【44 - The Meeting of Fire and Nature and Mars and Jupiter!】


Word had been sent from Kua Kuano, Heidi awoke the next day in a shared room with Dominic. His bed was by the window, the bearded teen was deeply asleep and looked strangely vulnerable. Heidi rubbed her eyes and sat up. She reflected on her current situation and everything she'd done and been through, to get to this point. Falling back Heidi stared at the ceiling while time dragged by. Would gathering the other chosens accomplish anything? Dominic thrashed a bit, rolling himself a few times but remained asleep. Then there was a knock at their door. Heidi blinked and got up, she was wearing a donated set of white pyjamas. Heidi hesitated and there was another knock. Dominic groaned and pulled down his pillow.

"You two awake?" Malo called and Heidi relaxed, going to unlock the door and open it.

The islander man was beaming, that glint of mischievousness in his eyes. Beside him was a reedy man in a suit. He was caucasian with grey hair tied back in a ponytail.

"Heidi Hirazumi," he gave a short bow. "I'm the manager here of Kua Kuano's primary resort. It's an honour to have the chosen fire duelist stay here. Just last month we had Kanoa Tuonga and his partner here for an event."

"He has a partner? ...I suppose it makes sense." Heidi felt strangely nervous at the thought of meeting him. He seemed so successful, physically fit and accomplished as a hero.

"There is a card shop not far from the resort. It's the biggest on the island and has lots of cards sealed in a vault. I heard your deck is yet to receive an OCG upgrade so we'd like to help with that."

"Wow, really?" Heidi's eyes brightened.

"Yo, Dominic!" Malo called as the other teen turned over in bed, finally raising a head with tired eyes and bed hair. "I'm sure this would interest you too! Get dressed and then the nice manager man is going to treat us to breakfast."

"We'll be down in a second!" Heidi called, instantly invigorated. She closed the door then jumped for her bag of clothes. Tearing out into the corridor again and running for the bathroom to change. There was a purple island flower on the window sill and the smell of lavender freshener. Heidi ran herself a shower in the tiled room then dressed herself in gifted touristy clothes: khaki short-shorts and a white top with cloudy splashes of pink, purple and yellow. She slipped on a new set of pink runners then raced out and down the hall.


YouTube: Beach Cafe Ambience: tropical music, ocean waves, & no worries!


Breakfast was heavenly pancakes dripping with cream and maple syrup. From beside her Dominic was still rubbing his eyes, but the fancy cup and saucer of coffee was bringing him to life. He was wearing shorts and a green floral button-up that hung off his muscular frame. He didn't look too happy about the flower patterns but almost everyone at the resort had them printed on their clothes. Heidi couldn't help making faces and groaning as she ate the sweet food. From across the table Malo grinned while the manager offered a small smile.

They were eating at a public venue, all kinds of people at other tables or organizing raffles or just walking through. There was an enormous window-wall with a wide view of the ocean. Palm trees, waiters in white carrying drinks or trays with platters of seafood or fruits. Peaceful island music kept the atmosphere mellow.

"This resort is so beautiful," Heidi commented.

"Thank you," the manager accepted the complement with a congenial nod.

"This whole island is beautiful. I've never seen green water. It's crystal clear. And I've never seen sand this white. I can see why Kanoa came back here." Heidi admitted.

Dominic scraped up his last mouthful, slipping the fork in. Malo said "Right. Well, off to get you kids some winning decks?"

The manager hadn't finished his poached egg. He dabbed his face with a napkin then stood "shall we go?"

Outside the music continued, played by streetside buskers. Civilians in tourist clothing or colourful wraps, carrying baskets overhead. There was liveliness in the unpaved streets. Colourful papers or lanterns hung from rope that zigzagged overhead. Yesterday night the town was lit up by countless balls of yellow. The oceans were even more beautiful: the moon reflecting off the black water on a hot night. A night so wonderfully warm you were comfortable in a T-shirt. Now it was a hot day but they didn't travel far. They went around the main building and past several shops until they entered a card store. The islander man running it waved in a hearty greeting to the manager and they began conversing. It was the same easy-going happiness everyone here seemed to have. Heidi followed Dominic and Malo deep into the store where it was cooler, a fan by the ceiling blowing air with paper streamers stuck to it. Through an open storage vault at the end were stacks of cards ordered by colour and set.

"Knock yourselves out," Malo grinned at them.

Heidi and Dominic spent the next couple of hours rifling through cards. There were white colourless cards that Malo used. Dominic was going between nature and fire, probably a way of replacing his father's lost rush deck. Heidi stuck to fire, as per usual. She read the effects and started picking out cards she liked, going through a process of elimination. Mars was still central to her deck so she needed to focus on a race he evolved from. For her hyperspatial zone she chose eight draghearts, most of them swords that flipped over into Passion Dragons. This was the first time Heidi's deck had changed completely, it was an odd but exhilarating sensation. She finally had a future deck.

"You done?" Dominic peered over and Heidi pushed her cards together.

"Trying to get a strategic advantage over your opponent, huh?"

Dominic sighed then showed her his cards "I'm using Dual Shock Dragon, Genji Blastdragon and psychic creatures like Ryusei Kaiser."

"Hmmm…" Heidi squinted at them thoughtfully. "Glenmalt is my main draguner. Let's hope we've chosen correctly. After all we're leaving today so we can start the journey to Kanoa's tribe." She received a grunt of agreement.

When they went back to the resort a few more hours were necessary to get things organized. The two played practice games with their decks and grew in confidence. When it got too hot they swam in the ocean, Heidi had a black one-piece swimsuit for it. Young people were swimming about and Heidi was friendly but Dominic seemed to intimidate them - he wasn't one to talk or smile freely. When they saw Malo waving them back to shore the two teens left the water.

"It's settled. I'll be taking you both to Kanoa. Remember to pack your things and we'll leave in forty minutes." The man said.

"You're coming? What about the other fishermen?" Heidi asked.

"They don't need me. But you're supposed to be a hero of Aurellia. I think that's much more interesting and important." His brown eyes twinkled. Bald head sweating under the sun. Heidi's face shone with gratitude. He turned "come on, let's go."

When ready they left Kua Kuano's resort. Heidi made sure to thank the manager and everyone who'd helped her and Dominic. The three walked the island until they reached their mode of transport. It was a long boat that looked more like a raft, all unpainted timber. Workers were loading food and supplies for their journey. Heidi and Dominic boarded, then after more talking Malo climbed aboard as well. The twenty-foot long vessel was pushed away from the wide dock and into a current, its sail catching wind. They left the island. The other two were staring at the island as they parted while Heidi left to investigate the cabin and where they'd be sleeping. Small quarters with beds above each other, jutting from the wall, but everything was doable. She was used to the swaying from her weeks as a pirate, but she should probably refrain from spitting in here. Heidi went back into the main room where the wood was lacquered and had open gaps to outside. She lay back on a thin lounge of sorts, crossed her legs and put her hands behind her head.

It took three days of travel. Malo found an island banjo so the music continued. There were a multitude of islands across the ocean, some were only big enough to hold a house and some were even smaller. Some were connected by plank-bridges or wharfs. Some were ridiculously tall, like jagged spikes of lush greenery over volcanic rock with sheer cliff-faces and hanging vines. The birds and their calls were beautiful. The different coloured coral and sea-life was beautiful, Heidi had pointed out a yellow puffer-fish that Malo told her was poisonous. The water changed colour frequently, from blues to greens and sometimes crystal-clear, allowing Heidi to see the white sand of the ocean floor. Nature was breathtakingly beautiful.


YouTube: Relaxing Music - Flute, Gentle Birds and Rainforest Sound


They made a few stops over the coming days, met tribal people with tattoos and bone piercings. Carrying hunting spears and dressed in leaves, firm bodies bronzed and glistening. The island Kanoa lived on was similarly lacking in any infrastructure. When Heidi ran to the rail to see it, her enthusiasm wavered. She hadn't imagined Kanoa's life and culture to be so different to hers. Amira had run because she was a coward, it seemed Kanoa had run because of a sense of tribal duty. What of the light and water chosens? Why had they run and what kind of people were they?

They headed toward waiting tribesmen. The three passengers worked to steer the boat until they felt the bottom drag against sand. They climbed out onto water and worked to pull the boat as much as they could until it got too heavy. The tribesmen helped Malo tie the boat down.

"Welcome, Heidi Hirazumi." A polynesian man with a deep voice said. "We'll take you to the village."

The trek through the island made Heidi nervous.

"How do they know where they're going?" Dominic whispered.

"You two be respectful, you hear me?" Malo whispered back. "Especially to their chief. Do not disrespect their chief." The excitable man was uncharacteristically serious so the teens became serious as well.

Soon the jungle opened up to various hutts, between them were campfires trailing smoke and totem poles. Tribesmen were tending to various activities like weaving, whittling or sharpening tools. They all turned to gaze at the caucasian teenagers being led through the village by a Polynesian man they didn't recognize. They were being taken by their guides to a wooden building that was painted brightly and beautifully carved. It was clearly the most sacred part of the village. Standing under it importantly was a man with a lined face, wearing a head-piece and decorated with colourful feathers from exotic birds. Heidi couldn't study his appearance because her eyes were being pulled to who was standing beside him.

From Heidi's pocket Mars let out a silent cry, filling her mind with a new awakening. She could also feel Jupiter, the other phoenix. When her eyes met Kanoa's it was just like when she met the last chosen. An instant connection and understanding. They were so very different, but the same somehow. Then the young Kanoa fought to bring his expression back to a somber one, Heidi felt a sting of rejection. This isn't going to be easy. But I am NOT leaving here without him! Heidi clenched both her fists and stuck out her chest, feet planting once she came to a stop before the chief and his advisors. Dominic and Malo were standing much less firm on either side of her.

"Welcome Heidi Hirazumi, the chosen fire duelist, to our village. I am Chief Tenakoto." His voice was grand like he'd prepared a speech, spreading his arms "We have prepared a place for you to stay. You've travelled far to get here. Am I correct in assuming you came to unite with your fellow chosen?"

"Yes...Sir." Heidi's eyes bore into the other teen's.

"Our tribesman Kanoa is renowned as the hero of the islands. But he is happy to make your acquaintance for as long as you wish to stay here-"

"And longer, I hope." Heidi couldn't stop herself from interrupting. Glaring straight into Kanoa's stern eyes. "I came here because I'm trying to gather all the chosens." At her statement the surrounding villagers exchanged looks with each other.

"I thought as much..." The chief replied.

"Tenakoto-"

"Chief!" Malo corrected sharply from beside Heidi. Dominic was staring at her warily too.

Heidi looked up as the man raised an eyebrow at her, standing high atop the steps of his building. Heidi lowered into a deep bow "Forgive me..." she said while keeping her head down "I'm trying to do what I think is right. I'm trying to fulfill my duty as a chosen duelist." There was a small gasp but when she raised her head Kanoa's expression was stern once more. The chief watched her quietly.

Kanoa took a breath "I am not going with you."

It was enunciated clearly. Heidi's jaw clenched as she bit back her retort. She knew she needed to be smart about this, she couldn't risk offending the tribesmen or their leader. Her two comrades watched her nervously.

"I appreciate your offer to let me stay here, Chief. I will gladly accept this kindness."

"Good. Then how about a duel?" The chief's suggestion shocked Heidi. "In our culture dueling connects people, it allows them to understand and to see each other's hearts. I know you must be tired from your travels but those of us here would be very interested to see how Jupiter and Mars fare against each other."

"A d-duel? Against Kanoa? Now?"

"If you don't mind." Tenakoto said and Heidi saw the neutral expression on the boy's face.

She straightened "I'd love to. Kanoa, I challenge you to a duel. Kettou da!"

"...yoshi."

"Wonderful." The chief remarked and they all began to move away from the wooden shrine, away from the huts to a grassy clearing where they'd have enough room.

Heidi didn't expect to be duelling Kanoa so soon. Amira had never accepted her challenges, but now she was going to duel the nature chosen when they'd barely exchanged more than a few words. Heidi's right hand ignited with ghostly red and Kanoa copied her with green. They could both sense the phoenixes awakening in eagerness for what was to come. Tables appeared and shields expanded while those watching surrounded the spectacle at a safe distance.

Heidi began the game by choosing a spell and slapping it down as mana. The red glow emphasized her anger. Kanoa figured his rush would likely lose to a fire player's. His plan was to build mana until he could swarm with Boaroaxe. He calmly charged Huckle Kirin, green light matching her red. For a moment both their full-body auras activated and pulsed, both glows receding at the same time.

"Interesting…" Chief Tenakoto murmured.

"It's like they're in sync," Malo observed.

"It's gotta be their phoenixes reacting to each other. Chosens dueling each other for the first time." Dominic said.

Heidi charged "Let me introduce you to B-Boy, the Explosive!" What appeared to be a mechanized fighter revealed itself to be a suited human "This new deck focuses on humans. B-boy makes my fire evolutions cost 1 less! Turn end."

"I summon Yattar Wan! Now I'm allowed an extra charge so I put Kabra Katabra into my mana zone." A fox wearing a jacket and pants began jumping up and down excitedly.

Heidi secretly admitted it was cute before starting her turn "I summon Magnum, Shortshot! The puppets in my deck fight against you putting extra creatures into play!" Heidi noticed the displeasure flickering on her opponent's face "Guess that's not good news for you? B-boy attacks! Now, invasion!"

The human leapt forth, suddenly glowing a bright red and transforming into a coat-wearing man trailing fire, he raised a turret gun that covered his arm.

"Gatling, Sonic! An evolution with an invasion ability, I can put him into play for free on an attacking human! Double break Kanoa's shields!" At Heidi's order a barrage of bullets shattered two shields and Kanoa winced, opening his eyes after. The human's power reduced from 7000 while attacking to its usual 6000 as Heidi ended her turn.

Kanoa had Huckle and Sasoris added from his shields to his hand. While Heidi's rush was quickly gaining pace he still needed to set his field up first. He used Huckle Kirin for mana "I summon a second Yattar Wan and add Sasoris to my mana… I use my remaining mana to summon Nam=Daeddo, Bronze Style and boost…" he flipped a card from his deck to mana: another Sasoris. Kanoa smirked as the future of the duel began to take shape in his mind. He tapped the extra mana "Then I cast Treasure Map!" He drew and fanned out the top five cards of his deck. "I add Marinyan, Dragon Edge to my hand. First Yattar Wan, shield break!"


+ Soul Eater - Krieg (Fighting Theme) HD


The excited fox jumped before leaping and clawing through a panel. Heidi caught the card: Super Explosive Duel Fire. While it was a shield trigger that destroyed blockers it had no use in a duel of fire against nature. The fox stepped back to its pair, between them was what looked like a Bronze-Arm Tribe on steroids, its posture was stoic and it wore a tiki mask.

Heidi charged the spell then "Gatling, Sonic double break again!" Bullets sprayed and this time Kanoa got a trigger.

"Antique Dragon Ruins sends a tapped and untapped creature to your mana zone if I have five nature cards in mana!" Stone tikis rose up and moss covered Heidi's two creatures, preventing her next attack.

"Dammit! ...Turn end."

Kanoa looked at the other shield and paled at the sight of Supernova Jupiter King Empire. He looked around at those watching the duel: the chief, various tribesmen, the other visitors Dominic and Malo. Heidi noticed his inner panic so he quickly charged with Marinyan.

"I summon Sasoris, Dragon Edge!" The green squirrel leapt into play and raised a paw "I bring out Boaroaxe, Evil Tomohawk!"

"The hyperspatial zone…" Heidi's eyes widened at the portal as the wicked axe slipped out and into the squirrel's hand. Electric chains rattled around them.

"Now I bring out a creature from my mana, so I summon the Marinyan I just charged!" The pink-haired cat-girl joined its fellow creatures with a cheer. "And in effect, Marinyan brings out the dragheart fortress Euru=Bucca, Mystery Gathering Ruins from the hyperspatial zone as well!" The dinosaur-shaped temple crashed into the ground behind Kanoa, trembling a nearby hut. "I use my last mana to cast Treasure Map again and I add… Dandy Eggplant to my hand." Kanoa needed the wild veggie for Jupiter's evolution-bait, but he took the card with trepidation.

Heidi's teeth were clenched, her confidence slipping at the sight of five opposing creatures and two draghearts.

"Turn done." Kanoa surprisingly announced. She's low on cards in hand. I don't want to attack until I know I can finish her all at once. If she gets a speed-attacker I could lose the duel.

"I summon Royal Islay, Explosive Passion!" A samurai-girl in a pink kimono drew her sword. "I discard Moel and draw 2!" Heidi examined the new cards. She drew an outrage creature that made her summons cheaper and… Supernova Mars Disaster. "I summon Topgear, Start Dash!" A red-gold archer slid into her zone "Now the first fire creature I summon each turn costs 1 less! I end my turn."

Kanoa's fortress started to shake "Dragsolution! Since I have at least two nature creatures in play Mystery Gathering Ruins becomes Rejiru=Euru=Bucca, Mystery Ruinskind! Now my creatures cost 2 less." The jurassic command dragon came alive and roared. Kanoa added Kabra Katabra as mana. "I summon Dandy Eggplant for 1 mana! It lets me add Marinyan from my deck to my mana zone and discard a mana card." Kanoa flicked away his Antique Dragon Ruins, he needed to save the creature cards to spam from his mana. An eggplant with a club entered play and Heidi watched with growing nerves as he continued "I summon another Bronze Style for 1 mana and boost," another Marinyan was added to his mana. "Now… I tap 3 mana to evolve both Yattar Wans and Dandy Eggplant into Supernova Jupiter King Empire!"

The audience gasped, villagers stepped back. Green light shone as Kanoa was fully-coated in energy that twisted like branches. Heidi had only seen another phoenix for the briefest moment in the past: when she'd hidden with others to watch while Amira duelled a lieutenant. Now she was facing off against one and could sense Mars reacting. Pluto had felt like a cold presence that became eager around death. Mars felt fierce and battle-hungry. Jupiter felt… untameable but also composed in its strength.

Three creatures were sucked into green light and the phoenix emerged: it had pincers and wings. The head of a sabre-tooth tiger as its lower body. Leafy dual swords and shogun helmet, upon which sat a gold crown. Its roar was deep and reverberated through the land. Roots and vines ripped up around the duel and spread. Leaves sprouted and pollen swirled about. The phoenix watched Heidi with a keen eye and she sensed its recognition.

"He is the chosen duelist…" the chief remarked with wide eyes.

"Jupiter, triple break her shields and meteorburn! I can re-summon the Dandy Eggplant beneath it!" Kanoa twisted the card and it shone… before straightening itself once more. The phoenix didn't budge, nor did it recede. It continued to stare at Heidi as she looked up at it, staring back. The situation Kanoa feared had come to pass. Those watching began to lose their awe and grow confused at the phoenix's disobedience. Heidi stared at Kanoa in shock.

He tried to pull himself together and quickly moved on with the duel "Sasoris, shield break!" the squirrel lunged and shattered glass with its weapon. "Boaroaxe lets me bring out Huckle Kirin Sawyer which I evolve from a Kabra Katabra in my mana zone! Huckle, shield break!" A giraffe fighter swung gold blades and broke Heidi's third shield.

"Shield trigger! Moel, Love Sniper!" A human in a pink dress riding a flaming red tank entered play on 1000. "I use her effect to destroy one of your Bronze Styles!" A cannonball of fire incinerated an attacking creature.

Kanoa grunted, but quickly forced himself to recover "Marinyan, shield break!" The cat-girl swiped her claws before lunging and breaking a shield. "Mystery Ruinskind, break Heidi's final shield!" The jurassic dragon roared and stomped forward, the ground shook and its long neck whipped jagged jaws through glass. The pieces began assembling once more into a shining red card.

"Shield trigger… another Moel, Love Sniper! She destroys your last attacking creature, the second Bronze Style." Once more fire cannonballed out and burned through a creature. Kanoa fell forward and splayed both hands on his table, his head was dipped in shame. Heidi hesitated, feeling the waves of his despair "...Kanoa?"

"As I end my turn… the total mana cost of my creatures is 20. Boaroaxe dragsolutions into Boaropagos, Evil Emperor Ruins." The axe floated away from the squirrel and in a flash reappeared as a sinister temple behind Kanoa, various dinosaur statues leaking rivers of colour. "Go, Heidi."

"But… Kanoa." Heidi looked at all the stern faces watching, then back at the boy who was hanging his head. "If Jupiter had attacked you would have won this game for sure. It's your-"

"Go, Heidi!" he shouted with anger, still not looking up.

Heidi hesitated and then drew "...I evolve Royal Islay and both Moels into Supernova Mars Disaster." The audience gasped and murmured once more. Kanoa raised his head to see Heidi wreathed in red energy. She slapped her card down and three others slid beneath it. The red energy shot upward and fire exploded, revealing the red-black phoenix with steaming eyes. It spread flaming wings and released a songbird cry. Heidi's field was shrouded with red while Jupiter's natural green flecked with pollen fought it back from Kanoa's half of the zone. Two phoenixes faced each other down in the most dramatic stand-off Heidi had ever had, she could sense the contradictory clashing and merging of their energies. Idly she wondered if dueling Amira would've been like this.

Mars was on 13,000 while Jupiter had 14,000. The nature phoenix was stronger but for whatever reason didn't seem interested in attacking her. From Mars all Heidi could sense was eagerness for her to declare an attack, same as usual.

"Mars, break his last shield but no meteorburn this time!" The black-red phoenix unleashed a cry, blazing forth and shattering Kanoa's final defense. He fell back onto his butt, the edges of his table burning with fire that singed and went out. Jupiter gave its fellow phoenix one last look before retreating, in a flash of green it returned to its card. Heidi blinked "...I don't understand."

"Finish it…" Kanoa said bitterly from where he sat.

"But-"

"Finish it!" Kanoa shouted, pulling himself back up.

Heidi's resolve hardened "Topgear, Start Dash! Todomeda!" she turned her final creature, the archer on 1000 leapt forward and whacked Kanoa with its bow. He grunted and fell back once more. The duel ended and Mars gave a victorious cry before all the creatures were sucked back into their cards. Heidi gathered her deck just as her table started vanishing. She felt uncomfortable "...that was Kanoa's victory, not mine. What happened…?"

Kanoa was helped up but then he shoved those around him away and stormed off, wincing with the injuries the attack had given him. He didn't even gather his cards, he vanished into the jungle with palpable shame running off him.

"Kanoa…" Heidi stepped over as tribesmen began gathering his deck. Dominic and Malo stepped over with confused looks on their faces. His deck was handed to Heidi and she thanked the villager. Then she noticed the chief was holding onto Supernova Jupiter, staring into it.

"The first time I saw it with my own eyes… the phoenix truly has rejected him." Tenakoto murmured.

"Please, Chief…" Heidi held her hand out for the card.

"We must regain access to the prosperity we were formerly given by Jupiter. Even when compared to Duextra the islands were a weak national territory."

"Then let me figure this out," Heidi pleaded with hand still extended. "For the time being, Kanoa is still the chosen nature duelist. He's still the one Jupiter is synced to and reacts to his call somewhat. It's not going to be as simple as handing someone else that card. If the phoenix does reject Kanoa it'll be Jupiter who chooses another duelist. So let me see if I can figure this out for you all."

"Very well…" the chief put the card in her hand and she nodded her thanks before turning away and leaving. She broke into a run, escaping into the jungle alone and in pursuit of the other chosen.


AN: Oo even writing this chapter got me excited! So the secret's out and Acuma has reviewed the last three chapters and I greatly appreciate that. If Uni wasn't making me do a group assignment OVER the two week holidays I would've been able to get 25% done first as planned. Still I'm glad this chapter came out relatively fast. Azure said he will make time to read this too so I hope he likes the arc so far. This duel was again done by just me and so obviously it had an error. I was able to fix it, along with last chapter's duel after Acuma picked up the mistake I made there. Now our Heidi unites with another chosen once more, and unfortunately it doesn't seem like recruiting Kanoa will be any easier...