Chapter Six-Level Three

With a renewed spirit, and the love of her new big brother, Veronica continued her quest the very next morning. Noa had prepared breakfast for her, and had eaten with her. It was pancakes with eggs and toast. Then he'd gotten back to business about the Virtual Key,which, in Veronica's opinion, she no longer needed. She was perfectly content to stay in Noa's world with her big brother. But Noa had gently pleaded with his "Otoota" to please find it. She agreed to do so.

Now, she was in the middle of a canyon, looking around for where a Deck Masters duel might occur. She wiped her forehead. It was so hot there, she was drinking up more water than she'd intended to. I better find this site soon. I'll turn into fried eggs! Just as she was thinking that, a huge doorway appeared before her. "Okay, Oniisan…what's this now?" She turned the knob, and stepped over the threshold. She gasped, seeing that she'd returned to the Castle of Dark Illusions. Maybe the key really is here….She tried to console herself with that thought, as she glanced around,deciding which way to start looking.

Suddenly, she heard talking in a corridor. "H- hello? Is someone here?"

"What took you so long, Veronica? I was beginning to think you weren't going to show up!" Veronica was about to answer,but then she heard a much younger version of herself reply instead.

"Sorry….I gotted stuck at brover's oppice."

"Oh…. That's okay. Come on in. I'll show you my new stuff."

After listening for a little longer,Veronica realized what she was overhearing. It was the first time Onyx, her one time babysitter, turned rival, had introduced her to virtual reality. She smiled slightly to herself. That had been the start of their rivalry too. At the age of five, she'd beaten his VR games. She was one smart five-year-old. She listened a little longer, until Noa's voice broke through her thoughts.

"Otoota…..You're wasting your time. There's nothing there."

When she'd awakened from her memories, it was silent again. She blinked, wondering if she had been hearing things again. After a few more minutes, she headed in the original direction she'd chosen. It led to a set of stairs. She figured that's where her duel would be, so she followed it.

Getting to the top, she realized there was nothing there. "Well….that was useless." She was turning to go when a hand fell on her shoulder.

"This way,Ronnie. Your duel is through the door." It was Noa.

"Why aren't you in the base, Nii-sama?"

The older boy smirked sort of coldly. "Because, I am your final opponent, "little sister". He released her from the slight control he had over her.

Veronica gasped. "Noa! You know I can't beat you in a real duel!" She felt herself shaking, and she put her arms over her chest in a hug.

"Precisely. But your more than welcome to try." He yanked her into a doorway that she was sure hadn't been there before.

"Noa…I can't….." She began, but she was silenced with a glare.

"You're going to give up now? After everything you've been through?" Noa asked her, as he set up their playing field. "That doesn't sit too well with me. And I bet it wouldn't sit well with my brothers."

"Th-this…..You planned this all along! Where's my brother?!"

"Your brother? He abandoned you, remember? I promised you that you'd never feel the loss of a brother again, and you won't."

"I want Vincent, now!" Veronica practically shouted. "You tricked me! I know it wasn't he who abandoned me! It was a stupid hologram!"

"Enough." Noa replied quietly, coldly. "If you defeat me, the virtual key is yours, and you can go home anytime you want."

"So be it." The girl clenched her fists angry with Noa for his now apparent betrayal. "If I win, I go free."

"And if I win, I control when you can and cannot go." Noa told her. "Now let the duel begin!"

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"Why aren't you people out there looking for her?! I've already told you I don't have her!" Vincent raged at the police officer in his large kitchen. "Some psycho could have killed her already!"

"That's highly possible. Or she has runaway. Mr. Skylar, have you and your sister had any arguments recently?"

"Well…..Right before I left for a business trip. We had a quarrel about her not coming with me…. But she seemed okay before I left." Vincent rubbed his eyes tiredly. "Look. My sister is only ten years old. She rarely goes out in public because our high profile lives. I know she didn't run away."

"I know this can't be easy on you, Mr. Skylar, but we do have to look at all of the possibilities. Could she possibly gone to a friend's house or something?"

"She…she doesn't have many friends."

"Exactly. I'm her only friend, and she hasn't come over in a long time." It was Morgen Madison, Onyx's sister. "Our brothers hate each other." She added.

"What are you doing here, Morgen? Is your brother trying to cash in on this now too?" Vincent grumbled.

"I heard about Veronica's disappearance. I want to help." Morgen replied resentfully. "Onyx is helping too. Our company has launched a city search."

Vincent stared at Morgen, as her form blurred from tears in his eyes. "T-thank you so much…."

Morgen put her hand in Vincent's. "We'll find her, Mr. Skylar. I know Veronica. She'll turn up."

"I hope so, Kid. I really hope so." Vincent replied, before walking into his office and closing the door.

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Back at the Castle of Dark Illusions, things weren't looking too good for Veronica. Noa had already knocked out a good chunk of her life points. Her Deck Master, Celtic Guardian tried to help her as best as he could, but it wasn't much good. "I'm stuck….." She told the Celtic Guardian, hopelessly. "Noa's going to win."

"Glad you see the reality of the situation." Noa chuckled. "Now, Buster Blader, take out some more of her Life Points!" But he didn't get a chance, as Celtic Guardian leaped in the path of the attack, taking the blow for her.

"CG!" She exclaimed.

"It is alright. When I'm attacked as a Deck Master, you don't lose any life points." The Deck Master told her.

Veronica narrowed her eyes at Noa, and then drew a new card. "Perfect! I play Reborn the Monster, to bring back my Dark Magician!"

"Ha! You think that puny Magician's going to save you?!" Noa snorted. He drew again, and then tried to attack the Magician, but didn't defeat it.

"All you did was lower his attack power! Now,Celtic Guardian, attack his Buster Blader!"

"Fool! Now I activate a Magic Card, Spell Binding Circle!" Her Guardian was imprisoned within the circle. "That's better. Now let me see about taking him out! Vorse Raider! Attack!"

"No!!" Veronica watched,as her Deck Master was destroyed, losing the duel for her. "No…" She fell to her knees, burying her face in her hands. "I was s-so close…"

"Close but no cigar." Noa informed her coldly. "You're mine now. Let's go home."

"Fine. I'll go home with you, but know this. I will never talk to you! Do you understand that? Never!" She got up, and slinging her backpack on her shoulder, bounded out of the Castle of Dark Illusions.

That is where you are sorely mistaken, Little One. You will talk to me, and you will love me. I've been alone far too many years. And now, I will groom you to be mine, forever.

Noa smirked, and followed his little sister out of the castle, transporting the two of them back to his base. She started to pull away from him, but he gripped her wrist firmly. "We need to have a little chat."

"Just leave me alone!" She cried out. "You've done enough!"

"Silence!" Noa commanded, shutting her up instantly. "Now Veronica, this doesn't have to be an unpleasant experience. You're free to roam around anytime you want. There's even a replica of Seto's Kaiba Land for you to play in. But you must always obey me. I can be kind. But,I can also be very cruel, as you've no doubt already noticed. Put the past behind you, Little One. You'll never have to feel left behind or used again." As he spoke, his voice became more and more persuasive.

Veronica knew from seeing the Noa arc on TV what Noa was doing, yet, she couldn't resist him. She knew accepting this as her new life would be betraying Mokuba in a way, but she couldn't help it. Noa was right. He never left her behind, nor did he use her. "Can I at least see my friend Morgen one last time?" She asked her captor softly, tears streaming.

"Certainly." Noa agreed, gently laying a hand on her shoulder. "Come. I'll take you to her." I've really gone soft…or is that I really do love this girl? She says she hates me, but I can see it in her eyes. She sees this as some big adventure. It may well turn into one, if what I think is about to happen does. I'll just have to keep her out of it, that's all! With those thoughts, he led Veronica to a chair, that similar to the one he sat in all the time. "No doubt you know how this chair works?"

"Yes. I know." Veronica told him. "But how will it help me to see Morgen?"

Noa smirked. "You will soon find out."