Chapter 11

LaKota Dark Cloud Versus Maya Ramirez

Both friends drew until they each held five cards.

"Maya Ramirez shall make the first move." said the announcer.

Maya drew one card from her deck.

"What luck." said Maya, "I drew Roar of the Wild Cats, now I can summon all five of the Wild Cats in my hand. So say hello to, Wild Cat Saber(FAKE)," a saber toothed tiger with 2000 ATK points appeared, "Wild Cat Tigress," the female tiger with 1800 ATK appeared, "Wild Cat Leopard," a leopard with 1600 ATK appeared, "Wild Cat Cheetah," another 1600 ATK point cat appeared on the field, "and finally Wild Cat White Panther(FAKE)." A white version of the panther Maya played in her last duel appeared, it had 1900 ATK.

"Whoa," said Joey, "did that girl actually fill her field on her first turn?"

"Yeah," said Stephen, "Maya loves to play rough."
"It won't really matter will it Yugi?" asked Tea, "I mean only one of her Wild Cats can attack per turn."

"That doesn't really matter Tea," said Yugi, "as long as she has at least one monster on the field LaKota will never get a straight shot at her Life Points."

"I'll now use the abilities of White Panther to replenish my hand with five new cards." said Maya.

She drew five cards and took one.

"I'll play a card facedown and end my turn."

LaKota drew a card.

"Well Maya you've started off this duel the same way you started our last one," he said as he took a card from his hand, "allow me to change things up with Perfect Darkness."

The air in the arena became cold and wisps of shadows appeared everywhere.

Tea shivered, "W…why did it get so c…cold all of sudden?"

"Maybe K…Kaiba forgot to pay the electric bill." said Tristan.

"I've never seen such a card before." said Granpa.

"Nor have I Solomon." said Prof. Hopkins.

Yugi and the Pharaoh remained silent as the duel unfolded.

"Next I'll play a card you're familiar with," said LaKota, "rise Dark Crusader!"

LaKota's black clad warrior with 1600 ATK appeared on the field.

"LaKota," said Maya, "correct me if I'm wrong but aren't all of my monsters still stronger?"

"They are now," said LaKota, "but I equip my crusader with Crusader Claw and activate his ability by discarding, the now DARK attributed, Darkblaze Dragon."

A metal claw appeared on the warrior's hand and his ATK became 2200.

"Wait," said Joey, "isn't Darkblaze Dragon a FIRE monster?"

"Perfect Darkness makes all monsters in LaKota's hand and on his field into DARK monsters." stated Stephen.

"Now I attack Leopard," said LaKota, "go Shadow Buster!"

LaKota's Crusader ran at the spotted cat.

"Go Wild Cat Shield." said Maya as her facedown activated.

Leopard switched to its 1200 DEF points which jumped to 1700.

"That doesn't matter because my Crusader now deals piercing battle damage." said LaKota as his attack continued.

It hit and though Leopard still stood, Maya's Life Points dropped to 3500.

"I'll end with one facedown." said LaKota as his monster returned to its side of the field.

Maya drew a card and looked at LaKota.

"Time out, LaKota." said Maya.

The crowd gasped.

"What's this," said announcer, "Maya has asked to pause her own turn."

"LaKota," said Maya, "I'd like to remind you what's at stake here."

"I know," said LaKota, "whoever wins this goes with Stephen to defeat Drago."

"Not only that" said Maya, "but the person that wins this duel has to be the one willing to sacrifice the other to get to that goal."

"What are you…?"

"Don't act so dense LaKota," Maya continued, "every time someone has been beaten in this tournament they've passed out. Which means…"

It finally hit him.

"To win this," thought LaKota, "I've got throw my best friend under the bus."

"By the look on your face I see you understand," said Maya with a sad smile, "let's continue."

"Wait," said LaKota, "I want you to know that even with that at stake I'm not gonna chicken out of this duel, and no matter if I win or you win I'll duel with all of my heart and I won't back down."

Maya nodded.

Then the pharaoh understood.

"Yugi," he said, "if LaKota wins this Maya's soul will be absorbed into Drago's ring."

Yugi gasped.

"Alright," said Maya, "I play Polymerization!"

The five cats on Maya's field jumped into a swirling vortex.

"Rise Wild Cat Feline Queen!"

Maya's best card appeared on the field in all of her feline glory. Her original ATK of 0 quickly jumped to 4550.

The crowd cheered at the sight of this powerful beast.

"Interesting how this duel is turning out just like our first one isn't it, Maya?" said LaKota.

"Yeah well let's see how interesting you find it when your Dark Crusader's on the receiving end of my Queen's Golden Fang!"

Feline Queen ran at the Warrior.

"To bad I won't be seeing it today," said LaKota, "go Negate Attack!"

A barrier blocked the royal cat's attack.

"Fine," said Maya, "I'll end my turn seeing as you can't deal me any damage."

LaKota drew a card and added it to his hand.

"I'll play my Card of Sanctity so we each draw until we have six cards in our hands."

They both drew and LaKota smiled.

"You know Maya," he said, "I've picked up some new tricks since our last duel and I'm about to you show one of them, go Double Summon. Next I summon Sangan."

The small three-eyed Fiend appeared on the field.

"Now I'll sacrifice the little guy to summon Dark Magician Girl."

The blonde haired and blue and pink outfitted Spellcaster stood on the field.

"Next I activate the ability of my Crusader by removing another Darkblaze Dragon from my hand."

The warrior jumped to 2800 ATK points.

"Now I send my Magician Girl to the graveyard and remove both of my dragons from play to summon the Sky Dragon Valkyrie in attack mode!"
Two lights shot out of LaKota's graveyard and wrapped Dark Magician Girl in a ball of light. When the light was gone the Spellcaster was revealed to be wearing a suit of armor that appeared to be made of Slifer himself. She held a long staff in her hand that had a green stone at the top. She had 2500 ATK points.

"What kinda monster is that?" asked Joey.

"That's one of the rarest cards ever created," said Solomon, "how did he get a card like that?"

"Isn't that the card he gave us to watch over until he came back?" asked the Pharaoh.

Yugi nodded.

"Now I play my Pot of Greed to draw two cards," said LaKota, "from which my Valkyrie gains 500 for each."

The monsters ATK jumped to 3500.

"I'll now set both of the cards in my hand facedown." said LaKota

Maya drew a card to begin her turn.

"That was a nice attempt to summon a strong monster," said Maya, "but my monster is still stronger. And now she'll be even more so by my equipping her with Wild Cat Armor."

Armor appeared on Feline Queen and her ATK jumped to 5250.

"Now my pretty kitty," said Maya, "Attack his Valkyrie."

The giant cat ran at the red armored Spellcaster.

"Nice try Maya," said LaKota, "but I activate my Negate Attack card."

The queens attack was once again stopped.

"Fine," said Maya, "your move."

LaKota drew, "What luck, I drew Card of Sanctity."

They both drew until they each had six cards and Sky Dragon Valkyrie's attack became 5500.

"Now who has the stronger monster?" asked LaKota, "But now I'll play two cards facedown.

Valkyrie dropped to 4500.

Maya drew a card.

"I equip my queen with Wild Cat Claw(FAKE) which will increase her attack by 600."

The cat's claws became razor sharp and her ATK became 5850.

"Now attack his Crusader!"

"I activate my last Negate Attack." said LaKota as facedown flipped face up.

Her attack was once again canceled.

"Your move again, LaKota." said Maya.

LaKota drew and smiled as his eyes went grey.

"I know that look," said Maya, "you drew your card didn't you?"

"I did and I think I'll put my strategy into play." said LaKota, "I sacrifice my Dark Crusader and Sky Dragon Valkyrie to summon Cosmo Queen!"

LaKota's ace card appeared on the field and his outfit turned white.

"Whoa," said Joey, "what's that about?"

"It's probably some special effect." said Tristan.

"Next I'll activate Cosmo Queen Infinity(FAKE). Now my monsters can't be destroyed by battle"

One of LaKota's facedowns flipped face-up to reveal an image of LaKota's queen with an infinity symbol on her head.

A blue aura appeared around Cosmo Queen and an infinity symbol appeared above LaKota's field.

"It's your move Maya." said LaKota.

"I'm sorry LaKota," she said as she drew a card, "but I think, my Feline Queen is stronger than Cosmo there. So I'll end this by attacking."

The cat once again ran at LaKota's field.

"Go Light Deflector(FAKE)" shouted LaKota as one of his last facedown flipped face-up.

Three weird ball things with faces appeared on the field with mirror's on their tails.

Maya's attack continued but hit one of the mirror things.

LaKota took no damage and the mirror thing didn't have a scratch on it.

"I should've seen this coming," said Maya, "it's your best combo."

"Yep," said LaKota, "as long as Cosmo Queen Infinity stands my Light Deflector Tokens can't be destroyed, and as long as my Light Deflector Tokens are on the field I can't take any damage."

"Then I play one facedown and end my turn." said Maya.

LaKota drew, "I'll play Monster Reborn and resurrect my Sky Dragon Valkyrie."

The Spellcaster reappeared on the field and her ATK jumped 4500.

"Next I'll equip her with Axe of Despair." said LaKota.

An axe appeared in the monster's hand and her ATK jumped to 5000.

"Now I call on the second power of my Perfect Darkness Spell card." said LaKota as wisps of shadows surrounded Feline Queen, "Now I can cut the ATK of one of your monster in half."

Feline Queen's ATK dropped to 2925.

"Now my Valkyrie," said LaKota, "attack with Sky Dragon Staff Blast!"

The Valkyrie shot a ball of colored energy at Maya's prized cat.

"I activate the effect of Wild Cat Claw," said Maya, "by sending them to the graveyard I can negate the destruction of my monster so even if I do take damage I'm still in the game."

The attack continued and ball of energy exploded when it hit Feline Queen. But when the smoke cleared Feline Queen still stood and Maya was down to 1425 Life Points.

"Yes," said LaKota, "but now I draw due to the after affect of this particular ability."

LaKota drew a card and his Valkyrie's attack jumped to 5500.

"Now I end my turn with a facedown." said LaKota with a bit of sadness in his voice.

Feline Queen's ATK returned to 5250

"Yug," said Joey, "what's with Mr. Capitol K down there?"

"I don't know Joey," answered Yugi, "he seems upset."

"I believe he's upset because he just drew the card that will end the duel." said the Pharaoh as he watched on.

Maya drew a card.

"I'll rid the field of your combo by playing Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Cosmo Queen Infinity."

The card shattered.

"Next I'll use the power of my Token Leveler(FAKE) to destroy all the Tokens on the field and deal the owner 500 points of damage for each one."

LaKota's Light Deflector Tokens exploded and dropped LaKota to 2500 Life Points.

"Now I play the Spell Wild Cat Slaughter." said Maya, "now I can discard my Wild Cat Black Panther to destroy a monster on the field and deal half of it's original ATK to the owner. So bye, bye Valkyrie."

The Spellcaster shattered and LaKota dropped to 1250.

"Now I attack your Cosmo Queen." said Maya, "Go Queen's Golden Fang!"

Feline Queen ran at her fellow royal.

"I activate Waboku."

Maya's attack was stopped.

"I'll end my turn then." said Maya.

LaKota drew and a pained expression went across his face.

"Maya," said LaKota, "I didn't want it to come to this but this duel must end."

"What are you…" started Maya until she saw the look on LaKota's face, "You drew 'her' didn't you?"

Instead of answering LaKota said, "I remove Cosmo Queen from the game to summon Cosmic Queen Dragon!"

The queens body became that of a dragon's, a tail grew from the end of her spine and it had a spiked ball on the end of it. Her robes became bony, hand-like wings and her crown grew larger and fused to her head. She grew until she was as big as one of the Egyptian Gods, if not bigger. The beast had 3300 ATK points.

Two ghost-like, feathered wings burst from LaKota's back.

"Whoa," said Yugi, "do you guys see that?"

"Ya mean the giant dragon?" asked Joey, "It's kinda hard to miss Yug."

"No," said Yugi, "I mean the wings that just appeared on LaKota's back."

"I don't see any wings Yugi." said Tea.

Maya stared up at LaKota's dragon.

"This is the card your father gave you before you left." said Maya.

"Correct." said LaKota.

"It won't matter," said Maya, "My Feline Queen is the stronger monster."

"I only wish that were true," said LaKota, "Maya before I do what I have to I would like to say it has been an honor to duel against you again, and I hope you will forgive me for what I must do now."

Maya gasped.

"I activate the final ability of Perfect Darkness. By sending it to the graveyard one monster on my field gains 1000 ATK for each DARK attributed monster in my graveyard and I have 4."

The Dragon's ATK jumped to 7300.

Tears ran down LaKota's face.

Then he heard Maya laugh.

He looked at her.

"It's okay LaKota," she said, "take your shot and win the duel."

"But…"

"Remember your promise LaKota. Now beat me and move on to your duel with Drago."

LaKota nodded.

"My dragon, attack with Big Bang Fireball(FAKE)!"

Energy was pulled into the dragon's center, and when it reached its peak a stream of fire shot out of the dragon's chest and hit Feline Queen.

The cat shattered and Maya's Life Points dropped to 0.

At first Maya smiled, but then she got a pained look and she fell to her knees screaming in pain as a white mist lifted out of her body and entered Drago's ring.

"Well that was a spectacular duel folks," said the announcer, "but the next match will be the final Wild Card duel. There will now be a small intermission."

LaKota ran over to his fallen friend and Yugi ran down to see if he needed help.

"Is she okay?" asked the spiky haired boy.

LaKota shook his head.

Yugi then noticed LaKota's outfit was still white and the wings were still on his back.

LaKota stood up and looked at Drago.

"Drago!" he shouted, "In the next duel you will be beaten and I will avenge Maya! You will regret ever entering this tournament!" LaKota then looked at Yugi, "Make sure nothing happens to her."

Yugi nodded.

The Pharaoh appeared next to Yugi.

"LaKota," said the Pharaoh, "the next duel means everything, but when you get out there make sure to keep your emotions in check and believe in your deck."

LaKota nodded and his clothes faded back to black and the wing vanished.

When the intermission was over the final duel began.

Well three chapters to go and then I'm done. Please read and review and I'll get to work on the next chapter.