51. The Sirens' Gambit - Part 1.
The door to the Palace of Shadows is finally open.
The final battle is upon our heroes, but before they can reach the Shadow Queen they need to survive the Shadow Queen's Duelists.
Lord Crump was first, the X-Naut commander, infused with the essence of the Shadow Queen, this corrupted his mind.
After a long fight Goombella managed to take out Crump, in his dying moment Crump tried to kill Goombella however the X-Naut commander was killed by Doopliss who challenged the heroes to a Duel.
Goombella sat on her knees she held her head in her hands, Mario sat next to her holding her arm around her.
'Take it easy Goombella, the nightmare is over.' He whispered.
'Mario.' Geno touched his friend's shoulder: 'We really need to move on, the Shadow Sirens are waiting, if Crump was only an example of what the Shadow Queen's power can do I'd hate to see what that power could do to someone who can actually handle it.'
Mario helped Goombella back on her feet.
'This left quite the impact on Goombella, she overcame her fears, she earned her rest.' Mario said.
'We'll take over for her should the need arise.' Mallow said, the rest agreed.
'Now the Shadow Sirens.' Mario continued: 'Bow you wanted to go after Doopliss and Vivian wanted to take out Beldam, Mallow Marilyn is your to deal with, be careful we don't know what to expect especially from Doopliss.'
A few minutes later the group left the hangar, they came back into the small hallways Geno was walking up front.
'All these hallways look the same.' Luigi muttered as they entered another hall.
'This place was designed as a prison, all these hallways are to confuse interlopers, but we haven't reached the real palace yet.' Geno said.
Suddenly Geno stopped. 'Careful now.' He whispered, they stood on an intersection they could go left or right, a big purple arrow was painted on the wall going left.
'You think it's a trap?' Mario asked.
'No the hallway to the right goes to the basement, there lies the prison where the interlopers are locked up for eternity, the left hallway goes to the main hall and the real entrance to the Palace of Shadows.' Geno explained.
'How do you know all this?' Mario wondered.
'Star Haven created this place, they told me the exact route we need to take.'
After what seemed like an hour the group finally reached the end of the hallway.
They stepped into the main hall, this was a gigantic room, the ceiling was so high they couldn't even see it, in the middle of the room stood a gigantic, circular, ivory tower, the base of the tower was surrounded by water, the water on it's turn was fenced off by golden fences, fountains were placed at the sides of the tower a staircase led to the entrance of the tower around the room were smaller bodies of water all fenced off by golden fences, candles placed on golden standards lit the room.
'This place is beautiful.' Goombella gasped.
'Then you might be glad that this place will become your tomb.'
Beldam appeared out of the shadows in front of the heroes, next to her appeared Marilyn with a grunt and finally Doopliss leaped down from the tower landing softly on his feet.
'So you took my invitation, glad you came slick.'
Mario took a few steps back softly pulling Goombella with him, Geno followed Mario.
'So my lovelies, ready to kill?' Beldam said with a grin, then with a screech she disappeared into the shadows, Vivian immediately gave chase, Marilyn grunted as she wanted to disappear as well but Mallow tackled her, with incredible speed Marilyn rolled away and leaped back on her feet, she started to run with Mallow closely behind her.
'So slick who of you do I need to kill?' Doopliss cackled, he carefully scanned the room, then suddenly Bow leaped at him, Doopliss laughed as he dodged her.
'So it is the wench who set up Twilight Town, what's the matter slick? Couldn't handle me having a bit of fun?' Doopliss taunted.
'Your ''fun'' caused a lot of suffering, I will take you down!' Bow was clearly furious.
'You must catch me first slick!' Doopliss cackled as he disappeared into the darkness.
'Mario I'm worried, Bow and Vivian seemed really agitated.' Luigi worried.
'They will control it bro, now they might act like this, once the Duels start they will realize it is serious.' Mario replied, then all throughout the room several Duel Monsters started to appear.
'And thus it started.' Geno mumbled.
Beldam leaped out of the shadows, Vivian followed a few seconds later.
'Enough sis!' Vivian shouted: 'It's not too late to stop this, call Marilyn back and I can convince Mario to work something out.'
Beldam shook her head: 'What if I don't want to? I live for this, Marilyn sees it as well, you're the only one who doesn't see it.' Beldam replied.
'There is nothing to see Beldam! You really think the Shadow Queen will share her power with us?'
Beldam simply laughed but gave no reply.
'At least call off Marilyn, you already twisted her mind, she is only a shadow of her former self, at least allow Mario to try and fix her mind.' Vivian pleaded.
'You really are oblivious are you not my lovely? Marilyn was broken, like you are I fixed Marilyn and I will fix you.'
Vivian let out a roar of frustration before she activated her Duel Disk, Beldam did the same.
Beldam chuckled: 'You look all fired up sis, if you only would have been so devoted in the past.'
Vivian felt her hands shaking in anger.
'Please Beldam, stop this madness, retreat, don't make me kill you.' Her voice was trembling.
'You? Kill me?' Beldam cackled: 'You can't even hide the fact that you're scared sis! This is how it always have been, you cowering from me in a dark corner, always afraid, always...' Beldam started.
'Enough!' Vivian interrupted her sister: 'Not any more Beldam, I refuse to be afraid of you any longer!' All of Vivian's previous fears were replaced by pure anger.
'Then I will make you afraid once again.' Beldam turned around she looked at Mario and Geno: 'The two of you better watch closely, I will give you a preview of the power the Shadow Queen holds.'
Mario and Geno simply looked at each other saying nothing.
'Now then my dear Vivian, it is time I'll show you what true fear is.'
(Beldam: 8000) - (Vivian: 8000)
'I will start this Duel with one facedown card.' Beldam said, a reversed card appeared vertically in front of her. 'That ends my turn.'
Vivian quickly drew her card, she added it to her hand.
'Only a facedown Spell or Trap card? Is her opening hand really that bad? No this reeks of a trap.'
Geno was staring at the reversed card on Beldam's Field.
'Something wrong?' Mario asked.
'No not with that facedown card, with the rest of her Deck, it is a feint sense of darkness, all the darkness in this place makes it hard to notice.' Geno spoke.
'Beldam did mention she would give us a preview of the Shadow Queen's power, what do you make of that?' Mario wondered.
'It is not the power that got Lord Crump killed so it must be a card.' Geno muttered now more to himself then Mario.
'I activate Fire Formation - Tensu!' A Spell card materialized in front of Vivian. 'This card allows me a second Normal Summon during my turn.'
Then she took a second card from her hand: 'Now I activate Fire Formation - Tenki!' A second Spell card appeared next to the first one.
'This Spell card allows me to add Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Dragon to my hand.' Vivian explained she searched a card in her Deck and found it halfway through.
'Now I Normal Summon Dragon.' The warrior clad in green appeared on the Field, the nine, flaming dragon heads appeared behind him. (1800 ATK)
'Next I activate Fire Formation - Gyokkou.' Vivian said, a third Spell card appeared next to the other two. 'This Spell card let me target a facedown card, that card cannot be activated.' Vivian explained as she pointed at Beldam's card, the Shadow Siren said nothing, she stood eerily still.
'Since I activated a Fire Formation card, I can Set one from my Deck, I choose Fire Formation - Tensen.' Vivian searched a card from her Deck then she played it, it materialized next to Gyokkou.
'Next I Summon Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Gorilla.' The warrior clad in black armor appeared, he started pounding his chest, a gorilla made of flames appeared behind him. (1600 ATK)
'Don't forget that for each Fire Formation Spell card face-up on my Field my Monsters gain 100 Attack Points.'
Dragon let out a roar, followed by Gorilla pounding his chest again. (Dragon: 1800- 2100 ATK, Gorilla: 1600- 1900 ATK)
'Dragon, Gorilla attack directly!' Vivian bellowed, first Gorilla charged in Beldam looked the creature in the eyes, then the flaming beast slammed it's fists on the ground flames erupted around Beldam, then the nine dragon heads started to spit fire at the Shadow Siren.
(Beldam: 4000) - (Vivian: 8000)
When the fire and smoke cleared Beldam stood still on her feet she hadn't moved an inch.
'I was waiting for this.' Beldam said with a smirk, purple flames appeared floating in mid-air. 'When I take damage from direct attacks I can Special Summon Necro Torturer.' Beldam spoke, a black mist appeared inside the circle of flames, an ugly creature appeared on the Field, a very muscular man with the head of a beast, drool dripping out of it's maw, it stood bend forward as it was carrying a huge, oak-wooden coffin on it's back, the shirtless creature let out a roar. (?- 4000 ATK)
'Tortures' Attack Points are equal to the damage I took.' Beldam explained.
Beldam grinned as she drew her card.
'Oh Vivian, you always were dimwitted, how many times did you play into your enemies hands? I told you many times to be wary of traps, but once more you've burned yourself.'
Beldam spread her arms: 'I use the Effect of Torturer, I have it lose all of it's Attack Points so I can Special Summon four Tortured Soul Tokens.'
The coffin on the back of Torturer opened up, a black mist poured out of it four ghastly figures appeared on the Field, they looked like humans, the expression on their faces caught in an eternal scream. (1000 ATK x4)
When the coffin closed again Torturer sank to it's knees. (4000- 0 ATK)
'Now to give you a taste of the Shadow's Queen power!' Beldam threw her head back. 'I release three of the Tortured Soul Tokens!'
Black fire erupted around the ghastly figures their screams pierced Vivian's ears. 'From the depths of Hell I summon thee! Necro Lord: Azazel!'
A chill filled the gigantic room, black flames appeared around the two Duelists, a beautiful man stepped out of the black flames, wearing nothing but a loincloth, he had pale and fair skin, two white, angel-wings folded on his back, he had long black hair that reached to halfway his back, he had a comforting smile on his face, while his eyes hid something sinister, the man looked at Vivian and smiled. (0 ATK)
Mallow chased Marilyn all the way to the other side of the chamber.
'Guh!' Marilyn grunted and immediately a wall of flames erupted around the two.
'So you want to waste no time?' Mallow growled.
'Guh huh!' Came Marilyn's reply.
'So wanna say something useful?' Mallow sighted.
'Ugh, guh, huh!' Marilyn grunted in reply.
'Thought so.' Mallow growled, two Duel Disks activated.
(Marilyn: 8000) - (Mallow: 8000)
Guh, guh, huh.' Marilyn grunted, she took two cards from her hand and quickly played them, first appeared Beast King Barbaros a creature with the upper body of a man the lower body of a great lion, at the end of its tail it had a stinger, and in its hands it held a lance and a shield. (3000- 1900 ATK)
Behind the Beast King Barbaros appeared a reversed Spell or Trap card.
'Oh no, you've got to be.' Mallow muttered to himself as he realized what Marilyn was planning.
'Have to take the gamble, that facedown card might be a bluff.' Mallow mumbled, he took two cards from his hand. 'I Set the Pendulum Zones with Archfiend Eccentrick and Majespecter Cat - Nekomata!' The red and blue crystals appeared, one contained the female, demonic creature and the other one contained the cape-wearing cat.
'The winds of victory blow in my favor, swing the pendulum of destiny! Pendulum Summon! Come on out my Monster!' A yellow beam of light shot forth from the crystals out of it leaped the majestic unicorn donning white armor and the trademark red cape all Majespecters wore. (2000 ATK)
'Majespecter Kirin attack Beast King Barbaros!' Mallow commanded, the horn of the unicorn started to glow and a powerful gust of wind approached Barbaros. 'Guh!' Marilyn grunted, her Trap card opened up and as Mallow feared it was Skill Drain, a red light briefly surrounded Marilyn as her Life Points decreased a bit, then Barbaros roared as it's Attack Points reducing Effect got negated. (1900- 3000 ATK)
The blast of wind hit the creature but it did nothing, then Barbaros threw it's lance eliminating the Unicorn.
(Marilyn: 7000) - (Mallow: 7000)
'I Set this and end my turn.' Mallow growled as a reversed card appeared vertically before him.
'Oh great.' Mario growled through his teeth: 'Mallow's Deck heavily relies on his Monster's Effects, had I know this before I would have someone else fight Marilyn.'
Geno shook his head, he seemed awfully calm. 'Don't underestimate Mallow, if anyone can overcome this ordeal it is him.' He replied.
'Guh!' Marilyn gurgled, Barbaros charged in.
'I don't think so, go Storming Mirror Force!' Mallow shouted, his Trap card opened up, a powerful blast of wind blew Barbaros away, the Monster disappeared, Marilyn took the card from her Duel Disk then immediately played it again, the ferocious beast reappeared on the Field with a roar of anger. (3000 ATK)
Then Marilyn played two more cards both appeared behind Barbaros.
'My turn.' Mallow said as he drew his card.
'I Pendulum Summon Kirin from my Extra Deck and Kyubi from my hand!' He wanted to play his cards but Marilyn shook her head, one of her two facedown cards spun around.
'Royal Oppression!' Mallow was shocked to see the Trap card.
'Darn if she pays eight-hundred Life Points my Pendulum Summon is negated.'
Marilyn let out a low chuckle, a red light surrounded her and her Life Points went down a bit.
(Marilyn: 6200) - (Mallow: 7000)
'Fine.' Mallow scoffed: 'In that case I just use Archfiend Eccentrick to destroy itself and your Royal Oppression with it.' Mallow growled, again Marilyn shook her head as her second Trap activated.
'Now you're kidding me.' Mallow sighted as he saw the Trap was Solemn Scolding, for only three-thousand Life Points Marilyn was able to negate the Effect of Archfiend Eccentrick, again the Shadow Siren was surrounded by a red light as her Life Points decreased even more, the Monster in the crystal dissolved in a black mist.
(Marilyn: 3200) - (Mallow: 7000)
'No way she managed to block me on every move, did she somehow knew she would face me? Come on Mallow stay calm.' Mallow's mind was racing. 'I end my turn.' He muttered.
'Guh huh.' Marilyn grunted she drew her card then played one of them, a group of green-skinned goblins appeared, they all wore purple shirts with leather chest armor over the shirt, their weapons of choice were clubs. (2300 ATK)
'So Barbaros and Goblin Attack Force.' Mallow sighted he closed his eyes.
'This is gonna hurt.' He thought then an intense pain filled his body as Barbaros stabbed him with it's lance the intense pain was followed by the horde of goblins hitting him with their clubs, Mallow felt his consciousness fade away.
(Marilyn: 3200) - (Mallow: 1700)
Bow had chased Doopliss down to one corner of the chamber.
'It's over freak.' Bow said, the Ancient One turned around.
'Is that what you think slick?' He said with a grin.
'What I did in Twilight Town was just for my own amusement, once I have my hands on all those Crystal Stars imagine what I can do slick!' He gloated.
'I'd rather not.' Bow replied, activating her Duel Disk, Doopliss did the same thing.
'Back then I did not have the chance to defeat you since you got away and Mario could not kill you I'd gladly finish the job for him.'
Doopliss chuckled.
'When I'm done with this Duel you wish you had left me alone slick.'
(Doopliss: 8000) - (Bow: 8000)
'My turn slick.' Doopliss said with a grin as he drew his opening hand.
'I Summon Silver Spirit Ukyo.' The sheeted weirdo stated before him appeared a man wearing purple robes, the back of the robes were longer than the front, he wore black pants under the robes his arms and head were wrapped in bandages, the right arm of the man was weirdly shaped, the bandages around that arm slowly came off revealing the arm was actually a blade. (800 ATK)
'Next I activate my Full Moon Mirror.' A Spell card appeared before Doopliss, a weird object appeared behind him, it was a green egg-shaped orb standing on a pedestal made of three demonic-looking legs, the egg was decorated with what looked like ten closed eyes.
'What this contraption does I will reveal later, keeps the surprise going don't you think slick?'
Bow drew her card.
'A weird Spell card and a pretty weak Monster, obviously he wants me to attack it, well I won't be able to win without attacking him.' Bow thought, she looked over her hand.
'I Summon Gellenduo to my aid.' Bow stated, the cute twin fairies appeared on the Field circling around each other. (1700 ATK)
'Attack Ukyo!' Bow commanded, the small creatures started to circle around Doopliss' Monster, a beam of light enveloped Ukyo with a loud screech the creature disappeared.
(Doopliss: 7100) - (Bow: 8000)
As soon as Ukyo was gone one of the eyes on the weird egg slowly started to open up.
Doopliss chuckled as he saw the confused look on Bow's face.
'You're wondering what this egg does don't you slick? Well keep destroying my Monsters and find out!' The Ancient One laughed.
'Whatever it is it won't stop me Doopliss, anyway I end my turn.'
Doopliss drew his card: 'I Summon Silver Spirit Sakyo.' Before Doopliss appeared the mirror image of Ukyo, quite literally as this Monster did not only look the same as Ukyo, his sword arm was his left arm instead of Ukyo's right arm. (600 ATK)
'When Sakyo is Summoned I can Special Summon Ukyo from my Graveyard.' Doopliss explained, the mirror image of Sakyo appeared on the Field. (800 ATK)
'Next I Set two cards.' Doopliss continued one card appeared behind Sakyo the other one behind Ukyo.
'That's my turn slick.'
Before Bow drew her card she looked at the two reversed cards Doopliss had, then his Monsters and finally the Full Moon Mirror, she didn't know what to make of it.
'I Summon Fairy Archer.' She stated, the cute-looking Fairy wearing purple appeared she had her bow at the ready. (1400 ATK)
'Fairy Archer attacks Sakyo and Gellenduo attacks Ukyo!' Bow commanded, first the duo Fairies charged in circling around their foe making it dizzy before the beam of light changed it into dust, then an arrow made of light pierced the chest of Sakyo the creature fell down and disappeared.
(Doopliss: 5400) - (Bow: 8000)
Slowly two more eyes on the green egg opened up.
'You triggered my Trap card slick.' Doopliss laughed: 'Buried Soul Talisman!' He bellowed as one of his reversed cards opened up.
'This card destroys all the Monsters that attacked my Monsters this turn, then I can Special Summon a high-Level Monster from my hand.' The Ancient One explained, a slip of paper appeared on the heads of Fairy Archer and Gellenduo, it had the Kanji for ''curse'' written on it, suddenly both Monsters exploded, two more eyes on the green egg opened up now five eyes were opened.
Then Doopliss played another card.
'Now I Special Summon Magic Mirror Spirit Nayuta!' A Monster appeared before Doopliss she was a woman with long, flowing hair appeared she was wearing traditional Japanese clothing giving her the appearance of a Miko or Shrine Maiden, her face was covered by a white cat mask. (2600 ATK)
'This is where I turn the Duel around slick, the road is slowly being paved for my ultimate creature! The best thing is there is nothing you can do slick!' Doopliss cackled.
Geno in the meantime had opened three smaller portals which showed the three ongoing Duels, Mario was looking at the knocked-out Mallow, then his eyes moved to the cackling Doopliss and finally Azazel.
'They're in trouble Geno, you were right but I just know they can pull through.' Mario said trying to convince himself.
'Mario I trust you, when you allowed Goombella to Duel Lord Crump I had my doubts now you have doubts of the choices your friends made, you trust them don't you?'
Mario simply nodded.
'Good, if you trust them they can feel it, you doubt them they will start to doubt themselves, there is a reason they all made it this far and that reason is not that they were lucky.'
Next time:
The final assault of the Shadow Sirens has begun, Beldam and Marilyn are rushing their opponents while Doopliss seems to take his time, will Mallow, Bow and Vivian be able to defeat their opponents or will the Shadow Sirens get the better of them? Find that out next time.
Card details:
Necro Torturer
Type: Fiend/Effect
Attribute: Dark
Level: 10
ATK: ?
DEF: 0
This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card cannot be Special Summoned except by it's own Effect. At the end of a Battle Phase when you took Battle Damage from 1 or more direct attacks Special Summon this card from your hand. The Original ATK of this card is equal to the Damage from Direct Attacks you took. During your Main Phase 1 you can have this card lose 1000 ATK, when you do Special Summon 1 ''Tortured Soul Token'' (Fiend/DARK/Level 1/ATK 1000/DEF 0). ''Tortured Soul Tokens'' cannot Attack Directly.
Necro Lord: Azazel
Type: Fiend/Effect
Attribute: Dark
Level: 12
ATK: 0
DEF: 0
This card cannot be Special Summoned. This card cannot be Set. This card can only be Normal Summoned by Sacrificing 3 ''Tortured Soul Tokens''.
Further Effects unknown.
Note: The above two cards were created by me for this story only.
Silver Spirit Ukyo
Type: Fairy/Effect
Attribute: Light
Level: 3
ATK: 800
DEF: 600
When this card is Summoned, you can Special Summon 1 "Silver Spirit - Sakyo" from your Graveyard.
Silver Spirit Sakyo
Type: Fairy/Effect
Attribute: Light
Level: 4
ATK: 600
DEF: 800
When this card is Summoned, you can Special Summon 1 "Silver Spirit - Ukyo" from your Graveyard.
Magic Mirror Spirit Nayuta
Type: Fiend/Effect
Attribute: Light
Level: 6
ATK: 2600
DEF: 1400
Effects unknown.
Full Moon Mirror
Continuous Spell card
Each time a monster on the field is destroyed, place 1 "Full Moon Counter" on this card.
Further Effects Unknown.
Buried Soul Talisman
Normal Trap card
Activate only during the turn 2 or more monsters you controlled were destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard. Destroy the monster(s) that attacked and destroyed those monsters by battle, then Special Summon 1 Level 5 or higher monster from your hand.
Note: The above 5 cards were first used by Sarina during Episodes 78 and 79 of the Yu-Gi-Oh GX anime, all credits goes to the creative writers of those episodes.
