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The Grand Tournament
Fanfic Chapter 242: The Saga of St. Joan Pt 1: Time After Time
Episode Basis: None
Previously on Yu-Gi-Oh! Apnarg Otom a.k.a. Solomon Moto succeeded in summoning his Ancient Dragon, which he was preparing to do ever since the duel started. It didn't seem fair since Solomon had clear knowledge of Joey's cards and strategies and Joey had no clue that he was dueling his own teacher (though everyone else knew). But when Yugi reminded Joey to just relax and have fun. Joey did and came back to win but he was shocked to find out that he was actually dueling his mentor. I don't know why.
Futureville was a techno town, a computer nerd's paradise. Its main structure was a large circular four-tiered domed building. Harold and Rebecca rode up an elevator which was more of a platform.
"Just how big is this place?" Rebecca wondered.
"I don't know, but I'm guessing it has to be big to allow this dueling." Harold looked down at Rebecca. "You know, Rebecca, if you want to join Yugi and the others, I won't mind."
"Sorry, but someone has to keep an eye on you to make sure you don't go off the deep end."
"Come again?"
"Yugi told me about how you used to think about killing yourself! I'm here to make sure you don't do anything stupid like that."
"No worries," Harold said. "I'm not like that any more. In fact, how I once was is part of my problem."
"You just concentrate on winning your duel, Harold, who knows maybe you'll duel that Katy chick and you'll get to ask her about her last name."
Harold looked downward.
Harold took two steps back, suddenly feeling cornered like a rat caught between a cat and an exterminator. "I can't believe it," he said. "You… you're the fourth horseman?"
"Yes, I am part of the Four Horsemen."
"And you've been trying to get close to me so you could eliminate me!"
"Well… not exactly," Katy said as Todd came over and took off his Duel Disk. "My original plan was to get close to you and let the others duel you to understand your dueling strategies. Todd and I set up that fake-attack just to gain your trust. But… as I watched you duel Todd, something occurred to me, something I did not expect."
"What is it?"
Katy removed Todd's deck and handed it to him. "I… I was actually starting to like you. I've rarely met noble individuals like you; it was like a breath of fresh air, after Aaron's ego, Chris's stubbornness and Todd's stoic-like demeanor." Todd grunted in protest. "No offense, Todd. Harold, believe me from the bottom of my heart when I say that I admire and respect you, I really do, but… I'm under orders to duel you… and eliminate you from the tournament."
"Katy, thank you," Harold said. "You've helped me today in ways you wouldn't believe. I am now ready to face almost any challenge, and the fiercest foes. And even though you're part of the group that wants me dead for some strange reason, I still consider you my friend."
Katy looked at him wide-eyed. "You mean… you're not angry at me for lying to you?"
"True friends forgive each other for doing stupid things," Harold commented.
"Harold, I… I don't deserve a friend like you."
"Maybe you don't, but you have one like me anyway. But this is a duel, and as Joey once told me, a true Duelist finishes a duel to the end. I summon Venus the Agent of Creation in attack mode! Venus, attack her life points directly!" Venus fired three orbs of light at Katy, all of which hit their mark.
(H: 1550)
(K: 0)
"Congratulations, Harold, you won, you beat the Four Horsemen," Katy said with a sad smile. "Unfortunately, I don't have a locator card to give you, but I do have a rare card to give you." She threw a card to Harold. "This card was given to me by my mother; she said that it often reminds her of me. I don't think the picture looks a thing like me but I'm thinking it would really help out your Wingweaver."
"Thanks, Katy. But… your boss, he'll be upset that I'm still running around, won't he? Will he punish you?"
Katy shrugged, "Even if he does, it's worth it if I got to meet somebody noble. Good luck in the finals, Harold, I'll be rooting for you all the way."
"Thanks, Katy." The two gripped hands. Then Katy turned and walked away.
Katy, you were always so cheerful, so understanding. I thought we truly were friends. Why are you avoiding me now? Does it have to do with your boss or are you truly upset with me for some reason?
"We're here!" Rebecca announced.
They arrived in a planetarium. The backs of the seats were reclined upward but there were a few that were normal. "I guess this is where I'm dueling."
"Well, Harold Kumara, it's been a while." A lone spotlight shone down on Chris.
"Sure has been, Chris." The stepped towards the center of the planetarium stage and exchanged their decks. "Chris, Katy won't tell me anything, so maybe you can tell me what's going on here."
"Sorry, but it's not my place," Chris said returning Harold his deck.
Harold did likewise to Chris's deck, "At least answer me this, are you guys still out to eliminate me?"
"Actually, it's not you this time, we have another target in mine."
"Are you going to tell me who this target is?"
"And spoil the surprise, no."
"Swell," Harold groaned. The two set up on opposite sides of the center of the planetarium. "Let's duel!"
(C: 4000)
(H: 4000)
The entire room started to glow and soon the three of them found themselves in deep space. Rebecca had been sitting in one of the upright chairs when suddenly it disappeared. But Rebecca could still feel the seat. "Wow, these are some wicked special effects Kaiba has."
"Hey Kumara, what do you say we make this interesting?"
"What do you mean?"
"If I win, you return the card you took from me. If you win, I'll give you another of my rare cards."
The card I took… oh, he must mean Gold Chronos Warrior (1), I forgot I still had it. "All right, it's a deal.'
"Good, in the mean time I'll go first. I play the magic card Dark Designator. Now I call out a monster card, and if it's in your deck, you add it to your hand. It shouldn't be too hard to guess which card I'm going to choose, it's Gold Chronos Warrior!"
"All right," Harold shrugged as he searched for the card. I don't get it, why would he want this card to be in my hand… unless…
"I play another magic card, Exchange, now we each get to pick a card from the other's hand."
"You want Gold Chronos Warrior," Harold guessed as he walked to the center of the room.
"That's right, that card was mine first and foremost, all you did was take it due to a stupid rule made up by Kaiba." Harold held up his hand. Chris took Gold Chronos Warrior then held up his hand. Harold looked around for a good card and settled on the magic card Mist Body. As he walked back to his side of the field, he suddenly came on a realization, Hold the phone here, I think just got an idea on how to win. If I can get my Forgiving Maiden (2) out, I can use Goddess with the Third Eye (3) and summon St. Joan (4)! Since Goddess with the Third Eye can imitate monsters used in a fusion, I can use her for the remaining component. Harold looked at Chris. I can't let Chris catch on to what I'm doing, otherwise he would definitely try to stop me.
"I'll just start out simple and summon Blue Chronos Warrior (5) in attack mode." A warrior wearing a blue chest plate and browed helmet holding two spears that looked like hands on a clock appeared.
He's trying to sick his Father Time (6) on me again, Harold thought as he recalled his last encounter with the monster.
"Now I sacrifice my three Chronos Warriors so I can summon this… come forth, Father Time!" His three monsters disappeared and a large man with a long white beard wearing a dark cloak and carrying a scythe appeared. "Now, Father Time, attack his Wingweaver now!" Father Time swung his scythe. Wingweaver fell back and dissolved. "Now Father Time's special ability kicks in. When he deals damage to your life points, I can declare one of your phases skipped."
Somehow I have to summon St. Joan before he gets all of his Chronos Warriors out on the field. "My move," Harold announced and drew a card. It was The Forgiving Maiden. "I summon The Forgiving Maiden in defense mode and next I'll equip her with this: the magic card Mist Body. Now my monster can't be destroyed in battle."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Chris said waving his hand dismissively. "But you can't stop me before I implement my strategy."
"Same goes for you," Harold returned. "Any who, I end my turn."
"I summon Red Chronos Warrior (7) in attack mode, and now that they're on the field I can activate the special ability of Gold Chronos Warrior automatically summoning it to the field." A red and yellow versions of the same monster appeared. "And there you go."
Harold drew a card, "I summon Goddess with the Third Eye in attack mode and set a card face-down. I end my turn." If I can hold on until I draw Polymerization, I have it made.
Goddess with the Third Eye has the ability to be used in any kind of fusion monster. Unfortunately for Kumara, because Goddess is such a weak monster, he won't get a chance to use it. Chris drew a card, "I think its time you got a taste of your own medicine. Gold Chronos Warrior, attack his Goddess now!"
"I activate my trap card Waboku," Harold announced as three wizards appeared in front of his monsters. "Still want to attack?"
"No, I end my turn."
I was lucky, but it won't take Chris long to summon another monster and really give me a run for my money. Harold drew a card, "I switch my Goddess to defense mode and end my turn."
"Well, I think it's time to re-introduce you to an old friend."
"Oh no, that can't be…"
"Oh, it is, I sacrifice Blue Chronos Warrior, Red Chronos Warrior, and most importantly, Gold Chronos Warrior, to summon Father Time!" The monster was tall but old-looking, clad in a black cloak and carrying a scythe. "I then play the magic card Big Bang Shot!"
(FT: 3500-4000)
"Father Time, attack his Goddess with Hand of Scythe!" The old man swung his scythe and stabbed the Goddess in the chest.
(C: 4000)
(H: 1000)
"Now his special ability kicks in, I can stop a part of your turn from happening, how about your first Main Phase."
"I'm not worried, Harold said. "I beat your Father Time once and I can do it again."
"Yes, I remember how you beat him last time, which is why I'm playing the magic card Soul Release which removes up to five monsters from our graveyards from play, and I choose to remove my three Chronos Warriors and your Goddess with the Third Eye." The monsters flew out of the graveyard. "Unlike some of my comrades, I learn from my mistakes!"
Harold drew a card, "So do I," he spoke up. "Because you chose to skip my Main Phase, I can't summon a monster to do battle, so I won't even bother battling. Instead I'll set a card face-down and end my turn."
"A shame, I was expecting more of a challenge from you, Kumara," Chris said as he started his turn. "Father Time, end this!"
"I'm not ready to throw in the deck just yet, Chris, I reveal my trap card Nutrient Z which gives me 4000 life points!"
(C: 4000)
(H: 5000)
Father Time's scythe cut through The Forgiving Maiden but because of Mist Body, she wasn't destroyed.
(C: 4000)
(H: 3000)
Chris let out a little laugh, "I should've guessed you would save yourself at the last minute."
"Yeah, it's one of my little quirks. Anyway, don't you have a special ability to activate?"
"Oh, right, now let's see… Consider your Draw Phase skipped!"
"That's fine," Harold said shrugging.
"You're not worried?"
"Not in the least, because I have this, the magic card Pot of Greed, so instead of drawing one card, I draw two!" Harold drew two cards. "I play the magic cards Cure Master and Serial Spell to raise my life points by 2000."
(C: 4000)
(H: 5000)
"I then play Horn of Light which raises my monster's defense points by 800!"
(FM: 2000-2800)
"I set two cards face-down and end my turn." Harold twirled his remaining card in his hand.
"I'll also play Pot of Greed." He drew two cards. "I play the magic card Cost Down, now by discarding a card I can summon Timeater (8) without a sacrifice!" A demonic-looking clock appeared. "Father Time, attack his Forgiving Maiden again!" Once again the man swung his scythe but Fogiving Maiden quickly reformed herself.
(C: 4000)
(H: 3800)
"That should do for now."
Harold drew a card. "I play Graceful Charity which allows me to draw three cards as long as I discard two in return." One of the cards he drew was Polymerization. Oh sure, now I draw it, after my Goddess has been rendered useless to me. "I summon Mystical Elf (9) in defense mode. I then reveal my trap card Solar Ray which deals 600 points of damage for each light monster on the field. In case you're poor at math, that's 1200 points of damage to you!" A large shaft of light struck Chris head-on.
(C: 2800)
(H: 3800)
The score was almost now even. Harold is stronger than ever, Chris thought. But I will not give up. Harold's monsters will fall before my Father Time!
To Be Continued
Duel Monster Database
(1)
Name: Gold Chronos Warrior
Level: 5
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Light
ATK: 1900
DEF: 1900
This monster can be Special Summoned from your hand if there are Blue Chronos Warrior and Red Chronos Warrior on your side of the field.
(2)
Name: The Forgiving Maiden
Level: 4
Type: Fairy/Effect
Attribute: Light
ATK: 850
DEF: 2000
(3)
Name: Goddess with the Third Eye
Level: 4
Type: Fairy/Effect
Attribute: Light
ATK: 1200
DEF: 1000
(4)
Name: St. Joan
Level: 8
Type: Warrior/Fusion
Attribute: Light
ATK: 2800
DEF: 2000
(5)
Name: Blue Chronos Warrior
Level: 4
Type: Warrior
Attribute: Light
ATK: 1600
DEF: 1800
One of the three guardians who protect the past, present, and future.
(6)
Name: Father Time
Level: 9
Type: Spellcaster/Effect
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 3500
DEF: 3000
This monster can not be Normal Summoned. This monster can not be Special Summoned except by sacrificing one Blue Chronos Warrior, Red Chronos Warrior, and Gold Chronos Warrior on your side of the field. When this monster inflicts damage to your opponent's life points, choose one phase of your opponent's next turn to skip.
(7)
Name: Red Chronos Warrior
Level: 4
Type: Warrior
Attribute: Light
ATK: 1800
DEF: 1600
One of the three guardians who protect the past, present, and future.
(8)
Name: Timeater
Level: 6
Type: Machine/Effect
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 1900
DEF: 1700
(9)
Name: Mystical Elf
Level: 4
Type: Spellcaster
Attribute: Light
ATK: 800
DEF: 2000