YU-GI-OH!

A NEW GENERATION OF DUELISTS

Michelle vs. Trevor

By Dan Kuhlmeyer

Tristan and Serenity thought they should watch Michelle and Trevor's duel at the Wheelers'. Serenity sat in the living room while Mai was in the kitchen making dinner. She noticed Tristan was sitting by the dining room table, counting money.

"What are you doing?"

"I already bet fifty bucks that Trevor's going to win this duel."

"You're betting against my daughter? What kind of sicko did you make this bet with?"

That's when Joey walked in with a ten-dollar bill in his hand.

"I'll raise the wager by ten."

Tristan took out another ten. "You're on."

Mai looked at them with disgust. "Men."

Brian and Derrick watched Michelle and Trevor enter the arena.

"Great," said Derrick. "Now I don't know who to root for."

"No matter who wins this one," said Brian, "I have to go against one of the two friends I've had all my life."
I can't believe that to help my mom, Trevor thought, I have to fight my own cousin.

Why do I have to go against Trevor? He's my cousin and one of my best friends.

"Remember Michelle. We promised that we'd give our best and no matter who wins, we both win."

"I know Trevor."

"Good luck, cuz."

It was the first time her opponent wished her luck. "You too."

Mage and Jaxin walked in.

"Ms. Michelle Wheeler, Mr. Trevor Taylor, and viewers, Mr. Marcus Mage and I welcome you to the second duel of the semi-finals. Ms. Wheeler, Mr. Taylor, please show your entry card."

Both Michelle and Trevor showed Jaxin their entry cards.

"Let the duel begin."

Trevor grinned at Michelle. "Ready, Michelle?"

"You have to ask?"

"LET'S DUEL!" they both said together.

Michelle: 2000. Trevor: 2000

Michelle drew a card. Trevor's pretty good, but I have one thing he doesn't have: more experience.

"Red Archery Girl in Attack Mode."

The Red Archery Girl appeared (A: 1400).

Trevor drew a card. I've always watched Michelle play. I know all of her best moves by heart. And I just drew something that can definitely beat that mermaid.

"First I'll play Fireyarou in Attack Mode."

Trevor's Fireyarou appeared (A: 1300).

"And I'll add this little guy, Little Chimera."

Michelle looked at it with horror.

"This baby can increase all my Fire Monsters' attacks by five hundred points and decreases all Water Monsters' Attack by four hundred points."

As he spoke, the Red Archery Girl (A: 1000) grew weaker and Fireyuaru (A: 1800) grew stronger. It shot out a ball of fire that destroyed the Red Archery Girl.

Michelle: 1200. Trevor: 2000.

Michelle drew a card and looked at her hand. Impressive. Trevor's better than I thought. But this combo should do the trick.

"I'll play Harpy Lady in Attack Mode."

The Harpy Lady Appeared (A: 1300).

"Harpy Lady? You've got to be kidding me. You can't attack me with a Harpy Lady."

"You're right Trevor. That's why I'm going to use a card called Elegant Egotist."

Two more Harpies appeared beside the original.

"Meet the Harpy Lady Sisters"

One of the Harpy Lady Sisters (A: 1950) used its sharp claws on Fireyaru.

Michelle: 1200. Trevor: 1850. Mage was watching this duel with interest.
There's something about this girl. First, when Hunter tried to kill Brian, her cry activated the power that protected Brian. Then when she was about to lose to Steel, it took everyone's support to give her more strength than I've ever seen before. Why is that?

He then took the Millennium Eye out of his pocket and pointed it, without anyone looking, at Michelle. He tried to probe her mind but couldn't get anything.

What's this? Now she's blocking my mind-reading powers. What is she?
The tiny golden item didn't catch anyone's attention but Derrick's.

Hey, that looks like the symbol on Brian's Millennium Puzzle. Wait! It also looks like the eye on that stick I was holding in my dream. Is that one of the Millennium Items Brian told me about?
Great, thought Trevor. There's something I wasn't counting on: an army of Super Powered Harpies. I need more firepower.

He drew a card. "Pot of Greed."

He drew two more cards. All right! Talk about firepower.

"I'll play one card facedown and Mr. Volcano in Attack Mode, who by the way, because he's a Fire Monster, he gets an increase from my Little Chimera."

Mr. Volcano (A: 2600)appeared and shot an enormous ball of fire at the Harpy Lady Sisters.

Michelle: 550. Trevor: 1850.

Michelle drew a card. "I'll use Dian Keto the Cure Master to raise my life points by one thousand.

Michelle: 1550. Trevor: 1850.

"Lucky draw."

"Thanks, cuz. I'll also play a monster in Defense mode and one card facedown."

Trevor drew a card. "I'll just play a monster in defense mode and attack the facedown card."

Mr. Volcano shot out a ball of fire at the hidden monster.

"Not so fast, Trevor," Michelle said as she turned her defense monster and her facedown card face up.

Hyozanryu (A: 2800) appeared and Mr. Volcano's flame bounced off.

Michelle: 1550. Trevor: 1750.

"Oh, man. Something tells me I won't like what's up next."

Michelle drew a card. "Now I'll switch Hyozanryu into Attack Mode."

"Are you nuts? The first thing you and Brian taught me about Duel Monsters is that the monster with the highest points wins."

"That's right Trevor. But we also taught you to use Magic Cards. Like this one."

"Oh, no. Not..."

"That's right. Shield and Sword."

Both monsters' Attack Points switched with the Defense points. Hyozanryu was getting stronger(A: 2800) while Mr. Volcano was getting weaker (1300). Hyozanryu then shot out a blast of diamond ice, destroying Mr. Volcano.

Michelle: 1550. Trevor: 250.

Man, there is no way I can beat Michelle now. I thought I had her with that fire combo. But how can I win, now?

He stuck his hand in his pocket, but to his surprise he felt something that felt like a photo. He took it out and saw himself when he was younger and both of his parents. He looked at his mother with tears in his eyes.

Mom! I almost forgot why I'm here. I'm here to win the money for my mom's eye surgery.

He looked back at the dueling platform and his eyes narrowed at Michelle's dragon.

Hyozanryu or no Hyozanryu. High ranked duelist or low ranked duelist. I have what it takes to win, and I'm not going to give up on my mom. Here goes nothing.

He drew a card and gasped at the sight of it. Then smiled at Michelle.

"All right, Michelle. Look out because here I come. GO RED-EYES BLACK DRAGON!"

The Red-Eyes Black Dragon appeared (A: 2400) and snarled at Hyozanryu.

"Hey, Michelle. I want to say thanks."

Michelle looked at him confused.

"You gave me this card. And it came through for me a whole lot of times. As you said it did for Uncle Joey, it made me a better duelist than I used to be."

Michelle smiled as she shook her head. "No, Trevor. It only helped you out. One thing I learned that made me a champ is that a duelist can't win if he or she only depends on his or her best cards, but on his or her heart as well. The promise you made to Aunt Serenity is what fired you up and made you a better duelist."

Trevor smiled. "Thanks cuz. And now time to end this. Molten Fireball!"

The Red-Eyes shot out a ball of fire.

"But here's something you haven't learned," Michelle said as she flipped over her other hidden card.

A Mirror Wall appeared around Hyouzanryu. The Red-Eyes started getting weaker (A: 1200).

"Now that it's attacked my Mirror Wall, Red-Eyes Black Dragon's Attack is sliced in half." She drew a card. "And I'll destroy it with Hyozanryu."

Hyozanryu (A: 2100) shot out a blast of diamond ice at Trevor's dragon.

"Wanna bet?" Trevor turned his hidden card.

The Red-Eyes Black Dragon suddenly turned metal (A: 2800) and Hyozanryu's Attack went through the Mirror Wall and destroyed the diamond dragon.

Michelle: 850. Trevor: 250.

Michelle found herself staring at the Red-Eyes Black Metal Dragon.

"I should've known. You had the Metalmorph card Fox gave you."

"Bingo. And it transformed it into The Red-Eyes Black Metal Dragon. And it was your attack that went through your Mirror Wall and destroyed it."

Michelle growled. "My turn's not over yet, Trevor. I haven't played a monster yet. Go Wingweaver."

The Wingweaver appeared.

"Aw, man. Don't tell me what else you're going to use."

"That's right. I'll equip her with Silver Bow and Arrow."

The Silver Bow and Arrow appeared the Wingweaver's hands.

"Trevor, I'm sorry for ever calling you a loser. I've never had a tougher match. Believe me when I say, this is the hardest move I ever had to make."

"Thanks, cuz. Go ahead, Michelle. If I wanted to lose to someone, I'm glad it was you."

They both smiled with tears in their eyes. The Wingweaver released its arrow and destroyed the Red-Eyes Black Metal Dragon.

Michelle: 850. Trevor: 0.

"Michelle Wheeler is the winner," Mage declared.
Michelle and Trevor met outside the arena.

"Great job, Michelle," Trevor said to her, with both satisfaction and disappointment.

"What's wrong? It's not the fact that you lost the chance to help your mom again, is it?"

"No, it's not that. Ever since you got into Dueling, I wanted more than anything to impress you. But I never could."

"But today you did. You were determined to help your mom, and you gave it your best shot. I couldn't be any more proud of you than I am now. And you know what, I'll try to win the prize money for her."

Trevor shook his head. "The last thing I want from you, Michelle, is pity."

"It's not pity, Trevor. Aunt Serenity is family to me, too. And I want to help her."

Trevor looked at her surprised. Then he took out his Glory of Kings card.

"Then you'll need this to win the prize money."

Michelle took it from his hand.

"Michelle, thanks for always being there for me."

Michelle smiled at him. "Hey, what are cousins for?"

Then they both hugged each other.
Brian headed for the dueling platform.

Well Yami, it looks like I have to fight Michelle now. But I want to duel my friend on my own.

I understand, Brian. And I wish you luck.

Derrick watched Brian leave, then took another look at Mage.

If Mage defeats Brian, he'll get his Millennium Puzzle. But Brian said that Mage needs only four of these items and he has three. If we get the other items, Mage still won't win even if he does beat Brian.
There's something about Michelle, thought Mage. And when I find out what it is, I will see that it won't keep me from winning Brian's Millennium Puzzle.
To Be Continued...