Chapter Thirty: Countdown to Destiny

"Ready to begin?" Shadow Saria asked. This Saria's voice sounded raspy. Saria had already drawn five cards as did her clone.

"Lets get started!" Saria replied. Shadow Saria drew a card.

"You do realize that since I'm your shadow, I know every card and strategy you can conjure up?" Shadow Saria wondered. Saria merely stared at her clone.

"Fine, but I have a feeling you're getting scared. I'll place one card facedown and play the magic card, Final Countdown!" Shadow Saria declared.

"Final Countdown!" Saria gasped.

"That's right. I pay 2000 life points and after twenty turns, this duel is over and I win! Now, I'll place a Mystical Elf (800/2000) in defense mode to end my turn," Shadow Saria finished. Saria looked at her hand.

This isn't good. I have a time limit on this match so the faster I attack, the sooner I can win and get out of here. Saria thought as she stared through the electrical barrier towards her audience and the door which appeared to be their only exit.

"I'll place two cards facedown and summon Neo the Magical Swordsman (1700/1000) in defense mode," Saria said, her swordsman appearing in front of her. Shadow Saria smiled as she drew a card.

"I know your plan. You intend to play Zero Gravity to make my elf defenseless. Too bad it won't work. I'm sacrificing my elf in order to summon Summoned Skull (2500/1200) to the field!" Shadow Saria said, her elf vanishing only to reappear as the skeletal demon. Saria stood unfazed.

"Summoned Skull! Attack!" Shadow Saria commanded. Saria was ready.

"Not so fast! I reveal my facedown cards: Living Arrow and A Hero Emerges!" Saria interrupted.

"The Living Arrow lets me use any of my cards in combo with yours and A Hero Emerges forces you to select a card in my hand and if it's a monster, it's summoned to the field. First, pick a card in my hand for A Hero Emerges," Saria explained holding out her hand.

"I'll pick your middle card!" Shadow Saria said. Saria smiled more deeply as she revealed her card.

"Come forth Red Eyes Black Dragon (2400/2000)!" Saria commanded as she played her dark dragon.

"Now for my Living Arrow! I'll use it in combination with my Polymerization card to fuse my dragon with your skull to create the Black Skull Dragon (3200/2500)!" Saria added, the two monsters clashing together to form a large dragon monster whose roar sounded like the combined battle calls of the monsters that were used to create it.

"OK, I'll then play the Mystic Lamp (400/300) in attack mode and have it put a dent in your life points!" Shadow Saria countered, summoning a genie's lamp to the field. Without warning, the lamp fired a beam at Saria and reduced her life points to 7600.

"My lamp has the power to bypass your monsters and hit you directly," Shadow Saria pointed out.

"I noticed," Saria groaned as she drew from her deck.

"I'll place one card facedown and have my Black Skull Dragon wipe out your lamp!" Saria declared, her dragon opening its mouth to attack.

"Hold it! Reveal Gravity Bind! Now monsters with more than three stars can't attack!" Shadow Saria interrupted. Her new card emanated pink energy waves that forced Saria's powerful monsters to the ground.

"Saria!" Yami cried.

"I'm OK!" Saria shouted, "Well, almost OK. I'll place a monster in defense mode and end my turn!"

"Goody, now it's my turn again! And I just drew another Mystic Lamp (400/300) so I have two ways now to attack your life points!" Shadow Saria said as she placed another lamp on the field. Saria was knocked on her back as her life points dropped to 6800.

"Now, it's my turn," Saria said as she drew her one card. She blinked in surprise at the card she drew.

"I summon Mataza the Zapper (1300/800) in attack mode!" Saria declared, summoning a green armor wearing, black haired male samurai to the field.

"Alright! Mataza is a level 3 monster which means it can bypass Gravity Bind and attack!" Joey said.

"That's not all Joey! Mataza can attack two monsters at a time so it can destroy both lamps with ease!" Yugi added.

"Starting to feel scared? You should be! Mataza the Zapper! Attack with twin samurai blade attack!" Saria commanded. Yugi and Joey cheered as the samurai took out both lamps with two horizontal slashes. At the same time, Shadow Saria was being electrocuted as her life points plunged to 4200.

"Well, I'm going to end my turn so lets see what you can come up with," Saria said as her clone stared at her.

"You'll regret those words," Shadow Saria said as she drew.

MEANWHILE, AT GREATFISH ISLAND...

"That's the hundredth survivor we've dug out," A crewman shouted as a person was hauled out of the wreckage of a skyscraper. Mr. Floyd was digging through the rubble to look for more survivors when the tower had risen from the water, drawing the attention of everyone on the island.

"It's begun," Mr. Floyd gasped as the tower fully emerged. He left the shovel with a fellow crewman and hopped into his AMWING, a compact fighter jet, and flew away towards the tower. Patrick got on the radio.

"Matson you there?" Patrick asked.

"Yup, what's your situation?"

"I'm on my way. How are things?"

"Your wife, Saria, Yugi and Joey are heading into the tower as we speak."

"Anything happen while I was gone."

"We rescued a friend of the visitors at Southern Triangle."

"Got an ID?"

"Mai Valentine, a duelist. She tried to reach shelter when her boat crashed on Southern Triangle and Seahats attacked."

"She OK?"

"Mild concussion, but nothing serious. Serenity, Teran and Tristan are with her."

"OK, I'm on my way."

Saria is about to meet her destiny and I'm not there to see it! I gotta hurry! Patrick thought as he soared onwards.

BACK AT THE TOWER OF THE GODS...

"Now let us see what I can do to you," Shadow Saria said, "I'll place a monster in defense mode to end my turn."

"Now, I'll draw and send Mataza to attack!" Saria simply said. Saria however regretted her move when Mataza attacked a Giant Soldier of Stone (1300/2000).

"Looks like you messed up and hurt yourself!" Shadow Saria taunted as Saria took an electric shock and her life points dropped to 6100. The next three turns for both duelists didn't turn up much: Both had summoned two new monsters in defense mode and each withheld one card.

"Well, just six turns to go! And now I have the monster that can make sure I win!" Shadow Saria boasted.

"Just play it!" Saria shouted annoyed.

"Fine, I sacrifice all three of my monsters in order to summon my ultimate beast! I summon the mighty Time Magician (3600/2900)!" Shadow Saria declared, all three of her monsters vanishing only to reappear as a new female mage that wore a red-orange robe, pointed hat, and carried a staff that had tips that resembled clock hands.

"My new monster can only be summoned when Final Countdown is active. Now for my monster's special ability: We each choose three cards and they make up a new deck and everything else goes to the card graveyard!" Shadow Saria explained. Saria groaned as both she and her double examined their deck cards.

I can only keep three cards for the remainder of the match. I have to choose carefully. OK, I have the Master Sword Ritual down already and the Hero of Time is waiting in my deck. So maybe I should also try summoning my Princess of Destiny! According to the card, she has a special ability that aids the Hero of Time. Well here goes nothing. Saria chose her three cards and stood to face her enemy.

"About time, but don't you know: It doesn't matter what cards you choose! You're history in six more turns. Well, it might be sooner with my magician's second effect. I can discard any trap cards I have and use them to inflict damage to your life points equal to the attack of your weakest monster. And I just happen to have two trap cards right here!" Shadow Saria taunted, waving her two cards.

BACK AT THE COURAGE IX...

"How are you feeling Miss Mai? Feeling any better?" Matson asked as he sat at Mai's bedside.

"Much better thank you. How's Saria doing?" Mai asked.

"Not sure. Something's interfering with Mrs. Floyd's communicator. Teran's worried sick but I know they can take care of themselves."

"You mean Saria and Mrs. Floyd."

"Not just them. Yugi and Joey went with them."

"What?"

"Last I saw, they were heading to the top of the tower. We sighted them on the outside balcony near the top of the tower."

"..."

"Mai! You're awake!" Came Tristan's voice. Tristan and Serenity had come in too.

"How are you doing Mai?" Serenity asked.

"OK. You heard from your brother?" Serenity shook her head.

"I'm so worried. I wish we could go in and see what's going on."

"Actually you can." Matson held out a handful small green diamond crystals. Each were ablaze with green energy.

"Mrs. Floyd used her magic to create a warp point near the top of the tower. Use these Farore's Wind crystals and you should be able to reach them," Matson explained as he handed each a crystal. Teran then came in as well.

"I overheard. I'm going too," He stated as he snatched a crystal from Matson. Mai slipped on her lavender cape which was clean and her sandals. They stood in a line in front of Matson. They then smashed the crystals in their hands and vanished in a ray of light only to reappear near the large door at the top of the tower. Tristan and Teran landed first and were lucky enough to catch Mai and Serenity as they teleported above them.

"Hurry!" Serenity urged and the four entered the arena and took in what was going on. Yugi and Joey turned and saw their friends.

"How'd you all get up here?" Joey asked as Serenity and Mai wrapped their arms around him.

"Probably the same way you did," Tristan said as he put an arm around Serenity. He then pointed a thumb at the duel.

"What's going on?" Teran demanded.

"Saria's dueling. We can't get past unless she wins," Yami said blandly.

"Yes, but her double played Final Countdown to put a time limit on the match. She's only got six turns until Saria loses," Yugi explained as Shadow Saria discarded two cards. Everyone watched as the Time Magician charged up intense rainbow-colored magic.

"Now, attack Saria's life points!" Shadow Saria commanded. Saria watched wordlessly as two rainbow colored beams flew towards her and hit her in the stomach with the force of a tank. She lay on the ground in pain as her life points dropped by 2600 making them now 3500.

"Oh man! She just lost the lead!" Joey noticed.

"The double has 4200 life points and Saria only has 3500," Mrs. Floyd stated as Saria stood up and drew one of her three cards.

"I play Pot of Greed to draw two new cards!" Saria declared as she drew her two remaining cards.

"She's out of cards! Next turn, it's over!" Mrs. Floyd realized.

"Now, prepare to feel powers you've never seen before! I reveal my facedown card: Master Sword Ritual!" Saria warned, her facedown card revealing itself.

"Master Sword Ritual?" Mai asked, turning to Yugi.

"It's a powerful card Mai. Watch."

"I'm going to sacrifice two of my facedown monsters in order to bring out my ultimate warrior!" Saria said as he raised her card above her head. Lightning struck it, making it glow a bright gold. Wind began to blow all around Saria as she focused on her task.

"I summon thee, Hero of Time (3200/2700)!" Saria shouted. Everyone watched as Saria's two sacrifices turned gold and combined into a blue crystal. Inside the crystal, was a younger version of the Hero of Time, but he quickly aged to his rightful form. As he did, intense white light filled the crystal. It cracked and in a massive explosion, the Hero of Time took the field.

"It's never done that before," Yugi noticed.

"That's the true form of the card. Saria awakened the monster's full power. Now she must next summon the Princess of Destiny or all is lost," Becky explained.

Actually, she can only go so far with the Hero of Time. It's going to take someone with Courage to summon the hero's true power. Mrs. Floyd thought.

"So you summoned your Hero of Time? He can't attack me! Gravity Bind is still in play. You just cost yourself the duel!" Shadow Saria pointed out.

Could I have been wrong to summon my Hero of Time? Saria wondered.

"No! This duel isn't over!" Came a courageous voice. Everyone turned to see Mr. Floyd entering the room.

"Saria! The Princess of Destiny can aid you! Summon her now!" Mr. Floyd commanded. One glance from her father was all she needed. She turned to her adversary.

"Now, I'll show you the true power of my deck!" Saria warned as her Triforce Amulet and Triforce of Wisdom glowed. Saria let the magic that was being summoned wash over her. A gold veil enshrouded her as her clothes changed. A tiara sat atop Saria's head and her ears were pierced with fine diamond earrings. Saria's T-shirt, jacket, jeans, and wrist guards turned into a gown worthy of a princess and silk gloves. It was a lavender, sleeve-less dress whose hem was stitched up enough so Saria's slipper-covered feet could be seen. On the hem of the dress was a small flag-like section that was a soft blue. On the blue area, there was the mark of the red phoenix and the Triforce.

"Incredible!" Mai said awed as the golden glow died down.

"That's the gown of a Hyrulian princess," Mrs. Floyd gasped as Saria picked up the cards that she had dropped.

"Humph! I doubt a dress is gonna help you to finish this duel," Shadow Saria said, slightly annoyed at her double's costume change.

"Maybe you're right, but I'm going to end this duel here and now! The costume change just gave me enough magic power to summon my second monster! I'm now going to play the Call of Destiny Ritual!" Saria replied, placing her new card.

"Call of Destiny?" Mai wondered.

"She hasn't played that card yet!" Joey realized.

"I'm going to summon my second creature by sacrificing my two remaining weak monsters!" Saria declared, her two monsters turning a bright gold. The monsters then flew towards a lone figure, who wore nothing but a brown hood and cloak. The monsters exploded over the figure, sparks of golden light raining down and gathering on top of it. The figure then stood up and everyone gasped as it shook off its cloak.

"That monster looks exactly like Saria!" Teran gasped. Indeed it did. It dressed and looked like an exact copy of Saria except this monster was clearly older.

"Behold! My Princess of Destiny (3000/3000)!" Saria warned.

"Impressive, you have three powerful monsters on the field, but you still can't attack me! Gravity Bind is still in play! And you have no cards left to aid you!" Shadow Saria pointed out. Saria smirked.

"Wrong! My Princess of Destiny lets me use any magic card I possess at any time during each of my turns and each one of yours, whether it be in my deck, hand, or graveyard! And I'll choose the spell card, Heavy Storm, which will wipe out your so called Gravity Bind!" Saria shot. A fierce wind quickly blew away Gravity Bind.

"None of your creatures have the attack points possible to defeat me!" Shadow Saria stuttered.

"Wrong again! My Hero of Time gains all the attack points of every light monster played in this duel! And since you were so kind to send all of my monsters to the card graveyard, it practically makes my Hero of Time capable of defeating you!" Saria explained.

"Now! My Hero of Time! Wipe out her Time Magician!" Saria commanded, her body glowing a bright gold. At seemingly light speed, the Hero of Time cut the magician in two.

"Now Black Skull Dragon and Princess of Destiny! Combine your power and attack now!" Saria shouted her body glowing even more intensely. The Black Skull Dragon shot out a molten fireball that merged with a magic bolt from the Princess of Destiny's summoned jeweled scepter. Everyone shielded their eyes as Shadow Saria was caught in the resulting explosion. When the smoke cleared, Shadow Saria was gone. Saria sighed and the golden glow died down.

"It's done. It's over!" Saria sighed. Saria's clothes reverted back to normal as Saria passed out and the electrical barrier dissipated.