Sorry about the long wait! I had to get my GX manga back from Shadgirl2 for a bit, and then I got lazy over Thanksgiving break, but I'm back now! Enjoy! I don't own Yugioh GX.
Manjoume gaped. He didn't understand how this girl kept doing it, but she went from getting her butt kicked to kicking people's butts. "Ai, that's the third time in a row I've thought we'd lose...and that was the third duel of the tournament!"
"Oh, Jun, darling, don't worry so much!" Ai said. "I know how to duel, silly!"
Manjoume just stared at her for a moment before saying, "Yeah, okay. Let's go get something to eat."
"Ooh, a date!?"
"No, you idiot!"
Ai laughed, taking the insult as shyness on Manjoume's part. "It's okay, Jun. You don't need to be shy."
Manjoume rolled his eyes. This girl really is an idiot...
"Okay, let's get this over with!" Asuka said, storming up to the theater.
"Asuka, we can't do anything until our opponents arrive. Sheesh, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you didn't want to be here." That last statement was sarcastic.
"Funny, Judai."
Looking at the note telling them where they would be dueling, Judai said, "Well, you're not quite there yet, anyway. We're dueling on the stage."
"Oh, come on!"
"Hey, at least it doesn't say 'dressed as Romeo and Juliet,'" he teased.
Asuka pursed her lips. "Again, funny, Judai."
When the two of them entered the actual theater, they saw people in costume on the stage. "Well, it looks like there's something going on here already,"Asuka said, relieved.
"No, wait. They're wearing duel disks!" Judai said. "Hey!" he called. "Are you guys in the tournament?"
They turned. "Why, yes we are. I take it you're our opponents?"
The speaker was a woman; she wore a blue dress with a long, flowing skirt, a low-cut neckline, and the sleeves off her shoulders. Her blond hair was braided down her back, and her eyes were stormy gray.
Her partner was wearing tights—and he was a man. When Robin Hood had been added to the play Romeo and Juliet was anyone's guess, but this guy was definitely dressed as Robin Hood, wearing Lincoln green clothes, a hat with a feather, and a queue of arrows slung over his shoulder. His duel disk, Judai suddenly realized, greatly resembled a bow.
"Yeah, we are. Uh, are you two actors, or something?" Judai asked.
"Yes, we are," Robin Hood said. "What gave it away?"
"You're wearing Lincoln green..."
"And tights," Asuka added.
The man laughed. "Why, yes, I suppose that would give it away, wouldn't it? I'm Rob."
"Is that why you're dressed as Robin Hood?" Judai asked.
"Yes, it is, actually," Rob answered, rubbing the back of his head. "This is Mariana."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Judai, and this is Asuka."
Mariana raised her eyebrow. "Judai? As in, prince Judai? Well, Rob, this is going to be an interesting duel."
Rob rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Aye. That it will be, Mariana."
Blinking, Judai said, "Uh, you're not going to speak in old English during this duel, are you?"
"That I will, varlet. That I will."
"What's a varlet?"
Asuka sighed. "Don't worry about it, Judai. Just focus on beating them."
"Rob, don't make me smack you," Mariana said, obviously annoyed. "I apologize. He's getting ready for his upcoming role in Robin Hood. That's why he dressed like an idiot—and talking like one."
"Oh, don't be so cruel, Mariana!"
Asuka couldn't help but notice some similarities between these two and some people she knew. No way...
"...Anyway, let's duel!" Judai said.
Judai and Asuka: 8000
Mariana and Rob: 8000
"Well, ladies first," Rob said, gesturing to Asuka.
Asuka drew her first card. "I summon Cyber Blader in attack mode!" (1400)
A purple-skinned figure skater with blades attached to her forearms appeared on Asuka's field.
"Then I'll play one card face down and end my turn."
"Since you said 'ladies first' Rob, I'll go next!" Mariana said as she drew her card. "I activate Forbidden Mantra! Then, I'll summon my Forbidden Beast Boa Booran!" (Atk 1700)
A reptilian creature with what looked like a dragon skull on its head appeared on the field. It had two legs and no arms.
"Forbidden Beasts, huh?" Judai said, smiling. "I've never seen cards like that before."
"Well, they are kind of rare in Neo Space. They come from Misgarth."
Judai sighed. "Are we ever going to duel someone who isn't working for Ojin?" he asked. "Really, it's just getting old now. Does that mean you guys have some of the Planet series cards, too?"
Rob raised an eyebrow. "Planet series? Well, if we did, we wouldn't be telling you, now would we?"
"I end my turn," Mariana said.
Judai drew his card. "I summon Clayman in defense mode! (2000) That does it for me. Turn end."
"It's my turn!" Rob said dramatically. "I draw!" He glanced at his card, then said, "I send Vision Hero Increase from my hand to the graveyard to special summon Vision Hero Farris!" (Atk 1600)
A brown and white metal hero posed dramatically as it materialized on Rob's field.
"Wait, you use Heroes?" Judai asked.
"You bet I do! But mine are different from yours, don't worry. Now, for Farris's special ability! When this monster's summoned, I can send one Vision Hero from my deck to my graveyard."
"Wait, what?" Judai asked.
"Why would you want to do that?" Asuka asked.
"You'll see. I'll leave it at that for now. Your draw, lady Asuka."
Asuka drew her card, wondering if this guy realized that dueling and the Middle Ages hadn't exactly gone hand in hand. "I activate Polymerization to fuse my Cyber Blader with the Etoile Cyber in my hand! This lets me summon Cyber Blader! (Atk 2100) When my opponent controls two monsters, my Cyber Blader's attack power is doubled!" (Atk 4200)
Rob crossed his arms, smirking slightly. "Well, my fair Asuka, that is quite impressive. However, tis not enough to defeat I, Sir Rob, and my lady Mariana!"
Sighing, Mariana said, "Rob, enough with the bad acting already! Your accent is horrible, and so is 'ye olde English.'"
Asuka ignored this odd little exchange, feeling too much like she was looking in a mirror when she looked at Mariana. "Cyber Blader attacks Vision Hero Farris!"
Asuka's Cyber Blader attacked the hero, destroying it. Rob and Mariana shielded their faces.
Judai and Asuka: 8000
Mariana and Rob: 5400
Rob lowered his arms, smirking again. "Well, now things are gonna get exciting," he said. "Are you ready for this!? I activate my Vision Hero Minimum Ray's effect! See, when this card's in the graveyard and I take damage, I can add this card to my spell and trap card zone! Of course, Minimum Ray is the one I sent to the graveyard with Farris's effect."
A helmet appeared in the spell and trap zone of Rob's field. Asuka eyed it warily, wondering what tricks Rob had up his sleeve. Judai narrowed his eyes—the only other monster cards he knew of with effects even remotely similar to those were Johan's Crystal Beasts.
"With only one monster on your field, Cyber Blader's attack points return to their original. Turn end," Asuka said.
"Then it's back to me," said Mariana as she drew her card. She barely spared it a glance before saying, "Because Forbidden Mantra is on my field, I can special summon my Forbidden Beast Nunurao!" (Atk 500)
A worm-like creature with white armor on its chest, a white tip on its tail, and white armor on its head materialized on the field.
"But this guy won't be around for long! You guys obviously aren't planning on holding back at all, so let me introduce you to something you'll regret having met! I sacrifice my Boa Booran and Nunurao to summon The Despair Uranus!" (Atk 2900)
A huge sphere appeared on her field. Its face was set in the center of what looked like some sort of giant eye. In Judai's opinion, this thing greatly resembled a giant eyeball.
"Uranus has a special ability—it gains 300 attack points for each card face up on my field! I have Forbidden Mantra, so that gives Uranus 300 more points! (Atk 3200) Now, Uranus attacks Cyber Blader!"
The creature made a move toward Asuka's monster, but Asuka reacted quickly. "I activate Doble Passe! This turns Uranus's attack into a direct attack on me! In exchange, my Cyber Blader gets to attack you directly!"
The Despair Uranus fired an attack at Asuka, dealing her and Judai's life points a huge blow, right before Cyber Blader twirled in and attacked Mariana, reducing her and Rob's life points even further.
Judai and Asuka: 4800
Mariana and Rob: 3300
"Since we took damage," Rob said, "I summon Increase from my graveyard to my Spell and Trap card zone!"
Mariana smiled. "Not bad, Asuka. Not bad. I mean, it's only the second turn, and you've already got us on the run. I end my turn."
Judai drew his next card, glancing at it before saying, "I summon Neo-Spacian Flare Scarab!" (Atk 500)
A scarab beetle appeared on Judai's side of the field in a burst of fire.
"Next, I activate Fake Hero! This lets me special summon one monster from my hand, but it can't attack and it returns to my hand during the end phase. So, say 'hello' to Elemental Hero Neos!" (Atk 2500)
A white, muscular hero with red and blue markings on its body appeared beside the scarab.
"What good is that going to do you?" Rob asked.
"A monster that can't attack and returns to your hand during the end phase... It's a pretty useless move, if you ask me."
Judai grinned. "Yeah, but I didn't ask you, did I?" He pumped his fist and continued, "Neos is the hero of this world of ours! Along with the Neo-Spacians, he defends our planet from the Light of Destruction! And they have a special power that helps them do just that!" Looking at his monsters, he said, "Neos! Flare Scarab! Contact Fusion!"
"Contact..." Mariana started.
"Fusion!?"
Asuka watched as Neos and Flare Scarab flew up into the air, making contact and disappearing in a flash of light. The creature that emerged from that light was black and red with wings and green eyes.
"Elemental Hero Flare Neos!" (Atk 2500) Judai grinned. "Well, what do you think? Cool, huh?"
Mariana crossed her arms. "And here I was worried. That thing's got less attack points than Uranus! It's nothing to worry about."
"Well, that's almost true. See, Flare Neos has a special ability, too. It's a lot like your monster's, except my monster isn't restricted to face-up cards, and he gains power from everyone's spells and traps."
"What!?"
Grinning, Judai said, "For every spell or trap card on the field, Flare Neos gains 400 attack points. I count one, so Flare Neos had 2900 points!"
Rob laughed harshly, saying, "That's still not enough to beat Uranus! What are you thinking?"
"I activate my spell card, Instant Neo Space. I'll equip it to Flare Neos."
As Judai placed the card in the slot on his duel disk, a rainbow-colored circle showing another dimension appeared at his monster's feet.
"Neos fusion monsters have a special ability that returns them to the extra deck at the end of the turn they're summoned. With Instant Neo Space, this effect is negated. Also, this makes two spell and trap cards, so Flare Neos gains another 400 attack points!" (Atk 3300)
Mariana stepped back slightly. "It's stronger than Uranus now!"
"You don't have to tell me. I already knew that!" Judai teased. "Flare Neos, attack The Despair Uranus!"
Flare Neos attacked the spherical monster, destroying it effectively.
Judai and Asuka: 4800
Mariana and Rob: 3200
"I end my turn."
Rob looked pretty steamed up. He drew his card, glancing at it for only a second before making his move. "I summon Vision Hero Gravito!" (Def 2000)
The monster that was summoned was similar to Clayman in that it was definitely built for defense. It had a shield attached to its left arm.
"Gravito's special effect: I can sacrifice him to special summon two monsters from my spell and trap zone! So, I'll sacrifice Gravito to summon Vision Hero Increase (Def 1100) and Vision Hero Minimum Ray!" (Atk 1200)
More of Rob's heroes appeared on the field. These two burst from the masks that were on the field.
"These two have special abilities that can only be activated when they're special summoned in this way. See, Minimum Ray destroys one monster on the opponent's field! So, I'll get rid of your Cyber Blader!"
Minimum Ray fired a beam out of its head at Asuka's monster, destroying the figure skater.
"Now for Increase's effect—when it's special summoned from the spell and trap zone, I get to summon another Hero monster from my deck! So, here comes the leading lady of our production, Vision Hero Witch Raider!" (Atk 2700)
It was obvious where it got its name—this monster looked like a witch, from the pointy hat perched atop her head to the broomstick she carried.
"Witch Raider has a special ability, just like all my monsters. When she's summoned, she destroys all spell and trap cards the opponent controls!"
"What!?" Judai exclaimed.
Witch Raider raised her stick, emitting a wave of energy that wiped Instant Neo Space off the field. With his equip spell gone, Judai's monster vanished from the field.
"Now, Witch Raider attacks your Clayman!"
The woman twirled her stick, firing a blast at Clayman after she was done showing off.
"With that monster gone, Minimum Ray attacks you directly!"
Judai and Asuka: 3600
Mariana and Rob: 3200
"I'll play one card face down, and that'll do it for me," Rob said, crossing his arms with a nasty smirk on his face.
Asuka narrowed her eyes, drawing her next card. "Don't look so cocky, Rob. You haven't won yet! I activate Pot of Greed, which lets me draw two more cards."
Asuka drew two extra cards from her deck. She looked over her hand, smiling. This could work.
"I activate Machine Angel Ritual! By sacrificing monster's from my field or hand whose levels add up to the level of a Cyber Angel, I can ritual summon that monster! I'll send my Cyber Prima and my Cyber Petit Angel to the graveyard to summon my Cyber Angel Dakini!" (Atk 2700)
A blue, four-armed woman appeared on Asuka's field. She had an orange chest plate, gold headdress over red hair, and black and gold pants. Two of her hands wielded swords while the other two were holding a staff.
"When Dakini is summoned, my opponent chooses one of their monsters with less defense points than Dakini and destroys it."
Rob had no difficulty in choosing the monster that would be destroyed. "I choose Minimum Ray."
Cyber Angel Dakini swung her staff at the selected monster, destroying it.
"Dakini attacks Increase!"
The angel dove down toward Rob's hero and slashed it in half with one of her swords.
"Now I'll play one card face down and end my turn."
"It's my turn!" Mariana glanced at the card she drew before saying, "Since Hidden Mantra is on the field, I'll special summon my second Nunurao! (Def 800) Then I summon Forbidden Beast Watsumu (Def 700), play one card face down, and end my turn."
Watsumu was a strange-looking creature, like all of Mariana's monsters. It had two legs near its head, and its tail, which gave it a stunning resemblance to a scorpion, was raised above its head.
Judai drew his next card. "Alright, I activate Pot of Greed! Next," he continued as he drew his cards, "I summon Winged Kuriboh in defense mode!" (200)
A little brown hairball with angel wings and green, clawed feet, Winged Kuriboh looked pretty useless. Rob laughed out loud upon seeing it.
"Oh, that's real scary, Judai! Seriously, the prince of Neo Space uses that?"
"Laugh while you can!" Judai said. "I'll throw one card face down and end my turn."
Still chuckling, Rob drew his next card. "Alright, I'll end this quickly." He turned to Mariana. "Mind if I borrow a couple of monsters?"
Mariana waved dismissively. "That's what they're here for, Rob. Go right ahead."
"Alright, I'll sacrifice Nunurao and Watsumu to summon The Grand Jupiter!" (Atk 2500)
A big, metal man with a glass orb in the center of its chest and blades sticking out of its back like wings appeared on Rob's field.
"Jupiter's ability: I discard two cards to have it absorb one monster on the field. For this turn, it gains that monster's attack points."
Asuka's eyes widened. "Wait, what?"
"Milady, I'm afraid that your Cyber Angel Dakini is about to donate her power to the kingdom of Misgarth! Jupiter absorbs Dakini!"
When Jupiter activated its ability, Dakini was pulled toward it and disappeared into the orb in its chest. Judai gritted his teeth in anger—the goal here was definitely to wipe them out in one turn.
Well, let's hope my trick works, then, he thought, smirking slightly. If it does, this duel will end this turn...in victory for me and Asuka!
"With Jupiter's attack at 5200, your life points at 3600, that weak little hairball as your only defense, and Witch Raider still on my field, it's over for you two! Witch Raider attacks your Winged Kuriboh!"
"I activate my face-down card, Transcendent Wings!" Judai said, revealing the card he had on the field. Like you, I'll send two cards in my hand to the graveyard. But the results are going to be completely different! This card lets Winged Kuriboh evolve into a level 10!"
Winged Kuriboh was engulfed in light. When the light faded, the little hairball had donned golden dragon armor and white tail feathers, along with a pair of white dragon wings. It had two purple tendrils coming off its tail and a red jewel on its dragon forehead. Even though it was a level 10 monster, it still had the same attack and defense points as when it was a level 1.
"Big deal!" Rob said. "As if I'm afraid of it just because it's got a stylish costume! Jupiter still has way more attack points! Heck, almost everything still has more attack points. That thing's pathetic!"
Judai narrowed his eyes. "You do realize that you're insulting my card, don't you?" he said, his voice dangerous. "My friend?"
Rob backed up, slightly nervous. Judai grinned.
"Well, it may not have a lot of attack points, but it does have a killer special effect. It can sacrifice itself to destroy all attack position monsters on the opponent's field."
"What!?"
"Winged Kuriboh, show him what you're made of!" Judai commanded.
At these words, Winged Kuriboh was again engulfed in light, this time destroying itself. The light came at Rob's monsters like meteors, hitting them and destroying them as the weaker monster took them out in a suicide attack.
"Oh, crap!"
"There's more," Judai said, smiling. "When Winged Kuriboh uses this effect, you take damage equal to the combined original attack of your monsters!"
Rob looked stunned for a moment. Mariana gaped.
Judai and Asuka: 3600
Mariana and Rob: 0
"That's what you get for underestimating my partner," Judai said, fire in his eyes. "Don't judge a monster by its level or its attack power. You might be in for a nasty shock later."
"Wow" was all Rob said.
"Well, I have to admit, that was an amazing duel," Mariana said. "I don't understand why our prince wants you out of the way so badly. I mean, you seem like a valuable ally." She looked thoughtful, then added, "Of course, that would also make you a dangerous and formidable foe... Still, you won fair and square, so I think it's only fair that we return your stolen property."
Mariana and Rob took the Planet series cards, The Grand Jupiter and Despair Uranus, from their decks and handed them to Judai.
"Thank you, Mariana. Rob."
"Keep in mind that those cards could be dangerous in the wrong hands, Prince Judai," Mariana said.
Rob took Asuka's hand and kissed the back of it. "Well, it truly has been a pleasure, fair lady Asuka. I hope that our paths shall cross again."
Blushing, Asuka muttered, "He's just like Fubuki."
Judai blinked, then burst out laughing. Rob looked confused for a moment before Mariana shot Asuka a sympathetic look and dragged Rob away.
Once their opponents were gone, Judai turned to Asuka and said, "So, it's about time for lunch. Want to rush off to our next duel or get a bite to eat first?"
"Is there a time scheduled for lunch? Or are we just supposed to grab it whenever we feel like it?" she asked.
Judai shrugged. "Don't ask me. All I know is, I'm hungry!"
Asuka sighed, smiling slightly. "Alright. Then we better find you something to eat. I don't want your mind wandering while we're dueling. You need to be focused in this tournament!"
Judai didn't answer. He just walked to the back of the stage and took down an envelope that was taped to the backdrop. Looking inside, his eyes widened slightly when he saw where they were dueling next.
"Judai? Is something wrong?" Asuka asked.
Shaking his head, Judai said, "No, it's just that I know this great restaurant near the site of our next duel, and I figured we could stop there and get something before we meet our opponents. What do you say?"
What did she say? She said it sounded vaguely like a date, but that wasn't likely. After all, they were partners in a tag duel tournament! They would be spending the better part of the next few days together, so they might as well eat together. Besides, it was likely going to be fast food anyway, what with their opponents waiting and everything.
"Sounds good to me," Asuka said.
Judai grinned. Asuka got the feeling that maybe there was more to this little lunch break than she realized. She didn't have time to wonder about it, though, as she and Judai headed off to their next duel...and their next meal.