//------------------------------// // Chapter 40: Devotion // Story: Yu-Gi-Oh! Equus // by moviemaster8510 //------------------------------// Jenny eventually began to wake up, feeling sore and exhausted. Her weakness only made it harder to fully awaken and realize her surroundings. The room that she was in was shrouded in absolute darkness, blinding her. She tried moving, but found she was spread out and cuffed at her wrists and ankles on a cold, metallic slab suspended vertically in the air, completely immobilizing her. Jenny began to break into hysterics, her claustrophobia kicking in. “Jenny?” asked a voice that calmed Jenny down significantly. She too sounded frightened. “Jenny, is that you?” “Sarah?” asked Jenny. “Thank God, it’s you! Where are you?” “All I know is that you’re left of me.” “Are you chained up like me?” “Unfortunately.” “God, this SUCKS!” “Yes,” answered a sinister voice. “It’s going to really suck.” The lights shot up, and all Jenny and Sarah could figure out was that they were in some sort of barn, as told by the wooden walls and hay-padded ground. Jenny could now see that she and Sarah were suspended about five feet in the air. Suddenly a large ball of green flames appeared and disappeared just as quickly, out of it coming Rae, Kyle, Grant, and Gilda. The latter three stood where they were while Rae approached the two, giggling in the process. “Rae!” shouted Sarah. “Let us go, now!” “You two make a great couple,” said Rae. “Too bad I couldn’t throw your other friend into the mix. I mean, I needed someone to tell you where you are.” “What are you talking about?” asked Jenny, filled with anger. “You kidnapped us just for us to be rescued?” “Not exactly. You see, when Chrysalis captured you two, I left your other friend behind so she can tell Alex or any of the other Stones of Equus card holders to come here and rescue you.” “What a stupid plan! Alex and the others will certainly save us, just you see!” “So insolent.” Rae outstretched her hand at the slab holding Jenny, which began to glow. Green electrical bolts began to form around Jenny’s body, the shocks causing Jenny to shriek in pain. Grant turned his head away in shame while Kyle looked on with anger in his eyes. “JENNY!” cried Sarah. “Yes,” giggled Rae, stopping her magic, “scream all you want. I’ve magically soundproofed the walls so not even a passerby would be able to hear you. Even if they found you…” Gilda flew over to Sarah’s slab and sharpened her talons on an open space of metal. “…my guards will quickly dispose of them. And about Alex rescuing you…” Rae snapped her fingers causing her to disappear and then reappear sitting on the top of Jenny’s slab. “What I told Chrysalis to tell your friend was that you would be kept at the west side of Herrick Lake. I’m not sure if you know the location well, but there is no such barn there like where you are now.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Sarah. “It means that where I’m sending them is a ruse,” answered Rae hopping down from Jenny’s slab to address them both. “Right now, I have Trixie and Chrysalis manning that area. Alex and whomever he brings will go there, expecting to find you, but instead, there will only be them.” “And once they beat them, they’ll find us!” yelled Jenny. “I don’t think so. I mean, who’s to say that they’ll tell you where you really are?” Jenny began to squirm, knowing what Rae was getting at. “If anything, I’ll just send them to another dummy location where they’ll have to duel another one of my minions. We’ll just continue this until they get too tired to carry on, where they’ll then become easy pickings for any of my hunters.” “NO!” yelled Jenny. “YES!” replied Rae in a similar manner. She then turned to Kyle. “I assume you’ll be ready when needed?” she asked him. “Of course,” answered Kyle flatly. “Good.” Rae exited the barn accompanied by Kyle, which from the outside, was set just southeast of the famous Danada House and horse stables which was strangely bereft of life or any kind of activity. Upon leaving, Flim and Flam were standing outside the barn entrance. It was getting to be later in the afternoon. “You can handle it, I presume?” asked Rae to her other guards. “You can count on us, boss!” answered Flim. “Right.” She then vanished in another puff of green flames. “So, Kyle, my-boy,” said Flam, “where will you head off to?” “That’s business only between Rae and I,” he said. Kyle walked to the parking lot where he had a motorcycle, modeled as a black Harley H-D1 with a silver gas tank. Upon mounting it, he clenched his fist and pressed it onto his gas tank. “Rae…” he whispered, a tear rolling down his face. “I’ll save you…” _________________________________________________________________________________________ “And then Tom showed up and took me back here,” sobbed Lisa. Alex, Tom, Reese, Emma, John, Zelda, and the ponies were all gathered around Lisa in the living room as she recounted what happened to her friends. Among those weeping were Fluttershy, Carolyn, and Thomas the latter two sitting on another couch. Alex was seething with rage. Not only did Sarah have nothing to do with this, but he considered her his sister as well. Tom shared his exact sentiments. Tom, having had enough, ran to his room. Upon entering, he went into his closest, tore his jacket off of his hanger, put it on, and grabbed his helmet and D-Pad. He went back downstairs and marched towards the front door. “Tom!” called Alex. “What do you think you’re doing?” “Right now,” grunted Tom, “my sister and friend are both scared and alone, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to sit here and have them wait for someone to help them.” “Don’t you see? This is exactly what they want us to do! If we go in there fuming and angry, they’ll use our cloud of judgment to their advantage.” “I don’t think I need to remind you: your sister just got kidnapped! I would think you’d care enough to act on that!” “I am, but I’m not going to do it at the cost of both of our well-being. What do you think would be better for her? Seeing you lose at the hands of your enemy a half hour from now, or going in more calmly hours from now where you’ll be more rational in your decisions, and more than likely save her?” “I may not have a horse in this race, pardon the pun,” spoke in Reese, “as I’m guilty of what Tom is feeling as well, but Alex is right. If we go in hot and bothered, we’ll dismantle our own strategies even before the enemies can. I say use this time to prepare for what could be the hardest battle of any one of your lives.” Tom stood at the door, his hand on the knob, trying to decide whether to ignore Alex and Reese and head out, or let go and concur with Reese. Before he could react, there was a knock at the door. Tom turned the knob and flew the door open, shocking Kyle, who stood on the other side. The quickly swung door caused Kyle to stagger back a few feet. “Oh wow,” said Tom, his voice a mix of anger and relief. Tom cracked his fists as he began to approach Kyle. “Wait!” yelled Kyle. “I’m not that Kyle anymore! This is all a big misunderstanding!” “What’s going on?” asked Reese, stepping outside. Upon seeing Kyle, Reese had mentally transformed into a bull with its sight on a red curtain. Reese lunged after Kyle, who did his best to evade Reese’s attacks. “Reese!” yelled Kyle. “Please, listen to me!” “The only thing I want to hear out of your mouth is you gargling your own blood!” Kyle finally managed to tackled Kyle to the ground and pin his body with his legs. Kyle put his forearms at his face, trying with all his might to block Reese’s punches, but to no avail. Twilight and her friends watched in horror as Reese wailed on Kyle’s head. “Reese!” yelled Kyle. “Hear me out!” “Let’s see how you like your skull smashed.” Reese then began to launch a heavy punch towards Kyle’s forehead.” “IT’S A TRAP!” yelled Kyle, the randomness of which brought his attacker’s hand to a halt. Kyle used this confusion to roll him and Reese over. Now, Reese was being pinned by Kyle. “I’m not here to hurt you! I need to tell you something very important.” “Like I’ll listen to the likes of you,” grunted Reese. “I’m serious! Chrysalis lied to you. Jenny and Sarah aren’t–” Kyle felt a force kick him in the ribs, knocking him off of Reese, who turned to see that it was Emma. Reese both got up and stood in offensive stances while Kyle managed to stand back up. “Hold it!” yelled the voice of Twilight. Twilight walked in between Reese and Emma, her constructed duel disk on her left wrist. “If you’re going to try and get to my friends, you’re going to have to go through me first.” “Listen Twilight Sparkle,” said Kyle, “I have no intention, nor did I have any intentions of hurting your friends.” “Likely story.” “I know what I did at the Riverwalk Tournament, but that wasn’t me!” “What are you talking about? Do you take me for an idiot? Oh, that’s right, everyone’s a ‘novice’ in your eyes.” “Twilight, let me explain–” “Shut up! You have no right to be here.” Kyle couldn’t take it. If he was going to get through to anyone, he had no choice. “Fine,” yelled Kyle. “If you won’t listen, I’ll make you listen.” Kyle’s arm went alight in flames, his D-Pad appearing from it. Twilight unsheathed her duel disk. Both Twilight and Kyle drew five cards from their decks. “DUEL!” they yelled. Kyle vs. Twilight Kyle’s Turn: Kyle activates Card Destruction, having both him and his opponent discard their hands and draw cards from their decks equal to the amount that they discarded. Kyle sets one monster. Kyle places two cards face down and ends his turn. Status: Hand-2 Life-4000 Monsters-1 Face Down Cards-2 *************************************************** There’s no doubt that he discarded a bunch of monsters that he can easily be summoned through Rekindling, thought Twilight. If I dismantle his strategy, he’s sunk. “Everyone,” said Kyle, “you don’t understand. Rae is leading you right into a trap.” “And why should I believe you, you monster?” yelled Twilight. “Why shouldn’t you believe me? I’m telling you that your enemy, Rae, is setting a ruse under the guise that you’ll be saving Sarah and her friend. Why would I disagree with someone you say is supposedly my ally? I thought you’d be smart enough to figure that out.” Alex and Reese angrily stared daggers at Kyle. “If you were smart enough,” seethed Twilight, “you’d have never come here!” *************************************************** Twilight’s Turn: Twilight summons Amores of Prophecy (ATK: 600 DEF: 2000). Twilight activates Amores of Prophecy’s effect. By revealing a Spellbook card in her hand, she can special summon a level 4 or lower Spellcaster-type monster from her hand, choosing Temperance of Prophecy (ATK: 1000 DEF: 1000). Twilight activates Tannhäuser Gate, making two monsters with 1000 or less ATK and the same type that she controls have their levels become equal to their combined levels, choosing Amores of Prophecy and Temperance of Prophecy (3 + 3 = 6) (Lvl.: 3 -> 6) (Lvl.: 3 -> 6). Twilight overlays Amores of Prophecy and Temperance of Prophecy to xyz summon Magi Magi Magician Gal (ATK: 2400 DEF: 2000). Twilight activates Magi Magi Magician Gal’s effect. By detaching one xyz material from it and banishing a card in her hand, she can activate one of two effects. She chooses the latter, allowing her to special summon a monster from her opponent’s graveyard, choosing Kyle’s Laval Lancelord (ATK: 2100 DEF: 200). Twilight attacks Kyle’s face down monster with Laval Lancelord, which is a Flamvell Baby (ATK: 800 DEF: 200). Twilight then attacks Kyle directly with Magi Magi Magician Gal, but Kyle activates Firewall, banishing a Pyro-type monster in his graveyard to negate the direct attack. Twilight places one card face down and ends her turn. Status: Hand-1 Life-4000 Monsters-2 Face Down Cards-1 *************************************************** “How about that?” asked Twilight, an enraged smile on her face, “Smart enough for you?” “If you’ll continue fighting,” said Reese, “than so shall I! I will not stop until my voice is heard.” *************************************************** Kyle’s Turn: During Kyle’s standby phase, Kyle must pay 500 life points to keep Firewall on the field or destroy it. Kyle destroys Firewall. Kyle activates Graceful Charity, drawing three cards and discarding two. Next, he activates Monster Reborn, special summoning Laval Judgment Lord (ATK: 2700 DEF: 1800). Kyle activates Laval Judgment Lord’s effect. By banishing a Laval monster in his graveyard, he can inflict 1000 points of damage to his opponent. Twilight’s Life Points: 4000 -> 3000 Kyle then activates Xyz Plant, which becomes a monster with the same level as a monster he controls (Lvl.: 7). Kyle overlays Laval Judgment Lord and Xyz Plant to xyz summon Olivine Dragon (ATK: 3000 DEF: 2500). Kyle attacks Magi Magi Magician Gal with Olivine Dragon, but Twilight activates Waboku, preventing Magi Magi Magician Gal’s destruction by battle and reducing the battle damage to 0. Kyle ends his turn. Status: Hand-1 Life-4000 Monsters-1 Face Down Cards-1 *************************************************** “I’m not letting you get the better of me!” yelled Twilight. “My friends and I will beat you, Rae, and anyone else that dares to attack us.” *************************************************** Twilight’s Turn: Twilight activates Magi Magi Magician Gal’s effect, detaching its last xyz material and banishing a card in her hand to activate its first effect to take control of an opponent’s monster until the end phase, choosing Olivine Dragon. ================================================================================ "Twilight!" yelled Kyle, "No!" It was too late. As soon as Olivine Dragon came to Twilight's side, she was covered in green sparks that sent painful shocks through her body. "Twilight!" yelled Alex. "I'll be fine," Twilight grunted through the pain. "I'll beat him." ================================================================================ Twilight attacks Kyle directly with Olivine Dragon, but Kyle activates Defense Draw, reducing the battle damage to 0 and allowing him to draw one card. Twilight attacks Kyle directly with Magi Magi Magician Girl. Kyle's Life Points: 4000 -> 1600 During the end phase Olivine Dragon returns to Kyle’s side of the field. ================================================================================ The sparks left Twilight, giving her a moment to breathe. ================================================================================ Twilight places one card face down and ends her turn. Status: Hand-0 Life-3000 Monsters-2 Face Down Cards-1 *************************************************** “Dammit, Twilight,” grunted Kyle. “I want to help you. You don’t even know why I did all of this in the first place!” “I can think of a few good reasons,” spoke Tom. “I’m sorry!” cried Kyle. “I never wanted any of this. I just want to save Rae.” “You…” wondered Twilight angrily, “want to save that evil woman?” “You don’t understand,” yelled Kyle. “Rae was never like that. She saved me from my personal hell, and I need to return the favor.” “What does that mean? Are you saying you know her?” “Yes!” “How so?” “She’s my mother!!” Twilight and everyone else gasped at this revelation. “Your… mother?” asked Twilight. “More specifically, my foster mother. But I love her like any child loves their mother!” Twilight glanced at Applejack, trying to determine whether Kyle was lying or not. Applejack only shrugged with a nervous and confused look on her face. “In fact, I never knew my real parents. My entire childhood was spent going from foster parent to foster parent,” explained Kyle. “Every time I thought I would find a home where I’d be loved, but would soon find myself back for adoption. My last foster family even sent me to the private academy where Reese and Emma went to after one of their biological children framed me for a broken china plate.” Kyle pulled back the collar of his shirt and showed him a scar along the left side of his neck. Everyone, including Twilight and Kyle, were shocked at the sight of it. “You see that? That’s where my ‘father’ choked me with his belt as punishment.” Twilight, for as much as she hated Kyle for what he had done, couldn’t deny that maiming a child like that was unforgivable. “Despite being sent away again, I thought I had found the affection that I had dreamed of at the academy. I still fondly remember the times Reese and I spent as tag-team partners.” “Don’t give me that!” scolded Reese angrily. “You told me yourself that you used me to look better.” “I was angry! Your sister–” “Don’t bring her into this! She didn’t do anything wrong!” “No…” admitted Emma, causing everyone to turn heads. “I did do something. I mean, all, I did was take some of his cards as a prank that day! It was harmless, really.” Reese couldn’t believe this. He just learned two things about his supposed nemesis that completely changed his view of him. “I realize that now,” replied Kyle, “but seeing how much you preferred Reese over me, I thought it was an attack, just like my foster-brother did to me that literally scarred me for life. In my rage-induced madness, I attacked Emma, and I forsook my friendship with Reese, even going as far as burning up his deck as a way of ‘getting even’ with the both of you. “Now that I stand before you, as I am, I just want to say from the bottom of my heart that I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused you.” Reese didn’t know what to say. Before today, he assumed that Kyle was merely an evil and manipulative child as opposed to the tortured soul that just bared his soul for him. "What does this story have to do with Rae?” asked Alex. “After my final confrontation with Reese and Emma, word got out over what I had done, and as a result, I wasn’t allowed back into another orphanage. I wandered all over the country, making my earnings dueling bikers in roadside bars, unwitting kids in city streets. Needless to say, it was Hell all over again. However, that’s when I met her. “Rae, as you may have figured from Zelda’s story, was a woman of affluence and power. Many people knew her, so it was a shock to the public to see such an important woman such as her come to duel someone as lowly as I.” _________________________________________________________________________________________ ................................................................................................................................................................ _________________________________________________________________________________________ Cont. from Rae vs. Kyle Cont. from Rae’s Turn: Rae attacks Kyle directly with Blue Eyes Toon Dragon (ATK: 3000 DEF: 2500). Kyle’s Life Points: 1600 -> 0 Rae wins. _________________________________________________________________________________________ ................................................................................................................................................................ _________________________________________________________________________________________ “Despite losing, she did something to me that shocked me to the core: she offered me a home. Her only reason that she told me was that ‘she saw a lot of potential in me.’ “Upon being taken in, she began to rigorously train me in the art of dueling. _________________________________________________________________________________________ ................................................................................................................................................................ _________________________________________________________________________________________ Rae declared her final attack on Kyle in a large, circular, white room. Kyle fell back headfirst from the direct attack from Rae’s monsters that depleted all of his life points yet again. Kyle rolled onto his back to see Rae kneeling above him, offering her helping hand. Kyle took it, allowing Rae to pull him onto his feet. She then pulled him into her bosom, laying her arms across her back. Kyle wrapped his own arms around her, putting his hands on her lower back, smiling happily like a young child being cradled by their mother. _________________________________________________________________________________________ ................................................................................................................................................................ _________________________________________________________________________________________ “Not only that, she was the sweetest and most compassionate woman I had ever met. It was through her training and her unconditional love for me that eventually won me over. With her around, I felt stronger than I ever felt like I could. “Years later, earlier last fall, Rae came home from a jog on the beach. She began to exhibit strange behavior. Her cheerful and kind behavior became more sinister and erratic. On top of that, she began using powers that were completely unnatural to a human. One day, I confronted her about it. All that she told me was that she “acquired them” when she went jogging. I continued to question here. Where was she jogging? What happened? “Apparently, she didn’t like it. She appeared right before me and placed her hand over my face. I then felt this horrible feeling pulse though my body. It felt like I was back at the academy, filled with that rage once again, only this time, it never left. When she was finished, she asked me if I would still be with her. I told her that I would. “As the months grew on I learned more and more of her plan and prepared for it: Equestria, the Stone of Equus, everything, going along with it as she told me. And then I met Gilda, Trixie, and the others who Rae claimed had 'issues' with their world. Soon after, Rae’s first extraction of the Stones of Equus hadn’t gone as planned, only stealing some of the cards while the rest fell into your hands. Even in my rage-induced state, it pained me inside to see her so angry. “When she sent me out during the competition, I had failed to capture Alex’s Jade Wyvern. In order to assure that I didn’t fail next time, she had transferred even more of her powers into me, making me even more angry and powerful, enough to summon Ultra Olivine Tri-Dragon the next day. However, the Elements of Harmony had defeated me, not only defeating the darkness in my heart from the night before, but when she first did it months ago. “After my failure, Rae started to ignore me more and more. Finally realizing that she had become a monster, I broke away from her to assist you, which is where I stand now.” Everyone was stunned, their mouths either slightly or completely open in shock. “Whatever you saw in me those couple of days,” told Kyle, “and whatever I had done in the past, I want to say I’m sorry. I truly am. If only you could find it in your heart to forgive me and help me save my mother. It would mean the world to me if you did.” Kyle’s face looked genuinely longing for redemption. Pinkie Pie, as peppy as ever, gave Kyle a smile and nodded at him, followed by Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy. Reese however was the one to break the silence. “I forgive you,” he sighed, slightly breaking a smile. Kyle then did something that no one had seen from him; he gave an honestly happy smile, lowering his left arm at his side. “I guess I don’t see the point in continuing this duel,” Kyle stated, about to put his hand over his deck. “Hold on!” yelled Twilight. “There’s no way I’m letting a duel of mine go unfinished this time. Make your move, Kyle! I want to see the end of this.” Kyle moved his left arm back up, placing his fingers on his deck. “If you want,” said Kyle. *************************************************** Kyle’s Turn: Kyle activates Lightning Vortex, discarding one card to destroy all face up monsters that Twilight controls. Next, he activates Mystical Space Typhoon, destroying Twilight’s face down card. Kyle attacks Twilight directly with Olivine Dragon. Twilight’s Life Points: 3000 -> 0 Kyle wins. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Twilight expected a very painful hit from the attack, but found that it was more of an uncomfortably warm wind than anything. The physical blast of the attack was still enough to knock Twilight down on her stomach. Twilight stared at the ground, upset with her loss. A shadow loomed over her. Upon looking, up she saw Kyle kneeling slightly down, offering a helping hand. Twilight placed her hoof with full confidence in Kyle’s hand, allowing him to pull her up. Kyle didn’t stop there, pulling her up onto her hind legs and giving her a hug. “Thanks for hearing me out,” Kyle whispered in her ear. Twilight, savored the moment, putting her own arms around Kyle as well. “Hey,” interrupted Tom, somewhat irate. “I hate to break up the happy huggy time, but my sister and friend are still locked up and need help.”