A/N: Great to post here again! This chapter's been a long time coming, so I hope you like it.

Disclaimer:

Don't need to tell you

Who owns who

ME no own

So YOU no sue!

The plot is mine. References to Yu-Gi-Oh episodes are… someone else's. Laoa is mine and I'll be making up some random monsters, listed at the end. All cards (mine and otherwise) are in ALL CAPS, kay?

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Dueling Hearts

Chapter Four: To the Winner Go the Spoils

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"Joey! Are you insane?" Mai shouted and grabbed his shoulder, making him turn to her. Joey regarded her for a moment.

"Not sure really. Sometimes it seems that way, but right now I want to kick someone's butt, and it might as well be this guy's!" he answered, completely serious. He turned back to the challenged. "So how 'bout it Laoa? Take a chance?"

Laoa smiled coldly. "I'd never miss an easy elimination. I accept your challenge! Ready your deck!"

"You got it!" he shouted back, pulling out his cards. Mai went to him.

"I always thought you were a dweeb, but I'd never think you were stupid! Why would you risk so much on one duel, for someone like me?"

"Whattya mean 'someone like you'? You're our friend… my friend. And if there's one thing I can't stand, it's seein' a friend get hurt. Besides, I know I can do this."

She frowned, puzzled. "But why didn't you ask for enough chips to complete your gauntlet?"

Joey stopped and looked into her eyes. "'Cause this duel ain't about me. You get that Mai?" Mai tried to tear her eyes away from his but he held her fast. She swallowed hard and nodded, reaching into her pocket.

"Uh, here, I want you to take this, for when you duel." She pulled out a card picturing a golden cloak covered in flames. "It's the MANTLE OF FIRE, a magic card. It's fueled by the aggression fed to a fire-based monster and increases its attack. I've never been able to use it," she explained, handing the card to him.

"Thanks Mai," he grinned, shuffling the card into his deck.

"Are you quite ready, or have you lost your nerve already?" Laoa taunted.

"Yeah, I'm comin'!" Joey answered, rising to meet his antagonist.

"Well, come on then. There's an arena just beyond the trees."

"You guys comin'?" Joey asked.

"Of course we're coming you dweeb!" Tristan answered, ruffling his friend's hair.

"Ah, sure, why'd I even ask?" Joey grinned, shoving him off as they approached the arena.

"Yugi, you can't let him do this!" Tea said, turning helplessly to her friend. He shook his head.

"I can't stop him Tea. He has absolute faith in himself that he can do this. And so do I."

"But Yugi, all eight of his starchips!" Bakura reminded him. "If he loses this one match, he'll get kicked out of this competition for good!"

"I know that, and I believe he does too. He wouldn't make such a challenge to anyone if he weren't completely confident that he could do it. If I try to stop him, he might think I don't believe in him, and will consequentially loses faith in himself." And I know who he's fighting for in this duel, and it isn't himself, he said to himself, but not out loud

"But what about that big sword?" asked Tristan, glancing apprehensively at the gleaming dagger. "If this guy loses, he might get…desperate."

"Don't worry," said Bakura, "Yugi and I will be here to make sure Joey is safe."

"Alright wimp!" Laoa called from his raised position on the dueling platform. "Are you ready to be crushed?"

"If anyone should be ready for that, it's YOU!" he shouted back.

"LET'S DUEL!"

Laoa fanned his hand of cards and smiled upon them. "I choose SHOREI, SAMURAI OF FATE in attack mode! " he said laying his card on the grid. The card transported the card onto the field, where rose a giant armored warrior, brandishing a long tapered sword. He snarled and raised it high, creating a frightening display.

"Wow! Never seen that card before!" Joey said, regarding it cautiously. He scanned over his hand and his eyes lit up when he saw it. Hmm, the MANTLE OF FIRE isn't in my hand yet, but I can get it later. "This'll take care of 'im! FLAME SWORDSMAN, in attack mode!" The threatening FLAME SWORDSMAN appeared on the field, brandishing his huge bronze sword. "FLAME SWORDSMAN, take care of that sardine can! FLAMING SWORD OF BATTLE!" The SWORDSMAN growled in response and leapt for its opponent. His sword flared and sliced through the air. Unexpectedly, SHOREI began to duel with him. The battle wasn't long though, and the flaming sword of Joey's monster sliced through his armor like butter and the samurai disappeared with a scream. Laoa reeled with the aftershock of his vanquished monster as his life points dropped to 1700. "Take that! Me an' the FLAME SWORDSMAN are gonna mop the floor with ya!" In agreement, the robed warrior raised his sword to the sky. Laoa chuckled and glared at Joey.

"Don't you think I expected that you green duelist! True you destroyed my samurai, but I see it as more of a sacrifice!" Laoa drew forth a card with an enormous praying mantis-like creature pictured on it. "I call upon the very versatile BASIC INSECT!" The giant insect rose from the field and hissed at the FLAME SWORDSMAN. "And with my bug, I play CRY OF THE LOST ONES!"

"Uh-oh, a magic card," Joey muttered. "Hey Yugi! That sounds a lot like that creepy CALL OF THE HAUNTED card! What's it do?"

"You're almost right Joey! But instead of bringing the actual monster back from the graveyard, it recalls the abilities and attack power of the fallen!"

"Ah, crap! An' I don't know what that samurai dude can do!"

"That's right!" Laoa laughed. "But don't worry, you'll soon find out FIRSTHAND! Now my INSECT! Call upon your fallen brother!" The creature reared its head back and screeched a mournful cry. A blue mist rose from where previously stood SHOREI and enveloped the giant monster. Its eyes glowed an unnatural yellow as it fell silent. One of its huge scythe-like arms morphed into the fallen samurai's sword. "And its attack power is also raised to 1900! Making it more powerful than the FLAME SWORDSMAN!" Laoa leered. "Now my monster! Slice that overdressed hothead like an onion! SLASH OF THE SAMURAI!" The giant insect obeyed and ran for the FLAME SWORDSMAN.

"FLAME SWORDSMAN, counterattack!" Joey ordered. The two sword-bearers began to duel together, Joey's The FLAME SWORDSMAN matching the slicing samurai sword blow for blow. But the BASIC INSECT'S attack power was still greater and it forced the FLAME SWORDSMAN to his knees. With one final sweep of the silver sword, Joey's signature monster was destroyed.

"No! My SWORDSMAN!" Joey groaned as his life points rapidly dropped, leaving him with 1600.

"You walked right into that one kid!" his opponent laughed.

Joey lifted his head and glowered, "I ain't beat yet, so shut yer trap! I play the LAVA BATTLEGUARD! And to power him up, I also summon the SWAMP BATTLEGUARD!" The burly ogres appeared, growling and wielding their enormous battle-clubs. "And I'll lay a card face down!"

Laoa scoffed, undaunted. "You think you're little primitives can defeat my INSECT? I'll crush both with one blow! BASIC INSECT ATTACK!" The giant bug roared and leapt for its opponents.

"KUNAI WITH CHAIN!" Joey shouted, and the SWAMP BATTLEGUARD threw out a jagged blade attached to a steel chain. It wrapped around the attacker and held it fast. The BASIC INSECT screeched with rage.

"WHAT!" cried Laoa, shocked to find his giant bug stopped dead in its tracks.

"Surprised aren't ya? The card I laid was a trap card! You're bug's trapped good!" Joey taunted. "And its attack power takes a major cut!

"Nice move Joey!" called Yami. Joey turned and grinned at his friends. He became serious once more and resumed battle.

"Now I play MISCHIEF, a magic card that'll raise my Beast type monsters attack power! An' I'll also finish my turn now! LAVA BATTLEGUARD! Squash that overgrown roach!" The red ogre leapt from the ground and crashed its giant club down on the head of the BASIC INSECT. The monster screamed and disappeared into dust. Laoa's points dropped leaving him with only 1100 points. "Your roach got zapped! Your move!" Joey called.

"Wow, Joey's really doin' well," Tristan said. Tea nodded.

"I've never seen him this serious in a battle before," she added. "Every move he makes is so careful."

He knows what's at stake, and whom he's fighting for. Yami thought, and smiled proudly. "He's come a long way. He's shaped into a truly fine duelist."

Laoa growled and drew from his deck. He grinned maliciously. "Tell me duelist. Have you ever put yourself I such a position that you looked Death in the face? Because if you haven't, you'll have the privilege now! I summon KANEN, SOUL OF THE SHADES, with an attack power of 2700!" Dark shadows rose from the field and swirled together into one great blot of darkness. From the great shadow, a sinister, solid black warrior emerged, clad in deep silver armor. His thick, taloned fingers clutched a huge scimitar sword. Its empty white eyes fell on the two BATTLEGUARDS. Joey paled.

"Whoa… what IS that?" he breathed. He didn't like the way it was eyeing his monsters. And he didn't like the way Laoa was eyeing him. Something inside him twisted nervously.

"You've never dueled a monster like this rookie boy! KANEN, attack the green one with SOUL SPELL!"

The huge shadow creature growled and a white, ghostly form emerged from its eyes. The apparition floated for a moment and flew at the SWAMP BATTLEGUARD. The vapor entered its eyes, causing a tremor to pass through the affected monster as its eyes grew white and blank. Joey gaped.

"No! What'd ya do ta my BATTLEGUARD you creep?!"

"Nothing, just gave him a new outlook on life! I now control your little caveman! But fortunately for you, that move ends my turn, so make your move! Unless, you're afraid to!" Laoa taunted.

Joey growled and fanned his hand. Can't destroy my BATTLEGUARD without losing life points. But I also can't place him in defense mode cause Laoa controls him. And there's not much in this hand but…Wait a minute! Joey cackled in sly glee. "I play my LAVA BATTLEGUARD in defense mode! And I lay a card face down."

"Hm, a wise move…if only I didn't have a STOP DEFENSE card in my hand! And I play it now, to switch your monster back to attack mode!" The defensive BATTLEGUARD shifted and stood, ready to attack. "And now with your life points at my disposal, I order your, oh excuse me, MY BATTLEGUARD to attack yours with the KUNAI!" The burly green ogre swung its weapon around and let it fly toward its prey. Suddenly, a dark vortex rose from the field and a one-eyed, grinning specter loomed out, cackling with malice.

"NO! A MORPHING JAR!" Laoa cried, taken by surprise.

Joey smiled and discarded his hand. "That's right! That means all the cards in our hands go straight to the graveyard!"

"Huh? How'd Joey get a MORPHING JAR?" asked Tristan.

"Actually, Joey and I traded a few cards last night," answered Bakura. "He was certain a MORPHING JAR would aid him in battle."

Yami smiled. "He really knows what he's doing out there."

"Keep at it Joey!" called Tea. Mai stood by staring at the guy she thought was completely awesome at this moment. A thin veil of shimmery sweat beaded on his brow and that rebellious grin once again graced his lips. He was great.

"You've delayed your BATTLEGUARD' S demise for a brief moment kid," Laoa grumbled, slamming his discarded hand into the graveyard pile. "But now that your trap is gone, I'll crush you good! SWAMP BATTLEGUARD! Attack with the KUNAI WITH CHAIN!" Again, the beast hurled the KUNAI at his counterpart. It wrapped around him with ease and the blade sank into his toughened skin. The red beast howled and struggled, but to no avail. "KANEN! ENVELOPING SHADOWS!" The shadow beast spread its arms and emitted thick, soot-black spirits. They swirled around the trapped BATTLEGUARD and overwhelmed it. When finally they drew away, the LAVA BATTLEGUARD was completely gone. Joey moaned in frustration as his life points dropped to 650.

"Oh don't whimper Joey! It was a painless demise for that BATTLEGUARD! But it won't be for the other! Look!" Laoa pointed to the SWAMP BATTLEGUARD. "When SOUL SPELL takes over a creature, they are to complete one attack and then are engulfed by the evil spirit inside it!" As he spoke, the white form floated out of the green BATTLEGUARD'S eyes and enveloped it. Its final screams were stifled by the smothering ghost. As before, the ghost disappeared and the SWAMP BATTLEGUARD was gone as well, leaving Joey with only 450 life points.

Where have I seen that move before? Yami thought, racking his brain to think of who else had used the KANEN card in a duel. I sense something ancient… millenniums old…and wicked…

A line of sweat ran down Joey's temple. He groaned, feeling a little faint. He still hadn't drawn the MANTLE OF FIRE or his RED-EYES BLACK DRAGON. Some of his strongest monsters had been taken out already. "Better go on the defensive for a while," he decided, pulling the TIGER AXE from his hand. "I play the magic card REMOVE TRAP to get rid of that STOP DEFENSE! Then TIGER AXE in defense mode!

"Scared aren't we? No matter… KANEN! Crush that defense!" KANEN crashed his sword down on the defense and it was eliminated. Joey swallowed hard, looking at his hand. What I need is REBORN THE MONSTER right now. Gotta do something to stall. "I play the RUDE KAISER, defense mode, with an INVIGORATION card to help him out! And I lay down FORTRESS WALLS!" The ground of the field rumbled, and thick stone walls rose in front of Joey's territory, creating a barrier of defense.

"My, my, you're just running with your tail between your legs!" Laoa sneered. Joey bristled, reminded of all the times Kaiba insulted him like that. "No matter how many defensive cards you put down, you'll eventually have to attack!" Laoa laughed. "And your FORTRESS WALLS only protect against monsters with attack power over 2000 and will only last two turns, so build up your pathetic defense while you can! In the meantime," Laoa drew, and grinned at his luck, "I lay down the HITATSU-ME GIANT in attack mode! ATTACK!" The GIANT'S huge fist passed through the stone walls and crashed into the RUDE KAISER. The rude kaiser held his raised defense though, and pushed the intruder back behind the wall. Laoa snarled. "Learning a few tricks are we? They won't save your sorry hide! Your move!"

Joey glanced at his deck. Somewhere in there lay REBORN THE MONSTER and the MANTLE OF FIRE. And he only had this turn and the next to find them. He glanced at his hand. There was nothing in it that could help his monster on the field, and he needed a fresh hand. He took a deep breath and did something he hadn't done before. "I play CARD DESTRUCTION! We each discard our hands and draw fresh ones!" He laid his cards in the graveyard and closed his eyes, slowly reaching for his deck.

Yami sensed what his strategy was. He would have a better chance to get the card, or cards he wanted if he discarded his hand. It was a risky move, but he could tell Joey knew what he was doing.

He's looking for the MANTLE, Mai thought, silently hoping for him. "He can do it," she whispered.

Joey reached deep into himself, drawing into his faith in the cards. Everything Yugi and his grandfather had taught him came back to his mind clearly.

"If you believe in the true heart of the cards, they will always come through for you." One of the first things Grandpa had told him when they began training.

"Put all your faith in the cards, and in yourself, and there's nothing you can't do," he could hear Yugi say even now. It's what he always said, and Joey never doubted it for a moment. And he didn't doubt it now.

"I believe…" he whispered, placing his hand on his deck. Slowly, focused, he drew five new cards and fanned them out before him. He slowly opened his eyes to see what he'd been rewarded with. His eyes flew wide and a grin spread over his face. "I got 'em! ALL RIGHT! I got 'em!"

"Great! Nice one Joey!" Tea cheered. Tristan punched the air and shouted a cheer as well. Yami, Bakura and Mai simply smiled.

"Here we go! It's almost over!" He slapped the resurrecting card down on the grid. "I use REBORN THE MONSTER to call back the FLAME SWORDSMAN in attack mode! And I equip him with the MANTLE OF FIRE!" He laid the magic card down and the FLAME SWORDSMAN appeared on the field covered in the golden mantle. Only one difference in it; it wasn't blazing like it was on the card.

"Err, I think I forgot somethin'," Joey groaned.

"HAH! You ignorant boy! You don't even know how to use that card! You aren't worth battling!" Laoa laughed, laying down the SUCCUBUS KNIGHT, feeling his triumph approaching.

"Don't listen to him Joey!" Mai called. Joey's, well, everyone's head whipped around at the sound of her voice. "Don't forget what I told you about that card! It's connected to your aggression! You've just got to dig deep, I KNOW you can do it!"

Joey stared at Mai. From his distance above her, he could see her eyes were shining, her jaw set and determined. He saw that this battle wasn't just about the star chips or avenging her. She wanted this battle won for him as well. She wanted him to win for him, not just to help her. Because he saw in her eyes that she cared.

"Don't give him false hopes girl!" Laoa sneered, calling all attention on him. "If you think your little pep talks change anything, you're wrong! He knows he can't do this! He's only fooling himself!"

"Hey SHUT UP!" Mai shouted back. "You can't talk down to him like that you slime!"

"Yeah! Compared to him your nothing!" Tristan chimed in.

"Yeah? Well compared to me he's an amateur! A puppy sent to do a wolf's job!"

"What?" Joey snarled, his face flushing scarlet. "What did you call me?"

"Uh-oh…" muttered Tristan. He knew what was coming.

"Yes, you heard me right punk! You're nothing but a dog to me! And that's all you ever will be!" he taunted, not grasping just how deep he'd stepped in it.

Joey growled as he was flung back to that night, when he sat bleeding and bruised in his room, hearing his own father scar his mind with those words…

"…You little dog…Lousy whimperin' DOG PUP!"

"Stay down Joey, just like the dog you are!" he heard Kaiba sneer after defeating him that day. Joey cringed at the memory. "Run away like a puppy with your…"

"…Tail between your legs!" Now another voice in his mind spoke. Laoa. Outside, he heard him scoffing from across the field.

His father…"Lousy whimperin' DOG PUP!"

Kaiba…"Stay down Joey, just like a puppy with its…"

"…Tail between its legs!!" Laoa…

"Come on boy, and I'll teach you how to play dead!"

Joey snarled and dug his fingers into the dueling platform. His fingernails ground against the metal with a shrieking scrape, making everyone in hearing range cringe. The FLAME SWORDSMAN too, seemed tensed and agitated. Joey's head snapped up, his eyes flashing furiously. He crashed his fist down on the metal of the dueling platform, making it rattle fiercely. Laoa sucked in a breath.

"I AIN'T NO CANINE!" he screamed, the force of his voice thrusting his opponent violently back. "I've 'ad ENOUGH of that CRAP! This battle is MINE!" At that moment, the MANTLE OF FIRE crackled and sparked, then burst into fierce flames, so hot that everyone felt it and shielded their faces. The flames spiraled upward into a column of fire, engulfing the FLAME SWORDSMAN. When the flames died down to dance on the cloak, everyone gaped. The FLAME SWORDSMAN had grown at least ten feet, standing level with Laoa's deadly shadow warrior. In place of his robes he now wore a suit of burnished gold armor tinted dull red from the heat. His eyes flared with tongues of fire and the MANTLE blazed on his shoulders. Joey panted, exhausted from his emotional release and gazed at his strengthened warrior, then saw another card under the MANTLE card. Moving it aside, he saw a card picturing the same monster on the field. "Whoa. Did I do that?"

"It's the FLAME BATTLEMASTER!" Yami called, his crimson eyes glittering.

"Yes!" Mai cheered, beaming.

"You did it Joey!" said Tristan, jumping around.

At that moment the FORTRESS WALLS crumbled and the field was open for battle. Laoa, still pale from the shock of Joey's last move, leered at his opponent. "So now you have a bigger target for me to hit! You think that scares me? You're sunk you little…"

"DON'T!" Joey snapped, cutting him off. "I ain't takin' that from ANYONE anymore! I ain't worthless, 'cause I got a heart! An' I got friends!" He turned to grin at the spectators. They grinned back, proud of their friend. Joey faced his antagonist again. "The fusion ends my turn. So MOVE!"

"Oh I'll move! HITATSU-ME GIANT! Attack his monster NOWWW!!" Laoa commanded. The huge creature leapt for its opponent, only to smash into an unseen barrier. As it reeled from its failed attack, the earth underneath its feet, revealing a sea of seething lava! It roared and screamed as it was boiled alive, knocking another chunk from Laoa's life points.

"WHAT? NO! How did that happen? You didn't lay out any traps!"

"I didn't, but my FLAME BATTLEMASTER DID!" Joey smirked. "The first monster that attacks him activates his personal trap, the FLAME POOL! And that was the beginning of the end! I'm takin' you DOWN you scum! FLAME BATTLEMASTER! Incinerate those freaks! INFERNO WAVE!" The BATTLEMASTER lifted his glittering, flaring sword and swung it down in an enormous arc. A wall of flames appeared before him and he slashed across it, sending it sweeping toward his enemies.

"NO!!" Laoa screamed, but it was too late. The giant wave of flames had already reached his monsters and they were obliterated in a flash of crimson heat. Laoa's life points dropped down to zero. It was over, and Joey was the victor.

"YYYESS!!" he bellowed, leaping up and down in triumph. Tristan went crazy, laughing and jumping about. Tea hugged Yami then Bakura, who merely smiled proudly at their friend. Mai stood amazed.

"He did it," she murmured, the broke into a shining smile. "HE DID IT!" She ran over to the platform to meet him as he came down. She would have embraced him, but only stood in awe at the sight of him. His hair was more askew that usual and sweat sheeted down his face. They just stood for a moment looking at each other.

"Thank you," they both said, and laughed quietly.

"No really Mai. Your card came through for me today. It was great." Joey said, grinning.

"If anyone came through today Joey, it was you," she answered, unconsciously reaching for his hand. "That was…"

"JOEY WATCH OUT!" Yami shouted too late. Laoa's foot connected with Joey's back, knocking him to the ground. His attacker brought forth his sword and Mai screamed.

"You think this is over?" Laoa growled in a strange voice. It sounded as if two people were talking from the same mouth; His mouth. "You'll find it's just begun!"

"Not if I can help it," Yami growled. The third eye on his forehead flashed yellow. "MIND CRUSH!" He exclaimed, extending his hand to expel a psychic blast. Laoa screamed and fell to the ground, unmoving. Yami approached him cautiously, but drew back at what happened next. Some sort of ghostly shape rose from the fallen eliminator and hovered in the air for a moment. It then flew into the golden sword and disappeared. The sword glowed briefly and was absorbed into the ground. Yami looked back at Laoa and cringed. It seemed that ages were passing on only him. All vitality was drained into the ground, leaving only a husk of scraggy clothing covering a mummy-like figure. A breeze stirred and it crumbled into dust, sailing away to blight another poor soul.

Yami shook his head in disbelief, but also in understanding. It seemed his assumptions were correct. The evil spirit inside this particular host was Amun, a soul stealer like Bakura's Millennium spirit. He had no time to ponder over this as his attention was arrested by Tea trying to revive Joey, who hadn't moved a muscle since he'd been attacked.

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//Authoress' Notes Part 2//: Well, left you hangin' there didn't I? The reason that Yugi and Bakura's Millennium Items activated to Laoa was because of the ancient spirit, not because he held a Millennium Item. For those of you who are wondering about my cards, here they are:

SHOREI, SAMURAI OF FATE: A Fiend warrior from an ancient blood cult, adept in the black arts as well as swordplay.

Atk: 1700

Def: 1500

Attacks

SLASH OF THE SAMURAI: A simple sword move, can become a duel if the opponent carries a sword.

ANCIENT CHANT: Paralyzes opponent's attacking monsters.

CURSE OF AGES: Ages a selected opponent's monster.

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KANEN, SOUL OF THE SHADES: A demon who oversees the passage of souls into the Underworld.

Atk: 2800

Def: 2000

Attacks

SOUL SPELL: Unleashes an evil spirit upon an opposing monster and takes over their soul, obliterating them after completing an attack.

ENVELOPING SHADOWS: KANEN calls forth dark spirits and they engulf the victim, completely dissolving them.

DARKNESS SWORD: Another sword move, no option of dueling though.

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FLAME BATTLEMASTER: A higher form of the FLAME SWORDSMAN when he is fused with the MANTLE OF FIRE card. Looks like the FS with golden armor and a flaming cloak, and minus the hat.

Atk: 2900 (Just think, if he's equipped with SALAMANDRA {+700pts), he could fry a BLUE EYES ULTIMATE WHITE DRAGON! BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!)

Def: 2300

Attacks

INFERNO WAVE: A giant wall of flames that engulfs just about ANY monster. Comes from the sword.

FLAME POOL: This monster can set its OWN trap. The first monster that attacks him drops through a vortex that leads to a giant lake of lava! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

Magic Cards

MANTLE OF FIRE: Powers up a fire type card, but only if activated by intense aggression. Fuses with the FLAME SWORDSMAN to become the FLAME BATTLEMASTER.

CRY OF THE LOST ONES: Works along the line of CALL OF THE HAUNTED, only the monster doesn't comeback, it just transfers abilities and attack power to a selected monster.

MISCHIEF: Raises the attack power of Beast type monsters.

FORTRESS WALLS: Defends against any monster with over 2000 points of attack power for two turns.