Note: My heart and prayers go out to the victims and their families in Boston. What a scary day that was for that wonderful city.

Chapter 21: Protector of the Sanctuary

-ooo-

At the most expensive hotel on the Island known as the MP Royal Palace Resort (MP standing for Maximillion Pegasus), Charles treated the whole gang to a great dinnner he ordered from the island.

Fallon then replied," Those steaks were really good."

"I Really enjoyed that Lobster Roll! Really good.", Alex said as well.

Lynn looked at him and replied, "Where you from?"

Alex smiled and replied, "Boston, my friend. Born and raised there. We got to Maine almost every Summer for a couple of weeks."

Charles then replied, "You all enjoying this great food?"

The gang nodded to him and then he replied, "This wonderful hotel isn't even opened to the public as of yet. It'll be ready by next summer. This is nicest and the most exensive hotel on the island. and I'm planning on getting VIPs like rich people, celebrites and people who just like to spend alot of money to enjoy themselves."

Miranda then replied, "Would it be the only place on the island that serves beer and many other drinks?"

Charles nodded and replied, "Correct, my friends. No beer and other drinks would be able to brought outside of the hotel, except for pop, water and juice and anything that doesn't need alcohol in it."

"A crapload of Security, sir?", Jasmine asked.

Charles nodded and replied, "Damn right, my freind. Who ever wins this tournamnet, I'll give that one and 5 other people of their choosing free access to the hotel when its all done next summer, my friends."

He got up from the table and replied, "Right after breakfast the first duel will begin at 11:00. Its the spot where Yugi Muto got his first win int he Duelist Kingdom tournament by beating Weevil Underwood."

Fallon then replied, "One of the most pathetic duelists ever, other then Bandit Keith and Rex Raptor, that is."

Charles smiled and rpelied, "I Agree with all 3 of those, Fallon. So long all of you."

He, Jasmine and Calvin got up and left the room.

Alex got up as well and replied, "I need to get my deck together as well."

He got up and walked away MIranda smiled and replied, "Cute butt he has."

"Oh, brother.", Lynn said while she rolled her eyes.

-ooo-

Later that night in the detention center, Haruko was in his jail cell, waiting to be sent back to the mainlands to face charges."

He then replied, "I'm heading back now to spend the rest of my life behind bars! Damn you Takato and your Ninjas! Damn YOU!"

Suddenly, the japanese cop came in and replied, "Ready?"

Haruko then replied, "I Guess so."

The cop smiled as he vanished into thin air and a green-skinned human with small horns in his head appeared infront of him.

"What the hell? Where's the cop?"

The demon laughed and replied, "Dead, you fool! He was murdered by the Yakuza over 10 years ago while he was a cop and I control his body!"

"You are one sick bastard!", Haruko replied.

The demon smiled as he transformed back into the cop and he replied, "If you join Terkylo and our group, I'll make sure you earns lots of money and really rare cards!"

Haruko then replied, "Sounds tempting."

The demon then replied, "I'm Skyzar and if you want the real cops to come and put you away forever, so be it."

Haruko then replied, "Help me get out of here!"

Skyzar laughed and replied, "Good decision. I"ll make sure you were never seen, except by ninja boy and his friends."

Haruko smiled and replied, "Thats good enough for me."

They both laughed as they vanished into thin air.

-ooo-

The next day, Charles brought them in breakfast, (Eggs Benedict, Stuffed Banana French Toast, Steak & Eggs and some omelets as well) and they all ate together.

Mikey smiled adn replied, "I haven't good food like this since I Wanted to that fancy buffet place back home!"

Fallon took a piece of tender steak with her fork and ate it and she replied, "Need power and protein for a great duel later!"

Alex then replied, "My monstere are ready to kick some butt!"

Fallon laughed and replied, "My dark army is going to beat someone badly!"

Charles then replied," The duel happens in a hour and a half, so don't be late!"

Lynn took a bite of a toasted english muffin that had grape jelly on it and she replied, "I wonder where Aristole is."

Charles then replied, "He took a plate of French Toast and left to go back to the island for some reason. If he's not back in time, he'll be out first duelist to be eliminated from the finals, I'm afraid."

Miranda then replied, "Really wierd."

-ooo-

Back at his mansion, Terkylo was talking with Skyzar and Rocky.

Terkylo smiled and replied, "So you used that disguise to snag Haruko from being imprisioned back in Japan?"

The demon nodded and replied, "Yes, sir."

Terkylo then replied, "I secretly watched his duel against Takato and he has a decent deck."

He looked Skyzar and replied, "Get him any card he needs for his damn deck so it becomes more powerful then ever!"

Skyzar nodded and walked away and Rocky replied, "Don't you need to head back, sir?"

Terkylo then replied, "I'm leaving now. Skyzar and yourself are in charge of the mansion until I return back."

He vanished into green smoke.

-ooo-

A hour later, everyone was ready to watch the duel and Terkylo arrived just in time.

Charles then replied, "Lets see who duels who!"

Suddenly, all 8 duelists appeared on the screen and then it first stopped on Fallons picture and Charles replied, "Fallon Johnson will duel first!"

Fallon looked at her two best friends and sighed as the remaining 7 pictures showed and started up.

I really hope I can duel duel her myself! My Chaos Deck will demolish your dark army!, Terkylo said to himself as the final pictures went through and then it stopped on Alex's picture and Charles then replied, "Alex Morrison will be her opponet!"

The 2 duelists nodded as they walked to the field where the duel would take place and Charles then replied, "Present your deckmasters!"

Alex looekd through his deck and he replied, "I choose Gravekeeper's Commandant!"

Suddenly, a tall man wearing a jackal-like mask appeared (ATK 1,700).

Miranda gulped and replied, "Oh, no."

Lynn looked at her and replied, "What, girl?"

Miranda then replied, "If he's using a Gravekeeper's Deck and he uses Necrovalley.."

"All of her monsters would be shut down!", Lynn said with a gasp.

Fallon looked through her deck and she smiled and replied, "Score! I choose my Dark General Freed!"

Suddenly, the evil dark version of Freed the Matchless General appeared with a evil laugh (ATK: 2,300).

Charles then replied, "Lets get ready to duel!"

Both activated their disks and drew 5 cards apiece.

"Begin..NOW!".

"Game on!", both yelled out.

(Alex LP: 8000 - Fallon LP: 8000)

Charles smiled and replied, "This will be a great duel."

Alex then replied, "I activate my deckmaster ability right away! By skipping my draw phase, I can add 1 low level Gravekeeper monster or one Necrovalley monster from my deck to my hand!"

He took a card from his deck and added to his hand and then he replied, "I can't summon or activate the selected card, so I'll set a monster a monster facedown and a card facedown and that'll end my turn."

Fallon drew a card and replied, "I activate Foolish Burial!"

She took a monster and discarded it to the graveyard and then she reshuffled and then replied, "I now summon the mighty Dark Blade!"

As he sat the card down, the dark swordsman appeared (ATK: 1,800).

"Lets see what you're hiding from me! Attack!"

The warrior charged in and a gravekeeper with a bald head appeared on the card (DEF: 1,500) and the warrior struck with his sword and the gravekeeper let out a moan before he shattered into pixilated fragments.

Alex then replied, "When Gravekeeper's Recruiter is destroyed, I can add a Gravekeeper monster with 1,500 or less DEF from my deck to my hand."

He took a card and added it.

Fallon nodded and replied, "Okay then. I'll set a couple of cards facedown and that'll end my turn."

Alex drew a card and replied, "I summon my Gravkeeper's Descendent!"

As he sat the card down, a blonde-ahired boyish faced gravekeeper appeared (ATK: 1,500).

Lacy then replied, "They look the Ishtar Family."

Cheles nodded and replied, "Recruiter looks like his adopted brother Odion and he looks like Marik himself!"

Alex opened his field slot and rpelied, "I activate Necrovalley!"

As he slid the card into his slot, the desert valley appeared.

Charles smiled and replied, "Now Fallons deck is locked out now."

"This powerful field spell gives all my of Gravekeeper monsters 500 ATK & DEF!"

Suddenly, descendent began to glow (ATK: 1,500 - 2,000).

"Now to attack your monster! Attack!"

He pointed his staff towards and fired a burst of dark energy and it shot out, blowing Dark Blade into particles (Fallon LP: 8000 - 7800).

"Take that! I end my turn now."

Fallon drew a card and replied, "I'll set a monster and that'll end my turn."

Alex drew a card and replied, "I summon my Gravekeeper's Curse!"

As he sat the card down, another of the gravekeepers appeared (ATK: 800 - 1,300).

"When summoned, he blasts you for 500 damage!"

Fallon let out a quiet moan as she struck by dark energy from the attack (Fallon LP: 7800 - 7300).

"I activate Descendents ability and I tribute my Curse to destroy your facedown monster!"

As Gravekeeper's Curse vanished into dark particles, Fallons facedown Dark Silver Fang shattered into pieces.

"Attack her directly!"

the spellcaster began to glow.

Fallon quickly replied, "I activate Battle Faders effect!"

Suddenly, a pendulum-like fiend appeared and knelt (DEF: 0).

"Lucky move. I end my turn now."

Fallon drew a card and replied, "I tribute it for my Dark Crystal Dragon!"

As the monster vanishing into nothing, the dark form of Luster Dragon #2 appeared and it hard pitch-black scales, red claws and 2 dark-red eyes (ATK: 2,400).

Lynn then replied, "Cool monster."

Fallon then replied, "Added this fellow to my deck last night. Attack his Descedent with Dark Crystal Flame!"

The dragon opened its moutn and launched a wave of dark flames and the Gravkeeper let out a groan as the attack struck him and he burst into a cloud of black smoke (Alex LP: 8000 - 7600).

"Take that! I end my turn now."

Alex drew a card and replied, "You are giving me one heck of a duel, Fallon. I'll set a monster and another card facedown and that'll end my turn."

Fallon drew a card and replied, "I summon my Vorse Raider!"

As she sat the card down, the dark beast-warrior while swinging his axe (ATK: 1,900).

"Lets do it. Attack his facedown monster!"

The axe-wielding Beast-warrior swung his axe and a 2nd Gravekeeper's Curse appeared on the card (DEF: 800 - 1,300) And was blown into shards as the attack struck.

"Direct attack!"

The dragon opened its mouth..

Alex quickly replied, "I activate Rite of Spirit!"

Suddenly, Gravekeeper's Recruiter appeared (ATK: 1,200 - 1,700).

"Attack!"

The dragon launched a blaze of dark flames and the bald-headed Gravekeeper went up in flames (Alex LP: 7600 - 6900) and then he took a card from his deck and added it to his hand.

"That'll end my turn."

Alex drew a card and replied,"I now summon my Gravekeeper s Assailant!"

As he sat the card down, the black-hooded assassin appeared with her long knife (ATK: 1,500 - 2,000).

"I now attack your Dark Crystal Dragon!"

The assasin went in and the dragon knelt and then the dark spellcaster drove her dagger into the neck of the huge dragon and it let out a loud as it collasped to the ground and then it diissovled into dark particles.

"Take that! I'll end my turn now."

Fallon drew a card and replied, "I activate Shrink!"

Suddenly, she shrank down (ATK: 2,000 - 1,000).

"Attack!"

As Alex quickly discarded a card, The beast-warrior swung his axe and it struck her, knocking her to the ground (Alex LP: 6900 - 6000).

"I Discarded a card called Charm of Shabati to protect her."

"Lucky move. I end my turn now."

Alex drew a card and replied, "I summon my Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier!"

As he sat the card down, a gravekeeper with a sharp spear for a weapon appeared (ATK: 1,500 - 2,000.

"Gravekeeper's Assailant attacks your monster!"

The spellcaster charged in and as the beast-warrior knelt (DEF: 1,200) the spellcaster stabbed the wicked beast-warrior with her dagger, blasting Vorse Raider into pixels.

"Now, attack her facedown monster!"

The other one charged in and a Sangan appeared (DEF: 600) and the spellcaster stabbed with his spear, blowing the Fiend into little pieces (Fallon LP: 7600 - 6200).

"There you go. I end my turn now."

Fallon then replied, "I skip my draw phase to activate my deckmasters ability! I Can either add a dark monster from my deck to my hand or send 1 dark from my deck to the graveyard and I'll go with the 1st option!"

As Dark General Freed swung his sword, She took a monster and added it to her hand.

"I now activate Mystical Space Typhoon!"

Suddenly, the storm began and Necrovalley was reduced to dust (ATK: 2,000 x 2 - 1,500 x2).

Fallon resumed, "Since I now control exactly 5 dark monsters in my graveyard, I can summon The Dark Creator!"

As he sat the card down, The Creator's evil dark counterpart appeared (ATK: 2,300).

"I now banish 1 dark monster to summon another from my graveyard!"

As she banished her Dark Silver Fang, Dark Crystal Dragon appeared (ATK: 2,400).

"Now, attack his monster!"

The evil thunder monster began to glow as a wave of black electricity shot out and blasted Spear Soldier into particles.

"Dark Crystal Dragon, attack!"

The dragon launched a wave of dark flames and the Assailant vanished into a cloud of black smoke (Alex LP: 6900 - 5200).

Fallon smiled and replied, "Gotcha! I end my turn now."

Alex drew a card and replied, "I activate Lightning Vortex!"

He discarded a 2nd Gravekeeper's Commandant to the graveyard and then the sky got darker.

Fallon smiled and replied, "No way! I Activate my deckmasters second ability! By paying 700 lifepoints and when 2 dark monsters I control are targeted by a card effect used by you, I can pay 700 lifepoints to negate your cards effect and destroy it!"

As she began to glow (Fallon LP: 6200 - 5500), the evil general lifted his sword into the air and the spell card was absorbed into his sword.

"Damn you! I activate Treasured Cards from Heaven!"

Suddenly, they both drew until both had 6 cards in their hands and Alex smiled and replied, "I'll set a monster and a card facedown and that'll end my turn."

Fallon drew a card.

Alex quickly replied, "I activate Fiendish Chains!"

The trap flipped up and chains came out and wrapped the evil thunder creature up.

"Damn you! I'll set a monster and I'll attack!"

The Dragon launched its dark flames and a Gravekeeper's Spy appeared on the card (DEF: 2,000) And was blown to shards as the attack struck her and then a 2nd Spy appeared and knelt (DEF: 2,000).

"There you go. I end my turn now."

Alex drew a card and he opened his field slot and then Necrovalley appeared, powering up the Spy (DEF: 2,000 - 2,500).

"I now summon my Gravekeeper's Guard!"

As he sat the card down, the bald-headed guard appeared (ATK: 1,000 - 1,500).

"I now overlay my 2 monsters!"

Both monsters turned into black orbs and a crimson portal appeared, which the orbs flew into.

"With these monsters, I construct the Overlay Network and Xyz summon! Come now..Gravekeeper's Spirit Guide!"

as he sat the card down, a tall female gravekeeper wearing a grey and white robe appeared and she had a golden necklace around her neck and a and silver & gold scepter in her other arm (ATK: 2,200 - 2,700).

Fallon then replied, "They have Xyz monsters now?"

Alex nodded and replied, "A few of them, about 3 or more tuners and synchros and more. I discard a Xyz Material monster to summon a Gravekeeper from my deck!"

As he removed the Guard, a 2nd Spear Soldier appeared (ATK: 1,500 - 2,000).

"Of course, I Can't attack or tribute it right now, but thats okay. Spirit Guide, attack!"

She began to chant as her scepter began to glow and a burst of gold and grey energy came out of it and struck the Dark thunder monster and it exploded into black globules of energy (Fallon LP: 5500 - 5100).

"Take that! I'll set 2 cards facedown and that'll end my turn."

Fallon drew a card and replied, "I'll keep my dragon in attack mode and then I'll set a new monster facedown and a card facedown and that'll end my turn."

Alex drew a card and replied, "I tribute my Spear Soldier for my Gravekeeper's Chief!"

As the spear-wiedling spellcaster vanished, the mighty leader fot he Gravekeeper's clan appeared (ATK: 1,900 - 2,400).

"I now get to special summon a Gravekeeper monster from my graveyard!"

Suddenly, Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier appeared (ATK: 1,500 - 2,000).

"Lets do it. Spirit Guide attacks your Dark Crystal Dragon!"

His scepter began to glow and as it fured its silver and gold burst of magic energy that struck, blasting the dragon into atoms.

"Spear Soldier, attack!"

The soldier went in and a Mystic Tomato appeared (DEF: 1,100) and with 2 sharp stabs, the giant fruit was blown into paste and then a 2nd one appeared and the Chief launched a attack from its scepter, blasting the 2nd Mystic Tomato into triangles (Fallon LP: 5100 - 2900) and then a Obsidian Dragon appeared (ATK: 700).

Alex smiled and replied, "Take that, my friend. I end my turn now."

Miranda sighed adn replied, "Not good at all."

Lynn sighed and replied, "She needs a mircale draw to stay in this duel."

Chelsea then replied, "WIth Necrovalley shutting down her monsters, this isn't good at all."

Fallon drew a card and replied, "YES! I activate Fiend's Sanctuary!"

Suddenly, the beady token appeared (ATK: 0).

"I offer both to summon my Darklord Zerato!"

As the 2 dark monsters vanished into particles, the evil and dark form of Archlord Zerato appeared (ATK: 2,800).

Calvin then replied, "This is one damn lucky draw!"

Charles nodded and replied, "This duel ain't over yet."

"I now discard a dark monster to wipe your field clean!"

As she discarded her Dark Horus, The sword began to glow as it launched 4 waves of dark electricity that blasted all of Alex's Gravekeepes into black pieces.

"Attack directly!"

The huge fairy went in and struck Alex with his sword (Alex LP: 5200 - 2400).

"There you go. I end my turn now."

Alex drew a card and replied, "I'll set a card and a monster and that'll end my turn."

Fallon drew a card and replied, "Dark Crusader, came on out!"

As he sat the car down, the dark demon-like warrior appeared (ATK: 1,600).

"I discard a dark monster!"

As he discarded a Doomsday Horror to his gtaveyard, its sword began to glow (ATK: 1,600 - 2,000).

"Lets do it. Zerato, attack!"

The falry flew in and a Gravekeeper's Guard appeared (ATK: 1,900 - 2,400) and with strike of his sword, blasted the guard into little pieces and then the fairy vanished.

"Direct attack, Crusader!"

The fiendish warrior went in and struck Alex with his sword (Alex LP: 2400 - 400).

"Take that! I'll set 2 cards facedown and that'll end my turn now."

Alex drew a card and replied, "I activate my Monster Reborn!"

Suddenly, Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier (ATK: 1,500 - 2,000).

"I tribute my monster to summon my Gravekeeper's Visionary!"

As the Spear Soldier vanished, the mighty Visionary appeared (ATK: 2,000 - 2,500).

"He gains 200 ATK for each Gravekeeper in my graveyard!"

Suddenly, he began to glow (ATK: 2,500 - 5,100).

Charles sighed and replied, "If both facedown cards can't help her, this duel will end right here and she'll be out."

Mikey groaned and replied, "I wanted so bad to beat her again!"

Lynn then replied, "Hope for a miracle!"

"I now play Night Shot!"

Suddenly, crosshairs appeared on the card and 2 bullets fired and they struck, blowing the facedown Draining Shield to shards.

"This ends now! Attack his Dark Crusader!"

He began to glow and he fired a burst of energy towards the warrior..

Fallon quickly replied, "I activate Dark Shield! The damage is cut in half, my monster is spared!"

Suddenly, the attack struck the evil warrior in the chest, but didn't destroy him (Fallon LP: 2900 - 1450).

MIranda sighed and replied, "TOO Close."

Fallon then drew a card.

Lynn then replied, "She's a lucky duelist right now."

Alex smiled and replied, "You are one persistent duelist, Fallon. I'll end my turn now."

Fallon drew a card and replied, "I activate Heavy Storm!"

The storm began and the field spell was blown to pieces (ATK: 5,100 - 4,600).

"I now play Forbidden Chalice!"

Suddenly, Alex's monster began to glow (ATK: 4,600 - 2,400).

"I now banish 7 dark monsters to summon my best monster!"

As she took her Dark Horus, Dark Blade, The Dark Creator, Dark Crystal Dragon, Sangan, Vorse Raider and her Doomsday Horror and banished them, the mighty Rainbow Dark Dragon appeared with a huge roar (ATK: 4,000).

Alex sighed and replied, "I'm beat. Go ahead and end it, Fallon."

She smiled and replied, "THanks for a great duel. Rainbow Dark Dragon, attack!"

The dragon began to glow as it fired a huge beam of dark energy that blasted the Gravekeeper into particles and finished off Alex (Alex LP: 200 - 0).

Charles laughed and replied, "Fallon Johnson wins!"

Lynn then replied, "Yea, girl!"

Miranda then replied, "Good win!"

Suddenly, Dark General Freed went and struck with his weapon, blowing Gravekeeper's Commandant into pixels and the evil geenral laughed as he vanished as well.

Charles smiled and replied, "A little addition idea from me and my workers. The losing deckmaster is destroyed afterrwards, if it wasen't already destroyed during the duel. The next duel will be decided in 3 hours. We'll be serving Lunch back at the resort."

The finalists (except Terkylo) cheered for that.

-ooo-

Cards made by me & others

Dark Crystal Dragon

Dragon/Effect/Dark/ATK: 2,400/DEF: 1,400/6 Stars

You can send 1 DARK monster in your hand and deck to the graveyard and then this card gains 700 ATK until the end phase of the turn. This effect can only be used once per duel and this card cannot directly the turn this effect is used.

Gravekeeper's Spirit Guide

Spellcaster/Xyz/Effect/Dark/ATK: 2,200/DEF: 2,000/Rank 4

2 Level 4 "Gravekeeper's" Monsters

While this card is on the field: your graveyard is uneffected by "Necrovalley". Once per turn by removing one of this cards Xyz Material monsters: You can special summon 1 Level 4 or lower "Gravekeeper's" monster from your deck, but its cannot use its effect, be tributed or attack the turn it was special summoned.

Deckmasters used in this chapter

Fallon: Dark General Freed

Deckmaster Abilites: 2

Warrior/Effect/Dark/ATK: 2,300/DEF: 1,700/5 Stars

Deckmaster Ability: "Dark Reinforcements" By skipping your draw phase and paying 500 lifepoints: You can take 1 DARK monster and add to your hand or sent it to the graveyard. Deckmaster Ability 2 "Dark Protection" If you control 2 or more DARK monsters and your opponet activates a spell or trap card that affects any DARK monster on your side of the field: You can pay 700 lifepoints to negate the cards effect and destroy it. This ability can only be used once per turn and during either your or your opponets turn.

Alex: Gravekeeper's Commandant

Spellcaster/Effect/Earth/ATK: 1,700/DEF: 1,200/4 Stars

Deckmaster ability "Gravekeeper's Command" You can skip your draw phase and then you can add eiither 1 level 4 or lower "Gravekeeper's" monster or 1 "Necrovalley" card from your deck to your hand. You cannot summon (Or Set) that chosen monster or activate the selected "Necrovalley" card during the turn you activated this effect.

-ooo-

That duel ends well. Miranda gets to duel next and who will it be? Find out next time.