A/N: I OWN NO PART YU GI OH 5DS! ALL RIGHTS GO TO THE CREATORS!
Chapter 6: The French Twist
Third Person POV
Yusei woke up slowly and found himself in a dark area. He winced as he felt a bump on the back of his head. He then heard a familiar groan near him.
"Era?" he called and looked in the darkness to see her sitting up. "Era, are you alright?"
"I think," she replied. "You?"
"Just a bump," he answered. Era walked over and healed him a bit to relieve the pain. "What happened?"
"It's just a bit foggy in my memory. Alright, Yusei, practice time," Era stated. "Light this area a bit."
Yusei nodded and activated a spell to create a ball of light in his hand. They looked around and noticed they were in the back of a truck. Over to the side was Yusei's duel runner.
"I think I remember now," Yusei stated and Era nodded.
"Me too," she answered.
"I received a call for a job and was asked to be at a house. You tagged along wanting to be by me. Not getting a good vibe for some reason," Yusei recalled.
"When we got there, we heard a shout and went in to check it out. But then the guy who was supposed hurt, showed himself to be fine and we were knocked out," Era finished. "So what're we doing here?"
"A reasonable question, my friend," came a voice and a screen lit up behind him and Yusei quickly took down his spell. A man appeared on the screen. "Finally woken up, I see."
"Who are you?" Yusei asked.
"I'm Boss from the Tour Riding Group," the man replied.
"Why would you do that?" Yusei asked.
"Others who don't really know this group assumes," Boss answered.
"Why did you take us?" Yusei asked.
"Because you are the winner of the Fortune Cup. I intend to recruit you onto my team for the World Racing Grand Prix," Boss explained.
"Sorry, I already have a team I'm entering with my friends, Jack Atlas and Crow Hogan. And why did you take Era if you only wanted me?" Yusei responded.
"She is something we're planning on using for extra leverage if needed," Boss replied. "If you were to refuse, we'll set her on the market." Yusei tensed and stepped in front of Era protectively. "But I don't care that you already have a team. And no matter what you will join us. We will even use our doctor's psychology on you if we must."
"That sort of thing wouldn't be allowed," Yusei responded.
"It will and only we will know about this and no one else," Boss retorted.
. . .
Meanwhile, Jack, Crow, Mina, and Akiza had organized a search ground to look for Yusei and Era. As they drove, they discussed them receiving a different call about Yusei's capture.
"This may be all some prank," Jack suggested.
"Yeah," Crow agreed.
"We have to make sure it isn't," Akiza stated.
"Whenever it comes to any situation involving Era and especially Yusei, you always…" Jack started but was cut off.
"Stop right there, Jack!" Akiza yelled cutting him off.
Suddenly, they intercepted another call by a mysterious man, "We have caught Yusei. There heading for Valley Ridge. You better hurry up before his friends find him."
After the call cuts, Mina and Akiza turned to head towards the west route where the truck holding Yusei and Era was. Once they were on the road, Akiza's mark lit up and allowed her to feel his presence.
As they passed through a highway, she noticed a truck passing by at the same time as her mark ached a bit. "The truck down there," Akiza ordered. The two of them took another route and were soon close to the truck. The Crimson Dragon's mark activated and Akiza said, "Yusei's definitely in there."
. . .
In the truck, Yusei and Era's marks were also glowing bright with a burning sensation to them.
"What's this burning about?" Yusei wondered.
"Listen," Era called and he focused.
"Akiza and Mina are here," Yusei stated.
"Good to know you can still hear like an angel," Era responded.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Yusei asked confused.
"Nothing," Era replied and Yusei gave her an unconvinced look.
. . .
Mina and Akiza drove up and noticed no one was driving the trailer. "Mina, bring us in closer," Akiza suggested.
"Why?" Mina asked.
"There's no way to make it stop. So I have to use my powers," Akiza stated as she activated her duel disk and summoned Rose Tentacles. "Smash that door, Rose Tentacles," she ordered and the monster began to whip the door, ultimately beginning to smash it.
"Akiza…" Mina called obviously concerned.
"It's alright. I can control it now," Akiza told her. Rose Tentacles finally cracked the door open and Yusei called to her.
Era pushed the left door open more as it was stuck by a groove for a moment. Yusei grabbed onto her as the truck jerked forward as it sped up to keep her in the truck. The trailer continued to speed up and it began to lose control making Rose Tentacles fall off and disappear. Mina and Akiza managed to catch up with it.
"Akiza, stay there!" Yusei warned but she impulsively jumped to one of the doors.
Era and Yusei helped her get on the trailer safely, but the door fell off taking her duel disk with it. Mina lost their sight as the car got ruined in the process.
"Is this supposed to be some kind of rescue?" Yusei asked.
"Fine, I won't help you next time," Akiza responded. "I'll leave you…" They were cut off by the truck speeding up.
"Guys, you can fight later. Right now, we need to hurry up or this truck may fall off the road at any moment," Era intervened.
Yusei nodded and headed towards his runner. Era turned into her angel form and got ready to fly. Yusei tossed Akiza one of his helmets and said, "Get on the runner."
"Uh, I really don't want to. Only one person can be on it," Akiza responded.
"More than one person can be on it. Era's ridden it before," Yusei retorted. "But there's not enough time before we're dead."
Akiza slowly gets on, warning him, "If I don't return home safely, you'll be sorry for this."
Era took to the air and her friends were about to jump off when a mysterious duel runner appeared in front of them. "Yusei Fudo, I challenge you to a duel."
"Are you from that group that took me?" Yusei as he and Akiza jumped back onto the road aboard the duel runner.
As they land, Yusei's duel runner automatically entered into autopilot duel mode. As Yusei's opponent followed after them, Yusei was forced into a turbo duel by the opponent saying, "There is a bomb attached to your duel runner and if you stop, it'll explode."
"Why recur to that?" Yusei asked.
The mysterious duel activated Speed World 2 and thus the three of them detoured to the dueling lanes. Era flew close to Yusei and Akiza.
"Hold on tight, Akiza," Yusei told her.
The duel began. 'Being close up like this… I'll be able to see Yusei's perspective when he's turbo dueling for the first time,' Akiza thought.
The duelist drew their card. "I summon Sacred Knight's Spearholder (Attack 800/ Defense 200) in defense position. I then set a face down and end my turn," they declared.
Yusei drew his card. "I summon Speed Warrior (Attack 900/ Defense 400) in attack mode. Now since I'm entering my battle phase, I activate Speed Warrior's effect to double its attack points during the battle phase only (Speed Warrior: Attack 1800)," he declared. "Speed Warrior, attack Sacred Knight's Spearholder!"
"I activate Floral Shield! This negates the attack and allows me to draw one card," the duelist defended.
And due to it being the end of the battle phase, Speed Warrior's effect expired, dropping its attack points to a normal 900. "I set three face downs and end my turn," Yusei finished.
The duelist drew. "I summon Horse of Floral Knights (Attack 400/ Defense 800) in attack position. And with its effect, I can draw one card from my deck," they declared. "Next I activate the Speed Spell- Overboost! This increases my speed counters by four. Next I activate the Speed Spell- Speed Fusion! This allows me to fuse Sacred Knight's Spearholder with Horse of Floral Knights in order to fusion summon, Centaur Mina (Attack 2200/ Defense 1600)! Centaur Mina, attack Speed Warrior!"
"I activate Scrap-Iron Scarecrow! This negates your attack," Yusei fought.
"I activate the effect of Centaur Mina! It negates the effect of your Scrap-Iron Scarecrow and returns it to its original position," the duelist retorted and their monster destroyed Speed Warrior and knocked Yusei's life points to 2700. "I set a face down and end my turn."
Yusei drew his card. "I summon Junk Synchron (Attack 1300/ Defense 500) in attack position and use its effect to revive Speed Warrior in defense mode with its effects negated. Now I tune Speed Warrior with Junk Synchron to synchro summon. Fight, Junk Warrior (Attack 2300/ Defense 1300)!" he called. "Junk Warrior, attack Centaur Mina!"
"I activate Fleur Guard! This prevents Centaur Mina from being destroyed by battle," the duelist defended though her life points did take the hit still and fell to 3900.
"I set a face down and end my turn," Yusei finished.
The duelist drew her card. "I summon Fleur Synchron (Attack 400/ Defense 200) in attack mode. Now I tune Centaur Mina with Fleur Synchron in order to synchro summon Chevalier de Fleur (Attack 2700/ Defense 2300)!" they called.
'Even though this is just a normal duel for them, it's very different from a psychic duel too. What unusual feelings are evoking at this very moment?' Akiza thought.
"Since Fleur Synchron was used for a synchro summon of synchro monster, its effect activates, allowing me to special summon Apprentice Knight (Attack 1000/ Defense 100) from my hand in attack mode. Chevalier de Fleur, attack Junk Warrior!" the duelist ordered.
"I activate Scrap-Iron Scarecrow to negate the attack," Yusei defended again.
"With my Chevalier de Fleur, I can negate the effect of your Scrap-Iron Scarecrow and destroy it," the duelist fought. Junk Warrior was destroyed and Yusei's life points fell to 2300. "I activate Miracle's Wake! This revives Junk Warrior."
"I set two face downs and end my turn," the duelist stated. They then pulled to a stop. Yusei realized the bomb was just a bluff and pulled to a stop as well while Era landed next to him. They took off their helmet to reveal a woman. "Hello, Yusei Fudo. My name is Sherry."
"A female turbo duelist?" Akiza muttered surprised.
"I must apologize for the fake bomb threat," Sherry stated. "But I needed to test your skills. My goal was to have you join me team and no one else's. I have come to recruit you and with the desire to win the WRGP, as well as another motive. Our duel was a formal way of greeting. Shall we continue?" Yusei nodded.
Before they left, Yusei told Akiza, "You might want to get off my runner. This duel might get dangerous."
"No," Akiza refused. "I have to see your turbo duel to the end."
"Alright," Yusei agreed. They took off with Era flying again. He drew his card. "I summon Turbo Synchron (Attack 100/ Defense 500) in attack mode. Now I tune Junk Warrior with Turbo Synchron in order to synchro summon, Turbo Warrior (Attack 2500/ Defense 1500)! Turbo Warrior, attack Chevalier de Fleur! And due to the first effect of Turbo Warrior, the attack of your monster is halved until the end of the damage step (Chevalier de Fleur: Attack 1350)."
"I activate For Our Dreams! By tributing Apprentice Knight, I can present Chevalier de Fleur from being destroyed by battle," Sherry defended as her life points fell to 2750. And at the end of the damage step, Turbo Warrior's effect expired returning Sherry's monster's attack to a full 2700.
"I then activate Synchro Out! This returns Turbo Warrior to my extra deck and allows me to special summon Junk Warrior (Attack 2300/ Defense 1300) and Turbo Synchron (Attack 100/ Defense 500) from my graveyard in attack mode," Yusei fought. "And now I play Urgent Tuning! This allows me to perform a synchro summon during the battle phase."
"I activate Chevalier de Fleur to negate Urgent Tuning and destroy it!" Sherry responded. "And now I activate Chain Close! This prevents you from activating any spell or traps until the end phase."
"Turbo Synchron attack Chevalier de Fleur!" Yusei ordered. Sherry's monster was switched to defense position due to Turbo Synchron's effect but Yusei's life points felt to 100. "Now I activate Turbo Synchron's effect to special summon Junk Collector (Attack 1000/ Defense 2200) from my hand in attack position. Now I activate the effect of Junk Collector. By removing it and Urgent Tuning from play, I can activate the effect of Urgent Tuning and tune Junk Warrior with Turbo Synchron once again to bring back Turbo Warrior. Now Turbo Warrior, attack Chevalier de Fleur!" The attack succeeded and her monster was destroyed.
"You may have defeated my monster but you're life points are down to 100. I'll use the effect of Speed World 2 to finish the duel. The outcome will be decided depending on what I draw," Sherry said. She drew but did not get the necessary card. "Because of this, I need you even more." Akiza and Era were a little shocked hearing Sherry say that and Era was fighting the urge to give a defensive glare. "Yusei, what is the reason for you behind dueling? Why are you entering the WRGP?"
"I want to enter the Grand Prix to find that motive," Yusei answered.
"So in the end, you are dueling without any purpose at all," Sherry concluded. "But for me, there is a motive. And that is of revenge."
-Flashback-
As she was her parents' only daughter, who were also card players, they lived a life happily at the time. However, trouble and tragedy came for them as soon Sherry's father's company was being bought by a rival company. Though, having a daughter around, they tried their best not to show any signs of trouble.
But one night, everything change. Sherry lied in her bed when gunshots were heard. She walked out to inspect the sound when she came up on a gruesome scene. Her parents along with other people were dead in the dining room.
She cried for her parents when a man, Elsworth, grabbed her. She escaped with him.
-Flashback Ended-
"They are still after me," Sherry said. "After a while of travelling, I had learned that another organization way behind my parent's death, Yliaster."
"Yliaster?" Akiza repeated.
"Goodwin and Roman mentioned the name before," Yusei recalled.
"Yeah," Era agreed.
"Yliaster is a powerful and devious group. I discovered why they were after me. It involved a mysterious card hidden within my teddy bear and I had later discovered it by Elsworth," Sherry stated. "Yliaster is somehow involved in the World Racing Grand Prix. I want you to win so that you can come closer to the truth of what Yliaster is are really after and the reason behind my parents' death."
"He can't. Yusei had already promised to win the Grand Prix with Jack and Crow," Akiza objected. "You don't even know him."
"Are you so sure?" Sherry responded. "Due to the accelerated speed and uniqueness of our duel, I know Yusei's emotions as well as mine. Such a concept can only be understood by turbo duelists." She took her turn and drew her card. "I summon Sacred Knight's Shield-Bearer (Attack 800/ Defense 1300) in defense mode. Then I activate my Shield-Bearer's effect. By removing from play Sacred Knight's Spearholder from my graveyard, I can draw one card. I set a face down and end my turn."
Yusei drew his card. "I activate the effect of Speed World 2. By removing seven speed counters, I can draw one card," he declared. "Next I summon Drill Synchron (Attack 800/ Defense 300)! Turbo Warrior, attack Shield-Bearer. And thanks to Drill Synchron's effect, my warrior can still inflict damage." Sherry's monster was destroyed and her life points fell to 1550. "And now I activate the last effect of Drill Synchron to draw one card."
"I activate Freedom Release! This returns all monsters on the field to our decks," Sherry fought.
"I set two face downs and end my turn," Yusei declared.
Sherry drew her card. "I summon Sacred Knight Joan (Attack 1900/ Defense 1300) in attack position. When this monster is destroyed by card effect, I will be able to add one speed spell to my hand. Sacred Knight Joan, attack Yusei directly!" she ordered. "But due to the first effect of Joan, it loses 300 attack points for the damage step only (Sacred Knight Joan: Attack 1600)."
"I activate Synchro Spirits! By removing Junk Warrior in my graveyard from play, I can special summon Speed Warrior (Attack 900/ Defense 400) and Junk Synchron (Attack 1300/ Defense 500) in defense position," Yusei defended. A replay occurred and Junk Synchron was destroyed. Joan's attack points also returned back to a normal 1900.
"Yusei, be careful," Era told him.
"It'll be alright, Era," he reassured her as he drew her card. "I activate the Speed Spell- High Speed Crash! This destroys Speed Warrior and allows me to set a card. Next I activate Starlight Road! This negates High Speed Crash's effect and destroys it while also summoning Stardust Dragon (Attack 2500/ Defense 2000)."
They turned as a truck suddenly came crashing down from a bridge that was above them. As that occurred, Yusei, Akiza, and Era, spotted a familiar figure standing on the bridge. Era immediately cast a spell to hold the truck as they passed.
"What are you exactly, Era?" Sherry asked. "To stop that entire truck from falling is quite impossible."
"Did you once think it's impossible for the dead to be brought back to life?" Era replied.
"What do you mean?" Sherry responded.
"Era's different. She's not even alive," Akiza explained before Era could, shocking Sherry.
They stopped on their runners and Era landed. Yusei and Sherry disclose upon the outcome of the duel. However, Sherry doesn't take much interest into it.
She said, "The accelerated world in which we live on doesn't end here. Expect to meet again, Yusei. As well as you, Era. As you have also peaked my curiosity in which you may be able to help."
Era was surprised by the comment while Sherry along with Elsworth left the scene.
'What am I dueling for?' Yusei thought.