Destroying the Meta

Chapter 7

We all got off the boat with our luggage. This was it: The Island. We then followed Richie through a gate. There was a statue of Stardust Dragon on the right, Red Dragon Archfiend on the left, and Black Rose Dragon above us. We entered a room with many booths and ladies at the booths; it was kind of like a ticket booth for a movie theater.

"Here," Richie said raising his hands, "Is the island. You must first sign your team up and get these cards," he said holding up a blueish looking card, it looked a bit like the UDE membership cards, "These cards will get you everything, from your room to your food to packs. Each member will need to register with their team, and at least one person must have an invitation. Anyone… else… will be… deported."

'Crap. How could Alex and Rach come now?' I thought as I waited in line. We then finally got our turn. Squid, Forrest, and Tyler had already registered by the time we started to.

"Hello, could you please state the names of your team members?" the woman asked.

"Hey, I'm Kovel," I said stating my name, "This is Rain and Mitch, my team members."

She typed into the computer and then said, "May I see your invitation now?" I handed her the invitation. After looking at it for a little bit, she typed something else into the computer and three cards like Richie had held up. She then gave us the cards, some odd red spheres that she didn't explain were for, and my invitation back. "Keep your invitation safe, you'll be needing it later," she said with a smile, "Keep those spheres safe too, they will be needed also. Good luck."

"Thanks," I said handing Mitch and Rain their cards. I slowly walked away, worried at what Alex and Rach will be doing to get in.

"Hello, could you please state the names of your team members?" the woman asked routinely.

"I'm Alex," Alex said.

"And I'm Rach," Rach said. The woman typed something into the computer and then looked at the two girls, still needing to say their last teammate, which they didn't have. "And um…" Rach said trying to think of something.

"You need a third member of your team to be in this tournament," the woman explained.

"I'm right here!" said a voice in the crowd. Then a man with a purple coat and long brown hair came up to Rach and Alex and put his arms around their necks in a 'friendship' kind of way. I would probably be jealous if I wasn't confused. "I'm Richardo," the man said smiling, "Here is our invitation." He threw the invitation to the woman. The woman looked at it, and routinely did what she did to our team: gave them cards, spheres, and said good luck. He finally took his arms off of their necks and they walked toward us.

I was really confused now, and you would probably too if you were in my situation. A random older man comes up to your girl friend and your best friend and puts his arms around them like their all buddy buddy. That is just weird, and that is putting it lightly. Though, I should be grateful; he did get Alex and Rach in didn't he?

Even though he did get them through, he still needed an explanation for himself. "Who are you?" I asked; it was a simple question, and didn't threaten, but it might give me the answers I wanted.

"Hello, I'm Richardo," he said raising his hand to shake mine. I shook it because I'm a polite guy and all. "Are these your friends?" he asked meaning Rach and Alex.

"Yeah, and one is my girl friend," I told him eye to eye, which any normal person my age probably wouldn't do. This guy was older and fit. Being 6"4 though, you are taller than most adults, but this guy was almost my exact height.

"Oh! I'm sorry," he said with a smile, "I needed to put on an act so they would believe me. You see, I had no team. They didn't look like they had an invitation, so I just took what I could you know." He was still smiling. Though I could tell, this wasn't a real smile. I could tell by looking into his eyes. He had some hidden motive, but for what?

"It's ok," I said trying to figure out his motive, "I understand. I would have probably would have done in your shoes as well."

Alex hugged me again and said smiling, "Yay! We're in!"

"Yeah," I said smiling back at her, turning my attention away from that shirtless, six-packed abed man named Richardo. There was something he was hiding from us, but what could it be?

We met up with Forrest, Squid, and Tyler. Forrest was sitting down waiting for us on his big camera case that he used for all of his cards. Squid was reading a 'Green Lantern' comic book while twisting his long mustache. Tyler was talking to Forrest. Then we all followed Richie when everyone was registered. We were out of the building now and into a little city. When I say little, I pretty much mean really little: Only 1 street, but tall buildings. They were connected to each other over the street too, which was a little odd. Then again, I've seen many odd things today so far, and this isn't too weird compared to the rest. We then followed Richie to the bottom of a giant tower. Then we got up to the top using something like a supply elevator that could take all of us up at one time. It brought us to a giant room full of windows and the view was beautiful. Richardo was still with us when we got up there. Richie walked to a rise in the front of the room so we could all see him.

"Welcome, welcome! One and all!" he exclaimed getting everyone's attention, "Welcome to the Crystal Cup Tournament. I'm glad all of you could make it. Hopefully the ride over here was enjoyable. I always try to please my guests, and that includes you all now. But, enough small talk, lets get down to business. I know the reason you are all here: to play a Duel Monster's tournament; and that is what I'll give you. Every tournament has rules, so here they are. Rule 1: A team of three MUST be formed before the tournament starts, and before the finals. You already have your three members, or you wouldn't have gotten here in the first place, but you must have exactly three members when you go to the finals too. No lone wolves if you know what I mean.

Rule 2: In order to go to the finals, you must face an opponent that I choose for you. If you win, you get to go to the finals. If you don't, you will not be able to go to the finals. Then again, most of you won't even experience this rule since most of you are not going to the finals.

Rule 3: Anybody that can duel can make a team. This rule means that you may team switch." Everyone started to chatter amongst themselves when he said that. Probably people were worried that their team would break up. Once everyone settled down, Richie continued: "Rule 4: No gays."

"Hey! Was that directed at me!" someone said in the crowd.

"Haha, settle down James," Richie said with a laugh.

'Who was James?' I wondered.

"Continuing," Richie said, "The real rule 4 is not to steal. This is a Duel Monster's Tournament, not a give-away. I know there are many valuables, but do not steal them. I have eyes and ears all over this island, I will be watching you the whole time for any stealing. Any stealing will result in lose.

And now the final rule, Rule 5: Survive. I take no responsibility if you die during this tournament. Though it is highly unlikely, I'm still going to say it. This brings me to your goal. You need to go there." Richie pointed to buildings miles away from the tower. "You need to go through the forest and get to my mansion and the dueling stadium. Though, that is not all, you need to collect 20 of these spheres." Richie was now holding one of the red spheres that the woman had given to us at the counter. "You get these by dueling other people. Now you know how normal tournaments go? They have two out of three matches. Well here it is almost the same. Each person will fight another person of the other team. Whichever team wins two out of three wins. But every team will fight three because if a team wins all three duels, then they get three of the spheres the other team has. If they only win two, then they get two of the spheres the other team has. Pretty simple right? Also, out in the forest, if you are starving or dying of thirst, we can provide a helicopter to give you any of your needs, but it will cost you a sphere. This means that you must get your food before you leave.

For sleeping arrangements, we have a hotel here. Then again, you wouldn't much progress if you only stay in the hotel. So you must camp. You are provided with as many nights as you want in the hotel, but just remember that you will loose days. Each team gets one room with three beds. Now… the Crystal Cup Starts!" Some people cheered and some challenged. Anyway you look at it there was a big commotion. The sleeping arrangements scared me though. Does this mean that that guy Richardo was going to sleep with Rach and Alex!? I was not going to have that!

"Hey Richardo," I said, sorta quietly and shy. I wasn't really the loud and in your face kind of guy. "You know the sleeping arrangements…."

"I know your problem," he replied back, still with his smile, "I won't be using the room anyway. They can have it to themselves."

This kind of surprised me. I started to like this guy. Sadly, he was growing on me. "Ok, cool," I said smiling. I don't believe I ever saw him again after that. He was there and gone, somewhat like the wind. Ever flowing, but there when you need it.

We then got our rooms, all right next to each other, Rain, Mitch, and mine in the middle of course. While the other guys stayed in their rooms and edited their decks, Rain and I went out for some shopping of our upcoming peril of traveling the forest (well, Rain was the only person I could really find to come with me).

We went to the Supply Shop. I tried my best to keep Rain on task. We got one tent, a cooler, a lighter, first-aid box, and a heavy duty backpack (to carry food and our newly bought supplies). It costs us a bunch of Duel Points, but we got hold of everyone's dueling cards so all of us could have a share.

Then Rain and I went to the card shop. It was full of different booster packs. Every one you could think of. There were no single cards though, probably because Richie didn't want us to pump our decks with the best stuff without using real money. But Rain's eyes were only looking at one thing: The Strike of Neos booster boxes. Why was he looking at these you ask? Well simple. It has one card he wants from it: Great Shogun Shien. Even though Rain has a Six Samurai deck, he has never acquired a Great Shogun. But, Rain cursed when he saw the price. "I need one of these boxes!" he exclaimed with frustration, "But I don't have enough. Kovel! Give me one of the other's cards like Forrest's or something. They won't know." He tried to grab one of the cards but I didn't let him. If he was carrying the cards instead of me, he would have used it without a second thought.

"We can't just use them without their permission," I said disappointed in Rain, "You'll have to earn your points back."

"Then let's find someone to duel!" Rain said heading out determined to get his booster box.

"Nah, I'm tired. We'll have the whole day to duel tomorrow. You can wait till then."

Rain pouted, "Fine…"

After we got to the rooms, nothing really significant happened. All we did was table top duel and fix up our decks a little. When night fell though, Rach was a little pushy for me and Alex. She commanded me to take her out to dinner. I was fine with this and pretty cheap for me because I could pay with my card.

The restaurant there was nice and had a lot of people. I had lobster myself, I mean, come on, if you could pay for your food without real money, wouldn't you get something good? Alex and I talked about many things that the readers don't need to know (you guys don't need to know that much of my personal life! Jeez…)

In the middle of our date, the restraint put on some entertainment. "Ladies and Gentlemen," the announcer said as spot light moved throughout the restaurant, "Let us please to present your entertainment… a duel! Let us please present our number one dueling chef… Chef Algo!" The ground rose on the stage to present a roundish looking man in a chef's outfit. "And now presenting the challenger… um… how do you pronounce it… Slasher Von Flogmutton?"

"It's Sasher Von Flogenstugenhogen!" the man coming up from the ground yelled.

"Well, Sasher is dueling for his meal to be free. If he wins, his meal will be 100% free of charge, if he looses, then he will have to pay the whole thing."

'Hm… a free meal… I could go for that….' I thought as the red 8000 appeared in big fount on-stage.

"Let's duel!" they said drawing their five cards.