Yu-Gi-Oh! Dark Magic
Mark of the Rosary
Chapter 4
"Go Keraino!" Crystal commanded, "Attack with Harpie's Whirlwind!" Keraino then flew upward again, and drill-dived downward straight towards Mary's monster.
"Not so fast Crystal! Activate Trap Card!" said Mary. "Negate Attack has returned!" The trap reveals itself to be another Negate Attack. A shield then appears before them, and blocks the attack, just as Keraino smacks into it as hard as a rock. She then backed off, and rubbed her head in pain, as the other monsters looked in worry for their friend.
"Ouch!" said Crystal, cringing and full of concern. "You okay Keraino?" The Harpie looked at her with one eye open and nodded, telling her that she's okay.
"Oopsie," said Mary, smiling with her eyes half-shut. "Next time you should pay close attention to the cards I play before attacking." Crystal sighed. I forgot she kept an extra Negate Attack just in case.
"It's your turn then," said Crystal. "And while you're at it, why don't stop stalling and make your move." Mary sneered, knowing about Crystal's reaction from the last time she dueled her.
"If you're so desperate to lose," she said, "then I have no choice to follow through on my promise." She then drew a card, and to her delight, it was another card she needed to destroy one of Crystal's monsters.
"Ah, right on cue," said Mary, with her eyes closed. Crystal then looked flustered. What does she mean by that? Mary then added, "Crystal, you may have the lead now, but let's not forget who has a better Deck Master." She then placed the card she drew into her hand, and chose another from her hand, shouting with a grin, "Behold; the End of the World Ritual Card!" Crystal gasped. Oh man! I had no idea she had that card! This is meant to bring out one of two Ritual Monsters instead of just one! In her case, oh boy.
"With that I will sacrifice my Hyozanryu," said Mary, "and my Kuriboh to bring out the monster of your demise!" The symbol from the card appears overhead, and torrential blue flames come from them and engulf the face-down monster, the aforementioned Kuriboh. The monster disappears along with the Hyozanryu, and as soon as they do so, the two souls combine into one, a woman with a black and red motif appeared before them; she is Ruin, the Queen of Oblivion. Her current attack is 2300.
"And I'll activate the Magic Card Elf's Light!" Mary said, placing a card into the slot behind Ruin. Then a light comes into view, and increases her strength in magic. Mary added, "It gives her 500 Attack points. It may not be enough, but it's still worth it when I destroy all of your weakest monsters one by one!" As soon as an elf came from the card, and endowed Ruin with a light, her attack is increased to 2800. Mary then added, "And just to make sure that she's the only one with an equip card, I activate Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy yours!" She brought out the card she was saving and a heavy wind comes in and destroys the book that Sorciere de Fleur was holding, thus her attack points return to normal; 2900. Why did she do that? Sorciere de Fleur is still stronger than Ruin, Crystal thought. But unless I'm mistaken, Keraino's the real target! Keraino then braced herself for the worst.
"Now my Queen, destroy her 3rd Harpie Lady!" shouted Mary with a sadistic smile, "Blue-Flamed Armageddon!" Ruin then raised her hand as a torrent of blue flames come flying towards Keraino.
"No you don't!" Crystal shouted angrily. "Activate Spellbinding Circle!" The card reveals itself, and a circle comes from the card, blocks the attack, and binds Ruin rendering her helpless, and unable to attack again.
"What on earth? But how did I not see that?" Mary shouted in shock and awe, "How come I never got the chance to counter it sooner? Ruin can't finish her attack now! Curse you, Princess Crystal Lee!"
"I told you before, Mary," Crystal said, in a serious tone. "No one messes with my friends. And you were so eager to win, that you didn't even notice the surprise card I had in play." All of her monsters nodded, indicating that they all agree with Crystal's heroic statement. As this happens, Atem's taxi is passing by. He looks out the window to see Crystal dueling Mary, and is at first confused, but then he noticed something around Mary's neck. One of the Rosaries of Darkness, he thought. As I feared, the young one has already encountered one of the items created to counteract the light. He then sighed in relief, and smiled. We're just lucky she hasn't encountered Mahado's brother by now. The taxi then drives off to the Lee residence. I have faith in you, young one. Do not allow the rosary to fall into the wrong hands.
Crystal then felt a sensation in her heart. Atem, she thought. He's here. She then noticed the same taxi, with Atem inside the backseat. As she looked on, the taxi drove away, right to its destination. Crystal smiled contently. Atem, this is for you, she thought, as she readied herself for an attack.
"It's my turn now," she said. She then drew her card. It was Blade Skater. After adding it to her hand, she chose Polymerization from it. She then added, "And I play the Magic Card Polymerization fusing both Blade Skater and Etoile Cyber to bring in the Cyber Blader!" The spirits of both Blade Skater and Etoile Cyber fuse together in a double spiral. Once they are together, they formed into the aforementioned Cyber Blader. Her current attack is 2100.
"Sorciere de Fleur, use Rose Rhapsody!" Crystal said to her monster. Sorciere de Fleur then summoned a rose storm with her staff, and casts it upon Ruin, thus destroying her. Mary's life points are reduced to a mere 450. The Kaiba brothers are impressed with Crystal's comeback.
"No, my Deck Master," said Mary, in dismay. "This can't be happening; this all just a nightmare; a really bad dream." Crystal shook her head.
"You fought well in the tide of battle, Miss Diamond," she said, honorably. "But your mind was way to corrupt to understand the true power of the heart of the cards. It's been an honor fighting you, but the duel must end."
"No…it can't!" said Mary, flustered.
"Keraino, care to do the honors?" she asked the 3rd Harpie Sister. Keraino waved her hand, indicating that she should let Cyber Blader handle it.
"If you say so," Crystal said. "Cyber Blader, finish off the match with Blade Strike!" The Cyber Blader then twirled toward Mary, and stopped, and then she used her own blade on her feet to take the rest of her life points. As soon as this happens, the holograms of the monsters disappear.
"And Crystal wins!" said Kaiba, pointing to Crystal. The audience cheered as the final act of the duel came to an end. Crystal is seen rubbing the back of her head in embarrassment. Fans then came right to her as they congratulate her for her victory. The Kaiba brothers even walk up to her.
"Crystal that was amazing!" said Mokuba, filled with excitement. "We thought you were a goner when she brought out that monster." Crystal shook her head, saying, "Not really. I just didn't like to risk losing the ones I cared about." She then looked over to Kaiba, her eyes half-shut, saying, "By the way, Kaiba. You really didn't have to go ruffling her feathers like that you know." Kaiba chuckled.
"Sometimes the enemies need to be provoked for you to succeed," he said to her. "You'll understand when the time comes." Crystal sighed, saying, "Sometimes I gotta wonder about that little strategy of yours."
"Hey!" Mokuba said, with an arrogant face.
"Easy, kiddo," she said, grabbing Mokuba on rubbing her fist onto his head. "I was just kidding."
Mary is left on her knees and her hand over her right eye. She looked up at Crystal, and the Kaiba brothers. Crystal had just released Mokuba from her grasp. Mary gave a sigh of regret.
"Guess you get to continue your days in Tacoma, huh?" she said, remembering the deal she made to Crystal earlier. The blonde streaked princess breathed a sigh of relief. She then realized something and looked at Mary, saying, "Wait a second!" She then pointed to Mary, saying, "Not only did I win the right to stay in Tacoma, but I won your rosary too, fair and square!" Mary then feinted in disbelief. Crystal held her right hand off to side and then she sent it straight at Mary, releasing a white, transparent hand, which grabbed Mary's rosary, and carefully removed it from her neck. As soon as this happens, Mary snaps out of it, and looks at Crystal, saying, "Am I back to normal?" Crystal then reeled in her translucent hand, and the rosary is in her hand. Crystal then took a look at the back of the gem-like emblem.
"Well, what do we have here?" Crystal said, examining the initials on the back, "The creator's name in acronym." Kaiba also took a look at the initials.
"So whoever created this rosary must fit the initials here," said Kaiba.
"Exactly, Kaiba," Crystal said, clarifying his guess. "And once we find him, he's pretty much asking for a butt whooping from us." Mary looked at all three, and sighed with relief, knowing that the rosary can no longer control her. I must admit, I initially thought that the rosary would help me win an honorable duel. But it turns out I was wrong. She then beamed. But it doesn't matter now, just as long as I'm back to my normal self again.
Later on, Crystal and the Kaiba brother are at the Library waiting to sign up for the upcoming Duel Monsters Tournament. Duelists who already signed up stood aside as they made their way through. Crystal is looking around the place, looking at the crowd. She was hoping to find any trace of the creator of the rosary.
"Geez, there sure are a lot of people here today," Mokuba said, looking at the crowd.
"I'm not really surprised by that," Crystal said, scanning the crowd of duelists. "If somebody brings up Duel Monsters, they'll most likely enter the tourney for the prize."
"Good point," said Mokuba. As they made their way in line, a familiar face is seen hiding. Crystal couldn't help but hear someone chuckling at her. She looked in the direction of the voice, but saw no-one. She then activated her Aura Sensory, her eyes glowing as she scanned the crowd. She picked up on someone's aura hiding behind the curtain. She blinked, and smiled with her eyes half-way shut. She then walked over to the curtain and pulled it down.
"Ta-da," she said, revealing Joey Wheeler, who looked up at Kaiba, and freaked out. He then pushed Crystal back, and grabbed a plastic spear, trying to get Kaiba to back away with the stump of the weapon pointed at him, though neither the Kaiba brothers nor Crystal were impressed with his performance.
"Back off Kaiba!" he said, angrily. "You ain't gonna get my friend Crystal brainwashed if I had anything to say about it!"
"Uh, Joey," Crystal said, with a blank face.
"You're holding that backwards," said Kaiba, smiling and making a motion with his hand. Mokuba shook his head in dismay as his brother said this. Joey then noticed this and pointed the spear part Kaiba. Crystal grabbed her Millennium Rod and put it to Joey's head, saying, "Down boy." Joey then put the spear back where it belonged, saying, "Yes ma'am." Crystal then brought her Rod down, and put it back in her belt loop, and put her arms behind her. Joey then snapped out of the trance and shouted at Crystal as she stuck her tongue out, "Are you crazy?!" The Kaiba brothers chuckle a little as he said this.
"That's the Joey we all know," said Crystal, beaming. Joey is taken aback by her comment, but he held up some markers, and said, "You better be nice, if you wanna be part of this here tourney that is." Crystal is quite surprised at him for presenting the trio markers for them to sign with. She takes one of them, and says, "Thanks Joey, I appreciate it."
"Hey Kaiba," Joey said, waving the marker in Kaiba's face. "If you wanna be part of the tourney too, you gotta try to get this outta my hand."
"Oh really?" said Kaiba, holding a pen from his pocket. Joey then gave a shocked look.
"Sorry, Joey," said Crystal, her hand on the back of her head. "Kaiba already beat you too it." Joey then tossed the extra marker saying, "Ah, phooey." Crystal laughed a little. You and your playful attitude, she thought. As soon as the quartet made it to the sign up table, Kaiba goes off to the side.
"Ladies first," he said to Crystal.
"Thank you," she replied. She then opened the marker, and wrote her name on the sign up pamphlet. Then she went off to the side, and said, "Joey, you wanna go next?"
"Nah!" said Joey, waving his hand in front. "Better let the rich boy go next 'cause he's got a company to run." Kaiba walked up to the pamphlet, and said to Joey with a sneer, "Whatever you say, Monkey Boy." Joey pulled his eye down, and stuck his tongue out at Kaiba for the comment as Mokuba snickered. Rude, Crystal thought with a blank look. Kaiba then used the pen to sign his name on the line, and then he, along with Mokuba, went off to the side, allowing Joey to walk up to the pamphlet. As he signed his name, a fireworks display was held outside. Crystal noticed this, and decided to take a look. As she made her way out, she bumped into another familiar face. She is startled to see her ex-boyfriend, Aricolum inside the same place as she is.
"Oh, um," she said trying to find her voice. "Excuse me, sir." She then hurried to the entrance, and walked outside, with Aricolum looking at her with a grin. He is clutching the amulet around his neck. Joey had just signed up for the Duel Monsters Tournament when he and the Kaiba brothers saw him as well. Joey was shaking his fist with anger.
"It's Aricolum," said Kaiba, his cold eyes staring at the Atem look-a-like.
"What's he doing here?" said Mokuba also looking at Aricolum.
"He's probably after Crystal again," said Joey. "You all know what happened last time."
"You're right," said Kaiba, knowing exactly what Joey was talking about. As Crystal made her way outside, she made it to the exit, and saw a plethora of fireworks active in the sky, even though it's not even night time yet. She then looked to where they came from. Mary Diamond was outside the library, wearing her witch outfit. Crystal walked up to her, saying, "Mary? What's with the fireworks display?"
"It's the least I can do," said Mary, with a regretful look. "I treated your people and your friends so horribly, I couldn't control myself." Crystal put her hand on Mary's shoulder.
"It's not your fault," said Crystal, reassuringly. "The real problem you had was the rosary and because of that, you weren't in the right state of mind. Just promise me not to use any sort of cheat code like that, okay?"
"I promise," said Mary. She then removed her witch hat and said, "Well, now that this little misadventure was taken care of, I guess we have to wait until the actual tournament to have an honorable duel." Crystal giggled a little, and said, "I don't see why not." Mary then hugged her, and said, "Also, don't you think the great and magical Mary is the most humble little witch you've ever seen?"
"Don't get your hopes up on that," said Crystal with a smile, her eyes half shut. But then again, she thought, I still gotta make sure that whoever gave Mary that rosary is brought to justice. Mary then let go, and proceeded to go inside the library. Crystal then gave a wink to Mary as the young witch waved to her. Still, it's nice to have the old Mary Diamond back. She's an honorable duelist, but she's playful at the same time.
The scene then cuts to a boy with black hair in a ponytail. He's wearing what appears to be the Domino High School uniform. He took a look at the machine in his hand. It was what appeared to be a tracking device. Suddenly, and apparition of the same shadow appearing in Mary's mind appeared beside him. Just as before, it appeared to resemble the Dark Magician, but the eyes were demonic and monstrous.
"Check it out boss," he said, showing the shadow his tracking device. "Looks like Miss Diamond's rosary found Crystal, and now that she lost it, miss blonde-streak's already taken the bait." The shadow's eyes narrowed, as if it anticipated such a thing to occur.
"Well done," it said. "Now that Princess Crystal is in possession of one my creations, it will be much easier to track her down. This time I will have her abilities as mine. Then nothing can stop me from exacting my revenge." It raised its shadowy staff into the air, and a black orb came from it and went straight into the air, exploding upon reaching a certain point.
"Crystal, you can forget about the protection of all humanity," it said, triumphantly. "Your worst nightmare is coming for you!" It laughed as the boy looked at him with a sneer. Crystal may not know this yet, but she is about to meet a blast from her past.
The end.