Disclaimer: I own nothing! I wish I did…
Well for those curious, I had an okay weekend in Georgia. But I would not move there. The heat! Oh! Sweet Merciful A/C! So sticky! But alas, family and homework has kept me away.
However, here it is. Served well done, just for you all!
Chapter 4
Shifting Cards…
Conner could feel the mark settling, at last. He could feel it borrowing beneath his skin. There was no scar. There was no rednesss or swelling. There was, and still is, no evidence it was ever present in the first place. But the teen could tell. He x-rayed his own chest and found fractured ribs, a punctured lung, torn ligaments, and legions on his heart. But the only outward sign was how labored his breathing was.
Moving hurt, moving was painful.
But his body was healing. That's all that matters. The cracks in his ribs were sealing. But it was slow going. Too slow. Conner spent most of the morning hiding in his room, unwilling to leave, even when Wally called through the door. He did force himself to join the team in the lounge sometime in the afternoon.
The teen didn't know how long how he stayed cooped up in his room, there was a pressure in his head that kept him from focusing. Conner couldn't tell what time it was, let alone what day. When he joins the others, however, he wishes he had stayed in his room. The others stop and give him strange looks, worry, fear and something else. He's seen this look before but the pounding in his head worsens, refusing him the simple ability to name it.
"Conner?" Megan takes a step toward him.
"I'm fine!" he snaps at her, snarling and baring his teeth at her. There was a growing ache in his ears, his temples, behind his eyes, and the last thing he needed was Megan getting closer.
The martin's eyes widen and she moves quickly away from the clone. After the first few missions, Conner never reverted back to any of his more feral tendencies. Until now that is. The others are equally shocked. Robin steers the girl back toward the kitchen and away from Conner. He wasn't sure if Conner had finally snapped from Megan's presence or something else. But it was better to be safe just in case.
Conner made his way to the couch, secretly happy no one was using it. The clone sat in one corner and stretched out his body along the rest of it. Then he let his head fall back on the arm of the couch. He closed his eyes and did his best to ignore everyone else in the room. Kaldur was reading a book on one of the chairs at the table as Wally ate. The red-head had slowed his rapid consumption and was casting glances at Conner every few seconds. Artemis sat on an adjacent chair, cleaning her bow, and looking Conner over as well.
The teen was too disoriented to notice how bad he started to look.
Walking into the lounge, the hybrid didn't appear any different but when he let himself relax into the cushion of the couch, the change is immediate. While Conner had enough sense to change into a dry change of clothes, it did nothing to hide his changed condition. His complexion was pale and sickly. His eyes were red-rimmed with prominent shadows underneath them. A clear sign he didn't get much, if any, sleep and they also tell the team he's been crying. Conner's usual wind-blown, healthy, hair lay limp, several sticking to his forehead. The most worrying was the teen's harsh breathing.
It was unsteady, uneven.
It told the team something was wrong. Very wrong. Their teammate needed help but was in no mood to ask or accept that help. So they waited. Robin took a seat on the other couch, close enough to keep an eye on Superboy. The others slowly follow the boy wonder's example. The other members trickle into the lounge, they get as close as possible without trying to crowd their friend and make him feel trapped.
Wolf slowly wonders into the room after ensuring that his alpha's secret duffle bag was secure. After his alpha went out, he had returned with a medium sized duffle bag, which Wolf was glad for. The silver case was much too shiny and would attract too much attention. The canine had placed the bag underneath his own bedding. Wolf was certain the other two leggers would not care to search beyond his alpha's things like they had done before. The white venom animal whined at the sight of said alpha. The other two legged members of the pack turn to watch him, as if he had the answers. He did. But he would not give them. He would not betray his alpha. Wolf trots over to the clone, climbs onto the couch, lies across Conner and nuzzles his face into the teen's lap.
Conner stirs lightly, looks down to see Wolf's sad eyes and lowered ears, looking back at him. The teen runs a hand through his pet's fur, letting the repetitive motion calm him. He glances to the side to see Lobo curled around the couch, head resting on the floor next to him, watching over the pair. The other crystal beasts have also taken perches around the room, their focus solely on him.
"You have a slight fever," Lobo whispers.
"Hm?" Conner misses the concerned looks his teammates give him.
"You have to eat something, Conner." Tiger rumbles from his place in front of the TV. "It will help settle your body and your mind."
"Eat?" The teen's eyes roam around the room, "don't want to. Not hungry."
Conner's subconsciously glad he doesn't have to duel for a while. Robin discreetly calls for Batman. From the boy wonder's perspective, they were out of time. Superboy needed help now. He notices how Wally carefully goes back to the kitchen and comes back with a cold bottle of water. The red head walks right up to the clone and places the bottle against his sweaty head. Conner jerks in surprise and stares at Wally with glazed eyes. He's looking at the speedster but not seeing him. That raises the teams worry.
Conner doesn't fight Wally. He doesn't do anything.
Megan wrings her hands nervously, torn between her desire to help her crush and her fear of being rejected by him. Artemis settles her fiddling for her by grabbing the martin and dragging her to the kitchen. Kaldur follows them and glances over as the archer pulls out several ingredients to make soup. The team leader takes an unused wash cloth, a bowl, and fills it with cold water. Artemis pulls out a few eggs and starts to show the telepath how to cook them with the soup and the team leader leaves them.
He places the bowl on the coffee table, wets the cloth and replaces the bottle with the cloth. Conner doesn't fuss or move besides a slight fluttering of his eyes. Wally opens the water bottle, puts it on the teen's dry lips and gently coaxes the clone to sip from the bottle.
"The girls are making soup." Aqualad informs the others.
"Con?" Wally whispers, "Buddy, what happened?"
The hybrid doesn't answer. He opens his eyes just a crack and stares at the ceiling. He takes a deep breath when Wally moves the water away and the harsh wheezing that echoes throughout the room, terrifies the team. The girls return carrying a hot bowl of soup, pale face and shaken. They hesitate before making their way toward Conner. Robin opens his holo-computer, and starts to document all of Conner's symptoms. Wally and Kaldur make room for the girls but can do nothing to convince Wolf to move from the couch. So they try to stay as close as possible without bumping into each other.
Conner doesn't register their presence. His entire focus is on the lacerations along his lungs. The ribs and the puncture wound have healed well but it still hurts. The cold water is a welcome contrast to the burning storm wreaking havoc on his insides.
"Once they get some food into him, he'll be fine." Lobo reassures the others.
"Are you sure?" Tortoise asks, "That stuff doesn't look very edible. Are we sure this is sanitary?"
"I crush little people if they bad." Mammoth huffs.
"And I'd be happy to join you," Cat purrs, "this martin girl is getting on my nerves."
Cat and Mammoth pay extra attention to Megan's attempts to rouse the feverish duelist. For a moment, Ruby considers joining them before shaking her head and curling herself into Conner's neck purring into his ear.
"It would do us no good to waste our energy. Conner is being cared for and that is all we can ask for." Tiger interjects
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Eagle screeches, "I think we're gonna have some company. And soon, too!"
Eagle's keen eyes observe Robin and the numerous screens the boy hero opens and then closes. The winged-beast tilts his head to the side, shifting his attention between Robin and the pathway to the Zeta Tubes. The other beasts follow his example and quickly pick up on the change in atmosphere. It was expectant.
The team was expecting company and Conner was the only one vulnerable.
"Did the little bird call for the female?" Cat wonders out loud.
"Who ever's comin' we'll be ready." Pegasus reassures, "Conner's not some helpless damsel so long as we're 'round."
Wolf barks in agreement, earning a number of confused and frustrated looks his way. The venom creature starts to lick the sweat off his alpha's face with renewed vigor. With such a strong pack looking after him, Wolf was sure his alpha would recover soon.
The beasts all watch as Kaldur, whose hands are the steadiest, urges Conner to sip spoonfuls of soup at a time. After a few sips, Wally would bring the bottle to his lips and let the cold liquid sooth the teen's overheated form. Megan would change the cloth, re-soaking it in the bowl of cold water.
Alternatively, they watched the path for their guests. They wondered what kept them from arriving as promptly as they usually do. Batman, Red Tornado and Black Canary were not known for being late. If they were not on time then something was wrong and the crystal beasts had to be ready for whatever was coming their way.
The Cave computer burst to life, abruptly, announcing the arrival of those the beasts had been waiting for. However, what they were not expecting was an extra code, an extra name.
"Designation 01-Superman."
Lobo and the others, including Wolf, perk up in shock and turn to their new arrivals. Besides Robin, the other members of the team look up in similar surprise but don't stop focusing on Conner.
Once the adult heroes arrive in the lounge, it's obvious they weren't prepared for the situation that waited for them. Batman, despite Robin's warning, narrows his eyes at the hybrid's condition. Canary doesn't hesitate and goes to check on Conner's temperature with her hand. The teen hero doesn't as much as twitch at the touch but he does continue to pet Wolf. It's the only sign that he's remotely conscious.
"How long has he been like this?" she asks.
For a beat, no one answers. They really don't know. They glance in Superman's direction, take in how uncomfortable the older hero is and how sick Conner is, before they unanimously discard the alien as being of any use. He made it obvious he didn't want to be here. So they would continue as if he wasn't there to begin with. As one, they turn back to Canary, giving her and Conner their sole attention.
"He wasn't like this yesterday," Robin answers carefully. He keeps his face completely blank.
"He's eating." Kaldur adds.
"He was delirious before," Megan pipes up, "he was saying he didn't want to eat. But he wasn't talking to us."
Lobo snarls at the telepath. The other crystal beasts shift angrily. But they stay where they are. She's too close to Conner for them to be comfortable with. They're just glad Wolf was taking up room on the couch.
"Is there anything…?" Superman starts tentatively but Wolf stops the Man of Steel with a ferocious growl, teeth bared.
"That's enough," Batman commands.
But Wolf doesn't. He places both of his front paws on the couch, ready to leap at the older red and blue clad hero. Muscles tenses, coil and ready to pounce. Before Wolf make his jump, Batman steps in front of the canine, blocking his view.
"Relax," Batman lowers his voice and holds one hand up, to try to placate the agitated animal. "Superman is not here to harm Conner. He is not a threat to your alpha. He is here to help but you need to stop. Now."
The dark one made Wolf pause. The other hurt his alpha deep, without touching him or forcing him to submit. Having a sire reject you from the pack was painful and Wolf was amazed everyday his alpha endured without the man's presence. The dark one was always good to his alpha, always fair. But still…
Wolf turned to Lobo for guidance. Conner was still unresponsive so the older wolf was the best to look to for answers. Lobo's gaze never wavered from Superman. The crystal beasts were still, also waiting. After a long moment, Lobo grunted before turning away from the alien hero and laying his head back on the floor. Following his example, Wolf returns to his place on the couch not sparing his alpha's sire another look.
"If Superman's here, does that mean you know what's wrong with Conner?" Megan looks at Batman with hopeful eyes. No one misses the way Canary and Batman share a look.
"As of this moment, Superman will be Superboy's legal guardian." Canary watches each of the team's reaction, "he will no longer stay in the Cave."
"Wait." Wally's eye's go wide, "Are you saying Conner's going home…with Superman?"
"Yes. He is." The team is struck silent but only Kaldur and Robin frown at how the older heroes diverted attention away from what was wrong with Conner.
"This is good…right?" Tortoise asks unsure.
"Not with Conner so out of it, no." Lobo answers, "But if they're smart they'll just take him to the infirmary."
"What if he doesn't want to go? With Superman? I mean…" Wally stumbles at the suddenly intense attention, "I mean, he hasn't asked about Superman. At all. Nothing, zilch, nada, zero! In training he takes what he gets from Canary and leaves, that's it. No question 'bout if Superman could do this or that. It's like he just…just doesn't care anymore…"
Wally's voice trails off in the end. He glances around nervously, extremely aware that he might have said too much.
"That is true." Kaldur agrees. "Conner no longer bases his progress off of Superman's caliber."
Then one by one the other members of Young Justice also agree.
"Be that as it may," Black Canary swallows, "leaving Conner confined to the base is not conductive to his well being. Superman has agreed to take him in. And he will take him in."
She gives the Man of Steel a hard look. He winces, slightly, but nods his head not saying a thing.
"Doesn't mean anything if he doesn't want to. I mean, Conner will know Superman doesn't want him, so what's the point?" Wally says frustrated, hands thrown in the air.
"I may not be happy with the situation…" Superman's voice filter's out into the room, "but I'm willing to try."
The team says nothing. They can't. It was more than Superboy had in the beginning but now, it may be too late. Superman may be too late.
"Superboy needs medical treatment. You said he was fine yesterday and he isn't today, he needs to be looked over." Batman's voice draws everyone attention and gestures for Wolf to move. The canine reluctantly gets off the couch.
"Let's get him to the infirmary. Superman, carry him." Batman's voice brokers no argument, "Superboy's, also known as Conner Kent, relocation will be handled once he is coherent and aware."
Superman stares shocked at the teen's name before he flinches at Batman's words but does as ordered. He carefully lifts the teen from the couch and is surprised at how hot his body temperature is. He could feel the heat seeping through Conner's clothes and his own suit. It…was alarming to the older hero. His surprise was apparent to the others and filled them with a hint of trepidation. If the Man of Steel moved a touch faster than his usual calm facade, they said nothing. The crystal beasts watched closely as one by one everyone followed the red caped hero and his bundle to the medical wing.
"Think there's a bit o' hope for that one?" Pegasus asks after a beat.
"That one bad, yes?" Mammonth shakes his large frame, "We hurt bad ones, yes? I grind bad one."
"Suuuuure you can," Eagle squawks, "if you want to get Conner in trouble."
"No trouble for Conner. Conner good boy, ours."
"We should rest." Tiger interrupts, "Conner will need us soon. I suspect he will be better in a few hours."
The others look to Lobo for confirmation and the large wolf answers them.
"Yes, it will not be long now. He was merely low on energy. By sundown he will be fine, like nothing had ever happened."
With that the other crystal beasts disappear and Lobo is left alone. The wolf is quiet before he leans into the shadow of the couch, his body sinking into the dark, leaving the lounge room behind. Lobo shifts, pulling himself away from the dark, into the cover of a random shadow cast by some of the equipment in the infirmary. He leans his head out, to watch the heroes care for his mortal, his master, his Conner. Lobo settles himself on the floor, out of the way but alert. Conner would wake soon and he would be there when he did, ready.
The stadium was already half full, and the tournament didn't start for another hour. Erika and Sam stood side by side as the duelist competing mingled, checked over their cards and overall, just hung out behind the scenes. The pair would occasionally take a peek to see how big the crowd was. The girls stuck close together, unwilling to part with Conner absent. Despite having only known each other for a few weeks, the trio had bonded deeply and not having him there was crushing for the girls. They tried to stay positive but they had an idea about why he didn't make it. Even when he wasn't up to duel, whenever one of the girls had a go, he'd show up. It was only a few times where he missed out because of the "house". Sam started to call anything that happened to either of Erika or Conner that started with where they lived, "house" because as far as Sam was concerned no place was home unless it felt warm and safe and happy.
Her friends weren't happy there so they weren't homes. Just buildings they were forced to stay in.
Erika and Sam, even though they weren't the only two female duelists there, still earned more attention than they liked. This was due to the fact that both girls had taken to following Conner's example and "wearing" a new identity. Sam was cosplaying as a Japanese school girl complete with a short navy blue sailor mini skirt, navy sailor top with black outlines, a red necktie with thigh high white stockings and a pair of black and white French Maid style pumps with a concealed platform. The blonde left her hair loose but added a matching solid blue Venetian mask to finish off her outfit. She had also strapped her deck to her upper thigh with a leather strap and deck holster, so that it didn't hinder her movement.
Erika wore a red and black irregular goth-steampunk Lolita Kimono skirt with black leggings, a pair of matching blood and wine corset laced up arm warmers and a pair of black sexy Can Can Girl microfiber platform heels. The red headed girl also had left her short hair loose with a Lolita lace hat on her head and a matching lace mask over her eyes. She also wore a leather belt around her waist with a deck holster for her cards. Both girls were stunning and were oblivious to it.
Neither of the girls signed under their real names either. Following Conner's lead again, they took on pen names. Sam took on the name "Yosei," that Conner shot at her during their duel while Conner adopted the name, "Kiba" that everyone kept calling him by. That only left Erika who, with the help of her friends, took on the name, "Sora" because she dreamed of a sky unobstructed by her father's shadow.
Together, the trio made a strange group. But they were always together. The fans they managed to gather in the short few weeks posted the craziest ideas online and viewings of their duels grew each day. The New York Junior Special was one of the few big tournaments that Erika's managed to get away to participate in. Conner and Sam have more leeway so their standing was higher than hers. But if she won this she'd be ranked the same as her friends and as a bonus, a hefty cash prize, just enough to get her away from her father for a few weeks at the least.
Conner had given her the cash he hadn't used, which was a little under half after Sam's shopping trip but still good. She splurged a little to get her outfit but she felt it was worth it, to feel part of a group. The mask also gave Erika a major confidence boost, making her severe stuttering nearly non-existent. If she could stop with the mask off she knew she'd be a whole new person, a better person.
Sam didn't need to win. She didn't even need to be here because of her standing. But she was because she didn't want Erika competing alone. The red head didn't bother to hide her gratitude. It was daunting to see so many duelists gathered in one area. Some eyeing other players and their cards while others stripped the girls with their eyes. The entire atmosphere gave Erika the chills. Fortunately, Sam has experience turning away most of the other duelist and managed to rope one of the nearby security officers into an off-and-on conversation. Without Conner to act as a buffer, the girls were standing in a sea of sharks looking for easy prey.
The girls had a light lunch before the event started. Unlike her friends, whose decks used mostly light and nature attributed monsters Erika had an affinity for the darker sort of monsters. She had monsters any sane person wouldn't want to meet in a lit or a darkened ally. But the red head felt comforted by their presence, by their strange inhumanity.
The day is grueling. It is filled with duels, taunts, and the roar of the crowd. After a while it all becomes one big blur. She barely says a word, too dizzy to think of any comebacks to some of the jeers sent her way. But Erika manages to keep winning, on making it to the semi-finals, and winning.
When her match finishes, she takes a break in the lounge set up for them. It's lavish and complete with luxury furniture, tasteful décor, and a buffet of fresh food. She takes a small bowl of fruit with her and a bottle of water before making herself comfortable and sighing with how good the soft material feels against her back. She relaxes, waiting for Sam to join her. Only when she does, it's with a guard and bad news.
"You lost!" Erika can't hide her surprise.
She knows her friend's duel with Conner wasn't her best and that Sam was actually a good duelist. Erika was expecting to duel her in the finals. Now that she wasn't…Erika swayed on her feet. Sam quickly steered shorter girl back to her seat to calm her.
"Well, I didn't lose, exactly. I got disqualified for kicking my soon-to-be opponent in the groin. Apparently, all women are "tools" and should "know their place," along with a bunch of other things. I have to admit I lost it back there." Sam blushes then gives her friend a bright smile, clasping her hands with Erika's.
"But I'm sure Kiba will be proud!" There is a twinkle in the blonde's eyes, "But the reps are real nice and understanding. That might have to do with my rank, but anyway, they gave the guy a citation. Any more talk like that and he's out! I can't participate but they're letting me watch the rest of the competition so you bet I'll be cheering you on!"
For a long moment, Erika is silent. She's speechless. Then she manages to find her voice.
"So, you'll still be here?" her voice is small.
"You bet. I wouldn't miss it. You're going to win. I know it. If Co-I mean Kiba were here he'd tell you the same thing. Trust me."
Trust. Trust like she couldn't trust her father. Trust like the mark that glowed on her hand, glowed like she imagined an angel's wings would glow, bright and golden and warm and safe. Erika tightens her grip, takes a deep breath and releases it. Slowly. Trust.
"Okay. Okay."
"Good. Oh! Before I forget," Sam leans close and whispers so only the red head could hear, "this guy uses dark monsters too, mostly spellcasters. Don't hold back."
With her final bit of advice given, she's gone. Erika sits in the same spot, trembling slightly. It takes a minute for her to gather herself. When she does she forces herself to finish her snack and a long drink from her bottle.
Lex Luthor takes a sip from his wine. He glanced around at the open balcony and kept his face blank with only a hint of annoyance. He had reserved a seat for this game tournament for the sole purpose of gaining ground with one, Maximillion Pegasus, but the man hadn't shown himself. Luthor could admit that the other man had good taste. The tables were of fine quality, the seats were cushioned and the view was breathtaking. The balcony was only a few feet from the floor of the stadium, so those present had an unobstructed show.
And what a show. Luthor was impressed with the holograms for the card game. The monsters were varied, the attacks looked devastating and the mechanics of the game worked to keep the audience in suspense. Some duels were over rather quickly and some had the duelist scrapping at each other with a desperation that surprised even him. There were two in particular that the crowd seemed to adore. The "Lady Sora" and "Yosei," two teens who dressed rather…strange, he would even say provocative. But they did put on a good show.
If he thought there was a chance, Luthor would have tried to buy rights to the game, seeing how much revenue Pegasus must be pulling from a "Junior" tournament. But Luthor wasn't here to try to swindle the other billionaire, no, that would be counter-productive. Pegasus had something that Luthor wanted and to get it, he had to have Pegasus give it to him. Threats don't work on the silver haired man and neither do bribes.
To make matters worse, there were a number of other business men, some small and one large problematic thorn. His name is Bruce Wayne.
The man had also arrived late but was still here before Luthor's target and was as charismatic as ever. The man was seated next him, at Pegasus's personal table, in the front. The two exchanged pleasantries with barely concealed contempt. Luthor could tell the other man was also poking around Pegasus, probably for the same reasons he did, for answers on Shadow magic.
Luthor had only heard rumors, and they were more than likely the same rumors everyone else has heard but it was enough to grab attention. A lot of attention. Magic that could swallow the energy of a lantern power ring? Magic that could chain, even kill a god? Magic that could command any creature in the universe? All were desirable traits. Luthor just had to find out how.
There were no other leads. Savage had tried and failed to come up with anything. Seeking the aid of the more mystical inclined for information, closed doors faster than Deathstroke could pull the trigger, which was saying something. Fear of death did nothing. In fact, those who knew even an inkling seemed to believe death preferable than giving up what they knew.
Klarion was useless as well. The troublemaker had discovered any attempts to get answers blocked and stonewalled. The little hellion had thrown a childish temper tantrum before his own magic blew up in his face. That had not only silenced the troublemaker but make him drop all search into shadow magic together. What's worse, he wouldn't tell why. It was obvious having your own magic attack you was a big deal, especially for someone of Klarion's caliber.
That had left one other avenue: Black Atom. That lead died soon after. The mage had practically gone still before making it very clear that he would associate with no one who so much as inquired about shadow magic. When Ra's tried to press, he was quickly rebuffed with a simple warning.
"Shadow has always been stronger than both, Light and Dark. Should you chose to continue in your pursuit, you will find no god to save you, no demon to bargain with, and no blissful death to fall in to. Agony will be your eternal companion."
No one's heard from him since. Any attempts to contact or tract the elusive fighter were fruitless and with his departure that left Pegasus as the last alternative.
So it was a relief when the silver haired man finally did show and he's carrying a silver case in one hand. Luthor lifts an eyebrow in question but says nothing.
"Gentlemen." He greets them pleasantly and the three exchange handshakes.
"I apologize for my tardiness." Pegasus takes his seat across from them the other two businessmen are seated on the other side of the table. He places the case behind his chair and out of their line of sight.
"But I do hope the both of you have enjoyed the tournament so far."
"It's been an eye opener I'll admit." Wayne gives a charming smile, "You must be proud of the duelists here."
"Oh I am!" Pegasus claps his hands once, "They are all unique individuals and the visitors simply love them." The billionaire gestures around them.
"And Lady Sora takes to the field!" The crowd gives an enthusiastic roar. The three billionaires look over to the field as Erika walks out into the spotlight. She gives a small wave to a group of children in the audience.
"There seems to be a…preference among the fans. Such as this Sora character. Is that even her real name?" Luthor inquires.
"Tsk. Tsk, Mr. Luthor." Pegasus, still with a smile, wags his index finger back and forth. "There's no telling. What kind of billionaire would I be if I gave out the identities of some of my best charges, hmm? Besides, the mystery adds to the fun."
Luthor clenches his jaw but bites back the retort sitting on the tip of his tongue.
"But enough about business. This day isn't about anything other than a good bit of fun. Oh! The duel is starting."
With that exclamation Pegasus turns back around and ignores the looks the other two men give him. Luthor decides to be a tad forceful and try to grab the man's attention, when out of nowhere Alister appears. The sight of Pegasus' knight in leather silences the more ruthless portion of his mind. Luthor forces himself to lean further in his seat and relax. The mysterious young man was Pegasus personal guard, though Luthor was sure Pegasus didn't need one. It was rumored Alister could use shadow magic and had a rather merciless streak.
Luthor wasn't keen on finding out. He wanted power but not if it cost him his life. He'd rather pay with the life of someone else.
Again, Lex Luthor forced the more ruthless part of his mind to quiet down. With the red head present, he had to be careful not to seem threatening, at all. He heard quite a few tales about those agents that Ra's sent and he wasn't eager to join them or share their fate. Even if they were in a public place, Luthor wouldn't put it past the leather clad man to pay him a visit later on. One Luthor was sure he'd more than likely regret.
For all the power Shadow magic promised, the biggest factor was that there was no defense. There was no way to suppress, or conquer it. How the pair before him controlled it was also unknown and there was no question they could.
They oozed with power. Every muscle and line along their bodies spoke of security in that power.
Luthor wanted it, all of it.
He glanced over at Bruce Wayne before looking away...and he didn't care who had to crush to get it, either.
Luthor keeps one eye on Pegasus and one on the duel, just to humor the man. So, it was a curious change of pace when both Pegasus and his guard tense. They gaze at the duel with a fierce intensity that borders on something, not hostile but still just as potent. When the girl wins the atmosphere remains charged.
"Were you expecting a different outcome?" he finally asks.
"No, but it just occurred to me that I have some urgent business to take care of."
"Buisness?" Wayne questions, "I thought today was for fun? Surely someone else can handle it."
"I'm afraid not," Pegasus lightly chuckles, "but rest assured, Alister will gladly keep you company. I won't be long."
Then the man quickly stands. It doesn't escape either man's notice how tightly Pegasus grips the suitcase. But the silver haired man is quick to exit. Alister steps forward, blocking their view of his employer's retreating back, leaving both men curious as to where the billionaire is heading.
The three are silent for a while before Wayne decides to try talking to the knight.
It fails.
Alister isn't all there. His focus is on them for sure but the young man is also looking around them, beyond the balcony. Both men had the distinct feeling he was seeing something they couldn't. They fought the strange chill that gripped them, unexpectedly. Alister is clipped and short with them. After a while, Wayne relents and turns to watch the other duelists, taking a few bites of the fresh fruit. Luthor joins him, taking care to partake in the luxurious food and drink laid out on the table. He pays extra attention to the other duels while Pegasus is away. Plans to discuss them or perhaps a chance to see what the pair had seen in them running along his thoughts.
Erika fiddles with the hem of her dress. She tried to be as unassuming as possible. Some of the other duelists wander a bit before a commotion outside draws their attention and they leave the room. She doesn't remain alone, however. After several minutes, several security men in suits enter the lounge using the other entrance and make their way to her, making Erika tense.
"Lady Sora." One states stopping in front of her, "Mr. Pegasus wishes to speak with you."
"O-okay." She stands hesitatingly and follows.
When she finally sits down with the maker of Duel Monsters she almost faints. The room is empty save for a round coffee table and two plush chairs. The billionaire sits immaculately in his chair, a smile on his face. The guards leave them alone and then it's just the two of them.
"You've grown since I last saw you, "Lady Sora" and I must say I'm impressed." Pegasus starts. "To think such a shy young lady could be such a ferocious fighter. You've certainly fooled me."
Erika feels her face grow warm. There was no mistake that Pegasus knew who she was, he gave her the duel phone after all. But to hear him compliment her, someone old enough to be her father, it was a memorial moment for her. Not trusting her voice, she gave him a shy smile and a single nod of her head. She did feel a bit proud for surprising him.
"Hm. You are something special, indeed." A shadow passes over his eyes, too fast for Erika to catch it. "For that, I'm going to tell you a secret."
He leans forward just an inch.
"Duel Monsters is not a game. It is very real." He leans back, places his elbows on the arm rest of his chair and interlaces his hands.
"Every once in a while, I'll carry a unique or rare card or deck with me. I would visit various tournaments hoping to find duelists with some quality that calls to them. For you see, it isn't the duelist who picks the card. It is the cards who pick the duelist. Understand?"
"Um…" Erika blinks rapidly in confusion. She doesn't understand.
"You see, my dear," Pegasus pulls out a card from his pocket and places it on the table. It's his Toon Dark Magician Girl monster card. "Every card is more than just a pretty picture. It is the embodiment of that monster's soul. Each time you summon a monster you awaken that monster from its slumber and bring it to the human world."
"Are you saying the monsters…the monsters are alive?" Erika whispers, too stunned to be shy or afraid.
"I am. Have you ever talked to them, ever felt like they could hear you?"
Erika quickly looks to her lap. She has talked to her cards before. When she was alone and locked in her room, she'd whisper her dreams to them. Whenever she had to meet a suitor, she'd pour out all of her emotions, all her hate and fear and sadness. Whenever she managed to get away for a while, she'd tell them all her hopes and desires. Each time, each and every time, she felt better. She felt like someone cared.
"Then I can assure you that they were listening." Pegasus's smile grew. Her silence was all the answer he needed. "In ancient times, humans used monsters for many purposes but mostly for fighting, for killing."
"But not all sought madness and mayhem." He starts again, "With the rampancy of bandits and other such unsavory characters, the more vulnerable sought protection. The more protection they sought, the stronger the bond between monster and human grew. Over time, the monsters grew fond of their humans and those humans became not only fearless, but powerful, they became not only beautiful-very much so-but alluring and they in turn grew fond of their monsters." He sighs, suddenly.
"Of course, like all great stories of old, where there is good there is bad. Not all humans could summon a beast and jealousy clouded their hearts. They looked on as the monsters blessed their humans with grace and a strength that exists nowhere else in the universe. Eventually the monster became the summoner's Ka, their spirit monster. It was the kind of bond that could make a mortal greater than a god and the bondless could not have that."
When Erika shakily looks up from her lap, Pegasus takes a moment to lock Erika's gaze with his own. Through sheer will, Erika manages to keep from fleeing at the sight of the billionaire. There was something about him, something otherworldly in his stare, in his voice. Then his very persona intensifies and the red head finds herself gripping the seat with one hand and her deck with the other. The moment she grasps her cards, a tremendous wave of something pushes back at her. She can't describe it, there aren't enough words to convey how or why she suddenly feels at ease. But Erika relaxes in her seat, secure, safe and knows it.
"Thus the Fall began." Pegasus smiles knowingly, "As the name suggest, it was the end of the bond between man and monster. The others had found a way to separate summoners from their beast before the bond was complete. For those who had come to have a Ka, their spirits were suppressed for a short time but it was all the bondless needed. Untold numbers of people perished at the hands of the envious. Whole populations simply disappeared and the monsters retreated. For a time, a short time."
"The thing about monsters is that they're not human, they do not become possessions. They do the possessing and as punishment for inferring, for taking away what was theirs, the monsters set upon mankind. They hunted, they preyed upon those responsible. They destroyed them is all parts of life, leaving nothing untouched. When they were done, the monsters made sure to drag their souls someplace they would never leave, someplace they would be forever tormented."
Pegasus's smile grows sharp as Erika's eyes grew wider and wider.
"When all was said and done, the monsters were not sated. They wanted their mortals. They wanted the men and women to whom they had bonded with. But they were gone, their souls had passed on and the monsters could not follow them. So they waited. The monsters were good at waiting. When I created Duel Monsters, I opened a doorway that had been sealed for over millennia, and the monsters, well, they couldn't be more pleased. This was their chance to find the souls that been taken from them so long ago. Only this time, they have no intention of letting go."
The silver haired man puts his card away and places a silver metal case on the table.
"This time, there is a very real possibility that the world will burn before the monsters let us perish a second time. And as I said before, it is always the cards that chose their master. Just as the Crystal Beasts knew Conner was theirs, so too has this one chosen you. I may have arrived a bit late but I did manage to catch your last duel. This particular beast I've held onto for a while. I had almost given up hope of finding one it would claim and from what I witnessed you need him just as much as he needs you."
With that Pegasus opens to reveal one single monster card. With Pegasus urging, Erika reaches in and gently retrieves the card. The moment her hand touches the card, a chill rushes through her. Not the fearful kind but the one that you welcome after a long time spent under an unrelenting heat wave. She brushes her fingers over the face of the card, awe spreading over her features. The red head couldn't describe it but it was as if she was welcoming home an old friend. The friend you spend your entire childhood with only to wake one morning to find them gone and every moment they're gone, you miss them, you cry for them to return. Erika recognizes the stinging sensation building in her eyes and turns to Pegasus, unsure.
"He's mine?" she holds the card close, tears close to spilling over. But Pegasus' eyes become soft and he nods his head.
"All yours and you, his. Just as it was so long ago…" He trails off, closes the case and smiles again, "Let me walk you out. There is still some time before the finals. I look forward to handing you that grand prize."
As she's escorted back to the lounge, Erika feels herself tremble. She's hardly aware of how much time passes, only seeing as the number of duelist dwindles more and more. When the sun finally sinks below the horizon and twilight dawns, the massive stadium lights go on. The crowd screams, craving more and more.
So she talks. She runs her forefinger along the back of her new card and whispers to it.
Erika hopes and wishes and does the one thing that was the absolute hardest thing for her. She puts her absolute trust in someone else. She trust Sam will be there watching her, supporting her. She trust Pegasus won't take back her new card. She trusts him when he says that duel monsters are real and that they hear-that they care. Finally, she gathers her courage and puts unquestionable trust in her monsters, in her cards.
"Lady Sora, please report to the atrium." Erika isn't sure if she's ready but she places her new card within her deck and makes her way out of the lounge.
It is a while before Pegasus joins them again. This time there is a deceivingly lack of a case. But there is a grin on his face. The kind of grin that a man wears when he's won something and it's familiar. Luthor knows he's worn one just like it before. It eats at his curiosity.
But the man greets them again and starts on small talk. He asks all the right questions, keeping everything away from anything remotely about merging or entering an alliance. Neither Luthor nor Wayne gain any ground with the man. Any inquiry into the billionaire's goals or hidden desires is rebuffed with a smile and a handful of grapes. Wayne doesn't help in that he decides to aid the silver haired man when Luthor tried to delve into the man's more personal life.
No doubt a ploy to gain favor and Luthor isn't going to help his opposition. But it is frustrating that he has to contend with a self-assured mage with a hidden agenda and Bruce Wayne poking around. The only reason that comes to mind for the other's interference is the League. Luthor nearly sees red at the thought but reins his temper in. It wouldn't do to leave Pegasus with a bad impression.
Mages were all about power. A lack of control could be taken as someone having no power and he couldn't have that. He was a Luthor after all.
"If you don't mind me asking," Wayne stays relaxed, "what prompted you to start Duel Monsters?"
"Well now," Pegasus gestures to the waiter, "that's a loaded question Mr. Wayne."
The waiter approaches the table and pours wine for all three. Luthor is sure Pegasus won't answer because so far the man had been unrelentingly protective of anything personal and the inspiration for the game would count as personal.
"I took a trip," Pegasus starts and immediately, he has both of their attention, "it was a marvelous trip. I've been around the world. I've seen wonders and horrors in equal measure." He takes a sip of his wine, smiles at the other two men across from him, and takes his time, knowing just how impatient they could be and continuing.
"But Duel Monsters was created by my insatiable curiosity. A curiosity that almost took my life." He swirls his glass lazily.
Both men lean in as much as possible without trying to be obvious. Pegasus turns back to the tournament and spies one of his security guards making his way to them. He decides to wrap up his plan for the two men quickly. Pegasus had originally planned on drawing out the suspense but he was sure one of them would bring it back up at a later time.
"What I discovered," he takes another sip, "was that power does not inherently belong to anyone. It can be given and it can be traded, but never, ever truly owned or possessed. But there were those who placated it, power that is. All trace of these people is long gone now but before human greed condemned the nature of the world, I held this knowledge and was lost by it…" his eyes take on a faraway look.
"…But instead of hoarding this knowledge, I decided to share it with the world. That is how Duel Monsters was born."
He gestures to the stadium with his glass.
"And the world in turn rejoiced, fearless and hungry for more." He glances at the two men with a sharp smile, "Who was I to deny them?"
Wayne and Luthor are speechless. It takes them a moment to collect themselves and decipher exactly what the other man had said. They found it both enlightening and annoyingly vague. All they managed to get was that something significant triggered the creation of the game. Whether that encounter was with a divine or demonic being isn't clear nor is it clear if he had an encounter with a person at all.
They could only speculate on to what "knowledge" the event gave Pegasus and how creating the game was "sharing" that information. Before they could try grilling the billionaire, the guard that Pegasus saw interrupted them and whispered something to his boss. Pegasus frowned briefly before murmuring swift instructions to the man. He leaves the trio but the atmosphere over the table changes again and Pegasus places his glass on the table, a frown on his face. It is obvious he is not happy.
"Is there a problem?" Wayne bravely asks while Luthor is content to try to use any sign of weakness to his advantage.
"Hardly," Pegasus waves his question away, "Just an inconvenience. One I'm about to remedy." Alister looks over his shoulder at the direction the guard left, frowns and looks back at Pegasus.
"That one, too." It's not a question. The silver haired man seems to know what his knight is referring to.
"Of course. You expected anything else?" Alister doesn't say anything. Merely glances in the direction that guard reappears with not only more guards but a familiar teen in a sailor uniform.
"She's here." Pegasus quickly stands and turns to greet his new guest. It only takes the other two men a moment to recognize the girl as one of the fan's favorites.
"Yosei, darling!" Pegasus stretches out his arms, giving Yosei the opening for a hug, as if she were a long time friend.
"Pegasus!" Yosei returns enthusiastically and, to the shock to Wayne and Luthor, accept the billionaire's invitation. "It's so good to see you again!"
The pair separate after a moment where Yosei looks Pegasus over.
"You don't look sick. So that's good. I hope everything's okay. I mean better than me but you probably already know about that, huh? Oh! Are you having company? Sorry if I was interrupting. I wasn't was I? I hate having to impose." Her voice is happy and upbeat.
"Not to worry, my dear." Pegasus gives her a wide smile, "We were running out of topics to talk about anyway and I completely understand. But to have you seated in a box is simply unacceptable. Here, join us."
"Are you sure? I promised Sora I'd cheer for her so I might get really loud."
"It's fine. In fact, I insist. A little noise will do us some good, so no worries."
He gestures to the empty chair next to his own. He pulls out her chair for her and she thanks him as she takes her seat. The guards are sent back to their posts as the perky teen introduces herself to the two other businessmen.
"Hi! I'm Yosei. I like Duel Monsters and cheerleading but I don't cheer anymore. My favorite color is yellow and I don't like people who make other people sad. Who are you?"
The two men are stunned silent. Pegasus laughs out loud.
"Gentlemen, meet one of my favorite American duelists, Yosei. As you can tell, she is quite the character. Please, don't be afraid to introduce yourselves." There is an edge to his words that the two men do not miss.
"Bruce Wayne," He takes her hand, kisses the back of it, and turns on his signature smile, "CEO of Wayne Enterprises. I like the color blue and I also don't like people who make other people sad. It is a pleasure to meet you." Yosei gives the billionaire a wide smile.
"Lex Luthor," he too takes her hand and kisses it. "CEO of LexCorp. Purple is my favorite color. It's a pleasure, my dear." Yosei blinks rapidly at Luthor's answer but also gives him a wide smile.
"Correct me if I'm wrong," Luthor doesn't let go of her hand, "but I was under the impression you are one of the better duelist, here. Why aren't you in the running?"
"Oh! Yeah, that." Yosei doesn't lose her positive disposition even as Luthor still holds her hand hostage, "Well I kneed my opponent in the privates. So I was disqualified." She smoothly removes her hand from Luthor's slack grip at his shock.
"I see." He raises an eyebrow, "you don't seem upset."
"Nope." She giggles, "I'm just glad I can participate but today was for Sora. Kiba doesn't like us competing alone since some of the guys can be real jerks. Since he couldn't be here, we stuck together."
"Why couldn't Kiba be here?" Wayne asks.
"He was busy." She says shortly but politely, then leans away from the two CEOs before turning to Pegasus, "Have you seen Sora duel, yet? She's gotten so much better since the last time you saw her."
The other two men don't try to bring up her male friend again since its obvious they wouldn't get any answers. Yosei keeps the conversation light and the two CEOs find no room to control the conversation.
Then the announcers make a declaration for the finalist duel.
"Let's welcome back Lady Sora!" When the crowd cheers, Yosei jumps from her seat, leans over the railing and screams with her arms raised in the air.
When Erika sees who she's dueling against her heart beats erratically in her chest and she almost loses her nerve. But she didn't come all this way just to quit. Not now. Not when she was so close. A familiar voice screaming her name, louder than the crowd it seems, catches her attention and she looks over just to get a reprieve from looking at the other duelist. Her breath catches in her throat at the sight of Sam, waving her hands in the air from the presidential suit not far from where she was standing. She was leaning over the railing and behind her; Erika could make out Pegasus familiar figure. Also present behind her were other two other men in business attire and one in leather.
The intense look he gives her makes her face flush but she manages to smile and wave at her friend. Then with a deep breath she turns to face her opposition.
Her opponent is the same boy from the convention, Ryan Cross, son of a successful prosecutor. He wore the same piercings, the same tight, leather styled clothing. When he sees her, a wicked grin makes it way over his face.
"Well, aint this a surprise. I'm definitely taking home this match." His eyes rake up and down her body. "And maybe a bit extra on the side, too."
Erika, or Sora, says nothing. She braces herself and waits for the proctor's announcement. They shuffle their decks and activate their duel disks.
"Begin!"
[Lady Sora Lp: 4000/ Ryan Lp: 4000]
"Ladies first." Ryan grins but Ericka doesn't do anything but draw a card.
"I summon one monster face down in defense mode and place one card face down. Then I end my turn." She's glad there isn't a trace of a stutter in her voice or it would have given her away.
"Damn you look good." Ryan's eyes hardly move from her as he draws a card. "I summon Charioteer of Prophecy (Spellcaster-Atk/Def:1800/1300) in attack mode!"
The field lights up and a blond man, young wearing a matching green and gold tunic and breeches, with a cloak sits on a white horse. The rider is also wielding a short sword. The horse has a black mane and tail, with an ornate saddle that matched his rider. The horse rears on his hinds legs before his rider pulls on the reins, calming the stead.
"And I'm aiming for your face down card! Tear it right through the middle!"
The horse rears again before the pair charge at Erika's face down card. The rider raises his sword, wind twirls around it and tarot cards forms within the whirlwind. He brings the sword down on the middle of the card only to meet a massive wall. The wall moves, thrusting the horse and rider across the field and back to its own side.
"Your charioteer isn't strong enough to take on my Renge, Gatekeeper of Dark World (Fiend-Atk/Def: 100/2100)." Erika's voice is smooth. She doesn't yell.
The wall shifts until a massive wall shaped fiend stands in front of her. Its face is a skull. It has short legs with two clawed toed feet. His hands are over half the size of his own body. It rumbles deep from within its solid chest
[Sora Lp: 4000/ Ryan Lp: 3700]
"Son of a-! Fine. I place one two cards face down and end my turn." She draws.
"Since you have a rider, I'll summon one, too. Welcome, Doomcaliber Knight (Fiend-Atk/Def: 1900/1800) to the field."
An all black horse burst onto the field, screeching loudly. Its saddle and bridle is designed with ridges, bones, and spikes. Its rider has a skull face with a ponytail, a tattered cloak, black and silver spike armor, a serrated wide sword and a massive skull shield. The rider glances back at Erika and nods his head. Erika feels her breath hitch but manages to force her next words out.
"Say good-bye to your charioteer."
Without prompting her knight and his stead gallop forward, sword raised. Ryan's monster braces itself and raises it own sword to no avail. Erika's knight swings his sword down in an arc, slicing through the other monster and the pair shatters. Ryan curses aloud but once the field is clear, licks his lips.
"I place one more card face down and end my turn."
"I think it's about time I get serious." He draws, "And I place one monster down in defense. Then I end my turn. Come on, Lady, surprise me."
She frowns but draws her card when suddenly she remembers Erika's words before she left. Spellcasters, huh? I understand, Sam, no holding back.
"I summon Archfiend Soldier (Fiend-Atk/Def:1900/1500) in attack mode. Target his face down card."
A large purple, muscled fiend appears on the field. There are curved horns on his head, gold armor with spikes along parts of it, a green cloak and curved sword and glowing yellow eyes. The fiend hisses lowly, draws his blade and leaps forward.
"Sorry, babe. But that's not happening today." A tan portly, bald man wearing a black and red robe parries her fiend's attack with a gold staff, forcing the soldier back to her side of the field. The monster is adorned with gold bands on his wrist and cargos of the Egyptians.
"You just activated my Gravekeeper's Guard (Spellcaster-Atk/Def:1000/1900) special effect! When it's flipped, I get to send one of your monster's back to your hand. So you can say bye to your knight."
Erika gasps as the guard points his staff at her knight and a light shoots from the end. The light engulfs her knight, who rears and screams before being returned to her hand.
"I end my turn." She concedes and frowns when his smile grows after he draws.
"I activate my spell card, Book of Moon, to turn one of your cards face down. So, bow down like a good little soldier."
Erika clenches her fist as her fiend trembles and jerks then with an agonized hiss disappears. In his place was the back of his card.
"Then I summon Gravekeeper's Heretic (Spellcaster-Atk/Def: 1800/1500) in attack mode. And since I know your monsters defense is lower than my monsters attack, I've got no worries."
Another tan man garbed in Egyptian clothing takes to the field. He has shockingly white hair and a golden staff with a hallow sun at the end. He raises his staff in front of him, places both hands at the neck and closes his eyes. Gold light gathers at the sun end then the monster thrust his staff forward and the light strikers her face down card. Her archfiend is revealed and with a screech, dies.
"My turn," she takes a deep breath as she draws, "and I'll bring my knight back to the field." When her knight appears back on the field, a part of her relaxes again. She didn't like leaving her gatekeeper alone.
"Take care of his monster." Her knight surges forward and cleaves Ryan's heretic down the middle.
[Lady Sora Lp: 4000/ Ryan Lp: 3600]
"All right, then." Ryan draws, still grinning. Erika shifts uncomfortably; she doesn't like the look on his face.
"I'll discard my Gravekeeper's Commandant (Spellcaster-Atk/Def: 1600/1500) from my hand to add the spell card Necrovalley from my deck to my hand. Then I'll activate it."
The world around them warps and the stadium disappears. In its place were colossal cliff walls and sandy ground. To the side was the setting sun and a scattering of pyramids took shape in the distance.
"With my Necrovalley in play every "Gravekeeper" gets five hundred attack points. Speaking of which…" a crazed look enters his eyes, "I activate my other face down card, Gravekeeper's Stele, which allows me to return two gravekeepers from my graveyard to my hand."
He adds two cards to his hand.
"Then I'll bring back my Heretic and he gets a bonus, more than enough to take down your damn knight!"
[Gravekeeper's Heretic-Atk/Def: 2300/2000]
[Gravekeeper's Guard-Atk/Def: 2000/2400]
The Heretic gathers light again and the light strikes the stead first, and then pierces through to the rider. With an inhuman scream they shatter.
[Lady Sora Lp: 3600/Ryan Lp: 3600]
"I activate my trap card, Revival Knight!" Erika reveals one of her trap cards, "This lets me bring back my knight back from the graveyard in defense mode."
Doomcalibur returns to the field, with his shield held in front of him and the stead's head was bowed, leaving the spikes on his neck to protrude.
"Uh oh. Sora's in trouble." Yosei says as the knight returns to the field. She had taken her seat to be polite for Pegasus and was glad she did. "That field spell is going to be a serious pain if she doesn't get rid of it, and fast, too."
"Hm, indeed." Pegasus agrees, "The field does look to be working against her favor."
"Well, even if she loses, she'll learn from the experience." Wayne's attempt to be diplomatic garners him a surprising answer.
"It's only a game, Wayne." Luthor replies with force, "There are plenty of other opportunities."
"You're both wrong." Yosei cuts them short, "This is more than a game. Sora's putting her life on the line. Losing isn't an option, it just isn't."
"Well said my dear." Pegasus gives the two men a sly look before placing his half empty glass of wine on the table. "But this duel isn't over just yet."
"Tsh." Ryan frowns, "You just don't know when to quit. Whatever I'm gonna win, anyway. I place one more card face down and end my turn."
"Good," she snaps, "I sacrifice my Renge, to summon The End of Anubis (Fiend-Atk/Def: 2500/0) in attack mode!"
Renge is swallowed by a dark mist. That mist grows, takes shape, grows and forms. The monster towers several feet over both players and the other monsters. When the mist solidifies, what emerges is a giant jackal fiend with the lower portion of his body colored purple deepening to a dark blue along his upper body. It is adorned with gold jewelry, furred spikes, claws and rippling muscles. Its head is lowered, hiding its eyes and the red of its face.
"Yes!" Yosei jumps up and leans on the rail, again but makes sure she isn't blocking the view for the others. "Now that's what I'm talking about!"
"But it's not quite enough," Pegasus whispers.
"Why is that?" Luthor questions, having managed to catch the man's low words.
"Because Necrovalley has another special effect that prevents the opposing duelist from using her graveyard as part of her strategy and since Sora uses Fiend type monsters, there's a high chance her plan was to do exactly that."
"Sora will win," Yosei says without turning around, "Just you watch. Her cards won't let her down."
"Her cards?" Wayne and Luthor frown.
"Anubis! Destroy his Heretic!"
Anubis raises his head revealing glowing red eyes and rumbles from deep within his chest. The monster brings both of his clawed hands toward his chest, places one palm up and the other over it. Dark energy gathers between them and Anubis thrust his hands out, aiming for the gravekeeper.
"Negate attack!" Ryan screams as a swirling vortex opens before his monster to swallow the attack. "Fucking hell…that was close."
"Hmph." Erika frowns. "I place one more card face down then end my turn."
"Damn girl," Ryan whistles as he draws a card, "you almost had me there. But I think it's time I finish this. Since I have one "gravekeeper" on the field I can tribute it in place of two monsters to summon my Gravekeeper's Visionary (Spellcaster-Atk/Def: 2000/1800)."
A stone throne rises from the ground. A figure forms in the seat. A man dressed in white robes and adorned in gold sits there with a golden scepter erect before him, the end clasped between his clenched hands. On his head was an ornate jackal head dress. Anubis snarls at the monster. If it stood up, it would stand even with her Anubis.
"My Visionary also gets two hundred attack points for every "gravekeeper" in my graveyard and of course, you can't forget the boost it gets from my field spell, Necrovalley." Ryan's monster glows with power.
[Gravekeeper Visionary-Atk/Def: 2900/2300]
"And that's more than enough to down your dog! Visionary! Put it down!"
"Somehow I doubt "her cards" are helping her much."
"You watch your mouth," Yosei snaps at the bald billionaire, "This isn't over until someone's life points hit zero. So you can believe that Sora can still win this. She has the power, the skill, and the cards to pull it off."
She turns to look him in the eye.
"If you don't believe all of this is real then you don't need to be here. You can leave." With her piece said, she turns back to the duel.
"She's right, Luthor-boy," Pegasus gives both men a piercing stare, "there are forces all around us, beyond simple comprehension and to mock such powers can lead to…unpleasantness."
He turns his stare back onto the teen on the field.
"Even now they watch us, waiting."
The man doesn't rise from the throne he uses one hand to grip the scepter and holds away from his body, horizontally. It glows, dark energy gathering at the head before the monster releases his attack. The dark matter travels across the field, straight for Erika's Anubis, and she's ready.
"I activate my trap card, Magic Cylinder!" Her face down card flips up and a decorated cylinder appears before Anubis, eating the attack, preventing Ryan's monster from succeeding.
"What?!" There is a ting of fear in his voice and Erika is happy about it.
"Magic Cylinder lets me negate your attack and send it right back!" The cylinder disappears from Erika's side of the field and reappears in front of Ryan. It opens and the dark energy gathered is erupts, attacking him directly. Ryan falls to the ground, holding his middle torso.
[Lady Sora Lp: 3600/ Ryan Lp: 700]
"Fuck. Fuck. Fucking Bitch!" he hisses before staggering to his feet. "This aint over. Fuck!"
Yosei screams in joy.
"Waiting for what, exactly?" Wayne bravely asks. Luthor doesn't blame him, this might be there only chance to get some real information from the man. Perhaps even information on Shadow magic! But when the silver haired man speaks, there is...something ominous...
"For an opening of course. For opportunity. For chance. For a single, glorious moment. For the one who will wield them to its fullest potential. They have waited a very long time…"
...like seeing poison in a dress suit...
"It's my turn." She draws, "I play the spell card, Pot of Greed."
"Go ahead. Won't do you any good." He snaps as she draws two cards. Erika pauses.
"You're wrong."
"What?"
"This is over. I'm finishing this duel." A smile grows along her face. "I play the spell card, The Gates of Dark World, which destroys your desert and takes away your monsters perks."
The desert around them is consumed by dark shadows. Everything warps before the duelists are left in a looming cavern, behind Erika a massive double door decorated in a fiendish fashion, illuminates the area. The doors creak open, cold, blue mist unfurls from the other side.
"This time it's my monsters that get a bonus by an added three hundred attack and defense points!"
[Doomcalibur Knight-Atk/Def: 2200/2100]
[The End of Anubis-Atk/Def: 2800/300]
[Gravekeeper's Guard-Atk/Def: 1500/1900]
[Gravekeeper's Visionary-Atk/Def: 2400/1800]
"Then I activate the spell card, Brain Control, and paying eight hundred of my life points, take your guard for myself."
[Lady Sora Lp: 2800/Ryan Lp: 700]
A brain shows on Erika's side of the field with two shadowy hands moving hypnotically. Ryan's guard bows his head, disappears in a swirl of dark mist and emerges on Erika's side.
"Then I sacrifice all three monsters on my side of the field to summon someone very special." The three monsters on the field are devoured by grey mist. The mist creeps onto the field, growing and filling the stadium with a thick grey fog. It conceals both duelists.
"And it looks like that time is now…" he loosely crosses his arms, unalarmed by the heavy atmosphere. He ignores the way the other two men go rigid. It doesn't escape Pegasus' notice how Sam grips her hand to her chest, confirming for the toon duelist her involvement in whatever was coming.
"The time is now," he repeats, shifting his focus entirely on the giant storm sparking with blue and black arcs of electricity, looming barely inches from him.
Ryan is blind and deaf and dumb. He can see nothing, not even his own monster. The crowd has gone silent and the quiet echoes all around him. He started to sweat, nervous, and then curse.
"What the fuck is this?"
"Rise to defend your Lady!" Sora's voice carried throughout the stadium, full of conviction and elation and heat. "Black-Eyes Dark Fiend Dragon!"
Then the air thickened, charged, and cackled with something dark. Then the massive dark cloud moved, compressed around Sora's side of the field. The cloud started to spin, shooting upward into a funnel, then a pair of bat-like wings and thick claws rendered the tornado wall, revealing a behemoth of a monster. The dragon spread its wings wide and threw its head back with a roar that vibrated throughout every corner of the arena.
A powerful wind picked up, sending hats and other loose articles flying in the air. Sam's hair flew around her in a wild fashion as she laughed with her arms spread wide. Pegasus and Alister do not so much as twitch at the display of power but Wayne and Luthor have a harder time staying composed.
The Black-Eyes Dark Fiend Dragon is a beast with four legs, one set of wings with spikes at the tips, a long tail, and a head. It is entirely blue with silver highlights along his wings, claws, neck and face. There are thick, silvery clear spikes, almost like ice shards, that trail from his head all along his neck following the spine of his back and ending at the end of his tail. There are silver spikes on his forearms, legs, and upper thighs. Like all dragons, his body is covered in impenetrable armored scales. His underbelly had an extra layer of white plating for protection and a large, wicked scythe for the tip of his tail. It took up Erika's entire side of the stadium.
With a deep rumble that vibrated glass, the dragon lowered itself to the ground where it curled around his Erika. The scythe on his tail which was still at least twice as tall at the teen was, lay at her feet. He kept his wings open, his head high, snorting a cold bout of air in Ryan's direction and staring the other duelist down with his eyes, full of the endless void. The temperature around the duelist instantly drops several degrees and a biting wind blew across the field.
[Black-Eyes Dark Fiend Dragon-Fiend/Dragon-Atk/Def: 3050/ 2500]
Ryans falls backwards on the ground, shaking in fear, teeth clattering. It takes him a moment to form a coherent comeback.
"M-my mon-monster," He takes a harsh breath, "My monster still gets a bonus for my gravekeeper, raising his attack so this isn't over."
[Gravekeeper's Visionary-Atk/Def: 2600/1800]
"Have you forgotten my field spell? My dragon gets an added three hundred points."
[Black-Eyes Dark Fiend Dragon-Atk/Def: 3350/2800]
"And that's more than enough to finish you off. Black-Eyes!" her dragon blows a cold sheen of air from his nostrils and bares his mouth full of fangs, "attack with Freezing Shock!"
The dragon roars in Ryan's direction, turning parts of his side of the field in ice, and his eyes begin to glow an ominous silver. With his massive jaws still open, the dragon gathers power forming a bluish-white sphere of energy. The energy around the dragon, the duelist, the entire stadium thickens, becomes sharp and is pulled into the sphere. The air becomes charged. Wide and abundant arcs of black and blue lightning dance all around as the wind picks up again and becomes thin. The pressure becomes heavy and near unbearable.
He releases his attack.
Relief is short.
The Visionary tries to defend with his scepter but the force of the attack obliterates the monster, leaving not even ash, and continues going to devastate the opponent, blowing him back several feet.
Pegasus says nothing as several chairs and tables fall over. He doesn't so much as glance over as Wayne and Luthor are pushed to the floor by the sheer force of the attack. Beside him, the wine swirls chaotically before the glass gives in, trembles, and then breaks. Yosei stands unbothered by the destruction, giving a carefree laugh, blonde hair whipping about her freely, glad only that her friend is victorious. The crowd goes insane, half afraid and half insatiable.
Pegasus slowly brings his hands together and starts to clap.
"Well done, my dear," he says to no one in particular, "Well, done."
And that's it. I'm cutting it off here. This is one long ass chapter! Ugh! I hope you lot are happy!
Crazy! What was I thinking! And I didnt even get to the parts I wanted to. Those are gonna have to wait til the next chapter. Holy-! Just, no, no...enjoy this one okay! Reviews are nice. They make the craziness make sense.