SailorStar9: With Chapter 33 uploaded, I present Chapter 34 of this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors (myself included) sustain on readers' reviews.
Disclaimer: I own nothing expect the Safiastra and Ami's dueling deck.
Chapter 34: The Deadly Shadow Ghoul
"Grandpa didn't steal anyone's card." Yuugi insisted.
"He did!" Rebecca retorted. "You don't know how much my grandpa cherished that card. I will never forgive you."
On the sidelines...
"Rebecca," Sugoroku started. "Can I say something about an important friend of mine, as well as your grandfather, Arthur Hopkins. Since you want to protect Arthur, you must hear me out. It happened several years ago, when I was in Egypt. I was very interested in Duel Monsters which wasn't very well-known back then. I heard that you could find many rare cards in Egypt. So I left Albal. And that's where I met him. Arthur was there to excavate. He's a good man with a youthful smile. But the archaeological world saw him as a heretic. Just like me, he was also interested in Duel Monsters. Isn't that right, Rebecca?"
In the Dueling Ring...
"Grandpa, what do you mean?" Yuugi wondered.
On the sidelines...
"In his research of ancient writings, he discovered that a particular word was used over and over." Sugoroku answered. "And that word is 'Game'. With that keyword in mind, he retranslated the Egyptian hieroglyphics. And so, he made a startling conclusion. Unfortunately, the scientific world thought of Arthur's theory as far-fetched. Despite of all that, he never gave up his research to find the truth. I agreed with him. And so, we became good friends. Also, he believed in the existence of the God Cards."
"So, Professor Hopkins gave you the 'Blue Eyes White Dragon' after that, right?" Anzu asked.
"Yes." Sugoroku replied.
In the Dueling Ring...
"You're lying!" Rebecca snapped. "You must have stole Grandpa's card then. That must be it."
On the sidelines...
"Rebecca," Sugoroku called out. "The truth is, a cave-in occurred not long after that. The rescue team didn't come. We ran out of food and there was only enough water for one person. And then..." he recalled how Arthur had suggested they had a Duel Monster card duel to take their minds off their pending deaths. "In the first turn of the Duel, Arthur played the 'Witch of the Black Forest'. Arthur taught you this strategy, right?"
In the Dueling Ring...
"I don't wanna hear it!" Rebecca spat. "There's no proof to back up any of what you're saying. It's my turn."
"I'll use this." Yuugi drew a card and summoned 'Catapult Turtle'. "'Catapult Turtle', attack mode. 'Catapult Turtle' sacrifices one of the Monster on my field and the opponent takes half of its Attack Power as damage to their Lift Points. Also, the Magic Card 'Brain Control'. This lets me control an enemy Monster for one turn. Come here, 'Millennium Shield'. And then, the 'Catapult Turtle' launches the 'Millennium Shield'. My turn's not over yet." he had 'Summoned Skull' take out 'Cannon Soldier'. "'Cannon Soldier' is defeated."
As expected of Muto Yuugi, Rebecca was impressed. He surely has the skills to be the Duelist Kingdom winner. There are six Monsters in the Grave. But it's not enough. She drew a card and got the one she wanted. "Magic Card: Judgment Blaster. This card lets me discard five cards from my hand. And in exchange," she destroyed 'Summoned Skull'. "I get to destroy every Monster you have on the field. Next, I summon 'Shadow Ghoul' on the field in Attack Mode. For every Monster in the Graveyard, his Attack Power goes up by 100 points. Now 'Shadow Ghoul' has 2700 Attack Points."
"You sent your Monsters to the Graveyard just to increase 'Shadow Ghoul's power?" Yuugi realized.
"Damn right, I did." Rebecca bragged. "Did you just realize that? You're slow."
"Rebecca," Yuugi sighed. "The most important thing in a Duel is one' belief in the Heart of the Cards. Don't you think it's too much to send your Monsters to the Graveyard just to gain more power?"
"Are you stupid or something?" Rebecca sneered. "There's no 'heart' in a duel. Win at all costs. That's how a real Duelist should be. You're just making up lies to cover up for stealing the card. Grandpa taught me these tactics. Monsters are just meant to the sacrificed and used as weapons."
"I summon a Monster face-down in Defense Mode." Yuugi played his turn.
"Yuugi, did you know that luck is what determines the outcome of a game?" Rebecca smirked, drawing another ideal card. "Magic Card: Stop Defense." she forced 'Dark Magician' in Attack Mode. "'Shadow Ghoul' attack! The Wrath of Cemetery!" she took out 'Dark Magician'.
"'Swords of Revealing Light'!" Yuugi activated the magic card, sealing off 'Shadow Ghoul' for the next three turns. "This will block the opponent's attacks for three turns."
"What a pain." Rebecca pouted. "Forget this. I'll pass this turn."
"Then, I'll use this." Yuugi played his next card. "'Monster Reborn'. Revive 'Dark Magician'."
"You want to block my attacks while preparing for a counter, huh?" Rebecca noted. "It's no use. I'll still win in the end. So I don't really mind telling you what the card I put face-down is. It's 'Cannon Soldier'." she played the card in Defense Mode.
"It can't be avoided." Yuugi made his decision. "Attack 'Cannon Soldier'."
"'Shadow Ghoul's Attack increases even further by 100 points." Rebecca chuckled. "I know he's waiting for some card while the 'Swords of Revealing Light' keeps me trapped, but it'll all be over by the time 'Shadow Ghoul' is done attack you. I'll pass this turn as well. Then 'Swords of Revealing Light' will disappear. Has the card you've been waiting for shown up yet?" she taunted when Yuugi drew a card.
"I surrender." Yuugi put the card back and rested his hand on his deck.
"I won." Rebecca declared.
On the sidelines...
"Give me Blue-Eyes!" Rebecca ran down from the player platform towards Sugoroku and held out her hand. "You tore it up." she gaped when Sugoroku presented the taped back card to her. "The Blue Eyes my grandpa cherished more than anything. So that's why you wouldn't give it back?"
"No, I really would have given it back from the start, but..." Sugoroku started.
"I don't wanna hear your excuses." Rebecca huffed.
"That's enough, Rebecca." Arthur chided.
"Arthur, is that you?" Sugoroku gawked at his best friend.
"Long time no see, Sugoroku." Arthur greeted. "My wild granddaughter caused you a lot of trouble. My mos sincere apologies." he walked over to Yuugi's side of the dueling arena. "Rebecca, Yuugi won that duel just now. Just as I thought." he picked up the card Yuugi just drew. "Rebecca, take a look." he showed Rebecca the 'Soul Release' card. "This is called 'Soul Release'. If Yuugi used this in his last turn, it would have removed five cards, along with their very souls, from the Graveyard. Had he used it, 'Shadow Ghoul's Attack Power would have dropped from 2800 to 2300, and then, if it battled with 'Dark Magician'', holding 2500 Attack Points..."
"Then why did Yuugi surrender?" Rebecca was confused.
"Don't you get it yet?" Arthur scolded. "Yuugi is a boy with a kind heart, like Sugoroku. He wanted to save your heart from corruption. In the cave-in, Sugoroku lost the duel on purpose and let me drink the last of the water, saving my life."
"Now I understand." Ami nodded. "That duel just now is a exact rehash of the duel then."
"That's exactly right." Arthur nodded. "I was growing very weak back then. Rebecca, I did send my Monsters to the Graveyard to make 'Shadow Ghoul' more powerful. But you need to show respect to the Monsters you sacrifice. It's the same in both Duel Monsters and archaeology. Duelists must have a kind heart, even in battle. I gave the 'Blue Eyes White Dragon' to Sugoroku with a thankful heart."
"But Sugoroku went and tore that very same card that's so important." Rebecca whined.
"I'm sorry, Arthur." Sugoroku apologized. "The truth is..."
"It's okay, Sugoroku." Arthur assured. "You've kept it for me all these years. Even if it's torn, our friendship is still intact. Listen, Rebecca." he lectured his granddaughter. "The cards have hearts. A good battle is like a good friendship."
"Rebecca, take this." Yuugi handed the 'The Ties of Friendship' to Rebecca. "I hope you'll accept it."
SailorStar9: Any OOC-nes is regretted. *Sighs* Don't you just hate plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.