Chaos Effect

Chapter 84: Chapter 84

"In a galaxy filled with danger and strife all know that the best woman to save the day is... Samaus."

"Hey," a non-descript male voice said despite the CGI figure being a blonde woman. "I'm Samaus."

"Chris Pratt is Samaus in METROID: The Movie."

"Heh, what a ridiculous voice ta put in a character's mouth," Joey said, though his heavy Brooklyn accent couldn't hide that he wasn't all cheer and smiles. He knew he was being mopey but after his loss against Brom he couldn't help but feel down. Tea had managed to get to the next round. Tristan almost had... in Joey's mind Tristan had taken Yugi to the very edge while he had been utterly destroyed by Brom and his Skull Servants. Kaiba was going on and that made him grit his teeth in frustration and so was that jerk Marik.

Marik.

'He should have been kicked out the moment he showed his pointy nose near the blimp!' Joey thought bitterly as he sat on his bed, hunched over as the tv continued to play commercials. 'He tried ta kill my sister and Gramps and he's allowed ta duel? And he's goin' on while I'm stuck on the sidelines!?'

He'd thought he'd gotten so much better. That he had really grown into being a duelist. He looked back at his past self before Duelist Kingdom and winced. He hadn't even known what an effect monster was and he'd thought he was going to take out professional duelists?

But now he had skill. Knowledge. He'd beaten that Rare Hunter who'd taken his deck and claimed the man's own deck as his own! And he was good with it! Real good! And Gramps had taught him strategy which had worked really well when he'd taken on Crawler. And his duel with Yug... if they had been able to actually go all out, to duel without life and death hanging in the balance... he knew in his gut he would have won. He would have beaten his friend and he could finally stood beside Yugi rather than in his shadow.

'And I don't have some mystical item helpin' me,' he thought as he mind flashed to Yugi's puzzle, Edwin's Key, Pegasus' Eye, Marik's Rod, and Bakura's ring. 'It would 'ave just been me... Joey Wheeler.'

On the television the graphics for CCN's coverage of the Battle City Tournament flashed before the announcers gave a recap of the duel so far, in case anyone had missed it. Joey watched as Mai and Rex traded blows, with Rex managing to get his huge freaky dino on the field and take out every monster that Mai had on the field, leaving her open for a final strike that would eliminate her from the tournament.

'Mai,' Joey thought to himself as he stared at her image, 'there was a point where I would have liked nothin' more than ta see ya embarrassed like this.' His mind went back to when he'd first encountered her at Duelist Kingdom, how she'd been so arrogant and brass and dismissive of him. Mocking his skills, thinking him worthless, not even wanting to duel him at first and then happily doing so just for an 'easy' victory. 'But as I got ta know ya I saw the heart that was beatin' under that cold exterior.' He thought of how she had let them use her camp, being nice to Tea and letting her take a shower, as well as the despair when she'd faced PaniK and lost. 'Now... now I don't want ya to go through what I did.'

The camera changed and Joey frowned as he saw the crowd watching as Rex prepared to eliminate Mai. 'Ed... ya claim ya care for her but you're just standin' there, doin' nothing as she struggles!' Joey thought of the kiss he and Mai had shared and her words of how she was forced to remain with Edwin now, how her mistake in getting close to him at left her trapped. 'Mai deserves someone that will support her always! Who will root and cheer for her!' He frowned, looking at his friends. 'Tea and Tristan began actin' strange after Ed did stuff with that Key of his...' He reached up and rubbed his head where Edwin had 'locked' his mind. 'How do I know ya didn't do more than that? Manipulate us ta just accept what ya do... like killin' people and forcin' Mai ta be with ya...'

Joey grit his teeth before leaping to his feet.

'No... no more, pal. Its time ya learned ya can't treat us like this!'

~MC~MC~MC~

"And now, I will attack with my Giant Rex!"

Mai finally allowed herself to smirk. It had taken a lot of effort to lure Rex into thinking that she was down for the count with no way to get out of the mess she found herself in. She wanted him fully committed to destroying her right there, so that he forgot all about how dangerous her and her deck was.

'When a hunter wants to bring in dangerous game the best way to do so is to make them think they are the ones in control,' she thought to herself as she tapped her duel disc.

"I think its time we cleared the field. And I do mean that quite literally Rex, as your jungle just isn't doing it for me. Far too overgrown for my tastes. It needs to be tamed... and my Amazoness Golden Whip Master will do just that!" The whip rocketed out from the trees, cracking against the bark and causing them to shatter.

"WHAT?!" Rex exclaimed, twisting about as the Lost World began to crumble.

"My Amzoness Golden Whip Master can destroy one spell or trap on the field when an Amazoness Monster is involved in battle. So I'm going to remove all of your jungle!"

Rex watched as the field spell was destroyed, revealing all his dinos and Mai's Amazoness Golden Whip Master. But then he chuckled, shaking his head.

"What do I care? I still am going to take you out! Giant Rex!"

"Oh, are you?" Mai asked as she tapped her facedown. "Activate Amazoness Onslaught!" The card flipped up onto her field. "I had to wait for you to use your Ultimate Conductor Tyranno's effect to shift my monsters to defense mode before I brought this out, and then for my Amazoness Empress to be destroyed so I could get rid of your attack-leeching field, but it was worth it to do this! I summon my Amazoness War Chief!"

On the field a tall, thickly muscled Amazoness appeared on the field.

Mai snapped her fingers. "Edwin, focus on me love." She pointed with her index and middle fingers at him then turned her hand back towards herself. "Focus..."

"Huh?" Edwin said, blinking.

"I know your type," Mai said with a smirk. "There is a reason why I've begun working out more."

Edwin, for his part, smiled with embarrassment.

Mai turned only to pause and give her rear a little shake. "Focus Edwin..."

"I am!" he whined but Mai waited until she was SURE he was looking just at her before continuing.

"Now then, first let's get my War Chief's effect out of the way. She allows me to select one Amazoness Card from my deck and set it on the field." Mai pulled out her deck, going through it before selecting just the card she needed. 'This will help me out a ton' she thought with a smirk. 'Now to see if Rex is smart enough to actually realize what it can do and avoid it.' Outloud she declared, "And now that I have done her effect... let's focus on my other cards' effects. First there is my Amazoness Golden Whip Master, who increases my War Chief's attack to 2400. And then there is my Onslaught's effect, which allows a monster summoned by its effect to gain another 500 attack points for this turn. That brings my Amazoness War Chief up to 2900!"

Rex smirked at that. "I suppose you think that was a cunning move. Able to outclass my other dinos and get to your next turn, right? There is just one problem with that: my Ultimate Conductor Tyranno is able to attack all your monsters... even ones you summoned after the start of the battle phase!" Rex smirked as his Ultimate Conductor Tyranno let out a savage roar and rushed forward, attacking Mai's War Chief and shattering her. "Too bad... all that work for nothing." (Mai-1400)

"Not quite," Mai replied back. "See... my War Chief wouldn't be real good on the battlefield if all she did was bring resources. That would just make her a... I don't know... a Amaonzess Supply Captain?" She gave a shrug at that. "No, she is a WAR Chief... meaning she understands battle. And when she battles with a monster while the Onslaught command is in effect, win or lose... she takes her foe down with her."

Rex watched as his Ultimate Conductor Tyranno began to growl and whine in pain, turning to reveal the War Chief's weapon embedded right between its eyes. It took one final stumbling step forward before crashing to the ground, shattering.

"Well..." Rex said, startled by the sudden loss, "I... I still have my Giant Rex and my Evilswarm Salamanda! And either one can easily take out the last of your lifepoints! Giant Rex-"

"I activate the facedown I just set!" Mai declared. "And because it was set this way I can activate it this turn. Amazoness Willpower!" The trap, depicting the Amazoness Paladin, scarred and bloodied but still fighting to stand under her own power, appeared. "This card allows me to bring back one of my Amazoness Monsters from the graveyard and I select my Amazoness Empress!" The ruler of the Amazoness Nation appeared on the field once more, looking a bit beat up from her previous defeat but still smirking, ready to attack. "And my Amazoness Golden Whip Master boosts her attack to 3600!"

"Hmmm," Rex said in annoyance before shifting his two dinosaurs to defense mode and setting a card of his own on the field. "Very well then. But my Lost World still left you a present: another Juraegg Token, meaning you can't use any spells or traps on my monsters or yours while it remains on the field!"

"Oh, I have no problem with that!" Mai declared. "That actually speeds things up!"

"...you're bluffing," Rex charged. "Just trying to trick me into believing that you wanted that token!" He let out a huffing laugh. "I'm onto you and your mindgames, Mai. They might work on that fool Wheeler, just like flaunting your body distracts Chaos-"

"I'm still just watching you, sweetie!" Edwin called out though it was clear he was taunting Rex with that statement.

"-but I'm not falling for it. You might have the most powerful monster on the field at the moment but my next turn will allow me to bring out even more powerful dinosaurs who will turn your Amazoness monsters into kibble!"

Mai smiled though she wasn't feeing as confident as she wanted Rex to believe. 'He's right. Rex has changed... he's improved a lot since Duelist Kingdom. There Joey was able to destroy him with a single card and he had no idea how to counter that. He only had one play which was brute strength. But now he's smart... cunning... thinking and plotting.' She looked over her side of the field. 'And he's right about what we have. There are no cards in my hand. If I leave even one of his dinosaurs on the field he will have the chance to make it even stronger. Or bring out something even worse.' She looked at her deck. 'I need something... right now... or this might actually be my last turn!'

With that... Mai drew.

"...yes!" she exclaimed in delight. "Just the card I needed! I activate The Warrior Returning Alive, allowing me to add my Amazoness War Chief back to my hand. And now I am going to tribute the Juraegg Token-thanks for that by the way-in order to summon her to the field in attack mode!" The War Chief appeared, taking a moment to kneel before the Empress before returning to attack position. Mai, for her part, selected another card from her deck to set on the field. 'I need to hold off using this card until I am desperate... while it would be tempting to use it this turn without the right support I will only be allowing Rex the chance to come up with a way to take me out. No... while there is a time to push the attack there are times to be cautious. And this is that time.'

That decided Mai held out her hand, her Amazoness monsters moving to attack. The War Chief attacked the Giant Rex, shattering that dino easily, while her Empress attacked the Evilswarm.

"Oh, and did I forget to mention that my Empress does damage to your monsters even if they are in defense mode?"

"But that means..." Rex said in horror.

"That you are almost out of this Tournament?" Mai asked. "Yeah... looks like it." (Rex-50)

And yet... Rex...

...was smiling.

~MC~MC~MC~

"Hello Odion."

Looking away from the window he'd been staring out of Odion looked over at Pegasus, startled by his arrival. He hadn't heard him coming which was odd for him as usually he was far more attentive than that. People didn't surprise him. They didn't sneak up on him. They couldn't... not if he wanted to protect-

He paused.

Who WAS he protecting anymore? His brother... who had become so consumed by hatred for the man he blamed for all his suffering that he had become just like him? His sister who was blinded by the vision she saw and thus didn't see the world around her anymore?

He couldn't say that he protected the Pharaoh as he doubted very much he would want him lingering about him. And he didn't blame him for that... he had hurt too many people helping Marik and he was grateful that he wasn't a pariah that was eternally shunned. Edwin Chaos had his own bodyguard, as did Mai Valentine.

Odion... found himself without purpose.

"It looked like you needed someone to talk to," Pegasus said and Odion stared at him, wondering if the ability to read minds had stayed with him even after the loss of the Millennium Eye. "But if you'd rather me go-"

"No," Odion said, wincing at how... desperate he sounded. "That is to say... I would very much like to hear what you have to say."

Pegasus smiled and settled onto the bench next to him. It was next to one of many of the massive windows that lined the main gathering area of the KaibaCorp blimp, allowing Odion a view of the entire world laid out before him.

"I imagine seeing so much water is a startling thing to you," Pegasus finally said.

"Yes," Odion stated. He considered leaving it at that but... he found himself wanting to talk. Pegasus was right. He did need to speak with someone. Anyone. He didn't want to be alone anymore. "When my brother first saw the Nile he believed it to be the only source of water in the world. That it must be where all got their water. We spent an entire day just sitting by its banks, too scared to even go near it. The second day we both waded up to our knees and... it was the first time I had seen him smile in ages." Odion let out a soft huff, quiet and filled with amusement. "He said that perhaps we should set up a little hut upon the shoreline and spend the rest of our days there. Sometimes... sometimes I wish we had just done that."

"I imagine that life hasn't been kind to you... what with everything you've needed to do in the name of his grand plans."

Odion shook his head though. "It was not kind and yet... my sister will not agree and I know many wish we had remained underground rather than have come upon them but being a part of this greater world is a gift that I will forever hold."

Pegasus merely made a sound of agreement at that.

"I... find myself at a crossroads," Odion admitted. "I thought my purpose was to serve my family. But Marik-"

"Yes," Pegasus said dryly, "I gathered when I watched him duel just now that he is the sort that does not accept anything other than total obedience."

"He... wasn't always like that," Odion said, feeling the old urge to defend his brother. "When we first started out it was just the two of us. I deferred to him, of course, but he would always ask my opinion. Many times my suggestions were taken and used by him. It was only when the Rare Hunters grew that he had to take a stronger hand... he could not let his followers see weakness."

"And somewhere along the way you stopped being a brother and became just another follower."

"...yes," Odion admitted softly. "And yet... even just a week ago he was telling me how all of this was for us. That when we defeated the Pharaoh we would disappear, able to be free. He wanted us to tour Europe... ride the roads on motorcycles, see lands other than our own..." Odion looked down at his hands, wondering if that dream had truly been a real one or if it had just been his brother feeding him promises, no different than he had the likes of the Royal Twins or Cabal.

"And Ishizu?" Pegasus pressed. "You can not work with her?"

"I can not," Odion admitted. "She would have us return to the shadows once more... for all the dark things Marik has done he was right that we deserved more than that life."

"You will have to face her," Pegasus stated. "You two are the only finalists who have not dueled yet in the first round."

"And we will not duel this round," Odion said.

"Oh?" Pegasus glanced at Odion and he found himself shifting in his chair, as if he didn't have a few inches and half a dozen pounds of muscle on the long-haired man. "I was wondering about that. You don't actually have a deck, do you?"

"I do," Odion said defensively before slumping in his seat. "It... is merely a casual deck."

"The plan was for you to use a deck Marik provided you, wasn't it?"

"It was," Odion admitted. "Originally Marik was going to have me portray myself as him while he would try and get close to the Pharaoh. He was going to provide me with a deck that would properly..." He searched for the right word and found himself unable to do so.

"But now," Pegasus said when Odion couldn't fill the silence, "you have no deck that can aid you against Ishizu."

"Not against the cards she has gathered," Odion stated.

"Oh?" Pegasus asked, leaning forward. "And just what cards are those?"

"Earth Fairies," Odion said. "My brother and I kept an ear out for her movements, as Marik knew that she would not accept his leaving. Even before we attacked the Cairo Bank to claim Slifer the Sky Dragon and The Winged Dragon of Ra we knew that she was preparing to confront us. She used her contacts in the government to obtain rare Earth Fairy Monsters."

"I know the ones you are talking about," Pegasus said quietly. "They were prizes and rewards that I had given out to those that entered contests." He brushed a few stray hairs away from his eye. "I will need to seek the winners out... ensure that Ishizu obtained her cards fairly."

Odion winced at that little comment, knowing that his brother had not gained most of his cards in a fair way at all. "But now I have no deck that I can hope will stand against her."

"...do not forfeit just yet," Pegasus said, rising. "I will need to speak with Edwin, make use of his Key... but I believe I can have something ready for you in an few hours. We will have Kaiba delay your duel till the evening."

"What... what are you-"

Pegasus though merely smirked, wagging a finger back and forth. "Now now... that would be telling."

And with that he walked away, leaving Odion utterly befuddled.

'I do not know what you have planned Maxamillion Pegasus but I hope it will give me the answers I seek. Though I do not think a single duel will show me to path I should take now in my life.'

~MC~MC~MC~

"Think Rex is done?" Tristan asked.

I shook my head, staring right at the dino duelist. "Not for a second. Look at him... that was a heavy blow but he isn't crumpling. Mai has the sword against his throat but he still has a blade in his hand and a chance to strike at her. No... she hasn't won yet."

"You sound oddly unconcerned that about your girlfriend about to be struck back by her opponent," Duke said.

"Mai is one of the best duelists in the world," I said. "I don't do her any favors playing the overprotective boyfriend. She'll win... and I support her when she needs it. Sometimes you don't need to always be screaming your head off and calling out cliché cheers."

"...I feel like that is a knock against me," Tea said.

"The old you," I said cheerfully. "The new you is awesome and a massive improvement. More confident, willing to take the lead, punching Ishizus-"

"I only punched Ishizu. Singular."

"Give it time, Tea," I said, wrapping my arm around her and giving her a squeeze while my other hand waved in front of me, "there is a whole world of Ishizus waiting for you to punch them."

"This is all rather amusing," Rex said, drawing our attention back to the duel, "but I think its time I showed you all why I'm not worried in the slightest. First off, all those lifepoints Mai just took from me? They are coming back." Rex tapped his duel disc and a card flipped up. "I reveal my trap card Survival Instinct! This card allows me to banish from my graveyard dinosaur monsters in order to gain 400 lifepoints for each one I send away. So I now banish my Miscellandeoussaurus, My Ultimate Conductor Tyranno, my Giant Rex, and my Evilswarm Salamanda in order to gain 1600 lifepoints!" He paused. "By the way, THIS is the card Edwin gave me. Thanks." (Rex-1650)

"Thank you Edwin," Mai said darkly.

"I didn't know he'd be dueling you!" I complained. "And I gave you some warrior cards for your deck!"

"So everyone should be mad at you," Duke stated.

"Exactly... wait."

Rex though folded his arms over his chest, a smirk playing on his lips. "But I'm not done yet. See, my Giant Rex HATES to be away from the battle so when he's banished he automatically returns to the field... and gains 200 attack points for every dinosaur that is currently removed. So with the ones I just tossed away and the ones I banished earlier in the duel I can now summon it back with 3000 attack points!"

On his side of the field the Giant Rex appeared with a snarl before throwing back its head, roaring as it began to increase in size til it was twice as large as it had been only moments before.

"And like I said, his attack boost is only the dinosaurs that were removed from play when he returned to the field... they don't have to stay there." Rex's eyes snapped open and I swore the background around him became less defined with lines blasting all around him like he was in hyperspace. "So they can return to my deck right now in order to summon forth a new dinosaur! I return to my deck all five of my banished monsters in order to summon Overtex Quoatlus in attack mode!" The pterosaur-like dinosaur appeared on the field, letting out a screech. "Now then, I'll have my Giant Rex destroy your War Chief once more! And this time she can stay in the graveyard!"

Mai shook her head. "Do you never learn, Rex? My Amazoness Onslaught ensures that my War Chief will be taking your Giant Rex with her. All that work for very little payoff."

"Unless I activate this," Rex said, holding up a card. "My Petiteranodon! By destroying it instead I can now negate and destroy your Amazoness Onslaught!" The trap card shattered and with it Amazoness War Chief's weapon, leaving her completely defenseless as the Giant Rex grabbed her in its jaws, squeezing until she shattered. (Mai-800)

"I still have my Amazoness Empress," Mai pointed out.

"True," Rex said with a shrug. "And she can attack either of my monsters. But... next turn I'll bring out a dino that will destroy her easily and then the duel will be over. You did good Mai... you did good... but this was always my tournament to win."

"You're right on one of those statements," Mai commented. "I did do good... and continue to good do! Reveal my facedown!"

"Well... that is a surprise," I admitted as the Amazoness Secret Arts popped up on the field.

"I can once more fusion summon one Amazoness Monster from my Extra Deck to the field. And I will also use the secondary effect that allows me to use a fusion monster that is already in my Extra Deck as one of the two components. So I fuse my Amazoness Empress and my Amazoness Pet Liger to summon forth my Amazoness Augsta!"

A truly HUGE Amazoness warrior appeared on the field. Nearly 10 feet tall she had on garments made from the pelt of the Pet Liger and a headdress made from the skull of some truly massive beast. Her long crimson cloak hung down her back, making her silver white hair stand out all the more. Her sword was nearly as wide as it was long but she easily lifted it up with one hand, resting it on her shoulder while looking at Rex and his monsters with a look of intense delight.

"Edwin!" Yugi said, giving me a shake.

"I want to go to there..." I mumbled even as Troy began to play 'Giant Woman' from Steven Universe.

"When this card is summoned I am able to bring one monster from my deck to the field, so I choose my Amazoness Swordswoman!" The tall red-haired blademaster appeared but due to the size of the Amazoness Augusta she looked like a child in comparison. "Now, her affect is that when we battle you take any battle damage. Which means any of your big bad dinosaurs that attack her will only cause you pain. But... I really don't need her for that. I in fact really don't need her at all. Because since I fusion summoned my Augusta during the end of your turn she can now attack this turn! And with the boost she has received from my Amazoness Golden Whip Master there is nothing any of your dinos can do to stand against her! Amazoness Augusta, attack with Primal Decree!"

The Amazoness ruler let out a war cry before leaping into the air, easily bringing her blade down on the Giant Rex and cleaving it in two. The dinosaur twitched for a moment before it exploded in a hail of shattered polygons. (Rex-450)

"And she wouldn't be the grand ruler of all Amazoness monsters if she wasn't the most skilled in battle so after she destroys a monster she can attack once again! Amazoness Augusta, Primal Decree for the win!"

Rex shielded himself as the Amazoness monster swung into his second monster, utterly blowing it apart with the strike. (Rex-0000)

"Rex Raptor has been eliminated from the Battle City Tournament. Mai Valentine is the winner and will be moving to Round 2."

Everyone began to cheer but Mai and I shared a look. I nodded towards Rex and she gave a smile even as she rolled her eyes and gestured at me to do what I wanted. So while she walked over to talk with our friends I walked over to Rex who was grumbling under his breath.

"You almost had her."

"You want me to believe you wouldn't have minded if she lost?"

"She loses and I get to spend the day comforting her," I said simply.

"...heh, of course," Rex said, managing a smile at that.

"You did far better than Duelist Kingdom, Rex." He just shook his head and I could tell that after this loss he just wanted to go lick his wounds. "I'll tell the others to leave you alone. Come see me when you want... we'll talk, okay?"

Rex considered me for a moment. "So now you are Team Dad for me too?"

"I'm everyone's dad on this blimp," I muttered. "I swear I'll have to give Pegasus The Talk at some point and that is going to be a nightmare."

I got a bark of laughter at that. "Do NOT put that thought in my head, Chaos!"

I chuckled at that, then patted him on the shoulder, glad I'd gotten Rex to at least smile and laugh a bit, before walking over to the others. "Hail to the victors, huh," I said with a grin only for Mai to playfully push me away.

"Go hang out with your new buddy."

"Aw come on," I teased, "he needed some cheering up."

"You need something else entirely and I'm not sure what," Mai said, Yugi and his friends moving towards the elevator. "Giving Rex that card..."

"Oh come off it Mai!" I exclaimed though there was no real fire in my voice. "You still managed to win. Hell, in an impressive way too which is all that matters."

"Hmmm," She said, turning her back to me and folding her arms over her chest, head tilted up. "Well, I suppose you can try and make it up to me..."

"You saucy little minx-"

"Hey Joey!" Yugi called out behind us and I turned, glad that Joey was out of his funk...

...only to double over when Joey rushed me, tackling me around the midsection and sending us both to the ground.

"Joey!" Tea exclaimed. Other people were saying things but I couldn't make out who was as I was too busy dealing with Joey trying to punch my lights out. My glass flew off my face and I began to thrash but Joey managed to grab a fistful of hair and slam my head down against the ground, making stars burst in my eyes.

"Get the hell away from her!" Joey roared as he slammed my head down again before he began to punch me all over. "I'm not lettin' ya abuse her or force her inta are sick games anymore."

"Joey!" Tristan shouted but Joey must have shrugged him off because he delivered a blow to my side, making me wheeze and gasp.

"I knew we should have never trusted ya! I knew it! Well you-"

Suddenly Joey was off of me though I couldn't see what was going on as my eyes were squeezed shut. I flinched when someone touched me, tensing for another blow, only to hear Yuri say, "I have you... its okay... Mai back up. He's not thinking clearly at the moment..." Someone grabbed my wrists but the hold was gentle, making sure I could break free rather easily but knew that the hold was there all the same. "Its okay, Edwin... we're here..."

"Let go of me!" Joey shouted somewhere to my right. There was the sound of movement and Joey cried out in pain.

"I should snap your neck for what you did," Renard snarled, my normally calm and aloof friend BURSTING with rage. "I should throw you from this blimp and let you spend the next 60 seconds watching blue death come hurtling towards you."

"Hey!" Tristan shouted. "Don't you-"

"He attacked my captain unprovoked," Renard snapped.

"Everyone STOP!" the Pharaoh demanded. "We need to get to the bottom of this."

"What is there to get to the bottom of?" Mai asked with a huff, it clear from her tone that she wasn't happy. Though if that was merely the attack or Yuri not allowing her near me, I couldn't tell. Yuri was saying something about needing a med kit and I wondered just how much damage Joey had done. "Your best friend just attacked my boyfriend unprovoked. You want to try and find a way to spin this so he isn't a lunatic, Yugi?"

"Mai!" Joey said to my right. "Stop covering for that abuser."

My eyes snapped open.

"What the fuck did you just call me you psychopath!?" I roared, startling Yuri as I sprang to my feet... only to wobble at the world went sideways. At once Mai was at my side, Yuri as well, guiding me to sit back down again. I winced as I did so, reaching to rub the back of my head only to find my hand coming back sticky with blood. In fact from the way my face felt, all stiff and itchy, I realized I must be coated in blood.

"Edwin, don't move," Yuri said desperately. "Duke is getting the medical staff."

"Mai, ya don't have ta defend this jerk anymore," Joey said and I turned, wincing as pain blossomed in my skull at the movement, and saw that Renard had Joey pinned to the ground, his knee buried in the small of his back, one hand pressing his face to the ground while the other held his right arm in such a way that I knew with a slight twist he'd break it. Joey, seeing me looking at him, glared at me and struggled a bit only for Renard to pull on the limb a bit harder. "You can tell everyone the truth, Mai! Ya don't have ta be scared of him anymore!"

"The only thing I'm scared of is that you gave my boyfriend a concussion, Joseph," Mai said. She reached up to touch my face only to pause, it clear she had no idea what to do with her hands in that situation. I stared at her, trying to blink, but my eyes felt so heavy and stiff that doing so only meant it took a tremendous effort to open them again. "Tea, find his glasses."

"O-okay."

"Mai, I get it... he's had ya under his thumb since Duelist Kingdom... but I won't let 'im hurt ya anymore!"

"The only person that is hurt is Edwin, Joey," Tristan snapped. "What is wrong with ya?"

"Hey, I'm just tryin' ta protect Mai! I knew Ed was wrong for her the moment he said they were datin' but all of ya didn't believe me! Thought I was just bein' Dumb Ol' Joey! But Ed forced Mai ta be with 'im... he blackmailed and abused her ta do it! Basically raped her-"

"Edwin!" Yuri exclaimed and I dimly realized I must have made a lunge for Joey because I was now back on the ground again, Yuri once more holding me in place though now she was joined by Mai.

"Joseph..." Mai said darkly, "if you EVER equate what Edwin and I do by ourselves as 'rape' again I will throw you off this blimp myself! Renard WON'T have to help me!"

"Mai?" Joey said, sounding confused. "What are ya doin'? This is your way out!"

"My way out..."

"Yea," Joey said and because I'd fallen I couldn't see him anymore... right now my vision, blurry as it was, was letting me see either Mai's knees or Yuri's breasts. It was hard to tell. "Ya don't have ta be with him anymore! We can tell the world the truth! All these cameras... the world will know what a monster he is. Then we can be together, like we want."

Everyone went VERY quiet.

"This... is what all of that was about?" Mai said, her voice dangerously low.

"Mai," the Pharaoh began. "Joey is clearly confused."

"OH really, Yugi?" she growled. "And just what part is the most confusing for him? That it isn't okay to randomly attack people just because they are dating someone they lust for? Or that after this the only way I'd want Joey's dick is if I were hacking it off!?"

"Mai!" Joey said, sounding hurt and confused. "Please... we talked about this."

"We talked about this, alright. I told you months ago I was with Edwin-"

"In my room, just an hour ago!" Joey exclaimed. "Remember, how you kissed me?"

"...what?"

"You kissed me, Mai," Joey said. "You straddled me and you were pawing at me and told me how Ed was abusin' ya-"

"You attacked my boyfriend because of a DREAM you had?!" Mai roared.

"Oh Joey," Tea whispered somewhere to my left.

"It wasn't a dream!" Joey shouted. "it happened! Come on Mai, you know we belong together! You and me... there has been a connection since we first dueled. And then that raping bastard-AAAAA!"

"She told you," Renard said darkly over Joey's cries of pain, "not to call it rape."

"That is ENOUGH Renard!" the Pharaoh bellowed and I could taste the Shadow Realm magic on the air. "Release him!"

"No," Renard said coldly. "You will have to attack me."

"I will not-"

"EDWIN!" Mokuba suddenly called out and there was a flurry of footfalls before I saw a Mokuba-shaped blob appear in my vision. My head was swimming and I could feel the call to sleep coming over me. "Seto!"

"I see, Mokuba," Seto declared. "Get him to the med bay, now!" Yuri suddenly let go and I was rolled onto a stretcher that within moments was lifted up, causing me to gag as now my stomach was dancing. There was some movement and then Renard was next to me, Mokuba in his arms. I saw other dark shapes surrounding something on the ground and realized it must have been Seto's security.

"Joey is also hurt," the Pharaoh said.

"I think his wrist is broken," Tristan said.

"Maybe it will remind him not to do anything stupid," Seto said coldly.

"He needs to be cared for," the Pharaoh pressed as I was wheeled towards the elevator.

"Mr. Chaos," someone said to my right. "I need you to stay away for me, okay?"

"He just attacked the sole member of the Kaiba Corporation's Board of Directors. He is going to be taken care of, alright."

I tried to focus but... everything sounded so far away.

"Edwin... Edwin!" Mai cried out.

"Move back."

"Vitals are beginning to crash."

"Adrenaline is dropping."

"Captain, open your eyes."

"Stay awake!"

"Edwin!"

I heard no more.

~MC~MC~MC~

Author's Notes: Because I know some are going to complain I want to make it clear here: this is Joey's lowest point. The very rockbottom. Abused and misused. And you should ABSOLUTELY be mad about how Selene tricked him. How she sought him out after what Brom revealed about his sister and played on his emotions and his issues and directed him at Edwin.

This. Is. Not. Joey's. Fault.

And... rest assured... people will know that. Sooner rather than later.

Finally, because this is the very rock bottom... he only has to go up. And let me say that Wake the Dragons was wonderful for Joey, FUCK KaibaCorp Grand Prix for screwing him over in canon, and he has no limits on how high he will soar.

~MC~MC~MC~

Chaosverse Omake 1

There are many tales in this universe of ours, some ending in light, the heroes are victorious, everyone makes it home.

This is not one of those tales.

"STOPZA"

The old man's voice echoed throughout the ancient badlands. Everything but he ceased to move, to breathe, to think. The only sound to be heard was the haggard breathing of the elderly master, and if ones ears were so atuned. His heartbeat.

As the silence endured Xehanort took a moment to reflect on his organization. The 12 individuals he had infused his heart into. His perfect true Organization. They had all served their roles. Heartless, Nobody and Replica alike. And now all that remained was himself. His whole self. Not merely a fragment like the others.

It was as it should be. Only he had the willpower, the resolve nay the right to do what needed to be done.

With a wave of his hand the 12 keys appeared. Each representing a clash between light and darkness.

With but a thought, the keys coalesced and became one in a brilliant flash of light. If anyone other than the elder had been aware they would have thought day had broken. But soon darkness descended once more upon the Mesa.

Xehanort raised his new key to the sky. The one true X-blade. Kingdom Hearts was summoned. The man that was once 13, the man that had transcended the self, who had bent the laws of time to his own, who had gone where none other had dared to tred in the pursuit of what lay beyond the war.

The man who had a glowing red blade sticking out of his chest.

Xehanorts spell shattered like stained glass.

Time restablished and the wheels of fate started turning once more.

The 3 Keyblade wielders stared in shock. For them it had been a single blink between the King's attempted use of the ultima spell and now this impossible sight before them.

Xehanort standing upon the rocky plateau, blood trailing down the rocks around him. Their enemy of the past decade. Mortally wounded. Dying before their eyes.

And behind him. There was a man.

Blonde, lanky, sporting a circle beard and eyes of cold fire. He wore simple clothing. Nondescript black boots, a grey hooded coat partially unzipped, a faded blue tshirt and faded dark pants. His clothes were worn, tattered. As though he had travelled a great distance wearing the same garments.

The air around the stranger roiled with crimson light. Strange patterns dancing in the air, as though they were weaving in and out of reality.

"You're wondering what's going on I'm sure"

The strange newcomer held his sword casually, as if it weren't currently imbedded in someone's chest. He then continued to speak with an aloof, detached air.

"I could give a long winded story of terror, adventure, love and loss, revenge and all that rot but honestly I lack the ability to care.

"I could go on about how your War was responsible for the deaths of all my family and friends. But again I do not care. I cannot care. Not anymore."

The stranger drew his head closer to the old man, as if he wanted to impart some final secret before the end.

"You see Xehanort. You made one fatal mistake. You assumed in your arrogance that your organization were the only powerful Nobodies in existence, that you were the only one that could do it. That you were the hero of this story. You were wrong.

"Coming back as a Nobody once you become a Heartless is all about willpower. And I have more willpower than any being you will ever meet."

The elder's vision had begun to grey. The edges of his sight closing in, the world became dimmer as though he were sinking under water, drifting down into the depths. His breathing was laboured, slow. His time would come soon.

"Oh and the reason you didn't see me coming? Chaos magic. Lovely little trick I picked up on one of the Earth's I visited. It negates most other magic's and abilities.

"It also bends reality to the will of the user."

And with that the stranger plucked the X-blade from Xehanorts hands. The old man took one last shuddering gasp, and fell still. His last thoughts of shock, confusion and quite simply... Why?

The stranger turned to the 3 remaining keyblade wielders.

He looked them over, an indescribable expression on his face.

The newly ordained Keyblade wielder stared past the Mouse King dismissively and locked eyes once each with both Riku and Sora.

He then spoke one final time.

"Sorry Kids. Lights out."

And with that the stranger brandished the X-blade in the air and vanished in a blinding flash of light.

A moment later under the endless glow of the heart shaped moon.. So did the world.

Introducing Xacosh.

The Chaos of Earth XIII.

AN: No emotions, no friends. No connections. No ethics. No second chances.

Author's Note: Thank you to Majexs1342 for doing this guest omake!

~MC~MC~MC~

Chaosverse Omake 2

Everything felt... off.

He awoke not lying down, for one. Rather he was half inclined, like he'd fallen asleep in a recliner. Except he was bundled up in blankets which is something he never did when sleeping in a chair. Then there was the feeling that the world was so much larger than it should have been...

"Come on Daemon," a man said and he suddenly found himself lifted up in the air, letting out a cry of surprise by the sudden rapid movement. "You get to stay with your cousins today."

"I don't know why we had to bring the dumb baby," a childish voice said and the newly christened Daemon blinked as he looked down to see... Angelica Pickles.

"Now sweetheart, we couldn't leave your brother all alone."

"Ooooooh.... Fuck," Daemon growled in annoyance, though thanks to his squeaky new voice it came out as gibberish. Drew set him down in the playpen next to all the other babies who look at him in interest.

"Look guys! Angelica's parents got another baby from the hopsickle!" Tommy declared.

"He doesn't look very happy," Lil said, reaching out to poke Daemon's cheek. The newly transformed baby glared at her, causing her to jump back. "Uh... I don't think he wants to play with us."

"Aw come on!" Tommy said. "I bet he does! Do you want to play with us?"

Daemon did his best to snarl.

"...maybe he can keep Dil company," Tommy said, the other babies escaping the playpen.

Daemon slowly turned to stare at the baby in question.

"Poopie!" Dil declared, soiling himself before throwing a stuffed bear at the new arrival to let him know that HE was in charge and that Yucky's baby brother was going to do as he wanted! So Dil threw the toy at the other baby...

...who caught it.

"I'm going to kill you," he hissed as he suddenly hurled himself off his pillow. It took some wiggling but he was able to crawl up to Dil and cover his mouth with his hand, looming over the other baby.

"MMMMPF!" Dil squealed but the sound was muffled and no one came.

"I'm going to kill you," Daemon declared. "But first I'll take your rattle and strike you so hard in the throat you can't even cry again." Dil's hands went up to his throat as he saw the murderous gleam in his cousin's eye. "Then I'm going to break your arms and legs so you can't even wiggle without feeling pain. All you will be able to do is sit there, utterly still. And because you are silent your mommy and daddy will have no idea how hurt you are. In fact they are going to be so delighted that you don't wake them up anymore that they will be giddy. Even as you are sleeping in your poop filled diaper and going hungry. Because you won't ever make another sound again. Won't be able to cry, won't be able to warn the others. Because I'm not going to let you go 'bye-bye' so quickly, Dylan. I'm going to make you suffer. I'll find Phil and I'm going to poison him. I think I'll trick him into drinking bleach. Won't that be fun? Watcing that filthy, stinky, sticky little brat gurgle and vomit up blood? Then Lil will take a fall from the stairs. Bam bam bam bam bam. Caved in little head. Chuckie is going to ride in the washing machine... unless he is wise and does exactly what I say. Your brother's best friend helping me hurt all the rest of you. I haven't decided how your mommy and daddy will die but they will, Dil. I'm going to take them away from you. No more hugs, no more kisses. An empty belly and a full diapie in a house with only you in it. You will be all alone... except for Tommy." Dil shook his head but Daemon kept talking. "Yes, just you and Tommy. Well... until I trick him outside in the middle of the night and let you watch from your window as he freezes to death. It won't be fast either, Dil. Do you remember the woods? And the monkeys? It was very cold that night wasn't it? That blankie helped. But there will be no blankie, Dil. Nothing to help him. He'll toddle off and when he realizes how cold it is he'll try to get back in... but I'll have locked the door. And I'll make you watch as he cries and begs you for help and you can't do anything. He'll die thinking you abandoned him. Hmmm. Maybe I'll kill him first and the police will take your mommy and daddy away... and then you'll have to go home with me. We'll get to share a room... just you... and... me."

He leaned towards the other baby.

"I am going to kill everyone you know and you are going to be helpless to stop me. Because you don't truly understand how much I hate all of you. How I HATE being stuck in this body for possibly forever. Dealing with your screams and your cries and your stealing things. So your punishment must be more severe. When all you love is ashes...then... you have my permission to die."

Dil trembled in terror as his cousin reached for a rattle and began to rub it against Dil's throat.

Just as he'd warned him.

"This is my wrath."

INTRODUCING DAEMON PICKLES OF EARTH-91

The most EVIL Chaos in the entire Multiverse