This story was done in collaboration between me and Jriddle41 (Sodormatchmaker on DeviantART), and we both own the OCs that are used in the story. Credit to author AaronCottrell97 for a few ideas and character suggestions. Everything else belongs to their respective owners:
Thomas and Friends (c) Hit Entertainment and Mattel
The Railway Series (c) Rev Wilbert Awdry
Yu-Gi-Oh! (c) Konami
Song used in Intro and Outro (c) Unknown
WARNING: Again, this story is rated T (13-plus) for moments of violence, bloody moments, and some suggestive themes. Chapter is also noted for some brief language and gruesome violence (with gore). Viewer discretion may be advised.
Opening somewhere in the woods in the middle of the night, young Iris was busy searching for Thomas, who had somehow gone missing. Where was he? No one knew at this point.
"Oh, Mr. Thomas..." whispered Iris. "Where are you?"
(elsewhere...)
Back at the camp site, everyone else was asleep. Unaware of what was going on right now.
(elsewhere...)
Back somewhere else in the woods, Thomas was dueling Warrior Dai Grepher...and had just lost his Big Shield Gardna.
"Care to try a better move than that?" asked Warrior Dai Grepher. "Or would you prefer to surrender now and save yourself the embarrassment?"
"I will never surrender!" snapped Thomas. "It's my turn!"
With that said, he drew his card.
Turn Three: Thomas Billinton (LP: 2500)
Deck: 38
Current Hand (6): Thousand Knives, Magician Navigation, Book of Secret Arts, Dark Effigy, Obnoxious Celtic Guardian, and Pot of Greed
Immediately, the blue-haired boy held his drawn card out
"I play Pot of Greed! With it, I draw two more cards from my deck."
He then drew two cards from his deck and added them to his hand. Currently, Thomas's hand contained Thousand Knives, Magician Navigation, Book of Secret Arts, Dark Effigy, Obnoxious Celtic Guardian, and two added cards (Brave Attack and Flash Fusion)
"Those two cards will come in handy later on." he thought to himself. From there, Thomas took the Dark Effigy card from his hand and spoke aloud. "I summon Dark Effigy in defense mode!"
The large blackish cube appeared (Level: 4/DEF: 0), much to Warrior Dai Grepher's amusement.
"Hmm... trying to stall for time, are we?" teased the warrior-type monster. "Then let me ask you this; why delay the inevitable?"
"Agreed." added Shadow Tamer. "The darkness in your heart is growing stronger with every passing minute. Eventually, it will be too late to turn back, anyway."
"Nothing you do will ever make me turn to the dark side!" retorted Thomas. "So long as my light is shining brightly, I will never fall into the darkness!"
Warrior Dai Grepher merely glared. This boy was being so stubborn right now... Well, he'll show him!
Title: Shadows of Night, Part 2
And so the duel continued.
"It's my turn now!" declared Warrior Dai Grepher, drawing a card. "I draw!"
Thomas stood ready for whatever Warrior Dai Grepher had planned.
Turn Four: Warrior Dai Grepher (LP: 4000)
Deck: 38
Current Hand (6): Shadow Tamer, Reckless Greed, Warrior Dai Grepher, Bronze Knights, and Training Academy(!)
The warrior-type monster added the drawn card to his hand and gave the command.
"Makyura the Destructor, destroy the boy's Dark Effigy!"
Makyura obeyed, slashing the Effigy to pieces.
"That's not all!" Warrior Dai Grepher continued, slotting a card into his Duel Disk. "I activate from my hand Bronze Knights!"
The mentioned Quick-Play Spell card flipped face-up and revealed itself.
"Bronze Knights?" Thomas blinked.
"For every card I discard from my hand-" explained Warrior Dai Grepher, sending three cards from his hand to the graveyard. "-I am allowed to special summon a Bronze Knight Token."
On cue, three Bronze Knights appeared (Level: 1/ATK: 500 - 800).
"Their attack points increased?!" Thomas was shocked to say the least. "But how?"
"Thanks to a Spell card sent to my graveyard." explained Warrior Dai Grepher, motioning to his graveyard. "It's called Training Academy. When it is in my graveyard, all my warrior-type monsters gain 300 attack points!"
Thomas was stunned to hear that.
"Now attack my opponent's life points directly, my Bronze Knights!"
The three Bronze Knights obeyed and slashed Thomas across the chest with their swords one at a time. The blue-haired boy yelled in pain as he took a step back and scowled (LP: 100).
"One more attack-" said Warrior Dai Grepher, smiling. "-and you will lose. Do you see now that it is useless to resist? You're struggling with only 100 life points, while I myself am still at a full 4000!"
"Never!" thundered Thomas.
"Still as defiant as ever..." sighed Shadow Tamer. "So be it!"
"Indeed." agreed Warrior Dai Grepher. "Now make your final move!"
With that said, Thomas drew his card.
Turn Five: Thomas Billinton (LP: 100)
Deck: 35
Current Hand (7): Thousand Knives, Magician Navigation, Book of Secret Arts, Obnoxious Celtic Guardian, Brave Attack, Flash Fusion, and Dark Magic Curtain
The blue-haired boy had drawn Dark Magic Curtain.
"This is it..." He then spoke aloud. "This duel isn't over by a long-shot."
Warrior Dai Grepher raised an eyebrow. "How so?"
On cue, the Dark Magic Curtain Spell card materialized face-up.
"I activate Dark Magic Curtain!" announced Thomas. "This powerful Spell card allows me to special summon a mighty spellcaster from my deck!"
A large machine with a red colored curtain materialized upon the life points being paid.
"A spellcaster?!" winced Warrior Dai Grepher.
"Correct!" confirmed Thomas (LP: 50). "I just need to lower my life points by half, and I can call upon my ultimate ally! Dark Magician!"
The machine took hold of the curtain and tossed it away. Upon the curtain being tossed away, there stood the purple-haired, male spellcaster (Level: 7/ATK: 2500).
Shadow Tamer gasped. "Dark Magician!"
"That's right." said Thomas. "And he is going to help me deal with you creeps."
The sight of the ultimate spellcaster caused Shadow Tamer to grip her head for some reason.
"W-What...?"
A flashback began.
FLASHBACK
In the Duel Monsters spirit world capital city, Shadow Tamer and Warrior Dai Grepher were both speaking to Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl.
"You wished to see us?" asked Shadow Tamer.
"We have." nodded Dark Magician. "According to my apprentice here, Emily Sterling from the real world has been captured by the Court of Darkness."
"Who?" questioned Warrior Dai Grepher.
"She is a very dear friend of our master, Thomas Billinton." explained Dark Magician Girl.
"But why has she been taken?"
"Because of the darkness in Emily's heart." Dark Magician pointed out. "It holds the key to reviving...him."
Shadow Tamer gasped. "You don't-?"
"I do." Dark Magician confirmed grimly. "It has to do with...the 'Evil One'."
"But that can't be possible!" protested Warrior Dai Grepher.
"It is possible." said Dark Magician Girl. "A human going by the name Professor Melvin, has found a way to extract the darkness from people's hearts..."
"...and use it as fuel to help revive 'him'." Dark Magician finished.
"We must stop him." insisted Shadow Tamer.
"At all costs!" agreed Warrior Dai Grepher.
"The best way to do so would be to rescue Emily and the people who were captured." Dark Magician Girl pointed out. "But the Castle of Dark Illusions is extremely fortified."
"We have no other choice." said Warrior Dai Grepher. "We will find a way to save Emily and the other captured humans."
"Please be careful." warned Dark Magician. "There's no telling what danger you two will encounter out there."
END FLASHBACK
The flashback ended, and Shadow Tamer was still gripping her head with both hands like she was fighting something.
"These... memories..." she murmured.
Another flashback ensured.
FLASHBACK
Shadow Tamer and Warrior Dai Grepher were both somewhere in a lab within the Castle of Dark Illusions. As they both looked around curious of their surroundings, some footsteps were heard. Entering the lab was a human male in his 50s to 60s.
"Welcome." greeted the man.
"Professor Melvin, I presume." said Warrior Dai Grepher.
"We have come to set free the humans you have captured!" proclaimed Shadow Tamer. "Now let them go!"
Professor Melvin chuckled. "I think not. You two are prisoners of the Court of Darkness now! ...and the latest test subjects of my next experiment."
"What experiment?"
"You'll find out soon enough." Professor Melvin then snapped his fingers, causing the two Gil Garths to stand tall in obedience. "Strap them on the tables right over there."
The two Gil Garths obeyed and grabbed their prey by their arms.
"Get your filthy hands off of us!" demanded Warrior Dai Grepher, trying to break free.
"Let us go!" added Shadow Tamer
(new scene...)
Before long, Warrior Dai Grepher and Shadow Tamer were both strapped to a respective table. Professor Melvin then walked over.
"Just relax..." he said softly. "This won't hurt..much."
"What are you gonna do to us?" quizzed Shadow Tamer.
"I am merely going to 'persuade' you two to serve Court of Darkness instead of fighting us."
"Never!" snapped Warrior Dai Grepher. "The Court of Darkness is evil!"
Other than just snap right back, Professor Melvin instead snapped his fingers once more. From there, two Slate Warriors carrying special helmets walked up.
"Put those on our test subjects here." ordered Professor Melvin.
The Slate Warriors obeyed, putting the helmets on the two warrior monsters. Once that was done, the same Slate Warriors attached two pairs of long tubes into the helmets.
"What matter of experiment is this?!" demanded Shadow Tamer.
"You'll find out soon enough." cackled Professor Melvin.
Once everything was set, the mad human flipped the switch nearby. Purple liquid went through the tubes towards the helmet wearing Duel Monster spirits.
"Now, before you ask-" Professor Melvin said mockingly. "I said this will be painful...but only briefly."
The liquid entered the helmets of Warrior Dai Grepher and Shadow Tamer. before long, the two monsters began to scream in pain as more and more purple liquid seemed to somehow enter their heads to the brain.
END FLASHBACK
The flashback ended, and Shadow Tamer was still gripping her head...before looking up with her mind still under Professor Melvin's control.
"Someone must be playing with my mind." she thought.
Back at the duel...
"Dark Magic Attack!" commanded Thomas.
Dark Magician fired a blast of black magic at Makyura the Destructor. The blast struck the warrior-type monster and caused the air all around it fizzle and flash in a multitude of colors before before destroying it.
"Your Makyura the Destructor has been vanquished!" declared Thomas.
Warrior Dai Grepher grunted as he took damage (LP: 3100). By the angry look on his face, it was clear that he hated losing life points due to his warrior's pride. He then slotted a card into his Duel Disk.
"When Makyura gets sent to my graveyard-" The warrior-type monster announced. "I can activate any Trap cards from my hand!"
"Trap cards?!" Thomas winced.
"And I choose this Trap card...!" said Warrior Dai Grepher, as his chosen card materialized face-up. He then drew two cards from his deck. "It's called Reckless Greed! It allows me to draw two cards so long as I skip my next two draw phases"
The two cards were shown to be Give 'n' Take(!) and Swords of Revealing Light (both were Spell cards).
"So be it." remarked Thomas. He then slotted a card into his Duel Disk. "I set one card facedown and end my turn!"
A facedown card materialized.
"It's my turn!" said Warrior Dai Grepher.
Turn Six: Warrior Dai Grepher (LP: 3100)
Deck: 36
Current Hand (2): Give 'n' Take and Swords of Revealing Light
Taking one of the cards from his hand, the warrior-type monster slotted it into a Spell/Trap slot on his Duel Disk.
"I activate a Spell card called Give 'n' Take!"
The mentioned Spell card materialized face-up. Dark Magician suddenly turned itself back into a card and returned to Thomas's hand.
"My Dark Magician!" gasped the blue-haired boy. "What has happened?"
"Give 'n' Take returns a level 7 or higher monster to your hand." explained Warrior Dai Grepher. "In addition, both players gain life points equal to your returned monster's attack points."
Both of their life points went up (LP: 5600)(LP: 2550).
"And now you're wide open for a direct attack once more! Bronze Knights, go show the boy over there the wrath of your blades once more!"
The Bronze Knights obeyed and went in for another direct attack... but Thomas was more prepared for this one!
"Open facedown card!" he shouted, motioning his right hand up. "Magician Navigation!"
The blue-haired boy's facedown card flipped up and revealed itself.
"This Trap card lets me to special summon Dark Magician from my hand...which you so 'kindly' returned it to." explained Thomas, placing his returned card back onto a monster field slot on his Duel Disk.
Dark Magician returned to the field with a mighty yell (Level: 7/ATK: 2500).
"But that isn't all." The blue-haired boy continued, taking his deck out of his Duel Disk. "Magician Navigation also allows me to special summon a level 7 or lower spellcaster from my deck."
"Another high level spellcaster?" thought Warrior Dai Grepher. "What else is there for him to play?"
A card ejected from Thomas's deck and came to his hand before holding it out.
"Come forth... Dark Magician Girl!"
The female spellcaster materialized beside her teacher (Level: 6/ATK: 2000). Upon seeing Dark Magician Girl, Shadow Tamer once again felt some pain in her head as she gripped the sides with both hands.
"Yet again!" The female monster cried out to herself. "What's wrong with...?!"
Back over at the duel...
"My turn isn't over yet!" insisted Warrior Dai Grepher, taking his final card. "I activate Swords of Revealing Light!"
The familiar large swords of light appeared, trapping the two spellcasters.
"This Spell card will prevent you from attacking for three turns."
"I won't let them stop me!" shouted Thomas defiantly, drawing a card. "My turn!"
Turn Seven: Thomas Billinton (LP: 2550)
Deck: 33
Current Hand (6): Thousand Knives, Book of Secret Arts, Obnoxious Celtic Guardian, Brave Attack, Flash Fusion, and Dust Tornado
Swords of Revealing Light: Three Turns
Immediately, a facedow card materialized.
"I set this card facedown and end my turn!"
"My turn!" said Warrior Dai Grepher.
Turn Eight: Warrior Dai Grepher (LP: 5600)
Deck: 36
Current Hand (0): N/A
Seeing as he had no other cards in his hand and was forced to skip his draw phase once more, Warrior Dai Grepher could only do one thing right now...
"I switch my three Bronze Knights into defense mode!"
The three knights knelt into a defensive stance (DEF: 500).
"Facedown card, open!" Thomas suddenly announced.
"What?!" Warrior Dai Grepher gasped.
The blue-haired boy's set card flipped face-up and revealed itself.
"Dust Tornado will destroy one Spell or Trap card on your side of the field! So now... say goodbye to your Swords of Revealing Light two turns sooner."
The large tornado swept across the field and shattered the light swords.
"My swords!" exclaimed Warrior Dai Grepher. He then growled in frustration. "My turn is over!"
"My turn!" Thomas drew his card.
Turn Nine: Thomas Billinton (LP: 2550)
Deck: 32
Current Hand (6): Thousand Knives, Book of Secret Arts, Obnoxious Celtic Guardian, Brave Attack, Flash Fusion, and Graceful Charity
"Now behold the Spell card Graceful Charity!"
The mentioned Spell card materialized face-up. An angel materialized above Thomas and started to sprinkling some gentle raindrops down towards his deck.
"This lets me draw three more cards, while discarding two from my hand to the graveyard." said Thomas as he drew his three extra cards. He immediately discarded both Thousand Knives (Spell card) and Obnoxious Celtic Guardian (Effect Monster card) to the graveyard.
The blue-haired boy's hand now consisted of Book of Secret Arts, Brave Attack, Flash Fusion, King's Knight, Queen's Knight, and De-Fusion.
"And with your swords now gone early, I will now go onto the offensive!" continued Thomas. "Attack now, Dark Magician! Destroy a Bronze Knight with Dark Magic Attack!"
Dark Magician obeyed, firing a blast of black magic from his scepter, shattering one of the Bronze Knights upon striking.
(elsewhere...)
In another part of the woods, little Iris was still searching for Thomas. She was feeling lost and afraid, but her determination to find her 'Daddy' was not gonna stop her.
"I have to find Mr. Thomas." Iris said to herself. "He might be in trouble."
Before the young brown-haired girl could move another step, a loud explosion suddenly rocked the area and nearly knocked her off her feet.
"What was that?" she cried out in shock.
Without wasting another second, Iris continued running through the woods.
(elsewhere...)
Back in another section of the woods, the explosion had come from the destruction of a second Bronze Knight Token, compliments of Dark Magician Girl attacking.
"Thanks to Dark Magician Girl, another of your Bronze Knights have fallen!" declared Thomas proudly.
Warrior Dai Grepher scowled unhappily. Over with Shadow Tamer, the female monster was still grimacing and wincing from the pain in her head.
"Make it stop!" Shadow Tamer begged in agony.
A flashback ensured.
FLASHBACK
Inside the lab within the Castle of Dark Illusions, Warrior Dai Grepher and Shadow Tamer were both screaming in intense pain from the torture-like experiement Professor Melvin was forcing upon them. The scientist, meanwhile, merely cackled sadistically at their pain.
END FLASHBACK
The flashback ended, and Shadow Tamer once again failed to break free.
"No more of these tricks!" she exclaimed, suddenly speaking to Thomas. "Whatever you're trying to do to me, it won't work!"
Thomas was puzzled. "What are you talking about?"
"Just get on with the duel!"
Thomas scowled in response. "I end my turn." he announced, looking back at Warrior Dai Grepher.
Warrior Dai Grepher smirked and drew his card (now that Reckless Greed's effect had worn off).
Turn Eight: Warrior Dai Grepher (LP: 5600)
Deck: 35
Current Hand (1): Card of Sanctity
"Well now... this will certainly refresh everything."
Thomas raised an eyebrow, yet didn't say a word. Warrior Dai Grepher went ahead and slotted his drawn card into a Spell/Trap slot on his Duel Disk.
"Card of Sanctity!" announced Warrior Dai Grepher.
The mentioned Spell card materialized face-up.
"Now both of us draw until we hold six cards in our hands." explained Warrior Dai Grepher. "Too bad you already have a full hand."
Thomas remained silent still, while his opponent actually drew six new cards.
"I think I'll pull off a little fusion summon..." Warrior Dai Grepher said to himself, slotting another card into his Duel Disk. "Call of the Warrior - Ryu(!)!"
The mentioned Spell card flipped face-up and revealed itself.
"By tributing my final Bronze Knight Token, I am able to special summon a level 6 or lower warrior-type fusion monster from my extra deck with an extra 500 attack points and its effects negated."
The Bronze Knight Token vanished.
"Now I fusion summon Ryu Senshi!" announced Warrior Dai Grepher, taking a card out of his pocket and placing it onto a monster field slot on his Duel Disk.
Appearing to the field was a rather powerful version of Warrior Dai Grepher with a purplish helmet and shoulder pads that looked like bat wings (Level: 6/ATK: 2000).
"And thanks to my Spell card, it gains 500 extra attack points!"
Ryu Senshi immediately grew stronger (ATK: 2000 - 2500).
"Now it's as strong as Dark Magician!" Thomas thought to himself.
"My turn is not even close to being finished yet." continued Warrior Dai Grepher, slotting another card into his Duel Disk. "I set one card facedown..."
A facedown card materialized. It was followed by the materialization of an Equip Spell card called Fusion Weapon.
"Then I activate Fusion Weapon." added Warrior Dai Grepher. "This Spell card increases Ryu Senshi's attack by a further 1500!"
Thanks to Fusion Weapon (because Ryu Senshi was a level 6 or lower fusion monster), Ryu Senshi grew even stronger (ATK: 2500 - 4000). Finally, the Polymerization Spell card flipped face-up and revealed itself.
"Lastly, I'll use Polymerization to fuse the Lord of Dragons and Divine Dragon Ragnarok in my hand together!"
The two monsters appeared breifly before fusing together.
"With the conditions met-" declared Warrior Dai Grepher. "-I fusion summon King Dragun!"
An explosion hit the field as the silhouette of the monster appeared before them.
(elsewhere...)
A distance away from the duel, Iris got closer until she could see the explosion.
"Whoa!" The young brown-haired girl cried out in surprise. "What's going on?"
Without wasting a second, Iris moved on towards the duel grounds.
(elsewhere...)
Back at the duel grounds, the full body of King Dragun was shown.
"Two powerful monsters I control..." chuckled Warrior Dai Grepher. "Who should I target on your field first?"
Thomas stood firm, but he knew how grave the situation was. If both of his monsters were attacked, he would have nothing left to stop Warrior Dai Grepher from winning.
"I think I'll start with your Dark Magician Girl..." said Warrior Dai Grepher at last. "I'll use King Dragun to attack and destroy the Dark Magician Girl! Fire Scourge now!"
King Dragun obeyed, firing a blast of flames at Dark Magician Girl. The poor female spellcaster-type monster was overwhelmed by the flames and got roasted alive.
"Dark Magician Girl!" screamed Thomas (LP: 2150).
"Mr. Thomas!" called a familiar child's voice.
"Iris?"
Thomas looked towards the bushes and saw Iris running towards him.
"Mr. Thomas, it's you!" The young brown-haired girl exclaimed in relief.
"Iris, what are you doing here?" Thomas cried in alarm. "Stay back! It's not safe!"
"Your Dark Magician is next!" called Warrior Dai Grepher. "Ryu Senshi! Attack and destroy the Dark Magician at once!"
Ryu Senshi obeyed, raised his weapon, and slashed it forth. This was powerful enough to launch a razor sharp shock slash-like beam flying forth, cutting Dark Magician right in half (separating the lower half of his body from the top half) before shattering him into pieces. But that wasn't the worst bit, it soared forth towards Thomas.
"MR. THOMAS!" wailed Iris, getting closer to her 'Daddy'.
"IRIS, STAY BACK!" shouted Thomas pleadingly.
It was too late... As the razor sharp shock slash-like beam got closer and closer to Thomas, Iris, with her back turned, got in front of the blue-haired boy...
...and took the blow instead.
"IRIS!" screamed Thomas in sickening horror.
The poor young brown-haired girl screamed in agonizing pain as the blade repeatedly spun and sawed into her back, leaving quite the bloody mess behind. Soon the attack ceased, and Thomas lost a large amount of life points thanks to Dark Magician being destroyed just now (LP: 650), but that didn't matter to him right now. Why not, you might be asking? Because Iris, fatally wounded, then collapsed into his arms.
"IRIS! IRIS! SPEAK TO ME, PLEASE!"
"M-Mr. Thomas..." The young brown-haired girl whispered quietly. It was a sign she was not gonna last much longer.
"Iris..." mumble Thomas as tears came to his eyes. "Why did you do that?"
Iris coughed a bit before looking up. Some clothing and skin on her back had been torn right off. In addition, there was an ENORMOUS gash on her mid-upper back with massive amounts of blood spewing out of the wound... it looked positively sickening.
"I... had to... protect you." she insisted slowly, looking up at Thomas weakly. "That attack... would have killed you."
"You just have to hang in there, Iris... please!" begged Thomas. "I can't bear to lose you!" Suddenly, he remembered something important. "The Millennium Puzzle! If I used it before to heal Emily and prevent her from disappearing into the shadows, then perhaps I can do the same for Iris!"
Aiming the Millennium Puzzle towards the young girl, Thomas tried to make it glow.
"Please!" he wailed, shaking the puzzle. "Please, you have to heal Iris! I'm begging you!" More and more tears were streaming down his face as the blue-haired boy's voice started to break. "DON'T LET HER DIE!"
But the Millennium Puzzle...didn't glow.
"PLEASE!" The blue-haired boy screamed in desperation. "DO SOMETHING, DAMN YOU!"
But alas, it did nothing still.
"Never mind, Mr. Thomas." said Iris with another cough. The loss of so much blood reached its limit. "It's for the best. Thank you so much for taking care of me."
"No... NO!" Thomas started to cry. "No, Iris, this can't be the end! I can't lose you! You're like a little sister to me! I love you!"
"I love you too, Mr. Thomas." Iris responded quietly and weakly. "Never give in to the darkness...Daddy..."
With that said, she closed her eyes and turned to light. Thomas, with his voice cracking, collapsed to his knees while reduced to a sobbing mess over losing someone he thought as another little sister.
(elsewhere...)
Maiden of the Aqua shot up wide awake.
"EVERYONE, WAKE UP!" she cried out.
At the camp site, everyone quickly woke up from their sleep.
"What's the matter?" asked Percy.
"You look terrible." added James.
Maiden of the Aqua was shivering fiercely. "Sometime terrible is about to happen. Thomas is missing... and he's about to lose himself once more."
"Oh...not again." groaned Gordon. "If Iris is with Thomas, he should be okay."
"She can't help him now..." Maiden of the Aqua looked like she was about to start crying. "She's...dead."
This earned a collective gasp from everyone in the area.
"What?!" gasped Percy in shock. "Dead?! How can she be dead?!"
Maiden of the Aqua couldn't answer the question.
(elsewere...)
Back in the middle of the woods, Thomas was still unresponsive after Iris's death...not that Warrior Dai Grepher seemed to notice.
"Are you still alive over there?" he asked harshly. "Who cares about what happened to that little girl? It was her own fault for getting in the way."
No response from Thomas.
"Speak!" demanded Warrior Dai Grepher. "Why don't you say anything?"
A dark aura started to form around Thomas as he stood back up. Warrior Dai Grepher glanced at his opponent in surprise, but remained silent. Once the blue-haired boy had gotten back to his feet and raised his head, a most terrifying sight was shown... and it was enough to surprise Warrior Dai Grepher and scare Shadow Tamer.
"Good heavens..." she whispered.
Thomas's eyes had turned to crimson red, and he had a very angry, almost demonic, expression on his face... which had turned gray with scales of a sort. No doubt he had been possessed by the 'Evil One' once again... Except the hold was even stronger this time around.
"You son-of-a-bitch..." The blue-haired boy snarled in fury. "This... this was all your doing! You've murdered an innocent child!"
Warrior Dai Grepher reeled back in shock. This was certainly a new appearance for his opponent. Suddenly, he smelled something.
"That smell..." The warrior-type monster whispered to himself and sniffed the air, and got a strong whiff of darkness. "Was this what Professor Melvin told us about...?"
Shadow Tamer smelled it as well, and suddenly became more aware.
"Was this what we were hired to do?" she thought to herself.
"I want you two to give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you both here and now!" roared Thomas (possessed).
"No matter what, the duel WILL continue!" insisted Warrior Dai Grepher. "And I will win, too!"
Shadow Tamer was about to speak up when she gripped her head once more. The pain seemed to be stronger than ever before.
"What is this pain?" she thought.
The pain got so intense that Shadow Tamer started screaming and stumbling about. Thomas (possessed), meanwhile, began his turn.
Turn Eleven: Thomas Billinton (LP: 650)
Deck: 28
Current Hand (7): Book of Secret Arts, Brave Attack, Flash Fusion, Queen's Knight, King's Knight, De-Fusion, and Royal Calling
The possessed blue-haired boy's drawn card was a Spell card called Royal Calling.
"I activate a Spell card!" Thomas (possessed) thundered, slotting his card into a Spell/Trap slot on his Duel Disk. The Royal Calling Spell card materialized face-up at once. "Royal Calling!"
"R-Royal Calling?" quizzed Warrior Dai Grepher.
"Yes! At the cost of 500 life points, I can proceed to special summon from my hand as many members of the 'Three Musketeer of Face Cards' archtype as I'm able to!" Thomas (possessed) then took two cards from his hand and placed them onto monster field slots. "Meet Queen's Knight and King's Knight!"
The two King and Queen Poker Knights appeared to the field (Level: 4/ATK: 1500/DEF: 1600)(Level: 4/ATK: 1600/DEF: 1400). In addition, the possessed blue-haired boy took a life point hit (LP: 150).
"When these two knights are in play-" went on Thomas (possessed), holding another card. "-I can automatically special summon Jack's Knight from my deck!"
The third Poker Knight appeared beside his two comrades (Level: 5/ATK: 1900/DEF: 1000).
"And now... it's time for you to pay for your misdeeds...!"
The three Poker Knights overheard the change in voice from their master and turned to look at him... they all got the shock of a life time when they saw the demonic look on Thomas's usually friendly face. Clearly, the monsters had not expected this to happen at all.
"This boy..." thought Warrior Dai Grepher to only himself. "How does he expect to win with only his three knights?"
Thomas (possessed) wasn't done just yet. "Now I activate Brave Attack!"
The mentioned Spell card materialized face-up. Warrior Dai Grepher grimaced when he saw what the card was...
"A powerful and rare card..."
"This Spell card allows all three of my knights to combine their attacks together and strike down your Ryu Senshi, destroy it, and inflict damage to you for the difference of the combined attack." explained Thomas (possessed), before motioning his left hand forth. "Now go, my knights! Triple Majestic Slash!"
Queen's Knight charged in first, slashing Ryu Senshi. King's Knight followed suit, slashing Ryu Senshi. Finally, Jack's Knight charged in and delivered the final blow. Ryu Senshi was finally destroyed by the triple attack.
"1500 + 1600 + 1900 equals 5000 base attack." said Thomas (possessed). "Your Ryu Senshi had 4000 attack points." He then pointed forth fiercely. "Because of the difference in power, you lose 1000 life points!"
Warrior Dai Grepher grunted in pain as he took damage (LP: 4600).
"Tch! Don't forget Brave Attack's other effect..." The warrior-type monster remarked. "At the end of the battle phase, your knights will be destroyed!"
"I think not!" boomed Thomas (possessed) once more, holding out a card from his hand. "I activate a Quick-Play Spell card - Flash Fusion!"
The three Poker Knights leaped into the sky to fuse together.
"Using this card, I merge my Poker Knights together to fusion summon the mighty Arcana Knight Joker!"
The tall, purple-haired Poker Knight appeared, brandishing his sword and defending with a shield (Level: 9/ATK: 3800/DEF: 2500).
"Attack and destroy King Dragun right now!" commanded Thomas (possessed)
Arcana Knight Joker obeyed and charged forth to do the deed.
"I activate my set card!" announced Warrior Dai Grepher, just as his facedown card flipped face-up and revealed itself. "The Quick-Play Spell card Fusion Disrupter(!)! Now your new monster will be destroyed, while damage to your life points will be sustained by the total attack the fusion monster had!"
Thomas (possessed) quickly discarded one of the last card froms his hand (Book of Secret Arts) to the graveyard.
"I activate Arcana Knight Joker's special ability!" The possessed blue-haired boy declared.
"What?!"
"If a card effect is activated-" explained Thomas (possessed). "-I can discard a card of the same type. Then my Arcana Knight Joker can negate and destroy your card!"
Arcana Knight Joker slashed his sword at the face-up Fusion Disrupter and destroyed it. Whats more, he then sliced King Dragun in half and destroyed it, too.
"My King Dragun!" cried Warrior Dai Grepher (LP: 3200). He growled then at his opponent. "No matter... your Arcana Knight Joker will be destroyed once your turn is all over!"
"Wrong again!" rebuffed Thomas (possessed), holding out the last card from his hand. "I activate my final card; De-Fusion!"
The possessed blue-haired boy's final Quick-Play Spell card flipped face-up and revealed itself.
"This splits my fusion monster back into the three Poker Knights used to summon it!"
With that said, Arcana Knight Joker vanished as Queen's Knight (Level: 4/ATK: 1500/DEF: 1600), King's Knight (Level: 4/ATK: 1600/DEF: 1400), and Jack's Knight each returned in his place (Level: 5/ATK: 1900/DEF: 1000).
"This can't be happening!" exclaimed Warrior Dai Grepher, taking a step back from shock.
"It is!" thundered Thomas (possessed). "Consider this punishment for your misdeeds!"
Over with Shadow Tamer, she finally released her hands from the sides of her head once more. But this time, the female monster's look was not of evil, but rather of confusion and fear.
"Where am I?" she asked. "W-What's going on?"
From there, Shadow Tamer witnessed Queen's Knight, King's Knight, and Jack's Knight all attacking her friend/comrade (Warrior Dai Grepher) directly and all at once (LP: 0).
DUEL RESULT: Thomas Billinton wins!
"Warrior Dai Grepher!" cried out Shadow Tamer.
The warrior-type monster collapsed to his knees, but the worst wasn't over by a long shot. Thomas (possessed), with his Millennium Puzzle glowing (not white/gold, but purple/black), slowly approached, grabbed Warrior Dai Grepher by the throat, lifted him up, and gave quite possibly the most frightening smile known to mankind.
"You love darkness so much?" The possessed blue-haired boy taunted ruthlessly. "Then prepare to be destroyed by the very darkness you worship!"
Warrior Dai Grepher at first groaned, but it soon evolved into screams of intense pain as he felt his own life-force energy leaving him and being absorbed into the Millennium Puzzle.
"THIS IS FOR WHAT YOU DID TO IRIS!" screamed Thomas (possessed) furiously.
Eventually, it became too much for the defeated warrior-type monster and his body became limp. Shadow Tamer watched in horror as Warrior Dai Grepher then faded away to his death. She felt even more horror when she saw Thomas (possessed) beginning to walk menacingly towards her, with his demonic, glowing, rage-filled, red eyes and strong, thick dark aura surrounding him.
"S-Stay back! Stay away from me, you demon!" The female monster cried out in fear, beginning to run away.
Big mistake.
Shadow Tamer had hardly ran two feet before she was viciously grabbed by the neck and thrown fiercely (and painfully) onto the ground by Thomas (possessed), who pinned her down by the neck with his left hand, strangling the female monster ruthlessly, while raising is free right hand directly over her face and clenching it into a fist!
"RRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!" roared Thomas (possessed), with deep, unrelenting rage over Iris's death.
Shadow Tamer, too terrified to scream or beg for mercy, shut her eyes in terror and waited for the impact of the possessed blue-haired boy's fist. But just then...
"Mr. Thomas!" cried a familiar voice (female).
Thomas (possessed), froze, his fist inches from the petrified Shadow Tamer's face. He heard a familiar voice in his head, calling him. It sounded just like...Iris's voice. Shadow Tamer nervously opened her eyes after realizing that he had stopped his punch...only for Thomas (possessed) to unleash another roar and raised his fist once more, and instead of punching Shadow Tamer in the face...he punched the ground, so hard his fist went slightly through the ground...just inches away from the female monsters face. Thomas (possessed) raised his fist, now covered in blood from smashing into the ground (not that he even noticed of cared) and tightened his grip on Shadow Tamer's neck, pulling her up from the ground until she was eye level with him, forcing her to look into his terrifying, demonic red eyes. The poor female monster was trembling in fear from the possessed blue-haired boy's glare.
"Crawl back to your army...let them know that I will hunt you all down...I will destroy each and every last of one you...and bathe in the afterglow of your demise...!"
Then, once again, Thomas (possessed) slammed Shadow Tamer's head back onto the ground, just as painfully as the first time, and finally released her from his grip and stood back up, leering at her. Shadow Tamer, clearly shaken by the possessed blue-haired boy's threatening demand, shakily picked herself up from the ground, ignoring the sharp pain at the back of her head, and ran as far away from Thomas (possessed) as she could. As soon as the female monster was far from sight, Thomas (possessed) clutched his forehead with his bloodied hand as he felt a sudden pain, falling to his knees as the dark aura surrounding him disappeared. When he raised his head up, Thomas's face returned to normal, while his eyes went back to their normal blue color.
"My head..." The blue-haired boy groaned wearily. "What happened? The last thing I remember is... Iris..."
Poor Thomas then remembered during the duel...that she died trying to save him from a direct attack of a sort. Collapsing to his knees once more, all of this was enough to bring him to tears once more.
"Iris... She was too young and pure of heart to be killed..."
As Thomas cried some more, he felt someone put a comforting hand on his shoulder. Looking back, the blue-haired boy could see that it was his Queen's Knight. Standing beside her was both King's Knight and Jack's Knight. Although they remained silent, the looks on their faces could tell it all. It was clear the three monsters felt nothing but pity and care for how their master/friend was feeling right now. Eventually, the three Poker Knights faded away, while Thomas looked down towards his Millennium Puzzle.
"Why?" he asked quietly and sadly. "Why didn't you save Iris? Why did you let her die? Was it just to punish me for something I might have done?"
The Millennium Puzzle still didn't glow white/gold or anything. Falling more and more into despair, poor Thomas began shaking his Millennium Item roughly a few times in hope that something would happen, but no reaction seem to come from the item still. Now screaming out in a tearful rage, the blue-haired boy tossed the 'useless' Millennium Puzzle aside and resumed crying over Iris's death.
(elsewhere...)
Back at the camp site, Percy, Maiden of the Aqua, and the rest of the gang were busy making plans to go out into the forest and try to find Thomas.
"Should we split up and look around?" asked James.
"No!" objected Edward. "What if we were to be attacked? We have to stick together."
Just then, there came a solemn voice...
"Don't bother searching."
Everyone turned to a path leading deeper into the forest. Walking and approaching the camp site...was a heartbroken Thomas.
"THOMAS!" cried out the gang.
Maiden of the Aqua ran over and hugged the blue-haired boy tightly in relief.
"We were so worried about you!" she exclaimed.
Thomas didn't say a word in response. He only kept his solemn look.
"What's the matter?" asked Percy, looking concerned for his best friend.
"Iris..." Thomas started to breakdown into tears once more.
Everyone else was puzzled at first, but then they started to realize the horrible truth... Little Iris really was dead.
"Who could have done such a terrible thing?" asked Henry.
Unfortunately, no else answered the question. Instead, the group bowed their heads and remained silent in order to pay their respects to that wonderful young girl who was only with them for a short amount of time.