Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Gi Oh! GX. I only possess the ownership of my own characters.
Chapter 9: Aria From Beyond
"Are you saying that Duel Monsters actually exist in this dimension?"
Bastion's sudden question broke the spell of silence which fell following Alastair's revelation of their current position. The curiosity was replaced by a natural sense of dread. Jaden was more than a little alarmed; he recalled an old nightmare: a monster which he defeated suddenly rose up again to transform into a mighty Blue- Eyes Ultimate Dragon. He found himself thinking What if one of those shows up?!
Alastair's answer was not at all one which would inspire confidence in a faint-hearted traveler.
"Actually, this is where they originated from. The cards which we duel with are merely acting to channel the energy form that they normally exist in. Without being able to access that energy, the cards would be worthless. Makes you take the game much more seriously, doesn't it?"
He looked back at the group with a mixture of pity and regret, thinking to himself:
How I miss the good old days, when I was as innocent a duelist as them, and had no knowledge of this realm. Now, this place is far more suitable for me than the other world.
Then he continued aloud:
"This is no place for the faint of heart. If you have any doubts or misgivings about your choice to come with me, tell me now. The offer is one-time only!"
Nobody moved. Nobody spoke.
Sighing, he crossed his arms and surveyed his surroundings. The swirling gloom was much deeper and darker than the last time he came here. There was evil loose somewhere. Turning back to the group, his face took on a look of deadly seriousness.
"I take it by your silence that you all wish to continue. Very well! Now then, to ensure that we aren't sticking our necks out needlessly, you all need to know how to defend yourselves around here."
Drawing his deck, he indicated that everyone else do the same.
"This is your life's blood in this realm. The instant that you fail to respect these, you die, plain and simple."
A short pause followed while he let the effect of his words sink in. Then he proceeded to explain things in more detail:
"You will encounter monster here which are familiar with from the game of Duel Monsters. As I said before, this is their source. Your protection and your very lives may count on your ability to summon your own guardians. You summon monsters in just the same manner as you would while dueling. On that note, make sure that your duel disks are out and ready at all times. But be warned: there is no frivolous dueling in this place. Traps and spells, as well as monster attacks, can be directed at friend and foe alike. So no joking around!"
"Can we share monsters and other cards?" Syrus asked.
"Not a good idea with monsters. You may order your own monster to defend your friends, but it is unwise to attempt to summon another's monster, or order them to attack. A monster has loyalty to its true owner, and very seldom will it submit to any other. That is why altering your decks is such a serious matter. Your monsters are your friends and will gladly defend their masters to the death, regardless of how weak or strong they are."
Mindy raised her hand tentatively, "Can't we just rely on you to protect us..?"
In reply, Alastair pointed to her "One.."
Then at Syrus "..Two"
Tyranno "…Three.."
Jasmine "..Four"
Bastion "..Five"
And finally at Jaden "..and six."
He directed to himself, "How many of me do you see? I can't be everywhere at once. And if you don't have what it takes to keep yourself protected here.."
Alastair would have continued, but for a loud howl close at hand. His glare returned and his head snapped in the direction of the sound. He held his deck ready in his left hand, while his right was raised, ready for instant action. He moved forward slowly, gesturing for total silence.
All of a sudden, a massive werewolf lunged out of the shadows. Its target: Alastair. He turned so fast it was just a blur. He saw it coming, and reached for his deck. His hand never completed the trip. Out of nowhere, a massive grasshopper armed with a broadsword and buckler materialized before him. It swept the frothing monstrosity clear out of the way. The wolf collapsed, cut nearly in half.
Alastair looked over at the group. Bastion was standing at the forefront of the group, his duel disk held before him. Alastair nodded approvingly at the sight of Insect Knight (1900/1500) face up on the silvery-white surface. He smiled ruefully.
"Well, at least one of you learns quickly. Thanks."
His words were broken off by a scream from the girls. The wolf, as mortally wounded as it looked, was picking itself up. To make matters worse, it seemed as though it was even more powerful than before. Alastair snapped his fingers at Bastion to get his attention.
"Quickly! Trap Card! Immobilize it!"
Bastion nodded:
"I have just the one right here."
The wolf sprang upright again. It howled in fury, then braced itself for another spring. That spring never came, because..
"Activate Trap: Spellbinding Circle! "
Bastion's voice echoed loudly in the clearing in which they stood. All at once, a magical glyph appeared under the wolf's feet. A glowing rune appeared over its head and seemed to lock it in place; at least, its body went completely rigid. Alastair waved his arm to get everyone's attention.
"Let's go!"
With the others in tow, he plunged into the black fog which surrounded them. He seemed to know where he was going. At least, they hoped that he did. They certainly had no clue. One thing was an undeniable fact, he could move quickly, even in this haze. The others were hard pressed to keep up. When he finally stopped to let them rest, they were completely bushed. Exhaustion apparently did not keep Tyranno from asking the question which was in everyone's mind:
"What in tarnation was that thing?!"
Alastair did not reply for a moment. When he did, it was in a voice which was filled with revulsion:
"It was a Zombie Werewolf. It is one of the most dangerous inhabitants of these parts. They may start out weak, but they cannot be killed, and trying to do so just makes the situation worse. They revive into a more powerful version of their former selves, with stronger attacks. Hopefully, we won't run into any more."
He paced back and forth.
"I hope that you were all watching how Bastion handled that situation. The monster was successfully summoned and the trap masterfully deployed. Excellent selection, perfect for the situation. Remember, this is real, so protect your life points with all your might. People don't just get back up around here when those hit 0!"
(The Shadow Realm: location unknown)
The black and scarlet-clad woman looked on through the enchanted portal at the drama which was unfolding. She turned away with a small sigh; the portal vanishing without a trace. It was disappointing that her servant had failed to complete its mission, but there was a silver lining. She now knew the location of her target. Most importantly, he had brought friends with him. How delightful! Her face was shrouded in shadow, owning to a veil which she wore to cover her hair. That did not hide the malicious smile from curving the ruby-red lips. "This will be fun" she thought to herself.
At a thought from her, the door on the opposite end of the throne room opened. Two figures entered, both wearing identical dark-brown robes, complete with hoods, which concealed the upper halves of their faces. The casual observer would note that both wore identical necklaces; a gold chain from which hung a scarlet gemstone. The two attendants approached the stone steps where their mistress stood and bowed low. Their actions were so in unison that one would think that they shared one mind. They spoke as one:
"What is your desire, mistress?"
The regal figure seated herself on the gruesome throne atop the raised platform at the top of the stairs. She smiled as she regarded her two loyal followers. They obeyed without question. And their dueling skills were next to none, as far as she had seen. Rousing herself, she addressed the mute figures before her. They stood as still as statues as their mistress proceeded.
"It is time to invite our long-awaited guest. He is to be received with all due hospitality; including," she added with a cackle, "a free entrance pass to a dueling tournament in his honor. He should find that most enjoyable."
Another low bow.
"It shall be done."
The two servants exited by means of the same door through which they had entered. After their departure, the woman remained seated and gave herself up to her own thoughts.
Oh, it will not be long now, she smiled to herself. Oh no! Not long at all!
Her forefinger, absentmindedly stroking her lips, came down to rest on the choker around her neck. The gold gleamed brightly, despite the dim candlelight in the room. The large eye, engraved on the front, began to glow softly. Her smile widened, revealing two long gleaming fangs.
A short chapter, I know. But that's the point. I wanted to introduce a few new characters without spoiling anything. I think I did so pretty well. But, you are the audience. Your opinion is very important to me as well. Please be patient; there are plenty of duels to come in the next few chapters.
Please review. Your last few have been most encouraging and I couldn't wait to upload this chapter. I hope that the story hasn't gotten too confusing for anyone. But still, everyone like being surprised by a little mystery, right?