New duel, have fun. _

*Chapter 21: An Unlikely Duel*

The first site Brandi saw when she opened her eyes was the ruined town.

"It's just as bad as I heard…" Brandi mused. "There probably won't be any Generals here…" She walked toward the exit of the town, only to find officials; she hid behind a burned building quickly. "This will be a pain…"

Brandi racked her brain for a solution; however, help came soon enough.

"THE BRITISH ARE COMING! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! THE BRITISH ARE COMING!"

"What the hell?" Brandi muttered. "Who's making that racket?" She looked at the officials from around her hiding spot, and was surprised to see them running off. "Wow… I knew they were dumb, but this dumb?" She shrugged, and ran out of the town quickly. She kept running until she found the lake. Once there, she stopped and took a breather.

"Whew… all clear." She looked at her pocket, and sighed. "I guess I have some time to deal with a headache."  She reached into her pocket, and took out a Soul Card. In a burst of light, her Soul Monster appeared. The Soul Monster looked like a female human, with long, blond hair and green eyes. She wore blue armor, which was outlined with pink. She also had a helmet that curved backwards, but not too much. Around her neck was a golden necklace with a red jewel in the middle.

"HI BRANDI!" The Soul Monster grinned in an overly-excited way.

"Ow! Must you yell?"

"YES!"

"Argh! I'm happy to see you too Mana, but don't deafen me!"

The Black Magician Girl pouted. "Oh all right. It's just that you haven't been here for a full day!"

"I can't spend some time alone?"

"No!"

"Figures… Max came over, so we talked a bit." Brandi summed up the conversation they had had. "That's the gist of things. So now we have to find something that can help Max. I plan on going across the lake; that sound ok?"

"Sure, it sounds fun!"

Brandi sighed. "I knew I should have brought Tylenol."

They walked along the side of the lake until Brandi found what she was looking for.

"Here's the dock, and a boat! Excellent… let's get onboard and go across the lake."

They got on and each picked up a paddle. Brandi gave her paddle a disgusted look. "It's too bad I have no cards that could make this go quicker…"

They began to row, slowly crossing the lake. Brandi was tense, but Mana didn't appear to be. "When this is over, can we go and pick some daisies?"

"..."

Some time later, Brandi estimated they were near the center of the lake. "I think we are about to be halfway there. Just a little bit farther…"

Mana didn't appear to be listening though. "Some-something's wrong!"

Brandi had learned that although Mana could act quite bubble-brained, she could be serious when she wanted to. This was one of those times. "What is it?"

"I think something is below us!"

As she said those words, a whirlpool suddenly appeared below the boat, sucking them into the depths of the lake. All Brandi had time for was a cry of surprise before blackness invaded her senses.

*****

Brandi began to regain consciousness. She could hear someone banging on something nearby her, and she didn't want to have to put up with it.

"Will you please quit that? I have a big enough headache as it is!" she complained, opening her eyes. She quickly sat up at the site of where she now was. She was in what appeared to be a tank of some sort. The bottom of the tank she had been laying on was hard, black, cold metal. The tank was a cylinder shape, with a glass wall. The top of it was the same black metal she was on now. The tank looked as though about three people could maybe fit in, if forced to, by width standards. The tank itself was about a foot taller than Brandi.

"BRANDI! Are you ok?!" a muffled voice asked frantically. Brandi looked to her left to see Mana. Apparently, she had been banging the wall to try and revive her.

"I'm fine. Do you remember what happened?"

Mana nodded. "We got sucked in by a whirlpool of some sort. I don't know how you got in that thing-you were in there when I woke up." She shuddered. "This place gives me the creeps too…"

For the first time, Brandi noticed their surroundings. They were in a crater of some sort. It was deeper than the tank; that's all Brandi could make out. She looked ahead, and was surprised to see another tank.

"What's the deal with that other tank?"

Mana shrugged. "I have no clue. Actually, I have no idea how that whirlpool suddenly appeared, or how we aren't being drowned by water. It's probably too high for you to tell, but at the top of the crater is water! We are at the bottom of the lake!"

Brandi started. "What? Then how come the water isn't coming in?"

"I'm not sure… wait! Do you hear something?" Mana held out her staff in an attack position as a woman and a Soul Monster walked into view.

The woman wore dark blue pants, and a light blue shirt. She had blonde hair tied back in a casual ponytail that went down to her shoulders. Her eyes were a very pretty blue; they stood out with her hair the color it was. They didn't stand out as much as the fiery orb she wore though. She had a black cloak draped over her shoulder as well.

The monster besides her looked like a man. He had wild black hair, and yellow eyes with no pupils. He wore a green skirt-like material around his waist, and carried a spear. He rode a whale of some sort… or was it a shark?

"Who are you?!" Brandi demanded. "Judging by what I have heard, you seem like a General of Hell to me."

"You have heard correctly," the woman replied, her voice echoing around the enclosed space.

"Brandi frowned. "Your voice… it sounds familiar… have we met?"

"Have we met?" the woman laughed. "HAVE WE MET? Of course we have met! I can't believe that you don't recognize me! Maybe this small space throws off my voice too much, but you should still know me by how I look."

"How about you refresh my memory?"

"I suppose I can do that. Do you remember the day when your brother, Max, identified the bank robber who had killed his father?"

"I remember that day quite clearly." Brandi pondered for a few seconds, and then realized something she should have noticed before. "Wait! You were there too! You were on the bank robber's side…"

"Of course I was. What kind of a wife would I be if I didn't support my husband?"

"You were his wife?!" Brandi exclaimed.

"Yes, I was. I loved him like no other, and he loved me just the same. He would have never tried to rob anyone if he wasn't worried about me!" the woman shouted in grief and anger. "He just wanted to help me! We were too poor to support ourselves, so he decided to steal to assist me! He never thought he would have to murder someone, but even though he did, I still loved him! I was forced to watch him be slain; the one reason I wanted to live!" Tears sprang from her eyes. She wiped them away and continued to explain, still sobbing. "I-I-I couldn't get over his d-death! I v-vowed I w-w-would get revenge on th-the one who killed him! Y-your brother! B-but not by killing h-him; that would b-be too quick! I will k-kill the only one he l-loves and watch h-him live a l-l-life of torture!" She stopped talking and took several deep breaths to calm herself down. "So I will defeat you in a duel, killing you, and breaking your brother's heart as he broke mine!"

Brandi felt a little sorry for the woman, but not enough. "Your husband killed our father! That was enough torture for us to go through!"

"That was not enough! You just don't know what love is! You will never have the chance either!" She stepped into the tank opposite of Brandi. It closed automatically, leaving her Soul Monster outside. "I, Aurora, will avenge the death of my husband, and love, Verstorben! My Deck Master will be The Legendary Fisherman, otherwise known as Visser!"

Brandi activated her Duel Disk with a sigh. "Fine; if we must duel, I am up to it. Mana will be my Deck Master."

Brandi: 8000

Aurora: 8000

"Ladies first, and little girls last," Aurora stated.

"Care to rephrase that?" Brandi threatened.

Aurora ignored her. "I lay two cards down, and summon Rainbow Fish. (1800/800) I am done with my turn."

"That was a bad move," Brandi complained. "I summon Blood Vors! (1900/900) Attack the fish!"

The Blood Vors rushed forward to slice up the Rainbow Fish, but suddenly stopped in its tracks, sinking to the ground. It tried to get up, only to fail.

Brandi swore. "Gravity Bind!"

"Indeed," Aurora said. "Did you say something about a bad move?"

"Shut up," Brandi snarled. "I lay one card down, and end my turn." Something was bothering Brandi about this strategy. "You know, there is a problem with your plan."

"What would that be?"

"Your Rainbow Fish is a level four monster too; therefore, it can't attack me."

Aurora drew, and then shook her head. "You would be right, but I just drew the card I wanted. I play a field magic card: The Legendary City Atlantis!"

A huge temple emerged from the ground. Water went everywhere as it rose from the ground, flooding the field. Mana held onto the tank so that she would not be swept away, while Visser seemed to be enjoying it.

"Not cool," Mana complained.

"What's the big deal about that?" Brandi asked.

"Why don't you look at my Rainbow Fish?"

Brandi stared at it. "It's able to swim! How can Gravity Bind not be affecting it?"

"Atlantis lowers all Water Main-Type monsters' level by one. So now my Rainbow Fish is at level three. Atlantis also counts as a Sea field magic, so my Fish Sub-Type monster gets an attack and defense bonus! (2000/1000) Now I will have Rainbow Fish attack your Blood Vors!"

Brandi: 7900

Aurora: 8000

Brandi was about to draw her card, when she felt something at her feet. She looked down, and saw what it was. "Water! Really cold water…"

"That is the way this Death Game will be played. As we lose Life Points, the water will begin to fill this tank. In the end, the loser will die because of lack of oxygen." Aurora smiled gleefully. "I will enjoy seeing your brother's reaction."

Brandi grimaced as she looked at her hand. I don't play any Water Main-Type monsters, and none of my monsters will benefit from Sea. So I will have to destroy Atlantis, and then Gravity Bind… I play Cyclone on Atlantis, and then lay one monster in defense mode. Your turn."

Aurora snickered. "That was a waste. You should have destroyed Gravity Bind. I play Terra Forming! When I play this card, I am allowed to search for one field magic and put it into my hand." She grabbed an Atlantis from her deck, and then shuffled it. "Now I will activate my new Atlantis! I will also summon Mermaid Knight! (1500/700) She gets a bonus too, being a Water Sub-Type. Her level is also lowered to three. (1700/900) Mermaid Knight can attack twice in one Battle Phase, so you should prepare for quite a bit of pain. Mermaid Knight, attack her defense monster!"

"Not this time," Brandi countered. "I activate Curse of Darkness! Now your Mermaid Knight cannot attack, and she loses 700 attack points! (1000/900)"

"A minor setback… Rainbow Fish attacks your monster then."

"You attacked Sphere Bomb! (1400/1400) It now becomes an equipment card for your Rainbow Fish. On your next Standby Phase, it will destroy your Fish, causing you to lose Life Points equal to its attack!"

"Very lucky, I'm sure. It's your turn."

"I summon Critter! (1000/600) I attack your Mermaid Knight, bringing both monsters down! Now I can search my monster for a monster with an attack of less than 1500, and add it to my hand. Now I shuffle my deck. I lay one card down, and end my turn."

"I draw, and my Rainbow Fish is destroyed." She bit her lip as the tank filled up to her knees in freezing water.

Brandi: 7900

Aurora: 6000

"Now I summon Seazareon! (1800/800) He is a Water Sub-Type; you know the drill. (2000/1000) I attack you directly!"

Brandi braced herself as the red sea snake dove right through the glass to bite her.

Brandi: 5900

Aurora: 6000

Brandi shuddered. "It's ice cold!"

"I lay one card down, and then end my turn."

Brandi looked at the card she had drawn, and sighed with relief. "I play Black Hole! Now your Seazareon is destroyed!"

"Not quite," Aurora smirked. "I activate Visser's Deck Master ability. By paying 1000 Life Points, my monsters will not be effected by the magic card you just played."

Brandi: 5900

Aurora: 5000

Brandi scowled, looking at her hand. "I lay one monster in defense. It's your turn."

"It looks like I can take the lead now. I summon Water Configuration Bakross MK-3! (1500/1300) (1700/1500) My Seazareon will attack your defense monster."

Brandi grinned. "You attacked my Soul-Hunting Specter. (300/200) This monster cannot die in battle."

"I suspected something like that; this is where Bakross comes in handy. When the Sea card is on the field, it can attack you directly. Bakross, bypass her pitiful defense and strike her down!"

Brandi: 4200

Aurora: 5000

Brandi groaned as the water got higher. "My legs are numb…"

"Quit complaining and take your turn."

"Fine," Brandi snapped. "I lay another monster down. I'm done."

Aurora shook her head. "You must think I am an amateur. I know that monster can probably destroy my Bakross, which is why I will have him attack you directly first!"

Brandi: 2500

Aurora: 5000

Aurora ignored Brandi's struggles to stay afloat. "I will now attack your new monster with Seazareon."

"Cyber Pod," Brandi said. "Now it is all based on luck… I got Turner Of The Dead: Kaiku, Android-Psycho Shocker, Black Forest Witch, Torture Wheel, and Dark Zone."

"I picked up Sea Dragon Warrior Of Darkness, (1800/1500) Terra Forming, Gravity Bind, Mermaid Knight, and Salvage."

"I play both of my monsters in defense mode."

"All of mine go into attack mode. (2000/1700) (1700/900) Mermaid Knight attacks both of your monsters, and Sea Dragon Warrior Of Darkness attacks you!"

Brandi: 500

Aurora: 5000

Brandi was almost completely submerged in water. She took a few minutes to calm herself down before drawing her card, shivering in the cold.
"I play Dark Zone! That will destroy your Atlantis!"

"True, it does. I can chain with Cyclone though, to destroy your Dark Zone."

"No! Then it's hopeless…" Brandi ground her teeth together in frustration.

"Come on Brandi!" Mana yelled. "We aren't done yet! What about my Deck Master ability?"

Brandi nodded. "That should do the trick. Alright, I activate Mana's Deck Master ability! I can look at as many cards on top of my deck as I have in my Cemetery. I have six monsters in my Cemetery, so I get to look at my top six cards." Brandi took a hasty look, and smiled. "Now I choose one, and put it into my hand. I've made my choice, so now the cards go back to their original position. I play the magic card Theft! I get to take control of your Sea Dragon Warrior Of Darkness! Now I sacrifice it to summon Android-Psycho Shocker! (2400/1400) Now all of your trap cards are negated. I lay two cards face down, and attack your Mermaid Knight!"

Brandi: 500

Aurora: 4300

"That was the last hit you will be able to do to me. I play Terra Forming, getting Atlantis! Now I play it! I will also play one monster in defense mode, and Sealing Swords Of Light. Your turn."

"I pass."

"In that case, I win. I sacrifice my face down Rainbow Fish for Leviadragon-Daidaros! (2600/1500) (2800/1700)"

"What are you planning?"

"Daidaros' effect allows me to sacrifice a face up Sea card to destroy every card but itself on the board." She grinned wickedly.

"Hold on," Brandi interrupted. "I activate Cyclone on Atlantis!"

"You brat!" Aurora growled. "I attack your Android!"

Brandi: 300

Aurora: 4300

With some difficulty, Brandi drew her next card. "I activate Harpy's Feather Sweep! Your Gravity Bind is destroyed."

"So is my Tidal Wave."

"I now play Thunderbolt!"

"I negate it."

Brandi: 300

Aurora: 3300

Brandi grinned. "Thank you for paying 1000 Life Points. Now I can destroy you. I play Raise Dead on Blood Vors!"

Aurora shook her head. "You are such an idiot."

"I equip my monster with Power Of Magicians, and lay another card face down! (3400/2400) He attacks! Now I am done."

Brandi: 300

Aurora: 2500

"Hah! I have drawn the monster that will defeat you! I summon another Water Configuration Bakross MK-3! (1500/1300) It attacks directly!"

"Hold on! I activate Torture Wheel!"

"No! I end…"

Brandi nodded grimly. "I lay another card down."

Brandi: 300

Aurora: 2000

"I play Cyclone on your Torture Wheel, and then attack again!"

"I play Attack Nullification."

"I lay one card down, switch my monster to defense, and end my turn…"

"I won't pay. Now I will win. First, I play Dark Zone! (4400/2500) I will play Jar of Greed." Brandi breathed a sigh of relief. "I equip Blood Vors with Demon Axe! (5400/2500) And now, I play the magic card that will end this duel!"

"And what would that be?"

"Enemy Controller! I can now switch the mode of one monster on your field, and I choose your Bakross! Now it is in attack mode!"

"What?! NO!"

"Blood Vors, attack for the win!"

Brandi: 300

Aurora: 0

Visser was swept underwater with a powerful wave of water. He did not submerge. The tank Aurora was in quickly filled with water.

"My love… I'm sorry!"

That was the last thing Aurora ever said. Her body was soon floating in the tank, staring with lifeless eyes. Brandi's tank automatically opened, releasing the water and Brandi. Mana was immediately there, supporting the freezing teen.

"We won! What a comeback! I knew we could do it!" Mana chattered excitedly.

"Yeah…" Brandi said. She looked away from her former opponent. "We won. Now let's figure out how to get out of here."

Mana found the boat, in surprisingly perfect condition, inside the whirlpool. Mana shuddered. "Should we?"

"Yes." They got in the boat, and to their delight, it was carried back to the lake. The whirlpool vanished afterwards.

"So now what?" Mana asked.

"We need to find Max." Brandi pondered, and suddenly snapped her fingers. "Of course! That person I heard back at the town… that was Hope! I thought I recognized that voice… we need to get back to the town!"

To be continued…