AUTHOR'S NOTE: I just want to say thanks to all of those people out there who are kind enough to drop a review for this story. To show my appreciation, I decided to put this new chapter up early. Keep dropping reviews people: That kind of kindness just may make me update earlier! With the end of the term coming, I may have more time available for writing so keep that in mind as you review!
Chapter Twenty-Four: Nightmare of Camula Part 1
"How are Jaden and Lynn doctor?" Lucia asked. Having defeated their first two opponents, Jaden and Lynn had protected their spirit keys but in the process, both had been heavily injured and now lay in the campus infirmary. They had been there for two days already and hadn't awakened. The school doctor looked up, a grim look on his face.
"They're bodies have been under a lot of stress but given time, I think they'll recover," the doctor informed the blunette.
"What about Atticus? Is he OK?" Lucia glanced over at the bed holding the former Shadow Rider. His long coat had been removed and he now wore an oxygen mask over his face. The only other piece of clothing he had on him was the broken amulet piece that he had tied around his neck. Lucia suspected it was the missing half of Jaden's amulet.
"He too has been under a lot of pressure from the shadow magic. When it left him, his strength left too so we just have to give him time until he awakens," The doctor sighed as he left the room, "Now I suggest you let these people rest." Lucia nodded as she left the infirmary.
This is scary. Sure, I've been in one or two Shadow Games but have seen nothing of a game of this caliber. I seriously hope they wake up soon. We need Jaden and Lynn to help us. Lucia thought as she rounded a corner. As she neared the Chancellor's office, she heard someone shouting.
"I demand to see the Chancellor!"
"Uh oh! I know that voice and it's not good!" Lucia gasped as she took off to the source of the sound. What awaited her was Commander Floyd, several faculty members of the school trying to calm him down.
"What's going on?" A familiar voice asked. Lucia glanced down a nearby hallway and saw Chumley and Syrus walking towards her. Lucia quietly grabbed them and pulled them out of the way.
"Hey!"
"Quiet! You want him to hear us?" Lucia asked.
"Sorry, but who is that guy shouting?" Syrus asked back.
"That's Commander Floyd of the Hylian Armed Forces. He's Lynn's 'shadow' and when he's mad, it's best to stay out of his way. Now if we're quiet, we should be able to hear what's going on." Lucia, Syrus and Chumley glanced back down the hall and saw the Commander walk into the office. The three students snuck up to the door and placed their ears next to the wall to listen in.
"Your security is unfathomably weak! It's no wonder Luminas and Nightshroud got here undetected!" Commander Floyd roared.
"We just don't have the manpower to cover the entire island!" The chancellor explained.
"You will now! I'm giving you fifty of my best soldiers."
"We got no where to put them!"
"I know that and that's why I've got that covered. An oil tanker is undergoing repairs at North Hyrule Harbor. It's supposed to be moved to Windfall Harbor but I'm going to have it moved here. My men will do the repair job and stay on the tanker at the same time. My men will never actually go onto the island unless there is a need for it. If things escalate, my men will assist your security team and to make sure everything runs well, I'll stay and help."
"I'm not so sure of this. But I have to protect the students. Very well, you and your men can stay but understand this: My students are not to know what's happening."
"Done." Having heard the conversation brought to an end, Lucia, Chumley and Syrus quickly ducked around the corner as Chancellor Shepherd and Commander Floyd walked out of the office.
"Now that we've got that matter settled, we should be able to put an end to the Shadow Riders," Chancellor Shepherd smiled. It was then Lucia's PDA beeped.
Ah bad timing. Lucia thought as the noise caught the attention of the two adults.
"What was that?" Floyd asked. Lucia dashed around the corner, having read the mail.
"Trouble by the lake. A Shadow Rider has appeared," Lucia replied.
"Who sent the mail?" Shepherd asked.
"Dr. Stratton."
MEANWHILE, OVER AT THE OBELISK DORMS…
"Alexis, why didn't you tell us what you were up to?" Mindy chided. Alexis and sat down with her two best friends and discussed the topic of the Sacred Beast Cards and Alexis' role in protecting them.
"I didn't want you to get involved," Alexis sighed.
"It's a little late for that. I did some gossiping this morning and learned something interesting," Jasmine replied as she glanced around to make sure no one was listening, "Rumor has it a vampire appeared on the island during last night's storm. No one knows whether or not the rumors are true but it might be worth checking out."
"Do you know where this vampire was sighted?" Alexis asked.
"Yeah, near the lake in the north woods but she only appears at night," Mindy informed the Obelisk queen.
"I'll head out there tonight then. Maybe I can stop her before she hurts someone else. In the meantime, I better get a hold of the others and tell them what you told me," Alexis figured as she send the other key keepers email.
"So what now?"
"We wait." It was then Alexis' PDA beeped.
"A Shadow Rider has been spotted at the lake. Need you here ASAP – Stratton."
"That was quick," Jasmine commented as Alexis took off.
DOWN BY THE LAKE…
A wall of dark clouds had emerged over the island as the head of Ra Yellow, duel disk on his arm dashed through the forest to greet the next Shadow Rider. He arrived at the lake, a pale crescent moon reflecting over its silver surface.
"Show yourself Shadow Rider!" Dr. Stratton demanded.
"My my, so demanding. I guess I'll have to come meet you," A British-accented voice called out. Dr. Stratton stared out into the lake as a red streak approached.
"At least it's the red carpet treatment," Dr. Stratton remarked as it reached his feet. On the other side of it was a boat piloted by a tall woman in a red dress. Her dress, an off the shoulder kind, had a black bat-shaped brooch and was open near the bottom, revealing the wearer's slim legs. The woman herself wore a gold necklace, an eye symbol in the center as well as gold bands on her upper arms. On her left arm was a duel disk, gold in color and the platform was shaped like a bat's wings. The last defining features on this woman were the long green hair that went clear down to her waist and the fierce red eyes that had locked on Dr. Stratton.
"So, you are my first challenger? You don't look too tough though you are very handsome," The woman greeted.
"Who are you?"
"How rude of me. Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Camula, vampire mistress of the Shadow Riders. And you are?"
"My name is Ryan Stratton and you are about to be defeated!" With that, the Ra doctor activated his duel disk.
"A bit quick to get started aren't you? Don't you think you should learn the stakes of our duel? If you win, I'll leave you in peace but if I win, I get your spirit key and your soul," Camula warned as she held up a tiny leather doll, "Well, actually this doll does."
"You want my soul and the key?" Stratton frowned, "Guess I got no choice. I accept your turns." Camula nodded as she activated her duel disk and both duelists drew five cards.
"Duel!"
"I like to lead and I'll start off with my faithful dog Zombie Werewolf (ATK: 1200) in attack mode!" Camula began, summoning a gray-fur covered werewolf, "Now I'll end my turn with a facedown card." Dr. Stratton drew a card and reached into his hand.
"I call forth Reploid Beamwalker (ATK: 1900)!" the key keeper began, summoning a two-legged robot to the field. Wearing blue armor and standing at about waist-high height, it had a pointed cone and two beady black eyes.
"Beamwalker! Attack Zombie Werewolf with crimson laser!" Dr. Stratton commanded as his monster fired a red laser beam from its nose, destroying Camula's beast (LP: 4000 – 700) but to the good doctor's horror, it immediately returned (ATK: 1200 + 500).
"He's back?"
"Foolish mortal! If my werewolf is destroyed in battle, I can summon another from my deck with 500 more points!" Camula grinned, showing her white fangs.
"Don't celebrate your victory just yet. Your overgrown puppy still doesn't have the attack points to beat my robotic friend here! I'll finish my move with a facedown," Dr. Stratton countered, placing a card on the field, I thought I figured her out. Her zombie is new to me. I've never seen a card like it. Camula drew a card and grinned even wider.
"Tell me something doctor, do you believe in vampires?" Dr. Stratton shook his head, "Then allow me to introduce you to mine! I sacrifice my werewolf in order to summon his master Vampire Lord (ATK: 2000)!" Dr. Stratton gasped as the wolf vanished and a red-garbed monster took the field. It bore a striking resemblance to Camula except it was clearly male and wore a crimson cape.
"So what? Your monster doesn't pose much of a threat to me!"
"Oh really? Then maybe this will! I now remove my Vampire Lord from play to summon Vampire Genesis (ATK: 3000)!" Dr. Stratton gasped as the vampire vanished for an even more fearsome monster. This new beast didn't resemble any ordinary vampire. The monster had ditched its robe in order to show off its six-pack chest and instead of a cape, it had fearsome purple wings. The face had also puffed up to give the beast a very gruesome look.
"Now I shall play a spell card, Genesis Crisis! With it, I can add one zombie-type monster from my deck to my hand once per turn so long as my vampire remains on the field," Camula explained as she prepared to search her deck.
"Correction! You won't be doing anything of the sort! I discard Reploid Serpent Gear and use its ability to negate your spell card!" Dr. Stratton countered, discarding his monster. Camula gasped as the hologram card shattered.
"You're a feisty one but it's going to take more than that to win! Vampire Genesis attack!" Camula commanded as her vampire turned into a storm of red mist that quickly took out Stratton's Reploid (LP: 4000 – 1100). Dr. Stratton cried out in pain as his life points left him and Vampire Genesis reappeared on Camula's field.
"Now you know the power of the vampires!" Camula smiled seductively. It was then Dr. Stratton smiled, his eyes shaded by his blond hair.
"And now you'll feel the power of my Beamwalker," Dr. Stratton's words came to pass as a red laser flew out of nowhere and nailed Camula in the back (LP: 3300 – 1100), "When my Beamwalker is destroyed in battle, you take the same amount of damage that I do." Dr. Stratton then drew a card and smirked.
"Now Camula, allow me to introduce you to one of my close friends: Maverick Hunter Zero Lv. 4 (ATK: 1500)!" Dr. Stratton began, summoning his crimson Reploid, "Then I shall play the equip spell Maverick Max! It doubles my Reploid's attack points (ATK: 1500 + 1500) if my hand has less than three cards in it. Now Maverick Hunter Zero, put a stake in that vampire! Attack!" Empowered by Stratton's spell, Zero drew his triangular blade and sliced up Vampire Genesis, but not before he was enshrouded in red mist. As a result, both monsters were destroyed, sending wind, flesh and machine parts everywhere.
"You're such a fool! I play a trap card, Rope of Life! By discarding the two cards I'm holding to the graveyard, I can resurrect my Vampire Genesis with 800 more attack points (ATK: 3000 + 800)!" Camula hissed as her tongue grew longer and her cheeks 'collapsed', making ugly marks on her face, "So how'd you like my trap card? Did it make you excited?" Dr. Stratton frowned in anger as he looked over his options.
This isn't looking good. The only other monster I have is Maverick Hunter Axl and I can't use him until next turn. My only hope lies in my facedown card. Dr. Stratton thought as he gave the signal for Camula to go ahead. The vampire Shadow Rider drew a card and grinned evilly.
"This game is over Dr. Stratton but I think I'll prolong your defeat by activating Book of Life! With this, I can revive one zombie type monster from my graveyard and I think I'll bring back my old friend Despair From The Dark (ATK: 2800)!" Camula hissed as a large shadow emerged from behind Camula and appeared on the field, "Of course you can't give life without taking it away so I'll be removing Maverick Hunter Zero from play so you can't use him again. But now I attack with Despair From The Dark! Shadow of terror attack!" Dr. Stratton braced himself as the shadow monster wrapped itself around him and electrocuted him (LP: 2900 – 2800) before letting him collapse on the ground.
"It's over! Vampire Genesis, attack!" Stratton looked up as the vampire turned to mist and prepared to attack.
"This isn't over! I activate a trap card, Maverick Ambush and it has twin functions! First, your Despair From The Dark takes the hit, saving me!" Dr. Stratton gasped, as the mist attack turned around and wiped out Despair From The Dark (LP: 2200 – 1000), "But now, I can summon a Reploid from my hand whose attack points are equal to or less than the damage you just took. Since you lost 1000 life points, I can summon Maverick Hunter Axl Lv. 4 (ATK: 0) from my hand!" Camula frowned as a new warrior took the field. Garbed in a black bodysuit with red stripes running down the side, this new orange-haired hunter wore a similar-colored helmet save for the sapphire in the middle. In his hands was a fairly large silver gun.
"What good will your friend do? He possesses no attack points!" Camula pointed out.
"He can do a lot, believe me!" A female voice called out. The two duelists turned around and saw Lucia, Bastion, Alexis, and Syrus approaching. Behind them were Zane and Chumley and to Dr. Stratton's surprise, they were carrying Jaden and Lynn on their backs!
"Don't let up now! Show that Shadow Rider what you're made of!" Lynn grinned.
"Get your game on Doc! Don't want you to get defeated now! I still have to duel you!" Jaden smiled. Dr. Stratton wearily nodded, a grin forming on his face.
"Don't worry: I won't be defeated because now I activate Axl's power! When summoned in attack mode, his attack points increase equal to that of your Vampire Genesis' original attack points (ATK: 0 + 3000)!" Dr. Stratton explained as his hunter began to give off a dark aura. The Ra teacher drew a card to begin his turn and smiled.
"I'll set one card facedown!" Dr. Stratton said as he slotted in the card he had just drawn, "And then I'll play Dual Shot! This spell card lets Axl reduce the attack points of your monster by half!" Dr. Stratton declared as Axl gained a second gun, "Now use Dual Shot!" Camula gasped as her vampire was pelted with energy bullets (ATK: 3800 – 1900) before ditching his second gun.
"Alright! Now Axl can put that zombie to rest!" Syrus cheered.
"Now attack Axl! Axl Bullet!" Dr. Stratton commanded as his hunter raised his pistol one more time, this time aiming to take the vampire out. With a loud bang, the zombie vanished in a shower of pixels, severely damaging Camula and her life points (LP: 1200 – 1100).
"Not luscious! He almost had her!" Chumley frowned.
"Don't worry about that. I'll get you next turn Camula," Dr. Stratton addressed. Camula drew a card and smiled seductively.
"There is no next turn for you! I activate the spell card Illusion Gate!" Camula declared, slotting in the sole card she had. To everyone's surprise, a large green gate appeared behind Camula.
"The magical doors of this gate can destroy all monsters on the field," Camula explained as the doors opened and hit Axl with a power blast, destroying him, "Then I get to use any monster you've played in this duel and place iton my field!"
"No card is powerful enough to let you do that! There must be a catch!"
"Oh there is. If I lose this duel, I must offer up a soul to the Sacred Beasts," Camula explained as the necklace around her neck began to glow red, "Now who should I offer up?" Dr. Stratton gasped as Camula glanced over at the students. Her gaze then locked with that of Lynn's.
"Yes, the Hyrule Princess will do nicely! Come to me darling!" Camula cooed as her necklace activated. A dark copy of herself emerged and knocked Zane down, Lynn landing on top of him.
"Hey!" Bastion cried as a barrier of darkness pushed him and the others back, trapping Lynn with the double.
"Stay back!" Lynn shouted as the vampire double reached for her. It was then Lynn's Triforce Amulet began to glow brightly, shooting golden energy waves in all directions. The others watched as the doppelganger vanished, leaving Lynn safe.
"Too bad! Your plan's failed! If you still want to use that card, you'll have to do some soul searching without my students!" Stratton taunted.
"Fine! Illusion Gate! Open your doors and accept my soul as a sacrifice and reveal Stratton's Reploid Beamwalker (ATK: 1900)!" Camula shouted as Dr. Stratton's two-legged robot reappeared on Camula's field, "And now my Reploid! Destroy your former master!" Dr. Stratton braced himself as the robot fired its red laser at him, taking out what was left of his life points.
"Dr. Stratton!" the students cried as his body went limp and hit the ground in a sickening thud. Everyone watched as the spirit key around his neck vanished, as did his body. A dark glow emanated from Camula's hand as the doll she held took on Dr. Stratton's looks.
"One down, six to go! I shall see you all tomorrow night," Camula said as she turned to leave.
"Hey! You're going to duel me now!" Lynn shouted as she tried to give chase, but was held fast by Alexis and Syrus.
"You can barely stand let alone duel Lynn! Better leave it to one of us!" Lucia told the blond as Zane stood up.
"And by us, you mean me and that's just fine," Zane frowned as he stared out into the lake. The clouds above began to swirl as a sinister-looking castle on an island appeared in the distance.
"Do you hear me Camula? I'm going to beat you for what you did to Dr. Stratton!" Zane shouted as the crescent moon rose over the castle, piercing the clouds.
CHAPTER PREVIEW:
Lynn: I can't believe we lost a key!
Zane: We're not done yet! I'm the one she wants, not Doctor Stratton.
Lucia: Careful Zane! She's not going to go easy on you just because she thinks you're cute!
Jaden: Good news: Atticus woke up and he's got the lowdown on how to beat Camula's powers!
Chumley: Next time on Yu-Gi-Oh GX Legacy of Lynn: Nightmare of Camula Part 2!
Syrus: I got a bad feeling about this bro!
Zane: So do I little brother, but that isn't going to stop me from beating her!