AN/ I have one complaint about Yu-Gi-Oh! and that is inconstancy with
cards. I have played three of the games; Forbidden Memories, Dark Duelist
Story, and Eternal Duelist's Soul, and half the time the magic, trap, and
monster cards do different things. I like constancy, even if it means I am
going to be inaccurate with a few cards. What does this have to do with
anything? Well, I am keeping all power ups and power downs in groups of
500 or 1000. I am also going to keep the cards the way I have had them.
Example; Electro-Whip really powers up electric types. But, in the first
two games, it works on female monsters. Since I have already used it on
female monsters, it is staying with female monsters. Got it? That is
enough talking, on with the fic!
"What have I gotten myself into?" Shayla asked herself.
"Excuse me," said a male voice as he approached her. There was something sinister in his tone. Shayla paused a moment, trying to figure out where she had heard that voice before. But she couldn't place it.
"I am just leaving," she said, walking away.
"I know you are competing in this tournament," he said. "Duel me." "No thanks, I am not competing," she replied, bluntly. He just laughed to himself.
"You make it seem like I am giving you a choice," he said. "But I am not. You have something I want. And you aren't leaving until you duel me for it." He reached out and grabbed her arms, holding her tight.
"Let go of me!" she cried as she tried to pull away.
"You aren't leaving until you duel me," he snapped. "And don't even try calling for help, there is no one here."
"Let go, you are hurting me," she protested as his grip tightened.
"Mortal, you don't seem to realize what is at stake," he hissed. He reached into her backpack and pulled out her Millennial Scales.
"What are you doing?!" Shayla cried as he let go of her arm.
"You control one of the seven ancient sources of power, and yet you do not realize even a fraction of its potential," he said.
"Give those back!" she yelled. But then one thing dawned on her. "How did he know I had the Millennial Scales?"
"I would never dream of stealing them," he said, sarcastically. His spiky white hair seemed to stick out a little more when he said that. "I could only take them if I beat you in a duel. Therefore, you will duel me, for these."
"Give them back," she said. "Luther gave them to me! You can't take them!"
"Then duel me for them," he said. He knew he had her trapped.
"I don't even know who you are," she said. "Why should I go along with this?"
"I am a thief, a stealer of souls and Millennial Items," he answered, sinisterly. This triggered something in her mind, something from the Duelist Kingdom, but she couldn't place it.
"Duel me," he repeated. "Or I am taking your Millennial Item. If you do not care about them enough to duel me for them, then I am taking them."
"No you won't," protested Shayla. The scales meant more to her than anyone knew. She desperately wanted to get out of this duel, but she had a feeling he was telling the truth, in part. She had to duel him to get her scales back. The knowledge was an instinct, coming from an ancient pack with the Millennial Items, that had grown stronger since she had been using them. "I will duel you for them. But you have to promise me to give them back if I win."
"Of course," he smiled. Shayla didn't believe him. She wished her scales would blast him, but he was following all of the ancient rules.
"Then let's duel," he said as he took a few steps away and activated his duel disk.
Shayla reached into her backpack and pulled out hers, which was still sealed in the box. She tried not to focus on how empty the backpack was without her scales in it. She tried not to think about Luther, who gave her the scales in the first place. She opened the box up and quickly figured out how to attach the thing to her forearm. She shoved the rest of the box back into her backpack and stood up to face her impatient opponent.
She activated the duel disk. It surprised her as it swung around her arm and locked into place. But she stood firm and faced her opponent. Their life points read 4000 and the duel began.
"I am going first," she snapped. Normally she didn't care when she went, but these were not normal circumstances.
"Fine," he agreed.
Shayla clipped her deck into the duel disk and drew five cards. She ran her fingers along the surface, over the 3D text she had put on with her label maker. After think for a moment, she played her first card.
"I play Fairy's Gift in attack mode," she announced. Shayla put her card on one of the spaces on the duel disk and the Fairy's Gift appeared. The hologram was better than the ones produced by the holo-fields. The Fairy's Gift had black hair and a short green dress. Her butterfly wings were speckled black and blue. Her attack was 1400.
"Then I counter with a monster face down in defense mode," said her opponent.
"Is that it?" she asked. "Then I play Witch of the Black Forest in attack mode." Her newest monster had stats of 1100 and 1200. "Now, Fairy's Gift, attack his face down card, Sprite Light!" Glowing blue particles streamed from the Fairy's Gift's wings as she flapped them faster and faster. They surrounded the face down card hologram and it disappeared in a flash of light.
"Thank you," her opponent said. "You activated my card's effect. It is a Man-Eater Bug, and I am sure that a duelist like yourself knows what happens when a man-eater is flipped over."
"You get to chose one of my monsters and send it to the graveyard," she replied, monotone.
"And I chose your Fairy's Gift!" he said, gleefully. In a bright burst of light the Fairy's Gift dissipated.
"But I can still attack your life points directly with my Witch of the Black Forest," countered Shayla. "Midnight Forest Bind!" Thick black vines struck the area in front of her opponent. He shielded his eyes from the intense light that was produced. His life points dropped to 2900.
"We shall see about that. I play one monster card face down in defense mode. Then, I also play another card face down," he said, ending his turn.
"What is he up to?" Shayla wondered. "He can't win a duel by defending. He has to have some other plan. I'd better be careful."
"I play Mystical Elf in defense mode," she said as he newest monster appeared on the field. "I will also play another face down card." Her Mystical Elf had long golden hair and a green dress. Her collar was silver, so was her tiara. She had a defense of 2000. "Finally, I power up my Witch of the Black Forest with the Malevolent Nuzzle." She now had an attack of 1600.
"Now, Witch of the Black Forest, attack his face down card. Midnight Forest Bind!" she ordered. Her female monster went to attack and his newest card was revealed.
"You flipped over my Blast Sphere," he said. "When a Blast Sphere is attacked in the face down, defense position in equips itself to the monster that attacked it. During the beginning of your next turn, it will self- destruct, taking your Witch of the Black Forest with it. Then, you lose life points equal to your monster's attack points!"
"I know!" she exclaimed. Between them the Blast Sphere had latched on her monster. It was a red sphere with for metal blades running around it from top to bottom. Its stats were even at 1400, but that didn't matter.
"Now it is my turn," he said. "I play one monster face down and end my turn."
"Since you played a monster, I can use a magic card, and I chose Mystical Space Typhoon," she said.
"For all the good that that will do you," he replied.
"Check it again," said Shayla. "I can destroy any magic card on the field, and I chose your Blast Sphere!"
"What!" he gasped, the idea not occurring to him before. In an instant the Blast Sphere had been sucked into the graveyard.
"His deck is based on flip effect monsters. I'd better be careful. I can't attack outright without triggering them," Shayla thought as she planned through her next turn.
"And now I will summon Beautiful Beast Tamer by tributing my Mystical Elf," said Shayla. She felt guilty about having to trade one monster for another. Her Mystical Elf vanish and the Beautiful Beast Tamer took her spot. She had navy hair and pointed ears. Her jumpsuit was green and tied with a red sash. In her hand was a whip. Her stats were 1750 and 1500.
"I will not attack this time, so it is your turn," she said.
"Then I will use the magic card Rageki," he said.
"Oh, crap," Shayla. Rageki was serious trouble for any duelist. A huge bolt of lightning eliminated all the monsters that the play had in play. Both of her monsters were sent to the graveyard.
"I am glad you know the rules so well," he said. "I enjoy it when my opponent fights the hardest. Victory is so much more satisfactory that way."
Shayla said nothing.
"Then I will play Vorse Raider in attack mode," he said. His next monster was covered in green and silver armor and it carried a wicked curved blade. It had an attack of 1900.
"But since you sent my witch to the graveyard, I can select one monster from my deck, as long as she has a defense less than 1500. And I chose my Gemini Elf," said Shayla. She pulled the card out of her deck and shuffled it, before returning it to its place on the duel disk.
"But with no monster, I can attack your life points directly. Primitive Stroke!" The Vorse Raider attacked the area in front of Shayla, bring her down to 2100 life points. Her opponent still had 2900.
"Then I will play my Gemini Elf in attack mode," countered Shayla. She still did not trust his face down cards. "Your move."
"I play one monster face down and one magic card," he said. He looked at her as if he was daring her to attack. Shayla didn't notice. She felt empty, somehow, without her scales close by. Never for one moment did she forget what was at stake.
"I play Beautiful Head Huntress in attack mode," countered Shayla. Her newest female monster had dark bluish green hair that was tied with a red bow. She wore a sky blue kimono that was tied with a sash as red as her hair bow. In her hands was a butcher's knife that could pass off for an extremely long, horizontal ax. Her attack was 1600. "I also play a magic card, and end my turn."
"You are being cautious, that may be wise, but it won't win you to duel," he replied. "I will play a third monster face down, and attack with my Vorse Raider. Primitive Stroke!"
"Kunai with Chain!" countered Shayla.
"No!" he exclaimed as a blade caught his monster in mid-attack. This blade was connected by a chain, held by the Beautiful Head Huntress. It raised her attack by 500, and destroyed the Vorse Raider. He was down to 2700 life points.
"My turn," said Shayla. "I tribute my Gemini Elf and summon my Empress Judge." Her newest monster appeared next to the Kunai with Chain holding huntress. She had flaming red hair and a red and white gown. A gold tiara encircled her face, which was covered by strangely beautiful face paint. Her attack was 2100 and her defense was 1700. Shayla felt bad about sending her Gemini Elf to the graveyard. She had always been a little partial to that card.
"I also play one magic card," she announced. "Trap Hole will help me if he decides to actually attack. It will destroy any monster with an attack over 1000. It should help me get back my scales. I will not lose them. They are the last thing I have of Luther. But, if I am going to win, I am going to need to risk it and attack."
"Then I will attack one of your face down cards. Empress Judge, Rough Justice!" she ordered.
"Mirror Force!" he said, activating the magic card he had used a few turns back.
"Oh, no!" Shayla gasped. He simply smiled evilly. His trap card deflected the attack from his monster and redirected it back at her. In a blaze of glory the Beautiful Head Huntress disappeared.
"And since you have no monsters left to attack, it is my turn," he said. "I play one card face down." This was the fourth card he played face down. "Then, I will flip over the card I played last turn, my second Man-Eater Bug."
"Great," Shayla muttered. "His deck isn't based on effect monsters, but destroying monsters. A destroy-all deck. His deck is designed so that his opponents can't keep a card on the field."
"Say good-bye to your Empress Judge," he said as her only monster was sent to the graveyard. "And, I can attack your life points directly with my Man- Eater Bug. Savage Hunger!" She lost 450 life points, taking her down to 1650 life points, while he still had 2700.
"I play The Snake Hair in attack mode," she countered. Her newest monster was a Gorgon in every sense of the word. She had sickly green skin. Her hair was alive with snakes. A loosely knit sweater covered her upper body. That wasn't necessary for the rest of her, because below the waist she was one long snake. Her attack was 1500 and her defense was 1200.
"Attack his Man-Eater Bug, Meduza Rage!" she ordered. The Snake Hair moved forward. The Man-Eater Bug seemed to freeze in shock before slowly turning to stone. The Snake Hair then struck with her tail, turning it into dust. The made him even with her in life points.
"I play one monster in defense mode and end my turn," he said.
"That is really getting annoying," she complained. He didn't reply, just continued to smile. He had plans for the four monster he had face down, but he was getting annoyed that she wasn't attacking.
"I play Fairy of the Fountain in attack mode," announced Shayla. She had blue skin. Her hair was darker blue. Her dress was pale pink, and she had a blue jewel in the middle of her forehead. In her hand was a clay vase. Her attack was 1600.
"I have to win," she told herself. "Luther gave my those scales. He meant the world to me, and the scales are all I have left of him. Dear Jesus, please, help me win this."
"If you are ending your turn now, then I will play a magic card and end my turn," he said. "If you don't attack, your scales will become mine. Then again, even if you do attack, your scales will become mine." He laughed evilly.
"This is not the way to duel," she grumbled. "You should show some backbone and attempt to attack. Hiding behind effect monsters is cowardly."
"Then why do I have more life points?" he asked.
"Kanan the Sword Mistress in attack mode," Shayla said, not bothering to answer him. Her newest monster had revealing silver armor with green trim. She held a tiny shield and a large sword. "I also play a magic card face down."
"I have to do something. I have never backed down in a duel before, and I don't intend to start now," she thought. "I wish Luther was here to help me..... Or even Martin or Mai..... I have to win, so I am going to have to attack. God had better be with me on this."
"Kanan, attack one card, Long Sword Thrust!" ordered Shayla.
"Negate Attack," he said as he flipped his magic card over.
"Attack, Fairy of the Fountain, Bottled Hydro Concussion!" Shayla ordered. She didn't let the magic card faze her. She was too worried about effects his monsters could have. In the field, an incredible amount of water began to shoot out of the jar, towards one of his monsters.
"Reveal Wall of Illusions," he said as his card flipped over. This monster looked like a mask surrounded by red fur or feathers, it was hard to tell. The mask was set into a 'wall.' The wall was no more than a stretched piece of leather, framed by sticks. It had an attack of 1000 and a defense of 1850.
"Wall of Illusions?!" gasped Shayla. This was the last card she had ever expected. Due to the differences in attack and defense, she lost 450 life points.
"And since you attacked the Wall of Illusions, you activated its effect," he said. "Any monster that attacks a Wall of Illusions is instantly returned to its owner's hand." The Fairy of the Fountain disappeared from the field, leaving Shayla with Kanan and The Snake Hair.
"You can't have Wall of Illusions," said Shayla, still in shock.
"But I do, and you can't destroy it without having your monster returned to your hand," he said.
"I know, I know," she muttered. "I know it all too well. Wall of Illusions was Luther's favorite card."
*Flash Back*
The day was sunny, cruel, and sad. The entire orphanage had been force to attend the funeral, even though half of them could care less about Luther or his death. Shayla, who was calling herself Angel at the time was sitting in the front row with Martin. Martin was crying silently, his face was wet with tears. Angel didn't remember anything that was said. All she could do was think about all of the time they had spent together.
"I thought we'd always be together. We promised each other that," thought Angel/Shayla, trying to hold back her tears. In theory funerals were an excepted time to cry, but the other orphans had forced the no crying habit on her.
It was a graveside service. The coffin was open, and Luther was facing heaven. He was surrounded by flowers. It seemed too pretty to be burying someone.
"It happened so fast," thought Angel. "We were together one day. And the next..... Dead on arrival, that is what they said. All because some idiot couldn't drive. That person doesn't even have the backbone to take responsibility....."
Angel sat there in stony silence and thought. The scales that he had just given her were in her backpack by her feet. It hurt so much to lose him, after all they had been through. Memories flooded Angel, and she could do nothing to stop them.
Eventually the coffin was opened up to final farewells. Final, how absolute that word sounded.... Angel did not stir from her seat until everyone else had drifted away. Martin waited with her, but she urged him to go up first.
He muttered his good-bye quietly, like everything he did, and it was her turn.
"How's heaven?" she asked as she approached. Tears were welling up in her sightless eyes. "Luther, you said you'd always be here for me. Why did you have to leave me? I miss you so much. I know I'll see you again one day. And I mean I'll actually see you....."
"Luther, it hurts so much. Where is your shoulder for me to cry on? You promised you'd be here for me. I know you are in a better place, I just wish I could be there with you. You left your Angel behind."
"Good-bye Luther. No, until I see you again. I will see you again, and then we can be together like we promised." She could feel her scales by her feet, her only piece of Luther she had left. Angel reached down and pulled Luther's Duel Monsters deck out of her backpack.
"This is yours. I'll never forget you." Angel picked up his right hand and placed his deck under it. Then she flipped the top card up, so it was face up. It was his favorite card, Wall of Illusions.
"I love you, Luther, until we can be together..... I know you are with angels now, but never forget the Angel you left behind. I love you, good- bye." The last thing she did was pull a card out of her deck. It was the six-winged seraphim, Windweaver, her most powerful card. She put it face up in his left hand.
"So your guardian Angel will always be close to your heart." She kissed his lifeless cheek and walked away, tears sliding down her face. Only this time, there was no shoulder to cry into.
*End Flash Back*
"Your turn," she said.
"Then I flip my Wall of Illusions to attack mode," he said.
Shayla knew that it was a flip summon, and she could use her Trap Hole to destroy it. But, she knew, now matter how hard she tried, she'd never be able to destroy Luther's favorite card.
"Then, I will play my favorite magic card, Change of Heart," he said. Change of Heart let him control one of her monsters for his turn. "And I chose The Snake Hair." A half angel, half demon creature streaked down and possessed The Snake Hair, taking it to his side of the field.
Shayla quickly did the mental math. She only had 1200 life points. If he attacked her directly, she'd lose 100 points in The Snake Hair versus Kanan. Then the Wall of Illusions would take of another 1000. She would survive, barely.
"But, I am not going to attack you," he said. "I have something far more creative in mind. I play Ectoplasmer."
"You wouldn't!" she gasped, horrified. He smiled sinisterly.
"Yes I will," he. "Ectoplasmer takes the soul out of the monster. It then takes that energy and fires it directly at your life points!"
"You can't just rip out a monster's soul!" protested Shayla. Even the monsters on the field seemed to be nervous of this, even though they were only holograms.
"Yes. I use Ectoplasmer on my Wall of Illusions," he announced. The Wall of Illusions collapsed into a heap, then disappeared into the graveyard. A glowing sphere of energy, its soul, was all that was left. It was shot right at Shayla. Kanan tried to hold her shield up, but the energy went through her like a ghost. It took Shayla down to 200 life points.
"You can't do that to Luther's favorite card!" protested Shayla, who was horrified and mortified. A rage began to build in her at the injustice of it all. Shayla was now determined not to lose.
"And now to end this, I will take the soul of your own monster and use it against you!" he announced. The Snake Hair seemed to look back at her, apologetically before she collapsed into a soulless heap.
"Don't be too shock, your monster was a zombie, after all," gloated her opponent as the energy was shot her way. "And, I will take good care of the Millennial Scales."
"Enchanted Javelin!" she yelled as she flipped over her magic card.
"No way!" he gasped.
"Yes, Enchanted Javelin gives me life points that are equal with an incoming attack. That means I survive this turn," said Shayla. Her life points shot up to 1700 before her won monster's soul hit, taking her back to 200.
Her opponent had 1650 life points and three cards, presumably effect monsters, in defense mode. Shayla only had Kanan the Sword Mistress in attack mode.
"Then, I play Hibikime in attack mode," said Shayla. Her newest monster had curly navy hair and a straight aqua colored dress. In her arms was a blue scythe, the was shaped like an eighth note, the flag being the blade of the scythe. She seemed shy, but she had the voice of a banshee. Her attack was 1450 and her defense was 1000. Shayla didn't mind playing her monsters in attack mode, since her opponent made it clear that he was waiting for her to activate his effect and magic cards.
"I think I will only attack one of his monsters. I need to have a strong offensive before he can use effects and magic to eliminate them," Shayla thought.
"Hibikime, attack one of his monsters, Alto Ear Shatter!" ordered Shayla. The Hibikime raised her scythe. She screamed a loud battle cry that could have shattered glass when she swung it. One of the cards on his half of the field was shredded, before disappearing.
"Thank you for activating my Magician of Faith," he said.
"Great....." Shayla muttered, trying no to think of the damage he'd do with that card.
"I get to select one magic card from and put it in my hand. And I chose Raigeki," he said. Shayla gulped.
"I play one card face down and end my turn," she said, nervously. All her hope rode in that one card.
"Please, Jesus," she prayed, "I can't lose those scales, not after I already lost Luther.... Let this work."
"Then I will end this duel," he said. "I play another Blast Sphere, in attack mode. Then, I'll use the Raigeki I retrieved last turn to wipe out your monsters! With them out of the way, eliminating the last of your life points will be easy!" He threw down his Raigeki card. A huge thunder cloud formed in the sky, ready to obliterate her Hibikime and Kanan the Sword Mistress.
"Anti-Raigeki!" Shayla announced as she flipped over her magic card.
"No!" he cried. Anti-Raigeki rerouted Raigeki back to the other person's monsters. The forming thunder cloud exploded over his monsters, sending every last one to the graveyard.
"Everyone thought I was crazy for putting that card in my deck," said Shayla. "They never thought it would be used. But, when you need it, you need it."
"And now, it is my turn to end the duel," said Shayla. "I tribute my two monsters and summon Wind Weaver, Luther's guardian angel."
Her seraphim appeared on the field. She had six graceful dove wings. Her hair was soft violet. Her outfit was shining gold. It was locked into place by a belt with a large blue gem. Her stats were 2750 and 2400.
"Attack his life points directly! Heavenly Twister!" Shayla ordered. The Wind Weaver blasted her opponent, sending him stumbling backwards from the light produced. His duel disk beeped 0.
"I win," said Shayla. She walked over and picked up her scales from where he has set them. Her opponent was so shocked he still had yet to stand up, or even speak.
"According to the Battle City rules, I get your rarest card," she said. Normally she wouldn't be so demanding, but there was something she had to do. In all honesty, this was the rule she hated the most. "But you can keep your rarest card. I want your Wall of Illusions."
"What?" he said, still shocked that his destroy-all deck had lost.
"Give my your Wall of Illusions," she said, leaving no room for argument.
He stood up and pulled the card out of his deck, keeping his eyes on the scales. He was bitter about the lost power, but he knew better than to break any rules, especially with the scales nearby. The Millennial Scales didn't handle cheaters well. He handed her the card.
"Thanks," she said, monotone. But when she went to take the card, her fingers brushed against a hard, smooth object on his chest. She tightened her grip on the card and pulled back as if she had been stung.
She paused a moment, surprised. Then she realized she was holding two cards. "A locator card?" she asked. "I don't want this!" But when she went to hand it back to him, he was gone. He had walked off, fuming. He was bitter about losing the chance to capture another Millennial Item.
Shayla held the Wall of Illusions close to her heart. Then she walked over to a nearby curb, sat down, and started to cry.
AN/ How sad is that? I can't even read the flashback scene without crying. But then again, Shayla is mine.... But it is so sad -.-,,,,, BTW, y'all do know her opponent, right? And, as always, please read, review, and enjoy! (
"What have I gotten myself into?" Shayla asked herself.
"Excuse me," said a male voice as he approached her. There was something sinister in his tone. Shayla paused a moment, trying to figure out where she had heard that voice before. But she couldn't place it.
"I am just leaving," she said, walking away.
"I know you are competing in this tournament," he said. "Duel me." "No thanks, I am not competing," she replied, bluntly. He just laughed to himself.
"You make it seem like I am giving you a choice," he said. "But I am not. You have something I want. And you aren't leaving until you duel me for it." He reached out and grabbed her arms, holding her tight.
"Let go of me!" she cried as she tried to pull away.
"You aren't leaving until you duel me," he snapped. "And don't even try calling for help, there is no one here."
"Let go, you are hurting me," she protested as his grip tightened.
"Mortal, you don't seem to realize what is at stake," he hissed. He reached into her backpack and pulled out her Millennial Scales.
"What are you doing?!" Shayla cried as he let go of her arm.
"You control one of the seven ancient sources of power, and yet you do not realize even a fraction of its potential," he said.
"Give those back!" she yelled. But then one thing dawned on her. "How did he know I had the Millennial Scales?"
"I would never dream of stealing them," he said, sarcastically. His spiky white hair seemed to stick out a little more when he said that. "I could only take them if I beat you in a duel. Therefore, you will duel me, for these."
"Give them back," she said. "Luther gave them to me! You can't take them!"
"Then duel me for them," he said. He knew he had her trapped.
"I don't even know who you are," she said. "Why should I go along with this?"
"I am a thief, a stealer of souls and Millennial Items," he answered, sinisterly. This triggered something in her mind, something from the Duelist Kingdom, but she couldn't place it.
"Duel me," he repeated. "Or I am taking your Millennial Item. If you do not care about them enough to duel me for them, then I am taking them."
"No you won't," protested Shayla. The scales meant more to her than anyone knew. She desperately wanted to get out of this duel, but she had a feeling he was telling the truth, in part. She had to duel him to get her scales back. The knowledge was an instinct, coming from an ancient pack with the Millennial Items, that had grown stronger since she had been using them. "I will duel you for them. But you have to promise me to give them back if I win."
"Of course," he smiled. Shayla didn't believe him. She wished her scales would blast him, but he was following all of the ancient rules.
"Then let's duel," he said as he took a few steps away and activated his duel disk.
Shayla reached into her backpack and pulled out hers, which was still sealed in the box. She tried not to focus on how empty the backpack was without her scales in it. She tried not to think about Luther, who gave her the scales in the first place. She opened the box up and quickly figured out how to attach the thing to her forearm. She shoved the rest of the box back into her backpack and stood up to face her impatient opponent.
She activated the duel disk. It surprised her as it swung around her arm and locked into place. But she stood firm and faced her opponent. Their life points read 4000 and the duel began.
"I am going first," she snapped. Normally she didn't care when she went, but these were not normal circumstances.
"Fine," he agreed.
Shayla clipped her deck into the duel disk and drew five cards. She ran her fingers along the surface, over the 3D text she had put on with her label maker. After think for a moment, she played her first card.
"I play Fairy's Gift in attack mode," she announced. Shayla put her card on one of the spaces on the duel disk and the Fairy's Gift appeared. The hologram was better than the ones produced by the holo-fields. The Fairy's Gift had black hair and a short green dress. Her butterfly wings were speckled black and blue. Her attack was 1400.
"Then I counter with a monster face down in defense mode," said her opponent.
"Is that it?" she asked. "Then I play Witch of the Black Forest in attack mode." Her newest monster had stats of 1100 and 1200. "Now, Fairy's Gift, attack his face down card, Sprite Light!" Glowing blue particles streamed from the Fairy's Gift's wings as she flapped them faster and faster. They surrounded the face down card hologram and it disappeared in a flash of light.
"Thank you," her opponent said. "You activated my card's effect. It is a Man-Eater Bug, and I am sure that a duelist like yourself knows what happens when a man-eater is flipped over."
"You get to chose one of my monsters and send it to the graveyard," she replied, monotone.
"And I chose your Fairy's Gift!" he said, gleefully. In a bright burst of light the Fairy's Gift dissipated.
"But I can still attack your life points directly with my Witch of the Black Forest," countered Shayla. "Midnight Forest Bind!" Thick black vines struck the area in front of her opponent. He shielded his eyes from the intense light that was produced. His life points dropped to 2900.
"We shall see about that. I play one monster card face down in defense mode. Then, I also play another card face down," he said, ending his turn.
"What is he up to?" Shayla wondered. "He can't win a duel by defending. He has to have some other plan. I'd better be careful."
"I play Mystical Elf in defense mode," she said as he newest monster appeared on the field. "I will also play another face down card." Her Mystical Elf had long golden hair and a green dress. Her collar was silver, so was her tiara. She had a defense of 2000. "Finally, I power up my Witch of the Black Forest with the Malevolent Nuzzle." She now had an attack of 1600.
"Now, Witch of the Black Forest, attack his face down card. Midnight Forest Bind!" she ordered. Her female monster went to attack and his newest card was revealed.
"You flipped over my Blast Sphere," he said. "When a Blast Sphere is attacked in the face down, defense position in equips itself to the monster that attacked it. During the beginning of your next turn, it will self- destruct, taking your Witch of the Black Forest with it. Then, you lose life points equal to your monster's attack points!"
"I know!" she exclaimed. Between them the Blast Sphere had latched on her monster. It was a red sphere with for metal blades running around it from top to bottom. Its stats were even at 1400, but that didn't matter.
"Now it is my turn," he said. "I play one monster face down and end my turn."
"Since you played a monster, I can use a magic card, and I chose Mystical Space Typhoon," she said.
"For all the good that that will do you," he replied.
"Check it again," said Shayla. "I can destroy any magic card on the field, and I chose your Blast Sphere!"
"What!" he gasped, the idea not occurring to him before. In an instant the Blast Sphere had been sucked into the graveyard.
"His deck is based on flip effect monsters. I'd better be careful. I can't attack outright without triggering them," Shayla thought as she planned through her next turn.
"And now I will summon Beautiful Beast Tamer by tributing my Mystical Elf," said Shayla. She felt guilty about having to trade one monster for another. Her Mystical Elf vanish and the Beautiful Beast Tamer took her spot. She had navy hair and pointed ears. Her jumpsuit was green and tied with a red sash. In her hand was a whip. Her stats were 1750 and 1500.
"I will not attack this time, so it is your turn," she said.
"Then I will use the magic card Rageki," he said.
"Oh, crap," Shayla. Rageki was serious trouble for any duelist. A huge bolt of lightning eliminated all the monsters that the play had in play. Both of her monsters were sent to the graveyard.
"I am glad you know the rules so well," he said. "I enjoy it when my opponent fights the hardest. Victory is so much more satisfactory that way."
Shayla said nothing.
"Then I will play Vorse Raider in attack mode," he said. His next monster was covered in green and silver armor and it carried a wicked curved blade. It had an attack of 1900.
"But since you sent my witch to the graveyard, I can select one monster from my deck, as long as she has a defense less than 1500. And I chose my Gemini Elf," said Shayla. She pulled the card out of her deck and shuffled it, before returning it to its place on the duel disk.
"But with no monster, I can attack your life points directly. Primitive Stroke!" The Vorse Raider attacked the area in front of Shayla, bring her down to 2100 life points. Her opponent still had 2900.
"Then I will play my Gemini Elf in attack mode," countered Shayla. She still did not trust his face down cards. "Your move."
"I play one monster face down and one magic card," he said. He looked at her as if he was daring her to attack. Shayla didn't notice. She felt empty, somehow, without her scales close by. Never for one moment did she forget what was at stake.
"I play Beautiful Head Huntress in attack mode," countered Shayla. Her newest female monster had dark bluish green hair that was tied with a red bow. She wore a sky blue kimono that was tied with a sash as red as her hair bow. In her hands was a butcher's knife that could pass off for an extremely long, horizontal ax. Her attack was 1600. "I also play a magic card, and end my turn."
"You are being cautious, that may be wise, but it won't win you to duel," he replied. "I will play a third monster face down, and attack with my Vorse Raider. Primitive Stroke!"
"Kunai with Chain!" countered Shayla.
"No!" he exclaimed as a blade caught his monster in mid-attack. This blade was connected by a chain, held by the Beautiful Head Huntress. It raised her attack by 500, and destroyed the Vorse Raider. He was down to 2700 life points.
"My turn," said Shayla. "I tribute my Gemini Elf and summon my Empress Judge." Her newest monster appeared next to the Kunai with Chain holding huntress. She had flaming red hair and a red and white gown. A gold tiara encircled her face, which was covered by strangely beautiful face paint. Her attack was 2100 and her defense was 1700. Shayla felt bad about sending her Gemini Elf to the graveyard. She had always been a little partial to that card.
"I also play one magic card," she announced. "Trap Hole will help me if he decides to actually attack. It will destroy any monster with an attack over 1000. It should help me get back my scales. I will not lose them. They are the last thing I have of Luther. But, if I am going to win, I am going to need to risk it and attack."
"Then I will attack one of your face down cards. Empress Judge, Rough Justice!" she ordered.
"Mirror Force!" he said, activating the magic card he had used a few turns back.
"Oh, no!" Shayla gasped. He simply smiled evilly. His trap card deflected the attack from his monster and redirected it back at her. In a blaze of glory the Beautiful Head Huntress disappeared.
"And since you have no monsters left to attack, it is my turn," he said. "I play one card face down." This was the fourth card he played face down. "Then, I will flip over the card I played last turn, my second Man-Eater Bug."
"Great," Shayla muttered. "His deck isn't based on effect monsters, but destroying monsters. A destroy-all deck. His deck is designed so that his opponents can't keep a card on the field."
"Say good-bye to your Empress Judge," he said as her only monster was sent to the graveyard. "And, I can attack your life points directly with my Man- Eater Bug. Savage Hunger!" She lost 450 life points, taking her down to 1650 life points, while he still had 2700.
"I play The Snake Hair in attack mode," she countered. Her newest monster was a Gorgon in every sense of the word. She had sickly green skin. Her hair was alive with snakes. A loosely knit sweater covered her upper body. That wasn't necessary for the rest of her, because below the waist she was one long snake. Her attack was 1500 and her defense was 1200.
"Attack his Man-Eater Bug, Meduza Rage!" she ordered. The Snake Hair moved forward. The Man-Eater Bug seemed to freeze in shock before slowly turning to stone. The Snake Hair then struck with her tail, turning it into dust. The made him even with her in life points.
"I play one monster in defense mode and end my turn," he said.
"That is really getting annoying," she complained. He didn't reply, just continued to smile. He had plans for the four monster he had face down, but he was getting annoyed that she wasn't attacking.
"I play Fairy of the Fountain in attack mode," announced Shayla. She had blue skin. Her hair was darker blue. Her dress was pale pink, and she had a blue jewel in the middle of her forehead. In her hand was a clay vase. Her attack was 1600.
"I have to win," she told herself. "Luther gave my those scales. He meant the world to me, and the scales are all I have left of him. Dear Jesus, please, help me win this."
"If you are ending your turn now, then I will play a magic card and end my turn," he said. "If you don't attack, your scales will become mine. Then again, even if you do attack, your scales will become mine." He laughed evilly.
"This is not the way to duel," she grumbled. "You should show some backbone and attempt to attack. Hiding behind effect monsters is cowardly."
"Then why do I have more life points?" he asked.
"Kanan the Sword Mistress in attack mode," Shayla said, not bothering to answer him. Her newest monster had revealing silver armor with green trim. She held a tiny shield and a large sword. "I also play a magic card face down."
"I have to do something. I have never backed down in a duel before, and I don't intend to start now," she thought. "I wish Luther was here to help me..... Or even Martin or Mai..... I have to win, so I am going to have to attack. God had better be with me on this."
"Kanan, attack one card, Long Sword Thrust!" ordered Shayla.
"Negate Attack," he said as he flipped his magic card over.
"Attack, Fairy of the Fountain, Bottled Hydro Concussion!" Shayla ordered. She didn't let the magic card faze her. She was too worried about effects his monsters could have. In the field, an incredible amount of water began to shoot out of the jar, towards one of his monsters.
"Reveal Wall of Illusions," he said as his card flipped over. This monster looked like a mask surrounded by red fur or feathers, it was hard to tell. The mask was set into a 'wall.' The wall was no more than a stretched piece of leather, framed by sticks. It had an attack of 1000 and a defense of 1850.
"Wall of Illusions?!" gasped Shayla. This was the last card she had ever expected. Due to the differences in attack and defense, she lost 450 life points.
"And since you attacked the Wall of Illusions, you activated its effect," he said. "Any monster that attacks a Wall of Illusions is instantly returned to its owner's hand." The Fairy of the Fountain disappeared from the field, leaving Shayla with Kanan and The Snake Hair.
"You can't have Wall of Illusions," said Shayla, still in shock.
"But I do, and you can't destroy it without having your monster returned to your hand," he said.
"I know, I know," she muttered. "I know it all too well. Wall of Illusions was Luther's favorite card."
*Flash Back*
The day was sunny, cruel, and sad. The entire orphanage had been force to attend the funeral, even though half of them could care less about Luther or his death. Shayla, who was calling herself Angel at the time was sitting in the front row with Martin. Martin was crying silently, his face was wet with tears. Angel didn't remember anything that was said. All she could do was think about all of the time they had spent together.
"I thought we'd always be together. We promised each other that," thought Angel/Shayla, trying to hold back her tears. In theory funerals were an excepted time to cry, but the other orphans had forced the no crying habit on her.
It was a graveside service. The coffin was open, and Luther was facing heaven. He was surrounded by flowers. It seemed too pretty to be burying someone.
"It happened so fast," thought Angel. "We were together one day. And the next..... Dead on arrival, that is what they said. All because some idiot couldn't drive. That person doesn't even have the backbone to take responsibility....."
Angel sat there in stony silence and thought. The scales that he had just given her were in her backpack by her feet. It hurt so much to lose him, after all they had been through. Memories flooded Angel, and she could do nothing to stop them.
Eventually the coffin was opened up to final farewells. Final, how absolute that word sounded.... Angel did not stir from her seat until everyone else had drifted away. Martin waited with her, but she urged him to go up first.
He muttered his good-bye quietly, like everything he did, and it was her turn.
"How's heaven?" she asked as she approached. Tears were welling up in her sightless eyes. "Luther, you said you'd always be here for me. Why did you have to leave me? I miss you so much. I know I'll see you again one day. And I mean I'll actually see you....."
"Luther, it hurts so much. Where is your shoulder for me to cry on? You promised you'd be here for me. I know you are in a better place, I just wish I could be there with you. You left your Angel behind."
"Good-bye Luther. No, until I see you again. I will see you again, and then we can be together like we promised." She could feel her scales by her feet, her only piece of Luther she had left. Angel reached down and pulled Luther's Duel Monsters deck out of her backpack.
"This is yours. I'll never forget you." Angel picked up his right hand and placed his deck under it. Then she flipped the top card up, so it was face up. It was his favorite card, Wall of Illusions.
"I love you, Luther, until we can be together..... I know you are with angels now, but never forget the Angel you left behind. I love you, good- bye." The last thing she did was pull a card out of her deck. It was the six-winged seraphim, Windweaver, her most powerful card. She put it face up in his left hand.
"So your guardian Angel will always be close to your heart." She kissed his lifeless cheek and walked away, tears sliding down her face. Only this time, there was no shoulder to cry into.
*End Flash Back*
"Your turn," she said.
"Then I flip my Wall of Illusions to attack mode," he said.
Shayla knew that it was a flip summon, and she could use her Trap Hole to destroy it. But, she knew, now matter how hard she tried, she'd never be able to destroy Luther's favorite card.
"Then, I will play my favorite magic card, Change of Heart," he said. Change of Heart let him control one of her monsters for his turn. "And I chose The Snake Hair." A half angel, half demon creature streaked down and possessed The Snake Hair, taking it to his side of the field.
Shayla quickly did the mental math. She only had 1200 life points. If he attacked her directly, she'd lose 100 points in The Snake Hair versus Kanan. Then the Wall of Illusions would take of another 1000. She would survive, barely.
"But, I am not going to attack you," he said. "I have something far more creative in mind. I play Ectoplasmer."
"You wouldn't!" she gasped, horrified. He smiled sinisterly.
"Yes I will," he. "Ectoplasmer takes the soul out of the monster. It then takes that energy and fires it directly at your life points!"
"You can't just rip out a monster's soul!" protested Shayla. Even the monsters on the field seemed to be nervous of this, even though they were only holograms.
"Yes. I use Ectoplasmer on my Wall of Illusions," he announced. The Wall of Illusions collapsed into a heap, then disappeared into the graveyard. A glowing sphere of energy, its soul, was all that was left. It was shot right at Shayla. Kanan tried to hold her shield up, but the energy went through her like a ghost. It took Shayla down to 200 life points.
"You can't do that to Luther's favorite card!" protested Shayla, who was horrified and mortified. A rage began to build in her at the injustice of it all. Shayla was now determined not to lose.
"And now to end this, I will take the soul of your own monster and use it against you!" he announced. The Snake Hair seemed to look back at her, apologetically before she collapsed into a soulless heap.
"Don't be too shock, your monster was a zombie, after all," gloated her opponent as the energy was shot her way. "And, I will take good care of the Millennial Scales."
"Enchanted Javelin!" she yelled as she flipped over her magic card.
"No way!" he gasped.
"Yes, Enchanted Javelin gives me life points that are equal with an incoming attack. That means I survive this turn," said Shayla. Her life points shot up to 1700 before her won monster's soul hit, taking her back to 200.
Her opponent had 1650 life points and three cards, presumably effect monsters, in defense mode. Shayla only had Kanan the Sword Mistress in attack mode.
"Then, I play Hibikime in attack mode," said Shayla. Her newest monster had curly navy hair and a straight aqua colored dress. In her arms was a blue scythe, the was shaped like an eighth note, the flag being the blade of the scythe. She seemed shy, but she had the voice of a banshee. Her attack was 1450 and her defense was 1000. Shayla didn't mind playing her monsters in attack mode, since her opponent made it clear that he was waiting for her to activate his effect and magic cards.
"I think I will only attack one of his monsters. I need to have a strong offensive before he can use effects and magic to eliminate them," Shayla thought.
"Hibikime, attack one of his monsters, Alto Ear Shatter!" ordered Shayla. The Hibikime raised her scythe. She screamed a loud battle cry that could have shattered glass when she swung it. One of the cards on his half of the field was shredded, before disappearing.
"Thank you for activating my Magician of Faith," he said.
"Great....." Shayla muttered, trying no to think of the damage he'd do with that card.
"I get to select one magic card from and put it in my hand. And I chose Raigeki," he said. Shayla gulped.
"I play one card face down and end my turn," she said, nervously. All her hope rode in that one card.
"Please, Jesus," she prayed, "I can't lose those scales, not after I already lost Luther.... Let this work."
"Then I will end this duel," he said. "I play another Blast Sphere, in attack mode. Then, I'll use the Raigeki I retrieved last turn to wipe out your monsters! With them out of the way, eliminating the last of your life points will be easy!" He threw down his Raigeki card. A huge thunder cloud formed in the sky, ready to obliterate her Hibikime and Kanan the Sword Mistress.
"Anti-Raigeki!" Shayla announced as she flipped over her magic card.
"No!" he cried. Anti-Raigeki rerouted Raigeki back to the other person's monsters. The forming thunder cloud exploded over his monsters, sending every last one to the graveyard.
"Everyone thought I was crazy for putting that card in my deck," said Shayla. "They never thought it would be used. But, when you need it, you need it."
"And now, it is my turn to end the duel," said Shayla. "I tribute my two monsters and summon Wind Weaver, Luther's guardian angel."
Her seraphim appeared on the field. She had six graceful dove wings. Her hair was soft violet. Her outfit was shining gold. It was locked into place by a belt with a large blue gem. Her stats were 2750 and 2400.
"Attack his life points directly! Heavenly Twister!" Shayla ordered. The Wind Weaver blasted her opponent, sending him stumbling backwards from the light produced. His duel disk beeped 0.
"I win," said Shayla. She walked over and picked up her scales from where he has set them. Her opponent was so shocked he still had yet to stand up, or even speak.
"According to the Battle City rules, I get your rarest card," she said. Normally she wouldn't be so demanding, but there was something she had to do. In all honesty, this was the rule she hated the most. "But you can keep your rarest card. I want your Wall of Illusions."
"What?" he said, still shocked that his destroy-all deck had lost.
"Give my your Wall of Illusions," she said, leaving no room for argument.
He stood up and pulled the card out of his deck, keeping his eyes on the scales. He was bitter about the lost power, but he knew better than to break any rules, especially with the scales nearby. The Millennial Scales didn't handle cheaters well. He handed her the card.
"Thanks," she said, monotone. But when she went to take the card, her fingers brushed against a hard, smooth object on his chest. She tightened her grip on the card and pulled back as if she had been stung.
She paused a moment, surprised. Then she realized she was holding two cards. "A locator card?" she asked. "I don't want this!" But when she went to hand it back to him, he was gone. He had walked off, fuming. He was bitter about losing the chance to capture another Millennial Item.
Shayla held the Wall of Illusions close to her heart. Then she walked over to a nearby curb, sat down, and started to cry.
AN/ How sad is that? I can't even read the flashback scene without crying. But then again, Shayla is mine.... But it is so sad -.-,,,,, BTW, y'all do know her opponent, right? And, as always, please read, review, and enjoy! (