Man, school is a total bitch to me these days! Well, that's life, so why complain?
Disclaimer: I don't own shit
Read and review. Or don't. I don't care-.-
Mandy had come home to see that Leo and Luna were sent to bed. She bid her family farewell before she closed the door and went outside to Yusei and Greiger.
"What were you doing out there so late?" Yusei asked.
"Just thinking," Mandy replied. "Tomorrow's gonna be interesting, huh? What with seeing Greigers runner and whatnot."
Greiger smiled to her. "By the way, your duel was pretty impressive. I was starting to have some doubts that you would ever win."
Mandy smirked. "It's all in the element of surprise, my friend."
Yusei smiled at the girl. He was glad that whatever she had to get off her mind was gone and that she could relax a little bit.
"So, Greiger, why did you enter the Fortune Cup?"
Greiger gave the girl a soft smile. "I'm doing this for my family. They're far away somehwere, waiting for me, hoping that I would bring them some help." He looked up at the sky. "We used to count the stars together. Here, there's only smog. Why are you dueling here, Yusei?"
"My friends," Yusei replied begrudgingly. "I don't have a choice about it."
Mandy looked at him sadly.
"Let me guess, Goodwin made you an offer you couldn't refuse, sound right?"
"Well, yeah, how'd you know? He come to you too?"
Greiger nodded towards Yusei. "He offered me a chance to help rebuild my family's village. My people believed that our forefathers were servants to the people of the stars, and that our village has a deep hidden power."
"Hidden power? Are you talking about the legend of the Crimson Dragon?"
"That's right. The legend has it that whoever controls the Crimson Dragon can also control the destiny of the world. I haven't been back to my village in years, but once I'm done with my mission here, I'll go back to rebuild my home."
"You can't trust Goodwins word, Greiger," Yusei said.
"Easy for you to say, but I need Goodwins power to rebuild my village. I heard it was consumed by fire and destruction unlike any other natural disaster ever seen..."
Lies...
Mandy flinched as she heard the Crimson Dragons voice.
"Then Director Goodwin came to me. He said he'd help, but not until I help him to fulfill his quest."
"Greiger, don't you see you're being used?" Yusei said.
"If it's the only way to rebuild my village, then I'll let him use me all he wants, Yusei," Grieger replied. "Sorry, but I have to win no matter what..."
"And my friends need me..."
"Then I guess we'll leave it at that. May the best man win..." Greiger started walking away, but then he stopped. "You're a good guy, and in a perfect world we both get we want in the arena tomorrow, but the world isn't perfect. One of us has to lose, and tomorrow it's going to be you." With that said, he left.
Mandy wrapped her arms around herself in anxiety. "Well, that was rather heavy. I wish there was something I could do to help with his village." Mandy thought about it for a moment before she smiled. "I know, after I win the Fortune Cup, I'll help Greiger rebuild his village once I get the bridge done. It'll be killing two birds with one stone."
Yusei smiled at her enthusiasm. "You really are something, you know that?"
Mandy blushed. "Well, I'm not that great. You would've seen what my mom was like. Always going out there to help out others. She was a really cool mom..."
Yusei then frowned. "Why did your dad forbid you from turbo dueling?"
Mandy looked at him before sighing walking over to the pool edge to sit and hug her knees to her chest. "Well, you see, my mom died when I was four. And even though he loves me, my dad has a really hard time letting go. I love him and all that, but I wish he would just give me a little space..."
Yusei walked over to her to sit next her. "I can understand that. You want more freedom now that you're older, but I think he only forbade you from turbo dueling because he doesn't want to lose you the way he lost your mom. And not just that, but I don't think he wants you to grow up too fast."
Mandy looked at him with a smile. "Do you have parents like that?"
Yusei shook his head. "I lost my parents when I was a baby. I never knew them..."
Mandy became sad at this. "Oh, I'm sorry..."
Yusei smiled sadly. "Don't be..."
Mandy smiled back and they stared into eachothers eyes. Yusei once again saw the sparkle in her eyes that made her look beautiful.
"Wow..." Yusei whispered.
"What?" Mandy asked.
"Your eyes... Their really beautiful when they sparkle..."
Mandy felt her cheeks flushed a deep shade of red. "U-um, we should get to bed."
Yusei blushed as well and nodded. "Yeah, it's getting late."
They both walked inside in silence.
"Welcome back to the second round of the Fortune Cup! Eight duelists remain, and the winner will take on Jack Atlas in the championship duel! Now in our first turbo duel, we've got Yusei Fudo battling up against the tower of power, Greiger! Start your engines!"
People began cheering.
"Luna, have you seen Leo?" Yanagi asked.
"Yeah, he said he had something important to tell Yusei..."
Mandy helped Yusei prepare for his duel when Leo came in.
"Yusei, I'm really sorry about yesterday," Leo said. "I was just trying to help."
"I understand, but cheating's never the answer," Yusei replied. "Besides, I don't need to cheat to beat Greiger. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a turbo duel to win."
Leo smiled. "Go for it! And take him down!"
Yusei smiled at him before taking off.
"I believe in you! I know you can do it!" Leo shouted.
Mandy smiled at her little brother. "C'mon, let's go."
"I invited Miss Kuso to join us like you asked, Mr. Atlas," Lazar said.
"And what was her response?" Goodwin asked.
"She said she'd rather be beaten unconcious with a frozen trout than to spend anytime with him." Lazar laughed at this. "She really does have a sense of humor."
Jack growled. "So that's how she wants to play this game then? Alright, if she won't come here, then I'll make her."
As Leo and Mandy walked down the hall, Trudge got in their way.
"Oh, hey, Trudge," Mandy greeted. "What's going on?"
"I don't want to have to do this to you, Mandy, but it's under Jacks orders. I have to take you up to the tower so you could watch the duel with him."
Mandy glared. "And I said no."
"Sorry, but I'm under orders and you're coming with me!"
Mandy crossed her arms and looked away. "I don't think so."
Trudge sighed before he walked over to the teen and grabbed her arms.
Mandy became startled at this. "Okay, okay, I'm coming with ya!" Trudge picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. "Hey! Trudge, put me down! Are you out of your mind!" She started beating his back and kicking her legs.
Akiza came down and saw the commotion. "What do you think you're doing?" She ran up to the officer and glared angrily. "Put her down this instant!"
"Sorry, but I'm ordered by Jack Atlas to take her to the tower," Trudge replied before walking past the psychic.
Akiza growled and was about to pull out her Black Rose Dragon when she heard Mandy yell, "Akiza, no!" She gave the girl a confused look. "Just go. I'll be okay." Akiza watched as Trudge took Mandy away with a sad look.
Leo had been too stunned to do anything but watch.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let's hear it for Yusei!"
Some people started cheering. Then everyone started hearing an engine running.
"What's that sound, an earthquake!" Yanagi asked in fear.
Then Greiger came out with his runner that was bigger than anything you could've ever seen.
"Will you look at that? It's the most incredible duel runner I have ever seen! It's a wop-rava chopper! It's the wheels of the wheel! Ladies and gentlemen, it's Greiger and his beast!"
Greiger rode next to Yusei and smirked.
"That's some duel runner!" Tanner said in shock. "Yusei's gonna have his work cut out for him."
"What did I miss?" Leo asked, coming up to the others.
"Just that," Luna replied. "Greigers runner."
Leo looked down at the arena and saw the runner.
"That's the runner I saw in Greigers garage! No wonder he had an alarm. That thing looks so cool."
Inside the tower, Trudge arrived with Mandy being carried onto his shoulder, who had her arms crossed and a scowl on her face.
They looked at the new comers with smiles.
"Well, well, well," Lazar said. "Look what the cat dragged in."
Trudge walked around the couch before setting Mandy down onto it.
Mandy glared at him. "I could've walked, you know."
"Sorry, but I couldn't take any chances of you running off."
Mandy scoffed at him before he left.
"Good to see that you have decided to join us, Miss Kuso," Goodwin said to the teen.
Mandy only glared. "Oh, yeah. I love being carried away by a guard and forced to come here against my will."
Jack only smirked at her sarcasm. "Oh, don't make such a fuss about it. Look, you can have a much nicer view to watch the duel now."
"It'd be even nicer if you weren't in the same room!"
"As much as I enjoy your little insults towards Mr. Atlas, Miss Kuso, why don't you have a look at Greigers runner," Lazar said.
Mandy got up from the couch to the window and gasped. "Holy cow! That thing's huge!"
"Impressive, isn't it?" Lazar laughed.
"You might be a little worried for Yuseis sake at the moment, but don't worry too much, Miss Kuso," Goodwin said, grabbing the girls arm and walking her back to the couch and sitting her down. "Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the duel."
As Goodwin walked back to the window, Jack put his arm around Mandy, who scowled and pushed him away.
"You call that thing a duel runner, Yusei?" Greiger asked. "Did it come with trainig wheels for ya?"
"Just 'cause you're bigger doesn't mean you're better, Greiger," Yusei countered.
"Yeah, right. Talk to me after the duels done. Good luck, 'cause you're gonna need it."
"And now, take out your speed world field spells and let's activate 'em!"
Duel mode engaged. Auto pilot standing by.
The arena then became green, blue, and violet.
"Remember, only the winner advances in a turbo duel, only speed spells can be used."
"Get ready to eat my dust," Greiger said.
Countdown iniciated. Ready. Set. Duel!
Greiger: 4000
Yusei: 4000
"I'll make the first move, Yusei. I draw! And I think I'll start with this, Spell Reactor RE! And next I'll throw three facedowns. You're up."
"I summon out my-" before Yusei could say anymore, Greiger was right next to him.
"Now how is Yusei supposed to concentrate with three thousand decimals of horsepower blaring in his ears, huh?" Tanner said.
"Who says he can't?" Leo said.
"First, I'll throw in a facedown and then I'll summon my Speed Warrior!"
"In that case, I activate my facedown trap card, Hidden Soldiers! Now yours truly gets a level 4 monster from my hand, and I've got just the one for you. He goes by Trap Reactor Wifi, and with this card on my field, Yusei, I only need one more for a big surprise."
"I think I know what Greiger's got planned, guys," Dexter said nervously.
"Guess Yusei better rev it up, and I mean fast!" Tanner said.
"For the first round Speed Warrior is in the field, he get's double his attack points," Yusei as Speed Warriors attack points doubled. "Now send that Reactor back to the shop!"
With that said, Speed Warrior attacked Spell Reactor RE.
Greiger: 3500
Yusei: 4000
However, the attack had failed as the smoke revealed that Reactor RE was not harmed.
"No way!" Yusei shouted.
"Don't tell me you're shocked," Greiger mocked. "I only had two facedowns in my field, and one of them was Fake Explosion, and not only does this trap knock down your low obtain attack, but I get a bonus. As in a level 5 monster from my hand; bringing your surprise early. Summon Reactor SK, join the party!"
Summon Reactor SK is a monster card that inflicts 800 points of damage when your opponent summons a monster to the field.
"He's got all three Reactors in play," Cayenne said in shock.
"At least he doesn't have Delta Reactor," Alexa said.
"Now I will activate my Delta Reactor," Greiger said. "This card sends Summon Reactor, Trap Reactor, and Spell Reactor all to the graveyard. I hate to do this to you, Yusei, but like I told you last night, one of us has to lose; and today it's you!"
"Yusei, no!" Leo shouted.
"I summon Flying Fortress Skyfyre!"
Skyfyre appeared in all it's glory.
"It looks like that bad bike's not just for show! Greiger brings out his big bang beast in the second round!"
Mandy clenched her fists in anxiety at the sight of Skyfyre.
"If you thought it was loud in hear before, just get a load of this," Greiger said. "You lose 800 lpoints of damage if you ever summon a monster, or place one card facedown. And if that ever weren't enough, the card you just played will also be destroyed! Just face it, friend, you can't make a move without getting hurt. My family needs me, which means you're going to have to lose this match, Yusei!"