Chapter 11: The Third Alternate Number! The Idol and the Madolche Palace!

The day the Duel Carnival was set to begin had finally arrived, and Dusk remained as silent as he walked into the opening ceremonies with Yuma, Astral and Kotori. The other three paid him no mind, as to them this new silence was the norm since his duel against Yagumo. Despite countless offers to help him and reassurances, Dusk remained determined to save Yagumo on his own. Besides, he figured that if they found out he was really Altarger of the Barian Emperors; it would cause some major problems.

"HEART BURNING!" Heartland's voice rang over the excited crowd as he stood on a stage with a young pink haired lady. "Everyone, welcome to this amazing World Duel Carnival! Entertainment and Smiles are sure to be everywhere over this course of this tournament to find and crown the next Duel Champion!" He threw his arm out gestured to the girl beside him while pointing at the crowd. "And for our opening ceremony. a unique chance to duel with the famous Idol, Scarlett Starling is up for grabs to a lucky individual whom we will pick now!"

"Excuse me, Mr. Heartland," the Idol spoke in a overly cute voice; "I recommend that young man with the dark hair down there." She grinned cutely as she pointed at Dusk. "He isn't smiling at all, and needs to cheer up, and a Duel with me shall do just that!" She gave an overly cute gesture to accent her point as Heartland looked down at Dusk and grinned.

"My dear miss you are certainly right, this young man needs a smile on his face." Heartland grinned as he pointed at Dusk. "You there, young man in the black and blue jacket, come up on stage for you have been chosen to Duel with Scarlett in an expodidten match!"

"Aww man!" Yuma groaned. "I wanted to Duel her!"

"Yuma," Astral began.

"Shut up." Kotori finished as she pushed Dusk forward. "Go on Dusk, show her just how good you are."

"Fine fine," Dusk said blushing as he rubbed back of his neck and started forward. "For you Kotori-chan." Dusk sat his Duel Gazer on his face and walked up to the stage and stopped when he reached Heartland.

"Young man, what is your name?" Heartland asked jovially holding the mic down to him.

"Dusk Ryusei." he replied simply as he climbed up on stage and activated his Duel Disk.

"Dusk, I hope you're ready for an intense BURNING Duel!" Heartland said in his false jovial manner stepping back to the sidelines so that all eyes were now focused on Dusk and Scarlett. "Our Duel Idol is quite an impressive opponent. Well then are we ready?"

Scarlett grinned and activated her Duel Disk and held up in a salute. "Yes, I'm ready to draw into this boy's heart and extract a smile!"

"I'm good to go." Dusk said drawing his starting hand grinning despite himself. "MIght as well put on a good entertaining show."

"Good then!" Heartland raised his hand skyward. "Let's enjoy a HOT Duel. Ready, Set, HEART BURNING GO!" He declared throwing down between the two.

"DUEL!" Dusk and Scarlett said as one.

"It's ladies first," Scarlett said grinning. "So, I draw!"

Turn 1 - Scarlett

Hand: 6 LP: 4000

Dusk

Hand: 5 LP: 4000

I'll start by summoning my Madolche Mewfuellie!" A small cute pink cat appeared on her field.

Madolche Mewfuellie - EARTH - Level 3

[Beast/Effect] ATK/ 500

"My cute kitty has a Special Ability," the idol said giggling. "When summoned she can call out another Madolche from my hand. Appear Madolche Messogenlatto!" With a burst of what looked like chocolate pudding a cute young man with a delivery bag and medieval outfit appeared on the field and saluted.

Madolche Messogenaltto - EARTH - Level 4

[Warrior/Effect] ATK/1600

"Now Messognelatto activates his Special Ability, letting me add Madolche Chateau to my hand." A single card ejected itself from her deck and she immediately activated it. "I'll now Activate it, any Madolche's returned to my deck go to my hand instead, plus my cuties gain five hundred attack." The field turned into a castle made of deserts and both her monsters grinned and stretched as a green light covered them and their attack went up.

Madolche Mewfuellie - ATK: 500 - 1000

Madolche Messogenlatto - ATK: 1600 - 2100

"Next I'll activate Madolche Ticket, with this spell Madolches returned to my hand get Special Summoned. Then I'll Set one card face down and in the turn." She gave a cute smile and gestured to Dusk.

"Okay then, the show must go on I guess." Dusk said hand on his deck. "DRAW!"

Turn 2 - Dusk

Hand: 6 LP: 4000

Scarlett

Hand: 3 LP: 4000

"As my opponent controls a monster and I don't, I can Special Summon Gagaga Advance Guard from my hand." With a cry of "GA!" Gagaga Advance Guard leapt onto his field and raised his shield in a defensive stance.

Gagaga Advance Guard - EARTH - Level 4

[Warrior/Effect] DEF/1800

When your opponent controls a monster and you don't, you can Special Summon this card from your hand. Once per turn, you can increase or decrease this card's level by 1. You can only activate each effect of "Gagaga Advance Guard" once per turn.

"Next I'll summon my Gagaga Loli-I mean Gagaga Girl!" Dusk stammered out blushing as his initial declaration drew some giggles. With a cute hi and wink Gagaga GIrl landed on his side of the field.

Gagaga Girl - DARK - Level 3

[Spellcaster/Effect] ATK/ 1000

"I activate Guard's effect, once per turn I can raise or lower its level by one, and I chose to lower it." Guard nodded and tossed his shield aside as his leve changed.

Gagaga Advance Guard - Level: 4 - 3

"I Overlay my level three Gagaga Advance Guard and Gagaga Girl to build the Overlay Network!" Both monsters gave an affirmative cry and flew upwards in blue light and spun into a galaxy-shaped Overlay Network. "Oh great beast that haunts my nightmares, surge forth from the deep; come to my aid as my ally in my waking hours!" A bright flash of blue light filled the area. "Xyz Summon! Awaken Numbers 47: Marine Menace, Nightmare Shark!" With a fearsome roar Dusk's numbre broke from the overlay unit and dropped in front of him.

Number 47: Nightmare Shark - WATER - Rank 3

[Sea-Serpent/Xyz/Effect] ATK/2000

Heartland looked at Dusk with renewed interest as he saw his number. His lips twisted into a satisfied grin. "Found one" he whispered into a throat mike.

"Good, acquire it later after we see more." Dr. Faker's voice rasped back in his ear.

"Well my oh my it appears this duelist has a unique monster at his disposal, I wonder if our idol can handle it?" Heartland asked the spectators grinning.

"Let's find together shall we?" Dusk announced grinning. "Cause I'm feeling the flow now! I activate Gagaga Girl's Special Ability, when only her and another classmate from the Gagaga Academy are used as the materials for an Xyz Summon, I can reduce the attack of one monster my opponent controls to zero." Dusk pointed at Messolengalatto. "Guess your messenger is about to lose a few points sweetie, sorry." He apologized as Gagaga Girl materialized and tapped some numbers on her phone. "Down Dial!" He called out as she pointed her screen at Messogenlatto and faded away/

Madolche Messogenlatto - ATK: 2100 - 0 - 500

"You're feeling it now?" Scarlett asked grinning. "The excitement of the crowd, the cheers of the fans, this is what entertaining is all about!" She pointed skyward, "bringing smiles to everyone and enjoying yourself."

"Yeah I do." Dusk said grinning. "In fact I promise to make your defeat a truly spectacular show!" Dusk pointed at Messogenlatto again. "BATTLE! Go Nightmare Shark, attack her Madolche Messogenlatto!" With a consenting roar the monster flew towards her monster and bisected it causing it to destroy before reappearing on her field. "What? I thought we hit him!"

Scarlett - LP: 4000 - 2500

Madolche Messengelato - EARTH - Level 4

ATK/2100

Scarlett chuckled and grinned. "You did, but when Madolche monsters are destroyed and sent to the grave, they return to my deck;" she tapped her deck for emphasis; "however when my Chateau is in play, they return to my hand instead." She pointed at Dusk winking. "Which means?"

"Your ticket Special Summons it back to the field…" Dusk concluded his grin fading as he realized he needed to truly try here.

"That's right, my sweet monsters will always return," she winked at him again and held up a peace sign. "Cause you cannot slay cuteness."

Dusk sweat-dropped here. "Yeah...I can see that," he said nodding. "That explains why despite having to deal with a fool like Yuma all the time, my sweet kawaii Kotori-chan can get up every morning." Dusk's face turned into a stupid love-sick grin with a small bit of drool at this point.

Kotori who was standing next to Yuma watching the duel shivered. "For some reason I feel like someone is having a very inappropriate though about me…"

"Anyway, enough about that." Dusk said snapping out of it. "Your monsters may be immortal, but I can still beat you." Dusk sat two cards from his hand. "But till the time comes for me to end this, I'll just throw a couple of face-downs and end my turn."

"Hmmmm," Scarlett's mused as she watched Dusk closely. "So that boy has a sweetie~" She grinned mischievously as a number started to form over her heart. "I guess I'll use my newest monster to give him so motivation to make his move for her heart."

"It's my turn," she called joyfully. "I draw!"

Turn 3 - Scarlett

Hand: 4 LP: 2500

Dusk

Hand: 2 LP: 4000

"It's time for the show to really begin," the Idol announced with a small spin. "I normal summon my Madolche Anjelly!" With a splash of some pink jelly, a cute girl with long braided brown hair appeared on her field.

Madolche Anjelly - EARTH - Level 4

[Fairy/Effect] ATK/1000

"KAWAIII~" Dusk cooed out before remembering himself.

"Observation Number 11.5" Astral stated next to Yuma. "Apparently your new friend is incredibly weak to little girls."

Dusk sneezed snapping him back to the duel at hand. "I swear someone is talking shit about me…"

"Next I activate my Anjelly's unique ability, by releasing herself-" Scarlett began.

"Giggity" Dusk though to himself grinning stupidly.

"She can call out another Madolche from my deck." Scarlett finished. "I call out my Madolche Butlerusk!" With a splash of some random pink fluid a butler appeared. "Next, as I know a lot of my fans adore my cute Anjelly," the Idol said with a borderline flirty voice winking again as she held up a card in her hand and looking at the crowd; "I'll activate my Monster Reborn spell card to bring her back." Scarlett activated the card from her hand and Anjelly returned to her field.

Madolche Anjelly - EARTH - Level 4

Madolche Butlerusk - EARTH - Level 4

[Spellcaster/Effect] ATK/1500

"Now it's time for my newest trick as the stage has been set~" Scarlet announced spinning again and pointing at Dusk. "This one is for my special opponent to give him a bit of courage to go for that special one in his life."

"Wait what?!" Dusk screamed blushing.

"I Overlay my level four Madolche Messengelato, Madolche Butlerusk and Madolche Anjelly to build the Overlay Network!" A galaxy-shaped Overlay Network appeared in front of her and as her monsters flew in the number "34" flashed in purple.

"Astral she's got a Number!" Yuma exclaimed in shock.

"Yuma," Astral responded calmly. "Something isn't right here."

"Whadayamean?" Yuma stammered out.

"When the heart needs courage, and passion runs wild I hope this amazing entertainer can provide you with a newfound resolve!" Scarlett chanted as Dusk watched a look of abject horror on his face.

"No…." he groaned.

"Arise now," Scarlett continued as a massive explosion appeared and a slim silhouette appeared in a white light.

"Nononono."

"Numbers 34:"

"NONONONONNONNONONONONONO!"

"Goddess of Love, Madolche Queen-Pie!" Scarlett concluded as an attractive purple haired woman with the number "34" emblazened on the front of her gothic gown and grinned raising a scepter.

"DAMNIT!" Dusk yelled aloud as the crowd made a noise of sheer dumbfoundedness.

Number 34: Madolche Queen-Pie - EARTH - Rank 4

[Fairy/Xyz/Effect] ATK/1800

This card cannot be destroyed by battle unless it's with a "Number" monster.

Number 34: Madolche Queen-Pie - ATK: 1800 - 2300

"Astral…." Yuma finally said. "Didn't we already get Number 34 when we beat my teacher?"

"Yes we did Yuma." Astral said quietly. "This means…."

"What?"
"There are two sets of Numbers, and apparently those are what Dusk is after." Astral rested his head on his palm in though. "However the question remains….Where did they come from?"

Dusk stood looking in terror at the monster before as if experiencing a traumatic flashback as Cloud's voice came over his D-Gazer. "I just saw the energy of one of your Numbers, what's going on? OH MY GOD MAN!" His voiced turned from curious to hysteria. "How many of these are terrible walking perverted-"

Dusk cut him off as he remembered he could silence the call. "I guess I really can't hold back here."

Scarlett grinned the number "34" shining from her heart as she bowed with her monster. "It's time to get serious." She giggled as she pointed at her monster. "I activate Queen-Pie's special ability, by using one Overlay Unit, I can return all monsters my opponent controls the hand." The Queen swung her scepter around and struck one of her Overlay Units and Nightmare Shark vanished from Dusk's field with a panicked cry as it was covered with cream. "Then for each monster I return, my opponent loses one Spell or Trap." She pointed at the card on Dusk's left. "I'll destroy that one."

"I'll chain by activating my targeted Mystical Space Typhoon!" Dusk declared as his card flipped face up. "I'll be destroying your Chateu!" A whirlwind that obliterated Scarlett's field spell blasted from the card as it was struck with more cream and faded away. "Now we're even again."

Number 34: Madolche Queen-Pie - ATK: 2300 - 1800

"A little set-back like that won't stop us." Scralett countered. "I attack directly with Madolche Mewfeuille!" Mewfeuille sprang at Dusk and talked him to the ground hissing before leaping away and landing in front of the Idol again.

"Stupid cat…" Dusk grumbled returning to his feet.

Dusk - LP: 4000 - 3500

"But we're not done yet!" Scarlett announced pointing at Dusk. "I attack directly with Number 34: Madolche Queen-Pie!" The Queen gave a smirk and raised her scepter and caused Dusk to nearly be swept off the stage by cream.

"OH COME ON CAN WE PLEASE NOT THE SAY THE THING'S NAME?!" He screamed in frustration picking himself up again.

Dusk - LP: 3800 - 1700

"If you so wish it." Scarlett replied grinning as she held up a card in her hand. "Next as a Madolche Xyz monster inflicted damage to my opponent, I can discard Madolche Bagelmeister to halve my opponent's life points."

"You have got to be fu-ARRGGGHHH!" Dusk's response was lost as a large bagel weighing a ton fell on him.

Dusk - LP: 1700 - 850

"I'll end my turn here." Scarlett said with a cute smile.

"That's it…." Dusk said climbing out of the hole he was in. "I am so gonna enjoy paying you back chickie-poo." Dusk's face was hard and serious again as he placed his hand on his deck. "In fact, I feel like the light of judgment is due to strike!" Dusk's hand began to glow with golden light. "SHINING DRAW!" Dusk declared drawing from his deck.

Turn 4 - Dusk

Hand: 3 LP: 850

Scarlett

Hand: 0 LP: 2500

"Astral did he just?" Yuma started to ask.

"Yes I think he did…" Astral responded.

Kotori just looked on at the Duel. "Dusk….something about you...Isn't right…"

"I activate my Foolish Burial Spell card." Dusk declared. "I'll send my Gagaga Magician to the grave." A single card flew from his deck into a pit in the ground. "Next I'll activate the card I just drew, Gagagagrave Needs. This card lets me perform an Xyz Summon provided the proper materials are in my grave."

"What?!" Scarlett sounded surprised.

"From my grave I Overlay my level four Gagaga Magician, and Gagaga Advance Guard to build the Overlay Network!" A white and blue galaxy-shaped Overlay Network appeared in front of Dusk as two orbs of light flew into it. "Oh warrior who walks the greatest of balances, that of light and darkness, I bid you please come to my aid in this hour." A dark mist rolled in and a lone figure came walking out of it slowly as the number "02" flashed in purple amidst it. "Help me in my fight, Numbers 2: Knight of Balance, Twilight Knight!" Twilight Knight stepped forth from the mist and drew his sword.

Number 2: Twilight Knight - DARK - Rank 4

[Warrior/Xyz/Effect] ATK/2500

"Dusk's about to go for his Chaos Number." Yuma said in amazement.

"It's to step up this game." Dusk said grinning again suddenly. "I can see them now so clearly," he thought to himself seeing the chains of light linking him with everyone around him. "The bonds that bring us all together in this Duel, and now those bonds are my power to shape the world with." Dusk looked at Scarlett. "I thank you for this Duel, it reminded me about having fun-"

"That's great, no-" Scarlett began cutting Dusk off.

"BUT," Dusk continued, "it also showed me the path I need to walk for the sake of the future. And now I will demonstrate that resolve." Dusk raised his hand pointed skyward. "I Rebuild the Overlay Network with Twilight Knight!" Twilight Knight rose his sword in salute as he sank into a pure white overlay network.

"Astral…" Yuma began slowly.

"I know Yuma," Astral said. "This is not Chaos Xyz Evolution, it's something entirely different."

"The strength of the bonds that tie us together bring light to the darkness," Dusk chanted glowing with a white light; "and guide the lost soul of this knight home once more." A bright flash of black light filled the area before being replaced with a pillar of blue light. "Going Shiny Xyz Evolution! Bringer of Justice and Power, Shining Numbers 2: Bringer of Hope, Knight of Light!" With a silent dignity a knight in a newly polished blue chainmail armor drew his sword and saluted his opponent.

Number S2: Knight of Light - DARK - Rank 4

[Spellcaster/Xyz/Effect] ATK/2800

5 Level 4 Monsters

Cannot be destroyed by battle, except by a "Number" monster.

You can also Xzy Summon this card by using 1 "Number 2: Twilight Knight" you control (Xyz Materials attached to that card become attached this card).

This card is always a LIGHT Warrior-type monster.

When this card is Xyz Summoned, reduce your Life Points to 1.

You can detach all Xyz Materials from this card to activate the following effects based on the number of Materials detached:
*1 or more: Reduce the ATK of all monsters your opponent controls to 0.

*2 or more: This card cannot be destroyed.

*3 or more: This card cannot be banished.

*4 or more: Halve your opponent's Life Points.

*5 or more: You win the Duel.

Dusk stood there glowing with light and grinning at the shock he had sent through the audience. "When I perform a Shiny Xyz Evolution to summon Shining Number 2: Knight of Light, my life is cut down to one."

Dusk - LP: 850 - 1

"Why did he cut his own life so much?!" Yuma's voice rang out.

"Yuma," Astral began as he kept his eyes on Dusk. "I think staying silent and watching is our best bet."

"You cut your life so much just to summon one monster…." Scarlett seemed confused.

"I activate my monster's special ability." Dusk's face lit up in a grin. "I'll remove all of my Overlay Units to activate three of his effects." Knight of Light swung his sword around and slashed all three of his Overlay Units and bathed both sides of the field in black light. "When I use one, a monster you control loses all of it's attack points." Madolche Queen-Pie groaned as she was bound up in a black cage of light.

Number 34: Madolche-Queen Pie - ATK: 1800 - 0

"Next, when two are used, my Knight cannot be destroyed, and finally with three he cannot be banished." Dusk's face turned into a brief sadistic grin before returning to his regular manner. "I'm ending this now. Battle Phase! Go Knight of Light attack Number 34!" With a silent solemn nod Knight of Light leapt forward and struck only the cage surrounding Queen-Pie causing her to swoon and explode; the resulting shockwave threw both players off their feet.

Scarlett - LP: 2500 - 0

WINNER: Dusk/?

Dusk stood up and slowly dusted himself before removing his necklace and holding it up, causing a small orb of light to emerge from the idol. The orb resolved itself into a single card and flew to his hand. "I'm seriously debating eliminating this card…." he muttered to himself before tapping a button on his Duel Disk. "Sorry everyone," he called out to the silent confused spectators; "but I need to do some major plot-necessary memory fixes here." A bright flash filled the area.

Scarlett came to to find Dusk kneeling next to her offering her a hand to help her up. "You okay? That last attack knocked us both for a loop."

She looked back and grinned as he helped her to her feet. "That finale was amazing. One for the records of Entertainment Dueling for sure."

"HEART BURNING!" Heartland announced. "There we have it folks, an amazing BOILING HOT Duel to kick off the World Duel Carnival!" Heartland gestured to Dusk. "This young man has just earned his first Heart Piece." At these words Scarlett walked over to Dusk and handed him a small red jewel. "Heart Pieces are the symbols of our bonds forged through Dueling, when you challenge an opponent, you must each wagger one; the winner takes all. In order to reach the next round, over the course of the next two days you must collect five Heart Pieces and assemble a complete Heart Container!" Heartland took a bow and grinned. "Now everyone please set off and let your BURNING HEARTS IGNITE A PASSION OF DUELING!" And with a flash of light Heartland vanished from the stage.

Dusk walked away from the stage grinning. "Well two things have been determined." He whispered into his Duel Gazer, once again connected with Cloud.

"And those were?" Cloud's voice responded.

"One, Heartland can make a hell of a showing for a Pegasus clone."

"Okay, I can buy that."

"Two, the memory altering device works perfectly. With any luck we can safely protect the general public from the dangers my Numbers pose."

Heartland walked down the hall and entered the main observation room. "That damn kid is good at changing things isn't he?" Faker's voice called down.

"Indeed he is, to change how not just how the crowd remembered the Duel ending, but how the Security Camera's caught the footage," Heartland sneered. "He might have you beat in terms of absurd devices."

"It matters not, if he wants to keep civilians out of the Numbers War let him." a third voice said as footsteps neared.

"Really?" Faker's voice asked in astonishment. "For you Yagumo, that seems a bit odd." Yagumo walked into the room and looked at the footage with an unreadable face. "It seems your humanity still exists afterall."

"No, it's not that." Yagumo said turning and walking off. "I just want him to be clueless that we are onto him, as in the end it will make me crushing him unawares much more interesting."

"It's time for the first round to begin!" A voice announced as Cloud grinned and donned his helmet. "The first Turbo Duel of the Heartland Dark Tournament will now begin.

Maltox materialized next to Cloud and looked at him. "Are you ready?" he asked.

"As ready as I can be. It's time for my new deck to shine." Cloud said grinning walking out into the midst of the cheering crowd.