Yu-gi-oh 5ds my story 19

Lezar (calling): Professor! Hello! It's me, Lezar. I know you're in here. We need your help with the next duel.
(The room is entirely dark, the only light streaming from a vertically-shuttered window set high in the wall.)
Lezar: You ever think about redecorating? Maybe some... track lighting?
(The Professor, the competitor in the Chinese robe, steps out of the darkness and stops just on the other side of the illumination from the window)
Professor: The darkness helps, with my preparation. And as a faithful servant of Iliaster, I know the darkness can only be illuminated by the Dragon Star. How may I be of service?
Lezar: I'm so glad that you asked. Director Goodwin needs your hypnotic powers to tap into the mind of a possible Signer. He thanks you for throwing your first duel to end up in the Losers' Bracket. But now he needs you to perform.
(Close-up on the Professor's shadowed face as he speaks)
Professor: Whom shall I duel?


(The picture of Hunter on the tournament bracket is faded out. Yusei is walking back to the stadium; the crowd is cheering)

Yanagi: Yusei beat Shira!
Tanner: Yeah! Looks like he's movin' on to the semifinals!
Dex: Oh man! I wish *I* could be down there and duel him!
Leo: He's good, but Yusei learned his best moves from yours truly!
Cortez: Oh? And where were *those* moves when you lost in the first round?
(Leo deflates immediately, <2:00> then stands up smugly)
Leo: Huh? Hmhmhm! Wait-- I was playing as you, which means that *you* lost! As far as the millions of people watching (sic), I didn't lose a thing!
(Leo laughs and Luna pounds her fists on his back)
Luna: That's the last time you duel as me!!
Announcer: We have a special announcement!
Both: Huh?
Announcer: YES! The rumors you heard are true! Listen up, first-round-losers, don't head for the exits just yet! (Hunter is listening, nonplussed) Rex Goodwin, our master of ceremonies, has set up a Losers' Bracket for the first round! That means if you lost, grab your deck, because you might get a second chance to duel again!
(The announcer is on the Sphere, and four of the holographic screens, two on either side, show the four losers: Luna, Ransborg, Hunter, and the Professor)
Leo: All right! My Fortune Cup's not over yet!!
Dex: Um, technically...
Leo: Save your 'technically' for the blogs, Dex!
Luna: Ah, what Dex means is *my* name is up there...?
Leo: Ugh!

(Yusei, now off the track with his runner, turns and looks up at the tower)
Yusei (think): What're you up to, Goodwin? You're not the type who *gives* second chances, unless you're going to *get* something out of it!
(Yusei turns and walks away, his helmet under an arm)

<3:00>
(Leo is humming to himself as he takes a last look through his deck)
Leo: Now just you watch-- I'm gonna win for certain this time, Luna! Hahaha! Um, I need your hair braids, though, okay?
Luna: Ugh! Get your *own*!
Leo: *Come on*, Luna...!
(The lights go out, startling both)
Luna: Huh?
Announcer: Now! Take your seats! We're about to give two of these duelists another opportunity! First we drew two *very* lucky players -- and I assure you it was random, okay? -- and first up is.... everyone's favorite green-haired girl! She's fast! She's feisty! And she *has* to be home before her bedtime! Give it up for the next generation of dueling superstars, ladies and gentlemen I present to you, miss Luna!
(Leo jumps up and cheers, but a followspot hits Luna, who stayed in her chair, like a beam of light from above)
Luna: Huh?


(No sooner has Yusei reached the backstage waiting room than he sees Luna onscreen, stuck in the beam of light)
Yusei: Luna's *dueling*?
Greiger: I'm guessing they finally got the right kid for the match, huh? You know, by the end of the duel *we* had, I didn't think the boy was half-bad. I can't wait to see what his sister's got.
(Yusei watches Greiger walk to a seat, silent)

(Luna still hasn't moved)
Luna: I can't *duel*!
Tanner: Can't duel? But Luna, is was *your name* on that invitation! You belong here!
Leo: But *I'm* her, she can't go out there and duel!
Cortez: Leo, I'm afraid that the jig is up, young man. The crowd wants your sister!
(The crowd starts chanting 'Luna! Luna!')
Luna: I can't...! You guys don't understand...! Something strange happens to me whenever I duel...
Leo: Ugh, not again! Are you gonna start that stuff about *duel spirits*?! You're getting a little too old to play make-believe!
Luna: It's *not* make-believe, and if the only way to prove it is by going out there--
Leo: Huh?!
Luna: -- well then I guess I'll have to go out there and duel.
Leo: Okay. But if you win, *I* get to be you for the *next* round!
Luna (sarcastic): Wow, thanks for your support, Leo.
(Luna picks up her little pink duel disk and stands; the crowd cheers; she looks worriedly at her feet and walks past Tanner and Yanagi to the aisle)
Yanagi: Good luck, Luna! (to Leo) Now Leo, what's this about your sister hearing duel spirits?
Leo: Oh, it's *nothing!*
Yanagi: You sure?
Leo: Mmmhmm. She *always* does this. <5:00> We'll be dueling and then she's all like this-- (puts on an even squeakier voice) 'I feel funny! Hear that? It's duel spirits!' (whisper) Psst, she's just afraid I'll beat her!
Tanner: I've seen some weird stuff, and--
Leo: Oh, *come on!* If that were true, then-- well, I dunno, but, Luna'd be a whole lot more important than she is!
Cortez: I've heard about the duel spirits before.
Leo: Huh? You're not serious, right?
Cortez: I know so, cause I had a dream about seeing a half dragon - half fairy.

(Luna walks to the arena in her beam of light, shoulders hunched and fearful)

(Fade to Jack, watching. He turns to Goodwin, sitting beside him on the couch)
Jack: So tell me why you think *she's* a Signer, Goodwin.
Goodwin: Well. For starters, the D-Tector picked her out of the crowd.
(Holoscreen appears with Luna in her disguise sitting with Dex and Yanagi)
Goodwin: Trust me, she's a lot more important than anyone knows, even her own brother. Once she duels the Professor, then we'll know without a doubt. Let's see if Zigzix is ready to monitor her.
(He snaps his fingers; a holoscreen appears; at the moment Zigzix just happens to be shaking his booty right at the camera as he sings)
Zigzix: Goin' fast, makes me feel a-live, my heart beats-- (turns his head) huh? Oh, Director! Zigzix reporting for duty, sir! (holds up D-Tector) *Just look at this!* If the needle exceeds this yellow section, then there's no doubt our little Luna is a Signer!
(He starts spinning with excitement; we can only see his torso, not his head)
Zigzix: More Signers mean more energy! More energy means more Ener- D!! (on "D", he is suddenly nose-to-nose with the camera) And then we'll have enough to-- (Goodwin clicks it off)
Goodwin: He *really* needs to get out more. (he pulls up a holographic file) <6:00> Now, there's another reason that we've been studying this little girl. Eight years ago, she was admitted to a special hospital, saying that she could hear duel spirit voices.
(He sends the screen over to Jack's side of the couch, and several more files and pictures pop up along with it)
Jack: So she has quite the imagination.
Goodwin: It's a little more complicated than that.
(Jack quickly skims slides 1 and 2. For full transcripts of these slides, please see the Appendices. One shows a picture of Luna as a young girl smiling from a comfy hospital bed. Another shows Luna sitting up in bed and Leo standing beside her; from the look on her face, he just gave her the teddy bear she's holding.)
Goodwin: Jack, she was a dueling prodigy and beating our greatest professionals at the age of three!
(Close-in on a picture with the slides; young Luna in a pink jacket and cream skirt lies unconscious on the ground, as young Leo in a blue jacket and black shorts, a blonde woman with an orange sweater and white skirt, and a man in a black suit gather around her)
Goodwin: Then one day, she collapsed during a duel and fell into a coma. No one knows why, not even the best doctors. In fact, there was only one person who believed she'd wake up again, and that was her twin brother, Leo.
(he brings up a holo-image of Leo, sitting between Yanagi and Dex in the stands; then, Slide 3, again alongside the image of Luna smiling up at the camera from her hospital bed.)
Goodwin: And then, for no apparent reason, she woke up healthy a month later.
Jack: That's a great movie of the week, Goodwin, but who *cares*?
Lezar: *You* should care, Mister Atlas. What got our attention was what she said when she woke up. She said that she wasn't asleep. (close-in of slide 4) She said she spent that entire month in the Duel Monsters Spirit World.
Jack: And I'm a Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Come on now!
Lezar: Funny, but we have reason to believe she told the truth. For instance, she knew of the ancient Dragon Star legend. In fact, she knew some things that even we did *not*. Vital clues to unlocking the mystery of the People of the Stars. And more, like the incredible power of the ancient Crimson Dragon.
Jack: Hm.
Goodwin: Hm. But a few days after waking, her memory began to fade, like it was a dream. Now she remembers nothing of the Spirit World, leaving us one choice-- to make her duel and go back to that world. Only then will we learn if she is a Signer.
(Goodwin taps the screen before him, and it changes to a holo-image of Luna, hugging her little pink duel disk to her chest; Goodwin reaches out a hand, as though to clench her in his fist)
Goodwin: And with her help, we can unleash the Crimson Dragon so that we can save our troubled world.

(A triple smoke cannon dramatically draws all eyes to the dueling stage.)
Announcer: Now entering the arena-- the little duelist who could! The pint-sized prodigy! Luna!!
(Luna puts on her duel disk, and tries to smile at the crowd)
Luna (think): Okay Luna, nothing to worry about, just the biggest duel of your life on national television. Hm. I wonder if Yusei's watching?
(At that, she does manage to smile a bit.)

(He is, arms folded and frowning. He doesn't trust this.)

Announcer: And now, her opponent-- the dean of the deck! The brain of the game! The Professor!!
(A card on sphere spins around to reveal an image of the Professor; Luna is small standing beneath it)
Announcer: He's got a Ph. D in psychology, hypnology, and *duel*-ology! So Luna'd better look out!
(Luna, dismayed, looks from the Sphere to the cloud of smoke that announces her opponent's entrance to the arena; it clears and there he stands, his benign smile slightly disturbing; both duelists are in followspots from above; the Professor walks forward calmly, his spot following him, and bows at the waist)
Professor: Pleased to meet you, dear Luna.
Luna: Um... hi.
Professor: I've... heard many things about you. I'm sure this duel will be quite illuminating for the both of us, don't you think?
Luna (think): Doubt it. (she hears a coo) Huh?! Kuribon! Why don't you ever talk when *Leo's* around?
Announcer: Now! Let's get dueling!
(The stadium lights up; Luna activates her duel disk; the Professor activates his.)
Announcer: Remember- only the winner advances; the loser is out for good!
Both: Let's duel!
(4000 lp each)
Professor: Like the blooming lotus, *you* may go first.
(Luna, putting on a tough front, seems unusually brisk when compared with her opponent)
Luna: Sure, fine. I draw! And I summon Sunny Pixie in defense mode!
[Sunny Pixie 300/400/L1/light]
(Sunny Pixie appears with a giggle; she is a cute, tiny humanoid fairy small enough to sit on Luna's shoulder)
Yanagi: Aww, a fairy, that's adorable!
Leo: Keep it up, Luna!!
Luna: Your turn, Professor.
(The Professor nods wholeheartedly)
Professor: And I look forward to it. Thank you. I summon a unique monster known as Symmetry Rorschach.
Luna: Ah!
(Symmetry Rorschach is a shimmering curtain of liquidy substance hanging in midair in an inkblot shape. It is in attack mode)
[Symmetry Rorschach 1200/1200/L3/light]
Luna (think): That card won't let me focus!


Professor: Luna, think of my Rorschach as if it were a puddle of rain, or a drop of ink in a lake. Look at it, and *tell me what you see.* Tell me if it reminds you of anything. Look into your fears, your dreams, <10:00> even memories lost long ago. What do you see when you gaze into the abyss? A friend, perhaps? Your family? Or maybe a far-off place dimming like the candle of time.
Luna: I... I see...
Professor (think): Yes, tell me, Luna! What do you see?
Luna: I don't know...
Professor: Look close... Close... Close. What do you see?
Yanagi: It's a Crystal Skull I think!
Dex: A moth!
Leo: This Professor's a few cards short of a duel deck! What's he doing to Luna?
Professor: Look close, Luna... Close.
Luna: Uh...
Cortez (interrupted) A fairy, but something terrifying.
Professor: Look closely. What do you see, Luna?
Luna: Um, I see... (the figure changes before her eyes to resemble a blonde fairy in blue that looks like the brunette in red she has on the field) Huh... a fairy? Huh? <11:00>
(The fairy chirps and smiles at her, a bit too widely; so widely that its head flips inside out and is replaced with that of a monster!!)
Luna: Aah!
Professor: What do you see?
Luna: Aaaah!
(The monster-headed fairy roars, and the field is awash in purple light; Luna cringes and defends herself as though a strong wind is blowing. Her Pixie is destroyed. When it lets up she looks back at the Professor and his monster warily)
Professor: Ah. Like the caterpillar who secludes itself in darkness before becoming a butterfly, you must face your fears. You must face your memories and live through them again. Do not be scared.
Luna: But I'm afraid!
Professor: You must be brave enough to relive what happened many years ago. I *know* you have great power, dear Luna, I *know* that you hear the duel spirits. The others may not believe you, but *I* do. I'll help you return that place, the Duel Monsters Spirit World. Yes, it was all real and not some figment of your imagination, Luna.
Luna: I'm... I'm starting to remember, Professor.
Professor: I know you are. But for our next step you need to trust me, Luna, can you do that? I need-- I need you to *want* to return to the Duel Spirit World, I need your promise, Luna. <12:00>
Luna (now completely in a trance): I... promise, Professor. Take me back.
Professor: Very good, now follow my instructions. When Symmetry Rorschach dispatched of your fairy, its special ability continued. Would you kindly turn over the top card of your deck and reveal it.
(Luna is startled when a huge orange eye appears in the inkblot. She draws--)
Luna (starts to smile): Kuribon.
Professor: Thank you for identifying your monster. He will be most helpful for the next stage of our little experiment. Now I need you to think back to that scary time when you were in your coma. Try to remember.
Luna: Oh... (think, turns to look up at Leo in the stands) I tried before, but I *can't*. There's nothing I remember from it.

(She sees visions of her parents silhouetted above her, and of young Leo completely hysterical)
Young Leo: Luna! LUNA!! Wake up!!!
(End visions)

Luna: Ah... I'm remembering...

Leo: Oh...
Dex: Leo? You look *sick*.
Leo: I'm worried about Luna, Dex. What's he *doing*?
Cortez: (thinks) I have a hunch he's using hypnosis.

Professor: I place two cards facedown. It's your turn. Don't be scared, Luna.
Luna: I draw. And I summon out Kuribon.
[Kuribon 300/200/L1/light]
Computer: Kuribon is a level-one, light-attribute, fairy-type monster with three hundred attack points and two hundred defense points.
Professor: That's perfect. I play my facedown; it is known as Light to the Depths.
(Officially "Depth-Guiding Light")
Professor: Like the Northern Star, this light illuminates the path inside of you. Now send the top five cards on your deck to the graveyard, then reveal the sixth card, (a bright light begins to pulse on Luna's forehead, reflected in her eyes; she is being mesmerized again) adding it to your hand. And you must play that card, as certain as the path of light itself, or suffer two thousand points of damage. (Luna is gone; the Professor's voice sounds distant and echoing once more; we can hear the throb of a heartbeat) Now then, why don't we begin; listen to my voice as I count them off. And, one. (she draws) Perfect. Two. Three. (we glimpse that this one was "Swords of Revealing Light" Four. Five. (Fairy King Truesdale) And six. (the Light to the Depths card shines with the same light we saw on Luna's forehead) Wonderful, now show me-- what's the card you're holding in your hand? (She draws it and shows Ancient Forest) Ah. As I had hoped. (she places it in her field spell zone) The field spell Ancient Forest. You will use it. This forest is quite a special place. All monsters are switched to attack mode, And neither of us can summon or switch a monster to defense. Even if you were to attack, your monster would be destroyed once the battle was over. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. Some say this forest resembles... someplace else. (Luna's eyes are now completely blank; we hear another throb of the heartbeat) Fighting forbidden? Secrets revealed? Why, it's just like the Spirit World! Take us there now! (a sunlit forest begins to appear in Luna's blank eye) We have work to do!


(Luna opens her eyes in a beautiful forest, in a beam of sunlight streaming through the treetops.)
Luna: Ah... Where am I?
(Fairies flit between the trees, giggling merrily. <15:00> One of them flies up and lights on Luna's cheek to examine her eyelashes; Luna starts to giggle, too. She hears a familiar coo and turns to look at Kuribon, and the fairy flies away. Kuribon is bobbing in front of her)
Luna: Kuribon! Ah, where *is* this place? It looks so familiar but I can't remember. (think) I sense that this is a safe place, but... something feels wrong...!

(On the field, Luna is staring wanly at her duel disk, not seeing it at all.)
Professor (think): Excellent. Luna has finally traveled to the Spirit World. Now I will truly test her Signer powers. (aloud) Hmhmhmhm. My turn. And I'll be activating my facedown "Gestalt Trap". And this particular trap card will equip on *your* little Kuribon. (A heavy metal manacle grips Kuribon; think) Let's see how Luna deals with *this*! (aloud) Not only are Kuribon's abilities cancelled, but all his points, both attack and defense, go to zero, dear Luna!

(In Luna's vision of the forest, in which she stands alone with Kuribon, Kuribon suddenly coos, frantic, <16:00> and is gripped by the same metal cuff he is in the duel.)
Luna: Ah! Kuribon, what just happened?!

Professor: The trees aren't deaf, but they *are* mute to your crying pleas. I equip "Immortal Homeostasis" on Kuribon! Now he cannot be destroyed in battle.
(Kuribon squirms and fights, but can't prevent it)
Professor: But sadly *his* fate is worse, for now *he* serves as the architect of your loss. His original attack points have been altered, and until they can finally be restored, you suffer. Three hundred points a round; much like the ill-tempered dog who bites your hand whether you bring food or fowl. Next I sacrifice Symmetry Rorschach, and with that removed, I can summon Ido, the Supreme Magical Force.
[Ido the Supreme Magical Force 2200/800/L6/dark]
(We catch a glimpse of the Professor's hand-- he reaches for Ido, between "Mental Pollution" and "Pot of Avarice". Ido's roar creates waves in the air)
Computer: Whenever the monster card <17:00> Ido the Supreme Magical Force is destroyed, it is re-summoned to your field at the end of the turn.

Luna: Ohh!
(She is watching Kuribon be tormented, and the little duel spirit is practically crying. She tries to comfort it.)
Luna: Don't worry. Huh?
(Suddenly the sun is blocked out by a huge shadow; Ido has appeared in the Spirit World. Luna screams.)

(Back on the field she is still motionless)
Professor: Even though Ido will be destroyed if I attack with him, he still returns to my field at the end of every turn. Of course, with him summoned, though, no other monsters will be allowed on my field. A small price to pay.
(Luna is motionless, not hearing a word, eyes blank.)

(The crowd is starting to worry)
- Wake up, Luna!
- She's just standing there!
Announcer: Could this be it?! Is she too scared to duel?!

(Goodwin, watching, betrays a hint of a smile)

(Dex notices that Leo, also, isn't moving)
Dex: Huh? (gently pokes Leo; Leo's eyes are blank, too) What's wrong?

Professor: Ido the Supreme Magical Force, attack Kuribon! And bring out Luna's mark of the Dragon!
(Kuribon struggles frantically, can't move, and gets stomped)

(in the Spirit World, Kuribon dissolves into sparkles, then they re-form into Kuribon again, glowing bright pink. Luna cries out)
Luna: No!!

(Luna's lifepoints drop from 4000 to 1800)
Professor: Of course, with Kuribon still equipped with my little spell, he isn't destroyed, but survives. And next round he'll be destroyed and survive again, and again, until you give me what I need. Think, Luna. Think. Think about the Spirit World. (One of the sharp points on Kuribon's cuff glints) Think about what was revealed to you. Think about the Crimson Dragon. Think! *Think*! *Think*!!!

(From the rustling trees in the Spirit World echoes a frightening voice, the Professor's)
Professor: Think!!!! TELL ME ABOUT THE CRIMSON DRAGON!!!!!
Luna (scared): Mmm. No! This world's supposed to be a safe place, you can't harm me here!
(The trees part and sunlight streams down on Ido, Kuribon, and Luna. Ido is destroyed. Luna starts to get hopeful, until it reappears!)
Luna: But, but how did that happen!

Professor: Did you forget already? Ido returns to my field whenever it's destroyed. Huhuhuhuh. It's your turn, Luna. And don't neglect all the progress we've made!
Luna's body: I draw...
Professor: Remember, you lose three hundred points due to the effect of "Immortal Homeostasis". Perhaps this will jog your memory.

(More bright pink light)
Luna: Aa-aa-aaah!

(Luna's lifepoints read 1500)
Luna's body: I summon my monster Sunlight Unicorn.
[Sunlight Unicorn 1800/1000/L8/]
(Sunlight Unicorn gallops onto the field, around in the air, shining like the sun; its mane is dazzling, crackling with bright blue light)
Luna: And now I equip "Horn of the Unicorn" on my Sunlight Unicorn.
(Sunlight's horn shines and becomes made of pure crystal; its atk points rise to 2500)
Professor (think): How is she fighting back? Who's giving her strength?!
(Luna stands motionless)

(Up in the stands, Leo is also in a trance.)

(In the Spirit World, a bright blue flash between Luna and Ido. Luna shields her eyes, frightened)
Luna: Aaaah! (looks) Huh? Oh... Sunlight Unicorn?
(Suddenly a beautiful voice seems to come from the forest itself)
Voice: Luna... Luna...
Luna: Ah! Who is it? Who's out there?
Voice: Luna. You have finally returned to fulfill your promise.
Luna: *What* promise?
Voice: To protect the realm of the duel spirits from the forces of evil.
Luna: But, I'm just a little kid. What can *I* do?
Voice: You can come with me...
(To Be Continued...)