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 (especially the duel layout for the story). 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 for fantasy violence, suggestive themes, and some mild language.
Opening up in the middle of a replica of downtown San Francisco, a large crowd was watching the duel between Thomas and Ashima.
"You know something, man?" One teenage boy said to another teenage boy.
"No, what?"
"This duel seems to remind me of an event in a movie I like watching in my spare time." The first teenage boy answered. "Two steam engines are competing in a challenge of some sort, and they even share the same names as the two duelists here."
The second teenage boy grew highly interested. "Huh, that's interesting." he commented. "What was the movie called?"
"I forgot the first part... but the second part is named 'The Great Race'."
Back over with Thomas and Ashima in the middle of the road... Both duelists were evenly matched in skill and such, and were at the following stands:
-Thomas (LP: 2500) controlled a facedown Monster Card and two set Spell/Trap Cards.
-Ashima (LP: 4500) controlled 'Photon Papilloperative' and three face-up Continuous Spell Cards in 'Elimigate', 'Butterfly Charm', and 'Butterfly Swarm'.
Turn Five: Ashima Nilgiri (LP: 4500)
Deck: 47
Current Hand (1): "Xyz Treasure Ticket"
Ashima's drawn card was a Spell Card called 'Xyz Treasure Ticket'.
"As we're on the Standby Phase-" The black-haired Indian girl explained, taking a Life Point hit (LP: 2500). "I pay 2000 Life Points to keep 'Butterfly Swarm' in play."
"I'm afraid that isn't all you'll have to pay." Thomas interrupted.
"Why do you say that?"
"Trap Card, open!" The blue-haired boy announced, just as the first of his two set cards flipped face-up and revealed itself to be... "'Rock Bombardment', activate!"
"'Rock Bombardment'..." worried Ashima.
"That's not all." continued Thomas, just as his remaining facedown card flipped up and revealed itself. "I'll chain it with 'Emergency Provisions'!"
"Since Thomas chained 'Rock Bombardment' with 'Emergency Provisions'-" Zack said to the rest of the gang. "-the latter card resolves its effect first."
Thomas glowed in an aura as his Life Points were replenished (LP: 3500).
"With 'Rock Bombardment' sent to the Graveyard by the effect of 'Emergency Provisions', I gain 1000 Life Points... However, the effect of 'Rock Bombardment' must now be resolved, because it wasn't negated." A card had ejected from Thomas's Deck. "By sending one copy of a Rock-Type monster from my Deck to the Graveyard, I inflict 500 points of damage to your Life Points!"
The spirit of the selected monster, 'Gamma The Magnet Warrior', briefly appeared and punched Ashima (LP: 2000).
"Ngh... That was clever..." grimaced Ashima, before recovering and slotting her drawn card into her Duel Disk. "Unfortunately for you, I still have plenty more to play."
The Spell Card 'Xyz Treasure Ticket' flipped face-up and revealed itself.
"'Xyz Treasure Ticket' lets me draw the same number of cards as the Rank of a Rank 4 or lower Xyz Monster on my side of the field."
"Your monster has a Rank of 4..." grunted Thomas.
"That means I get to draw four cards in total." said Ashima, just as she drew a fresh hand. Almost immediately, she took and held out one of the drawn cards. "Next, I'll activate a Spell Card - 'Supremacy Berry'!"
"'Supremacy Berry'..."
"As my Life Points were lower than yours when activated-" Ashima explained, regaining a large amount of her Life Points (LP: 4000). "-this Spell Card gives me 2000 more Life Points."
"She recovered herself so easily..." thought Thomas, watching as a Monster Card called 'Morpho Butterspy' materialized face-up on Ashima's side of the field. "Is that-?"
"Yes! I Summon a second copy of 'Morpho Butterspy' in defense mode!"
Another copy of 'Morpho Butterspy' then appeared on the field (Level: 4/ATK: 1200/DEF: 1600).
"But your problems are about to get worse." Ashima went on, pointing forth. "I now activate the effect of 'Photon Papilloperative'!"
The facedown Monster Card on Thomas's side of the field started to flip up and call forth 'Gorz the Emissary of Darkness' once again.
"'Gorz the Emissary of Darkness'!" Thomas called out. "You flipped him face-up! Why?!"
"That's 'Photon Papilloperative's' effect." explained Ashima. "By giving up one of its Overlay Unit, I can switch one defense position monster on your side of the field into attack mode and weaken its Attack Power."
"Weaken?!" gasped Thomas.
Ashima grinned. "By 600 points."
'Gorz the Emissary of Darkness' got weaker (ATK: 2700 - 2100).
"Now for 'Morpho Butterspy's' own effect!" The black-haired Indian girl went on. "When the battle position of an opponent's monster gets changed, the targeted monster will be drained of 1000 of its Attack Points."
'Gorz the Emissary of Darkness' grew even weaker (ATK: 2100 - 1100). With the audience...
"Now-a 'Photon Papilloperative' is-a stronger than-a 'Gorz'!" exclaimed Gina.
"Both of Ashima's monsters are." Percy pointed out.
"But 'Morpho Butterspy' is in defense mode, so it won't be able to strike Thomas directly at the moment." said James.
"A big relief." came from Gordon.
Back in the duel field, Ashima entered the Battle Phase.
"'Photon Papilloperative', attack 'Gorz the Emissary of Darkness'!" she ordered.
'Photon Papiloperative' obeyed, striking the greatly weakened 'Gorz the Emissary of Darkness' and destroying him.
"'Gorz'!" cried Thomas, just as he took damage (LP: 2500).
"Because a monster you control was destroyed-" Ashima went on. "-1500 extra points of damage is inflicted onto you!"
A powerful beam shot from the face-up Spell Card and struck Thomas, causing him to yell out in pain (LP: 1000). The blue-haired boy was then thrown across the field, landing on his back.
"Thomas, hang in there!" called Percy.
"Thomas, don't give up!" added Emily.
"All I have to do is declare one more attack-" said Ashima, taking and slotting another card into a Spell/Trap slot on her Duel Disk. "-and this duel is over!"
A facedown card materialized on the field.
"I set one card and end my turn."
After a bit of struggling, Thomas returned to his feet.
"I'm... I'm not gonna lose..." The blue-haired boy mumbled. "After all the Hell I've been through, this... this is nothing!"
Ashima said nothing, but she kept a firm, stern look on her face.
Title: Sting Like a Butterfly, Part 2
"It's my turn!" cried Thomas, drawing a card.
Turn Six: Thomas Billinton (LP: 1000)
Deck: 48
Current Hand (5): "Attack the Moon!", "Extra Gate", "Altar for Tribute", "Transaction Rollback", and "Delta The Magnet Warrior"
His drawn card was a Monster Card called 'Delta The Magnet Warrior'. Thomas's eyes widened when he saw the card.
"'Delta The Magnet Warrior'..." he thought to himself. "This is the newest addition to the 'Magnet Warrior' family... It could be the ticket to turning the duel around..."
"Well, Thomas?" The voice of Ashima cut in, causing the blue-haired boy to look up. The black-haired Indian girl was waiting patiently. "What are you going to do now?"
To answer the question, Thomas placed his drawn card onto a Monster Field slot on his Duel Disk (sideways).
"I'll show you... I Summon 'Delta The Magnet Warrior' in defense mode!"
Appearing on the field was a brand new 'Magnet Warrior' Monster. It was made of blue magnetic pieces with the original U shaped magnets on its head and arms (Level: 4/ATK: 1600/DEF: 1400).
"'Delta The Magnet Warrior'..." mumbled Henry.
"That's a new one." commented Gordon.
"When 'Delta' is Normal Summoned-" explained Thomas, taking a card from his Deck. "-I can send a 'Magnet Warrior'-named monster from my Deck directly to the Graveyard. So I'll send 'Alpha The Magnet Warrior' to join his comrades."
On cue, a Spell Card called 'Extra Gate' materialized face-up on the field.
"Next, I activate 'Extra Gate'! Now I must declare a Level between 1 and 12 and you must Banish one monster of that Level from your Extra Deck. If you don't have a monster of that Level in the Extra Deck, I must discard one card."
"There's a problem though." interrupted Ashima.
Thomas glared. "What is it?"
"All of the Monster Cards in my Extra Deck are Xyz Monsters. And Xyz Monsters don't have Levels. That means you must send one card from your hand to the Graveyard."
Thomas nodded and did as he was told (the card discarded was the 'Transaction Rollback' Trap Card).
"Okay, now it's time to play a Trap Card." The blue-haired boy said confidently, just as his Graveyard started shining all white. "Namely the one I was forced to sent to the Graveyard."
"What?!" exclaimed Ashima.
"I activate 'Transaction Rollback'!"
All of a sudden, 'Delta The Magnet Warrior' faded away and rematerialized on the field...as a facedown card (sideways).
"What's going on?" demanded a surprised Ashima.
"'Transaction Rollback' lets me Banish it to target a Normal Trap Card in my Graveyard and activate its effect by paying half of my Life Points." explained Thomas (LP: 500). "And the Trap Card I've chosen is...'Illusion Destruction'!"
"Doesn't Thomas realize what he's setting himself up for?" asked Gordon. "If Ashima attacks next turn..."
"...he'll lose!" finished Henry.
"I wouldn't go thinking of the worst just yet." advised Edward.
"Why not?"
"Something tells me that there is more to Thomas's actions." The intelligent, blue-haired boy answered. "Almost like it's part of his plan."
Back in the duel field, Thomas slotted a card into his Duel Disk.
"Now I set one card-" The blue-haired boy continued, just as a facedown card materialized on the field. From there, another facedown card materialized on the field beside the first set card. "-and then activate a Continuous Spell Card!"
The facedown card flipped up and revealed itself to be...
"'Attack the Moon!'!"
"'Attack the Moon!'?" asked Ashima.
"Now, watch!" insisted Thomas, just as his new card began to activate.
Before long, a huge, Full Moon appeared in the sky.
"A...Full Moon?" blinked Ashima.
In the audience...
"What good will a Moon do?" asked Rosie.
"It's not gonna turn us into werewolves, will it?" asked James in a deadpan tone.
"I should hope not." huffed Gordon. "Scott would never let me live it down for becoming a hairball."
Back in the duel field...
"I end my turn, Ashima." said Thomas calmly. "So, now, I want you to go at me with everything you got!"
"Thomas..." The black-haired Indian girl thought to herself. She then looked pretty determined while drawing a card. "As you wish!"
Turn Seven: Ashima Nilgiri (LP: 4000)
Deck: 42
Current Hand (2): ? and "Pot of Greed"
On cue, the face-up 'Butterfly Swarm' Spell Card began to activate.
"I shall pay up 2000 Life Points to keep 'Butterfly Swarm' in play!" declared Ashima (LP: 2000). From there, her facedown card flipped up and revealed itself. "Next, I'll activate 'Tri-and-Guess'!"
"'Tri-and-Guess'?" asked Thomas. "What does it do?"
"As we both have Extra Decks-" explained Ashima "-I get to declare one Extra Deck Monster Card type. Then we look through our Extra Decks, and the one with the most cards of the mentioned type gains 3000 Life Points."
"That sounds a bit unfair." Percy said to the others. "We all know what Ashima will pick."
Everyone else in the group agreed. Back in the middle of the field, Ashima made her choice...
"I choose Xyz!"
Both duelists then had their respective Extra Decks in their hands and searching through them:
-Thomas: 'Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast', 'Dark Paladin', 'Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion'
-Ashima: 'Night Papilloperative' and 'Photon Alexandra Queen'
"Well?" The black-haired Indian girl asked her opponent.
"All I have are Fusion Monsters." sighed Thomas dejectedly.
"Then that means because I have two Xyz Monster Cards in my Extra Deck, I gain 3000 Life points."
From there, Ashima felt her Life Points going back up (LP: 5000).
"And now, I activate 'Pot of Greed'." she continued, holding her drawn card out.
A large green pot appeared on the field, causing two cards to emerge and float over to the black-haired Indian girl.
"This allows me to draw two more cards." she said, taking the new cards. Ashima looked at them before returning to her opponent. "Thomas, I could have easily defeated you last turn if I had played my monster in attack mode instead of defense mode. But let me ask you this... Do you know why I did it in my own way?"
Thomas said nothing, but allowed Ashima to continue.
"Because I have no INTENTIONS of defeating you like this. I wanted to face not you, but the real YOU!"
"The real me?" repeated Thomas.
"I mean the Thomas who doesn't hide from the world." answered Ashima. "The Thomas who duels with heart and passion... Not someone who casts his own friends aside and thinks only about winning as soon as possible."
Thomas merely kept a sullen look on his face, and said nothing in response. Sighing, Ashima took it as a sign he wasn't listening.
"If that's the way you feel..."
'Photon Papilloperative' suddenly felt one of its Overlay Units being detached. That meant one things...
"I activate 'Photon Papiloperative's' effect once more!" declared Ashima.
On cue, the facedown Monster Card flipped up and revealed itself. From there, 'Delta The Magnet Warrior' reappeared on the field, much to Thomas's dismay.
"Because a monster had its battle position switched-" The black-haired Indian girl explained. "-it has 600 of its Attack Points drained!"
'Delta The Magnet Warrior' felt itself become weaker (ATK: 1600 - 1000).
"Now, 'Morpho Butterspy', drain 1000 more Attack Points of 'Delta The Magnet Warrior'!"
'Morpho Butterspy' obeyed, using its power to weaken 'Delta The Magnet Warrior' even further (ATK: 1000 - 0).
"Zero...Attack Points..." gulped James.
"One attack from Ashima will end the duel!" added Henry.
Back in the duel field...
"This duel...isn't over yet." mumbled Thomas.
Suddenly, 'Delta The Magnet Warrior' began to charge its magnetic fist as it dove towards the Full Moon in the sky.
"Wait, what is your monster doing?" blinked Ashima. "Why is it going up to the Moon in the sky?"
"When you switched 'Delta's' battle position-" explained Thomas. "-you've triggered the effect of 'Attack the Moon!'!"
Once atop the Moon, 'Delta The Magnet Warrior' raised both its fists and...struck the Moon with all its might, causing it to crumble.
"'Attack the Moon!' will now crumble and destroy one Spell or Trap Card on your side of the field, Ashima. Say goodbye to 'Elimigate'!"
The Full Moon started to break into many pieces of rock and fall back down towards the field, striking and wiping out Ashima's 'Elimigate' Spell Card as soon as the pile of Moon Rock crashed. From there, another Full Moon appeared in the destroyed one's place.
"Alright!" whooped Carlie.
"With-a 'Elimigate' destroyed-" came from Gina. "-Thomas can-a attack with his-a monsters again!"
"Color me impressed." smirked Axel.
"Though if Ashima's attack goes through-" reminded Emily. "-Thomas will lose."
"Trap Card, open!" The voice of Thomas echoed.
"Huh?"
Back on the duel field, the facedown card on Thomas's side of the field flipped up and revealed itself to be...
"'Altar for Tribute'!" The blue-haired boy announced, just as 'Delta The Magnet Warrior' faded away in a blue streak and he gained more Life Points (LP: 2100). "This lets me tribute 'Delta The Magnet Warrior' and gain Life Points equal to its original Attack Points."
"It won't be enough!" argued Ashima. "One attack from 'Photon Papilloperative' will still defeat you!"
"You won't get the chance to attack!" interrupted Thomas. "I now activate 'Delta's' other ability!"
Just then, the spirit of 'Delta The Magnet Warrior' rose from Thomas's Graveyard and held up its magnetic hand, causing a magnetic pulse to form.
"W-What?!"
"When 'Delta The Magnet Warrior' is sent to the Graveyard-" explained Thomas, just as three cards emerged from the Graveyard one-by-one while fading into oblivion. "-I can Banish my other three 'Magnet Warriors' from the Graveyard."
On cue, the 'Valkyrion the Magna Warrior' Monster Card materialized face-up on the field.
"When that's done, I Special Summon 'Valkyrion the Magna Warrior' from my hand or Deck while ignoring the Summoning Conditions!"
The spirits of 'Alpha The Magnet Warrior', 'Beta The Magnet Warrior', and 'Gamma The Magnet Warrior' all emerged from an unknown source and began to absorbed into the face-up 'Valkyrion the Magna Warrior' Monster Card, causing the combined form of the three monsters to emerge for battle (Level: 8/ATK: 3500/DEF: 3850).
"'Valkyrion'..." whispered Ashima. "Thomas actually found a way...around my combo!"
"Now 'I'm' the one at the advantage." declared Thomas.
Grimacing, Ashima merely took and slotted two cards from her hand into her Duel Disk.
"I place two cards facedown and end my turn." she said in defeat.
Two facedown cards materialized on the field. Suddenly, the jungle began to rumble.
"You didn't Summon a monster this turn." Thomas pointed out.
"Meaning I take 1000 points of damage..." worried Ashima, watching as a vine came out of no where and slapped her across the face (LP: 4000). "Augh!"
"With 'Valkyrion' out-" declared Thomas, drawing a card. "-I have a new chance to turn things around!"
Turn Eight: Thomas Billinton (LP: 2100)
Deck: 47
Current Hand (1): "Card of Sanctity"
On cue, the 'Card of Sanctity' Spell Card materialized face-up on the field.
"And I'll begin with my own copy of 'Card of Sanctity'!" Thomas went on, holding his drawn card out. "Now we both draw cards from our respective Decks until we hold six cards!"
Both duelists drew six cards. From there, the face-up 'Attack the Moon!' Spell Card, along with Ashima's face-up 'Butterfly Charm' Spell Card, faded away.
"Wait, what're you doing?!" demanded Ashima. "What happened to my Spell Card?!"
"I am offering a Spell Card on my side of the field, along with one from your side of the field." explained Thomas.
"But why?"
On cue, a Monster Card called 'Spell Strider' materialized face-up on the field.
"To Special Summon this monster from my hand." answered Thomas, placing a card onto a Monster Field slot on his Duel Disk. "'Spell Strider' - come forth!"
Appearing onto the field was a Warrior-Type monster with a sword that had a glowing green blade (Level: 4/ATK: 1800/DEF: 600).
"'Spell Strider'?" blinked Ashima.
"But it won't be out for much longer." continued Thomas, placing another card onto another Monster Field slot. "I sacrifice 'Spell Strider' to Summon something in its place."
'Spell Strider' faded away in a blue streak, and appearing in its place was the Monster Card called...
"'Curse of Dragonfire'!"
From there, the red version of Curse of Dragon took to the field (Level: 5/ATK: 2000/DEF: 1500).
"With 'Curse of Dragonfire' being Normal Summoned successfully-" Thomas went on. "-it will wipe out a Field Spell Card on the field."
'Curse of Dragonfire' charged a blast of flame and unleashed it across the face-up 'Assassin Jungle'.
"M-My 'Assassin' Jungle...!" winced Ashima, bracing herself from the flames.
Within seconds, the entire jungle was set ablaze before turning back into the replica of downtown San Francisco. Now nobody would take 1000 points of damage for not Summoning a monster at the end of a turn.
"'Assassin Jungle' has been destroyed!" announced Thomas. "No longer would you or I take damage if we don't Summon a monster during our respective turns."
Ashima just couldn't believe how Thomas had been able to crumble a huge part of her strategy just like that. Even then, she wasn't finished yet.
"Facedown Card, open!" The black-haired Indian girl announced, just as the first of her two set cards flipped face-up and revealed itself. "'Butterspy Protection', activate!"
'Curse of Dragonfire' found itself being shifted into a defensive stance against its will.
"My 'Curse of Dragonfire'!" Thomas exclaimed from shock, before glaring at his opponent. "What did you do to it?"
"My Trap Card switched your dragon into defense mode, that's what." explained Ashima. "And now, for the rest of the turn, any kind of damage I take gets cut in half!"
"No matter, it won't stop me!" shouted Thomas, before entering the Battle Phase. "'Valkyrion', strike down 'Photon Papilloperative' with Magnet Saber!"
'Valkyrion the Magna Warrior' obeyed, striking down Ashima's monster with its blade.
"The damage gets halved!" The black-haired Indian girl announced (LP: 3300).
"But don't forget 'Butterfly Swarm'!" reminded Thomas. "You take 1500 points of damage for losing a monster. While it will get halved to 750, it still will do a great number on your Life Points."
The face-up 'Butterfly Swarm' Spell Card turned around shot a beam at Ashima, causing her to take more damage (LP: 2550). It may have been halved, but it was still fairly high.
"This..." The black-haired Indian girl mumbled. "This is what I mean..."
"What are you saying?" asked Thomas.
"This is what I wanted from you, Thomas Billinton... The REAL you! You're finally going and giving me a proper challenge! This is the Thomas Billinton the people were expecting to see in action!"
Thomas looked around and saw the audience applauding.
"You go, dude!" called out a teenage boy.
"The real Thomas is back!" cheered a young girl.
Thomas said nothing... He just closed his eyes and sighed heavily.
"It's not working, is it?" asked Percy. "He's going back into his trauma state."
Back in the duel field, Ashima noticed the look and became distressed.
"Thomas, unless you try to get back into having fun again, you'll never be able to try and move on with your life." she advised, poking a button on her Duel Disk. "In any case, if I have to eliminate you from the tournament, so be it!"
On cue, the second set card flipped face-up and revealed itself.
"I activate 'Xyz Reborn'! This revives an Xyz Monster from my Graveyard and grant it an Overlay Unit! So now, you'll face 'Photon Papilloperative' once more!"
'Photon Papilloperative' returned to the field with a glowing orb floating around her.
"I'm not done yet myself." said Thomas, holding out the 'Spider Web' Spell Card. "I activate 'Spider Web' to take one card sent to your Graveyard last turn and add it to my hand."
A string of silk shot from the glowing card and went into Ashima's Graveyard to pull out a card. Within seconds, Thomas grabbed the card that was thrown over to him like a Shuriken Star.
"The card I've chosen is 'Tri-and-Guess'!"
Just then, two facedown cards materialized on the field behind 'Valkyrion the Magna Warrior'.
"Finally-" concluded Thomas, with two fingers braced onto a Spell/Trap slot on his Duel Disk. "-I set two cards and end my turn!"
Ashima gazed into her opponent's eyes. It would seem that no matter what she did or say, Thomas had the same source of pain and depression in his eyes. What would it take to try and get him to have fun again?
"Thomas..." whispered Ashima.
It would seem that the black-haired Indian girl herself was beginning to lose hope. If she couldn't help Thomas with his trauma, then... what was the point of fighting anymore? In one case, she would have to take him down.
"Thomas, I'm afraid... I'm afraid I'm going to have to take you down." Ashima declared, pointing at her opponent. "If you're not going to start having fun in a game of Duel Monsters, then maybe removing you from the tournament will be the only proper choice."
She drew a card.
"Draw!"
Turn Nine: Ashima Nilgiri (LP: 2550)
Deck: 35
Current Hand (7): ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, and ?
The face-up 'Butterfly Swarm' Spell Card began to activate.
"I offer up 2000 more Life Points to keep 'Butterfly Swarm' on the field!" began Ashima (LP: 550). From there, she held out another card. "Now, I'll Summon another monster to join my ranks!"
The 'Swallowtail Butterspy' Monster Card materialized face-up on the field.
"'Swallowtail Butterspy', attack mode!"
Another copy of the orange butterfly monster appeared onto the field (Level: 4/ATK: 1800/DEF: 1200).
"Because it was Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon another monster from my hand." Ashima took and held out another card between her fingers. "'Blue Mountain Butterspy'!"
The greenish-blue butterfly monster appeared onto the field (Level: 4/ATK: 0/DEF: 1700).
"I overlay the Level 4 'Morpho Butterspy', 'Swallowtail Butterspy', and 'Blue Mountain Butterspy'!" announced Ashima. "With these three monsters, I build the Overlay Network!"
The three butterfly-like monsters were each absorbed into the Overlay Network as a brief Summon Chant from Ashima was spoken...
"Dance in the darkness, beautiful, incarnation of death... Xyz Summon! Come forth, Rank 4 - 'Night Papilloperative'!"
Appearing onto the field, just as the Xyz Summon sequence came to an end, was a dark blue butterfly-like monster (Rank: 4/ATK: 2600/DEF: 2000).
"Another new one..." commented Zack.
"That one has to be her ace monster." added James R..
Back in the duel field...
"Now, 'Photon Papilloperative', I remove your last Overlay Unit to activate your effect!" exclaimed Ashima. "Switch 'Curse of Dragonfire' into attack mode and weaken its Attack Power!"
'Curse of Dragonfire' found itself being forced back in attack mode and weakened (ATK: 2000 - 1400). On cue, a Spell Card called 'Overlay Regen' materialized face-up on the field behind 'Night Papilloperative'.
"Now, I'll activate 'Overlay Regen' to target 'Night Papilloperative' and grant it an extra Overlay Unit! This gives it a total of four Overlay Units..."
A fourth orb circled around 'Night Papilloperative', and this was followed by Ashima's last facedown card flipping up and revealing itself to be...
"Not only that, I'll also activate a Trap - 'Overlay Connection'!" The black-haired Indian girl went on. "With it, I target one Xyz Monster I control that has no Overlay Units! This Trap Card will get treated as an Overlay Unit for that one Xyz Monster!"
A new orb surrounded 'Photon Papilloperative'.
"Finally, I'll remove one Overlay Unit from 'Night Papilloperative' to increase its Attack Points by 400 for each remaining Overlay Unit on the field until the end of the Damage Step." explained Ashima. "With four Overlay Units being on the field, that's a total of 1600 extra Attack Points given to 'Night Papilloperative'!"
'Night Papilloperative' became much stronger (ATK: 2600 - 4200).
"Stop right there!" shouted Thomas, just as his first facedown card flipped up and revealed itself. "I play 'Tri-and-Guess'! Now I shall pick an Extra Deck Monster Card type, and whoever has the most of it gains 3000 Life Points."
"What?!" gasped Ashima.
"Yes, and I pick...Fusion!"
"But I don't have any Fusion Monsters in my Extra Deck!" protested Ashima.
"Exactly." Thomas pointed out, just as his Life Points rose (LP: 5100).
"That means Thomas will survive Ashima's attacks!" Rosie said to the others.
"What a relief." sighed Emily.
Back in the duel field...
"No matter, I'll attack still!" declared Ashima, proceeding into the Battle Phase. "'Photon Papilloperative', attack 'Curse of Dragonfire'!"
'Photon Papilloperative' obeyed, striking 'Curse of Dragonfire' and destroying it. Thomas grunted as he took damage (LP: 4400).
"Now the effect of 'Butterfly Swarm activates!" continued Ashima. "You receive 1500 points of damage since you've lost a monster!"
A beam shot from the face-up 'Butterfly Swarm' Spell card and struck Thomas hard, causing him to cry out in pain (LP: 2900).
"That all?" The blue-haired boy grimaced.
"Of course not!" retorted Ashima. "Now it's 'Night Papilloperative's' turn!" She then spoke to her monster. "Destroy 'Valkyrion'!"
'Night Papilloperative' obeyed, striking down 'Valkyrion the Magna Warrior', causing Thomas to grunt again (LP: 2200).
"Hit him again, 'Butterfly Swarm'!"
Another beam struck Thomas again, even harder this time. It was powerful enough to send the screaming blue-haired boy flying and crashing right into the structure behind him before he fell face first to the ground (LP: 700).
"That's gotta hurt." James R. flinched.
"I'll say." agreed Matt. "Ashima must be really trying to pound some sense into him, though this may be taking it too literal."
"Thomas!" cried Emily. She wanted to run down to the platform and assist her boyfriend. "Please be safe..."
Back in the duel field, Thomas slowly started to get back up.
"Damn it all..." he groaned.
"Finally, I activate 'Spell Reproduction'!" Ashima announced, as the mentioned Spell Card materialized face-up on the field and she discarded two cards from her hand. "By sending two Spell Cards from my hand to the Graveyard, I add one Spell Card from the Graveyard back to my hand." She took and held out the retrieved card. "And I'll play it now... 'Supremacy Berry'!"
As the black-haired Indian girl's Life Points were lower than Thomas's Life Points, she gained 2000 more of 'em (LP: 2550). Once done, she gave her opponent a hard stare and resumed speaking.
"You claim that nobody understood what you were going through until now." said Ashima sternly. "But that's only because they didn't KNOW what had happened. Ever since you came back from the Duel Monsters spirit world, you have been doing whatever was possible to make sure nobody ever found out about your traumas and suffering. Had they known, they would have been understanding about your pain, and been more comforting and supportive of you."
Thomas glared back. "Ashima..."
"I know what you experienced was more painful than anyone else has gone through-" Ashima went on "-but by doing things your own way; casting your friends aside and treating everyone with a cold and unfeeling nature, you have been making it worse for everyone, including yourself."
"...no." Thomas finally spoke up after what seemed like forever. "You're the one who doesn't fully understand."
Ashima raised an eyebrow, but said nothing in response.
"Do you really think I don't regret the choices I've made since coming back?" asked Thomas, a tear rolling down his cheek. "Do you think I LIKE being cold towards everyone? I was just doing what I thought was right. I only wanted to protect my friends from being put in anymore danger. On my last adventure, I was forced to watch every one of them die, and I couldn't do anything to save them. I know that it was only done so I could be taught the lesson I'd failed to understand before, but it still hurts very much. I... I just didn't want to let them down again."
"Thomas..." Ashima whispered.
"My turn!" The blue-haired boy cried out, drawing a card. "Draw!"
Turn Ten: Thomas Billinton (LP: 700)
Deck: 40
Current Hand (3): ?, ?, and ?
"And even then, I'm going to win the duel with just one card."
"One card?!" peeped Ashima. "That's impossible!"
"It 'is' possible." insisted Thomas, waving his left arm towards his facedown card. "And I'll show it to you, now."
On cue, the remaining set card on the blue-haired boy's side of the field flipped face-up and revealed itself.
"Facedown card, open - 'Oath of Companionship', activate!"
"'Oath of Compansionship'?" questioned Ashima.
"As I control no monsters that were Summoned from the Extra Deck, I can target and take control of one monster on your side of the field that has been Special Summoned during your previous turn. Namely, the one I'm going to take over...is 'Night Papilloperative'!"
Suddenly, Ashima's monster went over to Thomas's side of the field.
"Oh no!" The black-haired Indian girl panicked.
"And once I declare a battle-" said Thomas, becoming triumphant sounding. "-your 'Butterfly Swarm' Spell Card will finish you off."
Another Overlay Unit was removed from 'Night Papilloperative'.
"I use an Overlay Unit to activate 'Night Papilloperative's' special ability! 'Night Papilloperative' gains 400 extra Attack Points for every Overlay Unit on the field!"
Because there were three Overlay Units present, 'Night Papilloperative' gained a total of 1200 Attack Points (ATK: 2600 - 3800).
"BATTLE!" announced Thomas, entering the Battle Phase. "This is the end, Ashima of India! 'Night Papilloperative', attack and destroy 'Photon Papilloperative'!"
'Night Papilloperative' obeyed, striking down 'Photon Papilloperative' very easily.
"'Photon Papilloperative'..." whispered Ashima (LP: 850).
"And as your monster was destroyed-" added Thomas. "-'Butterfly Swarm' will hit you with 1500 points of damage! This duel...is over."
On cue, the face-up 'Butterfly Swarm' Spell Card self-destructed and covered Ashima's side of the field.
"Oh man..." winced Matt.
"Ashima lost!" added Mavis.
"Poor Ashima..." came from Rosie.
When the smoke cleared away, Ashima weakly fell to a knee as what left of her Life Points dropped to zero (LP: 0).
DUEL RESULTS: Thomas Billinton wins!
The holograms all faded away.
"The duel is over!" announced Skiff, walking into the center of the field. "The winner is Thomas Billinton! With that, the second round of the tournament is over!"
The crowd cheered as Thomas walked over to Ashima's side of the field.
"I'm very sorry, Thomas..." The black-haired Indian girl sighed, looking up at her victorious opponent. "I... I truly never meant to hurt you... I only...wanted to try and help you have fun again..."
"I can understand that you only wanted to help me, but after everything I've been through, it's not easy for me to try and get back into the spirit of things. After all, many of my duels in life were basically fights to the death with human lives at stake. From there, I never wanted to put my friends into harm... like they experienced at the hands of such evil during our journey. I was only trying to keep them safe."
"I completely understand, Thomas." nodded Ashima, standing back up. "But I want you to try and take my advice to heart; stop casting your friends aside, and let them try and help you with your hurt and trauma. If you continue to rely solely on Emily for support, you'll never truly recover."
"I'll give it some thought." said Thomas shortly. He then remembered something else... "When you touched my Deck before the duel began, what did you hear?"
Ashima closed her eyes. "Many of your cards were...crying... But they were crying for you..."
"For me?" Thomas blinked. He then realized something about it and became sullen once more. "I know... I know, now..."
"What?" Ashima gasped. "What does that mean?"
From there, without answering the question, the blue-haired boy turned and started to leave. As he started to cut through the cheering crowd, he met up with his friends.
"Wonderful duel, Thomas!" smiled Edward.
"You kicked butt!" added James.
"And you're in round three now!" put in James R..
"Y-Yeah... I know I am..." sighed Thomas, sounding disinterested. He then started to leave once more. "E-Excuse me, everyone..."
With that said, poor Thomas finally broke through the crowd and left the replica of San Francisco.
"Thomas..." Emily whispered, just as the crowd broke away from the duel site.
"He just can't seem to enjoy Duel Monsters anymore, can he?" put in Ryan.
"It doesn't look like it." agreed Liz. "I feel so sad for Thomas."
"What can we do for him?" asked Percy.
Sadly, no one else from the group had an answer for the green-haired boy.
(elsewhere...)
Meanwhile, Thomas was walking through Boxford Land by himself in a depression. Yeah... The blue-haired boy may have won his duel and advanced to the next round, but he was still nowhere close enough to regain his passion and enjoyment for Duel Monsters. Perhaps some special alone time with his 'Supreme Queen' would be the ticket? Well, why don't we find out about it? ...next time, that is.