Hidden in Stardust
Hello. Welcome to my first fic. I am working on it with a good friend of mine. He goes by pop82 on . Also, I apologize for the title, I used a name generator for it. I would appreciate any feedback.
As far as the time period for this fic, it will take place in the same time frame as Arc-V, however, only the events of 5D's have taken place. Therefore, the events of Zexal and Arc-V have not occurred, and also, Pendulum Monsters have not been created. Turbo Duels will also not be taking place, they still occur, there just won't be any as far as this fic goes.
We will also be using a modified ban list to use with this fic. Certain cards that are banned are treated as limited, and certain cards that are limited, are treated as Semi-Limited, and so on. Certain cards are left untouched (Like Chaos Emperor Dragon) and certain cards that are limited/unlimited are treated as banned (Dark Strike Fighter).
We will be using the official Team Duel Rules with a few modifications, like how banned, limited, and semi-limited cards are determined by player, not team, so you can have, for example, 2 Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginnings, one in your's and your team mate's deck. Other modifications will be explained as they arise.
Also, all players will draw on their first turn.
Cards used in this fiction will not be limited to cards used before Zexal was released. All currently released cards, with the exception of Pendulum Monsters will be used.
One final point: The Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game and anime is copyrighted and owned by Konami. We do not, in any way, own rights to any of the cards in this fanfiction with the exception of the cards we have ourselves created.
Without any further ado: Enjoy
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Prologue: Fun Times
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In a world where the cards weren't real, duels weren't nearly as entertaining. The game was still popular, but was more or less only played by people who actually bought the cards and attempted to really learn how they worked. That was our world. There were no Duel Disks and the events that Yugi and Jaden performed existed only in a Cartoon named after the game.
What game you ask? Well that should be obvious, but for those of you who can't tell, the game is "Yu-Gi-Oh!". Or, as you might have heard it called: Duel Monsters. Well, that's enough of an introduction for now. I don't want to exposition you to death. Moving on.
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Nashville, TN
Present Day
Final Round Local Team Competition
A group of people we're gathered around a table, trying to see the last round.
Both teams looked confident. On one side, there were two boys, about the same height. One was lanky and was the taller of the two (only by about an inch or two), and the other, being the shorter of the two was considerably heavier (by about 70 lbs or so). They both had about the same hair color, and eye color, and if one knew them at all, about the same personality too. They might as well have been twins, to any passerby. The taller one's name was Trey (he never gave his last name, and the only people in the room who knew it were his partner, and the guy at the registration counter.) The heavier of the two's name was Connor.
On the other side, sat a woman with bright red hair down to her back of average build and a taller man with shoulder-length brown hair. The woman's name was Amber, and the man's name was Charles.
"Well, it's time for the finals man," said Connor, "you ready?"
"Let's get this over with" replied Trey.
Trey said, "Hey Charles, Amber, do either of you have a quarter or something?"
"No, does anyone else have one?" Charles asked.
One of the spectators tossed a coin onto the game mat. Amber picked up the coin and said, "Thanks. Heads or tails?"
"Heads," said Connor.
She flipped the coin. It spun in the air and after it came down, landed on heads.
"Ok, so we go first," said Connor.
"I'll take the first move," said Trey.
(Trey & Connor: 16,000 ;; Amber & Charles: 16,000)
"I'll set four cards face down and end my turn," Trey said.
"My turn," stated Amber.
"I'll set one monster face down, and two cards face down in my Spell and Trap card zones."
"Stop for a moment. I activate my facedown card Artifact Ignition."
"What?" asked Amber.
"Artifact Ignition allows me to destroy 1 set Spell or Trap card on the field. And I will choose my face down Artifact Beagalltach. When destroyed during my opponent's turn by a card effect, he is Special Summoned to my side of the field and has an effect activate. I will summon him in defense position."
He placed the card on the mat, turned sideways to show that it was in defense mode (2100 DEF)
"Next, Ignition allows me to set one Artifact monster from my deck to my Spell and Trap card zone, so I will set Artifact Aegis from my deck. Now, Beagalltach's effect allows me to destroy up to two of my own set cards. I will destroy Artifacts Moralltach and Caduceus, who are also Special Summoned."
He placed Caduceus on the mat, turned sideways to show that it was in defense mode (2400 DEF), and he placed Moralltach straight up and down to show that it was in attack position (2100 ATK).
"Also, Moralltach allows me to destroy one card on your side of the field, so I will destroy your face down monster."
"What? That blows," she complained, moving her monster (Morphing Jar) to the Graveyard, "I end my turn."
"My turn." said Connor, "I activate the Black Whirlwind Spell Card. Now if I ever Normal Summon a Blackwing, I can add another Blackwing monster to my hand with less Attack Points. Now I Summon my Blackwing - Shura the Blue Flame in Attack Mode."
He placed the card on the mat in the Attack Mode position. (1800 ATK)
"I activate my face down: Bottomless Trap Hole, which removes it from play," said Amber.
"Oh. Ok, then," he said, moving his Shura to his banished pile, "Well, since I still technically summoned it, I can use the effect of my Black Whirlwind, moving my Blackwing - Blizzard the Far North to my hand.
"Next, I'll set two cards face down and end my turn."
"My turn," said Charles, "I activate my Gates of Dark World Field Spell, and I remove my Stardust Dragon in my Extra Deck from play to Special Summon my Malefic Stardust Dragon."
He placed it on the field. (2500 ATK)
"Next I activate my Dark World Dealings, meaning my opponent and I both Draw and Discard one Card."
He and Connor drew and discarded one card.
"The card I just discarded was my Grapha, and when he's discarded, I can destroy one card on the field, like your partner's Beagalltach."
"In response, I use my Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy my partner's face down card," said Connor.
"Thanks Connor," said Trey, "Since my Artifact Aegis was destroyed during my opponent's turn, he is Special Summoned to my side of the field in Defense Mode. (2500 DEF) My Beagalltach is still destroyed, but now I have an even stronger monster in his place, and my other monsters cannot be targeted or destroyed by card effects, and Caduceus allows me to draw one card because an Artifact monster was special summoned during my opponent's turn."
"You really shouldn't worry about his backrow, after all, he gets rid of it so very very fast," quipped Connor.
"Fine. I set one card face down, and attack your Moralltach."
Connor looked at his partner, with a question and Trey shook his head. Trey put his monster in the graveyard.
(T&C: 15600 ;; A&C: 16000)
"I end my turn."
"My turn," said Trey.
"And with it, I pay 1000 Life Points to activate Skill Drain."
(T&C: 15600 ;; A&C: 15000)
Trey frowned and drew a card.
"I will set four cards and end my turn."
"Ok. My turn then," said Amber, drawing a card.
"I activate Double Cyclone, which allows me to destroy Spell or Trap card my opponent controls and one Spell or Trap card I control. So, I will destroy your Skill Drain as well as my face down Artifact Beagalltach. I'm sure you remember what he does?"
"Destroy your face downs?" she replied.
"Exactly. Since he was destroyed during your turn, I can Special Summon him (2100 DEF) and use him to destroy my face down Artifact Failnaught. Failnaught is then also Special Summoned (2000 ATK) and his effect allows me to return 1 Artifact monster, like my Moralltach, from my graveyard and set him in my Spell/Trap card zone. Also, my Artifact Caduceus allows me to draw two cards. Then I activate my facedown Artifacts Unleashed, which allows me to select two Artifact monsters on my side of the field, like Beagalltach and Failnaught, and perform an Xyz summon to bring forth Artifact Durendal (2400 ATK). Which also means that Caduceus allows me to draw yet another card. You can go now."
"Great. Thanks so much. I summon my Fabled Raven (1300 ATK). With his effect, I discard 3 cards, giving him 2500 ATK, and making him LV 5."
"No, you don't discard anything. I activate Artifact Durendal's effect, and remove one Xyz material to change your Raven's effect to 'Destroy 1 Spell/Trap Card your opponent controls.'"
"But you only have one!" she declared.
"Exactly. So, you destroy my Moralltach who comes back and his effect destroys your partner's Malefic Stardust Dragon and Caduceus allows me to draw another card."
The other team sat there in silence for a moment, with the crowd snickering. Then Charles said:
"You're a dick, you know that?"
"Yes, yes I am." Trey replied.
"Well, since plan A fell through, I'm going to use plan B: Card Destruction. Now you and I both discard our hands and draw new ones," said Amber.
"That works for me," replied Trey.
"...Whatever. I just Discarded my Fabled Krus and Fabled Gallabas. Now Krus's effect activates, allowing me to special summon my Gallabas back to the field (1500 ATK). Next, I activate Gallabas's effect, discarding one card and destroying your Artifact Moralltach. Next, my Gallabas attacks Durendal!"
"Um, why?" asked Trey.
"Because, I use the effect of my Honest, discarding him to boost his Attack by 2400."
Connor looked at his partner again. Trey nodded.
"I activate my face down: Mirror Force!" said Connor.
"SERIOUSLY?!" shouted Amber.
Connor just smiled.
She put her cards in the Graveyard, and whispered "I end my turn," and a few words that the others couldn't quite make out.
"My turn," said Connor, "I Summon Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind (1300 ATK), and with Black Whirlwind I move Blackwing - Kochi the Daybreak to my hand. Next I'll Special Summon two Blackwing - Bora the Spears to the field (1700 ATK)x2. Now my three monsters attack you directly."
(T&C: 15600 ;; A&C: 10300)
"Next I'll place one card face down, and Synchro Summon Blackwing Armor Master (2500 ATK), and I end my turn."
"My turn," said Charles, "first, I Summon, Beiige, Vanguard of Darkworld (1600 ATK 1900 ATK), and send it back to my hand to Summon Grapha, Dragon Lord of Darkworld (2700 ATK 3000 ATK)"
"And I activate my face down, Bottomless Trap Hole. I believe you know what that does."
"Yeah, yeah, I do. I activate my Field Spell's effect, banishing my Beiige, Discarding my Broww, to draw one card, and due to my Broww's effect, I draw another. I summon Tour Guide From the Underworld (1000 ATK) and with its effect…"
"I activate Durendal's effect. By detaching his last Overlay Unit, I change your Tour Guide's effect to 'Destroy 1 Spell/Trap Card your opponent controls.-"
"I hate you," Charles said, as Connor got rid of his Spell, "I end my turn with one facedown."
"Fine, my turn," said Trey, "I draw. I will activate Cards from the Sky. I banish Artifact Caduceus from my hand to draw two I will activate Pot of Duality. So, I excavate Artifact Labrys, Artifact Achilleshield, and Magic Cylinder. I will return Achilleshield and Labrys to my deck and add Magic Cylinder to my hand. Then I set four cards from my hand and end my turn, since I can't conduct my Battle Phase due to Cards from the Sky."
"My turn," said Amber, "...Pass."
"Over to me," said Connor, "I summon Blackwing - Blizzard the Far North (1300 ATK), and with it's effect Summon my other Bora from my graveyard in defense mode (800 DEF). I then tune my Blizzard and my Bora in Defense to summon Blackwing Armed Wing (2300 ATK). Now, since the number of Dark Attribute cards in my graveyard is exactly 3, I can summon Dark Armed Dragon (2800 ATK).".
At this point, realizing that there wasn't much they could do, they began to quake in fear.
"Now I activate his effect, and remove my Gale from play to destroy your Tour Guide."
Charles moved his last line of defense to the Graveyard.
"Now, they all attack you directly."
(T&C: 15600 ;; A&C: 1000)
"That 400 damage you did at the beginning of the duel doesn't seem like so much now, does it?" said Trey.
"Oh, will you shut up?!" said Charles, "I banish my Stardust Dragon to summon another Malefic Stardust Dragon (2500 ATK). Then, I use Gates to banish my Broww, discard Grapha and one of your face downs. specifically, that one."
He points to the one directly behind Aegis.
"Then I activate Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy the middle one! Then I summon Snoww, Unlight of Darkworld, and bounce him to summon Grapha from my Graveyard (3000 ATK). Next I overlay them both to summon Number 22: Zombiestien!"
He slammed the card on the table in Attack Mode. (4500 ATK)
"Now I attack your Dark Armed Dragon!"
(T&C: 13900 ;; A&C: 1000)
"Bet you're scared now huh?! I end my turn."
"Not really. I draw," said Trey, "I Overlay my Artifact Aegis and my Artifact Caduceus to summon Number 61: Volcasaurus. I detach my Caduceus to activate his effect. I destroy your Number 22: Zombiestein and you take 4500 points of damage. I end my turn. Good duel.."
(T&C: 13900 ;; A&C: 0)
Amber and Charles, both frustrated with losing the duel without being able to do much, simply packed up their cards and walked away. Connor and Trey collected the $50 in prize money and packed up their cards as well.
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(Later, while Connor and Trey were heading home)
"Well, that was fun," said Connor.
"You bet," Trey replied.
They kept walking along the road. They lived in the same direction, so they walked home together. Even though it was almost summer in Nashville and almost 85 degrees, they were having no trouble with it.
They made an excellent team. Trey was the one who kept their opponents hyped, making them make rash moves, and while Trey kept them occupied, Connor would exploit the holes in their opponent's strategy that Trey caused by making them focus on him.
And just because they worked well together, didn't mean they couldn't duel alone. Both of them were excellent in the game, having put long hours into studying not just their own cards, but all cards, learning as much as they could, until they knew every card in the game. They knew so much, that whenever there was a dispute over a ruling or effect, both sides would come to see who was right from none other than these two. debates between the two were a sight to behold, as both would pull out rulings so obscure and confusing that most people didn't even realize were rulings.
They eventually came to Trey's house, just as the sun was setting, and the streetlights we're coming on.
"Hey man, it's getting late, you wanna stay over?' asked Trey.
"Eh, sure, why not. It's not like I have anything to do at home," Connor replied.
"Cool. Right this way."
The pair went to his front porch, and we're about to walk in the door, when Connor looked down.
"Huh?"
"What is it Connor?"
"It looks like a card," Connor said, picking it up.
"What is it?"
"Well it looks like an Interdimensional Matter Transporter, but there's no card text, see?"
"You're right, it's just the picture, and the Trap Card symbol."
"Weird. Wait, isn't this how they do it in the show?"
"Yeah, you're right. Why is this here?"
"I don't know…"
As they continued to look and ponder its presence, the card began to glow.
"Whoa! What's going on!?" Connor exclaimed
The glow got brighter, and Connor dropped the card, and it landed right side up, just like a Trap Card would. The glow got even brighter, and the impossible happened. The pair found themselves face-to-mechanical-face with the machine itself: Interdimensional Matter Transporter.
"Is that…?" Connor asked.
"I think so…" Trey replied.
Suddenly, it lit up.
"Oh, god. Is it activating?" Connor asked
"It is! Where do you think it goes?" asked Trey in response.
"I don't know, but I want to find out."
"You sure about this?
"You bet."
They both grabbed the device as it lit up, and the pair became covered in light, and then both they and the machine vanished into thin air.
CHAPTER END