Chapter 25
The closing ceremony for the Championship of the America's was as thrilling as the opening one. Another artist performed and among the contestants there was a non hostile ambience. Aster even briefly spoke to his opponent, the representative of Brazil and he left quite pleased. Although he did wonder if part of the reason he was so kind to him was because of his age...Getting into an argument with a kid would be something quite embarrassing for an adult. D had warned him that being friends with everyone was not the way to go, and should only keep things friendly until he felt it was beneficial for him. Even Eddie had assured him it was not a matter of being fake, and he would understand what they meant when he was older. His overall relationship with the contestants had been very good, and if the ambience wasn't toxic and competitive, he wouldn't turn it into such. Not that he felt he had the power to do that.
Despite being complimented by the press, on most occasions, Aster still felt...well, Aster. Or in most part: D had mentioned he did change from when he was a "normal" kid living in Domino, Aster hadn't noticed. It was true though, that he felt much more comfortable surrounded by adults rather than speaking with other of his peers.
The letters Jade Trembley had sent in the past all felt too foreign, and if he replied, even if she swore and begged him to be interested, he felt she simply would not relate...Thinking about her made him feel slightly uncomfortable: of what was then, and what was now. They had talked countless times of how she would be sitting in the front row...he wondered if she even knew that he had actually made it to the Championship of the Americas, was she watching him from the TV now?
He doubted she would tell him, after all, the letters had stopped coming a while ago. He focused on D who was behind him. He wasn't saying anything yet his presence was reassuring. The boy knew that Sartorius was already sitting in the first row with his sister. Aster slightly adjusted the buttons of his white coat, making sure no creases were visible. His signal to enter was soon, as Maximillian Pegasus had already finished his closing speech. The lights of the arena turned off, and he could hear clapping and cheers from the audience.
Here goes.
The crowd cheered as both contestants appeared on stage. While Eddie did not know that Aster felt extremely confident, as Sartorius had predicted his win, he advised the kid to "make it memorable", go out with a bang as they say.
Aster's opened the duel. He summoned Elemental Hero Bubbeman in a face up defense position (ATK 800 /DEF 1200), he ended his turn with a card face down.
His opponent began by summoning Big Piece Golem (ATK 2100/DEF 0), as his side of the field was clear of monsters compared to Aster. He then placed two cards face down. The man continued his turn by attacking Bubbleman with his monster. Aster activated the spell card Bubble Illusion, thus allowing him to activate from his hand the trap card Draining Shield. Aster gained a total of 2100 life points, adding them to his already 4000 life points, leaving him with a total of 6100 points.
"Not so fast!" his opponent declared. He activated one of his face down cards, Dark Bribe, thus destroying Draining Shield as well as Bubbleman. As the monster was in defense position Aster did not lose life points, returning the number to 4000, as it was before. As a result of the card used, Aster drew a card from his deck.
His opponent was not bad, not at all; Aster noted. He had seen the man duel before, and the boy was certain he had seen him duel as well. Yet in their brief meetings they never discussed dueling. He had a feeling his opponent had studied him beforehand. Contrary to Aster, who prefered not to bother too much with such nonsense, in disregard to Eddie's advise. Sartorius predicted victory, what else did he need?
Back to Aster's turn, he activated Pot of Greed, thus drawing 2 cards from his deck. He had to admit the help he had received through Dark Bribe was pretty helpful.
"Give a warm welcome to Phoenix Enforcer!" he declared, summoning the fusion monster to the field. With confidence, Aster launched an attack on his opponent's monster, destroying it. However, Aster's monster remained on the field.
"Silly me, I forgot to mention that Phoenix Enforcer cannot be destroyed by battle." Aster finished his turn by placing one card face down. Phoenix Enforcer had 2100 attack points, and 1500 defense points.
His opponent activated the spell card Allure of Darkness allowing him to draw two cards, in return, Aster watched as he banished one of the cards from his hand. Next, he placed Giant Rat (ATK 1400/DEF 1450), in the defense position. Aster ended his turn quickly: only adding one card face down to his magic and trap zone.
His opponent activated his own Pot of Greed and proceeded with his turn. First, he used the spell card Burial From a Different Dimension, the card which had been banished with Allure of Darkness was sent to the Graveyard instead. Finally, using Monster Reborn, he targeted that monster: Beast of Talwar (ATK 2400/DEF 2150). While Aster's face continued to show his confident demeanor he was indeed quite impressed. The card was stronger in attack and defense than Phoenix Enforcer. Followed by this, using Giant Rat as tribute, his opponent summoned Behemoth the King of Beasts (ATK 2000/DEF 1500). Because the monster was tributed with only one, rather than two, Behemoth had an attack of 2000 instead of 2700. Nevertheless, he used the equip-spell, Beast Fang, thus Behemoth had a final attack of 2300, and a defense of 1800 points.
As expected, Aster's opponent declared an attack. With Beast of Talwar's attack, Aster remained with 1600 life points. Yet, as his opponent attacked with Behemoth, Aster quickly activated his trap card Elemental Recharge. His life points increased to 1000, finally revealing, to the surprise of his opponent and audience that he still had 300 life points left.
"Surprised?" he asked mockingly.
Aster spoke as he summoned Elemental Hero Sparkman (ATK 1600/ DEF 1400) to the field.
"Sparkman has a little trick up his sleeve" Aster expressed as he activated the spell card Spark Buster. He targeted Behemoth, changing the large monster from attack to defense position.
"Good boy!" he told the monster. He placed one more card face down, and using Phoenix Enforcer launched an attack on Behemoth, thus destroying it.
His opponent, soon after drawing a card, declared an attack on Aster's monster. Yet, the boy quickly activated his trap card Hero Barrier.
"No, no! You shouldn't rush!" He scolded his opponent. With Hero's Barrier, Beast of Talwar's attack was negated, ending the man's turn, much to his opponent's dismay.
Aster drew, beginning his turn.
"Exactly what I needed, watch out because Phoenix Enforcer is gonna reach its final form!"
Using his second polymerization, he fusioned Elemental Hero Enforcer and Sparkman resulting in Elemental Hero Shining Phoenix Enforcer (ATK 2500/DEF 2100). Because of Bubbleman, Avian, Burstinitrix and Sparkman on the field, the monster had an increase on its attack points: 3700.
With full confidence he launched an attack on Talwar, leaving his opponent with 300 life points, just like Aster.
"We are even now!" Aster ended his turn trumphaly, placing one more card face down.
On his turn, his opponent activated the trap card, Birthright, bringing back Beast of Talwar to the field.
"Mm…" his opponent spoke "I hear you talk a lot about Destiny, what if we put it to the test?"
"I know destiny is on my side" the silver haired boy declared confidently. His opponent activated the trap card Fiend Comedian:
"Toss a coin and call it. If you call it right, all your opponent's cards in the Graveyard are removed from play immediately. If you call it wrong, send a number of cards equal to the cards in your opponent's Graveyard from your Deck to your Graveyard."
Yes, Aster thought, his opponent had definitely studied him and his deck. If his monsters were removed, Shining Phoenix Enforcer would lose attack points, thus, being open to receive an attack from Talwar.
"I am confident," Aster declared again. "I trust destiny."
Aster thought back to Sartorius' prediction: he would win the Championship of the Americas. He had told him that since the beginning, since he began his training. Even before that, when he first met him, he had seen he would achieve success. And until last night, that prediction remained. He knew how cards which relied on coins worked, he had seen it first hand with Sartorius and his own deck, and he knew it was more than just a gamble as perhaps his opponent saw it.
"Upside, is not always the best meaning" Sartorius explained as the revealed the Hangman reversed. "Must be one of the worst punishments, being hanged upside down and feeling all the blood go to your head."
"Tails!" Aster made his choice.
"I declare tails, too" his opponent said. Maybe Aster misunderstood the prediction? Had it meant that the reverse was going to appear, sealing his fate? He sometimes wondered why Sartorius couldn't be more clear? Maybe he was simply anticipating himself. Well, he couldn't turn things back now.
He watched the large hologram of the coin flip. The heads side, a golden coin contained the logo of the Championship of the Americas, the tails, what Aster understood as the back of the coin a simple green color. It seemed that just like him, the whole crowd waited in anticipation.
Head.
Aster internally sighed in relief. Yet with his usual confidence he snapped back:
"I told you! Destiny is on my side!" His opponent placed one card face down, ending his turn.
Aster opened his turn, jumping straight to the battle phase, declaring an attack on Tawar. His opponent revealed his face down card, his last one remaining on the field. Compulsory Evacuation Device.
As Shining Phoenix Enforcer was about to disappear from the field, Aster revealed his own trap card: Trap Jammer, thus his assault on his opponent's monster continued.
The crowd cheered as the smoke cleared, his opponent's life point dropping to zero. Aster was the New Champion of the Americas.
He returned home, exhausted. A bit unsure about the time. Probably, quite late, still. Between receiving the award, the press conference and the small after party (which actually continued at the moment), Aster put on his pajamas in autopilot. Despite his tiredness, his head kept spinning.
He had won the Championship of the Americas. He was Champion. Perhaps, that meant that he was finally a Professional Duelist, just Eddie, just like D…He turned looking at the small nightstand where his Elemental Hero deck was kept. Among his excitedness, he did feel a sense of melancholy. The same feelings which had emerged as he waited backstage before the duel. He should be at the top of the world, incredible, yet a bit…
Resentful was not the word. Aster felt he couldn't even describe it himself. His biggest dream, since he remembered, was becoming a Professional duelist with his father's cards, and actually, that dream almost came true. It was through his father's cards that he got recognized by Pegasus in the first place, even if Eddie or anybody else told him that it wasn't a matter of cards, it was the duelist who used them. What if his father had accompanied him to the United States and his trip to Canada? Would his father like it here? The hotel? The scenery? Would he enjoy the local food? He wondered what his father's reaction would be to his victory? Perhaps he would pinch his ear and make him apologize to his opponent for mocking him, or maybe he would laugh with him. He knew he would be proud, as cliche as that sounded. Yet…how would he feel knowing that Aster had not won using the Destiny Heroes? The deck that had been designed for him and him only. Wherever his father was, would he understand his decision?
The Championship of the Americas was just the beginning for Aster Phoenix's professional career. And he knew there would be no rest once he returned home. He thought about that as he walked with Eddie to their usual training arena back in New York City. Eddie Wilde. He had first seen him briefly at the tv, and now, he looked so polished, so confident. Yet in reality, just as he had noticed with D, he was able to distinguish the flaws to his immaculate appearance. His tight turtleneck while neatly tucked under his pants had some signs of usage, while Eddie demanded Aster that he should take care of his hands, as they were a valuable product, Eddie's nails were completely chipped.
The unexpected friendship he had forged with the man since he arrived in the United States was one of the highlights of his settlement in his new home. Eddie was strict, a bit anxious and dramatic but he could be fun. Among the many training sessions, Eddie asking him about his average life, allowed him to retain some sense of normalcy. A local, a fellow professional duelist, Aster felt Eddie understood his feelings of being an outsider, even if Eddie wasn't one.
"I don't think you need my advice anymore." Eddie explained, as he drew a card. Has Eddie's contract with Pegasus been cancelled? Was his salary cut short? Aster wasn't sure how to voice these questions. He slightly held into his cards tighter.
"I think you are ready to forge your own path, and we will meet again, not as mentor and tutor, but as equals." Eddie studied him carefully.
"When we first met, you had quite a fixation in finding a reason to duel" he made a brief pause. "So, have you found it?"
Aster placed a card face down.
"I think…I do."
He thought back at the card thief he had met before the finals. And the fact that D, and it seemed everyone simply took it as a given fact. "It's common" they all shrugged. It made Aster extremely angry. Just because it was common, didn't mean it was right. Maybe the fact that it was so common, and so rampant had inspired the person who stole Plasma to do the same. Perhaps, they knew they would not be punished.
Having a legal case against a card thief? That was…difficult. With what proof? And the police…well, with his father the fact that his dad's murder and the card theft were related events were not taken seriously by the police. He doubted he would be able to walk into any Police station to demand an investigation on card thievery. The only thing he knew for a fact was that the person (or people, if it was a planned event) who killed his father is the same person who stole Destiny Hero Plasma.
The longer he waited, the worse for him. Perhaps, the killer had already departed from Plasma at this point…maybe the card was roaming somewhere in the Underworld or worse, dumped in a sewer getting damaged. Without a single consideration to Plasma's full potential. Because the card was powerful, not only as a card to use for Duel Monsters…The brief moments Aster held it…there was something else. Not simply a strong sentiment of his father's love or that sort, a presence of sorts. Something he had felt in Domino, and since coming to New York he had stopped feeling it.
He briefly remembered something about The Light, an entity? An organization? A spirit? Had his father been related to a cult and now they were the ones behind this? He knew for a fact his own mother had been. Even if that theory sounded completely ridiculous first hand…Which gave Aster another reason to simply not pursue the case with traditional means. Sure, a card of Duel Monsters, a cult, an evil entity? Even in Aster's head nothing made sense. But here, with a Professional career at hand, he had a chance. Access to information that would be classified, travel, meet people, resources.
Aster had completely zoomed out, forgetting the question Eddie asked him at the beginning.
"So, have you given it a thought?" Eddie repeated.
"I will duel for justice." he answered firmly.
Perhaps Eddie didn't know what Aster meant, maybe, no one knew, or no one had to know what he meant. But it didn't matter. It was Aster's and Aster's mission alone. No matter how long it took, he would find his father's killer and get Destiny Hero Plasma back. He had destiny on his side…no, more than that: he had his Destiny Heroes by his side.
This was just the beguning.
While i tried not to copy the Zane -Aster duel from season 2 word from word I did try to make some call outs to it (and maaan rewatching the episode for this fic... it was so epic, def one of the best duels of the whole series tbh).