"So, this is it huh?"

Konami, Wisteria, and Alina stood in a dark room. Two coffins lay opened before them, and within them...old foes had appeared once more.

Konami stared at the coffins' contents with a stoic gaze, before reaching for the glowing power cables connected to them. "These two...we should get rid of them, before something happens."

"Would that truly be for the best?" Alina inquired, stopping Konami in his tracks. "They may serve to be valuable allies in the future, Konami-san."

"Allies?" Konami asked indignantly. "Have you already forgotten just how much trouble we were in because of them? No...I suppose you wouldn't, given that at the time you were nothing more than a stringed-"

"Konami-kun!" Wisteria shouted, interrupting the boy's comment. "That's enough. Though I hate to say it, Alina may be right. In this situation, we might need all the allies we can get."

"Surprising." Konami said after a moment. "To think that you would take her side...despite what one of these two once did to you."

"I-It's not about taking her side!" Wisteria sputtered. "We're all on the same side! Besides...these two...they aren't our versions of Freyja and Surtr. If there's a chance they might be different..."

Alina nodded as Wisteria trailed off. "Yes." she said, drawing Konami's gaze. "For all we know, the two may have only acted as they did due to their prolonged exposure to the awakened Odin. If he were not part of the picture..."

"She." Konami corrected. "You should remember, Alina, that it was your body he was using at the time. That being said, shouldn't you know whether or not this theory of yours holds true? These transcenders could have been programmed to act accordingly before Odin was sealed away, after all."

Alina frowned at the words. "I am afraid that my memory whilst possessed is...fragmented, at best. While I do recall the duel between you and I, as well as the events in our world's version of Yggdrasil...when I attempt to remember what happened prior to the Tournament..."

"...you get nothing but static huh?" Konami sighed. "In other words, there's no telling whether or not they'll attack you when you wake up or not."

"What is it you're thinking, Konami-kun?" Wisteria asked, tilting her head curiously as she spoke.

Konami said nothing for a moment, examining both Freyja and Surtr's unmoving forms with deep scowls. "Surtr's one thing, but it's really Freyja that I'm worried about. She's the one who was behind the Transcender problem to begin with, wasn't she...? The one who had taken the skills of the Dark Signers..." he closed his eyes for a moment, weighing the risks of waking either of the two up.

Alina and Wisteria waited patiently, wondering if their "argument" would continue longer than it should. They had already wasted precious time, after all.

"Do what you want. If anything should happen, it's on your heads." Konami said finally, turning on his heel to move away from the coffins. "That being said, by that point Odin will already be...well, there's no need to mention such a half-assed villain."

He turned to step down another hallway, pausing only as Alina's voice trailed after him.

"Konami-san, you're making the right choice." Alina said with a soft smile.

"Just don't make any more trouble for me." he said, and he disappeared into the spiralling abyss.

As his form faded into darkness, Alina couldn't help but sigh. Turning to Wisteria, she offered another small smile.

"I suppose I should thank you as well, Wisteria-san. For both coming along, and offering me your support." Alina said, noting the girl's confused expression.

"I didn't do it for you." Wisteria said with a sour expression. "In fact, I'm still quite upset. Be that as it may, if there's really no way back until we've done what he wanted...then I'd rather we have the resources to do it as quickly and effectively as possible!" The girl scowled for a moment before making to continue. "And, though I'm sure this goes unsaid...if for some reason Konami-kun does fall prey to the thing that man sent us here to retrieve in the first place...know that nothing on this planet, or any planet for that matter, will stop me from bringing down all hell upon you and your...employer. Not only is it his fault that we're here in the first place, but because of it, Konami-kun is..." she shook her head, and made to chase after her angry friend.

Alina watched her disappear down the same hallway before moving to finish Wisteria's earlier statement. "...in a bad mood? I couldn't tell."

That was a lie.

She totally could, but Alina had to admit that the anger was justified. The sudden revelation and call to action had come in a less-than-stellar fashion, and given that they'd practically flung it on Konami - and Wisteria by association - without even gaining his cooperation, it was understandable than he'd be less than welcoming to any interactions with herself and Z-One, at least for some time. Despite that however, Alina was certain that they'd be able to succeed in their mission. The mission given to them by Z-One; the mission that would give them a fighting chance against the approaching threat of the Vylon; the mission...that brought them to a world not their own.

Yu-Gi-Oh: Tag Force

Learning to Duel

Arc Ten - Chapter Ten

FINAL

Some time earlier...

"Z-One..." Konami mused, staring at the mechancial figure floating before him. "...I hadn't expected to see you for another six months."

"Yes. I too, had originally not meeting with you until the dawn of the coming year, but alas, recent circumstances have altered my plans...and our fate." Z-One responded. His lone human eye glanced over to Alina, and the girl moved quickly to retrieve a thin, paper file from the front seat of Wisteria's limo. She handed it to Konami.

"The "recent circumstances", I take it?" Konami asked, raising a brow before opening the file.

"Yes." Z-One said. "The file contains images taken by my satellite. You will be interested, I think, in what they show."

"Nothing good I bet." Konami muttered in reply, but he thumbed through the contents regardless.

What he found were pictures. Pictures of deep space, reflecting the dark, empty void throughout which the worlds travesered each and every day. But that was not all the pictures held. Though it was obscure, Konami could make out several metallic sheens in the pictures...and a familiar pair of gleaming red eyes.

Eyes...that were attached to a large, golden figure.

"Disigma." Konami noted. "Then the Vylon, they're moving? I had thought they wouldn't even begin their approach until next year? You said that they wouldn't even wake up until next year!"

"I had miscalculated." Z-One admitted. "What I told you was based on my previous experiences with the machines, my previous encounters amongst the many timelines. However, I did not account for the subtle differences between those worlds and yours, nor, it seems...did I account for the astounding ones. After all, in those worlds...you had never ventured to the island of Ragnarok."

The reminder of Ragnarok, and the tower it held stirred something from deep within Konami; an image of his final battle with the madman behind its construction.

"Odin. My duel with him...he'd summoned Disigma, and I'd destroyed it." Konami realized. "I hadn't realized...I'd thought it as an isolated incident, but that knowledge..."

"Yes. It would seem news of its destruction has reached the true Disigma, and has unsettled it enough for it move earlier than we anticipated." Z-One murmured.

"That duel with Odin was quite a few months ago, Z-One." Konami replied. "How long do we have until the Vylon show up?"

"Based on previous loops, the Vylon have always come from Deep Spaces. Voids that even we have not discovered, and yet...they have already entered our Solar System. At this rate, it is likely they will arrive in less than a month."

"L-Less than a month?!" Wisteria shouted, unable to remain quiet any longer. "Are you insane?! Why did you wait so long to tell us?! How are we supposed to prepare for anything in such a small time?!"

Konami stared at Z-One. "She's right you know. You should have said something. The fact that you didn't however...don't tell me you have a plan?"

"Always." Z-One said. "And, like always, it begins with you."

"Uh oh," Konami said with a frown, "not sure I like where this is headed."

"Do you remember what I told you long ago?" Z-One asked, ignoring Konami's words as he spoke. "The number of times I looped to go about creating this timeline...?"

Konami nodded. "Yeah, how could I forget? It was during that same conversation that you told me what I am, what I...really...am." he glanced over to Alina. "Does she know?"

"If you are referring to your existence as a Vylon, then yes." Alina said, answering for Z-One. "However, my knowledge is not relevant to this conversation. It would seem that yours, however, is. Please Konami-san, Z-One's question..."

Konami stared at Alina for several long seconds before nodding once more. "...Yeah, you're right. Anyway, you asked how many loops you went through, right?" he asked, confirming the question with Z-One. "There's no way I could forget. After all, from how you described it, that's the same number of times you failed to save this planet. The same number of times...that I contributed to its destruction. And that number was..."

Three Million, Four Hundred Fifty Nine Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty Two.

Wisteria and Alina's eyes widened in astonishment.

"So many?!"

"But how-?"

Z-One's sharp gaze cut them both off. "Yes. Over Three Million. Over Three Million times have I attempted to save this realm from destruction at the Vylon's hands, and over Three Million times have I failed. However...not all of those times where in thisparticular time stream."

Konami blinked. "What do you mean by that?"

"What I mean...is that the Ark Cradle was designed for the purpose of traversing backwards and forwards through time. However, unbeknownst to me until recently, is the fact that it has also developed the unusual ability...to move across."

"Across?" Wisteria inquired. "You don't mean...?"

"Yes. What I am referring to, is the ability to visit, and more importantly, affect, parallel dimensions." Z-One explained. "Though I had not realized it at first, at least several times has the Ark Cradle moved me in such fashions, though I had not understood why those worlds were so different until recently."

"While the ability to visit parallel universes is...astounding, to say the least," Konami said, "I don't see what any of that has to do with defeating the Vylon here and now."

"It is, in fact, quite simple." Z-One explained. "There are powers in other worlds that no longer, or have never, existed here. Powers that, if utilized correctly, could be used to control, if not outright destroy, the current threat."

"What he means to say is, that by using the Ark Cradle to visit these parallel dimensions and gain access to these abilities, even if only for a moment, we may be able to discover a way to destroy the Vylon, something that has thus far proven impossible." Alina simplified.

"Believe me," Wisteria huffed, "we get it."

"So," Konami said, "just what type of power is it you were looking for? It's gotta be something pretty amazing if it can stand on par with the Vylon."

"It is." Z-One confirmed. "Though it is a power, no - an entity that no longer exists in this world's timeline, it does exist in another world...one that I am certain you and your female companion are most familiar with, in fact."

As Konami and Wisteria blinked in confusion at the words, only to understand as the room glowed and a large, paper manuscript appeared in front of them. Across the top of the first page, where words Konami thought he would never say in front of one such as Z-One, at least unless Enzo was present, that was.

Why? Because the words emblazoned across the top of the manuscript were none other than -

"EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!" Wisteria shrieked, ripping the manuscript out of the air and gripping it tightly. "You mean this thing actually exists?! As a place?! As a, a -"

"-an alternate reality?" Alina offered. "Yes. I know it may be hard for you to believe, Wisteria-san. But yes, there does in fact exist a version of you that does not adore your precious "Konami-kun." I have seen it for myself. The reason I have been gone for so long was because I was, in fact, verifying this world's existence. Coincidentally, it was due to my many ventures into the multiverse that your friend, Enzo I believe, picked up on its existence as well. Though I doubt he realized what he was doing at the time, I believe that some part of him managed to observe the events as they were happening, and recorded them in what was to be your "story of a lifetime.""

"Well, it wouldn't be the first time Enzo's shown otherworldly prowess." Konami muttered. "He did, after all, manage to summon his Sacred Phoenix as a real thing back at the Nazca Lines..."

"That idiot's always getting involved with strange things..." Wisteria murmured softly. "Eh - wait a moment! You mean to say that this..."Learning to Duel" universe actually exists? Then that means...that means...a version of me really did throw Konami-kun off a large, icy tower?! The Nerve! The Audacity! Why, I have half a mind to - no, not half a mind, all of it! I will re-educate this bitc-"

"Wisteria's desire to kill herself aside..." Konami murmured, "...if I remember correctly, this..."Learning to Duel" Universe is still in my Duel Academy years. Even more than that, barely done with the first year. Is that the same time we'd be sent to?"

"Give or take." Z-One said. "It is slightly following that time that the entity we need becomes available, thus..."

"...wait." Konami said. "Slightly after my first year? In other words...my second year there? I'm not aware of any powerful entity that would-" he cut himself off. As a matter of fact, he did know of an entity that existed during that time. Or rather, that is to say he knew of an entity that became far more proactive during that time. In fact, during all of his second year, there was only one real force that could be seen as something obtainable, since Jaden's "Gentle Darkness" was less of a power than it was a mindset, and force of will. Konami's eyes steeled as he realized just what it was Z-One sought. "No. You couldn't possibly - you wouldn't dare-"

"I have been through many loops, Konami." Z-One said. "And though your DARK-aligned Allies of Justice are powerful...they have failed far too often when faced against the Vylon threat. Therefore, it is my belief that to face a force of great light, another power of great light is required. In this case...to face a light that represents, or at least, once represented peace and equality...we need a light that subjugates, and destroys."

Wisteria's eyes widened in disbelief as she finally understood what the two were talking about.

"Yes." Z-One said, his lone eye narrowing bitterly as he spoke. "The power I intend for you to gain...is that of the Light of Destruction."

"I refuse!" Konami shouted. "You have know idea what kind of mayhem that'd bring into our world! It wouldn't help us at all, it'd just make things that much worse!"

"This would be true, if it were not for my belief that you are capable of controlling such a power." Z-One said. "The Light of Destruction was only such a threat due to its ability to possess and manipulate the minds of others. As a Vylon however, you are immune to its corrosive abilities. You would not, as so many others have said before..."see the light.""

"No way. No way am I taking that thing's power!" Konami argued. "Do you have any idea what could happen if you're wrong?! If I'm somehow...taken...and make it back here?! The havoc I could wreak? The number of people I could take?! It'd be the Society of Light all over again!"

"That is why I shall be tagging along with you." Alina said. "In the event that you do, somehow, fall under the Light's influence, I will be there to defeat you."

"Sorry if I doubt your capability of beating me in a duel." Konami grunted, folding his arms as he spoke. "Even if there were two, no - three of you..."

"Do you require a demonstration?" Alina asked with narrowed eyes.

"Should we?" Konami asked. "I don't think I'd be able to handle seeing you in tears."

"Rest assured, Konami-san, that if we were to duel, you would be the one left crying." Alina said with a smile.

"Enough! I did not bring you here to duel." Z-One said. "You may disagree with me, Konami, but the decision has been made. You will gain the power of the Light of Destruction, and you will use it to destroy the Vylon of this age. The process, after all, has already begun."

The room glowed brightly at his words, and Konami's eyes widened in surprise.

"What do you mean, it's already begun-?"

His words were cut off as everything vanished in a wave of light.

And that had been the end of it. He, Alina and Wisteria had woken up in a Yggdrasil, one that Alina confirmed was not their own. Konami's reaction had been...less than stellar. Even more astounding however was when he learned that until he had completed the objective, there was, in fact, no way home.

Granted, Alina had not expected Z-One to use the Ark Cradle without at least ensuring Konami's cooperation, but given that they had already arrived...

The sound of the lights turning on broke Alina's thoughts. Power flooded the tower, and with it, the activation of the Transcenders began. As she watched the coffins brim with energy, Alina turned back toward the now glowing hallway Konami had retreated down, and frowned.

And so it begins...She thought.

Actually, it was already over. Without a host body to make use of (his attempts to possess Wisteria (who we should note Konami was not all that pleased with either, given that she should have known what Odin would try) had been met with extreme resistance, and several questions as to just why he liked entering women so much (not in that way you creepy pervert)) Odin had been far too easy to defeat, especially when one considered that since he was not a legitimate Duel Spirit, he did not have access to a Spiritual Deck.

Despite that, his destruction did little to soothe the worries of our time(or universe, given the circumstances)-displaced hero.

He'd been tricked, goaded, manipulated into retrieving, saving, obtaining the one power in the world he loathed more than all else.

Z-One had to have known he'd refuse. The man had seen over Three Million versions of him after all, how could he not?

Still, it was not even the betrayal, no matter how righteous, that upset the boy the most. No, it was the fact that he'd have to deal with them again. The Cult. The ones who had taken everything from him, and pushed him and what little friends he had left at the time to the brink of despair. The Society of Light, run by a wicked, foul entity in the guise of his now decent acquaintance - Sartorius. An entity that he was now expected to save, and, far more importantly, use.

"Konami-kun?" Wisteria's voice rang through the chamber, drawing his attention. "Are you alright?"

He grunted. "What do you think? You know what it did, Wisteria. You know what it's capable of. And despite all that, they expect me to - forget it. I have no intention of bringing that...thing, back to our world."

"And yet, if you don't, the Vylon will..." Wisteria trailed of.

Another grunt.

"A lesser of two evils, huh?" Konami mused. "Z-One claims I'll be immune to it, but how can we be sure about that? It's shown us before that it's capable of affecting Duel Spirits. What it did to Yubel is proof of that much."

"And Jaden got through to Yubel, didn't he?" Wisteria inquired. "She's now a trusted comrade of yours."

"And it took Jaden fusing with her, permanently I might add, for that to happen." Konami grunted.

"Well," Wisteria said, "if you're looking for volunteers-"

"I'm not."

Wisteria sighed. "Look, Konami-kun. I'm not saying that Z-One is right. As far as I'm concerned, that man has proven himself untrustworthy, and if-" Konami glared at her, "when we return, if you want to beat the living daylights out of him, then rest assured that I'll be right there beside you, helping you do it. That being said, this is an opportunity. You and I both know how our second year went. The Light took over everything, and nearly the entire school was inducted into Sartorious' little...club. It was only due to Jaden's last minute duel with Sartorius, which I still don't believe you didn't have a part in, I might add, that everything ended up okay. This time, it doesn't have to be that way. You know who the threat is. You know where they are, how they act, and most importantly, who they'll target. Though our second year at Duel Academy was crap...this world's doesn't have to be. That other version of you...he lost his close friend this year, didn't he?"

"...I didn't think you'd know that." Konami said.

"Humpf. Believe it or not, Konami-kun, I did read all of Enzo's little fanfic." Wisteria drawled. "This world's version of you...I think he deserves at least one good school year. Especially considering that our third year is even worse than his first. If his is a darker version of everything we've already gone through, then..."

"...You don't have to say anymore." Konami sighed. "I already know what you really want."

"E-Eh?"

"You said it earlier, remember?" Konami told her. "To "reeducate" this world's version of you. You're not fooling anyone. Though...you do realize that she's in a coma right now, don't you?"

"T-That's irrelevant!" Wisteria said, stamping her foot angrily. "I'll wake her up if need be! What that woman did cannot be allowed to stand! The fact that she'd even think it'd be okay to throw someone off a tower, much less the way she treated her "supposed" friend Kami, not that I'd be seen with that two-bit elitist in the first place mind you, oh, and then there's that whole scene when she's becoming a Vampire of all things! She really has no restraint!"

"She's similar to you in that regard." Konami pointed out.

"D-Don't be ridiculous!" Wisteria shouted. "The only similarity between us is our names, and even that will be different soon enough! After all, I doubt nurses would let a second Wisteria Fujiwara into her hospital room now would they?"

"You never know," Konami said, thankful for the change in topic, "if you pretend to be her mother-"

"As if I'd ever treat that little devil spawn as something that came from my womb!" Wisteria roared, incensed. "I intend to pound her you know?! Worse than I did that Enzo."

"Speaking of, you need to apologize to him when we get back." Konami said.

"H-Hah?!" Wisteria sputtered, reeling back in surprise.

Konami narrowed his eyes at her. "You heard Alina. It's not his fault that you wound up like you did in this world. It's not just a fanfiction. You have no one to blame but yourself. Well, this version of you. And whoever raised her, of course."

"Father..." Wisteria muttered.

"Well, not that it matters." Konami said. "In all honesty, it'd probably be better if you stay away from yourself while we're here."

Wisteria blinked. "And why is that exactly?"

"Well, something bad might happen if you two meet you know?" Konami explained. "The universe might collapse in on itself, or the two of you might cease to exist. I don't know all the specifics, but generally, meeting yourself is never a good thing."

"-That would be true, if we were still in our own timeline." Alina said, appearing in the room warily as she spoke.

Konami frowned at her appearance. "Alina. Wake up your pet Transcenders yet?"

"No..." Alina said softly. "I...was going to wait until I had the opportunity to analyze them before moving forward on my decision to utilize the pair as allies. I believe that would be...a more suitable decision."

"Maybe." Konami agreed bitterly. "At least this way you can make sure they're not a threat."

"Konami-san, I...I feel as though I must apologize for these turn of events. I didn't realize Z-One was going to-"

"-You don't have anything to apologize for." Konami grunted. "It's him I'm upset with. You don't know just what it is Z-One's got us dealing with, but you'll find out soon enough, and when you do, you'll realize just why I'm so pissed off."

"I...I see." Alina said. "In that case, may I ask what it is you intend to do?"

"Let me start by being clear." Konami said. "The Light of Destruction is far too dangerous to bring back to our world, and I have no intention of doing so. Z-One claims that we don't have a way back unless I do as he says and take it, but I don't believe that for a second. He's put far too much work into creating our timeline to let it all go to hell without a backup plan, and I'm sure he's got one or two in order to get us out of here in case things go to hell. That being said...despite my anger, coming all this way and doing nothing seems like a waste."

"What do you mean?" Alina asked with a frown.

"Wisteria here has convinced me to do a little meddling," Konami said, "and, given that you yourself have just confirmed that bothering myself in this timeline won't bring about the apocalypse..."

Alina nodded once more to confirm that fact.

"...I think we're gonna have a bit of fun." Konami said.

Wisteria blinked. "Then, that means that I'm allowed to...?"

Konami nodded.

"And you're gonna...?" Wisteria continued.

Again, Konami nodded.

"Our second year was bad enough as it was. Since this world is a grim, if not humourous take on ours at times..." Konami mused, "...then I'm gonna make sure that this version of me is up for the task."

"And how might I ask do you intend to do that?" Alina inquired.

Konami smirked. "Well I'll tell you one thing." he said. "I'm gonna start...by giving him Synchro."

The power of the future, traversing dimensions! With the Ark Cradle's new power, Z-One banishes Konami and co. to a world unlike their own! Denying his mission and swearing to defeat the Light of Destruction once more, will Konami succeed in his goals, or will Z-One's own machinations put him back in line? And what of Wisteria's own malicious intentions toward...Wisteria?! Will her "re-education" idea bear fruit, or will it crash and burn?! Find out, next time on - what do you mean it's the last chapter?! Tell them to read "Learning to Shine" you say?! But they already are?! Gah! I can tell this is gonna be a pain! Well, until LtS' next chapter, this is Hiyuusha - signing out!

Yu-Gi-Oh: Tag Force

Learning to Duel

FINISH

Oh, and be sure to check out the more lighthearted version of this dark tale - Yu-Gi-Oh! Tag Force: Breaking the Rules!