Aaron was spellbound, it doesn't make sense, I blasted that thing to shreds, it can't still be alive.
"What is that thing?" Someone screamed.
The crowd was going into a nervous panic, but the monsters around them began to growl, quickly silencing them.
Just then, Megami launched herself free from the backstage of the gymnasium, "You're going down!"
Just then, a large beast lunged from the side of the gymnasium and grabbed hold of her. It was a Gagagigo and its weight pulled her down hard and fast.
Paul and Josh motioned for their duel braces, preparing to take the beast out.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." The princess hissed.
The guys turned to see that she had surrounded the girls table with large monsters; each was about six feet tall, covered in a thick scaly hide of a dark shade, while their under bodies shown as chalk white, their faces were huge, large blue eyes, spread out ears, with sharp horns, claws and teeth.
"Des Feral Imps, they can get very hungry in stressful situations, so unless you want your dates to end up as dinner, I suggest you cooperate." The princess hissed.
"And what do you want?" Sarah demanded.
"HIM!!!" She hissed pointing at Aaron.
"May I ask why?" He requested.
"Do you even have to ask?!"
"Yeah I do, how the hell did you survive? You can't be the same thing I got rid of at the mill."
"Yes and No, I was there, but that was not me that you destroyed in that mill. I sent my monster in there to kill Jacob, but then you interrupted me, and when you destroyed her, the feedback from her destruction was so bad it gave me this scar." She growled, as she began to change into energy.
In a burst of light, emerged a young woman, dressed in a similar outfit to Deno and Ser, she was ivory skinned, pericing blue eyes, coal black hair that fell right down her back, and a bright red scar from the bottom of her right side lip to the top of her left temple.
"My name is Viper, you're friends defeated my brothers, but make no mistake, they were nothing in comparison to me."
"Well then that's not saying much." A voice called from behind the stage. Viper noticed it was Jordan, he was hogtied with his bad tie, Jacob was in similar condition, except he was still in a wedgie and hogtied with Kuro's bullwhip.
"I guess I'll let that slide, considering your predicament, besides, I'm here for you." She said, pointing at Aaron.
"You still bitter about that?" Aaron spat.
"Why do you mock me?"
"Cuz you're threatening my friends, and scaring innocent bystanders that have nothing to do with you."
"And it's your fault that they must pay for your crimes." She accused.
"Then settle your problems with me." Aaron said, glancing at Ashley, "And let them go."
"No, I want an audience for your death." She said, watching him worry.
"Then let's get this rematch going!" He growled, his duel brace growling on his arm, and he drew a Gearfried to transform.
"NO, we shall duel; you deserve to be punished in the most appropriate manner possible. Crushing you by a duel will make your meat all the more tender for me to eat." She objected, as her duel brace unfolded.
"You can't do that to him, he's never faced another Daikai in a duel before." Josh tried it object.
"Then it will be a learning experience for him and you, for allowing a novice to think he can compete against us." She said, climbing atop the stage.
Aaron looked over his shoulder and said, "Don't worry, I can handle it."
Ashley was worried, I don't think I've ever seen him so mad before, he's been angry alright, but never so furious.
The stage branched off at the end in the shape of a pogo stick, Aaron took the left side, Viper took the right.
"Let's do this." She growled drawing 6 cards.
"Ladies first," Aaron muttered.
"I'll start by summoning my Balloon Lizard in attack mode." She said, as a monster appeared, its main body was pretty much a fleshy ball, its face and head resembled a snake, but it had arms and legs, along with a long tail, (500/1900).
The crowd drew silent, as the creature had just appeared out of thin air.
"I set two cards, and that ends my turn." She said.
Aaron drew six cards, "I'm Popping that Balloon, I summon Gearfried to destroy it!" He stated, as his knight appeared and lunged straight for the monster.
"Aaron, wait!" Paul called out, but it was too late.
"Activate Traps, Spirit Barrier and Astral Barrier!" As her two traps flipped up, creating a dual layer wall of energy, the iron knight bounced right off.
"I end my turn." Aaron growled.
"Draw." She said, "I hope your not losing your cool, But anyway, now watch my monster."
The Balloon lived up to its name as it inflated itself a little.
"Next I set a card in defense mode, switch my balloon into defense mode and that will end my turn." She grinned, as Aaron drew a card.
"I summon my Marauding Captain!" He called out, as the blonde soldier landed on the ground in front of him. (1200/700).
"With his effect I special summon my Little Winguard, (1400/1800), and now I switch Gearfried and My Guard to defense mode, and end my turn." He said.
Josh looked on with concern, "Aaron didn't sound angry in that last move, he's still mad, but at least his head isn't being clouded."
"I don't know about that, he doesn't look like he's thinking ahead, he seems to be only concerned with the situation at hand." Paul said.
"Draw." She said, pulling out a card, "I end my turn without playing a card."
Aaron drew his next and said, "I switch my monster to defense mode and end my turn." As his monster crouched along side the other monsters on Aaron's field.
"Aaron's monsters all have reason able stats, but that and Viper's traps have put this duel at a stand still." Amy said.
"You think so? Looks to me like she's got herself looking pretty good, take a look at that smirk on her face." Sarah said.
"Draw." She said, and smirked, "I special summon Gilasaurs." She laided down the card and the monster appeared on the field, its sharp teeth at the ready. (1400/700).
"Not those things again." Jordan moaned.
"Next I flip over my monster, Cobra Jar!" She said, as her card flipped up and a jar appeared along side her monsters, (600/300).
Aaron looked confused, "I think that card is better stall tactic than anything else, what's the deal?"
"Simple, I'm using my jar's effect to special summon a Poisonous Snake Token!" As a small cobra flew out of the jar, (1200/1200).
"Is that supposed to intimidate someone?" Kuro asked.
"Nope, But I rather have that out rather than that jar, so I play Ultra Evolution Pill!" She called out, as she loaded her magic card, and the Jar vanished into light.
"This card lets me sacrifice one reptile to summon a Dinosaur from my hand, and I choose my Black Tyranno!" She said, as the massive beast appeared before him, its jagged skinned head was scrapping against the top of the ceiling. (2600/1800).
The crowd cried out in terror as the massive lizard roared.
"What is that thing?" Ashley asked, startled.
"Big trouble." Sarah said.
"Her deck is a combination of both Ser and Deno's decks." Jacob muttered.
"So she runs reptiles and Dinosaurs, wasn't there some report awhile ago about a family of duelists whose oldest was undefeated in the world of reptiles?" Jordan asked.
"I think so, and if she's it, Aaron's in big trouble. We have to get out of here." Jacob said.
"Like how?"
"Why do you always have to ask the obvious?" Just then, Jacob saw a steak knife from the buffet table on floor. "I got an idea!"
"Black Tyranno attack now, Furious Fang Crush!" She called out, as the giant beast's head went over his monsters and straight for him!
"What the!" Aaron formed a Rema barrier bubble as the jaws closed in around him, he lost 2600 life points! (5400)
"When all you do is defending your self, you leave yourself vunerable, my Black Tyranno allows me to make use of that weakness and strike u directly." She stated, and said, "And that will do it for me, how bout you try and come after me?"
Aaron looked at his deck and said, "I think your going to regret those words!" He drew his card, and said, "I'm gonna-"
"What the hell are you?" A voice called out, an older man in his late 40's in an old suit, balding head, with white sideburns, and shock filled eyes.
"Mr. Lovechild, get out of here!" Aaron called out.
"Dad!" Ashley called out.
"Stay out of my way old man." Viper hissed, as Cobramen began to come towards him.
"NO, call them off!" Aaron said desperately.
"Why should I? You're friends finished off my family; I think some further punishment is in order."
"Hurry up man!" Jordan said.
Jacob groaned as he used his Rema to fuse the knife with the spirit of his Amazoness Swordswoman, it had changed into a small metal figurine and was slicing away at the knot.
Kuro tried to break away from the Gagagigo, but the beast's hold was too strong for her to lose.
Josh drew a card, Paul nodded.
Aaron was in total fear and despair, as his girlfriend's father was about to be torn limb from limb by ravenous beasts. Something inside his psyche was cracking and was slipping into the darkness.
Snap, the knot came loose!
"SPIRIT MERGE!!!"
"HALO BURST!!!"A large volley of energy came flying out from backstage and incinerated the cobramen surrounding the Principle!
The curtains flapped, revealing an angry looking Reflect Bounder, and a Jordan with his tie snapped to ribbons, and his duel brace flashing.
Just then, Kuro changed into light, and reappearing into a slimmer Harpy lady, but very similar to Megami, but she took to the air and slashed at the Gagagigo's face.
Josh's right arm changed to a large golden muscled version, and he smashed it into one of the Des Feral Imps, sending it straight into another.
Paul's hand filled with Photonic energy, he held it up and it burst like an explosion, blinding almost everything in the gym.
"SPIRIT MERGE!!!"
"BREAKER THE MAGICAL WARRIOR!"
"ARCHFIEND SOLIDER!"
"INJECTION FAIRY LILY!"
"ANCIENT ELF!"
The light died away, leaving all but Josh and Aaron in duel monster form.
"Curse you!" Viper hissed.
"Any time." Archfiend nodded, as the DDL took into the crowd and began to destroy the monsters.
Meanwhile Aaron's fist was quaking. "You…you're…you're…gonna Pay!!!" He roared as his face was now full of rage and anger! His eyes glazed over, and became unreadable. The Rema of his body began to seep out of him, in the form of a black flame that was circling around him.
"Aa…Aaron?" Ashley stammered, seeing as he was being engulfed in darkness.
"And what are you going to do about it, break into tears or throw a tantrum?" She asked.
"HEAVY STORM!!!" He roared, as he threw in the card and the raging wind and rain from the card rocked the field, destroying both of Vipers cards.
"NOW I PLAY CURSE OF THE MASKED BEAST! GEARFRIED THE IRON KNIGHT AND LITTLE WINGUARD I BANISH YOU TO THE GRAVEYARD!" He shouted, as he played the card, a pair of torches appeared around a large fire coming out of stone altar.
Josh turned away from the fighting, "Did I hear him right or did he just sacrifice his favorite monster?"
The Two monsters were engulfed in the flames of the Torches, and arising out of the altar in a mighty bound was Aaron's Mighty Masked Beast, its fearsome presence was enough to scare Viper. (3200/1800).
"I SWITCH MY CAPTIAN TO ATTACK MODE AND I DESTORY YOUR SNAKE!" Aaron's voice wasn't even sounding remotely the same to his normal tone, but his monster got up from his stance and swung his blade at the snake, however both monster blew away into dust from their equal stats.
But Aaron's life points dropped another 500 from the effect of the token, but he didn't care in the least! (4900)
"MASKED BEAST ATTACK, DESTROY THE TYRANNO WITH YOUR ALL POWERFUL STAFF!!!" Aaron roared.
"He's loosing himself in his anger! Aaron!" Josh called out, "Dang it, he isn't listening!"
"What's the matter with him?" A voice asked.
Josh turned his head to see it was Ashley.
"That last stunt she tried to do to your father has put him over the edge. She's broken what ever self control he had and now is dueling with his fury, and when you do that, the game can kill him."
The Masked Beast jumped into the air with its strong leg muscles, and pulled back its staff, and with the motion of a hammer, it slammed it on the giant and crushed all the bones in its head, causing it to burst into energy!
Viper was sent flying backwards from the resulting shockwave, her life points dropping by 600. (7400).
Aaron's fury was still fueling his flaming Rema, his suit was beginning to catch fire.
"He's not going to make it!" Josh said.
Ashley looked at her friend, and how the fury inside of him was killing him. "I have to help him, but how?" She asked herself.
Just then, she saw the music equipment still in place, "I got it!"
Josh noticed her heading to the equipment, "They do think a lot a like."
Aaron had not moved since his declaration of his attack with the Masked Beast, and the flames surrounding him continued to grow.
Just then a melody of orchestra instruments and guitar began to sound in the distance.
"I hope you never lose your sense of wonder, you get your fill to eat… But always keep that hunger. May you never take one single breath for granted, God forbid love ever leave you empty handed. I hope you still feel small when you stand by the ocean. Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens. Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance, and when you get the choice to sit it out or dance."
Aaron's eyes froze in his head, That…song.
"I hope you dance!" Ashley sang, "I hope you dance."
Aaron's howling in fury died down as he turned his head.
"I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance, never settle for the path of least resistance, Living might mean taking chances but they're worth taking. Lovin' might be a mistake, but it's worth making. Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter, when you come close to selling out…
Reconsider. Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance, and when you get the choice to sit it out or dance."
"I hope you dance!" She put her soul into her voice.
Josh grabbed a mike and began to sing the chorus, "Time is real, and constantly motion always."
"I hope you dance."
"Rolling us along."
"I hope you dance."
"Who wants to look back on youth and wonder, where those years have gone?"
Ashley began to step towards Aaron, "I hope you still feel small when you stand by the ocean, when one door closes I hope one more opens, Promise me to give faith a fighting chance. And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance."
"DANCE!!!" She belted out with as much feeling as she could muster.
In that moment, the flames around him blew away with a breeze, his eyes cleared, and he muttered, "Of course, my lady." He smiled.
Ashley's face brimmed with a bright smile and tears on her eyes, as she ran towards him.
Just then a bright wall of energy cut her off, "What the?"
The wall circled around him and around a risen Viper, "Don't think you're done yet, that little tantrum you had has wasted a good portion of your Rema, but your still going to duel." She hissed.
Aaron was fuming, but then Ashley said, "Don't get mad Aaron, you beat her once, you can do it again."
Aaron was about to object, when a heavy hand landed on his shoulder.
He turned his head to see it belonged to his Masked Beast; it shrugged its head down towards Aaron's hand.
"Alright, let's finish this." Aaron said, turning around to face her.
"I play the Warrior Returning Alive and Summon Gearfried the Iron Knight back to the Field." He said, taking the monster from his graveyard and placed it on the field.
The Knight stood along side the Beast, his blade at the ready and was prepared for battle.
"You brought him back? For what? He's no threat to me."
"Says you. And that ends my turn." Aaron said, Now that I got my head on straight this should get a lot easier, I may behind in life points, but she's got no attack power. So as long as I can keep it together, I should be able to beat her.
"PRISM FOCUS!" Reflect Bounder called out as he blasted the last stray monster. "That's the last of them. Now it's up to him." He said, looking at the boxed in duel.
"You think he can win?" Sarah asked, stepping along side.
"Sure, he's learned from the best, and he's got someone he cares for at the end of the tracks." Paul said.
"Let's hope it will be enough."
To be continued…