Alright, here's a canon chapter with Rocket Knight 777's OC as the main guy since he wasn't present in the Gravekeeper chapters. So, in short this is for you buddy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-OH! GX or the rest of the franchise. I own Claudio, YugiNAtem117 owns Melody, AzureKite4 owns Kenji and Jethro is owned by Rocket Knight 777.
Chapter 31: Dances with Flames
While Banner took Jaden and the gang to the ruins, another duelist was enjoying his free time. Jethro was busy playing his acoustic in his room, alone. Chazz was true to his word that he didn't want to bunk with anyone, so they found a spare room for returning duelist's stuff. And with all the things the black jacket Slifer had, the cowboy Slifer was kinda glad to have the room assigned to him all to himself still.
'I wonder what Jaden and those guys finding in those ruins...' Jethro thought. 'Maybe something from the old world...'
Looking around his room, which still carried three bunks, seeing his lasso and boots lined near the door; and his family photo of the rodeo near his hat.
'I bet Mom and Dad are busy getting the horses ready for the rodeo in a month.' He eyed another photo of him and a brown horse. 'Bronco's might win the family another trophy.'
*KNOCK!!*
He was sent out of his thoughts by the door knocking.
"Who is it?" Jethro asked.
"It's Bastion... do you have a minute?"
Getting out of his chair, he walked over to the door saying, "I got all the time!" He opened the door with the Ra duelist behind it. "Howdy!"
"Morning, to you." Bastion replied. "I was wondering if I could have a duel against you."
"Any reason in particular, either way I'm game." The Slifer admitted.
'Well, I haven't gotten to know you since you transfer awhile back. Plus, you were of the duelist recommended to participate in the school duel and an Obelisk level duelist."
"Oh, I get it; Claudio and Melody told me about you. A really smart duelist and even pinpointing weaknesses; I was really impressed by that duel you had with Jaden."
"Seeing as we're all friends with the same people, it'll be an even greater honor to duel you." Bastion figured.
"Just let me get my boots on and my duel disk ready, and let's have ourselves a showdown!" Jethro cheered.
The Ra chuckled at the Slifer's enthusiasm. "I'll be outside."
After a quick couple of minutes, Jethro was fully dressed and ready to duel.
Bastion had taken one of the decks from inside his blazer and inserted into his disk.
Jethro took his from the holder on his belt and put it into his disk.
"You ready?" Jethro asked.
"As I ever will be..." Bastion replied.
"DUEL!" Both players drew their opening hands.
Bastion: 8000
Jethro: 8000
"I begin this turn..." Bastion drew his sixth card. "And I'll start by summoning Fox Fire in Defense mode!" A small red fox with a flame on the tip of its tail, appeared crossing its arms. (300/200) "Then, I'll place two cards facedown." Two reversed cards appeared behind the fox. "End turn."
"Another deck, and little fox is the best you've got?" Jethro wondered.
"Why not?" The Ra smiled. "With this deck, I plan to counter all of your Desperado monsters!"
"Really..." The cowboy drew his sixth card. "Let's see you handle this... I fuse Desperado Six-Shooter and Red-Tail together!" The Desperado and the red-tailed hawk appeared behind Jethro and fused together. "Form the Desperado Falconer!" Six-Shooter appeared with the spirit of the Red-Tail infused into himself. (2200/1500)
"Let's see you deal with this, Falconer attack!"
The Desperado swooped in for a dive bomb at the small fox...
"Before Fox Fire goes, I activate my facedowns..." Bastion activated his two cards. "Backfire and Graveyard of the Wandering Souls!"
Fox Fire was tackled down and shattered into pixels.
"Now once a FIRE monster is destroyed by battle and sent into the graveyard, Backfire deals 500 points of damage to you!"
"Well, you're losing the same amount since Falconer destroyed a monster in battle!" Jethro informed the Ra.
Jethro was hit with a fireball, while Bastion was hit by the Red-Tail spirit.
Bastion: 7500
Jethro: 7500
"Getting back to my traps," Bastion turned to his second trap, a picture of a flaming spirit floating around tombstones. "Graveyard of the Wandering Souls lets me summon a fireball token every time a monster is sent to my graveyard either from the field or hand." A small fireball was ignited on the field. (100/100) "And I've placed it in defense mode."
"Too bad that monster's gone too!"
Falconer struck down the newly summoned token.
"Well, I'll place a face down and take a break." Jethro set a reversed card.
"And that in turn summons Fox Fire back from the grave!"
The small fox somersaulted onto the field. (300/200)
"So you have yourself a wall monster, eh?"
"That I do... My draw..." Bastion drew his next card. "I play Graceful Charity, drawing three cards and then discarding two." Bastion drew another three cards, and discarded two from his overall hand. "And since I discarded two Hinotama Souls, I can summon two Fireball tokens!"
Two small fireballs ignited next to Fox Fire. (100/100) x2
"Then I'll summon the Hand of Nephthys!"
An Egyptian woman wearing a gold and orange skirt and clock appeared. Covering her head was headdress with the head of a bird and a red feather on top. (600/600)
"I see what you're doing now..." Jethro realized. "You created separate monsters to not only make a wall, but sacrifices for special summoning purposes."
"Correct." Bastion noted. "In fact, why keep you waiting?"
The Egyptian woman plucked the feather from her headdress and put it on the ground. Once done, it burst into flames around her. Feeding the flames was one of the fireball tokens, circling around the woman.
"I activate the special ability of the Hand of Nephthys! Offering her and one fireball token..."
A giant fire engulfed both of them. Suddenly, a large bird called out from the flames.
"I don't like the sound of that..." Jethro muttered.
Two blazing wings spread out from the inferno and made the flames take on a new shape and form. Now the wings were attached to a golden body of a large bird with a flame tassel on the back of its head. (2400/1600)
"Say, hello to the Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys!"
The bird called out in response.
"And because I monster was sent to the graveyard, Graveyard of the Wandering Souls lets me add a fireball token to the field."
Another fireball ignited on the field. (100/100)
"Attack his Falconer with Blazing Helix!"
The phoenix to the skies and waved its head around, spreading the flame tassel. Once large enough, it whipped its head to the Falconer and scorched the spirited Desperado into ashes.
Bastion: 7500
Jethro: 7300
"Nice attack, even though I get to activate Michizure!" Jethro activated his face down trap.
The trap emitted red waves that destroyed the Phoenix on contact.
"It's like the old saying goes: 'An eye for an eye.' Or at least a monster for a monster..."
"Funny guy..." Bastion mused. "Well, by sending my fire monster to the grave, you activate my continuous traps again; giving me a fire ball token and deal 500 points of damage to you!"
Jethro was hit with another blast of flames.
Bastion: 7500
Jethro: 6800
Also another fireball token was ignited. (100/100)
"And I'll end my turn." Bastion said.
"Let's go!" Jethro drew. "I place this in defense and end my turn."
"So soon?" Bastion asked as he drew. "Well I hope your monster is ready to stand up to my phoenix because she's coming right back!"
A flame shot up releasing the phoenix's rebirth to the field. (2400/1600)
"And I must say, a brilliant planning on your part as well..." Bastion praised. "Since my monster's was revived after being destroyed by a card effect, I lose my two traps."
Both of Bastion's continuous traps burned to ashes.
"Plus, I made it so that the Sacred Phoenix is the only monster you have to sacrifice since Fox Fire and the tokens can't be used for tributes!" Jethro added.
"I'm well aware of that, which is way I'm planning to capitalize on that flaw by activating the Mass Driver Spell card!"
A silver cannon shot up out of the ground, behind the fireball tokens.
"With this spell in play, I can offer tributes to deal 400 points of damage." Bastion explained. "What's more is that I can continue to do this as long as I have monsters ready and waiting."
"Sam Hill..." Jethro muttered.
"But, I'll only offer two of my fireball tokens to deal 800 points of damage!"
The fireballs were sucked into the cannon, and took aim at the cowboy.
"Fire!"
Two rounds were let loose as Jethro was pelted with fire again.
Bastion: 7500
Jethro: 6000
"Next, I'll have my Phoenix attack your facedown card!"
The phoenix waved its wings to rain fire on the facedown monster, revealing a three-eyed furry fiend before it perished.
"Thanks for destroying Sangan, letting me add a monster with up to 1500 ATK to my hand!"
Jethro searched his deck for the proper monster and found one to add to his hand.
"I select my Tribal Spirit- Black Buffalo!"
'A monster I haven't heard of?' Bastion thought.
"Well, I end my turn with a facedown." He said out loud.
"Alrighty!" Jethro drew. "I play Pot of Greed!"
Jethro drew two cards and grinned at his entire hand.
"It's time I show you my new friends; meet Tribal Warrior- BlackHorn the Strong!"
Bastion became even more stunned, as another non-Desperado monster appeared. He saw a muscular Native American man wearing black pants and vest, moccasins, and a black headband holding back his long black hair. He had leather gauntlets on both hands that extend midway up his lower arms, both have the Buffalo horn totem stitched into the part on the back of his hands. (2000/1150)
"A level 4 beat-stick..." Bastion figured. "Well, he must come with a drawback to be so strong."
"Actually, he comes with no price at all!" Jethro grinned. "In fact, how about I add Frontline Base for the trouble!"
A continuous spell appeared.
"It lets me special summon a union monster up to 4 stars!" Jethro placed another monster on the field. "And what better one than the monster you let me draw? Come out Tribal Spirit- Black Buffalo!"
As the name gave out, a black Buffalo walked onto the field giving out a low cry as it was surrounded by a black aura. (0/2000)
"You certainly are full of surprises aren't you?" Bastion smiled. "I should have read more into that Falconer when you first played it against Kenji."
"But, isn't facing down never-before-seen more exciting than just reading about it?" Jethro asked.
"I suppose... but let's what else you have in store."
"With pleasure... Buffalo, form with Blackhorn!"
The tribal spirit was engulfed in a darker aura and started flowing around the Tribal warrior in question. The result of it caused the arms and hands of Blackhorn the Strong to be covered in that same aura.
"And since the Union has formed, Blackhorn gains 500 ATK!" (2000-2500/1150) "Plus, he gains 300 ATK while attacking an opponent's monster." Jethro face his Tribal Warrior. "Now attack Nephthys with Strong Arm of the Natives!"
The tribal warrior flexed his arms, becoming more powerful. (2500-2800/1150) He then grabbed the Phoenix by the wings and slammed the entire body on the ground, shattering the firebird to pixels.
Bastion: 7100
Jethro: 6000
"Now, I place a card facedown to end my turn." Jethro set a card.
"My draw..." Bastion drew. "And I'll activate Bonfire letting me add a FIRE monster with up 4 stars to my hand."
Searching through his deck, he found a perfect candidate.
"I select UFO Turtle, which I'll summon in defense mode!"
The monster was a green turtle with a silver spaced saucer for the shell. It pulled its head and limbs inside the saucer for defense. (1400/1200)
"Finally, I set another card facedown and end my turn."
"My draw..." Jethro drew. "I summon Tribal Warrior- ViolentFang the Cunning!"
A thin, teenage Native American appeared with the same style of clothing Blackhorn did, but the color of the clothing was violet. On his hands were gauntlets with a snake totem stitched into them. (1750/1050)
"And with Frontline Base, I can summon his Tribal Spirit: Violet Snake!"
As the continuous spell started glowing, a violet colored snake slithered out to the field. It hissed as its opposition. (0/1450)
"Time to have another union formation!"
The snake turned transparent and dove into ViolentFang's body. The sleeves of the gauntlets gained the violet aura as well as a Diamondback snake skin design.
"So what's the ability this time?" Bastion asked.
"How's about I show you... ViolentFang attack!"
Suddenly, the Tribal Warrior eyes showed more of a snake's look. Before anyone could question why, ViolentFang's arms flexed outward and smashed the saucer and the turtle within.
"Destroying UFO Turtle activates its special ability, letting a FIRE monster with up to 1500 ATK be summoned," Bastion searched his deck. "Like another UFO Turtle!"
On cue, another turtle came out but this time, out of its shell. (1400/1200)
"Well, with the snake giving ViolentFang power, you have to discard one card from your hand."
Bastion complied with the effect.
"Now Blackhorn, smash that turtle!" Jethro commanded.
Blackhorn flexed his muscles with has his power grew again to 2800 and destroyed the second turtle.
Bastion: 5700
Jethro: 6000
"About time I was in the lead!" Jethro cheered.
"Well, I'll be sure to take it out soon since UFO Turtle summons another FIRE monster like my Solar Fire Dragon!"
A serpent-like dragon in a blazing fire appeared. (1500/1000)
"And since I have some other Pyro-Type monsters out, you can't attack it." Bastion explained.
"I figure a way out soon enough... I end my turn."
"My draw." Bastion drew. "I summon another Solar Flare Dragon!"
Another serpent dragon in flames appeared. (1500/1000)
"Great, now I can't attack any of them!" Jethro slapped his forehead.
"And it gets worse, after I activate my facedown card: Dark Room of Nightmare!"
An ominous mist surrounded the area.
"Now, I end my turn activating my Solar Flare Dragons' effects, dealing 500 points of Damage each."
Both dragon's unleashed a molten fireball at Jethro who shielded himself as best he could.
Bastion: 5700
Jethro: 5000
"And since damage, other than by battle was inflicted you lose 300 more points for both of my dragons' effects!"
The mist gripped Jethro's duel disk, squeezing out more points from him.
Bastion: 5700
Jethro: 4400
"Let's see if I can change that..." Jethro drew. "I play Mining for Magical Stones to bring Pot of Greed to my hand!" He discarded the top two cards from his deck and took out his Pot of Greed from the grave. "Now I'll play it!" Jethro drew two cards. I activate another spell card called Spirit Release letting call on the full power of my Tribal Warriors!"
The Tribal Warriors let out battle cries as the aura of their spirits grew too immense heights.
"What's going on?" Bastion said, trying to block the light with his duel disk.
"Spirit Release lets me return all Tribal Warriors with their spirits combined with them to the deck." Jethro collected all of his cards and shuffled them into his deck. "Then I can summon their more powerful forms to the field! So say 'howdy' to Tribal Spirit Warrior- Black Buffalo and Tribal Spirit Warrior- Violent Snake!"
The spirit auras were still around the warriors, but with Blackhorn he showed off more muscles with the absence of his gauntlets and his head was replaced with a buffalo's! (2500/2000)
It was a similar with ViolentFang's transformation: more muscles without gauntlets and his head and skin were replaced by the form of a Diamondback rattlesnake's! (2450/2000)
"Impressive lineup, but it'll hardly scratch the surface of my monsters, especially since the ultimate defense and attack have been set up!" Bastion said. "Even with the destruction of my fireball token, Fox Fire can comeback after being destroyed in battle!"
"Well, if you looked more carefully partner, I played my monsters in defense mode so I can activate my facedown card... Zero Gravity!"
"Great Scott!!"
Bastion watched as his Fox Fire stood up straight and the fireball token rise to the sky a bit, while the Tribal Spirit Warriors stood up ready to fight. Also, the Solar Flare Dragons curled up together that also signified the lock Bastion still placed on the field.
"So now let's do some damage of my own... Violet Snake take out Fox Fire with Rattle Bite!"
The snake-headed warrior hissed as he stretched his head out and bit down on the small fox hard.
Bastion: 3550
Jethro: 4400
"And by destroying your monster, Violent Snake now forces you to drop one card for every level you Fox Fire had from your deck."
Bastion sent the top two cards from his deck to the grave.
"Now, when Black Buffalo attacks he gains 500 more ATK just for the assault he lets loose on that token of yours!"
The Buffalo-headed monster flexed his muscles. (2500-3000/2000) Then, with his might kicked the fireball to tiny embers.
Bastion: 650
Jethro: 4400
"Looks like you've manage to get me pretty good there." Bastion said, managing to stand up after the onslaught. "Anything else?"
"Just my last card facedown." Jethro declared.
"Then let's what else I have in store..." Bastion drew. "Now Fox Fire comes back!"
The small fox returned to the field. (300/200)
"Then I play my Pot of Greed!" Bastion drew twice. "First, I since I have at least 1 FIRE monster out, I can summon forth Goka, The Pyre of Malice in Attack mode!"
A metal container rose from the ground with a symbol of three fireballs combining. Afterwards, a fire spirit rose from the very top and formed a sinister face. (2200/1900)
"But once summoned this way, I must send destroy one FIRE monsters so I send my Fox Fire to the Graveyard."
Fox Fire shattered into pixels.
"Next, I play the spell card Combustion Fusion!"
The spell showed a firey explosion that was collected into a Volcano.
"By sending my two Solar Flare Dragons and the one in my hand to the grave..."
The dragons circled around each other rapidly, making flame ring.
"I can now summon the Fire Dragon!"
The flame ring now became a large serpentine dragon of fire. (2800/2600)
Jethro whistled at the new beast. "Man, never thought I seen this guy. But then again, giving your other deck with the Water Dragon, it was possible."
"Yes, but it's time that can take out one of your monster..." Bastion played his final card. "I activate the Scroll of Bewitchment on your Tribal Spirit Warrior- Black Buffalo and change its Attribute to WATER!"
The tribal spirit warrior's aura had a hint of blue mixed in with the black.
"And that in turn, activates my monster special power." Bastion smiled.
A lava geyser erupted around the Black Buffalo Warrior and left him smoking around his body. (2500-0/2000)
"Huh!?" Jethro said, seeing his warrior's power go down to nothing.
"While Fire Dragon's out on the field, all WATER attribute and all Fish, Sea Serpent, Thunder and Aqua-Type monsters lose all of their attack power."
"Oh no..."
"Fire Dragon, attack with Lava Blast!"
The Lava flowed from the dragon's mouth and melted the Tribal Spirit Warrior.
Bastion: 650
Jethro: 1600
"Nice moves, but once my Spirit Warrior leaves the field the Tribal Warrior comes back from the deck!"
Jethro searched his deck for the monster in question.
"Return, BlackHorn the Strong in defense mode!"
BlackHorn came back and blocked with his muscular arms. (2000/1150)
"It still won't save him from Goka!" Bastion turned to his other monster. "Go, Underworld Flames!"
Goka's flames erupted out of its container and burned the warrior down.
"And I'll end my turn here." Bastion declared. "All I have to do his draw another monster and I'll have just enough to defeat you."
"Well, let's see if my luck can change all that since I'm backed into a corner." Jethro straighten out his right hand.
"Yes, well luck does favor the prepared." The Ra nodded. "But the question is, how prepared are you?"
"Let's find out!" Jethro drew his card and looked at it. "Ah, nothing... or is it?"
"Hmm?" Bastion wondered.
"I activate Jar of Greed to draw another card!" Jethro drew his next card and checked. "Yeehaw! I drew the Fighting Spirit equip spell! It gives me 300 ATK for every monster you got!"
The Tribal Spirit Warrior let out another battle cry as his power soared over both of the opposing monsters. (2450-3050/2000)
"Attack Goka and end this duel!"
The Violet Snake Warrior ran up to Goka and struck the container with multiple blows crushing it and making the flames explode across the field.
Bastion: 0
Jethro: 1600, Winner
"Whew, finally these monsters of mine went to work!" Jethro said, as the holograms disappeared. "And that flame deck of yours was great as well, Bastion!"
"And you're truly are above Slifer material." Bastion replied, as he walked over to the Slifer cowboy. "Plus, we may have seen who'd been in third place of that tournament awhile back."
"But then again, it'll have to be that deck you used against Jaden." The Slifer wondered. "Why this particular deck?"
"With the deck against Jaden, it was specifically used to counter Jaden's fusions, yet I still lost." The Ra explained. "If I had the chance to face you, I'd rather have a different deck to combat yours."
"I see... I wanted to tryout my other warriors since the change to 8 grand duels."
"It is a lot better to duel this way." Bastion admitted. "A lot more to go on and more ways to go about a duel."
"Well, anytime you want another go, just holler." Jethro held out his hand.
"And I'll be sure to take you up on that offer..." Bastion shook the cowboy's hand.
With another duel, another rivalry based on friendship made...
And I got it done! Now with another canon chapter done, time to get on the Shadow Rider writing baby!
Graveyard of the Wandering Souls
Continuous Trap
Each time a Monster Card is sent from your hand or your side of the field to the Graveyard, Special Summon 1 "Fireball Token" (Pyro-Type/FIRE/Level 1/ATK 100/DEF 100). "Fireball Token" cannot be Tributed for a Tribute Summon.
Combustion Fusion
Normal Spell
Send three "Solar Flare Dragons" from your field and hand to the graveyard to Special Summon 1 "Fire Dragon" from your hand, Deck or Graveyard.
Fire Dragon
FIRE
Level 8
Pyro/Effect
This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card cannot be Special Summoned except by the effect of "Combustion Fusion". While this card is face-up on the field, the ATK of WATER monsters and all Fish, Sea Serpent, and Aqua-Type monsters-Type monsters become 0. When this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, you can Special Summon 1 "Solar Flare Dragon" and return 2 "Solar Flare Dragon"s to your deck from your Graveyard.
Next Time: Sheppard is calling on the best duelists of Duel Academy to combat evil known as the Shadow Riders. What will happen when three of them start the war?
Please Read and Review! Later!