Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Reverse of Arcadia ❯ Chapter 1: Awakening - Arcadia Movement ( Chapter 1 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

??? POV
I found myself standing amongst the most trees I’ve ever seen in my life. I’ve only heard of forests before, but never seen one let alone been in one. The calls and cries of myriads of birds sounded all around me, many of which I could not recognize.
A few feet away, a shadowy figure stood in front of me. No matter how hard I tried, I could not make out any features. All I could see that it looked like a child with two pigtails at the top of their head. I called out to the child, but my voice would not come.
“Somebody…” the child, at least I assumed it was the child, pleaded, “Somebody… please help me…!”

A man and woman stood before a young teenaged girl with long pale lavender hair lying on some sort of high tech medical bed. The hum and beeps of the various machines surrounding them gave the room an ominous and eerie atmosphere. Both females were clothed in white tops and pants covered with a high collared tabard while the man was dressed more conservatively in an outfit consisting of a black shirt and pants. The ensemble was completed with a dark green vest, white tie, and black gloves.
“Divine-sama,” the woman said, concern for the youngest of the group filling her voice, “There’s a change in the test subject’s body!”
“What’s the matter Seria?” the man asked.
“It appears she’s in contact with the Spirit World,” the woman, Seria replied, “This wave pattern here,” she continued, pointing to one of the myriads of monitors, “seems to be such an indication.”
“Good,” Divine said, utterly pleased with himself, “All this research hasn’t been in vain after all. It would seem it’s time we put this girl to work for our cause… even without psychic powers, I’m certain she’ll be a decent enough duelist.”
“She’s coning to!” Seria piped, noticing the girl’s violet eyes flutter open.
“Make sure you escort our ‘friend’ here to her room when she’s able to walk. However, under any circumstances is anyone to know that she’s not a psychic duelist. We can not afford to have our secrets leaked to the outside world Seria.”
“Understood, Divine-sama,” Seria replying bowing slightly. Satisfied that he was finally getting some results, Divine strode from the lab leaving the two females.

??? POV
I awoke to find a woman with short brown hair hovering over and fussing like a mother hen. I blinked confusedly, trying to remember where the heck I was and came up with absolutely nothing. My mind was complete blank. The only thing I could remember with any amount of certainty was my first name. Once the woman, who’d introduced herself as Seria had made sure I was alright and able to stand, she led me down the golden halls of this strange building to a rather plain looking door. It slid open with a swooshing sound at our approach and we stepped in.
Two boys wearing the same clothes as ours stopped their conversation to look at us. Both looked like they were about a year or so younger than me, one with brown hair and glasses, the other with blond hair and a sour look on his face.
“This is your room for now on,” Seria announced and I frowned. It was bad enough that I, a girl, had to share a room with two boys, what made it worse was that there were only two beds!! What was this woman thinking?! I sighed inwardly at the thought of having to sleep on the room’s only other piece of furniture, a rather uncomfortable looking couch.
“Just ask these two if you need help with anything,” the stupid bitch continued, not noticing my displeasure, “Oh yes, here’s a deck for you.” She hands me a bunch of duel monster cards and I gave them a cursory glance. From the looks of it, it seemed to be a pretty basic deck a noobie duelist would use. I inwardly cried with joy upon finding something else I could remember, even if it was a very fuzzy memory. “You two better get ready,” Seria says turning to the boys now, “Divine-sama will be giving you your orders soon.” She then turned and left me to my new roomies.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” the boy with the glasses said, smiling warmly, “I’m Okita. I’m sure we’ll get alone wonderfully. We’re kind of new here ourselves so we probably won’t be too much help I’m afraid.” Well at least this guy seems nice.
The other boy eyed me critically before approaching me. “Another newbie huh?” he asked curtly, “My name’s Liquid, what’s yours newbie?” Liquid?! What kind of parent names their kid that?! No wonder this kid’s so cranky. I’d be too with a name like that.
“It’s Iolanthe,” I tell them.
“Well, anyway,” Liquid continued, “It’s good to have you with us. Just don’t go causing problems for us.” Hmph! What a jerk.
“Oh I know,” Okita pipes up, “How about a duel while we wait, Iolanthe-san. We can get to know each other better that way.” I think about it for a few moments then nod. I had nothing better to do anyway. “Smashing,” he replied, “but no psychic powers okay. It wouldn’t go well if we trash the room. Though I doubt we’d do much damage with us being new to all this.”
What did he mean by ‘no psychic powers’? I may not remember much, but I am definitely sure I had no psychic powers. I had a very strong gut feeling about that. I was going to ask the boy about that, but decided not to. Something just said to keep quiet for now, I don’t know what. Let’s just call it ‘women’s intuition.’
Okita turned out to be a decent duelist with his deck being built for healing one’s life points, but I was better, beating him in only seven turns! I was surprised at how well I was able to handle this brand new deck on top of my lack of memory of any dueling experience of any kind.
“Amazing!” Okita said, equally impressed with my skill. “I guess this means I’ll be training harder now so I can catch up to you, Iolanthe-san.”
“Hmph…” Liquid snorted, “Noobs. Let me show you how it’s really done.” He was about to pull out his deck with the door to our room slid open. A man with a vest over his black shirt strode in. The boys immediately came to attention. “Attention psychic duelists!” the man announced. “The Arcadia Movement’s next mission has been decided upon! Our target is the Fortune Cup tournament being held by Sector Security. There are a large number of highly skilled duelists participating in this tournament. We just can’t allow Sector Security to do as they please without any supervision now can we?” He motioned behind him for someone to enter. “Come in Aki,” he said. A burgundy haired girl in a gosi-loli dress outfit appeared and stood a few inches away from the man. “This is Aki Izayoi. She’s one of the duelists in the tournament. I want you three to sneak into the rear of the event hall and lend her support. Now since none of you are strong enough for a psychic duel on your own, I want you all to work together. Consider it a bit of field training. Aki,” he said, turning to the newcomer, “Make sure you use your powers to their full potential when you face the other contestants.”
“Yes, Divine-sama. As you wish,” she replied.
“Good. Now you three head over to the tournament, and do not fail me!”

After sneaking into the event hall by way of a crate ridden warehouse, the boys and I split up in search of info. Liquid and I head for the duelists’ waiting room once we could find nothing of importance. The cries and shouts of faraway cheers reach our ears as we enter the room.
“Sounds like the duel’s over,” the surly blond noticed. Duh. I silently retort. “Where’s that idiot Okita? He should have been back here by now.”
Just then the door slid open and the bespectacled boy dashed in. “Sorry for being late, but I’ve just learned that Izayoi-san has lost.”
“No way!” Liquid shouted in disbelief. “We need her for this mission to work! Now what?!”
“Looks like we have no choice but to go back now,” Okita said apologetically, “It appears that coming here was a waste of time. But we can still keep looking around if you think we can find anything.”
I nod my agreement. I never did like wasting time. As we leave the room and come to the corner we hear Divine’s voice. “Nicely done, Aki,” he said, “Shall we head home?”
“But… I…” she stammered.
“Never mind that. You need rest, now let’s head back.” The man I assumed as being our leader came down the hall, followed by Aki. “The plan’s on hold,” he said upon noticing us, “Head back to headquarters all of you.”
Our way was suddenly blocked by a short man with periwinkle hair and red lines intersecting his eyes. He made me shudder as he reminded me of a deranged looking clown. Behind him were two suit wearing goons. “Hold it right there, Aki Izayoi,” the ‘clown’ said giggling madly, “Director Goodwin requires your presence, dear.”
“Do you really think we’d be at his beck and call,” Divine spat.
“Feeling feisty are we?” the shorter man queried, giggling again with barely veiled sick glee, “I guess I’ll have to take you by force then.” The two goons stepped forward, their duel disks at the ready.
“Take care of them,” Divine says to us, “I don’t have the time for this nonsense. Aki needs to go home so she can rest.”
We ready our disks as well and in a matter of minutes, beat the crap out of the clown’s two goons. “Fall back,” the short man orders and the suits obey, but not without a bit of grumbling. I breathe a sigh of relief once the clownish man follows his cronies into the elevator and disappears from sight.
“What a waste,” Liquid snaps, “We failed.”
“I quite agree,” Okita adds, “It seems we won’t be getting anymore orders today so let’s head home.” The boys head down the elevator and I was about to follow them when someone approached me from behind.
“You’re from the Arcadia Movement, right?”
I turn around and see a young girl about my age. She had long black hair and was wearing a stripped long-sleeved shirt with a vest over it and jeans. Her eyes were hidden behind a pair of very thick glasses. “I’m Carly Nagisa, a journalist. Tell me all you know about the Arcadia Movement!” Yeesh what a pushy girl! “But you look like someone who’s not gonna just spill are you? I’ve got it! If I beat you in a duel, you’ll have to tell me everything ok?” Yep. She’s one pushy girl.
I was about to explain to her that I knew very little about these people I was with, that I was suffering from a rather nasty bout of amnesia when there was a sudden growl – at least it sounded like a growl – from the duel arena.
“Has the championship match started already?!” Carly yelled, just as startled, “Who cares, what was that noise just now?! Our duel’s gonna have to wait!” she said, rushing off to the farthest elevator. “I’ve got to get to the arena ASAP!”
Something pulled at me and I followed the pushy journalist up to the arena viewing area. “Just what the heck’s going on?” she shouted, “who summoned that humongous dragon?! I’ve gotta get an interview, this is one huuuuuge scoop!”
Up in the sky above the arena was a gigantic red dragon. A feeling of familiarity and dread came over me as I gazed at it.  Cheers from the arena below drew my attention from the dragon and I spied two boys riding D-wheels. Another wave of familiarity washed over me as one of them took off his helmet, revealing spiky blond hair. My head suddenly began to hurt greatly and I grabbed onto it.

Flashback
“Looks like it was easy for you two,” the blond boy said to the boy with black and gold spiky hair next to me.
“Yeah. We’re good friends after all,” the brunet replied.
End Flashback

What was that just now?! Was that some sort of memory? Those two boys… The pain intensified and the two duelists below me were the last things that fill my mind before I lose consciousness.

When I come to, I find myself lying on the couch in Okita and Liquid’s room. I was right, I say to myself, it’s damned uncomfortable!
“Glad to see you’re awake,” Liquid says, “I was really getting worried. Especially after Seria had to carry you in yesterday. She said you collapsed back there. You sure you’ve got what it takes? You can’t be much if you go and pass out on the very first day like that.” Just what is this jerk’s problem?! First he says he’s worried about me, then insults me!
“Don’t pay attention to him,” Okita says, smiling, “He’s just upset that our first mission was a failure. I’m relieved to see that you’re feeling better though.”
“Thanks,” I mumble, blushing slightly. Well at least one of my roomies isn’t so bad.
“Oh, yes,” Okita pipes up, “We start training today. So if you’re up to it, you can join us at the training hall.”
I nod and follow the boys to the hall that was next to the skyscraper that housed our headquarters.

‘T raining’ consisted of reviewing the basics of dueling along with a few tests. The tests came quite easily to me. The problems weren’t that hard to solve and using several different decks seemed to be a breeze for me. No matter which type of deck I chose, I always seemed to be able to draw the cards I needed at the most opportune moments. I was about to head back up to the room I shared with the two boys when I was stopped by our leader Divine.
“Iolanthe-kun,” he called, “Finished with your training for the day?”
“Yes, sir,” I reply.
“Excellent. You can help me sharpen Aki’s skills. Follow me.”
I follow the man all the way up to his office on the top floor. I tried not to be impressed by all the obviously expensive looking furnishings and accessories. “Aki, I’d like you to duel against Iolanthe here, but don’t overdo it since you’re still not in tip-top shape,” Divine says to the goth girl waiting by the desk. “This is supposed to be a bit of light training, so take it easy.”
“Yes, Divine-sama,” Aki replied. “I appreciate your dueling against me,” she says to me, “You must be tired of all the training.”
“There’s no need for chit-chat,” Divine interjects, “Just consider this as help for bringing you back to your senses.”
“Yes, sir,” she replies, “Shall we begin?” I’ve decided. I do not like this man one bit. He may be my leader, but there was no need for him to be such a bastard to this girl. If Aki wanted to make friends, then he should have let her damn it!
Aki was the hardest opponent I had ever remembered facing. Our duel dragged on well past ten turns! I was greatly impressed by this girl. It appeared that her deck was indeed well suited to her, full of deceivingly beautiful yet potentially deadly cards. Her Tytannial card was a major struggle to defeat and I stood there panting. Within seconds, I was knocked back by the backlash of psychic energy that was still outpouring from the girl.
The burgundy haired duelist rushed over to me and helped me up. “I’m so sorry!” she apologized profusely, “I tried to control my powers, but they just… wouldn’t stop coming out.”
“You’re still tired, Aki,” our leader said coming over to us, “why don’t you take the rest of the day off.”
“But..”
“No need to worry, Aki,” Divine said, making her look him in the eyes, “Your friend is just fine, see?”
“Yes… sir.” She turned to look at me, concern and guilt written all over her lovely face. But she was led away by the much taller man before she could say anything.

The next few days consisted of yet more ‘training’. I was getting pretty disgusted with all the basic stuff, but hey it was something to do right? On the day of our D-wheel training however, something odd occurred. The moment I revved the motor on the dueling motorbike, I began to ride as if I’d been riding the thing all my life. I’ve regained another memory! Liquid was a bit angry at how well I had done on the riding test, but soon calmed done once he saw the surprised and confused look on my face. He still hadn’t gotten used to the fact that I still had amnesia.
As we were heading out of the city and back to headquarters, the gold and black spiky haired duelist from the Fortune Cup came running up to us. “Iolanthe?!” he said, surprise and concern covering his handsome face. “Is that really you?!”
A sharp pain rushed to my head and I was forced to take a step backwards.

Flashback
“I finished tuning up the prototype I was saving for you,” the boy with spiky bi-colored hair said to me.
“Hey Io-chan,” a redheaded boy, his hair in messy spikes and held up by a headband added, “Why don’t you test that baby out? Get goin’!”
“How’s it going Iolanthe?” a boy about a year older than me with short silver hair asks.
End of Flashback

“You know him?” Liquid asks me as I shake the fuzzies out of my head, “Hey, you don’t look so good,” my roomie says.
“I’d appreciate it if you’d stay out of where you don’t belong Yusei Fudo,” Divine says seemingly to appear out of nowhere. I hadn’t known he was going to be here. “Get her back to headquarters,” he says as I once again clutch my throbbing head.
The spiky haired boy ignores our leader and continues to press toward me, “Iolanthe!” he calls again. “What’s wrong?! What’s going on?!”
“Don’t make me warn you again, Fudo-kun,” Divine demands, getting between the brunet and me.
“Iolanthe!” the boy calls as Liquid clutches my arm tightly and helps me, well more like drags me, back to headquarters.

POV shift
Divine was once again in the lab, the pale haired girl attached to the pod and unconscious. Seria watched the monitors worriedly. “If this goes on, the subject will pass out on us sir!” she said, “The level of her consciousness is decreasing rapidly.”
“The brainwashing is wearing off then?” he asked, frowning.
“Yes,” the woman answered, “She must have received a major shock related to a memory.”
“That damned Yusei…!” Divine snarled, furiously, “He just keeps getting in my way! If he keeps chasing after the subject like this, we could be in big trouble! Strengthen the brainwashing. We need her to be able to resist pests from her past like that Yusei.”
“But, Divine-sama!” protested Seria, “Her brainwaves are unstable! If we keep pushing, she could die!”
“Tch! Fine. We can’t afford to lose such a valuable asset. Conduct the brainwashing later when the subject’s more stable.”
“Yes, sir.”