"There are so many duelists, it is hard to decide who to challenge next,"
said Drake as he scanned the crowds.
"You know," said Lara, "Kaiba said he was going to be participating....."
"Where is he?!" demanded Drake, looking around. "He is mine!"
"Calm down," said Lara. "You'll get your chance to find out who is the world's best dragon duelist."
Drake nodded.
"Step up folks!" called a voice over the crowd. "The master of the hand is about to work!"
"What is that about?" asked Lara.
"It looks like a guy has set up a magic show," commented Drake.
"Let's go see," said Lara with a big smile. She took his hand and started to pull him along.
They stood at the back of the crowd and watched as the magician did a few sleight of hand tricks; making things appear and disappear mostly. Lara seemed to be enjoying himself, but Drake seemed impatient for his next duel. The magician looked over the crowd as if he was looking for someone in particular.
"Lara, let's go," he whispered. "I need to start collecting locator cards." Lara nodded and she walked away.
"Well, Drake Pegasus, is my show not good enough for you?" asked the magician when he saw them leave from the back.
Drake turned. "How...... did you know my name?" He crossed his arms defiantly.
"My master has put an exceptionally high price on the rare hunter who can take down Pegasus's son," he replied, stepping down from his make shift stage.
"I don't like this, I think we should leave," Lara whispered in his ear.
"Yes, your rarest card would be a true prize for any rare hunter," he said.
"What does all that gibberish mean?" asked Drake.
"Duel me," he challenged. "Duel Darcy, the master of the hand. Marik will be especially pleased with me if I bring back the Tyrant Dragon."
"Who's Marik?" asked Lara.
At the same time Drake said, "I accept your challenge."
"Drake, are you sure about this?" asked Lara. He nodded, a look of determination highlighted his features. "Good luck." She kissed him on the cheek, but he seemed so focused on the duel that he barely changed colors.
"Let's duel!" said Darcy and they activated their duel disks. Their life points read 4000 and the duel started.
"I'll go first," said Drake. "I start by playing one monster in defense mode and a magic card."
"A cautious first move," commented Darcy. "Then, for my turn I play one monster face down as well."
"Fine by me," said Drake. "I'll flip my monster over to reveal the Koumori Dragon." His dark violet dragon appeared with stats of 1500 and 1200. "Then, I play Winged Dragon and Guardian of the Fortress in attack mode." His blue dragon materialized besides the Koumori dragon with stats of 1400 and 1200.
"A dragon deck, so Marik was right," muttered Darcy.
"Now they will attack!" said Drake. "Koumori Dragon attack the face down card!" The Koumori Dragon charged forward and bit the card image on Darcy's part of the field. A strange mixture of hands and feet appeared before being sent to the graveyard.
"I hope you are familiar with the rules of the game," said Darcu. "When a Skelengel is flipped over, I get to draw a card."
"I know the rules," said Drake, dryly. "Draw your card." He did. "I also hope you are familiar with the rules, because without any monsters on the field, I can attack your life points directly. Go Winged Guardian!" This took Darcy down to 2600 life points.
"Wow!" commented one of the gathering spectators. "He's already drawing blood, and it is only the second turn."
"Go Drake!" cheered Lara.
"That proves nothing," sneered Darcy. "I play Sengu of the Thousand Hands in attack mode, with four magic cards."
"He has to be planning something," thought Drake. "I'd better be careful."
"Drake, you are better than he is, don't fall for his trap," encouraged Lara. Drake nodded.
"I will tribute my Winged Dragon and bring out my Summoned Skull," announced Drake. His Winged Dragon disappeared in a flash of light. It was replaced by an inside-out skeleton with bat wings. Summoned Skull's stats were 2500 and 1200.
"The I activate Wide Spread Ruin," said Darcy as he flipped over his first trap card. It would instantly send the Summoned Skull to the graveyard.
"Mystical Space Typhoon," said Drake simply as he flipped over his magic card.
"Then I counter with Magic Jammer," said Darcy. He discard one card from his hand to activate it. "Magic Jammer eliminates your Mystical Space Typhoon, meaning my Wide Spread Ruin activates."
"Don't worry Drake, you can still win this," said Lara as the Summoned Skull blew up.
"I still have one monster that can attack. Attack Koumori Dragon!" ordered Drake.
"And I have two magic cards waiting to deal with that one, too," said Darcy, smugly. "The first is Graceful Dice. First I roll a die. The total is multiplied by a hundred and added to my monster's stats."
"I know what Graceful Dice does," growled Drake, who was doing a very good impression of his dragons.
"Then let's give it a whirl," said Darcy. He seemed gestured and a cute marshmallow like creature in a pink top hat appeared holding a die. It dropped the die and it started to roll. It slowed and ended on the number 3.
"That means that Sengu is now 300 points stronger," gloated Darcy. His monster's stats were raised to 1700 and 1300, and attack that was 200 stronger than the still attacking Koumori Dragon. Drake glared at him.
"But the tricks aren't over," said Darcy. "Because my other card is the trap card Skull dice. And, I am sure you can explain to our audience what it does." Darcy gestured to the awe struck crowd.
"The number rolled is multiplied by a hundred and subtracted from my monster's stats," said Drake, dryly.
"Correct!" cheered Darcy. "Let's have it!"
A cartoon imp appeared holding a red die. It dropped it and the die began to roll before stopping on 4. Drake's Koumori Dragon was down to 1100 attack when it attacked the Sengu of the Thousand Hands.
(AN/ Yes, this is right. Skull Dice and Graceful Dice are two cards they screwed up in the show, as well.)
In a flash of light the Koumori Dragon dissipated, because it was weaker than Sengu. Drake frowned as his life points were brought to 3400.
"And, now it is my turn," said Darcy. "I play the Judgment Hand in attack mode, giving me two monsters to attack you directly! Attack!" Two orbs formed near each monster, which was sent at Drake. He was forced to shield his eyes as his life points dropped to 1800.
"To finish my turn I play two more magic cards," said Darcy.
"Wow! Pegasus's kid id getting creamed," commented one of the people in the crowd. Lara stormed over and instantly began to tell him off.
"Nice combo," complimented Drake. "We'll just say you were lucky. I play one monster in defense mode and activate Monster Reborn to bring back my Summoned Skull." The Summoned Skull appeared next to a face down hologram. "I will also play one magic card. Now, Summoned Skull, attack!"
"And I activate another Graceful Dice!" said Darcy.
"Here we go again," groaned Lara. The die stopped on 6, taking Summoned Skull down to 1900 attack.
"Let me guess," said Drake, sarcastically. "Your other face down card is Skull Dice?" Darcy nodded. "You need at least a five or a six to hope to come out on top." The die stopped on 2.
"Too bad," said Lara, happily. In a blaze of light Sengu disappeared, leaving Darcy with 2300 life points.
"But it is my turn," said Darcy. "And I play the Hourglass of Courage in attack mode....."
"I trust that you are aware of its special ability," interrupted Drake. "For the next three turns, its stats are halved." The monster appeared on the field. It looked like an hourglass with pink sand and blue wings. Its stats were 1100 and 1200, but now they were 550 and 600.
"Yes, but in the end of three turns, those numbers are doubled!" gloated Darcy. "Marik is going to be so pleased with me."
"Enough about Marik!" yelled Lara. "Who the heck is he, anyways?" But Darcy just laughed.
"I wouldn't be laughing," snapped Drake. "Because your monster won't last three turns."
"That is what you think. Swords of Revealing Light!" yelled Darcy as he activated another magic card. Many large glowing swords appeared on Drake's end of the field, pinning him down.
"And, the Swords of Revealing Light last for three of your turns," said Darcy. "But my hourglass will be powered up in three of our combined turns. You'll still be trapped when it flips over!"
"Are you done cackling?" asked Drake, impatiently.
"No, because I am going to have my Judgment Hand attack your defending monster!" he yelled and an orb formed in the hand of 'judgment.' It struck the hologram in a brilliant light display.
"Too bad my Mystical Elf has such a strong defense," said Drake as his monster was flipped over. Darcy gasped has his life points dropped to 1700, one hundred less than Drake.
"Your move," said Darcy.
Drake drew a card. "I play Giant Soldier of Stone in defense mode as well as a magic card and end my turn."
"Two more turns for my hourglass," said Darcy. "I will play two magic cards and that will be the end of my turn."
Drake drew. "I pass." He said simply.
"He is waiting for a certain card," thought Darcy. "Well, have it your way. You had two turns and I had one. That is three, and now my Hourglass of Courage is at double its strength!" The hourglass flipped over, now with the stats of 2200 and 2400.
"And I will have it attack!" continued Darcy. "Aim for the Mystical Elf!" A strange glowing glitter formed around the hourglass, before shooting off towards Drake's monster at an incredibly high speed.
"Negate Attack," said Drake as he turned over his trap card.
"But my turn is not over," said Darcy. "You have six cards in your hand."
"So what?" asked Drake.
"I only have one, meaning I can activate Gamble," said Darcy. "We flip a coin. If I call it right, I get to draw five more cards."
"But if you are wrong you lose your next turn," finished Drake. Darcy smiled.
A giant coin appeared in the middle of the field and shot into the air and began to spin.
"Heads!" yelled Darcy. The coin dropped. It was heads. "Ha! I get five cards!" Drake shrugged.
"It is my turn now," said Drake. "And this is the last turn for your swords. First, I will tribute my two monsters and summon the Red-Eyes Black Dragon." Darcy seemed to be sweating.
"Annihilate him!" encouraged Lara.
"And that will end my turn," said Drake. "Now I have two monsters that are stronger than anything you have."
"We'll see about that," snapped Darcy. "I play Fiend's Hand in attack mode." A hand that seemed to be made of mud appeared on his part of the field with that stats of 600 and 500. It also looked a bit like a Goopi, for those of you familiar with Dragon Warrior ©. Drake looked at it, as if he was wondering what someone could do with a monster like that.
"Now I play Share the Pain!" cheered Darcy. "In this stunning display, we each have to sacrifice one monster. Take your pick. Me, I am tributing my Fiend's Hand."
Drake looked back and forth, between his Red-Eyes and Summoned Skull. 'I chose my Red-Eyes."
"Your dragon?!" gasped the crowd. But a look of fiery determination crossed his eyes, and they were quiet.
"Then I will play two magic cards to end my turn," said Darcy.
"With the Swords of Revealing Light gone, you have no more defenses," said Drake. "I play Lord of Dragons in attack mode, and activate the Flue of Summoning Dragons!" Darcy gulped. One Red-Eyes and Drake's Meteor Dragon appeared on the field.
"Now, I use Polymerization to create the Black Skull Dragon!" said Drake. The Summoned Skull and Red-Eyes began to meld together, becoming a fearful dragon with 3200 attack.
"But it can't attack this turn," said Darcy. "Battle City rules."
"No, but my Meteor Dragon can," said Drake. "Attack the Judgment Hand!" In a blaze of glory Darcy was left with 1300 life points.
"I play one more magic card, and that will end my turn," said Drake.
"Then I will play two magic cards as well," said Darcy.
"Not more dice," groaned Lara.
"And, I will play one monster in defense mode. Now, my Hourglass of Courage, attack the Meteor Dragon!" ordered Darcy.
"Mirror Force!" declared Drake as he flipped over his trap card. A bright wall appeared in front of the Meteor Dragon, just before the attack hit. The attack ricocheted off of the wall and hit the Hourglass of Courage, turning it to dust.
"No!" cried Darcy.
"And now to end this!" yelled Drake. "My Meteor Dragon will attack you defending card."
"It is time for another dice display!" yelled Darcy as he flipped over his two magic cards. Graceful Dice ended up being a 3 and Skull Dice was only a 1. Darcy's face down Graveyard and the Hand of Invitation didn't stand a chance.
"And with nothing defending you life points, I can blast you directly! Go Black Skull Dragon!" ordered Drake. Darcy collapsed with his life points.
"You did it!" cheered Lara as she raced over and embraced him. Drake was smiling.
"I'll take your rarest card and locator card," said Drake as the duel disks turn off. He walked over to Darcy and held out his hand. Darcy was shaking. His card lay scattered in the street, so Lara bent down and handed the locator card to Drake.
"No! Marik! NO!" yelled Darcy as he began to clutch his head. He dug in and started to draw blood. Lara and Drake took a step backwards.
"You lost!" yelled Darcy in a duel tone voice. "You are a pathetic mind slave!"
"NOOOOOOOOO!" screamed Darcy as he collapsed.
Lara had locked onto Drake's arm in shock and fear. He noticed that she looked kind of cute that way.
"You know," said Lara, "Kaiba said he was going to be participating....."
"Where is he?!" demanded Drake, looking around. "He is mine!"
"Calm down," said Lara. "You'll get your chance to find out who is the world's best dragon duelist."
Drake nodded.
"Step up folks!" called a voice over the crowd. "The master of the hand is about to work!"
"What is that about?" asked Lara.
"It looks like a guy has set up a magic show," commented Drake.
"Let's go see," said Lara with a big smile. She took his hand and started to pull him along.
They stood at the back of the crowd and watched as the magician did a few sleight of hand tricks; making things appear and disappear mostly. Lara seemed to be enjoying himself, but Drake seemed impatient for his next duel. The magician looked over the crowd as if he was looking for someone in particular.
"Lara, let's go," he whispered. "I need to start collecting locator cards." Lara nodded and she walked away.
"Well, Drake Pegasus, is my show not good enough for you?" asked the magician when he saw them leave from the back.
Drake turned. "How...... did you know my name?" He crossed his arms defiantly.
"My master has put an exceptionally high price on the rare hunter who can take down Pegasus's son," he replied, stepping down from his make shift stage.
"I don't like this, I think we should leave," Lara whispered in his ear.
"Yes, your rarest card would be a true prize for any rare hunter," he said.
"What does all that gibberish mean?" asked Drake.
"Duel me," he challenged. "Duel Darcy, the master of the hand. Marik will be especially pleased with me if I bring back the Tyrant Dragon."
"Who's Marik?" asked Lara.
At the same time Drake said, "I accept your challenge."
"Drake, are you sure about this?" asked Lara. He nodded, a look of determination highlighted his features. "Good luck." She kissed him on the cheek, but he seemed so focused on the duel that he barely changed colors.
"Let's duel!" said Darcy and they activated their duel disks. Their life points read 4000 and the duel started.
"I'll go first," said Drake. "I start by playing one monster in defense mode and a magic card."
"A cautious first move," commented Darcy. "Then, for my turn I play one monster face down as well."
"Fine by me," said Drake. "I'll flip my monster over to reveal the Koumori Dragon." His dark violet dragon appeared with stats of 1500 and 1200. "Then, I play Winged Dragon and Guardian of the Fortress in attack mode." His blue dragon materialized besides the Koumori dragon with stats of 1400 and 1200.
"A dragon deck, so Marik was right," muttered Darcy.
"Now they will attack!" said Drake. "Koumori Dragon attack the face down card!" The Koumori Dragon charged forward and bit the card image on Darcy's part of the field. A strange mixture of hands and feet appeared before being sent to the graveyard.
"I hope you are familiar with the rules of the game," said Darcu. "When a Skelengel is flipped over, I get to draw a card."
"I know the rules," said Drake, dryly. "Draw your card." He did. "I also hope you are familiar with the rules, because without any monsters on the field, I can attack your life points directly. Go Winged Guardian!" This took Darcy down to 2600 life points.
"Wow!" commented one of the gathering spectators. "He's already drawing blood, and it is only the second turn."
"Go Drake!" cheered Lara.
"That proves nothing," sneered Darcy. "I play Sengu of the Thousand Hands in attack mode, with four magic cards."
"He has to be planning something," thought Drake. "I'd better be careful."
"Drake, you are better than he is, don't fall for his trap," encouraged Lara. Drake nodded.
"I will tribute my Winged Dragon and bring out my Summoned Skull," announced Drake. His Winged Dragon disappeared in a flash of light. It was replaced by an inside-out skeleton with bat wings. Summoned Skull's stats were 2500 and 1200.
"The I activate Wide Spread Ruin," said Darcy as he flipped over his first trap card. It would instantly send the Summoned Skull to the graveyard.
"Mystical Space Typhoon," said Drake simply as he flipped over his magic card.
"Then I counter with Magic Jammer," said Darcy. He discard one card from his hand to activate it. "Magic Jammer eliminates your Mystical Space Typhoon, meaning my Wide Spread Ruin activates."
"Don't worry Drake, you can still win this," said Lara as the Summoned Skull blew up.
"I still have one monster that can attack. Attack Koumori Dragon!" ordered Drake.
"And I have two magic cards waiting to deal with that one, too," said Darcy, smugly. "The first is Graceful Dice. First I roll a die. The total is multiplied by a hundred and added to my monster's stats."
"I know what Graceful Dice does," growled Drake, who was doing a very good impression of his dragons.
"Then let's give it a whirl," said Darcy. He seemed gestured and a cute marshmallow like creature in a pink top hat appeared holding a die. It dropped the die and it started to roll. It slowed and ended on the number 3.
"That means that Sengu is now 300 points stronger," gloated Darcy. His monster's stats were raised to 1700 and 1300, and attack that was 200 stronger than the still attacking Koumori Dragon. Drake glared at him.
"But the tricks aren't over," said Darcy. "Because my other card is the trap card Skull dice. And, I am sure you can explain to our audience what it does." Darcy gestured to the awe struck crowd.
"The number rolled is multiplied by a hundred and subtracted from my monster's stats," said Drake, dryly.
"Correct!" cheered Darcy. "Let's have it!"
A cartoon imp appeared holding a red die. It dropped it and the die began to roll before stopping on 4. Drake's Koumori Dragon was down to 1100 attack when it attacked the Sengu of the Thousand Hands.
(AN/ Yes, this is right. Skull Dice and Graceful Dice are two cards they screwed up in the show, as well.)
In a flash of light the Koumori Dragon dissipated, because it was weaker than Sengu. Drake frowned as his life points were brought to 3400.
"And, now it is my turn," said Darcy. "I play the Judgment Hand in attack mode, giving me two monsters to attack you directly! Attack!" Two orbs formed near each monster, which was sent at Drake. He was forced to shield his eyes as his life points dropped to 1800.
"To finish my turn I play two more magic cards," said Darcy.
"Wow! Pegasus's kid id getting creamed," commented one of the people in the crowd. Lara stormed over and instantly began to tell him off.
"Nice combo," complimented Drake. "We'll just say you were lucky. I play one monster in defense mode and activate Monster Reborn to bring back my Summoned Skull." The Summoned Skull appeared next to a face down hologram. "I will also play one magic card. Now, Summoned Skull, attack!"
"And I activate another Graceful Dice!" said Darcy.
"Here we go again," groaned Lara. The die stopped on 6, taking Summoned Skull down to 1900 attack.
"Let me guess," said Drake, sarcastically. "Your other face down card is Skull Dice?" Darcy nodded. "You need at least a five or a six to hope to come out on top." The die stopped on 2.
"Too bad," said Lara, happily. In a blaze of light Sengu disappeared, leaving Darcy with 2300 life points.
"But it is my turn," said Darcy. "And I play the Hourglass of Courage in attack mode....."
"I trust that you are aware of its special ability," interrupted Drake. "For the next three turns, its stats are halved." The monster appeared on the field. It looked like an hourglass with pink sand and blue wings. Its stats were 1100 and 1200, but now they were 550 and 600.
"Yes, but in the end of three turns, those numbers are doubled!" gloated Darcy. "Marik is going to be so pleased with me."
"Enough about Marik!" yelled Lara. "Who the heck is he, anyways?" But Darcy just laughed.
"I wouldn't be laughing," snapped Drake. "Because your monster won't last three turns."
"That is what you think. Swords of Revealing Light!" yelled Darcy as he activated another magic card. Many large glowing swords appeared on Drake's end of the field, pinning him down.
"And, the Swords of Revealing Light last for three of your turns," said Darcy. "But my hourglass will be powered up in three of our combined turns. You'll still be trapped when it flips over!"
"Are you done cackling?" asked Drake, impatiently.
"No, because I am going to have my Judgment Hand attack your defending monster!" he yelled and an orb formed in the hand of 'judgment.' It struck the hologram in a brilliant light display.
"Too bad my Mystical Elf has such a strong defense," said Drake as his monster was flipped over. Darcy gasped has his life points dropped to 1700, one hundred less than Drake.
"Your move," said Darcy.
Drake drew a card. "I play Giant Soldier of Stone in defense mode as well as a magic card and end my turn."
"Two more turns for my hourglass," said Darcy. "I will play two magic cards and that will be the end of my turn."
Drake drew. "I pass." He said simply.
"He is waiting for a certain card," thought Darcy. "Well, have it your way. You had two turns and I had one. That is three, and now my Hourglass of Courage is at double its strength!" The hourglass flipped over, now with the stats of 2200 and 2400.
"And I will have it attack!" continued Darcy. "Aim for the Mystical Elf!" A strange glowing glitter formed around the hourglass, before shooting off towards Drake's monster at an incredibly high speed.
"Negate Attack," said Drake as he turned over his trap card.
"But my turn is not over," said Darcy. "You have six cards in your hand."
"So what?" asked Drake.
"I only have one, meaning I can activate Gamble," said Darcy. "We flip a coin. If I call it right, I get to draw five more cards."
"But if you are wrong you lose your next turn," finished Drake. Darcy smiled.
A giant coin appeared in the middle of the field and shot into the air and began to spin.
"Heads!" yelled Darcy. The coin dropped. It was heads. "Ha! I get five cards!" Drake shrugged.
"It is my turn now," said Drake. "And this is the last turn for your swords. First, I will tribute my two monsters and summon the Red-Eyes Black Dragon." Darcy seemed to be sweating.
"Annihilate him!" encouraged Lara.
"And that will end my turn," said Drake. "Now I have two monsters that are stronger than anything you have."
"We'll see about that," snapped Darcy. "I play Fiend's Hand in attack mode." A hand that seemed to be made of mud appeared on his part of the field with that stats of 600 and 500. It also looked a bit like a Goopi, for those of you familiar with Dragon Warrior ©. Drake looked at it, as if he was wondering what someone could do with a monster like that.
"Now I play Share the Pain!" cheered Darcy. "In this stunning display, we each have to sacrifice one monster. Take your pick. Me, I am tributing my Fiend's Hand."
Drake looked back and forth, between his Red-Eyes and Summoned Skull. 'I chose my Red-Eyes."
"Your dragon?!" gasped the crowd. But a look of fiery determination crossed his eyes, and they were quiet.
"Then I will play two magic cards to end my turn," said Darcy.
"With the Swords of Revealing Light gone, you have no more defenses," said Drake. "I play Lord of Dragons in attack mode, and activate the Flue of Summoning Dragons!" Darcy gulped. One Red-Eyes and Drake's Meteor Dragon appeared on the field.
"Now, I use Polymerization to create the Black Skull Dragon!" said Drake. The Summoned Skull and Red-Eyes began to meld together, becoming a fearful dragon with 3200 attack.
"But it can't attack this turn," said Darcy. "Battle City rules."
"No, but my Meteor Dragon can," said Drake. "Attack the Judgment Hand!" In a blaze of glory Darcy was left with 1300 life points.
"I play one more magic card, and that will end my turn," said Drake.
"Then I will play two magic cards as well," said Darcy.
"Not more dice," groaned Lara.
"And, I will play one monster in defense mode. Now, my Hourglass of Courage, attack the Meteor Dragon!" ordered Darcy.
"Mirror Force!" declared Drake as he flipped over his trap card. A bright wall appeared in front of the Meteor Dragon, just before the attack hit. The attack ricocheted off of the wall and hit the Hourglass of Courage, turning it to dust.
"No!" cried Darcy.
"And now to end this!" yelled Drake. "My Meteor Dragon will attack you defending card."
"It is time for another dice display!" yelled Darcy as he flipped over his two magic cards. Graceful Dice ended up being a 3 and Skull Dice was only a 1. Darcy's face down Graveyard and the Hand of Invitation didn't stand a chance.
"And with nothing defending you life points, I can blast you directly! Go Black Skull Dragon!" ordered Drake. Darcy collapsed with his life points.
"You did it!" cheered Lara as she raced over and embraced him. Drake was smiling.
"I'll take your rarest card and locator card," said Drake as the duel disks turn off. He walked over to Darcy and held out his hand. Darcy was shaking. His card lay scattered in the street, so Lara bent down and handed the locator card to Drake.
"No! Marik! NO!" yelled Darcy as he began to clutch his head. He dug in and started to draw blood. Lara and Drake took a step backwards.
"You lost!" yelled Darcy in a duel tone voice. "You are a pathetic mind slave!"
"NOOOOOOOOO!" screamed Darcy as he collapsed.
Lara had locked onto Drake's arm in shock and fear. He noticed that she looked kind of cute that way.