"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
Mash plummeted through a vortex with twisting chaotic black and white patterns. for a second, Mash thought that he'll be falling in this place for all eternity.
Until finally, Mash could feel as he was spat out from the spiral black portal and fall from a ceiling.
"Ugh!" Mash hit the carpeted floor of Jaden's dorm room with a heavy thud.
Then, Mash just lay there on the floor, feeling numb.
He turned and looked at the ceiling with a blank expression, remembering the insanity a few moments ago and how he somehow survived all of it.
[Shadow duel... spirit duel... and lastly... those storyboards group or something...]
He let out a long, exhausted sigh.
[But at least we made it out alive...]
"This world... shall be reset."
[Safe and sound—]
"And all of this is happening... because of you."
"WOAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!"
Mash didn't even get to finish the thought before a black portal appeared right above him and a body came crashing down from it.
"GAHK!!!" Mash wheezed as Jaden fell on top of his chest.
"Ugh... it hurts, but luckily, something cushioned my fall..." Jaden rubbed his head, until he was shocked on what he landed on. "MASH!?"
"Fuck you, shmaden." Mash said as flat as a paper.
"Dude! Are you okay, man!?" Jaden leaned down, worried.
Before Mash could answer, a swirling black portal appeared again right above them, and this time a blue bush was spat out of it.
"WAAAHHHH!!!" Syrus screamed as he tumbled down, and crashing on Jaden's back to which he fall to Mash chest again.
"Ugh!" All of them grunted.
"Wa-wa-wa-wa!" Syrus panicked, "Sorry, Jay!"
"It's fine, Sy! It's not like you're as heavy as—"
Another portal opened above them.
"CHUMLEY!?"
Jaden shouted just before the fattest of the group spat out of the portal.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!" The boys screamed.
THUD!
A moment later, a much smaller black portal opened up on the ceiling beside them.
"O ho ho ho~!"
Lovely shot out from the portal and landed gracefully with a "Hup~"
Then another portal opened above her, this time Alexis came out of it together.
"KYAAAAHHH!!!" Alexis screamed as she falls down from the portal, luckily, Lovely manage to caught her in her arms.
"Well, well, well~ Looks like I caught myself a princess~ Ho ho~" Lovely teased.
"Yeah. Thanks, Miss Lab," Alexis said, before she stepped out of Lovely's arms and dusted herself off.
"Hohoho~ No problem, sweetheart~" Lovely said with a soft chuckle. Then she turned toward the mountain of groaning boys. "Now then..."
"what exactly happened to you guys?"
"Urgh..." They all groaned, with Mash flattened like a cartoon character on the very bottom.
---
Psshhhh....
The soft hiss of tea filled the Dorm room as Lovely carefully poured hot tea into each cup.
She then begin serving tea to everyone in the room.
"One for Lexy~," Lovely said cheerfully.
"Thanks," Alexis replied with a small smile, she accepts the tea as she sat on the lower bunk.
"One for Sy-boy~"
"Uh-uhm... th-thanks," Syrus stuttered while taking his cup.
Lovely then looked up towards the top bunk, "One for the fatty."
"Hey!" Chumley protested, though his tone lacked bite. He sighed and reached down for his cup. "...But thanks."
"And one for the furball, the sunshine boy, and the fraud."
"Kuri! Kuri!" Winged Kuriboh chirped happily as Lovely placed a cup before him.
"Thanks, miss!" Jaden grinned from where he sat cross-legged on the floor.
"Ah, thank you... though those words seem... a little harsh, don't you think?" Flame Wingman chuckled awkwardly as he poured the tea into his dragon mouth.
"And finally... last but not least, one for my Darling~!"
Mash didn't respond, as he sat slouched on the chair by the desk and his gaze was locked towards the carpet floor. Mash usual mischievous demeanor was gone, replaced by a hollow look.
"..." Lovely looked at her with a knowing expression, she sighed and placed the cup beside him without another word.
"Hey, Mash!" Jaden spoke up, trying to sound cheerful. "Come on, cheer up, would ya? After all, we just—UMPH!"
Before he could finish, Lovely's fingers pinched his lips shut, as she glares murderously at Jaden.
"READ. THE. FUCKING. ROOM. JADEN." She said calmly.
"Mm, mm, mm!" (Alright, chill, chill!) Jaden raise his hands up in surrender.
Then, the room fell silent again, with only the sound of sipping tea be heard across the room.
Mash didn't even say a thing, all that is on his mind is just what happened last night, and what The storyboards said.
When he finally lifted his eyes, he caught Syrus looking at him... only for Syrus to glance away immediately.
Chumley was lying on his side on the very top of the bunk bed, pretending to rest, though Mash could feel his eyes occasionally flick toward him.
Jaden, Alexis, Lovely, and the other sipped their tea quietly, each pretending the atmosphere wasn't suffocating.
No one wanted to be the first to speak.
Until.
"Mash..." Alexis broke ice. "What they said... about you and Miss Lab not being from this world... is it true?"
"ALEXIS!" lovely snapped at Alexis, but Mash lifted a hand weakly to stop her.
"It's fine," Mash said with a tired voice. "I think this is something that should be explained."
Mash doesn't answer immediately, he sighed heavily, as if hesitant to tell them the truth.
"Yes," Mash finally admitted. "Lovely and I... we're not from this world."
The room went completely silent, no one even dared breath for a second.
Mash lifted his eyes to slowly looked around at everyone, some have shocked expression, some have disbelief and some of them has fear in their eyes.
"So..." Syrus's hands trembled slightly. "Does that mean... what they said about the world being reset is..."
"Yes. It's true." Mash nodded, "But don't worry, even if it happens, the only change it will make is removing me and Lovely from existence. Everything else will go back to normal."
"What do you mean normal?!" Jaden snapped. "So you're fine with being deleted?!"
"I don't want to be deleted," Mash said softly. "And I sure as hell don't want Lovely to disappear with me either."
"Darling..." Lovely's voice broke through the tension, but Mash only clenched his fists tighter.
"Which is why... I've decided." Mash stood up to announce. "I'll be leaving Duel Academy."
"WHAT!?" Everyone shouted.
"This is the only way for things to go back to normal," Mash continued. "So... Lovely, do you mind?"
"Nah~ I don't mind." Lovely said with a smile. "Wherever you go, Darling, I'll always follow."
Mash nodded then turned to walk toward the door.
"Guess this is goodbye, it was fun while it lasted."
No one spoke, none of them seemed to want to object or stop him when Mash take a few steps towards the door, except.
"Hold up!" Jaden stepped in front of him, blocking the way.
Mash frowned. "Jaden..."
"Is this really your answer?" Jaden demanded. "Running away from Duel Academy? And what do you even mean by 'everything goes back to normal if you leave'?!"
Mash clenched his fist. [Tch, I can't let him know that this world is an anime taking place in Duel Academy.]
"I can't tell you," Mash said coldly. "Now move."
"Nu-uh!" Jaden spread his arms wide, refusing to budge. "You're not going anywhere until you explain everything!"
"Tch! Don't you get it, Jaden?!" Mash was annoyed at this dumb ass protagonist. "The world will reset if I stay, and if I leave, it'll be fine! So move!"
"And how do you know that!?"
"That's...!" Mash hesitated, searching for words. "They said that I'm the reason the world's unbalanced! So if I go, the problem goes with me! So there would be no problem!"
"But what if there's a problem!?"
"Then you handle it!" Mash shot back. "I'm sure you can handle it, you beat Titan who is a shadow duelist in a duel, so you definitely can solve any problem coming your way! You don't need me here, Jaden!"
"But, what if I need help? Your help, Mash."
"What!?" Mash blinked, "That's impossible—"
"It's possible." Jaden looked straight to Mash eyes. "Like that time you and lovely fought against Grapha alone so we could all escape, I literally can't do anything there but run away, and if it weren't for Miss Labrynth that time... I would've been dead!"
"We managed to escaped the Storygroup because of you. And during my duel with Titan, if you hadn't given me info about Grapha's effect, that duel could've gone bad real fast."
"Nope." Mash shook his head.
"What I'm saying is," Jaden raise his voice, "If it weren't for you there, things could've ended badly for all of us. You say you're the cause of problems, and yet, you're the one who's been saving everyone this whole time."
Mash paused a bit, the words hit deeper than he expected.
"Look, man, as long as you're here, I know everything's going to be alright." Jaden said with a determined face.
"That's bullshit, Jaden," Mash muttered, though his anger felt hollow. "Last warning. Move."
"No!" Jaden barked back. "You must be really stressed, right!? don't have to carry this problem all alone, Mash! How about you let us share it for once, huh? Right, guys!?"
Jaden turned towards everyone in the room, who started to look at Mash in a different light.
"Y-yeah!" Syrus stood up, voice trembling but firm. "You always keep stuff bottled up, Mash! Like that time we found out you're allergic to shellfish and you almost died because you didn't tell anyone!"
"Then there's a part of you who always dodge questions or straight up lied when questioned." Alexis said sharply, Maybe if you actually tell us what's wrong this time, we can help you."
"Kuri! Kuri!" Winged Kuriboh chirped in agreement.
"A true Hero never runs from the challenge before him! No matter how tall it is!" Flame Wingman crossed his arms proudly. "And to me, everyone here is a Hero, including you, Mash Junior. So don't give up, just yet!"
"See Mash?" Jaden smiled, hope shining in his eyes. "No matter if the stakes is the world getting reset or even destroyed, as long as you're here with us, every problem can be solved. So..."
He reached out his hand toward Mash.
"So don't go, dude. We need you."
Mash stared at the hand, at the warmth behind it, the sincerity, and for the first time in his life, he felt something he'd never really felt before.
Needed.
Lovely watched him from across the room with a smile.
Until... something clicks on Mash.
[Wait... needed...?]
Mash paused for a bit, until a neuron fired off his brain, and finally... everything clicks.
"Ahahaha..." Mash chuckled.
"?" Jaden was kind of freaked out. "Uh... dude?"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I SEE!!! I FINALLY GET IT!!!" Mash suddenly burst into manic laughter, throwing his head back like a mad scientist. "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! YES! YOU ALL NEED MY HELP!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
Everyone stared at Mash like he has gone mad.
"Is he okay?" Alexis asked Jaden.
"Unfortunately, yes." Jaden answered. "But hey, at least he's back to normal, kinda."
"LOVELY LOVELY HEAR ME OUT!!!" Mash sprinted at Lovely and grab both her shoulder.
"Uhh… Darling~? What's gotten into you?" Even Lovely is freaked out.
"THEY'RE GIVING NUKES TO EVERYONE!" Mash shouted completely serious.
"What."
"THEY'RE GIVING NUKES TO THE LIKES OF STALLIN AND HITLER, LOVELY!"
Then it finally clicks, "OOOOHHH!!! I get it now~! But… REALLY!???"
"YES!!!" Mash shouted. "AND YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO!? WE'RE GONNA BUILD OUR OWN NUKE—AND NUKE THEM BACK!!!"
"OHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO~!!!!! BRILLIANT IDEA, DARLING~!"
"I KNOW RIGHT!? GYAHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!!!!"
"OHOHOHHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO~!!!!"
"GYAHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOOHOHO!!!!"
"We're gonna get a noise complaint at this rate." Syrus commented.
"We already did..." Jaden looked at his PDA full of other Slifer Red students messaging Jaden dorm to shut the fuck up.
"I SEE WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO YOU STORYBOARDS RETARDS!!! JUST SO YOU KNOW...! I CAN PLAY YOUR GAME, GYAHOHOHOHOHO!!!"
BLAK!
"CAN YOU PLEASE SHUT UP!!!" Alexis hit Mash on the back of his head with a book.
---
"Hm... it seems he already got it."
In a pitch-black conference room stretched endlessly, with an impossibly long table reaching into the void. At the very end sat The Editor, calmly sipping her coffee, and watching Mash from a screen in the wall.
"BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!! OUR PLAN IS NOW IN FULL ACTION!!!" The Director cheered, jumping up onto the table like an overexcited child.
"This is indeed… a joyous moment," The Narrator murmured softly, her voice smooth and serene. "The Storyboards shall now begin… Phase Two of the plan."
"BUT ENOUGH OF THE SPOILERS, NARRA-SIS!!!" The Director yelled, striking a dramatic pose. "EDI-SIS! SPOIL US PLEASE WITH OUR CHANGE IN THE SCRIPT!!"
The Editor set down her cup and glanced at the glowing wall-screen. "It seems the storyline has shifted—for the better, at least. Take a listen."
[THE QUEEN OF THE SILVER CASTLE...! I SUMMON {LOVELY LABRYNTH OF THE SILVER CASTLE}!!!]
[OHOHOHOHOHO~ IT IS I..! LOVELY LABRYNTH IN THE FLESH~! O HO HO HO~!!!]
[A new hero has arrived...! TO SAVE THE DAY!!!]
[I'm no longer the timid person I used to be! I'll create a clear path... TOWARD VICTORY!!!]
[AHAHAHAHAHA...!!! KNEEL... FOR THE TRUE LORD OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS...!]
[I... Have become a KING! A TRUE GOLDEN KING!!! WAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!]
[Don't underestimate me! With this ritual completed, MANIFEST YOURSELF THROUGH ME-]
"And, I think that should be enough of a clarification...." The Editor said, sipping her coffee.
"The Narrator asked... is this wise to show this much...?"
"BWAHAHAHAHA!!! LIKE THEY'D UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS MEAN!!!" The Director dismissed.
The Editor smirked faintly. "Either way…" She stood, setting her mug down with a quiet clink.
"It's time to work."
____________________________
Fuh... finally done, this is the hardest chapter for me to make.
And also... next arc is really close too! And I could definitely say that it's my magnum opus.
Also, on a unrelated note: I FUCKING HATE SYRUS!!!!!!!!
HE IS SO USELESS JUST LIKE THAT FATASS CHUMLEY!!! IN THE ANIME ALL HE COULD DO IS BE A DISSAPOINTMENT EVEN THOUGH THEY ALWAYS TEASED HIM WITH BEING A POTENTIAL MAN.
AND ALSO, HIS VEHICROID DECK IS SHIT! Unless you use a certain submarine strategy, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, IF YOU USE A PURE VEHICROID DECK ITS SO SHITTY, OH MY GODDDDDDDD!!! Worst mistake of my life is buying Syrus fucking deck when I was a kid.
So anyway, THE NEXT ARC HAS GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH SYRUS!
AND YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CONTINUE READING THIS FIC WITH HATING SYRUS IN YOUR MIND, CHIAO!!!