Strong Enough
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'Cause you know the wind will gently dry all your tears…
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MAKURA
I drew. I had never seen this card before. "Killing for fun," was the name of the card, and under it, there was a picture of a gun the instructions read, "Discard one card from the hand to reduce your opponent's life points to 1."
Was there even such a card? I thought to myself, It can't be that easy…
I was about to play it when I saw the electrocution circuits wired around Carlo's duel platform. I was right. It wasn't going to be that easy.
I looked at all the other cards in my hand... they were all relatively weak magic or trap cards except one. The card was Outstanding Dog Marron. It was probably the weakest card in existence, but right as I saw that card, I knew everything would be all right. The reason was Kari had given me the same card just before my first tournament. I'll never forget what she said about that card:
…FLASHBACK…
I stood there, my hands trembling and palms sweating as I waited to duel. Suddenly Kari ran up to me from behind, hugging me and saying, "I'm glad I'm not late!" I sighed with relief. I couldn't do anything without her. Suddenly I saw some bruises on her face. "Kari what happened?" I began to ask, but she cut in and said this wasn't the time. I was about to argue when she shoved something into my hand. It was the card Outstanding Dog Marron. I looked at it in confusion. It only had 100 attack, 100 defense, and the effect was that whenever it was supposed to be sent to the grave; it went to the deck. I was about to thank her for the good luck card, and that I would keep it in my pocket, when she said, "Put it in your deck." And grabbed it and shoved it in, said, "This card will never let you down Kura. It is just like our bond, because it's never destroyed." then ran off to the seat right behind me to cheer me on. I was going to take it out, but I had to duel right then. My opponent was hard, and it was a close game, but I won, and it was all thanks to her card. I got to use Outstanding Dog Marron's effect 3 times, essentially adding 3 cards to my deck. I ended up winning because my opponent couldn't draw any cards, and I only had 2 left in my deck. That meant that, without Outstanding Dog Marron, I would have lost.
…END FLASHBACK…
I smiled as I put Marron in face-down defense mode on the field, saying, "This is for my sister," then set two cards and ended my turn. I stared down at HiKari who was staring up at me, tears in her eyes. I smiled down at her. Mabey when she saw Marron, it would give her some hope.
Then it was Carlo's turn. He drew a card, a wide grin appearing on his face. "This is for my brother, Bruder, the one you killed." He said as he flipped over Change of Heart. Then he put down another card, Black Luster Ritual, and offered Outstanding Dog Marron and Dark Magician and smirked as Black Luster Soldier appeared on the field. "Where's your little 'friendship card now?" he asked as he set a card and ended his turn. "In my deck!" I said with a smile, "And you'd better watch out, 'cause it's gonna whoop your ass!" I looked down at Kari. She was actually laughing.
I smiled then I drew again. Closing my eyes and hoping against all hope for a monster card. When I opened my eyes I saw sitting there… Outstanding Dog Marron.
I smiled. I was beginning to think Kari was right about Marron. I set it in defense position and ended my turn.
Carlo drew, then played the magic card, "Stop defense" which put Marron in face up attack position. Then he attacked it with Black luster soldier, slashing my 4000 life points down to 1100.
"You can never beat Marron!" Kari yelled from the side, "He represents Kura & my bond, which means he's invincible!"
I sighed. It all depended on one draw, and the odds were slim. I pulled a card and thankfully saw it was Graceful Charity. I used it, and with it drew Change of Heart, Summoned Skull, and Marron. I thought about it for a moment, thought about how much Kari loved it when I played Marron, but also the chances of winning and losing. It was basically a battle in my mind of faith, friendship and trust vs. strength. Strength won. I played change of heart, summoned Summoned Skull, Set stimulus Z in case Carlo had any other high-attack cards in wait, and discarded Marron and killing for fun for graceful charity, attacked him directly, then ended my turn.
Carlo laughed, "You think you're safe, do you? He asked as he drew a card, "Well, you're not." He put down fissure, then summoned Fiend Kraken in attack mode. It was then I realized what had happened. I was going to lose, and because of not using Marron too. If I had used it, Carlo wouldn't have been able to use fissure, and then he only could have attacked Marron with his Fiend Karken, then attacked directly with Black Luster soldier, and I would use Stimulus-Z to gain 4000 lifepoints (It only works when an attack of 2000 or more attacks your lifepoints) So I could have still won… and then I looked down at Kari. She was crying. "What's wrong" I asked, "It's only a duel." "You're gonna DIE!!" She yelled. I jerked up in shock. I had hardly remembered that I was playing for the highest steaks of all. "No!" I begged, "Please, don't attack." But Carlo seemed unperturbed. He was just about to attack when suddenly, I hears an all-too-familiar voice say, "Wait!" Carlo stopped immediately. "There's still hope for you, Kura-girl."
I stared at him, almost overjoyed to see him, so long as he said that I could live.
"I have a proposition for you, Kura-Girl." Pegasus said, "if I let you live and call this duel off immediately, will you willingly participate as the princess of the duelist kingdom?"
"I'm not gonna be a stupid princess! I'll die if I have to…" I yelled, but as I said, "die if I have to" Kari's face turned pale white as she started to cry into Seto's arms. " You've got to do this!" Seto yelled, "It's the only way. I can't be a good brother to her and you know it, because the only family she has is you!" Kari looked up from Seto's arms and said, "Please. I promise I'll never do something stupid like this again, and I'll always be there and…" She trailed off into tears again. Seto looked up at me and said with a loving look in his eyes, "It's not just for her that you have to go on… it's for me. I can't do this alone…"
I looked at him in shock. Did he still love me…? "Make your choice!" Pegasus's voice interrupted my thoughts; "You've got 30 seconds."
I took a look at Seto, then at Kari, then yelled "Yes!"
"Sign at the X." Pegasus said as a clipboard and pen came up through the dueling platform. I signed, and as soon as I did, I found myself in a room, standing on a box built to look like a dueling platform, and a man holding a clipboard standing next to me. "What the heck?" I asked, confused. Then Pegasus reappeared, and so did everything that was there moments before. Then it all disappeared again. "How do you like my holograms, Kura-girl?" Pegasus asked with a laugh. Now I understood. Nothing I had just done had been real… except… "Yes, you did sign that paper for real, Kura-girl" Pegasus answered my unasked question with a smirk, "Now, I'm going to have to ask you to return to your room." Pegasus said. "The guards will be accompanying you." He said as two men came into the room. "Great" I thought as I was led to my room. "I bet I'm the only person stupid enough in the world to freely give away my freedom because a hologram told me to."
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To Kari: I want a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUG!!!!!
Yeah, and I hoped you liked this chappie - Kura didn't die -
I've had it done for a while now, I've just been too lazy to post… Sorry -
I hope you have the best summer ever, and can't wait to see you in only 4 months!!!
I LOOOVVVEEE YOUUUUUU TIMES A BILLION KAJILLION INFINITY!