"Mmmm. Another peaceful sunrise. Probably the only damn peace I'll get today..." Raven mused darkly to herself as she stood on the roof of Titan's Tower, watching the sun take its place for the dawn of a new day. Sighing and taking another small sip off her herbal tea, she set the cup down to her side and began her routine meditation.
Robin also liked be present when the sun introduced itself, partially due to the fact that his bodily clock already woke him up around that time of the morning anyway. That was something he'd trained to do while he worked with Bruce Wayne, back in Gotham City. As he came up the stairs, he spotted Raven and made sure to be extra quiet as he made his way onto the roof, taking in the scent of the new day.
Raven finished meditating to find Robin looking at the sky, apparently lost in his thoughts. Carefully, as not to scare the shit out of him, she tapped his shoulder. Despite her efforts, he still jumped and let out a small yelp.
"Oh, hey Raven. Didn't realize you had finished. Mmmm...Well, food sounds like a good idea right now. Let's hit the kitchen, eh?" Robin said with a smile. Raven just nodded, trailing behind him as he took the stairs down.
Reaching the kitchen, he realized Cyborg was cooking. Alone, with no tofu in sight.. Strange, usually Cyborg and Beast Boy are arguing tofu vs. meat right now, He thought. Eyes furrowed, he opened the common room door to find the TV on.
"Dude, check this out!" Beast Boy told Robin, indicating the screen. Robin looked up to see what appeared to be a large dragon standing on a platform.
"It's the latest game craze in America, Duel Monsters! And with our state of the art technology, we have enhanced the game to a whole new level! Available for sale now, we, Jump City Tech, are proud to present the Duel Disk!" An announcers' voice blared. Robin cocked an eyebrow.
"And, to kick off the release of this marvelous piece of equipment, we will be holding a Duel Monsters tournament right her in Jump City! Signups begin tomorrow, so all you duelists better get ready!" The TV advertiser finished exuberantly. Robin's eyebrow was dangerously close to being lost in his hair-gel infused hair.
"Man, those things look cool! Wish I knew how to play..." Beast Boy trailed off. Raven looked at him.
"Well, you could always go out and, y'know, buy a rulebook and some cards," The empath said in an "duh" tone.
"True. But I wouldn't be good enough to do diddly in that tournament with all the cool holograms!" The changeling cried as if his life depended on it. Raven just rolled her eyes and wandered into the kitchen to obtain food.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
It was later in the afternoon that day that the call came. The usual alarm flashed on the Titans' monitor screen, and upon reaching the common room Robin accepted the call. "Hello, Mayor. What's the trouble?" The Boy Wonder greeted him.
"Nothing immediate, thankfully. But it does have to do with Slade. Apparently, according to intelligence he is still alive and kicking," The mayor said worriedly. Robin slammed his fist on the table.
"Damnit! I knew it! What has he destroyed?" Robin asked, infuriated. The mayor shook his head, surprised at the sudden outburst.
"Nothing, yet. However, word has it that Slade has his eye on this little card game tournament that's being held. According to intelligence, he is going to attempt to insert men inside the tournament. From our best deductions, it has been assumed that Slade wants to get his hands on the technology used in these disks," The mayor said. Robin nodded.
"Sounds plausible. So what can we do for you?" The Boy Wonder questioned. The mayor laughed.
"Well...we need you to enter the tournament. If you can get in, you can talk to the other entrants and see what's going on. If at all possible, perhaps get a look at the people running the tournament as well, because there very well might be an agent of Slade's behind the scenes as well," He said, causing Robin's eyebrows to enter his hairline.
"Whoa, hold up. We don't even know how to play the game, mayor!" Robin protested. He made a very valid point; how were they going to be able to get anything done on the inside if they got their asses kicked in the first round?
"To that, all I can say is that if you can't participate, the chances of Slade getting hold of some very hi-tech hologram technology is extremely high. And with that stuff at his fingertips..." The mayor trailed off. Robin sighed.
"We'll...do the best we can, I guess," He said, shaking his head and cutting off the transmission. He looked to his teammates. "So...yeah. The tournament starts in what, a week? So we have to get signed up, get those disks, and learn how to play well enough to get somewhere in the tournament in order to buy us enough time to check things out," He summaried.
"This is not going to be easy," Raven said.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The Titans stood in front of Ray's Games and Sports, each of them wearing a Duel Disk.. "Ok guys, the mayor said that this guy can provide us with a full tutorial plus any cards we need. And for the record, I feel stupid as hell wearing this thing," Robin added. Raven smirked. She actually found it kind of cool, as did Beast Boy. Cyborg was muttering something about how he could make something ten times better, and Starfire of course was utterly fascinated with the device.
"Alright guys, let me show you to the back. I'll teach you about the game and the Disks there, and then I'll let you have at my collection of cards," Ray said as they walked in. The Titans nodded and followed him in.
After a thorough explanation of all the game and disk mechanics (look up the rules of the Yugioh TCG if you're unfamiliar), the group began examining various cards.
"Hm...Dark Ruler of Hell, huh? Dark Necrofear? Demons look like my kind of cards," Raven mused., reading some of them.
"Oh yeah, baby! Machines are where its at! Cyber Dragon, Jinzo, Dekoichi, oh yeah. Definitely for me," Cyborg said.
"Dude! Check out these Beast cards! Enraged Battle Ox, Berserk Gorilla, Green Baboon, Guardian of the Forest! They have a me card!" Beast Boy cried, waving the Baboon around. Robin laughed and turned back to his own selections.
"Elemental Heroes...Hm. A superhero set? Fitting," he said to himself, gathering some of the cards together.
Starfire was looking meticulously through each set of cards. So far, Spellcasters were looking good to her. "Dark Magician Girl, Magician's Valkyrie, Dark Magician.. They sound very interesting, and appear to be quite powerful," She said.
Eventually, the Titans all left Ray's shop with a complete dueling Deck. Everyone went back to the Tower, thinking over their Deck decisions and how their Decks fit themselves so well.
Back at the Tower, Robin cancelled the usual training in favor of practice in Dueling. "We need to get familiar with our Decks so we can do our best in that tournament. We do well in the tournament, we buy ourselves more time to investigate. Now then, I think Raven should duel Beast Boy first," Robin said with a grin.
Beast Boy threw a dirty look at their leader, and Raven got an evil grin on her face. Oh, this should be fun, The Azarathian thought. Both of them faced each other and activated their disks. Beast Boy won the roll, so he elected to take the first turn.
Raven:8000 Beast Boy:8000
Hmmm...Green Baboon, Wild Nature's Release, Pitch-Black Warwolf, Sangan, Premature Burial and Hallowed Life Barrier...Not bad, Beast Boy thought. Aloud, he said "I play one monster card face down, one other card facedown, and end my turn." The facedown Defense Mode Sangan appeared in front of him, only the card backing visible. Raven nodded and drew.
The girl's eyes flew open. Oh, too perfect. Executor-Makurya, Return from the Different Dimension, Dark World Dealings, Giant Germ, Raviel, Lord of Phantasms, and Card of Sanctity (Card of Sanctity works as it does in the YGO anime: Each player draws until the hold 6 cards) Raven grinned. "Alright, I play one monster facedown and end my turn, as well," Raven said, smirking.
Beast Boy did not like that smirk. Drawing his card, he analyzed his hand, adding the newly drawn Enraged Battle Ox to it. He smiled. "I summon Enraged Battle Ox!" He declared. An ox that stood on its hind legs appeared with a snort, clad in armor and holding an axe. "And now, I attack!" Beast Boy cried. The Ox rushed Raven's monster, raising its axe and slicing the card clean.
Enraged Battle Ox EARTH
Level 4
Beast- Warrior
As long as this card remains face-up on your side of the field, when Beast, Beast-Warrior and Winged Beast-Type monsters on your side of the field attack with an ATK that is higher than the DEF of your opponent's Defense Position monster, inflict the difference as Battle Damage to your opponent's Life Points.
ATK1700 DEF/1000
Raven smiled. "Thanks Beast Boy, you just activated my Giant Germ! When one is destroyed as a result of battle, well, see for yourself," Raven gestured to the field as she pulled two cards from her deck and placed them on her disk. Two more Giant Germs appeared on the field in attack mode.
Giant Germ DARK
Level 2
Fiend
When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, inflict 500 damage to your opponent. You can also Special Summon up to 2 "Giant Germs" from your Deck in face-up Attack Position.
ATK/1000 DEF/100
"They multiply? Damn. But I think you're forgetting something, Rae-Rae," He said, knowing that the name would piss her off. She scowled at him.
"Forgetting what?" She asked. Then she heard the sound of her Life Points reducing.
Raven: 6400 Beast Boy: 8000
"What the hell? My Germ was in defense mode! What happened?" Raven cried.
"That would be the effect of my Ox here. See, as long as he's around, any Beast, Beast-Warrior or Winged Beast that attacks a defense mode monster does damage tot the player equal to the difference between my monster's attack and your monsters' defense points!" Beast Boy returned Raven's smirk.
Raven glowered at him. In reality, it wasn't that bad of a hit, but it still made her mad that he had drawn first blood.
"Well, my Germ also hit you. When you destroy it, you take 500 points of damage!" Raven shot back.
"Oh really?" Beast Boy asked casually as the goopy remains flew at him, being stopped by a field of white energy. "Actived Hallowed Life Barrier! I discard one card from my hand to negate all damage done to me for one turn.
Hallowed Life Barrier
Normal Trap
Discard 1 card from your hand. This turn, any damage you take from your opponent's cards and effects becomes 0.
And that ends my turn," Beast Boy said confidently. Raven narrowed her eyes and drew, revealing it to be Dark Necrofear. Then she grinned. Time to knock him down a peg, she thought.
"Alright, showoff. Watch and learn. I play Dark World Dealings! This makes us both draw a card and discard a card," She said as she drew and discarded her Executor-Makurya. Little did Beast Boy know what she had just done.
Dark World Dealings
Normal Spell
Each player draws 1 card. Then each player discards 1 card.
Suddenly, three ghosts flew out of Raven's graveyard and onto the field, melding together into a whirling cloud.
"What the hell? What's happening?" Beast Boy yelled, his hair whipping in the wind being created.
"I remove my three Giant Germ monsters from play to summon Dark Necrofear!" Raven grinned as a blue woman holding a small doll materialized from the cloud (2200/2800).
Dark Necrofear DARK
Level 8
Fiend
This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card can only be Special Summoned by removing from play 3 Fiend-Type monsters in your Graveyard. If card is destroyed by battle, or by your opponent's card effect while it is a Monster Card, equip it to a monster your opponent controls during the End Phase of this turn. Take control of the equipped monster.
ATK/2200 DEF/2800
Beast Boy's eyes widened as he read the ATK and DEF of the card.
That thing's got 500 more points than my Ox...Not good, Beast Boy thought.
"Oh, and that's just a warm-up," Raven smirked again. If that was just a warm-up, then...I am so not liking this, Beast Boy muttered mentally.
"Next, I play Return from the Different Dimension! This lets me-" Beast Boy cut her off.
Return from the Different Dimension
Normal Trap
Pay half of your Life Points. Special Summon as many of your monsters as possible that have been removed from play. During the End Phase, remove from play all monsters that were Special Summoned by this effect.
"Heh. Looks like you forgot the rules. Return from the Different Dimension is a Trap Card. Traps have to be Set on the field for a full turn before they can be played, remember?" Beast Boy grinned. Heh. Too bad, so sad, He cheered. Raven just rolled her eyes.
"Take another look," She said, pointing. Her Trap appeared, being held in the claws of a monster unfamiliar to Beast Boy.
"Uh...What is that thing?" Beast Boy wondered in confusion. Raven sighed.
"This is my good friend, Executor-Makurya. I can play Trap cards from my hand the turn he's sent to the Graveyard," She explained.
Executor-Makurya DARK
Level 4
Warrior
During the turn this card is sent to the Graveyard, the owner of this card can activate Trap Cards(s) from his/her hand.
ATK/1600 DEF/1200
"But...He never even hit the field!" Beast Boy cried in confusion. Everyone on the sidelines were confused as well. Raven shook her head.
"Who said he had to be on the field, grass stain? I discarded him when I played my Dark World Dealings card," She smirked. Then she frowned, realizing she had just called Beast Boy by a pet name.
Beast Boy noted this too, but shrugged it off. "Shit." He said.
"Mhm. I pay half my Life Points to resummon every monster in my removed from game pile! Giant Germs, come on back!" She commanded. And obediently, all three Germs appeared on the field.
Raven: 3200 Beast Boy: 8000
"Yeah, but they're going back to where they came from when you end your turn. Is it really worth half your Life Points for a couple of germs?" Beast Boy asked with a laugh.
Raven smiled dangerously. "Did I say I was done? I'm sacrificing all three of them," She declared.
Everyone's eyes widened. Usually, powerful monsters required two tributes to summon. Following that logic, a monster requiring three tributes would have to be even better.
Raven grinned. "Say hello to Raviel, Lord of Phantasms!" She cried as the monster towered above the field. It was muscular, and was bigger than even Titans' Tower. Predominantly blue, it looked somewhat like the Egyptian God Card, Obelisk the Tormentor. Beast Boy let out a shriek of terror, while the others just stared up and gaped.
Raviel, Lord of Phantasms DARK
Level 10
Fiend
This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card cannot be Special Summoned except by Tributing 3 Fiend-Type monsters. Each time your opponent Normal Summons a monster(s), Special Summon 1 "Phantasm Token" (Fiend-Type/DARK/Level 1/ATK 1000/DEF 1000). This token cannot declare an attack. Once per turn, by Tributing 1 monster, this card gains ATK equal to that monster's original ATK, until the End Phase.
ATK/4000 DEF/4000
Raven laughed evilly. Now she had Dark Necrofear(2200/2800) and Raviel, Lord of Phantasms (4000/4000) just waiting to pulverize Beast Boy. And she wasn't done.
"I play Card of Sanctity to replenish both of our hands until we hold 6 cards," She said, drawing four cards. Another evil smile. Another look of terror from Beast Boy. Plucking a card from her hand, she said "Now I play Nobleman of Crossout! This Spell removes one face-down monster from the game. Begone!" She pointed at Beast Boy's facedown Sangan as it was banished to the removed from play zone.
Nobleman of Crossout
Normal Spell
Destroy 1 face-down monster and remove it from play. If the monster is a Flip Effect Monster, both players must remove from play all monsters from their Decks with the same name as the destroyed monster.
"And now...heh. Now I play Snatch Steal! I'm allowed to equip this card of one of your monsters and take control of it, but you get 1000 Life Points in each of my Standby Phases," She digressed as the lumbering ox came to her side of the field.
Snatch Steal
Equip Spell
Take control of a monster on your opponent's side of the field that is equipped with this card. Increase your opponent's Life Points by 1000 points during each of his/her Standby Phase.
"Now...Enter Battle Phase!" Raven declared. "Raviel, show him what you've got! Fist of Fury!" She cried. The towering beast rushed Beast Boy, slamming a gigantic right into the green changeling.
"Ahhhh!" He cried as he took the blow.
Raven: 3200 Beast Boy: 4000
"Jeez! Beast Boy just lost half of his life points in one attack!" Robin cried in shock. Everyone else was too busy gaping to respond.
"Next, Dark Necrofear! Attack him with Necromancy!" She commanded. The woman flew forward and blasted Beast Boy with a black ray of energy. Again, the changeling cried out as his Life Points dropped.
Raven:3200 Beast Boy: 1800
"Aww. You're still gonna be alive. Enraged Battle Ox, attack with your Fury Slash of Battle!" The Ox charged forward and sliced Beast Boy, reducing his point count further.
Raven: 3200 Beast Boy: 100
Beast Boy was on one knee, recovering from the attacks. "Two cards facedown will end my turn," Raven smirked as two facedown cards appeared behind her small army.
Beast Boy drew, breathing heavily. If only I could hit one of her monsters hard enough to take her Life Points out... He thought as he drew. A smile appeared on his face. "Sorry Raven, but you're not the only one that can pull tricks. I play Megamorph! This card doubles the attack of one monster on the field of my Life Points are lower than yours. But it halves that monsters attack points if my Life Points are higher. And I choose to double the attack of Raviel!" He declared.
Megamorph
Equip Spell
While your Life Points are lower than your opponent's, the original ATK of the equipped monster is doubled. While your Life Points are higher, the original ATK of the equipped monster is halved.
Raven looked at him with a furrowed brow. "You know, you could just surrender. No need to go suicidal," She monotoned.
The boy grinned. "Heh. You lose," He declared.
Everyone gasped. Beast Boy, who was staring down a now 8000 ATK Point monster with no monsters of his own, was declaring his win? "Impossible. There's no way he can win," Cyborg said.
Robin shook his head. "I wouldn't be so sure. Beast Boy's always been known to take risks, but he also thinks outside the box enough to know when to take them," He mused.
Beast Boy held up a card. "Your Raviel is powerful, I'll give it that. But that, my dear girl, is also its greatest flaw right now. I play this! Misfortune!" He declared. He slid it into his Duel Disk, and suddenly Raviel began glowing.
Misfortune
Normal Spell
Select 1 face-up monster your opponent controls. Inflict damage to your opponent equal to half that monster's original ATK. Your monsters cannot attack this turn.
"What did you do?!" Raven yelled. Beast Boy smirked.
"Misfortune selects one monster on your side of the field, Raven. And then, it does damage to you equal to half of its original attack points!" He explained.
Raven's face drained of color as everyone else gasped. "If I am to do the math correctly, Raviel has 8000 ATK points. Divided by two, that would equal 4000. And if friend Raven only has 3200..." Starfire trailed off.
The light surrounding Raven's titanic monster lifted, shooting directly at the Azarathian. "NO! AGH!" She shouted as the light hit her.
Raven: 0 Beast Boy:100
"End game!" Beast Boy said as the holograms faded away. Raven looked at him, shocked.
"You were dead! How in Azar's name did you...?!" She spluttered in protest and disbelief. Beast Boy smiled proudly.
"Guess my deck just came through for me. Now, I think it's Robin and Star's turn to duel, don't you?"