Episode 23: Total Chaos Part 3

Apophis says, "This is it. Go Chaos-Tech Imperial Dragon, Chaos Storm!"

Yuni interrupts, "I activate Seal of the Brave! In order to activate this card I must discard my hand. The effect of this card negates the effects of all monsters on the field." An ornate ring wraps around each monster on the field. "Also I get to draw a card for every effect that was negated." Yuni draws three cards.

Apophis continues, "Unfortunate, but I can still win. Go Imperial Dragon, attack with Chaos-End Destruction!" Imperial Dragon unleashes a torrent of darkness at Cyber-Tech Magician."

"I activate my second face-down, Cyber-Tech Spellbook of Invincibility! This card makes it so that all Cyber-Tech Magician monsters I control can't be destroyed by battle this turn."

"Alright, fine. It would appear that you have blocked all of my possible moves. So I guess I will just end my turn (Apophis' hand: 3)."

Before Yuni draws he thinks in panic, I was really counting on that last draw for something I could use. I took a risk and discarded Cyber-Tech Spellbook of Destruction and while I may have drawn a pretty good new hand, there is still nothing I can do as long as Apep has Yin Force. I'm all out of stalling cards. This draw is my last.

Yugi says, Then you better believe in the Heart of the Cards, and then maybe you can draw what you need.

How many times must I tell you. That is only a philosophy, it won't actually help me.

Why don't you give it a try, you have nothing to lose, and who knows, you might just learn something.

Alright. Fine. We'll play it your way this time. Yuni takes a deep breath and puts his hand above his deck. Heart of the Cards, guide this draw. I believe.

Suddenly Yuni's hand begins to glow a brilliant golden light. A voice, the voice from Yuni's dreams booms out in Yuni's mind, Chosen hero, the time is now! Use the power of Chaos and win this duel! Restore the Balance of Chaos!

The top card of Yuni's deck begins to glow gold also. Yuni draws the card, leaving a trail of light as he adds the glowing card to his hand. Apophis objects, "What is this madness!? Blasphemy! That was a Chaos Draw! How dare you mock the power of Chaos by pretending to wield it!? You disgust me!"

Yuni, sounding surprised, says, "This is no joke. That was an actual Chaos Draw." Yuni then thinks, But a lot of good it did me. All it gave me was Swap Force. All that card can do is replace a card on my opponent's field.

Yugi exclaims, That's it! We've got to use it on Yin Force!

Why? This card only works if I can first declare a card that is in my opponent's deck, we have no clue about the cards in Apep's deck.

I've actually been thinking about that. You know that dark aura coming from Yin Force?

Yeah, what about it?

Haven't you noticed that it spread to Apep when he first played the card?

Now that you mention it, you're right. And since that happened he's been acting a lot darker.

Well that had me thinking, if that card could affect him negatively, then maybe another card could bring him back to being good.

It all works in theory, but we still don't know what that card's name is.

I was thinking about that too. Remember what Apep said when he summoned his Imperial Dragon?

Yuni thinks for a second and then exclaims in his mind, That's it! For every yin there is a yang! I know what to do now. Yuni returns his attention to the duel and says, "I'm bringing you back Apep! I activate Swap Force! This card allows me to pick a face up card on your side of the field and switch it with a card of the same type from your deck. I will have you switch your Yin Force for Yang Force!"

Apophis demands, "What is this foolery?" The yin on Apophis' field disappears and is replaced by a yang. Out of the yang emerges a white energy. The energy spreads out and surrounds Apophis' monsters and then him. "What do you hope to accomplish by…"

Yuni asks, "Apep, are you okay?"

Apep answers quietly, "I am now Yuni, I am now."

Yuni exclaims, "Apep! Is it really you? Are you back?"

"Yes Yuni, thanks to you I can think clearly for the first time in years."

"I knew that wasn't really you Apep, I knew you would never actually be evil. What happened to you?"

Apep stops for a second and then says, "I'll tell you what Yuni, let's finish this duel, for old times sake, then I will answer any question you have. Something tells me your about to pull of a master move."

"Okay Apep, let's finish this."

"Before we start, allow me to explain the effect of Yang Force. Instead of supporting dark monsters, it supports light monsters. Instead of preventing destruction by card effects, it prevents destruction by battle and instead of preventing battle damage it prevents effect damage. Now please, continue your move."

"Alright. I switch my Cyber-Tech Magician to attack mode and activate the card Cyber-Tech Spellbook of Time Travel! Since I control a Cyber-Tech Magician monster, I can advance the turn count by two. That means that my magician has now been on the field for four turns, more than enough to evolve it. Listen now to the chant I recite! Come and bring me victory in this fight! Cyber-Tech Magician evolve and show me your true might!" Cyber-Tech Magician goes through the process of evolution. "I evolve my Cyber-Tech Magician into Temporax, the Cyber-Tech Magician of Time (Dark/Level 9/Spellcaster/Evolution/ATK 3500/DEF 3100)!"

Apep says excitedly, "That's great Yuni. You have taken the card I gave you, and truly made it your own. Not to mention, I can sense this cards connection to Chaos, it is so strong."

"Thanks, but I'm not done yet. Since I control a Cyber-Tech Magician monster, I can special summon Cyber-Tech Apprentice to the field (Light/Level 6/Spellcaster/Effect/ATK 2000/DEF 1700)!" In a burst of light, Cyber-Tech Magician's female apprentice appears on the field. "Like any good apprentice, Cyber-Tech Apprentice helps her master. She gives all Cyber-Tech Magician monsters I control an extra 500 attack points (Temporax ATK: 4000). Now I activate another spellbook, the Cyber-Tech Spellbook of Strength, which gives Temporax an additional 1000 attack points (ATK: 5000)!"

Apep comments, "A formidable foe in deed. But how do you plan on beating me, I still have 3000 life points and you can only do 1500 points of damage."

"I never said I was done. I activate the effect of Temporax, which allows me to activate a Cyber-Tech Spellbook straight from my deck. I activate Cyber-Tech Spellbook of the Wave Attack! This card allows my Temporax to attack each monster you control, once each. Now go Temporax, the Cyber-Tech Magician of Time, attack both of his monsters with Temporal Burst Wave!" Temporax holds its staff up and unleashes a blast of energy. The energy disperses into a wave that hits both of Apep's monsters (Apep's LP: 0). Apep loses. The duel ends.

Apep looks down towards the ground, and says malevolently, "That's too bad."

Yuni, sounding concerned asks, "Apep, are you okay? Don't tell me with out Yang Force you went back to the way you were before!"

Apep looks up and laughs. "I was just joking with you. Now come here and give me a hug."

Yuni runs over and hugs Apep. Trope announces, "The winner of the duel is Yuni Oha." Trope looks towards Yuni and says, "Thank you. Thank you for returning our Lord to the way he should be."

Yuni looks up at Trope and smiles. He than looks back at Apep and asks, "As much as a thrill as it is to see you again, I'd like to know what happened to you, and why you were stealing souls."

"Yes, of course. I owe you quite an explanation, don't I? Let's see now." Apep pulls out Yuni's card, Another Hope. "It all started with this card, when your father first found it on an archeological expedition."

A flash back begins. Yuni's father and Apep, both dressed in dirty field clothes, are talking. Yuni's father is holding Another Hope. Apep says, "This card is the key to unlimited power! Think of the possibilities. Once I become the Lord of Chaos, I can exploit it. You and I could do anything."

Yuni's father answers sternly, "No Apep. You know of the Prophecy as well as I do. Neither of us were meant to use this card's incredible power. That power is reserved strictly for the Chosen Heroes. Us using it could lead to no good."

Apep responds, "So what then, you give that card to your son, on the off chance that he is one of the Chosen Heroes?"

"Yes actually, that is what I plan to do."

"He's only five years old! He's unable to comprehend the power and the destiny associated with it! Give it to me." At this point a dark aura surrounds Apep. "I will use its power for the better of Humanity and Chaos!"

"No Apep! That's not the way its meant to be! You're letting yourself be controlled by dark desires, shameful for one committed to protecting the Great Balance!"

The darkness around Apep recedes. "You're right. I'm sorry."

The flash back ends. Apep says solemnly, "That was the first time I allowed darkness to take control of me. I guess I should also add, your father used to be a member of the Society of Chaos, but he decided that he wasn't cut out for it, but with the knowledge he learned during that time he knew that you were the Chosen Hero of the Grand Prophecy of Chaos."

Yuni says somberly, "My dad always said that I was destined for great things. I never knew what he meant until now. But what happened after that?"

"For the next several months, I did my best to hold back my dark side. Your dad was a big help with that. But then your parents disappeared. I did my best to stay with you and take care of you, but eventually the temptation grew to strong. All I wanted to do was take your card, and use it for my own desires. Eventually the urge grew to strong, and I could no longer stay with you. That is why I left. Over the next few years I devoted my time to the study of Chaos. With in three years I became the new Lord of Chaos, and I took the ceremonial name of Apophis as my own. Within another three years, I had fallen to the control of my dark desires. I have spent the past several years plotting my grand plan. That is, until I sent out the invitations for the Duel Sanctuary tournament. You know how it goes from there. I am so proud of you Yuni. You not only learned a significant lesson of Chaos, but you used it to free me from myself."

"Thank you Apep."

Apep hands Yuni Another Hope. "Please, take this. I want nothing to do with it."

Yuni gladly takes it. He takes a good look at it, hugs it, and then puts it away in his holo-locket. He then says, "I would like to know a little more about this whole Chaos thing."

"Yes, of course. You deserve to learn something. You see, Chaos is always thought of as a destructive, dark force. But Chaos is actually the universal force that comes from the combination of light and darkness. For you see when light and darkness comes together, what else could be formed than pure, total chaos. What is traditionally known as chaos is actually a disbalance of light and darkness, but it is not always darkness that is more abundant. Consider the Big Bang, the most chaotic event to ever occur in this universe, but it was not a force of darkness and destruction, it was a force of light and creation. Another part of Chaos is Yin and Yang. I assume you are already familiar with this concept?"

"Yes, a little."

"The Laws of Chaos state that nothing is without light or darkness. One may be primarily dark, but there is always a little light, even in the darkest souls. In addition, as you already know, every yin has a complementary yang with an opposite amount of light and darkness. Of course there is one exception to this rule."

"The Hero's Yin-Yang."

"Exactly. The Hero's Yin-Yang holds the maximum amount of light that can be held in a yin-yang. The Hero's Yin holds a nearly as much light as it holds darkness, anymore light and it be a yang. The Hero's Yang holds almost no darkness. Speaking of, would you mind if I confirmed that you are the holder of the Hero's Yang?"

"I don't mind at all. As long as you don't attempt to steal my soul or anything."

Both Yuni and Apep laugh. "Of course not. Now back up a little." Yuni backs away. "Go, Chaos Judgment!" A light appears around Yuni. The light then forms into a yang encompassing Yuni. The yang holds almost all white and only the smallest black dot in the center. "So it is true. Together you and Seto Ossius form the Hero's Yin-Yang. You are the Chosen Hero."

"But what does that really mean?"

"It means that you are destined to save the Balance of Chaos, and something tells me it is greater than even what you have just done."

Yuni looks deep in thought. "Okay, one last question."

"Yes Yuni?"

"Do you know what happened to my parents?"

Apep sighs. "I wish I did Yuni. I tried searching myself in my early years as Lord of Chaos, but I was soon distracted." Yuni looks disappointed. "I promise you Yuni, I will do anything in my power to figure out what happened to them. I will not stop until I have an answer for you."

"Thank you."

Apep's face lights up. "Hey Yuni, I have an idea. I want to show you something. Please, follow me." Apep walks into the next room and Yuni follows.

In the next room, Apep is standing in front of two large double doors. "In the next room is a sacred artifact. So important to the Society of Chaos that only the most trusted outsiders have seen it, and I want you to see it. It is the Heart of Chaos. Through that artifact, which comes from the true Lord of Chaos in the Chaos Realm, every Lord of Chaos has gained their powers over Chaos." Apep opens the doors. "I give you the…" inside the room there is nothing but an empty pedestal. "The Heart of Chaos is gone! Lux, Nox, report immediately!"

Lux and Nox appear in the room. They both say at once, "Yes my Lord."

"The Heart of Chaos has been stolen! Fan out and search the grounds! We must find it!"

Yuni asks, "How bad is this?"

"It's very bad, but do not worry. It is a problem for the Society of Chaos to solve. Not for you to worry about. I have an idea though, why don't I return all the souls I took." Apep snaps his fingers and a light flashes. "I just returned all the souls and transported everyone to their homes, where they will forget that anything weird ever happened. Well, everyone except two."

A voice shouts out from behind, "Yuni!"

Yuni turns around to see Tori and Brutus running at him. Tori hugs him and says, "I'm so glad to see you again, I thought I would never again."

Brutus now catching up bear hugs the two and picks them up. He then looks to the side and sees Apep. He drops Yuni and Tori and says angrily, "You're that no good Apophis!" Brutus raises his fists. "Why I otta-!"

Yuni shouts, "Brutus, no! This is Apep!"

Tori says, confused, "You're telling me that Apophis, the fiend that stole our souls, is your childhood friend!"

Apep bows his head in sorrow. "I am truly sorry about that. My dark emotions were in control of me."

Brutus and Tori look at Yuni and Yuni says, "It's true, but he's okay now. Apep is back to his old self."

Brutus says, "Okay, but I'm keeping my eyes on you."

Apep says, "I'm sorry to cut this reunion short, but with the Chaos Heart missing, I have some serious business to attend to. My private yacht will transport you three home."

Yuni, Brutus, and Tori are all standing against the railing of Apep's yacht, looking out at sea. Yuni thinks, I'm so glad this is all over with. Maybe now my life can go back to normal.

Yugi says, I wouldn't count on that. Think about what Apep said about the Grand Prophecy of Chaos.

Yeah, I guess so.

By the way Yuni, I'm proud of you.

Why?

Back in that duel. You trusted in the Heart of the Cards, and because of it you turned that duel around.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold the phone. The Heart of the Cards didn't do anything. That was the power of Chaos.

Think of it however you want, but I assure you, you were only able to pull that off because you first believed in the Heart of the Cards.

Whatever. Speaking of Chaos though, I wonder what happened to the Heart of Chaos.

I couldn't tell you. But, on the original topic, I can assure you from experience, your life will never be the same.

A dimly lit room is showed. In the back of the room is the silhouette of a person. The mysterious man, with a very familiar voice, says, "And so in this game of chess we all call life, the white king has just defeated the black rook." The man holds up a heart-shaped crystal, with a vortex of white and black swirling around inside of it. "But it does not matter, for with this Chaos Heart my rise to my former power begins. Soon it will be checkmate for Yuni. Time to prepare the Knights." The figure steps out of the shadows and he is revealed to be none other than Otto.

Author's Note: Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed season one. Make sure to find season two, Yu-Gi-Oh! Millennium Season 2: Descent of Darkness.

Feedback is welcomed.