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Fanfic Chapter 4: Insect Elimination
Episode Basis: The Ultimate Great Moth
Perviously, on Yu-Gi-Oh!: It was time for the Duelist Kingdom tournament to begin. An opening speech by Pegasus revealed that there are hidden secrets on the island. Once the tournament began, Yugi was quick to challenge Weevil to a duel, who revealed one of the secrets that Pegasus was talking about: that each dueling ring has a designate field which gives certain monsters a power boost. The forest/wasteland region that Yugi and Weevil duelled on made Weevil's insect monsters one above Yugi's. But Yugi was able to turn the tides thanks to the Dark Magician and a trap card: Mirror Force. But Weevil revealed that he still has yet to play his most powerful monster. What is it?
Joey, Tea, and Tristan were still celebrating Yugi's one-card defeat of all of Weevil's monsters.
"Great move, Yugi!"
"All right!"
"You can beat him without a doubt," Tea commented. She then heard a harsh laugh. A familiar-looking woman walked up to them, at least familiar to Joey.
"Hey I know you; you're that Mai Valentine Yugi and I met on the boat."
"I must say, I feel sorry for you, cheering on such a loser."
"What's that suppose to mean?" Tea asked challengingly.
"Weevil is the regional champion, no moves that little runt has can possibly stop him."
"LITTLE?!"
"You know, she has a point," Joey said. Tristan nodded.
"Hey, just whose side are you on anyway?" Tea asked.
"All I'm saying is Weevil's no pushover," Joey said. "If it was that easy to beat him, I doubt Pegasus would've invited him in the first place."
Tea scowled. She didn't like that she was the only one who was openly rooting for Yugi.
"You've been doing a lot of buzzing through this duel, Weevil, but I have yet to feel the sting."
"Since you're whole new to this dueling tournament thing, I'll spell it out for you. I'll wipe that smirk off your face." He drew a card. "Oh gee, this card doesn't stand a chance. Oh well, guess I'll just lay it in defense mode." Even Joey could tell that Weevil's act of pity was a bluff.
Nice try, Weevil, Yugi thought. But I remember that trap card you placed down. As soon as I make an attack, he'll spring it and wipe out all my monsters from the field... but what if I get my monsters off the field first and then attack him? Yes, that's it! "I'll spring your trap, Weevil, but first... the monster recovery card!"
Interesting, Harold thought. Yugi must be trying to protect his monsters from whatever Weevil has in store for him. It's a safe move, but is it a good one?
"Monsters, return to your cards now!" The two monster cards that Yugi played were returned to his deck. Then Yugi drew a new hand. "Now, all I have to do is sacrifice one of my weaker monsters and your trap is sprung... Kruiboh (1)! Attack!" A little furball with eyes and claws appeared. It went straight for Weevil's trap and sprung it. "Trap cards only work when they catch you by surprise. Next time, don't give your plan away."
(Y: 1050)
(W: 555)
Weevil let out a hysterical laughter. "You fool! I don't care about that measly trap card!" Yugi gasped. "I wanted you to recall your monsters, so you wouldn't attack this." He flipped over the defense monster he placed down. A little green worm popped out.
It's just a simple little Larvae Moth (2). That tiny creature can't be much of a threat, Yugi thought as the moth gained a power boost from the field.
(LM: 500---650, 400---520)
What's Weevil up to now?
"Sure, he's just a little slug now..." Weevil threw down another card. "But the Cocoon of Evolution (3) will change all that!" The worm was now emitting thread around itself.
"Eww, that's just gross," Tea muttered.
"Weevil's bug is sealing itself in the cocoon," Joey reported.
I told those losers that Weevil would turn this duel around.
"Behold, my Cocoon of Evolution!" Weevil announced. "Within that cocoon sits my tiny little Larvae Moth. And over the next 5 turns, it will grow into the Perfectly Ultimate Great Moth!"
"Then I'll crack that cocoon before it gets a chance," Yugi declared.
"Easier said than done, Yugi. My Cocoon of Evolution also gets a field power bonus from the field around it."
(CE: 2000---2600)
"Its defense is so strong, not even your strongest monster will be able to crack it. Just 5 more turns," Weevil announced.
Yugi had a panicked look on his face. He was running out of time before Weevil's moth was fully evolved. And once that happens, not even his Dark Magician would be able to stop it.
I hope Yugi can pull out of this in one piece, Harold thought. These tournaments do more than just bring together duelists; they also set the standard for the duelists' future. And if Yugi loses, not only will his reputation among all duelists be squashed before it even starts, but he won't have a chance to save his Grandpa from Pegasus. Yugi's got more to lose from this duel than a simple star chip.
"Gaia, the Fierce Knight! Shatter that cocoon!"
"Yugi, no," Harold said quietly. But it was too late. Gaia's attack bounced off of Weevil's cocoon.
"The field power bonus makes it too strong!" Joey cried out.
"One turn down," Weevil teased. "Care to try again?"
Weevil's cocoon will be tough to crack. And with every attack that fails, my life points go down.
(Y: 750)
(W: 555)
Yugi's friends tried to shout encouragement but Mai put them down on the spot. Then she said something that really got under Tea's skin.
"You make it sound like your little Yugi has a chance."
"Of course he does!" Tea said practically yelling in Mai's face. Joey got her into a full nelson before Tea could jump Mai.
"Any duelist who has gone up against Weevil's Cocoon of Evolution has been totally trashed."
"All of them?" The guys asked.
"But... Yugi's got us to help him," Tea said meekly.
"Hah! You're only a disadvantage. If Yugi didn't spend his time listen to your whining, he wouldn't be so low in life points."
"Tea," Harold said calmly. "I know your heart is in the right place. But the fact of the matter is Mai has a point. As long as Weevil's cocoon is in defense mode, Yugi can't reach his life points, and since its defense points is at 2600..." Harold looked at his monitor to confirm the number. "It stands as the strongest, well-guarded monster on the field." But even the mightiest fortresses have its weak spots, he mentally added. If you look closely, Yugi, you might see the answer's literally right in front of you.
Yugi set a defense monster as a precaution and then tried to figure out what to do. Weevil's pretty confident that whatever's growing inside that cocoon is unbeatable. But there's got to be some way to pop that thing open.
"Come on, Yugi," Joey called out. "Your Grandpa's counting on you!"
"I know," Yugi replied.
"Then you can't keep letting this little creep push you around. You need to get fired up!"
That's it! Yugi's eyes widened, then they narrowed again as he looked at his hand.
I think Yugi just figured it out, Harold guessed. There is a way to turn this duel around. Now, the only question is, can Yugi get the cards before that cocoon gives birth.
Meanwhile, another duel was waging of a different kind. Mai was putting down his friends' encouragement, saying it wasn't doing Yugi any good and Tea was doing her best to rebut. Her final comment, "Friendship hasn't helped Yugi any, he's losing."
Then Yugi gave his friends a thumb's up which totally shocked Mai and cheered the others up.
Yugi summoned his Curse of Dragon (4). "And I'll combine it with this magic card! Attack with Dragon Flame!" The dragon's fire spread out around the cocoon.
"What do you think you're doing? You know your little firefly can't hurt my cocoon."
Yugi chuckled. "Whoever said I was aiming for your cocoon? I combined my Burning Land card with my Curse of Dragon to destroy the forest around your cocoon."
"You can't do that!" Weevil protested.
"Yes he can," Harold interrupted. "The holographic forest that serves as the source for your cocoon's increased power has all the properties of a real forest including being susceptible to fire. And magic cards can affect the field just as much as it can affect the monsters, which means..."
"I lose my field power bonus," Weevil moaned.
(CE: 2600---2000)
"Now, let's try this again," Yugi said. "Gaia, the Fierce Knight, attack!" Gaia stabbed the cocoon again and everyone thought it was over.
They thought wrong.
The cocoon fell apart and a screech could be heard from it.
"It's still moving?" Joey asked shocked.
"You're surprised?" Mai asked back.
I don't get it, Harold thought. That should've defeated it, unless...
"It must've evolved enough to survive," Joey said finishing Harold's thought.
A large green moth with rainbow-colored wings rose into the air.
"I was surprised you were able to pierce my cocoon," Weevil said. "But you were unable to stop the evolution of my ultimate monster, The Great Moth (5)!"
"But I thought it took 5 turns."
"It does for it to reach its perfectly ultimate stage but you stopped him one turn early."
I see now. The Great Moth's attack points hadn't risen to its maximum before Yugi was able to pierce the outer shell of the cocoon. Unfortunately, it evolved enough to pierce the cocoon and withstand Yugi's attack.
The smirk on Mai's face practically screamed 'I was right.'
Weevil turned this match around, Yugi thought. But I can't give up!
"Feeling a little outclassed, Yugi? Or perhaps you're enjoying your first major dueling defeat. I knew a little gnat like you couldn't stand up to my overwhelming power!"
If I had Exodia, this would be clenched for me. But I don't. Yugi shook his head. I can't let that rattle me. I need to concentrate on the here and now and how to stop Weevil's Great Moth.
"You may have gotten your prize monster onto the field, Weevil, but I'll still find that way to squash that oversize bug."
"You'll pay for that stinging jab with your life points!"
"Fine, we'll settle this in the air."
Uh-oh, Harold thought. I think I just figured out another secret rule. Since Weevil's monster can fly, it can't be touched by any land-based monsters including Yugi's knight. And his dragon's too weak to withstand an attack from it.
"This is it, Yugi!" Weevil cried out. "My moth will crush your defenses, slay your knight, and blow your dragon out of the sky! First your defense monster!"
Weevil's Great Moth attacked, blowing away Yugi's Beaver Warrior(6).
"And now for your knight!"
"I guess Weevil wants to pay back Gaia for shattering that cocoon," Tristan muttered.
"Not if I can help it!" Yugi said as he threw down a magic card.
Harold recognized it. It was the rare polymerization. Using it can fuse two monsters into one, thereby increasing the attack points of each monster. And it looked like Weevil was too busy bragging about his moth to notice.
"You were so busy bragging, that you didn't notice I played a polymerization card, combining my knight and my dragon to form... Gaia, the Dragon Champion (7)! That's right, Weevil, now it can go head-to-head with your Great Moth."
"Not so fast, Yugi, take a look." Yugi couldn't believe it. His fusion monster was losing attack points. As if he could sense Yugi's question, Weevil said. "It's poison, Yugi. Tiny particles of poison that are emitted each time my Great Moth unleashes its wind gust attack!" Yugi was backed into a jam. How can he protect his knight from the very air?
Meanwhile, Gaia's attack points dropped below 2000.
Oh no! My knight's in serious trouble. He looked at the cards that he held in his hand. And there's nothing in my hand that can stop it. But I know my Grandpa's deck will come through for me. He drew a card and hoped for the best.
His hoping paid off.
"Yes! Ready to be rained out, Weevil? Makiyu, the Magical Mist!" A gentle rain covered both monsters and the poison was washed away. "Magical Mist rinses the field clean."
"No fair! I was about to win and you saved yourself with a little drizzle?"
It's true that I saved my knight, but that's not all I did.
"Fine, then, Yugi. You won a brief reprieve. But it won't help you! Great Moth, tornado of doom!" Yugi gasped as Weevil's monster fired a blast and destroyed Yugi's combo monster. "Your monster's gone and your almost out of lifepoints!"
(Y: 50)
(W: 555)
"Yugi, keep fighting! You can come back from this!" Joey called.
"You're all delusional!"
"No, Joey's right. Yugi never gives up."
"It's true, Mai," Harold confirmed. "Yugi doesn't care if he wins or loses, as long as he keeps on fighting to the bitter end." Of course, the consequences this time are more serious.
"Joey, isn't there something we can do?" Tea asked.
"I don't know."
"Face it, Yugi's down to 50 life points and Weevil destroyed his best monster combo. Don't you see? Your brainless cheerleading only serves as a distraction. He spends too much time listening to you losers. Weevil keeps his mind on the game. He saw Yugi's strategy and now because of you, Yugi's going to lose it all."
"That's where you're wrong, Valentine. Yugi is going to win."
"And just how do you know, pointy-hair?"
"Because Yugi has that look."
"What look?" Tea and Joey asked.
"That grin; whatever Yugi's grinning about, it can't be good for your boy Weevil." Tristan was right; Yugi had a confident smile on his face, a smile which turned into laughter.
"Hey, hey, what are you so happy about?" Weevil demanded to know. "Stop that snickering!"
"Weevil," Yugi began. "I know it will be very difficult for you to accept defeat, especially after finding so many clever ways to cheat. But if you thought bending the rules would help you win but this match, you're wrong."
"No, this is a trick!"
"You play dishonestly so you expect the same of your opponents. But I duel with honor, Weevil! And that makes all the difference!"
"You've got nothing!"
"Here's what I do have... the mighty SUMMONED SKULL (8)!"
"Whoa, what's that?" Mai found herself asking.
"Summoned Skull, along with the Dark Magician and Gaia, the Fierce Knight, form the three most powerful monsters in Yugi's deck," Harold informed her. The Summoned Skull looked like a demon with its body turned inside out. You could see the bones and muscle. It had bone claws and two horns on its forehead.
"This is it, Weevil, your mighty insect will not last this next attack."
Yugi must be losing it, Weevil thought. His Summoned Skull is strong, but my Great Moth is stronger.
Yugi must've sensed Weevil's skepticism because he said, "There's something you overlooked, Weevil. My magical mist is still dampening the field."
Both Weevil and Mai gasped.
He's right, Weevil realized. "Everything's wet! My Great Moth is totally soaked!"
"And further more, my Summoned Skull attacks with electricity making your water-logged bug a giant lightning rod. I hope you're in for some fireworks, Weevil, because all this water boosts my monster's electrical attack by 1000 points."
(SS: 2500---3500)
"Summoned Skull, lightning strike!" Yugi commanded. The monster sent lightning into the air and it came down on the Great Moth ten fold. The giant insect was burning and burning until it crashed to the ground, charred and smoking.
"It's over, I won," Yugi declared.
"The winner of this match is... Yugi Moto!" Harold declared. His friends let out a cheer.
Mai just said, "I didn't think Yugi could beat Weevil."
After the duel, Harold checked Weevil's backpack and found a book. "Well, what do we have here? 'Official Duelist Kingdom Rulebook.'" He opened it up and read from the first page. "Warning, do not remove book from the room you found it in. Well I just guess I'll save this for later." He placed it into his own backpack.
"I'm the National Champion, the National Champion!" Weevil was crying.
"You call yourself a champion, Weevil, but you only won your duels through lying and cheating. True champions, they play with honor."
"Don't waste your breath on this slug, Yug," Joey said getting in Weevil's face. "He's a dueling disgrace and I hereby relieve him of his dueling gauntlet."
So Weevil Underwood was officially eliminated from the tournament in the first round.
"There," Yugi muttered as he placed Weevil's two star chips next to his one in their slots on the gauntlet. "Three stars. But I still need seven more. Ten star chips will admit me into that castle, and hopefully, to my Grandfather."
"Hey Yugi," Harold said. "I was just wondering. How did you think of that whole burning land idea? I personally would've never thought of such a round-about way of evening the playing field." Harold gave him a smirk while glancing at a female shadow hidden within the trees.
"That's simple, Harold. Joey gave me the inspiration. He told me to get fired up and that did it." Yugi noticed the shadow too.
"Well I was just glad I could help in some way, Yug," Joey said.
"I guess having a cheering squad was some help after all," Tea figured.
"Well, as long as I don't have to wear a skirt," Joey cracked.
"Actually, I think Tristan looks good in a skirt," Tea said snickering.
"Hey!" Everyone laughed as the shadow who was listening in on them vanished into the trees.
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Monster Glossary
(1)
Name: Kuriboh
Level: 1
Type: Fiend/Effect
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 300
DEF: 200
(2)
Name: Larvae Moth
Level: 2
Type: Insect/Effect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 500
DEF: 400
(3)
Name: Cocoon of Evolution
Level: 3
Type: Insect/Effect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 0
DEF: 2000
(4)
Name: Curse of Dragon
Level: 5
Type: Dragon
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 2000
DEF: 1500
(5)
Name: Great Moth
Level: 8
Type: Insect/Effect
Attribute: Wind
ATK: 2600
DEF: 2500
(6)
Name: Beaver Warrior
Level: 4
Type: Beast-Warrior
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 1200
DEF: 1500
(7)
Name: Gaia, the Dragon Champion
Level: 7
Type: Dragon/Fusion
Attribute: Wind
ATK: 2600
DEF: 2100
(8)
Name: Summoned Skull
Level: 6
Type: Fiend
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 2500
DEF: 1200
