KlebKat: WARNINGS! MARY SUE! SWEARING! NAME CALLING AND OTHER SUCH KIDDY STUFF!
Shard: because it fits our personality sooo well.
Kat: But basically the same as the last four acts; only now we add in Duelist of the Roses
ACT V
"The war was named "War of the Roses" because the badges used by both sides was a rose--a red rose by the Lancastrians and a white rose for the Yorkists." Kat recalled from English History class, her, Shardai and Kassie sitting in a circle with McMooran and Margaret.
"Yes," McMooran said, "Right now, our kingdom is threatened by the Yorkists and their wrongful claim to the throne all because the Yorkists enjoy the support of the Rose Crusaders and their sorceress White Rose Cards."
What are we gonna do? Kassie thought, Kat, Shard and I know about Edward in the Tower of London, and we know the out come of the war, but--
"Excuse me," Shardai raised her hand slightly, "How did we get here?"
McMooran chuckled, "My apologies, My Lady, I explained it to Lady Kassie but I haven't mentioned it to you." McMooran looked to Margaret, holding out his chubby hand, "If you would please, Lady Margaret."
The blond woman reached into the sleeve of her dress, pulling out something that resembled a Duel Monster card dyed a deep red. On the back of it, instead of a swirling brown, black and gold background, there was a red rose in full bloom. "Duel Monsters?"
Margaret's face lit up, "Ah, I see you girls are familiar with the game."
"Yes, but we don't play very much."
Margaret's smile turned to a frown, "Oh."
"Well, If I may get on with the explanation?" All eyes focused on Simon McMooran as he held up the card. "This is a Red Rose Card, and in using our Red Rose Cards, we summoned you three to this day and age. We had hoped that your dueling experience would defeat the Rose Crusaders and lead us to victory."
"I don't know..." Kassie murmured lowly, her head bowed and her fingers were playing with a piece of straw.
"You will help us...?" Margaret asked, a look of concern finding its way onto her face.
"Of course they will! Foolish of you to even doubt where their loyalties lie! Rumor has it that only the legendary Rose Duelist stands a chance against the power of Rosenkreuz."
"And I, Lady Margaret of Lancaster, appreciate any help you can provide against them."
No, damn, don't say that! I don't want to feel obligated! With her head still bowed, Kassie cringed, not knowing what to do.
Margaret stood, dusting off her dress and taking the Red Rose Card back from McMooran. "I'm going to leave now to ride and to tell Yugi that the Duelist..." she looked to the girls, "...Duelists, are here; but before I forget, I should warn you girls that the rules for dueling probably differ here from those of your age."
"How so?"
"Yugi?" Shardai asked, "You have a Yugi too?"
Margaret smiled, turning to leave, "I am not sure how to answer your question, Lady Kat, Shardy, but I will leave McMooran to explain. Keep strong!"
With Margaret gone, the group readjusted to fill in the gap and McMooran began. "Here in England, dueling is governed by what is known as the "Perfect Rule". In addition to several minor distinctions, there are two major differences. One is the existence of movement or positioning. The other is the Deck Leader concept. These are two aspects of dueling that were lost in the process when the ancient sport of Duel Monsters was adapted to card form. The "Perfect Rule" represents these lost rules that were miraculously revived here in England." He looked to each of the girls, noting how confused they looked. "Perhaps a practice duel will serve better than an explanation." Taking a stick, McMooran began to draw a large rectangle into the dirt, dividing it into seven by seven squares. "Shall we?"
After a long tutorial of the game, Kat sat back, a hand to her chin, "So, it's like chess in a way."
McMooran nodded his head, "Yes, that is a way to think of it."
"That's way too complicateeeeeeeeed!" Shardai whined.
"There will be no whining here!" Kassie stated, crossing her arms.
"Ah, yes..." McMooran said, surprise in his voice from witnessing Shardai's normal behavior, "You each must select a deck to duel with."
"But we already have decks," Kat said.
"You do? Alright, show them to me." Each girl shifted through their respective back packs, pulling out deck boxes of a variety of colors and handing them one at a time to McMooran.
"Ah, just what I suspected," he said, going through Kassie's cards.
"What?"
"Lady Kassie, you see this card here?" He held up "Just Deserts".
"Yes."
"In our game of Duel Monsters, this card is a magic card, not a trap card."
"So that means I'd have to activate it like a magic card instead of a trap card."
He handed the deck back to her, "Yes, and I'm afraid that if you dueled with your original decks, you would forget what the cards are to be in this age."
Taking out a gold lined box from his satchel, McMooran opened it, offering it to the girls. "Here are several decks from which to choose. Give it some serious thought and make you selection." Kassie took the box, placing it in the center of her and her friends. Kat and Shardai dived right in, grabbing the first deck that they could get their hands on. "Take your time when selecting your decks. It is essential that you select a Card Leader whose rhythm matches the stirrings of your soul. It is important that you feel the vibrations of a Deck Leader, but do not hesitate the minute the resonations ring true to your soul. Choose carefully, for the deck you select will guide the destiny of your duels."
Stirrings my ass, Kassie thought, I'll just take what Shard and Kat don't.
"I've never seen a card like this before. Hm, Dark Fire Witch, attack 1900 and defense 1700. And it's an effect monster!"
"Cool, Kaiser Dragon!"
Kassie picked up the box, holding it in her lap, Ok, what do I get? She reached in, pulling out the last deck. She brought it up to her face, adjusting her glasses to see the card correctly. She gave a little gasp and turned to Simon McMooran. "A Kuriboh!" Kassie smiled, "I've always wanted a Kuriboh!"
McMooran smiled back, "That's good to hear! Now I see you all have selected your decks. The cards themselves draw their power from the energies of the Ancient Ones. The Deck Leader acts as an intermediate between the Ancient Ones and the deck-wielder."
"Hmmm. So that's the effect of the Celtic Red Rose cards... It looks like there's some truth to the rumor that the Red Rose cards are capable of time transformation..."
McMooran stood up quickly, using his golden staff as a threatening weapon as he took up a defensive position. "Who's there!?"
Someone stepped into the shadow of one of the giant stones, the only thing distinguishable was the man's ice blue eyes.
"Behind you, Sir!" Kassie yelled.
"It's been sometime since the Battle of Barnet, old one."
McMooran swirled around, eyes nearly bulging out of his head, "Rosenkreuz! What brings you here!?"
"Only a Member of the Rose Crusaders my call me by that name. If you may recall, I told you once before that you may only address me as Seto, or does memory fail you, old man? And you three," he looked at Shardai, Kassie and Kat, "I must admit there's a certain aura of power emanating from you...each of you. Which one of you is the dreaded Rose Duelist?"
"We, we don't know!" Kassie yelled to Rosenkreuz.
The man's eyes were the only sign of shock, "You...don't know? Oh well, we'll figure it out. I believe a formal introduction is in order. I am Seto, leader of the Rose Crusaders. There are members of our little group who prefer to call me by the name of C. Rosenkreuz."
"I ask you again, what brings you here, Seto!?" Simon yelled angrily, standing in-between the girls and Rosenkreuz.
"Mind your manners, old man! What else would bring me here? I've come for the Red Rose Cards!" Rosenkreuz stepped into the light of the torches that were mounted on the tall stones.
"Holy crap! He looks like Kaiba!" Kat yelled.
Rosenkreuz lifted his eyes off of McMooran and on to Kat, "You are familiar with me?"
"Seto...Kaiba..." Rosenkreuz shifted his gaze to the girl in the center to the three women who had huddled together.
Shardai held her hands together as if in prayer, resting on her chest, her mouth opened slightly and her checks faintly pink. Yes, I can use this to my advantage!
"After all," Rosenkreuz continued, winking one sapphire eye at the girls but addressing McMooran, "it was you who showed me how the summoning capabilities would evolve when the Red Rose cards are combined with he transport powers of the White Rose cards."
"No! You aren't thinking of attempting the forbidden "Rose Summoning" are you? If so, then the Red Rose cards must never fall into your evil hands! Card sorcery taps into the powers of the Ancient Ones! By their very nature, each card is a double-edged sword that can cut both ways! The Rose Cards alone Harness tremendous power. There's no telling what horrors one might unleash to the world by combining both red and White! I will sacrifice my own life if need be to prevent any from uttering the "Spell of Doom"!"
"The Spell of Doom? Fool! The 16 Red and White Rose Cards grant "Power over All"! Druid legend has twisted the true meaning of these cards!" Rosenkreuz took another step forward, "We Rose Crusaders have sworn to create a utopia free from the ravages of war. We intend to accomplish this with the power of the cards! And we shall do so by extending the rule Richard 3 throughout the known world!
"..."
"By the way, it was clever of you to form a circle of red roses within the white rose barrier to summon the Rose Duelist, but you were foolish to come alone. This area is surrounded and if you wish to leave with your life, you will do so only by handing over the Red Rose cards."
"Me? A fool? Then what about you? Are you fool enough to actually believe the Red Rose cards would remain here in my possession? Right after the summoning, I had the cards dispersed among our best duelists to keep them from your tainted hands!"
"Then you leave me with but one option, I shall enlist the aid of you precious Rose Duelist!"
"You take leave of your senses!"
"And you speak too soon, old man! Heed my words, Duelists! If you wish to return to your proper time period, you will require the 16 cards of the Red and White Roses. The red and white positions must be laid out in reverse of the summoning order to send you home."
"You know the spell!?"
"Since you need the 16 Rose Cards just as much as we do, I propose a partnership. Help us gather the cards and I shall guarantee your return after we've achieved our ultimate goal!"
"An absurd proposal! Do you think that these honorable ladies would even lend an ear to you ridiculous proposal!?"
"Can you be so sure, old man? Let me see...Simon's side has 8 of the Red Rose cards, while my side-the Rose Crusaders-has possession of the 8 White Rose cards. As the numbers are even, simple arithmetic indicates that you could side with either of us, but I'm sure you'll take into account who's winning this war. After all, who was desperate enough to summon you in the first place?"
"He's got a point," Kat stated after a moment of silence, looking to her two companions.
"But the Lancaster's..." Kassie began.
"Lancaster's what?" Rosenkreuz mocked, "I think it's quite clear which side is better-positioned to send you home..."
"L, Ladies, heed not the words of this...this power-hungry lunatic!"
"Simon! Must you resort to name-calling? I'm hurt! I'll tell you what, why don't we leave the decision to our dear Duelists'? After all, Simon, the Duelists' future is not for us to decide, now is it?"
"Well, yes, but--"
"Splendid!" said Rosenkreuz as he began to address the girls, pulling a red and white rose seemingly out of nowhere, "In keeping with the tradition of the Old Temple gardens, I offer you a choice, Duelists'. Here are two roses, the white represents me," Rosenkreuz now stood in front of Shardai, the white rose offered to her and the red rose to the side out of the red dragon's view, "and the red for old Simon here..."
"For the sake of justice," McMooran yelled, "choose the red rose!"
"Stand by my side, Duelists', choose the white rose," the other purred, noticing Shardai's breathing speed up. "I'm the only one who can get you home..."
"You don't know anything!" Kassie yelled, putting her hand on her friends' shoulder, "Does he, Shard?"
"..."
"Shard?"
Both cats looked to the dragon trapped in between them, noting her starry eyed gaze at the white rose.
Kat was the first to speak, "Shard, I say go with the Yorkists."
"Snap outta it, Shard! We got to make a logical choice here! Go with the Lancaster's!"
"So, ladies," Rosenkreuz said seductively, "What is your decision?"
Shardai's hands slowly unfolded and like she would pick up a lily flower from the water, she took the white rose, oblivious to the reason it was being offered.