The morning came. The sun once more painted the sky. Several people got
ready for early morning duels. Justice and Martin slept late. It was mid
morning before Justice stirred. She woke up to find Martin already awake.
"You beat me," she said. Never before had Martin waken up before anyone else. "I guess I must have really over slept. What time is it?" she asked.
"A little after ten," he replied.
"Well, let's eat breakfast and wait for more duelists," she suggested. Martin smiled and they dug out some of their remaining snacks.
"If I estimate right we have enough for another day," she said. Martin frowned, but said nothing.
"Let the duels begin," said Justice as they finished. They began to wait for the duelists to find them.
They waited and waited. No one appeared. Martin went to sleep. Justice spent her time dangling her feet into the creek and planning strategies for the rest of the tournament. The sun climbed higher in the sky and Justice began to grow impatient.
"What is going on!" she cried out at last. But no one heard her. Martin was still asleep.
"I wonder how secluded we are?" she asked the wind. "It must be a lot if no one has wondered down here all day." Pause. "Wait! I bet people have already been eliminated and shipped off of the island. That means there's less people to wander this way. I guess that means we'll have to leave soon." Justice sighed. She was really fond of the place by the creek.
"I'll just wait until Martin wakes up. Then we'll move on," she thought drearily. She had guessed almost three hours to have passed since she woke up.
Martin woke up forty-five minutes later and Justice still hadn't heard a single footstep.
"Hey, Martin, do you think we are abandoned on a deserted island?" she tried to joke. Martin faintly smiled at the weak attempt for humor.
"Martin, I think we'd better move on. We need to get six more star chips and at this rate everyone will be deported before we get them," she announced her plan. Martin frowned, but he knew she was right.
"Well, get your things," she said. Martin scrambled for his backpack, which was under the bridge. Justice had hers in her hand. It never left her side.
Justice was on the bridge when she heard footsteps approaching.
"Martin, someone is actually coming," she said. Martin was under the bridge and froze there. Justice slid into her place at the bottom of the bridge, walking stick in hand.
A boy entered to clearing with disheveled blond hair. He had a haunted look in his eyes. He wore a blue T-shirt and jeans shorts. He looked at the figure on the bridge with strange apprehension. Then he approached her.
"Who are you?" he asked from a safe distance.
"Defiance," she replied. While she liked Justice as a name it didn't quite seem to fit her. She had decided it was time for a change.
"If you want to cross the bridge you have to answer three questions," she stated.
"Across the water?" he asked.
"What is your name?" Defiance began her procedure.
"Tommy," he replied, "At least, that is as much as I can tell you."
"OK," she thought, "Why do you duel?"
"The penguins," he replied, "The penguins told me to. But I'll show them."
"This guy is a nut case. I am so eliminating him," thought Defiance, "Will you duel me?"
"Are you with the penguins or against them?" Tommy asked.
"I don't know what you are talking about," she replied.
"You're with them!" he accused, "You traitor! I'm going to teach you a lesson. Two star chips."
"Fine, two star chips," said Defiance a little surprised at the sudden outburst. They exchanged decks to shuffle.
"What happened to your cards?" he asked.
"I'm blind. I did that so I can see them," she said, getting very annoyed at constantly explaining her situation.
"So the penguins don't deal nicely with traitors either," he said.
"Whatever," she said. Defiance began to wonder what she had gotten herself into.
They entered the holo-field. Martin took his accustomed place at the bottom of Defiance's platform. They placed their star chips in the tray. Tommy started the duel as soon as they had drawn their hands.
"I play this card in attack mode," said Tommy as he placed his card in one of the monster squares.
His monster appeared on the field. It was the Penguin Soldier. It had an attack of 750 and a defense of 500. The Penguin Soldier was what its name said; a penguin soldier. It had on shoulder pads for armor and carried a small sword.
"NO! It's the penguins!" screamed Tommy.
"What is the matter with you?" asked Defiance, the annoyance dominating her voice.
"The penguins! The penguins!" he cried.
"It's your card," said Defiance exasperated, "What is so wrong with penguins?"
"You don't know? Liar! You know! But I'll play your game. The penguins already know I'm an enemy so I won't lose anything by telling you what you already know," he said half hysterical.
"The penguins are very intelligent," he began, "And they can fly. They don't do it when people are watch, oh no. They wait until everyone is gone. Then they fly all over the place. That is how they got to South America. They fly out through the hole in the ozone layer. From there they enter space and are planning to take over the whole universe."
"Um, the hole in the ozone layer is in the North Pole and penguins live in the South Pole," Defiance pointed out, interrupting Tommy's ratings.
"That is what the penguins what you to believe," he said, then continued, "They are very cunning and dangerous. Even the Yeerks couldn't face those birds. That is why those brain-stealing aliens left our planet alone. But it won't be long before the penguins attack the Yeerks. And the penguins will win, they are unstoppable. The penguins will take over the universe."
(The Yeerks are creations of K.A. Applegate and I disclaim. I'm a total Animorphs fan, so if you ever have a chance read the series.)
"But first they have to take over our planet," continued Tommy, his voice wasn't so stressed now. Defiance shifted, getting bored. "They live in ketchup and control all McDonalds and Burger King. That is where they infiltrate people. Humans only use 10% of their brains, so if you cut open a human skull you will find ten very, very large boxes. Open one box and in it is everything you have ever learned. In the other nine, penguins. They can control people that way and will eventually enslave our entire race. But since they live in ketchup there is only one way to fight them, mustard. Mustard is poison to penguins and it is the only way to stop them from taking over the universe." Tommy finished. He was breathing hard, like an empty bagpipe.
(I want to thank my friend Lady Akhana for the great penguin conspiracy idea.)
"Fascinating, really," said Defiance sarcastically.
"You don't believe me, traitor," he said, "Oh, but you will believe me. Bu then it will be too late, it will be way to late. You'll believe me when the penguins start flying around in your skull. But then it will be too late. You will be theirs forever."
"Sure, kid," she said, very annoyed. "It is my turn now and I am going." She drew her card.
"I play Eldeen in attack mode," said Defiance as she laid down her card. Eldeen was a spell caster type. She had an attack of 950 and defense of 1000. Eldeen was a feminine monster who looked like a priestess. She had on a long white robe with dark blue trim. It highlighted her dark blue hair. She carried a staff as long as she was. The golden staff had a glowing blue orb in the middle.
"I attack your Penguin Soldier with my Eldeen," said Defiance. The monsters clashed and Tommy lost 200 life points.
"You can't beat the penguins, they are unstoppable!" cried Tommy.
"Kid, you need some serious therapy," said Defiance.
"You mean seeing the people in white coats? I already met them. The walls were cool because you could bounce on them. But the food stank. They also had these really uncomfortable jackets that they insisted everyone wear. But I didn't like it there so I ran away," said Tommy.
"You ran away from the nuthouse!?" exclaimed Defiance. She didn't quite believe him.
"Yeah, if that is what you want to call it," said Tommy, "Getting back to the game. I play this monster card and this magic card face down." He did that and ended his turn. Defiance started her next turn.
"I move my Eldeen to defense mode and this monster card face down also," she said.
"My turn. I use my magic card, which is Umi," said Tommy. Defiance groaned. Umi turned the whole field into an ocean. She would lose any field advantage she had. The holo-field replaced all the bushes with white capped waves.
"Then I play my Arma Knight in attack mode," said Tommy. The Arma Knight was a crustacean. It had on thick glasses and held a sword. It had a large, heavy shell on its back and several tentacles that waved around. Because of the field its attack was 1500 and its defense was 1700.
"I attack your Eldeen with my Arma Knight," he said and Defiance lost her monster, but no life points. Defiance silently drew her card.
"I play Protector of the Throne in defense mode," said Defiance. The Protector of the Throne had an attack of 800 and a defense of 1500. She would be able to stand up to Tommy's Arma Knight. She had full-length flaming red hair and a purple ruffled dress. She absentmindedly played with a sky blue orb.
"Your move," said Defiance.
"I play this card in attack mode," said Tommy and the Penguin Knight appeared. The Penguin Knight strongly resembled the Penguin Soldier except it was blue, not violet. The Penguin Knight, because of the field, had an attack of 1400 and a defense of 1300.
"They're coming! They're coming!" cried Tommy, "They know that I know!"
"Calm down! It is your monster," said Defiance. She was very, very annoyed with him.
"One by one the penguins come and slowly steal my sanity," said Tommy.
"There isn't anything left to steal," retorted Defiance.
"Do you know the great thing about insanity? It is contagious. Come, join me in my madness," said Tommy with a sinister undertone. Defiance cringed.
"I attack your face down card with my Arma Knight," said Tommy. Defiance's card was flipped over to reveal her Queen's Double, whose stats were 350 and 300. The Queen's Double lost in the battle.
Defiance still had perfect life points and Tommy was down to 1800. He had a face down card, a Penguin Knight, and an Arma Knight. Defiance only had her Protector of the Throne. She drew her next card.
"I play the Water Dragon Fairy in attack mode," she declared. The Water Dragon Fairy was an Aqua type so her stats went from 1100 and 700 to 1600 and 1200. She had on a tight fitting green outfit and long white socks. Her shoes were the same color as her outfit. She had pink hair that was tied in two odangos.
"And now, Water Dragon Fairy, attack his Arma Knight," declared Defiance. The holo-field showed the two monsters approach each other. Tommy's Arma Knight fell and he lost 100 life points.
"Fine, I play this card in defense mode," said Tommy as he drew, "And I also move the penguin to defense mode."
"Then I play the Ice Water in attack mode and a magic card," she said. The Ice Water was another feminine aqua monster. It stats were 1650 and 1400, because of Umi. She was a mermaid with green skin and tail. Her hair was brown and hung in wet strings. She wore a dull pink belly shirt.
"I attack your first defending card with my Ice Water," she said. The Electric Penguin was flipped over and lost.
"No! Not another penguin. They are hiding. Soon they will ambush us. Then it is all over. We are all dead! The end is coming!" cried Tommy who was becoming hysterical.
"Chill, dude. I also attack your Penguin Knight with my Water Dragon Fairy," she declared. The holo-field showed her fairy charge the Penguin Knight and showed the penguin collapse.
"No more penguins, see," said Defiance, "Nothing else to worry about."
"You can't beat the penguins! They are unstoppable!" cried Tommy.
"Just go," said Defiance tersely.
"The penguins told me to play this card in attack mode," said Tommy as he laid the card down. The Flying Penguin appeared on the field. It was twice as big as the Penguin Soldier or Penguin Knight. It was a deep navy blue with long eyebrows that were supposed to be its wings. Because of Umi its attack went from 1200 to 1700 and its defense went from 1000 to 1500.
"Not again!" screamed Tommy.
"Oh, brother," muttered Defiance.
"The Flying Penguin will attack and destroy your monsters. They are unstoppable!" cried Tommy. The Flying Penguin charged Defiance's monsters.
"Not quite, I played the Acid Trap Hole which I activate this turn," declared Defiance. Tommy's Flying Penguin disappeared just as it was about to attack her Ice Water.
"Your move," said Defiance with a note of sarcasm.
"I play this card face down in defense mode," said Tommy as he played his card. Defiance drew her next card and smiled.
"I play this magic card face down," she said, "It won't be long, penguin guy..."
"Penguins! Where!" screamed Tommy, frantically looking around.
"It won't be long before you lose," Defiance finished.
"Lose? Are we playing some kind of game?" asked Tommy. For a moment he was lucid.
"Where have you been!?" asked Defiance, "Please tell me you are joking."
"This is no joke! The penguins are a real threat," said Tommy as he resumed his rantings. At the bottom of the holo-field Martin clutched his ears. This was almost too much for him.
"Just play the game," said Defiance, trying to distract him.
"I play another card face down in defense mode," said Tommy. His life points were 1700 and Defiance still had 2000. Tommy had his Arma Knight plus two other cards in defense mode. Defiance had her Protector of the Throne in defense mode and her Ice Water and Water Dragon Fairy in attack mode. She also had one magic card. Defiance drew her next card.
"I play this magic card face down to end my turn," she said, "It is over, you have lost."
"Again with the game stuff," said Tommy, "But you will see it is not a game when the penguins come and attack us." The holo-field must have thought that Tommy was telling his monster to attack. One of the face down cards flipped to reveal another Penguin Soldier. It charged Defiance's monsters.
"You see! The invasion has begun," screamed Tommy as his monster raced towards Defiance's Water Dragon Fairy.
"Wait! I just laid down a trap card, which I am activating now," said Defiance in aloud voice. "I play Reinforcements. It will increase the attack of my Water Dragon Fairy by 500 points." The Penguin Soldier clashed with the Water Dragon Fairy and the penguin lost. Tommy lost 850 life points. Defiance drew her next card.
"Yes! I play Mystical Sand in attack mode," she said as she laid it down. The Mystical Sand appeared, hovering over the ocean field.
"And now I play my magic card," she declared, "Defense Paralysis. Defense Paralysis makes it impossible for you to defend. All of your defending cards are switched to attack mode."
"What? I don't think that is good," said Tommy.
"You think! That is a new one by me," retorted Defiance.
"And now I will destroy your monsters," she continued. "Mystical Sands attack Arma Knight." The two monsters fought and the Arma Knight disappeared with a bright flash of light. Tommy was down to 250 life points.
"To finish you I'll have my Ice Water attack your Penguin Knight," said Defiance, "Go!" The mermaid swam to the Penguin Knight and slashed at the monster with her many blades. The Penguin Soldier fell and Tommy lost the rest of his life points.
"The duel is over. I have won," said Defiance.
"What duel?" asked Tommy.
"Just give me the two star chips," she replied.
"What is a star chip?" asked Tommy, "Oh, you mean those strange pins that they gave us when we got invited here. Take it, I have no use for them."
Defiance just stood there amazed as Tommy handed her the chips and walked away.
"Well, Martin, I am extremely glad that is over," she said, "And now we have six star chips. We are over half way to getting into the castle and the final round." Martin smiled, then yawned. The last duel had been to stressful on him.
"You beat me," she said. Never before had Martin waken up before anyone else. "I guess I must have really over slept. What time is it?" she asked.
"A little after ten," he replied.
"Well, let's eat breakfast and wait for more duelists," she suggested. Martin smiled and they dug out some of their remaining snacks.
"If I estimate right we have enough for another day," she said. Martin frowned, but said nothing.
"Let the duels begin," said Justice as they finished. They began to wait for the duelists to find them.
They waited and waited. No one appeared. Martin went to sleep. Justice spent her time dangling her feet into the creek and planning strategies for the rest of the tournament. The sun climbed higher in the sky and Justice began to grow impatient.
"What is going on!" she cried out at last. But no one heard her. Martin was still asleep.
"I wonder how secluded we are?" she asked the wind. "It must be a lot if no one has wondered down here all day." Pause. "Wait! I bet people have already been eliminated and shipped off of the island. That means there's less people to wander this way. I guess that means we'll have to leave soon." Justice sighed. She was really fond of the place by the creek.
"I'll just wait until Martin wakes up. Then we'll move on," she thought drearily. She had guessed almost three hours to have passed since she woke up.
Martin woke up forty-five minutes later and Justice still hadn't heard a single footstep.
"Hey, Martin, do you think we are abandoned on a deserted island?" she tried to joke. Martin faintly smiled at the weak attempt for humor.
"Martin, I think we'd better move on. We need to get six more star chips and at this rate everyone will be deported before we get them," she announced her plan. Martin frowned, but he knew she was right.
"Well, get your things," she said. Martin scrambled for his backpack, which was under the bridge. Justice had hers in her hand. It never left her side.
Justice was on the bridge when she heard footsteps approaching.
"Martin, someone is actually coming," she said. Martin was under the bridge and froze there. Justice slid into her place at the bottom of the bridge, walking stick in hand.
A boy entered to clearing with disheveled blond hair. He had a haunted look in his eyes. He wore a blue T-shirt and jeans shorts. He looked at the figure on the bridge with strange apprehension. Then he approached her.
"Who are you?" he asked from a safe distance.
"Defiance," she replied. While she liked Justice as a name it didn't quite seem to fit her. She had decided it was time for a change.
"If you want to cross the bridge you have to answer three questions," she stated.
"Across the water?" he asked.
"What is your name?" Defiance began her procedure.
"Tommy," he replied, "At least, that is as much as I can tell you."
"OK," she thought, "Why do you duel?"
"The penguins," he replied, "The penguins told me to. But I'll show them."
"This guy is a nut case. I am so eliminating him," thought Defiance, "Will you duel me?"
"Are you with the penguins or against them?" Tommy asked.
"I don't know what you are talking about," she replied.
"You're with them!" he accused, "You traitor! I'm going to teach you a lesson. Two star chips."
"Fine, two star chips," said Defiance a little surprised at the sudden outburst. They exchanged decks to shuffle.
"What happened to your cards?" he asked.
"I'm blind. I did that so I can see them," she said, getting very annoyed at constantly explaining her situation.
"So the penguins don't deal nicely with traitors either," he said.
"Whatever," she said. Defiance began to wonder what she had gotten herself into.
They entered the holo-field. Martin took his accustomed place at the bottom of Defiance's platform. They placed their star chips in the tray. Tommy started the duel as soon as they had drawn their hands.
"I play this card in attack mode," said Tommy as he placed his card in one of the monster squares.
His monster appeared on the field. It was the Penguin Soldier. It had an attack of 750 and a defense of 500. The Penguin Soldier was what its name said; a penguin soldier. It had on shoulder pads for armor and carried a small sword.
"NO! It's the penguins!" screamed Tommy.
"What is the matter with you?" asked Defiance, the annoyance dominating her voice.
"The penguins! The penguins!" he cried.
"It's your card," said Defiance exasperated, "What is so wrong with penguins?"
"You don't know? Liar! You know! But I'll play your game. The penguins already know I'm an enemy so I won't lose anything by telling you what you already know," he said half hysterical.
"The penguins are very intelligent," he began, "And they can fly. They don't do it when people are watch, oh no. They wait until everyone is gone. Then they fly all over the place. That is how they got to South America. They fly out through the hole in the ozone layer. From there they enter space and are planning to take over the whole universe."
"Um, the hole in the ozone layer is in the North Pole and penguins live in the South Pole," Defiance pointed out, interrupting Tommy's ratings.
"That is what the penguins what you to believe," he said, then continued, "They are very cunning and dangerous. Even the Yeerks couldn't face those birds. That is why those brain-stealing aliens left our planet alone. But it won't be long before the penguins attack the Yeerks. And the penguins will win, they are unstoppable. The penguins will take over the universe."
(The Yeerks are creations of K.A. Applegate and I disclaim. I'm a total Animorphs fan, so if you ever have a chance read the series.)
"But first they have to take over our planet," continued Tommy, his voice wasn't so stressed now. Defiance shifted, getting bored. "They live in ketchup and control all McDonalds and Burger King. That is where they infiltrate people. Humans only use 10% of their brains, so if you cut open a human skull you will find ten very, very large boxes. Open one box and in it is everything you have ever learned. In the other nine, penguins. They can control people that way and will eventually enslave our entire race. But since they live in ketchup there is only one way to fight them, mustard. Mustard is poison to penguins and it is the only way to stop them from taking over the universe." Tommy finished. He was breathing hard, like an empty bagpipe.
(I want to thank my friend Lady Akhana for the great penguin conspiracy idea.)
"Fascinating, really," said Defiance sarcastically.
"You don't believe me, traitor," he said, "Oh, but you will believe me. Bu then it will be too late, it will be way to late. You'll believe me when the penguins start flying around in your skull. But then it will be too late. You will be theirs forever."
"Sure, kid," she said, very annoyed. "It is my turn now and I am going." She drew her card.
"I play Eldeen in attack mode," said Defiance as she laid down her card. Eldeen was a spell caster type. She had an attack of 950 and defense of 1000. Eldeen was a feminine monster who looked like a priestess. She had on a long white robe with dark blue trim. It highlighted her dark blue hair. She carried a staff as long as she was. The golden staff had a glowing blue orb in the middle.
"I attack your Penguin Soldier with my Eldeen," said Defiance. The monsters clashed and Tommy lost 200 life points.
"You can't beat the penguins, they are unstoppable!" cried Tommy.
"Kid, you need some serious therapy," said Defiance.
"You mean seeing the people in white coats? I already met them. The walls were cool because you could bounce on them. But the food stank. They also had these really uncomfortable jackets that they insisted everyone wear. But I didn't like it there so I ran away," said Tommy.
"You ran away from the nuthouse!?" exclaimed Defiance. She didn't quite believe him.
"Yeah, if that is what you want to call it," said Tommy, "Getting back to the game. I play this monster card and this magic card face down." He did that and ended his turn. Defiance started her next turn.
"I move my Eldeen to defense mode and this monster card face down also," she said.
"My turn. I use my magic card, which is Umi," said Tommy. Defiance groaned. Umi turned the whole field into an ocean. She would lose any field advantage she had. The holo-field replaced all the bushes with white capped waves.
"Then I play my Arma Knight in attack mode," said Tommy. The Arma Knight was a crustacean. It had on thick glasses and held a sword. It had a large, heavy shell on its back and several tentacles that waved around. Because of the field its attack was 1500 and its defense was 1700.
"I attack your Eldeen with my Arma Knight," he said and Defiance lost her monster, but no life points. Defiance silently drew her card.
"I play Protector of the Throne in defense mode," said Defiance. The Protector of the Throne had an attack of 800 and a defense of 1500. She would be able to stand up to Tommy's Arma Knight. She had full-length flaming red hair and a purple ruffled dress. She absentmindedly played with a sky blue orb.
"Your move," said Defiance.
"I play this card in attack mode," said Tommy and the Penguin Knight appeared. The Penguin Knight strongly resembled the Penguin Soldier except it was blue, not violet. The Penguin Knight, because of the field, had an attack of 1400 and a defense of 1300.
"They're coming! They're coming!" cried Tommy, "They know that I know!"
"Calm down! It is your monster," said Defiance. She was very, very annoyed with him.
"One by one the penguins come and slowly steal my sanity," said Tommy.
"There isn't anything left to steal," retorted Defiance.
"Do you know the great thing about insanity? It is contagious. Come, join me in my madness," said Tommy with a sinister undertone. Defiance cringed.
"I attack your face down card with my Arma Knight," said Tommy. Defiance's card was flipped over to reveal her Queen's Double, whose stats were 350 and 300. The Queen's Double lost in the battle.
Defiance still had perfect life points and Tommy was down to 1800. He had a face down card, a Penguin Knight, and an Arma Knight. Defiance only had her Protector of the Throne. She drew her next card.
"I play the Water Dragon Fairy in attack mode," she declared. The Water Dragon Fairy was an Aqua type so her stats went from 1100 and 700 to 1600 and 1200. She had on a tight fitting green outfit and long white socks. Her shoes were the same color as her outfit. She had pink hair that was tied in two odangos.
"And now, Water Dragon Fairy, attack his Arma Knight," declared Defiance. The holo-field showed the two monsters approach each other. Tommy's Arma Knight fell and he lost 100 life points.
"Fine, I play this card in defense mode," said Tommy as he drew, "And I also move the penguin to defense mode."
"Then I play the Ice Water in attack mode and a magic card," she said. The Ice Water was another feminine aqua monster. It stats were 1650 and 1400, because of Umi. She was a mermaid with green skin and tail. Her hair was brown and hung in wet strings. She wore a dull pink belly shirt.
"I attack your first defending card with my Ice Water," she said. The Electric Penguin was flipped over and lost.
"No! Not another penguin. They are hiding. Soon they will ambush us. Then it is all over. We are all dead! The end is coming!" cried Tommy who was becoming hysterical.
"Chill, dude. I also attack your Penguin Knight with my Water Dragon Fairy," she declared. The holo-field showed her fairy charge the Penguin Knight and showed the penguin collapse.
"No more penguins, see," said Defiance, "Nothing else to worry about."
"You can't beat the penguins! They are unstoppable!" cried Tommy.
"Just go," said Defiance tersely.
"The penguins told me to play this card in attack mode," said Tommy as he laid the card down. The Flying Penguin appeared on the field. It was twice as big as the Penguin Soldier or Penguin Knight. It was a deep navy blue with long eyebrows that were supposed to be its wings. Because of Umi its attack went from 1200 to 1700 and its defense went from 1000 to 1500.
"Not again!" screamed Tommy.
"Oh, brother," muttered Defiance.
"The Flying Penguin will attack and destroy your monsters. They are unstoppable!" cried Tommy. The Flying Penguin charged Defiance's monsters.
"Not quite, I played the Acid Trap Hole which I activate this turn," declared Defiance. Tommy's Flying Penguin disappeared just as it was about to attack her Ice Water.
"Your move," said Defiance with a note of sarcasm.
"I play this card face down in defense mode," said Tommy as he played his card. Defiance drew her next card and smiled.
"I play this magic card face down," she said, "It won't be long, penguin guy..."
"Penguins! Where!" screamed Tommy, frantically looking around.
"It won't be long before you lose," Defiance finished.
"Lose? Are we playing some kind of game?" asked Tommy. For a moment he was lucid.
"Where have you been!?" asked Defiance, "Please tell me you are joking."
"This is no joke! The penguins are a real threat," said Tommy as he resumed his rantings. At the bottom of the holo-field Martin clutched his ears. This was almost too much for him.
"Just play the game," said Defiance, trying to distract him.
"I play another card face down in defense mode," said Tommy. His life points were 1700 and Defiance still had 2000. Tommy had his Arma Knight plus two other cards in defense mode. Defiance had her Protector of the Throne in defense mode and her Ice Water and Water Dragon Fairy in attack mode. She also had one magic card. Defiance drew her next card.
"I play this magic card face down to end my turn," she said, "It is over, you have lost."
"Again with the game stuff," said Tommy, "But you will see it is not a game when the penguins come and attack us." The holo-field must have thought that Tommy was telling his monster to attack. One of the face down cards flipped to reveal another Penguin Soldier. It charged Defiance's monsters.
"You see! The invasion has begun," screamed Tommy as his monster raced towards Defiance's Water Dragon Fairy.
"Wait! I just laid down a trap card, which I am activating now," said Defiance in aloud voice. "I play Reinforcements. It will increase the attack of my Water Dragon Fairy by 500 points." The Penguin Soldier clashed with the Water Dragon Fairy and the penguin lost. Tommy lost 850 life points. Defiance drew her next card.
"Yes! I play Mystical Sand in attack mode," she said as she laid it down. The Mystical Sand appeared, hovering over the ocean field.
"And now I play my magic card," she declared, "Defense Paralysis. Defense Paralysis makes it impossible for you to defend. All of your defending cards are switched to attack mode."
"What? I don't think that is good," said Tommy.
"You think! That is a new one by me," retorted Defiance.
"And now I will destroy your monsters," she continued. "Mystical Sands attack Arma Knight." The two monsters fought and the Arma Knight disappeared with a bright flash of light. Tommy was down to 250 life points.
"To finish you I'll have my Ice Water attack your Penguin Knight," said Defiance, "Go!" The mermaid swam to the Penguin Knight and slashed at the monster with her many blades. The Penguin Soldier fell and Tommy lost the rest of his life points.
"The duel is over. I have won," said Defiance.
"What duel?" asked Tommy.
"Just give me the two star chips," she replied.
"What is a star chip?" asked Tommy, "Oh, you mean those strange pins that they gave us when we got invited here. Take it, I have no use for them."
Defiance just stood there amazed as Tommy handed her the chips and walked away.
"Well, Martin, I am extremely glad that is over," she said, "And now we have six star chips. We are over half way to getting into the castle and the final round." Martin smiled, then yawned. The last duel had been to stressful on him.