Disclaimer: No time for a funny disclaimer today, so we'll just say we only own the fan characters and cards unless otherwise noted.
Previously,
The elemental duelists had just attacked, Mako sweeping Mai off her feet (literally!) and challenging her to a duel at the bottom of Kaiba Corp. employee swimming pool. The once noble duelist offered Mai a choice: Her talent or her life. Mai took Mako down, and was saved from drowning by Slifer's tail entering the pool! Unfortunately, it was covered in yellow stars...
Chapter 12
Supernova
A moment ago, in Kaiba's Office…
A flash of light filled the room.
"Not her!" Tea shouted, "Yugi, watch out!"
The warning came too late. Celeste appeared behind Yugi and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She didn't say a word as she and the boy vanished in a second flash.
"This is bad." Tristan shouted, "This is very, very bad."
"But how could they know about us meeting here?" Kaiba asked.
"Celeste was with us when we planned it." Tea explained, "And she's the one that just grabbed Yugi!"
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In a flash, Yugi found himself on the roof of Kaiba corp., facing Celeste.
"Where is everyone Celeste?" Yugi asked shakily looking around for a way out.
"Don't worry." Celeste smirked, "You'll be together again soon. That is of course after we've collected your talents"
"Celeste, you don't have to do this!" Yugi argued.
"Yes I do." Celeste responded, "It's the only way. Don't worry though, someday you'll thank me for this!"
A flash of light came from the Millennium Puzzle as Yami took over.
"I had hoped that you had learned your lesson after our last duel, but if it's a rematch you want it's a rematch you'll get!" The king shouted as their disks activated.
"We'll see." Celeste sighed, "But do you think I could duel Yugi instead of you Pharaoh?"
Yami gasped in shock.
"You know who I am?" He asked.
"Needlez explained to me that Yugi shares a body with the spirit of an ancient pharaoh." Celeste explained, "Seeing as he suddenly grew about six inches and got a much deeper voice, I'm going to assume that he's no longer dueling me in person, but is acting as a dueling partner for you."
Yami frowned.
"Celeste, when we first met, I could feel that you had a good heart. You still do! There is no reason for you to do this!" He protested.
"I'm sorry pharaoh, but this is the only way the world will finally know true peace." Celeste declared.
"Peace can't be obtained through violence or thievery." Yami shouted, "Celeste, I know you don't want to hurt me!"
"Your right, I don't want to…" Celeste whispered.
She looked at Yami with a single tear rolling down her cheek.
"I have to." She stated, "I'm sorry pharaoh."
"Call me Yami." The spirit responded, "And if you truly feel there is no other way, then I'll simply have to prove you wrong…"
"TIME TO DUEL!" Both of them shouted at the same time.
Celeste: 8000
Yugi: 8000
As each duelist drew their opening hands, a blue green spark appeared before Celeste!
"Celeste, I just wish to remind ye that ye must defeat Yugi, not the pharaoh." Needlez's voice explained.
"I know, but the pharaoh refuses to leave!." Celeste thought
"Then here's some advice: hit the pharaoh until he passes out." Needlez suggested, "I'll leave ye to yer duel now!"
The spark vanished.
"I hope I'm doing the right thing…" Celeste said to herself as she looked toward her foe.
"Would you like to go first Yami?" She asked
"No, I think you may have that honor Celeste." Replied her opponent.
"Fine." Celeste sighed.
Celeste began to study her hand.
"It seems that once again Lady Luck is on my shoulder." She thought.
She held up a card and grinned as she placed it into the field slot on her duel disk.
"I open my turn with the magic card: The Elemental Seal of Light!" Celeste called out.
The field began to glow as a yellow star etched into the center of the roof and stars began to appear on Celeste's body. She began to laugh as she put two more cards into her disk.
"After that I'll lay one card face down and summon a familiar face, say hello to my Creator Incarnate (1800/1500)!" She declared.
A tall man in golden armor and carrying a scimitar appeared on the field. Behind him was a facedown card.
"Are you going to feed him to your seal for a measly 900 LP!" shouted Yami, "You still do not respect your deck!"
Celeste sighed.
"You do know it's rude to interrupt right? And anyway while yes my monster is going to be sacrificed it will only be for his-own good." Celeste explained, "Only through his own demise can he reach his true power! The power to create an army of monsters capable of defeating you! I activate his special ability to destroy him and summon a monster known as: The Creator (2500/3000)!"
The golden armored man began to shine with a blazing light. He faded from view, and in his place appeared a humongous golden statue with a giant ring behind it! The creature crossed it's arms in a defensive position.
"Behold one of the greatest monsters in my deck! He's going in defense mode just in case you try anything funny," Celeste declared, "but his special ability will ensure that I have plenty of other monsters to attack with! Once per turn, I may discard a card from my hand to special summon any monster I choose from my graveyard!"
Yami gasped in fright!
"Your move." Celste pointed out.
Yami just stared at the monster in awe, and Yugi appeared next to him.
"Watch out Yami!" Yugi warned, "That thing is amazing!"
"Don't worry partner, I already have a plan." Yami responded, "She may have summoned a powerful monster in her first turn, but she fails to realize two things: first, that I have monsters that are capable of defeating it easily, and second is that she has no monsters in her grave that are worth summoning."
"You won't intimidate me so easily Celeste!" Yami said, drawing his first card, "I set one monster in defense mode and that's all."
Two facedown cards appeared in front of Yami, and at the same time Celeste's card turned over!
"Before you end your turn, I activate Solemn Wishes!" Celeste explained, "So now I gain 500 life points every time I draw a card. Like right now, since your turn is done."
A golden light shined down on Celeste as she drew, and her life points jumped.
Celeste: 8500
Yugi: 8000
"And now I play Pot of Greed to draw two more cards." Celeste laughed as more light shined onto her and she pulled two cards off her deck.
Celeste: 9000
Yugi: 8000
"Next I will play Feather of the Phoenix." Celeste announced as she slid a card into her disk, "This spell allows me to discard one card from my hand to bring one back from the grave and place it on top of my deck."
A glowing red feather appeared in front of Celeste, who quickly slid one card into her graveyard, and another card was ejected. She placed it onto her deck and smiled at her opponent
"I just revived my Pot of Greed, just so you know." She declared.
"Anything else?" Yami queried.
"Actually yes," Celeste grinned, "To use my feather, I discarded a monster called Airknight Parshath, so now I'll discard one card to bring him back using The Creator!" Celeste announced.
She slid another card into her graveyard, and the giant extended one arm. A pulse of light shot from its hand, and a flurry of feathers appeared. They parted to reveal a six winged centaur in blue armor. The blond creature looked around then gave a quick bow to its master, which Celeste returned with a warm smile and a nod.
"Since The Creator is in defense mode he won't be destroyed if your facedown card is that Mirror Force, so he'll still be around to revive Parshath if it is! Now go and destroy his defense monster Parshath!" Celeste ordered.
The monster charged forward, swinging a shining blade toward Yugi's creature, which flipped up to reveal an elven warrior in green armor. The warrior parried the centaur's blow and Yugi smiled.
"It won't be so easy Celeste, you've attacked my Obnoxious Celtic Guardian (1400/1200) who can't be destroyed in battle with a monster who has an attack above 1900." Yami announced
"That may be true, but my AirKnight has a trample effect! When he does battle with a monster in defense position, the damage will still get through if my monster's attack is higher!" Celeste shouted.
Parshath's blade began to glow, and a pulse of light flew from its tip right into Yami's chest. Yami grunted in pain and stumbled backward.
Celste: 9000
Yami: 7100
"Also when Parshath does damage to your life points, I can draw a card. And that means Solemn Wishes goes to work again!" Celeste explained as she drew a card and another beam of golden light shone down on her.
Celeste: 9500
Yami: 7100
"It's your turn now Yami." Celeste giggled.
Yami drew his card and smiled as he slid two cards into his disk.
"I set one card face down. Next I activate a card which Seto Kaiba inspired me to add to my deck…Soul Exchange!"
Celeste gasped in horror as a strange glow surrounded The Creator.
"But I didn't even have him out for three turns!" She protested in her head, "And I can't special summon him from the graveyard!"
"Now I may sacrifice one of your monsters in place of my own. So I will destroy your Creator…" Yami announced.
There was a pulse of light as Celeste's giant vanished from the field.
"…Plus my own Celtic Guardian…" Yami continued
The elf glowed, and vanished in a flurry of sparks as Yami placed a card onto his field.
"…To summon my Dark Magician (2500/2100)!" Yami concluded.
A huge blob of purple energy appeared on Yami's side of the field. It cleared away, leaving the purple robed magician, staring down Celeste's centaur.
"I have to give up my battle phase though, so I can't attack this turn. But I'll be after your Knight next turn so prepare to say goodbye!" Yami declared.
At first Celeste looked like she was going to throttle Yami, but suddenly the ring on her hand began to glow slightly and the cold expression from their earlier duel surfaced.
"You seem to think that I would care, well guess again!" Celeste said in a stoic voice.
The Airknight's eyes widened and he looked at his master with sadness and disbelief. Celeste's eyes began to soften but her ring flashed again and all trace of kindness was gone.
"Yami, something is wrong here... very wrong." Thought Yugi.
"I can feel it too." Yami realized, "It's that ring, it's controlling her emotions!"
Celeste drew and the golden light moved to shine down on her when Yugi's face down card turned over.
"Sorry Celeste, but I activate the Bad Reaction to Simochi! Now…" Yami started.
"I'll lose 500 LP instead of gaining them." Celeste concluded, "I was hoping you might try to come up with something a little more original."
A blast of purple smog surrounded Celeste, who didn't even flinch
Celeste: 9000
Yugi: 7100
Celeste looked over the field and waved her hand.
"I'll just end my turn here." She announced.
Yami drew his next card and nodded toward his magician.
"Now I activate Card of Sanctity!" He called out.
The roof flashed with golden light. Celeste and Yugi both drew, Celeste quickly being surrounded by a purple cloud as she did.
Celeste: 8500
Yugi: 7100
Yami winced as he looked as his hand.
"What's wrong, got a bad hand?" Celeste asked.
"Actually, yes." Yugi commented.
"But we still have a slight advantage. She didn't even bother to put Parshath into defense mode." Yami pointed out.
"Now then, I told you I would attack and I'm still going to, so now your Airknight is no more! Dark magic attack!" Yami ordered.
Dark Magician raised his staff, pointing it toward Parshath who cast one last, sad look at Celeste before being blown into pixels. Yami sighed in relief.
"Your turn Celeste." He stated.
Celeste: 8100
Yugi: 7100
Celeste drew her next card, and the purple smog covered her again.
Celeste: 7600
Yami: 7100
"I summon Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands (1600/1000)" She declared.
A monster with hands all over his body appeared on the field holding a card out to Celeste, who silently accepted it.
"His special ability allows me to search my deck for a ritual spell or monster, so I will retrieve my Light Mistress Cruz from my deck." Celeste said, "And fortunately for me, I already had my ritual spell card in my hand!"
Celeste turned the two cards around, showing them to Yami. The spiky duelist drew back a little as Celeste placed them both onto her disk.
"I will activate my ritual spell card Prayer to the Light Mistress!" Celeste declared, "And I'll discard my Penguin Soldier and my Thunder Nyan Nyan to summon Light Mistress Cruz (1700/2000)."
A ball of light appeared on the field, and Celeste placed two cards into it. The orb floated into the air, and out of it stepped a beautiful six winged fairy with long white hair and pale purple skin.
"What are you thinking Celeste? Your monster not strong enough to destroy my Magician. Unless you plan to martyr your Manju?" Yami pointed out.
"Oh don't worry, I've got that covered." Celeste said as she slid another card into her disk and a strange golden cross bow appeared on Cruz's arm, "I activate Ritual Weapon to give Cruz an extra 1500 attack points (3200/2000)."
Cruz pointed the weapon at Dark Magician, with a small smile on her face.
"Now then, teach Yami some manners. Destroy his monster with starlight sonata." Celeste ordered.
Cruz fired off the arrow, which split into hundreds of points of light before striking down the Dark Magician, who screamed before shattering into fragments of magic.
Celeste: 7600
Yugi: 6400
Cruz moved her hands into a praying position, and a yellow aura began to shimmer around her body.
"Yami, I'm sure you remember Cruz's (3400/2000) other ability, the one that says she gains 200 attack points for every non-light monster she destroys." Celeste reminded her foe.
"I remember Celeste, but please remember pride comes before a fall! If you get to confident it will cloud your judgment." Yami responded with a grimace.
"My judgment is clear as is my goal. Now I'll attack you directly with Manju! Thousand hand slap!" Celeste shouted.
As the multi-handed monster lunged forward though, Yami slid a card into his graveyard. Immediately, a small ball of brown fur jumped onto the field.
"Sorry Celeste, but I discard Kuriboh to protect my self from your monster's assault." Yami announced.
Manju grabbed the monster, who squeaked in fear, and mercilessly slammed it into the ground.
"Fine then, it's your turn." Celeste said.
Yami drew and looked at his card.
"Very well I summon a monster in defense mode and one more card face down." He declared as two more brown cards appeared in front of him.
Celeste looked at the two cards.
"Done?" She asked.
Yami nodded, and Celeste drew, waving away the purple mist as she did.
Celeste: 7100
Yugi: 6400
As Celeste looked over her hand, Yugi looked over the field.
"That facedown monster had better be good." He quipped.
"Umm...it's the Giant Soldier of Stone why?" Yami thought.
"We may have bought our selves a turn, she's being cautious." Yugi chuckled.
"First I'll summon Agent of Creation Venus (1800/0)." Celeste announced as she placed a card on her disk.
A young woman with a peaceful look on her face and a pair of golden wings appeared.
"Then I will pay 1000 life points to use her effect." Celeste continued, "I can summon a monster known as Mystic Shine Ball (700/500) from my deck for every 500 life points I surrender. So I get two."
Two shimmering blue orbs materialized onto the field, each one with a yellow star glowing in its center.
Celeste: 6100
Yami: 6400
Celeste looked at Yami's field, and a flicker of doubt crossed her face.
"I end my turn." She declared.
"See! We've got her worried she didn't attack." Yugi cheered.
Yami however wasn't quite convinced that Celeste was on the ropes.
"Watch it. After all this dueling we only lead by 300 points, and Celeste is no pushover." Yami thought as he drew his next card.
"I play Card Destruction." He declared as he placed the card into his disk.
As both duelists discarded and drew, Celeste winced slightly as Yami's trap drained away more of her LP.
Celeste: 5600
Yugi: 6400
Yami smiled as he saw one of the cards in his hand.
"Because it was drawn by my magic card I will now special summon my Watapon to the field!" He declared.
A squeaking noise filled the air, and the cotton ball fairy jumped out of the card. It looked up at Celeste with a big smile, which was quickly returned with a cold glare.
"Since that was a special summon, I will sacrifice Watapon for Summoned Skull (2500/1200)!" Yami continued.
Watapon gave one last squeak, before vanishing in a burst of pixels. In its place appeared a huge skeleton with horns jutting from its temples. It's body still had muscle tissue holding it together, and it glared down at Celeste with its vile eyes.
"Now, Summoned Skull, destroy Manju with your Lightning Strike!" Yami ordered.
Summoned Skull unleashed a huge blast of electricity, striking down the fairy and causing it to shatter like glass.
Celeste: 4700
Yugi: 6400
"I lay one card down and end my turn Celeste." Yami finished.
A new card appeared behind the skeleton. Celeste drew her new card, and more of her life points were removed.
Celeste: 4200
Yugi: 6400
Celeste looked at the card she had drawn.
"Perfect." She said to herself.
"I sacrifice both Mystic Shine Balls and Venus to summon my Moisture Creature (3000/2900) to the field." Celeste announced in her monotonous droll.
At this the floor in front of Celeste rippled as if it were made of water and absorbed the three monsters. Yami noticed two golden globes shifting underneath the surface, and just then the light from the seal glowed and mist rose from the water with the globes in the center of the mist suddenly both of the globe seemed to focus on him.
"They're eyes!" He thought as a monster that looked like a large water drop formed in front of Celeste.
Suddenly, Yami's spell and trap zone was covered in mist. All the cards in the mist shuddered, then were pulled into the strange monster!
"Yugi?" Yami thought, "What happened? She just destroyed my Mirror Force, and all my other cards!"
But before Yugi could answer Celeste's monotone voice rang out over the field.
"My Moisture Creature is an effect monster. When I sacrifice three monsters from the field to summon it, I get to destroy all your magic and trap cards. Now Moisture Creature, attack his skull." Celeste ordered.
Moisture Creature (3000/2900) formed several tendrils of mist which reached out and ripped the Summoned Skull (2500/1200) apart. Then, one reached out and gently brushed Yami's face. He gasped at the cold embrace of the limb, and his life points dropped
Celeste: 4200
Yugi: 5900
"And Cruz, now it's your turn. Attack with Sonata of Starlight." Celeste ordered.
Cruz fired off another volley of arrows, which embedded themselves in the facedown stone soldier. The monster appeared, and groaned before being blasted to rubble.
Cruz (3600/2000) began to pray again as her aura strengthened itself.
"That will end my turn." She announced.
Yami drew and studied his hand as he thought of his next move.
"I shall activate Heavy Storm." He declared.
A huge wind shot around the field, wiping out Cruz's (2100/2000) weapon and Celeste's Solemn wishes card. Yet, Celeste's stoic expression didn't waver.
"Now, I lay another card face down and end my turn." Yami stated as he placed another card into his disk.
The card materialized before him.
Celeste drew and nodded at the new card. She slid it into her disk, and a single ray of light descended in front of her.
"That's the most pathetic bluff I've ever seen." Celeste announced in her monotone, "I activate Premature Burial to revive a monster you made me discard with Card Destruction. Prepare to meet: Guardian Angel Joan."
Celeste: 3400
Yugi: 5900
A circle of light appeared in the sky above the field and Joan's sword dropped to the ground. Following behind it was Joan herself, in a plain white dress. She hovered beside the battle scarred blade, looked at it, picked it up, and gave it a swing.
As it swung, the sword began to glow, starting at the tip and moving down the blade. The sword changed into an intricately decorated sash, and where it touched the dress the design migrated onto it. When this transformation was complete, the sash wrapped around both of Joan's arms and the glow concentrated behind her, forming a pair of luminous wings.
"Now prepare to face her wrath." Celeste droned on, "Joan, attack."
As Joan flew forward, a huge monster jumped out and let loose a terrifying roar!
Joan gasped and flew back in fear, she and Cruz quickly attempted to hide behind the shaking Moisture Creature.
"You still haven't learned have you?" Yami asked, "My Threatening Roar trap can stop all your monsters from attacking, no matter how strong they are!"
"Then I end my turn." Celeste concluded.
Yami drew his card and set both his remaining cards facedown. The two cards appeared in front of him, and he waved to end his turn.
"What no incredibly long self-righteous speeches? I'm hurt." Cooed the light duelist.
Of course the phrase would have sounded mocking if Celeste actually had some emotion in her voice.
She drew her card.
"I lay two cards facedown and play Card of Sanctity." She said.
The two cards Celeste had placed into her disk materialized. Then another flash of gold lit up the roof.
As Yami drew his cards and he and Yugi both gasped. Sitting right there on the far right was the Egyptian God Monster, Slifer the Sky Dragon!
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Last night…
After talking with Professor Hawkins to about eleven p.m., Yugi and Yami were carefully looking over their cards.
"You have any good ideas Yami?" Yugi asked as he picked up his deck.
"Well, the last time we faced this sort of thing Dartz tried to steal the Egyptian God Cards." Yami pointed out, "It might be a good idea to keep them with us, just in case."
"The God Cards!" Yugi gasped, "But they're so powerful that…"
"I know, we only use them in emergencies." Yami sighed, "But if there's a chance they'll be stolen, and, considering what we're up against, there probably is, we should have them in our deck. Then no one can get them with out us knowing."
"If you say so…" Yugi muttered as he headed toward the door.
He quietly went downstairs, and carefully slid the God Cards from their resting place on the top shelf in the game store…
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"I almost forgot that we put the God Cards in!" Yugi cheered, "This has to be a good sign!"
"Don't underestimate our opponent Yugi!" Yami scolded, "We may have Slifer, but we lack the means to summon him. Plus, Celeste still seems to be planning something."
Celeste placed one card into her disk.
"Now I activate Exchange." She declared
Yami and Yugi both gasped in horror as Celeste walked up to them and held out her hand.
Yami looked over the cards, and sighed as he took Heavy Storm.
She looked at his hand and a shadow of a smile appeared on her face.
" I've always wanted to use this card." She said as she plucked a card from Yami's hand, "How nice of you to put it in for me. I'll just take Slifer the Sky Dragon."
"Celeste! You won't be able to control it! Remember these aren't just holograms, the dragon will be as real as you are!" Yami shouted with fear in his voice.
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Needlez grumbled a bit to himself as he struggled to come up with a reason the Brian could have resisted the crystal, when he noticed another duel beginning to fade from view.
"Oh no ye don't." He whispered, focusing his watch on the duels still playing in front of him.
"I may have lost my Duelist of Darkness, but I'll not lose the rest of ye."
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Celeste's crystal dimmed a little, but then flared again even brighter as she responded.
"Is that supposed to discourage me? I am the Elemental Duelist of Light! I can wield the power of the angels, and even creation it self. One Egyptian God Monster should be well within my control." She announced.
"Then I'll have to stop you for your own good!" Yami called out.
One of his facedown cards turned over, revealing the image of a Frontier Wiseman and a Freed the Matchless General in what appeared to be a standoff in the middle of a large room.
"I activate Limit Tribute! Now each of us may only sacrifice one monster per turn." Yami shouted as the air around them rippled with strange energy.
Celeste just shook her head.
"That can't help you now. My regular monsters can finish you easily. Moisture Creature, attack." Celeste ordered.
At those last two words, Moisture Creature began to hover around Yami, enveloping him with its body. Yami began to shake as he felt like he was sinking in ice water and with each breath his lungs got heavier.
At the last minute before passing out though he heard Yugi to call him.
"Yami, hang in there!"
As Yami turned to respond he shook off the creature, which drifted back to Celeste with an annoyed sigh before returning to its spot on the field.
Celeste: 3400
Yugi: 2900
"Cruz, it's your turn." Celeste stated.
Cruz began to chant, and Yugi stared at his partner, who was shaking on his feet.
"Yami, what are you doing, our face down card could stop her!" Yugi shouted
But Yami just stood there, with a dazed look on his face. He then screamed as a swirling blast of light surrounded his body.
Celeste: 3400
Yugi: 800
"Joan, finish this." Celeste droned.
"Guess…again." A voice gasped as Yami's facedown card turned over, "I activate Dimension Wall, so you take the battle damage instead of me!"
Celeste blinked in surprise as Joan flew forward and swung a sword of light at her opponent. Suddenly, the sword vanished just in front of its intended target and Celeste gasped in pain as she felt it slice along her back!
Celeste: 400
Yugi: 800
"What the…" Celeste started.
Then she saw that her opponent had shrunk about a foot and was panting heavily.
"Sorry Celeste." Yugi said, "But Yami passed out after Moisture Creature attacked, so I'll finish this duel in his place."
"That's perfect, seeing as you're my intended target. That meddling spirit was just in the way." Celeste explained, "There's nothing more I can do, so it's your turn."
Yugi drew, smiling as he held up one of the cards.
"Okay then Celeste, I activate the Heavy Storm I took from you, and I'll use it to destroy every spell and trap on the field." He announced.
"Fool, you'll destroy Limit Tribute and then I'll be able to summon Slifer." Celeste said.
"Wrong!" Yugi shouted, "Heavy Storm destroys all spells and traps, including Premature Burial. Once that's gone you'll lose Joan!"
A strong wind once more picked up around the field, but Celeste didn't seem worried.
"Well then," Celeste said as one of her cards turned over, "I'll just use my facedown Magic Jammer to stop this storm at the cost of one card from my hand."
Celeste slid a card into her graveyard, and the winds halted.
"Now then, before you try anything smart, I think I'll activate one of the cards you just tried to destroy." Celeste continued.
Her facedown card turned over, but the image was obscured as a cloud of black dust blasted out of it.
"It's called Infestation." Celeste explained, "I normally don't use cards like this, but Lord Needlez felt it was necessary. I merely subtract 100 attack points from every monster on the field and the total is deducted from both of our LP."
The black cloud dispersed, and a wave of energy caused both duelists and monsters to stumble. Cruz (2500/2000), Joan (2900/2000), and Moisture Creature (2900/2900) all looked a little drained as the dust cleared.
Celeste: 100
Yugi: 500
Yugi frowned as he looked over his cards.
"Alright then," He said as he took three cards out of his hand, "I summon Queens Knight (1500/1600) in attack mode, play one card face down, and activate the Swords of Revealing Light."
A young woman in red armor materialized in front of Yugi, followed by a facedown card. Then a cage of glowing swords slammed down around Celeste, who just looked at them without showing the slightest bit of concern.
"That's it, your move." Yugi announced.
Celeste drew, and held up a card from her hand.
"I activate Mystical Space Typhoon, and use it to destroy Limit Tribute." She declared.
A blast of wind fired out, and slammed into the card, but as it did another one of Yugi's cards turned over.
"I can guess what you're trying to do Celeste," Yugi shouted, "so before you have the chance to summon Slifer I'll use my quickplay spell card: Magical Academy!"
The card showed the image of several students wearing graduation caps and gowns, and suddenly a flurry of hats jumped out of the card and Queens Knight vanished.
"What's going on?" Celeste asked.
"Simple." Yugi explained, "Magical Academy lets me sacrifice one monster on my side of the field to summon a Spellcaster type monster. What's more, the monster I summon will be given an extra 500 attack points and raise its level by one star. So here comes Dark Magician Girl (2800/1500)!"
The hats cleared the area, and in place of Queens Knight was the Spellcaster girl twirling her staff with a big smile on her face. She turned toward Yugi and gave him a wink, then turned back to Celeste.
"She can't help you now. I have studied all that I can about the Egyptian God Monsters." Celeste explained, "I know that if I summon Slifer this duel will be mine. Your facedown cards are probably traps meant to destroy my monsters, but the gods are immune to such tricks. Also, spells only work on them for one turn, so once I summon Slifer I won't even need to wait for your swords to run out."
Celeste held up a card, which began to glow with unearthly light.
"These monsters have been useful, but now I shall sacrifice Joan, Cruz, and Moisture Creature…"
The three monsters began to float into the air, all of them looking down at Celeste with sad, sympathetic looks which were ignored.
"…And summon SLIFER THE SKY DRAGON!"
A clash of thunder shook the sky, and a gigantic, serpentine, red dragon descended from the clouds and wrapped itself around the building, causing windows and doors to shatter and fall apart as it settled its head near Celeste. It let out an annoyed growl as the yellow stars appeared on its body!
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Inside Kaiba's office, Tea, Tristan, and Seto were watching a series of t.v. screens.
"The security cameras aren't finding anything!" Tea moaned.
"That was forty-thousand dollars well spent." Seto grumbled.
Suddenly, a loud rumble began to shake the building…
"Uh-oh…" Tristan muttered.
A huge red tail began to slither by the window…
"That's Slifer…GET DOWN!" Kaiba shouted.
The three of them hit the floor as the extra large window behind Kaiba's desk shattered into a million fragments!
"EVERY SINGLE TIME!" Seto screamed, "DOES THE WORLD HAVE SOMETHING AGAINST MY BUILDINGS!"
As if in response, the section of wall that had been knocked in by Gold fell out again.
"That's a yes." Tristan muttered as Kaiba roared in frustration.
"Oh no." Tea gasped.
Looking back toward the window, Kaiba and Tristan saw yellow stars cover the large red figure.
"YUGI!" Tea screamed.
---------------------------
"I control Slifer (3200/3000) now!" Celeste shouted, "And my seal gives me unwavering control over it just like the Seal of Oricalcos did for Obelisk the Tormentor!"
Celste reached up, and gently began to scratch the god's jaw line. Yugi shot her a confused look, then gasped as Slifer tilted its head toward Celeste and began to growl softly.
"It sounds like a big cat!" Yugi thought, "She really wasn't kidding about that 'unwavering control' line."
"Now back to the duel. I now have three cards in my hand, but thanks to the Swords of Revealing Light, I can't attack with Slifer (3200/3000) until my next turn. I also can't risk you trying anything tricky, so I'll lay one card face down and end here." Celeste declared.
A facedown card materialized, and Slifer (2200/2000) growled a little as his attack decreased.
Yugi drew and he looked at Celeste's facedown card.
"I can't tell whether or not she's bluffing because of that empty expression of hers." Yugi thought, "I could try to attack Slifer, but I can't risk her destroying Dark Magician Girl. She's my last hope, so I'll just have to hope our plan works!"
"I won't risk your facedown card, so I'll end my turn here Celeste!" Yugi shouted.
"Excellent." Celeste said as she drew her next card, "It doesn't matter what you have facedown now. Slifer has 3200 attack points thanks to the three cards in my hand and the 200 it gains from my seal."
The god growled in agreement, and Celeste pointed at Yugi's lone monster.
"You don't stand a chance. Slifer, attack Dark Magician Girl with Thunder Force!" Celeste commanded.
Slifer opened his mouth, and a huge orb of energy gathered in between its jaws.
"Here it comes…" Yugi thought as he placed a finger on his duel disk.
The energy continued to gather, and then it finally launched! A huge column beam of electricity was sent blazing toward Yugi's side of the field, but right before it reached Dark Magician Girl, two cylinders appeared.
"I will redirect your attack with Magic Cylinder!" Shouted Yugi
"No you won't!" Celeste responded, "Activate Trap Jammer, which negates and destroys one trap during any battle phase!"
Celeste's card lifted and a purple mist wrapped around the tubes. They shook for a minute, then exploded! Slifer's attack continued toward Yugi, who just smiled.
"What are you so happy about?" Celeste asked.
Suddenly, the last second before the attack hit, Yugi's last facedown card flipped over.
The Dark Magician Girl immediately formed a magic shield, and deflected the wave of electricity back toward Slifer, along with a bit of her own power!
The god let out a terrible roar as it exploded in a blast of magical energy, and Celeste screamed as the force of the attack knocked her to the ground, blowing her to the very edge of her seal!
Celeste: 0
Yugi: 200
As the seal closed in on Celeste she smiled openly for the first time since Yugi met her. "Let me guess: you activated Reinforcements?"
"Yes, giving my magician 100 more attack points than Slifer." Said the boy.
It was then that he noticed Celeste was making no move to break the seal.
"Aren't you going to break the seal before it takes your talent?" He yelled
Celeste shook her head.
"I promised my master I would get him a light aligned talent even if it was my own." She held up her hand, showing that her ring was extinguished, "And even if I tried to go back on my word he took away the ability to do so. But could you answer me one question: How did you overcome the power of my light?"
"I didn't Celeste." Yugi explained. "I believe that the minute you turned your heart away from your monsters during the first few turns, you defeated your own light."
Celeste got to her feet and spread her arms as Cruz appeared over her! The fairy raised one hand, and drew a small yellow light out of Celeste's body and forced it into her ring!
Yugi winced, and then looked up as he heard a giggle. Floating above him was a girl with blond hair, wearing Native American style clothing and feathers in her hair!
"Oh, poor Celesty, you lost didn't you?" The girl laughed.
"What was your first clue?" Celeste asked, "You saw Slifer get blasted didn't you?"
Yami stared at the young girl, and finally spoke up.
"Excuse me young lady but...who are you?" He asked.
The girl turned around and smiled.
"Hello Mr. Yugi! Zeffie's name is Zeffie Gale, the Elemental Duelist of Wind! And now that Celesty lost, Zeffie has her chance to be Number One!" The girl cheered.
She quickly flicked her duel disk into a battle ready position, when suddenly a sphere of blue-green light materialized in front of her and Celeste!
"Not now Zeffie! I need all of ye to report back immediately!" Needlez shouted.
Zeffie seemed shocked and then upset.
"Come on Zeffie, you heard him!" Celeste sighed.
"But it's no fair!" Zeffie whined, "Zeffie didn't get to play!"
"I'll play with you when we get back, now come on!" Celeste ordered.
The two girls both headed toward the edge of the building. Yugi ran forward, trying to catch up to them.
"CELESTE STOP! I'VE HEARD OF THE ELEMENTAL MASTER! I DON'T KNOW WHAT PLAN YOUR MASTER HAS INVOLVING HIM, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A PART OF IT!" He shouted.
Celeste cast one last look back at the boy, another tear falling down her cheek, then vanished in a pulse of light! Zeffie smiled as she began to fly away, carried on the wind!
"Celesty isn't the best any more!" Zeffie shouted back to Yugi, "Which means Zeffie gets to be your next opponent, so watch yourself!"
Zeffie giggled as she floated away, stumbling in midair as a pulse of light hit her in the side of the head!
Back on the roof, the Millenium Puzzle shimmered for a second, then stopped.
"Are you okay partner?" Yugi asked.
"Define 'okay.'" Yami groaned.
"Looks like we still have some deuling ahead of us." Yugi sighed.
"It would appear so." Pharaoh nodded, "We must maintain caution. Now, let us reunite with the others."
Another victory for Yugi and friends, now let's just hope it holds up. Next time, see what Ishizu and Gold have been doing in a chapter titled
Fighting the Mountain
See ya then!
Original Cards
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Limit Tribute
Continuous Trap
Image of Frontier Wiseman and Freed the Matchless General in a stand off
Neither player may sacrifice more than one monster per turn, for any reason, as long as this card remains face up.
This card was first used by Raphael in the anime episode "Fate of the Pharaoh (Part 3)." All creative credit goes to the writers of that episode
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Infestation
Trap
All monsters on the field lose 100 attack points. Both payers lose life points equal to the number of monsters on the field times 100.
This card was first used by Weevil Underwood in the anime episode "On the Wrong Track (Part 3)." All credit for it goes to the writers of that episode.
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Magical Academy
Quickplay Spell
Image of a group of students in graduation gowns and moterboards.
Sacrifice one monster on your half of the field. Special summon one Spellcaster type monster from your hand, in face up attack mode. Increase the attack of the summoned monster by 500 points, and increase its star level by 1.
This card was first used by Yugi in the anime episode "A New Evil (Part 2)." All credit for it goes to the writers of that episode.