Good morning, or whatever time it is when you're reading this.
I'd like to welcome you to my latest Yu-Gi-Oh project. I don't know if I can top Dark Messiah, but this story ties a lot of loose ends, and does something I wanted to do for a long time.
Anyway, let's take a moment to reveal the game mechanics that this fanfic will follow, in regard to dueling.
Simply put, the duels will follow real-life rules almost to the letter. My biggest change from previous stories is, Monsters cannot be Normal Summoned in face-up Defense Position.
Of course, I will use anime-only cards, Japanese-only cards, and cards from my previous stories, as well as a few created by my partner in crime, Master of Paradox. Some anime rules will be in play, such as the anime effect of Card of Sanctity. However, not everyone will use that card. It will only be used rarely. The hero characters do not use it. (Okay, I'll only use it when I truly have to. That card is a cop-out if everyone uses it.)
Also, some cards are illegal in this world, but some that are illegal in ours aren't. You'll have to see for yourself. (Raigeki is still illegal, for example. Monster Reborn is not.) Also, some cards that are common in our world are much rarer in this one.
For anyone who was turned off by my using the Orichalcos in the last fanfic, I assure you, it is not in this one. In fact, the general plot of this story does not compare to any storyline in any anime season. There is a tournament, but it will get much more interesting eventually.
A note on the timeline.
My original trilogy began thirty-five years after the original series was supposed to end. The trilogy itself lasted three years. This fic takes place nineteen years after that. If we assume that the original series ended in 1996, that puts the year of this fic at 2053. We will assume that the events of "Yu-Gi-Oh GX" have all taken place (in fact, one chapter will reference them in a big way). The only event in the anime that occurred differently in this world is the Ceremonial Duel between Yugi and Atem (it did not occur, due to reasons that are explained in the opening monologue).
To avoid explaining things, I know that Disk technology has likely advanced even since the GX era. However, for practical purposes the physical design has not. Assume that characters use Disks that resemble those used in GX. Maybe a bit more streamlined. (It's very hard to change the device's appearance even further, even if internal improvements have been made. You still need the tray and the discard slot.) As for how other technology has improved, you'll see more advances as they show themselves.
If you want to brush up on the trilogy, go to where my stories are there to read under the penname Cyber Commander.
I'd also like to explain something I never got around to explaining. When I named Kaiba's nephew Siegfried, the character of Ziegfried Von Schroder had not even come close to being introduced. I realize that Mokuba would likely not have given his son a name that was similar to that of one of his big brother's enemies, but by the time Ziegfried was introduced, I was stuck with it. The reason I personally named him Siegfried, as Master of Paradox no doubt knows, is because it is a name associated with a dragon in Norse Mythology. The only reason, storywise, I can give as to why Siegfried got his name is, it was his mother's idea.
One final thing. I'm going try hard to avoid themes that everyone has displayed a dislike for. I solemnly swear that no duelist in this fic will use an Amazon or Dark Scorpion Deck. (I can't say for certain whether on not Don Zaloog will show up at all – he's used in a great deal more situations than with his four pals.) As for Cyber Dragons, they'll only show up once, but my lips are sealed as to in what regard. (Small secret – I cannot stand that card, and the only reason one of the main characters in my last fic used them is because he needed a substitute for Blue-Eyes.) I'll try to be as creative as I can. In fact, one of the goals of this fic was to use themes I didn't use in "Dark Messiah".
Oh, and before I forget…
I do not own any rights to the Yu-Gi-Oh! TGC, OCG, anime, or manga, which are registered trademarks of Konami. I am an independent author not affiliated with Konami, and I am not an employee or representative of them.
You likely knew that, but I have to say it anyway.
Read, review, and have fun.
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You know how the story goes…
You know how a young boy named Yugi Mouto was given a strange gift – a puzzle made of complex, interlocking pieces, and how after years of work, he put it together. He found that with the Millennium Puzzle came a stranger gift… The spirit of a five-thousand year old Pharaoh who would become his protector… his partner… his friend…
You know how he became skilled at the game of Duel Monsters, and along with his friends, saved the world from dangerous threats, many times over. Dangerous demons and madmen, using his cards and his Heart to overcome them.
When all of it seemed over, there was nothing more to do. An ally told him of a way that a ritual could be performed to release the Pharaoh from the Puzzle so that he'd be free…
…and that is where realities split…
You see, in the myriad worlds of the cosmos, there exist many different realities; in many of them, the occupants are the same. However, their lives and their fates sometimes differ.
In the one you are familiar with, Yugi faced the Pharaoh in a Ceremonial Duel; in order to be set free, the Pharaoh had to know something that the strongest men must know – defeat. Yugi triumphed, and the Pharaoh was allowed to leave the world. The Millennium Items were buried forever, and for a short time, the world earned a respite from evil…
But in another reality, something much different happened…
In this reality, before the ritual could even occur, it was interrupted. Everyone present was taken to a peaceful place, where a beautiful angel who called herself Shanalla told them that she could not allow the ritual to take place. Not yet. She foresaw a dangerous threat in the future, where the Pharaoh's skills would be needed once more.
But it was so far in the future, that Yugi himself would not be able to handle it. Shanalla predicted that Yugi would sire a son, and that the task would fall to him.
Shanalla left them with one promise. Sometime after this threat was dealt with, the ritual would be done. She gave her word.
And then she left everyone with no memories of what had transpired.
Eventually, Yugi grew up, and put his Puzzle away, while the Pharaoh slept in hibernation. He married, and did indeed have a son – Yugi Mouto Jr. When the son got older, Yugi gave him the Puzzle, and when he got older still, odd things started to happen.
The daughter of Maximillion Pegasus sought revenge on Yugi for turning her father's life into misery, and thought to do it by killing Yugi's son. During her mad trap, the Pharaoh awoke, and guided him through it. With his allies, including his father's best friend's daughter and the nephew of his father's old rival, he defeated her… and then saved her soul when Death itself tried to devour her.
A year after that, a madman sought to free the demon-god Set by imprisoning New York, seeking to use Yugi and his friends as fuel. Once again, they triumphed, and the evil was vanquished.
Finally, the threat that Shanalla spoke of arose. A fallen angel named Saurius sought to find and destroy a sacred artifact called the Mandate of Heaven, to bring doom to the world. Yugi and his friends fought him valiantly, and endured the death of their friend before the demon was defeated.
It is now nineteen years after that fateful summer when Duelatopia first opened. Yugi Mouto Jr. – now rarely calling himself "Junior" – never knew of any way to release the Pharaoh. Two years after Duelatopia, he married, and quickly, he sired a child of his own…
But this time, fate would prove a rascal…
The third generation of the Moutos, and thus the fate of the Pharaoh… would fall to a daughter…
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"Your move…"
Get ready to meet the challenge,
See your foes throw the gauntlet down;
Set your sights to new horizons,
Turn your hopes towards reaching the crown…
Each card… you draw…
Makes you… a little bit better…
Each time… you win…
Is one more step up the ladder!
It's a whole new generation!
It's a new legacy to be made!
Just believe in yourself,
And remember one thing:
The duel's never over until…
The last card is played!
Get ready to climb the rankings,
Face beasts and show no fear;
Make moves with careful choices,
Turn your goal from far to near.
Each duel… You start…
Is a new thrill to discover!
If you… fall down…
Just get back up, and recover!
It's a whole new generation!
It's a new legacy to be made!
Just believe in yourself,
And remember one thing:
The duel's never over until…
The last card is played!
No, the duel's never over until…
The last card is played…
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YU-GI-OH!
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Third Generation
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
The Legend of the Sorcerer Kings
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0 0 0 0 0
It was 4:30 in the afternoon, on the boardwalk of the Domino City amusement park.
The young and the young at heart were about. Laughing, playing…
…dueling…
A young teenage girl stood, carefully considering the situation.
She was dressed in black, in a midriff (navel exposed, but not indecently) and black jeans, and had black hair cut short. She had sky blue eyes and dimples.
A Duel Disk was on her left arm – the latest model, recently delivered by KaibaCorp.
In front of her was Vampire Lady (1,550/1,550) waiting for her to give a command. Her opponent, twenty feet in front of her, had only a facedown Monster.
She couldn't believe the scores… She had 2,500 left, and her opponent only had 1,000. This was the closest she had ever come…
She made her draw…
"You're in trouble now!" she announced. "I sacrifice Vampire Lady, for Vampire Lord!"
Vampire Lady vanished, and the older, male vampire appeared in a dark shadow. (2,000/1,500)
"Attack the facedown Monster!" she shouted. "Children of the night!"
Vampire Lord lifted his cloak, and a swarm of bats shot at the facedown card. Blast Magician appeared on the card, and was blown away.
She fit a card into her Disk, and a facedown card appeared behind Vampire Lord.
"Won't be long now, Yumi…" she said with a smile.
"We'll see, Chelsea…" said her opponent.
Her opponent drew a card.
She played it, and Pot of Greed appeared on the field. She drew two cards.
She played a card, and Magician's Valkyria appeared to face Vampire Lord. (1,600/1,800)
"Huh?" said Chelsea.
"Now I play Magical Dimension," continued her opponent. "Meaning I can sacrifice her to summon Dark Magician Girl…"
Valkyria vanished, and the Dark Magician's cute, buxom apprentice appeared. (2,000/1,700)
"And then, your Monster… goes boom!"
Vampire Lord exploded!
"Fine!" laughed Chelsea. "Attack me! I dare you! You can't finish me off with her, and he'll be back next turn!"
"Oh?" asked her opponent.
A card appeared behind Dark Magician Girl…
Rush Recklessly…
Chelsea sighed as Dark Magician Girl flew at her…
Well, at least it was the closest she had ever come…
She cringed in pain as Dark Magician Girl cast her dark spell at her.
She almost fell over, but then someone caught her from behind.
"You okay?" said a voice.
The voice belonged to a boy her age, with black hair wearing a black leather jacket. He had a Disk on too.
"I'm okay Ren, I'm okay…" said Chelsea. "Not the first time it happened, you know."
She slowly removed the card from her Spell/Trap Zone.
So close… It had been her own Rush Recklessly…
Chelsea's opponent walked up.
The girl had flowing blonde hair, deep violet eyes, and was dressed in a halter, jean jacket, and a short skirt. Around her neck was a shiny golden pendant shaped like an inverted pyramid with an eye on the front.
"That's enough practice for one day, guys," she said.
"We both lost, Yumi," said Ren. "You're unbeatable."
"Please," said Yumi. "I'm the only one who can beat you two. You both have powerful decks."
She put her arms around them.
"The three of us are going to take Duelatopia by storm. The names Yumi Mouto, Ren Marris, and Chelsea Ramset are going to be household names in the dueling world. The Three Musketeers."
"Three Musketeers…" muttered Ren. "There were four. How come everyone always forgets about D'Artagnan?"
"Heh…" chuckled Yumi. "Yeah, it wouldn't have been much of a story without him. Now who's up for pizza and root beer?"
They both grinned.
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The pizza parlor at the amusement park had recently added a new feature – a TV screen as big as a movie screen. It was currently set to cartoons. As the three of them waited for dinner, the patrons were getting restless.
"Okay, okay…" said a waitress, grabbing a remote. "I'll change the channel…"
She flipped a switch, and the familiar logo of KaibaCorp TV flashed on the screen, along with the usual music.
"Hi!" said a young reporter. "This is Mandy Malone. We're here at Kaibaland, where a rare treat has just appeared…"
The cheering of children followed that remark.
"Hey Yumi…" said Ren, "it's your favorite opponent…"
Yumi looked at the screen.
It was true… Favorite opponent whose ass she liked to kick.
The eighteen-year-old girl had vaguely Chinese features, tanned skin, and long, chestnut hair down to her waist. She was also dressed in a midriff, with blue jeans.
Samantha Arachne, daughter of Sheena Arachne, the head of KaibaCorp. Her father was supposedly Siegfried Kaiba, who was killed shortly after she was conceived…
It seemed that the heirs of the Moutos and the Kaibas would be rivals forever…
Samantha ("Sam" to most) seemed to be always changing decks. As Yumi's grandfather would say, she hadn't found one that came from her heart yet. She had promised on a permanent one for Duelatopia, but it had not been seen yet. Yumi wondered about it as Sam faced her opponent, a younger kid with a t-shirt and dungarees, with a baseball cap on backwards.
Yumi frowned. Didn't anyone who didn't actually play baseball ever wear a baseball cap the way it was made to be worn anymore?
"The question on everyone's mind is," said the reporter, "will the secret of Samantha's new deck be revealed? This reporter is hoping so."
A lot of duelists are hoping so too, thought Yumi. Including this one. I just know I'm going to have to face it sooner or later.
The two duelists were shuffling each others decks.
"Ready to have your butt kicked from here to Bombay, Sam?" asked the boy, as they loaded their decks.
"Please, Nick," said Sam, as her Disk activated. "The day I'm beaten by the likes of you is the day I eat my deck."
They both drew five cards.
"Game on!" they both said at once.
(Sam: 8,000) -------------------- (Nick: 8,000)
"All right!" said Nick, drawing his first card. "For my first brilliant move, I'll place this in Defense Mode."
He played a card, and a facedown Monster appeared.
"That's all for now."
"I've seen better opening moves from preschoolers," said Sam, making her first draw.
She looked over her hand.
"I always say, the best defense is an aggressive offense," she said. "I summon Luster Dragon in Attack Mode."
She played a card, and a huge sapphire appeared in front of her. It shattered, revealing a slim Dragon made entirely of blue gemstones. Its eyes were pools of blue right that cast a soft glow. (1,900/1,600)
"Nope," said Yumi, with a shrug. "I've seen this deck before."
She leaned her head on her hand. She really knew this deck. Sam had thought she could emulate Seto Kaiba by using Dragons… She even started calling herself the Dragon Queen after this deck proved mildly successful. And then Yumi showed her what Buster Blader was capable of.
Thus, the Dragon Queen was dethroned, and Sam started looking again. This girl was determined to find the perfect deck… And hints dropped to everyone were showing that she had recently found it.
"And now I'm going to use that aggressive offense," said Sam, "by wiping out your defense! Luster Dragon… Attack! Sapphire flash blast!"
Luster Dragon spread its wings and gave a cry. Then it exhaled a blast of blue fire. The Monster that appeared on Nick's card was a young woman dressed like a green beret, complete with blacking under her eyes, with feathered wings on her back. (1,200/1,900)
She shielded herself with her arm, and the fire was deflected.
She gave a mean look at Sam, as if to say, "I dare you".
"Sorry, Sam," said Nick, "but Command Angel's Defense was just as strong as your Dragon's so called aggressive offense. Better luck next time."
Sam looked at her hand.
"I'll set this facedown," she said, fitting a card into her Disk, "and take a break for now."
A facedown card appeared.
Nick drew a card.
"I summon Hysteric Fairy in Attack Mode," he said.
A slim figure in a blue formal suit and glasses with feathered wings, carrying a book with an ankh on it appeared as he played the card. Its gender could best be described as… androgynous. It adjusted its spectacles and gave a fussy look. (1,800/1,000)
"You call that a Monster?" asked Sam, sarcastically. "It looks like my old algebra teacher!"
"I'll also shift Command Angel to Attack Mode," said Nick, "and she grants all Fairies on my side of the field 400 more Attack Points. So, stand up!"
Command Angel stepped up and pulled a golden machine gun from her back. Hysteric Fairy rose to 2,200 Attack, and Command Angel herself rose to 1,600.
"Okay, that might be a problem…" muttered Sam.
"Hysteric Fairy, attack the Dragon!" shouted Nick.
Hysteric Fairy adjusted its glasses, and fired a beam of light from them, blasting the Dragon to shards.
"And since you're defenseless," said Nick, "Command Angel, attack Sam directly!"
Command Angel grit her teeth and aimed the machine gun. Sam winced as she fired six rounds into her torso.
(S: 6,200) -------------------- (N: 8,000)
"Man, Sam just got nailed," said Ren.
"Watch," said Yumi. "She'll come back. I know she will."
Sam caught her breath and made her draw.
"I play Premature Burial," she said, placing a card in her Disk. "I'm sure you know how it works. I merely give up 800 Life Points, and my Dragon returns."
She played the card, and as her Life Points dipped, Luster Dragon crawled out of the ground.
"Now I sacrifice him…" she continued, "for his big brother… Luster Dragon #2."
The Dragon turned into a huge emerald. It shattered, revealing a larger, fiercer-looking Dragon with green scales. Its glowing green eyes again glowed with soft light. (2,400/1,400)
"Attack the Command Angel!" she shouted. "Emerald flame!"
Luster Dragon roared, and then breathed green fire. Command Angel screamed as she was engulfed in it. She shattered.
(S: 5,400) -------------------- (N: 7,200)
Hysteric Fairy dropped back to 1,800 Attack.
"That's enough for one turn," said Sam.
Nick drew a card, and looked over his hand.
"I'll move Hysteric Fairy to Defense Mode," he said, "and set another Monster in Defense Mode."
Hysteric Fairy shielded itself, and a facedown card and Monster appeared.
Sam made her draw.
"Not the wisest choice," she said. "First, I summon Element Dragon."
In a flash of light, a medium-sized Dragon with orange scales and a mane of fur around its neck appeared. (1,500/1,200)
"Next, I'll activate my facedown card, a little thing called Dragon's Rage."
Her Trap Card lifted.
"Now, due to this powerful Continuous Trap, all my Dragons can hurt you even when your Monsters are in Defense Mode, as if all of them were Equipped with Fairy Meteor Crush."
"That's… not good…" muttered Nick.
"But wait…" said Sam. "There's more. When there's a Wind Monster on the field, like my Luster Dragon is right now, my Element Dragon gets to attack again if it kills one Monster first.
"So… Element Dragon attack the facedown Monster! Incendiary breeze!"
Element Dragon breathed a cloud of fire, and Nick cringed as his Monster was blown up.
"You destroyed my Skelengel," said Nick. "So now I get to draw one card."
He made a draw.
"Big deal…" said Sam. "It can attack twice, remember? Element Dragon, attack the Hysteric Fairy!"
Element Dragon breathed its lethal cloud again, and Hysteric Fairy was blown to shards.
"Luster Dragon, attack Nick directly!"
Luster Dragon shot its emerald flame forward, and Nick screamed as an inferno of green fire erupted around him.
(S: 5,400) -------------------- (N: 2,700)
"Looks like Sam has this in the bag," said Chelsea.
"Where's our pizza?" sighed Yumi. "Are they going to Italy to get the mozzarella?"
"You're gonna pay for that…" muttered Nick.
He drew a card and considered his hand.
"So what pathetic move are you going to make now, Nick?" asked Samantha.
"How's this for pathetic?" he asked, opening his Field Slot. "I play The Sanctuary in the Sky."
Everyone took notice, as the whole arena was enveloped in light. The floor became a mass of clouds, and an ancient, stone temple rose behind Nick. It was topped by a spire holding a glowing orb. Soft light glowed from the whole structure.
"Okay…" muttered Sam, nervously. "Nice place…"
Meanwhile, the pizza had come. The three friends took a slice.
"So what does this mean?" asked Chelsea, sprinkling parmesan on hers.
"By itself, Sam can't hurt him by attacking his Fairies," said Yumi, "but if he combined it with other cards…"
"Now, let's get serious," continued Nick. "I summon Warrior of Zera."
A stern-faced Warrior in armor with a sword, wearing a horned helmet appeared. (1,600/1,600)
"Case in point…" muttered Yumi.
"But he won't be here long," he continued, taking another card. "This Warrior is a man with a dual nature, who constantly struggles between good and evil… And when in the blessed realm of the Sanctuary, a powerful transformation can take place…"
Warrior of Zera became shrouded in light, and a great transformation started to occur. A more imposing figure appeared, in silvery armor with huge, feathered wings on his back with a helmet. A long scarf covered his mouth and swept behind him in the unseen wind. He held a gleaming broadsword in his hand that shone with pure light. He radiated an air of authority that was impossible to ignore. (2,800/2,300)
"Meet the ace of my deck…" said Nick. "Archlord Zerato!"
"Impressive…" muttered Sam.
Yumi was watching intently. Her father had used that guy in his duel against Saurius so many years ago… He had been instrumental to victory…
"Here's something that's even more impressive," said Nick. "I'm going to discard my Dunames Dark Witch…"
He discarded one of his cards.
"And say sayonara to your Monsters!"
The spire of the Sanctuary glowed, and blasted a lightning bolt, vaporizing Luster Dragon and Element Dragon.
"You're wide open!" shouted Nick. "Zerato, attack! Holy sword!"
Zerato flew at Sam with his blade, and she was helpless to do anything but take it. She screamed and toppled over.
"Wow…" said Ren. "This is exciting."
"Mmm…" said Yumi, with her mouth full. "Exciting…"
And if Sam is humiliated on live television right before her debut in Duelatopia, she thought, it's gonna be so much fun rubbing her nose in it…
(S: 2,600) -------------------- (N: 2,700)
Yumi eagerly watched. One more attack and Sam would be defeated… All Nick would need was another Light Monster…
Nick played two of his three remaining cards, and two facedown cards appeared.
"Your move," he said. "One more blow like that, and you're history."
Sam drew a card.
"I play… Graceful Charity…" she said.
She played the card, and an angelic form appeared over her. The angel's feathers fell on her deck, and she drew three cards.
"Now I can draw three cards, so long as I toss two…"
She looked at the cards in her hand.
She discarded Masked Dragon and Divine Dragon Ragnarok.
"Now I summon Cave Dragon," she said, playing a card.
A hulking, elderly Dragon with no wings appeared in front of her. It yawned, and looked at its opponent with tired-looking eyes. (2,000/100)
"He may look tough," she said, "but he's actually a shiftless, lazy slob who can't do much on his own. You see, he can't attack unless I have another Dragon on the field.
"So, I'll also place three cards facedown, and end my turn."
Three facedown cards appeared.
Nick drew. He looked at the two cards in his hand.
"Problem?" asked Sam. "Don't have the right card to discard, huh?"
"Actually, no, I don't," said Nick. "So I'll just have to get one."
A facedown card lifted.
"I activate Beckoning Light. Here's how it works. First I toss all the cards in my hand."
He discarded his two cards, a Mudora and an Agido.
"Then, I can recover one Light Attribute Monster from my Graveyard for each card that I tossed…"
Two cards came out of his discard slot.
"…like Hysteric Fairy and Dunames Dark Witch.
"First, just in case, I'll summon Dunames Dark Witch…"
He played the card, and a pretty female Fairy in a red dress and metallic wings appeared. (1,800/1,050)
"Now I'll discard Hysteric Fairy, and activate Zerato's effect!"
He discarded the card. The spire of the Sanctuary started to glow.
"Not so fast!" shouted Sam. "I chain two of my facedown cards. First, Rush Recklessly."
One of her cards lifted.
"It increases Cave Dragon's Attack Score by 700 points, to 2,700. Next, I'll activate Burst Breath!"
Another card lifted.
"Now, I can sacrifice my Cave Dragon, and all Monsters with lower Defense Scores than his Attack Score go down in flames!"
A blast of green flame shot out of Cave Dragon's mouth, and both Zerato and Dunames Dark Witch cringed against it before they shattered. Then Cave Dragon shattered.
"Aw, shoot…" muttered Nick.
"Finally," said Sam, "my last card activates…"
Her last facedown card lifted, showing another Quickplay.
"Super Rejuvenation," she said. "Now, for each Dragon that I sacrificed this round, I get to draw one card."
She made a draw and looked at it.
"You have no cards left, so I'll move…" said Sam, drawing again.
She looked at the new card.
"You like Light Monsters? Here's a good one for you. I summon Mirage Dragon."
She played the card, and a beam of light fell from above. A wispy Dragon that seemed made out of pure light appeared. (1,600/600)
"In case you think that facedown card will block this attack, forget it. He'll prevent you from activating it. Mirage Dragon, attack with spectrum blast!"
Mirage Dragon breathed a blast of multicolored light, and Nick shielded himself as it hit him.
(S: 2,600) -------------------- (N: 1,100)
"Not bad…" he said, panting for breath.
He drew a card.
"But you aren't out of the woods yet… I play my Pot of Greed."
He played the card, and the green, smiling jug appeared in front of him, and gave an evil cackle.
"Now I draw two cards…"
He looked at them.
"And now I'll activate my facedown card… Light of Judgment."
His facedown card lifted, and storm clouds appeared over the Sanctuary.
"Now, since the Sanctuary is on the field, by discarding one Light Monster, like my Absorbing Kid From The Sky…"
He discarded a card.
"I can either destroy one card on your side of the field, or one card in your hand. So… Mirage Dragon dies!"
Lightning struck, and Mirage Dragon was atomized.
"Good grief…" muttered Chelsea. "If that other card in his hand is a Monster, he can attack her and bring her down to dangerous numbers."
"Well, Zerato is a NOMI," replied Yumi. "He can't summon him from the Graveyard.
"You know, I often wondered just what 'NOMI' stands for. I've never gotten a straight answer from anyone."
"I'll place my last card in Defense Mode, and end my turn," said Nick.
A facedown Monster appeared.
Sam drew a card.
"My patience has paid off, Nick," she said. "First, I summon Lord of Dragons to the field."
She played the card, and the draconic Spellcaster dressed in black with a claw-like helmet appeared. (1,200/1,100)
"Now I play… Dragon's Mirror!"
"Dragon's Mirror?" asked Nick. "What's that?"
"A mirror that's sure to give you bad luck," said Sam, "whether you break it or not. It's a Polymerization substitute. Now I can remove Fusion Material Monsters on the field and in my Graveyard from play to summon the Fusion Monster, so long as it's a Dragon.
"So, I'll fuse together Lord of Dragons and the Divine Dragon Ragnarok in my Graveyard…"
A large mirror with a golden frame appeared on the field. Ragnarok appeared beside the Spellcaster, and both of them were drawn into the mirror...
Then the mirror cracked, and smoke started to pour out of it…
"…and say hello to King Dragun."
The smoke formed into an impressive creature. It was a serpentine Dragon, centaurian in general outline, whose upper body resembled that of Lord of Dragons, only more majestic. His lower body was bulky and serpentine. A mane that resembled more a cloud of mist than hair surrounded his neck. He gripped a staff resembling the Flute of Summoning Dragons, and he radiated a dark aura. (2,400/1,100)
"King Dragun, attack!" she shouted. "Flaming scourge!"
King Dragun breathed white-hot flames from his maw, and an explosion burst on the facedown card.
Sam cringed as pain coursed through her…
"What happened?" she gasped.
She looked…
Where her target had been was a small creature, resembling a dollop of whipped cream. It had two big eyes, and above them was a smile that was upside down. It grinned at Sam. (300/500)
"What in blazes?" asked Ren. "Is that a Monster or a dessert soufflé?"
"Don't estimate Marshmallon," said Yumi, between chews. "It's powerful. Since Sam attacked it while it was facedown, she lost 1,000 Life Points. And it can't be destroyed in battle. Not to mention the fact that it's a Fairy, so the Sanctuary keeps Nick from losing Life Points from that Dragon's Rage.
"This is a big handicap for Sam, because this deck is mostly slash and burn. She's already used her Burst Breath."
(S: 1,600) -------------------- (N: 1,100)
"My move now…" said Nick.
He drew a card.
"Perfect…" he said, looking at it. "I don't know if you'd ever hit a guy with glasses on Sam, but now you don't have a choice, I play Marshmallon Glasses."
He played the card.
"So long as this card is on the field with Marshmallon, you're only allowed to attack him. So I have lots of time to summon something to bring tall, dark, and gruesome there down!"
"We'll see…" said Sam, drawing.
"This duel is over…" she said. "It will be a cold day in Hades before my Monsters are brought to a halt by some little cream puff."
"And just what are you gonna do?" asked Nick. "Summon whatever Dragon you want. Marshmallon can't be destroyed."
"Only in battle," replied Sam. "I just drew this Spell Card. It's called Dragon's Gunfire.
"See, I can only activate it when I have at least one Dragon on the field. Then I have to make a choice. I can either inflict 800 points of direct damage to you, or destroy a Monster with 800 Defense Points or less.
"And since your Marshmallon only has 500 Defense Points, I can fry it up like a Baked Alaska."
"What's a Baked Alaska?" asked Ren.
"Don't you guys know anything about gourmet desserts?" asked Yumi. "Let's just say it's the only ice cream dish that you serve hot."
King Dragun blew a stream of flames, striking Marshmallon. The little Fairy was burned up and reduced to ashes.
"You're next," said Sam. "King Dragun, attack directly!"
King Dragun blasted another gout of super-hot flames. Nick screamed and was propelled backwards as it hit him.
(S: 1,600) -------------------- (N: 0)
The clouds of the Sanctuary and Sam's Monster slowly vanished.
As Yumi, Ren, and Chelsea watched, a boy about Sam's age ran up and hugged her. He was handsome, with shaggy-long hair.
It seemed Sam had a boyfriend now, and now Yumi was a little jealous.
Mandy Malone came up to Sam.
"Congratulations, Ms. Arachne on another victory," she said. "Care to give anyone a hint on this new deck you've been working on?"
"Well," said Sam, "it will be unveiled in Duelatopia in two weeks. Anyone with internet access merely has to look up my name to see me use it.
"And there's one girl out there I can't wait to show it to.
"I'm not naming any names, of course, but she has a bad hair style, and wears a tacky piece of jewelry. Of course, I can't blame her for the first part. It seems her whole family has been hated by beauticians. Although I doubt her maternal grandfather ever even went to one. Heck, I doubt he even ever used a comb.
"If you're out there, listen up… This tournament, the Consort of Ha Des is going to drag you into the Underworld and throw you into the Pit of Fire!"
Her boyfriend hugged her lovingly, and they walked away from the reporter.
"Uhm…" said Mandy. "Strong words, and a powerful prediction of things to come. I guess the gauntlet has officially been thrown. Now this…"
"My Puzzle is NOT tacky!" shouted Yumi. "She has some nerve!"
Yumi made a face.
She knew that Sam had been waiting for this tournament… She had been eligible to compete in the last two Duelatopia tournaments – you only had to be sixteen – but she had turned the offers down both times, saying she wouldn't until she could win by beating Yugi Mouto's heir… Not the most subtle hint…
"Relax, Yumi," said Ren. "She's all bark and no bite."
"Yes, relax…" said a gentle voice in her head.
Yumi calmed down a little.
"We can't let insults distract us, Yumi," said the voice. "Things are coming to a headway…"
Yumi sighed and took out her deck.
She took out Dark Magician Girl and looked at her…
She put her deck back.
"Check please…" she said.
Behind Yumi, a spectral form appeared…
It was a tall woman, who seemed young in terms of age, but a definite aura of experience was present. She wore a white business suit that was spotlessly clean, and sunglasses over her eyes. Her hair was platinum blonde, and down to her waist.
No one seemed to see her as she walked up behind Yumi. She removed the sunglasses, and her eyes were green… Deep, sea green that you could lose yourself in.
She smiled sweetly and placed her hand on Yumi's head affectionately.
Yumi felt strange at that point. It was a sensation of warmth… A gentle feeling…
The strange woman replaced the sunglasses and slowly faded away…
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COMMAND ANGEL (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type: Fairy/Effect
Attribute: Fire
Level: 4
ATK: 1,200
DEF: 1,900
Card Description: When this card is face-up on your side of the field, all Fairy-Type Monsters on your side of the field gain 400 ATK for as long as this card is face-up on your side of the field.
Note: "Command Angel" was first used by Tristan in the original anime episode "Mechanical Mayhem". All creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
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MARSHMALLON (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type: Fairy/Effect
Attribute: Light
Level: 3
ATK: 300
DEF: 500
Card Description: The user of the Monster that attacks this Monster while it is in facedown Defense Position takes 1,000 points of direct damage after battle damage is applied. This card is not destroyed as a result of battle (damage calculation still applies).
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MARSHMALLON GLASSES (Spell Card)
Continuous Spell
Image: A pair of eyeglasses with a picture of Marshmallon in each lens.
Card Description: When this card and "Marshmallon" are on your side of the field, your opponent cannot attack any Monster except "Marshmallon".
Note: "Marshmallon" and "Marshmallon Glasses" are Japanese cards that have not yet been released in the United States. They were both used by Little Yugi during the original anime series Pharaoh's Memory Arc.
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Ren: I'm so psyched, Chelsea! We're going to Duelatopia!
Chelsea: Just like our parents did all those years ago. I can't contain myself…
Yumi: Yeah guys, I know we should be excited but…
…somehow, the turmoil inside me is strong, and a friend of mine is feeling it too.
But don't let me distract you. Review your decks, review your strategies, and get ready…
Next chapter is Chapter One, "A New Beginning; A New Starting Point".