YuGiOh! Revival of Dragons

by jkBAKURA

6 years after Lady of Dragons, Duel Monsters Culture is now dying. As Seto Kaiba and Duke Devlin attempt to revive the game, Isis, Derik, and Peter get caught up in an attempt to destroy everything that Kaibacorp and I2 have worked for.

1. Getting Things Rolling

Greetings once again loyal readers. Let me assure you that I have grown as a writer, and have taken great lengths to make this story well worth the time to read.

The rules of the game will follow the game rules almost to the letter. Some errors are intentional tweaks for excitement purposes, but unlike last time, they won't be made through carelessness if I can help it. Most should go unnoticed unless you have the rulebook handy.

For those who like the unfamiliar cards posted at the end of the chapter, I hate to disappoint you. I will do my best to explain the rulings as I go along so I don't confuse you.

The Safecracker card in this chapter was created by Cyber Commander. He has some of the best ideas.

This story takes place about 6 years after LoD ended. This leaves the characters at about 15 or 16.

The story will feature tragic situations, and issues that come with the characters' maturity and not all of them will be easy to watch. There also will include some of the swearing and violence, but it shouldn't get worse then average everyday life.

Some of the more dramatic chapters will have warnings of their own should they need them.

I think that covers about everything.

Enjoy the story

Revival of Dragons: Chapter One: Getting Things Rolling

A well dressed Father rounded the corner of his home to verify that his son was still huddled by the door. It was just as he expected.

The events of years past were dimmer now, with only two facial scars to verify the events ever took place. The youth was fifteen now, his best friend a year older. His sandy hair had grown difficult to control, and was best described as a "mop." Peter Wheeler had never bothered to change out of his school uniform. In fact, Joey had a sneaking suspicion that he didn't even pick up his shoes.

"Peter, I know you're excited about seeing your Aunt again, but for Pete's sake you can't wait there all day," Joey offered concerned.

"Watch me," Peter replied hotly.

It wasn't his aunt he was anxious about; he had talked to her before. The landmark was that this was the first time he'd be meeting his eight-year-old cousin Matthew. Meeting, Peter restated with a curled lip, I believe the proper term is babysitting.

Duke and Serenity Devlin were returning to Japan on more then just a family visit. Duke Devlin had been owner of Industrial Illusions for years now, ever since Pegasus had retired. Business had never done quite as well as it had with Pegasus at the helm. In fact, Duel Monsters had only been releasing expansions every two years since just before the final Battle City Tournament.

Duke had taken to inventing new monsters for his Dungeon Dice game rather then basing them off of card monsters. In fact, from what Joey understood, Industrial Illusions was now little more then a distributor for Kaibacorp software.

Mai had picked up the phone a month before, and Serenity had told her that the family would be in town, and the two wives set up a dinner date at the Black Clown.

Peter got to play Babysitter to Matthew, and while he was looking forward to seeing his cousin, he wasn't going to let go of the fact that his Mom had shoved the job on his shoulders without asking.

Joey, obviously wanting to say more, was silenced by a knock at the door. Each rap on the wood felt like a jackhammer on the back of the boy's skull. Peter felt himself longing that Derik was nearby, but was comforted by the fact that Taishi would soon be on her way.

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Duke Devlin always had a room available at the Black Clown. It was, after all, where he had gotten his first start. The company owner caught himself looking across the street, parking space where the Turtle Game Shop used to be.

"Things have definitely changed," Serenity commented as she walked in, noting where her husband was staring.

Duke nodded in agreement. "But it happened so fast."

Serenity's brow furrowed with thought. She looked older then she was, the stress of a long feud with her brother, and being away from home causing the slightest undertone of gray in her hair, years too early. The woman's eyes were still young though. Duke always loved that sparkle of admiration in them.

One of the few times they had spoken between her wedding and the previous month was when Joey had called her with the news. Tea and Yugi Motoh were getting a divorce.

Joey hadn't gotten all of the details, but to him, the issue was obvious. Tea wasn't in love with Yugi, and never really had been. The relationship was built on clinging to an infatuation with the Pharaoh. The woman had chosen Yugi hoping to be with someone who just wasn't what she was expecting.

It was the events of the previous tournament that had been the beginning of the end. After Yugi had sent the Puzzle back to Egypt with Marik and Bakura, Tea knew something was wrong. The rift deepened when she insisted that Derik give up Duel Monsters, stating that it would always be an invitation to danger, as it had always been for her husband.

In the end, Derik spoke on his own behalf, and with the heartbreaking decision to make of one parent or the other, he made his choice in Yugi. Derik's last hug from his mother had been in court that day, and the last time he saw her was as she drove away, no longer a resident to the house.

The scandal wasn't followed by the media. Even then, Duel Monsters had begun to die out, but Derik and Yugi just couldn't take the memories of the game shop so nearby.

Peter talked to Derik about once a month, but as the years went on they had less and less to say. They hadn't met face to face in years.

Duke went back to make sure that the Okonomiyaki was not yet cold. After so much time in America, it surprised him that he still knew how to make it.

For no reason in particular, Duke checked to see if his old Duel Disk was working, and counted the number of cards in a moderately worn deck to make sure they were all there. The man smiled a bit for old time's sake, and turned as Serenity tapped him on the shoulder to signal that their guests had arrived.

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"Seems we always end up talking about Duel Monsters," Joey relented, as the fifth attempted subject of conversation died within two sentences.

Duke shifted in his seat uncomfortably, causing his famous die earring to bounce against the man's cheek, much to his annoyance.

"That's not the subject I'd like to get into right now," Duke admitted. "Kaiba insisted that we get Maikeru Itai to come promote our new project. I'm not looking forward to this at all."

"Who?" Mai asked.

Serenity cleared her throat, taking over for a subject that was obviously tough for her husband to discuss. "Maikeru Itai is one of the last duelists on the Professional Circuit. It's the only name people really recognize from dueling any more. He's American, so it's no surprise you haven't heard of him over here. Ever since he made it to the pros, he's never defeated an opponent."

"No wonder he's well known," Joey laughed. "He's never beaten anyone?"

"He's never had to," Duke finished grimly. "Everyone he's dueled has surrendered before the final blow."

The table went dead quiet.

"So," Mai attempted, "what theme does he use?"

"Let's talk about something else," Serenity fielded quickly.

"Ok," Joey quickly went along. "How 'bout you Duke? You're the Industrial Illusions owner; you must be one of the few duelists left out there."

Deciding that it didn't hurt, Duke slid his deck across the table. Mai couldn't see anything, but Joey's expression told the table that he was confused.

"Uh, Duke, I know you like dice, but you could kill yourself with these."

"Oh, the payment," Duke chimed as he realized what the question was. "Check the Field Card, that's what it's there for."

"What's this thing going to… oh," Joey finished, his eyes looking at two very different cards.

"Tricky," the blond noted, though obviously impressed, "but if anyone can make it work it's be you."

Devlin accepted the praise with a smile.

"Mai still has her deck too, don't you Hon," the Wheeler husband revealed.

Mai blushed slightly, tightening her grip on her purse.

"Aren't you even curious as to what our newest project is?" Serenity let out of nowhere. Joey instantly knew that she had been waiting for them to ask all night.

Mai slumped sheepishly. "It had crossed my mind, but I didn't know how to bring it up."

"Well, it's like this," Devlin supplied, making sure everyone at the table had his attention. "Kaiba called me about six years ago with an idea to get Duel Monsters back as a huge popular icon."

"No way," Joey interrupted excited.

Mai was a bit more skeptical. "And just how does he plan to do that?"

"By building a school for the teaching Duel Monsters," Duke revealed with a grin. The room went uncomfortable; the Wheelers obviously unsure if the man was being serious.

"Kaiba's been working on it for the past six years," Duke explained. "He's had teachers training, he's invented classes. This isn't going to be like an after-school activity, students will be living there! Both Kaiba and I are trying to restructure the pro-league so that Duel Monsters won't just be a hobby, but an actual occupation. Money could be coming in from scheduled appearances rather then just fishing for tournament winnings."

"And you're actually considering this?" Mai inquired, rapidly thinking the idea was ludicrous.

Serenity caught the woman's attention with a wave. "Considered and finished Mai. The Duelist Academy campus in New York is finished and ready to accept its first wave of students next year for anyone over 16."

"Wait a minute," Joey noted suspiciously, finally putting the pieces together. "You want Peter to be a part of this new Duel Monsters School don't you?"

Duke rolled his eyes slightly. "It was her idea," he muttered under his breath, earning a minor look from Serenity. Clearing his throat, Devlin pressed on. "It's not that simple. We have an event planned next week as an application with some of the staff going to be hired. If Peter wins, he's open as an option."

"Peter doesn't duel anymore," Mai stated with a hint of finality. "And I can't believe you'd ask this of him after what that game did to him. He's been seeing support groups for five years you two, and I'm not going to see whatever progress he's made come undone."

Duke was obviously too excited by the possibility to take no for an answer. "Come on Mai, just think of what he could be learning here. Just think, if a school for dueling had been around when we were in our prime, you might not have ended up such a loser."

On reflex Joey pushed away from the table as Mai jumped to her feet. "What?" she challenged, her voice calm, but through heavily clenched teeth.

"Well, let's see," Duke began counting on his fingers. "Let's start with Duelist Kingdom. First you dueled Joey… and lost. Then you dueled Panik… and lost."

Joey looked for an opening to stop Duke's train of thought as he saw Mai's mouth go dangerously thin. As his wife listened, her hands instinctively clenched around the tablecloth.

Devlin was obviously not finished, "Then you not only lost, but surrendered to Tea. Yugi you surrendered to. You lost to Marik in the Battle City finals…"

Not to mention Raphael, Joey admitted silently.

"Let's face it Mai," Duke finished. Mai was looking absolutely livid. "You are the worst, good duelist ever."

"Oh yeah?!" the "loser" in question thundered. "I say we duel right now, loser owes the winner the difference in life points in Yen." She thought for a moment before adding, "Tripled."

Joey winced. Mai had just released a successful fashion line, but if it was a shutout, that amount of money was quite a bit.

Serenity looked worried, but Duke just finished his drink and smiled. "You're on."

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Duke had to loan Mai a Duel Disk before taking the four to a large empty room with a checkered floor and wallpaper bearing different Dungeon Dice crests.

"We used to use it for minor tournaments, ones without holograms," Duke explained, startling a bit at the echo. "After the Duel Disk went mainstream, we moved the tables, and used it for a private room."

"Don't want the public to see you fall huh?" Mai bashed, remembering her opponent's first run-in with Yugi.

Duke ignored the remark switching on his disk and drawing his hand as the spouses watched from the sidelines.

"Duel!"

"I go first," Mai declared, obviously a little annoyed at the fact that Duke had mocked her skill, "and I start by setting two cards facedown, and summoning a monster facedown in defense mode."

Mai took her time, setting the cards carefully into place with a satisfied smile. "Your move hot-shot," she taunted, noting a surprised twitch as Duke drew his first card.

The reason for this was the stream of thoughts going through the Industrial Illusions owner's head.

Where did this come from? I've never known Mai to start on the defensive in any duel. Duke carefully looked at his hand, but caught himself panicking early for no reason. There's only one reason a duelist would do something that out of character, and that's starting off with a lousy opening hand. That must be why she played so many facedown cards.

Duke eyed the cards in question with an accusing stare. She might have started with some bad draws, but there's no reason to open myself up for an attack next turn. Attacking that defense monster won't do any damage anyway.

Deciding on a course of action, Duke made his first play of the game.

"I play a monster in defense mode," Duke began.

A sly wink crossed the female's eye as she heard the disk's electronic recognition.

"Sorry to disappoint you Hon," Mai coyly rebuked as one of her cards lifted to show its face, "but I had a plan set whether you attacked or defended. I play Shadow of Eyes."

A prism of warm colors, shaped into the form of a maiden, gestured her arm, beckoning to the hidden creature. Despite being pure energy, the creature still cast a shadow, and it was that shadow's touch that caused the card to rise.

The now uncovered form proved to be a rather battered looking skeleton wearing tattered robes, (then again does a skeleton wear any other kind?) and carrying a sword. Since a skeleton obviously has no muscles to hold itself up, it leaned rather heavily on a large headstone labeled with the number "13". (1200/900)

Duke winced slightly, causing an uncomfortable pressure from his gritting teeth. "That switches my Thirteenth Grave to attack mode."

"It certainly does," Mai agreed, taking a confident poise as the luminous maiden dispersed with a hint of perfume in the air. "And it's ripe for the picking next turn."

Not if I have a way to protect it, Duke challenged from his mind. "In that case, I put this facedown and end my turn."

Mai scanned the set briefly, before drawing her next card. It didn't matter much though. She had what she wanted already on the field.

"My next card," she purred, reaching for her facedown monster, "is Harpie Lady, in attack mode."

The monster took a regal stance, arms crossed before her, as she raised her head, and causing her hair to billow up in unnerving ways before settling on her shoulders. The monster let out a battle cry, something between a chirp and a growl, as she threateningly brandished her claws. (1300/1400) Duke would have felt a bit more threatened if his attention wasn't drawn to the fact that Harpie Lady's entire upper body attire was a pair of well placed suspenders.

Serenity took a moment to blink before asking a question. "Wait a moment; shouldn't that monster have 1600 attack points?"

Joey answered with an understanding nod. "You're thinking of Harpie Lady 1, which is an effect monster that powers up Wind attribute monsters. I hate to break it to you, but Mai felt too connected with her cards to change them when the upgraded Harpie Ladies became the new fad."

Joey looked off in thought for a moment. "Mai has always preferred strengthening her normally weak monsters with Magic and Trap cards anyway, and besides, she plays fewer Wind monsters then she lets on. Nope, in that deck are three good-old traditional Harpie Ladies. Just the way Mai likes it."

Mai felt a bit of a blush overhearing the conversation, and took a moment to remember what exactly she was doing.

"I assume you know how this combo works. First Harpie Lady," she took a pair of cards from her hand, "then Elegant Egotist, followed by Cyber Shield."

The red-headed winged-beast raised her arms as she took to the sky. Her form briefly shimmered into a kaleidoscopic silhouette, the monster's own face reflected ten-thousand times in a bright rainbow of color.

Four beams of light split in separate directions from the dazzling source of light. The blast glowing green regained Harpie Lady's original form, positioned in preparation for a dive. The others, colored red, gold, and blue, each took the form of a far more menacing Harpie, each one of the three in brilliant metallic armor. Their combined cries, intensified by their sharp eyes made clear the true bloodthirsty nature of these avian women. (1950/2100)

As soon as they stabilized, a new change took place. Dark chains began forming links between the pieces of revealing armor. Dangerous looking spikes enhanced the Sisters' breastplates, and rims of dark armor became apparent around the edges of the three Harpies' natural attire.

To Duke it was an awe inspiring visual, but even a monster with 2450 attack points could fall prey to the trap he had hidden.

Mai let her euphoria die down a moment, as she looked suspiciously at Duke's monster. Mai had always been wary of Trap cards. Her cautiousness of them had saved her many times. (Although it cost her one particularly memorable match.) Deciding not to take her chances on a trap that might be triggered by an attack against a monster, she took yet another card from her hand.

"Next I play this," She declared, as a Magic card bearing the picture of a silver satellite dish surrounded by a blue starburst shimmered into play. "Reflect Energy, and once I send my Harpie Lady to the Graveyard, I can use its magic to let these three lovely ladies attack your life points directly."

Duke hovered over his facedown card, thinking for a moment about the cards in his hand. This may be useful, but now Mai has only one monster. With The Thirteenth Grave safe, I can use it next round to destroy her Harpie Lady Sisters. That leaves my trap free to use in case she summons an even more powerful monster.

Harpie Lady took off behind Duke at frightening speed, before settling into position behind him, holding a silver looking glass.

Mai raised a finger to direct her attack as she called out to her monster. "Harpie Lady Sisters, combine your power and attack with Triangle Lightning!"

The three Sisters gathered spheres of energy in their claws, connecting their powers through a triangle of energy beams. With a cry, the threads crackled into bolts of electricity, which arced towards the silver mirror anchored behind Mai's unfortunate opponent.

For a moment, it looked like the mirror would hold, even though the Harpie holding it was quickly reduced to ash. As the mirror shattered, it sent the arc of electricity directly into Duke Devlin's back. The duelist cursed himself for looking over his shoulder, as a spasm from being hit caused an uncomfortable stretch in his neck.

Mai thoroughly enjoyed the sight of Duke's life points receding to 5550. After the click, she waved a casual hand telling Duke to take his turn without even uttering a word.

Duke drew his next card before beginning an already prepared move. The Thirteenth Grave vanished, being replaced by a black summoning portal, cackling with black lightning. A scent of ozone filled the room, as static discharges raced across a giant bony form, laced with formidable looking muscle tissue. (2500/1200)

Mai raised an eyebrow, almost bored. "Summoned Skull? Devlin, I'm going to ask point blank, are you running a deck of skeletons?"

"No!" Duke insisted, obviously caught off guard. He took another moment to think. "Although come to think of it, I do have plenty in here." It was perfectly clear to everyone that the company owner hadn't ever thought of it. Mai just watched with interest as the duelist recovered.

"And to correct your mistake, this monster is an upgraded version of Summoned Skull known as Skull Archfiend of Lightning, and I assure you it's more difficult to get rid of then its counterpart." Duke took the moment to gloat. "Especially since he's fifty points stronger then your Harpie Ladies."

A throaty growl ran softly around the room. To Joey it sounded a bit like a cat with a sore throat. The Harpies cried again. Though the sound was the same, there was no mistaking that this time it was in fear.

"Lightning Archfiend!" Duke declared, his eyes narrowing on his target. "Diabolic Power!"

With its demonic growl, the large monster executed an attack not unlike the familiar Lightning Strike. The only difference was that these bolts were black.

Mai's mouth curled into a smile. "Not this time Devlin." Her other hidden card rose with a gesture revealing… "Gravity Bind," the woman named. "And it negates all attacks from monsters whose star level is greater then three."

In the center of the field, an undulating sphere of energy pulsed once, before ejecting a net of green cords across the entire field. Both monsters fell helpless, trapped under the deceptively heavy weight of the netting.

Sorry girls, Mai apologized, wincing, at the sight of her trapped friends.

Duke was obviously no more pleased then she was, but now realized what Mai had meant when she said it didn't matter if he attacked or defended. Taking another card from his hand, he carefully opened the Field slot on his disk.

"It looks like I'm out of options. But I can still play Pandemonium."

"Panda-wha?" Joey asked, confused. "Who knew Duke had a thing for Chinese animals?" Serenity was too embarrassed to answer.

"'Pandemonium', you dunce! The lair of ten-thousand demon lords?" Duke answered obviously annoyed by the need to explain yet another card to Joey.

The "dunce" in question waited for the field to appear before swallowing heavily. "Uh, yeah," Joey defended. "I knew that."

The arena the duelists were standing on rebuilt itself piece by piece, into a demonic burning gazebo set on a raised platform. At one point it may have been a domed rotunda, but now all that remained were the burning ruins, a crumbling dome supported with six pillars each decorated in the shape of a ferocious open-mouthed dragon and marked with the first six roman numerals.

Mai simply shrugged, taking the new arena in. After a duel against Marik, this was something she could live with.

"I draw," Mai declared, holding the card at arm's length, and promptly smiling when she saw what it was.

"I admire the scenery Devlin, but now I'm going to sweep it all away…"

Just like I wanted you to, Duke congratulated himself, finger already positioned over a button on his duel disk.

"…with Harpie's Feather Duster!" Mai finished, as the card bearing a white feathered sweeper shimmered into being.

The three avian monsters let out a chirp of delight. The gravity in the room didn't let the monster take to the air. That did not prevent them from getting to their feet, backs to each other. Then the trio began to rotate at incredible speed, feathers releasing in a thin blue tornado, threatening to take out the entire field.

"Not today Valentine, I set up a special surprise just for you!"

Mai looked on in disbelief as a second brown tornado came down from above, engulfing her Harpie Sisters with a wind swarming the opposite direction. When it cleared, it was obvious that the half-bird siblings were more then a little surprised, as they kept double-taking quick looks at each other, trying to figure out what had occurred.

Mai looked over on Duke's side of the field, and it became obvious what had transpired. A brown mythical animal now hovered over Duke's left shoulder.

"Griffon Wing," Mai noted, with more then a hint of annoyance. It was a kind of an underhanded play on Duke's part, but she had to admit it was a legal one.

"Oh no!" Joey exclaimed, surprising Serenity slightly. "That means that all of Mai's cards go up in smoke!"

"True," Duke verified calmly, as his griffon shattered, Gravity Bind and Cyber Shield close behind. "I don't know if griffons ever ate harpies in mythology, but you have to admit, they're well equipped to do so."

Mai grit her teeth in a scowl. She really didn't want to do this, but right now she didn't have any other choice.

"I'm not out yet Duke. Cyber Shield may be gone, but there are other moves that I can make." She punctuated the statement, by setting another equip card into a slot on her Duel Disk. "I play Rose Whip!"

The central Harpie took the new weapon; a brown whip covered with dangerous looking thorns, and gave it a few lashes. The two other women backed away, as the whip landed with a few sharp cracks, rose pedals bursting from wherever it struck. The sisters' attack score regained some of its potency at a respectable 2250.

"The thorns on this whip can cut through anything," Mai advertised, "including solid stone. That monster's bone armor won't hold up to a single one of its lashes."

Duke looked on with narrowing eyes. It was obvious that Mai's confidence was shaken. She wasn't playing easy anymore, not when Mai was losing control. She didn't have to try very hard earlier, but now the woman was pouring in everything she had. Even though this was supposed to just be a friendly duel, Devlin had to admit he was impressed.

Mai swallowed hard, thinking about what she was about to do. For a moment she faltered. She loved her Harpie Ladies. Quickly Mai snapped herself out of her state of mind with a slight shock.

That's exactly why I surrendered to Yugi, because I didn't want to see my Harpies destroyed. If I'm really going to prove that I'm not the pushover he says I was, than I need to make the necessary sacrifices to win. Just for this duel I need to go back to the old Mai Valentine, the one who needs no one but herself.

Swallowing again, and blinking the emotion out of her eyes. She targeted her frustration on her opponent now for leaving her no choice in her next move.

"My Harpie Lady Sisters are now three hundred attack points stronger, and I send them to attack Skull Archfiend of Lightning with Tri-Lightning Whiplash!"

"But it's not enough," Duke babbled, blinking for a moment to figure out what she had said. By the time he realized that activating his trap card might be a good idea, the battle had already gone through.

The red-headed Harpie Lady sent a crackling force through the studded whip. It left a rather hefty gash in the monster's plating, but it didn't do much else.

The undead archfiend would have smiled if it had the facial muscles to do so. Black lightning coursed through the whip, traveling through all three harpies before each of the three shattered in turn.

Duke watched, hoping for some sort of trick as his opponent's life points ticked down to 7750.

I don't get it, Joey wondered, more then a little surprised. Mai's never done anything like that in all of the time I've known her. As much as she loves to win, there's nothing that makes her happier then having a Harpie on the field. Joey let his emotion and worries cross onto the field without a word. Mai, he pleaded to himself, what are you doing?

Even Duke was a little sympathetic as he let Mai take her time. She seemed to get over it in a hurry though, and a new fire burned in her eyes, as she appeared with a slightly sadistic grin.

"Congratulations Duke," Mai began, as she slipped her Harpie Lady Sisters and Rose Whip card into her graveyard pile. "You may have taken down my Harpies, but just like I did to Yugi, I'm going to vaporize your grungy old skull."

Duke looked on as Archfiend began to show far more bleeding scratched then he thought possible with a single whip. Each of them oozed smoking purple blood.

"Any monster that does battle with a Harpie Lady carrying the Rose Whip is instantly destroyed at the end of the damage step regardless of points." Mai made sure her opponent was paying close attention before she continued, returning to her somewhat playful demeanor.

"Maybe not," Duke challenged, as he pointed out the six dragon pillars around the arena, whose eyes were all glowing red now, "because whenever an Archfiend monster is targeted buy an effect, they have a chance to get off scott free. Oh, and just so you know this particular Archfiend has a 50/50 shot."

Mai held her breath and bit her lip a little, as one of the pillars, with the Roman numeral "II." Apparently that was the fifty percent in Mai's favor, as a blasting inferno from the dragon's mouth left the once proud Archfiend in ashes.

"Huh," Mai amused herself for a moment. "I seem to beat more Skulls that way." Joey remembered Mai's match with Yugi and smiled.

Duke huffed for a moment before taking his deck out of the slot.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Mai challenged. Duke looked up in surprise.

"My field card Mai. I don't have to pay for Archfiend monsters, but it also lets me search for an Archfiend of a lower level then an Archfiend destroyed by an effect."

Mai blinked for a moment. "Really?"

"Everyone always forgets that part," Serenity added with interest.

"It makes no difference to me," Mai concluded, taking another card from her hand. "Your Skull is gone, but here's something to let you reflect on the situation." The disk beeped as the new monster took the field. A floating orange robot, donned with the occasional spikes, a red cape, and various mirrors of all sizes. (1700/1000)

Serenity raised her eyebrows. "Reflect Bounder? Why would Mai play that card?"

"Easy," Joey fielded. "She's had a thing for mirrors from the beginning. Mirror Wall, Fairy's Hand Mirror, even Elegant Egotist to a degree. She obviously still has her Harpie Ladies, but Mai's enhanced them with a Mirror theme."

Serenity took the information with a smile. "So that's it," she returned. "More fitting then the Amazons at any rate."

"Yeah," Joey laughed. "You've got it right there. Mai's no Amazon that's for sure."

"And just what is that supposed to mean!" Mai thundered, glaring daggers at her partner in life. Joey found that a convenient moment to hide behind his sister.

Oh boy is he going to get it, Mai confirmed to herself. "My turn's over Devlin, so let's see what else you've got."

Duke drew his card, adding it to the three that were already present and sighed. "Since you know I searched for an Archfiend, I might as well play it. Shadowknight, in attack mode."

Mai could now tell exactly how these monsters were related to Summoned Skull. The monster had the same bone armor (or was it an exoskeleton?) over sinewy tissue. These muscles however, were a sick blue, as was the fiend's hair. A red hot sword and a spiked gauntlet took the place of the monster's forearms. (2000/1600)

"And that's why I don't play Harpie Lady 1," Mai scoffed, noting the demon's attribute, and Duke motioned for her to move.

Mai drew silently, deep in thought as she looked at the card. "Nothing this time, just a facedown card, and I turn it back to you." The disk beeped in confirmation.

She's using that Reflect Bounder as a shield, Duke realized, drawing a new card. It's dangerous to attack, but if I don't it'd give her more time to do whatever she's stalling for. The card caught Duke's eye, and a twinkle crossed his expression. But with this, why do I have to worry?

"Get ready, because whatever you set for me isn't going to do any good." The lighting in the room dimmed slightly. "Not against the Terrorking Archfiend anyway."

The fiend appeared in a burst of sickly green light. His boney carapace arranged to form regal robes and a French crown. A scarlet cape emphasized his menacing movement, and the Demon King wielded a ridiculously large dark blue sword. (2000/1500)

"And guess what?" Duke asked Mai, not really expecting an answer. "This guy negates the effect of any monster he destroys in battle, so your reflect Bounder's effect is useless."

Joey, caught out of the loop again, looked to Serenity. "I swear," the sister replied, "most of the people we've come across only know about the Life Point payment, and the first effect of these guys. Duke bought these cards from a kid he felt sorry for at a tournament. Every time he dueled, he forgot that the Archfiends had a roulette effect. He eventually lost to an Exodia duelist after he attacked a Sangan with a Terrorking, and didn't realize the Sangan's effect didn't go off."

"I know what you mean," Joey replied, remembering the time he saw someone win by attacking with a Spirit Reaper that had mistakenly been controlled with a Snatch Steal.

"What did the kid get in the trade?"

"He wanted a deck based on a board game, so Duke gave him a set of Puppet chess piece monsters," Serenity replied.

Joey shrugged. "I haven't heard of them."

Ignoring the side talk, Mai had to chuckle for a moment. "Sorry to burst your bubble Hon, but my Reflect Bounder targets your monster when it's attacking, not when it's actually destroyed."

"Target's huh," Duke mused, as Mai realized her mistake, "then I guess I'll have to leave it up to Lady Luck again won't I? Terrorking Archfiend," Duke addressed, as the black ruler lifted his blade, "attack Reflect Bounder now, with Diabolic Judgment!"

Terrorking, spun his sword in his hands, forming a dark vortex. The fiend laughed as his portal brought forth a swarm of buzzing black locusts. The reflective monster tried to hold on, but a large blanketing stream of flame cut off the monster mid-struggle. Mai turned her face away from the blast, noting that the pillar was marked with a "V" as her life points dipped lower to 7450.

Well, that's one thing less for me to avoid, Duke pondered in relief, but I can't relax yet. My Shadowknight has less protection then the Terroking, and though the roulette worked this time it's not a guarantee. That's not a risk I can afford to take with her facedown card. Not for only one-thousand points of damage.

Mai drew her hand up to a full six cards, and gleefully put one in place. "I activate the Magic Card, Grave Arm. This rare beauty I won in Battle City, and the reason it's so rare is that it instantly sends any monster I choose directly to the Graveyard."

A card showing a demonic clawed hand reaching from a small hole in the ground rose in front of the dueling woman. Mai kept excellent care of her cards, but Duke was able to notice a small section of the corner where the cardstock was beginning to peel away from the holographic foil.

"Pretty darn slick huh?" Mai asked with a smile on her face. "And since you didn't attack me with tall, chivalrous, and ugly over there, I'd be willing to bet that he's not as well protected as his master."

"Unfortunately that's a bet you'd win," Duke slumped, feeling that he would be rather grateful if the next flame blast came from pillar number "III".

Whatever favored Duke's Terrorking obviously wasn't making encores. The intense heat erupted from dragon pillar number "VI".

Duke jumped when the dirt covered arm burst onto the field with amazing speed… from a whole positioned directly in front of Duke. Shadowknight Archfiend gave an almost pitiful squeal, before being dragged back and bulging in weird places as it was swept into the dark opening in the ground.

Duke had to take a step back. Hologram or not, that was a little too close for comfort. He also made a mental note to talk to Kaiba about replacing the Shadowknight's death cry with something other then a squealing piglet.

Mai took another set of three cards in her hand, and kept two of them convenient as she showed Duke the third. It featured a pair of hands carefully cradling a circular mirror, which was displayed in a bird-like frame.

"I play Beastly Mirror Ritual," Mai decreed, as a purple blob-like man covered with pulsing veins, and holding the mirror featured on the card rose menacingly in front of the woman, giving off a potent aura as it knelt.

Duke looked on expectantly, as Mai discarded another card from her hand, which he recognized as Harpie's Pet Dragon.

"My Magic card needs monsters that equal six stars or more, and I've obviously proven that I can do that, so now that the deed is done…" Mai took the blue bordered monster and set it into place, "… I summon my Fiend's Mirror in attack mode."

The spectral form of Harpie's Pet Dragon gave a quick roar before being absorbed into the body of the purple figure. The creature gave a lurch, before raising his mirror over his head, and shattering it on the ground. Hot blue flames filled everyone's vision for an instant, before they pulled back, seemingly being sucked backwards into a portal.

Now on the field was a blue and purple floating mirror, its handle molded into the shape of demonic wings and skulls. The mirror possessed seven single eyes at decorative points on its sharp features. The circular mirror at its center still shone with white hot blue light for a moment before cooling into a cold reflective surface. (2100/1800)

Mai kind of wished she could see the front of her monster; the thing she didn't like about dueling is that she never really got to see her own cards in action, from an observer's point of view, as much as she would have liked.

Deciding not to dwell on it, Mai picked up the two remaining cards in her hand, and set them facedown.

"That's it for this turn, but we'll see what I can do next round."

Duke kept his calm as he drew his next card. His entire demeanor was of a person who knew he wasn't in trouble yet. His commanding presence continued as the master of dice made his next move.

"I'll start my turn by activating Dangerous Machine Type-Six."

"Another dice card," Joey noted with a pinch of disgust. "His whole deck's full of them, and this one I know can be a real pain."

Duke looked at his next card with a look of considerable pride.

"That's a nice monster over there Mai, and I have to admit I like it, but now it's time to abandon this little chess game, and take this duel into my home turf."

Duke snatched his Pandemonium card from his field slot before setting something stronger into place.

The broken down stage let off an eerie spectrum of light before fading piece by piece. The chess board patterns on the floor remained, but the colors became much more playful. Electronic beeps that Serenity supposed were supposed to be music filled the room, and the arena became illuminated with a boyish blue light.

Mai did not like the look of this at all.

"The field I've just activated is called Dice Dungeon," Duke explained, letting his foot fall through a large blue holographic die at his feet. "With this card, every time any two monsters battle, their attack power will be altered by these dice. With a little luck on my side, my Terrorking will be able to plow right through your Fiend's Mirror."

Mai scoffed with a bit of indifference. "Big talk Devlin, but I don't see how you think this harebrained scheme of yours is going to do anything against my Fiend's Mirror."

"Then let's figure it out then shall we? Terrorking Archfiend, advance on the Die Board and prepare for battle."

The fiend leapt joyously into play, as Duke gave his holographic die a kick with his trademarked phrase: "Go, Dice Roll!"

Mai was not quite so enthusiastic. She gingerly brought her foot into contact with the large holographic red die at her feet. The hologram leapt up, acting like it was given much more force then it actually was, and the two clattered to reveal…

…two threes.

"Oh yeah!" Joey shouted, as Serenity took in a short breath. "When Dice Dungeon lands on a three, the attack points of the monster don't move an inch. Mai's Mirror can take down that rancid bag of bones without even trying."

"It wouldn't have mattered anyway," Mai assured the spectators, as one of her trap cards rose into play. Terrorking Archfiend was halted by a shining crystal barrier. Sending a punch against the reflective surface, the Archfiend cracked apart before finally being finished by a flash of blue fire, courtesy of Fiend's Mirror. Duke recoiled as his life points became considerably lower then Mai's, stopping at 4450.

"Smack into the Mirror Wall!" Joey celebrated. "Now that's what I'm talking about. Hey Devlin, looks like the so called loser is showing your demon army back to the barracks."

I wonder if I can make him gamble himself into a dog suit again, Devlin wondered, only half serious.

"I had insurance," Duke assured the spectators as he took another card from his hand. It must have been a new one. It showed a dice in a plastic popping bubble on a game board, surrounded by a five sectioned spinner with numbers. Bright colored game pieces occupied a few spaces on the board.

"This is a Magic Card called Token Dice," Duke revealed. "And I can only play it when I have no monsters left on the field. Once I roll a die, I get a number of Dice Tokens equal to the number I roll. Sadly if I roll a six I get nothing but two thousand points of damage, but even with the bad luck I've had so far, I don't see that happening."

"I'll bet," Mai replied with more then a hint of sarcasm.

As the roll was revealed though, Duke felt compelled to rest his forehead in his palm. "Although I didn't ask for a one," the game designer complained.

A small red board game player piece spawned on Duke's playing field, looking rather pathetic all alone. (0/0)

"That's too bad," Mai responded. "I was kind of hoping for a higher number too, it would have been so much more fun to activate this Trap Card."

Duke instantly shifted his focus to the purple card bearing the image of a paneled mirror crowned with an unnerving eyeball. "Nightmare Tri-Mirror," Duke verified a little tense at this turn of events.

"That's right. I name a monster, and however many copies of that monster you have on the field, I get token copies of an equal amount. Since you have one monster named 'Dice Token,' I get one more Fiend's Mirror to come to my field."

A practical version of the looking glass pictured on the card rose into view, the eye setting its sights on Duke's token. An image of the game piece filled the left panel of the mirror, while Fiend's Mirror filled the right. From the center, a new Fiend's Mirror emerged, as if the glass was liquid silver. Once the trap's purpose was complete, it faded from view.

The game designer looked hard at the last card in his hand. It wasn't something that was extremely useful at this point. "I end my turn then."

"Than I draw," Mai began, "and I think I'll keep my Mirror Wall up for one more turn, just in case you actually manage to do something. You certainly haven't done much damage to me all game."

Duke's fist clenched so hard he threatened to bend the card he still held as female duelist's life points ticked down to 5450.

"And now that I have two monsters to your one, I'll prove that my token is better then yours. Copy Token, attack!"

Duke couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. "I knew I'd get to use this eventually," the duelist smiled. "I activate the Trap Card, Sakuretsu Armor."

"Rats," Mai huffed, as her attacking mirror shattered with a ring of exploding metal and glass. "But thankfully, I still have a monster capable of attacking you."

The female duelist gestured to her original Fiend's Mirror. "Now to finish what I started. Fiend's Mirror, attack the Dice Token with Raven Dance."

Mai gave her holographic die a nudge again, though she didn't really see the point. It clattered a couple times before the top side settled, revealing five dots on the surface. Fiend's Mirror shuttered slightly as the fiend's attack power sank sharply to 1050.

Great, Duke thought to himself, the thing's attack power cuts in half when it means absolutely nothing.

A black shadow vaguely shaped as a bright blue predator faded into existence within the reflective surface of the mirror. The form burst through the frame as if no barrier for it existed, and for the creature that probably wasn't far from the truth. The fiery blue bird consumed the tiny defender, erasing it from existence before imploding with a slight poof.

The possessed looking glass went still as Mai ended her turn. The monster's attack points jumped back to their original levels.

"I draw," the game designer declared, pausing for a moment to make sure what he was expecting to happen indeed came to pass. He wasn't disappointed as a clunky looking contraption warped itself into the dueling arena.

"Since it's my turn again, the effect of my Dangerous Machine Type-6 that I played last turn activates, generating one of six random abilities every time it's my Standby Phase."

Joey looked on with familiar interest, and was quite surprised when the hologram appeared with more then a minor glitch. The hologram gave out an annoying ear-splitting whistle, and the visual representation was out of focus.

Duke instantly removed the card from the slot and groaned. "Just my luck to have a scratched card. Sorry everyone. What do I do now, should I just not play the thing or…"

"Just pitch it and keep dueling," Mai suggested. "You're sure to have a die on hand, and none of the effects need the disk to recognize it anyway right? We can keep playing as is."

Duke smiled weakly with appreciation, carefully taking off his earring. Joey let out a snicker despite himself. "I always wondered what his reason was for wearing that thing."

After he carefully detached a small red die from the piece of jewelry, the game designer carefully shook the small cube in his hand for a moment. "Go, Dice Roll," he yelled again, tossing the die to the sidelines where it ended up bouncing off Serenity's toe before stopping.

"It came up a three," Joey verified after inspecting the object carefully. "I don't know why I'm surprised, that's always what comes up on the first roll." The blond paused for a moment before seizing up in comprehension. "Oh no! That means that that Devlin gets a new card!"

"Observant aren't you?" the green eyed duelist retorted dryly as he drew his card. "Keep track of that earring will you Serenity?"

"Sure," the woman agreed with a smile.

"Thank you," the duelist concluded, focusing his attention back on Mai. "It's time for me to get back in the game. I summon Strike Ninja in attack mode."

A small pattering of feet crept into the room, as a figure clad in black, preformed an aerial summersault before landing at Duke's beck and call. Gold studded bands decorated the monster's midnight covering, and a crimson scarf trailed begins, billowing in a malevolent fashion. (1700/1200)

"I still love watching this guy run," Joey admitted gleefully.

Duke's eyes narrowed to the still upright trap card on Mai's side of the field. "Even with my dice rolls, it would be foolish of me to try and get past your Mirror Wall, so I'm ending my turn without declaring an attack."

"I'm impressed Devlin," Mai regarded coyly. "That puts you a step above Yugi. I'll tell you what, since you're so concerned, I'll destroy Mirror Wall this turn." She picked up the card as the crystal barricade shattered with a burst of beautiful sparkles. "Feel better?"

Yeah right Mai, Devlin thought to himself, act like you're in control, but we both know you couldn't afford to keep that Mirror Wall up another turn. I'm still the one with the advantage here.

Looking at her new card, Mai cracked an expression of satisfaction. "I'll replace my Mirror Wall with another card facedown," the woman began, her Duel Disk beeping in confirmation as the holographic card faded into view.

"Now I think it's time to reacquaint you with an old friend," she declared confidently as a new monster card slipped cleanly into place. The monster was familiar indeed, as a burst of feathers signaled another avian beauty's arrival. Her screech was no less forgiving, and her attire was no more decent. Mai locked eyes with her opponent with a more then satisfied expression. "Harpie Lady, return to the field." (1300/1400)

The monster settled her talons on the ground, taking her relaxed poise, complete with her winged arms crossed in front of her. A sadistic expression caught Duke's eye as the red-head let out a challenging screech.

"That ends my turn, but next round I'm going to give Harpie Lady something to really sink her claws into."

Duke drew, and gave a look of instruction to his wife. "Oh right," Serenity remembered, and quickly let the small round cube clatter to the floor. "It came up a two," the girl announced, as her husband groaned with his forehead in his hand. "I had so much more luck with the holograms."

"Tough break Duke," Mai returned. "A two would have forced me to lose a card from my hand, but as you can see…" the Harpie duelist presented both of her manicured nails, "…I'm all played out."

Deciding not to let the woman get the satisfaction of hearing him complain, Duke summoned his next monster to the field. "I play the Dark Assailant."

A sinister figure, clothed in green rose into Duke's control. Two crossed yellow blades were carried on the zombie's back, and throwing knives occupied space between each of its fingers. A skull was all that rested on the monster's shoulders, with an eye marked in red on the brow. (1200/1200)

Devlin admired the electronic field for a moment before giving the large holographic die at his feet a good swift kick. "Go, Dice Roll! And I send the Dark Assailant to attack Fiend's Mirror!"

Mai huffed with amusement as she crossed her arms comfortably. "Suit yourself Devlin, Go, Dice Roll."

Mai put some effort into her kick this time. As the two dice connected, Mai's expression tightened somewhat as her roll revealed another three. Duke had a bit more luck, his own roll revealing a two.

"Yes," the company owner pumped his fist in triumph. "Your monster's attack strength may not change, but my Dark Assailant's attack power rises by one thousand points."

The zombie let out an undead chuckle as the dungeon empowered its lackluster statistics to a respectable 2200.

"Dark Assailant," Devlin commanded as his zombie took a running start, "attack Fiend's Mirror with Psycho Sword."

As the monster attacked, Joey had to wonder why exactly the thing was carrying those throwing knives if it never intended to use them. The monster leapt into the air, and brought out both swords as it landed, splitting the looking glass into four reasonably even pieces. With more agility then anyone would have expected, the undead attacker sprang back and settled to admire his handiwork.

"You know," Mai addressed with a stone face as her life points shrank by a mere hundred, "breaking a mirror means seven years of bad luck, and with your reliance on gambling I'm not sure that's a risk you can afford to take."

Duke's mouth curled into a smile. "Care to find out? I still have my Strike Ninja willing to take the stage, and Harpie Lady is our leading lady." He paused for a moment before blasting the die that had reappeared by his feet with another aerial jaunt. "Lunging Claw Thrust!"

Mai was getting into it now. Her kick forced Serenity to do a double take. "I didn't know a person's leg could bend that far." Joey felt a surge of relief when his sister didn't peruse the subject.

Mai looked on in curiosity as her die stopped on the number four. "I don't think I've seen this one," the woman admitted, "what happens on a four?"

"A four switches the monster's attack points with their defense points," Duke explained. His jaw quickly clenched when his own die landed on the number one.

"I remember this one," Joey chimed in with excitement. "A one reduces the monster's attack power by a thousand. That makes Strike Ninja's attack power 700 to Harpie Lady's 1400 defense."

"Almost," Serenity replied confidently in an almost sing-song way.

"I activate Strike Ninja's special ability," the Dungeon Dice creator roared quickly as his monster vanished with a puff of smoke. Mai's monster quickly became incredibly irritated.

"Oh right," Joey supplied, putting the clues together. "In Dungeon Dice Monsters, Strike Ninja has the ability to dodge attacks."

"And this one does the same thing," Duke finished, holding up two cards, Skull Archfiend of Lightning, and Terrorking Archfiend, "by removing two DARK monsters in my graveyard from the game, Strike Ninja is safe until my turn ends. I guess that would make it right now wouldn't it?"

The dark smoke condensed into the poised ninja monster once more, and Mai drew a single card into her hand, one she had picked out from Dartz when he had given her the resources to upgrade her deck.

"I activate the Magic Card, Coins from Heaven."

"Meaning we each draw until we have six cards in our hand," Duke completed as both players replenished their hands. Mai looked on with wonder and quickly donned a cocky smirk.

"Get ready Devlin, because I'm about to let loose the strongest combo I've got."

After drawing six cards in a single move, I don't doubt it, Duke worried. His hand was refreshed, but the benefit of using Coins from Heaven meant he wouldn't be able to use them until his next turn began.

The blond duelist held up a very familiar card with a stylized symbol for Egyptian life. "Monster Reborn resurrects any monster I choose, and the one I want is one I already have on the field."

"Your Harpie Lady?" Duke asked in surprise as Mai's disk restored her previously departed companion.

"That's right," Mai confirmed coolly as her favorite monster rose into the air with her arms stretched high over her head. "And that won't be that last friendly face you get to meet, after I activate my Spell Reproduction Magic Card."

The circular markings known to Duel Monsters players as the Spellbinding Circle shone brightly in front of Mai's field. A playing card spinning too violently fast to see radiated a painfully powerful glow from its center, before finally stopping revealing Monster Reborn.

"My Spell Reproduction may force me to discard two cards," Mai admitted, sending Triangle Ecstasy Spark and Elegant Egotist to her discard pile, "but for a card like Monster Reborn it's well worth the price." She made her intention clear as she played the recursion tool a second time. "Especially when the monster making a comeback is Harpie's Pet Dragon!"

Mai's hair billowed out behind her as her most formidable creature burst forth with a blast of intense heat. Like the dragon's masters, the beast's wings grew from its arms. Strength was apparent in every curve of the dragon's sinewy red hide. The dragon landed with a thump, its eyes staring into Duke's through a decorative metallic mask. The two Harpie Ladies present each took up a section of golden chain, but it was clear it didn't like being restrained. The beast let out a violent thunderous roar, causing sparks to dance uncontrolled from the Dragon's deadly mouth. (2600/2500)

Devlin swallowed hard, but Mai obviously wasn't through yet.

"Now to complete the set," Mai declared triumphantly, throwing another card into play, "my third Harpie Lady takes the field in attack position!" Another slight billow of feathers signaled the final member of the trio's arrival. The newest Harpie took up a section of chain and gazed lovingly at her adopted pet. The Dragon in question tensed slightly as its points rose to a dangerous 2900.

The very satisfied blonde waved for Duke to make his move. He wasn't surprised. She had just assembled a formidable team, she wasn't about to gamble the formation on a dice roll.

Duke drew, and he realized he was in more then a tough spot. The Harpie Ladies alone he could destroy without even blinking, but the moment he ended his turn he knew that dragon would be ready for a vengeful counterattack.

Serenity rolled her small die from the sidelines, acting for Duke's Dangerous Machine Type-6. "It's a four," she supplied, ad her brother next to her pumped a fist silently.

"That means I draw a card doesn't it," Mai interrupted, taking another card from a deck that was noticeably thinner then when the duel began.

"Yes," Duke relented, taking note of the cards he now held. Wonderful, just great. I finally draw the perfect thing to deal with this situation, and the duelist I'm up against isn't stupid enough to fall for it.

Deciding to keep his main weapon in reserve, Duke settled for attacking in a way that was far more dangerous. "I activate Dimension Dice," Devlin declared, revealing a picture of a die unfolding around a barbarian clad in violet armor. "With Dice Dungeon on the field, I sacrifice my two monsters, Strike Ninja and Dark Assailant, to summon my favorite and most powerful monster, Orgoth the Relentless."

Despite using a Magic Card, Devlin's monsters vanished just as they would for any Tribute-Summon. The resulting Beast-Warrior was something like a cross between a knight and a Viking. His face was unseen under an elaborate helmet, but a face wasn't needed when a gigantic broadsword made the monster's emotions perfectly clear. (2500/2450)

With her field stacked the way it is, I can't depend on Dice Dungeon. This may be an even bigger risk, but I have insurance if things don't go my way.

"I activate another Pandemonium Field card," the duelist announced, surprising the spectators. The dilapidated burning pavilion ripped Dice Dungeon from the ground, as the crippled rotunda supported on its dragon-like pillars returned as the field of battle.

"And then I summon Desrook Archfiend," the duelist declared, summoning another of the tribe. This one seemed more like an octopus made of bone, its eyes filled with fire as a deep breathing filled the room, as well as the scratch of its claws. (1100/1800)

"Next I activate, Graceful Dice, raising both of my monsters' attack power based on a roll of the dice."

"Another one of my cards!" Joey cried in outburst. "First the Machine and now this? What else is that deck packing?"

"Believe me," Duke joked, "If the choice wasn't so limited, I'd steer clear of anything you found useful." The toy-like angel looked very out of place in the current setting, and quickly tossed the large die it was holding before hurrying back to the card that brought it out. To the card player's delight, the result was a five, raising Orgoth's attack power all the way to 3000. The Archfiend gained an equal boost, but at 1600 it didn't seem as much of a threat.

"I'm in better shape then I thought," the die user celebrated, "Your Dragon's toast, and I can take down one of your Harpie Ladies to boot." Devlin's barbarian bellowed in delight as it raised the large blade high. "Orgoth the Relentless," Duke repeated the name he never seemed to tire of, "Diamond Blade Strike!"

Mai curled a smug grin. "Even diamond shatters when struck against itself Devlin," she boasted raising a trap card with the image of a worried frog trapped in a funhouse maze, "and my Mirror Trap is going to prove it, by activating a Trap Card from my Graveyard without even having to wait a turn to set it."

"But that means…" Duke stuttered, as his relentless barbarian struck his own reflection in a newly formed crystal wall.

"It means your monster's finished," Mai completed, as her Mirror Wall took its full effect. "Harpie's Pet Dragon, counterattack with Fearsome Fireblast!" The woman's hair billowed with a flourish as the muscular creature sent an inferno rushing from its jaws, incinerating the once powerful warrior, now only 1500 attack points strong.

Duke struggled to make his jaws meet as he watched his prize monster be destroyed within a turn, not to mention the fact that his life points were rapidly shrinking, now only 2950 strong.

"I set two cards then," the exasperated duelist concluded, "and end my turn at that." They shimmered into view, leaving only Desrook Archfiend as the duelist's protection, a thought that didn't exactly leave him comfortable.

Mai began her turn with a draw as usual before sparing a glance at her field. "With a card like this I hardly need Mirror Wall, so I'll destroy it." The shimmering barricade shattered in splendor for a second time, but it didn't make Mai's opponent feel any better about the situation.

"Let's see, I have four monsters in play right now, but I hardly need to risk my Harpies when I have this." Mai raised the magic card triumphantly, showing the image of a brown and red conjuring circle, a bird of flue flames in the middle, "Harpie Lady- Phoenix Formation."

All three predators of the sky rose majestically into an intricate pattern. Two clasped their hands side by side and spread their other arm at their sides. The third grabbed onto one leg talon of each of her sisters. They held this pose for a moment before their formation ignited into a blaze of ferocious blue.

Desrook Archfiend melted into slag with a pitiful groan. Duke shielded his face as the intense heat took a tool on his life points, the counter plummeting to 1850. Duke looked on with a scowl as he quickly found an Archfiend he could reach through Pandemonium.

"Oh yeah," Joey observed. "Mai's Harpie Ladies might not be able to attack this turn, but her Dragon's ready and reran to go. If this attack hits, it's all over." Serenity's face tightened with a bit of worry as the three bird hybrids delicately perched back on the ground.

"Looks like this game is mine Devlin," the blonde woman gloated slightly. "Dragon," Mai directed with a point of her finger, "win me the duel with Fearsome Fireblast!"

Duke rubbed the sting out of his eyes just in time to relish in his accomplishment. "I'm not out of this yet," Duke countered, raising one of the most famous and dangerous Trap cards in the game. "That is, unless your monsters have an immunity to Mirror Force."

"What?" Mai gaped, as the octagonal shield caught the blast of her dragon's fire, sending it back with a boom. All four flyers let out a screech of pain before shimmering and shattering, a sight that Mai was not altogether prepared for. "No!"

"That's incredible. Mai had the game won, but Duke was able to pull it around at the last second," Serenity described with wonder. "Yeah," her brother agreed. "He not only saved himself, but he got rid of Mai's entire attack force with just one card."

"Think she can still win?" Serenity asked. She was surprised when Joey shook his head slightly. "I'm not so sure. Mai's entire deck, not to mention her dueling spirit is centered on those Harpie Ladies, and now she doesn't even have a chance to draw another one. It'll be tough to recover from something like that. I know it would be for me."

For some reason, she didn't seem as distressed as Joey would have thought, just extremely angry. "I set one card facedown, and call it a turn. Enjoy your victory for now, but you'll be seeing my monsters again very soon."

If that means what I think it means, oh boy is she in for an unpleasant surprise, Duke chuckled to himself. Serenity once again filled in for Dangerous Machine Type-6, and announced that the number had come up a three. The duelist drew without complaint, immediately summoning his drawn monster.

"I summon Yaranzo," he stated simply, as an ugly dark ghoul situated in a treasure chest cackled as it took the field. (1300/1500)

"Sorry hot-shot, but you're not getting a free shot at my life points this time," Mai defended, revealing a new set card, one Duke had never seen her use before. The effect was instantaneous. Spotlights danced across the field, and the disk played a rather catchy entrance tune.

"My Trap Card is called Hysteric Party. I just discard one card…" the shiny foil of a Harpie Lady Sisters glittered against the dazzling spotlights, "… and give a warm welcome back for Harpie Ladies one, two, and three." As she announced, the three winged beasts faded out of the shadows, shouting their battle cry in a flash of golden sparkles.

"This is even better then I'd hoped!" Duke shouted ecstatically. "I activate my facedown card, Safecracker."

"Safecracker?" Mai repeated confused, noting the image of Cliff the Trap Remover hard at work, naturally, cracking a safe.

Duke nodded in confirmation, "Yep, it's a Trap Card that takes on the effect of any Trap Card that you've used throughout the entire duel." Duke discarded a Skull Dice card from his hand as the image on the Safecracker card began to shift. "And guess what Mai?" he continued with a grin. "I choose your Nightmare Tri-Mirror!"

"What?" Mai repeated thunderstruck, as the familiar three paneled looking glass appeared next to her opponent.

"This is not good," Joey added, not really helping the situation.

"You know what that means," Duke gloated as the mirrors went to work duplicating harmless looking treasure chests. "With three Harpie Ladies on your field, I get three more copies of… Yaranzo."

The lids of all three chests burst open as one, the original zombie joining as they chuckled and rubbed their hands together in perfect sync with each other, creating a rather disturbing visual. (1300/1500 x3)

Mai grit her teeth as she scrambled to find a way to counterattack.

"If I read the card right, my tokens can't attack the turn they're summoned," Duke told the spectators as he curled a strand of hair around one finger, "but the original is under no such restriction. Yaranzo, bring down Harpie Lady with Shadow Hoard."

The Harpie in the center let out a cry of surprise and hurriedly tried to get away as the monster shot out a hand, which expanded until the zombie had caught its prey. The Harpie's expression turned to terror, and she put up a valiant fight. Mai watched as the monster's face and hand were all that remained visible for a moment, before the bird-like creature was tugged violently into the box. The lid then closed around both creatures, and the chest stood still for a moment before bursting, leaving neither creature behind.

The remaining tokens burst into applause. The Harpie duelist couldn't wait to wipe the smirks off of their big, dumb faces.

"My turn," Mai confirmed, looking with a bit of apprehension at the card she had drawn, the perfect one for the situation in front of her. Showing the card's face to everyone, it was revealed as a ritual card, one that showed an intricate full length mirror containing the reflection of a blue crystal. The image was bathed in green light. "And I sacrifice my two remaining Harpie Ladies to activate my Orichalcum Mirror."

The remaining monsters of flesh and feathers joined clawed hands as they transformed into dark blue crystal. Rings of green light descended, encircling the statues, reshaping the statues into a single four foot tall crystal decorated with jeweled rings. Though there was little way to tell the difference, the horizontal position of Mai's ritual monster showed Duke Devlin that the monster was in defense mode. (0/0)

"After what happened to you guys, I'm surprised that Mai would even play a card like that," Serenity noted, a little worry in her voice.

Joey shrugged off the comment. "Pegasus may not have liked what happened, but even he can recognize a good card when he sees one. He even asked us permission before he approved it for release, but we all agreed that a card's just a card, and there's no reason to freak out about it. As for why Mai has one in her deck, I don't see why she wouldn't, but maybe it's to remind her of her friends."

Serenity accepted the statement with a nod, still taking all of the information in as her husband stared down her brother's wife.

"My second Ritual Monster is Mirror Knight Calling, and to make up for its nonexistent attack score, it summons a few friends to the party." A glare off the crystal's smooth sides gave off a reflection of four shiny figures dressed in full armor, complete with shields and swords. A split second blinding flash caused everyone to blink the spots out of their eyes before they realized that the knights were no longer reflections, but four of them were standing on Mai's front lines. (0/0 x4)

"And this is supposed to help you how?" Devlin questioned with a raised eyebrow, after a quick check to make sure his Yaranzo tokens were still in place. The chortling fiends didn't make themselves easily forgotten however, and it didn't take much more then a glance.

"These tokens are known as Mirror Knights," Mai revealed with a confident hand on her hip. "They may not look like much, but with Mirror Knight Calling on the field they gain the attack points of whatever monster they attack, and what's more they can't be destroyed in battle themselves."

Duke's emerald eyes widened considerably. "That means that I'll be defenseless after one attack."

"Bingo," the woman agreed with a smile on her face. "Mirror Knights attack the Yaranzo Tokens. Clear his field for my next attack."

Three of the reflective warriors charged straight in to the front lines, their attack powers rising to match Yaranzo perfectly. The laughing zombies were soon shredded, leaving Duke with an empty field, though no damage was inflicted.

"I'm done hot-shot," Mai finished with confidence, but a bead of sweat dripped down her face from behind her hair. I may have bought some time. His next monster can only attack Mirror Knight Calling so my tokens are safe, but after that it comes down to whatever I can draw. She checked a quick look at her deck, and my cards are getting dangerously low.

Duke drew from his own deck as Serenity began her now familiar rolling of the small cube. Joey narrowed his eyes and let out a small groan as the result revealed a five.

"Well, it seems Lady Luck still has the hots for me," Duke chuckled, giving Serenity a small wink, causing a slight blush. "A five destroys one of your monsters on the field, and I'm targeting…" he directed with a point, "Mirror Knight Calling."

Mai's face tightened, but without the hologram to direct the effect, she simply took the card off of her board, ignoring the alerting beep from her disk as the hologram on her field glitches and faded with an annoying rush of static. Even Duke found himself hoping that he didn't roll a five again anytime soon.

"That leads to me playing Roll of Fate," the duelist declared, getting very tired throughout the duel's events. The die landed on a two, making Devlin's deck four cards thinner. Joey's eyebrow twitched again on the sidelines.

The dice user found himself very impressed as he placed a magic card on the field. "Now I activate my Summon Dice." Joey analyzed the picture, but he couldn't make anything out of it except a large white die falling into a hole in the ground. He wasn't sure that was what it was supposed to be, but that's what he saw.

"This takes a thousand life points," Duke half muttered as his counter ticked down to a very sparse 850, "but depending on the roll of the die, I set one of three effects, so Go, Dice Roll!" This hologram worked, catapulting the unremarkable white cube skyward.

I hope this works, The die user caught himself praying, because if that die lands on a five or a six I'm finished. Luck was on his side however, as the hologram clattered to a stop with a single facing the ceiling.

"Awesome," the duelist rejoiced, causing a few gazes to snap back to him. "On a one, I can summon two monsters this turn instead of one, and these monsters are both one and the same. Go, Vilepawn Archfiend."

As both monsters were summoned, the only thing Mai could think of to describe them was that they looked identical to Duke's Shadowknight, except for the absence of hair. (1200/200 x2)

"And both of these monsters have the same ability, forcing them to be attacked first in place of any other Archfiend on the field."

"Oh man," Joey complained, "I pulled the same trick with Marauding Captains, now Mai can't attack either one of those monsters."

"Thanks, for the warning Joey," Mai returned, genuinely thankful, even as Duke was caught by surprise.

Actually, the effect doesn't work like that. She has to attack a Vilepawn, but it doesn't matter which one. But if that's how she thinks it works, I'm not going to complain. It may not be sporting, but it may be the only thing that keeps me alive in this match.

"Vilepawn Archfiends, attack two of the Mirror Knight tokens with Diabolic Strike."

True to their name, the now defenseless tokens shattered like glass under the demonic blades, leaving Mai's life points to suffer full damage, and forcing them down to 2950.

Mai drew from her thinning deck and winced. "There's nothing I can do but switch my Mirror Knights to defense mode," she explained as her tokens fell to their knees.

"That's a good thing to hear," the slightly winded Duke Devlin panted as he drew. Serenity once again rolled her husband's small red die, causing Joey a sigh of relief when he saw the result. "Finally a six, which means that Duke's Dangerous Machine's been destroyed."

"Sorry," Serenity apologized, slipping the earring into her pocket.

"It's not your fault," Duke reassured her, summoning his newest card. "The King may be the most important piece on the board, but it's not the most powerful. I summon Infernalqueen Archfiend."

Mai was somewhat of an authority on female monsters, and she didn't feel that this thing had the right to call herself as such. A sick purple wrap covered the queen's arms, though a slit in the back gave room for boney wings. Her armor and tissue was similar to the rest of the Archfiends, though a different form of pointed crown rested on her locks of violet hair. (900/1500)

With nothing to hide behind, Mai braced herself for the assault she knew was coming. "Infernalqueen, attack Mirror Knight with Diabolic Favor. Vilepawn, follow her lead."

Apparently the idea of "favor" in a demonic society was vastly different from mortals. White hot sparks spring from the demonic lady's eyes as the token was reduced to ash in a burst of blinding light. Vilepawn was less showy, and proceeded to simply smash the Mirror Knight to pieces.

"Now Vilepawn," Duke concluded although there was really no need, "attack her life points directly, Diabolic Strike!"

The woman raised her duel disk as a shield, but what didn't stop the painful electric shock that crossed her arm. Mai shut her eyes tightly and winced, listening to the click of her life point counter, now registering 1750.

"Wow," Serenity observed. "Mai's been in control this whole time, but Duke managed to wrestle it away from her."

"Come on Mai!" Joey shouted in encouragement, unable to take the tension anymore. "You've got to fight back here!"

"I don't intend to lose Joey," the blonde retorted, both relieved and irked at the same time as she turned back to face Devlin. "I may be down, but I'm never out. Not this time."

She drew a card from a deck now less then ten cards tall, and looked at what she pulled in relief. Finally, I might actually be able to use this card in my hand now.

"Devlin, it's time to show you that I earned more then I got in every single one of those tournaments, starting with this card, Pot of Avarice."

The dueling female looked at her graveyard before finally settling on three Harpie Ladies, Reflect Bounder, and Harpie's Pet Dragon, and shuffling the stack into what was left of her deck.

"I reshuffle five monsters, and draw two new cards," she finished, leaving a holographic vase to shatter with an annoyingly drawn out giggle. Excellent, she mused looking at her last two cards. "I set one monster in defense mode, and set one card facedown. Now what can you do about that?"

Duke slid a card from his wrist, looking at the orange bordered monster. Hmm, good if I need it, His eyes slid back to the field, but with what I have on the field, it's already over.

"There's something you overlooked," Duke boasted as his red queen began to give off a scarlet aura. "You may think that defender can hold me back, but my Infernalqueen Archfiend comes with a special ability to power up a monster by 1000 points every time my turn begins. Once I use it on her, no defender you have can stand up to 1900 attack points."

"You're almost right," Mai conceded, as a facedown card lifted showing a Cannon Soldier being his with a lightning bolt, "If it weren't for my Divine Wrath card, eliminating a monster as soon as you try to activate an effect. I just have to pitch one card." Mai slid the remaining Harpie Lady- Sparrow Formation into her graveyard.

"You're kidding!" Duke challenged in disbelief. "You know what happens when an Archfiend is targeted by an effect." The duelist's eyes skimmed every pillar around the room.

"Then so be it!" Mai countered refusing to give up. "Let's see where the fire lands this time."

Duke's eyes widened as he saw the flame burst from the dragon pillar labeled "IV", doing absolutely nothing to negate the effect, and watched as his Archfiend burst with a feral howl.

"Take your chances attacking if you want," Mai taunted, her stare keeping Devlin's face from moving, "but with only 1200 attack points, you aren't likely to take my monster down. It's only a matter of time before I get by your attack lock, and right now, that's the only thing keeping you safe."

And not even that! Duke realized with a start, realizing that by all rights, he had already lost. He then concluded, "I end my turn."

I have to keep my Vilepawns in attack mode. Her thinking that she can't attack is the only thing keeping me alive. Next turn I may have a chance, but I don't want to use something so risky. I just have to hold out for a better draw.

Serenity saw the look on her husband's face clear as day. He had already lost his spirit, giving in to that mental acceptance of defeat. Unless he drew something to spark his will back into action, Serenity realized that her husband had already lost.

"My move then," Mai began, on the opposite end of the scale from her opponent as she activated Pot of Greed, bringing her deck once again into the single digits. Everything in her eyes screamed victory, once she looked at her final draws. "I play Mystical Space Typhoon," the woman announced as Devlin looked on with increased dread as his field card vanished.

"Pandemonium negates payment for your Archfiend monsters right?" Mai inquired, though she only did so to force her opponent to admit it, "of course it does, and without it you'll only be able to afford to keep one of your monsters next turn. I may not be able to attack but next turn," her eyes narrowed into the eyes of a cat that had its lunch by the tail, "I finish you off."

Duke growled with more then a little frustration as he felt five hundred points leached from his score leaving the once pitiful number to an abysmal 350. One of the Vilepawns let out an ear-piercing wail of frustration before shattering to ribbons of demonic muscle. Mai set her final card facedown before passing control to Devlin.

Seeing no choice, Duke sighed as he looked at his Fairy Meteor Crush, and set the monster he had been reluctant to use. "I set one monster in defense mode and switch my Vilepawn to defense as well, before I pass my turn to you."

"Don't tell me all of that fire is gone already," Mai called over, a little concerned as she watched the lone demon soldier take a knee. "Devlin, I expect to fight people at their best, now give me a little courtesy."

"Do you think I like this?" Duke challenged. "I may be out, but I'm not going to degrade myself into surrender. We both know it's all over, so show a little respect yourself and finish me off so we don't have to go on with this any longer."

"All right cowboy," Mai relented with a smile. Now that that was over she could get back to the real game. "I'd say you earned it. Harpie Lady, in attack mode."

Her defending monster rose up again, but this time rather then the predatory gaze, this Harpie seemed to be having fun. Mai summoned another monster, also a familiar face. Reflect Bounder gave a small twirl before settling into a hovering position.

"Bounder, attack Vilepawn Archfiend with Prismatic Burst, and I send Harpie Lady to attack your defender."

The blast of focused light didn't agree with the Archfiend, to no one's surprise, but what Mai didn't expect was the goofy piece of pottery, bouncing a couple of yellow dice on its tongue. (200/300)

"Dice Jar," Mai deduced, honestly impressed, and a little sympathetic, "and it almost worked too, if it weren't for my Harpie's Feather Storm."

Devlin wasn't surprised, as his monster's potency was blown away in a gust of snow white feathers. He drew his one card, laughing to himself as he saw the Michizure he had drawn one round too late. Knowing a bluff wouldn't work, as well as the fact that he just wasn't in the mood to duel anymore, he gave a friendly smile of approval to his opponent.

Mai returned the gesture, looking at the Harpie's Pet Dragon in her hand. She briefly considered summoning it, but though better of it, letting a quick blast of light from Reflect Bounder send Duke's life points to the zero mark, ending the game with a closure they both were happy to live with.

"I hope you didn't forget," Mai gleefully reminded. "You owe me 5250 Yen."

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It was late into the night when Mai and Joey Wheeler returned home. Isabelle and Matthew both were sleeping soundly on the couple's bed.

Peter as passed out on the couch. Taishi had gone home, the two were not officially dating, but they were close enough to fall asleep cozily on the same couch.

Joey went to pick up Matthew, but stopped short, opening a drawer containing a couple boxes. Inside one of them was his old deck, most of the cards were shuffled and used and loved into destruction. He remembered the first time his Red-Eyes wouldn't register on a Duel Disk. It wasn't very pretty to look at, but Joey still kept the laminated remains.

He remembered the old shoebox where Peter kept what he had left of Duel Monsters cards, ones that he never got around to giving away.

Mai slipped her own deck into the ceramic jewelry box Joey had given her for a gift. On the lid was a pair of doves.

"Think we should tell him about the school?" Joey asked, trying to keep his voice down.

"Not right now," Mai answered, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "But tell you what," she finished, as Joey began to carry Matthew back to his parents. "If he's interested," she gloated raising her winnings, "Devlin's paying for the deck upgrade."

Well, as it turns out Peter is interested, and the gang's all here in the next chapter, including a new face. But as usual, things are bound to get worse before they get better. Next Time: Frozen with Fear. See you there.