Chapter 9: The Resistance
After they follow a strange boy through a portal, they exit the other side and see a massive waterfall in a deep valley. While some of the duelists were astounded at its size and how much water there is, Kaiba looked a bit upset.
"A waterfall? That portal took us to a waterfall?" Kaiba questioned the boy.
"Yes, there is a waterfall, but it's what's behind it that's more important." The boy assured Kaiba before his dual-colored eyes started glowing. Everyone was stunned to see the waterfall split open and reveal a steel door. A rock walkway then surfaced below the edge of the spring. His eyes dimmed out after that. "Right this way."
Though Kaiba still didn't trust this stranger, they followed him through the steel door, which revealed a hidden base of operations, with about a hundred duelists in white jumpsuits with silver shoulder and knee pads and threaded details that differ by the attribute their decks are based on.
"Whoa!" Sylvio gasps in total surprise.
"What is this place?" Mokuba asked the boy.
"Everyone, welcome to our home."
They saw some of the duelists gathering parts for Duel Runners, fixing up old Duel Disks, having practice duels, to name a few.
"I appreciate you showing us around, but you still haven't told us who you are or why we're here!" Yuya glared at the boy.
"Please, there's no need to rush into things, Yuya Sakaki." The boy told him, surprising him that he knew his name.
"Hold on, how do you know my name?!" Yuya asked in complete surprise.
"You should be asking that… to Yuri."
The ethereal spirit of Yuya's Fusion Dimension counterpart appeared on cue. "Long time no see, Zack."
"Wait, you know him?" Yuya questioned Yuri.
"I considered him my rival during his years at Duel Academy." Yuri clarified. "He may have been a Ra Yellow, but none of his other classmates can beat him in a duel. If he hadn't left, he would've made Obelisk Blue."
"Wait, you left Duel Academy?" Akiza asked.
"A story best told another day. And to answer your earlier question, Yuya, I've brought you here because we need you."
"Us? For what?" Leo asked.
"Allow me to explain what is going on first. As you likely know already, you're standing on the planet of Zenova, which used to be a duelist's utopia." Zack then told them the planet's history. "The planet was once ruled by its king, Delios. He treated his people with respect, loyalty, and love. And he loved his queen, Setsuna, as much as he loved his kingdom. Then one day, a power-mad tyrant named Shade attacked without any hesitation. He unleashed wave after wave of shadow duelists, decimating everyone who stood in his way. The reason behind the attack: he sought the Stars of the Universe, twelve crystal talismans that give whoever holds them the power to control the entire universe. Delios wouldn't allow a monster like him to take control, so he challenged him to a duel for the artifacts. He fought with all his heart, but unfortunately, he lost. And to ensure that a rebellion doesn't occur, he killed Delios and imprisoned Setsuna within the castle dungeons, eventually claiming the throne and becoming the planet's emperor."
"How horrible!" Rio gasped.
"By that time, me and a few others that opposed him were forced out of his new empire. Then one day, I came across the Star of Time. It showed me that six brave duelists from across time gather together will save this planet from Shade's tyrannical reign. That's mainly the reason all of you are here. My name is Zack, Zack Kendo. I'm one of the leading generals of the Resistance."
"Did you guys get any of that?" Leo asks.
"It's okay if you don't understand. Sometimes the past is best left alone." Zack said. "Anyway, there're some people who wish to see you. Come with me." He leads the duelists to a banquet hall where dozens of duelists are gathered.
"Wow! It's humongous!" Vector said in awe.
"I've never seen so many duelists in one place." Yugi agreed.
"Yes, there are faces we haven't seen before." A firm voice spoke up. Yugi and Atem turn around and they see Rafael, Alister, and Valon.
"It's Valon, Alister, and Rafael!" Yugi recognized them.
"You must be Yugi, the Pharaoh's other self." Rafael deduced. Atem raised his Duel Disk in defense. "Stand down, Pharaoh. We are here as allies, not enemies."
"Atem, he's right. Remember when you freed Rafael and the others from the Orichalcos?" Yugi reminded him of when he defeated Dartz and the Great Leviathan and freed the souls of everyone the Orichalcos had absorbed, including Yugi.
"Apologies, Rafael."
"None needed. After all, I come to give you these." Rafael reached into his coat pocket and pulled three cards from inside. They're revealed as the Legendary Dragon cards: The Claw of Hermos, The Fang of Critias, and the Eye of Timaeus.
"Timaeus, Critias, and Hermos!" Atem confirmed the cards.
"Yes, and from the look of things, you'll need all the help you can get." Valon agreed. Rafael gives the cards to Atem.
"Thank you." Atem thanked the former Paradius hunters. "Kaiba! Joey!"
"What now, Pharaoh?" Kaiba sighed.
"I believe I have something that can help you with your decks." Atem reveals Critias and Hermos.
"That's Critias!"
"And Hermos, too!"
"Yes, and with Timaeus by my side once more, we will save our timelines." Atem agreed. Kaiba smirks before taking Critias. Joey gleefully took Hermos.
With Yuya, he looked around before seeing someone he didn't expect to see.
"Dad!?"
His father, Yusho Sakaki, heard his son's voice and turned around. "Yuya!"
"I wasn't expecting you to be here!"
"So, you were caught in that veil of light too?"
"I was, but not even a reality-warping light can keep us apart."
Yuya smiled knowing that. But his train of thought got halted when he heard a familiar voice.
"YUYA!"
Yuya turned to the voice and spotted Aura Sentia rushing right at him, a trail of hearts following. Yuya managed to sidestep at the last minute, making her tackle someone else.
"Oh Yuya-kins! I knew I'd find my precious duel mate here!"
Yuya approaches her. "We really need to stop meeting like this, Aura. Geez!"
"Yuya?" Aura asked astounded. She looks up and finds that instead of Yuya, she tackled Vivian Wong to the floor.
"Ungrateful brat! How dare you tackle me?!" Vivian pried her way out of Aura's grip and applied an armbar on her. Aura wailed in agony as she taps out. Vivian lets go of her, seeing Aura clutch her arm like it was pulled out of its socket.
"How could you do that?!" Yuya questioned Vivian.
"That's what she gets for messing with Vivian Wong, world-class model, actress extraordinaire, and Martial Arts champion."
Hearing that made Yuya's expression change from vexation to one of anxiety. "M-M-Martial Arts?"
"You got a problem? Maybe I can demonstrate my skills for you." Vivian suggested, cracking her knuckles.
"N-No thanks! I'm good!" Yuya quickly turned it down, fearing that he would be hurt as badly as Aura.
"That's what I thought." Vivian smirked.
"Pardon me, miss, I couldn't help but overhear that you're a Martial Arts champion." She hears Jean-Claude Magnum's voice. Vivian turns to see him.
"That's right. And it's not just these skills that got me the Asian Duel Monsters championship." Vivian told him.
"Hey, I heard of you. You're Jean-Claude Magnum, the famous actor." Yuya guessed.
"The one and only." Magnum confirmed.
"Why are you here?" Yuya asked.
"The same reason everyone else is here: I've come to enter the tournament." Magnum told the dueltainer.
"And son, I'll be entering as well. It's not everyday you and your father get to duel. It'll be bigger than the Arc League Championship." Yusho said to his son.
"Speaking of the Arc League Championship, I wonder how Declan's doing." Yuya wondered.
"I'm sure he's becoming familiar with his allies." Yusho said, just as Yuya spots Declan having his own conversation with Kaiba.
"So, you became the Leo Corporation's CEO after your father vanished, huh?" Kaiba asked.
"Yes. At first, we were at each other's throats, but he decided to change his ways and aid me and the Lancers against Z-ARC." Declan told the KaibaCorp president.
"At least your father had a change of heart. My stepfather Gozaburo was nothing like him." Kaiba said, scowling at the mere mention of Gozaburo.
"Was he a criminal?" Declan asked.
"More like a heartless tyrant who only ran the company for money!" Kaiba corrected. "Overthrowing him was the best move I've made in my life."
Conversations filled the room before a white-haired man in silver and white robes walked out to the stage. He taps his gear-topped staff to gain everyone's attention. The key piece to the staff was that it had a green star-shaped emblem with an hourglass symbol on it.
"I thank you all for coming. It could not have been easy. I am pleased, however, that you all have answered my plea." The man's words earned a confused murmur from Sylvio. "My name is Koga, and I am a sage who controls time. You all have been brought here because we need your help."
Murmurs filled the room, which were quickly quelled after another tap of the staff. "I understand your confusion, but trust me when I say this: our planet is in danger." Zack joined him on the stage.
"As you no doubt heard, Shade seeks the Stars of the Universe, twelve crystal talismans crafted by a powerful wizard. It is said that whosoever brings them together will achieve ultimate power. Before King Delios died, he used the Star of Time to scatter them across time and space. Now, he plans to use this tournament of his to seek them out."
"How did he know about the tournament?" Yusei's thought ring in his head.
"To put it simply, we must gather the Stars of the Universe before Shade's minions do." Zack finished.
"But where do we find these 'Stars of the Universe'?" Shay Obsidian asked.
"That's simple." Koga responded. He then showed them holograms of each of the crystal talismans, each one sporting a different symbol. "Each of the twelve talismans represent an element of nature: Earth, Water, Wind, Fire, Thunder, Ice, Force, Time, Flower, Shadow, Light, and Moon. Six are somewhere in each of your eras while the other six are here. There are six main cities here on Zenova: Kuroi, Arola, Ophelis, Turmuk, Rukan, and Carica."
"We set up this base a few miles outside Carica." Zack added.
"So how is it that we're needed for this?" Kari, Yuma's older sister wondered.
"I do not know, but this feels somewhat familiar." Mizar spoke.
"How so?" Flip asked.
"Shade is much like Don Thousand – a heartless dictator who only seeks power. I followed his commands because I believed I would someday find Kite and prove that I was the true Galaxy-Eyes master. I tested the power of my Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon on your brother. The power was so overwhelming it sent him and Shark to the hospital after it was stopped."
"You were the one who sent my brother to the hospital that day? If this is true, I will send you there myself!" Kari angrily yelled, cracking her knuckles, ready to harm Mizar, but Rio restrained her with a Full Nelson hold.
"Let me go, Rio!"
"Not a chance! I know Mizar was responsible for Yuma's injuries that day, but he's turned over a new leaf after Don Thousand was destroyed. I promise you no more harm will come to Yuma. You have our word." Rio said. Kari's anger took over and she broke out of Rio's hold. Before she could land a punch on Mizar, Koga stopped her with his staff.
"Mizar is under my protection, Kari Tsukumo. As are you." Koga notified Kari. Seeing Mizar's calm but watchful eyes, Kari calmed down.
"Kari, was it? I promise that your brother and I will fight as allies, not enemies." Mizar promised.
"The next time my brother goes to the hospital, you're joining him." Kari threatened the former Barian Emperor.
"I'll make a note of that."
"Hostilities aside, perhaps we will finish this little gathering with a duel." Zack said.
"A duel?" Everyone murmured at the idea of a duel here in the hall.
"But where will the duel be? Some of us aren't exactly prepared for this." Yuya spoke up.
"That's why it's just an exhibition duel, Yuya. You needed the practice, after all." Zack said. "And to answer your question, I know just the place. Follow me." Zack started leading the Legendary Duelists to a predetermined destination in the base. They will soon see what the Resistance is all about.