Chapter 2: Level up!
"Hi Teresa!" Jennifer shouted when she heard as she heard Terry walk through the front door. Terry gritted her teeth as she walked through the living room. She hated being called Teresa.
"How was your first day of school?" she asked. Terry found her in the kitchen cooking.
"I won a duel today," she shrugged, slipping off her shoes and kicking them into the corner.
"Oh, you made friends?" her voice sounded surprise and excited.
"No, just another rival," she rolled her eyes and headed for the stairs.
"Oh," her voice gave vibes of disappointment. "Dinner will be ready in about an hour."
"I'll be gone by then," Terry said, slowly walking up the stairs.
"And what for Missy?" her mom demanded, not sounding happy.
"I'm dueling someone," she shouted down the stairs.
"And why?" her mother demanded louder.
"Because I was offered a slot on the dueling team!" she answered even louder.
"Well, what if I won't let you?" her mother threatened.
"Then I will move out, and never eat another meal cooked by you!" she snapped, now at the top of the stairs. "Besides, you want me to make...friends."
"Don't talk to me like that young lady," her mother warned. Terry huffed, and slammed her bedroom door shut when she entered. Her room was a messy place. Clothes laying here, cards piled there. Random things scattered everywhere on the floor, her shelves, and desk. I hate how she wants me to be someone I'm not, she raged silently. Why can't she let me act the way I want to, and stop expecting a lot from me.
She dropped her backpack next to her bed, and grabbed a big tin off of her shelf before plopping down on her bed. She opened the tin and grabbed a stack of cards that was held together by an elastic. Silently she shuffled through them, trying to add cards that would help her win the duel. Being on the duel team would allow her to show everyone the champion she really was, not a loser girl who just liked to show off the cuteness of her cards. Thinking about made her mind wander...
"How's your Deck coming?"
"It's OK I guess, I need better cards! Real strong ones that can take you out in one attack!"
"Terry, a deck isn't based on strong monsters, but strong cards."
"Aren't they the same?"
"No, just because a monster is strong, doesn't mean its very good. You need great strategy.
"I'll wing it!"
"Well how can you wing it if you don't have to suitable cards in your deck."
"I just can."
"OK dear. So, did you fill your deck with cute monsters like Kuriboh?"
"Didn't you just tell me its not all about strong monsters?"
"Yes..."
"Well, then it can't be all about cute ones either."
"You right. Haha. Your really smart."
"I'd like to think so."
----
"Julia," Oscar groaned as his stomach began to make weird noises.
"Shhh!" she hissed. "Someone might hear us!" The two of them were hiding in a tree just down the street from where they saw Terry enter a house.
"I'm hungry!" he groaned again. "I've never gone this long without eating before."
"You just finished a whole bag of carrot sticks!" she looked at him in disbelief.
"But it wasn't enough," he whined. "I'm telling you, my stomachs a monster, it eats whatever I get it as soon as it gets it. I wanna go home to get something."
"No!" Julia protested. "We have to wait, and follow Terry to her duel."
"And why do we have to?" Oscar asked, twirling a leaf between his fingers. It was starting to look tasty.
"Because, once she sees we're dedicated friends, and really respect her, she'll finally accept us as friends," Julia looked up at the sky, brimming with optimism and hope.
"And how is stalking her, and nagging her show we're respectful?" he asked, now staring at the leaf, his mouth watering. "If we were respecting her we'd just leave her alone." He saw the leaf now as a guacamole-flavored chip. He loved guacamole.
"She just doesn't know how much she wants around yet," she said loud and proud. "She will once we hang around her a lot. Then she'll know the feeling of having close friends. Julia sighed loudly, and looked at the house.
"Wonder when she'll come out," she thought out loud.
"Yo bewief sytem amaze me," Oscar mumbled. Julia turned to look at him in disgust.
"What are you eating now?!" she demanded.
"Guacamole," he sighed with joy, putting another leaf in his mouth.
"Aw, gross," she gaged, looking away just in time to see Terry leaving the house.
"Let's go!" she ordered, placing feet on the branch below, before taking a small leap and awkwardly landing on the ground.
"Ah!" Oscar was lazy and just through himself off, landing flat on his back.
"Let's go Leaf muncher," Julia ordered, pulling him to his feet by his ear.
"OW! OW! OW!" he cried.
"SHHHH!!!" she hissed, fixing her backpack on her back. "Terry will see us. Now, let's quietly follow."
----
Terry made her way down the street in a fresh change of clothes, and a small duffle over her shoulder. Her long brown hair was in a ponytail, a bandana was tied over her head with some hair in her face, she wore a red jacket with the sleeves pushed passed her shoulders over a white shirt, and black jeans. For her entire walk she had this odd feeling she was being watched, and constantly looked over her shoulder. Little did she know Julia and Oscar were following her with great difficulty. They almost were seen once or twice. She continued in silence, running through the strategies she could use to beat her challenger...what was his name? She didn't catch it. Not like it mattered.
Just when she thought that she was missed the place, she came to a gigantic iron gate, with a giant brick wall wrapped around what was inside. Inside was a millionaire worthy property. There was a huge house with many floors. She wondered what was on the other side of it.
"State your business," said a monotone voice. She looked around and found an intercom. She pressed the red button and spoke into the speaker.
"I'm here because I was challenged to a duel," she said, not sound at all polite.
"By whom?" he asked.
"By some kid with spike red hair, how am I suppose to now?" she shouted at him.
"Ah, the new girl," he said as in realization. "Please, do come in." There was a buzzer, and the gates slowly opened. Terry stomped towards the big house, not intimidated at all by its size, or how expensive it might have been.
---
"Hurry!" Julia hissed, quickly marching over to the gate that was now slowly closing.
"This isn't right!" Oscar objected. "We're breaking an entry!"
"We aren't breaking anything!" she snapped, running through the gate. Oscar barely made it through as well.
Hide!" she hissed pushing him into the bushes. She saw Terry turn around and look around in suspicion, before entering the house.
"We're going to get caught!" Oscar moaned, pushing Julia off of him.
"It'll be OK," she assured him.
---
Little did they know in the security office, somewhere hidden on the property, they were seen sneaking in on a hidden camera. A man sitting at the desk picked up a phone and dialed a four digit number.
"I need security at the gates," he said urgently. "Two unauthorized personal have entered and are hiding in the bushes."
"Already on there way," answered a man on the other line. "Keep a visual and update."
"Will do." he nodded, putting the phone down. He then reached for a Walkie-Talkie.
"This is Hawk 3 and 4 heading for the gate," came a female voice.
"Roger Hawk 3," he answered. "They haven't moved yet...wait, they're heading for the front door."
"On our way," she said, sounding as if she was now running.
---
"Do you think its wise to walk right through the front door?" Oscar asked shaking. "There must be cameras everywhere."
"Goodness Oscar," Julia laughed. "This isn't a movie..." She stopped laughing when she opened the door to find a lady in a black suit with sunglass on standing there.
"Your busted," she said reaching out to grab there clothes. The two kids screamed, and spun around to try and dash away. By the time they made it down the steps, a big muscular man was there, and picked them up by there backpacks.
"Going somewhere?" he asked a satisfied grin.
"No, Julia it isn't a movie," Oscar gritted his teeth. "But rich people still have security!" Julia made fake laugh, and lowered her head with a depressing sigh.
---
Terry was being escorted down a very long hallway by a maid in a blue uniform. It was a typical uniform, simple shirt and skirt, apron, and that maid hat they wear. The hallway was decorated by various paintings, small tables with plants on them, and a pretty green rug that ran all the way down that large hallway. It was dimly lit by fancy lamps that were sticking out of the walls.
"Where are we going?" Terry asked.
"Out to the verandah," the maid smiled. "Master Andrew and his friend Cody are waiting for you there." So that's what there names are, she thought. Don't sound like names of champions.
She continued to follow her until they came to a large clear sliding door. The maid slid it opened, and stepped aside and ushered her through, following. The veranda was a nice place. It had a nice view of a huge rectangular pool, a basketball court, tennis court and a large garden. Lawn chairs were scattered with umbrellas over them. There was a large table that was covered with food, with matching chairs, where two boys were sitting at.
"Your company is here," the maid announced doing bowing her head a bit. They looked over at her with surprised looks.
"Thank you Gena," the red-head smiled. "You can go now." The maid dipped her head again before going back into the house.
"Told you she'd come," he said, punching his friend in the shoulder.
"So who am I dueling?" Terry asked.
"That would be me," he said raising his hand. "I'm Andrew Junic, and that's Cody Kyndri."
"And you are?" Cody asked.
"Terry Flank," she sighed. "Now can I get my win done and over with?"
"Little cocky there aren't we?" Andrew laughed.
"I will beat you," Terry snapped. "I came here to duel not chat."
"You don't want anything to eat first?" Cody asked a bit confused.
"I sure do!" shouted a familiar voice. Two body guards came over to them with two kids in their grasp, the lady pulling a girl by her arm, the man carrying a boy with one arm.
"We found these two sneaking in," said the lady.
"Were you following me!" Terry shouted angrily, staring down Julia and Oscar with daggers.
"Yes...," Julia sighed, facing the ground.
"You know these two?" asked the man body guard.
"Yeah, the two pains in my side," Terry huffed.
"We'll dispose of them then-,"
"Actually," Andrew interrupted. "They can stay."
"What?!" everyone shouted in shock.
"Yeah, I hardly ever have company other then Cody," he smiled. "It would be nice to have an audience. You can let them go Dorice." The lady guard let go of Julia, wile the man dropped Oscar on his face.
"Now who's cocky," Terry muttered under her breath. An audience...ha!
"YAY!" Oscar shouted, diving desperately for the table of heaven. "FOOD!" Without hesitation he shoved down half a dozen finger sandwich.
"Wow, thanks," Julia smiled, with a gleam in her eye. " I hope you win Terry." Terry looked away from her.
"So we don't get to boot 'em over the wall?" the man asked in disappointment.
"Not this time Jerry," the lady sighed. "Good day Master Andrew." The two of them made there way around the house.
"Now can we start?" Terry growled. "I'll leave of we don't."
"Fine, fine," Andrew said, taking a duel disk from below the table. Tori opened up her duffle and pulled out hers. She took off her duffle bag and placed it on a chair. The two of them walked out onto a clear space of green grass. Julia took a spot next to Oscar who was now eating an apple, and almost ate the core as well.
"You ready?" Andrew asked, sliding in his shuffled deck, making his duel disk open. (ALP 4000)
"For you to lose," she snapped, putting her deck in. (TLP 4000)
"DEUL!"
"Ladies first?" he offered. Terry drew her sixth card. "I'll play Blast Magician in attack mode!" A magician appeared out of a blast of purplish smoke, wearing red clothes and a tall red hat covering his eyes. He heald a sharp weapon in his left hand.(ATK 1400)(DEF 1700)
"I'm done," she said.
"OK, my turn," Andrew said drawing his sixth. "I'll use Card Destruction!" A card materialized with a hand throwing away cards. "Now we both-"
"I know what it means," Terry interrupted rudely, putting her hand into the graveyard and getting 5 new cards.
"I'll summon Queen's Bodyguard in attack mode!" Andrew announced placing a card on his disk. Three men holding swords and wearing masks came out of nowhere and stood guard.
"Why would he do that?" Julia asked. "You only summon them so Allure Queen can't be attacked, and he doesn't have her out."
"Watch," Cody said with a smile.
"Next I'll use Level Modulation!" Andrew said as a card with hand and five dice appeared. "You get to pick 2 cards, and I get to summon a monster with Lv. in it's name form my Graveyard."
"I'm assuming it's Allure Queen?" Terry pretended to take a wild guess, as she drew 2 cards. Andrew nodded as the card broke and there stood a lady with super short brown hair wearing a black and magenta dress, holding a small staff. Andrew didn't notice a spell counter appear on Blast Magician's weapon. (ATK 500)(DEF 500)"Allure Queen Lv. 3!"
"Now, attack Blast Magician!" Andrew ordered, and the three men charged at the magician.
"I activate my Blast Magician's special ability!" Terry shouted before they came into impacted causing smoke. The smoke cleared and the bodyguards stood triumphantly. (TLP 3700)
"I don't get it," Andrew said confused. "You still...HEY!" His Allure Queen was missing.
"By using Level Modulator, my Blast Magician was equipped with a spell counter," she explained. "And by removing it, I could destroy any monster with ATK points lower then the number of spell counters x 700. And your Queen was lower with only 500."
"YAY!" Julia shouted. "Good job."
"Quiet!" Terry shouted. "I take it your turn is done?" Andrew nodded and placed a face down before Terry drew her next card.
"Why did you tell her to quiet?" Andrew asked. "She's your cheering section."
"I don't need one," she snapped. "I'll summon Mythical Beast Cerberus!" The two headed beast jumped out of a seal that appeared on the ground with a loud roar. Is this what I think it is?, Andrew wondered.
"Next I'll equip him with Mage Power!" she held out a card, and before she could play it, Andrew's face up stood.
"Magic Jammer," he smiled. "It negates your activation when I discard 1 card.
"Spell Absorbtions then," Tery shrugged. "Every time a spell is activated I gain 500 life points, and Cerberus gains attack points!" The beast roared as its power grew when a spell counter appeared on his body. (ATK 1900) "Now attack his Bodyguards!" Cerberus leaped into the air and came down hard, clawing all three men. (ALP 3800) (ATK 1400)
"But Cerberus' power goes down," Andrew pointed out.
"Until I play this!" she put another card on her disk. "Reload! I can now return my cards for new ones!" She put her four cards into her deck and shuffled it before replacing it and drawing four new ones.(ATK 1900)(TLP 4200)
"You're turn," she said.
"Nothing special has happened yet!" Julia whined.
"Give it time," Cody said. "Andrew's going to so win. He reached for a sandwich, but Oscar snatched it up and shoved it in his mouth her realized what happened.
"Dude, you eat a lot," Cody looked at him strangely. Oscar shrugged and chewed away.
Andrew drew his next card and smiled. "I'll play Heavy Storm!" A storm quickly rolled in, destroying Spell Absorption, but increasing Cerberus' attack points. (ATK 2400)
"I'll play this face down, and end my turn," he said with an angry look.
"WHAT!?" Oscar, Julia and Cody shouted, jumping to their feet.
"Are you crazy?" Julia demanded.
"Man, he must not have any monsters," Cody sighed, as Terry drew her card. "I'll place a card face down, and put a monster in facedown defense. Now Cerberus, attack him directly!" Cerberus charged towards Andrew with a loud battle cry. A suit of dark then appeared in front of him. When Cerberus came into contact with it, he was destroyed immediately.
"What?" Terry gasped.
"Sakuretsu Armor," Andrew laughed. "You walked right into that one. Nice poker face eh?"
"Good one Andrew!" Cody congratulated.
"That was a dirty trick!" Julia objected.
"Calm, down its just a game," Cody said.
"How do you expect me to calm down!" she demanded.
"Julia put a sock in it!" Terry ordered. "I'll end my turn."
"I'll play Pot of Greed!" Andrew flashed his newly drawn card and drew 2 more. "Next I'll summon Armed Dragon LV3!" And orange dragon materialized in front of him and gave a small roar.(ATK 1200)(DEF 900) "And then use Monster reborn! To bring back a card from my first round, Horus the Black Flame Dragon lv. 6!" Shining lights began to shine, and a metallic dragon with the head of a hawk appeared amongst them. He flapped his wings to stay above the playing field.(ATK 2300)(DEF 1600)
"First, Horus attack the face down monster!" Andrew ordered. The dragon swooped down, claws extended and destroyed the small magician effortlessly. A card then came out of Terry's graveyard.
"That was Magician of Faith, case you were wondering," she said adding a card from her graveyard to her hand. "You'll find what it is soon."
"That'd be nice," Andrew smiled. "Now Armored Dragon, attack her directly!" The Little dragon took flight, and dove right into her, causing her to grunt in pain. (TLP 3000) "My turn's over." He smiled as Horus began to grow, and become stronger.(ATK 3000)(DEF 1800)
"Wow, level 8!" Oscar gapped showing the chew up food in his mouth.
"Manners Oscar!" Julia cried. "Please tell me you at least have that?"
"One attack from my Horus, and you'll be toast," Andrew laughed. "Tell me you'll put up a good last fight."
"I told you," Terry snapped. "I'm winning this." She drew her card and smirked. "And I have. I'll now play Pot of Greed."
"Horus' effect will stop that," Andrew interrupted.
"But it activates my face down, Divine Wrath," Terry smirked. Horus let out a cry of pain as he began to crack.
"What?" Andrew demanded.
"Guess you didn't see that coming now did yeah?" Terry said folding her arms. "It negates your monster's effect and destroys him." With that he blew up, leaving Armed Dragon by himself. "Pulled the same trick on Holden."
"Yeah Terry!" Julia cheered. Oscar just held up a peace sign as he munched on a grapefruit.
"I'll play another Pot of Greed!"Terry shouted after pulling out 2 cards. "Then summon Breaker the Magical Warrior!" A magician with a sword and shield at hand appeared in front of her, dressed in red and gold. "Next I'll play Premature Burial! I'll pay 800 hundred life points an order to bring back a monster from my first hand. Mystical Elf!"(TLP 2200) A red seal shone brightly on the ground in front of her, a very tall elf with blue skin, long brown hair and in a green dress, slowly emerged.(ATK 800)(DEF 2000)
"Last I'll play Incandescent Ordeal!" Terry announced slapping the card on her disk
"That's a ritual summon!" Cody shouted.
"For what?" Julia wondered.
"And by sacrificing Breaker, and Mystical Elf, I ritual summon Legendary Flame Lord!" Flames burst out of the ground consuming the two spell casters. Things began to heat up, and Terry's hair flew in the breeze of power.. A man with torn clothes and cape, and a long scepter in his hand. His hair was as fire itself. The flames around him died down, but didn't vanish completely.(ATK 2400)(DEF 2000)
"Wow!" Oscar shouted after swallowing. "That is one cool guy."
"Andrew will still have some life points when she's done," Cody pointed out. "She hasn't won yet."
"I'm not done yet!" Terry snapped. "Now shut up and let me finish! I'll then equip him with two cards! Book of Dark Secrets boots his attack by 300!" A book appeared before the Flame lord and he began to flip through the pages, his power growing. (ATK 2700) "And then Mage power! He gains 500 attack points for every spell and trap card on my side of the field. And that's two cards, so 1000 points!" (ATK 3700)
"He'll still have life points left," Cody whispered to them, hoping Terry didn't hear.
"Man, you sure know how to go all out," Andrew laughed. "You only have one card left in your hand."
"And it'll be the last one I use this duel," she said. "It's Monster Reborn!" The card materialized in front of her before exploding and Cerberus emerged with a triumphant roar.
"Holy..." Cody stared in amazement. "Did she arrange that?"
"Nope," Julia smiled. "It's all skill."
"OK!" Terry shouted. "Cerberus, attack Armed Dragon!" Instantly the mighty beast lunged forward destroying the dragon instantly. (ALP 3600)
"Now, Flame Lord! Finish him off!" Terry folded her arms casually as the Flame Lord sent flames soaring towards Andrew with his scepter. Andrew was pushed off his feet by the force and landed flat on his back. (ALP 0) The holograms disappeared and Terry returned her deck to her pocket.
"YAY!" Julia cheered.
"Will you quit saying 'yay' and 'yeah'?" Terry sighed angrily.
"Andrew you OK?" Cody asked running over to him. He hadn't moved.
"Yeah," he grunted, slowly sitting back. "That was hot."
"I take it I made the team?" Terry asked walking towards the door.
"Yes, you did," Andrew nodded standing up. "What, you leaving already?"
"I don't need to be hear any longer, so yeah," she said sliding the glass door open.
"Wait for me!" Julia said running up behind her.
"NO!" Terry shouted. "I don't have to. And I don't want to. Matter a fact, I don't want you any where near me. Now leave me alone!" She made her way down the hallway without another world, leaving the others confused.
"How could she beat you?" demanded folding his arms. "You didn't play with a clear strategy."
"I never do," Andrew sighed. "But she's good. I wonder how she was able to get all those cards for the end."
"I don't know," Cody shrugged. "Maybe it was just luck?"
"Maybe," Andrew said sitting down at the table. He picked up a bowl, thinking he'd be able to snack on a few fruits, but found it was empty.
"Hey!" he shouted. "Who...?" he looked over at Oscar, whose face was smeared with fruit juice. He only grinned.
"Well, we don't need an audience anymore," Andrew started.
"Then we'll leave!" Julia smiled, grabbing
Oscar's arm. "Let's go!"
"Hey, hey! Slow down!"
he cried as he was pulled into the house. He tripped on his way in,
and fell flat on his face. Andrew and Cody made weird faces.
"I'm OK," he groaned before Julia began to drag him across the floor on his face.
"They are one weird couple," Cody said, shaking his head.
---
"Get out of my store and stay out!" A big woman with a bat threatened as she chased to teenagers out of her store. The boy was dark-skinned, and had black hair that was short in the back, and long in the front. A pair of sun glass sat on his head, and he wore torn jeans and a scruffy jacket. The girl was white, and had blue-streaked pink hair that was up in two ponytails. She wore almost the same as the boy, and her jewelery was all made of candy. They ran out of the cheap store and dashed down the street, laughing hysterically.
"Alright!" the boy shouted when they turned into an alley. "Another store we're band from!"
"What's that now? Thirteen?" the girl asked, bitting off a piece of her candy bracelet.
"Fourteen," he grinned with satisfaction. "Where shall we hit next?"
"I need some more candy," the girls said. "I'm running low."
"OK," he nodded. "Jewl's Shack it is." The boy stepped out of the alley, nearly knocked over by another person.
"Ouch!" he cried. "Hey watch it...Oh! Hey Terry." He smiled at the girl who was only a couple inches shorter then him.
"Bye Jurel," she snapped trying to walk around him.
"Come on," he said stepping in front of her again. "Don't be like that."
"I've already had enough losers following me today," she warned. "I don't need anymore."
"Tough first day at the new school?" the girl asked, joining Jurel.
"Go away, Candy," Terry sighed. "BOTH of you." She stepped around them and marched down the street.
"Make anyone cry?" Jurel asked, keeping up with her.
"Make any rivals?" Candy wondered out loud.
"Wanna pound anybody ri-"
"YOU!" Terry shouted angrily, turning to face them. These two were major pains in her side. They went to Terry's first school, Omega High School. The only High School where you don't have to where uniforms. They were both Non-Duelists. They thought it was overrated. They were part of the influence that made Terry want to fight physically then with Duel Monsters. It was cause of them she was suspended the first time.
"Someone's a bit grumpy," Candy laughed.
"Very irritated," she corrected. "And I don't want to talk about it. Especially with you guys." She turned around to leave, but Jurel was faster and towered over her again.
"You never wanna talk to anyone," he said. "Common, lay your problems on me." He put his arm around her shoulder, and she shrugged it off.
"You jerk," she snapped. "Don't touch me!" She marched off again, and this time they let her go.
---
"We've got three members on the Dueling Team now," Andrew said into the phone.
"Why that's wonderful," his dad, Larry answered sounding very interested on the other end of the line. "And who is this new member?"
"Her name is Terry Flank," he said. "She's really short tempered though. Like, really really short." And not that bad looking, he added silently.
"Well is she a good duelist?" he asked.
"Yeah, she beat me," he nodded.
"Well your easy to beat," Larry laughed. "You never have a strategy. You just use what ever cards come to you."
"Sh!" Andrew hissed. "Don't let it get to everyone."
"Don't worry," Larry assured. "Your secrets safe with me. So all you need is a fourth member?"
"Yeah, then we could enter the tournament next month, but-,"
"No one's that good," Larry finished. "I know, I know. Its the same excuse every time. your so picky. Just pick someone who you think will be good enough."
"But our school's never had great duelists," Andrew object.
"Well Terry seems to be amazing," he said. "You, her and Cody are all amazing. You just need a fourth to fill in the spot. It doesn't matter who it is.
"But that person at least needs to know how to duel," Andrew objected.
"Then hold try-outs," Larry suggested. "You've never really done that before I know, but just pair up people who sign up, observe them, and chose a person." Andrew thought about it for a few long seconds.
"That's...," he began. "Not a bad idea. I'll chose whoever the team thinks has a great dueling style."
"Great," his dad approved. "Now I've got to go now. I'll call again on Saturday."
"OK," Andrew sighed. "Bye dad."
"Bye son."