Chapter Ten

Wings of Light

The stadium was packed with wild, raging fans chomping at the bit. The title duel was mere minutes away. Joey Wheeler had his butt parked in the blue plastic chair for the past hour waiting for this moment. He'd already chewed through his pretzel, and sips of his soda produced only air. "Come ooon! How much longer izzit gonna be?"

"Can't complain when you're the one who showed up early," Tristan commented beside him.

"We got front row seats, dude! We couldn't just waltz on forward after everyone'd gotten here! I bet some drunk dude would spill on my new jacket!"

"It's always about the jacket."

Joey grasped the lapels of his navy windbreaker. "You wish you could have a bomb-ass jacket like-"

"Stop it," Téa said. "First of all, no more bickering. Second of all, could you take off those paper crown things? They're creeping me out."

Joey's finger grazed the strap on his forehead. The stands had been giving out the designs to match Yugi's wild hairstyle. Joey said, "No chance. We're showing our support for Yug loud 'n' proud!"

Téa dragged her palm over her face, and it had no effect on Joey's grin. Tristan said, "Hey, guys… don't you think it's weird how this seat isn't taken yet?"

All eyes landed on the empty spot beside them. Joey said, "Poor sucker prolly got stuck in traffic. This's why I got here early!"

Melodies trumpeted from the loudspeakers, and smoke poured from an entryway below the trio. Joey leapt to his feet. The jumbotron displayed the name Yugi Muto, and clips from Battle City played. The MC on the mic announced, "Introducing the man who needs no introduction, the King of Games himself, Yuuugi Muuuutooooo!"

The legend himself strode towards the center of the arena. The jacket draped over his shoulders flowed behind him like a cape. His Puzzle glinted in the sunlight. Yugi's expression was solemn as it had been since the loss. Joey saw a spark he didn't before, though; he noticed the determination that had sprouted in Yugi since Joey had told him his match would be against you-know-who.

The crowd roared and the trio joined in. After they died down, a familiar voice piped up, "Goodness! Looks like I made it right in the nick of time!"

Joey and Tristan were stunned into silence. Téa managed, "B-Bakura? Why are you here? You said you were on vacation!"

"My sincerest apologies," he said with that usual smile of his. Joey couldn't shake the feeling there was something creepy about it. He scolded himself for letting the Millennium Ring impact his opinion of his friend. Bakura continued, "In truth, I've been in Domino City the entire time. I asked to get a ticket near to yours so I could talk to you all again. I- gosh, I'm nervous, but I'd like to tell you the whole truth."

Joey squinted. "Whole truth about what, exactly?"

"Of what I've been going through, and why the main reason I'm here is less to see Yugi win again and more to see her."

"Her who?" Tristan said.

"And his opponent!" the MC shouted. "Rahlin Orichalcum!"

The chick appeared as uncomfortable as she always did. She had a tight hold on her tie as she crossed the arena. Her focus was on her moving feet. Joey said, "Tell me you don't mean the chick."

Bakura answered with a wider smile. "I understand you are not partial to her, but I'd like to explain why I am."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Rahlin struggled to reach center stage and not on the fault of her leg. Thousands of people were shouting and most booing her entrance. The extreme noise rattled Rahlin's thoughts. She wished she could shrink and knew it would do no good at the same time.

Another pair of feet entered her vision, so she stopped. Rahlin met the prince's eyes. "I don't need to shuffle your deck. I would like to share a handshake prior, however, to show we duel in good spirits."

Rahlin offered her free hand. The prince considered it one second, two, three, and clapped his hand with hers. Her gloved fingers skimmed over the cards she had left in his palm as she released. "Good luck."

His pupils shrank between his amethyst irises as he observed what he was left with. "This is- how-"

Her cane thunked with her steps back towards her side of the field. Her Chaos duel disk clamped on her left forearm, and she said, "I'll let you go first, okay, prince? As they say, it's time to duel!"

At the phrase, the audience burst out the matching chant. The overhead screen displayed both participants at 4000 life points each. The prince shook his head, and when he opened his eyes again, his astonishment had disappeared.

"If this is how you choose to speak," he said, "I will attempt to understand you in your language. I draw! My first move is to summon Queen's Knight in defense position, set a single face-down spell or trap, and end my turn."

As Rahlin drew the sixth card to her hand, she considered his speech. Instead of letting confusion tangle him, he worked towards understanding. She decided she could never regret what she had just done, no matter what outcome it brought about for her. "I summon Golem Dragon in defense position and pass turn."

A brown dragon held its massive claws in front of its snout as a shield towards the regal blonde woman in crimson armor on the prince's field. He drew for turn. "I summon King's Knight. By his effect, since Queen's Knight is also on the field, I may special summon Jack's Knight from my deck to complete the trio."

"Effect trigger!" Rahlin shouted. "Dragon Ice in my hand allows me to discard when you special summon to also bring him out! I choose to special summon him in defense position!"

The prince scanned the field. Rahlin found herself sweating despite his highest attack, Jack's Knight, being 1900, which was less than Golem's 2000 and Dragon Ice's 2200 in defense. She pressed her hand to her neck and figured she had been sweating all along. The prince said, "I end my turn."

"Mine. I summon Vanguard of the Dragon! Through his ability, I discard to boost his attack from 1700 to 2000!"

"The same monster from last time," the prince commented.

She nodded with a small smile. "Battle! Vanguard of the Dragon and Jack's Knight!"

The black lizard struck down the prince's strongest knight, lowering his life points to 3900. The announcer shouted over the mic: "The King of Games has taken the first hit! Will we be seeing his second loss ever, or will he strike back with a vengeance?"

"Turn end," Rahlin said.

"I draw, and my first action is to flip my set spell: Monster Reborn! I restore Jack's Knight to the field!" The trio of knights remained at their standstill with Rahlin's three dragons. The prince said, "There are three monsters on my field. You understand what happens now as a result of the choice you made."

Rahlin's throat tightened, and she stood stick-straight. A response would be appropriate, but she found herself unable to speak. Her shoulders hunched of their own accord as she awaited the inevitable.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Joey slumped in his chair. His stiff upper lip was unshaken by Bakura's tale. "Look, look, I get you're the angel who's all about seein' the good in everyone. I'm just not, okay? She's taken out Serenity!"

"And Duke," Téa added.

"And Duke! I can't forgive that chick!"

"Remember what Yugi said, though," Tristan commented. He and Téa were eying him with concern. Riiight. Yug had told everyone but Joey that the chick hadn't challenged Serenity.

"Your sister?" Bakura's eyes tilted down. "Oh, gosh, Joey, I'm so sorry. That must be horrible for you…"

"Ayy! Take your pity where we're not tryna hype up Yug!"

"Oh! My apologies. He appears to be losing, but it is in technicality only. Rahlin has built up a stalwart defense. By Yugi's talk, he has discovered his way to break through."

"What plan is that, though?" Tristan asked.

Yugi shouted, "I sacrifice Queen's Knight, King's Knight, and Jack's Knight!"

"Three tributes," Bakura said, breathless. "It must be…"

Light blazed from above Yugi. A caw like an eagle's rose above the crowd's gasp. He chanted, "Almighty protector of the sun and sky, I beg of thee, please heed my cry. Transform thyself from orb of light and bring me victory in this fight. I beseech thee; grace our humble game, but first, I shall call out thy name: Winged Dragon of Ra!"

A shower of gold introduced the soaring god. A blast of wind exploded from its spreading wings. Shining feathers captured and exhumed sunlight. The blue gem on its forehead sparkled, and a roar passed onto the land from its open beak.

"No way." Joey couldn't look away from the magnificent beast. "But- but his Egyptian gods got swiped!"

"I think I get it," Téa said. "Yugi looked really shocked before the duel, which I thought was unlike him. It would make sense if he had his god cards returned to him."

Joey's brow knit together. "Y'mean she gave em back? Right before their duel?"

"Oh, that makes sense!" Bakura said. "It would be the honorable thing to do!"

Joey thought there wasn't anything honorable about that chick. She was standing still with her chin held high towards the god she faced. Yugi said, "I will make you regret your decision. Your rashness will be at the cost of a majority of your life points. Your Vanguard of the Dragon is in attack position at 2000 power. Ra's attack is the combination of its sacrifices, equaling 5000. Winged Dragon of Ra battles Vanguard of the Dragon!"

Heavenly fire spiraled into an orb before Ra's teeth. It cawed and blasted the attack towards the chick's field. The black dragon held up its shield, which had partially melted by the sheer heat.

"I regret nothing."

Rahlin waved her hand as though swatting a fly. The attack's trajectory shifted and smashed into her defense position monster, Golem Dragon. Its pieces flew by her, the force of the attack stirring her white hair, and her life points remained untouched. Joey had to admit there was some suave to the maneuver.

Rahlin said, "So long as Golem Dragon is on the field, he's the only Dragon-type you can target for attacks."
"Very well," Yugi said. "My turn is over. See what you can accomplish."

Eying the card she drew, Rahlin placed it on her field sideways. "I summon Totem Dragon in defense position, change Vanguard to defense, and pass turn."

Yugi wasted no time. "I discard to special summon The Tricky to my field. Through Tricky Spell 4, I can send The Tricky to my graveyard to special summon three Tricky Tokens. I will now be tributing these tokens for a normal summon!"

"Three monsters again," the chick murmured.

"Ohhh, she's nervous now!" Joey exclaimed. "Do it to her, Yug!"

His tokens transformed into white orbs, which soared and shifted into a trio of rings. A light pillar shot from the earth. The stadium rumbled. The earth shook. The sky split. A blue fist smashed through the pillar, dissipating the luminescence.

"Welcome a god of almighty strength: the one and only Obelisk the Tormentor!" Yugi shouted. "Now, I activate Ra's special ability. By offering 1000 life, I can destroy a monster of my choosing. Totem Dragon is seared!"

Ra cawed to the sun, and a flare curled down to smite Totem Dragon. Yugi announced, "Battle Phase begin! Winged Dragon of Ra attacks Vanguard of the Dragon, and Obelisk the Tormentor attacks Dragon Ice!"

A flurry of fire and fists later, Rahlin's field was empty. Her face was impassive even as her line of defenses crumbled. Yugi said, "On Main Phase 2, I play the last card in my hand: Card of Sanctity. We both draw until we have six cards."

"You're giving me more resources?"

"Yes, but I am assured to gain more than you, since you had two cards and I had none," Yugi explained. "There is an inherent bet in the spell that gambles on me gaining more than you, which I believe I have. I play Last Will. Its conditions are met because The Tricky was sent to my grave by Tricky Spell 4. I can special summon any monster in my deck so long as its attack is 1500 or less. I choose Watapon, in defense position."

"Whaaa?" Joey said. "That fluffball, of all things?"

"I'm sure he has a plan," Téa said. "He always does."

They were distracted by Bakura laughing. "My apologies, it's… it's a bit ridiculous to see. Two Egyptian gods next to Watapon! Oh, I'm sorry I'm getting so carried away, but I can't help it!"

Tristan and Téa joined in his laughter. Joey kept his stiff upper lip. "We're s'posed to take this seriously, guys! It's a big duel!"

Bakura and Téa stopped immediately. Tristan had to fake a cough to cover his continuing giggles first. Joey crossed his arms and focused on the chick dueling, who'd drawn the seventh card for her hand.

"On my Standby Phase, I'll use Totem Dragon's effect in the graveyard. Since I have no monsters, I can special summon, but she'll be removed when she next leaves the field. I'm discarding a level eight or higher monster to special summon Hardened Arm Dragon in defense position. Finally, I'll summon Magna Drago in defense, set a face-down, and pass turn."

"My Main Phase begins with the spell card Multiply!" Yugi shouted. "The requirement of the effect I desire is a monster with 500 or less attack strength. Watapon meets the conditions! I sacrifice him as the price for three Multiply Tokens, and all three will be used for tribute!"

Cloud cover built in the sky through speedy storm winds. Their hurricane-like force bent trees and tossed drinks from their holders. The sky was black within seconds. Blue lightning cracked the sky. Yellow lightning struck the tokens. Crimson lightning scattered the storm and took the form of a snakelike, winged body as large as the stadium. The monster growled from two mouths, and wherever its golden eyes glared, lightning struck as if from nowhere and everywhere.

"Slifer the Sky Dragon graces the surface!" Yugi said. The Egyptian god spread its wings, and their black webbing blotted out the sun. "Its attack strength is dependent on my current hand size, which is four! Slifer has 4000 attack and defense points!"

The god trio glowered at Rahlin's field. Their 4000, 4000, and 5000 attack strength made her minor monsters appear as dust beneath the gods' trampling. Yugi thrust his arm forward as he commanded, "Slifer the Sky Dragon destroys Totem Dragon! Obelisk the Tormentor eliminates Hardened Arm Dragon! Winged Dragon of Ra razes Magna Drago!"

A cobalt ray of lightning fried the smallest dragon. Obelisk crushed the armor-covered lizard in his fist. A volley of flaming feathers shattered the miniature red dragon. Rahlin's life remained untouched.

"What gives?" Joey said. "He coulda used Ra's ability to get rid of one of those monsters and wipe her out!"

"It could have helped, but she would still have her face-down card," Bakura pointed out. "Yugi would pay a cost that would leave him below half of his life points, while hers could remain untouched."

"'Sides, she can't hold on forever," Tristan said. "Only reason it worked last time's 'cause Yugi used Card of Sanctity. He was right about the gamble working in his favor. He got his last god. All she got was one more turn."

"Iunno, it doesn't sit right with me!" Joey said.

Téa rolled her eyes. "We all know your biases. You've been loud enough about them."

"If she had a way to wipe the field, don'tcha think she woulda done it by now?" Tristan asked.

"Facing all three Egyptian gods at once… I can't imagine it," Bakura said. "When I look at her, though, she appears entirely equipped to handle it. The gods' summoning, her monsters' destruction – she hasn't been fazed by any of it."

"Yeah, that's what's bothering me!" Joey said. "When freaky deaky Marik summoned one of them on me, I couldn't stop myself from shaking! Me! Joey Wheeler!"

"We know your name," Téa grumbled.

"Y'get the point, though! They have an effect on ya, like they're more than a card in a game. I know it sounds crazy, but… it's the way it is! That chick's been crazy nervous in every duel, so it makes zero sense she'd be fine right now, in the moment when she should be spooked to the max!"

Tristan grasped his chin. "Now that you mention it, you do have a point there. So…"

"So there's a plan," Téa finished.

"That's what's buggin' me!" Joey said. "She totally gave him back those god cards as a trap. I'll bet she's cheating to humiliate him!"

"I'm not so sure," Bakura said. "At the beginning of the duel, she seemed nervous as usual. Yugi shuffled her deck, so I don't see how she could have planned anything. Of course there are other ways – cards up the sleeve, for example – but it would be nigh impossible with thousands watching. Most importantly, it's nothing like her to cheat. She is not a cheater."

Joey coughed into his fist. "Opinions aside, I guess cheating would be difficult. Doesn't change that something's up!"

Téa flicked his ear. "How about you wait and see before jumping into cheating accusations, dummy?"

"She hasn't moved yet," Bakura said.

All attention turned to Rahlin. She leaned more heavily on her cane as she scanned the four cards in her hand. She shifted her weight as best she could, attempted to stand straight, and flicked a card into the rightmost spell/trap slot.

A mirror formed behind her. Its reflection depicted Yugi and his three Egyptian gods, their bright, primary colors a stark contrast to Rahlin's monochrome getup. "This is the spell card, Dragon's Mirror. It will allow me to Fusion Summon a Dragon-type using monsters in my grave as material."

"Make an attempt at Five-Headed Dragon as many have before!" Yugi challenged. "Its power can only equal Ra's!"

Rahlin snapped her fingers. The mirror cracked. The three sections it split into revealed white dragons. "I'm Fusion Summoning Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon."

"Impossible," Yugi said. "A Blue-Eyes White Dragon hasn't even been on the field! For Ultimate, you would need three in your grave!"

"And three I have. The first was cost for Dragon Ice's effect. The second was discarded on behalf of Vanguard of the Dragon's attack boost. The third and final was sent to the grave for Hardened Arm Dragon's special summoning."

Yugi's eyes widened. "You've been working towards this from the beginning."

Rahlin smirked. Glass shattered. Three heads tore through the mirror, and the sheer force of the dragon's existence broke the frame into pieces. Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon took flight above Rahlin. Her long locks were stirred in all directions as the dragon stretched its wings.

They were dwarfed by the Egyptian gods'. Yugi said, "It makes no difference. Ultimate Dragon is unable to overcome Ra's attack power. It may be possible to destroy, say, Obelisk, but the destruction of a single god is not victory for you. Slifer and Ra await to avenge."

"See what he's doing?" Tristan said. "He's baiting her into attack Obelisk so he can do that extreme ultra super move where he sacrifices the others."

"Correct," Bakura said. "If he tributes the other two gods when Obelisk is attacked, Obelisk's power becomes infinity. Rahlin would instantly lose."

"I hope this works," Joey muttered.

"Choose your attack target!" Yugi urged.

Rahlin's eye slid across, examining Yugi's field with disinterest. "No."

"You summoned it in attack position with no plans to attack? The gods will punish your mistake."

Cracks formed in her dragon as though it were made of clay. The gorges deepened and darkened. A neck fell to the ground and collapsed into sand. Rahlin tossed up her hand. "Tribute: Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon."

Her lone monster crumbled, and a zephyr carried the remains into the stormy sky. Yugi's eyebrows pushed inward. "You used the monster you worked so hard to summon as a simple tribute?"

"Simple?"

Rahlin laughed. There was no emotion in it. A blue flame blazed in her pupilless iris. Light shot into the sky from the distant Domino City slums. The luminescence cut the storm like a splitting black curtain.

Darkness scattered to unveil the azure sky. A droplet of light fell to the surface and landed within Rahlin. A glow emanated from her, and her hair lifted as though suspended in water. Her arm reached towards the sky.

Rahlin whispered, and it was heard across the City: "I beseech thee, Master."

Wings of light stretched from her shoulders. The world around her was but shadows by the sheer brilliance of the draconic wings. They expanded outward and rose upward. A dragon's silhouette filled in the body. The white dissolved to reveal its features. Yugi had no need to view the details of the card.

"Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon," he named, his mouth hanging open.

"He is honored to be recognized by the King of Games and Prince of Egypt," Rahlin said. "If you are familiar, it is no surprise what move I take next."

"Pffft. What move izzat supposed to be?" Joey said. "The dunce replaced the stronger monster with a weaker one! Thing only's got 3000 attack points! The other one could at least take out one o' the gods if she picked right!"

"There is more to it," Bakura said. "With as strict summoning conditions as specifically tributing Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, there must be."

Téa chewed on her thumb nail. "This is weird… Yugi's acting like he's seen that dragon before. I think I have, too, but it's hazy like a dream – or a nightmare."

Yugi said, "The attack increase. You gain 300 for each Dragon-type in your grave, but that has only brought Shining Dragon to 4800 attack. You lack the power to destroy the god that is Ra."

Rahlin faced her palm to the earth and said, "I exist to defy gods. Ability activate! Through dissimilation will the world be born anew!"

Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon soared towards the sun. A blue bubble encapsulated its body and emitted a soft glow. The dragon cried out as it fell towards the stadium like a bright and burning meteor. Through the blinding and deafening Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon, Rahlin's greater shout could be heard: "SHINING NOVA!"

A supersonic explosion shot azure flames like the blaze in Rahlin's eye throughout the field. Sizzles and screams filled the air until the unquenchable fire was swept away as blue sparkles in the wind. Silence settled as the crowd surveyed the field.

The three Egyptian gods, Yugi's strongest monsters, were gone. Gasps of awe and outrage followed. Yugi was calm in the moment. His eyes closed, and a corner of his mouth lifted. "I see. Shining Nova tributes your Shining Dragon to destroy all three of the gods. Dragon's Mirror and Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon were the two cards in your hand from the beginning. I never would have expected that to be your win condition – a Fusion Summon from the grave. Very clever."

Rahlin's gloved hands were folded over her cane. Her eye and hair had returned to normal. Her dragon was gone, and a lone face-down made up her field. She said, "I did not expect you to be pleased."

"I am, but not for reasons you would expect. You have revealed your true nature: Light."

She scoffed. "Light is not abstract. Nature is."

His smile was unfazed. "Go on with your turn."

"Eh?" Joey said. "What's he trying to say?"

"Prolly that he thinks she's an alright person," Tristan said.

"What, from summoning a shiny monster? That makes no sense."

"Only one person can explain the meaning behind Yugi's words," Bakura said. His eyes upturning with his smile told the story of what explanation he sided with, but Joey knew he was right.

He turned all his attention on Yugi. Gods or no gods, he'd seen his buddy pull off a thousand wins in tight spots before. Once he had, Joey had plenty of questions for him.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Rahlin swayed and righted herself. Lending her sleeping Master the energy she had took more out of her than she cared to admit. With the thousands watching coupled with the piercing glare of the prince across the field, she refused to show it. She tightened her hold on her cane and announced, "Trap activate!"

The single card on her field flipped up to reveal a row of graves and purple mist rising from them. "Call of the Haunted lets me special summon any monster from my grave in attack position. I choose Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon! Direct attack with Neutron Blast!"

Ultimate Dragon's triple heads twitched as they built up energy. Their maws opened to fire twining beams of orange, blue, and green. The attack rushed towards Yugi. The blast halted and split into a multitude of streams.

A brown furball hopped in front of the prince. He said, "I discard Kuriboh to negate the damage."

Rahlin nodded, saying, "Turn end."

Before the prince drew, he cupped his puzzle, shut his eyes, and raised his chin. Rahlin wondered if he was praying or dreaming. In a graceful arc, he swiped the top card off his deck. He slipped it into his spell/trap slot instantly. "Dark Magic Curtain! I pay 2000 life points to special summon the Dark Magician from my deck in attack position! I set one and end my turn."

As a rushing stage curtain pulled back, Rahlin watched the prince's life counter. His monster had 2500 attack. His counter was at 900. With Ultimate's 4500 attack, he had doomed himself by placing it in attack position.

But he wasn't the type to make mistakes.

Rahlin drew and figured the best she could do was call the potential bluff. "Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon battles Dark Magician."

"I use my trap: Zero Gravity!" the prince said. "All monsters on the field change positions. Since you cannot swap positions during the Battle Phase, your attack is made impossible."

"In Main Phase 2, I swap Ultimate to attack, set a face-down, and pass turn."

Yugi's eyebrows lifted at his draw. "I play the Legendary Dragon card, the Eye of Timaeus!"

Rahlin's hands clenched. She squeaked, "Timaeus?"

A cobalt dragon clawed out of the matching color card. He stood tall on all fours and flapped his wings. His right eye was marred and scarred over by lighter blue skin. His single eye met mine. My breath caught. Our gazes were locked for a century in a second.

Timaeus's scaly lips curled back over his teeth. Rahlin anticipated a growl. As his snout dipped and his eye closed, she realized it was the closest he could get to a smile. Timaeus stepped a paw forth and lowered his neck. Bright green enveloped his body, and the light shrunk into nothing.

"What?" the prince said. "He… he's gone. Timaeus abandoned me…"

The air was knocked out of Rahlin's lungs. The gesture he had performed was not lost on her.

Timaeus had bowed. Rahlin's throat tightened. She rapidly blinked her eye to fight the threatening emotions. She focused on her opponent and opened her mouth. She wanted to say something, anything to explain what had happened, but no words would form.

The prince shook his head as though to clear it. "I play Card of Sanctity! We draw until there are six cards in our hand!"

Both Rahlin and her opponent drew five. The prince said, "Now, I play the spell card Rebellion! I select one of your monsters, and it is forced into attacking you! Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon is my choice!"

Her three-headed dragon spun towards her. She yelped and managed, "N-negate Attack!"

The trap flipped up and shielded her from the blast. "I play a Ritual Spell known as Black Luster Ritual. With a tribute equaling levels of eight, such as the Dark Magician Girl and Beta the Magnet Warrior in my hand, I can Ritual Summon an ultra-powerful monster!"

Dark Magician Girl appeared above the prince. She held the little magnetic robot in her crossed arms and giggled. Their bodies shifted into yellow and pink energy, which spiraled into a pillar. The colors dissipated to unveil an armored monster with 3000 attack points. The plume on his helm was the shade of blood, and his armor was the navy of the night behind the stars.

"Now I shall activate a legendary Equip Spell that goes by the name Excalibur!" the prince exclaimed. His Ritual Monster dropped its sword and shield in favor of the large blade, which was easily half his height. "Black Luster Soldier's attack points double!"

The blade glowed white like Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon's scales. His monster's attack rose to 6000, which was 1500 more than Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon's. The prince pointed at her dragon, commanding, "Attack, Black Luster Soldier!"

The knight leapt into the sky, blotting out the sun for milliseconds, and fell with his weight on the blade. Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon split; its right half collapsed onto the ground as Rahlin's life counter dropped to 2500.

"Dark Magician!" the prince shouted. "Dark Magic Attack!"

The sorcerer twirled his staff and thrust it towards her. A crackle of fuchsia struck her. Rahlin's life counter dropped to zero. The sound of the flatlining duel incited rejoicing from the massive crowd.

Though it was over and the cheers across the world hyped her defeat, Rahlin smiled. She grinned like a fool and had a sparkle in her eye. She folded her cards back into her deck holder with pleasure and deactivated her Chaos duel disk.

"Good match, Prince of Egypt." Rahlin started towards her exit.

"Wait!" the prince called. He had dashed to her side of the field. She angled her head back. "I have questions. These god cards aren't the same copies as the ones I earned in Battle City, but they aren't fake, either. Also, the Seal of Orichalcos – you didn't have it in your deck this time, did you? Why? And how-"

"In two days," she said, "meet me at Domino Park's apple tree at noon."

He stared at her. The tournament MC strutted towards him, grabbed his wrist, and raised his arm. "Introducing your winner! The King of Games on the comeuppance! Yuuugiiii Mutooooo!"

In the commotion of cheers, Rahlin left the arena. Her exit hall was empty. She smiled to herself as she hobbled onward. Someone rounded the corner. He slammed his hand into the wall and hissed, "Impossible. There is one of those cards in existence, and I own it. You cannot continue to defy reality."

He flashed the Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon card. Rahlin said, "Reality is far beyond what you can see, Seto Kaiba."

His expression pinched with his snarl. His arm slid off the wall, and he stepped towards her. Running footsteps from the other side of the wall rushed towards them. A body barreled into Kaiba, tackling him away. Joey Wheeler posted up between them. "Ay! Cut it out!"

"You're interrupting a valuable discussion, Wheeler."

"Looked more like intimidation to me, Kaiba."

"Whatever," he said under a frustrated breath. "Neither of you are worth my time."

Rahlin watched him leave. She peeked at Joey to find him still glaring at the door Kaiba had left from. With a cough into her fist, she said, "Thank you."

"No! Nonono! This wasn't for you, okay. I just happen to hate him a lil' more than I hate you!"

"Ah," she said. "I supposed this is to call us even, then?"

"Eh? Even for what?"

"Never mind." She covered her smile with her hand. "I wasn't able to tell him earlier, so I hoped you could pass a message along to your friend. Big crowds get under my skin. If you could mention an appreciation for the spectacular duel we shared, I would be grateful. It was the best of my life."

"Uh, sure, whatever."

He was trying awfully hard to keep staring at the wall to their right. Rahlin cleared her throat and decided to save him from his misery. "Good-by, and thanks again, Joey."

"Hold up."

"Yes?"

Joey continued to avoid eye contact. "Did… did my sister challenge you?"

"Huh? Oh. That girl with your duel disk before the tournament. Yes, she did."

His head shot up to stare at her in the seconds following her answer. She held it, her brow furrowing, but she couldn't tell what was going on in his mind. Joey spun on his heel. His footsteps echoed down the hall as he exited on the arena side. Rahlin shrugged and pushed outside.

"Hey, kiddo." Mai was leaning against the fence separating the competitors' entrance from the street. Rahlin walked to meet her. "You look pleased with yourself. Weird way to take a loss."

Rahlin cocked her head. Pleased, happy, satisfied. "Defeated" was not among her emotions. She supposed it was strange to others. However…

She tossed her focus to the sky. The bright sun greeted her, no longer blocked by a god's storm, a dragon's wing, or a soldier's sword. She held a flat hand over her brow to shadow her eye, and she smiled to the bright and brighter day.

"Well, whatever it is," Mai said, "you might want to shift your headspace. Dartz called for a one-on-one meeting right after the duel."

Rahlin grimaced and clutched at her heart, which had sunk six feet under.

End of Chapter Ten

A/N: BGM: Wings - Other

Posting today to wish a very happy birthday to RoseWriter12 :D I appreciate you an incredible amount & I hope you have a wonderful day, spectacular year, and every dream becomes reality!

Next chapter, Rahlin must face punishment. See you then, and thank you for your support!