A,N: Hi everyone. Sorry for the wait, but here is the next chapter. A warning, might bring tissues. I cried writing some of this chapter actually. :'( However hope you still like this chapter regardless. Thank you for all your support in reading and helping me write this chapter. I appreciate it really much. Please give feedback and comment on what you think.

Tara's p.o.v.

Tara couldn't believe what she was seeing. She couldn't believe what was going on here. They had defeated Nightshroud, who had been hiding inside Yusuke, so why wasn't the world changing back. Why was there still an eclipse? Why was the world still dark? It didn't make sense. Some thoughts wandered through her mind though. Was this happening because she hadn't participated in the duel and thereby not fulfilled her part of the prophecy? After all, without the king and the guardian nothing will reign. It was Only if the king and guardian were fighting as one. Then fate and hope will never cease to exist. That was the words of the prophecy. Tara bit her lip a little. Because she had been in the darkness trying to save Yusuke, then maybe the world wouldn't turn back now. She felt a hand intervene with hers now. Jaden, her brother, had taken it and send her a reassuring smile now.

"No, this is not your fault Tara" He said inside their mind link. "That I know sis".

"How can you be so sure? I was not by your side, when you dueled Yusuke and Nightshroud. The king and guardian were not fighting as one Jaden" Tara replied in a distressed tone. Jaden just shook his head a little.

"Yes you were. You were fighting with me in spirit. I felt your strength there" He then replied and smiled "And we do know by now that Prophecies can be unpredictable. Our whole second school year is prove on that, so don't worry so much. This just proves we still have to something to do".

Tara nodded slightly at that. However she still felt pretty uneasy here. What else should they be doing here?

"What's going on here?!" Jesse now uttered and groaned slightly as he tried to stand up. He was still pretty beat up from the duel he had been having with Yusuke. "Didn't we defeat Nightshroud and Yusuke in this duel?".

Then he was about to collapse again, and both Ember and Jaden rushed to his side to make sure he didn't pass out or get hurt now. Tara looked up at the sky.

"I am not sure why, but nothing is changing back" she then said in a worried tone.

"Can it be.. that the world won't go back to normal?" Ember then questioned in a worried tone. She had said those words, Tara had been thinking a minute ago, and it didn't help on this dire situation.

"That just can't be true!" Jaden sneered annoyed.

Then suddenly a weird sound could be heard all around the school. The twins, Jesse and Ember all looked puzzled around. It sounded like it was coming from the loud speakers around the school. It sounded like some growling, or if someone were in pain or something.

"What is that?" Jaden then questioned.

He had just said that, when Jesse suddenly were groaning in pain as well. Even though Ember was still holding him upwards, he still looked pretty beat up. Tara and Jaden turned worriedly to their friend.

"No, you don't need to worry about me" Jesse then proclaimed and send them a little smile "Go on ahead. As the twins from the prophecy, you still have a some quest to do. Ember and I will only slow you down. So we will stay here and take care of Yusuke until you get back". Ember nodded eagerly at that.

"Yeah I can keep an eye on both of them" She then confirmed with determined eyes "Just go fix whatever you still need to fix".

The twins looked at each other and nodded. Then they ran inside the school towards the computer room and the loud speaker system in there.

As they entered the control room, no one seems to be present there. However something dreadful were still shown there. On every activated computer screen, the twins could now view different part of the world. However beside the buildings, cars and stuff like that, everything was completely desolated. There were no living creatures to be seen. No animals. No humans. This was like seeing the ghost town of Domino city all over again.

"This can't be.." Tara uttered rather shocked.

"Everyone in the world has disappeared" Jaden added just as shocked. Both took some steps back, as they witnessed this horror filled moment. They couldn't believe what they were seeing.

"Jaden and Tara Yuki" The twins could suddenly hear from the speakers, and the screen changed on all the computers. They now showed this weird dark eclipse. "Let's settle this once and for all". The twins looked puzzled around.

"Who is this?" Jaden then questioned rather annoyed.

"Jaden I don't like this" Tara then replied "This eclipse makes me feel uneasy. I have this strange feeling something bad has happened. Let's get out of here".

Jaden nodded and both of them rushed outside. A dreadful sight awaited them. Or in this case, didn't await them. Where Jesse, Yusuke and Ember had been when they left, were no longer there. Everything was as desolated as they had seen on the screen. Besides the cat Pharaoh and the little light ball who was Professor Banner.

"No! Yusuke, Jesse, Ember!" Jaden now shouted. It was like he hoped they answered his call in where they actually were. All Jaden got back was utter silence.

"Jaden, Tara" They suddenly heard, as Professor Banner materialized himself in spirit form beside them "Look at this..".

Tara and Jaden both turned their attention towards whatever Professor Banner was pointing at. As Tara had feared, something was clearly wrong with this eclipse. It seemed like it came closer and closer to them.

"What is that? It is Not just an Eclipse?" Jaden wondered worriedly.

"As I feared. This is not normal at all" Tara replied. But then again, had anything been normal since they left duel academy doing the exam trial?

"Jaden and Tara Yuki" They could once again hear this voice say. Banner turned sacredly into a light ball again and hit behind Jaden as the Eclipse came closer and closer. "The time has come for the final showdown between You and I. Just like the prophecy foretold". Tara bit her lip a little. This was not good at all.

"Who are you?" she then shouted in her monotone voice. '

"I am the real Nightshroud. The one you just defeated were merely a part of me" the voice then replied. Tara's eyes narrowed. Where did that voice come from?

"A part of you? You mean the one inside Yusuke?" Jaden then questioned. He was also looking around, trying to track where Nightshroud were coming from.

"Yes. You two have not seen my true identity" Nightshroud then replied.

"Then show your true identity! Nightshroud!" Jaden now shouted back in an angry tone.

Tara froze slightly. She could feel something. Something was happening, and It was coming from that eclipse, who were coming closer and closer. Now that she got a better look at it, it did resemble a dark sphere similar to the one she had just been in.

"Jaden! Jaden, he is right in front of us!" Tara then shouted in their mind link, and made Jaden focus on what was right in front of him. What they had thought were just an eclipse were in fact this world of true Darkness. As it was only meters away from them, Tara could even sense their friends from inside that thing.

"You're.. Nightshroud?" Jaden uttered in disbelief.

Beams of darkness not emitted from the sphere, and as they reached the ground, they merged into one creepy looking being. A skeleton being dressed in cloaks. His appearance made Tara shiver uncontrollable. It was like seeing a grim reaper who came for people when they died. She instantly hit behind Jaden, and her brother instantly shielded her. If that was Nightshroud's true form, he was gonna give her nightmares for sure.

"I am Nightshroud. The other truth of the other world itself" The being then proclaimed. Tara eyes narrowed at that. The other truth of the other world itself?!

"Jaden, Tara, I can tell" Prof. Banner then said in a scared tone "I can sense the souls of many people inside that sphere".

"Then that means.. that they are all in there?" Jaden uttered in disbelief.

"Yes. The ones you two seek are in my world" Nightshroud then told them.

"Your world?! Nightshroud!" Tara then questioned and walked forward. She was less scared now. She wanted to know what he was talking about. "What do you want? Do you desire to take over this world?".

"Desire?" Nightshroud then questioned "I have no desire. I just follow the logic of this world". Jaden's eyes narrowed at that.

"Logic?" he then questioned.

"Yes the truth of this world. It is the law" Nightshroud replied.

"So what you are saying is that it is natural for everyone to disappear and go inside your world?" Tara then questioned in a calm tone.

However on the inside she was pretty furious. How could that even be true? He took Zane and the others because it was the logic of that world. What kind of bullshit was this?!

"Correct" Nightshroud just replied.

"How can we believe something like that?" Jaden now hissed. Tara could feel how pissed Jaden was here too. Nightshroud looked at them with that creepy skeleton face of his. He gave Tara a little goosebumps.

"You do not know the pain of your friends" he then proclaimed "For many humans, my world is peace. Witness this with your own eyes".

Without warning Nightshroud pointed at them with his skeleton finger, and a beam of true darkness shout out from there. It hit both of the twins at their forehead. Jaden and Tara both let out a scream, as the power from Nightshroud hit them. Those roots Tara had seen on Atticus body that time they dueled, had now appeared around their bodies. Tara could feel them creep up at her face, as those roots they were, and images now appeared inside her mind. They saw Chazz, as he fell to the ground after he had cheated in that pro match. Tara remember seeing this when Atticus had dueled Yusuke and showed them these images. However Chazz actually looked generously happy. He was happy that he got released from all this pain, and suddenly got dragged into this dark ocean. Tara presumed that was this True world of darkness as he was taken by. The images changed to Syrus. Then Alexis. All of them wanted to be free from this pain they were feeling. In the end they got dragged into this True world of darkness.

"They have already thrown everything away. There is no hope or despair in my world. This is where every human consciousness will fade into one another. They will live for eternity, and become one. They have chosen to repose" Nightshroud then said, as the images disappeared in their mind, and got replaced with something different.

Tara could see how people, now faded into mere cards, were lying in the dark waters. Like Nightshroud had said, they began slowly to fade, as their consciousness merged into one. Luckily that was still a really slow process, but then again they were about to live forever, so there was no hurry.

"Your lying!" Tara then said and hoped with all her heart that what Nightshroud were showing them here, wasn't the truth.

"Oh it is the truth, little Tara. Just like everyone else, you felt a shard of your own pain, as my servants tried tracking you down. This story however, resolves around you two, so I suggest you two listen closely to what I am saying" Nightshroud then said.

Both the twins groaned slightly as Nightshroud power ran through them again, but they didn't do a thing to stop him. If this really had something to do with them, they might as well listen.

"The beginning of this truth had begun far back in the past" Nightshroud then continued his story "Inside the darkness where nothing once excited, was the first card born. The front and back had determined the balance, and the world begun. Eventually, stars and planets were born. And when this Earth had been created, humans stood on the top of all creations".

Tara could see the image of the dark universe? As this card was born. She could see the universe gets created, and the earth civilization get born. She and Jaden also saw how humans developed and this worlds civilization evolved, and stood on the top, just like Nightshroud said they would. This was however a really weird experience for the twins.

"It was inevitable that humans discovered duel monsters. The original of this world. Therefore, the duel monsters was a touchstone to test the souls of the humans. A mirror to reflect their souls so to speak"Nightshroud continued.

"A mirror that reflects our souls?" Jaden then uttered.

Tara groaned slightly at that too. This was way too much information for a mere human to know. They had seen how pegasus found the originals of duel monsters and made it a card game. Tara already knew of that. Her mom and Uncle had told them stories about this when they were younger. But to see this up and personal, was a new experience for her for sure.

"Yes Jaden. For instance, if we were to compare your world you live in, as the front of the card, my world is that shadow. The true darkness" Nightshroud then explained "If the light continues to reside in the duelists who uses the duel monster game, then maybe peace in the front side of the world could have been guaranteed. However the souls of many duelists had be dyed in the darkness, and that darkness flowed into my world".

"Stop fooling around!" Jaden then yelled and his eye color changed into Yubel colors.

He ripped of the roots on his body and thereby interrupted Nightshroud flow of power. Tara also used Haou's power to rip off Nightshroud influence as well. They had seen enough, to understand what was going on here. This had nothing to do with them whatsoever. Tara could also feel the present of Haou near her, and she figured Yubel beside Jaden. Tara knew they had both been listening intensely to all this too.

"So what?! Are you telling me that you appeared because the souls of the duelists have been fouled?" Jaden now shouted furiously.

"Exactly. I do not have an ambition" Nightshroud then said "Many strong powers that are tainted in the darkness has awaken me. It is natural for my world to replace yours. Just like the way water flows from a high place to lower place. That is the balance of the world. I am the worlds savior!".

"The balance of the world?" Tara questioned in a puzzled tone. She was sure she had heard that saying before. Jaden however glared angrily at Nightshroud now.

"What savior?! You just erased everyone's memories and dragged them into your world" he then sneered out "You even tried to make your henchmen drag my sister with them. That I just cannot forgive!".

"You cannot stop a torrent which has started flowing. Just like a stream, all I did was remove the small obstacles which were in my way" Nightshroud just responded.

"Yeah, and that would be us" Tara replied in a cold tone "Because of the prophecy. That was the reason your Trueman were targeting us. We were too close to the truth".

"Hmm how clever you are. As I would have expected from the King's vessel" Nightshroud proclaimed slowly "Jaden, Tara, are you two aware of why my world has gained so much power?".

At that Tara and Jaden both froze a little. They knew alright. They could still remember the words Sartorius had spoken back then. This is nothing more than a hypothesis but, the resurrection of the sacred beasts, my Wave of the light incident, and your two's Yubel incident. Our incidents have all caused much pressure to the dimension centering from this island. And is about to cause another affair. Tara and Jaden both lost their focus, as they were reminded why Nightshroud was actually here. Their guardians power redrew as well, but Tara could still feel Haou close by her. The king had been glaring intensely at Nightshroud, ever since he showed up here. She wondered why.

"Yes, those three events enabled me to gain so much power" Nightshroud then said and Tara was sure she could see cracks in his skeleton face. Nightshroud was actually smirking. "As I said before, all I did, was removing small obstacles in my way. As the timeline flew by, a certain event in the past, got my attention. A king raged out over the loss of his lost love. It made me grab the opportunity to change the flow of time, by reviving those two idiots, who had upset the balance. I knew history had changed itself, but never knew how it would affect my own world".

"I knew that voice sounded familiar" Haou then suddenly said "You are the god reviving Yubel and I. From the brink of death". Tara and Jaden was staring in disbelief. They couldn't believe what they were hearing.

"What? But how is that possible?" Jaden uttered shocked. "How, and why?".

"Ones with great powers, has let the darkness take over their soul, and thereby misused duel monsters. As it was foretold, my world would one day replace yours, but the process to do so, would take years. Centuries, even millennium to fulfil" Nightshroud spoke "By reviving those two, I had hoped My world would grow tremendously in power".

"And it did" Tara said in a calm collected tone "You had in directly a key finger in all the incidents. You possessed Atticus Rhodes doing the shadow rider events, and your meddling in the past, created the wave and Yubel incident. You might not have known what the future had in store, but you didn't stop the change either".

"Yeah. All you wanted was making sure things stayed the same" Jaden sneered "All so humanity would see you as their savior. Which you aren't".'

"But there is one thing you miscalculated" Tara then said "A prophecy appeared. I presume that happened because of your meddling in accident times. After all the universe creates the balance itself. Which means we were foretold to stop you".

"Yeah, we didn't fall into the darkness to awaken a freak like you!" Jaden now shouted "Neither Haou, Yubel, Tara or I. It is the opposite. We gained this dark power to be able to defeat you!".

Jaden had just said that when his eyes changed into Yubel's heterochromia eye color. Tara did too, and soon had Haou's golden eyes. It just showed Nightshroud how serious they were about this.

"Ah yes. You two are foreign objects which holds the soul of both human and spirits. You two are no longer a soul who is allowed to live in my world" Nightshroud then told them. Tara just tsked inside. Like she cared there.

"Call is whatever you want. But as long as we are here, we won't let you take this world" Jaden then said in a firm tone.

"Then I shall eliminate you two. With the origins of this world. Duel monsters" Nightshroud then proclaimed. Tara lifted up her duel disk.

"Bring it on!" she said in her monotone voice.

Her brother were ready as well. Both of them then activated their duel disks. Nightshroud's duel disk however was not a common duel disk, but five wings now strapped to his back. Tara glared at him. Like he wasn't creepy to begin with.

"So that is your duel disk?" Jaden questioned in an annoyed tone.

"Jaden, Tara be careful. He's nothing like you the people you have dueled before" They could now hear Banner say, as the light ball flew over beside Pharaoh. Both of them were hiding behind one of the buildings, but were watching the duel carefully.

"We know. But if we don't defeat him, our world won't return" Jaden then proclaimed and looked at his sister.

Tara was staring worriedly at Nightshroud. She was not good with this kind of pressure unlike Jaden who was living for it.

"Isn't that right Tara?" Her brother then questioned.

"Yeah, sure" Tara mumbled out. It didn't sound convincing at all.

"You two will now receive my judgement, and wander in between the light and darkness for all eternity"Nightshroud then said "At least one of you is, that is". Tara froze slightly. That didn't sound good at all, and what did he mean by 'At least one of them was?'. What happened to the other here?

"Well bring it on!" Jaden just shouted determined. All of them drew 5 cards and the duel began.

Jaden: 4000 Lp's.

Nightshroud: 4000 Lp's.

"Well I start off" Jaden then proclaimed and drew. He summoned "E.H. Sparkman" to the field in att mode. Since this was battle royal mode, and the first turn in general, Jaden was not allowed to do much yet. He ended his turn with a face down.

"My turn. I summon 'Darkness eye'" Nightshroud then proclaimed.

Tara looked puzzled at Nightshroud, as he summoned a monster with 0 att in attack mode onto the field. That and this creepy eye monster were looking rather evil here. However, Nightshroud wasn't done yet. He activated the field spell "Darkness". Now he could chose 5 spell or trap card and place them face down on the field, from either his hand or deck. Tara got a little surprised by that when all his spell and trap card zones were used up on that wing shaped duel disk he was equipped with. She didn't like this though. It was not good at all.

"He used up all his S/T card zones in one turn?" Jaden questioned in disbelief.

"Well I believe it is your turn, little Tara" Nightshroud then proclaimed.

"You don't need to tell me. I draw" Tara replied with a sneer even though she sounded monotone.

Her hand looked pretty promising, and she had a good idea how to make a decent move. She could hear Haou mumble to be careful since they were facing a god. He had been very distant after he discovered the truth around Nightshroud. However, he didn't have to warn her. This turn had to count as much as possible. She might never get one again. She started off her move by using the spell "Ancient rules". With it she could normal summon a lv 5 or above monster from her hand. Like her Cyber tech alligator. Then she played her spell "Neo spacian cry". Since she had a high level monster on her field, she could summon a Neo spacian from her deck to the field. Like her Neo spacian dark panther.

"Hello Kitten" The panther greeted with a growl and glared down Nightshroud. "What do you want me to do?". Cyber tech was also having a staring contest here.

"Yeah we are ready to fight for you" The alligator replied in a firm tone.

"Well Just stand put for now. You are not allowed to attack just yet" Tara replied back. She was touched her monsters were ready to fight for her though. "Just stay ready for anything, he can throw at us". The monsters both nodded.

"That is all? That is all the prophecies chosen one can muster against me?" Nightshroud questioned. He did sound a little annoyed "I have been expected so much more from you. Especially you Tara Yuki".

"What is that suppose to mean?!" Tara hissed angrily and glared at Nightshroud.

"You are the king's Vessel Tara Yuki. A part of me faced off against you when I possessed one of my hosts. Atticus Rhodes" The skeleton being told her "I had hoped for a more challenging match so to speak. Use all your power against me! Or can it be, you are afraid to use such mighty power?".

At those words Tara actually froze a little. She remembered what she had been seeing through the Trueman's eyes at that time they chased her through Domino city. How her power had run wild and attacked everyone. How she had not even remembered who she was, as she attacked Jaden. She only destroyed. Tara took a step back. Standing here in front of Nightshroud, it was like all that came back to her. Everything she feared and hoped never ever would happen. It was like he triggered that in her in some way.

"Don't listen to him!" Haou replied inside and made her wake up "You are nothing like that. You never will be. He is using your darkness in your heart. Just as he has done to all your friends. Don't listen to him".

"Yeah! Don't listen to him Tara!" Jaden now also shouted and send Nightshroud an evil glare. He drew a card. "And you Nightshroud! You just shut the hell up. The one you should be worried about is me!".

Nightshroud turned his gaze towards Jaden now. The skeleton god here, creeped Tara out big time, but Jaden didn't seem faced.

"Why? Because I tell you the truth? Humans has always been denying that part of themselves, and when they are faced by it, they refuse to accept the truth" The god replied in a collected tone "They cannot accept their flaws. Their problems. Their fears! It is no different with you two. Tara and Jaden Yuki".

"And I said you should shut up!" Jaden sneered angrily "Or to make it easier, I will make Sparkman do it for me".

Then Jaden made Sparkman attack and destroy darkness eye. Or that was at least what he attended to do. Nightshroud had been prepared. He activated his face down card "Zero" and since he did, he could also activate "Infinity". Since those two cards were activated, Nightshroud could activate the face down cards that was in between and use it's eff. In this case that was the card "Darkness 1". It could destroy a monster on the field the opponent controlled. If there had been more 'Darkness' trap cards in between, he could actually destroy as many cards that had been in between infinity and Zero. Luckily that had not been the case. However, Nightshroud still decided to destroy Jaden's Sparkman since it had just attacked. That of course caught Jaden off guard.

"Talk about intense effect" her brother then uttered as Sparkman got destroyed.

"Jaden and Tara Yuki. This will be the last duel you two ever had" Nightshroud then said "Crave your hope and desire into your soul in this duel. You are facing a god in this duel!".

Tara bit his lip in fearful matter. This duel was really unlike everything they had ever faced, and this was only the beginning. For once in a duel, Tara felt like they couldn't win.

Jaden's p.o.v.

Jaden had never been so agitated in his whole life. Or that was at least how he felt right now. First of all he hadn't thought that Nightshroud's traps could be so dangerous, even though they reset every turn. They were still really powerful if Nightshroud managed to activate them correctly. Secondly Nightshroud had begun his usually trick by reading peoples heart, and expose their weaknesses. Jaden had seen enough of that in his duel with Yusuke and Atticus's duel. It annoyed him to no end. However, what really agitated him was the fact that Nightshroud was doing this to his sister of all people. To Tara! Usually Tara could handle a lot of things. In some parts she was even stronger than he was. She was smarter, level headed in almost every situations, and she could kick major butt in duels. Sure she couldn't beat him as of yet, and the emotionless part was caused by Haou, but still. There were many things Jaden had to be grateful for regarding Tara. He had deep respect for her too. But then Nightshroud had begun reading his sisters heart, and that had just not been okay. She had suffered enough at the hands of his Trueman's, and Jaden were just not allowed that to happen again. He just couldn't handle it. Losing her would mean.. Jaden shook his head. He was not thinking about it, because it was not gonna happen. Jaden hissed angrily now. His plan on making Nightshroud shut up with the help of Sparkman, hadn't exactly gone the way he wanted to, and he didn't have much to work with this turn. If Nightshroud summoned a strong monster next turn, he would take some serious damage.

"Is that all Jaden Yuki?" Nightshroud now said in that calm and collected tone, who Jaden clearly saw as mocking "If that is the case, stop stalling so I can end you".

"My brother is not done yet. In fact he is just beginning" Jaden could suddenly hear Tara say "And this here will help. I activate my quick spell 'Hero's relationship'. If an elemental hero monster was destroyed this turn, the owner can summon another hero with equal or less att points from their deck or hand, who just got destroyed. So go on Jaden. Summon a hero".

Jaden's eyes widened, but quickly nodded. He really couldn't believe his sister had thought so far into the duel. Especially since this trap really only could benefit him. Tara had no elemental heroes on her field. He did however quickly summon "E.H. Necroshade" from his deck in def mode, and ended his turn. In that moment Jaden could really feel the relationship between his sister. He really believed there were still hope for them in this duel. If they just worked together, everything was possible.

That until Jaden turned his attention to his sister. He had wanted to thank her for her help just now. But then he had looked at her, and he was sure his blood in that moment froze to ice. Or at least it felt like that. Tara suddenly didn't look good. She didn't look good at all. She was extremely pale, and Jaden was sure he saw sweat run down her forehead. She also seemed to be gasping a little, and she was clenching her heart in painful matter. Jaden was not sure what was going on here. He was sure Tara had been just fine a minute ago.

"Tara, what is wro..".

"Brother, don't let your guard down against him" Tara interrupted and looked at him with pained eyes "Normal means won't work against such an opponent. You have to promise me to be prepared for everything he tosses against you".

"Of course. I promise I will be more careful from now on, but why? Tara, what is wrong? Why are you suddenly so sick?" Jaden questioned in a worried tone. This was the worse timing at all. Tara fell down to her knees. She was still clutching her heart, and were groaning in pain.

"So you can finally feel it?" Nightshroud then asked, and Jaden was sure that his skeleton face were smirking. "But then again, why bother fighting it, when you could simply not worry about this. Sweet innocent Tara Yuki".

"What did you just do?!" Jaden yelled in an accusing tone and glared at Nightshroud. This was clearly shown that this was his work. Whatever that it!

"I did nothing. Your dear sister chose this herself" Nightshroud replied and was having that cracked evil smirk plastered on his face "After all she decided to stay far too long in the sphere. The king's protection didn't stay on her forever. All so she could save my Host from the darkness".

Jaden's eyes were widened in fear now. This couldn't be true this here. Her sister was not infected again. No she just wasn't.

"No stop this!" He then shouted in pure agony "Don't do this to her! Undo this now! Change whatever you have done to her! Tara!". Sadly Nightshroud ignored him at the moment. His full attention was occupied on his sister.

"Why the hesitation to give in Tara? You know it is hopeless to fight. I know your fear all too well after all" The skeleton god now said "You are afraid that no one will accept you for what you are, and what you will become. The king's Vessel. But don't fret, in my world no one will care about any of that sort. You will be accepted and be with the one you love. You will be safe for all eternity".

Jaden noticed a lone tear fall down her sisters cheek now. The horror Jaden felt in that moment, was unlike anything he ever had experiences. It was almost worse than that time she 'died' in neo space. But only almost.

"No Tara, don't listen to him!" Jaden shouted frantically.

He wanted this to stop. He didn't want this to happen. He wanted to do everything he could to stop this, but he didn't know how. This was just not happening. This was just a bad dream..

"Jaden, I am sorry" Tara then whispered and made Jaden instantly turn to this cruel reality. "I am so sorry, but I can't hold on much longer".

"Tara no! Stop this foolish talk. You stronger than this. I will accept you. I will be there! Just don't leave. Please fight a bit more for my sake" Jaden uttered back.

"I am sorry I couldn't keep my promise.." Tara only whispered as darkness rose around her "I promised to help you beat him, but sadly not strong enough. You have to do it for me. I know you can.. You were always supposed to be the hero unlike..".

"Tara, stop talking like that. It is not true!" Jaden shouted back.

"I left some tools to help you beat him. Don't mess up" she replied and send him a weak little smile "Guess the star finally fell to far in saving everyone. Goodbye Jaden".

Then she disappeared through the darkness, and entered the sphere behind Nightshroud, who was the entrance of the true world of darkness.

"Tara!!!".

Jaden let out a scream of pure agony as his sister disappeared into that fake darkness. He even fell down to his knees as the cruel reality sank in. She was gone! Tara was gone from this world, and he might never see her again. How could he when Tara and Haou was important to fulfil this prophecy? They were both gone!

"My turn. I draw!" He could then hear Nightshroud say as he was given a card out of the blue. Jaden couldn't believe what he was seeing here.

"How can you continue on this duel when MY sister is Not here?!" he then shouted in an angry tone. Jaden groaned lightly. He was having the worst heartache ever, just thinking about Tara right now.

"Oh, and why shouldn't I? It is not my problem one of the contestant leave doing this duel" Nightshroud pointed out, and Jaden was sure he saw an evil gleam in his eyes now. He clenched his fists and got up on his feet's.

"You planed this! You did this on purpose!" Jaden then accused "You dragged her into your world, knowing full well the prophecy couldn't be fulfilled now".

"Hmm might have had a finger in play" The god admitted and had that smirk on his face "After all, I wouldn't jump into a duel without being fully prepared. Unlike you Jaden Yuki. Tara's darkness in her heart, is not the only one I know about. I already known yours for quite some time now too".

"Say what?" Jaden uttered in a scared tone. He took a step backwards. He then glared up at Nightshroud "Are you gonna drag me into your world as well?".

"No, I already told you your fate" The god then proclaimed "You will be wandering in between the light and darkness of this world for all eternity. After all your worst fear Jaden Yuki, are the fear of being alone. That, and a slight fear of abandonment too. Isn't that right?".

"No! You are.. wrong". Jaden stopped up as he realized what Nightshroud actually had been saying. Fear of being alone and a slight fear of abandonment.

"From the sight of your face expression, I would say I am correct" Nightshroud replied and Jaden could hear him crack an old creepy laugh. If that should have been laughter. "You lost your mom at a very young age, and had to take care of yourself. You attached yourself to your sister, as she did to you, and as long as you had someone to cling onto, the fear was never there. At some point, you even believed you had conquered it. However, as you reached your third year, things came out of hands and all your friends abandoned you. Some even supposedly died, and you, clung to spirit king, because you couldn't deal with it. The fear of being alone".

"No! Stop it! I don't wanna hear it!" Jaden then shouted and tried to block out his voice. That didn't help much.

"Do you know where we are Jaden Yuki?" Nightshroud then asked and made Jaden look around "We are on a Earth, where all its inhabitants are no more, meaning..".

"That I am alone" Jaden whispered slowly "I am the only one left".

"That you are. For all eternity" Nightshroud then said and began his move.

Since his darkness eye was in att mode, he could once per turn summon a monster without tribute. Like his "Darkness destroyer". (Lv 7, 2300 att, 1800 def) In that emotional state Jaden was, he was half and half not listening when Nightshroud explained his monsters effect. Something with that his monster could attack twice, and gave piercing damage. It didn't help that Nightshroud once again managed to activate his Zero and Infinity trap combo. Two darkness trap cards were in between. Darkness 1, and darkness 2, and Nightshroud of course choose darkness 2 effect. So his monster gained 1000 att points for every darkness trap in between infinity and zero. There were 2 so Darkness destroyer had 5300 att points now. He of course attacked. Jaden was looking rather defeated at this god. Tara was gone, and he was pretty much the only human in this world. He was all alone. Without Tara, he couldn't fulfil the prophecy anyway, so why keep on fighting?!

"Jaden, fight! This is what Tara wanted. Only you can defeat him!" A voice suddenly shouted.

Jaden had no idea who that was, but at the same time he did remember his sisters last words. I promised to help you beat him, but sadly not strong enough. You have to do it for me. I know you can. I left some tools to help you beat him. Don't mess up. Jaden's eyes widened as he remembered that Tara had made it possible for him to summon Necroshade to the field. He had to fight for her sake!

"I activate my trap, 'Hero barrier'" Jaden then said and did just that.

With that trap he could cancel out one attack made on an elemental hero. Sadly Nightshroud's monster could attack twice, and Jaden let out a painful scream, as Darkness destroyer's claw hit him. This monster gave piercing damage, so Jaden only had 500 life points remaining. Jaden also hit the ground pretty hard afterwards. The impact from the attack had been enough to blow him backwards too.

"Give up. You are already beaten Jaden Yuki" Nightshroud then proclaimed "You are the only one fighting in this world now, so why prolong your demise? There is no one who believes in you and your powers".

Jaden groaned slightly as he forced himself to stand. The only image of Tara wanted him to fight were present in his mind. Although he did try kicking out the thoughts of him being utterly alone. He was gonna fight! Tara wanted him to beat him.

"So what?" Jaden said and groaned again. He was up on one knee now "Even if.. I am alone.. I'll fight until the..". He groaned again, as he tried to get up on his feet. It wasn't as easy as he wanted it to be. He was hurt pretty badly after all.

"Hey, Hey, what do you mean with you are alone?" A voice suddenly said and made Jaden and Nightshroud turn their attention towards it.

"Yubel?" Jaden questioned in disbelief. The demonic spirit smirked a little.

Both Banner and Pharaoh were looking stunned at her too from their hiding place. They couldn't believe what they were seeing. Even Nightshroud looked displeased now.

"Jaden, even if you are still a reckless boy with no guts, it is still way to soon to fall" Yubel then said and smiled. Jaden groaned annoyed.

"Can't you do something more than complain?" Jaden then said and send her a little smile.

Truth to be told, he had forgotten she was there, and now that he remembered, he was filled with a little relief. He was not completely alone!

"It's because you forgot about me, that you are having such a hard time?" Yubel questioned and placed a hand on his shoulder "You are not alone. Remember, I am always with you. We are always with you".

She made a gesture with her hand, and Jaden's eyes widened when he noticed Haou in transparent form beside her. Although the king had seen better days. He was flashing in and out, all the time.

"Haou, what are you..?".

"No time to explain" Haou growled "Your sister ripped me out of your soul, so I could be here and..".

The king groaned in painful matter. He really didn't look good. Jaden could remember Yubel telling him once that a spirit needed much energy to be present in this world without a Vessel, host or duelist to summon it. Now since Tara had destroyed their connection, Jaden was surprised, Haou managed to stay here this long. With firm movements, Jaden managed to get back on his feet and stuttered forward until he was holding a hand out in front of the king.

"Haou be part of my body, until Tara returns. If you stay out here, you will disappear at some point, and the prophecy won't be fulfilled" He then said.

"Fool. You don't know what you are saying" Haou replied and groaned again "You couldn't handle it last time I was part of your body. Are you trying to get yourself swallowed by the darkness again?". Jaden snort annoyed and shook his head.

"Call me what you want, but we cannot afford to lose either of you" He then replied "Without the king and guardian nothing will reign remember. So do what you have to do. Merge with me. Take me over. Do what you feel necessary to beat him!". Haou send Jaden a cold glare, but didn't say anything at first. He didn't do anything either.

"Although.." Jaden muttered out a little while later "I don't want to just stay on the sidelines here. I want to beat him for taking my sister away from me. That and with you two still here, I am not completely alone..".

"Fine, you foolish boy. We will merge then. Don't complain to me, if your body breaks down" Haou replied with a sneer, and his hand touched Jaden's.

Jaden let out a little scream, as all Haou's power entered his body and soul. However, at the same time he felt stronger. He could also feel the king's present inside. Yubel had never been this close to him inside his soul. That was for sure. Jaden tried to not think about this, as his eyes changed color. First to Haou's golden ones. Then it overlapped with Yubel's too, as they both now were present in Jaden's body.

"Yeah you two are right. I am not alone, and I will no longer listen to him" Jaden said in a weird mixed voice as he stated down Nightshroud "There is still people who believes in me. Including my sister, who went through all this trouble so I could prevail".

Nightshroud glared back at him, as his trap reset once again on the field.

"Only when the guardian and king fight as one" He then mumbled out. In Jaden's ear he sounded worried now. His monster also went back to their original total of 2300. Then Nightshroud ended his turn.

"My Turn, we draw" Jaden proclaimed and did just that. He started of his move by activating Necroshade eff in the grave. He could summon an elemental hero without a sacrifice. He summoned "E.H. Neos".

"Now do it! Haou, Jaden!" Yubel then shouted behind them in spirit form, and Jaden quickly complied.

He activated the quick spell card from his hand called "Effect shut". Since a monster activated their effect, as darkness eye just did, this card negated that effect and destroyed the monster.

"What?!" Nightshroud uttered in disbelief.

"You really use a cheap strategy for a guy who claims to be a god" Yubel then said in a mocking tone. "Tara left a lot of things for us to take you down. Including Haou and the cards she left on the field, before she was dragged into your world".

Jaden looked in disbelief, as he now saw what Yubel meant by that. On Tara's dueling field, her cards were still present. Both Cyber tech and Dark panther, along with that one face down she had tossed down. However, right now Dark panther had taken shape of Nightshroud's darkness eye along with it's eff. It told Yubel exactly what she needed to know. The fiend girl smirked again.

"Her panther explains Darkness eyes effect. It allows you to confirm your facedown cards before activating them. That was why you knew where each card was, even though they were randomly set" Yubel then explained. Nightshroud snort annoyed.

"But even without the power of Darkness eye. I activate my trap" The god then proclaimed and did just that. Sadly that was neither Infinity or Zero, but Darkness 1, which couldn't be activated since it wasn't in between Infinity and Zero.

"Looks like you failed" Yubel then proclaimed. Jaden/Haou attacked with Neos and destroyed darkness destroyer. Nightshroud lost 200 life points.

"I cannot believe this!" Nightshroud uttered annoyed.

"Looks like the current is moving towards us now" Jaden proclaimed in Haou's voice as he ended his turn with a face down. Just like before, Nightshroud's traps were reset.

"My turn" Nightshroud then said and send them a cold look "I cannot allow the prophecy to be fulfilled. So if the souls of the king and guardian is within you for support, then I shall take it apart from you. Just like I did your sister".

Jaden looked puzzled at this skeleton god. What did he mean by that? However, Nightshroud didn't explain himself. Instead he summoned this level 4 monster called "Darkness outsider", and just like darkness eye, it hadn't any att or def points. It looked like a mix of a clown and plant together.

"What.. is that monster?" Jaden questioned slowly.

"Be careful Haou, Jaden" Yubel then warned. None of them liked this. Nightshroud discarded a card from his hand, to activate his monster's eff. Now he could get a monster from his opponents deck.

"What?!" Jaden uttered shocked as Nightshroud explained this to him.

"The one I choose is the guardian's soul who lives inside you Jaden Yuki" Nightshroud told them, and made his monster send out these three tongue like colored vines from its mouth and attached itself to Jaden. "I have discarded 'darkness seed' to my grave. Now become my servant, Yubel".

Then it dragged out Yubel from Jaden's soul. Weather she wanted to or not, and summoned her onto his field. To the horror for both the king and Jaden.

"Yubel!" Both Haou and Jaden shouted in unison now.

"Damn you. Let me go!" Yubel shouted as the vines still were attached and forced her to do this gods bidding.

"I see. Your effect is that you cannot be destroyed by battle, and the damage inflicting through battle, is given to the opponent instead" Nightshroud then read out loud and then smirked at Jaden "Jaden and Haou, be glad that you are going to be finished by the soul you both care so much about. Now Yubel, Destroy Jaden with your powers".

Jaden looked rather horrified as Yubel, struggling as she was, began walking over towards Neos, and thereby forcing those two monsters to battle. If this attack went through, they were really finished.

"Jaden do something!" He could hear Haou sneer at him. The king was clearly pissed that they were being attacked by HIS Yubel in this moment.

"Right! I activate my trap 'Astral shift'" Jaden then told them "With this card I can change that attack to a direct attack instead. Thereafter I can draw a card".

Yubel jumped over Neos now and attacked Jaden. He grabbed her fist with his hand, and they were both staring at each other now. Yubel had 0 att so there was no damage, but still. It annoyed both Jaden and Haou that they had to fight Yubel now.

"I will get you back, no matter what!" Haou said using Jaden's lip's to speak.

"You better!" Yubel sneered back, as she was forced back to Nightshroud's side of the field. Jaden hissed angrily.

"Jaden, I need your strength to win" The king then said inside their soul.

"Count me in!" Jaden replied back, as they both drew a card from the deck because of Astral shift's other effect. Darkness rose around them, and Jaden's eyes turned golden. They were both staring at the card they drew.

"This is.." they uttered in unison.

In the meantime, Nightshroud had continued on with his move. He special summoned "Darkness slime" from his hand in def mode on the field. He could do that since all the monsters on his field had 0 att points. Also when it was summoned, it gained the effect of the opponent's monster, and made the att points from Neos become it's def, while its att became the same as Neos's def point's. (2000 att, 2500 def) He then ended his turn by tributing his darkness outsider, so Yubel stayed on his field.

"Nightshroud. I am sure you wouldn't understand.. How strong the bond between us are" Jaden now said with the king's voice. Then Jaden took over. "Between Tara, Yubel, Haou and I. You cannot break our connection this easily. You cannot destroy the prophecy that easily too. And this card will prove it to you!".

Jaden drew and activated the quick spell "Super polymerization". By discarding a card from his hand, like winged Kuriboh, he could fuse together monsters on both of their fields. Like etc. Neos and Yubel. Nightshroud were looking stunned as a vortex appeared where Super polymerization had been a minute ago. Energies were sparking, as Yubel and Neos flew inside the vortex and came back as a new monster on Jaden's field.

"Come forth, Neos Wiseman" Haou and Jaden shouted in unison.

A monster with Neos's body, while the upper part of it was covered in similar form of Yubel. Giant wings, looking very similar to Yubel, were the finished image of Neos Wiseman. Jaden's newest Neos form. (3000 att and def) Jaden also explained Neos Wiseman eff. When it battles, he gives the opponent damage equal to the att points of the monster it destroyed, and Jaden will recover life points equal to the destroyed monster's def points. After all that explaining, Jaden/Haou of course attacked and destroyed his "Darkness slime". Nightshroud got 2000 points of damage, while Jaden gained 2500 life points. He now had 3000, while Nightshroud only had 1800.

"They did it!" Banner uttered from his hiding place "Jaden and the king has finally turned the tables on him". Jaden were now glaring down this god.

"Nightshroud! We will prove to you in this duel. That compared to your methodical meddling of the past, even if it made all four of us meet, that bonds with the ones I believe in, as well as love and care about, are far more true!" Jaden then shouted.

"You bastard!" Nightshroud sneered back. Jaden didn't care much about that.

"We'll be sure to save everyone in this world" The king and Jaden now said in unison. Jaden's eyes were shinning brightly, in the color of amber golden eyes.

A,N: And done. For now. Man a long chapter. But talk about intense duel. Or so I hope. The next chapter, Jaden of course fights with all his might to free everyone and save this world. But it is not as easy as it seems since Nightshroud is not so easy to beat. He will need all the strength he can mutter, but can he truly win without Tara by his side? You will so find out in the next chapter.