The Golden Apples

Epilogue: Final Ritual of the Ancients

"The situation is resolved," Batman reported. "there is no foreseen repercussion, and with that, my work is done." He turned to leave.

"Wait!" Diana stood. "That's... it? He buried the apple, and gained nothing for it?"

"There was no way to choose," Batman shook his head. "He did what he thought was the right thing."

"Do the gods truly accept that?' Diana demanded. "Answer me."

Batman paused for a moment. "Beauty is subjective. I don't think that, for a moment, Yusei Fudo was going to succeed or survive. So, by the game's rules, he did the best thing, to get out of the game."

"You think this is a game?" Diana echoed numbly.

"No," Batman shook his head. "But the Greek gods seem to think so. So Yusei did the best thing he could; he did not play."

Batman faded in the transporter, leaving a disbelieving Wonder Woman behind and back to a dark city of madness and shadows.

The quartet of them sit by the shores of the Domino Bay, waiting.

"It is a wise decision," Yami said as a wave crashed down on shore not far from him.

"A bit anti-climatic, though," Judai considered.

"Judai Kun, Yusei Kun did what he thought best," Yuugi defended.

Yusei gave a bark of laughter, the sound slightly bitter. "I still feel the need to look over my shoulder each time."

"By doing what you did, you could anger the goddess of discord," Yami shrugged. "However, you did right the balance begun by the discord of the apple. You did what you thought was right."

"Ah," Yusei still did not look convinced.

"I'll be cleaning up from that end," Judai smirked. "But, it'll be easier now, since the tides of war are ebbing."

"There's nothing to do," Yuugi shrugged. "No mystery to solve. Just look forward and don't turn back."

"Yuugi San..." Yusei beamed.

"Say..." Judai pointed. "How come there's two of you? And why are you wearing leather?"

"There's nothing wrong with it!" Yami defended.

Yusei gave a slight chuckle as Judai pointed out how the Game Kings looked like a pair of bondage slave. They were right; look forward, don't turn back, and appreciate everything granted by life. The finger of dawn touched the skies overhead, painting everything in reds and oranges and yellows and the centre was white, representing the light of the future he must walk towards with the weight of the past, and not look back.

Overhead, the sky is lightening.

Conclusione della storia

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