Ayayacchi: Thank you for reviewing! I'm excited for it too, I've been looking forward to doing this chapter for quite some time. :)

Rose Gold: Thank you for reviewing! Yup, things get pretty serious… From here, it can only gradually get worse, or darker as the story goes. ;) And yes, I do plan to do something concerning Season 4. I'm not sure what exactly yet though, it's more in concept stage right now. I do need to finish Season 2 and then plan out some things for Season 3… ;) But not having (unfortunately) English dub is not going to stop me from doing Season 4. Glad you liked the chapter, and here's the next one! ;)

Kim Nanoha: Thanks for reviewing! Yes, things get pretty hot in here. ;)

Well, here's the awaited chapter, so enjoy reading… Showdown between both sides of nature! ;)

I only own my OC's!

"There's only one version of this deck, and it's not complete." Aunt Maria's words made me look up. "The other part is with cards concerning unliving nature. When together, those two form the Deck of Nature." A frown appeared on her face.

"However, I think this half is enough for your first year. Once you prove to me you've become a better duelist, and that you're worthy of this deck, I'll give you the other half."

"It doesn't matter," Aunt Maria looked in Aster's direction for a few moments. Her light brown eyes then landed on me. "Because once she feels the wrath of Unliving Nature, she'll regret ever suggesting this duel." A sinister smile formed on her face.

I froze the moment those words left her mouth.

I knew Aunt Maria was a skilled duelist. That was already a bit intimidating itself. But now she was suggesting how I was going to regret this… It wasn't even the worst part. She said I was going to feel wrath of Unliving Nature… I knew what she was talking about very well.

Unliving Nature was the second half of my deck, the one she never gave to me… I could remember our conversation about that like it was yesterday.

But that was when I refused to duel. Now, that was most probably the only way to get her out of this mess… And I wasn't backing down. I wasn't going to avoid dueling when it was obviously needed…

"Say that once you actually do something on the field instead of bringing up stupid threats." I found myself growling.

I didn't know where that sudden urge not to be afraid of her came from. All I knew was that I've had it enough of seeing people dear to me in trouble. I've had it enough of them treating me badly against their own will. I just wanted this nightmare to be over!

"Didn't they teach you to hold your tongue?" Aunt Maria spoke up icily while the guys were staring at me. "Only when I need to." I retorted. "Your insolence will cost you dearly…" A sinister grin appeared on her face yet again.

Out of a corner of my eye, I could see Ben fidgeting in what seemed to be nervousness. Not that I could blame him, since Aunt never threatened anyone in such way… At this point, I just wanted to start the duel as fast as possible.

"Let me just get my Duel Disk so we can finally get this over with." I spoke up calmly, ignoring her statement. Without waiting for her response, I made my way to the room.

Once I picked the Duel Disk from my table, I started walking back to the others. The guys were looking in my direction. Aunt Maria was a bit away from them. Stopping next to the guys, I could see her strapping a Duel Disk to her left arm.

My eyes widened slightly once she took a deck out of a holder around her cape. She then put it in its intended slot.

"Is that what I think it is?" Ben spoke up, his eyes meeting mine. "I think that too." I nodded with a frown. "I'm a bit lost." Hassleberry voiced his confusion. "That's the deck her aunt used to beat other students around the island." Aster explained briefly with his arms folded and eyes closed. "The one with creatures made out of elements?" Bastion presumed with a raised eyebrow. That earned him a nod from the professional duelist.

"Oh man…" Syrus commented in what seemed to be surprise. My guess was he heard those rumors about my aunt too, or something like that…

"But wait," Jaden spoke up. "Why are those cards so similar to what you have?" He gave me a perplexed look. "Because they technically are hers, Jay." Ben explained with a frown. "They're not." I shook my head. "Yes, they are. They're a part of your deck!" My cousin reminded. "Except that Aunt Maria gave me only the first half."

An even bigger frown appeared on his face. "She said she'd give you the other one." He pointed out. "She obviously didn't, since she's pretty much about to use it." I responded after shaking my head yet again. "From what I get, that half is about Unliving Nature." Jaden said slowly. "Just like she had said it." I nodded with a frown of my own.

"Are you going to duel or not?" Aunt Maria demanded, looking up at us. "I am." I responded. I was about to go when Ben and Jaden grabbed me by both of my arms respectively. "Good luck, cuzo." The former whispered. I muttered quick 'thanks' before turning my gaze to the latter. "You'll do good." He smiled. I simply nodded to him as he let go of my arm too. "Let's hope so." I muttered while walking away from them.

Once I walked up to Aunt Maria, I put my deck in its Duel Disk slot. "You have the key and the envelope?" She demanded coldly. "I do." I frowned. "Put it here in the middle of the field." She then ordered. "Why would you want me to do that?" I raised an eyebrow. "So I can be sure you won't try any funny business once you lose." Pursing my lips, I looked up into her cold, light brown eyes.

My guess was she wanted me not to 'try any funny business' because of my earlier theft attempt… She even came to warn me not to do something like that again. I didn't want to let her order me around though.

"Well, I won't, so you can just activate your Duel Disk." I replied firmly. "I won't activate anything until you put them right here." Aunt Maria pointed at the middle of the field. "Then you can forget about the duel." I retorted. "You're the one who suggested it, remember?" A smug smile crept onto her face. "And I agreed, due to certain conditions. If you refuse to comply with this one as well, then there's no reason for me to duel."

"You said she'd give you if she lost!" I could hear Ben shouting angrily a bit away from us. Aunt turned her gaze towards him with a scowl. "Another one of conditions." She looked back at me, this time with some sort of amusement.

I could only guess what was so amusing to her…

"Your choice." She then started taking the Duel Disk off her arm. "Fine, I get the condition." I growled, taking the envelope and the key out of my pocket. I threw them to the middle of the field. I could see the guys were mostly surprised I agreed to this… But I didn't really have a choice here, did I?

"I knew you'd listen." Aunt Maria was obviously pleased. I looked up at her with a glare before walking towards my side of the field.

Once I was there, I pushed the 'on' button on my Duel Disk. Aunt Maria did so as well. Both of us drew five cards.

Aunt Maria: 4000 LP

Me: 4000 LP

"Who goes first?" I demanded. "You." Aunt Maria responded, not even looking up from her card-filled hand. "Fine." I responded and drew another card. After looking at all of them for a few moments, I knew what to do.

"I'll summon Desert Rose in Attack Mode." I put the card in its intended slot. The plant appeared on the field (ATK/DEF:1000/500). "I'll end my turn by setting two facedowns." I set two of them in their slots.

Aunt Maria drew her sixth card. "I'm summoning Air Owl in Attack Mode." My eyes widened slightly as the monster appeared (ATK/DEF:1000/1500). It was an owl which appeared to be made out of pure air…

"Wow." I could hear Ben saying in amazement. "It really looks similar to Serena's deck." Jaden noted. "It is part of her deck." Aster reminded.

I've only heard things about my deck's other half. But now that I was actually going to see it myself… It made me both nervous and a bit excited. Who knew what she could do with those cards? Yet, at the same time, those were the cards I could only hear about up until now!

"I'll set two facedowns and end my turn." Aunt Maria put two facedowns and then looked up at me. I couldn't help frowning once she let out a chuckle of amusement. "What's so funny?" I demanded. "Just draw already." She urged with a smirk.

Judging by her behavior, she was sure about her victory already… Or she had drawn something good. Whatever it was, it didn't look good for me. I had no time to think about it though. I had to focus on my cards.

I drew another card and put it in my left hand. "I'll start by summoning Wetland Flycatcher in Attack Mode." I declared, putting the card on my Duel Disk. The plant appeared (ATK/DEF:1000/800). "Then I'll equip it with 'Nitrogen Boost'," I lifted up another card from my hand. "Which gives it another 1000 points!" The plant's points rose to 2000 points. "Now attack her Air Owl!" I ordered, clenching my right fist. The plant started flying to the owl, when…

"I activate 'Fire Play' and 'Water Whip'!" Aunt Maria suddenly shouted. "What?!" My eyes widened in shock, and this sudden panic washed over me. Two of her facedowns revealed themselves. One of them showed a whip made out of water, while the other one showed burning fire…

"Oh man." I could hear Syrus saying. "What are those cards?" That sounded like Jaden. "I've seen them once. Their effects can cause a lot of trouble." Aster explained.

The last thing I wanted to hear at this moment…

Just as my monster was about to attack the owl, a water whip appeared. It tied itself around it. "'Water Whip' can be activated during an attack," Aunt Maria started explaining smugly. "It stops the monster and takes away half of its points." By now, I was gaping at her.

My eyes then moved to the plant which moved back to my side of field. It still had that whip around it. Its points had dropped to 1000.

"Concerning 'Fire Play'… Once an opponent declares Attack, he loses 500 Life Points for each monster on his side of field." She explained smugly. Her cold eyes then looked at my monsters. "Since you have two, I think you know what that means…"

Suddenly, a fire blast shot out of the trap card. It went straight towards me. I let out a scream of pain once it hit me, my Life Points dropping to 3000. I fell to my knees, breathing heavily and shaking a bit. I wasn't going to lie, it hurt a lot…

Aunt Maria: 4000 LP

Me: 3000 LP

"Serena!" I could hear Ben and Jaden shouting. "I'm fine!" I shouted back.

I could feel my heart beating like crazy. If this was what some of her trap cards could do, then I could only guess what else she had up her sleeves…

"I end my turn." I declared, trying to stand up. Even though I managed to get on my feet, I was still trembling… "I draw." Aunt Maria drew another card. "I summon Fire Salamander in Attack Mode." A salamander (which looked like it consisted of fire) appeared on the field (ATK/DEF:1900/1200).

She then looked up at me. "Fire Salamander, attack Wetland Flycatcher!" She lifted up her right hand with a sinister smile. "Not if I activate 'Flowing Back'!" I cried, revealing one of my facedowns. "Useless, since I activate 'Elemental Play'." Aunt Maria lifted up another card. "What's that?!" I couldn't stop myself from shouting.

"It deactivates your trap's effect. You can send that thing to your graveyard." She elaborated smugly. I discarded the trap with a growl, not believing this was happening.

Here it was, yet another trick I didn't see coming… She was good!

The salamander attacked my monster, destroying it in process. My Life Points fell to 2100.

Aunt Maria: 4000 LP

Me: 2100 LP

"Air Owl, attack Desert Rose!" I could hear her shouting while trying to stop myself from shouting. I could feel my chest hurting due to my heavy breathing…

That was when her monster destroyed mine yet again. "Because you destroyed Desert Rose… I'm allowed to destroy one card at your side of field…" I managed to speak up while holding my chest with right hand. "And I choose your salamander…."

The monster disappeared from her side of field. "Then by destroying my other monster… You activated…" I stopped for a moment, trying to breathe. Yet pain in my chest didn't stop at all… "You activated 'Perfect Harmony'." I managed to speak up, only to then clutch my chest once more.

"STOP THIS DUEL!" Someone's shouting made me turn my head in surprise. Both Ben and Jaden ran to the edge of the field. "Why should we?" Aunt Maria tilted her head a bit to left with a look of amusement. "Serena, you need to stop." Ben frowned in my direction. "Why?" I rasped out.

"You don't look well." Jaden pointed out. I stared at him, not knowing how to respond to that statement. "He's right. You're pale," "I'm always pale," I managed to say, only to be cut off. "Paler than usual. Your face is as white as bone, and you can't breathe." Ben gave me a worried look.

At that moment, breathing became a bit easier. Pain didn't stop, but at least I could breathe… I didn't have slightest idea what could have caused it.

"I'm fine." I quickly said. "No, you're not." Jaden frowned as well. Seeing him so serious all of a sudden was a bit surprising… "Did you take your painkillers?" Ben suddenly asked. "No…" I trailed off, slight panic washing over me.

Maybe I was feeling like this because I was an idiot who forgot to take it… There was nothing I could do about it now though. I could only try to duel as quickly as possible…

"Then you need to stop." Ben let out a sigh. "I can't. We're in the middle of a duel." I shook my head at him. "But you're not…" "She's right, you've interrupted our duel!" Aunt Maria cut Jaden off from saying anything else. "Get away from the field and let us finish this." She gave them threatening looks.

Two guys looked at her a bit scared before looking back at me. "I'm fine." I insisted while trying to ignore pain in my chest. "Get away from the field!" Aunt Maria shouted this time. Both of the guys then backed away.

"Due to 'Perfect Harmony', I'm allowed to summon a Level 3 or lower monster from graveyard." I spoke up. "And I choose Desert Rose." The plant appeared on the field yet again (ATK/DEF:1000/500). "I'll set a facedown and end my turn." Aunt Maria set one card.

I drew another card. "I activate 'Pot Of Greed'," I then lifted it up. "Which allows me to draw two cards." I drew two of them. "Then I'll activate 'Nature Healing'. For every card in my hand, I gain 300 Life Points. Since I have three, that means 900…" My Life Points rose to 3000.

Aunt Maria: 4000 LP

Me: 3000 LP

"I summon Ocean Bacteria in Defense Mode." The monster appeared (ATK/DEF:1200/500). "I'll end my turn with a facedown." I frowned, trying to ignore pain in my chest. "That's it?" Aunt Maria raised an eyebrow. "That's it." I nodded.

A smug smile crept upon her face as she drew another card. "I think it's already clear to you who the winner is." She commented. "Just play the damn cards already." I growled. She returned it with the same smile.

"I activate 'Card Of Sanctity'. It lets both of us draw cards until we have six in hand." She declared. I drew five of them, and she did the same.

I was thankful I had more cards, but at this point, I just wanted this to be over… I couldn't stand the pain.

"Serena," Ben's voice made me turn around in surprise. He ran up to me with something in his hands. "Drink this." He offered me a painkiller. I opened my mouth to say something, when… "Benjamin, step away from her." Aunt Maria warned with a growl. "Mum, she's not fine." Ben glared. "If you take that thing, consider this duel over." She then looked at me seriously.

I really wanted to take it. I wanted the pain to stop. But if I did, then she'd stop the duel… I couldn't risk that. Not when I could actually help her… I wasn't going to let a small thing like painkiller bring me down.

"Thanks, Ben, but I can't take it." I told him. "Cuzo…" He gave me a disapproving look. "If I take that, then she'll stop the duel. I can't." I cut him off. "But…" "She told you something!" Aunt Maria shouted angrily. With a frown on his face, Ben backed away.

"Air Owl, attack Ocean Bacteria!" Aunt Maria ordered. The owl let out a hoot and flew to the bacteria. It then flapped with its wings, destroying it. I covered my eyes as more wind appeared. My Life Points fell to 2500.

"When you destroy Ocean Bacteria, two smaller ones appear in its place." I then looked up. Two smaller monsters appeared (ATK/DEF:600/500).

Aunt Maria: 4000 LP

Me: 2500 LP

"One thing I forgot to mention…" A sinister smile crossed her face. Every time Air Owl attacks, you have to discard one of your trap cards." My eyes widened at hearing that statement.

Every time I tried to do something, she just had to sabotage me… If I didn't think of something, I'd really be done for. Then that thing would get its hands on both the key and the envelope…

"Fine." I let out a growl and discarded my 'Fishing Out' trap. "Fire Salamander, attack her bacteria!" Aunt Maria lifted up her right hand yet again. The salamander attacked. The bacteria's destruction cost me 1400 points.

Aunt Maria: 4000 LP

Me: 1100 LP

"I'll set another facedown and end my turn." I drew my seventh card.

Hopefully, I could turn things around this time… I had good cards, if only she didn't find another way to sabotage me.

"I sacrifice bacteria and Desert Rose to sacrifice Sacred Phoenix." I declared and lifted up the card in my hand. Two monsters disappeared. In their place, the phoenix appeared in gold and scarlet light (ATK/DEF:2800/2500). "Now, attack her salamander!" I cried.

The phoenix let out a cry and flew towards the salamander. It spat fire, destroying the monster. Aunt Maria covered her eyes as smoke appeared and her Life Points dropped to 3100.

Aunt Maria: 3100 LP

Me: 1100 LP

"I'll set two facedowns and end my turn." I declared, setting two facedowns.

However, at that moment, pain in my chest became even stronger…

I clutched it with a quiet cry. "First, I activate 'Aether Shock'." Aunt Maria revealed one of her facedowns. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Once this card is activated, you lose half of my monster's Defense Points." She explained, sounding rather pleased. That was when an electric blast came from the card, and went right towards me. I screamed in pain yet again once it hit me.

Aunt Maria: 3100 LP

Me: 350 LP

By now, my heart was beating like crazy. At the same time, it was harder to breathe…

"Then I activate 'Unliving Nature'," Aunt Maria's words made me look up in panic. "It allows me to Special Summon… THIS!" She suddenly started laughing like a maniac. It was a really frightening sight… "AETHER DOVE!" She lifted up both of her hands in the air.

Suddenly, wind started blowing like crazy. At that moment, a dove which looked like it was made of pure energy appeared on the field (ATK/DEF:2500/2200). "I'll then activate 'Aether Shield'," She revealed her second facedown. "Which gives it a boost of 1500 points!"

My eyes widened as its points rose to 4000. That was a lot of points…

"ATTACK HER PHOENIX!" Aunt Maria shouted. The dove flew towards my monster, about to attack… "I activate 'Rapid Evolution'!" I cried, revealing my trap card. "My monster's… Immune… To your attack for one turn." I rasped out just as the dove's attack failed. "It doesn't matter. You'll lose on my next turn." She smiled smugly at me. "I end my turn."

At that moment, white light started glowing around her body… The same light I saw around Sartorius in my nightmare. The identical one. I could have sworn her eyes looked even worse than before. There was this… Insanity in them…

I was fighting for breath by now. Pain in my chest was even worse. I couldn't keep dueling like this. There must have been a way for this duel to finish…

Drawing another card, I quickly looked at it. Then I saw my escape out of this awful situation. It was a crazy idea, and it would hurt… But it would help me get this duel over with.

"I.. Activate… Double Boost…." I rasped out; fully aware the guys were staring at me. I tried to ignore worried looks from Ben, Jaden and the others. "It… Doubles… Phoenix's points…" I stopped for a moment and took a deep breath (earning me more pain).

At that moment, Phoenix's points rose to 5600.

"Then I activate… 'Fair In War'…" I took another card from my left hand and lifted it up. "Both of us… Lose… Life Points equal to…" I took another deep breath. "The lowest amount of Attack Points a monster has on my side. Since Phoenix is the only one at the field, you know what that means." I quickly said.

"WHAT?!" Aunt Maria screeched, her eyes widening. "That's just crazy!" I could hear Ben shouting.

At that moment, an explosion could be heard. A lot of smoke and wind appeared.

That was when I felt even more pain. Everything started turning black. The last thing I registered was someone calling me by my name and a loud screech before I completely lost my consciousness….

Well… I guess that's it, now the question is whether Serena survived that last attack lol. I guess we'll find out in the next chapter XD.

I hope you liked how I wrote the duel, and seeing Serena's other half of the deck. It had always been my intention to have Serena go against it. However, her winning this duel wasn't realistic, since Maria is a skilled duelist, while she avoided dueling as much as possible. The best she could do was force this into a draw, since her aunt was already beating her like crazy lol.

I hope you liked it and until next time! :)