Finally, the penultimate battle of the Millennium Tournament. I can honestly say there were times when I didn't think I'd get here and this story has evolved well beyond its original scope. This certainly isn't my magnum opus as it's the first thing I've ever put out on the internet for scrutiny, but I can still feel at least a little bit of pride when I say "I did that".
Look at me, talking like this is the last chapter. I've still got four more to go, but for the first time the end seems really achievable. But I've still got four more to go. (For a total of fifty-two docs for syndication! Ain't profiteering grand?)
Dan looked sour as he plodded back into the stands. "How embarrassing," he grumbled, "And after I promised Yugi I'd see him in the finals, too."
"Don't worry about it, pal. You put up a great fight," Jonouchi told him with a firm slap on the back.
"Thanks." Similar consolations came from the rest of his friends. It all helped, but what was really gratifying was a silent nod from Kaiba. For as much as Dan hated Kaiba, he knew how high an endorsement he had just received.
"It's my turn again," Yugi said calmly. Elizabeth was still down in her place on the stage, waiting for her next foe. There was something about her that exuded an air of power. There was a reason she had beaten all challengers before her.
Atem planted his hand on Yugi's shoulder. "This is it. The final test before you can face our real enemy."
"I know," Yugi returned quietly. His face wasn't quite grim, but he had a kind of sharp focus and his face showed it. "I'm going to win. I have no doubts."
"It's good to hear you say that."
Yugi let a smile brake through, "Well, I'm not a child."
Atem chuckled. "Well, a big brother forgets sometimes."
Yugi made his way down to the battlefield, sharp focus restored. Elizabeth's attention was only cast on him when he was in place for the final match. "It will be an honor to defeat someone as strong as you are," she said casually. Unlike the other things she had said over the course of the afternoon, that had actually sounded genuine. Though enthusiasm was still beneath her.
"You won't beat me," Yugi returned calmly, "I can't afford to lose."
"Well that's a pity, because I am incapable of losing."
"The final match of the Millennium World Tournament! Yugi Mutou vs. Elizabeth Harrett! Field Open, and Begin!"
"Duel!"
Yugi: Life Points – 800
Elizabeth: Life Points – 800
Elizabeth played first, "Gate Card and Reflect Bounder!"
Yugi was a bit surprised. Did she think he had not been paying attention in the last game? "I play Silent Sniper." The white robed, child-like archer knocked an arrow and drew in the direction of the mirror creature from a Gate Card away.
Reflect Bounder: G-Power – 340
Silent Sniper: G-Power – 200
"I activate the Ability Card Ranged Attack," Yugi declared, "This card allows certain Bakugan to attack enemies on another Gate Card! Silent Sniper, take aim!"
"But Reflect Bounder is stronger than Yugi's Bakugan!" Marucho pointed out, "Silent Sniper won't be taken out of the game, but Yugi will be damaged when the attack fails!"
Jonouchi chuckled, having faced that opponent before. "Yugi knows what he's doing," Atem assured.
"Silent Sniper, attack!" Yugi ordered. "I know that your Reflect Bounder bounces damage back, but sacrifices itself as a result. That's why at the same moment my attack lands, I reveal my Gate Card!" As Yugi spoke his Silent Sniper let his arrow fly. The missile sailed toward the large mirror on Reflect Bounder's chest. Once the arrow struck, it immediately bounced back at its sender. Just before the arrow passed the threshold of the Gate Card, the edges shown with a wall of white light. It vanished just as quickly as it appeared and let the arrow sail harmlessly over the empty Gate Card. In the meantime, the cracks on Reflect Bounder spread from the mirror out to its body until it was a mosaic of cracks. With a depressing moan it shattered. "My Gate Card 'Time Dimension' allows me to send any Bakugan into an alternate time stream for up to five turns!"
Yugi: Life Points – 800
Elizabeth: Life Points – 800
"It's good to see that you didn't win your previous battles by luck like your blond idiot friend." Elizabeth's backhanded compliment didn't sit well with Jonouchi, but his anger wasn't really pertinent at the moment. "It's my turn. And I'll call out my Blade Paladin!" Elizabeth's giant white knight appeared on the Gate Card that Reflect Bounder had previously occupied. It drove its giant sword into the ground, waiting for the call of battle.
"Then on my turn I'll stand my Toy Rogue and end my turn." Toy Rogue appeared on the still active Time Dimension, just as steadfast as his master (despite all odds). Yugi's toy Bakugan was a stark contrast to Elizabeth's Blade Paladin; Toy Rogue wasn't even as tall as diminutive Yugi and it had to jump to pass the Blade Paladin's foot. And it was about to get much worse.
"My turn. And I counter with Lancer Paladin!" The giant lance wheedling knight appeared before the tiny warrior. Lancer Paladin's mere presence seemed more than enough to crush Toy Rogue. "I'll end this in a single stroke. And claim the Millennium Item and take my rightful place as a vessel of God. Defeating the simpleminded thief commanding the Night Ghouls will be child's play."
"You know about the Millennium Items?!"
"Of course I do! Did you think I would not notice the overflow of supernatural power?" Elizabeth smiled a smile not too far from one Kaiba might have worn years ago. "You are just a test – no – a formality. After I conquer you I will prove my right to the Millennium Item; the true prize of this silly tournament! And I'll take my next step toward claiming it with this! Polymerization!" As the battle before, the two white knights on the field joined with their companion to form the even more massive Holy Knight. One couldn't even see Toy Rogue in the same scale as the knight.
Holy Knight, Paladin of Divine Light: G-Power – 650
"I use a Polymerization card of my own, to fuse Toy Rogue with Toy Warrior and Toy Magician into my Toy Juggernaut!" The toy parts melded into the much larger Juggernaut, but it was still only about knee height. Even still, it lived up to its name with its withering power.
Toy Juggernaut: G-Power – 770
"I activate Magical Labor!" Elizabeth countered, "This card halves the strength of a Bakugan stood outside of the Set Step!" Toy Juggernaut started to shed smoke and start to slump. "Your little child's toy is no match for my divinity! Holy Knight, Attack!" The sword and lance of the knight came down on the weakened Juggernaut.
"I counter with the effect of my Gate Card! Return, Silent Sniper!" Out of a void in the ground, the white-robed sniper reappeared. But now it no longer looked like a child. It had grown into a young adult and already had two arrows knocked. It let the arrows fly, knocking the Holy Knights weapons form its grasp. The Toy Juggernaut took the repose to steel itself and burry its blocky fist into the taller knight's stomach. The blow cracked its armor and sent it tumbling to the ground in defeat.
Yugi: Life Points – 800
Toy Juggernaut: G-Power – 385
Silent Sniper: G-Power – 300
Elizabeth: Life Points – 765
"To make me fight like this…" Yugi whispered to himself, "She's just like Kaiba, Jonouchi, and the other me…!"
Once again, Elizabeth had been stunned silent. That was the third time it had happened in her life and she didn't like it. Who were these people that were strong enough to give her trouble!? It was infuriating. Yugi noticed her frustration and waited for her next move. "You little brat! How dare you do that to me? I'll make you suffer. Just like that other one. No! Worse…" She looked up at Yugi with a deadly glare. "I. Will. Show. You. God!"
That got pretty tough in some spots. I had a clear direction though, so I got through it. The next chapter is a bit foggier for me, but with only it and two others left, I'm confident I can handle it. Ordinarily, I'd be moving on to something else after this but as I said, this is my top priority. Hopefully I can work ahead, but no promises. See you next game.
