I'm sure you realized before even clicking here, that these duels, based on the time of canon, have to be the "2000ver", full of fluctuating rules and anything goes. The lack of consistency was annoying, so I created a standardized list of rules that kept the wild flavor, but none of the bitter aftertaste.

HOW TO PLAY 2000ver (deviations from the norm of what the reader would be used to seeing)

1. Additional victory condition: if at the start of your opponent's turn, he/she has no monster on the field and fails to attempt playing any cards or effects that results in a Summon or gaining control of a monster by the end of his/her turn, you win (based on Pegasus vs. Kaiba, but is also necessary to prevent strategies dependent on waiting from becoming overpowered).

2. Summoning and Setting monsters

2a. Players cannot Set their Monsters in the Monster Card Zone (in accordance with the manga). Therefore, Flip Summons changed into a mechanic unique to this story.

2b. Monsters with "FLIP:" abilities can only activate their effects when Flip Summoned or Normal Summoned. These effects are treated as Spell Speed 1 when Normal Summoned (basically, substitute "FLIP:" with "When this card is Normal Summoned, you may…" and Spell Speed 2 when Flip Summoned.

2c. In preparation to Flip Summon, the monster must be Set face-down in the Magic/Trap Zone (the act of Setting does not count as a Summon). Monsters lacking "FLIP:" cannot be Set.

2d. While set, the card is treated as a monster, but is not a valid target for attacks, effects, magic, and traps (but can still be destroyed by non-targeting effects such as Raigeki) unless otherwise stated.

2e. The actual Flip Summon is treated as a Summon but the monster does not enter the Monster Card Zone. After the monster's effect is resolved, the monster is sent to the Graveyard.

2f. You may Flip Summon any time after the End Phase that Monster was set.

*Ex.1: Bakura chooses to Normal Summon Man-Eater Bug. At that moment, Bakura can destroy a monster or pass on the effect.

*Ex.2: Bakura chooses to Set Man-Eater Bug and passes. Yugi draws and activates Raigeki, which will destroy all of Bakura's monsters. Not wanting the Bug to go to waste, Bakura can Flip Summon his Bug to destroy one of Yugi's monsters.

3. Equip cards also have some modifications

3a. You may only introduce one Equip card per turn from the set position or your hand to the field face-up; you cannot introduce another Equip card again until the next Standby Phase.

3b. Equip cards may be set on your turn and can be activated any time after the End Phase that the Equip card was set. Equip cards activated after being Set become Spell Speed 2 at the time of their introduction.

*Ex: Keith has two 7 Completed set at the start of his turn. If he activates one during his turn, the soonest he can activate the next one is at the start of the opponent's Standby Phase.

4. Type matchups

4a. Instead of showing a crazy Pokemon chart, combinations will be given as necessary.

4b. You may want to note the magic square: Dark trumps Light trumps Demon trumps Illusion trumps Dark.

4c. In a battle between advantageous and disadvantageous matchups, the turn player's monster receives the x1.5 or x0.5 multiplier based on the match-up. In the event the turn player ends up attacking his own monster, both monsters receive their multipliers.

4d. Certain matchups have specific effects, noted when necessary (such as magic vs. machine).

4e. Even magic and trap cards may have a type! Why should a Trap Hole kill a Harpie Lady?

4f. Monsters may have multiple attacking capabilities, which can affect the matchups.

5. Certain "powerful" trap cards force the user to declare that he/she cannot attack for that turn. A trap card not on the "powerful" list cannot be declared. In general, "powerful" trap cards like to deal direct damage (like Just Desserts) or have an overpowering effect (like Defense Paralysis). A trap card that tends to trigger in response to an attack or has a cost to use generally does not qualify as "powerful".

6. Rituals now require that the monsters to be sacrificed are on the field…but the summoned monster s deadlier!

HOW TO PLAY 4000ver (for the extra chapters)

*Summoning rules still apply!

*Equip card rules still apply!

*Type matchup rules still apply!

*The added victory condition of 2000ver is ignored!

*"Powerful Trap" rule is ignored!

*Ritual rule is ignored!

PS: Cards will also be following their manga counterparts. For example, Monster Reborn is a Quick-Play Magic that can summon a monster to intercept an attack. Other cards may be modified a little to make them useful or interesting. When in doubt, just roll with it.


CHAPTER 1

A figure in a black cloak was wandering the empty streets as Rebecca approached the convenience store on a cold January morning. She could not quite make him out, but the cloak had a loose gold chain below the face and an eye on the hood, giving her the impression of a cultist.

Seeing the girl, the figure paused to observe her. Rebecca bowed her head and quickened pace. He followed.

Several identical figures stepped out of the store. Maybe this wasn't a good time to get milk. Her heart beating faster, she changed direction, hoping the figure behind her just wanted to meet his friends. What was going on? This town was supposed to be plain and quiet. Who were these people?

"We found a target," said one of the figures. "Seize her!"

She started running. Her pink jacket, red skirt, and hay-colored winged hair fluttered, her brown boots striking the ground.

Rebecca's first thought was to run home. But was that a good idea? What if the rest of her family were targets? Then running home would make things worse! But maybe they already knew? A worse idea occurred to her: what if these guys were already there?

Her detective father flashed in Rebecca's mind. He wasn't the overbearing "I told you so" kind of person like her mother, but Rebecca could picture him shaking his head and as if the rest of his family were morons for ignoring his warnings. Maybe she should call him later at his office and hear what was going on.

"Help!" shouted Rebecca. For whatever good that did on an empty street.

Where should she go? Without thinking, she picked a yard that had the neighborhood's bark-happy pit bull. He was currently sleeping in a dog house, unkempt like the rest of the yard, behind the chain-link fence. On the fence was a sign, "Beware of Dog". The chain-links were hard to climb, but she managed to get over without the fence catching her clothes fence. The shouting from the figures woke the dog as Rebecca cut across towards the other end of the yard.

The pit bull started barking and chasing¸ but Rebecca was already unlatching the gate. As she escaped, the animal turned his attention to the new invaders. Rebecca smiled a little inside as her pursuers cursed and struggled with the guard dog, hoping the commotion would wake someone.

However, running was not one of Rebecca's hobbies. Panting, she tried assessing the best route. There was a police car next to one of the houses.

As a gunshot rang behind her and the barking ceased, Rebecca used the last of her strength for sprinting towards the house and started pounding on the door. When it opened, she toppled forward into an old lady wearing a white dress shirt and a long, pink tight skirt.

"Shut the door! Shut the door!" said Rebecca. The girl managed to stand up and lock the door shut before collapsing again as a police officer appeared at the end of the hallway, gun drawn.

"Stay where you are, trespasser!" he said. No problem, all Rebecca could do was to catch her breath anyway. The officer was a lean, blue-uniformed dark-skinned officer. He ran over, gun still pointing. After glancing at the old lady, who was now starting to sit up, he returned his attention to Rebecca. "What the heck do you think you're doing?"

"A gang of creeps chased me. I swear I'm not lying."

"Hmph." The officer strode to a window. He scanned the front yard for a few moments before turning back to Rebecca. "I don't see anyone."

"Good. I hope they left. Didn't you just hear a couple gunshots?"

The officer mulled over what to do before asking the old lady if she was okay.

"I'm fine, just a little shaken," she said. The old lady tried to stand up, but her face registered surprise when she started to fall. The officer caught her in the next instant, and sat her down in a nearby couch. "But I guess I've seen younger days."

"Hey, young lady, you're worse than the vandals spray-painting this house. Go sit there while I sort this mess."

Rebecca obliged, and the officer stood near the window as he walked to the phone. Hot from all the running, she took off her jacket, her green turtle sweater now prominent.

"I'm sorry, ma'am," said Rebecca. "I didn't mean to…"

"Don't worry about it." The old lady laughed. "It'll take more than that to finish me off. By the way, aren't you Rebecca? Casey and Mary's daughter, the Hawkins family?"

Surprised, she said, "yeah."

"Hmm…you wouldn't happen to be related to Arthur Hawkins, the guy who runs a research institute in Death Valley?"

"That's right, I'm his granddaughter. How do you know about us?"

"He was a schoolmate of mine; we were even in the same class. Ha, I remember when he started running around with his girlfriend. You'll have to ask him about that."

What a strange thought for Rebecca. Not sure how to respond, she noticed a messy pile of Duel Monsters cards besides the couch.

The old lady said, "Do you play? My children got into it thanks to my niece."

"I played once or twice. But I'm not the hardcore type, like that arrogant Bandit Keith who just challenged Pegasus. I think it's for a million dollars?"

"Actually, my niece is a professional Duel Monsters player too. By the way, I'm Ms. Kuto."

The officer returned. "I should've asked this first, but are you hurt or feel like you require medical attention?"

"I'll be fine, I get the feeling that any problem I might have can wait. You may want to assist this young lady, though."

"Of course. Your name?"

"Rebecca Hawkins."

"Rebecca, I'm Officer Eric. Do you need any immediate assistance?"

"No, I'm fine. So long as I don't get chased again."

"Then you better stay here for the time being until someone comes to pick you up. HQ is backing up your story; concerned neighbors are calling that a group of suspicious robed men were running around the neighborhood."

As Rebecca waited, she eased from nervousness to tiredness while talking with Ms. Kuto. When the Officer stood in front of them, all her tension returned.

"We're clear." He looked at Ms. Kuto. "Guess you two might as well listen. The attack today was orchestrated by an organization called the Rare Hunters. Have you heard about them?"

Ms. Kuto glanced at her cards. "Aren't they terrorists after rare Duel Monsters cards?"

"Yes."

"What do I have to do with them?" asked Rebecca.

"They..." he paused for a moment, leaving Rebecca feeling queasy. "They are responsible for the death of your parents in what we think were armed robberies."

The gut empty feeling was worse than being chased.

"Geez, I don't know how to put it nicely…" The officer uttered a sigh. "Your father was killed in a shootout at his office. And your mother was found dead in your home. Both places were ransacked."

"But my family doesn't even play the game! Why would I have rare cards?"

"I don't know."

Dizzy, Rebecca slumped in her seat, hoping whoever did this died.


"Why!?" This small van was worse than a jail cell. Sitting on the floor and tied up, the old man had the privilege of watching armed robbers kill his son and daughter-in-law with a spiky white-haired man in black robes.

"Shut it, geezer." He spoke into a comm. link. "Report!"

"We killed two of them, they went down fighting. But their daughter escaped. Turned out there was a police car at the home she escaped into, so I made the call to drop pursuit. The girl isn't worth a shoot-out."

The Rare Hunter turned in his seat to glare at the elderly man. The gramps was in an unassuming tan suit, white undershirt and white bowtie; his hairline receded for a high forehead. The Rare Hunter turned back to his monitors as the old man bowed his head. "Forget the family. What about the card? Did you find it?"

"No. We've checked every possible hiding place we could think of. Nothing."

"I guess Master Marik won't be pleased, but there's nothing we can do. You guys just clean up and get out; we're done for today."

"Roger."

The Rare Hunter turned off the comm. link and turned to the old man.

"I hope you're happy," said the Rare Hunter.

The old man looked up.

"Your relatives didn't have to die like that. All you had to do was just tell us where the damn card was or its current owner. But now, the blood of your family is on your hands."

"I'm not the one with a gun!"

"Well, whatever. If the deaths of your family won't coax a word out of you, and an exhaustive search did nothing, then I have nothing more to do with you."

He took out a gun and aimed at the old man's forehead, but then lowered it and spoke, "You know what? I think it'll be better to let you stew in this misery. Why should I be the only one frustrated about things not going my way today? I'll let you go and pick up your granddaughter; you can bond together while crying over relatives."

The Rare Hunter stomped over to the back doors and shoved them open, revealing a dark sky and a rising sun as cool air blew in.

"I still can't believe you built your Institute next to Death Valley." He chuckled and grabbed the old man by the collar. Before throwing him out of the van, his friendly parting words: "I'd tell you to go to Hell, but this place is close enough."


Rebecca and her grandfather arrived at his home and Institute by sunset later that day. Rocky cliffs and sparse vegetation were the "oasis" on the eyes in an otherwise parched surrounding. The building itself was red-roofed with blue tinted windows. An opaque dome paneled with hexagons was on top the roof surrounded by several antennas.

With the help of her grandfather, she took a couple suitcases which had her clothes, and a teddy bear, the last connection with her parents. They had shared a silent drive getting here, neither able to talk about the morning.

Inside the home was not a normal home, but something that looked like the workshop of a museum. She found a dark, cluttered unoccupied office room downstairs on the basement floor. Lonely: the room matched her heart. Turning on the lights, she stepped aside as her grandfather walked in and dropped off her other suitcases, and then sighed.

"Rebecca," said her grandfather, "let's go to my office."

She nodded, and none of them spoke a word as they walked into a more organized office room. They sat on opposite sides of a desk. Once seated, he shook and bowed his head before taking a deep breath.

"I'm sorry, Rebecca," he said. "Your parents, I…wish this didn't happen to them."

"Why?" she asked. "Why did they target our family?"

There was a blank look on his face. "I don't know."

"Liar!" Surprise flashed through her grandfather's face, but he made no comment. Instead, her head drooped and her voice weakened. "I'm sorry...it's just that mom and dad were arguing about them last night."

Her grandfather stood up, then walked over and knelt before hugging Rebecca as she burst into tears.