Chapter 38: To Our Future!
Racing along a fiery track several dozen feet in the air over Neo Domino City.
In front is Jack, with 2500 life points and nothing on the field.
A few feet behind is Yusei, with Junk Archer on the field and 4000 life points.
And sort of riding between the two is Sakura, with Whirlwind on the field and 4000 life points. Grim's lying behind her on the D-Wheel, protectively.
On the other side of the glowing geoglyph is Crow, on the ground with 1 life point, watching his D-Wheel screen, quietly.
And looming above them all is Godwin, high atop the stair of the Crimson Dragon with Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca at his back and Sun Dragon Inti at his left hand. He has 11900 life points and an evil laugh to boot. "Hahahahahahahaha! Hm!" Godwin laughs. He's just noticed that the King of the Netherworld is sending out another flock of nasty little slime birds to harry the Signers.
As they swoop down toward the duel field, Black Rose Dragon intervenes.
"Black Rose Flare!" Aki says.
Black Rose Dragon lets loose a stream of purple fire that vaporizes every little bird it touches.
Ancient Fairy Dragon is soaring in to join her.
"Eternal Sunshine!" Says Luca.
Ancient Fairy Dragon glows with blinding prismatic light, obliterating every vicious slime bird in the vicinity.
Meanwhile. The King of the Netherworld is still approaching.
"It's almost time. When the king of the underworld arrives at the altar and I offer you as a sacrifice, the world will be trapped in hell! I'll destroy everything and return it to zero!" Godwin says.
"Do whatever it takes to stop him!" Says Sakura.
"Of course! His laughter disgusts me!" Jack says.
"Hm!" Says Yusei, with a slight nod.
Sakura has placed a card face down and has tossed the baton to him.
Yusei sort of passed his turn by placing a face down.
Jack, Sakura and Yusei zoom around another corner of the design.
"My turn!" Godwin says.
"Jack's field is empty, so Godwin will target him." Yusei thinks to himself.
"I flip over my trap card 'Fiendish Chain'! Sun Dragon Inti's effect is negated, and it also can't attack or be released!" Says Jack.
"All right! Sun Dragon Inti can't attack him directly anymore! However…" Sakura says, under her breath.
She, Yusei and Jack race around another curve.
Godwin ever-presently looms above. "Jack Atlas, you said that no matter how much a person throws away, he will never be alone. You're wrong. A person can easily become alone. By dying. When a person faces death, he or she realizes that he or she doesn't have friends or bonds. But that's normal. Death is a solo adventure." Says Godwin.
"Uncle…" Sakura says.
"I'll turn you back to your old self, Jack Atlas! When you were helplessly alone and facing death! Due to Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca, I skip this turn's Battle Phase! Jack drops to one life point!" Says Godwin.
Jack, Yusei and Sakura all grit their teeth, there's nothing they can do to stop it.
"Polar Star Obey!" Godwin says.
It does, raining down a cloud of fire on Jack, but he's still okay and riding.
"Ugh! When I have one thousand or fewer life points, 'Fiendish Chain' is destroyed." Says Jack.
Inti breaks the chains around it.
"Watch and feel death coming towards you! King of the underworld, I offer you Jack Atlas as a sacrifice!" Godwin says.
The disgusting behemoth has reached the shore.
The populace flees, in terror. "Aaahh! What is that?"
The thing opens its mouth and emanates a big wave of fire, vaporizing slime birds, as it travels toward the duel.
Black Rose Dragon and Ancient Fairy Dragon dodge to the side.
"Ancient Fairy Dragon!" Says Luca. "What power!" Aki says. "Huh?!" Asks both Ushio and Minako.
Yusei, Sakura and Jack are riding through a world of fire.
"Hu-aaagh!" Yusei hangs on.
"Uaaaggghhh!" But Jack, weakened from the blast that reduced his life points to 1, spins out and crashes to the ground, skidding along the track on his side.
"Jack!" Sakura says. She's getting worse and worse the longer the Crimson Dragon is out of her.
"Jack, do you feel death and helplessness?" Asks Goodwin.
"I don't feel helplessly alone! Because we're not facing death!" Jack says. He skids into the side of the track and hits the wall. Jack's D-Wheel flips over and he's flung off of it. Wheel of Fortune keeps scraping along the ground and he bounces after it, end over end, until he lands hard on the ground and rolls to a stop.
Yusei slows as he rides by, but has to keep going. "Jack!" Says Yusei.
Sakura's sort of further ahead of him.
Jack lifts his head, weakly, to look at his D-Wheel and the face down cards he left behind. "Sakura, I'm counting on you. Yusei, keep her safe in my stead. Even if my D-Wheel can't move, I'm still with you! " Jack says.
Crow, fallen where he crashed, is doing much the same thing, keeping an eye on the final card he left behind for either Yusei or Sakura to use. "Jack's right. Even though we only have one life point, our emotions are worth ten thousand points." Says Crow.
"Do your best, Yusei! Sakura!" Lua says. "Don't lose!" Says Ushio. "I've always believed in you two, big sister and big brother!" Hotaru says.
"All their hopes are with us!" Says Sakura, despite her words, she's sounding a lot weaker now than she was a few minutes ago. She is clutching at her chest, just over her heart, she's hurting a lot more than she's letting out, she won't make it much longer without the Crimson Dragon. Grim looks up at Sakura, he can sense her distress.
"Since you're facing death, you're pretending to hide your fear. I set one card and end my turn." Godwin says.
Sakura moves to draw a card, but her body's starting to shut down.
Yusei notices and rides up next to her. "Can you keep going, sis?" Asks Yusei.
"I must. As much as my body is telling me to stop, whatever heart and soul I have left that is mine is telling me to continue until… the end." Sakura says.
"I can't let you do that. Please, listen to me for once in your life! Sakura, look at me!" Says Yusei.
Sakura manages to at least glance up at him, but not a lot of strength to look at him directly in the eyes, even her dark-crimson red orbs are showing what her body and voice have already proven, she's not going to make it much longer.
"You have been getting weaker every passing second of this duel since the Crimson Dragon was taken from you, and now it's finally getting to you. You weren't in good condition to begin with." Yusei says.
"So what is it you are really saying, Yusei? To give up this duel and let you go solo? Jack and Crow may not be entirely out, but who do you think Godwin's going to go after if you go alone?" Asks Sakura.
"I won't be alone and you know that. Just please let me take your turn for you, that's all I'm asking. I'll duel for the both of us." Yusei says.
Sakura looks away from him and looks down. "Forgive me, Yusei." Says Sakura.
"Sakura, please don't!" Yusei says.
"My turn!" Says Sakura. She draws. "I activate Whirlwind's effect! Once a turn, I can remove one monster from play! I remove Sun Dragon Inti! Tempest Cloud!" Sakura says.
"Even as you reach the brink of death, you never give up. I activate the Counter Trap 'Passion of Baimasse'! It negates your monster's effect and destroys it!" Godwin says.
"Hmph. I summon Golden Queen in defense position!" Says Sakura.
Golden Queen has 1800 defense points and is a Level 3 monster.
"I set one card and end my turn." Sakura says.
"Hahaha! Their hopes are with you? And the best you can do is summon a monster in defense position?" Asks Godwin.
"Rrgh." Sakura growls under her breath.
"Defense is pointless against Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca! My dear niece, you'll learn that you're helpless and alone when you're facing death! You'll find that there are no bonds! My turn!" Godwin says. He draws. "You're going to end up the same as them." Says Godwin.
Neither Jack nor Crow, each watching from the spot where he crashed, likes the sound of that.
"I activate Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca's effect! By skipping the Battle Phase, your life points become one!" Godwin says.
"Huh...?" Asks Sakura.
"Polar Star Obey!" Godwin says.
"No!" Says Yusei. Jack contacts him through his D-Wheel screen. "Yusei, you have to end this. Sakura can't keep going like this, she's getting worse and worse." Jack says, via-screen.
Crow enters the conversation, too. "Jack's right. You have to get Sakura to stop before it's too late." Says Crow, via-screen. "But all three of us know her better than anyone. We know how she is, you both know she's not going to quit." Yusei says. "Then, you're going to have to show her how much she means to you." Says Jack, via-screen. "He's right. You can't just tell her, you have to show her. That's what she's always done for all three of us." Crow says, via-screen. "And if you don't do something now, she'll die." Says Jack, via-screen. They then break off communication.
Yusei knows what he must do, he rides up exactly right on the side of Sakura's D-Wheel. He then puts himself in front of her, almost like a human shield, and wraps his arms around her, his hands fisted ready for the impact.
Rasca blasts Yusei, the attack creates a cloud of smoke and no one can see if he's okay.
"Yusei!" Jack says.
"Yusei…" Says Crow.
Sakura rides herself and Yusei out of the cloud, as his life points drop to 1 and his speed counters to 9. She is still standing, while he's lying almost motionless in front of her. Yusei's head is lying in one of Sakura's arms and the rest of his body is lying in her lap. "Brother…" Sakura says.
"Ha ha hahahahaha! Your combined life points are 4003. All three of them tried so hard to protect you and yet, all three have gotten hurt because of you. You must feel helpless." Says Godwin.
Sakura keeps riding, her eyes hidden by her helmet. "No, I still won't give up." Sakura says.
"Huh?!" Asks Godwin.
Sakura lifts her head and faces him. "As long as there's hope, I'll never feel helpless! My bond of friendship and family gives me hope!" Sakura says. Yusei gets himself up and gets astride his own D-Wheel.
"You're still saying that?" Asks Godwin.
"And now, he gets the rest of my life points to replace all that he's lost, which leaves me with one life point." Sakura says.
Yusei's life points go all the way back up to 4000.
While Sakura gets 1 life point. She falls forward over the top of her D-Wheel, which starts to swerve a little bit.
Yusei's still right next to Sakura, placing one of his hands on her shoulder. "Sakura." Says Yusei.
"Yusei, I give you permission to take my place in this duel. I can't ignore the pain any longer." Sakura says.
Yusei then moves his hand on top of hers. "Like I said before, I'm not doing this alone. 'Cause you're riding with me the rest of the way." Says Yusei.
"I'm sorry, Yusei... However, you wanted to take my place. Now... go show Godwin what you're made of." Sakura says. She uses the last possible strength she has left and summons forth one of her red and black portals and rides into it. The portal soon closes up behind Sakura as she rides in and she, Grim and her D-Wheel are gone.
The portal suddenly appears near Jack. Sakura, Grim and her D-Wheel soon come crashing out of the portal. She and Grim are flung from the D-Wheel before it collides into Jack's. As soon as Sakura and Grim hit the ground, halfway beside him, the portal closes up.
"Sakura!" Says Jack. He then crawls over to Sakura and kneels over her, protectively. Jack lifts her up, carefully, and holds her to his chest, having her head nuzzled into his shoulder and lying sideways in his lap. "Her breathing's starting to slow down. Please just hang in there. I already lost you once, I'm not going to lose you again." Jack thinks to himself. "Jack… If the Crimson Dragon doesn't return to me soon..." Sakura says, weakly. "Stay strong. I'm not going anywhere." Says Jack.
Grim soon walks over to him and Sakura, staggering quite a bit, and lays up beside his mistress, who hugs his head close to herself with one of her arms.
"She just doesn't know when to give up!" Godwin says.
"And I'm going to make you pay for all the agonizing pain and suffering that you caused her! My turn!" Says Yusei. He draws. "I activate Speed Spell 'Angel Baton' from my hand! When I have two or more Speed Counters, I draw two cards from my deck. Then I send one card in my hand to the graveyard. I summon the Tuner Monster Debris Dragon!" Yusei says.
Debris Dragon has 1000 attack points and is a Level 4 monster.
"When Debris Dragon is successfully summoned, I can Special Summon one monster in my graveyard with five hundred-or-fewer attack points. Come, Sonic Chick!" Says Yusei.
Sonic Chick has 300 attack points and is a Level 1 monster.
"Level Four Debris Dragon tunes Level One Sonic Chick and Level Three Golden Queen! The wishes come together to form a new shining star! Become the path that lights the way! Synchro Summon! Soar, Stardust Dragon!" Yusei says.
Stardust Dragon has 2500 attack points and is a Level 8 monster.
"Your hopes have reached their limit. It doesn't have enough attack points." Says Godwin.
"Wrong! Hope will never fail as long as I have my bond of friendship and family! And speaking of bonds, you're going to see how powerful of a bond my half-twin and I share. When Stardust Dragon is out, I can bring out another Synchro Monster without synchro-summoning. I'm bringing out, Cynder the Black Dragon!" Yusei says.
Cynder the Black Dragon has 2700 attack points and is a Level 8 monster.
"Even she doesn't have enough attack points to do anything." Says Godwin.
"Wrong again! When these two are out at the same time, they can use any trap in play!" Yusei says.
"What are you talking about?" Asks Godwin.
"I use the effect of 'Blackwing-Bombardment', the Continuous Trap that Crow left behind!" Yusei says.
Crow lifts his head from the ground to get a better view of his D-Wheel screen, his grin is triumphant.
"By sending 'Blackwing-Bombardment' to the graveyard, Stardust Dragon and Cynder the Black Dragon's attack points increase by two thousand five hundred until the End Phase!" Says Yusei.
Stardust Dragon's attack points rise up to 5000, while Cynder the Black Dragon's go up to 5200.
"What?" Godwin asks.
"This is the power of Armor Master, who was paid as a cost to activate 'Blackwing-Bombardment'!" Says Yusei.
Flashback. Crow activates 'Blackwing-Bombardment' and Armor Master gets sucked into it. The flashback ends.
Back to the present. "Stardust Dragon attacks Sun Dragon Inti! Shooting Sonic!" Yusei says.
Blackwing Armor Master is visible in the fire of Stardust's attack. Inti explodes, spectacularly.
Godwin shields his face from the bright light. He's down to 9900 life points. "The monster that destroyed Sun Dragon Inti is also destroyed, and you take damage equal to its attack points!" Says Godwin.
A ghost of Inti appears where the monster floated and sends forth a red blast of light.
"Stardust Dragon's effect overcomes that! By releasing Stardust Dragon, the card destruction effect is negated and destroyed! Victim's Sanctuary!" Yusei says.
Stardust disappears and takes Inti's blast with it.
"When the sun sets, the moon rises. Then the sun rises again. No one can stop the flow of nature! I Special Summon Moon Dragon Quilla from my graveyard!" Says Godwin.
"I don't think so!" Yusei says.
"Ugh!" Says Godwin.
One of Jack's face downs activates. He lifts his head to look at it and smiles.
"That's Jack's card!" Godwin says.
"We've connected…" Says Crow.
"...Our bond." Jack says.
"I activate the Continuous Trap 'Conquest of the Supreme Ruler' on Jack's field! By sending this card to the graveyard, your monster's summoning is negated!" Says Yusei.
"Impossible!" Godwin says.
"At the End Phase of this turn, Stardust Dragon resurrects from my graveyard!" Says Yusei.
Stardust Dragon has 2500 attack points and is a Level 8 monster.
"I end my turn. Godwin, as long as we have this bond, we're never alone. We don't feel helpless. You should know that too!" Yusei says.
Godwin starts wavering. "What are you talking about? I've reached the limits of total loneliness and helplessness! If I don't surpass humanity and become a god, I won't be able to reset the world!" Says Godwin.
"Does that mean you've forgotten about your brother, my father Rudger?" Sakura asks, starting to get more weakness in her voice.
"What?" Asks Godwin.
"In the past, you fought against destiny and created the legend of the Daedalus Bridge. Weren't you trying to carry on his legacy?" Sakura says.
Flashback. A lone, red D-Wheel zooms up the Daedalus Bridge over the sparkling blue water. At last seeing the bridge-building D-Wheeler's face, it's a younger Rex Godwin, looking resolute, hopeful and despairing, as though shooting for something he fears he'll never reach. His dark gray hair, darker and shorter than it is now, but longer and lighter than it was before Zero Reverse, flies in the wind from a ponytail at the back of his helmet. Rex leaps from the end of the bridge, and reaches a gloved hand imploringly to the sun, high above. "Brother…" Rex thinks to himself. The flashback ends.
Back to the present. "Your left arm belonged to my father, your brother Rudger." Says Sakura.
"Rrgh! So what? Face reality! You only have one life point!" Godwin says.
The King of the Netherworld is still walking, making its way through the City step by step.
"And the king of the underworld is already nearby! Since the other three can no longer drive, I win when you run out of life points, Yusei!" Says Godwin.
Yusei rounds corner after corner of the glowing track, faster and faster in a dizzying zigzag, Stardust and Cynder gliding above him.
"My turn!" Godwin says. He draws. "Yusei Fudo, I attack you directly with Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca! I'll blow out your life like a candle in the wind! Death Singularity!" Says Godwin.
Rasca swoops down on Yusei, Stardust and Cynder, soon it fills the entire sky. He faces it down, unwavering, ready to go down fighting.
"Yusei!" Jack says.
"Huh?" Asks Yusei.
"Now's the time to use that card!" Jack says.
"Jack! So that's why you didn't use this card!" Says Yusei.
Jack grins.
"Godwin! Our bond of friendship and family is my weapon! I activate the Continuous Trap 'Scrubbed Raid'! By sending one card on my field to the graveyard, the Battle Phase ends. I release 'Scrubbed Raid'!" Yusei says. He's covered with a shimmering, dome-like shield.
Rasca retreats.
When the shimmery substance clears, Yusei faces Godwin again, defiant. "Rrgh!" Yusei growls under his breath.
Godwin recoils, then lashes out again. "Ugh! In that case, I activate the trap card 'Meteor Flare'! I send two cards in my hand to my graveyard to deal you two thousand points of damage!" Says Godwin.
"I flip over the trap card 'Joint Future'! I send one card in my hand to the graveyard to negate your spell or trap card's activation!" Yusei says.
"But since 'Meteor Flare' finished activating, it goes to the graveyard. When this card is in my graveyard during the Draw Phase, I can add this card to my hand instead of drawing." Says Godwin.
"I won't let it go to the graveyard! When 'Joint Future' negates a card's effect, that card returns to the deck and is shuffled!" Yusei says.
"What? Ugh." Says Godwin. His graveyard slot spits 'Meteor Flare' out and he has no choice but to place it on top of his deck and let it auto-shuffle. "Urgh. I end my turn." Godwin says.
Yusei's riding toward the Stair.
"Uncle, I know you don't want to become a god! There's no way you can forget about your brother!" Says Sakura.
"Whatever! If I don't surpass my brother, I can't become a god!" Godwin says.
"You're wrong! There are things that you can never forget!" Says Sakura.
Flashback/Vision. The picture Crow found in the Moment Complex, of a happy family of four, two parents and two babies. The dad is Professor Hakase Fudo, with one arm holding baby Sakura, who's hugging puppy Grim and kit Aurora close to herself, while his other arm is around the shoulder of Congresswoman Keiko Fudo, who's smiling and cradling baby Yusei in her arms, who's smiling up at them, reaching up to play with her necklace. "Everyone has something in their hearts that can never be lost!" Sakura says, in voice-over. Hakase's smiling down at his son and stepdaughter. The flashback/vision ends.
Back to the present. "You have my father inside your heart! You don't want to become a god and overcome destiny! You and my father want to oppose destiny together! That's the very definition of a bond." Says Sakura.
Suddenly, everything around Godwin vanishes and he sees a ghost of Rudger, eighteen years younger, in his lab coat, standing beside him. "Huh?" Godwin asks. He's still dark-eyed, bare-chested and covered with sinister markings, looking up at Rudger, and only then can he be seen how lost and afraid he is, and how bereft. "Brother..." Says Godwin. The ghostly Rudger looks down at him, his eyes sad. "Rex..." Rudger says. He shakes his head, in disappointment. Godwin gasps, nothing could ache more than having let down his big brother. The vision evaporates, as though it never were.
Godwin raises a hand, as though to grab Rudger's hand or lab coat and beg him to stay. "Brother!" Says Godwin.
Suddenly, the top card of Yusei's deck glows gold. "Ugh!" Yusei says.
"What's this?" Asks Godwin. The Seal of the Crimson Dragon vanishes from his chest. "Ough! What?" Godwin asks.
"The mark…" Says Luca. "It's back." Aki says.
Jack raises his head and takes a look at his glowing right arm, that's lying against Sakura's waist. His mark, too, has returned. "The mark of the Crimson Dragon!" Says Jack. Sakura is staring at her own returned mark, amazed. The additional markings and symbolic designs along her body have also returned, and her irises and gradated half of her hair start flaring in bright red light, while her scleras fade to black, with glowing red veins across her eyes. "It's giving us power." Sakura says. Her arm glows even brighter, hiding the mark from view, the light bursts like a bubble, and a new mark has replaced it, the mark of the Crimson Dragon's head. "I have the mark of the dragon head?" Asks Sakura. "However, this was originally my father's mark. Perhaps, I did inherit something from him, after all." Sakura thinks to herself.
Yusei looks down at his returned mark, too. His mark starts doing the same thing as Sakura's did. A new mark has replaced it, the mark of the Crimson Dragon's left-wing, the mark that used to be on Sakura's arm. "Sakura's mark of the left-wing is now mine?! Then, what happens with my original mark?!" Yusei asks.
Down on the track. Red sparkles are falling onto Crow's right arm, like stardust. He props himself up on his left elbow and watches his arm glow, unable to believe his eyes. "Huh? This is…" Says Crow. The glow solidifies into the mark of the dragon's tail, the mark that used to be on Yusei's arm. Crow's the new sixth Signer.
"Why? Didn't Crimson Dragon choose me because I'm going to become a god?" Godwin asks.
Sakura looks back up at him. "You're wrong! It chose our bond! With our bond, we shall overcome destiny!" Says Sakura. The Seal of the Crimson Dragon is once again glowing on her abdomen, through her shirt.
The other five Signers are all ready to fight. "Sakura!" Yusei, Aki, Crow, Jack and Luca all say.
Sakura rises up to her feet. "It's time to finish what we started! Now that the true sixth Signer has been chosen, we must complete our blood pact and our blood bond!" Says Sakura, her voice menacing and echoic. Grim gets up to his feet and stands at her side.
Down below. Aki and Luca start to have a red glow around them. "Sakura needs us." Luca says. "Yes. And we're going to go and help our friend." Says Aki. They both close their eyes and drift away.
Down on the track. Crow has a red glow around himself, too. "I hear you, Sakura. And now to repay you, my friend." Crow thinks to himself. He closes his eyes and vanishes.
Yusei, still riding on the track, feels the same thing and glows. "Sis." Yusei thinks to himself. He then closes his eyes and disappears off of his D-Wheel.
Jack and Sakura start to glow and then vanish, as well.
One by one, they reappear in a black and red void. Sakura appears in the center, while the five Signers form a circle around her. Her attire is dissolving into shadow, leaving most of her body covered in black smoke. The Seal of the Crimson Dragon etched into her abdomen glows.
"Where are we?" Luca asks.
"In a place where we won't be interrupted. We shall be returned to the normal world once both ceremonies are completed. We shall start with the blood bond. None of us, other than Crow, has to plead with Crimson Dragon again. However, two of us must renew our blood bond due to our marks being reassigned, which is myself and Yusei." Says Sakura. She closes her eyes and lowers herself onto her knees, trying to concentrate. The center of Sakura's chest glows red and a crimson-red blade is formed. She holds the blade and looks down at it. As Sakura lifts up her right arm, the black smoke evaporates from her hand and forearm, bearing her new dragon head sign. She sighs, lightly, and closes her eyes, bringing the blade down, breaking the skin as she reopens the scar in her right palm, with blood oozing from the wound. After she finishes, Sakura brushes her bangs aside, leans her head back and hovers her hand above herself, letting her blood drip into the sigil etched into her forehead. As her blood seeps into the sigil, it starts glowing in bright red. When she finishes, Sakura brings her hand into her lap and sighs, lightly.
She stands up to her feet, turns to Jack and walks over to him, stopping to stand in front of him. As she reaches her unwounded hand towards him, the black smoke evaporates as Sakura places her hand to his face. Jack seems entranced as her irises glow in bright red, but then looks away with a grunt. He lifts up his right arm, takes off his riding glove and pulls up his sleeve, revealing the right-wing sign burned into the flesh of his forearm. Sakura lowers her gaze to Jack's mark and places her bleeding hand on top of it. As her blood seeps into his sign, it starts burning in bright red. In turn, Sakura's mark, the design etched into the right side of her shoulder blade and the Seal of the Crimson Dragon all begin flaring in bright red. Spirals of crimson red swirl around her and Jack, as their blood bond between the Crimson Dragon, Host and Signer has been signified. The crimson spirals around them soon diminish, as Sakura pulls her hand away.
She then looks over at Aki and steps towards her, stopping to stand before her. As she meets Sakura's gaze, her irises still flaring in bright red, she raises her right arm and slips her glove off, baring the claw sign burned into the flesh of her forearm. She lowers her gaze to Aki's mark and places her bloody hand on top of it. As Sakura's blood seeps into her sign, it starts flaring in bright red. In turn, her mark, the markings etched along her legs and the tops of her feet, and the Seal of the Crimson Dragon all begin burning in bright red. Swirls of crimson red spiral around Sakura and Aki, as their blood bond between the Crimson Dragon, Host and Signer has been signified. The crimson swirls surrounding them soon vanish, as she takes her hand away.
Sakura then turns to Luca, steps towards her and kneels down before her. As she meets her burning eyes, she shakily lifts up her right arm and pushes her sleeve up, revealing her claw sign. Sakura lowers her gaze to Luca's mark and places her bleeding hand on top of it. As her blood seeps into her mark, it starts burning in bright red. In turn, Sakura's sign, the markings etched along her arms and hands, and the Seal of the Crimson Dragon all start flaring in bright red. Ribbons of crimson red swirl around her and Luca, as their blood bond between the Crimson Dragon, Host and Signer has been signified. The crimson ribbons surrounding them soon disappear, as Sakura pulls her hand away. She sighs, lightly, and stands up to her feet.
Sakura turns to Yusei and walks over to him, stopping to stand in front of him. The center of her chest glows red and a second crimson-red blade is formed. Sakura holds the blade and meets Yusei's gaze. He lifts up his right arm, removes his glove and pushes up his sleeve, baring his new left-wing sign. Sakura hands the blade over to Yusei, who takes it. He looks at the blade and then down at his hand. "You will now replace my original blood bond with your new one. For you, it is now the designs on my left shoulder blade that you correspond with." Sakura says. Without wasting any more time, Yusei brings the blade to his palm, breaking the skin and reopening the scar. He winces, his teeth clenched as blood spills out from the reopened wound. Sakura turns away from Yusei and moves her hair aside, slinging it over her right shoulder. The black smoke then evaporates from her left shoulder blade, revealing the design and scars that run along the flesh. Yusei turns his hand over, running it down the exposed skin, letting his blood run down into the design etched into her left shoulder blade. As his blood seeps into the design, it starts lighting up. When he finishes, Yusei pulls his hand away and closes his eyes. Sakura turns to face him, her irises already ablaze. As Yusei opens his eyes to meet his half-twins gaze, he lifts up his right arm. Sakura lowers her gaze to his new mark and places her bloodied hand on top of it. As her blood seeps into Yusei's mark, it starts glowing in bright red. In turn, Sakura's sign, designs etched into her left shoulder blade and Seal of the Crimson Dragon all begin burning in bright red. Spirals of crimson red swirl around her and Yusei, as their newly established blood bond between the Crimson Dragon, Host and Signer has been signified. The crimson spirals surrounding them soon diminish, as Sakura takes her hand away.
She then walks back over to the center of this void and sighs, lightly. As soon as she reaches the center, Sakura turns and glances over at the newest Signer. "Crow." Says Sakura.
Crow approaches, stopping in front of her. "You are now the sixth Signer, the one who we've been waiting for to show himself. I shall try to keep the explanation as subtle and brief as possible. As you already know, everyone you see in this void are also Signers. Jack and I were born with our marks, Aki and Luca received their marks at a young age, while Yusei and yourself are the most recent additions. However, not only was I born as a Signer, I was also born as the Crimson Dragon's Host. Now, I had it bring us here to complete our blood bond, as well as our blood pact." Sakura says. Crow folds his arms and nods, in acknowledgment. "Hm." Says Crow. "Every marking and design that burns my flesh corresponds to the mark of a Signer. You will have to produce a decent amount of blood and have it drip into the markings or design that corresponds to yours. As soon as you do, our blood bond will at last be complete. However, if this isn't something you wish to carry forth, you may refuse. Once you make your decision, there's no turning back from this." Sakura says. "I've never been one to back down from a challenge. And I'm not going to start now." Says Crow. "Very well." Sakura says. The center of her chest glows red and a third, theoretically the sixth, crimson-red blade is formed. Sakura holds the blade and locks eyes with Crow. He unfolds his arms and holds up his right arm, showing his newly received tail sign, that can be seen through his torn wrist guard. "You will be replacing Yusei's original blood bond with your own. For you, it is the design along my lower back." Says Sakura. She hands the blade over to Crow, who takes it. He looks at it and then down at his hand. Without missing a beat, Crow brings the blade to his palm, breaking the skin as he cuts downward. He winces, his teeth clenched, as he finishes, with blood spilling out from the wound. Sakura turns herself and moves her hair aside, slinging it over her shoulders. The black smoke evaporates from the rest of her back, baring the design and scars that run along the flesh. Crow's eyes go wide, seeing the scars from the experiments that were performed on Sakura and the whip lashes that were done by Divine himself, but soon his face turns into rage at seeing them. He brings his unwounded hand up and traces his hand along the scars and soon-to-be scars that mark her skin, lightly. "These scars! Are they from those experiments and tests that Yusei told me about?" Crow asks, angered. "Most of them. However, the newer lesions were received at the hands of Divine, among other things he did to me." Says Sakura. Crow lowers his head and turns his hand over, running it down the exposed skin, letting his blood run down into the design etched along her lower back. As his blood seeps into the design, it starts lighting up. When he finishes, Crow pulls his hand away and clenches it at his side, ignoring the wound in his palm. Sakura turns back to face him, who keeps his eyes downcast. "You did it, Crow. Our blood bond is complete." Sakura says. "Is it really worth it?" Asks Crow. "Hm?" Sakura asks. Crow looks up at her. "You've already been hurt and nearly killed so many times, whether it was during your time in Satellite or in the City. If anything, the scars that you carry are a result of our failure to protect you." Says Crow. Sakura places one of her hands on Crow's shoulder. "No one failed in protecting me. What happened to me was the result of a power hungry madman who wished to be a god. However, he didn't want to dirty his own hands and had a deranged psychopath do it instead. I have been shot, stabbed, whipped, raped, and cut open and sewn back together like a ragdoll. Yes, I've experienced excruciating pain from all sorts of people and in many different ways, but I never once blamed any of you for the things that happened to me." Sakura says. "But…" Says Crow. Sakura takes her hand away and puts it up, in a gesture to stop him from talking. "You've completed the blood bond between us. Now, you must make one with the Crimson Dragon." Sakura says. Crow grumbles a bit under his breath. "Fine." Says Crow. "You have to cut deeper into the wound in your palm. Then, you need to ask the Crimson Dragon to show itself to you. If it answers and comes forward, you may place your hand on the Seal of the Crimson Dragon and the blood bond between you and the beast shall be complete." Sakura says. Crow nods, subtly. Sakura breathes, lightly, and closes her eyes, prepared for the creature within her to surface.
Crow closes his eyes and brings the blade down, cutting deeper into the wound in his right palm, fresh blood spilling out, running down his hand and through his fingers. "Guess it's time for me to prove what a Satellite is capable of. I'll show this beast what a Satellite like me can do as a Signer." Crow thinks to himself. He opens his eyes, full of determination. "Crimson Dragon, I'm calling you out. Let's go." Says Crow.
Sakura's eyes open, her irises turning from dark-crimson to golden-yellow, with silverish-white split pupils, her scleras go from white to red, with glowing yellow veins across her eyes. She stretches herself a bit before turning her attention to Crow. "And who are you?" Crow punches his fist into his hand and leans forward, showing his respect to the Crimson Dragon. "Name's Crow. I was just picked as your newest member." Crow holds out his right arm, showing his tail sign. "I just made a blood bond with your Host. And now, I'm here to make one with you." Crow says. "Oh, I see. You're my long-awaited sixth Signer. It's about time you've awakened." Crow straightens himself up. "Hey, you're the one who…" Says Crow. "Silence." Sakura's irises start glowing in bright yellow. Crow shrinks back a bit. "Unlike my Host and my other Signers, my final Signer is almost always chosen by his show of resilience and feats of courage. You've never been one to run away from an enemy or back down from any challenge thrown your way. Even at the loss of your parents at a very young age." Crow's eyebrows are furrowed, he's trying to bite his tongue. "Despite what the world throws at you, you don't falter and keep going. It's a trait that's always intrigued me about you humans." She looks around at the other four Signers. "You've all crossed paths with your respective adversaries. All of whom took you down a path of self-doubt and conflictions. However, you all came out of your respective battles better than before and each showed great loyalty towards me." She then turns her attention back to Crow. "Especially you, who wasn't even a Signer at the start of this battle." Sakura's eyes dim down, slightly. "That being said, your selflessness and courage is what made you the sixth Signer. You were already loyal to my Host beforehand and now you will continue to do so as one. Therefore, Crow, my newly deemed Signer of the tail mark, I acknowledge you as the rightful sixth Signer. You may proceed and complete our blood bond." Sakura's eyes start glowing once more and the Seal of the Crimson Dragon etched into her abdomen lights up in bright red. Crow places his hand on the Seal, his blood running down and being absorbed into the Crimson Dragon's Seal. Sakura closes her eyes and a red outline pulses around her body, his blood bond has been accepted and is now complete. Crow takes his hand away.
The glowing outline around Sakura diminishes and she opens her eyes, which have returned to normal, indicating that Crimson Dragon has receded back into her. "Well done, Crow. Your blood bond with Crimson Dragon and myself is complete." Sakura says. She lifts up her bloodied hand and her irises start flaring, brightly. As Crow meets Sakura's gaze, he lifts up his right arm. She lowers her gaze to his newly received mark and places her hand on top of it. As Sakura's blood seeps into Crow's mark, it starts glowing in bright red. In turn, her sign, design etched down her lower back and Seal of the Crimson Dragon all begin burning in bright red. Swirls of crimson red swirl around Sakura and Crow, as the long awaited blood bond between the Crimson Dragon, Host and Signer has been signified. The crimson swirls surrounding them soon diminish, as she takes her hand away. "Not only that, but you also completed our blood binding ceremony. And now, your final task is completing our blood pact." Says Sakura. "Okay. I'm ready to do whatever it takes." Crow says. Sakura sighs, lightly. "I must warn you, this won't be anything like the blood binding ceremony. You will feel every bit of yourself wither away from you." Says Sakura. She gestures for Crow to return to the spot he was sitting before.
He heeds this and walks off.
The Seal of the Crimson Dragon etched into Sakura's abdomen starts glowing. "Prepare yourselves." Sakura says. The Seal then forms beneath them, illuminating this void and the Signers. The marks on the Signers arms all light up, as well as all the markings and designs that are burned into Sakura's body. The gradated half of her hair and irises start flaring, brightly, while her scleras fade to black, with glowing red veins across her eyes. The center of Sakura's chest glows red and six, black and red tendrils appear. "The ceremonial blood pact shall be completed now." Says Sakura. She sends the tendrils straight for them, herself included, which ensnare each Signer by their forearm, honed in on their marks. The ends of each tendril form into what looks like a venus flytrap, that proceed to attach and sink to the marks on their arms, which causes each Signer to either cry out or wince against the pain. If that wasn't enough, nine more of these tendrils appear out from the red glow at the center of Sakura's chest, two each heading for Yusei, Crow and Sakura herself, while Jack, Aki and Luca receive one each. The ends of three of them form into a clawed-hand, which grabs a hold of the hand that Sakura, Yusei and Crow cut into during the re-blood binding ceremony, while the other six, which the ends also form into a clawed-hand, head straight for the center of a Signers' chest, digging into both cloth and skin alike, blood from each Signer is being absorbed through these tendrils. They are all experiencing excruciating pain, not only is their blood being taken, but a portion of themselves is also being absorbed through these tendrils. Each of them is fighting to keep going through with this, but the pain and strain that they are all feeling is also quite overwhelming.
As this continues, emotions and memories are starting to flood through each of them. Bits and pieces of each of their lives up until now flick across their minds, from Luca's times in the Duel Monsters Spirit World, freeing the duel spirits alongside Regulus and Torunka and dueling alongside Lua against Demak, to Aki being ostracized by her parents, classmates and random passersby, her time as the Black Rose Witch, being deceived and manipulated by Divine, and her duel against Misty the second time, to Crow and his nestlings, and his duel against Bommer, to Jack's loner days, his time as King and his duel against Carly, to Yusei and his friends, him meeting his dad when he fell into Moment's light and his duel against Kiryu the second time, and even to Sakura's days of being a human science experiment, her time as Sailor Galaxy, the Red-Eyed Raven of Satellite, Princess Galaxia and Sakiko Kuro, and her duel against Rudger, the link between each of them is being formed.
As each of them start coming out of their reverie, the tendrils are still attached to them. "I, Sakura Kuraitaiyou, the newly appointed Signer of the head mark and Host to the Crimson Dragon itself, make this pact here and now! As long as I bear this mark, I vow to protect this world and fight against any evil that opposes us. I give my blood, my heart, every fiber of my being to this promise. I swear my life and allegiance to my Signers and to the Crimson Dragon that I house!"
"I, Jack Atlas, Signer of the right-wing mark, make this pact here and now! As long as I bear this mark, I vow to protect this world and fight against any evil that stands in our way! I give my blood, my heart, every fiber of my being to this promise. I swear my life and allegiance to my fellow Signers and to the Crimson Dragon, and its Host!"
"I, Aki Izayoi, Signer of the rear-claw mark, make this pact here and now! As long as I bear this mark, I vow to protect this world and fight against any evil that opposes us. I give my blood, my heart, every fiber of my being to this promise. I swear my life and allegiance to my fellow Signers and to the Crimson Dragon, as well as its Host!"
"I, Luca, Signer of the front-claw mark, make this pact here and now! As long as I bear this mark, I vow to protect this world and fight against any evil that opposes us. I give my blood, my heart, every fiber of my being to this promise. I swear my life and allegiance to my fellow Signers and to the Crimson Dragon, as well as its Host!"
"I, Yusei Fudo, the newly appointed Signer of the left-wing mark, make this pact here and now! As long as I bear this mark, I vow to protect this world and fight against any evil that stands in our way! I give my blood, my heart, every fiber of my being to this promise. I swear my life and allegiance to my fellow Signers and to the Crimson Dragon, and its Host!"
"I, Crow Hogan, the newly appointed Signer of the tail mark, make this pact here and now! As long as I bear this mark, I vow to protect this world and fight against any evil that stands in our way! I give my blood, my heart, every fiber of my being to this promise. I swear my life and allegiance to my fellow Signers and to the Crimson Dragon, and its Host!"
"Crimson Dragon, hear us! We accept the mark that you bestowed us with! We accept our role as your Signers! I accept my role as your Host! Please, accept our blood pact and complete it." Sakura says. The Crimson Dragon responds with its mystical cry. The tendrils that attached themselves to her and the Signers soon detach and release them, returning into the red glow at the center of her chest.
There's a sudden flash of red and the six Signers are waking up in the real world.
Then for once, Sakura's trying to tap into the ultimate power that the Crimson Dragon bestowed her with, instead of using its heart of power. The symbol on her forehead starts glowing even more brightly than it has before. Only Sakura can't release her ultimate power alone and it's getting too powerful to control. It almost sends her flying back, but she catches her balance.
Sakura suddenly feels someone's gloved hand on her right hand and an arm wrapped around her shoulder blades, so this person's other hand is touching her left shoulder, making the front of his body against her right side.
She then opens her eyes and looks to her right, when she does it's Jack that's helping her. He looks down at Sakura, letting her know he's with her on this. They then look away from each other and glare up at Godwin. Jack helps out by bringing out his own power to balance out Sakura's power a little more, which makes the symbolic designs burned into her right shoulder blade glow even brighter, she's receiving the power that he was bestowed with.
Then Crow, Yusei, Aki and Luca all appear next to each other. They then all together walk over to Sakura and Jack.
Yusei walks over to the other side of Sakura, standing opposite of Jack, and places his hand on her left hand. He brings out his own power that he was bestowed with and balances out hers even more, which makes the symbolic designs that are etched into her left shoulder blade shine very brightly.
Crow then places his hand on Sakura's right hand, only not touching Jack's at all, his new powers that he was recently bestowed with helps out even more, making the additional designs that are burned into the rest of her back light up even brighter.
Aki soon does the same and places her hand on her left hand, not touching Yusei's hand at all. Her power that she was bestowed with balances it out more, and makes the additional markings that are etched down Sakura's legs and tops of her feet flare a lot brighter.
And Luca, being both the youngest and the smallest Signer, manages to wrap her arms around her waist, having her forehead against the Seal of the Crimson Dragon on her abdomen. Her power, that she was bestowed with, completely balances out Sakura's, which makes the additional markings that are burned into her arms and hands glow brighter than they were originally. Her irises and gradated half of her hair are flaring very brightly, as well. Sakura then absorbs all of the power that she received into herself, she's fighting to keep it all under control and closes her eyes so she can focus. "All of you get back!" Says Sakura, her voice even more menacing and echoic than ever before.
The other five Signers all do as she says and step a few feet away from her.
"Grim, I could use your aid." Sakura thinks to herself, speaking telepathically to Grim. He shifts his stance a bit and encircles his unnaturally long tail around her until it loops around her right forearm, ending at her hand. Grim soon has a glowing red surge of power surrounding him. Then, with a lot of force behind it, Sakura unleashes all the power that she had received from the other five Signers, including her own, and it envelops her and Grim in a bright flash of crimson red.
The other five Signers shield their eyes from the brightness and when it finally dims down, they all look up and gasp at what they see, in awe. "Sakura!" Yusei, Jack, Crow, Luca and Aki all say, in bewilderment.
Sakura and Grim are enveloped in crimson red flames, even her hair, which now flows completely loose, free of its partial twin tails, is flaming in crimson red. She then opens her flaring crimson red eyes, which are now filled with a new purpose. "Yusei, it's time. I shall give you the power you need. Now, finish this and save this world!" Says Sakura, even her voice seems to carry that new found purpose.
Yusei nods, stepping up in front of her, Grim and the other four Signers, a red stream of power hitting him between the shoulder blades, only not hurting him at all, and bathing him in a glowing red light.
The other four Signers all have glowing red outlines around them, too. "Yusei!" Sakura, Jack, Crow, Luca and Aki all say.
Yusei's deck appears in front of him. "My turn!" Says Yusei. He draws. Yusei glances at his card, it's Majestic Dragon. "When Stardust Dragon is on my field, I can Special Summon Stardust Xiaolong from my graveyard!" Yusei says.
Stardust Xiaolong has 100 attack points and is a Level 1 monster.
"Then I summon Majestic Dragon!" Says Yusei.
Majestic Dragon has 0 attack points and is a Level 1 monster.
"That card is…" Godwin says.
"Level One Majestic Dragon tunes Level Eight Stardust Dragon and Level One Stardust Xiaolong!" Says Yusei.
A shadow looms over Ushio, Minako, Kakyuu, Usagi, Hotaru, Aurora, with Jace, Velvet and Subaru on her back, and Lua, and they turn around. The King of the Underworld is way too close for comfort. "This is bad! It's the king of the underworld!" Ushio says.
Meanwhile. Yusei's in the middle of a synchro summon. His monsters are all outlines and green rings. "The shining stars come together to illuminate a new miracle! Become the path that lights the way! Synchro Summon! Bring the light, Majestic Star Dragon!" Says Yusei.
Majestic Star Dragon is a creature of magnificence, crystalline and radiating shimmering prismatic light. It glides on its four fan-like wings, gracefully, and faces the King of the Underworld. Majestic Star Dragon has 3800 attack points and is a Level 10 monster.
"Majestic Star Dragon's effect negates Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca's effect!" Yusei says.
"What?" Asks Godwin.
"Next, I flip over my trap card 'Synchro Baton'! For every Synchro Monster in our graveyards, the attack points of a Synchro Monster on my field increase by six hundred points! There are five Synchro Monsters in our graveyards! Our bond now comes together! Majestic Star Dragon gains three thousand attack points!" Yusei says.
Majestic Star is now 6800 attack points strong and shining with even more inner light.
"Majestic Star Dragon attacks Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca! Shooting Blaster Sonic!" Says Yusei.
Majestic Star attacks, flying so fast it becomes a dart of light slicing through the air, with the power of the five Synchro Monsters at its wingtips, he's about to hit Rasca full blast.
"Yusei Fudo…" Godwin says.
Majestic Star Dragon plunges straight through the heart of the Condor Immortal and soars out its back. Rasca caws and cries as it bleeds first turquoise light, then red-violet shadows.
"Aaaaaahhhh!" Godwin's life points fall to 0.
Majestic Star Dragon soars out into open air and turns about.
Aki and Luca then vanish and return to where they originally were.
Yusei, Sakura, Jack and Crow stay where they are. The red stream of power now vanishes and backfires, striking Sakura straight through her heart, causing her to react and her eyes suddenly go blank, as she collapses backwards onto the geoglyph track. "Sakura!" Says Jack. He and Crow drop to their knees at either side of Sakura. The crimson red flames soon go out, leaving her not at all singed nor taking any of her calf-length tresses. Grim suddenly starts coughing up blood, like a fountain, and collapses to the ground, due to his link to Sakura. "Grim!" Crow says.
Down with Aki, Luca and the others, Aurora suddenly drops to the ground, blood dripping down her mouth, due to her connection with Sakura. "Aurora!" Says Hotaru.
Back with Jack and Crow, as they kneel at either side of the downed Sakura, she's bleeding out from the hit she took. Jack places his hands over the wound, applying pressure to it, while Crow holds her wrist, checking her pulse. "Crow, talk to me!" Jack says. Crow's shaking his head, sadly. "This is bad." Says Crow. Sakura already has blood starting to run down the side of her mouth. Jack's eyes widen, in horror. "No, no, no, no, not again! Sakura, c'mon, please!" Jack says.
Majestic Star bullets toward the slimy monstrosity and seems to become the heart, the center, of the Crimson Dragon itself.
The Signers and their friends hold their breath.
The King of the Underworld roars, generating a fireball and blasts forth a stream of flame, the Crimson Dragon, Majestic Star as its heart, cuts right through it, soaring straight for its source, into the mouth of the King of the Underworld.
Yusei's standing in a void filled with stars when he opens his eyes. He looks around and nearby, he can see the former Dark Signers, Kiryu, Misty, Bommer and Demak, floating in the ether, each lying unconscious, worn and exhausted. "Kiryu… Bommer…" Says Yusei. He looks straight ahead.
Godwin, once more benign in his nondescript light gray suit, is standing opposite of him. He looks sadder, but wiser, than before, his pale-blue eyes are forlorn.
"Godwin." Yusei says.
Godwin doesn't answer, but looks to his own right side.
Rudger, in his lab coat, young and confident, appears beside him. "Brother…" Says Godwin. Rudger turns to him looking slightly cross and they both have the same pale-blue eyes. Godwin smiles, feebly, he understands what's important to him now. "We took the long road to get here." Godwin says. Rudger's expression softens and he smiles. "Rex…" Says Rudger. Both turn to face Yusei again. "Yusei Fudo, I would've never known if it wasn't for Sakura." Godwin says.
"Godwin." Says Yusei.
"The bond between friends and family is the way to oppose destiny. It was something that was always inside me." Godwin says.
Yusei's silent.
Godwin closes his eyes for a moment, then speaks to him once again, gazing over at the sleeping Dark Signers. "Yusei, take care of them. They will soon resurrect." Says Godwin. He turns to Rudger. "We will end destiny… with our brotherly bond." Godwin says. Rudger nods, smiling faintly. A bright light shines at their backs and both look at it. "Let's go." Says Rudger. The light swirls in on itself and becomes a sort of portal or glowing bubble. The two Godwin brothers walk into the light, side by side.
"Wait! Ugh!" Yusei says. The light grows too bright and he shields his eyes.
The brothers march ahead, never flinching from the brightness. As they disappear from view, the light shines brighter.
And the Crimson Dragon, with Majestic Star as its heart and Yusei as the heart of Majestic Star, bursts out the other side of the King of the Underworld, shouting the battle cry of a headlong charge. "Aaaaa-aaaaa-aaaaa-aaaaaaagh!" Majestic Star Dragon turns about and fans its wings, ready to attack again.
The King of the Underworld tilts its head back and emits a column of golden light from its mouth. The light is disintegrating it from the inside and lighting the sky of the whole city, turning everything yellow.
"Godwin!" Says Yusei.
In the yellow light, the smiling faces of the two Godwin brothers can be seen.
The Stair of the Crimson Dragon evaporates and so does the mark of the condor.
Meanwhile, Jack and Crow are still trying to tend to Sakura. "She's hardly breathing. I… I don't know what we can do…" Crow says. The both of them look down at Sakura as she struggles to breathe, rasped with pain. "No, it wasn't supposed to be like this! Please!" Says Jack. His voice starts to break. "We can't lose you…" Jack says. He closes his eyes, sadly.
Suddenly, a faint shimmering sound can be heard and a crimson red aura starts to coat over Sakura's body. She takes a sudden, pained gasp for breath.
Crow, Jack, Sakura, Grim and their D-Wheels suddenly have nothing to stand on. "Aah!" Says Crow. "Ugh!" Jack says.
"Ah!" Says Aki, Luca and Lua. "Sakura! Yusei!" Hotaru says. "Master Atlas!" Says Minako. "Crow!" Ushio says.
Majestic Star Dragon swoops through the air, skimming the water and catching Crow just before he hits the surface, along with his D-Wheel. The Dragon performs an elegant roll and turn, and gracefully catches Jack, Sakura, Grim and their D-Wheels. The yellow light pops suddenly, like the entire city was in a bubble of light and rains down as golden glitter.
The spectators watch, as Majestic Star Dragon soars high above them, gracefully. Both sets of twins and Jace wave. "Hey!" Says all the kids.
It's also raining golden sparkles on Duel Stadium and the Daedalus Bridge in the Satellite.
Majestic Star Dragon soars off into the sunrise.
A traffic signal changes and a crowd of pedestrians cross a street somewhere in Neo Domino City, oblivious to how nearly their world was destroyed. Cars line up at intersections and people roam the sidewalks. It's another ordinary, peaceful day in the City.
At an outdoor cafe. Luca, Lua, Subaru, Velvet, Jace, Minako, Hotaru, with Aurora resting at her feet, and Aki are sitting around a table. She shows the others a postcard. The picture is Misty modeling, debonair in front of the Eiffel Tower. "Take a look. I received a postcard from Misty yesterday. She seems busy as usual." Aki says. "I see." Says Minako. "Bommer and Kiryu are also traveling, and they won't be back for a while." Luca says. "Come to think of it, Sakura and Yusei are late." Says Lua.
They hear a D-Wheel engine, both sets of twins and Jace look at the street. Ushio rides up on his Security D-Wheel. "Jack and Crow aren't here either." Ushio says.
"What?" The little old man standing around the cafe was actually Carly in a disguise. She throws it off. Carly's back to wacky glasses and camera, in full story-getting mode. "Isn't it strange that those four aren't here? It may be a lead to a huge scoop!" Says Carly.
Ushio walks over to the table, taking off his helmet. "But aren't you a great source for leads?" Ushio asks. "I don't remember anything after I became a Dark Signer! No one in the City remembers anything either!" Says Carly. The pen in her hand snaps and the pad of paper in her other hand crumples. "It's frustrating!" Carly says. She throws the broken pen and crumpled pad over her shoulders. Aki laughs, nervously, and leans her chin on her hands. "Eheheh. But it's great that everyone in the City and Satellite are back safely." Says Aki. Carly is biting a handkerchief, completely distraught and hysterical.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the Satellite, in some vacant building. Jack and Crow walk into one of the empty rooms of this building. "Hey, Yusei." Crow says.
Yusei, who's sitting on a stool, turns to look over his shoulder at him and Jack. "Hey guys." Says Yusei.
Crow and Jack walk further into the room to stand at his back. "How's she doing?" Crow asks. Yusei turns back to his half-twin, who's lying in the only bed in this room, as she sleeps. Sakura has bandages wrapped securely around her chest to her waist, but she is breathing and very much alive after taking that hit to her heart. Grim's lying on the floor at the foot of the bed, asleep, he's breathing and, like his mistress, he's still alive. "She's going to be okay. You heard what Dr. Schmidt said, this one was a really close call. I should've been able to do something sooner." Says Yusei. "Yusei, you can't keep blaming yourself for this." Crow says. "Crow's right. It was just a freak accident and it happened so fast that none of us had time to react quickly enough. Sakura surely wouldn't want you blaming yourself for what happened." Says Jack. "You need a break, man. Let one of us take over here and get some fresh air. We all care about her and love her, in our own ways, Yusei. She's my best friend." Crow says. "She's the love of my life." Says Jack. "And she's my sister." Yusei says. Jack steps up. "I'll take over here. You two go out and go riding or something." Says Jack. Yusei stands up. "Okay." Yusei says. He places one of his hands on top of one of Sakura's, gives it a slight squeeze, and then heads for the door.
Crow walks out after Yusei.
Jack then sits on the side of the bed and seems to sulk a bit. "If anyone's to blame, it's me. I was right there and I couldn't do anything about it." Jack thinks to himself, feeling guilty.
"It was no one's fault, Jack."
Jack's eyes widen at that moment, he then looks back at Sakura, who has woken up. "Sakura, you're okay." Says Jack. Sakura reaches up to touch his face. "It was just too much power for me to handle and it backfired on me." Sakura says. Jack leans over her a bit and touches her face, gently caressing her. "No, there's no need to explain what happened. We've been so worried about you. There wasn't a whole lot of time to react and you wouldn't have made the trip to Martha's. So, we decided to hunker down here and then Crow went to Martha's to bring Dr. Schmidt here. When they finally got here, it was pretty close and we all feared that we were going to lose you this time. But, Dr. Schmidt told us that the blast just missed your heart by a few inches. He said any closer and you would've died in an instant. He also said that you'd be recovering for at least six months or maybe even longer." Says Jack. "It's because of the Crimson Dragon that I'm still alive." Sakura says. She moves to sit up, wincing as she does. Jack places a hand on Sakura's shoulder, tenderly. "Hey, take it easy. Don't strain yourself." Says Jack. Sakura's holding at herself, rasped with pain.
The water sparkles, blue and clear, in the sunlight. Crow and Yusei are standing at the edge of the cement-block waterfront of the Satellite. A gentle breeze is blowing and the sky above is clear blue with white, fluffy clouds. Both of them look proud and refreshed. "We finally did it." Crow says. "Yeah." Says Yusei. "I'm not dreaming, am I?" Crow asks.
Jack and Sakura, with Grim walking alongside her, walk out from the vacant building the four of them have been staying. She has now regained her top, her gloves and her long tailcoat, and her hair has also been done back up into its signature hairstyle. Jack's holding Sakura close to him, helping her to stay on her feet. "Hm. It was a long battle." Says Jack. "Now Satellite and City have become one." Sakura says. Grim barks, as if in agreement.
Crow and Yusei turn back and face Jack, Sakura and Grim. "Sakura!" Says both Yusei and Crow. They run over to her, Grim and Jack. Yusei and Sakura hug first, and then her and Crow do. Jack then wraps his arms around her waist from behind. "I'm just so glad that you're okay, sis." Yusei says. Grim jumps up on him, who pets him. "Yeah. Glad to have you back too, boy." Says Yusei. Grim gets off of him and walks back over to Sakura, sitting down beside her, who strokes his head, petting him. "We all are. You gave us quite a scare." Crow says. "Well, I guess I was fortunate enough to have such good caretakers. I see you three kept yourselves rather busy in the meantime." Says Sakura. The four are standing in the shadow of a mighty bridge.
The Daedalus Bridge has been left untouched and the new bridge splits to go around it. The new bridge can hold several lanes of traffic and looks just like a piece of modern, futuristic Neo Domino City.
"Well done, guys." Sakura says. "Thanks, sis." Says Yusei. "The legend of the Daedalus Bridge has become a reality." Crow says. "But there's something that we haven't completed yet." Says Jack. "I know what it is! It's the battle between us!" Crow says. Sakura turns herself around, now facing Jack, his arms still wrapped around her waist. He leans in and kisses her, who returns it back to him.
Crow and Yusei aren't surprised one bit. They both look at each other. "It's about time they got back together. Don't you think, Yusei?" Asks Crow. "Yeah, you got that right." Yusei says. While he and Crow were busy chatting.
Jack and Sakura ended up walking past them. She gets astride her D-Wheel and starts it up, scaring both Crow and Yusei.
"Let's do it!" Says Sakura. She then presses a few buttons on her D-Wheel, the hatch opens up on the right side of it and Grim's specially built-in platform descends and adjusts to the right amount of size to accommodate him. He steps onto the platform and lies down on it, then the harness fastens around him and the chain hooks up to his collar, which is hidden underneath his long, dark fur, securing him safely to the platform and D-Wheel itself. "Let's go, boys! To our future!" Sakura says.
The four of them are the first to cross the brand-new bridge, at top speed on their D-Wheels, racing alongside the Daedalus Bridge. Each one looks serene, content, excited and hopeful.
As they zoom forward into the sunlight, Yusei races ahead a bit. "Riding Duel! Acceleration!" Says Yusei.
The four D-Wheels race past the end of the Daedalus Bridge and onto the main stretch of their creation, across the sparkling water toward the City.
The Signers Shall Return