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T or F I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!

Please say you answered true, because otherwise you would be very stupid indeed.

CHAPTER 11: Round Three [Dark]

"Dat waz a great duel, sis!" Joey exclaimed.

"I agree!" Ian put in, looking dreamily at Serenity. She nearly jumped out of her skin. She had to get used to the fact that she was pretending to be Serenity for them… wait … she was Serenity! So she was Serenity pretending to be Shizuka for everyone but Joey and Ian, for whom she was pretending to be Serenity trying to act like Shizuka for Seto. Great! Just wonderful! She got that… NOT!

"Hello," Serenity greeted the five others. She hoped she wouldn't mess up for the two minutes she had to talk to them in. Only one more duel was going on at the moment, and it looked like it was going to be over in a few minutes.

"Hey, Shiz!" Mai called. "I want you to meet Téa, my sister. And I'm sure you know your own brother Joey and his friend, Ian." Mai winked at Serenity, which was almost enough to make her kill Mai, but DMG silenced her with a warning glare.

"Oh, and I'm sure you know Cyrrielle, the one you met when you were lost in the market or something."

"Yes, I remember," Serenity said. She was trying very hard to make her accent seem fake - which it was - for Joey while still maintaining the fact that she did have an accent for Mai and Téa. And I was just about to say that I was having fun so far…

"So, Cy - Cy - Cy - um, Cyril? Can I speak to you for a minute?" DMG raised her eyebrows, but reluctantly followed her to a corner away from the others. Serenity quickly pushed her to the side.

"HEY-!"

"DMG! What do you think you're doing? Hello? I only have so many brain cells! I can't manage everything. It's enough to pretend you're a different person… but having to pretend that you're a different person pretending to be yourself but still acting like yourself is a totally different person and pretending that yourself is pretending to be a different person just so that your stepsisters don't get angry, your brother doesn't find out, and neither does Seto!?"

"You know that I didn't get a word of that, right?"

"DMG! It's not the time to joke around! I'm serious. I have an identity to manage as well as my dueling technique. What am I to do?"

"Hey! It's not like I have no strings attached to me. I have to pretend like I barely know you."

"Guess what? If you think I'm actually going to follow through with this plan, then you barely know me."

"Hey! It's you that wants to marry Seto."

"I don't want to marry Seto! I just-," Serenity cut off as she heard Yugi clearing his throat.

"Excuse me! May I have your attention?" Serenity shot a withering look at DMG, one that she wasn't even sure DMG could see, and then turned. "Can all the defeated Duelists please step back into the audience space? Thank you. Now, the thirty-one of you girls along with Prince Seto may step forward. Okay, really quickly, we have put together the next round match-ups so listen up!"

Please let me Duel Seto! Serenity prayed. Unknown to her, others were also praying alongside her.

Please let me Duel that mysterious girl! Seto prayed. She seems to be a really good strategist and I want to know who she is.

Please let me Duel Shizuka! Mai prayed. Not that I don't like her, but it's so stressful to have her around. If she was gone, I won't have any trouble with Joey.

Please let ma' sista' Duel someone easy! I wan' her to win! Joey prayed.

Please let Serenity Duel someone hard! Ian prayed. I would hate for her to marry Prince Seto!

Please, please, Serenity! Just hold on and keep your identity! DMG prayed. You can get through this! And as for whom you Duel… please get to Duel Seto! Finish this thing off so you can let go of the fake act!

Yugi held out his piece of paper with all the Duel match-ups. He cleared his throat.

"Okay! First, I have…" From there he began the long list of names for all the contestants. There were only sixteen Duels this time. Shizuka perked up as she heard her name.

"Shizuka Jounouchi will face… Darkial Night." Serenity's shoulders slumped as she turned to either side. She knew everyone at the ball knew her, the "mysterious girl", so whoever was facing her was sure to look in her direction.

Sure enough, a raven-girl in a sharply contrasting white gown eyed her direction. She had medium tinged skin that matched with the thousands of miniature ribbons on her dress. The girl seemed friendly enough, smiling back when she saw that Serenity was watching. Serenity instantly smiled back, before realizing she had to nod or no one would know it. The other girl got the message.

Serenity was rudely interrupted when Yugi announced the name of Prince Seto's opponent, and the girl right next to her screamed with joy. Why do they always have to be near me? Why can't they actually be me for a change? Serenity could feel the anger within her rising, and she fought to control it. She wished she had magical powers so she could make sure the wench next to her didn't win. Not like she really needed to anyway. Not to say that Serenity stereotyped people, but the totally thrilled girl next to her was tall, pretty, and blonde… seeing from Mai's example, they can be pretty dumb and obnoxious sometimes. And Serenity knew that Seto would never tolerate someone like that. He would make sure to defeat her.

"I'm safe!" Serenity whispered gladly. For a second, the thought of actually wanting to marry Seto crossed her mind, but she quickly shook it off and proceeded to find her opponent.

"Hello!" Serenity jumped and whirled around. Darkial was almost right in her face. It was a bit of a shock.

"Um… hello?"

"Glad to meet you! I'm Darkial! Let's get started on our Duel right away!" Serenity raised her eyebrows and rolled her eyes. Great! I'm stuck with a hyperish girl. Just great! The two activated their Duel Disks and got ready to begin their Duel. Ian, Joey, and DMG quickly found the pair and prepared to cheer "Shizuka" on.

"You can do it!" Ian cried.

"We know you can!" DMG added. Joey just whistled. Serenity restrained herself from smacking her foreheads. What idiots! I don't need trouble before the Duel even starts!

"Are you ready?" Darkial asked, flipping her raven colored hair. Serenity nodded and drew her five cards, Darkial doing the same.

"Okay, I think I'll go first!" Darkial declared as she drew a card and played it on the field. "I play Enchantress from the Shadows (). This Dark Spellcaster has 1200 attack points. Then, I shall play a card face down and end my turn."

"My turn! First I draw…" Serenity drew a card and looked at it. She looked up at Darkial and tried to form a strategy. Darkial's Enchantress twirled her staff and placed both hands on her hips, glaring sternly at Serenity. Her long black gown was spread out like a fan.

Let's see. If the pattern of Duelists I've played so far continues, then this Duelist is most likely to have all Dark monsters. There are so many Duelists out there that focus on only one Attribute. Anyways, what would be a good strategy to use against Dark monsters? So far, I have to figure out what that face down card is. Maybe I should try attacking. How harmful can it be? Serenity nodded and placed a card on the field.

"Black-Silver Damsel () in attack mode! Attack that Enchantress!" A fairy wearing a silver costume rose up from the card with a bow and arrow. Nocking an arrow, She aimed and fired. Darkial chuckled and pushed a button.

"I activate my Trap, Magic Cylinder! This allows me to deduct some of your LP. Since your Monster has 1500 attack, you lose half your LP." Serenity gasped. Her LP dropped down to 1500. How harmful can it be? Oh dear! I wasn't expecting that!

………

"Hey Cyrrielle!" DMG, Ian, and Joey turned to find Téa running toward them. "My partner surrendered, don't know why. I guess there are a bunch of wimps in this tournament. So, is Shizuka winning?" The three shook their heads simultaneously.

"She was, until you came," Ian informed. Téa looked over at the Duel. DMG was right. Serenity had just lost half her LP in one move.

"That's not good, it is?" DMG shook her head again. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a flash of purple and a long blue staff. Before she blinked, it was gone.

"That's funny!" she remarked. The others turned to the direction she was facing.

"Wha's funny?" Joey asked. DMG shrugged.

"I thought I saw something." Just then, there was a flash of something golden and then something brown. DMG blinked twice. She felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning around, she gasped.

………

"Maybe that teaches you something about being careful!" Darkial taunted as she drew a card. Looking at her Hand, she placed one card face down and then played another card.

"Dark Warrior Mistress (), in defense mode!" A monster that resembled Darkial rose up from the card in crouching position. In one hand she held a Japanese sword, and in the other she held a fan. She had on a long black kimono. "Your turn, Shizuka." Shizuka looked down at her card as she drew from her Deck. She didn't really have a good strategy to go by. At least for now, she would just have to attack.

The Warrior has only 1200 defense points. I can crush it easily with my newest card, Flirting Fairy (). In fact, I can even destroy the Enchantress I wanted to last time. I doubt her face down card is really powerful. Sure, Magic Cylinder was, but what are the chances of two powerful Traps in a row. I bet she suspects I will be suspicious about that card and not attack. That's why she didn't bother to switch the position of her other monster. Serenity played her monster.

"I call on Flirting Fairy! Attack the Enchantress and rid the field of her!" The Fairy took out a pouch of silver dust and sprayed it over the field. Darkial pushed a button, shaking her head in silent laughter.

"You make the same mistake twice? How dense are you?" Her face down card revealed to be none other than another Magic Cylinder. Serenity gasped as her LP dropped to 100. Great! I shouldn't take anything from Darkial as a joke. She's serious! I never expected two of the same card. Next time, I won't take any chances. Serenity bit her lip and took a card from her hand.

"I'll just place this face down and end my turn!" Darkial smiled.

"Thank you so much, Shizuka! Now you are in so much trouble!" Serenity narrowed her eyes.

………

"What is it, Cyrrielle?" Téa asked, turning around. DMG stood rooted to the spot. Facing her were three men.

"Are those real Duel Monsters?" Téa asked. Joey and Ian turned around.

"Hey! Look, Cyrrielle. Didn't you say those people were from your theater group?" He eyed the Dark Magician, Lord of Dragons, and Dragon Master Knight.

"What theater are you talking about, man? We're Duel Monsters!" DMG gulped and panicked.

"Oh! They're kidding!" she replied hastily, looking at them with an expression that said, "play along with me, please?" As if to make matters worse, Mai came running along.

"Hey Cyrrielle… who are they?" DMG turned to her and smiled, though inside she felt as much pressure as Serenity felt at that moment.

"Oh! Um… these are my fellow actors! Aundren, who is Dragon Master Knight, Hufanse, who is Lord of Dragons, and Svrion, the Dark Magician."

"Oh!" Mai exclaimed. "Isn't that your fiancé?" DMG's jaw dropped as Dark Magician glared at her. DMG gave him a look that halted any question he had at the moment. The other two men looked at each other then at Svrion before breaking into chuckles. DMG blushed heavily. She was doomed… period!

"Yes!" she replied. "Like I told you before. Anyway, I have to discuss something with them. Excuse me." DMG motioned for the three Duel Monsters to follow her to a corner.

………

"You should have really been more careful," Darkial pointed out. She drew her card and set it in her hand. "Now, I am going to wipe you out for good." She took the two monsters she had on the field and sent them to the Graveyard.

"What are you-," Serenity cut off. She knew what was going to happen.

"I sacrifice my two monsters to bring out Darker than the Night ()! This monster has 2600 attack power." A beast with shaggy black hair and eyes like black holes appeared. "Attack, my Beast, and destroy her Life Points!" Upon her command, the creature lunged forward.

"This is when you have to be careful!" Serenity announced, pushing a button on her Duel Disk. "I activate Oracle Gate (). This card is just like Magic Cylinder, except that it doubles the number of attack points your monster has and then deducts it from your LP. Of course, I lose half my LP as well, but I have 50 still while you are left with absolutely nothing!" Everything on the field disappeared and Darkial's Duel Disk dropped down to 0.

"NO! I lost!"

………

"What do you think you're doing?" Svrion demanded, eyeing DMG.

"Let me explain!" she said. "See, I had to help Serenity get to the ball. She's the veiled girl, going by Shizuka so no one recognizes her. She wants to be a surprise. Anyway, the others asked me why I wasn't invited to the ball, since every unmarried women was invited. I made up the excuse that I was engaged… to you. Now, don't be angry! Just play along for now. I promise to sort everything out. For right now, pretend you guys are part of a theater group and Svrion, don't moan, but you're going to have to play my fiancé." Svrion moaned.

"Come on, what harm can it do, man?" Lord of Dragons asked, patting Svrion on the back. "You've had a crush on her for the past five… oh, oops!" Svrion turned angrily toward Hufanse. DMG blushed furiously.

"WHAT?"

"Keep cool, gal, keep cool!" Hufanse rushed over to DMG. "I didn't say anything." Svrion exhaled tiredly.

"How about we get back to the others to avoid any other mishaps," suggested the usually quiet Aundren.

"Good idea," Svrion muttered.

………

"I won!" Serenity cried. A black stone popped out of a secret compartment in her Duel Disk and she slipped it in her glove. She had three now. Three more to go!

I'm almost there! Come on Serenity! You can do this!