34. The Name Game.

Time is falling short for our heroes.

The Nephilim who turned out to be an Ancient One wanted to restart his machine but Grave stood in his way, after a fierce Duel Grave managed to defeat the Ancient One but he couldn't stop him, now it is up to Mario who is still stripped of his identity and Vivian to put an end to Ancient One's plans.

It was only a few minutes after Grave had given Mario and Vivian his warning they were rushing to Creepy Steeple knowing they had around an hour left.

Vivian approached the gate, it was open for a change.

'There must be an entrance to the basement here somewhere.' Vivian muttered, Mario's eye fell upon the white hatch against the wall of Creepy Steeple it was locked down with some chains and a big lock.

'My guess is in there.' Mario pointed out.

'No time to find a key, let me handle this one.' Vivian said, she grabbed the lock, Mario saw Vivian's hands glow, then the lock heated up and a few seconds later it broke. 'I always knew my control over fire would come in handy one of these days.'

Mario gave her a quick pad on her shoulder then he opened the hatch and climbed down, Vivian followed after him.

It was really dark inside, Vivian snapped her fingers, a small fireball appeared in her hand, Mario could see the basement was really small, there were several wine racks spread across the walls, on the floor stood the remains of some chests and barrels, in the exact center of the room stood a wooden pole, on the pole sat a parrot a really short chain on its leg.

'That must be the parrot.' Vivian whispered she approached the parrot.

Mario saw the parrot flapping its wings and he saw the parrot say something but he couldn't hear it.

'So that is the name of the Ancient One? … a rather ridiculous name.' Vivian said with a smile, Mario shook his head. 'I'm sorry I can hear you but whenever you say the name I hear nothing, Vivian if we come face-to-face with him you must say his name.'

Vivian nodded: 'I will, now we have the key to really defeat him, but we must hurry.'

Suddenly a bright light filled the small basement in the light the parrot slowly disappeared.

'It's duty is fulfilled, it's owner placed a curse on the parrot, it couldn't die unless it passed the name … to another person, now that it did the curse is broken and it can finally be reunited with its master.' Vivian was smiling, Mario saw her pinking away a tear. 'Look at the end of the room, a ladder.'

When Mario opened another hatch they were inside Creepy Steeple in the main hall, they ran up the stairs and across the hallway, then they stormed up the ladder leading to the attic.

Vivian opened the hatch to the attic, they saw someone sitting in the chair which stood for the window, the machine was running again the Crystal Star was attached to it. 'So you made it slick.' Vivian recognized the voice, the Ancient One stood up. 'You possibly have no hope of defeating Super Mario slick!' He laughed.

Vivian took a few steps back he looked at the Ancient One then at Mario. 'No, I've been helping my enemy? You are Mario.' Vivian looked at her new friend Mario shook his head. 'If that offended you I am sorry.' He replied. 'No that is not it, I am just confused, I need some time alone.' A portal opened beneath Vivian she disappeared through it.

The Ancient One started to laugh. 'You're all alone now slick, but I shall hunt her down.' His Duel Disk activated, his left eye started to glow yellow, before Mario could react he opened his Field Slot. 'I activate Ecole de Zone!'

To Mario's surprise a duplicate of the Ancient One appeared.

'This Field Spell allows me to Duel both you and that girl on separate Fields, I will kill the both of you slick!' One of Mario's bodies disappeared then the attic disappeared instead a bunch of ruins appeared, the weirdest thing was a gigantic yellow eye floating in mid-air.

Vivian stood just outside Creepy Steeple when suddenly the church disappeared and a lush garden appeared in its place, there were several stairs leading to nothing, in mid-air floated a big yellow eye, then Vivian's Duel Disk activated. 'What sorcery is this?' She gasped.

'You know too much slick.' She quickly turned around only to see the Ancient One standing upside-down on one of the staircases.

(Mario?: 8000) - (Vivian: 8000)

Vivian looked at the Ancient One. 'You might look like Mario, but I am not afraid of you, I shall take you on and end this thing once and for all!'

Her opponent started to laugh. 'In that case I would love to see you try slick.' He took one card from his hand. 'I set this card.' He stated, the card appeared vertically. 'Turn end.'

Vivian drew her card. 'Only a set card, no monsters, this could be a trap.' She muttered to herself. 'Okay I summon Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Dragon!' She shouted, a man started to appear on the Field he had long black hair, wore dark-green armor a matching helmet with horns on it and blue pants, nine fiery dragon heads appeared from behinds his back. (1800 ATK) Suddenly the monster got destroyed in its place a small, ugly blob appeared, its feet were attached to its fat body it had normal arms and a faceless head with a massive under-chin. (1800 ATK)

The Ancient One was laughing like crazy. 'My Field Spell make it so that every monster summoned is destroyed and replaced by a Level one Mask Token with the same attack and defense stats as the destroyed monster!' He explained.

Vivian scratched her head. 'In that case my Mask Token attacks directly!' The Token simply stood motionless, the Ancient One started to laugh again. 'Oh right I forgot to mention slick, as long as I control this Field Spell, monsters cannot attack directly!'

Vivian cursed: 'Then I end my turn.' She scoffed.

'Let me see you squirm your way out of this situation!' The Ancient One laughed, he drew his card. 'I activate my Spell card Double Summon!' He shouted, the Spell card appeared on the Field. 'Now I summon Double Lance!' Mario's Warrior appeared before the Ancient One instead of the normal white armor it was black with red details. (1700 ATK)

Double Lance then exploded and one of the ugly Mask Tokens appeared in it's place. (1700 ATK)

'Next I sacrifice my Mask Token for War Hammer!' The gigantic warrior holding his mighty hammer appeared in place of the Mask Token, his normal blue and white armor now was black and red. (2100 ATK)

Again the Ancient One's monster exploded and was replaced by a Mask Token. (2100 ATK)

Vivian became more and more confused about the weird Mask Tokens, her opponent took another card from his hand. 'I activate my Imitation Spell card.' He stated: 'This card allows me to select one Token and summon the exact Token to your side of the Field then you take damage equal to half the attack points of that Token.'

The Ancient One pointed at his Token, a second Token appeared on Vivian's side of the Field. (2100 ATK) Vivian looked at the Token then the Token gave Vivian a bitch slap.

(Mario?: 8000) - (Vivian: 6950)

'You must think now that the Super Mario is amazing slick, but I won't let you keep that Token, I activate the Trap card High Half!' The Ancient One's reversed card opened. 'This halves the attack points of your Mask Token.' He explained, Vivian looked at her stronger Token it became weaker. (2100- 1050 ATK)

'Now my Mask Token attacks your Mask Token!' The two slimy creatures were clawing at each-other a bit then Vivian's Token finally dissolved.

(Mario?: 8000) - (Vivian: 5900)

'You will never defeat me, Mario! I'll end my turn here slick.'

Vivian drew her card she looked at her hand.

'I change the Mask Token to defense mode.' The Mask Token crossed its arms in front of it. (400 DEF)

'Then I set two cards and I end my turn.' Vivian stated, the two cards appeared behind the Mask Token.

'Looks like I got you on the defense slick, soon you realize even that won't save you!' The Ancient One drew his card.

'I summon Spartan!' He shouted, the ancient warrior holding the spear and shield appeared, his armor was covered with sharp edges, two demonic horns stuck out of his helmet. (1600 ATK)

Spartan exploded and yet another Mask Token appeared. (1600 ATK)

'My Token destroy the defending Mask Token!' Violently the Ancient One's Token slashed away at Vivian's Token until it got destroyed.

'Since my other Token cannot attack directly because of the Field Spell I shall end my turn slick.'

'I draw!' Vivian shouted. 'Good, I summon a second Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Dragon!' The warrior started to appear on the Field, the nine dragon heads appeared one-by-one behind him. (1800 ATK)

'You know resisting is futile slick! My Field Spell will destroy your Dragon!'

Vivian shook her head. 'Not this time ''Mario'' I activate my Trap card! Fire Formation Tenken!' Vivian's Trap card opened up. ' during my Main Phase one this card negates the effect of my Dragon and it cannot be affected by other card effects except for this card's effects for this turn, and on top of that this card gives all Beast-Warriors Monsters 300 extra attack points!'

Vivian smiled as her Dragon started to glow and became stronger. (1800- 2100 ATK)

'Time to Battle.' Vivian stated: 'Since my Main Phase one is over I activate Fire Formation Tensen!' Her second Trap card spun around. 'This increases the attack points of my Dragon by another 700 until my End Phase and it gives another bonus of 300 attack points to all Beast-Warrior monsters!'

The Ancient One narrowed his eyes as Vivian's Dragon became even stronger. (2100- 3100 ATK)

'Dragon attacks the Mask Token!' The nine dragon heads shot forward flying through the Token until it finally exploded.

(Mario?: 7000) - (Vivian: 5900)

'I end my turn thus my Dragon gets weaker.' She stated. (3100- 2400 ATK)

'You managed to damage me, I am truly impressed slick, but I shall still end...' The Ancient One fell silent as the the ground started to shake the eye in the sky scattered and finally the Field Spell disappeared they were back outside the Creepy Steeple.

'No the real Mario must have... but that is impossible!' With a deafening cry the second Ancient One dissolved.

Mario looked at the thing wearing his body, deep inside he knew this is who he was yet he couldn't remember.

'I end my turn.' The Ancient One said.

(Mario?: 8000) - (Nobody: 8000)

'You're just a nobody! You have no memories, no name, no body, no... cards, how can you possibly hope to defeat Super Mario slick!'

Mario said nothing he simply drew his card, all the cards looked the same.

'Nameless Warrior? A card that can only be summoned in attack position?' Mario played one of the cards, a black, faceless figure appeared in front of him. (0 ATK) The warrior scattered and got replaced by one of the Mask Tokens. (0 ATK)

The Ancient One started to laugh. 'This should be easy, I will destroy you completely slick!' He drew his card. 'I summon Double Lance!' The twisted version of Mario's monster appeared on the Field. (1700 ATK)

Quickly it got replaced by one of the Mask Tokens. (1700 ATK)

The moment Mario saw the Double Lance appear something in his mind clicked, it felt like a memory, but he couldn't grasp it.

'My Mask Token attacks your Mask Token!' The Ancient One roared, the two ugly creatures flew at each other's throats.

(Mario?: 8000) - (Nobody: 6300)

'The wiser thing would be not to summon anything, my Tokens cannot attack directly after all, but I guess you are forced to summon those nobodies because of their effect!'

Mario drew another card, this one was different from the other cards, with the card a face of a girl appeared in his mind, she had long blond hair and she was wearing a helmet, she knew this girl was important to him but he couldn't remember who she was.

'I activate Double Summon!' Mario said, the Spell card appeared. 'Then I summon two Nameless Warriors!' Two of the shadows appeared. (0 ATK x2) Then the two got replaced by Mask Tokens. (0 ATK x2)

At that point a card in Mario's hand changed shape, he took it and placed it in his Duel Disk, the card appeared vertically behind the Tokens.

The Ancient One quickly drew his card. 'I summon Spartan.' He stated, the twisted, ancient warrior appeared. (1600 ATK)

Then he exploded and got replaced by a Mask Token. (1600 ATK)

'Both my Mask Tokens attack!' Mario's opponent roared.

'Then I activate Nameless Shield! This halves all the battle damage I take this turn and it let me draw cards equal to the monsters destroyed this turn.'

The Ancient One softly cursed, the Mask Tokens obliterated Mario's Mask Tokens.

(Mario?: 8000) - (Nobody: 4650)

'Two monsters were destroyed so I draw two cards.' Mario said as he drew the cards. 'I end my turn here slick.' His opponent stated, Mario drew another card. 'I summon a Nameless Warrior!' Another one of the shadows appeared. (0 ATK) It got replaced by a Mask Token. (0 ATK)

'Then I use the Spell card Nameless Replacement which allows me to summon another one.' First the Spell card appeared, it got replaced by a Mask Token again. (0 ATK)

'Good, now that I have five Nameless Warriors in my Graveyard I Banish all five of them in order to special summon the Nameless Hero!'

The same shadowy figure appeared, only this one seemed to be wearing a cape. (0 ATK)

'I pay half my Life Points, this turn my Nameless Hero cannot be destroyed and it destroys all cards on the Field!'

Mario folded his arms as the ruins around him slowly started to crumble, the eye in the sky scattered and slowly the attic of Creepy Steeple returned.

(Mario?: 8000) - (Nobody: 2325)

'So you managed to destroy my Field Spell slick? Not that it matters, you can still summon weak monsters, and without Field Spell I can attack directly! You just made it harder for yourself slick!'

At that point a portal opened and Vivian stepped out of it. 'Mario, I've made up my mind, this guy who stole your body he attacked me, I can't let that one go and besides I am sick of my sisters! Beldam is always treating me like dirt! Mario we might have started out on the wrong foot even if we were enemies I felt more at home the short time I spend with you, screw Marilyn and Vivian from now on I am your friend!'

The Ancient One started to laugh. 'Friendship bloomed, right when I were about to crush it slick! Now you too can die together!'

Vivian shook her head. 'Not yet Doopliss!'

The Ancient One started to shake. 'What. Did. You. Say!' He spat.

'Doopliss, your name right? At least that parrot told me.' Vivian said.

'That damned parrot! I would have killed that thing if it wasn't invincible!'

A black mist started to come off the Ancient One, slowly the color disappeared from his body, he became the shadow while Mario gained his color back.

'No, no, no, no! How, how, how, how! Why, why, why, why!' Doopliss bellowed.

At that point all of Mario's memories returned, the monster who was the Nameless Hero changed into Extra Sword, the Heroic Challenger clad in green armor holding the two blades, (1000 ATK) also Mario's cards returned back to normal.

The Ancient One looked from Mario to Vivian.

Mario smiled, Vivian grinned.

'We have turned the tables on you Doopliss, now you'll face the both of us.' Mario stated to his surprise Doopliss started to laugh like crazy: 'And you think I haven't thought of this slick? My machine is nearly done, in ten minutes everyone shall become pigs, the magical barrier will break and Twilight Town will be returned to your dimension! The world is mine for the taking! Now it is time for me to show you my true power slick!'

(Mario: 2325 & Vivian: 5900) - (Doopliss: 8000)

'By the way Doopliss, before that body double of yours disappeared I managed to deal 1000 damage to it, now you'll take the same damage!' Vivian stated. 'Also.' Mario added: 'When Nameless Hero destroyed those cards you take another 500 damage for every card destroyed, that means your Field Spell, your two Mask Tokens and the Mask Token I had thus another 2000 damage!' Then Doopliss got electrocuted, smoke came off his sheet.

(Mario: 2325 & Vivian: 5900) - (Doopliss: 5000)

'And it is still my turn, now that the Field Spell is gone, Extra Sword attacks directly!' Mario shouted, the warrior gave Doopliss two quick strikes across his chest.

(Mario: 2325 & Vivian: 5900) - (Doopliss: 4000)

'I end my turn.' Mario stated.

'It is not over yet, I simply defeat the two of you then I reclaim your identity slick!' Doopliss drew his card. 'I set two cards and end my turn!' Two cards appeared on the Field one horizontally and a vertical one behind it. 'My turn.' Vivian drew her card. 'Dragon attacks the defending monster!' She yelled, the facedown card disappeared a monster clad in heavy armor appeared he held two shields in his hands with swords behind them, the shields and swords looked like demonic version of the regular weapons. (2000 DEF)

'I activate Shrink!' Doopliss yelled, his other facedown card spun open, Dragon shrunk to half his size. (2400- 900- 1500 ATK)

Heroic Challenger - Swordshield caught the Dragon and shoved him backwards, Vivian took a card from her hand. 'I set one card and I end my turn.' She stated the card appeared behind Dragon.

(Mario: 2325 & Vivian: 5400) - (Doopliss: 4000)

Doopliss remained silent as he drew his card, Vivian and Mario didn't trust the fact he was completely calm. 'I summon Assault Halberd.' The Ancient One stated, the twisted version of Mario's warrior appeared on the Field. (1800 ATK)

'Next I use the Spell card Heroic Chance, which doubles the attack points of one Heroic Challenger monster!' Doopliss cackled, the Spell card appeared and Assault Halberd became stronger. (1800- 3600 ATK)

'Next I activate Riryoku!' He continued, the Spell card appeared, two beams of light connected between Assault Halberd and Dragon. (Dragon: 2400- 1200 ATK, Assault Halberd: 3600- 4800 ATK)

'Assault Halberd attacks that Dragon!' The nine dragon heads shot forward to stop the warrior but Assault Halberd cut them to pieces one-by-one then finally the Fire Fist himself fell to the mighty Assault Halberd.

(Mario: 2325 & Vivian: 1800) - (Doopliss: 4000)

'I shall proceed to my Main Phase Two.' Doopliss continued, he opened the Field Spell Slot of his Duel Disk. 'I activate Soul-Binding Gate!'

A gigantic wall appeared behind Doopliss, in the middle of the wall were two black, heavy steel doors, a gigantic skull sat atop the doors attached to the walls, then an upside-down skeleton appeared out of the gate, one of the skeleton's arms grabbed Doopliss' head the other hand appeared around Doopliss' body, he got lifted in the air all while the Ancient One was cackling like crazy.

'Another Field Spell? And one that is not in my Deck, he copied my Deck but added some of his own cards.' Mario muttered, he tried to get some information on the Field Spell through his D-Gazer but there was no information available. 'So we need to guess for now.' Mario took a card from his hand. 'I summon Double Lance!' He shouted, the warrior appeared on the Field. (1700 ATK)

A few seconds later the monster suddenly exploded, then lightning struck all three Duelists.

(Mario: 1525 & Vivian: 1000) - (Doopliss: 3200)

'I told you already! You can't win slick! Any monster that is summoned with an attack power weaker than my Life Points get destroyed and then it deals 800 damage to all Duelists!' Doopliss cackled: 'Unless you can summon a monster with 3200 attack points or more you won't be able to beat me slick!'

'In that case I set two cards and I end my turn.' Mario stated, the two cards appeared in his Spell/Trap card Zone.

Doopliss drew his card. 'Assault Halberd attack Mario directly!'

Mario looked at the twisted version of his own monster. 'I activate Sakuretsu Armor!' Mario shouted, one of his Trap cards opened up, Assault Halberd exploded in mid-air.

'I activate Field Barrier.' Doopliss stated completely ignoring the fact his monster got destroyed, the Continuous Spell card appeared on the Field.

'I end my turn slick.' Doopliss laughed.

Vivian drew her card: 'I need to end it on this turn, only one-and-a-half minute left.' Vivian took a card from her hand. 'I summon Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Spirit!' She shouted, a blue-skinned creature appeared on the Field, the creature was surrounded by black flames. (500- 1100 ATK)

Suddenly the Spirit exploded.

(Mario: 725 & Vivian: 200) - (Doopliss: 2400)

'You just doomed yourself slick! Next turn I summon a weak monster and destroy you both through the effects of my Field Spell!' Doopliss laughed, Vivian looked at the timer on the machine fifty-five seconds left.

'I activate Call of the Haunted!' She shouted her Trap card spun around. 'I summon the Dragon from my Graveyard who became a Mask Token!' The ground broke open and the Beast-Warrior crawled out of the hole, the nine dragon heads looked angry. (1800- 2400 ATK)

'Since all Beast-Warriors gain two times 300 attack points because of my Continuous Trap cards its attack score is 2400, equal to your Life Points Doopliss.' Vivian said, Doopliss said nothing, he looked at the timer, thirty seconds left.

'Now I activate my Trap card!' Mario shouted it was another Call of the Haunted. 'I summon the second Dragon from our combined Graveyard!' He shouted, the second Dragon appeared next to the first one. (1800- 2400 ATK) Twenty seconds Vivian saw. 'Dragon attacks Swordshield!' Vivian shouted, the nine dragon heads tore apart the defending warrior.

Vivian saw they had only ten more seconds, she gave the command for the second dragon to attack directly, at that points everything happened so fast.

First Doopliss got hit by the full force of Dragon's attack, the impact send the Ancient One flying against the wall, because of that impact a brick in the ceiling came loose, the timer counted down to only five seconds, Mario however saw he had only one chance, he caught the brick and threw it with full force against the glass dome the Crystal Star was under, the glass dome broke and the brick knocked the Crystal Star out of the machine with only one second left on the timer.

Mario looked at Doopliss still held by the skeleton, slowly the wall crumbled, the gates slowly opened and fell out of their hinges destroying the skeleton holding Doopliss, the Ancient One fell on the ground.

(Mario: 725 & Vivian: 200) - (Doopliss: 0)

The moment Doopliss stood up everything started to shake, the stained glass window scattered. 'Now you did it slick!' Doopliss laughed.

'My plan to change everyone into pigs might have failed, but that was only for amusement purposes.' Mario ignored Doopliss he looked outside. 'It finally makes sense.' He said: 'The nameless hero who defeated Doopliss first sealed Doopliss by sending Twilight Town into a pocket dimension, Bow however created the concealing barrier so that her people could live in peace...'

Then Doopliss leaped onto his feet. 'Yes and I must thank you slick, the barrier that kept Twilight Town inside the pocket dimension is destroyed! Who knew that by losing this fight my actual goal was completed!' Doopliss looked at the Crystal Star which Vivian just picked up from the floor, all-of-a-sudden Doopliss started to glow, he slowly changed back into the creature under the sheet. 'Finally I can get out of that pocket dimension slick! You just did me a huge favor!' With these words Doopliss leaped out of the broken window, Vivian wanted to give chase but Mario stopped her. 'Not now Vivian, I am exhausted and you must be exhausted to, besides we stopped his machine and we nullified his magic now that we know his name and besides I came here for that Crystal Star.'

Vivian looked at Mario for a second then she handed over the Crystal Star to him. 'Yeah, you're right I am exhausted, but beating that Doopliss really did me good.' She slumped down in the red chair. 'Besides I am sure we will see Doopliss again and when we do we will be ready for him.' Mario whispered then he fell down on the ground, a few seconds later he was snoring.


Next time:

Finally the Ancient One: Doopliss is defeated but he managed to get away, his power broken he is reduced to a regular Duelist.

Mario and his new friend Vivian reunite with his other friends, when they set off for Rogueport they all forget about one thing: The Superbombomb... ''Bomb Squad.'' Coming next.


Card details:

Nameless Warrior

Type: Warrior/Effect

Attribute: Light

Level: 1

ATK: 0

DEF: 0

There is no limit to how many of this card can be in your Deck. When you have this card in your hand it must be Normal Summoned. (apply the regular Summon Rules) This card cannot be Set, this card cannot be changed to Defense Position.


Nameless Hero

Type: Warrior/Effect

Attribute: Light

Level: 1

ATK: 0

DEF: 0

This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card can only be Special Summoned in Attack Position from your hand by Banishing 5 ''Nameless Warrior'' from your Graveyard. When this card is Special Summoned you can pay half your LP this card cannot be Destroyed, then Destroy all cards on the Field your opponent takes 500 Damage for each card Destroyed by this Effect.


Nameless Replacement

Normal Spell card

Activate when a ''Nameless Soldier'' is Destroyed, Special Summon 1 ''Nameless Warrior'' from your hand.


Nameless Shield

Normal Trap card

Halve all Battle Damage taken this turn then during the end of the Battle Phase draw cards equal to the Monsters destroyed by Battle.

Note: The above 4 cards were created by me for this chapter only, nobody is allowed to use these cards.


Ecole de Zone

Field Spell card

Monsters cannot attack directly. When a monster is Summoned, except by this card's effect, negate the Summon and destroy that monster. Then, Special Summon 1 "Mask Token" (Spellcaster-Type/DARK/Level 1/ATK ?/DEF ?) to the destroyed monster's controller's side of the field. The ATK and DEF of the "Mask Token" are equal to the respective ATK and DEF of the destroyed monster.


Soul-Binding Gate

Field Spell card

When a monster that has lower ATK than your Life Points is Summoned face-up on the field, destroy that monster, and inflict 800 damage to each player.


Imitation

Normal Spell card

Select 1 Token on the field. Special Summon 1 "Mask Token" with the same original Level, Type, Attribute, ATK, and DEF as the selected Token to your opponent's side of the field. Then, inflict damage to your opponent equal to half the ATK of the selected Token.


High Half

Normal Trap card

Select 1 face-up monster on the field with 2000 or more ATK. Halve its ATK.

Note: The above 4 cards were used by Sherry Leblanc during the Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's anime in episodes 139 and 140, all credits go to the creative writers of these episodes.