Koros45 doesn't own Yu-Gi-Oh!, Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, or Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's
Chapter Thirteen: Dramatic Rescue
Once Mai was sure that the Amazons had left the cave, she turned to Belora. "Child, are you alright?"
The Harpy Girl blinked and looked to her. "I want to go home, but this dragon is alone. Mother won't want me to keep it." She said.
Mai sat close to Ocupete so the Pet Dragon wouldn't pay her any mind. "Your mother?" Mai asked.
Belora shook her head. "She never wants me to go anywhere. There's nothing to do on this island and it gets boring."
Ocupete blinked. "Did the Amazons bring you here?" She asked.
Belora nodded. "They did, but it was because of this dragon." She said. "Mother thinks the Amazons want to eat me or something like that." She said and exhaled sharply.
Then she looked at Mai. "Your eyes are like mine." She said, and Mai noticed that the irises were violet, just like her own. "What's your name?" The Harpy Girl asked.
"Mai Kujaku." The duelist said.
"I'm Belora." The girl said back with a smile, scratching the Pet Dragon's neck as she did so.
"Well how did you end up on this side of the island so fast?" Ocupete asked.
"That was easy. I was trying to hover about beautifully when there was a typhoon close by the island. I thought I would be safe if I stayed near the mountain. But the winds sent me around this area. Then I met the Amazons who showed me this." She paused. "I'm sorry if I've caused you all this much trouble." She said, eyes downcast.
Ocupete turned to Mai. "Can you untie me?" She asked.
"Oh, right." Mai said. She propped the torch against the cave wall and began working at the ropes binding the harpy's wrists.
"This situation is frustrating." Ocupete said. "Silene thinks you were kidnapped without reason. We thought it was because you offended the Amazons in some way. But it was because of this dragon. Why didn't you tell us or your mother?" She asked.
"Normally I can't fly that far." Belora said. "And Mom wouldn't believe it anyway. She thinks she's the last reminder of our heritage." she continued. "This dragon is quite old, but it's strong. The Amazons were smart bringing me to it."
"Well how are we going to get you to your mother?" She asked. "If the Amazons try to cage you, that won't go over well Silene."
Belora shook her head. "They'll try and take me anyway. They've visited me a few times, but each time the dragon scared them off." She said. "Since another harpy is here, I think it's alright if I left. It likes you." Belora told Ocupete.
Mai let out a "Yes!" as she undid the ropes. "All free now."
Ocupete immediately wiped off her face and arm of the dragon spit and shook her talons for a bit. "Thank you Mai. I've wanted to do that for the past twenty minutes." She said.
"Soon the Amazons will take me." Belora said. "What will you do?" She asked.
Then she stopped as a green flash ignited briefly, seen from even this far in the mouth of the cave. "What in the world?-" Mai said.
Ocupete grinned. "That's one of Yusei's summons. That means there's got to be a reason for it."
"Mai, get back." Ocupete said. "And Belora, we're going to switch places." She said. "I don't want any Amazons getting eaten by this." She said, approaching the dragon. "Too much of a mess."
Then a hand reached up to the mouth of the cave and an Amazoness appeared. She had a spear and short blue hair. "I'm here for Belora." She said.
The Amazoness looked to the ground and then grabbed Belora's outstretched talon. "Let's hurry. We don't have much time."
The Amazoness had Belora climb on her back and began scaling down the hill.
Then about five minutes later there was a cry coming from the village. Ocupete's ears perked up and she spun around. "Airo! It's Sister!" She exclaimed, letting out a cry of her own.
The cry was accompanied by a great surge of water, and Ocupete wished she could get a closer look.
"Mai, I think there's one of those duels going on outside. You want to watch?" She asked as she took Belora's place against the dragon's head.
Mai nodded and ran to the mouth of the cave. "There's Misawa and Yusei." she said. "Looks like they both brought out their aces early."
"Do you want a closer look?" A voice said. Mai looked up to see the original red-haired Harpy Lady look down at her with a smirk, a talon on her hip.
Ocupete sighed. "Sadly I have to watch this dragon. But please take Mai." Ocupete said.
"Well met, pretty human." Airo said to Mai.
"Good to finally meet my favorite creatu- I mean, favorite inspiration." Mai said, extending her hand for a handshake. Airo looked at Mai's hand as though it were a second head, but nonetheless shook her hand.
Airo blinked at the sight of the dragon and then looked to Ocupete. "Was this the whole cause of the squabble?" She asked.
Ocupete nodded and said a squeak and a series of chirps.
Airo nodded and chirped back. "Mai, I'm going to carry you down by the shoulders. Be still and you'll be fine." She said, before cawing something at Ocupete who nodded. Then Airo lept off of the cave mouth and with a flap of her wings, soared over the trees and landed, setting Mai down as they alighted on the other side of the broken bridge.
"Where are the Amazons? I didn't think they'd trust a man to stop Yusei." Airo said.
Yusei and Misawa looked from their duel to the harpy.
"They left to try and find Silene. And don't worry, Hippolyta's suspicious but she's also busy with the hostage situation." Misawa said. "They're scouting so they know where to take Belora."
"They are wasting time then." Airo said. "Silene will be where she always is. It is where she is her strongest."
"How is it?" Yusei asked Airo.
"Well Hippolyta's taken Keraino by the looks of it." She said with a scowl. "And Silene's daughter just got taken as well."
"We know why she wanted us harpies now. The Amazons discovered one of the Harpy race's old pets. A gigantic dragon. Only a harpy can control it." She said.
Yusei frowned. "Why not use the harpy girl then?" He asked.
Airo sighed. "Her voice isn't mature enough. Without a harpy there to restrain it, it will rampage in time." She said. "It is our responsibility to our ancestors to look after it."
Misawa seemed to get an idea. "What about singing it to sleep? The healer said something about a lullaby she used to sing?"
Airo blinked and slapped her forehead. "Gods, dammit! I forgot about that song – but it might work." She said. "I'll go try and get Ocupete out here if we can sing it to sleep." She said, and was off again.
Misawa nodded. "Alright then! I'll try and speed things along! Here goes!" He declared, starting his turn with a draw.
Yusei: 3400/0, Misawa: 2000/4
"I'll start this turn off with the Continuous Spell Card, Alignment Shift*! This card lets me change the attribute of one card on the field, or in the Graveyard, once per turn! So I'll turn your Turbo Warrior into a creature of water!" He exclaimed.
Turbo Warrior said nothing as the green wind icon of it's card changed to a blue one of water.
"Next, my Fire Dragon's effect! Get ready!" Misawa yelled.
"Once per turn, Fire Dragon inflicts burn damage to you equal to half the attack power of all the monsters you control!" Misawa said. "Double that if they are water monsters!"
Fire Dragon roared and sent out a heat wave throughout the area. Turbo Warrior roared as the red metal shell of armor it was in began to bubble up as though it was boiling. Yusei grimaced. "Hold on! I activate Star Shift! This card lets me return Turbo Warrior to my Extra Deck!"
Turbo Warrior nodded and faded away into six level stars that shifted into a straight line.
Yusei continued. "Then I'll Summon a monster of the same level, but it loses it's effects!"
"A Synchro Summon on my turn?!" Misawa exclaimed.
The pillar of light shot through the stars and Yusei began chanting again.
"Gathering power will turn into a spear that breaks the earth! Become the path it's light shines upon! Break it apart! Drill Warrior!"
Yusei's next monster was a mechanical warrior, clad in brown steel, and sporting drills sprouting from it's shoulders, ankles, and a giant one on it's right arm. A pale yellow scarf billowed from around it's neck (6/2400/2000).
"Since I returned Turbo Warrior to the Extra Deck, I'll take less damage from your Fire Dragon." Yusei stated, as the Fire Dragon's wave crashed into him, dealing him some burn damage (3400 – 1200 = 2200).
Misawa chuckled, looking up at the hovering Drill Warrior. "Your Warriors remind me of Judai's HERO's. He said. "But with it's effects negated, your Drill Warrior is a prime target for my dragon to incinerate! Attack with Blazing Inferno!" Misawa said.
The dragon made out of flames opened it's maw and flew at Drill Warrior. The dragon crashed into Yusei's monster, but Drill Warrior slammed it's drill arm into the earth and held on. Yusei grimaced as the battle damage occurred (2200 – 400 = 1800).
"I'll remove my Drill Warrior from the game to prevent my Drill Warrior from being destroyed." Yusei said.
Misawa chuckled and set his next three cards. "Well I'll just set these and call it a turn." he said.
Yusei nodded and looked to the duel disk before drawing his next card.
"You took good care of this disk. It's vintage where I'm from." Yusei said.
Mai scowled. "Are you kidding? Kaiba just showed off those designs before I left! It's not even supposed to be public yet!"
Misawa held up a finger. "But remember, time works different here." He said. "You all are, I predict, from different points in the same timeline. Ms. Kujaku, you look like you've not aged a day from your days after the Grand Championship. And Yusei, you look different. I can't put my finger on it but when I saw your Synchro Cards it confirmed it."
There was a rustle behind them as Airo and Ocupete landed. "The Pet Dragon is sleeping like a little hatching." Ocupete said with a tired voice. "We sisters have agreed on a plan."
Airo sighed and tapped her foot. "I need to get to the other side of the island. Can you hurry it up?" She said, frowning.
Misawa nodded. "Right. Can you envision where you need to be?" He asked the harpy. Airo squawked to Ocupete and then nodded. "Right outside Silene's roost."
"Well then step onto my field. You too, miss Kujaku, Lady Ocupete, if you're coming along." He asked.
Mai shook her head. "I'll go with you guys. We need to find the third sister.
Ocupete nodded. "There's a chance that Keraino is still in the Amazoness' Village. And we need all three of us sisters present if we want to face Silene or Hippolyta if it comes to that."
Misawa smirked. "Well then I'll use this on Airo by targeting Hydrogeddon! Inter dimensional Matter Transporter!" He yelled as Airo and Hydrogeddon vanished from the field.
"Now let's wrap this duel up!" He said with a grin."I'll use one of Seto Kaiba's trademark plays! I'll equip my Fire Dragon with Ring of Destruction, and then chain to that my Ring of Defense!" He yelled.
As Misawa did so, a trap and a spell rose from his back row, one a red ring with four explosives attached to the sides of it and another a green ring with triangular shields adorning it's rim.
"Ring of Destruction will destroy my monster and we'll both take damage equal to it's total attack points."Misawa said. "But Ring of Defense will protect me from the damage." He said. "Well fought, but it looks like I win." He said as the red ring around Fire Dragon's neck beeped loudly and the dragon exploded.
Once the smoke cleared, both duelists were standing, but Misawa's jaw dropped when he saw the score.
Yusei: 0 Misawa: 0.
Yusei held up a trap card. "I chained my counter trap, Joint Future to your Ring of Defense. By discarding my Junk Synchron, I negated your Ring of Defense and returned it to the deck. With no ring to protect you, we both took 2800 damage and tied." He said.
Misawa grinned. "Well done, Yusei. That was a splendid duel!" He said.
Mai sighed. "Are we done?" She asked.
"No." A voice said angrily. All heads turned to Hippolyta, who was alone, holding a large, curved blade.
"Your questioning may be a bit more in depth than you realize, Misawa." Hippolyta said as she pointed the cutlass at Ocupete. "I am not stupid. I know an escape plan when I see it. Since you failed to stop these prisoners, that task falls to me and my archers." Hippolyta said.
Misawa pressed a button on his duel disk and Hydrogeddon re-appeared from the dimensional warp.
Hippolyta growled and hurled her blade at the water creature, causing it to explode like a swollen water balloon on impact.
Hippolyta looked at Drill Warrior and the warrior descended to look at her.
"Face me, automaton!' She yelled, readying another sword. Drill Warrior responded with a grunt as he readied his main drill.
Yusei got to his feet and Mai was with him. "I have an idea." She said, before playing her cards on the duel disk on Yusei's arm.
"I equip Ocupete with Cyber Shield and Rose Whip!" Mai yelled. "And I'll give her an even bigger can of whoop-ass with the last equip, Airo Nail!"
Ocupete yelled as the armor Airo donned earlier formed on her, a thorny whip in her left talon, and in her right, a larger, dark black talon slid over her hand. Ocupete swung the rose whip around Hippolyta's ankle, knocking her off balance as Drill Warrior knocked her down with an uppercut from it's free hand.
"Now go! Find your sisters" Mai yelled as Ocupete nodded before flying off.
Hippolyta growled and rose to her feet as Drill Warrior parried her sword swings with it's large drill arm.
The warrior spun the drills on it's arm and was able to catch the swordswoman off guard with them as her blade was deflected by the rotating steel.
"They're evenly matched." Yusei said.
Mai sighed. "That's a problem though. The Queen can't be destroyed in battle!"
Yusei's eye widened as the Queen countered with an upwards slash and a punch to the chest. Drill Warrior groaned and tried to boost away.
"Now die!" Hippolyta yelled as she threw her blade at Drill Warrior, who suddenly vanished. The sword flew into ground harmlessly.
"I'll use Emerging Awakening to banish Drill Warrior until next turn!" Yusei yelled as his trap activated.
Drill Warrior vanished from their sight as six level stars shot a the Amazoness Queen, who knocked them away with swings of her sword. Hippolyta advanced on the three duelists.
Amazoness Queen chuckled and cracked her neck. "Yusei, you're a fool to face me in combat. Make no mistake, I will kill you here if you're the cause of this."
Mai frowned and played her own card.
"Sorry, Hippolyta, but there's more than one player on our team! Go! Gravity Bind!" Mai yelled.
Hippolyta yelled as a sudden shift in gravity sent her crashing to the ground.
"Yusei, that Gravity Bind won't hold forever. Let's go!" Mai yelled. "I want my harpies back. Your Speed Warrior is level two, so he should have no problem clearing a path!" Yusei nodded and summoned the requested monster.
Speed Warrior was off. The three duelists hot on his wheels.
Several Amazon archers were bowled over by the combo of Gravity Bind and Speed Warrior as Yusei and Mai dashed for the exit.
There was a loud roar and they paused for a moment. A giant white tiger was pinned down by Gravity Bind but still snarled at them.
"That's the pet Tiger." Misawa said, steering clear of the creature in question.
"Let's book it before it can catch up." Yusei added.
They ran from the village and Yusei realized there wasn't a way back he recognized due to the blindfold.
"Drill Warrior!" Yusei called.
With a flash, Drill Warrior appeared before Yusei and Mai, hovering in the air.
"Go and drill underground. I'll call for you when we need you."
The Synchro warrior nodded and started drilling into the ground with it's arm drill, and was in the ground in seconds.
"We need a guide." Yusei said.
Mai sighed. "Well, here's for a potential reunion!" She said.
"I summon Harpy Lady #2!"
With a burst of light, Ocupete appeared beside them, panting.
"What the-" She said, turning to Mai. "You took me away from the search party! I just found them!" She gnashed her teeth.
"Well" Mai spoke "Let's go then." She said.
Ocupete sighed and gestured to Gravity Bind.
"I can't fly with that, genius."
Mai frowned and removed it from the disk. "Now good?" She asked as the effects of the card vanished.
Ocupete nodded. "But it will also free the Amazons in this area."
"Then let's go!" Mai yelled.
Ocupete flew ahead and Speed Warrior followed. Mai, Yusei, and Misawa weren't far behind them.
Ocupete flew in a straight line to her destination and Speed Warrior was a blue and grey blur trying to keep up. Yusei grit his teeth as he pushed himself again. This much running was wearing on him. It made him miss his D-Wheel.
Eventually they caught up to the scouting party. There was a scream as Hahli fired arrows at Ocupete.
"Sister!" Keraino yelled as she stood beside Harpy Girl's wooden cage.
Speed Warrior broke through the clearing and sped towards the Amazons. Diana the swordswoman grinned and unsheathed her giant sword, pointing it at Speed Warrior. "Let's dance!" She yelled, charging at the warrior. Speed Warrior grunted and skated backwards, avoiding a few slashes and returning the favor with a handspring turned into a kick to Diana's face. The Amazon grunted and recovered, stabbing at the air as Speed Warrior landed away from her. Diana grit her teeth and began to charge again.
Yusei saw Tania run towards him and he had to fall backwards to avoid an obvious blow.
"How's Misawa?" She asked, slowly telegraphing another blow for Yusei to roll dodge. He recovered and breathed. "He's with us. You should ask him yourself. Hippolyta knows you had Misawa spring me out." Yusei said, this time taking some light jabs at Tania, who let the punches hit her stomach and grinned. "Well I couldn't just let her kidnap anybody who wasn't an Amazon, now could I? You'll have to hit me harder than that, Yusei." She said, still focusing on sparring with him.
Yusei sighed and tried to run around her, but her giant arms made that tough. "I'd duel you, but I don't want to move around any Amazons." Tania said. "Being type locked like this sucks though." She said, blocking a high kick from Yusei with her forearm bracelet. "Nice form though". Yusei blinked and dodged another punch, feeling the fight wear him out even more.
Meanwhile Mai ran to the cage that Harpy Girl was in.
"Good to see you again." Mai breathed, kneeling to untie the harpy. "Still can't fly?" She asked Keraino.
"I don't want to try it yet." The harpy said. "I don't want to damage it."
"Hey human, let me out!" The other harpy next to her yelled.
Mai sighed. "Right now that cage is a safe place and I'm not your babysitter." She said as she worked at undoing the ropes, moving behind the cage to avoid any potential arrows.
There was a great roar and everyone froze.
From the trail behind them, Hippolyta arrived, riding on the back of the white tiger.
"Now, who wants this big kitten to kiss them?" She asked, narrowing her eyes at the harpies and escaped prisoners.
Ocupete's eyes widened. "Gods damn it." She said, swinging the Airo Nail at the cage. "I don't have time for this." She said. Ocupete tore open the cage and freed the Harpy Girl from within.
"If you have the arm strength to fly all the way to the mountain, your mother is there!" She said, using the Airo Nail to deflect arrows from Hahli as she did so.
Ocupete sighed and grabbed her sister by the shoulders. "Follow me, girl." She said to Belora.
Hippolyta gave the command and the white tiger roared and jumped at Speed Warrior, claws outstretched.
"Now! Drill Warrior!" Yusei yelled as he turned away from Tania to look to the Amazoness Queen.
From the earth, a great drill emerged, and Drill Warrior slammed into the tiger with a head-butt. It sent both tiger and Queen flying as the warrior landed in front of Yusei, white scarf billowing in the breeze, and with drills pointed at his foes.
"This Warrior comes back each time you think he's down!" Yusei yelled. "It'll take more than that!" Speed Warrior skidded away from Diana as he took a stance next to Yusei and Tania as Drill Warrior stood before the two of them.
"My Queen?" Tania asked to Hippolyta, who recovered from Drill Warrior's attack and was restraining her tiger at the moment. "Is everything alright?"
"No." She said, turning to Tania. "I think Misawa followed your orders to break out Yusei." She said. "But at the moment we have bigger problems to deal with." She said.
Hippolyta looked to her foot soldiers. "Hahli, Diana. Watch the others here. I don't trust them anymore. I'm going after these harpies myself." She said and dashed towards the harpies on her tiger.
Mai growled as she suddenly had no transportation. "Yusei, little help?" She asked.
Yusei nodded and threw her a stack of cards from the duel disk.– Drill Warrior and her cards she'd used earlier. "Be careful with Drill Warrior." He said, as he turned to the Amazons duo who raised their weapons at him and Misawa.
Mai nodded, pocketing the cards as Drill Warrior swooped down to let her climb on it's back. She barely had time to get a good grip as it flew off after the harpies. She had to grab mostly with her legs as those shoulder drill spikes didn't look too friendly.
Ocupete cleared the canopy and looked down to her sister. "You alright?" She asked.
Keraino nodded. "Yeah. How about you, Belora?" She asked.
"I'm fine, no thanks to you and your sisters. Mother is going to be cross." The harpy girl said. Ocupete hissed. "Yes, well we're all very cross now thanks to your mother. But for now let's make our way to her." She said.
Belora sighed and nodded. "Very well. If you take me to her, I may give you favor." She said.
Keraino grimaced. "Just hurry. I don't like being carried this way." She said. "Not the second time in a week. Plus I can hear that damn tiger. It's keeping pace." She said.
The two harpies took wing. "Keep up!" Ocupete yelled.
There was a blast of fire behind them and they turned to see Drill Warrior fly in formation with them.
"Give me your injured sister. You can fly faster that way." Mai said to Ocupete.
"No. I'll manage fine. That monster is faster than us at flight. So take Belora to Silene. We'll catch up." Ocupete said, raising an eyebrow to Drill Warrior. "What a fast way to fly" She said before she cawed to Drill Warrior, who seemed to nod at whatever she said.
Belora shrieked. "No, I'm not going with that monster! Or the human!"
Mai grimaced and outstretched her free hand.
"Hop on behind me! This is a one time deal, girl." Mai said. "I'll take you to your mommy and then I'll get out of your hair." She said. Belora blinked. "Does that mean you'll go away?" She asked.
"Yes!" Mai yelled, trying to keep it together.
"Alright." Belora said, flying towards Mai. "But promise you'll take me to mother."
"It's a promise." Mai said. "But tell Drill-Man here where she is, please." Mai said.
"Oh, right." Belora said, whispering to the Synchro Warrior.
Drill Warrior nodded and flew to the mountain at full speed, Ocupete and Keraino flying behind them as best they could.
Mai flew through the air and held Belora's talon, hoping that this Queen would be less crazy once she saw her daughter again.
She neared the mountain to hear screams.
Airo and Silene were slashing at one another in the air. Airo appeared to be on the offensive at first, but Silene vanished and then re-appareled behind her. Then a green blur too fast for Mai to track. A crash was heard, and when Mai could see clearly, she felt her heart sink.
Airo was pinned to the ground and Silene was pressing her head into the dirt with her talon. "Idiocy. I knew you'd try and surprise attack me, Airo. But it was too stupid!" She said, with a chuckle, shoving Airo's face down further with her talon.
"Stupid!?" Mai yelled from Drill Warrior's back. "You are the one who is stupid!" She yelled. "Let go of the Harpy Lady and you get your daughter back!" Mai said, tightening her grip on the Harpy Girl's wrist.
"Darling!" Silene exclaimed, yet kept her grip firm. "I won't do any such thing until Belora is by my side!" She hissed.
Mai frowned. "Then I guess I have no choice." She said.
"Take us down." Mai said to Drill Warrior. The Synchro Warrior nodded and let her off, as Mai kept her grip on Belora's wrist, who struggled, clawing at Mai with her free talons.
"You tell that daughter of yours' to stop right now or I'll scratch her right back!" Mai yelled, making eye contact with Silene.
"Belora. Stop." Silene said. Belora pouted, but complied.
"There we go." Mai said. "Now I'll give her to you if you let the other harpy go." Mai said.
Airo struggled and yelled. "No, don't do it! It's a-"
Then Silene slammed her talon that was around Airo's head into the ground again and again until Airo stopped speaking. Her talons were barely twitching.
"You humans are really stupid." Silene chuckled.
She stomped her other foot and Mai sighed as the mirrors appeared from behind the rocks gain.
"Let me guess." Mai said. "Nightmare Tri-Mirror?" She asked, unimpressed as Silene multiplied into seven copies.
"Ah, you have a name for it, do you?" Silene said. "But it doesn't matter. You fell for the same trick I used to fool the other harpies and the Amazons. Now-"
She was cut off as Drill Warrior fired a drill missile at one of the mirrors. The drill fragmented into several smaller drills, which slammed into each mirror causing them to shatter and dispel the copies.
Mai chuckled. "You were saying?"
Silene growled as a seal appeared beneath her. It was light green and runes stared to glow with the same light all over her body. "I am Silene, of the first generation of the Harpies, and rightful Queen! I invoke this power and my ancient blessing of the Gods!" She roared as the seal shone with a light bright enough to obscure everyone's vision.
The seal pulsed with a blast of energy and a gust of wind started blowing violently. "Appear now, Simorgh! Bird of Divinity!" Silene cried.
There was a great shriek as a wail was heard from higher up on the mountain. Emerald wings spread wide open and powerful talons carved the stone where the creature landed, right behind Silene. It was massive in size, easily towering over Drill Warrior. With a blast of wind from it's wings, the winged beast sent Drill Warrior flying into the ground, unmoving.
Mai pulled Belora in front of her and backed away. "You wouldn't hurt your daughter." She said.
"Stop stalling." Silene said. "Go." she said and Simorgh let out a war cry, and stared at Mai with beady eyes.
Then a bone chilling roar was heard as the white tiger broke through the canopy, Amazoness Queen riding on it with her saber held high, gleaming in the moonlight.
"Silene! I would have words with you." Hippolyta spoke.
Silene laughed and her jaw seemed to unhinge, revealing more fangs and an almost gleeful sneer.
"Words! You just brought your pet tiger along for show?!" She asked, picking up Airo and throwing her to the ground. The other harpy stopped moving.
Silene lept into the air onto Simorgh's back and urged it forward, into the sky. "I'll kill you myself, then I'll live in peace with my daughter!" She yelled.
Hippolyta growled and pointed her blade at Simorgh. "That beast of antiquity will fall by Amazonian steel!" She yelled as her tiger pounced. Both creatures roared, struggling for their respective masters, but Simorgh had the size advantage. And Mai had no time to watch. She ran past the fallen Drill Warrior to Airo, pulling Belora along as she did so.
The tiger was bleeding and snorting in rage from Simorgh's pecks while the bird flew back to avoid Hippolyta's sword arm.
"Divine Storm!" Silene cried out as an orb of wind was created from between Simorgh's wings. The sphere twisted and blasted out into a spiral blast of wind that shot right at Hippolyta. The queen urged her mount to leap into the air, over the sphere, and jumped from the tiger's back to swing true.
The blast of wind blew the surrounding trees all down and caused the air to pop. Mai felt the pressure pop her ears and found Belora was grabbing her arm and shaking.
Airo staggered to her feet. "While they are fighting. Go to the caves. That's where the Amazon is. She should be alive. And that disk of Yusei's." Airo said.
Mai frowned. "What about you?" She asked.
Airo sat up and glared at the fighting creatures. "I still have some revenge I need to deal to Silene." she said, summoning Cyber Shield and her Electro Whip as she did so.
"No." Mai breathed. "You're in no position to do that. She almost killed you!" Mai said. "We're all going to the caves and then once we get this duel disk I can really cut loose!" She yelled.
Airo growled. "I am not your servant! Go to the caves! Take the brat with you!" She growled.
Mai sighed. "You're damn stubborn. Like me. Alright sister, just be careful." She said.
Airo tested her legs and arms to make sure she could move and looked to the battle. "I won't." She said and took off.
Mai ran to the caves. Strangely, Belora didn't have to be prompted to follow.
The caves were dark and Mai turned to the Harpy Girl. "Belora, can you see ok?" She asked.
"Yes. What's your name again, human?" She asked.
"Mai." Mai said as Belora grabbed her hand and pulled Mai along.
"I'm sorry Mai." Belora said. "I joked about being better than the Amazons and they took me away. I know that wasn't the real reason that they took me to the cave, but it must have hurt them. I though Mommy would get me, but she didn't."
She pulled Mai along and stopped. "We're here." she said.
Mai squinted in the dark and couldn't see. "I can't see a thing." She vocalized.
Belora walked ahead of Mai and came back with a duel disk she gave to Mai. And Mai heard a string of angry language come from someone else who had to be the Amazon.
"Of course my rescuer is the first captive!" The Amazon said.
"Easy." Mai said, struggling to reach the captive and help her up. "Are you alright?" Mai asked.
"That damn Queen is crazy." The injured warrior said. "She wasn't going to save me. The only reason I breath is that other Harpy cursed at her and made her angry enough to leave the cave. Shame upon my honor as I am to admit that." She sulked.
Mai paused and put her deck in the duel disk. The custom model lit up and Mai used the glow of it to see where she was going.
"Can you move?" She asked the amazon.
The blow-piper nodded and Mai turned around.
"Follow me girls, I've got some long overdue payback to give." She said.
The three exited the cave and Mai looked to the sky. She gasped as she saw Airo, still injured, attack Silene. She was wielding the Cyber Shield and the Electro whip, which kept Silene at bay. The Queen was letting Simorgh dive at Hippolyta, who had left her mount to divide her forces and focus on Simorgh in a two pronged attack.
Airo managed to chase Silene to the ground and she tensed when she saw Mai and the others where close by. Silene, who landed in front of Mai with a grin. "Well, Aero. Will you attack and risk killing the 'pretty human?'" She teased.
Airo growled and raised her whip.
"Harpies' feather duster!" Silene yelled, as four purple wings sprouted from her back and a gust of wind erupted that shattered Airo's weapons and armor. Airo yelled and slammed into the rock wall, bouncing off of it and falling between Mai and Silene.
"Belora, be a good girl and wait for Mommy to finish this, OK?" The Queen asked, landing in front of Maya and knocking both the Amazon and Mai down with a shove.
Belora said something and Mai heard Silene yell back, but Mai's vision was blurring rapidly. The Queen yelled and turned, leaping over Mai to join Simorgh again. Mai turned her head to see both Queens still fighting.
Then Mai felt a talon pull her up and she was looking at her favorite card again.
The original Harpy Lady looked down to the duel disk. "Can you give me power with those cards?" She asked.
Mai reached in her jacket pocked and looked to Yusei's cards and her own. Suddenly an idea came to her.
"Yes I can."
Airo helped Mai stand up and Mai played a card.
"I activate Elegant Egotist!" She yelled.
Airo glowed and suddenly Ocupete and Keraino were by her side, a little surprised to be standing on the ground, but glad to see her.
"Sisters!" Airo exclaimed as the two beamed to see their sister while they looked to Mai.
"Now, what do you want to do?" Mai said to the united sisters.
Airo looked to her sisters. "Take down both Queens?" She said.
The other two nodded. "Hippolyta needs to back off." Ocupete said. "And Silene needs to be reminded she's not the only Harpy here." Keraino said.
"Alright." Mai said. "Who's first?" Mai asked.
Airo frowned. "Hippolyta is the easiest to deal with right now. We'll work our way up. Play the magic to combine our attacks. We can do it ourselves but you'll make it way easier." She said.
Mai nodded. "I play Harpy Lady Phoenix Formation!"
All three harpies screeched as they were bathed in a blue light, that blazed into blue flames, The three took wing with Airo in the lead. It was a triangle formation and as the name implied, it formed a blazing Phoenix from the flames.
"Say your prayers, Hippolyta! Harpie Phoenix!" Airo yelled as the Phoenix crashed into the ground she stood on, sending her flying. The tiger howled and was also knocked back by the blast.
Silene laughed at the change of pace. "So all three sisters are here again? And so what? With Simorgh, my Divine bird right by my side, you stand no chance!"
Ocupete grinned. "I beg to differ. Last time you had amazons do your dirty work for you. This time there will be no ambush."
Mai looked to Drill Warrior's destroyed frame and played a card.
"I'll use Yusei's trap card. It's called Ghoul Summoner! With it I can revive a Synchro Monster, and a second one as long as I discard a card, then take damage equal to that monster's attack points!" She declared.
With two blasts of energy, Drill Warrior and Junk Warrior appeared before Mai as she sled Elegant Egotist into her Graveyard.
Mai groaned as a burning aura went from Junk Warrior to her as cost for Ghoul Summoner. She staggered, but remained upright as she looked at her next card. The problem that affected all of them would be the solution.
"And now I sacrifice Drill Warrior and Junk Warrior to call my deck's headliner!" Mai yelled. Both monsters faded as the ground began to shake. "Appear before us, Harpie's Pet Dragon!"
The two monsters vanished, and in their place, a shimmering, rainbow colored portal opened. From it, a great pink and black head emerged, triangular in shape, and accented by a gem on the top of it's head and a crown of black spikes, followed by a long pink neck. The head and neck rose up and a wide body, arms, and wings appeared. The dragon crawled out of the rapidly closing portal. It rose to it's on it's hindquarters and let out a roar, causing all Harpies to stop and look at it.
"The ancient pet dragon?!" Silene cried out. "That's useless against me! It won't attack a royal harpy!" She said.
Airo smirked. "Yes, but your big bird is another story!" She said as she swooped down in front of it and pulled at the chain around it's neck with a yell. "Pet Dragon, attack that thing with Fire of Saint Giga!" Airo declared as she and her sisters flew behind it in formation.
Harpie's Pet Dragon roared as it let loose a blast of continuous flame at Simorgh.
"Divine Storm!" Silene called out, panicking. Simorgh created the same sphere of pressure as before and met the fire blast with it's tornado pressure. Both blasts seemed equal and the resulting center of energy from the two opposing forces began to grow.
Mai chuckled. "Too bad, but I got something for that too! Fight fire with fire and wind with wind! Here's my Harpy's Feather Duster!" Mai yelled.
As with Silene before, four pairs of green wings sprouted from the backs of Airo, Ocupete, and Keraino. Each sister shot a smaller vortex to slam into the one that Simorgh created. With no where to go, the fire blast grew into a gigantic sphere of flame that encompassed both creatures. Roars and cries of both were heard from outside the burning sphere of fire. The three sisters flew back to see Silene fly above the fire blast. Then something fell from the flames. The charred body of Simorgh plummeted into the base of the mountainside, and once the flames subsided, the pet dragon followed it, snarling.
Meanwhile Silene growled at the sisters.
"Damn you! I would have triumphed if not for your damn pet dragon! I will pay for your treason in blood!" She growled. "And as Harpy Queen I am stronger than all of you." She said, brandishing her claws.
Airo spoke. "Maybe so, but luckily for us, we have something that will knock you flat."
"Sisters, now!" Airo yelled.
Each harpy sister began charging a sphere of electricity between their hand talons.
Mai's eyes widened as she saw the attack. "That's. . ."
The spheres connected with a line of lighting, creating a triangle.
"Triangle Estacy Spark!" All three harpies yelled as one as the lighting surged out of the spheres, catching her in it's wake. The lightning surged for about three seconds and Silene screamed as the blast of lighting overwhelmed her. She fell from the sky and landed roughly on all four talons, panting.
"I still have one last thing to do!" Silene yelled. "Spiritual Wind Art – Miyabi!" She yelled, raising a claw forward.
From beneath Harpy's Pet Dragon's grip, Simorgh vanished and a green portal appeared right above the three harpies.
"Embrace the Sea!" Silene yelled.
"Sisters!" Airo shouted as she pushed them away, as a giant vortex shot downward out of the portal. Airo was caught in the blast herself. The pressure of the blast was so great that all three Harpies were scattered. Her sisters were thrown in the air, but Airo in question was knocked straight down and could not fight it.
She hit the water and all was still.
Airo found that the sea was cold to the touch and so restrictive. She tried to flap her arms, but there was not strength in them. She had no chance of swimming back up to the surface. Yet her body was light and she did not continue to sink. She saw the moon dimly shining through the dark waters. And there was something else. A speck of gold amidst the darkness. She saw the pretty human swimming towards her, arms free of any duel disk. The human was pushing herself, Airo could see. Airo's windpipe screamed for oxygen, but she knew it would only receive water if she breathed.
A hand grabbed her by the waist and her vision finally gave out.
Then she felt something strike her. Something was pushing against her chest and then a brief moment of air caused her to sputter.
She coughed and coughed water up and out of her body, and though her throat was in pain, she could breathe again. She felt the sand of the beach. She saw the violet eyes of the human looking at her with concern.
"Harpy Lady!" Mai whispered, propping up Airo's head.
Airo blinked for a moment. "Pretty human." Airo managed, struggling to speak.
"Just breathe." Mai said, taking off her jacket and lying it over Airo's chest.
"Your sisters are on their way, but at the moment that's moot." She said. Airo turned to the side. She saw Hippolyta had a sword to Silene's neck, and Belora was pleading with her to drop the weapon.
Both queens were out of breath. Silene also had a talon raised to Hippolyta's neck.
Airo thought for a moment one of the queens would kill the other, but a roar was heard, and Harpies' Pet Dragon crashed above them, causing both to jump out of the way. Airo could see Keraino on the dragon's back, glaring at both queens while Ocupete put herself between Hippolyta and Belora.
"Let's call for a truce." Ocupete said, tugging on the chain of Harpies' Pet Dragon.
Hippolyta glanced to Maya, the blow-piper who was out cold and cursed, dropping her sword.
"Fine. We will call truce, but know that we will not forget this day." She said to the harpy.
Then Ocupete turned to Silene.
"You are outmatched. Surrender a truce. We will let you keep your daughter." She said.
Silene growled, but nodded. "Belora." She said.
The Harpy Girl ran to her mother and embraced her, yet stopped and wept.
Airo heard footsteps and saw Hippolyta walk across the beach to where she was.
Mai sat up and spoke. "She is hurt. I ask you please treat her." She said, bowing.
Hippolyta scowled. "You humans remind us that not long ago we loved the harpies. Out of that love I will take her in. But once she is healed, she must leave."
/
Airo was there when Mai woke up. "Easy, sister. I owe you my life." She said. Mai could see Airo's face was still healing from when Silene shoved her face in the rocky ground but it wasn't bleeding anymore. It was a gash in the left side of her face, and Airo raised her hair to show it continued up her forehead. Mai flinched upon seeing it.
Airo looked at her and chuckled. "You silly humans always surprise us in some way. I never expected a human woman to idolize us." She said, carefully holding a Harpy Lady card between two talons.
Mai chuckled and blinked. They were in a hut. So that meant Amazon territory most likely.
"How could I not. You're strong and beautiful. You use your beauty as a tool but you don't let that beauty define or control you. You are loyal to your sisters and I admire all of those things." She said, body reclining on some kind of cot.
"My name is Airo." The harpy said. "You are Mai?" She asked.
"That's right, hon." Mai said, putting a hand on Airo's talon.
"Good to properly meet you, Mai." Airo said. "I owe you a debt for my life. This is something that we Harpies do no do lightly." She said. "Our name 'harpy' means 'swift robber'. Giving you this power of favor is something I've never done before." She said. "Though you are a human, your actions make you a blood-sister." She finished.
Mai blinked from the cot she was on. "Airo. You don't need to do all of that. I'm just happy you're ok."
Airo stood up and closed her eyes. "Mai, I will let you rest. But I will come back to see you." She said. "I owe you that much." The harpy turned to leave and Mai saw her stark red hair trailing behind her as she left the hut. She drew the top card of her deck and smiled as it was the same image of the red haired harpy. For now, she could sleep soundly.
Author's note: I made up some cards for Misawa here and in the previous chapter so here they are under this note. I didn't expect so many chapters to happen on this island but it was fun to write.
Opposing Chemical Reaction: Continuous Spell Card
Description: A flood on one side of the card art and a tremendous fire on the other side.
Once per turn, when a level 8 or higher FIRE, WATER, WIND, or EARTH attribute monster you control is removed from your field by battle or Opponent's card effect, summon a different attribute monster of the same type from your Deck, ignoring summoning conditions.
Alignment Shift: Continuous Spell Card.
Description: Element Valkyrie letting go of a sphere of water in her right hand while igniting a sphere of fire in her left hand. She is glowing with a red fiery aura behind her.
Once per turn, you can change the attribute of a monster on the field or Graveyard(s). This effect can be applied during either player's turn. Once per turn (quick effect), if this card is in your Graveyard, you can banish it to change the attribute of a face-up monster on the field. You can only use each effect of 'Alignment Shift' once per turn.
Fire Dragon/Level 8/FIRE/Pyro/Effect/2800/2600
Cannot be Normal Summoned/Set. Must be Special Summoned with "Scattering Energy". Once per turn, inflict damage to your opponent's life points equal to half the attack points of each monster your opponent controls. If they control a WATER or Aqua type monster, double the damage they take from that monster(s), and destroy them. If this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, target up to three "geddon" monster in your Graveyard, Special Summon them.