Chapter 17 - Epilogue, Finale, Ending

With the Darkness that was Darc now vanquished, and the Dimensions finally existing without the threat of collapse, the people can now live their happy lives again.

Since the Dimensional War has ended in peace, the Academia has reformed itself, becoming a legitimate duel school to educate, and inspire the first generation of entertainment duelists, and sponging the original legacy that Leo Akaba had left stained.

Edo has taken full control of the academy. Using the teachings of Yushio and Yuya as his guide to keep on the right path of a duelist, he uses his just heart to teach the dimension the same.

Ryu has become one of the strict, yet effective teachers at Academia. With his wisdom on duel strategy, and power to back it up, he's made a name for himself as the Hell Kaiser of Academia. Many duelists, students, and teachers have tried to face him, with only two being able to defeat him. One being Edo himself, the other being the hero he met that day.

Alexis has started teaching her own classes in the You Show School of the Fusion Dimension. Turning it into an alternative program, she teaches those put off by their original summoning method how to Ritual, seeing it as another way to duel.

With Leo and his rule over, Serena has the freedom to live the life she chooses. With Barret choosing to stay by her side as a guardian should she need him, her life has only started to go up. Becoming Ryu's number one student, she's created a strong reputation for herself. She has gone from loner with something to prove to become a symbol of the Academy with friends and more.

…

With the tops and commons now united, the city has developed as a true utopia. Commons are shown more respect by the elite, as well as given a fair chance at life as the areas in the commons are renovated and developed to increase the living conditions. The tops have been humbled, some of them finally getting their hands dirty and helping their fellow man without putting their own families on the line.

Jack has stepped down as King to become the face of the unification of the tops and commons, helping to lead the charge in bringing everyone together as he originally intended.

Taking his place, Akiza has become the Queen of Thrones, the duelist of beauty and pain, defeating her opponents with grace and power, inheriting Jack's will in his place. While some have challenged her for the position of king, others are more interested in being her king, although based on the current gossip, she might already be smitten with this new d-wheel engineer who arrived on the scene during the monster attack.

Crow's move to the Xyz Dimension has been completed. He and the kids have now begun to live a new life in Heartland, getting away from the woes of the commons.

…

Heartland has returned to its former glory. Through a group effort, relying on the kindness and resources of the other dimensions to rebuild what was once destroyed. The new and improved Heartland Tower stands as a monument to all that the people of the Xyz Dimension have been through, and how they've all pulled through to survive.

With no war, Shun no longer has to battle for survival. With his sister safe from Academia and Leo, they can live in peace in the newly built city. Ruri keeps in touch with the others, mostly traveling between Dimensions to hang out with Rin. While Shun has almost returned to his old safe, he occasionally visits a monument in the heart of the city where he pays respect to his lost friend, Yuto.

Through the trials they've faced, Kaito and Shark have created a strong comradery between them, becoming friends. With their families returned to them, they can once again duel for fun. One significant change to help this comes from a new friend they made during the invasion.

…

You Show Duel School has become the most popular duelist institute, and tourist attraction in Miami City. Known as 'the school that trained the one that saved the dimensions', it has since tripled its attending class, with former students taking the role of teachers.

Noburu has a class dedicated to both his style of dueling, as well as one to teach Synchro summoning. Passing on the teachings of his father, he has since adjusted it to be more relevant with the times, while keeping to the spirit of his Steadfast dueling.

Sora has officially moved to the Standard Dimension, wanting to be with his friends rather than the Duel School. He's taken up a position at You Show teaching Fusion summoning.

Yuzu has become the vice head of the school, helping to organize the classes, students, and training routines of the attendance to lighten the weight of her father.

Shingo works part-time at the school, teaching his own style of entertainment duels, as well as owning a player's cards, regardless of rarity.

The final newest member of the school is Dennis. Wanting to learn more from Yushio, and improve himself as an entertainer, and a magician, he has taken the position of Xyz instructor in exchange for additional training.

…

LDS tower, the former main headquarters for the Lancer, and still the current main building for the company. Reiji is inside his penthouse office. Sitting in a wheelchair, he looks out onto the city and smiles, happy he was able to bring peace to the world.

He's not alone in the office. With him are two others. Zarc, now appointed as his right-hand in the company, and his enforcer for the time being. And Yugi Muto, a famous duelist, and one of the few survivors of Zarc's original dimension.

Zarc stands behind Reiji holding a clipboard with some figures on it. "Your vitals have come through. I'm not going to pretend you haven't already seen them, but it's nice to have confirmation that you're getting better."

"Of course. I worked hard to create this peace. We all did. It would be a shame not to witness it myself."

Yugi gets up from his seat and walks over to the other two. He stands slightly taller than Zarc and speaks with a deeper voice. "I don't remember the last time I saw a view this great."

"Well, you helped protect it. It's funny. I don't remember you having such monsters when we dueled," Zarc comments. "I don't mean with your evil counterpart either. I mean back in our old dimension."

"They're not monsters. They're gods. And while I lost them many years ago, they came back to me as I entered this world."

"Well then, I look forward to being the first to defeat them," Zarc is confident and snarky, having fellowed out since the peace.

Reiji speaks up, "Gentlemen, save it for the tournament opening ceremony. We've got four dimensions waiting with anticipation for the largest tournament in all worlds. And I want it to start out with a real show."

…

Standing atop the adjacent building overlooking the city, a figure in red, and blue watches over the once again thriving city. Their scorched scarf flows with the open, gentle breeze, catching it like a wave. They pull up their goggles, revealing a pair of light blue eyes, shining almost like diamonds.

"Yuya Sakaki, or as you are now, Zarc. The history books never said how you and Reiji Akaba survived your final encounter with Darc. Who would have thought it was a stranger from another time?" they sound proud of themself. "Still, now you can relax in peace. You've more than earned it."

The stranger looks at their hand as it starts to fade.

"My time here is over. I must return home, and face my own battles," he pulls out a card from the deck box around his belt. Holding it up to the light, the image is hidden, while the outer box shows it to be a red duel monster card. "Won't you fight by my side?" The stranger disappears, returning to their own time.

To be continued in Yu-Gi-Oh: Rizing