Crystal


The last light of the setting sun had turned the lands around the ruins of the palace of Minos a shade of blood red. The winds howled, causing the trees around the ruins to rustle ominously. Odd, purple storm clouds blanketed the sky as if drawn to the ruins by some fell purpose. Crystal, still in her party dress, shivered, feeling the cold chill caress her exposed shoulders and legs. "Shit," she muttered as the ruins came into view. Bailey was right behind her, pointing her AR-15 this way and that, searching for enemies. She would rather they be on the road to Heraklion; but, no, curiosity always got the best of her comrades, and they had to follow the mysterious note here of all places.

Patty had her arm around Jeannie, still trembling from their terrifying encounter with the mercenaries on the road, and Melody trailed behind holding Rinyan in her arms. They were a little calmer now, knowing the mercenaries who chased them were all gone, thanks to the Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight Bailey summoned.

But Jeannie was far from feeling safe. She may have had a young mind, but even she knew Brett was resourceful, well-funded, and determined, and he was sure to have more men scattered all over Crete looking for them and The Winged Dragon of Ra. Deep down, she hoped the stranger who delivered them that note was friendly and would get them out of this mess.

"I don't see him anywhere," Crystal said over the howling wind.

Bailey held her rifle up, keeping her eye glued to the scope. "I don't like the looks of this place." Her boots crunched on the pebbles beneath her feet. The sling of her rifle clanked on her wrist.

"It's getting dark," Jeannie said weakly. "Maybe we should go back."

"Go back where?" Bailey asked. "Nowhere is safe. Especially not these ruins."

"Still," Patty said, feeding Jeannie a gumball from her pocket to calm her. "At least Brett's mercenaries won't come here looking for us."

"I'd rather we run into them," Melody said coldly. She squeezed Rinyan, feeling the creature shiver. She had been to the palace of Minos before, and would always have a sense of wonder seeing the place. But there was something fouling the landmark with darkness. "I can't have this sneaking suspicion that we're about to run into something worse."

Jeannie whimpered. "I'm scared," she sobbed.

Patty held her tighter and frowned at Melody. "Thanks for cheering her up, Melody. You have such a way with words."

"I don't care," she responded sternly. "I'm done playing babysitter."

Bailey lowered her weapon. "I agree. Melody is just telling it like it is. If Jeannie doesn't like it, she has to grow up. It's time for you to start acting like a big girl. You can't go around behaving like this every time there's trouble. You have to be strong, otherwise, the bad guys will win. Got it!"

Jeannie nodded her head. She slowly released herself from Patty's embrace. "You're right. Be strong."

"Atta girl," said Crystal. "I'm proud of you."

Once they stepped into the ruins, the world around them turned strange. The purple clouds swirled directly over the palace of Minos. The eye of the storm erupted a bright, purplish, light. The ruins suddenly rebuilt themselves but their structures looked purple-orange in color. Amber-colored sparkles hovered in the air.

"What is going on!" shouted Patty.

"This is shadow magic!" shouted Bailey. "This place has been cursed! We never should have come here!"

"But I am so glad you did," Aigami said, walking out of the lead entrance to the palace, now fully rebuilt with orange-colored walls and columns.

Bailey pointed her weapon at him. "Who the hell are you!?" she shouted. She froze, recognizing one of the Eyar. She bowed. "Forgive me," she said. "Lord Aigami!"

"You know him?" cried Patty.

"He's one of the Eyar," Melody said, also bowing before him. "They are powerful wizards sent down by the Goddesses to aid our world. But some of them have turned to evil. Lord Aigami, I hope that ill will is not your intent."

"It better not be," said Bailey, looking up at him. "Eyar or not, if your business is with the Golden Egg, it better be peaceful. I will not hesitate to do you harm, My Lord."

"There is no need for violence," Aigami said, holding up a pacifying hand. "I wish to avoid that at all costs, so long as you cooperate and come with me."

"Where?" Crystal asked, having no doubt in her mind this Aigami character was here for her, and possibly Patty, who had something to do with this mystery as well. Anyone with any association with this 'Shadow Realm' seemed to be after her.

"Back to Termnnia where you belong," Aigami said, not surprising Crystal one bit. He grinned. "But, I can tell you are going to be resistant. So, how about a Duel? You win, you continue on. I win, then you go with me, no questions asked. Oh, and, if you go back on your word, your friends disappear."

"What!" Bailey shouted. "You can't be!" She screamed, watching in horror as he rifle evaporated into nothing. "Oh shit! I think he means it, Crystal!"

"You can't do this!" Crystal shouted. "Look, I know how important it must be to have me back. I get it. I hatched from some magical golden egg. And Patty...well, I don't know what's up with Patty, but it must also be important if you people have gone through all the trouble to capture her as well. I'll Duel you, but you must leave my friends alone."

Aigami laughed. "Cooperate with my terms and they will not be harmed. Now, look around you. As you can see, this place has been shifted to a place between dimensions! This Duel will be a different dimension Duel!"

A Duel Disk made of bright orange cubes appeared before Aigami with a wave of his hand. It positioned itself in front of him and remained there instead of being locked on his arm as traditional Duel Disk

"Whatever the hell that means!" Crystal said, turning on her Duel Disk. She examined her cards and noticed they looked strange. Their level was gone. "What in the world?" she said. "I can summon high-level monsters without their costs?"

"Yes," Aigami said with a nod of his head. "This is Dimension Duel, meaning we can summon powerful monsters without paying for their cost. And, furthermore, you are allowed to choose your monsters attack and defense points by using your spirit energy. But, you cannot exceed your monster's original point total."

"That seems easy to understand," Crystal said. She placed her fingers on the top of her deck and drew her first card. "Dimension Summon," she said. Her body was enveloped with a bluish-aura as she forced everything she had into the monster she was about to summon. "Chaos Emperor Dragon-Envoy of the End!" she shouted, summoning her favorite monster. A pillar of fire erupted behind Crystal, then Chaos Emperor Dragon-Envoy of the End burst from the flames, spreading his wings and letting out a thunderous roaring that caused many columns of the palace to crack, some even crumbled to the ground.

"Impressive," said Aigami. "Your spirit energy allowed you to summon your monster with its attack points to the max. But, you should also know, that in a Dimension Duel, we take battle damage equal to our monster's attack points." He reached into one of the cubes in his Duel Disk and pulled out a card. "Remember that well, Crystal. Dimension Summon! Watch as I bring forth a monster who will send you to the lowest dimension! Behold, Vijam, the Cubic Seed!"

Crystal cringed once the strange creature morphed behind Aigami. It seemed shapeless with an egg-shaped base with a big eye in the center, two random wings, and a dark-blue appendage with another eye on the top. Its form didn't scare her as much as its attack points.

Zero.

If there was one thing she knew, nobody would summon monsters with no attack points unless they had a special surprise for the opponent. But she was trapped in a strange dimension and wanted out. Aigami set four cards face-down, making her worry even more. But she could not just sit idly by and wait for him to do something, otherwise, she could lose. But then again, if she attacked with his back row almost full, she would most certainly walk into a devastating trap that could cost her the match.

"Zero attack points," Patty muttered, holding Jeannie closely. "Be careful, Crystal. One wrong move and we're all goners."

"My turn," Crystal yelled. "I use the spell, Trade In, by discarding a level eight monster, I can draw two cards. Next, I use another spell, Return of the Dragon Lords, to bring back the dragon I just discarded. Rise, Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand." Crystal charged her spirit energy to summon her next monster. She pumped her fist and growled, forcing every last bit of her will to make the monster come out with maximum stats. "Dimension Summon!" she called out. "Chaos Emperor, the Armaggedon Dragon!" Again, she summoned her high-level monster easily and without the need of banishing a light and dark monster from her Graveyard.

She ordered her Envoy of the End to attack first. Chaos Emperor unleashed his jet of golden flames at the strange monster. Aigami smiled, for he hoped - no, knew - that she would make such a move. Vijam disappeared and the flames struck the ground behind Aigami. His hair and robes flapped violently from the blast.

"He vanished!" Jeannie cried. "What happened!"

"Hmph," Aigami snicked. "Vijam disappeared into a dimension where you can't harm it. And in addition - look!" He pointed at Crystal to look behind her.

She did, what she saw horrified her. Chaos Emperor Dragon was losing his color and sickly, black-ish orange cubes billowed off his body as he stiffened like a statue. "What the hell?" she cried. "What's happening!"

"When a monster that does battle with Vijam," Aigami explained, "it cannot activate its effects or attack. In other words, he's been un-dimensionalized, rendering him absolutely useless." He laughed maniacally.

"Hmm, nice trick your monster's got there," Crystal said, trying to act unphased. It's not the first time her monsters were bound by some spell, but she had to be careful. "But I still have my Armageddon Dragon to attack."

Chaos Emperor, the Armageddon Dragon heaved a jet of blue flames. Aigami was quick with a counter. "Nice play," he said. "Trap, activate! Cubic Ascension! It allows me to summon Vijam and forces your dragon to do battle with it!"

Vijam materialized from a mist of orange cubes. Then, as quickly as it appeared, it vanished once the flames came close. The flames dashed through another orange veil of cubes, smashing the ground behind Aigami. The palace could take the impact no more and began to crumble. Another pillar fell, followed by a room on the second floor. Just as before, her dragon was immobilized by Vijam's attack.

"You're starting to bug me, Aigami!" Crystal growled. Her patience was at an end. "Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand, attack him now!"

Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand took off into the sky. Its wingbeat was like thunder. The winds he created had the force of a light hurricane, knocking down trees and causing cracks in the palace's foundation. The frescos on the walls (Not the ones tarnished by a certain amateur archaeologist) crumbled into dust.

Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand charged a laser beam as bright as the sun. Aigami stood there, calmly, as the hot ray hit him. There was a massive explosion that caused a mushroom cloud. The palace collapsed with only a few levels remaining. Patty, Melody, Jeannie, and Bailey screamed, shielding themselves from the blast. Crystal stood still, feeling confident that the attack was enough to make Aigami submit. She did not expect the chuckle coming from the smoke.

Aigami laughed. "I expected nothing less, from you! I've activated my trap, Cubic Rebirth. Your attack was rendered useless, and now a third Vijam is called out. In exchange for this gift, you can summon two monsters from your hand." Van Dalgyon the Dark Dragon Lord appeared as did Tyrant Dragon. Two powerful dragons who would be also be un-dimensionalized by the Trap Card that Aigami played. They all became dull and gray, and their effects were canceled. To make matters worse, their ATK was reduced to 0. Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand also fell ill to the spell.

"No!" Crystal gasped. "My dragons!" She looked at Aigami, who stood proudly on his spot with a sinister sneer that bared his teeth. Crystal hung her head shamefully and placed a card face-down. "I end my turn," she said mournfully. "Your move."

"Indeed it is," said Aigami. "I draw. And now my three Vijams return and will combine to form, Dark Garnex the Cubic Beast!"

The three Vijam's eyes rolled to the back of their sockets as they morphed into a heavily armored beast with a great, big, eye on the top of its head. It growled like a beast from hell. The eye darted wildly from left to right and then up and down before looking down at Crystal. Its attack was 0, but Crystal knew it wouldn't remain that way for long. The three Vijam monsters it was made from gave it an extra 1000 attack points. Dark Garnex formed a whip of cubes made from blue light. It snapped the deadly weapon at Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand, smashing him to pieces.

"It's not over yet!" Aigami announced. "For when Dark Garnex attacks and destroys a monster, it transforms back into three Vijams. "Now, I'll combine them again to form into the Cubic Beast, Blade Garoodia!"

The three Vijams formed into a bird-like mechanical beast with burning green eyes and two drum-like contraptions floating on either side of it. Its attack rose to 2000. Once Aigami ordered the attack, Garoodia placed two purple crescent blades on the drums after they started to spin. A cube of light formed on the center of the crest over its head. It launched blades of light at Tyrant Dragon and Van Dalgyon. Both monsters were obliterated, leaving Crystal with only a few more dragons left. Aigami's Garoodia deformed again after the attack, but he transformed them into a more powerful beast.

Buster Gundil the Cubic Behemoth. It was monstrous in size, looking more like a collection of round shapes and tall pillars and chapels with a big eye on the center. The ATK started at 0 but rose to 3000. He decimated the last two dragons with a laser beam of cubic shapes swirling over it like a river. The two Chaos Emperors were decimated and Crystal was launched into the air. She flew a dozen feet backward and landed hard on her back, sliding to a stop.

Buster Gundil was ready for another attack, but Crystal activated her trap which prevented him from attacking. "It's called Counter Gate!" Crystal said weakly. She coughed, spitting out drops of blood. She wiped her chin with her forearm. "It stops your attack and I can draw a card. If it's a monster, I can summon it."

"I think not," laughed Aigami. "My Trap Card, Cubic Mandala. It will bring back your undimensionalized dragons. Now, you can't summon any monsters."

Crystal's diseased dragons came out of the ground, forming a macabre structure behind her. "No," she whispered. "My friends. My home. I lose it all." She wanted to quit, but then, she saw Yuri smiling at her as he sat on the beach of their favorite hiding spot when they were younger. She remembered them building a sandcastle. Swimming naked in the surf. Their first kiss.

"Yuri..." she whispered. "I won't quit. I've come too far. I won't allow it to end this way. I need your help." The top card of her deck burst into flames. Crystal placed her fingers on it and felt a great power surge through her body. "You sent him to me, didn't you?" she said smiling. "He obeyed you, huh? I know it was you. You little rascal. I'll find you. But first, I have to kick this guy's ass."

She pulled the card off. Tyrant Dragon and the two Chaos Emperors started glowing.

"What's happening?" Aigami cried. "What's this?"

The ground began to crack open behind Crystal. It grew wider and wider until the entire palace sunk into the depths of the earth. A wall of holy flames erupted from behind Crystal, and from them, a colossal golden dragon with the appearance of a falcon burst through the fire and gave a loud, metallic screech that caused the mountains to crumble.

The dragon absorbed the attack power of the three monsters, it's holy flames blessing their bodies and curing them of the Cubic monsters. It was ignoring the very rules of the game as though it did not care for it. But why should it? It was a Divine Beast, the greatest of all monsters. They were not going to let the rules of the game restrict them from using their power. Aigami trembled, his teeth chattered uncontrollably as the dragon's ATK and DEF rose to 8900.

"But how!" Aigami cried. "N-n-no! That just isn't fair! My trap card prevents your monsters from using their effects."

"You're a fool to think he's a regular monster," Crystal said coldly, her hair was glowing and flayed wildly behind her. "Winged Dragon of Ra, destroy his monster! Blaze Cannon!"

The Winged Dragon of Ra flew hundreds of feet into the air with one flap of its mighty golden wings. He shrieked one last time and charged his fiery beam. The attack hit Buster Gundil. For a moment it hovered there, shivering in the intense flames burning at 1.4 megakelvins. Then, pieces of the misshapen monster began to flake off its body. It finally exploded, sending Aigami flying back dozens of feet into the ruins of the palace.

They had returned to normal. Ra's divine power released Crystal and her friends from the dark dimension Aigami had trapped them in. He hit his back against one of the walls with a loud smack. His Life Points dwindled, but he still had enough to continue the match. But he could not. Not even the most destructive of his Cubic Monsters had the power to contend with a Divine Beast of Termnnia.

He smiled, extended his right arm, and grabbed his cloak from out of thin air, wrapping it over his shoulders and drawing the hood over his head. "We'll settle this another time," he said. "Until then, this Duel is postponed." He dashed out of the ruins and sprinted into the night.

"Hey! Come back!" Crystal shouted. Too late. Aigami was gone. "COWARD!" she roared into the hillside. The Winged Dragon of Ra extended his wings and let out one final cry before it evaporated into flames and dispersed into a million tiny embers that gently floated away towards Crystal where they orbited around her body.

"Wh-wh-what!" Jeannie stammered, shivering in Patty's arms. "What was that?"

"So that's a Divine Beast of the High King," Melody whispered, legs trembling with horror and awe as the images of the dragon flashed before her eyes. "Incredible power."

"Hmph," Bailey grunted. "Next time I say we go somewhere, we go. No more shortcuts. You girls have a bad sense of judgment. We make for Heraklion. And this time no more stops."

After their encounter with Aigami, they would not dare argue with her. Though Crystal had won the Duel, they were still baffled at how random their encounter with Aigami was. He failed to get Crystal to come with him, though he was quite close to achieving that goal.

His Cubic Monsters were out of this world and loaded with crazy effects. Had it not been for Ra, they began to wonder if they would even exist by now if Crystal was lost. Even though their meeting was brief, each of them knew Aigami would stay true to his promise. This would not be the last time they would encounter him.

"Now I know why Brett wants that card," Patty finally said after a long drive in silence. By now, Bailey had made it to Heraklion. "If that's what he can do as a card, what can he do outside of it."

"Give Brett enough power to rule this world," Melody answered. "Now that the line of High Kings is over, they are no longer bound by their pact and can serve anyone. I would hate to think of that noble creature in that hand of vermin like your ex-boyfriend, Crystal."

"Perhaps it's best if you do go home," Jeannie said, her clothes drenched and sticking to her skin with cold sweat. "There are bad people everywhere looking for that card. Maybe Yuri knew some people in his homeworld who can keep you and the Winged Dragon of Ra safe."

"That's out of the question!" Crystal snapped. "I don't want to go where Yuri came from. When last I checked, the people who killed him are in power. What hopes would I have being taken there? No. We continue on our quest to find more Duelists for Ren's team. We stick to the plan. But first, we get the hell off this God-forsaken island and board the next flight out of Greece so we can get to Peru. The sooner the better."

"I sure hope you know what you're doing, Crystal," Bailey said, looking for a place to park. "Every second you're here, that's one-second closer the Winged Dragon goes to being caught by Brett or Aigami, or who knows how much worse. Melody, any luck on those tickets."

"Good news and bad news, I'm afraid," she said, booking their flights on her phone. "We can get catch a flight but it leaves tomorrow afternoon, meaning we have to endure the night here. I'm sure Brett and his goons would be searching the port by then."

"Shit," Bailey cursed, banging her fist on the steering wheel. "Well, we can't go any farther in a bullet-ridden vehicle. I'll have to leave it behind."

"You mean we have to walk?" Jeannie asked timidly.

"Yes!" Bailey shouted. "Grow up, will you?"

"Don't yell at her!" Patty shouted back. "She's scared!"

Bailey countered and then they all started to argue.

"Stop! Stop! Stop!" Crystal roared. "SHUT UP! Geeze! We're not going to solve anything getting at each other's throats. Bailey, you know people, right? Especially around this region. There's gotta be a safe house or something you and your Ops teams used while operating here, right?"

"Around Greece especially, yes," Bailey agreed. "You won't believe how many Termnnians cause trouble here. Two years ago, two adolescent numskulls got so wasted they accidentally conjured a Summoned Skull and a Dark Magician who started a ruckus by the Chania lighthouse with a Summoner's brawl. My father and I worked all night on that one. Had to erase the memories of a hundred students on holiday, as well as a few tourists."

"Wow," chuckled Patty. "Any damage?"

"Just some broken furniture," Bailey answered. "But we made the culprits look like they did it, so no harm done. Magicians and alcohol do not mix. Believe me, I know. When I was a little girl, I summoned a Hinotama Soul when I was playing with a candle. I discovered my gift but burned down the barn that stood on our lands for hundreds of years. I was also a little woozy on the malt wine I discovered in my father's cellar."

"You don't play around, huh?" laughed Crystal. "Nice story, but what about that safe house? Do you have one or not?"

Bailey parked the SUV. "It's a ways from here," she answered, turning off the vehicle. "It's not much, but it should get us through the night without any problems." She unfastened her seatbelt.

"You're going to have to get rid of that gear," Patty suggested. "The last thing we need is a chick in tactical armor making us stand out."

Bailey sighed heavily. She did not want to take off her gear, but she knew Patty was right. She ripped off the Velcro straps and took off her vest, then unfastened her holsters and pouches. "I feel naked without my gear," she said, putting on a softshell jacket and a cap.

"It's a small price to pay for some safety," said Crystal. "Come on, girls. Let's get the hell out of here."

They checked to see if they didn't leave anything important behind and finally closed the doors. Bailey left the keys in the ignition and left a note on the windshield telling anyone who came across the SUV that if they could fix it they could have it. She slipped on her over-the-shoulder backpack and led her friends on a long walk to the safe house near the water. But before they could even reach the property, soldiers slowly stalked out of the shadows, pointing their weapons at Crystal and the others.

"Oh no!" grumbled Bailey.

"Hands up, ladies!" Santiago said, leading a squad out of the alley. "Up high where I can see 'em. That's it. Good girls. Come into the light, please; nice and easy."

The mercenaries surrounded them. Santiago hounded them to a nearby wall. "Up against the wall. Hands against the wall," he ordered.

So they did.

"Search them!" he commanded. "Make it thorough. Every nook and cranny. Every crevice." The mercs cackled, wasting no time in doing what Santiago ordered them to do. Santiago went for Crystal. "You're a difficult one, Anderson," he said, removing his M-Pact gloves. He placed his hands on her ribs and patted them down. "I'm going to have so much fun watching Brett deal with you when we bring you back."

"The both of you can go to hell," Crystal growled, feeling his hands slide down to her hips and thighs. "You're such a pig! Stop that!"

"Hey, hey, be easy on her!" Patty barked at the merc searching Jeannie. "You don't have to get touchy!" Her searcher placed his whole hand on the back of her head. He squeezed her skull underneath his grip and slammed the side of her face against the brick. "Shut up!" he shouted.

"Ah, here it is," Santiago said when he found The Winged Dragon of Ra in Crystal's purse. He examined the brilliant artwork and the 3D image raising up and down. The gold surface of the card shimmered with the colors of the rainbow. "Command, this is Eagle 1 we got-" Before he could finish, a prehistoric behemoth burst from the alley and snatched Santiago with his razor-sharp teeth.

Santiago screamed, feeling the teeth dig through his gear and into his flesh. He felt as though he were being crushed by a garbage truck's compactor. His legs kicked up and down as the monster snapped his jaws keeping him stuck in his mouth. His right arm and left leg were severed by the row of sharp teeth, and fell into the cobbled street with a sick whomp!

"Black Tyranno!" Crystal gasped.

"Run! Run!" Patty shouted, pushing away the mercenary holding her down. She kicked Jeannie's mercenary in the balls and grabbed Jeannie by the wrist leading away from the carnage.

Bailey released herself from the grip of her captor. She smashed her foot against the side of his head with a powerful roundhouse kick. She turned and punched another square in the jaw. He howled and tumbled to the ground.

Bailey then punched another one, grabbed him by his Shemagh, and smashed his face against the wall. The other mercs yelled and hollered, wondering what to do against the massive beast who started to gobble them up one by one. "Hurry!" she cried. "The safe house is there next to that red boat. Run! Run!"

Crystal was about to, but she stopped realizing something precious was missing. The Winged Dragon of Ra! Santiago had it! Did Black Tyranno eat it? Miraculously, she spotted Santiago's arm on the ground, his fingers still clutching the card.

His pinky was still twitching. Crystal mustered up the courage to touch the severed limb. A mercenary was about to sneak up on her, but Black Tyranno whipped him clear across the rooftops to the other street with his tail. Crystal had to wedge the stiffened fingers off the card before she freed it from the dead man's grip. Then she sprinted as fast as her legs could take her, not caring that her skin-tight party dress started to tear.

They dashed for the safe house. Meanwhile, Black Tyranno finished the last of the mercenaries. He wiped them all out before they could fire a single shot, save for two, who dropped their weapons and jumped into the water to escape. Black Tyranno disregarded them and stomped towards Crystal and her friends. Bailey was struggling to find the keys.

"Hurry! Hurry!" Jeannie sobbed. "Oh, hurry! He's going to eat us!"

"Bailey!" shouted Melody. "Bailey come on!"

"Meow! Meow!" screeched Rinyan.

Black Tyranno roared and made his way down the port. They could feel the ground shake underneath their feet with every step he made. They could hear his breathing. Crystal screamed. "BAILEY HURRY UP HE'S COMING!"

She found it. She pushed the door open and they dashed inside. Bailey slammed the door shut and immediately rushed into the kitchen to hide. The safe house shook. The paintings on the walls waved back and forth and the glass chandelier rocked back and forth. Then, all was still. Rain began to tap against the windows and the side of the house.

"Is he...is he gone?" Jeannie whispered.

"Nobody move a muscle!" Patty cried, pressing all her weight down on Jeannie to keep her from moving. "Maybe his vision is based on movement like in the movies."

Crystal eventually gained enough courage to get up and walk to the window. She pulled the white linen curtains back and saw the creature still standing outside. He opened his mouth and let out a loud snarl. Crystal screamed and ducked to the floor. Black Tyranno made a thunderous gulping noise. Crystal could take it no more. She stood back up, pulled the curtains back again and shouted: "WHAT DO YOU WANT!"

Black Tyranno shook his head. Lights turned on all over the port side of the city. He heard voices. People were coming. With just a thought, Black Tyranno opened a white portal and jumped in. The portal closed and he was gone.

"What the hell!" Crystal wondered. The concerned folk and even law enforcement officers searched the port for any sign of the ruckus that woke them. An hour went by and they could find nothing. Soon, they all thought they were hearing things, and supposed it was a boat scratching against a metal surface. Something. Anything to keep them calm and go back to sleep. When the last citizen was gone and the police drove off, the night was silent. Black Tyranno was nowhere to be seen.

The girls took this time to clean themselves up. They showered together and changed into new clothes, feeling relieved to be free of their torn, dirty, and soaked party outfits. Bailey made them all hash and a few powdered eggs for some dinner...or breakfast, considering it was two in the morning. As Crystal's toast popped out, there was a bright flash outside, followed by stead, strong, footsteps.

"Oh no!" Jeannie wailed, ducking under the table.

Crystal, still feeling she had some unfinished business with the Black Tyranno, ripped one last piece of bacon with her teeth and marched toward the window. "I'm going to get to the bottom of this!" she said. Her nightgown flapping gracefully with each step.

Black Tyranno had returned. He just stood there, watching the house, making no sudden moves. And then, he saw Crystal at the window, glaring at him furiously. The musical pendant around her neck brought back so many memories of his former master. It calmed him. Black Tyranno wagged his massive tail from left to right, then he walked around in a small circle and curled up. He fell asleep.

"What's he doing?" Patty asked.

Crystal pursed her lips. She tapped her finger on the bottom lip as she pondered the creature's behavior. "You know something, girls? I don't think he wants to hurt us."

"Are you crazy!" Jeannie cried, holding a pillow close to her chest. "He's a dinosaur! Dinosaurs eat people!"

"Yes, but, this dinosaur was once Yuri's favorite monster," Crystal replied. "I'm starting to think about that so-called 'attack' back in Athens. I don't think he was attacking the city. I think he was trying to protect me."

Melody placed a hand on Crystal's forehead. "You must be sick or something," she said. "Did you get hit on the head on the way here?"

"I'm not crazy!" Crystal insisted. "Yuri was my best friend. I was there cheering him on in many Duels with this monster out. And this pendant around my neck. Yuri gave this to me the night he disappeared. After every match, Yuri would open this pendant and play the song inside." She held the musical pendant in her hand and opened it. The inspiring jingle of Passionate Duelist started to play. "He knows me," she said.

"You really think so?" Patty asked. She stood behind Crystal and placed both hands on her shoulders. "I can't help but start to feel the same way. And you know, if he wanted to kill us so badly, I think he would have done so by now."

"I know so," Crystal said. She headed out the door, ignoring the protests of her friends. She walked outside. The water glistened in blue sparkles from the moon as the sudden rain clouds dispersed and opened up the sky, revealing thousands of bright stars. Black Tyranno breathed heavily as he slumbered there on the street. Crystal's movements got slower and slower as she approached the Duel Monster. She knelt down in front of it. "Ahem," she said softly.

Black Tyranno's breathing stopped. He opened his eyes and raised his head. He snarled. At once, Crystal opened the pendant to play the song. Black Tyranno calmed down. "Do you know who this belonged to?" she asked.

Black Tyranno tilted his head curiously to the right. The moon made his amber eyes flash into a brilliant shade of cerulean. His black, armored flesh, turned pale gray as it was washed in silver. "Yuri," Crystal urged him. "Yuri. Do you know him? Do you remember him?" Black Tyranno nodded his head. Crystal gasped in excitement. "Can you hear me? Can you understand me?"

Again, Black Tyranno nodded his head.

"Where is he?" Crystal begged him. "Do you know where he is?"

Black Tyranno shook his head. Crystal's hopes fell in an instant.

"Is he...is he even alive?"

Much to her dismay, Black Tyranno shook his head in reply. Tears dripped down Crystal's cheeks.

"No..." she moaned. She had hoped what Ren said wasn't true. Perhaps the photos Brett showed her on the yacht were fake. But even Yuri's ace monster denied that he still lived. Crystal buried her face in her hands and wept. Black Tyranno whined sympathetically and touched her with the tip of his nose. Crystal looked up from her hands, to see the gentle nudge for herself.

"Jeannie!" cried Melody.

"Jeannie, no!" Patty called.

Jeannie walked out into the street, still clutching the pillow in her hands. She stopped midway, wondering how she could have been so dumb to approach such a thing.

"It's okay," said Crystal. "He knows me. He's actually really gentle."

Jeannie took a while to believe that, but her curiosity got the best of her. If there was one thing that always got her, it was a chance to pet exotic animals. "Can I touch it?" she asked.

"Sure, he won't mind," Crystal said. Jeannie wore nothing underneath her pale-blue t-shirt, so she set the pillow down to keep her knees shielded from the cold pavement. She placed her hand on his snout. It was surprisingly warm like a steel bar lying on the hot sun. "Wow," she said. "He's...he's so cool. Do you think we can keep him?"

"There's no doubt about it," Bailey said, approaching Black Tyranno slowly. "I have a feeling this guy is going to be hanging around with us for the long run."

Melody and Patty still cowered behind the door. "What the hell?" Melody said, shivering. "Have you all gone insane? And just how in the world are we supposed to walk around with that thing hanging beside us. And he's so big. He won't fit on the plane!"

"She has a point," Patty said. "And I don't think airport security is going to allow us to use him as a service animal."

Black Tyranno stood up. Bailey lost her footing and fell, while Jeannie held on tightly to Crystal. He took two giant steps over them, then conjured a portal. He tilted his head towards it as if telling them all to line up in front of it. Not wanting to anger the beast, Patty and Melody hurried towards it, lining up beside their friends.

"Just where in the hell will this lead us?" Bailey asked.

Without warning, Black Tyranno pushed them all into the portal. They screamed as they were tossed and turned in a world of endless white light. Where did he push them into? Where were they going? Crystal suddenly thought it was a mistake to put her trust into the beast. If she was heading towards her death, she hoped it would be a quick one.


The Masked Priest


He watched the ocean glimmering in the moonlight from the top of a mountain in Crete. The moon was very close this night and the wind was quite gentle. But the stillness of the night was broken by the metallic hum of an arcane circle that formed behind him. Someone large and dressed in a black coat walked out of it and knelt down in respect for the priest.

"What news?" he asked.

"The Winged Dragon of Ra has a new master, it seems," replied the priest. "This is going to make our operations difficult if one of Ren's friends has a God Card in their arsenal."

"We'll find the girl."

"No. Not here anyway. Her aura just vanished. Seems like something whisked her off into the void."

"What do we do now?"

"Just keep Ren from building his team and off my back. Those gates must be opened no matter what. We're so close, I can feel it!"

"Where do we go next?"

The masked priest stood up. "We go to Peru," he said. "Two gates are said to be buried there and Ren supposedly has a Duelist friend who some very powerful monsters that could pose trouble. Get rid of him."

"As you wish, My Lord."


Crystal


"This...this cannot be happening," she muttered, on the ground still in her pajamas. There were rows of palm trees above her, gently waving against a bright, blue sky. They were on a sandy beach. The water in front of her was a rich shade of turquoise. A sight she had never seen before. It was as though she was looking at a beautiful picture from a magazine. Had it not been for the red and white flag waving on the jeep parked nearby, she would never have guessed that she was in Lima, the capital city of Peru. Judging by the beaches, steep cliffs, and beautiful buildings, she concluded that they were in Miraflores where Amistad told them to meet. "How...how did this happen?"

"Seems like our friend knows teleportation," Bailey replied, sitting up. She saw Black Tyranno running towards a small forest of palms. He sat down.

"No, no, no," cried Patty. "Look at this place. Somebody is going to see him! And we gotta find a place with clothes, Jeannie pissed herself."

"Mommy...mommy," the poor girl mumbled, shivering awfully. Melody could contain herself no more and vomited on the ground. Portal travel. She hoped to never experience it again.

"I can take care of this," Bailey said. "We have units here in Peru as well." She fumbled around but forgot she left all her gear and equipment in the safe house back in Greece. "Oh, damn it!" she said. "Where's my stuff? I forgot my stuff!"

"Bad Idea anyway," said Crystal, trying to keep herself from throwing up. "I mean," her cheeks puffed. "Ahem, I mean, wouldn't your father be looking for you?"

"Oh, yeah," Bailey replied sorrowfully. "I still have the computer on my watch, though. I'll see if there are any safe houses around here."

"Good thinking," said Patty. "In the meantime, what are we going to do about him?" she pointed at the Black Tyranno, yawning as he lay under the shade of the tree. People began to take notice of him. "Uh, this is not good."

"I'll take care of the crowd," said Bailey. "You ladies deal with him in the meantime."

Crystal and her friends took a moment to collect themselves and relieve their bodies of the sickness the portal put them through. Bailey started running down the sidewalk, even though she was clad in pajamas, with her Duel Disk in hand, doing all she could to convince the crowd that the monster laying there in the trees was just a hologram, and the reason she and her friends were still in underwear and pajamas was because they were drunk from a party the night before. Many took her word for it and clapped. Others told her to show a little modesty. Children started begging their fathers for one, but it was too expensive, sitting at 5000 soles.

Crystal, Patty, Jeannie, and Melody hurried towards the Black Tyranno while the crowd was small. Black Tyranno saw them coming, and just before Crystal could mutter a word, he disappeared into a cloud of black smoke. They stopped. Where did he go? The smoke dispersed. Something was taking shape through the thick veil.

Upon close inspection, the girls grew breathless when they saw a handsome young man took Black Tyranno's place. He was kneeling on the ground. His body was well-formed and strong. He had jet black hair styled in a long comb over with a hard part and a fade. His beard was short and well-trimmed. His skin was peach-colored and shined with drops of sweat.

Crystal and her friends bit their lips and blushed. Not only was the young man easy on the eyes and as fit as a god...he was naked. He slowly turned his head at the girls and stared at them with pale, amber eyes that caused their souls to melt. He stood up, not caring that he was as bare as the day he was born.

"Black Tyranno?" Bailey said, slowly approaching the young man. "This doesn't feel real. I need to make sure if it is. Can I...can I touch...everything?"

Patty fixed her hair, as did Melody, running her hands down her head and tossing her hair over her shoulder. Jeannie blushed and giggled, unable to keep her eyes off certain...places of the man's body. Not even his six-pack could distract her from the view.

"Uh...h-h-hello," Crystal stuttered. "Um...who are you?"

"I am Tyrannus," the lad answered. "Are you Yuri's friend?"

"I am Yuri's friend!" Patty said, waving her hand. "Do you need to take me away? Cuz I am so available."

"What about Ni-ch!" Jeannie asked, but her mouth was blocked by Patty's hand.

"Which one of you is Crystal?" Tyrannus asked.

"Ugh!" Patty cried, walking away. "Why does she always get the good ones!"

Tyrannus ignored her and beckoned Crystal to step forward. She did. He asked her to open the music box around her neck. So she did and let the music play.

He nodded and hugged her. Patty and the other went red with jealousy. "I have searched all over for you," he said. "Crystal. Yes?"

Crystal nodded.

"I have felt your presence since the first day Yuri played me. I could tell there was something special about you. I listened as you cheered him on when we fight. I felt your joy and your passion when you saw me. You liked me it seems. I have always liked you, too."

"Have you?" Crystal asked, glowing as red as an apple. She looked away, doing her best to remember her relationship with Amistad.

"Hey," Patty whined. "I cheered Yuri on, too."

"If it's any consolation, I'm his biggest fan!" Melody said, jumping out of nowhere and leaning against Crystal. "I cheered for him the loudest on TV. Why I have a shrine dedicated to him." She hissed through her teeth. "And you. Sharp teeth and all."

"So," said Bailey. "Not that I mind...any of this. Definitely not mind any of this because you offer such a splendid view. Not to say you weren't cool as Black Tyranno, you were always cool. It's just that...do you want my number?"

"Get to the point," Melody said.

"Meow," Rinyan agreed.

"Ahem, right. I mean, why did you turn into a human? And such a beautiful human?"

Tyrannus looked at her. "Oh, I'm sorry. Is it too much? Would you prefer a more favorable form? I could turn into a slug or a cat or a toad for more convenient travel. Or perhaps a human with less exaggerated features. I could change back into my true form if you wish."

"NO!" they all cried out.

"No, no, you're perfectly fine," said Bailey. "I don't mind at all. It's just that...well...people have clothes for a reason. Not that I mind the view, mind you. It's the law."

"Why do you wear those rags?" Tyrannus asked. "Is human shamefulness so strong that they would hide their bodies from each other?"

"That's just the way it is," said Crystal. "We're going to have to find a place to get you some clothes. Not to mention all of us do. We left our things back in Crete."

"My apologies," said Tyrannus. "I could go back and gather your possessions if you wish."

"Maybe another time," said Crystal. "We have to settle here first. Cards and some spare undergarments are no big deal right now. Don't worry. We need to find some new threads, a place to stay, and possibly link up with our friends."

"We might not see them for a couple of days," said Patty. "They left Crete just yesterday. Boy, won't they be surprised to know we got here first."

"I'll say," said Jeannie. "So, Mr. Tyrannus, just what does it feel like being a dinosaur?"

"It's more comfortable than this, I tell you," Tyrannus answered. "And I'm starting to miss my tail. How do you humans walk on such scrawny legs."

"They're good for more than just walking baby," Patty said, smacking his buttocks. "You'll get used to it. And as much as I want to see you standing here looking pretty, we've gotta move. We're attracting more unwanted attention."

Bailey, using what little money she had, bought a towel to wrap it around Tyrannus' waist. They walked him into town, keeping him well hidden by going through alleyways and various hedges. Some people saw him and paid him no mind. Others were shocked to see a man walk around like that and show no shame. A lot of girls' heads turned as he passed by and a man or two whistled at him for his company.

Once they got to the shopping district, they realized they did not have enough money to buy anything for themselves. So, Tyrannus took Bailey with her into a portal, taking them back to Crete where she gathered their things and returned seconds later. She ran to the nearest trash can and vomited, still not used to portal travel.

Many hours later, they were finally well-dressed and well-fed. Crystal and the girls spared no expense in making Tyrannus look good. They bought him tight, dark, jeans, a hooded denim jacket, and for fun, Jeannie gave him a leather charm bracelet. Melody chipped in and bought him a choker with the name Melodia written on a silver tag. It was her name in Spanish. Thankfully, it was too small for the others to notice, and it was well-hidden underneath his black t-shirt.

"I thank you for your gifts," Tyrannus said, finishing the last few bites of his charcoal-broiled chicken. But they had to teach him how to eat properly earlier. Once the chicken was brought forth, he immediately dove in and ravaged it like a savage animal. It left the waitress perplexed to see such a good-looking young man not have the slightest bit of knowledge about table manners. Crystal made up the best excuse she could to get the waitress to leave, including a fat Sol.

Bailey wiped his chin of bits of charred chicken skin with a red napkin. She did it slowly as a mother would with tender loving care. "Thank you," he said. "And thank you for the food. But I'm afraid it's a little too strange for my tastes. Not to say I don't like it - it was a fine meal. It just takes a few bites I never had meat like this before. It's not as dull and bloody as the flesh I've had from other prey."

"Because it's been cooked," said Crystal. "That's one thing you'll have to learn about us humans. "We don't like eating our meats raw. Our immune systems, and our taste buds, aren't as strong or tolerant as yours."

"Cooked meat is better than raw meat," said Jeannie, wrapping the tips of one of her newly made pigtails around her fingers. "There are so many ways you can cook it. I sure hope you can try them all."

Tyrannus smiled at her, but he shook his head. "It's a wonderful idea, My Lady. But I don't think it would be wise for me to get used to human customs. I'm a dinosaur after all. And as much as my form pleases you, I prefer to stay as what I truly am."

"It saddens me to hear you say that," said Melody. "There can be so much you can do like this. You can't juggle between forms or something? Not only do we enjoy this form for uh...traveling purposes, but it makes communication so much better. You can tell us so much about Yuri and what transpired the day of his death."

Tyrannus looked away sadly. He put his arm on the top of the booth and looked out the window. "I do not know. I do not know anything that happened. But I could sense a great disturbance in our connection. The bond that Yuri and I shared. Something was amiss. A fell power bewitched the air that night. I felt as though my master was in peril. And I there was nothing I could do to help him. I was still confined in my card. By the time I severed the strings between me and the monster world, it was too late. Yuri was dead."

The girls gasped with great grief. Tears sparkled in their eyes. Patty put her head down, shaking her head. Crystal sniffed and wiped a few tears from the corner of her eyes with her palm. "Do you know who killed him?" she asked. "Tyrannus, it could help a lot to know who took part in his murder."

"It was those sisterhood girls, wasn't it?" said Bailey. "We have a sneaking suspicion they're the ones behind all this. It was them wasn't it?"

"The Sisterhood is nothing more than a weapon," said Tyrannus. "They brought him down, but they would never have found him, let alone know he existed, had it not been for that one man. The one you call Dragonheart. They think I'm just a mere card. They think I didn't hear them plotting against Yuri. I will tear out their hearts when I get the chance."

"I just knew it!" Melody shouted, slamming her fist on the table.

"You know them?" Crystal asked.

"Everyone does," Bailey answered. "In fact, every time something bad happens, the Dragonhearts are usually the ones who are behind it. But the murder of High King Yuri is just...Goddesses! That means...Maximillion Pegasus...he..."

"He was innocent," Melody gasped. "He didn't kill Yuri after all. Avi and her friends were right." She massaged both her temples with her fingers. "Oh no, this is terrible!"

"And it makes sense," Bailey said, squeezing her empty cola can. "The Dragonhearts could not acquire power so long as Pegasus was High Chancellor. And poor Prince Hector was just another pawn. Once he got the throne and threw both Pegasus and Yuri out of the picture, the Dragonhearts had their key to the throne. Right, Tyrannus?"

"You are correct," said Tyrannus.

"Tyrannus, what are you doing here?" Melody asked. "Your information could turn the tide of the war. You have to go back to Termnnia now and tell them what you know. The people allied with the Dragonheart Empire will learn the truth. They could turn on Antilles."

"It's not that simple," said Tyrannus. Rinyan hopped onto his lap and curled up to nap. Tyrannus smiled and pet the little creature. "I am banned from returning to Termnnia. Banned for my failure to protect High King Yuri. But there is still hope for our world. Crystal, you are that hope."

That was not something she wanted to hear. "I..."

"You must, Crystal. The lives of so many are resting on your shoulders."

"I have to think about this," Crystal said at once. "Can we at least wait for Amistad and the others to arrive?"

"Very well," said Tyrannus.

"Perfect," Jeannie cheered. "You could be our guardian while we're here. I've never had a dinosaur as a protector before."

"I'd rather he stay like this," Patty said with a love-struck look on her face. "I don't mind. So, uh, Crystal. Just where do we plan to stay?"

"I found a place called the Belmond Miraflores Park Hotel," Crystal answered. "It was pricey, but believe me. The accommodations are worth it."

"Sound good to me," Bailey said, tossing her napkin on her plate, piled with chicken bones and broiled skin. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I didn't get any sleep in the last twenty-four hours. I think we should rest up at the hotel and wait for Amistad and the others to come back."

"Oh, great," groaned Patty. "Mario's return is imminent. I tell you, I am in no mood to see that guy again. Here's hoping Amistad dropped him off in France like he wanted."

"This Mario," Tyrannus said, wiping his mouth with a handkerchief. "Does he bother you? Do you wish me to take care of him for you?"

Patty smiled at her new companion. "What an angel."