2. X-Naut Assault.

My name is Goombella, I am a second-year student at the Mushroom University of Archeology.

I just passed the first year it is vacation now so I decided to help out one of the professors Mr. Frankly.

The professor believes that there is a secret under Rogueport well yesterday we explored and got a closed tunnel, we found a hidden switch but there was no time to explore it had gotten late. When we got outside we heard a ruckus. The professor returned to his home I checked the ruckus out, when I got to the square I saw one shady character chasing after a girl.

Rogueport Sewers.

A young girl was speeding through the sewers, after a while she slowed down. 'Well it was around here.' She muttered to herself, it was dark and moldy, well it was exact what you would expect from a sewer, the girl was shrouded in the dark of the sewer only a lamp on her head pierced the darkness.

The girl carefully felt the wall of the sewer until she found what she was looking for, she pulled a loose brick from its place a passageway next to her opened. The girl carefully looked into the passageway before she took a few paces in, she pulled a lever inside the passageway and the secret door closed with a loud click.

The air was less moldy in this passageway, the girl heard water dripping, she carefully proceeded ahead careful that she wouldn't trip.

After a minute of five she saw some lights ahead, she turned off her headlight as she stepped into an open room, the place was well lid with torches, the girl stepped out of the shadows she wore a green sleeveless puffy jacket, revealing her bellybutton, it had a light-brown fur collar, the girl also wore a green pleated skirt that reached to her kneecaps, dark-brown high-heeled knee-high boots with green fur for the rest she wore a red scarf around her neck and brown fingerless gloves, around her left leg she had a small belt with a Deck Holder, around her left wrist she had a standard Duel Disk. The face of the girl was young, she was somewhere around the twenty years old, she had bright blue eyes and long yellow hair tied in a ponytail, on her head she wore a green miner helmet with a lamp attached to it and she carried a backpack with her.

The girl observed the area around here, several skeletons laid in what used to be the streets, the tiles of the streets showed cracks and some tiles were missing, some mushrooms grew through it, several ruins stood next to the street, they were once houses, a broken fountain stood in the center of a crossing as far as the girl could see three of the four roads of the crossing leaded to a dead end.

The girl looked to the ceiling light shone through a hole in the roof water dripped through it and every now and then a lot of water came through that water fell into the basin of the fountain.

'This is above the sewer walkway, the light comes from the strong lights, this was the hole in the floor we saw before, which we payed no attention to.' The girl mumbled to herself, she started to follow the crossing which didn't lead to a dead end.

The road lead to another dark tunnel and after another five minutes of walking through the darkness the girl came into yet another open area.

The room was lid by torches, the girl now wondered how the torches were even lid in the last room, but she paid it no mind, the air in this room was stagnant, an eerie mist crawled over the floor a chill crawled over the girl's spine, she carefully observed the room, parts of some ruined pillars who once stood neatly in a room now laid all across the room.

The weirdest part was a huge red double door, beautifully decorated with golden lines, seven star-shaped holes were edged into the door, there were three on the left door, three on the right door and one above the door opening. The girl looked at the door for several minutes, she knew this was what she and Professor Frankly were looking for, she slowly lowered her gaze to the ground beneath the door, there were some black outlines, same design as on the door only circular with seven smaller circles in it, the girl thought they had to be connected with the seven star-shaped holes on the door, in the middle of the circle stood a stone pedestal, on that pedestal laid a star shaped object made of pure crystal, although it was a bit dull.

The girl felt something in the room watching her, she walked up to the pedestal and grabbed the crystal star. 'I have been watching this star for two days now.' A mysterious voice sounded out of nowhere it was a deep manly voice. 'I tried to figure if this thing was trapped, and then you appear and take it without thought.' The voice continued. The girl quickly looked around the room, there she saw the voice's owner, he sat on a high perch, the man let himself fall he gracefully landed on the floor, he wore black robes and a black hood, there was some kind of thick leather armor over his robes, he also wore a black mask.

'Who are you?' The girl asked. 'Could ask you the same question.' The stranger replied. 'I am Goombella.' The girl said.

'I have no name.' The man said.

Goombella felt weird about the man, she quickly put the crystal star in her backpack. The man held his left arm in front of him a black Duel Disk appeared around his wrist Goombella reacted by activating her own. 'That crystal star belongs to me.' The man said. 'Then take it from me.' Goombella replied. The left eye on the masked man's mask started to glow. 'Duel Gazer set.' He said.

'Duel Gazer?' Rozalin asked. 'Never heard of such a thing, what does it do?' The masked man relaxed a bit. 'It is a new standard of Duel Monsters.' He explained. 'These devises has been developed for over a time now, these Duel Gazer or D-Gazer for short can give you all new information on Duel Monsters, the cards that are on the Field, events and so on, new virtual reality features are also enabled and people who also have a D-Gazer can tune in on your frequency so they can watch your Duel and you can even communicate with everyone.' The man explained.

Goombella saw the man taking something from under his cloak, it was a small device consisting of an white piece in front of the eye, an ear piece and a microphone, the man threw it at Goombella.

'A Duel Gazer?' Goombella asked, the masked stranger nodded.

'Why give me one?' Goombella asked. 'D-Gazer only were released this morning, free D-Gazer were shipped to famous Duelists a day ago, not every Duelist has one now.' The man paused for a second as Goombella put the D-Gazer on.

'You know the girl that got kidnapped yesterday? She and her opponent didn't had a D-Gazer if they had one her kidnapping could have been prevented.' The masked man drew his first five cards, Goombella turned her D-Gazer on the screen turned orange. 'You make it sound like you would meet me here.' Goombella noticed. 'That I did, have been following you and that old man, knew you would return here.' Goombella also drew her first five cards. 'Ladies first.' The masked man said.

'Draw.' Goombella wanted to draw her card but an error message appeared on her D-Gazer. 'Right forgot cannot draw in the first turn.'

(Goombella: 8000) - (Masked Man: 8000)

'I shall start with Ojama Red in attack mode!' Goombella stated to her surprise a small red creature with a big head appeared it wore red knickers and a yellow scarf around its neck it started to disco dance.

'So this is what a D-Gazer does, the monster looks a lot more realistic, not just an hologram.' Goombella looked at the small creature in front of her. 'Ojama, Ojama, Ojama!' It cried as if it was happy. (0 ATK)

'Now I use the special effect of Ojama Red, I can summon as many Ojama monsters from my hand if I like.' She took two cards from her hand and placed them on her Duel Disk, Ojama Red started to dance again, left of him a green Ojama appeared, it was fat with only one eye it wore the same knickers as Red, it laid half on the ground supporting himself with one hand with the second it saluted. Right of Red a yellow creature appeared this one was more humanoid in shape with a ridiculous big mouth with red lips and eyes on stilts it wore red knickers like the rest. (0 ATK x2)

'Hello everyone!' The yellow creature squeaked. 'It is your favorite monster Ojama Yellow!' Ojama Yellow started to dance Goombella grinned at the sight, holograms never did this.

'Now I equip Ojama Yellow with United We Stand so he gains 800 attack for each monster I control.' A Spell card appeared behind the three Ojama's, Ojama Yellow suddenly grew unnatural muscles on his small arms, it let out a ridiculous battle-cry. (0- 2400 ATK)

'I shall set a card and end my turn.' Goombella finished her turn, a reversed card appeared next to her Spell card.

'Good my turn now.' The masked man drew his card.

'I use Foolish Burial to discard a monster from my Deck.' The Spell card briefly appeared the man took a card from his Deck and discarded it.

'I shall now revive the card with Monster Reborn.' An enormous green muscular creature with one huge eye appeared. (1200 ATK)

Goombella never saw a monster like did, she focused her D-Gazer on it, the device showed her it was a Normal monster named Hitotsu-Me Giant.

'Heh now I shall release this monster in order to summon Rude Kaiser!'

The cyclops disappeared and a reptile-like warrior appeared it wore heavy armor and ax-blades attached to its wrists. (1800 ATK)

Goombella saw it was another Normal monster. 'This guy for real?' She muttered. 'Now that I have a strong monster I attack Ojama Red with Rude Kaiser!' The monster roared before it charged in. 'You forgot about my facedown card!' Goombella yelled. 'Mirror Force!' Her Trap card spun around, Rude Kaiser slammed into a barrier, it gasped before it exploded in pixels.

'Oops, forgot that facedown card, well turn over.' The stranger said.

'You sure you want to Duel me for that crystal star?' Goombella asked. 'How do I put it, your Deck is outdated a lot.' Goombella couldn't see the man smiling under his mask. 'This Deck has served me well for a long time, in the slums I used to live I won with it all the time.' He said.

'The slums, yeah nobody has modern cards there I guess, you might be a champion there but here this Deck simply won't cut it, I'm sorry.' Goombella apologized herself.

She drew her card. 'I activate Polymerization and I Fuse Ojama Red and Green!' The two Ojama's hugged each other they started to glow before they combined it was an Ojama that looked like a knight it wore heavy armor, green cape and red knickers and a shield no sword though, it had an helmed with Ojama Yellow's eyes pointing through two holes. (0 ATK)

'Then I play Pot of Greed which let me draw two cards.' Goombella stated the card briefly appeared on her Field it disappeared the moment she had drawn her cards.

'Now I activate Ojama Country!' Goombella continued, the room changed into an outside village it stood full of houses made of acorns, many Ojama's played around outside. 'As long as this Field Spell is out the attack and defense of all monsters are switched.' Goombella explained the attack of Ojama Yellow which was 1600 because of the Fusion now became 2600 because of its 1000 defense points, the attack of Ojama Knight became 2500.

'Ojama Knight direct attack on the player!' Goombella commanded, Ojama Knight fixated on the masked man the creature started to run, tripped halfway and crashed headfirst into the masked stranger.

(Goombella: 8000) - (Masked Man: 5500)

'Then my Quick-Play Spell card De-Fusion!' Ojama Knight saluted it disappeared and Ojama Red and Green reappeared. (1000 ATK x2) the attack of Yellow rose to 3400. 'Red, Green direct attack!' Goombella continued, Ojama Red and Green grabbed each-others hands, jumped in the air and landed a kick to the masked man's jaw, the man cringed.

(Goombella: 8000) - (Masked Man: 3500)

'Yellow your turn!' Goombella yelled. 'Roger boss!' The Ojama swung its fist and gave the masked man an uppercut.

(Goombella: 8000) - (Masked Man: 100)

The masked stranger clamped his face. 'It is your turn.' Goombella said.

The stranger drew his card. 'Got you now I summon The 13th Grave.'

The ground broke open and a skeleton carrying a huge sword crawled out of it, it wore a tattered cloak. (1100- 900 ATK)

'13th Grave attacks Ojama Red, and since my 13th Grave has 1100 attack points it is stronger so I win this battle!' The skeleton heaved its sword and dashed forward. 'Forgot? Attack and Defense are switched so your monster's attack score is 900.' Goombella reminded.

'No! Call off the attack!' The masked man shouted in panic but it was too late, the skeleton swung its sword but Ojama Red caught it and gave the monster a crushing blow.

(Goombella: 8000) - (Masked Man: 0)

I am not a good Duelist.' The man sighted Goombella deactivated her D-Gazer the surroundings changed back to normal.

'At least you tried.' Goombella tried to ease the man's pain.

'Well yes, but it was not enough, take the crystal star.' The man watched as Goombella left the room, he removed his mask and lowered his hood, you could see his long hair yet his face remained in the shadows he took a phone out of his pocket he speed-dialed a number.

'Yeah Crump its me, the girl has the Crystal Star and the D-Gazer she is on her way, I have send you her frequency, you should be able to trace her, get the Crystal Star at all costs.' He hung up the phone and put his mask and hood back on.

'I couldn't get that Crystal Star out, thing would have killed me if I tried, but the girl has no evil in her heart so she could get it out, now I only hope Lord Crump stops her...' The man took his Deck out of his Duel Disk. 'Heh, this worthless Deck did what it had to do, made sure I lost.' He threw the Deck away then took a new Deck out of his pocket a black aura radiated from the Deck. 'If it is as Sir Grodus told me more people will be here soon, the man in red I need, I shall kill him but first attend to the meeting.'

Goombella stepped out of the sewers, she was back at the docks, for some reason the busy docks were now quite, Goombella looked around and saw nobody. 'Where is everyone?' Goombella wondered. 'No time do dawdle here gotta get that crystal star back to the professor.' Goombella started to run but then noticed that the exit was blocked by a group of suspicious looking men, they all wore the same, red jackets with a black X across the chest, white gloves and white combat boots, some wore white balaclava, there were around ten of them.

'Buh buh huh huh.' Goombella suddenly heard someone laughing behind her, she quickly turned around and saw another ten of the same dressed men, three of them stood out of the crowd, one of them stepped forward he looked somewhat comical, he wore a black combat-shirt, purple combat-pants, black combat-boots,white gloves and a red tattered cape, the eyes of the man were covered by sunglasses, on his head he wore a purple helmet with horns.

This man was flanked by two other they looked like the rest of the crowd only the white parts of the uniform were black with them.

'And so the fly appears in my web.' The purple-helmed guy said.

'You girl has something I want, a Crystal Star to be precise.'

Goombella looked at the bunch of what she thought were soldiers.

'I have nu such thing.' She replied keeping a pokerface.

'It is not wise to lie to me girl.' The purple-helmet guy spoke.

'You clearly don't know who you deal with.'

Goombella got a nasty feeling in her stomach. 'I am Lord Crump, commander of the Cross-Naut society or X-Nauts for short. I am here to take the Crystal Star from the sewers, the one you had to have.' Lord Crump folded his arms. 'So give it.' He demanded.

Goombella shook her head. 'Even if I had it I wouldn't give it to you.'

Lord Crump chuckled. 'And what will you do?' Lord Crump asked, he waved signs at his soldiers all but the two in black and red spread out covering the way to the sewers.

'I have closed off these docks, no escape for you except via the water.' Lord Crump looked at Goombella. 'Give me the star and you will go unharmed.' Goombella noticed Lord Crump was losing his temper.

'Try to make a run for the water and my men will grab you.' Lord Crump looked at the two soldiers next to him.

Goombella didn't make a move yet she felt terrified.

'Well then.' Lord Crump sighted he stretched out his left arm one of the black soldiers attached a Duel Disk to Lord Crump's wrist this Duel Disk was X-shaped in the meantime all the Other X-Nauts put on glasses, the left glass on Lord Crump's glasses turned orange. 'D-Gazer set.' He said, Goombella turned on her D-Gazer and activated her Duel Disk.

'Duel!' They both shouted.

(Lord Crump: 8000) - (Goombella: 8000)

'My turn first.' Lord Crump said he drew his first five cards. 'I set two cards on the Field.' Lord Crump started as he said the two cards appeared one horizontal and one vertical behind it. 'Turn end.'

A defending monster, is it a Flip effect or not? Must be careful. Goombella drew her card.

'I activate Polymerization from my hand!' She shouted, the Spell card appeared on her Field. 'I send from my hand to the Graveyard Ojama Black, Ojama Green and Ojama Yellow.' She discarded the three cards, a white blob appeared in the air, it started to take shape it was best described as a huge face with a big mouth, nose and stumpy legs and short arms it had eyes on stilts, wore red knickers and a green cape, it also wore red knickers on his head and a crown, it made a peace sign. 'KING' It bellowed. (0 ATK)

'This is Ojama King, and when it is on the Field you cannot use three monster space zones.' The Ojama King took a stamp from behind his back he slammed it three times on Lord Crump's Duel Disk, three Ojama heads appeared on the places he hit.

'Now time for the Ojama Country Field Spell!' The docks changed into the small happy town, Ojama King flexed his muscles. (0- 3000 ATK)

'Ojama King attack the mystery monster!' Ojama King inhaled some air he started to flow, he let himself drift above the hidden monster, the card disappeared and a small weird creature appeared, it was entirely made of gears the two biggest gears on both side were yellow, the gears between were red and blue, it had two arms and its eyes were gears as well.

'Buh buh huh, that is my Geargiano MK-II and when it is flipped I can special summon one Geargia from my hand and I summon Geargiano MK-III!'

'But before that.' Goombella interrupted Ojama King let himself drop flattening Geargiano MK-II.

In place of Geargiano MK-II a new machine appeared it looked like MK-II but the side gears were blue the inner gears were red and yellow. (1000- 1000 DEF) 'Since MK-III was special summoned I activate its effect.' Lord Crump stated. 'I summon a Geargia from the Graveyard.' Lord Crump rose his hand and Geargiano MK-II appeared again. (500- 1000 DEF)

'I shall end my turn here.' Goombella said.

Lord Crump stared at Goombella for a few seconds. 'You know, it would probably be easier to just give up.' Goombella shook her head.

'Fine, I shall draw!' Lord Crump drew his card.

'I activate Book of Moon!' Lord Crump then said, his Spell card appeared. 'I change your Ojama King facedown.' The white creature disappeared and a reversed card appeared in its place, the stamps blocking the monster zones disappeared.

'Good, just as I thought, now I can summon a monster, Geargiano in attack mode!' A third machine appeared it resembled the first two but its side gears were gray, the inner gears were red and green. (500- 1000 ATK)

'Now I construct the Overlay Network with my three monsters!' Lord Crump shouted, a portal opened in the air the three monsters were sucked in. 'Grind them to dust, I summon Geargiagear Gigant XG!' With a loud crash an enormous robot appeared out of the portal, it had a cannon as right arm and had a gear-shaped shield on its left arm. (2500- 1300 ATK)

'Then I activate my Trap card!' Lord Crump continued, the card spun around. 'Geargiagear, this let me summon two Geargiano monsters from my Deck and give them one more Level.' Lord Crump played two cards and two Geargiano appeared. 'Again I construct the Overlay Network!'

This time the two Geargiano were sucked in the portal. 'I summon Gear Gigant X!' another robot appeared, smaller than the first, it had a huge gear on its back. (2300- 1500 ATK)

'Two XYZ summons? This guy means business.' Goombella gasped.

'No girl, my Spell card Shield Crush means business!' Goombella shrieked as a beam of light from the Spell card crushed her defending Ojama King.

'XG attack the player directly!' Lord Crump commanded.

The robot aimed its cannon. 'Now its effect is activated! I detach one monster, to ignore all card effects until the end of the Damage Step!'

Lord Crump removed a card from under the card, its attack points rose back to 2500, Goombella shielded herself but the force of the attack knocked her over.

(Lord Crump: 8000) - (Goombella: 5500)

Goombella tried to stand up, she saw the street around her was blown to pieces from the impact. Because Ojama King was gone now the attack points of Gear Gigant X returned back to normal again. (2300 ATK) 'X attacks directly!' Lord Crump yelled The second robot launched himself forward slamming Goombella in the gut with his enormous fist, the girl cringed.

(Lord Crump: 8000) - (Goombella: 3200)

Goombella slowly stood up. 'My turn, draw!' Goombella looked over the two cards she had. Not too much to work with here sadly but it will be enough. Goombella smiled. 'Got you there, I activate the Spell card Ojamandala!' The Spell card briefly appeared on the Field. 'I pay 1000 Life Points so I can summon one Ojama Yellow, Black and Green!'

(Lord Crump: 8000) - (Goombella: 2200)

In front of Goombella the goofy trio reappeared they looked agitated. (0- 1000 ATK x3) 'And since I control these three I can activate Ojama Delta Hurricane!' The three Ojama's sprung up, they put their butts together, then a huge storm appeared. 'What the!' Lord Crump howled.

'If all three are together they can ravage everything on your side of the Field.' Goombella explained, Lord Crump watched as his two robots were lifted from the ground and thrown into the water.

'I won't use the effects of my two destroyed Geargia monsters, I simply had enough of them about now.' Lord Crump seemed to be angry.

The three Ojama's looked mischievously at Lord Crump. 'Triple direct attack!' Goombella yelled, the three Ojama's leaped at Lord Crump butt-first, Lord Crump tried to fend them off but they kept coming back.

(Lord Crump: 5000) - (Goombella: 2200)

'Sorry to butt in.' Ojama Yellow squeaked, Lord Crump gritted his teeth.

'These, these THINGS annoy the hell out of me! Draw!' Lord Crump angrily drew his card. 'I summon Robotic Knight in attack mode.'

In front of Lord Crump a machine soldier appeared, it wore an old-fashioned uniform made of metal, it held a sword. (1600- 1800 ATK)

'Buh buh huh, I simply use monsters with a higher defense.'

The Ojama's looked worried.

'Robotic Knight kill that Ojama Black!' Robotic Knight started to move, Ojama Black was shaking on his feet, then suddenly the sword clieved him in two. 'I shall embrace... the light...' The Ojama cried out, the other two started to cry.

(Lord Crump: 5000) - (Goombella: 1400)

'You see that? I shall kill you one at a time!'

'Um Lord Crump sir, please watch your blood pressure sir.' One of the soldiers said. 'Aw stuff it Johnson!' Crump replied. 'Turn end.'

Goombella drew her card. 'I just drew Ojama Blue, so I use the effect of Ojama Country.' Goombella discarded the Ojama Blue card. 'By discarding one Ojama card I can summon one from the Graveyard!' Ojama King suddenly appeared out of thin air, Ojama Green and Yellow cheered him on. (0- 3000 ATK)

'Ojama King flatten that Robotic Knight, Flying Belly Drop Flop!' The Ojama floated through the air, he dropped himself on the robot, when the Ojama King retreated the robot laid in scraps on the Field.

'Ojama Yellow and Green direct attack!' Goombella commanded, Lord Crump started to swear as the Ojama's attacked him again.

(Lord Crump: 1800) - (Goombella: 1400)

Lord Crump gritted his teeth, he said nothing as he drew his card.

'Wow dude, Lord Crump is losing.' One of the X-Naut soldiers said, another one snorted. 'I don't get what Sir Grodus sees in him, he gets nothing done.' A third one said. 'WILL YOU SHUT THE HELL UP?!' Lord Crump bellowed the X-Nauts went silent immediately.

'Thank you.' Lord Crump growled.

He looked over the two cards in his hand. 'Buh huh huh, yeah this will do.'

Lord Crump played one card, Dark Hole appeared on the Field, the next thing that happened was that the sky broke open the Ojama's were sucked in screaming, then the hole closed again.

'And now I play the Equip Spell Autonomous Action Unit!' A Spell card appeared in front of Lord Crump. 'I pay 1500 of my Life Points to summon one monster from your Graveyard!'

(Lord Crump: 300) - (Goombella: 1400)

'I summon Ojama King!' For a third time Ojama King appeared this time at Lord Crump's side, he looked really confused. (0- 3000 ATK)

'Attack the wench Flying Belly Flop Drop!' Lord Crump yelled.

The Ojama King tried to fight it. 'It is okay Ojama King, you are not to blame.' Goombella closed her eyes, then she screamed as it felt her bones were breaking.

(Lord Crump: 300) - (Goombella: 0)

'Buh... buh huh! Buh huh huh! And with that... POW you're gone!'

Goombella stood up again, as they both deactivated their D-Gazer the damage caused by the monsters disappeared.

Lord Crump was breathing hard, he felt his blood pressure lowering.

Lord Crump deactivated his Duel Disk. 'Now give me the Crystal Star as per our agreement.' Goombella looked at Lord Crump she shook her head.

'Guys.' Lord Crump said two black X-Nauts stepped forward they grabbed Goombella's arms and pushed her to the ground, Goombella struggled but the soldiers were too strong. 'Where is the Crystal Star?' Lord Crump demanded.

'Like I will tell you creep!' A third X-Naut emptied her backpack on the street. 'Here it is.' The soldier said holding the star above his head.

'Buh buh buh huh huh, good take it to the base.' Lord Crump said to the soldier. 'And the two of you tie her up.' The three soldiers saluted. 'Yes sir.' The soldier with the Crystal Star made a run for it one of the two other soldiers took a few pieces of rope, they started to tie Goombella's arms and legs up. 'Untie me or I shall start to scream!' Goombella yelled. 'You won't little girl.' One of the soldiers said as he violently pushed a piece of cloth in Goombella's mouth then gagged her with her own scarf. 'Scream all you like.' The soldier taunted.

'Lord Crump look there a ship approaches!' One of the soldiers suddenly shouted Lord Crump turned around he took some binoculars from his pocket. 'Hmm, wait I see a man dressed in red and one dressed in green.' Lord Crump lowered his binoculars. 'The man in red I know, Mario.' Lord Crump muttered to himself.

'Run like hell!' One of the soldiers screamed but Lord Crump stopped the soldier. 'Buh buh huh, don't worry we stay here, I shall take down that Mario.' The soldier was dumbfounded. 'You got to be kidding.' One of the soldiers said. 'He is right Lord Crump, Mario destroyed Dimentio, we stand no chance we can better run when we have the chance.'

Lord Crump laughed. 'Guys remember when he took down Dimentio, Mario had the Egyptian Gods and he used the power of Star Heaven, Sir Grodus told me that Mario don't have the powers anymore, he is an ordinary Duelist now.' Lord Crump seemed very pleased with himself, he was mumbling to himself the soldiers couldn't understand what he was saying.

After a minute Lord Crump's attitude changed he became more serious.

'If I destroy Mario here I will make a big promotion!' He looked at Goombella. 'Tie her to that anchor.' Lord Crump commanded his soldiers he pointed at an old rusty anchor that stood there on the docks.

The Soldiers lifted Goombella from the ground the girl struggled screamed in her gag but the soldiers tied her to the anchor. 'Now attach it to the crane and lift it.' Crump continued he looked at the ship nearing the dock as the anchor was lifted behind him.

The X-Naut who had the Crystal Star entered a huge round room, the floor was covered by a red carpet with a white X in the middle, at the far end stood a huge desk, the walls were covered by an aquarium, mean-looking fish swum around, behind the desk sat the dome-headed leader of the X-Nauts. 'I hope that this is important.' Sir Grodus spoke. 'I do not have much time.' He finished, the soldier took a few steps back, then he showed Sir Grodus the Crystal Star it was more shiny than before.

Grodus slammed his fist on the desk as he quickly stood up.

'Is that?' He muttered to himself. 'Where did you got that?'

The soldier relaxed a bit. 'It came out of the sewers of Rogueport Sir Grodus sir.' The X-Naut said. 'A girl had it, Lord Crump defeated the girl.'

Sir Grodus scratched his chin. 'So Lord Crump did something good? Why didn't he bring the Crystal Star here?' Sir Grodus asked.

'I followed the com-link, seems Lord Crump stayed behind, a boat came straight to the docks, some Mario was on board the ship.'

Sir Grodus sat down. 'Mario hm? Then we can guess where the map is, nice of Mario to bring it.' Johnson wanted to say something but he hesitated. 'I see you wanted to say something.' Sir Grodus noticed.

'Yes shouldn't we call him back?' Johnson asked, Sir Grodus shook his head. 'Let Lord Crump do what he wants, no harm done if he looses.'

Johnson took a step back. 'I have to take my leave then Sir Grodus sir.

'Just wait Johnson.' The soldier stopped dead in his tracks. 'Sir?' He squeaked. 'No worries Johnson, you deserve a promotion, you will be promoted to the Scout Devision.'

Johnson smiled then he really left.

Sir Grodus entered a large room it was lid by candles burning with a black flames, there were three others in the room, the first one was Grave the second was the masked stranger Goombella had fought before, the last one was a man with pale skin, not as pale as Grave's skin though, he had long white hair, his face was covered with scars, his eyes observed Grodus, the man felt a shiver going up his spine, the eyes of the man were completely black, this was Azrael.

Sir Grodus put the Crystal Star on the table. 'Good.' Azrael spoke he picked the Crystal Star from the table. 'I knew it was good coming to Rogueport, but we cannot stay here, I shall take this Crystal Star to the X-Naut Base personally.' Azrael said he looked at the Masked Man. 'You keep guard at The Thousand-Year Door.' Azrael said the masked man gave a nod. 'Grave I want you to investigate Hooktail's Castle, they say a dragon flies around there, I want to know what we're up against.' Grave said nothing. 'Sir Grodus you know what to do?' Azrael continued. 'Yes Azrael I know what to do, keep Rogueport under X-Naut control, nobody will escape my soldiers.' Sir Grodus replied. 'Good, and now everybody go.' Azrael said.


Next time:

With Goombella as a hostage Lord Crump thinks he can make a stand against Mario.

But will Mario fall for such a cheap trick or will he find a way to defeat Lord Crump? 'Enter the Mario Brothers' coming soon.


Card details:

Ojamandala

Normal Spell card

Activate only by paying 1000 Life Points if an "Ojama Green", "Ojama Yellow" and "Ojama Black" are in your Graveyard. Special Summon 1 copy of each from your Graveyard.

Note: This card was used multiple times by Chazz Princeton during the Yu-Gi-Oh GX anime, all credits goes to the writers of these episodes.