9. Lock and Key.
After Grave lost to Mario, Grave spilled the secret, the Crystal Star is in the highest tower but the door is locked by a magical barrier and only a key that can resonate with the barrier can undo it.
But the key seems to be in the hands of a mysterious woman.
'So now we hunt a woman?' Goombella sighted.
'She is in the castle Goombella, whoever has they key probably want to know where it can be used on, we will find her.' Mario replied.
They reached the staircase to the first floor.
Once the group reached the first floor a shadow landed before them.
'Where did she came from!' Goombella squeaked.
'Ruby Mowz.' Mallow stated. 'So you remember me.' The shadow replied, she stepped into the light revealing a young woman with short white hair and a slightly pale skin, she was no albino though, the young woman wore a white leotard, white gloves, red high-heeled shoes and a red mask covering her eyes, she carried a bag with her.
Ruby stared at Mario, Goombella stared at Ruby. 'Hm hm, do I sense some jealousy?' Ruby sneered.
'Ruby.' Mario stepped between both: 'Why of all places are you here?' Ruby seemed to relax a bit, Mario saw she still had her guard up.
'I am here for the same reason as you.' She replied.
'So you want the Crystal Star.' Luigi said, Ruby grinned. 'So that is what I am looking for.' Ruby said with a sly smile, Luigi looked dumbfounded at Mario. 'She is a sly one Luigi, don't fall for her tricks.' His brother replied.
'But to answer your question.' Ruby continued like nothing happened: 'I am here because of those Crystal Stars, of course I know what they are, just testing you a bit.' She looked at Luigi who started to get angry, Mario waved him to calm down. 'I have some kind of key here.' Ruby then continued: 'I don't know in which door it fits, but as soon as I know I find that Crystal Star.' Mario shook his head. 'I know where the key fits so hand it over.' He demanded Ruby chuckled. 'No way Mario!' Mario took a step forward. 'Your team The Spirit Summon Guilt is falling apart, you already lost three members, only you and Fawful are left!'
Ruby looked Mario right in his eyes and she laughed. 'The Guilt? You think that still exists? We disbanded after the Smithy debacle, Faust just used us but he disappeared, Popple and Fawful wanted to continue but I didn't I distanced myself from them, but they wanted to keep contact with me, which I now use to follow their every move, and what I want? I want treasure.'
Mario walked up to her Ruby stood firm keeping her eyes on Mario.
'I know it is Sir Grodus you are after, Faust told me that after his disappearance, he said Dimentio would fall, Grodus needs the Crystal Stars, and what Grodus want I want, it is as simple as that.'
Mario now literally stood nose-to-nose with Ruby. 'I warn you, back off Ruby, you play with forces you don't understand, you get hurt if you continue.' Mario warned her.
'You think I don't know?' Ruby asked: 'You think I don't know Faust created the Trinity, you think I do not know Faust fought with Caedis in the Shadow Realm at the same time you were fighting Dimentio? You think I don't know Faust was taken prisoner by the Celestian and you think I do not know he was taken to Star Heaven?' Mario slowly backed away, Ruby simply smiled.
'How do you know?' Mario stammered. 'Simple.' Ruby replied: I am a Psychic Duelist, I am in contact with Duel Spirits, I sought contact with the Duel Spirits of monsters you and Caedis used, they told me what had happened.' She explained. 'So you are smarter then you look, but what about Fawful what does he want?' Mario asked.
'He wants Simon Croco back and Faust, Fawful believes Faust is in the same prison as Simon.' Suddenly Ruby looked at Mallow: 'You defeated Popple and Popple got arrested, Fawful broke him out.' Ruby turned her gaze back to Mario.
'Fawful wants Simon out first, but Simon doesn't want to, he wrote me a letter, he said he was happy to be in jail, it felt right for him, he want to start over, Simon even follows education to be a Duel Engineer, his dream is to go work for Kaiba Corp or Industrial Illusions, he is at peace now and Fawful and Popple want to ruin it for him.' Ruby sighted: 'But enough.' Ruby opened her bag and she got some kind of drone out of it. 'This is a Duel Drone, an invention from Simon.' The thing turned on, Ruby suddenly threw a smoke bomb, when the smoke cleared she was gone, the Duel Drone was still there, two holo-projectors stuck out of the underside, on top of it was a Duel Disk attached, two small arms stuck out of the sides, holding its cards, the Duel Disk unfolded and shoved in front of the Drone.
(Duel Drone: 8000) - (Mallow: 8000)
'Guys we can actually outrun this thing.' Mallow said, they made a brake for it, but as soon as they reached the door one facedown card appeared.
The Duel Drone hovered in the doorway. 'You shall not pass.' A male computer voice spoke. Mallow looked at the other he shrugged then suddenly a monster appeared in the hallway it was a male warrior clad in full garnet-red armor, he created a ball of fire in his hand. (1900 ATK)
'Gem-Knight Garnet?' Mallow said surprised.
Mallow drew his card. 'I use the Spell card Ancient Rules!' The Spell appeared on the Field. 'This allows the Duelist to Special Summon a monster from the hand without making a sacrifice.' The Duel Drone spoke.
'You know what Duel Drone. I know the effects of my own cards.' Mallow sighted, the Drone gave no reaction. 'Anyway I summon Luster Dragon 2!'
With a roar the big emerald dragon appeared, it stood on two legs. (2400 ATK)
'Now I normal summon Luster Dragon!' Next to the emerald dragon the smaller sapphire dragon appeared. (1900 ATK)
'The first Luster Dragon take out Gem-Knight Garnet!' The two monsters collided and destroyed each other. 'Luster Dragon 2 direct attack!'
The Duel Drone was blown out of the doorway by the attack, it smacked against the wall.
(Duel Drone: 5600) - (Mallow: 8000)
The Duel Drone started to buzz then it seemed to turn off, the facedown card in the doorway disappeared. 'Well that was easy.' Mallow shrugged, they started to run again.
'So where do we think Ruby is?' Luigi asked.
'We know she has the key and we know she doesn't know where the door is.' Goombella answered, Mario thought for a moment: 'Ruby knows what she is doing, she is searching in a pattern, my guess is she started at the dungeon, then work her way up to the roof.'
At that moment Gem-Knight Garnet suddenly appeared in front of them at the moment they reached the staircase leading to the dungeon, a face-up Call of the Haunted also appeared and then the Duel Drone came floating down. 'Nice try humans, but I won't go down that simple.' The Duel Drone taunted, it drew a card, the Drone added it to its hand, then it took another card, the Spell card Polymerization appeared followed by the fusion rift, Garnet stepped in, the Drone discarded another card the soul of a black warrior appeared, it carried a string of black beads around its body, Mario saw that monster was made of Obsidian. 'I call forth Gem-Knight Ruby.' The Duel Drone spoke, out of the portal stepped a warrior in ruby-red armor, his body was fully covered, he held a small weapon in his hand he wore a blue cape. (2500 ATK)
'Gem-Knight Obsidian's effect activate.' The Duel Drone spoke: 'When discarded from the hand I can target a Level 4 or Lower monster in my Graveyard and summon it.' Gem-Knight Garnet reappeared on the Field once more. (1900 ATK)
Next the Duel Drone opened its Field Slot and inserted a card. 'I activate my Gaia Power, which gives all Earth monsters 500 attack points.' The castle immediately disappeared a lush field full of trees and flowers took its place, strangely enough the pattern of trees resembled the walls of the castle, the stairs were also still visible, the Drone's monsters became stronger. (Garnet: 1900- 2400 ATK, Ruby: 2500- 3000 ATK)
Ruby readied his weapon, Garnet created a ball of fire in his hand, the two monsters then charged in, Ruby cut Luster Dragon 2 in half while Garnet reduced the original Luster Dragon to rubble.
(Duel Drone: 5600) - (Mallow: 6900)
Ruby just walked up the stairs to the first floor, she had searched the ground floor and dungeon, she looked at a device she held in her hand, Ruby saw her Duel Drone was behind in Life Points but controlled monsters and its opponent not. 'Things are going well.' She muttered: 'Would be better if I could find that blasted door.'
Mallow drew his card. 'I summon Lancer Lindwurm in attack mode!' A humanoid, green-scaled dragon appeared it had a tail, two wings on its back and a reptilian head, in its hands it carried a double-sided spear. (1800 ATK) 'Next I activate Rising Air Current!' As soon as Mallow played the card they were all lifted into the sky, the lush field from the Duel Drone's Field Spell was visible below them, Lancer Lindwurm became stronger. (1800- 2300 ATK)
'Finally I Equip Lancer Lindwurm with United We Stand!' Mallow played yet another Spell card and yet again Lancer Lindwurm became stronger. (2300- 3100 ATK) 'Destroy Ruby!' Mallow commanded, violently the Lancer Lindwurm used its spear to break down the Gem-Knight.
(Duel Drone: 5500) - (Mallow: 6900)
'Run for it!' Mallow shouted and they all ran past the Duel Drone, the cards and the Field Spell effects disappeared, the Duel Drone slowly turned around. 'Here we go again, I told them they cannot run, yet they won't listen.' It muttered.
Ruby had checked a few rooms she only found something that looked much like an armory, there were some empty weapon racks, one had a rusty sword that was worth nothing and a room where they kept armor, with only a few armor stands nothing more, she checked the device. 'Why does Mallow have one monster and has my Duel Drone one less monster on the Field, is that thing screwing up or not?' Again Ruby reached another door she checked it, the door was unlocked. 'Holy...' She gasped as she opened it.
Mallow ran up to the stairs leading to the first floor. 'She is clearly not on this floor anymore, we need to go up to the roof, chances are she found the tower by now.' The climbed the stairs, as soon as they did the Field Spells reappeared as did the monsters the Duel Drone descended from the ceiling.
'Why do you keep running?' It asked. 'Mainly because you are in our way.' Mallow replied. 'Well it is as I said before, you shall not pass.'
The Drone drew its card. 'I activate Monster Reborn from my hand, which revives one of my defeated monsters.' Mallow sighted: 'You need to explain all the obvious card don't you?' The Duel Drone ignored him, the Ankh appeared and Ruby reappeared on the Field. (2500- 3000 ATK)
'Garnet attack the opposing monster.' Lancer Lindwurm prepared to counter attack as the Gem-Knight charged in with his fiery fist.
'From my hand I discard Gem-Merchant.' The Duel Drone discarded its card. 'An Earth Normal monster gains 1000 attack until the End Phase.' The Duel Drone explained, the attack of Garnet rose to 3400, with one punch it struck down Lancer Lindwurm.
(Duel Drone: 5500) - (Mallow: 6600)
'Ruby direct attack on the player.' Mallow was forced to take a few steps back because of the impact of Gem-Knight Ruby.
(Duel Drone: 5500) - (Mallow: 3600)
'Wow.' Ruby said, she carefully stepped inside the room, it was filled with treasure chests. Every single chest was filled with all kinds of stuff, some of them had old coins, others were filled with golden chalices, candles and stuff like that, while some chests contained a lot of Duel Monster cards.
Ruby checked the lock on the door it was forced open. 'These Duel Monster cards they didn't have in the middle ages, and these chalices and coins are rather clean...'
She checked if the chests had dust on them. 'Not as much dust as they should have... this is rather recent, someone must have forced the lock on this door only to find empty chests, he or she must have gathered all the valuables in the castle to store it here.' Then Ruby took a device out of her backpack she pressed a few buttons.
'One thing Fawful does right is making useful machines.' The roar of an engine drew Ruby's attention, suddenly the outside wall was carefully removed by six robot arms, a huge mechanical spider with twelve legs hung on the outside of the wall. 'This machine was made to collect.' Ruby said to herself, she pressed a button, the mouth of the spider opened and the arms started to load in the treasure chests.
Mallow looked at the one card in his hand he quickly drew his second card. 'Pot of Greed!' He shouted, the happy pot appeared on the Field, Mallow drew two cards. 'You control two Earth monsters, which means I can Special Summon Alector, Sovereign of Birds!' A humanoid bird clad in full iron armor appeared only its mighty red wings were unprotected. (2400- 2900 ATK) 'Then I Banish Luster Dragon.' Mallow took the card from his Graveyard and pocketed it. 'I Special Summon Garuda the Wind Spirit!' The majestic eagle-man flew a few times around the Field before it landed. (1600- 2100 ATK)
'I use the Effect of Alector to negate the effect of your Field Spell!'
The Gem-Knights got weaker, Garnet fell back to 1900 and Ruby to 2500.
'My monsters!' Mallow shouted before they got disturbed by the roar of an engine. 'What was that?' Mallow shouted. 'No idea!' Mario replied: 'We'll find that out later!' Mallow nodded. 'My monsters attack!'
Garuda charged in first taking down Garnet while Alector took down Ruby, Alector attacked by creating a fierce typhoon, the Duel Drone was blown away once more, Mario and the others started running again.
(Duel Drone: 4900) - (Mallow: 3600)
Ruby had found another staircase she followed it up until she was on the roof, it was a flat roof covered with battlements and rusty things what seemed to be a wide variety of siege weapons, huge footprints covered most of the roof it came from a creature with three toes in front and one on the back of its foot, one enormous tower stood in the center of the roof, the tower was round with one gigantic round chamber on top of it, the chamber was covered with windows a huge hole covered one of the sides of the chamber, the roof of the tower was pointy and the remains of a flag hung on the point. A small figure was watching her from the tower.
Ruby approached the double doors leading to the tower's inside, she wanted to touch the door but an invisible barrier stopped her from touching the door. She suddenly felt the key in her hand resonating with the door.
'I won't do that if I were you.' Ruby turned around only to see Mallow and the others. 'Give me that key Ruby, we outrun your Duel Drone, it's over.' Mallow stated.
Ruby smiled she put the key in her backpack. 'Ruby we heard a noise a few minutes back what was that?' Mario then asked. 'O that? That was my machine, I called it over to collect some loot I found in one of the rooms, just some old junk, old coins and Duel Monster cards, no Crystal Star, I mean a magical barrier of some sorts blocks that door it must be up in that tower.' Ruby folded her arms then the buzzing sound of the Duel Drone sounded as it descended from the sky, the Field Spells reappeared.
'This is the final time you have outran me.' The Drone spoke.
'It is indeed.' Ruby replied, then the Drone saw its mistress. 'I'll take it from here, Duel Drone disengage.' The Drone lowered the Duel Disk Ruby held her arm up and the Drone clicked the Duel Disk around Ruby's wrist the left part of her mask started to glow yellow as her D-Gazer activated.
(Ruby: 4900) - (Mallow: 3600)
The moment Ruby took the Duel Disk Mallows monsters solidified.
'She is using her Psychic Powers on the Field.' Mario warned Mallow.
'Don't worry I can handle her.' Mallow replied. 'Since it is still my turn I end with a facedown card.' The card appeared in Mallow's Spell/Trap Zone.
Ruby drew her card. 'I activate Card of Demise.' The Spell card appeared on the Field. 'This let me draw until I have five cards then after five turns I lose my hand.' Ruby explained as she drew a full hand. 'Four monsters and one Spell card, this will do perfectly.' She said with a smile. 'I summon Gem-Knight Iolite!' A male warrior appeared he was clad in blue armor, his weapons were cannons attached to his wrists which could shoot waves of water. (1300-1800 ATK) 'Next I activate Polymerization!' Ruby showed three cards they were Sardonyx, Tourmaline and Lapis, the vortex appeared and the three monsters stepped in.
'Come forth Gem-Knight Lady Brilliant Diamond!' A fierce warrior woman stepped out of the vortex she wore fancy armor with a red cape and diamonds edged around the chest and on her helmet, she carried a sword in her hand. (3400- 3900 ATK) 'I use the effect of Lady by sacrificing my Iolite I can summon a monster from my Fusion Deck ignoring the summon conditions.' Iolite disappeared into the ground a new monster rose from the ground, he was a warrior clad in heavy armor it carried no weapons around but had two enormous fists instead. (2900- 3400 ATK)
'I wanted to summon Master Diamond, but sadly I don't have that card nor was I able to find it yet, so my Non-Effect Monster Gem-Knight Zirconia has to suffice.'
Ruby looked at Mallow's monsters and his facedown card.
'I don't really trust that facedown card, but I have to do this Lady attack Garuda!' The female warrior readied her sword, Mallow showed no sign of intervene Garuda was sliced in two, it fell on the ground where the two halves stayed a few seconds before disappearing.
(Ruby: 4900) - (Mallow: 1800)
'That facedown card is probably a Rush Recklessly or Ego Boost, with your effect negating Alector you can use Ego Boost to power it up then negate my Field Spell, I don't want that Zirconia take one for the team!'
Zirconia charged in. 'She read me perfectly, I activate Ego Boost!' Mallow shouted his Spell card spun around the attack of Alector rose to 3900 with its wind blasts it struck down Zirconia.
(Ruby: 4400) - (Mallow: 1800)
Mallow quickly drew his card. 'Swords of Revealing Light!' He shouted and light swords descended around the Field. 'I end my turn.'
Ruby saw what he was doing, Mallow was refilling his hand, Ruby had no cards left as well, she drew. 'Pass.' She said, this continued until the swords disappeared Ruby had three cards now Mallow two, he drew his third card.
'This will be the final push Mallow, show me what you got.' Ruby said.
'I sacrifice Alector for Raiza The Storm Monarch!' A fierce wind blew over the Field, Alector was surrounded by a whirlwind, Alector slowly disappeared and a gigantic form appeared in its stead, when the typhoon shimmered down a green, cape-wearing giant towered over Mallow and Ruby. (2400- 2900 ATK)
'When Raiza is Tribute Summoned I get to send one card on the Field to the top of your Deck, another fierce wind blew over the Field Lady Brilliant Diamond was blown away. 'Raiza direct attack!' Mallow shouted, Ruby prepared herself for the impact, multiple blades made of wind cut through her damaging her clothes on several places, she was bleeding from several cuts.
(Ruby: 1500) - (Mallow: 1800)
'I set one card facedown and end my turn there.' Mallow stated as the card appeared behind Raiza. Ruby drew her card.
'First I activate Premature Burial to get Ruby back!' She shouted, the Spell card appeared a hole opened up and Ruby crawled out. (2500- 3000 ATK)
'Then I activate Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your Field Spell!'
The moment Mallow's Field Spell was destroyed the people who were standing on platforms in mid-air landed between the trees of Gaia Power, Raiza became weaker. (2900- 2400 ATK)
'Ruby attack Raiza!' Ruby shouted, her monster leaped at the Monarch, Raiza tried to hit the warrior but he couldn't Ruby slammed his weapon between the eyes of Raiza, with a loud moan the monster sunk to its knees where it slowly changed into wind.
(Ruby: 700) - (Mallow: 1200)
'I set one card facedown turn end.' Ruby said, her card appeared Ruby.
Mallow quickly drew. 'I set one card and that will be it.' A second card appeared next to his first facedown card.
'Card of Demise activates I am forced to discard my hand after this draw.' Ruby said as she drew her card.
'Before that I activate Call of the Haunted!' Mallow shouted his card spun around and Alector reappeared on the Field. (2400 ATK)
Ruby smiled. 'I activate my Raigeki Break!' Her Trap spun around Ruby quickly discarded a card lightning shot down at Alector.
'You trigger my Trap! Destruction Jammer!' Mallow took the last card in his hand. 'I discard this card Mist Body to negate the activation of Raigeki Break and destroy it.' Ruby gasped as her Trap card suddenly exploded. 'Now you need to discard your last card.' Mallow said.
'You got lucky I needed to discard it, it was a monster, I could have destroyed you.' Ruby discarded it. 'Now Ruby destroy Alector!'
The two monsters clashed two times then Alector dropped dead on the ground.
(Ruby: 700) - (Mallow: 600)
'Ruby, this card will end the Duel.' Mallow stated.
'How can you know? You haven't drawn your card yet.'
Mallow closed his eyes. 'This is actually the last card I got from my grandpa Frogfucius, when I came home this card was waiting for me in my room with a personal note, from that moment I felt a connection to this card, I just know this is the card.' Mallow drew it with his eyes still closed.
'I have five Wind Monsters in my Graveyard: Luster Dragon, Raiza, Alector, Garuda and Lancer Lindwurm.' Mallow summed up the monsters, then he placed the card he just had drawn on his Duel Disk. 'With exactly five Wind Monsters in my Graveyard I can Special Summon this monster!'
A green bird-like creature with purple talons, purple wings and purple tail feathers appeared it circled above the tower. (2800 ATK)
'This is Windrose the Elemental Rose and when it is summoned I destroy all your Spell and Trap cards.' Windrose flapped its enormous wings the Field Spell was completely destroyed, the surroundings changed back into the castle roof. Ruby became weaker. (3000- 2500 ATK)
'Windrose destroy her monster!' Mallow shouted two fierce wind blasts send Gem-Knight Ruby flying off the roof.
(Ruby: 400) - (Mallow: 600)
Ruby drew her card and played it on the Field in her Spell/Trap Zone. 'Turn end.' She stated Mallow quickly drew his card. 'I activate Nightmare Wheel!' Ruby shouted, the fiendish torture devise appeared in the air, it took Windrose out of the air pinning it down on the roof, since the monster was actually too big to fit on the device. 'Ruby that move was desperate, I activate Giant Trunade!' Mallow shouted, another storm blew over the Field sending Nightmare Wheel back to Ruby's hand. 'Windrose attack!'
Ruby was send flying as the bird flapped its wings, she smacked against the barrier protecting the doors.
(Ruby: 0) - (Mallow: 600)
Ruby fell flat on the ground, she quickly stood up and deactivated her Duel Disk. 'So now what?' She asked: 'You might have won, but I still hold the key, and I ain't planning to give it back.' She took the key out of her pocket. 'Ruby don't be rash.' Mario said.
'Oh I am not rash, I had this key, I found this door, the treasure would be mine, but now it is all GONE!' She shouted and she threw the key away.
'No!' Goombella yelled she watched as the key disappeared in the distance.
'Why you!' Luigi shouted.
'Now nobody get the Crystal Star.' Ruby chuckled: 'It was fun playing with you guys, I know there are seven Crystal Stars, this one might be wasted, there are six more chances for me to get one, and make big money.' Ruby looked up to the tower, the small figure who was watching quickly drew back. 'Make money how?' Mallow sneered.
'Simple.' Ruby said: 'I sell it to the Celestians.' Mario and the others looked at her dumbfounded. 'That is your great plan?' Goombella muttered: 'Selling it to the Celestians? And you think they would buy it?'
Ruby laughed: 'O yes they do, because if they don't buy it I will give it to Sir Grodus, free of charge.' Ruby seemed to be pleased with her.
'That will never work.' Mario replied.
'We shall see, anyway have fun searching for that key, I have to go now.'
Ruby ran up to the castle wall she spread her arms before jumping off, the Duel Drone followed her grabbing her in mid-air before flying off.
Next time:
The search for the key is on, will they find the key and unlock the door so they can find out who the mysterious shadow is? Or will the Crystal Star be out of reach forever? 'Corruption' coming next.
Card details:
Card of Demise (anime effect)
Normal Spell card
Draw cards until you have 5 cards in your hand. During your 5th Standby Phase after activation, send all cards in your hand to the Graveyard.
