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CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
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Desert Sunlight
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When you think of old stories, you can't get much older, than the Arabian Nights, a collection of stories that date back to the 14th Century, which supposedly originated in Persia but have Indian influences.
The stories are bound by a common thread, involving the Sultan Shahryar. After his first wife is unfaithful to him, he has her executed, but the experience causes him to hate women, believing them all to be unfaithful. He thus goes on to marry a succession of versions, only to have them executed the night after.
Things change after the vizier's daughter, a beautiful (and clearly very smart) girl named Scheherazade volunteers to marry him. On their wedding night, she tells him a story, but does not finish it. Anxious to hear the ending, Shahryar postpones her execution. The next night, she finishes the story but begins a new one, again not finishing it. This goes on, night after night.
The stories vary widely. They depict genies, magic, and legendary places, and are often intermingled with real people and geography, not always rationally. Common protagonists include the caliph Harun al-Rashid, his vizier, Ja'far al-Barmaki, and his court poet Abu Nuwas, despite the fact that these figures lived about two centuries after the fall of the Persian Empire in which core story is set.
This goes on for a thousand and one nights. In the meantime, Shahryar has children with Scheherazade, and she remains faithful to him. He realizes he has fallen in love with her, and grants her a pardon.
What does this have to do with me? The game of Duel Monsters spans every nation, and the legends of all those nations. I'm up against a Shadowkind who might have appeared in one of Scheherazade's stories himself, and who uses cards that may have been inspired by them.
And now… The Limit Reverse test has begun…
Jinx drove slowly down the street with Ember jogging behind her. She heard Ember panting for breath.
She slowly stopped. She pulled up in front of a place called Taste of the Tropics Juice Bar.
"Want to take a break, Ember?" she asked.
Ember caught her breath, and nodded.
Jinx turned on the security device on her D-Wheel, and dismounted. They both walked into the juice bar, whose décor was made to resemble a tropical paradise.
As they did so, someone by a jukebox watched them enter. He grinned.
He reached into his pocket, and took out a one-hundred yen coin. He dropped it in the jukebox, and made a selection.
As Jinx and Ember walked up to the bar, the music started to play. It was an old song by They Might Be Giants called "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)".
Jinx noticeably cringed when it started.
"I take it you don't like this song?" asked Ember.
"I used to like it," muttered Jinx. "But it was the favorite song of a guy I really, really don't like…"
"You called?" said a voice behind them.
They turned, and saw a very tall, very muscular, intimidating man. He was bald, with a short goatee, and had slate blue eyes. He was dressed in a navy blue business suit.
"What are you doing in a place like this, Omar?" asked Jinx, with a scowl.
"I own it," said the man. "I had some money put away, so I invested it in this little place. And I'm doing good business too. Summer is a great time for kids buying fruit smoothies."
"How nice…" scowled Jinx. "Ember… Let's go somewhere else…"
"Please, please!" protested Omar. "How could I turn you away after all we've been through, Jinx?
"Now I insist… Order whatever you like… It's on me."
Jinx growled a little as he grinned and turned away, but she sat down at the bar.
"He's a Shadow, right?" asked Ember.
Jinx nodded.
"He's a djinn," replied Jinx. "A type of genie of elemental wind. His kind are known for their enormous egos."
"I take it there's some bad blood between you two?" asked Ember.
Jinx's voice sank to a whisper.
"This is all off the record, because it was never proven," she said. "He was going to be my biggest bust, just three months after I officially became a Shadowchaser.
"You see, he used to be the biggest fence in Neo Domino. He wasn't the type who'd deal stolen car stereos or watches. He dealt in fine art and jewelry… No matter how hot an item was, he'd find a buyer.
"I spent two weeks hunting him down, and then closed in to get him…"
"So what happened?" asked Ember.
"He surrendered!" exclaimed Jinx. "Gave up without a fight. But the thing is, he knew I was coming all along, and got rid of the most damning evidence. I couldn't arrest him for fencing the most valuable things that had gone through his hands… The only charge I could make stick was some lesser charge that he later plea bargained so that he'd be out of jail in two months.
"That guy more than likely made billions of yen by trafficking stolen goods, and he practically got away with it."
"Hmm," said Omar's voice behind them. "I can see that my customers aren't happy… What's wrong, Jinx? I offer you a free smoothie, and I still can't make you smile? Some things never change…"
Jinx turned around, and saw that Omar was wearing a Duel Disk now.
"So, you do duel," she said.
Omar chuckled.
"I know you were expecting a duel way back when," he replied. "I was so sorry I had to disappoint you… Why don't we make it up now? You and me, no strings attached?"
Jinx looked around.
The bar was crowded, and several of the customers were Shadowkind. They likely knew that she was a Shadowchaser.
She wasn't stupid. She saw through Omar's plan. He wanted to duel her and win, so that he could prove he was better than she was. Defeat her so he could laugh in her face again.
Two can play at that game, Omar, she said.
"Sorry, Omar," she said, "I'm not one to duel for someone's amusement…
"But… I'm pretty sure that Ember might be willing to duel you?"
"Eh?" said Ember.
"Limit Reverse…"whispered Jinx.
Omar chuckled.
"Taking students now, Jinx?" he said. "You must have gotten somewhat better…"
Ember sighed. She stood up.
Jinx held her by the shoulders.
"Be careful now," she whispered. "Remember the conditions… "
Her voice sank to a whisper.
"And even if you can't, try to win anyway. The last thing we need to do is feed his ego even more."
Ember stood up to the large djinn. Her Disk activated.
"All right, buddy," she said. "I'm gonna blow you away!"
"Duel!" they both said.
(Ember: 8,000) - - - - - - - - - - (Omar: 8,000)
"The first move is yours," said Omar, narrowing his eyes.
Ember drew a card, and then looked at the six cards in her hand. Then she looked at Omar.
So, what can I expect from this guy? he thought. He is a wind spirit of some sort… But Harpies wouldn't exactly be a genie's style…
She chose two cards from her hand.
"I set a card facedown, and then summon Tenkabito Shien," she said.
In a bonfire of flame, Shien appeared astride his fiery horse. (1,500 ATK) Then a facedown card appeared behind him.
"It's your move."
"Then I draw!" exclaimed Omar.
"I will summon…" he said.
He threw a card on his Disk.
"Arabian Camel!"
There was a gust of wind, and a large dromedary camel with a colorful, decorated saddle on its hump appeared in front of him. (1,600 ATK)
"Here's a useful bit of trivia if you ever want to travel in Saudi Arabia," he continued. "Camels are, like all herd animals, herbivores. However, they have nasty tempers. Make one angry, and it will attack with the ferocity of a wild wolf.
"But anyway… I now play the Spell Card, Creature Swap."
"Uh, you positive you want to do that?" asked Ember, as the Spell Card appeared. "You do realize that your Monster is stronger than mine, right?"
"Yes, I am positive," said Omar.
"Whatever you say," replied Ember, as Shien and the Camel switched places.
"Next," continued Omar, "I play another Spell Card, a Continuous one called Arabian Palace."
As he played the card, a large, golden palace of Persian architecture appeared behind him.
"I should point out at this point the useful effect that Arabian Camel has," he continued. "If an opposing player uses any card with the word 'Arabian' in its name, such as Arabian Palace, he takes control of it."
"You mean…" gasped Ember.
"That's right…" said Omar. "I'll take back my Camel now…"
Arabian Camel vanished, and reappeared back on Omar's side of the field.
"And as for what the Palace actually does, it gives all Monsters with the word "Arabian' in their names 300 more Attack Points, and moves all Monsters on the field to Attack Mode."
Arabian Camel glowed with golden light. (1,900 ATK)
"I'm not sure what your facedown card is, but I happen to know that Shien is immune to Trap Cards. So… Shien… Attack her directly!"
Shien galloped forward towards Ember, and she screamed in pain as he slashed at her with his flaming nodachi.
"Now my Beast attacks as well," continued Omar.
Arabian Camel snorted, and rushed at Ember.
"I'll bet your Camel isn't immune to Traps!" shouted Ember. "Activate Draining Shield!"
Her facedown card shot up, and the Camel slammed its hooves into an invisible shield.
Ember breathed a sigh of relief.
"In that case, young lady," said Omar, "I end my turn."
(E: 8,400) - - - - - - - - - - (O: 8,000)
Well, at least he's polite, thought Ember. Maybe he comes from some royal house in some sultanate somewhere…
She drew a card.
"I play… Mystical Space Typhoon!" she shouted.
She played the card, and the cyclone blew across the field, blowing Arabian Palace to shards. The Camel fell down to its original Attack Score.
"Now, I'll summon a herd animal of my own…" she said. "Great Angus!"
She quickly played the card, and a large, muscular, flaming creature with the head of a tusked, hornless steer appeared. (1,800 ATK)
"Angus steer are known for their steaks, but with this one, cook it before it cooks you!
"Attack his camel! Flaming rage!"
Great Angus roared, and blasted a cone of flame from its jaws. The Camel bellowed, and then shattered into pixels.
Omar frowned.
(E: 8,400) - - - - - - - - - - (O: 7,800)
"It's my move…" he said, drawing a card.
He looked at it.
"I'll set a Monster, and then move Tenkabito Shien to Defense Mode."
A set Monster appeared, and Shien sheathed his sword. (1,000 DEF)
"It is your move."
Okay, be careful, Ember, thought Ember, as she drew a card. Don't forget, you have to reduce his Life Points to exactly zero. No more…
"I summon Molten Zombie," she said.
She played another card, and the hunched over, decayed Pyro appeared. (1,600 ATK)
"Sorry, Shien," she said, "but you're either with me, or you're against me."
Molten Zombie blew its cloud of flame, and Shien was vaporized.
"Great Angus, take out the other Monster!"
Angus blew its own breath weapon. Another camel, this one with three humps, appeared on the card before it was blown to shards.
"Good grief," exclaimed Ember, "are all your Monsters beasts of burden?"
"That was a 3-Hump Lacooda," replied Omar. "Technically, camels with three humps do not exist, and ones with two, called Bactrian camels, are not found in Saudi Arabia. But, I have a weakness for certain cards.
"You'll see just what it can do later."
"It's still my turn," said Ember, "and I'm removing Tenkabito Shien from play in order to Special Summon Inferno in Defense Mode."
The card slipped out of her discard slot, and Inferno appeared, crouching in defense. (1,900 DEF)
"That's all for me."
Omar drew a card.
"I will summon Arabian Mercenary!" he exclaimed.
A gust of wind blew onto the field, and a tall man in black robes, turban, and a veil covering the lower half of his face appeared in front of Omar. He held a long, sharp scimitar. (2,000 ATK)
Okay, there's gotta be a catch here… thought Ember.
"Destroy Molten Zombie!" commanded Omar. "Assassin's strike!"
The Mercenary made a slash with his blade, and Molten Zombie burst into a cloud of cinders.
"Now, I'll pay 500 Life Points for the attack," continued Omar.
Oh, thought Ember.
"That's all for now…" said Omar.
(E: 8,000) - - - - - - - - - - (O: 7,300)
Ember slowly drew a card.
"I'll set a Monster, and then move Great Angus to Defense Mode," she said.
A set Monster appeared, and then Great Angus knelt and shielded itself. (600 DEF)
"That's all I can do."
"Then it's my move…" said Omar, with a chuckle.
He looked at the Trap Card.
"I sacrifice my Mercenary…"
Arabian Mercenary vanished in a whirlwind of dust and sand.
"To summon Arabian Vizier!"
Another man of noticeably Arabian origins appeared where the Mercenary had been. This one was older, and wore decorated, rich clothing and jewelry. Clearly, he was one of the nobility of the Persian Empire. He held a large kopesh sword. (2,000 ATK)
"Hold on, time out!" shouted Ember. "I've never even heard of these Arabian cards!"
"They're perfectly legit," said Omar. "When Pegasus was designing his game, his desire to create knew no boundaries.
"He traveled the world, exploring the legends of every culture and civilization he could find, searching for ideas for new and wonderful cards. And while doing research in a library in Saudi Arabia, an old version of The Arabian Nights caught his eye, inspiring him to create this series of cards.
"For now… My Vizier attacks Inferno!"
The Vizier brought his sword down on the large, fiery creature, and it burst into an explosion of flames.
"It is your move…"
Ember sighed, and drew a card. She looked at it.
"I pass," she said. "There's not much I can do."
"Suit yourself," said Omar, as he reached for his deck.
He paused.
"Actually, I'm not going to draw," he said, taking his deck from the holder. "You see, with my Vizier on the field, I can forfeit my Draw Phase to instead search for any Monster with the word 'Arabian' in its name."
He looked through his deck until he found what he wanted. He looked at the Level 8 Monster and made a small smirk. Then he shuffled his deck.
"Continuing," he said, "I set two reversed cards…"
Two facedown cards appeared.
"Then I Equip my Vizier with Arabian Carpet."
He played another card, and a decorated, flying carpet appeared in mid-air. The Vizier climbed onto it.
"This Equip Spell lets my Monster attack directly, so long as I cut his Attack Points in half."
Arabian Vizier flew into the air on his carpet, right over Ember's Monsters. Then, he dive-bombed, his Attack Score fell to 1,000, and he slashed at her with his sword, knocking her over.
"It's your move," said Omar, with a grin.
(E: 7,000) - - - - - - - - - - (O: 7,300)
Ember made a draw.
Then she smiled.
"I sacrifice my facedown Monster…" she said.
Her reversed Monster vanished.
"…to summon Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch!"
In a bonfire of flames, Thestalos appeared with a roar. (2,400 ATK)
"Not him!" gasped Omar.
"Now," said Ember, "one card in your hand is destroyed, and if it's a Monster, you lose Life Points equal to its Level times 100.
"And since you only have one card in your hand…"
That one card appeared in front of Omar. It was a Level 8 Monster called Arabian Sultan. Omar groaned as it shattered.
"You'll pay for that…" he growled.
"We'll soon see," said Ember. "I move Great Angus back to Attack Mode."
Great Angus stood back up. (1,800 ATK)
"Thestalos, fricassee his Vizier!"
Thestalos shot a wave of super-hot flames from his hand, and Arabian Vizier groaned before exploding into pixels.
"And I'm not done with you yet! Great Angus, teach that crook a lesson! Attack him directly!"
Omar hollered as Great Angus blew a cone of flames at him, knocking him down.
(E: 7,000) - - - - - - - - - - (O: 4,300)
Omar slowly got up.
"Calling me a crook, are we?" he asked, with a hint of anger in his voice. "You folks wouldn't want a slander lawsuit on your hands, would you?"
"Go ahead," said Jinx, speaking up. "Jalal has excellent lawyers."
"So, what are you gonna do now?" asked Ember, putting her hands on her hips. "Those two facedown cards of yours apparently can't stop an attack, and you have no cards in your hand."
"That will change soon," replied Omar. "It's my move!"
He drew a card.
This will be useful, he thought, looking at it.
One of his facedown cards lifted up.
"I activate Limit Reverse," he said. "Now, I can bring back a Monster from my Graveyard, so long as its Attack Score isn't more than 1,000. So I'm bringing back 3-Hump Lacooda."
In a flash of light, the three-humped camel appeared. (500 ATK)
"Next," he said, as his second facedown card lifted, "I activate Inferno Reckless Summon. I can now summon my other two copies of 3-Hump Lacooda."
Two more Lacoodas appeared. Ember scowled. She didn't have another copy of either of her two Monsters to summon.
"Now I activate my Lacoodas' effect," continued Omar. One 3-Hump Lacooda can't do anything, but when I have three of them on the field, I can sacrifice two of them to draw three cards."
Two of the three Beasts vanished. (Omar was careful to sacrifice the one that was summoned with Limit Reverse along with another one.) He made three draws and looked at the three cards.
"I next play Monster Gate," he said, playing a Spell Card. "First, I sacrifice my last Lacooda."
The final Lacooda vanished.
"Then, I pick up cards from my deck until I reach a Monster, and then I summon it."
He picked up one card, and then another. The third one was a Monster.
"I summon Arabian Thief in Defense Mode," he said.
A seedy-looking highwayman, dressed in makeshift clothes and a turban, holding a long knife appeared. He crouched and shielded himself. (900 DEF)
"Next, I'm summoning this Warrior in Attack Mode," he said, taking a card from his hand. "Arabian Guide."
He played another card, and a weather-beaten man with leathery skin, dressed in travel clothing and a white turban, holding a walking staff appeared. (700 ATK)
"Arabian Guide knows the routes to secret places and mystic sites," continued Omar. "To wit, when he's summoned in Attack Mode, I get to take a specific Field Spell from my deck."
He took what he wanted from his deck, and then reshuffled.
"Next, I play the Spell Card, Double Summon," he said, as another Spell Card appeared. "Now I get a second Normal Summon. And I think I'll use it to set a Monster."
He set a card on his Disk, and a reversed Monster appeared.
"And with that, I end my turn."
He didn't use that Field Spell, thought Ember. What's he up to?
She drew a card.
"I summon Familiar-Possessed Hiita!" she explained.
She played the card, and Hiita appeared, spinning her flaming, ruby-tipped staff. Her fox leapt up in front of her. (1,850 ATK)
"Thestalos, destroy his Guide!"
The Firestorm Monarch shot his wave of fire, and Arabian Guide was burned to a cinder.
"ERGH!" grunted Omar.
"Ember, be careful!" urged Jinx.
She lowered her voice.
"Remember…" she said.
"I'm… working on it," said Ember.
I just have to draw the right Monster, she thought. In the meantime…
"Hiita, take out Arabian Thief!"
Hiita blasted a bolt of flame from her staff, and the Thief was incinerated.
"Now, Great Angus, destroy his last Monster!"
Great Angus exhaled a cone of flame again. Crouching on the card was a portly, bearded man, wearing white robes and a turban. (2,000 DEF)
The flames simply bounced off.
"You activated the Flip-Effect of my Arabian Merchant," said Omar. "Now, I get to take a specific Equip Spell from my deck."
He got what he wanted from his deck, and then reshuffled.
Ember looked at her other three cards.
She placed one in her Disk, and a reversed card appeared.
"Mmm!" she said.
(E: 6,800) - - - - - - - - - - (O: 2,600)
"I draw one card," said Omar.
He made a draw.
He quickly placed it in his Disk, and it appeared facedown.
"I end my turn."
Ember drew a card.
He couldn't have been lucky enough to draw a Mirror Force at right that moment, she thought.
"Thestalos, attack his Merchant!" she shouted.
Thestalos blasted his fire again.
"Not so fast!" said Omar, as his facedown card flipped up. "I activate Shield Spear!"
A large shield with a spear blade in the center appeared in the Merchant's hand.
"This increases both his Attack and Defense Scores by 400, so it seems that the battle will be a draw."
The Merchant's Defense rose to 2,400, and the blast of fire simply glanced off of his shield.
Ember took another card from her hand.
"I'll set a Monster," she said, "and that will be all."
"My move, then," said Omar, making a draw.
"Hmm…" he said.
He took another card from his hand.
"First, I set this card," he said.
A reversed card appeared behind the Merchant.
"Then, I sacrifice my Merchant…"
Arabian Merchant vanished in another whirlwind of dust.
"…to summon Arabian Charmer."
A new Arabian Warrior appeared. This one was an old man, dressed only in a ragged pair of trousers and an old turban. He carried a very elaborate-looking instrument that looked like a flute made out of a gourd. (1,700 ATK)
Okay… thought Ember, a high-Level Monster that weak likely has a powerful effect.
"Next," said Omar, as the Field Slot on his Disk opened, "I play this… Cave of the Arabians!"
With the same dramatics that heralded any Field Spell, the backdrop of the whole room changed. They were transported to the interior of a large, cavernous grotto, filled with gold, jewels, and precious things, arranged in urns and caskets.
"I… know this place…" said Ember.
"Certainly you've read the tale of 'Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves'," replied Omar. "The story of how a woodcutter named Ali Baba discovers this cave… The lair of a group of bandits who not only rob and steal, but also command dark magic.
"And as for what this Field Spell does, it grants every Monster with the word 'Arabian' in its name 200 more Attack Points."
Arabian Charmer glowed with golden energy. (1,900 ATK)
"Plus, neither player is allowed to make direct attacks… Under most conditions."
"Under most conditions?" asked Ember.
Be careful, Ember… thought Jinx. It's his card, and I'm sure he knows the exceptions to that rule…
"For now," continued Omar. "My Charmer will attack your facedown Monster."
The Charmer played a shrilling note on his flute. The card shuddered, and then Morphing Jar appeared on it, and was blasted to dust.
"I thought so," continued Omar. "Now we must discard all the cards in our hands, and draw five more."
Omar had no cards to discard. Ember, on the other hand, discarded two, Spirit or Flames and Double Attack. Both of them made two draws.
"Very well," said Omar, looking at his five cards. "I will now play… Pot of Avarice."
He played the card, and took all three 3-Hump Lacoodas, Arabian Mercenary, and Arabian Thief from his Graveyard. He reshuffled them into his deck, and made two draws.
"I'll set one more card, and end my turn."
A second reversed card appeared next to the other one.
Ember quickly drew a sixth card.
Martyr's Flame? she thought. How would that work if he can't make direct attacks?
I'll figure it out later…
"I summon Flame Ruler," she said.
She played the card, and the fiery Pyro in the decorated jacket appeared. (1,500 ATK)
"Thestalos," she exclaimed, "attack his Charmer!"
Thestalos shot a blast of flame again.
"Not this time!" shouted Omar, as a facedown card shot up. "I activate Sakuretsu Armor!"
Thestalos groaned, and then shattered into shards.
"Ho boy…" said Ember. "I'll just move Angus and Hiita to Defense Mode, and that will end my turn."
Great Angus knelt and crossed its arms. (400 DEF) Hiita knelt, and held her staff in her lap. Her fox curled up by her feet. (1,500 DEF)
"I draw!" exclaimed Omar.
He whipped a card off of his deck.
"I play The Warrior Returning Alive," he said, as a Spell Card appeared. "Now, I get to retrieve a Warrior from my Graveyard."
A card slipped out of his discard slot.
"Remember this guy?"
"He's Level 8," said Ember. "You need two sacrifices to summon him, and you only have one."
"That's where my Charmer comes in," replied Omar. "I can activate his effect, simply by tossing one card."
He discarded a card, Gozen Match, and the Charmer started to play a haunting melody. Then, two large cobras appeared next to him. (800 ATK x2)
"He can summon these two Snake Tokens," continued Omar. "Next, I sacrifice both of them…"
The two Snake Tokens vanished in other burst of wind.
"…to summon my Arabian Sultan!"
In another large whirlwind, a new Arabian Monster appeared. He resembled the Vizier at first glance, but his clothes were even finer, he had even more jewelry, and he wore a crown over his turban. While the Vizier was nobility, this Warrior was clearly royalty. (2,500 ATK) –) (2,700 ATK)
"Uh, impressive…" said Ember.
"Wait until you see his effect," said Omar. "Sultans tend to be very rich, and since they have a lot of enemies, they spend their wealth to protect themselves. They always have a few bodyguards nearby. In game terms, I can now Special Summon two Arabian Monsters from my hand.
"So, I'll first summon my Mercenary again."
In a gust of wind, Mercenary appeared again. (2,000 ATK) –) (2,200 ATK)
"And also… Arabian Girl."
In another gust of wind, a young woman dressed in a green harem girl outfit appeared next to the other three Warriors. (1,300/900) –) (1,500/900)
"Of special note is Arabian Girl's effect," continued Omar. "She gains 200 more Attack Points for each Arabian Monster in my Graveyard. And since I have three of them there right now…"
(2,100 ATK)
"Next, I play The A. Forces," he continued, as a Continuous Spell Card appeared. "This grants each of my Warriors 200 Attack Points for each Warrior present. So they each gain 800 Attack Points."
The Charmer rose to an Attack Score of 2,700, the Mercenary to 3,000, the Girl to 2,900, and the Sultan to 3,500.
"Now, my facedown card," he said, as his facedown card lifted. "The Equip Spell, Arabian Saber. This gives the user 500 more Attack Points. That bonus is going to Arabian Girl."
A scimitar appeared in the Girl's hand. (3,400 ATK)
At least they can't attack directly… thought Ember.
Can they?
"I play one more Spell Card," said Omar, as another Spell appeared.
"Arabian Password! Open Simsim!"
With a rumble, the back wall of the cave opened, revealing a passage to the outside.
"I thought that the password to this cave was 'Open Sesame'," replied Ember.
"Heh, heh, heh," chuckled Omar. "That is a mistake that is often made when the story is translated into English. The true password is 'Open Simsim', simsim being the plant from which the sesame seed comes from.
"And what my Spell Card does is, for this round only, negate the prohibition on direct attacks."
"Ember!" gasped Jinx, getting up.
"Arabian Girl, the Flame Ruler is yours," said Omar.
Even though she was wearing a gossamer veil, it was easy to see that she was smiling. She leapt at Flame Ruler, and slashed at him with her saber. He fell backwards and shattered.
"Ergh…" groaned Ember.
Then the Charmer blasted the same shrill note on his pipe, blowing Hiita to shards. Arabian Mercenary drew his sword, and slashed at Great Angus, cutting it in two.
"I now have to pay 500 Life Points for the Mercenary's attack," continued Omar.
"Sultan… Direct attack!"
Arabian Sultan's eyes glowed with green energy. Then he fired bolts of lightning from his fingertips, hitting Ember squarely. She screamed, and fell down on her rump.
(E: 1,400) - - - - - - - - - - (O: 2,100)
"Well…" said Omar. "I guess I have to end my turn…"
Ember held her chest as she got up. Her hand shook as she drew a card.
Then her facedown card lifted up.
"I activate my own Pot of Avarice, pal," she said.
She quickly took Inferno, Spirit of Flames, Great Angus, Thestalos, and Familiar-Possessed Hiita from her Graveyard, shuffled them into her deck, and drew two cards.
"I set a Monster, and then throw down four facedown cards," she said.
A set Monster appeared, and then four reversed cards flashed into existence.
"That's my turn."
"Four reversed cards?" laughed Omar. "Meh… Odds are they're all bluffs…
"I activate the other effect of Arabian Saber… If I sacrifice a Monster during my Main Phase, the Monster using it may disregard the effect of Cave of the Arabians and attack directly during the Battle Phase.
"So, I sacrifice Mercenary."
Arabian Mercenary vanished.
"And don't forget, with each Arabian in my Graveyard, my Girl gets stronger."
Arabian Girl fell to an Attack Score of 3,200, but increased to 3,400 again.
"All right!" said Omar. "Sultan… Obliterate her last Monster!"
The Sultan fired his bolts of lightning at the card. A monkey with fiery hair on its head and wrists appeared on the card before it was blown to pieces.
"That was my Flamvell Paun," said Ember, taking her deck from its holder. "And when it's destroyed in battle, I get to search my deck for any Monster with a Defense Score of exactly 200."
Omar gave her a look.
"Just how many Monsters fit the bill?" he asked.
Ember got what she wanted, and then reshuffled.
"Admittedly not many," she said, "but most of the Flamvell Monsters do, and that's what matters."
"It won't matter in a minute," said Omar. "When I heard about that effect, I thought you were searching for Kuriboh… But anyway…
"Arabian Girl, attack her directly!"
Arabian Girl lifted her sword, and leapt at Ember.
"Go, facedown cards!" shouted Ember, as two of her reversed cards shot up.
"First, Dust Tornado! I'll use it to wipe out The A. Forces!"
The Tornado shot across the field, and the Spell Card was blown to pieces. All three of Omar's Monsters lost 600 Attack Points.
"Now, Emergency Provisions!"
Her other facedown card glowed, and her Dust Tornado, Martyr's Flame, and Prepare to Strike Back all vanished into grains of light.
Then she cringed as the Girl's sword slammed into her.
"Close but no cigar, pal," she said, holding her chest and gasping for breath. "I gained 3,000 Life Points just before your Monster attacked."
"Ergh…" muttered Omar. "I end my turn!"
(E: 1,600) - - - - - - - - - - (O: 2,100)
"Getting frustrated now, are we?" asked Ember, making a draw.
She looked at the card.
"I play Monster Reborn!" she shouted. "Flame Ruler, return!"
Flame Ruler appeared in a fiery burst. (1,500 ATK)
"Now, I sacrifice him…"
Flame Ruler vanished.
"…to summon Infernal Flame Emperor!"
In an inferno of flames, the king of Pyros appeared in front of Ember, and let out a mighty roar. (2,700 ATK)
"Now, I use his effect," continued Ember. "For each Fire Monster in my Graveyard that I remove from play, I can destroy one Spell or Trap Card."
Flamvell Paun and Great Angus slipped out of her discard slot, and she pocketed them. The Saber in Arabian Girl's hand was blown to pieces, and Cave of the Arabians around them crumbled into a pile of shards. Both the Sultan and the Charmer fell to their original Attack Scores of 2,500 and 1,700, respectively, while Arabian Girl fell to 2,300.
"Omar, your Arabian Girl is clearly a bad girl," said Ember with a grin, "and I'm going to punish her.
Arabian Girl simply bowed her head…
Infernal Flame Emperor threw a ball of flames, and she was incinerated. Omar looked at Ember with a scowl.
(E: 1,600) - - - - - - - - - - (O: 1,700)
"It's your move, Omar," said Ember. "Looks like we can wrap this up soon."
I hope… she thought. I need to draw the right card, or I won't pass the test!
Omar made a draw.
"No choice!" he exclaimed. "I have to move both my Monsters to Defense Mode, and hope for the best!"
The Charmer sat in the lotus position and held his flute in his lap. (1,800 DEF) The Sultan knelt and crossed his arms over his chest. (1,400 DEF)
"My move," said Ember, drawing a card.
Got it! she thought, looking at it.
"I play… Fire Back," she said, as a Spell Card appeared. "Now, by sending one Fire Monster from my hand to the Graveyard…"
She discarded Flamvell Archer, the card she gotten with the Paun's effect.
"…I can Special Summon another Fire Monster from it. So I'm bringing back Molten Zombie."
Molten Zombie appeared in another burst of flames. (1,600 ATK)
"Now I get to draw one card," she said, making a draw.
"Next, I summon Blue Flame Swordsman!"
In another flaming burst, the blue-armored twin of Flame Swordsman appeared. (1,800 ATK)
Jinx got up. NOW she saw Ember's strategy.
"Now, I use Blue Flame Swordsman's effect," continued Ember. "I reduce his Attack Points by 100, and give them to Molten Zombie."
Blue Flame Swordsman's Attack Score fell to 1,700, while Molten Zombie rose to 1,700.
"Eh?" said Omar.
"Molten Zombie," ordered Ember, "take out his Sultan!"
Molten Zombie breathed its cloud of flames, and the Sultan groaned before going up in smoke.
"Emperor, you next."
Infernal Flame Emperor hurled a ball of fire, and Arabian Charmer was incinerated.
"Now, Blue Flame Swordsman, attack him directly and finish him off! Flaming sword of battle!"
The Swordsman charged, and struck Omar with his blade, knocking him backwards and over. He fell on his back.
(E: 1,600) - - - - - - - - - - (O: 0)
Ember lifted her arms in triumph.
Success! she thought.
As she thought this, Jinx caught her in a hug.
"You did it again, Ember!" she laughed. "I don't know how you keep doing it, but you keep doing it!"
"I don't know how either…" said Ember. "So… I guess now I'm ready to do the Rite of Passage?"
"We'll… talk about that later," said Jinx. "For now, Omar promised us some free smoothies, which I don't believe we've gotten yet…
"Aw, heck, forget smoothies… This calls for chocolate malteds!"
Omar groaned.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
After drinking two malteds apiece, Jinx and Ember walked outside the juice bar, feeling more satisfied than they were in a long time.
"So, once we digest it," said Jinx, "we can go back to the townhouse, and I can finally start teaching you with a real sword. You've earned it, Ember. I wouldn't be surprised if Jalal hasn't made plans to forge you one already…"
Then she noticed that Ember was looking up.
Three black balloons were floating down.
"Huh?" said Jinx.
Then they all burst. The two of them covered their heads.
Ember frowned, and picked up something that they had dropped.
It looked like a business card. On the front was a symbol: a golden letter D inlaid with diamonds.
"The symbol of the DaPen Syndicate…" muttered Jinx.
She turned the card around. On the back was the name of a business. Makira Fish Processing.
"A fish cannery?" asked Ember.
"The past returns," said Jinx. "In America, an old stereotype about the New York mob was that they controlled the fish business.
"It seems that DaPen might want to challenge us in a place where organized crime traditionally has power."
"So are you going?" asked Ember.
Jinx looked at Ember.
"Yes, and you're coming with me this time," she replied.
"HUH?" said Ember.
"I can't keep you sheltered forever," said Jinx. "I think it's time you got serious. You'll come to assist me."
"I thought you'd never ask!" exclaimed Ember.
The two of them mounted Jinx's bike, and they started it up, heading downtown towards the docks.
Jinx meant well, but we were about to enter a dangerous situation. Jinx was the target of two assassins who were waiting at that cannery, who had orders to kill her. DaPen had decided that it was time for a true show of his might, and he would resort to more lethal methods. Why wouldn't he? He had a lot of blood on his hands, and killing a Shadowchaser wouldn't change much.
Fortunately, Jinx wasn't going in clueless. But if I hadn't come along, there's no telling what might have happened…
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ARABIAN MERCENARY (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Wind
Level: 4
ATK: 2,000
DEF: 800
Card Description: This card cannot attack your opponent directly. When this card attacks, pay 500 Life Points after the damage step.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ARABIAN THIEF (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Wind
Level: 2
ATK: 500
DEF: 900
Card Description: When this card attacks directly, look at your opponent's hand. Select one card from his/her hand and discard it to the Graveyard.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ARABIAN GUIDE (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Wind
Level: 2
ATK: 700
DEF: 800
Card Description: When this card is Normal Summoned in Attack Position, search your deck for one "Cave of the Arabians" and add it to your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ARABIAN CHARMER (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Wind
Level: 5
ATK: 1,700
DEF: 1,800
Card Description: When you control this card, you may discard one card from your hand to Special Summon 2 "Snake Tokens" (Reptile/Wind/Level 3/800 ATK/0 DEF) in Attack Position. You cannot have more than 2 "Snake Tokens" on the field at one time. "Snake Tokens" cannot be Tributed except to Tribute Summon an "Arabian" Monster.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ARABIAN VIZIER (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Wind
Level: 6
ATK: 2,000
DEF: 1,000
Card Description: When you control this card, during your Draw Phase, you may add one "Arabian" Monster from your deck to your hand instead of drawing a card. Then, shuffle your deck.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ARABIAN GIRL (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Wind
Level: 3
ATK: 1,300
DEF: 900
Card Description: This card gains 200 Attack Points for each "Arabian" Monster in your Graveyard.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ARABIAN MERCHANT (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Wind
Level: 3
ATK: 600
DEF: 2,000
Card Description: Flip: Search your deck for one "Arabian Saber" and add it to your hand. You may not use the searched-for card in the same turn. Then, shuffle your deck.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ARABIAN CAMEL (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type: Beast/Effect
Attribute: Wind
Level: 4
ATK: 1,600
DEF: 1,400
Card Description: This card gains 300 Attack Points for each face-up "Arabian" Monster you control except this one. If the opponent of the controller of this card plays a card with the word "Arabian" in its name, control of this card shifts to the control of its controller's opponent. (If the opponent does not have a free space in his Monster Zone at the time, this card is destroyed.)
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ARABIAN SULTAN (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Wind
Level: 8
ATK: 2,500
DEF: 1,400
Card Description: When this card is Tribute Summoned, you may Special Summon up to two "Arabian" Monsters from your hand, except for an "Arabian Sultan".
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CAVE OF THE ARABIANS (Spell Card)
Field Spell
Image: The interior of a cave, full of chests and pots overflowing with gold.
Card Description: "Arabian" Monsters gain 200 Attack Points. Neither player may make direct attacks.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ARABIAN PASSWORD (Spell Card)
Normal Spell
Image: A man in a turban chanting outside a cliff wall.
Card Description: Activate only if a player controls a face-up "Cave of the Arabians". During the turn this card is activated, you may disregard the effect of "Cave of the Arabians" that prohibits direct attacks.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ARABIAN PALACE (Spell Card)
Continuous Spell
Image: A beautiful Arabian-style palace made of gold.
Card Description: All "Arabian" Monsters gain 300 Attack Points. All face-up Defense Position Monsters are switched to Attack Position, and cannot be switched to Defense Position, except with a card effect.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ARABIAN SABER (Spell Card)
Equip Spell
Image: Arabian Mercenary drawing a curved blade from his belt.
Card Description: Equip only to an "Arabian" Monster. Increase the ATK of the Equipped Monster by 500. If a player controls a face-up "Cave of the Arabians", the Equipped Monster may disregard the effect of "Cave of the Arabians" that prohibits direct attacks if the controller of the Equipped Monster Tributes a Monster during his/her Main Phase 1.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ARABIAN CARPET (Spell Card)
Equip Spell
Image: Arabian Merchant levitating on an ornate woven carpet.
Card Description: Equip only to an "Arabian" Monster. If your opponent controls at least one Monster, the Equipped Monster may attack directly with its ATK halved.
Note: The Arabian cards were created by fellow fanfic writer jkBAKURA. Credit goes to him.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FLAMVELL PAUN (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type: Pyro/Effect
Attribute: Fire
Level: 1
ATK: 200
DEF: 200
Card Description: When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, you may select 1 Monster from your deck with a DEF of 200 and add it to your hand.
Note: "Flamvell Paun" was released in Japan for the "Duel Terminal 2: Invasion of Worms!!" set. It has not yet been released in the United States.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FIRE BACK (Spell Card)
Normal Spell
Image: A large, fiery, nuclear cloud.
Card Description: Discard 1 FIRE Monster from your hand to the Graveyard. Special Summon 1 other FIRE Monster from your Graveyard.
Note: "Fire Back" was first used by O'Brien in the "Yu-Gi-Oh GX" episode "Triple Play (Part 2)" Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Coming up next:
You know those two big brutes that DaPen uses as bodyguards? Vincent and Albert, in case you didn't get their names.
Well, as a wise man once said, everybody has a story, and the same is true for these two Shadows, who aren't nearly as dumb as they present themselves. Next chapter, Jinx and Ember are forced to team up against them in one of the most difficult of duel battles.
"Delinquent Duo" is coming soon.
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Shadowchaser Files
Donny Lewison, Disciple of St. Cuthbert
Across the United States and Europe in the past five years, particularly in areas of intense poverty, overpopulation, and homelessness, new shelters, food banks, clinics, and other free services have opened, all under the name of St. Cuthbert's House. Anyone working at one of them will gladly tell you that they all started with a kid from the wrong side of the tracks named Donovan Lewison, known to most as simply Donny.
Donny was once a violent and troubled youth who ran with gangs in the inner city of New York. During a botched liquor store robbery, he was seriously wounded, and managed to stagger into a nearby alley before collapsing. But he lacked the strength to do anything else, even yell for help. Lying in a pool of blood and ready to die, Donny could do nothing as a strange man emerged from the darkness and shuffled towards him. The man healed his wounds simply by touching them. He then told Donny, "St. Cuthbert has found you worthy," before disappearing back into the darkness.
Shichiro believes that it is impossible for a Mundane to be made Aware by a conscious act, but apparently, this was a special case. No sooner did Donny walk out of that alley than he found that his eyes had opened to things he couldn't see before. He tried to find the man who had saved him, but could find no trace whatsoever. However, he did find some references to the name St. Cuthbert. A saint that the Vatican does not recognize (or has even heard of) St. Cuthbert is a deity worshiped by some benign Shadowkind as the god of retribution, exacting revenge and meting out punishment upon those who break the law or take undue advantage of the helpless. Donny's life would never be the same again.
Renouncing his criminal past, Donny became a crusader on the tough streets of the city, mixing the streetwise savvy he always had with the compassionate and generous side he had acquired. He brought hundreds of people together under the auspices of the charity organization that he dubbed St. Cuthbert's House. Acting as a combination of a homeless shelter, food bank, and neighborhood watch, Donny's recruits started to not only feed and house the needy, but protect them from criminals and the dark side of Shadow.
What makes the Shadowchasers wary of this otherwise-noble cause is that sometimes, Donny and his students take this a little further than the local police would like. All too often, St. Cuthbert's House has engaged in vigilante activities. If a drug dealer or mugger becomes too much of a problem, members of the house might decide to chase him away using bats, bricks, and sometimes even swords. Unfortunately, the people who live in these neighborhoods are so tight-lipped that it is often impossible to find a witness willing to corroborate the stories of the frightened and injured would-be predators. The Shadowchasers have even arrested Donny once after he and two members of his group assaulted a gang of orcs, but there was virtually no evidence except the word of the orcs, who continually insulted him in his first court appearance. After they were held in contempt twice, he was acquitted.
St. Cuthbert's house continues to expand, adding more and more locations. Donny will likely move his influence to Africa and Asia in some way in a few years. His plan is to make the organization worldwide. With a little faith, he might succeed.
Story Ideas: If there's one thing that Donny didn't lose after being saved by St. Cuthbert, it's his street cred. He still has a reputation in his hometown, the inner city of New York, and people there regard him as a local hero, much the same way Yusei is regarded as a local hero of Satellite. (Donny may or may not have a D-Wheel – that's up to the author.) Any story set in the Big Apple could involve him in some way. Having street cred means it's incredibly easy to get information through the grapevine, and Donny is an excellent source of such.
It's entirely possible that St. Cuthbert's House's darker side – its vigilante activities – could cause trouble for them. This is the one weakness of a group that otherwise seeks to do good. A possible part of a story could involve the Shadowchasers not seeing eye-to-eye with Donny for a few chapters, which could make things even more interesting.
Deck Suggestions: Donny's early life is a good example of what Jonouchi might have become if Yugi didn't set him on a better track. As a result, Donny's deck might be similar, only not as dependent on gamble cards. Other ideas would include Donny's knack for not being subtle, such as a deck that uses Goblins (as in Level 4 Monsters with very high Attack Scores) or Vanilla Beatdown (a deck that uses all Normal Monsters with 1,900 Attack Points, or more).