"Hey, you're Ryuno, right?"
Yuno looked up from his lunch. The person who had addressed him was the new transfer student. He was tall and thin with a shaved bald head. "You can just call me Yuno. What's your name again?"
"I'm Steve." He held out his hand, firmly shaking Yuno's.
"Alright. What do you need Steve?"
It was lunchtime. The cafeteria was packed with students, so Yuno opted to eat in the empty classroom instead. He wasn't expecting to see anyone here, let alone have them talk to him.
"I'm new to this city. Can you explain the rules you use?'
"Rules? Oh, you mean our format for Duel Monsters?"
"That's the one!"
"Oh well. To start with, cards can't activate their effects the turn they are sent to the graveyard from the deck if they were sent by their owner's card effect."
"Could you elaborate?" Steve pulled up a chair and sat in it backwards.
"Okay. Say I sent 'Shadoll Beast' to the graveyard using a card like 'Foolish Burial,' it's effect wouldn't activate, but if I used something like 'Polymerization' or 'Card Destruction,' it's effect would activate."
"I see...what about Link Summoning?"
"You can only Link Summon a certain amount of times. The combined Link Rating of the monsters you summon can't exceed 6, and you can't control Link Monsters whose total Link Rating is greater than 6." Yuno, noticing Steve's confusion, elaborated. "Say I summoned a Link 1, then I summoned a Link 2. The Total Link Rating would've been 3, so now I can't summon any Link Monster whose Link Rating would take my Total Link Rating above 6. I also can't control Link Monsters whose Total Link Rating is over 6."
Steve nodded slowly. "Alright...what about Pendulums?"
"This one can get a little long, so pay attention: First, the Pendulum Zones have been returned. Second, monsters Pendulum Summoned from the Extra Deck don't go into the Extra Monster Zone, they go to the Main Monster Zone."
"Oh great. So they're busted again."
"Not at all! A new rule limits the power of Pendulums: Pendulum Durability."
"What's that?"
"Here..." Yuno pulled out his deck box. Flipping the lid off, he fingered through his cards before pulling out a small stack. "Let's take this card, my 'Odd-Eyes Mirage Dragon-'"
"Odd-Eyes?!"
Yuno cringed at Steve's tone. Everyone reacted that way. Odd-Eyes were used by one of the heroes that saved this reality, giving his life to do so. It was an unspoken taboo against using the decks of the heroes, with it being considered disrespectful or cheating, as they had many one-of-a-kind cards and as such, having another copy of one usually meant having to use a bootleg card.
But Yuno's cards weren't bootlegs, they were just as real as anyone else's. He didn't know why he had all these, supposedly, impossible to get cards. He's had them for as long as he could remember, and he adored these cards, and he wasn't going to stop using them just because of what some people said.
"Focus. 'Mirage Dragon' is a level three. This means it's starting durability is 3. If I were to use this to Pendulum Summon," Yuno set 'Mirage Dragon' on the desk and pulled out another card from the stack, placing it across from it. That card was 'Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon.' Steven gaped at the card and Yuno plowed on, "If I were to Pendulum summon using these cards, the cards' Pendulum Durability will decrease by 1. No matter how many or how few monsters I Pendulum Summon using these two, their durability will decrease by 1."
Steven nodded slowly, his eyes still glued to Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon.
"When a card's Pendulum Durability hits 0, it experiences a 'Pendulum Break.' A card that goes through a Pendulum Break is sent from the Pendulum Zone to the Graveyard."
"Is that all? That's not that bad-"
"A 'Broken' Pendulum Monster is no longer treated as a Pendulum Monster. Even if you shuffle the card into your deck, add it to your hand, summon it from the Graveyard, etc. that monster can not be used to Pendulum for the rest of the duel. Also, that monster can't be Pendulum Summoned."
"Is there any way to restore durability?"
"If a Pendulum Monster in the Pendulum Zone leaves the Pendulum Zone before it breaks, its durability is reset, but it's a huge waste of time and effort to keep rotating what's in your Pendulum Zone just to keep it from breaking. It's better to just Pendulum Summon smartly, actually determine whether it's worth it to Pendulum Summon or if you can just do without it."
"I see..." Steven wasn't listening. He was still staring at 'Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon.' "How'd you get that?"
Yuno picked up his 'Odd-Eyes' cards and returned them to his deck box. "I don't know. I've always had them."
"Bullshit." The gruff voice made Yuno jump. Spinning around, he spotted the bulking figure of Ronin, flanked by his cronies as always. Ronin was tall and thick. He had beady green eyes and his black hair was shaved into a crisp buzz cut. He strode closer, pulling 'Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon' from the box. "This is just a cheap knock-off."
"No it isn't! What are you doing here?"
"Lunch is almost over, so we decided to come and say hi to our good friend." His cronies snickered. Ronin towered over Yuno, looking at his 'Odd-Eyes' like it personally offended him. "It's disgusting that you would use all these bootlegs."
Yuno stood up, but was still a good foot shorter than Ronin. "They aren't bootlegs! They're just as real as any other! Bootlegs don't work in duel disks, but mine do!"
"So it's a high quality bootleg!"
"I told you: They! Are! Not! Bootlegs!"
Ronin's meaty hand slammed against Yuno's cheek, knocking him into his desk. "You're so full of shit. There was only one 'Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon,' and it was destroyed. But you're telling me that you somehow not only have one of these cards but," Ronin's cronies grabbed Yuno's deck box. They shuffled through the cards till they pulled out two more 'Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragons.' "You have three."
"I'm telling the truth! Give them back! Steve hel-" Yuno turned to the chair Steve sat, or had sat, as it was now empty.
Ronin chuckled, "Seems he had the brains to run off. Now, time to purge these cards." He snatched the 'Odd-Eyes' his friend and gripped them between his hands. "Say good-bye to-"
Yuno threw himself against Ronin with all his strength, knocking him over. He pulled his cards free and returned them to his box, snapping it shut and clutching it to his chest.
He stood and made a break for the door, but one of Ronin's gang cut him off, clothes lining him in the throat.
"Yer going to pay for that! You stupid pu-"
The door to the class room opened and students began to filter in. At the front of the cue was an utterly beautiful girl with short, wavy hair that curtained her well-defined face perfectly. Her small mouth was curled into a scowl and her eyes flashed with rage. "What are you doing to him?!"
Ronin and his lackeys backed away from Yuno. "Ange... W-we were just-"
Ange ignored them, rushing over to help Yuno up. "Are you alright?"
"Now that you're here," Yuno chuckled weakly and Ange giggled. "Thank you, Ange."
The rest of the class started to filter in, Ronin and his group migrated to their desks in the back. Ange stubbornly helped Yuno to his seat, sitting down beside him.
"You really need to stand up for yourself Yuno. Why don't you tell the teacher?"
"Why don't you tell her for me? If I tell on them..." Yuno shuddered, still clutching his deck box to his chest.
Ange growled. "It's your problem dude. You have to stand up for yourself! I can't do that for you."
Yuno sighed again. He could feel Ronin's eyes burning into the back of his head. He was going to get it after class...he could feel it.
The moment the last bell rang, Yuno jumped up. He uttered a rushed farewell to Ange and ran out the classroom. He could hear the thundering of their feet as they chased him. He burst out the school and into the front parking space.
"Get back here!"
Yuno ducked around a group of gossiping girls and looked around desperately. Where were they?! They were supposed to be here!
'Wait...who'd he even send? Oh, God...' If Yurren sent Bloom, Opera, Prima, Score, or Tamtam he was pretty much dead.
["Ha ha, what's wrong Yuno? You need your baby sister to protect you?"]
'Please, please! Tell me you sent Elegy or Aria or-'
"There you are."
Yuno's heart leapt as Canon approached him from the crowd of students. She was drawing the attention of the students, who were pointing out her odd skin color, clothes, and hair, but Yuno couldn't be any happier to see her. Because, Canon of all the Divas...
"Found you Yuno! Who's this weirdo?"
"You're one to talk fatass."
...didn't take shit from anyone.
Ronin reared back, his pudgy face twisting in rage as his lackeys sneered from over his shoulders. "Excuse me?"
"I said you're one to talk fatass. I guess the only thing you can listen to is your stomach." She said smoothly, digging into her ear with her finger.
"Who the hell are you, weird colored freak?!"
"Oof. Hope you don't say that to all people who aren't white." Canon pulled her finger out, a clump of ear wax on it. "Ew." She wiped her finger on Ronin's chest. The crowd who'd gathered around Canon gasped and 'ooooh-ed' as Ronin swelled with rage, turning bright red. Yuno couldn't contain his smile. This was amazing! Take THAT Ronin! Canon was awe-
"Canon! There you are!"
Oh, God no.
Mozarta pushed through the crowd. She gasped when she found Yuno, quickly sweeping him into a hug. "Found you! We've been looking all over for you Yuno! Canon, can you go get Soprano?" Canon shrugged and left, much to Yuno's horror. Mozarta's eyes fell upon Ronin and his friends. "Who are these people? Are they your friends?"
"Y-Yes ma'am! We're good friends." Ronin said quickly, a mischievous smile curling his face as his lackeys nodded in agreement.
"We're no-!"
"That's wonderful! I'm glad to hear you finally have some friends Yuno." The crowd snickered. "Is there something you wanted with Yuno, dear?"
"Yeah! I wanted to duel him."
"I'm not in the dueling mood." Yuno muttered.
Mozarta rubbed Yuno's head, looking genuinely concerned. "When are you not in the dueling mood? Are you alright dear?"
"I'm fine."
"Maybe dueling them would cheer you up! There's nothing better than a friendly duel!"
"Yeah, come on Yuno! A friendly duel~" Ronin chuckled, slapping Yuno on the back and making him cringe violently.
"Ahhh crap. We gotta go Ronin." One of lackeys grumbled. "Tell us how you beat him tomorrow."
"See ya boys."
"Oh-ho! Quite presumptuous to assume you'll win!" Mozarta said. "Yuno accepts your challenge!"
"WHAT?!"
"Awesome! Thanks, Yuno's mom!"
"Oh dear I'm no-"
"Let's meet out at the Duel Fields. I'll give you 15 minutes to organize your deck. See you there, buddy."
"How exciting!" Mozarta said, pacing back and forth between the lockers of the changing room. Yuno sat on the bench, shuffling his deck with extreme prejudice. Soprano sat on the other side of the bench and Canon was leaning on a row of lockers with her arms folded. "A duel between friends! You know Yuno, I don't get to actually watch a lot of duels because I'm usually in them, so I'm very excited to see this!"
"Mm-hmm."
"...?" Soprano tilted her head, staring right at Yuno and making him shiver. Soprano wasn't a bad person, but the fact she never spoke combined with the fact she always had her eyes covered freaked him out to no end. "..."
"Yuno, dueling between friends is a great way to-"
"He's not my freaking friend!" Yuno shouted, his hand pushed through his deck and shot cards out all over the floor. "Argh! DAMMIT!" He fell to his knees and began picking them up, Soprano joining him. He cast a glance up to Canon. "Gonna help?"
"Nah I'm good."
"Wait, that portly boy wasn't your friend?" Mozarta stopped pacing and looked at Yuno in concern.
"No he isn't Moza!"
"Then who is-"
"He's a bully! He's always messing with me! He makes fun of my height, my hair, and most of all my cards!"
Mozarta gasped. Canon rolled her eyes. "It was pretty obvious. How'd you not get that Mozarta?"
Mozarta held her baton in both hands, wringing it between her fingers. "I-I never-"
"I didn't want to duel him because I didn't want to lose. Now I have no freaking choice!"
"..."
"Soprano's right. You could always drop out little dude."
"Then I'll just be called a coward!" Yuno snatched his cards away from Soprano and resumed shuffling, his pace slowing down and his shoulders drooping. "Being a loser might be better than being a coward."
"Yuno...I'm sorry. I didn't know..."
"What's even the point? I'm just going to get my ass kicked..."
"Says who?" Canon shifted her weight and continued. "You haven't lost yet, man. You haven't even started!"
"You saw how I dueled yesterday! You were there! I lost fifteen times in a row!"
"Yeah, to Yurren."
"What does it matter who I lost to?! I still freaking lost!"
Mozarta crept forward, kneeling down next to Yuno. She reached out to hug Yuno, but he moved away. "Dear...you shouldn't compare yourself to Yurren."
"Why?! Because he's better than me?!"
"Yes."
Yuno froze. He wasn't expecting such an honest and straightforward answer.
"Yuno, I know it can be demoralizing, but losing to Yurren doesn't mean much. He was the World Champion after all."
"And I don't think that fat kid was ever a World Champ."
"Still-"
"Of course you aren't going to be as good as one of the best, it's only natural. But comparing yourself to them isn't healthy dear. You should, instead of focusing on what others can do, focus on the things you can do. Use opportunities like these to get better, till you reach the skill level you want to be at."
"..."
Mozarta reached forward and pulled Yuno into a hug, pressing him into the softness of her dress. "Yuno, I'm sorry I got you into this mess. But, I'm positive you can win this duel. Don't give up, you can do this. I believe in you."
"Yo, the duel's about to start. Mozarta, let's go find somewhere to sit." Canon prodded Mozarta's shoulder. She nodded at Canon and Canon beckoned to Soprano, who stood up. "See you outside Yuno."
"See you." Mozarta stood up, giving Yuno a pat on the head as the three of them walked out. With that, they left Yuno on his own. He sat on his knees, looking at his deck. His eyebrows furrowed and his lip trembled.
'Of course you aren't going to be as good as one of the best...use opportunities like these to get better...'
Yuno nodded to himself, a confident curl pulling his lips into a smirk. "You're right. Thanks Mozarta." Yuno stood up. His D-Pad's deck slot popped open expectantly. He pushed his deck in, securing it firmly with a solid *click!* Pulling the strap around his wrist, he snapped it together, making sure it was upright and ready for the duel. "I'm going to win this..."
With that, Yuno left the locker rooms.
He strode resolutely out onto the dirt dueling recess yard. Duel fields were drawn in chalk along the length of the yard in rows of three. Yuno spotted Ronin waiting at the other end of a duel field near the fence, just by the gate back to school. Mozarta, Canon, and Soprano were standing against the metal fence. Mozarta beckoned to Yuno when she spotted him, indicating the field just in front of her. Yuno took his place across from Ronin, his heart was beating loudly in his ears.
"Good luck dear!"
"Kick his ass Yuno!"
"..."
"I'll show him what I've got!" A blazing red light pushed through the duel disk, revealing a long straight plate that curved back near the very end.
The deck slot was located near the very end of the glowing energy plate. "Let's do this Ronin!"
"With pleasure. I'll go first, unless you have something to say about it."
"I don't."
"As usual."
|Turn 1: |
|Ronin: 4000|
|Yuno: 4000|
Ronin checked his hand and grinned smugly. He grabbed a card and held it out, announcing: "If I have no spell or trap cards in my graveyard, then I can Special Summon this big guy, Superheavy Samurai Big Waraji!"
Ronin slammed his card onto the disk, the middle zone glowed golden and from it came Big Waraji. It's metal body creaked and groaned as it arrived onto the scene. Yuno's duel disk flashed it's ATK and DEF points on screen: {ATK:800/DEF:1300}
"Big Waraji has another effect! It counts a two tributes for the tribute summon of a Machine-Type monster, and I have just the monster." Ronin wiped out another card and slammed it down. "I summon Superheavy Samurai Big Benki in Attack mode!"
Big Waraji shuddered violently before disappeared into a shower of lights, the lights scattering off, only to freeze and reform as a massive robot in samurai armor, wielding a sharp glaive. The monster looked down at Yuno, steam billowing from its mask. (ATK:0/DEF:3500)
"Why would you summon a monster with 0 ATK in Attack mode?"
"Because, moron, when Big Benki is summoned, I can change his battle position to Defense mode! Show him Benki!" Benki's began slowly lifted his massive leg and stomped it back down, shaking the ground. Yuno stumbled as Benki slowly moved itself, taking a defensive stance and holding its glaive in front of itself. "Ha ha ha! Good luck breaking through this!"
"I don't need luck, I have skill!"
|Turn 2: |
|Ronin: 4000|
|Yuno: 4000|
Yuno ripped the card off the top of his deck. "It's my move! I draw!" Yuno took a glance at the card, smirking to himself.
"Alright, I'll start by activating the Spell card Sacred Sword of Seven Stars!" Yuno slapped the card onto his duel disk. In the sky above Yuno, seven blue stars shone brightly, lines connecting the stars and forming the Big Dipper. There was a gleam between the middle section and an ornate golden sword fell from the sky, stabbing into the ground before him.
"This holy blade allows me to draw two cards, if I let it banish 1 level 7 monster first. So I'll banish," He flipped a card in his fingers around, "Odd-Eyes Saber Dragon!" Yuno tossed the card up and pulled the sword from the ground, using it to split Odd-Eyes Phantom in one clean cut! The card dissolved, it's pieces flying into Yuno's back pocket (where he kept his banished cards) before drawing two more cards.
Yuno took his two new cards and crashed them down onto his duel disk! The plate glowed red as it extended outwards, accepting the two pendulum cards.
"I set the Pendulum scale with two of my favorites! Here comes Odd-Eyes Persona Dragon (Scale 1) and Odd-Eyes Mirage Dragon (Scale 8)!" The two dragons emerged from their cards in a burst of blue light. Surrounded in blue starry pillars, the two monsters roared in unison as a sigil appeared above them, slowly rotating.
Yuno held out two more cards, grinning confidently as he announced to Ronin: "Now I'll Pendulum Summon these two, here comes Dark Resonator {Level 3-ATK:1300/DEF:300} and Xiangsheng Magician {Level 4-ATK:500/DEF:1500}, both of them in Attack mode!"
The sigil above the two dragons spilled open and two streams of light shot out of betwixt the sky blue pillars, crashing into the ground and revealing the two monsters. Xiangsheng straightened herself and nodded to Yuno, directing her bow at Benki. Dark Resonator floated up to Yuno, pushing his head into Yuno's hand. "Alright," Yuno stroked Dark Resonator's head, making the Fiend bounce in joy before returning to its place on the field.
"Now, I'll tune my Dark Resonator to my Xiangsheng Magician to Syncrho Summon!" Yuno raised his hand to the sky as Dark Resonator tapped its tuning fork and mallet together, making them ring out in harmony. He rose up, his body glowing green and splitting into three green rings that circled above Yuno's outstretched hand. Xiangsheng launched herself, towards the rings, turning into four balls that floated into the center of the rings. A great pillar of blinding bright light burst out! With a triumphant screech, a large bipedual red dragon flung itself from the pillar, landing before Yuno. The dragon reared it's head back and roared. It's long tail crashed against the ground, snapping like a whip as it cracked through the air.
"Come on out, Odd-Eyes Meteorburst Dragon!"
{Level 7: ATK:2500/DEF:2000}
"I'll activate Meteorburst's effect!" On cue, Meteorburst Dragon directed its gaze upon Odd-Eyes Mirage Dragon and howled at it, fire leaking from its jaws. Mirage Dragon roared back and leapt down, it's pillar of light disappearing, and landing beside Meteorburst. Yuno pointed at Mirage Dragon announced, "It allows me to special summon one of the monsters in my Pendulum Zones, and I chose Mirage Dragon {Level 3: ATK:1200/DEF:600}! I Special Summon him in defense mode!"
"Finally, I set one card face down." Yuno slid a face-down card into a slot under the duel disk's glowing plate. "I end my turn, you're up Ronin."
|Turn 3: |
|Ronin: 4000|
|Yuno: 4000|
"I draw!"
Ronin slid his new card into his hand and pulled a second from his hand. "I summon the Superheavy Samurai Blue Brawler! {Level 4-ATK:0/DEF:2000} Just like Big Benki, Blue Brawler can change its battle position when summoned, so I'll switch it to defense mode."
The blue robot nodded in response to Ronin's command, stomping down and taking a sumo stance. Ronin cackled and pointed at Meteorburst. "Time to battle!"
"Wh-"
"Big Benki, attack that Odd-Eyes Meteorburst Dragon!"
"Hold-"
Big Benki rose its glaive high above his head and swung it down at Meteorburst dragon. Meteorburst roared and grabbed the glaive's blade between its crimson jaws. Meteorburst's tail snaked across the ground, curling around Benki's massive foot. The robot's joints groaned as it lifted its foot free and stomped own on Meteorburst's tail, making it roar in pain. Benki ripped its glaive free and swinging it back down at Meteorburst's neck-
"I activate the Quick Effect of my Odd-Eyes Mirage Dragon!"
The blade cut clean through Meteorburst's neck.
Ronin laughed again. "HA HA HA! Your fake ass cards don't stand a chan-" Meteorburst's body disapated into colored mist, vanishing on the wind. Meteorburst stood just behind that mirage perfectly unharmed, it's red and green eyes gleaming. Big Benki returned to its position on Ronin's field. "What? Why isn't that monster destroyed!?"
"I acti-"
"You filthy cheat!"
"Mirage-"
"I can't believe-!"
"SHUT UP!" Canon screamed from the sidelines, making Ronin flinch and cower away from the fairy. "Could you listen to Yuno for a second?!"
"Now dear, you shouldn't ye-"
"Save it Mozarta."
Yuno gave Canon and thumbs up and a grin. "Thanks Canon!"
Canon returned the thumbs up. "Give him hell Yuno!"
Yuno nodded and returned his attention to Ronin and his machine monsters. "As I was TRYING TO SAY; Mirage Dragon's effect can protect one 'Odd-Eyes' monster I control from being destroyed the first time it would be by battle or card effect."
"S-so..."
"So my Mirage Dragon saved my Meteorburst Dragon!"
"Even if your dragon survived, you still take damage!"
Yuno grunted as he watched his life points fall down to 3000. He scowled and returned his attention to Ronin.
"Next, Blue Brawler will destroy Mirage Dragon!"
"Wait ho-"
Blue Brawler grunted in response and leapt at Mirage Dragon. It roared, trying to defend himself with its claws, but its pitiful attack's scraped off Blue Brawler's armor. Brawler slammed it's massive gloved hands into Mirage Dragon, blowing it into pieces.
Yuno slid Mirage into his extra deck as Blue Brawler returned to Big Benki's side.
"How are your monsters able to attack in Defense mode?" Yuno asked, squinting at the massive robots towering above Meteorburst.
"Because of Big Benki's special ability! As long as I control him, all of my Samurai's can attack while in defense mode and I get to use their DEF during Damage Calculation!"
'So, if I wipe out the big boy he won't be able to attack from defense position.' Yuno thought, chewing his thumb's nail as he looked over the hulking Big Benki and Ronin's smug smile. 'Sounds like that's this deck's main gimmick. If it focuses on defense mode, then my ace should be able to wipe out his entire field!'
"I end my turn, you're up!"
|Turn 4: |
|Ronin: 4000|
|Yuno: 3000|
"I draw!" Yuno whipped his next card out, sliding it into his hand. He took his a second look at th-
"You can do it honey!"
"Yes! Thank you Mozarta!"
Anyway where wa-
"Don't let his-"
"Mozarta, please I'm trying to focus!"
"Oh-" Mozarta shoulders slumped. She looked at her feet (Or at least at the ground, her massive dress hid her feet from her gaze) and fiddled with her baton, her face pulled down into a look of guilt. "I'm-I'm sorry..."
Soprano rubbed Mozarta's back and pulled her into a hug. "..." Canon patted her back, casting a silent glare at Yuno, who groaned loudly and rubbed his temples. "!" Soprano pointed at Yuno!
"You're right, he did the Yurren thing!"
...
"I'm going to set my Odd-Eyes Phantasma Dragon {Scale:0} on the Pendulum Scale." Yuno slapped a card onto the Pendulum Zone left vacant by Mirage dragon. Once again a blue pillar of light shot out of the ground as a skeletal dragon, with wings bedecked in red, green, blue, and yellow colored orbs and similarly-colored glowing wings of light, shot from its card and took its place beside Odd-Eyes Persona Dragon. The blue sigil reformed in the sky, slowing rotating, waiting. "Next I activate my trap card, go Echo Oscillation!" Yuno slapped a button on his disk, and his face down card flipped up. The sigil between the two pillars of light transformed into a ticking bronze clock face, loud ticks echoed across the battlefield as it's hands slowly grinded across the face.
Yuno clenched his fist and pointed at Odd-Eyes Phantasma Dragon. "Echo Oscillation lets me destroy a card in my Pendulum Zone, then I get to draw a card! So I destroy my Phantasma Dragon!" Phantasma Dragon roared as it disappeared into a shower of light. Yuno moved the card to the extra deck and grabbed his next card. "I draw once more!"
"So you destroyed the card you just set?" Ronin's smug smirk grew even bigger as his chest swelled. "You know Yuno, I normally have a rule against dueling the handicapped, but I'll make an exception just for you."
"Do you also have a rule about dieting?" Canon shouted from the sidelines.
Yuno chuckled lightly, but shook his head. "Canon, it's dishonorable to insult your opponent like that." He chided her.
"He's not my opponent."
"Still, show him some respect."
"Hmph!"
Yuno looked at the card he just drew and a pang of pain hit his chest. This card...
('Look at all these stinking rip-off cards!')
('I know right? How disrespectful.')
Yuno grit his teeth, his hand shook violently. 'Mozarta's right. I'll never get anywhere if I just sit around feeling sorry for myself! I'll get better, much better! Who cares what those bullies say, I know my monsters are the real deal!'
"I set Performapal Odd-Eyes Synchron {Scale - 6} on the Pendulum scale!" A small little thing made of gears and dressed in a silly bow and top hat popped into the Zone. It swept it's hat off and bowed to Ronin.
"Now, I Pendulum Summon my Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon {Level 7-ATK:2500/DEF:2000} and Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon {Level 7-ATK:2500/DEF:2000}! And they are both coming to the field in Attack Mode!" The bronze clock face opened open and two streaks of colored light crashed into the earth on either side of Meteorburst Dragon.
The two dragons reared their heads and roared, tails slapping the ground aggressively as they squared up against the glaive wielding robot. Ronin stiffened, his face twisting in rage as, a large red and white dragon burst forth. It landed on the ground before it, earth cracking beneath its talons. It reared back and howled to the heavens. Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon had two asymmetrical horns on it's back and gleaming red and green eyes that reflected a deep billowing rage. The dragon swung around, it's tail sweeping across the dirt field and sending dust over Ronin. Odd-Eyes lowered it's head to Yuno.
"You too?"
Odd-Eyes growled.
"Fine, fine!" Yuno scratched Odd-Eyes behind the horns. It purred in satisfaction.
"Summon as many of your dragons as you want! You can't best my Big Benki's DEF!"
"I'll I take you up on that offer!" Yuno swung his arm out, pointing at Odd-Eyes Synchron. "I activate the Pendulum Effect of Odd-Eyes Synchron! It lets me turn one of my 'Odd-Eyes' into a level one Tuner. So I transform my Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon into a Tuner!" Odd-Eyes Synchron bowed to Yuno from the Zone and pulled off his hat, directing it at Phantom Dragon. It slapped the back of his hat and sent a beam of green light out, which shot into Phantom, making it glow and growl. "Now I'll tune my Level 1 Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon with my Level 7 Odd-Eyes Meteorburst Dragon to bring out my Ace Card!"
Phantom and Meteourburst launched themselves upwards, Phantom transforming into a single green ring as Meteorbust flew between the ring, exploding into seven glowing orbs of light that turned into a burning crimson. The ring spun faster and faster, a massive pillar of orange-red fire erupting from the ground, passing through the ring and orbs.
"The Earth shakes and mountains burn to ash! Creation itself trembles as this mighty beast roars!"
Yuno flipped the card from his extra deck and slapped it down onto the field. The flames were banished by a muscular arm pushing through the flames, its red wings blowing the flames aside as it howled, it's billowing roar louder than any other dragon Yuno had summoned thus far. The black dragon descended to rest beside Odd-Eyes Pendulum, its black body muscular and toned, out lined in red accent marks that decorated it's body. Crimson flames leaked from its jaws as it reared it's three horned head and thrashed it's tail about.
"Behold, The soul of the King: Red Dragon Archfiend!" {Level 8-ATK:3000/DEF:2500}
"..." Soprano clapped.
"Way to go dear!" Mozarta clapped also, smile beaming as bright as the sun.
"Kick their ass Red Dragon!"
Red Dragon eyes flicked to focus on Canon, silently nodding to her.
"You ready for this Red Dragon?" Yuno asked. Red Dragon turned around to face Yuno, nodding confidently as it's jaws curled upwards in what could be mistaken for a confident grin.
"H-how...how can you have that card!?" Ronin was, his words shaking as he stared at the legendary dragon before him. "That card is one of a kind!"
"I couldn't tell you. I've had all these cards for as long as I can remember. Not that you believe me of course."
"It isn't even an Odd-Eyes monster! Why do you use it!?"
Yuno admired his Red Dragon for a brief moment. "Because...there's a man I admire more than anyone else. He didn't just fight for his friends, he fought for himself too! He was strong, awesome, and brave. The one true King of Turbo Dueling! So no matter what deck I use, even if it doesn't work with it," Yuno flung his arm out and declared, "I will always have my Red Dragon Archfiend!" Red Dragon roared in agreement, making the ground shake beneath him.
"Red Dragon Archfiend, let's turn this duel around! Attack Big Benki! Absolute Powerforce!" Red Dragon roared, lowered it's head and with a flap of its massive wings, charged at Big Benki. It opened its palm, which exploded with flames. It slammed its palm into Big Benki. Benki blocked the blow with its glaive causing an explosion to rip through the ground and scatter dust across the playground. Yuno and Ronin both raised their arms to shield themselves from the shockwave.
"Moron! Even the legendary Red Dragon Archfiend can't beat my Big Benki's DEF!"
|Yuno: |
|3000 » 2500|
"Maybe not, but his special effect can!"
"What?!"
"Red Dragon Archfiend, go! Fiend Meteor!"
Red Dragon roared, twisting its body and soaring upwards. It's wings glowed with crimson fire and, with a flap, it shot flaming meteors down upon Ronin's monsters. His field was covered in explosions and flames as the meteors tore through his Superheavy Samurais, destroying both of them a leaving his field wipe open.
"W-wh-what happened to my monsters?!"
Red Dragon Archfiend returned to its place before Yuno as he explained, "After Red Dragon Archfiend battles a Defense Position monster, it destroys all Defense Position monsters on your field!"
"That's not-"
"That leaves your field wide open! Odd-Eyes, you're up!" Odd-Eye roared. It's chest swelled as black and red flames spewed out from its mouth. "Direct Attack! Odd-Eyes, hit him with Spiral Flame Strike!" Odd-Eyes lowered it's head and shot a spiraling stream of black and red fire that flew at Ronin, engulfing him in flames.
"AARGHHHH!" Ronin flew backwards, falling over himself and crashing onto the ground.
|Ronin: |
|4000 » 1500|
"Arhg...s-since I took battle damage, I can summon Superheavy Samurai Prepped Defense (ATK:100/DEF:2100) from my hand in defense mode..." He weakly slid a card onto the field, and a pink and green robot appeared in the field. It twirled its glaive between its hands like a baton and held it across its chest defensively.
"I set one card face down and end my turn. You're up Ronin."
|Turn 5: |
|Ronin: 1500|
|Yuno: 2500|
Ronin pulled himself to his feet, growling. "You'll pay for this you runt! I draw!" Ronin lowered the card and sneered. "This is the end for you and your dragon! Since I don't have any cards in my Graveyard, I can Special Summon my second Big Waraji!"
"Another one?"
"You got that right Yuno!" He summoned forth Big Waraji (ATK:800/DEF:1800), taking its place beside Prepped Defense. "Next I Special Summon my Superheavy Samurai Trumpeter! (ATK:300/DEF:300)" He slapped out a second card, which transformed into a small red robot carrying a large conch shell like trumpet. "I can Special Summon
Trumpeter when I don't have a spell or trap cards in my Graveyard."
"I tune my Level 2 Trumpeter to my Level 5 Big Waraji and Level 3 Prepped Defense!"
Trumpeter split into two green rings that hovered above Ronin's hand. The other two machines entered the rings, transforming into 8 balls of light that burst into a pillar of light.
"Now I Synchro Summon the Level 10 Superheavy Samurai Warlord Susanowo! (ATK:2400/DEF:3600)" A new Machine burst from the light, crashing into the ground and sending chunks of earth flying everywhere. The monster stood up straight, it's green and golden armor gleaming in the evening sun. Susanowo's red eyes lit up and it lowered it's naginata to point it at Red Dragon Archfiend. "Now I will equip Susanowo with Superheavy Samurai Soulbeads!" He slid the cards into the spell compartment of his duel disk. First, a red ring of beads with a magatama in the center appeared around Susanowo's neck.
"Okay, what does that do?"
"HA HA HA! As long as my Samurai had it's Soulbeads, it can't be destroyed by battle or card effects once per turn! So," Ronin jabbed a fat finger at Red Dragon, and boasted, "Meaning your Archfiend is useless!"
"What?!"
Canon added her valuable input: "Oh well, that's not good."
"Susanowo, destroy that Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon first!" Susanowo's eyes shined and its massive body groaned into life. It stomped across the field towards Odd-Eyes, who roared defiantly and charged at Susanowo. The dragon shot a spiraling stream of searing flames that Susanowo simply cleaved apart using its naginata. The robot's body creaked as it raised its weapon above its head, it spun the weapon over its head and swung it down, cleaving through Odd-Eyes' chest.
"Odd-Eyes! Ahhhgghh!" Yuno covered his face as dust blew into his eyes.
|Yuno: |
|2500 » 1400|
"Next, I activate Susanowo's ability! It lets me take your face down and put it on MY field!"
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me."
"Hand it over wuss." Yuno grumbled, inputting some commands in his duel disk. After a moment, the Yuno's face down vanished, reappearing on Ronin's field. "Great, now let's see what it was..."
"That's-!"
"Hmmm...'Red Carpet' huh? It's no use to me, but more importantly," Ronin sneered, "It's no use to you!"
"You!"
"I end my turn. You're up, wimp."
|Turn 6: |
|Ronin: 1500|
|Yuno: 1400|
"I draw!"
Yuno looked at his card and his heart soared. "I've got this game in the bag!"
"You're bluffing! There's no way you can beat my Susanowo!
"Watch me! I Pendulum Summon Odd-Eyes back from my Extra Deck!" The red dragon leapt out of it's card and landed next to Red Dragon Archfiend, howling to announce its arrival on the scene. {Level 7-ATK:2500/DEF:2000} "Unfortunately, this means that Odd-Eyes Synchron suffers from a Pendulum Break, but it's all worth it to win this duel." Yuno slid Odd-Eyes Synchron into his graveyard before grabbing his next card. "Next I activate my spell card Pendulum Fusion!"
"Pendulum Fusion?"
"With this I can Fusion Summon a monster using cards I control and cards in my Pendulum Zones! So I fuse my Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon with my Odd-Eyes Persona Dragon!" The two dragons flew up from their positions and began circling one another, turning blue and orange and swirling into each other. A purple light shot forth from the vortex of colors, and out from the light came a green dragon with two sets of bright orange wings. It roared and soared into the sky, turning over and diving head first, descending to the ground in a tornado, dismissing the tornado by extending it's wings and roaring once more.
"I Fusion Summon, Odd-Eyes Vortex Dragon {Level 7-ATK:2500/DEF:3000}!"
"That weakling still can't stop my Susanowo!"
"That's where you're wrong!" Yuno pointed his palm at Ronin. "Once Vortex Dragon hits the field, it's effect activates and I get to send one monster on your field and back to your hand!"
"Don't tell me-"
"That's right! I'm returning your Susanowo to your Extra Deck!"
"You can't!" Ronin screeched in terror!
"Oh yes I can! Go Vortex Dragon, use your Dragonic Whirlwind to clear a path for Red Dragon Archfiend!" Vortex Dragon's mismatched eyes gleamed and it lifted off the ground. Forming a tornado with its wings, Vortex screeched and flung the tornado at Susanowo, who tried to protect itself with its arms, only to be blown away!
Ronin fell backwards, crawling away from Red Dragon Archfiend. "Don't do this! N-no! Stop it!"
"No mercy!" Yuno pointed at Ronin and roared, "Direct Attack! Absolute Powerforce!" Red Dragon howled and charged. It's fist alight in flames, it rammed it's flaming fist into Ronin.
"AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Ronin was sent tumbling backwards. He crashed against the ground, bouncing so hard that his duel disk flew off his arm, snapping against the ground and scattering cards all over the duel field.
|Ronin: |
|1500 » 0|
"Phew..." Yuno wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, his duel disk flashing 'WIN' across its screen. "Looks like that's gam-"
"Congratulations!" Yuno was suddenly cushioned by softness on all sides. The three Divas had surrounded Yuno, holding him in a tight bear hug. Mozarta nuzzled her chin into his hair. "I knew you could do it!"
"T-thanks Mozarta...and sorry about earlier."
"It's alright dear, I understand."
"Way to go Nono!" Canon chuckled, thumping Yuno on the chest. "Heh."
Yuno thumped her back. "Glad to see you're as supportive as ever Canon."
"I aim to please." Canon fell silent, rubbing her head. "I feel like we're forgetting something."
"...Ronin!" Yuno broke out of the bear hug and ran to where Ronin sat. He was crawling about, picking up his cards. He turned and glared at Yuno, making him stop in his tracks. "Do you need any help?"
"What does it look like? Of course, I do!"
"Right, sorry. I'll-"
Ronin slapped Yuno's hand away from Superheavy Samurai Soulbang Cannon. "I don't need your stinking help! Just go away already!"
"You're a right ray of sunshine." Yuno growled. He turned on his heel to leave, but stopped to say, over his shoulder, "That was a fun duel."
"Whatever." Ronin picked up his last card, shuffling them all together into a big pile. He slid the stack into his deck box and walked off the Duel field, he didn't look back at Yuno as he left.
Mozarta walked up to Yuno, patting him on the back. "You did good Yuno, Yurren would be proud."
"Heh, thanks Mozarta."
Canon scratched the back of her head. She strolled up to Yuno and Mozarta, mumbling, "I still feel like we're forgetting something though..."
"...!" Soprano leapt forward and pulled at Moza's sleeves.
"What is it dear?"
Soprano put the tips of her index and thumb together and held her hand above her shoulder while spreading out her other fingers, making it look like she had
flowers on he-
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Mozarta grabbed her head and screamed in terror, making everyone jump! "WE LOST PRIMA!"
"Pr-prim-?"
Canon slammed her palm against her face! "I forgot all about her!"
"YOU MEAN WE CAN'T FIND PRIMA!?" Yuno yelled back, eyes wide in terror.
"I-if w-w-we c-a-ca-can't find her..."
"YURREN'S GOING TO KILL US!"
"Okay, okay we need a plan! You three look around the school yard and bus stops! I'll check inside!" Yuno, without waiting for an answer, ran off to the school building. He could already feel sweat spilling down his face as he threw open the doors and ran down the hall. He was honestly more worried about what Yurren would do to him if they didn't find Prima than he was during the duel. Yuno peeked within the windows of classrooms he ran by, but each one was empty. "Come on, come on! Where are you?"
A faint groaning reached his ears. Yuno spun around, skidding around a corner to see a gaggle of girls all huddled around the vending machine. "What the hell? No one's used that thing since they stuffed it with nothing but health food..." Yuno approached the girls and peered over their shoulders to see a small girl dressed in a flowery dress with flowers attached to her shoulders. Her eyes were closed and her stomach engorged, making her look pregnant. Food wrappers littered the floor around her and crumbs lingered on her lips. "Prima!" Yuno pushed through the crowd and dropped beside her.
Prima slowly opened her eyes and fixed her hazy gaze upon Yuno. "Uugghh...Y-yuno..."
"Prima, what happened?"
"T-tell...Ruugh...te-tell Yurren...I'm so-sorry..."
"Sorry? Sorry for what?!"
"I-I...ruined my...appetite...blegh" She fell back on the floor, tongune flopping out.
Yuno starred at tiny Prima, stunned into disbelief. He looked up to the girls and asked, "What happened to her?"
A brunette who was in Yuno's second period class, named Amy spoke up. "Oh I know! I started it!"
"Started what?"
"Oh well..."
[School had just ended, so I ran to the bathroom before going to Tennis practice. But since I forgot that it was cancelled today and that I forgot my phone, I just had to wait around for my Daddy to pick me up. Wait...what was-Oh okay! So I came out of the bathroom right? And I saw this weird little girl with green skin and blue hair and wearing just the cutest little dress ever! Oh she was so small and cute I just wanted to hug her up!
Anyway so like, she was standing in front of the vending machine and her belly was growling, you know, going 'grrrr' and stuff. I went up to her and like, I asked, "What's wrong little girl?"
And she was like, "I'm hungry, but I can't get this thing to work!" She then punched the glass really, really hard!
"You can't break into a vending machine, it's impossible!"
"It is?"
"Yes! You need money!"
"Oh..." The girl rubbed her belly and looked sad. "Yurren doesn't give me money anymore. He says I need to earn it back by being responsible first and that I shouldn't waste all my money on unhealthy snacks."
"EWW! Your daddy sounds like my step-mom and I hate that bitch!" And like, the girl looked at me funny, I guess it's because like, we had something in common,
I guess. "You know, I have lots of money, how about I buy you some snacks."
"R-really? Oh thank you so much!" A-and the girl jumped up and down and it was friggin' adroable! So I bought her a protein bar and O-M-G you should have seen her eat it! I-it reminded me of my hamster at home! It-its like, she held it like, in her hands and nibbled at it and it made she cheeks super puffed up, like my hamster at home, and her eyes got super big and cute and it was just the most adorable thing I've seen all day! After she finished her bar, I bought her another one so I could see that awesome cuteness again! Then I texted my friends, because like, I remembered I actaully didn't forget my phone, to come see this cutey-pie's hamster face, and we all just kept buying her snacks! It was so cute!]
Yuno starred at Amy, mouth gaping. He...he just...he couldn't. What the actual fu-
"Blargh...Y-yuno..." Prima tugged at his sleeves. "I think...Yu-Yurren knows...w-what he's talking about..." She belched loudly and fell back down.
"AAAAWWWWWWWWWWWW!" The girls around Prima squealed and crowded around closer.
"She's so cute!"
"Look at her little face~!"
"She burped like a baby doll~!"
"What kind of doll burps like tha-"
Yuno stood over Prima, trying to push some of the girls back. "She's not a toy!"
"Blergh."
The girls brushed past Yuno, throwing him aside to grab Prima and cuddle her up. Yuno deployed his duel disk and summoned Xiangsheng Magician. "Xiangsheng, go find Mozarta and the others!" Xiangsheng nodded and ran off. Yuno took another breath and tried to jump into the group of girls. There were general noises of disdain and annoyance as they pushed him back.
"He's got his duel disk out!"
"So he wants to duel then?"
"Fine! Let's all take him!"
"...w-wait wha-" Yuno wasn't ready for this. "N-no I was just-"
The whirring of no less than twenty duel disks powering on filled the hallway as the group of girls all focused their attention onto Yuno.
A blonde girl pulled a card from her duel disk. "I'll go first! By discarding my entire hand I can Special Summon Rocket Arrow Express {Level 10-ATK:5000/DEF:0} in Attack Mode!"
"Ah shit, here we go again..."
"I activate Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend's effect!" Yuno pointed at the gaggle of girls. "He destroys all Special Summoned monsters and deals 500 points of damage to my opponents! Meaning you all take about...5500 points of damage! I've won!"
The girls gasped and swore loudly, many of them groaning and throwing their cards to the ground.
"He beat us in one turn..."
"That card must be illegal!"
Yuno slid his deck back into it's box and deactivated his disk. "I won fair and square, now leave Prima alone!"
"Whaaaat? I don't recall saying I'd leave her alone if you won~" Amy replied mockingly, bending over Prima to pat her head.
"You've got to be kidding me!"
"No I'm Amy."
Yuno opened his mouth to respond, but was cut off by the arrival of none other than Canon, Xiangsheng just behind her. "Hey, Nono. Where's Prima?"
Yuno pointed at the gaggle of girls wordlessly and Canon admired them with a look of utter confusion. "What are they doing?"
"They stuffed her with food and won't let her leave."
Canon recoiled. "Ugh, I don't like it." She grunted. "Sounds like they're a bunch of entitled brats."
"What did you just-"
Canon ignored their protests and plowed trhrugh the gaggle. She dismissed their complaints and shoved girl after girl aside, finally reaching Prima in the center and lifting her up in her arms. The girls voiced their irritation, but Canon just forced her way back through to Yuno. "Why couldn't you do this yourself?"
"...W-well..." Yuno looked at the girls, lips pursed. If he was being honest, his social standing wasn't exactly amazing to begin with and he'd rather not upset the most prominent and powerful group of people in the school: girls.
"It's because your weak!" Canon poked Yuno in the chest.
"Oy!"
Canon cackled. "Let's go home weakling."
"I'm not weak! Dammit, wait up!"
Yurren was not happy.
"So let me get this straight," he growled, rubbing Prima's engorged stomach as she moaned in pain and fluffing up his pillows to make her more comfortable.
"Not only did you lose track of Prima, but you also let her eat an absurd amount of junk food. Not only that, but you let a group of middle schoolers play with her like was a toy."
"We-well, to be fair Yurren, it was all health food-"
Yurren cut off Yuno, "That doesn't make it any better!" Yurren hissed and rubbed his temples. "Do you know how long it will take for her to digest all this food?
Duel spirits don't use the bathroom Yuno!"
"I-I kno-"
"You know what that means Yuno?"
"I-"
"That means that they don't produce waste Yuno! Do you know what THAT means?"
"I d-don't li-"
"THAT means that they use everything they eat as energy Yuno! And THAT means everything they don't use is stored as excess energy! And do you know what having
excess energy means Yuno?"
"That you'll stop asking rhetorical-"
"THAT means that they could (potentially) get fat! And being fat isn't healthy Yuno! It's VERY unhealthy! It reduces lifespans Yuno! If Prima dies by age 30 I'm going to beat your ass so hard-!"
"Why the hell are you even getting on to me?" Yuno jabbed his finger at Mozarta, Canon, and Soprano who were all standing in the corner and trying to look small.
"They're the ones that lost her!"
"I'm getting onto all of you!"
"Then why do you keep addressing me?!"
"You deserve it."
"WHAT THE HELL?!"
"Blarg...uggh..." Prima reached up to Yurren, who clutched her hand suddenly. "Y-Yuuu..."
"What is it Prima?"
"S-ssscorree..." She groaned. "I-I w-want Scooore." Yurren nodded and gestured wordlessly to Elegy, who nodded and left his bedroom returning just a moment later with Score.
Score was wringing her hands and looked worried. She peeked over the top of the bed at Prima. "Wh-what is it?"
"Sscooore! *Urrp!* I'm fat...ugh..."
"I-I see that."
Prima slowly shook her head, looking very, very serious. "I'm n-not happy..."
"...oh-oh. Oh! Oooh, oh-okay that's-" Score looked at Yurren. When he looked back at her, she turned away, blushing.
"...I'm fixing nothing but salads for the next week."
"Come on Yurren that's not fair-!"
"YOU BROUGHT THIS UPON YOURSELVES!"
The next week was filled with nothing but dishes of various salads and vegetables. It was truly a week of nothing but suffering.