Good Day Readers! I only own Kylie and Katherine Hope along with the unique cards within their decks and whatever other OCs decide to crop up. Also this was originally written in dubbed so some chapters may have some dubbed dialogue remaining because I like it. Also italics symbolise another language not Japanese, I'm follow the Manga's timeline year speaking because it's easier for me.
I would appreciate any responses that you have, please enjoy
Chapter 4: - More Than Meets The Eye
"I've got to admit, it surprised me when you snapped at Mai like that Katherine, normally it's me doing those sorts of things," I spoke. Me and Katherine had settled down to enjoy some of the food I had packed for the tournament.
"Sorry, I just got so mad at the way Mai was talking and I just… you know," Katherine explained. I laughed lightly at my sister's shy personality but it was nice to finally see her come out of her shell around other people; once the both of us had finished, I placed the rubbish in a separate pouch of the duffel bag and would dispose of it later.
The two of us then set off to search for more people to duel in order to gain the star chips necessary to get inside the castle, we had returned to a more forest based area with some meadow portions and mountains scattered about, I glanced up at the sky to see the sun had at least several more hours before it would begin to set giving me and Katherine plenty of time to find more duels.
We stopped in front of a podium where an argument was erupting between two duelists which already had quite the crowd of spectators surrounding them with many of the crowd murmuring in hushed tones, so I stepped closer in order to see exactly what was causing all of the commotion.
"Look you lost so don't be a sore loser and claim I cheated, just get the hell off this island you wimp," The man on the left yelled. He looked to only be in his twenties with short choppy brown hair that ended at his neck with angry green eyes, he wore a simple short sleeved black shirt with a pair of blue jeans and some blue converse on his feet.
The person he was speaking to, who had obviously been his opponent, stood across from him and was shaking with his head bowed allowing his blonde hair to shroud his face, he wore a long sleeved red jumper with a pair of black jeans and simple red trainers covered his feet.
The shaking was slowly getting worse and I was worried that he might end up throwing a punch at the man across from him so I immediately strode my way through the crowd and placed my hand on the shaking man's shoulder and this startled him causing him to whip around allowing me to see crystal clear blue eyes set into a tanned face of man only slightly older than myself.
"Calm down, getting angry won't help anything. As for you I suggest that you learn to bite your tongue and show more respect to your opponents," I spoke. The man I had just insulted glared at me as I gently wrapped my hand around the arm of his opponent and attempted to guide him away from the surrounding crowd which had fallen silent after I had stepped into the fight, however before I could get far a voice cut through the air with a scathing tone.
"Just who the hell do you think you are?!" The man yelled at me demanding an answer. I turned around to face him as I made sure that the other man was passed behind me into the crowd so as to make sure that this fool in front of me didn't try anything or end up getting hurt by angering the poor individual anymore than he already had.
"Kylie Hope," I responded. The murmuring of the crowd started up again with hushed excitement becoming tangible in the air and I began to feel that familiar static tingle that came with the anticipation of a duel beginning to itch in my fingers.
"Never heard of you" The man shot back. This simply caused more surprise to ripple through the surrounding spectators as they seemed confused as to why this man didn't even know my name but I didn't even give it the barest reaction unlike everyone else, I saw Katherine shake her head at the man's statement.
"Then you're either a newcomer or you live under a rock," I responded. I turned on my heel and began to head away from this fool as it seemed that my anticipation would have to wait and to be fair I didn't think he would be a good opponent any way.
"If you're that good prove it in a duel" The man called out. I heaved a sigh and turned back around deciding that I might as well face him in order to teach him a lesson however before I got too far, something jerked me back slightly and I turned to see the other man behind with his hand around my right arm.
"Wait please?" He asked. I turned slightly towards him just to let him know that I was indeed listening to what he had to say. "He took both of my star chips when I only bet one," The man stated. I quirked an eyebrow as I realised that this must have been why the argument had started in the first place.
"Don't worry about me," I responded. I gave the man a gentle smile and then removed my arm from his grip and walked over to the man, he smirked and then proceeded to head for the red podium whilst I made my way up to the blue podium and once at the top I set my deck down as I turned to look at my opponent "Might I know your name?" I asked.
"Rick Ashton," The man responded. He held up his duel glove to show that he had five star chips settled in the large white ring. "Now how many are you betting?" He asked. A wicked gleam appeared in his eyes as he waited for my response, I plucked all of my star chips free and settled them down on my podium.
"Five," I calmly respond. A gasp ripped from the crowd and I could practically hear Katherine's thoughts of me being an idiot, Rick's eyes widened for a split second before narrowing back to normal and a wicked grin to match his wicked eyes appeared on his face as he removed his five and threw them onto the podium as well.
I drew the first five cards of my hand and examined them to begin preparing my strategy with the field that we were playing on being part forest on my side and part meadow on Rick's side.
Kylie – LP: 2000
Rick – LP: 2000
"I'll go first and bring out Ninja Master Hanzo," Rick declared. He threw down the card and thus the creature was projected onto the field and since it was a Warrior type it would get a Field Power Bonus from the meadow.
Ninja Master Hanzo – Attribute: Dark, Type: Warrior, Level: 4, ATK/1800, DEF/1000
Ninja Master Hanzo – ATK/1800 – ATK/2340, DEF/1000 – DEF/1300
"Since it was normal summoned I can add one card with Ninjitsu in its' name to my hand," Rick informed, a cocky smirk on his face. I reached towards my deck and picked up my next card upon seeing it I immediately knew what to do for the moment.
"First I summon out my Gemini," I stated. As I placed the card down my creature was projected although she initially appeared as a cluster of stars, the stars then formed into two tall elven eared women with one having purple hair and the other having blonde hair, both had the same piercing auburn eyes and silvery dress that flowed to their knees with their hands intertwined.
Gemini – Attribute: Dark, Type: Spellcaster, Level: 4, ATK/1800, DEF/1600
"Exactly what is that going to do," Rick asked unimpressed. I had to admit that whilst my Gemini didn't look like much of a fighter, her Special Effect more than made up for
"My Gemini's Special Effect allows me to select one of my opponents monster and halve its' attack and defence points, of course you do get a Half Token in return," I explained. Rick stiffened up as he realised that he only had one monster and the smirk on lips was enough to confirm his fears. "Gemini, Half Magic!" I commanded. The ladies obliged as they summoned forth a crackling orb of red energy and threw it at Rick's monster.
Ninja Master Hanzo – ATK/2340 – ATK/1170, DEF/1300 – DEF/650
Once the reduction was done a red after image occurred and a duplicate of Ninja Master Hanzo appeared beside him, Rick gritted his teeth and I could hear the grating all the way across the duel arena.
"Now Gemini, destroy Ninja Master Hanzo with Twined Magic Blast," I spoke. Once more my monster summoned a crackling orb of energy although this one was a blue colour and my opponent's monster was completely swallowed by the magical energy.
Rick – LP: 2000 – LP: 1370
"To end my turn, I place two cards face down," I finished. I placed said cards down in the Spell and Trap zone, I raised my eyes to stare at my opponent as his fist shook with anger at the fact that I had beaten his monster but Rick didn't say anything and instead angrily drew a card from his deck however his anger didn't last long as a smirk took over his face.
"I summon forth Onna Ninja Yae," Rick declared. The monster was projected on to the field but I was concerned that this monster might have some kind of Special Effect from the way that Rick had smirked.
Onna Ninja Yae – Attribute: Wind, Type: Warrior, Level: 3, ATK/1100, DEF/200
Onna Ninja Yae – ATK/1100 – ATK/1430, DEF/200 – DEF/260
"Thanks to its' Special Effect by discarding one Wind Attribute monster, I can send all your Spell and Trap cards back to your hand," Rick taunted. He activated the effect and so I placed the cards back into my hand, I was just thankful neither of his monsters were strong enough to destroy Gemini although I did notice that Rick had played a face down card in the Spell and Trap zone.
I took a deep breath as I closed my eyes and began to think about the different scenarios that could play out involving that face down card, that card might have been played in order to stop me from attacking or summoning but in order to continue this duel I had to perform one of those actions.
"Hey what's going on?" A familiar voice cut through the silence. I opened my eyes to find that Yugi and his friends had arrived to watch the duel with Katherine shyly explaining the situation to them, I turned back to the duel and withdrew another card.
"I activate the Spell card, Pot of Greed, allowing me to draw two more cards," I began my turn. Once I picked up my two cards I smiled and flicked one of my cards around so that Rick could see it. "Thanks to this monster's Special Effect I'm allowed to automatically summon him when he is moved from deck to hand via a card effect, come forth Aquila," I called out. The monster appeared initially only as a cluster of stars before taking on the lustrous brown coat of mighty eagle.
Aquila – Attribute: Wind, Type: Winged-Beast, Level: 4, ATK/1600, DEF/1300
"Thank a bunch, you stupid girl. Now I can activate my Ninjitsu – Technique of Super Transformation," Rick called out. I furrowed my eyebrows as Rick picked up the face down card and showed it to me. "By sacrificing my Onna Ninja Yae and your Aquila, I'm allowed to Special Summon a Dragon, Dinosaur or Sea-Serpent type monster, whose level is equal or less than the total level of the monster sacrifice, to the field," Rick explained.
I gritted my teeth quietly as Aquila screeched in pain when it was destroyed as was Lady Ninja Yae with both of them reforming into another monster that was a human dressed in blue with Rick referring to it as Blue Dragon Ninja.
Blue Dragon Ninja– Attribute: Water, Type: Sea Serpent, Level: 5, ATK/2100, DEF/1200
"Now attack and destroy that filthy Gemini," Rick commanded. The new ninja did as instructed and my monster was annihilated however the words that he had spoken were ones that should never have been said in my presence as I did not take insults to my monsters lightly.
Kylie – LP: 2000 – LP: 1700
"He really shouldn't have said that," Katherine muttered. She was right, how dare this person insult my cards and I could feel my growing anger coiling through my body causing it to shake, I then heard Rick's annoying laugh and I raised my head to look at him as a mocking look adorned his face.
"Are you upset?" Rick mockingly asked. However this only made my normal calm eyes swirling like a raging storm as I narrowed them causing Rick to flinch at the fierceness of my glare, I heard a groan come from Katherine, obviously wishing my opponent some sort of mercy but he wouldn't be receiving any from me.
"Hardly, I'm angry. How dare you… insult my friends! I'm going to make you pay for that comment," I hissed out. Rick raised an eyebrow at my statement, others from the crowd began to murmur in confusion due to my words although Rick then broke down into peals of laughter.
"They're just cards," Rick commented through his hysterics. I simply shook my head as it was a common comment that I had heard from pretty much everyone, even Seto would continually say that they're just cards but I knew that they were so much more than ink on paper.
"No, you're as blind as everyone else," I responded. With that I reached out and placed my fingers against my deck feeling its' strength and reassurance flow into me, I retracted my fingers and ended my turn by placing two cards face down.
Rick rolled his eyes at my statement and simply drew his card with him summoning out another ninja monster in order to bolster his ranks and he set a face down card in the Spell and Trap zone, but all I had to do was wait until she got here which if I was right wouldn't be too long.
Ninja Master Sasuke – Attribute: Light, Type: Warrior, Level: 4, ATK/1800, DEF/1000
Ninja Master Sasuke – ATK/1800 – ATK/2340, DEF/1000 – DEF/1300
It was thankful that direct attacks couldn't be ordered in this tournament otherwise I would have lost but that wasn't going to happen, I smiled and drew my card, glad to see that my instinct hadn't failed me as I played the card bringing out my most trusted companion, a startling beautiful monster with auburn hair tied in a bun with small tendrils flowing down as her silvery eyes locked onto my opponent's monster, an ancient Grecian dress covering her, my signature card Andromeda.
Andromeda – Attribute: Light, Type: Spellcaster, Level: 7, ATK/2600, DEF/2300
"I activate the Equip Spell Black Pendant giving my treasured Andromeda an extra five hundred attack points," I spoke. Rick didn't seem phased in the least although I noticed his eyes flicking down to the card he currently had face down but that slightest flinch brought an inkling into exactly what he was planning.
Andromeda – ATK/2600 – ATK/3100
"I then activate another Spell, Angel's Charity letting me draw three cards in exchange for two being discarded," I spoke up. Rick seemed quite annoyed by my move obviously waiting for me to declare an attack but not until I was slightly more prepared for it. "I then use Resurrection of the Dead to revive my Taurus," I stated and the russet coloured bull with golden horns emerged onto the field.
Taurus – Attribute: Earth, Type: Beast, Level: 3, ATK/1500, DEF/1300
Taurus – ATK/1500 – ATK/1950, DEF/1300 – DEF/1690
"What but I never destroyed that monster," Rick exclaimed in surprise. It wasn't all that surprising and to be frank the explanation should have been quite obvious to begin with.
"You didn't, I discarded him. Now for my last card play I activate the Spell Cyclone and destroy your face down card," I declared. Rick's face began to twitch as he realised I had figured out his little game, the whirlwind ripped through Rick's face down revealing it to have been Mirror Force. "With that nasty Trap out the way, Andromeda destroy his Blue Dragon Ninja, with Constellation Flash," I commanded. She complied by sending out a burst of starlight.
Rick – LP: 1370 – LP: 370
"Your entire strategy revolves around that Blue Dragon Ninja and without it you're finished," I commented, ending my turn. However this only seemed to enrage Rick even more as he angrily drew a card from his deck and so I shot a glance down to Katherine who nodded and she quietly disappeared into the crowd of spectators.
"I don't think so. I activate two Equip Spells, Burning Spear and Horn of the Unicorn putting both on Ninja Master Sasuke increasing its' attack points by fourteen hundred points," Rick practically yelled.
Ninja Master Sasuke – ATK/2340 – ATK/3740, DEF/1300 – DEF/1100
"Now attack her Andromeda," Rick commanded. However in that instant I seized my own face down card and flicked it over knowing that it would cost me life points but he wouldn't destroy Andromeda.
"I activate my Trap, Constellation Prison. This Trap allows me to sacrifice one of my monsters in exchange for you being unable to attack for three turns. My Taurus is sacrificed for this act," I called out. The magic bull glowed brightly before dispersing into constellations and forming a barrier in front of Andromeda blocking the attack.
"Ha, what good has that done, you're going to lose the moment I'm out," Rick commented. This man didn't even know how to play with half a deck let alone a full one so it was no shock that he didn't even think I might have another strategy in mind.
"Man that guy is a bastard, how can Kylie take listening to his egoistical rubbish?" I heard Jounouchi say. Although I didn't respond to the boy, my answer would have been that I didn't take any of his pathetic nonsense seriously since it was as he said, utter rubbish.
"Maybe she just doesn't care what he says after all she doesn't look scared," The brunette boy commented. At least someone had my back in this but then I heard an interesting hum echo from the area where Yugi and his friends were stood.
"I don't why Kylie didn't allow Andromeda to be destroyed after all the Black Pendant deals five hundred points of damage to the opponent when it is sent to the graveyard thus she technically would have won the duel," Other Yugi's voice echoed.
"Simple Yugi. He's not destroying Andromeda," I hissed out. Rick flinched at the anger that radiated through my voice as I kept my eyes pinned on my hand and it landed on a card that would win me the duel but it would cause Andromeda to be sacrificed.
"My lady, please use it. You're needed on this island, I can sense it, there is an important destiny lying before you starting here. We all know how you care for us that is why we are so willing to be sacrificed," A familiar voice spoke but no one else reacted like they heard it which was no surprise.
"I activate the Spell card Ara. Once per turn if I tribute a monster then you will take damage equal to half of its' attack points, I choose my Andromeda," I announced. Rick's face paled as Andromeda was consumed by light which then flew towards Rick and ploughed into him.
Rick – LP: 370 – LP: 0
"No way, no. You had to have cheated," Rick screamed incapable of believing his own eyes. I couldn't help the scoff that escape me as I planted a hand on my hip whilst the rest of the crowd seemed unsettled upon hearing the baseless I had been hit with so suddenly.
"You're the one who cheated. You stole your previous opponent's Star Chips and would no doubt have attempted the same thing had I not bet all of mine. You're a foolish and pathetic excuse for a duelist and its' high time you learned there is a penalty for cheaters," I lectured. Katherine had cropped up on Rick's side and she extended her right hand pointing her golden clad fingers at Rick and then the man fainted as she disappeared once again.
Everyone panicked as they raced to him but upon confirming he was alright before simply assumed he had fainted from shock and anger so they left him alone although I did notice, Rick's previous opponent waiting for me after coming back from Rick's side and in his hand lay all five of Rick's star chips.
"Here you are," He spoke. I reached out and plucked three star chips which I inserted into my duel glove and then turned to go over to Katherine who had returned to her original position as if she had never left it. "What about the other two?" He called out to me.
"You said you lost two right?" I questioned. He nodded numbly and then, after realising what I was implying, with glee inserted the star chips back into his glove and then bowed to me out of respect. "Name?" I asked.
"Michael Godwin," He responded. I turned around and held out my hand to him and he put his own in it and I shot him one of my smiles which caused a red blush to spread across his cheeks.
"Let's duel some time Michael," I finished and let his hand go. Michael nodded and the rushed off, I turned and saw Other Yugi and his friends were still waiting around with their many of their eyes blinking in surprise except for Other Yugi who held a smirk on his face. "It was the right thing to do," I responded to their unspoken question.
"By the way since it's apparent we'll be running into each other, his name otherwise I'll keep calling him the brunette boy," I stated. As I spoke, I jutted my hand in said brunette's direction which had Jounouchi breaking down into peals of laughter.
"Honda Hiroto," Other Yugi introduced. With that I nodded, then me and Katherine set off once again hopefully to find better dueling opponents.