Good Day Readers and welcome to the sequel to Pain of Betrayal, Pain of Loss! Thanks to all of you for the support and I hope that you all enjoy this latest edition of the Hope sisters.
Obviously I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh only Kylie and Katherine Hope along with the unique cards within their decks and whatever other OCs decide to crop up. Also italics symbolise a mind conversation, a video tape or something in a language that isn't Japanese. I would appreciate any responses that you have, please enjoy
Chapter 13: - Blinding Hatred
"This is really bad," I admitted. The train holding Katherine, Yami and Anzu was fading from sight as our car and the rest behind us ground to a stop; me and the two knuckleheads I was stuck with jumped off the train as Jounouchi accused Doma of being behind the event. "That much was obvious, but who exactly separated us," I wondered. It couldn't have been Valon or Mai, Rafael wasn't likely to be back until he knew it was Yugi he got and not Yami, perhaps Tsula or Margaret were the culprits.
"Kylie Hope," An icy female voice called. I turned around to face the train, seeing the raven haired Tsula standing there, she stepped out of the train and walked over to stand opposite me. "I've got some business to take care with you," Tsula insisted. I waved the two men back as I brought my Duel Disk up whilst keeping a steely gaze on the woman. "I'm here to take your soul!" Tsula declared.
"I've been waiting for you to show up, let's get on with it then," I insisted. I activated my Duel Disk as the woman did the same to her own one. "I take it you're the one who messed with the train? What kind of magic did you use to conjure such an illusion? They even had Mana so as to fool me and Kathie. What happened to Kathie, Yami and Anzu?" I questioned.
"Margaret is waiting for her shot at revenge against your little sister. She might even bag the Nameless Pharaoh whilst she's at it. As for the magic, Lord Dartz was the one who conjured the illusion," Tsula answered. The other two were cursing our bad luck in the situation as I kept my mouth shut and my gaze narrowed. "Me, I'm here for my revenge against you! I don't even care what happens to that idiot blonde behind you. All I want is you!" Tsula declared. Her voice dripped with venom as she spoke.
Kylie – LP: 4000
Tsula – LP: 4000
"My turn!" Tsula declared. We'd drawn our first hands and Tsula brought out her sixth card. "I activate the Barrier of Oreichalcos!" Tsula declared. That evil thing appeared, I ordered the two to get back as my bracelet started to glow brightly as the Barrier grew to encircle me within its' deadly green glow, the same dark aura surrounded Tsula as the mark appeared on her forehead. "I Summon Lucius the Vassal of the Wicked Monarch!" Tsula declared.
Lucius the Vassal of the Wicked Monarch – Attribute: Dark, Type: Demon, Level: 1, ATK/800, DEF/1000
Lucius the Vassal of the Wicked Monarch – ATK/800 – ATK/1300
"I then discard one card to activate the Special Effect of Berlines the Vassal of the Flame Monarch in my Hand! Summoning him to the field! Also I activate the Special Effect of Mithra the Vassal of the Thunder Monarch! By not Summoning from my Extra Deck for the remainder of the turn! I can bring Mithra to the field! Plus, you get a Thunder Token in Defence Position!" Tsula announced. The three Monsters appeared on the field in flashes of their elements as I frowned at the unnecessary Token on my field.
Berlines the Vassal of the Flame Monarch – Attribute: Fire, Type: Pyro, Level: 3, ATK/800, DEF/1000
Berlines the Vassal of the Flame Monarch – ATK/800 – ATK/1300
Mithra the Vassal of the Thunder Monarch – Attribute: Light, Type: Thunder, Level: 2, ATK/800, DEF/1000
Mithra the Vassal of the Thunder Monarch – ATK/800 – ATK/1300
Thunder Token – Attribute: Light, Type: Thunder/Token, Level: 1, ATK/800, DEF/1000
"I set one card face down end my turn!" Tsula declared. She'd gathered quite a fair amount of Monsters for her first turn, none of them particularly strong but they could easily lead to getting more powerful Monsters out on the field if I left them alone; as much as that face down card was probably a trap, I couldn't take the risk that she'd get them out onto her field and make her side of the field even stronger.
"My turn! Draw!" I declared. Pulling the card free, I looked at it before turning my gaze to the remaining cards in my hands and quickly selecting one that I could use against her Monsters. "I Summon Gemini in Attack Mode!" I declared. Bringing my twined Monster onto the field, I saw them appear to be spooked by their surroundings as they rapidly looked around in confusion before focusing on our opponent.
Gemini – Attribute: Dark, Type: Magician, Level: 4, ATK/1800, DEF/1600
"Gemini attack Lucius the Vassal of the Wicked Monarch! Twined Blast!" I commanded. My Gemini charged up their attack and sent it flying towards the tiny Monster, however Tsula quickly lashed her hand out and activated the face down which turned out to be Attack Nullification, not that I was surprised. "I set three cards face down and end my turn!" I declared.
"Hmm… I didn't think it be so easy to stop someone like you Kylie Hope," Tsula spoke. I looked at the raven haired woman, her serious expression bore holes into my form as I returned her gaze; I heard the knuckleheads sounding very confused behind me, probably wondering what Tsula meant to say by those words… but I had an idea as her name had sounded familiar to me from the moment I heard it.
"This is the first time we've Duel, Tsula. You can't expect to know how I operate from one turn, besides if you think that was easy then you have no idea who you're up against," I responded. I hoped to see if she would respond in some way that was familiar to me or not, this wasn't like Rafael where I could just check his Spirit Partner to know his identity as the Tsula I'd known had been before Duel Monsters was invented.
"Oh… I know you very well. You're nothing more than a scheming betrayer! Lying and stealing for your own ends! I shouldn't be surprised you don't remember me!" Tsula snarled. My eyes widened in surprise at those words as Jounouchi started to make very loud and angry protests to the words that had been thrown at me. "Shut up! It's my turn!" Tsula snapped. She pulled a card free from her Deck and looked at it, before raising her head to stare at me. "I activate Sealing Swords of Light! Preventing you from attacking me for three turns!" Tsula announced. The green swords fell down and formed a circle around me and Gemini, causing my lips to pull into a frown. "I end my turn!" Tsula sharply stated.
"A delay tactic… if you're who I think you are, that doesn't seem like your style… Tsula Awiakta," I spoke. The woman's eyes widened in surprise, perhaps having not expected me to actually recall. "I thought so, the daughter of one of the Cherokee chiefs who came to see Dad about… well I can't actually recall what given how long ago it was. But I do remember you, my friend," I admitted. However at those last words, I saw actual hatred and rage burst to life on her face, twisting it into a terrible visage… almost demon like.
"FRIEND! YOU CALL ME FRIEND AFTER WHAT YOU AND YOUR FATHER DID TO MY FAMILY'S HOME!" Tsula screamed. My eyebrows furrowed together into a confused furrow, flabbergasted by the words that had been thrown from her throat as I had no idea what she was talking about. "Tsk. Still pretending to be innocent even after all these years. I'll drag the truth out of you with this match and then take your soul. My family can rest in peace," Tsula spoke. Her voice nearly a whisper but I still heard her words.
"I'm not pretending Tsula… but I really have no clue what you're talking about. It's my turn," I spoke. Normally I was filled with emotion in a Duel, but right now my voice was steely level and calm as I pulled a card free from my Deck; I needed help from my Deck in order to get through to Tsula and convince her that I was telling the truth. "I Release Gemini to Summon Corona Australis to the Field in Attack Mode! And thanks to Australis' Special Effect I can summon out Corona Borealis as well! In Attack Mode!" I announced. With the Sealing Swords boxing me in, I couldn't attack at the moment but I could at least be prepared for the moment that I could. "Turn End!" I admitted.
Corona Australis – Attribute: Light, Type: Angel, Level: 6, ATK/2000, DEF/1700
Corona Borealis – Attribute: Light, Type: Angel, Level: 6, ATK/2000, DEF/1700
"How can you say that after everything you did! It's my turn!" Tsula declared. She pulled her card free and looked at it, her face never changed no matter what card she happened to look at, almost as if she didn't care about whatever it was; it was one hell of a poker face. "I activate Treasure Card of the Heavens! Now we draw until we have six cards in our hands! Enjoy the resupply, it won't help you out!" Tsula snapped. I pulled the cards free and looked at them, hoping that they'd be able to help in stopping Tsula.
"Tsula, I never heard from you or your father after the last meeting, I have no idea what you assume I've done!" I retaliated. However, Tsula just snarled at me in response as she selected one of her new and immediately put it into play; it was the Magic card known as Double Summon and would allow her to Normal Summon twice for a single turn, which meant she was clearly planning something in regard to what was currently on my field.
"I Release Lucius and Mithra in order to conduct two Advance Summons! For Lucius, I Release him to Advance Summon forth Gaius the Wicked Monarch! And for Mithra, I Release her to Advance Summon Zaborg the Thunder Monarch!" Tsula declared. The two chosen Monsters became orbs of light before immediately growing and shifting until it formed the shapes of the chosen Monsters who dropped onto the field with a thunderous bang that caused the earth to tremble beneath my feet.
Gaius the Wicked Monarch – Attribute: Dark, Type: Demon, Level: 6, ATK/2400, DEF/1000
Gaius the Wicked Monarch – ATK/2400 – ATK/2900
Zaborg the Thunder Monarch – Attribute: Light, Type: Thunder, Level: 5, ATK/2400, DEF/1000
Zaborg the Thunder Monarch – ATK/2400 – ATK/2900
"Now their effects activate! Gaius can banish a card from your field whilst Zaborg will destroy it! Just like you and your father destroyed my home and banished me from a good life!" Tsula roared. Her hate and anger were very real; which meant that even though I had no idea what she was talking about, it had really happened and I needed to find out exactly what was causing her to blame me for it. "Gaius banish Borealis and Zaborg destroy Australis!" Tsula commanded. The two Monarchs Summoned elements of shadow and light to their hands before pointing the opposing elements directly at my Monsters.
"I don't think so! Trap card, activate! Dark Sacrifice! By Sending a Level Four or Lower Dark Attribute Monster in my Deck to the graveyard, I can negate your Monsters' Effects!" I retaliated. The card rose up as I selected one card from my Deck and held it up for Tsula to see as my Deck was reshuffled. "I send Canis Minor to the Graveyard!" I declared. The spectral image of my starry wolf appeared in front of my two aurora Monsters and blocked the two effects from targeting my Monsters.
"Fine then! I'll just destroy them the old fashioned way! Gaius and Zaborg! Attack your targets!" Tsula commanded. Her Monsters once more charged up their attacks and send them hurtling towards my Monsters; but I wasn't going to let her destroy all of my Monsters, I couldn't protect them all with my current face downs, but I'd at least be able to save one of them.
"I activate my face down! Trap Card! Starlight Wrath! This card prevents a Dark Attribute Monster from attacking and lowers its' attack and defence by three hundred points!" I declared. As a result of the face down card activating, it rose up and beam of starlight shot forth in the shape of fire and smashed into Gaius, causing the Monster to slump down as his attack faded to nothingness, but Zaborg still unleashed his devastating attack which pierced through Australis. "Sorry Australis," I apologised.
Kylie – LP: 4000 – LP: 3100
Gaius the Wicked Monarch – ATK/2900 – ATK/2600, DEF/1000 – DEF/700
"So, you apologise to your Monsters but not to me! Someone you called a friend!" Tsula snapped. I looked at the ravenette and felt any words I had in my throat die away when I saw small gleams of tears appear within her flinty eyes, softening them to overcast skies; she raised her hands to cover her face as if to hide the tears from the rest of us.
"Um… is something wrong with this chick? She seems kind of unhinged," I heard Honda ask. Tsula's relaxed hands suddenly formed into claws and they almost seemed to rake across her skin as they fell down to her sides in a rather limp fashion and I saw her eyes had turned to steel as she glared at the two knucklehead behind me with a glare on her face. "Yikes!" Honda exclaimed. Her look had clearly terrified the duo and I faintly heard Jounouchi telling his friend off for making her angry.
"Turn End!" Tsula growled. Her entire body seemed to be trembling as she glared at me, it appeared that whatever words I said weren't going to get through to her, so I would have to stop her in a Duel. It wasn't something I wanted to do, but I needed to keep my soul in my body if I wanted to be able to stop Doma from destroying the world, hopefully I'd be able to release her soul once we stopped Doma's leader and the Evil God that they were attempting to revive.
"It's my turn! Draw!" I declared. I pulled the card free and looked at it before selecting a different card. "First off, I activate Cyclone! Destroying the Sealing Swords of Light!" I declared. The Magic card was played and the vortex it conjured ploughed into the glowing barrier that sealed me in and caused it to shatter into pixels. "I then activate Resurrection of the Dead! Bringing Corona Australis back to my field!" I continued. The aurora Monster returned to the field and the magnetic pressure returned.
"What good will bringing that Monster back to the field do for you!?" Tsula demanded. I knew exactly what good it would do for me at the moment, but for now I had to be prepared for her next turn, surviving that turn was the most important thing for me to do at the moment and in order to complete that I needed one more Monster out on the field in order to keep my Life points and soul as safe as possible.
"You'll see soon enough! But for now, I activate Cost Down! Lowering the Level of all my Monsters in my hand and on my Field by two. This allows me to Release that Thunder Token you were so kind to give me and Advance Summon Andromeda!" I declared. Activating the Magic card, I then plucked my ace Monster and partner free, allowing me to set her card onto the field causing the person I'd promised to help to appear on the field.
Andromeda – Attribute: Light, Type: Magician, Level: 7, ATK/2600, DEF/2300
Andromeda – Level: 7 – Level: 5
Corona Australis – Level: 6 – Level: 4
Corona Borealis – Level: 6 – Level: 4
"I switch Australis and Borealis to Defence Mode! Now Andromeda! Attack Berlines the Vassal of the Flame Monarch! With Constellation Flash!" I commanded. My partner gathered her silvery magic into her hand before sending it hurtling towards the chosen Monster, who was immediately blasted through and rendered into nothing but pixels, I wasn't going to destroy one of my Monsters just to eliminate one of hers, especially when I needed that Monster for my plan to work.
Tsula – LP: 4000 – LP: 3700
"I set one card face down and end my turn!" I announced. Tsula looked at me, annoyed perhaps that I managed to get a strike in on her Life Points, or that I was being cryptic about my movements; talking to Tsula was pointless at the moment given how angry she seemed, I just hoped I'd have enough time to question Tsula before the Barrier ending up taking her soul if I managed to win this Duel… I was rather relieved Katherine wasn't here to watch this, whilst also panicking about her situation.
Andromeda – Level: 5 – Level: 7
Corona Australis – Level: 4 – Level: 6
Corona Borealis – Level: 4 – Level: 6
"My turn! Draw!" Tsula declared. She pulled the card free and looked at it before turning her gaze to look at me. "I Release Gaius the Wicked Monarch to Advance Summon Thestalos the Explosive Flame Monarch!" Tsula declared. The Monster she'd chosen turned into an orb of light before shifting until the titanic Monster she Summoned appeared on the field, once more shaking the ground beneath my feet and almost causing me to fall over; thankfully Andromeda grabbed me in time to stop it.
Thestalos the Explosive Flame Monarch – Attribute: Fire, Type: Pyro, Level: 8, ATK/2800, DEF/1000
Thestalos the Explosive Flame Monarch – ATK/2800 – ATK/3100
"If Thestalos is Advance Summon by a Monster that was also Advance Summoned, then its' effect activates! I get to look at your hand and discard one card from it, plus if that card happens to be a Monster then you take damage equal to its' Level times by two hundred!" Tsula revealed. I turned my hand around so that she could see the two cards that I had within it, a Magic card and a Monster card. "Get rid of Aquarius!" Tsula commanded. I picked the card and slid it into my Graveyard as blasts of fire danced across my form, almost blistering my skin.
Kylie – LP: 3100 – LP: 2100
"You're lucky. If Thestalos had been summoned using a Fire Attribute Monster then you would have sustained an additional one thousand points of damage. Now then, Thestalos attack Andromeda!" Tsula admitted. The towering fire Monster summoned a raging inferno to his hands before sending it flying forward to my starry Monster; but I wasn't about to let her succeed in destroying Andromeda.
"Trap activate! Attack Nullification!" I declared. The card rose up and the barrier appeared, protecting Andromeda and preventing Tsula from attempting to destroy the rest of my Monsters; Tsula sneered and proceeded to end her turn which allowed me to start my turn. "It's my turn! Draw!" I declared. I pulled the card free and looked at it, grinning slightly upon seeing the card that I'd drawn free.
"What's with that stupid smile?!" Tsula demanded. I moved the card into my hand and selected the other one, I was at least reassured that my Deck had listened to my hopes and given me the card that was necessary for me to survive this. "Did you smile like that when you heard about the destruction of my home?!" Tsula bellowed.
"No! I didn't smile! And I activate the Magic card Shining Light! By sacrificing Corona Australis and Corona Borealis, I can Special Summon Heaven's Crown!" I declared. After activating the card, a massive aurora appeared over our heads, stretching from horizon to horizon as the two Monsters made of light flew into the aurora above our head. They collided together and then fell back down as a brand new Monster, pale green skin with an androgynous appearance, blue-violet hair that tumbled down the back, red eyes pierced out from almond shaped eyes, a yellow cloth covered the form as an orange crown rested on the head.
Heaven's Crown – Attribute: Light, Type: Fairy, Level: 6, ATK/2400, DEF/1350
"I then activate the card I just drew, Heart of Xanthi!" I declared. Tsula gaped as the Legendary Dragon I been chosen by materialised on my field with a piercing roar; in that moment my bracelet started to radiate blinding beams of light that seemed to rotate around my wrist. "What the hell!?" I exclaimed. This wasn't something I could control, it wasn't even on an instinctual level, almost like the bracelet possessed some intent of its' own.
"What are you doing Kylie?!" Tsula demanded. The light continued to shine, almost whiting out my whole vision as a result of how powerful it had grown; suddenly a tearing sound, cracking and splintering, echoed across our group of four and the light abruptly, almost whiplash inducing, disappeared. "What… how… huh?" Tsula mumbled. Not that I blamed her as I looked around, blinking my eyes owlishly at the strange sight before us.
"Hey Honda… are… are you seeing the same thing I'm seeing?" Jounouchi asked. He sounded perplexed and confused by the event that had just transpired, I heard Honda give an agreement to his friend's questioned as Tsula seemed to be on the edge of hyperventilating, refusing to accept what she saw; even I was disbelieving as I rubbed my eyes to see if that changed anything. "The Barrier of Oreichalcos… it's gone," Jounouchi breathed.
Thestalos the Explosive Flame Monarch – ATK/3100 – ATK/2800
Zaborg the Thunder Monarch – ATK/2900 – ATK/2400
"Almost like Kylie's bracelet destroyed it," Honda added on. The sinister green circle had suddenly vanished after my bracelet's crazy light show and it had been forced from Tsula's Duel Disk, she had tried to put it back in but that was rejected at every attempt which only made her breathing worse and I knew that I needed to end this Duel before she started to lose consciousness.
"Andromeda and Xanthi, combine your powers! Become stronger!" I declared. Andromeda glowed brightly before turning into the cluster of stars that made up her constellation, the stars flew over to surround Xanthi who roared and glowed brightly, when the light faded I saw numerous constellations studding Xanthi's purple skin.
Dragon of Stars – Attribute: Light, Type: Dragon/Fusion, Level: 8, ATK/2600, DEF/1200
"Dragon of Stars gains five hundred Attack and Defence points for every Light Attribute Monster in my Graveyard! Since both my Coronas and Andromeda are there, Dragon of Stars gains one thousand and five hundred Attack Points!" I revealed. It was like the knowledge of these effects was pumping into my mind, letting me know what needed to be done
Dragon of Stars – ATK/2600 – ATK/4100
"I activate the Special Effect of Heaven's Crown! By sending five cards from my Deck to the Graveyard, I can destroy all cards on your field!" I declared. Heaven's Crown raised the hands and pointed fingers at the cards, white light shooting forward and smashed into the two Monarchs and destroying them completely. "This is the end Tsula! Dragon of Stars attack! Radiant Stream!" I commanded. The purple dragon opened her mouth and unleashed an attack that looked like a super charged version of Constellation Flash, it scoured across the sky and pierced into Tsula's form, forcing a scream from her throat.
Tsula – LP: 3700 – LP: 0
"No… I lost… my revenge," Tsula spoke. She sank to her knees, trembling something violent as tears bubbled free from her eyes, falling down her face; I was breathing heavily from the pain coursing across my body but I still began to move forward, taking steps to the trembling and crying Musketeer. "No! Stay away from me! Traitor!" Tsula cried. I came to a halt in front of her form and heard the sounds of the others moving behind me.
"Do you remember that story you told me? The old legend of how there's two wolves inside of us fighting, one of love and light and the other of hatred and darkness. I asked you which wolf wins," I spoke. Tsula stopped and looked up at me, her grey eyes still shimmering with tears as her fingers curled into the dirt beneath our feet.
"I said the one you feed… but what does this have to do with us?" Tsula responded. I didn't blame her, but it was a point that I had to make to her so that she would realise the truth; I knelt down in front of the Cherokee girl who flinched back from me, as if she was attempting to keep as much distance as possible between the two of us.
"Right now, you're feeding the dark one. And you've been doing it for too long. It is consuming you completely and I don't know how to help, but I do know that I and my family had nothing to do with what happened to your family's home," I insisted. As I spoke, I rose my hand to press around her head, in that moment my right hand met her hair, a glow – more gentle than the previous one – began to emanate from my bracelet and coursed along to Tsula who looked surprised.
The silver light gathered around Tsula's forehead and I saw something appear in the centre before it – and the Oreichalcos stone pendant she wore – shattered into tiny pieces. As a result, Tsula flinched back completely from my hand and pressed her own to the side of her face as she blinked her eyes rapidly.
"It was him… it was Dartz who destroyed my family. He transformed into your father… he made me think it was him!" Tsula exclaimed. My eyes widened and I heard shocked exclamations coming from behind me, if what Tsula said was true then Dartz had manipulated my friend into helping him by pretending to come to her aid when she was at her worst.
"Then help us stop him," I offered. I stretched my hand out to Tsula, she looked at it before raising her own hand to land in mine and I pulled her to her feet. "Let's hurry down the tracks after the others," I insisted. Without waiting for a response, I took off down the tracks' pathway, three sets of footsteps echoed behind me.