Illusion of Identity Arc Pt 2: A Blaze of Passion.

“They're all missing?!” I asked worried, Luna placed a hand on my shoulder to reassure me. Solaire and I gasped, how could this happen? We only just got everyone back to normal...

“How did this happen?” Luna asked worryingly,

“They were trying to hold back some sort weird distortion spawning out monsters.” Luna looked thoughtful, “It's sounds similar to the distorted space that has been appearing back in Equestria.” Solaire took note,

“It's the same way I found my way in Equestria your highness, the monsters that are spawning out are ones Silent Passion and I are already familiar with.” Solaire explained,

“Yes we remember our sister telling us and to prepare accordingly.” Luna told them remembering her sister's words. Luna took a moment to compose herself, “It would be best if your families remained here for now. Frostlit Shard would you mind keeping them safe.” Frost nodded,

“What about the rest of you?” Mom asked entering the room, “We'll be going to stop this once and for all.” Luna stated simply, Luna made motion to follow. We all followed Luna to the roof.

“Silent Passion, Solaire, Macintosh are you all ready?” She asked, Solaire nodded as his pendant transformed in a brilliant light and we all watched in amazement as it changed shape into a knight's gauntlet with a wing like attachment shaped like a sword in its sheathe.

“A duel disk?” I said in surprise,

“Yeah unlike you two I can't use magic so this'll do the same thing you'll both be doing.” He explained. I grinned, oh I'm so going to enjoy this bit.

“Normally there are rules to this, but as this is outside the game. I can do this!” Solaire smirked as he placed a white card on his duel disks wing, “Clustering shards shine forth in the endless sky, take flight and light the way forward, Synchro Summon! Stardust Dragon!!” As soon as Solaire finished the incantation a pillar of blinding light illuminated the sky, revealing a white dragon shimmering like starlight, which he proceeded to leap on. “I'll see you there!” He cried as he took off.

“Unlike Solaire and Silent Passion. we can't simply summon a dragon, but...” Luna trailed off as she made a gesture with her hands, “We call forth Constellar Leonis and Sheratan, and use them both to create an overlay nexus! ” Both monsters appeared and transformed into orbs of various shades of golden energy and converged onto the opening overlay network, “Xyz Summon! Constellar Hyades!” From the network a giant emerged donning white and gold armor, it was wielding two identical blades. Luna leapt upon Hyades' shoulder and made the motion to follow Solaire.

All of us besides myself looked on in shock, like Solaire I had a dragon I could ride on but... the incantation for it was a bit evil sounding, ah well. I began making the same gestures as Luna, the sky began to darken with storm clouds. “Darkening skies hide the sun's rays from sight, at the eye tranquil fury smites all! Emerge from the lightning! Dark Storm Dragon!!” In flash of lightning a pitch black serpent like dragon descended out of the storm clouds. “Hop on Macintosh!” I cried, we both leapt forward upon Dark Storm and followed after Luna and Solaire.

I could of sworn I heard that inner voice laughing.

We caught up with Luna and Solaire soon enough. Luna raised a delicate brow when she saw my dragon, but said nothing regarding it's sinister appearance.

“It's best we set down here unless we get seen and attacked.” Solaire suggested. We all agreed and landed, as soon as we dismounted our monsters faded in small bits of light.

We found ourselves inside a dark miasma which was emitting roars, groans and various sounds of...fighting? “I suggest we be careful we lose here it's game over.” Solaire warned.

As soon as he finished speaking we were all separated by wall of crimson energy Luna and I gave a shriek of surprise whilst Solaire gave a low growl of annoyance.

“Kyeheheheh! Looks like we have more fun ahead of us! You think they'll but up a better fight than the others?” An insane voice asked, “Don't you agree...my dear friend...”

“...We'll seen soon enough...” Was the voices reply, Solaire and I just frowned at the familiarity of his voice.

“I do wonder what they're capable of? They might make good pawns for our cause back in the Barian world.” Another deeper sounding voice answered, sounding like it was debating something.

“Them two girlz might be worth keepin'...Ah always wanted a harem.” Another sneering voice said. Luna and I got the shivers at what that voice was implying.

“So our dear uninvited guests, I assume you all wandered here looking for those fools who tried fighting us and failed.” Solaire and I just growled at who they were implying. “Here are the rules of our little game, if you can find and beat us you'll rescue your friends however if you fail your lives and those you care for belong to us!” A familiar sneering voice threatened.

“Will you the be okay?” Luna asked

“We'll be fine.” We said simply, as we headed off in different directions

With Luna...

Luna found herself walking down a path leading into a dark forest with trees twisting in unnatural shapes. The forest itself gave off feelings of familiarity and unease as she walked through the twisted branches that seemed to be encroaching on the path, looking behind her she saw the way behind her was walled off by the branches of the trees around her as if they were denying her a way back.

“It feels like we've been walking for hours.” Luna muttered to herself, every time she would make some progress the forest seemed to cut her off. The place gave an her uneasy feeling, like she was being watched by something malicious and deceitful.

“This feeling is familiar somehow...” She mused, “...and it's like we've been here before...”

In the distance Luna saw two figures unconscious in the distance, Luna ran towards them and examined them both, one was a short curvy woman with red hair dressed in a black t-shirt and jeans, the other was a older large framed male wearing a causal short sleeved shirt and trousers.

“Ooo. Dos this mean ah git more fun, do ah?” Luna shivered when she heard the familiar voice

“You!!” She hissed angrily, a familiar figure stepped out from the shadows,

“Oh? 'ave we met luv?” the thug wondered with that gorilla like gape, “Che, nee matta, boss says ah can 'ave all the pussy ah want providin' ah beat ya in a game o'course?” With that he revealed a bracer with a wing like extension. “Da bosses magic or whateva he does is really da shit if ya follow meh.” He chuckled darkly. The realisation of who this brute of man was caused a midnight blue wisp like aura to form around Luna's hands, tightly clung into fists as Luna's anger reached it's boiling point.

“Thou art not leaving our presence unscathed!!” Luna roared with rage.

With Solaire...

As Solaire continued down a bright narrow path, he found himself in what appeared to be large ruin of a school. Judging from his surroundings he concluded that this grey ruined area was the school he attended as a child.

“Must be the Grange, I haven't set foot here in years.” Solaire thought to himself. Solaire felt a familiar growl.

“Master...we are being watched...ready yourself!” The Number warned him, “He possesses power similar and far greater to my own!” Solaire searched the ruins of the school, room by room but alas found nothing.

“Where is everyone?” Solaire soon heard a dark foreboding chuckle, “Who's there?” Solaire shouted.

A long haired slender gold skinned figure, wearing what appeared to be a mask and some sort of robe like cape around his legs. Emerged from thin air as he walked towards Solaire in a prideful fashion.

“I take it you are one of the four humans who are seeking their friends.” He asked,

“Yes I am.” Solaire answered, with a snap of his figures two more figures appeared. “Jay! Fenix!”

“I am Misael! Now come at me for the lives of your friends!!” He challenged, as a red sphere enveloped them both.

With Silent Passion and Macintosh...

Macintosh and I found ourselves in a familiar looking ruined street, the buildings looked abandoned, drained of all their colour and were on the verge of collapsing at any given second. I realised where I was, and with a heavy heart I sighed...

“...This is the street I lived in as a child.” I muttered solemnly, “The last time I was here, it was full of life. What could of happened here? I was here only over a month ago just before I met Luna...” Macintosh gave me a sympathetic look, reassuring me that it was going to be okay.

“Ah reckon if we find what's causin' all this mess, we can find a way to undo all the damage it's causin'.” He suggested, it was a sound idea after all. I nodded in agreement and we pressed on forward. I was telling Macintosh what living here was like as child, but in reality I was trying to stop myself from being frightened by the travesty that befell this part of town.

“So you finally show up!” A hooded figure a top of the roof of one of the buildings, staring me down through his hatred filled golden eyes leapt down in front of us. “Tch...So your the fake my so called friends mentioned?” He practically spat out that last part, “Your the reason they all betrayed me?!”

“And just who the hell do you think you are?!” I spat back with equal hatred towards him, he just laughed as launched some sort of tendrils from his shadow in response. They wrapped themselves around my waist and with a simple gesture, threw me into a nearby building causing me to crash through a crumbling wall.

“I.AM.SILENT!! YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING WHORE OF AN IMPOSTER!!” The fake roared,  voice full of rage. Macintosh ran up and smacked the fake with an earth shattering punch, knocking him back into the opposite wall I was flung into. In a roar of rage, a twisted black aura surrounded and exploded destroying the building around him. Yelling out in anger, “ Kyūjūroku! RELEASE RESTRAINT!”

The fake stood amongst the rubble, his hair now white, the whites of his eyes now black, his body increased in muscle mass with jet black wings sprouting from his back. The set of golden eyes he possessed stared Macintosh down with utter hatred.

“Such foolishness! Has this entire god forsaken planet been driven mad by my imposter's actions?” He wondered aloud, “Tch...no matter! Your just like that damned pony, my so called friends, my family and everyone else! I'll make sure you die along side them all!” The fake roared as he made his slow, unflinching advance towards Macintosh.

“No one...and I mean no one...”  A flicker of fire burned from my very being, the very rage bring itself to a boil causing the air around me to distort with the rising heat, “...Ever harms the people I love and gets away with it!!” A pillar of flames shot out from around me, fuelled by the resolve that came with my anger. “...You want to go all out? Fine then, I'll show you what I'm like when I hold nothing back!! I'll show you...the real...RELEASE RESTRAINT!!!” The intensity of the flames increased tenfold, forcing my fake to be driven back by the heat. A single figure emerged from the flames, a set of golden eyes staring him down with an intensity that dwarfed his own.

Around my arm was ornate black and blue gauntlet with a flame like wing extending from it's side, in response he opened his own arm into a similar looking wing and a crimson sphere engulfed us all.

“DUEL!!”

The Blaze of Loyalty, Silent Passion (8000LP) Versus The Illusion of Betrayal, False Silent (8000LP).

False Silent Turn...

“I'll start this off you fake! Draw! From my hand I set one monster, then I activate the spell card: Dark World Dealings!” The fake declared, “We both discard one card from our hands and draw one from our decks! I set a card and end my turn there!”

Silent Passion turn...

“I'll draw! First of all, I play the field spell card: Chaos Zone! Whenever a monster is banished this card gains a Chaos Counter! If you destroy it I can add a light or dark monster from my deck to my hand, who's level is equal or less to the number of chaos counters it had!” I shouted, as I played my field spell the world around us became distorted space like the void between this world and Equestria, several white vortexes surrounded the space around us. “I summon from my hand Dark Valkyria! (Lv4/1800 ATK) While this card is first summoned to the field, or is in the graveyard it is treated like a normal monster!”

My Valkyria emerged from one of the white vortexes in a trail of violet like flames, donning a black and silver lined armor and wings protecting her dark blue skin. Her arms folded in an unamused fashion towards my fake.

“Now Valkyria attack his set monster!” I ordered, with her claw like fingers she cut his face down monster to ribbons, while the monster was destroyed it had split itself into two more copies of itself.

“I activate my Giant Germ's effect! When it's destroyed in battle I can special summon two more to take it's place!” The two germs revealed themselves, the sight of them alone was enough to make me sick... “Also whenever Giant Germ is destroyed I can inflict 500 damage straight at you! Now choke the life out of her!” He roared, the germ that was destroyed released some spores that began making me choke and gasp for air.

Silent Passion 8000 LP → 7500 LP.

“I set two more cards and end my turn!” I declared, as I gathered my breath back.

False Silent turn...

“Draw! I activate the spell card: Monster Reincarnation! I discard one card from my hand, to regain the germ you destroyed and I summon it back to the field!” The Giant Germ reformed itself from the remains left from Valkyria's attack. “Now I use all three to create the overlay nexus! From the blackest pits of greed, drain out and consume it all! XYZ SUMMON!! NUMBER 96: BLACK MIST!!! (Rank 2/100 ATK)”

The three germs transformed each into a violet light and entered the nexus, resulting in an explosion of white energy. I noticed he was clutching his heart as he summoned his Number. The monster itself rose from the nexus, I watched on in horror as the monsters features began to shoot out from it's oil like body.

“KYAHAHAHAHAH! My dear Silent, I see you need my power once more!” The shadow like spirit oozed from my fakes shadow in a similar fashion to the monster in front of him. “...You know what to do...My dear puppet!” My fakes gold eyes went blank, as he was possessed by the shadow beside him.

“Y-YES MASTER! I ACTIVATE MY SPELL CARD!!! RANK UP MAGIC – BARIAN'S FORCE!! H-HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH!” He roared in laughter, “G-go now and evolve! Let the insanity fuel your power further! CHAOS XYZ CHANGE! NUMBER C96: BLACK STORM!!! (Rank 3/1000 ATK)” Macintosh and I watched on in horror as that monstrosity twisted itself into a more maddening form, as it became more feral like in appearance.

“What in tarnation is happenin' to that thing?!” Macintosh exclaimed.

“His monster has ranked up! It causes it to evolve and becomes more powerful!” I shouted over the monsters howl, readying itself to attack.

“Black Storm attack! I'll use it's effect: During the battle phase I can target a monster you control and drain it of it's strength! GO SHADOW GAIN!!” Tendrils shot out of Black Storms mouth as it absorbed an overlay unit. Ensnaring Valkyria and sucking the life out of her and leaving her a shrivelled corpse as it tore into her with it's claws and maw, before throwing her corpse at me. (Black Storm 1000 ATK → 2800 ATK, Dark Valkyria 1800 ATK → 0 ATK)

Silent Passion 7500 LP → 4700 LP.

“Passion! Y'all okay?!” Macintosh shouted, as I got up from the impact of having my own monster thrown back at me.

“I'm fine, Macintosh! Don't worry about me, I'll be okay!” I reassured him.

“Oh how amusing, are you still buying that whore's lies? I end my turn!” The fake declared laughing with the insanity that monster seemed to be causing him.

Silent Passion turn...

“DRAW! From my hand I summon Gemini Scorpion! (Lv4/1700 ATK) and with their effect I summon Future Samurai! (Lv4/1600 ATK)” I shouted, from two of the vortexes emerged a samurai wearing glowing neon blue armor readying his blade and twin warriors, one male and the other female standing back to back ready to attack. “Next I give the equip spell: Supervise to Future Samurai!” Samurai's armour shone brighter signifying his effect being fully active. “Supervise activates the effect of any Gemini monster it's equipped to!” I explained, “Now I activate his effect! Once per turn I can banish one monster from my graveyard to destroy one face up monster on the field! Samurai destroy Dark Storm!”

Chaos Zone 0 counters → 1 counter.

“Think again! I activate the continuous trap: Number's Wall! Thanks to this card Dark Storm can only be destroyed by battle or a card effect of another Number monster!” The Fake roared to defend his monster from Samurai's effect. Future Samurai swung his sword down creating a shock wave that should of bisected his target, but it was cancelled out my that damned shield cloaking Dark Storm.

“Fine then! I play my spell card: Mystical Space Typhoon! With this I destroy one spell or trap card on the field! I target Number's Wall!” I roared, as a large typhoon blew away the veil around his monster.

“Tch bring it then you imposter! Black Storm is all I need to destroy you! I don't need anyone else!!” The fake shouted frantically, “It's hopeless they'll all betray you in the end too! Just like they all did to me!”

“Your wrong! Your nothing more than an illusion, that Luna created! I don't know why or how your still around. A week was all you had, but seeing you now and what you've allowed yourself to become! I'll burn away all your betrayals into nothing but ashes! I construct an overlay network! XYZ SUMMON! HEROIC CHAMPION – EXCALIBUR! (Rank 4/2000 ATK)” I roared, a warrior clad in crimson armor with a flame like design upon his chest rose out of the nexus, wielding a large sword with a phoenix motif upon it's hilt.

“Supervise effect! Whenever Supervise is sent to the Graveyard, I can special summon one normal monster to my side of the field! A determination ignites as an unyielding passion blazes forward! Emerge from the flames and be reborn! My very soul! PHOENIX GEARFRIED!!! (Lv8/2800 ATK)” Another warrior emerged in a bright burst of  flames, clad in white, red and gold armor readying his sword and shield to attack. “Now I activate Excalibur's effect! I detach two overlay units to double his Attack strength! (Excalibur 2000 ATK → 4000 ATK) I now play the spell card: Soul Release! I banish the two monsters in my graveyard and the two in yours!”

Chaos Zone 1 counter → 5 counters.

“W-What!?” The Fake exclaimed, “That would mean my Giant Germ and the Blade Knight I sent to the graveyard...”

Chaos Zone 5 counters → 1 counter.

“...Is now mine for the taking! I activate the effect of Chaos Zone! Once per turn I can remove the counters on it to special summon a banished monster to my field! I summon your Blade Knight! (Lv4/1600 ATK)” A silver armoured knight emerged from the vortex and took it's place alongside Gearfried and Excalibur. “I activate my trap card: Return from a Different Dimension! By paying half my life points I can summon as many of my banished monsters as I can!”

Silent Passion 4700 LP → 2350 LP.

“I summon back to the field: Future Samurai and Dark Valkyria!” My Samurai and Valkyria followed Blade Knight's lead from the vortex. “I overlay Future Samurai and Blade Knight! Xyz summon! Starliege Paladynamo! (Rank 4/2400 ATK)” In a cluster of stars the Paladin emerged and formed and stood by to attack the fakes monstrosity. “I activate Paladynamo's effect! By detaching his overlay units, he can negate the effect of your monster and reduce it's strength to nothing! (Black Storm 2800 ATK → 0 ATK)”

“N-no! T-that's impossible!” The Fake exclaimed in fear, I must admit I felt sorry for him but this has to come to an end.

“Paladynamo attack and destroy Black Storm!” I ordered, Paladynamo swung his sword at speeds faster than the human eye can track, cutting the monster into nothing but dust. The shock wave sending him back flying into the wall of the sphere around us.

False Silent 8000 LP → 5200 LP.

“Excalibur! Direct attack!” Excalibur charged forward as the fake fell from the sphere wall, swinging his sword with colossal might the force of the blow separated the fake from the shadow that was controlling it.

False Silent 5200 LP → 1200 LP.

“What?! How?! That useless fool! How could have he been overpowered by this bitch!?” The shadow cursed, “I save you from fading away and this is how you repay me?!” Macintosh and I watched on as the shadow ranted, we looked at each other and both nodded at what must be done.

“PHOENIX GEARFRIED! FINAL ATTACK!!!” This caught the shadow's attention, before he sneered at his partner's misfortune. “TARGET THE CAUSE OF ALL THIS!! KNIGHT BLAZER!!!” Gearfried launched himself at the shadow. Helpless the shadow could only watch as Gearfried brought his sword down upon it, bisecting the creature in two before exploding into white hot flames burning it and the it's card into nothing.

False Silent 1200 LP → 0 LP.

The sphere around us shattered like glass as it crumbled away, the monsters faded and I returned to my normal self. The fake that was being controlled was flickering in and out of existence, most likely due to not being under the influence of the shadow anymore. Macintosh and I both walked up to him, he lied there motionless and his body had reverted back to how I was after that beating. I cringed at the sight of him...

“...I-I'm sorry I put you through all this...” He coughed, struggling to breathe properly, “That shadow convinced me that I was betrayed by everyone I knew, it was like I no longer existed to them anymore...it's funny...I had all your memories, hopes and dreams...when I found out I was going to cease to exist I couldn't let that happen...” I knelt down beside my copy...

“Hey...It's alright...you're me, right? I'll make sure that those dreams never die, I promise you that much.” I reassured him, he let himself smile a little.

“...And you there, can you...please take care of her? ...I know she acts strong but give her the strength, love and understanding she deserves.” Macintosh just nodded in response, not sure of what to say. “I...always thought I was alone...but after seeing you here, as how you should be in this world. It makes happy...we're not alone...after...all...” My doppelgänger just disappeared in front of with no trace of his existence other than our own memory. I couldn't help but feel his sadness as he simply faded away...