Episode #32- A Promise Kept, Part 1
The final Duel stage was pretty clear to the four points. The four platforms that brought us up descended back under the floor. Only a solid railing kept the tower's boundaries from itself and a fall of certian death. In the center of the top floor was nearly the same holo-projection floor as Ashley and Kaiba used earlier today. I stood off to one side and leaned against one of the points. Again, Yami Marik rose on my senses, but was limited by the beads. Apparently, Yami Marik was also limited to controlling my form. Whether it's good or not, I can't tell.
Yami and Kaiba took their marks oppositing each other on the platform with Roland on the side. The circular platform elevated only about five feet and engaged itself. "The first Semifinals Duel will now begin. Yugi Motou versus Seto Kaiba." Roland announced.
"Come on, Yugi! Do it for Mai!" Tea cried out. I only brought my head up to Tea. Sure, I want Yugi to win as well. But I can't bring any high hopes that Marik or Yugi could help me break from Yami Marik. The beads only kept him contained, like Odion to Marik, not sever him from me completely.
Marik paced towards me with more than concern written on his face. He was back in his lavender midrift and black slacks. I shifted my eyes away as he came towards me. "Miranda, are you all right?"
"For the time being." I replied without giving thought, still keeping my eyes from him.
"Miranda, Kikaita's your mother, right?"
"You know that as well as I do."
"I never had the chance to thank her." Marik said. I slowly turned my shocked gaze towards him in a doubtful way.
"For what?" I asked.
"Your mother's kind spirit was one to make the darkness fade. I only wish I had a chance to thank her but I can't sense her at all." Marik said while show the Rod.
"My mother's no longer here; she lost a Shadow Game against Him." I said admitting it, "She lost not only her soul to the Shadow Realm, but she and Dad can not make anymore attempts to free me." Marik looked at me with the same fallen expression as I when I saw Kikaita leave me for the final time.
"This is it, Yugi. To whom ever wins get the opponent's God Card." Kaiba boasted until Kathy paced up behind him.
"Kaiba, your Duel against Yugi should be a climatic one. May I suggest letting the winners of the Battle Royale going first?" Kathy asked and looked to Marik and me.
"Hm, I see your point. My victory can wait, I rather see who I will have to deal with first." Kaiba muttered, "Marik, Miranda, you two will go first!" He called. Both of us were distracted from our own conversation. But silently accepting, Marik and I stepped into Kaiba's and Yugi's places and engaged our Duel Discs.
'Miranda, I swear I'll get you free. Then I'll take revenge on the Pharaoh for ever putting me into that position as a tomb-keeper as a child.' Marik thought.
'Facing Marik? Now? Out of all the times, Kathy suggests now for Marik and me to Duel one-on-one?' I panicked in thought. I felt a brisk chill as Yami Marik appeared behind me.
'Relax, Guinaldo. Marik will be predictable; he plays on the exact same Deck as I have against Kikaita.' Yami Marik thought he'd reassure me, I shudder to remember the fateful Duel.
"The first real Duel of the Battle City Semifinals will now begin! Marik Ishtar versus Miranda Guinaldo!" Kathy announced like Roland on the Kaiba Craft, only much more cheery, "Since Marik had more Life Points than Miranda when the Royale ended, Miranda will decide the openning move."
I looked to my drawn hand; Troop Dragon, Twin-Headed Behemoth, Tyrant Dragon, Staunch Defender, Dark Hole, and just drew Interdimensional Matter Transporter. "I'll begin with two trap cards and a monster in defense mode. This ends my turn." Three cards assembled out in front of me.
"I'll begin with Drillago, in attack mode." Marik followed up his turn with a monster armed with many drills, "Attack her defense now!" Marik's monster approached with the drills on its arms spinning. Drillago jabbed quickly into my defense until the card was swiss cheese and Troop Dragon was gone.
"When Troop Dragon is sent to the Graveyard, I can pull another one and summon it to the field." I briefed and searchd my Deck for the next Troop Dragon and shuffled after I found it and returned the Deck to the Duel Disc. The second Troop Dragon appeared in its resemblence to a small medieval rebel.
"I will also place one trap card, your move." Marik ended his turn with only a 1600 monster in attack mode.
"Now then, I summon Minor Dragon of Earth in attack mode." I declared my new drawn card out. A small, rocky-skinned dragon appeared next to Troop Dragon. "Dragon of Earth, attack with Rock Slide!"
"I activate the trap Fearful Earthbound!" Marik activated his trap card, "For every monster you attack on my side and is sent to the Graveyard, you lose 500 Life Points." The effects took hold, I stood in the center of a circle of teeth in a huge demon's mouth. After the Earth Dragon destroyed Drillago by means of falling boulders, I felt a sudden rush as the jaws snapped at the lower half of my body. The jolt of pain caught me as my Life Points dropped to 7500.
"Miranda!" Ashley cried from the sidelines. After a frozen moment of pain, the jaws released but the shock of the graphical impact lingered.
"I'll be fine, 500 won't do much, and neither will your 100." The Earth Dragon accomplished its attack on Drillago as Marik's Life Points slid by 100. "This ends my turn."
'What pathetic moves, I would have seen that coming.' Yami Marik complained, 'If only...'
'Can-it! I can Duel alone, thank you!' I snapped back mentally. I felt his rage behind me, but soon remembering the necklace loop is keeping him and me apart.
'Al'right, that was a good start.' Marik drew his next card, 'Good, this will help greatly.' He scanned his hand and pulled several more cards, "Now I summon Revival Jam in defense mode," He called as the familiar plasma monster appeared, "another trap card and end my turn."
I drew my next card, Prominence Dragon; but playing weakily wasn't what I was going for. "I sacrifice both Troop Dragon and Minor Dragon of Earth to summon Tyrant Dragon!" I declared and pulled one of the more powerful Dragons from my hand. A dark ember-colored dragon appeared standing nearly ten feet tall on its hind quarters. "This is one of my favorite Dragons. For one thing, it can attack twice on the same turn." I announced, "So say 'goodbye' to that Revival Jam, Marik, and a good portion of your Life Points."
'No, the demon's already gotten to her.' Marik panicked in thought, 'That's it, I'm sending this Duel to the Shadow Realm.'
"Tyrant Dragon, Double Meteor Flame!" I commanded. Tyrant Dragon threw its head back and launched one fireball, landing a forceful blow on Revival Jam. The Dragon readied itself and fired another shot towards Marik through the clouds of smoke. His Life Points weren't effected by the second shot however; instead I saw his Revival Jam still standing from both assaults when the dusts cleared.
"Miranda, the Revival Jam has the ability to regenerate itself after the attack. And since you were foolish enough to attack my Revival Jam twice, and it was sent to the Graveyard twice, you lose 1000 Life Points by Fearful Earthbound!" Marik announced. I gasped in quick breath before reacting to the jaws snapping down on me again with twice the force.
'Let me take over. If you lose, you're out of the tounament.' Yami Marik reminded me behind my back after the jaws reopenned.
'I don't need you pressuring me!' I snapped back at him like the Fearful Earthbound around me, 'I know the stakes, the consequences are the same no matter what the result will be.' I shifted my sights back on Marik.
__________
Serenity gazed out the window of the blimp from Mai's room. Since the others have gone, she had been waiting on Mai's bedside; hopeless in her coma as more of her memory was taken from the Shadow Realm. Also with Serenity was the unlikely ally whose loyalty has brought Serenity back from the Shadow Realm. But no magic beads could break Mai from her coma.
Quite often will the fox enter the room after making passes throughout the blimp for anything amiss. Raikoukou, after making a hastely fifth pass, came in with an anxious feeling burning in its eyes. Serenity turned around with a hand on the ledge of the window.
"That was fast." She said, trying to take her mind off Mai.
'I'm just a little tense.' Raikoukou replied telepathically, 'I feel strong forces emitting from atop that tower.'
"You mean Marik?"
'As well as the God Cards. With all three Egyptian God Cards AND the Zodiac God Card, I fear the worse.' Raikoukou sat down on its hind quarters and posed properly towards Serenity.
"Mai hasn't waken up yet." Serenity looked to the fallen finalist.
'It has been only the beginning of the semifinals, Serenity. We can't hope for anything here to come fast, if anything at all.' Raikoukou turned around, 'I'm going to the top of the tower. If anything goes wrong, I have your energy signature.' With that, Raikoukou leaped out of the door.
The fox-demon made its way to the elevator doors with its nine tails spanned to the entire hall; the tips catching on the keypads beside each door. One of its tails brushed up against a keypad and unawaringly opened the door. Right as Raikoukou disappeared into the elevator door, the activated door slid open and a shamble fell out, including a stowaway.
He landed hard with the face landing first one the carpet-shielded steel floor "Ergh," he grunted as his face made contact. In the mess, his position was at a disposition with an arm twisted behind his back by a broom. After landing, he managed to untangle himself in the mess. "Eh, my head. To whomever opened the door, thanks." He grumbled and recovered himself from the janitorial tools. He got to his feet and looked down both ways of the hall, none but himself, "OK, this is creepy..." He muttered and looked to the room with the door still open.
Serenity waited beside with hopeless eyes. 'Don't worry Mai, my brother and his friends will save you, just as Raikoukou saved me.' She thought and a small tap echoed in her ear. Serenity quickly turned around and saw someone other than the fox at the door.
He stood almost the same height as her with blonde hair a mess atop his head and sky eyes looking at her in shock. His attire was much like Serenity's older brother: a light blue T-shirt and faded jeans. Serenity got to her feet and took a step back.
"Who are you?" Serenity asked the newcomer.
"Sorry to startle, the name's Kevin Hunter." He said with a small blush.
"You're one of those Rare Hunters Joey keeps talking about, aren't you?" She jumped in her words.
"No, no no no no no, I'm nothing like those creeps." Kevin stated sternly, but blushed again and edged off his previous tone, "But I have no idea who you are."
"My name's Serenity Wheeler, Joey Wheeler's sister."
"The runner-up in Duelist Kingdom? Cool, nice to meet ya." Kevin smirked.
'Serenity, is Mai up already?' A voice shot to Kevin, though he didn't hear it by ear.
"Raikoukou?" Serenity said.
"OK, tell me I'm not crazy," he muttered aloud and turned around slowly, "and who's Raikuku?" He asked with some misprenounciation. He turned bleach pale in petrified shock as he saw the creature with nine tails waving behind it.
'The name is Rai--kou--kou.' He heard the voice again, the source being from the mythical creature standing behind him with strong, silver eyes glaring like he was dinner.
"EARGH!" Kevin cried like craven and jumped to one of the chairs in the far corner of the room, still in cowardice of the beast. "What the heck is that thing?!"
'Serenity, who is this visitor that turns as pale as me in glance of a creature?' Raikoukou asked.
"Actually, I think just about anyone jumps at the sight of you. It's not everyday someone see a fox like you. But this is Kevin Hunter, and judging by that Duel Disc, he was part of the Battle City Tournament like Joey." Serenity introduced, "And Kevin, this is Raikoukou." Raikoukou huffed.
Kevin slowly climbed off the chair and kept his distance, "Y-yeah, but I-I didn't have enough locator c-cards." Kevin stuttered.
"So you're not even supposed to be up here to begin with." Raikoukou brought up several tails, sparking with electricity.
"I-know,-but-I-can-explain." Kevin said in one breath as he shielded himself.
"All right then, let's hear it." Raikoukou at eased its electricity.
"Well, to put it shortly..." Kevin mumbled before going to a fanny episode, "I'm a huge fan of Kaiba, he's my idol! I even have my own Dragon Deck!" He paused his fanfare, "But...I didn't have enough locator cards, so I snuck on board. While trying to avoid the guards I locked myself in the broom closet, no idea how long." Kevin finished his recap, "Now I'm here to see if my Dragon Deck matches up to him."
'You mean you don't want to know Miranda's power as a Dragon Duelist like yourself?' Raikoukou asked.
"Eh? Who's Miranda?" Kevin looked to Raikoukou, then to Mai lying on the bed, "And what's the story with her?"
"Mai's in the Shadow Realm." said Serenity, "Marik sent her mind there and she's been this way ever since. Now everyone else is in the tower outside." She gazed out the window to the Battle Tower.
"Then I'll be on my way." Kevin geared himself and sighed, "I thought I had it hard with this Shadow Realm business. Every night since the start of Battle City, I keep getting this dream I'm in a dark atmosphere with a bunch of other people, but I'm the only solid form. Only once though I saw a red light that pierced the darkness for a brief moment. Are you sure you'll be al'right down here?" Kevin turned around and saw Raikoukou give him a grumble, "OK then, I'll be outta. Later." He said before cautiously leaving, eyed by the foxen character.
__________
Already my Life Points were down to 6500 by the second turn of the Duel while Marik held only a 100-point decrease in his. With Yami Marik breathing down my neck, I was recklessly making plays. It was too early to play my Tyrant Dragon, even when it was the only powerful monster in my hand.
Yami Yugi stood from the sidelines with a trance into the Duel. 'Miranda looks tensed, maybe trying to resist Yami Marik...' He thought.
"Now I play this trap card, Jam Defender: This trap card makes it so you're only target is my Revival Jam." Marik declared as a card flipped up, "Next, I'll play another monster in defense mode. This ends my turn." I saw a card appear next to Revival Jam.
At my turn I went to draw the card; my fingers just touched it when I felt a shot of Yami Marik's energy. 'I said I don't need your help.' I grumbled and drew it, Tri of Water. "I'll end my turn without playing anything."
'What?!' I heard Yami Marik but kept the straight gaze towards Marik, 'Damn you, Dragon...'
'Miranda knows she couldn't attack my face-down monster. And when she attacks my Revival Jam, her Life Points decrease.' Marik thought and drew his next card, 'So far so good. But I can't attack her with that powerful Dragon; with an attack of 2900, most of my monsters can't even leave a scratch.' "I'll sacrifice my defense monster for another one in defense mode." He called and another card took it's place.
'OK, if you play a Deck like his, why did he sacrifice to place another monster in defense mode without any trap cards?' I thought to Yami Marik. I could sense he didn't have an answer. I ignored it and drew my next card, Draft Dragon. I felt Yami Marik's energy signature change.
'You can't risk anymore loss of your Life Points, Miranda.' He warned, 'With Fearful Earthbound on the field, you'll lose Life Points whenever you attack.'
'Then do you have any ideas, I certainly don't have anything to attack Marik's Life Points directly.' I cocked against his tone, 'And I can't play Tri of Water because I don't have Yin-Yang of the Zodiac on the field. Whatever you did to help me didn't work this time.' I backed off from Yami Marik and resumed my concentration of the Duel, "I'll also play a monster faced down and end my turn."
"Al'right then I'll use this, Snatch Steal: this magic card allows me to take control of one of your monsters, but in return you gain 1000 for each turn the selected monster is on the field." Marik declared as Tyrant Dragon lumbered to his side of the field. "Now Tyrant Dragon, attack her Troop Dragon and her defensive monster! Double Meteor Flame!" Marik declared as Tyrant Dragon launched both fireballs at Troop Dragon and Koumori Dragon, despite my Life Points were unharmed.
Turn went to me, and with Yami Marik's sleight-of-hand gave me Yin-Yang of the Zodiac. Instantly my Life Points were raised by 1000. "I'll place two cards faced down and a monster in defense mode, this ends my turn." I played Draft Dragon, Yin-Yang of the Zodiac, and Prominence Dragon were all waiting for Marik's next play.
"Your Dragons aren't helping you this Duel, are they now?" Marik taunted and drew, "For now I'll play Dark Blade in attack mode." He declared and a dark armored knight appeared with a jagged-blade sword.
"Activate Yin-Yang of the Zodiac!" I countered and activated, "Remember last time Marik? Just four turns..." I lowered my tone. The familiar light circle appeared before me with the exact same marks as of the Zodiac.
"It won't protect you from an attack. Go Dark Blade, and attack her defensive monster with Jagged Blade Slash!" Marik commanded and his knight followed the order.
"Activate trap card, Draft Dragon!" I declared, Yami Marik's energy signature shifted again.
'What are you doing?!' Yami Marik roared in disagreement, 'You're paying half of your Life Points now!'
"First I'll pay half of my Life Points, but in exchange it allows me to summon a Dragon to the field on your turn. So I summon Fault-Line in defense mode!" From leaving me not totally open for Tyrant Dragon's direct attack, Fault-Line's massive defense of 3000 would keep me safe after my Life Points decreased to 3750.
The earth below us shook in magnitude as a large dragon head made of rock shards appeared, the rest of its body concealed underneath.
Dark Blade still made its attack on my Prominence Dragon and obliterated it effortlessly. Luckily, Fearful Earthbound only worked when I attacked and destroyed. Marik didn't attack with Tyrant Dragon and ended his turn. In retrospect to my trap, Tri of Earth was first to come up. Again, a green line connected to form a triangle fitting through the three respective signs of the element.
I made my next turn. The draw didn't turn out good, Candela of Light. "Again I'll put a monster in defense mode-"
"Shadow of Eyes!" Marik called and activated a trap of his own, flipping my Cyber Jar without activating the effect.
'No! Our Life Points are wide open!' Yami Marik cried in the back of my mind, or what I had of it.
'Yami Marik, you're an idiot.' I stated in thought like it was obvious, 'You forgot why I Draft Dragoned Fault-Line? I'm going to summon a stronger monster in place of Cyber Jar with Fault-Line's special effect.' I got cocky
'Yes!' Yami Marik shifted gears on me again.
'The bad news, I can't do it on newly summoned monsters.' I added on; again, he turned back to outrage. "I'll place one trap card, this ends my turn." I declared as a card appeared behind Fault-Line's head in the far right corner and Tri of Fire made appearance on the field.
To be continued...
* * * * * * * * * * * *
New Cards played
Minor Dragon of Earth: Dragon/Earth. Monster, 4/1700/1500.
Yin-Yang of the Zodiac: Continuous Trap. At the end of each of your opponent's turns, place 1 Tri card from your hand or your Deck face-up to the field. If it is from your Deck, then shuffle your Deck. If Tri cards Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water are all on the field in their proper order, Special Summon "Yin-Yang the Eternal Dragon" from your hand or your Deck. If any of the cards are destroyed or removed from the field while constructing the message, they are all sent to your Graveyard immediately.
Draft Dragon: Trap. This card can only be activated during your opponent's turn. Pay half of your Life Points to activate this card. Special Summon one Dragon-Type monster to the field in face-up attack or defense position. The monster cannot attack on the turn it was Special Summoned.
Fault-Line: Dragon/Earth. Monster/Effect, 7/2200/3000. While this card is face up on the field, you may send one monster on your side of the field to the respective owner's hand to Special Summon one monster whose Star Levels are 5 or higher in face-up attack or defense position. Monsters that are Set or Summoned (including Flip Summoned and Special Summoned) are excluded.
Tri of Earth: Continuous Magic. This card can only be placed on the field when "Yin-Yang of the Zodiac" is active. If you pay 1000 of your Life Points, Special Summon one "Fault-Line" from your deck, hand, or Graveyard in face-up attack position. When this card is destroyed, "Fault-Line" is also destroyed and vice-versa. When "Yin-Yang of the Zodiac" is removed from the field this card is also destroyed.
Tri of Fire: Continuous Magic. This card can only be placed on the field when "Yin-Yang of the Zodiac" is active. If you pay 1000 of your Life Points, Special Summon one "Firo" from your deck, hand, or Graveyard in face-up attack position. When this card is destroyed, "Firo" is also destroyed and vice-versa. When "Yin-Yang of the Zodiac" is removed from the field this card is also destroyed.
The final Duel stage was pretty clear to the four points. The four platforms that brought us up descended back under the floor. Only a solid railing kept the tower's boundaries from itself and a fall of certian death. In the center of the top floor was nearly the same holo-projection floor as Ashley and Kaiba used earlier today. I stood off to one side and leaned against one of the points. Again, Yami Marik rose on my senses, but was limited by the beads. Apparently, Yami Marik was also limited to controlling my form. Whether it's good or not, I can't tell.
Yami and Kaiba took their marks oppositing each other on the platform with Roland on the side. The circular platform elevated only about five feet and engaged itself. "The first Semifinals Duel will now begin. Yugi Motou versus Seto Kaiba." Roland announced.
"Come on, Yugi! Do it for Mai!" Tea cried out. I only brought my head up to Tea. Sure, I want Yugi to win as well. But I can't bring any high hopes that Marik or Yugi could help me break from Yami Marik. The beads only kept him contained, like Odion to Marik, not sever him from me completely.
Marik paced towards me with more than concern written on his face. He was back in his lavender midrift and black slacks. I shifted my eyes away as he came towards me. "Miranda, are you all right?"
"For the time being." I replied without giving thought, still keeping my eyes from him.
"Miranda, Kikaita's your mother, right?"
"You know that as well as I do."
"I never had the chance to thank her." Marik said. I slowly turned my shocked gaze towards him in a doubtful way.
"For what?" I asked.
"Your mother's kind spirit was one to make the darkness fade. I only wish I had a chance to thank her but I can't sense her at all." Marik said while show the Rod.
"My mother's no longer here; she lost a Shadow Game against Him." I said admitting it, "She lost not only her soul to the Shadow Realm, but she and Dad can not make anymore attempts to free me." Marik looked at me with the same fallen expression as I when I saw Kikaita leave me for the final time.
"This is it, Yugi. To whom ever wins get the opponent's God Card." Kaiba boasted until Kathy paced up behind him.
"Kaiba, your Duel against Yugi should be a climatic one. May I suggest letting the winners of the Battle Royale going first?" Kathy asked and looked to Marik and me.
"Hm, I see your point. My victory can wait, I rather see who I will have to deal with first." Kaiba muttered, "Marik, Miranda, you two will go first!" He called. Both of us were distracted from our own conversation. But silently accepting, Marik and I stepped into Kaiba's and Yugi's places and engaged our Duel Discs.
'Miranda, I swear I'll get you free. Then I'll take revenge on the Pharaoh for ever putting me into that position as a tomb-keeper as a child.' Marik thought.
'Facing Marik? Now? Out of all the times, Kathy suggests now for Marik and me to Duel one-on-one?' I panicked in thought. I felt a brisk chill as Yami Marik appeared behind me.
'Relax, Guinaldo. Marik will be predictable; he plays on the exact same Deck as I have against Kikaita.' Yami Marik thought he'd reassure me, I shudder to remember the fateful Duel.
"The first real Duel of the Battle City Semifinals will now begin! Marik Ishtar versus Miranda Guinaldo!" Kathy announced like Roland on the Kaiba Craft, only much more cheery, "Since Marik had more Life Points than Miranda when the Royale ended, Miranda will decide the openning move."
I looked to my drawn hand; Troop Dragon, Twin-Headed Behemoth, Tyrant Dragon, Staunch Defender, Dark Hole, and just drew Interdimensional Matter Transporter. "I'll begin with two trap cards and a monster in defense mode. This ends my turn." Three cards assembled out in front of me.
"I'll begin with Drillago, in attack mode." Marik followed up his turn with a monster armed with many drills, "Attack her defense now!" Marik's monster approached with the drills on its arms spinning. Drillago jabbed quickly into my defense until the card was swiss cheese and Troop Dragon was gone.
"When Troop Dragon is sent to the Graveyard, I can pull another one and summon it to the field." I briefed and searchd my Deck for the next Troop Dragon and shuffled after I found it and returned the Deck to the Duel Disc. The second Troop Dragon appeared in its resemblence to a small medieval rebel.
"I will also place one trap card, your move." Marik ended his turn with only a 1600 monster in attack mode.
"Now then, I summon Minor Dragon of Earth in attack mode." I declared my new drawn card out. A small, rocky-skinned dragon appeared next to Troop Dragon. "Dragon of Earth, attack with Rock Slide!"
"I activate the trap Fearful Earthbound!" Marik activated his trap card, "For every monster you attack on my side and is sent to the Graveyard, you lose 500 Life Points." The effects took hold, I stood in the center of a circle of teeth in a huge demon's mouth. After the Earth Dragon destroyed Drillago by means of falling boulders, I felt a sudden rush as the jaws snapped at the lower half of my body. The jolt of pain caught me as my Life Points dropped to 7500.
"Miranda!" Ashley cried from the sidelines. After a frozen moment of pain, the jaws released but the shock of the graphical impact lingered.
"I'll be fine, 500 won't do much, and neither will your 100." The Earth Dragon accomplished its attack on Drillago as Marik's Life Points slid by 100. "This ends my turn."
'What pathetic moves, I would have seen that coming.' Yami Marik complained, 'If only...'
'Can-it! I can Duel alone, thank you!' I snapped back mentally. I felt his rage behind me, but soon remembering the necklace loop is keeping him and me apart.
'Al'right, that was a good start.' Marik drew his next card, 'Good, this will help greatly.' He scanned his hand and pulled several more cards, "Now I summon Revival Jam in defense mode," He called as the familiar plasma monster appeared, "another trap card and end my turn."
I drew my next card, Prominence Dragon; but playing weakily wasn't what I was going for. "I sacrifice both Troop Dragon and Minor Dragon of Earth to summon Tyrant Dragon!" I declared and pulled one of the more powerful Dragons from my hand. A dark ember-colored dragon appeared standing nearly ten feet tall on its hind quarters. "This is one of my favorite Dragons. For one thing, it can attack twice on the same turn." I announced, "So say 'goodbye' to that Revival Jam, Marik, and a good portion of your Life Points."
'No, the demon's already gotten to her.' Marik panicked in thought, 'That's it, I'm sending this Duel to the Shadow Realm.'
"Tyrant Dragon, Double Meteor Flame!" I commanded. Tyrant Dragon threw its head back and launched one fireball, landing a forceful blow on Revival Jam. The Dragon readied itself and fired another shot towards Marik through the clouds of smoke. His Life Points weren't effected by the second shot however; instead I saw his Revival Jam still standing from both assaults when the dusts cleared.
"Miranda, the Revival Jam has the ability to regenerate itself after the attack. And since you were foolish enough to attack my Revival Jam twice, and it was sent to the Graveyard twice, you lose 1000 Life Points by Fearful Earthbound!" Marik announced. I gasped in quick breath before reacting to the jaws snapping down on me again with twice the force.
'Let me take over. If you lose, you're out of the tounament.' Yami Marik reminded me behind my back after the jaws reopenned.
'I don't need you pressuring me!' I snapped back at him like the Fearful Earthbound around me, 'I know the stakes, the consequences are the same no matter what the result will be.' I shifted my sights back on Marik.
__________
Serenity gazed out the window of the blimp from Mai's room. Since the others have gone, she had been waiting on Mai's bedside; hopeless in her coma as more of her memory was taken from the Shadow Realm. Also with Serenity was the unlikely ally whose loyalty has brought Serenity back from the Shadow Realm. But no magic beads could break Mai from her coma.
Quite often will the fox enter the room after making passes throughout the blimp for anything amiss. Raikoukou, after making a hastely fifth pass, came in with an anxious feeling burning in its eyes. Serenity turned around with a hand on the ledge of the window.
"That was fast." She said, trying to take her mind off Mai.
'I'm just a little tense.' Raikoukou replied telepathically, 'I feel strong forces emitting from atop that tower.'
"You mean Marik?"
'As well as the God Cards. With all three Egyptian God Cards AND the Zodiac God Card, I fear the worse.' Raikoukou sat down on its hind quarters and posed properly towards Serenity.
"Mai hasn't waken up yet." Serenity looked to the fallen finalist.
'It has been only the beginning of the semifinals, Serenity. We can't hope for anything here to come fast, if anything at all.' Raikoukou turned around, 'I'm going to the top of the tower. If anything goes wrong, I have your energy signature.' With that, Raikoukou leaped out of the door.
The fox-demon made its way to the elevator doors with its nine tails spanned to the entire hall; the tips catching on the keypads beside each door. One of its tails brushed up against a keypad and unawaringly opened the door. Right as Raikoukou disappeared into the elevator door, the activated door slid open and a shamble fell out, including a stowaway.
He landed hard with the face landing first one the carpet-shielded steel floor "Ergh," he grunted as his face made contact. In the mess, his position was at a disposition with an arm twisted behind his back by a broom. After landing, he managed to untangle himself in the mess. "Eh, my head. To whomever opened the door, thanks." He grumbled and recovered himself from the janitorial tools. He got to his feet and looked down both ways of the hall, none but himself, "OK, this is creepy..." He muttered and looked to the room with the door still open.
Serenity waited beside with hopeless eyes. 'Don't worry Mai, my brother and his friends will save you, just as Raikoukou saved me.' She thought and a small tap echoed in her ear. Serenity quickly turned around and saw someone other than the fox at the door.
He stood almost the same height as her with blonde hair a mess atop his head and sky eyes looking at her in shock. His attire was much like Serenity's older brother: a light blue T-shirt and faded jeans. Serenity got to her feet and took a step back.
"Who are you?" Serenity asked the newcomer.
"Sorry to startle, the name's Kevin Hunter." He said with a small blush.
"You're one of those Rare Hunters Joey keeps talking about, aren't you?" She jumped in her words.
"No, no no no no no, I'm nothing like those creeps." Kevin stated sternly, but blushed again and edged off his previous tone, "But I have no idea who you are."
"My name's Serenity Wheeler, Joey Wheeler's sister."
"The runner-up in Duelist Kingdom? Cool, nice to meet ya." Kevin smirked.
'Serenity, is Mai up already?' A voice shot to Kevin, though he didn't hear it by ear.
"Raikoukou?" Serenity said.
"OK, tell me I'm not crazy," he muttered aloud and turned around slowly, "and who's Raikuku?" He asked with some misprenounciation. He turned bleach pale in petrified shock as he saw the creature with nine tails waving behind it.
'The name is Rai--kou--kou.' He heard the voice again, the source being from the mythical creature standing behind him with strong, silver eyes glaring like he was dinner.
"EARGH!" Kevin cried like craven and jumped to one of the chairs in the far corner of the room, still in cowardice of the beast. "What the heck is that thing?!"
'Serenity, who is this visitor that turns as pale as me in glance of a creature?' Raikoukou asked.
"Actually, I think just about anyone jumps at the sight of you. It's not everyday someone see a fox like you. But this is Kevin Hunter, and judging by that Duel Disc, he was part of the Battle City Tournament like Joey." Serenity introduced, "And Kevin, this is Raikoukou." Raikoukou huffed.
Kevin slowly climbed off the chair and kept his distance, "Y-yeah, but I-I didn't have enough locator c-cards." Kevin stuttered.
"So you're not even supposed to be up here to begin with." Raikoukou brought up several tails, sparking with electricity.
"I-know,-but-I-can-explain." Kevin said in one breath as he shielded himself.
"All right then, let's hear it." Raikoukou at eased its electricity.
"Well, to put it shortly..." Kevin mumbled before going to a fanny episode, "I'm a huge fan of Kaiba, he's my idol! I even have my own Dragon Deck!" He paused his fanfare, "But...I didn't have enough locator cards, so I snuck on board. While trying to avoid the guards I locked myself in the broom closet, no idea how long." Kevin finished his recap, "Now I'm here to see if my Dragon Deck matches up to him."
'You mean you don't want to know Miranda's power as a Dragon Duelist like yourself?' Raikoukou asked.
"Eh? Who's Miranda?" Kevin looked to Raikoukou, then to Mai lying on the bed, "And what's the story with her?"
"Mai's in the Shadow Realm." said Serenity, "Marik sent her mind there and she's been this way ever since. Now everyone else is in the tower outside." She gazed out the window to the Battle Tower.
"Then I'll be on my way." Kevin geared himself and sighed, "I thought I had it hard with this Shadow Realm business. Every night since the start of Battle City, I keep getting this dream I'm in a dark atmosphere with a bunch of other people, but I'm the only solid form. Only once though I saw a red light that pierced the darkness for a brief moment. Are you sure you'll be al'right down here?" Kevin turned around and saw Raikoukou give him a grumble, "OK then, I'll be outta. Later." He said before cautiously leaving, eyed by the foxen character.
__________
Already my Life Points were down to 6500 by the second turn of the Duel while Marik held only a 100-point decrease in his. With Yami Marik breathing down my neck, I was recklessly making plays. It was too early to play my Tyrant Dragon, even when it was the only powerful monster in my hand.
Yami Yugi stood from the sidelines with a trance into the Duel. 'Miranda looks tensed, maybe trying to resist Yami Marik...' He thought.
"Now I play this trap card, Jam Defender: This trap card makes it so you're only target is my Revival Jam." Marik declared as a card flipped up, "Next, I'll play another monster in defense mode. This ends my turn." I saw a card appear next to Revival Jam.
At my turn I went to draw the card; my fingers just touched it when I felt a shot of Yami Marik's energy. 'I said I don't need your help.' I grumbled and drew it, Tri of Water. "I'll end my turn without playing anything."
'What?!' I heard Yami Marik but kept the straight gaze towards Marik, 'Damn you, Dragon...'
'Miranda knows she couldn't attack my face-down monster. And when she attacks my Revival Jam, her Life Points decrease.' Marik thought and drew his next card, 'So far so good. But I can't attack her with that powerful Dragon; with an attack of 2900, most of my monsters can't even leave a scratch.' "I'll sacrifice my defense monster for another one in defense mode." He called and another card took it's place.
'OK, if you play a Deck like his, why did he sacrifice to place another monster in defense mode without any trap cards?' I thought to Yami Marik. I could sense he didn't have an answer. I ignored it and drew my next card, Draft Dragon. I felt Yami Marik's energy signature change.
'You can't risk anymore loss of your Life Points, Miranda.' He warned, 'With Fearful Earthbound on the field, you'll lose Life Points whenever you attack.'
'Then do you have any ideas, I certainly don't have anything to attack Marik's Life Points directly.' I cocked against his tone, 'And I can't play Tri of Water because I don't have Yin-Yang of the Zodiac on the field. Whatever you did to help me didn't work this time.' I backed off from Yami Marik and resumed my concentration of the Duel, "I'll also play a monster faced down and end my turn."
"Al'right then I'll use this, Snatch Steal: this magic card allows me to take control of one of your monsters, but in return you gain 1000 for each turn the selected monster is on the field." Marik declared as Tyrant Dragon lumbered to his side of the field. "Now Tyrant Dragon, attack her Troop Dragon and her defensive monster! Double Meteor Flame!" Marik declared as Tyrant Dragon launched both fireballs at Troop Dragon and Koumori Dragon, despite my Life Points were unharmed.
Turn went to me, and with Yami Marik's sleight-of-hand gave me Yin-Yang of the Zodiac. Instantly my Life Points were raised by 1000. "I'll place two cards faced down and a monster in defense mode, this ends my turn." I played Draft Dragon, Yin-Yang of the Zodiac, and Prominence Dragon were all waiting for Marik's next play.
"Your Dragons aren't helping you this Duel, are they now?" Marik taunted and drew, "For now I'll play Dark Blade in attack mode." He declared and a dark armored knight appeared with a jagged-blade sword.
"Activate Yin-Yang of the Zodiac!" I countered and activated, "Remember last time Marik? Just four turns..." I lowered my tone. The familiar light circle appeared before me with the exact same marks as of the Zodiac.
"It won't protect you from an attack. Go Dark Blade, and attack her defensive monster with Jagged Blade Slash!" Marik commanded and his knight followed the order.
"Activate trap card, Draft Dragon!" I declared, Yami Marik's energy signature shifted again.
'What are you doing?!' Yami Marik roared in disagreement, 'You're paying half of your Life Points now!'
"First I'll pay half of my Life Points, but in exchange it allows me to summon a Dragon to the field on your turn. So I summon Fault-Line in defense mode!" From leaving me not totally open for Tyrant Dragon's direct attack, Fault-Line's massive defense of 3000 would keep me safe after my Life Points decreased to 3750.
The earth below us shook in magnitude as a large dragon head made of rock shards appeared, the rest of its body concealed underneath.
Dark Blade still made its attack on my Prominence Dragon and obliterated it effortlessly. Luckily, Fearful Earthbound only worked when I attacked and destroyed. Marik didn't attack with Tyrant Dragon and ended his turn. In retrospect to my trap, Tri of Earth was first to come up. Again, a green line connected to form a triangle fitting through the three respective signs of the element.
I made my next turn. The draw didn't turn out good, Candela of Light. "Again I'll put a monster in defense mode-"
"Shadow of Eyes!" Marik called and activated a trap of his own, flipping my Cyber Jar without activating the effect.
'No! Our Life Points are wide open!' Yami Marik cried in the back of my mind, or what I had of it.
'Yami Marik, you're an idiot.' I stated in thought like it was obvious, 'You forgot why I Draft Dragoned Fault-Line? I'm going to summon a stronger monster in place of Cyber Jar with Fault-Line's special effect.' I got cocky
'Yes!' Yami Marik shifted gears on me again.
'The bad news, I can't do it on newly summoned monsters.' I added on; again, he turned back to outrage. "I'll place one trap card, this ends my turn." I declared as a card appeared behind Fault-Line's head in the far right corner and Tri of Fire made appearance on the field.
To be continued...
* * * * * * * * * * * *
New Cards played
Minor Dragon of Earth: Dragon/Earth. Monster, 4/1700/1500.
Yin-Yang of the Zodiac: Continuous Trap. At the end of each of your opponent's turns, place 1 Tri card from your hand or your Deck face-up to the field. If it is from your Deck, then shuffle your Deck. If Tri cards Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water are all on the field in their proper order, Special Summon "Yin-Yang the Eternal Dragon" from your hand or your Deck. If any of the cards are destroyed or removed from the field while constructing the message, they are all sent to your Graveyard immediately.
Draft Dragon: Trap. This card can only be activated during your opponent's turn. Pay half of your Life Points to activate this card. Special Summon one Dragon-Type monster to the field in face-up attack or defense position. The monster cannot attack on the turn it was Special Summoned.
Fault-Line: Dragon/Earth. Monster/Effect, 7/2200/3000. While this card is face up on the field, you may send one monster on your side of the field to the respective owner's hand to Special Summon one monster whose Star Levels are 5 or higher in face-up attack or defense position. Monsters that are Set or Summoned (including Flip Summoned and Special Summoned) are excluded.
Tri of Earth: Continuous Magic. This card can only be placed on the field when "Yin-Yang of the Zodiac" is active. If you pay 1000 of your Life Points, Special Summon one "Fault-Line" from your deck, hand, or Graveyard in face-up attack position. When this card is destroyed, "Fault-Line" is also destroyed and vice-versa. When "Yin-Yang of the Zodiac" is removed from the field this card is also destroyed.
Tri of Fire: Continuous Magic. This card can only be placed on the field when "Yin-Yang of the Zodiac" is active. If you pay 1000 of your Life Points, Special Summon one "Firo" from your deck, hand, or Graveyard in face-up attack position. When this card is destroyed, "Firo" is also destroyed and vice-versa. When "Yin-Yang of the Zodiac" is removed from the field this card is also destroyed.