Blooming Roses

"It's good to see Security keeping criminals off the streets again." Luna said as Mateo walked over to the window she was standing by, watching Security dueling a criminal with a Total Lockdown deck. She turned to Mateo, and looked him in the eye. He smiled.

"I agree. But it is unfortunate that criminals like Jet and Depp had that opportunity to run amok." Mateo replied. "Hey, Luna, you grew up in Neo Domino City, right?"

"Yup. That was a long time ago, though. Ten years, and my brother and I were pretty much alone. Our parents were always working in other countries and stuff." Luna answered. "We had a pretty good life, I guess, for raising ourselves. And we met our awesome friends like Yusei and Jack and Akiza, and together we defeated the Dark Signers, and with our bond we beat Z-ONE."

"I haven't talked much to Akiza. She seems a little… Shy? Or just quiet."

"She had a similar life, but hers was a bit more difficult." Luna sighed. "While I had the ability to sense the Spirit World, Akiza has the ability to make Duel Monsters and their attacks real. She didn't understand it at first, and couldn't control it. She did some bad stuff… But Yusei helped her to see that through compassion and love, you can control any power."

"I'd like to have a chat with her. Maybe a duel."

"I could set that up for you, if you like."

"Would you?"

Luna smiled. "I'd love to. As long as I can watch."

Mateo smiled back. "Of course."

"So Luna told me you wanted to duel me."

"Yeah. I've been living here for a while, and we haven't really had much of a conversation."

"Well, to be honest, I'm a little confused by this whole thing. I left the city to become a doctor, and then the one time I come back, all this goes down. And I'm so confused about everything that has happened since I came back." Akiza replied. "And, well, no offense, but I don't understand you."

"To be honest, sometimes I have a difficult time understanding myself. But to tell you the truth, sometimes the unknown is what drives our lives forward." Mateo drew his deck from his deckbox and inserted it into his deck slot on his duel disk. "I've always found that the way people duel often reveals the way we are deep down. So I'm hoping we can get a feel for each other through this duel."

Akiza looked down at her deck, and the back up to Mateo. She nodded. "If we're gonna duel, let's do it outside."

"Sounds good."

Mateo and Akiza stood facing each other in the plaza. "I'm surprised you don't want to have a Turbo Duel."

"Well, I don't always have a typical duel. I thought it would be nice to just stand for once."

"Okay."

"So give it your all, Akiza." Mateo raised his duel disk.

"Let's duel!" They shouted in unison.

Mateo: 4000 LP
Akiza: 4000 LP

"I'll make the first move! I summon Phoenixian Seed in attack mode! And then I can send it to the graveyard to special summon my Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis!" Akiza called as her blazing plant monster erupted to the field. "I'll set one card facedown to end my turn!"

"It's my turn! I summon my Alexandrite Dragon in attack mode! And with this card facedown, I end my turn!"

"It's my turn! Amaryllis! Attack Alexandrite Dragon!" The flames from Akiza's monster launched out and smashed into Mateo's monster, obliterating it.

Mateo: 4000 LP-3800 LP

"Come on, show me your power! I'm curious!" Mateo called. "You've got a special power, Akiza. If this threat is as bad as I think it might be, I want to know what dueling with real pain feels like."

"Mateo, are you sure?" Luna asked from the sidelines. Mateo smiled and nodded.

"Alright. If that's what you want." Akiza replied. "The effect of Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis activates! When it attacks, it is destroyed. And with its destruction, I can inflict 800 points of damage to my opponent!"

Akiza's Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis explodes, with fire spewing at Mateo. It envelopes him, its heat wrapping around Mateo like a blanket of burning light. "Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!"

Mateo: 3800 LP-3000 LP

"Mateo! Are you okay?" Luna gasped. The flames evaporated from around Mateo. He looked to Luna and gave a thumbs up.

"That's what I'm talking about! Ha!"

"I can banish the Phoenixian Seed in my Graveyard to special summon my Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis from the graveyard!" Akiza called as her monster returned to the field. "Of course, it returns in defense mode, but its ability will activate even if you destroy it! Are you sure you want me to use my powers? I could severely injure you, and that's not how I want this duel to end."

"It's quite alright! I summon my Delta Flyer, and play my Monster Reborn spell card! This allows me to call back my level four Alexandrite Dragon!" Mateo called as his dragon returned to the field. "Delta Flyer's special ability allows me to raise my Alexandrite Dragon's level by 1! So I'm gonna tune my level three Delta Flyer to my now level 5 Alexandrite Dragon!"

Delta Flyer's three level stars flew out of it and wrapped around Alexandrite Dragon, creating three glowing Synchro rings. The five stars of the dragon within glowed strongly as the form of Alexandrite Dragon vanished. They aligned themselves in a straight line as a green light pierced them. "Darkening gales blast forth, signaling the coming of this defining creature! Illuminate the path of destiny!"

The light expanded to the innermost edge of the three rings, and it vanished. The first thing to appear is the eyes, which glow. Next, white feathers, and then a roar as the wings parted, revealing Mateo's monster as he raised his hand into the air. In a burst of light, the card appeared in Mateo's hand. "Synchro Summon! Arise, Black-Winged Dragon!"

The dragon roared again, and Crow came outside. "Hey, what's that noi— Hey, that's my dragon!"

Crow opened his deckbox and saw that his card was still there. "How…"

"Crow, don't worry. It's Mateo that's dueling." Luna laughed a little, and then looked back to the Black-Winged Dragon.

"Black-Winged Dragon! Attack the Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis!" Mateo's dragon roared as golden light appeared in its mouth. "Noble Breath attack!"

The dragon's breath blasted off and completely vaporized the Phoenxian Cluster, but fire still trailed towards Mateo. "Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis's effect still hits you for 800 damage!"

"Not quite! Black-Winged Dragon's effect allows it to absorb the damage! Sure, it loses 700 attack points, but it's a small price to pay!" Mateo called as the Black-Winged Dragon flew in the path of the fire, blocking Mateo with its wings. The Dragon roared as some of its feathers turned black and red, and its attack drops to 2100. "To end my turn, I equip my Black-Winged Dragon with the Silver Wing equip spell card!"

A large set of wings appeared on the mighty Dragon's back and then reached down protectively over the Black-Winged Dragon, protecting it from harm. Akiza drew a card from her deck. "I summon the Violet Witch in defense mode!"

"My turn! I use my Black-Winged Dragon to destroy your Violet Witch!"

"When Violet Witch is destroyed, I can special summon a Plant-type monster with 1500 or less attack!" Akiza called as a new plant monster appears to the field. "And I choose the Lord Poison!"

"I'd like to see what you've got for me! I end my turn!"

"I summon Twilight Rose Knight! And now I tune these two monsters together! Let the spirit of the earth intertwine with the essence of the sky!" Akiza called as the three level stars of Twilight Rose Knight flew out end encircled Lord Poison. The four level stars of the monster within flew out and aligned themselves in a straight line, with a green light piercing through the stars and expanding to the innermost edge of the Synchro rings. After the light subsided, it was replaced with a purple light, as thorned whips or tentacles flew up, signalling the rise of Akiza's signature monster. "I Synchro Summon the Black Rose Dragon!"

Mateo smiled as Akiza's dragon appeared to the field. "A marvellous dragon you have there."

"I thank you. And now, with her special ability, I can destroy every card on the field!" Akiza reached her hand into the air as her dragon cast off razor sharp rose petals, destroying all but the Black-Winged Dragon as the dust clears. The large wings that were given to the Black-Winged Dragon by Mateo's Silver Wing faded away in their last ditch effort to protect Mateo's dragon. "What? Your dragon should be destroyed!"

"My Silver Wing allows my monster to withstand three battles per turn." Mateo countered. "But it also allows me to save it from one destruction by sacrificing the mighty wings on my dragon!"

"Heh. Good play. But don't think my dragon will stay in the graveyard."

"My turn!" Mateo drew his card, and looked down at it, as well as the other cards in his hand. Excellent. All the cards I need are here. "I use my Black-Winged Dragon to attack you directly! Noble Breath!"

The Black-Winged Dragon roared, and then shot Akiza with its golden blast. "Urg!"

Akiza: 4000 LP-1900 LP

"Ah… Alright. Now it's my turn! I summon the Blue Rose Dragon in Defense Mode!"

"My turn! Your Blue Rose Dragon, eh? Well, I'm gonna summon my Luster Dragon! And with it, I'll destroy your Blue Rose Dragon!" Mateo called as he threw his hand forward. "Luster Spark!"

Luster Dragon opened its mouth as a burst of electricity flew out and struck Akiza's dragon, destroying it. With its destruction, Akiza smiled. "When my Blue Rose Dragon is destroyed, I can special summon either a Black Rose Dragon or a plant-type monster from my graveyard!"

Akiza's dragon roared as it returned to the field. "Looks like this duel won't be ending here. I end my turn by placing one card facedown."

"My turn! I use Black Rose Dragon's effect! By banishing my Pheonixian Cluster Amaryllis, I can reduce your Black-Winged Dragon's attack to 0!" Akiza called as the thorn whips of the Black Rose Dragon extended towards Mateo's dragon, wrapping themselves around it and keeping it from struggling. "Attack!"

Mateo looked at his dragon in terror as it was sapped of all its strength, before being obliterated by the Black Rose Dragon. The energy cast off by her dragon blasted through Mateo. "AAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

Mateo: 3000 LP-600 LP

"Jeez, Akiza, you can lay off the psychic stuff. That looked like it really hurt him!"

"It's okay, Crow! I asked her to use her abilities."

"Uhhh… Can I ask why?"

"If whoever is out there has access to black magic, they can also probably make the damage real." Mateo replied. "Also, I want to see if I can extrapolate anything about Akiza through the pain I'm feeling. And I must say, Akiza, it's looking good."

"Huh?"

Mateo smiled as he drew a card from his deck. "I set one card facedown, and summon Influence Dragon! I tune my level three Influence Dragon to my level four Luster Dragon! Blooming roses, grow tall and grow strong! Allow this creature her form to take all on! Illuminate the path of destiny!"

Just like with Akiza's Black Rose Dragon, as the green light of the Synchro Summon faded, it was replaced with a purple light as the Black Rose Dragon appeared to the field. "Synchro Summon! Bloom, the beautiful Black Rose Dragon!"

"So this duel's gonna come down to a battle between the Black Roses, huh?"

"Looks that way." Akiza smiled at Mateo's response. She drew a card from her deck. "But this duel ends here! I banish the Lord Poison in my graveyard to reduce your Black Rose Dragon's effect to 0! Attack!"

Akiza's Black Rose Dragon opened her mouth and prepared to attack Mateo's. Mateo smirked as his facedown card activated. "You triggered my facedown trap card! This is a handy little card known as the Duplication Mirror! This allows me to select one effect on the field and duplicate it, redirecting it at your own monster!"

The mirror appeared, and floated behind both Black Rose Dragons, so that they were both in the view. A ghostly visage of Akiza's Black Rose Dragon floated through the mirror and extended its thorned whips, wrapping them around Akiza's Black Rose Dragon, causing her dragon, too, to reduce to 0 attack points. Her dragon attacked, and Mateo's retaliated, creating an explosion that pushed against both Mateo and Akiza. When the dust cleared, both dragons remained. Akiza closed her eyes and looked down, smiling. "That was unexpected. I end my turn."

Mateo drew his card, and looked at it. He looked back up to Akiza. "I'll start by switching Black Rose Dragon to defense mode! I summon Hunter Dragon in attack mode! Attack Akiza's Black Rose Dragon!"

Mateo's monster dived at Akiza's monster and shattered it.

Akiza: 1900 LP-150 LP

"Ooof!" Akiza held her arms up as her dragon exploded. "My turn! I play Shining Rebirth! By sending, from my field or hand to graveyard, monsters whose combined levels equal that of a Synchro monster in my graveyard, I can Synchro Summon it from the grave! So I send Witch of the Black Rose, Wall of Ivy, and Evil Thorn to revive my Black Rose Dragon! And since this counts as a Synchro Summon, I use her ability to destroy every card on the field!"

"I activate my facedown trap card, Starlight Road! When a card activates that would destroy two or more cards on the field, I can negate the destruction and destroy it." Mateo countered as Akiza's Black Rose Dragon roared, before it exploded, leaving behind a lot of glowing, blue stardust. "After that effect resolves, I can summon a Stardust Dragon from my Extra Deck."

The stardust left from the destruction of the Black Rose Dragon started floating towards Mateo as it collected into the form of Stardust Dragon. Akiza sighed as she played one last card. "I summon Botanical Lion. With its special ability, he'll gain 300 attack for every Plant monster on the field, including itself. Destroy Hunter Dragon!"

Botanical Lion pounced and tore Mateo's Hunter Dragon to pieces. Only a small amount of wind was gusted from Mateo's dragon's destruction, so much so that it only stung a little.

Mateo: 600 LP-450 LP

"My turn. This was a fun duel, Akiza. And, as I said before, I was able to figure out things about you from the pain that your psychic abilities made me feel." Mateo explained. "And I think I found what I was looking for. Thank you."

"Thank… You?"

"Stardust, use Shooting Sonic. Destroy Botanical Lion." Stardust Dragon roared before it used its attack to obliterate Akiza's lion.

Akiza: 150 LP-0 LP

The holograms faded as the duel came to an end. Akiza walked over to Mateo. "So what did you mean about using the pain you were feeling to learn about me?"

"The way you use your powers is gingerly. Lightly tapping from your abilities. But not through fear, but through understanding." Mateo replied. "You used your understanding of that power to control it, through compassion, and happiness, and love. And it is those three things that help to define who you are. And I think that's part of why you chose to become a doctor, instead of being a top ranking duelist. You wanted to show that compassion and love to other people and help them to be happy. At least, that's what your powers tell me."

"Wow. Well, I must say, that's one way of reading someone." Akiza replied. "You duel like Jack and Yusei. Dueling with strong monsters like Jack, but cautiously like Yusei."

Mateo and Akiza smiled as they shook hands. "Thanks for the duel, Akiza."

"Same to you too. It was fun." Luna and Crow walked over as Mateo and Akiza released each other's hands.