic. She became a Dark Signer and challenged a psychic duelist because she wants revenge for the death of her brother Toby. Such beautiful love between siblings. But it's her destiny to lose against Aki." Says Divine.
Sakura gasps, remembering what Minako told her earlier.
Flashback. "In regards to the death of Misty's brother Toby, there have been anonymous reports to the Public Maintenance Department. Arcadia Movement may be manipulating the information." Minako says. The flashback ends.
Back to the present. "Were you the one who led Misty into becoming a Dark Signer?" Asks Sakura.
"Even I didn't expect to go that far. But it became the perfect opportunity to show the powers of a psychic duelist." Divine says.
Sakura actually smiles. "Go that far'. You let the cat out of the bag, Divine! You had something to do with Toby's death!" Says Sakura.
"If so, what are you going to do about it?" Divine asks, menacingly.
The sun is halfway over the horizon, the control tower glints in the waning sunshine, and the mark of the lizard seems to watch the sun sink lower. The duel rages on.
"My turn. I draw!" Says Misty. She drew Reptilianne Gardna. "I summon Reptilianne Gardna in defense position!" Misty says.
Reptilianne Gardna has 2000 defense points and is a Level 4 monster. "I send the Continuous Spell 'Sad Story-Unwavering Truth' to the graveyard. I can now Special Summon Dragon Queen of Tragic Endings from my graveyard!" Says Misty.
Dragon Queen of Tragic Endings has 1900 attack points and is a Level 6 monster. "As long as I have a Continuous Spell on my field, Dragon Queen of Tragic Endings will keep resurrecting. You'll perish this time! Dragon Queen of Tragic Endings attacks Black Rose Dragon! Tragedy Stream!" Misty says.
Black Rose Dragon gets blown away, Aki's down to 1600 life points, if anything, her crazy grin gets crazier.
"Dragon Queen of Tragic Endings's monster effect activates! When it deals battle damage, you select one card in your hand and send it to the graveyard. Then I get to draw one card." Says Misty. She draws. "Hmph. I end my turn." Misty says.
"My turn." Says Aki. She draws, it's 'Fragrance Storm', she shows it and plays it right away. "I activate the spell card 'Fragrance Storm'. By destroying one Plant-Type monster, I can draw one more card. If the card I draw is a Plant-Type monster, I can show it to you and draw one more card." Aki says. Her card is the plant-type monster Copy Plant.
"Huh?!" Asks Misty.
"I draw! I summon Copy Plant from my hand in defense position!" Aki says.
Copy Plant has 0 defense points and is a Level 1 monster. "When I summon a Plant-Type Tuner, I can Special Summon Dark Verger from my graveyard." Says Aki.
Dark Verger reappears on the field, with 0 defense points and is a Level 2 monster.
"What's the point of gathering all those low-Level monsters?" Misty asks.
The sun is halfway over the horizon.
Ushio, Minako and Kakyuu hurry up to Hotaru, Jace and both sets of twins. "Kids!" Says Ushio. "Are you okay?" Minako asks. Lua nods. "Who's winning?" Asks Ushio. "Aki is winning. But..." Luca says. "But?" Asks Kakyuu.
"I set two cards. I end my turn." Aki says.
"It's my turn. I draw!" Says Misty. Her draw is Earthbound Immortal Ccarayhua. "With this, it's all over. I activate the Continuous Spell 'Advance Force' from my hand! Due to this card's effect, Dragon Queen of Tragic Endings counts as two monsters when it's released! This card resurrected our lives! I offer you my soul! Descend, Earthbound Immortal Ccarayhua!" Misty says.
Down on the ground. Ushio, Minako and Kakyuu have joined both sets of twins, Jace and Hotaru on the sidelines. All nine watch a purplish-white ball of light rise out of the top of the dome. "That's…" Says Velvet. "It can't be!" Subaru says. Hotaru tightens her hold on Jace a bit, shaking nervously. Luca notices and places her hands on her shoulder, making her gasp and bring her attention over to her. She just gives Hotaru a small, genuine smile. "It's okay. Everything's going to be fine." Says Luca. Hotaru smiles, shyly, and nods, mutely.
High above the duel. The ball of light becomes the summoning mechanism of an Earthbound Immortal, pulsing as it seems to absorb darkness from the very air. Then it shines like a beacon, and explodes into a column of light. The purple flames rise higher and the ground begins to rumble.
The lizard Immortal rises, its bulbous eyes rolling all the way around as it looks about.
Aki, in her altered state, is not afraid, she looks as though she has set her sights on Black Rose Dragon's next victim. "Ha!" Aki says.
"Ohh!" Says both Lua and Luca.
The lizard is standing over them, glowing with unnatural green light, as though the mirrored globe is its magical crystal ball. Earthbound Immortal Ccarayhua has 2800 attack points and is a Level 10 monster.
Meanwhile, Sakura doesn't quite dodge Divine's next fireball. Grim and Aurora are standing over her, protectively. On the ground, wincing, Sakura presses a button on the top of her duel disk. She struggles to get back to her feet, using Grim and Aurora to help steady herself, her duel disk held in front of her as though this is a duel. "You planned this all, Divine!" Sakura says.
Divine frowns.
Sakura doesn't blink. "You killed Misty's brother and made Aki take the fall!" Says Sakura.
"So you figured it out. You're right. I was the one who killed Misty's brother. I killed him a year ago!" Divine says.
Flashback. The Arcadia building stabs into the sky against gray, murky clouds.
Inside, Toby lies on a cot, wearing pants but no shirt, with several wires connecting him to machines in the room. His entire body is crackling with blue electricity, and he's breathing heavily.
Divine watches him through a glass window into the room, accompanied by a few Movement goons. "Increase the power." Says Divine, impatiently. "But that'll be too dangerous!"
The readout flickers with energy less frequently than a moment ago, and Toby's starting to gasp.
"If this is Toby's full potential, then I have no use for him. Just do it! Increase the power!" Divine says. One of the peons turns a dial on the control panel. "Okay!"
Toby's screams die out and his body soon goes limp, as he's electrocuted to death. The flashback ends.
Back to the present. "Toby couldn't survive the experiment. He was useless. He was screaming even though it was only a low-level experiment. On the other hand, Aki is excellent. She always meets my expectations." Says Divine.
"You… You won't get away with this!" Sakura says. She leaps for Divine, he dodges. He's now behind Sakura and she knows she's about to get blasted. Divine laughs, and shows another 'Hinotama' spell card, he's about to launch more fireballs. "Die." Says Divine. Sakura's eyes widen.
The explosion hits, taking out the side of the building and blasting her out along with the wall. Sakura's body rolls out onto the stairs from the blast that she took and stops short of the edge of them, she came pretty close to rolling right off, which would have been quite a nasty fall. She manages to turn herself onto her back, trying to keep herself as far away from the ledge as she possibly can. Sakura's most definitely hurt after taking that blast head-on, especially with Divine's psychic abilities behind it, but she's not about to show it.
Grim and Aurora soon come walking over, whimpering slightly, in pain. As soon as they reach Sakura, they collapse on top of her. "Grim. Aurora." Sakura says. She carefully holds Grim and Aurora close to herself, with one arm.
Divine walks over. Sakura glares up at him. "You never give up. You'll disappear forever this time!" Says Divine. He prepares to put another 'Psychic Sword' card on his duel disk. "Heheheheheh!" Sakura laughs. "Hm? Why are you laughing?" Divine asks. "My duel disk may look custommade, but it's actually homemade. I had my multi-duel voice network turned on." Says Sakura. "What?" Divine asks. Sakura lifts up her duel disk, slightly. It's now clearly visible that a green light is blinking on the screen next to the life point counter. "Misty heard everything!" Says Sakura. "Ah!" Divine says. He looks down at the duel.
Misty is looking right at Divine and she clearly heard every word. "Divine, you… You killed Toby!" Says Misty.
"So what? Your brother didn't have any abilities! I don't need useless people!" Divine says.
Misty's Dark Signer markings glow violet, with her rage. "I won't forgive you." Says Misty.
Just then, Divine notices that Ccarayhua is looming over him. Its lizard tongue shoots out, as though he's a tasty fly, and wraps around him. The leader of the Arcadia Movement yells, as Ccarayhua retracts its tongue and eats him.
Sakura watches all this from where she's lying, stunned.
The spectators watch, in horror, except Luca, who hides her face, unable to look.
As Aki watches, her eyes widen, and seem to regain their humanity and vulnerability.
"It ate him!" Lua says, babbling at the top of his lungs.
"Toby, I got your revenge." Misty thinks to herself. She looks over at Aki. "Aki." Says Misty.
Across the field, Aki is still sort of coming out of a trance.
Misty's scleras turn white and her markings disappear. "I'm sorry. It wasn't your fault that Toby died. I no longer have a reason to battle. I surrender." Misty says. As her hand hovers over her duel disk, she hears a deep, scary voice.
"I won't let you do that."
Misty starts to radiate dark, purple energy. Her posture caves, as she fights the pain, and she drops to her knees. "Ahh! Ah! Hahh! Inside my body… The god inside my body… Huuhhh! Aaaaaahhhhhhhh!" Says Misty.
"Defeat her! Defeat the Signer!"
Misty's Dark Signer markings flash off and onto her face, like neon lights.
Sakura, with Grim and Aurora following after her, runs to the edge of the dome, holding at her side, in pain. Grim and Aurora lie themselves down at her feet, breathing heavily, they're hurting due to the connection they share with her. "Misty! Your revenge is over! Aki, wake up! Aki!" Sakura says.
Aki has been standing there bemused, half out of a trance. "Sakura's voice… I hear Sakura's voice. I know that voice." Aki thinks to herself. She blinks and her eyes come alive again, she's back to herself.
"Ugh! I can't stop this duel anymore! Uuugh!" Says Misty.
"Misty!" Aki says.
"Misty, don't let the evil god beat you!" Says Sakura.
"Uuggh! Aki, please defeat me!" Misty says. The murky light vanishes and she gets to her feet with unnatural speed, her Dark Signer markings and irises glowing bright purple. "The duty of a Dark Signer is to defeat the Signers!"
"The evil god has taken control of Misty's body! Aki! You're the only one who can stop Misty!" Says Sakura.
"Right!" Aki says.
"I'll finish you! I attack you directly!" Ccarayhua reaches down through the globe, as though reaching into the water in a fishbowl.
"I activate the trap 'Ground Capture'!" Says Aki. A hand of brown rock or wood reaches up from the earth, and grips Ccarayhua's outstretched hand, keeping it away from her. Arm-wrestling, both parties' fingers are no longer than Aki is tall. "I only take half the battle damage from your monster!" Aki says.
Ccarayhua wins the arm-wrestling contest and shatters her stone hand, showering her with sharp chips of rock.
Aki ducks her head, shielding herself, but the wind forces her backward. She falls to the ground, with only 200 life points left.
"Aki!" Says Sakura.
Aki sits up on her knees and pulls a card from her deck. "Due to 'Ground Capture's' effect, I draw one card if I take one thousand or more points of damage." Aki says. Her card is Hedge Guard.
"You only have two hundred life points left. No matter what you try, it's pointless."
Aki gets back on her feet.
"I set one card and end my turn."
"If I win this duel, Misty will vanish. But if I only destroy Earthbound Immortal, there's a chance that Misty will survive." Aki thinks to herself. "My turn!" Says Aki. As she draws, she seems to stand prouder and stronger. Aki is on a mission, now as bold on her own as she was with all that nasty power. She glances at her card, the spell 'Shining Rebirth'. "Due to Copy Plant's monster effect, it becomes the same Level as Dark Verger until the End Phase! Then I summon Level Three Hedge Guard!" Aki says.
Hedge Guard has 0 attack points. "Then I activate 'Shining Rebirth' from my hand! By sending the required monsters on the field to the graveyard, I can Synchro Summon one Synchro Monster from my graveyard. I send Level Two Dark Verger, Level Three Hedge Guard and Level Two Copy Plant to the graveyard and tune them! The cold flame envelops the entire world. Black flower, bloom! Synchro Summon! Resurrect, Black Rose Dragon!" Says Aki.
Black Rose Dragon has 2400 attack points and is a Level 7 monster. "When Black Rose Dragon is successfully Synchro Summoned, it can destroy all cards on the field. And due to 'Shining Rebirth's' effect, Black Rose Dragon can't be destroyed this turn!" Aki says.
"Are you sure about this? If you defeat me, this girl will also die."
"I'm going to defeat you, not Misty! Black Rose Dragon's effect activates! Black Rose Gale! Destroy Earthbound Immortal Ccarayhua!" Says Aki. Black Rose Dragon generates a huge storm of petals.
Misty's clothes are blown all over the place, but she doesn't even shield her face. "You think that you can save this girl if you only destroy me, but I won't let that happen! I activate the trap card 'Doom Gazer'! When an effect that destroys cards on the field is activated, you take three hundred points of damage for every card that was destroyed and sent to the graveyard this turn. Seven cards were destroyed! Therefore, you take two thousand one hundred points of damage! You lose!"
As the huge pink fireball of light hurtles toward Aki, she thinks she sees Misty, the real one, in the light. She is gowned in white, with a maroon top and her locket, her arms spread as though flying. "Aki, since you're a Signer, you must protect this world!" Misty says, generously and absolving.
Aki stares back, eyes wide and beginning to betray tears. "Misty…" Says Aki.
"Remember us." Misty says.
Aki recoils away, unable to look, even as she extends her hand to make her move. "I flip over my trap card! 'Nature's Reflection'! It reflects back your card's effect damage!" Says Aki.
A shimmering wall appears around her, deflecting the attack, sending it arching back from whence it came, right at Misty.
"Impossible! Aah!" The sparkling meteor hits her squarely, creating a huge explosion.
In the bright light, Misty can be seen again, wearing Dark Signer robes, but benign and peaceful, her eyes are light and her markings have vanished. Her voice echoes a little, as rose petals drift through the air. "Thank you, Aki." Misty says. Silhouetted in the light, a single figure in a torn dress flies through the air, thrown backward, one arm outstretched, in entreaty. Misty's final words echo, as her life points fall to 0. "Toby." Says Misty. As she falls, she sighs, gently, and the locket Toby gave her snaps from her neck.
Above the duel, Ccarayhua shrieks its fury as it begins to vanish. It keeps roaring until only sparkles remain. The dome disappears.
The locket hits the cold concrete and pops open, revealing the picture inside of Misty and Toby.
The fiery lines of the lizard's mark fade from the ground and clouds.
Aki stands there, silently, as Sakura, with Grim and Aurora keeping pace at either side of her, runs over to her, still holding at her side. Her irises and gradation have ceased glowing, her scleras have shifted back to white and the glowing red veins have dispersed from across her eyes. "Are you alright, Aki?" Sakura asks.
Ushio, Minako, Kakyuu, Hotaru, who's still carrying Jace in her arms, and both sets of twins are the next to reach her side. "Aki!" Says both Subaru and Velvet. Aki's head is bowed, in sorrow. "What's wrong, Aki?" Hotaru asks. Aki doesn't answer them, but walks forward, quietly.
"Aki…" Says Minako.
Aki walks to the center of the field, silently, kneels and picks up the fallen locket, holding it in her palm, as tears drip onto her hand. "Misty… Toby…" Aki says.
"Aki..." Says Sakura. "I forgot about the sun!" Lua says. "Damn! We didn't make it before sunset." Says Ushio.
The last layer of pink is just visible over the horizon, silhouetting the defunct pirate ship ride along with the control tower, above, the sky is purplish-blue and filled with clouds.
"But everyone who was absorbed at the field should have now returned to the City." Minako says.
Somewhere in Neo Domino. It's raining sparks, and people are materializing in the streets. "This place is…" "We…" "We're back!"
At the abandoned carnival, the ground starts to shake. "What?" Asks Sakura. "What's that?" Ushio asks.
A single column of golden light has appeared in the distance, shining straight up like a laser.
"That's in the direction of the City!" Says Kakyuu.
The beam widens and turns whiter than yellow, then fades, revealing the outline of a new mark. The mark of the condor, glowing yellowish-white against the sky like a beacon.
"What's that shape?" Sakura asks. Grim's fur is standing on edge, as his blazing red eyes are intently fixed on the new mark in the sky. Aurora's fur is puffed up, as her mystical blue eyes are also locked on this new mark.
Aki hurries over to them, having just seen it. "I have a feeling that this duel is going to be the hardest one of them all. Which means, we are going to need all the Signers with this one." Says Sakura. "But Sakura, there's supposed to be six Signers, remember?" Lua asks. "Well, I guess the five of us are going to have to be enough. I hope Yusei and Crow found Jack, because we are going to need the guys, as well." Says Sakura. "We all won our individual duels. Now, Aki, Jack, Yusei, Luca and myself must come together as one. For the final duel for the world." Sakura thinks to herself. She suddenly falls to one knee, clutching at her side, crying out, in pain. Aki kneels down before Sakura and touches her shoulder. "Sakura, what's wrong?" Akiza asks, worriedly. Sakura winces as she takes her hand away from her side, her gloved hand is stained with blood. Aki gasps, shocked. "Well, this is bad." Says Sakura. "You were attacked by Divine and he went full force with his psychic powers. It can cause quite a bit of damage to a human body if used out of anger or hate. It can be more serious than it appears." Aki says. Sakura goes back to holding at her side and looks up at her, meeting her in the eyes, dark-crimson red meeting brown. "It is alright, Aki. We have other things to worry about than this." Says Sakura. "At least let me help you. You've already done so much for me. So please, let me help you this time." Aki says. Sakura just gives a subtle nod. "Very well." Says Sakura.