-Confrontation-
At the clinic…
"That should do it," Majo Heart said as she applied the last of the bandages to Momoko's back.
It had been the worst moment in all their lives: Jou-sama has become corrupted by whatever had been infecting her and was now working for the Shadows.
Out of them all, Majorin was taking it the hardest. The one she loved had betrayed them right after coming to their rescue from certain death. The red-violet Witch buried her head in her hands. How could this have happened?
After giving Majo Heart a sample from each of them, they could only do one thing: Wait and hope.
It wasn't long before Majo Heart returned with the results. The gang braced themselves for it.
"Your test results came up negative." Majo Heart looked mildly relieved. "None of you are infected."
There would be no cheering from this statement. What had happened was still fresh in everyone's minds. Celebration was out of the question.
"Now what do we do?" Dormei asked.
"We hunt down and get KAda," Aiko said, "He's got something to hide, after all."
"We'll leave effective immediately," Amelia said, "Majorin?"
"…" Majorin stayed silent for a while. "Hai." Majorin go up, and turned towards Majo Heart. "We'll leave finding a cure to you, Majo Heart-san."
The gang left the clinic and began their search for Kada.
In the Castle hallways…
The gang had only moved a few feet into the same room where Onpu and Hazuki dueled Shadow Onpu and Shadow Momoko when they ran into someone. He wore orange and had a familiar metal briefcase. At once everyone knew who he was.
"So you decided to save us the trouble of finding you," Onpu angrily said, "Kada."
"Tell us what you know!" Aiko commanded, "Tell us everything!"
Skaj came out from behind one of the pillars and gave an annoyed sigh.
"You girls really ought to be more thankful," Skaj began, "I did save you behinds, after all."
"Don't you mean 'planned' this from the start?" Hazuki angrily spoke up.
"Think we should tell them?" Skaj turned back to Kada. Kada remained silent.
"If that's how you want to be…" Majorin pulled the egg of her first Chara, Feu. "Then we'll have to force you to tell!"
"Not by yourself, Lady Majorin." Maelia pulled out the egg of her Chara, Saphir. "If you're going to do this, we shall do this together!"
"You two will have a better chance against me in a children's card game. "Kada pulled out his own Chara egg. "Luck-based game and all."
Majorin and Amelia paid no heed and wasted no time in convincing their Charas to come out.
"Mou, I was just having the nicest dream," Feu rubbed her eyes. They shot open when she noticed Kada, Skaj, and Kada's Chara. "W-who are-?"
"My name is Eva," Kada's Chara said, "If we fight, then we fight."
"It looks like we are having zee battle, aren't we Captain?" Saphir asked.
"We are." Amelia replied, "Get ready!"
"My own heart, Unlock!" Majorin, Amelia, and Kada said at the same time.
"Glow, Burn, Illuminate!" Feu chanted.
"Elegant, Splendor, C'est belle!" Saphir chanted.
"Absolution, Terror, Isolation." Eva chanted coldly.
A bright light filled the room as Amelia and Majorin Character Changed.
"Resonation Code: Ramiel!" Kada said and then his spot glowed.
Within moments, Majorin and Amelia had transformed into Shining Blaze and Graceful Feather, respectively.
"Now we will-!" Majorin began but stopped abruptly when she saw Kada's spot stop glowing.
Kada's outfit still looked the same, but the coloration had become a pale purple with orange highlights. His demeanor seemed more dispassionate and he seemed to have wings that were made up of various geometric shapes.
"This explains why he was so confident," Amelia said, "He had a Chara too."
"And you have no idea what Eva's capable of," Skaj replied, "I'll just wait in the corner."
"We have one shot at this." Majorin said.
Majorin gathered fire into her hands. Amelia gathered energy into her Silver Harp.
"Phoenix-" Majorin called out.
"Ballroom-" Amelia called out.
A bright flash coming from one of Kada's "wings" interrupted their attack…A flash that was followed by a huge explosion right where Majorin and Amelia were. When the smoke cleared, Feu and Saphir were on the ground with dizzy marks in their eyes and Majorin and Amelia were back to normal. Kada's attack had broken their Charanaris with one shot.
"I-impossible…!" Majorin lamented.
"H-how…?" Amelia lamented.
"Simple." Kada deactivated his Character Change. "My Chara, Eva, can resonate with any Angel I've captured and grant me access to their powers." Kada drew a card and showed them what appeared to be a simple blue octahedron. "In this case, the Fifth Angel, Ramiel, who happens to be one of the most powerful ones out there."
Majorin and Amelia got up.
"I suppose we have no choice but to resort to a children's cards game then," Majorin said.
"If you want the information you seek, then you will have to beat me," Kada said.
"Do you mind if we both take you?" Amelia said as she and Majorin activated their duel disks.
"Nope." Kada activated his duel disk. "I'll give this deck a spin." Kada inserted his deck.
"Duel!" All three said as their LP went to 8000 each. They also drew their cards.
"I'll start things off," Amelia declared as she drew her card, "I'll activate the spell card Charge of the Light Brigade! By sending three cards form the top of my deck to the graveyard, I can add any Lv4 or below Lightsworn monster form my deck to my hand! I choose Ehren, Lightsworn Monk!"
Amelia sent her cards and added Ehren. The cards she sent were all, incredibly, Wulf, Lightsworn Beast. "Since three Wulfs were sent to my graveyard, I can special summon all of them!" Amelia summons the three Beasts, each with 2100 Atk. "Next, I shall summon Ehren, Lightsworn Monk to my field!" Ehren appears with 1600 Atk.
"And now, I'll overlay my Ehren and one Wulf for an Xyz summon!" Ehren and Wulf turn into balls of light and head for an opening vortex that glowed with the colors of the rainbow. "Rise up, Number 39: Utopia!" And with that, Utopia emerged from the vortex with 2500 Atk and two orbiting points of light.
"I am not done yet. For now I will overlay my remaining Wulfs for a second Xyz summon!" Amelia's remaining Wulfs turned into light and headed for another opening vortex, this one glowing red. "Arise, Inverz Roach!" And Inverz Roach emerged from the Vortax with 1900 Atk. "I'll finish things off with two cards." Amelia sets her spells/traps and ends.
Amelia has opened up wonderfully, thought Majorin, "Watashi no Turn! Draw!" Majorin looks at her card. "I'll summon Tour Guide from the Underworld!" Tour Guide appeared on her field with 1000 Atk. "And by using her effect, I can special summon another one form my deck!" And with that, a second Tour Guide got off the first's bus. "Now, I'll overlay both for an Xyz summon of my own!" Both Guides turned into light and headed for a third opening vortex. "Awareru! Wind-up Zenmaines!" And Majorin's monster emerged from the red glowing vortex with 2100 Def. "I'll set two cards. Turn end."
"Tell us, Kada!" Majorin demanded, "Tell us why you're doing all of this!"
"I have my reasons." Kada drew his card. "Just as the Verz intends to do to this world what it did in the Duel Terminal storyline."
"Nani yo? What is that?"
"It's my turn." Kada continued with his turn. "I'll activate Heavy Storm." Kada's spell card destroyed Amelia's set Solemn Warning and Dimensional Prison and Majorin's set Solemn Warning and Bottomless Trap Hole. "I'll now target Inverz Roach with Forbidden Chalice. A monster hit with this card gains 400 Atk…so long as it loses its effects."
Inverz Roach went to 2300 Atk. Amelia winced as it lost the ability to negate and destroy Lv5 or higher special summons.
"Since I control no monsters, I can special summon Hieratic Dragon – Tofenidragon." Kada summoned his monster with 2100 Atk. "I'll continue with Hieratic Seal of Super Strength. This allows me to special summon one Hieratic monster form my hand. I'll summon Hieratic Dragon – Shiyuudragon." Kada summons his second monster with 2200 Atk.
He still can't do anything about our cards, Majorin thought, Tofenidragon cannot attack if it was special summoned with its effect and Shiyuudragon can only destroy spells and traps. And Amelia's Utopia can stop any attack while Zenmaines can save itself and destroy something later.
"I can tribute two monsters with 2000 or more Atk to special summon Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon." Kada sent both his monsters to the graveyard. In their place, a massive dragon that was pulsing with energy appeared. It had 3000 Atk. "When tribute, Tofeni and Shiyuu can special any normal Dragon-type monster form my hand, deck, or graveyard…so long as their Atk and Def becomes 0." Kada special summons two Hieratic Seals of the Divine Dragon.
"I'll now overlay Lv8 Galaxy-Eyes photon Dragon with both Lv8 Hieratic Seals for an Xyz summon." All three of Kada's monsters turned into light and flew towards an opening portal. "Emerge, Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon." And from the red glowing portal emerged a larger, red-hued version of Galaxy-Eyes with 4500 Atk. Three points of light orbited it. "If Galaxy-Eyes was used for this card's summon, then all other currently face-up cards are negated."
"N-nani yo!" Majorin's and Amelia's eyes went wide as Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon's aura sealed the powers of their monsters.
"I'll activate Neo-Galaxy-Eyes' effect: By detaching one material, I can detach the materials from all monsters my opponents control." Neo Galaxy-Eyes drew one of the lights orbiting it into itself. Then, all of the lights orbiting Majorin's and Amelia's monsters were drawn in. "For every Material detached by this effect, Neo Galaxy-Eyes gains 500 Atk. There were six, so that's 3000 extra." Neo Galaxy-Eye's Atk went to 7500. "And his maximum number of attacks this turn becomes equal to the materials detached. That makes six in total."
Kada turned towards Amelia. "Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon will attack Utopia first." And with that, Neo Galaxy-Eyes launched a burst of light at Utopia. Utopia was consumed by the burst, reducing Amelia' LP to 3000. "I'll attack Inverz Roach with Neo Galaxy-Eyes again." The burst that consumed Utopia surged down onto Inverz Roach, vaporizing it and reducing Amelia's LP to 0.
Amelia loses!
"Now, I'll attack Wind-Up Zenamines with Neo-Galaxy-Eyes." Zenmaines was consumed by another burst of light. "Neo Galaxy-Eyes will attack you directly." The same burst that took down Zenmaines blasted Majorin, reducing her LP to 500.
"Since I took battle damage, I can special summon Tragoedia for my hand!" Majorin stuttered as she brought her monster to her field in defense position. "His Atk and Def are equal to the cards in my hand times 600, so Tragoedia has 1200 in both."
"Hardly defensive," Skaj deadpanned.
"Neo Galaxy-Eyes will destroy Trag," Kada said.
Majorin watched as Neo Galaxy-Eyes destroyed her monster.
"I'm afraid that this is game," Kada said, "Unless you have Battle Fader, Swift Scarecrow or something like that, you cannot stop Neo Galaxy-Eye's attack."
Majorin looked down and closed her eyes. "Gomennasai…Minna."
Kada sighed and festured for Neo Galaxy-Eyes to finish Majorin off. She was caught in the powerful dragon's burst of light, reducing her LP to 0.
Kada wins!
"My opening hand could easily have failed miserably, "Kada said, "Like I said: This is a luck based game. It could've gone either way."
"How can you continue talking like this is some game?! " Doremi fumed.
"Because, technically, it is just a game," Kada replied.
"Don't get all 'technical' about it!" Onpu angrily replied, "This game has been proven to weaken those who lose at it!" Onpu drew her poron. "I want you…to take everything back!"
Onpu charged at Kada, despite everyone else's protests. She was about to try and cast a spell…but then…
Kada's metal briefcase twisted its form into a familiar two pronged lance. A lance which was now pointed at Onpu's face. She stopped with a start just inches away from the two points.
"T-That lance…" Majorin recalled.
"How ironic," Kada said, "About a month ago, I had this thing trained on Shadow Onpu's head when she tried to use her poron on me." Kada's expression stiffened. "And now, Onpu, the one who's been warning everyone about my power, is the one who makes the mistake."
Onpu took a few steps back with her head hung low. Everyone else looked at him in a seething rage.
"Onpu-chan's just a child!" Doremi called out, "You didn't have to do that!"
"Doremi-chan's right!" Hazuki added, "How can you live with yourself when you do this? !"
"I would say you're the worst," Aiko began, "But that just doesn't seem fitting, now does it?"
"Your petty insults are mere words at best," Kada replied, "Unless you can actually find some way to make them meaningful, I would suggest you stop before you end up humiliating yourselves."
"Demo…Demo…" Hana-chan cried, "Demo ne…Jou-sama's with them now! How can you just look the other way and lets us cry?" Hana-chan broke down. "How can you do this? !"
"I dunno, Kada," Skaj began, "Our plans are already derailed enough as it is."
"Derailed?" Onpu asked.
"Yeah. Or were you nodding off back then?"
"…" Majorin's gaze told everything. Such as how she wanted to know how Kada's plans had been derailed.
"Please tell us?" Hana pleaded, "Onegai?"
"…" Kada began making his decision. He then replied. "Seeing as me and Skaj have to back to the drawing board…fine. We'll talk."
"Just like that?" Amelia asked.
"Would you rather I don't?"
"Talking is fine."
"Here goes." And thus Kada and Skaj began.
"It all started when I first met the lot of you and Megan," Kada narrated, "More specifically, when Jou-sama gave into the darkness and used that to beat Mr. Moore."
"The time when she scared us; convinced us she had become a monster," Aiko recalled.
"I didn't think much of it then and therefore pretty much forgot about it. However, a few nights ago, Jou-sama paid me a visit in my shack, expressing an uneasiness about losing repeatedly in a children's card game."
"She was making way too big a deal of it." Eva said. "Then again, her bad luck WAS a bit high to be a coincidence."
"And when she used that Verz deck again, she beat me easily, losing when she used something else. I found it odd myself."
"And that's when Kada decided to plot." Skaj started up. "We realized that Jou-sama had something called the Verz virus. Any questions?" Pop raised her hand. "Yes?"
"What is the Verz virus?" Pop asked.
"It's a virus that appeared in the Duel Terminal storyline; completely fictional," Kada explained, "Or so we thought."
"But what does it do?" Majorin inquired.
"Oh nothing…except warp your body into some grotesque form and your mind into a mindless engine of destruction." Skaj paced around as he explained. Majorin was aghast. "Which is why I was surprised when I saw her majesty acting like Evil Rin's attack dog."
Majorin clutched her upper arm when she heard those words. The memories from that awful experience stabbed her like a thousand white-hot needles.
"My plans relied on everyone doing things that they would normally do in such situations." Kada continued his explanation. "Jou-sama not behaving like a mindless engine of destruction derailed those plans."
"And what were your plans?" Aiko pointed accusingly at Kada.
"Phase 1 was both making sure that Jou-sama was truly infected and then having her out of the way with said virus."
"I have a question myself," Onpu said, "If that virus was fictional, then how did it become real?"
"Remember when Jou-sama gave into the darkness?" Kada reiterated. "And that dark aura appeared around her?"
Majorin's eyes went wide. "You're-You're not saying-!"
"He is saying!" Skaj chuckled.
"Demo ne, Jou-sama couldn't have-?" Majorin realized she was panicking and thus decided to calm down. "You're saying Jou-sama accidentally brought the Verz to life?"
"That's my theory," Kada replied, "And it certainly fits those growths Jou-sama had when she was infected."
"But if Jou-sama brought the Verz to life back then, then that means-!" Hazuki shuddered as she spoke.
"It means that Her Majesty had been infected for months now," Skaj confirmed, "It was just now starting to act up."
"But why now?" Amelia asked.
"Better now than later," Skaj deadpanned.
"To ensure that you would have knowledge on it, we gave a sample to Majo Heart. Skaj gave a second one to Majo Isabelle long before he dueled Aiko." Kada explained.
"You did WHAT? !" Majorin was taken aback. "You gave that Witch a sample of the Verz? ! Do you know what she has done ever since she came into our lives? !"
"That is something I am honestly incapable of knowing," Kada replied, "Yours and Her Majesty's first encounter with her hasn't been uploaded in its entirety by Megan at this point. How am I to know what she had done then when I have no way to research it?"
"Regardless, it was my job to keep an eye on her." Skaj butted in. "We later duped Black Queen into using her as a pawn and lure both into getting more research. What Majo Isabelle couldn't do with the Verz, Majo Heart could." Kada gave a sigh. "Her research is something worth running off with now."
"If we can get to her!" Doremi blurted.
"I know where she is," Skaj reminded, "I was keeping an eye on her, after all."
"We'll get more on that later," Kada said, "For now-"
"You said Majo Isabelle had a sample, right?" Onpu asked with suspicion, "How did you get the samples anyway?"
"When Jou-sama visited me, she showed me a black mark on her arm. I pulled out a water bottle and it washed off like ink. Closer examination-"
"Thanks to Kyubey," Skaj interrupted.
"-revealed that it was really some kind of spore. Majo Heart confirmed that it was the same as the virus."
"And that was phase 1: making sure Jou-sama really was infected with that virus and then making sure she was out of the way for our scheming," Skaj explained smugly. This only earned him angry glares from everyone else present.
"You mean you allowed Jou-sama to think there was nothing wrong?" Majorin seethed, "And then have the nerve to shoot those hopes? ! She trusted you, Kada!"
Kada remained silent for a while. Skaj gave an annoyed sigh.
"Her loss for trusting Kada," Skaj said, "She believed that Kada could help her since he 'seemed' to know about this game and its trivial know how."
"She also wanted to know why she played well with the Verz deck and why everything else made her lose." Kada added.
"Do you think you could've warned her about the virus? !" Momoko called out, "We could've done something about it!"
"Jou-sama's magic brought this virus to life. Therefore, only Her Majesty can actually kill the virus."
"But now Jou-sama is against us and we can't do anything about it!" Aiko retorted.
"Only Jou-sama can kill the virus. But since your magic is similar to hers, you can at least weaken it."
"And how is that possible?" Doremi asked.
"I overheard Majo Heart mentioning something about 'losing duels causing Witches to weaken'." Skaj spoke up.
"Why am I not surprised?" Onpu sighed in annoyance.
"Because we know more about Kada than ever before?" Hazuki guessed, "It's a thought."
"You're right, Hazuki-chan," Onpu replied.
"Enough!" Kada said with dispassion, "If you intend to do something about Jou-sama, I would recommend doing something now."
"Let me guess: Her infection is getting worse?" Amelia asked in a complete deadpan tone.
"And will become irreversible if nothing is done about it." Skaj finished.
"That's all we can explain for the time being," Kada said, "Phase 3 of my plan is in your hands."
"And just exactly what is 'Phase 3'?" Majorin's words were laced with suspicion.
"Curing Jou-sama."
"Because the Verz is basically a Zombie Apocalypse," Skaj added, "If the Duel Terminal storyline is anything to go by."
And with those words, Kada and Skaj teleported away, leaving everyone else filled with questions and questions about why there were more questions.
"We won't get any more answers today, minna-san," Majorin said, "Today has been hectic but informative, and so I suggest we retire for the time being."
Majo Heart came out the door. "I have news, Minna-san: I have created a spell that will enable us to determine if someone is infected without ill effects."
"Sugoi, Majo Heart-san!" Hazuki said, "Now you won't have to take samples from us!"
"And no risk of infection either!" Aiko added. Majo Heart bowed in acknowledgement and returned to the clinic.
"This has been the first very good news all day, minna," Majorin said, "Pray that there will be more." Majorin had cradled an unconscious Feu as she walked off. Amelia had done the same with Saphir.
"By the way," Skaj said as he teleported back in, "I do actually have something else to say!"
"And what would that be?" Majorin asked in annoyance.
"You saw how Jou-sama acted around Evil Rin?"
"Hai." Majorin's eyes shot open. "Don't remind me."
"Skaj, can you please not troll us?" Doremi asked, "We've had it rough today!"
"Just wondering if I could give some hope to any of you." Skaj turned away. "If Jou-sama is acting strange around Evil Rin, then her mind isn't completely gone; hell, it might be intact…just that her perceptions are messed up!"
"What are you saying?"
"What I mean is that, maybe, I dunno, Jou-sama is confusing Evil Rin with you?" Skaj looked Majorin directly in the eye.
"NANI? !" Majorin was taken aback. "How can Jou-sama confuse Evil Rin with me? !"
"They did say the Verz warps the mind," Onpu said, "Maybe that's why Jou-sama acted so strangely around Evil Rin?"
"It's all just a theory, but think about it." Skaj vanished into the shadows again, leaving everyone bewildered.
Everyone gave some thoughts on it…and then it hit them.
"J-Jou-sama still cares me, even in her state!" Majorin exclaimed, "It's that virus! It's confusing her!" Majorin felt a tear on her cheek. "It's making her follow the path of evil…"
"Majorin-san?" Hana spoke up, "Let's call it a night and head back."
"Ok, Hana-chan."
Majorin and Amelia headed off. The Ojamajos decided to go back to the human world and see what they could think of.
At the Castle Gates…
"Well minna-san, let's go," Doremi said. She lead the Ojamajos out of the gates and towards the door to the Mahou Dou. But Momoko saw something.
"Minna!" Momoko called, but only Hana-chan heard her and came.
"What is it, Momo-mama?" Hana asked.
"Hide!" Momoko dragged Hana into the bushes and pointed. There they were: Evil Rin and Jou-sama! Momoko held her mouth to Hana-chan's to keep her from exclaiming. From their point of view, neither of them seemed to know they were there. Unfortunately, they were out of earshot and thus could not hear anything Evil Rin was saying.
Both Evil Rin and Jou-sama went inside the Castle, leaving Momoko and Hana-chan curious.
"Hana-chan! I have an idea." Momoko drew Hana closer. "If we can beat jou-sama in a duel, then maybe the Verz or whatever he called it that's infecting Jou-sama will weaken enough for Jou-sama to come back to us?"
"I'm all for it!" Hana beamed. The thought of having Jou-sama back sooner than they thought got her spirits up. "Let's go!"
In the Castle Hallways…
Evil Rin and Jou-sama had made it to where the Seals were kept. It had been child's play; the guards were still in disarray with Jou-sama's recent illness and subsequent betrayal. Evil Rin simply found it amusing.
"This is almost too easy!" Evil Rin gloated to no one in particular. "And it's even better with you here with me, my precious snowflake."
Jou-sama simply continued walking…if it could be said to be walking.
Unknown to both of them, Momoko and Hana were just around the corner, staring at the two.
"I really feel bad for Jou-sama," Momoko said, "I just hope this works."
"It will!" Hana assured, "We've beaten Jou-sama in the past, we'll beat her again!"
"You're right, Hana-chan! We will most definitely win!"
As for Evil Rin and Jou-sama…
"Now, let's-" Evil Rin was about to give a command to Jou-sama when…
"Stop right there!" Momoko shouted as she and Hana came from around the corner and activated their duel disks.
"Oh, you two?" Evil Rin gave her trademark smirk. "If you want a children's card game, then I'll gladly-" Evil Rin was cut off by Jou-sama putting her arm in front of Evil Rin. "Nani?"
Jou-sama turned towards Evil Rin and smiled, activating her Duel disk. She then turned towards the two Ojamajos and snarled.
"It seems Jou-sama wants to duel you." Evil Rin guessed, "This should be interesting."
"This duel will be the two of us against Jou-sama," Momoko said.
"Then I will-" Evil Rin was interrupted again by Jou-sama putting her arm in front of Evil Rin. "You want to duel them both?" Jou-sama nodded. "Whatever you want." Evil Rin seethed lightly at that last statement.
Momoko's, Hana's, and Jou-sama's LP went to 8000.
"Duel!" Momoko and Hana said as they drew their opening hands. Jou-sama simply snarled as she did the same.
Momoko and Hana saw that Jou-sama wasn't using her right arm to draw; she was using her tentacles instead. A closer look at her right arm told them that there was no way it could hold a card properly, let alone draw.
"I'll start things off. Watashi no Turn! Draw!" Momoko drew her card and gave it a look. "I'll start by summoning Gem Armadillo!" Gem Armadillo appears with 1700 Atk. "Gem Armadillo's ability lets me add one Gem-Knight monster from my deck to my hand!" Momoko adds her card and smiles. "I'll now activate the spell card Gem-Knight Fusion! I'll send the Gem-Knight Garnet in my hand and the Gem Armadillo on my field to the graveyard to summon Gem-Knight Zirconia!"
Gem Armadillo vanishes form the field, being repleaced by the mighty Gem-Knight with 2900 Atk.
"Turn end."
Jou-sama growls and draws her card. She gives it a look and grins…and then summons Verz Mandrago. Her monster sprouts from the ground and blooms with 1550 Atk.
"Momo-mama! Look!" Hana turned to Momoko with fear. "It's that deck Jou-sama used in her duel with Mr. Moore!"
Momoko bit her lip. "So now we're facing the deck itself? The Verz themselves?"
Jou-sama then summons Rescue Rabbit, allowing it to come to her side with 300 Atk.
"Wait a minute!" Momoko called, "How did you-?"
"Verz Mandrago can be special summoned if your monsters exceed her own." Evil Rin gave her signature smirk. "Of course she can normal summon Rescue Rabbit! She hadn't normal summoned until she summoned that Rabbit!"
"Darn it!" Momoko said to herself, "I'll discard Maxx 'C' to use its effect: Until Jou-sama's end phase, every time she special summons a monster, I draw one card."
Jou-sama chuckles as she banishes Rescue Rabbit for its effect. She special summons two Verz Heliolopes to her field, each with 1950 Atk.
"Two special summons. That's two cards," Momoko muttered as she drew.
Jou-sama gives a psychotic grin as she overlaid her Heliolopes for an Xyz summon. Both monsters vanish into a vortex, and then Verz Bahamut emerges with 2350 Atk.
"I'll draw one more card." Momoko looks at it. This will help!
"RAAAAGH!" Jou-sama screeched, making Hana and Momoko cover their ears. Hana took another look at Jou-sama's monster.
"Momo-mama!" Hana called. Momoko turned towards Hana and then at Verz Bahamut.
It had consumed one of the lights orbiting it and Jou-sama had sent a Verz from her hand to the graveyard. It then fired a ball of darkness at Zriconia. Zirconia took on a corrupted appearance and went over to Jou-sama's side.
"N-nani? !" Momoko was taken aback.
"Verz Bahamut can take control over one face-up monster," Evil Rin explained, "So long as Jou-sama detaches a material and sends a Verz from her hand to the graveyard."
Jou-sama laughs a bit and activates Monster Reborn, reviving Verz Heliolope. Momoko draws another card thanks to Maxx "C". Jou-sama then gives another psychotic grin as she overlaid Verz Mandrago and Verz Heliolope for another Xyz summon. The vortex opened again. This time, Verz Ophion emerged with 2550 Atk.
"RAAAAGH!" Jou-sama screeched again, heralding Ophion's effect; Momoko and Hana were able to withstand it better, but Jou-sama added a card to her hand. She set two cards and then pointed at Hana.
"Me?" Hana-chan asked.
Evil Rin face-palmed. "She ended her turn."
"Oh! Watashi no Turn! Draw!" Hana took her turn and looked at what she drew. She smiled. "I'll activate two Sacred Starsigns!" Hana exclaimed as she did so. "If I ever succeed in Xyz summoning a Sacred Xyz monster, I draw a card! Demo ne, its only once per turn. But I have two so I draw double!"
"Get on with it!" Evil Rin glared at Hana with impatience.
"Hai hai," Hana replied, "I'll summon Sacred Pollux!" Hana smiled as her monster came to the field with 1700 Atk. "Pollux-sana gives Hana-chan an extra normal summon as long as it's a Sacred, so I'll summon Sacred Gredi!" Sacred Gredi follows Pollux's lead and comes in with 1600 Atk. "And when Gredi-san is summoned, he leads another Sacred to my field!"
Jou-sama snickers as she discards a Maxx "C" of her own.
"Mou. I'll special summon Sacred Kaust to my field!" Hana said as her monster was called from the heavens by Gredi, descending with 1800 Atk. Jou-sama draws a card. "Now, Hana-chan will overlay Gredi-sana and Pollux-san for an Xyz summon!" Pollux and Gredi vanish into another opening vortex. "Awareru! Sacred Beehive!" Sacred Beehive began appearing from the vortex, but Jou-sama started laughing.
Hana turned and saw that Jou-sama had activated a trap card, Solemn Judgment. The figures on the card appeared and passed their judgment on Sacred Beehive, forcing him back into the vortex and taking half of Jou-sama's LP as payment, reducing her to 4000.
"EH?" Hana was shocked. She looked down, dejected. "Turn end."
Jou-sama drew her card as usual. "RAAAAGH!" And just like last time, Jou-sama activated Verz Bahamut's effect, detaching its last material and sending a Verz to the graveyard. Another rball of darkness was fired, this one at Sacred Kaust. Kaust took on a corrupted appearance and went over to Jou-sama's side.
"Usou! Kaust-san!" Hana called, but to no avail.
Jou-sama snickered. A screech signified the Gem-Knight Zriconia was going to attack. And Jou-sama had turned her head towards Momoko. Zirconia brought his fists against Momoko, reducing her LP to 5100 and knocking her to the floor.
Jou-sama pointed a claw at Momoko, sending Sacred Kaust to attack. A slash with his sword reduced Momoko to 3300 LP. Momoko got back up, albeit barely.
"Momo-mama! Daijoubu?" Hana called. Momoko was about to answer, but Jou-sama sending Verz Ophion to attack stopped her.
A jet of cold Darkness once again knocked Momoko down and reduced her LP to 750. Momoko regained her footing.
"Jou-sama…" Momoko muttered weakly. Jou-sama didn't even bat an eye when she sent Verz Bahamut to attack.
Verz Bahamut blasted Momoko with a stream of cold darkness, reducing Momoko's LP to 0.
Momoko loses!
Momoko was slammed into the floor by Verz Bahamut's attack. When it stopped, Momoko had a dark aura surrounding her. Jou-sama set a card end ended her turn.
"Momo-mama!" Hana called. "Momo-mama! Daijoubu?"
Momoko stirred. "I'll…I'll be fine, Hana-chan…" Momoko stammered, "It's up to you now!" And with that, Momoko collapsed and fell into unconsciousness.
Hana stared at Momoko for a few seconds. She was still alive, but that dark aura was giving Hana the creeps.
"If you're not taking your turn, then Jou-sama may as well end you right now," Evil Rin taunted.
Hana turned her attention back to the duel at hand. "I will make sure Momo-mama is safe! Watashi no Turn! Draw!" Hana took a look at her card and smiled. "I'll summon Sacred Debaran! When he's summoned, I can special summon an Lv3 or below Sacred from my hand! I'll choose Sacred Sheratan!" Debaran and Sheratan appeared on the field with 1300 and 700 Atk, respectively. "I'll now overlay both for an Xyz summon!" Debaran and Sheratan vanish into the opening vortex… "Awareru! Sacred Hyades!" …and then Sacred Hyades emerges with 1900 Atk. "Since I summoned a Sacred Xyz monster, I can draw from Star Sign!"
"Your card is still no match for Jou-sama's monsters," Evil Rin said, "Or are you forgetting what you were up against?"
"Hyades-san has a special ability: I can detach one material and change every monster on my opponent's field to face-up Def position!" Hana's words made Jou-sama snarl. One of the lights orbiting Hyades vanished into one of his blades. The resultant bright light forced Jou-sama's monsters to shield themselves, forcing them onto the defensive.
"And now, Chaos Overlay!" Hana shouted. Hyades turned into a point of light and went into a much more imposing vortex. "Awareru! Sacred Ptolemys Messier 7!" The vortex gave way for a massive dragon-shaped machine. It shined brilliantly with its sacred light. It took Hana's side and made its presence known with its 2700 Atk.
"And now Messier 7! Attack Gem-Knight Zirconia!" Sacred Ptolemys Messier 7 rose up into the air and delivered its attack, vaporizing Zirconia and its 2500 Def. "Turn end."
Jou-sama growls and draws her card. Her expression turns into a grin as she summons Tour Guide form the Underworld. Jou-sama then used Tour Guide's effect and gets another from her deck.
Jou-sama snickers as she overlays both Tour Guides to Xyz summon Leviair the Sea Dragon. In an instant, the dragon emerged from the vortex with 1800 Atk. Jou-sama giggles as she activates Leviair's effect, causing it to vanish and then return with Rescue Rabbit in tow.
"Jou-sama!" Hana called. Jou sama ignored Hana's cries and attacks Sacred Ptolemys Messier 7 with Leviair. "That's suicide!" Leviair breathes a jet of steam at Messier 7. Messier 7 responded in kind by striking with its light. Leviair's attack is overwhelmed and Leviair is vaporized, reducing Jou-sama's LP to 3100. Jou-sama shields herself from the light.
Demo ne, why would Jou-sama do that? Hana thought to herself, She would never do such a thing!
Jou-sama sneered and banished Rescue Rabbit again for its effect. This time, two Archfiend Soldiers came, each with 1900 Atk. Jou-sama gives another psychotic grin, overlaying both Archfiend Soldiers and Hana's Sacred Kaust for another Xyz summon. All three monsters vanish into the vortex…and Verz Ouroboros emerges in their place with 2750 Atk.
"RAAAAAAGGGHH!" Jou-sama' screech was louder than last time and Hana found herself covering her ears. One of the lights orbiting Ouroboros was consumed by one of its three heads…and a ball of darkness came out of it and struck Sacred Ptolemys Messier 7. Messier 7 vanished off the field and back into Hana's extra deck.
"Usou!" Hana cried.
Jou-sama ended her turn.
"Minna…Momo-mama…" Hana turned to Momoko, who was still unconscious. "Hana-chan will win. Watashi no Turn! Draw!" Hana looked at her card. "I'll activate the spell card Pot of Avarice! This lets me take five monsters in my graveyard, return them to my deck, and draw two cards! Hana-chan will choose Pollux-san, Beehive-san, Hyades-san, Gredi-san, and Sheratan-san!" Hana put the cards back into her deck and shuffled, drawing her two cards afterward.
"I'll now activate the spell card Dark Hole! Gomenasai, Jou-sama." Hana's card triggered a massive vortex with no way out.
Jou-sama's laughter could be heard over the whir. Finally, the vortex vanished.
"N-N-No way-!" Hana could only look on shock. All of Jou-sama's monsters were still there. It was then that she noticed the spell card Jou-sama had activated: Infestation Pandemic Infection. "Nani yo!"
"Infestation Pnademic Infection give all Verz and Inverz monster Jou-sama controls immunity to spells and traps," Evil Rin mockingly explained, "Such a shame, wasting such a powerful spell card."
Hana bit her lip. Her main hope was gone, but she still had more she could do. "I will activate Monster Reborn! This will let me revive Gebaran-san from my graveyard!" Gebaran emerged from the Monster Reborn. "Next, Hana-chan will tribute Gebaran-san to summon Sacred Esca!" Gebaran vanished and Esca appeared with 2100 Atk. "When Esca is normal or special summoned, I can add any Sacred from my deck to my hand! I'll add Pollux-san!"
Jou-sama face-palmed in frustration. "GAH! Grr!"
"Eh?" Hana asked.
"I have no idea," Evil Rin replied.
If I win, then Jou-sama will snap out of it…I hope.
"I'll attack Verz Ouroboros with Esca!" Hana directed. Esca extended its claws and rushed towards Ouroboros. Ouroboros countered with jets of cold from all three of its heads. Esca sliced through them all and went right through Ouroboros, destroying it and reducing Jou-sama's LP to 1000.
"Impossible!" Evil Rin yelled, "That card has only 2100 Atk! How did you-?"
"Hana-chan has Honest to thank!" Hana pointed to an angelic being hovering over Esca, which now had 4850 Atk. "Turn end."
"Hehehehehe HAHAHAHAHAHAH!" Jou-sama activated her face down card, Xyz Reborn. In an instant, the Xyz Reborn went into the ground. A few seconds later, Verz Ouroboros was dragged back out; the Xyz Reborn now orbited Ouroboros like normal Xyz material did.
Jou-sama drew her card and sneered. "RAAAAAAGGGHH!" And with that screech, one of Verz Ouroboros' heads consumed the Xyz Reborn and blasted Sacred Esca, returning it to Hana's hand.
"Jou-sama! Onegai!" Hana pleaded.
Jou-sama glared at Hana for a while before snarling again. She sneered and activated Creeping Darkness, banishing two Verz from her graveyard and adding another to her hand. She summoned it, revealing it to be Verz Castor and its 1750 Atk.
"N-no way!" Hana looked at the Sacred Pollux in her hand. Other than wielding his blade in his right hand and having a corrupted appearance, Castor looked exactly like Pollux! "H-how…?"
"I believe you light beings have met your match," Evil Rin sneered, "Maybe next time you'll learn that you shouldn't mess with us Shadows!" Jou-sama frowned at Evil Rin's words and looked at Evil Rin like she was hurt. "Oh, don't give me that look, Jou-sama! You know just as well as I do that you're special!"
Jou-sama looked happy…and then turned back to Hana with a snarl. "RAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHH! ! !" Jou-sama's screech could've woken the dead.
Hana didn't have time to think; Verz Bahamut blasted her with a jet of cold darkness, reducing her LP to 5650. Ophion then blasted Hana again with a stream of cold darkness, reducing her down to 3100 LP. Verz Ouroboros proceeded to blast Hana with three jets of cold darkness, reducing her to 350 LP. Finally, Verz Castor slashed Hana with his blade, reducing her LP to 0.
Jou-sama wins!
Hana was thrown back by the slash. When she landed, she saw that she too now had a dark aura surrounding her. Hana couldn't stay conscious and found her world closing in on her.
Evil Rin was surprised at how easily Jou-sama defeated both opponents. She found it even more surprising since had a severe losing streak that made even Doremi look professional.
"I can't say I'm impressed, my precious snowflake-" Evil Rin was cut off by Jou-sama glomping her. "Get off! Jou-sama!" Jou-sama got off and grinned sheepishly, sweat-dropping a little. "Now then, where were we?"
"About to leave empty handed!" came a voice from a far point in the hallway.
Evil Rin saw several people running towards her; namely, Majorin, Amelia, and the Ojamajos sans Momoko and Hana. When they arrived, they were aghast at the sight.
"Evil Rin, you monster!" Majorin called out.
"Don't look at me, Majorin." Evil Rin turned her head to Jou-sama. "Though believe me, I wanted that distinction. But Jou-sama here insisted and I had to watch."
"J-Jou-sama did this? !" Doremi was at a loss for words. There before her were Momoko and Hana, unconscious and now having dark auras. "Demo ne-!"
"Just face it! The Jou-sama you know and love is gone!" Evil Rin gave her trademark smirk. Jou-sama tried to mimic it, but failed miserably. "Keep trying."
"Evil Rin! You can't beat all of us, even with Jou-sama's help!" Majorin pointed out. "Jou-sama! Onegai-!"
Jou-sama growled defiantly, interrupting Majorin. "GRAAAAGH!" Jou-sama went to Evil Rin's side and hugged her arm.
"Jou-sama seems intent on staying with me," Evil Rin gloated, "I win."
Evil Rin vanished into the shadows, taking Jou-sama with her and leaving everyone at a loss for words.
"How could Jou-sama do that?" Aiko asked sadly, "She would never do that!"
"We can't worry about it right now, Ai-chan," Onpu said, "We have to get Momo-chan and Hana-chan to the clinic!"
"Minna!" Doremi called, "Th-they have a dark aura!"
"Eh!" Hazuki and Pop exclaimed.
"I have a bad feeling about this," Amelia said.
Aiko and Doremi ran to Momoko and Hana, respectively. By the time they got there, the aura had faded from both Ojamajos. Aiko picked up Momoko and carried her with the group. Doremi did the same with Hana.
At the clinic…
By the time everyone got there, Momoko and Hana had woken up, much to the relief of everyone. Majo Heart insisted on testing them using her spell though.
"It's good to know you're ok, Momo-chan," Aiko said.
"Arigatou, Ai-chan," Momoko replied.
"I'm sorry, Doremi-mama!" Hana cried, "Me and Momo-mama couldn't beat Jou-sama!"
"It's ok, Hana-chan," Doremi reassured, "We just have to work on something, that's all!"
"What deck was Jou-sama using?" Onpu asked.
"She used that Verz deck," Momoko replied, "Including two of those dragons!"
"Hana-chan saw the third," Hana added.
"Well, no matter what, you're fine now," Doremi said.
"I beg to differ, Doremi-chan," Majo Heart said gravely, "I used my new spell to test them. They tested positive."
"Nani?" Aiko asked, "What does that mean?"
"It means both Momoko and Hana-chan are infected."
Everyone went wide with shock.
"It…It…It can't be-! Hana-chan can't be-!" Doremi stuttered.
"Momo-chan can't be infected! She just can't!" Aiko joined Doremi.
"If Momo-chan and Hana-chan are infected, then-" Pop began, but a scream from Momoko interrupted her.
Momoko was staring down at her arm, eyes wide with shock. On her arm were black veins not unlike those seen on Jou-sama. Everyone then looked at Hana-chan and noticed that she was hiding her arm too. She reluctantly pulled it out, revealing similar black veins.
"Doremi-mama," Hana began, "Hana-chan don't want to become a monster!" Hana hugged Doremi as she let her tears flow freely. "Onegai!"
"Ai-chan," Momoko said, "There has to be a way to cure us! There just has to!"
"We'll think of something! We promise!" Doremi said.
"Then I had better put more effort into this then I have been, "Majo Heart said, "We need the cure now more than ever!"
"But you can't do this alone, Majo Heart-san," Majorin warned. She shut her eyes in thought, opening them up again and gritting her teeth. "We have no choice. We have to get Majo Isabelle and make her help us!"
"And I can be of service," said Skaj as he came out of the shadows, "I know where Majo Isabelle's set up shop, after all."
"Very well," Majorin said, "You will guide us to Majo Isabelle's hideout. In the meantime, we'll gather as many Witches as possible. Majo Isabelle has pulled many things on us in the past and I'm not about to let her do it again!"
"For Miss Momoko's and Miss Hana's sakes," Amelia saluted, "And For Her Majesty's sake!"
"Minna, Let's go!"
"Good luck, you two," Majo Heart said, "You'll need it."
"Do you promise that you'll be safe, Nekomimi-sama?" Hana asked.
"We will," Amelia replied.
There was a short pause. "We're all counting on you!"
"Enough talk!" Skaj said indignantly, "Damn!"
-End of Chapter-
A/N: Sorry if this chapter was rushed, but I really want to get this done. Hopefully, this chapter explains some things.