The card Reverse Trap is used in this duel, but its effect is different than its actual effect. In this chapter, it negates any increases or decreases to ATK and DEF. In real life, it switches increases to decreases and vice versa. This will be corrected in the future.

This duel, like all the others, was really played. However, I did take a few liberties, with some characters not playing the cards they'd drawn that would have ended the duel differently than I had planned. The duel is, for the most part, written as it was played, but I feel it's worth a note to say that I did do a bit of editing to arrive at the conclusion.

-

010 - Blake Fights Back

"Now, I've got a surprise for you," Becca smiled evilly. "I have a little magic card called Raigeki!"

"How did you get that card?" Blake cried angrily.

"Luck, I suppose," Becca replied. "But you know what this does: It destroys every card on my opponent's side of the field!"

"I know what it does all right," Blake growled.

There was a roar of thunder, and then two streaks of lightning struck the field, instantly destroying Blake's monsters.

"Oh no!" Blake said, gritting his teeth. "Now I'm open to attack!"

"Exactly," Becca smiled, "so I send both of my monsters to attack you!"

Ray and Temperature launched its fire blast and Doma slashed its scythe, both attacks connecting with Blake and sending simulated pain through his body.

BLAKE: 4200LP

"It's your turn, now," Becca said smugly.

Blake drew his next card. "I'll activate my trap, Ultimate Offering." Blake's face down card flipped up, revealing a smiling, fat green goblin. "It allows me to summon more than one monster per turn at the cost of only 500 Life Points."

"Now, I summon Neo the Magic Swordsman!" A blonde haired man appeared wielding a shining sword. 1700/1000

"I'll also take advantage of my new trap card's ability by paying 500 Life Points to summon Rogue Doll!"

BLAKE: 3700LP

The green goblin sneered at Becca, and Rogue Doll appeared in a burst of golden light from the goblin's head. The Doll itself was simply the face, arms and staff of a statue, while the rest of it was purple robes. It hovered in the air. 1600/1000

"Now I send Neo to attack Doma and Rogue Doll to attack Ray and Temperature!"

Becca tapped a button on her duel disk. "I activate Waboku to protect my Life Points!"

Neo the Magic Swordsman fired a beam of mystic energy from his fingertip, blasting Doma's scythe away. With a clean sweep of his sword, Doma was destroyed. Rogue Doll lowered her staff, blasting Ray and Temperature with a magic beam.

"I might not have taken any of your Life Points, but now your field is clean and I have the upper hand. Let's see what you've got."

I have to admit, Andrew thought to himself, the moron isn't doing as horribly as I'd expected. Of course, I guess the rule change helped him. We'll see whether he's good enough to pull through this duel with such an obvious disadvantage in Life Points.

"I draw and activate my own Goblin's Secret Remedy!" Becca announced. "Now my Life Points will be boosted even more!"

BECCA: 9600LP

"Finally, I'll defend myself with this monster," Becca continued, placing a monster face down on the field. "I end my turn."

"I draw," Blake declared. "Now, Neo the Magic Swordsman will attack your face down monster."

The monster Becca had set appeared: A solemn woman in golden robes playing a harp. 800/2000

"You've attacked my Spirit of the Harp," Becca said. "That means you're going to be losing Life Points."

Blake sneered as Neo shot a spell at Spirit of the Harp that bounced off, hitting him and draining his Life Points.

BLAKE: 3400LP

"I'm finished with my turn," Blake grunted.

"I'll draw, then," Becca replied. She looked over her cards before shrugging. "I guess there's nothing I can do. End turn."

Blake drew and sighed. "With a defense like that, I can't do anything either."

"In that case, I'll draw again." She looked at the card and placed it on the field. "I set a card and end my turn."

Blake drew and shrugged. "End turn."

Becca drew and ended her turn as well. Blake did the same. Becca did the same again.

Spencer nudged Robert. "This duel was exciting, but now . . . not so much."

Blake drew and set the card, ending his turn.

"I draw," Becca said, hoping for something good. "Now, I'll activate my Magic card, Monster Reborn! This card will bring Doma the Angel of Silence back to the field!"

"That thing again?" Blake cried disgustedly.

"You don't like him?" Becca mocked. "That's too bad, because he doesn't like you, either! And he'll be happy to show you just how little compassion he has for you with this! Silver Bow and Arrow!"

A bow with a glimmering arrow appeared in the hands of Doma. 1900/1700

"As you can see, this card gives Doma a healthy boost of 300 attack and defense points, which leaves him more than strong enough to deal with your Magic Swordsman! Attack, Doma!"

Doma drew the glittering arrow back and unleashed it. It soared across the field, slamming into Neo's chest. Neo gave a final cry as he left the field.

BLAKE: 3200LP

"Geez, you didn't have to be so mean about it," Blake whined.

"Doma shows no mercy," Becca replied adamantly.

"Well, it's my turn now," Blake smiled. "I'll start things off by laying a little card face down for you. Then, I'll sacrifice my Rogue Doll to summon a monster face down. That ends my turn."

"Going on the defense, huh?" Becca pried. "Well, we'll have to see about that. I'm bringing Ray and Temperature back for more!"

The sun and wind combination monster reappeared on the field. 1000/1000

Now she has three monsters, Blake noted unhappily.

Blake's really losing field advantage here, Spencer thought worriedly. He's got to turn this thing around! Becca's great, but our defending vice president can't go down in round one!

"Now, Doma, show him your power!" Becca commanded.

Blake laughed. "Your Doma's strong, I'll admit, but some monsters are even stronger. Meet my Reaper of the Cards!"

A floating creature of dark robes appeared, wielding a scythe with a necklace of cards round its neck. 1380/1930

"You may have noticed that his defense is just enough to stave off your attack, but then take his effect into account. Not only is he strong enough to withstand your pumped-up Doma's strike, but he's also going to destroy your face down card - if it's a trap, that is."

"It is," Becca growled begrudgingly. "It is my third and final Waboku."

Blake shrugged. "Too bad. Looks like you won't be able to protect yourself this turn."

Becca watched helplessly as Doma pulled the bowstring and let fly the arrow. Reaper watched unexcitedly as the arrow flew across the field and, in one fluid motion, swatted it with his scythe, sending it hurling back at Becca.

BECCA: 9570LP

"That doesn't mean anything," Becca growled.

Blake snapped up his next card. "It means your turn's over. Now it's my move!" Interesting. Maybe I can use this card later. "Now, I summon Rogue Doll in attack mode!"

Another floating doll appeared. 1600/1000

"Now, I activate my trap card, Reverse Trap! Its effect negates any increases to a monster's attack for one turn."

A man in tribal robes and a stylized mask appeared. He danced onto Becca's side of the field and grabbed the Silver Bow and Arrow from Doma's hands, dancing around and chanting.

"Now, you know that when monsters of equal attack and defense meet in battle, both of them are destroyed," Blake smiled. "So I'll switch my Reaper of the Cards into attack mode and send my monsters on the assault!"

Rogue Doll rushed forward, her staff meeting Doma's scythe. After a brief struggle, both monsters were destroyed. Reaper of the Cards floated ominously above Ray and Temperature for several moments before slashing his scythe through the two of them and returning to Blake's field without a glance.

BECCA: 8190LP

Alright! Spencer cheered inwardly. Blake just won the field advantage again!

"I still have the protection of my Spirit of the Harp," Becca reassured herself. "So I'll begin my turn by drawing, and then I'll call my own Rogue Doll to the field."

Her copy of the monster appeared. 1600/1000

"I switch my Spirit of the Harp to attack mode and go in for the kill!"

Rogue Doll batted Reaper of the Cards' scythe to the ground, blasting him to smithereens with a spell. Spirit of the Harp played a strange melody that sent golden light across the field to lash at Blake's Life Points.

BLAKE: 2020LP

"That will be it from me for now," Becca chuckled, pleased with her play.

"I'll draw and place one card face down," Blake said, slapping the card he drew down onto the field. "Now I summon The Stern Mystic!" A wrinkled man with pointy ears and a staff appeared. 1500/1200

"Now, my Stern Mystic will destroy your Spirit of the Harp!" At his bidding, Stern Mystic leapt across the field with shocking agility and ease, smashing his cane into Spirit of the Harp like a bludgeon and destroying her instantly.

BECCA: 7870LP

"That was silly," Becca mocked. "You may have destroyed a monster of mine, but you left yourself open for attack."

"It was worth it to defeat that defender," Blake replied valiantly.

"We'll see," Becca replied darkly. "I summon Petit Angel and equip her with Silver Bow and Arrow!"

A little pink sphere with wings and a halo appeared, sporting a bow and arrow. 900/1200

"Now, my Rogue Doll will destroy your Stern Mystic, leaving a path for Petit Angel to hit your Life Points directly!"

Blake watched angrily as the Stern Mystic was blasted away and cried out as the holographic arrow flew threw his heart.

BLAKE: 1020LP

Blake has to do something fast or he'll run out of Life Points! Robert thought frantically.

Blake drew. "I'll set a monster and end my turn."

Becca drew. "I'll send my monsters on the offensive again! Rogue Doll, attack!"

"Not so fast," Blake replied, grinning. Another Stern Mystic had appeared, crouched with his cane in front of him for protection. 1500/1200

"That thing doesn't have enough defense to survive my attack!" Becca cried triumphantly.

"Not until I give him a boost!" Blake smiled. "Castle Walls!" His trap card flipped and walls burst from the ground, surrounding the Stern Mystic. "This trap gives my monster a defensive boost of 500 points!" 1500/1700

Rogue Doll's attack bounced uselessly off the walls, slamming instead into Becca.

BECCA: 7770LP

"Fine. Take your turn."

Blake smiled. "I will, thank you." He drew. "I set two cards, one magic or trap, and the other a monster. End turn."

"You can't keep this up forever!" Becca growled. "Rogue Doll, attack his Stern Mystic!"

"You fell into the same trap twice!" Blake laughed, flipping another Castle Walls.

BECCA: 7670LP

"My Petit Angel can still attack your face down monster!" Becca cried.

Blake smiled pityingly. "Now you're really not thinking. You've just attacked my Mystical Elf, and you're going to pay."

Mystical Elf appeared in green robes, chanting. 800/2000

Petit Angel's arrow glanced off, striking Becca for damage.

BECCA: 6570LP

"Alright!" Becca yelled in frustration. "Just take your turn!"

"Gladly," Blake replied, drawing. "I'll first lay one card down and then switch Stern Mystic to attack mode." The old man rose to his feet. "Stern Mystic, destroy Petit Angel!"

The Stern Mystic ran forward, slamming his staff into Petit Angel with tremendous force.

BECCA: 5970LP

"That ends my turn," Blake smiled.

"I draw!" Becca announced. "Now, Rogue Doll, destroy Stern Mystic!"

Blake shook his head. "When will you learn? My defense isn't the only thing I can alter! I activate the trap card Reinforcements! This gives my monster an extra boost of 500 attack points!"
Goblin warriors appeared with the Stern Mystic. They rushed forward to be blasted by Rogue Doll, and the Stern Mystic ran through them, destroying Rogue Doll in one fell swoop.

BECCA: 5470LP

"Alright, I'll set a monster and end my turn," Becca finished.

Blake drew. My Life Points have gotten low. If she has another high defense point monster waiting for me, it will be too big of a risk to attack it. "I'll set one monster and end my turn."

"I draw and play another monster face down," Becca said.

"Alright, I'll draw," Blake said, snapping the next card off the top of his deck. "Now, I flip up my face down monster, Hane-Hane! When he's flipped, I can send one card on the field to the owner's hand, so say goodbye to your newly set monster!"

Hane-Hane, a hovering bird with a grotesque face wielding a scythe, appeared, whipping its scythe through the air and creating a gust that blew one of Becca's monster back to her hand.

"Now, I activate a trap card!" Blake declared. "It's Two-Pronged Attack! I'll destroy my Hane-Hane and face down Mystical Elf to destroy your face down monster!"

Blake's monsters disappeared and a mechanical hand extended from the holographic projection of Blake's flipped card, ripping through Becca's final monster.

"Now your field is clear and you're open for attack!" Blake declared. "So I'll play a magic card, Book of Secret Arts!"

A book floating in golden energy appeared before the Stern Mystic, hovering in front of him, emanating light. The mystic was engulfed in the golden energy of the book and his points rose. 1800/1500

"Stern Mystic," Blake called, pointing his finger at Becca, "attack Becca's Life Points!"

Stern Mystic rushed across the field, slamming his staff into Becca's stomach. She cried out as her Life Points drained.

BECCA: 3670LP

Becca grimaced. "You got a lucky shot. I won't give it to you again!"

"Alright!" Spencer said to Robert. "He definitely needed to hit her Life Points, and he made a really good play there."

"Yeah, that was a good turn," Robert agreed.

The kid's right, thought Andrew silently. That was a good play.

"I end my turn," Blake announced finally. "Let's see what you've got!"

Becca drew. "First, I'll activate my spell, Remove Trap! It will destroy your Ultimate Offering trap card." Blake narrowed his eyes as his trap disappeared.

"Now, I'll set one monster face-down and play a spell, Swords of Revealing Light!" Becca's own copy of the card Blake had used earlier appeared, slamming three swords onto Blake's field and locking their attacks. "I end my turn."

"I'll draw," Blake said, snapping a card from the top of his deck. "I end my turn." A sword disappeared.

Becca drew her next card. "I set one card face down and play Ray and Temperature in attack mode!"

The sun and wind combo monster appeared yet again. 1000/1000

Becca nodded contently. "End turn."

Blake placed the next card into his hand. "I end again." The second sword disappeared.

"Draw," Becca announced. "I'll end my turn."

Blake drew. "I end again." The final sword disintegrated.

Becca nodded as she drew her next card. His field is open to attack again now, so I've got to play this one safe. "I switch Ray and Temperature to defense mode and end my turn."

"Alright, I'll draw." Blake picked up the next card. Looking at the card, he felt a smile come across his face. "Great, this is just what the doctor ordered." He held the card out to display it to Becca. "Goblin's Secret Remedy! It will give my Life Points a much-needed boost of 600!"
BLAKE: 1620LP

"Now I have room to move," Blake breathed happily. "Stern Mystic, destroy Ray and Temperature!" With a great thrust of his cane, Stern Mystic obliterated Ray and Temperature.

"At least he was in defense position, so my Life Points are safe!" Becca sighed.

"Yeah, but I'll get to them, soon enough," Blake smiled, "although, for now, I guess I'll just end my turn."

"Good, I'll draw." She looked her hand over. None of my monsters are strong enough to handle an 1800 attacker, but my Spirit of the Harp on the field can at least protect me until next turn. "I end my turn."

Blake drew, and a huge smile spread on his face. "I guess it's my lucky day. I activate a spell, Change of Heart! It gives me control of one of your monsters for one turn, and you've only got one!"

Becca sneered angrily as her Spirit of the Harp, still face down, disappeared, reappearing on his side of the field.

"I flip Spirit of the Harp into attack mode," Blake smiled. The golden robed, harp-playing woman appeared. 800/2000

"And now, my Stern Mystic and Spirit of the Harp will combine for an assault on your Life Points!" Both monsters attacked in their respective manners, Stern Mystic with a swipe of his cain, and Spirit of the Harp with an energy shockwave sent from striking her harp.

BECCA: 1070LP

"Wow," Spencer noted, "that's brought Becca's Life Points into the same range Blake's have been. He's really taken this duel away from her."

"Guess that's why he was vice-president last year," Robert mumbled.

"Yeah."

Blake pointed across the field to Becca, who was still reeling from the assault. "I end my turn and you get your Spirit of the Harp back, but you and I both know this duel's almost over. Take your turn."

It is almost over, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna let him have a victory, Becca sneered silently, snapping the next card from her deck. I still haven't got anything to beat him with! But if I don't play anything, my hand will have seven cards and I'll be forced to discard. I guess there's nothing else I can do but play a monster. Petit Angel will be able to defend me.

"I play a monster face down," Becca announced, "and that will end my turn."

"Like I said, the end is near," Blake declared again. "But before I attack, I'm going to even the score a bit more with Red Medicine, to give my Life Points a 500 point boost!"

BLAKE: 2120LP

I can't believe that, Andrew thought to himself. The moron has brought his Life Points back up to where Becca's had been. Perhaps he's gotten better since our duel.

"Now I play another spell card: Fissure! It will destroy your Spirit of the Harp."

Becca watched in horror as her main defender was sucked through a crack in the earth.

"Now, Stern Mystic, destroy her last monster!" With a swoop of his cane, Petit Angel was gone. At last, Blake announced, "I'm finished; you can go."

Becca drew, her hand shaking a bit. I've had control of this duel the whole time and he just ripped it away from me. Now he's sitting there with a powerful monster and I'm getting nothing! Her eyes lit up. My final defense card!

"Set one monster face down and end my turn!"

Blake drew. She might have a few strong defenders left, but at this point I have to take the risk. "I'll play my monster, Neo the Magic Swordsman!"

A humanoid warrior in green, stylized armor appeared, holding a beautiful sword and sporting straight golden hair that fell around his shoulders. 1700/1000

"Sorry," Becca called, "but his attack is too high, so I activate my Trap Card, Trap Hole! It destroys monsters that are summoned and have higher than 1000 attack points!"

A hole opened beneath Neo and, almost as suddenly as he'd appeared, he was gone.

"Whatever," Blake said begrudgingly, trying not to let the loss get to him. "I can still attack with Stern Mystic!"

"Wrong move again," Becca smiled. "Because it's another Spirit of the Harp, with 2000 defense points!"

Blake cried out in frustration as Stern Mystic was sent flying back across the field.

BLAKE: 1920LP

Controlling his anger as best he could, Blake spat, "End turn."

Spencer frowned. "Blake's been in control of this duel for the last few turns, but Becca just had a slew of good plays. It's shaken him up a bit."

"He can still win though," Robert observed.

"Come on!" Spencer called to his friend. "You can do it!"

"I set one monster and end my turn," Becca announced.

She's still on the defensive, Blake thought calmingly as he drew his next card. I'll win this. He glanced at his card. She's got me locked in place right now, so playing this guy in attack mode wouldn't be smart. I'll set up a defense - just in case.

"I set one monster face down and attack your face down with Stern Mystic!" As another Petit Angel fell Blake finished his turn.

Becca snapped up another card. "I activate Pot of Greed! It lets me draw two cards!" She drew both of them, fanning out her ample hand in front of her.

"Now, I've got a good play for you," Becca smirked, "because I'm finally getting rid of your pesky Stern Mystic!"

"How do you plan on doing that?" Blake asked confidently, effectively hiding his fear of the possibility.

"Because I have Soul Exchange!" Becca smiled. "This forces you to give up one of your monsters as a sacrifice for one of mine, at the cost of me skipping my battle phase this turn."

"No!" Blake screamed as Stern Mystic disappeared.

"Now, I summon my Gyakutenno Megami!" A sleek elven woman appeared with flowing green locks and a simple but beautiful golden headdress. 1800/2000

"It's too bad that I can't attack this turn, or I'd put an end to this duel," Becca murmured nonchalantly. "As it stands, you can go."

"Blake's just lost his strongest monster of the duel!" gasped Spencer. "Now she's got the strength on her side and the Life Point total is way too low for him to last much longer without pulling a miracle!"

-

Completed March 3, 2007