Chapter 14: Monster Card Sharks, Part 2
The skyscraper overlooking Domino City. The letters of a blue "K" and orange "C" on the structure and statues of dragons stood. This was Kaiba Corp. Ash, Pikachu, Goofy, Donald, Yugi, Joey, Téa, Mai, Mokuba and Summoned Skull arrived. "So this is your brother's workforce?" Ash questioned Mokuba.
"It's headquarters," he replied. "This is where our adoptive father was CEO before Seto and I bought out the company." The animals were stunned to learn that Mokuba and Seto were orphans. Ash was just surprised that Mokuba had money to help with overthrowing their dad. "It's also where the Duel Disk was dreamed and later created by an outside department." What did these Duel Disks look like?
"We took off and put our Duel Disks away on word of the outbreak still going on," Yugi clarified. "No doubt Rex's was damaged and he threw his away after Weevil morphed into a Heartless Great Moth." That would explain why no Duel Disks were present when Ash and his team arrived. Mokuba brought out a card but gasped before sliding the card through the reader. "LOCKDOWN" popped on the LED strip.
"It's in lock down?" Ash gave a look back and found the explanation: Heartless...and lots.
"Ambush!" Ash announced where everyone looked to the swarm.
"Did whoever send these want an entire army on preppy boy in there?" Joey assumed. He forgot why Ash and the animals were there.
"They're after every world's princess, not prince." But hearing himself made him think as to why the swarm would be attacking. Tristan and Duke botched who the princess was. "Plus, it seems like they aren't after your sister!" If not, could it be Mai or Téa or a Monster with one of the duelist? Joey sighed in relief now knowing Serenity's life wasn't in danger.
"Boy, won't those hound dogs feel like idiots now that we know these guys aren't after Serenity. We can let little brother try to hack Kaiba's programs." Yugi stepped up as well as Joey, Goofy and Donald. Joey presented an orange card to the Heartless. "I don't know if this counts but I'm willing to try. Go, Fiend Megacyber!" The flash of the card blinded the Heartless and out popped a yellow steel machine standing like a human but wore a loincloth. Mai realized the facts of the new monster.
"I get it," she figured. "Fiend Megacyber can be special summoned if the opponent has at least two more monsters on their side than the one with that card. In a sense, the Heartless were Fiend Megacyber's ticket in." A wise move by Joey. Yugi would be the first to strike.
"Summoned Skull, Dark Lightning Strike!" he commanded. Summoned Skull released a powerful spark at the Shadows, Dark Balls and Armored but the strikes looked like it didn't work. "But how?!" It worked against Weevil.
"Aren't Fiend Megacyber and Summoned Skull Dark-Attribute Monsters?" Téa tried to remember. It didn't explain why the attack worked on Weevil and not the Heartless.
"Maybe they're immune to fiends like Summoned Skull," Mai theorized. Still, no explanation. Ash summoned his keyblade from the DigiWorld. Speed to him was key.
"We got this," Ash offered. Donald and Goofy reached Ash and prepared to attack. They weren't going to move.
"White Lightning Attack!" another voice roared out. Three enormous blue dragons emerged and shot a unified stream of shiny lightning, wiping the Heartless clean. The group felt relieved that they didn't waste energies but wondered who sent these dragons to attack. "I'm surprised you would use fiends to attack beings of shadows." Everyone turned to a tall teenage brunette young man in a sleek silver trench coat. "I thought the King of Games knew better about understanding how Dark monsters behave." Yugi gritted the back talk of the brunette.
"Kaiba!" he snapped. The brunette scoffed and came toward Ash, taking stock of the keyblade.
"I thought something seemed off when that green-faced woman messed with the Duel Disk Network. Something about a key used as a weapon. Didn't want to believe it, honestly...and that's not mentioning the anthropomorphic dog and duck." Goofy and Donald backed off and left Ash to fend for himself.
"I take it you want me to help get your networks going again," he assumed. Kaiba turned back towards the headquarters.
"Let's get inside." Listening, the group followed Kaiba as he entered Kaiba Corp.
"Sorry about Seto," Mokuba apologized. "His work has become his life and I do try to help out." Kaiba and work in a marriage of sorts? Before Joey and Yugi joined, they realized their monsters were still present...and too big to get through the door.
"I hate to substitute our monsters," Joey mulled. Yugi understood as they brought out both cards, one of them orange in Yugi's hand while Joey held a purple one.
"Thank you for your help, Summoned Skull," he praised. "I sacrifice Summoned Skull and call forth...Dark Magician Girl!" Summoned Skull vanished in a blinding flash and out emerged a blond girl in a blue garment and pink linens that covered everything from between the shoulders and thighs with a piece of a pink tutu skirt draping the waist. Her headwear looked like a crossover of a visor and a curved witch's pointy hat. She held a staff that had a gold swirl on top. She glanced over to Yugi, an urge to say something bothering her.
"Pharaoh, I sensed an unusual energy," she brought up. "Never one from before." From all Dark Magician Girl knew, that energy was from Ash whom she's yet to meet. Or it could be Maleficent.
"We all feel the unbalanced nature lurking inside Kaiba Corp.," Yugi acknowledged. "It's better to keep a strong defense with us." Dark Magician Girl understood but Joey wasn't ready.
"Before we go in, let me make a substitution myself," he wove. "Okay, I sacrifice Fiend Megacyber for my hard-hitter, Flame Swordsman!" Fiend Megacyber vanished in a flash and what stood instead was a grown man in a blue suit and an orange helmet. In the hand was an orange broad sword. "Keep your eyes peeled, buddy. That sword could be our lifeline." FSM slowly nodded as Yugi and Dark Magician Girl entered the headquarters. Inside a college classroom-sized room, women working on computers trying to divulge the reason behind the phenomenon with the monsters.
"The Duel Disk Network has been my pride since taking over my adoptive father's business," Seto explained. "Someone crafty to alter the network is a violation, not just to the world of Duel Monsters but to my pride and glory as the president of this company." Seto's taking this seriously. "When I saw a duel end with the loser morphed into that hideous mutation of human and Duel Monster through the Duel Tracker, I rushed to suspend all duels until the problems were resolved." A decision Rex and Weevil ignored.
"If only those two back at the shop listened, Weevil would've been in a better condition," Ash growled.
"Those two..." Seto groaned to learn about those who threw caution to the wind. He refocused back on the subject at hand.
"Have you tried resetting the Network or directing another program to fix the issue?" Goofy suggested. A frustrated huff told the crew that Seto tried those ideas.
"I've tried resetting the supercomputer to return the programs to normal!" Seto slammed fists on the desk. "Nothing so far has worked! I know there's a way to break the system to fix the issue...but what else is there to try?" Ash could hack away at the supercomputer to give up the ghost, but that would be reckless. He summoned the default keyblade and swept it around the room. The keyblade didn't react. Was Ash expecting to find a keyhole? Ash believed it was something he's been overdoing.
"Maybe I need rest," he thought. "I haven't had much of a chance to calm down since the Monster World with Genki." He believed he's exhausted himself through all the traveling. "That, or Maleficent hid this one pretty good." Let's not give credit without cause to present it.
"I'd suggest rest," Pikachu offered. Yugi, Joey and their new "monsters" arrived just as an alarm blared.
"What now?!" Téa wondered. Activity read on one screen noted by a computer operator.
"I'm picking up some strange activity around the Practice Duel Arenas," she reported. "Should I investigate it?" Ash had an idea on what the activity was.
"I'll look into it," he offered, startling the Kaiba brothers.
"This is my company," Seto scorned. "I make the decisions." Before Mokuba could ask what Ash could have in mind, the screens on all the computers became static. All watched on, hoping to get the screens functioning. That's when Maleficent popped her mug with a scowl of her own.
"Seto Kaiba..." she called out. "And the keyblade runt. Seeing me should tell you what I've done to your creatures. I want you to experience fear as you vainly protect your princess." The green-faced woman sneered and infuriated Seto.
"I thought Team Rocket had nothing compared to this witch," Ash murmured. "Hard to pull off 'even less' but Maleficent's done it." Right now wasn't really the time to offer compliments. Seto wondered about the message given from the villain.
"Perhaps you can explain what she means by a princess," he wanted answers. How?
"As do I," Dark Magician Girl added. Yugi had a theory and stood up.
"Perhaps someone who holds a power to unlock something that could end all that's existing," he hypothesized. "But who and what power could she be after?" Ash didn't want some guesses.
"Whatever the prize, I was given the task of protecting the princesses of the universe," he responded. "Not to forget the keyholes opened by her." Regardless of Seto's position, Ash ran off with Pikachu, Goofy, Donald...and Dark Magician Girl who flew alongside. Seeing the girl, Ash wondered why she tagged along. "What are you-"
"I told Pharaoh about a strange energy I was picking up," Dark Magician Girl informed. "You might know about it more than Pharaoh and his friends." Ash wasn't confident but felt that he could be the one to stop whatever this corporation needed.
"We'll know when we get there." As the signs pointed to the Training Arenas, the keyblade was aglow. "We're getting close." The glowing keyblade alerted Donald, believing...
"The keyhole's around here!" he quacked. They entered the "TRAINING ARENA" room where they stood on a catwalk facing an unusual field. The field had a large rectangle in the middle with 20 squares, 10 on each side line up in a five-by-two grid. Across from one end was the keyhole guarded by two helmeted Gigas Shadows. "Allow me!" Donald stood up and everyone stepped a foot behind. He stuck his wand out. "Blizzard!" The wand fired shards of ice, sniping the Heartless and releasing their hearts. "Ash?" The trainer stepped up and fired a beam at the keyhole. A few seconds and a click later, the keyhole vanished. Another world sealed.
"All in a day's work," Goofy giggled. "Hyuk!" That's when there was clapping. All turned to an old mustached man in a maroon business suit.
"So, finally I meet the boy the horned lady advised me about after resurrecting me," he gloated. The boy wondered about who he was. Seto and Yugi knew this man back with the computers.
"Isn't that Gozaburo?" Yugi wondered.
"That witch revived our father?" he stammered. "The nerve of her!" Gozaburo was Seto and Mokuba's old man? Gozaburo gazed at Ash and his friends.
"My adoptive boys have done so much since I lost Kaiba Corp.," he complimented. "However, I'll be taking back my company with this second chance to be alive." That's when he presented an orange card with 12 stars. It was a black stoned man who appeared to have an orb of energy building. "I've already sacrificed the pieces of Exodia and all I need to do is bring this card to the surface." Gozaburo turned the card to pray and everyone on the other side noticed something weird: the back of the card was pitch black. "Exodia Necros! Come to life!" A flash occurred and there stood a tall black statue which groaned and black vapors billowed from it.
"Exodia Necros isn't normal, and that's not including the infinite Attack and Defensive power," Dark Magician Girl stuttered. Finally, a challenge for Ash. He stood firm.
"I'm sure there's something to break down this titan," he grinned. Yugi and Mokuba appeared, the smaller one with a card in hand.
"Father!" he shouted. Gozaburo looked up to the young boy.
"Mokuba, how has your abusive brother treated you?" he sneered, hoping Mokuba would turn his back to his bigger brother.
"Don't listen to him, Mokuba," Yugi motivated. "He's trying to make you deceive your brother."
"I know, Yugi," Mokuba stuttered. "But... he's my father!" To Mokuba, this was family. On the other hand, Ash knew that Gozaburo wasn't who he claimed.
"Nope!" he chuckled. "Elder Kaiba is a Heartless. Dad's not really here." Gozaburo wasn't real. "Same goes for this black Exodia. One attack should put both down for good." Gozaburo mulled under his breath while Ash jumped on the battlefield.
"You will lose here, you stubborn boys," he growled. "Exodia Necros...Attack with Dark Oblivion!" The Exodia charged a shot at Ash but Mokuba drew first.
"That's what you think!" he roared. "I play Soul Release! This Magic Card allows me to remove five cards in your Graveyard...and I know which five. The Left Arm of the Forbidden One!" The left arm of Exodia burst to a rusted orange color. "The Right Arm of the Forbidden One!" Now the right arm changed. "The Left Leg of the Forbidden One!" Exodia's left leg switched colors. "The Right Leg of the Forbidden One!" Exodia's right leg morphed color-wise. "Finally, the head: Exodia the Forbidden One!" The head switched to finish the Magic Card's effect.
"Thanks a lot, Mokuba!" Ash cheered. "Now here's my move!" Ash charged at Exodia who released a blast of energy. Ash swatted the energy. KA-BOOM! The concussive blast looked bad but Ash stood like it was nothing. Dark Magician Girl got to Ash's side in which Yugi gave the command.
"Dark Magician Girl, let's stop Gozaburo for good," he smirked. "Love Magic Attack!" Dark Magician Girl fired a beam which ripped Exodia and Gozaburo askew, leaving nothing behind. It was over here. Ash put his keyblade away, satisfied with the finishing touch while Dark Magician Girl vanished, her duty complete.
"Guess Exodia isn't invincible." Exodia can end a match but one that remains leave a weakness.
"Sometimes the strongest attack doesn't need to be in attack mode. We should help him up and return to your brother." Mokuba nodded and both extended a rope which Ash effortlessly climbed. When Ash was back with the rest, an explosion from within. Mokuba knew where the blast came from.
"Back in the computer room!" he recognized. All returned to the room in shambles. The computers were totaled, everyone was on the ground and whatever did this got away. Seto struggled to stand. "Seto!" Yugi, Goofy and Donald tended to the rest, leaving Ash and Joey, clutching his chest.
"T...Téa..." he weakly muttered. "Flame Swordsman...couldn't..." Ash's confidence dipped and worry was his comfort to Joey.
"Take it easy," he eased. Joey relented, breathing to recover. Ash determined that Téa was the princess and Ash failed to protect her from Maleficent. A little while later, all were back at the shop where Mokuba gave an update on those hurt by the attack.
"Joey, Seto and the programmers are in stable condition," he informed. "They'll be off their feet for some time." Tristan and Duke were surprised about the discovery and absence of Téa, not Serenity in being the princess.
"This whole time, we thought Serenity was who Maleficent was after," Duke muttered.
"And now our buddy's in the hospital because of our mistake," Tristan groaned. Yugi, shrinking back to normal, felt just as admissible about letting their guard down with defending Téa. Tristan and Duke had no ground to stand on with the details since they chose the wrong girl.
"I guess all we can do is hope for Téa's safe return," Serenity moaned. Yugi and Ash nodded. That's when Serenity brought out a card. "Ash, thank you for helping Domino City with the infestation of Duel Monsters. Joey wanted you to have this. He said it was glowing from his deck." Handed the card, he examined the picture of a reddish-brown scaly dragon with enormously huge claws. The name sealed the deal.
"The Claw of Hermos," he read. Suddenly, the card pulsed. Goofy and Donald thought Ash was getting a new keyblade to his arsenal. A flash blinded the room. After the flash, all looked to Ash who held a new keyblade: dragon scales around the ring protecting the handle and the hilt. The prongs appeared like the claws from the picture. Examining the keyblade, Ash wondered what special abilities came from the new item. "Welcome aboard, Hermos. I may need you." No one had an idea about what happened to Joey's card.
"So he's handed a card and it becomes a sword... How?" Duke gawked, rather puzzled. Serenity wasn't done.
"Promise all of us that you'll bring Téa back," she softly urged. A nod from all four travelers accepted the promise Serenity issued. They left for the Gummi Ship, Ash in need of some rest. Before getting on, Donald noticed Yugi coming from behind.
"Wait up!" he yelped. Donald and Ash spun to see Yugi approaching. "Glad I caught you before you left." Must have been important.
"What's up?" Donald asked. Yugi pulled out one of his cards and gave it to Ash.
"Dark Magician Girl wanted to go along with you. She felt that you needed some extra protection as you find Téa and everyone else that Maleficent took." This intrigued Ash. Dark Magician Girl providing help to those unfamiliar with the world? "As soon as Kaiba's recovered and the Network restored, we can begin dueling again." Good news but it didn't replace what happened to Téa.
"She may prove useful," Ash speculated. "I'll bring her back safely." On that exchange, Ash boarded the Gummi Ship just as it departed. In a lower section and out of his sweat-tee, Ash lied on a mattress gazing at Dark Magician Girl's picture. Was he doubting his words. "I wonder if Dark Magician Girl was actually real, not like someone posing a picture wearing that." That's when his eyes got heavy and soon drifted to sleep. Dark Magician Girl emerged somewhat visible as Tinker Bell, coming out of Ash's sweat-tee pocket, watched on.
"Ash..." she quietly called out as her ghostly body laid on top of Ash and appeared to give him a kiss... forcing jealousy to the winged blond. She raced after her but Dark Magician Girl vanished and Tinker Bell slammed into a wall. She fell on the mattress out like a light. At least Tinker Bell's getting some time before the next world is in need of rescuing.
TO BE CONTINUED...
(Looks like the next world will revolve around "Tangled." There will be humor so grab some padding for the next chapter. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.)