This story was done in collaboration between me and Jriddle41 (Sodormatchmaker on DeviantART), and we both own the OCs that are used in the story. Credit to author AaronCottrell97 for a few ideas and character suggestions (especially the duel layout for the story). Everything else belongs to their respective owners:
Thomas and Friends (c) Hit Entertainment and Mattel
The Railway Series (c) Rev Wilbert Awdry
Yu-Gi-Oh! (c) Konami
Song used in Intro and Outro (c) Unknown
WARNING: Once more, this story is rated entirely M for bloody violence, depictions of gore, sexual content (including a moment of language being used in context to sex), and some nudity. Reader discretion is strongly advised.
Opening up inside the main office of Boxford Corporation, Frankie was seated in her new desk, pleased that the company gave it up without a fight. Soon, she will be able to revive her dead Uncle, John (Sailor John), and all will be well for her again. Eventually, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in." Frankie answered calmly.
The door opened, and in came Hurricane. Upon turning her chair around to see the visitor, Frankie seemed to smile upon seeing her long time best friend.
"Hurricane, welcome!" she greeted. "Have a seat. I think we need to talk."
Hurricane did not say a word at first; he simply sat down on the spare chair.
"So, what do you think?" Frankie went on. "Is Boxford Corporation as magnificent as we were told by our comrades?"
"It is." answered Hurricane, sounding like he wasn't all that interested in the company.
Frankie raised an eyebrow. "Hurricane?" she questioned. "Are you okay? Don't tell you're starting to have doubts with my plan again."
"N-No." The red/brown-haired boy denied, shaking his head. "It's another reason altogether."
"Another reason, you say? What kind of reason?"
"Well, you see..." Hurricane seemed to hesitate in wanting to ask the question, but eventually gathered all of his courage to bring it up... "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Huh?" gasped Frankie, taken by surprise.
"During your duel with Emily, she revealed that you are the present day-incarnation of a psychotic Queen from another world." continued Hurricane. "Why didn't you tell me of it when you returned back home? Why did you leave me in the dark about it? Don't you trust me enough to keep a secret?"
There was a long silence from Frankie; it was clear that despite housing the spirit of the 'Artist of Insanity' in her heart and soul, she didn't want to bring up what she went through in order to learn of it. Before the blue/green-haired girl could speak up and refuse to explain, Hurricane beat her to the punch...
"Don't you trust anybody to help you?"
After what seemed like forever, Frankie stood up and let out a heavy sigh. Whatever the reason for doing so, it was...
"Very well, Hurricane." Frankie admitted, about to reveal the whole story. "I'll tell you everything that happened to me during the Summer."
A long flashback ensured.
Title: Hazy Flames of the Past
Frankie, asleep at the moment, was trapped inside a containment tube, and watching over her was Professor Melvin (really Gozaburo).
"I suppose it begins when I was captured." narrated Frankie. "I was taken to this castle in the sky and put into a deep slumber."
"Your heart is indeed filled to the brim with darkness." Professor Melvin was saying. "Created by a combination of anger, sadness, impatience, pride, and stubbornness. My, oh my, you must have been such a nuisance back on Earth. But, now, it will all be put to the good use of our plans to bring the 'Evil One' back."
With that said, the evil man turned and left the lab.
"I was left inside that lab along with other prisoners for who knows how long." continued Frankie. "I had no idea if I would ever wake up, or even see my home again."
(later...)
It had been days, weeks, maybe months, but the sleeping Frankie didn't know. At some point, an alarm was going off.
"What now?" Professor Melvin grumbled, annoyed, turning to his computer.
On cue, an image of a Gil Garth appeared with some bad news.
"The girl is trying to escape!" The Gil Garth exclaimed. "Someone helped her break out of the castle!"
"What?! My prisoner and experiment?!" hollered Professor Melvin. "Do not let her get away from this castle, you idiot!"
With that said, the computer screen went all static-like. Getting quite angry over his experiment escaping, Professor Melvin gave a scream of rage and started sweeping his arms across the nearby table and knocking various bottles and books off. He was breathing hard after finishing the deed.
"That girl will not be getting away from this castle!" Professor Melvin snarled. The mad scientist-like human then looked over to a nearby Slate Warrior. "You! Activate the castle's defensive Chaos Shield Barrier! NOW!"
The Slate Warrior silently obeyed, activating a switch on the nearby console.
(elsewhere...)
Outside the Castle of Dark Illusions, a large barrier started to form around the entire floating building. However, a familiar-looking monster was trying her hardest to make it through.
"I must make it!" The female monster (Lilith, Lady of Lament) panted. "I must!"
Before the Chaos Shield Barrier could completely form, Lilith, Lady of Lament managed to make it through the closing hole. Now inside the barrier, the female Fiend-Type monster could begin her rescue mission.
(elsewhere...)
Inside the hallways of the Castle of Dark Illusions, many different monsters were scrambling about in an attempt to go after the escaped prisoner (Emily).
(elsewhere...)
Back inside the lab, it was briefly unoccupied. Over at one of the windows, Lilith, Lady of Lament eventually appeared from outside.
(elsewhere...)
Outside, Lilith, Lady of Lament looked through the window for a sign of who she was attempting to rescue. Eventually...
"There!" Lilith, Lady of Lament exclaimed. "Now, to break inside."
She raised her arm in the air and brought it down hard, shattering the window's glass. This allowed her to enter the building.
(elsewhere...)
Inside the lab, Lilith, Lady of Lament looked around carefully, trying to remember where the person she was rescuing was. Eventually, the female Fiend-Type monster found the containment tube containing Frankie. Rushing over, Lilith, Lady of Lament gazed long and hard at the teenage girl trapped inside.
"It's you... I've been searching for a long time for you." she whispered, mesmerized.
With that said, Lilith, Lady of Lament smashed her hands on the containment prison, shattering it and freeing Frankie, who then woke up and was surprised to see someone coming to her rescue.
"W-What?" The blue/green-haired girl whispered, still extremely sleepy. "Who-?"
Taking Frankie in her arms and not saying another word, Lilith, Lady of Lament then started to get out of the area. Frankie, still not well, fell unconscious once more.
"You will be safe once we're out of this place." Lilith, Lady of Lament thought to herself.
(elsewhere...)
Outside the floating castle, Lilith, Lady of Lament was able to take Frankie and escape undetected, due to the troops being more focused on another escaped captive, namely Emily...
(elsewhere...)
"So, she has escaped..." spoke a calm voice (male).
Professor Melvin looked behind him.
"You..." he hissed.
It was the five members of the Court of Darkness.
"It was just as we planned." smiled Darkbishop Archfiend.
"You've all planned this?" asked Professor Melvin, not looking too pleased. "But now there's a chance the girl could reunite with Thomas too soon."
"Oh, it won't be that easy." said Vampire Lord. "That girl has so much darkness in her heart. Perhaps we should..."
"...get her to unleash it." finished Vampire Lady.
Professor Melvin growled. "And how do you suggest we get her to do so?" he questioned.
"Leave that to me." suggested Airknight Parshath.
"What do you plan to do to her?" quizzed Professor Melvin.
Airknight Parshath began to explain his plan of action to his fellow comrades. As the discussion went on, Professor Melvin took the time to slip away. Once he was in another room, the evil man was met upon by a Gil Garth.
"What is it?" grunted Professor Melvin.
The Gil Garth lead the evil man to the containment tube that originally contained Frankie. It was shattered into pieces of glass.
(elsewhere...)
Later inside a cabin somewhere in the Duel Monsters spirit world, Frankie, with a cloth on her forehead, was asleep in the bed. In addition, there were some voices coming from outside the room.
"You're saying this girl is Driote's present day incarnation?" A male voice questioned hotly.
In the hallway, Lilith, Lady of Lament was speaking to a human-like male monster named Mr. Volcano.
"That's right." confirmed Lilith, Lady of Lament. "She looks so much like our fallen Queen."
"Hmph!" huffed Mr. Volcano, folding his arms. "I'll believe it when I see for myself."
Lilith, Lady of Lament opened the door. "Come." she requested, walking into the room. "Let's speak to the girl. Let's see if she recognizes either of us."
Inside the room, Frankie was still asleep in the bed, but soon started stirring when she heard footsteps. Soon, her eyes started to open slowly.
"Whe-Where am I?" she asked sleepily.
"Nice of you to finally wake up, my Queen." echoed a female voice.
Frankie was surprised. "H-Hurricane? Is that you?"
"Guess again." A male voice corrected.
Sitting up, Frankie Clarke, to her surprise, didn't find Hurricane nor was she back inside her room. Instead, she was in the room of a cabin, and found two Duel Monsters (Lilith, Lady of Lament and Mr. Volcano) standing nearby.
"AUGH!" Frankie freaked out. "Monsters!"
"Nice greeting." said Mr. Volcano sarcastically. "You happen to be speaking to the ones who saved your life, kid."
Frankie was rather taken aback. "Saved my life?" she repeated. "You both saved my life?"
"To be more precise, I was the one who rescued you from that castle." cut in Lilith, Lady of Lament, taking a step forth. "Now, do you recognize who I am, my Queen?"
"Queen?" asked Frankie in surprise, before shaking her head. "Listen, I'm afraid you may have mistaken me for someone else. My name is Frankie Clarke. I'm no Queen, and I've never met any of you before in my life." She then looked at her surroundings. "Where am I, anyway?"
"She doesn't know who she truly is." Lilith, Lady of Lament thought to herself. "Queen Driote, I will not give up on you; I will try my hardest to get you to remember."
"You don't know who you even are?!" exclaimed Mr. Volcano, surprised and annoyed. "Geez Louise... I am Mr. Volcano, an old friend of yours. This is Lilith, Lady of Lament, she's one of your most devoted servants. Once upon a time, she saved your life after a heated battle and brought you to me to recover."
"Wait, what?" The confused Frankie blinked. She then shook her head. "Why don't either of you just tell me where the heck I am?"
"Tch! Alright... This place you're in is the Duel Monsters spirit world, where you were both loved and feared by humans and other Duel Spirits alike."
"Loved and feared?" repeated Frankie, sounding as confused as ever. "What are you talking about?"
"My Queen, in this world you were known by many as the 'Artist of Insanity'." explained Lilith, Lady of Lament. "You had a vision for your art, and a thirst to show it to the entire world."
"So I was a royal artist or something?" Frankie pondered naively.
Mr. Volcano facepalmed. "She doesn't seem to get it." he sighed irritably. "Maybe this here is the wrong person?"
"I refuse to give up." protested Lilith, Lady of Lament, determined. "Queen Driote, you have to awaken your true memories of the past!"
"Seriously, I don't know who this Driote person you speak of is; is that whom you're searching for?" questioned Frankie. "Is that why you both brought me here? All because I resemble her or something?"
"You 'are' our Queen." insisted Mr. Volcano. "Tell her, Lilith."
"Listen, I know this is a lot to take in-" Lilith, Lady of Lament was saying to Frankie. "-but it's the truth. You are the infamous 'Artist of Insanity' and our Queen, Driote."
"I'm not this Driote or anyone you claim I am." argued Frankie, shaking her head. "My name is Frankie. Frankie Clarke. I'm just an ordinary teenage girl. I'm not a Queen, or some 'Artist of Insanity'!"
"This is getting us nowhere." grumbled Mr. Volcano, before directing his attention to Lilith, Lady of Lament. "You've obviously rescued the wrong girl! This isn't Queen Driote's present day incarnation or anything!"
"I'm certain she is!" retorted Lilith, Lady of Lament. "There's one way to be absolutely certain."
"Oh? And what could that be?"
"Face her in a game." The female Fiend-Type monster suggested, making a Duel Monsters Deck appear out of thin-air. "It might help shed some light."
"Wait, a duel?" repeated Frankie, getting out of the bed. "You want me to duel one of you guys?"
"Yes." nodded Lilith, Lady of Lament, handing the scared/confused teenage girl the Deck. "Use this Deck, and unlock your true destiny."
Frankie took the Deck, fearing what would happen to her if she refused.
"What will you do to me if I refuse?" she asked, still frightened out of her mind.
"Nothing; we won't hurt you or anything." promised Lilith, Lady of Lament. She then glared sternly at Mr. Volcano. "Right?"
"I promise." agreed Mr. Volcano, reluctantly.
Nodding at her hotheaded ally, Lilith, Lady of Lament looked back over to Frankie...
"Even then, I recommend that you accept the Deck and duel Mr. Volcano here." she suggested. "It will help you in a way. But if you don't believe in my words, then believe in the cards."
After what seemed like forever, Frankie, deciding to give it a try, nodded to the two Duel Spirits.
"Very well; I'll accept the duel."
"About time." huffed Mr. Volcano. "Now come, let's have our match outside where there's far more space."
The male Pyro-Type monster left the room, although both Frankie and Lilith, Lady of Lament followed behind.
(elsewhere...)
Outside, Frankie, equipped with a Duel Disk given to her by Lilith, Lady of Lament, stood ready for the duel to commence, while on the other end, Mr. Volcano shuffled his own Deck before inserting it into the Deck holder of his own Duel Disk.
"Alright, kid, before we begin, are you any good at playing Duel Monsters?" asked Mr. Volcano gruffly.
"I'm somewhat good." answered Frankie, activating her Duel Disk. "I've been playing with Hurricane for-"
"Very good. In that case, you should do well. And in this world, the monsters summoned in duels become real. That means any and all damage taken will be real as well." With that said, Mr. Volcano activated his own Duel Disk. "Now then, let's get down to it."
After a moment of silence...
"DUEL!" Both Frankie and Mr. Volcano exclaimed at once (LP: 4000) x2.
Over with Lilith, Lady of Lament...
"My Queen, the cards in this Deck will help you remember." she thought to herself. "Once you finally remember, it will become clear as daylight."
Back in the duel field...
"It's my turn!" announced Mr. Volcano, drawing a card. "Draw!"
Turn One: Mr. Volcano (LP: 4000)
Deck: 54
Current Hand (6): "Fencing Fire Ferret", "Star Blast", "Infernal Flame Emperor", "UFO Turtle", "Backfire", and "Kickfire"
Adding the card to his hand, the male Pyro-Type monster selected another card and placed it onto his Duel Disk (sideways).
"I Summon 'UFO Turtle' in defense position!"
Appearing onto the field was a large turtle with an alien ship where its shell was meant to be (Level: 4/ATK: 1400/DEF: 1000). From there, Mr. Volcano selected two cards from his hand and slotted them into separate Spell/Trap slots on his Duel Disk.
"I'll also set two cards and end my turn." As Mr. Volcano spoke, two facedown cards materialized on the field. "Alright, kid, take your own turn!"
"'UFO Turtle'." Frankie thought to herself. "When that card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, that guy can Special Summon 1 FIRE monster with 1500 or less Attack Points from his Deck, in face-up attack position... I'll have to take the bait." She draw a card. "It's my turn!"
Turn Two: Frankie Clarke (LP: 4000)
Deck: 54
Current Hand (6): "Caligo Claw Crow", "Double Coston", "Mimiclay", "Damage Translation", "Double Summon", and "Belial - Marquis of Darkness"
Her drawn card was a Monster Card called 'Belial - Marquis of Darkness'.
"A good card." Frankie thought to herself, adding the card to her hand. Her hand contained 'Caligo Claw Crow', 'Double Coston', 'Mimiclay', 'Damage Translation', 'Double Summon', and 'Belial - Marquis of Darkness'. "Best of all, I have the perfect hand to bring it out immediately."
With that thought on hand, the blue/green-haired girl selected and held a card out.
"From my hand, I'll Summon 'Double Coston' in attack mode!"
Appearing onto the field was a pair of purplish little ghosts (Level: 4/ATK: 1700/DEF: 1650)
"And now, I'll activate a Spell Card!" continued Frankie, taking a card from her hand. All of a sudden, the 'Double Summon' Spell Card materialized face-up on the field. "'Double Summon'! Thanks to this, I can conduct two Normal Summons or Sets this turn, not just one." She grinned. "And thanks to 'Double Coston's' effect, it can be treated as two sacrifices for the Tribute Summon of a DARK monster."
'Double Coston' split itself in two, before fading away in streaks of blue.
"Now, I sacrifice 'Double Coston'!" As Frankie spoke, she placed a card onto her Duel Disk. "Come forth - 'Belial - Marquis of Darkness'!"
Appearing onto the field was a human male with two demon wings, long white hair, black clothing with a white cape, and a powerful-looking sword (Level: 8/ATK: 2800/DEF: 2400). Frankie looked triumphant over Summoning a powerful monster on the first turn, but that came to an end when her head was suddenly overcome with pain.
"W-What?!" winced Frankie, clutching the sides of her head. "What's-?!"
A vision started to happen...
(VISION)
In this vision, a young woman (Driote) with blue/green-colored hair just like Frankie was sitting alone in the dungeons of the Chelyumn Castle. Despite being arrested for whatever she did, Driote showed not one bit of regret or anything.
"I did what I needed to do." she said to herself, arms folded. "I wanted to show this kingdom my works of art. But how do they thank me for sharing my visions? By locking me away like an animal. I even heard rumors from the guards that I'm to be put to death soon. Really? They would put an artist like me to death? Heh! Somehow, I doubt that will happen."
Eventually, Driote heard sounds of commotion coming from outside her cell. Once the sounds ended, there was a loud *SLASH!* coming from the other end of the door. Surprised, Driote lightly pushed on the door, causing it to swing open. Someone had come to free her!
"Who-?" The blue/green-haired young woman wondered. "Who's there?"
Stepping into the room was none other than Belial - Marquis of Darkness, much to Driote's surprise.
(elsewhere...)
The vision soon evolved into a new area. This was an area where both Driote and Belial - Marquis of Darkness often sparred.
"I don't understand!" shouted Driote, bringing her sword down and getting her strike blocked. "I simply won't accept it! I was not meant to be a simple apprentice! I am second to none!"
"You're wrong!" argued Belial - Marquis of Darkness, jumping away from Driote.
"Then let's see who the better fighter is!" challenged Driote. "This is the only way of proving it!"
Belial - Marquis of Darkness frowned. "You're challenging me to a duel?" he asked. "Well, okay... Just let me go get my Deck."
"Not 'that' kind of duel! I'm talking about a 'real' duel!"
Belial - Marquis of Darkness was surprised. His own apprentice was challenging him to a sword fight? It would seem Driote was truly desperate to prove herself to her master. At last, Belial - Marquis of Darkness nodded...uneasily.
"If that's what you want, then I accept your challenge." Belial - Marquis of Darkness got into a fighting position. "Be forewarned that I will not hold anything back."
"That's okay by me." grinned Driote, getting into her own fighting stance. "It will make my win all the greater."
The teacher and student, still armed with their swords, started circling each other for a few seconds. Once a leaf fell from a nearby tree and touched the ground... Driote raised her sword and charged with a great yell. Belial - Marquis of Darkness, not to be outdone, readied his own sword and fought back.
"You have gotten stronger, Driote!" The Fiend-Type monster grunted. "But never forget that I never lose!"
The two fought for a little bit longer, but Belial - Marquis of Darkness soon started to tire out, while Driote continued her vicious onslaught and pushed her partner towards the nearby corner with no place to escape or evade.
"There's no escape for you." warned Driote. "As of now, I have surpassed you."
Belial - Marquis of Darkness bowed. "Yes, I admit defeat..." he acknowledged. "You have indeed succeeded in winning."
"That's not...good enough."
Belial - Marquis of Darkness's eyes widened when he heard his apprentice say that, and then, to his surprise, Driote, with another cry, plunged her sword into the Fiend-Type monster's chest, causing him to cry out and get pinned to the wall, fatally wounded.
"Did you say you never lose?" asked Driote, with her eyes twinkling with wicked glee. "Well, it would seem I have changed that. Goodnight, Marquis..."
Belial - Marquis of Darkness faded away into the darkness, having died at the hands of his own apprentice.
(END VISION)
The vision came to an end, and Frankie, still clutching the sides of her head, could not believe what she saw.
"Was that...actually me?" The teenage girl asked herself, still pained, in shock. "W-W-What the hell is going on?"
Nearby, Lilith, Lady of Lament seemed to smile to herself. It was the first sign she was waiting to see happen. Back in the duel field, Frankie recovered enough to take another card from her hand and ready it.
"As I control a DARK monster-" Frankie was saying, while also placing the card onto a Monster Field slot on her Duel Disk. "-I can Special Summon 'Caligo Claw Crow' from my hand!"
Appearing onto the field was a small, purple crow with knives on its claws (Level: 2/ATK: 900/DEF: 600).
"BATTLE!" declared Frankie, entering the Battle Phase. "I use 'Belial - Marquis of Darkness' to attack 'UFO Turtle'!"
Mr. Volcano grinned. "Facedown card, open!" he announced, as his first set card flipped face-up and revealed itself to be... "'Backfire', activate! When a FIRE monster(s) I control is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, I inflict 500 points of damage to my opponent - namely you, kid."
'Belial - Marquis of Darkness' raised his sword and brought it down upon 'UFO Turtle'. An explosion of fire ensued, causing Mr. Volcano to brace himself from the force of the attack. Upon recovering...
"And now-" announced Mr. Volcano. "-'Backfire's' effect activates! As a FIRE monster was destroyed and sent to the Graveyard while face-up, you take 500 points of damage."
Frankie suddenly got attacked by fire that popped up around her feet, causing her to cry out as another vision was suddenly shown...
(VISION)
Years ago inside Young Driote's room, Driote's Mother, absolutely horrified, saw a most gruesome sight in front of her daughter.
"What... what have you done?" she stuttered.
Before her lay the mutilated corpse of their pet Silver Fang. Its flesh, bones and organs had been used by Young Driote to make a truly horrific and inhuman sculpture, painted in the creatures own blood. But as Young Driote turned to face her Mother, her face carried no signs of remorse for killing their pet...
(END VISION)
When the vision ended, and the fire attack ended, Frankie collapsed to her knees as she lost some Life Points (LP: 4000 - 3500).
"What... what else did I see?" Frankie whispered, still in shock, and slightly disgusted. "That little girl looked...like me, but she... she..."
"And now, the effect of 'UFO Turtle' activates!" interrupted Mr. Volcano, just as a Monster Card called 'Brushfire Knight' materialized on the field. "When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon one FIRE monster with 1500 or less Attack Points from my Deck, in face-up Attack Position."
Appearing onto the field was a human monster wearing armor and wielding a sword and shield; he seemed to have the power of fire in his veins (Level: 4/ATK: 1400/DEF: 1200).
"As you can see, I've Summoned 'Brushfire Knight'. It's stronger than the 'Caligo Claw Crow' you have Special Summoned."
"I...enter the Main Phase 2." grimaced Frankie, returning to her feet. She then took and held a card out. "From my hand, Spell Card - 'Mimiclay', activate! I target one Level 3 or lower attack position monster I control. The target is changed into face-up defense position and then I Special Summon this card as an Effect Monster with the same name, Type, Attribute, and effect as that target. If the targeted monster leaves the field, this card is immediately destroyed!"
The 'Mimiclay' Spell Card materialized face-up on the field, just as a lump of clay emerged from the card.
"I select 'Caligo Claw Crow', changing it into defense mode. And now, 'Mimiclay' becomes an Effect Monster with the same name, Type, Attribute, and effect as the target."
The clay molded itself into an exact copy of 'Caligo Claw Crow' (Level: 1/ATK: 0/DEF: 0), while the real thing went into a defensive stance.
"Furthermore-" continued Frankie, just as a facedown card materialized on the field. "-I'll set one card and end my turn."
"So, this girl must have seen some of our Queen's memories." thought Mr. Volcano, before images of Frankie Summoning . "The first was when she Tribute Summoned 'Belial - Marquis of Darkness', her old master." Images of Frankie being attacked by the effect of the 'Backfire' Trap Card were shown. "Then, when I attacked with 'Backfire', she must have remembered when she made her first art sculpture. "I must keep the attacks up - only then will this girl regain more of her past self's memories."
Back over with Frankie...
"What's going on with me?" Frankie thought to herself, growing increasingly sick. "What am I seeing? Maybe I'm going crazy because I miss Uncle John?"
Finally...
"It's my turn!" exclaimed Mr. Volcano, drawing a card. "Draw!"
Turn Three: Mr. Volcano (LP: 4000)
Deck: 52
Current Hand (4): "Fencing Fire Ferret", "Star Blast", "Infernal Flame Emperor", and "Pot of Greed"
On cue, the 'Pot of Greed' Spell Card flipped face-up and revealed itself.
"I activate the Spell Card 'Pot of Greed'." declared Mr. Volcano, drawing two more cards. "This allows me to draw two more cards." After adding the cards to his hand, he took another to play. "Now, I Summon 'Fencing Fire Ferret'!"
Appearing on the field, in a blaze of flame, was a ferret with a blade-like tail (Level: 4/ATK: 1700/DEF: 600). From there, the second set card flipped face-up and revealed itself.
"Continuous Trap - 'Kickfire', activate!" continued Mr. Volcano. "Once per turn, when a face-up FIRE monster(s) I control is destroyed by a Card Effect, I place one counter on this card for each destroyed FIRE monster."
"A counter for each FIRE monster destroyed by a Card Effect?" Frankie thought to herself, worried. "What could that even be for? Damn..."
"Not only that-" Mr. Volcano went on still, taking and readying another card. "-I'll also add another monster to join my growing ranks." He then raised his voice as more flames formed in the middle of the field. "Appear - 'Bonfire Colossus'!"
Appearing onto the field from the burning fire, was what looked like a giant and wielding a spear with both being made out of fire (Level: 8/ATK: 2600/DEF: 2200).
"If I control a FIRE monster, I can Special Summon this monster from my hand." Mr. Volcano pointed out. "And now, the next effect of my monster! When this monster is Special Summoned, I target two FIRE monsters I control and destroy those targets."
'Brushfire Knight' and 'Fencing Fire Ferret' vanished in balls of fire.
"And the effect of 'Backfire' activates! 500 more points of damage is inflicted upon you since a FIRE Attribute monster was destroyed and sent to the Graveyard!"
"I'll halve that damage!" cut in Frankie, just as her facedown card flipped up and revealed itself. "I activate 'Damage Transaction'! It halves all Effect Damage I take this turn!"
From there, more fire surrounded the blue/green-haired girl, causing her to scream as her Life Points reduced (LP: 3500 - 3250). Not only that, another vision started up.
(VISION)
In the streets of Chelyumn, Young Driote had recently sculpted more of her own creations using animal skulls and other materials that were obscene to the normal individual. When she showed her work in front of others, they scowled and looked with abject horror at it.
(END VISION)
The vision, and flames, died down. Frankie was breathing hard over it. The vision had disturbed her so much that she felt like she was going to be sick.
"Why?" Frankie whispered. "Why am I being shown such illusions?! What kind of girl is that supposed to even be?!"
"Now, seeing as two FIRE monsters were destroyed by a Card Effect, two counters are added to 'Kickfire'." interrupted Mr. Volcano. "As so..."
Two counters appeared on the face-up 'Kickfire' Trap Card.
"But that isn't all. As it was destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, the effect of 'Brushfire Knight' activates!" As he spoke, Mr. Volcano drew a card ('Molton Zombie') from his Deck and let it burn into ash. "I send one FIRE monster from my Deck to the Graveyard."
Just then, fire started rising around the feet of 'Belial - Marquis of Darkness'.
"W-What the-?!" gasped Frankie. "What's happening now?"
"Another effect, that's what." smirked Mr. Volcano. "'Fencing Fire Ferret's' effect, that is! If this monster is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, I target one face-up monster my opponent controls. That target is destroyed, and, if I do, I also inflict 500 points of damage."
The fire around 'Belial - Marquis of Darkness' grew, swallowing the monster up.
"'Belial'!" Frankie cried out, before getting surrounded and burned by more flames. "AAAUUUGGGHHH!"
The blue/green-haired girl let out another cry as her Life Points dropped (LP: 3250 - 3000). Of course, that followed with another vision.
(VISION)
Driote, now a young adult, walked on the streets of Chelyumn, seeing and hearing everyone's reactions to her sculptures, she smiled coldly to herself, thriving in their fear and pain - the two emotions the artist wished to elicit from her audience. The citizens continued to voice their displeasure, calling Driote a monster, the spawn of the devil itself, demanding for her to be taken away and locked up.
(END VISION)
The vision ended, and Lilith, Lady of Lament once again smiled to herself.
"Did you see another memory, my Queen?" she thought to herself.
Back in the duel field, Mr. Volcano also seemed to look pleased. Even then, Frankie didn't seem like she was ready to truly remember. He needed to push it a bit further...
"Spell Card - 'Circle of the Fire Kings', activate!" declared Mr. Volcano, holding a card out. "It lets me target one FIRE monster I control and one FIRE monster in my Graveyard; it destroys the monster I control, and lets me Special Summon that other monster from the Graveyard."
'Bonfire Colossus' turned into a large fireball and evaporated.
"I destroy 'Bonfire Colossus'!" continued Mr. Volcano. "And the monster I resurrect is 'Molten Zombie'!"
A flaming hand emerged from the ground.
"'M-Molten Zombie'?!" recoiled Frankie.
Yup... Emerging from the ground and onto the field, was a zombie monster made entirely out of fire (Level: 4/ATK: 1600/DEF: 400).
"And once more!" announced Mr. Volcano. "The effect of 'Backfire' activates!"
Frankie was hit with another blast of fire, resulting in another scream of pain as her Life Points dropped (LP: 3000 - 2750). Not surprisingly, a vision began to play...
(VISION)
In the streets of Chelyumn, Driote, handcuffed, was being lead away by two Command Knights, while various humans and Duel Spirits were shouting their displeasure and relief that Driote had finally been arrested. Did Driote care about that? Nope. She just kept her eyes closed and allowed the servants of Light Bringer Lucifer to take her away.
(END VISION)
As the vision ended, Mr. Volcano, meanwhile, drew another card.
"'Molten Zombie's' effect!" he was saying. "When this card is Special Summoned from the Graveyard, I draw one card."
Frankie, panting hard, remained on the quiet side.
"And now-" Mr. Volcano again exclaimed, held another card out. "-I activate 'Star Blast'! I can pay any number of Life Points in multiples of 500; this will reduce the Level of one monster I control or that is in my hand by 1 for each 500 Life Points I paid, until the End Phase."
"And I know how much you wish to pay, too." Lilith, Lady of Lament remarked, looking as pleased as ever before.
For sure...
"I pay 1500 Life Points!" declared Mr. Volcano (LP: 4000 - 2500). "This will reduce the Level of the 'Infernal Flame Emperor' in my hand by three." From there, the 'Double Summon' Spell Card materialized face-up on the field. "Next, I'll activate the Spell Card 'Double Summon; it will allow me to make a second Normal Summon/Set this turn."
As expected, the center of the field burst into flames once more.
"More flames?!" gasped Frankie. In her mind... "Damn it! What else will this guy use against me?!"
Thanks to the flames in the field, 'Molten Zombie' melted away into the ground. Mr. Volcano, meanwhile took and placed another card onto a Monster Field slot on his Duel Disk.
"With one sacrifice made, I Tribute Summon the now Level 6 'Infernal Flame Emperor'!" he bellowed triumphantly.
The flames started coming together into a gigantic fire demon. Once fully formed, the new monster let loose a booming roar, which packed a ton of power behind it (Level: 9 - 6/ATK: 2700/DEF: 1600).
"'Infernal Flame Emperor' has finally arrived, my Queen!" laughed Mr. Volcano. "Take in its burning beauty!" A card then ejected from the Graveyard. "As it was Tribute Summoned, I can remove from play up to five FIRE monsters in my Graveyard. Upon doing that, I destroy a number of Spell or Trap Cards on the field equal to the number of monsters removed from play for this effect. I remove 'UFO Turtle' to destroy your face-up 'Mimiclay' - seeing as it's still a Spell Card by default!" He announced the attack (effect) name... "HELLFIRE!"
'Infernal Flame Emperor' fired a massive fireball at the clay mold of 'Caligo Claw Crow', destroying it in a massive explosion of flame. When the smoke cleared, only the real 'Caligo Claw Crow' was left standing.
"My 'Mimiclay'-!" grimaced Frankie.
'Infernal Flame Emperor' raised its hands up and created a large fireball.
"Now, attack the real 'Caligo Claw Crow'!" commanded Mr. Volcano.
The ball of fire was thrown, striking 'Caligo Claw Crow' and causing another massive explosion to cloud Frankie's side of the field.
"My turn has ended." finished Mr. Volcano.
When the smoke cleared on Frankie's field, three ghoulish-looking spirits were shown to be present on the field.
"What?! Where did those things come from?"
As the smoke further cleared away, Frankie was shown to be bruised, dirty, and really exhausted-looking.
"I wonder..." mused Mr. Volcano. "That Trap Card of yours... 'Damage Translation', right? Does it have another effect or something?"
"You two built this...Deck, so... so you should already...know." retorted Frankie, huffing and puffing between sentences. ""During the End Phase of...this turn, I Special Summon one 'Ghost Token' in defense position for each time I took...Effect Damage this turn. I was hit...three times by such damage, so I...Special Summon three 'Ghost Tokens'..."
With it being the End Phase, 'Infernal Flame Emperor's' Level return to its original value (Level: 6 - 9).
"I feel so exhausted..." panted Frankie, drawing a card. "What are these two trying to do to me? They said no harm would come to me, but I... I... $*#%! I won't lose!"
Turn Four: Frankie Clarke (LP: 2750)
Deck: 53
Current Hand (1): "Beast King Barbaros"
Her drawn card was a Monster Card called 'Beast King Barbaros'. However...
"At this moment-" declared Mr. Volcano. "-I activate the second effect of 'Kickfire'! During either player's Standby Phase, I can send this card to the Graveyard; inflicting 1000 points of damage to my opponent for each counter on this card."
"There are two of them on the card...!" Frankie remembered, as images of 'Bonfire Colossus' appearing and destroying 'Brushfire Knight' and 'Fencing Fire Ferret', along with the face-up Kickfire' Trap Card being lit with two such counters, were briefly shown. "That means I'll be hit with 2000 points of damage!"
A huge wave of fire swept across the field, striking Frankie head on and causing her to scream once more. Not only that, another vision was suddenly shown.
(VISION)
Currently, Driote was speaking to a captured Anastasia...
"I'm hardly a Queen anymore." said Driote.
Anastasia recoiled. "What?"
"It's true." The blue/green-haired young woman insisted. "I've recently executed every single person in my entire kingdom."
"What?!" demanded Anastasia, shocked. "Why?"
Driote laughed bitterly. "Because they were all pissing me off!" she scoffed. "Pissing me off with their constant annoying pledges for me to end the slave industry and stop waging war on other kingdoms, so I slaughtered each and every one of those worthless bugs just for $*#^s and giggles—well, all except for my loyal armies, of course."
"How... how could you do such a thing?!" Anastasia, enraged, demanded. "How far are you willing to even go?!"
Driote never bothered to answer the question. Why? Because she had different ideas to amuse herself for the moment. From there, the young woman moved closer to the chained Anastasia, and, without any sort of warning, began...groping her breasts, causing the princess to gasp and blush uncomfortably as her bust was being played with by that insane, so-called 'Queen'. Seeing as her arms and legs were chained and pinned to the wall, Anastasia was helpless to do anything about her predicament, and was simply forced to endure being violated.
"You...!" snarled Driote, getting a good feel of Anastasia's large breasts and moving them about. "I don't understand why these things of yours are so soft and smooth to touch..."
Anastasia, although annoyed, felt greatly embarrassed and such. Unfortunately, it got worse when Driote suddenly moved her left hand around and down the brunette-haired young woman's back, until it was touching her shapely buttocks, patting them sexually.
"S-Stop it!" demanded Anastasia in discomfort.
But Driote didn't stop. In fact, those demands of distress made her play with Anastasia's breasts and butt all the more. In addition, part of the 'Artist of Insanity' even wanted to go 'much' further and forcefully strip the princess of her clothes until she was completely naked (along with doing the same to herself) in order to further have her (Driote) own, sexual pleasure with her (Anastasia). Ultimately, Driote decided against doing something like that, because she was having way too much fun doing what she was doing, right now.
"You know-" Driote was purring almost in jealousy. "-it must almost feel nice to have a perfect body." She then got vulgar in her speech... "You know; large tits, an hourglass figure, and a great ass... So much better than my own body, but who cares about it."
Just then, the blue/green-haired young woman got very rough; beginning to squeeze the princess's breast and butt harder than anyone ever dare to try and do to her (including digging her nails in). The squeezing was obviously very painful for Anastasia, because those areas to her were very sensitive to touch. Not even Anakin himself would go to such lengths during their lovemaking. That manchild-like prince? Maybe he would—and those disturbing thoughts made Anastasia shudder with disgust on the inside. But Anakin? No, he would never do any of that!
"It's all true!" Driote was ranting, as veins were exposed around her face. "I've heard every shameless moan coming from your mouth, and watched as you went on and on with all three sex positions you performed with him."
(END VISION)
As the vision ended, Frankie fell to her hands and knees as her Life Points dropped (LP: 2750 - 750).
"It looks like this duel is almost done." said Mr. Volcano. "So, tell us, how do you feel now?"
After a while, Frankie spoke up...
"How do I feel?" she asked quietly, feeling frightened and angry at the same time. "I'm being shown disturbing and disgusting visions while you attack me, and you have the nerve to ask how I'm feeling now?!"
Mr. Volcano said nothing. Frankie, meanwhile, slowly returned to her feet, feeling both fear and anger sweep through her body. She wanted to go home; she wanted to know why she was seeing such visions; but most importantly, she wanted to win. At last, the blue/green-haired girl held her drawn card up.
"I sacrifice all three of my 'Ghost Tokens'!" Frankie thundered, as her three monsters faded away in streaks of blue. "Come forth - 'Beast King Barbaros'!"
A large bolt of light struck the ground. Emerging from it was the powerful Beast-Warrior monster itself (Level: 8/ATK: 3000/DEF: 1200).
"'Beast King Barbaros'?!" cringed Mr. Volcano. "She drew and played it at a time like this?"
Frankie seemed pleased at first, but that all came to an end when she was overcome with more pain. This meant one thing - vision time!
(VISION)
Driote was dueling the old Queen of Chelyumn (Light Bringer Lucifer)...
"For this new monster, I sacrifice 'Battle Fader' and 'The Trojan Horse'!" announced Driote.
The two monsters ('Battle Fader' and 'The Trojan Horse') vanished in blue streaks.
"Arise from the darkness - 'Beast King Barbaros'!"
Appearing onto the field in the place of the two previous monsters, was the huge beast-like creature armed with a lance and shield (Level: 8/ATK: 3000/DEF: 1200).
"The greatest of the demigods..." whispered Light Bringer Lucifer fearfully. "Someone like Driote has called upon it!"
Just then, 'Beast King Barbaros' let loose a huge roar and slammed its lance into the ground, creating a huge tremor that swallowed Light Bringer Lucifer's whole side of the field of all 'cards', including all Spells and Traps.
"N-Not possible!" cried Light Bringer Lucifer. "My whole field has been wiped clean!"
"I've tributed three monsters—well, okay, technically two, but 'The Trojan Horse' counted as two instead of one." said Driote casually. "When three monsters are used for the tribute, all cards on your field are destroyed! And since this effect doesn't target, the effect of 'Perfect Allure Queen' can't be activated in response."
With her strategy effortlessly dealt with, Light Bringer Lucifer realized she was now in big trouble. There was nothing left to protect her from a direct attack.
"And now-" continued Droite, grinning evilly. "-for the killing blow!" She then gave the command to her ace monster. "'Beast King Barbaros', end this duel... TORNADO SHAPER!"
'Beast King Barbaros' obeyed, throwing his lance forth, which formed a tornado-like cyclone, at Light Bringer Lucifer, striking and causing her to scream while being thrown across the room and violently slamming into her throne (LP: 1600 - 0).
(END VISION)
The vision came to an end.
"$-$*#%!" cursed Frankie. "What am I seeing now?!" Trying her hardest to shake the vision out of her mind, she continued with her turn... "The Monster Effect of 'Beast King Barbaros'! I can tribute three monsters to Tribute Summon this card. If Summoned this way, all cards on my opponent's field are destroyed."
'Beast King Barbaros' let lose a huge roar. The soundwaves from the roar destroyed all of Mr. Volcano's cards, leaving his field wide open.
"BATTLE!" continued Frankie, entering the Battle Phase. "'Beast King Barbaros', direct attack! TORNADO SHAPER!"
'Beast King Barbaros' launched his lance at Mr. Volcano, which created a Tornado Cyclone as it struck Mr. Volcano. When the attack ended, Mr. Volcano was lying on the ground in defeat.
"I lost..." he whispered (LP: 2500 - 0).
DUEL RESULTS: Frankie Clarke wins!
As the holograms faded away, Frankie glared at her defeated opponent as he faded away in particles of darkness with a cold-look on her face. Before a word could be spoken, there was the sound of clapping from nearby. Looking nearby, Frankie could see Lilith, Lady of Lament was clapping over the duel ending with the blue/green-haired girl's victory.
"Well done!" The female Fiend-Type monster praised. "You were amazing out there!"
Frankie glared without saying a word.
"But let me ask you... Do you know why you won?"
"That's easy." began Frankie, looking through the Deck she was given. She found one of the cards she needed to show. "It's thanks to this card - 'Damage Translation'. If I hadn't used it to halve the Effect Damage, I would have taken a full 1500 points of damage during Mr. Volcano's turn. As soon as I began my final turn, I would've immediately lost my remaining 2000 Life Points in a second."
"That's a good answer—but it's wrong." Lilith, Lady of Lament denied, shaking her head. When Frankie didn't say a word in response, she continued speaking... "The real answer is the Deck itself."
"Deck itself?" repeated Frankie.
"That Deck you've used originally belonged to Queen Driote." continued Lilith, Lady of Lament. "She defeated countless opponents and conquered numerous kingdoms using it alone." She pointed at the blue/green-haired girl. "Although you claim that you are not 'Driote: The Artist of Insanity', you've used that Deck in the duel just as well as she did, just now!"
Frankie recoiled, before looking at her Deck once more without uttering a word.
"Don't you get it?!" questioned Lilith, Lady of Lament, continuing to convince the teenage girl on who she truly was. "You, Frankie, are the present day form of Queen Driote... You 'are' the 'Artist of Insanity' herself! It is true!"
Falling to her hands and knees again, Frankie did not like what she was hearing at all.
"You mean to say..." she spoke up at last. "You mean to say that I am the reincarnation of a psychotic, sick, twisted... FREAK?!"
Lilith, Lady of Lament again smiled. "Does this mean you are ready to embrace your destiny?"
Alas...
"I am NOTHING like who you say I am!" shouted Frankie, shaking her head. "I'm not a monster! I don't like hurting other people or murdering them for no reason! I just want to bring my Uncle back! That is all!"
Lilith, Lady of Lament seemed to be disappointed that the duel did not do the trick. Even then, there was one ace in the hole she had left...
"There's another way." began Lilith, Lady of Lament, causing Frankie to look at her. "Frankie, if you insist that you're not our Queen, then I would like to take you somewhere special."
"Special?" repeated Frankie, still looking and sounding as frightened as ever before. "What is it called?"
Lilith, Lady of Lament seemed to smile evilly from being asked that question. There was one place in the Duel Monsters spirit world that would surely bring back the right memories Frankie needed to realize who she truly was...
"The kingdom of Chelyumn."
To be Continued!