Hey all! I'm alive, I finally conquered that up and down spell of writer's block/slump, and I got a new chapter for ya! Whether this transfers to my other fanfics, I have no idea, lol, but let's keep our fingers crossed, shall we?
Big thanks to Cyberbee15 for their continued support in fine-tuning my ideas :)
(...Beeeeep-beeeeep-beeeeep-click)
"Hhhh-hhauh...Good on me for remembering the alarm app on my duel disk for once."
...The finals start today.
So proclaims Athena as she wakes up in the attic of her family home about two days after the evening of the party for the World Duel Carnival finalists, a night that would leave her and others with more questions than answers regarding certain bits of drama woven between the duels. Whether it be growing threats of old enemies and new, or the worrisome states of seldom-seen friends, the girl stuck dead center with her celestial-born partner can only hope to buck up enough courage to face the storms looming overhead.
...Thankfully, her first obstacle of the morning would be a fairly mundane one, namely, deciding on what to wear for the day. As soon as the sleep is wiped from her eyes, she'd hop down into her bedroom to rummage around in her closet.
"Okay, play it safe with a one-shoulder top...Hm. No, not that skirt...Uuuurrrh! What's with me; why am I fussin' over clothes of all things?!...Now I wish Tiff spent the night, or hell, Cade would be a welcome help."
"Help with what?"
"Hm?"
Turning around, the girl with hip-length black hair meets eyes with the boy from beyond her galaxy.
"Oh, Astral! Good morning...Haaah, (helpless smile) well believe it or not, I of all people am having a fashion crisis. I can't decide what to wear beyond my leather jacket and my white one-shoulder strap top. I keep going back and forth between a skirt, jeans or both, but, so far, nothing feels right."
"I see...I do not claim to be an expert on this subject, but I have not seen you in the third option you mentioned for a while."
"Hm...Alright, let's see what my hands grab this time. If it looks wrong to you, tell me."
...
Eventually, our leading lady would settle on a daytime outfit thanks to Astral's second opinion. Joining her white one-shoulder tank top - the strap going over her right and designed with a slit - and signature black leather jacket with the multiple zippers is a pair of dark blue skinny jeans with a single snow white patch over the left knee, a dark red pleated knee-length skirt, and her steel toe boots.
As she ties her copper red-tipped black hair into a very long and thick-based braid (leaving two shorter sections in the front free to act as mock bangs), Athena quips to her blue-skinned friend,
"Thanks for helping me settle things. If not for you, I'd probably be stuck in front of the closet for another hour."
"You are welcome...though I am a little confused over why you were so indecisive. As you said, this is not typical behaviour for you."
"...Haaah, well, if I had to take a guess...it's probably my brain's way of trying to distract itself from the idea of panicking."
Letting go of her hair, the girl opts for gripping the edge of her head as she swallows down a small bundle of nerves in her throat.
"I mean, today's the day, right? The finals of the WDC...But this tourney's been turning into background noise before it even started, thanks to everything else going on. The Numbers, Trilos, Kite and Hart's issues, Shark's grudge, Vetrix's sudden appearance...and then, Chris..."
(Flash)
Turning back the clock to the day after the smaller get-together at Caden's home, we find Athena and her elder brother Adam sitting on the back porch of their home as the siblings have a heart-to-heart regarding the latter's poor decision the other night...
"So how bad a lecture did you get from gramps this time?"
"Heh, well lemme put it this way: if I ever plan on becoming a full-blown booze hound, I'll be eating the leather of his shoes with the first few bottles of liquor before he tosses my sorry ass out of the house."
"(Wince) Yikes. That bad, huh?"
Taking a sip of green tea brewed for the pair by Terrence (he puddling in the kitchen while Homare watched television with Kite and Hart), the young man with the tamed black mullet muses with a sad smile,
"Must've been based on the several holes I kicked into the walls of the hallway and my room that Terry's gotta fix. 'Least he'll have some help this time; I swear Lillybot's a little saint in metal."
"...You do know that I don't buy that crap, right?"
The academy teen turns her stern ember red eyes and frown at her brother.
"Your memory might blur, but you're better than most fools who experience total blackout. And it takes a shit-lot for you to forget your personal vow to never drink like a frat boy...Chris...He said something that spooked you something bad, didn't he, and you wanted to drown the replay."
"Addy-"
"Don't even try to deny it, because we both know how much you suck at it. (Softens stare) What happened, big bro?"
Adam felt his blank expression crack under the pressure of the concern radiating from his sister...giving way to a pained frown of betrayal, frustration and sadness.
"Haaah...Chris, he...He's changed. He's become cold, colder than I remember him to be. I mean, he was a little antisocial the first time I met him, but not so much that he couldn't strike a conversation. See...when his father and our parents vanished, his two brothers were sent to an institution, while he became engrossed in finding a way to bring our respected parental figures home, or something like that. I...I guess, thinking about it now, I was just a distraction to him when days were hard...Eventually, he cut off contact entirely."
"Adam..."
Rubbing the bridge of his nose with a pained sigh, the young man mutters,
"I, don't wanna say I was mad at him. I mean, everyone goes through grief differently, and, maybe he just found a way to be with his brothers again...But, when we reunited at random last night...I, felt like I was talking to a complete stranger. His mannerism, his eyes; practically everything about him was, not Chris...And then...what he said to me..."
Adam's hand snatches up one his his sister's, gripping it desperately like a lifeline.
"I-I can't, completely remember what he said; alcohol took care of that...but I'm sure he threatened you, and, someone called the Original...That's what, some people call Astral, right, the guy who can't be seen by the majority?"
Athena stiffens, but nods all the same. Meanwhile, Astral - whom had been silently observing this talk - turns a surprised expression towards the older Fujina sibling.
Quinton threatened us?
"I think he was speaking on behalf of, whoever his employer is. Something, starting with V...?"
"Vetrix."
Adam side-glances his sister in confusion, which prompts her to sigh out,
"We, kind-of met them last night near the end of the gala. Or, actually, lemme rephrase that: he popped out of nowhere like a magician and talked some serious smack towards me and Kite...Then he, used some freaky power to cause some havoc, including making the giant cake explode like Vesuvius."
The older Fujina pivots his hip and quickly grabs his sister's forearms in a gentle but firm grip as his brotherly concern takes wind.
"None of you were hurt, were you?"
"No, we hightailed it before things got too insane. That's when we went to Cade's for that after-party to wind down...I, got grandpa's call part way and-"
"Right...Haauh, shi'..."
Letting the girl go, Adam then turns himself frontwards again as he rests his face against his palms, fighting the urge to dig his nails into his skin.
"Why...Why are things now going so wrong, and why, couldn't have I seen the signs sooner?...Why do old friends have to change for the worst? Why-!...H-gh..."
He lifts his face to reveal misty green-flaked gray irises, matching the wobbly frown of despair his lips curved into.
"Just, why?"
Fighting the urge to cry herself, Athena wraps an arm around her older sibling's waist and rests her head on his side with a bitter, sympathetic frown.
"I wish I knew, bro...I really do."
(Flash)
"...If only it were possible to use words to talk yourself out of every problem. Maybe I'd have less enemies and scars that way...or anyone close to me for that matter."
"You should not blame yourself for your brother's misfortune, Athena. It is Chris-or rather, Quinton, who is choosing to play the part of an antagonist."
The girl with the thick braid finishes putting on her dueling gear, and runs a hand over her face while sighing,
"I know. I keep telling myself that...but I can't shake that look of devastation Adam had on his face. It hurts me to see any of my friends and family look so, defeated or lost in their own darkness, whether because of someone else...or because of me..."
"And that is why you push yourself to avoid walking back down that path of self-destruction, or try to become involved enough to do something about another's troubles...I suppose one could consider that a noble or caring act...but Athena..."
Astral floats closer to his friend's side and places a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"You must know by now that you will stretch yourself dangerously thin if you are more concerned about everyone and everything beyond your being."
"...I do...and the only way I can suppress it is by concentrating on one problem at a time, and just the ones I actually have the power to solve."
Athena lifts a hand up to gently grab the one on her shoulder with a half-smile.
"Like continuing our search for Numbers, slowly piecing together our blurry pasts, keeping us in the tourney until the end...That much I know I can do. A small part of me will still worry about our friends and allies going forward, but, I know they can take care of themselves too."
"That is the right attitude."
"...Hey, Addy!"
The two souls turn to the bedroom doorway, spotting Hart poke his body in from the hallway.
"Oh hey, Hart."
"Your brother Terry asked me to tell you that breakfast is almost ready."
"Ah. Cool. We'll come down with you, then."
All three individuals exit the room, and wander down the hall before turning downward to the stairs. Waiting for them at the bottom is Kite, he dressed in his more or less signature attire, and Adam, he sporting a pair of plain dark brown slacks, black socks, an off-white button shirt and a brick red scarf hanging over his shoulders.
"Hey, little sister."
"Hey, Adam. Feeling better this morning?"
"As better as I can feel. You ready for today?"
"Yep. (Glance) How 'bout you, Kite?"
"Definitely."
Homare then enters the sitting room from the kitchen.
"Heh, well the both of you will be extra ready once you get breakfast in your system. Come, the table is set."
Soon, everyone of the Fujina household and their guests are seated at the dining room table, enjoying a well-balanced meal of nattō (a dish consisting of fermented soybeans, rice, karashi mustard, soy sauce and bunching onion), scrambled eggs, sausages and assorted sliced fruits with barley honey lemon tea.
(...Ka-chank)
"Well, we're off!"
"Good luck, sis!"
"You too, Kite!"
"We'll be watching you two kids on the television! Give it all you have!"
"Addy, duel hard! Addy, duel hard!"
So cheers Terrence, Adam, Homare and Lillybot from the doorway as they watch their youngest family member leave for the streets with Astral (despite the fact that they can't see him), Kite, Hart and Orbital Seven...As soon as the small group of five are a small distance away from the house, the young boy's face scrunches into a mild grimace as his tongue catches a hint of aftertaste from one of this morning's dishes.
"Urh, what was that stuff your grandpa served with the rice, Addy? It tasted weird..."
"Heh, that was a little traditional dish called nattō. Not something for the faint of heart unless you grew up with it, and even after all these years, neither me nor my bros enjoy the taste."
"Then why eat it?"
"Health benefits, or so grandpa's explained every time we asked...The good news is that he only serves it once a week."
That thought makes Hart sigh with relief:
"Oh good...So, changing topics, what's the plan going forward? I mean, I know you, Astral and my brother are gonna be busy dueling in the carnival...but, given everything else that's going on..."
Athena hums with a neutral expression,
"I had a feeling we'd jump ship to that stuff...I've been doing alot of thinking on the side up to this point, and I've decided that the biggest threats will be mixed in with the normal duelists...That said, (narrows eyes) I did receive some intel that there's been some movement on the streets regarding members from a certain gang..."
"You mean Trilos's boys, right?"
She nods at Kite and speculates,
"Which tells me that the rat bastard's planning to use every trick possible to trip us up."
"And by us, you mean you."
"Hauh, unfortunately...He's dead-set on making me out of all his targets suffer, and I guess he's ready to make the spectacle public. Meanwhile, his lackeys are probably gonna be planted all over the place waiting for orders to sabotage or worse. (Little smirk) Luckily, thanks to a few phone calls made by myself and Akira, we'll have a countermeasure ready."
"Oh really?"
"Mhm. They're friends through friends from a group known as the Supernova Network. They're like a, counterpart of the Fallen Stars, helping troubled kids getting out of the wrong crowds among other good Samaritan-like acts."
"I see..."
Stopping at an intersection to wait for the next light change, Athena adds,
"They're also gonna keep an eye out for any of Heartland's goons. I seriously doubt he and Faker are gonna try anything funny regarding, well, you and Hart, but it never hurts to be extra cautious."
"...You don't have to go that far for us."
Starting their walk again once the light changes to green, Athena says to the blond with a half-smile,
"And yet, I am. Deny it if you want to, Kite, but you and Hart are in my circle of friends now...which means I'll do whatever's in my power to keep you safe and sane. Well, saner than I am most days."
"Hmph...You really are a strange girl, (looks forward) but I'll admit, you've been better company than who my brother and I used to keep."
"Heha! Wow. I think that's the nicest compliment you've ever given me."
"Teh, don't get too used to it."
Hart doesn't miss the slight upturn in his brother's mouth as he and Athena continue their partial conversation. He smiles, thinking to himself,
Kite seems, more relaxed than I remember...I'm happy for him.
Astral's thoughts were dwelling to a similar realm as he silently observes the humans while floating along.
I never imagined that we would actually attain Kite as an ally...
I suppose it is as Athena said that day.
(Flash)
"Eh well, human interaction's a funny thing, Astral: you can hate someone one day, then high-five them with a smile the next. All depends on the social atmosphere, the kinds of vibes you feel from the people around you, and of course watchin' what you say."
(Flash)
Hm...Well, all things considered, it is better to have a plethora of friends than a plethora of enemies.
...
...
A little more time passes, and our group of five soon reaches the edge of the inner city where they and the rest of our large group agreed to meet.
"...Heeey, Addy! Astral! Kite! Hart! Over here!"
"We've been waiting for you!"
Eyes focus northwest, fixating on the friendly faces of Tiffany, Jamal, Caswell, Flip, Caden, Akira, Calli and Hana.
"Ah! Hey, you guys!"
Athena speeds up into a jog to meet her friends, stopping in front of her best gal pal. Said girl is wearing her spaghetti-strap, knee-length white dress with light ruffling on the skirt's bottom, her light green cardigan with two pink cherry blossoms on the ends of the sleeves, and black ballet flats. No glasses block her cornflower blue irises this round thanks to her contacts, and a silver feather charm necklace sits around her neck.
"So you all got here before we did, huh?"
"Ehehee, yeah. I guess we all synchronized our inner clocks today."
"Who could sleep with all this excitement?!"
So proclaims Jamal, he dressed in a white muscle shirt with Time Wizard printed on the front and the phrase 'Time Magic' on the back, black cargo pants, lime green suspenders matching the bandana worn over his dreadlocks in a dorag style, and dark blue sneakers with white laces.
"I mean sure, there's some major balls of suck on the side, but this has been like, the 'it' tournament of the decade. People are gonna be talking about this until we're a hundred!"
"That's assuming any of us actually live that long."
He glances down at Flip - the latter once again sporting his special cerulean suit - with a semi-sour frown.
"Aw come on, don't be so pessimistic, Flip."
"What? I'm just saying that it takes alot for a human to live to a hundred or more."
Caden - he wearing his usual gray and sandy-brown cat cosplay - muses with a fanged smile,
"Well with my feline spirit, I'll have plenty of chances of living a long life."
"Alright, enough chit-chat about longevity."
Calli steps up to get everyone on track, her body clad in a hot pink tank top with cutouts at the bottom and rhinestones on the straps, tan knee-length shorts, and deep red ankle boots matching the afro comb in her heavily-curled black/dark blue hair, and the medium-large hoop earrings hanging from her ears. Next to her is Hana, she wearing a soft lavender purple romper with lacy puff sleeves, and white skater shoes matching her belt, and the ribbon worn in her long white-blond hair like a headband.
"We should make our way to the central locale for the finals."
"Speaking of, does anybody know where in Heartland it is?"
Caswell - he foregoing his school uniform for once and wearing a plain off-white button shirt with sleeves rolled to the elbow, ultramarine blue jeans and dark green sneakers - would be the one to take lead. Standing beside him is Akira, he sporting a simple black v-neck short-sleeve under his olive green safari jacket, dark blue jeans and yellow sneakers.
"I know where it is! Just follow me and we'll get there with time to spare."
The other twelve members of our large group - from human to celestial being to robot - do as the young intellectual advises, starting a casual if slightly brisk walk to the location in question...
"This is the place?"
"Yep! The committee's been conducting renovations for this stadium since the day the carnival launched, or so I found out with some research."
So explains the boy with the blue bowl-cut as he and the others gaze at the front of the stadium where the second half of the World Duel Carnival will take place. The building in question reflects an amphitheater style, with glass rimming the open top and a colourful body. Sitting proud over the entrance-way is the tournament's logo, just a few feet higher than the sign that says Duel Coaster Stadium.
Tilting his head to the side in confusion, Caden reads,
"Duel, Coaster, Stadium? What're they meaning by coaster?"
Flip shrugs,
"I guess we'll find out inside. Let's motor."
Everyone starts jogging through the doorway of the stadium (or floating in Astral's case), not wanting to wait another second in being a part of the grand finale of this tournament...
Half of the group's jaws drop as soon as they reach the auditorium. The space is shaped like a U, and already filled with hundreds upon hundreds of devoted fans in the surrounding seats ready to roar out encouragement to their duelist of choice. Down below is a large raised stage, with a long lineup of what appears to be carts attached to their own individual rail track heading outward into the distant city. Finally, to help keep an eye on all the action is several large holo-televisions spread all over.
"Woooow!"
"Look at this place...!"
"This is beyond awesome!"
Even Astral is intrigued by the setup:
"I must say, this is one of the most over-the-top field spells I have ever seen."
Jamal eyes in in confusion:
"Field spell? (Looks down) Mm, I can see why you'd think that. It is a little overblown even for a stadium...but this all reality, my friend."
A small frown curves onto Athena's lips as she nods,
"Yeah...A reality we're all facing in some way or other..."
"Try not to think too much about the underlying danger."
"Hm?"
She turns to meet Tiffany's eyes as the latter offers some friendly advice.
"Just focus on soaking in the good vibes from the crowd right now. It, might help to calm your nerves...?"
"Hm. (Slight smile) That's not a bad idea. Thanks."
The girl with the black bob beams, glad that she was able to assist in steadying her friend's nerves for even just a short moment...
"Helloooo, dueling fans!"
Eyes turn to the stage a long distance away as Heartland - once again dressed to the nines in his golden suit - makes his entrance as the Master of Ceremonies. Rather than standing at a traditional podium, he's atop a hovering platform currently floating above the central point of this stadium.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the World Duel Carnival Finals!...We'll start with the SkyScape Section: the duels will be held all across the city, with the aid of the duel coaster!"
Flip, Caden and Hana mutter the name of the new machine in curiousity, prompting Caswell to explain his found knowledge.
"Yeah, it's a first! You have to win duels while riding the roller-coaster."
Calli muses while crossing her arms,
"Dueling and roller-coasters, huh? (...Shrug) Well, I guess it's less dangerous than say, dueling on motorcycles..."
Akira scoffs in amusement,
"Psh-ha, that'll be the day, won't it? Dueling on motorcycles, sheesh..."
Note: Just stating for the record if anyone caught that obvious reference, I don't hate that incarnation of the Yu-Gi-Oh!-verse. I just found the whole 'playing a card game while riding a high-speed vehicle' concept a little out there after some time. As a whole, 5Ds was a decent enough follow-up after GX, but it's just not my cup of tea nowadays.
Jamal concludes,
"Well however it works, I guess we'll soon find out."
He focuses on Athena, Astral and Kite:
"I know you guys probably had your fill of this question...but how ready do you feel now?"
The former nods with a confident smirk,
"As ready as any duelist can be. Just gotta be vigilant, duel with heart and everything should go in our favor...hopefully."
The allied Number Hunter counters,
"You'll need more than hope and heart to make it through this. Don't forget that some of our fellow competitors are out to make us suffer in more ways than one."
"I know, but I also know there's still a chance to stop them before they're beyond redemption...With that said..."
The girl with ember red irises turns to meet Kite's steel gray.
"Let's try and watch eachother's backs out there. I know we're technically rivals, but-"
"Yeah, I get it...and you're right. We have common enemies, so it'd be smart to play the united front strategy. (Stern frown) But remember that I operate better solo, so don't try and swoop in to save me every time I get into a fix."
"Heh, I won't if you won't...Halright. Let's do this."
Our WDC competitors begin their march down the enormous staircase to the center of the arena, where the duel coasters and fellow participants are waiting.
"Wish us luck, guys."
"We will, Addy!"
"Go get 'em, you three!"
"Be careful!"
"In the end, you'll be victorious!"
Hart is the last to send a cheerful message:
"Good luck, big brother! You too, Addy, Astral!"
Please be safe, and duel with heart...
He then feels someone kneel down near his right, and turns to see Akira giving him a kind smile.
"C'mon, kiddo. Let's get some good seats near one of the big screens so we can watch the action."
"Sure!"
...
At the same time Athena and Astral's circle of friends scrambles to get some good seats, she would've reached the bottom of the staircase, and is now peering over the spectacle that is the starting arena. Getting a wider view ourselves, we spot some familiar faces gathering from different locale points: Nistro and Dextra...Shark and Quattro...Trilos...and of course, Quinton and Vetrix...
People that for now, our main lead isn't paying attention to.
My god...Heartland really went all out. I wonder if this was anything like the hype during the golden age tournies, like Domino's Battle City?
"Are you well, mistress?"
"Hm?"
She looks up her right, finding the Keeper of Armageddon staring down at her with his dark red irises.
"Oh! Adreus. I didn't expect to see you."
"(Smirk) Most people don't, friend or foe."
"Heh, right...Anyway, I'm fine; just thinking about something from history class...So what brings you out here?"
The Xyz Monster answers as he gazes over the crowds,
"Just thought I'd come out and get a feel for the competition. (Narrows eyes) I can see that certain threats are already here, looking quite full of themselves with their arrogant confidence."
Including that street rat who likes to prey on my mistress's darkness...
"And I'm guessing that you're gonna do everything possible to keep them at bay? Is that your plan?"
"Heh, I can hear the protest in your tone, mistress. To be clear, I won't aim to get in your way; I know you have the power to hold your own."
A fond smile curves onto Adreus's face, his focus redirecting a small distance ahead on another Xyz Monster of Athena's that came out to explore, Baby Tiragon. They're currently flying around with little cries of excitement emitting every few seconds, the colours and faces filling them with wonder...At one point, the little dragon stops suddenly in front of Astral, startling the celestial being, before he relaxes into an amused smile as the monster takes off again...
"In some ways, you remind me of my little charge, Tiragon. Seemingly fragile, but full of fire."
"Your charge?...You mean, you know this Tiragon?! But how? I acquired him after you."
"It's an interesting story. Perhaps I'll tell you and the master some time...Getting back to topic, though, I will avoid becoming too involved in your actions going forward if you wish it...However."
The Fiend-type confesses,
"After that duel against that foolishly misguided boy, I'm reluctant over the thought of simply observing other threats confront you in a similar fashion. I, like many others close to you, want to keep you and the master safe."
"I see...Well, don't think I'm not grateful for the support. (Half-smile) And as long as you don't act like a helicopter parent, I'll take what you can offer."
"Heheh, of course."
On that note, Adreus fades into a dark purple light which streams in a curve back into Athena's waiting deck, followed by the orange-red stream of energy belonging to Baby Tiragon...
"Was that Adreus you were speaking to just now?"
Said girl turns to nod in confirmation to the approaching Astral.
"Yeah. It sounds like he'll be another set of eyes and protection going forward. (Sad smile) I guess Trey's controversial actions spooked him enough that he's worried about us more than ever."
"I see..."
"Anyway, let's move onto talking about this nutty phase of the tourney."
They wander closer to a pair of roller coaster carts, casting their eyes to the tracks shooting out to the city beyond their reach while ignoring the sound of Heartland's voice catering to the audience.
"I can barely wrap my head around this weird roller coaster feature. Wouldn't it make more sense to do the finals in traditional arena match-ups instead of rolling around the city?"
"I would not know for certain considering that this is my first tournament...But I will agree that there's something about the apparatus which does not seem very safe."
"Yeah. I mean, driving instructors will tell you outright to never do two things at once, and now we gotta drive while dueling?...It's like Heartland's starting to focus more on entertainment rather than keeping people in one piece."
"I think that's almost exactly what he's banking on."
They turn to see Kite approaching them:
"Then again, Heartland's never been capable of focusing on more than one concept at a time."
"That so?"
"Believe me, I've seen it firsthand...But never mind that."
He pivots his head downward right as Orbital Seven rolls to a stop by his side.
"Orbital."
"Y-Yes, sir?"
"...I want you to freeze time for us, so we can see which of the remaining competitors have Number Cards."
Both Athena and Astral widen their eyes in surprise at Kite's generosity, while the latter's robot companion is concerned about exposure.
"B-B-But that could give us away! A-Are you sure?"
"It'll be fine. Point-one seconds will be enough. Do it now, Orbital."
"O-O-Okay, you're the boss."
The larger eye of the mini-mech gleams red as they release their power, creating a temporary energy field that slows down the flow of time...
"Temporal Stasis Field complete."
The blond tells the other two with him,
"Glance around while you can. Get an idea of how many Number Holders there are."
"Right."
"On it."
...And just as quickly as it started, the temporary field cancels itself out, leaving things as they were...
"Huh. I actually thought I'd feel more. Did you, Kite?...Kite?"
Not hearing a response, she gently pivots to his direction, only to see him staring at someone a couple yards away. Taking a look herself, the girl gasps under her breath when she sees the individual in question, namely, the eldest of the three brothers fighting for Vetrix's goals.
Chris...Aw crap, did he sense it?
Orbital expresses similar worries aloud:
"See? I told you they'd notice...!"
Kite only responds with a harsh,
"Scram, or I'll have your memory wiped."
"Gaaah! Y-You don't have to threaten me twice! Ta-ta!"
The mech then rolls away as fast as his wheels can carry him...
"Well that was a little savage."
The blond refocuses on Athena and scoffs,
"It was plenty called for, trust me. You have no idea how many times I've fantasized turning that robot into a pile of scrap metal."
"Too many to count, I'm sure...but hey. At least he's on your side and Hart's, right?"
"...Mm, I guess..."
At those two continue to attempt some conversation, they remain unaware of another set of duelists watching them from afar. These three, are known in the dueling world as the Triad of Terror, whom we recall Vetrix hired two nights ago to cause some extra mayhem for Athena. Leading this trio is Wolfsbane, a young man of about five foot seven with lightly tanned ivory skin, smoke black hair cut into an upright fiery updo with silver-blue highlights, dull gold irises, and wearing a leather jacket of black, yellow and magenta red, with maroon brown pants and grey boots.
"Hm...So. There's our unsuspecting prey..."
The second member, Jackal - a strong-muscled man with light bronze brown skin, black hair cut into a short mohawk with a few shaved lines on each side coloured persimmon orange, dark blue eyes and dressed in a magenta red and maroon brown leather vest showing off his abs, black slacks and boots - feels a laugh bubble in his throat.
"Heh, doesn't look like much."
Coyote - the shortest member with colourful hot pink hair cut into an upward wing style with persimmon orange goggles overtop the hairline, dark brown baggy eyes, an ivory complexion and dressed in a black and off-white bodysuit with a few steel gray attachments matching his boots - argues with a grin,
"But it'll be fun to chase them into a corner."
They all chuckle simultaneously as their minds begin to stir up a strategy...
Meanwhile, somewhere away from the eyes of the public, Doctor Faker watches the WDC Finals from his own private screen. The grin on his face tells us he's already looking forward to the events waiting to be unfurled.
"Heheheheh...Together at last, the world's greatest duelists, with all their precious Numbers waiting to be taken!"
Kite and Hart may have gone rogue...but I have other ways of meeting my goals.
...As does my silent partner.
Somewhere in the shadows of this highly technical room, stands another man in a familiar lab coat...
We return to the Duel Coaster Stadium now as Heartland keeps things rolling from his personal hovering platform.
"Now then, the moment we've all been waiting for is here! Finalists, take your places in the coaster carts!"
All of our competitors hurry to hop straight into the coaster closest to them...
"Link your duel pads to the central coaster computer, and get ready to battle!"
Everyone gets their respected dueling equipment ready, remembering to link their gear with the coasters around the same time our grand audience in the stands whip out their gazers to fully immerse themselves into the waiting spectacle...
Augmented Reality Vision Link Established.
"And now, it's time to put all the duel coaster carts into gear! The Heart Piece you collected from your previous duels will act as the ignition key for your individual coaster cart. Just place it in the ignition pad, and you'll be ready to roll!"
...Pulling out her own Heart Piece, Athena then glances up at Astral's floating form and says to him with a playful expression,
"Hey Astral."
"Hm?"
"I thought we were in this together. (Gestures to her right) Come sit beside me here."
"Uh!...Alright..."
The celestial being shifts positions so he's sitting in the right seat of the coaster, making the girl on his left smile a bit.
"There, see? This makes more sense."
"Hm, (slight smile) I suppose you are right."
"I know I am...Now let's put this heart in and carve our way to victory."
Nodding, Astral reaches up to his friend's waiting hand halfway, and together, they place the Heart Piece into the ignition space. It glows briefly, before a screen blips to life with a simplistic grid highlighting the coasters and their respected paths, before switching to showcase the possible routes available up ahead.
"Huh?...This kind-of looks like the maps you find at the train stations..."
"Indeed. It seems to showcase the entirety of Heartland City. (Points) I believe these markers indicate a possible spot to redirect one's individual route, (points elsewhere) while these letters..."
"S and T...Maybe they stand for something related to cards, like, Spells and Traps?"
"Interesting theory...Let us use caution when approaching those areas."
Just then, Heartland's voice cuts into the air once again as he keeps the boulder of excitement rolling.
"It's showtime, everyone! The greatest duel of all time will now get underway! Begin on my mark!...Ten!...Nine!...Eight!...Seven!...Six!...Five!...Four!...Three!...Two!...Ooooone! Gooo!"
Come the end of the countdown, every duel coaster springs to life, wheeling out of the stadium and leaving behind an enormous cloud of dust in their wake! The momentum of their own cart causes our leading duo to slam backwards against their seats as they pass through the first loop-de-loop. They straighten themselves out with matching gasps of air as they enter the city.
"Hah, hah...Oh wow, this thing's packing some serious horsepower...!"
"Hah, you mean, metaphorically, correct?"
"Uh-huh...but I guess we'll just have to get used to it. (Little smirk) Can't let a little coaster stop us from dueling, right?"
"Mm, (nods with a half-smile) of course."
They focus on the tracks ahead as they head into the widespread 'battlegrounds'.
"So, you got any ideas over how we're suppose to duel?"
"Hm...Ah! Athena, look up ahead."
The girl does so, spotting a pair of competitors on a different path engaged in a duel.
"There is a duel in progress, and the opponents are battling while they are in the same lane."
Zooming in on said duelists, we discover that they are Nistro, and a man dressed in an outfit straight out of classically cheesy spaghetti western stories.
"What's the deal with this clown? I better teach him a lesson for trying to take me down. I draw! I summon Heroic Challenger - Spartan!"
Said Level Four monster springs out at his call, showing themselves off as a figure clad in full-body gladiator gear overtop a spandex suit, and carrying a massive shield that matches in theme to their spear. Their Attack Points are a standard but strong 1600, just 200 short in matching the strength of the monster opposite, a creature known as Battlestorm. Their appearance is that of a humanoid with bird-like features, coloured and shaped in a way that makes one think of an aviary superhero...
"So this guy thinks he can blow me away with Battlestorm. Well that's not gonna happen! I activate the Spell, Riryoku!"
The card in question reflects a scene depicting a stone figure being dragged into a dark oblivion.
"With this, I can take away half of Battlestorm's Attack Points, and then give them to my Spartan!"
A stream of sharp orange energy shoots out of the larger projection of the card to blast Battlestorm in the chest, sapping away some of their strength before snaking away in a sky uppercut, then shooting back down to envelop the Heroic Challenger monster. The former's Attack Points now stand at 900, while the latter has 2500...
"Now my Spartan, attack! Straight Javelin!"
The spear is thrown, hitting Battlestorm straight in the heart before they explode into a cluster of pixels. Their wielder moans as his Life Points dwindle to zero,
"That's no way to treat the law!"
...Suddenly, the breaks on his coaster activate, and before he could prepare himself, his seat shoots right out of his coaster!
...
...
...
Thankfully, the cowboy wannabe is okay, his seat shooting out a parachute as soon as he's high enough in the air, and two planes are already on route to pick him up while his dueling coaster is automatically redirected to a blank route...Still, the sight alone is enough to put Athena and Astral on edge.
"O-kaaay, that's a little excessive..."
"It would appear the price of losing has become much more costly..."
In contrast, Nistro's excited smirk remains strong as he revs up his coaster cart's speed.
"These finals just got started, and I already downed my first duelist!"
...And it seems that he's not the only one making good progress so far. We check in on another section of the tracks as Shark polishes off his duel against a nameless competitor, using his Jawsman against a Master of the Flaming Dragonswords...
"Jawsman, attack! Shark Scream!"
One big bite to the arm pulverizes the latter, their wielder cursing in a foreign language as their Life Points drop to zero. They're quickly ejected, and all the way back in the stadium, Jamal comments on his senior classmate's skill.
"Man, he really didn't hold back the punches, did 'e?"
Tiffany shakes her head and replies,
"No, not at all...but at least he's not dueling the way he did a few days ago."
Calli asks,
"You mean when he was thrashing around like a crazed bull?"
"Something like that..."
They and the rest of our big group watch as their distant friend focuses his sights on Quattro, who in turn uses his Gimmick Puppet Egg Head to take out yet another unimportant duelist...
"Uh-oh. He and Quattro are getting close to eachother."
Hana mutters with a worried frown,
"That's not good, is it?"
"Not if Shark allows his anger and thirst for revenge to get the better of him...I really hope it doesn't. Addy and Astral have enough to be concerned with."
Akira comments bluntly,
"True, but we have to remember that it's ultimately his choice if he doesn't wanna be the bigger man and focus on his own well-being."
Flip counters,
"Doesn't mean we can't be concerned for a friend though, right?"
"Duh...That said, Shark's not who I'm truly on edge about. (Narrows eyes) It's him that's not gonna let me relax."
Caswell furrows his eyebrows as he inquires,
"Him?...Oooh! You mean Trilos!"
Feeling Hart stiffen up over the mentioning of that gang member, Akira wraps a comforting arm around the younger boy's shoulders while nodding,
"Yeah. They haven't shown him on the jumbo screens yet, which tells me that he's avoiding anything too flashy...meaning Addy better watch he doesn't try to sneak up on her."
...Getting back to the duel coaster tracks, the next of our familiar duelists to check in on is Quinton.
He shakes his head over his immediate younger brother's tendencies in both dueling brutality and taunts.
"My brother. Always eager to strike first...At this rate, he'll be taking a parachute ride just like all the other losers today. Instead of attacking, he should take time to learn some things. That might save his skin down the road."
He then turns his attention to his map, noticing an S symbol on the left-bound track in the coming three-tine fork. He decides to take his chances, directing his cart for that route with another duelist trailing behind. The opponent in question has a Vylon Disigma out on the field, a strong Rank Four Xyz with 2500 Attack Points.
"Ak-tng! I will duel you! Pulverize tha' guy, Vylon Disigma! Attack heem directly!...Mh! Ah!"
Quinton suddenly stand up in the seats of his dueling coaster.
"Vhat is he up to?"
"...Challenging me was a mistake, and it's going to burn you in the end...I activate the Trap Card, Infernal Sun!"
The card facing upward showcases a monster running from what appears to be a blackened sun...
"I can use it whenever a monster with 2000 or more Attack Points strikes at me directly. The trap deals 800 points of damage for every card in your hand."
In which case, the five cards in the nameless duelist's hand prove to be his end. White energy shoots out of each one, forming into a spiral midair containing a fake black sun, which then crashes downward against him, wiping out every Life Point to his name!...Leaving his short-lived opponent to his fate, Quinton passes over the S marker point, which is confirmed to be an area for a random Spell Card.
"Just as I thought: there is a Spell Marker here. The card that was face-down is Dian Keto the Cure Master. Its effect will make me stronger, increasing my Life Points by 1000."
So now the young man with incredibly long blue-silver hair has 5000 Life Points...
A fact that does not go unmissed by Vetrix as he passes by in another lane.
"Very clever, Quinton...Quattro and Shark are eager to win right away, but Quinton uses his brains, just like me...Now then: let's see how Athena Fujina will fare."
Speaking of the girl, we check in on her and Astral as she glances around for a probable opponent.
"Hm...We shouldn't have fallen that far behind. There has to be someone we can start a duel with. Not that I'm against avoiding a fight for a time; just feels like it'd be a boring start..."
"I will not disagree...especially since we may receive our first duel very shortly, right over there."
Looking where her partner is staring, Athena spots three dueling coaster carts, one in the lane left of her while the other two are in the right lane.
"Huh...Uh! Hey, I know them! That's the Triad of Terror!"'
...Calli warned us that these guys play dirty...
Still, I don't see anyone else to duel, so I guess we'll just have to gamble with them.
Turning to meet Astral's eyes, she and he both nod firmly to confirm going forward in challenging the duelists.
The girl of the duo shifts gears to catch up with the trio, and she calls out in passing,
"Oi! If any of you boys are getting as bored as I am, let's have a match!...Hm?"
Oddly enough, her cart would pass them...
"That's weird. Did they go deaf from air pressure?"
"Something is strange..."
Zooming in on the leader of the triad, Wolfsbane says to his partners,
"Well~, this is a first. It seems our prey wants to be chased."
Jackal scoffs with a smirk,
"Poor girl has no idea what we have planned for her..."
Coyote grins and argues,
"It only makes the waiting cash all the more sweet, I say."
...Vetrix watches from a track higher up, smiling like the crazed child his appearance reflects.
"It's perfect! Those mercenaries won't let up on Athena. She'll be pushed to the limit, and I'll find out just how good she really is."
Heading back down below, Wolfsbane makes the call to arms.
"Okay. It's time to make our move. Fang Formation!"
His partners respond with a 'roger', and they all increase their speed to catch up with Athena's cart.
Luckily, this action isn't missed by said girl and her dueling partner.
"Huh? Now they're chasing us? (...Glare) What's their angle?"
"I believe they are staging a joint attack. They are attempting to ambush us."
"Tch! Yeah, emphasis on 'attempt'. I can handle one or two, but three's a crowd."
With that said, Athena shifts the cart's gear to a higher setting to escape the three-on-one ploy...
"If you jokers wanna fight, come at me one-on-one like men!"
"Athena, look out for the symbol up ahead!"
Astral's warning comes a few seconds too late, and their cart passes over the marker for a Trap Card. It's revealed to be Secret Barrel, which manifests into a setup of barrels that shoot out a small barrage of ping-pong ball-shaped energy blasts against their cart. They flinch behind the glass visor as Athena's Life Points drop to 3000...
"Aw man, I hate this trap! Terry used to pull this fake-out on me all the time when we were kids! 200 points of damage for every card in my hand and my half of the field. How is that fair?!...Hauh..."
Athena turns to give her partner an apologetic expression.
"Sorry I missed your warning."
He doesn't hold the mistake against her:
"It is fine. To be fair, we are learning about this battle style as we go...At least now we know for certain that every T stands for Trap."
"Right, and the S is for Spells...Let's keep an eye out for a Spell marker. Maybe we can get lucky and get back the Life Points we just lost."
As the pair postulate their next move, the Triad of Terror muses over their blunder.
"Ha! She rolled right into that Trap, and now she's weaker!"
"Gets ya to wonder how she even made it this far in the carnival to begin with."
"It'll be a cinch to take her out and get the money we were promised."
...Wolfsbane then makes contact with Athena via Duel Gazer.
"Uh! Wolfsbane!"
[Hello, Athena. Trying to run already, are you? I'm afraid we can't allow that...You have no choice but to duel all three of us.]
"(Glare) Oh yeah, says who?"
[Says me...Form up, Assault Formation!]
The trio quickly catches up to her again, boxing her cart in with one on each side and one tailing the rear...
"Ugh, not this again!"
"Oh yes! You'll be facing a whole trio of monsters, lead by Magnet Eagle Delta!"
Jackal and Coyote are quick to join in on the summoning.
"And my Magnet Saucer will be his wing man,"
"With another Magnet Saucer to complete the threesome!"
Three streams of deep light blue light form above their carts, reforming into the monsters in question, they being a Level Four mechanical Eagle with 1200 Attack Points, and two Level Three flying saucers with 1400 Attack Points each. Athena exclaims,
"Agh! This is total bullcrap!...Whaddo we do now, Astral?"
"We are badly outnumbered, Athena...so we must fight wisely, otherwise our first fight in the World Duel Carnival Finals, will be our last."
"...Right. No pressure or anything."
Vetrix continues to observe from his vantage, laughing as he watches his hired help box their target in.
"Hehahahaha, this should be entertaining!...Now we'll see, if Athena has what it takes to beat a triple thread!"