Author's Note:
Somehow, this fanfiction returned.
Geez.
Well, it's getting finished. This is end of Part II. Then a few chapters of Part III to wrap it up.
It will still have a happy ending.
Chapters 42 and 43 are in drafts, underway. Just need to make sure I'm tying up all the loose ends, subplots, characters, etc.
Happy 2025.
NineInchNailed.
"And the rest is rust and stardust."
~Vladimir Nabokov.
Osiris watched as the girl deteriorated into ashes. Fragile life snuffed out as quickly and as easy as candlelight.
She was only human, after all. And a foolish one, at that. Even if she was-
He glanced at the pile of ashes in front of him and noticed a small silver necklace lying atop. It was emanating a peculiar golden glow.
The human used the last moments of her life to take it. He didn't even realize he'd been wearing it. It looked familiar. Osiris narrowed his eyes. Wasn't it...
"Hello," said a young blue haired man in a striped shirt, with odd gray eyes. He materialized in front of him. He picked up the golden, glowing necklace from the girl's ashes.
Osiris stared at him.
The mysterious man, completely unperturbed by Osiris' presence, blew on the necklace and held it up to his face. His appearance morphed then, into someone else, into someone entirely too familiar to Osiris. He was tall, muscular, handsome. Black hair with streaks of red. A few scars, akin to his father's, were splashed across his dark skin. Most notable of all, one of his eyes – amber with flecks of brilliant gold – was missing.
He inserted the necklace into his empty socket and blinked until both eyes coordinated and adjusted; became an identical match. Then he looked directly at the other god.
"You-" Osiris began.
"You've decided not to battle Set?" Horus interrupted, looking around at the glowing symbols. "The Book of the Dead. That's…not great."
"Revenge is not important," Osiris answered, a note of irritation in his voice. "Stabilizing the known realms is important. I'm not like you."
"No, you're not." Horus agreed. "Well. I'm going to go do what I need to do." He pulled a heavy golden falcon mask over his face, which appeared whenever he needed it. A massive spear materialized in his hand. "Don't do anything until I'm done," he requested, a dangerous glint in his gaze. It was part a request and part…a threat.
Osiris didn't care much for that tone. "You don't need my permission, do you?" he asked dryly.
"Not at all. Bye now." Horus jumped off the ground, taking flight as a colossal golden falcon and heading in the direction of Set's incomplete, slithering figure.
Osiris observed his trajectory, remaining where he was.
He'd finished his spell. Last word only needed to be uttered. He was ready. But… With Horus on the battlefield? This did change things.
He stood, impassive, watching as within that moment – the Momentum Tower had exploded.
Osiris felt a sensation on his left arm, just below the shoulder, as the explosion instantly wiped the Sky Dragon from this realm. The platinum mark of the dragon appeared on his bicep, matching the rest of the scars over his body.
The explosion engulfed Set and his phantom, wet body began to solidify. It turned black, material. He stood up tall, a majestic animalistic creature. Growing taller with each moment, sucking up all the energy that was passing into him.
Then a huge golden falcon collided directly with his face, making him almost lose his balance.
Meanwhile, the nuclear fire continue to spread, consuming everything in its wake. Tall buildings leveled, trees turned to ashes, human screams sounding just to be silenced. This whole island on the way to obliterate, the nuclear fallout to poison the surrounding ocean.
The blast wave reached where Osiris was standing too but, of course, it couldn't harm him.
Within the cacophony of sounds, he heard powerful bellowing from above and looked up, again noticing the foreign, peculiar Crimson Dragon. It wasn't part of the Ennead of their Gods, he could tell it had significant power of sorts and yet it didn't seem to be doing anything.
Until he saw it fly down and protect the humans that summoned it, surrounding them with its glowing body as the explosion wave passed over them.
Osiris thought that was a nonsensical thing of that powerful deity to do. After all, what use was protecting their life in the face of inevitability? And-
There was a sudden peculiar sound.
It was a quiet sound, almost like a slap on a wrist. Yet, it was entirely outside of the current world, too auspicious to be drowned out.
And that was when everything…stopped.
The explosion stopped spreading and Osiris noted the edge where the explosive light flickered, yet didn't move.
The Crimson Dragon was unaffected as well but the humans it protected weren't. They stood, their expressions frozen.
The time had stopped. Nothing else was moving except those outside of Ma'at.
Including a pause of energy stream being sucked up by Set. He bellowed a horrific sound of frustration that could level mountains, still not fully satiated, and immediately got Horus' spear shoved right down his animalistic mow. He shoved the falcon off him, pulled the spear out and swung it back at his opponent.
There was only one being who was capable of doing something like this.
Osiris looked up at the sky, far beyond where this planet's creatures could see, his eyes electric with anger.
"And here we are. Again," Isis uttered, appearing by his side. Her voice was as smooth as silk, soothing as a flowing river. Her long red hair was a shiny waterfall below her waistline. She looked thoughtfully ahead where Horus was locked in yet another battle with Set. They would fight, they would always fight and they would keep fighting until the end.
Her husband did not acknowledge her, unsurprised by her presence. He knew well whose vessel it was that suicided herself in front of him. Instead, he directed his gaze at the remaining cowering humans protected by the Crimson Dragon; the irritating anomaly.
"Do you pity them?" she asked.
"No," he answered. "But I know you and Horus do."
"Yes," she said compassionately. "They do not deserve this."
"Neither do we," Osiris said coldly, understanding what's transpired now. "Another one of Atum and Ra's' millennium amusements. Played us like puppets. Made us into fools."
"And you've frightened that poor boy. Manipulated him. Worse than a puppet, I'd say. Cruel."
"Stop," he said, an undertone of anger bubbling beneath the surface. Only she would dare talking to him like this.
"There is no need to create more suffering."
"It will end suffering. Return health to all reams."
"So you'd wipe all human existence out of spite?"
"I only wish to stabilize this!" Osiris snapped, now as angry as a celestial being could be, a tone that would frighten any other god if it weren't compassionate Isis next to him. "Those two let another one of their egotistic games go too far. Look around you," he impeded and motioned – at the ruins, at the two immortal enemies locked in another one of their battles, the frozen time holding explosive wave at bay still, at that strange Crimson Dragon and those inconsequential six humans it irritatingly chose to keep protecting with its body. "What is left here? How can it be repaired? I can push the scale of Ma'at back to where it's started, a fresh start."
"Maybe it shouldn't be up to us anymore," Isis suggested calmly, motioning at the remaining Signers. "It's why I know you've hesitated. Not just for Horus. You see that something else can intervene. Then…let's just let it."
"You're too trusting of them. The humans. And that…other."
She shrugged. "Perhaps. Well. Let's make it their problem then." She reached and took his hand. "You don't have to bear this anymore. Come with me. You and I don't need this."
Osiris hesitated.
"And bring those two poor kids back," she said. "They might have an easier go at it without our dormant powers affecting them." Smiled. "Please."
Osiris waited a moment longer. And then he waved his hand and followed her.
Leaving all behind.
Ra recklessly flicked the small figurine of Osiris from the board. "Now what?"
Atum dutifully removed Isis and appraised the current board. Set and Horus remaining. A stalemate.
"I'm bored," Ra gave a shake of his birdlike head. Unlike the other gods of the Ennead who preferred the anthropomorphized look, Ra took pride in the primordial animalistic appearance. Heavy golden armour was over his skin. "Oh rub that smug look off your face," he intoned. "Yeah yeah. You've won. Who cares."
"Nobody won."
"It's a victory for you and you know it," Ra grumbled, tapping his sharp claws against the board. "Millenia and we still get this same outcome. It's maddening. It's boring."
"It is what it is," Atum uttered. He aligned his game figurines in front of him: the ones that ended up participating and those that remained dormant and unaware. Isis, Exodia the Forbidden One and Obelisk the Tormentor.
"And another satisfactory outcome for your favourite humans thanks to Horus' freedom," Ra collected his own pieces from the pile as well: Osiris, Anubis and Nephthys.
"They'll get to make their choices and to live to see many more days," Atum remarked. "Despite your persistent efforts to rid of them."
"I know not of your fondness of their kind," Ra said for what might have been a millionth time. "The realms would be a healthier place without them. Or at least with a fresh start. And you know this, too."
"So much that you were willing to allow Set to become fully outside the laws of Ma'at?"
Ra grimaced. "Gave him a little taste this time at least. And not like you and I couldn't bring him down if needed."
"I'd always rather skip an all-out celestial war but that's just me."
"As it always is," Ra sighed. "At least it wouldn't be boring. So... what about planning for our next game? And how about - no handicap of key players, less of our involvement, fewer curveballs, fewer mind games?"
Atum considered. Horus not locked away and Set not severely impaired...Potentially no clues for the humans… That could be dangerous. But wouldn't be the first or last time. "I'd be open to that challenge."
"Call on me when you're ready. I'll be taking a break." Ra yawned, pushed back against the board and got up. He was at least five times larger than his opponent's current form and blocked out the night sky from view. Spectacular armoured wings were behind shoulders – obviously he did not need them in the space overlooking all the realms, but he enjoyed the aesthetic and the feel of them. The god of the sun would forever be the most stunning and magnificent creature in the universe – and he knew it.
He studied Atum with a mix of animosity and snobbishness. Unlike himself, Atum preferred that abominable human skin which Ra disliked being forced to look at. And since Atum's last human visit, he'd stuck to that appearance of a youth with wild red, black and yellow hair and a dark blue school uniform. Only his purple eyes remained constant throughout his different avatars.
"Until next time then," Ra concluded and gestured with his enormous metal paw.
"How long do you think?" Atum asked, sinking back into his comfortable seat.
"Who knows," Ra dismissed him. "Time matters not. Suppose your humans will have some years of their own troubles for a bit."
"And what if I were to summon upon you?"
Ra paused and appraised him. "Planning another visit down there so soon?"
"Who knows," Atum repeated and stroked his chin in thought. "It is a different sort of space there. I enjoy it immensely. Even envy. But I suppose I'll give it some time, too. Still," he smiled. "I'll look forward to calling upon you then."
"Your wish is my command," Ra muttered and disappeared into the night sky with a bright flash.
Atum glanced around. First, at the pantheon of gods: at the council of them discussing the past, current and future matters at hand; at Osiris and Isis sitting quietly together and observing the rest. Then towards Earth, at Horus and Set continuing their fight, unbothered by the pause in time, at the distraught Crimson Dragon and the six frozen humans.
"Enough of that." He plucked Horus' and Set's figurines from the board and tossed them into a pile. It would only be a matter of time before the two of them are at each other's throats within this realm, before Set needed to be locked away again - and also before he's set loose somewhere again as all balance requires.
Then Atum summoned Horus to his side to ask the humans' champion if he still wished to help out some more.
After their brief conversation was over, Horus departed.
And Atum snapped his fingers for the last time, letting life resume in the human realm.
"Hello Yusei," said Bruno by his side.
Except it wasn't Bruno. Not for some time now. He finally saw this clearly and he was no longer afraid.
Not-Bruno smiled, entirely removing the glamour that was hiding his true form. An immortal being, one of the most powerful but friendly to their cause. His appearance was that of a youth close to their age group, donning a head of spiky black and red hair but keeping golden glittering robes. He looked similar to him…and also Aki, if that made any sense.
"You've tried talking to me earlier," Yusei said, remembering the apparition that frightened rather than comforted him in the tunnel near the reactor.
"Yes…I've tried helping you then. I was more successful in prior instances."
"Like sending me to Mutou Yugi?"
"I hope you found that beneficial. He's been through similar trials before."
"I did." Yusei hesitated. "Is that when you've…replaced…Bruno?"
Horus shook his head. "I was asleep for a very long time but I've gained consciousness on the day my symbol was given to you. I've chosen to come join you personally for the first time at the hospital - when your friend Crow was injured. I've altered everyone's perception of my presence…Like I've always been around, just away until then. But your friend Bruno never returned with you from Arc Cradle. He'd perished that very day."
Yusei looked away, the grief of losing Bruno surging yet again.
"But you've suspected," Horus observed, brilliant amber-gold eyes studying him.
"A few times something didn't feel right," Yusei admitted. "I just could never…"
"Of course," Horus inclined his head emphatically. "Your friend had always been odd. Out of place. Scrappy. A helpful personality for me to simulate."
"So…you've assumed his memories, listened to us, pretended to be one of us, lived with us," Yusei remarked bitterly. It was wrong. It was a betrayal. "Why?"
"I always help humans caught in these conflicts," Horus answered. "To the extent that I'm allowed to… This time, I've been significantly reduced. Could do little more than observe - until she freed me. But I've tried to give some guidance and help as much as I could. And when I could."
"Helping me…to help yourself?"
"Must a mutual advantage be considered so terrible?"
"What mutual advantage is there when it's lead to this?" Yusei asked, gazing upon the world in pieces. At the remains of what he wished for his present and future to be.
"Some forces are more powerful than we may wish them to be," Horus reflected, "We can only attempt our strength in the face of adversity. We do not always win."
"So we lost…didn't we?"
"If that's the only present and future you believe in," Horus said. "But you know it doesn't have to be."
Yusei gazed upon the ruins of what was left of his deepest wish. How hard and desperately he'd fought for it. For keeping all Signers together in this city, of being with Aki, ignoring the seriousness of what was calling them, seizing this short time to be happiest he could ever be, as fleeting and precious as it was. Now having resulted in deaths of millions around them: Aki's parents, Carly, Saiga, Mikage, Ushio, Himuro, Yanagi, Rally, Blitz, Nerve, Taka, all the children in his old home, Martha… And both him and Aki – also gone. All having given up their lives in the remnants of this broken, immoral, selfish wish. Leaving six of their friends to face the horror of this fallout. To live – how? After all of this?
"Is that still what you want?" Horus asked distantly.
Yusei clenched his fists and his teeth. Shaking. They all had to come back. Everyone had to come back, all of this had to be repaired in any way possible. The rest…it just…it just didn't matter. It couldn't matter. Not in the face of this – a post-nuclear wasteland.
The WRPG image of them all together, staying in Neo Domino together, growing older here, of Aki sleeping peacefully in his arms. He'd held it tightly cradled to his heart. Slowly, he'd opened his arms and let the image of his deepest, most hopeless wish go, letting it shatter into pieces.
"No…" Yusei breathed out, defeated at last. "No. Not this. Never this." How could it EVER be THIS?
"Then the choice is yours once more. You are in control of your destiny. Choose yours – and all of theirs."
Yusei buried his face in his hands. He felt exhaustion and the weight of it all spread through the fibers of his soul. There was no escaping it. The responsibility threatened to suffocate him and he didn't know how or if he could continue being strong enough for this. "I'm tired…I'm tired of having to choose."
"They will help you," Horus said softly. "And I will help you. You will not be alone."
"How?" Yusei asked, voice barely above a whisper. Tears would not come. He lowered his hands.
"The fragments of the future that you've seen," Horus said. "It's the closest to this stream. It will put you all where you could've been, had there been no involvement from myself or any of my companions. If we didn't intervene in your destiny. All your friends and the Crimson Dragon – together, all will need to push towards this future – but they will need a beacon to guide them to this path. You have to hold it, clearly. Imagine it. See it. And together all of you will go there. But you will need to hurry."
Yusei nodded. Then something occurred to him: "Will we remember? What happened here?"
"Did you remember meeting Mutou Yugi before?" Horus suddenly asked. At the sad shock on Yusei's face, Horus nodded. "Yes. You've even battled a common enemy together alongside another ally. But that wasn't part of this stream."
"How!? When?" And as Horus was about to answer, Yusei shouted desperately: "So we won't remember? None of us!? None of this!? No!"
"Remembering what's transpired will change the path of that destiny," Horus said. "It will not give you the future that you must bring. If you remembered – you'd try to change it to fit what you've known."
"No! No! I…I promise. That I wouldn't do that, that I wouldn't try, I'd just, I'd-"
"I'm sorry," Horus shook his head.
"No!" Spiral. Spiral down. It was impossible. It couldn't be done. He couldn't accept this, he couldn't, he wouldn't, no, no-
Having never encountered this destiny.
Having never fought alongside his friends in these battles.
Having never loved Aki.
And simply agreeing to let them all go?
The only one to stay back?
No, no, no, no, NO. NO. NO!
"Breathe," Horus said. "Focus."
He was beginning to crumble, his soul shattering into pieces and joining the broken shards of the WRPG photo and none of this was ever going to be different, nothing was ever going to be okay, none of this- NO. NO. NO.
"Focus," Horus placed a firm hand on his shoulder, returning him. His hand squeezed hard and Yusei felt himself solidifying, the firm feeling of ground (what ground?) returning underneath his feet. "Breathe. There. There you are."
Yusei was gasping (the air that did not exist). "I…I can't, I'm sorry, I-"
"But you know what needs to be done."
"Can't you see I can't, I don't even know…I…I'm sorry, I-"
"Erase the tragedy of now. Give them all the bright future they deserve," Horus murmured.
Slowly. Impossibly. "I…"
Crushed.
"See it, hold it." Horus removed his hand from his shoulder, no longer needing to keep him centered.
Slowly. Impossibly.
Ruined.
Slowly, Yusei nodded. The tears could not come. There would never be enough tears to release this.
"Hold the vision of it clearly in your heart. Guide them."
Apart. Separate ways.
"Hurry. Hurry now."
Yusei nodded again.
It was over.
"Do not be afraid," Horus promised.
Aki was falling into the depthless pit of forever, caressed by the purple trilling waves of Momentum. The fragments of possibilities and of past and of future surrounded her like shards of a broken mirror. Each shard revealed infinite paths of reality, of all that-
(is/was/should/could)
-have been.
Some particles were blurry, as if further away. Others were bright and vivid. Others entirely solid gray. But when they grazed her, she'd glimpse into what they carried.
She saw-
(The opaque gray) Zero Reverse never happened. Satellite never split off. The destiny of the Signers never manifested. Her psychic powers never appeared, she never had a fallout with her parents, was never found by Divine. Jack's, Crow's, Yusei's parents were all well and raised their children in the city. They never encountered Rua and Ruka. Yusei, Aki, Crow, and Jack ended up studying at the Duel Academy – different classes and Jack a year ahead. They never interacted, never became friends. Jack was popular and always surrounded by many, Aki had a small group of dedicated friends, Crow was frequently skipping classes outside of duels and mingling with other hoodlums in the courtyard, Yusei mostly kept to himself and buried himself in science, mathematics and applied engineering classes. They were all happy. Yusei's hand accidentally grazed hers when he was reaching for a drink in the cafeteria. A jolt of electricity. Their eyes met and she saw all that is/was/should've/could've been and-
(The vivid) The Signer marks branded them and her psychic powers manifested, destroying relationship with her parents. She ran away and joined Divine's psychic duellists. But that day where she summoned Black Rose Dragon on the street and scared everyone but him - Yusei never appeared. He, Himuro, Saiga and Yanagi stayed back talking longer with Jack, then he dueled Himuro. After causing mayhem, she returned that evening to Divine and he hugged her tightly; intimately. She stood idly by Divine's side, looking elsewhere while he conducted his experiments. At the Fortune Cup, Yusei and Aki acknowledged each other's existence for the first time during their semi-finals duel. They'd battled, the Signer marks flared and their dragons responded to one another, but she (mostly) guarded herself against him and stood unwavering in her dedication to Arcadia. They'd only just met so any of his attempts to understand her rang shallow. And when she lost the duel, she'd let Divine (who was 27 years old) comfort her and kiss her (when she was 15) for the first time. And still that night, before Divine had come to see her again (and to rape her), she lay in bed and studied the mark of the Crimson Dragon on her forearm and she absently thought to that mysterious blue-eyed duelist who also had a similar mark and for a brief moment she saw a glimpse of what is/was/should've/could've been and she screamed and-
(The blurry) The five Signers of the Crimson Dragon fought side-by-side: Yusei, Rua, Ruka, Jack and Crow. They competed in the Fortune Cup, fought against the Dark Signers. Carly never went to Arcadia building to try investigating psychic duelists, never been killed by Divine or turned to a Dark Signer. Divine continued operating in the shadows, still killed Misty's brother. Jack and Yusei fought against Dark Signer Kiryu together and then all Signers defeated Rex Godwin. Bruno appeared to help, Jack, Yusei and Crow entered the WRPGs and won. Bruno perished, Yusei defeated Z-ONE and destruction by Arc Cradle was stopped. Some months after, Jack and Carly left Neo Domino together to pursue a life together, Crow left to join other dueling leagues, Rua and Ruka joined their parents in London, Yusei stayed back as a new director at Momentum. Later, he vacationed in the south of France and on the train across the beautiful countryside he'd glanced lovingly at his beautiful blonde companion and through her striking green eyes Aki saw a shadow of what is/was/should've/could've been and-
(The vivid) At the hospital, after defeating Set for the first time at the warehouse, when the paramedics took Yusei away, they accidentally ripped the Eye of Horus necklace. Its protection was gone. While Aki had been unconscious, the venomous presence of Set floated and immediately latched to a tiny disappearing light it could grab onto: Yusei. Appearing as a Dark Signer, he'd left the hospital soon after with both Egyptian God cards in his possession. While working with the senator on the reactor, he taunted the Signers, got Jack and Ruka to join him, forced a kiss on Aki. His body wasted away quickly. They'd battled in the end, other Signers shut down the Freedom Forward reactor, and she managed to free both Yusei and Horus in the last but the Momentum Tower had exploded again, preventing all that is/was/should've/could've been, drowning their screams and-
-A soul falling through the grains of infinity.
(The blurry) The five Signers of the Crimson Dragon fought alongside one another: Yusei, Rua, Ruka, Jack and Aki. They competed in the Fortune Cup, fought against the Dark Signers, defeated Rex Godwin, Aki entered the WRPGs with Yusei and Jack, then Bruno appeared. Her motorcycle skills improved rapidly with them by her side and they were winning quickly and easily; the three of their duel decks complemented each others' strategies. When they won the WRGPs, the three of them held up the trophy, and Yusei had smiled at her and only her, and after the photos in the happy delirium of it all she'd summoned the courage that never thought she'd possessed and she kissed him. They'd defeated Z-ONE, Bruno perished, Arc Cradle was stopped. After the city rebuilt, Jack left Neo Domino to continue growing as a champion, Rua and Ruka joined their parents in London, Aki stayed and studied medicine in Neo Domino while Yusei became a director at Momentum. In her second year of studies she and Yusei had moved in together in a small but cozy condo at the Tops and, falling asleep in his arms one night, she reflected on all that is/was/should've/could've been and-
-Falling.
(The blurry) The five Signers of the Crimson Dragon were chosen: Rua, Ruka, Jack, Crow and Aki. Crow ran out to see the Black Rose Witch that fateful day, his Signer mark reacting to hers. The two of them battled at the semi-finals of the Fortune Cup. He'd tried talking to her, reaching her. He saw through her pain. He was a nice man, someone who'd be good for her, someone she could be with and-
-Falling.
(The total gray) The six Signers of the Crimson Dragon stayed permanently in Neo Domino as the city rebuilt after the Arc Cradle incident. Set revealed himself soon after, beginning a new path of destruction, and Horus awoke quickly with Team 5D's help and-
-And falling.
(The vivid) Z-ONE won the duel and Yusei's screams were joined by other Signers', perishing as Arc Cradle crumbled into Neo Domino and-
-Falling still.
(The blurry) After Dark Signer Kiryu's devastating death and vulnerable duel with Rutger – as the bridge exploded and Yusei plummeted into the crater of light, he'd wished desperately not to die. The darkness festered deep and listened hungrily, bringing him back as a Dark Signer, and-
-Falling forever.
(The vivid) Using the power of Crimson Dragon, Yusei went back in time to get Stardust Dragon back and battled Paradox alongside with Yugi Mutou and Judai Yuki. Upon his return, they'd went to Arc Cradle, Bruno perished, Yusei fought Z-ONE, Arc Cradle was destroyed. As they began rebuilding the city, in those months: Yusei became director at Momentum, Crow tried a stint at Public Security, Jack dueled, Rua and Ruka and Aki were busy with their schoolwork. A heartbroken goodbye at Poppo Time garage (never to be). Many years later, Jack reigned as King yet again, Crow was a top duelist, Rua (a rising and accomplished Duel Rider) and Ruka in their senior years at London's top university, and Aki a physician in Germany. And she held Team 5D's photo from the WRGPs and caressed it, remembering all that is/was/should've/could've been and-
-Lost. Forever.
A hand grabbed hers, suspending her infinite descent.
Aki looked up at the shadowy figure with wild hair that looked like Atem or Yusei or Osiris…or someone else entirely, all in one, perhaps it was all of them – or neither.
"Because you've helped…as late as that was…you will be granted a gift. A gift for the future that you're about to receive," the figure said.
Her eyes blurred with infinite fragments of realities – past, present, future, the possible and the impossible – and what she'd glimpsed at was but a drop in the ocean of it all. "Which…future?" she attempted in a soundless, defeated voice. Please. Let it be the one where Zero Reverse never happens…where everyone has their families…the one where I don't have powers…the one where we stay back and fight Set again…or the one where I don't exist-
"Not of your choice. But not without your consequence. The last one you've seen."
All Signers apart, successful and pursuing their own bright dreams. That's the one…? After all this? After all they've been through? "Must it have a terrible ending?"
"Terrible for whom? For you?"
She couldn't answer.
"Unlike others - you will remember. That's the gift. The gift of memory."
"Gift or punishment?"
"You will decide that. But you must not let your past knowledge interfere with the future your loved ones deserve. Do not destroy it for them. Let them live it. That's my warning."
"I promise," she whispered.
And the figure pulled her up into the blinding white light.
"…sei! Yusei! YUSEI! WAKE UP!"
Yusei jolted awake as if he'd been electroshocked. Pale faces of Jack, Rua, Ruka, Kiryu, Sherry – all of them in a circle around him – staring down at him. Every single one of them looked badly scared. And for good reason-
Sitting up slowly, Yusei saw what they were seeing. The massive, coiled body of the Crimson Dragon was protecting them but through it the destructive nuclear wave was ripping through the city, leaving only ruins behind its frozen fire. Within the 1000km radius the eight of them were the only survivors; watching their world end as if from inside a red snow globe.
Just two metres away, Crow was helping Aki up. She was still as frail and gaunt and injured as before.
Her haunted eyes found Yusei's. Her lips moved, trying to formulate words.
"Hurry," Bruno's soft voice. He was by his side. He extended a hand to him.
Pushing back a sickening jolt of fear, panic and uncertainty – and remembering what was entrusted to him - Yusei accepted not-real-Bruno's hand and felt its inhuman strength pulling him up to his feet. His vision was swimming and blurry in his right eye, he was intensely nauseous, he knew he was injured and bleeding in a bunch of places, but it couldn't matter now.
"Yusei, Aki…Bruno?" Jack uttered, his always confident voice wavering. He looked ill, his skin green and slick with sweat. He was clasping Carly's broken glasses that he'd hung at his collarbone. "You're all here?"
"Just appeared?" Crow added, holding up Aki. "We're so happy. But…But…" he trailed off, looking to the side of what was unfolding around them, his gray eyes bulging from fear. He was visibly shaking.
Yusei looked away from this broken, irreparable world that they'd fought so hard for. Focused on the people here with him. Looked at them, one by one. And on the alternate, peaceful future he'd seen for them.
"Everyone!" he said quickly and held out his hand in front of him. On his forearm, the mark of the Crimson Dragon blazed brightly than it had ever done before. Calling to Signers and non-Signers alike. "Listen to me. I know what we need to do. I know how to do this. All of us and the Crimson Dragon – we fix this. Together, we fix this. Right now and just like this. Join me."
All of them were joined in this destiny, for one last time. And so he would do this for one last time. Lead them with certainty, never have them doubt him. Never let them see how he was falling apart, how scared and uncertain he was.
He saw their uncertainty, their fear.
Worst of all was the devastating look on Aki's thin, battered face. It threatened to make him question this, to make him want to run to her, to take her from Crow, to hug her tight and hope that someone else figures out how to do this, to hold her tightly and never, ever, ever let go, never accept anything other than this, never-
He tore his eyes away from her and focused on others. Bruno, Jack and Crow were between her and him and at least she wasn't in his direct line of vision (Rua was).
"Please trust me! Everyone!" Yusei shouted and forced a confident smile, concealing that he felt anything but. That he was breaking apart on the inside, that he was screaming. "I've seen that we can do this. So let's go! Help me! Lend me your strength!"
Upon that, Rua immediately put his hand over his, his own mark shining bright. "Okay, Yusei."
Jack added his. "If something can be done…! If you've seen it…"
"I've seen it," Yusei confirmed and looked seriously at him. "And Carly, too. We save her, Jack."
Jack flinched, eyes wide. Then nodded, squeezing his hand hard atop theirs.
"I'm game for anything," Crow exhaled a nervous chuckle and grabbed Aki's hand, adding it together with his own.
Aki's eyes were huge and swimming with tears as she looked at Yusei and him only. He wasn't looking at her. They weren't touching. Did he know? What this meant and where he was pushing them to go? A new beginning but also the end? So many things unsaid, with no time to say, never-
Ruka was hyperventilating in panic, shaking. She kept looking around, seeing all the destruction and death. "It's…everything! Everything! Everyone!"
"Don't look, Ruka," Yusei said softly. "Look at us."
Rua wrapped an arm around his sister, pulling her to them, holding her tight. "We're here together," he said. Jack touched a comforting hand to the top of her hair. She nodded quickly, wiping away her tears, adding her hand in.
Kiryu and Sherry joined in, the former Team Satisfaction teammate immediate to Yusei's left.
Bruno was last, closing in their formation, to his direct right. When he glanced at him, Yusei saw clearly through the glamour he was putting on for the rest of his friends.
Aki saw through it, too.
"Let's go now!" Yusei shouted. He held the vision of their future in his mind, clear as day. And retreated to it, his eyes clouding over.
The marks disappeared from the other Signers and the complete burning image of the dragon was now on his back. It blazed fiercely, the crimson glow turning to white.
The Crimson Dragon let out an earth-shattering bellow and began ascending high to the gray smoking sky. Their circle remained protected from the nuclear fallout, held by their bond alone.
Yusei followed the dragon's trajectory with unseeing eyes. The image of Martha, Carly, all their friends, everyone who'd ever been hurt by this broken destiny, everyone back to life, all buildings standing, the blue sky, the green grass…the happiness of them all as they pursued their dreams (and him staying back in New Domino). Pleading for all of them to follow him there. They had to succeed, they HAD to succeed, they HAD to bring everyone back, they HAD to fix this. Together.
The Crimson Dragon hit with its snout what appeared to be the top of the crystal dome and it cracked, revealing through it the bright blue sky, the pillowy-soft clouds. Transparent pieces of it started to fall away, revealing more of the world they were going to. The top of the tallest skyscraper peeling into existence…then another…another…
"Something's happening!" Ruka shouted, pointing to the sky with her free hand. "You see? It's all coming back to normal?"
The others cheered, seeing it too.
More skyscrapers coming into view, now bottom of them in ruins but tops back to where they used to be, illuminated by the bright blue sky. Momentum Tower materializing as if from thin air; sounds of traffic on the distance, the chirping of birds.
Aki looked away from the beautiful vision taking over the broken, rotten reality of now and looked at her friends and at the helper god she'd released. At Yusei who was in a trance, head tilted up.
Tears were permanently running down her face.
"I'm sorry, everyone," she attempted, the weight of the guilt impossible to define, impossible to atone for. "I'm so sorry. For all of this." If only I fought harder, if only I resisted Set more, if only I communicated with all of you better, if only I wasn't so weak, if only I had better control of myself, if only I hadn't hurt you Yusei-
Her words stabbed through Yusei's concentration like knives. He gasped from pain, blinking through his glassy vision, the vividly clear image of their new future suddenly flickering before his eyes; blurring within his heart and his soul.
The Crimson Dragon let out a deafening cry.
Jack a duel champion.
Rua and Ruka in London.
Crow in a dueling league.
Aki in Germany.
Apart. Separate ways.
(To turn away. To run to her now. To grab her.)
Apart.
Separate ways.
"Steady…" Bruno-Horus said quietly, for only him to hear.
"Aki-san…" Ruka said gently, touching a consoling hand to her hip.
"It wasn't all your fault," Crow uttered, glancing at Aki's distressed face. "I messed up a bunch too. A tough destiny. Manipulative enemy. Fucking sucked. Just…try not to do this again, you know?"
Aki half-sobbed, half-snorted at that, rubbing her bandaged hand over her wet face. These words would never be enough to erase all the guilt, never enough to forgive her, but-
Yusei couldn't answer her. He couldn't look at her.
He closed his eyes as they've started to burn.
The peeling pieces of the new world slowing down; hesitating.
"I'm sorry too," Jack blurted out. "I really fucked up. My dream it's… And…and Carly…" He didn't know how to possibly say everything that he'd needed to apologize for, if it was even possible to ever forgive.
"Yeah, well," Crow was the one to speak again. "When we're out of here, bro, I owe you a punch. Let's start with that."
Jack suppressed a sad smirk and lightly shoved his shoulder with his own.
"And I'm sorry!" Rua wailed. "It was so bad!" His sister hugged him.
The Crimson Dragon cried out again, quieter this time, and began to descend.
Yusei breathed out and his head dropped, and just as he was about to stumble, Horus' arm caught him and the protector god's infinite strength held him upright, kept him steady. "Don't look away!" Horus said urgently. "You're almost there!"
Change this…I have to change this…I have to fix this…To bring everyone back…Even if it means…even if it means…
Yusei nodded lightly, feeling more drained than he'd ever felt before, but when he opened his eyes, they were once again clear with the purposeful vision of what needed to be done. He looked up at the Crimson Dragon in the sky, gathered the power of the bonds from all his friends, and blocked all other sight and sound from his awareness.
See it. Hold it. Guide it.
Pushing towards the vivid bright future.
The borders of the new world were now almost upon them, spreading quickly. The Crimson Dragon soared high again, crafting this miracle alongside all of them.
"Everyone! Look!" Ruka exclaimed again, laughing nervously.
"It's all looking much better, huh?" Kiryu commented, wiping sweat from his forehead with a free arm. "So that's the power of your Crimson Dragon?"
"You bet your ass," said Jack.
"Almost done…" Bruno-Horus coached.
"Yusei…" Aki whispered, keeping eyes on him and only him.
Even fewer ruins now; the sight of the horror close to being fully erased. The delightful sounds of life almost deafening around them.
Momentum Tower tall and perfect on the distance, reflecting rays of sunshine.
"I love you guys…all so much…" Rua wept from happiness. "Look at all this!"
Sherry and Ruka began laughing from relief.
"Ugh," Crow groaned. "My fucking arm hurts. Holding up forever here. But it's working, huh? Almost there? Right, Yusei?"
His friend didn't answer, completely unaware of his surroundings. He was gasping, unable to fill his lungs with enough air. The mark of the Crimson Dragon on his back was singeing him almost to the bone. He was at his limit. His eyes dazed and distant with the feverish images of the future they were bringing. Almost there…almost…and…
"So…once this is over. See you guys soon?" Sherry suggested.
"Yeah. Actually - what are we all doing tomorrow?" Rua laughed weakly.
"Seeing all of you losers at Poppo Time, most likely," Jack grumbled, faking his lack of enthusiasm. "But gonna ask Carly first what she wants to do."
"Can we have some pizza?" Ruka suggested.
"I'll bring some beer," Kiryu added. "If I'm invited, that is."
"Obviously. Don't be an idiot," Crow sighed.
"White wine!" Sherry suggested. "Can't say I've tried it with pizza but there is always the first time."
-There.
Yusei exhaled sharply (the vision clouding his eyes, his heart, his soul, his consciousness – escaping with that breath) and dropped his gaze. Dropped his hand from his friends', releasing them. Suddenly seeing only gray, his knees buckled, and he was about to drop to the ground but once again Bruno-Horus' held him up, kept him standing. Waited until his vision cleared. "You're done," the protector god said soothingly.
"Hey…you okay Yusei?" Kiryu stepped in to his side, also offering his shoulder, draping his arm around him.
Yusei breathed out a light chuckle, accepting additional support. "Yeah. Just…very tired."
Bruno stepped back from their formation. Others were shaking their tired arms, still looking around joyously.
"Goodbye," Bruno smiled at him for one last time. Fully Bruno with no trace of Horus to cloud the final farewell. Yusei returned a sad, exhausted smile.
The Crimson Dragon glided back and forth across the sky, its powerful cries quiet and melodic; as if it were singing.
Only a few ruins left now. The border of the new future almost fully upon them.
"It's beautiful…so beautiful!" Ruka exclaimed.
Aki pushed away from Crow and staggered towards Yusei, hugging him tight. He accepted her, burying his face in her matted hair. Breathing her in. Kiryu released him so the two lovers could reunite.
Apart.
Separate ways.
"Yusei…is it done?" she whispered. "Did you do it?"
He nodded, choking back a sob. He was so tired…so tired…he only wanted…only wanted-
Apart.
Separate ways.
Yusei pulled back so he could finally look at her and hold her in this moment.
"How long do we have?" she trembled. Her large, mournful brown eyes bore his reflection.
WRPG photo of Team 5Ds in broken shards on the ground.
Yusei shook his head. He tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
Apart.
Separate ways.
Never to be.
Her hands reached up and framed his face. "I will never stop being sorry for this," she began. "And I promise-"
"I've always loved you, Aki," Yusei said. "And I always will."
And the devastated, heartbroken look in her eyes disappeared alongside with their old world.