Strawberry Duel!
*I own neither Strawberry Panic nor Yu-Gi-Oh, in any of its forms. Otherwise the series would probably go almost exactly like this and we'd have more Dueling chicks.
Chapter Four:
Elsewhere in Astraea, the quarterly Student Council meeting was drawing to a close. Tomori Shion, the President from Spica White and Dueling prodigy, tapped her pile of documents officiously on the table, straightening them out and subtly hinting for an end to the meeting. The wide-foreheaded and always calm girl remained true to her title of "Ice Queen" as she relayed the facts of the upcoming Etoile tournament in no uncertain terms.
"So, does everyone agree to the plan? There will be a total of 15 teams in this year's Etoile Tournament. The first round in April will eliminate half of these couples. Half of those who remain will be eliminated after the second round as well. And, following the third and final round, the Coronation Ceremony will be held at Spica White. Are we all clear on this plan?"
"Madam President of Spica? If I may interrupt…"
Something resembling a glare was visible behind Shion's eyes as she turned towards the speaker, a schemer with a face that belied her true nature.
"Chair recognizes Chikaru Minamoto, Student Council President of Lulim Pink."
In contrast to Shion, Chikaru hid everything she was thinking very well.
"Forgive my rudeness, but isn't it a little presumptuous of you to say that the Coronation will be held at Spica White? Why not, oh, Lulim Pink?"
The small, Western-looking girl sitting next to Shion giggled, hiding her face behind a panda-motifed fan in a ladylike way.
"Jeez, Chikaru. Everybody knows that. In this year's Etoile tournament, it is certain that Spica White's Pro League National Champion, the great Prince Amane-sama will be the winner."
All evidence of Shion's composure leapt out the window as she hastily tried to silence her friend.
"M-Momomi! Why'd you say that? If you let it slip too early…"
"Oh, are you implying that we might lose if they know about it too soon? You gotta learn to relax, Shion."
Shion coughed a bit, as if to try and erase Momomi's error.
"Well, I HAD heard that Amane-sama would be entering this year, and, given that she is the National Champion, I had just assumed-"
Chikaru waved off the rest of Shion's sentence with her usual innocent air.
"Oh, we already knew about Amane-sama, Shion. She truly is a wonderful Duelist and one of the best candidates for Etoile, I can agree to that. In fact, I'd probably be excited about it, too, if I were you."
"I-I was NOT excited!"
*Darn it! I wanted to save our trump card for later on in the game, but since we've been found out…If Amane-sama had entered the Etoile tournament during her Third or Fourth Year, she definitely would have taken the crown. But now she's in her Fifth Year and can no longer refuse us. With her in our corner, Spica White will surely take the Etoile Crown, and I will receive my rightful place among the greatest Spica White Presidents in history! This will be the year of Spica White, and my year as well! Muhahahahahahahaha-
"But, even though she's one of the best, I wouldn't be putting my guard down quite so soon, Shion."
Shion rose to the challenge instantly, snapping out of her maniacal mental laughter.
"Chikaru…do you mean to tell me that Lulim Pink is sending someone in? Someone who you think has a chance of beating Amane Ootori?"
Chikaru laughed lightly.
"Oh, Shion. I'd never pull something like that on one of my closest friends. However, I have heard rumors that something is going on at Miator Green. It seems that the former Etoile, Shizuma Hanazono-san, has found herself a new potential partner: a transfer student."
Sharp-haired, sharp-eyed and just downright sharp Miator Green Student Council President Miyuki Rokujo quickly threw in her two cents.
"News reaches you quickly, President Chikaru. It is most impressive that you would hear of this even before Spica did, even though they are much more involved with it than you are. It's no wonder that they call you the Rare Hunter of Astraea."
"Oh, I'm flattered, but wouldn't the title of Rare Hunter more likely go to you, President Rokujo? After all, you're the one who's rumored to control powerful Duel Spirits. But I digress. Even if Shizuma Hanazono-san is in her Sixth Year…and even if Spica White has Prince Amane…you know as well as I do that Miator Green and, by extension, you will not back down that easily."
Miyuki cleared her throat.
"Well, at first, I hadn't had much hope of our victory, particularly with Ootori Amane involved. But Shizuma-sama's actions have proved to be quite the lucky draw indeed. No doubt she will say to us that she wishes to become an Etoile with this girl."
"B-But…Shizuma-sama was already an Etoile once before!"
"Titles and crowns mean nothing to Shizuma Hanazono. If she can use this Tournament to become closer to her intended partner, then she will do so. A fully motivated Shizuma could move mountains, even shake the very Dueling world itself. I can understand your excitement about this Amane girl, Shion, but Miator Green will be coming out swinging as well."
Heh.
"May the best woman win."
Enraged by Miyuki's lackadaisical attitude and irksome tone, Shion immediately held out her arm, unfurling her Duel Disk for battle.
"That's it! I take that as a challenge, head of Miator!"
The blade edge of the Duel Disk extended outward, coming to rest on millimeters from Miyuki's nose. In Astraea, opening one's Duel Disk in such a way was seen as the sign of a serious challenge. Miyuki stood calmly and opened her own Duel Disk, keeping up a steady stream of chatter as she drew her first 5 cards.
"Very well. Even though Chikaru was the one who started this, I suppose there's no going back now. Watch and learn, Shion, as both in this Duel and in the tournament, Miator Green will fight its enemies with love."
"DUEL!"
Shion: 4000 Miyuki: 4000
"I'll start things off, then. And I summon Samurai of the Ice Barrier in Attack Mode. And then I'll throw down this face down and call it a turn."
Shion's Samurai made for a formidable opponent, but it wasn't always strength that won Duels.
"My move now. I activate the Spell Card known as Dark World Lightning. This lets me destroy one of your face down cards as well as send one card from my hand to the Graveyard. And once I discard Kahkki-Guerilla of Dark World, I can automatically take out another one of your cards, so say goodbye to your Samurai of the Ice Barrier. Next I'll summon Renge-Gatekeeper of Dark World in Defense Mode and throw down 2 face downs. That's all, President of Spica."
The fiendish Renge provided a solid defense for Miyuki, hiding her behind his massive armored hands. Shion drew her next card.
"I'm summoning a monster known as Dewdark of the Ice Barrier. And, you see, my new monster has a very special ability. If all I control on my field are Water Type monsters of Level 2 and below, my Dewdark gains the power to attack you directly. Now go!"
Just as the gymnastic creature raised its leg high for a direct attack, Miyuki activated her face down card.
"Not so fast! I trigger a face down: Depth Amulet lets me send one card from my hand to the Graveyard once per turn for three turns in order to negate your attack. Plus, this triggers my other face down: Thanks to my Forced Requisition Trap, whenever I send a card from my hand to the Graveyard, you have to send one of yours along with it to keep it company. So sorry."
Dewdark's leg merely smashed into a protective barrier and Shion growled as she sent Defender of the Ice Barrier to the Graveyard.
"It's my move, and I'm summoning my Shadowpriestess of Ohm in Attack Mode. Now, by sending Renge to the Graveyard, I can inflict another 800 points of damage to you. Go, Ohmic Curse!"
Renge transformed into a ball of dark energy, which slammed into Shion's Duel Disk.
Shion: 3200 Miyuki: 4000
"And now that that's out of the way, I'll continue my turn with an attack. Take out her Dewdark!"
Shion: 2700 Miyuki: 4000
Things weren't looking good for Shion, but she then drew a card that could save her.
*Yes, this could work. Try destroying something you can't destroy.
"Interesting cards. You may think you've got me on the run, but watch as I summon Reese the Ice Blast User in Defense Mode."
For an Ice themed monster, Reese more resembled some creature of the sea, with her fin-like headdress and webbed hands and feet.
"And then, just to make sure my plan works, I think I'll lay these two face downs and call it a turn."
"Very well, then. But I think that monster has just as much of a chance of winning this Duel as you do. I summon Brron-Mad King of Dark World in Attack Mode. And then I'll activate Dark World Dealings. This forces each of use to draw and then discard one card, or, in your case, thanks to my Forced Requisition Trap, 2 cards."
"Then I'd best stop it! Go, Dark Bribe! Now your Spell Card is negated and you're forced to draw another card from your Deck."
"Humph! You may have stopped my Spell, but I can still attack you. Show her what I mean, Shadowpriestess!"
The dark and mysterious princess shot a beam of dark light at Reese, but, when the glare of the attack faded, Reese was still standing.
"What? How can this be? Why is your monster still on the field?"
"I guess you didn't know, Miyuki-san. Reese the Ice Blast User can't be destroyed in battle by anything of Level 4 or higher. And here's something else you didn't know about: my face down card-Malevolent Catastrophe! It only triggers once you declare an attack, and it destroys every Spell and Trap Card we have on the field!"
A mighty whirlwind suddenly picked up, clearing the field of Depth Amulet and Forced Requisition.
"No!"
"Yes! With those two cards gone, you won't be able to stop my attacks any more, or force me to discard from my hand."
"Maybe, but I can still use my Shadowpriestess' special ability. All I have to do is sacrifice Brron-Mad King of Dark World. Go, Ohmic Curse!"
Shion: 1900 Miyuki: 4000
"Not bad, but now it's my turn. Watch as I summon my Strategist of the Ice Barrier. But he won't be staying around too long, because Reese the Ice Blast User is about to give him a little Tune up. I Synchro Summon Brionac-Dragon of the Ice Barrier!"
A magnificent dragon carved from crystalline ice appeared on Shion's side of the field, no doubt ready to even the score.
"And now I'll the last card my hand to the Graveyard to activate Brionac's special ability. Now, Brionac! Call forth a mighty Northern wind and send her Shadowpriestess back to her hand."
Shadowpriestess shimmered a little and then disappeared, signaling Miyuki to add her back to her hand.
"And now that her field is empty, it's time for a direct attack!"
Shion: 1900 Miyuki: 1700
On the sidelines, Momomi and Chikaru watched the Duel with great interest.
"Wow! Shion-chan's really mad now. Way to get you game on, Shion-chan!"
"I'd expect nothing less from the Dueling prodigy known as the Ice Queen. If she wants something, she goes for it. It's kind of beautiful in a way."
"Yeah, and with only 200 Life Points separating them, this is the closest the two of them have ever been in a Duel. Oh, this is so exciting!"
"Impressive, but I'm not beaten yet. Now, by sending Goldd-Wu Lord of Dark World from my hand to the Graveyard, I can not only summon Goldd itself right away, but also my Dark Grepher. And then I'll bring back our old friend, Shadowpriestess of Ohm to join the fun."
The dark general, great beast, and mysterious beauty all stood ready to take on Shion's dragon.
"Now, Wu Lord of Dark World, go and slay her dragon!"
"What?! But our two monsters have the same number of Attack Points. If they do battle, they'll both be destroyed."
"That's a chance I'm willing to take."
The great beast raised its axe high, slicing through Brionac's icy return fire, striking him exactly at the moment he himself was destroyed.
"And now that your field is empty, both of my other monsters can attack you directly! Say goodbye, Shion!"
Shion: 0 Miyuki: 1700
The Duel over, Shion slumped downward in defeat. As she left, Miyuki mouthed the words to her that Shion had wanted to hear least of all:
"We'll be winning the Etoile Tournament too."
To be continued…
*Man, how fun was that!