Alexandra
The East Waterfront District stood out from all the others in Rasaay. Being the capital of the continent and home to the King of Kings, it was no surprise to anyone that the city would be visited by citizens of Eredas the Glowing Kingdom. Walled off from the other districts, the East Waterfront was powered by incredible technology and held accommodations to suit the very picky guests from the East.
Princess Alexandra could contain her curiosity no more. Since she was a little girl, she read maps in the library detailing the most technologically advanced kingdom in all Termnnia. She studied portraits and photographs and even stood atop cliffs watching as flying ships soared off into the ocean after concluding their trade with her father's kingdom.
Now that she was finally in Rassay, she just had to see the 'taste' of what Eredas had to offer. Even if the district was small, it still contained wonders that she was denied to see due to her traditional life.
Rasaay was powered by electricity as well, despite being of traditional construction, but the rest of the city paled in comparison to what Alexandra saw when she walked past the gates into the paradise of advanced technology and modern luxury.
She felt like a child walking into a store that sold golden cards and delicious candies. There were buildings of glass, limestone, and steel towering over the walls that separated the citizens of the district from the other folk still living in medieval traditions such as horses and carts, torches, and roughspun clothing.
Here, the people were dressed very gallantly in suits and ties. Soldiers wore Velcro, wore helmets with odd devices to let them see in the night, and they fielded carbines instead of the classical guard wearing a suit of chainmail, surcoat, and armor plating.
The buildings were lit with neon signs and trimming. Exotic eastern foods perfumed the air. She came upon a cliff face overlooking the lower parts of the district many feet below. Alexandra grasped the railings to admire the view.
Their portion of the bay was walled off to block fleets of luxury yachts sailing across the waters of the Bay of Kings. Over the wall, Alexandra saw wooden ships with their towering white sails heading off into the ocean to complete their trade with the other kingdoms.
Alexandra also noticed that the town below was purely for entertainment and populated by youths her age, no doubt the sons and daughters the richest and most powerful nobles in Eredas. The young ones took refuge down below, while their parents were in the Spire of the Kings overseeing their business with High Chancellor Pegasus.
"I've died and gone to paradise," Alexandra said gleefully. "Ana be praised for such wonders."
She wasted no more time, and hurried down the stairs to find shops for more appropriate attire. She entered a boutique where she purchased a raunchy black dress and boots. Just to show off her title as Princess of Dragon's Nest, she put on her tiara then went to the pier to join a sort of festival by the water where music unlike anything she ever heard in her life pumped deafening beats into the night.
Colorful lights flashed over the pier and lasers streamed across the air. Strobes flashed, fueling the youngsters with adrenaline. Alexandra felt herself growing hypnotized by the music. She joined the others on the pier and started mimicking the way they were dancing until she started to blend in with the crowd. Her moves, though amateurish, were dazzling and fluid-like. She caught the attention of many boys who formed a circle around her and watch her as she danced.
She noticed the attention she was gathering. Hungry stares surrounded her. She smiled and wagged her finger before walking off to the nearest bar for a drink. She chose an odd glowing liquid encased in a bottle crafted in the form of a Blue-Eyes White Dragon. The bartender shook the bottle then squeezed lime soda pop from a hose into a glass as she poured Alexandra's drink.
"You're a beautiful little thing, aren't you?" the bartender complimented her. "You're not from around here, are you, hun?"
"How did you guess?" Alexandra asked, taking her glass by the stem. She sipped the drink and felt her taste buds both sing from the sweet flavor and scream from the burn of the alcohol. "Oh, it's delicious!"
"Patented by Seto Kaiba himself," said the bartender. "Anyways, like I was saying, you've got that fish-out-of-water look to you. Not to mention your tiara. You're a princess. What you're doing in a place like this without security is beyond me, and none of my business. But I can tell from the jewels crusted to look like House sigils that you're not eastern royalty. Hmm, that White Knight on the left is the House of Von Clause. And the black dragon on the right has a blazing heart. Which means that you're also from House Dragonheart. Right?"
"Correct, but on my mother's side," Alexandra replied, taking another drink. "I've never experienced a culture as strange as this. It makes me think of all those wasted years."
"I can't imagine what it must be like being a princess from the west," the bartender chuckled, fixing another customer a drink. "All that protocol and lady-like etiquette must be such a bore."
Alexandra rolled her eyes. "My friend, you have no idea. All my life I've been told how to walk, how to sit, how to eat. How to shit and fuck, even. Well, I say no more. My uncle is King Antilles of Dragonrock." The bartender's eyes widened. Alexandra smiled. "Yes. He promised me things will change in the coming months."
"I see, that must sound pretty exciting. You don't see much of him, do you? I've seen him march around the city a few times, but he doesn't say anything about you. Then again, I'm not one to talk. He seems as traditional as you can get. You sure he wouldn't mind you hanging out in a place like this, honey?"
"He's too busy dealing with the Senate to worry about where I go to have fun." Alexandra sipped her drink again. "Not that I care what he thinks if he ever did find me here. I'm grown up. I can take care of myself."
Not long after saying that, two young men set on either side of her. They ordered drinks. The bartender walked off to find the ingredients and looked at Alexandra. The young lad on the left was swinging his neck from left to right along with the beat of the music. Alexandra grinned and sipped her glowing concoction again. "Hello," she said to them both.
"Well, hello, hello, princess," said the one on the right, an Eldori with blazing hair spiked to look like flames. He was chewing on a toothpick. "So, what's a little dove like yourself doing out here all by her lonesome?"
"Perhaps I came looking for the right man," Alexandra replied.
Both the young men exchanged satisfied looks with one another. "Can I get you a drink," the Eldori asked.
Alexandra looked at him, smiling. "You big silly, I still have to finish this one. I wouldn't mind another if I don't have to pay."
The Eldori laughed. "You're a western girl, aren't you? Babe, that's the whole point of a guy offering you a drink. He pays for it in exchange for a dance. Or..." he licked his lips. "A little trip back to his place for some fun."
"Oh, you don't say," said Alexandra. "My, my, my. A free drink and a night of sex? I could get used to this."
The man on the left leaned back to look at the curve of her butt. He whistled. "She's got such an ass on that!" he replied crudely. "I call dibs."
"Hey, I talked to her first, Gordo!" said the Eldori. "She's mine. Go find yourself another one."
"No way, Conner. You always get the nice ones and leave the beasts for the rest of us."
Conner scoffed. "I can't help it if women find me more fascinating than you, Gordo."
Alexandra laughed. "Now, boys, no fighting. I can handle you both."
Gordo and Conner squealed with delight. "Oy, she's dangerous!" Gordo commented, his eyes studying every curve Alexandra had.
"See, Princess, that's the thing. I'm Conner of the House Dwayne. My father is the Lord of Kornshire in Eredas. He's also good friends with the Prince of Domino himself."
"And what does that have to do with us?" Alexandra asked.
Conner grabbed her by the arm. He inched his way towards her until his mouth was just a touch away from her cheek. "It means that I don't share the things that I want. And right now, Princess, I want you." He licked her cheek.
"You animal!" she giggled. She looked at Gordo. "But it would be such a shame to leave your little friend all alone and out of the fun. I'm not that heartless."
"Forget about those two losers, Princess!" said another fool, coming to claim her for the night. "This guy right here is nothing but a squire to his mother's paladin. And this so-called nobleman is the son of a House noted for its corn farms. My father found his wealth with the silver and gold we excavate from the Great White Mountains." He showed her the golden rings on his fingers. He took one off and gave it to her. It fit the length of her finger and was capped with an egg-shaped diamond.
"Oh, my!" Alexandra exclaimed. "It's beautiful. Thank you!" She grinned deviously. Like flies, all these men were caught in her web of seduction and beauty.
The young man who presented her with the ring sneered. "You see, Conner. Women prefer silver, gold, and diamonds. Something I don't expect a corn farmer to have access to. Believe me, Princess, you need to have a sharper eye when it comes to men. A lot of beautiful young things get suckered into marriages with peasants from lesser Houses pretending to be Termnnian royalty."
Conner and Gordo jumped out of their stools, fists at the ready if that was the arrogant young noble's desire.
"Oh yeah!" shouted Conner. "Well, there's no need to introduce yourself. You're Prince Kyle of that Principality of islands down south." He heard Alexandra coo delightfully beside him. A prince from the tropic kingdoms was always a highly desired prospect for many highborn girls. "I have to work to get my treasures!" Conner boasted. "Daddy just gives you whatever you want."
"So long as I get diamonds and pearls quicker, what does it matter how he got his gifts?" Alexandra mocked the boy, waving her hand in the air to show off her ring. "This is an expensive diamond. It must have cost you a fortune."
Prince Kyle was pleased by that remark. "Indeed it did," he replied with a bow, thanking her for her remark. "I guarantee you it cost more than all the gold in the coffers of this Lesser House. We Salvatores are royalty of the highest pedigree. Believe me, Princess, you don't want to go mudding up your prestigious bloodline with the likes of these ilks."
"Ah, there she is, the star of the dance floor!" called another youth walking towards Alexandra wearing an all-black suit and tie. A golden brooch with a galaxy-cut ruby inlaid on the middle was clipped to the tie. His hair was crusted and slicked with gel and black-rim glasses hung from the bridge of his nose. "You must be that western princess everyone is talking about. I couldn't help but notice your beautiful moves from my penthouse over there." He pointed at the tower overlooking the harbor.
"You live up there?" Alexandra asked.
"Up there and all the floors below," replied the young man. "I own it. My father built it for me as a sixteenth birthday present. Speaking of which, I'm having a party upstairs celebrating this joyous day."
"What makes it so joyous?" Prince Kyle asked.
"Why, today is the day Termnnia was blessed with my birth. As I said, we are having a party and I'd be most honored if you would be my lady for the night. You will be very well rewarded, I assure you."
"I'm flattered," said Alexandra. "And just who might you be?"
"I am Lord Cullen of the House Lockwood. I own a bit of land in the Kingdom of Riverhold. My father conquered it, turned it into a resort paradise, and gave it to me as a present for my birthday last year. Ah, and my best friend formed a mercenary group called the Silver Knights of the Hundred Rivers. They serve me, so you can say they're my own army. As you can see, my dear girl, I have money, power, and my own little kingdom, if you wish to be so bold as to call it that. I pretty much have everything these yonder losers don't have."
"Very impressive," said Alexandra. "I must admit, birthday boy, whatever you want, you get."
"You are correct, dear girl. And tonight, I want you as my birthday present."
"That does it!" Gordo grumbled, drawing a jeweled pistol from his belt. Cullen backed away and Kyle gripped his golden sword. "We saw her first!" Gordo shouted. "I'll give you ten seconds to get your highborn butts out of here before I shower you with lead."
"Now, now, now," said Alexandra, gently lowering the boy's weapon down. "There is no need for such civility. Personally, I feel like there's enough in me for the lot of you. But you're fighting over me like little boys squabbling over some candy. You don't seem keen on sharing me, it seems. Very well, during impasses such as this, I think, some Duels are in order. Don't you think so?"
"I like your style, Princess," said Prince Kyle.
"She does have great style," said Cullen. "Very well. We shall have ourselves a gauntlet match for the Princess tonight."
Alexandra purred. She delighted in having people fight for her and treat her like a prize to won at a tournament. She sipped the last of her drink and leaned back on her stool. "Who shall start first?" she asked.
"We are of highborn blood are we not, Prince Kyle?" said Cullen. "Why don't you and I start the first match of these games."
"So be it," said Prince Kyle. "If I should lose this match, princess, which I won't, you can keep the ring."
"You are so sweet, my handsome prince," Alexandra said with a sultry tone. She kissed the diamond for good luck. "See to it that you don't lose, then."
"I will not," said Prince Kyle. He held out his right hand. The ring on his left ring finger glowed and morphed into a shield-shaped Duel Disk of brilliant white, decorated in gold filigree, and inlaid with colorful gemstones. The Duel Disk glittered like stars in the light.
Cullen activated his Duel Disk of solid gold and platinum trim. Poor Conner felt a little overwhelmed at the sight of their Duel Disks. He heard Gordo grumbled beside him, crossing his arms and slumping in his chair. "Humph," Gordo grumbled. "Nothing but the best for their little boys, eh?"
"I'll start first," Cullen announced. He performed difficult combos and Special Summoned monsters from the Crystron series; an archetype of aquatic machine monsters who were quite dazzling for Alexandra to behold. She rather enjoyed the monsters of the east, for the brief second that they appeared, for Cullen was offering them as fodder for the combo needed to summon his ultimate monster.
"Behold!" Cullen shouted, holding up the card. He placed it on his Duel Disk. "I Synchro Summon, Cryston Quariongandrax!"
Crystron Quariongandrax
ATK/3000 DEF/3000
LV 9
Cullen laughed proudly as his golden mechanical beast hovered behind him, giving off a metallic howl that was heavenly to the ears. "Well, princess, what do you think? I see you jeering for joy over there."
"It's beautiful!" Alexandra swooned, she stood up from her stool and gazed up at the strongest of the Crystron monsters. "You highborn boys sure do know how to pick your monsters."
"You see, Prince Kyle?" said Cullen. "It's only the first turn, and my monster is already on the field making my princess wet. What do you have that can match against my Cryston Quariongandrax's power, hmm?"
"I will show you!" Prince Kyle said, drawing. "Princess, you said you were quite fond of diamonds and pearls, did you not?"
"I am," Alexandra replied. "Do you mayhaps have a monster in that deck that will tickle my fancy?"
"Tickle your fancy, eh?" sneered Conner, while Prince Kyle began his turn. "I'll be tickling more than your fancy when I win this gauntlet for your sweet ass, princess."
"Oh, you think you have claim to my bottom so soon?" Alexandra replied with a devious look on her face. Kyle activated card effect after card effect to bring forth the monsters he needed to Special Summon the card he knew Alexandra would love. He had monsters of the Gem-Knight archetype. And in no time at all, he summoned his Gem-Knight Master Diamond to the field.
Gem-Knight Master Diamond
ATK/2900 DEF/2500
LV 9
Alexandra clasped her hands together and arched her back in excitement, bending her knees from the thrill of seeing two incredible monsters on the field. "Oh, it's absolutely brilliant, Prince Kyle! It's a knight covered with jewels!"
Cullen smiled, for he was very fascinated with the monster he summoned. "Impressive monster, Your Highness. But he's still weaker than my Quariangandrix."
Kyle laughed. "We'll just see about that. We shall do battle at once and let our face-down cards do the talking. Your move. Attack me if you dare!"
"Very well, Prince Kyle. If you insist. I do feel rather terrible humiliating you in front of the princess like this. But if it's a battle you want, then it's a battle you will get! ATTACK!"
The two monsters clashed with one another. Both Duelists activated their Trap Cards and effects to keep their monsters from being destroyed in battle. Gem-Knight Master Diamond jumped out of the way of a multi-directional laser attack from its wings. Gem-Knight Zirconia knelt and crossed his arms over his face and formed a barrier that shielded him from the assault. He survived the attack, but thanks to on his next turn, Kyle was able to let loose a series of effects -known as a Chain- that allowed him to summon Gem-Knight Lady Brilliant Diamond.
Gem-Knight Lady Brilliant Diamond
ATK/3400 DEF/2000
LV 10
"Such incredible monsters!" Alexandra cried out in excitement. "I do love this game."
"It's no big deal," said Conner. "Monsters like those are all flash."
"Jealous?" Alexandra asked.
Conner, though a little envious of the rare monsters in front of him, acted like he was not impressed. "A bunch of shiny monsters don't mean nothing unless you've got the skill to use 'em. These snobs just used a bunch of cheap combos to bring them out into the mix too quickly. Now, look at them. Their hands are empty, their boards are almost clean. If I was up there, I'd be saving my best cards for later, and using my traps and monster effects to weaken their Aces before they get a chance to dominate the field."
"A bold gesture," Alexandra said. Cullen summoned Crystron Phoenix to the field. She clapped for the shiny red mechanical monster.
Crystron Phoenix
ATK/2800 DEF/2000
LV 9
Cullen boosted the power of his monsters, confident that the one trap on Kyle's side of the field was just a bluff. They battled. Crystron Phoenix flew into the air to have a dazzling battle with Gem-Knight Lady Brilliant Diamond. Chasing her down was like trying to slash your sword at a beam of light. She was a quick creature and jabbed her diamond blade against the metal body of her foe. A Quick-Play spell from Cullen; and Crystron grew even stronger against Gem-Knight Lady. But, Kyle had one last Quick-Play Spell in his hand that aided his Gem-Knight Lady.
The two monsters fought viciously in the air, and with one final blow, they struck each other down. It was a draw. Cullen then ordered his Crystron Quariongandrax to do battle with Gem-Knight Master Diamond. He dodged the attack once but was cut down by the lasers. He exploded and blasted Kyle with considerable damage to his Life Points.
Kyle, miraculously, drew Card of Sanctity, allowing them to draw until they had six cards in their hands.
"This is the end for you, Lord Cullen," Prince Kyle said, brushing one of his long bangs off his face.
"You bluff," Cullen sneered. "Very well. Entertain me at best, and I just might consider letting you join my party. I'll even think about letting you have a go with the princess if you desire."
"Like I said, I can handle you all," Alexandra giggled.
"Such a licentious little beauty," Cullen hissed lustfully. "I can't wait to win you tonight."
"Don't entertain such thoughts, Lord Cullen. After what I've drawn, you will get no such pleasure. First, I activate Brilliant Fusion! I send two 'Gem' monsters from my deck to the Graveyard as fusion materials so I can summon this! Gem-Knight Seraphinite! Then I summon Gem Armadillo, which activates its effect, allowing me to draw a Gem-Knight monster from my deck to my hand! Now, I send Gem-Knight Seraphinite and Gem Armadillo to the Graveyard to Link Summon, Gem-Knight Phantom Quartz!"
Gem-Knight Phantom Quartz
ATK/1450
LINK-2
"Link what?!" Alexandra asked. "What kind of monster is that? Where's it's level? Where is it's defense points? You easterners really complicated the game."
Conner was shaking in his boots. "I didn't expect Prince Kyle to know how to Link Summon. I thought cards like that were reserved for the elite players of Duelist Academy!"
"You're looking at one of them," Kyle boasted, pointing at himself. "I don't mean to boast, but I'm one of Dr. Vellion Crowler's top students. He provided me with the monster you see here. And it's a good thing that he did."
"What does it matter what kind of monster it is?" Cullen commented while laughing arrogantly. "Link Monster or not, its attack points are far weaker than my Crystron Quariongandrix!"
Kyle couldn't help but scoff at his remark. "Fool, who says attack points are the only thing you need to gain victory. I will take you down by not declaring a single attack on you or your Crystron. I'll show you. First, my Gem-Knight Phantom Quartz's effect activates. I can add a Gem-Knight card from my deck to my hand. Next, I will activate the effect of my Crystal Rose. I can banish a fusion monster to the Graveyard and Special Summon my Crystal Rose in defense mode."
The rose of red and green crystal morphed onto the field, glittering with beauty. Prince Kyle picked it up. "For you, princess."
"Thank you," Alexandra said.
Kyle smiled at her and bowed. "I activate Brilliant Fusion, to combined my Crystal Rose and a Gen-Knight monster in my Graveyard to Fusion Summon, Gem-Knight Lady Lapis Lazuli! Now, I activate my Gem-Knight Obsidion's effect to Special Summon, Gem-Knight Lapis in defense mode! Then, I'll summon, Rescue Rabbit, banish it and Special Summon two monsters to my field. Here come two more Gem-Knight Lapiz."
"Hmm," Gordo said, picking up the beer he ordered. "What could he be planning? He sure as hell can't use any of those to take on his Crystron Quariongandrix. He's too tough."
"Ha!" Alexandra chortled. "I think Prince Kyle knows what he's doing."
Prince Kyle went on with his turn. "Now to activate my Gem-Knight Lady Lapis Lazuli's effect. I send a Gem-Knight Monster from my deck to the Graveyard and inflict five hundred points of damage to your Life Points for each Special Summoned monster on the field."
"WAIT!" Cullen cried.
Gem-Knight Lady Lapis Luzuli shined a bright blue beam at Cullen, striking him in the chest and knocking back where he skidded to a stop. His Life Points plummeted down to 5500.
"My Gem-Knight Luzuli's effect activates, allowing me to add Gem-Knight Garnet to my hand from the Graveyard. Then I banish Gem-Knight Obsidian to add Gem-Knight Fusion to my hand. I shall activate it, fusing together Lapis and Gem-Knight Lady Lapis Lazuli to summon the one and only, Gem-Knight Master Diamond. Then I banish Gem-Knight Lady Lapis Lazuli. In turn, he gains her abilities dealing five hundred points of damage for every Special Summoned monster on the field."
Gem-Knight Master Diamond raised his gem-encrusted sword and charged toward Cullen. He stuck his blade into the ground. The gems on his sword started glowing, and they bathed him in magical light, reducing him to 3500 Life Points.
"I banish another Gem-Knight to add another Gem-Knight Fusion to my hand. And I'll activate it, fusing Gem-Knight Master Diamond and the two Gem-Knight Lapis to summon another Gem-Knight Master Diamond!"
The leader of the Gem-Knights returned, but Prince Kyle had no intention of using it for an attack. The Card of Sanctity truly was a miracle draw. Now he had everything he needed to end this Duel.
"Next, I will pay 1000 of my Life Points to Summon my last Gem-Knight Master Diamond! I will use its effect to banish Gem-Knight Lady Lapis Lazuli from the Graveyard. Doing so allows my Gem-Knight Master Diamond to gain her abilities, inflicting five hundred points of damage for every Special Summon!"
Kyle continued until he completely wiped out Cullen's Life Points using only the effects of his monsters. Alexandra, Gordo, and Conner yelled with excitement as the final blast ended the game. Cullen's Crystron Quariongandrix evaporated into tiny pieces. Gordo and Conner were next.
Gordo's Zoodiacs against Conner's X-Sabers. Conner won without effort and then he Dueled against Prince Kyle but lost.
"Prince Kyle wins me for the night," Alexandra cheered.
"As if there were any doubt," he sniggered, walking toward her hungrily.
Alexandra held out her palm to halt his advancement. She smiled and went to the dance floor to show off her exotic dancing. In the end, she didn't want just one man to please her. She said she could handle all of them, and she desired all of them on her at once.
Slowly, they slithered their way towards her. Alexandra felt a dozen hands press against her body. And she did nothing to keep them off. In fact, she beckoned them to do whatever they pleased. She felt their palms slide up and down her frame. Across her thighs, down her arms, and even resting on her breasts and buttocks. She felt the hem of her dress get tugged. Still, she did nothing to keep them off. She had been consumed by her love of this place. This music. This life. Eastern living was something she desired more than anything.
"Woah, whoa, whoa!" someone shouted. "Slow down, everyone!"
Damnation! Alexandra muttered when she recognized the voice of her Uncle Peter. "What in the Hells of the Shadow Realm are you doing here, uncle!" Alexandra shouted, fixing her tiara.
"I suppose you thought yourself very clever, didn't you? Sneaking out of the tower to come here and ruin your purity in this den of depravity. And it's no wonder the Westerners hate this culture so much. Come, we are going home, Alexandra."
"Hey, back off, short stuff!" said Conner. "The lady wants to party. So why don't you just buzz off and leave her alone, eh?"
"The lady you see here is my niece, the Princess of Dragon's Nest. I am Lord Peter Dragonheart of the Blackwing Keep. So unless you want the ferocity of my brother, the king, down upon you, I suggest you let the girl go. It's past her bedtime."
"Stop treating me like a child, Peter!" Alexandra demanded.
"Then stop acting like a child," Antilles said, approaching the group. He stood over Peter and crossed his arms furiously.
"Uncle!" Alexandra cried. "I..wha...what are you doing here?"
"That does not matter," said Antilles. "You are coming home at once." He studied her from head to toe disapproving of the dress and the boots she wore. "Look at you. Dressed like some whore. Have we taught you nothing? You are a princess. You are meant to wed great kings and princes of the world. And yet we find you here, rubbing yourself against these lowborn peasants!"
"Hey, watch what you say, old man!" shouted Cullen. "My father will have your head for this!"
Antilles glared at the young man with his fiery blue eyes. They seemed to burn the poor boy's ego. He backed away cautiously making Antilles laugh. "Your father is nothing but a ruby miner who thinks himself a king. And just so you know, boy, your father is in debt to me. Now I see that he is no longer worth financing if he is wasting my gold buying his spoiled brat towers and gemmed Duel Disks."
"How about a Duel?" said Gordo. "All of us against the two of you!"
Antilles wrinkled his nose. Alexandra looked at him as she bit her bottom lip. She was excited about the prospect of seeing her uncle Duel and use that dragon she heard so much about. But there was a look in his eye that told her she would not be getting such pleasure.
"She can't leave anyway!" shouted Kyle. "I won the privilege of spending the evening with her. She's mine, by right!"
"You spiteful little wench!" Antilles spat. "And you offer yourself as a tribute in Duel Monsters as though you were some booty to be won as a prize."
Gordo sniggered. "Booty," he cackled.
Antilles looked at the boy and shut him up. "Very well," he said. "But you will not be Dueling me. You will Duel my brother. If you win, Alexandra stays with you. Forever."
"Uncle!" Alexandra shouted.
But he was not done. "And she will denounce her title as queen and sever all ties with the House Dragonheart. I will not have some whore in my family, Alexandra. I simply will not! Do you want to run out into the night so badly? You want to drink, dance, fuck, and be rebellious against our wishes, then so be it. But it will not be with you bearing that mighty dragon that was my father's sigil and his father's before him. If you wish to live the way you want; a life of lust, envy, lies, and deception, then you must suffer the consequences. I have told you this many times. And if your Uncle Peter loses this match, then to hell with you, Alexandra."
Alexandra's eyes sparkled with tears. She stepped backward until she stood behind her friends, who formed a wall in front of her.
"So be it," Antilles said, seething. "Peter. Your dragon is 'starving' is it not? Quench its hunger."
"With pleasure, dear brother," said Peter, activating the official Duel Disk of House Dragonheart. "You boys go first."
They stood in a line and one by one summoned their best monsters onto the field. Peter laughed like a man possessed, staring down their best monsters.
Gem-Knight Master Diamond ATK 2900 + 300 = 3200
Crystron Quariangandrix ATK 3000
XX-Saber Gottoms ATK 3100
Dinoster Power, the Mighty Dracoslayer ATK 2000
Peter started his turn and summoned the hideous monsters of his Predaplant deck. He started the game by infecting his opponent's monsters with Predator Counters. Once all was set, he activated Polymerization to begin the summoning of his most vile and wretched monster.
"I use Polymerization to fuse Predaplant Moray Nepenthes and Predaplant Flytrap into the creature the lurks in the hell beneath their petals. Fusion Summon! O' venomous dragon of the abyss with starving fangs! Level Eight! Starving Venom Fusion Dragon!"
The four opposing Duelists cried out in horror at the sight of the dragon. Alexandra gasped, clasping her hands over mouth to conceal her shock. "There it is," she whispered. "My Uncle's legendary dragon. Oh, Goddesses. It's...it's so horrifying!"
"Stand tight boys!" Cullen. "Our monsters are still stronger than he is. We can make it out of this if we work together."
"Oh, is that what you think?" said Peter. "That attack points are all that matter?" He rubbed his chin. "Hmm, well, actually they do. Once per turn, my Starving Venom Fusion Dragon gains the attack points of a Special Summoned monster my opponent controls. And you all seem to have one, don't you?"
"All of their attack points combined?" whimpered Gordo.
Starving Venom Fusion Dragon roared, spreading is misshapen wings and sucking the energy from their monsters to increase its power.
Starving Venom Fusion Dragon
ATK/11300
"It can't be!" cried Prince Kyle. "It can't be!"
"Oh, it is," said Peter. "There is a lesson to be learned here. But first, I will send Predaplant Squid Drosera to the Graveyard activating its effect. I can target a monster I control and grant it the ability to attack all monsters on the field with Predator Counters!"
Alexandra ran away from the boys, knowing full-well of what her Uncle's beast could do to other monsters. She scampered to her Antilles and embraced him. "I'm sorry," she sobbed. "I'm so sorry."
"Watch," said Antilles. "This is what happens to fools who embrace the rebellious nightlife you enjoy so much."
"No," Alexandra sobbed.
"Do as I command. Watch. A lesson is going to be taught. For your little friends, and for you."
"Oh, indeed," said Peter, nodding at the boys one-by-one. "I bet you all think you're so invincible don't you? You hide behind those monsters like you do your own egos. Behind them, you act all tough and powerful. I bet deep down you feel that nothing can harm you. No influence in the whole world can hurt you. But behind all that talk, I see nothing but scared little children who think they own the night. No. No, my friends. Stupid fools who believe the life of wine and song makes them significant own nothing. No, my children. Monsters own the night. And you will learn this rule very well. It applies to all. This rule applies to those who think behaving like a fool every night makes you stand above all others! Starving Venom Fusion Dragon, attack Gem-Knight Master Diamond!"
Starving Venom Fusion Dragon's wings grew and grew until they revealed their true forms. They weren't only just wings. They were extra mouths. When their jowls split open, it revealed rows of sharp teeth and trails of oozing saliva. Starving Venom Fusion Dragon's right wing slithered out of its back via long tentacle that could stretch for eternity. With one gulp, Gem-Knight Diamond was gone, swallowed by the dragon. Starving Venom Fusion Dragon then spun around and whipped Prince Kyle across the chest with his tail, ripping open his jacket and the shirt underneath, and shattering his ribs. His Life Points dropped to 0 with one attack.
The other boys panicked, knowing they were next.
Peter continued his attack mercilessly. "This rule applies to fools who think they can treat girls as pin cushions for their cocks! You are not men. You are dogs! Weak-willed imbeciles who will chase after a woman's flesh like a moth to a flame, and then you cast her aside when she has served her purpose. Like a spoiled child, you search for the next toy to play with. But hear me well, you young fools. Slowly, but surely, karma always finds a way to spread open her jaws and devour you and teach you the truth of your perverse lifestyle. Starving Venom Fusion Dragon, attack XX-Saber Gottoms!"
The dragon obeyed. Another one of its mouths stretched out of its back and devoured the monster. Again, Starving Venom Fusion Dragon whipped around and smacked Conner in the arm, breaking the bone to pieces. His Life Points fell to 0.
"The truth is, you will never find true love! So you scour about these places to seek whores and stupid little girls willing to surrender their bodies to every idiot that comes their way!"
Alexandra felt a wave of hurt surging through her body.
"And it applies to fools who think that purposley getting themselves lost in a drunken stupor makes them strong. Look at you drinking all that piss! Do you think it makes you men? Chugging down every bit of poison they offer you in these places? You want a real man's drink? Try some Emboldorian wine. It's good for you. Starving Venom Fusion Dragon! Attack Dinoster Power, the Mighty Dracoslayer!"
And it did, devouring the knight with one gulp, and then it whipped poor Gordo across the chest, punishing him for his sins.
"And it applies to fools who think their daddies can buy them safety. You walk about, flaunting your riches. But low and behold, the world of sin, sex, wine, women, and song finds ways of taking all that you love away from you. This rule applies to stupid little girls who think they own the night. Who think they can lie to those that love them. Who think they can parade around in their skimpy dresses and claim to conquer the night."
He looked at Alexandra, who cowered in her uncle's arms. "I said it once, and I'll say it again. Monsters own the night. They stalk through the darkness looking for the next idiot to devour. And when their jowls close around you, your world will crumble all around you. You will slowly lose the love of all who adored you. You will slowly lose all that you hold dear. When the monsters take...they keep. And once you are in their bellies, there is no escape. Starving Venom Fusion Dragon! Attack Crystron Quariangandrix!"
The mouth stretched to a monstrous length and swallowed the monster. Starving Venom whipped around and struck Cullen in the gut. He soiled himself from the impact. His Life Points fell to 0. Starving Venom Fusion Dragon hissed and howled, waving its tentacles in all directions. Despite eating four giant monsters, it's hunger was not quenched. It was still hungry. Alexandra felt as though the dragon could have eaten everything in the world, and still, it could not be satisfied.
"Nothing good comes from a life like this," Antilles whispered into Alexandra's ear. His minty breath was cold and froze her nostrils. "Make one mistake, and it'll consume you. And when it does, there is no turning back."
"Yes, Uncle," Alexandra sobbed, watching the carnage in front of her. "I'm so sorry, Your Grace."
Antilles turned to look at a squadron of knights from his House.
"Take her to the Spire of the Kings," he said. "And make sure she stays there."
As Alexandra was led away, Starving Venom Fusion Dragon roared triumphantly into the night.
Yuri
Ren held the door open as Yuri walked out of Daniel's Drug Store with armfuls of brown burlap bags full of food. It was a bit of a struggle, but he could manage. Or...so he thought. It wasn't long before Yuri started to complain that his arms were hurting. Ren inhaled deeply and took a bag from Yuri.
"And to think you once fought in Vladimir's gym once upon a time," said Ren. "Seriously. All those years training to be a fighter just out the window."
"Years?" Yuri said, looking at him distastefully. "I was only in the cage for a few months before I entered that tournament and got my arm fucked up."
Ren snorted softly, following Yuri down the sidewalk underneath the White Harbor Bridge. "Feels like a lot longer to me."
"Well, what can I say? You're almost never around. Crystal has a far busier life than you and I see her more often. Just what in the world do you do that makes you disappear every now and then. Slowly but surely, Nick has become more a best friend than you."
"That's not my fault," Ren answered, feeling hurt when he realized there was truth in what Yuri was saying. "I told you not to get involved with Brett that night. But you just had to act all macho and try to take him on. Had it not been for your actions, we would have gone to the same school together."
"School? You think different schools has anything to do with how often your absent from our lives? Crystal has concerts, shoots commercials, poses for magazines, and is a champion Duelist. She does far more than you and I see her every now and then. But you? It's like you only care to show up when you remember."
Ren sighed. "Yeah, I guess I have been a little up and about for some time. Sorry about that, buddy. It's just that...I've failed a few of my classes in my first semester of school. My old man isn't too happy with me, you know. I can't take full control of the family business unless I pass school with flying colors. I've had to study for my exams last summer. I really need to pass."
"I understand, Ren, but does studying for exams mean you have to drop off the face of the earth? To just disappear and cut off all contact with us for so long? My SAT's were no easy thing to study for, but I still made time to hang out with my friends and score pretty high at the same time. I spent almost four long years without my best friend. If you ask me, I think you're making excuses not be around us. Something else is going on that you don't want me to know about, isn't there?"
Ren shook his head. "No, it's not that. Truthfully, I've made some new friends in college and started hanging out with them a little more than I did you and Crystal. I hate to admit it, but it has interfered in my relationship with you two. I guess I have been a little self-centered. I'm sorry."
Yuri had a feeling that 'new friends' were not the real reason why Ren was never around. But he did not want to argue and just took his word for it. "No harm done," he said. "Just don't you forget who your real friends are, Ren. Making new friends is nice and all, but it's no excuse to commit the sin of forgetting your old ones. Especially when you mean a lot to them. Otherwise, you're no true friend. Hell, you're no friend at all. Just a liar with no heart who's all talk. A locust moving from one person to the other for the sake of looking cool on social media."
"Ouch! Rub salt in the old ego why don't ya?" Ren chuckled.
"You know what they say, man. Truth hurts. Forgetting us for the sake of 'new friends' makes you an asshole. Sorry if I'm being strict."
Ren laughed. "Naw, man. I deserve it. I guess I've been so preoccupied with making myself look cook on My Life that I started to forget about who my REAL friends were. I'm sorry, pal."
"I hate My Life," Yuri grumbled.
"If I were in your shoes, Yuri, I'd hate my life, too."
"Ha...ha...ha..." Yuri mocked him. "Very funny."
"You know, I heard you and your pals had some trouble with Patty online."
Yuri scoffed. "We still are but I don't want to talk about it. To be frank, I'm done trying to figure her out, Ren. I'm done trying to connect with her. I'm done trying to protect her. If she wants to become some social media whore behind our backs, what the hell do I care? Let her drink, let her snort, let her fuck for all I know; I'm done."
"Yuri, I'm very disappointed in you," Ren said, his face creasing into a scowl. "That girl is one of your best friends. I know Patty did wrong in shutting you guys out the way she did but..."
"A stab in the back is what it was!" Yuri shouted.
"Shh! Geez, will you calm down, Yuri? I didn't think you felt so strongly about this. Have you given any thought about why she did this? You guys mean a lot to her. She loves you. I'm sure she did what she did to keep your friendship intact. You guys mean so much to her that she doesn't want to see you do the things she does."
"It shows she has a complete lack of trust in us, Ren!" said Yuri, growing red in the face. "Simply put, if there is no trust, we have NO friendship!"
Ren shook his head. "See? See? That's why she doesn't want you to see what she's doing on My Life, Yuri. You once said you didn't care what she does in her private time. But I guarantee if you saw half the things she does, you'd pull the cord on this beautiful friendship you two have. Patty told me you two have known each other since kindergarten. Is that true?"
"So what if it is?"
"Friendships like that are rare, man. Patty cares about you guys so much that she'd hide all the bad things so as not to disappoint you."
"If she 'cares' about us that way, then why does she do half the crap she does in the first place?"
Ren shrugged. "Some girls can't help it, dude. And, come on, let's face it. Patty's beautiful. Who am I kidding? She's hot. A girl like her; when she has looks like that, she'll flaunt it to get the attention. Believe me. I know. I know girls a lot better than you do, Yuri. And you gotta think, man. Despite all the shit she does at night, Patty is still your friend. She still wants to be your friend."
"It doesn't make me feel any better, Ren."
"You're too sensitive, man. Crystal's done a lot to garner some rowdy attention, but you don't seem to care, do you?"
"Crystal doesn't hide things from me, Ren. Crystal and I have trust. And like I told you, if we have no trust, we have no friendship."
Ren sighed. He gave up. "I'm sorry you feel that way, Yuri. Deal with Patty how you see fit, but if you end your friendship just because Patty has a provocative life outside your own, then you're an idiot. Or...you have feelings for her."
Yuri clicked his tongue. "Now That's the last thing on my mind, Ren!"
"Look at you getting all defensive," Ren chuckled. "I see you. I see you. You like her, don't you?"
"Shut up, Ren."
"You don't like that thought of all those boys getting on your crush, right?"
"I said shut the..."
"Change! Spare change!" An old man said, shoving a plastic coffee cup full of pennies and dimes. "Spare change. Spare change. Spare a coin for an old war veteran."
"Who are you?" Yuri cried out foolishly.
The man was dirty from head to toe. His jeans were ripped and stained with all manner of filth. His shoes were torn and worn. His big toe poking out of the front of the right one. He wore a tattered leather jacket with a hood and a black beanie over his head. He wore torn gloves made of ripped cloth.
"Spare change," the man croaked.
Ren grabbed Yuri by the shoulder and pulled him away from the man. "Don't worry, Yuri. His name is Norman Delgado. He's one of the squatters who live under the bridge."
"Spare change," Norman grumbled, shaking his cup. The coins inside jingled as they flipped around.
"We don't want any trouble, Norman. Leave us alone."
"Yuri..." Norman groaned. "Yuri...spare change?"
"Forget about him," Ren said, pulling Yuri away. "Get a job, you bum. It's not that hard!"
"Spare change, almighty Terratar!" Norman called out as the boys walked.
Yuri was struck with a brief paralysis upon hearing that name. Was he insane? Did that man just say one of the words that were sung in that song of power that haunted him every night in his dreams? He yanked himself free of Ren's grip.
"Yuri! No!" Ren cried.
"What did you say?" Yuri gasped, stopping in front of the man, still waving his cup and down for some change.
"Yuri, forget it!" Ren shouted. "He's stoned out of his mind, look at him!"
Norman looked around as though he were in a trance. Behind him three women were huddled around a fire burning in a barrel, trying to keep warm from the cold oceanic evening air. He looked at Yuri and slowly smiled.
"That eye," he said, looking at Yuri's green glowing eye. "That eye. Hail Yuri! The almighty Terratar. Hail Yuri, the savior! Hail Yuri, the King of Kings!"
"Hail," said one of the women, softly.
"Hail," said the second.
"Hail," said the third.
"What are you talking about?" Yuri asked. "What is it about my eye that you know? What do you know about that word? Terratar? What does it mean?"
"Hail Yuri," Norman continued to chant. "The Savior of our people. Hail Yuri, the Caller of the Gods."
"Hail."
"Hail."
"Hail."
"Yuri, get away from him!" shouted Ren.
"What are you trying to tell me?" Yuri asked. "King of Kings? Caller of the Gods? Savior? I'm no savior, sir. What do you think I am? Do you know something about my dreams?"
The second woman by the fire answered. "More than you know, Yuri, O' King of Kings,"
Norman bared a yellow grin. "The time is nigh, Prince of the Fallen House," he said. "The hour of your return is upon us. In time, you will learn all. You will learn that you mean a great deal to an army of millions who have you in their hearts."
"That's enough!" shouted Ren. "Say another word, and I will call the police! Come on, Yuri! This man is insane! Just yesterday I saw him mumbling to an old man that he was Cthulhu come back to us. He's a fortune teller. A looney! Don't listen to him!"
Yuri knew that time was wasting, but something in his heart told him that this beggar was no mere beggar. Perhaps he would visit him another time. Why else would he know of the name Terratar, the name from his dreams? The name that those powerful voices kept shouting into his brain every night. Yuri reached into his pocket and tossed a few crumpled bills and some quarters into Norman's cup.
"Hail Yuri," Norman said one last time.
Yuri tipped his cap at the man, then followed Ren back to his estate.
"Hey, Patty, pass the marshmallows, baby!" Sam said with a mouthful of goo from the toasted one he just ate. His lips were crusted in white, and his shirt was stained with chocolate that dripped from the s'more he ate before. His fingers were sticky and dirty as well, and he had the audacity to ask: "And can I see those new cards in your deck?"
Patty looked at the boy in disgust. The orange glow of the fire seemed to accent the rage blushing in her face. She reached for a bag next to her camping stool and tossed it at the boy. "First off, don't call me 'baby'. Secondly, you're not touching my cards with those hands." A loud clap of a wave smashing against the beach of Yuri's estate was the final exclamation point to her order. She petted Max a little more feverishly as he lay sleeping on her lap. The hearts on her gold and silver bracelet jingled.
Carter gave a heavy sigh while he was talking to someone on the phone. "Okay. Sorry, you feel that way." He hung up. "Sorry, guys, but it looks like Nick is a no-show tonight."
"Figures," Yuri said drearily. He tossed a few more sticks into the fire. A flurry of embers flew over the flames and into the night. "He hasn't been the same since our Duel at school."
"Not even with me here?" Crystal asked, wrapping a white wool blanket over her shoulders to shield her from the chilly ocean breeze. Ren was asleep on a hammock behind her, snoring loudly. "He must be really upset about that loss to Brett."
"He'll get over it," Patty replied, impaling a marshmallow onto a stick. She held it over the fire. She heard Sam chuckle from his seat. Patty looked up to see what he was laughing about. Much to her chagrin, he was swooning over her again.
"The flames of the fire are hot, but Patty is no doubt hotter!" He touched his hip. "Sssss!" he hissed as though touching a hot surface.
"Nice try, bud," Patty said, letting the flames engulf the marshmallow. She blew on it and ate it without a thought.
She didn't even wince at how hot it was, which seemed to scare Yuri and the others awfully. Tyson scooted his chair away from her while Yuri stared as though he had just seen a ghost. That marshmallow was hot enough to cause some bad burns, but Patty ate it as though it was cool to the touch. Even little Sam was at a loss for words. He looked away from her and stared out into the ocean to look at the orange moon hovering over the water turning a shade of bluish-red in the setting sun, whose waning light turned the sky a beautiful shade of red and the clouds pink like large tufts of cotton candy. The beauty if the world around him calmed him down from the spectacle Patty made. Tyson shook his head and searched for another R&B track to play on his phone.
"Ahem," he said, pretending to clear his throat. "So, who here has gotten invites to the fancy pants tournament next summer?"
"The only one I know who got their invitation was Yuri," said Tyson. "A big golden envelope and everything. Maybe that's why Nick decided not to come."
"Everything I'm doing seems to piss him off," Yuri grumbled. "I'm glad he decided to take the game a little more seriously in getting himself a new deck, but challenging Brett Martinetti to a Duel wasn't my fault."
"Nobody is saying that it was, Yuri," Patty said, searching for another marshmallow. "It's just that he's been put in last for all his life. The fact you're getting all his attention is not helping. To say nothing of the fact that word has gotten around about you and me going to the dance tomorrow."
"What?" Sam cried out. "Who said you could take my girl out, Yuri?"
Yuri ignored him. "People know about that?" he asked.
"The whole city knows about it," said Patty.
"Really?" Yuri groaned, slamming his head on the back of his chair. "Word sure does spread fast around here, doesn't it."
Crystal laughed, slapping Yuri's knee playfully. "Well, well, Patty. I've got to tip my hat off to you. It's not every day someone can get Yuri out of the house to a school event like the homecoming dance. You are the luckiest girl on the island right now. The Heir of the Montgomery Estate as your date? Even I'm a little jealous. Do you have any idea how many girls wish they were you right now?"
"You don't need to remind me," Patty replied, impaling another marshmallow. "Seven girls ran up to me with ransoms from rare cards, money, even their hot boyfriends in exchange for having Yuri as a date for the homecoming dance. Some have even tried to Duel me for him."
"Why?" Yuri cried out into the night. "I'm not some prize to be won!"
Carter let out a hearty laugh at Yuri's reaction to all this. He reached into a bucket of fried chicken to pull out a leg to eat. He bit savagely into it. "Yuri, Yuri, Yuri. You have a status that most guys could only dream of having. You've been blessed to be born into the house of a multi-trillionaire and have all the girls on the island swoon over you as though you were Prince Charming himself. Yet you treat it like a curse."
"He's hopeless," Ren said from the hammock. "I've done everything I could to make him enjoy the nightlife every weekend. But, no, he just wants to sit in his room and shuffle his deck all day. And write his dreams down in that little diary of his."
"What?" Yuri shouted, almost jumping out of his seat. He turned to look at Ren. "You went through my stuff?"
"Terratar! Terratar!" said Ren. "Yuri, you're horribly stressed. That's why you keep having those funky nightmares. You need to go out more, man. Like you used to in your MMA days. You need to head to the clubs. Grab a drink. Meet a girl; dance with her; take her home. You're missing out on all the fun. You're eighteen years old in a couple of weeks. You're rich. You're a rising star in the world of Duel Monsters. Chicks want you - no - NEED you. Like Carter said, this is the life very few can ever hope to have, and you aren't enjoying it."
"I AM enjoying it!" Yuri protested. "I don't have to get drunk or fuck girls to enjoy the fruits of life."
"But getting drunk and fucking girls are the fruits of life, Yuri," Ren chuckled.
"OMG!" Crystal shouted in acronyms. "You're a pig! Don't listen to him, Yuri. Live your life the way you want to. And what's all this Terratar business?"
"Ask Yuri," Ren replied with a yawn. "Apparently it's a song he hears in his dreams."
"Oh, not this dream stuff again," whined Sam. "Let's do something fun."
"We're teenagers," said Patty, blowing the flames off the roasted marshmallow. "Talking about our problems is fun. Go ahead, Yuri. What is this song you keep dreaming about?"
"You wouldn't understand," Yuri answered, kicking a stick into the fire pit. "Not to mention the whole thing is rather spooky."
"Spooky?" said Crystal. "Come on, Yuri. We're around the campfire. This is the perfect time to tell ghost stories." She wriggled her fingers. "Ooooo," she howled like a ghoul.
"How about a Duel instead?" Sam requested, shivering in his chair.
"I think that's a great idea," Carter said, jumping out of the stool. "Yuri, you and me! What do you say? Or are you scared I'll beat you like I did last time?"
Crystal and Patty howled. Crystal gave a loud clap and said: "Oh, Yuri! It. Is. On!"
"All right, all right," Yuri said, standing up. "If you insist. I'll be right back."
Yuri walked back into the mansion. He returned shortly later with two brand new Duel Disks in hand. His friends got out of their chair and cheered, raising their arms in the air when they saw them. Tyson barked like a big dog as he paraded back and forth in front of the fire. Ren, opened one eye to see what the commotion was about. He felt content when he saw the Duel Disks in Yuri's arms, and quickly got off the hammock to inspect them.
They were chromed and lit up with blue neon giving them a futuristic look as though they were something from a science-fiction movie. He gave on to Carter and then put his on.
"Where did you get these, Yuri?" Crystal asked, examining Yuri's machine. "These look really cool. Their design far and away exceeds the one I have."
"Well, they're not mine, really," Yuri replied. "They's supposed to be put on display at the Phobos Corp Tower and then will be sent as gifts to the Prince of Saudi Arabia. My dad says we can use them so long as we're careful. But just so you know, Carter, I had a different deck when we last played. You only beat me because I didn't have the cards I have now."
"Yeah, well, I, too, have made a few additions to my deck. I really took advantage of the new Invasion of Chaos pack that came out. I'm going to beat you again, Yuri." He ran for his tent to excavate his deck, then ran down to the surf, taking off his shoes and socks so he could stand in the water. "You're not going to get an easy win over me, Yuri. I assure you. Your Black Tyranno is tough, but let's see if he can stand up to my sea monsters."
LP 2000
"I'll go first," said Yuri. "Draw! I Special Summon, Gilasaurus! And next, I summon Uraby in attack mode! I lay one card face-down. I end my turn."
"My turn. I draw! I activate Moray of Greed. I shuffle two WATER monsters to my deck and draw three cards. Then Graceful Charity. I draw three cards and discard two."
"Snoresville!" Sam shouted from his chair while helping himself to a bag of chips to snack on while he watched the Duel.
"Ignore him," said Patty. "Go ahead, Carter. Continue on with your turn."
"Oh, right," Carter said. "Uh, let's see. What new cards will Graceful Charity grant me?" He drew. "Nice. I play Salvage, which lets me add two WATER monsters from my Graveyard to my hand. Now, the real fun begins. I summon Jellyfish in attack mode!" (ATK/1200 DEF/1500)
Carter slapped the card onto the Duel Disk. Behind him, underneath the waves, a bright light shined brightly. And then the stillness of the night was pierced by an eerie battle cry that sounded like a whale giving out a high-pitched wail.
Crystal was so spooked by the sound that she ran back up the beach towards the hammock where Ren rested. She jumped. Ren held out his hands in protest, but it was too late. She fell on top of him. The hammock could not support the extra weight. It snapped, and they both fell on the sand with a thud. Yuri and the others laughed at the comedic scene. Tyson let out high-pitched shrieks as he fell on the ground laughing at the sight of Crystal's legs up in the air and Ren's moving up and down as he was tangled by the hammock. Sam ran towards them and jumped on top of Crystal.
"I'll save you, Ren!" he cried, and then he started tickling Crystal.
Poor Crystal howled with uncontrollable laughter. "Stop!" she cried. "Stop! Then Ren joined in and made it worse by joining in on tickling her. "Oh, stop! Oh, stop!" She pleaded. "Stop! Stop! I'm gonna pee!"
Though Yuri could still hear the haunting cry of the Jellyfish, there was no doubt in his mind that Sam was not coming in Ren's defense. He saw his little hands go to places where they shouldn't go. Luckily, Patty arrived in the nick of time and pulled him away. The Jellyfish's cries got louder and a little more irate, as though it was shouting: Hey! I've been summoned over here!
"I don't like the sound of that," Ren said, helping Crystal up. He patted sand off her dress before cleaning his own clothes.
"Me neither," Crystal agreed. "That's so spooky."
"That's just a taste of things to come," Carter said coldly. "I activate Monster Reborn to bring back one of the monsters in my Graveyard. The all-powerful, Spike Seadra!" (ATK/1600 DEF/1300)
Far off into the water, something pierced the surface. A row of black spikes protruding from a dark blue surface skimmed over the waves and stopped next to the light where the Jellyfish swam. The creature reared its body over the waves, letting out a high-pitched cry. Its burning red eyes glared down at Yuri. Carter turned to look at the monster he summoned. He jumped up and down with joy at the sight of the sea beast that came from the dark depths of the sea at his command.
"Oh, Lord Almighty!" cried Crystal. "That's a little too real for me. Phobos Corp really stepped it up with their holographic technology."
"No kidding," Patty agreed, bracing Max tightly in her arms. "Look at that thing! It's so real. It's...it's alive almost." The poor puppy whimpered in fright at the sight of the giant monster, hissing and snarling in the waves. Patty patted Max on the head and kissed him. "It's okay, baby. Don't be scared." She put the puppy in her sweater and zipped it all the way up, sealing him inside so he couldn't see the Spiked Seadra anymore. She sniffed the air. Her face crinkled in disgust, picking up the scent of fish laying out in the hot sun on a pier. "Oh, God! What is that smell?"
Ren laughed. "Would you believe the Duel Disk is so advanced that it can also produce the monsters odor?"
"Da-yum!" Tyson said, fanning the air in front of his nose. "Come on, man, that reeks!"
"Is that really necessary?" Patty asked. "Seems a little too excessive, don't you think?"
Carter took one last look at his Spiked Seadra and looked at Yuri. "Now, Yuri. I think I'll attack your Gilasaurus with my Jellyfish!"
Yuri raised an eyebrow. "Why? Gilasaurus is still stronger than your Jellyfish. You can't defeat him."
"I can add, Yuri," said Carter. "I know your monster is stronger than my Jellyfish. I wouldn't attack it if we were playing on a regular field. But this isn't a regular field now, is it?" He stretched out his arms dramatically.
"Okay," said Crystal. "Your monsters are in the water. Big deal. It's not like they're going to get a bonus from that. There is no rule."
"There is now," said Carter, tapping his forehead. "There's a new tournament going to be held here in November, and it's going to implement some new rules to make the game a little more interesting. And I'm going to take advantage of one of those rules. The Field Power Bonus. This new rule gives monsters a thirty percent increase in their power if the terrain they stand on is favorable."
"I get it!" Patty said with a gasp. "Since Carter's monsters are sea monsters, they get the Field Power Bonus. Now his Jellyfish is way stronger than Yuri's Gilasaurus."
Jellyfish (ATK 1560)
Spiked Seadra (ATK 2080)
"Well played, Carter," Ren complimented. "Just where did you learn these new rules?"
"I know someone who works as an intern for Phobos Corp. I promise the Field Power Bonus is the only new rule he taught me."
"Ooo," Patty hooted. "That special someone wouldn't by any chance be Brandon, would it?"
"Uh..." Carter said, going red.
Yuri rolled his eyes. "Only the best for his 'Little Boy'," he said. "Why doesn't it surprise me that the Field Power Bonus would be the one rule you were quick to adapt to, Carter?"
"I can see why he would," Sam said, punching his hand. "That Field Power Bonus can be deadly if someone knows how to use it. And it looks like Carter has used them well, cuz none of Yuri's dumb dinosaurs stand a chance against those powerful sea monsters. Aw man, I can't wait to use it myself for that big tournament he was talking about."
"ATTACK!" Carter commanded his Spiked Seadra.
At once, his monster started charging his spikes. They sparked with powerful bolts of electricity and glowing bright blue. Spiked Seadra's eyes rolled to the back of its head as it released a stream of lightning that flew up to the sky, then slithered towards Yuri's Uraby. The blast felt so real, so violent, that Yuri felt the need to knock himself backward to avoid it. The numbers on the Life Point meter descended from 2000 to 1420.
"Now, Jellyfish will attack your Gilasaurus!" Carter yelled, continuing with his Battle Phase. The Jellyfish rose out of the water. It, too, summoned volts of electricity from the tips of each of its tentacles. Jellyfish zapped Yuri's Gilasaurus. Yuri's Life Points plummeted to 1160. "You're going to have to play smarter than that, Yuri. Even with your new cards, you still can't even last my first turn without suffering heavy damage to your Life Points. The game changes all the time, and every good Duelist knows you must prepare for any situation."
Sam laughed in his chair, his mouth full of marshmallows. "Hate to break it to ya, Yuri. But Carter's got a point. Even with your Black Tyranno card, you won't be top dog for long. New cards are starting to come with the new packs that make your Black Tyranno not look so tough anymore."
"Go, Yuri!" Crystal cheered. "You've beaten tougher opponents than this."
"Come on, Yuri!" Patty cried, joining in on the cheer. "I don't want to go to the homecoming dance with a loser."
Yuri turned to look at her. "Yeah, that helps." He waved when he spotted Natalya coming down the dunes to join them. "Hey!" he shouted cheerfully. "Where have you been?"
"Sorry," Natalya said, slipping off her backpack. She ran to join them by the water to watch the Duel. "Father made me stay a little longer and I had to shower and get my stuff. Oh, wow! What do we have here? Crystal Anderson? THE Crystal Anderson. I'm a big fan!"
"Nice to meet you," Crystal said, shaking her hand. "Yuri's told me all about you. Glad I can finally get to see you. Going Ivy League, huh? I wish I could. But, as you know, I've got a music and Duel Monsters career to manage."
"Not to mention a bad romance," said Natalya. "I heard about what Mr. Martinetti did at the Dueling Grounds. I'm so sorry."
Patty gave a loud 'humph' and stuck her nose in the air. "Mister is too sophisticated for a scum bag like him. Just call the loser by his name. We all do. Anyways, let's not hold this Duel up any longer. Come on, Yuri. It's your turn."
"Oh, I forgot! I draw! Nothing. I activate Pot of Greed and draw two cards." Yuri frowned when he saw what he got. He had nothing that could match the strength of Carter's Spiked Seadra, but he could defend himself for a little longer until he drew the big monsters. "I set Anthrosaurus in defense mode and set this card face-down. That's it."
"You bet that's it!" sneered Carter. Yuri's innards felt like that got twisted in a knot. If there was one thing he hated about Carter, it was his obnoxious attitude when he was winning.
"Just go!" Yuri said, accidentally letting his frustration out.
"I draw! I activate Polymerization, fusing together Mystic Lamp and Hyosube together to create the all-powerful Roaring Ocean Snake!"
Yuri could not see the monster, just the green fins of its back as it slithered through the surface of the water behind Spiked Seadra. Still, he knew the creature stood strong with an ATK of 2100. With the Field Power Bonus, it meant that the Roaring Ocean Snake was now at 2730, more than enough power to stand a chance against his Black Tyranno.
Carter proceeded to conduct the Normal Summon if his turn. He summoned what was once considered the most feared monster of all the Sea Serpents. The King of the Ocean, the monster was dubbed. Kairyu-Shin. Yuri had seen the monster be used in tournaments recently. He saw the monster's fins slither across the waves, followed by a sky-blue hump. With an ATK of 1800, Kairyu-Shin was no doubt a formidable monster. Yuri gritted his teeth, again remembering that damn Field Power Bonus. Now that meant Kairyu-Shin was standing close to the top of the charts with a whopping 2340 attack points.
Yuri heard Sam laughing behind him. "Oh yeah!" he shouted. "Yuri sure has got this, doesn't he, girls? Look at all those sea monsters Carter has called out. One of them is twice as strong as Yuri's Black Tyranno. Let's face it, Patty. You are going to the dance with a loser. I can take his place if you want."
Patty paid no heed to him. "Come on, Yuri! You can beat him!"
Suddenly, Kairyu-Shin, Spiked Seadra, and Roaring Ocean Snake rose out of the waves. They growled; they roared; they hissed. Roaring Ocean Snake released steam from its nostrils. Their ATK Point displays projected beside them.
2080
2730
2340
Patty gulped when she saw them standing together. The horrid howl of Jellyfish piercing through the calm and beautiful waves made their appearance even more intimidating. "I think," she said. Her reaction caused Sam to fall out of his chair and rolling in the sand laughing.
"I'm impressed, Carter," said Natalya. "For a guy who just started playing, you've sure built yourself a nice deck."
"Why, thank you, Natalya," Carter said, adjusting his glasses. "Now, who will have the honor of taking out Yuri's next monster? Of course! Why not the King of the Ocean himself? Kairyu-Shin, attack his Anthrosaurus."
Kairyu-Shin roared in response. He summoned a massive tidal wave that struck Anthrosaurus and washed it away. Carter then activated a Spell Card called The Inexperienced Spy, which allowed him to see a card in Yuri's hand. He chose one, and Yuri revealed it to be his Earthquake spell.
"Figures," Carter said with a devious chuckle "You always rely on your Earthquake to help Black Tyranno gain you a quick victory. "But he won't be doing any such thing once I activate this card. Sea Lord's Amulet. This Spell Card prevents all WATER monsters from being destroyed or affected by your card effects. Summon Black Tyranno if you want, Yuri but I'll wipe you out before you even get the chance."
Unfortunately for Carter, he boasted way too soon, for Yuri did summon his Black Tyranno. Yuri then equipped Black Tyranno with a new card. Axe of Despair, which raised Black Tyranno's attack by 1000.
The fiendish-looking axe fell down from the sky and landed on Black Tyranno's back. He roared when it felt the fell power of the axe surge through his body. His eyes were glowing bright red. He shooked his head violently and attacked Jellyfish by stomping on it, dealing 2040 damage to him and ending the game with just one powerful attack. Carter's serpents vanished. Black Tyranno roared into the twilight sky and vanished.
"Raarrrr!" Sam mocked him, sticking up his little arms.
Crystal jumped out of her seat and clapped. "That's my Yuri! Always finds a way to change the tide. Uh...no offense Carter."
Carter laughed, rubbing the back of his head. "Well, serves me right for counting my chickens so quickly. Good game, Yuri."
"Don't worry about it, Carter," Yuri said, happily. "Now, I don't know about you, but I'm feeling quite hungry right now. Tyson, are you going to cook up those burgers we bought, or what?"
Wasting no time, Tyson ran for the grill to start cooking. As Yuri walked back to their stool, he took off his Duel Disk and gave it to Ren, who wanted a turn against Carter. He felt a soft hand place itself on his shoulder. He looked to see who it was. Crystal was beaming at him.
"That was amazing," she said. "A little overkill, but still cool nonetheless. I see you're opening more packs and making use of that Gold Series box I gave you."
"I appreciate that," said Yuri. "Say, you wouldn't by any chance gave me some money did you?"
Crystal shook her head. "Why?" she asked.
"Oh," Yuri replied. "It's...well...Nah. It's nothing. Come on. Let's cook some of those burgers before Ren and Carter have their Duel."
Crystal's smile grew even wider. "Best idea I heard all night."