"Before I activate Rasca's ability, I'll be setting one card facedown. Now, who should get the honor of having their lifepoints reduced to one?"
"The fuck?" Fish's mouth gaped.
Goodwin smirked. "By skipping my battle phase, I can reduce my opponent's lifepoints to one, but whom? Ah, I know, Elizabeth. So sorry, but-"
"Oh, but you don't have a grudge," Lise rolled her eyes.
"Actually," Goodwin's smile grew particularly nasty. "I was thinking it would be so much more painful to hit your driver's lifepoints instead! Rasca, lower Yusei's lifepoints!"
"No!"
Yusei: 1
Rasca's attack washed over Yusei and Lise. His grip tightened on his controls as he struggled to keep riding. Runner spinning in dangerous circles. Shadow duel damage still too real. Like Rasca had reached inside him with its talons to pluck out all but a pinprick of his soul.
If not for Lise's arms around him, Yusei might have let himself and his runner spin out. Slide to a stop on Rasca's Immoral geoglyph. The pain so immense.
But he couldn't. Lise had chosen to ride with him, trusted him. Yusei couldn't let both of them go down.
It took a massive amount of effort to pull them out of the spin. Lise following his lead to right their trajectory. Until Yusei's jaw ached, he hadn't realized he'd been clenching it.
"You okay?" Lise asked, feeling the tension in Yusei's body ease.
"Not really, but we're still in this," he responded heavily.
"Good."
"I end my turn." Goodwin snottily waved his hand. Clearly upset he'd failed to capsize Yusei Go!
Start of Round 4
Crow: 4000 Monsters: (Blackwing Armor Master: Atk: 2500 Def:1500)
Jack: 4000 Monsters: (Red Dragon Archfiend: Atk: 3000 Def: 2000) (Magical Hole Golem: Atk: 0000 Def: 2000)
Yusei: 0001 Monsters: None
Lise: 4000 Monsters: (Smoke Raven: Atk: 800 Def: 400) (Flame Enchantress: Atk: 1000 Def: 200)
Fish: 4000 Monsters: (Sapphire Sea Dragon: Atk: 2400 Def: 2000)
Aki: 800 Monsters: (Black Rose Dragon: Atk: 2400 Def: 1800)
Ruka: 2000 Monsters: (Ancient Fairy Dragon: Atk: 2100 Def: 3000) (Kuribon: Atk: 300 Def: 200)
Rua: 4000 Monsters: (Power Tool Dragon: Atk: 2300 Def: 2500) (Morphtronic Boarden: Atk: 500 Def: 1800)
Goodwin: 12400 Monsters: (Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca: Atk: 0001 Def: 0001) (Moon Dragon Quilla: Atk: 2500 Def: 2000)
"My turn!" Crow declared. "I summon Blackwing Fane the Steel Chain in attack mode! His ability is rather nice since I can bypass all your monsters for a direct attack without the use of Jack's monster!"
(Blackwing Fane the Steel Chain: Atk: 500 Def: 800)
Goodwin: 11900
"Signing off!" Crow grinned with a flourishing wave.
"But before you do, I play my trap Shadow Spell," Jack stepped in. "This trap lowers Quilla's attack points by seven hundred. And since it's my turn, I'll have Red Dragon Archfiend attack!"
"That's as far as your dragon goes I'm afraid, Jack," Goodwin said. "I play the trap Destruct Potion. It destroys Quilla, and I gain lifepoints equal to its original attack points. It also means Inti rises. Still want to attack?"
Goodwin: 14400
Jack scowled deeply. He certainly wanted to continue to attack and destroy Inti, but he also knew that would be suicide. "I end."
"My turn then," Yusei said. "I set one monster in facedown defense position and play the Speed spell Double Summon. With this I special summon Shield Warrior in defense mode. I end my turn with a facedown."
Lise drew her next card. "I summon Flame Alchemist to the field and set one card facedown. Then I'll use my other monsters' special abilities to attack you directly!"
(Flame Alchemist: Atk: 1500 Def: 900)
Goodwin: 13500
"But wait, there's more! By sending my facedown card to the graveyard, Flame Alchemist can slam you with an additional five hundred points of damage!"
Goodwin: 13000
Goodwin grunted at his lifepoints gauge. "Your relentless stubbornness is annoying, Elizabeth!"
"You stabbed me!" Lise shot back. Her blues eyes flickering with orange. "And I will get my friend back, and end you!"
Even without the power of the Crimson Dragon backing up her words, a cold trickle fell down Yusei's spine. She meant it.
"Well said, Lisie. We're over halfway done with this fucker, so it's time for the real show!" Fish cracked her fingers. "I'm activating my trap, Drown! For the remainder of my turn, Inti can't use his special abilities to destroy any monster we have out on the field!"
"Way to go, Fish!" Aki cheered, breaking into a grin.
"Let me get in on some of that action!" Crow cried, smirking. "I play my trap Blackwing Anchor! This bad boy lets me give another synchro monster on the field a few extra points by sacrificing Armor Master."
(Sapphire Sea Dragon: Atk: 2400 4900 Def: 2000)
"Sweetness! Thanks for the extra attack points, Crow!"
"Put 'em to good use," Crow winked up at Fish.
"Gladly! Sapphire Sea Dragon, attack Sun Dragon Inti with Tidal Wave! Take that, shithead!"
Goodwin: 11100
"That's all for now," Fish finished. She glared at the Moon Dragon that had taken Inti's place on Goodwin's field.
"Before Aki goes, I've got two things to say. First, Fish, mind giving me the statistics on that MVP contest?"
"Let's see," Fish replied, counting on her fingers. "Jack's got one point for his magic hole-" she broke off into giggles momentarily, then composed herself- "Aki's got one for first Synchro summon, Lise has one for that awesome combo she played, and I'll give you a point for the power boost you just gifted me. Oh, and Useless Yusei's got negative one."
"Hey!"
"Fine, no negative points."
"Well, since I'm in the running, I'd like to play my Blackback trap, too," Crow said. "I special summon Blackwing Bora the Spear from my graveyard. Take down Quilla for us would you, Aki?"
"You heard him!" Aki joked. "That dragon's going down! I play Black Rose Dragon's ability to remove one plant-type monster in my graveyard from play in order to reduce Quilla's attack points to zero! Now attack, Black Rose Dragon!"
"I play Quilla's ability!" Goodwin interrupted mid-attack. "I gain lifepoints equal to half of the attacking monster's attack!"
Goodwin: 12300
"Don't let that stop you, Black Rose!"
Goodwin: 9900
"I set one facedown card and end my turn," Aki smiled. "Go for it, Ruka."
"Okay then, I summon Sunlight Unicorn and use my Ancient Fairy Dragon's ability to special summon Dancing Fairy in face up defense mode."
"H-Here goes." Rua consulted his cards. "Oh! I think I got something! I've never tried this before, but I think I can make it work!
"I summon out Morphtronic Scopen in attack mode. I'll use Scopen's ability to summon Morphtronic Videon too, but he's destroyed at the end of my turn. Remember Morphtronic Boarden? Well, when he's in attack mode, all Morphtronic monsters can attack directly!"
(Morphtronic Scopen: Atk: 800 Def: 1400)
(Morphtronic Videon: Atk: 1000 Def: 1000)
"Now that's dueling!" Lise praised.
Jack smiled. "Don't stop now, Rua!"
"Okay, Boarden, Scopen, and Videon, attack Goodwin directly!"
Goodwin: 7600
"We've got him on the ropes now!" Fish cheered jubilantly.
"Oh, do you, now?" Goodwin seethed. "Because it's my turn, and I'm going to put it to good use!" He drew his card.
"I'll set one card facedown and use Earthbound Immortal Rasca's ability. Reduce Elizabeth's lifepoints down to one! Show her she and all her friends are worthless!"
Lise: 1
"You okay?" Yusei asked when the ability had passed.
Lise cracked her neck. "If I'm so worthless, Goodwin, then what does that make you? Because even the smallest of us is worth ten of you!"
Yusei smiled to himself. "I'll take that as a yes."
Start of Round 5
Crow: 4000 Monsters: (Blackwing Fane the Steel Chain: Atk: 500 Def: 800) (Blackwing Bora the Spear: Atk: 1700 Def: 800)
Jack: 4000 Monsters: (Red Dragon Archfiend: Atk: 3000 Def: 2000) (Magical Hole Golem: Atk: 0000 Def: 2000)
Yusei: 0001 Monsters: 1 facedown DEF + (Shield Warrior: Atk: 800 Def: 1600)
Lise: 0001 Monsters: (Smoke Raven: Atk: 800 Def: 400) (Flame Enchantress: Atk: 1000 Def: 200) (Flame Alchemist: Atk: 1500 Def: 900)
Fish: 4000 Monsters: (Sapphire Sea Dragon: Atk: 2400 Def: 2000)
Aki: 800 Monsters: (Black Rose Dragon: Atk: 2400 Def: 1800)
Ruka: 2000 Monsters: (Ancient Fairy Dragon: Atk: 2100 Def: 3000) (Kuribon: Atk: 300 Def: 200) (Dancing Fairies: Atk: 1700 Def: 1000) (Sunlight Unicorn: Atk: 1800 Def: 1000)
Rua: 4000 Monsters: (Power Tool Dragon: Atk: 2300 Def: 2500) (Morphtronic Boarden: Atk: 500 Def: 1800) (Morphtronic Scopen: Atk: 800 Def: 1400)
Goodwin: 7600 Monsters: (Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca: Atk: 0001 Def: 0001) (Sun Dragon Inti: Atk: 3000 Def: 2800)
"Guess it's my move." Crow said. "I'll have Fane the Steel Chain attack you directly, but my Blackwing Kalut the Moon Shadow won't let him go in alone. By sending Kalut from my hand to the graveyard, she gives Fane fourteen hundred more attack points!"
(Blackwing Fane the Steel Chain: Atk: 500 1400 Def: 800)
Goodwin: 5700
"I'm finishing up this turn with one facedown."
"That goes double for me." Jack set his own card facedown and finished his turn.
Yusei said, "Well, I'm summoning out Debris Dragon to tune him with Stardust Xiaolong and Shield Warrior in order to Synchro summon… Stardust Dragon!
"I can special summon Stardust Xiaolong to my field because Stardust Dragon was summoned. I end with one facedown."
(Stardust Dragon: Atk: 2500 Def: 2000)
(Stardust Xiaolong: Atk: 100 Def: 100)
"Okay, my turn. I draw," Lise said.
"Mind if I cut in?" Goodwin sneered nastily. "I play my trap Battle Mania! I can play this during your standby phase in order to force all your monsters to attack mine! And since the only monster you can attack is Inti, this is going to hurt quite a bit. First, we'll battle with Smoke Raven!"
"Shit," Lise swore. A single LifePoint left?
"I play my trap Defense Draw! All battle damage turns to zero for this attack!" Yusei interrupted. "That and Lise can draw a card."
"What a pointless effort. That card only negates one attack, but Elizabeth has two more monsters."
"Isn't he useless, though?" Fish shook her head disapprovingly. "I play my trap Negate Attack. This negates all attacks and ends Goodwin's improvised battle phase."
She smiled purposefully at Yusei. "That's how it's done, Crabhair. One MVP point for me."
"Thanks, guys," Lise breathed. "I thought it was over.
"Anyway, since I've still got a turn, I summon Solar Butterfly and set two cards facedown on the field. Then I tune Solar Butterfly with Flame Alchemist and Smoke Raven to synchro summon… Crimson Starburst Dragon!"
(Crimson Starburst Dragon: 2500 Def: 3000)
"Next, I'll use my Enchantress's ability to halve her own attack points and attack you directly!"
"I counter that attack with Passion of Baimasse! Because you're attacking me directly, and I have an Earthbound Immortal on my field, your monster is destroyed!"
"Wrong again, Goodwin!" Crow taunted. "I'm playing Dark Bribe! It negates your trap and you get to draw a new card to replace it. Isn't that nice?"
Goodwin: 5200
"Why protect each other?" Goodwin seethed. His Dark Signer markings glowing brighter. "The bonds you share are meaningless! None of you have the power to beat me! You will die as the insignificant worms you are!"
"We're fighting for what's right!" Crow shouted back. "That's what makes us strong together!"
"And that's to protect the world from megalomaniacs like you!" Aki added. She knew firsthand how dangerous people like Sayer and Goodwin were. Never again.
"And cut the bullshit," Yusei swore. "It's obvious you became a Dark Signer to be closer to Roman, not destroy the world!"
"Silence!" Goodwin bellowed. "You are children! You couldn't possibly understand my plans!"
"I'll pass on an explanation from crazy two, electric boogaloo," Fish rolled her eyes.
"Besides its my turn, and nothing can hold back the wrath of the ocean!
"I summon Wish Fish in attack mode and activate Sapphire Sea Dragon's ability! By sacrificing Wish Fish, I can deal you eight hundred points of damage!"
Goodwin: 4400
"And just for shits and giggles, I'll remove three of my speed counters to play the Speed spell Smashing Ground and destroy Inti! Down goes the sun, and up comes the moon!"
"Thanks, Fish," Aki said. "I'll also play a speed spell. This one goes by the name Half Seize. I reduce Quilla's attack by half and gain lifepoints equal to that half."
(Moon Dragon Quilla: Atk: 2500 1250 Def: 2000)
Aki: 1750
"Next I'll activate Needlebug Nest to send five cards from the top of my deck to the graveyard, then remove another plant-type monster from my graveyard from play to further reduce Quilla's attack down to zero. Don't show any mercy, Black Rose Dragon! Attack Quilla!"
"I play Quilla's ability to gain half of Black Rose Dragon's attack first!"
Goodwin: 5600
(Moon Dragon Quilla: Atk: 2500 1200 Def: 2000)
"Don't stop, Black Rose!"
Goodwin: 3200
"My turn," Ruka said. "I think I'll just let my Fairies give me a little lifepoint boost and turn it over to Rua."
Ruka: 3000
"Awesome! I draw! I use Morphtronic Scopen's ability again to special summon Morphtronic Slingen! Now Boarden lets all my Morphtronics attack directly!"
(Morphtronic Slingen: Atk: 1200 Def: 800)
Goodwin: 700
"Only seven hundred lifepoints left!" Jack gasped, gunning his controls. "If that's not an MVP point, I don't know what is!"
"We're gonna win this, I just know it!" Rua cheered.
"Not likely!" Goodwin said, his tone halfway between a hiss and a growl. "It's my turn now, and when I'm done reducing all your lifepoints, I merely have to pick you off one by one! You'll watch each other die!
"Rasca, reduce the Oracle's lifepoints to zero!"
"Fish!"
She grit her teeth and braced herself for the attack. All three waterboards flickered dangerously, threatening to dump their passengers to the ground far below.
Fish: 1
"You okay?" Aki called out.
The attack had dissipated, and Fish breathed hard, kneeling on her waterboard. Every so often, the boards flickered slightly; not enough to disappear, but enough to worry the others.
"Yeah," Fish grunted. "Just peachy…"
"I'll end my turn with a facedown," Goodwin said. "That'll teach you to think you can beat me! I am a god, and you are cockroaches I will step on!"
Start of Round 6
Crow: 4000 Monsters: (Blackwing Fane the Steel Chain: Atk: 500 Def: 800) (Blackwing Bora the Spear: Atk: 1700 Def: 800)
Jack: 4000 Monsters: (Red Dragon Archfiend: Atk: 3000 Def: 2000) (Magical Hole Golem: Atk: 0000 Def: 2000)
Yusei: 0001 Monsters: (Stardust Dragon: Atk: 2500 Def: 2000) (Stardust Xiaolong: Atk: 100 Def: 100)
Lise: 0001 Monsters: (Flame Enchantress: Atk: 1000 Def: 200) (Crimson Starburst Dragon: Atk: 2500 Def: 3000)
Fish: 0001 Monsters: (Sapphire Sea Dragon: Atk: 2400 Def: 2000)
Aki: 1750 Monsters: (Black Rose Dragon: Atk: 2400 Def: 1800)
Ruka: 3000 Monsters: (Ancient Fairy Dragon: Atk: 2100 Def: 3000) (Kuribon: Atk: 300 Def: 200) (Dancing Fairies: Atk: 1700 Def: 1000) (Sunlight Unicorn: Atk: 1800 Def: 1000)
Rua: 4000 Monsters: (Power Tool Dragon: Atk: 2300 Def: 2500) (Morphtronic Boarden: Atk: 500 Def: 1800) (Morphtronic Scopen: Atk: 800 Def: 1400) (Morphtronic Slingen: Atk: 1200 Def: 800)
Goodwin: 700 Monsters: (Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca: Atk: 0001 Def: 0001) (Sun Dragon Inti: Atk: 3000 Def: 2800)
"Yeah, well this cockroach ain't getting stepped on today! It's my move!" Crow growled. "Fane the Steel Chain, attack Goodwin directly!"
"I think not. I play the trap Gravity Bind. Now only monsters level five and above may attack me.
"Don't you see? No matter what you do, the King of the Netherworld will lay waste to this world and I will recreate a new world for me to rule!"
"Not if we win this!" Aki reminded him.
"You wish to know what will happen if you win?" Goodwin asked, a horrible smile on his face. "Are you so naive that you think saving the world will solve all of your problems? Crow, do you remember what we talked about?"
"Huh?"
"The Daedalus Bridge. Let us say, for the sake of argument, that the bridge is eventually finished. What then?
"The people of New Domino City will not magically accept the people of Satellite into their flock. There will still be extreme prejudice and distrust. The criminals that deserve to be exiled will clog up correctional facilities and create a strain on the taxpayers of New Domino. You, with your prominently-displayed marks, will be hit especially hard if you attempt to secure employment in the city. And where will all the children go?"
"I..." Crow looked down. "I don't...Shut up! Just shut up!"
Aki settled her hand on his. "It's a problem we have to address. We have to start somewhere. No one said helping others was easy."
"Thanks, Aki."
"And you, Jack. We both know that you have an emotional investment in this. But who is to say that defeating me will bring her back? Who is to say that she will not be lost when the shadows are banished? And you know you will never regain the fame and adoration you once took for granted. Everything will have been for naught."
"You keep telling yourself that," Jack snapped, throwing another card facedown.
"And the Oracle?" Goodwin spoke now to Fish. "Records indicate that her disappearance always coincides with the destruction of the Dark Signers. She is the source of the powers you utilize every day, powers that have grown to define you. Are you willing to give that up? To become a simple, ordinary girl? You've worked so hard and so long to come to terms with your abilities. Could you bring yourself to throw that away?"
Fish clenched her hands into fists. "I...I spent my entire childhood hating what I could do. It made my life hell. If you'd told me then that there was a way to be normal...but he's right, my powers are part of what makes me me. If I lost them..."
"Fish?" Aki said.
"Sure, I hate that it comes with a sadistic old water spirit who occasionally takes control of my body. But everything else has just become part of my life. I mean, without my powers, the three of us wouldn't even be able to participate in this duel!"
"Fish, please," Ruka pleaded. "You're scaring me."
Fish shook her head. "The thing is...aw, fuck it. I may want to keep my powers, but I really want to tear Goodwin a new one. If the price of saving the world is becoming an 'ordinary' person, I say that's a bargain!"
She threw back her head and laughed. "Heck, I'll never be ordinary!"
Crow grinned. "Come on guys, let's shut this old man up for good!"
"You think the eight of you can defeat me? Three of you only have one lifepoint apiece, and I can eliminate them with a single attack.
"I can break your bonds as easily as I cast away my own family!"
"Family doesn't work like that!" Yusei could listen to him try to pointlessly rattle his friends. But not this garbage.
Goodwin eyed the boy disdainfully down his nose. "What do you know about family? Any of you?! Most of your families are dead!"
"Family is not blood!" Lise's entire body glowed orange. Orange energy crackling along her limbs. "Family are the people who choose to be in your life even when it's hard! It's stronger than blood, and you could never understand that!"
Lise felt the presence of the Crimson Dragon. Like her friend matched her own flesh and blood. Mirrors of each other, experiencing life. Pulling back together, two wholes that should never have been separated.
Lise left behind her helmet and duel disk. The dragon's invisible cord and her own orange power drawing her before Goodwin.
"Wait, Lise!" Yusei reached after her, but couldn't follow.
At least not yet.
"NO!" Goodwin screamed and struggled. But the Crimson Dragon's glow swelled, keeping him frozen in place.
Lise landed on the dais before Goodwin. Hard enough to crack it, cards falling off.
"Give!" Lise reared her hand back.
"Me!" She used the heel of her palm to hit Goodwin's chest as hard as she could. He let out a guttural sound.
No… Goodwin realized too late. This was the same technique he'd used against Elizabeth at the Fortune Cup.
"Back!" The dragon glow increased. And out sprouted the wings. Something for Lise's hands to grasp.
"Get him, Lise!"
"Pull!"
"Bring back the Crimson Dragon!"
Lise dug in her heels and pulled. The seal coming off Goodwin like a peeling sticker.
"MY FRIEND!"
Rua screamed and pointed. "Guys, look! I think that giant bug thing is here to eat us!"
He was right. The King of the Netherworld had reached the city. It roared and sent a beam of yellow light from its mouth, destroying a nearby skyscraper.
"We better do something and do it fast!" Crow cried, eyes wide with fear.
"But Lise!"
"NO!" Goodwin screamed. "I was the chosen one! I had both the light and the darkness!"
The friends didn't know what to do first. How could they even attempt to try to stop the King of the Netherworld?! Lise was falling too!
Or not?
The papery seal Lise had torn off Goodwin flashed into the humanoid version of the Crimson Dragon. The woman embraced Lise. The two less falling than spinning slightly as they descended. Both laughing.
Old friends reunited.
The Crimson Dragon unfolded into her dragonic form. Wrapping Lise up warmly in its long body. Their embrace becoming a beautiful light show of recombination. Synchro summoning at its core. The power of light and life.
Lise emerged, levitating in the air. Glowing with the swirling Dragon Markings and orange lightning ability. Arms around herself.
She opened her red glowing eyes and spread her arms. Red wings unfolding. Scattering her light to the friends below.
"Whoa!" Crow breathed, awe-struck at his own arm. "I-I'm a..."
Aki grinned. The others had noticed their arms too. She, Jack, Yusei, and Ruka were back as Signers. "Welcome to the club!"
"Impossible! That's impossible!"
"Impossible, and yet here we are." In older, wiser voices, including their own, the Crimson Dragon and Lise spoke. "The Crimson Dragon's power is light. It is the protector of life itself. If you cannot understand that, you cannot be a Signer nor a Vessel!"
They gestured to Yusei. The top card of his extra deck glowed gold in the night. "It is your turn, yes?"
"That it is," Yusei nodded, grinning. He took off, the others following right behind him. "And it's definitely time to rev it up!
"I summon Majestic Dragon! Now I tune Stardust Xiaolong and Stardust Dragon with Majestic Dragon in order to Synchro summon Majestic Star Dragon!"
(Majestic Star Dragon: Atk: 3800 Def: 3000)
"Majestic Star Dragon negates your Earthbound Immortal's abilities, and gains them for himself! Attack Goodwin and end this duel!"
"I… I've lost…"
Goodwin: 0000
"Now set your sights on the King of the Netherworld!"
Majestic Star Dragon barrel rolled and charged at the deadly beast. The rest of the dragons-Ancient Fairy Dragon, Red Dragon Archfiend, Sapphire Sea Dragon, Power Tool Dragon, Crimson Starburst Dragon, and Black Rose Dragon joined. The King of the Netherworld fired another yellow blast, but the combined might of the dragons was too much for the creature of darkness.
Majestic Star Dragon sailed lazily across the city. Stardust falling in the dragon's wake…
/
Yusei opened his eyes slowly. When had he closed them?
Where was he? The floor beneath him was inky black. All around him stars and galaxies swirled, adding light to the night. But this time in the in-between he wasn't alone.
Lise turned around just as Yusei pulled her into a hug. "Whoa!"
"You scared me! I thought you fell off my bike!"
"I'm sorry! My instincts just kinda… took over," Lise admitted. She wished she had a better explanation.
But Yusei's smile… Her chest twinged. Much better than defeating Goodwin.
Yusei pulled away, chin gesturing behind her.
"Lizzie."
"Mom?" Lise whirled towards her mother. "Mom!"
Cerise laughed into their hug.
"Yusei," someone tapped his shoulder.
"Hello, son."
A smaller woman hugged Yusei tightly. "Oh Ryuji, he looks just like you!"
"Mom? Dad?" Yusei managed to say.
The woman of average height, but her brown eyes sparkled with happiness. Her honey brown hair tied up in an elegant bun at the back of her head. Her husband stood next to her, grinning broadly.
"We're so proud of you."
"Yusei this is your mother, Haruna."
"H-Hi," Yusei rubbed his eyes.
Haruna cupped his cheeks to wipe away new tears. "Yusei… you grew up…so wonderfully. I hope you know we love you."
Aki and Fish talked excitedly to Cerise. Lise had stepped back to give her friends some time with her mother. Technically Cerise had helped raise them too.
Lise walked over to a very tall blond woman and average-sized dark-haired man that were hugging Jack. The woman released Jack immediately and held out her hand to Lise.
"Hannah Atlas, nice to meet you!" She had a warm smile, violet eyes just like Jack's, and a firm handshake.
"I'm Lise, nice to meet you. I see where Jack gets his looks."
Hannah snorted. "He might look like me, but I think he takes after his father a bit more. Huge show-off!"
"Mum!" Jack crossed his arms.
"Sorry, son, there's no taming that one. I've tried. Aaron," Jack's father smiled and cordially shook Lise's hand. "How's our boy been?"
"A fucking handful. It's ridiculous!" Lise joked.
"That's not what Carly called me!" Jack snapped back.
Hannah punched her son's shoulder enthusiastically. "Oh, lucky you, Jackie! A girlfriend!"
"So these are all your friends?" A brown-haired woman with green eyes asked, towing Crow along with her. Tiny, but clearly a strong woman. "Eve Hogan."
Her husband, a tall redhead with gray eyes, patted his son's head. "Nice job, Crow, Ryland Hogan."
"You must be Crow's parents," Lise said. Were all the parents here?
Something bugged her. She wandered over to where the twins shook hands with a man that looked very similar to Yusei. He acknowledged Lise with a polite nod and a smile over Rua's head.
Ruka caught a glance of Lise and took her brother's hand to drag him over to meet the Atlas'.
"You must be Elizabeth Goodwin," the man said when Lise hesitantly approached.
Lise bit her lip. "Well actually I'm Elizabeth Kurie, but I go by Lise. Nice to meet you, mister…?"
"Oh, you took your mother's name instead. My mistake, sorry about that. I'm Ryuji Fudo."
"I figured," Lise swallowed. She had to get this out there. "Um, I really like your son!"
Ryuji tipped his head back and laughed.
Lise felt her face burn. Not at all what she meant to say. "I-I mean… I hurt him, and my family hurt all of you and then some… I…I just…"
Haruna put a hand on her shoulder. "Lise, you're not responsible for what the Goodwin's did. There's no need for you to apologize or feel… unworthy."
"Frankly, we're proud of all you kids. You've done what most adults could never even dream of doing," Ryuji added.
Haruna lowered her voice to a whisper. "And the best thing you can do in terms of love? Just tell the truth."
"Oh okay," Lise said, sniffling a little. "I'm uh…I actually... Thank you."
"Wait a minute. How are you here? How are we all here?"
The Crimson Dragon appeared. Her humanoid form clearing her throat to address the group at large. "I felt this was a fitting reward for saving the world. Excuse me if I overstepped any boundaries."
She bowed deeply. "Thank you for sacrificing yourselves for the world. I am proud to have chosen all of you."
"But we have to go," Ryuji said sadly.
Crow's parents, Jack's, Yusei's and Lise's joined the Crimson Dragon. Golden light bloomed behind them. Parents waving goodbye to their children.
"Hey, it's okay, Jack," Ruka said softly. She patted the highest part of Jack's back she could reach.
"It's nice to know we had real families that loved us," Crow's voice was barely above a whisper.
"Isn't it?" Yusei agreed quietly, rubbing his eyes. "But it makes it so much harder."
Lise waved back. Her mother's smile matching her own.
The golden light faded. Stars and galaxies spiraled around into nothingness. The smell of saltwater reached everybody's noses and they seemed to be falling extremely fast into darkness.
/
Trudge pulled up to the coffee shop he'd promised to meet Mikage at after their search. No luck, and the sun kept coming up. The workers setting up for the five AM opening time.
He removed his helmet and sat down. "Any luck?"
"No," Mikage shook her head, earrings swinging. Her brow furrowed. "We've had the police out searching for hours, and we haven't found a thing!"
"I'm sure they're okay, though, I mean, eight people don't just up and vanish." Trudge scratched at his head thoughtfully. Remembering that weird hallucination about flying lions and talking dragons. "Do they?"
"Wait, everyone's missing?!" An old man wearing gray suddenly threw off all his clothing and beard to reveal Carly in her regular clothes and a camera slung over her shoulder. "How am I supposed to write a hard-hitting article if I can't interview any of the key participants?"
"Just interview yourself," Trudge suggested after getting over his initial shock. "You were there too, ya know."
"Yeah, but I don't remember one goddamn thing!" Carly cried, snapping her pen in half. "It's so frustrating!"
"Well," Mikage scowled grudgingly, "at least you're not a Dark Signer anymore."
"I was a what?!"
All three of them broke into a scream. A brand-new bridge spanning the ocean between Satellite and New Domino City popped out of nowhere. And not broken like the Daedalus Bridge. Sturdy, modern, and whole.
Before they could process the bridge, their missing people popped aboard it next.
"Quit screaming it's just us!" Jack roared.
Mikage, Trudge and Carly clammed up so quickly Rua and Ruka burst into giggles. Aki and Crow grinned too. Fish laughed so hard she had to hang onto the bridge to stay standing.
"Wait…" Mikage did a quick head count. "Where are Lise and Yusei?"
/
Lise awoke to the sound of waves lapping at the beach and the sight of a blue, cloudless sky. A sky she currently fell through.
Majestic Star Dragon must have let her coast back down to Earth. Dropped everyone else off safely.
She closed her eyes again at the wind rushing past her. Rustling her hair.
This wind exhilarating on its own. The sting on her cheeks, the salty smell of the ocean, and the warm sun reminding her she was alive. And life could be so good in small moments like this.
"WOOOO!" Lise shouted into the sky, letting it all go.
She practically danced with the wind. Letting it toss and turn her every which way. Laughing at each new direction.
We won! WE WON!
She practically jumped out of her skin when a hand brushed hers. Reflexively clasping it tightly as Lise remained acutely aware only she could fly. Someone hadn't been dropped off by Majestic Star Dragon. No big deal.
Except it was Yusei.
Lise's brain froze. She tunnel visioned to thinking only of landing safely. She had to or she'd spontaneously combust.
They landed softly. Yusei's back on the ground. Lise practically knelt over him. Their hands still clasped tightly between them.
Yusei knew he must look ridiculous. His free arm askew and wide eyes coupled with wind tangled hair and open mouth. But he couldn't stop staring.
He hadn't seen Lise…unguarded and happy in such a long time. She looked…so beautiful. It made his heart ache in the strangest way.
He was going to apologize. He hadn't meant to ruin her free flying. But the words got lost in his throat. Lise's blonde hair falling around his face like a curtain didn't help either.
And they were still holding hands.
Lise seemed to arrive at the same realization simultaneously. She ripped her hand away and backpedaled to her feet so fast she must have been burned. Her face certainly red enough.
"I'm sorry! I wasn't trying to hurt you, I swear! I wasn't thinking, and – I mean I was thinking, but that I had to land as soon as possible! Not that I wanted you to take the fall!"
"You're sorry? But I ruined- I wasn't trying to- I know you wouldn't do that!" Yusei's indignance brought him to his feet too. "I think Majestic must've – I-I didn't want to get off, and it's technically my monster so… It must've…known…"
"O-okay…um…" Lise wrung her hands and messed with her hair. Face beet red. She wanted to run so badly, but she wanted this conversation more.
Why does the truth have to be so terrifying?!
"Lise?"
Yusei reached for her, but hesitated. Biting his thumb. Conceptualizing this conversation? Easy. Actually having it? Brain empty.
"Lise…" Yusei swallowed and took a deep breath. "Lise, I love you."
Her eyes, wide as planets, flew up to his face. Her own somehow redder. Lise's mouth opened and closed, but nothing came out.
"I love you, and I know you think that I should be with someone else, but they wouldn't be you! I don't want someone else, I want you!
"I want to choose you every day, a-and I want you to know that you can…ch-choose me…i-if you want me too… I…I…"
Yusei felt his face heat up. Had he sounded creepy? He didn't want to scare her off, or freak her out! He ran a hand through his hair, trying to find his next words.
"Look, I… I promise, my feelings aren't fragile. I've liked you for a long time, but I don't… I don't want to force you or guilt you o-or pressure you. If you don't feel the same, I'll leave you alone. I really just…want you to be happy…
"A-And if you'd be happy with me… I mean, i-if you want me… I'd love to be with you… i-if you'll h-have me…"
Yusei bit his lip. Everything had been such garbled nonsense. What was wrong with him?
Lise took a moment to process. The silence eons long.
"If I'll have you? Y-You'll still have me?"
Yusei blinked at her. This wasn't the response he had expected. Whether she accepted or rejected him. He nodded slowly.
"B-Because I love you!" Lise blurted in a mad, breathless rush. "I-I love you too!
"I love watching you work on your bike. I love that thumb biting thing you do. I love watching you duel a-and fight. I love just working in the same space and being around you. I love that you're so sweet, and kind and vulnerable because I suck at those things. A-And I love your face and your mark and your hair and your eyes and…
"I-I just…I love you, Yusei…" Lise had to stop to breathe again. And rub away a few tears with the heel of her hand.
If Yusei had been holding something, he would have dropped it. All he seemed to remember was staring. After avoiding all this for so long…
"And I'm so sorry for…lying and hurting you. And it's more than just being afraid of my dad hurting you because of me… And I didn't want to…to do anything because we thought we were gonna die because that didn't go well the last time and I…
"Wanting to be with you felt selfish. A-And the thought that I…That someone like me could make you happy felt arrogant and stupid. I didn't think about what you wanted or chose, and I'm sorry.
"I've just been scared of you getting hurt or killed… Or getting rejected… But the worst is… I'm just so afraid that you're gonna wake up one day and realize… I'm not that great!
"But that's all of it. That's the truth. I-I love you too."
Lise twisted her hair as she caught her breath. She didn't have any words or thoughts left. Used them all up at once. But she'd said it; the truth.
"Lise," Yusei found his voice again. He held out his hands for hers.
She rubbed away more tears again, but took his hand.
"I'd like to use my third question."
"Wha- Now?" Lise frowned. She definitely didn't expect that response.
"Yes, now," Yusei smiled crookedly.
Had she missed something? She didn't want to answer another question about her mother or something equally uncomfortable. Lise hadn't the foggiest idea what he'd want to ask her.
"Okay…"
"My last question's still the same… Can I kiss you?"
Lise let out a laugh. He'd waited, sat on the question, for a long time. Just in the hopes that some day…
Lise let go of his hand. Grasping his face in her fingertips. His jaw, cheekbones, his dark hair falling into those blue eyes. He really was a work of art. Her thumb found the triangle mark under his eye.
"Yes," Lise said softly.
She dove right in. Teeth bumping his in her eagerness. Lise cringed internally. She didn't kiss often, and different than when Roman had trapped her.
But Yusei smiled into the kiss. His hand covering hers on his cheek. Yusei's other arm pulled Lise closer by her back. His heart soared. Lise's hands cradling his face in warmth and safety. He didn't want it to end.
He had an answer!
Their kiss broke. Lise's hands falling to his chest. Yusei couldn't stop smiling. Her cheeks shiny pink. Eyes darted away, but she didn't push him away. Not this time.
"S-Sorry, I think I got your…" Lise trailed off. Yusei's thumb on her lower lip. Like he wanted to touch her words as well as hear them. "Teeth…"
His hand migrated into her hair. "Don't worry about it. Just kiss me again."
Lise laughed into their next kiss. Yusei's hand falling down her back. Sending electric currents down her spine. She wrapped her arms around Yusei's neck and shoulders. This kiss far warmer, being held so tenderly. Just because. Not because of threat of death. Lips soft, warm, and free of blood.
Their kiss breaking softly this time.
Yusei's jaw ached from smiling so much. This felt…indescribably good. He bent down to scoop Lise into his arms.
"Whoa, what're you-?!" Lise cried out, one arm hanging onto his shoulder. The other splaying out in surprise.
But she didn't protest at Yusei spinning them around. The light of the sunrise illuminating his features. That rare smile. She hadn't seen him this happy in forever.
She curled her arm securely around his shoulders. Cupped a hand to Yusei's cheek and kissed him again. His hands holding her tightly at her back and crook of her knees.
Yusei loved her.
He loved Lise so much.
But the best part?
The best part was she loved him back.
This time they were both a bit out of breath. But still smiling with their foreheads together.
"I-I love you," Lise whispered.
Yusei grinned. "I love you too."
"By the way, do you know where we are?"
They looked around for the first time. The ocean around them. The city in the distance, and Satellite…beside them?
"I would've said Satellite, but…that's the Daedalus Bridge…" Yusei trailed off.
"Wow, so Goodwin followed through for once. Weird."
"Not a bad first kiss place," Yusei joked. "Um do you wanna go somewhere for a first date?"
Lise thought about it. "Well, we've been up all night and we don't have any money… I got it."
/
"Would you two get up already? It's after noon and everyone's looking for you!" Martha demanded. She stole the couch blanket, tossing it into a chair instead.
She returned to the kitchen in a huff. The Immortal had set back her schedule so badly… She'd needed an hour to herself to rest. But she still needed to make lunch for the kids.
Lise grumbled and protested groggily. She yawned as she sat up off Yusei's chest. His coat slipping off the two of them. Yusei stretched and yawned too. Eyes still bleary and hair messy from their nap.
"Yep…" he said, voice still husky with sleep. He reached for Lise.
"Hmm?" She cocked her head, letting Yusei cup her cheek.
He grinned dozily up at her. "Still great."
Lise broke into a laugh. Leaning back in, Yusei buried one hand in her hair and the other on the small of her back.
For a good morning kiss.
